TERA (video game)

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. 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, Bluehole Studio, and Gameforge publishes the game in these regions, respectively - En Masse Entertainment was the North American publisher, until September 2020. In February 2013 the game was renamed to TERA: Rising concurrently with the game's launch to the free-to-play model.

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

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 on December 2014 in America and Europe. The game has over 28 million players worldwide, as of 2018.

In April 2018, TERA went on to release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, through En Masse Entertainment[2] in North America, Europe, and Japan, whereas Bluehole Studio 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,[3] where it was decided that Bluehole Studio would be publishing TERA's Console version globally[4] - taking over a self-publishing role, in place of En Masse Entertainment, whereas the PC version would be published by Gameforge.[5]

The Console version diverted paths from its original PC counterpart, and declared that it would be taking its own path.[6] TERA is set to release its Crossplay Feature in Mid-November 2020,[7] 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, along with the Xbox Series S, in Holidays 2020, with an Enhanced Graphics Mode - which will allow for cross-generation and cross-platform gaming.[8]

Gameplay

TERA has typical MMORPG features such as questing, crafting, and player versus player action. The game's combat uses a real-time battle system that incorporates third-person camera view. The player targets an enemy with a cross-hair cursor rather than clicking or tabbing an individual opponent (which is called the "Non-Target battle system" by the developer). The Players need to actively dodge enemy attacks. A keyboard and mouse or a control pad can be used to control the character.[9]

Characters may be one of seven races[9] allied with the Valkyon Federation. Each race has a set of unique "racial skills" that gives them minor advantages. Races also have their own unique animations for many class-specific skills. TERA also has 13 classes (as of October 2017),[10] 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 works similarly, as it allows game time to be purchased with real money and sold for in-game gold. The use of Chronoscrolls is only available to users who have purchased the game either digitally or physically. Those with the "Discovery Edition" cannot 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.[11]

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.[12]

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. Bluehole Studio 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."[13]

Reception

TERA has been met with generally favorable reviews,[14] citing the action-based gameplay, huge and widely varied seamless world, the exciting and recurring Big Ass Monster (BAM)[23] fights, the ease of using the game's auction house (called the Trade Broker) and lush, detailed graphics as the game's high points.[24] 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.[24] The game's musical score received praise for its varied and emotionally charged tracks ranging from epic orchestral pieces to more mellow tunes.[25] Criticism is 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.[26] Player killing is commonly done in the Open World and has been met with a lot of praise due to the freedom and constant action it can bring to daily questing and traveling.[26] Critics have targeted the Nexus Wars feature as a blatant rip-off of Rift's system.[27]

In March 2013, after switching to a free-to-play business model, the game passed 1.4 million registered accounts.[28]

By March 2017, TERA had over 25 million users worldwide.[29] As of 5 May 2017, TERA had over 26 million registered players worldwide, including over 6.6 million in North America.[30] 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.[31] As of 2018, the game has over 28 million players worldwide.[32]

Trade secret civil actions

In 2007, NCsoft filed a complaint to South Korean gosu gamer 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.[33] However, three employees were found guilty.

References
  1. Makuch, Eddie (10 March 2017). "PS4, Xbox One Getting Action MMO Tera This Year". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. "Tera brings high-speed MMORPG action to PS4 and Xbox One on April 3". VentureBeat. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  3. Kerr, Chris. "Tera publisher En Masse is shutting down after over a decade". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. "TERA Announces Its Newest Global Publisher". Sarumonin.com. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. "Gameforge Takes Over Publishing Rights for TERA in the Americas". 15 October 2020.
  6. "Interview with Krafton Bluehole Studio: TERA Console". Sarumonin.com. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. "TERA Console Has a Crossplay Release Date". Sarumonin.com. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  8. "https://twitter.com/teraconsole/status/1306607123967758343". Twitter. Retrieved 27 September 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  9. Park, Andrew (13 March 2010). "Spotlight On – TERA: The Exiled Realm of Arborea". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010.
  10. "TERA - Free to Play MMO". en.tera.gameforge.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  11. "TERA". TERA. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  12. Williams, Mike (27 December 2012). "TERA goes free-to-play in Japan and Korea". gamesindustry international. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  13. "TERA". massivelyop.
  14. "TERA for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  15. "TERA for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  16. "TERA for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  17. Lindberg, Mikael (4 June 2012). "Recension: TERA". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  18. Deesing, Jonathan (8 May 2012). "TERA Review for PC". G4. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  19. VanOrd, Kevin (16 May 2012). "TERA Review". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  20. Grayson, Nathan (25 May 2012). "TERA Review". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  21. Savage, Phil (6 June 2012). "TERA review". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  22. Funk, John (17 May 2012). "TERA Review". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  23. "TERA Online: What Are BAMs?". gamingduty.com. 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  24. "TERA review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  25. "TERA Game Review". MMOs. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  26. "TERA Review". IGN. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  27. "TERA To Feature "RIFT" Like Invasions". Lorehound.com. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  28. Williams, Mike (20 March 2013). "TERA crosses 1.4 million after F2P switch". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  29. "F2P MMORPG Tera PS4 & Xbox One Versions Out in 2017". PlayStation LifeStyle. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  30. "TERA CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF TRUE ACTION COMBAT WITH NEWCONTENT AND MORE". Develop. Games Press. 5 May 2017.
  31. "TERA REACHES TWO MILLION PLAYERS ON CONSOLES". Gamasutra. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  32. "En Masse Entertainment, Publisher Of TERA And Stranger Things, Is Closing Down". TheGamer. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  33. "Court papers from the lawsuit" (PDF).
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