UPDATE 3: The DDO and LOTRO game worlds are now available.

UPDATE 2: Turbine posted another message on Jan. 30 at 6:15 p.m. EST: "We're working to have the games up within the next 2 hours or so. Websites may also be available within that time frame. More updates soon!"

UPDATE: Turbine posted the following message on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. EST: "Our operations team is making good progress; we're working to get the games and websites up as soon as possible, thanks for your patience!"

Quote: Lord of the Rings Online Twitter

"We're currently investigating service issues impacting the game and websites. Thanks for your patience while we work to resolve them!"

http://twitter.com/#!/lotro

http://www.facebook.com/LOTRO

Dungeons & Dragons Online has brought back the Risia Ice Games! Players can try out their skills on a number of slippery slopes for cool prizes, or just enjoy gliding around the ice with friends. The events are being held from now until Sunday, January 23 and again from Monday, January 31 through Sunday, February 6.

Events can be found in The Harbor and House Phiarlan. For full details check out DDO's official page.

Starting at midnight tonight (January 14 at 12:00 am EST) the all new Dungeons & Dragons Spiral Line Armor Appearance Kit will go on sale. Players can purchase the new line for 350-450 Turbine Points in the DDO Store. The Spiral Line will work as follows:

Apply this special kit to your currently equipped armor to transform its appearance. Once you use this kit on a set of armor, the application is permanent, but the appearance can be toggled on and off. The new appearance will vary based on your current armor's style (robe, monk outfit, light armor, etc.). One use.

So get ready to stay up late tonight and be the first to show up in the latest gear from the DDO Store!

Dungeons & Dragons Online is continuing their monster-themed-month of January with a Monster Fan Art Contest. Fans can submit their best renditions of DDO monsters for a chance to win 1,000 Turbine Points and the special forum title of either "Sketchy Adventurer" or "Dragonmark of Making."

All entries must be submitted before January 30. It could be as big as a red dragon or as small as a swarm of baby spiders, any monster from the game can be your inspiration. Check out the official rules page for more details.

Throughout the month of January, Dungeons & Dragons Online will be taking a closer look at infamous mobs with the Know Your Enemy series. To kick of the series, Turbine has chosen a monster that both old and new players will be familiar with: Sahuagin.

Turbine is asking players to add their own tips, pictures, and information regarding this terrible humanoid. Head over to Sahuagin's page to learn more.

Do you like taking screenshots? Do you want 250 Turbine Points for Dungeons & Dragons Online? Then you might want to submit your image for a chance to have it selected as DDO's Screenshot of the Week! If Turbine features your image in its gallery, you'll get 250 Turbine Points.

In addition to the screenshot, you must describe your image in 100 words or less. Tell Turbine why you like the screenshot, what's happening in the image, or explain what it means to you. All screenshots must have a resolution of at least 1024x768. Remember, Alt-Z will remove the UI, and V will remove floating names. Check out the official post to find out how to submit your screenshot. Good luck!

Now's the time to get that Dungeons & Dragons Online VIP Membership you've been thinking about. From now until March 15, 2011, you can become a VIP Member for only $9.99 a month. You must buy a 3-month membership plan for $29.97 to get this great price.

What does the VIP Membership get you?

Being a VIP means you have access to all adventure packs, races and classes during the course of your subscription. Plus, you’ll get exclusive early access to new adventure packs, access to all quest difficulties with all characters, and you’ll get to enjoy all the other exclusive VIP benefits like a monthly point grant, extra character slots, shared bank slot, and much more!

So head on over now to upgrade your account or to get that perfect stocking stuffer for your DDO fanatic!

Today marks the launch of Update 8 in Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Turbine decided to celebrate the occasion by sending over a batch of epic screenshots from the patch! Check them out in our gallery to see scenes from the "Attach on Stormreach" update, including a fierce battle with Medusa.

For more details on Update 8, be sure to read our recent tour of the patch with Turbine. As we discovered, Update 8 ties up the nefarious plots that were set in motion in Update 7 and acts as a bookend for Turbine as they begin development for the new year.

Whenever I think about some of the huge advances made by Dungeons & Dragons Online since its shift to free-to-play, my head just starts to spin. Just the fact that Turbine is still maintaining its aggressive promise to deliver content on a near-monthly basis is impressive, but if you remember that this is in an industry where half-year to one-year content gaps (I'm looking at you, Aion) are common, you'll realize just how good Turbine has become at keeping its customers happy. But enough of that: today is another Turbine tour day!

The Festivult holiday event is coming to Dungeons & Dragons Online in Update 8, but you can get a head start on the festivities. Beginning today and throughout the holiday season, every treasure chest in the game has a chance of dropping "festival coins" in addition to the usual treasure. Once the Jester of the Festivult appears in Update 8, you can give him your coins to earn gifts. Check after the jump for a list of the items you can obtain during the event.

There also a very small chance that the Jester will give you an exceptional gift for your coins, but you'll have to wait until Update 8 to see if you're lucky enough to get one. Also, goodies from past Festivults will have different effects this year. Store some of your goodies in a new Cookie Jar from the DDO Store and see what they do next year!