ZAM News (full)

ZAM News (full) http://www.zam.com/ ZAM gaming news rss feed A Bibliophile's Guide to the Books of Norrath [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20628 <img style="float: right;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/148553.png" alt="" width="179" height="238" />We are pleased to help introduce <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApVtrw71FohUdGtKQnNIOHYwM1dMbnY2TVhfNVZJbEE&hl=en" target="_blank">A Bibliophile's Guide to the Books of Norrath</a>, a book cataloging project by our friend Aurelis.  It's been a lot of fun watching her scour <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/">ZAM</a> in her mission to catalog every single house item book available in modern Norrath!   Thus far she's cataloged: <ul> <li>428 books that are 100% verified to be attainable (this includes books that can no longer be gotten through normal methods, such as event-specific books, but were at one time available)</li> <li>2 books that have been discovered on some servers but have not been 100% confirmed.  While I count these books, some of you may not.  They have been marked accordingly in the list. </li> <li>20 books that have not been discovered, appear to have been removed very early in the game, or just plain don't seem to exist beyond a link in the EQ2 database. </li> <li>1 book that was once a house item and is kept on the list in memoriam of its untimely demise. </li> </ul> Aurelis is taking <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=0&topic_id=462941&#5163320" target="_blank">comments and contributions</a> on this thread on the official forums.  Moonlight Enchantments Mini Event Starts Nov 20 [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20610 <img style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=400/138472.jpg" alt="" /> The monthy Moonlight Enchantments event will start at 12:01am PDT on November 20th and run until 11:59pm PDT on November 21st.  Domino has hinted on Test about new house items! It's a one-day event, so if you want a sneak peak to plan your time, try our <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category:Moonlight_Enchantments_Mini_Live_Event">Moonlight Enchantments guide</a>! More Sentinel's Fate Screenshots Released [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20557 A new batch of <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Sentinel%27s_Fate">Sentinel's Fate</a> screenshots were released on the official EverQuest II site!  There's a lot of beautiful scenery and more mob pictures to speculate over.  See them at the <a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/screenshots.vm" target="_blank">EQII</a> site or <a href="http://www.zam.com/Im/image/gallery/148085">click here for the ZAM gallery</a>! <a href="http://www.zam.com/Im/image/gallery/148085"><img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 2px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=400/148075.jpg" alt="" /></a> Diligent Players Spy Sentinel's Fate Info [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20552 Players eager for a sneak peak at the upcoming EverQuest II expansion have been diligently datamining, and some have struck paydirt!  As reported at <a href="http://eq2wire.feldoncentral.com/2009/11/14/scrying-sentinels-fate/">EQ2 Wire</a>, player Vulkoor found some Sentinel's Fate files being downloaded via the EQII patcher.  This seems to happen every year, but they aren't usually seen until after Beta starts.  He reports 13 mob models with a heavy sword and sorcery, classical mythology, and D&D influence including Cerberus. Chimera, and Beholders.  He's also identified eight sentient races, two dragons, and six models of floating disk. Meanwhile EQ2 Wire noticed the distinctive filenames in the SOE-released <a href="http://www.zam.com/Im/tag/EQ2SF">Sentinel's Fate</a> screenshots, and has identified seven potential zones.  Some, like Stonebrunt Mountains and the Hole, were mentioned at <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=18658">Fan Faire</a>. While it's very early to nail down expansion info, the vpaks are usually a good source.  <a href="http://www.eq2flames.com/general-gameplay/55082-sentinel-s-fate-trailer-revealed-7.html#post1157366" target="_blank">Vulkoor claims</a> that he's called it right the last two expansions, and we've no reason to doubt him.  It's safe to speculate that at this late date the races and general models are pretty solid. Sentinel's Fate: The Seven Day Dilemma [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20548 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/147976.png" alt="" width="200" height="80" />The pre-order of <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/:Category:Sentinel's_Fate">Sentinel's Fate</a>, the 6th EverQuest II expansion, was <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/story.html?story=20519">announced yesterday</a> with a couple of surprises.  There are three packages:  a digital download, a retail box, and a collector's edition.  There are goodies in the boxes (depending on which you buy) like a copy of EverCracked, Station Cash and a $10 coupon for Sentinel's Fate to entice your friends to play.  The really big surprise:  players who buy a physical box will have access to the new content 7 days sooner than players who purchase it digitally. Naturally some <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=462534" target="_blank">brouhaha</a> occured. The big deal with a 7 day head start is that, for many players, MMOs are competitive games.  There are players and whole guilds who play the game as "race to the level cap."  They want to be the first to hit level 90, the first to conquer a zone, the first to slay a boss mob, and the world-wide discoverer of Smed's Sword of Ungoldly Uberness.<a name="pause" title="pause"></a>The largest outcry is from players outside the continental United States.  They feel they have been neglected by SOE because the physical box distribution doesn't make it to their area, or doesn't make it in a timely manner.  