Diablo 4: The ‘useless’ pet from Season 3 can solo the strongest bosses in the game

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 2 minutes

The new mechanic from Season 3 in Diablo 4 is the Seneschall, a mechanical companion for all classes. The pet was considered far too weak and useless right at release. Now, after players have been able to level it up, this view is changing. Some even show how the Seneschall single-handedly takes down Uber Duriel.

What was the problem with the pet?

Here you can find all the features from Season 3, the trailer shows you some gameplay:

Start video
Diablo 4: The gameplay trailer for Season 3

This is how strong the Seneschall really is: In a video by the Diablo expert wudijo, he shows how the Seneschall single-handedly takes down the Uber boss Duriel. Duriel is the main source for Uber Uniques since Season 2 and is often fought by many players.

The expert received the video from a user and analyzes it. You can see how a sorceress simply dances around Duriel, avoiding his abilities, while the Seneschall covers the boss with its abilities. Within 3 minutes, he is dead.

Crucial for the strength of the Seneschall is probably a specific combination of stones:

  • Fireflies as lead stone
  • Multiple shot for more fireflies
  • Piercing, to penetrate enemies
  • Seeking, so they truly hit the boss

Apparently, some abilities of the sorceress herself also contribute, increasing damage against burning targets. wudijo believes it would be easy to make the Seneschall even stronger. In the video, the expert explains that the Seneschall is said to have even defeated Uber Lilith alone.

You can see the video of the fight here:

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The Seneschall will only become really strong later

With the Seneschall, it depends on which combinations of stones you use. There are some strong combos for the pet that significantly increase either its damage or its ability to support you.

However, it is important that you first need to find and level the right stones. This has become easier since patch 1.3.0a, but still requires time. In particular, the popular lead stone “Hurricane” is apparently quite rare.

Some of the best stones, the unique tuning stones, you can only get from the Uber boss Echo of Malphas – and even then only with a low chance. Accordingly, the pet was considered a disappointment at the start of the season; now, as everyone has leveled up, it is really strong.

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wudijo explains in the video that the Seneschall would probably be even stronger with another class than is seen in the video. The sorceress has hardly any stats or abilities that would benefit the companion in any way.

It is suspected that the companion benefits from values like attack speed or the Berserker status. According to the expert, barbarians would have more of that. The Seneschall of a barbarian would therefore be inherently stronger than that of a sorceress and could probably deal even more damage. But whether barbarians would even let a pet fight for them is questionable. They currently have one of the strongest builds in the game, even if it annoys everyone.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. wudijo auf YouTube

How a Simple Technique Contributed to the Success of Marvel Movies

Linda Knabe Linda Knabe Reading time 2 minutes

In his latest video, Marco Risch talks about Marvel and a very specific technique that has definitely contributed to the success of the MCU films. What this technique is all about can be found out in detail in his video.

Who is Marco Risch? Marco Risch has been uploading videos with news, reviews, analyses, and interviews about current movies, series, and video games on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur since 2015. 

In his podcast Nerd & Kultur he chats every Sunday with his colleague Yves Arievich about topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. With both, he is part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.

In his latest video, he now talks about the fact that while many fans complain about the development of the MCU, Marvel still does one thing very right in the films:

Start video
No one talks about what Marvel really needs…

What technique do the MCU films use? In his video (via YouTube), Marco talks about a very specific technique that the MCU films cleverly utilize: the Needle Drop.

What that is can be easily explained by looking at an old record player. Marco explains in his video that a Needle Drop is the moment when music plays in a film scene. Exactly the moment when the needle touches the record.

It actually involves well-known songs from pop music and rock music and not specifically composed songs for the film.

Especially director James Gunn utilized the presence of music in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” to characterize his figures and give the connection a very special significance. However, music has already played a significant role in the MCU from the very beginning, as Marco reports.

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From the very beginning, Marvel plays with music: In his video, Marco explains that Marvel actually used the Needle Drop already in the first MCU film. The first scene of Iron Man is introduced by the well-known song “Back in Black” by AC/DC, thereby marking the start of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).

Marvel was therefore able not only to distinguish itself from other superhero films through the character Tony Stark and the successful portrayal by Robert Downey Jr. The unmistakable music of the first “Iron Man” film also contributed to this. 

However, Marco also mentions in his video that the MCU initially found itself in a dilemma. Due to the lack of a coherent musical motif, the MCU lacked the optimal functioning leitmotif compared to other superhero franchises.

Only the Avengers theme, which quickly became legendary for fans, really stuck in the memory and proves how strongly a functioning leitmotif can emotionally touch us.

Afterwards, Marco talks again about how especially James Gunn has perfectly utilized the Needle Drop with the Guardians of the Galaxy. In fact, there is hardly any other film in the MCU that uses this symptom as often. This proves that Gunn understands the magic of the Needle Drop better than anyone else in the MCU.

Marco also addresses Taika Waititi’s method of using the same Needle Drop twice, for example, in “Thor Ragnarok” to describe character development in his video. Waititi consistently shows in his work that he understands the Needle Drop and can use it purposefully.

Despite the criticism and many changes in the MCU, perhaps not everything is lost. This is shown by the latest films in the MCU, which have created very emotional, beautiful, and memorable moments and a connection between the audience and characters mainly through their music.

Find more from Nerdkultur here: The greatest action director in the world is back

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Baldur’s Gate 3: An underestimated spell is simultaneously one of the strongest, with which you can decide many fights in your favor

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 2 minutes

Baldur’s Gate 3 has numerous spells, but an inconspicuous spell is one of the strongest. With Bless, you can turn many battles in your favor.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are tons of spells. Many of them draw attention – almost everyone has the AoE spell Fireball and Magic Missiles in mind, which can deal massive damage.

However, one spell that often stands in the shadow of greater spells is Bless. Even if the damage numbers aren’t immediately visible, this supportive spell can save your ass. Bless turns out to be a secret weapon, allowing you to decide many battles in your favor.

Start video
5 helpful tips for Baldur’s Gate 3

The Power of Bless in Baldur’s Gate 3

So what makes Bless so good? The true strength of Bless lies in its ability to tip the scales in a tough battle. You can cast this spell on up to 3 targets. All three targets receive a bonus of +1d4 on attack rolls and saving throws. This lasts for 10 rounds, as long as your concentration is not broken. At higher spell levels, you can bless even more team members. If you cast the spell as a level 2 slot, you can buff 4 targets.

Baldur's Gate 3 Bless
The spell Bless is worth it for any team.

At first glance, this buff may not seem very powerful, especially for newcomers to Dungeons and Dragons. However, in battle, the spell proves to be extremely effective. It increases the chance to hit with melee and ranged attacks by 5 to 20 percent and simultaneously strengthens your resistance against many effects.

