Defiance

[Jammer]

Has anyone caught wind of this one? It just sucker punched me today. Apparently the Syfy channel and the gaming company Trion, makers of Rift, are teaming up to create a new MMO FPS that will directly relate to and interact somewhat with an upcoming television show called Defiance. That game will be set in San Francisco but the show’s characters will operate primarily out of St. Louis. The premise is that an alien race has invaded Earth and has begun “Terraforming” it to suit their own needs. The players and the show’s characters will play the parts of resistance fighters basically.

//youtu.be/NM9hDG-eFXE

Set in differing cities, the player won’t be explicitly affecting the TV show’s setting or characters but, the show will reference the game. Television characters will make appearances in the game, although unkillable supposedly, and world events on the show will also affect the game. I think there was mention of game events affecting the show, or at least the show’s characters will make reference to the game’s setting and/or happenings and influential players.

In any event, it sounds like an interesting idea. I’d really like to see how this plays out.

[Jammer]

It looks like they’ve managed to create an official website for this game finally, not that it offers much at the moment. You can sign up for the newsletter, I guess.

Trion Producers put out another video telling a little about their project…

//youtu.be/TZFk2ljfqeE

And of course MMORPG.com, Massively.com, and MMOsite.com have a little blurb about it.

[Jammer]

Haven’t heard much on this one in a while but, Ten Ton Hammer recently posted an update and below is a short blurb from the Defiance website.

LATEST NEWS
Defiance Pilot Production Begins…
Posted on: April 25, 2012

Syfy and Trion Worlds are thrilled to announce that production on the Defiance™ pilot episode commences today. Combining a star-studded cast with an elite production team, this groundbreaking transmedia experience is poised to unite TV and massively multiplayer online gaming for the very first time.

Defiance stars Grant Bowler (True Blood), Julie Benz (Dexter), Jaime Murray (Warehouse 13), Tony Curran (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Blade II), Stephanie Leonidas (Mirrormask, BBC’s Dracula), and Graham Greene (Dances with Wolves), plus recent additions Mia Kirshner (Not Another Teen Movie, 24) and Fionnula Flanagan (Lost) as fascinating characters whom you’ll get to meet in the game.
Defiance also reunites much of the Battlestar Galactica production team, including visual effects supervisor Gary Hutzel (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), composer Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica), and writers David Weddle and Bradley Thompson (Falling Skies, Battlestar Galactica). Rounding out the team are language and culture consultant David J. Peterson (Game of Thrones) and three-time Oscar-winning costume supervisor Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland, Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Edward Scissorhands).

The landmark pilot is directed by Scott Stewart (Legion, Priest) and written/executive produced by Rockne O’Bannon (Farscape), Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Hellcats) & Michael Taylor (Battlestar Galactica). Kevin Murphy serves as showrunner.

//youtu.be/siQfooemkI0

[Jammer]

It looks like Defiance finally has a solid date… or a couple of them anyway.

The ambitious joint Defiance project between Syfy and Trion Worlds is drawing ever closer to launch. The television show is set to hold its 2-hour premier on April 15th on the Syfy channel and if all goes as planned the game should hopefully be right behind it. This week the duo released a pair of new trailers to showcase the upcoming show and co-op gameplay of the Defiance MMOG. Check out the co-op gameplay video here and the new television show trailer below…

Defiance will hold its first closed beta test on January 18th and is tentatively scheduled to release in April. You can sign up to take part here.

//youtu.be/cs1vO9_KLPY

[Shooter]

At this point I am VERY cautiously optimistic about Defiance. I’m hoping for some space aspects to it too.

[andiminga]

Interesting. But I wonder how long such a genre show can survive on SyFy.

Took me a while to recognize the lead actor. He was the captain on Season 4 of LOST.

[mykalwane]

My biggest problem is that it looks like bland boring bang bang shoot them up. The show looks rather the same of bland and boring. Even the concept, which V already did this. Hell even Young Justice is doing this. Though I am going to watch it because of Julie Benz. Pretty much anything she is in I have watch. I’ve seen George of the Jungle 2 because of her. So be watching this even though I am dreading it.

[ol_whatsername]

I’ll be watching the show and playing the Xbox version of the game. I’m intrigued by how the two are going to effect each other. Honestly there is no way I couldn’t at least watch the show because it has both Jaime Murray and Julie Benz in it. I love those two and am looking forward to seeing them on screen in the same show for the first time since season 2 of Dexter.

[Jammer]

A friend from work forwarded a long list of Arkfall Codes to me. The Arkfall Codes are six alphanumeric characters long, and can be found in all kinds of Defiance content, from videos to websites. You can redeem the codes at the Defiance “My EGO” web page to gain credit for unlocks in game. It appears you will max out with all unlocks at 120 codes. Despite that there seem to be more codes available, 133 in this list.

Also, it looks as if the game is due out next Tuesday, April 2nd.

[spoiler]

1 — 3Q6VZN Ark Hunter Chronicles: Episode 1
2 — 4OSBUA Twitch Live Stream - Friday February 1st, 2013
3 — 6CIBJT Join The Fight Teaser
4 — 6ZDGAR Myll_Erik gave it to us on the forums.
5 — 7VLERN Ark Hunter Chronicles: Episode 2
6 — 8MKLUL Amazon - Defiance Collector’s Edition Picture
7 — 9ELBUP Advertisement, Multiple Websites.
8 — AMY2ZH Defiance Email
9 — BJT9ID Defiance Community Post (French)
10 – CEOZCG Myll_Erik gave it to us on the forums.
11 – CH8FJB Enemy Intel : The Scrappers
12 – CWAPDX Defiance Game Live Action Trailer - Join the Fight!
13 – DKCJK3 Defiance TV Trailer - Syfy
14 – E2DFMO Twitch Live Steam - Friday, January 25th, 2013
15 – ETCTFJ Defiance Email
16 – FCCEPO VBI Weapons - English
17 – FYKQZX VBI Introduction - English
18 – GBIXKI Twitch Live Stream - Friday February 15th, 2013
19 – GT1P3H Poster at Gamestop Stores
20 – HTG7BF Defiance Main Page - Background
21 – HVN5YD Advertisement, Multiple Websites.
22 – I71ADU Defiance Community Page - Hell Bug Valentine
23 – IS3KAF Enemy Intel: 99ers
24 – LFM6RV Defiance - Tumblr Page
25 – J71AAM Ark Hunter Chronicles: Episode 2
26 – JJD6N5 Ark Hunter Chronicles: Episode 1
27 – KBZMVZ Join The Fight Teaser
28 – LDBAMY Enemy Intel Video: Raiders
29 – LQ7WVN Defiance Main Page - Arkhunter Chronicle 1 Image
30 – MVV8SL Defiance Facebook Gallery - Weapons of Defiance
31 – O2AM1S Ark Hunter Chronicles: Episode 2
32 – PSZ3IE Twitch Live Stream - Friday, March 1st, 2013
33 – PVXDTU Defiance Community Page - Source Code (Line 260)
34 – RPR9ZS VBI Weapons - English
35 – RQXPGX Twitch Live Stream - Friday, February 8th, 2013
36 – SCSD5T Gamespot’s Defiance Channel Page (Background)
37 – TFM2IH VBI Weapons - English
38 – TLK9F1 Defiance Email
39 – TWIK9S Defiance Main Page - Old Background
40 – U1T8PG Twitch Live Stream - Friday, February 22nd, 2013
41 – UUXTGI Defiance - Tumblr Page
42 – V2227Q Von Bach Industries - Main Page (At the bottom.)
43 – VGFSW9 Defiance Ego Page - Security Breach Warning
44 – VO5DHS Join The Fight Teaser
45 – VPZK7B VBI Recruitment - English
46 – VW4LQ0 Defiance Facebook (About Page)
47 – W0UODG Ark Hunter Chronicles - coming soon
48 – WA94BD Defiance Email
49 – WKJIXT Enemy Intel: Hell Bugs
50 – XBNBPE Enemy Intel : The Mutants
51 – XCTFGY Defiance Main Page - Old Background
52 – YJUICP Advertisement, Multiple Websites.
53 – YOT4ZA Defiance: Competitive Multiplayer Trailer
54 – Z5OP9L Defiance Facebook - Timeline Photo
55 – OTIINU
56 – 34TPUS Defiance Central: Ego Calculator
57 – FBWTVC Amazon - Xbox 360 Box Art for Defiance
58 – 6F9KIV Ark Hunter Chronicles: Rain of Death
59 – 3WWJKK Ark Hunter Chronicles: Rain of Death
60 – 8MOMX2 Ark Hunter Chronicles: Rain of Death
61 – A1AQCA Defiance - Tumblr Page
62 – JIMOFE Twitch Live Stream - Wednesday, March 6th, 2013
63 – 2A9WZT Defiance Email
64 – KHIBBT Facebook - Timeline Photo (Irathient Overview Image)
65 – M2BDRP Defiance: Unique Weapons and Modifications Trailer
66 – HMDQRN Defiance: Unique Weapons and Modifications Trailer
67 – EXA6RK Twitch Live Stream - Friday, March 8th, 2013
68 – WOMCCQ Syfy - Home Page (In the background picture.)
69 – LK47XN Ark Hunter Chronicles: All in your Head (Episode 4)
70 – JQ9ZTM Ark Hunter Chronicles: All in your Head (Episode 4)
71 – YW6ZQ8 Ark Hunter Chronicles: All in your Head (Episode 4)
72 – R1T3EB Defiance - Tumblr Page
73 – WBIEOS Blastr Article
74 – JIGR3J Defiance Email
75 – RXVI6J Defiance Beta News
76 – ISHSQF Syfy Pre-order Email
77 – CHUROO Defiance Email
78 – MEWFWY Ow.ly - Indogene Overview Image
79 – VMNNRE Defiance - Tumblr Ad
80 – DT0CHZ @Myll_Erik tweeted it.
81 – K880P4 @ennstamatic tweeted it.
82 – RFTRHS @sledgehammer70 tweeted it.
83 – OIUQQ5 @DefianceGame tweeted a scrambled code.
84 – FZY8CB IGN - Defiance Microsite (In Background)
85 – 53VIZG Advertisement, Multiple Websites.
86 – OLXQJ6 Ark Hunter Chronicles: Risk Versus Reward (Episode 5)
87 – V5WKFT Ark Hunter Chronicles: Risk Versus Reward (Episode 5)
88 – OBWTZL Ark Hunter Chronicles: Risk Versus Reward (Episode 5)
89 – HC1GN0 Castithan Overview Image
90 – ZFR5TA Gamespot’s Defiance Channel - Competition Page(UK)
91 – D91AQK @DefianceGame tweeted it.
92 – W72URO Defiance Game Launch Teaser: Welcome to the New Age
93 – 41US8B IGN - Defiance Microsite (In Background)
94 – YDBF4L Twitch Live Stream - Friday, March 22nd, 2013
95 – CNABZX Destructoid News Article
96 – 6JOMJO Gamestop Ad???
97 – SZUZSY Destructoid Forums
98 – XT4PMX Liberata Overview Image
99 – PKYLKN Gamestop Ad???
100 - 8KBMUT Advertisement, Multiple Websites.
101 - JBS7QX Gamestop Ad???
102 - 7BRHNJ Destructoid News Article
103 - TU3RJF Destructoid - Image in the gallery.
104 - F3LZLK Destructoid News Article
105 - MEBTWK Destructoid News Article
106 - TA6NCJ Destructoid News Article
107 - PTZ4QR Destructoid News Article
108 - N4S9EK Destructoid News Article
109 - 5X4WJ4 Ark Hunter Chronicles: Vanishing Commodities (Episode 6)
110 - UT7DE0 Ark Hunter Chronicles: Vanishing Commodities (Episode 6)
111 - 6VWFCI Defiance Game Launch Teaser: Welcome to the New Age
112 - 81HABS Ark Hunter Chronicles: Vanishing Commodities (Episode 6)
113 - HUBAZV MMORPG Article
114 - GEPKRJ MMORPG Article
115 - Q4DUBL MMORPG Article
116 - NC9VYK MMORPG Article
117 - TTDGX4 MMORPG Article
118 - 9C9N87 MMORPG Article
119 - ZZKJ2G MMORPG Article
120 - T76SN6 MMORPG Article
121 - XWRN9M MMORPG Article
122 - 88UPWS MMORPG Article
123 - NFQ7PG Joystiq News Article
124 - 35P72U Joystiq News Article
125 - 8UNKAD Joystiq News Article
126 - YRE5SN Joystiq News Article
127 - HP9X6X Joystiq News Article
128 - C2VNDF Joystiq News Article
129 - XQBG4H Joystiq News Article
130 - 4HT2G9 Joystiq News Article
131 - LYCEHY Joystiq News Article
132 - 7P8NDC Joystiq News Article
133 - U6Q9O7 IGN - Defiance Microsite (In Background)

