Get Noticed

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Have you ever noticed that movies and television shows always use a phone number that starts with 555? Inevitably, if there is a number being shown it looks something like 555-0234. The 555 prefix actually exists, it is just that numbers between 0100 and 0199 are reserved for fictional use. Here ends your educational process for the day. I'm glad that you got dialed in to edition 555 of Loading...

I am passionate about the MMOG industry. I've been a part of it for a very long time. Many readers and often many developers mistake this passionate view for one of hostility. In fact, some developers don't post on TTH because they feel that we are unfair to them or that we don't like them.

Educating our readers about the various games on the market is our job. Pointing out flaws in a game is a necessary portion of that process. I don't for instance, write huge diatribes filled with naughty words, laying blame on specific developers because quite simply, that doesn't solve any of the problems. What it does is whip a community of users into a frenzy. They are unhappy. The developers are unhappy and in the end nothing changes to solve the initial problem. Furor, the past leader of the Fires of Heaven guild and now developer at Blizzard made a name for himself by attempting to put at least one curse-word for every other word used in his ramblings. Give him credit, it got him noticed. Being noticed is exactly what he wanted. In his case, mission accomplished.

It is time that some of you were noticed. I asked a couple of weeks ago for questions that I could forward on to the developers. This week, our PR department of one, Nicole, will be sending out the following question to our developer friends and even to those who would rather have scorpions eat their brains than talk to us.

"If you could change one thing to lower the barrier of entry to MMOGs for new players what would it be?"

I would build at least one "hand-holding" path from level 1 to the final level. It need not be the fastest path and it shouldn't be the most lucrative one, but there should be a way for players to get from beginning to end without randomly wandering the landscape wondering what to do next. If you keep a player interested in what is next, or at least give him direction, he is less likely to exit the game for something else. Players who want to go their "own way" could still do so, but new players would have a roadmap so to speak of quests or story that would take them from the glorious beginning to the inevitable end.

What would you do?

[Vote, rank, share, comment!]

Today's Exclusive TenTonHammer.com Content!

04.10.2007

Op/Ed: Gaming Magazines
"Heal Plz has been updated with a post about gaming magazines and why they currently are heading off into the sunset. Xerin looks at a few things wrong with gaming magazines these days and what they could do to keep on the newsstands."
Op/Ed: Naked Photos
"What could Ralsu possibly be discussing in a blog called "Naked Photos?" Well, we can't even show you here. Read the blog to learn more!"
Op/Ed: Holiday Events - Make Them Longer
Micajah finds himself frustrated by an inability to participate in his beloved in-game events. He proposes a simple solution...make the events longer! "
Op/Ed: Opinion of the LotRO Founders Program
"As the time for preordering draws to an end, Cody "Micajah" Bye takes a look at LotRO's Founders Program and the influence it will have on the games to come. He explores how getting a "head start" in character leveling could affect the beta tests of future titles and how the marketing campaign has turned MMO marketing on its head."
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Enhancement Guide - The Deadly Archer
"Rangers are a fun and exciting class to play in DDO. Not only can the put a lot of damage down range to approaching enemies, their myriad of other abilities can really help a party. Make the most out your ranger character with Darkgolem's new guide to ranger enhancements, The Deadly Archer!"
EverQuest 2: Monk Guide
"The Ten Ton Hammer guide to the EQ2 monk class has been updated! Check out all of the updated info on combat arts, progression lines, where to hunt, and how to play this amazing class!"
EverQuest 2: Templar Guide
"Considered one of the best healers in the game, a Templar needs a proper spell arsenal to be effective. RadarX explains what you need to know about spells, which ones you should upgrade, and in what order."
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Diplomacy FTW - Guide To Reducing Spouse Aggro
"It's Saturday morning and you have the best raid group ever assembled, but wait! Dirty looks from the spouse! Silver-tongued Bard Changul offers this guide on how to reduce Spouse Aggro using diplomacy. Read on and then tell us your own horrific tales here on the Vanguard Forums."
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Taking Great Vanguard Screenshots
"Let's say you want to participate in the Vanguard Ten Ton Armor Project by snapping a few screenshots of your character's uber armor. How will you capture some fabulous images? And where will you find them on your hard drive once you've taken them? Screenshots are the subject of this week's Tuesday's Tips."
Warhammer Online: Chaos Overview
"A quick update today. We've added the Troll Country entry into the Chaos Overview page as well as adding the link for the Chaos Marauder."
Warhammer Online: FAQ Update
"Today we've updated our FAQ to include information on the release of WAR."
World of Warcraft: Arcatraz Guide
"This week I explored another of the instances in Tempest Keep in Netherstorm, this time The Arcatraz. The Arcatraz is the most difficult 5 man wing in the Tempest Keep in Netherstorm. It is located far above the other instance of the Tempest Keep, and has some pretty heft requirements before you can enter it."
World of Warcraft: Arcatraz Gallery
"A Gallery of the Arcatraz instance to go along with our new instance guide. Check it out for images of all the bosses, and some of the cool scenery."

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Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

- John "Boomjack" Hoskin

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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