• 

  If you've never been to an SOE Fan Faire before, you've been missing out! Fan Faire is a great place for SOE gamers to mix and mingle with each other and meet some of the faces behind their favorite SOE games. Here's just a taste of some of the great stuff we're planning:

  • In-game tournaments
  • Live, game-themed tournaments and quests
  • A costume contest
  • Lots of social activities, including a Kickoff Reception, a Grand Banquet and a VIP Party with live entertainment
  • Sneak peeks at SOE titles currently in development
  • The 2nd Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
  • Developer forums and roundtables

  And that's just the beginning! No matter which SOE game you like to play, Fan Faire will be a blast! Even if you're not an SOE gamer, we encourage you to join us and bring your friends!

  Passes will go on sale later this Spring, but you can book your hotel stay now! The Las Vegas Hilton is currently accepting reservations at the discounted Fan Faire rate of just $139 per night. Just call (800) 635-7711 and tell them you're with Sony Online Entertainment, booking code SSOE8 or click here to make online reservations. Space is limited – so get your room soon, in case they sell out!

  Hope to see you in Las Vegas!

  Watch for passes to go on sale and other Fan Faire announcements on the Fan Faire site.

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Armand

  Forum Handle, Game Handle: doctoryes here and in-game

  Where do you live? Los Angeles

  How long have you played Star Chamber? Summer '06

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath, or Pirates CSG? Nope

  Do you play any physical TCGs? No

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most? No other game has held my attention. The only other game I play at all is called "SET". Oh, not true, I'm also the inventor of Trivial Charades. It's played exactly like Trivial Pursuit, but you don't use the questions, only the answers as puzzles for Charades. (Memorable moments include "Straights of Magellan", "Paris, France" and "Evolution".)

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber? Golf

  What is your favorite deck type? Zhikanii Anti-Clave (thanks Zorro!)

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise)? Engine Upgrade

  What is your favorite card (art-wise)? Robot Duel (also a runner-up for favorite card, since it creates a sort of sub-game, particularly in multi-player).

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator? I'm a Competitor and a Researcher (nicer word for Imitator). Even after playing for this long I still watch certain players' matches and write down every card they play from turn 1 on. The sheer number of viable strategies in SC is mind-boggling. I'm also an Art Lover in the sense that I prefer winning with a strange deck to a strong one. I can also appreciate a loss in a close match as long as I didn't bring it on with an error.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber? SC is the finest strategy game in existence, largely because of the dedication to theme within each race and tech through all 6 sets. There is really only one broken card at this point, Gone Rogue. It's pretty incredible actually. I understand that most TCG's are a shambles after a couple of expansions.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind? I was playing Ferrier against a very beefy Android deck. There was a certain amount of chest-thumping going on so I hoarded all 4 tractor beams for the inevitable home world assault. I played a Weapon Lockup on the turn my opponent attacked but still got fairly mauled. When I played all four tractors on the second turn of battle it still wasn't enough to wipe out his ridiculously huge fleet, but he did decline to continue the battle. "Watching your opponent limp off to die... Priceless..."

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?No, but I've written a number of articles for kitsdb.com, particularly focusing on orienting new players. The latest is called "What to Expect", and can be found at: http://www.kitsdb.com/StarChamber/Articles/WhatToExpect.php. A more general article is stickied on the forums: http://forums.station.sony.com/strategygames/posts/list.m?topic_id=7313.

  Feel free to send doctoryes a friendly note on the Star Chamber forums!

• Beginning at 9:00 AM PDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 all SOE account and commerce flow, the Station Store, character transfer service, and the CSG Store will be unavailable for maintenance.

  We expect this maintenance to take approximately three and a half hours. During this maintenance period game servers will still be accessible. Please watch the forums for further updates regarding this maintenance. We apologize for this interruption and will resume the affected services as soon as the maintenance is completed.

• Beginning at 4am PST/11am GMT on April 1, 2008 all game servers and community sites will be unavailable due to network maintenance. We expect this maintenance to take approximately 5 hours.

  We apologize for this interruption and will resume all game servers and community sites as soon as the maintenance is completed.

• Pirates CSG Online introduces its 7th expansion, Pirates of the Revolution! Marines, ships, and characters from American history come alive in this new set. John Paul Jones, his ship the Bonhomme Richard, and his deadly enemy the HMS Serapis face off amidst the ever-present dangers of Foul Winds and treacherously beautiful Mermaids. Protect your Forts with Marines, and fire your enemy's ships to the waterline with Firepot Specialists. With this many new cards, mayhem under the American flag has never been so much fun!

