Because Sony’s anti-piracy measures ensured that controllers from other manufacturers did not work as well as they should have, Sony now has to pay millions.
Why does Sony have to pay? In France, the local competition authority has fined Sony one million. This followed a complaint from the French controller manufacturer Subsonic.
Subsonic reported Sony for issues with compatibility and lack of communication while trying to participate in the licensing program.
In response, the French competition authority launched an investigation, resulting in Sony having to pay a fine of 13.5 million euros.
Last year, Sony announced some new games; you can see which ones in the video.
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Sony presents new games for PS4 and PS5 – Here’s what you can look forward to in 2023
Sony caused the competition to suffer
Why did the competition suffer? The controller manufacturer Subsonic reportedly had recurring issues with controllers not reconnecting after console software updates. As a result, users of third-party controllers had to reconnect them repeatedly.
Additionally, the controller manufacturer allegedly had difficulties joining Sony’s licensing program because Sony was unwilling to share information about it. This is said to have hindered the development of the controllers.
What did the French authority find out? The French authority was able to attribute the connection issues to Sony’s anti-piracy measures. These measures caused the controllers to need to reconnect repeatedly.
These measures have been in place since 2015, which is a considerable time during which Subsonic had to struggle with these issues.
Furthermore, the authority found misconduct on Sony’s part regarding communication within the licensing program. The authority determined that Sony had indeed previously refused to communicate conditions and criteria for participating in the licensing program.
Every year at the turn of the year, Square Enix publishes a letter reporting on the themes of the next year. This time, the focus is also on the development of video games using artificial intelligence.
Square Enix publishes a report every year at the turn of the year, covering the key themes for the next year. This year, the letter was written by Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu. In a separate paragraph, he also writes about the use of AI at Square Enix in the new year.
How should AI be used? Square Enix aims to take an aggressive approach to the application of AI and other modern technologies. They specifically have the release of new applications and features in mind.
In the short term, they want to increase development productivity, meaning developing faster with the same number of developers. They also want to use artificial intelligence for marketing. This sounds like they want to delegate tasks to chatbots like ChatGPT.
In the long term, Square Enix wants to utilize artificial intelligence to create entirely new forms of content for consumers, thus generating true innovations.
Some Twitch streamers also want to make an impression with artificial intelligence. Amouranth has a very special idea for that.
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Amouranth wants to allow her fans more closeness – Artificial Intelligence should achieve this
Artificial Intelligence – A Label Like Blockchain or NFTs
Is Artificial Intelligence just a label for Square Enix? Of course, this cannot be judged based on the letter, but it is noticeable that in the letter from 2022, there was still talk of NFTs, the metaverse, and blockchain, all things that have increasingly been regarded as dubious in the past year.
Meanwhile, intelligent chatbots like ChatGPT are the new hot thing in the tech market, and as a stock company, Square Enix is certainly wise to mention AI in their letter.
Square Enix will likely indeed use artificial intelligence. However, the CEO’s letter does not indicate any significant leaps forward in development yet. Initially, they are probably just using AI as a tool.
Is there already the use of artificial intelligence in video games? So far, there are no games that truly redesign entire processes with AI. Similar to what Square Enix writes in their letter, this is a long-term goal for game developers. Initially, existing AI tools will be used to accelerate certain processes.
The turn of the year is celebrated worldwide, often in the company of family and friends. Unfortunately, this year a gamer could not actively participate in the celebrations; instead, he logged into Final Fantasy XIV – where he celebrated a truly wonderful party with the community.
MMORPGs live and die by their community: whether it’s the dedicated raid guilds in World of Warcraft or the ambitious squads in Guild Wars 2. Final Fantasy XIV also has a mostly great community. For this, the game has been awarded several times, most recently in 2022 at the Golden Joystick Awards.
The great solidarity in the aforementioned MMORPG community particularly benefited one player over New Year’s Eve.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – Gameplay of the new job Viper
Which player is being talked about? On January 1, 2024, reddit user Shavelk_a posted in the Final Fantasy 14 Subreddit. He does not specify exactly where he lives, but in his culture, New Year’s Eve and New Year are just as important as Christmas is in Europe.
Unfortunately, Shavelk_a could not travel to his family due to a serious illness, and they could not visit him either. His friends also lied to him that nothing was planned.
To escape his loneliness, Shavelk_a eventually logged into Final Fantasy XIV. There, he visited Limsa Lominsa, the city hub with the most active players. Ultimately, at least in the game, Shavelk_a finally had a happy ending: he conversed with many other players and enjoyed the joint in-game celebrations.
For the player, this was probably exactly what he needed – at least according to his final words:
My heart felt warm because I escaped to my favorite place, in my favorite game, away from all the problems.
How did the community react? The Final Fantasy 14 reddit responded with many warm words. Thus, the thread reflects the well-known kindness of the players. Here are a few quotes:
DayleD via reddit: It’s nice that the game was there for you. I hope you have a better 2024.
Some also shared their stories about loneliness eased by the game:
starborndreams via reddit:There was a New Year’s Eve during Covid when my friends and I couldn’t meet due to restrictions, so we all dressed up our characters and went to one of the role-playing bars to celebrate together there.
RFairclough via reddit: I was alone on Christmas 2021, I had recently started playing FFXIV and decided to spend my time in Eorzea instead. As I wandered through Limsa, a tiny character dressed as Santa Claus approached me, gave me a companion and some snacks, and wished me a Merry Christmas along with some kind words before disappearing to brighten the holidays for others. I literally cried in front of my computer.
When people from the e-sports environment are banned, it always causes a stir. This time, a popular host in Dota 2 has been affected, who has long been considered toxic by the community.
Who was banned? The popular Dota 2 host SirActionSlacks has received a ban. The Twitch streamer is now one of the first known players to be banned by the new behavior system. While he can still play Dota 2, he can no longer communicate in-game at all.
This is a significant change for him, as he reveals on Reddit. As a result of the ban, he will only play with friends in the future.
What does he say about it? SirActionSlacks has commented on the incident on Reddit. He finds the ban justified and even says, “I deserve the punishment.”
Recently, he noticed that his behavior score was slowly declining. He tried to counteract this by not streaming his last 15 games to prevent sniping and by not speaking in-game anymore. He also tried to refrain from making toxic comments in the chat.
But none of this helped, and ultimately, he was punished by the new behavior system. From now on, he can no longer communicate with other players in the game.
Here you can watch the trailer for the New Frontiers Update.
Start video
Dota 2 – The New Frontiers Update
New system automatically mutes toxic players
Why did he receive the ban now? SirActionSlacks received the ban because his behavior score dropped too low. Since the summer update of 2023, Dota 2 has a zero-tolerance policy towards toxic players. The new system gives each player a so-called behavior score, which is based on how a person interacts with their teammates in the game.
As a streamer with almost 150,000 followers on Twitch, SirActionSlacks is likely reported every night. The messages are then supposed to be checked live by the system and ultimately have an impact on the behavior score.
The behavior score not only determines the ability to communicate in the game but also how many item drops one receives after rounds, whether one can pause a match, and with which players one is grouped in a match.
The system is considered very strict, as points lost are only painstakingly regained.
What does the community say about the ban? The community is somewhat divided: Most on Reddit see SirActionSlacks as a toxic person. Others find the new system, similar to the streamer, far too strict.
KrisHwt has played with the streamer before and says via Reddit: “I have played in your team several times, and you are by far one of the most annoying and toxic people I have ever encountered in this game. […] It’s no secret why you can’t improve your behavior score.”
-Richarmander- is trying to understand the new system a bit better, also via reddit: “15 games should be enough to improve the behavior score a bit, right? I have a score of 12k, but if it were to drop, I would expect that 15 games with a positive mentality would raise my score somewhat.”
The weekly reset in Destiny 2 brings new challenges, rewards, and rotations that impact the fate of the Guardian community each week. MeinMMO takes a look at what awaits you this week in the worlds of the loot shooter and beyond.
This week: It is the first week of the new year 2024, and the Guardians leave the New Year celebrations behind. Eva Levante clears her space as Lord Saladin stands ready with the second Iron Banner of Season 23 and the “Outbreak” mode. Additionally, the activities are rotating as usual this week.
However, what is even more interesting is what will happen beyond that. Many Guardians are wondering what Destiny 2 will offer them in 2024, leading up to the release of the new DLC. Here is an overview.
Season 23 will run as planned from the end of November to February. In February, additional weekly quests will be introduced that are based on your progress and called “Wishes.”
In March, Bungie will host the “Guardian Games,” which usually take place in May.
In April, the content update “Into the Light” will be released. It is designed to “prepare all players for their Guardian’s path to the Traveler.”
In May, the selection of PvP maps will be expanded with three new maps and some updates for various PvP modes to further enhance the player-versus-player experience.
On June 04, 2024, the new DLC will finally be released featuring a new raid and instead of the usual seasons, it will come with the first of three episodes called “Echoes.”
So, it will still be a while before players can experience the grand finale of the first saga surrounding Light and Dark. But first, let’s take a look at the upcoming week of Season 23.
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Destiny 2: Season 23 sends the Guardians for a Last Wish to the Dragon’s Lair
Key information on activities from January 2 to January 9.
Nightfall
Heist Battleground: Moon
Xivu Arath’s battle song is causing trouble for the War Spirit’s bunkers. Recapture them and secure the underground buildings from the access of the Hive.
Earn this week’s Nightfall weapon: Braytech Wolfpack, Rocket Launcher
Crucible – This is the rotating PvP activity
This week you can play the modes Scorched and Showdown in PvP.
Endgame: Raid Challenges and Dungeon Rotation
Farmable Endgame on a weekly rotation: For those who love the challenge and perfected loot, the so-called Legacy Rotations await in the endgame. These can be repeated and farmed.
What does “Farmable Endgame” mean?
Since Season 21, older missions and raids rotate weekly as Legacy Activities and are farmable. This means: The active rotation raid, the active rotation dungeon, and the exotic rotation missions can be farmed within the week. This way you can complete the individual encounters multiple times to receive different items and complete your collection, including any exotics that are available in these contents.
The Guardians must delve deep underground in Lightfall to reach the “Veil”. They receive support from Caiatl’s troops in an epic battle at the gates of the Ishtar facility.
Ascendant Challenge – Dreaming City
Petra Venjhas this week’s 3rd Ascendant Challenge for you. You can find Petra and her quest offer at the location “Divalian Mists” in the Dreaming City. The City of the Awoken is entering the second stage of corruption.
All sources for top loot in Season 23 of Destiny 2
More power level comes automatically: There will likely be no more grinding for power levels in Season 23. The hard power level cap in Destiny 2 has remained unchanged at 1,810 for several seasons. This means no player is forced to perform at their peak every week, but levels up the artifact level automatically in all activities.
However, if you are currently not at the hard cap of 1,810, we have listed the best sources for top loot for you here.
This top loot will bring your power level up to 1,810:
Weekly Lightfall campaign mission on Legendary (+2)
Play “Subsector Restart” on Neomuna
Complete ritual activities in the Vanguard, in Gambit, or in Crucible
Hawthorne’s clan task: Give 5 appreciation cards to other Guardians (+2 and 7 enhancement cores)
If any additional sources arise in Season 23, we will update this here promptly.
Glimmer highlights in the Eververse
As the New Year event now comes to an end, there will also be less snow and Christmas-themed emotes in the Eververse. This week, Bungie has something for you ….
The Sparrow “Iron Howl” in the War Beast look is available this week for Glimmer.
And these items are also available in the Eververse this week:
Exotic emote “Feathery Favor”
Exotic emote “Yo-Yo Trick”
Legendary emote “Unyielding March”
Exotic Sparrow “Iron Howl”
Exotic ghost shell “Sheriff Shell”
Exotic ship “RS Prometheus”
Exotic weapon ornament “Internal Combustion” for the sword “The Complaint”
Exotic weapon ornament “Ceremonial Arsenal” for the pulse rifle “The Navigator”
Ghost projection “Side Eye Projection”
Shader:
“Carbon Blood”
“Pressure Red”
“Bloody Tooth”
“Serious Success”
“Polished Starfish”
“Aposematism”
Teleport effects:
“Double Snake Effects”
“War Satellite Arrival”
“Pyramid Appearance”
“Dreamlight”
This was the summary of the weekly reset. But we are only at the beginning of 2024, so there is still a long way to go until the highly anticipated DLC The Final Form.
What would be your personal wish for Destiny 2 in 2024? What content, activities, or improvements would you like to see? Feel free to share your thoughts, hopes, and expectations in the comments. Or are you no longer interested and prefer to check out other games like Warframe? Why Warframe is the best alternative for everyone who has lost hope in Destiny 2
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
George R. R. Martin, the author of “A Song of Ice and Fire“, which served as the basis for the successful series “Game of Thrones“, published an update on his blog about a planned spin-off series. He announced that it is supposed to be entirely different than originally intended.
On December 31, 2023, George R. R. Martin published a blog post in which he raved about the animated series Blue Eye Samurai , which in the past has been highly praised by viewers and critics alike.
In this context, he also announced news about the planned spin-off series Nine Voyages. This has been completely re-planned – probably due to high production costs.
Here you can see a trailer for the first season of Game of Thrones, where it all began:
Start video
Trailer for the first season of the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’
“There is a whole world out there“
What will Nine Voyages be about? The series Nine Voyages will revolve around Corlys Velaryon aka the Sea Snake and showcase his legendary voyages, as the author revealed.
Why were the old plans for the spin-off discarded? The series was actually supposed to be a live-action adaptation. However, Martin explained the reason for discarding the old plans and why they decided to go for the animation style instead.
It seems that the high costs of a live-action implementation were simply too high to tell the story with real sets.
[… ] Due to budget constraints, a live-action version would likely have become unaffordable, especially since half the series takes place at sea and a different harbor has to be created every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles, from Volantis to Qarth and… well, and so on.
There is a whole world out there. And we have a much better chance of showing it with animation.
What other animated series about Game of Thrones are planned? In addition to Nine Voyages, two more animated series set in the well-known fantasy universe are in development. What the other two series projects will be about is still unknown.
So far, however, the series have not yet received official approval. Therefore, it can still happen that the projects may be shelved before we get to see them.
Anyone who has not seen the spin-off House of the Dragon can do so completely for free right now. Where and how to do that can be read here:
The MMORPG RuneScape (Steam) is a life’s work for its fans: This is evident in the story of the player “Follow”: He recounts on reddit how he went from being a naive newbie to a veteran who achieved the ultimate goal of finding every item that the bosses in Runescape can drop. His journey lasted 8 years.
What has the player achieved in particular?
The player has completed the achievements “The Insane Reaper” and “The Insane Fallen Angel” in Runescape: This means he has obtained all items from every boss in the game.
This is such a significant achievement because there are extremely many bosses in RuneScape, with long loot tables and some absurdly rare drops.
To attain this achievement, one must master every boss perfectly, have killed them countless times, and invest thousands and thousands of hours into the MMORPG.
Start video
RuneScape MMORPG Trailer 2020
“I was completely clueless, without gear or preparation”
This is why the story is so special: On reddit, the player Follow shares that he is by no means a born super-gamer and boss killer, quite the opposite. He played Runescape for a long time just casually until he was introduced to boss killing in 2015. However, he felt completely overwhelmed:
“I was completely clueless, had terrible gear, and was not widespread. In my first Yakamaru kill, I barely survived. But the difficulty decreased with each raid.”
He really got excited about boss killing when he had a lucky streak with the boss Vorago and scored some great items there. Now he invested 3 years solely in defeating and learning about every boss in the game. Now it was time to get every item from the bosses.
And that became harder as his 7-man group fell apart against the boss “Solak”, who was much stronger than anything previously known. But in the end, he persevered through that too.
In the end, this journey lasted 8 years, of which he actively played for 6.
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Terrible reflexes, often embarrassed – yet ultimately succeeded
This is his conclusion: The player says:
“I play for the story. My reflexes are terrible and I really can’t multitask well. My kills didn’t come quickly. I stumbled and died a thousand times.”
Follow then lists bosses where he felt embarrassed and where he reached his limits, but says ultimately he always found ways to cope with the bosses and learn their mechanics to survive. Although he was never an excellent player, he improved immensely on his journey.
His lesson is: Even if you fear bosses, you should still tackle the boss fights. You can do it. Just start small and work your way up.
This is a new way to learn what Runescape has to offer.
These are the reactions: The community shows great enthusiasm for the story, the many details, and Follow’s perseverance:
People say this is truly an inspiration.
One understands what kind of pride he must feel as an adult for achieving this. It requires a discipline and dedication that is admirable.
The significance of Follow’s achievement can be seen in our article about the player who found all items from all bosses in OldSchool RuneScape as the first person:
A new expansion called Dawntrail for Final Fantasy 14 will be released next year. Even after the release of the expansion, exciting content is expected to continue. This might appease the frustrated fans.
As PCGamer reports, there are several points of criticism:
The story is being told too slowly
There are few midcore contents (such as ex-primals and Entwined Shadows of Bahamut)
The grind for the relic weapons is too extreme
The island paradise is too grindy in the endgame and is merely a chase for mounts and cosmetics
Instead, Square Enix seems to follow the same formula: an alliance raid for every patch with an odd number and a savage raid for every patch with an even number.
Accordingly, there is concern that it could continue in this pattern after the release of Dawntrail. However, producer Naoki Yoshida has hinted at several features that are expected to be included in the game after the release.
What we can expect with Dawntrail is shown in the following trailer:
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Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail – Trailer for the new expansion
Final Fantasy 14 is getting tons of new content
What new content can we expect?In a post in the reddit forum, a user compiled what new content Square Enix is planning. Yoshi-P addressed some of the fans’ questions and provided satisfactory answers.
After the release of version 7.0, that is the Dawntrail update, the team will focus on new features. These include the following contents:
There will be new designs for the exteriors of houses
Yoshida promises new headgear for Viera and Hrothgar
In addition, Yoshida answered some questions that amused the fans. For example, a player wrote that they are a “cat person.” However, Yoshida replied that he is more of a “wolf type.” Fans are having fun with this and joke that the Miqo’te should be replaced by wolves.
When exactly the hinted content will be released is unclear. The developers are taking the time they need. Accordingly, it remains to be seen how well the release of Dawntrail will go and when there will be time to focus on new features.
DON’T NOD, the developers behind Life is Strange, allow you to become two ghost hunters in their next action role-playing game on Steam. In a trailer, you will see the first gameplay and get to know the two protagonists.
This fantasy adventure takes place in North America in 1695 and follows the tragic fate of a couple who have made it their mission to hunt down evil spirits and send them to the afterlife.
In the trailer, you can not only get to know the two protagonists better but also learn a bit about the gameplay:
Start video
Banishers: Ghost of new Eden zeigt emotionale Story und Gameplay
What does the trailer show? The trailer first gives you a good taste of the story and the tragic fate that you will experience in Banishers. The couple Red and Antea travels the land together as ghost hunters until one day the woman dies.
However, she remains on Earth even as a ghost, and even though she now belongs to the things she so despises, she continues to fight alongside her husband.
During your journey and your fight against the spirits, you search for a way to free Antea from her new fate. How far you are willing to go for this lies in your hands.
In battle, you use weapons and your new ghost powers
As a player, you can switch between the two characters and utilize their different fighting styles. As seen in the trailer, Red fights with various weapons, while Antea uses her new ghost powers.
The trailer shows that your enemies do not simply take the human form of the deceased souls, but often appear as quite grotesque beings.
Besides the combat gameplay, the trailer also shows that you will need to make some decisions in Banishers that can significantly impact the game. On your journey, you will encounter many different characters with their own stories and problems, and you will need to try to understand them in order to make your decisions.
A user shopping sees a gaming PC that is on display and freely accessible. He notices that the graphics card worth over 400 euros is missing.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to buy electronic devices next to regular groceries in supermarkets. This way, whole gaming PCs often end up in the shopping cart alongside bread and milk.
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”
Gaming PC in supermarket missing the 400 euro graphics card
What discovery did the PC enthusiast make? During his walk through a supermarket, the Reddit user greatthebob38 passed by the electronics section. His attention was drawn to a gaming PC. It was displayed unpackaged next to unopened boxes containing identical computers. There are also cases where the packaging of hardware is misused.
This computer was obviously missing one of its side panels. Upon closer inspection, greatthebob38 also noticed that no graphics card was installed. According to the specifications on the boxes next to it, there should actually be an Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti graphics card in the system.
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Was the graphics card stolen? The PC enthusiast is convinced that someone seized the unique opportunity to discreetly remove the graphics card worth over 400 euros. He does not believe that the supermarket proactively removed the hardware themselves.
Supporting his statement is the missing side panel. For safety reasons, the Reddit user would have expected that the glass side panel would have been securely screwed on. Interested buyers could still look into the interior of the gaming PC. At the same time, the installed hardware would be better secured against a quick theft.
On another visit to the supermarket, the PC enthusiast also wanted to point out that someone had been tampering with the RAM and the CPU cooler. He believes there was an attempt to loosen the mounts of the RAM and the fan on the CPU cooler.
What does the community say about the case? Opinions vary. Some believe this is indeed a bold theft and mock the inadequate security against theft.
“Now I’m just waiting for the Reddit post: Hey guys! Look, I got a new 4060 Ti for my gaming PC!” (indkyjtsxucivoxuggg via Reddit)
“Interestingly, I received the 4060 Ti for Christmas, kind of funny.” (vaungar3 via Reddit)
However, there are also Reddit users who claim to be supermarket employees or at least have worked for such a business. They are convinced that the affected supermarket proactively removed the graphics card, as they have done it the same way.
I can vouch for that, I worked in the main department (TV/Electronics). We are supposed to remove the GPU and put it in the safe until the display model is sold. Don’t get me wrong, people still try to mess with the RAM and even the CPU and cooler, but if they had done their job right, they should have removed the GPU. (Cms2k1 via Reddit)
Escape from Tarkov has received a new map for beginners, but even experienced players have trouble surviving on the map.
What kind of map is this?
With the latest wipe, Escape from Tarkov introduced a new map called “Ground Zero”, which is specifically designed for beginners and is playable only up to level 20.
Ground Zero is the second smallest map in the game after Factory and is located in the city area of Tarkov.
On Ground Zero, there is a long road with damaged vehicles and plenty of signs of destruction. Another important aspect of the map is the walkable office buildings that you can find along the roads.
What is the problem with the map? Ground Zero has some weaknesses. These include invisible mines that are placed as map boundaries, but depending on the spawn position, players may not see the warning signs before running into the mines.
For example, some players report on Reddit that they hear the explosions of the mines triggered by some player in every raid.
Additionally, the map is too small for the relatively high number of players. There are a total of 10 to 12 players on the map. As a result, there are often fights early in a raid, and many players die in the first 3-5 minutes – which does not help beginners learn the game.
Start video
Escape from Tarkov Gameplay – Battle for Concordia
If you want to extract alive from Ground Zero, you usually need to fight against multiple squads. The stationary guns placed in power positions don’t make it any easier.
The biggest problem, however, is that you can encounter not only beginners on Ground Zero. Due to the wipe, all players are under level 20 and are playing the new map. Moreover, all players have the same starting quests that send you to this map.
Therefore, experienced players are wandering around on a very small beginner map and need to reach the same quest-relevant locations as the beginners.
“An incredibly fun map, but a terrible experience for new players”
What does the community say? Ground Zero is visually well-received by the Escape from Tarkov community, but the problems are a thorn in the side of many players. Particularly, the desire to allow fewer players on the map is often expressed.
However, the fact that all players are doing the same quests and therefore have to play on the map is also heavily criticized.
Here are some opinions from the community:
TheFluBR via Reddit: “With the start of the wipes and the reorientation of the quests, everyone has to grind Ground Zero to complete the initial quests. This leads to a PvP-heavy map with several choke points. For beginners, it’s always advisable to stay away from PvP.”
red-Spy_In-The_Base via Reddit: “Actually an incredibly fun map, but at the moment a terrible experience for new players.”
Nicholas7907 via Reddit: “Ground Zero is not big enough for 10-12 players. I’ve been playing EFT for over 4 years and it has felt good almost every new wipe to start all over again. But with this patch, playing Tarkov and the early quests that force you to visit Ground Zero is just painful.”
wwaarrddy via Reddit: “It’s a shame that Ground Zero is only a ‘beginner’ map… I really like it. I like the variety of buildings, the aesthetics of the map are really nice. Definitely not beginner-friendly, but I really don’t know how to make that work on a Tarkov map.”
Some players also believe that Battlestate Games may have miscommunicated in their description of the map. Perhaps it is not a map for beginners but the map that is supposed to represent the beginning.
The name Ground Zero also hints at the starting point of the prevailing situation in the city of Tarkov. With a wipe, the chaos begins, and the PMCs appropriately clash with each other at Ground Zero and engage in initial skirmishes, separating the wheat from the chaff.
The selection of Pokémon in the battle leagues of Pokémon GO is a fundamental part of achieving legend status. We will show you which teams the first legends from the current season are using.
What is it about? In the battle leagues of Pokémon GO, there is a ranking system. You reach the first 20 ranks by achieving a certain number of victories in the league. After that, the ranks are Ace, Veteran, Expert, and finally, the Legend rank.
For the last 4 ranks, you need a certain rating. Your rating increases when you win battles and decreases when you lose them. If you reach a rating of over 3000, you will advance to the Legend rank.
With these Pokémon, the trainers have become legends
Which Pokémon did these legends use? Here you will find the list of Pokémon that were used by the trainers who have already reached the Legend rank early.
JesusAWC: Akkup, Lanturn, and Fiaro
LyleJeffslll: Crypto-Skorgla, Crypto-Quappo, and Crypto-Alola-Sandamer/Schlurp
Doonebug97: Skelokrok, Welsar/Cresselia, and Altaria
MEweedle and weisarsen: Akkup, Schlurp, and Welsar/Registeel
IIqm: Schlurp, Crypto-Skorgla, and Trombork/Quappo
Tetsuo106t: Deoxys (Defense Form), Crypto-Dragonir/Muntier, and Schlingking/Quappo
P4T0M4N: Crypto-Dragonir, Muntier, Lanturn
SuYuu17 and Tetsuo106t: Azumarill, Schlurp, Crypto-Alola-Sandamer
JWNaldo: Jugong, Crypto-Skorgla, and Trombork
Jason2890: Jugong, Meditalis, and Rocara
LNDsRargef: Akkup/Skorgla/Suelord, Schlurp, and Azumarill
As you can see, many Pokémon appear in more than one team, while the teams themselves are quite different in their composition. Maybe this overview will help you as you work on your battle league teams for the Super League and give you a bit of inspiration.
The well-known action star Sylvester Stallone can now look back on a remarkable film career. However, a certain comic adaptation from 1995 greatly annoyed the actor in hindsight.
At a press conference for John Rambo in 2008, the actor commented on the sci-fi film Judge Dredd from 1995, where he played the lead role of a tough law enforcer.
Stallone stated that he deeply regretted the film, even though he initially found the premise promising.
Here you can see a trailer for Judge Dredd:
Start video
English trailer for Judge Dredd with Sylvester Stallone
“It really annoyed me a lot”
Sylvester Stallone confessed at the press conference: “The biggest mistake I ever made was the sloppy treatment of Judge Dredd.” (Source: faroutmagazine.co.uk)
He believed that the sci-fi film had great potential in the eyes of the star. “It could have been a fantastic, nihilistic, interesting vision of the future – [with] judge, jury, and executioner. The [film] really annoyed me a lot.”
He further explained what exactly he disliked about the film: “With all the pop culture, that really bothered me a lot. I thought it was a fantastic concept, but someone has to stand up for it when something doesn’t work – and I was the most famous and prominent”.
What kind of film is Judge Dredd? The film is based on a comic series from 2000AD. In it, Sylvester Stallone plays a so-called Judge, who embodies the role of a judge, jury, and executioner.
The Judges maintain law and order in the enormous mega-cities in the year 2080, while outside the cities, mutants make the area unsafe after a nuclear contamination.
Another film must have also greatly annoyed Sylvester Stallone in hindsight. It was foisted upon him by his arch-rival Arnold Schwarzenegger, as he had no interest in the role:
Laughing, the Terminator star recounted the anecdote in an American talk show about how he tricked Stallone:
Over time, Son Goku and his friends have mastered many techniques and Saiyan forms in the anime and manga of Dragon Ball. However, one attack, which is probably the strongest attack in the entire universe, does not even come from the Saiyans.
What attack is it? In Dragon Ball Super, Beerus, the God of Destruction, uses Hakai. This is a technique that can destroy almost anything in an instant.
The attack does not even require a complex movement or a long incantation. It is enough to stretch out one’s hand. The opponent is engulfed by a destructive wave of energy and dissolves into dust. They instantly cease to exist.
The dissolved being cannot even reach King Yemma, who decides whether a living being goes to heaven or hell. This step is denied to the poor souls; they literally dissolve into nothingness.
In 2024, fans can look forward to a new series called Dragon Ball Daima:
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In Dragon Ball DAIMA, Son Goku and his friends shrink
Only the immortal are safe from the devastating attack
The attack is depicted in the anime as a kind of wave that erases the existence of the victim. In the manga, however, the attack resembles an explosion that reduces the opponent to dust.
The only limitation is that immortal beings cannot be destroyed by this technique. Despite this limitation, the attack is stronger than all other attacks because it requires little effort and works instantly.
In fact, this technique can only be used by Beerus and the other Gods of Destruction. However, there are other fighters who have mastered this technique.
Does Son Goku master the attack? Son Goku has indeed used the attack before. In manga chapter 25 of Dragon Ball Super, he used the attack against Zamasu. However, one attack lasted longer than a moment, and Zamasu only slowly dissolved.
Son Goku only managed to partially dissolve Zamasu, as he had time to apply a sneaky trick. Therefore, Son Goku can theoretically use this attack, but he does not master the technique to perfection.
In the anime, it is even the case that Son Goku does not use the technique at all.
What about others? His direct competitor Vegeta is actually capable of using this attack. In manga chapters 70 and 71, he is trained by the God of Destruction himself. As a result, Vegeta learns to use this explosive attack instantly and thus masters it better than Son Goku.
Otherwise, there are only a few individuals outside the Gods of Destruction who master this technique. One of them is Granolah.
On December 31, there was a discussion on Reddit and Twitter about the new PlayStation 5 game Stellar Blade. The developers created a 3D scan of a South Korean model and based the body of their character Eve on this scan. This has sparked a discussion in the West: Many developers have distanced themselves from “classic heroines in swimsuits” since 2014.
What kind of game is Stellar Blade?
Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game that is set to be released in 2024 for the PlayStation 5.
In a near future, humanity is displaced from Earth by an alien race: The heroine Eve must fight against the aliens with her unit and reclaim Earth.
The game is being developed by Shift, a Korean studio. It is being published by Sony itself.
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The action-adventure Stellar Blade shows the story trailer for PS5
“Our protagonist is based on the 3D scan of a model”
This was the announcement for New Year’s Eve: On December 31, the studio reported on Twitter that they had used a 3D scan of the model Shin Ja-eun for the protagonist Eve.
The model is shown in high heels and underwear.
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The appearance of women in video games is becoming a political issue
Why is this exciting? In recent years, especially with PlayStation titles, there has been a discussion in the West about whether women in video games should no longer be portrayed as “smooth and unrealistically beautiful.” This trend came from the developers themselves and parts of the gaming press.
The discussion was particularly sparked by Aloy, the heroine from “Horizon Dawn,” who was no longer portrayed as smoothly in new titles but rather looked like a fighter.
The message conveyed was that the classic video game heroines from earlier (like Lara Croft) had fulfilled unrealistic beauty standards that were no longer being adhered to.
The criticism of the character was, “Aloy no longer looks feminine enough.” Generally, parts of the gaming community do not appreciate when things are changed in games for what seems to be politically ideological motives. This is seen as “woke” or “left” and is rejected by parts of the gaming audience.
The new Aloy (left) was not “flawless” enough for some.
Now here are the comments: The fact that a classically attractive woman is now taken as a protagonist in South Korea is being extensively commented on Twitter. They like such women there and view the discussion about “unrealistic beauty standards” cynically. It is stated:
“No one can claim that these are unrealistic body standards.”
“The left will claim she is not real.”
“Beautiful! Don’t let Sony censor your work!”
“I bet 10 US dollars that ‘game reviewers’ will say real women don’t look like that.”
This is what lies behind it: “Unrealistic beauty standards for women in video games” is a provocative topic that creates a rift between some players and “the press” / “the developers”.
About 10 years ago, a rethinking began among major developers, which can be exemplified by Blizzard or Riot Games:
At Blizzard, they said in 2014: They wanted to rethink. The developers now had their own daughters, and they found it difficult to answer their daughters’ questions about why the heroines wore swimsuits.
However, many players do not want such “real-life ideas” to encroach into their hobby. They desire gaming as escapism and do not want to be confronted with “such as Lara Croft does not exist in the real world.”
Therefore, it remains a topic with potential for conflict, how “real” or “responsible” games should be. Especially in the USA, such topics are always particularly sensitive, as society there is very divided: These conflicts from real life seep into every area of daily life, including gaming.
The audience has considered a movie to be the best since 2008. We’re talking about The Shawshank Redemption starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, the ultimate prison classic.
Why is the movie at the top? The Shawshank Redemption, featuring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, is the best movie according to audience opinion, and it has been continuously since 2008. This opinion can be found on the largest movie database in the world, IMDB. There, viewers can rate movies, and with a rating of 9.3, over 2.8 million people agree: The Shawshank Redemption is the best movie in the world.
What is the movie about? The Shawshank Redemption is a prison drama film by Frank Darabont that tells the story of Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins).
The banker was sentenced to life in prison and finds himself in an unfamiliar environment. After being nearly beaten to death in prison, he finds more friends.
One of them has information that could prove Andy’s innocence, but the prison director does not believe him. So, Andy decides to dig a tunnel to freedom for over 19 years to uncover his innocence and the corrupt practices in the prison.
Here you can watch the trailer for the best movie.
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Why did the movie flop in theaters? Before the release of The Shawshank Redemption, there were test screenings that found the movie to be very good. However, they decided not to mention Stephen King’s name in the advertising to attract a different audience than King’s typical viewer.
Initially, there was a limited theater release in North America, where only two tickets were sold at one showing on opening night.
Although critics praised the film, according to producer Liz Glotzer’s opinion, a negative review in the Los Angeles Times caused many viewers to not want to see the film.
Another reason was the release date. The film had to compete with blockbusters like Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump. The audience at that time was also more interested in action films.
Although Oscar nominations generated an audience for the film, the major box office success was absent for the aforementioned reasons.
So why did the film eventually become successful? The success of the film lies entirely in the television market. The Shawshank Redemption was one of the most rented films in the USA at the time and was also frequently shown on television.
Because the film did not generate high box office revenue, it could be shown cheaply on television. This led to frequent airings, which ultimately contributed to the film’s success.
The film became known mainly through word of mouth as a hidden gem. In the end, it became so well-known that it is now regarded by the audience as the best film of all time. The Shawshank Redemption never received a sequel, but another possible movie sequel could soon rival James Bond.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A gamer wins a contest, but he doesn’t trust the whole thing. And there are good reasons not to trust every request.
Normally, one would be happy to succeed in a sweepstake or contest. But a user was not pleased with the supposed win. He thought it might be a scam when Nvidia asked for his address.
Contests and scammers can look quite similar
What did the user say? The user explained on reddit that Nvidia contacted him directly via Twitter/X. In the message, the official Nvidia account wants him to confirm his data. This includes…
Name
Age
Country
and contact email.
But he doesn’t want to fully trust this. He himself explains suspiciously:
I participated in this draw, but I can hardly believe that I was chosen from thousands of people. Before I disclose anything, I want to make sure this is completely official.
Low chances of winning: In a contest by Nvidia or other well-known manufacturers, millions of users often participate. After all, there is often a chance to win expensive hardware like an RTX 4080 for free. For this reason, the user may have doubts about the request from the official Nvidia Twitter account.
Scammers often disguise themselves as contests: Whether it’s bad advertisements or strange emails: Such ads or emails often promise big wins, but for that, you must provide your contact details and preferably your account number. Many of you might be familiar with the contest that claims you have won a new iPhone. Almost always, it’s about high-priced products like phones, gaming consoles, or other expensive hardware.
Behind this are scammers who try to get your data this way. Therefore, some on reddit can understand the user’s concerns, who thinks this is all a scam. Because it’s rather rare to really win something in a heavily frequented contest.
I provided my data: However, those who enter their real data there are often harassed by scammers with calls and receive thousands of spam emails. If you indeed have problems with such aggressive phone numbers, it’s best to contact the Federal Network Agency directly. They can have such numbers blocked.
Such gift campaigns occur again and again. One of the perhaps most beautiful graphics cards was given away by Nvidia on the occasion of a game anniversary. Nvidia raffled off the card together with the manufacturer among thousands of players, but we in Germany had no chance to acquire this graphics card:
One of the best horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 is the white Arabian. We will show you the location of the horse and how to tame it here.
You need good horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 when you need to chase other horses or carriages in missions. A horse with a lot of stamina and high speed is important in that case. When there is a lot of shooting in missions, a horse with a lot of health points helps.
The gifted horses you receive are “okay,” but they can’t compete with the best. One of the best horses in RDR 2 can be easily caught in the wild if you just have a little patience.
Why is it the best horse? Many players say that the Arabian is the best horse. Although there is another Arabian with better stats, the white Arabian can be easily caught.
Update 13.11: We originally wrote this guide for the console version of RDR 2. Due to many new players from the PC release, we have updated it.
Here you can find the white Arabian
Where can the horse be found? In the northwest of the map of Red Dead Redemption 2 lies the state of Ambarino. There you visit Lake Isabella. You can find the lake near Grizzlies West. The white Arabian is located on the western shore of the lake.
Save first: For safety, you should first manually save when you are near the lake. If your attempt to tame the horse fails, it will run away. And it can be really hard to find the horse again.
Some players even report that they could not find it again after a failed capture attempt. This might be a bug. Therefore, it is even more important to create a save file beforehand when the Arabian is still there.
Tame with a lot of patience: You tame the white Arabian just like any other wild horse. However, keep in mind that this specimen is particularly skittish and will flee quickly.
Tips for taming the white Arabian: Stay crouched and approach the horse only with very slow movements. Examine it to unlock the calming function.
As soon as possible, you should use the calming function repeatedly. You can find it on the controller on the square button or X. This way, you get closer to the horse and can finally sit on its back.
If you manage to sit on the horse, it will try to throw you off. Fight against this with the joystick or the corresponding keys on the PC and steer against the direction of the fall. After a few seconds, you can then saddle it.
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Special feature of Arabians: Arabian horses have their own category. This is called “Superior”.
There are also divisions into different stats. The stats are divided into:
Health
Stamina
Speed
Agility
Which is the best horse? The best horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is the rose-colored Arabian. This horse has 7 points in health, 7 in stamina, and 6 points each in speed and agility as base stats. You can then enhance this through bonding and stirrups so that the values climb to 10/10/8/8.
The problem with this horse is that it is only offered for sale in the stables very late in the game. After chapter 6. And it costs $1250. With 3 gold bars, you can afford this horse.
The best horse that is available quickly: The white Arabian is already available much earlier in the game and does not cost a fortune. It is the best horse you can get early on.
Why is the white Arabian so good?
One of the special features of the white Arabian is that you can tame it early on. With its stats of 6 points in speed and agility, it can compete with the other Arabians. The health and stamina points start at 5 points but can be increased to 8 points through stronger bonding.
The base stats are thus at 5/5/6/6. With all upgrades, the Arabian would have stats of 8/8/8/8.
Comparison with other horses:
The Dutch Warmblood, which is available for $450, has base stats of 5/6/4/3
The Ardennes horse, which you get for pre-ordering, has base stats of 5/4/3/3
The Thoroughbred, which is available for the purchase of the special or ultimate version of RDR 2, has stats of 3/3/7/5
Here the white Arabian shines: With the white Arabian, you can ride at high speeds over long distances. An important upgrade, especially in the first half of Red Dead Redemption 2, when you travel quickly from mission to mission with this galloper.
To ensure that you do not lose this horse after catching it, you should always have at least one horse reviver with you. If the horse gets seriously injured, you can secure it with this. It is suspected that there is only one specimen of it to be found in RDR 2.
Finally, with the help of data mining, a special mystery in RDR 2 has been solved!
Code 8 Part II receives a sequel to a popular sci-fi and superhero movie on Netflix five years after the first part, which you can watch at the end of February.
Note: We updated the article just before the film’s release for you. The article was originally published on November 17, 2023.
When is Code 8 Part II coming out? The second part of the sci-fi series will be released exclusively on Netflix on February 28, 2024. The film will only be available on this film platform as the well-known streaming provider has secured the rights to the sequel.
What kind of film is Code 8? The project started in 2016 as a short film on YouTube. Shortly thereafter, a crowdfunding campaign was launched with the goal of expanding the short film into a full-length feature film.
With the help of fans, the film project was financed and the sci-fi movie with Stephen and Robbie Amell became a huge hit in 2019 (via Filmstarts).
The film established a world where a small number of people in the population have special powers. However, they experience discrimination – they are seen as freaks.
In November 2024, the sequel to Code 8 was announced. Director Jeff Chan said (via Deadline): […] We know this is a sequel that will take the story to a new level.
Here you can watch the teaser trailer for Code 8 Part II:
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Netflix: German teaser trailer for Code 8 Part II
“This is the ‘We now have a budget’ sequel we’ve been waiting for.”
How is the community reacting to the teaser trailer? Many express their surprise and joy over the news that Code 8 will continue in the comments under the teaser trailer on YouTube.
They wish the project success. Especially the fact that Netflix can now offer the filmmakers a larger budget is noted positively.
Here are some comments we gathered for you:
seventyeight3452: “This is the ‘We now have a budget’ sequel we’ve been waiting for.”
imrafasilva: “Thank you for believing in the franchise. The short film and the first movie were great, but now, with the budget of an original Netflix film, it will become a masterpiece.”
fridgegaming 1544: “I still remember when it was just an 8-10 minute short film. And now a second part?! Let’s go!!”
What is Code 8 Part II about? The teenager Pav (played by Sirena Gulamgaus) had to witness her brother being killed by corrupt police officers.
As a result, she herself comes under the police’s radar as the perpetrators want to prevent their actions from coming to light. Especially the ruthless Sergeant King (Alex Mallari Jr.) does everything to silence the teenager.
Pav is on the run and trying to survive. She receives support from former criminals Connor (Robbie Amell) and Garrett (Stephen Amell), who possess superpowers.
A gamer buys a new gaming PC and has it delivered by shipping. But when the package arrives, he is quite shocked: Because the PC is heavily damaged and hardly usable.
A user has purchased a new gaming PC. However, he is quite shocked when he opens the package he received. Many users from the community strongly recommend the buyer to report the damage or send it back immediately.
What exactly happened to the PC? The user reports himself on reddit that he bought a gaming PC. But when he opened the package at home, he found the PC in a demolished state:
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Sometimes, however, damages are only partially visible externally. If you open the package at home and then notice damages, you should report it promptly. You can report damage to the package contents up to seven days after receipt.
Consumer advocates advise unpacking the package in the presence of the delivery person (via verbraucherzentrale.de). Because by signing, the recipient not only confirms receipt but also that the package arrived in a proper and good condition.
However, opening in the presence of the delivery person is not always possible, as we can report from our own experience. Often delivery people refuse to be present and refer to regulations set by their superiors or that you should contact the company directly if there are any issues. However, this is not very helpful if the package is either broken or the hardware is even missing.
If this should happen to you: Contact the seller and the shipping company directly so that you are not ultimately paying for damages for which you are not responsible:
