News on the Hour
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre
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NEWS ON THE HOUR December 21 2023
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!
Rajazel and Governor Diablotine present the R121 Fishing Tournament from Dec 15, 2023, 12:00 AM CST, to Jan 24, 2023, 11:59 PM CST. 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.
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 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!
Download the FREE MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar today.
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!
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.
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
Devolver's Eccentric Holiday Special Returns
Devolver Digital is gearing up for its third annual Public Access Holiday Special on YouTube, set to premiere tomorrow, December 21, at 8 am Pacific, with the video on demand available afterward. The broadcast promises a sneak peek into 2024 releases such as Baby Steps, Pepper Grinder, and The Plucky Squire.
Known for eccentric presentations, Devolver has delivered titles like Gris, The Talos Principle, OlliOlli, Broforce, Downwell, Hotline Miami, and The Messenger. Fans can expect the event's typical quirkiness with cooking, musical numbers, and acting performances. Tune in to Devolver Digital's YouTube channel for notifications and prepare for an unconventional showcase.
SWTOR's 12th Anniversary Unveils Future Surprises
In its 12th year, Star Wars: The Old Republic, or SWTOR, celebrates milestones and previews the future. The game shifted to a 64-bit client, migrated all servers to the cloud, and released updates 7.3 and 7.4, bringing new story content to Ord Mantell. Executive Producer Keith Kanneg's letter to mark the Anniversary hints at update 7.4.1 exploring a long-unvisited location and update 7.5 delving into Lane Vizla's storyline. A livestream on February 14th will unveil more about 7.4.1 and offer a sneak peek into 7.5. The community is invited to enjoy holiday events until January 9, 2024.
Most recent publicity video from the Developers.
Epic Games Embraces Blockchain: Adults-Only Games Return
The Epic Games Store has recently revised its content policy to allow blockchain-based games with an "Adults Only" rating due to their unique use of blockchain or Non-Fungible Token (NFT) technology. Brian Sharon, a spokesperson for Epic Games, clarified that this exception doesn't extend to explicit content like pornography or gambling. Notably, games like "Gods Unchained" and "Striker Manager 3" are returning after being removed for their Adults Only rating, signaling a strategic shift in Epic Games' acceptance of blockchain gaming.
ARKathon Unleashes Creative Storm in Gaming
In a bid to amplify creative voices within the gaming community, Studio Wildcard announces the 2023 ARKathon Mod Contest for Ark: Survival Ascended. The UE5 remake of the dinosaur-filled survival game embraces cross-platform mods, partnering with Overwolf.
The $350,000 prize pool awaits participants in two tracks: Modders and Studios. Modders can submit custom maps and mods, with $10,000 for the top map and $4,000 for the leading mod. Studios vie for a $100,000 development grant by submitting proposals and playable demos. The ARKathon runs from December 5 to February 5, with winners revealed on February 28, 2024.
Fallout 76: Evolving Wasteland Delights Gamers
In 2018, Fallout 76 launched into a barren wasteland, but Bethesda's continuous efforts have transformed it. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, art director Jon Rush outlined the game's evolution on the Fallout website. With 17 million players, the Wastelanders update introduced NPCs, while subsequent add-ons and the recent Boardwalk Paradise expanded the experience.
Bethesda's focus for 2024 is on America's Playground, featuring the Jersey Devil and Shenandoah, a new forested region. Seasonal events will run more frequently, and additional features aim to benefit builders and adventurers. Executive Producer of Bethesda, Todd Howard, notes lessons learned for future projects.