TERA publisher signs agreement with Atari for North American distribution

by: Russell - posted: 3/17/2011 10:41:00 AM

En Masse Entertainment, publishers of the new action-MMO TERA, have signed an agreement with Atari to make them the exclusive North American retail distributor.  TERA offers the depth of other MMOs such as quests, crafting, and PVP, but also has the skill and experience of a console action game.  Instead of running away far enough that you're out of range of an enemy attack you can attack an enemy where you want and dodge an enemy's attack on the fly.  TERA is scheduled to launch on the PC in 2011.  I've played quite a few MMOs (though World of Warcraft was the only one I played more than a week) but I'll probably check this out when it's released.  Read on for the official press release.

EN MASSE ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH ATARI FOR LAUNCH OF TERA

Highly Acclaimed Action MMO to Partner with Veteran Game Company for Launch in 2011
 
SEATTLE, WA—March 17, 2011—En Masse Entertainment™, a new breed of game publisher specializing in bringing engaging and innovative online properties to new audiences, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Atari, as the exclusive North American retail distributor for the launch of its award-winning and highly anticipated Action MMO, TERA™.  Atari is a global creator, producer, and publisher of interactive entertainment with extensive distribution experience for both roleplaying and MMO titles. Currently in production, TERA is scheduled for release on the PC in North America in 2011.
“We put a lot of focus on finding the right company to distribute TERA in North America, and Atari emerged as a leader with an emphasis on high-quality online titles,” said Chris Lee, Publishing VP of En Masse Entertainment. “Their strong distribution network, culturally iconic brand, and passion for what makes TERA a uniquely compelling game make them the right distributor for this launch.”
The winner of multiple awards including “Best MMO” (UGO, Best of GDC Awards) and “MMO of the Show” (Massively, Best of GDC Awards), TERA is a new class of game that combines all the depth of an MMO with the visceral gratification of an action combat game. Players master their destiny using a pioneering dynamic combat system in which player skill—not just stats—determine success or failure in a richly detailed game world. Individual player actions can transform the balance of power in a world where old rivalries are erased, and disparate races must form a common federation to stave off destruction by marauding monsters and warring gods.
“When we first played TERA, we could see that it had all the elements of an MMO hit,” said Lee Jacobson, SVP of Licensing and Digital Publishing, Atari. “Our expertise in retail marketing and bringing MMOs to market combined with TERA’s obvious quality makes this a great fit for both companies.”
TERA continues to captivate and excite fans and audiences with its spectacular graphics, innovative gameplay, and promise for a new type of MMO experience and community support. It is set for launch in North America in 2011 as one of the most anticipated PC games of the year.
TERA is being developed by Bluehole Studio™ and co-produced and published by En Masse Entertainment. Atari will retain exclusive distribution rights in North America.
For more information on TERA, please visit www.tera-online.com.
To download supporting assets, please visit:
ftp.oneprstudio.com
Login: EME_Media
Password: ActionMMOs_rulz!
Folder: Distribution_Announcement
 
About En Masse Entertainment
En Masse Entertainment is a specialist MMO publisher based in Seattle, Washington. The company’s mission is to use its expertise to bring stellar online games to new markets. TERA, En Masse’s inaugural Action MMORPG project, is being developed by Bluehole Studio, Inc. The close-knit team at En Masse includes experts in online technology, game production, branding, community, and localization, allowing them to bring online games to Western audiences at the highest levels of quality and cultural relevance. For more information, visit EnMasse.com.
 
About Bluehole Studio
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Bluehole Studio, Inc. aspires to become the preeminent global MMORPG developer through its unwavering belief in its people and its core values. Bluehole formed in 2007 with a focus on attracting pioneers and innovators with a shared vision to create the next flagship MMO for the global market. The studio’s inaugural title, TERA, is scheduled to launch in Korea in 2010 and features a dynamic battle system, next-generation graphics, and a gamer-centric community experience. For more information, visit bluehole.net/eng.
 
About ATARI, SA
Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment.  Atari's brands and content are available across all key traditional and digital distribution touch points, including browser-based and social online platforms, PC, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone, Android and RIM devices).
Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.  Atari benefits from the strength of its worldwide brand and its extensive catalogue of contemporary classic game franchises (Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Lunar Lander®), original owned franchises (Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek™ Online, Champions™) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters®, Rollercoaster Tycoon®, Dungeons and Dragons®). Atari also leverages the power of its franchises to deliver movies and merchandise to consumers around the world.
 For more information please visit: www.atari.com 
© 2011 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.
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