Leveling content and endgame are two completely different things. Most people think that they can just jump into raiding without any new learning curve, but those people need to understand that they're pretty wrong. Raiding is a brand new world with brand new rules.

While the high level area "The Rift" never made it into the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, it is another great example of how Turbine was able to expand the lore of The Lord of the Rings without treading on his toes and ripping apart the world. It is also the subject of the exploring Middle-Earth column over at the Europe LotRO community. "The folk of Middle-earth's northern lands have long held the name of Angmar in dread, but in that fell kingdom are places that cause even the minions of Mordirith to tremble. At the feet of the Mountains of Angmar lies the terrible land of death and decay, Gath Uior. Even the Orcs and evil Men who gather there fear what lurks behind the great portal that leads under the mountains. It is said that ever-vigilant guards watch the gates, which were hewn long before the Witch-king first came to Angmar - not to keep enemies out, but to keep something in."

Zomg! A reel grrrl! How many times have we heard that in team chat or Vent? The stale joke that girls don't exist in online games (at least real ones) is becoming a thing of the past as the ESA reports that in 2009, 40% of all gamers are female. That percentage is considerably lower for women working in the gaming industry, yet the road has been paved and the stage is set for more women to break into the industry. So how does a person actually "break" into the industry, anyway?

The 1.2 patch for Warhammer Online is going to be huge. Mark Jacobs gave fans a highlight reel of what it will deliver back in early February, which includes fixes to over 500 bugs, two new careers, class balance, and much more. Since that time, Mythic put 1.2 up on the public test server for everyone to give feedback on. Here is a summary of some blog feedback we found (because not everyone can view the beta forums atm):

After playing so many games, there are moments that stick out in my mind that make me smile. Some of them are these really epic stories about boss battles, or hard fought PvP moments, or personal notes of glory and triumph. Yet others are drastically different. They're calm, touching moments, where the game either really affected me on an emotional level or wowed me with some attention to detail. In the frantic picture of game design, balancing, art direction, content, and bug squashing of making a highly complex MMO, development teams begin to miss things. Who cares about how a daisy moves when there's serious issues at hand, like item drop rates not working out the way they should be? Yet some development teams do see these little issues and they do take the time to program them in. Not every user may notice them, but some users will, and appreciate them. This column is dedicated to the little things in our virtual lives. Come with me as we look through some popular and some unpopular MMOs, and highlight some of the things that development teams have done to really hook us into their world.

Compatible with most fighting games including PC games that support Xbox 360 gamepad controllers.

Call of Duty 3 brings the battle to life with advanced graphics, a new physics engine, a procedural environment and detailed ensemble animations

All-new close-quarters battle mechanics allow players to fight hand-to-hand, improvise explosive devices, disarm traps and face a host of other battlefield situations

Next-generation level design provides branching mission paths, letting you decide how to confront enemies - flank an opponent, hit him head-on, or choose special tactics like sniping and demolition

Environmental physics allow players to destroy enemy hideouts, forcing foes out in the open -- just remember, your enemies can do the same to you

Each baby gives Yoshi access to unique powers while they cling to his back - Baby Mario gives Yoshi speed, Baby Wario gives him magnetism for picking up coins, and so on

Scroll up and down on the DS dual screen setup to see what lives above and beneath

Hurl eggs at objects on the top screen and tackle super-tall enemies that fill both screen

Hidden in every level are flowers, stars, red coins, and character coins, so even after you finish the game, the terrific sense of surprise continues

Enjoy the many minigames and bonus levels, too!

Xbox 360 Headsets by Turtle Beach give serious gamers the ultimate competitive edge by combining Xbox Live chat and stereo game audio into an immersive sound experience In line amplifier volume control for both game and chat sound powered by USB

Xbox 360 stereo headset with adjustable boom microphone also works with PC games Includes RCA splitter cable so TV or speakers stay connected

Hear voice chat mixed in with stereo game audio Blast the game sound with the mic picking it up Adjust game and chat volumes separately Amplifier with bass boost for heart-thumping sound Lightweight and comfortable fro long play sessions

Professional-grade quality stands up to hard play USB powered no wall plug required

Perfect for practicing guitar games

The ultimate strategy game, offering players the chance to lead their chosen nation from the dawn of man through the space age

Build the most powerful empire and become the greatest ruler the world has ever known

Civilization comes to life in a beautifully detailed, living 3D world--with all-new easy-to-use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options

Includes both Civilization IV and the combat-focused Warlords Expansion Pack

Gold Edition bonus items include fantasy-style poster, behind-the-scenes DVD, tech-tree poster, and Civilization IV manual