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Final Fantasy XIV opens up a free weekend for former subscribers
So you bought Final Fantasy XIV, and you subscribed for a while, but you stopped subscribing before the first major patch. Maybe you were tired of waiting for it, maybe you had other things to play, maybe you were hoping the game would go free-to-play by now. Whatever the case, you can pop back into the game for a weekend and play around with all of the patch's additions, assuming you can get all of that out of the way in 48 straight hours. Starting on Saturday, January 11th, at 3:00 a.m. EST, former players whose accounts are inactive will be able to log in and play the game absolutely free until Monday, January 13th, at 3:00 a.m. EST. Nothing special is required to try out the patch; just log in, download, and go to town. The patch features beast tribe daily quests, new endgame dungeons, the Crystal Tower, and additional main scenario quests following the conclusion of the story.
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.
Lord of the Rings Online offers a two-week VIP bonus for subscriptions
You are very important. We don't need to tell you that; you probably already know and think that on a regular basis anyway. But do games properly acknowledge how important you are? If not, perhaps you'd like to try out a bit of Lord of the Rings Online, which is offering two free weeks of VIP treatment for everyone who purchases a recurring subscription plan. It's not quite as good as having a velvet carpet rolled out when you arrive at a club, but you take what you get. The promotion runs until January 5th. If you want to try but don't want to feel pressured by the subscription fee, you don't have to worry; anyone who cancels during the two-week period will not be billed and will still be flagged as a Premium player. The only people ineligible are existing VIPs. So why not take the opportunity to be slaughtering orcs in style for a couple of weeks?
The Secret World offers special membership deals
You don't need us to tell you that Cyber Monday is over, seeing as it is currently Tuesday. But that doesn't mean that sales are over; The Secret World is just starting a special promotion for membership. So if you know you're going to spend the next few months joyously exploring various mysteries, why not get some extra time and some AP boosts while you're at it? Subscribing for a three-month stretch earns you an extra month (so four total) along with a timed AP boost. A six-month subscription nets you two extra months (eight total) along with two timed AP boosts, five XP potions, and five Venetian Exemptions to remove scenario cooldowns. Last but not least, a year earns you an extra four months (16 in all), three timed boosts, 15 XP potions, and 15 Venetian Exemptions. These deals will only be active until December 16th, so if you're going to lay down the bucks, you might as well get some extra bang.
Sony Online Entertainment offers bonus Cyber Monday cash
Cyber Monday is like Black Friday without the waiting in line or the limited-stock items left on shipping pallets throughout the store or any of that insanity. But it's very similar insofar as you can find deals that are theoretically meant to be for others but wind up mostly being presents to yourself. Case in point, Sony Online Entertainment's sale today on Station Cash. No, it's not cheaper to buy, but you get a lot more for what you buy. Until 11:59 p.m. PST today, all Station Cash purchases receive a bonus 25% Station Cash above and beyond the normal amount. That's not counting various games holding their own sales within the in-game marketplace, meaning that you could wind up with more Station Cash and individual items costing less money. So it's sort of like everybody winning, except it's really just you winning multiple times. But get on the deal soon before it evaporates.
Turtle Beach gets new SVP, CFO
Headset manufacturer Turtle Beach appointed John Hanson to the role of chief financial officer and Robert Andrison to senior vice president this week. The company described the new hires as a "strategic investment in the company ahead of projected growth in gaming headsets as the industry adopts next-generation consoles." The change in management follows the August announcement that Turtle Beach will merge with the audio-oriented Parametric Sound before the end of 2013. The joined company will operate as Parametric Sound Corporation, but Turtle Beach products will retain their established brand name. Hanson will leave his role at Dialogic, Inc., a company focused on network communications. Andrison will join from Hewlett Packard, where he oversaw the HP Inkjet and Printing Solutions division. Hopefully Andrison's expertise will lead to headsets with tiny printers built right in, so we can print the poetic monologues our online opponents will undoubtedly weave for us during heated matches.