Particularly handy is the spell against enemies and bosses that have a high Armor Class (AC). The fact that Bless can last up to 10 rounds also makes the spell interesting. Overall, by using Bless, you can kill your opponents faster and also take less damage.

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You Can Use Bless Right from the Start

Another aspect that makes Bless so good is its accessibility. You can take the spell as early as level 1, and it remains useful all the way to the endgame. The spell is available for both the Cleric and the Paladin. Both classes are definitely worth having in your team.

I personally love the Cleric, alongside the Druid, and consider this class to be one of the most powerful in the entire game – especially the Life Domain, which turns you into a proper healer. With the Life Domain Cleric, you also have the Bless spell already prepared, so you don’t have to sacrifice a preparation slot for it and always have it available.

Bless is therefore a spell that you can rely on throughout your entire adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3 and one that I highly recommend.

What makes the Cleric so powerful, we reveal here: The least played class in Baldur’s Gate is one of the strongest, and I love it too

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

What is the best and fastest graphics card under 400 euros?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 3 minutes

You want to buy a new graphics card but don’t want to spend more than 400 euros? MeinMMO presents GPUs that are worth around 400 euros.

Those looking to upgrade their gaming system often buy a new graphics card. However, prices for graphics cards have risen sharply over the past few months, and not everyone wants to invest 1,000 euros in a new GPU right away.

MeinMMO presents the best models that you can buy for less than 400 euros. This includes models from both AMD and Nvidia. The Intel Arc A770 would also be an option, but we have excluded it for now due to problematic drivers.

AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT

The Radeon RX 6750 XT is currently the best graphics card you can get for around 400 euros. With 12 GB of video memory, it is well-equipped and delivers more than enough performance for Full HD and WQHD. Thanks to 12 GB of video memory, the GPU is also well-prepared for new games.

However, you should note that the RX 6750 XT is no longer brand new and will disappear from the market in the long run. With the RX 7700 (XT) and the RX 7800 (XT), AMD has already released successors.

Tip: With luck and patience, you can also get an RX 6800 for around 400 euros. Here you get a bit more performance and future-proof 16 GB of video memory.

Pro
  • Very good performance for 1440p, sometimes even 4K
  • 12 GB of VRAM sufficient for modern games
Contra
  • Architecture is no longer brand new
  • Will disappear from the market in the long run due to successors

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

With the RX 7600 XT, AMD has introduced a new entry-level GPU for around 350 euros. Compared to the older RX 7600, it offers slightly more performance, but with its 16 GB of video memory, it is significantly more future-proof than many other graphics cards in the price range between 300 and 400 euros.

The performance is more than sufficient for Full HD, but it does not reach the level of the RX 6750 XT. Thanks to the large video memory, WQHD resolution (1440p) is even possible with some compromises.

The RX 7600 XT can easily outperform older AMD cards and even sometimes the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti thanks to its large video memory. The only downside is the minimal performance increase from the RX 7600 to the XT version. You can read a review of the RX 7600 XT at our colleagues from GameStar Tech.

Pro
  • High performance for 1080p, 1440p possible with compromises
  • DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1
  • Future-proof due to 16 GB of VRAM
Contra
  • Only minimally faster than RX 7600
  • High power consumption

Nvidia RTX 4060 or RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB

The best alternative to the two AMD graphics cards are the RTX 4060 and the RTX 4060 Ti. You can sometimes get the RTX 4060 for 320 euros, making it about 100 euros cheaper than the RTX 4060 Ti. The Ti version can now be found for 420 euros, and for some very good deals, it is already available for 400 euros.

With the RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti, you get more than enough performance for modern games and have access to DLSS 3.0. However, the 8 GB of video memory is quite limited.

In terms of future-proofing, the 16 GB model of the RTX 4060 Ti would be a better choice, but it costs significantly more at around 500 euros compared to the 4060 Ti 8 GB or the RX 7600 XT. If you have no problem spending 100 euros more, you can go for the 16 GB model directly.

Pro
  • Low power consumption
  • DLSS 3.0
  • Top performance for 1080p (4060)
Contra
  • 8 GB VRAM is tight and not future-proof
  • 16 GB variant of the RTX 4060 Ti is very expensive

More on graphics cards at MeinMMO: AMD has introduced a new patent for graphics cards. This could mean a boost in performance and other advantages in the future. MeinMMO explains what it involves and what it could mean for the next generation of graphics cards:

AMD’s new patent could finally provide for graphics cards what Ryzen has done for AMD’s CPUs

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

CoD Warzone Meta: The AMR-9 is currently very strong – With these setups you achieve the best setup

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Call of Duty: Warzone, there are regular patches that change the game’s meta. Currently, the AMR-9 is very strong. We will show you which attachments you should use.

Why is the AMR-9 strong? The AMR-9 is currently one of the strongest weapons in CoD Warzone. Its low “Time to Kill” (TTK) and low recoil contribute to its popularity among players. The SMG currently has the highest gameplay rate according to wzstats.gg. Many Warzone creators on YouTube have also examined the weapon closely and are convinced of its effectiveness.

The SMG was strengthened in the last “Call of Duty: Warzone” patch on January 23. It received both a higher fire rate and an overhaul of the “JAK Ettin Double Barrel” kit. With a 6 % higher fire rate, now at 833 shots per minute, the AMR-9 has slipped into the Warzone meta.

If you want to indulge in nostalgia, you can watch the trailer that started it all for Warzone here.

Start video
Call of Duty: Warzone – The trailer that started it all

These mods you need for the AMR-9

With the right mods, the AMR-9 becomes really strong. wzstats.gg reveals the standard build that is currently the most played. It’s best to equip your SMG with the following attachments:

  • Barrel: Tectonic Micro Suppressor (integrated)
  • Optic: Slate Reflector
  • Underbarrel: DR-6 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 50-Round Drum
  • Grip: Phantom Grip

Of course, as always, it depends on your playstyle which weapon suits you best. However, the meta is currently dominated by this AMR-9 build.

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How can you further modify the weapon? If you have less trouble with recoil, you can use a different barrel on your AMR-9, for example, the “AMR-9 Enforcer Long Barrel” is recommended. This is suggested by the Warzone creator xAimbrot on YouTube.

In Call of Duty: Warzone, there are always weapons that are at the top of the meta. Recently, however, a very specific attachment had everyone talking and caused quite a stir. The attachment revealed the player’s position and even which direction they were looking. In our article, we explored this topic in more detail.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Blizzard has a new boss – and she previously led Call of Duty

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Blizzard has a new CEO, after the old one had to leave a few days ago. However, some are concerned whether this will end well…

For many, it was a rather disappointing news last week. Not only Mike Ybarra, the (now former) President of Blizzard is leaving the company, but there were over 1,900 layoffs across Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Now the next president of Blizzard Entertainment has been appointed, who will take the lead: Johanna Faries.

However, her appointment also raises some concerns among skeptical fans.

