A study at the University of Bonn used video games in the treatment of people with depression – with amazing results.
What was the study about? A study at the University of Bonn aimed to investigate the effect of 3D video games on subjects with severe depression (Major Depressive Disorder). The 46 participants were divided into 3 groups and subjected to one of 3 treatment types over 6 weeks:
One group played the Nintendo classic Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch
One group worked with the computer program ‘Cogpack’, which is supposed to improve brain performance
One group received the ‘standard treatment’ in the form of psychotherapy and/or medication
The aim of the study was to examine the impact of video games on the mood, motivation, and memory of those affected.
Our expertise at MeinMMO is gaming and everything that goes with it, not medicine. If you are struggling with depression, please consult a doctor you trust. If you need help urgently, you can contact the Telephone Counseling Service for free, around the clock. You can reach them at 0800/111 0 111, 0800/111 0 222 or 116 123 or on their official website.
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The “Deep Dive” is supposed to immerse us into MMORPGs deeper than ever before – What is it actually?
Video games can have a positive effect on well-being
What were the results of the study? In fact, the researchers found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms only in the gaming group. Thus, Super Mario outperformed both the cognitive training program and the classical therapy in this regard.
However, the working memory showed an improvement in only one test, while the CogPack group improved in all visually-spatial memory functions.
What is particularly interesting is that the participants in the gaming group had a significantly higher motivation to continue their ‘treatment’. The researchers caution to interpret the results of the study carefully and state that further investigations with larger samples are necessary.
Nevertheless, the results show that video games can positively affect well-being and have the potential to be used as a complementary treatment at some point in the future.
If you are interested in the scientific aspect, you can find the complete study on Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Not only at the University of Bonn have scientists recognized the potential of video games in research. One scientist wanted to explore the relationship between certain mental disorders and complex problem-solving skills and used an 8-year-old city-builder on Steam for this purpose.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The year 2023 is coming to an end and shooter fans have also been able to enjoy some new games in recent months. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller has taken a look at the shooters that were released in 2023 and selected the top three.
How did this list come about? I looked at all the shooters released in 2023 and made a selection of the three best based on various factors. Among other things, I paid attention to the state of the game (performance, bugs, etc.) as well as player satisfaction.
Why isn’t shooter X included? Quite simply, because in my perception it does not belong among the three best shooters of the year. This can have various reasons, including poor performance, a plethora of bugs, or other factors that negatively affect the gaming experience.
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The Finals – Pure destruction and fast movement
Genre: Arena shooter |Developer: Embark Studios |Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series |Model: Free-to-play | Perspective: First-person
I won’t beat around the bush and will start directly with the best shooter of the year: The Finals.
The title from Embark Studios gets a lot right, including the gunplay, movement, and various abilities and gadgets.
The selection of weapons is small, but the gunfights are still fun. The movement is fast, but not excessive.
There is no fall damage and gadgets that allow vertical gameplay, which sensibly enhances movement.
The gadgets have interactions. Gadget B counters Gadget A, Gadget C counters Gadget B, and so on.
The three classes, including the various weapons, abilities, and gadgets, allow for individual builds and team compositions to play different strategies
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In The Finals you can live out your destruction rage – Trailer for the Open Beta
The unique selling point of The Finals is clearly the enormous extent of destruction that players can wreak on the map.
You can destroy almost any building and deliberately blow up walls or floors to gain the upper hand. Often
Pro
The destruction of the map is not only innovative, but unique
Free-to-play
The fresh release ensures an active player base at the moment
Intuitive, easy gunplay with consistent recoil patterns
Fast movement, enhanced by gadgets
Players can create individual loadouts and adapt them to their play style
Strategic uses of gadgets and abilities give the gameplay additional depth
Contra
As a free-to-play shooter, The Finals has had a cheating problem shortly after release
SBMM has been a bit too strict since the last update
The movement feels slower to many players than in the open beta
Only 4 maps, with more planned for the future
Remnant 2
Genre: Co-op shooter |Developer: Gunfire Games |Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series |Model: Buy-to-play | Perspective: Third-person
With Remnant 2, we also have a PvE shooter on the list. The title from Gunfire Games impresses with its atmosphere, world design, and tough gameplay and is a worthy successor to the first part – Remnant: From the Ashes.
Remnant 2 is not a normal PvE shooter, as the third-person title is also a soulslike and therefore wants to drive you crazy with tough boss fights.
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We played Remnant 2 – Is the co-op game worth it?
You can choose from various classes – the so-called archetypes – and attributes to select the best combination for you and fight to survive in the dark game world with up to 3 players.
A highlight of Remnant 2 are definitely the many secrets hidden within the shooter. For example, there is a class that was only discovered through data mining.
Pro
World building/ world design/ atmosphere
Every playthrough is different because the order is randomized
BattleBit Remastered is a PvP shooter that made headlines in summer 2023 as the low-poly Battlefield. And that describes the game principle of BattleBit quite accurately.
You choose a class and join up to 254 players in a chaotic battle, either on foot or with various vehicles. You have well-known weapons such as an M4 or UMP at your disposal.
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Battlebit Remastered – Announcement Trailer
While the game modes, player counts, and general chaos remind one of Battlefield, the representation of the characters is more reminiscent of LEGO than of a classic first-person shooter.
Even if BattleBit doesn’t look like a great shooter, it implements the most important aspects well. Especially the gunplay is convincing. But also the maps, selection of weapons, and class compositions enhance the gaming experience.
Pro
Large chaotic battles like in Battlefield
Good performance
Intuitive and simple gunplay
Good selection of weapons, maps, and class gadgets
Beginner-friendly
Contra
Available only on Steam
Low-poly graphics aren’t attractive
Some players complain about a susceptibility to motion sickness
Player numbers have decreased significantly since the successful release
Honorable Mention: Roboquest
The roguelike shooter Roboquest narrowly missed out on our top 3, but still deserves an honorable mention. In Roboquest, you play short level instances against AI and collect various weapons along the way. When your character falls in battle, you have to start a new run and begin again.
Both the movement and the gunplay are successful in Roboquest. The same goes for the art style and soundtrack of the game. Roboquest follows a simple principle and implements it very well.
In 2023, there were also a few shooters that didn’t make it into the top 3. The aforementioned shooters all had flaws and points of criticism that prevented them from being included in our list – even if a big name is behind the shooter.
Counter-Strike 2
The highly anticipated shooter came with problems. Bugs, cheaters, and glitches dampen the gaming experience.
In addition, players miss numerous contents that the predecessor CS:GO had.
One point of criticism is also the worsened peekers’ advantage
MW3 is actually not a bad shooter, which even receives praise from players – especially developer Sledgehammer Games, which quickly responds to community feedback, has been able to impress.
In general, the game’s implementation has been criticized – for example, regarding the pre-made classes
Moreover, EFT: Arena can hardly be counted as “release 2023”. The shooter only started its closed beta a few days ago and only granted access to a small number of players in the first wave.
Players in Baldur’s Gate 3 have come up with a particularly clever idea for New Year’s Eve. They plan a special fireworks display at the expense of a companion. MeinMMO reveals what it’s all about.
What is planned? The Polish gaming group baldurawka has come up with something very special to usher in the new year in the Game of the Year Baldur’s Gate 3 – they plan to blow up the beloved character Gale all at once tonight when the clock strikes twelve.
On X, a player named outstarwalker stumbled upon this spectacular idea and shared it on Facebook. The group, describing itself as a Meme-Shitposting-Community on Facebook, which revolves around the “Baldur’s Gate” series and D&D in general, seems to have concocted the perfect plan to end 2023 with a bang – quite literally.
Start video
Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence
Fireworks at the push of a button
But who is Gale? For those wondering who the hell he is: he is an origin character in the critically acclaimed turn-based RPG Baldur’s Gate 3. There are several companions who can join your group – one of them is Gale.
Spoiler: The following contains spoilers about Gale’s story.
Gale is a human mage and a true prodigy. Gale’s goal is to become the greatest mage of all time, and on his journey, he shines with his extensive knowledge and charming, empathetic nature.
How do they plan to blow up Gale? To understand the explosive idea, one must delve a little into Gale’s backstory. He has an insatiable thirst for magic, and in his chest lies a destruction sphere that could explode at any moment. To prevent this, he must constantly consume magical items.
However, during his questline, there is a chance to fix this problem. After an encounter with the powerful Elminster, he no longer needs magical food. Instead, the player gets a button on the hotbar to make Gale explode at any time.
The explosive execution
The creative minds at baldurawka have decided not to use this power in combat but to utilize it as the ultimate New Year’s fireworks. But how is that supposed to happen?
Here come three options into play:
Blow him up yourself with the button on the hotbar at any arbitrary place, which means game over.
At the end of the second act, Gale offers to blow himself up and eliminate the nasty enemies, which however leads to the end of the game.
Another option appears at the end of the game (Act 3), where Gale wants to sacrifice himself. If you allow that, the scenes at the end continue, unlike in the sacrifice in the second act.
The Facebook group is unfortunately set to private, so it remains unclear whether they will blow up Gale at any place or specifically at certain sequences. But honestly, that’s probably the least important question in a venture as epic as a magical New Year’s fireworks display.
The idea of ushering in 2024 with an epic Gale fireworks display has its own charm.
In Pokémon GO, numerous Community Days took place again this year. But which one was your favorite? We want to know that from you here at MeinMMO in our survey.
Which event is it about? In addition to the Hoenn Tour, the annual GO Fest and various live events, the various Community Days were particularly a highlight for many trainers in Pokémon GO in 2023.
From starter Pokémon like Charmander and Squirtle to rare dragon Pokémon and strong attackers, a variety of monsters were available. But before the year comes to an end and new adventures in Pokémon GO await you, let’s take another look back at this year’s Community Days and want to know from you which one you liked the most.
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Which Community Day did you like the most in 2023?
How many Community Days were there in 2023? As in the previous year, there were 12 regular Community Days in 2023, complemented by 5 additional Community Day Classics. At these total 17 events, you not only encountered monsters of various types and secured corresponding Shinies, but also benefited from numerous bonuses.
What are Community Days anyway? In Pokémon GO, a multi-hour event is held every month, focusing on a designated Pokémon. You can then find it almost everywhere in the wild, and its shiny rates are significantly increased. These events are rounded off with changing bonuses and subsequent Level 4 raids.
Additionally, every few months, a so-called Community Day Classic takes place, focusing on a monster that was previously available in this event format. We have summarized all the monsters you could encounter in 2023 below.
1. Igamaro
This year, the Community Days kicked off with the plant Pokémon Igamaro. The small hedgehog could be found everywhere in the wild on January 7th for 3 hours, and also celebrated its shiny debut on this occasion. When evolving to Brigaron, you could also secure the event move Flora Statue. The hatching distance of your eggs was reduced to a quarter during this time.
2. Larvitar
On January 21st, Larvitar returned in the Community Day Classic. The rock and ground Pokémon from Generation 2 brought you not only a lot of spawns and an increased shiny rate but also the event move Catapult when evolving to Tyranitar. Additionally, you could enjoy triple XP for catching on this day.
Pokémon GO: The strongest attackers of all types in the video
3. eF-eM
In February, the flying and dragon Pokémon eF-eM was in the spotlight of the Community Day. In this one, you could also hunt wild specimens and especially shinies for 3 hours. If you evolved it to UHaFnir, it learned the event move Sonic Boom. Additionally, you could farm triple stardust for catching on this day.
4. Flegmon & Galar-Flegmon
The Community Day Pokémon in March came in a double pack, as the water and psychic Pokémon Flegmon appeared not only in its regular form but was accompanied by its Galar form. Both spawned in the wild for three hours, gave you triple XP for catching, and of course could also be secured as shinies. When evolving, you could benefit from the event move Surfer.
5. Togetic
The joy Pokémon Togetic appeared for the Community Day in April. Not only could you benefit from numerous wild spawns, but you could also hatch shiny Togepi from the event eggs with a bit of luck. Additionally, the hatching distance was reduced to a quarter for all eggs placed in an incubator during the event. If you also evolved Togetic, then Togekiss received the move Aura Sphere.
6. Quiekel
Another Community Day in April was the C-Day Classic with Quiekel. The ice and ground Pokémon, which was already part of the event format in 2019, returned and brought you numerous spawns as well as triple stardust for catching. Who evolved Quiekel into Mamutel also secured the event move Ancient Power.
7. Fynx
In May, the fire Pokémon Fynx from the 6th Generation made it hot in the game. With Flamethrower and Magical Flame, you could secure two new moves upon evolution. Additionally, you could also farm decent stardust for catching on this day.
8. Milza
As in previous years, a dragon Pokémon was again the focus of the Community Day in June: Milza. It was therefore a good opportunity to secure a shiny specimen of the otherwise shy monster. When evolving, Maxax also learned the charge move Broadside and triple XP was earned for catching.
9. Schiggy
Matching the warm temperatures in July, Squirtle provided a cooling down during the Community Day Classic. Besides the event move Hydro Cannon, which Blastoise could secure upon evolution, you had the chance to encounter a Squirtle with sunglasses. Additionally, your eggs hatched four times faster during this event. Since there were issues during this event, the complete C-Day was repeated again at the end of July.
10. Quapsel
For the regular Community Day in July, Niantic continued the series of water Pokémon and provided you encounters with Quapsel. The tadpole Pokémon also reduced your egg hatching distance by four times. Depending on how you evolved Quapsel, you could secure the event move Counter for Quappo and Ice Beam for Quaxo.
11. Froxy
And for the Community Day in August, it got wet again, as the water Pokémon Froxy spawned for three hours in the wild, providing some shiny encounters. If you evolved it to Quajutsu during the event period, you secured the event move Hydro Cannon. Additionally, the evolution could also learn the instant move Water Shuriken since then. Furthermore, there was triple stardust for catching during the event.
12. Glumanda
The second to last Community Day Classic this year brought you the starter Pokémon Charmander in September. With Dragon Breath and Flamethrower, Charizard learned two event moves on this day. Additionally, you could benefit from a triple stardust bonus for catching.
13. Mabula
For the Community Day in September, the bug Pokémon Mabula celebrated its shiny debut in the game. During the event, you could secure triple XP for catching. When evolving, Donarion also learned the electric move Volt Switch.
14. Praktibalk
In October, the fighting Pokémon Praktibalk was the focus of the C-Day. The monster, which usually could only be found in raids, spawned around every corner on this day and offered good chances to snag a shiny specimen. Its evolution Meistagrif learned the event move Whirlwind upon evolving. In addition, you could benefit from a stardust bonus for catching.
For the Community Day in November, finally, two Pokémon awaited you again. The water and ground Pokémon Felino arrived with reinforcement from the Paldea region. Its Paldea variant celebrated its debut in the game that day and was also first catchable as shiny. Upon evolving, you could secure the charge move Drench Tail for Morlord, and Suelord, the evolution of Paldea-Felino, received the move Many-Fin. Additionally, the hatching distance for eggs was reduced to a quarter that day.
16. Voltilamm
In November, the last Community Day Classic for this year took place, where you could encounter the electric Pokémon Voltilamm. The little sheep granted you again a four-times shorter hatching distance for your eggs. Additionally, when evolving to Ampharos, you could benefit from the event move Dragon Pulse.
At the end of the year, the annual Community Day Weekend took place again on December 16th and 17th. During this, you had the opportunity to encounter all C-Day Pokémon from the current year in the wild once more. The monsters could learn their respective event moves upon evolving without using a TM.
The event was rounded off with various bonuses, such as double XP, stardust, and candies when catching, as well as a shortened hatch distance, special field research, and a limited research. Furthermore, you had the chance to find corresponding shinies again.
But that’s not all; the C-Day Pokémon from 2022 also appeared during this event in 2 km eggs and Level 1 raids. This way, you had the opportunity to secure the following monsters as well: Sandan, Alola-Sandan, Alola-Kleinstein, Hoppspross, Teddiursa, Galar-Zigzachs, Seemops, Staralili, Kiesling, Lichtel, Kapuno, and Velursi. These Pokémon could also learn their respective event moves upon evolving.
Which of the monsters was your highlight this year and why? And which monsters do you hope to see in the Community Days in 2024? Let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments and discuss with other trainers.
The popular cartoon series “South Park” has produced countless iconic moments and characters. One of the most iconic characters is probably the stereotypical MMORPG nerd from the legendary WoW episode. Did you know that he is said to have been inspired by a real person?
What was that episode about? “Make Love, Not Warcraft” is the 6th episode of the 10th season of South Park. The episode premiered in the USA on October 4, 2006, with the German premiere following on March 28, 2007, on MTV.
In the episode Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny play World of Warcraft, but a griefer constantly kills their characters, preventing them from playing. The griefer bears the historic name Leeroy Jenkins and is depicted as an overweight middle-aged MMORPG nerd whose apparent purpose in life is to ruin the fun of others in WoW.
The episode is considered one of the funniest “South Park” episodes ever and holds the second-highest rating of all episodes on IMDb with a 9.5.
The depicted caricature of an MMORPG nerd became a meme. For many fans, the now-deceased cosplayer Jarod “NWBZPWNR” Nandin, who meticulously recreated the character, is perhaps the epitome of the “South Park Guy,” but in fact, the character is said to be based on a real person.
In the video, we reveal another secret to you: The origins of the iconic Murloc gargling:
Start video
WoW: Where does the Murloc gurgle come from?
