The "Silent Night" Capture the Flag arena—described as "a slightly re-worked version of an arena from Team Arena called 'Distant Screams'"—will get you a chance to settle your differences with rocket launchers, while everyone's dressed in Santa suits or slightly sluttier Vixen reindeer get ups. Of course, the whole thing is free, in the Quake Live way, so if this is your first time trying out the web based game, there's really no obligation. Play it or don't. See if I care!

Holiday Cheer [Official Site]

Well, if you play Demon's Souls casually, oblivious or indifferent to the game world's "tendency," a Pure Black or Pure White setting has an effect on many things in the game. Enemy strength, availability of certain items and luck of the drop are all affected by tendency, a setting that can be manipulated by certain world events.

But Atlus is forcing a change to the world to Pure White for the next week—similar to the Pure Black World Tendency event that hit this Halloween—something that's not easy to do by oneself. The online game server goes white right about now, specifically at noon Pacific Time and ends next Monday, December 28, also at noon Pacific Time.

What does pure white world tendency get you? Lots of stuff, including non-player characters that wouldn't normally appear, access to certain portions of the map, all kinds of stuff! In fact, you can't get certain PlayStation Trophies without a Pure White World Tendency in effect. The unofficial Demon's Souls wiki has a handy explanation of what's different.

Things got a little slow for me in Aion around level 18 or so, so I for one welcome the introduction of regular double experience weekends, giving me good reason to hop online for a few hours and kill what little free time I have killing virtual things. The experience point boost counts towards crafting experience as well, so those of you who'd rather sit in one spot clicking things for hours are covered as well.

The only limitation here is that only levels 1-35 can take advantage of the extra experience. You've already surpassed level 35? That's what you get for out-leveling me. Take that.

Every weekend until the end of the year will bring double the experience points, with regular double XP weekends planned for once or twice a month thereafter. This is only a temporary fix, however, and NCsoft continues to study the progression process in order to find ways to make it less painful.

Speaking of less painful, this week's patch will also bring with it a reduction in the cost of Soul Healing, for those of you who keep dying for some silly reason. Silly Daevas.

Upcoming Double Experience Weekends [Aion]

The Looking for Group Expo is planned as a fan gathering for everyone who plays massively multiplayer online games, from the most obscure Korean import to the World of Warcraft player who couldn't get into BlizzCon. The show's goal is to "provide the ultimate experience for all MMOG and virtual world fans to check out what's new in the world of MMOs as well as meet friends across all games and participate in exciting MMO related events." Events like LAN parties, concerts, private screenings, guild meetings, and game demonstrations.

The first annual show is being held on June 25th through the 27th in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which could possibly be the most neutral ground on the planet. The event is being organized by Last Straw Productions, itself an MMO Studio and organizers of the annual Independent MMO Game Developers Conference.

Events and exhibitor listings are still pending, though the show does have a website you can keep track of, as well as a rather primitive-looking CG advertisement video, which you can check out below.

It's a great idea, but we won't know how the Looking for Group Expo pans out until the first one goes down. We'll see what happens come June!

The tournament will run July 9th through the 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada, sure to be a sweltering good time. No announcements yet about the line-up that we can see, but last year bout featured Street Fighter III Third Strike, Street Fighter IV, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Guilty Gear XX, Soulcalibur IV and Super Street Fighter II HD Turbo Remix. We'd expect many of those to return, plus a new title or two.

Evo, Caesars, Vegas, 2010, Hype! [EVO2K]

Allowing players to create their own nemesis in Champions Online seemed like a great idea, but I always wondered what Cryptic would do with them once they were created. Now we know. Starting November 24th, the Nemesis Confrontation event will let players team up with friends to take on their nemeses together.

"We wanted to take our unique Nemesis System to the next level and do something really awesome with it," said Bill Roper, Executive Producer of Champions Online. "So we asked ourselves, what if your Nemesis could band together with your buddy's Nemesis to take you on? Epic."

Players will have to band together against a team of their greatest foes in order to stop them from tearing a hole in reality in a bid to take over the Champions universe. The event will feature a brand new location and new, intergalactic gladiator enemies to the mix as well. Sounds like a good time!

And in case you've let your Champions Online subscription lapse already, Cryptic is holding a free weekend the 26th through the 28th, just in case you wanted to return to give your nemesis the beat-down.

Visit the event page for more information on Nemesis Confrontation.

