Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tomorrow is a long way away, and it gets further away with each successive drink.
Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition.

The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer.

MassivelyRing in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aleannual-eventsbeerbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsholiday-eventsin-game-eventsintoxicantskeg-endliquormythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentspecial-eventswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon Nest celebrates the holidays with Scarlet Snow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/dragon-nest-celebrates-the-holidays-with-scarlet-snow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/dragon-nest-celebrates-the-holidays-with-scarlet-snow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/dragon-nest-celebrates-the-holidays-with-scarlet-snow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Dragon Nest
The weather is cooling down, and it's the season for fresh, white, beautiful snow. Dragon Nest, however, wants to turn that snow red with its upcoming update, Scarlet Snow. The new patch, coming sometime in December, will raise the game's level cap to 40. And of course, a raised level cap means new challenges for players to conquer. Saint's Haven will play host to two new nests and dungeons, and there will be plenty of seasonal events for players to see. For more information, check out the post on the game's official website.

MassivelyDragon Nest celebrates the holidays with Scarlet Snow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimson-snowdndragon-nestdungeondungeonseventsf2pfree-to-playholidayholiday-eventsin-game-eventsnestnestsnexonnexon-americapatchpatchesWed, 07 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: The beard is gone edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-mmo-report-the-beard-is-gone-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-mmo-report-the-beard-is-gone-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-mmo-report-the-beard-is-gone-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO Report - RIFT's Adam Gershowitz
An unashamedly beardless Casey Schreiner* bookends a special (albeit late) edition of The MMO Report this week, and it's all about RIFT's colossal 1.6 update. The Report features RIFT Producer Adam Gershowitz, who declares that RIFT is now well-known for being "the MMO that updates the most" while discussing November's impending From the Embers patch, RIFT's sixth major update and its largest to date. Gershowitz explains that the update inserts a massive new zone-playground for endgamers, the Ember Isle, complete with the new Rise of the Phoenix raid instance, the Caduceus Rise dungeon, the instant adventure "looking for quests" tool, and RIFT's first recurring holiday event, Fae Yule.

(*Casey's de-bearding was, he claims, "for the greater good," and by the greater good, he means in the service of a swanky Petyr Baelish Halloween costume. How cool is that?)

Hit the jump for the special edition MMO Report!

Continue reading The MMO Report: The beard is gone edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: The beard is gone edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gershowitzcaduceus-risecasey-schreinerdungeonsember-islefae-yulefrom-the-embersholiday-eventsinstant-adventuresinterviewinterviewslfqlooking-for-questmmo-reportnewsraidsriftrift-planes-of-telararise-of-the-phoenixspecial-editionthe-mmo-reporttriontrion-worldsvideozonesFri, 04 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A hunting moon rises for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/a-hunting-moon-rises-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/a-hunting-moon-rises-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/a-hunting-moon-rises-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The main defense of a marmot is being adorable.
Final Fantasy XIV's holiday events have been building up steam of late, and a new event has gone live today for players to enjoy. Celebrating the hunter's moon (albeit a bit early), the event plays directly off the lore of the summer festival. A shipment of earrings was made to commemorate the victory of adventurers over the flaming bombards that assaulted Eorzea... but the jewelry was stolen by nothing less than a horde of rats, leaving those same adventurers tasked with hunting down the decorations that should rightly be theirs.

Running until September 20th, the event sees players stalking special monsters appearing around the various hamlets in the game to retrieve an earring. While the event seems a bit simple for the time being, it's quite possible that it will be rolled out in phases, akin to the Easter event earlier this year. Even if not, who wouldn't like to stomp some rats for a free piece of frippery?

MassivelyA hunting moon rises for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesevent-loreeventsffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivholiday-eventsin-game-eventsin-game-loresquaresquare-enixTue, 06 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/hyperspace-beacon-bucket-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/hyperspace-beacon-bucket-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/hyperspace-beacon-bucket-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list
Once we start Star Wars: The Old Republic, we will not be able to stop. After only playing the game twice, I have a hard time going back to other games because -- among other things -- voice-over dialogue is far superior to walls of text any day. Then, of course, we can't forget character choices. We will be able to tell the quest-giver what we think of fetching that item for him at the shop when he could just as easily get it himself if he decided to walk 10 feet to the building next to him. That leads me to the point of this article.

Despite all the incredible things we will be able to do in SWTOR, certain others will be missed once the game launches. Particular staples of MMO games, in general, will never be seen again. As someone who is placing his MMO future in TOR, I suggest creating a bucket list. Let's face it: When The Old Republic releases, we cannot look back to other MMOs. They will be dead to us. After the cut, I have complied a list of 10 items that we will never see again once we start playing TOR. Count them down with me.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Bucket list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AskAJediBioWareclown-armorcory-butlerdaniel-ericksonEAElectronic-ArtselfselvesfeaturedGalaxiesGamespothan-shot-firstholiday-eventsjames-ohlenkill-ten-ratslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroLucasArtsluteno-more-elvessitting-in-chairsStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicSWGswimmingswtorthe-old-republictorVentrilowall-of-textWorld-of-WarcraftWoWTue, 16 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Naoki Yoshida hints at future developments in latest Final Fantasy XIV letter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/naoki-yoshida-hints-at-future-developments-in-latest-final-fanta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/naoki-yoshida-hints-at-future-developments-in-latest-final-fanta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/naoki-yoshida-hints-at-future-developments-in-latest-final-fanta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One of the promises that Naoki Yoshida made to Final Fantasy XIV players upon taking over the job of producer was regular, open communication. It's an easy promise to make, but the producer has also followed through in the delivery with his regular letters to the community as a whole. The newest letter has just been released, promising a variety of changes and updates in tomorrow's patch 1.17 and beyond -- including hints of an additional job system supplementing the existing Armoury system.

The main thrust of this particular letter is explaining the division of labor in the game's development, with teams working on battle system revamps and improvements alongside quest teams and art teams, allowing for the game's current pace of small, rapid patches. There's also a promise that the Grand Companies will soon be unveiled on the official site, organizations which Yoshida states will be extremely important in the game's upcoming content. Final Fantasy XIV fans can read the full letter on the official forums.

MassivelyNaoki Yoshida hints at future developments in latest Final Fantasy XIV letter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-teamdevelopmentdevelopment-teamffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.17final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivholiday-eventsnaoki-yoshidanewspending-updatesproducer-lettersquaresquare-enixupdatesWed, 13 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO March Producer's letter offers glimpse of fun to come]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's been a busy month for Lord of the Rings Online, with Update 2: Echoes of the Dead going live, tons of players checking out all the improvements and new content available to them, and the popular Spring Festival already underway. However, Turbine isn't resting on its laurels. According to the March Producer's letter by Kate Paiz, Executive Producer for Lord of the Rings Online, there are even more cool things planned for the not-too-distant future.

Not only does Paiz touch on all the great content just introduced to the game in Update 2, but she notes that LotRO's fourth anniversary is coming up in April, that will see the addition of a new in-game Anniversary Festival celebration. Along with that, players can look forward to an unnamed treasure-hunting event, which will "likely be open for play periodically over the year." There are also some more tasty tidbits on Update 3, with a note that we'll hear more details about Isengard a little later down the road. In all, if you call Middle-earth your MMO home, you'll want to pop by the Lord of the Rings Online site and check out all the details the newest Producer's Letter has to offer.

MassivelyLotRO March Producer's letter offers glimpse of fun to come originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>echoes-of-the-deadholiday-eventsisengardkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-update-2lotro-update-3new-contentproducers-letterspring-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentupcoming-plansupdate-2update-3Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV celebrating the little ladies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/final-fantasy-xiv-celebrating-the-little-ladies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/final-fantasy-xiv-celebrating-the-little-ladies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/final-fantasy-xiv-celebrating-the-little-ladies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Thus far, the holidays of Final Fantasy XIV have closely paralleled those of Final Fantasy XI, and the latest holiday announcement continues that trend in probably the best way possible. After all, one of the charms of the older game has always been its unique and sometimes offbeat holidays, a tradition held over in the brand-new Little Ladies' Day. It's a chance for players to celebrate the coming of spring, blossoming trees, and of course, their diminutive feminine side.

The event will run from February 17th until March 3rd, and the announcement itself previews both the festive decorations for the event as well as the new crafting recipes associated with the holiday. As with previous holidays, there is also a piece of fiction detailing the origin of the revelry, a case of misconstrued motive within the sultanate of Ul'dah. Final Fantasy XIV players can look forward to the event in just a couple of days, an event that promises to provide some much-needed spring cheer along with a surfeit of tasty rice cakes.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV celebrating the little ladies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycraftingevent-recipeseventsffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfoodholiday-eventsholiday-lorein-game-eventin-game-holidaylittle-ladies-daylorenew-craftingnew-recipesnewsspringsquaresquare-enixTue, 15 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time for love in Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/time-for-love-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/time-for-love-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/time-for-love-in-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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. This year's celebration will run from February 1st until the 15th, giving players plenty of time to show their in-game companions how much they care (enough to try and get a special even reward, at least).

As with previous holidays, the event announcement is accompanied with a piece of in-game fiction, something that reminds us all of an important truism -- never make your healer angry. Final Fantasy XI fans should take a look at the full piece, as it's worth a chuckle or two. No definite information on what the rewards will be is included, but it's a fair bet that the event will be similar to that of years past. So if you still aren't rocking a heart-shaped wand, it's time to get up to speed -- although you might want to lay off the chocolates a little, since there's another lesson about that in the fictional accompaniment...

MassivelyTime for love in Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocolate-formchocolatesffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiholiday-eventsin-game-eventsin-game-holidaysquaresquare-enixvalentines-dayvalentines-day-2011Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which in-game item did you work for the longest?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-daily-grind-which-in-game-item-did-you-work-for-the-longest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-daily-grind-which-in-game-item-did-you-work-for-the-longest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-daily-grind-which-in-game-item-did-you-work-for-the-longest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Most MMORPGs are loot-centric games, and whether the gear is required for basic gameplay or relatively meaningless "flair," often times acquiring certain items takes quite a bit of time and effort. Hi-Rez Studios' 12 Drops of Christmas promotion recently concluded with the gifting of an abominable snowman helmet to the Global Agenda die-hards who managed to make it through the lengthy set of challenges. While most of the tasks were pretty easy to accomplish in-game, coordinating the events with hectic holiday schedules took some doing, and I had a couple of close calls when it came to meeting the objectives and squeaking in under the deadlines.

Today's Daily Grind asks about your prized rare loot items and the hoops you had to jump through to obtain them. Which item took you the longest time to acquire, and how long did you work for it?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which in-game item did you work for the longest? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-drops-of-christmaschristmas-eventseventsgame-discussiongamer-discussionglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-studiosholiday-eventsin-game-eventsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionseasonal-eventstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 15 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft hypes Aion double crafting XP and holiday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/ncsoft-hypes-aion-double-crafting-xp-and-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/ncsoft-hypes-aion-double-crafting-xp-and-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/ncsoft-hypes-aion-double-crafting-xp-and-holiday-events/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Happy Solorius Festival, Daevas! Yes, the Atreian equivalent of Christmas is back, and you can join the ongoing Aion celebration through January 5th. You'll find new quests in both Sanctum and Pandaemonium, as well as rewards that include decorative hats, gift bundles, and buff consumables.

Mid-winter and New Year's marks the Year of the Ribbit celebration, and festivities include even more quests and rewards (including new ribbit outfit pieces). The party starts December 22nd and lasts through January 12th.

Finally, NCsoft is turning on the double XP spigot again, this time in honor of Atreia's crafters. Friday, December 17th through Monday, December 20th is a prime time for catching up on any artisan activities you may have been neglecting, as double XP for crafting, essence-tapping, and aether-tapping will be in full effect.

MassivelyNCsoft hypes Aion double crafting XP and holiday events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityatreiacraftingdouble-xpend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010eventsgatheringholiday-eventsncsoftwinter-holiday-2010winter-holiday-eventThu, 16 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Reminiscing on holiday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-reminiscing-on-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-reminiscing-on-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-reminiscing-on-holiday-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's been a lot of event play-time in Runes of Magic lately. The pumpkin festival carried on for a lot longer than was originally anticipated and transitioned into a short -- and smaller -- autumn banquet. Now, Christmas is right around the corner. I've been drooling over the Christmas trees that are already for sale in the cash shop.

