TERA (video game)

Last updated

TERA
Tera online box artwork.png
Original North American cover art
Developer(s) Bluehole Studio
Publisher(s) Microsoft Windows
Designer(s) Yong-Hyun Park
Byung-Gyu Chang
Huang Cher Ung
Composer(s) Inon Zur
Rod Abernethy
Cris Velasco
Engine Unreal Engine 3 [1]
Platform(s)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • KOR: 25 January 2011
  • NA: 1 May 2012
  • EU: 3 May 2012
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • WW: 3 April 2018 [2]
  • JP: 29 November 2018
Genre(s) Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Mode(s) Multiplayer

TERA (short for The Exiled Realm of Arborea), also known as TERA Online, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Bluehole Studio, a subsidiary of Krafton. The game was released in South Korea on 25 January 2011, in North America on 1 May 2012, and in Europe on 3 May 2012, with closed and open beta tests taking place before the launch dates. Nexon, Krafton, and Gameforge published the game in these regions, respectively. En Masse Entertainment was the North American publisher, until September 2020, while Atari handled physical distribution. [3] In February 2013 the game was renamed to TERA: Rising concurrently with the game's launch to the free-to-play model.

Contents

In September 2014, the game was renamed to TERA: Fate of Arun in the same patch that added a new level cap and expanded TERA's horizons with the new continent in Northern Arun: Val Oriyn "cut off from the rest of the world for centuries, Northern Arun is a land of savage jungles, colossal ruins, and the undiscovered homeland of the Barakas." The patch became effective in December 2014 in America and Europe. The game has over 28 million players worldwide, as of 2018. [ citation needed ]

In April 2018, TERA went on to release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, through En Masse Entertainment [4] in North America, Europe, and Japan, whereas Krafton decided to self-publish the game in South East Asia for the PlayStation 4 and Japan for Xbox One.

In September 2020, En Masse Entertainment announced that it would be shutting down its offices after 10 years of service in the gaming industry, [5] where it was decided that Krafton would be publishing TERA's Console version globally [6] – taking over a self-publishing role, in place of En Masse Entertainment, whereas the PC version would be published by Gameforge. [7]

The Console version diverted paths from its original PC counterpart, and declared that it would be taking its own path. [8] TERA is set to release its Crossplay Feature in Mid-November 2020, [9] which players on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be able to play together. In addition to this feature, TERA will offer a free upgrade for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in Holidays 2020, with an Enhanced Graphics Mode – which will allow for cross-generation and cross-platform gaming. [10]

On 20 April 2022, Gameforge announced that Bluehole had decided to cease work on TERA and that Gameforge would shut down the game's servers for PC on 30 June 2022. There are no plans to shut down the console servers. [11]

Gameplay

TERA had typical MMORPG features such as questing, crafting, and player versus player action. The game's combat used a real-time battle system that incorporated third-person camera view. The player targeted an enemy with a cross-hair cursor rather than clicking or tabbing an individual opponent (which was called the "Non-Target battle system" by the developer). The Players needed to actively dodge enemy attacks. A keyboard and mouse or a control pad could be used to control the character. [12]

Characters were one of seven races [12] allied with the Valkyon Federation. Each race had a set of unique "racial skills" that gave them minor advantages. Races also had their own unique animations for many class-specific skills. TERA also had 13 classes (as of October 2017), [13] each with their own unique abilities and attributes.

The developers collaborated with CCP Games and their successful use of "PLEX" for Eve Online as a way of deterring gold farmers. As a result, TERA released a currency called "Chronoscrolls" that worked similarly, as it allowed game time to be purchased with real money and sold for in-game gold. The use of Chronoscrolls was only available to users who had purchased the game either digitally or physically. Those with the "Discovery Edition" could not use Chronoscrolls.

Plot

Lore

The two beings, Arun and Shara, titans of unimaginable power, met in a formless void. Somehow, Arun and Shara fell asleep and began to dream. As they slept, the Exiled Realm of Arborea began to manifest itself around them. Today, both Arun's and Shara's bodies form the two continents the Exiled Realm of Arborea is made of.

