TERA: Character Creation Video Reveals Developers' Commitment to Improvement
TERA in-game beta image, Lancer High Elf
With the recent focus group testing (FGT) and Korean closed beta testing, developer Blue Hole Studios came to learn through player feedback that character customization is a big issue with it’s upcoming action MMORPG, TERA. In response to this feedback, Blue Hole Studios has produced a new video showcasing the improvements made to this particular aspect of the game. The video was made available on TERA‘s official Korean website, and shared by publisher En Masse Entertainment on the American TERAwebsite forums.
The developers choose to balance character races by making them all equal, stat-wise. MMORPG purists argue that this takes away from the individuality of the races, and a major problem that became apparent during early tests were the lack of customization option for the races. Since racial differences are purely cosmetic, one would expect that the customization of each playable character would be expansive to make up for the lack of gameplay-effecting options. Testing revealed that there wasn’t. This new video shows how the facial and customization options have been expanded when creating a new character.
The video depicts the creation of all races present in TERA, including sexes that were previously only alluded to. This includes the loli-licious female Popori, the effeminate male High Elves, and the reptilian but strangely attractive Aman females. Facial sliders are used to change the characters appearance in standard MMO fashion, which the TERAfans fan site has translated to reveal quite a few portions. It doesn’t seem as expansive as character creation in say, Aion, but the new options are certainly a welcome addition to the game.
Let’s see what the developers have in store regarding the other testing issues in the coming weeks.
NEW CLUB INVITES STUDENTS TO ‘EXPERIENCE WALK’ ON APRIL 4
US Fed News Service, Including US State News April 2, 2011 MONROE, La., March 31 — The University of Louisiana at Monroe issued the following news release:
As winter turns to spring, more University of Louisiana at Monroe students are spending their weekends shucking shoes and enjoying the barefoot feel of grass under their feet.
But for other young adults and children around the world, the barefoot lifestyle is far from a luxurious weekend nicety.
It is a way of life that puts them at risk every day. That’s the message that Meghan Aymond, ULM TOMS Shoes Campus Club President, wants to get across to her peers.
“The whole purpose of TOMS is to donate shoes for children worldwide. What many people don’t realize is that many children in developing countries grow up never owning a single pair of shoes,” said Aymond, a senior pre-pharmacy major from Watson. “This is a huge problem because it can lead to soil-transmitted diseases and dangerous injuries.” Aymond said often these same children can’t attend school barefoot and, if they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential. here toms shoes coupon code
She explained how Toms Shoes, a company founded on the principle of donating one pair of shoes for every new pair it sells, now has hundreds of TOMS Shoes Campus Clubs across the nation, including the new one at ULM headed by Aymond.
These clubs have formed to amplify the message of conscientious consumerism.
In order to raise people’s awareness of the problem, Aymond said the club is offering new activities during Spring Fever week at ULM, including an “Experience the Walk” opportunity.
“‘Experience the Walk’ is an area filled with hard dirt and gravel for people to walk barefoot across, just to get a minor glimpse of what children around the world experience every day,” said Aymond.
The ULM TOMS Shoes Club will hold their event from 12-2 p.m., Monday, April 4, in ULM’s Bayou Park.
Club members will offer large canvases in which budding artists may paint, while others may choose to render their artwork on a pair of white canvas shoes that can be purchased through www.
TOMS.com or locally at River Outfitters on Tower Drive in Monroe.
All may be entered into a drawing for a pair of TOMS shoes following the event.
Aymond also extended an invitation to Ouachita Parish residents to recycle their gently worn shoes on April 4.
The shoe collection is in partnership with another charitable organization, Soles4Souls Inc., which has committed to collect and distribute 11 million shoes in 2011 to people living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters through its “11 IN 11” campaign.
Since 2005, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 12 million pairs of shoes because of the generosity and commitment of people and organizations like ULM TOMS Shoes, according to Aymond.
“I think it is so easy for students to take things for granted, like something as simple as the ability to wake up in the morning and strap a pair of shoes on,” said Aymond. “I hope that we can raise awareness that there is something we can do to help.” For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com Laura J. Woodard, 318/342-5447, woodard@ulm.edu.
Gabriel Zamora is a freelance writer and ghost writer, artist, hardcore video gamer, and self-taught cook. He's a native New Yorker and graduate from Hunter College, with a Bachelor's of Arts in writing. He is currently working on two novels.
