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Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010

It's that time of year again -- when snow falls in lands that normally don't even see weather effects! When you're supposed to love your fellow elf, human, dwarf -- or at least maim them in the nicest, most brotherly way possible. As one would expect with a plethora of MMOs out on the market, there are gobsmackingly huge numbers of events to take advantage of. Being the festive holiday folks we are (well, OK, some of us anyway), we've gathered up a listing of some of the many things going on. So if you're curious about just what holiday merriment can be found out there, grab some egg nog (alcohol optional), click past the break, and dive into our festive roundup of holiday events.

Also, be sure to keep an eye on Massively as Rubi continues giving great gifts to gamers galore in our 12 Days of Giveaways event!


The Global Agenda 12 drops of Christmas
Looking for some holiday silliness? Well, if you're in the mood to get some festive fragging on, Global Agenda's 12 drops of Christmas is for you. Complete the daily challenges to score a crazy helm. Complete them all and land some funky gear that says "I came, I saw, I pwnt."

Zentia's got all the silliness you need for the Holidays
When we first heard of Zentia, it had us at "epic shrimp vs. crab battles." Now with the Spoon PvE server finally open, our giveaway, and the game's holiday event rolling, there's never been a better time to dip your toes into the very, very silly world of Zentia. See if you can find Santa and get one of the random gifts he's giving out!

Celebrate the season in DDO's Festivult
Festivult has come to Dungeons and Dragons Online with Festivult. Players can check out the Risia Ice Games, do quests for the Festivult Jester, and more. Also, Turbine is offering lots of specials in the DDO store as well as an advent calendar full of goodies for the rest of the month of December.

'Tis the season for gifts and goodies in Vanguard
Tell us the truth, gentle reader: Have you been a good little boy or girl this year? And have you dutifully paid your monthly subscription to SOE? If you said "Yes!" on both counts, then Vanguard invites you to party it up with the Festival of Gloriann. The major cities have been dressed up in their wintry finest, and gifts have been sprinkled around for all to find.

Deck the halls with Coralax costumes in City of Heroes
At one point in development, the Coralax were going to be the new epic archetype for the villainous crowd in City of Heroes. Now, they're just another low-level villain group with some memorable looks to them. But for the next 12 days, they can be something more -- namely, they can be your new clothing. No, you aren't getting missions to skin the Coralax and wear what's left as a hat.

Second part of EVE Christmas present revealed -- the Echelon
Two weeks ago, we learned of CCP's plans to remove learning skills from EVE Online. As the first part of a two-part Christmas present to players, CCP announced that the skills would be removed with the Incursion expansion's December release. Speculation on what the second part of that present could be has run wild on the forums... until now.

City of Heroes gearing up for winter festivities
The holidays are anything but a time to relax in City of Heroes, as pretty much every holiday has one villain or another seeking to unleash some diabolical scheme. That means that characters have to race into action to stop it, all while enjoying special badges, prizes, and limited-time events. This year's winter holiday season promises to be no different...

Fallen Earth Holiday Apocalypse Challenge starts today
Want some wasteland in your Christmas stocking? Icarus Studios has just the thing, and it's called the Fallen Earth Holiday Apocalypse Challenge. Aside from managing to put the words holiday and apocalypse in the same sentence, the contest gives you a chance to win a custom PC, an iPhone 4, and various and sundry additional goodies.

Atlantica Online rings in the holidays
Atlantica Online is also holding a 200% bonus experience weekend from December 24th to the 26th, perfect for getting your character caught up over the holidays. Those playing at other times won't be left out, however, as nDoors is running 150% bonus experience weekends leading up to the big Christmas event.

LotRO's Yule Festival Theatre transforms players into actors
It started as a simple idea: to include an interactive theater experience with Lord of the Rings Online's revamped Yule Festival. However, as Turbine's "Rhidden" writes in a new dev diary, the simple idea became fiendishly complex in application.

Free Realms Snow Days special member rewards
Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. In addition to family, food, and frantic shopping trips, we also can't forget logging into our favorite MMOs and taking part in the Christmas celebrations. Free Realms is marking the occasion with a Snow Days Special Member Reward promotion for account holders in good standing (either an existing account or one created prior to December 15th).

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Vindictus, zebra stockings and giant spiders
It's not often that we in the Massively offices are just plain stumped, but today Nexon receives that rare badge of distinction. To usher in Vindictus' holiday event, Nexon has put together a 48-second video of pure insanity. It runs the gamut of snowball fights, mostly naked people wearing zebra underwear, giant spiders, pigs and one exhausted-looking Santa Claus.

