With the Akko 3068 B-Plus, there is a small gaming keyboard with many premium features. But is the keyboard really as good as it looks on paper? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tested the keyboard for you.
Which keyboard is it about? With the Akko 3068 B-Plus, the manufacturer Akko offers a small 65-% format keyboard. Therefore, it does not have a number pad or function keys (F-keys). The keyboard can be used wirelessly, offers swappable Hotswap switches, and PBT keycaps.
But is all this enough for a recommendation? I have tested the keyboard extensively and will tell you whether purchasing the Akko 3068 B-Plus could be worthwhile for you.
I am the Tech Editor at MeinMMO and have a passion for peripherals, testing mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO since 2019. Especially gaming mice are among my absolute favorites. In addition to the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck.
Caseking provided me with the Akko 3068 B-Plus for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann Hardware editor MeinMMO
Features and technical details:
Design/Interface
wireless (Bluetooth, wireless) and wired
Key type
mechanical switches (Jelly Purple)
programmable keys
Yes
Lighting
Yes
Compatibility
PC (with software)
Package contents
keyboard, switch and keycap mounting tool, extra PBT keycaps in yellow, manual
Special features
65-% design with arrow keys
Price (RRP)
99.99 Euros
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Package contents, design and construction
What does the package include? In the box, besides the keyboard, you will also find some other keycaps. For example, an extra spacebar, yellow escape and arrow keys, and different sized enter keys.
The additional enter keys are actually not very helpful, as they do not fit a keyboard with a German ISO layout. A wrist rest is not included in the package.
Akko 3068 B-Plus package contents: Plenty of accessories if you want to change keycaps or even switches.
How is the keyboard constructed? The keyboard comes in a 65-% design. The keyboard ends to the right of the arrow keys and does not provide a function key row (F keys). The USB-C cable can be detached from the back, and the model can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth or a wireless adapter.
Not only can you change the keycaps, but you can also swap the switches. Because Akko uses so-called Hotswap switches.
What does the keyboard look like? The keyboard comes in a simple black, the keycaps vary between black and dark gray. The switches are completely covered by the keycaps. With the included keycaps, you can give the keyboard a yellow touch. This actually looks pretty good.
The supplied keycaps are not transparent. The keyboard lights up in colorful and beautiful colors, but in the dark, you can only see the silhouette of the keycaps, not the lettering. However, you can generally replace the keycaps with transparent keycaps at any time.
Manufacturers like HyperX, SteelSeries, or Corsair now offer all PBT keycaps in German ISO-DE format.
The gaming keyboard from Akko with yellow keycaps.
Build quality
The keyboard uses a pure plastic body without metal. In a price category under 100 Euros, I do not expect an aluminum coating or metal reinforcement.
It is positive to note that I can almost fully disassemble the keyboard: The cable, the keycaps, and the switches are all detachable and replaceable. In case of a defect, I can therefore quickly replace certain parts myself. Moreover, Akko uses PBT material for the keycaps. This feels much more valuable in everyday use than ABS keycaps. Additionally, PBT keycaps do not look worn out after just three days, as if I had been using the keyboard for months.
Software
The Akko 3068 B-Plus uses the “Akko Cloud Driver” software. The performance of the software is mediocre and quite slow. However, this is usually not a major problem in everyday life, as the keyboard also works without software.
I find it annoying that there is no battery level indicator in the software. Otherwise, the software is clear and fully in German.
Macros can be set up easily, and drivers for the keyboard can be updated without problems. However, with a RAM load of 250 MB, the software is not exactly slim either.
Unremarkable, but clear: The software from Akko.
On the next page, you can read all about the ergonomics and the keys of the keyboard. In the conclusion, you can find out who I can recommend the keyboard to.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new first-person shooter “Turbo Overkill” on Steam is reminiscent of DOOM in a cyberpunk world and is really well received by FPS fans. Warning: The brutal game is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
What kind of game is this? Turbo Overkill was released on August 11 and was developed by Trigger Happy Interactive. The publisher is Apogee Entertainment. In the first-person shooter, you play as Johnny Turbo, a bloodthirsty machine, half human, half metal (via Steam).
Using the chainsaw that has been attached to Johnny Turbo’s shin, as well as the hidden mini-rockets in his robotic arm, players cut through enemies in Turbo Overkill.
Start video
The brutal ego shooter Turbo Overkill on Steam in the trailer
Chainsaw leg, grappling hook, and flying cars
In Turbo Overkill, you play as the murderous machine Johnny Turbo, who has returned to his hometown of Paradise and must discover that the population is possessed by Syn, a faulty AI and her army (via Steam).
Johnny Turbo takes on the goal of destroying Syn. To assist, players in Turbo Overkill utilize the handy chainsaw leg of the main character, the mini-rockets in his robotic arm, and other brutal weapons.
With mechanics like wall-running and dashing, you build up enormous speed. And with the grappling hook, you can swing around like Spider-Man. Alternatively, you can also simply use the hoods of flying cars for movement.
The game also features collectible items that enable certain weapon mods – including triple monster speed and insta-kill. Killing bosses is particularly worthwhile, as this grants you special abilities and upgrades.
96% positive reviews on Steam
This is how Turbo Overkill is received on Steam: Since its release on August 11, the first-person shooter has recorded over 2,000 ratings – of which 96% are positive. Players are reminded of DOOM. Additionally, the cyberpunk style of the game is praised.
Here are a few opinions from users on Steam:
Eric Cartman: “The world didn’t know it needed a low-poly cyberpunk game that functions like Doom Eternal with wall-running until it got one. This game is incredible, just like the developer. He has always kept the community updated on his Discord server and has always taken feedback. Turbo Overkill deserves all the love and attention.”
Null: “Fast, chaotic, bloody, and a love letter to the cyberpunk genre. If you have even the slightest interest in shooters, you must try this game!!”
postaled: “As a self-proclaimed ‘FPS veteran,’ all I can say is… holy sh…!”
Keldohead: “Brilliant old-school shooter with one of the most precise controls since Doom Eternal.”
Fritzbube: “If Doom and Blade Runner had a baby on steroids. Anyone who loves 90s-style games MUST play this!”
Nico: “A game that can impress with a combination of Doom x64 and Ghostrunner, as well as just a great soundtrack/sound design. I love everything about this game.”
On Steam, you currently get Turbo Overkill for an introductory offer of €14.27. The offer ends on August 18, after which the first-person shooter will cost €16.79. To get a glimpse, you can first download the demo.
In the latest Warhammer shooter, you also enjoy wild first-person shooter gameplay. The retro look that reminds one of a Doom from the 90s stands out right away:
Baldur’s Gate 3 is all the rage, and countless players are soaking up the world and atmosphere of the game. If you’re also keen on a similar atmosphere outside of the game, we have a list of series and movies for you.
This list consists of series that are not necessarily classic fantasy but at least offer a similar atmosphere around companions and adventures. We present you a mix of anime, animation, and live-action.
This is not a ranking, but a list of recommendations. If you have any movie or series recommendations that more or less fit Baldur’s Gate, feel free to share them with us in the comments.
