Episode Missions Coming Back? When? Please Give Us Some Actual Information

[Gradius]

They did say that there was going to be interaction between the game and the show. But with season 1 already being shot and ready for TV, how could any of us expect to see any of this in the first season? Now season 2, that's a completely different story. There is plenty of time to take things from the game universe and the community and incorporate them into the game. Season 1, it's just impossible.

The majority of the DLC packs are likely going to be released during the off-season as there will be 8-9 months of the game without a show. This is the smart thing to do to keep the game world alive while we're in a holding pattern for Season 2. So while we're enjoying the game as it it now (well, most of us anyway) the TV show will take us through the next few months, then we rely on regularly released unique content. Trion has a very good track record for content release.

Just remember, this is the first time Trion has tried to push their normally monthly/bi-monthly content release to a more episodic weekly / bi-weekly release. Seeing as we're only 3-4 weeks in, there's really no need to be sweating bullets over content.

[Buruko]

holy **** balls. if that's the case, we were lied to. and **** this game and **** trion. *******.

they had said before that they would release weekly content and that it could effect the tv show. then they said they're not really going to do that. and now they say at the end of the 10+ week tv series.

So let's see, it'll be at least 3 months for new episodes? and until then we have a ****ty game and more paid for DLCs? **** that. I doubt this game will last. Nothing to do. At least the show is decent.

People will prob say quit hatin' they don't want people like you to play anyway. But that's fine, I haven't played since the day the patch came out. Whenever that was. Had fun at first, now regret buying it if when the game is better is TBD. Especially since there's tons of other things to spend my time on.

I won't say quit hating, I will say please try reading for comprehension again please.

[LostAlgorithm]

These questions were answered in the post-show stream, "Across the Badlands." You can find that here: Across the Badlands - Episode 2

They said that the episodic content that's not in the game right now will re-appear at the end of the television season. Personally I kinda like it. It's keeps the pace of the game moving at a steady speed for those who want the full Defiance experience. I can understand why they're doing this because to me Defiance is more than just the game.

Could you please transcribe where they said that during the episode of "Across The Badlands"? I mentioned in the OP that I watched the episode specifically to find out that information, because we were told it would be revealed there, however as far as I saw it most definitely wasn't. I'll transcribe what they did say and that I did hear:

*Starts at 16:39*

Elizabeth: "And I know that some of you...some of you guys have said, 'Well, I didn't get to complete everything from the last amount of content, y'know, before Nolan and Irisa went over to St. Louis. All I'm gonna say is there will be a chance, in the future, if you missed something, to catch it again. Um, I know that's something a lot of you guys have been asking, so you know, that is there, we have heard you, we are listening, so please do stay tuned."

"A chance, in the future, if you missed something to catch it again." That doesn't give any sort of clear understanding or timeframe on when we can expect to see that content again.

The place that most are actually getting the rerun season idea from is this twitter response:



However, as you can see, the developers still make no statement there about how it's going to be implemented, just that more details are coming soon. Details that were supposed to be in that episode of "Across The Badlands". Details that, as I demonstrated, definitely were not.

The response does not definitevely state that a rerun season is what they are doing. Why? Because if that was their plan then why was the statement on "Across The Badlands" so ambiguous? And more importantly, why is it that Trion is so commonly using Twitter as it's main form of communication with the playerbase? They have a website. They have a news feed in the launcher and in-game. They need to put information like this there rather than more difficult to find locations.

I take the points of the op, but personally I will enjoy the content I see, and will probably miss some stuff due to work, family and other things away from gaming. I'm okay with not having everything, hearing tales from other ark hunters of what I missed ifi miss things. When the season is over, I'm sure ill be interested in replaying the story and filling in any gaps as we wait for season 2...

I'm glad you're fine with it, but it's something that negatively impacts my enjoyment of the game. But if they were it to leave them in, the episode missions never being removed, your experience wouldn't be affected at all and mine would be greatly enhanced.

The story told by the episode missions is likely a cohesive unit, as I doubt we'll only run into Nolan and Irisa once in the game's entire lifetime. I's not that you're just missing things that happened in the world, you're missing things that you're character was supposed to be a part of. Things that will likely be referenced in the future leaving anyone that missed that content confused and disappointed that they apparently missed out on some important part of their character's story.

The point is that there's no reason to have a fragmented attempt at an interactive story like this where Trion is actively prohibiting their playerbase from catching up with that story through in-game means. Making players wait -months- just to get a full storyline experience makes zero sense, especially in the world we live in today where other parts of the storyline (Such as the TV show) can be experienced at any pace that the consumer so chooses through DVR, Hulu, or the like.

[IGears]

after 3 misson and you're confused on a character story... well im sorry to hear that.. but those 3 mission really had no character story in them.. just how Nolan was able to get the gem to use in the show get the arkfall.. really you didn't miss anything special IMO..... but if you feel that it is then they already said that you'll have a chance to replay them on a future date. Across the Badlands really couldn't tell when because they didn't know but Sledgehammer70 does. and if you been following the game since the first stress test you would know how much we hate the word 'soon' but just have patience with this...they will announce when you can replay.

