Welcome to the 1,142nd Edition of Loading...
Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.
Cryptic has dropped some fairly cryptic hints about STO's future and, to be honest, we truly love this stuff. The mystic pull of October continues with what one French MMO site is claiming as a release date leak for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Our doubts, expectations, and more news and links in today's Loading... Cryptic Being Cryptic.
Coyote is back in a big way at Ten Ton Hammer, and his daily column explores all things geek with Coyote's trademark wit in It's All Geek to Me. Read it daily at Ten Ton Hammer! Today's topic: Sports and the average geek... (Hehe... mathlete...)
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 today :
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Important Dates
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Upcoming Releases
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Loading... Daily
Longtime readers know that I have a habit of mixing up Star Trek Online and Star Wars: The Old Republic. It's not that I have the concepts confused - I know my Mandalorians from my Manticore - but sometimes I come up one coffee cup short in choosing the right name for what I'm talking about. Let me muddy the waters a bit further by saying that October has assumed almost mystical significance for those aching to get their hands on the two hottest upcoming space / sci-fi MMOs.
To me, reports that Star Wars: The Old Republic will see an October 2010 launch strike me as a little absurd - you can talk targeted dates a year in advance, but no matter how credible the "source" is within EA (the night janitor, perhaps?), there's a reason that the cooler heads at EA and Bioware aren't talking dates. Namely because the people in the know don't have hard dates in mind for release over a year in advance. You have wishes, hopes, expectations, milestones, and ploys to keep publishers temporarily distracted, but you certainly don't have a hard release date this far ahead.
Sardu's October theory for Star Trek Online closed beta beginning in October sounds much more plausible to me. Maybe the bus station posters aren't hitting at a beta, exactly - perhaps just a cool new trailer or something - but we know for a fact that Cryptic is planning to begin closed beta for Star Trek Online "later this year." And October 18th is, in fact, later this year.
On the less cryptic side of Cryptic, open beta for Champions Online will begin next Monday, August 17th. That and other pre-launch details were announced yesterday. Sadly, The Hairballer, Yoyo Ma, Rotter Rooter, Treeslayer (a holdover from Vanguard), Lunchlady, and my other favored closed beta character creations will be wiped in anticipation of open beta. Sacrifices must be made, but I have all their pernicious details right here ::taps head::
Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome in the Loading... forum, or feel free to email me.
Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day
From our Star Trek Online forums
STO Closed Beta to Begin in October?
If
you're anything like me, what J.J. Abrams did to revitalize the Star
Trek franchise with the recent blockbuster movie has got you
jonesing for all things Trek. And if you're anything like me, when you
saw the words words "Star Trek Online" and "beta" linked together in
the same sentence, you smiled.
Speculative thought they may be, you'll find things to make you smile in this thread. Engage!
==============================
Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread
"Oh, I hope so. Looking forward to get my hands on STO!"
- Gotchy
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!
6 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 42 in August! 902 in 2009!
New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today [Thanks Phil Comeau for links and Real World News]
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Star Trek Online Closed Beta to Begin in October?
While rumors began circulating earlier today about a possible launch date for Star Wars: The Old Republic, Ten Ton Hammer’s friendly neighborhood Sardu has been coming up with some wild speculation of his very own concerning a possible start date for the Star Trek Online closed beta. Though unconfirmed by any official sources, Sardu believes a series of mysterious signs in Cryptic’s upcoming Champions Online may hold the key. -
Age of Conan - A Year Later, Part 2
Imagine a game that has innovative combat, amazing graphics, in depth PvP, and has had months of polish. This is what Age of Conan fans had been hoping for prior to the release of AoC and many were disappointed. Now, a year has passed and Funcom has been working their collective butts off to make AoC better, funner, and more playable for all. Have they succeeded? In the second part of our re-visit with Age of Conan Savanja covers combat, questing, sieges and PvP changes. Players are flocking back to AoC, find out why! -
Flight or Fight: A Look at Advanced Flight and Combat in Aion
Aion will make use of the flight mechanics quite often as you make your way through the game, but learning all the little tips and tricks to combat and flight can take time to learn as you take to the air only curse yourself as you foolishly come crashing back to the earth in your folly. This week we take an advanced look at Aion's flight and combat mechanics to give you a quick and easy lesson at some of the useful little tricks in Aion. -
World of Warcraft Guide: Sons of Hodir Reputation
This is TenTonHammer's World of Warcraft guide to the Sons of Hodir reputation. The Sons of Hodir offer the best shoulder enchants in the game to date, excluding the Inscription only enchants. The purpose of this guide is to show you what you must accomplish to earn your Sons of Hodir shoulder enchants. -
World of Warcraft Guide: The Oculus Achievements
World of Warcraft's The Oculus consists of 7 total achievements. That’s including completing the dungeon on both regular and heroic difficulties. This guide will explain to you how The Oculus achievements are...well...achieved! -
World of Warcraft Guide: Rogue Aggro Mechanics and Feint
As a Rogue in the World of Warcraft, dishing it out is what we do. Enemies tend not to like us, and with our next guide at Ten Ton Hammer, we take a look at how to use the Rogue's aggro manipulation to your favor. From getting that loud spammer on voice chat killed, to surviving certain death after hate wipes, we've got your guide to NOT topping that threat meter. We also cover the new Feint and how to use it to ensure you're the fearless melee powerhouse of the raid!
Giveaways:
- DDO Unlimited Beta Giveaway
- Runes of Magic Item Giveaway
- Champions Online Beta Key Giveaway (Premium Members Only)
- Aion Closed Beta Test 6 Key Giveaway (Premium Members Only)
Hottest Content:
- Star Trek Online Closed Beta to Begin in October?
- Champions Online: Exclusive Interview on Sidekicks, Super Groups, and Supervillains
- Age of Conan - A Year Later, Part 2
- The Hollywood Cycle: Comparing the MMO Industry with the Silver Screen
- Flight or Fight: A Look at Advanced Flight and Combat in Aion
- The Co-Op PvE side of Global Agenda: A Q&A with Exec. Producer Todd Harris
- An Advanced Guide to Crafting in Aion
- Ten Ton Hammer Hands-On Preview - Wonderking Online
- The Guild In-Depth Interview with Director Sean Becker
- World of Warcraft - Trial of the Champion Instance Guide
- New City of Heroes Issue 16 Power Customization Screenshots
Thanks for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!
-Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle and the Ten Ton Hammer team
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Star Trek Online Game Page.
