Loading... E3 2009 Begins

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The times are a-changin' for MMORPGs, and today's E3 appointment list might be indicative of a larger trend. Only two of the seven interviews we have scheduled for today feature games that skirt the edge of the fantasy genre. We'll comment on this and share a few travel stories from our trip to LA (it wouldn't be E3 without a travel Loading...) and have much more for you in Loading... E3 2009: Day One.

Geeked is Ten Ton Hammer's satirical webcomic. Sometimes funny, sometimes off-the-wall, but always entertaining, see JoBildo's latest work several times a week. The latest Geeked comic: "The More You Know"

The Pulse

You vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is Pulse?).

Here's today's top 5 Pulse results for today:

World of Warcraft EverQuest 2 (down 1) Champions Online (UP 10 to #3) Age of Conan Aion (UP 3 to #5)

Biggest Movers in the Top 20 today :

Ultima Online (UP 10 to #17 ) Warhammer Online (down 6 to #9) Star Wars Galaxies (UP 5 to #19) Recent MMO Releases 5/15 - EVE Online Apocrypha 1.2 (patch) 5/19 - Warrior Epic (launch date) 5/19 - Vanguard "Halls of Pantheon" (content patch) 5/28 - Dragonica (CBT key giveaway) Upcoming Releases 8/25 - CrimeCraft (release date) 9/1 - Champions Online (release date) Early 2010 - APB ?? - Jumpgate Evolution (release date) Important Dates 6/2 - 6/4 - E3 2009

Loading... Daily

E3 wouldn't be E3 without a travel story. And this year's story starts with a stain. Not just any stain, and I'm usually not fine about these sorts of things, but when the McWhatever burger dribbled grease on a certain spot on my shorts - the spot that says you forgot to shake off the rake before putting it back in the toolshed. For reference, the Tide stain stick doesn't work on fast food grease, it simply adorns it in a halo, sort of a stain highlighter.

Few people realize that the average public restroom is also, fortunately, a fully equipped laundromat. Better, actually, in that the soap is free. Thanks to the gentlemen that didn't standing there in his boxers scrubbing his shorts in the Greater Pittsburgh Intl. central core men's restroom, a public exposure charge would have messed up this E3 before it started.

Amazingly, both Garrett's and my flight arrived ahead of schedule. I was flying on a voucher, so I kept waiting for nature to take its revenge on our paucity of funds somehow, but all went well until the hotel. Anyone that's been to E3 in its glory days knows that the developers and big media snap up the nicer hotels and everyone else gets what's left, often in the rough parts of town. Stories from the old days, when front desk attendants would warn guests not to go outside after dark and of sleep interrupted by gunshots, abound. It doesn't help that my Tivo just helped me watch the last three episodes of Southland either. There was a brief moment of panic when I realized that two of my polos are Crips blue, but Garrett is pretty sure no one will mistake me for a gangbanger.

In keeping with the theme of today's epic thread, this is a landmark day for us at E3 because five of our seven appointments today feature games that are from a genre different than fantasy. My how the MMO landscape has changed. Today's schedule: DC Universe Online, The Agency, Huxley, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Jumpgate Evolution, with Free Realms and Torchlight the two fantasy holdouts.

Is day one of E3 indicative of a larger trend? How is the MMO market changing, and is it changing for the better? Discuss E3 in the Loading... forum, or as usual, feel free to email me.

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day

From our Articles, News and Events Discussion

New Fantasy MMO Heroes of Telara Officially Unveiled

What's your take -- yay or yawn?

One of the first announcements to roll out of E3 this year is the unveiling of a new fantasy MMOG in development--Heroes of Telara.
While the gameplay video on the official site looked cool to me, and
the screenshots look impressive enough, I am 1) expecting to see folks
yawn at the idea of another fantasy MMO, and 2) skeptical because MMOGs
with "Heroes" in their titles don't seem to fare very well (Hero's
Journey, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes...)

I may be kidding about #2.

Feast your eyes on some screenshots and concept art from Heroes of Telara and tell us what you think. Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Or just one big, "Meh..."

==============================
Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread

"Looks interesting... "


- Khalus

"*yawn*"

- Kralle
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!

7 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 7 in June! 629 in 2009!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

Earthrise Interview: Guilds and Territory Conquest
Hot on the heels of our recent VIP interview, Ten Ton Hammer took the opportunity to speak with lead game designer Apostol Apostolov to delve deeper into certain aspects of guilds, resource gathering and territory control in Earthrise. E3 2009: Concept Art from Heroes of Telara
Straight from E3, the folks at Trion World Network have distributed a selection of concept art from their upcoming game, and we're proud to display it for you to view. While you're at it, don't forget to check out the screenshots and the official announcement about Heroes of Telara. E3 2009: Heroes of Telara New Screenshots
While at E3, the developers at Trion World Network released their official announcement of their upcoming fantasy MMO Heroes of Telara. Along with the concrete details concerning the game, the Trion team also dolled out a selection of screenshots along with some concept art and a video. Frankly, the game looks beautiful, in a realistic sort of way. E3 2009: Heroes of Telara E3 Trailer
Earlier today, Trion revealed details on their upcoming game, Heroes of Telara, complete with a new trailer. The landscape and architecture in the game looks amazing with an obvious eye toward realism. Massive creatures, multiple races, and more look to make this a game worth keeping a closer eye on. Have you got what it takes to master your fate and become the right hero at the right time? Top Six Reasons to Play Runes of Magic
When gamers first discovered Frogster’s Runes of Magic, it was too easy to dismiss the title as “another World of Warcraft clone.” Once beta began and people got a taste of the many features and design elements present in the world of Taborea, players understood that Frogster was on to something with its free-to-play title. As the game closes in on three months since the official launch and over one million registered users, Ten Ton Hammer takes a look at the top six reasons to play Runes of Magic. New Screenshots for WolfTeam's New Classes and Maps
Korean developer Softnyx has added more options to their online FPS game, WolfTeam, and to kick things off they have sent Ten Ton Hammer a collection of new screenshots. The new screenshots show off the new wolf classes to the game and new maps to go along with it. Guide to WoW Resto Druid Glyphs
Glyphs are another step Blizzard has taken towards allowing greater character customization. I encourage you to try as many as you can and see which work best for your play style as this is currently the least expensive form of customization in the game. Guide to WoW Mage Glyphs
Are you looking for some helpful hints on what's the best glyphs for Mages in World of Warcraft? You're not looking anymore because David "Xerin" Piner has the info on what's the good, bad, and the fugly in glyphs for the Mage.

Hot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to:

Earthrise Interview: Guilds and Territory Conquest Champions Online Powers Interview #1 - Gadgeteering, Munitions, and Archery Exclusive Dragonica Online Beta Key Giveawa E3 2009: Heroes of Telara E3 Trailer Aion: Class Interview - The Ranger Exclusive Aion Ranger Screenshots Top Six Reasons to Play Runes of Magic E3 2009: Heroes of Telara New Screenshots Comic: Geeked - "The More You Know" EVE Online: Sins of a Solar Spymaster #13 - The Participation Game

Thanks for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!

-Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle and the Ten Ton Hammer team