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Daily Column

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First, the Ten Ton Pulse, your finger on the beating heart of the MMOG industry.

It's all Age of Conan, all the time. Can anyone push this juggernaut out of the top spot? World of Warcraft jumped 23 BPM yesterday as players read up on the latest news while they waiting for the servers to come back. Warhammer also jumped 10 BPM and held on to the #3 spot. Guild Wars returns to the Top 10 at the #9 slot, pulling in 17 BPM. (What is Pulse?)

1. Age of Conan - 200 BPM
2. World of Warcraft - 106 BPM
3. Warhammer Online - 43 BPM
4. Lord of the Rings Online - 33 BPM
5. EverQuest 2 - 25 BPM
6. Lineage 2 - 22 BPM
7. Vanguard - 21 BPM
8. EVE Online - 19 BPM
9. Guild Wars - 17 BPM
10. Tabula Rasa - 17 BPM

There are days where the MMOG information is good and then there are days when it is unbelievable. Fortunately for you, today is the latter. Interviews with Brett Close (38 Studios), Kate Paiz (DDO), Matt Mihaly (Earth Eternal) and Jeffrey Steefel (LotRO) are all posted. We also have an exclusive Age of Conan video from GDC '08 featuring Gaute Godager, Game Director.

The Age of Conan video is almost the entire presentation as shown to the press at GDC. It's like being there, except you can sit at home without pants on and watch. Developers generally frown upon press not wearing pants, the one exception being CCP (EVE Online) who at times condone it. If you are a fan of Age of Conan this video will give you a great look into what the developers are attempting to create.

How much MMOG content is too much? Tell us in The Loading... forums.

Do you feel the need to contact me personally with naughty pictures or derogatory comments? Here's my E-mail.

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11 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 215 so far in February! 492 so far in 2008!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

• 38 Studios: An Interview with Brett Close on the BigWorld License
• Age of Conan: Full Presentation From GDC '08 [Premium Members]
• Age of Conan: Art Book Preview - Aquilonia
• Champions Online Trailer
• Dungeons and Dragons Online: Kate Paiz Video Q&A From GDC '08
• Earth Eternal: Interview With Matt Mihaly From GDC '08
• EverQuest 2: Guild Guide
• Lord of the Rings Online: Jeffrey Steefel Book 12 Interview at GDC '08
• Lord of the Rings Online: Tier 3 Cooking Product Statistic List
• Tabula Rasa: Guide to Retread Camp
• Vanguard: Monster Project - Durn The Sorcerer

Hot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to

1. Lord of the Rings Online: Jeffrey Steefel Book 12 Interview at GDC '08
2. 38 Studios: An Interview with Brett Close on the BigWorld License
3. Dungeons and Dragons Online: Kate Paiz Video Q&A From GDC '08
4. Earth Eternal: Interview With Matt Mihaly From GDC '08
5. Tabula Rasa: Creature AI Changes Video
6. GameOver Podcast #14 - Abusing Superpowers
7. Requiem: Bloodymare - Interview With The Developers at GDC
8. Age of Conan: Gaute Godager Video Q&A [GDC]
9. Jumpgate Evolution: Battle Station Interview With Hermann Peterscheck [GDC]
10. Chronicles of Spellborn: Within Temptation Trailer [GDC]

Real World News

• Thirteen-Year-Old Tries To Steal Steam Password [Thanks Matt]
  Emphasis on "tries".
• French Chocolate Mousse Murderer Gets 20-Year Jail Term
  Even their murders are pretentious and pompous.
• Texas University Giving Freshmen iPhones
  So they can take pictures and... hey, wait a minute.

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

- John "Boomjack" Hoskin and the Ten Ton Hammer Team