Every once in awhile I log into EverQuest and race my bard across the landscape at ridiculous speeds. Then I get bored and go back to waiting for Wrath of the Lich King.

EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE REACHES VIDEO GAME MILESTONE

EverQuest® Seeds of DestructionTM Marks the 15th Expansion for Genre-Defining Online Game

SAN DIEGO, CA. - Oct. 21, 2008 – Online gamers can now experience EverQuest® Seeds of Destruction™, the brand-new expansion from the genre-defining video game. Seeds of Destruction is the unprecedented 15th expansion for EverQuest, and is available via digital download at www.everquest.com for the suggested retail price of $39.99.

“With EverQuest rapidly approaching its 10th anniversary next March, the legacy of the franchise continues to grow along with the amount of new content offered,” said Clint Worley, senior producer, EverQuest. “Seeds of Destruction will take players back in time where they can discover new storylines, adventures and zones.”

About EverQuest Seeds of Destruction
The timelines of the world of Norrath have been destroyed completely. The only objects left are the drifting asteroid shards called The Void. Portals in The Void allow players to travel into the past and potentially alter the world of Norrath as we know it today. Revisit the Plane of Time, Bloody Kithicor or the Field of Bone to help stop the forces of Discord.

For the first time ever, players will have the ability to hire non-player characters (NPCs) to aid them in their heroic endeavors in Seeds of Destruction. These mercenaries will be valuable player assets as they thwart the efforts of Discord’s Dark God. This expansion also includes a level cap increase to 85, dynamic high-level raid content, new spells and updated alternate advancement abilities.

EverQuest Seeds of Destruction Feature Set:
• Mercenaries: Player-controlled NPCs are now available and will not only scale to the appropriate level but also think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. Designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters, mercenary archetypes include a variety of classes from all playable races.
• Level Cap Increase: Players can now achieve level 85 with new high-level item sets, new alternate advancement ability lines and new spells.
• 20 New Zones: Experience reimagined classic content and brand-new realms for adventurers to explore, including the eerie wasteland of the Void, the Battle of Rathe on the Plane of Earth and the ultimate Heart of Darkness in the Plane of Discord.
• Access to All Previous Content: Includes all features and content from the 14 previous expansion packs.
• Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck, booster pack and loot item.

For more expansion information from EverQuest Seeds of Destruction and a free trial of EverQuest, visit www.everquest.com.

“Apparently he’s got you supporting him and taking care of the house. I wonder what level that is in the real world,” Dr. Phil quips.

Other stories include a 41-year-old man who accumulated $24,000 in debt and attempted suicide, the author of the book "Game Widows", and the return of special guest Liz, whose 21-year-old son killed himself while playing Everquest. Hit the link for the full show notes.

Virtual Chaos [Dr. Phil via Game Politics]

“The Sims Label creates original entertainment experiences which are unique in the way they bring culture, interactivity and creativity together,” said Rod Humble. “It is a privilege to lead The Sims Label team as we look forward to new ways of surprising and delighting customers in this rapid growth time for interactive entertainment of all kinds.”

You go Rod! The Sims need more half-naked wood elves!

Rod Humble Promoted to Executive Vice President and Head of The Sims Label at Electronic Arts
Nancy Smith To Take a New Assignment on EA’s Executive Team

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) has promoted Rod Humble to Executive Vice President and Head of The Sims Label of EA. In this role, Humble will be responsible for The Sims Label, which develops and markets life-simulation games and online communities with an emphasis on creativity, community and humor. The Sims™ is the best-selling PC franchise of all time.

Former The Sims leader Nancy Smith will manage special projects for The Sims Label until she begins a new executive role at EA, to be defined over the coming months.

“Like Nancy Smith before him, Rod Humble has demonstrated strong leadership in defining EA’s The Sims brand as a stand-alone product label. Rod has great creative instincts, uncompromising quality standards, a deep connection with the player community, and most of all, the respect of the team he works with,” said John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.

“The Sims Label creates original entertainment experiences which are unique in the way they bring culture, interactivity and creativity together,” said Rod Humble. “It is a privilege to lead The Sims Label team as we look forward to new ways of surprising and delighting customers in this rapid growth time for interactive entertainment of all kinds.”

Humble has been with The Sims Label and EA since 2004. An 18-year industry veteran, prior to joining EA, he was Vice President of Product Development for Sony Online Entertainment where he headed up the EverQuest studio.

Are these findings representative of all virtual worlds, or all MMOs, or all fantasy titles? I have my own speculations (pretty solid for fantasy diku games), and I welcome yours. Of course, until other developers open their doors in a similar fashion, it'll all remain speculation.

What can you expect from future reports? Our subsequent papers will involve research on gender differences, role players, economic modeling, social networks, group success and failure, raiding, detailed player behavior metrics, trust and community, and many others currently in the hopper. As we develop more and more metrics from the player behavior data, we will be merging these with the psychological, demographic, and attitude data from the survey. In other words, for the first time we will know who they are, what they think, and what they do on a truly systematic level.

The article itself is a quick read, and the data is condensed in charts if you're too lazy to read the full article. I'm looking forward to 'future installments' — what other oddball stats will crop up?

"Who plays, how much, and why? A player census of a virtual world" [Wiley InterScience via Terra Nova]

The good news for those who paid good money to get to Fan Faire was that each attendee would get the expansions free. Well, you know... "free"

The full list of features, including new zones, new dungeons and a higher level cap, in both SOE expansions is contained within the press release after the jump. Should reading bore you to tears, lovely new screen shots of both EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and EverQuest Seeds of Destruction are in our galleries below.

LEGACY OF EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE CONTINUES WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF EverQuest® AND EverQuest® II EXPANSIONS AT FAN FAIRE

All attendees to Receive Both Expansions for Free as Part of Living Legacy Program!

LAS VEGAS, NEV. – Aug. 15, 2008 – Thousands of video game enthusiasts are in Las Vegas for the annual Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire where the upcoming expansions for the online role-playing games EverQuest® (EQ) and EverQuest® II (EQII) were just announced. EverQuest® Seeds of Destruction™ is scheduled to be available on Oct.21, and EverQuest® II The Shadow Odyssey™ is scheduled to be available on Nov.18. As part of SOE’s extensive Living Legacy program designed to entice new and past EQ and EQII players into the games and reward the existing loyal playerbase, all Fan Faire attendees will receive the software for both expansions for free, an unprecedented offering.

