by John Hoskin on May 02, 2008
Welcome to the 821st Edition of Loading...
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Daily Column
Loading... it's MMOG news magic.
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 - 52 BPM Lord of the Rings Online - 41 BPM EverQuest 2 - 18 BPM Warhammer Online - 14 BPM Vanguard - 14 BPM Dungeons and Dragons Online - 13 BPM Lineage 2 - 13 BPM EVE Online - 11 BPM Guild Wars - 10 BPMI only have two topics today, which should make most of you giggle with glee. These rambling columns tend to wear out not only the writer, but you the reader. It would be better if I could pictures in, but the newsletter won't allow pictures. Go figure.
First up, Activision (ActiLizzard or Blizzivision) is sitting out E3. There's a shocker! After the catastrophe that went on last year I'm surprised that any companies are going. We're not even sure that we're going to cover it and we attend just about every event that is held. In 2006 we sent 13 staff to E3. Last year we sent four. This year, the current number is zero. That may change, but what reason do we have to attend? We'll be at ION, Leipzig, Comic Con, Austin, GenCon, etc. Let's face it, Leipzig is the new E3. Five huge conference halls attached by glass walkway and German hospitality. It's just a shame it takes me 24 hours to get from my house to my hotel. The beer on tap for breakfast is a nice touch though.
Beer trumps tang, but that isn't stopping NASA from trying to produce a MMOG. GameSpot has an excellent interview with Dr. Daniel Laughlin posted about NASA's attempts to get an educational MMOG off the ground, pun intended.
I immediately think to myself, 'this would be cool', but when I mull over the things that I would expect to be able to do I see some issues. Top 10 things I would like to do in a NASA MMOG
Float weightlessly (since Richard Garriott didn't invite me to his space party) Urinate in a plastic bag Punch an alien in the face like Will Smith did in Independence Day Visit Area-51 Use the Canadarm to pretend to pick the nose of a Russian satellite. Replace lost heat-shield tiles. Unscrew the top of a rocket while it careens into space, just like Bugs Bunny Steal the The Pu-36 explosive space modulator from Marvin Martian Paint huge glyphs on the planet for Google Earth users to find and decipher. Meet Tom Hanks.What is on your Top 10 list? 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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13 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 27 in May! 1046 in 2008!
New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today
Images/Video
Interviews
Warhammer Online: Exclusive Live Q&A with EA Mythic Age of Conan: Clan Interview - MEHOp/Eds
From 2004 to 2008: What have we learned? Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's Final Class?Community
Age of Conan: Clan Showcase - MEHDeveloper Diary
City of Heroes: Issue 12 with Joe MorrisseyForums
Age of Conan: Border Kingdom CryerGuides
Vanguard: Party of Conformity - Offensive Fighters Warhammer Online: Tome of Knowledge FAQHot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to
From 2004 to 2008: What have we learned? Warhammer Online: Exclusive Live Q&A with EA Mythic DDO: Exec Producer Kate Paiz @ NYC ComicCon LotRO: Turbine VP of Development Craig Alexander Age of Conan: NDA Lifted! Wonderland $100 Giveaway Age of Conan: Game Designer Jason Stone Bounty Bay Online Client @ Ten Ton HammerReal World News
Planet's worst drink found [Courtesy of Peter H.]