Rifts and other dynamic events can be triggered by players, scheduled by the development team, or even occur spontaneously. Dynamic events within the game can lead to a range of changes across the world, including everything from minor events to dramatic shifts in the game’s landscape and the opening of new areas. Players will connect with hundreds of thousands of other gamers to battle creatures overrunning the world, as well as each other.

The first closed beta event for Rift is scheduled to take place December 3-6, 2010. Gamers worldwide have the chance to participate in one or all of the upcoming beta events by creating an account. 

“This is a momentous event for the entire Trion team, as well as the fans that have been following Rift since we first announced the game,” said Scott Hartsman, Rift’s Executive Producer and Trion’s Chief Creative Officer. “We’ve created this deep, vibrant world that’s just waiting to be populated with enthusiastic players, and our hope is that gamers will enjoy playing the game as much as we’ve enjoyed building it.”

Players interested participating in the closed beta event series can sign up for an account. Additionally, players can improve their chances of being selected by obtaining VIP beta-keys that Trion will be giving away on Rift’s Facebook, Twitter, and community forum pages leading up to each of the event. If selected, testers will be notified via email a few days before the start of each beta event with download and feedback instructions.

Featuring the first 20 levels of play, the “Rise of the Defiant” closed beta event will include the full starting zone for Rift’s techno-magical Defiant faction, plus the Plane of Death-invaded land of Freemarch. Players can tour the fortress-city of Meridian, and battle hordes of undead in the Iron Tomb dungeon.