“It is such a privilege to announce the upcoming expansions for two of our most popular games, EverQuest and EverQuest II, in a venue like Fan Faire where we are joined by thousands of our loyal fans, and it seems more than appropriate to give those fans access to both of the expansions for free,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “Both of these expansions are rich in content and adventure, and will provide our players with hours of excitement as they explore the online world of Norrath.”

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth expansion for the critically acclaimed EQII franchise and follows the award-winning and best-selling Rise of KunarkTM expansion. New players and veterans alike will journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk. Throughout the summer months, players were treated to prelude events, such as the Void Storms, that gave them a glimpse into the expansion lore and content from The Shadow Odyssey, building the anticipation leading up to the launch.

EverQuest is rapidly approaching its 10th anniversary, and Seeds of Destruction is the 15th expansion for the genre-defining online game. For the first time ever, players will have the ability to hire non-player characters (NPCs) to aid them in their heroic endeavors in Seeds of Destruction. These mercenaries will be valuable player assets as they thwart the efforts of Discord’s Dark God. This expansion also includes a level cap increase to 85, new dynamic high-level raid content, new spells and new alternate advancement abilities.

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey Feature Set:
· New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp.
· Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen.
· Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines.
· Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
· Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added.
· Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
· Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
· New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath.
· Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
· Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack.

EverQuest Seeds of Destruction Feature Set:

* Mercenaries: Player-controlled NPCs are now available and will not only scale to the appropriate level, but also think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. Designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters, mercenary archetypes include a variety of classes from all playable races.
* Level Cap Increase: Players can now achieve level 85 with new high-level item sets, new alternate advancement ability lines and new spells.
* 20 New Zones: Features re-imagined classic content and brand-new realms for adventurers to explore, including the eerie wasteland of the Void, the Battle of Rathe on the Plane of Earth and the ultimate Heart of Darkness in the Plane of Discord.
* Access to All Previous Content - Includes all features and content from the 14 previous expansion packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck, booster pack and loot item.

In addition to attending exclusive panels this weekend at Fan Faire, eligible players with active accounts will receive early access to beta for one or both games, depending on their preference. EQ’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Aug. 19, and EQII’s public beta is anticipated to begin on Sept. 2.

For more expansion information from EverQuest Seeds of Destruction and a free trial of EverQuest, visit www.everquest.com.

For expansion information from on EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey and a free trial of EverQuest II, visit www.everquest2.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

SOE tells me that they currently have a bit more than 1,100 people registered for the event and that compared to previous years that is a "very strong number." If you were thinking about going to Sony's celebration of all things SOE, Everquest and MMO-ey, hit up the site to register. You can also register on site, though only pre-registered folks are guaranteed the in-game rewards.

The event is being held at the Las Vegas Hilton from Aug. 14 through Aug. 17 and registration will set you back $89 for the weekend or $39 for a day.

This year's event will include a second annual community address by John Smedley, a Gamers in Real Life breakfast and a chance to pre-order the Everquest 10th Anniversary Commemorative Book.

The full schedule can be found here.

Fan Faire 08 Schedule [SOE]

SOE said new gameplay will be introduced to build on the old system and allow for more strategies and combos in the online card-based strategy title. It adds 250 new cards, new loot and promo cards, and a new island guardian, Chel'Drak the dragon turtle (is it a dragon or a turtle? Seriously, man).

According to SOE, LoN players have thrown down over a million matches since the title launched nine months ago. Oathbreaker's to be the last release before the August tournament at Gen Con Indy - wannabe competitors must qualify by July 12-13. Why not try, if you're into it? There's $100,000 at stake!

Full details after the jump.

WITH MORE THAN ONE MILLION LEGENDS OF NORRATH™ MATCHES PLAYED TO DATE,

EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE ONLINE STRATEGY GAME INTRODUCES OATHBREAKER TO THE VIRTUAL PLAYMAT

Release Precedes $100K World Championship Event at Gen Con Indy 2008

DENVER, COLO. – June 19, 2008 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC announced the release of Oathbreaker, the fourth set of the EverQuest® franchise online strategy game, Legends of Norrath™. Oathbreaker continues to draw upon the influence of SOE’s groundbreaking EverQuest® franchise, adding fun and familiar elements, including items and characters beautifully illustrated with high-fantasy flair. Oathbreaker will enthrall players with a tale of corruption from within, and redemption that comes at a terrible cost, providing an unprecedented level of drama in the ongoing saga. While Oathbreaker brings the story of your Oathbound hero to a dramatic finale, new gameplay builds on existing functionality and allows for even more creative strategies to emerge.

"In just over nine months since launch, Legends of Norrath has had more than one million matches,” said Scott Martins, director of development, SOE Denver. “And, with the introduction of Oathbreaker, many more matches are on the horizon. There are more ways than ever to enhance your strategies, explore different decks and try out new combos. We're eager to introduce the new raid and open up cooperative play. And, with the Monthly Sprint Tournaments that started in early June, there are more opportunities for players to climb the rankings and earn special promo cards and free loot.”

Not only does Oathbreaker complete the story arc which originated with LoN’s first set, Oathbound – it’s also the last LoN release before the World Championship event at Gen Con Indy, August 14-17, where up to 32 finalists are slated to compete for up to $100,000 in cash prizes. July 12-13 marks the last opportunity to compete in a monthly online Championship Qualifier tournament before the World Championship event. At Gen Con, two days of qualification heats, open to all Gen Con attendees 18 and older, will take place before the final championship day.

Developed at SOE’s Denver studio, Legends of Norrath is the only online strategy game based on and playable from SOE’s popular EverQuest® and EverQuest® II MMOs, as well as from a stand-alone client using a free SOE Station Account (available at www.station.com). Players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EQ and EQII servers.

Oathbreaker’s features include:

New Cards – More than 250 new cards for your online arsenal! Collect all 210 base set cards, four starter decks featuring 16 new quests and three random rares, 10 scenario rewards, fantastic new loot cards for EverQuest and EverQuest II and lots of new promotional cards.

