ZAM News (preview)

ZAM News (preview) http://www.zam.com/ ZAM gaming news rss feed Defiance Announces Its Recruit-A-Friend Campaign [Defiance] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32585 <img style="margin: 5px auto; display: block;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/9/9/99f08f8652ff51134ed2f8cc9feda38f.png" alt="" width="630" height="314" /> Attention all Arc Hunters! Today Defiance has announced the beginning of its <a href="http://community.defiance.com/en/2013/06/19/defiance-recruit-a-friend/" target="_blank">"Recruit-a-Friend" campaign</a> and is offering players some pretty nice loot for bringing their friends on board the Defiance train. <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32585">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 -0000 EVE: Journey into the Unknown [EVE Online] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32582 <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/0/1/0119f4b90149f412e67cd8a065caea65.jpg" alt="" width="630" height="354" /> Like a massive fish tank, <a href="http://www.eveonline.com/" target="_blank">EVE Online</a> is a game that I love to watch. Unusually for an MMO, it’s the actions of players that create headlines across the gaming world. Whether it’s a simple mistake that has major consequences, or all-out war between two major factions, it’s fascinatingly unique. But if there’s one thing I learned from <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32359" target="_blank">EVE FanFest in Reykjavik</a>, it’s that observation only gets you so far. I couldn’t spend my days tapping on the glass and peering into the murk – I needed to dive in and experience it for myself. I was also curious – could I find my own stories about life in New Eden? <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32582">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0000 Hearthstone Deck Tech! [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32584 <img id="ssMainPic" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/7/6/76eff6f8c6f26774bda28e5dc4e261a5.jpg" alt="Screenshot" /> In the debut episode of Hearthstone Deck Tech, HSSpaceWizard gives us a breakdown of the Twisting Dragon deck. Each week HSSpaceWizard will be building, testing, and breaking down decks to help players get an edge before Hearthstone goes into beta. Every card shown can be viewed in Wowhead's complete Hearthstone database here: <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" title="http://www.wowhead.com/hearthstone" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.wowhead.com/hearthstone" target="_blank">http://www.wowhead.com/hearthstone</a> Be sure to follow SpaceWizard: <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" title="http://twitter.com/hsspacewizard" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/hsspacewizard" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/hsspacewizard</a> <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" title="http://youtube.com/hsspacewizard" rel="nofollow" href="http://youtube.com/hsspacewizard" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/hsspacewizard</a> <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32584">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:50:32 -0000 Eleventh Vana'versary Mog Bonanza Sale Ends Soon! [Final Fantasy XI] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32583 <img src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/4/c/4ce0680a0492084a0bd1f7a50eb00680.jpg" alt="" width="415" height="100" />  For those holding off on purchasing your marbles for the Eleventh Vana'versary Mog Bonanza, the deadline is fast approaching. On Thursday, June 27th, the venerable Moogles of the MHMU will close off all sales for the Bonanza, so if you wish to see if Lady Luck is on your side, you have only one week left! Purchased your marbles already or waiting until the last minute? Let us know over on the <a href="http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=1368445864292504735#7">ZAM forums</a>! <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32583">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:50:08 -0000 Rheingold Report: LCS Day 3 [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32586 <img id="ssMainPic" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/c/5/c517bb10028d64072b491ce4238cc16c.jpg" alt="Screenshot" /> With excellent overviews of each match and interviews with the expert summoners involved, RheingoldRiver brings insight into the events that enthrall millions as part of the <a href="http://na.lolesports.com/">League of Legends Championship Series</a>. RheingoldRiver is a valued member of the terrific <a href="http://www.lolking.net/">LolKing</a> community; the site for all of your <a href="http://na.leagueoflegends.com/">League of Legends</a> tools, guides and information. Rhein also streams regularly and you can get updates on her latest League of Legends content <a href="https://twitter.com/rheingoldriver">here</a>. <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32586">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:41:59 -0000 E3 2013: Wargaming Headset Giveaway [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32581 <img id="ssMainPic" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/a/c/acfdc0aaca032cd4d7730f985bf561ce.jpg" alt="Screenshot" /> Walking around E3 you find yourself bombarded with trinkets and trappings to make your luggage swell to the size that makes airline baggage handlers quiver. The most impressive bit of swag--yes, I know the word is painful, but it's appropriate in this case--I received at E3 this year was courtesy of the fine folks at <a title="Wargaming" href="http://na.wargaming.net/" target="_blank">Wargaming</a>: the <a title="Ear Force M Seven Headphones" href="http://www.turtlebeach.com/product-detail/mobile-headsets/ear-force-m-seven/342" target="_blank">MSeven mobile headphones</a> with snazzy Wargaming inserts, as pictured above. As tempted as I am to use them myself--and believe me the temptation is powerful--I decided I should give these marvelous examples of audio excellence