RoM has seen a full year's cycle of events come and go twice now, and we are approaching the third Christmas. Now that long-term players have seen all the offerings, I wanted to peer into the place these holidays have in the world of Taborea and see how they add to our virtual lives. In this article, I want to share how I look forward to events and explore some of the great reasons to have them. 'Tis the season, and all that jazz. Let's take some time to look back and reminisce on RoM's holiday events and why we take part in them.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Reminiscing on holiday events

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Reminiscing on holiday events originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasevent-rewardseventsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveholidayholiday-eventsin-game-eventjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentwinter-holidaywinter-holiday-2010winter-holiday-eventMon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Relaxing with community answers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-mog-log-relaxing-with-community-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-mog-log-relaxing-with-community-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-mog-log-relaxing-with-community-answers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes, all it takes to see an answer is a subtle change of attitude. For the past month or so, I have been trying to spend every ounce of spare time available on Final Fantasy XIV, but I'm starting to relax a little bit because I realized just how silly it is. I would rather enjoy the journey and get there when I get there; level 50 will come as it does, and hopefully by that point my fellow AETHER members will be able to craft spectacles. Until then, let's just relax a bit and indulge a few questions with answers, yes?

Gente asks: Why is Final Fantasy XI the only game getting a holiday event?

There's no Halloween event for Final Fantasy XIV this year, no. There will likely be one next year, however, as the development team has stated there are events in the works for as early as the end of the year. Considering past experience with Square-Enix and this most ghoulish of holidays, we can expect it will feature an inordinately useful item and a surfeit of ghosts within the city walls.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Relaxing with community answers

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Relaxing with community answers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesbalancebalancedclassesevent-implementationeventsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivhalloweenhalloween-2010holiday-eventsin-game-eventsjobslaunchlaunch-issuesmetacriticopinionsnarksquaresquare-enixstaggered-launchthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingtuningworldwide-launchSat, 30 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Guide to Pumpkin Festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-guide-to-pumpkin-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-guide-to-pumpkin-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-guide-to-pumpkin-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic has been around long enough now that holiday events are making a second round. In the wake of the Juice Festival's first appearance, the Pumpkin Festival is one of the events getting a second go.

Legend tells us that before humans rediscovered the continent of Candara, the land of Kolydia was ruled by tyranny. On a cold winter's night, unknown assassins wearing masks succeeded in eliminating the unsavory rulers and the hoi polloi rejoiced. The people started celebrating that day by wearing masks which became rumored to bring good luck.

Unknown years and another continent later, humans made do the best they could on the underdeveloped land. The tale is said that a farmer carved out a pumpkin and put a candle in it. After seeing this, the Eye of Wisdom thought it would be a great idea to mark the day for rest and celebration before Winter. The mask wearing was added to this, kids added costumes and trick-or-treating, thus the Pumpkin Festival was born.

I don't have a photographic memory nor did I painstakingly write down all event-minutea from last year, but this year's festivities look to offer more activities. On top of that, there are plenty of costumes, holiday furniture and even holiday mounts to obtain or buy. The only problem is the absence of any source to help you traverse the ins and outs of what you can do and what you can win. Until now. Click past the break for help making your way through this year's Pumpkin Festival.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Guide to Pumpkin Festival

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Guide to Pumpkin Festival originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costumeseventsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehalloweenholidayholiday-eventsholidaysmasksmountspumpkinpumpkin-festivalromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttitlestrick-or-treatMon, 25 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies ramps up for the Galactic Moon Festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/star-wars-galaxies-ramps-up-for-the-galactic-moon-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/star-wars-galaxies-ramps-up-for-the-galactic-moon-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/star-wars-galaxies-ramps-up-for-the-galactic-moon-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Even if you're in a galaxy far, far away, that's no reason to get away from the festivities that Halloween brings. It's time for Star Wars Galaxies to host the Galactic Moon Festival once again, an event wherein mystical Jedi warriors and proud Wookiee soldiers can pretend to be fantastical, made-up creatures like ghouls and vampires. And while there's a touch of thematic disconnect there, if there's one thing we MMO players seem to love, it's a good holiday event.

