No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, everyone here at Sony Online Entertainment wishes you a very magical holiday, and a happy new year! We hope all your wishes come true!

To help get you in the festive mood, Community Relations has holiday podcasts and wallpapers to share! Listen to the Ho-Ho-Cast and the Scrooge-Cast, then decorate your desktop with our podcast mascot, Hubert the server hamster, hanging out in his holiday stocking.

Wallpaper Sizes: 800 x 600 | 1025 x 768 | 1280 x 1024 | 1680 x 1050

In honor of the coming holidays for our staff, we will be offering limited support hours for all games in the upcoming weeks. Tech Support will be closed on Friday, December 25th, for Christmas and will have limited support on Friday, January 1st (no phone support).

Happy Holidays!

Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

Celebrate the holiday season by throwing an Underfoot themed New Years Party! Show up with your Forgeborn Mace, Stave, Blade, Spear or Knuckles Ornament and spread the joy with a Sealed New Year's Party Pack and discounted Party Keg. Now in the Marketplace!

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Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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SOE is spreading the holiday love with the Station Cash™ Holiday Double Up! For twelve days, players with active accounts in good standing in EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms can take advantage of this special promotional offer ...

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Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down on December 18th at 4:00 am PST (PST is -8 GMT: 5:00am MST, 6:00am CST, 7:00am EST, 12:00pm GMT, 12:00pm CET) for an emergency update. The downtime is expected to be 4 hours.

To celebrate the winter holiday season, the SOE Community Team will once again host a live holiday party for you, our gaming community! Join us on December 17, 2009, starting at 1:00 pm PST, for our Ustream celebration, "Mischievous Merry-Making."

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On Thursday, December 17, 2009 beginning 6am PST the EQ Players website will be down for maintenance. This maintenance will affect all features of Station Players. We expect the maintenance to take about 4 hours. We apologize for the inconvenience.

'Tis the season once again for Gamers to help kids and other Gamers! Since 2003, Child's Play has raised millions of dollars worth of toys, video games, game systems and cash for 40 children's hospitals around the US and the world. This year, SOE will be contributing to this effort by offering the Child's Play Anklebiter Doll in EverQuest and Child's Play Bouncing Baby Panda Cub in EverQuest II for sale for 500 Station Cash each, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the charity.

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We're kicking off the launch of Underfoot with this week's Marketplace items! Enter the lair of Brell Serilis with a Forgeborn Shield, Bow, Great Blade or Dagger Ornament. For something a little different, take Underfoot along anywhere you go with the Aura of Lava.

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Journey into the undiscovered depths with EverQuest® Underfoot™, the sixteenth expansion of the groundbreaking EverQuest franchise. Underfoot presents a world unlike anything you've experienced in Norrath, providing the ultimate MMO gaming experience for new players and veterans alike.

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Volska's Husk is the carcass of a slain Greken. The Greken are a race of massive serpents that live in the lava of Underfoot.

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Official Podcast #76 is live!  Join us for Minicast #11, also known as the Scrooge-Cast, where Hubert takes us on a journey through Christmas past, present and future!  We reveal the lucky winner of our Holiday Carol contest, fill you in on all of the in-game holiday goodness, plus we chat about the DCUO Mass Animation Contest!

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Join us on Friday December 18th at 4pm PST for a special online event! Free Realms Senior Artist and character animator Floyd Bishop will be presenting a live demonstration on the animation process for video games.

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All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down on December 15th at 2:00 am PST (PST is -8 GMT: 3:00am MST, 4:00am CST, 5:00am EST, 10:00am GMT, 11:00am CET) for the main launch of the Underfoot expansion and a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for about 6 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed.

Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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As the air starts to chill and the frost begins to cover the ground, the season of Frostfell begins. No holiday season is perfect though and a couple of your fellow Norrathians need your help to make Frostfell a merry holiday for all! Visit your favorite major city and the Plane of Knowledge to find out how you can help.

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To celebrate the winter holiday season, the SOE Community Team will once again host a live holiday party for you, our gaming community! Join us on December 17, 2009, starting at 1:00 pm PST, for our Ustream celebration, "Mischievous Merry-Making."

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All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down on December 15th at 1:00 am PST (PST is -8 GMT: 2:00am MST, 3:00am CST, 4:00am EST, 9:00am GMT, 10:00am CET) for the main launch of the Underfoot expansion and a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for about 7 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed.

As you all know, on Tuesday December 8th, SOE launched an EverQuest® Underfoot™ Early Access program for all players who participated in all three of the Road to Underfoot events and successfully pre-ordered EverQuest Underfoot by 12.1.09. To all those who qualified, we congratulate and thank you for your dedication and participation.

Over the course of the last 24 hours it has come to our attention that there is a way for EverQuest subscribers who did not qualify for early access to gain early access, and teleport into the new expansion zones. On 12.10.09 there was an emergency game update to correct this issue. Players who successfully qualified for early access will be able to continue their adventure. Anyone who did not qualify will no longer have access to the Underfoot expansion zones until the commercial release of the expansion on 12.15.09 as previously described.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that you enjoy all of the new and exciting content that the EQ team has brought to Norrath with Underfoot.

FREE REALMS  - EVERQUEST - EVERQUEST II

From December 10, 2009 through February 10, 2010, connect with SOE in Facebook and Twitter, then rally your friends and level up our community through ConnecDING! earning great rewards* for all your fellow players!

ConnecDING! is a fun, social event. Each time we meet one of our goals - DING! Everyone in the game will be able to claim a cool reward! *

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It's now easier than ever to keep up with your favorite SOE games, online and on-the-go! We've pulled together all of the social media information for SOE's games into one quick guide that we hope you will find useful.

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Beginning at 1:00 AM PST on Thursday, December 10, 2009, all SOE game servers will be offline for hardware maintenance. This includes all of our MMOs as well as TCGs. We expect this downtime to last around 5 hours.

In addition, All EQ Live servers will be undergoing an additional downtime until 11am for a Game Update to correct issues with the Early Access for Underfoot.

We apologize for this interruption and will resume all affected services as soon as the maintenance is completed.

EverQuest® Underfoot™ is now live for everyone who qualified for the Early Access launch!

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Join EQ Community Manager Zatozia and members of the EQ Development Team for the Underfoot Early Access downtime Ustream event! The live webcast will be on December 8th from 6am until 8am US Pacific Time

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Early Access for the EverQuest® Underfoot launches on December 8, 2009 and the main launch is December 15, 2009 To help you remember some of the preparation steps here are some tips for getting ready for the launch.

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All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down on December 7th at 10:00 pm PST (PST is -8 GMT: 11:00pm MST, and the morning of December 8th at 12:00am CST, 1:00am EST, 6:00am for GMT) for the Early Access Launch of the Underfoot expansion and a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for about 10 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed.

Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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Beginning at 6 AM PST on Monday, December 7, 2009, SOE Account and Commerce flow and the Station Store will be unavailable due to maintenance. We expect this maintenance to take approximately 30 minutes.

This might cause some forum accounts to temporarily lose permissions, due to the inability to verify account status while the maintenance is taking place. This is only temporary and normal permissions will return automatically once the maintenance is complete.

All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down on December 7th at 10:00 pm PST (PST is -8 GMT: 11:00pm MST, and the morning of December 8th at 12:00am CST, 1:00am EST, 6:00am for GMT) for the Early Access Launch of the Underfoot expansion and a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for about 10 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed.

Fungal Forest is dominated by massive and colorful mushroom trees with fungus undergrowth. There redwood-sized fungi make up the bulk of the forest, with small mushrooms, molds and lichens covering the ground..

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Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

Enough Gem Steel weapon choices for everyone! Add to your set and pick up a Gem Steel War Hammer, Stave, Blade, Great Blade, Dagger or Spear Ornament.

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'Tis the season to be joyful… by sharing holiday greetings with everyone! This year, during the season of many holidays, the SOE Community Team wants you to help share your greetings and warm wishes with other members of the community! Send us your season's greetings for members of the SOE gaming communities (including development teams) and your message may be selected to be read live during our holiday Ustream party!

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Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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The Underfoot Early Access Qualification will end 11:59 PM on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009. This means that you have to complete all three Road to Underfoot events AND pre-order and purchase the expansion by then to gain early access on December 8th.