Vindictus celebrates two years in Europe with wings
It's not always easy for a game to make it to the second year of operation, but Vindictus has done just that in the European region. To celebrate, EU players are being given wings. Some of them, anyway. The rest are just going to have to purchase them. Here's how it works. When players are logged in at 6:00 p.m. GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT) between today and September 27th, they have a chance to receive the second anniversary gift box which contains a free set of Phoenix Wings. Players not logged in on at that time can purchase the wings directly for 35,000 NX during the limited sales windows: 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. GMT (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT), September 28th until October 3rd. Players who are uninterested in chasing wings can also take part in the new Siege Mode PvP matches by speaking to the Battlemaster in Rocheste. So everyone gets something for the second year.
PlanetSide 2 hosts pre-season territory control event
The competition in PlanetSide 2 is all in good fun, assuming that you consider crushing your opponents in a bid for global dominance to be "good fun." But starting today the game is being ramped up a notch with the World Domination Series pre-season event. It's a contest to see who can actually control the most territory for the longest period, running a weekly competition from now until October 21st. And to the winners go prizes. You might think domination of the world is the prize, but no, the prizes are experience boosters and special decals. How do you win them? You earn more points than the other empires. Fight on the side of the winning empire in a given week to help earn points. A captured small outpost is worth 1 point, a captured large outpost is worth 2 points, a facility is worth 5 points, and a full territory is worth 3 points per hour that it remains under the empire's control. At the end of the week, values will be tallied, and the next week will give everyone a chance to fight it out again.
Trion offers up unique RIFT/Defiance crossover loot for new buyers
Trion Worlds has announced a curious new promo deal for folks who haven't yet picked up a copy of MMO-television hybrid Defiance. Purchasing a physical copy of Defiance now rewards gamers with unique loot in both it and Trion's other big online property, RIFT. Transmedia synergy, anyone? For a limited time (how limited is not mentioned in the announcement), players who buy a standard or collector's edition boxed copy of Defiance for PC, Xbox 360, or PS3 will receive a Votan Fragger weapon transmog (in Defiance) and a Ghost Hellbug mount (in RIFT). Buyers will also get $5 in RIFT store credits. It's an interesting strategy designed to pique the curiosity of current RIFT players, and it's not the first time Trion has sent Defiance's creatures into RIFT's fantasy world.
Apple offering popular albums from Justin Timberlake, Imagine Dragons, others for as low as $6.99
With a new school year set to begin for millions of students nationwide, iMore alerts us to the fact that Apple has been sending out emails to iTunes customers highlighting great deals on a selection of popular albums. iTunes users can pick up the following full-length albums for just US$6.99: Justin Timberlake -- The 20/20 Experience Robin Thicke -- Blurred Lines Pink -- The Truth About Love Lana Del Rey -- Born to Die OneRepublic -- Native Blake Shelton -- Based On a True Story... The Lumineers -- The Lumineers Sara Bareilles -- The Blessed Unrest Imagine Dragons -- Night Visions Various Artists -- Pitch Perfect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Now that's an incredible deal for some of today's most popular albums. The $6.99 promotion is scheduled to run through September 5, so visit iTunes now if any of the above albums catch your eye. In addition to the aforementioned $6.99 promotion, Apple has also put up a page on iTunes touting a number of current and classic albums for just $7.99. Some of the artists with albums available for just under eight bucks include Taylor Swift, Eminem, Kid Cudi, Beastie Boys, Frank Ocean, Maroon 5, Luke Bryan, Fall Out Boy, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Kanye West. There's no word as to when the $7.99 promotion is slated to end, so it's probably best to check out the available deals as soon as you can.
