Name: Noel Walling Handle: Ilucide Hometown: Big Sur, California Pets: None, but I would like a lab.   Can you share a bit about your gaming background and how did you start in the gaming industry? The first time I thought about being in "the industry" was at eleven or twelve when I found out that people got paid to "play" games – I mean, that's what those guys at Nintendo Power did, right? Play games all day, then charge kids three bucks a minute for help when they couldn't finish a level? Then there was a nice long stretch where I didn't think much about it at all – right up until shortly after EQ shipped. EQ really bordered on an obsession to me, so I realized I'd better do something productive with my gaming habit. So I hopped on a train and came down to interview with Brenlo for a GM position on EQ. He didn't hire me. In fact, it took another year before I was hired. I only stayed on as a GM in customer service for a little under a year before I was pulled over to help out on EQII. When did you join the EQII team? About a year before launch. November 18th, I believe. Just in time for everyone to be on vacation for Thanksgi

Enchanted Lands - Recommended lvl 30+

TheEnchanted Lands, or short, EL, is a beautiful overland zone for thosein the 30's. As you arrive at the docks, the first impression willeither be, wow.. that looks nice... or boo... way too nice. If thesecond is more like you and you prefer the darkness of ancientbattlefields then your better off in Zek, where the Orcs have foughtmany Wars. However if you are like me and enjoy the looks of the bignature areas, then the Enchanted Lands is for you.

While you areat the docks you can pick up several Quests from the locals there, theyare friendly at heart and will reward you well, even the random upgradehere and there for your Armor Quest rewards. If you head towards theGranary Hill you will stumble over a gnome who's standing at the beach,looking for some help. If you get a group together you can get theHeritage Quest for the Serrated Bone Dirk, or if you prefer exploringon your own you can head a bit further along the coast where ascarecrow will ask for your help.

As long as you stay on theside of the wall you arrive on you will be fine on your own, but beaware that beyond the wall there are masses of goblins and evil eyesthat are only waiting f

SOE has announced that Legends of Norrath, the EverQuest based online trading card game can now be played as a stand alone game out side of EverQuest and EverQuest II.
 
DENVER, CO - September 12, 2007 - On the heels of a successful release to the EverQuest® and EverQuest® II player communities, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online entertainment industry, has released a 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.

Developed at SOE's Denver, CO studio, Oathbound is the first release in the Legends of Norrath storyline. Oathbound features more than 375 digital cards and is 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 plunge

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.

Legends of Norrath Preview

Legends of Norrath™: Oathbound is releasing live in EverQuest® and EverQuest II® on September 5th, 2007! Legends of Norrath is an online-only trading card game, based on the richly-detailed sword-and-sorcery world of Norrath from the massively multiplayer online role-playing games EverQuest and EverQuest II. Playable from within the two MMOs, Oathbound, the first set for Legends of Norrath features over 375 digital cards and is available in both a 55-card digital starter deck and 15-card digital booster packs. Play as one of many Oathbound avatars and decide your own fate as you choose between the paths of good or evil. Features Include: EverQuest® and EverQuest®II Interactivity:Legends of Norrath works both with and within your existing EQ and EQ®II games. Launching directly from your in-game menu, players can challenge others from either game. Also included are randomly inserted reward cards from potions to mounts that will enhance your EQ and EQII MMO game. Complimentary Starter Packs: EQ and EQII players will be awarded a complimentary random Oathbound digital starter deck. Single-Player Campaigns or PVP: Test your skills against a sophisticated, re-play

For me, Gen Con is the biggest gaming related show of the year. I’ve been going to the con for over a decade, and always have a great time. Heading to Indianapolis is almost like a pilgrimage for me. Once each year, I got to hang out with people who were just like me and totally geek out about games.

This year, Gen Con was extra special. Not only was I going to raid the exhibit hall and try all the new games, but I was going to work! We were throwing a party for SOE Gamers at Jillian’s in Indianapolis if you remember, so I was actually going to be at the con not just for my own reasons, but also to hang out with friends from the SOE universe. On paper, it really could not get any better, in practice it did!

What is Gen Con?

For those who don’t know, Gen Con is one of the longest running gaming conventions in North America. Its roots are in tabletop games that pre-date Dungeons and Dragons, but the show has constantly evolved to touch on everything a gaming geek could love. It’s a beautiful mix of war games, role-playing games, card games, board games, computer games, online games, Renaissance Faire vendors, geek culture, and a strange amalgamation of every single Sci-Fi and Fantasy li

SOE Podcast #21 is Now Available!
The 21st SOE Podcast is now available for your listening pleasure! This podcast has a Fan Faire 2007 recap and hear from members of the Community team located in Austin, Texas! You can listen to this and many other podcasts at the SOE Podcast homepage.

If you wish to chat about this newest podcast, you can do so here!

Niami was in a bit of a jam. When she'd gone on her chocolate binge, she had totally forgotten about an upcoming party she had promised to cater. She had gone through her foodstuffs with wild abandon as she experimented

Well folks, our first EverQuest II Developer Chat is over. I want to say thank you to everyone who participated in the event, to the EverQuest II team for taking the time out of their day and to the amazing Allakhazam staff. Cuppycake beat me and managed to post a log minutes after the chat was completed. Good work Cuppycake, we salute you!



Below is the entire chat log for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

[tamat] Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first of many IRC Developer Chats hosted right here at Allakhazam. I’m your host Andrew “Tamat” Beegle and joining me from Allakhazam we have Amy “Calthine” Lanam, Helen “Raven” Banks, Christie “Kiara” Renzetti and Jeffrey “Danalog” Abshire.
[tamat] First we have Scott “Gallenite” Hartsman. Welcome!
[gallenite] Hi everyone! Thanks for comin’ out
[tamat] Next, Craig “Grimwell” Dalrymple. Welcome!
[grimwell] Howdy folks!
[tamat] Akil “Lyndro” Hooper. Welcome!
[lyndro] Why did you introduce me after Grimwell? That’s not right! He should be last!
[lyndro] I demand a recount!
[tamat] Liz “Feconix” Sigmund. Welcome!

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES EVERQUEST® II RISE OF KUNARK™ Fourth Expansion for EverQuest® II Currently in Development, Features New Playable Race, New Zones based on the Original EverQuest, Rais