Welcome to the 1,129th Edition of Loading...
Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.
Three bits of news to kick off your Comic-Con weekend. First, the makers of Lord of the Rings Online confirm that they're working on a console MMO, all or most of your Aion PvP questions answered in our first Q&A live from San Diego Comic-Con, and could CME, makers of Stargate Worlds, be down to their last hurrah? We'll review today's news in today's Loading... Comic-Con Kicks Off.
Play World of Warcraft? Jay "Medeor" Johnson's weekly WoW newsletter "The Overpull" comes out every Tuesday and keeps you entertained and informed on all the latest developments in WoW. Sign up!
The PulseYou vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is The Pulse?). Here's today's top 5 Pulse results:
Biggest Movers this month :
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Recent MMO Releases
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Important Dates
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Upcoming Releases
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Loading... Daily
Three worthy bits of news to close out the week, but tune into our San Diego Comic-Con portal over the weekend for a constant stream of updates from the event.
It's official: Turbine confirms they are, in fact, developing a console MMO, meaning that the console devs they've been hiring weren't just part of an elaborate ruse. Console MMOs are proving to be a handful, though. Age of Conan and Champions Online both had X360 versions planned with no console-ation in sight, nor have we seen much in the way of release dates on the PS3 side. But Phantasy Star Online and Final Fantasy XI proved that it can be done, so we'll watch and wait to see what happens with Turbine's foray into lean-forward gaming.
Rumors of PvP prevalence in Aion proved partially true, as our man Cody Bye got with Aion producer Brian Knox for some straight talk about Aion PvP. If I understand correctly, much of the endgame revolves around the three tiers of the Abyss, but players can complete Abyss objectives and gain decent endgame items through PvE. But while its relatively painless to switch between PvP and PvE (Aion's concept of PvPvE comes to mind), you won't be able to avoid open PvP entirely. I'm not opposed to PvP - in many ways that's the direction MMOs have been going in for quite a while now - I just hope the game smoothly transitions players into a PvP mindset, instead of setting things up as "what a lovely PvE game, let me stop to admire the cascading waterfa... ::gank::".
Finally, on a more somber note, MMORPG.com is reporting that CME has until August 1st to raise more money or lose the Stargate Worlds license. I'm not sure what to feel about this. I want to see Stargate Worlds made, who doesn't? But many indy developers have done far more with far less than what CME had to work with. Here's hoping that the IP and the good people still working on the game find a good home, should things fall through.
Share your thoughts on this hectic week in MMO news in the Loading... forum, then have yourself a great weekend!
Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day
From our Fallen Earth News & Articles Discussion forum
Fallen Earth Announces Release Date
Get out your tinfoil hats!
Is
it coincidental that a post-apocalyptic MMOG should announce a
launch date of September 9--in other words, 09-09-09? What if
they launch at 9 a.m., making their launch date and time 09:00 on
09-09-09? Get out your tinfoil hats, folks; it's post-apocalyptic party
time doomsday style! I mean, surely the world will end because our
earthly date system happens to align with a bunch of zeros and nines.
(But just where does this date fall on the Mayan calendar?)
All wonky theories aside (and yeah, I'm just playin'), announcing a release date seems a fine way to kick off our new Fallen Earth forum. Stop in and join the fun.
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Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread
"Savy and I collided on this one." - Martuk
"Sounds sexy." - AngryBeaver
"It was. Martuk gives good news." - Savanja
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!
8 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 86 in July! 851 in 2009!
New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today [Thanks Phil Comeau for links and Real World News]
Features:
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Aion PvP Q&A with Producer Brian Knox
Will PvP predominate the Aion experience? What shape will PvP take when North American and European players get deeper into the core PvP play and the Abyss? Players have a number of questions about Aion PvP, and Aion Producer Brian Knox was at San Diego Comic-Con 2009 to clear things up and to reveal a little more about Aion's endgame. -
EverQuest II Revisited: Norrath is New Again
If there's one pure truth in massively multiplayer online games, it's that change is inevitable. Whether those alterations come in the form of bug fixes or a complete revamp of its inner workings, they’re sure delight or devastate the masses. Join Dalmarus on his journey of discovery as he ventures back into the lands of EverQuest II. -
Perfect World International Dev Journal - Fashion and Wardrobe
In tandem with its Age of Spirits expansion, Perfect World International is introducing the Wardrobe system, a type of storage just for fashion items. The expansion also heralds the start of the ability to automatically rotate through up to four stored wardrobes over player-specified time frames.
Guides:
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World of Warcraft Updated PvP Tactics for the Paladin
There are many guides helping to understand the benefits of being a Paladin, but today's PvP guide is designed to walk those new to PvP as a Paladin from the safety of the shallow end (Arenas) to the true deep end of PvP (mono y mono). The time has come to take on other classes in a head to head competition. Maybe you want to prepare for the next Arena season, maybe you've leveled a Paladin Alt and need some insight - this guide is for you. -
World of Warcraft: Herbalism Guide Updated
Herbalism is one of the biggest money makers in World of Warcraft and one of the biggest professions. It's a simple gathering profession that can turn any player from the rough and tough Warrior to the thin bust wise Mage into a green thumb. David "Xerin" Piner has taken our Herbalism guide and revamped it from the ground up with all the info you need to take this profession to the next level. So head on over and get everything you ever needed to know about Herbalism in one easy to find spot.
Screenshots:
- Five New Images from City of Heroes Issue 16: Power Spectrum
- New Aion Images from San Diego Comic-Con 2009
- Catacombs and Three-Barrel Cove Screenshots from Dungeons and Dragons Online
Giveaways:
Hottest Content:
- Aion PvP Q&A with Producer Brian Knox
- Demystifying Micro-Transactions in Champions Online
- EVE Online - Sins of a Solar Spymaster 21: How to Survive a Failure Cascade
- EverQuest II Revisited: Norrath is New Again
- World of Warcraft - The Ultimate Guide To Ulduar Bosses: XT-002 Deconstructor
- Champions Online: Ten PvP Tips from the Devs
- Aion Asmodae Beginner's Guide to Ishalgen
- Dungeons & Dragons Online - Ten Facts You Should Know Before Playing
- Champions Online @ Ten Ton Hammer Goes Live!
- Lord of the Rings Online - Vol. 2 Book 7: Leaves of Lórien Epic Guide
Thanks for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network! Have a great weekend!
-Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle and the Ten Ton Hammer team
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Stargate Worlds Game Page.
