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The Daily Grind: 'Tis the season
It's that time of year again -- when every MMO on the market decides to break out in some form of winter-y celebration. Festivities abound! AoC is handing out gifts, EVE offers snowball fights, Nexon holds festivals, Warhammer celebrates Keg End, Lineage II lets you save Santa, the World of Warcraft celebrates Winter Veil, Guild Wars players celebrate Wintersday, City of Heroes and Villains hold their uncreatively named Winter Event, LotRO hosts the Yule Festival, EverQuest II celebrates Frostfell, Final Fantasy XI hosts the Starfall Celebration, and probably a number of other events in a number of other games that have slipped our immediate notice. Whew! If you haven't been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of holiday cheer provided by that simple list of events, then here's the question(s) from Massively HQ to you. Are you celebrating this holiday season MMO style? Seeking out every seasonal quest and seeing how many MMOs have virtual eggnog to indulge in? Would you prefer not to have real world holidays barging into your virtual reality? Or does celebrating in real life provide you with more than enough holiday cheer for one lifetime?
Breakfast Topic: Presents!
Winter Veil is here. The cities are decorated, snowballs are flying, and everyone will be waking up early in a few days to see what Great Father Winter has left under the Christmas tree. We recognize the holidays as a time to share with family and friends. Outside of services, parties, and shopping you're probably still spending a considerable amount of time with your cohorts online. I'd like to know if anyone is planning on sending gifts to their guildies and other WoW buddies. It's unnecessary but still thoughtful to recognize these folks we spend so much time with. I think it might be fun, but I'm not sure what to get.
Drunk and disorderly in Warhammer's Keg End holiday event
"Keg End is here, with the mud and the blood and the beer!!" It seems that most of the major MMO titles have gotten into the holiday spirit, including Warhammer Online with its Dwarf New Year's festival of Keg End. The event begins today, December 17th and continues through to January 5th. We knew a bit about Keg End before. Namely how it seemed to be an in-game event where it's perfectly OK to act like a violent drunk with a burning desire to blow things up, and then brag about it (with some new emotes). Well, Keg End promises to be all that and more, given the event info Mythic Entertainment released today. No matter whether you're Order or Destruction, there's plenty of fun to be had and hell to raise. The best part is you don't need to feel guilty or make excuses the morning after (it wasn't you, it was the 'Frothy Goodness' ale)... although you may be stuck with the new in-game title "The Drunkard" for a while. WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
Celebrating the holidays with Lineage II's Saving Santa event
The holidays are in full swing across several of the games we've been covering at Massively. In fact, a number of massively multiplayer online games now have holiday-themed quests, items, and unique winter settings, and NCsoft is getting in on the action as well. The latest holiday event announcement we've gotten word of is happening in Lineage II with its Saving Santa Event, which will run from December 16th through December 30th.The holiday event pits you against one "Thomas D. Turkey" who holds Santa Claus captive. If Santa is freed, he will visit random players throughout the world, placing presents into their inventories. Some of the rewards include specialized buff scrolls for your occupation, weapon exchange tickets, a year-round Christmas tree, and for a rare few -- a Rudolph Agathion (pet).If celebrating the holidays in Lineage II sounds like your thing, you'll want to check out the full announcement for the Saving Santa Event.
Massively's guide to LotRO's Yule Festival
Now that the Yule Festival in Lord of the Rings Online is in full swing, you may find yourself in need of a proper guide nudging you in the right direction. Well, that's why we're here! Whether you haven't had a chance to try the festival yet, or you're just stuck in a quest, this guide will help you get the most out of the event.This year's Yulemath has many features that are identical to other events we've seen previously. You can head on over to any Town Crier for a complete list of events going on around Middle-earth. Because of so many similarities, I will refer to a previous guide we've done for this year's Summer Festival and explain only the differences. Plus, you can visit our Yule Festival gallery for a visual aid to this guide. It all starts just after the cut below.%Gallery-39170%
Drown your Xbox Live friends with holiday spirit
If you generally disapprove of heinous acts of torture in video games, we'd suggest shying away from the Spotlight channel on Xbox Live until after the holidays have passed. Recently added to said channel is a page which shows several of your Xbox Live friends' avatars encapsulated in an airtight, liquid-filled glass orb. As you watch the life ebb from your friends and family, you can add to their suffering by pressing the A button to violently shake their aquatic prison. You can also asphyxiate a new group of acquaintances by pressing the X button. The horror! The yuletide horror!