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We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great holiday, be safe and eat hearty.

Please note that Tech Support will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2009 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  There will be no phone support on Friday, November 27th but Tech Support will be available through email and live chat.

To keep with the festive mood, we invite everyone to listen to the GobbleCast, SOE Podcast's special Thanksgiving episode. You can also watch the Community Relations team's silly SOE Thankful Turkey Feast antics from last week (we made handprint turkeys.)

Get your own SOE Thanksgiving Wallpaper: 800x600 | 1024x768 | 1280x1050 | 1680x1050

Greetings!

As of 10:00am PDT Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Beta participants are now released from the confidentiality requirements of the EverQuest: Underfoot Beta Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Thank you to everyone who waited patiently for the NDA to be lifted before sharing information with their friends!

Please note that even though the NDA has been lifted, there are still some limitations. Also, the Underfoot Beta forums remain under restriction. You are not permitted to share information from that section of the EQ Forums.

Thank you for participating in the Underfoot Beta. We hope you enjoy it once it goes live!

- The EverQuest Team

Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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Have you ever wondered how our character models are created? There's a new article up on the SOE Art Portal all about the process.

Then become a fan of the SOE Art Portal on Facebook, and recommend us to your friends!

We hope you enjoy this look into the world of art at SOE!

Reminder: Help protect Norrath and quell the threat of invading Cliknar soldiers with Breaking the Seal! This final event of the Road to Underfoot will continue until December 1, 2009. Also, learn how to check your Road to Underfoot progress!

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Every week we highlight EverQuest community members. This week meet Sharrien from the Maelin Starpyre server.

Read More about Sharrien

Join us for the latest Official SOE Podcast! This is Podcast #74 AKA the Gobble-Cast, listen in an interview with EverQuest Designers Elegist and Absor, hear our Thanksgiving Podramedy "We named the cat Emily." This cast includes the top 10 things Gamers are Thankful for as well as insight to what SOE employees do during this time of year in Inside SOE.

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This season of the harvest it's time to gather together and be thankful with the friendly or less than friendly denizens of Norrath and beyond. From 12noon (PST) Friday, November 20th until 12noon (PST) Monday, November 30th faction hits both positive and negative all across the world will be increased! Gain or lose bonus faction with friends and foes this season! Join the Discusion

All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down around 2:00 am PST (PST is -8 GMT: 3:00am MST, 4:00am CST, 5:00am EST, 10:00am GMT) on Thursday, November 19, 2009 for a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be down for about 6 hours.

Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

SOE Thankful Turkey Feast: Live On Ustream!

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is the day we give thanks for everything we have. A day we gather together to take part in a great feast! In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, the SOE Community Team is throwing a special SOE Thankful Turkey Feast: Live on Ustream!

On Thursday, November 19th starting 2pm US Pacific Time, come watch the SOE Community Team celebrate Thanksgiving by crafting turkeys live on Ustream. We'll also be sharing thankful moments! You can come watch the show or join the live chat to tell us what you are thankful for this year!

Gobble Gobble you soon!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sony-online-entertainment

Join the Discusion

Take advantage of our 25% bonus to your Station Cash, this coming week! From 11-23 to 11-29, you can redeem your store bought Station Cash card for a 25% bonus to its face value.

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Have you been following the Underfoot: Unfolding the Lore series and want to see more of the expansion? The Zam Network has more exclusive screenshots of Kernagir, The Shining City! Visit Zam to see the exclusives!

We are pleased to announce that beginning December 17, 2009, SOE will no longer charge separately for access to Station Players premium features for each of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, EverQuest and EverQuest II. Access to standard and premium Station Players features will now be included at no additional cost for all subscribers to each of these games (with active, paid subscriptions in good standing.) Station Access subscribers with active, paid subscriptions in good standing will continue to have access to all Station Players standard and premium features.

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Spread some holiday joy with this week's Marketplace items! Server-hop with the Server Transfer Token to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones or just try somewhere new! Before you go, get ready for Thanksgiving with a Bag of Plenty, Title of the Glutton, or show off your weapons with Gem Steel Spikefist, Shield or Bow Ornamentations.

