by Jeff Woleslagle on Aug 18, 2009
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Richard Garriott talked briefly about his future plans in gaming at the 8th annual Syndicate World Conference last weekend. Some random thoughts about what Lord British had to say, plus two fresh bits from GamesCom in Cologne - a new EVE MMOFPS and more info on the rumors of a Age of Conan expansion. All this in today's Loading... What's in a name?
You vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is The Pulse?).
Here's today's top 5 Pulse results:
World of Warcraft Aion (UP 1) Champions Online (down 1) EverQuest 2 Age of ConanBiggest Movers today :
The Agency (UP 45 to #17) Darkfall (UP 18 to #13) City of Heroes (down 5 to #19) Recent MMO Releases 7/13 - Darkfall NA launch 7/21- FFXI "Moogle Kupo d'Etat" Addon (release date) 8/4 - World of Warcraft Update 3.2 (content patch)Important Dates
8/19 - 8/23 - Gamescom Cologne 8/21 - 8/22 - BlizzCon '09 9/4 - 9/6 - Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) 9/15 - 9/18 - GDC Austin Upcoming Releases 8/25 - CrimeCraft (release date) 9/1 - Champions Online (release date) 9/9 - Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited (release date) 9/9 - Fallen Earth (release date) 9/22 - Aion (release date) 10/9 - Cities XL (release date) Early 2010 - APBFor today's Loading..., I thought I'd share what Richard Garriott had to say about his possible return to gaming at last weekend's The Syndicate World Conference, since I haven't seen it reported elsewhere. The following preview has been approved for all audiences:
"I'm fairly commonly asked a) what's next for me in gaming, and b) am I going to do something that's space related since I've obviously spent so much of my time and focus on space. I actually don't have anything to announce by any remote stretch, because literally I have exactly nothing going on in gaming at this precise moment."
"That being said, space has been a part of me for thirty years. Games have been a part of me for thirty years too, and by no means do I think that my journey in gaming is over. The next thing that comes from me or the teams I'm working with probably won't be space related, just because that isn't to me where the inspiration feels like it's coming-from. I've spent 25 years of my career here in Austin, so the Austin gaming community is very near and dear to my heart; they still throw the yearly Austin gaming development parties on my property. So I have a lot of people knocking on my door saying, 'Ok, you've finished your space thing, let's get back to it.'
"So while I have nothing to announce, I think it is quite reasonable to expect and assume that things are moving. I hope to come back to you guys next year about this time and be able to talk more explicitly about my return to gaming."
While I personally like Richard Garriott and, from my few personal encounters with him, I think he's a pretty earnest guy as larger-than-life glory hounds go, I'm not sure we want Richard Garriott back (or Brad NcQuaid) unless it's the old Garriott and McQuaid, the ones that fronted companies that cared more about quality games than dropping names. I'm all about more rockstar treatment for game devs - that kind of attention, when properly earned and properly received - does everyone plenty of good. When big name devs offer nothing to games except rockstar egotism and sour rumors, perhaps its time for another more ambitious generation of rockstar devs.
What's your take on Richard Garriott's latest overtures? Feel free to stop by the Loading... forum or email me with your thoughts.
Shayalyn's Epic Thread of7 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 54 in August! 914 in 2009!
New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today [Thanks Phil Comeau for links and Real World News]
DUST 514 Brings Persistent FPS and RTS Action to EVE OnlineIt gets better. Apparently the game will actually interact with EVE Online in some capacity. While I don't really know what that encompasses, the idea *sounds* intriguing. It gets better. Apparently the game will actually interact with EVE Online in some capacity. While I don't really know what that encompasses, the idea *sounds* intriguing.
A New Saga Begins - A Fresh Look at Vanguard Pt. 2Giveaways:
Runes of Magic Item GiveawayHottest Content:
Guild Wars - Rediscovering Tyria Star Trek Online Closed Beta to Begin in October? Champions Online: Exclusive Interview on Sidekicks, Super Groups, and Supervillains World of Warcraft - New Expansion = New Tamable Pets? World of Warcraft - Vanity Pet Collecting Checklist Age of Conan - A Year Later, Part 2 The Hollywood Cycle: Comparing the MMO Industry with the Silver Screen Flight or Fight: A Look at Advanced Flight and Combat in Aion The Co-Op PvE side of Global Agenda: A Q&A with Exec. Producer Todd Harris An Advanced Guide to Crafting in AionReal World News:
Celine Dion pregnant at 41 thanks to team of fertility doctorsThanks for visiting the Ten Ton Hammer network!
-Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle and the Ten Ton Hammer team