Starting on the 21st of October, the Galactic Moon Festival features everything you could want in a holiday celebration -- cosmetic costumes, minigames, and plenty of little treats for players to acquire over the course of the event. Aside from a variety of rewards to be earned via a particularly terrifying costume, there are new pieces of cosmetic clothing to be purchased, from the elegant Z'zopheratu's jacket to the adorable Rotta the Huttlet backpack. Take a look at the full preview to see what's coming for Star Wars Galaxies with the festival.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies ramps up for the Galactic Moon Festival originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmetic-equipmentcosmetic-itemscosmetic-rewardscostumesgalactic-moon-festivalhalloweenhalloween-2010holidayholiday-celebrationholiday-eventsin-game-eventplayer-costumessoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmoswswgMon, 18 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI prepares for a haunted harvest festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/final-fantasy-xi-prepares-for-a-haunted-harvest-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/final-fantasy-xi-prepares-for-a-haunted-harvest-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/final-fantasy-xi-prepares-for-a-haunted-harvest-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's time for the events to start rolling in for Halloween, always a favorite holiday for MMOs to celebrate. Final Fantasy XI has been running its own ghoulish take on the occasion for many years now, and the most recent iteration promises to be more of the same. This year's harvest festival has just been announced, complete with the requisite piece of fiction to help ground the holiday in the lore of Vana'diel and its inhabitants.

Running from October 19th to November 2nd, this year's festival promises to contain many of the elements seen in years past, such as trick-or-treating and the joy of setting up decorations. Longtime veterans will remember that this event also lets you obtain the desirable Treat Staff II as well as a number of cosmetic items, which makes for a fun experience all around. Take a look at the official announcement, and get ready for another October of rather meddlesome spirits in Final Fantasy XI.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI prepares for a haunted harvest festival originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmetic-rewardsdesirable-rewardsffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xihalloweenhalloween-2010halloween-eventsholidayholiday-eventsin-game-eventsrewardsspecial-eventsquaresquare-enixtreat-staffTue, 12 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you like your in-game holidays?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-like-your-in-game-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-like-your-in-game-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-like-your-in-game-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While the Yanks in the audience are busy recovering from their Independence Day beer-and-BBQ binges, the rest of you might well be wondering what all the fuss is about regarding that most American of holidays. Well, I'd love to wax on about it, but since we're not a history blog, let's look instead at the myriad MMORPG holiday celebrations that happen throughout the year.

Whether it's something like the fireworks shenanigans going on in Mabinogi this weekend, or the double XP happening in EverQuest II, every title normally does a little something extra for the major holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and of course, July 4th.

Does your favorite game celebrate real-world holidays? If so, does it make any attempt at dressing it up to fit the game world, or is it just an excuse to indulge in some free items or unusual quests? What are your favorite holiday gaming events?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you like your in-game holidays? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQ2EverQuest-2everquest-iiholiday-eventsjuly-4thmabinoginexonopinionSOESony-Online-Entertainmentthe-daily-grindMon, 05 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celestial Nights (and days) coming to Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/celestial-nights-and-days-coming-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/celestial-nights-and-days-coming-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/celestial-nights-and-days-coming-to-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While there are those who might argue that the release of the June version update is celebration enough, Final Fantasy XI isn't the sort of game to let a couple of months go by without some Vana'dielian holiday event. It's time for another fun trip into the celebration of summer, and this year's festivities promise to celebrate everyone's favorite part of the season: young lovers dying unpleasantly. At least, that's what this year's piece of introductory fiction for the Celestial Nights is promising, along with the ever-popular profiteering moogles.

Unlike several events in Final Fantasy XI, the actual process of the event over the past two years has remained fairly static, as has the backstory regarding the event. In short, it's a chance for characters to get some unique furnishings and the ever-popular decorative pieces of armor. This year's event will be starting on June 29th, running for two weeks until July 13th. Avid players can brush up on the guide from prior years for a good idea of how this year's festivities will most likely take place.

MassivelyCelestial Nights (and days) coming to Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycelestial-nightsffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiholiday-eventsin-game-eventsjune-version-updateloremooglesplayonlinesquaresquare-enixsummer-eventsWed, 23 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vana'diel's Feast of Swords returns to Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/vanadiels-feast-of-swords-returns-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/vanadiels-feast-of-swords-returns-to-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/vanadiels-feast-of-swords-returns-to-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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.

