Trion Worlds Community Visit

A few weeks ago I was invited out to the Trion Worlds offices with several other fansites, news networks and active members of the community from across their various games for a special event. We were able to meet eachother, the community team and the developers whilst playing new content and talking with them about the games.

Continue reading for some images from the event.

We started with an ice breaking meal in the evening and the morning after a group of us fast traveled over to Trion Worlds offices. The sign above may be familiar to some of you folks who have been over to the new Silicon Valley landmass and found the version in game.

For the event we had our own room set aside with breakfast and drinks, oh and the important part computers. The community team was represented and even Kiwibird made the trip over from Austin to the Redwood offices for the event.

Each of the games communities were represented

We had a packed day while going through the various Trion games with their respective community members. We all played each of the games, Rift, Trove, Defiance and Archeage and spoke with their developers.

Scott Hartsman talking to us about game stuff!

We had a play through of the new Rift expansion which featured a new underwater (and land) mixed zone, which was done very well. In Trove we had a look around some of the great public builds that people have been creating. In Archeage we jumped around doing silly things having large scale boat fights and scaring the locals.

During the Defiance portion we went over to Silicon Valley, this was the first time I had seen the area close to completion (having been naughty and went over there when it was still in untextured state). The area was lovely but I missed the rain. The devs had kindly copied over our main characters (those of us who represented Defiance) so we could be somewhat effective.

For me the highlight of the play session was during a Hellbug major arkfall with the majority of people not having played the game before, hellbugs everywhere with full plates, people downed and a handful of us working together to continue to damage the enemies and revive other players. It was much more enjoyable than the sit back and DPS race that we are used to on the live servers (granted, the people dying may not have enjoyed it as much as we did).

It was great to meet the team behind the game I love, and the people involved in it. We had some great discussions about what we thought about Silicon Valley, and the controversial encryption change announced the day before.

Etaew, Market, Trick, Phantasie

We also had a tour of the office, seeing where each of the teams worked. Something I found quite interesting and that I had never pieced together was how artists could work in quite a sunny location and bright office and not have the colours they use affected. It turns out they have big black screens around their monitors which looks quite amusing.

A signed scene with my character, and a hellbug plushie

I was humbled when the team presented me with a few parting gifts, a signed scene with my game character in it, a hellbug plushie (now renamed 'my precious') and a collectors edition box of the game containing a Defiance bag (I've used it since), a hellbug figurine, a Defiance art book, a Defiance soundtrack and several in-game goodies. These are pretty rare now and I'm super chuffed with them :).

Other Images

You know, work and stuff!

Totally the best part of the office.

Checking out all angles

It's nice to know that when a hellbug attacks I won't be scared!

The original printed image used a character from NA, when my main was on EU. I couldn't figure out why Rich looked so bummed when I starting talking about EU at dinner. They sent me a correction.