VirginWorlds is running an embedded video from the GameTrailers site, with a captivating Beta walk-through by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler. Yes. Of Vanguard. Between this and the screenshots the other day now I actually want to play the damn thing.

Now, given, I’m sure that the shiny will fall off the apple in about five second, but it’d still like the chance to check it out.

Hey, I know some of you folks are already in the Beta. I’ve only heard from the cynical MMOG hags so far. Anyone playing the game and liking it? Leave a comment.

Dear Blizzard,

Hi! It’s me, Michael. You know, that guy that plays the Paladin? Not that I’m bitter.

Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you on your recent and most cunning PR move. Your release of the World of Warcraft CCG seems to have gone as swimmingly as everything else associated with your Massive game. Not only are people excited to play the game, but the extremely rare in-game content offered up on some of the cards is being lapped up by the game-playing populace. Your walking-speed turtle mount, unique tabard, and EXTREMELY ADORABLE hippogriff pet are the most in-demand items (shock of all shocks).

The eBay market for these items has kersploded too. Actually looking on eBay, even non-in-game-item producing cards are fetching handsome prices. It’s actually quite brilliant! It totally reminds me of the early days of Magic:The Gathering. You should be proud that your game is so popular that people are paying hundreds of dollars for meaningless cosmetic changes. You should be proud that gamers are paying 2-5 bucks for a single piece of cardboard. It’s like the early 90s all over again.

Do you remember the early 90s, Blizzard? It was a dark time for nerds. I personally witnessed dozens of young men reduced to tears over terms like ‘Mox’ or ‘land’ or ’soulburn’. I witnessed otherwise perfectly normal young men ‘dealing’ magic cards in a bathroom stall. I witnessed hundreds of dollars (in real American currency) transformed magically into meaningless pieces of cardboard. It was a dark time for nerds.

But hey, I’m sure you’ve got only the best of intentions here. The additional addictive element of in-game items will almost certainly stop being interesting at some point. The prices on eBay will drop. Everything will go back to normal.

And, of course, there’s no plans for an expansion to the card game in the works. So … no worries.

The monthly carnival has pulled into town over at Unfettered Blather. I remembered to submit some stuff this month, so the Men in Tights article, and my rebuttal to VirginWorlds’ top ten list are on the list of things to see and do. Always good stuff on display at the Carnival, so go get some cotton candy and give it a read.

I’ve muttered about my discontent with Vanguard in the past, but … maybe? Maybe …

Voodoo Extreme has up a visit to the gameworld, and they have the first Vanguard screens I’ve really gotten excited about. I’ve also started to hear from some less jaded gaming friends that mebbe Vanguard isn’t all that bad.

I’ve looked again at the Vanguard FAQ, where they list the features they’re going for. Stuff like corpse runs and timesinks are still in the ‘Vision’, and that makes me really nervous.

I suppose despite my reservations it was a foregone conclusion I was going to play the game anyway, and now I’m just looking forward to it a bit more. If anyone’s reading this who has a beta account they could pass my way, I’d be more than happy to write about how awesome your game is.*

Either way, the words I’m hearing about Age of Conan and Vanguard are making me guardedly more enthusastic about the next round of MMOGs. I still don’t think anyone is going to put a chink in World of Warcraft’s groove, but perhaps there’s a chance we could have some solid niche games to play in the near future. Good times.

*note: I will be honest and may tell the internets that you have made a giant mistake.