reactivation
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Darkfall gives players a day to log in and purchase D.U.E.L.
What is D.U.E.L.? It's Darkfall Unholy Wars' equivalent to EVE Online's PLEX, a way to extend your subscription to the game while allowing you to trade for in-game currency. And if that's what's kept you away from the game, your inability to pay for your subscription by earning more currency in the game? You're in luck, as the game is offering a special one-day reactivation on September 11th for lapsed subscribers to log in, purchase D.U.E.L., and possibly get back into the game. Players have expressed some consternation over this decision, arguing that a single day in the middle of the week is an odd time to reinstall, log back in, and try to purchase an item. Official statements by Aventurine staff have clarified that this is only a single flash promotion, and it does not rule out the possibility of other similar promotions in the future. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Aion opens a new server, eliminates subs, and reactivates accounts today
Today is a big day for players anticipating next week's launch of Aion's Ascension and the title's conversion to free-to-play. Once server maintenance is completed, players will have a new server, subscriptions will be discontinued, and the doors will reopen for inactive accounts. Starting today, players will be able to log into the new Kahrun server to create characters and reserve names; however, actual play will not be possible until the launch on April 11th. Catering to the Central Time Zone, all sieges, arena timers, and the like will be based on CST. All accounts are also changing from subscriptions to the Truly Free model, eliminating all billing. Still have a month, three months, or even a year of time left? In compensation, NCsoft is crediting players by converting all remaining game time to NCoin at a ratio of 40 NCoin per remaining day. Don't panic if you don't see the credit immediately; it might take a couple of days to process everything. On top of all this, all inactive accounts in good standing are reactivating today to give Daevas a chance to prepare for 3.0. So dust off those wings and jump back in!
Darkfall announces reactivation weekend
Are you a Darkfall fan who just never got around to giving the game a shot? Or maybe you're a former player who's been waiting for the right time to make a return. Well, the Darkfall team has an opportunity for you. In two weeks, Aventurine will be hosting a free reactivation weekend. All previous accounts will be reactivated for a weekend full of accelerated skilling and shiny loot. So mark that one down on your calendars, Darkfall fans, and go give the game another whirl.
Returning EVE players receive discount as part of CCP apology
Last week CCP Games proved that it's still an indie studio at heart when CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson issued a formal letter of apology to the entire EVE Online community. In the letter, he admitted that development had been purposefully shifted away from the in-space features players wanted. He went on to take full responsibility for the ensuing drama surrounding the forced early release of Incarna and the fumbled cash shop introduction. Hilmar then laid out plans to turn EVE's development around and set it back in a direction that current players will appreciate. Today CCP continued show its commitment to this new development direction with a special reactivation offer for returning players. Most account-holders whose subscriptions lapsed during or before the Summer drama have been sent an email offering a special rate of $4.95 US for 30 days of subscription time. While reactivation offers like these are commonplace, this offer made a point of CCP's new-found direction and contained this concise quote from EVE's senior producer Arnar Gylfason: "A significant part of that plan is the immediate refocusing of all the EVE development teams on EVE's core gameplay: spaceships." [Source: Reactivation discount email]
Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two
Time to double the candles on the cake for Aion! That's right -- just two short years ago on September 22nd, the world of Atreia opened its skies to a swarm of aspiring Daevas. After a rocky start including horrendous launch week queues, some Daevas folded their wings and left for bluer skies (*cough cough* nothing to see here, move along) while others stuck it out through thick and thin and grind. But even of those who flitted off, many found their way back into Aion over the last two years. And why not? Much has changed. In the past year, NCsoft has added and tweaked the game to make it a better experience for veteran and returning players alike. And that is on top of the many additions brought about in the game during the first year! This is not your 2009 game; Aion has more content and more options. Sometimes, less is even more -- there is even less grind. Now what's a celebration without... celebrating? NCsoft is offering goodies galore to citizens of Atreia throughout the month-long anniversary celebration. And so that no Deava is left out of the festivities, a 10-day reactivation event will take place beginning at 11:00 a.m EDT on September 22nd and running until 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 2nd. All inactive accounts in good standing on or before September 14th are eligible for reactivation. Wondering what exactly you are missing? Catch a breeze and float past the cut as Wings Over Atreia looks at how Aion has evolved over the past 12 months as well as what gifts, goodies, and events await Daevas during the celebration.
Japan won't allow Sony to turn PSN back on until it's assured it's safe
Sony may be busy flipping the PlayStation Network switch back to the "on" position around the globe, but one locale where it won't be doing so just yet is its homeland of Japan. The Dow Jones newshounds report that the Japanese government refuses to allow Sony to reactivate its ailing network until satisfaction is reached on a couple of outstanding issues. The first is that the company's promised counter-hacking measures announced on May 1st have not yet been fully enacted -- though details of what has or hasn't been done yet are understandably unavailable -- and the second is that Japan wants to see further preventive measures taken to ensure users' credit card numbers and other private data won't be exposed through their use of Sony's online services again. These sound like rational demands to us, and Sony is already in talks with the authorities to make sure it lives up to their expectations.
