Now that the dust has settled on 2010, a moment of reflection is due. You will be forgiven for thinking that it wasn't a particularly exciting year for MMO fans. The genre took a backseat somewhat, whilst gaming in general witnessed the release of new-fangled motion technology, billions-making military first-person shooters and the continued domination of iOS devices of the handheld market. It wasn't all bad for MMO gamers, though. We were treated to some very interesting events, announcements and releases in 2010. It was the year that brought us the Cataclysm, Vindictus, Star Trek Online and All Points Bulletin (if only for a short while). EverQuest II brought us the illusion of free-to-play, The Lord of the Rings Online actually did it and Final Fantasy XIV used it as means of an apology. 2010 was the year of hype, disappointment and reinvention.