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Are you looking for the latest industry headlines? Look no further.

1. Daily Column
2. New MMOG Articles at TenTonHammer Today
3. Hot Content
4. Real World News - You Can't Make This Up

1. Daily Column

Another day down, only one more until you get the beloved John “Boomjack” Hoskin to write his masterful monologues in Loading… again. His replacement for the last few days, Cody “Micajah” Bye (aka Me), is back for round three and this time….

It’s for keeps.

Here’s a rhetorical question for you. If World of Warcraft closed its door today, what would you do? If you’re a player of World of Warcraft, where would you go? Would you turn tail and run away from the MMOG industry altogether, or would you seek out another pasture to graze upon?

For those of you that don’t play World of Warcraft would you be happy that the 800 lb. gorilla was finally gone? Or would you fear the masses that might come knocking at your game’s door?

I pose this question in response to a Gamesblog interview that I had sent to me in which Dr. Richard Bartle (creator of the Multi-User Dungeon [MUD] and general MMO visionary) was asked a particularly interesting question:

Gamesblog: If you could take over control of one major MMORPG - which would you choose and what would you do with it?

Dr. Bartle: I'd take over World of Warcraft and I'd close it. I just want better virtual worlds. Sacrificing one of the best so its players have to seek out alternatives would be a sure-fire way to ensure that unknown gems got the chance they deserved, and that new games were developed to push back the boundaries.

Er, I would get to do this anonymously, wouldn't I?

The comments that emerged after Dr. Bartle’s comment were both intriguing and disheartening. Some users took the statement as a direct attack against their favorite MMOG, one that they have played for years and contend is the MMOG to end all MMOGs. However, others were equally as aggressive for the closing of WoW and hoping that players would go find other games to play.

Personally, I believe Dr. Bartle was merely trying to provoke the minds of gamers into considering that there might be life outside of Azeroth. In one of his replies, Dr. Bartle states that he has three level 70s himself and plays WoW with some degree of regularity, yet he would merely like players to move past the bright lights and solo-friendly content of World of Warcraft and explore games that may not be the most popular places to explore.

And I’d have to agree with his strategy. Last month, I drafted a list of all the MMORPGs (and some MMOGs) that are out on the market and playable. As part of this creative process, I was astounded at the sheer number of MMOs that I had no idea even existed. It was overwhelming. Since that time I’ve been fervently playing every game I could get my hands on, trying out the free-to-play and pay-to-play MMOGs simply so I could examine what gamers enjoyed. With the number of options that are available, everyone should find a game that specifically fits their needs.

Yet players don’t explore. They congregate where they have friends or in a world that is familiar to them. The gravity of WoW continues to propel it forward in popularity. I go to my local gaming shop and everyone talks WoW. It’s an absurd level of viral marketing, and it has certainly paid off for the developers at Blizzard.

But Dr. Bartle can see past all that. He sees WoW for what it is, a game like any other game. He knows that there are better games out there, titles that allow players to explore a world in unrestrained freedom. But players often see the smoke and mirrors, rather than what the game actually is. This is from Dr. Bartle's comments on the post:

I'm in the position of a magician who is watching another magician's performance. I'll appreciate the presentation and the technique and the imagination, but I'll also know exactly how every trick is done (and if I don't know, I'll obsess about it until I work it out). Most of the audience will be there to delight in the show. They'll see as magic what I see as mundane.

That's where the difference is between designers and players: players still see the magic.

Will Bartle’s comments make a difference in whether gamers explore other venues? If he continues to make WoW closing comments, he just might. And if, in doing so, he propels the MMOG market to a higher level of entertainment, I say more power to him.

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Missed out on our BlizzCon and SOE Fan Faire trip giveaways? Stay tuned for more great contests and offers exclusively for Ten Ton Hammer Premium Members!

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What are your thoughts on Dr. Bartle's comments about WoW? Should he be lauded or laughed at? Comment in the blog (now with direct link goodness) or email me directly.

