halloween
Latest
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!
Frighteningly cheap gaming music bundle arrives Tuesday
Just in time for Halloween, the curators at Game Music Bundle have revealed plans to launch a collection of haunting video game soundtracks. Dubbed the "Game Music Bundle ... of the Damned," the offer includes music from Limbo, Dead Space, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and Plants Vs Zombies, among others. A total of 14 soundtracks are included in the bundle, which offers players multiple payment options. Spend $5, and you get five soundtracks. Spend $10, you get 14. Those who spend even more than that earn a chance at a spot on the Game Music Bundle leaderboards, along with "special physical items including video games, signed sheet music, and spooky care packages lovingly assembled by the Game Music Bundle team and promptly delivered by their diligent horde of goblins." The Game Music Bundle ... of the Damned debuts on October 22. A full listing of the albums included in the bundle can be found below.
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]
Halloween brings costumes and free stage to Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
The guys and girls of DOA will become the guys and ghouls of DOA when you download the Trick-or-Treat Halloween Costume Set for Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, available now on PS3 and Xbox 360 for $24.99, or $1.99 per costume if you prefer to purchase individually. The set includes Halloween favorites like witches, mummies and werewolves, as well as some costumes drawn from Japanese culture and history. Players can take their new costumes for a spin on the newly-released Haunted Lorelei stage, which is free to download. Haunted Lorelei is based on the original Lorelei stage from Dead or Alive 3, but is now outfitted with jack-o-lanterns and other spooky decor. Because, you know ... it's haunted now.
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!
Flameseeker Chronicles: How to win friends and influence Guild Wars 2's development
By the time this article goes to press, it'll be Halloween in Guild Wars 2. No, not October 31st; a little known fact is that Halloween actually encompasses the entire month of October and is allowed to sneakily take over part of September if you're particularly excited about it or even seep into November if you're having difficulty letting go. Since it's too early to carve pumpkins and expect them to still be around at the end of the month, MMOs are great places to get your scary on without spending a lot of money on perishable gourds or "stocking up early" on bags of candy that will also mysteriously disappear by the 31st (pro tip: blame ghosts). In the meantime, though, I have one more week before this column can officially turn into the Fearspooky Creepicles and it becomes professionally acceptable to devote at least 200 words to candy corn (note to self: double check with lead editors [Editor's note: /approved! -Bree]). So let's discuss something awesome that's happening on the GW2 official forums under the direction of ArenaNet's Studio Design Director, Chris Whiteside. Let's talk about collaborative development.
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).
Chaos Theory: Exciting times in The Secret World
Do you feel it? That electric buzzing in the air of The Secret World (not to be confused with the sounds of buzzing heard by the bee-blessed)? I don't know about you, but I sure can. It's a very exciting time to be a fan of this Lovecraftian-horror-conspiracy-flavored game. Why, you ask? I am more than happy to share my reasons with you. It's exciting because things that had been slowly building up have kicked into higher gear and are gathering speed; long-anticipated things are just barely out of reach but will soon be within our grasp. We are also this close to getting Issue #8 with its scenarios, augment systems, and Venice. And there's a new issue cover with a name and date to prove it! We are also inching ever closer to getting -- for the very first time ever -- a whole new region in the game, replete with new missions, new nooks and crannies to explore, and new foes to face. Oh, and new lore! But that's not even all. We have a long-term event going on now as well as the return of a favorite very soon. So if you haven't been in The Secret World lately, now would surely be a good time to jump back in.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Thoughts about Guild Wars 2's living story
With Guild Wars 2's first multi-month living story arc drawing to a close, I thought this might be a good time to do a little bit of reflection on how the living story is treating Guild Wars 2 so far. Sure, what we've seen so far isn't necessarily indicative of the way things are always going to be, but it's a good starting point. (In fact, it's our only starting point. Unless, of course, you like rampant and foundless speculation as a starting point. This is, after all, the internet.) To expand the conversation a bit, I think we're including holiday updates as part of the living story. It's seasonal, but it also fits into the grander scheme of providing changing content to keep the world moving and to keep players engaged. That means that what we've seen to date includes all of Flame and Frost, Wintersday, Halloween, and the Lost Shores event. Also, I guess the Super Adventure Box? I mean, it's returning and it had a lore tie-in and stuff. Maybe? I'm not sold.
Flameseeker Chronicles: The Guild Wars 2 end-of-the-year awards
The end of the year seems to be a good time for awards -- all the cool kids are doing it, and Massively is nothing if not cool. Guild Wars 2 has been around long enough for me to have made some favorites. I've talked about features and things I loathe and love before, but now it's time to call out specific NPCs and instances, rather than general features. Before we get any further with this: These awards are purely my own opinion. Disagree with me? Great; write your own end-of-the-year awards. The more, the merrier.
Minecraft Halloween Skin Pack hell-raised $770K for charity
The Minecraft Halloween Skin Pack racked up a total of $770,448 for charities, developer 4J Studios revealed today. All proceeds from the spooky add-on, sold on Xbox Live for a month at 160 MSP ($2), are being split between the Block by Block, SANDS Lothians, Child's Play, and Macmillan Cancer Support charities. Based on the price, the figure suggests roughly 385,000 players bought the pack, making it a veritable graveyard smash.4J Studios is hard at work on further Minecraft updates. The next in line, Title Update 7, includes among other things experience points and animal breeding, while Title Update 8 features The End and its Ender Dragon boss.
