ZAM News (full)

ZAM News (full) http://www.zam.com/ ZAM gaming news rss feed SOE Maintenance Notice Sept 2, 2010 [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=23149 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/175834.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="100" />Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske posted on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500017867" target="_blank">Station Community Forums</a>: <blockquote> Account services, including account maintenance, all commerce, and Station Store will be down for maintenance for 3 hours on Thursday, September 2, 2010, from 5:00 am PDT to 8:00 am PDT. The Station Store and all commerce avenues will be unavailable for the duration of maintenance. This may also affect the performance of the forums and any or all accounts' abilities to log in. </blockquote> Here's our handy <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/cgi-bin/tzconv.pl?year=2010&month=9&day=2&hour=05&minute=00&zone=US%2FPacific&tozone=UTC&submit=submit" target="_blank">Time Zone Conversion Tool</a> to help you plan! Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:11:20 -0000 SOE Maintenance on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=23067 According to a post by Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/forums/list.m">Station forums</a>, there will be an estimated five hour downtime at SOE on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010, at 2:00 AM PDT.  The services impacted are: <ul> <li>EQII Voice Chat</li> <li>EQOA</li> <li>Star Wars Galaxies all servers</li> <li>Vanguard log in</li> <li>EQ Marketplace</li> <li>The EQPlayers Website</li> </ul> Here's our handy <a href="http://www.zam.com/cgi-bin/tzconv.pl?year=2010&month=8&day=25&hour=02&minute=00&zone=US%2FPacific&tozone=UTC&submit=submit">Time Zone Conversion Tool</a> to help you plan! Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:33:00 -0000 Community Address Added to Fan Faire Schedule [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22897 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=150/172232.jpg" alt="" />The SOE Fan Faire schedule was updated today, and now includes "an informal Community Address" by John Smedley to kick off the festivities Thursday night.  Fan Faires past have included a Community Address with high production values and players were disappointed to find it missing from the schedule.  Fear not, SOE fans, Smed will be addressing the masses!  See the revised schedule on the <a href="http://www.soefanfaire.com/schedule.vm">Fan Faire site</a>. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:13:27 -0000 SOE Announces Fan Faire 2010 Master of Ceremonies [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22830 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=150/171245.jpg" alt="" />SOE has announced that the Executive Producer of ABC’s “V” television series, veteran video game developer and ultra personality Jason “Jace” Hall, as the master of ceremonies of Fan Faire 2010 at Bally’s Las Vegas from August 5-8. Jace Hall wowed the attendees of the 2009 Fan Faire with a preview of the SOE documentary <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1471347/" target="_blank">EverCracked</a>.  Hall will maintain the flow of the show by hosting the annual Kickoff Reception, Grand Banquet and Costume Contest. "I’m honored that SOE chose me as their official emcee for Fan Faire," says Hall. "Giving the show a bit of my own flavor and personality and mixing it with traditions from the past will be just the right combination to make this event PWN 4LL n00bs!"   source:  SOE Press Release Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:35:59 -0000 Calthine's Fan Faire Tips [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22747 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/170467.png" alt="" width="245" height="152" />Have you <a href="http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/">registered</a> for Fan Faire yet?  It's less than a month away and registration closes in two weeks. That means it's time for my annual Fan Faire Tips!  This is stuff I and other Fan Faire veterans have learned attending past Fan Faires and other conventions.  All this may mean nothing if you're the type who can toss a change of undies in a bag and be good for a week, but me, I need to plan a bit.<a name="pause" title="pause"></a>Getting there: If you're flying, be sure to check the <a href="http://www.faa.gov/passengers/prepare_fly/">current FAA regulations</a> on what you can and cannot carry. There are, for example, some odd rules about extra laptop batteries. Check your departing airport's website for how early you need to be there: if you miss the window you might arrive without your luggage. Once in Vegas, plan on a couple of hours to get from the plane to your hotel. I recommend you catch a <a href="http://www.goingtovegas.com/kpv-get.htm">shuttle</a> to the hotel. It doesn't matter which one - they all cost about the same, $15 or so. Buy a round trip-ticket, because it's cheaper that way and all you'll have to do is call the night before you leave to schedule a pickup. Lodging: It may be cheaper to stay in a smaller hotel than the one hosting the convention, but if you can afford it stay at Bally's. Fan Faire goes just about all night and all day, and if you really get into it you won't have a minute to spare!  It's also nice when your swag bag has gotten really heavy to have a hotel room five minutes away. Where's the Con?: As you are facing the Bally's registration desk, turn 90 degrees to your right. Walk that way, past the Flamingo Road exit and past the North Tower elevator. Keep going down that hall. It will take you there. There are some great hotel maps on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500017284">official Fan Faire forum</a>. <img style="float: right; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/170459.jpg" alt="" />What Happens in Vegas Ends Up on the Internet: There's a sign outside the Fan Faire area warning that by walking in you consent to having your image used. Hence Ke'la linking that picture of me being thrown in the pool at FF '07 over and over again. Although it seems names are rarely attached to Fan Faire pics, if you're very privacy conscious wear a costume! The Devs are Nice People: After Fan Faire 2009 a dev asked me to pass this on: "If you see me standing at a booth or demo all by myself, please come talk to me!  I'm probably bored!"  The developers and other SOE staff are great people who love what they do and love to talk about it. Don't be shy!  On the other hand, they are working, so if they have to run off don't take it personally. Sign Up Early: Some activities have limited space.  Sign up early to save yourself a spot! <a name="pagebreak" title="pagebreak"></a><img style="float: right; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/170461.jpg" alt="" />Be kind to your feet: You're going to spend a lot of time walking, not just to and from your room but around the huge Legends Lounge and between conference rooms. You're also bound to spend a fair bit of time in lines. Bring comfy walking shoes. Unless you're comfortable in heels or cowboy boots for hours on end, avoid them. Your feet will thank you! Beware the air: I always feel odd mentioning this, but if your sinuses are sensitive in any way, be prepared. You're going from where ever you live to a place where outside it's hot and dry and inside the air is very dry and over-processed. It's so dry that I always lose my voice by late Saturday. Gum and breath mints can also help counteract the dry air, and keep us all from AOE effects when we're chatting. A big bottle of plain old nasal saline will save you a lot of grief. While you're at it, grab some of your favorite cold medicine, because I positively guarantee that someone at Fan Faire will be passing around a cold. Stay Hydrated: Keeping yourself hydrated will not only keep you going, it's a great defense against hangovers. I actually bring my own water bottles, because I'm cheap and nothing is free in Vegas if you're not actively gambling. Fill them half-full at night, pop them into your room freezer and top them off the next morning. Fill them up whenever you hit a rest room or water fountain.  Feed your body: There is, of course, food available in the hotel. Fan Faire veterans have been compiling <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500016653">a list of eateries</a> from the cheap to the lofty on the Fan Faire forums. But if you want to min/max Fan Faire, be aware there are no meal breaks once things get going. I recommend a hearty breakfast (even for folks like me whose idea of breakfast is a 16 oz latte), because you might <img style="float: left; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/170462.jpg" alt="" />not stop to eat until dinner, if then. I carry some high-protein snack bars on me (brought from home, of course, 'cause I'm cheap) ever since the year Niami Denmother saved my life with a bag of her famous Trail Mix. Nothing is Free in Vegas: Everyone talks about the free drinks and free shows, but nothing, nothing is free in Vegas. Every "free" drink requires you to sit and gamble. Every "free" show requires you sit through a timeshare presentation. Locals advise not to be sucked in by free offers. Wait, I think maybe the bathrooms are free. And the over-processed air. <a name="pagebreak" title="pagebreak"></a>The Nectar of Life: Coffee, that is. Every time I've been to Vegas there's been no coffee pot in the room. Nothing is free in Vegas: Bally's wants you to buy room service, rent one of their pots, or get a $6 Starbucks. Me, I pack a little travel coffee maker. Have I mentioned I'm cheap?  It cost me about $15, and easily paid for itself the first trip. It works great to heat water for tea too! <img style="float: right; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/170460.jpg" alt="" />Want to be Wireless?: Most hotels in Vegas don't offer free Wi-fi, and Bally's is no exception. High-Speed internet is available in your room at a “nominal fee” for 24 hours. The script the nice young man read me last year specified you need your own laptop with an Ethernet card. Don't forget the cable! Tech Toys: Don't forget your phone chargers, laptop peripherals, mp3 chargers, and all those other miscellaneous wires that are scattered around your desk!  If you leave one behind the only reasonable options will be to buy a replacement or do without. To my embarrassment, after saying that last year I forgot the proprietary cable for my camera and was forced to use crappy cell phone pictures during Fan Faire. At least 15 people attempted to read that card for me, too. Forget Something? Fortunately there is a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=&q=walgreens+vegas&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS350US351&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dos3TO2pOIOcsQPQ4KVS&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CAwQ_AU">Walgreens</a> and <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=&q=walgreens+vegas&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS350US351&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dos3TO2pOIOcsQPQ4KVS&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CAwQ_AU">CVS</a> on either side of the road right near the Paris, which is connected to Bally's. The tricky part is getting across the street, because it's a bit of a walk to the nearest corner.  6-2-1: This is the third year I've recommended the 6-2-1 rule. My friend Rijacki told me at my first Fan Faire that to "function" at a con you need 6, 2, and 1 of three things: <ul> <li>showers</li> <li>hours of sleep</li> <li>meals</li> </ul> It works in any combination. The recommended configuration is 6 hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower. But it's been done as 2 showers, 6 meals, and 1 hour of sleep. I skipped this one day last year and regretted it badly the next day. Leaving: If you're taking a shuttle to the airport, call the night before for a pickup.  If you're taking a cab, it's pretty quick to get one at the front door.  Check your room.  Check it again.  And again.  If you leave something there's a slim chance it'll be found and you can get it back, but don't hold your breath as it may be hard to find your cell phone in the giant box of abandoned cell phones at the lost and found.  