Welcome to the 551st edition of Loading… If you aren’t reading this in you email, you could be. Sign Up!

Conan-junkie Micajah here again, on the third day of my Loading... vision quest. While the early hours are making my head spin, I’m a little excited to be in control of the newsletter this morning. Hallucinations of a mighty war axe stuck in my meaty fist are swirling across my vision and I feel like painting my face in the blood of my enemies.

For, as the writer of Loading… (and with Jeff and John in Scottsdale – please don’t fire me) I am allowed to make this edition of the newsletter totally devoted to the recent Age of Conan beta announcement. If there are any of you that haven’t signed up yet…here’s the link.

I can’t imagine why more people aren’t totally stoked for this opportunity to go in and play in the lands of Hyboria. If you haven’t checked out the recent screenshots, previews, and editorials…please read up. And if you’ve read them and you need a quick reminder of why AoC is due for some attention, Funcom is making the most adult-oriented game that they can, and, with the works of Robert E. Howard to serve as their background material, they’re certainly going to meet that prerequisite.

But aside from the partial nudity, sexual innuendos, decapitations, swearing, and general violence, Funcom is also making a damn fine game that looks to revolutionize story-telling, combat, graphics, and dynamic content in MMOs. As I say in my blog, it’s a great time to be a gamer.

And to you folks who don’t know much about Age of Conan, you’ve got a lot to learn and not much time to do it. With a release scheduled for October 31st, 2007 (it’s no coincidence that the game opens up on Halloween – the Funcom guys wanted to start decapitating people on a thoroughly appropriate date), there’s only a few months to test, read, and write about the Age of Conan.

And, to paraphrase the greatest movie quote of all-time:

I cannot wait to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

--

Exclusive TenTonHammer.com Content!

04.04.2007

• Gaming on a Budget - Is Upgrading Possible?
  "The first in a series of articles focused on gamers with a tight pocket book, Micajah focuses on how a gamer can (or can't) upgrade his computer on limited funds. In the article he explores where the money should go and how you should approach upgrading with only a few bucks to spare. "
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Guide to Pet Commands
  "Ralsu delivers a guide for pet owners to help them keep control in even the most intense battles. Click away to learn more!"
• Everquest 2: Guide to the Sword of Destiny Quest - Part 2
  "The Sword of Destiny continues, and Ten Ton Hammer has your guide to completing this lengthy quest. Can't find a statue? We know where they all are so let us lend a hand!"
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Blog Update
  "In his latest blog, Ralsu takes a look at the hurdles Vanguard has had to overcome to get him to commit and comes to an important conclusion."
• World of Warcraft: Tanking Reference Guide Updated
  "'Hold the Line; An Endgame Tanking Reference' has been updated with more additional tanking information from Ciderhelm's massive guide. This round of updates focus on getting rage, attributes, talents and skills. Check back often for more updates to this amazing guide!"
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Cleric Class Guide Revamp
  "What's the cleric's role in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes? We've completely revamped our cleric class guide to help you discover more about this versatile (and often essential) healing class."
• Everquest 2: Nursery Mini-Zone Guide
  "Welcome to the newbie lands of the fae! If you are a new fae in Norrath, then you'll be spending your younger days in Greater Faydark's Nursery. This is the fae version of the Islands in which the Qeynosians and Freeporters start out on, and it is just as mind boggling if you are new to the area. If you have the expansion "Echoes of Faydwer", and the need to play a fae, then grab this guide and jump on in!"
• Blog Update: And So It Begins...
  "The public beta test for Age of Conan has begun, and Micajah couldn't be more excited. There are a lot of quality games scheduled for a release this fall, so everyone better be ready!"

Hot Content

• The Chronicles of Spellborn: Interview with Marco van Haren
• Archlord: Review
• Lord of the Rings Online: Hands-on Preview
• Gods and Heroes: Developer Diary - Introducing The Nomad
• Fury: Interview With C.E.O., Tony Hilliam
• Lord of the Rings Online: Exclusive Images from the End of Testing
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• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Armour Project Portal Opens
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• The World of Darkness Online: An Interview with White Wolf Publishing
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Real World News - You Can't Make This Up

• Python Lost at Google Offices
  Top search request: How to Find a Snake.
• Keith Richards Admits to Snorting His Own Father
  Gotta keep it in the family, man.
• Coyote Visits Sandwich Shop
  I knew our staffer was up to something! (read his blog)
• Woman on Horseback Charged with DUI
  *hick* Take me home, Flicka...*burp*

Vin Diesel Fact: Robert E. Howard used Vin Diesel as the basis for his Conan books.

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

- Cody "Micajah" Bye