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Valentine's Day around the virtual world

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events (In-Game), Promotions, Miscellaneous

Do you hear the chirping of songbirds in love? Do you see the flirtacious glance that cute Orc is giving you from across the battlefiend? Do you smell the flowers of romance in bloom all around you? If so, man, you've got it bad.

Fortunately for those suffering from VDAS -- Valentine's Day Addiction Syndrome -- plenty of MMOs are on hand to provide you with a temporary fix until you get proper medication and are carted away to a professional love care facility. It may not be the biggest of holidays in the virtual world, but when love arrives in February, it cannot be denied.

And who knows for you single folk? The man, woman, or one-eyed Gnome of your dreams might just stumble over you on this fine day! Read on as we sum up some of the larger Valentine's events in MMOs today.

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Valentine's Day around the virtual world originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: What free-to-play means for EverQuest II

Karen Bryan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

Thursday was quite the news day for EverQuest II. Normally, the announcement of pre-order specifics and details on the new expansion would be pretty big news by itself, but it was completely upstaged by the announcement that all EQII servers will be free-to-play.

As expected, there are lots of mixed emotions from the players regarding this new transition. Here at Massively, readers generally welcomed the move with open arms, but on the official forums and on the fansite EQ2Flames, there was a lot more trepidation. That's understandable because this move could change quite a lot going down the road. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at what the free-to-play transition means for the future of EQII.

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The Tattered Notebook: What free-to-play means for EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II goes fully free-to-play: Our chat with Dave Georgeson

Karen Bryan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-Play

Earlier in the fall, Massively's EverQuest II column, The Tattered Notebook, took a look at the differences between the live servers and the free-to-play server and speculated on the possibility of making all servers free-to-play. As it turns out, we no longer need to speculate because SOE has officially announced that EverQuest II will make the full transition to free-to-play in early December. Just in time for the release of the newest expansion, Age of Discovery, all servers will now share the same subscription plans, Marketplace, and forums. Last week, Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson took time to share with us the details of the free-to-play transition as well as highlight some of the new features coming with the expansion. Read on for a look at what's to come for EQII.

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EverQuest II goes fully free-to-play: Our chat with Dave Georgeson originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II celebrates its seventh birthday with free things

Matt Daniel — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events (Real-World), News Items, Free-to-Play

EverQuest II just celebrated its seventh birthday a few days ago, and we all know what that means: time for a celebration! In order to commemorate seven glorious years of Norrathian adventures, SOE is giving players a lovely statue of Lucan D'Lere free of charge for a limited time. The new eight-year veteran reward is also available for players who are nearing the mark, and it includes a number of nifty bits like XP potions, a new title, and more. For the full details, head on over to the game's official forums, and don't forget to check out our own Karen Bryan's seven year retrospective.

EverQuest II celebrates its seventh birthday with free things originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective

Karen Bryan — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

You can say a lot of things about EverQuest II's past year, but I'm sure everyone will agree that it's been memorable. A year ago, I had just begun my turn at the helm of this column, and it seems like the game is in a similar position now as it was back then, with a lot accomplished but even more unanswered questions. For a look back at the first six years, be sure to check out my retrospective column from last year. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll play catch up and look back at the past year in EverQuest II and the events that shaped the game.

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Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: My top six scares in EQII

Karen Bryan — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

Norrath is currently full of pumpkins, floating candles, and an assortment of odd and unusual masks (ever see a frog dressed as Antonia Bayle?). The Nights of the Dead is one of my favorite in-game holidays, and each year brings even more fun quests and great Halloween-themed items. But EverQuest II has its fair share of scary stuff even when Nights of the Dead is over.

Since this week is all about frights and spooks, I present to you some of the top scares in EQII, be they zombies that jump out at you, raid mobs that turn your hair white, or death by sewing. Read on for some truly scary tales!

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The Tattered Notebook: Beastlord prep 101

Karen Bryan — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Classes, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

EverQuest II's most recent update brought two new additions: the dungeon finder and the prelude event for the new Beastlord class that will arrive with the release of Age of Discovery. I was going to look at the dungeon finder this week, but it's had its share of problems, and with the team still working on tweaks to make it more useful, I figured I'd table it until some of the changes get patched.

That means this week's Tattered Notebook is focused on the Beastlord. Closed beta is beginning, and while it's hard to believe, the expansion is due to launch in late November. There's no doubt that many of us will be rolling up Beastlords, so this is a perfect time to start making preparations in advance of launch day. Read on for a look at some tips to make your first few days as a Beastlord fun and enjoyable.