[toc]
The Legend of Vox Machina
Start video
The Legend of Vox Machina – Trailer for the animated DnD adventure
What kind of series is this? The world of Vox Machina is based on Dungeons and Dragons and an existing role-playing campaign called Critical Role, which you can find on YouTube. The animated series follows a group of different heroes.
These heroes are known classes that you would also find in a DnD campaign. The dynamic of the group is in focus and is the highlight of the story. Despite its appearance, the series is not for children and tells an adult story with partially explicit depictions of combat and violence.
You can find a list of classic fantasy series here:
What kind of series is this? The series belongs to the popular isekai genre. Our protagonist ends up in the game in which he was incredibly skilled. The popular MMO was supposed to be shut down, but Momonga simply doesn’t log out and finds himself in a world where he is the seemingly invincible Ainz Ooal Gown.
However, since his character is already incredibly strong, he neither has to level up nor train. His party full of NPCs develops their own personalities, and Momonga is confronted with a world he knows very well. Animated by the good studio Madhouse, the series also looks really good, making every battle exciting despite the main character’s overwhelming strength.
You can check out more fantasy anime in this list:
Baldur’s Gate 3 offers many ways to approach the game. Whether good or evil, stealthy or straightforward: everyone has their own path. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus is currently trying a sneakily evil run and has to swallow hard quite often…
For well over 10 years, I have been playing pen & paper and for a few years almost exclusively evil characters. It simply fits better in a dirty, unfair world when you give in to the lack of laws and control.
A quick stab in the throat usually ends a quarrel faster and more pleasantly than a night in jail. At least for me. Accordingly, I told myself during my first playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 that I want to see the insane murderer, the “Dark Urge.”
Apart from a few pretty nasty scenes, which have a certain grotesque humor, I rarely encountered the “obligation” to be evil. It really got bad when I consciously let myself be tempted to commit dark deeds.
The game does not tire of reminding me that I am behaving morally absolutely unjustifiably. And to an extent that shows: Larian wants you to really be aware of how evil you are. The choice is not simply a conversation option; it is a commitment.
SPOILER WARNING! I will touch on events in Act 1 and Act 2 as well as the personal development of the Dark Urge and Shadowheart. If you don’t want to know anything about that, you should not continue reading. Instead, you can find out here how I am currently playing my rogue. And a bit of bear sex as a buffer:
Start video
Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 show intimate love scene with a bear and get banned instantly
Every misdeed is held against me – and harshly
The Dark Urge made me kick a squirrel so hard against a tree that it leaves a bloody mush and Gale ends up losing his hand. That cost me permanently a companion that I can no longer get.
Both are still situations in which I had to laugh despite the macabre circumstances. Brutal, but somehow also funny. But then I stood before an important decision: do I save the refugees in the Emerald Grove, or do I betray them and slaughter them all?
My plan was to recruit the Drow Minthara as a companion. Nevertheless, I did everything I could to save the refugees, with the result that it simply was not possible. I had to kill them all. Not even “non-lethal attacks” helped.
A difficult decision, especially since at the end of the slaughter a cave full of civilians awaits, who only flee and do not defend themselves. They also have to die to complete the quest. I know two of them: a loving couple that wanted to build a new life together.
At one point, I had to pause the game for a moment and take a breath. A gang of children is hiding underground. Thieves, whose guild I even sponsored. Here too, no one survived: the goblins killed them all. Even the nice bard was involved, whom I had fallen a bit in love with – apparently as a last line of defense against the killers.
Curiosity drove me to loot. The children all had toys with them. Just that caused a queasy feeling. It really got ugly when I found a letter from one of the children. I had saved the little guy just before from harpies. To him, I was a “lucky adventurer,” he wanted to be like me. I was his idol – and then his executioner.
“Hey, do you remember the child you killed?”
That alone was hard stuff. Really, really hard stuff. But Baldur’s Gate 3 is merciless. I have come to terms with my decision: it is an evil walkthrough, so I am evil.
Shortly thereafter, I found myself in the Underdark and near the River Styx, which transports the souls of the dead through various realms. Here I find a bottle message from a tiefling boy. His name happened to stick in my mind: he was also a victim at the slaughter fest.
The letter is addressed to his father. The boy hopes to reunite with him in Baldur’s Gate as soon as he arrives there, speaks of his wishes and dreams when he gets to the big city. Apparently, he tells all of this to his dead father.
None of these dreams will ever come true, I have taken them from him. Not directly with my blade, but still, I was the one who opened the gate for the goblins.
The decisions gnaw at me again and again, but the further I progress in the game, the better I cope with it. Because: it is what my character would do. He is power-hungry, seeks revenge, power at any cost.
I give in to the Dark Urge, have to kill bloodthirstily for it. One night, a bard visits my camp, which I gut. The reward comes a few hours later: a new combat form, a bestial demon that tears everything apart.
And my companions agree. Astarion, Minthara, Shadowheart and Lae’zel are still following me. All the others have fled. And they like my path so much that they even want to sleep with me. I’ve created an absolutely evil group.
So, do you recognize me? Tip: I am not the Drow in the background.
I even help Shadowheart murder a defenseless angel to claim the power of her goddess for herself. A dark crusade against Selûne and the church of Shar begins, Shadowheart wants to “purify” her own community. A hard step, but one that fits perfectly into my story.
Whenever I have time off, I look forward to experiencing more of the world, want to know how it continues. At the same time, I struggle every second of the game with myself about how far I am really willing to go.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is rated 18 and for good reason. The game tells adult stories that go far beyond: “Haha, they have sex without censorship!” Rarely do I experience storytelling in a game that comes close to that of my favorite authors. Larian has succeeded. Hats off.
By the way, the Dark Urge is a role that has excited many people in our editorial team. What that says about us… I don’t know. At least Schuhmann likes it:
A woman receives an endless flow of packages from Amazon, even though she hasn’t ordered anything. In addition, she is supposed to pay for the costs. MeinMMO explains what might be behind it.
What are these packages? Anca Nitu, a woman from the Canadian city of Langley, reports a flood of unwanted shipments. Almost daily she finds a new Amazon package in front of her door. In the last 2 months, Nitu is said to have received over 50 such parcels.
Most of the packages contain women’s shoes that Nitu did not order. Nevertheless, she is supposed to pay over 300 Canadian dollars in cash on delivery fees to United Parcel Service (UPS). This is equivalent to just over 200 euros. There could be a nasty scheme behind this (via 3DJuegos).
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Flood of packages could be a cost-saving trick by merchants
What is going on with the packages? The exact reason for the unusual problem is not known, but Nitu suspects that third-party sellers on Amazon are using her address to get rid of their goods.
Because the Canadian realized that the packages, besides the shoes, all contained a return slip. Apparently, customers from North America wanted to return their shipments, but instead of landing in a warehouse, they ended up in front of Nitu’s door.
What is behind this? The Better Business Bureau (BBB), a non-profit consumer organization, suspects a return scheme. Merchants, usually from countries like China or India, could be avoiding shipping and storage fees by listing a private residence for returns.
Because third-party sellers using Amazon’s fulfillment centers are required to pay for shipping, handling, and returning products.
If an Amazon customer wants to return their order, merchants, according to the BBB, could try to save money by providing a private return address instead of having to pay for overseas shipping (via CBC).
