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Wurm Online rewards loyal players with more new land
When Wurm Online's website and wiki was hacked earlier this month, many players thought it meant the game itself was hacked and potentially posed a threat to their own computers. Since the game client is entirely Java-based, that worry was not entirely unfounded, but Wurm creator Rolf Jansson eases our concerns with a new announcement today. Not only is the website back online and safer than ever, according to Rolf, but players are also being rewarded for their patience with a brand-new Freedom (PvE) server named Celebration. In the world of Wurm Online, servers are basically islands of virgin land, ready for exploration. Some server islands have various rules (such as open PvP), but they're all connected to each other through waterways or portals, which expands the persistent world even farther. Celebration will open its doors at 9 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning and will be accessible from the southern border of the Exodus server.
Golf MMO Pangya United celebrates three years with item giveaway
SG Interactive is celebrating the third anniversary of popular golf MMO Pangya United today with giveaways galore, including daily prizes, a scavenger hunt, a golf tournament, store discounts, and double XP bonus weekends. Players who do nothing more than log in to the game from now until April 25th will receive daily chances to win special gear and outfits that are exclusive to this third anniversary. The double XP weekends will take place from April 14th to 15th and from April 21st to 22nd from 11 a.m. EDT until 5 p.m. EDT each day. In addition, we've been given a few item codes of our own for 25 interested readers. These codes will unlock a special golf ball in game called the Comet. We have redemption instructions and 10 codes included after the cut, but we'll be giving out the other 15 throughout the rest of the week on our Twitter and Facebook pages, so stay tuned!
RuneScape rings in the new year with 39 manhunts
It's almost over. RuneScape's year-long celebration of its 10th anniversary is coming to a close, and Jagex has great, wonderful plans to end it with a bang. Naturally, this translates into "developer manhunt" because why not? During New Year's Eve, players are encouraged to be on alert as the clock strikes midnight 39 times in each of the time zones across the world. Every time this happens, a special moderator's in-game location will be made known through Facebook, on Twitter and in RuneScape itself. Those who can hunt down and find this mod in time will be treated to a special celebration. The first clock to strike midnight on New Year's Eve is in Tokelau on Saturday, December 31st, at 5:00 a.m. EST. RuneScape players may wish to note that not all 39 "midnights" occur on the hour (this helpful website lays out the precise order). [Source: Jagex press release]
Iris Online celebrates its first birthday
Iris Online publisher gPotato has a very optimistic outlook on sharing a birthday with a holiday, saying that "you can either be sad that all your friends are busy doing holiday things or you can throw such a tremendous party that they make time to drop by and visit you!" Of course, the studio is choosing the latter (we still feel for you, people with late-December birthdays) to celebrate Iris Online's first birthday. The celebration begins today and runs until November 26th. For the duration of the festivities, players will be granted experience, skill, and battlefield point boosts. Drop and enhance rates will also be increased, and to top it off, any player who's been part of Iris Online since September will be given a unique costume just for logging in. To get in on the celebration, just head to the game's official site. [Source: Gala-net press release]
Novatel celebrates sale of 3 millionth MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot with an intelligent rager
Today marks a momentous occasion for Novatel Wireless, because shipments of its MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot have now surpassed the 3 million mark. The company confirmed the milestone in an announcement yesterday, and took a moment to look back on how far their router has come since it was first introduced in 2009. Since then, Novatel has launched its family of MiFi devices with 25 operators across the world and is looking to build upon its record. For now, though, just grab a bottle of bubbly and join the PR party, after the break.
Visualized: Apple's celebration of Steve Jobs' life in Cupertino (Update: video)
The state of California made October 16th "Steve Jobs Day," and on October 19th, the company he co-founded with Steve Wozniak celebrated his life on campus in Cupertino. The photo here, provided by Apple, shows CEO Tim Cook addressing throngs of people who came to the memorial. Update: Apple has updated their homepage with a video of the event. See the source link (3) below.
Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece
It's not every day that an MMO turns 10, and Mythic is taking full advantage of the situation to hype up Dark Age of Camelot's impressive milestone by treating players to a few goodies. First up is a highly detailed mural depicting the conflicts, races, and classes of DAoC over the years. Mythic has been revealing the mural piecemeal over the last few weeks before finally unveiling it today to the playerbase. In addition to this poster, Mythic's unleashed Producer Stuart Zissu to film a video laying out the plans for the game's celebration. Zissu talks about the new training hubs designed to get beginners on their feet, epic encounters in the world for groups to tackle, moral arcs that give players concrete choices to make, UI changes, and the 10th anniversary t-shirt. Players logging into the game in October will also find that they'll be enjoying several bonuses to XP, crafting, and more. You can watch Zissu get the crowds pumped up for the party after the jump!
Creative firm declares Steve Jobs Day on October 14
A creative agency named Studiocom has started up a movement to name October 14 as Steve Jobs Day, in order to honor admire and pay tribute to the great Apple Chairman of the Board. The movement is completely unofficial, but the firm wants to get action going on social networks, and even encourage Jobs fans to dress up like their hero in real life and talk about Jobs and his work at Apple with their friends. Sure, it may be a little weird to dedicate a day to someone who's already received so many honors (not to mention has made so much money for his company -- simply buying his products is probably tribute enough for Jobs, brilliant as he is), but then again, I often celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day, and this is slightly more productive than that one. So if you want to join in the celebration of Steve Jobs Day, mark your calendar for October 14.
Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two
Time to double the candles on the cake for Aion! That's right -- just two short years ago on September 22nd, the world of Atreia opened its skies to a swarm of aspiring Daevas. After a rocky start including horrendous launch week queues, some Daevas folded their wings and left for bluer skies (*cough cough* nothing to see here, move along) while others stuck it out through thick and thin and grind. But even of those who flitted off, many found their way back into Aion over the last two years. And why not? Much has changed. In the past year, NCsoft has added and tweaked the game to make it a better experience for veteran and returning players alike. And that is on top of the many additions brought about in the game during the first year! This is not your 2009 game; Aion has more content and more options. Sometimes, less is even more -- there is even less grind. Now what's a celebration without... celebrating? NCsoft is offering goodies galore to citizens of Atreia throughout the month-long anniversary celebration. And so that no Deava is left out of the festivities, a 10-day reactivation event will take place beginning at 11:00 a.m EDT on September 22nd and running until 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 2nd. All inactive accounts in good standing on or before September 14th are eligible for reactivation. Wondering what exactly you are missing? Catch a breeze and float past the cut as Wings Over Atreia looks at how Aion has evolved over the past 12 months as well as what gifts, goodies, and events await Daevas during the celebration.
Warhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies
It's time to raise a glass to Warhammer Online, as Mythic's fantasy PvP title turns three on September 18th (time flies when you're WAAAGHing, we suppose). What's on tap for the inevitable celebration? Bonus XP/RP, of course, and a whopping 10 days of it. Starting today, players can enjoy increased advancement potential and loot a few fireworks from the twitching carcasses of their foes. Also, three-year veterans are being recognized for their loyalty, as Mythic is gifting them with a Jack-O-Lantern vanity pet and an endless supply of both chaos black and blazing orange dyes. Don't forget that the 1.4.4 patch was recently deployed, and the Wild Hunt event is currently ongoing. Finally, check in with Massively on Sunday for our three-year Warhammer Online retrospective.
Clone Wars Adventures celebrates its anniversary with free money and guns
It's time for bounty hunters, Jedi, smugglers, and Sith alike to come together for Clone Wars Adventures' anniversary celebration. From September 12th to September 16th, Sony Online Entertainment will be providing players with a wealth of free shinies to commemorate the occasion. For starters, any players who log in while the celebration is going on will receive 5,000 Galactic Credits to spend on whatever their hearts desire. Logging in once again on the 15th will net players the first of a pair of anniversary-exclusive versions of Captain Rex's chrome plated blasters, named Vigilance. To top it all off, log in on the 16th and purchase Station Cash for your account, and you'll be rewarded with the second of the pair of blasters, known as the Negotiator. For the full details and fine print, head on over to the official Clone Wars Adventures site.