Familiar faces and holiday places in Final Fantasy XIV
One can only hope that the first Starlight Celebration in the game will help alleviate some of that sense of doom and gloom. To the surprise of nearly no one, the celebration features a number of gifts for players, as well as a three-piece set of thematic attire that can be either crafted or received via helping needy children.

Lost Pages of Taborea: Reminiscing on holiday events
I think Christmas is one of RoM's best events. Last year's sometimes-annoying rooftop hunt was especially fun. I spent many hours just trying to get on top of houses. I'm not a huge fan of platform games; I tend to get slightly aggravated whenever I miss the jumps and fall into the lava or mysteriously deadly water that many platform games like to place under you.

Spread some holiday smiles in Final Fantasy XI
Any game with holiday events could do far worse than taking inspiration from Final Fantasy XI. With each event having eight years of refinement, there's always plenty to do for adventurers in Vana'diel, and the latest round of the Starlight Celebration is no exception. But there's a brand-new wrinkle...

Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19
It's a busy day for Star Wars Galaxies, as Game Update 19 jumps to lightspeed with a trio of exciting events. First up is the return of Wookiee Life Day, "a time to reflect on the renewal of life and to remember those who have passed on." Wookiee Life Day was first introduced in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special and has become a beloved fixture of SWG since its inception a few years ago.

Hyperspace Beacon: Holiday Special
Ah, the holidays... As young Wookiees, we remember sipping steaming Hoth Chocolate and munching on freshly baked Wookiee-ookiees. You remember growling songs of freedom and peace around the wroshyr tree, right? You don't? Well, that's because you're human. Life Day, the Wookiee holiday, celebrates the diversity of life on the home world of Kashyyyk.

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

DOFUS brings the holidays to players, then blows them up
The colorful world of DOFUS seems well-suited to a holiday celebration, especially with the amount of character embedded in the game's graphics. And one is taking place on Kwismas Island, beyond a shadow of a doubt. But there's still something else for players to look for, something that's far less merry than the dungeons of the island (whose merriness is already a rather dubious quality).

NCsoft hypes Aion double crafting XP and holiday events
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.

Lineage II's Winter Wintermelon Woes whomping event
Puss the Cat knows that the best food is smashed food, because this holiday season Lineage II players will be helping Puss grow special prize-filled wintermelons that will need to be opened the old fashioned way -- by smashing them! Don't worry if you're averse to smashing wintermelons, as every character will find a holiday treat in his private warehouse, smashing or no smashing.

Guild Wars' Battle for Wintersday event
Once again, the fate of the season hangs in the balance as the life goddess Dwayna and the death god Grenth battle for control of Wintersday. This year the war god Balthazar and the goddess of nature Melandru are joining the fray! As these divine beings and their supporters prepare for a Wintersday showdown, players will enjoy festive holiday decorations and more!

Lineage 1 celebrates its annual Winter Holidays
With double the drops and events spanning both the test server and the regular servers, there's lots of holiday cheer in Lineage. Come grab the goodies from holiday stockings, complete holiday quests and see what you get!

Gaia Online wants you to save Santa
Santa is under some heavy stress and needs you to come give him a hand. Scattered across the lands of Gaia Online are things from gloves to mayonnaise that Santa needs to get ready for Christmas. Help him find them all and get some goodies in the process.

Frostfell returns to EverQuest and EverQuest II
Whether your choice is EverQuest or EverQuest II, Frostfell is coming to the lands of Norrath! With lots to do and see, this holiday favorite is sure to please players of all levels. Santug Claugg needs your help in EverQuest to get past his holiday grumpies. Meanwhile, Santa Glug needs you to help with those silly Gigglebigger goblins who are once again running rampant in EverQuest II.

Life Day comes to Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
The decorations are up and it's time for players to enjoy Life Day festivities in Clone Wars Adventures. Players can collect Life Day Orbs from around the Jedi Temple for rewards or wear Life Day Robes and collect presents from the Gifting Tree. There are also special holiday items in the Station marketplace for the Jedi Master who has everything.

Pocket Legends offers holiday gaming on-the-go
If you're in the mood for mobile MMO merriment, Pocket Legends has you covered! Its High Winter Holiday update will give you something to do when you're stuck out and about. Check out the new holiday quests, new areas, and festive (permanent) holiday loot, sure to keep your adventures cool.

World of Dragons offers its old-school Holiday best
More the Droid/Facebook gamer? World of Dragons has its holidays going as well, which should keep you covered while you sip some cocoa and relax! With the ability to play with friends while you're all in different locations (and sans computers), it sure beats getting stuck noshing on your Great Aunt Irma's fossilized (but well-meant) fruitcake.