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The Tattered Notebook: Beastlord prep 101 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: A 'Top Gear' look at mounts

Karen Bryan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

Previously, I've been writing about the weighty topic of free-to-play vs. live subscription servers in EverQuest II. This week, I'd like to switch gears, both figuratively and literally, to talk about speed. I've recently become a fan of the show Top Gear, a British program(me) that is completely devoted to the love of cars. I don't know why -- I'm not really into cars, and my Volkswagon Passat Wagon hardly qualifies as a car with a soul. But I was watching a recent episode, the one in which Jeremy was driving an Aston Martin across country, and I thought about how far EQII's mount selection has grown. Gone are the days when your choices ranged from a horse with brown spots to a horse with white spots to the really impressive horse with brown and white spots. The only unique mounts back then were the Paladin and Shadow Knight "fun" mounts.

Today, there are dozens of different types of mounts that run, leap, glide, and fly. And they're not all just marketplace quick hits; several are easily attained from simple quests or live events. In this week's Tattered Notebook, I'll look at a few of my favorite mounts with an ode to Top Gear.

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The Tattered Notebook: A 'Top Gear' look at mounts originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: What if live servers go free-to-play?

Karen Bryan — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

For the past few weeks of The Tattered Notebook, I've explored EverQuest II's Extended server, Freeport, to see what gameplay is like on the other side of the wall that separates it from its subscription-based cousins. This week, I'm going to look at the scenario that all EQII players consider: making all servers free-to-play. It's a very complicated issue, and there are excellent arguments on both sides, but there are a few factors that tend to tip the scales.

I don't have nearly enough space in this column to touch on every issue involving a free-to-play transition, so I'm going to focus on a few of the most important ones and give my thoughts on what would need to happen if EQII did indeed go free-to-play on all servers.

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The Tattered Notebook: What if live servers go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: The EQ2X community speaks

Karen Bryan — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Business Models, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

This week, I was all set to share my personal experiences as I continue my time on the EverQuest II Extended server. I was going to talk about guide events (or lack of them) and my amazing feats with my newly purchased Wand of Obliteration (I killed a Spectre in Sinking Sands at level 13 but only got about 1300 experience, which is not much more than I was getting for white and yellow cons at my level). But then I realized that if we're really going to roll up our sleeves and tackle the issue of free-to-play, we need to hear from those who exist on the other side of the virtual wall, those who have been silently playing in a world cut off from the rest of the Legacy servers, both in game and out.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, I tracked down guild leaders and members of guilds on the Freeport server in order to hear from them what their gaming experience is like. While I had been playing my bronze account for the column, I made a character on my main account in order to have access to chat channels and in-game mail in order to get in touch with them. I spoke to two of the top raiding guilds on the server as well as a large crafting guild. We talked about raiding, the economy, and the community overall. What I uncovered was eye-opening. Read on for their stories.

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The Tattered Notebook: The EQ2X community speaks originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Looking beyond the price points in EQ2X

Karen Bryan — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, The Tattered Notebook

Last week, I began a little experiment in the world of EverQuest II Extended. I wanted to see whether a longtime, loyal veteran could find enjoyment on the other side of the wall that separates my live server from the free-to-play server. Almost every assessment about free-to-play servers is dominated by talk of price points, fairness, and bang for your buck. But it's not a used car; it's a virtual world, and there is a lot more to look at beyond dollars and plat. EverQuest II and EverQuest II Extended actually offer a unique look into the similarities and differences between subscription based servers and free-to-play servers because they're completely separate entities, yet they're basically the same game.

Read on for highlights of my second week in EQ2X!

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The Tattered Notebook: Looking beyond the price points in EQ2X originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: A grizzled veteran goes free-to-play

Karen Bryan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, The Tattered Notebook

It's been almost a year now since EverQuest II Extended was officially launched, and I've resented every minute of its existence. From the moment it was first announced, on the eve of Fan Faire 2010, EQ2X has been my own personal Newman of the MMO world. It dominated the discussions at Fan Faire and put a damper on everyone's fun. And once it launched, it always seemed to be at the root of every problem. New invites to our guild on the live server dropped to just one in eight months (and that one invite was a real-life friend of a guildmate). The promised marketing campaign for EQII live got the shaft in favor of pushing the new free-to-play service. Forum snafus during the Velious beta were all because of the EQ2X forums. While thousands and thousands crammed the Freeport server and frolicked for free, I languished on the live server and even began to empathize with the Grinch.