Every year, CES sets aside a little bit of its show floor for the Gaming Showcase, where game publishers and peripheral manufacturers can show off their latest wares, and the 2010 Gaming Showcase will be the biggest in CES history. 13,000 square feet of space has been set aside this year, with Microsoft and Sony making an appearance, along with DDR, Guillemot, Iron Will Creations, and the PC Gaming Alliance.

"We are thrilled to add the PC Gaming Alliance and Lego Universe to the 2010 Gaming Showcase, allowing 2010 CES attendees to experience cutting-edge products changing the gaming market," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. "CES is the global hub for the latest gaming trends."

The 2010 International CES takes place January 7th through the 10th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NCsoft is operating six games at once? Yes they are, and Halloween is coming to each one of them. The Mad King Thorn returns to Guild Wars, Scarecrow Jack visits Lineage II, the original Lineage has a costume party, the City of Heroes faces a Halloween Apocalypse, and Exteel's Mechnaughts get painted orange and purple.

Yes, the festivities abound, but by far my favorite is what's going on in NCsoft's latest release, Aion. Since the world is split into two halves, there are two different celebrations! The Asmodians, otherwise known as the best faction, celebrate by going on a Wild Hunt, cooking special dishes and having a good time. The lowly Elyos, on the other hand, get plagued by zombies. They totally deserve it too.

Check out the full list of NCsoft's Halloween celebrations below!

Aion – Harvest Revel

During the Fall harvest, the people of Atreia have always celebrated the bounty of the land. Years ago, the joy of the annual revels was troubled by an eclipse-a peculiar and magical eclipse that brought darkness to Asmodae and Elysea. Ever since, for days during Harvest Revel, the sky goes dark and the people of Atreia join in the hunt.

Asmodians celebrate the bounty through the Wild Hunt, racing after the Wild Kurthanir hunt leader and cooking special dishes made from the meat. On the other side of Atreia, the Elyos encounter undead creatures pulled back into a semblance of life by the power of the eclipse. Elyos must join roving Dark Night bands to hunt and destroy the undead before they invade Elyos villages.

Each day during Harvest Revel players will be rewarded for their investment with new lore and tasty treats including a Halloween Hat and candy that will transform players into in game creatures!

· Starts: Sunday, October 25, 2009

· Ends: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Visit www.aiononline.com for more Aion-specific information.

Guild Wars – The Return of Mad King Thorn

It's Halloween in Tyria, and that means one thing: the return of Mad King Thorn ! Similar to years past, the maniacal monarch has come to play, and he's got a bag full of tricks and treats to delight and dismay. But non-tricksters fear not, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween – participate in several special events (a new series of quests and a costume PvP brawl) or explore the decorated cities/towns adorned with Halloween décor.

· Starts: Friday, October 23, 2009

· Ends: Monday, November 2, 2009

Visit www.guildwars.com for more Guild Wars information.

City of Heroes – Triumph over the New Deadly Halloween Apocalypse

Players brace themselves for a new apocalypse as City of Heroes' annual Halloween Event returns with legions of Zombies, Werewolves, Jack-o-Lanterns, and other foul denizens descend upon Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. This year they're bringing even more powerful allies! The new apocalypse is deadlier than ever as mysterious monstrosities join forces with the Eidolons, Shivans, and others. Paragon City and the Rogue Isles are in terrible peril, and only the greatest Heroes and Villains can turn back the tide. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward!

· Starts: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

· Ends: Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Visit www.cityofheroes.com for more City of Heroes information.

Lineage II – "Scarecrow Jack" and Halloween Adena Art Contest

Halloween is just around the corner and players can win in-game prizes by showing off their creative holiday spirit. Players are encouraged to create and share their Halloween and/or autumn themed adena art (visual art created by dropping adena on the ground in-game to create an image seen from above.) For those just looking to have fun this Halloween, players can don a "Scarecrow Jack" illusion featuring two animated emotes. Along with the illusion, players will receive 5 revita pops to refill their vitality bars while in game.

· Starts: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

· Ends: Thursday, November 19, 2009

· Deadline for art submissions is Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:59pm CDT

Visit www.lineage2.com for more Lineage II information.

Lineage – " Cavern of Chaos" Costume Party

The Lineage team is hosting the in-game party of all parties this Halloween – costumes not required, but highly encouraged! In addition to free polymorph "costumes," most monsters will drop pumpkin seed, which is redeemable for prizes like a Pinewand to spawn monsters of choice, accessories, and Stat t-shirts from NPCs. No tricks about it, as an added bonus, players will be treated to increased item drops from Bosses. See you at the "Cavern of Chaos!"

