Tripping the Rift

Last week, Trion opened its doors to some of its most dedicated players and invited them in for an inside look at their favorite games. They called the event “Trion Community Day 2014” and attendees have returned with a whole slew of new information on RIFT’s upcoming expansion, Nightmare Tide. This week we’re talking new zones, nightmare rifts, mentoring UP, minions, and more. Read on for all the details.

It’s no secret that RIFT has a generous business model. The slogan “No Tricks, No Trials, No Traps” has proven true and made the game a beacon for free-to-play design. There is a store, and Trion would sure like it if you used it, but if you don’t, there is still a whole game to explore, all the way through endgame. That raises the question: why exactly would you subscribe and is it even worth it when so much is available for free? That’s the question we’re out to answer today.

It has been two weeks since Trion announced RIFT: Nightmare Tide. Since our announcement interview, the development team has taken to the forums and social media to tantalize us with new tidbits of information. A series of behind the scenes articles has gone up, as well as a slew of new screenshots and concept art. With all of these things in mind, it’s time we outline just what we’re hoping for – and what we’re afraid of – in the next expansion.

After two long years of waiting, Trion has finally pulled back the curtain on what’s next for RIFT: Nightmare Tide. Announced during this week’s State of the Game letter, Executive Producer Bill Fisher tantalized fans with hints of what’s to come. With a few hints under our belt, we sat down with Bill, as well as a Lead Content Designer, Mike Daugherty, and Community Manager, Eric “Ocho” Cleaver, to talk about just what players can expect from Nightmare Tide.

As players settle in for patch 2.7, the wider MMO world has been buzzing with the launch of Wildstar. All across Telara, players are talking about it, sharing their opinions, their jokes, and even their fears. Today we take a look at what Wildstar means for Rift and what players should expect.

Since Scott Hartsman rejoined the team as CEO in August 2013, Trion Worlds has set about returning RIFT to its prior glory with regular, meaty content updates. What's changed since then is the business model. How do RIFT's updates stack up since the free-to-play conversion? What do they tell us about the state of the game and where Trion's focus is at? Join us as we answer these questions in this week's Tripping the Rift.

Welcome back to Tripping the Rift, MMORPG's bi-weekly foray into the dimensionally-torn world of Telara. It's been three years since RIFT hit store shelves and a lot has changed since then. Games are richer than they've ever been. New mechanics and systems have risen to the forefront and become expectations of any new game vying for our attention. Join us as we look forward to 2.0 and the Five Ideas RIFT Should Crib for its Next Expansion.

As our columnist once more approaches the end game, he casts his eyes to the options that lay ahead. What are the prospects for a new player hitting the level cap? And what does Bindings of Blood tells us about the state of RIFT as a whole? Join us as we explore the late game in Tripping the Rift: Eyes on Endgame.

Welcome back to Tripping the Rift! It's been a while readers but we're back to dive into all that's interesting in Telara. This week we're heading into hostile territory to take a look at the latest exciting addition to RIFT, PVP dimensions! Are they all they're chalked up to be? We'll let you know! Not sure where to begin? We've got you covered! Buckle in and prepare for murder, mayhem, and a weapons-belt full of new gadgets to play with.

When RIFT first launched, the idea of going free-to-play seemed like anathema to its design. Former Executive Producer and current Trion Worlds CEO, Scott Hartsman, made it clear that F2P was not something in the cards in the year of its launch. And yet, with the changing tide of the MMO industry, RIFT made the jump and officially dropped its subscription fee last year. MMO fans are again asking the question: How sustainable is free-to-play in the long-term?

This week heralds the arrival of a brand new patch filled to the brim with free new content. Several members of the press were treated to an exclusive preview of all that patch 2.6 has to offer. There are some surprises in store and some deeper systems than we first expected and almost all of it ties into dimension and artifacts. Follow us after the break to find out why now is the perfect time to give RIFT a re-visit, especially if you want to be prepared for 3.0. Read on for more.

Artifact hunting. Who doesn't love it? There is something thrilling about spotting the glimmer of the artifact's worldly star, even if you have no interest in completing collections or lucky coins. RIFT's 2.6 update has something special for artifact hunters, especially if they also love dimensions. And let's be honest, who doesn't? Today we're talking Dream Weaving, the new profession combining RIFT's two unlikeliest systems into a powerful blend that improves both. Ready? Let's dig in.

Welcome back to Tripping the RIFT, MMORPG's bi-weekly column dedicated to Trion World's, RIFT. It's been a while and we've spent that time plumbing the depths of Telara to bring you the premiere column on all things ascended. This week we're looking ahead into 2014 and bringing you the five things RIFT must do to have a successful new year. Grab your foci, boys and girls, because the first wave is about to begin.

There is no question that World of Warcraft has been the top dog in the pack for many years. But we contend that Rift is beginning to beat the leader at its own game. Find out why we say that and then let us know what you think in the comments.

There are a lot of great features in Rift, many of them well-known such as the new three-faction PvP. But some great ones are often overlooked. In today's Tripping the Rift, we take a look at the mentoring system. Check it out!