Final Fantasy XI celebrates 11 years with high-level presents
Final Fantasy XI has been running continuously for 11 years now and just released its fifth expansion earlier this year. There are only a handful of other games that can boast that sort of longevity, so it seems only reasonable that the game would do something to celebrate. And it is celebrating... by granting every player several major high-level prizes as part of its Abyssea and Atma Axtravaganza. Aside from alliteration, that should give you an idea of what the prizes entail. Every player who does not already possess the three Abyssea add-on scenarios will receive all three free of charge. All players will also receive a free Lunar Abyssite, 11 different Atma, 100,000 cruor, and a major bonus to your traverser stone stock in Abyssea. Those who haven't played the scenarios might be looking on with confusion, but if you have played these before you know that this is a whole lot of power for free. So don't miss out -- the event is running until October 11th, after which point you'll just be celebrating missing out on a big giveaway.
The Daily Grind: Did you buy any MMOs on Steam this year?
You spent a bunch of money on Steam's summer sale. It's all right; you don't have to deny it. We did too. The real question isn't whether you spent the money; it's what you spent all that money on. EVE Online and The Secret World both made compelling cases for spending your money, offering steep discounts for anyone in the market for a new MMO. And who wouldn't be tempted? Well, maybe you wouldn't be. Maybe you're completely satisfied with your current lineup of MMOs and saved all of your money for one of the millions of other titles on sale this summer. So with the annual money drain finally out of the way, we have to ask you -- did you buy any MMOs on Steam this year? Or did you spend your rent money on a vast array of single-player titles instead? 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!
The Daily Grind: Do you like time-limited goodies?
Star Wars: The Old Republic offered a little goodie for players who wanted to commemorate the anniversary of Knights of the Old Republic in the form of a title. If you didn't buy it yesterday... well, it's gone. It was incredibly cheap and freely available for everyone for that day, but that was the only window of opportunity you had. This brings to mind a very different set of questions than time-limited content. A time-limited title or vanity item doesn't actually affect the game when it shows up or leaves since it's just for fun. At the same time, a promotional item that players can't get immediately becomes intensely desirable, and it means that new players are forced out by necessity. So do you like time-limited goodies that have no effect on the game as a whole? Or would you much prefer that vanity items be limited through some other means? 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!
DUST 514 issues a challenge to all players
There are a lot of players who have been enjoying themselves in DUST 514. Veterans and potential new players alike will have more reasons to enjoy themselves, as the Mordu's Challenge event starts today and runs until Thursday, July 18th. Mordu's Legion is one of the most respected mercenary companies in the universe of EVE Online, and as cloned mercenaries take to the battlefield in greater numbers, the company is issuing challenges to these clones to see if they can stand up to the pressure. So what can you get out of participation? A whole lot of weapons and armor, that's what. Kill 100 enemies, hack 100 objectives, assist in 100 kills, or destroy 100 installations, and you get an appropriate set of gear for your preferred playstyle. Hit all four objectives and you get an even bigger prize. There's no registration required, so take the time over the next week to log in and start showing how great you can be.
World of Tanks celebrates July 4th via a big tank tournament
Tomorrow is the fourth of July, and if you're not aware, in the United States that date is kind of a big deal. So the staff behind World of Tanks decided that the best way to celebrate America's independence day is by having a bunch of armored vehicles take potshots at one another for big prizes. A tournament is running through the weekend for Tier III through Tier X tanks, with a big package of microtransaction cash going to the winning teams. All teams will be paired up into groups, fight other teams in the same group, and be scored according to victory or loss. Battles will be limited to 10 minutes maximum. The big winners will be the teams with the highest score after the dust settles. If this sounds like it's your sort of celebration, there's still time to gather your team and register; if you'd rather just play the game, there are also plenty of promotions running over the holiday weekend just the same. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
Uncharted Waters Online discounts Steam packages before a big patch docks
Is your ship in Uncharted Waters Online something less than ship-shape? Perhaps you could put the wind back in your sails with one of the special item packs available for the game on Steam. In anticipation of the game's next major patch arriving on the 28th, Netmarble has lowered the prices on all three packs by 70%, allowing characters to leave port with big boosts for fewer of your hard-earned real money. The Booster pack is down to just $1.49 and provides faster experience gain, faster ship movement, and the ability to revive fallen sailors away from a port. The Premium pack is only $2.99, offers even faster experience gain, and also sets up you with 200 million ducats (in-game currency) and possibly even a rare ship. Last but not least, the Sea Adventure pack is down to $11.99 and offers the best possible experience boost, 300 million ducats, and several exclusive items. So if you're looking to set sail, a little money now will help you find your fortune.