But now that EQ2X is almost a year old, I decided it's time for me to bury the hatchet and pay a visit to the free-to-play server. I rolled up a new character on a bronze account, and over the next several weeks, I'll be taking a close look at EverQuest II Extended. It's a journey in EQII free-to-play through the eyes of a longtime player. Read on for my first arrival!

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The Tattered Notebook: A grizzled veteran goes free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: What EQII can learn from Minecraft

Karen Bryan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

EverQuest II's Update 61 is officially here, and the sweeping itemization revamp has been about as pleasant as the arrival of Hurricane Irene. I spent the better part of a morning trying to go through all my gear and then redo all my AAs. But I was one of the lucky ones because I don't really have alts. Some of my guildmates had at least half a dozen or so toons to fix, and they had to do that two or three times because hotfixes were resetting gear all over again.

It's not really that surprising when we consider there's a mountain of gear in game, and over the years, certain stats grew in value only to be de-emphasized in a future expansion. But it's frustrating for players because some hard-earned gear has become less powerful by comparison, and that's altered the landscape when it comes to old content and challenge.

I ran out of gas about two-thirds of the way into respeccing, and I decided to shift gears and check out the new housing changes. The leaderboards are great because people can surf the list of homes and directly port to them to see them up close. The problem right now is that the ranking system could use a little work; it currently allows for abuse and griefing. But despite the issues, it's helped put the decorating community in the limelight, and it's given housing a new purpose in game.

That got me thinking about the future of EQII's housing system and the upcoming addition of player-created dungeons. With the new focus on player-generated content, EQII could learn quite a lot from an unlikely candidate -- Minecraft. Let's take a look at how.

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The Tattered Notebook: What EQII can learn from Minecraft originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Jeremy and I go house-hunting

Karen Bryan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook, Guides

As I write this, EverQuest II's Game Update 61, The War of Zek, is about to hit live servers. There are several exciting changes on the way, including the itemization revamp, two new scalable dungeons for levels 60-90, a new AA tree for tradeskillers, an AA revamp, and a new questline that gives the Fae and Arasai the ability to fly. For those at the level cap, there is a new dungeon and raid zone that continues the overarching storyline, and all stats are now uncapped. Those who like questing can find new content in Eastern Wastes. And everyone can now record her adventures on YouTube with a new Video Capture system.

There's a plethora of new content that will appeal to both new and veteran gamers, but of all the additions, the one that's most intriguing is the new house rating system. Players will now be able to design, showcase, and rank each other's homes. The housing directory will also make it a lot easier to find and visit players' homes, something that was increasingly difficult to do because of all the different types of homes -- and addresses.

As it so happens, Massively's Jeremy Stratton, who pens the Runes of Magic column Lost Pages of Taborea, has been spending quite a bit of time over in EQII's Norrath and fell in love with the housing system. This week's Tattered Notebook features Jeremy's impressions of housing in EQII, and then he and I present a few tips for those who are interested in showcasing homes through the new system.

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The Tattered Notebook: Jeremy and I go house-hunting originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Down but not out!

Karen Bryan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

I was closely watching our Choose My Adventure poll last week and had a flashback to 1986, when I was torn between rooting for my two favorite teams, the Red Sox and the Mets. There I sat, staring at my Cabbage Patch Red Sox doll and my Cabbage Patch Mets doll, trying to decide which one I would embrace as I tuned in for the first pitch. Whom would I root for? Hurst or Darling? Dewey or Nails? Mookie or Billy Bucks? Carter or Geddy? Boggs or Ho-Jo?

I chose the Red Sox, and I'm still trying to get over that memorable World Series. The CMA poll had me right back in that seat, as I found myself rooting for both frontrunners, RIFT and EverQuest II. For EQII fans, the vote tally ended up somewhere under Bill Buckner's cleat, and RIFT ended up winning.

Take heart, EverQuest II fans: We have a great game, and like an aged wine, it's getting more buttery with a hint of raspberries and a taste of oak. So raise your glasses because it's time to toast the reasons EverQuest II is a great game!

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The Tattered Notebook: Down but not out! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Let's play 'Keep it or nuke it!'