Play For Free - SOE is providing all registered LoN users even more complimentary content and bonus features in the game client, including ten new scenarios that tell the tale of Oathbreaker and a brand new raid. Go to www.legendsofnorrath.com for complete details.

New Raid Play – In the Antechamber of Fate, up to four players can face off against the powerful island guardian Chel’Drak, the dragon turtle!

New Gameplay – “Charge” is a new keyword that provides additional bonuses to cards while players have, or get rid of, their charge tokens. Re-linkable navigation offers greater flexibility in play by allowing linked cards to be linked again to a new target.

New Faces - Delve into new avatar races (Froglok and Erudite), unit types, legends, keywords and abilities. Explore more of your favorite EverQuest and EverQuest II classes with the introduction of “unarmed” Monks, Coercers, Templars and Beastlords (with their warder pets)!

Oathbreaker cards will be available via digital download from SOE’s Station Store in both 58-card digital starter decks for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), and 15-card digital booster packs for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes).

To get started, players can download the client for free, test their skills 24 hours a day against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to compete. Monthly Championship Qualifier eligibility limited and subject to Official Rules. Residents of certain territories are not eligible to participate in LoN tournaments with rewards. Please see the EULA for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details, see the Events Calendar and the Tournaments page.

Returning players also get the EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark compilation plus bonus items at no cost, and they can keep it all if they convert to a paying subscription, and current players who bring in a friend get free game time when their subscription runs out.

SOE's also planned events and content for current and new players aimed at commemorating the games' almost ten-year lifespan. Hit the jump for the full announcement.

GROUNDBREAKING VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE EVERQUEST® CELEBRATES FANS WITH LIVING LEGACY PROMOTION

SAN DIEGO, CA – June 2, 2008 – The EverQuest ® franchise, the groundbreaking, award-winning fantasy series that redefined massively multiplayer online (MMO) video games for a generation of gamers around the globe, is bringing a near decade of success back to millions of fans with a new Living Legacy program from Sony Online Entertainment LLC, which will feature in-game events, promotions, game updates and more.

Living Legacy, announced today, is a brand-new initiative aimed at the millions of players who have experienced the vast, engaging online worlds of EverQuest ® (EQ) and EverQuest® II (EQII) since the original EQ game was launched in 1999. The celebration starts today and continues through the end of September. As part of the promotion, both EQ and EQII subscribers with inactive accounts who left in good standing will be able to log back in to the games and play for free until the end of July.

“The EverQuest franchise has touched so many lives since the launch of EverQuest in 1999, and with the 10th anniversary of EverQuest just around the corner, we felt it was the best time to give back to all the players who made it the cultural phenomenon it is today,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We are grateful for the continued support from our legions of fans and are extremely excited about the groundswell of interest surrounding Living Legacy.”

While the Living Legacy program is aimed at former EQ and EQII players, the program also offers a perfect way for new players to experience the world of Norrath. Nostalgic NPCs and group PvE encounters, as well as brand new raid content, will commemorate EQ’s hardcore heritage. The program features bonus XP weekends, several live events, new content updates and the introduction of new zones all taking place in EQII. Returning EQII players will also be able to experience Rise of Kunark, EQII’s fourth expansion, which just became the game’s best-selling expansion of all time.

Key features of the Living Legacy program include:

* All qualified returning EQ players will receive the EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer all-in-one compilation and bonus in-game items at no additional cost.
* All qualified returning EQII players will receive the EverQuest II Rise of Kunark all-in-one compilation and bonus in-game items at no additional cost.
* All software provided during the promotional period will be credited to any EQ or EQII account that is converted to a valid, paying monthly subscription.
* Current EQII players who recruit a friend to play the game who converts to a valid subscription will receive free gameplay-time added upon conclusion of their then-current subscription .

In the spirit of honoring the players, the Living Legacy program is supported by an online and print advertising campaign that features real EQ and EQII players.

For more information on the Living Legacy program or to reactivate your account, log onto www.eqlivinglegacy.com.

The pass also gets you into the Free Realms beta test, a beta for an upcoming EQ2 expansion, gifts, in-game items, and the chance to listen to John Smedley talk for a bit.

Of course if you'd rather miss out on all the All-Access goodness you can pick up a day pass for $39, which just seems like a giant waste of time and money. Head over to http://www.soefanfaire.com/ and mention my name when you register to receive the awkward joy of having my name on your attendee badge. I've been doing it for years, and look where it's gotten me!

"Fan Faire is by far the best vacation destination for SOE gamers, their families and friends," said Alan Crosby, Senior Director, Global Community Relations, Sony Online Entertainment. "This is the ultimate party for gamers and a great chance to meet up with their online friends in the real world."

GAMERS, GROUP UP: SIN CITY HOSTS SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT'S

FAN FAIRE, AUGUST 14-17, 2008

-Ultimate Vacation Destination for Online Video Game Players Features Colorful Costumes, Passionate Players and More in Las Vegas-

April 17, 2008 San Diego, Calif. - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced the date for its annual Fan Faire, a real-life social event where thousands of gamers from around the world gather with members of their online community to play video games and make new friends.

This year's four-day extravaganza, which includes gameplay tournaments, a costume contest, a silent auction for game memorabilia, real-life quests and exclusive 'sneak peeks' at upcoming products from SOE, will be held August 14-17, at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Fan Faire is by far the best vacation destination for SOE gamers, their families and friends," said Alan Crosby, Senior Director, Global Community Relations, Sony Online Entertainment. "This is the ultimate party for gamers and a great chance to meet up with their online friends in the real world."

In addition to enjoying the whimsical game-driven environment, attendees at SOE's Fan Faire 2008 will be privy to the second ever live community address from SOE President John Smedley, as well as How-To forums, game development panels, a party for the players and much more. Fan Faire attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the development teams for some of the world's most successful online PC games, with specific activities and games being planned for each game. In addition, demos of the upcoming SOE titles, The Agency™, Free Realms™, as well as others, will be showcased. Fan Faire promises to deliver a weekend packed with activities and adventure for everyone ranging from casual gaming fans to entire guilds of vacationing gamers who can bring their families along on this quest for fun and excitement.