For Nitu, the constant deliveries represent a huge psychological burden. “I tremble when I see packages in front of my door,” she says to CBC. “They just keep coming, and it doesn’t stop.”
Due to the stress, she has lost her appetite and has trouble sleeping. She complains about the lack of support from Amazon and UPS.
How is the affected person proceeding? Nitu says she is contesting the fees from UPS, but they are behaving “completely unreasonably”: “I tried to explain the situation, and they were not exactly nice, to put it mildly.”
UPS did not give an official statement to CBC. However, the BBB reported that it supports the correspondence between Nitu and the central office of the package service.
The Canadian also contacted Amazon directly, but despite numerous emails and hours of phone conversations with customer service, she has been unable to stop the flow of packages.
She has already filed a report with the RCMP, the so-called “Mounties.” However, they do not know where to start with the investigation, according to Nitu. Therefore, they advised her to open and dispose of the packages.
Amazon stated to CBC that the affected person can use the form Report unwanted packages. The case is in progress, and corrective actions are being initiated. However, as of August 9, 2023, the problem has still not been resolved.
Amazon’s return system has caused problems before, albeit in a different way. For example, it indirectly led to a gamer receiving only an empty box instead of the ordered processor:
There are players in Diablo 4 who want to get the best out of their builds to quickly and effectively reach the endgame. However, a couple simply wants to play casually and is looking for particularly easy builds that require as little effort as possible.
On Reddit, the user Draimon asked on August 10 about the “laziest build” in Diablo 4. He and his wife want to play casually while discussing their day and thinking as little about the game mechanics as possible.
To avoid making the initial leveling unnecessarily difficult, you should actually play on World Tier 1:
Start video
Diablo 4: That’s why you shouldn’t play on World Tier 2
“Focusing on the game is not the main goal”
In the post from August 10, Draimon asks on Reddit what the “laziest build” in Diablo 4 is. He plays with his wife while they talk about their day and smoke a deeply relaxing cigarette.
So he wonders, “which builds would be more fun if focusing on the game is not really the main objective.” (via Reddit). The couple’s goal is to “slowly progress through Nightmare dungeons. The idea is to reach the endgame maybe by the end of a season, but without rushing.”
But even then he has to think too much when the cigarette is a bit too relaxing. He’s looking for a build that requires as little player action as possible. Fortunately, the Reddit community has helpful ideas.
Minion builds for “brain-dead playing”
These are the community’s suggestions: One of the top comments with 400 upvotes comes from the user deleteitmatt. He writes: “I like Necro minion builds for ‘brain-dead’ playing!” (via Reddit).
Mugho55 agrees. With one of the malevolent hearts, he wouldn’t even have to press a button during events. The “Bound Heart of the Sacrilege” automatically activates equipped corpse skills as soon as you come close to a corpse with your Necromancer:
Also, the user datlj finds his Necro build pretty “brainless.” With his gloves, he can spam the corpse explosion – he doesn’t even need essence for that. Just keeping track of his 12 minions can sometimes be difficult.
Other users suggest the Necro as the perfect class for “lazy gameplay.” By equipping certain skills, the sacrilegious hearts, and the minions, you don’t have to do much anymore.
A user adds in the comments that it is really fun to “do nothing and still win. It is very satisfying in a strange way.”
Draimon seems to have found interest in the Necromancer gameplay and comments: “I think a Necro minion build will be my next co-op character next season.”
Three builds for the Necromancer are currently considered the best in Diablo 4. We have listed them and summarized what makes them so special:
On Freevee, you can watch the sci-fi movie “eXistenZ” from 1999 for free on Amazon Prime. It revolves around an extraordinary form of virtual reality gaming.
What kind of movie is eXistenZ? The film combines sci-fi with horror elements and is set in a dystopian future where virtual reality games are a popular form of entertainment.
In addition to lead actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hollywood stars Jude Law, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, and Sarah Polley are also in the cast.
The futuristic console takes some getting used to
How is the future of gaming portrayed? The main character is the famous game designer Allegra Geller. She developed the hyper-realistic VR game called eXistenZ.
The special thing about it is that players are connected to an organic console via a sort of umbilical cord, making the gaming experience even more immersive.
However, this increasingly leads to a merging of the game world and reality for the users, causing them to eventually question what is actually real.
While today we put on VR headsets instead of wiring ourselves directly to the PS5, the film addresses a theme that is still relevant today.
How can you watch the movie for free? You can watch eXistenZ for free on Freevee, a video platform from Amazon. There is only one catch: commercials will be played.
What is Freevee? Freevee is a free, ad-supported streaming service offered alongside Amazon Prime Video (via amazon).
Viewers do not have to pay anything to watch the series and movies offered on Freevee – but they do have to put up with ads. The service can also be used without an Amazon Prime subscription.
Another sci-fi movie also dealt with a topic that is more relevant today than ever:
Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the gaming world by storm. Strategy expert Maurice Weber explains in his latest YouTube video what makes the RPG so good. You can find details on MeinMMO.
Here you can see the release teaser for Baldur’s Gate 3:
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: The release teaser for the new role-playing game for PS5 and Steam
“A truly beautiful all-in-one package”
What does Maurice Weber say? The German strategy expert Maurice Weber uploaded a YouTube video about Baldur’s Gate 3 on August 10. In this video he shares his enthusiastic first impressions as well as his thoughts on the gameplay, story, and strategic elements of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Here’s why the game is so good according to Maurice Weber:
Baldur’s Gate 3 is once again a game that ignores many modern trends and instead dares to captivate players with depth and ambition, with its own vision and endless, fascinating discoveries. It is a €60 package where we simply receive a huge, high-quality, great game. One that does not work on the principle of immediately squeezing the next money from us – for example, through skins, season passes, and battle passes […].
Maurice Weber
Complex rules can be daunting, but it’s worth it
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an incredibly extensive game with complex “Dungeons & Dragons” rule sets. Especially for players unfamiliar with D&D, getting started may require an adjustment period. Why it’s still worth it, Maurice Weber explains:
[…] Baldur’s Gate 3 takes you seriously on a gameplay level. It trusts us – not a game that is smoothed over and sanitized […]. It offers a complex set of rules and a huge sandbox of skills and possibilities if you engage with it […]. It also took me a while. Every situation can be approached in dozens of different ways.
Maurice Weber
Not only strategy but also a multifaceted story: In addition to its strategic gameplay, Baldur’s Gate 3 also offers a massive, captivating story. Among the many elements that make the game so special, Maurice has a particular fondness for a seemingly small nuance: the inspirations that are rewarded when players deeply immerse themselves in their character’s role:
I was continually surprised by wonderful moments. I play a man of noble descent, and the game actually rewards me when I interrupt a group member and take over their dialogue […]. This way, you not only have different experiences but also real incentives to play differently and are rewarded for truly merging with your role […].
Maurice Weber
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Larian has ‘cool ideas and the courage to implement them’
Maurice Weber also emphasizes that Larian Studios has considered serious stories in Baldur’s Gate 3. According to him, Larian Studios brings interesting premises, unique character stories, and fascinating thought experiments into the game, which you must then confront. He also says:
Larian Studios has cool ideas and the courage to implement them and pursue them consistently, without fear that someone might find it strange. Apparently, we don’t find it strange, but rather great, and we enthusiastically engage with it. A game like Baldur’s Gate 3 has to fascinate for people to engage with the extent of this world and its rules – it achieves that. It offers so much freedom: not only in combat but also in dialogues […].
