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is the premier daily
MMOG news and commentary
newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.

Welcome
to the 1,346th
edition
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Mini-maps, waypoints and other features that make traveling in
MMOGs less frustrating have become the standard, and few  are
willing to return to the days where gamers were forced to be
cartographers and websites like EQ Maps held the secrets to getting
from point A to point B. Does easy travel take some of the adventure
out of  the MMOG experience, or is it simply a necessity?
Explore this topic in today's href="http://tentonhammer.com/loading/2010/june/2">Loading...
The Journey is Half the Fun.

The Pulse

You vote with what you
view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the
result
is the Ten Ton Pulse ( target="_blank">What
is The Pulse?).

Here
are today's top 5 Pulse results:

1. World
   of Warcraft
2. EverQuest
   II
3. Age
   of Conan
4. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/38">EverQuest
   (UP 19)
5. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/43">EVE
   Online (UP 2)

Biggest
movers this week:

1. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/42">Star
   Wars Galaxies (UP 42 to #11)
2. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/52">Pirates
   of the Burning Sea (UP 33 to #19)
3. City of Villains (UP 20 to #14)

• 2/16
  - href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/expansions/sentinelsfate/index.vm">EverQuest
  2: Sentinel's Fate (expansion)
• 2/16
  - LotRO:
  Oath of the
  Rangers (content update)
• 4/5
  - Pocket
  Legends (iMMOG - release date) href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/1004">
  
  
• 5/1
  - href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/game_updates/issue_17/issue_17_overview.html?utm_source=COHemail&utm_medium=US&utm_campaign=banner">City
  of Heroes - Issue 17: Dark Mirror
  (content
  update)
• 5/11
  - Age
  of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer
  (expansion)
• 5/26
  - EVE
  Online: Tyrannis
  (expansion)
• 5/27
  - Craft
  of Gods
  (release)

• June
  9,
  2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/1004">Mortal
  Online (release)
• June
  29,
  2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/998">APB
  (US release- July 2 in UK, EU)
• July 13, 2010 -
  Mytheon
  (release)
  
  
• July
  20,
  2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/2461">Need
  for Speed World (release)
• TBA
  2010 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/2079">Final
  Fantasy XIV
  
  
  
  

Upcoming
Events

• style="font-weight: bold;">6/15 -
  6/17 - E3
  Expo
• style="font-weight: bold;">6/25 -
  6/27 - Looking
  for Group
  Expo
• style="font-weight: bold;">7/22 -
  7/25 - Comic-Con
  International
• style="font-weight: bold;">8/5 -
  8/8 - href="http://events.station.sony.com/fanfaire/">SOE
  Fan Faire 2010
• style="font-weight: bold;">9/3 -
  9/6 - DragonCon
• style="font-weight: bold;">10/22 -
  10/23 - href="http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcon/?rhtml=y">BlizzCon
• style="font-weight: bold;"> 3/24
  -
  3/26 (2011)- CCP
  FanFest
  
  
  

Loading... Daily

Before I begin, let me say that if you get a hot pink (or lime green,
or Big Bird yellow) background when you read today’s Loading… online,
don’t yell at me. It’s an ad. href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showpost.php?p=432467&postcount=11">According
to our dear Ethec it is a one-week campaign. You can href="http://newslist.tentonhammer.com/index.cgi/list/mmognews/">get
Loading…in your inbox if you like. Also, href="http:.//tentonhammer.com/membership">premium members
can turn off ads, but I bid you all to remember that advertising helps
keep the lights on here at Ten Ton Hammer, heinous color schemes
notwithstanding.



Onward!



Today one of my favorite radio morning crews was guffawing about a
woman who’d href="http://searchengineland.com/woman-follows-google-maps-walking-directions-gets-hit-sues-43212">sued
Google because the walking directions she’d downloaded to her
Blackberry from Google Maps led her onto a rural state highway
with no sidewalks where she was struck by a car. Despite the DJs
stating that the wayward woman wasn’t hurt in the accident, the lawsuit
appears to claim that she incurred “severe permanent physical,
emotional, and mental injuries, including pain and suffering.”



Sorry, Gandalf…sometimes those who wander are indeed lost. And
sometimes it’s technology that leads them there.



My husband’s GPS, an aging Magellan we lovingly refer to as Robo Bitch
(or, as my beloved puts it, “The only other woman
in my life who gets to tell me where to go”) has led me to some pretty
strange places, albeit not on foot. It sent me down Walnut Street in
northeast Milwaukee once, for instance. (I have since learned that you
don’t go down Walnut Street in Milwaukee, even in broad daylight,
unless you’re either a) armed or b) craving excitement of the thuggish
kind.) But Robo Bitch didn’t know any better. She probably should have
known better when she tried to send me down a one-way street the wrong
way, though. And she annoyed the hell out of me when she once told me
to turn onto a certain busy boulevard and then promptly directed, in
her sweet yet authoritative voice, “When possible, make a legal U-turn.”



The lawsuit, as ridiculous as it seems, reminded me of one thing--we’re
all very dependent on technology (and technology is great when it
works.) I have become very dependent on maps and waypoints in MMOGs,
for instance. I’m funny that way. Scientifically speaking, men are
often thought to have href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1028006/Men-really-think-differently-women--better-sense-direction-finds-study.html">better
spatial awareness than women, making them better at reading
maps and understanding directions. In my world, though, I’m the one in
our family who can flip a map around in my head and know which
direction I’m supposed to be going, even if my navigator has errantly
told me to go the other way. Online IQ tests, for whatever they’re
worth, show me scoring unusually high in spatial reasoning. And yet…



I can’t navigate in a MMOG without a stupid map. And honestly, I’d
prefer a waypoint to a map any day. And, in at least a couple of the
MMOGs I’ve tried, I’ve been able to click on a certain NPC or landmark
and have my character run there automagically. I love that. Now, that’s
not saying that those waypoints, or even auto-run, aren’t going to lead
me into mob-infested territory (the MMOG equivalent of a busy highway
without sidewalks) or that I shouldn’t pay heed to my
surroundings--there has to be some element of challenge to travel--but,
like a GPS crooning instructions in a sweet voice, they should
generally help me get to where I’m going with minimum hassle so that I
can get on with my quest, or get to killing the mobs I came to kill.



Some of you may have fond memories of getting lost in MMOGs. I can
understand feeling a certain nostalgia for the days before nearly every
game had at least a mini-map; getting lost could be an adventure in
itself. I had a 3-ring binder of EverQuest zone maps from EQ Maps
(which, when I searched for a link today, appears to have vanished into
the Internet ether) back in the day, and I remember the feeling of
competence that came with mastering a zone and knowing it like the back
of my hand. And I do sometimes feel that I’m missing the sense of
exploration and that edgy fear of the unknown that comes with traveling
into uncharted virtual territory without anything to guide me but my
own wits.



But, nostalgia aside, I want maps, waypoints, and even automagic travel
capabilities. I want the ability to explore on my own when I feel
compelled to, but also the means to get to where I’m going quickly if I
don’t have time to spend wandering lost around some woodland full of
hostile mobs 15 levels higher than my character. I might like a game
that had a few uncharted locations where mini-maps and waypoints became
unavailable, because I’d know only to head to those locations when I
wouldn’t mind getting lost.



Are mini-maps and other easy travel features essential to MMOGs these
days, or have we become overly dependent on them? (For that matter,
would you let your GPS lead you on a stroll down a state highway?)
Let’s explore these issues in href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=51637">the
Loading… forum.

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of
the Day

From our href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=51572">/OOC
(Off-topic) forum



50
Worst Inventions



Today we lighten up the Epic Thread a bit with Annatar's post to an
article featuring the 50 Worst Inventions, from Auto-Tune to the
vibrating ab belt. (What, you mean those ab belts don't work?
I'm doomed.) Some of these inventions are worse than others and, as
you'll see, we object to a few of them making the list at all. href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=51572">Read
and comment!



==============================

Awesome Quotes from the
Epic Thread



"Cheese in a can is epic, and I will not hear a word against
it! "



- Anacche

==============================



Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=32559">Tell
us!

New
and Exclusive Content
Today at Ten Ton Hammer

8 new Ten Ton Hammer
articles today! 15 Ten Ton Hammer
features
in June! 586
in 2010!

INTERVIEWS



Ten Ton Hammer Live Ep. 9 - TERA's Sam Kim and Matt Atwood

http://www.tentonhammer.com/podcasts/live/9



This
week on Ten Ton Hammer Live, the boys welcome Producer of TERA, Sam
Kim, and En Masse Entertainment's PR director, Matt Atwood. Together
they free fall into this amazing upcoming MMOG that features stunning
graphics, PvP fun, and a good dose of politics. Not to mention some
pretty neat looking races. Oh, and did we mention they've pumped a ton
of money into this thing to make it near perfect at launch? We can't
wait!



Then Sam and Matt stick around for another exciting
edition of Master Looter. Did we say exciting? We meant ridiculous.
Jesse flubs a few questions, the sfx don't work right... it's hilarious.



But
that's not all! In the news we learn about APB on consoles, the Mass
Effect movie, and other gems. DID WE MENTION THE CONTEST?!?!?



Listen to the show to hear how you can email and win one of 2 remaining
EQ2 mounts, worth $25 each!



Also head over to facebook.com/tentonhammerlive
to see how you can win a free month's worth of the game of your choice!



APB Community Day Q&A and Hands-On Impressions

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/apb/impressions/community-day-2010">http://www.tentonhammer.com/apb/impressions/community-day-2010



All
Points Bulletin (APB) is the next big massively multiplayer game set to
launch, and at All Points Bulletin community day last week, not only
did we get a chance to play the latest build of APB on lightning fast
connections, but we also had a chance to ask Creative Director David
Jones (Co-Founder of Rockstar North, and one of the visionaries behind
Grand Theft Auto) and Executive Producer Josh Howard some questions
from an MMO gamer's point of view. Our impressions and their answers in
our latest APB feature: APB - Community Day Q&A and Hands-On
Impressions.



GIVEAWAYS



Land of Chaos Online Closed Beta Key Giveaway

http://www.tentonhammer.com/giveaways/loco-cbt



LOCO
– Land of Chaos Online is a next-gen MMO that features high-end
graphics, a roster of thirty playable characters with unique skills and
personalities, and fast-paced online combat. Whether players are
tearing through minions to reach a towering boss, destroying enemy
camps to clear the map of opponents, or taking on another team in a
guild battle, Land of Chaos Online’s unique combination of fast Action,
RPG and tactical shooter elements is guaranteed to give gamers around
the world an online experience unlike anything they’ve ever seen
before. Get your closed beta key at Ten Ton Hammer!



FEATURED EDITORIAL



EVE Online - Sins of a Solar Spymaster #45 : Advice for a New
CEO

http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve/spymaster/45



Being
the CEO in EVE Online can be intimidating, but there are a few things
that The Mittani has gleaned over the years. Read Sins of a Solar
Spymaster #45: Advice for a New CEO to partake of his knowledge and
learn the ins and outs of true power management!



FEATURES & GUIDES



EQ2 Adornment Guide

http://www.tentonhammer.com/eq2/guides/adornments



Getting
great gear in EverQuest II is hard work, but when you finally snag that
prize set you'll want to make it the very best it can be and this means
adding adornments. These little weapon and armor additions come in many
varieties allowing players to pick and choose what stats, bonuses,
resists, and procs they want. But adornment errors can be
costly so
before you start buying them up, stop here first to get
the basics.



To Battle! - A Guide to the Battle Isles and PvP in Guild Wars


http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/beyond/guides/battle-isles



Balanced
PvP (player vs. player) is a major part of Guild Wars. The Battle
Isles, the location of all of the primary PvP maps, is where most of
the action happens. Our guide goes over the primary objectives of each
mode in PvP in addition to some top tips to do well in PvP.



StarCraft II - Protoss Stargate Units Stats and Strategy Guide

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/starcraft2/guides/stargate-indepth">http://www.tentonhammer.com/starcraft2/guides/stargate-indepth



The
thunder of the Scout shooting land units, the rapid pulsing of Corsair
fire... forget all of that. The StarCraft II Protoss air force no
longer has these ineffective units. The only returning unit is the
Carrier, and the new escorts for it are the Phoenix and Void Ray. These
units require a special touch to use effectively, and that's why we've
whipped up this guide to using the Protoss fleet effectively!



The World of Warcraft Auction House - Profiteering in Azeroth

http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/features/profiteering



Profiteering
can be considered a negative term, but we're talking about it here in a
positive way. After all, WoW is a free market where players can buy and
sell what they like at any price they set. Many times items are bought
and sold simply to make a profit on the auction house, or farmed just
for their sale. There's nothing wrong with that, but how do
you find
out what something is worth and what to sell it for?  Our
latest WoW
article has the goods.

Today's
Hottest Articles, Guides, and Features

1. Ten
   Ton Hammer Live Ep. 9 - TERA's Sam Kim and Matt
   Atwood
2. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/apb/impressions/community-day-2010">APB
   Community Day Q&A and Hands-On Impressions
3. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/editorials/personal-story-continued">The
   Impact of Story Pt. 2 - href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/editorials/personal-story-continued">Guild
   Wars 2 href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/features/editorials/personal-story-continued">'s
   Interactive World
4. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/previews/cataclysm/zalazans_fall">WoW href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/previews/cataclysm/zalazans_fall">
   PTR Patch 3.3.5 - Glory of the Darkspear
   
5. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/interviews/dev_talk/2010/may">Dev
   Talk: Top MMOG Devs Weigh
   in on User-Generated
   Content
6. EVE
   Online - Sins of a Solar Spymaster #45 : Advice for a New CEO
   
   
7. Land
   of Chaos Online Closed Beta Key Giveaway
   
8. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/editorials/return-to-guildwars">The
   Many Reasons to Return to Guild
   Wars
9. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/beyond/guides/war-in-kryta">Guild
   Wars: The War in Kryta Guide
10. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/gw2/newsletter/issue-1">The
    War in
    Kryta Advances - GW2
    Weekly Report
    

Thanks
for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!

- Karen "Shayalyn" Hertzberg and
the Ten Ton Hammer team