According to the AFP report on the matter, the prohibition on selling CS and EQ was actually passed in October of 2007, but was only recently enforced by PROCON, the national consumer protection agency. Good work, Brazil. Glad all of your problems are sorted out now that the video game police are tackling the tough issues!

Members of the Kotaku Brazilian Connection wrote in to let us know about the ban. Their letters are after the jump and provide some insight into the local video game market.

From Pinguin:

Since 01/17, Counter Strike and Everquest are banned in Brazil. The decision came from a federal judge, based in the Consumer Rights, saying that it puts in danger the life of buyers. You can see the full decision in this site. (in Brazilian portuguese)

The counter strike was banned because, in experts opinion, teachs war strategies.
Everquest was banned because of their quests. The Brazilian judge, claims that, some quests ask for the user do good things and bad things, leading the user to pscicological problems.

In Brazil, those games were rated to 18+, by the Justice. In the past, before those rates exist, games like Carmagedon, Grand Theft Auto and Postal were banned too.

But, we still can play Postal 2, Manhunt (the complete version) and all the other games. Everquest isn't even [sold] in Brazil!

From Romulo:

Since 17/01/2008 the games "Counter-Strike" and "EverQuest" are been confiscated in the Brazilian state of Goiás by the PROCON, an organism created to defend consumer rights. The decision is extended trough all brazilian territory, the games were considered "[improper] for consume" and "nocive to the consumer health" offending some articles of the brazilian "consumer defense and protection code", a law that is usually used to protection the consumer against big companies.

Here in Brazil a single judge can make a decision that is valid in the whole country, this is the case, but other states are not confiscating the game as they think there may be something wrong with such a decision. The judge also classify CounterStrike and Everquest as being "nefast".

Acording to procon and the judge, Counter-Strike is described as "a game where drug deales sequestram and take to a morro thre UN representatives. Police invades the place and is received with bullets", the text also affirms, without showing names ou researches, that "in the vision of specialists that game teaches war techniches". Thats not counter strike´s but user generated content, CS_rio is a very popular map and played a lot in Brazil.

The reason to justify the ban, "violent games ou that bring violece are capable of forming agressive individuals, its evident is strong power of influence, reforcing agressive atitude on some individuals and social groups.", they go even farther when justifying everquest ban, [everquest] "takes the player to total nonsense and heavy psicologycal conflicts, because the quests he receives may be good or bad."

EA Brazil released a note claiming the content cited is not from counter strike but user generated, and say it´s waiting for a judicial notification to take legal action.

From Hank:

This is kotaku user HANK-SP, from Brazil, reporting that the brazilian state of Goias has banned the games Counter-Strike and the RPG EverQuest. The decision, taken by a court in Goias, is extented to all Brazil. The federal police IS already taking away copies from these games, altough EverQuest is not officially released in Brazil. Procon, brazilian governmental foundation for consumer defense, argued, on its website, that Counter-Strike is a game where "Rio de Janeiro drug dealers kidnapp and take to a slum three UN representants. The police invades the place and is welcomed with bullets. (...) In the vision of experts the game teaches war techniques". As for EverQuest, Procon states that it "takes the gamer to complete moral conflict and 'heavy' psychological conflicts; for the tasks that are given to them could be bad or good. (...) Violent videogames that use violence are capable of forming agressive individuals, making it evident that is strong its influence on psyquism, reinforcing aggressive attitude against certain individuals and social groups". The web site also states that anyone who sees these games being sold, that they should contact Procon for the arrest of the games. All this information has come from UOL, Brazil's biggest web portal, owned by Brazil's biggest newspaper "Folha de Sao Paulo". http://jogos.uol.com.br/pc/ultnot/2008/01/18/ult182u7954.jhtm In another news, UOL reports that EA has already answered that Counter-Strike doesn't have any Rio de Janeiro, any slums, any funk soundtrack, neither UN comissioners. http://jogos.uol.com.br/pc/ultnot/2008/01/18/ult182u7956.jhtm

Thanks for taking the time to write in, guys. Keep us informed of any developments, if you have the time.

Brazil bans popular video games seen to incite violence [AFP/Google]

Most MMO's, however, have relatively punitive death penalties because they are designed for players that want to be challenged, not just engaged. The theory goes that if a game doesn't punish you for playing poorly, then your rewards for playing well will be hollow and without much significance. That's true to an extent ... but of course, that's only true if "playing well" is your motivation for playing the game.

But the death penalty has other side-effects, too. If the penalty is lenient, players find themselves experimenting with more tactics, exploring the landscape more, and poking into nooks and crannies of the game. If the penalty is harsh, they tend to stick with the strategies they know. Good survival strategies become more valuable, and in many games, players find that grouping together makes for a better survival strategy. So we often find that strong death penalties correlate with more grouping.

It's an interesting little piece on the ramifications of one bit of game design. I always like seeing pieces like these - especially when the discussion spins off to different territory entirely.

What's in a Death Penalty? [Elder Game via GameSetWatch]

Apparently, the EverQuest movie has been in the works for some time. I suspect Hollywood will do right by the franchise, giving fans something along the lines of, say, EverQuest: Search For Antonia's Gilded Bustier or EQ: The Bare Midriffs of Kunark—something fun and sexy.

No date estimate was provided by Variety, but we genuinely hope that its release will coincide with the release of Blizzard's World of Warcraft Hollywood adaptation. The flame wars will most certainly be epic.

'EverQuest' logs Gordon [Variety]

LEGENDS OF NORRATHTM ONLINE TRADING CARD GAME NOW AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE Free Client Allows Anyone to Play Online Game Based on Popular MMO Franchises

DENVER, CO - September 12, 2007 - On the heels of a successful release to the EverQuest® and EverQuest® II player communities, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online entertainment industry, has released a free stand-alone version of the client for Legends of Norrath™, the online trading card game based on its well-known and popular EverQuest Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game franchises.

Developed at SOE's Denver, CO studio, Oathbound is the first release in the Legends of Norrath storyline. Oathbound features more than 375 digital cards and is available in both 55-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs. In this first release, players become part of a clandestine, secret war between the forces of Order and Chaos. Once jailed on the Plane of Justice, a mysterious tribunal offers them a chance for freedom and redemption. In swearing allegiance to the side of Order, players become Oathbound, and fight against the forces of Chaos to prevent Norrath from being plunged into a bloody and eternal war.

