Christmas
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Add your new toys to your Engadget profile
Throw out all the wrapping paper, finish eating the leftover turkey and have the last of the eggnog, because Christmas has come and gone. It's time to take stock of all your fancy new loot. Yesterday, you told us what you received. Today, you should show all of it off. Head over to your Engadget profile and add the new gear to your have list. If you're not sure how to do that, check out this helpful primer on the new Engadget.
The Guild Counsel: Making the most of holiday events with your guild
The holidays might seem like a good time to lay low and take a break, but they can actually be a great opportunity to get ahead, particularly for more casual guilds. The arrival of holiday events means that players can relax and enjoy the short-term change of pace, but with the right approach, those limited events can help your guild boost its finances and its morale at the same time. Let's look at how even the most casual guild can benefit from holiday events in this week's Guild Counsel.
The Daily Grind: Did you get or give any good gamer gifts today?
Merry Christmas, all! You might be engaged in all manner of festive activities this morning or perhaps just enjoying some peace and quiet and goodwill toward all. There might even be a hint of gift-giving and -receiving going on as well today. I think it's awesome being a gamer geek around Christmastime because I'm never short on fun toys that I'd love to get as a gift. While I have no idea what I might be getting today, I do know that I bought my wife all of the World of Warcraft expansions so that she could catch up. So once the unwrapping frenzy subsides, head back here and let us know: Did you get or give any good gamer gifts today (or really, this month)? 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!
Breakfast Topic: What was under your tree?
My wife and I do the usual Christmas thing, even with the addition of a toddler eager to tear apart the paper with reckless abandon. We wake up in the morning (feeling not much like P. Diddy) and make our way to the coffee pot. Then, with decades-trained habit, we sort through the presents and do the normal gift-giving thing. But that's not really what makes it the tradition to us yet. Instead, we log into WoW and look to see what Grandfather Winter left for us. Oh, sure, the game is a business and all that. But something about the relatively-free gifts, joyous spirit, and dozens of people flocking around the in-game tree feels more authentic to us. It's not Christmas morning until we've collected our Winter's Veil bounty. It's always interesting to see what Grandfather Winter left behind. Cookies, exploding toys, and plenty of competitive little robots ready to fight one another. So, with all that eagerness in mind, what did you get from Grandfather Winter this year? Was it everything you hoped?
Jukebox Heroes: MMO holiday tunes
Last year I celebrated Christmas with y'all by sharing several holiday music tracks from MMOs, and this year I thought I'd keep the tradition alive. It's not always the easiest thing to find holiday-specific music from these games, as not every game bothers to make new tunes for time-limited events. Still, there are a few that have been sitting in my folders for a while that I'd like to share, including one very special piece of music that pretty much nobody's ever heard before. So as we wind down the year and relax with friends and family, I'm volunteering myself to be the DJ at your abode. Just put these tunes on and mix up a batch of your best egg nog because the two will be a combination that will make your relatives rave about your refined taste.
Hyperspace Beacon: 'Twas the night before Sithmas and all through SWTOR...
If you've not been in game since last week, then you don't know about the snow problem that Carrick and Vaiken station have had since the Master of Ceremonies stopped by Star Wars: The Old Republic. Everyone, for no good reason at all, has been pelting each other with snowballs. They all think they are special snowflakes or something -- something I knew I was before this event began. But perhaps I should start at the beginning. The Life Day event actually started when the Cartel Market began selling Life-Day-related items on the week of the 10th. The items were the exact same items that were on sale last year. Many people, including me, were concerned that the whole event (if you could call it that) would be a complete recycle of last year's. Of course, we had the tensile bomb, the Life Day orb, the Life Day robes, and everyone's favorites, the festive snow-blowing speeder. (That was sarcasm, in case it didn't come through the text.) Fortunately, this year's SWTOR Life Day festivities didn't end there.