Maurice Weber
The strategy expert is thoroughly enthusiastic about Baldur’s Gate 3. He describes the game as a true cornucopia of content and raves about how the endless fascinating discovery possibilities make him stumble through the game world with the childlike excitement of a child. The joy of what might be discovered next reminds him of his time as a ten-year-old when he enthusiastically played Baldur’s Gate 2.
In addition to his enthusiasm, he also shares some not-so-perfect aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3. Among other points, he addresses the following in his video on YouTube:
It is often cumbersome; the camera annoys him
The inventory and inventory management
Switching group members
Sometimes group members move strangely; sometimes they get stuck
Sometimes the AI bugs a little
Despite the mentioned points, he forgives the developers:
It is just the price the game pays for its huge abundance of complex possibilities. For me, Baldur’s Gate 3 is what gaming should be. A work of art made by people who had their own vision and carried it out – regardless of what any market research trends say. It is so nice to see […], that something like this can still be successful these days.
Maurice Weber
You can find his complete opinion on Baldur’s Gate 3 on his YouTube channel.
Maurice Weber has already made plans for his next run of Baldur’s Gate 3, even though he is still far from completing his first playthrough. He is determined to explore even more this time and discover what he missed last time. You can follow his exciting journey on his Twitch channel.
In Diablo 4, there is first a Shared World where players can undertake events together and defeat world bosses. For many, this feature was controversial, and now some are complaining about having to fight almost alone in events.
The Shared World in Diablo 4 has been a controversial feature since its announcement. Some players preferred to continue their adventures alone, while others saw the Shared World as the next logical step.
On Reddit, user Typical-Ad8673 writes on August 12 that he fought alone against a world boss in Diablo 4. Even in the Helltide, he sees hardly any other players. He wonders where they all are.
Even with multiple players, one is kept busy in the fight against the world bosses:
Start video
Diablo 4: Gameplay of the Werewolf Druid against World Boss Ashava
Shared World almost empty in Diablo 4
This is his problem: On Reddit, user Typical-Ad8673 describes on August 12 that he plays “a little every day at different times.” (via Reddit). Despite crossplay, he sees hardly any other players. In one hour, he saw 2 other players in the Shared World in the area of the Helltide.
He also had to interrupt a Legions event in the Shared World because no other player joined. And that, even though he plays on the seasonal realm. Yet the first season just started on July 20.
Finally, Typical-Ad8673 notes in his post that he is waiting for the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 on PS5.
And where are all the others now? The comment with the most upvotes comes from xXxmilkdrinkerxXxx. His brief answer to that: “Baldur’s Gate.” (via Reddit). Many users concur. “We’ll see each other in September on PS5,” replies Fancy-Farmer-4798.
Others note that the number of players is related to the world level. User coopkramer writes that most players are on world levels 3 or 4. He had no problems encountering other people in the Shared World on those levels.
Other users comment that they are already sleeping at the times when the world boss spawns. “We are fathers. We fell asleep,” writes Data_lord. The spawn times are another point of criticism raised by some players.
Is Diablo 4 being replaced by Baldur’s Gate 3? Because Blizzard does not publish exact player numbers, this cannot be stated clearly. However, taking a look at the numbers on Twitch, it becomes apparent: The viewer numbers related to Diablo 4 have dropped significantly.
At release, an average of 589,000 people watched streams featuring Diablo 4 (via sullygnome.com). The peak was on June 1 with 937,000 viewers simultaneously. Afterwards, a significant decline in numbers can be seen.
On June 13, the average was 271,000 viewers on Twitch, while on August 3, around 12,000 people were watching streams featuring Diablo 4. On August 12, the average viewer numbers fell to about 8,300. This corresponds to a decrease of 72.6% in the past 30 days.
Baldur’s Gate was finally released on August 3. On that day, around 462,000 viewers were on average in the streams showcasing the new role-playing game (via sullygnome.com). On August 12, an average of approximately 95,000 viewers tuned in.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is also a hit on Steam. At launch, the role-playing game recorded 709,835 players on the platform. It is currently the second largest game on Steam, after CS:GO.
The player numbers surprised everyone; not even the developers expected this:
The action RPG Hogwarts Legacy (PC, PS 4/5, Xbox X/S) takes place in the universe of the popular book series Harry Potter, whose author J.K. Rowling has been criticized for her views on transgender people. Despite calls for boycotts, the game became a mega hit. We at MeinMMO are looking at how the game is doing six months later.
What was the controversy about? Criticism of the “Harry Potter” franchise and its creator, J.K. Rowling, has been ongoing for some time. The author is said to hold anti-trans views and to have reproduced racist and anti-Semitic stereotypes in her works.
While long-time Harry Potter fans couldn’t wait to dive into the magical wizarding world, critics called for a boycott of the game. Some websites chose not to report on Hogwarts Legacy or added information boxes to articles, like the colleagues from GamePro.
However, all of this did not hinder the success of Hogwarts Legacy; on the contrary: MeinMMO editor Schuhmann even speculated that the RPG benefited from the so-called Streisand effect and thus conquered Steam and Twitch.
Half a year after the release on February 10, interest seems to have significantly dwindled.
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Free Harry Potter MMO gives you what Hogwarts Legacy lacked
What do the numbers look like? According to figures from SteamDB, Hogwarts Legacy reached its absolute peak of 879,308 concurrent players right at release in early February 2023. Afterwards, interest rapidly declined.
In early March, an average of only 110,155 concurrent players explored the magical world surrounding the eponymous wizarding school. In April, the RPG managed only a peak of 53,519 concurrent players, with an average of just 38,000.
On August 10, exactly six months after release, the number of concurrent players was an average of 6,800.
It has also become noticeably quieter elsewhere regarding Hogwarts Legacy. The Subreddit for the game is still quite active, but the top posts only reach a little over 100 upvotes, compared to nearly 10,000 six months ago.
In retrospect, just a 5/10?
What’s the reason? It’s generally not uncommon for interest in a game to wane after an initial hype. Particularly a story-driven game like Hogwarts Legacy struggles more to retain players long-term than a live-service title which can theoretically continue indefinitely and be expanded.
Other single-player titles like Elden Ring are also experiencing similar declines in player numbers.
Nevertheless, the sharp decline in players for Hogwarts Legacy is striking. Reports of the drastic drops in player numbers emerged as early as March. And while players in other games keep challenging themselves with self-imposed challenges again and again, little of that is seen with Hogwarts Legacy.
It seems that the game lacks substance once you take off the rosy “Harry Potter glasses”. In a Reddit thread from May 2, 2023, players discuss whether Hogwarts Legacy deserved the enthusiastic reviews.
While players praise the beautiful world and its exploration, they criticize the story, mechanics, and the repetitive quests and battles. Taken soberly, many see the RPG more in the middle range and would rate it between 5-7 points.
How about you? Did you try Hogwarts Legacy only to quickly set it aside after initial enthusiasm? Do you still feel entertained enough for your money? What does a single-player title need to keep you engaged longer?
