Welcome to the 1,216th edition of Loading...
Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and
commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.
MMOG memories are made in many different ways and for all kinds of
reasons, but it's almost a given that each of them shares one thing in
common--community. Memorable game experiences rarely happen when we're
flying solo; they involve friends and fellow gamers. Karen "Shayalyn"
Hertzberg shares her unforgettable MMOG experience, with a hint of
thankfulness appropriate to the season, in today's Loading...
Solace and Solidarity.
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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here
in the United States. Whether you're gathering around a table (or two)
with 15 of your closest relatives or dining alone on turkey pot pie
it's a time that bids us to reflect, if even for a moment, about the
things we're thankful for. It seems cheesy to try tying MMOGs into
being thankful for our everyday blessings so I won't; I'll simply wish
you a warm and safe holiday. May your turkey be juicy and your
post-Thanksgiving food coma restful.
Now, on to the MMOG stuff
you're reading this column for. Sort of. I intended to take today's
column in a completely different direction, but a sudden burst of
inspiration (and memories of a long lost column past, in case this one
makes you experience deja vu)
has me straying from that path. We'll talk about TERA and
next-generation MMOs when you see me next week. But today, despite the
late November date, I want to flash back to September 11, 2001.
I
remember that morning vividly. I was getting my kids off to school, and
the pace was more hectic than usual due to an over-pressed snooze
button and a couple of drowsy and uncooperative children. I was rushing
to pull together jackets and backpacks and sign assignment notebooks
before the bus pulled up outside our door and, seeing the driveway
empty, sped away. In the midst of all this chaos, the phone rang.
"Hello!" I barked.
It was my husband calling from his office. "Turn on the TV," he said,
"A plane just flew into the World Trade Center."
"I
will in a minute," I replied, "I've got my own little crisis going on
here this morning." And with that I told him I had to go, and I hustled
my kids out the door just in time for the yellow school bus to spirit
them away.
Ten minutes later I found myself desperately
wanting them back. I watched CNN in horror as a second plane hit the
World Trade Center, and then as the buildings crumbled, one after the
other, to smoking piles of rubble.
Like so many did, I watched
the events of September 11 unfold on live TV. Finally, alone with my
thoughts, I just couldn't take any more of the media onslaught. The
images that swirled around in my head were horrific and simply too much
for me. I tried breaking away from the television and reading a book
but I couldn't concentrate. Finally, I logged into EverQuest, not
really to play, but just to wander around the familiar world of Norrath
for a while and escape. Sure, there was violence in EQ, but none of it
was real.
As I played, I saw others in game, but the /OOC
channel was eerily silent. Then someone piped up and said, "Terrible
day." Another chimed in, "Yes. I'm just here to get away from it for a
while." Someone added, "Me too." A few suggested that no one talk about
the day's events, but the spell of silence had been broken. And then
the most amazing thing happened. Others from around the globe started
speaking:
"I'm in Australia. You folks in the US are in our hearts and minds
today."
"England here. But we're all Americans today."
"I'm from Ireland. You're in our prayers, you people in the US."
And
so continued this litany of consolation and solace. It was an amazing
thing to witness and, even if just for that moment, it buoyed my
spirits to feel the warmth of solidarity. I've never felt closer to a
group of people, some of whom were thousands of miles away. Not a harsh
word was spoken that afternoon, only words of comfort and support.
What
brings me back to that September afternoon eight years ago?
Thankfulness. When I think about my experiences playing MMOGs, this is
the one I'm most thankful for. It taught me about the strength of
community and the depths of compassion and sensitivity in the human
heart. I'll never forget it.
Looks like I've ended up tying
MMOGs and thankfulness together after all. Share your thoughts about
thankfulness and community, or just wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving,
on the Loading...
forum or, if you prefer, drop me an email at
href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected].
Shayalyn's Epic Thread of
the Day
From our href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=139">WoW
General Discussion forum
style="font-weight: normal;">I'm a turkey
It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without turkeys, and so today's epic
thread brings you lots of them--turkeys on horseback, turkeys flying
griffons, turkeys in the harbor... Of course, their all screenshots
from World of Warcraft in which AngryBeaver is, literally, "turkified,"
but that's part of the fun. Go gobble (see what I did there?) up
this thread...and don't forget to href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=47940">bring the
cranberry sauce.
