Welcome to the 1,210th edition of Loading...

Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and
commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.

The search for the ultimate MMOG has become almost crusade-like for
thousands of gamers. A lot of these gamers come from earlier times,
with fond memories of experiences that have happened a decade ago. The
real question becomes, is the search all for naught, or will there be a
happy ending? We explore the possibilities in Loading... The Search for
the Holy Grail.

Loading... Daily

Last week, we asked our premium members to href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=47582">share
some of their fondest MMO experiences. Submissions came in both through
the thread, and via email, and it also got the Ten Ton Hammer staff
talking.



Several of us on staff play many, if not most MMOGs that are released.
It's part of the job description, at least for the editor staff (our
community site staff is pretty dedicated to their game). We're not
alone, either. More and more, we see a very large segment of our
readers doing the same thing. I see it in my personal guild as well. We
don't stick with any one game for very long any more, and we're always
trying out the newest title, and seeing how it stacks up against the
rest. In fact, Medawky approached me the other day, and told me it was
funny to watch our guild forums. It's a very clear pattern of mention
game, curiosity posts, we start playing, flurry of posting, crafting
and grouping starts, and boom, everything stops, and we move on to the
next game. And, while my band of brothers and sisters do have some
games we will always love, and go back to frequently (namely EverQuest
2), Medawky isn't wrong. We do hop games a lot, and I don't know if it
will ever end.



Don't look at me with judgment in your eyes! Many of you do it too.
And, it's not a bad thing. Trying out new games is very important.
Getting a proper feel for a game, and acknowledging its strengths and
weaknesses, is fundamental to growth in the industry. I'm not talking
about the people that play for 5 hours over 2 weeks and then go back to
whatever it was they were playing before. I'm talking about really
sinking your teeth into a game, leveling up to at least mid-range, if
not max level, trying out the new mechanics, taking part in all of the
varied game play you can from crafting to solo to group to raid to
whatever else the game offers, and then making your call from there.
Most won't do that. A lot will come into a game with a prejudice, and
then start their "victory" posts about how a game sucks after they
level up solo to level 7. But, to the people who actually give a game a
fair shot, and allow themselves to have fun (and make no mistake -
EVERY game has at least some fun to it), I salute you.



So, back to the topic at hand, there is an elite few who will give all
of these games a fair shot. These people are what I refer to as the
grail hunters. Their search for the Atlantis of MMOs helps drive the
genre to new heights, and evolution. And their motivation often comes
from memories of a better time. They've witnessed first-hand how deeply
a game can affect their lives, and long for another game to touch them
the way they once did. Perhaps some of these memories may be seen
through rose colored glasses, but that doesn't change the drive and
thirst for something better. And if it weren't for these crusaders, we
would all still be playing (or not playing) a very watered down, bland
sort of MMOG. Far too many are content with the lackluster products
that have launched in the past, or the mega-games that capitalize off
progressive devco's innovation. Even these mega-games would be pretty
dry if it weren't for the thrill seekers pushing for new ideas which,
in turn, has developing companies coming up with new, insightful, and
exciting evolutionary additions to the genre as a whole. They simply
take those ideas that other companies have developed and slap them into
their game, earning the praise of millions as if it was their own
design.



The grail hunters are wise to this though. They've played the games, so
they know where the ideas have come from, and where credit is due. And
while some of the titles may have some greatness to them, the hunt
continues, because to these hunters, the grail is still out there.
There's still always going to be more that can be done to bring back
some of the magic of the times of yore.



So will we ever find the Holy Grail? Who knows? Possibly, but I dare
say, probably not. But really, that's not what's important. The search
itself is the important thing, as it's that search and passionate drive
that contributes greatly to the success of the industry. Tell me I'm
wrong in
the forums.

