Join the SOE Community Department for the “Secret Covert Ham-Cast,” the Official SOE Podcast #87.  In this exciting episode:

• Podramady author (and EQII Community Manager) Christie "Kiara" Renzetti co-hosts.
• Emily tries to track down Hubert, who has gone missing yet again.
• The news with Jason Ryan gives you all of the latest updates on SOE titles!

You can download the podcast from the Podcast Website and iTunes (search for SOE and click "subscribe"). Your feedback is always welcome either on the Station forums or via email.

Join the SOE Community Department for Official SOE Podcast #86: the “Hodgepodge Cast!”  In this exciting episode:

• Hear all about EverQuest II’s Halas Reborn.
• PlanetSide’s Black Ops event recap.
• The announcement of the Mr. and Ms. Challenge winners.
• Lydia “Zatozia” Pope talks about the upcoming EQ server merges.

You can download the podcast from the Podcast Website and iTunes (search for SOE and click "subscribe"). Your feedback is always welcome either on the Station forums or via email…                        

SOE has announced the dates and location for SOE Fan Faire 2010!  This annual event allows players and developers from all SOE games to mingle and discuss all matters MMO.

Fan Faire will be August 5 - 8, 2010 at Bally's Las Vegas.  See the official Fan Faire website for details!

Source:  EQII Official Forums

There will be planned maintence at SOE Wednesday, February 24, 2010 that will affect all game servers for all SOE games.  Maintenance will begin at 3:00 AM PST and is estimated to last until 12:00 PM PST.  All game worlds will be unavailable for at least the first several hours of the estimated 9-hour maintenance. The Station Store and all commerce avenues will be unavailable for the entire duration of maintenance.  This may also affect the performance of the forums and any or all accounts’ abilities to log in.

Source:  EQII Forums

Thanks to the generosity of players in EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms, Sony Online Entertainment raised $25,000 to donate to the American Red Cross' aid efforts in Haiti following last week's devastating earthquake. SOE donated $10 for every in-game Haiti Relief item that was purchased in the Marketplace from Jan. 15-18.

"In just three days we were able to reach our goal of $25,000 and it's all because of the generosity of our players," said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. "They really stepped up for a good cause and we're proud to lend support to the estimated 3 million Haitians affected by the recent earthquakes."

More information on how you can donate to help the people affected by the earthquake can be found on the American Red Cross site.

The Resolution Cast is now available from iTunes and the SOE Podcast website!  In this exciting episode: 

• An interview with EQII game designer Adam “Zaphax” Stevens
• A new Hamster joins the staff
• SOE asks their Tweeps arbout their New Years' resolutions
• Inside SOE - What did you do during vacation?

Catch it all on the Resolution Cast!

Exciting news.... the bronze level of the SOE ConnecDING! promotion has been reached for EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms!

How? Well, SOE decided that, due to lackluster numbers on Twitter, only Facebook is now required to meet the goals for this promotion. So congratulations to everyone who plays EQ, EQ II and FR... enjoy your 250 Station Cash!

If you haven't become a fan of these games on Facebook yet--now's the time! The promotion runs until February 10, 2010, and there's still more rewards if the Silver stage is reached. Help out your fellow gamers and become fans of all three games!

EverQuest on Facebook
EverQuest II on Facebook
Free Realms on Facebook

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that it is kicking off its Second Annual Virtual Fundraising Drive for Child's Play. The fundraising effort begins today and runs through Jan. 17, 2010. SOE will be donating $10 to the charity every time a player buys one of the three special Child's Play in-game items from the Marketplace with Station Cash.

The three items that you can purchase to aid the cause are EverQuest's Child’s Play Anklebiter Doll, EverQuest II's Child’s Play Bouncing Baby Panda Cub, and Free Realms' Child’s Play Triceratop. SOE was able to donate $21,000 to Child's Play last year, and the company hopes to double that amount this year.

Child's Play is a charity founded by Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins that is dedicated to improving the lives of children in hospitals worldwide with toys and games. More information can be found on the organization's Web site.

The Scrooge Cast is now available from iTunes and the SOE Podcast website!  In this exciting minicast: 

• Hubert takes us on a journey through Christmas past, present and future
• The winner of the Holiday Carol contest is announced
• Chat about the DCUO Mass Animation Contest

Catch it all on the Scrooge Cast!

Between December 10, 2009 and February 10, 2010, Sony Online Entertainment's EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms are running the new ConnecDING! promotion. For every stage achieved per game, all players of that specific game will receive in-game rewards such as Station Cash or an in-game item. Rewards are only available to accounts in good standing at the time of delivery. (Source: Station.com)

This promotion focuses on social networking, and the stages are achieved as players become fans of the games on both Facebook and Twitter. The stages are Bronze (5,000), Silver (10,000) and Gold (15,000). Each game has its own meter, which can be viewed on the game's Facebook page, and both the Facebook and Twitter fan count will need to reach the numeric value before that stage is completed. Links to each game's social networking pages are available after the hop.