  "I have not yet begun to fight!"- John Paul Jones

  Click here for all the details!

• To provide our customers with more credit card security, Sony Online Entertainment has partnered with Visa and MasterCard. Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode have now been added to our Station Store purchase flow.

  Q. How will this affect SOE customers?

  A. When adding new subscriptions, changing a subscription, or purchasing software from the Station Store, you will be prompted to join Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. An application will pop up and prompt you to join the security program. Please enter all requested information. This is a secure site and only Visa or MasterCard will have your information.

  After you have signed up for the security program, you will need to login again to verify that the card has been secured.

  Q. How much does it cost to join Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode?

  A. It is completely free to join Visa and MasterCard's security programs for online purchases.

  Q. Why should I give Sony Online Entertainment my personal information?

  A. The information requested for these programs is not stored on any SOE servers. These programs are provided by Visa and MasterCard. Only Visa and MasterCard will retain the information you provide for your security.

  Q: What if my card issuer does not currently support Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode?

  A: Sony Online Entertainment will still accept transactions from card issuers who do not use either program.

  Please visit the Verified by Visa and Master Card SecureCode sign up pages for more information about these programs and how to sign up.

• We apologize for the short notice. This Friday, March 21st, Tech Support will be limited to Email only. Phone and Live Chat support will resume operation on Monday, March 24th from 10am-7pm Pacific Time.

• Keep Your Characters Safe!
  

  Account theft isn't isolated only to those who choose to trade or share their station accounts. (which is ignoring the EULA!) As the internet and online gaming population grows, so does the cesspool of scammers.There are a variety of ways in which people will attempt to gain access to your account, and the list grows everyday. Fear not, there are simple tips to ensure that your account is protected. Keep in mind these worn-out (but useful!) words of wisdom:

  Sharing your account information is never a good idea.
  

  Gamers have heard the advice before, yet a lot of people still opt to share their account information with close friends. Having a guildmate complete a quest for you while you're sleeping may seem mostly harmless, but bad things can happen. While it doesn't always end in catastrophe, you could log back in with a new last name like "Lovetrollslongtime" or something slightly worse which might result in a banning. It's not always obvious, malicious attacks that cause good accounts to go bad!

  I'm sure we've all heard the fateful stories of guildbanks emptied and outfit members booted. Sadly, this is often a direct result of sharing account information. Not only do you run the risk of virtual strangers reeking havoc on all you've worked hard for, but you make it difficult for SOE's customer service staff to investigate and resolve issues.

  
  
  Be aware of phishing sites!
  

  What is a phishing site? Simply, it's usually a website created to mimic a well-known or frequently used site in an attempt to fraudulently gain sensitive account information. Gaming communities have been targeted in the past via email, spamming a link that takes the reader to a site that, upon first glance, appears to be legit. The imposter site may offer in-game items for completing surveys, or pose as a game representative, warning that your account is in limbo.

  Here at SOE we do not offer enticing ways to earn in-game money through email. We prefer the old fashioned way of logging in, killing mobs, completing quests, etc. Be extremely cautious when exposed to external sites through email, claiming to be affiliated with Sony Online. You will only be prompted to enter your password when logging into an SOE game, or when visiting an official Station site.

  
  
  SOE employees will NEVER ask for your password.
  

   Not in email. Not in-game. Not on the phone. Never! We have ample ways to access your account; the only thing we require from you is patience and a Station name. If you suspect that someone is impersonating a CSR in-game, use the /report feature and again, do not divulge your account password.

  Things you should know:
  

   Account security is the responsibility of the account owner. This includes password protection, running virus checks, disabling file sharing, or any other means of checking that the owner's account has not been stolen or compromised.

  If you find yourself a victim, not all is lost! CSR's may be able to offer a one-time only "character restoration." But first you must recover your account (details on doing this can be found here.)SOE strives to maintain an exciting and safe gaming environment. To make things more enjoyable for everyone, we offer basic advice on how to keep your account secure.