"When we showed Legends of Norrath at GenCon last month, it was just as big a hit with hobby and strategy gamers as it has been with our EQ and EQII players," said Scott Martins, Director of Development for SOE-Denver. "We've had a great run so far with the exclusive access we've provided for our existing fans, and can't wait to bring it to a much wider audience with today's release. New players will be able to enjoy the game in a single worldwide community with thousands of people that span its own client as well as both of our EverQuest MMOs."

In addition to player vs. player combat, Legends of Norrath is provides several modes of gameplay and a variety of activities, including a sophisticated, re-playable AI system for single-player campaigns, easy to use management tools and numerous Casual and Tournament game lobbies. Victory can be achieved by completing quests or defeating your opponent's avatar, enabling players to employ their own unique strategies for victory. The game also features a robust loot system; more than 30 loot items each for EQ and EQII are available, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

The digital starter decks (55 cards) are available for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), with digital booster packs (15 cards) selling for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes). For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

The basic concept is that you're going up against an opponent and there are multiple ways to win. You play an avatar, and your opponent plays an avatar, and the idea is you can either win by killing your opponent's avatar or by completing quests. You can put certain quests into your deck, and you can use abilities to actually go after these quests. If you have a particular quest in mind you can use your ability cards to solve each quest. Your opponent, though, can also put down monsters and use abilities to block you from completing that quest. So you can take two paths: you can either try to kill the other person's avatar directly, or you can try to complete things by solving quests. The idea is that you have strategic options in the fight.

This quote is taken straight from the MMOG Nation article which, if you're interested in the game, I suggest you go check out. It's well done, asks all the right questions and is full of great info. Congrats to Michael from MMOGN on scoring such a terrific interview.

John Smedley Interview On Legends of Norrath [MMOG Nation]

John Smedley is at Fan Faire talking to the masses about the past, present and future of all things Sony Online Entertainment. I'll be remote liveblogging it for those of you too lazy to watch it yourself.

Hit the jump to follow along.

The Denver SOE guys are talking up Legends of Norrath right now. Check out our feature on the in-game online trading card game that is free to Everquest players.

OK, now they're showing two SOE Denver guys playing the game. Keep in mind this will be a free game to Everquest and Everquest II gamers. Cards for the game will show up as loot drops as you play. Loot drops in the card game will also occasionally give you the occasional Everquest items. I think this is a really cool idea.

Looks like they're having some technical issues with the game. Wait a second isn't it supposed to launch today? Ah, actually they will be beta testing starting tomorrow with a soft launch next week, allowing attendees to play the new game online. The best part? All beta cards and dropped loot earned in the beta can be kept.

Annnnnd the video stream just crapped out.. or maybe it's over. Man, that was short.

I had a chance, last month, to meet with Sony Online Entertanment's Denver studio and check out their now-announced online trading card game: Legends of Norath: Oathbound.

The Legends of Norrath game is based on the worlds of Everquest and Everquest II and, in an interesting twist, will be playing inside both of the massively multiplayer online games at in-world taverns and such.

Oathbound, the first set in the Legends of Noorath game, has more than 350 virtual cards in it and comes in both 60-card starter decks and 15-card booster packs. The Oathbound set was designed to tell the story of the servants of the Tribunal that rules the Plane of Justice. These masked and hooded servants swear an oath to Justice and must help preserve the balance between Order and Chaos.

The SOE Denver team did several things to try and distill the essence of Everquest into a viable online trading card game. Chiefly they went with the Everquest II model of using archetypes rather than classes. The first set has four.

In the game you control an Avatar which can summon up creatures, use items and cast spells. Another of the game's unique twists is that as you play your avatar gains experience. As you gain experience the actual attributes and text of the avatar changes. Of course you can always play several different avatars, working to level each up.

The game has two ways of winning. You can either take out your opponents avatar out in the tradition card game way, or you can complete your four quests. At the beginning of each round, the players place one of their quests on the table. As soon as you complete any four of your or their quests you win.

As you play through a match you can either choose to take the path of good or evil, based on the sorts of cards you play. As you continue to use one type of card or another, your half of the playing field starts to change and you get bonuses playing cards that match your field's alignment.

On top of what appeared to me to be a rather sophisticated and interesting take on online trading card games, The Legends of Norath will also come with a single-player campaign. As you play through this campaign you can build up your avatar and earn reward cards for use in play later on.

While the thing that initially most interested me was the idea of playing an Everquest Online Tradiing Card game inside of Everquest, what ended up really captivating me was the look of the cards the SOE team showed me.

The art is very reminiscent of the sort of art used to convey the Everquest games, but not the kind found in the game. In other words, it's not computer graphics, its quite beautiful art.

When I last spoke with SOE, they idea was to launch the game today with the announcement at Fan Faire. The game will be free for Everquest gamers but booster packs will sell for $3, while starter packs will likely run for $9 to $10. And with 70 unit cards alone, there's going to be plenty to buy.

The devs also tell me that the game will include loot drops, loot that will sometimes be cards but will other times be actual items used in either Everquest or Everquest II.

Most interesting is the fact that the game engine, designed from the ground up by SOE Denver, has the potential to support many other types of in-game, MMO-themed card games in the future. So expect to see a lot more of this if things work out.

Personally, I kinda like the idea of sitting down in a tavern to play a deep card game with another player. But I am a big nerd.

For example the ability to bring together distributed groups of individuals - often who are on a volunteer or semi-volunteer basis - to be able to make more rapid decisions under conditions of uncertainty. To incorporate and use different sources of data and make decisions rapidly. To recognise people for their contribution. To be able to motivate.

Gamers 10,271 Stupid People 0

Gaming's business end [via maxconsole]

Right now you're probably asking yourself "Girlfriend?" That or, "WTF?!" According to a poster on the Dual-Boxing.com forums, he and his partner are running a 47 computer set up when they get their WoW on, including one server to control the madness.

