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Are you looking for the latest industry headlines? Look no further.
Daily Column
New MMOG Articles at TenTonHammer Today
Hot Content
Real World News - You Can't Make This Up
1. Daily Column
Europeans are no strangers to terrorist acts. Cowards have been creating anarchy in the name of personal gain for centuries across the old world. Americans received a deadly dose of the same plague when their embassies, ships and symbols of their economic success were attacked, the most notable being the cowardly attack on 9/11.
I never thought that living in a tiny town in Eastern Ontario Canada that I would get a first-hand look at terrorism. I was wrong.
The closest I had been to terror was turning on the television to find that the channel it was tuned to was showing The View. As much as Rosie makes me cringe. I don't think she would shoot me.
The terrorists lurking in my community today are very different. They cover themselves in camouflage, carry rifles and play to the press. Bandanas stretch over their faces like the terrorists you have seen in so many news clips. They strut across a local highway harassing and inconveniencing anyone who happens to cross their path. If you were to be shown a picture of them you couldn't discern if they were Hamas, Al Qaeda or Mohawk Indians. You read that correctly, the individuals creating terror and harassing innocent citizens are Mohawk Indians. It's a peculiar world. Who would expect it?
Rather than have me try to explain why these terrorists, and that is exactly what they are, feel the need to attack Canadians I'll point you to a pair of news articles.
Whose Land Is It - National Post
"Land claim history is dull stuff compared with watching native leaders, legitimate and illegitimate, stage rallies and blockades, claim persecution, burn tires and scream at hapless police officers. The legality of land claims is also now so deeply entrenched in Canadian politics that it is accepted without question that the Brants of Canada are right and the rest of us are descendants of liars and thieves."
Mohawk Protest Launches Early - The Intelligencer
"The Mohawks had said they would begin with a âsoftâ target before moving to block Highway 401 and the Canadian National rail line. A handful of reporters were allowed to ride with a few of the protesters, but no cameras were allowed."We don't want any cameras when we do the deed," lead protester Shawn Brant said.
The "deed" indeed. Maybe all we need to do is carry cameras and they will all go away? They don't mind breaking the law, as long as they aren't caught on tape.
If poverty is truly the problem, then how can they afford all the guns? Maybe they just want attention or maybe they just want somebody else to do the work? The whole situation reminds me of a T-shirt I recently saw. It read,
"I wish somebody would do something about how fat I am."
Indeed.Enough of that..., my apologies for venting and now back to the fun stuff!
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This space was reserved for my review of the iPhone, but we had two niggling problems getting the review posted.
1) Apple didn't send me an iPhone or it was stopped by the Indian blockade, and
2) I'm in Canada where had they been kind enough to send one I couldn't use it anyway.
Characters in Norrath and Azeroth will have iPhones before Canadians or Europeans get them. Nostradamus predicted this;
"The cities of Tours, Orleans, Blois, Angers, Reims and Nantes
are troubled by sudden change.
Tents will be pitched by (people) of foreign tongues;"
I think it's obvious from this Nostradamus quote (Century I:20) that lines have formed already in Europe and Canada. People are pitching tents and speaking in foreign tongues. The foreign tongue would of course be Canadian English.
Here are some iPhone features and how they could be used in a MMOG,
Touch-sensitive screen
Who doesn't want to poke the Orc peons with their finger? Seriously.... poke, poke, poke until they say, "Stop touching me" or "I'm not that kind of Orc." For those of you who have never played a Warcraft title, the peons actually say these things if you click on them repeatedly.
Raid leaders could pick up simpletons who can't follow directions and throw them into lava or off a cliff.
Minus 50DKP indeed.
**Video is NSFW**
8 gigabytes of flash memory
Maybe then quest text would tell you where to hand in that quest you got a month ago, but just completed now.
Wi-fi technology
There must be a reason that items I mail to my other characters take an hour to get there. I'm sending virtual items which are digital. A high-speed wireless in-game connection should speed the process along.
2-megapixel camera
Who wouldn't want low resolution, grainy screenshots?
Three-foot tall iPhone hat that resembles a construction cone.
Excellent for letting other MMOG players know that you have an iPhone.
Special iPhone Ringtone
...that screams "I have an iPhone! I have an iPhone" so everyone knows that you have...an...iPhone
This sound would go off in-game each time your character took a step.
What iPhone features would you like to see in a MMOG?Comment in the blog or email me directly.
2. New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today
Win A Trip To BlizzCON!
"Your flight, your hotel, your BlizzCON ticket and $200 spending money will be on us. Tickets are sold out, but not for TTH Premium Members."
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Custom Build - Bladesworn Knight
"The Bladesworn Knight is a paladin/fighter who serves the Lord of Blades, bringing about the dominion of the warforged to Eberron so that the weaker, fleshy races will live in harmony and order under warforged dominion. With the ability summon mithril companions, transform into a combat juggernaut (for a short time), and a high damage reduction, it's possible this could come about. Find out how to make one with Darkgolem's new build, the Bladesworn Knight!"
EverQuest 2: The Little Things - (Mis)Adventures In Harvesting
"The GU#36 went live today, and with it came a load of small tradeskill changes that will make a world of difference. Guest Author, Niami DenMother from EQ2 Traders Corner, shares a fun series highlighting some of the more helpful updates. In this segment, the Den Mum teams up with our very own Coyote (and Krunnk!) for some interesting and amusing antics!"
Fury: Exclusive Environment Images
"Frenetic combat animations and sinister swords and shields are an essential part of the upcoming MMOG, Fury, but it's hard to ignore the beautiful backgrounds, arenas, and environments that the title's art team has put together for the game. As we've been covering the game, Ten Ton Hammer saw the beauty behind the destruction and we've picked up four exclusive screenshots straight from the Auran studios. Take some time to view the beauty of these images and consider the adventures your avatar may experience in these settings."
Gods and Heroes: Trevia Trouble
"Ever wondered about the goddess Trevia? Well now you can wonder even more as we present our newest series, "Lifestyles of the Insanely Powerful" with Robin Lech. Follow his adventures as he interviews Trevia at her home! Who knows? He might even survive the encounter!"
LEGO Universe: NetDevil's Open House
"Throughout the entire week, Cody "Micajah" Bye has reported on the individual games he saw at the NetDevil Open House. Now, Cody finishes the series of articles with a general overview of the entire anniversary celebration including some of the tender moments and his general thoughts on NetDevil's new studio. After you've finished the overview, make sure you read the rest of the articles if you have yet to do so!"
Lord of the Rings Online: Monster Play - Uruk Warleader
"In his latest PvP guide, Martuk gives you the lowdown and the skills of the Uruk Warleader."
Lord of the Rings Online: Updated Champion Skill List
"Master of combat and leaders in battle, few can face a Champion and live to tell the tale. Ten Ton Hammer has your up to date Champion Skill list providing everything you need to know through level 50. Don't be caught unaware, take a look inside."
Vanguard: URT Armor Quest Guide #2
"Shayalyn continues her quest to bring you the entire series of United Races of Thestra hero missions. This quest leads you off to destroy spider-riding brownies and lay the smackdown on some mushroom-growing chaos fairies. In the end, you'll have another shiny piece of armor for your collection."
Vanguard: Rangers Skills - Level 26-50
"Ten Ton Hammer brings you a list of Ranger skills for levels 26-50."
Warhammer Online: Interview With Mark Jacobs
"In the final part of Ten Ton Hammer's Games Day coverage, Garrett Fuller was fortunate enough to sit down with EA Mythic's top man and GM/VP, Mark Jacobs. With his experience and dearth of knowledge, Mark keeps an eye on the rest of the marketplace and the trends of the entire industry. In Garrett's interview, Mark discusses his visualization of Warhammer Online as well as some of the trends he is seeing in MMOGs today."
World of Warcraft: Horde Leveling Guide Update
"Finding quests got you down? The rest of your friends or guild mates already blown past you to 60 or even worse 70? Want to get to level 60 as quickly as possible to experience the Burning Crusade content? Join the crowd! Find all the details on how and where to level quickly in out Horde Leveling Guide."
3. Hot Content
Warhammer Online: Interview With Mark Jacobs
LEGO Universe: NetDevil's Open House
Fury: Exclusive Environment Images
Warmonger: Hands On
Win A Trip To BlizzCON!
LEGO Universe: Preview
Pirates of the Burning Sea: Interview With Kevin Maginn
Warhammer Online: Interview With Jeff Hickman and Paul Barnett
4. Real World News
Inmates Cover Hole With Pancake Batter [Thanks Karen]
What's with the "flap jack"? Insert your bacon and eggs joke here.
Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com
John "Boomjack" Hoskin