<p></p>
It's a New Year, and we have some great new updates for all of you denizens of the clockworks!

<b><u>Sonic Spiral</b></u>

First up: To celebrate the release of <b><u>Sonic CD</b></u> we have some exclusive, limited-time items for Spiral Knights!
<ul>
<li>'Metal Sonic' costume: inspired by Metal Sonic, this outfit is available for FREE, for a limited time, with any purchase of Sonic CD over Steam. Also available with an energy purchase in-game!</li>
<li>'Tails' tails accessory: Available in Spiral Knights with an energy purchase -- see in game for details!</li>
</ul>
<style type="text/css">img.padding {padding-right: 10px;}</style><img src="http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/200940/extras/Page_banner_sonic.png" align="left" class="padding">
<br clear="all">
<br clear="all">
<style type="text/css">img.padding {padding-right: 10px;}</style><img src="http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/gfx/apps/200940/extras/Page_banner_tails.png" align="left" class="padding">
<br clear="all">

These are currently available only until <b><u>January 31st</b></u>, so act now!

<b><u>Elevator Passes: Available Forever!</b></u>

Good news, everybody -- especially for our most avid Spiral Knights explorers!

The $5.95 30 Day Elevator Pass is here to stay! Accounts that have purchased the Elevator Pass in the past can now purchase it again as often as they like. Time is added to the your current Elevator Pass at the time of purchase.
<p></p>

It's a New Year, and we have some great new updates for all of you denizens of the clockworks!

Sonic Spiral[/b]

First up: To celebrate the release of Sonic CD[/b] we have some exclusive, limited-time items for Spiral Knights!

• 'Metal Sonic' costume: inspired by Metal Sonic, this outfit is available for FREE, for a limited time, with any purchase of Sonic CD over Steam. Also available with an energy purchase in-game!
• 'Tails' tails accessory: Available in Spiral Knights with an energy purchase -- see in game for details!

<style type="text/css">img.padding {padding-right: 10px;}</style>




<style type="text/css">img.padding {padding-right: 10px;}</style>



These are currently available only until January 31st[/b], so act now!

Elevator Passes: Available Forever![/b]

Good news, everybody -- especially for our most avid Spiral Knights explorers!

The $5.95 30 Day Elevator Pass is here to stay! Accounts that have purchased the Elevator Pass in the past can now purchase it again as often as they like. Time is added to the your current Elevator Pass at the time of purchase.

As the celebration of Winterfest continues, we have news of another new update for Spiral Knights!

<b><u>Sale! 80% Off Explorer's Pack</b></u>

A magnificent deal for the holidays -- the Explorer's Pack, normally $14.95, is marked down to the Spir-<strong>low</strong> (sorry) price of just $2.95. For a limited time (<strong>until January 2nd</strong>) purchase this pack and get a 2 Week Elevator Pass, a 7 Day Heat Amplifier, a Silver Key, and a random Stranger Hat costume item!

<a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/37024" target="_blank">Check here for more info!</a>

<b><u>Drone Monsters</b></u>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6545091331/" title="Spiral Knights (x400) by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6545091331_d0f05612a8.jpg" width="400" height="266" alt="Spiral Knights (x400)"></a>

Nefarious new mechanical monsters are roaming the twisted turning paths of the Clockworks: Are they a sinister homage to the movie monsters of old, sci-fi robots bent on <em>destroying all intruders</em>, or both?

Drones are not part of any currently known class of monster. They are complete immune to damage until they stop and expose a weak point -- meanwhile, beware the Golden Drones, which never stop (and are thus effectively invincible). Drones can cause regular damage or negative status effects, so beware! A full list of the drones -- gifted with some truly incredible names -- is <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/37327" target="_blank">available in the official patch notes, along with more info on this update!</a>

As the celebration of Winterfest continues, we have news of another new update for Spiral Knights!

Sale! 80% Off Explorer's Pack[/b]

A magnificent deal for the holidays -- the Explorer's Pack, normally $14.95, is marked down to the Spir-low (sorry) price of just $2.95. For a limited time (until January 2nd) purchase this pack and get a 2 Week Elevator Pass, a 7 Day Heat Amplifier, a Silver Key, and a random Stranger Hat costume item!

Check here for more info!

Drone Monsters[/b]



Nefarious new mechanical monsters are roaming the twisted turning paths of the Clockworks: Are they a sinister homage to the movie monsters of old, sci-fi robots bent on destroying all intruders, or both?

Drones are not part of any currently known class of monster. They are complete immune to damage until they stop and expose a weak point -- meanwhile, beware the Golden Drones, which never stop (and are thus effectively invincible). Drones can cause regular damage or negative status effects, so beware! A full list of the drones -- gifted with some truly incredible names -- is available in the official patch notes, along with more info on this update!

