halloween-2013
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Massively's guide to MMO Halloween 2013
Halloween's arguably the biggest virtual holiday of the MMO year, with practically every game sporting some sort of special event, giveaway, limited-time challenge, or landscape makeover. Plus, there's lots and lots of candy that looks absolutely scrumptious but you can't eat because it's not real. That's just a massive tease by the MMO industry, in our opinion. With only a couple of short weeks to cram in as much trick-or-treating, pumpkin picking, haunted hayrides, spooky mansion tours, and headless boss fights as possible, we're here to help point you in the direction of all of the fun. So put on your scariest outfit and get ready to explore the dark side of MMOs with our guide to Halloween 2013!
APB Reloaded brings Fright Club and Certain Death to San Paro
While almost every game has some kind of Halloween celebration this time of year, only APB: Reloaded has nabbed the talents of the Scottish metal band Certain Death to add to the ambiance of this holiday update. The band picked three songs to add to APB's soundtrack, which the guitarist Steedo said "would fit the game as well as the new Halloween update." The Halloween shenanigans include new in-game content and challenges including Fright Club, the temporary relocation of the popular Fight Club mode to an abandoned asylum filled with ghoulish gang members. Starting today, players can also get a new Punk pack, complete with devil or bat wings, witch and wizard hats, pumpkin and bat glow-in-the-dark weapon themes, and a scoped version of the new primary weapon, the STAC 10 (Somatic Tactical Assault Carbine). The holiday-themed festivities run until November 6th, 2013. [Source: GamersFirst press release]
Aion opens Halloween-themed Nightmare Circus dungeon
Did you enjoy the novelty and rewards of Aion's double run of Shugo Kingdom Adventures, the limited-time instance that offered some pretty nifty rewards to those who chose wisely? If so, you might be glad to hear that Aion has introduced a new version themed for the holiday: Nightmare Circus. As before, only special skills can be used within the instance and only Daevas level 30 and above can enter. This time, however, instead of becoming a Shugo, players will be transformed into a bear-like Khum'gom. Even more power can be obtained if players transform into a Nightmare Circus Harlequin using an item available via quest and in the store. Also, anywhere from two to six players can participate. The instance consists of three stages, and rewards can include exclusive costumes and wings, dyes, consumables, manastones, and much more. For a full accounting of all the possible prizes and a breakdown of each stage, check out the official announcement. But if you want to get in on the event, you'd better hurry -- the Nightmare Circus is in town for only two weeks and packs up November 6th, 2013.
Blizzard store now offering full Halloween costumes
Halloween is fast approaching -- are you prepared? If not, the Blizzard Store might just be your ticket if you're looking for a quick solution and simultaneously wanting to show off your gamer pride. Three new costumes by Rubies have been added to the Blizzard Store, and unlike previous mask offerings, these are full-body outfits that will dress you up from head to toe. Along with the standard green orc, Illidan and Arthas are both available -- keep in mind, however, that if you're looking for a pair of Warglaives or Frostmourne, those don't come with the outfits. They may not be the height of cosplay perfection, but they're good enough for a Halloween party or three. The characters are pretty much instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with Warcraft, and really isn't that all anyone hopes for out of a Halloween costume? Head to the Blizzard store to check them out and perhaps pick up a costume of your own.
Flameseeker Chronicles: How to get your Halloween on in Guild Wars 2
It's the most wonderful time of the year. Halloween has returned to Guild Wars 2, and ArenaNet has introduced a new member of Mad King Thorn's family to cause mayhem all around Tyria. While this year's Blood and Madness event isn't quite as involved as last year's Shadow of the Mad King, there's still lots to do and some new rewards to earn. It helps that the content will be hanging around GW2 until November 11th, giving us quite a bit of time to soak in the jack-o'-lantern-lit atmosphere and get sick on candy -- not that any of us would do that (much). You've also got plenty of opportunity to finish up the storyline and the associated achievements, but it's probably more fun to get it done while it's fresh. With that in mind, I've written up a guide to help you chase off that whiny Thorn kid before the trick-or-treaters come knocking.
Dress for success in RIFT's Halloween costume contest
The old adage "dress for success" is getting a holiday makeover with RIFT's wardrobe contest, where your best Halloween-themed outfit can successfully net you one of a number of prizes. Together with Riftscene, Trion is hosting this in-game costume contest now through November 4th. To enter, players need to submit screenshots (preferably one from the back and one from the front ) of one of their characters dressed its best for the holiday -- the more unique, the better! The top 10 finalists will be highlighted on Trion's livestream November 15th where first, second, and third place will be decided. Prizes for first place include 15,000 RIFT store credits, all the Halloween masks, and a reaper mount. Additionally, the winning outfit will go on sale in the RIFT store with the entrant's name attached. Second place will take home store credits, the masks, and a mount while third also wins store credits. All 10 finalists will receive a special title.