Get ready for LotRO's Yule Festival
It's that time once again. As the winter holiday season approaches, what could arguably be considered the best time for in-game events is beginning to arrive. In Lord of the Rings Online, this season is called the Yule Festival, celebrated during the last month of the year.Yule is considered a time of hope for all free peoples of Middle-earth. It is celebrated with traditional decorations, warm cider, rich feasts and more. As with all LotRO festivals, each home land has its own version of Yule, adding to the variety and excitement of the season. Be sure to check out Bree-land and Michel Delving which will once again host some exciting horse races where the winner will take home a sturdy winter mount. The festivities begin on December 11th, so get ready!
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite winter event?
From Hobbiton to Hoth, it's time to gear up for those holiday events in our favorite games. EverQuest II gives their players the chance to once again enjoy Frostfell, World of Warcraft has the upcoming Feast of Winter Veil, Star Wars Galaxies has the Wookiee Life Day festival - perhaps the only really good thing to come out of that Star Wars Holiday TV special. There are really more events going on in various MMOs than I can even begin to list here. This morning we thought we'd ask what your favorite holiday event is? Do you like rescuing Metzen? Perhaps you're more after those awesome tradeskill patterns from the Frostfell Wonderland Village? Or maybe you'll just enjoy a rum-soaked holiday in Tortuga?
World of WarCrafts: Faction scarves
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.Though some of you may not have made it outside since the release of Wrath of the Lich King, I assure you that in some places the weather is quite cold. One way to keep warm this season is by adorning these 100% hand-crafted scarves sold in Wingo's Crochet Shop. Each scarf is reversible and is perfect for the coming winter. She currently has both Alliance and Horde scarves in stock.
DOTS gloves let you use your iPhone even when it's cold
This is pretty brilliant in its own special way. Let's paint the scene -- you're wandering the cold streets of Chicago a few months from now, and you're wondering where the closest pizza place is. You whip out your iPhone to pull up the Google Maps application, but wait -- your hands are covered in gloves, and no matter how much you try to swipe the screen, you can't get it to register your swipes, much less hit those little keys on the keyboard. But it's too cold to take your gloves off -- what do you do?Solution: DOTS gloves. They've got little smooth plastic "dots" built into the fingertips so you can control a touchscreen even while your hands are kept warm. Like I said, genius in its own way. However, I haven't actually used them, so I can't say for sure they work the way we'd expect. While they specifically mention them working on the iPhone, I've had trouble in the past getting the iPhone to register materials other than my finger. Still, if you want to take their word for it, $15 is cheap for a good pair of knit gloves anyway. If you're in the market for a new pair this winter and know you won't want to have to take your gloves off just to work a touchscreen, seems like a good deal to me.[via Waxy]
Use your iPhone and keep your hands warm
With the first day of Autumn on Monday, cold weather is just around the corner for much of the northern hemisphere. But don't worry, you can still wear gloves and use your iPhone with Dots Gloves. Dots Gloves include a little metal button at the fingertip that allows you to use the multitouch screen of your iPhone or iPod touch without direct finger contact. The metal dots are curved, and will not scratch the screen of your device. The dots are on the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the glove. They also work great with Nintendo DS, notebook trackpads, ATMs, and kiosks with touch-screen displays. A pair of knit gloves are $13, and wool gloves are available for $18. And if gloves aren't your thing, you can always use a stylus. Or, as Erica pointed out to me, you can use your iPhone itself to keep your hands warm. Just start the Camera app, and lock the screen. Of course, this runs your battery dry in short order, but if your hands are that cold, it could be worth it.
