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Aion announces Solorius Video Contest winners

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Contests

Part of the Solorius celebration in Aion included the Solorius Video Contest, an opportunity for fans to show off how they were celebrating Solorius, and compete for some extremely generous prize packages. The contest deadline was January 5th, and from then on it was up to the Aion staff to sift through and pick a winner: "On Wednesday, 12 members of the Aion team were locked in a conference room to view the videos that made it to the finals. It wasn't easy, but we're happy to announce that we've chosen our winners. Drum roll, please!"

The three winners displayed not only nice editing skills, but some pretty impressive vocal talent as well. The winning videos can be seen on the Aion site. (Aion staff members also treated us to a few of their favorites that didn't make it into the top three, so make sure to take a peek at those as well.) Our congratulations to the winners!

Aion announces Solorius Video Contest winners originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet promises Guild Wars Wintersday redux

Rubi Bayer — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Bugs, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

"OMG lag!" "Ugh, I got dc'ed." "Hey, why didn't I get the hat?"

If you were logged into Guild Wars for more than five minutes on Friday, you most likely either saw people saying one (or all three) of those things, or said them yourself. As the Wintersday finale approached and district numbers soared in Lion's Arch and Kamadan, lag -- a typical festival issue -- became the most used word in the game, with Error 007 messages popping up all over the place.

Most players are used to that around festival times and understand that the server load in some areas is much higher than usual. However, another little glitch showed up Friday that players weren't quite so forgiving of: a huge number of players weren't getting their Wintersday hats, and Guild Wars players do not love it when they don't get their hats.

The outcry hit the forums pretty quickly, and community manager Regina Buenaobra logged an extra long workday communicating with the community and the ArenaNet team, trying to fix the bug. Eventually the bug was fixed, with a very welcome announcement from Regina: they will be re-running Wintersday. Dates are still to be announced, but it's welcome news for all players.

Good luck on round two, and thanks to ArenaNet!

ArenaNet promises Guild Wars Wintersday redux originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New screenshots from Pirates of the Caribbean Online

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Events, in-game, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Free-to-play

Disney's free-to-play MMO Pirates of the Caribbean Online isn't a game we hear much from, but it's got a fairly respectable following and is a fun departure from the standard-issue fantasy genre that marks so many free-to-play games.

Never let it be said either that they don't know how to party in between all the privateering and swashbuckling and whatnot. Disney has released a handful of screenshots from their recent holiday events, and a great party was had by all. Festive streamers, bows, stockings, and greenery made an appearance in between the palm trees and sand. Characters were given a fun /noisemaker emote, and this year had a fun new addition: sandmen.

No, not the kind that arrives to put you to sleep, these are the Caribbean version of snowmen. You see, the Caribbean has a distinct lack of anything resembling snow, and the locals have learned to compensate with cleverly designed pirates made of sand. Enjoy the screenshots provided, and maybe head over and check the game out if you haven't yet!

Continue reading New screenshots from Pirates of the Caribbean Online

New screenshots from Pirates of the Caribbean Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlantica Online offers a charitable donation

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play, Atlantica Online

Admit it. At least once when you were shopping for this year's frenzied rush of consumerism, you took advantage of a "buy one get one free" deal or something similar for yourself. You got a present for the person you were shopping for and a little something extra on top of that, nothing wrong with it. Even though the holidays are thankfully receding into memory, though, you can still get a bit of that rush of something for you and something for others in Atlantica Online for a couple more days. Ndoors Interactive is offering a set of in-game stocking stuffers that also donate a portion of their profits straight to charity.

The stocking stuffer randomly contains one of 30 rare item sets, all of them having various positive boosts on any Atlantica Online character. In addition, each one purchased also has a portion of the revenue from that sale donated to Child's Play, a well-known gamer-centered charity that has continue to skyrocket in donation volume over the years. The only catch for the stocking stuffer is that you have to move quickly -- the pack is disappearing from the store after December 30th, just in time for the new year. And, really, isn't it worth getting that one last rush of being kind to others while being kind to yourself?

