The sci-fi movie “Back to the Future Part II” pokes fun at an aspect of the film industry that is everyday life today.
In 1989, the sequel to a popular sci-fi comedy, Back to the Future Part II, hit theaters. The film humorously depicts how future society would live.
A small joke about the film industry at that time is now actually a common strategy in Hollywood, primarily driven by major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars .
Here you can see a trailer for the sci-fi classic:
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Trailer to Back to the Future 2 from 1989
Jaws 19 – “This time, it’s really, really personal”
What scene is it about? In the film, Marty and Doc Brown travel to the future, specifically to the year 2015.
In addition to futuristic cars that can fly, there is a hologram cinema showing the film “Jaws 19.”
The cinema advertises with a giant computer-generated shark that appears behind the main character with fitting music and then scares him greatly.
Next to the film title, the slogan reads: “This time, it’s really, really personal.” Max Spielberg is credited as the director of the film.
Here you can see the scene featuring Jaws 19 in the YouTube video:
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What is this referring to? At the time Back to the Future Part II was released in theaters, there were four films about the great white shark, with the first one directed by Steven Spielberg:
in 1975 Jaws
in 1978 Jaws 2
in 1983 Jaws 3-D
in 1987 Jaws: The Revenge
Over the top, this made a small joke about how the film industry would continue to produce big titles with numerous sequels.
A bit of self-irony certainly comes into play when considering that Back to the Future Part II is itself a sequel to a successful title.
Nowadays, it is common for successful films to receive numerous sequels. A prime example is large film franchises that continue to release more sequels, prequels, and series from beloved stories and characters:
Be it the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which then had the three Hobbit films and a series follow (another series is set to come in 2024) or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which dedicates solo films to the hero Thor 4. Star Wars, Fast and Furious, and John Wick are also good examples of this.
If you are fans of sci-fi movies, check out our list:
Modern games are becoming increasingly demanding. In particular, an upgrade will likely become a necessity for players in the future. And it’s not just about a graphics card.
New games now set high requirements for gaming PCs. However, many games now require not just a reasonably modern processor and a fast graphics card, but in many cases also an SSD. But why do games even need an SSD?
Modern games like Starfield already list an SSD among the minimum requirements to be able to play.
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Gamescom ONL 2023 Trailer Starfield
An SSD is now (almost) as important as a fast computer
More and more games require an SSD: It has been the case for some time that developers recommend an SSD to players. Games like Hogwarts Legacy state in their system requirements: An SSD is preferred, but HDDs are still supported.
However, more and more developers now require an SSD for their games. This includes
Forza Motorsport
Starfield
Baldur’s Gate 3
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for the recommended requirements.
Why is an SSD so important? SSDs offer much faster access times than a traditional hard drive (HDD). On average, modern games load significantly faster from an SSD than if they are installed on an HDD.
More and more PC games now require an SSD, which is also due to the new DirectStorage technology from Microsoft. Simply put, DirectStorage allows games to load faster because the processor can process the data more quickly. However, this requires an NVMe SSD and a graphics card with DirectX 12.
What else does DirectStorage offer?
Games can be loaded significantly faster.
With faster rendering, objects in the game world no longer pop up suddenly, but can be pre-loaded.
Developers can design larger and more expansive game worlds because the hardware can process more data simultaneously.
By now, every gamer should have an SSD in their computer
For a long time, gamers believed the wisdom: Install your operating system, the system partition, and important programs on your SSD to benefit from fast boot times. Your games, movies, and such then go onto a cheap HDD mass storage.
Gamers who want to play all current titles in the future will therefore inevitably need an upgrade if they haven’t installed an SSD yet. Some games can be started without an SSD, even though they require one according to the system requirements.
For example, Baldur’s Gate 3 can be started with an HDD, but you will notice the noticeably longer loading times. Whether developers will exclude players without an SSD is still (for now) questionable.
How much does such an SSD cost? The advantage is that a new SSD doesn’t cost a fortune. For an NVMe SSD, you now pay around 100 euros. For a regular SSD, you even pay a few euros less.
100 euros is still a lot of money, but it is not comparable to the 1,000 euros you could spend on a new, fast graphics card.
By the way, there are other affordable upgrades if you want to upgrade your PC but don’t have much money available. We list sensible upgrades in the following article on MeinMMO:
Alan Wake 2 impressively concluded this year’s gamescom Opening Night Live. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest titles present in Cologne 2023. Our author Mark Sellner has seen a complete mission of Alan Wake 2 and for the first time also as Alan Wake. So, how is the horror hit?
What did I see? The first gameplay of Alan Wake. So, don’t get me wrong. There has indeed already been gameplay of Alan Wake 2, but the focus was always on the new second main character, Saga. At gamescom, I was able to see a complete mission as Alan Wake, and his gameplay differs drastically from what Saga experiences.
In the ONL trailer, you see the scene where Alan Wake is sitting in a talk show. This also marks the beginning of the presentation that I was able to watch. It is the start of the very first mission as Alan in Alan Wake 2. However, since it is relatively linear, as the developers say, we skip ahead a chapter.
So, I saw a complete playthrough of the second mission as Alan, which takes place in New York, or at least in the New York that Alan has written in his horror world.
Because actually, Alan is sitting in his room and writing. What he writes becomes reality – and thus he tries to escape from the “darkness”.
What is really real now, what is only playing out in Alan’s imagination, and whether he is actually all alone is never quite clear. Just this alone conveys a touch of unease and paranoia, which runs throughout the entire mission.
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Alan Wake 2 Gamescom
Rewriting reality until it fits
How does the gameplay work? During the mission, which we don’t want to spoil too much, Alan repeatedly encounters obstacles that initially seem insurmountable. He can usually overcome these with two different tools. One of them is the so-called “Angel Lamp”.
With this lamp, you can capture light in various places and release it elsewhere. Since the entire game world is in the “darkness”, the light usually also changes the entire environment of the current scene. Where just shadows in the air create a ghostly phantom, soon a subway entrance emerges with light.