Karen Bryan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

As a longtime fan of EverQuest II, I'm often asked by non-EQII-players what the game is like. I usually try to answer by describing the usual game features like combat, crafting, PvP, and the unfortunate inclusion of Gnomes. But the best analogy I can think of for EverQuest II is that it resembles a type of MMO archaeological site. If you play the game long enough, you can begin to see the stratification of the game, as layer upon layer of content and features were heaped onto what was already there. It's something I've admired about the game because the developers have always been willing to try new things and make changes. But the mound of content can be overwhelming to a new player and even confusing to those who have returned after an extended hiatus.

With a new round of content having just arrived on servers and even more due in a few months, it's time to consider whether some of the older stuff might need to go, for clarity's sake. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll play a little game called, "Keep it or Nuke it." Read on for my recommendations, and then add yours below.

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The Tattered Notebook: Let's play 'Keep it or nuke it!' originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here!

Karen Bryan — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), The Tattered Notebook, Guides

As I've indicated in past columns, I'm not a fan of Gnomes. In general, my history with them has been checkered at best. It could be my rejected application to the Anklebiters of Prexus, or perhaps it was watching Corka the Gnome perform leaping backstabs on players to pass the time in Emerald Jungle during a warrior epic camp. Most likely, it was the years of Gnomish abuse, as I tried in vain to verbally spar with Corka, only to wind up on the losing end of the battle. Whatever the reason, I view Gnomes the same way that the Grinch used to view Whos down in Whoville.

But when it comes to Tinkerfest, the Gnomish festival held every year over in Steamfont, I have decidedly mixed feelings, because I love steampunk, and this year's Tinkerfest event has lots of new items that almost make it worth spending time at Gnomeland Security.

I was faced with a dilemma: should I go hang out with Gnomes and build up my steampunk collection? In this week's Tattered Notebook, I decided to don my Environmental Hazard Suit 3000 and march straight into the lion's den, to take a look at Tinkerfest 2011.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here!

The Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: You've got some DCUO/EQ/CWA/VG in my EQII!

Karen Bryan — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

As excited as I am to see some of the changes coming to EverQuest II, I have to admit that some of it felt slightly familiar. I've been doing a bit of an MMO walkabout recently, and I've re-upped my Station Access so I could sample some of SOE's other titles, and also revisit some that I haven't played in a while.

As I played, I came across features and gameplay that tended to look similar. The Aether races in EQII look a lot like the race tracks from DCUO. The upcoming house database, with a ranking system, sounds a lot like what's in Free Realms. I'd wager that the Mercenary system will be modeled on the one that's already in EverQuest. And the on-again-off-again gifting system in EQII resembles the one already in Clone Wars Adventures.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll take a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at a few other features from SOE games that would be great to see in EverQuest II.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: You've got some DCUO/EQ/CWA/VG in my EQII!

The Tattered Notebook: You've got some DCUO/EQ/CWA/VG in my EQII! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Looking back at RMT through a futuristic monocle

Karen Bryan — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EVE Online, EverQuest II, Economy, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

As I logged into EverQuest II this past week, I was greeted with a promo to redeem my free festive sparker. Sorry, make that my FREE festive sparkler. Anyway, as part of the promotion, I could visit the Marketplace, scoop up my sparkler, and then use it to participate in the lighting of fireworks at the major cities in Norrath to receive place-able fireworks for my house or guild hall.

I have to say, it was an odd moment. First off, I had to pause to make sure I hadn't accidentally logged into my Free Realms account that I play with the kids because sparklers and fireworks seem more appropriate there. Second, I was trying to recall a time in EverQuest II when an in-game quest, tied to a live event no less, actually required possession of an item from the Marketplace.

In EQII, we've come a long way when it comes to cash shops and microtransactions, and EVE Online's recent controversy surrounding the Noble Exchange really puts things into perspective. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look back on EQII's RMT evolution -- through EVE's ill-fated monocle.

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The Tattered Notebook: Looking back at RMT through a futuristic monocle originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my!

Karen Bryan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Classes, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

E3 has come and gone, but EverQuest II fans are left with more questions than answers. Children of War has just launched, and already, players are wondering what's coming down the road. We do know about some of the more immediate changes, such as the rebuilding of the Dragon Ring and Spires live event, new mounts, and the Freeport Revamp. But there were some hints at much bigger changes down the road -- and few details on how exactly it would change the game.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll break out the crystal ball and speculate on whether EQII is growing closer to EQ2X and whether we might in fact see the arrival of Beastlords in game.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my!

The Tattered Notebook: Leapers, gliders, and Beastlords, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60

Karen Bryan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, The Tattered Notebook

Game Update 60: The Children of War went live last week, and with it came a plethora of new content and some big changes to the game. Rallos Zek has begun preparations for his march on the Western Wastes, and Drunder is the new front line for the impending war. There are new heroic instances, new raid content, and even a new battleground scenario. In addition, there were some itemization changes, new battleground gear, and adjustments to the adornment interface.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at a few of the highlights from EverQuest II's latest update.

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The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Five zones that deserve a revamp

Karen Bryan — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

Recently, EverQuest II developer Kyle "Kander" Vallee tweeted his followers asking for input on the following question: "What #EQII zone would you love to see revamped into new heroic content?"

That's a tough but really fun question. Over the years, EverQuest II has added so many overland and instanced zones that there's no shortage of choices. A quick glance at the dungeon list at EQ2i shows well over 100 major heroic instances and open dungeons for groups. If you add in the list of minor instances, like the Splitpaw adventure pack instances or the Fallen Dynasty trials, it's easily over 120. In fact, there are so many group zones that it's nearly impossible to level up and see them all (I vote for a new in-game dungeon listing for the next UI revamp!).

I've played through a good chunk of these zones and put together a list of the top five dungeons that deserve a makeover. Read on for the full list!

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The Tattered Notebook: Five zones that deserve a revamp originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Welcome to free-to-play week!

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, One Shots

We're kicking off One Shots free-to-play week with a postcard from Norrath, courtesy of Carolina:

Lindirien the Fae and Griz, having some good times in EverQuest II Extended. You have to play through through Frostfang Sea's starter area to be able to locate Griz in the picture.

Are you ready to show off your favorite free-to-play title? Send a screenshot to us at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll show it off here on One Shots and give you the thanks!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Welcome to free-to-play week! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Dave Georgeson on EQII's Children of War

Karen Bryan — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Interviews, The Tattered Notebook

Even though Destiny of Velious has only been out for a couple of months, EverQuest II is about to see some big improvements and new content in the upcoming Game Update 60, Children of War. Despite the recent cuts to Sony Online Entertainment's staff, the team working on EQII seems more focused than ever, and over the past couple of weeks, fans have received a constant stream of information on both near- and long-term plans for the game.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson was kind enough to take some time to talk about the future of EverQuest II. In a bit of a surprise, he discusses how the team will continue to release Velious content in the form of regular updates rather than a larger part II as originally planned. He also gives some detail on highlights from the next update as well as future plans. Multiple housing, deity changes, the Freeport revamp -- Georgeson sheds some light on all that and more. Read on for the interview!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Dave Georgeson on EQII's Children of War

The Tattered Notebook: Dave Georgeson on EQII's Children of War originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New EQII producer's letter outlines roadmap for 2011

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries

Recent layoffs at SOE may have caused a certain amount of trepidation in terms of future development on some of the company's most popular titles. Thankfully, the most recent Producer's Letter from Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson should put many EverQuest II players' minds at ease. He took some time to sit down and give us an outline of plans the EverQuest II developers have for 2011, indicating that things are very good for the game's future.

Those who purchased the most recent expansion, Destiny of Velious, will be glad to hear that en route is even more content that will further expand on the Age's End Prophecy storyline. That content will only be available to those who picked up the expansion, however, so if you've been thinking about getting it, now would be a good time. Next up, it appears that Freeport is going to be getting a pretty heavy makeover both in terms of layout and what it will offer to players -- along with becoming a single zone open to flying mounts! We don't want to spoil you for all the interesting information mentioned, so if you're curious, head over to the EverQuest II site and check out the newest Producer's Letter.

New EQII producer's letter outlines roadmap for 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: The value of vanity

Karen Bryan — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), The Tattered Notebook, Guides

I always knew Gnomes were evil, but a Gnomish pirate?! This was too much. As much as I wanted that new horse of a different color mount from Bristlebane Day, I could barely stand the thought of having to go toe-to-toe with the cabbage-scented Captain Gnoggin.

In a lopsided battle, I emerged victorious, and as I did my turn-in for the new Bristlebane Day quest, I was reminded that EverQuest II offers an enormous variety of unique house items and appearance clothing.

Cosmetic items might not offer any real advantage in progression, but they speak to the depth of content in the game and the quality of life that players enjoy. Being able to create an amazing home or make yourself stand out with a unique look is a real luxury for players. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look back at the evolution of vanity items in game and take a look at a few easy ways that players of all levels can add a little bling to their lives.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: The value of vanity

The Tattered Notebook: The value of vanity originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan

Karen Bryan — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, The Tattered Notebook

With the past week filled with PAX East and then an avalanche of PAX write-ups, I felt myself playing a bit of catch-up in EverQuest II. The playerbase is well into Velious content, so we're starting to hear lots of feedback and see lots of fine-tuning. With two updates this past week and Game Update 60 right around the corner, it's time to do a little spot check on what's going on in EverQuest II.

Read on for a closer look at changes to public quests, primal velium shards, and a new daily shard quest. Also, find out how you can help with Japan disaster relief through a new in-game fundraiser.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan

The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Super-hero, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, PlanetSide, News Items, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Free-to-Play, Free Realms, Kids, DC Universe Online, Giveaways, EverQuest Next

Paying for subscriptions with a credit card is definitely fast and easy, but if you're a regular Sony Online Entertainment game subscriber, you might want to consider switching to a game time card this month! As a way of rewarding players for picking up and paying with universal game cards, Sony Online Entertainment is giving players $10 worth of Station Cash (1,000 SC) just for redeeming a $15 universal game card. The nice thing about these cards? They can be redeemed for either a month's subscription to an SOE game or 1,500 Station Cash. However, to get the bonus cash, you'll have to redeem your card between 3:10 a.m. EDT (12:10 a.m. PDT) on March 17th and 2:59 a.m. on March 21st (11:59 p.m. PDT on March 20th).

Along with getting an extra Station Cash reward for using a universal game card during those days, players will be entered into SOE's Luck of the Irish sweepstakes, the details of which should be out sometime this week. We'd also note that SOE's disclaimer indicates that the promotion is only available to gamers in the United States/District of Columbia and excludes Puerto Rico and other outlying territories. Keep your eye on the forums or the SOE Facebook account for all the sweepstakes information and official rules.

SOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Brew Day

Karen Bryan — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), The Tattered Notebook, Guides

It's spring in Norrath, but if you're out adventuring in Velious, you might not realize it. Thankfully, Brell Serillis is helping us remember that sometimes we need a break from all the snow and ice, and what better way to celebrate than pouring a nice foamy mug of Tumpy Tonic or Minotaur Hero Brew!

That's right, EverQuest II's festival of Brewday is back, and in this week's Tattered Notebook, we're going to search for the best brews, don our beer goggles, and even do a little cow tipping. Read on for a look at some of the quirky quests and boozy rewards that come with Brell's spring holiday.

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The Tattered Notebook: Brew Day originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, Culture, Interviews, Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous

When it comes to getting involved with community, Sony Online Entertainment's Director of Global Community Relations Linda Carlson knows it well. Most often seen tromping around conventions dressed as her beer-craving Dwarven alter-ego Brasse, Carlson was a fixture at SOE's Fan Faire events and author of her own gaming comic long before she ever started working for the studio. As we had the chance to find out recently, this was due at least in part to EverQuest changing her life many, many years prior.

While these days meeting up with someone you've met online is considered fairly commonplace, when you look back to the earliest days of MMO gaming, it generally was not something many people did. Even if you did meet someone from "on the computer," they tended to be folks from one or another BBS -- local connections that were easily made and just as easily dismissed. The idea of not only meeting someone online in a romantic fashion but leaving the country you live in to see him/her was considered completely insane. "What if you don't get along? Or what if he/she is a murderer?" your friends might ask, since this was all really new territory and nobody quite knew what would happen. Still, some early MMO gamers like Carlson gathered up their courage and took that gamble.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we interviewed Carlson about how her EverQuest connection became an "ever after" -- join us after the break!

Continue reading EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE

EverQuest becomes ever after: A talk with Linda Carlson of SOE originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's guide to Valentine's Day festivities

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Super-hero, Culture, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, Post-Apocalyptic, Miscellaneous

Ah spring! 'Tis the time when young men and women's thoughts turn to love -- or at least scoring some nifty holiday-themed loot! This year there's quite a bit going on. Some events are old familiar ones that have stood the test of time. Others offer new twists and things to do for those who have been there, done that. If you aren't feeling the love bug biting, there's even the odd anti-Valentine's-type event, perfect for those who would rather rain destruction down on the head of anyone foolish enough to approach him with anything heart-shaped or pink. Curious as to what's going on? Check out our listing below -- and feel free to chime in if you know of a fun event others should check out!

	Rip out your Fallen Earth character's heart for Valentine's Day (February 11th-13th) What's better than surviving a nuclear holocaust and wandering your way across a blasted brown landscape rife with societal collapse? Why, sharing said wanderings with someone you love, of course (or at least, someone you lust after in that we've-got-to-do-this-for-the-future-of-mankind sort of way). In a novel spin on the traditional mid-February holiday, Icarus Studios is presenting Fallen Earth's Valentine's Day Massacre event, and clones everywhere can literally offer their hearts as a sign of affection (and a +3 stamina buff).
	Vindictus spreads the love with new update and holiday (February 1st-15th) Quirky events have quickly become one of Vindictus' staples. Right now players can participate in V-Day events for special rewards. If fishing and chocolate hunting isn't your bag, you can simply purchase a Valentine's Package at the Supply Depot for "sexy Valentine's themed Inner Armor." Cute undies, in other words. Valentine's events will end after the 15th, so players are encouraged to partake sooner rather than regret it later.
	Time for love in Final Fantasy XI (February 1st-15th) Valentine's Day is almost here, that special time of year when you attempt to distill the essence of a romantic relationship into chocolate form. And if you were hoping to escape from the day within Vana'diel, your efforts are rather misdirected -- Valentione's Day coincides nicely with the holiday in the real world, with just as much saccharine summation of liaisons in Final Fantasy XI.

Continue reading Massively's guide to Valentine's Day festivities

Massively's guide to Valentine's Day festivities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes

Karen Bryan — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, The Tattered Notebook

SOE has been slowly getting new information out about Destiny of Velious. As part of an ongoing promotion to showcase the upcoming expansion, Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson and Greg "Rothgar" Spence took part in the second installment of the Destiny of Velious webcast. They took the opportunity to elaborate on topics from the first show and also revealed some exciting new features. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at the highlights of last Friday's webcast. Read on to hear more about flying mounts, prestige housing, and public quests.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes

The Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Relaxing with an old friend

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, One Shots

Every day we get tons of great screenshots from readers both old and new. However, among those emails are names that immediately jump out, such as today's One Shots contributor, Johanis -- a man who has sent in dozens of images to share his adventures with us over the last few years. Today we have a recent screenshot from EverQuest II and a note to tell us about what he's currently up to. Johanis writes: "Here is Pollo -- my level 32 Wizard in EverQuest II. While he was busy doing quests and harvesting materials in Butcherblock Mountains, he decided to stop and enjoy the scenery -- something none of us does enough."

Would you like to share some images of your recent adventures? We're always on the hunt for more screenshots of the many different MMOs out there -- but we need your help. Email your screenshots in to us at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Relaxing with an old friend originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Culture, The Game Archaeologist

I have to say, this month's been everything I'd hoped it would be for EverQuest. As with many of these older MMOs, my working knowledge of EQ was spotty and anecdotal at best, and I'm personally glad to rectify that. EverQuest's always felt like a "You had to have been there" club to me, one that stopped accepting members a long, long time ago. It's great, therefore, to see that there's a thriving community, a rich history and an uplifting future in store for the game.

Above everything else, I've come to realize just how crucial EverQuest was -- for better or worse, depending on your perspective -- to the development of the MMO genre for the past decade or so. If SOE never created EQ, just how different would our games be today? It's incredibly hard to imagine.

As we continue our EQ month here at The Game Archaeologist, we have two things on the immediate agenda. The first is to share a few of your personal journeys that you emailed my way, and the second is a look at how you can plug in with EverQuest if you've never done so in the past. It turns out, quite fortuitously, that this is looking to be one of the best times to do so. Read on, courageous gamer!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys

The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II offering bonus experience

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events (In-Game), News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play

Once all the presents have been opened, the fruitcake has been eaten (or relegated to the duty of propping open a nearby door), and many folks are back to work, it might seem a bit glum after the weekend's festivities. Thankfully, if you're an EverQuest II or EverQuest II Extended player, you'll have something to look forward to. Sony Online Entertainment has decided to offer up a great late present to its loyal players in the form of four days of bonus experience!

From 12:01 a.m. PST on Monday, December 27th until 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, December 30th, players will be treated to a whopping 100% bonus on experience. According to the EverQuest II site, that covers all AA, tradeskill, and adventuring experience gained during that period and will cross to the French, German, Japanese and test servers as well as the main EverQuest II and EverQuest II Extended servers. So get ready to celebrate the last week of 2010 with some free epic extra experience in Norrath.

EverQuest II offering bonus experience originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's super offers for super fans

Larry Everett — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Economy, Free Realms, Promotions, Clone Wars Adventures, Miscellaneous

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.

SOE's super offers for super fans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go for the gold: Win a 30 day gold subscription to EverQuest II Extended

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Contests, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Giveaways

It's official: free-to-play EverQuest II is live and out of beta. While we just got done catching up with Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson, we have one more EverQuest II related piece of news up our sleeve. We have 30-day gold subscriptions to give away to EverQuest II Extended!

If you've been considering trying out EverQuest II or EQ2X but didn't want to pay a subscription fee or purchase items from the marketplace, then why not take a shot at winning one of the 15 gold subscriptions in today's contest? It only takes a minute (and a Massively.com commenting account) to enter, and you might just walk away with a code for a free month!

Interested in entering or learning more? Then skip along after the break!

Continue reading Go for the gold: Win a 30 day gold subscription to EverQuest II Extended

Go for the gold: Win a 30 day gold subscription to EverQuest II Extended originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Fear the frog

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, One Shots

There's no doubt that a bunch of people have stampeded over into the lands of EverQuest II Extended to see what the experience is like. We know we've heard some interesting tales back from those first intrepid explorers. Apparently somewhere along the way they're running across a frog (likely a Froglok) who seems to be rather, shall we say, forgetful when it comes to things he wants you to do. You know the type: NPCs who send you somewhere, only to have them send you right back, leaving you to wonder why they didn't just give you a shopping list in the first place.

Today's tale of forgetful frog frustration comes to us from Mike, who writes in to tell us a bit about his experience: "Hey! Just thought I'd share this shot of my new experiences in Norrath. Since EQ2 went F2P I decided I'd give it a try. To show my appreciation I threw them a few bucks and got the Silver account. Here is my MMO alter-ego Ocholivis standing atop a local peak overlooking the starting area below, contemplating his adventure thus far and wondering why that frog guy from the camp has sent him up here on yet another ridiculous errand. So it goes."

Have you found a forgetful NPC? Would you like to show off what you're doing? We love to hear about our reader's travels. Email your picture and travel tale to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name and the name of the game. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in. Couldn't be easier!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Fear the frog originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: The asylum awaits

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, One Shots

With SOE having now rolled out the EverQuest II Extended servers into a soft launch, there are tons of folks heading into Norrath to check out the game. Meanwhile, life continues as normal on the EverQuest II servers, with higher-level groups heading into strange dungeons. One such example is the spot we see in today's One Shots, courtesy of fellow MMO blogger Ratwarlock, who also goes by Araxes on the Antonia Bayle server. He notes that this "is from the interior of the Necrotic Asylum, another of the 6-man instanced dungeons" from The Shadow Odyssey. Ratwarlock also assures us that the dungeon this was taken in is "one of the harder ones!"

Calling all MMO players! We need your screenshots for One Shots. If you've seen anything fun, imposing, interesting, or silly, we want to hear from you. If you haven't, gather up your group of friends and go have some fun -- then send some screens of that in! All MMOs -- from large-budget to tiny indie, East to West -- are welcome. Send them to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name/server/game and a quick description of what we're seeing. Reader submissions keep One Shots running, so send some in today!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: The asylum awaits originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II Extended sounds the call to soft launch [Updated]

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, EverQuest II, Business Models, News Items, Free-to-Play

It's weird to think that it was less than a month ago when we first heard that SOE was going to launch a free-to-play version of its popular EverQuest II. It's weirder still when you consider just how fast EverQuest II Extended progressed to the ~~open beta~~ launch stage, as the F2P experience became available to the public yesterday with Platinum membership arriving at the end of the month.

This isn't the first time SOE has experimented with various plans to lure players into Norrath, including a 14-day free trial and the EQII Passport limited subscription. Unlike those previous plans, EverQuest II Extended is being treated as a wholly separate game on unique servers, and is offering free play without a time limit. SOE claims that this is a first for the industry: two versions of the same game operating in parallel in order to offer players a choice between payment plans.

One interesting aspect of the Extended ~~beta~~ soft launch is that there will be no wipe -- on the contrary, any characters, progression and purchases made by players during this period will carry over to the live version. Extended offers a variety of payment options, from completely free to a full year's subscription, depending on your level of interest. Even if you're an EQII newbie, there's no reason to avoid checking out the game to see if it might tickle your fancy.

[Update: SOE has contacted us to let us know that they're calling this a launch now, instead of an open beta, due to the fact that no character info is being wiped. The post has been updated to reflect the new terminology]

EverQuest II Extended sounds the call to soft launch [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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