<a title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6478494537/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6478494537_0da48f49c3.jpg" alt="Spiral Knights" width="500" height="172" /></a>

A new update for Spiral Knights brings the Winter holiday to the town of Haven ... and turns up some answers (and more questions) within the Clockworks.

<b><u>Winterfest</b></u>
As the planet of Cradle has ticked a few degrees over and ushered in wintertime to the town of Haven, the snow-based festivities have begun: it's time for Winterfest, which means a blanket of snow, Snipes in the holiday spirit, and ... Impostoclaus! In addition, as part of the Winterfest<em>ivities</em>:
<div>
<ul>
<li>A new Lockdown level, Frostbite! Frostbite features snowball ordinance, which knights may use to transform opponents into snowmen -- an outcome which is both festive and tactical.</li>
<li>Until January 9th, you can use Krogmo Coins to purchase Santy Hats from Sullivan in the Haven Arcade. Santy Hats expire on January 23rd, 2012!</li>
</ul>
</div>
<a title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6478494987/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6478494987_c6d7135d69.jpg" alt="Spiral Knights" width="500" height="313" /></a>
<b><u>Event Hub</b></u>
New to your Spiral Knights interface -- the Events Hub! More than just a way to keep tabs on what ongoing events you might be able to join, the Hub helps you to keep tabs on past events as well as personal statistics, accomplishments, and achievements by friends and guildmates.

Of particular note to the old-school video game purist: the Events Hub features a running high score, tallying levels, Coliseum matches, and crowns acquired.

<b><u>Heat Amplifiers</b></u>
This is definitely worth noting: Heat Amplifiers have allowed Knights to accrue extra heat energy in dungeons. Now, they've received a technological <em>upgrade</em>, granting double the un-amplified heat Knights would gain! Additionally, you can acquire Heat Amplifiers with different capacities, lasting for 2 days, 7 days, or 30 days.

<b><u>Scenario Rooms</b></u>
While a beautiful, icy, cake-like <em>glaze</em> coats the surface of Cradle, the ever-shifting layers of the Clockworks have revealed something new within: Scenario Rooms are new rooms which have begun turning up in existing levels.

Scenario Rooms offer more than meets the eye (and sometimes much more). Some direct bits of story & lore, of interest to Knights who find such things interesting, can be found ... as well as some more indirect mysteries and hints at the larger mystery of the Clockworks itself. You will also encounter special bonuses from such rooms ... take note, for some Scenario Rooms are much more rare than others!

<b><u>European Servers</u></b>
Some news from the meta-Clockworks that keep the game humming along, there will now be new European servers open for Spiral Knights! Here are the official notes from Three Rings which those of you in Europe (and some of you here) will want to be aware of:
<ul>
<li>Implementation of new servers is to reduce latency for European players.</li>
<li>When you join a pick-up game or enter a town, you will be matched with other players in your region.</li>
<li>By default, your region will be automatically determined based on your IP.</li>
<li>If you wish to manually configure your preferred region, you may do so via the Option menu (in the General section, under Region).</li>
<li>Your knights, items, friends, guild mates, etc., will remain unchanged!</li>

<b><u>Interface & Bugfixes</b></u>
Some upgrades have been applied to the interface for Spiral Knights, including preview personal color changes for your Knights both in shops and at the Auction House. For more information -- and for some minor bugfix-type items -- <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/36027">skate on over to the Spiral Knights patch notes here!</a>

A new update for Spiral Knights brings the Winter holiday to the town of Haven ... and turns up some answers (and more questions) within the Clockworks.

Winterfest[/b]
As the planet of Cradle has ticked a few degrees over and ushered in wintertime to the town of Haven, the snow-based festivities have begun: it's time for Winterfest, which means a blanket of snow, Snipes in the holiday spirit, and ... Impostoclaus! In addition, as part of the Winterfestivities:
<div>

• A new Lockdown level, Frostbite! Frostbite features snowball ordinance, which knights may use to transform opponents into snowmen -- an outcome which is both festive and tactical.
• Until January 9th, you can use Krogmo Coins to purchase Santy Hats from Sullivan in the Haven Arcade. Santy Hats expire on January 23rd, 2012!

</div>

Event Hub[/b]
New to your Spiral Knights interface -- the Events Hub! More than just a way to keep tabs on what ongoing events you might be able to join, the Hub helps you to keep tabs on past events as well as personal statistics, accomplishments, and achievements by friends and guildmates.

Of particular note to the old-school video game purist: the Events Hub features a running high score, tallying levels, Coliseum matches, and crowns acquired.

Heat Amplifiers[/b]
This is definitely worth noting: Heat Amplifiers have allowed Knights to accrue extra heat energy in dungeons. Now, they've received a technological upgrade, granting double the un-amplified heat Knights would gain! Additionally, you can acquire Heat Amplifiers with different capacities, lasting for 2 days, 7 days, or 30 days.