to one of our similarly wonderful readers. <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32581">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0000 ZAM Needs You! [General News] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=30692 Interested in a career in the games industry? Do you have a strong prose style and a passion for gaming? If so, this is the opportunity for you. ZAM.com is looking to expand its writing team with a small number of demonstrably excellent volunteers. <div><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://zam.zamimg.com/images/0/f/0fa383abe0c0d5013750efd67e3150aa.jpg" alt="Screenshot" /></div> <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=30692">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:00:00 -0000 Patch Notes for June 19, 2013 [EverQuest] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32579 Here are the patch notes for this morning's game update (finally some new <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/EQ:Hotzones" target="_self">hot zones</a>!): <blockquote> *** Highlights *** - Hero's Forge armor has a new look! You can change your existing Hero's Forge ornaments between the new and old versions by right-clicking them. - Corrupted Shissar Fangs may now be found on many Shissar.  Norx Blackheart, who is currently studying in the Overthere, will be able to use these items to create a new set of armor ornamentations for you. - New Hot Zones have been implemented!  Head for the following zones in the following level ranges for bonus experience, and see Franklin Teek and Skal Nethul in the Plane of Knowledge for new quests. -- Level 20 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=95">Warslik's Wood</a> -- Level 25 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=135">Marus Seru</a> -- Level 30 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=83">Frontier Mountains</a> -- Level 35 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=128">The Dawnshroud Peaks</a> -- Level 40 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=157">Jaggedpine Forest</a> -- Level 45 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=77">Burning Woods</a> -- Level 50 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=294">Corathus Creep</a> -- Level 55 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=260">The Bloodfields</a> -- Level 60 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=295">Undershore</a> -- Level 65 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=175">Plane of Air</a> (AKA Eryslai, the Kingdom of Wind) -- Level 70 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=267">Wall of Slaughter</a> -- Level 75 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=611">Oceangreen Hills</a> -- Level 80 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=531">Hills of Shade</a> -- Level 85 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=622">Old Bloodfields</a> -- Level 90 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=807">Valley of Lunanyn</a> -- Level 90 - <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=749">The Grounds</a> </blockquote> <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32579">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:32:53 -0000 Moonlight Enchantments Start Tonight! [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32578 The monthly live event Moonlight Enchantments starts tonight! It is scheduled to turn on June 20th at 12:01am PDT and run until 11:59pm PDT on June 21st. The time applies directly with no conversion to all servers. Check out our <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Moonlight_Enchantments_%28EQ2_Live_Event%29" target="_blank">Moonlight Enchantments</a> guide and <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Moonlight_Enchantments_Item_Gallery_%28EQ2%29" target="_blank">peek at the rewards</a>! <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://eq2.zam.com/Im/Image/width=450/202000.png" alt="" /> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:31:40 -0000 Final Fantasy XIV: Crafting and Gathering [Final Fantasy XIV] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32577 <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/238698.jpg" alt="" width="630" height="300" /> With the rerelease of <a href="http://na.square-enix.com/">Square Enix’s</a> second MMO, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, a few months away, a few of us here at ZAM have had the chance to try the beta and see what’s changed. We all tried out the combat and looked at some of the major system changes and you can find out more about those in <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32570">Corey’s post</a>. While I put in a good amount of time questing and fighting like the other writers, it wasn’t my primary focus this time around. What I wanted to know was this: did Square Enix finally give me full-fledged crafting and gathering classes like they were promising when the first version of FFXIV came out in 2010? When Square Enix originally started talking about its second MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, one of the points it kept bringing up to show its game was unique was that crafters and gatherers were now true player classes. Players that wanted to dabble in crafting or gathering could still do so on the side, but those who were primarily interested in finding/selling crafting materials or in turning those materials into equipment and supplies for other players now had full-fledged classes to specialize in. There would be actual abilities you used, gear with crafting/gathering specific stats to get, and technique to learn beyond just clicking on an ore vein or hitting Create in a crafting window. When I played the open beta for v1.0, I was… well, I had a lot of less than kind things to say that are unfit for print, especially about crafting and gathering. Fast forward almost three years and a remake later, it was time to find out what had changed and if it was for the better. <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32577">View in full...</a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0000