ArenaNet lifts the veil on Guild Wars 2's Tower of Nightmares content release
Just in time for Halloween, Guild Wars 2's evil krait will reveal what they've been secretly building in Kessex Hills: a frightening weapon called the Tower of Nightmares. ArenaNet hints that the krait have an undiscovered ally whom players will need to investigate, and it seems that the private detective team of Marjory Delaqua and Kasmeer Meade may be involved in uncovering the truth -- as well as how the krait menace might connect to the overarching plot of the living story. Tyria's heroes will have access to a new skill, Antitoxin Spray, which can be used by any character to heal and cleanse debuffs from herself and her allies. Completing the meta achievement for Tower of Nightmares will also allow players to earn their very own krait obelisk shard for their home instance, although we're not convinced that plunking one of those down within reach of pets, small children, or anyone ever is such a great idea. You can catch a preview of the event during a developer-hosted livestream on October 28th at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (noon PDT). The Tower of Nightmares content release will go live on October 29th.
Wings Over Atreia: Jumping on Aion's limited-time events and pumpkin-carving contest
As much as I know you probably want an announcement about the release of Aion 4.5 and the long-awaited Aethertech class, I am afraid I can only offer a distraction. A few distractions, actually, in the form of various in-game events and a real-world contest. And these events are ending PDQ, so to take advantage of them, you need to jump in now. First off, this weekend only level 65s get a little incentive to dive into the Sauro Supply Base and and Ophidan Bridge dungeons. For all Daevas over level 21, there's a Brax Cafe event (with free food and rewards) that closes up shop at maintenance on Wednesday the 23rd. And for any and all Aion fans out in the real world, NCsoft is holding a pumpkin-carving contest until Halloween with an in-game reward for winners. And I've got all the details right here!
Heva Clonia Online begins open beta today, hosts Halloween events
Last week we gave you the heads-up that Heva Clonia Online was moving into open beta testing today. And as part of the transition, OGPlanet assures players that there will be no more wipes between now and launch. So now players can jump in and enjoy guild PvP battles, two-man dungeon challenges, cloning monsters as pets, and a number of mini-games without losing any of the goodies or progress accumulated while playing. In celebration of the start of open beta, Heva Clonia Online will be hosting a number of Halloween events offering players different ways to get a hold of some prizes. These prizes can be won simply by attending (with the Halloween Attendance Event), by hunting (the Kill Monster and Earn Items event), and even by playing Halloween bingo! To play, sign up on the official site. [Source: OGPlanet press release]
Get in the spirit with TERA's Banquet of Blood trailer
The air is cooling, which means thoughts are turning to pumpkins, ghouls, and fun in-game events. And tomorrow kicks of TERA's Halloween celebration! You can get your fill of tricks and treats in a variety of events, from the Banquet of Blood (don't forget to include your weapon as part of your costume!) to protecting your candy stash with a cannon. With plenty of ghouls and ghosts to dispatch and Halloween-themed rewards to acquire, it's sure to be a spooktacular time. Get a sneak peek of the party in the trailer after the break and the four new images in the gallery below. [Source: En Mass Entertainment press release]
MMO Family: A cornucopia of kid-friendly Halloween events
Part of the fun of MMOs is the chance to dress up our characters, so it's no surprise that the month of October is a big one for kid-friendly MMOs. There's a plethora of pumpkins, countless costumes, and copious amounts of creepy housing decor. And the vast tonnage of treats available makes those real-life treat bags look minuscule in comparison. In this week's MMO Family, we've got a roundup of several Halloween celebrations in kid-friendly games. And while most are about the "stuff," there are also several creative contests and events that are worth a look. Get your scare on below!
Guild Wars 2 launches its Blood and Madness update
It's that time again in Guild Wars 2. The crisp scents of fall and candy corn are in the air, and everyone's getting ready for another appearance by Mad King Thorn. But the newest patch, Blood and Madness, is turning things on its ear by introducing Thorn's son, Bloody Prince Edrick, which will throw the already chaotic festival into... further chaos? Chaos is generally pretty boolean; things are chaotic or they aren't. As expected, there's a guide available for those who want to get the most out of this latest update. Even if you're not interested in the dose of story that goes along with the update, you can enjoy the holiday event, and you can also enjoy the other features added with the patch. World vs. World is getting its first competitive season along with a slew of reward improvements, and combat balance has been adjusted to make all classes a bit more fun to play. Check out the full patch notes for more details, and go get yourself some candy corn.
RuneScape introduces new Halloween-themed questline
Jagex has announced a spooky new quest released today for RuneScape's Halloween event. Missing, Presumed Dead introduces players to a new area, new puzzles, battles against the walking dead, gods, mortals, and a host of new rewards to sweeten the pot. The quest will also set the scene for a brand new core storyline in RuneScape's lore. It can be played through the game's new Bonds system that allows players to purchase membership with in-game gold. Check out the behind-the-scenes trailer after the jump and the official announcement for more information.