Champions Online celebrates two years
It's hard to believe that Champions Online is about to celebrate its second anniversary, but it's true: Cryptic Studios just sent out the invitations to the game's anniversary party! On Thursday, September 1st, our favorite super-heroine Sapphire takes center stage at the Renaissance Center at 1 p.m. EDT to start the festivities. She'll perform her musical set once every hour until Monday, September 5th at 2:59 a.m. EDT. Between sets, the audio automaton DJ Madbot thumps his funky beats all night long. Look for party hosts all about the center for party favors, unlocks, and missions. The party doesn't end at the Ren Center, however: Each of the zone bosses drop anniversary gives as well. What are these party gifts you ask? Developers at Cyptic tell us that favors consist of the standard gift boxes, party bombs, and boosters, but new this year is the Noise Visualizer Device. This device sparks visual effects like "Pow!" and "Bam!" Plus, Cryptic continues giving gifts with DJ Madbot costume and Glitter Heroic Wear unlocks. The event is open to the whole Free-For-All community, so why not stop by? At least you can find out why it looks like that robot has a box for head and maybe get one for yourself.
The 100th Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET!
The Engadget Mobile Podcast started in December 2008 with a couple guys and a dream; a desire to bring you the week's best (and worst) mobile haps to keep you up to speed. 976 days and 100 podcasts later, that dream is still being made into reality week after week -- and today's special edition is yet another way to prove that. And there's no better way to show our gratitude for all of your support than to keep doing what we know best: deliver the latest and greatest in mobile. The difference this time is that hosts Myriam Joire and Brad Molen are literally doubling their vocal cords by inviting on Noah Kravitz (of TechnoBuffalo and PhoneDog fame) and our very own Richard Lai. Sounds like a good time, right? Be there at 5PM ET (that's 2PM PT / 9PM GMT) to join in on the celebration!
The 100th Engadget Mobile Podcast Giveaway: win an HTC Flyer!
Hitting a full hundred podcasts is certainly no small feat, and we have you -- the listener -- to thank for your continued support. And what better way to show gratitude than by giving out free stuff? Courtesy of HTC, we now have a Flyer -- complete with Scribe pen -- with one of your lucky names written on it (figuratively), and we'll be drawing the winner live on the podcast. Want to be that fortunate dude or dudette that gets your name called? Besides the usual legaleze, there are a few rules you'll need to follow in order to qualify. Here are the guidelines: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. The winner will be chosen randomly. One winner will be chosen to receive the HTC Flyer with HTC Scribe pen. We can't honor requests -- sorry! The winner will be chosen live on our podcast. While you don't have to be listening to the podcast to win, you must respond within three days of being chosen. If you do not respond, another winner will be picked. Entries can be submitted until Friday, August 19, 2011, at 4:59PM ET. Good luck!] Full rules can be found here.
Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT!
It's hard to believe -- but amazing nevertheless -- that RIFT is almost a half-year old. Six months ago, hundreds of thousands of gamers rushed through the gates to become the first to explore Telara, included me, and we were introduced to what's become one of the most dominating MMOs of the year. Following this smooth release (and it was smooth), Trion Worlds set a remarkable standard for itself by pumping out meaty content updates at a steady, rapid pace and marketing RIFT out the wazoo. We've already witnessed two live events, numerous subscription specials, the addition of a ginormous raid, and my not having hit 50 yet -- to my eternal embarrassment. Of course, there have been bumps in the road as well: a lackluster initial world event, a segment of disgruntled players and opponents, and the looming specter of several heavy-hitting MMOs waiting in the wings. But for right here and right now, this is Trion's time, and the company is taking advantage of this half-year milestone to light the fireworks and lay out the good china in celebration. We got on the phone with Scott Hartsman and his Justice League to talk about what the studio has up its sleeves for this event -- and what's next for this rapidly expanding title.