He writes:

I started boxing in 2001 in EverQuest. At first it was dual boxing, then triple, then quad, then I 6 boxed for a long time. My girlfriend began boxing and I decided to "kick it up a notch" and we began doing our own raids. In 2005 we started playing WoW.

[...]

I went through alot of hardware along the way. At first it was X-Keys and KVMs, then I went with Cherry programmable keyboards and KVMs. I never felt the urge to go monitor crazy — like many boxers I focused my attention on a single screen, had another monitor locked onto another character, and finally the 3rd monitor cycled through the KVM.

If you count the number of PCs, you'll get 47. My girlfriend controls 23 and I control 23. The other one is a server. All but 2 of those pcs are diskless. It got to the point that updating 46 pcs just took too long, the hard drives added to the electric bill and generated heat, so I found a good PXE solution that works great.

More shots of the MMO madness at the link below.

Gameslah's 50 Boxing Setup [Dual-Boxing Forums, thanks Nathan!]

What's interesting about the piece is that while their pet psychologist does warn of the games turning players into recluses, she also goes on to make a point I've made many times over.

Dudley says children or adults who become obsessed with video games often have a history of struggling with depression or anxiety. The game, she says, is simply a catalyst, similar to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

The best part is the ending, however, where the news reporter reads off a quote from EverQuest as if it were an entity, and goes on to say they didn't hear back from World of Warcraft. He never returns my calls either. Michael Fahey

Dangers of Internet Gaming [ABC 6 Philadelphia via GamePolitics]

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that it has opened registration for its own online game gathering at the Rio Hotel & Casino which throws down August 2nd through the 5th. Fans of EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide, The Matrix Online and the guy who's still playing Vanguard will have a chance to meet, greet and overeat with other SOE afficionados.

Blizzard's event, announced last month, takes place on August 3rd and 4th, meaning, if you really tried, you could hit up both. That'd be impressive.

Now, choose! But choose wisely. In fact, you might want to wait until tomorrow to make that decision. Michael McWhertor

SOE Fan Faire 2007 [SOE]
BlizzCon 2007 Announced [Blizzard]

Now, a year later, SOE announces the Everquest Anniversary Edition. Retailing for $19.99, this collection contains the core game plus thirteen different expansions...enough land and content to make up four or five lesser MMO games. Scheduled for release April 23rd as part of the celebration of the game's eight anniversary, the set includes a free month of play, making it an excellent way for older players (like myself) to see what they've done with the place since we left without having to shell out for extra expansions and a new subscription.

My god, has it really been eight years? One of the first video game features I ever wrote was a beta preview of the game. Since then I've been divorced (kinda), moved across the country, moved back, become engaged, moved four times, and had at least five different jobs. All that, and I still haven't gotten past level 55. Michael Fahey

EVERQUEST THE ANNIVERSARY EDITION ANNOUNCED BY SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AS EVERQUEST CELEBRATES ITS 8TH BIRTHDAY

EverQuest The Anniversary Edition includes all expansions ever created for EverQuest making it the largest compilation of MMO expansions ever

SAN DIEGO, CA - March 16, 2007 - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced EverQuest The Anniversary Edition, a new compilation collection for the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest. EverQuest The Anniversary Edition will only be available at participating retail locations and is scheduled for release on April 23, 2007, for the suggested retail price of US$19.99.

"After eight successful years of EverQuest, we wanted to celebrate with the release of a very special Anniversary Edition, which consists of all the expansions ever created for EverQuest, including the most recently released expansion: The Buried Sea," said Clint Worley, Producer for EverQuest. "The Anniversary Edition is not only chock-full of content, but priced to allow players both old and new to join in the online experience known as EverQuest."

Coinciding with the anniversary celebration, for a month starting on March 16th, EverQuest will be treating players to new in-game content including dozens of Luclin Fabled NPCs, a new scavenger hunt for players of all levels, and the return of the Fabled fiends of years past.

"EverQuest continues to provide players with a massive amount of content, more than any other MMO in the market, and is still continuing to grow, eight years later," said Michael Lustenberger, Vice President of Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment.

About EverQuest The Anniversary Edition
EverQuest The Anniversary Edition is a compilation of eight years of content. Players can adventure online in worlds populated by hundreds of thousands of other players as they journey across massive continents filled with vast dungeons, eerie crypts and mysterious underwater landscapes. They are able to choose from 16 unique races and 16 distinct classes, including the recently created Drakkin race, a race formed of a dragon breed. With more than 375 zones to explore and more than 50,000 items to earn and collect both magical and mundane, including artifacts of great power, characters can shape the universe in EverQuest.

Latest Expansion Features from EverQuest The Buried Sea
Ship-to-Ship Combat - Cross the plank and fight for your life on the open seas as you raid pirate vessels!
Two Paths of Advancement - Battle pirates on the open seas or dive deep beneath the sea to Katta Castrum, lost stronghold of the Combine Empire.
New Missions - Take your group through more than 60 challenging new missions ranging from defending merchant vessels against marauding pirates to uncovering the secrets behind the combine city and the danger that threatens it!
Guild Banners - Design a guild emblem and display it with pride! Upgrade your banner to grant your guild special abilities and plant it on the field of battle so your fellow guild members can teleport directly to it!
Fellowships - Get together with a group of your closest friends and start your own fellowship! You can join in a common chat channel, gain the ability to create a campfire that can help you in your adventures, and get a token that will let you quickly travel to your other fellowship members.
Energeian Items - Utilizing ancient Combine technology, gain access to a new inventory slot that can be fitted with an Energeian power source and armor that can tap into the energy held within! The armor gains power based on the type of energy in the power source, so you can quickly customize the effects of your armor by changing the power source!

For more information on EverQuest please visit: www.everquest.com

###

SOE is offering players over level 15 a special scroll a special scroll that allows for a second reset of path abilities as well as other special items and events to commemorate the milestone achievement of the game they refuse to let die.