Atlantica Online offers a charitable donation originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Last chance at presents

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Crafting, Opinion, The Daily Grind

The celebrations are over, the dinner is eaten, and the underside of the tree is cleared. It's the end of the holiday season, and if you want to be morbid it's also the furthest possible point until more Christmas. But the day after the event is usually all but an extension of the holiday -- we return unwanted gifts, meet up with more distant relations, and start using our various gift cards. In a way, the holiday doesn't end until the day after, and you've got one last shot at getting all the things you want.

So what's your last-minute addition to your stash? Most holiday events in MMOs last for a little longer than the day itself, which gives us an extra chance at picking up any holiday rewards. Of course, you might have your eyes on a new game entirely, maybe with a gift certificate or two. Or you might just be working on crafting a difficult item and can justify the price of buying some of the materials, or perhaps you just want a new rig to explore your favorite games on. Whatever it is, what's your last-minute addition to your overall gift basket?

The Daily Grind: Last chance at presents originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What was the best gift you received in-game?

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

It's Christmas day for those of you who celebrate it, and whatever your focus today is, presents are sure to be involved in some way, shape, or form.

Real-life presents aren't the only things being exchanged -- the gifts are flying in MMO-land as well. You'll find packages with pretty wrapping in nearly every game: dropping from monsters, being offered as quest rewards, and offered by collectors (often in exchange for pieces of dead foes, but we try not to think about what they do with them after we hand them over.) The best gifts, though, are the ones received from your friends and guildmates in-game. The ones that were crafted or picked out just for you, because someone knew you wanted a special miniature, weapon, or piece of armor. We love those gifts because they came from a friend who cared enough to take some extra time and effort with you in mind.

So today, we want to know what your favorite gift from an MMO friend was. It doesn't have to be the biggest and best epic weapon on the block, it could even be some version of a Christmas card, but it brought a smile to your face. So tell us about it, and happy holidays from Massively!

The Daily Grind: What was the best gift you received in-game? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms hops on the TV commercial bandwagon

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids

It looks like MapleStory isn't the only one seeking to draw in some new players over the holidays. Free Realms has released two eye-catching television commercials, set to air over the holidays.

Both spots aim for a thirty second intro to all things Free Realms, with the first one focusing on holiday events and the second a more general view. All the bases are covered in these whirlwind tours of the game: cool costumes, houses to decorate, pets, monster fights, jobs, and more.

There is a heavy emphasis on "free" and "with your friends", which should hold a hefty appeal to the tween and teen set as the holiday vacation from school starts to drag out a little bit next week. There is a brief text disclaimer about halfway through: "premium content and membership available for purchase," which offers a tempting suggestion for kids who haven't decided what to do with that Visa gift card they got from Aunt Judy in Oklahoma.

Both commercials can be viewed at the official site.

Free Realms hops on the TV commercial bandwagon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlantica Online dev diary: Visiting Santa's Villa

Shawn Schuster — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Screenshots, Culture, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Atlantica Online

It's time for this newest installment of NDoors Interactive's bi-weekly developer journal for Atlantica Online here at Massively. We've covered so much already, but now we're treated to some detailed info on their winter holiday event. Here's what they had to say:

This Christmas season we are proud to bring back Santa's Villa to our players. During this holiday season, players who are over level 20 and have been playing for at least an hour will receive Mistletoe. This item, when exchanged for a Santa Villa Ticket, will give players access to all the treasures that lay inside.

Continue reading Atlantica Online dev diary: Visiting Santa's Villa

Atlantica Online dev diary: Visiting Santa's Villa originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes offers holiday contest

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Contests, Player Housing

It's holiday time in both Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, and that means it's time for players of City of Heroes to celebrate the occasion. We recently discussed the game's holiday event, which is of course how the characters in the game get to enjoy the start of the winter months. But what about the players behind the keyboard, the ones who may very well have donated to charitable causes and deserve something nice themselves this holiday season? Well, perhaps if you're blessed with a spot of luck and the spirit of the season, you could win some decorations for yourself and your environment in the game's holiday contest.

The contest has two categories, for most festive costume and most festively-decorated base, with three winners per category. Prizes include hero and villain pins, some of the limited-edition City of Heroes fifth-anniversary t-shirts, and a few other nice toys. All that's required for entry is to take two screenshots of your character's costume or your decorated base and submit them by January 3rd, which means that everyone in the game has both time an inclination to get into the spirit of things. Read the official rules for more details, and get a little something back for your superhuman antics being seasonally appropriate.

City of Heroes offers holiday contest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's 2009 Winter Holiday Event Guide

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Aion, City of Heroes, Dark Age of Camelot, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EVE Online, EverQuest II, Fallen Earth, Final Fantasy XI, Guild Wars, Lineage, Lineage 2, Lord of the Rings Online, MapleStory, Culture, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, MetaPlace, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Dragonica Online, Cities XL

It's that time of year again -- whatever holiday you are celebrating, the denizens of your favorite MMO are sure to be celebrating it too. Whether it's Festivult in Dungeons and Dragons Online, Wintersday in Guild Wars, or the Starlight Celebration in Final Fantasy XI, the theme is the same. There are presents, some sort of sugary treats, and tons of fun. Follow along with us as we check out who's partying in your favorite MMO and what you need to do to get in on the fun.

Continue reading Massively's 2009 Winter Holiday Event Guide

Massively's 2009 Winter Holiday Event Guide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth free trials are back in time for the holidays

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game

Just last week on our Fallen Earth/Wild West MMO article, many of the commenters were looking for a Fallen Earth free trial. Now we're happy to announce that the Fallen Earth team is offering a 10-day free trial straight from their main site. In addition, they're also offering a 20% discount (now $39.99 USD) on all purchases of the game through their online store.

Of course the timing on this promotion is well-timed with their newest Social patch and holiday event. "We've made the process of accessing Fallen Earth much easier for players," said Jessica Orr, marketing manager for Fallen Earth. "With the addition of the free trial, we'd like to invite everyone to join in the Fallen Earth holiday festivities!"

So if you're interesting in sampling the wasteland excitement, head on over to their free trial page and try it out for yourself!

Fallen Earth free trials are back in time for the holidays originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Virtual worlds, real gifts

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

You can't really wrap up, say, a +1 sword in Dungeons and Dragons Online. But that doesn't mean it makes a bad gift. After all, for some of your friends it's cheaper to ship and more relevant to your friendship than a fruitcake. You can't always trade the important things in MMOs, but even as the games celebrate the holidays by giving us several cosmetic items, it's possible for the players to find a more personal and intimate way to share in the holiday spirit.

Today, we ask you if you've given a gift to a friend in a game, whether they're an in-game buddy or a real-life chum. If so, what did you give them? Was it something that you farmed up or crafted just for them, a bit of equipment you had lying around that they always wanted, or something sentimental? If you havven't, is it something you would consider doing? Today's the right time of year for sharing these stories, so even if you've only been a giftee rather than a gifter, we'd like to hear about it. (And for safety's sake, please, don't try to wrap a +1 sword. Those things are sharp.)

The Daily Grind: Virtual worlds, real gifts originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Win a Runes of Magic Winter Holiday costume set

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Giveaways

If you're feeling especially festive, and you're a Runes of Magic player, we have a special treat for you today. The good folks at Frogster stuffed our holiday stockings with 900 item keys for their newest in-game costume for the winter holidays. There are male and female version of this set, from which you can choose when you redeem your key.

To grab your key, simply head on over to our giveaway page and follow the directions there. You'll want to redeem your code at this link, where you'll choose between the male or female set. Click on through the jump below to see full screenshots of both costume sets. It's first-come-first-serve on these codes, so best of luck to all, and happy holidays!

Continue reading Win a Runes of Magic Winter Holiday costume set

Win a Runes of Magic Winter Holiday costume set originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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S.U.N. launches first major update

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Soul of the Ultimate Nation

Soul of the Ultimate Nation is launching its first major content update, and spreading a little Christmas cheer while they're at it. The content update will bring a new map -- Valley of the Dragon -- for players above level 60 who are looking for a new challenge, as well as a new battle zone, AC system and quests. Finally, an elite item set option is now available, said to be the most unique item in game.

While they were at it, WEBZEN decided to add another little bonus to their game, the "Holiday Spirit in Soul of the Ultimate Nation" event. From now until December 30th, you can purchase Happy Winter Packages, and part of the purchase price will go to support UNICEF.

The holiday promotion is limited, but the new content is here to stay, so pick up your winter gifts and settle in to enjoy this first major content update!

S.U.N. launches first major update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms releases newest Ask a Dev video

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Professions, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids

Free Realms has released its third "Ask a Dev" video -- lead character artist Matt Case and game designer Margaret Krohn teamed up to bring information on the new content coming this month.

The first order of business was fishing. This new job will have its own minigames, as well as the chance to explore new types of fish as you advance. Keep an eye out as you play, because fish aren't the only thing you have a chance at catching! December brings new pets as well. Dragons, dinosaurs, unicorns and more will be available as companions, each with a variety of colors and their own special personalities and animations. Need a place for you and your pet to go after a long day of fishing? Margaret answers questions about housing -- how you can furnish it, what is available (dance floors and rocket ships, anyone?), and how much stuff you can fit in your new digs.

Finally, Matt had some information about the upcoming holiday events. There will be a nice variety of costumes available as well as a fun quest series, snowball fights and...special phone booths in Snowhill? Color us intrigued.

Check out the video after the jump, and we'll see you in Free Realms!

Continue reading Free Realms releases newest Ask a Dev video

Free Realms releases newest Ask a Dev video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet offers Guild Wars holiday papercraft patterns

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Fan art, Free-to-play

Remember April Fools Day in Guild Wars earlier this year when we all turned into excruciatingly cute Chibi Gwen dolls? And the Nicholas the Traveler feeding frenzy when word got around he was handing out Chibi Gwen minipets? If you love the uber-cute little figurine and just can't have enough adorableness, ArenaNet can help you out.

Chibi Gwen is the first in a series of holiday papercrafts that Guild Wars fans can download the patterns for. Every Tuesday this month, ANet will release a new pattern for a special Guild Wars themed paper model. Upcoming patterns are a secret, but there is a pretty broad hint as to the last one: "We won't tell you what it is, but save room at the top of your tree!" Hmm, what winged, angelic figure would go nicely at the top of a Christmas tree?

At any rate, the pattens can be found all month on the official site, and are a fun way to add a bit of Guild Wars flair to your home.

ArenaNet offers Guild Wars holiday papercraft patterns originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars Wintersday 2009 art contest announced

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Contests, News items, Free-to-play

Wintersday is approaching in Guild Wars, and with it comes grentches, snowmen, candy canes, and the frenzied hunt for the elusive Mini Polar Bear.

We'll explore the festivities more later this month, but in the meantime ArenaNet has officially begun the Wintersday Art Contest. Put your creative energies to use while you wait for Wintersday to arrive and create some holiday art with a Guild Wars twist.

Three top winners will receive "The Art of Guild Wars 2" signed by the development team, a signed art print from PAX 2008, and a brand new everlasting reindeer tonic. Seven more winners will receive the PAX art print and reindeer tonic, and ten honorable mentions will receive the reindeer tonic.

(It should probably go without saying, but it's a good idea not to plagarize anything for this contest. It won't end well.)

Full entry details can be found here, so good luck to all of you!

Guild Wars Wintersday 2009 art contest announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion announces holiday items for players

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News items

The holiday season is approaching, and NCsoft is leading the charge for the annual rush of holiday celebrations and items in MMOs. Yesterday they announced the Aion Holiday Ascension Pack for those of you who haven't purchased the game yet, or are hoping to receive it as a gift.

The Ascension Pack comes with an extra holiday bonus in the form of four gifts to give your character a little boost and shine up his or her appearance a bit. It contains 20 Lesser Life Potions, 15 Lodas Amulets, 15 Lesser Running Scrolls, and a special dye for your character. You'll get a different dye color depending on where you purchase your Ascension Pack, so you may want to choose your purchase place with that in mind.

Amazon - Hot Orange Dye
Best Buy - Mustard Dye
Game Stop - True Black Dye
Target - True Red Dye
Wal-Mart - True White Dye

Aion is only the first game to begin announcing their holiday plans - we're sure much more will be coming soon, and we're looking forward to it!

Aion announces holiday items for players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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