In Pokémon GO the global GO Fest 2023 is just around the corner and will bring you tons of spawns. Some of them are usually particularly rare, so it’s worth catching them at the event. We at MeinMMO will show you which ones they are and where you can find them.
What event is it about? On the last weekend of August, this year’s global GO Fest will take place in Pokémon GO. There are plenty of spawns and bonuses waiting for you again. And a few rare monsters will also be featured on both days.
Some of them can be found by any player, regardless of whether you have a ticket for the event or not. We have summarized which ones they are below.
When does the event take place? The global GO Fest will run on August 26 and 27, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day. It can be participated in from anywhere in the world.
1. Scizor
Scizor
What kind of Pokémon is this? Scizor is a Bug and Fighting Pokémon from the 2nd generation that has no prior or further evolutions. However, the single horn Pokémon is one of the regional Pokémon, which means it can only be found in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. This makes it correspondingly rare.
Is it worth it? Due to its regional occurrence, Scizor is not only rare but also possesses a high attack value. With a moveset of Bug Bite and Bug Buzz, it ranks among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
Moreover, it is also available as a shiny in the game. You can recognize it by its pink body. So, if you are still looking for a strong specimen or need it in your PokéDex or as a shiny, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Where can you get Scizor at the event? During the GO Fest, Scizor will spawn on Saturday in the Quartz Terrarium habitat. On Sunday, it will spawn wild outside of its habitat.
2. Gible
Gible
What kind of Pokémon is this? Gible is a Dragon and Ground type Pokémon that is usually found in the wild but prefers to hide. Trainers who are not long-time players or missed the Community Day in June 2021 will have a good opportunity to secure a strong specimen and collect candies during the GO Fest.
Additionally, it can also perform well in the Master League. It’s worth keeping an eye out for a strong specimen. You might also be lucky enough to catch Gible as a shiny.
Where can you get Gible at the event? Gible will spawn during the first event day in the Pyrite Sands habitat. On Sunday it will also be found in the wild like Scizor without habitat restrictions.
3. Machop
Machop
What kind of Pokémon is this? Just like Gible, Machop can occasionally be found in the game, but rather in raids. However, during the GO Fest, it will be available in the wild, making it much easier for you to catch this Fighting-type Pokémon.
Is it worth it? Yes, as Machoke has a strong evolution into Machamp, which is among the best Fighting attackers in Pokémon GO. Since it will spawn in the wild, you have the chance to catch plenty of Machop or trade weak monsters with friends afterward.
Machamp is part of a series of trade evolutions in the game. This means you can trade Machop or Strepoli and then evolve it into Machamp for free. This way, you only need to invest 50 candies for the first evolution stage and can save the additional 200 candies. Moreover, you might encounter a shiny Machop with some luck.
Where can you get Machop at the event? During the GO Fest, Machop will be available in the wild. On Saturday, you will find it alongside Gible in the Pyrite Sands habitat, and on Sunday, it will spawn without a special habitat.
Despite the huge hype, it has only been available in the game a few times so far. So, if you want to secure this costumed Pokémon, take this chance. It is unclear whether and when Snorlax with the cowboy hat will appear again.
Is it worth it? Snorlax scores particularly well with its long stamina, making it especially worthwhile as a strong arena defender. Additionally, the Normal Pokémon can also be caught in its shiny form. Its costumed form is particularly special as it is relatively rare.
Where can you get Snorlax at the event? Snorlax will spawn in the Malachite Wilderness habitat on Saturday and will generally be found in the wild on Sunday. Additionally, you can find the Pokémon in Level 3 raids on those days.
5. Shellos (Western Sea)
Shellos (Western Sea)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Another regional Pokémon is Shellos (Western Sea). While its blue variant can be found in our region, the pink version can only be found from the west of England to America. Therefore, outside of special events, it can only be obtained through corresponding travels.
Is it worth it? Shellos and its evolution are not particularly strong. Therefore, they can be quite unimpressive in raids and the GO Battle League. The monster mainly serves for collection in the PokéDex and for finding a corresponding shiny.
Where can you get the pink Shellos at the event? The Shellos from the western sea will spawn during the GO Fest in the Aquamarine Coast habitat and can be found generally in the wild on the second event day.
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Rock and Fairy Pokémon Rocara celebrates its worldwide debut at GO Fest 2023. Previously, it was only available at live events or in a special research for trainers who had purchased a GO Fest ticket very early.
Now it will finally be available to all players. However, it is still unclear whether the monster will be more frequently found in the game, so it makes sense to secure it during the GO Fest.
Is it worth it? Yes, Rocara is currently the top candidate in the GO Battle League. If you enjoy playing in the Super League, you should definitely get this monster for your team. As a ticket holder, you can also secure important Mega Energy for Diancie that you need for evolving. However, there is currently no shiny version of the new monster yet.
Where can you get Rocara at the event? Rocara will be available in Level 2 raids on both event days.
7. Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon
Proto-Groudon (left) and Proto-Kyogre (right)
What are these Pokémon? After the two Proto-Pokémon Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon made their brief debut in the game in February, they are finally returning. These are the temporary proto-evolutions of the two legendary monsters Kyogre and Groudon.
Both should be a fixed part of your team due to their strength, so their return offers a short opportunity to snag a strong specimen and gather enough Proto Energy. When they will next be found is still unknown.
Are they worth it? Yes, both monsters are among the best attackers of their type in their proto form. So you should definitely secure them. Moreover, Kyogre and Groudon can also be caught in their shiny forms.
Where can you get Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon at the event? The two proto Pokémon will return to Proto Raids on August 23, 2023, and each will have its own raid hour on August 23 and 24. On GO Fest Saturday, they will also be available in raids all day. On Sunday, they will only be available from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM local time until they disappear for an indefinite time.
8. Mega-Rayquaza
Mega-Rayquaza
What kind of Pokémon is this? A debut that trainers have been waiting for a long time is that of Mega-Rayquaza. It is the Mega Evolution of the legendary Pokémon Rayquaza, which is among the best Dragon attackers in Pokémon GO.
After being available exclusively at live events, it will finally be available for all trainers at GO Fest. However, only for a very short time, so you shouldn’t miss the release.
Is it worth it? Yes, Rayquaza is already one of the best Dragon attackers in Pokémon GO. Its Mega Evolution is even more powerful and should therefore definitely be part of your team. Additionally, you can catch Rayquaza in its shiny form.
Where can you get Mega-Rayquaza at the event? Mega-Rayquaza will appear on the second event day at 11:00 AM local time and will be available in mega raids until 6:00 PM, which is the end of the event. When it will return to the game is currently unknown.
To evolve into a Mega-Rayquaza, you need special items. We explain which ones in the following post:
If you have a ticket for the global GO Fest, you can also look forward to more rare monsters. The following are waiting for you:
Diancie & Mega-Diancie: For ticket holders, there will be a special research on the two event days that will grant you a encounter with the mysterious Rock and Fairy Pokémon. With the corresponding Mega Energy, you can evolve it temporarily and secure one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
Gladiantri: The Dark and Steel Pokémon from the 5th generation is normally only available from rare 12 km eggs and has a really strong evolution. For ticket holders, it will spawn from the smoke in the Pyrite Sands habitat on GO Fest Saturday. On Sunday, it is expected to appear through smoke without a specific habitat. With a little luck, you might even encounter a shiny.
Gladiantri
Venuflibis: Venuflibis is a regional Pokémon from the southeastern United States. Until now, it could only be obtained through corresponding travels. So if you have a ticket, you can secure the Plant Pokémon using smoke in the Malachite Wilderness habitat. On Sunday, it will also be drawn into the smoke just like Gladiantri without habitat restrictions. There is currently no shiny form of it yet.
Pachirisu: Another regional Pokémon that ticket holders can exclusively secure at the GO Fest is Pachirisu. This Electric-type Pokémon from the 4th generation is usually only found in Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern part of Russia. For the GO Fest, it will spawn through smoke in the Aquamarine Coast habitat. On Sunday, you can then attract it all day with smoke. The small monster does not yet have a shiny form.
Unown: Of course, the typical Unown must not be missing at such an event. These will also spawn exclusively from the smoke of ticket holders across all habitats and will appear in forms A, D, I, M, N, and O at the GO Fest. You will be able to encounter the shiny Unown M worldwide for the first time.
Unown A, D, I, M, N, and O
What do you think of the rare spawns for the global GO Fest 2023? Will you play with or without a ticket? And which monster do you absolutely want to catch? Let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
The team behind the largest and most popular roleplay servers for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 has recently become part of Rockstar Games.
The roleplay community in the two Rockstar games GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption has been active for years. The two largest multiplayer mods are FiveM (from GTA 5) and RedM (from RDR2) and are developed by the team Cfx.re.
On August 11, 2023, Rockstar Games announced the inclusion of the developer team in the company on their website. The announcement states:
We are proud to announce today that Cfx.re – the team behind the largest Rockstar roleplay and creator communities FiveM and RedM – is now officially part of Rockstar Games.
They have followed over the past years how the creative community of their games found new ways to expand GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, especially through roleplay servers.
In order to further support the players’ efforts, they have recently updated the guidelines for mods so that they now officially include the modifications of the roleplay community.
As a reason for why the game company decided to bring the modders on board, Rockstar Games explained:
By collaborating with the Cfx.re team, we will help them find new ways to support this incredible community and improve the services they provide to their developers and players.
We look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks and months
This suggests that Rockstar intends to actively support the modding community in the future and wants to further expand GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 using the roleplay servers.
Cfx.re also commented on the forum about the news and stated that this is a big step for the growth of the community.
They explain that day-to-day operations will continue as usual. With the help of Rockstar, they will focus primarily on further improving the platforms FiveM and RedM.
A change to GTA 5 caused frustration among many players in June 2023, who subsequently wanted to stop playing the game. But did they really?
This week, NCSoft announced that the new MMORPG Throne and Liberty will not be released until 2024. Additionally, Palia has launched its Open Beta and there were again numerous news about WoW, GW2, and others, which we summarize for you in this post.
The week in the podcast: In their own podcast MMO News, the two MeinMMO editors Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner discuss the most important news around MMORPGs once again this week. Topics included the delay of Throne and Liberty, the releases of Chronicles of Elyria, and their first personal experiences with Palia.
You can listen to the podcast on Apple, YouTube or here on Spotify:
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Final Fantasy XIV has released a patch with bug fixes (via Loadstone).
Guild Wars 2 has released a new blog post about the Sky Scale, which will receive new abilities with the next addon (via GW2). There was also a new trailer that we have embedded here:
Start video
Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure – Skywatch Archipelago
Tarisland has announced that it will be part of Gamescom and will announce news there (via Discord).
These are the MMORPG news of the week at a glance. What was your personal highlight? Did you experience anything interesting this week that you want to share? Or did we possibly forget something important? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Anyone looking for a new PvE MMORPG will find it here:
Developer Chris Hunt worked on his game, Kenshi, for 12 years. Initially alone, he was able to build a small team later on. Today, the survival RPG is a hit on Steam. We at MeinMMO tell you how it came to be.
What kind of game is it?Kenshi is a harsh sandbox RPG that does without a linear narrative. Instead of taking on the role of a hero, you fight for survival as a simple “nobody.” Whether you act as a thief, farmer, adventurer, or end up as cannibal food depends on the player.
The RPG was in development for a full 12 years and was predominantly created by a single man. Today, it boasts a 95% recommendation rate on Steam and is considered one of the highest-rated open-world games.
Start video
Kenshi: Official Trailer for the Open-World RPG
The Beginning of a 12-Year Journey
How did it start? When Chris Hunt began working on Kenshi, he worked part-time as a security guard to make ends meet. He had no specific inspiration, only his own experiences as a gamer. He also did not have formal training in game design; he taught himself everything.
He studied music technology. He taught himself game development: “A book here, a tutorial there.” The first 6 years consisted mainly of learning, practicing, and failing, he revealed to Leviathyn.
In an interview with GameSkinny, he stated in 2017 that aside from the technical requirements, it was no different than someone wanting to write a book or make a movie: “You just need the motivation to work on it every day without getting bored. If you enjoy what you do, you won’t have a problem.”
The necessary drive for working on Kenshi came from it being “the game of his dreams.” He revealed to Siliconera that developing it was more fun for him than playing it himself. Kenshi was meant to be the “ultimate game” that would encompass all of Hunt’s preferences.
For 5 to 6 years, he worked completely alone on Kenshi – a massive undertaking considering the game’s size. He created the first version of the RPG entirely by himself. However, it was significantly rougher and less polished.
From Solo Dev with a Side Job to His Own Team
How was the development? After investing several years into his project, Hunt was able to secure funding for Kenshi. In 2013, the RPG finally entered early access. The developer initially distributed the game through his own website before it landed on Steam via the now-defunct “Greenlight” program.
Thanks to the revenue from early access sales, Hunt was eventually able to quit his side job and work full-time on Kenshi. He could also afford to hire help. He is now the lead designer of his studio Lo-Fi Games.
What challenges were there? Although funding was secured due to the success of early access, Hunt and his team still faced the challenge of actually finishing the game.
Money was not a motivation, the developer stated. He was able to take his time, financing Kenshi with the revenue from Steam sales. However, there was some pressure because the RPG was already accessible to players.
This meant he had to adhere to a timeline and be somewhat restrained when adding features.
In Kenshi, injuries have consequences
Robots, Sexism, and Prosthetics
What aspects of the game were particularly tricky? The sheer scale of Kenshi presented challenges. In a conversation with Game Analytics, he mentioned that the world is larger than that of Witcher 3, which is a benchmark for many people when it comes to vast game worlds.
A world that large must be filled to avoid appearing lifeless and barren. However, as a small team, Lo-Fi Games had only a limited amount of assets available. Hunt had to distribute creatures and models thoughtfully. To this end, he divided the world into different regions and cultures.
This also affects gameplay: Entering a region with a robot or an all-female group could lead to hostility or even attacks depending on the prevailing local culture.
Hunt’s love for detail is also evident in other areas. For instance, there is a sophisticated medical system: Those who lose a body part in combat can have it replaced with a prosthetic. This encourages players to learn from their mistakes.
