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is the premier daily MMOG newsletter, only from Ten
Ton Hammer!
Welcome
to the 1,385th
edition
of Loading...
Sony Online Entertainment dropped a bombshell yesterday with
the
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/everquest-2/news/eq2-goes-free-to-play">news
that EverQuest II
will be offering a free-to-play version of the
classic game this fall--EverQuest II Extended. How is this free-to-play
conversion taking place, and how will it affect EQ2's existing player
base of loyal subscribers? Learn how the latest AAA-goes-free-to-play
conversion is not only a good thing but a terrific innovation in
href="http://tentonhammer.com/loading/2010/jul/28">Loading...
Free Ticket to Norrath.
The
Pulse
You vote with what you
view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the
result
is the Ten Ton Pulse (What
is The Pulse?).
Today's
top 5 Pulse results:
- World
of Warcraft - EverQuest
II - Vanguard:
Saga of Heroes - EVE
Online -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/115">Age of
Conan
Biggest
movers this week:
-
5/26
- EVE
Online: Tyrannis
(expansion) -
5/27
- Craft
of Gods
(release) -
6/9
- Mortal
Online
(release) - 6/29
- target="_blank">APB
(release) - 7/13
- href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/1801"
target="_blank">Mytheon
(release) - 7/20
- href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/2461"
target="_blank">Need
for Speed World
(release)
Releases
- August
17, 2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/140">City
of Heroes: Going Rogue (release) - September
7, 2010 - Aion:
Assault on Balaurea (free
expansion) -
September
30, 2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/ffxiv" target="_blank">Final
Fantasy XIV
(release) -
style="font-weight: bold;">October
26, 2010
- LEGO
Universe (release)
-
style="font-weight: bold;">November
2, 2010
- DC
Universe Online (release)
Upcoming
Events
-
style="font-weight: bold;">8/5 -
8/8 - href="http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/" target="_blank">SOE
Fan Faire 2010 -
style="font-weight: bold;">8/18 -
8/22 - href="http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/en/gamescom/home/index.php"
target="_blank">Gamescom 2010
-
style="font-weight: bold;">9/3 -
9/5 - href="http://www.paxsite.com/paxprime/index.php" target="_blank">PAX
Prime -
style="font-weight: bold;">9/3 -
9/6 - target="_blank">DragonCon -
style="font-weight: bold;">10/22 -
10/23 - href="http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcon/?rhtml=y" target="_blank">BlizzCon -
style="font-weight: bold;"> 3/24
-
3/26 (2011) - target="_blank">CCP
FanFest
Be
sure to check out all of
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcomic-con/2010">Ten
Ton Hammer's San Diego Comic-Con 2010 event coverage!
Loading... Daily
To say that this has been a big week for MMOG news is an
understatement. Yesterday, Blizzard launched the long-anticipated
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/starcraft2">StarCraft II:
Wings of Liberty. (Yes, I know it's not
style="font-style: italic;">really a MMOG, but
it's multi-player and you like it so we cover it.) If you haven't
checked out Ten Ton Hammer's many great
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/starcraft2/guides">SC2
guides there's no time like the present--go! If you're
particularly green, start with
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/starcraft2/guides/newbie">The
Total Newbie Primer.
And as if Tuesday's big launch wasn't enough, SOE and EverQuest II
decided to throw everyone for a loop. The good folks at Sony Online
Entertainment gave us a heads up that something "really big" was coming
our way and offered us an interview as soon as they broke the news.
Little did we know that the Big News would be the announcement that SOE
will be launching a free-to-play version of EverQuest II in the fall,
dubbed EverQuest II Extended. You can check out the
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/everquest-2/news/eq2-goes-free-to-play">press
release for details, and read our
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/free-to-play-georgeson">exclusive
interview with EQ2 producer Dave Georgeson for more, but here
are the highlights:
- EverQuest II Extended will be powered by "an all-new
web-based download application," which means no box purchase, of
course, but also no lengthy download or heavy client footprint for new
players. - EQ2 Extended will not affect the live EQ2 servers--they're
like parallel universes, and never the twain shall meet. The live
servers will go on as always. - The
href="http://everquest2.com/_themes/default/images/extended/membershipMatrix.jpg">Membership
Matrix details different membership levels. At the Bronze
(free) and Silver ($10 one time upgrade) levels, members will have
access to 4 races and 8 classes. Spell/ability and equipment upgrades
are also limited at the lower tiers.
I fiddled just a bit with the beta client yesterday. Although
the game's not in beta yet for one and all, current EverQuest II
subscribers with accounts in good standing can roll up a character on
EverQuest Extended or copy a character from the live servers. (If
you're one of those existing subscribers, you'll find the Extended
alpha launchpad here.)
Creating a character from scratch at the Bronze level I could choose
any of the neutral races: Barbarian, Erudite, Half Elf and Human.
(Sorry, fairies and furries--no Fae or Kerra for you unless you pony up
a $15 monthly fee at the Gold level.) I had eight classes to choose
from: Guardian, Berserker, Templar, Inquisitor, Wizard, Warlock,
Swashbuckler or Brigand. In essence, I could choose either the good or
evil aligned pure class from each of the four archetypes: Fighter,
Priest, Mage or Scout. No hybrids allowed--which means I won't be
creating a Fury for free.
I'm disappointed by the lack of race/class choices only because I've
seen the multitude of options in the live game and, in the immortal
words of Freddie Mercury and Queen,
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfLD-7bCtME">I want it
all. But I'm a loyal EQ2 subscriber, and I'm not the chosen
demographic for EverQuest II Extended. The entire point of Extended is
to bring new blood into the EQ2 franchise. Once new players have
sampled the rich gameplay and wealth of content Extended has to offer,
it's SOE's hope that they'll want it all, too, and they'll subscribe to
the live game.
What SOE has done with EverQuest II Extended is incredibly innovative.
Rather than risk upsetting the existing player base by switching the
live game over to free-to-play, ala
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/85083">The Lord of
the Rings Online, they've taken a completely different tack
and created a free-to-play version of the game on a lightweight client
to entice new players. But will the free version of EverQuest II draw
players away from the existing game? Ten Ton Hammer's long-time EQ2
diva, Savanja, and Executive Editor Ben de la Durantaye
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showpost.php?p=437527&postcount=17">discussed
this in the thread relating to our news story about EQ2
Extended, and I have to agree with Ben, who said, "[The] fact is, it's
impossible to have it both ways. In order for new players to come into
the game, it HAS to go free-to-play. Georgeson and SOE know this. So
that's what they've done."
One thing is certain, the Ten Ton Hammer team will be hearing a lot
more about EverQuest II Extended when we head out for SOE Fan Faire
next week. (I'll be there. Anyone want to send money for me to gamble
on their behalf? And who wants to loan me a kickass Orc costume?)
Meanwhile, if you have thoughts on EverQuest II Extended, share them in
the Loading...
forum.
Shayalyn's Epic Thread of
the Day
From our
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=561">Ten
Ton Torched forum
I'm
SICK OF ITTTT~~!!!@!@!@!~@!~~@!~@!
Really, how could I not make a thread with a title like this--in our
Ten Ton Torched forum, no less--today's Epic Thread? I'm still not sure
what our friend Solareous is having a five-alarm hissy fit about, but I
get that it involves StarCraft II (timely) and that Dalmarus has
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showpost.php?p=437554&postcount=5">sorted
it out. So for all of you who like
href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/fffuuuuuu/97795966179">this,
I give you today's thread. Go
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=52585">keep
it epic.
==============================
Awesome Quotes from the
Epic Thread
"Okay... slowly slide back from the keyboard and take a deep
breath. Hold it... hold it... hold it...
Well, now that he's passed out, anyone have a clue what he's on about?"
-
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showpost.php?p=437541&postcount=2">SirRobin
==============================
New
and Exclusive Content
Today at Ten Ton Hammer
8 new and exlcusive Ten Ton Hammer
features
today! 97 Ten Ton Hammer
features
in July! 809
in 2010!
BETA
GIVEAWAY
style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">HOT! Ten Ton
Hammer WoW: Cataclysm Closed Beta Key Giveaway
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/wow/cataclysm/closed-beta-1">http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/wow/cataclysm/closed-beta-1
The
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/cataclysm" target="_blank">World
of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta is underway, and to learn more
about the upcoming expansion for Blizzard Entertainment's blockbuster
hit World of Warcraft, catch a ride from the nearest gryphon or bat
handler and fly on over to our
title="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/cataclysm"
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/cataclysm" target="_blank">Cataclysm
portal page. From overviews of city and zone changes to
complete walkthroughs of the Worgen and Goblin 1-20 experience, we've
got plenty of hot content to get you up to speed on why Cataclysm is
shaping up to be the best World of Warcraft expansion yet!
But enough on that, let's talk about how you can secure your chance at
a Cataclysm beta key! We've secured a limited quantity of beta keys for
registered members, so for complete details on how to enter for your
chance to win a Cataclysm beta key, check out our
title="http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/wow/cataclysm/closed-beta-1"
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/wow/cataclysm/closed-beta-1"
target="_blank">Cataclysm Beta Key Giveaway page.
Supplies are very limited, so act fast, then check this thread on
Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon to see if you're a winner!
INTERVIEWS
style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">HOT! EverQuest
II Goes Free-to-Play - A Q&A with Producer Dave Georgeson
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/free-to-play-georgeson">http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/free-to-play-georgeson
EverQuest
II is going to offer a free-to-play option, EverQuest II
Extended,
along with several new subscription plans. Sony Online
Entertainment
recognizes the power of their game and as Dave Georgeson steps up to
bat as the game's producer, the future is looking brighter still. We
got on the phone with Dave to discuss the new revenue model and what,
if any, changes this means for the current subscribers. Dave was happy
to answer our questions and give us a bit of insight as to their choice
for another industry first: offering free-to-play services on
completely different servers than those of the current live game
subscribers.