As both titans continued to sleep, their dreams came to life. Out of this dream, the first twelve god-like inhabitants of TERA emerged not long before a terrible war amongst them took place.

Yet, Arun and Shara remained in their dream-like state and simply out of their imagination, the first mortals came to life. The mortals and gods fought each other in great divine wars, leaving most of the gods dead, imprisoned, or otherwise diminished. Even some of the mortal species got wiped out; however, others emerged and today, most of TERA's races form an alliance fighting menaces beyond their world. [14]

Development

In February 2013, TERA in North America and Europe transitioned to TERA: Rising, which changed the subscription model to a "freemium" design (free play plus purchasable premium status and customization options). The developer has promised no time, level, or content restrictions for free players after this update. Players who purchase a 30-day "Elite" status will receive increased dungeon rewards, in-game discounts and other metagame advantages Due to the new model, the "Chronoscrolls" mentioned above are being phased out, and are no longer sold by the developer, nor usable to extend game time. Existing chronoscrolls can be sold to merchants for 2,000 gold.

The Japanese and Korean versions of TERA also became free to play in December 2012 and January 2013, respectively. [15]

On 5 May 2015 TERA's new patch 31.04 was released in which the game became available on Steam. Along with being available on Steam, the gunner class was released and new dungeons were added. Krafton also released inactive character names, making them available to new characters.

In 2019 Patch 80 was released, this update increased the level cap to level 70 and introduced new quests as well as "a new open-world boss system." [16]

In 2021 Patch 109 was released, this update opens up an area created by the original developer team, Baldera [17]

On April 20, 2022, Bluehole Studio, the leading development team for TERA, announced termination of the game on PC.

As of June 30, 2022, all operations for TERA have ceased. TERA, unable to continue at any official capacity, remains accessible only through player-run private servers. The PC version of TERA is officially shut down, while the console version remains active. There are currently no plans by BlueHole to return TERA to PC under any capacity.

Reception

TERA was met with generally favorable reviews, [18] citing the action-based gameplay, huge and widely varied seamless world, the exciting and recurring Big Ass Monster (BAM) [27] fights, the ease of using the game's auction house (called the Trade Broker) and lush, detailed graphics as the game's high points. [28] The option of using a console controller also provided much satisfaction for players that wanted to play an MMORPG without relying on a keyboard and mouse. [28] The game's musical score received praise for its varied and emotionally charged tracks ranging from epic orchestral pieces to more mellow tunes. [29] Criticism was directed at the game's generic collect/kill/rendezvous quest grind to level up, with some quests backtracking simply to talk to the same NPC. [30] Player killing was commonly done in the Open World and was met with praise due to the freedom and constant action it can bring to daily questing and traveling. [30] Critics criticized the game's Nexus Wars feature as a blatant rip-off of Rift's system. [31]

In March 2013, after switching to a free-to-play business model, the game passed 1.4 million registered accounts. [32]

By March 2017, TERA had over 25 million users worldwide. [33] As of 5 May 2017, TERA had over 26 million registered players worldwide, including over 6.6 million in North America. [34] A month after its console launch in April 2018, the game had 2 million players on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms, as of May 2018. [35] In 2018, the game reached over 28 million players worldwide. [36] After its servers were shut down in 2022, the game retained a small number of players via its player-run private servers on the console version of the game.

Trade secret civil actions

In 2007, NCsoft filed a complaint to South Korean authorities and brought a civil action for damages and an injunction to Bluehole Studio. The Bluehole Studio founders and employees, formerly employed under NCsoft and working on the Lineage III development team, were convicted by a Korean criminal court for the theft of valuable trade secrets from NCsoft in 2009. In 2010, a Korean civil court held these individuals, along with Bluehole Studio, liable for misappropriation of trade secrets, awarding NCsoft about $2 million in damages and issuing an injunction against utilizing trade secrets for monetary gain. The damages were later reversed by an appellate court, but the injunction remained in place. Despite the injunction, Bluehole Studio developed and released TERA in South Korea.

