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How to deal with holiday raiding
Raiding during big holidays can be a bit of a sore spot for many guild masters, raiders, and other members of your raiding guild. When large content patches like Hour of Twilight come out so close to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and every other holiday I missed that happens in the winter, schedules can get tight and tensions can flare up. The guild leader and a handful of raiders want to push progression, while another contingent of raiders doesn't want to rush home after family gatherings. Many players won't be available at all. Whether you're a 10- or 25-man raid team, the holidays can put a dent in your progression and the willingness of raiders to put in those extra few hours or cut their raiding time close to family time. Here are a few tips and suggestions for dealing with holiday raiding and guild members who just don't have the fire during the coldest months. Don't let the holidays break up a good thing. Be accommodating. Guilds and guild leaders need to be accommodating to players during the holidays. Many WoW players are college kids or younger and usually don't have a say where they are going for the holidays, what they are doing with their families, or what their schedules are going to be. If you're a guild that requires sign-outs or sign-ups for raids, make sure that people know early to post their holiday schedules or make it known when they won't be around.
Apple releases 12 Days of Christmas app for European customers
Each year Apple has a holiday promotion that gives away free music, movies or apps via its 12 Days of Christmas app. The giveaway starts December 26 and ends January 6. Each day there's a new seasonal treat to download, and the app notifies users when the promotion goes live. Be sure to grab the goodie fast, as it's only available for twenty-four hours. European readers with an iPhone or iPad can download the 12 Days of Christmas app from the App Store. According to AppleInsider, the app will be available to Canadian customers soon.
2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: PlayStation Network
Did you ravenously unwrap a gift this holiday season, only to discover a redeemable PSN card within? Don't despair -- that card can actually be turned into video games! We've got a bunch of suggestions on which 2011 video games you should transmogrify your e-money into after the jump. Whether you're using a PS3 or PSP, we've got you covered.
Gamebreaker's 12 Days of Smack Talkin' brings holiday cheer, WoW-vs.-SWTOR arguments
Everybody knows that nothing says "Happy Holidays" like throwing some more fuel on the WoW-vs.-SWTOR fire. Gamebreaker.TV fully realizes this and has decided to contribute its own rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas in the form of a World of Warcraft Rogue trading verbal blows with a Star Wars: The Old Republic Sith Assassin over whose game is better. It's a rather amusing way of mixing MMOs and holiday spirit, but let's not let it devolve into a real flame war, hm? Click on past the cut for the full video.
World of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies
The holidays are here, and you know what that means: holiday sales! Blizzard is joining the fun with a number of (rather good) deals. The World of Warcraft Battle Chest, which includes vanilla WoW and The Burning Crusade, is on sale for a measly $5 US. Wrath of the Lich King is on sale for $10, and Cataclysm's price has been reduced to $20. And as if that's not enough, Blizzard is also providing discounts for two of its cash shop items. Players can get their hands on a sparklepony for $10 or a Pandaren Monk non-combat pet for $5. The sale lasts until December 19th, so act now. For the full details, check out the news on WoW's official site.
The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year?
If you've got a gamer on your Christmas list, congratulations. With the proliferation of digital download titles and services like Steam and Good Old Games, it's never been easier to put a smile on the face of your favorite geek. Digital gifting does have a dark side, though, or at least a hmm-that's-kind-of-impersonal side. While most of us would never turn down a virtual copy of Skyrim or a few funny bucks to spend in an MMO cash shop, it is nice to get (and give) an actual present that someone's taken the time to wrap and deliver. What about you, Massively crew? Are you giving the gift of digital gaming 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!
PlayStation Plus doles out Christmas gifts in Europe
Christmas obviously appeals to our materialistic side, but leaves much to be desired in the instant gratification department. Sony's giving European PlayStation Plus subscribers the best of both of those worlds: Starting today, Sony's letting those users download a new title for free, rotating in a new complimentary game every two days. It's like that song, The 12 Days of Christmas, only it's games instead of days, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 instead of exotic fowl. That's the first title, by the way -- Sonic 2 is free for European Plussers until December 3, when a new game will be swapped in. If you've been a member since the service became available, don't get your hopes up: The 12 games have all be free on PlayStation Plus at some point or another. We've contacted Sony to see if a similar offer will be made in North America as well.
