Welcome to the 785th Edition of Loading...

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Daily Column

Loading... it's what keeps you sane at work.

First, the Ten Ton Pulse, your finger on the beating heart of the MMOG industry.

For the first time since we introduced Pulse, Vanguard has dropped from the Top 10 list. EverQuest 2, another SoE title jumped four spots to #4. 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?)

1. Age of Conan - 200 BPM
2. World of Warcraft - 86 BPM
3. Lord of the Rings Online - 32 BPM
4. EverQuest 2 - 27 BPM
5. Lineage 2 - 25 BPM
6. EVE Online - 21 BPM
7. Warhammer Online - 18 BPM
8. Guild Wars - 16 BPM
9. Tabula Rasa - 14 BPM

One reader took me to task yesterday in the forums regarding yesterday's column where I described what not to do when trying to get a prospective customer to buy your game. One in thousands disagreeing is a percentage that I'll accept. Either that, or the rest of you are afraid of me, which I will also accept. Well played Loading... patriots, well played. Thank you to those that shared their gaming horror stories!

Our Tabula Rasa team wrote it, but it applies to many of the games that you play, Tabula Rasa: Vista SP1 (Service Pack 1) and You. How many of you use Vista? I'd love to hear your impressions.

A huge ten-gallon-hat's off to David "Xerin" Piner for his World of Warcraft: Top Five Misconceptions About WoW, which is in my opinion spot on.

Here are a few more WoW misconceptions to ruminate on:

• The female character is actually a man. This is only true in 995 out of 1000 cases.
• You will rock the Arena battles in my hefty green gear.
• The official WoW forums are full of kind, caring individuals.
• The 'Trade' channel is used exclusively for trade conversations.
• Blizzard makes 10 million X $15 a month.
• The player that just ran into the quest mob's lair after you killed all the mobs to gain access will not kill the quest mob.
• Pick-Up Groups (PUGs) get you chicks.
• Druids fighting in travel form are just making the rogues feel special.

Tell me your WoW misconceptions in The Loading... forums.

Do you feel the need to contact me personally with naughty pictures or derogatory comments? Here's my E-mail.

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12 new MMOG hand-crafted articles today! 55 in March! 568 in 2008!

New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

• Age of Conan: Border Kingdom Cryer - 03/06/2008
• Blog: Cody "Micajah" Bye - Reformatting and an Addition
• Chronicles of Spellborn: New Beta Video
• Jumpgate Evolution: Combat and Controls Interview - Part Two
• Lord of the Rings Online: Weekly Troll Report - 03/07/2008
• Renaissance: Chronicles of Chronia - Exclusive New Artwork
• Tabula Rasa: Guide to Nyxroq Post - Part Two
• Tabula Rasa: Pravus Research Facility Guide
• Tabula Rasa: Vista SP1 (Service Pack 1) and You
• Vanguard: Poll - Wiggling Fingers or Flapping Gums
• World of Warcraft: Top Five Misconceptions About WoW
• World of Warcraft: Sunwell Isle Preview

Hot Content - Or, what I took a fancy to

1. Jumpgate Evolution: Combat and Controls Interview - Part Two
2. Renaissance: Chronicles of Chronia - Exclusive New Artwork
3. Tabula Rasa: Vista SP1 (Service Pack 1) and You
4. Age of Conan: Class Interview #8 - The Priest of Mitra
5. 38 Studios: Interview With Brett Close on the Unreal Engine 3
6. Chronicles of Spellborn: Video Preview and Q&A With Pierre Deslandes [Premium Version] [Regular Version]
7. SAGA: Post-Launch Interview With Slava Zatuchny
8. Powerup: Interview With IBM Senior Program Manager
9. Anarchy Online: Developer Journal #5 - The Best Memories
10. World of Warcraft: New Ten Ton Community Site

Real World News (Headlines and Taglines compliments Phil Comeau, except where otherwise noted)

• Echo Park Time Travel Mart [Thanks Boomjack]
  This is my Boomstick! See you yesterday!
• Judge to rule on turban challenge of helmet law
  Defendant was playing Hide-and-Go-Sikh in traffic
• Woman Accused of Chili Pepper Sex Assault
  Dani California unavailable for comment
• Mexico City Mayor wants to revive Aztec language
  United States also considering reviving a local dead language; English

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

- John "Boomjack" Hoskin and the Ten Ton Hammer Team