On 9 January 2012, NCsoft filed a civil action in the United States against Bluehole Studio and its U.S. subsidiary En Masse. NCsoft was seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting the launch of TERA in the United States, or damages for the substantial harm that the launch would cause NCsoft. They asserted claims for copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, breach of confidence, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment under the laws of the state of New York.

On 18 April 2012, En Masse Entertainment announced they were found not guilty in the Korean civil actions. [37] However, six employees were found guilty. [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funcom</span> Norwegian video game developer

Funcom Oslo AS is a Norwegian video game developer that specializes in online games. It is best known for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) titles Conan Exiles, Age of Conan, Anarchy Online, The Secret World – and The Longest Journey series of adventure games. The company has offices in Oslo, Norway; North Carolina, US; Lisbon, Portugal; Bucharest, Romania; and Stockholm, Sweden. It also had offices in Beijing, Dublin, and Montreal previously. It is now owned by the Chinese media conglomerate Tencent.

<i>Lineage</i> (video game) 1998 massively-multiplayer online role-playing video game

Lineage is a medieval fantasy, massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released in Korea and the United States in 1998 by the South Korean computer game developer NCSoft, based on a Korean comic book series of the same name. It is the first game in the Lineage series. It is most popular in Korea and is available in Chinese, Japanese, and English. The game was designed by Jake Song, who had previously designed Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds, another MMORPG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCSoft</span> South Korea-based video game developer and publisher

NCSoft Corporation is a South Korean video game developer and publisher headquartered in Pangyo, Seongnam, South Korea, primarily known for the distribution of massively multiplayer online role-playing games such as Lineage and Guild Wars.

Cryptic Studios is an American video game developer specializing in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. It is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, and was a wholly owned Perfect World subsidiary, and is now owned by Embracer Group through its subsidiary DECA Games.

<i>Aion</i> (video game) 2008 video game

Aion: The Tower of Eternity is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by the South Korean company NCSoft. The game combines PvP and PvE in a fantasy game environment. As of May 2009, Aion had 3.5 million subscribers in Asia. AION's first major expansion pack was released to North America and Europe on September 7, 2010 under the name Aion: Assault on Balaurea. Truly Free launched on April 11, 2012 with no restrictions. The second major expansion was released in North America on June 26, 2013 under the name Aion: Dark Betrayal. Its most recent expansion was launched on July 13, 2016 under the name Aion: Echoes of Eternity.

Patrick Wyatt is a game programmer and one of the three co-founders of ArenaNet. He was the leader of the Network and Technology teams and a programmer for Guild Wars. Before the founding of ArenaNet, he was working in Blizzard Entertainment where he was the Vice President of Research and Development and a senior programmer. Wyatt was the leader of Battle.net gaming network's programming and a major contributor on the multiplayer parts of Blizzard's popular games including StarCraft, Diablo and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. Having been in Blizzard for more than eight years, his work also includes earlier Blizzard games like Lost Vikings and Rock N' Roll Racing.

The history of massively multiplayer online games spans over thirty years and hundreds of massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) titles. The origin and influence on MMO games stems from MUDs, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and earlier social games.

<i>Kingdom Under Fire II</i> 2019 video game

Kingdom Under Fire II was a video game set in a high fantasy setting developed by Blueside which merged real-time strategy (RTS), role-playing game (RPG) and massively multiplayer online game (MMO) genres. The game had a single-player and an online multiplayer mode. The game followed on chronologically from Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom, and was the first RTS game set in the Kingdom Under Fire universe to be released since the 2005 Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes. Due to its mass cancellation, most of the 4 platforms were scrapped, and it was Windows-exclusive.

