TenTonHammer.com - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Once upon a time in the magical land of MMOGs, in-game anniversary celebrations set the bar for what would become one of the staples of the industry in the years to follow. Much of the more recent flood of holiday themed events came into being thanks in large part to how developers formerly opted to commemorate milestones in the overall lifecycle of their creations. With two such major milestones just around the corner, we take a look at how one of these events stacks up to the celebrations of yesteryear today in Loading… Fabled or Forgotten?

DragonAge: Origins is perhaps the most anticipated Fantasy RPG of the year, and with good reason. It's a BioWare game (need we say more?) and its production values are top notch, but how does its novel group-based gameplay stack up? While our full-blown review is coming next week, join us for some initial impressions of DragonAge, thoughts on whether DDO Unlimited is going a step too far by putting levels and items on sale, patch previews, and much more in today's Loading... DragonAge: Origins First Impressions.

We all have different tolerance thresholds when it comes to language--what some find offensive, others shrug off. Words aren't innately bad; it's the intention behind them that matters. But are some words always derogatory, and thus people who use them always offensive? Despite a gaming culture littered with a certain offensive word, to the point that we're all but immune to it, I say yes. Read up on the latest video gaming bad word scandal in today's Loading... No Bad Words.

Today is Dragon Age: Origins Day! Even though not an official holiday, it should be. BioWare's biggest RPG hits the shelves today, and Ten Ton Hammer Executive Editor, Benjamin J. de la Durantaye, has a hard time deciding which version of the game to buy. With ports for the PC, Xbox, and PS3, the decision isn't an easy one; but in the end, will it matter?

November used to be the month of MMO expansions, now it seems like every developer is angling for their own spot on a crowded release date calendar. What's behind a mostly expac-less month this year? Is December the new November? Thoughts on this topic, plus links to Brad McQuaid and Star Trek Online interviews you don't want to miss in today's Loading... Expansion Month?

How much xp is too much? Is there such a thing? With less and less patience from gamers now, why bother having it at all? Join us today as we mourn the loss of experience point value in Loading... When XP is Not Enough

We all have them – the MMOG mechanics that drive us bonkers each time we see them crop up again in a newly released title. The things that leave us scratching our head and wondering if the industry has progressed at all over the years in spite of all the fancy new graphics and vaunted voice acting. Since Halloween is universally known as a time of sharing, Reuben “Sardu” Waters takes a look at a few of the MMOG mechanics that haunt him in the wee hours of the night today in Loading… Less Tricks, More Treats!

Peruse any MMOG forum and you'll hear the same criticism over and over: "[Insert Game Title] is nothing but a grind." But are those words critical or merely factual? Perhaps MMOGs are a grind by their very nature. And perhaps the grind isn't such a bad thing.Join us as we explore the grind factor in today's Loading... A Grind by any other Game.

Voice chat has improved at a lightning pace over the past few years, yet the non-raiding, non-coop PvP MMO crowd still emphatically prefers the plain comforts of decades-old text chat. Raids and tactics aside, why can't we overcome our general chat laryngitis? Is the problem (as usual) everyone else, or are there a few things developers could do to support communication whether you prefer the chat box or the voice box? Our thoughts in Loading... Laryngitis.

Ten to twelve years ago, players got nothing more than the ability to play an MMO and an occasional minor patch for the price of the monthly subscription. The rise of subscription-free gaming led to "content updates," free expansions, and other attempt to periodically add value to subscription games, but is there a simpler, simpler approach? Our thoughts in today's Loading... The Sinking Sub.

Ah, fall. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and the evil undead are rising up to eat our brains. Halloween is always a popular season for MMO holiday events, and there's no shortage of werewolves, demons, and ghouls in your favorite MMOs this year. (The most fearful apparition of all, Zombie Cthulhu Boy Band, remains to be discovered. Maybe next year.) We'll list all the Halloween events for your favorite MMOs and demonstrate why the Halloween event is important (perhaps indispensable) to the gamer psyche in Loading... Halloweenery.

Today caps the end of the first month for Aion here in the western market. Historically speaking tomorrow will be one of the most important landmark dates for the game, as players stop to analyze the question of whether or not to continue their subscriptions. Join Reuben “Sardu” Waters as he takes a closer look at what the future might hold for the newest MMOG on the block today in Loading… Shadows and Sparks.

Look at subscription MMO pricing behavior over the course of its short history, and you'll discover some interesting things. Since the market has more than doubled since 2005, why haven't subscription fees changed? Are we paying more or less per month (factoring in inflation) than we were in 1999? When are we due for another increase? Evidence and thoughts regarding these questions in today's Loading... Follow the Leader.

MMOGs are amazing. Just a couple decades ago we could have never imagined the technology we have today. And yet, if official forums and other outlets for pissing and moaning are any indication, none of us are happy. Are we a generation of spoiled whiners? Join me, Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg, as I try to answer this question in Loading... Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy.

Asian MMOGs often employ an art style that embraces youth. Aion, created by NCSoft Korea and westernized for North America and Europe, is no exception. But when do childlike character models in a MMOG approach creepy, or even just plain wrong? Join me, Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg, on a journey through the Uncanny Valley in today's Loading... An Uncanny Resemblance.

There's certainly a subset of MMO gamers who are ultra-competitive. These power gamers race to the level cap, duke it out endlessly in PvP to stay near the top of the leaderboards, and aren't satisfied with anything less than the best gear. But staying on top takes a great deal of time and commitment that the average MMO player, the one with a career and family life, just doesn't have. It's to those gamers, the ones who have competitive spirits yet lack the ability or willingness to let MMO gaming consume their lives, that I dedicate this issue of Loading... Competitive by Nature, Casual by Necessity.

In the beginning, MMORPGs were social experiences. Then came the idea of "playing alone together" and group support took a back seat to a polished solo experience in many MMOs. Continuing last week's thoughts on the renaissance of grouped play in MMOs, today's column calls not for a return to clueless PUGs and lengthy grouped sessions where nothing gets done, but for a new wave of group support tools that make low- and mid-level grouping fun and worthwhile again. It's all in Loading... The Win Condition.

One of the more interesting products I've had the pleasure of
reviewing lately wasn't a game at all. Gunnar Optiks has created a line of glasses for gamers, complete with stylish and functional designs said to reduce eyestrain for those who spend countless hours in front of a computer. Using my prescription glasses and a pair of similarly shaped and tinted shooting glasses for reference, we'll examine Gunnar's claims in today's Loading... Sight for Sore Eyes.