MassivelyVana'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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>feast-of-swordsfeast-of-swords-2010ffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiholiday-eventholiday-eventssamuraisquaresquare-enixswordsxbox-360Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mabinogi fuses science and magic with new Alchemist update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/mabinogi-fuses-science-and-magic-with-new-alchemist-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/mabinogi-fuses-science-and-magic-with-new-alchemist-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/mabinogi-fuses-science-and-magic-with-new-alchemist-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In real life, alchemy was an early scientific movement that wound up stumbling upon a few concepts important to modern science. In Mabinogi, it's at the heart of the most recent update as a mixture of both science and magic, allowing characters access to new skills and abilities through research and magical prowess. The Alchemist update for the game has just been released into the wild, and brought with it a new form of gameplay, the aforementioned Alchemist abilities, and not one but two different holiday events for players to enjoy.

Within the new zone, Taillteann, players will be able to explore both the Alchemist's House to research components of the new skills, or take part in the game's new Shadow Missions. If taking part in the missions and the new storyline isn't as appealing for the moment, however, there's also an event running for both Valentine's Day and the Lunar New Year, with both offering players a few carrots if they take part in the festivities. Mabinogi has been keeping a steady stream of content updates for some time, and this newest update promises to give players even more to explore within the world of Erinn.

MassivelyMabinogi fuses science and magic with new Alchemist update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alchemist-updatealchemygame-updatesholiday-eventsmabinogimabinogi-alchemistnexonnexon-americapatchesshadow-missionsupdatesvalentines-day-2010Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Love is in the air in Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/love-is-in-the-air-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/love-is-in-the-air-in-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/love-is-in-the-air-in-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


For most people, Valentine's Day either means either buying something nice for your partner if you're in a relationship, or staring in silent rage at the endless array of heart-shaped candy boxes if you're single. Unless you're a player in Final Fantasy XI, in which case it means yet another opportunity to get yourself a heart-shaped wand and possibly fulfill your dream of being a magical girl. The not-so-deceptively named Valentione's Day is fast approaching yet again, and as per tradition, the official site has put together a short piece of fiction to commemorate and preview the event.

This year seems to hint at a slight twist to the events of prior years -- while the charm wand has become strongly associated with the event (since that was how one earned it in the first place), it's usually the end reward of the process. The small preview story seems to hint that we'll be called upon to slay more than a few monsters with said wand before everything is said and done... or perhaps it's just a sweet little vignette. Either way, Final Fantasy XI players will get a chance to find out between February 4th through February 15th.

MassivelyLove is in the air in Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charm-wandffxifinal-fantasy-xiheart-shaped-boxholiday-eventssquaresquare-enixvalentines-day-2010valentiones-day-2010Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI launches event for the new year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The new year isn't one of the major holidays celebrated by MMOs -- the favorites are the recent winter holiday season and Halloween events, with the possible Valentine's Day or middle-of-summer event. But there's still a time and place for ringing in the new year, and if there's one thing that Final Fantasy XI loves, it's holiday events. (Or killing players in Dynamis. It's a fine line.) This year's event focuses on the spirit of the tiger, with two celebration NPCs roaming the world surrounded by the auspicious spirits of tigers.

While the official posting only tells the story explaining the event, FFXIclopedia has a preliminary guide explaining the event. Chasing the NPCs and trading enough items to them allows you to receive furnishings for you house, or a vanity weapon that can then be used to pick up a unique painting. The event seems to be taking place at random spots all across Vana'diel, with a list of confirmed spots on the guide to help players obtain their new toys. While the game's spiritual sequel is due out this year, it's still a good time for Final Fantasy XI players to celebrate another year in their game of choice.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI launches event for the new year originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffffxiffxiclopediafinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xiguidesholiday-eventsholiday-rewardsnew-year-2010squaresquare-enixtigersSat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Last chance at presents]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/the-daily-grind-last-chance-at-presents/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/the-daily-grind-last-chance-at-presents/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/the-daily-grind-last-chance-at-presents/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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?

MassivelyThe 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computer-equipmentgift-to-selfgiftsholiday-2009holiday-eventsnew-rigpresentstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like holiday events?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-holiday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-holiday-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've only been done with Halloween for about a month, and we just finished Thanksgiving. There's still some other holiday coming up this year, followed by New Year's Day, followed by Valentine's Day, and so on and so forth. And all of these holidays are usually accompanied by events in the middle of your game of choice -- usually with a different name or a slightly different backstory, but with the ultimate effect of more holiday experience being shoved directly into your retinas.