Who is Johanna Faries? Johanna Faries may not be well-known in the Blizzard universe yet – but definitely at Activision Blizzard. For the last five years, she managed Call of Duty as “General Manager” and was responsible for marketing strategy at the American NFL (“National Football League”) for 12 years before that.

What does Faries say about her appointment? Following her appointment, she immediately wrote an email to all Blizzard employees and subsequently shared it on Twitter with the community.

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Link to the Twitter content

She is excited about her appointment, but also sees the questions and skepticism that may come with it. She wants to address these questions in the coming weeks and months. From the start, it is important for her to emphasize that she understands that not all games operate like Call of Duty. She says:

It is important to mention that the way Call of Duty stands up every day to deliver something to players often differs from what the fantastic games of Blizzard do: Each has different gameplay experiences, communities supporting the game, and different models of success. I discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and am starting this role with a sensitivity to these dynamics and a deep respect for Blizzard (…)

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Aside from that, Faries appears very human in the email. She is looking forward to meeting all the employees personally and invites them to a meet and greet. At the same time, she insists that her “number 1 job” is raising her two sons. Aside from that, she spends her free time with yoga, prayer, and of course playing video games – currently, she is a fan of Diablo 4.

What is your opinion on the new president of Blizzard? Does she mean good for the company and the future of the games? Or do you see it rather skeptically?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

A small change makes it easier to find the best loot in Diablo 4

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

The Helltides in Diablo 4 are a great way to find the best loot for your character. In Season 3, the timing of the Helltides was improved, and a small change in the patch notes helps you find the best loot even more easily.

A few days ago, the first patch of the new season in Diablo was released. In addition to the desired changes to the new season mechanics, there was also one for the Helltides. The rate at which the Helltides appear has been significantly improved. They are now active every hour and take only a 5-minute break between Helltides.

The Helltide is a late-game activity that can be done after completing the campaign. Defeating enemies in this area allows you to collect embers, which you can spend on various chests in the area. Good loot awaits you in the Helltide chests of secrets. To make them easier to find, new map symbols have been added.

Start video
Diablo 4: The gameplay trailer for Season 3

This and a more consistent Helltide made my experience much more enjoyable.

In the current patch notes for Diablo 4, it is described that the Helltide chest of secrets and the living steel chest now visually differ better from the other chests on the map. These chests are represented in orange on the map, while the regular Helltide chests continue to be shown normally.

This makes it much easier for players to specifically target the chests. Previously, external websites were needed for this. On Reddit, this small change has been received positively.

  • Valstraxas: This and a more consistent Helltide made my experience much more enjoyable.
  • ASoulToBear: A very welcome change! It was so annoying to use websites to show where the actual locations are.
  • Buschkoeter: One of my favorite changes since I no longer have to constantly look at another screen to find the chests.

The major change in the Helltide frequency and the new icons improve the farming experience for many players. While some users criticize that the aspect of a secret chest is no longer present because of the icons, this aspect has never truly been there anyway due to the many popular websites for the Helltide.

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Nevertheless, users also criticize that such a quality-of-life feature comes so late. According to the motto better late than never, the change seems to receive a lot of support, especially since it improves the chances of obtaining good items. You will also need these for new builds: Diablo 4: Even Oneshot Builds won’t help you for particularly good loot in Season 3

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
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  2. Reddit

In the DLC of Final Fantasy 16, the battles were my highlight, I was especially pleased about one of them as a player of Final Fantasy 14

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 3 minutes

The JRPG Final Fantasy 16 receives two additional DLCs, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide. So far, only the first of the two expansions is available, but especially fans of Final Fantasy 14 should take a closer look at the DLC.

What is the DLC about?

  • Suddenly, so-called Twilight Crystals appear, which do not last as long as normal crystals. They suddenly flood the black market as inferior goods.
  • Clive investigates the origin of the Twilight Crystals and ends up with a group that mines the crystals in a tower in Rosaria.
  • Together with Joshua and Jill, Clive enters the tower and realizes that a lot of enemies are waiting for him there. He tries to uncover the mystery of the tower and the Twilight Crystals.

What does the DLC offer? In Final Fantasy 16, a tower full of monsters suddenly appears, where you must fight your way from floor to floor. Clive is available to you with his entire Esper arsenal.

The tower contains various enemies that look different than in the main game. Some monsters were “recycled” and have their techniques, but they have been given a new appearance.

Final Fantasy 16 Angra Mainyu
Does the enemy look familiar to you?

Among all the enemies, the mid-bosses stand out particularly. One mid-boss especially pleased me as a player of Final Fantasy 14. In the second third of the game, Angra Mainyu awaits you. It is a flying eye that performs a kind of death roulette around it. Anyone standing in the wrong area takes damage.

This eye took me back to my time in Final Fantasy 14 when I often found myself at level 50 in the Crystal Tower. The Crystal Tower contains three different contents where several bosses must be defeated.

One of these bosses is also a flying eye that starts a roulette around it. Anyone who stays in the blinking area takes a lot of damage. The mid-boss from Final Fantasy 16 reminded me exactly of this enemy and, therefore, gave me a nice nostalgia flashback.

Below you can watch the trailer for the main game:

Start video
Final Fantasy XVI Launch Trailer

Warning, Spoilers: Here follows a description of the final boss of the DLC for Final Fantasy 16.

But the big highlight is a boss that players of Final Fantasy 14 should also know. At the end of the game, Omega awaits us. The boss provided such an exciting fight that I haven’t had in a long time.

The enemy is divided into two main phases. There are challenging mechanics where you have to dodge attacks. Accompanying this is an epic soundtrack, for which I turned my TV up loud.

The fight was intense until the last moment. In my battle, I actually used all healing potions and was barely able to defeat the boss. The spectacular fireworks and the upbeat soundtrack definitely left a lasting impression on me.

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How do I start the DLC? “Echoes of the Fallen” offers a new side story. You can only start the additional quest if you meet certain requirements. The game already gives you the hint that you need to complete two different missions beforehand. However, there are other quests that you must complete first for these two quests.

These include the following quests:

  • City of Madness (Main Quest)
  • The Phoenix’s Sorrow (Side Quest)
  • Where There’s a Will (Side Quest)
  • Concern for Jill (Side Quest)
  • Flowers for a Smile (Side Quest)

If you are not a diligent side quest lover, you will need to spend some time catching up on the side quests. Since I did not have this knowledge at the start of the DLC, searching around cost me a full 2 hours. And that for a DLC that lasts only 3 hours.

Pros
  • Action-packed battles with interesting mechanics
  • Fantastic final battle with great soundtrack and colorful fireworks
  • Jill and Joshua are also involved
Cons
  • Not all side quests are listed for starting the DLC
  • The story plays only a minor role

Who is the expansion worth it for? If you enjoyed the action-packed battles in Final Fantasy 16, you will definitely have fun with the expansion. There are new enemies that appear in different designs. Especially the mid-bosses are particularly fun, as they bring new mechanics that were not present in the main game.

If you are hoping for another exciting story for Final Fantasy 16, you will be disappointed with this DLC. A story is present, but it is not a big deal if you miss it, as it only minimally expands FF16. There are twists here and there, but they are not staged as dramatically as in the main game.

If you are interested in the MeinMMO review of the main game, you can check out the following article by our author Marie Friske: Final Fantasy 16 in Review: Like Game of Thrones, if it had a great finale

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

A secret Alan Rickman had to keep to portray his role in Harry Potter convincingly

Linda Baumgartl Linda Baumgartl Reading time 4 minutes

One of the most complex characters from Harry Potter is Severus Snape. We often see him as a nasty teacher – but in the end, he is on the right side. To play this convincingly, actor Alan Rickman even received secret insider information.

Who is Alan Rickman? The British actor and director made his breakthrough in the film industry with his first feature film Die Hard (1988) in the role of the terrorist Hans Gruber.

Before that, Rickman had already made a name for himself in the world of theater and in British TV productions.

In addition to Harry Potter, he is also seen in numerous other well-known films. These include, for example, Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves (1991), Love Actually (2003), The Last Show of Snow (2006), Perfume (2006), and Sweeney Todd (2007).

Alan Rickman passed away in 2016 at the age of 69 from his cancer.

In “Die Hard,” Alan Rickman had his cinematic breakthrough:

Start video
Die Hard – German trailer for the action movie with Bruce Willis
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Severus Snape – an ambivalent character

In the films, and especially in the books of Harry Potter, we usually see Severus Snape as an extremely biased teacher. He only cares for his own house – Slytherin. Students from the hated house Gryffindor, on the other hand, are sometimes practically bullied.

One might get the idea that Snape is a classic villain. However, in the last part, we learn more about his background, and it becomes clear: Snape is actually on the right side of the wizarding war.

For such a “revelation” to seem credible to the audience, the new understanding must fit with what has been shown so far. This can pose a significant challenge for the actors. If you don’t know a character’s background, you cannot portray it subtly.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Alan Rickman
In the third part, Snape shows his good side when he wants to protect the golden trio from a werewolf attack.

What did the actors know? The first film – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – was released in 2001. Filming began in October 2000. At that time, only the first four books of the later seven-part series were on the market.

Therefore, most actors only had this knowledge available. However, since Snape’s background is only explored in detail in the seventh part, this was not known to most at the beginning of filming.

Keeper of the secret from day one

Alan Rickman was different. In order to embody his role as Snape as best as possible, he received a crucial piece of information from author J.K. Rowling even during the filming of the first movie.

However, he kept exactly what that information was secret until his death.

She [J.K. Rowling] gave me a tiny piece of information that I have always said I would never share with anyone, and I never did, and I never will.

– Alan Rickman (via independent)

Even in his diaries, which were published in 2023 under the title Madly, Deeply: My Diaries. 1993 to 2015, he describes his knowledge vaguely as “a few insights into Snape’s background”.

Was the secret ever revealed? The information Rickman had at his disposal will fortunately not remain an eternal secret. Shortly after the actor’s death in January 2016, J.K. Rowling decided to enlighten the fans:

“I told Alan what lies behind the word ‘always’.” (via Twitter)

Dying Potter fans know that this one word, better known in the original English as “always”, tells them everything they need to know.

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A word says more than a thousand words

What does “always” mean? The quote comes from a scene in the last part. There we learn that Snape still clings to Harry’s deceased mother, Lily Potter. For her, Snape tried for all those years to protect Harry. When Dumbledore asks, “After all this time?”, he only replies with “Always”.

This moment represents a decisive turning point in the perception of Snape. Here we discover that Snape’s main motive all those years was still his almost obsessive love for Lily.

How did this affect the films? It makes perfect sense that Rowling decided to share this particular piece of information with Alan Rickman. Looking back at the films, you can beautifully see how Rickman could subtly incorporate this knowledge into his acting.

Already when he looks at Harry for the first time, there is much more in his gaze than just hatred.

Rickman also refused to play scenes that would not have fit the character afterward. For example, producer David Hayman reported to the LA Times:

It was also quite amusing because there were moments when a director told Alan what to do in a scene, and he would respond with something like, “No, I can’t do that – I know what’s going to happen, and you don’t.”

All in all, it was probably a very good decision to entrust Alan Rickman with this little piece of information. The films benefited from it, and he kept the secret until the end.

Things went differently for “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington. The actor who played the character Jon Snow once revealed a major series secret to avoid getting a parking ticket: Kit Harington revealed a major secret from Game of Thrones – Did not get a ticket for it

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. collider.com
  2. independent.co

Palworld: Catching Penking – You can find the Pal at these locations

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Penking is one of the many Pals in Palworld. We will show you how and where you can obtain it.

In the world of Palworld, there are countless monsters, known as Pals. You can use these as companions for fighting, for certain advantages like riding, or as workers for your base. You can catch, buy, or breed Pals.

One of these Pals is Penking, which has the water and ice types. You can use Penking together with Bushi to breed Anubis. This is one of the strongest Pals available in Palworld.

Start video
Palworld showcases the small monsters in massive action in the early access trailer

Catching, buying, or breeding Penking

Where can I catch Penking? If you want to add Penking to your team, you have several options to obtain it. The first option is to catch it. You can encounter it in the first wildlife sanctuary (No. 1 Wildlife Sanctuary). To get there, you need a Pal that allows you to fly or one that allows you to swim.

If you choose this method, be aware that entering a wildlife sanctuary is considered a criminal activity and will give you a wanted level.

You can also encounter Penking outside the wildlife sanctuary. North-east of the abandoned mines (Abandoned Mineshaft), you have the chance to come across an Alpha Penking. This one is Level 15 and waits inside a dungeon.

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Can I breed Penking? The second option you have to obtain Penking is breeding. You can get a Penking through the following breeding combinations:

  • Cinnamoth and Surfent
  • Eikthyrdeer and Cryolinx
  • Mozzarina and Cryolinx
  • Incineram and Sibelyx
  • Cinnamoth and Elphidran

Can I buy Penking? The last option to get Penking is to buy it. You have the opportunity to find it with black market traders and obtain it there.

What about you? Do you already have a Penking, or are you currently on the hunt for one? Do you want to add it to your collection to breed Anubis? Feel free to let us know in the comments. You can find an overview of guides for Palworld with us.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Palworld: Xbox update is live – Here’s what’s in the new update

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

A new patch for Palworld on Xbox and Gamepass is live. We show you what’s included in the Xbox version 0.1.1.2.

Why are Xbox and Steam not patched at the same time? The Xbox and Gamepass version differs from the Steam version. Due to various verification processes, it generally takes a little longer for a patch to be available on Xbox. 