A Blizzard employee is said to have been the inspiration
Who is the WoW nerd from South Park? The inspiration for the character is said to be the then-Blizzard employee Joeyray Hall. He worked there for 23 years on games such as Overwatch, Diablo, and of course World of Warcraft. Most recently, he was the Senior Project Manager for Cinematics.
The information about the identity of the WoW nerd was shared by his son, Jason Hall, in a stream two years ago. However, the revelation gained renewed attention through a clip shared on his TikTok account in November 2023. Hall Junior himself worked for Blizzard until 2016 and is now an indie developer. On Twitch, he talks about his experiences in the gaming industry.
Here you see the corresponding excerpt from the stream, including photos of the original WoW nerd.
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The original WoW nerd probably knew nothing of his appearance
How did the appearance come about? For “Make Love, Not Warcraft,” the “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone worked closely with Blizzard Entertainment. In the commentary for the episode, they revealed how surprised they were by the company’s willingness to support them.
Thus, Blizzard provided their own character models, computers, and the alpha server of the expansion “The Burning Crusade” to create the in-game scenes for the episode. It is quite possible that those responsible also collaborated with Joeyray Hall.
As his son reveals on Twitch, Hall supposedly knew nothing about his appearance in advance. The creators only informed him of this “honor” after they had already included him in the episode. They were apparently concerned that he might react angrily, but Hall took it with humor, according to his son.
For his sportsmanship, Hall is said to have received the framed original script of the episode from the “South Park” creators and proudly hung it up in his apartment.
Visually, there is indeed an undeniable resemblance between Joeyray Hall and the MMORPG player – once you know it, the long ponytail of the “South Park” character is hard to miss.
A shot that shows Jason Hall in the clip also reveals how the character was originally supposed to look, side by side with the original. However, the “South Park” creators apparently thought that was not enough, as they exaggerated and made the character “gross,” according to Hall.
But not only the character was modeled after Hall; the background of the apartment he lived in at the time also seems to match – down to the lamp visible on the left in the picture.
What is the original WoW nerd doing today? Joeyray Hall left Blizzard and WoW in 2014 and now lives in England. He has been working for Jagex on the legendary MMORPG Runescape since 2020.
The editorial team of MeinMMO loves anime – well, at least most of us do. Here we present to you our absolute all-time favorites.
At the latest since the Corona pandemic, anime has sneaked into the mainstream, and the former “weebs” hardly need to hide for their hobby anymore. We at MeinMMO took this as an opportunity to talk about the favorite anime within the editorial team and then present the series to you. So if you need some good anime recommendations – from ancient classics to lesser-known gems – then take a look at which anime our authors at MeinMMO swear by. Have fun!
The respective information about the streaming provider of the series is valid for December 2023 and may change in the future.
Berserk – The Golden Age
Alternative Names: Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror Episodes: 3 Stream available on: Currently, no streaming provider known, only available for purchase.
In the Kingdom of Midland, the mercenary Guts roams, preferring a life of conflict over a life of peace. After the mercenary leader Griffith witnesses Guts’s performance in battle, he coerces Guts into joining the group. The mercenaries are deployed in the fight against the Chuder Empire to save Midland – but Griffith seems to have much bigger plans that reveal a much larger goal…
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Sophia says: I have watched many animes – recommending just one is hard. However, Berserk has been leading my favorites list unbeaten since 2016. Specifically, I want to put the film trilogy “The Golden Age” in your hearts: What begins as an “Lord of the Rings”-like adventure ends as “Game of Thrones meets Dark Souls.” Political scheming gives way to a horrific yet fascinating nightmare of blood and death. I love stories where characters are confronted with extreme situations and the dark abyss of the human self opens up. And once you’ve seen the movies, let’s discuss this: “Griffith did nothing wrong.”
Naruto Classic
Alternative Names: / Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Episodes: 220 Stream available on: Netflix (9 seasons)
Just before the birth of Naruto Uzumaki, the village is attacked by a demon – Kyuubi, the nine-tailed fox. To end the slaughter, the village elder sacrifices his life and seals the demon in the unborn child.
Years later, the overzealous Naruto has trouble finding his place in the village – after all, the demon resides in his body, leading to a lot of prejudice against him. Moreover, he also wants to become the leader of this village, which only leads to more disputes. In search of his place in the world, Naruto finds a few friends – but also a lot of enemies who demand everything from him in numerous battles.
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Christos says: Naruto Classic is, for me, the best anime I have ever seen.
Tragic fate, gripping battles, and unpredictable events always keep the tension high. But above all, the characters with their deep stories about family, friends, and dogmas imposed by their clans draw you further into the world of shinobi and promise a varied story. Therefore, I can recommend Naruto Classic to every anime fan, and if the story doesn’t move you to tears, the music will do the rest – believe me.
Fabienne says: Naruto stands out for me not only for its exciting plot and fascinating characters but also for the deeper messages it conveys. For example, the idea that true strength lies in the ability to exceed oneself and fight for what one believes in has always been inspiring to me.
Despite the challenges and rejection in his youth, Naruto Uzumaki never gives up and fights hard to achieve his goals. Every time I hear the song “Sadness and Sorrow,” I get goosebumps – but in a good way. Naruto will always have a special place in my heart.
Black Butler
Alternative Names: Kuroshitsuji Genre: Action, Fantasy, Mystery Episodes: 46 (3 seasons) Stream available on:Currently, no streaming provider known, in 2024on Crunchyroll.
The boy Ciel Phantomhive must solve many obscure cases for the royal family in Victorian England. He is accompanied by his butler Sebastian Michaelis, who possesses superhuman abilities. Not surprisingly, he is a demon bound to Ciel through a contract. At least until he can eventually devour the boy’s soul…
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Marie says: Black Butler is the title that sparked my love for anime. As a big fantasy fan, I immediately liked how the story throws mythological figures like demons, angels, and hellhounds into the setting of Victorian London.
In one moment, your heart warms when you see Sebastian care for the well-being of his master. But in the next moment, the series reminds the viewer that the butler is still a hungry demon, waiting to devour Ciel’s soul. Yet it is this complicated relationship and the (sometimes a bit reluctant) cooperation that create a thrilling character dynamic between the main figures.
The anime is gripping, emotional, and dark, but also delivers humorous moments. My personal favorites in the series are the Grim Reapers (especially Grell Sutcliff!), who run around with various gardening tools and are completely unbothered by overtime when yet another demon has muddled their soul business.
One Piece
Alternative Names: / Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Episodes: 1080+ (ongoing) Stream available on: Crunchyroll
The former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger, set the world in turmoil when he spoke of the greatest treasure of all time – the One Piece. Since then, countless pirates have tried to find this treasure – among them Monkey D. Luffy, who eats a Devil Fruit and receives an elastic body. He expands his crew and tries to become the greatest pirate of all time, but time and again, other pirate groups, the Marines, and other organizations get in his way…
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Jasmin says: Most of my anime news revolve around One Piece, and there’s a good reason for that. The anime has been with me since my childhood, and I’m glad that it is currently experiencing such a huge hype. Luffy and his friends go through exciting adventures and repeatedly show how important friendship is. This solidarity fascinates me: Luffy stands up for his crew in every terrible situation, but every member supports Luffy in reaching his dream. This way, they can overcome any danger that Oda throws at them.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Alternative Names: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal Alchemist, FMAB Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy Episodes: 64 Stream available on: Aniverse (Amazon Prime Premium Channel)
During an alchemical experiment, brothers Alphonse and Elric break a taboo and attempt to transmute a human, which forever alters their bodies. Now infamous as the “Fullmetal Alchemist,” they roam the world in hopes of one day reclaiming their original bodies – but in doing so, they uncover an increasingly large conspiracy that ultimately threatens the entire world.
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Mary says: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is rightly praised to the skies. Rarely has an anime impressed me so enduringly. The play with good and evil and the gray areas in between, the raising of difficult moral questions, and the individual fates of the characters still make me think today about the anime and its story of equivalent exchange. Moreover, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (not to be confused with Fullmetal Alchemist, which deviates more from the manga source) has managed to make me love every single character in some way over the course of the story. This rarely happens to me with anime.
If you’re in the mood for a fantastic mix of action, drama, and dark fantasy, I can only recommend the story of Edward and Alphonse. By the way, I see it as equivalent exchange that you must now watch the anime after my recommendation.
Higehiro
Alternative Names: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in A High School Runaway Genre: Drama, Romance Episodes: 13 Stream available on: Crunchyroll
After employee Yoshida was rejected by his great love, he drinks excessively. When he wakes up the next morning, he finds the underage Sayu lying next to him. The girl has run away from home and is jumping from one guy to another to have a place to stay – and she goes as far as to exchange her own body for it.
