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The Daily Grind: Are you still on the gaming train today?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

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

If you're in the US, today is probably the one day of the year when pretty much everyone gets to take time off and have a holiday. December 25th is acknowledged as a day of rest and relaxation with friends and family. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a holiday if you didn't get to do things you enjoyed... but for some of us, this is also a day when we take a break even from our sometimes stressful hobby of online games.

So what about you? Obviously you're still on the browsing train for the day, but are you still planning on logging in and grinding out a few quests today? Or is this a day off all 'round? And please, feel free to let us know what you'll be up to for the day either way because we'd like to hope that all of our readers are having a happy day doing what they love. It's the season for that, after all.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Are you still on the gaming train today? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Dilithium, attack ships, and lightsabers, oh my!

Terilynn Shull — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log

So much has happened with Star Trek Online since Massively's last column on the game! The Captain's Log's previous author, Brandon Felczer, accepted a position with Perfect World Entertainment (Cryptic Studios' parent company) and is now a community manager for Star Trek Online. We wish him the best in his future endeavors. And that makes me, Terilynn Shull, your new STO columnist!

Since then, Cryptic's newest patch, A Call to Arms, was released to subscribers. The patch was really the preliminary push of the anticipated free-to-play model that Cryptic announced will occur on January 17th, 2012. To the dismay of many players, the patch did not contain any new mission content, and we've been told not to expect any new story-driven content until at least February of next year.

However, A Call to Arms did include the nervously awaited single-currency economy, the highly anticipated duty officer system, and a revamped set of strategic task force (STF) missions, and it was soon followed by the controversial holiday event and "homage" to Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Dilithium, attack ships, and lightsabers, oh my!

Captain's Log: Dilithium, attack ships, and lightsabers, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Online discusses this year's Yule Festival

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

Generally, holiday events aren't seen as content in major need of updating. Usually a game that runs an event one year will run more or less the same event the next year with a handful of extra toys. But the holiday events in Lord of the Rings Online are still an important part of the game experience, which is why the Yule Festival has undergone some serious revamping and changes to hopefully make this year the best Yule ever.

As outlined in the new developer diary, the original incarnation had a lot of space in Winter-home that didn't tie together, leaving the area feeling empty despite the abundance of content. The changes were thus focused around making full use of the space as well as making the existing quests a bit friendlier to players to address some long-standing complaints. The overall effect should make the area feel more lively and the event more fun for everyone, whether you've done it for years or this is your first Yule in Middle-earth.

Lord of the Rings Online discusses this year's Yule Festival originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Lore, RIFT

All in-game holiday festivals were not born equal, but they do seem to share a family resemblance when it comes to being merry and bright. RIFT's Fae Yule is but one of many, many Christmastime MMO holidays that we're witnessing this month, but the team at Trion Worlds is looking to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd with its depth and sense of fun.

So why do the inhabitants of Telara celebrate Fae Yule and take time out of their busy schedule of slaughter and soul-absorbing to decorate the town and scarf down bucketfuls of eggnog? What do they sing about when gathered around a crackling fire? What kind of present is appropriate for the fellow who already has the gift of immortality?

It's time to sit on Trion's lap and ask for your greatest wish in game while jolly St. Hartsman tells you all about the lore and in-game goodies behind RIFT's festivities. Ho-ho-hit that jump and let's get started!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule

Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Starlight Celebration approaches for Final Fantasy XI

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events, in-game, News items, Consoles

The end of the year quickly approaches, and if you're a veteran of Final Fantasy XI, you know that means it's time for the Starlight Celebration. The music changes in Jeuno, the snow falls, and players get to enjoy a bit of Christmas cheer in the game as well as out of it. And like most events, this one has a new wrinkle for its newest outing: it seems a handful of Goblins have decided to get involved in the celebration, taking some presents that weren't intended for them and leaving adventurers to recover the missing gifts.

Missed a previous year? That's all right -- you can still obtain one of the many cozy furnishings or festive costume pieces through a variety of event merchants and packages scattered throughout Vana'diel. The event will start on the live servers on December 16th and run through December 31st, plenty of time for everyone in Final Fantasy XI to get a solid dose of some holiday cheer.

The Starlight Celebration approaches for Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New RIFT video is dressing up for Halloween

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, News items, Humor, RIFT

It's always a bit of a scary time in RIFT's setting of Telara. After all, it's rough to think that at any moment the sky could tear open right next to your favorite restaurant and turn it into a shrieking pit of death. So you can imagine that things get even jumpier around this time of year, what with everyone seeing death around every corner and undead in every shadow. What's a resident of Telara to do?

Well, fortunately, there are Ascended running around to keep the world safe on a day-to-day basis. But as the video just past the break shows, when you're facing something a bit more frightening than the average day, you need to call on a more formidable set of allies. Check on past the cut to see RIFT's holiday spectacular in all its glory, a reminder that even in these times of darkness, there are knights around every corner.

[Source: Trion Worlds press release]

Continue reading New RIFT video is dressing up for Halloween

New RIFT video is dressing up for Halloween originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV egging players on with a lore-filled new holiday event

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Lore, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Patch 1.17 is awash in rumors. The world of Eorzea is filled with rumors of returning Archons, war with the Empire, the formation of the Grand Companies, and unsettling aggression from wildlife. Amidst all of the chaos, Final Fantasy XIV players are going to see the first pass of the new Easter-themed holiday, which ties directly into the aforementioned rumors -- the eggs being distributed across Eorzea are the work of one woman who is absolutely certain that the Archons are returning, and she's spreading the word through decorated avian embryos.

After a vision of the Archons descending from the sky on the back of colored eggs, Jihli Aliapoh took it upon herself to preach gospel and distribute painted eggs to help spread awareness. Of course, there are rumors that she's handing out the eggs for more material purposes... but for players, it means a chance to get holiday-themed hats, and isn't that the important part? Final Fantasy XIV players should read the full lore rundown and start taking part in the egg festivities, which run until May 9th.

Final Fantasy XIV egging players on with a lore-filled new holiday event originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XI hopping along for 2011

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events, in-game, News items, Consoles

The new year brings all sorts of things -- hopes for improvement, resolutions of behavior, and of course in-game events for nearly every game that's active. Final Fantasy XI is no exception, with this year's event focused around the wide-eyed rarabs that range across Vana'diel. And as with previous years, players can ring in the new year with some lovely new prizes, including the option to turn oneself into a rabbit of unusual size for a while.

Running until January 17th, the event follows the format laid out by previous years, with players chasing a bounding rabbit across various zones to obtain various prizes. The team at FFXIclopedia has already begun putting together a guide for players looking to get the most out of the holiday; the biggest challenge for players will be hunting down the Celebratory Coney darting across the landscape. Take a look at the official announcement for the usual piece of in-game fiction, and enjoy the start of another year in Final Fantasy XI.

Final Fantasy XI hopping along for 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ring in the new year with Final Fantasy XIV's Heavensturn

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Considering Final Fantasy XI's longstanding tradition of celebrating nearly every holiday no matter how obscure, it should come as no surprise that Final Fantasy XIV is poised to carry on the tradition. The first holiday event is still taking place, but a new one will begin soon to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Dubbed Heavensturn, the event is a chance for players to score another unique piece of equipment -- in this case, a hat that manages to combine the samurai aesthetic with a rabbit.

Running from December 31st until January 17th, the event will function similarly to the ongoing Starlight Celebration, with characters obtaining festive items that may be used in crafting. The centerpiece is the Usagi Kabuto, which is exactly what it sounds like: a bunny hat for the lapine-conscious samurai. According the backstory, Heavensturn traditionally is a time of astrological significance, but the event has started getting a bit supplanted by the rabbit helms. Final Fantasy XIV players can take a look at the full backstory as well as the new crafting recipes for the event in the official dispatch.

Ring in the new year with Final Fantasy XIV's Heavensturn originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

For those of us who celebrate the holidays, right now is an insanely busy time of the year. There are presents to be wrapped, eggnog to be nogged, and looks of annoyance to be thrown at the radio when the music station decides to play that Do They Know It's Christmas? song for the sixth time that hour.

It also means that winter holidays are hitting most major MMOs, including our beloved Lord of the Rings Online. This year, the Yule Festival is marked by the addition of a whole new area -- Winter-home -- and players are already neck-deep in the quests, snowball fights and theatrical hilarity. Turbine's done a spectacular job this year infusing a lot more life and fun into the festivals, from the shrew stomping this past spring to the Haunted Burrow this fall. Winter-home is, in many ways, a perfect capstone to a terrific year for the game, and it's a pretty enjoyable event from what I've seen so far.

So grab that cute Hobbit or Dwarf and join me as we travel to the merriment of Winter-home this week!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding

The Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeon Fighter Online announces Act VI: Kiss of the Gun

Jef Reahard — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeon Fighter Online

Girls with guns may be a bit of a videogame stereotype at this point, but Nexon America is nonetheless offering up its own version of the archetype in its latest Dungeon Fighter Online update. The side-scrolling action MMO recently added Act VI: Kiss of the Gun to its content repertoire, the primary feature of which is the Female Gunner character class update.

Gunners feature special new awakening skills and equipment for their various subclasses including blade-equipped revolvers, electromagnetic fields, and a Gatling gun-wielding mech warrior. Act VI also offers up a new explorable area called Empyrean, which is under constant attack from a faction of vagrants known as the Kartel.

Finally, Nexon is giving away free holiday-themed items just for logging in. Gifts include double XP potions, skill resets, and in-game currency.

Dungeon Fighter Online announces Act VI: Kiss of the Gun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DOFUS brings the holidays to players, then blows them up

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Video, Dofus, Classes, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

The colorful world of DOFUS seems well-suited to a holiday celebration, especially with the amount of character embedded in the game's graphics. And one is taking place on Kwismas Island, beyond a shadow of a doubt. But there's still something else for players to look for, something that's far less merry than the dungeons of the island (whose merriness is already a rather dubious quality). It's the newest class of the game, the Rogue, a class focused on guns, explosives, and the use of both in tandem.

Capable of summoning a variety of elemental bombs as well as making elementally charged pistol attacks, Rogues are the 13th class in the game, available as a premium feature now. All DOFUS players can enjoy Kwismas Island, however, previewed in our gallery just below. Take a look at the Rogue teaser video past the cut, and consider the possible combination of holiday dungeons and heavy explosives. (It beats fruitcake and caroling.)

Gallery: DOFUS Kwismas Island gallery

Continue reading DOFUS brings the holidays to players, then blows them up

DOFUS brings the holidays to players, then blows them up originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ring in the end of the year with Warhammer Online's Keg End

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, News items

Warhammer Online players have things to be thankful for this year, not the least of which being the 1.4 patch. And as the end of the year approaches, it's the traditional time for players to celebrate the passing of the old year in the game via copious amounts of liquor and the usual helping of ultraviolence. That's right, it's time for another round of Keg End, with Order and Destruction alike taking part in the festivities and competing for chances at the coveted Golden Stein.

Aside from the boastworthy exploits of the festival, players will also have giants to face off against, with special rewards for those capable of felling these enemies. There are also rare world drop items for players to look for, including your own personal keg handler or a battlebrew backpack. Warhammer Online players are encouraged to take a look at the official preview of the holiday event, which runs until January 4th to ensure that everyone has plenty of time to ring in the new year with a proper toast. Or a proper inebriated violent rampage, one or the other.

Ring in the end of the year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Patches, Star Wars Galaxies

It's a busy day for Star Wars Galaxies, as Game Update 19 jumps to lightspeed with a trio of exciting events. First up is the return of Wookiee Life Day, "a time to reflect on the renewal of life and to remember those who have passed on." Wookiee Life Day was first introduced in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special and has become a beloved fixture of SWG since its inception a few years ago. New features to the holiday this year include the ability to plant a Life Tree anywhere you like, four new paintings, a Wookiee Life Day robe, a collectible badge, and an R2-D2 ornament.

Game Update 19 also brings the next chapter of the Witches of Dathomir, which began a little over a month ago. Players can travel to the planet of Dathomir and decide which clan of Force-sensitive Witches they'll align with: the Nightsisters or the Singing Mountain Clan.

Finally, a new expansion pack to the trading card game is available, titled The Price of Victory. You can read up on Game Update 19 at Star Wars Galaxies, and travel back in the Massively time machine to revisit our chat with SWG's Teesquared on the patch.

Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spread some holiday smiles in Final Fantasy XI

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events, in-game, Previews, News items, Consoles

Any game with holiday events could do far worse than taking inspiration from Final Fantasy XI. With each event having eight years of refinement, there's always plenty to do for adventurers in Vana'diel, and the latest round of the Starlight Celebration is no exception. But there's a brand-new wrinkle, since the keepers of all holiday events in the game (the Moogles) have continued their high level of service (they've screwed up again) and provided adventurers with a delightful new game (that involves racing goblins on chocobos).

In keeping with tradition, this year also includes a bit of fiction to go along with the event, and the rewards and frills from previous celebrations will be available as well. Players can take a look at the guide from last year for an idea of what to expect, but even with that knowledge, this year's new card-hunting game promises to be unique. Final Fantasy XI has seen its last major patch this year, but there's still going to be plenty to do for the holiday season.

Spread some holiday smiles in Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Familiar faces and holiday places in Final Fantasy XIV

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Patches, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

While Friday saw a massive news bomb dropped for players of Final Fantasy XIV, life in Eorzea continues, albeit with a touch of a specter hanging overhead. Still, one can only hope that the first Starlight Celebration in the game will help alleviate some of that sense of doom and gloom. To the surprise of nearly no one, the celebration features a number of gifts for players, as well as a three-piece set of thematic attire that can be either crafted or received via helping needy children. It's also one of the first glimpses at the game world's backstory beyond those tantalizing glimpses in story quests.

But perhaps you couldn't care less about the celebration and just want to go toe-to-toe with something more dangerous than a marmot. The December update should be good for what ails you, with the most recent preview offering up several new notorious monsters as well as two returning enemy groups. Flans, of course, have been a staple of nearly every game in the series -- but goblins are a welcome returning foe from Final Fantasy XI, complete with the same design and mercantile nature. Final Fantasy XIV players don't have a definite date for the update just yet, but it should be in the very near future, possibly even this week.

Familiar faces and holiday places in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes gearing up for winter festivities

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events, in-game, News items

The holidays are anything but a time to relax in City of Heroes, as pretty much every holiday has one villain or another seeking to unleash some diabolical scheme. That means that characters have to race into action to stop it, all while enjoying special badges, prizes, and limited-time events. This year's winter holiday season promises to be no different, as the beginning and ending times for the Winter Event 2010 have just been announced by the Paragon Studios team.

Running from December 17th to January 2nd, the event promises to feature all of the attractions of the prior year while adding a few new wrinkles. Aside from the obvious transport of the holiday to Praetoria (totalitarian police states like Christmas too), players will be tasked with stopping the nefarious plot of Lady Winter following Lord Winter's defeat last year. City of Heroes players have a fair idea of what to expect from the winter event, but that doesn't mean it's any less fun to log in and start throwing snowballs for justice.

City of Heroes gearing up for winter festivities originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deck the halls with Coralax costumes in City of Heroes

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Contests, Events, real-world, News items

At one point in development, the Coralax were going to be the new epic archetype for the villainous crowd in City of Heroes. Now, they're just another low-level villain group with some memorable looks to them. But for the next twelve days, they can be something more -- namely, they can be your new clothing. No, you aren't getting missions to skin the Coralax and wear what's left as a hat. The Paragon Studios team is taking the opportunity to give away the never-before-seen costume code for the aquatic humanoids via social networking through December 23rd, skipping the weekends.

While similar giveaways have happened in the past, they've always been with costume codes from a recent convention. The Coralax costume is totally new and unprecedented, and that means whoever snags one owns a unique part of the game's history. Since the team won't be announcing where the codes will be dropped next, it's up to players to keep a close eye on Twitter, Facebook, and the forums to try and snag a code in time. Good luck to City of Heroes players eager for the new costume, because nothing says the leadup to the holiday season like a mad dash for something everyone wants.

Deck the halls with Coralax costumes in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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War of Angels open beta begins

Jef Reahard — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Just in time for the holidays, Neowiz Games has started its early gift-giving by announcing the open beta period for War of Angels. The free-to-play title featuring four classes and ongoing PvP conflict is now available for public consumption, and has a few Thanksgiving surprises in store for beta participants. If you're able to push away from the dinner table long enough to retrieve stolen turkeys for an NPC named Catherine, she'll reward you with a gigantic bird mount called a Pajareu.

In addition to the holiday content, War of Angels now boasts new gear and weapons for players of all levels, new quests, and website leaderboards to assist you in your post-holiday bragging. Closed beta veterans may also be gifted with a Halo of the Pioneer item which will temporarily boost their leveling speed.

Check out all the details, and sign up for beta, at the official website.

War of Angels open beta begins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Attend our Global Agenda Halloween event this Thursday at 7 PM

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Events, in-game, PvE, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda

Did you forget about our Halloween event in Global Agenda? You forgot, didn't you? Tsk, tsk. Well, good thing this post is here to remind you!

This Thursday, please take out your level 30 characters and join us in Global Agenda for a frightfully fun Halloween raid mission with the developers! All you need to do to participate is log on between the hours of 7:00 p.m. EST and 9:00 p.m. EST and queue a level 30 character up for a raid. Raids are starting when you see the red flashing lights in Dome City go off! The Global Agenda developers, Hi-Rez Studios, will be queuing up for raids as well, so you might just run into a few of them while you play!

If you're still not high enough level but want to try out the raid, don't forget about the new microtransaction boosts. They could get you the experience you need!

If you're not in a raid, then join the Massively.com editors in City Chat as we tease you all with Global Agenda trivia! Winners of the Global Agenda trivia contest will win the raid instance's Halloween swag -- so if you're a lower level player, you can always try to get some flair by answering some questions about the game!

Either way, we invite you to come have a great night with us in Global Agenda, so don't miss out!

Reminder: Attend our Global Agenda Halloween event this Thursday at 7 PM originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Mob Halloween event: Global Agenda's Oasis Checkpoint... Of Doom!

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda

Happy Halloween Mobsters! It's another Massively.com community event, and this time we're getting spooky! The team at Hi-Rez Studios has put together a brand new Halloween-themed raid, and you're invited to come along and raid with the developers!