Conversely, one must also be prepared for the situation to become critical when we remove light because we need it elsewhere. Because then the dark shadows come and want to get to you.
Rewriting reality: The other way to move forward is to completely rewrite reality. To do this, you gather various “echoes” in the world that serve as inspiration for Alan.
In dark New York, your escape is easy
With one click, you then return to the room where you can rewrite the plot of the current scene based on the found inspiration. This changes the mood and surroundings and opens blocked paths.
The developers tell us that this incorporates a puzzle element, but no new solution paths. Because a story is always the “right” one to move forward; the others are not. However, there you can discover secrets, new echoes, and inspirations.
Less fighting, more thriller
What stands out in the gameplay? Aside from the new core features, it is noticeable that Alan has to fight significantly less and less frequently than his fellow protagonist, Saga. Also, compared to its predecessor, it is noticeable that fights are rather secondary. And that’s really good because the outstanding game world can shine so much better.
Because the second major highlight of the mission is the environmental storytelling, which Remedy places great importance on. You find clues throughout your journey through the dark New York about what is real and what is not. However, you can never be really sure of that.
This way, the subway numbers on the display suddenly turn into a “Dont sleep again” and graffiti at the entrance hides the phrase “find Alice”. You also repeatedly find the words “dont write again!” while we need to write to progress.
After the entire mission, my highlight is certainly the atmosphere and the game world of Alan Wake 2, at least on Alan’s side. Never knowing what is real and also as a player not having a clear overview contributes a lot of tension to the overall dark atmosphere.
Thus, it remains constantly creepy and frightening, without having to fight frequently. The sporadically interspersed skirmishes also come into their own because, if they were more frequent, they would ruin the mood of “being alone” again.
After this hour, I certainly have even more desire for the game than I already had before. How is it for you? Did you like the trailer at the ONL? Do you like what you read here? Feel free to write it in the comments here on MeinMMO.
Xbox has put up one of the largest booths at gamescom this year and brought along one of the biggest titles, Starfield. Our author Mark Sellner was able to see the presentation of the space epic and is rather disillusioned.
What was shown: We were shown the exact same film in the Xbox press area that you can also watch in Hall 8 at gamescom. Whether you should do that and if it’s worth the queue in front of it, I would like to reveal to you in this article.
The presentation begins with a friendly Hello gamescom from Game Director Todd Howard. To give you a little preview, this is one of the few scenes that are actually completely new.
Because the overall approximately 25-minute presentation of the new space epic, which will be released soon, does not exactly boast of showcasing new gameplay.
What can be seen in the video? A quick run-through of the first one to two missions of Starfield. You start as a miner, create your character, and steal a nibble of bread from an NPC, to which he even reacts. Not exactly friendly, of course.
After that, you make your way through the mine shafts, have a surprise battle with pirates, and are then sent to the Constellation in New Atlantis. Once you arrive there, the presentation is already over.
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Starfield: Official Launch Date Announcement
Why the trip is only worthwhile if you are true hardcore fans
What is bad about the presentation? If you were already thinking at the above description: That seems familiar to me, then you are probably right. Because the entire presentation really shows very little new impressions of the title.
Most of it has already been seen in various trailers. In the 40-minute Starfield Direct, many of the scenes were also shown. There are a few new impressions in the presentation, but you shouldn’t expect too much.
These new impressions are either nice little details, like the angry breadless NPC, or extensions of already known impressions. A scene that was cut from the old trailer lasts a few minutes longer in the presentation.
That’s why it’s worth it for hardcore fans: If you are one of the diehard fans of Starfield, then the trip to Hall 8 is probably worth it. Because the little things and minor details could bring a smile to your face. There are also some small new features to spot in the character editor.
So if you are one of those people who want to absorb every piece of information about Starfield, I can recommend the presentation to you. If you’re more the type who follows the game but isn’t too deeply involved yet, the queue probably isn’t worth it.
Have you seen the presentation yourself? What was your first impression? Are you looking forward to the release of Starfield? Feel free to write it to us in the comments here at MeinMMO.
When FIFA successor EA Sports FC 24 is released at the end of September, you will be able to transfer your FIFA Points to the new game. We will tell you how to do that.
The release of EA Sports FC 24 is coming soon, and if you still have FIFA Points in your FIFA 23 account, you can easily transfer them to the FIFA successor and convert them into new FC Points.
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5 important improvements in the career mode of EA Sports FC 24
How to transfer your FIFA Points to FC 24
This is what you need to do: The process to transfer your FIFA Points from FIFA 23 to EA Sports FC 24 is quite simple. You just need to log in to FC 24 once the game has been released. After logging in, a popup window should appear informing you that you still have FIFA Points from FIFA 23 and asking how you would like to proceed.
You have 3 options:
Yes, I want to convert all my FIFA Points and transfer them from FIFA 23 to FC 24.
No, my FIFA 23 Points should remain untouched.
Currently, I am unsure, please ask again at a later time.
If you then select the first option, your FIFA Points will be transferred from FIFA 23 to FC 24 and converted into FC Points.
Important: This is a one-time process that cannot be reversed. Once your points are transferred, they cannot be moved again.
This is what you need to consider: In a help document, EA Sports explains that it is only possible to transfer Points within the same console family. For example, you can transfer saved points from Xbox Series S/X to Xbox Series S/X.
However, it is not possible to transfer FIFA Points from an Xbox Series S/X to a PlayStation 5. Additionally, the process only works with FIFA Points. Accumulated FIFA Coins cannot be carried over to the successor.
If you want to know which players could be among the best strikers in FC 24, take a look here:
With “Immortals of Aveum,” a new single-player shooter has been released on Steam. However, the reviews are mixed, and many complain about the performance.
Immortals of Aveum launched on August 22, 2023, on Steam, but the reviews are only balanced. However, most of the criticism is not for the gameplay, but for the poor performance.