  Time Honored Tips:
  

  • Use a unique Station name.
  • Use an alpha-numeric password consisting of at least 8 characters; a mix of letters, numbers and special characters is best. Never write down your password!
  • Never use the same word for your Station name and password; change it periodically.
  • Never trust a troll in a dress.
  • Always create a secret question when prompted (this allows for quicker password recovery and confirmation when needed.)
  • Keep your registration information, including current email address, up to date in so that we can contact you regarding your account and for retrieving lost passwords. (SOE will not use your email for marketing purposes, unless you specifically opt in for newsletters and announcements.)

  Keep your credit card information safe too. Here is a handy place to get some good tips.

•    
  

  As announced in a press release today, effective April 1, 2008 Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI). The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE's strong online gaming expertise.

  SOE is currently part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the new structure, SOE will continue to develop its games for the PC and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system.

  The day to day workings of SOE will not change and no employees will be let go. We are thrilled and excited by this change in structure! As Smed was quoted in the press release, "This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions."

  Press Release

• Thursday March 13th, 2008 Technical and Account/Billing will open at 10:30 am.

  Please visit the support site at http://www.station.sony.com/en/support/ to submit your inquiries.

  Normal Support will resume on Friday, March 14th from 10am to 7pm.

• Welcome to the first Online Strategy Card Games Player Profile! Each week a player from a different OSCG will be featured. Get to know your fellow players a little better!

  OSCG Player Profile of the Week: Leto

  Real Life First Name: Daryl

  Forum Handle: Leto

  Game Handle: Leto

  Where do you live?

  I travel a lot, but my official residence is Michigan.

  How long have you played Star Chamber?

  3-4 years.

  Do you play Stargate Online, Legends of Norrath, or Pirates CSG?

  I have tried both Stargate and Legends of Norrath (LoN). I played Stargate during its open beta. I actively play LoN, it's a nice contrast to Star Chamber. While Star Chamber is an intense, thought-challenging exercise, LoN is less skill-demanding. Neither game has captivated me the way Star Chamber does, but I play LoN as much these days to keep competitive for the generous prize support that game offers.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?

  No.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?

  I like turn-based strategy games that allow one to customize their strategy from start to finish. I don't really like reaction-time games as a rule, although for some reason I love Smash Brothers. I look forward for that to get released. I've been a gamer since I was young, but Star Chamber certainly rekindled that to the point that I consider myself a gamer. I also love board games, particularly Eurostyle games and auction games.

  What type of work do you do?

  Graduate student in Cognitive Psychology.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?

  My main hobby is making electronic music. If you want to hear some of my music search: Daryl Fougnie music. I'll even get around to adding my newest tracks one of these days.

  What is your favorite deck type?

  I play all races and have given all major deck archetypes a whirl. I must confess that I think I like Ixa the most. When one compares an Ixa deck to an Omior or Clave deck, it is striking how different in concept they are. The Omior card pool is full of powerful cards, and Omior decks don't need to rely on the synergy of the cards as much. In contrast, Ixa decks have to really fine tune their deck strategy to take advantage of their card pool. As my strategy involves manipulating my deck synergy to gain maximum advantage, I find that Ixa is a fun and creative challenge. It must be said though, all races have creative decks.

  What is your favorite card(playability-wise)?

  I'll start with my first impulse, and explain why this didn't make the cut for me (by the way I am choosing based on how much the card adds to the game, not based on power). Calculor was the first card I thought of, principally because that one card creates a whole new deck archetype to play. Indeed, Calculor decks are fairly powerful and a whole lot of fun to play. However, I can't pick this card as # 1 since it does not fit with one of Star Chamber's strengths. Star Chamber is a very interactive game, where you're constantly fighting, and reacting to your opponent's moves. In contrast, games like Stargate can feel a bit like you're playing two separate non-interacting games. Calculor's weakness as a great card comes at the expense of the fact that you can turtle and just essentially solitaire your way to a victory. It's still fun, and your opponent can still stop you, but, as I said, my best games involve a constant battle for position, and a constant attempt to out-maneuver/bluff/position/guess your opponent. So my # 1 pick is Mirror Universe. Again, this is a card that single-handedly creates a new archetype. And when this drops, suddenly the state of the universe is reshaped, creating tension and the need to reevaluate goals. As a card, it requires careful planning to take advantage of, while also being important to consider if you're playing against an opponent that could drop the card at any point.

  What is your favorite card(art-wise)?

  I would have to say Slander or Term Limits

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?

  I'd have to go with innovator. I enjoy building and trying crazy decks, even if they aren't competitive. The last major deck build I designed involved using Harbinger's Rain to turn the Star Chamber into a barren planet. I actually built that deck because a player suggested that Harbinger's Rain was useless. I had decided to see if I could prove the statement wrong. I think I proved that it has a use, although not a game-winning one :p

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?