Even though crossplay, meaning playing on the same servers with Xbox, Gamepass, and Steam players, is supposed to be possible later, this patch does not yet bring the long-awaited feature. You can find out more about multiplayer and crossplay here.

Here you can see how to level quickly in Palworld.

Start video
Palworld: How you can level up quickly

What the new Xbox and Gamepass patch 0.1.1.2 brings

What features are new? Patch 0.1.1.2 brings solely bug fixes. Previously, there were some issues that negatively affected the stability of the game. These are now resolved. Furthermore, the developers want to prioritize fixing the important issues. 

Here you can read the original tweet announcing the patch:

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Is it known more precisely what has been fixed? Although the developers do not elaborate, the Steam version 0.1.30 was released on January 25, and with it, the Xbox patch for version 0.1.1.1 was announced.

Text errors were corrected, the date of the game world, which was displayed incorrectly, was repaired, and a bug was fixed where the landing screen would not finish when logging into the game world.

Additionally, players on the official Palworld servers suffered under cheaters and exploits, which were also addressed on January 25.

If the issues also occurred on Xbox, they should now be resolved. The game should run more stable after the patch, and there should be fewer crashes. 

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Initial feedback on the patch is positive

How is Palworld running after the patch? On X (formerly Twitter), there are already some voices from the community commenting on the new patch.

  • @oludarelordgod writes: “This is great news! The Xbox is now working perfectly.”
  • @HamzaJe981 writes: “Thank you for the notification about the new patch. It’s reassuring to see important bugs being fixed. We look forward to seeing the game evolve. #palworld”
  • @mrpyo1 writes: “Patch the game? Pokémon would never do that ?”

How is Palworld running for you after the patch? Have you experienced any issues with the Xbox or Gamepass version of the game so far? Palworld is not only a hit with teens, many adults are playing the game as well: Especially when parents and children play together, great moments happen in the game.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. X (ehemals Twitter)

EA FC 24: Tonight you can get free packs again – Here’s how it works

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 4 minutes

In EA FC 24, the last matchday of the group stage of the FC Pro Open takes place today. While the best players compete against each other, you can watch the spectacle and secure some free rewards. We will show you how.

This is the FC Pro Open: The FC Pro Open is a large international event for all EA FC 24 professionals. Here, the best pros compete against each other. Today, Monday, January 29, 2024, the final matches of the group stage will take place at 19:00.

As part of the qualifiers, EA Sports introduced the FC Pro Live Event, featuring dynamic cards in Ultimate Team, whose upgrades depend on the performances of their partnered professionals. This means that the event cards have the potential for upgrades on each match day. We have summarized all progress and upgrades for you in our Pro Live Tracker.

You can see all previous and upcoming dates of the Pro Open here:

All dates of the FC Pro Open at a glance

What do live match days bring you as a spectator? The live broadcast of the Pro Open gives you the opportunity to learn from the best of the best. As an additional incentive, EA Sports provides you with free packs for your role as a spectator.

Furthermore, EA has been releasing an Easter egg challenge for each match day for a few weeks now, where a specific country is sought each time. Once the new secret is revealed, you can read it here: This is how you easily solve the Easter egg from the FC PRO Open.

Earn rewards on Twitch or YouTube: Here’s how

How do I receive the free rewards? EA Sports has published a detailed guide on their information page outlining the individual steps to receive rewards via Twitch or YouTube. We present them to you.

How to receive rewards via Twitch

  1. Ensure that you already have an existing Ultimate Team account.
  2. Make sure to link the correct EA account with your Twitch account at https://ea.com/twitchlinking. Age restrictions apply. See the Twitch service terms for details.
  3. Watch the stream for the designated duration.
  4. Claim the reward on Twitch from the Drops Inventory page.
  5. Log back into your Ultimate Team club and claim your target before the target window expires. Rewards may take up to 24 hours to arrive.

How to receive rewards via YouTube

  1. Ensure that you already have an existing Ultimate Team account.
  2. Go to “Linked Apps” in the YouTube settings.
  3. Make sure to connect the correct EA account with your YouTube account by clicking “Connect with Electronic Arts”.
  4. You will be asked whether you wish to allow Electronic Arts to link accounts and view approved events and videos to receive in-game rewards. Click on Connect.
  5. Confirm your EA account. If it isn’t the correct account, click on “Not your account?” and switch to the correct account.
  6. Click on Next. If you have two-step verification enabled, you will be prompted to verify your identity.
  7. Click on Connect Accounts.
  8. Click on “Back to YouTube”.
  9. Watch the stream for the designated duration.
  10. Log back into your Ultimate Team club and claim your target before the target window expires. Rewards may take up to 24 hours to arrive.

If you haven’t linked your account with EA Sports yet, today is a great opportunity. Linking your accounts is very easy and only takes a few minutes. Once you’re connected, you can sit back, turn on the stream, and casually secure some extra rewards.

Speaking of extra rewards: You can also secure them with the new rewards in the Weekend League.

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FC Pro Season 4: All tasks, rewards, and time limits

Group TasksMatch Day TasksRewards (non-exchangeable)Instructions/Time Limit
FC PRO Season 4Complete all Objectives of FC Pro Live Season 4Jumbo Rare Players PackMust be earned by February 3, 2024
Match Day 5
Viewer Bonus 1: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 8 for at least 15 minutes		Two Rare Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 5th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 8, 2024
Match Day 5
Viewer Bonus 2: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 8 for at least 60 minutes		Jumbo Premium Gold PackMust be earned by watching the 5th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 8, 2024
Match Day 6
Viewer Bonus 1: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 15 for at least 15 minutes		Two Rare Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 6th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 15, 2024
Match Day 6
Viewer Bonus 2: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 15 for at least 60 minutes		Jumbo Premium Gold PackMust be earned by watching the 6th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 15, 2024
Match Day 7
Viewer Bonus 1: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 22 for at least 15 minutes		Two Rare Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 7th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 22, 2024
Match Day 7
Viewer Bonus 2: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 22 for at least 60 minutes		Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 7th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 22, 2024
Match Day 8
Viewer Bonus 1: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 29 for at least 15 minutes		Two Rare Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 8th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 29, 2024
Match Day 8
Viewer Bonus 2: Watch the FC Pro Open on January 29 for at least 60 minutes		Gold Players PackMust be earned by watching the 8th Match Day of the FC Pro Open on January 29, 2024
Win like a pro! Rare Gold Player 83+Win 8 matches in Rivals or Champs
FC PRO Season 5 – FINALSComplete all objectives of FC PRO Season 5 – FINALSFC Pro Open Diogo Jota (88)Watch the finals on February 3 to achieve all objectives.
FC PRO Open Finals
Viewer Bonus 1: Watch the FC Pro Open Finals on February 3 for at least 15 minutes		Loan Player TOTY De BruyneMust be earned by watching the FC Pro Open Finals on February 3, 2024
FC PRO Open Finals
Viewer Bonus 2: Watch the FC Pro Open Finals on February 3 for at least 60 minutes		5x 83+ Player PackMust be earned by watching the FC Pro Open Finals on February 3, 2024
FC PRO Open: Diogo Jota
Score 5 goals with 86-rated FC PRO Open Diogo Jota in any game mode		FC Pro Open Diogo Jota (87)Must be earned by February 10
Link your account with TwitchLink your account with TwitchDraft TokenMust be earned by September 1, 2024
 Link your account with TwitchMega PackMust be earned by September 1, 2024

