It is still early here in West Coast US but I know some on the other side are already in the new year. For those out tonight celebrating, stay safe. For those at home and kicking back, I am right there with ya! I wish all of our readers a fun and game-filled new year in 2009!

Everyone has been getting in their thoughts on the last year and now it is a year in review with Redux! Well its that time of the year kiddos! We look back on our year in EQ2 and look forward to the new year. Welcome back Steven and Cody who are now offical hosts with myself and a fond farwell to Heath who has moved on from EQ2 to Life 2.0 Come on in and relax the fire is warm and there be ale to drink tonight! Check out this great podcast or catch up on previous podcasts on EQ2 Redux!

The world of Norrath has been home to so many over the years it's mind boggling to consider a sequel so popular it's on a fifth expansion. The Shadow Odyssey brings a number of exciting features to EverQuest 2 which include mission based instance dungeons, more Achievements, a new overland zone, and much more. Will it be enough to hang on to the veterans and even bring back former players? We dive right in and provide a verdict just inside. I can hear the question forming on your lips now: �Is there really just one new zone in the entire expansion?� Not quite my friend as there are an entire new series of instances to take into consideration. Included are seven different locations that will take you everywhere from the Commonlands to the Loping Plains. At each of these locations are two or three different instance selections that provide a variety of options for your grouping pleasure. If that wasn't enough, the instances will progress in difficulty and believe me when I tell you that these can become challenging. Check out Radar's review only on Ten Ton Hammer!

Worlds.com has filed a complaint against NCsoft for allegedly violating a patent. What patent you ask? Well, these guys are claiming to hold the patent on virtual worlds. The suit claims that NCsoft infringed on patent 7,181, 690, �System and Method for Enabling Users to Interact in a Virtual Space�. Not only does the complaint seek to recover damages, but also wants NCsoft to be prevented from any further infringement on the patent. This suit could potentially end up shaking the entire gaming industry if they intend to go after every company that has create a similar virtual world, including SOE! Read up on the details and stop by our forums to add your own 2 cents on whether or not this is a legit complaint or just another quack with a lawyer!

It has been an interesting month in the Pacific Northwest for SOE Seattle and G.I.R.L blogger Owlchick reflects on the season: It�s a very snow world out there in the Pacific Northwest and all across the northern reaches of the US. Travel plans are borked for hundreds of people. My son�s flight up to visit me for the holidays is already delayed by a couple of hours. I hope he gets here safely. I hope everyone traveling reaches their destinations safely and in good time for whatever celebrations await them. Read up on this girl gamers musings over at Station Blogs!

Well we already knew gaming wasn't all about the boys, but this little study done by the University of Delaware had some very interesting finds regarding the EverQuest II demographic. The results showed that, although more of the players were male, it was the female players who were the most dedicated players, spending more time each day playing the game than their male counterparts. This study only included 2,400 players which is not a significant amount, but it's a fun read none the less. Click to check out the full details of this BBC article!