2. New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

• Blog: For Help Hit...
  "Over the last few weeks, Cody "Micajah" Bye has been playing a whole slew of free-to-play, Korean MMOGs. They've been entertaining, but he cannot fathom why the importers of these games do not improve the new player experience. Read his blog, "For Help Hit..." to find out more."
• E3: Aion Clothing Trailer
  "Light the runway and turn up the 120 bpm, it's time for an Aion: Tower of Eternity fashion show. We've shown you combat, landscapes, and flight in this 2008 with a distinctly Asian flavor, this time the focus is on the game's impressive character costuming. Take a look! "
• E3: Video Podcasts Now Available
  "We interviewed some of the industry's top names and previewed a few some of the most exciting upcoming MMO titles at this year's E3, and now this video content is available to Ten Ton Hammer premium members as iPod-compatible video podcasts. Take a look! With you!"
• Dungeons and Dragons: Custom Build - Warrior Priest
  "The Warrior Priests of Stormreach are a dangerous and zealous lot, masters of using clerical magic and warrior skills to bring destruction and fury upon the enemies of their faith. Darkgolem shows you how to make one in his latest build, the Warrior Priest!"
  
• Everquest 2: Brigand AP Tree
  "Continuing our series on EQ2 Achievements, the Brigand AP tree has been added!  This is a great resource of researching your achievement abilities and planning how you will spend those hard earned points!  This chart comes complete with all of the abilities arranged by skill, and with full in-game descriptions of each ability."
• Lord of the Rings Online: New LOTRO Forums
  "The new and improved Ten Ton Hammer Lord of the Rings forums are now in place!  Need somewhere to ask a question or say "Hobbitses" all you want with no repercussions?  Maybe you've gotten a little too rowdy on the Official Forums and need to voice a complaint.  There is a place for you, so feel free to stop by."
• Lord of the Rings Online: Weaponsmith Recipes
  "Are you the kind of person who likes to make sharp pointy things to poke people with? Great!  We have safety scissors for you!   For everyone else, RadarX has put together a detailed list of Weaponsmith recipes.  What can you craft, and what does it require?  Take a look inside to find out!"
• Vanguard: Warrior Creation Guide
  "We've updated our Warrior Creation Guide to remove references to bugs that have been fixed and to adjust the chart on stances. Check out our guide and tweak your warrior to the min-max!"
• World of Warcraft: Enchanting Leveling Guide Update
  "As discussed earlier this week, enchanting is one of the hardest professions to level up. It is also one of the most costly, since you lose the ability to sell off all the green and blue items you pickup that you can not use. We look at leveling the profession up to 300 skill points earlier this week, and now it's time to finish it off and get to skill 375.
• World of Warcraft: Karazahn Guide - Illhoof
  "Our Karazhan guide has been updated once more, now displaying the strategy to defeat the demon, Illhoof, inhabiting Medivh's Library. So stop wondering how to deal with that many imps at once, and check out our newly updated guide!"
• World of Warcraft: Karazahn Guide - Prince Malchezaar
  "Our Karazhan guide finally added what many consider the final boss of the instance, Prince Malchezaar! Having arguably the best loot of the whole instance, this encounter isn't as hard as many would think. Staying focused is a must!"

3. Hot Content

• E3: Age of Conan Preview
• E3: Aion Preview
• E3: Gods and Heroes Explored in Latest Video Interview
• E3: Guild Wars Expansion Video Preview
• E3: Lord of the Rings Online - Book 10 Preview
• E3: Tabula Rasa Hands-On Preview
• E3: Tabula Rasa Demo Video
• E3: Vanguard - Interview With Bill Fisher
• E3: World of Warcraft Preview - A Visit to Zul'Aman
• E3: World of Warcraft Video Interview Featuring Zul'Aman

4. Real World News

• Salad Causes Government Lockdown
  Imagine if it had been a whole head of lettuce!
• Get Married, Then Harry Potter
  It's going to be a magical night.
• Enter the Goose Whisperer
  Move over Redford, this guy knows his animals.

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com.

Cody "Micajah" Bye