Welcome to the 793rd Edition of Loading...

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Daily Column

Loading... it's like making the playoffs.

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

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

Age of Conan - 200 BPM World of Warcraft - 73 BPM Lord of the Rings Online - 27 BPM EverQuest 2 - 22 BPM EVE Online - 19 BPM Lineage 2 - 19 BPM Warhammer Online - 18 BPM Guild Wars - 11 BPM Tabula Rasa - 11 BPM Vanguard - 9 BPM

This is traditionally the day where I write about Easter being more violent than video games, but that always ends badly. I get a mailbox full of threats and have to look over my shoulder for the next three days as I walk down the street.

Instead, I'll pick a more docile topic, real money trading in MMOGs. Nah, that won't exactly keep the dogs of war at bay either. How about a column on the derogatory terms used to describe men who play female characters? The headline could be 'MMO Mangina' or 'Virtual Booty Call'. Nah...won't work. Hmm, Grand Theft Auto, the MMOG? Davey Jones has been making All Points Bulletin for a while now. That wouldn't draw much attention. I could write about all of the non-sexual and non-deviant aspects of Second Life, " ", there you go.

I'm stumped. EverQuest (my first true MMOG love) is celebrating its ninth anniversary. I could wax nostalgic, but Steve Danuser of 38 Studios has already done it much better than I ever could.

I admit defeat. Some days I just draw a blank. That's 'draw' a blank, not something else, before Coyote is all over it.

I'll be back Monday, maybe with a topic! In the mean time, check out the Ten Ton Hammer Facebook page, and join the crowd that has signed up as fans. You might even see a developer or two that you know.

Have a great weekend. 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.

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10 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 158 in March! 671 in 2008!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

Age of Conan: Tempest of Set Screenshots Age of Conan: Lost in Hyboria - "Beach Boys" City of Heroes: Developer Diary - Giving The Hollows Zone a Makeover EverQuest: 9th Anniversary Video FusionFall: Exclusive Interview With Content Designer Matt Schwartz Metin 2: Game Update Interview StarGate Worlds: Four New Images Tabula Rasa: Guide To Lower Eloh World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Non-Combat Pet Guide World of Warcraft: Weekly Report - Frostmourne Hungers

Hot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to

Age of Conan: Tempest of Set Screenshots FusionFall: Exclusive Interview With Content Designer Matt Schwartz Metin 2: Game Update Interview Age of Conan: Class Interview #9 - The Tempest of Set Jumpgate Evolution: Producer Q&A From Connect '08 Silkroad Online: Guided Walkthrough Impressions Jumpgate Evolution: Video Teaser Jumpgate Evolution: Overview Video Filmed at Connect '08 Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Expansion Reveal Video From Connect '08 Contest: 2Moons

Real World News

'Illinois' Corn Flake Auction Back on EBay [Thanks Danny]
Which is crazier, auctioning it, or bidding on it? Thousands of Starfish Wash Up on Beaches
It's Starmageddon. Dog Gets Testicular Implants
Nothing I write could make this headline stranger. Pilot Smells Smoke, Emergency Landing Imminent
Smoking in the washroom? No...the passengers are on fire!

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

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