Trion Worlds
Encyclopedia
Trion Worlds, Inc. is an award-winning American video game developer
and publisher
, which focuses primarily on MMOs
, particularly of the MMORPG
and MMORTS genres. The company was founded in 2006 by Lars Buttler and Jon Van Canegham, who had each previously worked for EA
and NCSoft
, respectively. The company consists of several industry veterans, some of whom have contributed to such titles as Aion
, World of Warcraft
and EverQuest
, as well as Pogo.com
.
for Global Online at major American
video game publisher
EA
, and Jon Van Canegham, previously serving as Executive Producer
at South Korean online video game company NCSoft
. The two left their respective jobs to pursue the founding of a company that could "define a generation of interactive entertainment by fundamentally revolutionizing the way games are created, played and distributed.”
After the founding, the company immediately began development on the Trion Platform, a server technology which both Trion and "external partners" will deliver games, one that is less heavily client-based than other games and helps to enable large-scale battles.
Trion also begun early development on their first MMORPG
, then titled Heroes of Telara, which would go on to be renamed as Rift: Planes of Telara, until finally being released as Rift in March 2011.
In 2010, in addition to the renaming of Heroes of Telara to Rift: Planes of Telara, Trion World Network, Inc. renamed itself as Trion Worlds, Inc.
. The game would go on to undergo extensive alpha testing, with beta testing finalizing the stress test portion of development. Trion Worlds CEO Lars Buttler has stated that Rift has a budget of "over 50 million".The game was officially released in 2011 in the United States
on March 1, Australia
on March 2, and throughout Europe
on March 4.
, a Free-to-Play MMORTS video game developed by Petroglyph Games, is currently planned for a simultaneous North American
and European
launch sometime in 2011.
announced a deal in which a video game and related television series would be produced. In 2011, the game was revealed to be Defiance, an MMO
open world shooter
for release on Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
at an unspecified date. The official press release states that the game "interconnects with a global television program by Syfy, cable’s premier imagination-based entertainment channel. Announced last year, the first live gameplay demo of Trion and Syfy’s visionary concept will debut at the annual industry event (E3)," and calling it the "first interconnect video game and television series."
Investments Group, Comcast
Ventures, Bertelsman Digital Media Investments, Rustic Canyon Partners, Trinity Ventures and DCM
, with HP
listed on their website as a "strategic partner". In addition, Trion has also partnered with American
video game developer
Petroglyph Games, American cable television
channel SyFy
, and video game publishers Sony Computer Entertainment
and Ubisoft
.
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
and publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
, which focuses primarily on MMOs
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
, particularly of the MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
and MMORTS genres. The company was founded in 2006 by Lars Buttler and Jon Van Canegham, who had each previously worked for EA
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
and NCSoft
NCsoft
NCsoft is a South Korea-based online video game company, which has published massively multiplayer online role-playing games including Lineage, City of Heroes, Wildstar, Exteel, Guild Wars and Aion.-History:...
, respectively. The company consists of several industry veterans, some of whom have contributed to such titles as Aion
Aion
Aion may refer to:In music:*Aion , a Japanese metal band**Aion , their 1992 album*Aion , a Polish gothic metal band*Aion , a 2003 album...
, World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
and EverQuest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
, as well as Pogo.com
Pogo.com
Pogo.com is a gaming website that offers a variety of free casual games, from card and board games to puzzle, sports, and word games. It is owned by Electronic Arts....
.
History
The company was originally founded as Trion World Network, Inc in 2006 by Lars Buttler, previously serving as Vice PresidentVice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
for Global Online at major American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
EA
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, and Jon Van Canegham, previously serving as Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
at South Korean online video game company NCSoft
NCsoft
NCsoft is a South Korea-based online video game company, which has published massively multiplayer online role-playing games including Lineage, City of Heroes, Wildstar, Exteel, Guild Wars and Aion.-History:...
. The two left their respective jobs to pursue the founding of a company that could "define a generation of interactive entertainment by fundamentally revolutionizing the way games are created, played and distributed.”
After the founding, the company immediately began development on the Trion Platform, a server technology which both Trion and "external partners" will deliver games, one that is less heavily client-based than other games and helps to enable large-scale battles.
Trion also begun early development on their first MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
, then titled Heroes of Telara, which would go on to be renamed as Rift: Planes of Telara, until finally being released as Rift in March 2011.
In 2010, in addition to the renaming of Heroes of Telara to Rift: Planes of Telara, Trion World Network, Inc. renamed itself as Trion Worlds, Inc.
Rift
In 2006, Trion began development on Heroes of Telara (now known simply as Rift), an MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
. The game would go on to undergo extensive alpha testing, with beta testing finalizing the stress test portion of development. Trion Worlds CEO Lars Buttler has stated that Rift has a budget of "over 50 million".The game was officially released in 2011 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 1, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on March 2, and throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on March 4.
End of Nations
Trions next game, End of NationsEnd of Nations
End of Nations is an upcoming MMORTS video game for Microsoft Windows. It is being developed by Petroglyph Games and published by Trion Worlds...
, a Free-to-Play MMORTS video game developed by Petroglyph Games, is currently planned for a simultaneous North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
and European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
launch sometime in 2011.
Defiance
In 2010, Trion and SyFySyfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
announced a deal in which a video game and related television series would be produced. In 2011, the game was revealed to be Defiance, an MMO
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
open world shooter
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
for release on Microsoft Windows
Games for Windows
Games for Windows is a brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of Windows Vista. The brand represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games, bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
at an unspecified date. The official press release states that the game "interconnects with a global television program by Syfy, cable’s premier imagination-based entertainment channel. Announced last year, the first live gameplay demo of Trion and Syfy’s visionary concept will debut at the annual industry event (E3)," and calling it the "first interconnect video game and television series."
Other Projects
Trion has multiple investors, including The Time WarnerTime Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
Investments Group, Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
Ventures, Bertelsman Digital Media Investments, Rustic Canyon Partners, Trinity Ventures and DCM
DCM
DCM may refer to:Technology:* Data Center Manager* Deep chlorophyll maximum, subsurface maximum in the concentration of chlorophyll* Dichloromethane, a common solvent in organic chemistry...
, with HP
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
listed on their website as a "strategic partner". In addition, Trion has also partnered with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
Petroglyph Games, American cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel SyFy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
, and video game publishers Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
and Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
.