Golem Arise! A
Q&A with Chris Gyselinck about Vindictus
http://www.tentonhammer.com/vindictus/interviews/gyselinck
Ten
Ton Hammer has been eagerly anticipating the action-orientated
Vindictus, with its promise of combat mayhem for quite some time. To
learn more about this free-to-play game, we tracked down Chris
Gyselinck, Assistant Producer from Nexon. He agreed to give us our
answers after we showed him some of our patented fighting moves!
style="font-weight: bold;">PREVIEWS
Into the Gray: A Hands-On
Preview of City of Heroes: Going Rogue
http://www.tentonhammer.com/coh/going-rogue-preview
City
of Heroes: Going Rogue eases players over the first 20 levels into
their chosen role of hero, villain, or something in between the
vigilante. Ten Ton Hammers Ethec managed to get some hands-on time with
Going Rogue with Paragon Studios Matt Positron Miller. Will Going Rogue
seduce you into going from one side to the other? One hint: dual
pistols!
EXCLUSIVE MEDIA
Exclusive Fallen Earth
Patch v1.6 Graphic Enhancements Images
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/87332
Fallen
Earth will soon be getting another major dose of awesome as Patch v1.6
is due to hit the live servers this week. Among the new features
included in the patch are the ability to paint vehicles, flag yourself
for PvP and utilize a minor respec. But that's not all! The Fallen
Earth team has also been hard at work on a fresh batch of graphics
enhancements. Ten Ton Hammer has a series of exclusive images to give
you a sneak peak at some of the excellent new graphics for trees you'll
soon discover as you scamper around the post-apocalyptic wonderland.
FEATURES & GUIDES
Making SWTOR Not Suck
Ending the MMORPG Launch Curse
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/swtor/editorials/making-swtor-not-suck">http://www.tentonhammer.com/swtor/editorials/making-swtor-not-suck
Every
announcement made for Star Wars: The Old Republic sends the loyal
fanbase into a new swarm of debate, concern, and excitement that causes
popular opinion to fluctuate faster than the stock market. It isn't the
little things though that will win it or lose it for BioWare's latest
Star Wars game, and we have learned a few important lessons from recent
MMOG flops. What features will BioWare have to nail in order to win
player support? We have a few good ideas about where they should start.
The Four Most Helpful
Corporations In EVE Online
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve/guides/politics/helpful_corps">http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve/guides/politics/helpful_corps
Corporations
are the backbone of EVE Online. They empower their members with
cooperative action, enrich them via social interaction, and ennoble
each other with large-scale goals that affect the political landscape
of New Eden. In this guide Space Junkie discusses the four most
generally helpful corporations in EVE Online.
The Races of Guild Wars
2: The Sylvari
http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/previews/sylvari
A
new race unique to Guild Wars 2 will be playable at launch--the
Sylvari. This plant like race with elf like features is a very
mysterious race with little known about it at this point. We here at
Ten Ton Hammer have compiled all of the known data on this race to
answer one simple question: just who are the Sylvari?
Today's
Hottest Articles, Guides, and Features
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/wow/cataclysm/closed-beta-1">
style="font-weight: bold;">WoW Cataclysm Closed
Beta Key Giveaway -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/interviews/free-to-play-georgeson">
style="font-weight: bold;">EverQuest
II Goes Free-to-Play - A Q&A with Producer Dave
Georgeson -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/coh/going-rogue-preview">Into
the Gray: A Hands-On
Preview of City of
Heroes: Going Rogue href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/coh/going-rogue-preview">
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/dc-universe-online/trailer/blur">DC
Universe href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/dc-universe-online/trailer/blur">
Online Blur Trailer from San Diego
Comic-Con 2010 -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/vindictus/interviews/gyselinck">Golem
Arise! A
Q&A with Chris Gyselinck about style="font-weight: bold;"> Vindictus href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/vindictus/interviews/gyselinck">
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/lego-universe/video-interview">Exclusive
LEGO Universe Video Interview on
Factions, Reputation and More! -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/reckoning-preview">Kingdoms
of Amalur: Reckoning href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/reckoning-preview">
From 38 Studios Unveiled - Disciples
3: Renaissance (PC) Review -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/tera/glyph-preview">A
Preview of href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/tera/glyph-preview">TERA href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/sdcc2010/tera/glyph-preview">'s
New UI, Glyph System and More -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/previews/sylvari">The
Races of Guild Wars
2: The Sylvari href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/previews/sylvari">
Thanks
for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!
- Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg and the Ten Ton Hammer team
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our EverQuest II Game Page.