· Starts: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

· Ends: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Visit www.lineage.com for more Lineage information.

Exteel – Halloween Event
Smashing pumpkins and bag snatching is easy! Try picking on a Mechanaught your own size, even if it is painted Orange and Purple! Exteel players are encouraged to celebrate this Halloween colorfully with free Orange and Purple paint. But that's not all! Players will receive +50% bonus credits during the week-long Exteel Halloween celebration!

· Starts: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

· Ends: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Visit www.exteel.com for more Exteel information.

After several years' worth of trial shows in Seattle, the Penny Arcade team is ready for the main event. PAX East 2010 will take place in Boston from Friday March 26th to Sunday March 28th, and pre-registration is now open. Expect all the tournaments, concerts, and general frivolity of the West Coast original, with some sort of distinctive Eat Coast twist.

"We're bringing the craziness the fans have come to expect from PAX, but with an East Coast twist," said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. "Most of all this will be a place where you can be yourself with fellow gamers."

See? There's a twist. Having lived on the East Coast most of my life, I can only imagine he is talking about the lovely dirt we've managed to accumulate on this side of the continent over the years. The kind of Northeastern dirt I miss living in Atlanta, which has been much cleaner ever since it was burned down that one time.

Between now and December 31st, a three day pass for PAX East 2010 will run you only $45, saving you $10 off the at the door price. Head over to the show's official website for more details.

Infinite Bits is definitely a consumer-oriented video game event. It's about the community and the gamers, rather than big-name publishers showing off their wares. It's about breaking records and friendly competition, with guests like Pac-Man champ Billy Mitchell and Twin Galaxies' Walter Day. Our favorite extreme console modder Benjamin Heckendorn will be there. They've even got concerts from chiptune artists Starscream and goatslacker, as well as video game cover band Random Encounter. It's basically a bunch of gamers getting together to have fun, play games, and buy stuff for an entire weekend, which sounds just fine to me.

Infinite Bits runs from October 23rd to the 25th at the Miami Mart Hotel and Convention Center, with tickets running you $30 for a weekend pass, or $35 at the door. I'd highly recommend ordering tickets beforehand, as wandering about Miami with cash in your hand is an invitation to get shot. Well, more shot than you'd normally be just wandering about Miami without it.

Infinit Bits [Official Website]

Capcom is holding a Top Secret Dark Void event in San Francisco on Monday. So top secret that they won't tell anyone where it is, or what they are doing. For all we know they could be testing out vertical combat and you'll be the live guinea pig. All they will tell you is where to be picked up to be ferried to the event, and even then you need to apply.

In order to be eligible to enter you have to be 21 or older with a valid form of ID, and must be able to make it to the assembly point by 2PM, with the event lasting until 7:30PM. To submit yourself for consideration, click on the link below and follow the instructions there. Then get picked, attend, and let us know how that works out for you.

Join Us for a Top Secret Dark Void Event [Capcom Unity]

Be sure to pack your spandex if you plan on attending Hero-Con this year, and make sure you can write legibly in order to ensure your spot in the City of Heroes Going Rogue closed beta. Paragon Studios will need you present at registration to fill out a Going Rogue non-disclosure agreement in order for you to help test out the expansion that allows heroes to become villains and vice-versa. You'll need a steady hand, however, as Paragon has to be able to match your information to your account info before they activate your access.

Hero-Con takes place October 24th and 25th at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California. Along with the beta access there'll be panels, LARPing, community events, and in-game items to prove that you were there. You can visit the official event page for more information on how to attend this super heroic event.

Go Rogue At Hero-Con [City of Heroes via Inc Gamers]

Why have an amazing time in a foreign land when you can sit at your computer desk, staring at a screen for hours? EVE TV will begin streaming from this year's EVE Fanfest on Saturday at 12:00GMT, broadcasting the finals of the 2009 PVP tournament live on stage. That will be followed up with a replay of Torfi Frans Ólafsson's keynote on EVE's next expansion, Dominion, wrapping up with Saturday's keynote on the future of EVE Online and CCP's new console shooter, DUST514.

I begged to be allowed to go this year, but since the cosplayers are mostly spaceships we ultimately decided to pass.

EVE TV [2009 EVE Fanfest via Voodoo Extreme]

For game enthusiasts who may find themselves in the greater Los Angeles area, you'll be lucky enough to have access to indie game exhibitions for a nominal entrance fee. That means more than two dozen selected independent games, all of which will be on hand at the Wonderful World of Art Gallery, Culver Hotel Mezzanine and Gregg Fleishman Gallery daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.