Found Footage: iPod glove liner offers new hope to snowbound music lovers
Jason W. has submitted a video demonstrating his latest innovation: a glove liner with magnetic contacts which functions as a wintertime remote and looks like a sweet way to geek out your cold-weather gear. It might quite possibly also be a less-expensive solution than some previously available winter gear. Jason designed the interface -- which assigns functions to each finger and is activated by touching that finger to a receiver -- after watching a snowboarding friend repeatedly remove her gloves to control her iPod. I spend a fair share of time in the cold, and know the inconvenience well. I also happen to lack the ninja skills needed to control an iPod located in some of the awkward positions that armbands and winter jackets can place one in, which only heightens my interest in this invention. The subtle nature of the glove-bound controls promises a chance for me to look like that much less of a dork when attempting winter sports. I haven't been able to determine whether this is compatible with an iPod touch/iPhone yet. I would find it infinitely more useful with a touchscreen than with a clickwheel, which I had actually become relatively adept at using upside down and backwards before the advent of the iPhone. Some older remotes work fine, so perhaps this might already be an iPhone match. You can see the video of the iPod glove liner on YouTube and revel in the chilly possibilities.
One Shots: Not a warm summer screen
As many of us enjoy very warm weather for the upcoming holiday weekend, we thought we'd flash back to a cold holiday of yesteryear. Today's Guild Wars One Shots screen comes to us from Eugaet, who created this during the 2005 Guild Wars holiday event. Eugaet writes: I had planned on creating panoramas for every location in the game, including 'holiday' versions...but I ended up not having much time to devote to the project. Even so, they're still lovely panoramas to look at -- especially the full-size version!If you're heading out in your favorite virtual lands to enjoy the celebrations, snap some screenshots of what you and your friends are doing. We'd love to show off some of the things going on this weekend, but we need your help! So snag those screenshots and send them to us at oneshots AT massively.com along with a quick blurb as to what we're seeing. %Gallery-9798%
One Shots: Racing across the snowy wastes
With the surprising amount of news coming out this weekend, we've decided to ride far and wide to find a different perspective on One Shots for today. This screenshot is actually from the oft-shown Lord of the Rings Online, but involving a road less-traveled. Here's what Maerlin of Brandywine had to say about today's image:This is a screenshot of the northern expanse of the Misty Mountains. This particular area is pretty much a barren wasteland except for the occasional rare spawn mob that drops the oh-so-coveted Beryl Shard.We think it's interesting to see this image and contrast it against some of the other LotRO screens we've shown. While we knew certain areas of Middle-earth were gorgeous, we were wondering where the wastelands of the story were at! If you have a road less-traveled that you'd like to share with the rest of us, feel free to send those screens in to us at oneshots@massively.com. We love to see the unusual too!%Gallery-9798%
RUSH HD delivering HD documentary on downhill skiing
Nah, RUSH HD's forthcoming documentary won't be the first high-definition program dedicated to taking a look at downhill skiing, but what better way to get you all jazzed up about the onset of winter than a fresh look at "the original extreme sport?" Okay, so maybe the Yule Log in HD takes the cake, but we're still slotting this in for second. Scheduled to air this Saturday night at 10:30PM EST (7:30PM PT; 9:30PM C), The Thin Line: Life on the Edge takes a look at what has fueled the sport over the years and includes interviews with some of its most notable figureheads. Additionally, there looks to be quite a few nasty spills crammed into the 90-minute feature, and if you're desperate for a taste a few days early, click on through for a look at the trailer.[Thanks, Erik M.]
Winter is coming to the City of... Universe
According to w00t Radio another winter storm is fast approaching Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. This year's City of Heroes/Villains Winter Event will have all the fabulous features from winter's past, including access to the Ski Chalet (from Pocket D), and the Father Time mission to save Baby New Year. But it will also have some new and wonderful additions.When players log in they'll receive the Gifted Badge (for all those badge ho ho hoes who haven't added it to their collection yet), and a swanky set of Fuzzy Earmuffs (available at the costume shop). Additionally each player will receive two temporary powers. One is called "Holiday Spirit" and grants 48 hours of reduced (by 25%) Debt Protection (always helpful when taking on cronies of the dreaded Winter Lord); the other is "Holiday Cheer," which lets players physically give a random mystery gift to another player.The Gamester is also back and has left every zone littered with gifts. As always some hold wondrous treats (inspirations, enhancements, or temporary powers) while others may unleash a troupe of Snowbeasts upon you.Ya, ya... old news to veteran CoX players, so what about the new stuff? This year's even will include a new type of salvage called Candy Canes. Each successfully unwrapped present (one that doesn't drop a lump of coal) earns players a Candy Cane which can then be turned in to the Candy Keeper inside Pocket D for yet another mystery gift!But there's more! Veteran players know that you can ski down the slopes near the chalet, but this year the slalom course will be timed! That's right Heroes and Villains... Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist Badges can be earned this go around. Exact dates have not been released, so stay tuned to the official forums for further information. You don't want to get left out in the cold do you?
