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So it's finally happened - North America has taken second billing on an MMORPG release. Despite targetting Chronicles of Spellborn's release for the last week of this month for European players, publisher Acclaim announced last night that North Americans won't see the Spellborn launched until January 2009. I don't think localization is an issue; Americans can put up with British English and the Canadians actually like the superfluous u's and e's. In any case, Austrailian gamers, I'll soon know how you feel - waiting a few months for a game others are already talking about.

For today's boy collapses after playing too much WoW story, we turn to Sweden. It's probably a coincidence, but this story comes only days after a European raiding guild claimed that they've chewed up all the PvE dungeons in the week-old expansion.

Northern Europeans, friends, there's no need to prove that you're very intense people. World history confirms this, but even if it didn't, you're learning all of our old bad habits. Most WotLK gamers I talked to at the launch event last week were planning to go home and go to bed. That's a stark contrast to the Burning Crusade release, when many of my WoW friends were stockpiling caffeine, microwavable food, and cigarettes for a serious gaming binge. Thankfully they stopped short of piss bottles, as far as I knew. Anyway, the game will be still be there in the months and years to come, long after someone else's server first pushes yours down the list.

Now that the sad news is out of the way, let's shift gears. In the oddest bit of MMOG news that's come down the pike since Richard Garriott gave the galaxy his load of gamer and b-celeb DNA (sorry, you probably feel dirty now), the venerable retailer-publisher Gamefly listed SOE's espionage MMORPG The Agency as cancelled. SOE promptly responded that the project is still very much alive, and a good thing for many of the ex-Mythica devs at SOE Seattle. Going 0 for 2 on MMORPG development would no doubt mess with your confidence.

Share your thoughts in the Loading... forum or, as always, feel free to email me with your thoughts.

Ten Ton Hammer Epic Thread of the Day [Thanks Karen!]


Sometimes they're funny; sometimes they're foolish; sometimes they're flaming;
sometimes they're cool. Whatever this one happens to be, it's
our Epic Thread of the Day.

====================
From our WoW: Wrath of the Lich King Discussion Forum

First Impressions

ShadowDragon
admits to not having had time yet to fully explore all that World of
Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has to offer, but
that's what posting first impressions is all about. It's said that you
never get another chance to make a first impression, and this is
certainly true in MMOGs. ShadowDragon's thread bids you to tell us your
experiences with WoW's new content, as well as its new class, the Death Knight. Got an opinion? Voice it!

Awesome Quote from the Epic Thread:

"Visually the new expansion is amazing. I'm enjoying it on both main
characters with only a few minor issues that are more due to crowding,
which will sort itself out soon. I have to say the general behaviour of
people, which can get nasty in crowded areas (Sunwell?), has been pretty
good, which means people must be having a good time all round."

- Stormbrjnger
====================

Do you have a favorite Epic Thread? Let us know!

14 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 116 in November! 2914 in 2008!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

Reviews

WoW Wrath of the Lich King First Impressions - The Death Knight What Parents Need To Know About Hello Kitty Online

Videos

EverQuest 2 The Shadow Odyssey Launch Trailer LotRO Mines of Moria Launch Trailer LotRO Mines of Moria Lothlorien Preview Video

Images

Exclusive Screenshots of Angel's Online: The Lost Atlantis Expansion

Giveaways

Creative Hear to Believe Giveaway Razer For Gamers. By Gamers™ Giveaway

Comics

Geeked - "The Culprit as Usual"

Guides

Age of Conan - Pyramid of the Ancients Walkthrough LotRO Mines of Moria: Deeds of Eregion LotRO Ten Ton Hammer's Mines of Moria Expansion Portal WAR: Reikland Factory and Five Things you Need to Know WoW Mining Guide - WotLK Update

Editorials

WAR Journal: Heavy Metal WoW: The Dark Side of Azeroth

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

WoW: Where to Adventure Guide - Northrend WoW: Violet Hold Guide World of Warcraft - Death Knight FAQ Ten Ton Hammer's Atlantica Online Review Creative Hear to Believe Giveaway Razer For Gamers. By Gamers™ Giveaway Exclusive Jumpgate Evolution Closed Beta Interview with Hermann Peterscheck WAR: Tier 3 Scenario Guide: Tor Anroc Age of Conan PvP Exploiting: The Nature of Winning WAR Editorial: Factoring in a Third Faction

Real World News

Order Domino's Pizza with Tivo

With a handy 30-second skip feature for the acid reflux. Twofer Tuesday as State Trooper Arrests Two for DUI in One Traffic Stop
One more and the venerable Smokey the Bear hat trick would have been his. Man Caught with Penis in Pasta Bar
In his defense, that email spam he answered didn't specify how they would give you a bigger one.

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