  I like that a skilled Star Chamber player will never lose to a newer player based on a bad draw. I like that the game forces you to consider both the cards you can play, and the moves you can make on a Map-based galaxy. I like that as a TCG it doesn't have the typical feel of each player playing to their own strategy. It's a game of realpolitik and intense strategy. It's got everything that a strategy game needs and is one of the few TCGs where the player's turns happen simultaneously. In short, it's a grownups' TCG.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?

  Over the years I've had lots of great Star Chamber games. Certainly I've had many Multiplayer games that were unique experiences. In one intense game, each of the 4 players had brought and achieved some crazy combo of cards. I had 4 Show of Forces + Stealth Bombers + Despotic Senator. There was also a Mirror Universe deck, a massive citizen creating Silica, and a Spreading the Message deck. With all that going on, 150s turns are not enough! I lost to KrazyKow's Mirror Universe deck, but I probably could have won if I had been smart enough to optimize the Show of Forces.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?

  Nope.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?

  Heh, wouldn't you all like to know…

• Beginning at 1am PDT/8am GMT on Wednesday, March 12th all SOE services including game servers, forums, game websites, and subscription services will be unavailable due to system maintenance. We expect all services to be back up at approximately 7am PST.

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

• Your job is clear; hunt down the Forsworn and force them to retake their oaths to the Tribunal or face the consequences! You will not be alone in this. Along the way meet up with the Oathbound heroes Terin, Cyndra, Karlemayne and Eluviel and employ their special skills to help you achieve your goals.

  Inquisitor, the latest and greatest addition to Legends of Norrath, features 250-plus cards including new units, avatars, abilities, items, and loot. Get the scoop on all the new features here. Then head over to the Design & Strategy Articles forum where you'll find great articles on Inquisitor by the LoN game designers.

  Starting today and running through the weekend, the Tournaments Lobby will be hosting Release Events. Each player will receive one random Inquisitor Starter Deck and 3 Inquisitor Booster packs to build their tournament deck. Each participant will also receive a Burynai Rockshaper (3P2) digital promo card! Please see the Events Calendar for details. Don't miss it!

• Gary Gygax, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game has passed away today. We here at Sony Online Entertainment count ourselves amongst the millions of people influenced by this mans ideas, dreams, and hard work. Many of our games are a part of the grand legacy of fantasy worlds inspired by our first steps into the lands of Greyhawk, Krynn, Toril, and countless others, made possible by Gary’s game.

  In his lifetime, Gygax was the creative mind behind not just the Dungeons & Dragons gaming system, but a host of other fantasy role-play systems such as Dangerous Journeys, Lejendary Adventures, and more. He lived and worked as a game designer, novelist, editor, businessman, gamer, and husband and father.

  Over the years Gary has received numerous awards for his contribution to the gaming industry including entry into the Origin's 'Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame,' tying with J. R. R. Tolkien on GameSpy's '30 Most Influential People in Gaming' list in 2002, as well as serving as the Premiere Guest of Honor at Gen Con in 2007.

  From the beginning of the RPG industry to his very last days, Gary has continued to contribute to a wealth of games and supplements that can be found in game shops everywhere.

  Our condolences go out to the Gygax family, and to all our fellow gamers with the passing of this gaming legend. Thank you Gary, for your work and influence over the years.

  

  Gary Gygax at Gen Con Indy 2007
  Source: Wikipedia

• Beginning at 9am PST/5pm GMT on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 all SOE Account and Commerce flow, the Station Store and the CSG Store with be unavailable for the purpose of adding Payer Authentication (Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode Programs).

  We expect this maintenance to take approximately 4 hours. During this maintenance period game servers will still be accessible. Please watch the forums for further updates regarding this maintenance.

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

• Every Friday the Community Team gets together in an SOE game for some (fun) competition and to experience the games from a player's standpoint. Now's your chance to show off how awesome this game is! Vote for Star Chamber and get us all in here trying to blow up each other's homeworlds or lock each other out of the Star Chamber!

• To provide our customers with increased credit card security, Sony Online Entertainment will be partnering with Visa and MasterCard. In a few weeks SOE will add Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure to our Station store purchase flow.

  Q. How will this affect an SOE customer?

  A. When adding new subscriptions, changing a subscription or purchasing software from the station store you, the customer, will be prompted to join Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure. An application will pop up and prompt you to join the security program.

  Q. How much does it cost to join Verified by Visa or MasterCard secure?

  A. It is completely free to join Visa and MasterCard's security for online purchases.

  Q. Why should I give Sony Online entertainment my personal information?

  A. The information requested for these programs is not stored on any SOE servers. These programs are provided by Visa and MasterCard. Only Visa and MasterCard will retain the information you provide for your security.

  When accessing the Verified by Visa and MasterCard sign up page, please enter all requested information. This is a secure site and only Visa or MasterCard will have your information. After you have signed up for the security program, you will need to login again to verify that the card has been secured.

• 
  
  

  Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced a progressive new scholarship program with The Art Institutes designed to educate and recruit more women into the video game industry. The official SOE G.I.R.L. -- Gamers In Real Life -- scholarship is the first of its kind with The Art Institutes to encourage students toward career paths in the creative and applied arts, ultimately resulting in the development of games that are more interesting for women to play. Read the full article at Earthtime.org and learn more about this scholarship program.

• SOE is currently looking to fill several intern positions on various teams. An internship at SOE is a prearranged learning experience designed to place students on a project that is relevant to their academic and professional goals. Interns will work as part of a team with people from many professional backgrounds while testing their skills working on a project. A mentor will be assigned to each intern, who will provide continual guidance and feedback until completion of the internship.

  These are paid part-time positions (approximately 9 weeks in length) that provide invaluable real-work experience and offer students an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally as well as make tremendous networks for future career opportunities.

  See all the intern positions SOE has available by going to SOE Career Opportunities.

• Monday February 18, 2008 Technical and Account/Billing staffing will be limited to Chat and email support. Please visit the support site at http://www.station.sony.com/en/support/ to submit your inquiries.

  Phone Support will resume on Tuesday, February 19th from 10am to 7pm.

  Thank you!

  SOE Customer Support Team

• On Monday, February 11, 2008 from approximately 3:45pm PST until 4:45 pm PST, all SOE forums will be down for maintenance. The downtime is planned for only one hour.

• John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, is back for another installment in his regular blog. In this edition, he shares details about SOE's fight with combating fraud and the solutions being implemented in the near future.

  Click here to read the Station Blog!

• 
  
  

  Due to some changes in hotel choices for Fan Faire the poll has been changed. Alas when changes are made to the polls the current votes are reset. Instead of resetting the current poll we will have a brand new poll for you to vote on.

  We love seeing the enthusiasm of our communities when it comes to Fan Faire! We apologize for the inconvenience running a new poll may cause, however it is only fair to give you the chance to select your favorite date and location from the new choices.

  What could possibly beat last year's Fan Faire in Las Vegas, NV? You tell us! The time has come to pick a new location and as always, we want your opinion. Go here to vote on potential cities, dates and costs for Fan Faire 2008. You have 14 days to give us your two cents and help determine where the next great event will be held – so vote now!

  What is a Fan Faire?

  The SOE Fan Faire is a Sony Online Entertainment-sponsored event designed to allow players the chance not only to meet one another, but also many of the more prominent SOE personalities. It's a great opportunity to meet the real people behind the online avatars and the game itself. Though attendees will have plenty of opportunity to mingle freely with one another and make new friends, they'll also have the chance to participate in a number of panel discussions and game-themed live events.

  When and where are the Fan Faire events held?

  Fan Faire events are held in various regions throughout the U.S. and occur annually. We try to choose locations that will accommodate as many players as possible.

• Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, there will be limited Customer Service staffing on Monday, January 21. We appreciate your patience and understanding for any delays you may experience.

• 
  
  The year is 1720 and the New World is on fire.

  England, France, and Spain have unleashed their forces on the Caribbean. Naval officers captain massive warships through bloody engagements at sea. Freetraders charge through blockades and smuggle the war material needed to conquer the enemy's ports. Privateers raid enemy shipping, looting ships of their treasure and rival nations of their glory.

  Through it all sail the Pirates. Bloody, bold, and resolute, they serve no flag and heed no king. They live free, fight hard, and obey only fate.

   In Pirates of the Burning Sea you choose your destiny! 
  
  

  Blistering Naval Combat - Maneuver your ship in real time, turning one way to unleash a broadside and then cutting back to guard your damaged armor.

  Savage Swashbuckling - Our swashbuckling system is something you've never seen in an MMO before.

  PvP-Conquerable World - The Caribbean of 1720 is home to many dozens of ports belonging to the three great powers: Britain, France, and Spain. Each port is a valuable source of goods, equipment, and mission patrons.

  Sophisticated Missions - Our mission system gives you a starring role in your own epic. Each player accumulates a personal supporting cast of NPCs, including old enemies, new friends, lost loves, and treacherous allies.

  Dramatic Avatars - You don't have to look like everyone else. Our avatars are built with sixteen customizable slots. Choose hair, faces, footwear, hands, coats, hats, belts, jewelry, and much more.

  Action For Every Play Style - Whether your interest is in ship combat, piracy, commercial trading, or adventure, you have a role to play, and all your adventures take place in a dramatic world of conflict and change.

  Subscription Fees

  The Pirates of the Burning Sea does have a monthly subscription. The fees are as follows:

  • 1 month subscription: $14.99
  • 3 month subscription: $41.99
  • 6 month subscription: $77.99
  • 12 month subscription: $143

  Pirates of the Burning Sea is also included in the SOE Station Access subscription. A Station Access subscription will give you access to Pirates of the Burning Sea as well as: EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, PlanetSide®, Star Wars Galaxies™, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes™, The Matrix Online and EverQuest® Online Adventures™. Full access Station Access is available for a recurring monthly subscription price of $29.99/month (plus applicable sales taxes, if any).

  To learn more about Pirates of the Burning Sea, visit http://www.burningsea.com/.
  To learn more about Station Access read this article.

• What is Station Access?
  
        
  
  

  Station Access is an account subscription option offered to customers who want to subscribe to more than one of the SOE premium games and grants players access to EverQuest®, PlanetSide®, EverQuest® Online Adventures™ for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, EverQuest® Macintosh Edition, EverQuest® II, Star Wars Galaxies™, The Matrix Online, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes™ and Pirates of the Burning Sea.

  Full access Station Access is available for the low monthly subscription price of $29.99/month (plus applicable sales taxes, if any). The Station Access subscription fee is a recurring charge (just as current individual game subscription account charges), which means that SOE may charge your credit card each subscription period unless and until you cancel. Station Access subscriptions can be paid for with a valid credit card or debit card with the Visa or MasterCard logo. In addition to the fees described above, if you are a resident of a country or territory within the European Union, you will also be charged a value-added tax (VAT) equal to 17.5% of the applicable fee.

  Each Station Access subscription may only apply to a single account. You must sign up for a Station Access subscription for each account separately. Also, while you have access to all games as listed above, you can only play one game at a time per Station Access account (e.g. You can not run PlanetSide on one machine or in one window, EverQuest on another machine or in another window, both on the same Station Access account).

  With a Station Access subscription you will receive:
  

  Access to your favorite SOE Premium games - A Station Access subscription will give you access to your favorite live online games including: EverQuest® II, EverQuest®, PlanetSide®, Star Wars Galaxies™, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes™, The Matrix Online and EverQuest® Online Adventures™.

  Additional Character Slots - Receive additional character slots for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes (4 slots), EverQuest II (5 slots) and EverQuest (2 slots).

  Bonus Adventure Packs - Expand your adventures in EverQuest II with three Adventure Packs: The Bloodline Chronicles; The Splitpaw Saga; and The Fallen Dynasty, all included at no additional cost with a Station Access™ subscription once you have been subscribed to Station Access™ for at least two months.

  Casual Strategy game Packs & Starter Decks - Launch your pirate fleet with two game packs for the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game™ Online, as well as one of the four starter decks (randomly selected) from both the Stargate™ Online Trading Card Game and the Star Chamber game and a starter deck for Legends of Norrath: Oathbound.

  Newsletter - Sign-up for the Station Access newsletter for exclusive offers, featured content, SOE news and more!

  Standard features of Station Players™ - The Station Access subscription includes access to some of the standard features of Station Players™ for EverQuest, EverQuest II and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes but does not include access to the premium features of the Station Players service.

  A Station Access subscription does not include the software for the games themselves. You must purchase the software at retail or via a digital download and register a valid account key for each game/expansion you wish to play. For example, if you sign an account up for Station Access service but you have only bought EverQuest and PlanetSide, that account will not be able to play EverQuest Online Adventures unless and until you purchase a copy of EverQuest Online Adventures. A Station Access subscription also does not include subscription services for non-SOE published titles, such as certain versions of EverQuest, EverQuest Online Adventures or PlanetSide published by SOE partners outside of North America, or SOE's wireless or handheld games. Nor will a Station Access subscription include services for which SOE may from time to time charge (for instance, a name change and/or server transfer service). Additionally, you must provide your own Internet access and all required hardware.

  If you cancel your Station Access subscription or it is cancelled or terminated, but you continue with your individual game subscription, you will only retain access to the standard number of characters for that game. You will only have access to your additional character slots while you are an active Station Access subscriber. You will also lose access to any Adventure Pack content you received as part of your Station Access subscription unless and until you either purchase the Adventure Pack(s) or re-subscribe to a Station Access subscription.

  If you would like more information about Station access, please visit Station Players for additional details.

• We are aware that there are some issues with various forums loading properly. The problem is being investigated and we expect to have it resolved in approximately 2 hours. We apologize for the inconvenience!

• If you are going to be in Las Vegas on January 8th and find yourself craving a Warp Core Breach and great conversation, come on down to QUARK'S BAR AND RESTAURANT at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas and hang out with the SOE Community Relations Team! The gang will be in town for CES, so head on over and meet the community folks from your favorite SOE games and perhaps share a dry iced filled drink!

  What: Community Get Together

  Where: Quark's Bar and Restaurant in the Hilton Hotel, 3000 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

  When: 7:00 p.m. PST, January 8th

• There will be a period of scheduled maintenance on Wednesday, December 19th. During the maintenance period the following services will be unavailable: Legends of Norrath, Station Store, Strategy Game purchases, Subscription and Account Management tools, and Character Transfer Services. This maintenance period will begin at approximately 9:00 AM PST and last until approximately 3:00 PM PST.

• Keep Your Characters Safe!
  

  Account theft isn't isolated only to those who choose to trade or share their station accounts. (which is ignoring the EULA!) As the internet and online gaming population grows, so does the cesspool of scammers. There are a variety of ways in which people will attempt to gain access to your account, and the list grows everyday. Fear not, there are simple tips to ensure that your account is protected. Keep in mind these worn-out (but useful!) words of wisdom:

  Sharing your account information is never a good idea.
  

  Gamers have heard the advice before, yet a lot of people still opt to share their account information with close friends. Having a guildmate complete a quest for you while you're sleeping may seem mostly harmless, but bad things can happen. While it doesn't always end in catastrophe, you could log back in with a new last name like "Lovetrollslongtime" or something slightly worse which might result in a banning. It's not always obvious, malicious attacks that cause good accounts to go bad!

  I'm sure we've all heard the fateful stories of guildbanks emptied and outfit members booted. Sadly, this is often a direct result of sharing account information. Not only do you run the risk of virtual strangers reeking havoc on all you've worked hard for, but you make it difficult for SOE's customer service staff to investigate and resolve issues.

  
  
  Be aware of phishing sites!
  

  What is a phishing site? Simply, it's usually a website created to mimic a well-known or frequently used site in an attempt to fraudulently gain sensitive account information. Gaming communities have been targeted in the past via email, spamming a link that takes the reader to a site that, upon first glance, appears to be legit. The imposter site may offer in-game items for completing surveys, or pose as a game representative, warning that your account is in limbo.

  Here at SOE we do not offer enticing ways to earn in-game money through email. We prefer the old fashioned way of logging in, killing mobs, completing quests, etc. Be extremely cautious when exposed to external sites through email, claiming to be affiliated with Sony Online. You will only be prompted to enter your password when logging into an SOE game, or when visiting an official Station site.

  
  
  SOE employees will NEVER ask for your password.
  

   Not in email. Not in-game. Not on the phone. Never! We have ample ways to access your account; the only thing we require from you is patience and a Station name. If you suspect that someone is impersonating a CSR in-game, use the /report feature and again, do not divulge your account password.

  Things you should know:
  

   Account security is the responsibility of the account owner. This includes password protection, running virus checks, disabling file sharing, or any other means of checking that the owner's account has not been stolen or compromised.

  If you find yourself a victim, not all is lost! CSR's may be able to offer a one-time only "character restoration." But first you must recover your account (details on doing this can be found here.) SOE strives to maintain an exciting and safe gaming environment. To make things more enjoyable for everyone, we offer basic advice on how to keep your account secure.

  Time Honored Tips:
  

  • Use a unique Station name.
  • Use