I played the game in beta and was not particularly impressed, and I was pretty sure the game died out a couple years ago. Anyone out there still playing this, and if so, why? Michael Fahey

EVERQUEST ONLINE ADVENTURESTM CELEBRATES ITS FOURTH ANNIVERSARY WITH PRESENTS AND THE PROSPECT OF PEACE

WHAT: Sony Online Entertainment celebrates the fourth anniversary of EQOA with treasured gifts and special in game quests for all adventurers! Rejoice in the fourth year of the EQOA adventure by claiming your anniversary present today. Characters, level 15 and over, can claim an Anniversary Certificate, which will allow a second reset of their path abilities. Satisfied with your current path? Find a seller for this rare and unique item on auction or give it as a gift because it's tradable. For those that haven't quite made it to level 15, other unique and exciting gifts will be granted during the celebration to aide you along the adventure!

This anniversary also presents the prospect of peace in the land of Norrath...almost!
Assistance is needed to fight against invading forces storming the gates of Freeport, Halas, Forkwatch, Klick`Anon, Hazinak, and Misty Thicket. Quest in the name of Norrath and help these cities! Join the battle and you will be handsomely rewarded!

Commemorate the anniversary, collect exciting new rewards and embark on the new fast-action questing adventures that you have come to love, waiting for you in EQOA!

WHEN: February 12, 2007

WHERE: EverQuestOnlineAdventures.station.sony.com

WHO: EverQuest Online Adventures is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), which allows PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system owners to experience an open-ended, persistent virtual world, filled with thousands of other players. It is the first of its kind available on the PlayStation 2 in North America and utilizes the Network Adaptor to connect seamlessly to the Internet. The game carries a monthly subscription fee of $12.99 per person for continuing access and updates to the game world. Players can subscribe either by using a credit card, or by purchasing SOE Game Cards from various retail outlets. For more information, please visit www.everquestonlineadventures.com.

"We're working with the Metal Gear guys," Landau told GameSpot following his D.I.C.E. Summit keynote in Las Vegas. "It's a very cinematic game, it really lends itself to movie-telling. But the question is, 'How do you translate Snake's experience into a full arc that conforms to what audiences expect on the large screen?'"

He also spoke to GameStop about a possible EverQuest movie from a very prolific, very unnamed director, though I doubt anything any Hollywood big shot could create could ever top the masterpiece that is Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God.

Sony Pictures making Metal Gear movie [GameSpot]

With the New Year just around the corner, MMO players are going to need a new calendar to monitor how many days they can safely go without sleep before succumbing to death's icy embrace. MMO Portal has exactly what they need in the form of their 2007 MMORPG calendar, featuring art from a different game every month, signed by members of their respective dev teams. It'll cost you $14.95, and 100% of all proceeds go towards the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee.

Featured games include:

• Dark Age of Camelot
  
• Dungeons & Dragons Online
  
• Eve Online
  
• EverQuest II
  
• Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising
  
• Lord of the Rings Online
  
• Star Wars Galaxies
  
• The Chronicles of SpellBorn
  
• Ultima Online
  
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
  
• Warhammer Online
  
• World of Warcraft
  

MMO Calendar 2007 [MMO Portal, via GamePolitics]

Why sink money into this surely doomed venture, instead of some other pro-athlete funded doomed venture? Well, Curt has obviously done his homework!

A lot of people don't realize that video games are already bigger than the movie industry now.

Wow! Didn't know that, Mr. Schilling. Oh wait, I did know that... is not actually true.

Green Monster Games plans to ship their first game, a fantasy MMO targeted at casual players, within the next 2-10 years and will feature the artistic talents of baseball fan Todd McFarlane (who previously did work for Ultima Online) and R.A. Salvatore. So what will Schilling bring to the table, outside of a bundle of cash?

I'm making the game, in my mind.

Why do I suspect that's where the game will remain? Best of luck, GMG. With World of Warcraft dominating the crowded market, you're going to need it! Michael McWhertor

Gaming passion leads to Schilling's second career [ESPN]

Foreign languages you don't understand are so fun! And perfect comedy fodder for game site Aggro Me to made yuk-yuk with. Using BombayTV, a series of old Bollywood clips were given a MMORPG thematic touch. Hijinks ensue. Brian Ashcraft

Watch Them Here [Aggro Me] via Aeropause

I just recently became aware of the Wilhelm Scream, an audio phenomenon in which the exact same girly-man scream has been used in a staggering amount of movies since its first appearance in the fifties. The above video charts its use, starting with The Charge at Feather River when it is first uttered by its namesake, Wilhelm the cowboy. It is most notably used in a huge amount of LucasFilm movies.

While the video is pretty good, it's by no means comprehensive. Apparently Tarantino is quite fond of it as well.

But the comments on the Digg post where I found this bring up the topic of recycled noises in games, and the commonplace occurrence of games and movies using each other's noises, as well. Particularly DOOM, which I imagine used one of the cheapest and most common sound libraries. After hearing them hundreds of times while we play, we cannot help but be jarred by them in other media. That happens to me constantly, usually with noises from the pinkies or cacodemons.

I would love see a compilation video of recycled game noises. Someone get on that, yeah? Eliza Gauger

Original Digg post [Digg]

If you are playing an MMO, chances are it's World of Warcraft, Lineage (I or 2), RuneScape or World of Warcraft. Alice at Wonderland points to this fascinating chart that shows the obvious: WoW is doing amazingly well (no duh), most other games ain't. Kinda surprising to see that EverQuest is posting Star Wars Galaxies subscription numbers. Then again, maybe not. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Wonderland]

Sony Online has one more card up its sleeve to try and pull reticent Everquest players back in game: they're rebooting the entire world.

Sony Online Entertainment is giving EverQuest players both new and old a chance to experience the largest persistent world as it was in the very beginning by launching two Progression serves: "The Combine" and "The Sleeper". At launch, the Progression servers will consist of the EverQuest zones in Antonica, Faydwer and Odus that were available at launch back in 1999. Players will work together to level and conquer key content that will in turn progressively unlock every expansion released for EverQuest since 1999 up through 2006's Prophecy of Ro.

There's two parts of me. First, there's the largely nostalgic gamer who wants to experience afresh the magic of Everquest and other MMORPGs which I once loved for thousands of hours but have since viewed with cynicism. And then there's the guy who has since played World of Warcraft and recognizes Everquest for the homo habilis of MMORPG gaming it is.

