News on the Hour
Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord in the Newsstand section...
Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord in the Newsstand section...
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre
Local News
Celebrate New Year's Eve with the Jade Dragons in Jade Valley. Festivities begin at 8 pm Pacific Time or 10 pm Central Time, ringing in a 4 New Year's in the United States. Join the fun with friends and family, featuring food, drinks, music, fireworks, and prizes. Avatars Radio will be emceeing and providing the music. DJ Celith Wraine will cover Eastern & Central Standard Time, and, Yours truly, DJ Asclepius will celebrate Mountain and Pacific Standard Time. Join us in-game and at twitch.tv/avatarsradiorocks for the live television broadcast. Don't miss the Shroud of the Avatar New Year's Celebration!
Greetings Anglers! Rajazel and Governor Diablotine present the R121 Fishing Tournament from Dec 15, 2023 to Jan 24, 2024. Prizes include Large Gold, Silver, and Bronze trophies, varying Cotos, and PVP shards. Saltwater is the focus of this release. Participate by catching a trophy fish in designated locations and mailing it to Diablotine. The longest fish in registered POTs determine winners. No cumulative values or fish weight consideration. Botting is prohibited, and donations are welcome. Stay tuned for updates and the R122 Fetid water tournament starting Jan 26, 2023. Visit the official Shroud of the Avatar forums for details, and happy fishing!
The 3rd Annual Mysteria Gift Exchange is underway in Mysteria's Emerald Cove Market. Avatars can request gift boxes for themselves or friends by contacting Xrossfire Bugseye. Participation is open to all Avatars. Donations can be made until midnight NBT on Christmas Eve to specific players or randomly in three donation chests. Gifts will be available for pickup on Dec 26th or later at your convenience. Devs can receive Yuletide notes in a dedicated box.
Download the FREE MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar today.
Go holiday gift shopping during the weekly Lightbringer Isle Auction, which takes place every Wednesday. Determine your prices, starting bids, and reserves. Drop labeled items at the Auction House or mail them to Hemnu Lighbringer, along with bid details. Expect a diverse array of offerings for a rich experience. Remember, a 10% commission on the final sale price applies. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info.
Jade Valley is abuzz with the Snow Walker Migration! These frosty wanderers and their Snow Dragons are descending from Elysium Mountains for their annual break. They're hitting the shops, staring at the night sky—perhaps on the lookout for some fireworks? Scholars are digging into their mysterious origins and nod-and-smile communication style. These chilly visitors have a penchant for coal, carrots, and stylish outfits. Word on the street is there's a bit of a social hierarchy and a quirky dating scene involving snowball fights and frosty gifts. Winter in Jade Valley is anything but dull!
It’s the Avatars Radio Sonic Shop Grand Opening, and we have included limited edition Avatars Radio Holiday Ornaments and Beer Steins. Our most popular items are back, too: Chaotic Radio T-shirts, eco-friendly soy candles, a gorgeous mousepad, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, and more. Visit www.avatarsradio.rocks/shop right now. Remember, shopping at Sonic Shop supports Avatars Radio, your original, independent community in-game Radio station. Tune in to the Avatars Radio Twitch simulcasts for a chance to win a 2023 Limited Edition Holiday Beer Stein!
In Haven Ridge, a month-long fishing event runs until December 31st, allowing players to reel in substantial rewards. Categories like Grand Prize Largest Lava and Fetid Fish Caught (Combined Length) offer winners 2000 COTO's, 200k Gold, a TF Village Deed, a 5-story Wizard tower with Deco, and a Gold Fishing Trophy! Haven Ridge thanks Kosh Summers and Vulcan Jedi for the generous Grand Prize donation. Remember, one winner per category, and no alts are allowed. Best of luck, anglers!
Lighbringer Isle also hosts a monthly fishing contest that invites avid anglers to cast lines for the largest fish in the Isle’s salt and lava waters. Prizes will be revealed monthly for each group, with the ultimate Grand Prize awaiting the angler who nets the longest combination of lava and saltwater fish caught. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info. Best of luck to all participants!
The Robot Overlords have announced a sheet music hunt event in Shroud of the Avatar that commenced on November 13th and will continue until a winner is found. Participants search for music sheets with a twist. Ten specific sheets of music are now listed on the official forums. Finding one makes you eligible for the grand prize. Discovering five or more earns an additional special reward. Players must post a screenshot of the sheet on the forum thread and its drop to claim victory. Happy hunting!
General Player Event Info:
For more information about player-run events, developer game updates, and more happenings in Shroud of the Avatar, or to have your events broadcasted during NEWS ON THE HOUR for free, visit the official Shroud of the Avatar forums and the Avatars Radio Discord at www.avatarsradio.rocks/discord
For information about advertising your in-game business, guild or gaming-related products and services on Avatars Radio, visit avatarsradio.rocks/patron.
Metaverse News
Epic Games Rumored to Give Away 17 Games For the Holidays
In Epic Games Store's holiday giveaway, Destiny 2: Legacy Collection is now available for free until January 9th. The bundle includes Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen expansions. Industry leaker Billbil-kun revealed the 17-game giveaway, beginning with Destiny 2. Epic Games Store follows its tradition of daily free games, differing this year with Destiny 2's early reveal. The Holiday Sale is concurrent, running until January 10th. While the second game remains a mystery, updates will follow, and the giveaway extends until January 11th. Stay tuned for further details.
Call of Duty QA Workers Push Back After Being Called Into the Office
Activision Blizzard is catching heat as the ABK Workers Alliance, who mostly work on Microsoft's game Call of Duty, pushes back against a new mandate, forcing QA employees in Minneapolis, Austin, and El Segundo back to the office full-time from late January. Activision argues it boosts efficiency, but the Alliance fires back, claiming the company isn't doing enough to support workers who need remote options. This move comes after Activision's past troubles. The ABK Workers Alliance stands firm, emphasizing that a blanket return-to-office decision hurts everyone involved—employees, the company, and the players.
Activision Blizzard Settles 2021 Toxic Workplace Lawsuit
In more Activision Blizzard news, the company has settled a 2021 lawsuit, acknowledging allegations of fostering a workplace culture with sexual harassment. The suit, filed by California, accused the company of a "frat boy" atmosphere. The $54 million settlement with the state and an additional $47 million for affected female employees covered the period 2015-2020. Changes were made to the company, including restructuring its Employee Relations and Ethics & Compliance teams. Over 20 individuals implicated left the company, and an additional 20 faced disciplinary action. References to employees Jesse McCree, Luis Barriga, and Jon LeCraft in World of Warcraft were removed. Employee walkouts, executive departures, and unionization efforts followed.
Steam 2023 Players’ Year in Review Now Live
Introduced in 2022, Steam Year in Review returns for 2023, providing a detailed recap of your gaming year. Accessible through the Steam app or https://store.steampowered.com/yearinreview, the private review covers game count, achievements, most-played games, and input methods. Receive an automatic badge that contributes to your XP levels. Customize privacy settings to share with friends or publicly. Use preset formats to share on various platforms, and add your Year in Review to your Steam profile as a featured showcase. Explore the wealth of gaming stats and relive your gaming journey.