TERA's newest update brings Halloween event, box refinements, and achievements
Halloween is almost here, if you count half a month away as "almost," and TERA is ready to go with its Halloween event starting on October 17th. That means opening up both a low-level and high-level dungeon as well as adding new ways to earn candy for everyone. It also adds new achievements... along with 182 other new achievements added in the same patch, more rewards for clearing achievements, and improvements to the achievement UI. Yes, there's more to this patch than just pumpkins and ghosts. The update also has changed the loot distribution of strongboxes, both in terms of what's in the boxes and where you can pick them up. Older types have been retired, and new types have been added with a somewhat smoother distribution of items. Add to that some class balance updates and an assortment of bugfixes, and there's plenty for all TERA players to be happy about aside from the upcoming event. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Final Fantasy XIV gets ready for a haunted All Saints' Wake (and PvP)
You might think there's not much room left for additional horror in Final Fantasy XIV. The entire game world did get nearly destroyed, after all. But everyone loves a good Halloween event, and it's time to celebrate with a new round of All Saints' Wake festivities. This year, the prize appears to be a set of wonderfully ghostly clothing for all participants, the reward of a quest started by conversing with a set of Shifty Thespians (who are probably completely above-the-board with that name). The holiday event will run from October 18th until November 1st, allowing for ample time to unleash your inner haunt. If you're not really fond of holiday events, though, you can tide yourself over before the game's first implementation of PvP with a new Wolves' Den trailer from the recent New York Comic Con. It's just past the break and shows off the arena itself as well as some of the battles raging between players
Get a taste of Guild Wars 2's Blood and Madness update in this new teaser video
Have you ever eaten so much Halloween candy that you were sure you were going to die? Bloody Prince Edrick Thorn is right there with you. Except for the part where he didn't eat Halloween candy so much as have his mouth forcibly stuffed with it before being chained up in a box. Oh, and he actually did die. But apart from that, it's totally the same. Anyway, he got better -- or worse, depending on which side of his bad mood Tyria ends up on. Edrick has risen to take part in Guild Wars 2's Halloween festivities, and ArenaNet is heralding the newest addition to the Thorn dynasty of terror with a teaser video of his crypt. Good thing he's stuck in that box, right? Looks pretty secure to us. Jump past the break to check it out!
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite Halloween content?
October is just about the best month ever for MMO gaming in my opinion, because that means that Halloween content is upon us. Developers seem to relish putting their utmost efforts into constructing the holiday and players certainly flock for some good ol' virtual trick-or-treating. It's hard to say what my favorite is. I was always amused by Mad King Thorn's horrible jokes in Guild Wars, I absolutely loved the Haunted Burrow in LotRO, and I spent many hours tackling the Headless Horseman in World of Warcraft. Last year's Cat God content in The Secret World was no slouch, either. So what's your favorite Halloween content and are you going to be playing it this year? 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!
RIFT's Autumn Harvest begins October 17th
October is a special time in the world of MMORPGs when ghosts, goblins, and headless horsemen take over our favorite haunts and pumpkins litter the lands. RIFT is no different, and this year's Autumn Harvest brings new items, new rewards, and new Halloween-themed monsters to slay -- and, of course, new items to buy. Look for Halloween masks, grab bags, and supply crates in the RIFT store and collect spectral reward tokens by completing Autumn Harvest events. Spectral reward tokens can be spent to purchase rare loot and spectral mounts. It would also be wise to keep an eye out for Atrophinius, RIFT's harvest master, as he has a number of special tasks related to the harvest including the slaying of vampires and werewolves and the reclaiming of loot back from nefarious thieves. Autumn Harvest goes live on October 17th.
The son also rises in Guild Wars 2's Blood and Madness content update
Remember when the citizens of Tyria thought Mad King Thorn was just a goofy old legend, and he rose up from the Underworld through a portal beneath the Lion's Arch fountain to prove us wrong? Good times! On October 15th, the Thorn family will be returning to wreak havoc in Guild Wars 2's Halloween content update, bringing their uniquely psychopathic touch to our holiday festivities. King Thorn's son, Bloody Prince Edrick Thorn, has taken over part of his father's realm -- and he's following in his footsteps by being scary and evil. We thought kids were supposed to rebel. Couldn't he have grown up to be a veterinarian or something? Players will see several popular activities returning as well, such as Lunatic Inquisition, haunted door trick-or-treating, the legendary Mad King's Clock Tower jumping puzzle, and the proud tradition of doing whatever an undead tyrant tells you to so he'll give you a hat. In addition to the new and improved Halloween content and spooky rewards, this release will contain a number of highly anticipated profession balance changes and quality of life improvements. ArenaNet will be offering a preview livestream on Monday, the 14th at 3 p.m. EDT (noon PT).