Next Thursday, October 28th, join us in Global Agenda from 7:00 p.m. EDT to 9:00 p.m. EDT to lay the smack down on some ghostly robots inside the game's level 30 raid queue. In celebration of Halloween, all of the level 30 raid queues will be converted over to run the brand new raid mission: "The Oasis Checkpoint... Of Doom!" During our two-hour-long event, the staff of Hi-Rez will be jumping into the raid queue to play as well, so you might get the chance to play with one of the Global Agenda developers!

Not level 30? No worries! You have plenty of time to level up before Thursday, or you could use a Global Agenda boost to double your experience while you play. (Use boost to get through?)

Plus, while you're waiting for the raid to pop, Massively.com editors will be in Dome City, holding a Global Agenda-themed trivia contest. Ten lucky contest winners will get Halloween head flair for their character, so you can celebrate Halloween all the time!

So be sure to join us next Thursday, and keep an eye out for a post on Tuesday where we'll break down the entire schedule of events!

Massively Mob Halloween event: Global Agenda's Oasis Checkpoint... Of Doom! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New content update adds epic battle to Runes of Magic

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Video, Patches, News items, PvE, Free-to-play

Looking for a challenge to tear up in Runes of Magic? Well, if you think you have what it takes, Runewaker Entertainment and Frogster Interactive have a brand new epic battle for you -- the world boss Amboriar! The new patch, 3.0.5, The Guardian's Awakening, throws open the doors on this new fight for Runes of Magic players, as well as offering new difficulty modes to Raksha Temple for level 58+ players that will scale all the way up to 125% at the diamond level. (We're going to bet there are some equally epic loots to match!)

Along with the new boss battle and more difficult dungeon, this patch also kicks off the Pumpkin Festival, Runes of Magic's Halloween event. Players can pick up quests to protect a pair of pumpkins, smite stinky vegetables, and generally have all manner of silly holiday-themed fun. If you're curious about what this update has to offer, check out the five new screenshots and video of Amboriar below, then pop over to the Runes of Magic site for the full patch notes.

Gallery: Runes of Magic Chapter 3

Continue reading New content update adds epic battle to Runes of Magic

New content update adds epic battle to Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mabinogi rolls out Independence Day events

Jef Reahard — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Mabinogi

Get ready to say Happy Birthday America with Mabinogi's 4th of July Fireworks Event. The free-to-play fantasy MMORPG from Nexon is celebrating the holiday weekend with an Independence Day promotion that begins July 1st and runs through July 6th.

Players can grab fireworks from general shops in the game, shoot them off as high as possible to win in-game prizes, and check out the special messages that will appear when the fireworks are launched. Also new for the holiday weekend is the Ice Capture the Flag event, in which players attempt to steal watermelons from the opposing team while freezing enemies in place with a special event weapon.

Finally, players can also take part in the Premium Treasure Chest event, in which treasure boxes will drop from mobs all over the world of Erinn. Check out the official website for all the details.

Mabinogi rolls out Independence Day events originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vana'diel's Feast of Swords returns to Final Fantasy XI

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events, in-game, Previews, News items, Consoles

Amidst all of the Final Fantasy XIV news, it would be understandable if players had a bit of a harder time remembering what holidays are coming up in the venerable Final Fantasy XI. But it would be very sad to miss out on this one, the time-honored Feast of Swords that gives everyone a chance to swing wooden blades at animated samurai armor. It might seem a bit odd to have such a holiday presented as foreign in a Japanese game, but that's always been one of the oddities of the setting.

Per the custom, there's a short fiction piece detailing the lead-in to the event, which continues the trend of Final Fantasy XI's moogles being portrayed as inscrutable meddlers. The holiday proper begins on April 27th, with the usual procedures. Talking to an event moogle gives you a special blade, and finding a moogle in one of several zones lets you enchant the blade to hunt the local armor. You won't be able to fight anything else, but it's all worth it when you slay the creature and get your ever-coveted cosmetic event rewards. In short, it promises to be fun times for adventurers of all levels, although possibly less fun for animated samurai armor.

Vana'diel's Feast of Swords returns to Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online winter update goes steampunk, killer toys

Kyle Horner — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Events, in-game, News items, Champions Online

The winter event/patch for Champions Online is adding a few new costume pieces, along with a pretty fun looking winter event. For all you steampunk enthusiasts out there, we won't keep you waiting, just head on over to the official event page and absorb the glorious monocle and arm pieces awaiting your characters.

Unfortunately, the new pieces do need to be unlocked, but that's not such a bad thing since participating in the rather enjoyable sounding event is the only obstacle in your way. For instance, defeating Black Harlequin's giant white mecha teddy bear robot, Clarence, earns you that spiffy monocle. We can't wait to show that fluffy metal menace who's the boss around here -- and it's not Tony Danza... well, not unless someone makes a parody character.

