Rift, Minecraft, EverQuest Honored at GDC Awards

The second annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards ceremony was held last night at GDC Online, and both Rift and Minecraft took home the top honors with two awards each. Rift earned awards for Best New Online Game and Best Online Technology, while Minecraft received the Best Live Game and Best Community Relations awards. Wizard101 pick up the Audience Award, which is voted on by gamers worldwide.

It's also important to note that EverQuest was inducted into the Choice Online Awards Hall of Fame. The classic MMO is in its 12th year of operation and has a new expansion scheduled to launch next month. Last year's inductee was Ultima Online.

You can view the full list of winners after the jump.

Clone Wars Adventures Surpasses 8 Million Users

It looks like Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is having a very happy birthday, indeed. Sony Online Entertainment announced today that the game has surpassed 8 million registered users in the past year!

Season four of the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" television series premieres on Cartoon Network tomorrow, September 16 at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT. To prepare for the new season, you may want to log into Clone Wars Adventures and play Mission on Iceberg 3 because it bridges the gap between seasons three and four of the show.

The press release also hints at some future game content tied to season four: "SOE is creating a new mini-game Aquatic Assault, a top-down 2D action game set in the Mon Calamari battle depicted in the premiere episode of season four. Players will take control of Kit Fisto and his Diver Propulsion Vehicle and attempt to defeat waves of enemies including Aqua Droids, Quarren and Karkaradon."

Also, don't forget that there's still time to participate in the Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures anniversary festivities! Click the link to find out how you can earn 5,000 Galactic Credits and a pair of chrome-plated blasters.

Clone Wars Adventures Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Sony Online Entertainment is celebrating the first anniversary of Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures by giving players Galactic Credits and chrome-plated blasters! Here are the details:

  • Jump into the game between September 12-16 to receive 5,000 Galactic Credits and treat yourself to galactic bling!
  • Everyone who logs in on September 16 receives an anniversary version of the first (of a pair) of Captain Rex’s chrome-plated blasters, the Vigilance.
  • Buy Station Cash on September 16 and you can claim the Negotiator, the second chrome-played blaster of Captain Rex.

SOE will be hosting the Clone Wars Adventures Anniversary Webcast on September 15 at 4:30 p.m. PDT. Senior Producer Todd Carson and Lead Artist Kelsey McNair will join Community Manager Lydia Pope to chat about new mini-games, new gear, housing features and improvements, the Season Pass promotion, and other upcoming projects.

Fan Faire: Clone Wars Update Connects Game, Show

During my time at SOE Fan Faire, I had the opportunity to attend a press conference to learn about the upcoming content update to Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures. Senior Producer Todd Carson and Game Designer Justin Dazet were very excited to discuss the Mission on Iceberg Three, an update that launches on July 15 and actually bridges the gap between seasons 3 and 4 of the Clone Wars television show.

Keep reading after the jump for all the details on the Mission on Iceberg Three update, as well as the trailer. There are some minor spoilers regarding the TV show, so keep that in mind.

ZAM at E3: Roundup of SOE Coverage

Sony Online Entertainment's E3 live stream just ended, and we have compiled a wrap-up to give you an overview of what the company is showcasing at the convention. One of the most interesting announcements is that Station Access will soon by dropping to $19.99 per month from the current price of $29.99 per month! They also emphasized that you can still register for Fan Faire, which will be held from July 7-9 in Las Vegas.

Sadly, SOE is not talking about PlanetSide Next or EverQuest Next at E3. However, they are discussing DC Universe Online's Update 4; EverQuest II in 3D; Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures' squads and tower defense game; Free Realms' upcoming ranching feature; their new PAYDAY: The Heist shooter; and Magic: The Gathering - Tactics' first expansion. Keep reading below for all the details, and be sure to check out the rest of our E3 coverage!

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Hits 5 Million!

Only 5 months after the official launch of the game, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures has reached over 5 million registered users!

To celebrate, the first 5 million players will receive an in-game golden Starfighter. Once the Starfighter has been granted you can select this bonus ship whenever you take on the Separatists in the Starfighter game.

Congrats to Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures on their milestone!

SOE Hosts Numerous President's Day Events

In honor of President's Day, Sony Online Entertainment is hosting special events in many of its games throughout the weekend. We've covered most of these events in separate posts, but here's a handy list of all the festivities, including bonus experience and item sales!

  • EverQuest: Double Experience Weekend from Feb. 18-21. There's also a sale on Marketplace items, including the House of Thule expansion.
  • EverQuest II: Bonus XP Weekend from Feb. 18-21. Enjoy the bonus on adventure, tradeskill and AA experience.
  • Star Wars Galaxies: Bonus Everything Weekend from Feb. 17-22.
  • Vanguard Saga of Heroes: Bonus Experience Weekend from Feb. 18-21. Crafting, Adventure and Diplomacy will all gain bonuses.
  • Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures: Get the Attack Cruiser Bundle for just 800 SC from Feb. 19-21. The Bundle includes Attack Cruiser House, 10 Medium Crates, 4 Red Light Globes, 3 Triple-Paned Windows, and 2 Red Spotlights.
  • Free Realms: All housing items, including lots, are 50% off from Feb. 18-21.
  • Legends of Norrath: This weekend, save 50% off special bundle sets. For a limited time you can buy special Inquisitor, Oathbreaker and Ethernauts bundle sets and get a guaranteed mount loot card.
  • PoxNora: A different item will be available at a discounted price each day from Feb. 18-21.
  • Magic: The Gathering - Tactics: Get 50% off the Four-Chapter Single-Player Campaign Bundle from Feb. 18-21.
  • Wildlife Refuge: Get 50% off the Desert Camo Truck, Forest Camo Truck  and Zebra Print Truck from Feb. 18-21.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures New Update!

The latest Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures update is out and it's the the biggest to date! Players will see Boosts, Challenges, Holoprojections and more.

Boost Points can be spent while playing one of the minigames to give the player an advantage. Each game has it's own boosts to help players complete each stage.

Challenges can be chosen to give players an alternate way to play games they already enjoy. Can you defeat a stage of Republic Defender if the Droids have been upgraded? Pick your stage and then pick you challenge to play in a while new way!

Check out the Valentine's Day items (above) which are also now available. Head on over to the Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures site for more images of the items and Holoprojections now available, or just jump in-game!

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures New Languages!

SOE originally launched Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures in English only back in September 2010. Now players will have a choice of five new fully-localized and supported languages have been added.

Players can now choose French, German, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin American) and Portuguese. Simply click the flag next to the 'Log In' button to change your default language and choose one of the supported options all from the Clone Wars Adventures home page.

The new language choices will not change the way you connect with friends. Players using any of the supported languages will continue to play on the same servers and can teleport to characters on the friends list with ease.

ZAM's 2010 Holiday In-Game Events Roundup

It's almost time! The halls are decked, the stockings hung with care, and you've probably got some time off from work or school. It's the perfect time to get in some extra gaming, and why wouldn't you? Almost every MMO is running an in-game holiday event. With all the new zones, special items and festive quests, it's pretty much a digital winter wonderland. So to make things a little easier, we've compiled a list of in-game holiday events to help you narrow down which game to play!