For those looking to secure even more additional rewards, we have something for you. The new Prime Gaming Pack featuring Kylian Mbappé as a loan player and other contents is now available.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

„One must stop looking back“ – Player returns to WoW after 12 years, experiencing all possible emotions

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

A player has recently spent a lot of time in World of Warcraft during Mists of Pandaria. Now he has decided to give the game another chance. Seeing how little of what he used to know is left pains him. But he resolves not to dwell too much in the past – WoW offers too much new content.

Who is the player?

  • The user rikndikndakn123 on Reddit claims to have primarily played WoW as a teenager and young adult.
  • He last actively played during Mists of Pandaria, the 4th expansion of World of Warcraft, which was released in 2012. When he was actively playing, he was in his early 20s.
  • In 2019, he played again for a month in Battle for Azeroth, but he did not find a connection and quickly stopped again. Now he is looking back into the MMORPG.

This is his journey: rikndikndakn recounts that he has no idea what is happening in WoW right now. Not even what the current expansion is. What he does see is that “A LOT” has changed since he was last in the game.

Now he is at level 50, where he was last somewhere in the 100s. The level squish back then was a big deal. He doesn’t even really know where he is now, what has happened in his absence. Whether the people he used to play with still play, or if they are even still alive. Everything feels somewhat deserted:

My friend list is empty. Stormwind is a ghost town full of echoes from the past. My mailbox is filled with mementos of festivities I used to celebrate with my friends. A reminder of a past life.

The king is no longer in the castle. I have no idea what happened to him. I no longer know where the paladin teacher is. But he is no longer in the cathedral. For a brief moment, as I enter the cathedral, I hear a choir that makes me feel like I am that child again who started playing WoW so many years ago.

rikndikndakn then looked for his old mounts and tabards. Memories of achievements that no longer count today. He made his way to Elwynn, to Redridge Mountains, and then back.

An important station for rikndikndakn and thousands of other players was Northrend. It even led to overcrowded ships during the re-launch in Classic:

Start video
At the release of WotLK Classic, hundreds of players are squeezing onto a boat and I am right in the middle

“Grief is okay. But at some point, one has to stop looking back”

On his way to Northrend, rikndikndakn met another player on the ship heading there. However, he seemed little interested in conversation: as soon as they arrived, he bolted, “probably to his next quest.”

In Northrend, the player visited the Grizzly Hills – where he suspects he discovered his love for forests and fjords. Ultimately, he defeated the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel. Memories of his spells and abilities from the past are returning.

Only the victory somehow feels hollow. No one to share the achievement and loot with. A brief fight with loot that means nothing anymore. He even started with WoW Classic in an attempt to relive the feelings of those days, but to no avail. rikndikndakn yearns for the memories but realizes that it’s not everything:

I decide not to dwell in the past any longer. I want to look forward. I want to experience Draenor and the Shadowlands. Not as checkpoints to a new expansion, but as a goal that gives me the adrenaline just like Cataclysm and Wrath of the Lich King did back then. […] I hope to find someone there. Someone on the same journey as me. And if not? Then I will just fly around a bit longer. Just a little bit longer.

A little nostalgia that has accompanied players since Classic: the Murloc gurgle. It still causes flashbacks today:

Start video
WoW: Where does the Murloc gurgle come from?

“With Dragonflight, there is a new lease on life”

The post on Reddit clearly resonated with the feelings of many players who understand what nostalgia in WoW is so important. It simply connects many fans. However, they also clearly state: Dragonflight offers so much more, one does not have to live in the past.

Sure, Stormwind and Orgrimmar are relatively dead. However, Valdrakken is just full of life – so much that players’ FPS regularly drops there. The people are not gone, they are just in the new social hub now.

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One can “visit nostalgia, but not live in it.” When you are there, you should smile and laugh, but not mourn the memories of happiness. Otherwise, you feel miserable in the now.

The players suggest that rikndikndakn should visit Retail and Dragonflight. It is worth it. They even invite him to reach out. Then they could raid, quest together… just do something together.

Dragonflight itself is currently one of the most successful expansions ever. Never since the release in 2004 has there been so much content, innovations, and small details that still bring a lot of joy. MeinMMO demon Cortyn explains further: World of Warcraft had its best year, even if you might believe that later

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit

The most powerful computer in the world is to be built in Germany and is to be ready for use in just one year

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

A new supercomputer is being built in Jülich. It is expected to be faster than any other systems. In the future, it will mainly be used for AI training.

What kind of supercomputer will this be? The supercomputer JUPITER (Joint Undertaking Pioneer for Innovative and Transformative Exascale Research) was commissioned by the European supercomputer consortium EuroHPC JU in October 2023.

A total of three supercomputers are planned. The first of the three planned computers will be built in Germany and is expected to be operational within a year. This was reported by our colleagues from PCGamer.

Who is behind it? The Jülich Supercomputing Center and the French computer company Eviden have now made an agreement for the construction of the supercomputer. This is about an exascale-class computer that is supposed to be capable of processing vast amounts of data at once.

Nvidia chips power large supercomputer

What hardware is in the system? JUPITER is expected to be powered by several Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper superchips and is primarily intended for AI training. The computer is set to become the world’s most powerful AI system, achieving a performance of 90 exaFLOPs in training AI models. One exaflop represents 1 quintillion floating-point operations per second, which corresponds to an exaFLOPS performance in the HPC (High Performance Computing) field.

As a comparison: In the gaming sector, we typically measure performance in teraflops, and this number is significantly smaller. What teraflops are and what they actually bring can be read on MeinMMO.

The special thing about this supercomputer is its modular design. And this is supposed to have several advantages:

  • Thanks to its modular construction, the system can be set up especially quickly. It is therefore expected to be operational within a year.
  • Moreover, upgrades are much easier to manage, as new modules can simply be added.
  • Additionally, costs are expected to decrease significantly due to the modular design.

A total of 45 modules are to be used: 20 IT units, 15 energy, and 10 logistics modules.

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Where is the fastest supercomputer located? The Frontier, based at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been at the top of the fastest supercomputers since June 2022. You can also find the “Frontier” in our cover image.