Plan on being at the Las Vegas airport two and a half hours before your flight departs. Do you have a Fan Faire tip?  We'd love to hear it!  Leave your comments below.  We'd also invite you to link your personal Fan Faire blogs, photo galleries, and other interesting stuff on our <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/SOE_Fan_Faire" target="_blank">SOE Fan Faire wiki page</a>.   All pictures are from the Fan Faire site.<a name="pagebreak" title="pagebreak"></a> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:56:10 -0000 Double Station Cash Weekend Coming Soon! [Free Realms] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22640 On the heels of today's <a href="http://www.soepress.com/release.asp?i=351" target="_blank">announcement</a> about Free Realms reaching the 12 million player landmark, SOE also mentioned that there will be another Double Station Cash Weekend coming up to celebrate the 4th of July. Additionally, non-members will get a taste of membership, when a free trial period will be activated to last through the holiday weekend. <blockquote> To celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, SOE is running a Double Station Cash Weekend where players can purchase Station CashTM cards, excluding Starter Cards, from local retailers, which can be redeemed from Friday, July 2 at 12p.m. PDT to Monday, July 5 at 12a.m. PDT for double their value in Station Cash, which can be used to buy virtual goodies or upgrade to a Membership status in the game. Also, for those who have wanted to see what the buzz is all about, SOE is offering a free trial membership all weekend long. All players will have access to the membership content during the trial period and at the end of the weekend, players will have the option to keep their member status through a variety of multi-month membership payment options. </blockquote> Double SC will only be rewarded for retail Station Cash cards (excluding the starter cards), which can be found at a <a href="http://www.freerealms.com/gameCards.vm" target="_blank">variety of vendors</a>. Only game cards redeemed between July 2nd at 12PM PDT and July 5th at 12AM PDT will have their value doubled.   Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:05:41 -0000 Official SOE Podcast #88 is Live [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22602 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/168997.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="180" />The latest SOE Podcast includes co-host Linda “Brasse” Carlson talking about E3, G.I.R.L, and Legends of Norrath: Doom of the Ancient Ones.  Listen in as they start counting down the days until Fan Faire and Hallie and Emily continue to look into Hubert’s whereabouts.  Aaron Bisnett’s news gives all of the latest updates on SOE titles! You can download the podcast from the <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/podcasts.vm">Podcast Website</a> and iTunes (search for SOE and click "subscribe") Have comments about the Podcast, your favorite game, or anything vaguely SOE related? You might get a sweet goodie bag for sending Listener E-Mail to <a href="mailto:podcast@soe.sony.com">podcast@soe.sony.com</a>! Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:20:25 -0000 SOE Podcast #87 is Live! [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22486 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=250/168030.jpg" alt="" />Join the SOE Community Department for the “Secret Covert Ham-Cast,” the Official SOE Podcast #87.  In this exciting episode: <ul> <li>Podramady author (and EQII Community Manager) Christie "Kiara" Renzetti co-hosts.</li> <li>Emily tries to track down Hubert, who has gone missing yet again.</li> <li>The news with Jason Ryan gives you all of the latest updates on SOE titles!</li> </ul> You can download the podcast from the <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/podcasts.vm">Podcast Website</a> and iTunes (search for SOE and click "subscribe"). Your feedback is always welcome either on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/forums/show.m?forum_id=120">Station forums</a> or via <a href="mailto:podcast@soe.sony.com">email</a>. Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:00:43 -0000 SOE Official Podcast #86 Now Available [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22405 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/167202.jpg" alt="" />Join the SOE Community Department for Official SOE Podcast #86: the “Hodgepodge Cast!”  In this exciting episode: <ul> <li>Hear all about EverQuest II’s Halas Reborn.</li> <li>PlanetSide’s Black Ops event recap.</li> <li>The announcement of the Mr. and Ms. Challenge winners.</li> <li>Lydia “Zatozia” Pope talks about the upcoming EQ server merges.</li> </ul> You can download the podcast from the <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/podcasts.vm">Podcast Website</a> and iTunes (search for SOE and click "subscribe"). Your feedback is always welcome either on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/forums/show.m?forum_id=120">Station forums</a> or via <a href="mailto:podcast@soe.sony.com">email</a>…                         Mon, 24 May 2010 21:22:54 -0000 SOE Official Podcast #85 is Live [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=22304 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=150/166381.jpg" alt="" />The "PodSide Cast" (Official SOE Podcast #85) is live! This exciting episode includes: <ul> <li>An interview with EQII Senior Producer Dave Georgeson</li> <li>The Agency: Covert Ops</li> <li>PoxNora’s 13th expansion, Maljaran Shores</li> <li>PlanetSide’s 7th anniversary</li> </ul> So tune in! You can get your Podcast from the official Podcast <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/podcasts.vm">site</a> or the  iTunes store (type SOE into the search box and click “subscribe”).  Your feedback is always welcome on the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500016701">Station forums</a> or via <a href="mailto:Podcast@soe.sony.com">email</a>.                        Mon, 10 May 2010 19:53:13 -0000