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A look back at when Apple Christmas commercials were still funny
This year, Apple tugged on the heartstrings of people who willfully watch advertising -- seriously, remember when you HAD to watch ads, what a savage world -- with its "Misunderstood" clip. It brought tears to the eyes of many people who want to think the best of teenagers, but had one major flaw. Where were the laughs, guys? This is Christmas. Sure, it's a time of reflection or whatever, but wishes for peace on Earth need a little good will towards men. And the only good will I'm accepting this year is Holiday Cheer. So let's take a quick look back at some of Apple's funnier Christmas commercials. We start in 1981 with what basically amounts to a joke-free propaganda film, though we're going to give it up for the line about how crappy Santa was in 1941. Technically, that was the year the Great Depression ended, but Santa hadn't recovered apparently, leading to a lean Christmas. Dick Cavett, a long-running talk show host and TV producer, is probably best known by younger readers for a cameo in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3. We were unable to find any Christmas ads from Apple between 1982 and 1994, but that's okay. This mid-'90s return to form is a doozy of passive-aggressive advertising magic. Apple presents "Your parents trying to figure out Windows instead of just building you a bike, parts one and two." Apple then took another decade-plus break from humorous holiday ads. Seriously, I'm aware the '90s weren't the best times for the company, but forgetting to celebrate Christmas? Where was the cheer, advertisers? In 2006, the comedy duo of John Hodgman and Justin Long put aside their bickering for a pretty basic Christmas ad that faithfully recreates the passive-aggressive hell of the normal "Mac or PC is better" holiday debate. Interesting side fact: My brother owns a Surface Pro tablet. We have had more arguments about that at family gatherings with each other than we ever had with our mom about why we don't go to church anymore. Tech brings people together. Of course, gift giving can drive people apart, and this one from the same year shows. 2007 saw the debut of Apple's Rankin/Bass stop-motion animation tribute holiday commercials. As much as we enjoy the spirit, the absence of Rudolph looms large over this whole ad. I like to imagine he was off somewhere leading a support group for Misfit Toys. 2008 was the last Christmas we were to spend with Hodgman and Long shilling for Mac, and they went out in magical style. Warning: These two ads feature simulated animal abuse and passive-aggressive Christmas tree lighting. 2009 was a terrible year for funny Christmas ads. In the wake of its prior joy, Apple left us just a core of the mirth that had come before, thanks to this silly iPhone ad. I refuse to acknowledge anything as part of Christmas if it doesn't know to shout "FIVE GOLDEN RINGS" as obnoxiously as possible. Did the ad agency that made this ever have a childhood? Depending on how devoid of Christmas cheer your heart is, this next ad might not make you laugh. 2010 wasn't a gut-buster, but the company was trying. It's not funny "ha ha," but it's certainly got all the makings of a nice, warm holiday giggle, right? You're not a monster, right? Find out below. We're going to drop the pretenses that Apple is trying to be funny here and just accept that this ad was meant less to make you laugh and more to warm your heart. My only issue is that if Santa used a 2011 version of Siri to help deliver gifts on time, everyone's Christmas would have been ruined. And he couldn't have blamed it on the Grinch; that disaster would 100 percent be on Santa's shoulders. You've had hundreds of years to figure this out with magic, Santa. Stop playing with your phone the one time of year you have to work. 2012 had a real winner with this charming little girl singing to her grandfather, who presumably lives very far away from her. Dear God... what if this little girl lives only a few miles away and is forcing her Grandpa to FaceTime in lieu of actually visiting him? Children can be incredibly inconsiderate this time of year. Also, they're not funny when they're being sweet. This is probably the least funny ad in this article, and that includes the stinker starring Santa and Dick Cavett. So from TUAW, and Apple fans everywhere, have yourself a very Happy Holiday. We hope this silliness brought you some joy and, barring joy, at least a few laughs. Also, Apple, bring back the funny Christmas ad. The world is serious enough. We don't need you White Knighting teenagers.
Guild Wars 2 video thanks players and reminisces about 2013
Nothing brings out the retrospective spirit in us all like the end of another year, and ArenaNet has indulged in a visual remembrance of 2013 with a new Guild Wars 2 video that thanks players for a wonderful year. Reminisce with the devs about defeating the Molten Alliance, electing Captain Ellen Kiel, and destroying the Tower of Nightmares in the clip that includes footage from various fan-attended events. If you were present at any of those events, you might even find yourself in the video below! So take a quick jaunt down memory lane and share with us your favorite GW2 moments over the last year.
Massively's winter holidays MMO roundup
The holidays are here! That means the hustle and bustle of the season is in full swing, with gifts to get, treats to taste, deals to nab, and plenty of festivities to partake in -- and that's just in the MMOverse! Yes folks, there's a plethora of holiday celebrations out there -- so many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of them all, let alone participate to them! If you're trying to catch everything in your favorite games, we're here to help. We've got a round up of the various winter celebrations across the gaming sphere all bundled together right here for you. If something catches your eye, hop in and join in the festivities!
5 things you still need to buy before Christmas
There's a good chance that your next five days will be filled with frantic last-minute gift buying, all culminating in your family's holiday celebration. You might even think your shopping list has been conquered, but I beg to differ. Here are a handful of items you still need to pick up to make sure your gift recipients truly have a happy holiday. iTunes Gift Card A holiday standby, an iTunes gift card is one of the few items that can fit just about everyone on your list. Worried that your gift won't carry the same punch as the one you might be receiving? Toss an iTunes gift card on top and you'll never hear a complaint. iPhone/iPad charging cord The perfect bonus item for Apple fans, no one can ever have too many iOS charging cords. They get lost; they get forgotten; and they get eaten by pets, so if you're looking for a cheap (less than US$20 at most stores) add-on, these cords are like gift-giving gold. EarPods Everyone loves music, and Apple's new-ish earphone evolution is a great stocking stuffer. You can pick up a pair for roughly $29, and there's no chance you won't get a smile. In fact, if anyone wants to gift me a pair (or 30), that would be great, because my cats like to use them as dental floss. Adapter You probably know at least one or two friends or family members who upgraded to new iOS devices this year, and that means that their old-style charging cords are now almost useless. That is, unless you save the day and toss them a few 30-Pin-to-Lightning adapters. For around $30, it's like giving the gift of eternal life. Batteries Ok, I know there are very few Apple products or accessories that sport replaceable batteries these days, but you know what does? Just about every electronic toy, ever. So in the interest of helping those of you who don't have Apple devotees on your gift lists, make sure you pick up about a dozen AAs and you'll be the savior of any holiday gathering. [Image credits: Heather Kennedy, Hermanturnip]
TERA starts snowball war and prepares to invade China
There's snow mercy with TERA's winter update this year, as the free-to-play title started a massive snowball fight this week as a way to celebrate the holiday season. The Wintera Snowfield is a new 10v10 battlefield where players will line up to take potshots at each other (in love, we assume). Since everyone's health will be equalized and all of the abilities will be the same, victory will be determined by player skill and resource acquisition. Both winners and losers will receive tokens to spend on rewards, although the former will receive quite a bit more. The event ends January 2nd. TERA is also going to be taking its first steps into the Chinese market with a test starting on January 9th, 2014.
Pick up MMOs on the cheap in Steam's holiday sale
It's that time of year again, folks -- the time when grandfather Valve slides down the chimney and offers you a huge pile of reasonably priced games. Yes, Steam's holiday sale is now in full effect, bringing with it some nice deals on a few MMO titles. Here's what we've found so far: Guns of Icarus Online - $3.74 (75% off - flash sale!) The Secret World - $14.99 (50% off) The Secret World: Massive Edition - $29.99 (50% off) Darkfall Unholy Wars - $13.58 (66% off) Defiance- $4.99 (50% off) Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition - $15.99 (60% off) EVE Online - $4.98 (75% off) Keep in mind that sales change daily and that some games above do require subscription fees. The Steam holiday sales ends January 2nd, 2014.
Field Journal: The true meaning of MMO holiday events
Field Journal is a bold and exciting new take on MMO journalism. Or the meandering ramblings of a chronic game-hopper. I haven't decided yet. Each week I'll be setting for myself a new "adventure" or "field trip" into a game to explore some aspect of it in detail. I'll be sharing my thoughts and experiences, especially on games without a dedicated column. Anything from the most obscure indie to the elephant in the room is up for consideration. There just has to be something in it we think is worth gawking at and talking about! Given the timing, I wanted to kick things off with a look at seasonal events in MMOs. To make it special, I thought, why not tackle the events of a few games in one go? Oh how naive I was. Let me tell you, there's nothing like seeing the same flavor of holiday cheer over and over again in supposedly different worlds to strip away one's capacity for goodwill to all developers. Fortunately, there were a few bright spots.
Krampus has arrived in The Secret World
Bust out the holiday cheer, Krampus is here! The holidays have officially arrived in The Secret World with the start of the all-new Christmas event, A Mother of a Season. Until the 2nd of January, brave groups of adventures can follow Krampus into the realm of Niflheim to fight even more enemies, and even call forth Hel herself. PvPers can try and become the Lord of Misrule, a five-minute title that grants special abilities during PvP. Of course, there are plenty of themed goodies and loot as well, not to mention the return of the End of Days event. Today's patch also brought a handy new addition to the game: a pet inventory. Now you can free up your bag space by clicking on all your pets and moving them to the new pet window (shift + p), earning an achievement for each pet collected.
RIFT celebrates Fae Yule with festivities
It's holiday time in Telara, and that means the Fae are back to their old tricks of hiding, stealing, and re-hiding gifts during RIFT's Fae Yule celebration. Will players find all the gifts stolen from the dragon cults that are scattered across the zone? If so, they can collect and complete six different artifact sets! This year's celebration also includes a Very Merry Warfront, tours of Telara's holiday Dimensions, and plenty of special festive zone events, Instant Adventures, rifts, footholds, special gifts, and more. Even raid bosses are in a giving mood during the season, occasionally dropping an extra loot chest for adventurers. Get a peek of the wintry wonders in the trailer below. Fae Yule lasts until January 9, 2014. [Update: Fae Yule has been extended a week until the 9th, and store items will be available for purchase through the 15th. Thanks to Potaco for the tip!] [Source: Trion press release]
Apple's Christmas ad is great, but this parody shows the one aspect it got wrong
Apple recently released its latest Christmas-themed commercial, this time looking to give a little depth and humanity to your kid brother who won't pull his nose out of his phone. It's a tearjerker. It makes me get a little misty. The kid made such a beautiful video, and his family appreciates it so much. Merry Christmas. But there's one aspect of the video that didn't seem quite right. Check out Andy Nguyen's parody video below, and remind yourself to teach the younger family members how to properly hold a camera.
