Sony Online Entertainment has opened registration for its annual Fan Faire event, slated to take place at the Las Vegas Rio Hotel from August 2-5. Described by the announcement as "the vacation destination of choice for players of SOE's most popular games" and "filled with colorful costumes, passionate players and gigabytes of activity," Fan Faire is "a real-life social event" that brings together the various online communities of SOE titles. A three-day ticket is priced at $89, whereas a one-day pass runs $39.

"Fan Faire is an example of SOE's commitment to our dedicated and passionate fan base of players," noted SOE director of community relations Alan Crosby. "A majority of this year's attendees will have been actively playing our titles for many years and this event is a terrific opportunity to provide them with a 'thank you' in the form of a fun-filled and community-driven weekend experience."

The first SOE Fan Faire was held in Boston in 2003 and has been a fixture of the SOE community since. The location changes each year, with last year's event (pictured left) occurring in Atlanta.

In addition to the various social activities, SOE will be unveiling a new game at this year's show, as well as showcasing Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, The Matrix Online, EverQuest, EverQuest II, EverQuest Online Adventures, PlanetSide and Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising.