Clone Wars Adventures

With all of the buzz centered around "grown-up" MMO titles like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2, it's easy for the kid-friendly games to get lost in the shuffle. There may not be as many kid titles on the horizon, but for the games that are currently out there, there's been an amazing amount of activity going on in these virtual worlds.

I decided to take a peek at some of my (and the kids') favorites, along with a few games that we've done first impressions on, to see what they've been up to lately. Since there are too many great kid-friendly MMOs out there to fit into one column, this will be the first of what will probably be many follow-up entries covering other games, so if you don't see your favorite family-friendly game here, fear not!

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Are you just unable to get enough of games set in a galaxy far, far away? Clone Wars Adventures has your back in this, as the game is rolling out a large update that brings in a much-desired aspect: open-world combat. Players will be able to engage in battle on the planet Umbara, home of the Shadow People and site of a battle between the forces of the Republic and the Separatists.

The list of features on the new world is quite extensive, including a new mission instance for multiple players to experience and special abilities beyond weapons available only to Jedi members. Players can also assemble a collection of special equipment, slip the surly bonds of gravity with the newfound ability to jump, and ride around on their very own AT-RT mounts from the marketplace. It should be an interesting addition for fans of Clone Wars Adventures -- after all, who doesn't like the option to blast droids?

[Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]

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Of all of the wacky arguments I have heard over the last few years, the "are video games art?" one has got to take the prize for most ridiculous. Sure, you can argue either side of anything, but to ask whether or not games are art just seems to be an attempt to assuage some boredom. We can also ask whether this life is really real, just in case we hadn't already been put to sleep. Art is what the artist says it is, period.

Art is also in the eye of the beholder. Our games are spread across a wide spectrum of styles, and many of us have very strong feelings about what we like and will not tolerate. I have seen people turn down great games simply because of the way a screenshot looked. Heck, I've done it myself. With as many games as I look at every week, occasionally it is smart (and fun) to organize them into lists. This week I am taking stock of my game list and figuring out the games that I feel look the best. Of course, you might not think so.

I decided to leave off games that are in testing or not available for the public yet. Click past the cut and see if you agree with me!

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At Fan Faire last week, we brought news of the upcoming story-based update to Clone Wars Adventures, which will bridge the gap between Season Three and Season Four. That update goes live today, and we talked a bit more about the process at a round-table with Senior Producer Todd Carson, Game Designer Justin Dazet, and Dave Filoni, Supervising Producer for the TV show.

This is a first for both the MMO and the show, and they shared some insight into what went into the project. For highlights from the round-table, read below the cut!

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Clone Wars Adventures is a unique MMO that links together a children's game with the TV show on Cartoon Network. Todd Carson, the Senior Producer of CWA, sat down with Massively to talk about some of the new content that's coming for fans, as well as a new storyline in game that will complete the transition between season three and four of the TV series.

Read on for highlights from the interview, including a closer look at the Battle for Iceberg 3, new housing items, and even some new mounts!

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With a large Star Wars MMO on the horizon, it's easy to forget that there are two other Star Wars-related online games already on the market. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Adventures is an online lobby-based game geared for the younger audience, but if you are a Star Wars fan, it's fun at any age. The game has lightsaber duels, starfighter simulations, blaster ranges, and much more.

Massively visited the Sony Online Entertainment booth at E3 to get a glimpse of what is the latest and greatest to come out of this multiplayer online experience. The Senior Producer of Clone Wars Adventures, Todd Carson, was there to greet us and show us a few of the newest minigames that litter the gamescape. Jump past the break to see what he had to say and witness the latest trailer for the Clone Wars Adventures.

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In case you haven't been paying attention to the world, Japan was hit with a devastating tsunami a couple of weeks ago. Since then, multiple MMO companies have donated to the restoration. According to a post on the EverQuest II site, the Sony Corporation has donated 300 million yen (3.6 million U.S. dollars) to the Central Community Chest of Japan and hopes to donate more as needed.


Monday will mark the last day you'll be able to make these purchases, so if you play any of these games or would just like to make a donation, the sooner the better!

President's Day may not be the most exciting holiday in the States (or even relevant to those outside of it), but SOE has decided to do it justice with a President's Day Event that's sweeping across many of its titles. As John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what you can do for your MMO, but what your MMO can do for you!"

EverQuest and EverQuest II players will both enjoy a double XP weekend starting today, February 18th, which will give a huge boost to levels gained during that period. EQ's boost will last through the 21st but is sadly not applicable to the new progression servers. In EQII, this XP bonus affects adventure, trade, and AA, and it will last through the 22nd.

Star Wars Galaxies is running its Bonus Everything Weekend from the 17th through the 22nd. This will greatly increase XP, tokens, Pet XP, Chronicles XP, Restuss Commendations, and fish caught, to name just a few of the bonuses. Vanguard's also joining the party, as crafting, adventuring and diplomacy XP will all get a shot in the arm over the weekend.

SOE's also running a sale on existing and new items in several of its games, including Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures. This may just be the weekend to splurge on that vanity item you've been eyeing!

[Thanks Karen!]

It is better to give than receive, as it's been said, unless you're giving yourself a present that prompts a major corporation to give to a charity in turn. Then everyone wins!

OK, that may sound a bit convoluted, but SOE is actually making it really easy for players to help out with a great charity this holiday season. The studio is supporting Child's Play, a charity started up by the Penny Arcade folks to supply hospitals with video games and toys for kids. SOE has pledged to donate $10 for every purchase of one of four in-game items. These items include a P3-NUT droid pet in Clone Wars Adventures, a penguin pet in Free Realms, an EverQuest II Cloak of Falling Snow, and a neat EverQuest ornamentation that turns any weapon into a cardboard tube (visually, not statistically).

This charity drive will go through the end of the month (December 31st), and SOE will honor up to $50,000 of donations based on player purchases. You can read more about this promotion over at EverQuest II, or head over to Child's Play to see what this charity is about.

"Mom! Stop driving through the pink lights! Only go through the green ones!"

I glanced over at my two kids and bit my tongue. I was in the middle of speeder bike racing and was having a little trouble navigating the course. In the split second that I turned away, my bike steered off the course, ran halfway up the snowy embankment, and lodged itself in a campfire. I was already dead last, but now I had the pleasure of watching the other racers lap me, not once, but twice.

I was playing Clone Wars Adventures, the latest free-to-play game from Sony Online Entertainment, and I was experiencing the full effects of the generation gap. I know, you're probably saying, "Wait a second, this is an EverQuest II column!" And you're right, but this week, I'd like to take a look at something that both Clone Wars and EverQuest II now have in common -- gifting. Read on to see why EQII players aren't necessarily viewing this latest game change as much of a gift.

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Sony Online Entertainment wants to give the superfans more reasons to log in to their favorite games this Cyber Monday. Most of the SOE titles, like EverQuest, EverQuest II, Everquest II Extended, Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, and Pox Nora, are offering discounts on Station Cash as well as other special offers starting November 29th and ending December 3rd.

Just $37.50 US buys you 5,000 Station Cash, while $65 US buys you 10,000. That means you can finally purchase that sparkle pony cat you always wanted. In addition to these offers, each SOE title has its own daily deal. Free Realms is giving triple member discount on items. EverQuest, EverQuest II, and EverQuest II Extended have 50% off a daily featured item. Clone Wars Adventures is giving away special discounts to members. And PoxNora will not be left behind with offers ranging up to 50% off game items.

Log in to your Station account for more information on these offers or visit the games' respective websites.