On the one hand, this is fun. It gives you a chance to break up the flow of the year a bit better within the game, it lets everyone kick back and relax a little more, and the best events give every player something new to do for a little while. On the other hand, they can distract from the game's actual focus, the rewards can sometimes be disproportionate, and for some people they get enough holiday coverage anyway. Work retail around Christmas, for instance, and you don't want more Christmas decorations in your favorite MMO. (You might want more Hanukkah, but that's a different discussion.) Today we ask: do you like having holiday events in your games of choice? If so, what are your favorite sorts and best examples? If not, what's your personal reason?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like holiday events? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasculturehalloweenhanukkahholiday-eventsholidayshumorin-game-eventsnew-years-dayopiniontdgthanksgivingthe-daily-grindvalentines-dayFri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory celebrating Valentine's Day with in-game event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/maplestory-celebrating-valentines-day-with-in-game-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/maplestory-celebrating-valentines-day-with-in-game-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/maplestory-celebrating-valentines-day-with-in-game-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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

MassivelyMapleStory 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebrationeventsf2pfree-to-playholiday-eventholiday-eventsmaplestorynexonquestsvalentines-dayweddingsFri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/valentines-day-event-in-hello-kitty-online-open-to-everyone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/valentines-day-event-in-hello-kitty-online-open-to-everyone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/valentines-day-event-in-hello-kitty-online-open-to-everyone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


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

MassivelyValentine'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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betascasualchat-filteringchildrencutefoundershappy-heartshello-kittyhello-kitty-onlinehkoholiday-eventholiday-eventsholiday-questskidslanguage-filterquestssanriosanriotownvalentines-dayThu, 12 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A comprehensive look at WoW's Lunar Festival achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/a-comprehensive-look-at-wows-lunar-festival-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/a-comprehensive-look-at-wows-lunar-festival-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/a-comprehensive-look-at-wows-lunar-festival-achievements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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!

MassivelyA 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsblizzardchinese-new-yearelderfantasyguideguidesholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidayslunar-festivallunar-new-yearqueststo-honor-ones-eldersworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 25 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A holiday gift from Age of Conan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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.
Warhammer Online Coverage 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!

MassivelyA 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidaysmananewsletterstaminatalismanvirtual-itemFri, 19 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrating the holidays with Lineage II's Saving Santa event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/celebrating-the-holidays-with-lineage-iis-saving-santa-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/celebrating-the-holidays-with-lineage-iis-saving-santa-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/celebrating-the-holidays-with-lineage-iis-saving-santa-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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.

MassivelyCelebrating 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agathionchristmasfantasyholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholiday-questholiday-questsholidayslineage-2ncsoftpetsquestsrudolphsantasaving-santawinterwinter-eventMon, 15 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winter arrives in City of Heroes on December 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/winter-arrives-in-city-of-heroes-on-december-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/winter-arrives-in-city-of-heroes-on-december-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/winter-arrives-in-city-of-heroes-on-december-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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!

MassivelyWinter 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidaysncsoftwinter-2008winter-eventThu, 11 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrating the holidays in EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/celebrating-the-holidays-in-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/celebrating-the-holidays-in-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/celebrating-the-holidays-in-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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

Welcome to FrostfellFrostfell QuestsNew Quest RewardsNew Zone FeaturesGifts 'n Goblins

MassivelyCelebrating 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>everquesteverquest-iifantasyfeaturedfrostfellfrostfell-wonderland-villageholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidaysice-dragonnorrathSat, 06 Dec 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's 31 days of Christmas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/age-of-conans-31-days-of-christmas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/age-of-conans-31-days-of-christmas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/age-of-conans-31-days-of-christmas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

'Two-handed axes' and 'Christmas' used in the same context generally conjures up images of Silent Night, Deadly Night, but there's an Age of Conan contest running throughout December that's equally festive. Funcom is giving away in-game items for Age of Conan every day this month, in the spirit of Christmas gore.