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Kernagir is also known as the Shining City, where the chosen of Brell Serilis go to live out eternity in Underfoot. It was constructed by the finest craftspeople of Norrath to serve and glorify Brell.

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Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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From 6:00 AM PST until 8:00 AM PST on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, SOE Account and Commerce flow, Station Store and the Station Marketplace will be unavailable. We expect this maintenance to take approximately 2 hours.

This downtime may also cause some forum accounts to temporarily lose permissions, due to the inability to verify account status while the maintenance is taking place. This is only temporary and normal permissions will return automatically once the maintenance is complete.

We apologize for this interruption and will resume all affected services as soon as the maintenance is completed.

In the Underfoot beta pool and haven't gotten selected yet? Here's another chance for you to get into the Underfoot beta! Submit a caption (word, phrase, sentence, etc.) for the image below:

View the Underfoot Beta Access Challenge #1

This weekend, November 14th and 15th, there is a Tournament of the Gods event in Legends of Norrath! The Tournament of the Gods is an all-new event that allows players to become "Travelers" and interact with the Gods of Norrath.

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The Swamp of No Hope isn't a place known for its cheer and good times. But you'll need to plunge on in to get a powerful amulet from the mighty Froglok who owns it. The Kaggy Krup scenario will be offered in Legends of Norrath through Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at 2 p.m. PT.

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Today marks the debut of the epic documentary EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest, available exclusively on IGN.com. The five-part weekly series, hosted and produced by Jace Hall, chronicles the trials and tribulations leading to the development, launch and success of the genre-defining massively multiplayer online game which celebrated its tenth anniversary in March 2009. The first installment is available here.

Check back every week through December 10th as each of the five parts are released:

• Episode 1 – Nov 12
• Episode 2 – Nov 19
• Episode 3 – Nov 24
• Episode 4 – Dec 03
• Episode 5 – Dec 10

EverCracked! celebrates EverQuest’s legacy by taking a look at the past, present and future of the franchise. The film includes never-before-seen footage and interviews with industry moguls and longtime players. EverCracked! details the events, products, personalities and art that graced the world of Norrath over the years, with many tongue-in-cheek moments that befit EverQuest’s own sense of fun and humor.

Every week we highlight EverQuest community members. This week meet Mordeqai from the Prexus server.

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Have you been following the Underfoot: Unfolding the Lore series and want to see more of the expansion? Check out these articles for a more exclusive look on Allakhazam, Caster's Realm, Massively, Ten Ton Hammer, and War Cry.

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Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

November 11th Veterans/Remembrance Day is celebrated by many throughout the world. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, which ended the fighting in World War I back in 1918 however it doesn't just honor that occasion, it is a holiday to celebrate the cause of world peace. What this day is really about is honoring our troops and their loved ones, both past and present, for all they have done for this country and our world.

From all of us here at Sony Online Entertainment to all of our present and former troops, their families, and supporters of freedom and peace, we give you our thanks. We salute you!

Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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Reminder: Help protect Norrath and quell the threat of invading Cliknar soldiers with Breaking the Seal! This final event of the Road to Underfoot will continue until December 1, 2009. Also, learn how to check your Road to Underfoot progress!

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The Legends of Norrath Hill Giant Tournament Pack is available now for a limited time.

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Lichen Creep is a lava-veined cavern that has been slowly mined out over eons for the valuable levitating stone ore that is used to power various creations in the Underfoot. Narrow veins of lava wend their way through the cavern floor and walls, occasionally forming small lava pools and giving the entire area a molten orange glow.

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Every week we highlight EverQuest community members. This week meet Nikbeni from the Erollisi Marr server.

Read More about Nikbeni

Check out these interesting threads and many others on the EQLive Official Forums…

Get ready for a safari, EQ style! Summon your own pet tiger or lion with the Beden's Collar or Collar of the King. Outfit yourself with a Title of the Hunt or Title of the Lion Tamer and get lost in the jungles of Norrath..

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Here's another puzzle for the Random Screenshot of the Week! Put the pieces together to see what the screenshot of the week is, then visit the forum thread and leave your guess for the location of the screenshot.

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