The dialogue system also required a lot of work as it responds dynamically to specific conditions, such as the gender of the counterpart, the health status of the player character, or the presence of enemies.
To accomplish all this, Hunt utilized generative programs that can create random characters, for example. Nevertheless, he had to forego some features. Animals mating or defecating in the wild unfortunately did not make it into the game (via Reddit).
From Music Technician to Security Guard to Steam Hit
What was the result of the long development time? On December 6, 2018, Kenshi finally celebrated its official release. By this time, it was already considered a bestseller but really took off at launch. On December 19, 2018, it even topped the bestseller charts on Steam (via Reddit). By 2020, it had sold more than a million copies (via PC Gamer).
How is Kenshi received? According to Hunt, opinions about Kenshi vary widely. People who can appreciate its quirky concept would invest hundreds of hours into it. Others find it hard to get into.
For in Kenshi, you start weak: If you run headlong into a horde of bandits right at the beginning, you won’t encounter weak cannon fodder. You will get thoroughly beaten up first. This matches Hunt’s own taste; he does not like games that “hold your hand.”
At the same time, there is a parallel to the game’s creation: Hunt also started with little, gradually acquired knowledge, and ultimately created something truly special.
What’s next for Hunt? Lo-Fi Games is working on a prequel to Kenshi that is supposed to take place 1,000 years before the events of the first game. However, the studio is quite reserved about updates regarding the development progress.
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Kenshi YouTuber Cool Kid Croc compiled the development status of Kenshi 2
Fans anticipate a release sometime in 2025 at the earliest – likely only in early access. Hunt is indeed someone who prefers to take his time with his games to deliver a finished and satisfying product. An art that many AAA studios nowadays seem to have forgotten.
If the development of the first part is any benchmark, we might have to wait some time before we can dive back into the world of Kenshi.
Chris Hunt is not the only solo dev who has attempted an ambitious open world:
In the cult series Twin Peaks, an FBI agent takes a closer look at the murder of high school student Laura Palmer in a small idyllic town and uncovers dark secrets. The series aired between 1990 and 1991 and combines crime, mystery, and drama.
Watch Twin Peaks if you like the following about Stranger Things:
Small town setting
Surreal and supernatural elements
Multifaceted characters
Nostalgia due to elements from the 1980s and 1990s
What the IMDb ratings say: A total of 206,467 ratings were given by IMDb users for Twin Peaks. With an average of 8.8 out of 10 stars, the series performs very well.
Fun Fact: In Germany, RTL canceled the show in 1991 after 20 episodes due to poor ratings. The competing channel Sat.1 had directly spoiled the huge plot twist of the first episode in the news segment of the teletext, revealing the entire premise of the series: Who killed Laura Palmer? (via dw.com).
2. Dark
Start video
German trailer for the Netflix series „Dark“
The Netflix series Dark aired between 2017 and 2020 and consists of 3 seasons. In an idyllic small town, children mysteriously disappear. It soon becomes clear that the family members of the missing are hiding some secrets that better remain undisclosed…
Watch Dark if you like the following about Stranger Things:
Small town setting
Grim events
The mysterious disappearance of people
Supernatural elements
What the IMDb ratings say: With 416,776 ratings, the series has an average user rating of 8.7 stars on IMDb.
Fun Fact:Dark is the first German series produced by Netflix (via netflix.com).
For the Community Day with Froxy in Pokémon GO, you can optionally purchase a ticket for about €1. What tasks and rewards are included?
What is this ticket? Today, on August 13, 2023, the Community Day with Froxy runs from 14:00 to 17:00.
The event brings you many spawns of the monster as well as some additional bonuses. If you wish, you can also purchase a ticket in the shop for about €1. Then you will receive the special research Bubbles.
What does the Bubbles research bring? During the research, you must complete various tasks related to Froxy. It will provide you with some items as well as additional Froxy encounters and candies.
To give you an overview of whether the purchase is worth it for you, we will show you all the contents at a glance.
These are already known, as the Community Day has already started in some time zones. Sources like LeekDuck have shared what content you can expect.
Bubbles with Froxy – Step 1/4
Task
Reward
Make 5 great throws
15 Pokéballs
Catch 15 Froxy
Froxy encounter
Use 10 power-ups on Pokémon
20 Froxy candies
Stage reward: After completing this stage, you will receive:
3000 Stardust
Froxy encounter
1 incense
Bubbles with Froxy – Step 2/4
Task
Reward
Send 10 Pokémon
10 Razz Berries
Catch 15 Froxy
Froxy encounter
Evolve 3 Froxy
30 Froxy candies
Stage reward: After completing this stage, you will receive:
4500 XP
Froxy encounter
1 star piece
Start video
Pokémon from the Paldea region will soon appear in Pokémon GO!
Bubbles with Froxy – Step 3/4
Task
Reward
Make 3 great curveballs
15 Ultra Balls
Catch 15 Froxy
Froxy encounter
Evolve 1 Amphizel
50 Froxy candies
Stage reward: After completing this stage, you will receive:
4500 Stardust
Amphizel encounter
1 Rocket Radar
Bubbles with Froxy – Step 4/4
Task
Reward
Already completed
15 Hyper Balls
Already completed
Froxy encounter
Already completed
2 Silver Razz Berries
Stage reward: After completing this stage, you will receive:
What you need to know: In general, the ticket gives you additional encounters and candies for Froxy and its evolutions, which you can also get quite quickly if you play the Community Day without the ticket.
The ticket is mainly worth it if you plan to buy the included items for the Community Day in the shop with real money.
Incense costs 40 coins in the shop, which corresponds to about €0.40 when buying coins with money
The star piece costs 100 coins (about €1)
Rocket Radars cost 200 coins in the shop (about €2)
Thus, the items in the shop are somewhat more expensive compared to the ticket. However, they can also be purchased with coins earned in the game. Additionally, there are at least still the bonuses like XP, Stardust, and the candies and encounters.
On August 13, the Community Day with Froxy will take place in Pokémon GO. We at MeinMMO will show you what content you can expect, if it’s worth it, and how you can make the most of the event with the little Blubbfrosch Pokémon.
What event is it about? Every month, Pokémon GO hosts a so-called Community Day, where a previously selected monster is highlighted and spawns at seemingly every corner in the game for a few hours. There is also an increased shiny rate and some helpful bonuses.
Community Day in August 2023 with Froxy – Start & Bonuses
What? Community Day with Froxy When? Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time Pokémon of the Day: Froxy will be found wild everywhere Exclusive Move: Water Gun, if you evolve Amphizel to Quajutsu during the event or by 10:00 PM New Move: Water Shuriken, can be learned by Quajutsu at the start of the event Bonuses: – 3x Stardust upon catching – double candies when catching – double chance for XL candies when catching (for trainers from level 31) – Lures last 3 hours – Incense attracts monsters for 3 hours (except Adventure Incense) – up to 5 surprises from snapshots – New event stickers with Froxy from PokéStops and gifts – Event field research on Froxy
Bonuses until 10:00 PM local time: – an additional special trade (max. 3 per day) – 50% lower Stardust costs when trading
You can catch Pokémon for a full 3 hours during the Community Day with Froxy and utilize the corresponding bonuses. The trading bonuses as well as the learning of the exclusive move Water Gun can even be used until 10:00 PM local time.
