In League of Legends, there are countless players who do not always aim to win the match. A very special streamer has made it his mission to troll as many games as possible and ruin the game for the players. For this, he operates surprisingly efficiently.
It’s about the streamer LIONL9. He even advertises that he will int, essentially ruining your game. For this, he has an efficient strategy.
Instead of playing a single match, he plays multiple matches at once
He exclusively plays the champion Nunu when he is not banned
He runs down the Midlane in every match to the enemy tower and dies there
If one of the accounts he uses gets banned, he simply logs in again with a new account
His stream is visually barely tolerable. He has several tabs open, the screen is full of images and memes, and there is a counter showing how many times he has already been banned. He is only seen wearing a Nunu mask printed on cardboard. According to a clip on Twitch from 21 days ago, 1,666 of his accounts have already been banned.
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LoL: Video shows the relationship between rank placement, MMR and league points
His behavior fits his sponsor
According to 3DJuegos, the streamer also has a sponsor who deals with the distribution of LoL accounts. This also explains how he seemingly has unlimited accounts to continue with. However, with these services, it is often unclear where these accounts come from. Many are leveled up to level 30 by bots, but stolen account data from other players cannot be ruled out either.
According to Riot’s Terms of Service, both selling and using purchased accounts is prohibited. Riot also states that it is likely that such vendors want to scam you.
Removing LIONL9 from the game proves to be more difficult than expected. While his accounts are diligently banned, Riot cannot act against the many new accounts. The streamer could likely circumvent even an IP or hardware ban.
The only way to stop him, according to 3DJuegos, would likely be a ban or restriction on streaming platforms, as he would then no longer fulfill his entire advertising contract for the sponsor.
Besides LIONL9, there are also many toxic players who get banned for their behavior:
A gamer bought his son a new gaming PC. But the new system has a major drawback, as the hardware is completely outdated. Many criticize that the father was taken for a ride at that price.
A new gaming PC is likely to be a small highlight for anyone. Because new hardware usually means a significant increase in performance. However, a father recently bought a gaming PC at the request of his son. But he probably won’t have much joy with the gaming PC.
1,200 Euros for 10-year-old hardware
What hardware is installed in the PC? The user on reddit reports that the gaming PC is equipped with an Intel i5 2500 without K and a GTX 1660ti from Nvidia.
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The i5 2500 was first released in 2011 and received its last security and maintenance update in 2019. Moreover, the CPU only runs with outdated DDR3 RAM and a correspondingly old motherboard.
The GTX 1660ti is still from 2019 and theoretically offers enough performance for relatively new games at medium or high details. The problem, however, is the outdated CPU, which will throttle the graphics card in many games and applications.
Price far too high: Just for comparison: A modern gaming PC with Ryzen 5 5600 and RX 6700 XT is now available for well under 1,000 Euros and you could buy a decent monitor with the remaining money. Alternatively, there is also an RTX GPU from Nvidia with DLSS support.
What do users say? They consider it a scam to sell such a computer as a “gaming PC” and on top of that for so much money. Many have strong words in the comments for this action:
Damn, the seller is really heartless, I feel sorry for the child suffering under a 13-year-old CPU.
(…) I think you should directly tell him [the father] so that he can be more careful next time by doing research or seeking help. A simple ChatGPT prompt or a Google search will open his eyes.
Some also warn against simply buying “new” hardware without knowledge. Because in the worst case, it can happen that you end up with things that are not worth the money at all.
Is old hardware worth it at all? The problem with very old components is often that they limit themselves: A 10-year-old processor can only be equipped with a similarly old motherboard and DDR3 RAM. Therefore, you will never enjoy modern features. In addition, older CPUs often do not work really cost-efficiently.
For modern hardware, you already need to replace the entire system (motherboard, RAM, and CPU). Upgrading old hardware with similarly old hardware is hardly ever worth it.
A list of hardware that you should not buy today can be found in the following article directly on MeinMMO:
A new farming game, which refers to itself as a “fantasy farming simulator,” is set to be released on Steam this year. The announcement trailer quickly reveals that Tales of Seikyu does not want to be like all other farming games.
The game introduces you to the hidden fairyland Seikyu, which serves as a refuge for Yokai, various spirits and demons. You begin your new life on a farm there and try to cope with tasks and the new neighbors. It soon becomes apparent that Seikyu is threatened by ancient gods.
The trailer also indicates that you will need to overcome a few more challenges to secure your survival:
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In Tales of Seikyu treffen die verschiedensten Yokai aufeinandern
In Tales of Seikyu, you become the monster yourself: As the trailer quickly shows, you do not only pursue your daily tasks in your human form. Because as it is for a Yokai, you can change your shape.
To do this, you collect various masks in the game that allow you to take on a new form. For example, you can become a wild boar to plow the field or turn into wet slime to irrigate the field.
But even outside your farm, these powers are quite useful. You can transform into a crow Tengu to fly long distances or quickly reach the top of a mountain. As slime, you can even explore everything underwater.
Tales of Seikyu promises many features that you wish for from a farming game
In addition to the aspect of shape-shifting, the trailer shows several other features:
Explore your surroundings
Gather resources, for example by blowing up trees
Help the various NPCs and use your different forms for that
Build your farm and hotel according to your own ideas and decorate your house
Take care of your animals
Cook various dishes
Fight the ancient gods with your weapons and receive treasures from them
Play together with your friends
The trailer also promises that you can build relationships with the various villagers. There will also be the possibility to start a romance.
In various interactions, you can connect with around 30 characters, complete trades, and learn their stories. The residents are as diverse as one can imagine Yokai to be: From “human” forms to neighbors in otter or bird form, there is already a lot to see in the trailer.
The new movie from Studio Ghibli has become a masterpiece again. At least that’s what MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth thinks. He explains how he came to his spoiler-free opinion in his review.
“The Boy and the Heron”. That is the new film by Hayao Miyazaki. Even those who do not know the name of the legendary director have probably seen at least some of his films. These include animation gems like “Spirited Away”, “Princess Mononoke”, or “My Neighbor Totoro”.
Actually, Miyazaki wanted to retire long ago (reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung). “The Wind Rises” from 2013 was supposed to be his last film. But obviously, the anime master cannot find peace due to his own creativity.
Who is writing here? Christoph Waldboth is a film lover across all genres. Whether deep drama, explosive action, or imaginative animation – spinning wild theories about his favorite films is as much a passion of his as writing about them.
The new film is called “The Boy and the Heron”. In the original Japanese, it is titled “Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka”, which translates to: “How do you live?”. With this, Miyazaki’s film takes its title from the novel of the same name by the Japanese writer Genzaburo Yoshino. However, the actual story of the film comes from the director himself. As has been so often, a child is at the center of the narrative. Without giving too much away: It is about grief and how to deal with it.
Here you can see the trailer for the film:
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The Boy and the Heron
The Return to the Fantastic
“The Wind Rises” told the story of a Japanese engineer from the 1920s, and was correspondingly realistic. In “The Boy and the Heron”, the fantasy elements take up more space again. So much so that I felt reminded of past films from Studio Ghibli time and again. Key word: parallel worlds.
The fact that the magical is once again part of it was already hinted at in the trailers. Still, I was overwhelmed in the cinema by the creativity and the many creative ideas that the film has to offer. Colorful as ever, it enchants with wonderful backgrounds and absurd creature designs (slightly disturbing: The heron).
The film is, in the best sense, a surprise bag. Once opened and looked into, you can’t pull your head out again. You want to see and experience everything. Moreover, everything looks great again.
Animation Art at the Highest Level
Yes, the images. Yes, these animations. Ghibli proves once again that the studio belongs to the best that the world of animated films has to offer. With great attention to detail, characters and scenery are animated. Even small, seemingly unimportant things like awkwardly slipping into a shoe are given space.
It is these details that make Miyazaki’s films masterful for me. Because these details give his characters something human, making me almost forget that they are drawn characters.
Hand-drawn, it must be emphasized. Most of the scenes at Ghibli are still hand-drawn. And you can see that. It may be a matter of taste, but in my eyes, modern 3D animation can never match traditional hand-drawn art. Every single frame in this film could be printed and hung on the wall. These are not simply individual frames of an anime, but countless paintings that are worth being viewed on as large a canvas as possible.
That’s why I urge you all: Make sure to see this film in the cinema. It is worth it.
In addition, this way you will also enjoy optimal sound quality. The sounds that bring the fantastic world of the film to life sound wonderfully crisp, and the music by Ghibli’s regular composer Joe Hisaishi underscores the events on the screen in a minimalist yet atmospheric way.
One thing I absolutely have to say. “The Boy and the Heron” is, in my opinion, by far the most difficult and complicated film by Hayao Miyazaki. This is mainly due to the way the filmmaker tells his story.
Much is only hinted at or clothed in abstract images. The course of the plot can confuse, and will leave parts of the audience irritated. I too sat at the end of the screening with a furrowed brow. However, since I love such things, I dove into my own wild theories on the way home. How it could be meant, how this can be understood …
Thus, the film offers plenty of room for personal interpretation. As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Miyazaki had the following message read at a preview screening in February 2023:
Perhaps you didn’t understand it. I myself don’t understand it.
This shows that even the creative mind behind the film cannot find a clear solution.
As I said: I enjoy such things. But I also know many who just want to enjoy a film. Who want to say goodbye for two hours to another world and let themselves be entertained. Who do not want to have to piece together parts of the plot in the end. For all those, the film could be a little disappointing.
Of course, one can ignore all of that and simply enjoy the audiovisual masterpiece that the film is for me. But after I satisfactorily deciphered the riddle behind it, I was even more enthusiastic about it. You should try it too.
For me, the film belongs to the best of Studio Ghibli
When it comes to my personal Ghibli ranking, “The Boy and the Heron” already plays in the top league. This means in my case: It is on par with “Spirited Away”, “Princess Mononoke”, and “The Wind Rises”. The reason for this is simple: The film combines the best of these three other anime.
It has the seriousness and tragedy of “Princess Mononoke”, the inventiveness and absurd humor of “Spirited Away”, and the masterful interpersonal relationships of “The Wind Rises”.
Once again, Hayao Miyazaki proves that he is among the best in his field. Everyone who has even the slightest interest in anime and animated films in general should see this film. Believe me, you will see things that you have never experienced in a cinema before. You will marvel with childlike eyes, rejoice, feel fear, and experience relief. You will begin to ponder, and carry the story and the characters home with you. And you will not forget them quickly.
Until the next film by Miyazaki. According to the vice president of Studio Ghibli (via cba.ca), the master is already working on his next project despite his old age (82!). I am already looking forward to it.
“The Boy and the Heron” will be shown in German cinemas from January 4, 2024.
In CoD Warzone, a pistol is currently quite strong. A modification kit increases the fire rate of the pistol by a full 100%. For this to work, you need the right loadout.
Which pistol are we talking about? Due to balance changes, the meta in Call of Duty: Warzone often changes. Currently, the pistol Cor-45 is making its rounds in Warzone. The pistol is probably the best secondary weapon in the game – for some, even better than the primary weapon.
What makes the weapon so strong? The weapon becomes so powerful with the right loadout. The “XRK IP-V2” modification kit gives the pistol a fire rate increased by 100%. This means that a bullet is fired both when pressing and releasing the trigger.
With the modification kit, you can shoot twice as fast. This greatly improves the “Time-To-Kill” (TTK) of the Cor-45. The TTK describes how quickly you can take down an opponent.
Especially at short distances, the weapon can lead to quick fights with the right loadout. This has also been recognized in the community, and the weapon is already widely used.
If you feel a bit nostalgic after the New Year, you can watch the Warzone trailer that started it all here.
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Call of Duty: Warzone – The trailer that started it all
The Right Loadout Makes the Weapon Strong
What loadout do you need?
Besides the “XRK IP-V2” modification kit, you’ll need different mods to get the most out of the weapon.
It’s best to equip the pistol with the Sonic suppressor XS. For grips, choose the angled Bruen grip or the XTEN drop grip.
You should also use the DR-6 handstop and the 40-round drum magazine along with the XRK Dynamics precision stock.
The mods ensure the lowest possible Time-To-Kill (TTK). However, they also make the weapon more difficult to control.
What are the disadvantages of the weapon? The weapon is not effective at longer distances, as is typical for a pistol. Additionally, the weapon has a high recoil with the loadout optimized for the best Time-To-Kill (TTK), which makes it harder to control.
Another negative point is the actual strength of the pistol, namely the double fire rate. One must first get used to the so-called “triggering”. The weapon does not fire fully automatically.
With “triggering”, it’s important to press and release the shoot button as quickly as possible, which is more difficult than simply holding the shoot button down like with automatic rifles.
The next patch of World of Warcraft has a release date. We reveal what’s included – and when it starts.
The year 2024 has started with a packed schedule and a strict roadmap for World of Warcraft. The developers apparently want to handle the first point particularly quickly. The next patch for World of Warcraft Dragonflight will be released in just a few weeks, and even a bit earlier than originally expected. It all starts in just under 2 weeks.
When does Patch 10.2.5 release? The patch 10.2.5 Seeds of Renewal will be released on January 17, 2024. As usual, the patch will go live in America a day earlier due to time differences and various maintenance work.
As announced in the roadmap – the content of Patch 10.2.5.
What’s included in Patch 10.2.5 Seeds of Renewal?
This patch is just a “small” patch, so there is no really new area or new season. Instead, there are a lot of smaller features that should provide distraction for at least a few weeks – along with quests to gradually conclude Dragonflight. The highlights of Patch 10.2.5 include:
Worldwide Dragon Riding: Dragon Riding will be unlocked worldwide, meaning in all old areas where flying was already possible. Here, Dragon Riding has a speed of only 85% of the maximum speed on the Dragon Islands, but that’s still many times faster than traditional flying mounts.
Archives of Azeroth: A new feature that will please story fans. Experience stories from the past of the Dragon Islands here, both in solo and group activities. Collectors can look forward to battle pets, mounts, and a transmog set.
Bel’ameth: The new capital of the Night Elves is established. After the blooming of Amirdrassil, the Night Elves have chosen the tree as their home – Kaldorei fans can discover a lot here.
Reclaiming Gilneas: King Genn Greymane sets out to reclaim Gilneas – but the once-human kingdom is not as deserted as hoped. Help bring the kingdom back under the control of the Worgen King.
Companion Dungeons: As a tank, healer, or DPS, you can now join a group of NPCs to play regular dungeons without pressure. This is possible for solo players or groups of 2-4 characters. This way, you can experience normal dungeons without social pressure and explore at your own pace.
New Character Customizations: Trolls get new hair colors and Draenei also receive some updates. Warlocks can look forward to more customizations for their demons, as the Tyrants and Darkglances can be visually modified.
What else is in the patch? Aside from the highlights, there are surely one or two hidden features that have slipped into the patch. One of them is the overhaul of the “Love is in the Air” event (Valentine’s Day), celebrated in February. Here, new rewards await and perhaps one or two fresh quests as well.
Are you looking forward to Patch 10.2.5?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Next week, on January 9, 2024, CES 2024 will begin. It is already clear that some important products will also make an appearance at CES 2024. Gamers will likely be excited about many things, but a few are less pleasant.
What is CES? The CES (short for “Consumer Electronics Show”) is one of the largest trade fairs for consumer electronics in the world, held annually in January in Las Vegas. This is where new products and interesting technologies are often showcased, and the most important manufacturers usually participate.
In 2024, we can again expect many innovations. However, a number of presentations should be particularly noted by gamers. And for almost all presentations, it is quite certain that they will occur.
Artificial Intelligence
AI has been a huge topic since the launch of ChatGPT at the end of 2022. Therefore, artificial intelligence is expected to play a significant role in 2024. Many companies are jumping on the proverbial bandwagon. Corporations like AMD and Microsoft have already stated that AI will completely change the world.
Additionally, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer (CPO) Panos Panay intends to share more during a guest appearance at AMD’s official keynote at CES.
Other competitors like Intel are also aggressively promoting “AI Everywhere.” Therefore, AI is likely to accompany us in the coming months and years, influencing many aspects of life.
And this is true in both positive and negative ways: While gamers greatly benefit from AI in features like DLSS, others fear that artificial intelligence may also lead to job losses. AI is expected to divide people like few other topics before.
At the end of 2023, AMD introduced the latest version of FSR. FSR is AMD’s alternative to Nvidia’s DLSS. FSR has been an important step for AMD to counter a significant buying argument for an RTX graphics card from Nvidia. Intel’s counterpart is called XeSS. All three projects are real-time upscaling technologies aimed at increasing FPS in games.
So far, FSR 3.0 is being used in half a dozen games, and many are waiting for a major announcement regarding the broad support of the software. So far, Nvidia has the upper hand with DLSS, and many hope that AMD will finally close the gap with Nvidia. Unlike DLSS, which only works with Nvidia graphics cards, FSR is also compatible with third-party and older graphics cards:
New Graphics Cards from Nvidia: Super Models of the RTX 4000 Series
For months, rumors have been circulating that Nvidia will release an upgrade or at least a refresh for its RTX 4000 series in 2024. There are now several rumors under the names RTX 4080D or RTX 4080 Super.
Overall, it should be good news for gamers that Nvidia might offer new graphics card models with more performance or at least more video memory. On the other hand, the prices Nvidia is likely to demand for the new GPUs will not bring joy to gamers. For an RTX 4080, you already pay at least around 1,200 Euros (via geizhals.de).
The RTX 4090 is currently Nvidia’s fastest graphics card. Whether the RTX 4090 will also receive a Super or D model is not known.
New OLED Models for TVs and Gaming Monitors
We can expect that several manufacturers will present new gaming monitors with OLED displays.
As colleagues from TFTCentral report, several gaming monitors with OLED displays are set to be released in 2024. With up to 42 inches, a refresh rate of 480 Hz, and other features. At least LG’s “WOLED technology” is said to enable such high refresh rates.
Many manufacturers like Samsung or LG are likely to take the opportunity to showcase their new models at CES 2024. However, the prices are expected to be quite high, targeting buyers with the appropriate budget.
Why is OLED so exciting for gaming? OLED offers several advantages compared to LCD displays. OLEDs provide excellent contrast ratios and deep blacks. In an OLED display, each pixel lights up independently, allowing for very precise control of image quality.
Manufacturers are now using various techniques to prevent burn-in problems, which is why this is hardly a concern with modern devices. Devices like the Steam Deck OLED or the OLED version of the Switch do not experience burn-in issues:
What’s new from AMD? The Ryzen 8000 processors will be based on the new Zen 5 architecture and are expected to hit the market in the first half of 2024. However, do not expect much new: Zen 5 is said to be “only” a refresh of the 7000 series, which should bring meaningful improvements. The next significant upgrade is not expected until 2025.
What’s new from Intel? Intel is expected to release new desktop processors for gamers in 2024 with Core 200 under the codename “Arrow Lake.” The topic of efficiency is likely to become exciting again. In the last generation, Intel practically went for brute force: a lot of performance, but at the cost of enormous power consumption. AMD’s CPUs simply offer better efficiency. In 2024, or at the latest by 2025, it will be interesting to see who leads in terms of efficiency and performance in the future.
Qualcomm’s First Desktop Processor
What kind of processor is it? In 2023, manufacturer Qualcomm announced its entry into the PC market. By mid-2024, processors under the name Snapdragon X Elite are expected to be available (via chinahandys.net). Qualcomm aims to be the first manufacturer to offer a processor based on ARM architecture. AMD and Nvidia are also reportedly developing an ARM processor, but are still said to be in the early stages. We also know the specifications of Qualcomm’s processor by now:
The Snapdragon X Elite will be manufactured using a 4-nm process.
The processor has 12 cores, which can boost up to 3.8 GHz.
In single or dual-core operation, the chip can reach up to 4.3 GHz.
Additionally, there is a Qualcomm Adreno GPU graphics chip, which is said to deliver a performance of 4.6 TeraFLOPs. The PS5 delivers a little over double that with 10.3 Tflops.
In the end, much will depend on how good Qualcomm’s software and drivers are. Intel’s first “real” graphics cards mainly struggled due to subpar software.
Many alternatives to the Steam Deck also face software issues. We will introduce you to the most interesting alternatives directly on MeinMMO:
JayzTwoCents is one of the most well-known tech channels on YouTube, alongside Linus Tech Tips and Gamers Nexus. Now, JayzTwoCents explains that he has serious health issues. This also affects his YouTube channel.
On January 2, 2024, YouTuber JayzTwoCents informed his fans about the content he plans to develop in the coming year. At the same time, he also explained that he is struggling with health difficulties that will also impact his work.
Many viewers are surprised by the issues, express understanding for the popular YouTuber, and wish him all the best in the future. How things will progress with his channel can be read on MeinMMO.
JayzTwoCents explains how 2024 will go with his channel
What does the YouTuber say? In a video from January 2, 2024, Jayz shared that he has been struggling with some health problems since 2023 and is currently speaking with his doctors to sort everything out.
He revealed that he is dealing with anemia and some other issues that, in turn, result in him lacking the energy he usually has. Anemia is a blood disease. More information about this can be found, for example, at Techniker Krankenkasse.
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The official YouTube video from JayzTwoCents where he talks about his health.
What will happen with the popular channel? JayzTwoCents emphasized in the video that the channel will continue. At the same time, he explained that his viewers should not worry about him.
However, the lack of strength and the time he spends with doctors will likely mean that he will work with fewer brands in 2024. Therefore, there is expected to be less content from the popular YouTuber in 2024.
JayzTwoCents has almost 4 million followers on YouTube, and his videos regularly reach between 150,000 and 300,000 viewers. He regularly tests various products or collaborates with manufacturers.
Once, he even bought loot boxes that promised valuable hardware. However, things did not end well, and he did not receive a graphics card:
Escape from Tarkov has become an extremely popular game in recent years. Aspects like PvEvP raids and realistic weapon behavior characterize the hardcore shooter. But what does a game need to be like the title from Battlestate Games? MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller shows you 5 games you should play if you like Escape from Tarkov.
Escape from Tarkov (EFT) can be very frustrating for new players. Furthermore, it can only be played on PC and can only be purchased from the developer Battlestate Games. If you want to buy the game on Steam, you are out of luck.
If you want to buy a game like Escape from Tarkov on Steam or need a change from the hardcore shooter, MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller has put together a list of 5 games that share basic gameplay mechanics with Escape from Tarkov.
The article originally appeared in June 2022 on MeinMMO. We updated it in January 2024 and removed The Cycle: Frontier from the list. In May 2024, we also added Gray Zone Warfare and Incursion Red River.
[toc]
EFT-Like: These games share the same gameplay principle
This is what defines EFT-Likes: Escape from Tarkov has established a new genre with its innovative gameplay – EFT-Likes. If you want to know exactly what characterizes this type of game, we at MeinMMO have explained the new gaming genre EFT-Likes.
Gray Zone Warfare
Genre: EFT-Like |Mode: PvPvE |Developer: Madfinger Games |Platform: PC |Release Date: April 30, 2024 | Model: Buy-to-Play |Perspective: First-Person
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New gameplay trailer for “Gray Zone Warfare”
What defines Gray Zone Warfare? Gray Zone Warfare focuses on realistic gameplay. This is reflected in the graphic style, weapon models, recoil, movement patterns, and injuries.
You will traverse the tropical landscape inspired by Laos in squads of up to 4 players and complete various missions. During these missions, you may encounter hostile NPCs and players.
If you die during a raid, you will lose your carried equipment. Unlike other extraction shooters, however, the equipment is not automatically lost. You can set out again and recover your own equipment unless it has been stolen by another player. Therefore, the raids also have no time limit.
Pro
Beautiful graphics thanks to Unreal Engine 5
Active community due to the recent release
Creative approach to the extraction shooter genre: no time limit, possibility to recover lost loot
More beginner-friendly than Escape from Tarkov, as it provides coordinates for quests.
Developers are actively working on game issues and communicate frequently with the community
Contra
Performance is not good; the game generally requires powerful hardware
Server issues during peak times
Clearly recognizable early access: bugs, insufficient hit registration, limited content
Genre: EFT-Like | Mode: PvPvE | Developer: Crytek | Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 | Release Date: August 27, 2019 | Model: Buy-to-Play | Perspective: First-Person
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Hunt: Showdown Launch Trailer
What is Hunt: Showdown about? In the core gameplay mode of Hunt: Showdown – the bounty hunting – you must hunt down and kill at least one of up to two monsters on the map.
To know the position of a monster, you must first gather clues or encounter it by chance. There are four different monsters that can appear on the map.
Then you must collect the trophy dropped by the killed monster and get it off the map, similar to Escape from Tarkov.
What defines Hunt: Showdown? Hunt: Showdown has a very special twist: a permadeath mechanic. If you die before you have extracted your character and the collected trophy from the area, you lose everything – and when we say everything, we mean everything.
Even the character you have leveled up over hours and its progress is gone if the character dies. MeinMMO author Mark Sellner has experienced this in over 700 hours of gameplay in Hunt: Showdown.
In addition to numerous NPCs, preferably monsters or other grotesque creatures, the hunters controlled by other players also pose a great danger to successful extraction. The other hunters want to stop you from finishing the bounty objectives and collecting the respective trophy, and in the worst case, even kill you.
These features of Hunt: Showdown stand out: The paranoid feeling in Hunt: Showdown is further enhanced by the excellent sound design of the shooter.
You can hear almost every sound loud and clear and determine movements based on the soundscape. This is comforting when you can accurately determine an opponent’s position, but the multitude of continuously audible sounds also creates a certain tension that contributes to an immersive atmosphere.
Genre: EFT-Like |Mode: PvE |Developer: Games of Tomorrow GmbH |Platform: PC |Release Date: April 10, 2024 |Model: Buy-to-Play |Perspective: First-Person
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Incursion: Red River gives an initial impression of the gameplay in the trailer for the Steam Next Fest
What defines Incursion Red River? Incursion Red River is an extraction shooter on Steam that was previously known by the working title “Project Quarantine” and focuses on realistic gameplay.
You find yourself in a fictional version of present-day Vietnam, where a civil war between gangs, militias, and private armies rages. The map accordingly provides you with a tropical area, with green forests and hot temperatures.
Gameplay-wise, you can expect a typical extraction shooter where you accept missions in your hideout and start a raid. You then aim to complete these missions while gathering new loot. At the end of the raid, you must successfully extract.
Unlike Escape from Tarkov or Gray Zone Warfare, however, Incursion Red River only offers PvE. You can, however, fight cooperatively with up to three friends.
Pro
Decent graphics
Since there is no PvP, everyone can play at their own pace and independently of other players
Noticeably cheaper than other realistic extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov or Gray Zone Warfare
Contra
Early access is clearly evident in the technical condition of the game
Genre: EFT-Like | Mode: PvPvE | Developer: Small Impact Games | Platform: PC (Steam) | Release Date: October 3, 2022 | Model: Buy-to-Play | Perspective: First-Person
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Marauders Closed-Alpha Trailer
What is Marauders about? Marauders is already considered a space Tarkov before the official release, set in a parallel universe. In this alternate reality, humanity has aimed to conquer space after World War II. Accordingly, the spaceships visually resemble tanks with regular projectiles and bullets instead of lasers and railguns.
With the space tanks, you will head to space stations or spaceship wrecks and search them for usable resources. However, other players have similar intentions, which can quickly lead to a deadly confrontation.
If you have secured valuable loot, the next goal is to escape. You must flee from the space station or the shipwreck, and should you die in the process, the collected loot is lost.
What defines Marauders? In Marauders, you can own not just a spaceship, but an entire military frigate and engage in tactical space battles. You want to get as many fighters as possible onto the respective station or wreck and shoot the players to the target location using drop pods.
Since the drop pods are destructible and you may encounter space battles, upgrading and improving your frigate is an important feature in Marauders. Additionally, you can increase your character’s abilities by improving them through skills.
What is DMZ about? With Warzone 2, Call of Duty has also ventured into the EFT-Likes genre and released the free DMZ mode. DMZ stands for “Demilitarized Zone” – an area where no military can be stationed.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of armed NPC enemies who will shoot at you as soon as they see you: the so-called AQ Forces.
How does DMZ play? Since the DMZ mode is a typical extraction shooter, there are not only NPCs but also plenty of other players on the map. These are traversing the city of Al Mazrah, known from Battle Royale, and trying to complete various faction missions and improve their equipment.
Within a round, however, you have limited time to complete tasks and loot buildings, as a timer is constantly counting down.
After the time expires, a radioactive zone spreads across the map. This will not only quickly eliminate you if you linger in it but also gradually push all remaining players on the map towards one of three extraction points.
These extraction points are crucial for the outcome of the round, as due to the spreading zone, you cannot remain on the map forever. You must extract eventually – ideally after completing your faction missions and packed with necessary items and good equipment.
Pro
Free2play
Beginner-friendly and intuitive gameplay
Familiar weapons, handling, and movement from CoD MW2 and MW3
No endless inventory cleanup
Contra
Technical problems and crashes in CoD: Warzone 2 also affect the DMZ mode
DMZ is more of a marginal feature next to Warzone
Not a good sound system compared to other extraction shooters
Because Sony’s anti-piracy measures ensured that controllers from other manufacturers did not work as well as they should have, Sony now has to pay millions.
Why does Sony have to pay? In France, the local competition authority has fined Sony one million. This followed a complaint from the French controller manufacturer Subsonic.
Subsonic reported Sony for issues with compatibility and lack of communication while trying to participate in the licensing program.
In response, the French competition authority launched an investigation, resulting in Sony having to pay a fine of 13.5 million euros.
Last year, Sony announced some new games; you can see which ones in the video.
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Sony presents new games for PS4 and PS5 – Here’s what you can look forward to in 2023
Sony caused the competition to suffer
Why did the competition suffer? The controller manufacturer Subsonic reportedly had recurring issues with controllers not reconnecting after console software updates. As a result, users of third-party controllers had to reconnect them repeatedly.
Additionally, the controller manufacturer allegedly had difficulties joining Sony’s licensing program because Sony was unwilling to share information about it. This is said to have hindered the development of the controllers.
What did the French authority find out? The French authority was able to attribute the connection issues to Sony’s anti-piracy measures. These measures caused the controllers to need to reconnect repeatedly.
These measures have been in place since 2015, which is a considerable time during which Subsonic had to struggle with these issues.
Furthermore, the authority found misconduct on Sony’s part regarding communication within the licensing program. The authority determined that Sony had indeed previously refused to communicate conditions and criteria for participating in the licensing program.
Every year at the turn of the year, Square Enix publishes a letter reporting on the themes of the next year. This time, the focus is also on the development of video games using artificial intelligence.
Square Enix publishes a report every year at the turn of the year, covering the key themes for the next year. This year, the letter was written by Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu. In a separate paragraph, he also writes about the use of AI at Square Enix in the new year.
How should AI be used? Square Enix aims to take an aggressive approach to the application of AI and other modern technologies. They specifically have the release of new applications and features in mind.
In the short term, they want to increase development productivity, meaning developing faster with the same number of developers. They also want to use artificial intelligence for marketing. This sounds like they want to delegate tasks to chatbots like ChatGPT.
In the long term, Square Enix wants to utilize artificial intelligence to create entirely new forms of content for consumers, thus generating true innovations.
Some Twitch streamers also want to make an impression with artificial intelligence. Amouranth has a very special idea for that.
Start video
Amouranth wants to allow her fans more closeness – Artificial Intelligence should achieve this
Artificial Intelligence – A Label Like Blockchain or NFTs
Is Artificial Intelligence just a label for Square Enix? Of course, this cannot be judged based on the letter, but it is noticeable that in the letter from 2022, there was still talk of NFTs, the metaverse, and blockchain, all things that have increasingly been regarded as dubious in the past year.
Meanwhile, intelligent chatbots like ChatGPT are the new hot thing in the tech market, and as a stock company, Square Enix is certainly wise to mention AI in their letter.
Square Enix will likely indeed use artificial intelligence. However, the CEO’s letter does not indicate any significant leaps forward in development yet. Initially, they are probably just using AI as a tool.
Is there already the use of artificial intelligence in video games? So far, there are no games that truly redesign entire processes with AI. Similar to what Square Enix writes in their letter, this is a long-term goal for game developers. Initially, existing AI tools will be used to accelerate certain processes.
The turn of the year is celebrated worldwide, often in the company of family and friends. Unfortunately, this year a gamer could not actively participate in the celebrations; instead, he logged into Final Fantasy XIV – where he celebrated a truly wonderful party with the community.
MMORPGs live and die by their community: whether it’s the dedicated raid guilds in World of Warcraft or the ambitious squads in Guild Wars 2. Final Fantasy XIV also has a mostly great community. For this, the game has been awarded several times, most recently in 2022 at the Golden Joystick Awards.
The great solidarity in the aforementioned MMORPG community particularly benefited one player over New Year’s Eve.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – Gameplay of the new job Viper
Which player is being talked about? On January 1, 2024, reddit user Shavelk_a posted in the Final Fantasy 14 Subreddit. He does not specify exactly where he lives, but in his culture, New Year’s Eve and New Year are just as important as Christmas is in Europe.
Unfortunately, Shavelk_a could not travel to his family due to a serious illness, and they could not visit him either. His friends also lied to him that nothing was planned.
To escape his loneliness, Shavelk_a eventually logged into Final Fantasy XIV. There, he visited Limsa Lominsa, the city hub with the most active players. Ultimately, at least in the game, Shavelk_a finally had a happy ending: he conversed with many other players and enjoyed the joint in-game celebrations.
For the player, this was probably exactly what he needed – at least according to his final words:
My heart felt warm because I escaped to my favorite place, in my favorite game, away from all the problems.
How did the community react? The Final Fantasy 14 reddit responded with many warm words. Thus, the thread reflects the well-known kindness of the players. Here are a few quotes:
DayleD via reddit: It’s nice that the game was there for you. I hope you have a better 2024.
Some also shared their stories about loneliness eased by the game:
starborndreams via reddit:There was a New Year’s Eve during Covid when my friends and I couldn’t meet due to restrictions, so we all dressed up our characters and went to one of the role-playing bars to celebrate together there.
RFairclough via reddit: I was alone on Christmas 2021, I had recently started playing FFXIV and decided to spend my time in Eorzea instead. As I wandered through Limsa, a tiny character dressed as Santa Claus approached me, gave me a companion and some snacks, and wished me a Merry Christmas along with some kind words before disappearing to brighten the holidays for others. I literally cried in front of my computer.
When people from the e-sports environment are banned, it always causes a stir. This time, a popular host in Dota 2 has been affected, who has long been considered toxic by the community.
Who was banned? The popular Dota 2 host SirActionSlacks has received a ban. The Twitch streamer is now one of the first known players to be banned by the new behavior system. While he can still play Dota 2, he can no longer communicate in-game at all.
This is a significant change for him, as he reveals on Reddit. As a result of the ban, he will only play with friends in the future.
What does he say about it? SirActionSlacks has commented on the incident on Reddit. He finds the ban justified and even says, “I deserve the punishment.”
Recently, he noticed that his behavior score was slowly declining. He tried to counteract this by not streaming his last 15 games to prevent sniping and by not speaking in-game anymore. He also tried to refrain from making toxic comments in the chat.
But none of this helped, and ultimately, he was punished by the new behavior system. From now on, he can no longer communicate with other players in the game.
Here you can watch the trailer for the New Frontiers Update.
Start video
Dota 2 – The New Frontiers Update
New system automatically mutes toxic players
Why did he receive the ban now? SirActionSlacks received the ban because his behavior score dropped too low. Since the summer update of 2023, Dota 2 has a zero-tolerance policy towards toxic players. The new system gives each player a so-called behavior score, which is based on how a person interacts with their teammates in the game.
As a streamer with almost 150,000 followers on Twitch, SirActionSlacks is likely reported every night. The messages are then supposed to be checked live by the system and ultimately have an impact on the behavior score.
The behavior score not only determines the ability to communicate in the game but also how many item drops one receives after rounds, whether one can pause a match, and with which players one is grouped in a match.
The system is considered very strict, as points lost are only painstakingly regained.
What does the community say about the ban? The community is somewhat divided: Most on Reddit see SirActionSlacks as a toxic person. Others find the new system, similar to the streamer, far too strict.
KrisHwt has played with the streamer before and says via Reddit: “I have played in your team several times, and you are by far one of the most annoying and toxic people I have ever encountered in this game. […] It’s no secret why you can’t improve your behavior score.”
-Richarmander- is trying to understand the new system a bit better, also via reddit: “15 games should be enough to improve the behavior score a bit, right? I have a score of 12k, but if it were to drop, I would expect that 15 games with a positive mentality would raise my score somewhat.”
The weekly reset in Destiny 2 brings new challenges, rewards, and rotations that impact the fate of the Guardian community each week. MeinMMO takes a look at what awaits you this week in the worlds of the loot shooter and beyond.
This week: It is the first week of the new year 2024, and the Guardians leave the New Year celebrations behind. Eva Levante clears her space as Lord Saladin stands ready with the second Iron Banner of Season 23 and the “Outbreak” mode. Additionally, the activities are rotating as usual this week.
However, what is even more interesting is what will happen beyond that. Many Guardians are wondering what Destiny 2 will offer them in 2024, leading up to the release of the new DLC. Here is an overview.
Season 23 will run as planned from the end of November to February. In February, additional weekly quests will be introduced that are based on your progress and called “Wishes.”
In March, Bungie will host the “Guardian Games,” which usually take place in May.
In April, the content update “Into the Light” will be released. It is designed to “prepare all players for their Guardian’s path to the Traveler.”
In May, the selection of PvP maps will be expanded with three new maps and some updates for various PvP modes to further enhance the player-versus-player experience.
On June 04, 2024, the new DLC will finally be released featuring a new raid and instead of the usual seasons, it will come with the first of three episodes called “Echoes.”
So, it will still be a while before players can experience the grand finale of the first saga surrounding Light and Dark. But first, let’s take a look at the upcoming week of Season 23.
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Destiny 2: Season 23 sends the Guardians for a Last Wish to the Dragon’s Lair
Key information on activities from January 2 to January 9.
Nightfall
Heist Battleground: Moon
Xivu Arath’s battle song is causing trouble for the War Spirit’s bunkers. Recapture them and secure the underground buildings from the access of the Hive.
Earn this week’s Nightfall weapon: Braytech Wolfpack, Rocket Launcher
Crucible – This is the rotating PvP activity
This week you can play the modes Scorched and Showdown in PvP.
Endgame: Raid Challenges and Dungeon Rotation
Farmable Endgame on a weekly rotation: For those who love the challenge and perfected loot, the so-called Legacy Rotations await in the endgame. These can be repeated and farmed.
What does “Farmable Endgame” mean?
Since Season 21, older missions and raids rotate weekly as Legacy Activities and are farmable. This means: The active rotation raid, the active rotation dungeon, and the exotic rotation missions can be farmed within the week. This way you can complete the individual encounters multiple times to receive different items and complete your collection, including any exotics that are available in these contents.
The Guardians must delve deep underground in Lightfall to reach the “Veil”. They receive support from Caiatl’s troops in an epic battle at the gates of the Ishtar facility.
Ascendant Challenge – Dreaming City
Petra Venjhas this week’s 3rd Ascendant Challenge for you. You can find Petra and her quest offer at the location “Divalian Mists” in the Dreaming City. The City of the Awoken is entering the second stage of corruption.
All sources for top loot in Season 23 of Destiny 2
More power level comes automatically: There will likely be no more grinding for power levels in Season 23. The hard power level cap in Destiny 2 has remained unchanged at 1,810 for several seasons. This means no player is forced to perform at their peak every week, but levels up the artifact level automatically in all activities.
However, if you are currently not at the hard cap of 1,810, we have listed the best sources for top loot for you here.
This top loot will bring your power level up to 1,810:
Weekly Lightfall campaign mission on Legendary (+2)
Play “Subsector Restart” on Neomuna
Complete ritual activities in the Vanguard, in Gambit, or in Crucible
Hawthorne’s clan task: Give 5 appreciation cards to other Guardians (+2 and 7 enhancement cores)
If any additional sources arise in Season 23, we will update this here promptly.
Glimmer highlights in the Eververse
As the New Year event now comes to an end, there will also be less snow and Christmas-themed emotes in the Eververse. This week, Bungie has something for you ….
The Sparrow “Iron Howl” in the War Beast look is available this week for Glimmer.
And these items are also available in the Eververse this week:
Exotic emote “Feathery Favor”
Exotic emote “Yo-Yo Trick”
Legendary emote “Unyielding March”
Exotic Sparrow “Iron Howl”
Exotic ghost shell “Sheriff Shell”
Exotic ship “RS Prometheus”
Exotic weapon ornament “Internal Combustion” for the sword “The Complaint”
Exotic weapon ornament “Ceremonial Arsenal” for the pulse rifle “The Navigator”
Ghost projection “Side Eye Projection”
Shader:
“Carbon Blood”
“Pressure Red”
“Bloody Tooth”
“Serious Success”
“Polished Starfish”
“Aposematism”
Teleport effects:
“Double Snake Effects”
“War Satellite Arrival”
“Pyramid Appearance”
“Dreamlight”
This was the summary of the weekly reset. But we are only at the beginning of 2024, so there is still a long way to go until the highly anticipated DLC The Final Form.
What would be your personal wish for Destiny 2 in 2024? What content, activities, or improvements would you like to see? Feel free to share your thoughts, hopes, and expectations in the comments. Or are you no longer interested and prefer to check out other games like Warframe? Why Warframe is the best alternative for everyone who has lost hope in Destiny 2
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
George R. R. Martin, the author of “A Song of Ice and Fire“, which served as the basis for the successful series “Game of Thrones“, published an update on his blog about a planned spin-off series. He announced that it is supposed to be entirely different than originally intended.
On December 31, 2023, George R. R. Martin published a blog post in which he raved about the animated series Blue Eye Samurai , which in the past has been highly praised by viewers and critics alike.
In this context, he also announced news about the planned spin-off series Nine Voyages. This has been completely re-planned – probably due to high production costs.
Here you can see a trailer for the first season of Game of Thrones, where it all began:
Start video
Trailer for the first season of the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’
“There is a whole world out there“
What will Nine Voyages be about? The series Nine Voyages will revolve around Corlys Velaryon aka the Sea Snake and showcase his legendary voyages, as the author revealed.
Why were the old plans for the spin-off discarded? The series was actually supposed to be a live-action adaptation. However, Martin explained the reason for discarding the old plans and why they decided to go for the animation style instead.
It seems that the high costs of a live-action implementation were simply too high to tell the story with real sets.
[… ] Due to budget constraints, a live-action version would likely have become unaffordable, especially since half the series takes place at sea and a different harbor has to be created every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles, from Volantis to Qarth and… well, and so on.
There is a whole world out there. And we have a much better chance of showing it with animation.
What other animated series about Game of Thrones are planned? In addition to Nine Voyages, two more animated series set in the well-known fantasy universe are in development. What the other two series projects will be about is still unknown.
So far, however, the series have not yet received official approval. Therefore, it can still happen that the projects may be shelved before we get to see them.
Anyone who has not seen the spin-off House of the Dragon can do so completely for free right now. Where and how to do that can be read here:
The MMORPG RuneScape (Steam) is a life’s work for its fans: This is evident in the story of the player “Follow”: He recounts on reddit how he went from being a naive newbie to a veteran who achieved the ultimate goal of finding every item that the bosses in Runescape can drop. His journey lasted 8 years.
What has the player achieved in particular?
The player has completed the achievements “The Insane Reaper” and “The Insane Fallen Angel” in Runescape: This means he has obtained all items from every boss in the game.
This is such a significant achievement because there are extremely many bosses in RuneScape, with long loot tables and some absurdly rare drops.
To attain this achievement, one must master every boss perfectly, have killed them countless times, and invest thousands and thousands of hours into the MMORPG.
Start video
RuneScape MMORPG Trailer 2020
“I was completely clueless, without gear or preparation”
This is why the story is so special: On reddit, the player Follow shares that he is by no means a born super-gamer and boss killer, quite the opposite. He played Runescape for a long time just casually until he was introduced to boss killing in 2015. However, he felt completely overwhelmed:
“I was completely clueless, had terrible gear, and was not widespread. In my first Yakamaru kill, I barely survived. But the difficulty decreased with each raid.”
He really got excited about boss killing when he had a lucky streak with the boss Vorago and scored some great items there. Now he invested 3 years solely in defeating and learning about every boss in the game. Now it was time to get every item from the bosses.
And that became harder as his 7-man group fell apart against the boss “Solak”, who was much stronger than anything previously known. But in the end, he persevered through that too.
In the end, this journey lasted 8 years, of which he actively played for 6.
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Terrible reflexes, often embarrassed – yet ultimately succeeded
This is his conclusion: The player says:
“I play for the story. My reflexes are terrible and I really can’t multitask well. My kills didn’t come quickly. I stumbled and died a thousand times.”
Follow then lists bosses where he felt embarrassed and where he reached his limits, but says ultimately he always found ways to cope with the bosses and learn their mechanics to survive. Although he was never an excellent player, he improved immensely on his journey.
His lesson is: Even if you fear bosses, you should still tackle the boss fights. You can do it. Just start small and work your way up.
This is a new way to learn what Runescape has to offer.
These are the reactions: The community shows great enthusiasm for the story, the many details, and Follow’s perseverance:
People say this is truly an inspiration.
One understands what kind of pride he must feel as an adult for achieving this. It requires a discipline and dedication that is admirable.
The significance of Follow’s achievement can be seen in our article about the player who found all items from all bosses in OldSchool RuneScape as the first person:
A new expansion called Dawntrail for Final Fantasy 14 will be released next year. Even after the release of the expansion, exciting content is expected to continue. This might appease the frustrated fans.
As PCGamer reports, there are several points of criticism:
The story is being told too slowly
There are few midcore contents (such as ex-primals and Entwined Shadows of Bahamut)
The grind for the relic weapons is too extreme
The island paradise is too grindy in the endgame and is merely a chase for mounts and cosmetics
Instead, Square Enix seems to follow the same formula: an alliance raid for every patch with an odd number and a savage raid for every patch with an even number.
Accordingly, there is concern that it could continue in this pattern after the release of Dawntrail. However, producer Naoki Yoshida has hinted at several features that are expected to be included in the game after the release.
What we can expect with Dawntrail is shown in the following trailer:
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail – Trailer for the new expansion
Final Fantasy 14 is getting tons of new content
What new content can we expect?In a post in the reddit forum, a user compiled what new content Square Enix is planning. Yoshi-P addressed some of the fans’ questions and provided satisfactory answers.
After the release of version 7.0, that is the Dawntrail update, the team will focus on new features. These include the following contents:
There will be new designs for the exteriors of houses
Yoshida promises new headgear for Viera and Hrothgar
In addition, Yoshida answered some questions that amused the fans. For example, a player wrote that they are a “cat person.” However, Yoshida replied that he is more of a “wolf type.” Fans are having fun with this and joke that the Miqo’te should be replaced by wolves.
When exactly the hinted content will be released is unclear. The developers are taking the time they need. Accordingly, it remains to be seen how well the release of Dawntrail will go and when there will be time to focus on new features.
DON’T NOD, the developers behind Life is Strange, allow you to become two ghost hunters in their next action role-playing game on Steam. In a trailer, you will see the first gameplay and get to know the two protagonists.
This fantasy adventure takes place in North America in 1695 and follows the tragic fate of a couple who have made it their mission to hunt down evil spirits and send them to the afterlife.
In the trailer, you can not only get to know the two protagonists better but also learn a bit about the gameplay:
Start video
Banishers: Ghost of new Eden zeigt emotionale Story und Gameplay
What does the trailer show? The trailer first gives you a good taste of the story and the tragic fate that you will experience in Banishers. The couple Red and Antea travels the land together as ghost hunters until one day the woman dies.
However, she remains on Earth even as a ghost, and even though she now belongs to the things she so despises, she continues to fight alongside her husband.
During your journey and your fight against the spirits, you search for a way to free Antea from her new fate. How far you are willing to go for this lies in your hands.
In battle, you use weapons and your new ghost powers
As a player, you can switch between the two characters and utilize their different fighting styles. As seen in the trailer, Red fights with various weapons, while Antea uses her new ghost powers.
The trailer shows that your enemies do not simply take the human form of the deceased souls, but often appear as quite grotesque beings.
Besides the combat gameplay, the trailer also shows that you will need to make some decisions in Banishers that can significantly impact the game. On your journey, you will encounter many different characters with their own stories and problems, and you will need to try to understand them in order to make your decisions.
A user shopping sees a gaming PC that is on display and freely accessible. He notices that the graphics card worth over 400 euros is missing.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to buy electronic devices next to regular groceries in supermarkets. This way, whole gaming PCs often end up in the shopping cart alongside bread and milk.
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”
Gaming PC in supermarket missing the 400 euro graphics card
What discovery did the PC enthusiast make? During his walk through a supermarket, the Reddit user greatthebob38 passed by the electronics section. His attention was drawn to a gaming PC. It was displayed unpackaged next to unopened boxes containing identical computers. There are also cases where the packaging of hardware is misused.
This computer was obviously missing one of its side panels. Upon closer inspection, greatthebob38 also noticed that no graphics card was installed. According to the specifications on the boxes next to it, there should actually be an Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti graphics card in the system.
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Was the graphics card stolen? The PC enthusiast is convinced that someone seized the unique opportunity to discreetly remove the graphics card worth over 400 euros. He does not believe that the supermarket proactively removed the hardware themselves.
Supporting his statement is the missing side panel. For safety reasons, the Reddit user would have expected that the glass side panel would have been securely screwed on. Interested buyers could still look into the interior of the gaming PC. At the same time, the installed hardware would be better secured against a quick theft.
On another visit to the supermarket, the PC enthusiast also wanted to point out that someone had been tampering with the RAM and the CPU cooler. He believes there was an attempt to loosen the mounts of the RAM and the fan on the CPU cooler.
What does the community say about the case? Opinions vary. Some believe this is indeed a bold theft and mock the inadequate security against theft.
“Now I’m just waiting for the Reddit post: Hey guys! Look, I got a new 4060 Ti for my gaming PC!” (indkyjtsxucivoxuggg via Reddit)
“Interestingly, I received the 4060 Ti for Christmas, kind of funny.” (vaungar3 via Reddit)
However, there are also Reddit users who claim to be supermarket employees or at least have worked for such a business. They are convinced that the affected supermarket proactively removed the graphics card, as they have done it the same way.
I can vouch for that, I worked in the main department (TV/Electronics). We are supposed to remove the GPU and put it in the safe until the display model is sold. Don’t get me wrong, people still try to mess with the RAM and even the CPU and cooler, but if they had done their job right, they should have removed the GPU. (Cms2k1 via Reddit)
Escape from Tarkov has received a new map for beginners, but even experienced players have trouble surviving on the map.
What kind of map is this?
With the latest wipe, Escape from Tarkov introduced a new map called “Ground Zero”, which is specifically designed for beginners and is playable only up to level 20.
Ground Zero is the second smallest map in the game after Factory and is located in the city area of Tarkov.
On Ground Zero, there is a long road with damaged vehicles and plenty of signs of destruction. Another important aspect of the map is the walkable office buildings that you can find along the roads.
What is the problem with the map? Ground Zero has some weaknesses. These include invisible mines that are placed as map boundaries, but depending on the spawn position, players may not see the warning signs before running into the mines.
For example, some players report on Reddit that they hear the explosions of the mines triggered by some player in every raid.
Additionally, the map is too small for the relatively high number of players. There are a total of 10 to 12 players on the map. As a result, there are often fights early in a raid, and many players die in the first 3-5 minutes – which does not help beginners learn the game.
Start video
Escape from Tarkov Gameplay – Battle for Concordia
If you want to extract alive from Ground Zero, you usually need to fight against multiple squads. The stationary guns placed in power positions don’t make it any easier.
The biggest problem, however, is that you can encounter not only beginners on Ground Zero. Due to the wipe, all players are under level 20 and are playing the new map. Moreover, all players have the same starting quests that send you to this map.
Therefore, experienced players are wandering around on a very small beginner map and need to reach the same quest-relevant locations as the beginners.
“An incredibly fun map, but a terrible experience for new players”
What does the community say? Ground Zero is visually well-received by the Escape from Tarkov community, but the problems are a thorn in the side of many players. Particularly, the desire to allow fewer players on the map is often expressed.
However, the fact that all players are doing the same quests and therefore have to play on the map is also heavily criticized.
Here are some opinions from the community:
TheFluBR via Reddit: “With the start of the wipes and the reorientation of the quests, everyone has to grind Ground Zero to complete the initial quests. This leads to a PvP-heavy map with several choke points. For beginners, it’s always advisable to stay away from PvP.”
red-Spy_In-The_Base via Reddit: “Actually an incredibly fun map, but at the moment a terrible experience for new players.”
Nicholas7907 via Reddit: “Ground Zero is not big enough for 10-12 players. I’ve been playing EFT for over 4 years and it has felt good almost every new wipe to start all over again. But with this patch, playing Tarkov and the early quests that force you to visit Ground Zero is just painful.”
wwaarrddy via Reddit: “It’s a shame that Ground Zero is only a ‘beginner’ map… I really like it. I like the variety of buildings, the aesthetics of the map are really nice. Definitely not beginner-friendly, but I really don’t know how to make that work on a Tarkov map.”
Some players also believe that Battlestate Games may have miscommunicated in their description of the map. Perhaps it is not a map for beginners but the map that is supposed to represent the beginning.
The name Ground Zero also hints at the starting point of the prevailing situation in the city of Tarkov. With a wipe, the chaos begins, and the PMCs appropriately clash with each other at Ground Zero and engage in initial skirmishes, separating the wheat from the chaff.
