Gamescom 2011 - Defiance
A look at the upcoming MMO from Trion Worlds which will launch alongside its very own show on Syfy.
Trion Worlds PC/Playstation 3/PC Few games at this years Gamescom have the potential to be as groundbreaking as Defiance from Trion Worlds. Firstly its taking a risk by bringing the usually PC exclusive genre of the MMO across to consoles. Developed for the Xbox 360 and PS3, Defiance allows squads of friends to become part of a persistent world, which continues to exist and change even without players being online. Secondly, the really interesting part - Defiance is launching alongside its very own Syfy channel show, the events of which will both effect and be effected by those taking place within its virtual counterpart. Taking place in a futuristic San-Francisco under alien invasion, the game introduces MMO gaming to a consoles in a accessible and familiar third-person combat style which looks reminiscent of the original Mass Effect. Trion Worlds talked to some length about how the TV show merge would work, citing a number of different ideas that are being implemented into the project in time for its release. The script for the show is also being written by notable TV Sci-Fi writer Rockne O Bannon, known for his work on shows like V, Farscape and Alien Nation. Characters from the TV show will not only reference events that have occurred online, but also potentially celebrate (or condemn) the actions of players who have achieved a notable goal. Likewise, the characters in the show might turn up in the game with a specific quest or mission, which will then be referenced during the next episode of the show. Trion Worlds also clarified that its not going to hurt your enjoyment of either if you dont play as well as watch Defiance, but instead offer further background and character development to those who do. The game was demonstrated live with the Xbox 360 version, with several other players connected to the game. The squad of players explored the world showing off the freedom and scale of the game with side-missions, quests and challenges. The world itself looks to as huge as expected in an MMO, and while it depicts a San Francisco Bay under attack, the visual style is bright and full of lush scenery complete with some of the bays real landmarks. The overall look and feel of the game will no doubt draw comparisons to the Halo series. We also got a look at the games random Arkfall events, which will bring any nearby players to a location to compete for loot and valuable items. The one we saw resulted in a huge boss battle, with the team having to take it down by shooting the creatures limbs. At the same time, players competing in an Arkfall event will have to fend off other teams and attacking aliens, in order to keep the loot for themselves. Details on weaponry and character types as well as what other RPG elements Trion Worlds will adding to the mix are still sparse. 
Whether or not Trion Worlds and Syfy can pull off this madly ambitious project off remains to be seen. Without seeing any of the TV show completed, or hands-on time with the game, its unclear if the full potential of the project will come through. With plenty of time to work out the logistics and Trion Worlds passion to create something truely groundbreaking, we hope Defiance will not only successfully introduce MMO gaming to consoles, but also usher in a future of similarly cool collaborations between games and other forms of media. _____________ Defiance is awaiting a confirmed release date, and will be released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.