If you'd like to see more of Clarence, his killer friends and master Black Harlequin, then check out all the new screens in our gallery section below.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Champions Online winter update goes steampunk, killer toys originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeon Fighter Online begins the Dawn of Retribution

Seraphina Brennan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeon Fighter Online

It's the holidays, and the elder spirits of Dungeon Fighter Online are in a giving mood! The first major update to the game, the Dawn of Retribution, fixes three main areas that have been giving players some trouble with the game.

If you felt things were going a bit slow, then worry no longer as the leveling curve has been reduced, speeding up your progress through the advancement tree. Less grinding, more punching monsters into the dirt where they belong!

For the newer players entering the game, the lower level dungeons have been made easier and the tutorial has been revamped. So not only are the starting instructions clearer, but the starting dungeons won't beat you as hard as they use to.

There's also the usual holiday event added to the mix, where snow will fall on the ground once per day for an hour. If you're there when it's snowing, you'll be enjoying a 20% experience boost during your adventures! There's also loot to steal off of Chrismas goblins and the special notorious monster, Snowblin. So get out there and get dungeoneering!

Dungeon Fighter Online begins the Dawn of Retribution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online joins the Toys for Tots charity drive

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online

Hello Kitty and Toys for Tots, two names that are pretty recognizable at first glance. Well, the two are teaming up for the holiday season, as Aeria Games is using Hello Kitty Online as a platform to drive charitable contributions in a pretty unique way.

Instead of offering a buyable pet and giving the proceeds to Toys for Tots, HKO players will get to search the grand virtual lands of Sanrio for Short Sticks, Webley Webs, Shells, and Bramble's Comfort. Each set of items collected will go to creating a special in-game Crab Plush Toy for you and will add one more donation to Aeria's real life toy drive. That's right: An in-game quest with a real life reward of helping get toys to children for the holidays. That's one quest that you can't drop from your log.

GMs will be picking up item sets on December 14th, 15th, and 16th. For the full information on what needs to be collected to make a set, check out the event page on HKO's main website. Don't miss out on this great chance to help children in need!

Hello Kitty Online joins the Toys for Tots charity drive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlantica Online dev journal: Thanksgiving festivities

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

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

It's time for this newest installment of NDoors Interactive's biweekly developer journal here at Massively. We've already covered the Stimulus Package event and the game's one-year anniversary, so now we turn to the upcoming Thanksgiving event. Here's what they had to say:

Thanksgiving time in Atlantica Online has never been so festive, as we are introducing two new in-game event items this year. Players will be introduced to an NPC who will offer them a special Thanksgiving quest. The rewards for fulfilling that quest are new additions to your formation, as well as a new clothing item for your avatar.

Continue reading Atlantica Online dev journal: Thanksgiving festivities

Atlantica Online dev journal: Thanksgiving festivities originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MapleStory celebrating Valentine's Day with in-game event

James Egan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MapleStory, Events, in-game, Quests, News items, Free-to-play

Love is in the air in MapleStory, as they're joining other massively multiplayer online games in celebrating Valentine's Day. The festivities will run through February 24th, and will include a mix of unique in-game items and quests for the lovey-dovey crowd. On that note, players who want to tie the knot in-game also receive 15% off on their wedding tickets.

Nexon provided the run-down of what's in store for MapleStory players with this extended Valentine's Day event. You can check out the details after the jump:

Continue reading MapleStory celebrating Valentine's Day with in-game event

MapleStory celebrating Valentine's Day with in-game event originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone

James Egan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, in-game, MMO industry, Quests, News items, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

The day will eventually come when the world burns itself out and society as we know it collapses. In the final days, tin foil hat theorists will suggest many reasons for humanity's demise, ranging from Skynet to MMO addiction and everything in between. Regardless of how or why it happens, once we're gone, the cockroaches will evolve into a global hivemind and inherit the earth as nature always intended. All they will know of their simian Mountain Dew-guzzling predecessors of the ancient world is one thing: they apparently worshipped a cute little animal with an off-kilter pink bow, the cat-goddess Hello Kitty. The day they encounter her is the day they will know their new master, and labor to rebuild the world in her image.

It's true -- well, not the apocalypse bit -- Hello Kitty will remain an enduring aspect of our times, if the past 35 years of her reign as a cultural symbol is any indicator. The world's ultimate iconic character from Sanrio has adorned 'all our stuff' since 1974. Perhaps more than ever, kids (and quite a few adults) are absolutely in love with Hello Kitty. The estimated USD 1 billion per year she's worth confirms she's hardwired into our pop culture consciousness, a fact which isn't lost on the game industry. We've already seen a legacy of Hello Kitty games spanning multiple iterations of consoles and handhelds, as well as PC releases. Hello Kitty's involvement with gaming is about to enter a whole new era though, with her introduction to the world of massively multiplayer online games through Hello Kitty Online.