Firefall Faire burning a path to Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV has just rolled out patch 1.18a, but that's not the only hot item for the game's players. The newest holiday event is just around the corner, celebrating the summer heat in extravagant fashion -- specifically, with a host of the series' recurring fire elementals, the bombs. The Firefall Faire is landing on Thursday, and bringing with it a chance for players to not just pick up swimsuits of many hues, but a custom wallpaper to commemorate the event. Running through August 29th, the event will task players with extinguishing several Bombards by enraging them and luring them to their doom. Players who successfully complete the task will have access to a swimsuit, but further participation allows players to uncover more varieties of swimwear. Unlocking all of the possible colors will grant players access to a special wallpaper via the Lodestone, a nice way to commemorate the holiday's event. It's not another dungeon just yet, but it should keep the fire lit under FFXIV's players for the duration.
Jade Dynasty celebrating its two-year anniversary
Jade Dynasty is hitting the two-year mark on Wednesday, and the staff at Perfect World Entertainment wants to celebrate in style. And it starts today, with a doubled experience gain turned on from now until June 22nd. But that's only the smallest portion of the various anniversary events and prizes players can expect, which include special in-game giveaways on the game's various servers along with special quest events that can award items found nowhere else in the game. While most of the special events will be running for the length of the doubled experience event, a special site has been set up for a giveaway that goes live as soon as the clock ticks over to June 15th. There's also a cosplay contest for players and a special audiocast slated for some point during the anniversary week. Jade Dynasty players should take a look at all the festivities planned, which should more than satisfy long-term veterans of the game.
MapleStory invites you to a Jubilation!
It's a stupendous month for MapleStory as the obscenely popular MMO not only dinged its sixth year in operation but also racked up over eight million accounts and 24 million characters created. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Nexon is throwing a joyful celebration for the game code-named Jubilation. As the name suggests, Jubilation is all about partying, and party the players shall. For starters, there's a dual-raid for two teams of three competing to down a balloon first. Those looking for more relaxing activities may want to help grow a small maple sapling into a mighty tree by collecting sunshine, assembling an anniversary jigsaw puzzle by collecting all the trees, or simply logging in every day to earn enough stamps for a loyalty medal with spiffy stats attached. MapleStory's sixth anniversary events are going on now through June 14th, so there's plenty of time to check it all out! You can read the full details of the game's Jubilation at the official site.
New York City marks April 16th as Foursquare Day, Mayor feeling good about his chances
16 is the product of squaring four, so naturally the date of April 16th is the most logical one to be called Foursquare Day. Just why such a celebration should exist is less obvious. As it turns out, a grassroots movement of Foursquare users built up steam around the idea of dedicating a day to the online check-in service, that concept then filtered through to Foursquare's founders who decided to go "100% in on this," and now, somewhat surprisingly, so has New York City Mayor (the elected one) Mike Bloomberg. As Mike sees it, Foursquare represents a fine example of NYC's startup-friendly environment, which is why he's giving it and its heretofore informal Foursquare Day celebration the official NYC seal of approval. He even went so far as to deliver a Mayoral Proclamation to the Foursquare offices, which you can see for yourself after the break.
Final Fantasy XI lays out plans for its anniversary celebration
As of May 16th, Final Fantasy XI will have been running for nine years. That's quite a milestone for any game, and it's the sort of thing that deserves quite a celebration. Square-Enix outlined plans today for the full-featured cavalcade of events, starting with the nine-year anniversary art contest that's just kicked off. But players with a dearth of artistic talent needn't worry, as they'll still get to participate in other events, such as the 2011 Vana'diel Census, which will be collecting a plethora of interesting trivia about characters across the globe. Still not enough? Of course not. There's also an anniversary Mog Bonanza around the corner, complete with a variety of prizes as always. And the Adventurer Appreciation Campaign is set to start up on the day of the anniversary itself, letting players who want to celebrate the game's history do so in style. Whether you've been with the game since its launch many years ago or just got into it recently, you can enjoy the many ways Final Fantasy XI commemorates its birthday.