Scenario Rooms[/b]
While a beautiful, icy, cake-like glaze coats the surface of Cradle, the ever-shifting layers of the Clockworks have revealed something new within: Scenario Rooms are new rooms which have begun turning up in existing levels.

Scenario Rooms offer more than meets the eye (and sometimes much more). Some direct bits of story & lore, of interest to Knights who find such things interesting, can be found ... as well as some more indirect mysteries and hints at the larger mystery of the Clockworks itself. You will also encounter special bonuses from such rooms ... take note, for some Scenario Rooms are much more rare than others!

European Servers
Some news from the meta-Clockworks that keep the game humming along, there will now be new European servers open for Spiral Knights! Here are the official notes from Three Rings which those of you in Europe (and some of you here) will want to be aware of:

• Implementation of new servers is to reduce latency for European players.
• When you join a pick-up game or enter a town, you will be matched with other players in your region.
• By default, your region will be automatically determined based on your IP.
• If you wish to manually configure your preferred region, you may do so via the Option menu (in the General section, under Region).
• Your knights, items, friends, guild mates, etc., will remain unchanged!
Interface & Bugfixes[/b]
Some upgrades have been applied to the interface for Spiral Knights, including preview personal color changes for your Knights both in shops and at the Auction House. For more information -- and for some minor bugfix-type items -- skate on over to the Spiral Knights patch notes here!

Further out on the Spiral, deeper into the Clockworks: We have new updates for Spiral Knights!

First, in case you missed it, you can mosey on into the game and <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/33392" target="_blank">purchase yourself an Elevator Pass.</a> This is just about the best deal in the game, and they are -- at present -- available for just a limited time. The Elevator Pass reduces all elevator costs to zero for an entire month, meaning you can adventure to your heart's content!

Here's what's new in the update for today:

<u><strong>Featured Auctions:</strong></u> Featured auctions will be run by the <a href="http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Haven" target="_blank">Haven</a> Treasury itself, and will often contain unique or rare items. They are in limited quantity -- savvy Knights, here is your opportunity to upgrade your arsenal with some very special options! There are a number of items being offered up with the Featured Auction debut, check the official patch notes page for a list of what's up for auction right now!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6433228115/" title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6433228115_0ec6db22ce.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="Spiral Knights"></a>

<u><strong>Personal Colors:</strong></u> Knights may all serve the common purpose -- defending Haven and exploring the depth & mysteries of the Clockworks -- but that doesn't mean they have to all look the same. Make a visit to Vatel in the Bazaar district of Haven, who now peddles options to recolor a Knight's <em>pallet, </em>featuring all the options available from Knight creation.

<u><strong>And More!:</strong></u> Yes, there is more -- <em>for example</em>, and after many requests, Spiral Knights on Steam now features the Push-to-Talk option (default: set to V). There's more, including some bug fixes  -- again, <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/35113" target="_blank">check out the official patch notes, by clicking here!</a>

Further out on the Spiral, deeper into the Clockworks: We have new updates for Spiral Knights!

First, in case you missed it, you can mosey on into the game and purchase yourself an Elevator Pass. This is just about the best deal in the game, and they are -- at present -- available for just a limited time. The Elevator Pass reduces all elevator costs to zero for an entire month, meaning you can adventure to your heart's content!

Here's what's new in the update for today:

Featured Auctions: Featured auctions will be run by the Haven Treasury itself, and will often contain unique or rare items. They are in limited quantity -- savvy Knights, here is your opportunity to upgrade your arsenal with some very special options! There are a number of items being offered up with the Featured Auction debut, check the official patch notes page for a list of what's up for auction right now!



Personal Colors: Knights may all serve the common purpose -- defending Haven and exploring the depth & mysteries of the Clockworks -- but that doesn't mean they have to all look the same. Make a visit to Vatel in the Bazaar district of Haven, who now peddles options to recolor a Knight's pallet, featuring all the options available from Knight creation.

And More!: Yes, there is more -- for example, and after many requests, Spiral Knights on Steam now features the Push-to-Talk option (default: set to V). There's more, including some bug fixes  -- again, check out the official patch notes, by clicking here!

In the wake of <a href="http://blogs.sega.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-online-developer-three-rings-design/" target="_blank">some pretty big news</a> in the realm of Three Rings, you might ask: <i>what's the story with Spiral Knights</i> -- and what's on tap for this game?

<u><b>Spiral Thanksgiving Sale:</b></u> <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/34287" target="_blank">First off, there's a sale going on,</a> including 25% off Shadow Keys and the Energy Pack!

