In World of Warcraft, there is now a present for you. But hurry, because the Winter Veil Tree will only be around for a few more days.
While the whole world celebrates Christmas, the Winter Veil festival takes place in World of Warcraft. Here, too, there are new gifts every year, but you have to remember to claim them. In typical American tradition, the gifts can only be opened on December 25th – and that’s also the case for the Winter Veil festival in Azeroth.
As every year, there is a brand new gift, just like this year – in fact, there are even two gifts.
What are these gifts? Among all the gifts under the Winter Veil Tree, you will also find the two new gifts for 2023:
Winter Veil Socks: A toy. For two minutes, you leave small snowflakes while walking, and occasionally even small snow piles. 10-minute cooldown.
Junior Timekeeper’s Racing Belt: For one minute, you leave large rings while walking or flying, through which other players can fly. These are visually the same rings you find in dragonriding. This way, you can create your own dragonriding races – or simply guide your friends if they get lost again.
Where can I find the gift? That depends on your chosen faction.
Members of the Alliance travel to Ironforge and the auction house. Here sits Old Father Winter, and there stands the great Winter Veil Tree with the gifts.
Supporters of the Horde travel to Orgrimmar. Right in front of the building of the former Warchief in the main square, you will find the tree with the colorful packages.
Until when is it available? The Winter Veil festival ends in World of Warcraft on the morning of January 2nd – so you should have picked up your gifts by New Year’s Day at the latest (01.01.2024), otherwise, you will miss them for this year.
By the way, picking up the gifts is also possible with a small character – if you don’t have an active subscription right now, you can simply send a low-level character to collect the gifts.
Is there more? Yes, you can open more gifts, namely many gifts from previous years. Note that you can also open most of the gifts from previous years that are also under the tree – some, however, are no longer available.
If you missed certain gifts that are no longer available, you can get them with a bit of luck through a daily quest where you must defeat Grumpus in the Hillsbrad Foothills.
Have you picked up your gift yet?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some watch Home Alone during the holidays, others prefer The Grinch, and some say Die Hard is the perfect Christmas movie. What the team behind the action film thinks about this you can find out on MeinMMO.
Die Hard (Original title: Die Hard) is an American action film from 1988, directed by John McTiernan. The screenplay was written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza. Die Hard is about the policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis), who single-handedly takes on gangsters that have occupied a skyscraper.
Every year, Die Hard airs on German television: Even in 2023, it was that time again:
Sat1 showed Die Hard 1 and 2 on December 23 from 8:15 PM to 1:30 AM.
For those who missed it: On December 26, the repeat runs from 10:50 PM to 3:35 AM, again on Sat 1.
Between December 27 and December 30, Vox shows Die Hard 3, 4, and 5.
Start video
Die Hard – German trailer for the action movie with Bruce Willis
“It’s a damn Bruce Willis movie”
What does Bruce Willis say to the question? In a one-and-a-half-minute roast on the YouTube channel of Comedy Central, Bruce Willis, who plays the lead role in Die Hard, explains briefly and succinctly on July 30, 2018, what he thinks about the action movie being called a Christmas movie:
I’m doing this roast for one reason. To clarify something once and for all. Now listen very carefully. “Die Hard” is not a Christmas movie!
It’s a damn Bruce Willis movie. Yippie-Ya-Yay, suckers – to all of you. Good night!
But director John McTiernan also has an answer to the question. On August 5, 2022, he spoke in episode #526 with the hosts of the Empire Film Podcast about the debate (via screenrant.com).
What does the director say about it? In the podcast episode, John McTiernan said according to Screenrant that it is not for them to say, but for the audience. “If the viewers decide that [Die Hard] is a Christmas movie, it is a Christmas movie.” It turned out to be the case.
But the fact that it was a Christmas movie had a lot to do with the fact that it is very politically correct when viewed from a distance. And the only reason it survived is that the people in the studio who would have prevented it were fooled because they thought it was just an action movie about a Christmas party gone wrong.
Reginald VelJohnson plays the role of Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard and was therefore Bruce Willis’s co-star. However, his opinion on the subject is closer to that of the director than to that of Bruce Willis.
What does the actor say about it? In an interview with ComicBook.com, Reginald VelJohnson said in December 2021 that during filming he didn’t even think that Die Hard was a Christmas movie.
I knew there was a Christmas theme in the film, but it was not the focus of the movie. And I never really realized that it would become a Christmas movie until the audience told me it was.
And when the audience said that it is a Christmas movie, I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, damn it. It’s a Christmas movie! Whatever you want. As long as you watch the movie, I’m okay with that.’
But now that it has become a Christmas movie theme, I’m fine with that. They have shown it every Christmas, and that’s okay with me. I have no problem with that.
Even the crew behind Die Hard seems to be divided on whether the action film is a Christmas movie or not. Ultimately, it is obviously up to everyone to decide for themselves.
Did you know that some of the biggest Hollywood legends in the action film industry turned down the role in Die Hard? In the end, Bruce Willis was the fortunate one who experienced a significant career leap due to the lead role:
Reginald VelJohnson plays the role of Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard and was therefore Bruce Willis’s co-star. However, his opinion on the subject is closer to that of the director than to that of Bruce Willis.
What does the actor say about it? In an interview with ComicBook.com, Reginald VelJohnson said in December 2021 that during filming he didn’t even think that Die Hard was a Christmas movie.
I knew there was a Christmas theme in the film, but it was not the focus of the movie. And I never really realized that it would become a Christmas movie until the audience told me it was.
And when the audience said that it is a Christmas movie, I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, damn it. It’s a Christmas movie! Whatever you want. As long as you watch the movie, I’m okay with that.’
But now that it has become a Christmas movie theme, I’m fine with that. They have shown it every Christmas, and that’s okay with me. I have no problem with that.
Even the crew behind Die Hard seems to be divided on whether the action film is a Christmas movie or not. Ultimately, it is obviously up to everyone to decide for themselves.
Did you know that some of the biggest Hollywood legends in the action film industry turned down the role in Die Hard? In the end, Bruce Willis was the fortunate one who experienced a significant career leap due to the lead role:
Today marks the start of Pokémon GO Part 2 of the Winter Holiday Event. What to expect, you will learn here.
When is the event? Part two of the Winter Holidays starts on Monday, December 25 at 10:00 and ends on Sunday, December 31 at 20:00.
What is available in the event? In addition to various Pokémon that you can encounter in the wild, in raids, through egg hatching, and through field research, there will also be bonuses, a free limited research, as well as two paid limited researches available.
Additionally, during the event there will be stickers that you can receive through PokéStops and gifts. New avatar items will also be unlocked for purchase at the start of the event.
These Pokémon are waiting for you in the event
Which Pokémon can I encounter in the wild? You can encounter the following Pokémon during the event in the wild.
Pikachu in holiday clothing *
Alolan Vulpix *
Wingull in holiday clothing *
Jurob *
Eevee in holiday hat *
Quiekel *
Botogel in holiday bow *
Schneppke *
Seemops *
Galar Flampion *
Gelatini *
Petznief in holiday bow *
Frigometri *
Flaniwal
Sniebel * (rare)
Keifel (rare)
Amarino * (rare)
Pokémon marked with an asterisk * may also appear in their shiny form. Gelatini can be found as shiny for the first time.
Here you can see the trailer for the current season Timeless Travels.
Start video
Pokémon GO shows the new season “Timeless Travels” in the trailer
Which Pokémon can I get in raids? In raids, these Pokémon are waiting for you during the event.
1*-Raids:
Pikachu in holiday clothing *
Alolan Vulpix *
Petznief in holiday bow *
Krabbox
Flaniwal
3*-Raids:
Jugong
Lapras *
Botogel in holiday bow *
Glaziola in underwater holiday outfit *
The * marking indicates which Pokémon are available as shiny.
Which Pokémon can hatch from eggs? You can obtain these Pokémon during the event from 2 km eggs.
Wingull in holiday clothing *
Eevee in holiday hat *
Kussilla *
Galar Flampion *
Amarino *
Again, the Pokémon marked with * can be found in their shiny form. The chance of obtaining a shiny Wingull in holiday clothing or a shiny Eevee in holiday hat is higher when hatching eggs than in the wild.
Which Pokémon can I get from field research? The following Pokémon can be collected as a reward for completing certain field research tasks.
Pikachu in holiday clothing *
Alolan Vulpix *
Wingull in holiday clothing *
Muschas *
Rossana *
Lapras *
Damhirplex in holiday outfit *
Seemops in holiday scarf *
Shnebedeck *
Glaziola in underwater holiday outfit *
Gelatini *
Krabbox
The **-marking indicates which Pokémon can be found as shiny again. Additionally, you have the opportunity to obtain Mega Energy for Mega Rexblisar and Mega Firnontor through certain field research tasks.
Are you playing during the event? Or are you taking a break at this time? Also check out the Pokémon GO events in December.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Vampire Diaries may be an older series, but it just won’t let go of MeinMMO author Fabienne Kissel. She keeps watching the vampire story over and over again.
There’s that one series that just never leaves you, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
For me, that series is undoubtedly The Vampire Diaries. No matter how many times I’ve experienced the adventures in Mystic Falls, the allure of this vampire story simply doesn’t fade. I’ve already watched the series at least 30 times – sometimes actively, sometimes in the background while gaming – even though I should have outgrown the teen drama by now.
What is The Vampire Diaries about?
I’ll try to stay as spoiler-free as possible here – even though the series is older. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who might be watching The Vampire Diaries for the first time.
The Vampire Diaries is a US television series based on the book series of the same name by L. J. Smith, although the books and the series differ. The series premiered in 2009 and ran until 2017. There are a total of 8 seasons. You can currently watch the series on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The story begins in the fictional small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, and revolves around high school student Elena Gilbert (played by Nina Dobrev). She and her brother Jeremy (played by Steven R. McQueen) are trying to return to normal life after the death of their parents.
Elena Gilbert with her brother Jeremy Gilbert.
Their lives change drastically when they encounter the mysterious Salvatore brothers: the handsome and charming Stefan Salvatore (played by Paul Wesley) and his equally attractive yet enigmatic brother Damon Salvatore (played by Ian Somerhalder).
Elena and Stefan fall in love, but the arrival of Damon in Mystic Falls adds an additional dynamic to the love story.
The plot thickens when it becomes clear that the brothers are vampires and Elena is caught in the middle. Over time, more secrets and facts are revealed. Stefan tries to be the good vampire and act morally correctly, while Damon is the type who likes to play by his own rules and acts impulsively.
The series unveils dark secrets about the brothers’ past, their connection to the vampire story, and the existence of other supernatural beings.
In addition to the bloodsuckers, werewolves, witches, and other creatures also appear. With love triangles, drama, betrayal, loss, friendships, family secrets, and action, it never gets boring.
Why The Vampire Diaries is my favorite series and why I keep rewatching it
I simply can’t stop rewatching The Vampire Diaries. The series will never get boring for me. It almost sounds absurd because I’ve missed out on numerous series I could catch up on. Currently, I’m excited about Percy Jackson and eagerly awaiting the second season of Wednesday and Arcane.
Unique Charm
But The Vampire Diaries has a unique allure for me that draws me back in. The dark 2000s vibe that is so present in the first three seasons creates an atmosphere that simply captivates me. It’s a cozy feeling, a feeling of home – I wish I could slip into that world – which sounds crazy!
Cool Characters
The Vampire Diaries holds a unique place in my heart. Both the main and supporting characters are, in my opinion, carefully crafted, and the cast brings these characters to life in an impressive way. The dynamics between the characters, the palpable chemistry between the actors – all of that makes the series a unique experience for me.
Elena Gilbert with her friend Bonnie Bennett.
The villains also stand out, are well conceived, and challenge my notions of good and evil. Moreover, the series has created its own mythology and provided backstories and reasons for all these supernatural creatures.
Yes, the entire cast of The Vampire Diaries is also incredibly good-looking, but it’s more than just that.
The series manages to evoke strong emotions in me. Even after numerous rewatches, some scenes still bring tears to my eyes and give me goosebumps.
The characters are multifaceted and undergo impressive developments. Everyone in the series, whether human, vampire, or another supernatural being, struggles with real-life problems involving family, friends, or love. Fantasy blends beautifully with real life here.
In The Vampire Diaries, the interpersonal relationships of the characters take center stage, and the series skillfully uses storytelling techniques to create an emotional bond to these relationships.
I find myself empathizing with the characters and experiencing their emotions, and I care about what happens to them. You don’t just empathize with the characters, you are literally drawn into their world, which makes the series something truly special for me.
The Vampire Diaries also has two spin-offs, including The Originals and Legacies. Here you can watch the trailer for The Originals:
Start video
Trailer zur Vampir-Serie „The Originals“
Pure Romance
And I must admit I’m a fan of romance. In The Vampire Diaries, there are many beautiful romances, passionate kisses, and emotional moments that touch me.
It’s always a joy to see how the characters evolve throughout the series, how they change and grow. The hurdles they master and the dramatic as well as exciting moments continually captivate me. You just want to see it again and again.
Many Plot Twists
The series also excels through the many twists and surprises in the plot that keep it from getting dull. Almost every episode has a nasty cliffhanger that one can’t resist. This no longer affects me, but could be interesting for those of you who want to watch The Vampire Diaries for the first time.
Perfect Music Selection – Indie Songs in the Spotlight
The selection of songs in The Vampire Diaries is not only fitting but also adds to the emotionality of each scene. Every song seems perfectly matched to the mood.
What I find particularly cool is the inclusion of some indie tracks that not everyone is aware of. Personally, I discovered many of my favorite songs through The Vampire Diaries, which still hold a place in my playlist. The music is just on fire.
One example you can see here – A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Rope:
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Some of my favorite songs from the series include:
Cut – Plumb
Never Say Never – The Fray
All I Need – Within Temptation
We Don’t Eat – James Vincent McMorrow
Amen Omen – Ben Harper
Gravity – Sara Bareilles
Take on the World – You Me At Six
Bloodstream – Stateless
This Woman’s Work – Greg Laswell
Wings – Birdy
Hunger – Ross Copperman
Scars – Michael Malarkey (actor from The Vampire Diaries)
From Embarrassment to Community Feelings
In the past, you might have been laughed at for being a fan of The Vampire Diaries, especially when vampire stories were influenced by Twilight. Twilight received a lot of acclaim, but also met with a lot of backlash – which made me feel a bit embarrassed at times.
Now the opposite is true, and I’m happy to stand by it, even though it’s only a series.
More than just a series
The Vampire Diaries has given me so much more. Through the series, I’ve made some friendships and became part of a community on Facebook, Instagram, and also on Vinted (formerly Kleiderkreisel), where collectors and fans of the series gather, share about the series, and sell and trade clothing items from the show. I’m one of them.
My passion for the series has grown to the point where I’ve started collecting clothing items from the show. Items that are recognized by other fans – such as the iconic necklace worn by Elena Gilbert. And I wear this Elena-inspired necklace every day.
Recently, I went to the hairdresser. I wore the necklace from Elena that day, and we started chatting about The Vampire Diaries because the hairdresser recognized my necklace. It turned out that my hairdresser is also a huge fan of the series. We shared our enthusiasm for the gripping plot and the cool characters and exchanged thoughts about the series. And that’s just one story of many.
Next, I plan to attend the German Salvatore Brothers Con in Oberhausen, which has already taken place a few times and will happen again in 2024 because the community is so large.
There, numerous fans gather to see the cast of The Vampire Diaries – in this case, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. I’m excited to see what stories will unfold there.
In short: I love The Vampire Diaries a lot because it has become an important part of my life, and I associate the series with nostalgia, friendships, and a good feeling. Whenever I’m feeling down, I look forward to this series.
The series is not perfect, and some things annoy me (especially in the later seasons), but it will probably always be the show that I watch at least once a year.
You can’t deal with vampires and are looking for series related to gaming? Then these might be something for you:
Blizzard has revealed how well the Season of Discovery has been received in World of Warcraft Classic. To put it this way: You have surpassed the birth rate of humanity.
To celebrate the success of the Season of Discovery, Blizzard released some statistics a few days ago, which clearly show how many players are enjoying the new Classic game mode.
One of the most impressive figures is the rate at which new characters were created in the Season of Discovery. In the first week, just over 4,535,000 characters were created. That corresponds to around 450 characters per minute. This compares WoW to the “spawn rate of level 1 humans” on Earth – that is, the human birth rate, which is estimated to be around 250 per minute.
By the way, after one week, only 10% of the characters had already reached level 25 – this number has likely increased significantly since then, as new challenges await in the end game, such as the raid in the Blackrock Depths.
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By the way: After one week, only 0.09% of the characters had found and unlocked all runes (12) for their classes. This is probably because many do not want to use all runes, and others were kept secret for a few days. Meanwhile, this number should be steadily increasing.
Have you played the Season of Discovery? Where do you find yourselves in these statistics?
Destiny 2 has been in a crisis since the release of “Lightfall”. Developers were suddenly laid off, player numbers are dwindling, and old content is being sold as new. Players are losing hope, but if you’re looking for a strong alternative for a loot shooter, Warframe might be the right option.
What is Warframe? Warframe is a free loot shooter developed by “Digital Extremes”. You take on the role of a Warframe, a cutting-edge combat suit with various abilities, and battle through enemy types using a variety of weapons and melee options.
You can follow the story, complete missions and events, or simply farm and improve your Warframe, equipment, and builds without having to pay a cent.
The game is continuously improved, old Warframes are refreshed, and even new story content and items are added. We will now show you what Warframe does better than Destiny 2.
Warframe has released its latest update. We show you the trailer here:
Start video
Warframe shows a first trailer for the upcoming update Whispers in the Walls
This is a big advantage, especially for the type of player who prefers to earn everything through hard work and sweat rather than digging deep into their pockets. If you’re worried about expansions, we can also reassure you here—these are completely free.
The game is funded through the sale of certain bundles of Prime and Platinum. However, these are purely optional, as players can also access Warframe’s premium currency for free through trading chat.
In Warframe, you can even have your own killer dog
Updates bring new content and no copies: Destiny 2 often has the talent to repackage activities, items, and locations from past seasons and DLCs and then repeatedly present them to the players. This is rarely the case with Warframe, as the developers bring new additions with every major update that enrich the game.
The latest update “Whispers in the Walls” is a good example of this. The expansion brings you a new story as well as items from the Warframe universe that players have not seen before. No copies, but further insights into the background story of the Orokin and their machinations.
Additionally, fans benefit from a new weapon and combat style, allowing for even more diverse strategies against foes. All this consistently brings freshness and the urge to check in more often.
As for me, I have already invested thousands of hours in Destiny 1 and 2, and since I stumbled upon Warframe, it’s becoming harder for me to hold on to Destiny. So if you’re looking for an alternative to Bungie’s loot shooter, Warframe is a strong option that you should consider.
In the following overview, you will see all the Spotlight Hours in December 2023 in Pokémon GO. We will provide you with all information about the Pokémon, Shinys, bonuses, and the respective date of the event.
Which events are involved? Every Tuesday, Pokémon GO holds a one-hour event in which a predetermined monster spawns more frequently in the wild. This event is called a Spotlight Hour.
In December 2023, you can expect four of these dates. In the overview, we will show you which Pokémon, along with which bonus, will be the focus of the Spotlight Hours on the following Tuesdays.
All dates for the Spotlight Hours in December 2023
When do the Spotlight Hours take place? The Spotlight Hours always take place on Tuesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The following Pokémon and bonuses await you in December:
All Pokémon shown here can also be encountered as Shiny, if you’re lucky.
Spotlight Hour on December 5
Which Pokémon? In the first Spotlight Hour in December 2023, you can expect the Pokémon Barschwa from the third generation. It is a Water-type and can evolve into Milotic.
What bonuses are active? For catching Pokémon, you will receive double the amount of candy.
Is it worth it? As an attacker, Barschwa is completely irrelevant and can be ignored. Its evolution, Milotic, does not play a significant role as a raid attacker and does not perform well in PvP either.
Can you catch Shiny Barschwa? Yes, the shiny version of Barschwa can already be caught in Pokémon GO.
Spotlight Hour on December 12
Which Pokémon? In the second Spotlight Hour in December 2023, you will meet the Pokémon Jurob from the first generation. It is a Water-type and can evolve into Jugong.
What bonuses are active? For transferring Pokémon, you will receive double the amount of candy.
Is it worth it? Jurob and its evolution Jugong are not really strong as attackers in raids. However, you can use Jugong if you play in the Super League in PvP, as it is among the upper middle of the best attackers there.
Can you catch Shiny Jurob? Yes, the shiny version of Jurob is already active in Pokémon GO and can be caught by you with a bit of luck.
Spotlight Hour on December 19
Which Pokémon? In the third Spotlight Hour in December 2023, you will encounter the Pokémon Schneppke from the third generation. It is an Ice-type and can evolve into Firnontor or Frosdedje.
What bonuses are active? For evolving Pokémon, you will receive double the amount of experience points.
Is it worth it? Schneppke itself is unfortunately not a good attacker. Firnontor does not play any role in raids at all and only reaches the lower middle in PvP. However, Frosdedje ranks among the top attackers in PvP in the Super League.
Can you catch Shiny Schneppke? Yes, the shiny version of Schneppke can be caught by you with a bit of luck.
Which Pokémon? The last Spotlight Hour in December 2023 will bring you the Pokémon Gelatini from the fifth generation. It is an Ice-type and can evolve into Gelatroppo and Gelatwino.
What bonuses are active? For catching Pokémon, you will receive double the amount of stardust.
Is it worth it? None of the Pokémon are useful in PvP or raids. The Spotlight Hour is mainly worth it for the stardust bonus. However, Gelatini appears for the first time in December as a Shiny. So maybe you will be very lucky during the Spotlight Hour and secure an example of it.
Can you catch Shiny Gelatini? In December 2023, you will have the chance to catch Shiny Gelatini for the first time.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
During the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I love to immerse myself in a fictional universe. Besides movies and series that I missed throughout the year, I prefer to dedicate myself to a beloved game classic.
Once upon a time in 2010. My younger self fell in love with a game that has not lost its charm to this day. At least for me. I am talking about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. At that time, the game was already four years old but captivated me immediately. The main reason for this was the huge open world and the many possibilities to customize my character.
I often played as a Dark Elf in role-playing games, equipping him purposefully with sword and shield during my first playthrough, always keeping the fire spell on the quickslot button. Unlike its successor Skyrim, spells in Oblivion did not occupy either of the two hands. And so, I stumbled cluelessly into my first Elder Scrolls adventure. The sheer size of the world overwhelmed me just as much as it fascinated me. Almost every place I discovered from afar was reachable. For a fourteen-year-old gamer, that was a revelation at the time.
The story surrounding the appearance of diabolical Oblivion gates did not really captivate me back then. Instead of saving the game world Cyrodiil, I preferred to roam through the fields to the mushrooms. What I found there surprised me. Once, it was mere bandits lying in wait around a bend; another time, though, it was sinister employers alongside complex side quest lines.
Here you can see the trailer for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion:
Start video
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Trailer
To this day, I am fascinated by the side quests
Only during my replay did I realize that the side quests are the highlight for me. They are the reason I have restarted Oblivion numerous times since my first playthrough. To this day, the DVD-ROM disc rotates timely in my PC’s drive after Christmas.
Oblivion boasts a whole series of different side quest lines. There are, for example, the Mage’s Guild and the Fighter’s Guild, which you encounter while exploring the game world sooner or later. You can also easily find the Arena in the Imperial City. In it, I fought against other gladiators until I reached the top of the leaderboard.
Then there are certain other side quests. Once, I broke into a house, took some valuable items illicitly, and was caught by the imperial soldiers as I left the crime scene. “What a blunder,” I thought, and let myself be thrown into prison. When I came out again, I soon encountered an NPC. He handed me a message that led me to a nighttime meeting point. There, a strangely dressed man awaited me. He introduced himself as a member of the Thieves Guild and sent me on my first mission.
A similar situation occurred with the murderous Dark Brotherhood. This association of assassins approached me after my first murder in the game. Both the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood offer some of the best quests I have ever experienced in a role-playing game. They offer highly creative and varied missions and motivate me with rank-ups and regular quest rewards to keep going.
I know most of the game’s quest lines inside and out. Still, I never tire of starting a new game after Christmas every year. When the intro begins, the music swells, and the narrator says the famous words, “These are the last days of the third era. And the last hours… of my life,” I get goosebumps. At the latest after the prologue, which classically leads me through dark basements and caves, I step outside into the open world and feel as if I have come home.
The landscapes, cities, and their inhabitants I know from my previous visits. Their stories have remained the same, while I have grown a year older again. The fact that nothing changes in the game is a comforting thought. In the time between the years, where sentimentality is not uncommon, Oblivion offers itself as a means of escape. So I wander around again, greet the familiar characters, and take care of their problems.
I won’t really plan the next playthrough either. I’ll just set off again, walk along the familiar paths once more, maybe take a break by the roadside, and enjoy the surprisingly well-aged graphics. I will probably not complete the main quest again. I have never done so. I don’t mind, as Oblivion offers enough better quests to keep me busy long past New Year’s.
By the way, I have also played the successor Skyrim extensively. However, the game never really captured me. Perhaps it was the virginal first impression that bonded me to the fourth part of the Elder Scrolls series. And perhaps that first impression was so strong, shaping, and enduring that I, without hesitation, return to Cyrodiil every year.
There are many really good anime, and many of them are only suitable for those aged 16 and older. We present to you a selection of them.
In the vast realm of anime, there are infinite variations. Whether it’s a cute children’s series, entertaining comedy, or exciting battles to cheer for.
However, there are certainly adult anime series with serious themes without necessarily resorting to excessive violence and cruelty. These series often receive a classification of “not suitable for children under 16” from the FSK – and we would like to introduce you to some of the best anime from this grouping.
Record of Lodoss War
Alternative names: Lodoss-tou Senki Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Episodes: 13 Stream available on: No streaming provider known, currently only available for purchase.
After a thousand-year war of the gods, peace finally comes within reach for the young kingdom of Lodoss. But an ancient witch has been awakened and threatens to plunge the kingdom back into chaos through political machinations. The adventuring group led by the brave Parn and the elf Deedlit confronts this threat and tries to save Lodoss from falling again – but this will not succeed without sacrifices and every problem will be challenging.
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Why is Record of Lodoss War rated 16? The fantasy journey of the heroes is, as is fitting for the genre, marked by some battles, profound losses and also several slightly more brutal scenes. Record of Lodoss War also touches on notably darker themes, like sexualized violence, without explicitly showing them. However, since the series belongs to the somewhat older category, these representations are not particularly graphic, and they do not detract from the tension.
Aside from that, Record of Lodoss War is a classic that all fans of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Baldur’s Gate 3” should definitely have seen – after all, the manga source is based on a pen & paper role-playing session.
Attack on Titan
Alternative names: Shingeki no Kyojin Genre: Action, Drama Episodes: 90 (+ movies) Stream available on: Crunchyroll
Humanity is on the brink of annihilation. Huge monsters known as Titans roam the forests and devour people alive. Only behind the walls of a last, small kingdom is it safe – at least, until the Titans break through this wall. Young Eren Jaeger must witness how his previously sheltered life comes to a sudden end and his mother is devoured.
After that, he joins the “Exploration Troop” to fight against the Titans and explore more of the world. Over the course of several years, more and more secrets about the Titans are revealed that challenge everything he once thought he knew…
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Why is Attack on Titan rated 16? The world of Attack on Titan is merciless, and this is evident right from the first episode where people are devoured by the Titans. Bodies are often mutilated, and blood spurts in such quantities that one sometimes wonders where it could all possibly fit in the body. In addition, there are tougher themes, especially in the later seasons – torture, racism, abuse – giving the series a clear adult tone.
More exciting anime rated 16 can be found on the next page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The German YouTuber HandofBlood announced on December 23rd that his company Instinct3 will venture into the publishing of indie games. They plan to launch pilot projects in 2024. This is driven by his own enthusiasm for indie games and a general disappointment with the gaming market. With the influencers who are part of the agency, they aim to present a unique offer to indie developers.
Why indie games? In a video from December 23rd, HandofBlood (via youtube) explains his late love for indie games, which truly began in September 2021 when he turned away from Twitch, focused more on YouTube and gaming, and needed content to play and showcase:
Until then, he had played many big games as an influencer: Stronghold, Crusader Kings 3, Dark Souls, the Settlers, Humankind.
But then he discovered his love for indie games like BattleBrothers or Loiter. While he had always played indie games occasionally before, he got truly into them starting from September 2021.
The Steam algorithm recognized this new love for indie games and suggested more and more content from that corner: These were “insanely great games” that he then also showcased as a content creator.
Why is he playing fewer AAA games now? The enthusiasm for indie games also comes from disappointment with AAA games and their publishers. Just what is happening at Activision Blizzard beyond the games is enough to turn him off, and before Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft had already fallen from grace.
There are even areas that I can no longer bear. Even on a moral level. If you look at what Activision Blizzard is doing. So outside of their games. Internally. Or before that, it’s Ubisoft, where similar scandals happened.
Moreover, the games of the big publishers have significantly declined, so HandofBlood says: “The AAA publishers have not delivered anymore,” he states.
If we are talking about disappointing games:
Start video
Lord of the Rings: Gollum received poorly – HandOfBlood plays it anyway, puts in a lot of effort, even plays in cosplay
This is how it led to publishing: HandofBlood says it was an organic development. Smaller teams of developers approached him to see if he would like to act as a publisher.
At first, he was skeptical, thinking he was just an “influencer” who plays games and tries to entertain viewers, but over time, he warmed up to the idea.
He says that when they looked at this more closely within the company, which operates progressively, they saw that other influencers like Asmongold or Videogamedunkey are releasing their own games. So this innovative “5000 IQ” idea wasn’t so far-fetched after all.
He wants to be completely transparent: He cannot promise that they will be “absolute pros” and that “performance on Steam will skyrocket.” But they are eager to learn, and if someone needs marketing for their game, they should feel free to inquire:
“We want – maybe as a goal – an intimate, authentic, organic relationship and then have a needs-based cooperation.”
HandofBlood sees the advantage of their offer being that they “already have all the influencers here,” with whom studios can then “chat without needing to book them.”
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Who is part of Instant3? The most well-known influencer represented by the agency is certainly HandofBlood himself. However, they also have some familiar faces like David Hain, Fabian Siegesmund, KalleKoschinsyki, or Simon Krätschmer (Rocket Beans) and people from the LoL area like Broeki, Maxim, and PowerOfEvil.
During the holidays, there are some discounts on Steam, including for the shooter Strange Brigade by Rebellion, the developers of Sniper Elite. Currently, you can grab the co-op game for just €5.
What kind of game is this? In Strange Brigade, you are thrown into 1930s Egypt. There, you must stop the witch queen Seteki, who has risen from her grave. In addition to hordes of mystical and undead enemies, you will also face tricky traps and puzzles that you should keep a watchful eye on.
You can choose from various playable characters with different abilities. According to players, Strange Brigade is suitable for having “a bit of silly fun” with friends. (Source: Steam)
Start video
Strange Brigade – Trailer for the co-op shooter for fans of Indiana Jones
“Beautiful graphics and attention to detail”
What does the community say about the game?On Steam, Strange Brigade is rated “very positive” – 84% of the current 6,825 reviews are positive. Users particularly emphasize that Strange Brigade is a “nice game for co-op”.
A few opinions are summarized for you below:
“Batman” writes: “Incredible deal. […] In my opinion, it’s only fun if you can play it with a group of friends.”
“9Days” says: “For the price of a medium-sized coffee, when the game is on sale, you can have a bit of silly fun with some buddies. Don’t expect it to be a profound experience.”
“Cpt. BläBer” writes: “Nice game for co-op for up to four players. Beautiful graphics, gameplay, and attention to detail. Great fun. Bonus, there are three levels for difficulty (noticeable differences). […] Bought for about €5 on sale with expansions. Definitely recommendable for the price.”
“Remato” says: “Considering the sale price, it’s a very cool game to chill with friends and shoot some mummies. However, if you don’t have friends to play with, you might want to pick a better single-player game.”
How much does Strange Brigade currently cost? Until January 4, 2024, you can get Strange Brigade on Steam with a hefty 90% discount for €4.99. If you choose the Deluxe Edition, you can also benefit from the same discount and only pay €7.99.
The Deluxe Edition includes, among other things, the Season Pass, new campaign missions, additional playable characters and character skins, as well as new weapons and weapon skins.
At level 25, you are very limited in WoW Classic. Or are you? A streamer sets out and even kills elite enemies at level 60.
The Season of Discovery has probably been a resounding success for Blizzard. In this reinterpretation of “WoW Classic”, there is a lot of fresh content, such as glyphs that change entire classes, numerous new secrets, and even new raids. One major peculiarity, however, is the level cap, which is currently only at level 25. Therefore, many areas of the game world are actually inaccessible or would lead to a very quick death.
But one streamer is not deterred by this. With the help of his community, he also defeats bosses that are actually meant for level 60.
What else is coming in the Season of Discovery has been revealed by the developers here:
Start video
WoW Classic: The Devs on the Season of Discovery in Interview
What has happened in the Season of Discovery? The streamer Xaryu is currently playing WoW in the Season of Discovery. While he has already experienced most of it, he is trying to take on new challenges. He participates in PvP or attempts to solo Mor’Ladim, a strong elite enemy from the Duskwood. He succeeds in doing so by drawing the enemy towards allied guards, who then do most of the work.
More and more viewers of the streamer joined him to see which great enemies could still be defeated. The result: Very, very many.
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Xaryu and his group of viewers manage to defeat some of the toughest enemies, some of whom are still a tough nut to crack even at level 60. Elite enemies like the hydras on Alcaz Island or even King Mosh are taken down by the raid group.
How is that possible? This is possible through a strategy that will certainly make some people roll their eyes. While a large part of the raid is engaged in combat, there are some healers who deliberately do not join the fight. Their job is to immediately resurrect fallen heroes. This is not possible during a fight, but as long as the healer is just raising the dead, they are not considered “in combat”.
The strategy of an “Out-of-Combat Rez” was more common back in the days of Vanilla World of Warcraft. In most game content, this is no longer possible, as – for example, in a boss fight – the entire group is automatically pulled into the battle. However, in the open world, this is still an option, so you can have an almost endless loop of respawns and eventually defeat even the greatest enemies given enough time (and enough willing-to-die heroes).
What have you been up to in the Season of Discovery and in WoW Classic this year?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMORPG Black Desert, a guild leader expresses his sorrow: His guild has been robbed. Materials worth €10,000 are missing, which took years to collect.
This is what the guild leader says: Just before Christmas, on December 20th, the troubled guild leader shares his plight:
A player joined the guild, stayed for about a day, then stole all the guild materials and left the guild without a word.
His loot consists of thousands of items worth more than €10,000 – the guild members had taken years to gather the materials.
He does not know how this could happen, but he contacted a gamemaster, who clearly said: They cannot help here.
Start video
Black Desert Online – Scholar Trailer
The problem is known, apparently not fixed for years
How is this being discussed? Apparently, this is a known problem in Black Desert: The “normal feature” known from MMORPGs, limiting access to the guild bank and granting roles only to those trusted, has been missing from the MMORPG for years.
It is believed that this is due to it being purely a Western issue, as players are anonymous only here. In South Korea, the home country of Black Desert, everyone must register with their social security number, so such thefts do not occur. But Pearl Abyss is indifferent to problems that only affect servers in North America and Europe, one user on reddit complains.
A player explains: Until a few years ago, everyone thought there were restrictions for the guild bank, but then a trend arose where players robbed the bank, though the trend faded and so did the memory of it.
However, the problem itself has never been fixed.
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Larian Studios has put so much time and love into Baldur’s Gate 3 that the game has become a true work of art. Even MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß enjoys every second of gameplay. However, she would have liked to sacrifice an NPC to the evil during her good run in Act 1.
However, I have reached Act 3 now and completed some of the side quests more or less successfully. One NPC has stood out to me in particular: Rolan, the grumpy apprentice mage from the Emerald Grove. As much as I would have liked to drop him off at the Goblin camp in Act 1, I am quite satisfied with his character development.
Attention – Spoilers: Below, you can expect spoilers regarding Rolan’s possible story from Act 1 to Act 3 and the characters associated with it.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
Rolan – don’t annoy me!
When you first meet Rolan, he is standing in a corner of the Emerald Grove. He is discussing with his two siblings, Cal and Lia, whether they should stay and help the druid in the fight against the goblins.
Rolan is absolutely against it: He brings up every argument he thinks is effective to convince his family to continue their journey to Baldur’s Gate. He comes across as consistently arrogant. He dismisses every argument for staying and is visibly annoyed.
What does Rolan want in Baldur’s Gate? To become an apprentice mage. For a mage whose reputation isn’t that great – at least according to Gale. And this position is so much more important than the Emerald Grove. Or maybe he simply cares about the safety of his family. At this point, it’s unclear.
As a player, I managed to convince his siblings to stay. Since Rolan doesn’t want to leave his family behind, he stays as well. Though he does so grumbling and cursing. At the tiefling party after the successful victory over the goblins, he at least entertains everyone with his magic tricks.
Overall, he just annoyed me here: What a windbag, I thought to myself.
If Rolan survives Act 1, you will find him in Act 2 at the inn “The Last Light.” There, he drowns his sorrows in alcohol: Cal and Lia have been captured by the followers of the Absolute. Because I convinced the two to help, he angrily confronts my character.
If you want someone to help you, get them drunk and berate them for past assistance. It always works. (That was sarcasm.)
Angry and drunk, he storms out into the eternal night to rescue his two siblings himself. Here, I almost lost him and I wouldn’t have felt bad about it: The idiot tries to sneak into the Towers of the Moonrise and is confronted by a horde of shadow monsters.
If you wait too long – one or two long rests, that is – he is as good as dead.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon him in time. Not because I planned it, but simply because I discovered him while exploring. And of course, I help. Just as I later freed the gnomes and Rolan’s siblings from prison in the towers.
Only now does Rolan’s hard shell start to show cracks: Rolan is immensely relieved at the return of his brother and sister. Perhaps – but only perhaps – he is simply afraid of not making it safely to the presumed safety of Baldur’s Gate with his whole family.
But they make it. Rolan even becomes… friendly. And he receives the offered apprenticeship at Lorroakan. Unfortunately, he is promptly demoted to an employee in the mage’s shop.
If Rolan makes it to Baldur’s Gate, you will meet him again in a mage’s shop. However, he looks as if he still has to fight for his life every day…
Additionally, his new master regularly mistreats Rolan. Worst for Rolan, however, is that his two siblings are not allowed to live with him in the mage tower. Lorroakan simply threw them out.
This mage is, by the way, a completely different caliber: He wants to capture the Night Song and use it as a source of immortality like Ketheric Thorm. The Night Song, Lady Aylin, doesn’t find this funny and challenges Lorroakan.
And here, the true wood from which Rolan is carved shows: When Lorroakan asks him to join him in fighting against me and Lady Aylin, he promptly sides with me. That he throws away his hard-earned education to do the right thing made me very happy.
Rolan makes a decision and surprisingly turns against his master.
After a hard battle, Lorroakan lies defeated on the ground and Rolan thanks me. He is even really nice. He makes himself the new master of the tower and even swears his loyalty for all that is to come.
Rolan is quite a tragic character. Only at the end of his quest can I look back at the beginnings and understand why he is the way he is: Like so many, he is afraid for his loved ones and simply wants to avoid all potential trouble.
But the fact that in the end he so fervently commits to my character and will probably stand by my side in the final battle did then positively surprise me. Rolan is one of the good ones, even if it may not seem so at first glance.
Actually, Rolan’s great development shouldn’t surprise me. Larian has gone big: Baldur’s Gate 3 is a gem among games, and even the smallest role is well thought out and written. But I didn’t expect them to turn this grumpy wooden head from Act 1 into a sympathetic guy.
Of course, I know that Rolan had a lot of luck in my run. I could have let the goblins overrun the grove or let him die in the shadow lands at Shadow Curse. But not only did he survive, but due to my actions and decisions, he developed into a valuable and reliable ally.
I am really glad that I managed to save him to this extent. Hats off, Larian!
Now I’m curious about what else awaits me. Somewhere in Baldur’s Gate, Zevlor is surely still around, Mizora just won’t leave my camp, and Orin has taken a hostage. Well, at least I have a few free days ahead. I still have much to do – maybe I’ll be finished before the end of the year. And we’ll see how it ends with my romance – by the way, I’ve already written about that: To date the biggest joker of Baldur’s Gate 3, I have spurned two of the hottest companions
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The drop rate for Uber Uniques in Diablo 4 has recently increased. Some players are pleased about this, while others continue to complain. However, Blizzard is now releasing a statement that brings hope for upcoming seasons in 2024.
Uber Uniques are special items that are even more powerful than regular legendary or unique items. They can make almost any build stronger and are a staple for many of the best builds in Season 2.
With Season 2, Blizzard has introduced the ability to specifically farm Uber Uniques from the new Uber boss Duriel. You need to summon him, for which you need specific materials.
The doubled chance has been positively received by some players in Diablo 4. However, there are those calling for further adjustments. In particular, the materials for Duriel and the double Uber Uniques need to be adjusted. Blizzard has provided an encouraging statement on this.
Start video
Diablo 4: The German trailer for the Midwinter Pest
A “bad luck protection” makes sense, say some players
What is the problem? On December 20, Community Manager Adam Fletcher informs on X (formerly Twitter) about the doubled chance for Uber Uniques from Duriel. The user “AJ” responds on December 23:
“In the next season, we need a protection against getting the same Uber, or a higher accessibility of the mats, otherwise half the community will disappear, I’m sure of it.” (Source: X)
What kind of statement is this? In response to the user’s comment, Adam Flechter replies just a few minutes later on X:
I have heard this many times and know that the team is considering this for the future.
What do other players say about this? The comment from “AJ” was picked up on December 24 in the English-speaking Blizzard forum. Players are divided on the issue. The user “Revive”, who started the thread, writes:
I mean, WoW had a bad luck protection for a long time. When you kill a boss and he doesn’t drop a Legendary, the system counts that as an attempt, and internally your luck for getting a Legendary increases by X% the next time you kill a boss. […]
I think that’s a good system. It seems like the D4 team is actively looking for inspiration from other Blizzard teams to improve the game. I think that’s very much needed right now. Even after the drop rate was doubled at Christmas, it’s still very low for a solo player who has to farm all the mats for just a few attempts at Duriel.
Making materials for summoning more accessible and having a bad luck protection like in WoW would surely improve the game for a large part of the player base.
This is responded by “Lazyloaf”: “Oh God, let’s hope they don’t do that. It’s not WoW and we don’t need ‘safety nets’ for something that already has high drop rates.” And “Pereg” writes: “What’s the point of hunting for the items if they are guaranteed after a certain point?”
The topic is also addressed on Reddit. “JishoJuggler” writes there on December 19 that boss runs feel particularly bad for solo players. In a group, you have a higher chance for the Uber Uniques, as you at least share the materials for summoning.
Overall, it seems the community is divided on whether a protection against bad luck when farming Uber Uniques would make sense, or if it is just right as it is. What adjustments Blizzard will make in the future remains to be seen.
Uber Uniques are actually considered the ultimate strong items in Diablo 4, but one player has found another weapon that further enhances one of the best builds:
A strange incident is currently being discussed on the internet: a Twitch streamer who appears as a virtual person accidentally shared codes for a plush toy with his viewers on December 23. However, things went terribly wrong; instead of plush toys worth $150 that he intended to give away, they ended up being plush toys worth $150,000,000.
This is the situation: The Twitch streamer Vedal987 is behind the AI-generated character “Neuro-sama”, a V-Tuber. We reported on the AI Neuro-sama on MeinMMO in January 2023:
As part of a subathon, Vedal wanted to send his viewers 5 codes that would grant a 100% discount on a plush toy “Evil Neuro Plush” from the website “Makeship“. The plush toy normally costs $30.
But what the streamer didn’t know: the 5 codes could be used multiple times.
Just a few minutes later, 1 million plush toys had been redeemed, and apparently now it is even up to 5 million, meaning plush toys worth $150 million.
Start video
Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?
Twitch streamer is live searching for “How to declare personal bankruptcy”
What is the reaction? The streamer quickly realized that he was $30 million in the red, which he naturally doesn’t have. He then looked online for how to declare personal bankruptcy and read that aloud.
He ultimately found out that he was missing 680 pounds to declare bankruptcy: He told the fans that this was okay, he just needed more subs than anyone else in Twitch history.
The clip of this bankruptcy declaration now has 71,000 views on Twitch:
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How is this being discussed? On reddit, people are discussing the absurd incident; they do not believe that the streamer will actually be held liable for so many people redeeming the 100% discount code.
Moreover, it must be a mistake on the website that they sent him five one-time codes instead of five “infinite” codes.
A reddit user speculates that someone must have simply made a mistake on the website and forgotten to uncheck the box for “multiple use”.
The plush toy has now been “sold” over 5.2 million times.
The most likely outcome of this action will be that the 5 million orders will be canceled.
People are now discussing to what extent this was an “honest” mistake by the streamer and to what extent it was a gag or a marketing stunt.
In any case, it’s a curious news story just before Christmas.
A class in World of Warcraft gets a very special “flower weapon.” We will reveal how you can unlock it now.
For several years, the developers have been hiding little or big secrets in World of Warcraft. Solving them leads to a special mount, a pet, a nice transmog, or simply an achievement. This time, there is a very special weapon, but only for one class – Demon Hunter. We will tell you how to get “Alara’shinu.”
How to unlock Alara’shinu
First, you need a Demon Hunter at level 70. Head to the Emerald Dream and make sure you have already unlocked the base camp in the middle of the map. This happens after a handful of quests.
Step 1 – The Dream: Now travel to the coordinates 51 / 61 in the Emerald Dream. There you can see the Demon Hunter “Landeron Teufelszorn.” Talk to him and select his special dialogue option, which is only available as a Demon Hunter. From his words, you will learn the next hint about where to go.
You can find Landeron in the Emerald Dream, right at the base camp.
Step 2 – Back to the Start: Now travel to the Broken Isles (Legion) and visit the area of the Broken Coast. At the coordinates 72 / 41, you will find yourself in a small temple. In a felgreen circle, you will discover a memory from Landeron Teufelszorn. Click on it to receive the next clue.
A small sequence plays at the Broken Coast.
Step 3 – The Temple of Elune: Next, travel to Val’Sharah (also in Legion) and visit the large Temple of Elune, in the middle of the map. In the intact part of the temple, at the coordinates 51 / 57, you can see another memory. Once it has played out, a stag appears carrying the weapon. Click on the weapon to corrupt it – and you will receive Alara’shinu!
In the Temple of Elune, Landeron has tried to find a meaning.
The weapon has an item level of 441 and belongs to the veteran path. You can upgrade it 7 times, up to an item level of 463.
A stag brings the intelligent weapon. It wants to be corrupted by your fel.
If you wish, you can now return to the Emerald Dream to talk to Landeron once more and hear his opinion on the events. However, this step is not necessary anymore, as you already own the weapon.
What makes the weapon so special? The weapon is not only a good starting weapon for Demon Hunter alts but also has some very special effects that no other glaive in World of Warcraft has. When you use one of your three movement abilities, namely Demonic Rush, Infernal Strike, or Vengeful Retreat, flowers will appear on the ground for a few seconds along your path. These are purely cosmetic.
By the way, the effects are also active when you use the weapon as a transmog template. You do not have to equip the original to see the flower effect.
What do you think of this glaive? A cool thing for demon hunters? Or does this flower just not fit?
You love playing Pokémon, but during the holidays you tend to be less combative? Then the photo safari “New Pokémon Snap” on the Nintendo Switch could be your game.
Sure, catching and training Pokémon is cool, but do you know what’s even cooler? Photographing Pokémon! At least that was our opinion back in elementary school in the early 2000s when we kept visiting our friend who had a Nintendo 64 to play the first Pokémon Snap.
What is Pokémon Snap? In Pokémon Snap, you used to drive in first-person perspective using a self-driving buggy through different biomes populated by Pokémon in the wild. Whether on a tropical island or in the depths of a fiery volcano, the goal was always to take ideal photos of the monsters. Besides the camera, you could throw apples or use other items to lure Pokémon out of their hiding spots and then immortalize them in various poses.
Even back then, it was something special to see the monsters, which you only knew as small pixels on the Gameboy, in full size and vividly animated on the screen. And exactly this liveliness has also been transferred to the sequel of the classic, which was released for Nintendo Switch in 2021.
Start video
New Pokémon Snap shows its diverse world in the trailer
Pokémon in large and lively – This is how much fun the photo safari is
This is what makes New Pokémon Snap special: The name of the game may not be creatively chosen, but it is extremely fitting: the new Pokémon Snap really feels like the old one. Just with new, or rather more Pokémon and noticeably prettier graphics.
Once again you are traveling in an autonomous vehicle, cruising through the Poké world. In the so-called “Lentil” region, you explore an archipelago of various islands that confront you with diverse environments.
Sometimes you travel through a park, then through a jungle, you dive into the sea or glide over the eternal ice. You always have your camera, food, and music to attract Pokémon at hand. There is also the new “Lumina” feature – it revolves around special, glowing Pokémon that you can also examine.
With camera, lures, and Lumina orbs, you embark on a photo safari
What makes New Pokémon Snap strong? It really feels like a photo safari – only that you don’t shout: “Oh look, a lion!” but rather: “Oh look, a Machoke”. The game thrives on its iconic monsters, but also on their lively presentation.
The levels are full of Pokémon that hide, play tricks, fight each other, dance – whatever. These Pokémon don’t just stand around; they fill the game with their personality. Watching that is a lot of fun.
For example, you encounter Bidoof, struggling to build a dam. You can lure Magikarp to a waterfall so that it swims up it and evolves into Gyarados, or you look for the coolest Eevee evolutions. And if you do it right, you also discover the legendary Lugia, hidden in a cave in the depths of the sea.
Here are a few examples:
Lugia in New Pokémon SnapTangoloss in New Pokémon SnapMachomei in New Pokémon SnapEnton in New Pokémon SnapDespotar in New Pokémon Snap
There are simply no shortage of subjects, as many monsters and photo variants can only be found when you use the right items or perform actions to trigger them. This is not very easy and constantly provides surprises.
Also, the explored biomes change periodically during the game, so you can return to them and explore them again from a different perspective. The difference between day and night is also noticeable in the game.
In short: If you want to let your curious spirit of discovery run free, this is the place for you. If you want to prove your Poké expertise now, check here in the Pokédex quiz.
According to the available modes in the game, not at all. There is only the solo mode. However, this doesn’t detract from the game in a larger group.
The most fun I had with the game was when I played with my brother and my girlfriend. It’s true that only one person can control the game, but the leisurely cruising doesn’t require much controller skills anyway.
Rather, you need to keep a keen eye and try to interpret the right clues or discover hidden Pokémon in the area. And this can be wonderfully done in a group. Additionally, it’s much easier to brainstorm together how to get that damn Tangela to jump out of the bush instead of hiding. Pokédex knowledge really pays off here.
Moreover, the photo safaris only last a few minutes. Once a round is completed, the photos are evaluated, and then you can hand over the controller and take turns. Just like in the old days!
In China, the Communist Party tightens its grip on gaming just before Christmas: The two largest gaming publishers in China, Tencent (LoL) and NetEase (the former partner of Blizzard) suffered such significant losses on the stock market that at one point, 80 billion US dollars in market value were wiped out.
This is the Party’s decision: On December 22, Chinese authorities announced new rules aimed at reducing spending on video games (via dotesports):
Online games are now prohibited from rewarding players for logging in daily.
Furthermore, games are banned from rewarding players who spend money in a game for the first time.
And there will no longer be rewards for players who log in on consecutive days.
All of these are typical reward mechanics in online games intended to encourage players to spend money in a game’s cash shop and to visit the game or shop daily. This is especially common with Free2Play titles and mobile games, which are particularly prevalent in China.
League of Legends is a gaming giant, backed by Tencent Games behind the MOBA:
Start video
LoL: The new champion Hwei fights with a brush -Trailer
The Penguin is Losing Feathers
This was the reaction: On Friday, the international gaming giant Tencent (mascot: Penguin) lost 9.84% on the stock market – they now have a market value of 379 billion US dollars. At their lowest point, they lost 16%.
NetEase lost 16.07% on the stock market, and at their lowest point it was 25%. Their market value has fallen to 54.8 billion $.
At the lowest point of the losses, a total of 80 billion US dollars in market value had vanished, and this was just for the two tech giants that have strong connections to the West:
Tencent is involved in a number of Western companies: They own Riot Games, which distributes League of Legends – and they have their Penguin fins in many other firms.
NetEase is best known in the West as the former partner of Blizzard: They played a leading role in Diablo Immortal.
Why are the companies falling so sharply? It is not so much the current restrictions that are causing the steep drop in stock prices, but rather the fear that more negative news could come that would scare the market, reports the news agency Reuters, citing an expert from Hong Kong.
The renewed strict regulation now raises fears among investors.
China and the Communist Party have often taken a hard line against video games, fearing that excessive gaming could jeopardize the eyesight of the country’s youth. At that time, video games were even referred to as “digital opium” – in the history of China, this is about the worst image that could be given to video games. At the same time, video games are a booming business in China, and Tencent is a global showcase company. It is likely difficult for the Chinese Party to find the right balance here.
In any case, Tencent is confident that it will continue to operate well under the new conditions. The company states that it has already taken some measures to protect especially young people.
Here is our article on the harsh regulations at that time:
A player of the MMORPG Oldschool RuneScape has set himself an extremely laborious task, which became even more difficult due to a handicap: He has spent three years on this Sisyphean task and is now lamenting his plight.
What did the player set out to do?
The player wanted to obtain an “untrimmed Herblore cape” in OldSchool RuneScape’s “Ultimate Ironman” mode.
Translated, this means: He had to level the skill “Herblore” (i.e., herb lore) to the maximum of 99 without leveling any other skill to the maximum level first.
And he did this under extremely strict conditions: Because in “Ultimate Ironman” mode in Oldschool RuneScape, you have nothing at all: You cannot trade, not even deposit items in the bank, and are limited to 28 inventory slots.
Start video
Old School RuneScape shows the “Group Ironman” mode in the trailer
Shoveling 2 tons of sand with eyelashes
Why is this so hard? The skill “Herblore” is considered the hardest skill to level, especially in Ultimate Ironman, due to the limited inventory space – moreover, the player wanted to level this skill to 99 as the first and only skill, making it even harder because he had to restrict himself to the methods he could use to level Herblore. Normally, one would mix potions to level the skill efficiently.
The website “Gamesradar” compares the grind to shoveling two tons of sand with one’s eyelashes.
The player has detailed (via reddit) what he had to do to achieve his goal: A key component was to kill 150,000 to 300,000 chaos druids. He is not so sure about the exact number, as his tracker broke down at some point.
How long did it ultimately take? In the end, he took 3 years for the grind.
Does he regret it? He says: He does not regret the grind. It was “really interesting.” Because it is not a grind where you just sit in a room pressing the same button 500,000 times.
It is a “complicated series of intertwined systems.” He learned a lot about OldSchool RuneScape.
At some points, he thought he would give up and never make it, but then he distracted himself with another grind and got back to work refreshed.
“In a weird way, it was fun. Would I recommend it to others? “No, unless you are a bit of a masochist.”
He says he kept considering giving up, but then all the time he had invested in the task would have been for nothing. And that wouldn’t work either.
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