• Greetings!

  There will be maintenance on the Session databases across all games on Wednesday September 9, 2009.  It will begin at 12AM PDT and is estimated to last until 12PM PDT.  All game worlds will be unavailable for the estimated 12 hour maintenance, as well as the Station Store and all commerce avenues.  This may affect the performance of the forums and any or all accounts' abilities to log in.

  We apologize for the inconvenience and will update the information as we are able.

  The Community team will provide updates via twitter for anyone who follows us:

  • Grimwell
  • Naylie
  • Kiara
  • Virrago
  • Zatozia
  • Soffrina
  • Momochii
  • Ashlanne
  • Gnobrin
  • Amnerys
  • Raijinn
  • MinervaSOE
  • Draakull

  You can also follow game twitters for updates:

  • Free_Realms
  • everquest
    
  • everquestii
    
  • eqoa
    
  • vanguardsoh
    
  • planetside
    
  • poxnora

  We apologize again for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

   

• 

  Labor Day marks the end of summer for those of us the in United States.  SOE would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

  Customer Support will be operating normally on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2009.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "I'm siiiiinging in the rays, just siiiinging in the raaays.. !"

  Thanks and congratulations to squiggle for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Instant Martians: Just Add Water."

  Thanks and congratulations to dommer2029 for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  ""Hey laser lips, your mother was a snowblower!" - Robot duelist #5"

  Thanks and congratulations to mattness for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "You want the truth about Heinz ketchup?
  You can't handle the truth!"

  Thanks and congratulations to brad300man for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "When Stu McDoo is around, you can't help but have a good time. You think I'm speaking figuratively, but I mean it literally! If you don't drink his Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters, he'll hand you a Molotov Cocktail instead!"

  Thanks and congratulations to dommer2029 for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This announcement marks an important milestone for Station Launcher. After months of community feedback, prioritization, trials, some errors (of course), and a lot of hard work and diligence by teams across all of SOE to deliver a release update whose performance is so improved, that we can finally tell you . . .

  Station Launcher is officially out of beta!

  Since we last shared our vision of what Station Launcher could be at last year's Fan Faire, we began listening to your feedback and it's been a long road traveled to get to this point . . .

  • You asked for a better (and free) way to use voice chat to communicate with guild mates. We've at last delivered on the promise of Station Voice to enable you to communicate with others, whether they're in a game or outside of it.
    
  • You asked for better performance to get game updates – you were tired of endless patch updates and content downloads that took forever. We are now using a new content distribution network which now enables updates at download speeds up to 4 times faster than ever before, and up to 10 times faster than the old launch pad clients. You will get into your games faster.
    
  • You wanted to be able to run Station Launcher without administrative privileges so that you can let your kids use your machine to play Station games.
    
  • New players told us that our UI and menu systems were too confusing to get stuff done. We've simplified the menus so all players can find and modify preferences and settings more easily, quickly download new games and spend more time playing games.

  The past nine months of release updates have allowed us to get closer to our objectives: to make Station Launcher a launch pad that makes it easy for our players to manage their Station games experience, to enable players to easily communicate with their friends, and everything just works when you use it.

  Sometimes our updates didn't work right the first time, but you were diligent in telling us about it. And we'd work to get it right. We think we're getting closer to delivering that "right" experience, but we're not about to stop. As always, please keep talking to us and leave your constructive feedback in the forums. It's the only way we will continue to improve and evolve Station.

  To get this version of Station Launcher, you will need to run the update installer located at http://launcher.station.sony.com/update/StationLauncher_setup.exe. It will update your existing shortcuts and preserve your current settings and preferences.

  Below is a list of the changes that are available in Station Launcher 1.1.0. Enjoy!

  Support for Station Voice

  • One can join as a character from one of the games or their Station Handle.
    
  • Guild and Guild Officer channels are supported for characters that have such membership. One can create and join a voice channel independent from the games by selecting their Station Handle; others may join this channel from Station Launcher as well.
    
  • In EverQuest II, one can join a user channel by typing the name of the channel in the "Channel Name" field of the Voice dialog. This is equivalent to the in-game slash command: /join voice channelName. If a channel with that name exists, the customer will be joined to that channel. If it does not exist, it will be created.
    
  • Channel participants are displayed in the Voice dialog. One can manage the settings for each participant with the right-mouse menu.

  New download mechanism for faster games updates

  • All updates are served via content distribution system that caches files regionally. Updates should be approximately 4 times faster than previous versions of Station Launcher and 8-10 times faster than LaunchPad.
    
  • Station Launcher now supports the ability to have multiple versions published, enumerated on the "Change version" menu item on the "Help" menu.
    
  • The application will open the Update Page to display information while an update is being performed, displaying release notes.
    
  • All updates now use standard web ports to improve connectivity through firewalls and proxy configurations (account login and game use still require UDP ports to be opened).
    
  • Games now default to the "Installed Games" folder, allowing them to be updated separately by another (future) mechanism.

  Administrator privileges are no longer required

  • All updateable components for the application are saved in a location that can be updated without Administrator privileges.
    
  • All games are installed in a location that can be updated without Administrator privileges.
    
  • No information is written to the Windows Registry as part of the normal operation of the application.
    
  • The operation of the application has been verified to work in Windows Vista with User Account Control (UAC) enabled.

  New menu layout

  • There is now a single menu that is consistent between both Games and Friends Panels.
    
  • All of the account menu items are now consolidated under a single "Account Info..." item under the "Station" Menu.
    
  • "Enter Activation Code..." is now under the "Games" menu.
    
  • Installed games are now listed on the "Games" menu for quick access to the Game Detail screen.
    
  • One can access the game-specific preferences from the "Games" menu when on the Game Detail screen.
    
  • One can start a chat or other Friends feature from either the Games or Friends panels.
    
  • The log is now accessible from the "Help" menu (as well as its original location on the Preferences dialog).

  Streamlined game install flow

  • Certain information is set to a default and left to be adjusted later in the Preferences dialog.
    
  • "Automatically keep my game up to date" is now ON by default.
    
  • Optional content is only accessible from Preferences.
    
  • Game shortcuts are no longer part of the installation flow; they can be created from the Game Preferences screen.

  Other UI improvements

  • The download progress message is focused on bytes remaining and observed bit rate.
    
  • "Run Full Scan" (replacing "Delete Scan Cache") on the Game Preferences screen allows one to perform a full scan and update of game assets.
    
  • Many of the Preferences categories have been condensed and simplified.
    
  • The Install Location screen uses a new dialog to scan for installed game assets.
    
  • The custom "Browse" dialog has been changed to a standard Windows dialog to select (or change) an install location.
    
  • The application no longer uses LaunchPad.exe to update its assets...one less hole in the firewall configuration
    
  • The mini update screen is displayed only when needed and may now be moved on the screen.
    
  • One should not get stuck in the "endless processing loop" when set to "Automatically Log in."
    
  • Game shortcuts may now be created at anytime from the Game Preferences screen; they will be placed on the desktop.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "100011001 10110 101011100
  roughly translated as"Leggo my Eggo!."

  Thanks and congratulations to LarsSonOfGowron for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "I can fly and shoot laser beams from my eyes, but I will never be complete until the Wizard gives me a heart."

  Thanks and congratulations to Dommer2029 for supplying this week's winning caption!

• 

  This Monday, May 25, 2009, SOE will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

  Memorial Day is a national U.S. holiday, designated as a day to remember those who have died in military service for our country. Some also take time to honor all of their friends and loved ones who have passed on. The National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 PM local time on Memorial Day.

  The day has also unofficially become recognized as the beginning of summer, which is often celebrated with picnics, cook outs, and summer sports and acitivities. We hope everyone has a safe and pleasant Memorial Day holiday!

• 

  We're getting closer and closer to Fan Faire... Are you ready? You don't need to start throwing things in your suitcase yet, but it's a good idea to start planning. We've got some advice and tips on stuff to do ahead of time and things you might want to bring with you. (Take it from us. We've done this a few times!)

  Please Identify Yourself

  Of course you'll need ID for traveling, but it's a good idea to keep it on you at all times at Fan Faire, tucked safely away. You'll need it for checking in to your hotel, procuring adult beverages and gambling if you so choose, as well as for picking up your Fan Faire registration packet. Some of our larger events also require ID and your conference badge for entry, especially our 21+ events.

  Another good idea, if you're planning to do any networking or you're meeting up with in-game friends, is to bring business cards. If you're meeting guildmates for dinner or before a panel, you'll probably need to exchange cell phone numbers, and business cards are a handy way to be prepared. (If you don't have business cards, you can always make some yourself and print at home!)

  What Did They Say?

  Of course we're all going to Fan Faire to have fun, but we're also exchanging a lot of information. Maybe you run a fansite or a gaming blog. Or maybe you're just there to represent your guild and get the latest scoop. Either way, there's a good chance you will be the designated "Information Bearer" for your guild and friends. Attendees are welcome to bring cameras, camcorders and audio recorders to the panels and events. Or if you prefer the good old fashioned way, notepads and pencils are also welcome. (Just be sure to avoid taking your recording devices into the casinos, as that's a sure fire way to draw security aggro!)

  Fun and Games!

  If you plan to enter the EQ or EQII tournaments, make sure you keep an eye on the EQ Players and EQII Players websites for more information and instructions on prepping for those events, if needed. Details will be coming as we draw closer to the event.

  The Community Team is hooked on the Free Realms Trading Card Game! We're bringing some booster packs with us, so bring your decks and any cards you want to trade, and maybe you'll go home with some new stuff!

  We'll also be having late-night gaming sessions. Although you won't really need to bring anything for these, do remember to have your Station ID and password handy if you want to log in to play on our computers.

  For the truly adventurous types, we will once again be hosting Live Quests for EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard and Star Wars Galaxies! We provide the adventure and gear -- just bring yourself and any teammates you'd like to play with. (Teams are usually limited to 10 people.)

  Travel

  If you'll be traveling by air, be sure to familiarize yourself with the latest TSA regulations. As of May 15th, they're really cracking down on ticketed names exactly matching your identification, in order to reduce security delays. Also, if you plan on bringing any foods, liquid/gel personal items (shampoos, toothpaste, and even medications) you'll want to know the rules for carry-ons and checked bags.

  Speaking of checked bags, your airline might charge an additional fee to check baggage so it's a good idea to look into that ahead of time (you might even be able to pre-pay). And don't forget things like wearing shoes that are easy to remove in the security line, keeping your ID handy to show while you're checking in and going through security, and making sure all your gadgets are charged up so you don't get stuck looking for something to do at the gate.

  More Tips

  Over at Zam, Calthine has prepared a very helpful list of some things to remember when you prepare for Fan Faire. She has some great tips, and probably some you wouldn't have even thought of, so be sure to give it a quick read before you pack. (Thanks, Calthine!) Our EQII community shared even more advice...like where the closest drugstore is!

  If you have any additional tips you'd like to share, hop on over to the Fan Faire forum and leave your advice in the Fan Faire Tips thread.

  We'll see you in Vegas, baby!

• 

  Greetings Everyone!

  We have a few emails that will be sent out soon that you don't want to miss! So make sure you're signed up to receive SOE Emails.

  What's included when you sign up?

  • You'll receive the quarterly newsletter for whichever games you select as well as any marketing and promotional materials for those titles, such as account winbacks and special offers.
    

  To make sure you receive the next one, do the following:

  • Click on My Account on the top bar of any Station page
  • Click on Change Email Setting
  • Select those you wish to receive
  • Click on apply. (If you aren't sure you are getting the emails, click on Make Changes even if you don't change anything, just to refresh the setting.)
  • Or you can just visit this link.

  

   

  How come I never seem to get any of the emails?

  There are a couple of reasons you may not be receiving the emails from SOE:

  • Update your Email Address: An incorrect email address is a common reason for not receiving the emails from the Station. To update your email address, click on My Account, go to email preferences and then click change next to the email address currently assigned to your account.
  • Email is being blocked: If your email system has a block, junk, bulk, or spam mail folder, you'll want to make sure that it allows email from soe.com [info@soe.com] and The Station@sony.com [station-mailer@sony-online.com] . You will need to check the options, properties, or preferences of your mail system to determine how to set this up, or click here for tips on how to add these addresses to your Address Book.
  • Options not saved: There's a chance that your options were not set correctly when the system changed over to this system. To fix this, click on the [Clear All] link and click on Make Changes. Then select your options again and click on Make Changes again. That should refresh the list.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "A dark night on a planet that knows how to keep its secrets, but on the 12th floor of the Krebco Building, one plant is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions..."

  Thanks and congratulations to Mattness for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "I'm sorry Mr. Bush, but you have to give Mr. Obama his seat back."

  Thanks and congratulations to LarsSonofGowron for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Intergalactic dragons destroy entire worlds when they hatch."

  Thanks and congratulations to dommer2029 for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Dolly?!!? has anyone seen Dolly?!?! Which one of you was Dolly's line buddy??!!"

  Thanks and congratulations to LarsSonofGowron for supplying this week's winning caption!

• Beginning at 3 AM PDT on Thursday, April 16, 2009, SOE Account and Commerce flow, Station Store and the Station Marketplace will be unavailable due to maintenance. We expect this maintenance to take approximately 5 hours.

  During this time, no new game sessions will be able to be started. Players already in-game should be able to stay in the zone they are in, but changing zones will cause you to lose your session. We expect the session maintenance to take approximately 2 hours.

  This might 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.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Alas, poor Yoricbot! I knew him well."

  Thanks and congratulations to Tsai for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  ""Red Alert, Red Alert : incoming vessel"
  Human Recruit : Please please please let this be a drill.
  Clave Recruit : You humans are so weak.
  "This is not a drill. Repeat : This is NOT a Drill"
  Human : Man do you smell that stench all of a sudden? What is that?
  Clave : Eh... dog pee... I think.
  Human : Wow I was just gonna say cat... oh. Oooooh."
  