Also attending this year's IndieCade will be game development luminaries such as Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi, Will Wright, Henry Jenkins, Jenova Chen and many, many more. Some will even give thrilling keynote speeches! Hearing those in real-time might cost you a little more.

More information on IndieCade 2009 is available at the official site. I'll be there. Will you?

IndieCade 2009 [Official Site]

Well, Halo 3: ODST creative director Joseph Staten from Bungie and Halo franchise development director Frank O'Connor from 343 Industries will be there, rubbing elbows with the crowd. Bungie and 343 folks will also be hold panels that touch on the creation of ODST and upcoming projects like Halo Legends and Halo Waypoint. Look, if you want to gorge on Halo things you'd best plan for a trip to Seattle.

Halo 3: ODST will also be playable, but wed imagine that the hardcore fans willing to travel may have already scared up a copy by then or secured a place in line at some midnight launch.

Still, if this sounds like your cup of tea, the "Halo Franchise Celebration and Halo 3: ODST Launch Event" happens Monday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. at the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. More details at the Facebook event page.

Halo Celebration! [Facebook - Image Credit]

Seattle's Best will definitely figure into the equation, as we've flown our two East coast writers over to the West coast for the show. I'm sitting here enjoying a hazelnut mocha-something or another as I look over our rather crowded schedule. We've got previews, and hands-on time lined up for everything from eagerly anticipated console titles like Forza and MAG to the latest and greatest PC MMO titles, including looks at Guild Wars 2 and Funcom's modern day MMO The Secret World.

Along with the game time, we've got interviews lined up with industry luminaries, coverage of events from the show floor, parties, cosplay, and who knows what else. Stay tuned all weekend long to see what goodness spawns from the depths of the 2009 Penny Arcade Expo.

We're definitely going to need more coffee.

Resident Evil 5 PC will have a big presence at this year's Penny Arcade Expo, and fans that stop by Capcom's booth (#670) to check out the game on Friday have a chance at attending Saturday night's launch party at the Showbox at the Market in downtown Seattle. Each day, Capcom will be giving out 250 wristbands that grant access to the venue. What can 500 Resident Evil fans expect at the event?

"Tri-Cell Corporation and Intel celebrate the launch of RE5 PC. As the exclusive guest of CEO Excella Gionne you will be treated to a night of games, fun and horror. Make sure to pick up your Tri-Cell employee badge at the event and don't forget your RE5 snow globe when you leave. As a show of appreciation Tri-Cell and Intel will be raffling off 5 Core i7 CPU's and copies of RE5 PC. Let's make this Tri-Cell's best year EVER!!"

Of course Tricell Corporation is the fiction pharmaceutical firm featured in the game, so aside from food, drinks, and a raffle, expect plenty of LARPing.

I have my badge. I have my swag bag. I have a cloudy idea of tomorrow's schedule. I'd say we're all set for BlizzCon 2009! Festivities kick off tomorrow morning with the opening ceremonies at 11:30 Pacific time, which I will be liveblogging, if nothing explodes between now and then. After that, I've got interviews, swag reports, the annual costume contest, and more sexy elf cosplay than you can shake your Staff of Withering at.

That sounded better in my head.

It looks like Totillo and I are going to have our hands full when we drop in on PAX 2009 September 4th through the 6th in Seattle. Between the 43 hours of programmed events, interviews, appointments, concerts, and parties, I should be dead by early Saturday morning. Stephen will surely soldier on, however, bringing you coverage of everything from Friday's keynote speech from industry legend Ron Gilbert, to Sunday's flying over the country in the middle of the night, drooling on the passenger next to us.

Other highlights include the annual Rooster Teeth Red VS. Blue panel, the Pitch Your Game Idea panel, and Wil Wheaton presents: THE AWESOME HOUR!!1, in which Wil Wheaton talks about stuff for an hour. I'm betting he talks about stuff for an hour a great deal, only this time there'll be more chairs.

Check out the full schedule over at the PAX website to see if there is anything you'd like us to cover.

The Legendary Starfy for the Nintendo DS might have been released in North America early last month, but it's never too late to raise brand awareness. From 1pm to 3pm this Saturday, July 11th, Starfy himself will be on hand at the Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller Plaza, posing for photos in a special underwater-themed area. There'll be prizes to be won, demos to be played, and yes - face painting.

We've been trying desperately to get Totilo to show up and get his face painted, and shall continue to do so long after this event has come and gone.