Continue reading Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone

Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A comprehensive look at WoW's Lunar Festival achievements

James Egan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Guides, Tips and tricks, Quests

Holiday festivals in MMOs aren't limited to Christmas events. The Lunar Festival in World of Warcraft began this weekend, and is timed to coincide with the real world Chinese Lunar New Year (January 26th). WoW celebrates the holiday with quests to find Elders, unique items like season clothing, fireworks, and seasonal decor splashed all around WoW's major cities, Booty Bay, and Moonglade.

Our sister site WoW Insider has put together a comprehensive guide to all of the Lunar Festival achievements, and explains how to complete the meta-achievement "To Honor One's Elders." The WoW Insider guide is well worth a look if you want to get the most out of the annual event, this year being the fourth time around for WoW's Lunar Festival. The event runs from January 24th to February 12th, so there's still plenty of time to get in on the fun.

One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

A comprehensive look at WoW's Lunar Festival achievements originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Best holiday event of the season

William Dobson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, in-game, The Daily Grind, Virtual worlds

We've only just made it to Christmas Eve here in the real world, but the traditional MMO holiday events have been going strong now for weeks. Like clockwork every year, when December rolls around, we expect our game worlds to be flooded with gift-giving NPCs, have our quest logs filled to capacity with festive tasks, and cop a handful of digital snowballs to the face. This year is no different -- but which MMO was host to the most fun and refreshing holiday event?

To jog your memory, we've had the Yule Festival in Lord of the Rings Online, the Saving Santa event in Lineage II, Keg End in Warhammer Online, the Feast of Winter Veil in World of Warcraft, Frostfell Wonderland Village in EverQuest II, the Winter Event in City of Heroes -- we'll cut the list short there for obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean you can't root for a game we didn't mention. Tell us which one deserves the Candy Cane of Excellence in 2008!

The Daily Grind: Best holiday event of the season originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slay a festive goat to win game-time and prizes in AoC

William Dobson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Contests, Events, in-game

In keeping with the macabre nature of the Conan world, you won't be helping orphans for Age of Conan's seasonal event. Nope. No delivering festive cookies to elves or spreading holiday love. Just hunting down mountain goats. Nothing says Christmas in Hyboria like a freshly slain and skinned goat carcass for that special someone. The problem in this particular case is that these "holiday" goats are in short supply -- extremely short supply in fact, as there will only be one special goat per server. All the bragging rights (and prizes) go to one lucky person per server who manages to track it down.

There will be a hefty portion of luck involved in winning your server's event, but Funcom is also providing clues to the goat's whereabouts in the form of riddles on the official site. The events will take place on different days across the servers, and the goats won't be in the same place either. Now we've got to admit that we were a bit slow to catch this (we'll blame the spirit of the holidays for making us lazy) and some servers have already had their riddles posted and goats killed. However, if your server hasn't had the event yet, then it will be either be on later today, or the 29th, the 30th, or the 31st of December. Each server's winner will receive a pack of prizes (the same as the Season give-away pack) and two months of free game-time. Happy hunting!

Slay a festive goat to win game-time and prizes in AoC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online launches Recruit-a-Friend offer

James Egan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Warhammer Online, News items

The Warhammer Online December newsletter is filled with some of the announcements we've already mentioned at Massively, such as the Keg End holiday event, the two new careers, and some the other big changes that are impacting the game.

What we haven't mentioned yet is that Warhammer Online has a Recruit-a-Friend program. It doesn't give the experience bonuses that the World of Warcraft offer of the same name does. In fact, the WAR Recruit-a-Friend is similar to what's happening with EVE Online: you invite a friend to a free trial. If that friend becomes a subscriber, the invitation sender receives 30 days of free game time credited to their account. You can recruit up to three people, although over your time subscribed this increases to a maximum of six recruitment notices you can have on deck at any given time. For more info on how this works, log into your master account to see how it's done.

WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Warhammer Online launches Recruit-a-Friend offer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A holiday gift from Age of Conan

James Egan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Events, in-game

Massively has mentioned that Age of Conan is giving away in-game items all month as part of a seasonal contest they're running. But the latest Age of Conan newsletter let us know that everyone's received a free gift automatically, as of December 18th.

Funcom's given all players a new virtual item -- the Kosalan talisman of clarity. It boosts stamina and mana for its wearer, with a faster rate of regeneration for those traits. While it's not as über as the items obtainable at higher levels, it's not bad for a freebie. Age of Conan players can claim the Kosalan talisman by simply typing "/claim" in-game.

Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

A holiday gift from Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrating the holidays in EVE with snowball fights in space

James Egan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Events, in-game, MMO industry, Humor

Space is cold. You wouldn't think 'holiday cheer' and EVE Online would be mentioned in the same context, but CCP Games has gotten in on the holiday action with the other MMO developers this season. Xiphos from the EVE blog "A Misguided Adventurer" had a holiday surprise from CCP when he logged into the game this morning: a snowball launcher and snowball ammo.

Xiphos writes, "Happy Holidays from CCP! Everyone check your hangars and you'll find a nice little gift from CCP. 300 Snowballs and a Snowball Launcher. A High slot fitting, these deadly cold balls of ice do -10 Thermal Damage and are damn fun. Start launching some at your friends and enemies and let's get a massive snowball fight started in Jita, top station!"

Every character in EVE Online automatically received these items today, even your lowly scouts and price-checking alts. Added to the fun is the initial surprise that seems to grip some highsec dwellers as they realize they're being fired upon and CONCORD (EVE's NPC police force) doesn't care. No less than five of them warped off in panic while I tried to get the accompanying image. Try it, you'll see.

Celebrating the holidays in EVE with snowball fights in space originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drunk and disorderly in Warhammer's Keg End holiday event

James Egan — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, Humor

"Keg End is here, with the mud and the blood and the beer!!"

It seems that most of the major MMO titles have gotten into the holiday spirit, including Warhammer Online with its Dwarf New Year's festival of Keg End. The event begins today, December 17th and continues through to January 5th.

We knew a bit about Keg End before. Namely how it seemed to be an in-game event where it's perfectly OK to act like a violent drunk with a burning desire to blow things up, and then brag about it (with some new emotes). Well, Keg End promises to be all that and more, given the event info Mythic Entertainment released today. No matter whether you're Order or Destruction, there's plenty of fun to be had and hell to raise. The best part is you don't need to feel guilty or make excuses the morning after (it wasn't you, it was the 'Frothy Goodness' ale)... although you may be stuck with the new in-game title "The Drunkard" for a while.

Continue reading Drunk and disorderly in Warhammer's Keg End holiday event

Drunk and disorderly in Warhammer's Keg End holiday event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrating the holidays with Lineage II's Saving Santa event

James Egan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lineage 2, Events, in-game, Quests, News items, PvE, Humor

The holidays are in full swing across several of the games we've been covering at Massively. In fact, a number of massively multiplayer online games now have holiday-themed quests, items, and unique winter settings, and NCsoft is getting in on the action as well. The latest holiday event announcement we've gotten word of is happening in Lineage II with its Saving Santa Event, which will run from December 16th through December 30th.

The holiday event pits you against one "Thomas D. Turkey" who holds Santa Claus captive. If Santa is freed, he will visit random players throughout the world, placing presents into their inventories. Some of the rewards include specialized buff scrolls for your occupation, weapon exchange tickets, a year-round Christmas tree, and for a rare few -- a Rudolph Agathion (pet).

If celebrating the holidays in Lineage II sounds like your thing, you'll want to check out the full announcement for the Saving Santa Event.

Celebrating the holidays with Lineage II's Saving Santa event originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Winter arrives in City of Heroes on December 15th

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Contests, Culture, Events, in-game

Beginning on December 15th, 2008 and running until January 4th, 2009, City of Heroes and City of Villains will be celebrating their Winter Event as only your favorite superhero MMO could. All across Paragon City and the Rogue Isles there will be new special powers, a new winter-themed mission, the return of the Ski Challenge, special good or evil auras, candy canes, Gamester pranks and much more.

Check out the complete run-down of the new goodies at the main website, as well as a new gallery of Winter Event 2008 images, straight from the screens of NCsoft. Happy Holidays!

Winter arrives in City of Heroes on December 15th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrating the holidays in EverQuest II

James Egan — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, News items

Fantasy MMO gamers playing EverQuest II will be able to ring in the New Year with some holiday fun, including gift giving and snowball fights. "Frostfell" is the EverQuest II flavor of a Christmas celebration, which kicks off on December 11th and lasts through January 6th of 2009.

This holiday celebration in EQ II's setting of Norrath will gift players with a number of new quests within Frostfell Wonderland Village, including the chance to fight an ice dragon and receive some new rewards upon success. If you'd like to see a bit of how the holidays are celebrated in an MMO firsthand, have a click through our EverQuest II Frostfell gallery, with its text descriptions of the festivities from the official announcement page.

Gallery: The EverQuest II Frostfell celebration

Celebrating the holidays in EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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