The system has an HPL benchmark score (High Performance Linpack) of 1.194 exaflops. Furthermore, “Frontier” is quite impressive:

A new computer weighs more than 2 cars and needs thousands of liters of water per minute

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Pokémon GO: A Rocket Boss has one of the best Dragon attackers with him and will become the player’s “best friend”

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

The Rocket bosses have new Shadow Pokémon for you in the current event in Pokémon GO. One of them is particularly good.

What is this event about? The new Rocket event Stolen Treasures is currently running in Pokémon GO. In addition to the return of Giovanni, who has a Shadow Kyogre, the Rocket bosses also have other Shadow Pokémon with them.

Currently, you can catch Shadow Tentacha from Sierra, Cliff has a Shadow Zubat for you, and Arlo has a Shadow Kindwurm that you can add to your team. Trainers on Reddit have a clear favorite regarding which boss is particularly worth it.

Start video
Pokémon GO shows the new season “Timeless Travels” in the trailer

Arlo and his Shadow Kindwurm are a clear favorite among trainers

Why is Arlo so popular? The Shadow Kindwurm you can catch from Arlo can evolve into Shadow Brutalanda. This Pokémon is one of the strongest Dragon attackers in Pokémon GO. Additionally, it can appear as Shiny, which makes it even more interesting for many trainers.

What does the community say about it? The community is excited about the opportunity to catch Shadow Kindwurm:

  • One trainer says: Nice that Arlo is relevant again!
  • Another trainer says: So, Arlo is the one that needs to be grinded now… Good to know.
  • Some trainers are even starting to rethink their friendships. Friendship with Cliff ended, Arlo is the new best friend, writes a trainer.
  • The fact that Shadow Kindwurm is available as Shiny is also mentioned, as in this comment: Kindwurm is such an elite Shiny Crypto.
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What about Sierra and Cliff? The Pokémon of the other two Rocket bosses are also interesting and have their justification:

  • Shadow Tentacha from Sierra can be used as Shadow Tentoxa in the Ultra League.
  • Shadow Zubat can score in its evolution as Shadow Golbat in the Great League.

Which other Shadow Pokémon from the Rockets are particularly worth it, you can also find out from us.

What do you think about the current Shadow Pokémon of the Rocket bosses? Do you agree with the community and find especially the Shadow Kindwurm particularly interesting? Are you maybe already actively farming Arlo? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. Also, feel free to check which events are still coming up in January 2024 in Pokémon GO.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The new role-playing game on Steam is like Baldur’s Gate 3 – But you can ride magical cowboys on dinosaurs

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 2 minutes

A new C-RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3 has launched in Early Access on Steam: In Unforetold: Witchstone, you will experience adventures in a Dungeons & Dragons inspired steampunk world and can even ride as magical cowboys on dinosaurs through the world.

What kind of game is this? Unforetold: Witchstone is a C-RPG with a top-down perspective and turn-based combat system. You create a character with which you experience adventures in the magical world of Kalsundia and can influence your surroundings.

The game is developed and published by Spearhead Games from Canada. Their previous games include Omensight, an action crime thriller, and Stories: The Path of Destinies, also an RPG.

As in Baldur’s Gate 3, you create a character that can influence the fate of the steampunk world. You can personalize your character with a character creator inspired by tabletop RPGs and choose from several classes – including one that shoots magical pistols.

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Steampunk Trains and Dinosaur Mounts: Like Baldur’s Gate 3 but Distinct

What is the game about? The story of Unforetold: Witchstone revolves around the consequences of a war between two kingdoms. Many victims and displaced people from the conflict sought refuge in the largely unexplored areas of the land of Kalsundia.

Both kingdoms repeatedly try to conquer Kalsundia for themselves. Now, its factions have come together for the first time to jointly resist the potential conquerors.

As a player, you can significantly influence the outcome of the conflict with your actions and decisions. You can ride dinosaurs as mounts through the world or travel from point A to B with one of the magical steampunk trains.

The setting was worked on, among others, by fantasy author Ed Greenwood. He has been writing fantasy novels since the 1980s, many of which are part of the official canon of the tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons by Wizards of the Coast. Many of his books revolve around the life of the wizard Elminster, whom Baldur’s Gate 3 players know as the mentor of the companion Gale.

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What makes it like Baldur’s Gate 3? Unforetold: Witchstone is a C-RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3 and therefore has quite a few gameplay similarities:

  • Top-down perspective
  • Tabletop-inspired character creation and class selection
  • Turn-based combat
  • Non-linear quests
  • Recruitable NPCs for your party

Since the lore and story of Unforetold: Witchstone are significantly shaped by an author from the Dungeons & Dragons lore, Baldur’s Gate 3 players should also find their way well in the world.

What about the release? Unforetold: Witchstone launched in Early Access on January 25, 2024. A release of the full version has not yet been announced. On Steam, the game costs €34.99. Until February 5, however, you can purchase it for a 10% discount, which is €31.49.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Steam
  2. Spearhead Games

New MMORPG aims to be an alternative to WoW, facing heavy criticism for PvP – now explains what is changing

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Tarisland, players in the last beta complained a lot about the PvP gameplay of the new MMORPG. Now, the developers have detailed what changes are to be made.

What bothered the fans? Fans criticized various aspects of PvP in Tarisland. Especially the balancing was a concern for players, as some classes were much stronger in PvP than others. Players were also likely annoyed that PvP could only be played at certain times and that the time to find a match was reportedly quite high at times. 

The developers have now taken the feedback collected through an in-game survey as well as in a separate channel on Discord as a reason to announce the changes to PvP. 

Here you can watch the trailer for Tarisland.

Start video
Tarisland: Chinese alternative to WoW shows beautiful areas and exciting battles in the new trailer

Goodbye PvP Gear, Hello Badges

What is the most important change? The most important change to the PvP system of Tarisland concerns balancing. Not only will adjustments be made to the classes after the beta, but Tarisland is also removing the entire PvP gear from the game. The gear is to be replaced by a new system. 

This is how the PvP gear will be replaced: The so-called badge system will replace the PvP gear. It allows you to choose from a total of 16 badges. The badges are divided into 8 for “Ultimate Skills” and 8 for passive effects. In addition, badges will also provide additional attributes. You can choose 3 badges with abilities and 3 badges with passive effects each. 

The developers have already shown some examples of the badges that could exist.

  • Immobility effects last x seconds longer
  • Restores x% of health for yourself for each player you hit
  • Adds stun for x seconds
  • Removes all control effects and grants 10% damage immunity for x seconds
  • After taking lethal damage, you restore x% of health instead of dying (can only be triggered once)

The developers caution that these are only examples and may not appear as is in the final game. The badges should be upgradable, and even though the PvE gear has an impact on PvP, PvP players should be able to focus entirely on the badges.