[LostAlgorithm]

after 3 misson and you're confused on a character story... well im sorry to hear that.. but those 3 mission really had no character story in them.. just how Nolan was able to get the gem to use in the show get the arkfall.. really you didn't miss anything special IMO..... but if you feel that it is then they already said that you'll have a chance to replay them on a future date. Across the Badlands really couldn't tell when because they didn't know but Sledgehammer70 does. and if you been following the game since the first stress test you would know how much we hate the word 'soon' but just have patience with this...they will announce when you can replay.

I didn't say I'm confused after missing that little bit of content, just that I can see people being confused by the storytelling, especially if they miss multiple pieces of content. I can see it adding up quite a bit. You might not think the content there was special, but I do. It's this game's biggest gimmick, and I missed out on the start of it because of a lack of communication from Trion. A lack of communication they are now perpetuating.

I just want some concrete answers is all, and I was told "Across The Badlands" would have them. It didn't. Please pardon me for expressing my disappointment in being lead on a bit.

[IGears]

I didn't say I'm confused after missing that little bit of content, just that I can see people being confused by the storytelling, especially if they miss multiple pieces of content. I can see it adding up quite a bit. You might not think the content there was special, but I do. It's this game's biggest gimmick, and I missed out on the start of it because of a lack of communication from Trion. A lack of communication they are now perpetuating.

I just want some concrete answers is all, and I was told "Across The Badlands" would have them. It didn't. Please pardon me for expressing my disappointment in being lead on a bit.

yeah, i hear ya... "Soon" is a terrible word that shouldn't be allow in any PR's vocabulary. I'm confident that they will announce when they will have the episodic mission available for replay.

[FAMOS K OS]

im not trying to be rude here but i, along with many others, have read this over and over and over again on how its trions fault that you didnt get to play the beginning episode missions. it was in the launcher for the first two weeks finish the episode missions before the 15th. its always someone elses fault and their lack of communication.

they keep using the word "soon". yeah it is a horrible word. but remind yourself of what needs to be polished and working first. do i want episode content yeah i do. do i want the game to run smoothly heck yeah. would i rather have episode content immediately instead of the game running smooth? no way.

i keep reading this lack of communication crap over and over again. im not quite getting where this disconnect is happening because when they have something to notify the community about its on the twitter feed and its also on the forums about servers being down, patch notes what they are patching and so on.

the information is posted. it is there to be seen. just like when the episode 1 and 2 pursuits went up. there was a message about them being up until the 29th. they communicate people dont pay attention. and some people just dont like what they are told and want to complain about it.

am i unhappy with the way some of the game works. yeah i would love to have direct episode missions every week but i also want a game that works. am i going to be upset if i dont complete episode pursuits or missions on time yeah i am. am i going to be mad at trion because i cant access it now until after the first season for a season catch up type thing... no my fault not theirs. people need to grow up about stuff like this.. if you think you can the job better you go run the company and put yourself in their shoes...

[LostAlgorithm]

im not trying to be rude here but i, along with many others, have read this over and over and over again on how its trions fault that you didnt get to play the beginning episode missions. it was in the launcher for the first two weeks finish the episode missions before the 15th. its always someone elses fault and their lack of communication.

An ambiguous "Make sure you do them." was in the launcher, not "Do them or they may be gone permanently." It's not always someone else's fault, but in this case it -is- Trion's fault. There was absolutely zero precedent set for one to assume a majorly advertised content feature for a game would have content removed two weeks into release.

It's great some of you assumed correctly that it would be removed, but that doesn't mean there isn't a problem with Trion's communication. There are many people other than just myself that found what they put in the launcher either confusing or not something that even made us consider content would be cut. It simply wasn't clear enough, and that's Trion's fault.

i keep reading this lack of communication crap over and over again. im not quite getting where this disconnect is happening because when they have something to notify the community about its on the twitter feed and its also on the forums about servers being down, patch notes what they are patching and so on.

Overall, I feel that Trion has exceptional communication. I'm not saying they don't. It's just in this one case, with episode missions, that I feel they are failing.

people need to grow up about stuff like this.. if you think you can the job better you go run the company and put yourself in their shoes...

I absolutely think I could do a better job handling -this particular situation-; I'd love them to give me the opportunity. I'm not saying they fail as a company though, just that they can make mistakes and this has been a large one.

[LostAlgorithm]

yeah, i hear ya... "Soon" is a terrible word that shouldn't be allow in any PR's vocabulary. I'm confident that they will announce when they will have the episodic mission available for replay.

One can only hope it "soon" is an accurate statement, on both accounts.

[LostAlgorithm]

I like how the MMORPG.com reviewer put it regarding these missions:

"I also have to mention something about the Episode Missions. Before the premiere of the TV show, there were several missions involving Irisa and Nolan littered about the map of the game. But as soon as that episode aired, those missions disappeared, never to be seen again. Now, Trion has already stated they’ll be bringing them back so those who didn’t have a chance to play them can (based on player feedback, I’m assuming many missed out). It’s good of them to bring them back, but I can’t understand why they’d disappear in the first place. Mark the missions as “Season 1 - Episode 1” so people know where it lies in the timeline of the show and leave it in for everyone. It’s awesome that Trion’s doing something a little different with the game world between each episode, but don’t punish the busy people by taking the content from them before they have a chance to play it."

He hit the nail on the head. Now we just need some information from Trion on when they'll actually be going back in.