  Thanks and congratulations to cosmopolice for supplying this week's winning caption!

• Round 1 Voting is now LIVE in The Escapist's March Mayhem: Developer's Showdown, where the top 64 game developers go head-to-head to see who is the best. The elimination style tournament has started and won't end until one developer remains, and it's YOU who will determine the outcome of each match-up by voting for your favorite developer! If you need a little more info to get you started, they have a video on their site.

  You can help vote SOE to the top! In the first round of the West Division SOE is facing Ironclad. Show the world who your favorite developer is and help us take down those guys at Ironclad. (We're sure they're very nice, but this is a competition after all!) Just register for free, then place your vote to make sure your team makes it all the way to the end!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  ""The Thinker" as reimagined during the Zhikanii occupation of Earth."

  Thanks and congratulations to LarsSonofGowron for supplying this week's winning caption!

• 

  If you have never been to an SOE Fan Faire this is the year to make the trek to Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas! SOE is planning a big birthday bash for the EverQuest 10th anniversary, and players of all SOE games are invited to join the party! 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 activities we're planning:

  • Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles at the Third Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
  • Autograph signings with members of the original EQ development team and other key contributors
  • Lots of in-game tournaments; and live, game-themed competitions and quests
  • Developer forums and roundtables
  • Cool giveaways and other fun items!
  • Player of the Year - details coming soon

  And, that's just the beginning! Visit the Fan Faire website for more details at www.soefanfaire.com. Tickets are expected to go on sale in April.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Ok, remind me who is this Von Neumann fellow, and why should I care? And what is all that gray ooze doing on the lawn?"

  Thanks and congratulations to Jmart for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "We here at KrebcOpec feel that the customer's right to drive the vehicle of their choice is inalienable . . . no matter HOW bad the mileage may be!"

  Thanks and congratulations to Jmart for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Ian

  Forum Handle: onomastikon

  Game Handle: onomastikon

  Where do you live?
  Berlin, Germany

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  Since August of 2008.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath, Pirates CSG or the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game?
  No, I do not play any of those games.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  No. To be honest, I am not much of a card collection person. This is my first TCG. I think without SC, I would never have played any TCG whatsoever. It is SC's unique angle which got me interested. What made me even try it in the first place was Bruce Geryk's excellent review on Gamespot from a few years back.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I started gaming back in the 1970's with Dungeons and Dragons. I still like RPGs. We had a CP/M machine as well and I loved playing "adventure" with my mother. I'll never forget that crazy syntax and those fun text-based games. I was less into Atari when it came out, but enjoyed the more "modern" computer RPGs like Fallout when they arrived. One of my favorite all-time games is Planescape: Torment.

  What type of work do you do?
  I just switched. For about 6 years, I had been working in an independent research think-tank for ethics. Now, I teach Ethics, English, and Philosophical Anthropology at a small polytechnic whose main purpose is to train people to become social workers.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I have quite a bunch, so I'll list them in sections:

  - Peaceful sports: I do hiking, mountain climbing, diving, bodysurfing (when I can find a place with waves), and weightlifting.

  - Cooking. I used to work as a professional cook, and now I spend a lot of time and effort in cooking (from purchasing to preparing and then finishing). I particularly enjoy cooking for lots of people (10-12). Sadly, no more than 12 people fit in our apartment, so that's the limit. I also used to be the "pass man" in a larger restaurant in Berlin, so I do a lot of food decorating, or decorating with food, whatever the right expression in English would be.

  - I also write (mostly non-fiction in German, but some fiction in English). My published work is mostly in the field of analytical philosophy, semiotics, ethics, or the philosophy of mind. If the force is with me, the MIT Press could be bringing out my next book, my first in English, this year (but no contract signed yet). (And in case anybody thinks that's glamourous or something: Remember, I do not ever see a penny of money from any of these works.) I also spend a good deal of time in spurts as a co-editor of GOLEM, a tri-lingual European-Jewish magazine on culture and philosophy (http://www.golem-journal.de).

  - Combat sports. I dabble in full-contact combat sports such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, freestyle wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and traditional kickboxing. But I am really bad. Is there a word for the opposite of "undefeated"? Unvictorious? I have never won a single match! Ever!

  - I also spend a lot of time with "culture", usually this is painting, photography, or sculpture. Both my wife and my father-in-law studied fine art, and they teach me a lot, and I tag along and go to museums and galleries and exhibitions and stuff, and my wife and I try to collect artworks we can afford. My favorite hobby, however, is probably playing with my son (current favorite game: horsey).

  What is your favorite deck type?
  I like silly combos with no competitive value but which are fun and surprising.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  You can't beat Engine Upgrade. There's nothing quite like an Android Cruiser being where you didnt want him to be.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  I like Ruined Plans for obvious reasons. But I also like just about everything Lee Moyer did. I also can think of Disarmament, Hand of Conquest, and Lilith Model as ones that stick out without having to look them up.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  I am probably not a competitor, since I am pretty bad, and I am too slow and unoriginal to be an innovator, and I can't really get into the "art" of the cards that much, so I suppose I am a "Just For Fun" kind of guy. I suppose competitor would come closest, however, since I do actually like to play to win – I just don't win much!

  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 an odd Ferrier Call-of-the-Atok deck vs a longstanding vet on Wormhole X-treme. I had a lot of battle avoidance, but was matched with the worst enemy for it: Ixa, and he had a deck full of cruisers, whose torpedoes wouldn't let me sneak through. He went after my home world with 6 or 7 cruisers and 6 or 7 influence, just as I was able to get out my Emperor. My emperor arrived in the nick of time: I had ONE point of hull on my starbase left, everything else was destroyed and bombed away. That one point of hull was enough: I won politically a few turns later.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  That's hard, because there is so much goodness to like. I'll try to keep it short however: The community is so amazing, it's better than any other I know. Truly wonderful people. Then: I love the fact that you can fire up the client and start playing in seconds, and that a match itself can be over in 30 minutes. And: It's so variable. Even if you play the same deck over and over vs. the same opponent with the same deck over and over, each game will be different, sometimes vastly so. But there is just so much variety, it's great. I rarely play the same deck twice. What's more: For a game of this kind, I find it exceptionally well-balanced, with very few exceptions. And: The three distinct victory conditions really make for an excellent, well-balanced, exciting game all the time, with lots of surprises.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  I do not.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  Between the ages of 22 and 25, I earned most of my money as a nude model.

  Feel free to leave Onomastikon a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 

  On Monday we'll be observing Presidents' Day, a federal holiday in the United States. Originally Presidents' Day was a holiday honoring George Washington's birthday and was observed on his birthday, February 22nd. In more recent years the holiday was expanded to honor both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12th, and was moved to the third Monday of February.

  Some of us might remember celebrating the two presidents' birthdays separately back in our schooldays, and many of our players are not from the US. Stop by the Star Chamber forums and tell us about your Presidents Day memories or similar holidays you observe!

  Please note that due to the holiday, SOE's Customer Service staffing will be limited on Monday, February 16th. We appreciate your patience and understanding for any delays you may experience.

  Enjoy our Presidential Hamster!

  Avatar size

  

  Small – Click for Large

  

  Small Wallpaper!

  Large Wallpaper!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "... now, where did I put that file?"

  Thanks and congratulations to Tsai for supplying this week's winning caption!

• 

  We've combed through every piece of feedback and have worked hard to implement much of it to improve your overall experience and satisfaction. The daily usage levels indicate that more and more of you are adopting Station Launcher as your everyday launchpad for your game updates, to launch your games, and to connect with friends and guild mates online.

  A new release update of Station Launcher was launched today, Monday, February 9th. It features improvements based heavily on feedback from the Station Launcher forum - especially for the functionality around the Friends network.

  Here is a rundown of what you can expect in this update:

  • "Inactive" Characters – A large number of players have reported that the Friends network contains characters that have long been abandoned. While we're working with the game teams to purge these from our databases, we've also enabled the client to mark a character as "Inactive". An inactive character will not be logged into the Friends network nor will it be displayed on the Friends panel. This can be controlled on the "Preferences" dialog, under the "Friends Privacy" category.
     
  • Context Menus on Friends panel – You can now apply actions to characters and their friends on the Friends panel by using the right mouse-click, or "context" menu. For Characters, one can change the state and visibility of that character. There are also shortcuts to add or ignore a friend of that character. For friends, once can initiate a chat session, edit the label, ignore or remove the friend. You can apply most actions to multiple selected characters or friends as well. Remember, when you remove a friend within Station Launcher, you also remove them from your in-game friends list.
     
  • Join Friend in Game – When you find one of your friends is online in a particular game, you can select "Join [friend] in [game]". This action will launch that game with the appropriate character/server selected.
     
  • Server Name for Character – When your characters are displayed in the Friends panel (on the "By Character" tab), the server name will be displayed as well. This will help differentiate customers who have characters with the same name on multiple servers of a particular game.
     
  • Server Name in "Add Friend…" – The server name has also been added to the "Add Friend" dialog.
     
  • Improved Scanning Performance – Before a game is launched, the Station Launcher will scan the game directory to make sure that all assets are up to date. The performance of this process has been improved.
     
  • "Exit" Menu Item – There is a new menu item under the "Account" menu on by the Games and Friends panel. This will allow one to completely shut down the Station Launcher application. Previously, this was only available as on the context menu of the icon in the Windows system tray (lower right corner).
     
  • Automatic Re-Login – There is an item on the "Preferences" dialog (under the "Log-In / Log-out" category) that will allow one to "Automatically log me in". This is normally used for when the application is started. If the network is disconnected (and this setting is enabled), the application will try to re-login when connectivity is restored.
     
  • "Disconnect" on Friends Panel – Instead of "Log Out", the Friends panel now has a button called "Disconnect". This will disconnect the account from the Friends network without causing a complete "log out" for the application. This is the same as marking all characters as "disconnected" (in the menu at the bottom of the panel).
     
  • Update Notes instead of "News" – When you launch the Station Launcher with the "game" command line argument (e.g. "--game EQ"), the Update Notes pop-out for that game will automatically open. Previously, the "News" pop-out would open.
     
  • Direct to Try/Buy/Activate - When you launch the Station Launcher with a "game" command line argument (e.g. "--game EQ") to a game which you do not have a subscription, you will be automatically taken to the "Try/Buy/Activate" screen.
     
  • Return to Game Select - Previously, the application would always display the "MMO" tab when going to the Game Select screen, even if one was returning from a Game Update screen from the "Strategy" tab. This bug has been fixed - you will return to the correct tab.
     
  • Support Links - The Game Support links from the Help menu have been updated so that they point to the correct address.
     
  • Pirates of the Burning Sea - The Update Notes and support URLs have been updated for the Pirates of the Burning Sea. Arrrrrgh!
     
  • Feedback - The "Feedback" menu item in the Help menu points to our perpetual "How are we doing?" survey, instead of directly into the Station Launcher forum.
    

  Thank you for all of your feedback and support!

  Offer your feedback on the Station Forums.

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Brad

  Forum Handle: brad300man

  Game Handle: brad300man

  Where do you live?
  Just south of Detroit, Michigan

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  It must be close to five years now.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath, Pirates CSG or the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game?
  I have Stargate, Legends of Norrath and Pirates CSG all loaded up on my PC and laptop. I'll play a few games of LoN each week. Stargate and Pirates are more of a once in awhile thing. Star Chamber is an everyday thing.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  No.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I got a great Christmas gift one year(many years ago). I got PONG for the TV and I was hooked right away.

  I like a few good first person shooters; Battlefield 2142, Crysis, the F.E.A.R series, the Half-Life series.

  I also have a Guild Wars account that seems to keep going and going forever.

  Those games are all fun for big graphics bang but my true everyday challenge is Star Chamber.

  What type of work do you do?
  I'm a field supervisor for an exhibit company. I'm a union display carpenter. We build all those auto show displays that all of you have seen in your cities. Those turntables, car platforms and big back-walls are all made here in Detroit. We then ship them all over the country. I fly to those cities that we send the freight to and I show the local labor how to set it all up without hurting themselves.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I've been bowling all my life. The 300 in brad300man stands for a perfect game in bowling. I've done it three times so far.

  What is your favorite deck type?
  Influence Stealer. It's great fun to pull the rug out from under your competition right before they are about to make a solid move.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  Sinister Implant. It is a common card and it steals influence right away.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  Ruined Plans. I think one more alien finger and that card would be banned.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  I would say a Competitor. I like to win but I also learn a lot from losing. I tell all the new players to Star Chamber, "The best way to learn is to crash and burn." That is the only true way to see some of wicked combos that are hidden in the cards.

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

  Over all the years there have been many top matches. I would say the most memorable were the games that see-sawed.

  One minute you think you have your competition up against the ropes and at the very last second he pulls out a win condition. The games can go fast or they can get tied up in a move/counter-move situation for an Epic battle that is determined by the very last click. This has happened to me quite a few times, both with vets and newbies.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  The top notch community. There are some very dedicated vets in Star Chamber that will do anything needed to help out new players. You are treated with respect and no question is laughed at.

  Board play along with the use of the cards makes the game go in many directions. The game is never the same twice. There are multiple win conditions and a ton of variables along the way.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  No.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  I cook. I look like a defensive lineman but I can tear it up in a kitchen. Before I became a carpenter I was a short order cook and then cooked at a high end restaurant. The money wasn't there but the passion still is.

  I = make dinner

  Wife = does dishes

  We = in love.

  Thanks for looking into my world. Now get on over to starchamber.net or the Sony Station website and get logged onto Star Chamber. (You'll be glad you did.)

  Feel free to leave brad300man a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 

  Support SOE's G.I.R.L. Scholarship!

  SOE official G.I.R.L. T-shirts are available for purchase through SOE's Station Store, perfect for the girl gamer on your holiday list! Three different styles of the shirts will be offered, including two styles for women and one for men, all priced at $19.99 (plus applicable taxes). SOE will donate 100% of T-shirt sales to the G.I.R.L. Scholarship.

  First awarded in 2008, the G.I.R.L. scholarship was created by SOE and encourages female students toward career paths in the creative and applied arts, with the ultimate goal of developing video games that are more interesting for women to play. In 2009, the program will be managed by Scholarship America®, a leading nonprofit educational support program. SOE will offer students in undergraduate programs related to video games a chance to compete for the scholarship by submitting original artwork and essays to a panel of judges.

  SOE's G.I.R.L. (Gamers in Real Life) initiative is raising awareness of the rapidly growing female gaming audience by encouraging the gaming industry to positively promote women throughout all facets of games, game production and game management.

  Purchase a G.I.R.L. T-shirt!

  
  
  
  
  

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Matthew or Matt for short.

  Forum Handle: mattness

  Game Handle: mattness

  Where do you live?
  North Central Massachusetts

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  Since the summer of 2006.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath, Pirates CSG or the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game?
  I might try them if they had mac versions. It would be hard to top Star Chamber though.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  I used to play Magic the Gathering back in college. When I was visiting my brother we decided to buy some MTG cards and play a few games for old time's sake. I find Star Chamber has ruined me for Magic. Half the games we played seemed to be decided by one player drawing either too many or too few land cards. SC's regular tech increase/artifact planet tech system is much better.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I've always liked games. I think my grandmother probably originally got me into them. She would play all sorts of board and card games with my brother and I, and we used to watch game shows with her (She was on The Price is Right once and won!). My dad never liked games. We think its cause his mom beat him too many times! My favorite games tend to be turn based strategy games and puzzle games. I do enjoy Mariokart on the Wii though!

  What type of work do you do?
  I create animation and visual effects, and do a little bit of interactive programming for a non-profit company that produces multimedia for museums.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  Reading, biking, origami, board games, cooking, theatre set design, and the sport of curling.

  What is your favorite deck type?
  The crazy splash deck that uses combos that nobody else would think about trying.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  Knowledge Crusader, because it gives me lots of tech with which to create crazy combos while at the same time shooting me in the foot by giving my opponent tech, and giving me one less vote at the Chamber.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  Tough call... I tend to like the funny ones. I'll say Peaceful Farmer, because I like American Gothic.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  I like to think of myself as a deck Alchemist. I like to try to take the dud card that nobody thinks is good, and find a combo for it that turns it into gold.... though most of the time it just explodes in my face.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  I'll have to answer this in two parts, because I have to compare it to two different genres:

  I like that it is a TCG where who wins is decided more by skill rather than luck or expensive rare cards.

  I like that it is a turn based strategy board game with amazing variety and depth where an average game takes no more than half an hour.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  I tend not to be the best board player, especially under the pressures of a tournament clock. There are so many things to keep track of and its easy to miss things and make mistakes, or spend to much time thinking and run out your clock. Because of this, I devised a sneaky combo deck for constructed tournaments that combo's the Harbinger with Research Academy for a card based victory. It usually either wins or loses before the second vote.

  I was playing one tournament game where my opponent, (I believe it was Ravager) was playing an Android military deck. He figured out what my deck was doing, and mounted an all out assault on my homeworld and my chosen artifact world. It was taking everything I had in a deck heavy on tech boosts and lighter on other things just to hold him off. He managed to kill my Harbinger twice and had managed to capture the rest of the galaxy while I was busy repelling his assaults. I was at -28 destiny, and the only thing keeping me from losing by destiny was a battered Research Academy at my artifact world that in combo with a full hand, exactly balanced his artifact destiny. I managed to play my 3rd Harbinger (lowering my hand size for a turn and putting me at -29 destiny) and pull off the combo and win on turn 24 on the verge of defeat, politically, culturally, and militarily.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  I have a web page that hosts the mac client of Star Chamber for download:

  http://homepage.mac.com/mattness/starchamber/

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  I have a fluffy white cat named Stitch who I take for walks on a leash. She has lately become good at catching garter snakes. Her sister Calcifer is too shy to go for walkies.

  Feel free to leave mattness a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 
  
  

  Tell us what you think about the Station Launcher! What do you like? What needs improvement? How can we make it something everyone will appreciate? You can give us valuable feedback about your Station Launcher experience by clicking on the "Station Launcher Feedback" button at the bottom of the launcher screen (or click on the image here) and taking the short survey. With your help we can make Station Launcher even better and deliver a fantastic experience for everyone.

  
  
  

  Make sure you tell your friends about Station Launcher and get them to try it out too! They can find the beta download at http://launcher.station.sony.com/.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Before being shut down due to copyright infingement, Mickey's Wild Slide was an immensely popular attraction among Silica citizens."

  Thanks and congratulations to Zorro for supplying this week's winning caption!

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Screw you guys. I'm going home."

  Thanks and congratulations to EdOWar for supplying this week's winning caption!

• Beta Release Update is Live!

  During the past month, the Station LauncherTM development team has been going at it nonstop in working to bring you a Station Launcher product that improves and simplifies your online gaming experience - by managing all your games, updates, and downloads from one convenient place.  We're reading your feedback on the Station message boards to better understand what you've liked and what you haven't liked about the Station Launcher beta experience.  Because we're in a beta phase, your feedback provides guidance that enables us to fix problems you've identified, improve them, and ultimately helps us build the best experience possible for you. 
  This morning we released a Station Launcher beta update that addresses several key issues that you've written about in the Station forums.  The past month of work by our team here has been focused primarily on addressing and fixing some of those major challenges encountered since the first Station Launcher beta release.
  Here is a rundown of what you can expect in this update: 

  • Preferences are now saved - There's a fix for a "Lost Settings" bug that was commonly reported and caused many players to lose their saved preferences.
  • Improved Network Resiliency - The update enables Station Launcher to be more resilient to network fluctuations and reduces the need for players to retry file downloads.
  • Improved Auto Launch behavior - When clicking on a shortcut to a game, the customer will immediately be presented with the Game Update screen for that game.  The "News" pane will also be opened automatically.  Previously, players were taken to the Game Select screen and forced to wait for 5 seconds, before being allowed to proceed.
  • Game Update screen now includes "Show All Games" - There's a button on the Game Update screen that's now labeled "Show All Games," instead of "Back to Games".
  • Ability for Vanguard players to enter a game with selected character - There's now an "Enter As..." support for Vanguard players; a menu on the Game Update screen allows a customer to enter the game with their character already selected.  This is also supported within EverQuest II and Star Wars Galaxies.
  • Automatic Directory Location selection - When you switch to a different server version, Station Launcher will create a directory based on the name of the new server.  Previously, you had to manually choose a directory location.
  • Multi-Instance Support - Players will be able use the application to play more than one instance of a game.  This does require additional setup steps and is recommended to be used only by advanced users.
  • We want to know more about your Station Launcher experience - We want to make it the best experience possible for you.  We want to know how its functionality is working for you, and understand what you think can make Station Launcher even better.  When you click on the "Station Launcher Feedback" button, you'll be taken to an online survey to share your experiences.  Be brutally honest with us.

  Here are the Known Issues within Station Launcher.  We're continuing our work to resolve these: 

  • Interrupted Downloads - Game updates are interrupted when you leave the Game Update screen.
  • Multi-Instance Support - Additional support for this ability has not yet been added to the application, including the user interface and command-line syntax.
  • Minimize from Task Bar - The application does not toggle to and from the minimize state on the Windows task bar as is common in other Windows applications.
  • "Enter As" while using UK English - The "Enter As" feature - the ability to enter a game with a selected character -  is not working when the language is set to English (UK).
  • Update Scanning - The scanning for files has become slower and sometimes gets "stuck", especially when quickly switching between different server versions.
  • Chat Copy - One can paste into a chat session within Friends, but cannot copy selected text.

  The team here wants everyone using Station Launcher beta to "keep it coming" - keep sending us your feedback and thoughts about the latest release.  Post your suggestions and comments on the board, and also leave detailed feedback through the new survey link that's available to you in Station Launcher.  Let us know if the new fixes are working for you.  If you're enjoying Station Launcher, tell your guild mates who haven't yet tried it, to try it out and let us know what they think.  All of your input enables us to improve, refine, and deliver the best Station Launcher experience for everyone.
  Offer your feedback on the Station Forums.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "I don't think I'm buying from blind noodle boy any more."

  Thanks and congratulations to mattness for supplying this week's winning caption!

• 
  

  Greetings Everyone!

  We have a few emails that will be sent out soon that you don't want to miss! Make sure you are signed up to receive SOE Emails. What's included when you sign up?

  • You'll receive the quarterly newsletter for whichever games you select as well as any marketing and promotional materials for those titles, such as account winbacks and special offers.

  To make sure you receive the next one, do the following:

  • Click on My Account on the top bar of any Station page • Click on Change Email Setting • Select those you wish to receive. • Click on apply. (If you aren't sure you are getting the emails, click on Make Changes even if you don't change anything, just to refresh the setting.) • Or you can just visit this link.

  
  

  How come I never seem to get any of the emails? There are a couple of reasons you may not be receiving the emails from SOE:

  • Update your Email Address: An incorrect Email Address is a common reason for not receiving the emails from the station. To update your email address, click on My Account, go to email preferences and then click change next to the email address currently assigned to your account.

  • Email is being blocked: If your e-mail system has a block, junk, bulk, or spam mail folder, you'll want to make sure that it allows e-mail from The Station@sony.com [station-mailer@sony-online.com]. You will need to check the options, properties, or preferences of your mail system to determine how to set this up.

  • Options not saved: There's a chance that your options were not set correctly when the system changed over to this system. To fix this, click on the [Clear-All] link and click on Make Changes. Then select your options again and click on Make Changes again. That should refresh the list.

• This week's winning Caption of the Week:

  
  
  

  "Mmrnmhrm!"

  Thanks and congratulations to Dunam for supplying this week's winning caption!

• Beginning at 9 AM PDT on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, SOE Account and Commerce flow, and the Station Store will all be unavailable due to maintenance. We expect this maintenance to take approximately 4 hours.

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

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Mark

  Forum Handle: Squiggle

  Game Handle: Squiggle

  Where do you live?
  Bournemouth, south coast of the UK.

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  A bit over a year.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath or Pirates CSG?
  No - I did think about trying LoN but upon reading about it I didn't like the sound of the lack of any real board play to complement the card play.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  Nope.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I've enjoyed gaming since a fairly early age; I guess the games that really started to get me into it were some of the old Sega console RPGs (I loved the shining force games). I mostly like strategy games - any game that will make me think.

  What type of work do you do?
  I'm a computer science (Pattern Recognition) PhD student.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I play a lot of sports - badminton and cricket being the main ones, with a bit of football too. I enjoy reading, and going to pub quizzes even though my general knowledge is non-existent! I like walking/cycling in areas with nice scenery also, when I can.

  What is your favorite deck type?
  I like Ixa decks in general, because they have some very fun cards many of which interact with each other in interesting ways. I would say Ixa ditch decks in particular, because they are something a bit different and are very fun to play.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  Some of my favourite cards are those with a galaxy wide affect that cause you (or your opponent) to re-assess your position and the way you play as soon as they hit the board. To choose one, I'd go for Mirror Universe as it quite literally changes the whole map!

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  I like quite a few of the Zhikanii cards' art as they can be funny. I'll go for Abduction as my favourite (incidentally this would also get my vote for best sound effect!)

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  I mostly try to be an Innovator; the most enjoyable thing for me about TCGs is building new decks and trying them out against your fellow players. I have a fair streak of Competitor too though.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  I like the community - full of polite, fun and interesting players, and I like the sheer variety of very different deck types that are played. I also find the combination of card play and board play to work extremely well. As well as giving the game a remarkable depth, it also, together with the large number of very good commons/uncommons, reduces the card-game tendency towards expensive decks dominating.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  My most memorable game was a casual game against MajorMajor, because by chance we were playing decks which had the same aim, but the ways we had chosen to achieve it couldn't have been more different! His deck was human, based around generating build points by creating industrial worlds from barrens and improving them (colonization, metropolis etc). Mine was based around generating build points by destroying indies, turning them to barrens and mining them (Strip Mine, Raze, Mining Ship, Mining Colony). The game was memorable for me because it was such a curious clash of decks, and because it was such an extremely close game despite this. I was on the very edge of destiny defeat for much of the game, but snuck a military win in the end.

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

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  Hmmm. On a trip to Australia a few years ago, one day I managed to strand myself in a town miles away from my hostel and had to spend the night on a bench in the park. It was cold!

  Feel free to leave Squiggle a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Jon

  Forum Handle: Wuppin0

  Game Handle: Wuppin

  Where do you live?
  West Michigan, USA

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  A little over 2 1/2 years so far

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath or Pirates CSG?
  No although the LoN tourney prizes did make me think twice once upon a time... before we had a baby!

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  I used to play MTG around 15 years ago, and a few other long-lost TCG like "Jihad/Eternal Struggle" and "Rage".

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I think my Atari 2600 got me started on gaming when I was six. The games I like most are so well done that I keep coming back to them over and over... especially if they are multiplayer. Specifically, "Star Craft", the classic "Counter Strike", Namco fighting games... and of course my all time favorite: Star Chamber.

  What type of work do you do?
  I am a math and science teacher - currently 6th grade.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  Coaching wrestling, backpacking, just about anything with my dog (70 pound mutt).

  What is your favorite deck type?
  This is a tough one. I would say a balanced Thrass deck with no more than 2 of any card. It has the potential to dominate any deck type if it gets the right draw and it relies on a lot more tactical play and surprise than other decks. I find that both (mostly) effective and wildly enjoyable.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  I have to go with Sinister Implant because it just about always has an immediate, highly helpful use.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  Humiliation because it makes me really happy to see that Omior cry.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  Competitor. That is what I enjoy most about gaming and Star Chamber is no different. In order to compete I do try to think up new ideas though... I am just not as innovative as some.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  Where to begin... I love the elegance of its mathematical elements, its depth, its extremely good balance, and most of all its community!

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  After I had been playing about 7-8 months I played Kit in the semi-finals of a Galaxy Cup Qualifier, which was quite a big deal in its day. He was dominating me as Zhikanni (I was Thrass) on the map Maelstrom. To make a long story short I was able to bait him to the artifact planet above his home world, play Hit and Run and the Ensnare trapping his fleet of cruisers there while my cruiser and 2 scouts from the 4-jump industrial planet were able to conquer Volcanis. I will never forget it.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  Nope. I miss AlienProbe!

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  During the summer between my junior and senior years of high school I didn't shower for three weeks because I had buzzed all my hair off and went swimming in a lake every day for at least a half hour. My wife still gives me a hard time about that story. I swear I didn't stink - no one at the time knew unless I told him or her!

  Feel free to leave Wuppin a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 

   

  You've heard about the Flickr account set up for Fan Faire but did you know we have created other exciting ways to share and enjoy the Fan Faire experience?

  A Twitter account has been set up so you and your friends can get updates while the event is taking place!! Head on over to Twitter, click the green check mark with the word "Following" next to it and you will now get the updates. You can even enter your cell phone number and get the updates as a text message. The SOE Staff will be updating the Twitter throughout Fan Faire so tune in for updates! To stay up to date Twitter also offers an RSS Feed! You will need a Twitter account to access the feed.

  You can watch video clips taken at Fan Faire on You Tube! We would also love for you to tag and videos you take at Fan Faire and upload to You Tube with "fanfaire2008".

  All attending Fan Faire 2008 are welcome to share their photos with the community through the newly created Flickr group. The group is listed as "SOE Fan Faire 2008". The group was specifically created for this upcoming Fan Faire so all attending are able to enjoy each other's pictures. Do you already have an account with Flickr? Make sure you tag all of your photos, blogs, and other submissions related to Fan Faire with "fanfaire2008". We hope this will serve as a way to share your Fan Faire memories with everyone!

• Come see the team at Jillian's during Gen Con!

  With more than 26,000 attendees last year for Gen Con in Indianapolis Indiana, this year's event is expected to be even bigger and better! This will be an event to remember so be sure to get out there and enjoy!

  While you are in the area, Sony Online Entertainment would like to extend an invitation to our Gen Con Meet & Greet. Join us August 14th, 2008 for a night to remember.

  Hosted by the SOE Community Team, you will have the opportunity to meet members of the Community Relations team as well as the developers of our Online Strategy Games. So be prepared to discuss your favorite SOE Card game with them!

  Quick Details:
  When: August 14th, 2008 7-10PM
  Where: Jillian's
  141 S. Meridian St.
  Indianapolis, IN 46225

   

  Meet us at Jillian's from 7 pm until 10pm for a good time socializing with SOE employees, friends & other players. Free food will be served including pizza, mini-burgers, multiple dips & chips, fries, and chicken. Free drinks including Hosted Deluxe Well, Beer, House Wine & Non-Alcoholics will be offered throughout the night.

  Come join us for a night of socializing, food, drinks, games & fun!

  
  
  

  21 and older only (photo issued government ID required)

• SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT PRESIDENT TO DELIVER SECOND ANNUAL
  "COMMUNITY ADDRESS" AT FAN FAIRE IN LAS VEGAS
  Pre-Registration for Live Webcast Now Open

  WHAT

  See what's new at SOE! To kickoff the 2008 SOE Fan Faire, SOE President John Smedley will provide opening remarks to more than 1000 video game fans at the Hilton Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The second annual "Community Address" combines a live presentation with a streaming video broadcast online. Smed will give both Fan Faire attendees and gamers worldwide the kind of inside look at SOE products usually reserved for industry insider events.

  SOE's Fan Faire is a unique social event in which players of SOE 's most popular titles congregate to meet their online, game-playing peers. Fan Faire guests will have the chance to demo new titles throughout Fan Faire weekend, August 15th-17th, including the highly anticipated Free Realms™ . This year's event boasts a plethora of game-themed live events including tournaments, contests, live quests, a variety of panel discussions and tons of great gaming-related contests.

  WHEN

  Friday, August 15th at 6:00pm PST.

  WHERE

  To listen to the webcast, please go to:

  http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=50659

  WHO

  SOE is hosting its annual Fan Faire event in Las Vegas for fans of its massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming lineup including the hit titles EverQuest ® , EverQuest ® II, EverQuest ® Online Adventures, PlanetSide ®, Star Wars Galaxies™ and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes ® . This year's Fan Faire will also feature upcoming titles such as Free Realms™, The Agency™ and more.

  For more information on the SOE Fan Faire visit: http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/.

• 

  This year's Fan Faire will be held in the famed Hilton in Las Vegas from August 14th-17th. Today, August 8th,is the last day to pre-register, so don't delay! Pre-registration can be completed the official Fan Faire website: http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/index.vm

  Hilton Hotels Corporation owns 2,645 hotels in more than 80 countries. The Las Vegas Hilton is the largest Hilton in the entire world and contains 3,174 rooms within the building. It was recently renovated this year and has 100,000 square feet of gaming space. With wonderful amenities in the Hilton, and a great schedule for Fan Faire planned out, we look forward to seeing you August 14th!

  For all those attending, here are a few maps of the inside of the hotel where the events will be taking place. Feel free to use these to map out strategies for maximizing seeing as many panels as possible, or print them out so you reduce the risk of getting lost during the three day celebration.

  The event schedule has been updated with new panels and other fun events. These new exciting additions include the G.I.R.L - Gamers In Real Life Breakfast, a developer preview of the Agency, and a VIP Rock N Roll Karaoke Party at the Las Vegas Sports Center. A full schedule of updated events can be found at: http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/index.vm

  

  The Ballrooms & Pavilions

  Friday, August 15th

  Pavilion 1
  10am- 11pm "Station VoiceTM powered by Vivox." 11am- 12pm Station Launcher
  12pm- 2pm EverQuest II: Live Quest: To Tame the Savage Beast
  2pm- 3pm EverQuest II: Guild Hall Preview
  3pm- 4pm EverQuest II: Anatomy of an Update
  4pm- 5pm EverQuest II: History and Lore
  5pm- 6pm EverQuest II: Anything Goes

  Pavilion 2
  10am- 11am Podcast
  11am- 12pm Customer Service
  2pm- 3pm EverQuest: Game Mechanics
  3pm- 4pm EverQuest: Quest Workshop
  4pm- 5pm EverQuest: Raids and Missions
  5pm- 6pm EverQuest: General Session

  Pavilion 3
  10am- 11am Legends of Norrath
  11am- 12pm Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game QA
  2pm- 3pm The Agency: Developer Preview
  3pm- 4pm Welcome to Free Realms
  4pm- 5pm The Art of Free Realms
  5pm- 6pm A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Monumental New Title in Development
  
  

  Saturday, August 16th

  Pavilion 1
  11am- 12pm Customer Service
  2pm- 3pm EverQuest II: Preview the Upcoming Expansion
  3pm- 4pm EverQuest II: History and Lore
  4pm- 5pm EverQuest II: Anatomy of an Update
  5pm- 6pm EverQuest II: Anything Goes

  Pavilion 2
  10am- 11am SOE Marketing Panel
  11am- 12pm SOE Community Panel
  12pm- 2pm EverQuest Live Quest: Portal Fragments
  2pm- 3pm EverQuest: Game Mechanics
  3pm- 4pm EverQuest: Quest Workshop
  4pm- 5pm EverQuest: Expansion Highlights
  5pm- 6pm EverQuest: Special Feature Addition

  Pavilion 3
  10am- 11am Legends of Norrath
  11am- 12pm SOE Community Panel
  2pm- 3pm The Agency: Developer Preview
  3pm- 4pm The Animation of Free Realms
  4pm- 5pm Free Realms: Designing a Casual MMO
  5pm- 6pm A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Monumental New Title in Development

  

  Conference & Board Rooms

  Friday, August 15th
  

  Conference Rooms 8 / 9 / 10
  12pm- 2pm Star Wars Galaxies Live Quest: Battle of the Echo Base
  2pm- 3pm Star Wars Galaxies: Trader and Entertainers
  3pm- 4pm Star Wars Galaxies: All About Combat
  4pm- 5pm Adding Content to Star Wars Galaxies
  5pm- 6pm Star Wars Galaxies: Storyteller, roleplaying and events

  Conference Room 7
  10am- 11am Pirates of the Burning Sea
  11am- 12pm Pirates of the Burning Sea
  3pm- 4pm Vanguard: General Game and Development
  4pm- 5pm Vanguard: State of the Game

  Conference Room 12
  10am- 11am Live Gamer
  2pm- 3pm PlanetSide: Roadmap 2008 and Beyond
  3pm - 4pm MxO: The Ongoing Story
  
  

  Saturday, August 16th

  Conference Rooms 8 / 9 / 10
  2pm- 3pm Star Wars Galaxies: Collections
  3pm- 4pm Star Wars Galaxies: Heroic Encounters
  4pm- 6pm Star Wars Galaxies: Galactic Assembly

  Conference Room 7
  10am- 11am Pirates of the Burning Sea
  11am- 12pm Pirates of the Burning Sea
  12pm- 2pm Vanguard Live Quest: Trouble on the Trade Route
  3pm- 4pm Vanguard: High Level panel
  4pm- 6pm Vanguard: Create a Quest!

  Conference Room 12
  2pm- 3pm PlanetSide: Design Session
  3pm- 4pm MxO: Developing the Story and Live Events

  

  Center Rooms

  Thursday, August 14th

  Conrad Room
  4pm- 8pm Early Bird Registration and Badge Pick Up
  4pm- 8pm Legends Lounge Open
  10pm Late Night Legends of Norrath Play Session
  
  Baron Room
  8pm Welcome Reception
  
  

  Friday, August 15th

  Conrad Room
  9am- 8pm Registration and Badge Pick Up
  9am- 8pm Game Room Open
  9am- 8pm Vendor Bazaar and Phat Lewt Store Open
  9am- 4pm EverQuest Best of the Best Tournament
  12pm Silent Auction Begins
  
  Baron Room
  6pm Annual Community Address from John Smedley
  
  

  Saturday, August 16th

  Conrad Room
  9am- 8pm Registration and Badge Pick Up
  9am- 8pm Game Room Open
  9am- 8pm Vendor Bazaar and Phat Lewt Store Open
  9am- 4pm EverQuest II Tournament
  4pm Silent Auction Ends
  10pm Game: Champions of the Force Play Session
  
  Baron Room
  8pm Grand Banquet

• 

  There is going to be a stress test of the new Station Launcher this weekend, August 8th through August 10th and YOU are invited! Tell your friends... tell your loved ones... tell your guild mates... they are all invited too!

  

  Station Launcher will include:

  • Launching Station Games - One place for all your games - launch games from one location, no separate logins, and delete shortcuts on desktop.
  • Easy, Behind-the-Scenes Updating - Ready to Go Anytime - Automatic Updating, updating can take place while computer is in use, and manage download settings for each game through preferences.
  • Connect with Friends using Station Friends - All SOE friends listed on one application, stay connected to friends in-game, game characters names private, see what SOE games your friends are playing when you are online, send and receive tells, and connect with legacy friends.
  • Purchase Station Games, Updates and Items- purchase & download a variety of content, able to pre-load games, stay current on Station news, and subscribe.
  • Localization - Station Launcher will be available in several different languages, choose the one you wish to use.

  

  Sony Online Entertainment is expecting to launch Station Launcher in the near future. Station Launcher will be faster than the current launchers, easier to navigate and secure.

  Station Launcher will allow each player to customize their preferences in many areas, and will offer a new way for players to keep in contact with their friends who play SOE games. Players will be able to chat with their friends while they are in-game or out of game and the most exciting thing about this is that it works across games - Play EQII and chat with friends in SWG!

  

  All new aspects of the Station Launcher will make game access easy and convenient, as well as automatically keeping all the games up-to-date. No more waiting when you haven't logged into a game in a few weeks. The update will be there and downloaded just waiting for you to play!

  Visit http://launcher.station.sony.com/ for more information including frequently asked questions & answers, a user guide and a link to directly access the forums.

  

  

• 

  All attending Fan Faire 2008 are welcome to share their photos with the community through the newly created Flickr group. The group is listed as "SOE Fan Faire 2008". The group was specifically created for this upcoming Fan Faire so all attending are able to enjoy each other's pictures.

  Do you already have an account with Flickr? Make sure you tag all of your photos, blogs, and other submissions related to Fan Faire with "fanfaire2008". We hope this will serve as a way to share your Fan Faire memories with everyone!

• 

  Are you an aspiring artist looking for some professional guidance for your career or advice on your artwork? Then stop by and see Joe Shoopack at Fan Faire 2008 in Las Vegas!

  Joe Shoopack is the Director of Artistic Development for SOE studios. Joe is driven to continually improve the art culture and quality at SOE studios. He is proud to have contributed in helping multiple artists gain recognition for their artwork from Legends of Norrath selected for the latest Digital Art Annual. (Some works from the annual by SOE artists are pictured below)

  

  In addition to maintaining quality across SOE studios, he also helps define individual career growth paths for the artists at SOE and is involved with art schools and recruiting efforts. He has previously worked as Associate Art Director on Star Wars Galaxies and as an Art Director on EverQuest II and its first 3 expansions. Joe has shipped over 30 game titles and is also an accomplished pen and ink editorial illustrator.

  

  Joe Shoopack is truly a respected artist and valuable addition to SOE studios. Anyone with an interest in an art career is more than welcome to stop by and meet him. He will be available to look at individual art pieces or portfolios and offer guidance on portfolio building for games, commercial work, or just for fun.