More about Tarisland
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Fair Arena and New Game Modes

What happens to the Arena mode? The Arena mode is set to become fairer. The developers of Tarisland want the arena to function independently of stats. All players are to have characters with equally strong attributes. Victory should depend solely on skill, the developers write in their post (via Discord).

What about new game modes? The developers state in their post on Discord that they want to continue to develop new game modes and work on a better PvP experience. They have noted that “Guild vs. Guild” PvP and “Open World” PvP is desired by many players and are considering it.

Additionally, the developers are also reviewing the arena opening hours. In the comments under the Discord post, the community manager also answered some player questions. Recently, the developers have also announced important changes for the PvE of the game.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Discord-Beitrag der Entwickler

Dark and Darker was banned from Steam due to serious allegations – Now the developers celebrate their first success in the dispute

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

Dark and Darker was a real surprise hit on Steam when serious allegations from a competitor led to its removal from the platform. Now there is a first victory for the dungeon crawler.

What is Dark and Darker?

  • Dark and Darker is a dungeon crawler with a PvP focus set in a medieval fantasy setting. In addition to magic and sorcery, you can use swords and shields as well as ranged weapons like a crossbow.
  • The gameplay of Dark and Darker is reminiscent of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov – but without the shooting. Within a match, you fight in teams of three for loot. If you die in an ongoing round, you lose your loot.
  • The dungeon crawler had already conducted some playtests on Steam that excited thousands of players.
  • On August 7, 2023, Dark and Darker started early access, but not on Steam. It is still absent due to serious allegations from Nexon.
Start video
Dark and Darker: Gameplay Teaser

Dark and Darker celebrates a small success in the dispute with Nexon

What are the allegations? On March 25, 2023, Ironmace, the developer studio behind Dark and Darker, announced on the game’s Discord server that they are battling a cease and desist and a DMCA notice from the South Korean developer studio and publisher Nexon.

Nexon accuses Ironmace of stealing the idea and using parts of the code and assets that belong to Nexon. In early March, a police raid occurred at Ironmace’s office.

What success have the developers celebrated now? On the game’s Discord server, the developer “sdf” provided a brief update on the legal dispute in Korean. He writes that the “preliminary injunction for violation of trade secrets and copyrights” submitted by Nexon was dismissed by the court.

Furthermore, the court decided according to the developer that Dark and Darker should not be shut down based on the evidence provided by Nexon:

Dear players,

yesterday the preliminary injunction from Nexon against Ironmace for violation of trade secrets and copyrights was dismissed.

The court decided that ‘the game by Ironmace cannot be considered a violation of Nexon’s copyright or trade secrets’ and thus dismissed the claims and suspicion that Dark & Darker was developed using Nexon’s trade secrets and in violation of copyright. That was not the case. Moreover, the court decided that the service of Dark & Darker should not be shut down solely based on Nexon’s claims and evidence.

Ironmace developer “sdf” via Discord

What happens next? That is unclear, as there are not only good news for Dark and Darker in the announcement on Discord. The Ironmace developer also speaks about an unspecified “court decision regarding unfair competition”.

It is also not known when and if Dark and Darker will be available on Steam again. We will just have to wait until we receive more precise information on this matter.

For Ironmace, it would certainly be good if the dungeon crawler could soon be back on Steam, as more and more games want to fill the empty space left by Dark and Darker on the platform: New game on Steam could take the place of the banned Dark & Darker – not only criticism for similarity

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PC Gamer

The new DC game launches in a few days, getting an unpopular feature: „This ensures that PC players do not purchase it“

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is releasing this week, there is not much anticipation among players. The new discovery that the Denuvo DRM copy protection has been added to Steam has caused even more anger among many players.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is the upcoming game from the Batman: Arkham studio Rocksteady Studios. Despite the popular Batman series, players have been skeptical since the reveal of Suicide Squad. Not only did the gameplay make players fearful, but also aspects like battle passes or loot have left a negative impression on players.

Now, a few days before release, Denuvo DRM has been found in the game. The copy protection is hated by players as it is allegedly responsible for performance drops and is said to bring other disadvantages as well. The game is now being heavily criticized on Reddit.

Start video
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Official Coop Gameplay

Why does a live service game need Denuvo?

Originally, no copy protection software was announced for the game, but as PCGamesN reports, the Steam backend allegedly showed that Denuvo was added on January 20. The Steam page also now lists Third-party DRM: Denuvo Anti-Tamper.

Similar to what happened with Dying Light 2 and DRM, this news is also sparking a heated discussion on a Reddit post. Players largely agree and criticize Denuvo.

In response to the question: Why does a live service game need Denuvo? from user taisui, ObscuraArt sarcastically replies with: Don’t ask questions. Just consume and look forward to the next product. The point that an online game gets DRM is simply incomprehensible to most users.

The future and success of the game are also questioned in the process. TotallyRedditLeftist sums up the controversies and mentions the review embargo, the live service aspect, and Denuvo. He only comments: So you want this game to fail, huh?

Lopsided_Taro4808 summarizes the opinion of users quite well: This ensures that PC players don’t buy it

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What do you think of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Do you want to play it or have the many news about the game put you off? Let us know in the comments. This year, a major Japanese publisher also faced criticism for its subsequent DRM update: One of the most popular games on Steam is now getting bad reviews because Capcom is changing something

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamesN
  2. Reddit
  3. Steam

Disney paid Johnny Depp 68 million dollars for a seven-minute appearance

Marie Friske Marie Friske Reading time < 1 minutes

It is no secret that Hollywood actors receive fees of several million dollars. For instance, the Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp received 68 million dollars from Disney for just 7 minutes of screentime.

Through his eccentric roles as Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Johnny Depp became a sought-after Hollywood star, for whose fee some film studios were willing to dig deep into their pockets.

In the past, Johnny Depp received an eight-figure fee from Disney for just a few minutes of screentime.

Here you can see a German trailer for Alice in Wonderland:

Start video
German trailer for Alice in Wonderland

According to The Telegraph, Johnny Depp was reportedly paid a whopping 68 million US dollars for his role in the 2010 Disney film Alice in Wonderland.

In the adventure and fantasy film directed by Tim Burton, he played the Mad Hatter. While this is a well-known character from the famous literary classic by Lewis Carroll, he is not seen too often in the Disney film.

Johnny Depp only has seven minutes of screentime in his role. Thus, he earned 9.7 million dollars for every minute he is seen in Alice in Wonderland.

Director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp share a long-standing friendship. You can read more about it here from our colleagues at Filmstarts: “I would even sleep with an aardvark”: For this director, Johnny Depp would be willing to do anything

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But not only in Alice in Wonderland did Johnny Depp earn a fortune for a few scenes. He also received a hefty fee for another major film project in the wizarding universe of Harry Potter – even though the scene ended up being unusable: 16 million dollars for a single scene with Johnny Depp: It doesn’t even appear in the film

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. millenium.org