Loading... Post-NDA Hickman Interivew (WAR)

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Daily Column

Loading... putting the 'Mo' in MMOG.

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

If the Top 10 isn't enough, we also show the Top 20 and Top 50 lists as well, available to everyone on our homepage. (What is Pulse?)

Warhammer Online - 200 BPM
World of Warcraft - 90 BPM
Age of Conan - 48 BPM
Star Trek Online - 13 BPM
EVE Online - 12 BPM
Tabula Rasa - 9 BPM
Lord of the Rings Online - 6 BPM
Stargate Worlds - 5 BPM
Dungeons and Dragons Online - 5 BPM
Everquest II - 5 BPM

Our coverage of the GCDC held recently in Leipzig continues with our Exclusive WAR Post-NDA Video Q&A with Jeff Hickman. Tony Jones didn't mess around with his questions, asking about itemization, bounty hunters and auction houses.

Our Champions Online Video Q&A with Aaron Safronoff is also live. Here is how Jeff Woleslagle described the interview between Ten Ton Hammer's Garrett Fuller and Aaron Safronoff, Game Designer on Champions Online,

"In a skill-based game without classes, how do you begin to differentiate between the skills of individual group members in order to make sure you field a balanced group? That's the challenge Cryptic is addressing with the just-announced "roles" system. Basically, group members will assign themselves roles such as "melee" or "support." Players can switch roles as often as they like, but the incentive for choosing a role that matches one's playstyle is a buff to a needed stat for that role (and a slight de-buff to a less important stat for that role). For example, a brick that chooses a melee role would get more hit points at a slight cost to his endurance (needed for certain superhero abilities). It's an elegant solution to a complex problem, and we look forward to hearing more about it in the future.

The roles system is just one topic we discussed with Game Designer Aaron Safronoff. Learn where the game is at on the road to beta, what gives Champions Online its distinctive look, what prompted the recent addition of exclamation bubbles (i.e. Wham! Biff! a la 1960s Batman), and much more in this 10 minute interview from Leipzig GC!" -- Champions Online Video Q&A with Aaron Safronoff

If video isn't your thing, but Champions Online is then perhaps this new interview with Jack Hopler, Lead Content Designer or one of our previous interviews from either GenCON with Jack Emmert, Director of Creative Development or from Comic CON with John Layman, one of the comic geniuses on the team.

We didn't stop there, Phil Comeau sat down with Arend Stührmann, Associate Producer on EVE Online to discuss the Empyrean Age, the winter expansion "Midas" and more. I have tried EVE at least five times and each time I just wasn't patient enough to get to the meat of the game. I have to try it again. It looks great!

In other news, many sites are reporting that Warhammer Online has gone "Gold", which for a MMOG means nothing other than the final version to be put on a CD or DVD has been chosen. Expect a honking big patch when you login on launch day.

In even other news, Blizzard announced or rather one of their CMs posted in the forums that some of the fancy-pants Wrath of the Lich King content will be introduced before the expansion. Haircuts, new arenas, new spells and talents, the guild calendar and a new profession, Inscription will be introduced before the expansion launches.

I hinted that something HUGE was coming for Premium Members, but I couldn't tell you about it. It's still coming and I guarantee it is far larger and far cooler than you could be imagining. If you are Premium Member be prepared to pull out the Christmas card list and add Ten Ton Hammer. If you aren't a Premium Member, well this might be a good time to show your support .

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

14 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 199 in August! 2182 in 2008!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

Leipzig GCDC 2008

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Champions Online: Dev Q&A

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Real World News

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Was later refunded the $50 for being overweight
Man sees the face of Jesus in a moth

Warns him not to fly into the light
Study: Beer makes women more attractive

Sounds like someone got their PhD from a matchbook cover

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com.

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

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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