In League of Legends there is a change in the South Korean LCK league. For 2024, they are introducing a “salary cap”. This means that teams now have to adjust. If they pay too much in salaries for their players, a surcharge, a luxury tax, will be incurred. But star player Faker is exempt from the new rules in LoL due to noticeably specific special clauses.
What is the radical change?
The LCK will now determine how much money a team can spend at most: The limit will be calculated based on the revenues that the teams generated in 2022. Anyone spending more money must pay a “luxury tax”, a surcharge (via lolesports). The luxury tax will be distributed among the other teams.
There is no salary limit for individual players, only for the team: Only the 5 highest-paid players of a team are considered, so substitutes could theoretically be well paid.
A salary cap is mainly known from US sports leagues like the NBA. In South Korea, the idea became increasingly attractive for the officials after some teams, like T1, incurred losses of around 12 million dollars.
This change is now leading many teams in South Korea to fall apart before the 2024 season.
Start video
The Life of Faker – Why He is a Living Legend
Player salaries rose by 71% in 2 years, were out of control
Why was the cap introduced? The league states that the most money is spent by all teams on player salaries. In the last 2 years, the salaries of the 5 top players of each team have risen by 71%.
Therefore, it is necessary to set a limit here to keep the league stable.
What are the effects of the salary cap?
As Dotesports reports, the introduction of a salary cap in South Korea has already caused significant waves:
The transfer market in South Korea is also more active than usual in the 2023 offseason: Even world champion jungler Canyon left his team DAMWON and his teammate ShowMaker after 5 years
It seems that hardly a stone will remain unturned in South Korea, as teams can no longer simply afford multiple stars with high salary demands
Start learning Chinese
What is being discussed?? It is assumed that many South Korean stars, for whom their teams no longer have money, will switch to China in the LPL, where there is no salary cap and teams lure with money.
Therefore, on reddit, one quotes “Start learning Chinese”, which is a standing term from the NBA, where players are threatened that they will be sold to China if they play too weakly.
Some players are also moving from South Korea to the USA: Immortals now has a team leading 3 South Koreans after signing Castle and Mask.
This might also be due to an exception rule in the salary cap. Because anyone who has won 3 international or 5 national titles only has 50% of their salary count against the cap.
The rule is so specific that it only applies to Faker and jungler Peanut:
Faker has been known since 2016 as the only player with 3 world championship titles in LoL (now he has 4)
Peanut has managed to become a champion in the LCK 5 times
Yet even Peanut enjoyed after 2023: He left Gen G after 2 years and is switching to Hanwha Life. They now suddenly have an excellent team with Doran, Peanut, Zeka, Viper, and Delight.
What special rules are there? There is also a rule that teams can ignore 30% of a salary against the cap if a player has been with the club for 3 years. This is intended to reward teams that develop their stars themselves and do not constantly poach players.
It is also recommended that teams spend at least 70% of their cap.
Amirdrassil, Hope of Dreams – it could be the easiest raid in the history of World of Warcraft. MyMMO demon Cortyn thinks it’s great and wants it to stay that way.
Raids have always been the king’s discipline in World of Warcraft. Those who have already been on the raid “Amirdrassil, Hope of Dreams” with their group may have noticed: The raid is quite easy. Especially compared to the two previous raids (Vault of the Incarnations and Aberrus), the bosses fall very quickly on normal difficulty.
Many were able to defeat the final boss Fyrakk on the first or second evening and perhaps still had some time left to immediately transition to the heroic version afterwards.
For some, it’s clear: WoW is getting easier, everything is becoming so casual. Others, like me, have a different view: This is exactly how raids should be. But let me explain.
Start video
WoW: Guardians of the Dream – Launch Trailer
At the beginning of World of Warcraft, during the “Vanilla times”, active raiding was only for people who could invest a lot of time in the game. Hours upon hours of active farming and, in case of doubt, coordinating 40 players.
That has changed drastically by now. Not only have bosses become significantly more complex in the number of their abilities, but there are also many tiers of difficulty.
I experience the new gradation of difficulty approximately like this:
LFR: The tourist mode. You don’t have to think, mechanics can be ignored in 95% of the cases. Everyone can see the raid and experience the story, regardless of how much time or skill they bring.
Normal: A raid variant for guilds and friends who want to play casually together. While a bit of coordination is needed among the people, as long as there is a basic level of communication, everything here falls as well.
Heroic: From here, more effort is required. Mechanics must be fully understood by everyone, reactions have to be quick, and a solid understanding of classes is necessary. This is for those who want to invest a bit more time and deliver performance without getting lost in the smallest details.
Mythic: The difficulty for hardcore guilds looking for a maximum challenge and wanting to spend hours analyzing, simulating, and strategizing.
The biggest change has clearly occurred here on normal difficulty, as it has come closer to LFR.
I really like this. Having a variant of the raid that caters to casual players who still play in the social environment of a guild or circle of friends is simply the right way for World of Warcraft in 2023.
There is indeed an increasing number of players who, due to aging and with careers or families, have very little time. That there is an alternative to the (rather soulless and demanding) LFR for this group of players is wonderful.
The SF-MMORPG Star Citizen has now raised 640 million US dollars, most of it through the sale of virtual ships. MeinMMO author Schuhmann has noticed an aspect that is rarely discussed: some seem to view the ships as investments and speculative objects. On eBay and through special sites in Metz, a gray market is booming: ships that were given away in 2017 are now being auctioned for €1,600.
This is noticeable with Star Citizen: Anyone who follows discussions about Star Citizen on the internet will notice two things:
There are people who defend the game to the last in the comment sections of general gaming sites and do not allow any criticism of the game. Often these are people who only comment on Star Citizen
The amounts that some pay for virtual ships are absurdly high. There is a special category of players in Star Citizen called “Legatus Navium”, which only includes those who have spent more than $25,000. These are so-called “Whales”
Start video
Star Citizen: StarEngine-Trailer – The Future of Gaming
What is the official reason for this? The official positive interpretation is something like: Star Citizen fulfills many people’s dream of a lifetime. It is a fantastically sounding project. There is nothing comparable, and those who spend so much believe firmly in Chris Roberts and his vision.
But I have noticed another aspect that is not addressed in the discussion. Admittedly, this may sound a bit like a conspiracy theory at first, but listen to me.
Chris Roberts (right) is a visionary for his fans.
“Protecting the Investment”
What is this covert aspect? In my work as an MMORPG author for MeinMMO, I noticed back in 2014 that some MMORPG players have a different incentive to defend an MMORPG than mere enthusiasm.
In 2014, there was unusually sharp criticism and opposition when we reported negatively about the free-to-play MMORPG ArcheAge on MeinMMO, even though the game was clearly “Pay2Win”. In a German forum about the game, I saw players who played ArcheAge very differently than I have ever experienced in 15 years of MMORPG experience:
These players did not see ArcheAge as an MMORPG but as an “investment”.
They played ArcheAge with the clear intention of earning real money by building an early power position in order to generate gold in the game and then sell it.
Therefore, it was normal for them to defend this “investment” by contradicting any criticism of ArcheAge in forums.
Because the “investment” in an MMORPG is only worthwhile if the game attracts new players so that they can find new buyers.
The market for virtual ships on eBay has been flourishing for years.
The Market for Virtual Ships on eBay is Booming
What does this have to do with Star Citizen? In Star Citizen, there is a vibrant gray market for virtual ships on eBay:
Time and again, CIG sells or distributes some special ships
They can then often be found on eBay months or years later at sometimes absurdly high prices with the note “This ship is not currently available anymore”.
On the web, there is even a dedicated site called “The Impound” that specializes in trading “Star Citizen” ships.
The “Sabre Riven” was introduced in 2017 in Frankfurt, you received it through a promo code and it cannot be purchased today. Here, two codes are being offered for €1,600 each:
This is my theory: I believe some users on the internet – certainly not all, but some – who defend Star Citizen with fervor are speculators protecting “their investment”: they bought ships in Star Citizen for a lot of money, intending to resell them at a high price should the game be successful.
The active gray market for ships in Star Citizen will certainly also fuel the game’s enormous revenue.
What share of speculators accounts for the 640 million US dollars is difficult to determine. Certainly, among the people who are consolidating ships or accounts on eBay, there may also be a collector or two who finds the wait for Star Citizen too long and tries to get back a part of their investment now.
But some offers, especially when several ships of the same kind are offered through immediate purchase, clearly look like speculators who want to sell for profit.
It is noticeable that the trade in virtual ships in Star Citizen has reached unusual proportions and that for years.
There are games where real money is earned virtually, but it is rarely openly discussed:
In a few days, a collaboration with ‘The Witcher’ begins in Destiny 2, which brings new gear to the game’s cash shop. Players are discussing the 3 issues that are preventing them from making a purchase.
This was the news: A few days ago, we reported on MeinMMO that Destiny 2 will also receive new ornaments with the “Season of Wishes” on November 28:
All three classes will have access to “The Witcher” ornaments
While there are no exact details on the prices yet, it is assumed that the armors will be sold for the same price as the ornaments from Assassin’s Creed in Season 18
For each armor, 2,000 silver (about 20 Euros) would be required. So if you want the 3 armor sets for Hunter, Warlock, and Titan, you will pay 60 Euros. That would be significantly more expensive than getting the 3 Witcher games on Steam
Start video
Destiny 2: Teaser trailer for the “Season of Wishes”
In Call of Duty, you can get an 8-piece set for 20 €
This is the discussion: In a large thread on reddit, they discuss the set. One player says: He is not averse to buying a set, but he has some issues:
He says the set is simply too expensive compared to what you get in other service titles for 20 €.
For instance, Call of Duty offers a whole cosmetic pack with a total of 8 items with the “Ash vs. Evil Dead” set, including a fully voiced Ash skin and 2 weapons – a boomstick and an AK that get bloodier the more kills you get with them.
Destiny 2’s offer simply does not meet today’s standards.
While, the player says, he prefers Destiny 2 because of the gunplay over Call of Duty, he still cannot justify spending so much money on Destiny 2 when other service games offer so much more content for the same money.
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In Destiny, it annoys the Guardians that they have to buy 3 sets to receive the complete collection; they do not appreciate this splitting of content, especially since many regular players apparently play all 3 classes. If they sold the skins individually, then not for 20 $, but at most for 10 $. This criticism also came up in the reddit thread:
“Anything they split into 3 different buyers is an automatic ‘No’ for me. If you could unlock an ornament/armor set for all 3 classes with one purchase, then I would consider it, but I won’t touch something that is so split like that. Especially since it used to be different.”
As a third problem that receives a lot of agreement, another player explains that you cannot “transmog” exotic items, so you can’t even show the full set. So what is the point of getting the set if you can’t even wear it fully.
The “transmog” allows players in Destiny 2 to wear the items they want in terms of stats, but still look how they prefer.
Here’s how users on MeinMMO see it: Some users on MeinMMO see it even more critically:
Reader Mizzbizz thinks there should be no purchase items at all. Everything cool should be earnable in the game.
User WooDaHoo especially criticizes the unfortunate timing of the action. Especially after layoffs, it is remarkable that the PR strategists apparently were allowed to keep their jobs and continue with their business.
Long-time user Millerntorian also considers it a wrong signal at this point in time.
FrauHolle2 says Bungie could have appeased the players here and given the Witcher armor away for free as a “sweetener.” Instead, they are now selling it for 20 Euros a piece. Bungie has “understood nothing.”
More on the topic and the comments of MeinMMO readers can be found here:
Co-op games are perfect for spending a nice time with your friends and family or even with complete strangers. However, with the games on this list, you should be careful about who you play with. Because they can certainly test a good relationship.
What kind of list is this? In this list, you will find co-op games that can be just as dangerous as they are fun. Due to their concept or simply because they are very difficult, these games can surely put a few friendships to the test.
Bread and Fred
Developer: SandCastles Studio | Genre: Jump’n’Run | Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch | Release: May 23, 2023 | Players: 1-2
Start video
Bread and Fred Trailer
What to expect: In the Jump’n’Run game Bread and Fred, you have to prove that you can work well together. You control the little penguins Bread and Fred, who are tethered together by a rope.
This way, you find your way through a snowy and icy landscape. For example, you must overcome large chasms by swinging one of you back and forth on the rope, letting go at the right time to use the lift force.
You should therefore only play Bread and Fred with good friends, because one small mistake can mean that you land right back at the beginning of your ascent. This can be quite frustrating after the fifth time and can test some friendships.
Moving Out 1&2
Developer: SMG Studio, Devm Games | Genre: Party Game, Simulation | Platform: PC, PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox | Release: April 28, 2020 | Players: 1-4
Start video
Moving Out 2 Trailer
What to expect: In this party game, you work for the moving company Smooth Moves. Your task is to take care of moving tasks all over town.
Together, you pack up furniture and boxes from various houses into your large transporter. This sounds easier than it is, as the trailer already shows. Because you have to carefully consider how to get, for example, a large sofa out of the house.
It can definitely happen that a few windows and doors break, but that way the job gets done faster.
Moving Out made it onto this list because you as a team naturally have to figure out how to get the sometimes bulky furniture through the narrow spaces. This can lead to longer discussions.
Heave Ho
Developer: Le Cartel Studio | Genre: Jump’n’Run | Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch | Release: August 29, 2019 | Players: 1-4
Start video
Heave Ho Trailer
What to expect: In Heave Ho, you play a little character that consists only of a head and quite long arms. With your team, you try to reach the goal together from a starting point on different maps.
You can only hold on with your hands, swing back and forth, and fly a little through the lift force. And that’s where your teammates come into play. Because you can also hold on to each other and thus cover much longer distances.
In Heave Ho, you should definitely be able to rely on each other. Because some jumps should only be attempted if you are sure that your friend will catch you on the other end. Otherwise, you face the abyss and the lonely new start at the starting point.
Heave Ho can therefore lead to some discussions and swearing. Because if just one person makes a small mistake, it can ruin the entire level.
What to expect: In this game, it is definitely an advantage if you really know each other well and can best understand each other blindly.
Because here it’s your job to defuse a bomb before it blows up in your faces. The tricky part is that only one of you can handle it and see the mechanics of the bomb. All others have the instructions for defusing.
So you need to work together quickly and safely. A wrong instruction or agreement could mean the end of the whole group.
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Developer: Clever Endeavour Games | Genre: Jump’n’Run, Party Game | Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox | Release: March 4, 2016 | Players: 1-4
Start video
Ultimate Chicken Horse Trailer
What to expect: In Ultimate Chicken Horse, you try to be the first to reach the goal by running and jumping. What’s special about it? You build the level yourself.
Before each round, you can choose between platforms, lifts, or similar items. However, there are also some traps involved. Because it’s not only about reaching the goal, but also preventing your fellow players from doing so.
Just make sure not to jump into your own built traps, because they can catch you just as well, and then it means: Unfortunately, no points for you this round. Another twist is that you only get points if your level is not too easy.
Sometimes in Ultimate Chicken Horse, you should also cooperate, for example, if you want to knock the leading player off their throne.
Ultimate Chicken Horse can be really frustrating for a friendship when you make each other’s lives hell with nasty traps. Ignoring the “evil” intentions of your friends is probably only possible if you truly like each other.
Cuphead
Developer: Studio MDHR | Genre: Jump’n’Run, Run and Gun | Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox | Release: September 29, 2017 | Players: 1-2
Start video
Cuphead Launch Trailer
What to expect: Cuphead is a Jump’n’Run game that offers you classic shooter action and focuses on boss fights.
In addition to pretty challenging gameplay, the game stands out mainly because of its graphics. These are inspired by classic cartoons from the 1930s. Cuphead was created using similar techniques from that time and impresses with hand-drawn animations and atmospheric jazz recordings.
You should ideally only play the co-op mode of Cuphead with really good friends. Because even if you don’t want to make each other’s lives difficult here, the game itself is so challenging that swearing is programmed.
Overcooked 1&2
Developer: Ghost Town Games, Team 17 | Genre: Simulation | Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox | Release: August 7, 2018 | Players: 1-4
Start video
Announcement Trailer for Overcooked 2
What to expect: In Overcooked and its sequel, you control a little chef through various kitchens. In these, you try to prepare meals and work through your orders while adhering to a time limit.
In the different kitchens, obstacles and dangers await you, which do not make this job easier. In co-op mode, it can get quite hectic in the kitchen with up to four players in a team.
There is also a competitive multiplayer option. Here, two teams must compete against each other and collect as many points as possible in a set time. Especially in this mode, you must be able to rely on your colleagues.
In Overcooked, it’s important to work together as a team and to sometimes forgive your friends for a silly mistake.
Which co-op games do you only play with your really good friends? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Diablo 4 there are players who rely on crazy strategies for farming special items, but some users think it’s nonsense.
Which items are we talking about? In Diablo 4, there are the so-called “Uber Uniques.” These are special versions of unique items and are considered the rarest items in the game. In total, there are six different Uber Uniques:
We asked the heads of Diablo 4 about the new class and they answered
Players believe crazy strategies help with loot luck
What are these “voodoo strategies”? On Reddit, a user named “Grand_Chef_Bandit” has launched a broadside against the strange tactics of some players, calling them “voodoo.”
As an example of such a strategy, he mentions the assumption that having a low-level character in the group would increase the drop rate of Uber Uniques. According to him, that’s nonsense and one would just be wasting their time.
Under the post, another player explains that a friend of theirs believed that the person summoning Duriel has a higher chance of receiving Uber Uniques.
What is the truth behind these strategies? Not much. They are mostly unproven assumptions that players had, spread, and could not prove. Often a kind of superstition plays a role.
In the end, it’s up to each person to try or avoid curious strategies from Reddit. However, it is very likely that you are just wasting time without increasing your drop rate. Just like it doesn’t help to spam the A button in Pokémon while the Poké Ball wobbles during a catch attempt.
If you really want to increase your chances of Uber Uniques or unique items, you should search in the right place. On MeinMMO, you can find out where to find which items:
The Twitch streamer xQc brought a fan to tears live, as he fulfilled a big wish for him for Christmas. MeinMMO reveals what this is all about.
xQc recently moved a fan to tears when he granted him an early Christmas wish. The emotional scene took place on the app “Monkey Chat,” which streamers use to interact with strangers.
The Twitch streamer xQc, who also streams on Kick, took the opportunity and streamed his time and the heartwarming moment on Monkey Chat on Kick.
Start video
From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
xQc gives money for a PC for Christmas
What a moment that was! A young fan who stumbled upon xQc on Monkey Chat immediately recognized the big streamer and didn’t hesitate to take a photo as proof. The excited boy dared to ask the streamer for a Christmas gift.
The request was straightforward: Could I get a PC for Christmas? He also emphasized his love for Fortnite. xQc, who is controversial for showing gambling, reacted generously and said he would get the fan a PC: If you guide me around and are broke, I will get you one.
You can see the moment here:
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The boy assured him that he wasn’t just begging for a PC to appear on YouTube, but he was seriously trying to fulfill his dream of becoming a streamer. xQc then transferred the money to him, fulfilling the fan’s Christmas wish.
Crying, he thanked xQc multiple times, who downplayed the generosity and emphasized that it wouldn’t cost much: It’s nothing for me and it makes a lot for you, so I’m glad to do it.
How is the community reacting? The heartfelt reaction of the boy quickly spread, and the community praised xQc for this spontaneous and positive gesture.
Under his YouTube video, numerous people commented. For example, Kanto2281 wrote: This is the nicest thing I’ve ever seen from X [xQc] and some wrote that they also started to cry.
xQc can certainly use positive reactions. In addition to criticism for his gambling streams, the breakup with his ex-girlfriend Adept is also a recurring topic. This even led to a Twitch ban of the streamer, who made serious allegations against xQc:
With 34 million subscribers, SSSniperWolf is the largest female YouTuber in the world, but for about a month now, she has not been making any money from the platform: After a scandal that made waves worldwide, YouTube has banned her from running ads. Despite 7 million calls per day, the 31-year-old is no longer earning money through the platform.
Who is she and why is she so big?
The YouTuber “SSSniperWolf” was originally known for videos about Call of Duty; back then, she went by “sexysexysniper”.
However, she became really big by uploading TikTok videos from others to her channel and reacting to them. This led her to reach 34 million subscribers. According to various lists, she is now the woman with the most subscribers on YouTube.
As of now, she has published 3,455 videos on YouTube and achieved over 24 billion views. About 7 million views are added daily, and on particularly good days, it can also be 14 million. SSSniperWolf is currently having a weak phase; a year ago, she reached about 20 million views daily (via socialblade).
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Whether on Madeira or at the mixing console – These are 5 of the biggest German Twitch streamers
YouTuber appeared at the house after conflict with a colleague
Why is she not making money? SSSniperWolf was involved in a conflict with another YouTuber in October 2023. He had criticized her for stealing other creators’ content with her TikTok reaction videos and uploading them to her channel. Her reactions were said to be “not transformative” and contributed too little to the original video to qualify as her own content.
SSSniperWolf found the ongoing criticism from this YouTuber unfair and said she felt he only wanted to make money by attacking her, the bigger YouTuber. Eventually, SSSniperWolf showed up at the YouTuber’s house and reported live on Instagram that he should come out and resolve the matter with her.
The YouTuber found this behavior scandalous. SSSniperWolf had crossed boundaries by intruding into his private life and showing his house.
At first, YouTube did nothing, but the case made waves on the internet, and several popular influencers took up the case and pressured YouTube to take action against SSSniperWolf.
Because her behavior was a violation of the unwritten rule not to transfer conflicts from the internet to the real world.
Ban lasts significantly longer than even experts expected
This is the status: In fact, YouTube demonetized all of SSSniperWolf’s channels on October 20, taking away her ability to run ads and earn money through YouTube.
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Subsequently, the streamer announced a break to recover, but it seems that it has now ended:
On November 25, SSSniperWolf uploaded another video to YouTube despite the ban, but ads are still not being run there.
The YouTuber penguniz0 explained (via youtube), that the YouTuber had tried to upload her videos via a second channel “SSSniper Top Videos” and monetize them there, but YouTube blocked that and also demonetized the channel. Since then, she has not uploaded any more videos there.
However, the YouTuber is surprised: He thought the ban would last only a few weeks, but apparently, YouTube is taking this seriously.
After YouTube initially needed considerable public pressure to do something against SSSniperWolf, they now seem to be extending the ban longer than everyone expected.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 you can choose from a variety of weapons and perks to find the perfect gear for you. It is completely normal for some gadgets to be better and others worse. However, there is currently one perk that is so strong that it dominates its entire category.
Which perk is it? In CoD MW3, you can wear different boots and make changes to your movement, for example. This allows you to increase your movement or climbing speed or extend the duration of your tactical sprint.
However, the perk “Stealth Sneaker” is currently so strong that it wipes the floor with the other boot options. You unlock the stealth sneakers at level 25.
Start video
The new CoD MW3 presents itself with shooter action in the new multiplayer trailer
Boots that let you sprint silently
What can the perk do? The stealth sneakers prevent footstep sounds. So you can flank your opponents much more effectively with these boots, as they may not hear you.
Footstep sounds play an important role in many shooters. Whether you are holding a fixed position or moving a lot, it can be a significant advantage if you can hear approaching enemies in time.
A perk that reduces footstep sounds can bring you free kills against your opponents, as they rely too much on their hearing. Some players on Reddit also agree with this.
“I really never hear footsteps because everyone uses them”
What do players say about the perk? The strength of the perk is also discussed by players on Reddit. The user jaymelo_9 believes that the stealth sneakers are easily the first choice for boots and overshadow every other option (via Reddit).
Other users also believe that the stealth sneakers are very strong and use them:
avidpretender: ‘The stealth sneakers are equipped on all my classes.’
teach49: ‘I really never hear footsteps because everyone uses them. And why shouldn’t they?’
‘There are SO many people without the boots, and I will never understand why. They have given me hundreds of free kills.’
Nevertheless, there are also some players in the Reddit thread who use other boots – if only in a few classes. One user explained that he does not play the stealth sneakers on his LMG classes. With an LMG, you wouldn’t want to be quiet anyway.
Many users who rely more on other boots play them mainly out of personal preference. For some, improved sliding is simply more important than silent steps.
The director of the samurai film “47 Ronin” featuring Keanu Reeves secured 55 million USD from Netflix for a sci-fi-series. However, he never delivered a finished episode. Instead, he invested part of the money in cryptocurrency and bought 5 Rolls-Royces.
What kind of series is this? In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to the sci-fi series “Conquest” by Carl Rinsch. The director is mainly known for his debut film “47 Ronin” with Keanu Reeves (title image), which is considered a critical and commercial flop.
Nevertheless, Rinsch’s pitch captured the interest of major streaming providers, including HBO, Amazon, and Hulu. Ultimately, Netflix overcame the competition by agreeing to pay 61.2 million USD (about 55 million euros) in several installments and granting Rinsch the right to the final cut.
In their eagerness to secure “Conquest,” Netflix overlooked several bad signs: Rinsch was still in a legal dispute with previous investors, who eventually received 14 of the 61 million USD. Additionally, at that time, there was still no script.
Keanu Reeves had befriended Rinsch during the filming of “47 Ronin” and even invested in “Conquest”.
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German trailer for ‘John Wick’ with Keanu Reeves
From chaotic filming and 5 Rolls-Royces
How did the filming go? Filming began in São Paulo, Brazil, where a representative from the local film union was sent to the set. Apparently, there had been complaints that Rinsch was mistreating the team with “yelling,” “cursing,” and “excessive irritability.”
Filming continued in Uruguay and Budapest. In a detailed report, the New York Times (paywall may apply) stated that Rinsch was increasingly behaving irrationally.
Props or shopping excess?
What was the deal with the money? In March 2020, the director persuaded the streaming provider to transfer another 11 million USD to him, even though Netflix had already invested 44 million and Rinsch had missed several production milestones. From that sum, he transferred 10.5 million USD to his personal broker account and made some risky investments.
Within weeks, he reportedly lost 5.9 million USD. What remained of the money was invested by Rinsch in cryptocurrencies. He allegedly bought Dogecoin – the meme currency popularized by Elon Musk – for 4 million USD. However, this investment paid off, and by May 2021, the director was able to cash out 27 million USD, which he used for a shopping spree.
Along with a luxury watch and designer furniture and clothing, Rinsch bought a Ferrari and five Rolls-Royces. During his ongoing divorce, he claimed that the purchases were props for “Conquest.”
What happened to the series? At the time of his shopping excesses, the director had already been informed by Netflix that they saw no way to continue with the production and were halting the funding. Rinsch was free to market the project elsewhere, but a potential buyer would have to reimburse the streaming service for the expenses incurred, as stated in an email.
Rinsch never delivered a finished episode. Instead, he accused Netflix of breach of contract and is demanding at least 14 million USD in damages. The streaming provider contests this, stating that the director did not meet the contractually agreed production milestones. Currently, both parties are in a confidential arbitration process.
It remains to be seen how the situation will develop. However, it seems unlikely that we will see “Conquest” anytime soon. In an interview with the New York Times, Rinsch declined to make a statement.
Hardly anyone knows the American Ronald Wayne. However, Wayne was the third founder of Apple alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. He ended his involvement with the company after a short time, returning his 10% company shares. These would be worth hundreds of billions today.
Apple’s success story is almost unparalleled. Founded in 1976, the company has a long and successful history to look back on. However, even in its early days, the young company had to do without one of its three founders.
You will find out why Ronald Wayne, the partner of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, quickly left Apple and thus gave up a lot of money in this article.
Start video
How crash detection works on iPhone and Apple Watch
10% of Apple’s shares are now worth 295 billion dollars
Who is Ronald Wayne? Ronald ‘Ron’ Wayne is an American entrepreneur. He was the third co-founder of Apple. His two business partners were none other than Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Wayne met the two a few years before the founding of Apple.
Previously, they were colleagues at Atari and met this way. During a several-hour discussion at Ron Wayne’s house, Steve Jobs is said to have suggested starting an IT company together. On the historic date of April 1, 1976, Apple was finally founded.
Why did Wayne sell his shares in Apple again? A few years earlier, Ronald Wayne experienced a major economic failure with the distribution of slot machines. This made him risk-averse towards expensive business ventures.
When Apple began to invest large sums of money, he reportedly saw his personal fortune in danger. One of these investments was paid with a check that is now worth $135,000. From a legal standpoint at the time, each of Apple’s founders was personally liable for the debts of the other two partners. Additionally, he saw his professional future less in the documentation systems that Wayne had already developed at Atari and adapted for Apple.
For these reasons, Ronald Wayne left Apple after a short time. In doing so, he returned his shares for a sum of $800 to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The 10% of Apple would be worth 295 billion dollars today.
How did Wayne get his shares? When Apple was founded, the three partners agreed that Jobs and Wozniak would each receive 45% shares and Wayne would receive the remaining 10%. This made him a sort of decision-maker. For example, the original partnership agreement concerning Apple originated from him.
Wayne also created the documentation for the Apple I computer and designed the first logo for Apple (known as Apple Newton). He also briefly had administrative oversight as part of his responsibilities.
What did he do after his time at Apple? Wayne returned to Atari for two years. After several other professional stations, he spent his last working days running a stamp shop. Additionally, he was contacted several times by Steve Jobs, who unsuccessfully tried to bring Wayne back to Apple. Wayne was not the only employee that Steve Jobs wanted to bring back into the company.
He is now 89 years old and has been retired for a long time. In his retirement, he is engaged in selling stamps and coins, with sales taking place from his modest home in a small town in the Nevada desert.
Did Wayne regret selling his Apple shares? According to his own statements, he did not regret the sale. He later said: “Would I like to be rich? Everyone would like to be rich, but I couldn’t keep up with the pace. I would be rich, but I would be the richest man in the cemetery.” (via wikipedia.org)
He was convinced that Apple as a company would become successful. Still, he saw the financial risks from potential setbacks that he personally did not want to take.
In One Piece there are over 1,000 characters that we can see in the Anime and manga. However, there are a few characters that we unfortunately see too rarely. MeinMMO author Jasmin Beverungen has picked 5 characters that should appear more often.
Warning, spoilers! The article contains information about all the persons mentioned in the headings, which extend into manga chapter 1098.
Other characters, on the other hand, who have also sneaked into the hearts of the fans, unfortunately do not get as much screen time. MeinMMO has therefore created a list of 5 characters that definitely should be seen more often in One Piece.
These are the criteria for inclusion:
The last major appearance of the characters was a long time ago
They rank in the top 100 of the most popular characters from One Piece (via anitrendz.net)
Therefore, the previously mentioned Law is excluded, for example, as he recently had an exciting fight on Onigashima. You will also not find a single member of the Straw Hat crew in the list because, with a few exceptions, they are always present.
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Rank 5: Shanks
Shanks uses the King’s Haki.
When Shanks makes an appearance, he steals the show from everyone else. The red-haired pirate has been one of the most important figures in Luffy’s life since his childhood and is himself one of the four pirate emperors.
So far, Shanks has not shown much of his abilities. Many One Piece fans are waiting for him to finally reveal what he is capable of one day. So far, we have only seen how powerful Shanks is in a few scenes.
He is one of the few pirates who can visit the World Government in Mary Geoise without fearing for his life. Additionally, admirals of the Marines are already afraid of Shanks from afar. He is such a great threat just by building up his Haki that mentally weak individuals faint and admirals like Aramaki take flight. Moreover, he destroyed Eustass Kid’s pirate crew with just one sword strike.
Hopefully, Shanks will show what he is made of in the next chapters of One Piece. It is only a matter of time before we get to see the red-haired pirate for a longer time. We are excited to see how the encounter between him and Luffy will unfold.
Rank 4: Koby
Koby has done well in the Marines.
Koby is one of the individuals who has undergone the most significant development. We already know his beginnings from the Netflix series on One Piece: He was a little boy who was kept as a slave on Alvida’s ship. But he had the desire to become a Marine soldier, which he has fulfilled.
By now, Koby has become a considerable man who possesses immense power. With just one blow, he was able to destroy an entire island. He owes his strength to Luffy’s grandfather, Monkey D. Garp, who subjected him to rigorous training.
He also has a significant appearance in the Netflix series:
Start video
One Piece – German Trailer for the First Season of the Live-Action Series by Netflix
Koby had an appearance in between, but especially his last chapters make you eager to see more of his powers. He was captured by Blackbeard during his last appearance and managed to escape thanks to the help of Perona and other members of the SWORD unit.
We are excited to see what further adventures the manga has in store for Koby and whether he will even have to face Luffy and his crew one day.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Eevee is one of the most versatile Pokémon overall, as it brings various forms that differ significantly from each other. We rank them based on the Pokédex.
What kind of list is this? Eevee has been one of the most popular pocket monsters since the first Pokémon generation. Its cute base form and its three evolutions Vaporeon, Flareon, and Jolteon quickly found their way into the hearts of Pokémon fans and remain there to this day.
Over the years, the Eevee family has grown larger, with new forms being added. Today we have a total of 8 evolutions that Eevee can take on.
Looking at the stats of the monsters, one can quickly create a ranking of the Eevee evolutions in Pokémon GO or in the main games based on their strength. However, in this list, we look at Eevee and its evolutions from a different perspective: the entries of the Pokédex across all games (which can be viewed at pokewiki.de).
Because if one were to live in the Pokémon world, one might wonder: What does the Pokédex say about the different forms? Which Eevee versions are safe, which ones should be approached with caution, and which bring perhaps the most devastating abilities?
We answer that in the Pokédex Power Ranking of Eevee. And we begin with…
Rank 9: Eevee
Eevee in Pokémon GO
Eevee is the original, the cornerstone, the mother of all Eevee evolutions and therefore above any doubt. It is a relatively rare Pokémon of the “Normal” type and actually sounds like a mostly relaxed character. The Pokédex refers in virtually all variants to its “unstable genetic material” that allows it to perfectly adapt to its environment through mutations – specifically in the form of evolutions.
However, since the “Sword and Shield” games, there is a point that also makes normal Eevee dangerous and it’s called “Gigantamax”. Through Gigantamax energy, Eevee can grow to a gigantic size, but retains its playful nature. However, that very nature can become problematic:
“It is even more trustworthy than usual and wants to play with everyone. But due to its enormous size, it crushes its playmates,” it says, for example, in the Pokédex entry from Pokémon Shield. Meanwhile, Pokémon Sword refers to the fact that “its fur becomes even fluffier” and that it “catches its opponents by wrapping them in the fluff around its neck.”
No matter how cute Eevee is: In its gigantic form it is not harmless, even if it only wants to cuddle.
Rank 8: Leafeon
Leafeon in Pokémon GO
The plant evolution of Eevee is a Pokémon that you like to have nearby: According to the Pokédex, it performs photosynthesis and is therefore constantly surrounded by clean air. Its pleasant scent is also highlighted in some entries.
In terms of battle, however, it is less experienced. In “Pokémon Black and White” it says: “With its plant-like cell structure, it performs photosynthesis. It actually never fights.”
The exception, according to “Pokémon Ultra Sun”: “Leafeon doesn’t like to fight, but if its companions are in danger, it uses its leafy tail like a blade.” And according to the entry in “Pokémon Shield,” it can for example split large trees with it and is very proud of that.
One should not provoke it; overall, however, Leafeon is a Pokémon that is not at home in battle. Therefore, it ranks further down in the Power Ranking.
Rank 7: Vaporeon
Vaporeon and its shiny form in Pokémon GO
Vaporeon’s element is water, and that’s what the Pokédex emphasizes: It usually lives near bodies of water and is perfectly adapted to this environment. In the yellow version, the Pokédex says it is invisible in water. Later games even talk about its cell structure being so similar to water molecules that it blends with them. The Pokédex in Ruby and Sapphire also emphasizes that it can manipulate water at will.
This is a powerful ability; however, it is also portrayed as a defensive Pokémon. In “Pokémon Moon,” for example, it says it waits “quietly and stealthily for fish Pokémon to catch as prey,” while “Ultra Sun” explains: “If it senses a hostile attack, it disappears into the water and becomes invisible.”
With its water attacks, Vaporeon is dangerous; however, it seems to prefer stealth and camouflage instead of engaging in open combat. That’s why it ranks a bit lower in the Power Ranking.
Umbreon is a fan favorite and often appears at the top of many Eevee lists when looking at its performance in the games. However, the Pokédex paints a picture that does not depict the greatest fighter but rather a secretly operating being.
It is a nocturnal Pokémon whose rings glow on its body at dusk to intimidate others nearby. It lurks in the shadows waiting for prey and, according to “Ultra Sun,” has the advantage of being able to see clearly due to its large pupils while its prey stumbles through the forest without clear sight at night. “Pokémon Moon” makes it clear: “Its black fur blends with the night. It patiently waits for its prey and bites its throat at the first opportunity.”
If threatened, it secretes a kind of venomous sweat to protect itself, aiming for the eyes of its opponent, according to “Pokémon HeartGold.”
Although this is a very effective behavior, it is typically one that animals use that avoid direct confrontations. Therefore, we rank it a bit lower in the ranking.
Rank 5: Espeon
Espeon and its shiny form in Pokémon GO
The psychic evolution of Eevee is also rather defensively oriented. Pokédex entries about it emphasize its loyalty to its trainer and the ability of prophecy, with which it protects itself and its loved ones from harm. Based on air currents, it can not only predict the weather and attacks from its opponent but also, according to “Pokémon Y,” even read what its opponents are thinking.
Its offensive energy in “Pokémon Ultra Moon” is nourished by sunlight stored in the orb on its head. However, this brings disadvantages in nighttime battles. In battle, it primarily relies on its psychic powers.
Overall, Espeon is a monster that is very hard to fight – after all, it may know what you are planning before you do. At the same time, however, it seems to have less destructive power than other Eevee evolutions. Therefore, it ranks in the middle of the rankings.
Start video
Pokémon Concierge – Official Trailer by Netflix
Rank 4: Glaceon
Glaceon and its shiny form in Pokémon GO
In the Pokédex of “Pokémon Shield,” we learn that Glaceon releases powdery snow with cold air, making it extremely popular in ski areas. It is much less popular with enemies who get hit by its needle-like ice fur projectiles, as highlighted by the entry from “Alpha Sapphire.”
Overall, its Pokédex entries often mention frozen fur attacks as well as the ability to freeze the air around it. It also has a nasty trick: “Glaceon creates a diamond dust storm to enchant prey with its beauty so that it can freeze them unnoticed,” it says in Pokémon Sword. Furthermore, it can lower its body temperature to -60 degrees Celsius, as we learn in “Pokémon Ultra Sun.”
It is not particularly aggressive in its behavior. Accordingly, we rank it higher in the ranking purely based on potential – but the top spots go to other Eevee evolutions.
Rank 3: Sylveon
Sylveon is not harmless
Sylveon is the “youngest” of all Eevee evolutions, appearing in the sixth generation. One should not be deceived by its appearance, because: “When it comes to a fight, it fearlessly dives into the fray, even when its opponent is a much larger dragon Pokémon,” says the entry in “Pokémon Ultra Moon.” Furthermore, the entry in Pokémon Moon emphasizes: “If it has spotted prey, it waves its ribbon-like feelers to distract them. If successful, it dives upon them.”
In Pokémon Scarlet, it is even referenced that it looks elegant but aims “craftily at weak points” with its attacks. And lastly, it has a special ability: With its ribbons, it can, according to “Sword,” “X,” and “Scarlet,” diminish hostile feelings to end battles.
In short: Sylveon can act soothingly but, when in doubt, can attack quite fearlessly and calculatedly. This makes it a wolf in sheep’s clothing and therefore anything but harmless.
Rank 2: Jolteon
Jolteon and its shiny form in Pokémon GO
Jolteon not only looks energetic; the Pokédex also makes clear that one should not mess with it. In “Pokémon Yellow,” it emphasizes that Jolteon’s mood “constantly wavers between anger and sadness,” creating electricity. One should avoid this mood around it, because in Pokémon Platinum, for example, it is made clear that it “fires small tufts of its fur” when disturbed. Since these consist of electrically charged needles, that’s not as cute as it sounds. Also, in “Pokémon Sun,” its nervous nature is emphasized, making it difficult for trainers to win its affection.
But it doesn’t stop with its electric fur: According to several Pokédex variants, it drains energy from the atmosphere, converting it into bolts of 10,000 volts strength that it fires from its mouth. In “Pokémon Moon,” the Pokédex also mentions that lightning often strikes nearby – and that can cause serious damage.
So, one definitely does not want to mess with Jolteon. However, there is still one evolution that is even more dangerous.
If we go by the Pokédex, one should best stay away from Flareon. The fire evolution of Eevee constantly radiates heat to prevent its own body from overheating. However, we aren’t talking about a mild fever here: According to “Pokémon Moon,” its body temperature averages 700 to 800 degrees Celsius, and in excitement, it can rise, according to “Ultra Moon,” even to 900 degrees Celsius.
This alone poses a problem of being near Flareon even slightly. It gets even more intense when it attacks: A flame sac in Flareon’s body stores the breath, which it then heats to a relaxed 1,700 degrees Celsius and expels.
For reference: The melting point of titanium is around 1,660 degrees Celsius. Thus, Flareon possesses an immense destructive power that grants it the first place in our ranking.
What do you think of the Pokédex ranking of Eevee evolutions? Would you rank them differently? And which is your favorite variant? Let us know in the comments!
With patch 10.2, World of Warcraft received a ton of new quests, a new area, and rewards. One of them, the mount “Ochre Dreamclaw”, is only now available. However, to obtain the mount, you must be extremely patient.
This is how you obtain the Dreamclaw: You can find the start of the quest line at the “Smoldering Sproutling” at the southwestern corner of the lake right by Amirdrassil (coordinates: 49/68). When you talk to the sproutling, it wants you to extinguish the fire.
You must not be mounted, otherwise you cannot interact with the object. Once you have extinguished the fire, you need to speak to the sproutling again and clean it. Afterwards, you will receive the first quest: “Some Water…”
For this quest, you need to go to Professor Esch, a treant in the camp of Amirdrassil. From here, the 23-day journey to the mount begins.
Start video
6 of the rarest mounts in WoW – Do you own them?
How to Get the Ochre Dreamclaw
You need to complete a total of 5 quests, between which you must wait 3 or 5 days each:
Follow Esch’s instructions and fill the water bucket he gives you to water the sproutling. A bar will now slowly fill up.
5 days later, you will receive the next quest: “A few Minerals…” For this, you need to collect fish bones from Deepcoil Lurkers. You will find these just south of the Eye of Ysera.
Another 5 days later, there is the quest: “The Right Food.” For this, you should gather turtle egg shells, whipper root material, and bananas from Tel’Abim. The shells can be found at turtles in the southwest of the island on the beach. The material can be obtained from whippers southeast of the Amirdrassil camp. You can buy the bananas from the innkeeper. Combine all reagents by clicking on a whipper root material in your inventory.
After 3 days of waiting, the fertilizer will be ready. Bring it to the plant and interact with it.
5 more days later, the next quest is ready: “And a Little Magic.” For this, you need to place a totem with treants in the east of the dream and drain energy from it.
After another 5 days, you will finally receive the last quest: “A Little Hope is Never Valueless,” this time from Professor Esche, who stands right next to the sproutling. From him, you will then receive the mount.
While you are waiting for the sproutling to fill its bar, you can safely do something else. If you collect mounts, it is advisable to complete epic seed events in the dream. These have a chance to reward one of 6 mounts.
A few more mounts that require significantly less effort can be found here:
You can approach Starfield in many ways: You can explore planets, test mods, or engage with the main story. One player tackled it with a skill that many probably rarely use – or might not even have on their radar.
In a video on YouTube, the user “Causal Loop” presents a summary of his run in Starfield. The special thing about it is: He completed the main story without firing a weapon himself. However, that was not the only rule he set for his run.
“Weapons are meant for one purpose: shooting. But ammunition is expensive, heavy, and it’s not honorable to kill someone who can’t even see your face,” says Causal Loop ironically at the beginning of his video, in which he summarized his experience.
He wondered what it would be like if he were a real villain in Starfield, using the firearm as a blunt tool to cause total chaos.
If you’re looking for a strong firearm instead, we have a helpful video here:
Start video
Starfield: How to get an extremely strong weapon right from the start
All weapons allowed – but without shooting
What were the rules for his run?On Reddit, Causal Loop posted on November 23 a contribution titled “I played Starfield only through melee attacks.” There, he explains the rules he set for himself.
We summarize a few of them:
The only way to deal damage to enemies is to hit them with the weapon.
Pistols, rifles, heavy weapons are allowed as long as the weapon is used like a bat instead of pulling the trigger.
Environmental damage such as exploding barrels is allowed.
Normal ship combat is allowed.
Companions must not deal damage or damage too much.
He tried to take companions as rarely as possible, but some missions require it.
He plays on normal difficulty.
Regarding the difficulty level, he writes in the post:
Easy and very easy would have made the challenge ridiculous, while hard and very hard didn’t really make it harder. It just increased the number of times I had to hit enemies and the amount of medi-packs I had to use.
Since money is incredibly easy to get, the extra use of medi-packs wasn’t really a big issue.
Moreover, playing on a higher difficulty leads to more legendary items, so I thought normal would be more balanced to play.
As background, he chose “Bounty Hunter”. So he already had points in piloting, targeting systems, and boost pack training at the start of his space adventure in Starfield. In particular, the boost pack training is one of the most useful skills because it allows you to use your jetpack immediately – which also proves helpful in combat.
Regarding the traits, he chose “Universally Educated” to gain bonus loot, “Wanted” so that he deals more damage at low health and “Introverted” because he did not want to recruit companions.
How the community reacts: Some users address him in the comments on Reddit and YouTube regarding his statement that ammunition is heavy and expensive. In response, Causal Loop writes that it was irony. “The joke is to say how stupid melee attacks with firearms are when ammunition is cheap/light.”
Others note that they have already spent many hours in Starfield but did not even know that you can perform a melee attack with an equipped firearm. “80 hours in the game. How do you hit with weapons on PC?” writes a user on Reddit.
Several people praise the entertainment value of the video. The user “notfound379” comments on YouTube: “This is really the most consistent entertainment I’ve experienced with this game after I had already given up on it. They should hire you.”
Another user writes that the video makes him want to buy Starfield. Every game wants to be “Soulslike”, meaning super hard, but he has neither time nor patience for that.
Have you also improved your melee skills in Starfield? Or do you prefer to try out different firearms? Feel free to leave us a comment about that.
The skill system is a central and important point in Starfield. Some aspects of it are criticized by players – therefore, they developed a mod to make leveling fun again:
Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of cool spells. MeinMMO shows you how to get a special spell in the game when you choose the “Dark Urge” path.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has captured the hearts of many role-playing fans, and with the “Dark Urge” there is a special spell that you can only get if you fully commit to the dark side.
In this article, I will reveal how you can obtain the powerful spell Wort der Macht: Tod .
Please note that this article contains major spoilers for your Dark Urge run.
In the video, you will learn how to cast two spells in one go:
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Cast two spells in one go
To obtain a powerful spell, you must be really evil
What kind of spell is it? Wort der Macht: Tod (Engl.: Power Word Kill) is one of the most iconic spells from the Dungeons and Dragons universe. This special 9th-level spell forces any creature with 100 hit points or less to die immediately. The peculiarity or rather the catch is that you can only use the spell once per campaign. Presumably, the spell would simply be too powerful in Baldur’s Gate 3 if you could use it per long or short rest.
You can even use this spell against the final boss as soon as they drop to 100 hit points or less.
How to obtain the spell: To do this, you must kill Orin with your Dark Urge in Act 3 and switch to the evil side. After you defeat Orin in the Temple of Bhaal, you will first be presented with a dark scene.
In this scene, you will be faced with a choice:
Will you change your path or completely devote yourself to the service of Bhaal?
If you choose to serve Bhaal, your Dark Urge will be rewarded with the powerful spell Wort der Macht: Tod . The outcome of your decision not only ensures that you receive the spell but also affects your story.
It is even cooler that you can obtain a 9th-level spell that would normally only be available at level 17. Even if it can only be used once and only when the opponent has 100 hit points or fewer.
The fact that this powerful spell can only be used once per campaign emphasizes its exclusivity and requires careful consideration of when it should be used most effectively.
Perhaps you harbor a special grudge against an NPC – here the spell could prove to be the perfect answer.
The Rebel Alliance plays an important role in Star Wars. A conversation in Episode 3 revolves around the origin of this alliance. However, the scene was deleted.
Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith shows a meeting between senators, including Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma. They discuss Palpatine and the democracy that is threatened by his rise to power.
The conversation results in the plan to create an organization to fight for the preservation of democracy – Padmé eventually agrees with the other senators after initial doubts. However, the scene was deleted from the film.
Here you can see a trailer for Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith:
Start video
Star Wars: Episode 3 – The Revenge of the Sith Trailer (English)
The focus should not be on Padmé
Why was the scene deleted?According to Screenrant, George Lucas expressed in a bonus feature on the home media version of Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith that the deletion of the scene was a result of a decision to focus the film more on Anakin and his fall.
The scene would have given Natalie Portman’s character Padmé an even more important role and greater development. You can read more about it at our colleagues from Moviepilot.
What was discussed in the scene? Senator Bail Organa notes during the meeting that they cannot allow “a thousand years of democracy to disappear without a fight.” When asked what he means by that, he says: “I apologize, I don’t want to sound like a Separatist.”
Senator Mon Mothma interjects:
We are not separatists trying to turn our back on the Republic. We are loyalists trying to preserve democracy in the Republic.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Deleted, Extended & Alternative Scenes #2 via YouTube
Padmé expresses that she cannot believe it has come to this. Palpatine has been one of her oldest advisors and served as an ambassador when she was queen. One of those present responds: “I believe you underestimate the extent of the corruption that has spread in the Senate.”
Bail Organa stands up and states: They cannot debate this further. They have decided to take action – Senator Mon Mothma and he want to create an organization. Padmé interrupts him and asks him not to say more. She understands that, but “at this point, some things are better left unsaid.”
The group agrees that no one will talk about the plans – not even with close associates. Padmé Amidala also agrees, and the scene ends.
Next month, the first part of a film series on Netflix, originally conceived for the “Star Wars” franchise but rejected by Disney, will be released.
The sci-fi project revolves around Kora, who leads a peaceful life in a colony on the edge of the galaxy. One day, the ruler Balisarius marches in with his soldiers and occupies Kora’s homeland:
Stephen “Mortdog” Mortimer is the Game Director of Teamfight Tactics. We at MeinMMO conducted an interview with him and the Global Head of E-Sports – Michael Sherman – focusing on the Auto Battler. It faced many problems at launch but is now performing better than ever. Next, the E-sports division is also set to expand.
What is this interview about? I had the opportunity to talk for almost an hour with Mortdog (title photo) and Sherman about the development of TFT. We focused on hurdles faced during its development, the major successes, and the upcoming plans for the game.
Recently, on November 21, the new set Remix Rumble launched, introducing an additional element of music into the gameplay. All champions, attributes, and some items have been adjusted accordingly.
Who conducted the interview? Alex has spent hundreds of hours in TFT over the years. He has achieved the ranks of Platinum and Diamond multiple times, sometimes even as a one-trick pony with Yuumi. Apart from TFT, he also engages with LoL and MMORPGs, including Guild Wars 2, ESO, and New World.
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At the start, there were very few developers, but it became a huge success
MeinMMO: I would like to start with the launch of Teamfight Tactics and would like to know from you – Mort – how everything began for you. And how exactly did you become the Design Director of the game?
Mortdog: When the original TFT team was assembled, it was a very small team. I believe there were about seven designers, a few artists, engineers, and so on. And they were working on developing the game.
In the first five and a half months, there was a lead designer named David Abecassis who oversaw everything. But he had to switch projects for various reasons. About a month before the release, they lost the chief designer. And Andrei, the head of all LoL studios, said: “I need someone to replace him.” He asked me: Hey, you’ve been looking at this genre. Would you like this position? And I said: “Sure.”
So I joined the team about a month before the release, took on the leadership role, and I’m still doing it today.
The audience of TFT on Twitch in 2019 (via Sullygnome).
MeinMMO: And TFT had a really great launch in June 2019. It temporarily reached number 1 on Twitch and people everywhere were talking about the game. Do you have a rough estimate of how many players tried it out?
Mortdog: I can’t give exact numbers, but the answer is: A huge amount. It was a very large number. And for a while, after we couldn’t really maintain those numbers, there was concern that it might be a fad. Initially, everything was exciting, and then it just started to decline.
MeinMMO: Were you surprised by the great success at launch, or did you expect it?
Mortdog: I wouldn’t say I was surprised. We did have a bit of help behind the scenes. Just the fact that we were the second game from Riot Games created hype. So that initial success didn’t really surprise me. However, how quickly the hype faded was certainly a big challenge for us.
“If set 3 doesn’t work, we can just shut down TFT”
MeinMMO: With set 2, you launched a big experiment in October 2019. A completely new experience, new champions, new comps. How did you come up with this idea?
Mortdog: I spoke with Andrei ‘Meddler’ van Roon about it. It was originally his idea. We looked at the LoL champions and the many available choices there. At that time, LoL had about 130 or 140 champions. And it was pretty clear that we wouldn’t be able to feature every champion when we made a set. But to ensure every champion gets a turn, we wanted to introduce a rotation. That led to the idea: Oh, but what if we also wanted to include the Star Guardians? Let’s bring in the Star Guardians. And then naturally it was like, okay, if we do this, we now have 200, 300, 400 champions. And that led to a cool idea. What if we made this thematic group of sets?
And the other thing is that we felt auto-chess would get solved and boring very quickly. My personal experience was that I played it for about a month and thought: “Yeah, I’ve seen everything I need to see. I’ll log off.”
And we wanted to make sure it’s not a game that just dies out after two years.
Here you can watch the teaser for the new set 10:
Start video
TFT: Showstoppers Mini Cinematic
MeinMMO: But such a change is confusing. Do you remember what the initial feedback was like?
Mortdog: Set two had a few major mistakes. The first was that we delivered it too early. There were a lot of people still enjoying that set and not ready for the change.
Mistake number two was that we had a pretty large audience. And we hadn’t yet taught the players what makes TFT so special. With our new set, we essentially booted out everyone who didn’t want to change. Because not everyone wants a bunch of changes every few months. And some of them didn’t come back because TFT changed too much.
And the third major problem was that we made some pretty questionable design decisions because we didn’t exactly know what we were doing. I always joke that we had an elemental-based set. And then we turned Zyra, instead of plants, into a fire-type character. We had a moon trait and turned Dianna into fire. There were just so many things that even LoL players thought: Excuse me, what?
But that’s the beauty of TFT: Every time we develop a new set, we learn from it.
MeinMMO: But set 2 did not go well with the fans, if I remember correctly. Then set 3 came, which I personally did not like at all. How was the transition?
Mortdog: With set 2, we reached the point where we thought: “Wow, if set 3 doesn’t work, we can just shut down TFT. Then we’ll go back to set 1, leave it alone, and focus on other things.” That was definitely our low point. Fortunately, we turned it around.
MeinMMO: Was there another point in development where you were at a real low point?
Mortdog: With set 5, we had a second low point. It wasn’t about player numbers, but rather satisfaction. In particular, the shadow items upset many of our veteran players and showed us that not everyone wants those deep design elements. Some people just want to have fun.
“We have more than doubled the size of the team in the last year alone”
MeinMMO: And when did you reach your peak? Or are you still in a rising high?
Mortdog: Our game is currently running great. As I mentioned, we keep reaching new “huge numbers”. I can’t speak about details, but what I can say is that things like Gizmos & Gadgets, released alongside Arcane and the Augments, were a really big success. Fates and Chosen, along with the release in the eastern regions, were also a really big success.
So we continue to have a lot of these great successes. And every time we have a little slump and wonder, are we still good? Bang, another new success. We’re still going and hope that Remix Rumble will be another big success.
MeinMMO: How important was the release on mobile devices for you? I myself play TFT very actively there.
Mortdog: It was really important to make the game accessible to more people and more gaming opportunities. Additionally, each region is a bit different. In the USA or Europe, PCs dominate. But in countries like Brazil or Latin America in general, mobile is much more dominant. And so we are expanding into new target groups. Korea is another big country, where there are just a lot of mobile players. So mobile was definitely very important for our expansion and will continue to be.
MeinMMO: In an interview in late 2021, you said that the number of developers was still steadily increasing. Is that still the case in 2023 or have you reached an end?
Mortdog: So the size of the team has more than doubled in the last year alone. We have grown significantly. One aspect of this is also the area of e-sports.
TFT wants to create large LAN tournaments with hundreds of participants
MeinMMO: Since you’ve already mentioned e-sports, I will now turn to Sherman. I am a huge fan of League of Legends and am currently watching Worlds, like most people I know. But with TFT it’s different. I can rarely motivate myself to watch the events. How do you see the eSports scene? And how satisfied are you with it at the moment?
Sherman: TFT is struggling like many new games to find its e-sports identity. At the beginning, it focused a lot on adopting what was successful in LoL. In a way, that worked. But I don’t think watching is really the best form of e-sports for TFT.
What we’ve seen is that players are most satisfied and excited when they participate in competitions themselves. In the first few weeks, we didn’t activate ranked matches, and the community was really eager to play ranked. That doesn’t necessarily mean they want to be the best player in the world. I think we are trying to create an ecosystem for TFT where it’s not immediately about that.
So how satisfied am I with the state of TFT e-sports? We are in an exciting transitional phase because when I joined, it was about how to enhance the competitive scene. And that’s really exciting. We’ve made some big upgrades to make prize pools more valuable for top players and made some format changes that have helped top players enjoy themselves more.
The Vegas Open is a step in a new direction for us, where we are really focusing on how to create a more engaging and exciting e-sport that features large numbers of players competing against each other. Here, 512 players can compete against each other at once.
I’ve seen a lot of fighting game events and I’m intrigued by them. I love that the competitions in fighting games are more at the forefront. I want to go and see my friends, compete with them, and experience a cool moment. And I believe that this type of competition will encourage the TFT community even more than it already has.
Here you can find the summary of the last championship:
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TFT: Runeterra Reforged Championship Event Recap
MeinMMO: That’s an interesting picture you’re painting. Because I always felt the urge to participate in tournaments, but I found the websites and information about them somewhat confusing. If there are now regularly large live events, that would be great.
Sherman: There is definitely still a lot to be done to realize this vision. But our hope is that we can work towards a system where every player can participate in tournaments and e-sports if they want to try.
MeinMMO: And what is your stance on community-run tournaments? Would you actively support such events?
Sherman: Yes, we are always looking for ways to better support community-organized tournaments. We are already doing this in some areas, e.g., our regional offices support local tournaments happening in their region or country.
We have also realized that it is quite challenging to host a TFT tournament without tools like custom games or the spectator mode. We are still working on implementing such content.
MeinMMO: Yes, the question of a spectator mode was also on my list. What I sometimes miss in TFT are prominent figures like Caps or Faker in LoL. Do you see yourselves as being responsible for promoting and strengthening such individuals?
Sherman: I think comparisons with League will always be very difficult since it’s the biggest e-sport in the world. If you look at Faker, then we’ve built a wall between Faker, who is much better than everyone else, and you and me. I can’t drop my hand low enough to illustrate that.
I believe that if we focus too much on making individual players legends of the game in TFT, it will deter people from stepping up themselves. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to help create stars and people who can make a living from TFT.
3 sets per year, new fun modes, and the strategy for success
MeinMMO: How do you generally see the future of TFT? Do you want to experiment with more fun modes like the Lunar event, or are you more focused on major revisions like the ones with the Augments?
Mortdog: As I mentioned, the team has grown much larger. Some of the fruits you’ve already seen, some you haven’t. That aside, we are also at three new sets per year, which we want to maintain without intermediate sets. For the smaller droughts in between, we are always looking for variety. Fun modes could definitely make sense there.
I think there are just a lot of cool things you can do with TFT and experiment with.
All important information about the latest patch has been summarized for you by Mortdog here:
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MeinMMO: Do you still follow other games in the genre, like Dota Underlords or the standalone Auto Chess of the mod developers? If you look at the numbers there, you are clearly more successful. Why is that?
Mortdog: I occasionally check them out and play them. I think one of the main reasons for TFT’s success is that we focus heavily on the gameplay experience. Many of the battles are very exciting, and the players and champions do really cool things.
If you compare that to some other games, they feel a bit flat. They just don’t have those highs and lows, the pacing, and such things that we place a lot of emphasis on.
The second important part is our sets. I think that the autobattler genre typically provides fun for two to four months before people get bored. The fact that we patch so frequently, much more than anyone else, is beneficial for us. When you start to get bored, it’s like: “Oh, what’s coming next?”
If you want to take a break and do something else and then come back. That’s great. My favorite is Wolfie, the famous Pokémon player. He played quite actively during set five and six, even did some casting, then he left and played a lot of Pokémon. Now he’s back for set nine and ten. And he says, “I’m having fun again.” And that’s exactly our goal.
MeinMMO: Thank you, Mort and Sherman, for participating in this interview.
What do you think about the development of TFT? Which set did you enjoy the most? And would you attend a live e-sport event?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On December 7, 2023, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader will be released on Steam. The role-playing game in the vast Warhammer universe comes from developers who have already made a name for themselves in the field. If you’re looking for a replacement for Baldur’s Gate 3, you’re in the right place.
What kind of game is this?
Rogue Trader takes place in the grim world of Warhammer 40, a future in the 41st millennium, where the Imperium of Man fights against chaos demons, orks, and malevolent tyranids.
The game is a tactical role-playing game, or CRPG, just like Baldur’s Gate 3. The game is developed by Owlcat Games, who have already created the Pathfinder games – some of the best role-playing games on Steam.
What makes Rogue Trader special: Most RPGs take place in a fantasy world and are at least loosely based on the well-known Dungeons & Dragons or are inspired by it. In Rogue Trader you face a dystopian, grim sci-fi world.
The Warhammer world is characterized by – as the name suggests – constant war. You are a rogue trader and captain of your own ship, with which you travel the galaxy and navigate through dangerous territories in search of profit.
Owlcat Games are known for embedding various and secret endings in their deep stories as well as introducing meta-systems into the game. Therefore, managing your journey will be as important as driving the story forward.
You will be accompanied by a fighting Eldar (a “Space Elf”), a fanatical Adepta Sororitas, and a colossal Space Marine from the order of the wild Space Wolves. Interaction with your companions is an important part of the game.
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Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader: The trailer for the release date with gameplay
Rogue Trader – A Role-Playing Game Without Classes
I pre-ordered Rogue Trader a long time ago and had access to all the tests, but purposely played very little. Actually, not at all, because I want to wait until the game really comes out.
A major feature is already revealed right at the beginning of the game: There is no classic character creation with races and classes, as you might know from Baldur’s Gate 3. Instead, you select various points from your past:
your homeworld essentially decides your “race” and provides you with attribute bonuses and feats. However, you are always human
the origin is essentially the “class” and determines which skills you are particularly good at and what you start with
doctrines specialize you in what you do – such as adept, leader, shooter, etc.
your “triumphs” and the “darkest hour” further shape your character, but there is still missing information on what exactly they are supposed to do
Rogue Trader thus dispenses with some of the most well-known features of the RPG genre and replaces them with new systems. However, they also fit well into the universe, because: Humans (and actually all races in 40k) are absolute racists and want to erase everything else anyway. What is more important is where you come from and what you can do – and how loyal you are to the Emperor.
You can also customize your ship, which serves as a mobile base for your missions. Otherwise, character customization is kept quite simple: a few templates for face, body, and hair, by far not as detailed as in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, there are no spoilers for the story and the goal of the game yet.
I am still a bit skeptical about how well Warhammer 40k will work as a CRPG, but I still supported the game early on because I have great trust in Owlcat. The Pathfinder games are among the best games I have ever played with well over 200 hours per game. And Warhammer excites me too, although more the fantasy universe:
Players report that they are seeing ads for the latest installment Mirage in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – in the middle of the game. Developer Ubisoft confirms this advertising but also states that it should not appear at all. The ‘error’ is nonetheless causing frustration: gamers are now wondering if they soon need an ad blocker for their games.
What’s the deal with the advertising?
Players who pause older parts of Assassin’s Creed can reportedly see ads while loading menus.
A user on X, formerly Twitter, shows a scene from Odyssey: there, he is currently pulling up the map and receives an offer for -20% on the new Assassin’s Creed: Mirage for Black Friday.
The advertisement is displayed across the entire screen and in the middle of the game. You must actively close it to continue playing.
This is what Ubisoft says: The reports about the advertising have spread quickly. In a statement to Eurogamer, Ubisoft has spoken out about it. The statement reads:
[This advertisement] is the result of a technical error that we fixed as soon as we were made aware of it.
On Reddit, the topic is widely discussed and is currently one of the largest threads in the general gaming subreddit. There, users believe that the appearance of the advertisements may have been a bug. However, their existence surely is not.
Select a MMO video…
“We cannot accept this”
With over 1,400 comments, hundreds of gamers are participating in the discussion. The outrage over the new idea of displaying ads in games is enormous – but so is the outrage over Ubisoft itself.
Now users see a new low being reached. They say: “Such a thing cannot be accepted. Such advertising in the game is for me the reason to uninstall the game and write an ugly review.”
Others say they would return the game directly – whereupon a user comments: if companies do this cleverly, the advertising will only come after the return period.
The mood is extremely negative. Even if this is a mistake, players now predict that this is all just a “testing the waters”.
Ubisoft and other companies want to find out how bold they can be before gamers lose their patience: “The companies have shifted from ‘How do we improve the user experience’ to ‘How do we squeeze the last drop of money from customers before we lose them?'” A similar discussion recently took place regarding Diablo 4:
