Opinions, Editorials, and Columns

WoW Editorial - Most Needed Classes in Raids - Ten Ton Hammer

Messiah — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:03:47 -0500

Which classes would you take for a raid?

Everyone understands that while any class can fit into a raid, there are certain classes that end up being more prevalent since they are in more demand. This has a lot to do with what buffs they...

Aion - Botting and You - Ten Ton Hammer

Stow — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:34 -0500

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a part of us at this point.

In our lust for power in Aion, we desire to level faster, time our special attacks perfectly, and wear the best gear possible. Automation can make all three of those effortless. Yet, it's not the...

Aion Weekly Newsletter - Botters Never Prosper - Ten Ton Hammer

Savanja — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:50:16 -0500

Don't let these offenders ruin your gaming experience! Get tips to ease the annoyance.Bots and kinah sellers are wearing down even the most dedicated of players causing gamewide frustration and disappointment. Is NCsoft doing enough? Maybe or maybe not but there are steps you can...

Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood Beta Impressions - Ten Ton Hammer

Medawky — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:36:29 -0500

Lifting the veil of the NDAThe holiday season comes earlier and earlier each year as lights are strung up and store shelves flooded with merchandise and decorations. Some gamers are preparing for an early Christmas as...

Aion Weekly Newsletter - Aion Meets RMT - Ten Ton Hammer

Savanja — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:06:22 -0500

How much RMT can ruin a game?RMT and item shops have hit most major games in the genre and we are seeing our first trickle of it in Aion with the new Holiday Ascension Pack being offered this winter. I think many can agree...

15 Years of MMO Memories - Ten Ton Hammer

B. de la Durantaye — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:03:31 -0500

Ten Ton Hammer staff and members share some of their favorite MMO stories

With EverQuest 2 and World of Warcraft celebrating their fifth anniversaries this month, we asked our team and members of our community to share some of tales they've accumulated during their...

Runes of Magic - First Impressions - Ten Ton Hammer

ZeroMerc — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:19:06 -0500

A first journey into the land of Taborea

Runes of Magic is a free to play MMO that is new to the market. We sent out ZeroMerc to check out the game, play a few classes and give us his first impressions of this latest installment into...

WoW Editorial - Class Discrimination - Ten Ton Hammer

Messiah — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:02:14 -0500

Is discrimination really alive and well in WoW?

In the World of Warcraft there is a huge number of classes, these are further divided up into more sub-classes through the talent system. With all the various types of characters out there, are...

Aion Pick Up Group Boot Camp - Ten Ton Hammer

Savanja — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:48:04 -0500

Get the rules of PUG survival before the next time you go out looking for groupLove them or hate them, at one time or another everyone needs a pick up group. Not only can they be frustrating, but they can cost us time, soul healing costs, and occasionally our sanity if we...

Champions Online : Blood Moon Hands On Impressions - Ten Ton Hammer

mattlow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:05:56 -0500

A review of CO's Blood Moon holiday event

With the Blood Moon event for Champions Online well underway, Ten Ton Hammer reviews the good and bad of Cryptic’s first holiday themed event. In addition, the Blood Moon event also represents...

World of Warcraft Patch 3.3 Preview - Ten Ton Hammer

Medawky — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:09:29 -0500

The most ambitious WoW patch since 3.0Another patch Tuesday is rapidly approaching the World of Warcraft, as guilds scramble to complete Trial of the Grand Crusader and notch a few more achievements before the new content hits. The...

Trick or Treat - Halloween Event Overload - Ten Ton Hammer

Medawky — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:11:53 -0500

You get to dress up!The holiday season is in full swing and the kick off event, Halloween, is in the books. With most games offering an in game celebration, or some candles and a lore lesson if you play...

An MMO Evolution: Connecting Players to the Story - Ten Ton Hammer

Dalmarus — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:37:13 -0500

Exploring the importance of story in today’s MMOGs

The importance of story in an MMOG is different for every gamer. Some like feeling as though tales within a game have been custom crafted for them, while others are content with an overall...

Aion: Downtime by Design - Ten Ton Hammer

Medeor — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:11:53 -0400

Creating community through quality time.

In the era of slackers it is surprising that there might be a backlash to doing nothing. All kidding aside, downtime is one of those nebulous and often misunderstood ideas in gaming. Aion includes...

World Of Warcraft: Nostalgia Content - Bringing the Past Back to Life - Ten Ton Hammer

Medawky — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:22:56 -0400

Is Onyxia just the begining?We have all the heard the phrase "back in my day we used to..." and while most of us roll our eyes at the old timer as they wax nostalgic about walking uphill in the snow both ways, many of us...

Aion: Leveling the Classes - Ten Ton Hammer

Medeor — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:44:11 -0400

Note that it doesn’t say balancing the classes?

Getting to max level is the goal of an MMOG, right? If that’s the case players have to consider whether to race to the finish line with a class they enjoy along the way or simply tolerate. Aion...

EVE Online: Exploring the New Player Experience - Ten Ton Hammer

Dalmarus — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:19:25 -0400

New EVE Online players get a helping hand.

An enigma in a world where MMOGs are shifting towards easy accessibility, EVE Online has continued to grow despite its devilish learning curve. The days of being thrown completely into the...

The Art of Grouping in Champions Online - Ten Ton Hammer

JoBildo — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:49:05 -0400

How to not be Nigel Wortswallowington.

Cryptic’s Champions Online is a hectic-paced game. There’s no doubt about that. And amid all the chaos on your screen, you might find it hard to organize and keep up with your fellow heroes...

Champions Online : Crafting - Worthwhile or Worthless? - Ten Ton Hammer

mattlow — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:18:47 -0400

A Critical Analysis of Crafting in Champions Online

Crafting has become an integral part of MMOGs in the last few years. Hated and beloved, Crafting is here to stay. Some games do it better than others. Our question is how does crafting in...

Aion Fair Play: Be Cheat Free and the Best - Ten Ton Hammer

Savanja — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:07:25 -0400

Be more competitive by knowing the rules and playing within themWith the recent mass bans in Aion, many players are left questioning what earns a ban and how they can avoid breaking the rules without losing their competitive edge. Find out what NCsoft...