Second Life holiday shopping guide - December 1st edition
It's Christmas season already, which means Limited Editions, holiday outfits, and freebies! Sifting through all the blogs, ads, and forum posts can be quite tedious. I'm going to be taking care of the work for you every Saturday!In order for you to get the most out of your Second Life shopping experience, I've broken the items down by pricing. They are categorized as freebies, cheapies, group only, sales, and regular priced items. They are listed with the shop name linking to a store SLURL and what they're selling, with a link to their blog or forum post about the item. If you release something in the coming week, let me know and I'll include it in next week's guide. Happy shopping!Freebies: Dawnshop/Dazur - Christmas outfit Ephemeral Creations - Free Holiday Chenille Scarf Essentia - Christmas tree earrings Inspired - Stocking treasure hunt - 12 in all! Ivalde - Freebie gifts under the Christmas tree MANTRA - Free Christmas tree Pixeldolls - Free holiday decorations Second Mirage - Advent calendar - Stop by daily to get a free ornament only available on that day. This event runs until Christmas. Sin Skins - Pearl treasure hunt - 12 items, including skins, manicures, and lashes! Style Your Destiny - 8 Days of Hanukkah freebies, starting December 4th Subtle Submission - Lucky chair Christmas tattoo and shirts Talisman Designs - Free snowman earrings The Body Politik - Snowman necklace and earrings WRONG - Daily freebies until Christmas Eve! Cheapies: Callie Cline - 99L Reindeer antlers Dark Eden - 50L Candy Cane..."prim attachment" (Warning: Website NSFW) She's So Unusual - 25L Googly-eyed Rudolph slippers Subtle Submission - 100L 3-pack Christmas stockings, 50L each for holiday separates, 50L Bettie Page Christmas necklace, and a *cough* 100L Santa's Little Whore costume Talisman Designs - 1L snowman shoulder pet, 40L Frosty snowman choker Read on for group only, sales, and regular priced items ...
WRUP: Rabbit rabbit edition
Tomorrow's the first of December, and with that comes the final lock on Winter's door-- we're stuck with this cold and snow now until next spring (at least here in the northern US), and yet there's still about a week to go until the holidays really get underway and the family has you making cookies and putting up trees with lights on them. Sounds like the perfect time for staying warm inside and getting some good gaming done!So we're asking our weekly query again: What aRe yoU Playing this weekend? Me, I've finally gotten some momentum back with my lowbie hunter in World of Warcraft, so I'm going to be rolling as fast as I can towards that new Dustwallow Marsh content. Usually, I'd have a little non-MMO Xbox 360 game playing in there, but unfortunately I got hit by the RRoD last week-- I've got both Mass Effect and Rock Band (with drum kit assembled-- yeah, I'm dying here) sitting still wrapped in plastic in my apartment.But hopefully your gaming days are better. What are you playing this weekend?
The DS Life: A corner to play in
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com. This week's scene is taken from a winter afternoon in Osaka, Japan. The boy's parents are shopping for gifts for the holiday season, so he finds a secluded spot to wait while they wander the department store. He sits on the tiled floor, right next to the fire extinguisher stand, where no one will disturb or trip over him.Cold seeps through the window behind him, but the slight chill actually feels refreshing on the back of his neck. He flips open his GBA SP and continues where he left off during the subway ride here, too engrossed to look up at the people walking by, too rapt to even pause his game before reaching for a sip from his drink.
Blizzard ices up the WoW homepage logo
It's begun. The cold is coming. Be warned. The land itself will rise up against you. Long-forgotten terrors will smother your courage. In the end, all that awaits you... is death.So come then, you heroes! Come in all your power and glory! For in the final hour, all must serve... the one, true king.[ Thanks, Lenny! ]