[/spoiler]

[ol_whatsername]

Defiance comes out tomorrow and I have to say after playing the beta I’m really looking forward to it. The game plays a hell of a lot like Borderlands only 3rd person and an MMO instead of a single-player/co-op game. If you play it solo the difficulty is a little on the hard side at least early on but it can be quite fun if you play with a group. The only downside I experienced (other than the Xbox beta build being over a month old) was the driving mechanics take some practice. I don’t know yet if that will be fixed in the final game but I’ll find out tomorrow.

Also for those interested in the show SyFy has the first 14 minutes of episode 1 up their site, I watched it the other day and I have to say it looks interesting for more than just Jaime Murray and Julie Benz.

[Jammer]

Well I’ve played all of two days so far and I kind of like it. It wasn’t a bad launch either. I’ve seen worse. Defiance wasn’t quite all that I was expecting after seeing what Trion introduced with Rift. The dynamic content technology from Rift is in there but, I wasn’t expecting an all out “shooter” game. After all the other MMOs out there, I was expecting “hidden dice roll” chances to hit, not a first (or third rather) person shooter twitch game. Defiance isn’t the first MMOShooter out there but, there are so very few of them as far as I know. I can’t remember if World War II Online was/is an MMOFPS (first person shooter) or a MMOTPS (third person shooter); it’s been a long time. Defiance seems to pull it off rather well.

Ol_whatsername is right though, it can be tough to go solo in this game. Some of the content seems to overwhelm me. I don’t know how many times I had to repeat that Rosa Rodriguez instance with that Teach 99er guy before I beat him. That was brutal trying it solo and having it reset back to the beginning every time I failed.

A User Guide of Manual of some sort would have been nice. It’s not entirely intuitive but, I think I figured out most of it. Good old trial and error. Still, I like the game. That’s one more game to tax my time budget. I just can’t keep up with them all.