NVIDIA announces special edition GTX 560 Ti with 448 CUDA cores, available now for $289
Now that we're officially in the throes of holiday shopping season, NVIDIA's rolling out a promotion of its own, though sadly it doesn't involve any steep discounts. The outfit just announced a special edition GPU: the GTX 560 Ti with 448 CUDA cores, running at 1.46GHz, a 732MHz graphics clock and 1.25GB of GDDR5 memory charging ahead at an effective rate of 3.8GHz. Other features include support for three-way SLI, DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI. Those specs place it snugly between the current GTX 560 Ti with 384 CUDA cores, and the higher-end GTX 570, which packs 480. If this seems like a puzzling move, it is indeed the first time NVIDIA's bothered with a limited holiday edition card, though in conversations with reporters the company made it clear its new hardware is meant to dovetail with the arrival of games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Battlefield 3 and Batman: Arkham City. If you're shopping for a gamer (or, you know, yourself), it's available now for $289 in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Russia and Nordic countries through companies like ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte, among others. Update: Looks like the reviews are rolling in! We've linked a handful of 'em below.
Google's formerly-iPad-only Catalogs app now also on Android
Updated to reflect that the iPad version has been out for several months. Google's shopping-centric mobile app isn't particularly new on the iPad -- we checked in on it in August -- but it's finally made its way to the Android platform. It's called Catalogs, and you can find it as a free download on the App Store or in the Android Market. The big G has used its Google Books technology to scan and set up links on a number of different holiday shopping catalogs, so you can load up the app, flip through the virtual pages to find something you want, and then click away to buy it directly from your mobile tablet. The links aren't built in to the app -- they more or less just open up an internal app browser that then lets you buy the product online. But the experience is pretty seamless otherwise; there are over 400 catalogs to browse through, and I quickly saw brands like ThinkGeek, Nike, Sonoma Williams, Sharper Image, and Pottery Barn on display. It's a pretty specific use of Google's search and scanning software, but hey -- it's free, and it might help with the holiday shopping this year. [via Engadget]
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: docks
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. 'Tis the season to go shopping and slightly broke! Unless you're living off the grid, you can't escape the marketing merriment amping up the arrival of that most wonderful time of the year. You know, the one where loved ones run themselves ragged skipping from store to store in an attempt to find the perfect gift that just screams, "I care," and costs a pretty penny, too. Well, we know things can get hectic and the options overwhelming, but for the music aficionado in your family, you can't really go wrong with a speaker dock. Let's face it, even Great Aunt Eddie's rockin' a portable media player these days. So, why not help her get up off the couch, out of her mind and into a living room hoedown with a wall of MP3 sound? Lucky for you, we've whittled down the dizzying array of digital audio offerings into a handy guide fit for the frugal and lavish alike. Need a little inspiration? Then head on past the break to peruse the goods and get psyched for that onslaught of holiday cheer.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: accessories
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. As any technophile will tell you, accessories make the getup when it comes to complementing your favorite gadgets. Whether you're decking out a smartphone, computer, tablet, gaming system or just looking for some good old-fashioned holiday kicks, we're here to help you pick from our favorite accessories of 2011. Jump past the break to find out which ones made the "Nice" list.
Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup: 2011 edition
So apparently there's this thing called Black Friday. This is news to me because shopping isn't really my thing, see, especially if it involves looking for parking spaces, Christmas music, or entering a retail establishment of any sort (regardless of season). OK, I do occasionally make allowances for the grocery store. Anyway, when it comes to holiday consumerism, fortunately there's this place called the intarwebs, where savvy merchants have taken to selling all manner of whatever and delivering it directly to your front door with the bare minimum of fuss. I hear there are even a few deals and steals for the budget-conscious MMO fiend in this land of digital plenty, and you should head past the break for links to a few of the more noteworthy sales.
Nintendo 3DS available for $145 at Target's pre-Black Friday sale
It's official: Black Friday has transcended both space and time. No longer bound to the Hipparchian constraints of the 24-hour day, the Mother of all Sales has now given birth to an entire generation of equally stygian offspring, oozing her mercantile tentacles into nearly every crevice of our American existence. Case in point: Target's pre-Black Friday sale. It's a sale in honor of a sale that's in honor of a holiday -- the Apollo to Thanksgiving's Jupiter, if you will. It's also where you can grab a Nintendo 3DS for just $145, as noted in this ad that we came across yesterday. So loosen those purse strings and clench your fists, because the Supra Sale draws nigh.
Thanksgiving app sales: Frogger Free, iBlast Moki 2, lots more
Every day this week, we'll be spotlighting some major app sales on the Store, because all week long for Thanksgiving, devs everywhere are putting up their apps for discounted prices. Come get some great cheap apps! The beautiful Lemmings-a-like Spirits for iPhone is down to just 99 cents. This is a must buy: iBlast Moki 2 HD is on sale for just a buck. One of the best games of the year, for the change you've got in your couch? Yes please. I really wish the deck-building card game Dominion was out on iOS, but it's not yet, and until then we have Battle of Gundabad, which is also a buck today. All of Huaxu's games are going free during the holiday this week, including Castles Conqueror, Crystal Soul, and Crystal Dash. And it's not really a holiday sale until Sega gets involved -- they've got a bunch of games on sale, including Gunstar Heroes, the Streets of Rage and Super Monkey Ball games, and all of the Sonic the Hedgehog titles. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Frogger, Konami has released a game called Frogger Free, featuring new content, new modes, and the same old game that you already love. I don't know how holiday-related this is, but hey, it's a free classic game -- what more do you need? Enjoy! Stay tuned to our holiday gift guide all this week -- we'll have lots more sales to report, I'm sure.
RIFT gets into the holiday spirit with the Fae Yule world event
It's that time of year again, it would seem. A time for mirth, merriment, and fending off an evil dragon to ensure that it isn't able to enslave an entire race of magical creatures. Well, that's what's going on in Telara, anyway, thanks to RIFT's Fae Yule celebration. The event, which started today, will span six weeks and will feature "fancy holiday hats, new quests, a grumpy mead-guzzling satyr, and other festive items." But of course, this is Telara, so the festivities simply wouldn't be complete if Crucia, the evil dragon of air, didn't decide to make an appearance. She's already tired of the Fae's newfound freedom and wants to wrest them back into servitude. It's up to players to make sure she does not succeed. And to top it off, Trion is presenting players with experience, favor, prestige, plaque, and planarite bonuses this weekend only. So what are you waiting for, Telarans? Get a move on. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: e-readers
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. The e-reader space is really -- if you'll pardon the expression -- heating up just in time for the holiday season. Industry leader Amazon dropped the gauntlet yet again, with the introduction of three new devices, including the entry-level fourth generation Kindle (which starts at an enticing $79 for the ad-supported version) and the Kindle Fire, which is helping to further blur the lines between the e-reader and tablet worlds. Not to be outdone, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Sony are also offering up impressive new devices for the holiday season. All in all, there's never been a more exciting time to give the gift of reading.
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPod
There's something to be said for gifting a loved one with the stalwart iPod. Ranging from the no-frills iPod shuffle to the hardy iPod classic to the app-capable iPod touch, here's what you should consider before buying an iPod. How will I use it? It is possible to get a different iPod for any niche of your life. The first thing to consider is whether or not you want the ability to use apps -- essentially, most of the advantages of the iPhone without the phone part (or other extras such as Siri and a better camera.) If so, the iPod touch is automatically your choice. If you're not-so-keen on the apps, then you have three other lines to choose from -- the $US49 iPod shuffle, the iPod nano that starts at $129 and the $249 iPod classic. Here's a description of each of these models and how they can be used. iPod shuffle This is the most basic of the music players, and as such, also has the least capacity. The iPod shuffle lacks any sort of screen, which means while you can have playlists on there, some might consider it to be a hassle to navigate. The shuffle has 2GB of space which will hold several hundred songs and a 15-hour battery life. It's ideal for when you want a hardy little player and don't want to tote your entire library around. Think of this as an introductory music player for a child or an excellent workout companion. If you're wanting a slimmed down iPod for your car, this also is a cheap way to go. iPod nano The current iPod nano is a marriage of the form factor of an iPod shuffle and the touchscreen interface of the iPod touch. These are $129 for 8 GB and $149 for 16 GB. If you're going for a nano, pay the extra $20 and spring for the 16 GB. There's a few more features in here that aren't found on the other iPods, like a built-in FM radio and different clock faces. You also can buy a band and turn the nano into a watch. The nano is integrated with Nike +, so if you're wanting to use that feature for a workout, this is one of the models to consider. This is a good player for someone wanting a more capacity, but a small footprint. iPod classic The granddaddy of iPods is still around and has 160 GB ready for your music for $249. This is the iPod you want if you have a large music library and want to take it all with you. While it can play video, and does a fairly good job at it, the primary goal of this iPod is to handle large chunks of music. It's the only iPod still using a traditional hard drive. All the others are Flash memory. It's also the only member of the iPod family which still uses a click wheel. iPod touch Starting at $199 for 8 GB, in addition to apps, the iPod touch is the iPod you want if you plan to stuff it with a lot of video. It's worth paying the extra $100 for the leap from 8 GB to 32 GB. Those wanting even more capacity can do 64 GB for $399, but I find 32 GB to be the sweet spot between price and capacity here. Should I buy used? What about refurbished? Apple has a number of refurbished units from its more recent lines available, usually the current and the previous generation iPods. This could net a savings from anywhere between $20 to $120 depending on the type and model you choose. All of the refurbished units are certified and include a year of AppleCare with the option to extend it, just like with a new iPod. Don't discount older iPods. There's still a lot of life left in older music players, even if the batteries have gone sour. My 5th generation iPod nano -- the one with the video camera -- now has a permanent home in my car where it's hooked up to the stereo system. I still see the fatboy nanos -- 3rd generation -- still in use. If you prefer the form factor of an older iPod, hit up eBay and see if you can score a good deal.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: fun stuff!
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. For some, it's easy to forget about having fun -- fretting over buying the "right" tablet, e-reader or DSLR can strip the joy of unbridled silliness that Christmas allows you. This is your handy guide to stuff you can kick back and enjoy some crazy fun with. There's no ecosystem wars here, no desire to have the loudest or fastest plug-in gadget; just things you'd prefer to give and receive instead of a Sharper Image motorized tie rack... or back-hair shaver. So join us past the break, if you will, for a look at this year's collection of fun stuff!
Study: Shopping on iPads increases spending
Whether you want to hear it or not (and trust me, I don't either), the holidays are just a couple of weeks away. Just a short 14 days from now, the holiday season will be upon us, and Black Friday and other holiday deals will be everywhere, encouraging us to buy gifts, sale items, and whatever else retailers can get moving off of the shelves. And so a stat like this is extremely interesting to those retailers: People who shop for products on an iPad are almost twice as likely as people who shop on other platforms (including Android or PC) to actually buy the item they're looking for. According to IBM Coremetrics, not only do those users buy items, but they often buy more than other users would. All of that makes sense when you think about it -- to buy an iPad in the first place, you have to be a pretty savvy shopper, not to mention spend a premium price on what's certainly a premium item. And you have to be pretty dedicated, given that you're shopping for a certain item in any way other than just going to the store and picking it up. I'm interested to see this year as well (though of course the iPad was around last year too), just how having more iPads around affects shopping habits. Browsing for prices on your iPhone is one thing, but pulling up prices inside an app on your iPad while in the store has to be a different experience than just comparing prices with what you see on the shelf. The iPad could be a very potent tool for shopping, and clearly people with iPads are people who are ready to shop. Enjoy these two quiet weeks, sure, but then we'll see how this holiday shopping season plays out.
Breakfast Topic: What WoW holidays need to be improved?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. World of Warcraft has a lot of holidays, but some are rather ... bland. Take the Harvest Festival, for example. No, really, take it back in its current form. I did it back when it was first released on several alts, and I don't think I've noticed any real changes since then. Let us do more Peacebloom vs. Ghouls to save the harvest, or let us go to Caverns of Time to meet the fallen ... um, heroes we're celebrating. Give us a new mini-feast perma-item to lay out for the event, similar to the celebration mug that Brewfest almost always got. What about Day of the Dead? It's got a few fun things in there, but remember when we first heard about it via datamining and thought it was the return of the zombie apocalypse? What if Blizzard actually brought that back, just for a few days a year? I know people who don't play WoW anymore who'd resub just to get in on that. Hallow's End got a facelift, so which other events should be considered? Is New Year's not new enough? Does Love is in the Air need some more love? Is there not enough "Yarr" in Pirate Day?