<i>Blade & Soul</i> 2016 video game

Blade & Soul is a Korean Wuxia-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by NCSoft. Blade & Soul was released in Western territories on January 19, 2016. A Japanese animated television adaptation aired in 2014 from April 3 to June 26 on TBS and other stations.

<i>Neverwinter</i> (video game) 2013 video game

Neverwinter is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios for Microsoft Windows in 2013, Xbox One in 2015, and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Based on the fictional Forgotten Realms city of Neverwinter from Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter is a standalone game and not part of the previous Neverwinter Nights series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacetime Studios</span> Games development studio

Spacetime Studios (STS) is a games development studio, based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2005 by a small group of PC MMO game developers. The start-up was created with the aim to create Sci-Fi MMOs for the PC market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trion Worlds</span> American video game developer

Trion Worlds was an American video game developer. It focuses primarily on MMOs, particularly of the MMORPG and MMORTS genres. The company was founded in 2006 by Lars Buttler and Jon Van Caneghem, who had each previously worked for NCSoft and left in 2009 to join Electronic Arts.

<i>The Elder Scrolls Online</i> 2014 video game

The Elder Scrolls Online, abbreviated ESO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is a part of the Elder Scrolls series. It was released for Windows and macOS in April 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in June 2021.

<i>Final Fantasy XIV</i> 2013 video game

Final Fantasy XIV is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Square Enix. Directed and produced by Naoki Yoshida and released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Windows in August 2013, it replaced the failed 2010 version, with subsequent support for PlayStation 4, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Final Fantasy XIV is set in the fantasy region of Eorzea, five years after the devastating Seventh Umbral Calamity which ended the original version. In the Calamity, the elder primal Bahamut escaped from his prison, an ancient space station called Dalamud, unleashing an apocalypse across Eorzea. Through temporal magic, the player character of the original version escaped, reappearing at the start of A Realm Reborn. As Eorzea cements its recovery, the player must fend off a reignited invasion from the Garlean Empire.

<i>Black Desert Online</i> Korean mmorpg released in 2014

Black Desert Online (Korean: 검은사막) is a sandbox-oriented fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Korean video game developer Pearl Abyss and originally published for Microsoft Windows in 2014. A mobile version titled Black Desert Mobile was initially released in Asia by early 2019, and worldwide in December 2019. The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions, known simply as Black Desert, were released in 2019. The game is free-to-play in some parts of the world, but follows a buy-to-play business model in other editions, including the English-language editions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">En Masse Entertainment</span> American video game publisher

En Masse Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game publisher. Founded in June 2008, the company was based in Seattle, Washington, and is best known for publishing massively multiplayer online role-playing game TERA, which was developed by parent company Bluehole. The original En Masse leadership team had extensive experience in the video game industry at leading companies, including Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft, NCsoft, ArenaNet, and Electronic Arts. In January 2013, Chris Lee and Soo Min Park became chief executive officer and chief operating officer, respectively. On November 5, 2018, Bluehole and its subsidiaries, which include En Masse, were rearranged horizontally under a new parent company, Krafton Game Union. En Masse announced on August 17, 2020, that it had begun ceasing operations.

<i>PUBG: Battlegrounds</i> 2017 video game

PUBG: Battlegrounds is a battle royale game developed by PUBG Studios and published by Krafton. The game, which was inspired by the Japanese film Battle Royale (2000), is based on previous mods created by Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene for other games, and expanded into a standalone game under Greene's creative direction. It is the first game in the PUBG Universe series.

<i>Lineage 2: Revolution</i> 2016 mobile MMORPG video game

Lineage 2: Revolution is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Netmarble for mobile platforms under license from NCSoft, taking place 100 years before the events of NCSoft's Lineage II: Goddess of Destruction storyline. It is part of the Lineage series.