<u><strong>Who's Going Down With the Elevator Man?</strong></u>: Recently, Spiral Knights introduced the limited-time Elevator Pass: from the in-game <a href="http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Energy_Depot" target="_blank">Energy Depot</a> you can now purchase, for a limited time, a 30-day pass which will give you unlimited access to elevators: no elevator energy fees at all to pay, so ride all you want for 30 days!

<u><strong>Shadow Keys:</strong></u> You can now directly purchase keys to the <a href="http://blogs.sega.com/2011/10/19/spiral-knights-shadowy-update-from-a-shadowy-lair/" target="_blank">Shadow Lairs</a>, the extra-challenging and elite boss encounters added recently to Spiral Knights!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6391115873/" title="Spiral Knights (x400) by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6038/6391115873_2e5d547b08.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="Spiral Knights (x400)"></a>

For more on recent updates, <a href="http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/33392" target="_blank">check out this information at the Spiral Knights site!</a>

<u><strong>But wait there's more:</strong></u> Sprinkled through Clockworks levels are now <strong>Arsenal Stations</strong>, allowing you to swap out weapons and armor as you make your way through the levels. Maximize your strategy! Also now in-game: Knights who find themselves temporarily felled in battle, needing just a small injection of energy to revive but surrounded by monsters: Rejoice! Knight armor now features the technology to execute <strong>Energy Blasts</strong>, a shockwave that repulses nearby enemies, allowing the Knight to regain their footing and rejoin the battle.

<b><u>Emerging Soon from the Clockworks</b></u>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/5581044348/" title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5300/5581044348_d426e04019.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Spiral Knights"></a>

As to an earlier line, <em>what's the story with Spiral Knights</em>: what, indeed, is the story with this game? Those who have followed regularly know that there is much more to all this than just a band of knight; the Clockworks itself is a riddle wrapped inside a mystery wrapped inside a churning world of gears and monsters. Three Rings has <a href="http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Artifact" target="_blank">hinted at more in various updates</a>, and now we get the next step: some of it direct narrative, some of it cryptic.

That would be the <strong>Scenario Rooms</strong>: tucked away throughout regular levels of the Clockworks, you may find a special bonus, a unique story, or hints of an even larger story ...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/6391129509/" title="Spiral Knights (x400) by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6035/6391129509_716058ed53.jpg" width="400" height="266" alt="Spiral Knights (x400)"></a>

Much more is falling into place in the future, as well, including <strong>servers for our European friends</strong> (which should greatly improve the play experience there), <strong>Featured Auctions</strong>, and a nefarious and sinister-sounding new enemy-type: <strong>Drone Class Monsters</strong>, recalling the mechanized patrol-bots from video games (and sci-fi serials) of yore.

Like all things not yet emerged from the Clockworks, this information is subject to change -- be forewarned, and be prepared!

In the wake of some pretty big news in the realm of Three Rings, you might ask: what's the story with Spiral Knights -- and what's on tap for this game?

Spiral Thanksgiving Sale: First off, there's a sale going on, including 25% off Shadow Keys and the Energy Pack!

Who's Going Down With the Elevator Man?: Recently, Spiral Knights introduced the limited-time Elevator Pass: from the in-game Energy Depot you can now purchase, for a limited time, a 30-day pass which will give you unlimited access to elevators: no elevator energy fees at all to pay, so ride all you want for 30 days!

Shadow Keys: You can now directly purchase keys to the Shadow Lairs, the extra-challenging and elite boss encounters added recently to Spiral Knights!



For more on recent updates, check out this information at the Spiral Knights site!

But wait there's more: Sprinkled through Clockworks levels are now Arsenal Stations, allowing you to swap out weapons and armor as you make your way through the levels. Maximize your strategy! Also now in-game: Knights who find themselves temporarily felled in battle, needing just a small injection of energy to revive but surrounded by monsters: Rejoice! Knight armor now features the technology to execute Energy Blasts, a shockwave that repulses nearby enemies, allowing the Knight to regain their footing and rejoin the battle.

Emerging Soon from the Clockworks[/b]



As to an earlier line, what's the story with Spiral Knights: what, indeed, is the story with this game? Those who have followed regularly know that there is much more to all this than just a band of knight; the Clockworks itself is a riddle wrapped inside a mystery wrapped inside a churning world of gears and monsters. Three Rings has hinted at more in various updates, and now we get the next step: some of it direct narrative, some of it cryptic.

That would be the Scenario Rooms: tucked away throughout regular levels of the Clockworks, you may find a special bonus, a unique story, or hints of an even larger story ...



Much more is falling into place in the future, as well, including servers for our European friends (which should greatly improve the play experience there), Featured Auctions, and a nefarious and sinister-sounding new enemy-type: Drone Class Monsters, recalling the mechanized patrol-bots from video games (and sci-fi serials) of yore.

Like all things not yet emerged from the Clockworks, this information is subject to change -- be forewarned, and be prepared!