To get early access they will have to order from an onlne retailer (who may or may not ship to their area), pay shipping and perhaps VAT or postal fees, and trust the retailer to get it to them on time. Many have little faith in the shipping process and are irked at the extra cost. Christie "Kiara" Renzetti, EQII Community Manager, has been highly communicative on the official forums regarding SOE's arrangements with the online retailers.  "The agreement," she <a href="[http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=40&topic_id=462534&#5158916" target="_blank">posted</a>, "is that they will ship early enough (and we are providing the product early to enable this) that it will be in your hands on the day of release."  There have been some minor hiccups, like Amazon not yet accepting overseas orders, which SOE is <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=462525&post_id=5158509" target="_blank">working to resolve</a>.  <img style="float: left; border: 2px solid black; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/147950.jpg" alt="Sentinel's Fate Box Art" />For players who want to lay hands on the box, nothing has really changed.  Once SOE ships the package it's out of their hands; they've made their deals with retailers to assure it will be available and now we hope the retailers follow through.  Back in the old days before digital download if you didn't live near a major retail area in the Lower 48 chances were you wouldn't be able to get a retail box on launch day.  Digital download alleviated that issue, making it available to everyone with access and inhibited only by download speeds.  Digital download is an attractive package:  There's no overhead for the disc, package, or shipping; the content is up-to-date and you'll have minimal patching; and it's readily available to darn near anyone with an internet connection. The problem with the focus on digital downloads is the traditional retail market has suffered.   For years players have complained mightily that the physical box of EverQuest II just isn't available.  It appeared that many retailers had just stopped carrying it or once the launch copies sold they were not replaced.  SOE really seemed to be moving toward all-digital sales, and players complained that the game had no visibility anywhere, from retail shelves to mass media advertising.  In the eyes of many players, that's no way to grow a game. A new aggressive marketing campaign has been <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=461076" target="_blank">mentioned</a> <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=40&topic_id=462534&#5158791" target="_blank">several</a> <a href="http://blog.gregsplace.com/2009/11/new-quest-helper-coming-soon.html" target="_blank">times</a> recently. The release of the EverQuest II Complete Collection in October appears to be the first step in this campaign as old packages are removed from the shelves and the Collection package goes up, holding the place for February's release of Sentinel's Fate.  SOE cannot force retailers to put their products on the shelves.  With WoW making sales of every other game in the universe look minuscule, incentives are required to sweeten the deal and make giving SOE titles valuable shelf space profitable for the retailer. Hence the 7 day advantage with the retail box. In my opinion SOE has done everything possible to assure that all of the three expansion packages are available to the majority of players.  Special arrangements have been made with the online retailers to assure the boxes will arrive on time.  Some players will have to pay a higher cost for shipping if they want a physical box, but until they invent the instant-service teleporters there's not much to be done about shipping costs and times.  The digital download is still available if you're not in a hurry.  There will no doubt still be players who are just out of luck for one reason or another, but short of sending out staff with cases of the game to hand-stock every game retailer in the world, what else could SOE do? I sincerely hope that the online retailers are able to honor SOE's commitment to customer service by properly anticipating shipping times to distant locations.  I remain optimistic as usual, and can't wait to see players who are jaded by past experiences be pleasently suprised when the expansion boxes arrive on time for launch. Sentinel's Fate Screenshots and Trailer [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20524 <a href="http://www.zam.com/Im/tag/EQ2SF"><img style="float: right; border: 2px solid black; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=250/147956.jpg" alt="" /></a>As ZAM <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/story.html?story=20519">reported today</a>, <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3ASentinel%27s_Fate"> </a>the 6th EverQuest II expansion <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3ASentinel%27s_Fate">Sentinel’s Fate™</a> is now available for pre-order.  This highly anticipated expansion features Odus, the continuation of Erudite and Kerran lore, and a level cap increase.  We are very pleased to bring you <a href="http://www.zam.com/Im/tag/EQ2SF">brand-new screenshots</a> of the expansion that explore Erudin, The Sundered Frontier, Stonebrunt Highlands, and Vastly Deep. Click the picture at right to see this exciting gallery! We also got our hands on the official trailer!  Click play after the jump.  <a name="pause" title="pause"></a><a href="http://www.zam.com/video.html?video=277">embed</a> Sentinel's Fate Now Available for Pre-Order [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20519 <img style="float: right; border: 2px solid black; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/147944.jpg" alt="" />EverQuest®II Sentinel’s Fate™ and EverQuest®II Sentinel’s Fate™ Collectors Edition, the sixth expansion for the popular online game EverQuest®II, is now available for pre-order at <a class="releaselink" href="http://www.everquest2.com/" target="_new">www.everquest2.com</a>!  The expansion is scheduled to be available exclusively at retail on February 16, 2010, followed by the digital launch on February 23, 2010.  This pack is the complete game, containing all previously released content as well as Sentinel's Fate.  The retail and digital versions will be $39.99.  Additionally, a Collectors Edition including exclusive items is being offered for $69.99.  <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=0&topic_id=462525&#5158548">According to</a> Christie "Kiara" Renzetti, EQII Community Manager, Fan Faire attendees with accounts in good standing will receive a complimentary digital copy of the retail version, with the early access and items associated with the retail version of the game. <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3ASentinel%27s_Fate">Sentinel's Fate</a>, originally announced at <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=18621">Fan Faire</a>, will take players to Odus. It will have 12 new dungeons, 400 quests, and more than 4000 new equipable items. <a name="pause" title="pause"></a>EverQuest II Sentinel’s Fate features: • All Previous Expansions - Includes the new expansion pack and all five previous expansions and content • Increased Level Cap – Reach new heights with a level cap increase to 90 • Amazing New Zones – Explore two expansive new overland zones, The Sundered Frontier and Stonebrunt Highlands • The Quests Continues - Experience the legend of Odus through 400 new quests • More Dungeons - Battle through 12 new dungeon additions • New Weapons and Armor - Outfit characters with 2,000 new weapons, pieces of armor and items • New Alternate Advancement Abilities - Optimize your character's power and strength with all new alternate advancement abilities • Legends of Norrath™ - Includes digital card game client and The Fall of Erudin scenario • 500 Station Cash™ - Select unique virtual items from the in-game EQII Marketplace • 30-day subscription included for new EQII Accounts Bonus Expansion Items Retail Edition • Up to a 7-day headstart of gameplay access before the digital release • Coveted Guarding of the Reasoned in-game armor piece to provide extra protection on your journey Collectors Edition • Up to a 7-day headstart of gameplay access before the digital release • Exclusive Armored Highland Stalker in-game mount to accompany you through your Norrathian adventure • Collectible Armored Highlands Stalker pet figurine • Coveted Guarding of the Reasoned in-game armor piece to provide extra protection on your journey • EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest DVD Documentary Digital Edition • Coveted Guarding of the Learned armor piece to provide extra protection on your journey Players Celebrate EQII's 5th Birthday [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20493 <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/Im/tag/EQ26th" target="_blank"><img style="float: right; border: 2px solid black; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=200/147749.jpg" alt="" /></a>EverQuest II is 5 years old now, and SOE Community held birthday parties on Test to celebrate!  Players were treated to tons of free and cheap temporary goodies, pillow and book fights, and devs in fantastic costumes.  Naturaly there was tons of food and drink and presents for the attendees. Please enjoy this gallery of screenshots from today's party!  Click the pic at the right. Shaders 3 Sneak Peak Video [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20458 Ryan "Imago-Quem" Favale, EQII Graphics Programmer, has been working on the highly anticipated Shaders 3.0 since before Fan Faire.  He's been great about keeping in touch with the players via the official forums and posting "before and after" pictures of the project.  Many people were disappointed Shaders 3.0 didn't hit Test with <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3AGU54">GU54</a> this week.  When asked by players for a timeline on the project he <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=454116&post_id=5154259#5154259">posted</a>: <blockquote> I wish I could tell you before it hits the news, but decisions are always being made and if I say one thing then it's like a promise and I would get in huge trouble.  I can only repeat what's been announced already about release dates. </blockquote> The planned date for GU54 is December 1, barring unforseen complications.  Kiara posted in the GU54 Test discussion thread that the new shaders are still undergoing analysis and performance tweaks.  In the meantime, Ryan posted a little teaser video showing the Dragon Armor in Shaders 1.0 vs Shaders 3.0.  See it below the jump!<a name="pause" title="pause"></a><a href="http://www.zam.com/video.html?video=276">embed</a> EverQuest II's 5th Anniversary Party [EverQuest II] http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=20455 <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://www.zam.com/Im/Image/width=100/147526.jpg" alt="" /> EverQuest II's fifth birthday is November 8.  There's a birthday party and you're invited! Actually, there are two parties: <ul> <li>When:  November 9th at 5pm PST (1am GMT)</li> <li>Where:  in the <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=189E560A3EDD4DC148025DA0E15749DA">Community Lounge</a> on the Test server</li> </ul> <ul> <li>When:  November 10th at 11am PST (7pm GMT)</li> <li>Where:  in the <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=189E560A3EDD4DC148025DA0E15749DA">Community Lounge</a> on the Test server</li> </ul> There will be cake, fireworks, and some trivia with prizes! Make sure to update <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Test_%28EQ2_Server%29">Test</a> well in advance, especially if it's your first time on the server.  Here's a <a href="http://www.zam.com/cgi-bin/tzconv.pl?year=2009&month=11&day=9&hour=17&minute=00&zone=US%2FPacific&tozone=Etc%2FGMT&submit=submit">time zone converter</a> to help you plan!