Krafton Inc. is a South Korean video game publisher and holding company based in Bundang-gu, Seongnam. It was created in November 2018 to serve as the parent company for Bluehole, founded by Chang Byung-gyu in Seoul in March 2007, and its subsidiaries. The company has published several notable video game titles including TERA, PUBG: Battlegrounds, New State Mobile,The Callisto Protocol and Moonbreaker. According to Forbes, Chang has a net worth of $2.9 billion and is one of the seven gaming billionaires in South Korea.

<i>Lost Ark</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Lost Ark is a 2019 MMO action role-playing game co-developed by Tripod Studio and Smilegate. It was released in South Korea in December 2019 by Smilegate and in Europe, North America, and South America in February 2022 by Amazon Games. Lost Ark cost around US$85 million to develop. The game received generally favorable reviews.

References

  1. ↑ Gaudiosi, John. "Unreal Engine 3 Pushes New MMO TERA Beyond Traditional RPGs". unrealengine.com. Epic Games . Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (10 March 2017). "PS4, Xbox One Getting Action MMO Tera This Year". GameSpot . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "TERA publisher signs agreement with Atari for North American distribution".
  4. ↑ "Tera brings high-speed MMORPG action to PS4 and Xbox One on April 3". VentureBeat. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Kerr, Chris (18 August 2020). "Tera publisher En Masse is shutting down after over a decade". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "TERA Announces Its Newest Global Publisher". Sarumonin.com. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Gameforge Takes Over Publishing Rights for TERA in the Americas". 15 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Interview with Krafton Bluehole Studio: TERA Console". Sarumonin.com. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "TERA Console Has a Crossplay Release Date". Sarumonin.com. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. ↑ @TERAConsole (17 September 2020). "Now is a good a time as any to remind players..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2023– via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ "The Adventure Ends". Gameforge.com. 20 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  12. 1 2 Park, Andrew (13 March 2010). "Spotlight On – TERA: The Exiled Realm of Arborea". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010.
  13. ↑ "TERA - Free to Play MMO". en.tera.gameforge.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "TERA". TERA. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Williams, Mike (27 December 2012). "TERA goes free-to-play in Japan and Korea". gamesindustry international. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "TERA". massivelyop. 15 December 2018.
  17. ↑ "TERA - Action MMORPG - Patch Notes 109: A New Area is Coming: Baldera - Steam News". 27 August 2021.
  18. 1 2 "TERA for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "TERA for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  20. ↑ "TERA for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  21. ↑ Lindberg, Mikael (4 June 2012). "Recension: TERA". Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  22. ↑ Deesing, Jonathan (8 May 2012). "TERA Review for PC". G4. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  23. ↑ VanOrd, Kevin (16 May 2012). "TERA Review" . Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  24. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (25 May 2012). "TERA Review" . Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  25. ↑ Savage, Phil (6 June 2012). "TERA review". PC Gamer . Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  26. ↑ Funk, John (17 May 2012). "TERA Review". Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  27. ↑ "TERA Online: What Are BAMs?". gamingduty.com. 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  28. 1 2 "TERA review". PC Gamer. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  29. ↑ "TERA Game Review". MMOs. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  30. 1 2 "TERA Review". IGN. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  31. ↑ "TERA To Feature "RIFT" Like Invasions". Lorehound.com. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  32. ↑ Williams, Mike (20 March 2013). "TERA crosses 1.4 million after F2P switch". GamesIndustry.biz . Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  33. ↑ "F2P MMORPG Tera PS4 & Xbox One Versions Out in 2017". PlayStation LifeStyle. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  34. ↑ "TERA CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF TRUE ACTION COMBAT WITH NEWCONTENT AND MORE". Develop . Games Press. 5 May 2017.
  35. ↑ "TERA REACHES TWO MILLION PLAYERS ON CONSOLES". Gamasutra . 15 May 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  36. ↑ "En Masse Entertainment, Publisher Of TERA And Stranger Things, Is Closing Down". TheGamer. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  37. ↑ "Court papers from the lawsuit" (PDF).
  38. ↑ "TERA developers guilty of stealing Lineage III assets".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.