Apple's War on Christmas continues! Next victim: the Christmas tree.
Apple, it wasn't enough for your to rename your '12 Days of Christmas' app to '12 Days of Gifts,' was it? Now you needed to take your War on Christmas to the next level by attacking the humble Christmas tree. As blogger Phyllis White reports, you've banned the Christmas tree in the beautiful shopping area of the Passage in The Hague: I always love going to the Passage around this time, to see this huge Christmas tree with all those lights. Often on weekends there are Christmas carol singers or children playing Christmas songs on their violins for some pocket money. The acoustic in the Passage is wonderful, which makes it all a bit magical. ...Apparently our beautiful Christmas tree will not return at all anymore. Why? You may think it is because of the economic crisis or lack of money..... but nooooooo that is not the case....... It is because behind those black boards a new Apple Store is being built and the Apple company does not want that tree it front of its Store.............. Apparently in its rental agreement Apple has negotiated that the tree will not be put up any more from now. Instead, visitors to the beautiful Passage will now be greeted with a new hanging ornament, minimalist light chandelier thing that looks like it's how Jony Ive envisions a Christmas tree: And Apple, don't think we're fooled by your latest touchy-feely holiday ad appropriately titled "Misunderstood." It's just cover for your secret War on Christmas. "12 Days of Christmas." The Christmas tree. I fear what you're about to do to Santa Claus.
Xmas Camera for iOS adds holiday cheer to photos
Xmas Camera (free) was an app I thought was pretty cute when I looked at it a year ago, and now it's been enhanced and made iOS 7-friendly. Basically you take a photo, or load one from your camera roll, and the app enables you to add holiday elements to your photos. You can dress someone in a Santa suit and beard, or add hats, candy, snowflakes, etc. to create a nice personalized holiday photo. The free version gets you 21 graphics to add, and there are two additional packs at US$0.99, each with more holiday symbols. Using the app is like others of its kind: Select your photo, select one or multiple elements to add, click on them to rotate and resize them so you can get that hat or Santa suit perfectly scaled to your subject. It's great for kids, or anyone who wants to create a holiday photo that can then be forwarded to friends and family. Xmas Camera now requires iOS 7, and it's optimized for the iPhone 5. The app is not universal, but should be as the iPad camera is getting increasingly popular. I think the app will generate some fun and some laughs for the holiday season.
Payday 2 'Charlie Santa' Heist DLC drops in time for the holidays
Payday 2 on Steam will receive a free bit of festive DLC on Monday, December 16. The free "Charlie Santa" Heist mission, which sees Payday 2's four crooks busting into a custom bank map, can go one of two ways: you can quickly hunt down the two key cards necessary to break into the vault, bag the cash and get out; or, if things go pear-shaped and you must drill into the vault, you can set up some lift cages on the roof and have your pilot swoop in and skyhook the packaged cash. The "Charlie Santa" Heist DLC also features some festive St. Nick masks for those who are part of the official Steam community group for the game, plus a new scope to unlock, courtesy of Gage the weapons dealer. Finally, there are some new achievements to unlock, including one where you have to neatly package four dead bodies and place them under the bank's Christmas tree. Nobody wants to unwrap that on Christmas morning!
Anarchy Online rolls out in-game holiday events and deals
The holiday season is well and truly upon us now, and that means celebrations in your games as well as the real world. Anarchy Online is kicking off a multi-tiered event that features as many leets as players can cope with, starting with the arrival of Santaleet and his missions to aid his armies of Elfleets against the evil Grin'Cha. Rewards include a number of previous holiday event rewards, which adds extra incentive for players to take part in the Elfleet rescue. There's also a new tree-themed dress, a free Gift-wrapped leet morph for everyone, a Gingerleet pet for members, and yes, even promotions for people getting into the game. Until January 2nd, purchasing six months of membership will reward you with an extra two months, while 12-month purchases award an additional four months. Both deals include experience boosts, and 12-month packages even throw in a special helping of Victory Points. If you're going to be running around saving leets anyway, it's a nice extra present to leave under your own tree.