World of Warcraft has single-handedly driven nearly to extinction the entirety of Sony's MMOG empire. Sony's practically giving their MMORPGs away with the Sony Stationpass: Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside, Everquest, and Matrix Online — all included for a single fee. That's nice for gamers and all, except most of these games are terrible. As for Everquest and Everquest 2, do any other MMORPG games look so old and worn in comparison to World of Warcraft?

This is an interesting move on the part of Sony, because it's essentially a public admission that Everquest can't compete... Everquest's only appeal is now nostalgic. Part of me thinks that this event is pretty cool, but it's also very clearly the death rattle in the throat of the deposed king. There's no shame in that: EQ's had a good, long run, and this is a rather sweet and ingenious way to send the old girl off. Still, we can't wonder if Sony will ever have a truly successful MMORPG (like EQ in its hey day) ever again... they no longer seem to understand the industry they largely created.

Don't worry if you've got a character in-game already— these are going to be virgin servers. Press release after the jump. Florian Eckhardt

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT TO LAUNCH NEW "RETRO"EVERQUEST PROGRESSION SERVERS

"The Combine" and "The Sleeper" Progression Servers will allow all players to start on a level playing field as they explore the online world of EverQuest as it was in the beginning

WHAT:

Sony Online Entertainment is giving EverQuest players both new and old a chance to experience the largest persistent world as it was in the very beginning by launching two Progression serves: "The Combine" and "The Sleeper". At launch, the Progression servers will consist of the EverQuest zones in Antonica, Faydwer and Odus that were available at launch back in 1999. Players will work together to level and conquer key content that will in turn progressively unlock every expansion released for EverQuest since 1999 up through 2006's Prophecy of Ro. Players must have the EverQuest base game to begin the progression and must have purchased the software for each expansion pack they are trying to unlock. In conjunction with this unique opportunity to start over again with EverQuest, qualifying inactive EverQuest accounts will be activated for a 30-day trial period and those players will gain access to some Station Players features.

SERVER FEATURES:

The Progression servers will feature the following:

• Normal, non-PvP servers (no transfer server) titled "The Combine" and "The Sleeper" in-game

• Each expansion will be unlocked by the server-wide progress of the players and the content they complete

• Two new servers for past players to re-experience an untouched world where talented and skilled players reign supreme

• New players will be able to experience all of EverQuest's content and start on a level playing field with veteran players

• Relive the evolution of one of the most successful MMORPGs in history

WHEN:

"The Combine" and "The Sleeper" Progression servers launch on June 28, 2006

WHERE:

Log onto: www.everquest.com for more information

And I'm being kind. It's worse—wooden, dull and way too slick. At some point, it's admirable, because I've always wondered what a press release read under creepy EverQuest music sounds like. Cutting them some slack, this is SOE's first podcast, and the guy at the end was okay, but still... Ease up on the PR hard-sell, guys. The point is to connect with players, not alienate them.

Microsoft's Major Nelson linked this podcast for all to mock. That bully. Brian Ashcraft

Find the Podcast Here [Major Nelson]

I have no idea what the source of this chart is, but glancing at the most current numbers it seems pretty accurate to me. (If you know the source, email me and I'll gladly update this post.)

While the dominance of World of Warcraft is unsurprising, it does look like its never-ending ascendancy may be slowing. The popular Lineage is taking a dive, nearly on par with its sequel, which for about a year was exceeding its player base. (I wonder what caused all those people to come back to Lineage in the last year?)

Can that many people be playing RuneScape? Their website says they've got 70k people or so playing right now, so I suppose a three-quarters of a million subscribers is possible, but I'd never even heard of it. Maybe we know the source of this chart after all: RuneScapes' savvy marketing team. Joel Johnson (Thanks, Llama3!)

Update: Thanks to everybody who pointed out the source of this chart, the very fine MMOGChart.com.

If you miss out on the Lou Gehrig fundraiser, you can also just type in /ALS in the game to donate direct to the association. I'm still holding out for the /tar heroine command. Brian Crecente

Schilling Becomes Bad Guy in Everquest [1Up]

The event will be at the Atlanta Mariott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, from Thursday through Saturday. It runs 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Here's a break-down of the faire:

Special appearance by Curt Schilling, All Star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, an EverQuest II fan, on Thursday, April 6.
Costume contest during the Fan Faire banquet on Saturday night, April 8. Fans clad in exotic EverQuest and EverQuest II character costumes inspired by the incredibly popular massively multiplayer online games.
Hundreds of fans from all over the world meet Sony Online Entertainment game developers and their online friends for the first time in real life.
Huge Fan Faire party at the Tabernacle nightclub (152 Luckie St.), with local Atlanta music acts.
EverQuest "Best of the Best" Tournament: On Friday, from 9 AM to 3 PM, 50 players will represent their servers and fight in-game for their fellow Norrathians' glory — the last one standing wins.
EverQuest II "Take to the Sky": Saturday, from 9 AM to 3 PM, dozens of players compete in a timed race to complete a high-level adventure within EverQuest II.
Real-life quest and wild scavenger hunt, featuring actors in EverQuest and EverQuest II costumes.

SOE Fan Faire 2006 in Atlanta this Week [Gamersmark]

Sonic Riders (GC, PS2, Xbox)
Sega's second console attempt at racing Sonic characters will hopefully perform better than Sonic R, but will hedgehog fans buy into extreme airboarding? Tons of screens and videos are at the official site.

Toca Race Driver 3 (PC, PS2, Xbox)
Codemasters ambitious catch all racer has all the numbers: 35 racing disciplines, over 100 championships, on 80-plus tracks. Great car models, extremely creepy human models. *shudder*

Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll (DS)
Sega brings monkey ball touching to the Nintendo DS. Work your simian ball around the hair-pullingly hard courses in true 3D. Same hot monkey ball action, just on-the-go!

Fight Night Round 3 (PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360)
EA Sports newest Fight Night looks like the best yet. The 360 version has been a long standing graphics showcase, with stunning character models and everyone's favorite new effect: sweat!

Everquest: Prophecy of Ro & Everquest II: Kingdom of Sky (PC)
The eleventh (eleventh!!) expansion pack for the original and the second expansion pack for EQII both ship this week, to our nations addicted shut-ins. More items, higher level caps, more character customization; if you play EQ, you know what to expect by now.