  

  Joe will be at Fan Faire conducting art portfolio reviews in the Conrad Room from 2pm-3pm on Friday and Saturday in the career pavilion.

• Beginning at 9:00 AM PDT on Thursday, July 31, 2008 all SOE account and commerce flow and the Station 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. We apologize for this interruption and will resume the affected services as soon as the maintenance is completed.

• 
  
  

  Player of the Year 2008

  The judges have spent many hours sifting through nominees and debating who is worthy of the prize at hand, a free passage to Fan Faire 2008 held at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. With such pressure over who to grant this opportunity of a lifetime to, outsiders who have tried to touch the Tylenol bottle in the community area have taken their life in their hands. After rigorous days spent concentrating and much deliberation, a conclusion has been reached! It is a pleasure to announce the two winners of the 2008 Player of the year contest:

  Rikoo Rakoo
  of Vanguard's Xeth Server
  
  ~ and ~
  
  Tnexus the Forgotten Hero
  of EverQuest's Prexus Server

  Rikoo Rakoo has truly inspired many Vanguard players he has come across. He is actively involved in game, creating fun activities open to everyone. Rikoo posts his adventures online for all to read, and those who read enjoy his tales. He is an avid poster on the forums and co-hosts the Voyages of Vanguard podcast informing listeners of what is new in Vanguard. He shows his passion for the game by helping those around him enjoy the game as much as he does. With multiple nominations it is clear that Rikoo Rakoo is a valued member of the Vanguard Community and more than deserving of the 2008 Player of the Year.

  Just as deserving is our other player of the year, Tnexus the Forgotten Hero. Tnexus has displayed the true meaning of dedication through his actions and thoughts. Playing EverQuest for 9 years, Tnexus takes pride in his knowledge of the game and sharing it with others. He has made good friends through the game, and continues to meet new people and help them with their journeys. He has held numerous leadership positions in guilds and for the website EQOutrider.net. Tnexus showed his fun-loving side by doing 15 epics just for fun and to enjoy. He has actively participated in attending Fan Faires and obtaining EQ related merchandise. With such dedication to the same game for so long, and all of his wonderful talents, it is a pleasure to award player of the year to such a worthy individual.

  Other players are not to go without mention. With over 100 entries there was quite a competitive pool this year, the judges had a hard time reaching a final decision. Honorable mentions go to emu.ninja of the Matrix Online for creative writing and providing players with entertainment outside of the game. MasterCosmo of Stars Wars Galaxies for his "Mother Teresa" qualities. Another honorable mention goes to Zunnoab for his in and out of game dedication to EverQuest and his server.

  We thank everyone for their participation in our 2008 Player of the Year contest. Once again, we would like to congratulate our winners Tnexus and Rikoo Rakoo.

  We look forward to seeing you both at Fan Faire!

• SOE presents Fan Faire 2008 at the Las Vegas Hilton August 14th-17th Fan Faire will be returning to the lively city of Las Vegas for 3 days and nights full of gaming, socializing, and fun! The upcoming Fan Faire is predicted to be one of the best; this is not an event you will want to miss! Fan Faire 2008 will be packed with sneak peeks at three monumental new games in development, plus special activities, roundtables, developer forums, and live in-game tournaments and quests for many games. In addition there will be many advantages to attending. An extended All-Access pass will allow you to receive an invitation to the beta testing of Free Realms and the new expansion pack for EQ II. Be prepared to receive gifts and in-game items as well! Players are actively talking about Fan Faire in the forums. The excitement is building up with only 17 days left until the big event takes place. "Registered... see you there!" ~ Jod_ledgemai, SWG "Just registered the whole Family... hope to see yas there" ~ Tigiar, SWG "*dances* We have our minimum of 10 guildies (for the discount and the table and stuff) even with at least 3 of the ones who plan to attend not in the list yet. *impish grin*" ~ Rijacki, EQII "Will be there, with a bunch of my guildmates." ~ Kalthanan2, EQ "I shall be attending! :-D YAYYYYYY! /dance dance" ~ Winter, EQII "I'll be there with bells on :-D ...Someone has to represent the old E'ci (now Tunare!)" ~ Merekitty, EQ "I'm going to be there. Sorted out flights and hotel today. Hope the 14 hour flights and time difference doesn't kill me :-D" ~ NeillM, SWG "I'll be there! I've had my plane tickets and hotel booked for a good while now... now I'm just trying to save money so I can eat while I'm there !" ~ Tharkis, EQ "The best DO go to Fan Faire." ~ Jyve, EQ "More Tigers!" ~Nadadini, EQ "If I'm not in the tournament it's not the best of the best..." ~ Swampfunk, EQ "I'm going, and I'm looking forward to seeing everybody there! :-D" ~ DominoDev, EQII "I'm looking forward to poking the Devs, seeing Vegas and letting my geek-side run free. :-D" ~ NeillM, SWG "The discussions of what the future holds for Everquest II is what I'm most anticipating and a chance to look at the next expansion. See you all in Las Vegas." ~ TheFever "I plan on attending! =). I turn 21 on August 16th, so it will give me a reason to go to Vegas and Gamble as well." ~ Tigris67, EQ "Registered, hotel reserved, plane tickets bought, and getting married while I'm there... Woot! I hear there's even going to be Darth Vader" ~ Freica, SWG   For a full list of details & to register, check out: http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/ All additional questions, comments or concerns can be directed to: FanFaire@soe.sony.com

• SOE's Third Annual Block Party

  Our annual Block parties are a blast and this year will be no different! Join us at SOE Headquarters for music, food, tours, previews of upcoming games, give-aways, raffles and much more. There will be activities for kids as well. Meet with dev team members and staff, socialize with employees and friends, and have a great time.

  This event is scheduled to be held during Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26th. Even if you are not attending Comic-Con, stop by the block party anyway! All are welcome! Attendance is FREE!

  This just in - from 4:00pm to 5:30pm you can meet comic book artist Jim Lee!

  When: Saturday July 26th, 2008 - 4:00pm-8:00pm

  Where: SOE Headquarters
  8928 Terman Court
  San Diego, CA 92121

  Shuttle buses are scheduled to travel round-trip to SOE from Comic-Con every 30 minutes from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Look for the SOE signs near section B of the Convention Center. Buses will be returning to the Convention Center every 30 minutes until 8:00pm.

  * For those of you coming on your own, we highly recommend carpooling, as parking will be limited.

  Please RSVP as soon as you can at: BlockParty@soe.sony.com.

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Geoff

  Forum Handle: Black_Dawn

  Game Handle: Black_Dawn

  Where do you live?
  Montreal, Canada

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  I've played Star Chamber on and off since just before the Rebellions expansion came out, which is several years now.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath or Pirates CSG?
  I have tried every one of those games, save Pirates, and even own some Stargate cards, but I rarely play any online CCG other than Star Chamber.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  I used to play Magic: the Gathering until I realized what a black hole for money that game is.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I've been gaming since I was 5. I've always liked video games. I remember Oregon Trail on the Apple IIe very fondly. I tend to play strategy games or games with a great story, but I'll also load up Alien vs. Predator 2 fairly often for some head-biting action.

  What type of work do you do?
  I am a video game designer working at a small company that makes Flash games for the internet.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I don't really have hobbies. I work during the week, drink and hang out with friends on Fridays and the weekends, and play video games when I'm feeling too lazy to socialize. Life is good!

  What is your favorite deck type?
  I always like funky concept decks that combine cards in unusual ways, especially splash (three-color) decks.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  I love all the cards that are dual use. A great example is Sun Bloom, which can be used as a big damage boost on your own ships or to prevent the movement of an opponent's ship.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  Mutiny. Seeing my favorite slugs with their Human masks pulled off always makes me smile.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  An innovator for sure. Art is fluff, and I rarely win tournaments, but I can always come up with interesting new deck ideas or tweak existing ideas to perfection.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  It's a game that combines territorial dispute, board-play, deck design and variety in a perfect mix. There are no 'broken' decks or cards in my mind, and you're never guaranteed a win. No other card game has such a great mix of elements.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  My favorite games are the ones where I come back from apparent defeat to win the game. For example, holding off a giant Android fleet at my Home World with a combination of Stasis Missile, Stasis Field and a single ship for the four turns I needed to win the Political vote is a game that I remember.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  No.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  No one would suspect that I am in fact a giant slug. Buy Krebco!

  Feel free to leave Black_Dawn a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 

  Fan Faire is quickly approaching, and the event schedule has been updated to include a large selection of the panels and parties we'll be hosting. Stop by and check out the list so you can start planning your itinerary. This is a weekend you don't want to miss!

  Click here to see the updated Fan Faire schedule.

  For more information and to register, visit the official SOE Fan Faire Website.

• Please be advised that SOE phone support specifically, will be unavailable from 10am – 1:30pm (PDT) this Friday, July 18th. Phone support will resume at 1:30pm and available for the remainder of the day until 7pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

• The forums will be unavailable while maintenance is performed on Wednesday, July 16, at 6:30 AM PDT. The maintenance period is scheduled to end at approximately 11:00 AM PDT.

  Thank you for your patience during this time.

• 
  
  

  Sony Online Entertainment is proud to announce the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game! This brand new online TCG is the first ever card game based on the Star Wars® Galaxies universe! Subscribers to Star Wars Galaxies will be able to:

  • Choose between the light and dark sides of the Force and fight virtual matches for the Rebel or Imperial factions,
  • Challenge their skills in story-based solo play or against other players in epic one-on-one battles,
  • Find more than 20 "loot" cards in the first release, Champions of the Force, that can be redeemed for fantastic virtual items for use in the Star Wars Galaxies massively multiplayer game!

  In addition, Star Wars Galaxies subscribers will receive five free Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game booster packs every month as part of their regular subscription to the game.

  More information on the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game and its first release, Champions of the Force, can be found at www.StarWarsGalaxies.com/tradingcardgame.

  Click here to read the press release.

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Santiago

  Forum Handle: Zorro

  Game Handle: Zorro

  Where do you live?
  In Silver Spring, Maryland - right outside of Washington DC. We have the strongest collection of Star Chamber players in the world. There's me and Jmart of Squeegie.

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  I started nearly two years ago, September 2006. This was back before the move to SOE.

  Do you play Stargate, Legends of Norrath or Pirates CSG?
  No, no and no. I might play them if they have Mac versions available (hint!). One of the things that is really cool about Star Chamber is the Mac version. We did a community census a while back and I think about 20% of our players used a Mac. Right now, we're unofficially supported thanks to Bruce and Mattness.

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  No. I actually am not a fan of TCGs. Star Chamber appeals to me because of its 4x (Explore, Expand, Exterminate, and one other "Ex" I can never remember) nature.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I don't actually remember what got me into gaming. I think it being fun was it. I don't play very many games, and none regularly except Star Chamber. However, when I do game, it tends to be 4x and strategy games. I also love games with a space opera feel. I also like writing "space opera" because it reminds me of the opera scene in the movie "The 5th Element".

  What type of work do you do?
  I'm a consultant who works with companies on corporate responsibility. That varies a lot from client to client, but usually involves environmental issues, ethics or labor practices. It is way less fun and way more tedious than it sounds.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I love white water rafting, which I get to do fairly regularly in West Virginia. I also love to ski, something I don't get to do as regularly.

  What is your favorite deck type?
  I have the most fun when I'm playing a Zhikanii deck, especially a balanced tech one that uses all their clever and funny heroes, like Kreb Negghz, Rhebus, Pop Idol, etc. Those decks aren't that strong, and I certainly have much stronger decks I use in tournaments, but the sheer chaos Zhik can cause is nearly unmatched.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise, and why)?
  I think the Thrass Hive Queen, Reborn is my favorite card to play. In part the reason is because it is so darn powerful, yet inexpensive enough (tech-wise) to hit the table very early and give you a substantial advantage. However, there are lots of cards like that too, what makes the Hive Queen special for me are two reasons: (1) my friend farmer won a special tournament that got to decide what race the new Hive Queen would be, and he won it with Thrass (but I do think it might be really funny if someone with a Kej deck had won that tournament); and (2) because when I first joined SC, a really cool guy by the name of golfnut helped me out a ton by giving me a complete collection of commons and some very nice trades, including the Hive Queen. For me, it was the perfect introduction into a game which has the best online community ever.

  What is your favorite card (art-wise), and why?
  I'm going to cheat a bit and say two cards that are tied for my favorite.

  The first is "Impact Testing," a Zhik card that can kill any persona where you control a ship. The card art is of two Zhiks (who look like giant slugs) in lab coats and clip boards, talking to each other as a man in slacks, dress shirt and tie, falls in front of them. I mean, those lab coats are such a nice touch!

  The second is "Mutiny," another Zhik card that takes over a ship from your enemy. The card art is of a couple of Slug heads on top of human bodies holding a rubber mask human head in their hands. The sheer silliness of seeing those slugs somehow fooling a whole ship crew with rubber human masks is something I find hilarious.

  I know a couple of people in our community, like jonrossi, don't like the funny art as much as the more serious and they are right that it generally doesn't fit the mood of the games. But I think it lends a touch of light-heartedness to what could have been a completely humorless game.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  I think I like to play weird theme decks, often with a significant non-native tech splash. I used to be much more competitive and winning made me happy. Now I enjoy the games much more since winning doesn't matter as much.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  I love that Star Chamber combines what is best about 4x space games with the surprise and combination potential of card games. It really is very unique in this regard, and it appeals to fans of both genres. Also, I should mention that the player community is a bit older than average, and consequently much more mature and friendly. The difficulty of the game tends to drive away the irritating players. That said, we do have some younger players, but they don't fit into the "I TEH Puh-OWNeRD U NOOB!!!11!1" category. Thank god for that!

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  I've had many, but my favorite game was actually a draft tournament game. I was playing ExtraJoss and we had an epic, 30 turn (the game usually can't go longer than 30 turns, except in very specific and very rare circumstances) in which EJ finally pulled out a cultural victory literally right before I would have won a political victory. After fighting for 20 turns, EJ had more culture than I did and we both were only 1 powerplay vote away from winning. I, however, I had a larger voting contingent than he did. But he had two ways to win (either by beating me on the culture vote or the powerplay vote) and I only had 1 (powerplay) - which meant I had to decide where to place my superior number of voters in those two categories, and EJ outfoxed me and won the culture vote and the game.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  No, but I have written a number of articles for both new and veteran players, available at www.kitsdb.com - the best SC resource ever.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  When I was a sophomore in college and traveling around Europe, I was thrown into a Czech prison for a day. It was all a big misunderstanding! I swear! I had no idea she was the police captain's daughter!

  Feel free to leave Zorro a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• 
  
  

  That time of year is almost here...

  The time when SOE players from near and far gather in one place to celebrate their favorite MMOs by engaging in fun, food and fraternization! But there will be some that walk among the crowd... a couple players so respected by their gaming peers that they will have the distinct honor of being crowned SOE's second annual Players of the Year!

  Will you be one of them?

  To celebrate the 2008 Las Vegas Fan Faire (Aug. 14-17), Sony Online Entertainment will select and bring two lucky players to the Hilton Hotel to join in the festivities. So, here's your chance to nominate a friend (or even yourself) for this coveted title! We want to know who YOU think is the most deserving and why.
  
  From Wednesday, July 2, 2008, (12:01 am, US Pacific Time) through Friday, July 11, 2008 at (11:59 pm, US Pacific Time), Sony Online Entertainment will be hosting the Official Fan Faire "Players of the Year" contest. Participating games include EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, EverQuest Online Adventures, The Matrix Online and PlanetSide.
  
  Good luck to everyone and we hope to see you all in Las Vegas for Fan Faire!

  

  Contest:
  Do you know someone who is the poster child for your MMO? Someone so dedicated that they walk around bloodshot and sleep deprived in their favorite wrinkled gaming T-shirts and baseball caps (what else would they be wearing?). Someone who goes so above and beyond the call of duty helping other community members in-game, out-of-game and everywhere in-between that they're practically an online Mother Theresa? Well, they just might be the perfect candidate for SOE Player of the Year and we want to know more about them!
  
  Nominate a fellow player (or yourself) by writing a 200 word (or less) letter or role-play story explaining why the person deserves to be an SOE Player of the Year. Optional - you can also include a link to an image (screen capture, artwork, video or photo) with your entry as support for your story but please note that a written submission is still required.

  

  How to Enter:
  Please view the Official Contest Rules to determine eligibility for this contest before submitting an entry.
  
  Submissions should be sent in an e-mail to SOEContests@soe.sony.com. Be sure to include all of the following information with your submission:

  • Subject of Email: SOE Player of the Year - Main Game Name (Include game name in the subject).
  • Real Name:
    
  • Character Name:
    
  • Server Name:
    
  • Station Name: (User Name - do no include passwords)
    
  • Mailing Address: (Street Address Apt #, City, Zip Code - Do not use PO Box)
    
  • Forum Community Handle: (If applicable)
    
  • E-mail Address:
    
  • Submission Text:
    
  • The written entry can be placed directly in the body of the email.
    
  • Written entries should be plain text (.txt), word document (.doc), or rich text (.rtf).
    
  • Entries should be in Times New Roman text format, font size 12.
    
  • Please do not use indents, smiley faces, or all caps and avoid slang terms unless it fits within the theme of your entry.
    
  • Spell out server names, city names, and other terminology as much as possible.
    
  • Please use spell checker before submitting the entry. Entries will be reviewed for typos but those that require too much editing may be disqualified.
    
  • Length: 200 words or less.

  Additional Nomination Submission Information:
  

  • If you are nominating someone as Player of the Year, you may want to let them know in case they would prefer not to be considered.
    
  • We will not need you to include their station account or mailing address. We only need Character Name and Server name. We'll retrieve the extra information where needed.
    
  • Be sure to have the person you are nominating update their email address on their Sony Station account.
    Optional Image Information:
    
  • You can include a link to where the image (screen capture, artwork, video or photo) is hosted but all files must be hosted externally. The supporting image work will not be downloaded so it has to be readily accessible in that location.
    
  • Do not include anything with your submission that is copyrighted.

  

  Contest Rules:
  

  1. Please review the Official Contest Rules before submitting a nomination.
     
  2. Nominees must be an active SOE subscriber to at least one of the games with account being in good standing.
     
  3. Must be a US resident and 21 years of age.
     
  4. Please remember to stay within the Terms of Service Agreement when participating in this contest or you will be disqualified and further action may be taken. This includes inappropriate names, words, or images.
     
  5. Within the Terms of Service Agreement, it states that by submitting (e.g., uploading or transmitting) Content to an SOE Communication Feature, you automatically grant SOE the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, and fully sublicensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such Content (in whole or part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed. In addition, you warrant that any and all so-called "moral rights" in the Content have been waived.

• Registration is still open for the annual SOE Fan Faire being held on August 14-17, 2008 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

  Whether you're a player of one of SOE's many games, or someone who just loves games and good times, SOE Fan Faire is the party where you'll find friends and a whole lot of gaming fun stuffed into an unforgettable three days!

  Don't miss out on your chance to meet fellow MMO players from around the world, participate in discussion panels, live events, and tournaments, and mingle with the teams behind each of the SOE games.

  For more information, visit the official SOE Fan Faire Website.

  Chat about Fan Faire with other players in the Star Chamber Forums!

• Registration is now open for the annual SOE Fan Faire being held on August 14-17, 2008 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

  Whether you're a player of one of SOE's many games, or someone who just loves games and good times, SOE Fan Faire is the party where you'll find friends and a whole lot of gaming fun stuffed into an unforgettable three days!

  Don't miss out on your chance to meet fellow MMO players from around the world, participate in discussion panels, live events, and tournaments, and mingle with the teams behind each of the SOE games.

  For more information, visit the official SOE Fan Faire web site.

• John Smedley, one of the original creators of "EverQuest" and the president of Sony Online since 2000, has watched the rapid changes in the space his company once owned, and he believes it's time for a change.

  In his keynote speech at an online game conference in Seattle recently, Smedley spoke of the need to reinvent the MMO - and he says the two new games his company is developing, "The Agency" and "Free Realms," will do just that.

  Read the entire article and Smed's interview on MSNBC's Technology & Science.

• On Thursday, May 22nd Tech Support will be closed from 11:30am-3:00pm and will resume operations from 3:00pm-7:00pm Pacific Time. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.

  Regards,

  SOE Customer Service Team

• This week we feature a player from Star Chamber.

  Real Life First Name: Christopher

  Forum Handle: Riddlemaker (And has been that way since the start)

  Game Handle: Riddlemaker

  Where do you live?
  Chicago, IL

  How long have you played Star Chamber?
  Since the Beta... that would have been my junior year of college, so at least 4 years now.

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

  Do you play any physical TCGs?
  Yep. When I was younger it was DBZ, which I consider to be quite innovative. Now, I focus more on the Marvel/DC VS System.

  What got you into gaming and what sort of games do you like the most?
  I've been playing games as far back as I can remember. In the beginning it was mostly platformers like Mario. In my high school years my friends got me addicted to RPGs, and not Coke like good friends would... lousy bunch of nerds. (I don't advocate drug use. Stay in school.) I have the unique talent of being able to pick up any fighter or shooter and be good at it instantly. Age of Empires II got me into the strategy world, and I've never looked back. Penny Arcade brought me to the Star Chamber, and I've loved it from the first time I played as the Androids.

  What type of work do you do?
  I'm a Merch right now, but I'm going back to school for my masters in high level Communications Theory.

  What other hobbies or activities do you take part in, other than Star Chamber?
  I'm an actor, and as you all know from the fan fiction page... I write. I love to write.

  What is your favorite deck type?
  Mod Squad.

  What is your favorite card (playability-wise)?
  Dreadnaught, or Planet Killer. When you see those cards play, no matter how good you're doing you say: "Oh crap!"

  What is your favorite card (art-wise)?
  Zhik cards crack me up. I love the art on those... very cartoonish, and fits them perfectly.

  What type of TCG player are you? For example, are you an Art Lover, a Competitor, an Innovator?
  Mostly a Collector... but if I got to compete more I'd consider myself a Competitor.

  What do you like best about Star Chamber?
  The fact that it is one of the few games that still challenge me makes it one of the best games I've ever played. I lose more than I win, and I'm quite proud of that. If I won all the time there'd be no fun, and I'd just quit.

  Could you describe, in brief, a memorable game you had, or opponent you faced, and why it stands out in your mind?
  Eno. That name should bring back some bad nightmares for everyone. This one time I was doing excellent in a tournament, one of the few times and I get stuck playing Eno in the third round. I had won my first two matches, and I sure as hell was gonna try to win the third. In short, he beat me. Eno beat me bad. I was Android, he was Thrass... It seemed like some kind of cruel joke. The Thrass were terrible in the old days, but Eno made them work. I tried to take his home world, but he destroyed it, and in doing so, some how collected a major amount of destiny to win the game. To this day, I still don't know what card he used.

  Do you run or work for an OSG or TCG Fan Site?
  No, I just create fan-fiction for Star Chamber.

  What is one thing no one would ever suspect about you?
  I like Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls. She totally rocks! (I really didn't know what else to say)

  Feel free to leave Riddlemaker a friendly note in the Star Chamber forums!

• This Friday, May 2nd SOE Phone Support will be closed for a few hours from 10am - 12:30pm Pacific Time. Phone Support will resume operation from 12:30pm - 7pm Pacific Time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

  SOE Customer Support Team

• 

  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 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.

• By Chuck "Shocho" Kallenbach, Game Designer

  When we were working on the Maelstrom set, there were about a dozen of us crammed into three small office suites at Worlds Apart. My main contribution was writing the story and working on the scenarios, but testing of the cards was going on constantly not far away from where I was sitting.

  
  
  

  I remember the card Hallucinations because during testing, there was a screen filled with hundreds of the little fighter ships it makes. Originally, the Hallucination fighters created by this card didn't have the special game text: "When this ship would be destroyed, remove it from the game instead."

  A few copies of this cheap modification on a single planet and a big fleet battle with mass damage like Antimatter Bomb produced hundreds of these things, growing like an unending plague.

  It's fun to remember the wacky things that happen during playtesting so that the players don't have to encounter these problems during a serious game of Star Chamber.

  Also, I'd like to mention that I love the Lee Moyer illustration for this card. The way the ghostly images seem to be swirling around the image box makes a great connection with the Thrass card template.

  Discuss this card in the forums.
  

• This Thursday and Friday, November 22nd and 23rd, Technical and Account/Billing staffing will be limited to email support. Please visit the support site at http://www.station.sony.com/en/support/ to submit your inquiries.

  Phone and Live Chat Support will resume on Monday, November 26th from 10am to 7pm.

• Simplify logging into your favorite SOE games and clean those extra icons off your desktop using Station Launcher!

  Station Launcher is a simple one-click application that securely delivers all of your Station games, friends and community news right to your desktop. Manage your Station gaming library like never before; it's fast, easy and secure.

  Access all of your Station games in one convenient location using a unified interface that eliminates the need to have multiple game shortcuts and seperate logins between all your Station games. Increase your gaming library, auto update your games even while you are playing, use Station Friends to find your gaming friends fast and stay connected while they are playing any SOE game and much more!

  For more detailed information and to download the beta client, click on the Station Launcher image below.

  

• by Paul "Merakon" Dennen

  
  
  

  The Androids don't have much respect for planets. They have myriad ways of tearing them apart. Heck, they even designed a ship, Planet Killer, that turns a planet into smithereens. I mean, come on Androids, show some respect for the artists who labored over the placement of those pixels.

  The card I want to highlight today is one of these Android cards that would be banned from tournaments if the EPA was in charge of organized play. It's called Strip Mine, found way back in the Origins set. This is a card that lets you "cheat" the system in a way. What do I mean by that? Well, take a look at this list of cards:

  Combat Engineers
  Creche
  Dark Ore
  Encouraging Headway
  Imperial Efficiency
  Industrial Espionage
  Industrial Nexus
  Inspiring Resignation
  Insurgent Trader
  Invested Dividends
  Metropolis
  Middle Management
  National Prosperity
  Overtime
  Peaceful Farmer
  Porkbarrel Politics
  Pragmatic Pilgrim
  Pragmatism
  Prosperity
  Rapid Construction
  Renault Mbadi
  Rummage Team
  Singlemindedness
  Stalker in the Shadows
  Strip Mine
  War Factories
  War Stockpiling
  Ysabel Wei
  

  There's one common trait that each of these cards shares. Each can be used to increase the production capacity of one or more of your planets. (Note that I am not including cards that give you build points. The results would be similar, but I'm keeping it simple, folks.)

  Now, let's say you're playing Android, who are gifted in Cyber and Entropy technologies. Let's strip down that list to just those cards that you could use with your native techs:

  Strip Mine
  War Factories
  

  Okay, we lost a lot there, huh? Mostly because Order tech has a monopoly on production cards, due to their population's willingness to perservere and shoot for long-term success. But we're Androids, our ships cost more build points than anyone else's! We need some production loving, too!

  Now, I'll be frank. The easiest thing for you to do at this point is ignore Strip Mine and just play with War Factories. War Factories gives one of your planets +1 production, but it must build cruisers. No problem there, Android Cruisers are one of the most fearsome ships in the galaxy. But hey I don't like writing articles that state the obvious. Why not put War Factories and Strip Mine into your deck and go for the gusto!

  So, what exactly does Strip Mine do and how can we build a deck to take advantage of it? For just two tech (one cyber and one entropy), it will let us crank up a minor industrial planet (you can't use it on your homeworld because it is a population specialty) for a few turns. Note that on the fourth turn, the planet will turn into a barren world, so you will effectively gain only 6 build points for playing the card, not 8 as you might think. Still, +6 build points for a 2-tech card isn't too shabby, especially for Androids who don't have many other options.

  Now, how to get around the drawback. Well, if you're sticking with pure Android technology, what I would recommend trying is to simply take the hit, but put Vanguard Destroyers ("Deploy this ship at a friendly industrial planet. When this ship enters play, the local planet becomes a barren planet.") into your deck for deployment on the final turn before the Strip Mine makes the planet barren. You'll still suffer the destiny penalty, but now you're somewhat "cheating" the cost of the planet turning into barren, because you're deploying a super-strong ship for 4-tech that has the same penalty. And your strategy (you have a strategy, right?) of "rushing" your opponent with your strong ships early in the game is strengthed with this addition of this strong ship played from your hand.

  Another sneaky trick that I've attempted with Strip Mines is splashing 1 Life in order to include Assimilation. Assimilation?! Who plays with that crappy old card. Hey now, don't be a hater. In this case, Assimilation ("Target a friendly ship at a planet. When this modification enters play, destroy all modifications on the local planet. Modified ship gets +5 hull for each modification destroyed this way.") allows me to bypass the Strip Mine penalty, and add +5 hull to my ship. I'll admit the +5 hull is weak, but it effectively lets me gain 4 destiny and creates a minor industrial planet for the rest of the game! Splashing 1 Life into Androids also unlocks access to some powerful cards like Bounty Hunter and in this case perhaps Encirclement for an influence bump when it's time to invade an enemy planet.

  Be warned, trying to cheat the system in Star Chamber can be an addictive hobby, as there are plenty of combos and strategies to explore.

  Discuss this card in the forums.
  

• by Paul "Merakon" Dennen

  
  
  

  Comboing Star Chamber cards to create synergistic effects where the end result is greater than the sum of its parts is fun. Sometimes these combos appear naturally. The design team comes up with cards that make sense for a particular tech or galactic race, and then we spot how that card can combo with previously-existing cards (or cards that appear in the new set). But occasionally, we'll design a card with a combo in mind from the beginning. Usually, this is an attempt at creating a card that will help an older card that is considerably underpowered, perhaps breathing some new life into a card that players have ignored for some time.

  There was at least one time where I designed a series of new cards that would introduce a "super combo". During the design of The Atok Incident, the designers broke up the races and each tackled a few, and each of us looked for ways of introducing new and interesting mechanics and themes to give to the races, to allow the Atok Incident to kick off a brave new world and block for Star Chamber. One of my races was Silica, and one of the things that I snuck in was a hidden super combo. I thought that the Silica, more than any other race, felt like they could exhibit a hidden revelation - a secret puzzle answer if you put all the jigsaw pieces in the right configuration. I didn't want this combo to be necessary for players to know about, or even necessarily a realistic combo. I definitely wanted each card to be useful on its own. I just thought the fact that they could all come together in a potential "super combo" was a nice touch.

  Looking back at my design notes for The Atok Incident, I tagged four cards as "UBER SILICA FLEET COMPONENT". Here they are, and it was really this secret combo that gave Stonecutter his relatively-complex game text:

  Stonecutter (see image)
  Behemoth ("This ship has +10 hull regeneration. Each time this ship is dealt an amount of beam damage, it deals an equal amount of missile damage to a random local enemy ship.")
  Hull Ionizer ("Target a friendly ship. Modified ship gets +100 shields. Each time this ship would be dealt damage, it is dealt +5 damage.")
  Blasterium Frigate ("All missile damage delivered by friendly local ships gains +2 strength (or +3 if you have a local conqueror).
  

  Blasterium Frigate? What's that? Well, that's a card that didn't make the cut to playtesting. You can see that it was a part of the super combo which was meant to haveStonecutter hitting the Behemoth with his carving laser. The Behemoth would have a Hull Ionizer which would let Stonecutter hit it for 8 damage instead of 3, and then it would fling 8 damage plus at least 2 per local Blasterium Frigate at an enemy ship. In every round of combat. Pretty fun, if nigh-impossible to pull off.

  Unfortunately, Blasterium Frigate wasn't received well by others as it was considered too close to the Humans' Munitions Ship. Abiding by basic rules was far more important than having a fourth piece of a hidden super combo, so I shrugged because The Atok Incident was still shipping with a fun Silica combo, with Stonecutter at its core.

  Discuss this card in the forums.
  

• by Paul "Merakon" Dennen

  
  
  

  One of the simplest production cards in the game, Metropolis gives a standard minor industrial planet a 50% production bonus. A wealthy Zhikanii corporate executive once said, "It's all about future present value; the earlier you can deploy an economic engine, the better you will be off in the long term." What he meant in game terms is that a build point on turn 4 is more valuable than a build point on turn 8. The same Zhikanii executive would often be found paying for his hamburgers on the following Tuesday.

  Jokes aside, Metropolis is a solid card for any order deck with a long-term strategy. It's also an excellent component of a powerhouse planet strategy, such as a deck trying to pump out cruisers from a planet. One thing to watch out for when assembling a powerhouse planet strategy is to make sure you're not planning to use more than one of any particular specialty on the same planet. For example, Metropolis (population specialty) & Harilon Manufacturing Center (military specialty) will work together. On the other hand, Metropolis will not stack on the same planet with Rapid Construction or Industrial Nexus. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't use these cards in the same deck, however. You might have ambitious plans to conquer lots of industrial planets during the game, and you might want your Metropolis for the early game and an Industrial Nexus for the late-game.

  Discuss this card in the forums.
  

• In-Game support is in limited operation due to wildfires in the San Diego area, but response time may be delayed. Account and Technical Support is unavailable. We will keep you updated with any changes in the situation and appreciate your understanding.
  
  For your convenience our Self-help knowledgebase is also available at www.station.sony.com/kb with answers to your questions. E-mail support is also available any time at www.station.sony.com/kb.

• Beginning at 9:00 AM PDT on Tuesday, October 16th, several SOE services will be unavailable for maintenance. Account maintenance, the Station store, Station Exchange (instant buy only) and CCG purchases will be the affected services. Game play will still be available during this maintenance period.

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

• Star Chamber Patched!

  Check out the Update Notes from today's patch here.

• By Chuck "Shocho" Kallenbach, Game Designer

  
  
  

  When we introduce a new keyword in a set, it's important to show exactly what it means with the proper image. They're worth a thousand words, I've heard. There are seventeen cards that feature Scramble in Maelstrom, but for my money, this is the quintessential version.

  (Scramble: When an entity with scramble enters play, it joins the first travel group to begin a jump from its system on that turn.)

  When you think of speed, when you think of people rushing to get aboard ships and leave a planet, you think of... Zhikanii? Um, slugs aren't very fast, normally. Oh yeah? Well what if that slug's tail is on fire! Now that is motivation!

  Magenta Alert (I like the title too) has a splashable cost to help make Scramble available for use by many races. It's a great turn two option to speed up your spread throughout the galaxy. Magenta is a nice color for your homeworld.

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• 

  Avast Mateys! You'd best beware of the French Nation as they escalate the hunt for gold and glory in this all new Pirates expansion! The swash buckling seas of the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game™ Online (Pirates CSGO) are no longer safe from the powerful forts at the command of each nation. The Crimson Coast is rife with fear... prepare to battle as the French Nation sets its sights on domination! Pirates of the Crimson Coast features include:

  • Rise of the French Nation - Battle a whole new set of blimey, gold-loving bandits! The French Nation gets a powerful boost with many new ships and crew to enhance your existing French strategies.
  • Forts - Find another way to blow your enemies out of the water. Build a fort to protect the gold you've amassed and blast your cannons at anyone trying to steal your treasure. Arrrr!
  • Find 63 new ships and 84 new crewmen and treasures including more Schooner ships.
  • Sealed Play Tournaments! For the first time ever in Pirates CSGO, we will be allowing the very popular sealed play style of tournaments. Open your sealed packs for the first time in a tournament and use your quick wits to sink your opponent.

  So cast off and sail the treacherous Crimson Coast with us – if you dare!

  Visit the Pirates Online website for more information.

• The Events Calendar has been updated for October.
  Events Calendar!

• By Chuck "Shocho" Kallenbach, Game Designer

  
  
  

  As a relative newcomer to Star Chamber, I was fascinated and puzzled (a dangerous combination, that) by the differently colored eyes on the image for this card. Of course I knew that the Androids look like Human females (and then some), but I hadn't seen this particular feature before. (Yes, I did find mismatched eye colors on some older Android ladies as well.)

  It's a subtle reminder that even though Androids look all soft and round and feminine (well, most of them), they're different. There's a concept called "The Uncanny Valley" which asserts that when something weird is closer to Human, it suddenly becomes twice as unsettling.

  To put this another way, Godzilla is not very scary, but Vampires are, because they're like Humans with a twist. Designers of robots, working hard to make them more like humans, found out that when they got close to their goal, people interacting with the robots were freaked out.

  Along with those lovely mismatched eyes, look at the game text: Who doesn't want more bombardment? Combo our beautiful bomber girl with Daemon Alpha, Daemon Nu, Carpet Bombing, Strife, Let Slip the Dogs of War, even Resolution Mode Gamma, and it's bombs away! (Great card title there, I'll make a note.) Seems to me that Androids like to bomb things.

  PS: Until late in the testing process, this card was titled "Oicob," probably because of some overactive autocorrect gland in Microsoft Word. Thankfully, the card received its proper capitalization just days before the file became final.

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• On Tuesday, September 25, Sony Online Entertainment brought all of its games and services down for approximately 14 hours. While we did everything we could to make people aware of the pending downtime as early as possible, some SOE gamers have expressed confusion about what exactly we did that day.

  Click here for the details.

• 
  
  

  One of my favorite heroes from Maelstrom is the very unique Opportunist. Omior have always had a leadership strength to them, but their destiny-generating strategy has historically outshadowed their military strategies, so Omior military isn't commonly seen. Because of its activated ability, the Opportunist is a potential leadership powerhouse, but it is tricky to use. You just need to figure out when to dump your hand for leadership bonus, and how you can get cards back quickly and efficiently. The Opportunist's conqueror power provides some built-in synergy. Simply activate his leadership bonus on a turn where his leadership will let you take a planet, and you'll draw two cards.

  However, discarding your entire hand is pretty scary, and you might want to consider having even more card-drawing potential in your deck. Certainly having some Avid Raiders accompany the Opportunist comes to mind. Time Warp is another good card to support an Opportunist strategy. But my favorite card to use with Opportunist is Conscription. That card gives each player three Conscript cards, which are not particularly useful (when you play a Conscript, you get -2 destiny). So, I like to play Conscription to give my opponent relatively-useless cards, while giving myself additional leadership potential for the Opportunist! This works really well in a military campaign where you are also leveraging a destiny lead.

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• Card of the Week: Terraformer
  Paul "Merakon" Dennen

  
  
  

  A rarely-seen card from the Origins set, Terraformer is expensive but extremely versatile. Its special planet-changing ability can come in handy in many situations. In some games, you may find yourself up against an opponent on a galaxy setup where a destiny win will be very challenging, and turning an artifact planet into an industrial might give you that slight edge you need to win a war of attrition or voting. But a more common circumstance is the converse: one in which you can set up defensive positions and then terraform some of your own industrial planets into artifact worlds, so that you can speed your way to a cultural win before your opponent has time to react.

  Terraformer is also particularly neat in that it lets you "cheat" the system a little bit. For example, you might play an Archaeologist on an artifact planet, and then terraform it into an industrial planet that now generates 2 build points and 1 culture each turn. There are plenty of other interesting ways to cheat with Terraformer . Feel free to tell your Terraformer stories or discuss your ambitious cheating plans here!

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• This Weekend's Tournaments: September 14th-16th
  
  September 14 (Friday)
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  Entry Fee: 5 Event Passes
  Format/Deck: Standard Constructed Decks
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  6-3-3-3-2*
  4 Rounds
  
  September 15 (Saturday)
  
  10am PDT - New Player's Constructed Tournament
  Entry Fee: 5 Event Passes, you must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play!
  Format/Deck: Standard Constructed Decks
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  1st: 6-3-3-3-2*
  Winner receives a limited Mengrech, Right Hand of the Leader avatar
  4 rounds
  
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  Entry Fee: 5 Event Passes
  Format/Deck: Standard Constructed Decks
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  6-3-3-3-2*
  4 Rounds
  
  September 16 (Sunday)
  
  10am PDT - Chamber Draft
  Entry Fee: 2 Event Passes, 1 Maelstrom booster, 1 Descent Booster, 1 ATOK Booster
  Format/Deck: Draft with 8 person max per queue. First come - first serve!
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  4-2-2-2-1*
  3 Rounds

  For details, check out the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: Zealous Mentalist
  by Chuck "Shocho" Kallenbach II, Game Designer
  
  

  
  

  When I came on board with SOE-Denver (then Worlds Apart), I was given the daunting task of reading everything I could find about the story of Star Chamber. The most amazing story I found was the Battle of Pluto Station in Descent 7: Sol Besieged.

  Daemon Nu faces Ysabel Wei, each inhabited by a Master of Entropy and Order, respectively. This is an unprecedented and momentous encounter indeed! We couldn't resist revisiting this conflict in the campaign for the sixth set. The result is showcased in Maelstrom 1: Ancient Feud.

  Born as a result of this storyline is the curious character of Ilixo, who is the subject of Zealous Mentalist. He's a nice enough Ixa, but he seems a might crazy and he's in a heck of a big hurry. Maybe you would be too, if you had a Master of Order hitching a ride in your body. No corporeal form in the galaxy (not even the Silica) can withstand that kind of co-habitation for long.