==============================
Awesome Quotes from the
Epic Thread
"haha. Nice. I never thought I'd see
a turkey ride a horse for as long as I've lived."
- hellishcompany
==============================
Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=32559">Tell
us!
6 new Ten Ton Hammer MMOG
features today! 98 in November! 3,072
in
2009!
New Exclusives Today at Ten Ton
Hammer
-
style="font-weight: bold;">DDOU: Karthos Island Revealed and
Plundered
Dungeons
and Dragons Online: Stormreach, originally released in February of 2006
by Turbine, has recently joined the ranks of the free-to-play as
Dungeons and Dragons: Eberron Unlimited. Since the release of the F2P
game, players have swarmed back to DDOU. Join Eric "Dalmarus"
Campbell
as he dives back into the game by hitching up his britches and taking
on a white dragon that's been terrorizing the local townsfolk.
-
style="font-weight: bold;">AdventureQuest Worlds - Artix's
Blog: Giving Thanks to Cornycopia
Artix
returns this week with a new AdventureQuest Worlds blog explaining the
harvest festival known as Cornycopia. Find out what kind of events the
game will offer this holiday season and how you can hunt down the
scrumptious Turdrakens. Following the harvest festival, players can
also take advantage of the Black Friday festivities that will allow
players to obtain a number of items from the game's weaponsmith Cysero.
-
style="font-weight: bold;">WoW - The Overpull Issue 42 -
"Elves, Elves, and Turkey!"
Thanksgiving
and Black Friday might be coming up soon, but in World of Warcraft we
have Pilgrim's Bounty to worry about along with rogue Mohawk Grenades
going off everywhere. This week we bring you an Overpull full of news,
a new comic, talk about elves, and discussion about the BGs. Check in
each Tuesday morning for a brand new Overpull that goes over everything
in the past week.
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/aion/guides/class/templarskills">
style="font-weight: bold;">Aion Templar Skill List: Levels
10-50
If
there were to be a straight up tank class in Aion, the Templar would
surely fit this role. With a skill set that focuses on shield
kills,
stuns, and various protective abilities there is no doubt that this
class was built to be a meat shield. Whether you play a Templar and
want to see into your future or are considering playing a Templar, we
have the skill list that will show you what this great class will have
in store through all 50 levels.
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/77195">A First Look at
style="font-weight: bold;">Gates of Andaron
It has been said that you never get a second chance to
make a first
impression, but Korean developer Zemi Interactive is sure going to try
as they rework their popular game 4Story into Gates of
Andaron
for German publisher Gameforge. Perhaps the names were changed to
protect the innocent but it's a case of deja-vu all over again in this
microtransaction driven MMOG. Join Medawky this week as he dives into
the game to see what makes it tick.
-
style="font-weight: bold;">Aion Cleric Skills 26-50
Want to know what you're missing out on as a healer from level 26-50?
Those lovely hidden spells that you have to earn the right to? Too bad
you don't have what it takes to level a healer to 25+. Fortunately,
we've got you covered here at the Hammer. Check out the 26-50 cleric
skill list here!
Today's Hottest Content
- Odus Comes to EverQuest
2 - A Sentinel's Fate Expansion Q&A with Alan Crosby - Interfacing with
Star Trek Online - A UI Discussion with Cryptic
Studios - Left 4
Dead 2 PC Review - style="font-weight: bold;">Torchlight (PC) Review
-
style="font-weight: bold;">DDOU: Karthos Island Revealed and
Plundered href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/seasonal/pilgrims-pride">
-
style="font-weight: bold;">Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood
Beta Impressions -
EVE
Online
Sins of the Solar Spymaster #32 - The Most Dangerous Agent - Star
Trek Online Bridge Trailer and Space Combat Part 1 Video - Down to Earth or
Another Planet - a Star Trek Online Ground Combat
Q&A with Dan Stahl -
style="font-weight: bold;">Global Agenda Medic Class Q&A
with Exec. Producer Todd Harris
Thanks as always for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer
network!
- Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg and the Ten Ton Hammer team