Once Yoshida ensures that he keeps his hands off Sayu, he tries to get the student’s life back on track. He offers her a place to stay until she is ready to return to her family. But while Yoshida tries to fit into this temporary father role, Sayu develops completely different feelings for the man who treats her so differently than all the others before…
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Cortyn says: Although Higehiro might not be my “best anime of all time,” it is the one I have watched the most since its release in 2021 – a total of 5 times.
The story of Yoshida and Sayu has just the right mixture of “Uhh, forbidden exciting!” and “emotionally deep,” so that after each episode, you stare at the screen with a crooked smile and wonder whether to celebrate Yoshida’s fatherly behavior or to pity Sayu’s emerging feelings.
What struck me as particularly positive is that both Yoshida and Sayu are well-developed, relatable characters. Yoshida is not a typical 08/15 anime protagonist but takes responsibility, behaves like an adult, and is aware of the consequences – something I miss in many other anime.
But Sayu, who may seem simple at first glance, is much deeper and more emotional than is usually the case for classic “best girl” waifu characters.
Moreover, the story is not only heartwarming and exciting but also very painful – especially the final episodes still manage to bring me to tears even after the 5th time. Even in 20 years, Higehiro will be an anime that I still enjoy watching.
Even more favorite anime from the MeinMMO editorial team can be found on page 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
You love classic arcade machines and also have a soft spot for rhythm games? Then the arcade halls in Tokyo might be for you. That’s what MeinMMO author Max Handwerk thought too – but felt a bit overwhelmed.
When I was young, my family often traveled to Italy. Those summers were filled with beach visits, ice cream, pizza, and an arcade hall that was near our apartment. Now and then, my brother and I were allowed to go there in the evenings to throw some tokens into machines featuring classics like Tekken, Metal Slug, Spider-Man, or Street Fighter.
I loved those machines back then, and I still love them today – even though you can hardly find them anywhere anymore.
I was accordingly excited when I was in Tokyo in the summer and realized: My goodness – there are a lot of arcade halls here. And these halls were just packed.
The term “arcade hall” hardly does these structures justice. Spread over several floors, Tokyo’s arcades are filled with machine after machine. Downstairs, there are usually typical claw machines that drain your money by enticing you with anime plush toys that you’ll never get out of the machine anyway.
I wasn’t aware that this was such a big deal in Tokyo. But curiosity was piqued, and my group set out to explore the floors full of gaming machines.
Excitement and Overwhelm
On the other floors – things really got exciting. Because there are a whole bunch of different games inviting you to play. And the production apparently hasn’t stopped in any way, because while the machines from my childhood offered rather pixelated graphics and clunky controls, there are games that can basically compete with PS5 graphics.
Particularly, I remember a kind of battle royale fantasy game that looked really cool – only what we had to do here wasn’t exactly clear. Thema language barrier.
And this feeling crept in more and more from game to game. What started as pure excitement quickly gave way to a certain overwhelm. I soon realized: you almost need an acclimatization training here. Because the halls are not only full, they are especially loud. And not just a little.
The most intense moment came when we reached a level completely dedicated to rhythm games. I actually love those: I used to play Guitar Hero endlessly. But in the hall, we didn’t even come close to using a guitar controller.
Bright, clattering anime rhythm games were the order of the day, with control units that I honestly only partially understood, let alone mastered. The hall added to the confusion: it clacked and blinked at every corner.
The other visitors in the hall, however, seemed hardly impressed: with a speed and concentration that left me in awe, mainly teenagers flew through the songs at the machines, while we ruined the simplest songs on the lowest level.
It was a unique experience. Every single game was really exciting to watch. The problem was more the sheer mass of machines standing edge to edge – all with loud sound. Just visiting the hall made the pulse race. So much so that after about 10 minutes we went outside and joked: Now we need a month of peace. But that wasn’t too far from reality either.
Nevertheless: it was an exciting insight into an area of gaming that is hardly prevalent in Germany – at least in my experience. Sure, you can still find the occasional Pacman machine in bars and similar places, but real arcade halls have become rare.
What do you think of arcade halls? Do you associate anything with them, or are they just a relic of the past for you? Tell us in the comments!
The year is once again coming to an end, and 2023 has provided us with some good trailers and already some great games. In this list, you will find five trailers from this year that the authors of MeinMMO particularly enjoyed.
What kind of list is this? In this list, you will find 5 trailers from the year 2023 that particularly impressed some of our authors.
In this list, you will not only find the trailers and information about the games, but also some brief impressions of why these trailers were appreciated.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Launch Trailer
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Launch Trailer for the Role-playing Game Baldur’s Gate 3
What kind of game is this?Baldur’s Gate 3 can probably be considered the most well-known game of the year 2023. There is hardly anyone in the gaming community who hasn’t heard of this RPG.
It is the latest installment in a legendary series and captivated many players after its release. The game’s variety of gameplay options, the unique charm of the characters, and its humor quickly endeared it to many players.
Why was this trailer so captivating? This trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3 was especially exciting because it was the launch trailer, promising a complete immersion into the game.
This trailer touched many fans. However, it also convinced many players who previously had little experience with Baldur’s Gate.
Even though the trailer may not be the fastest, most elaborate, or spectacular, it captures very well the journey the game will take you on. Especially RPG fans should have found this trailer compelling and taken notice of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Did it meet expectations? MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus had the chance to test Baldur’s Gate 3 and was not disappointed by his playthrough.
After the good trailer, Baldur’s Gate 3 definitely lived up to its promise. The fact that it became GOTY and won numerous awards speaks for itself.
World of Horror – Launch Trailer
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World of Horror celebrates release with frightened teenagers and creepy monsters
What kind of game is this?World of Horror is a game that immerses you in a fictional version of the Japanese city of Shiokawa in the 90s.
Your task is to investigate various supernatural occurrences. Multiple runs are programmed, as the game is designed in a Roguelite manner, making it likely that you will frequently meet an untimely end.
Why was this trailer so captivating? The trailer captivated mainly with the idea behind the entire game. The combination of an old-school JRPG with Junji Ito aesthetics is a refreshing and fantastic concept for horror games.
Junji Ito is a Japanese manga artist known for his intriguing style and horror mangas. His style and the horror genre fit together very well for a game.
Did it meet expectations? Already through demos and similar means, one could get a pretty good impression before purchasing the game and knew what to expect. Hence, one couldn’t really be disappointed.
A Metacritic score of 81 also suggests that the game managed to meet most players’ expectations set by the trailer and first impression.
Genshin Impact Version 4.1: To the Bright Stars Deep in the Water
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Genshin Impact Version 4.1 Trailer
What kind of game is this?Genshin Impact is an RPG by Hoyoverse, particularly popular among anime fans and fans of Japanese RPGs.
It regularly delivers interesting gameplay content to its players through story and event updates, as well as new large areas or characters.
Why was this trailer so captivating? The trailer impressed not only with the new content shown. MeinMMO author Marie Friske also made her excited for the new version.
She was particularly thrilled by the music, which varied throughout the trailer and laid a very atmospheric backdrop over the presented content. Overall, she was especially convinced by the entire editing of the trailer.
Did it meet expectations? As a Genshin player, you can’t avoid the new versions. However, MeinMMO author Marie played them directly and can say in hindsight that the trailer did not promise too much.
Marie herself writes: ‘Both the new story content and the new character Neuvillette were really enjoyable to me.’
With its rather vibrant colors and sunny environment, it definitely stands out. Throughout the game, you collect various masks to gain new abilities.
Why was this trailer so captivating? Besides providing a pretty good insight into the gameplay, this Soulslike was also able to impress MeinMMO author Linda Knabe again in this trailer with its setting and concept.
Enotria: The Last Song not only offers hope of becoming a good game through the trailer but definitely stands out with its setting among some other games.
2023 was also the perfect year to encounter some interesting Soulslike games. Just this year, she dared to tackle her first Souls game with Bloodborne and is now excited to experience this genre even more.
Did it meet expectations? Whether Enotria: The Last Song can meet the expectations it sets will remain to be seen. The game is not yet available but is expected to release in 2024.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: DAWNTRAIL – Extended Teaser Trailer
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Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail – Trailer for the new expansion
What kind of game is this?Final Fantasy XIV is a popular MMORPG that is among the largest subscription-based titles on the market.
Especially for fans of the Final Fantasy worlds, this game is probably the perfect MMORPG. It also offers a variety of content, such as an extensive crafting system, good housing, and hardcore raids.
Regular content updates continually provide new material to the players of Final Fantasy XIV.
Why was this trailer so captivating? MeinMMO author Fabienne Kissel saw the trailer live at the FFXIV Fan Festival in London. This makes it a particularly special trailer, as she will always associate it with her time at the Fan Festival.
In general, she was captivated by the trailer as she has been playing Final Fantasy XIV for years and always looks forward to finding out how the story continues. She writes about this trailer: ‘The theme of the expansion definitely looks very promising.’
Also, the music by Masayoshi Soken is definitely a significant plus for the trailer.
Did it meet expectations? Whether the expectations set by the trailer can be met remains to be seen. This is an expansion that is supposed to be released in summer 2024.
Which trailer particularly impressed you in 2023? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The former lead designer of WoW, Ghostcrawler, is working on a new MMORPG codenamed Ghost. Now he shares more about what is specifically planned for 2024. MeinMMO reveals the details.
The year 2023 is coming to an end, and the MMORPG codenamed Ghost, under the leadership of experienced game designer Greg Ghostscrawler Street, presents exciting plans for 2024.
The project, developed by Fantastic Pixel Castle (FPC), promises a captivating mix of theme park and sandbox and is being developed for PC. The game has been in development since March 2024. The game is supposed to be inspired by dungeons and raids from WoW while aiming to set new standards in exploration and game world.
Start video
Ghostcrawler presents his new development studio in the video
The game concept of Ghost
What kind of concept does Ghost have? Players start in a large city and gaze at dozens of islands in the sky, divided into two types: the Red Shards and the Blue Shards.
Red Shards: Typical MMORPG areas with quests, bosses, dungeons, and raids. Here, cooperative player experiences take center stage.
Blue Shards: Areas tied to the players and their group, reminiscent of survival games. Here, players can build, design, and shape their own worlds.
Ghost promises a variety of classes and playable races. Additionally, there will also be an ongoing story.
Greg Street and his team have revealed ambitious plans for the MMORPG. We will tell you what is specifically planned for 2024.
Ghost MMORPG: A look into the plans for 2024
What specific plans are there? For the year 2024, the team’s main focus will be on prototyping, as announced by the team through the official page of Fantastic Pixel Castle and Greg Street on X.
This phase includes testing and refinements in three specific areas, including the Blue Zones, classes and combat, as well as the Art Style and the world of Ghost.
Blue Shards
A key focus lies in experimenting with various approaches to ensure that each Blue Zone feels different and fun for players. Considering player preferences, the team aims to create unique and engaging environments within these zones.
The Blue Shards are crucial to the gaming experience. Here, there is the opportunity to meet up with friends without having to worry about strangers passing by.
The potential of the Blue Shards ideally lies in strong replayability, allowing players to explore various maps with variable combinations and unlock new rules that they can apply. Thus, players can influence their own world.
Classes and Combat
The team plans to make progress on classes and combat. The goal is to modernize the MMO space in these dimensions while maintaining familiarity and accessibility for genre veterans.
Some tricky questions still need to be clarified, concerning armor, critical hits, resistances, and the scaling of equipment.
Art Style and the World of Ghost
The third key focus area includes defining the style and expanding the world of Ghost. The team aims to create a clear visual and narrative identity that will serve as a foundation for future development.
As a preview, a glimpse of one of the latest concept images has been shared, here you can see the image:
What else is the team planning? The team also plans to intensify direct communication with the community – with an official Discord server and regular updates across various platforms. Collaborating with players remains an important part of their identity as a studio, and they want to improve how they handle it.
Although they do not plan to conduct larger player playtests during this phase, they still want to share with players what they have learned from their internal playtests.
Through the Discord server, they plan to create a space where the team can share inspirations and ideas and also hear what excites the players. With the feedback and input, they want to continuously improve the MMORPG Ghost.
The biologist Joe Vogel deals with the current season 7 vs. Wild on YouTube and the mistakes of the contestants. In his opinion, there is a fundamental lack of knowledge in many situations: For example, to what extent the body can tolerate salty water or how to check if an algae is toxic. Just starving for 2 weeks is not survival, Vogel explains. Especially if you live in the “land of milk and honey”.
These are the questions that dominate 7 vs. Wild: There were some situations in the current season 3 that raise knowledge questions:
The experienced survival influencers Survival Mattin and Fritz Meinecke were eliminated because their drinking water source was contaminated with salt due to a spring flood, and they did not want to drink from the river. Survival Mattin said: Saltwater destroys the kidneys. Was the water from the river really undrinkable?
Also, the question repeatedly arose about what was actually edible and what was not. Participant Renzmann, for example, only ate a few salal berries during the 2 weeks and otherwise starved: He lost almost 17 kilos. Could the participants have eaten something?
One of the participants of season 3 is Twitch streamer Jens “Knossi” Knossalla. You can see more about him in our video:
Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi
Meinecke admits knowledge gaps in the area of salty water
This was Fritz Meinecke’s perspective: The founder of 7 vs. Wild faced questions from fans after his elimination. He admitted: He has a knowledge gap, does not know to what extent salty water is drinkable. He knows that pure seawater cannot be drunk, but that’s where it ends.
While searching for answers, fans pointed him to a YouTube video by Joe Vogel, but Meinecke couldn’t follow the biologist’s explanations, didn’t know the technical terms, and repeatedly said, “It’s all too much for me.”
Knossi and Sascha Huber are facing criticism.
“Knossi and Sascha Huber are actually out”
This is what Vogel says now. The educated biologist and journalist criticizes the participants of 7 vs. Wild and the show harshly in a video from 29.12. Vogel explains that the team of Knossi and Sascha Huber must have actually already been eliminated. In general, Vogel has no understanding of knowledge gaps and repeatedly shows books he has written on survival topics and recommends them to viewers.
Knowledge gaps regarding what is edible or not are not accepted:
These are things that you just have to learn. If you can’t do that, you are on-site and make a mistake and then are afraid of dying, and then you ask: “Can I eat this?” And then you get the information: “No, you can’t eat that.”
If he doesn’t have the information, he eats it, potentially poisons himself if he doesn’t do it right. And this additional information acquisition – that’s what makes survival.
According to Vogel, it is the duty of every participant to independently gather all necessary information: That is real survival. He gives instructions on how to find out if food is toxic by sticking it to the lip for a while and waiting to see if “the lip tingles” or becomes numb.
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Vogel is equally unforgiving towards Survival Mattin and Fritz Meinecke: One does not need to know to what extent salty water is still drinkable. But if one does not know it, it leads to having to withdraw from such a self-experiment:
“You don’t need to understand osmolarity. You don’t need to know how much salt must be present for water to still be drinkable. However, that can lead to having to abandon a survival attempt because you are not able to answer these questions. That happened to Fritz and Mattin. There were simply gaps.”
The two ate almost nothing: Renzmann (right) lost almost 17 kilograms.
Two weeks of hunger is not survival
This is his thesis: Vogel says the tools and resources that one can take into the wilderness are limited. But the knowledge in one’s head is unlimited. This knowledge must be accumulated and maintained.
The show “7 vs. Wild” and also survival influencers placed too strong a focus on the materials that people bring. Things like crafting or building a shelter (a temporary accommodation) are not the essence of survival:
“Just build a camp at a reclusive, elevated spot, collect water, and that’s it. You have covered the basics. The vast majority is information.”
Much more important is the knowledge of what you can eat and what you can drink. Knowledge about what animals are present on site and how to prepare them correctly.
It is not survival to simply starve for 2 weeks:
“Feed the frogs. There are snakes on the island. There are crabs, there are fish, there are snails. All participants have a spot with littoral, which are those rocks that go into the water. They are bursting with food. And if you have also dealt a bit with red tide, it’s a land of milk and honey.”
Does he also find something good about 7 vs. Wild? Vogel actually praises the organization of season 3, it was much better than before. However, with 14 participants, you cannot plan everything in advance.
The participants also do much fewer stupid things.
He probably refers here primarily to the women’s team, who researched the wilderness of Canada in more detail beforehand and for example ate snails or made good use of the local fauna. But the women’s team also made an unusual discovery:
The new MMORPG “Ashes of Creation” is considered by many to be the most exciting Western MMORPG not developed by Amazon or Riot Games. The founder Steven Sharif announced a Christmas message at the end of 2023: The next big alpha without NDA is planned for 2024, but that will still take some time.
What kind of MMORPG is this?
Ashes of Creation is the passion project of self-made millionaire Steven Sharif, who believes that MMORPGs need to awaken from their long slumber.
Essentially, after the end of the development of Everquest Next in 2016, Sharif adopted many from the team and even more ideas from the failed Everquest 3: Ashes of Creation is supposed to offer a world that continuously changes through a “Node System”.
The development of the MMORPG began as early as 2015 and is generally open. However, there are always phases where nothing is heard about the MMORPG because everything is behind a curtain of NDAs. The last major milestone was Alpha-1 in August 2021. At that time, there was also strong new gameplay emerging.
Start video
Ashes of Creation Alpha Two Freehold Update
Next Alpha without NDA not until Q3 2024
What is the next milestone? In a Christmas message to fans on Discord, Steven Sharif dated the next major testing phase of his MMORPG for Q3 2024. Here, Alpha 2 is supposed to start and again take place without NDA, then we will hear and see more from the game again.
This message encourages fans: As Sharif announced, the developer has now grown to 170 people – there is a tremendous amount of manpower behind it.
Sharif says 2023 was a year of setbacks for the gaming industry, many lost their jobs. He says Intrepid has tried to give some of the laid-off a home who are looking for a new MMO.
In 2024, the MMORPG wants to continue to grow and employ people who lost their jobs in 2023.
Pre-sale for packages granting access to Alpha 2 ends
How can you play this? Anyone who wants to participate in Alpha 2 will probably have to hurry. Sharif, being the marketing man he is, says that they actually have enough players for Alpha 2 and therefore do not want to offer any more pre-order packages that secure access to Alpha 2. The current offer ends on January 17.
The cheapest package that grants access to Alpha 2 costs $250 – this may also always be the catch with the project that sounds so great: The business methods behind the game have been questioned critically more than once. Anyone who wants to test and be part of the Ashes of Creation community has to invest as much as for several full-price titles: The 5 most promising new MMORPGs for 2024 and beyond
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Despite the strike and many delays, 2023 was another packed year for films. Barbie and Oppenheimer dominated the internet, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse showcased how innovative animated films can still be today. However, some films have also gone under the radar. Here are 5 worthwhile Netflix movies for the holidays.
How was the list created? All the films you see here were released on Netflix in 2023. The list consists of a mix of more and less well-known gems. The genres are also varied, offering something for everyone. If your hidden gem of the year is missing from this list, please let us know in the comments.
[toc]
1. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
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Weird: The Al Yancovic Story – Teaser for the silly biopic parody
Since the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, music biopics have been sprouting up every year. Elvis, Xatar, and Milli Vanilli all have their own films. The musician Weird Al Yankovic, known mainly for his music parodies, also has such a film. However, like the artist himself, the movie is far from a serious story.
The film tells the story of Weird Al and how he came to make his parodies. The movie doesn’t take the truth very seriously and mocks biopics in the process. The big highlight of this wonderfully silly story is the quirky performance by Daniel Radcliffe.
Originally, the movie was released in America on Roku in 2022, but it has only been available on Netflix here since this year.
2. Nimona
Start video
Nimona – Trailer
Spider-Man showed in 2023 that animated films still have much creative potential. Animation is also a big playground full of treasures on Netflix. The film Nimona is especially worthwhile if you have grown tired of Disney and Pixar films.
The knight Ballister is wrongfully accused of a crime, and only the shapeshifter Nimona can help him. As a knight, Nimona is actually Ballister’s enemy, but the unlikely duo teams up to clear his name. The film addresses themes such as same-sex love and social belonging.
Even MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya was excited about the film:
The Texan Zack alias “Asmongold” is one of the biggest and most influential MMORPG streamers on Twitch. Thousands of fans watch him when he complains about Blizzard – and that is exactly why he is so important to the gaming studio, says a former employee of Blizzard.
What relationship does Asmongold have with Blizzard? The Twitch streamer has a kind of love-hate relationship with Blizzard. He has been playing WoW for years, building his career on playing and talking about the MMORPG. Nevertheless, the Texan is one of the sharpest critics and the first to complain when something is not going as it should.
Asmongold always shares his opinion with his thousands of fans. Conversely, however, we know significantly less about what Blizzard actually thinks about Asmongold and his Twitch colleagues. A former employee, however, provides insights.
Start video
Career and life of Asmongold in 3 minutes – What makes him special?
Asmongold, the voice of the people?
What kind of employee is this? Jason Hall worked for Blizzard for 6 years, is now an indie developer and also active on Twitch. On the streaming platform, he talks about his experiences in the gaming industry, also expressing criticism of his former employer.
In a stream, a viewer wanted to know what Blizzard actually thinks about Asmongold and streamers like him. In 2016, when Hall left the company, Asmongold had just 3,000 viewers and was still far from being considered an authority on everything related to MMORPGs and Blizzard.
Nevertheless, the developer had quite a bit to say about the streamer. What exactly that is, you can listen to here:
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Why Asmongold is important for Blizzard: As Hall explains, Asmongold is a polarizing figure. Some appreciate him very much, while others can’t stand him. He himself has always liked the streamer, and for one reason: Asmongold is basically the prototypical MMORPG player.
“Asmongold is the consumer. Asmongold is the player. Asmongold is everyone,” says Hall. He means: If as a developer you do not listen to Asmongold, then you are not listening to his community either. However, that does not mean that one must do everything the Twitch streamer demands.
However, if one were to forget that Asmongold is the voice of the people, it would happen at one’s own risk, Hall concludes.
The developer adds: Many people could not stand Asmongold because he only complains. But when the streamer complains, it is because the players are angry, says Hall. They would not watch him if they did not agree with him.
Hall himself says he would watch Asmongold’s content even if he does not always agree. Because even if the player base has a wrong impression of what is happening, it is useful for a developer to know their perception.
In Pokémon GO, many themed events and live events took place in 2023. Our MeinMMO author Franzi attended two of them and explains why the game should always be like this.
Which events are we talking about? In Pokémon GO, you can benefit from various themed events every month that you can play from anywhere in the world, but now and then, so-called live events are also held. These usually take place over several days in a previously selected city.
After I already attended the GO Fest in Berlin in 2022, I didn’t miss the live events this year. In addition to the GO Fest in London, I also visited the Safari Zone in Barcelona. I have summarized below why both events are among my highlights of the year and why, in my view, we need more of them.
What makes live events so strong
Unique atmosphere: Unlike the numerous themed events that Pokémon GO offers its trainers throughout the year, live events provide even more. Hundreds of like-minded individuals gather in one place, hunt the little monsters, and create a unique atmosphere through joint battles and trading activities.
What I find particularly impressive is the special community feeling that develops on site. Together with complete strangers, you cheer for legendary raid bosses, shinies, or monsters with perfect IVs. New friendships in the game and sometimes even in real life are not uncommon here. Even at the Safari Zone in Barcelona, where the event extended throughout the entire city, you could feel like you could meet enthusiastic Pokémon GO players at every corner.
These kinds of scenes can only be found sporadically at the global themed events, even seven years after the release of Pokémon GO. Many local communities have broken apart during the pandemic, which players in rural areas have always felt. But even in many cities, some trainers prefer to play alone because of the popular remote raid passes, making it increasingly difficult to make contacts with like-minded individuals.
Unique settings: The live events are also complemented by uniquely designed settings and corresponding photo spots. At the GO Fest in London, for example, you could walk through a huge flower meadow, discover a jungle, or admire a Pokémon bus, all of which invited you to take photos with your favorite Pokémon.
But even at the slightly smaller Safari Zone in Barcelona, there was a lot to discover. Unlike the GO Fest, this event format does not have a large location where most of the event takes place; instead, it stretches across the entire city and offers various interesting spots for trainers scattered throughout.
Next to a photo spot, you also found the typical meet & greet with Pikachu and Eevee, which is very popular among many trainers.
Hot air balloon for the GO Fest in LondonFairy garden for the GO Fest in LondonJungle landscape for the GO Fest in LondonPokémon bus for the GO Fest in LondonPokémon bus for the GO Fest in LondonPhoto spot for the Safari Zone in BarcelonaMeet & Greet with Pikachu at the GO Fest in Berlin 2022
Special challenges & cool Pokémon encounters
What challenges were there? Of course, the appropriate special research and limited tasks cannot be missing from such events, which sometimes provide you with special Pokémon encounters. At the Safari Zone in Barcelona, I was particularly impressed by the special Eevee challenge, which was one of my highlights.
To achieve this, Niantic set up special Eevee stops throughout the entire city area, which were marked with a meadow at the base of the stops. When you discover such a stop and spin its photo disc for the first time, you receive a unique, costumed Eevee with an explorer hat from the limited research. You could obtain up to 8 of these Eevees in one event day.
My family and I were motivated to not only go monster hunting around the advertised event points but to explore the city in search of the Eevee stops, allowing us to get to know Barcelona from a different side.
Cool shinies & exclusive Pokémon: In addition to Eevee, there were more interesting monsters to discover in Barcelona. During our tour through the city, we also encountered a shiny or two that were missing from our collection.
My favorite was Mähikel. The monster was available for ticket holders for the first time in the game that day and also celebrated its shiny debut, which is usually not the case for all new Pokémon.
At the GO Fest in London, some strong and shiny Pokémon also joined my collection. The special and sometimes exclusive spawns therefore make the live events even more interesting for me.
Eevee with explorer hat & shiny Mähikel
That’s why Pokémon GO needs more live events
The impressions I gathered at the live events over the last two years always excite me. This was reaffirmed for me with the Safari Zone in Barcelona.
The great and unique atmosphere on site, the contact with other trainers who sometimes travel from all over the world to the events, as well as the lovingly arranged locations, make Pokémon GO a successful adventure for me every time. An experience that the global themed events simply cannot offer in this way.
Especially because the community is no longer so active in many places, this makes it even more special and should, in my view, be much more often around the game. For this reason, I would wish for more such events in the future.
These events do not have to be as large as the annual GO Fest, because even smaller events, like at the Safari Zone, bring the community closer together again. A greater number of event locations could also enable more players to experience this feeling for themselves.
Therefore, it is already clear to me that I want to be part of the live events of Pokémon GO again in 2024.
Have you ever attended a live event from Pokémon GO? How did you like it? Would you also wish for more of them? Or are the global themed events sufficient for you? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO and exchange ideas with other trainers.
Rekkles is one of the biggest ADC talents in League of Legends. However, he switched to the role of supporter and joined the T1 Esports Academy team at the end of 2023. In an interview, he explains why it was the best decision for him to move to the 2nd league in South Korea.
This is the situation:
The Swede Carl Martin Erik Rekkles Larsson has taken an admirable step in his career during the off-season
Rekkles is 27 years old and is already considered one of the veterans in esports due to his age
He has joined the South Korean team T1 Esports Academy, not as an ADC, but as a supporter. Previously, he played for Fnatic, G2 Esports, and Karime Corp, among others
Now he will play in the upcoming season in the LCK Challengers League. There, he will meet young talents. He is already training in South Korea for the upcoming season, and he quickly reached the rank of Challenger in Soloqueue.
In an interview, Rekkles revealed why he chose T1 and why he did not stay in Europe. He also explains why the switch to supporter is the best decision.
Start video
7 Facts about LoL that only true veterans know
The Decision for T1: A Dream Comes True
In an exclusive interview with Kim Yong-woo from Daily Esports, Rekkles shared why he decided to join T1 and not stay in Europe. The Swede emphasized that T1 contacted him first. After discussions with manager Becker (Jeong Hoeyun), he felt an irresistible urge to take on the challenge at T1.
He said:
[…] I think I am someone who wants to seize every opportunity or challenge that comes my way. […] It’s not an easy challenge, but I wanted to have a different experience in Korea, for example, to play professionally, meet Korean people, and experience Korean culture firsthand.
The decision for the supporter position did not come overnight. Rekkles explained that he did not want to have any What if I …-moments during the game. After establishing himself as a professional, he did not want to do the same thing every day. The switch to the support role offered him a new challenge that he happily accepted, as he clearly states in the interview.
I also didn’t want to retire and think about what could have been if I had gone to another team and done something different. For him, being a supporter is like a new challenge, as if he is opening his eyes for the first time. Everything is new and he loveslearning new things.
T1 and South Korea: Realizing a Dream
Choosing T1 and South Korea was not just a sports decision for Rekkles, but the realization of a dream. The prospect of playing for T1 in Korea was his dream scenario.
He said:
T1 is the best gaming team and has a great organization. The dream situation I had this time during the position switch was that if I could play in a country, I would play for T1 in Korea.
I am now living my dream. Even though I am on the second team, I have a lot to show as a supporter.
Although he looks back on a long history as one of Europe’s standout players, Rekkles considers his current team experience to be a new beginning.
He emphasizes:
Even though I am older and more experienced than the other players, I am a newcomer here. I have only been playing in the support role for seven months. To improve, I think it’s necessary to compete in the best region and against the best teams.
Rekkles also stated that he had no major concerns about playing in the second league. He has great confidence in the expertise of Korean teams in their operations.
He further explained:
When I was at Karmine Corp in 2022, I was worried about the management of the league and the poor attitude of some teams in the league. You don’t have to worry about that here because all teams are LCK teams and behave professionally.
With this career move, Rekkles not only continues his own journey but also helps to push the boundaries of esports further. The upcoming season will show how well the European legend can hold his own in the South Korean league.
The year 2024 also brings many innovations for World of Warcraft. We will tell you what fresh content is coming.
Fans are looking at the coming year in World of Warcraft with mixed feelings. Because although Blizzard has already announced the “World Soul Saga”, a cycle of 3 expansions starting with “The War Within”, now a rather annoying period is ahead: The time between two expansions.
Many are afraid of a “content drought” here, due to previous experiences. Because usually there is always some downtime between two expansions while the developers focus on polishing the next addon.
It will likely not be much different in Dragonflight, but at least there is already a timeline of what content we can expect in 2024 – and it is quite a lot.
Essentially, Blizzard has promised that around “every 8 to 10 weeks” new content will continue to be released. This at least speaks for a fairly tight schedule – whether it can be maintained remains to be seen.
Winter 2023 / 2024 – Patch 10.2.5
The next “major” update is Patch 10.2.5, which is already playable on the PTR and is currently expected to be released in January. This can already be inferred from the fact that the update brings some revisions of the Valentine’s Day event “Love is in the Air”.
After the Amirdrassil stepped from the Emerald Dream into the real world of Azeroth at the end of Patch 10.2, the night elves began to populate the new World Tree. They can be found not only at the trunk but have populated the whole island. There are several residential buildings, inns, temple facilities, moon wells, and a large harbor. There is even a dedicated portal area.
The new capital of the night elves is currently under construction.
Even if the city may still appear a bit barren, one must not forget that Bel’ameth is still under construction. It might take a while until the night elves finally feel at home again.
“In addition, Blizzard significantly expands dragon riding with this patch. It will now be called “dynamic flying” and can be used in all areas that support ordinary flying. This also means that you can use many old flying mounts like dragons – even if some of them might not work yet, as Blizzard has to create a lot of animations here.
Spring 2024 – Season 4 and Patch 10.2.7
Presumably between April and June, Dragonflight will start the fourth season and will also release Patch 10.2.7.
This patch will also offer a bit of story – such as the recapture of Gilneas. The Worgen seem to be reclaiming their old home. However, how this will happen is still unclear.
We already know that Blizzard will bring back the “Fated” system from Shadowlands here. This means that all three major raids of the current expansion (Vault of the Incarnations, Aberrus – Crucible of Shadows, Amirdrassil – Hope of the Dream) will have their difficulty increased and will be equipped with better loot. This way, all raids will be relevant for a while.
This has the advantage that you can revisit the entire expansion, and those who did not play from the beginning can experience the raids in all their glory once again.
Genn Greymane wants his kingdom back – and the time seems to have come.
It can be assumed that with this patch, the “prologue” to The War Within will also begin. Thus, at least a few quests are likely to appear to push the story in the right direction.
Which dungeons will be in this season is still uncertain – but it seems likely that the “Dragonflight” dungeons will return as they were missing in the last season.
Autumn 2024: The War Within
In autumn 2024, that is between late September and mid-December, we can expect the next expansion. This, of course, goes along with the Pre-Patch 11.0, which will likely already bring some innovations and improvements. Smaller revisions of the classes and a few core features like the Warbands, in which many things will be unlocked account-wide – including reputation and fame.
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
Additionally, of course, there will be all the usual stuff of an expansion, including:
Additional patches with new raids, dungeons and more
Even though there is no official release date for the next expansion yet, Blizzard has at least roughly indicated “Autumn 2024”. However, the latest possible date according to pre-order would be December 31, 2024 – and Blizzard will want to meet that date at all costs. Which of the three versions is worth it, we have revealed here.
At first glance, the year 2024 may seem a bit quieter because it has to bridge the gap between two expansions. However, there are enough innovations and fresh (or rehashed) content to at least maintain a WoW subscription for a few months – even if it’s just to prepare all characters for the new expansion.
If you have concerns, you can, of course, also wait until the launch of The War Within and then take advantage of the (certainly) renewed hype to return to World of Warcraft together with many others.
Are you looking forward to the WoW year 2024? Or are you using the time to take a little break from Azeroth?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In The Finals, a bug is causing a stir. With a trick, you can fly through the air as a Light class, giving you an advantage over your opponents.
Why are players flying across the map? In The Finals, there are many different ways to approach a fight, and a bug now allows flying to be one of them. This is not intended by the game and only works due to a bug that had actually already been fixed.
Only in the last patch was the actual error fixed, as it has been possible to fly in The Finals since the beta.
The developers have obviously recognized that this is something that is no longer just an expression of skill. We have reported extensively on the patch here. Players have now found a way to fly through the arena again with a complex trick.
Currently, the Winter event is running in The Finals, and you can see the trailer for it here.
Start video
The Finals shows the Winter Event 2023 in a new video
New versions of the trick make it strong
How is the trick changing? On Twitter, some altered versions of the trick are already circulating. For example, some players have attached explosives to their flying object, allowing them to fly directly into opponents to inflict devastating damage.
There are also versions where players fly using Goo canisters, which can trap opponents for a time.
Until the bug is definitively fixed by the developers, players of The Finals will likely continue to find further methods to exploit it. To help you improve without exploiting the bug, we have prepared 10 tips for you here.
How does the community react to the bug? The community is divided. Some see the trick of flying through the air by exploiting a bug as an interesting expression of skill because the trick is difficult to execute, while others want the bug to be fixed as soon as possible.
RatWithABat writes on Twitter: “I still don’t understand how people handle these canisters, I just can’t do it.”
Wheatley Crab sees it as an expression of skill and says: “It is movement techniques like these that get patched and can take away the uniqueness from all games.”
queb suspects that he won’t enjoy the trick for long: “I want to use it, but I know it will get patched immediately because it’s fun.”
Even though the developers of the game prioritize fun, many want to get better in The Finals. You can improve in The Finals without bugs by choosing the best weapon, which is why we have compiled our 10 best weapons in The Finals.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The basketball player Mikkal Bridges is 1.98m tall and plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. He owns a portable PlayStation 5 that travels with him in a suitcase to away games. Apparently, he is popular among his teammates thanks to the portable PS5. This way, one can easily play NFL Madden in any hotel room on the go. But why doesn’t he just take a Steam Deck instead?
Who is this?
Bridges is 27 years old and plays shooting guard/small forward for the Brooklyn Nets. He has been a starter since 2020, first for Phoenix, and since February 2023 for Brooklyn.
With an average of 26 points and a strong shooting percentage from the field and the free throw line, he is an important scorer for the Nets.
However, his sports year ended early in 2023. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, it was already over in the first round of the playoffs.
Start video
PlayStation Showcase 2023 Accessories Sneak Peek Trailer
Portable PS5 – just plug in a cable and go
This is his gaming pride: In a video on TikTok, Bridges shows his portable PS5:
The NBA player shows a suitcase containing the PlayStation 5, with a monitor on the inside of the lid and controllers included. The setup of the gaming system is said to be incredibly simple; one only needs to plug in a single cable into the wall, turn it on, and can start playing immediately.
“My boys and I play a lot of Madden. Having that thing with me on the go is something I really need. My teammates – everyone in the league loves playing that game. It makes traveling easier for us.”
How expensive is the portable PS5? According to information from the site TheVerge , the construction is said to cost over $1,000.
What is the discussion? Two things are being discussed.
Some say: “Just get a Steam Deck”; but that probably wouldn’t be a good option to play NFL Madden, a football simulation from EA released annually since 1988. Madden is generally considered a console game, especially when you want to play with multiple people on one device.
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The other point is the irony that US basketball players are apparently crazy about a football game and do not play “NBA 2k Live,” where they could play themselves, but Madden is simply an institution in the USA, with which many have grown up.
Editor-in-chief Leya remembers how she used to be obsessed with League of Legends.
It is the year 2016 and I am 26 years old.
I am in the attic apartment of my ex-boyfriend, from where I overlook the panorama of the Dutch city of Leeuwarden. It is midsummer and I see the front gardens of the typical small houses with the large windows blooming.
I am studying marketing in Holland, have little money, but more free time than today. At that time, I play a hell of a lot of League of Legends. My PC, which consists of old donated hardware components from my friend circle, handles the game easily and it is free.
I play League of Legends not only because it runs well on weak hardware and fits my student budget. No other game has managed to pull me into this constant tunnel where I play one match after another and forget everything around me.
Always on the hunt for the next win and the next better place on the leaderboard.
When the water runs to your feet
My then-boyfriend was already working and left the apartment every day for several hours to work in the office on video games.
While I sip my coffee and still consider whether to start my assignment for university, I have unconsciously already opened the client for League of Legends. There is no one online that I know, but I feel like climbing the leaderboard. I begin to search for a match alone.
My coffee is empty and I no longer need the cup. I go to the kitchen and place it in the sink. To prevent the coffee grounds from drying out, I turn on the faucet and fill the cup with water. Meanwhile, I am already thinking about the game and considering which champion I want to play.
I hear the distinctive ping that tells me I have found a game. Quickly, I run to the PC to accept the match, put on my headphones, and I am already in the middle of a game.
I can’t say how long I’ve been playing. I am in the flow and play one match after another.
At some point, I feel something wet on my feet, which are in socks. When I look down to find the source, I see a puddle creeping closer to my feet. Surprised, I take off my headphones, hear a splashing sound, turn around in my office chair, and see the calamity:
The whole living room is underwater!
I forgot to turn off the damn faucet. Quickly, I rush into the kitchen while it splashes and patters under my feet. From the corner of my eye, I see the water happily splashing down the stairs into the hallway.
First, I turn off the faucet. Along with the water beneath me, my tears quickly join that run down my cheek. The water is simply about one centimeter deep in the apartment. Immediately, I wonder what my boyfriend will think about the fact that I have flooded his entire apartment.
Abundant towels and a beer in the evening sun
After I have collected myself internally, I quickly gather all the towels I can find. I use the towels to soak up what I can. I open the windows in the hope that it helps in drying.
I realize that there is so much water that I cannot wipe it up with the towels. The fixtures in the kitchen are also full. I scrub until I have no towels left.
The rest will have to dry somehow. My guilty conscience knows no bounds right now. I can’t think of anything better than to go to the supermarket and get my then-boyfriend’s favorite beer.
With my shopping, I walk back dejectedly and put the beer in the fridge. Everything is still damp.
I hear the key turning in the lock. I take a deep breath and go to the apartment door to intercept my boyfriend. When I see him, I must cry from shame. I explain to him what happened. Now we both stand in a damp living room with wet towels everywhere.
He was also as much a fan of League of Legends at that time as I was and understands how this damn game can pull you in. With a grin, he picks up the towels and throws them in the bathtub. The apartment now has to air dry.
I feel relieved and we start laughing at the absurd situation. He is very happy with his favorite beer.
The rest of the evening, we sit on the windowsill and let our feet dangle out the window. Now we have the damp apartment behind us and no longer think about it. The cool beer tastes too good while we look at the front gardens of the neighbors in the summer evening sun.
To gaming nights and a cold beer
Later, the landlord should replace the kitchen unit so that no wood warps from the moisture. At this point, a special mention goes to Mom and Dad, who instilled in me how important it is to have household insurance. Otherwise, it would have been very expensive.
The relationship ended a few years later for reasons other than the flooding of the apartment. But this memory has remained one of the finest from that time in my mind.
It reminds me of a carefree time. Of gaming nights with friends, always on the hunt for the next rank in League of Legends.
Of a cold beer on the windowsill at dusk. With my legs dangling out of the window.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fallout 76, the first MMO in the Fallout universe, had a difficult launch in 2018, although the ratings on Steam have since recovered. One of the participants reveals how he experienced that time and why he left Bethesda after 14 years.
What was the deal with Fallout 76? The first MMO in the popular Fallout series had a difficult reputation from the start. Many players actually wished for the single-player sequel Fallout 5, and there was frustration over a pre-order edition without a game and missing NPCs.
At the release in November 2018, Fallout 76 thus faced pretty mixed reviews. A former Bethesda employee now reveals how he experienced that time.
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Fallout – New Trailer for the Series at the Game Awards
Developer says no one expected so much criticism
What kind of employee is this? Nathan Purkeypile worked for Bethesda from 2007 to 2021 and was a lead artist involved in the great open worlds of Fallout 3 and 4. However, while working on Bethesda’s current major title Starfield, Purkeypile decided to leave the studio.
Now, the Bethesda veteran works as a solo developer on his own game, “The Axis Unseen.” In the well-known Noclip podcast on YouTube, Purkeypile recently talked about the time after the release of Fallout 76 (via 3D Juegos).
How was it back then? The launch of Fallout was terrible, according to Purkeypile; there is no need to sugarcoat it. “We were kind of the villains of the internet, the most hated thing ever,” said the developer.
The negativity was pretty difficult for everyone on the team to handle, Purkeypile reports. They were aware that the game had issues, but they probably didn’t expect the volume and intensity of the criticism.
Purkeypile says he had advocated for adding NPCs to the game, but he also didn’t think that their absence would be the worst thing ever, “as if someone had killed a puppy.”
Here you can see the whole video, starting at 5:46 it’s about Fallout 76.
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Was there also something positive? As lead artist, the huge map of Fallout 76 was under Purkeypile’s responsibility. It was one of the few aspects of the game that was actually praised at launch. Players said, “This game is bad and I hate it, but that’s a cool map, that’s cool art.” In this memory, pride can be heard from the developer’s words.
Overall, the experience was one of the reasons why he prefers to be an indie developer now: No matter what he does, he knows he will probably never make the internet as angry as he did back then.
How is Fallout 76 doing today? On Steam, the MMO now has a solid rating of 75% recommendations from nearly 50,000 reviews. Just recently in December 2023, Bethesda proudly announced that they had surpassed the 17 million player mark. They also revealed how Fallout 76 will continue in 2024. They are far from done, Bethesda said.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