  This seemed like a great time to use the limited duration mechanic, seen on a dozen or so cards in the game already. It's the kind of cool thing we can do with an online game that would be cumbersome in a tabletop version. It's the only card in the game with a political influence of more than 2, but it doesn't last long. Timing is of the essence.

  (As a side note, when I first posted to the forums, I used the handle of 'Ilixo' and most players couldn't figure out how to spell it! The first three letters look very similar on the screen. To be honest, we had a terrible time ourselves spelling 'Ilixo' and had to doublecheck to make sure we were consistent.)

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• 

  Sony Online Entertainment is proud to introduce the free stand-alone version of the client for Legends of Norrath™, the online trading card game based on its well-known and popular EverQuest Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game franchises.

  

  Now, everyone can play alongside EQ and EQII players experiencing the fantasy and majestic allure of this tactical and intensive card game!

  Oathbound is the first release in the Legends of Norrath storyline and features more than 375 digital cards available in both 55-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs. In this first release, players become part of a clandestine, secret war between the forces of Order and Chaos. Once jailed on the Plane of Justice, a mysterious tribunal offers them a chance for freedom and redemption. In swearing allegiance to the side of Order, players become Oathbound , and fight against the forces of Chaos to prevent Norrath from being plunged into a bloody and eternal war.

  

  In addition to player vs. player combat, Legends of Norrath provides several modes of gameplay and a variety of activities, including a sophisticated, re-playable AI system for single-player campaigns, easy to use management tools and numerous Casual and Tournament game lobbies. Dominance can be achieved by completing quests or defeating your opponents avatar, enabling players to employ their own unique strategies for victory. The game also features a robust loot system; more than 30 loot items each for EQ and EQII are available, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

  

  How can you get access to Legends of Norrath?

  Try out the game for FREE by visiting www.legendsofnorrath.com, creating a Station ID and downloading the complimentary, stand-alone game client.

  You can download a starter deck and test your skills against a sophisticated re-playable AI or challenge players in online game lobbies where you can find scores of worthy opponents.

  The digital starter decks (55 cards) are available for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), with digital booster packs (15 cards) selling for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes). For more information on Legends of Norrath , visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

• Sony Online Entertainment and Habitat for Humanity

  At a cocktail reception during the Austin Game Developers Conference, Sony Online Entertainment's (SOE) Austin studio presented the local Habitat for Humanity (HfH) with a $10,000 donation to their efforts to end poverty housing in the area. The funds were raised as part of an in-game event for the company's Star Wars Galaxies Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) video game, where players were allowed to demolish abandoned or unoccupied player-created houses and buildings. Fighters from the Galactic Demolitions Crew swooped down from the stars and bombed the buildings.

  A crowd of more than 150 was on hand at the Speakeasy in Austin to see SOE Austin VP of Development John Blakely present Austin HfH Executive Director Michael Willard with an oversized photo check for the donation.

  

  In addition to the donation, SOE Austin staff members will also engage in volunteer work to help create affordable housing for those in need in the Austin community.

• This Weekend's Tournaments: September 7th-9th
  
  September 7 (Friday)
  
  5pm PDT - New Player's Constructed Tournament
  You must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play!
  Winner receives a limited Mengrech, Right Hand of the Leader avatar
  
  September 8 (Saturday)
  
  10am PDT - Chamber Draft
  Draft with 8 person max per queue. First come - first serve!
  Entry fee is 2 Event Passes, 1 Maelstrom booster, 1 Descent Booster and 1 ATOK Booster.
  
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  
  September 9 (Sunday)
  
  10am PDT - Highlander
  Your deck may contain only one of each card title.

  For details, check out the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: General Baal ki Raellm, Alchemist of the Void
  by Chuck "Shocho" Kallenbach, Game Designer

  
  
  

  Since he's a key figure amongst the Ixa (no one else has a close, personal relationship with Sovereign Scuvall), this new version of everybody's favorite six-eyed General had to have some terrific game text. He has a costly ability that has an amazing, global effect. What else deals damage to each enemy ship?

  The tricky part came about when we had to explain how the heck he could do such a thing. If you check out Raellm's lore, you'll see that he planted agents all over the galaxy in anticipation of our need for this particular explanation. Clever squid, huh?

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• 
  September 1 (Saturday)
  
  10am PDT
  New Player's Constructed Tournament
  Entry Fee: 5 Event Passes, you must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play!
  Format/Deck: Standard Constructed Decks
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  1st: 6-3-3-3-2*
  Winner receives a limited Mengrech, Right Hand of the Leader avatar
  4 rounds
  
  5pm PDT
  Construction Junction
  Entry Fee: 5 Event Passes
  Format/Deck: Standard Constructed Decks
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  6-3-3-3-2*
  4 Rounds
  
  September 2 (Sunday)
  
  10am PDT
  Chamber Draft
  Entry Fee: 2 Event Passes, 1 Maelstrom booster, 1 Descent Booster, 1 ATOK Booster
  Format/Deck: Draft with 8 person max per queue. First come - first serve!
  Map: Random
  Pack Pool: Harbinger Block
  4-2-2-2-1*
  3 Rounds

  For details, check out the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: Egalitarian Agenda

  
  
  

  For The Atok Incident, the design team wanted to introduce some cards to change the way voting was approached by players. Prior to the Atok Incident, there weren't many advantages that could be found to leaving behind citizens at the Star Chamber between votes. The top players would realize that those voters should always be used for extra conquering power and then returned to the Star Chamber in time for the next vote.

  Egalitarian Agenda was one card that gave players reasons to consider changing their tried-and-true playstyle. By leaving citizens at the Star Chamber, a hero with this modification can become a powerful voting force in the Peacekeeper category.

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• Weekend Tournaments: August 24th – August 26th

  Friday, August 24th
  5pm PDT - New Player's Constructed
  You must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play!
  Winner receives a limited Mengrech, Right Hand of the Leader Avatar
  
  Saturday, August 25th
  10am PDT - Unleash the Avenger
  All participants receive an Avenger promo card and a Battle Readiness promo card
  
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  
  Sunday, August 26th
  10am PDT - Common Ground
  Your deck may only contain cards with the common rarity

  For details, visit the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: External Targeting Sensors

  
  
  

  This card is one of the 'bounce-back' cards introduced in the Descent expansion. Until that set debuted, there were no cards that could return to a player's hand. Descent introduced 15 of these cards: one for each tech and one for each race. (And to be complete, Descent also introduced a card that could return cards from the black hole to your hand.) Even though Star Chamber introduces the concept of an escalation marker after the second vote, which allows each player to draw 2 cards per turn instead of 1, some players find it handy to play with bounce-back cards to ensure that they'll have more options each turn. In addition, if the game runs really long and your deck runs out, these bounce-back cards ensure that you'll be able to play cards forever!

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• Weekend Tournaments: August 17th – August 19th

  Friday, August 17th
  5pm PDT - Common Ground
  Your deck may only contain cards with the common rarity
  
  Saturday, August 18th
  10am PDT - Chamber Draft
  First and last place receive an extra booster pack
  
  5pm PDT - Highlander Constructed
  Your deck may only contain one of each card title
  
  Sunday, August 19th
  10am PDT - Common Ground
  Your deck may only contain cards with the common rarity

  For details, visit the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: Occupation Hive

  
  
  

  This defensive card, introduced in the Maelstrom expansion, was a bit of a strange concept for the Thrass, a very offensive race, to receive. That's why the design team decided to give it such a harsh drawback if there is no local flag. Thrass players who are playing a flag-heavy deck may find that the reward is worth the risk, as there's no other low-cost Thrass ship that comes close to the firepower (3 missile and 3 cannon) and defense (50 total) that comes with Occupation Hive.

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• Are you ready for one of the best gaming convention around? If you enjoy playing games—tabletop or desktop—we invite you to join us at Gen Con this year in Indianapolis, IN for the time of your life!

  As part of the festivities for Gen Con in Indianapolis, Sony Online Entertainment will be hosting a Meet and Greet for those of you in the area. Join us at Jillian's on August 17th from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Food and drinks will be provided, along with entertainment and fun.

  Address: 141 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46225
  Phone: 317-822-9300
  E-mail: ecindianapolis@jilliansbilliards.com
  Web Site: Jillian's
  Distance from Monument Circle: 0.27 miles

  We look forward to seeing you there! If you are going to make it, let us know in the Forums

• Forums for the new Legends of Norrath CCG are now available! If you want to keep up on the latest news, information, and tips about the game, visit the forums and join in the conversation. You can also learn more about LoN by visiting the official website.

• Card of the Week: Robot Duel

  
  
  

  Often Star Chamber designers have to work hard to make cards elegant. First drafts of cards will often be picked apart -- can this be worded any better? Does it really have to have this extra restriction? Does it need to say 'friendly'? Sometimes, however, it is fun to throw a complex, wacky card into the mix. Robot Duel from Incursions is such a card. This card is almost like a mini-game unto itself. For those who are not familiar with the card, here is the link text that defines a Giant Robot:

  Giant Robot
  
  Ship - Fighter
  Missile: 5
  Beam: 4
  Cannon: 1
  Shields: 20
  Hull: 30
  Jump: 2
  
  This ship cannot enter combat on the turn it enters play.
  
  This ship becomes stationary while there is a local enemy Giant Robot.
  
  Each time this ship destroys another Giant Robot in combat, it permanently gets +1 influence.

  Two giant robots enter, one giant robot leaves!

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

  
  
  

  SOE president to deliver first "community address" at fan faire

  John Smedley to Unveil Brand-New Game to the Masses in Attendance, Event broadcast Live Online

  WHAT
  To kickoff the 2007 SOE Fan Faire, SOE President John ("Smed") Smedley will provide opening remarks to the more than 1000 video game fans coming to the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for this year's Fan Faire video game convention. This first-ever "Community Address" combines a live presentation with a streaming video broadcast online, where Smed will give both Fan Faire attendees and other gamers the kind of look at SOE products usually reserved for industry events such as E3. Both audiences will see the latest from upcoming titles like Pirates of the Burning Sea™ and Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising™. Fan Faire guests and online viewers will also get their first looks at Secrets of Faydwer™, the next expansion for EverQuest®, and Rise of Kunark™, the upcoming expansion for EverQuest® II.

  In another first for Fan Faire, Smed will also unveil an all-new, SOE online game, which is set to formally launch in late August. Fan Faire guests will have the first chance to demo this new title throughout Fan Faire weekend, August 3-5. The SOE Fan Faire is a unique social event in which players of SOE's most popular titles congregate to meet their online, game-playing peers. This year's event boasts a plethora of game-themed live events including tournaments, contests, live quests, a variety of panel discussions and tons of great gaming related contests.

  WHEN
  Friday, August 3rd at 5:30pm PST.

  WHERE
  The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Amazon Ballroom, Suite G

  Members of the media interested in viewing a live webcast of Smed's Community Address can go to the Sony Registration Page here..

  WHO
  Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online gaming industry, will host an event in Las Vegas for fans of its massive multiplayer online (MMO) gaming lineup including the hit titles EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, EverQuest® Online Adventures and PlanetSide®. This year's Fan Faire will also feature MMO fan favorites Vanguard: Saga of Heroes®, Star Wars™ Galaxies and The Matrix Online for the first time. Fan Faire 2007 will unite gamers from around the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia and Kuwait.

  For more information on the SOE Fan Faire visit our Fan Faire Page

  About Sony Online Entertainment
  Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

• Weekend Tournaments: August 3rd – August 5th

  Friday, August 3rd
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  
  Saturday, August 4th
  10am PDT - New Player's Constructed
  You must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play
  Winner receves a limited Mengrench, Right Hand of the Leader avatar
  
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  
  Sunday, August 5th
  10am PDT - Common Ground
  Your deck may only contain common cards

  For details, visit the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: Posturing

  
  
  

  Soon after Maelstrom launched, some creative players discovered a nasty combo involving this card and an Android card from the same set. The result of that combo caused a bit of a nuisance at the Star Chamber. Soon thereafter, another combo was discovered, again using Posturing, that allowed players to destroy the Star Chamber itself! Was the creation of this card a mistake? The design team says no -- part of the fun of TCGs is combining cards to create effects that are greater than the sum of their parts. The design team tips their hats to players who discover major game-changing combos. If those combos ever get extremely popular, hard to defeat or not fun to play against by opponents, then the issues will be addressed. But unless that day comes, Posture all you want and have fun trying to pull off those crazy combos!

  Discuss this card in the forums.

• August Events Calendar Updated

  The Star Chamber Events Calendar has been updated for August!

• Weekend Tournaments: July 27th – July 29th

  Friday, July 27th
  5pm PDT - New Player's Constructed
  You must have an overall rating of 1600 or less to play
  Winner receves a limited Mengrench, Right Hand of the Leader avatar
  
  Saturday, July 28th
  10am PDT - Unleash the Avenger - Constructed
  All participants receive an Avenger promo card (From the end of the Line Maelstrom campaign)
  
  5pm PDT - Construction Junction
  
  Sunday, July 29th
  10am PDT - Common Ground
  Your deck may only contain common and starter cards

  For details, visit the Star Chamber Event Calendar.

• Card of the Week: Protective Assignment

  
  
  

  From the beginning, Star Chamber has carried a tradition of releasing cards that can be used in different ways because they provide both a benefit and a drawback. This allows creative players to either plan for one way or the other, or go into the game with a flexible mentality and pick based on circumstance. One such card is Rebellion's Protective Assignment which provides a ship with +20 shields for a price. That price is that each time the ship leaves a star system, its owner loses 2 destiny. If you include this card in your deck, you will have the option of playing it in a pinch on one of your own ships for a defense boost. But, as there are other, more efficient cards for shield-boosting, you are probably playing this card for the ability to strongly encourage an enemy ship to keep its current position.

  Discuss this card in the forums.