Defiance bugs invade RIFT
Adventurers of Telara, you've kind of got a good news/bad news situation taking place here. The bad news is that RIFT is getting invaded, which was already the case. The worse news is that it's now being invaded by the Hellbugs from Defiance, which usually require a great deal of automatic weapons fire to be put down. The good news is that if you can somehow manage to overcome the distinct lack of any firearms and put down the invasion, you can keep a Hellbug around to ride! Wait, that might still be bad news. Yes, Trion Worlds is kicking off a cross-promotional event with new fire rifts that give players a chance at Defiance-related rewards, most notably the chance to pick up a Hellbug mount. The event is open to all players, even if you're just trying out the game's Lite version. No word on how long the event will last, but it's probably best to assume that it won't be forever -- which is also sort of a good news/bad news situation, unless you wanted to see the game overrun by Hellbugs.
Forge rerelease introduces tons of new features, goes 75% off on Steam
Keen-minded readers may remember Forge, Dark Vale Games' action-oriented PvP title that launched via Steam Greenlight in December of last year. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, the game was released in a decidedly unfinished state, lacking many of the key features that the studio hoped to incorporate. Despite this, many players flocked to the game, providing the devs with the money needed to polish up the game, and now Forge has been officially "rereleased" on Steam. To celebrate the occasion, Dark Vale Games is allowing fans to play Forge for free from today until Sunday. The game's rerelease brings with it a number of new features sure to satisfy fans of all playstyles. The fashionistas in the crowd will be pleased by the addition of new armor customization options, while completionists will have plenty to work toward thanks to the introduction of achievements to the game. New players will be able to jump into the action faster than ever thanks to a new-and-improved tutorial, and new ranking and matchmaking features ensure that players can always find the perfect match. On top of all of that, the UI has received an overhaul, and the addition of bots and co-op modes allows players to practice new strategies before they take them into the game proper. So if you're up for some adrenaline-fueled PvP action, you can check out the game for free and/or snag it on the cheap for a paltry $5 US. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Dave Brevik defends the cost of Marvel Heroes' Ultimate Pack
The idea of spending nearly $200 on a free-to-play title before it releases seems counterintuitive. Still, if you want the Ultimate Pack for Marvel Heroes, that's precisely what you'll need to do, a move that's sparked enough controversy for Gazillion's CEO Dave Brevik to comment on the pack. While Brevik admits that the price is quite hefty, he emphasizes that it's a substantial long-term discount for players and isn't so unusual when you consider the variety of other games offering collector's editions at similar price points. He points out that he's already spent much more than that playing League of Legends through a variety of small purchases. Brevik also takes the time to defend the game from other criticisms regarding its interface, graphics, and story, arguing that he is happy with the game in its current state while stressing that it is currently a beta. He also mentions that the pre-purchase packs are entirely optional and much of the content within can be earned within the game. Marvel Heroes is currently on track for a release in the spring of this year.
Officers' Quarters: 7 tips for becoming an officer
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook. So you've been reading Officers' Quarters for years and you're curious about this whole leadership thing, but you don't know how to go about getting the attention of the existing officers. This week, a player follows up on a previous OQ column to ask how she can get promoted. I've got seven pieces of advice for her, but first, the email: Hey there Scott! Awhile ago, I wrote you about starting my own guild with a few family members, and you advised me to stay in my current guild and work my way up to officer. After reading your advice, I have a few follow-up questions. My main concern is how to go about becoming an officer. I don't want to necessarily just blurt out "hey, I wanna be an officer", because if I were the GL, I'd think that the person who said that was demanding the position. However, if I don't say anything, how will the GL know I'm interested? Like I said, I know I'm not owed anything. I really love the guild I'm in and have lots of ways I'd like to see the guild improve. Any advice you can give would be great. Thanks, Guilded Warrior