City of Heroes account reactivation delayed
Paragon Studios has announced that the next City of Heroes account reactivation week has been pushed back. While the event was originally planned to begin today, May 3rd, undisclosed circumstances have delayed it until Tuesday, May 10th. At that time, all players with accounts that are inactive but in good standing will be able to jump back into the boots of their heroes or villains for the whole week, until Wednesday, May 18th. The folks at Paragon note that, given the recent updates to the game, this is the perfect time for former players to don their capes and tights and return to City of Heroes (or Villains, if you're one of them). For full details on the exact starting time for your time zone, check out the official post.
Take a two-week MMOcation: Lineage reactivates lapsed accounts for new update
It may be an oldie, but Lineage shows no sign of slowing down in its middle age. In fact, NCsoft is on the verge of releasing a mega-update and is throwing open the doors to all previous Lineage players from the past decade-plus to give it a whirl. On Wednesday, November 10th, the new update will be released in conjunction with a two-week period of reactivated accounts. From the 10th through the 24th, all previous Lineage players will find their accounts dusted off and unlocked for their gaming pleasure. Getting back into the swing of things is fairly simple, too: All one needs to do is just log in. The succinctly named Tikal + Antharas update features a new dungeon (Tikal) as well as the first-ever raid dungeon for the game (Antharas). The patch notes show that there is plenty of content for everyone of all walks of play, as the update offers new pets, a revamped dungeon, plenty of additional items, and resting XP for higher levels. You can read the full announcement as well as an account reactivation FAQ over at the Lineage website.
Returning to World of Warcraft to play Cataclysm
You haven't played WoW in years -- but then you got a whiff of the expansion. Now you're itching to play again, but you're completely lost. So much has changed. Heck, so much is still changing. What do you need to do to get your characters back up to speed? Is there something you should be doing right now, before the expansion hits in December? Should you wait and reroll a new character? Will you sideswipe yourself if you simply start blind and fresh from level 1 in Cataclysm? WoW Insider makes it simple. Coming back to WoW after a break This article hits all the basics: Should you start now or wait for the expansion? Will you be at a disadvantage if you're not in game "getting ready" right now? What's changed since X date? What's important right now in today's game? What's important about Cataclysm? Get a good grasp of key changes and new content in the upcoming expansion. Cataclysm: The inside scoop Here's our reference page where we constantly update you with everything you need to know about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Click onward for more answers you can sink your teeth into.
Vanguard hopes for a second chance
When Vanguard launched, hopes were high that the game would be a breath of fresh air in the MMO market. Unfortunately, the game didn't meet the expectations of many gamers, who lamented its unfinished state and subsequently left. Sony Online Entertainment hasn't given up on Vanguard though, and they're now offering an incentive for players to return.The offer applies to subscribers whose accounts have been inactive for 60 days or more. The reactivation promotion lasts from September 18 to October 18 and entails creating a new character, which allows you to play through the new Isle of Dawn and check out the game's updated content. That is, until hitting level 10. Thereafter, that character can continue on into Telon, but only by re-subscribing to Vanguard. Players moving up to a paid account are given a pair of Gnomish Rocket Boots as a reward, which impart great bursts of speed. [Via Allakhazam]
Tabula Rasa Deployment 11 releases early
A full week earlier than planned, Tabula Rasa's Deployment 11 has just hit the live servers, bringing with it the changes with the Bootcamp tutorial area and much more. With this comes the inevitable introduction of Deployment 12 to the Public Test Server very soon. Deployment 12 will bring a few more welcome additions to the TR world. First we have two new weapons: the Series 2 Physical Chaingun and the Series 2 Laser Pistol. Plus, there will be some improvements made to the pets and their AI. Each Bot, Clone and Spotter will automatically be set to follow, guard and assist the player above all else. Finally, the training menus have been completely revamped to better show the proper information for complete career planning.Now, if you're a former player and find any of these new features enticing, you may also be pleased to hear that NCsoft has opened up a free trial period for anyone who has previously had an account with Tabula Rasa. Check out their reactivation page for more info.[Thanks Jack!]
Tabula Rasa reactivation week begins this Friday
NCsoft is sending around an email to lapsed Tabula Rasa players, informing them of a call-back program starting up this Friday. Their "Reactivation Week" begins at 11am EDT on May 2nd, and runs through Friday, May 9th at 5pm EDT. During that time anyone who has had an account in the past can log back in to check out the many changes the game has undergone since launch. They reference several of them in the email, including the new Hybrid races. Just in case you haven't been following along with the game, there's also been new veteran rewards, aggro changes, tweaks to CP assaults ... lots of good stuff.The email also references another upcoming promo for Tabula Rasa: Double XP in Squads. Starting on Wednesday, May 5 at 11am EDT and running through Monday, May 12, 2008 at 5pm EDT (nicely overlapping with part of the reactivation week), players who adventure in a squad will get twice the normal XP. Hats off to General British for the invite and accommodations. We'll see you on the front lines.