All you need to do to enter is fire off an email to: contest AT ageofconan DOT com, with "Season Give-away" as your subject. You'll need to provide them with your name, address, phone number and Age of Conan account name. Once that's done, you're in the running for this set of in-game items:

Continue reading Age of Conan's 31 days of Christmas

MassivelyAge of Conan's 31 days of Christmas originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocchristmascontestsfantasyfuncomholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidaysvirtual-itemsThu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Favorite holiday "gifts" in your MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/the-daily-grind-favorite-holiday-gifts-in-your-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/the-daily-grind-favorite-holiday-gifts-in-your-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/the-daily-grind-favorite-holiday-gifts-in-your-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ah, the day after Christmas. Depending on how you celebrated, you may feel you need another four day weekend to get over it, or you may be well rested and ready to go. Perhaps you're just enjoying some quality time with your coffee, or maybe you're scanning the sales papers trying to figure out what games to pick up next with all those gift cards you got this year. Meanwhile, in whatever worlds you play in, there's likely to be some type of a holiday event still in full swing, no matter what the real world is doing. One of the things we were thrilled to see added to the Winter's Veil event in World of Warcraft this year was the Clockwork Rocket Bot. For WoW, this added a fun new level of "stuff to do while waiting on your raid party to form up." You can now launch a rocket bot with a friend and watch them beat each other to bits. Put some tonks into the mix, and you've got yourself a seriously fun time-sink! We just hope they'll consider making some more dueling pets. I know I'd like to see if the Winter Veil combat pet can beat up the pets from other holidays.

But to get back to the point -- What would you say was your #1 in-game holiday item you got this year? We've seen hats, snowballs, useful things like Inspirations and holiday salvage, and just silly things like reindeer mounts and pocket gnomes. Are there any particularly good quests you've been on that were a lot of fun and landed you some interesting items, or was it all pretty well same-old-same-old in your MMO of choice? For that matter, did you land any in-game white elephants?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Favorite holiday "gifts" in your MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clockwork-rocket-botfeaturedholiday-eventsthe-day-after-christmaswhite-elephant-giftsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 26 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Trick or treating in CoX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/trick-or-treating-in-cox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/trick-or-treating-in-cox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/trick-or-treating-in-cox/#commentsFiled under: , ,


I have been having an unhealthy amount of fun Trick-or-Treating in CoX these days. Admittedly, this might be because it's the first time I actually have every participated in this Halloween ritual. In any case I spent several hours the other day knocking on doors and awaiting my fate.

I got a treat about one fifth of the time, so the ratio is pretty high. I currently have seven different temporary costumes, ranging from the Goldbricker to my favorite the Freak Zapper. These last a few minutes, and enable me to get a taste of what it must be like to play a hoodlum. I also got two costume salvage rewards, but when I went to Croatoa to turn them in, not only was I not able to find Annah, the place was infested with armies of Streng so I thought better of my attempt and figured I might just keep them in my inventory as mementos of all the fun I had.

MassivelyTrick or treating in CoX originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CoHCoVCoXHalloweenholiday-eventsncsofttemporary-costumesTrick-or-TreatwerewolfMon, 29 Oct 2007 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hallow's End is here]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/hallows-end-is-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/hallows-end-is-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/hallows-end-is-here/#commentsFiled under: , ,


To anyone who plays World of Warcraft the mention the month of October brings up images of trick-or-treating and bats circling above. That's right, the annual Hallow's End event has begun, and this year it is proving to not only be the best Hallow's End since they started the holiday, it's also the best holiday event of all. I'm not implying that saving Metzen the Reindeer from the pirates in Tanaris wasn't a blast, but there is just something about having both the Wickernan burning and the Headless Horseman riding through the villages of Azeroth that just screams "fun."

As I mentioned, the newest incarnation of WoW's Hallow's End holiday event includes a 5-man encounter featuring the Headless Horseman. The fight is fairly challenging, and you can only tackle it once a day, but the items dropped from this fight are pretty amazing. My current favorite is the Sinister Squashling pet, although the paladin tank in our guild is oh so happy to have his Horseman's helm, and cackles madly whenever he gets the chance.

The shiny loots dropped in the encounter have raised some bad blood on the part of certain raiders, but I personally hope that we have more bosses in holiday encounters in the future. Anything that brings out sense of humor already so evident in the game is a plus in my book. I just wonder, who will we be fighting in November, an angry pilgrim with an axe to grind?

MassivelyHallow's End is here originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Hallow's-endhalloweenHeadless-Horsemanholiday-eventsWorld-of-WarcraftWoWMon, 22 Oct 2007 11:01:00 EST