Welcome to your Wednesday Loading... You can read previously enjoyed editions of Loading... in the blog archive. (For the navigation impaired that means you click the link and then look in the right menu.)

The 488th edition of Loading... is brought to you by EBgames.com: The authority on gaming.

Predictions... You wanted them. You might get some, at some point, maybe. Fair enough, I'll throw a couple in while I discuss Jeff's list of 2007 MMOG hopefuls.

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - I predict that this will ship in 2007. I'll even go as far as to predict that it will ship in Q1. The Horde gets paladins and the Alliance gets shaman. The message forums will be filled to overflowing with tears and cries of "Nerf somebody else, just not me." Buy stock in virtual Kleenex. If you are interested in this expansion to the best selling MMOG ever I suggest that you click here and click here.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Brad McQuaid returns as the captain of the good ship Vanguard. This "hardcore" MMOG may not be quite as hardcore as was foretold and I predict that it will ship in 2007. Again, I'll go one further and predict a Q1 release. I have high hopes for this title, but the apparent rush to release has me concerned. EverQuest still reigns as the game that I wish I could play again. I haven't had the same feelings of accomplishment or even the same fun in any other MMO. Vanguard gives me hope. Still reading? You're obviously not a Fires of Heaven guild member. Move your clicky finger and click here, then click here.

Lord of the Rings Online - I can't wait to see the throngs of misspelled Gimliiii and Legoleasssss characters. The launch parties should be incredible with gangs of midget wrestlers dressed up as hobbits walking around debating whether Tolkien would approve of the game, the movie or Alan Iverson's conduct on a recent Oprah show. So, you've read every book by or about Tolkien? Have you read this or this?

Two other highly hyped titles are also due in 2007. Enter stage right, Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures , a Funcom product that has garnered a "M" rating and a rabid following of players who can't buy a "M" rated game.

From the left comes Warhammer Online, a title I'm personally interested in as I once dabbled in the tabletop Warhammer universe. If any title is capable of putting a dent in the World of Warcraft subscriber numbers it is Warhammer Online. My only question is why, oh why, didn't they choose the 40K universe instead of the saturated fantasy one?

Other great titles that may also arrive in 2007 include; Scions of Fate, Pirates of the Burning Sea (another title I'm personally excited to see ship), Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising, Huxley, Hero's Journey, The Chronicles of Spellborn and Pirates of the Carribean Online.

It looks like a banner year for MMOGs. Good thing too, because 2006 was a crater of smouldering wish-me-nots.

Which game will you play? Which ones won't you touch?

Let me know, either in the comments section of the blog or in our forums!
--
Guild Management has never been easier! Not sure what GuildPortal is, or what it can do for your Guild? Click here to read about what GuildPortal is, why it's the most imitated, and why people have been using us since October of 2001 to host their Guild web sites!

Exclusive TenTonHammer.com Content!

01.03.2007

• The 2007 MMORPG Lineup
  "Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle takes a bird's eye look at what new titles to expect in 2007. At ten releases plus at least one major expansion, there's probably more coming out than you were expecting. We've got quick writeups and links for all of them to refresh your MMO senses. But how many 2007 titles, even those pushed back from 2006, will actually make it out the door in 2007?"
• Dungeons and Dragons Online: Waterworks 2-2 Quest Guide
  "The fourth quest of the Waterworks series offers a large haul of loot for relatively little work. Ralsu walks you through this final chapter in the story."
• Gods and Heroes: Updated World Guide
  "Let's be honest, not all of us are Columbus and realistically he spent a lot of time lost too. Fortunately Ten Ton Hammer is putting together a world guide to make sure you are up to date on the Gods and Heroes universe."
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Ask The Devs - Animal Race Tails
  "It's the burning question to which lovers of Vanguard's animal races (the Kurashasa, Raki and Vulmane) want an answer: will the character models have tails? We've finally got the scoop, straight from Sigil community manager Nick Parkinson."
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Disciple Class Guide
  "Still trying to decide which class to play when Vanguard launches soon? Zinn has delivered yet another class guide jam packed with information. It will either help you decide on the Disciple, or add another class to your must-play list so you'll never be able to decide which class to pick. Hey, we're here to help! This time we're taking a close look at the Disciple, Vanguard's unique martial healing class."
• Warhammer Online: Chaos Overview
  "Today we have yet another Racial Overview Page up, this time for the Chaos Warhosts. Included in this page is links for the three announced careers as well as official EA Mythic information on the faction itself. Be sure to check out this page often as more information is released!"
• World of Warcraft: How To Play A Retadin (DPS Paladin)
  "Do you want to take prove everyone out there wrong? Want to prove that Paladins can dish it out as well as they can take it? Well, you have your work cut out for you, but this guide will walk you through the basics of playing a Retribution spec'ed Paladin."

Hot Content

• The 2007 MMORPG Lineup
• World of Warcraft: How To Play A Retadin (DPS Paladin)
• Vanguard - Ask The Devs - Animal Race Tails
• MMORPGs in 2006: The Year In Review
• World of Warcraft: Getting Your Mount
• World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade - Shattered Halls Gallery
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Open Or Regional Servers?
• Pirates CGS Online Interview With Scott Martins

Real World News - You Can't Make This Up

• Z Machine Melts Diamond To Puddle [Thanks Matt]
  Nothing says I Love You like a glass full of diamond.
• UFO Crashes In SA [Thanks Matt]
  Tom Cruise charged with drunk driving.
• Arrests Over Saddam Death Video
  View the arrest video here.
• Woman Becomes First Female Beefeater
  Funnier would have been man becomes first female beefeater.

Vin Diesel Fact: Vin Diesel can travel at the speed of dark.

As always, thank you for visiting TenTonHammer.com.
- John "Boomjack" Hoskin