Some say the game was developed for the wrong hardware, but other players explain: The game doesn’t run smoothly even on high-end hardware, and the technical state is unacceptable.
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Immortals of Aveum Official Gameplay Trailer
Misconception about the typical gamer?
What does the community think? Among PC gamers, there are many dissatisfied with the state of the game. Some explain that the developers simply have the wrong ideas about the players. One person states in his Steam review:
If you don’t have an 8-core CPU or an RTX 3080 Ti, then do NOT buy the game! It seems the developers don’t understand that the average PC gamer does not have a 3090/4090. Based on other reviews, you can’t even get stable FPS with a high-end GPU.
I have a 3060Ti paired with an i7-11700F, and I couldn’t get more than 25 fps WITH DLSS! without massive stuttering.
Another explains: “Even with an [RTX] 4090 and a [Ryzen] 7950X3D, the game was very choppy.”
But even the wonder technology DLSS seems to no longer give games the performance boost it did in its early days. And users with older GPUs that do not support DLSS are left in the dust.
Many players are also unimpressed: The game lacks important settings, such as HDR options. For a game that is supposed to showcase the advantages of Unreal Engine 5, that’s quite little.
How has the year 2023 been so far? From the perspective of PC gamers, there have officially been plenty of exciting releases and games. However, the fewest could convince with good performance. Already Star Wars: Jedi Survivor launched catastrophically on Steam not because of bad gameplay, but because the technology was simply not good.
Games like
Wild Hearts (Mixed 47%)
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty (Mixed 47%)
RedFall (Mostly negative, 37%)
Forspoken (Mixed 60%)
all received bad reviews in a row because the technology simply could not convince. Many players also do not see why they should spend so much money on a bad port.
However, a few developers have already stated that these problems are likely never going to be solvable:
The Twitch streamer Asmongold has addressed Season 2 in Diablo 4. There is praise, but one point bothers him.
This is Season 2 in Diablo 4: During the gamescom opening, the new Season 2 in Diablo 4 was presented. It is called the “Season of Blood” and brings along fitting enemies: Bloodthirsty Vampires.
Season 2 is set to start on October 17, 2023, but a first glimpse was already given in the form of a trailer at gamescom. You can watch it here:
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Diablo 4 presents new Season 2, coming this fall – Blood & Vampires
Twitch streamer Asmongold also looked at the new announcement and the comments about it. In a stream, he shared his opinion about the content.
Asmongold says: You need new mobs
This is his criticism: Generally, Asmongold responds positively to the new content at first and says he didn’t want to judge too harshly, but: He has a problem with the shown enemies.
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His criticism: The streamer believes there is too little variety among the opponents and that the mobs are basically the same ones we already know – just presented differently. However, he hopes for new monsters.
In his video, he examines the opponents and ultimately recognizes in them reskins of familiar enemies: You can’t just repaint the same NPCs in the game and say: Oh, they are zombies? No, now they are vampires!
Asmongold wishes for more variety: You need to add new types of monsters. They don’t even have to be particularly difficult, they just need to look different and be cool (via Twitch).
He also compares this with the competitor Path of Exile, which from his perspective also adds reskins of mobs, but complements them with new ones: You need new mobs. It is strange that we have hardly seen any so far.
In Pokémon GO you can expect an extra raid hour today, August 24, 2023. We will show you the information you need for the event.
What kind of event is this? Usually, the raid hours in Pokémon GO take place on Wednesday evenings. But today, Thursday, there is an additional date.
If you fancy even more proto-raid, you should take an hour off this evening.
Additional Raid Hour on August 24 – Which Boss?
When does the raid hour take place today? The event starts at the usual time of 6:00 PM. It will be active for an hour and ends again at 7:00 PM.
Which boss will be there? In the event raids starting today, you will encounter Proto-Groudon. This Pokémon is of the ground and fire types and is weak against water and ground for those reasons.
Pokémon like Mega-Swampert and Proto-Kyogre are among the strongest attackers you can use in these raids. We have written a counter guide for you, where you can see the 20 best Pokémon you should use against this boss.
With a bit of luck, you might even find a shiny after the raid and get shiny Proto-Groudon. A real eye-catcher in your collection.
In the coming days, you will have another chance to catch Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon. During the GO Fest, you can encounter the bosses again and get your chances to catch them.
Gangs of Sherwood is an online co-op that allows you to become the heroes from the tales of Robin Hood. Step into one of the four roles, rob the rich to help the poor, and defeat Nottingham’s army.
What is it about? In this unique interpretation of Robin Hood, the hero fights alongside his crew against the evil army of Nottingham.
The Sheriff of Nottingham has wielded the power of the philosopher’s stones and is now stronger than ever before. Now he waits for you in his flying castle.
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Gangs of Sherwood Merry Gang Trailer
You play as Robin, Marian, Brother Tuck, or Little John with fully customizable play styles. Set off together to plunder riches and help the poor, spending the remaining gold on your own equipment.
Utilize the different heroes to foil the tyrant’s plans and free the people of Nottingham.
When is the game coming out? The release is on October 19, 2023. The game will be available on Steam.
What does the trailer show? The current trailer gives you a closer look at the “Merry Gang”.
Robin Hood is, as expected, the archer of the group and showcases his famous accuracy at long distances in the trailer.
Brother Tuck seems to take on the role of a classic tank and in the trailer, you can see him smashing the sheriff’s troops with a mighty hammer.
You only get a brief impression of Little John, and his role is hard to determine from that. However, he definitely shows that he can hit hard.
Marian seems to take on the role of an assassin with initially unassuming knives. However, she gives us the first taste of the magic that will also play a role in Gangs of Sherwood. Because she throws lightning at her enemies with her knives instead of simply stabbing them.
The mix of magic, machines, and the classic medieval setting makes the game look like a truly interesting experience.
When Foamstars was announced, many initially thought of Splatoon, but for PlayStation. Our author Mark Sellner was able to play the colorful shooter at the gamescom and was pleasantly surprised.
What is Foamstars? Colorful and fast primarily, but one step at a time. Foamstars is a shooter that will be released for PS4 and PS5, relying on the hero formula. Similar to Overwatch, Valorant, and others, there are different heroes that you can play.
They all have different abilities and are divided into various classes. Here, there is a lot of choice from classic tanks to nimble attackers and precision shooters. How many of these heroes will be available in the release version is currently unknown.
In teams of 4, these “Foamstars” will play against each other. In the battles, similar to Splatoon, the goal is to color the battlefield as much as possible in your color. Because you can surf on foam from your team and move really fast, while enemy foam severely slows you down.
At release, the game is supposed to offer various maps and game modes; in the preview version at gamescom, we have only seen one map and one mode so far.
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Foamstars – A colorful team shooter where you fight each other with foam
The battles are not only colorful but also dynamic
How does fighting work? In fact, Foamstars is much more than it seems at first glance. Of course, the comparison with Splatoon is obvious, but there is a fundamental difference between paint and foam.
While in Splatoon you can only color the ground, in Foamstars you can use the foam to create three-dimensional structures, thereby changing the battlefield’s height. Here, a gameplay feeling arises that can best be described as a combination of Splatoon and Fortnite.
I can quickly build a wall of foam in front of me when an enemy approaches. I can build a tower to reach a higher sniper point or simply bury the unsuspecting opponent under an avalanche of foam, rendering them nearly immobile.
This plays out more tactically than initially expected and is still a lot of fun in the 5th round. With each round we played with our press colleagues, the game got better as we learned to use the foam more effectively.
Sometimes, fleeing is the only option
Who surfs right, wins
What makes the gameplay so dynamic? Aside from the constantly changing battlefield, it is mainly the surfing that makes the fights exciting. Because here it becomes clear who embraces teamwork, which is usually the path to victory.
The background to this lies in the death mechanic of Foamstars. When you get knocked out, you roll around the battlefield in a foam ball for a few seconds before you actually die and respawn in your base 5 seconds later.
As long as you are in this ball, both enemies and friends can surf through you. If a friend catches you, you respawn with low health in the same spot; if an enemy catches you, it means your immediate demise.
All these mechanics, combined with the heroes’ special abilities, make the game colorful, fast, and dynamic, but never confusing. Which is quite an achievement in this color spectacle.
When you can get your hands on it or when the title will be released is currently unknown. We only know that the game will be released for PS4 and PS5. The monetization of Foamstars is also still unknown.
However, the project leader revealed to us during the meeting that accessibility is prioritized, which would suggest a Free2Play model. Moreover, heroes should also be obtainable without spending real money.
What do you think of Foamstars? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
During the filming of Rocky 4, Sylvester Stallone wanted his co-star Dolph Lundgren to hit him for real. However, he underestimated the actor’s strength and ended up in the hospital.
In the boxing film Rocky IV – The Fight of the Century, Rocky, played by Sylvester Stallone, faces the tough competitor Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in the ring, and they deliver a spectacular boxing match.
However, Sylvester Stallone had to take a beating during the filming of the scenes and spent several days in the hospital.
Here you can see the trailer for the fourth Rocky movie:
“Just go out there and try to hit me”
When the two actors were filming the boxing scene, Stallone told Lundgren not to follow any choreography and just hit hard. “Just go out there and try to hit me,” was the instruction.
So Lundgren gave it his all and delivered a solid punch to Stallone’s chest. At first, the lead actor felt completely normal. But after several hours, Stallone noticed something was wrong.
Also, an actor from the live-action adaptation One Piece gave it his all for his role, as he mentioned in an interview:
In retrospect, Stallone could tell from the video footage that an uppercut was the blow that caused severe damage since it “hit the ribs and struck the heart against the chest wall”.
“The next thing I know, I’m on a plane flying to the emergency room and lying in intensive care for four days. And there are all these nuns.” The actor spent a total of nine days in the hospital due to the injury.
The doctors told Stallone that the injury usually occurs in frontal collisions during car accidents. To which the actor replied, “Almost. I kind of got hit by a bus.”
Starfield is supposed to offer a gigantic world full of mysteries ready to be explored by you. Not an easy task for players who can quickly become overwhelmed. For this reason, Bethesda gives you a tip on how to maximize your enjoyment of the shooter.
The game already offers a large amount of things to keep you busy, but it might overwhelm some players. GamesRadar conducted an interview with Bethesda’s Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, during an Xbox livestream.
Pete mentioned a point that you should not ignore on your travels in order to enjoy the game to the fullest.
A captivating trailer from Gamescom for Starfield can be found embedded here:
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Gamescom ONL 2023 Trailer Starfield
“Don’t ignore your activities”
What does Bethesda advise you? In his interview, Pete mentioned one thing he urges every player to consider, which are the activities you should not ignore.
According to him, this is a new way in which you can engage in Starfield. Pete does not elaborate further but says: “It feels like throwaway stuff that the game offers you, but there are some amazing things in it that don’t even feel like a real quest, but can lead you to some amazing places and some amazing stories.”
As with every Bethesda game, the developers want to encourage you to do what you feel like doing. Pete believes that every player should explore their path and not just blindly follow a quest. “Be the person you want to be in this world and see what happens,” is what he says.
When can I play Starfield? Starfield will officially be released on Xbox Series and PC on September 6. However, players who pre-ordered the digital premium edition can log in and play as early as September 1.
By then, we will know whether Pete was right and how the activities will affect your character. Did you complete the main story in Bethesda games, or were you a wanderer who finished all side quests and explored the world? Let us know in the comments.
At the Opening Night Live of the gamescom 2023, there was a wealth of new information and insights about games set to be released in the coming months. Among them was Warhaven.
What kind of game is this? Warhaven is a medieval war game produced by the Korean development studio Nexon.
Since Warhaven is set in a medieval setting with fantasy elements, the gameplay focus is primarily on fighting with melee weapons like a sword. However, there are also magical elements as well as powerful war machines and siege weapons that you can use during the chaotic PvP battles.
In Warhaven, various well-known modes such as Capture the Flag, Domination, and Team Deathmatch are played, which are mainly recognized from various shooters like Call of Duty and Battlefield.
In each match, up to 24 players (12v12) compete against each other. Previously, it was mentioned that there would be 32 players per match (16v16), but as Nexon announced during gamescom, the number of players has been reduced. There is also expected to be a smaller mode at release, where only 6v6 will be played.
You can watch the Warhaven trailer for the ONL of gamescom 2023 here:
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Warhaven announces the release date with a new live-action trailer at gamescom 2023
What do we know about the release? Warhaven is set to start on September 21, 2023, as a free-to-play title in Early Access on Steam. As for a possible console release, nothing is known at the moment.
What do players say about the new trailer? While some commentators on YouTube express their excitement for Warhaven, others are rather critical of the trailer – the criticism is not even directed at the game itself.
The music selection and some slow-motion sequences are not well received. One user sums up the sentiment aptly by writing: The game may really be good, but this trailer is absolutely terrible. Not only the slow-motion from 2010 that literally no one likes, but also the goddamn music.
If you now want to see a really good trailer for a medieval game that has excited fans, you should definitely take a look at Crimson Desert:
The South Korean horror series Hellbound premiered in 2021 on Netflix and immediately took the world series charts by storm. It raised the question of how people would react if they knew that something like hell really exists. Currently, a 2nd season is in the works, as a YouTube video revealed.
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, known mainly for Train to Busan, the horror and mystery series Hellbound was produced.
The series is based on the webtoon of the same name, written by Yeon Sang-ho himself and Choi Gyu-seok.
In November 2021, the 1st season was released on Netflix and immediately topped the Netflix charts as the most-watched series on the streaming platform worldwide at launch, as you can read here from our colleagues at Filmstarts.
Since the announcement in September 2022, fans have known for sure that the series will get a continuation. A YouTube video from August 4th then provided insight into the current work. Here you can see the teaser for the 2nd season of Hellbound:
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Teaser trailer for the 2nd season of the horror series “Hellbound”
The damned are sent to hell
What is Hellbound about? Suddenly, 3 creepy beings appear on Earth and burn people alive after beating the victims.
These mysterious events also occur in the South Korean capital Seoul, causing fear and chaos in the city.
Netflix released a video on YouTube providing insights into the work on the 2nd season of Hellbound. Here you can watch it directly:
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The victims are already warned in advance by a supernatural messenger that they will be sent to hell next.
The police attempt to investigate the backgrounds of the strange deaths, while a cult led by Jeong Jin-soo aids in the divine punishment of the damned. The lawyer Min Hye-jin stands against them and tries to save the people.
The future of World of Warcraft seems to be in good hands, as the “story legend” Chris Metzen appears to have his fingers deep in the next addon.
In the past 20 years, many developers of World of Warcraft have left the team at Blizzard, and there is almost always a discussion about whether there is still anyone from the veterans left.
But there is one who has returned: Chris Metzen. Originally hired as a “story consultant”, when WoW was pretty much down with Shadowlands, he seems to have a significantly larger role now – one that could shape the next addon.
Who is Chris Metzen? Chris Metzen is the original story chief behind the Warcraft franchise. He came up with the original story, created the background story, and is fundamentally responsible for Warcraft being what it is today. From “Vanilla” to “Warlords of Draenor,” he was the driving force of the story.
Besides that, players of the English version probably know him as a voice in the game – he voices characters like the shaman Thrall or the fire elemental Ragnaros.
Where does the information come from? The information comes from YouTuber Taliesin. Together with his partner Evitel, he has been reporting about World of Warcraft for a long time and consistently provides analyses and opinions on current events. Over the years, the two have built some contacts with the Blizzard team and therefore learn many internal things. Some of them never see the light of day because you obviously don’t want to endanger the employees, while others prove to be useful.
The explanation starts at minute 9:47:
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Just like in the current case: According to Taliesin, several employees from the WoW team have independently told him that Chris Metzen’s role in the WoW team is significantly larger than assumed.
Allegedly, Chris Metzen is spending a lot of time with Steve Danuser and Ion Hazzikostas to work on the future of WoW. Metzen is therefore currently an indispensable member of the WoW team and thus much more than just a “story consultant”.
This also aligns with a tweet from Mike Ybarra, who revealed that Chris Metzen will speak about the future of World of Warcraft at the upcoming BlizzCon.
That Metzen is taking on a larger role for the Warcraft franchise had already been announced beforehand. However, many had dismissed it as “PR” and did not expect anything substantial to come from it.
What does this mean for WoW? For all WoW fans who remember the “good old days,” this is likely a positive thing. If Chris Metzen has a greater influence on the story again, then we should – at least presumably – be spared story debacles like Shadowlands. Already, Dragonflight felt significantly more cohesive than the previous addon, and this could be a trend that continues.
There are still a few months until BlizzCon in November. But all “Metzen fans” should already be looking forward to the event – as it seems pretty certain that Chris Metzen will showcase what he and the team have been working on in recent months.
On August 22, the grand opening show of the gamescom 2023, the Opening Night Live (ONL), aired, showcasing numerous trailers for upcoming games. Crimson Desert also had a spot in the trailer storm on Tuesday night.
What kind of game is this? Crimson Desert is the latest game from Pearl Abyss, the creators of the successful MMORPG Black Desert. Crimson Desert was also announced in 2019 as a big new MMORPG.
Crimson Desert is set to be released for console and PC, but whether it only refers to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S or also PS4 and Xbox One is still unknown.
What is Crimson Desert about? In Crimson Desert, mercenaries fight for survival in a world based on European medieval times. They have access to swords and axes, as well as cannons and alchemy.
Since Crimson Desert is primarily about survival and not about hero status, there are numerous nasty opponents, including human NPCs, mystical beasts, and hostile mercenaries.
The new gameplay trailer for Crimson Desert, shown at the ONL of gamescom 2023, can be seen here:
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Crimson Desert used to be an MMORPG, is now a “totally own genre”: Shows a gameplay trailer at gamescom 2023
We would like to summarize some highlights of the new trailer below.
Trailer with a ton of gameplay mechanics
What does the new trailer show? The new trailer showcases various mechanics that Crimson Desert has to offer, as well as the medieval setting of the ambitious action game.
In addition to knights fighting with swords and shields, we also see the use of bows and the well-known dodge rolls. There are also numerous scenes where combat takes place on horseback.
Another highlight of the trailer was parkour gameplay like in Assassin’s Creed, with the featured character climbing along the wall of a house and performing a pole vault to overcome a small fortress wall.
Additionally, the character picked up a cat and cuddled with it – that’s a plus! A dog was also petted.
A bullet-point overview of some of the mechanics shown in the trailer can be seen here:
Close combat with sword and shield + dodge roll, ranged combat with bow and arrow
Movement using a horse including the use of bows and arrows while riding
Side activities: trading, stealing a carriage, fishing, gathering mushrooms
Interaction with animals: petting a dog, picking up and cuddling with a cat,
Making music (plays a flute)
Hot air balloon ride
Movement: parkour gameplay, pole vaulting with a stick, sliding down a mountain
What do the fans say? In the comments on YouTube, there are many positive reactions under the trailer. Especially the abundance of different gameplay mechanics shown in the trailer impressed many.
“The gameplay looks incredibly ambitious. It’s definitely one of those ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ games.”
“That was such a good showcase! Showing so many different scenarios that we can expect during gameplay was awesome, from side quests to boss fights to pure RPG features… more games should have trailers like this.”
“I’m overwhelmed by the amount of brilliant mechanics and subtle interactions.”
“This trailer was insane… hopefully, you [Pearl Abyss/Crimson Desert] can keep all of this.”
However, one wish was not fulfilled for the fans with the new trailer – there is still no precise release date. The last update was that it is supposed to be released in 2023. We are excited.
If you want to see what else was shown during the Opening Night Live of gamescom 2023, check out our live ticker from the evening:
Here you can get an overview of how ships in Starfield are built. MeinMMO shows you details about shipbuilding, the different systems, and images of ships that have already been shown in trailers.
The shipbuilding in Starfield is said to be one of the biggest features of the sci-fi RPG. Your ships will always accompany you and depending on which path you want to take in the game, the focus of your ship will be on different tasks.
smugglers need secure storage, protected from customs scanners. Pirate hunters should opt for mobile ships that can outmaneuver enemy hunters. Luxury liners should pamper their passengers with extra service.
We do not yet know all the details about shipbuilding in Starfield. But what has already been shown, we explain to you here in the overview:
We start with a few basic information about the shipbuilding feature:
You start with a “free” ship that you can upgrade – the “Frontier”
You can own multiple ships and have a main ship
Large ships or fleets are said to be possible only in the endgame
The feature is described as “expensive”; you need a lot of in-game currency
There are at least 10 docks where you can redesign your ships
Different docks offer different parts – also visually
You can control ships in third person or first person perspective
When you redesign your ship, you have to pass a “Flight Check”
You cannot land directly on every planet, but need certain equipment for some terrains
Hostile ships can be boarded, but must then be “registered” at a high cost
Jumps with the Grav-Drive can be interrupted by enemy (pirate) ships
You can take crewmembers who improve your ship
The ship has a total health (hull strength); modules come with their own health values
You can probably call your ship anywhere, like a mount in other games
If you don’t feel like building ships, you can upgrade existing systems or buy finished ships
The Frontier – Our first ship
By the way, all ships in the game were actually built in the ship designer, which is also available to players. However, that doesn’t mean that you can replicate the biggest ships in Starfield yourself.
How large your ships can actually become cannot be said for sure at the moment. However, the previously shown material on Starfield allows some conclusions to be drawn:
Your ship consists of 13 different module types, each with its own properties that change the values of your ship. At the various docks, you will receive modules with a different distribution of values.
Some parts you need to be able to perform certain actions – such as landing on special planetary surfaces. Other parts only bring visual functions.
Here are all known module types:
Cockpit
Provides hull points, space for crewmembers and storage
Habitat
Accommodations for more crewmembers
Shield Generator
Creates a shield around the ship
Cargo Hold
Increases your storage space
Engine
The engine determines speed / acceleration / mobility
Fuel Tanks
Stores Helium-3 for all drive applications: Must be refilled
Grav Drive
Enables lightspeed jumps, determines range (light years) and consumption
Reactor
Provides energy bars that can be distributed in subsystems
Weapons
Energy weapons / projectile weapons / lasers / electro-magnetic: Different weapons provide different advantages in battle
Landing-Gears
You can land on certain planets
Landing Bay
You can leave the ship on certain planets
Docker
For docking maneuvers in space
Cowling
Structural elements that change the appearance
The module overview
The appearance of the module types can vary greatly, allowing for countless combinations and a high degree of customization.
If you want to keep a module longer, you can upgrade it at a dock and thus increase its values. So you don’t necessarily have to buy a better module. However, it is still unclear whether there are stronger or only specialized modules.
Each module strengthens certain values. Additionally, the mass of the modules is important because you need to dimension your drive accordingly. A bulky freighter also needs powerful engines; otherwise, the cargo will never arrive.
Here is an example of the values of a drive from the showcase:
Engine module
Class
Max. Power
Engine Thrust
Maneuvering Thrust
Engine Health
Hull
Crew Capacity
Your drive thus affects different areas of the ship and can even increase the crew member capacity. Modules also come with their own health, which means they can be damaged independently of the ship’s hull.
It is still unclear how large our ships can be
Sub-systems & values – You determine the balance
How do sub-systems work? When you’re sitting in your cockpit, you have access to an energy distribution matrix. Your reactor module determines the amount of energy that you can freely distribute among your subsystems.
Want more thrust to flee from the space police? More energy on the lasers to toast the enemy’s shields? You can distribute energy freely and boost the following systems:
LAS / Laser
BAL / Ballistics
MSL / Missile Damage Strength
ENG / Engine
SHD / Shield
GRV / Gravity Drive
During your adventures in space, you will constantly be busy playing with the energy regulators. Energy management will be particularly important during combat against other ships – depending on whether you need shields because you are being pursued or weapon power because you are attacking.
The sub-systems in the cockpit at a glance
What values should you pay attention to? Below we show you a few values of the ships in Starfield. They are composed of your modules and the design of the ship.
You decide where to set your focus, in which direction you balance your ship:
Hull – health of the ship
Shield – more health / regeneration when not in combat
Cargo – how much stuff you can take with you
Shield Cargo Capacity – possibly space for contraband
Max. Crew – the maximum number of crewmembers
Jump Range – maximum distance with a Grav-Drive jump
Mobility – better maneuverability
Top Speed – maximum speed in a system
Mass – the mass of your ship
Particularly the mass is an interesting value that you need to pay attention to. Because the mass determines how powerful your drive must be. Maneuverability also suffers on large, heavy ships.
If you want to see the segment on shipbuilding from the deep dive of Starfield, you can find the English video here:
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The Shipbuilding of Starfield – Segment from the Deep Dive
Customization options – Scope still uncertain
In principle, you can assemble all modules in the game as you wish. The only limits to your imagination are set by the size of a dock.
Different modules
You can apparently find visually different modules with similar values at different docks. The design of the modules depends on the respective planet where you buy the parts. The ship designer then allows you to assemble the modules freely.
Painting tools
The hull of your ship can be painted as colorful as you see fit. Individual parts can be customized, but you can also repaint the entire ship with one click.
Here is a small selection of ships that have already been shown:
Furniture and interior
Your ship can be set up by you. How deep the system goes cannot be assessed so far. The developers once mentioned a comparison with the construction system of Doom 2016. This would open up many possibilities. Check out the English video from the channel “Starfield Signal” if you want to know more about it (via youtube.com).
Ships and shipbuilding could make up a large part of your Starfield experience. Or not: If you don’t feel like using the ship designer, merchants offer finished ships that you just need to upgrade.
If you have any questions on the topic, feel free to drop them in the comments.
Tarisland (PC, Mobile) is a new MMORPG from the gaming giant Tencent. Although it strongly resembles WoW, the developers believe in its huge success, as they told us at gamescom 2023. This is mainly due to the mobile version without autoplay and pay-to-win and with a strong focus on instances. It is almost unique.
What kind of game is it? Tarisland is a theme park MMORPG in a comic style reminiscent of WoW. You create a character and follow a story while completing quests.
For classes, you can choose from warrior, paladin, mage, hunter, priest, bard, and a type of demon hunter with two glaives.
The combat system uses tab-targeting, but you only have 8 abilities that can be modified according to your wishes. Each class gets trees with 40 to 81 talents.
In the mid and endgame, there are dungeons and raids for 10 players.
The PvP is supposed to take place in arenas and battlegrounds and be “balanced”. There is no open-world PvP.
All of this is financed through a shop, which is supposed to completely avoid pay-to-win.
According to the developers, the goal is to appeal primarily to fans of theme park MMORPGs. However, their unique selling point is supposed to be the strong mobile version that allows Tarisland to be played on the go, unlike WoW or Final Fantasy XIV.
MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch was able to play a dungeon in the midgame during gamescom.
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Tarisland: Chinese alternative to WoW shows beautiful areas and exciting battles in the new trailer
Strong battles, strong dungeons
What makes Tarisland so interesting? The new MMORPG is said to be of very high quality and felt that way during the approximately 20 minutes of gameplay. The combat system was very fluid, and all abilities could be used while moving. I tried the warrior both as a damage dealer and as a tank.
The three bosses played in the dungeon had quite interesting mechanics, including a phase where all players were turned into sheep and had to flee from wolves for 30 seconds. If only one player succeeds, the phase is successfully completed. If everyone gets caught, there will be a wipe.
The first instances can be completed optionally with other players or a group of NPCs. However, players will definitely be required for the later raids.
By the way, the game offers a DMG meter for the group right from the start. According to the developers, this is important for learning from mistakes and getting better.
In terms of equipment, the MMORPG relies either on special drops that you can farm in the instances or crafting. Character development is also influenced by level, talents, and later inscriptions.
With inscriptions, you can modify skills. This allows you to adjust damage and effects, enabling each player to develop their own playstyle.
The highest quality MMORPG for Android and iOS?
Is that enough for a good MMORPG? The graphics, gameplay, and the first boss mechanics looked very solid. I wasn’t completely thrilled, but I also wasn’t disappointed at any point. It feels like a good MMORPG behind the big titles like WoW, GW2, or ESO.
Where the game has its strength is in the mobile version. Tarisland would not only be the best MMORPG for Android and iOS graphically, but it also completely avoids autoplay and pay-to-win in the shop. There, there are mainly cosmetics.
Additionally, there is crossplay between PC and mobile. You can play with your familiar characters on the go.
The developers stated in an interview that they see a huge market gap because there is simply no fair and simultaneously good mobile MMORPG in third-person view with a focus on instances. They want to impress right here.
This statement has a kernel of truth, as even in our list of the best mobile MMORPGs, mainly games in isometric perspective – like Albion or RuneScape – or titles with autoplay, such as Black Desert Mobile or Perfect World Mobile, are listed.
Is there a downside? I personally find the gender lock a bit bothersome. Each class only offers one gender – as a warrior, you are always male. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. According to the developers, it is very time-consuming to offer both genders for each class, as they would otherwise have to adjust all skins in the game.
However, additional classes are expected to come in the future that serve a similar role but in the other gender. This is also similar to Black Desert.
What do you think about Tarisland? Will you give it a try? And if so, will you play on PC or will you also test the mobile version?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Publisher EA announced cost-saving measures at the beginning of 2023 and is now taking action. About 50 employees at the studio BioWare (Anthem, Dragon Age) will be let go, and the contract with a game testing company will not be renewed.
In March 2023, EA announced that it plans to lay off 6% of its staff to respond to the uncertain economic climate (via gamesindustry.biz). This could mean between 700 and 800 layoffs.
Now, 50 employees from EA-owned studio BioWare have been affected. Contracts with a game testing partner are also apparently not being extended. What the responsible parties say about this can be found here on MeinMMO.
The mega event gamescom 2023 is currently taking place in Cologne. MeinMMO is on site; here is our conclusion about the ONL:
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We were live on site at gamescom 2023 – This is our conclusion on the ONL
Why is BioWare laying off people? In a detailed statement, BioWare’s General Manager, Gary McKay, addresses the 50 layoffs (via blog.bioware.com).
They want to meet “the requirements of our upcoming projects” and “continue to adhere to the highest quality standards.”
To achieve this, they need to become “a more agile and focused studio.” This will allow them to better utilize developers, foster creativity, and “have a clear idea of what we are building before development begins.”
McKay clarifies: They are restructuring the studio and want to “rethink the development approach.” Changes in the composition of personnel are “inevitable.” They want to offer professional support to the affected employees when they apply for another position within the EA group.
The BioWare head also promises: The layoffs will not impact the ongoing projects in the studio. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the pre-production of an unnamed Mass Effect project are on track. Both games do not yet have a release date.
McKay says the news is painful for him, but the changes are necessary. He thanks the community, and the team looks forward to providing the first concrete information about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. However, he does not reveal when that will happen.
Why is the work with game testers ending? In addition to the layoffs at BioWare, publisher EA also announces the end of collaboration with game testing company Keywords Studios.
The Canadian company made headlines in June 2022 when parts of the workforce organized themselves into a union. Employees wanted to challenge the unilaterally imposed cancellation of remote work arrangements after the pandemic.
Keywords Studios wanted to bring the game testers back to the office, which would mean long commutes for some employees and could lead to costs of up to 10% of their salary (via labournet.de).
Unlike in Germany, unions are not a given in Canada or the USA.
According to venturebeat.com, EA stated that they could not agree on an extension of the collaboration. The contract will thus expire on September 27.
The studio BioWare was once considered one of the most innovative game developers in terms of storytelling. Its reputation has since suffered somewhat, partly due to statements from former employees:
In Pokémon GO trainers have been desperately searching for the new Zygarde cells for weeks. But now a player has found a new trick to ensure they never miss one of them. We at MeinMMO will show you what you need to do.
Which cells are we talking about? For about a month, trainers in Pokémon GO can use the new route function to walk routes submitted by other players. This way, you can also find the rare Zygarde cells that are currently frustrating many trainers.
But that could soon come to an end, as a trainer has found a way to ensure that the spawning cells are at least not missed so easily anymore. How this works, we have summarized for you below.
Restart causes Zygarde cells to respawn
How the trick works: As Reddit user Labosse85 reports in his current post, he has found a trick to secure the cells even after they disappear and shares the procedure with the community.
Follow these steps:
Close the game no later than 60 meters before the end of the route and restart it
If you missed cells along the route, they should now spawn near you
Then pause your route and explore the area around the target point; sometimes cells appear behind the target that you can catch this way
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In his observations, he found that the cells respawn when you restart the app. When you return to the game, they will appear on the map nearby, and you can catch them, no matter where they originally spawned along the route. And you should also use the pause function to quickly explore the area just before the end of the route.
And what if you still can’t find any cells? As Labosse85 also writes in his post, there are apparently faulty routes in the game where no cells spawn. This is particularly noticeable on longer routes that do not feature any special route spawns. He notes:
If at least one Pokémon does not spawn on a route (with a route symbol like the weather boost symbol), your route is most likely faulty, and you won’t get any cell spawn (except for very short routes under 600m, which can have a cell spawn without a Pokémon spawn). So try other routes.
What experiences have other trainers made? Other trainers have also tried these tricks and confirm in the comments that they worked for them. In particular, the pause function followed by searching the surroundings has already brought them some cells. Here’s what you can read there (via reddit.com):
NoLynx5885: I can confirm that. Outside of events, I just walk the route until I reach the last 100m, then I restart the app and in 90% of cases, I get a cell spawned. For the last 10%, I pause the route and go beyond the end while paused; sometimes there’s a cell there.
Paweron: I had a case where I restarted and saw no cell. I paused and walked towards the target and found the cell behind the target, where it would have been impossible to get it without pausing.
CandygirlDK: In my opinion, the best/most efficient way to get cells. Pause the route at 70 meters. Go to the endpoint and look for cells. If there are none, restart the app. Then walk back 30 meters and continue the route. I have 32 cells. Some were 150 meters from the end of the route, most near the endpoint while the route was paused, and only a few came after the restart.
Trainers are thankful for tips: Other trainers were previously unaware of this possibility and definitely want to try the trick. You can also read the following comments (via reddit.com):
kneel23: Ahh, these tips are very helpful. So especially for shorter routes, I don’t have to pay so much attention, just do it at the end every time?
Pep95: Unusually, I had a lot of bad luck with my cells today, but I had never heard of this last trick. I will try it next time!
Trainers still can’t find cells: However, there are also isolated reports from trainers who have still not been able to find any cells despite the tips. Here, Labosse85 assumes that the used routes are faulty and therefore neither special Pokémon nor the sought-after cells spawn. However, it cannot be said with certainty whether this is really the case or if there are other reasons.
What do you think of Labosse85’s tips? Have you tried them yourself? And were you able to find more cells because of that? Or do you have any other tips? Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments.