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of
the Day



From our  href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=689">PC &
Console (Non-MMO) Games forum



style="font-weight: normal;">Dragon Age Origins...Origins



What's
your point of origin in Dragon Age Origins? Kitsunegirl has played
through several starting areas, and she definitely has her favorite.
What's yours? This active thread bids you to share and discuss one of
the hottest single-player game launches of the season in our href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=47689">PC &
Console (Non-MMO) Games forum.



==============================

Awesome Quotes from the
Epic Thread



"I've uh.... almost gathered all the
armies, and have played 20+ hours of gameplay. Human Noble. I <3
this game."



- Rauge

==============================



Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=32559">Tell
us!

5 new Ten Ton Hammer MMOG
features today! 62 in November! 3,034
in
2009!



New Exclusives Today at Ten Ton
Hammer

• style="font-weight: bold;">Global Agenda Medic Class Q&A
  with Exec. Producer Todd Harris
  
  So far Global Agenda’s Recon and Assault classes have defied our
  expectations, but is the Medic class more than a healbot or
  ball-and-chain for the shock troops? As it turns out, the highly
  versatile Medic has a tools of both regeneration and destruction at
  hand and can be a formidable opponent, even solo. Join Todd Harris and
  Ten Ton Hammer for a candid review of the Medic’s capabilities in our
  Ten Ton Hammer exclusive Global Agenda Medic class Q&A!
  

New Features

• href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/76833"> style="font-weight: bold;">Alganon – Breaking Out of the MMOG
  Mold in Open Beta
  
  Tired of being a copycat of every other player you see running around
  in your game of choice? How about being fed up with being expected to
  use the same play style day after day after eternally dragging day? If
  you answered yes to either question, then listen up folks because
  Alganon may be the cure for your gaming woes. Join Eric “Dalmarus”
  Campbell as he dives into the game and makes more than one unexpected
  discovery.
  

New Guides href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/aion/guides/classes/spiritmaster_grouping_guide">

• href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/aion/guides/crafting/alchemy201"> style="font-weight: bold;">Aion Alchemy Guide 100-199
  
  Now that Alchemy 101 is over, we take it to the next level in our next
  Aion Alchemy guide. Or next 100 levels, I guess. New opportunities for
  greatness and more importantly profit open up in this range. We get you
  to 199 with a minimum of effort in our guide to tier 2 of Alchemy,
  100-199!
• style="font-weight: bold;">Champions Online : Melee Tank Build
  Guide
  
  Creating a build for Champions Online can be difficult with
  the insane number of choices a player has. Fortunately for you, your
  friends at
  Ten Ton Hammer are here to provide a quick guide for a melee-style tank
  build
  for your superhero meat shield.
• href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/rom/guides/classes/beginner_scout_guide"> style="font-weight: bold;">Runes of Magic - The Scout:
  Beginners Guide
  
  Do you like to have at least three ways out of every situation? The
  Scout is the tactical ranged class in Runes of Magic. A class that will
  best serve you the further away you are from the fight. So... with out
  further ado join ZeroMerc in the Scouts guide
  
  
  

Today's Hottest Content

1. Down to Earth or
   Another Planet - a Star Trek Online Ground Combat
   Q&A with Dan Stahl
2. style="font-weight: bold;">Global Agenda Medic Class Q&A
   with Exec. Producer Todd Harris
3. Call of
   Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PC Review
4. Neverland
   Online Novice Pack Giveaway
5. Dragon Age
   Origins - PC Version Review
6. style="font-weight: bold;">Champions Online : Melee Tank Build
   Guide
7. style="font-weight: bold;">Alganon – Breaking Out of the MMOG
   Mold in Open Beta
8. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/rom/editorials/first_impressions">Runes
   of Magic - First Impressions
9. In-Depth LotRO:
   Siege of
   Mirkwood Expansion
   Q&A with Jeffrey Steefel
10. Allods
    Online Beta
    Key Giveaway

Thanks as always for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer
network!

- Benjamin J. de la Durantaye and the Ten Ton Hammer team