In-game shop content: Additionally, you can also secure some Community Day content in the in-game shop and partially in the Pokémon GO web shop. Here’s what to expect:
Event ticket for the special research Bubble Bubbles around the C-Day with Froxy for about 1.00 Euro
Event stickers with Froxy
Community Day box
Special Level 4 Raids: As you know from other Community Days, there will also be special Level 4 Raids after the C-Day with Froxy until 10:00 PM. In these, you can only battle Amphizel on-site and secure additional Froxy spawns for 30 minutes after a victory.
Who Should Participate in the Community Day with Froxy?
Can you catch Shiny Froxy? Yes, Froxy will be available for the first time in its shiny form in the game. During the Community Day, the shiny rate will also be increased, so your chances of encountering one or another specimen are really good. You can recognize it by its light blue body.
Froxy, Amphizel and Quajutsu normal (top) and as shiny (bottom)
How strong is Froxy? Froxy is not particularly strong. And its evolution Amphizel does not impress in the GO Battle League and in Raids. However, with the exclusive charged move Water Gun, things will look different for Quajutsu after the Community Day. This will allow it to shine particularly in Raids and secure a spot among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
Who should make use of the C-Day? The Community Day with Froxy is especially interesting for all trainers who want to secure the new shiny. Your chances are really good on this day.
And also trainers who are still looking for a strong Water Pokémon for their Raid team, which can be leveled up quickly and easily, are perfectly right at this event. But don’t forget to evolve it in time so you can secure the strong charged move without needing a top charged TM.
Moreover, you should take advantage of the stardust bonus that will be available for the event. You’ll earn 3 times the stardust for every caught Pokémon. Combined with star pieces and incense as well as lures, this can really pay off.
See more strong attackers in Pokémon GO in the video below:
Start video
Pokémon GO: The strongest attackers of all types in the video
How to Best Utilize the Community Day with Froxy
Make Space: If you want to catch a lot of Froxy, you need to have enough space. So, clear out your Pokémon bag in advance. This can be done easily with the tag and filter functions in the game. You can quickly sort all monsters with a rating of 2 stars or worse by entering 0*,1*,2*.
Which items are important? Of course, various items will be needed for this event. Here are the ones you should have ready:
Balls: If you want to play all day, you should have at least 200 balls on hand to avoid needing to find new ones right away. Hyper balls are particularly suitable for rebellious specimens. How to get balls in Pokémon GO, we show here.
Sananaberries: If you want to evolve or level up your Froxy, you’ll need a lot of candies. You can feed Sananaberries when catching to get double the amount.
Star Pieces: To optimally utilize the stardust bonus, activating star pieces is advisable. These last for 30 minutes each and give you 50% more stardust. Combine this with redeeming corresponding research tasks.
Incense & Lures: To get even more Froxy, you can use incense or set lures. Both last 3 hours and thus cover the entire event period.
Which Mega Pokémon are worth it? To collect even more candies, activating a mega evolution is also advisable. Make sure that it has the same type as Froxy, which is Water. By catching the little frog, you can then collect more candies. Here are the evolutions you can use:
Mega Gyarados (Water & Dark type)
Mega Blastoise (Water type)
Mega Lanturn (Water & Psychic type)
Mega Swampert (Water & Ground type)
What do you think of the contents of the Community Day with Froxy? Which bonus do you like best? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange thoughts with other trainers.
At the THQ Nordic Showcase on August 11, 2023, new games from the publisher were presented. Among them was a trailer for the upcoming game “Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy,” which showcased the co-op mode in the game.
Clockwork Conspiracy is a 2.5D adventure and puzzle platformer from the development studio Frozenbyte.
In Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, you must overcome challenges, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies to save the kingdom from the clockwork doom.
The familiar trio of heroes from the previous games, consisting of Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, and Zoya the Thief, embark on a new adventure.
Here you can watch the trailer for Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy:
Start video
Co-op Trailer for Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
Solve puzzles together in the fantasy world
Along with up to 3 additional friends, you can play the game in local mode and online co-op, where each of you controls a hero. The challenges in the game automatically adjust to the number of players.
If you’d rather play alone, you can simply switch between the different heroes. Each character has its own skill set and can be enhanced with customizable outfits.
How do the predecessors rate on Steam? With Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, the popular game series continues on Steam. The predecessors received very positive to extremely positive reviews on the platform:
Trine Enchanted Edition: Extremely positive; 95% good reviews, based on 11,335 reviews (via Steam)
Trine 2: Complete Story: Extremely positive; 95% good reviews, based on 14,372 reviews (via Steam)
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince: Very positive; 90% good reviews, based on 9,094 reviews (via Steam)
Only the third installment, Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power, did not convince many players and received an average rating with 64% positive reviews based on 6,446 ratings (as of August 12, 2023, via Steam).
When is the release of Trine 5? The game will be released on August 31, 2023, and will be available on multiple platforms.
Via Steam, Epic Games, and Gog.com, you can get the game for PC. It will also be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. The game is now available for pre-order.
Note: Currently, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is on sale on Steam. By pre-ordering, you save 20% off the original purchase price. So instead of €29.99, you now pay €23.99. The offer ends on August 31, 2023.
Also, on the gaming platforms of the respective consoles, you can get Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy a bit cheaper right now.
In addition to the puzzle platformer, the sequel to a well-known action RPG was also presented at the THQ Nordic Showcase:
Larian Studios shows some initial statistics from Baldur’s Gate 3. Players who start their first run with a pre-made character prefer Gale. However, he is also one of the most common causes of death in the game.
5 Tips to Level Up Your Characters Properly in Baldur’s Gate 3
Gale is the most popular origin character and at the same time the deadliest
What do the statistics say? The release of Baldur’s Gate 3 was about a week ago. Creator Larian Studios shows some initial statistics based on players. In the community, the charming wizard Gale is the most popular origin character.
Larian Studios has published detailed statistics on Steam. 93 percent of players created a custom character and 7 percent chose a pre-made character. Here are the choices players made for the different characters:
Gale is also often the reason why you die: The charming wizard Gale is thus the most popular choice among players when they play an origin character. Even though Karlach and Astarion are closely behind him. Who could blame them? Gale is a multifaceted character who flaunts his charismatic nature and vast knowledge. He manages most problems in an elegant manner.
His insatiable thirst for magic leads to explosions. With his fireballs, Gale causes a lot of turmoil in the group. So far, he is also, according to Larian Studios, the seventh most common reason why many players die. A powerful fireball can cause enormous damage to your own group, so be careful and watch out for things like oil barrels when aiming.
Asmongold is considered the largest MMORPG streamer on Twitch, but that doesn’t mean that everyone can relate to his style. In a recent stream, he was confronted with more than 500 reasons why people can’t stand him.
What was the situation? Like many of his colleagues, a certain portion of Asmongold’s streams consists of what are called reactions: He watches content together with his viewers and reacts to it.
In his own subreddit, fans can suggest topics that Asmongold will discuss in the stream. Recently, he came across 2 threads where Reddit and Steam users discussed their dislike for the streamer.
Why might some people dislike him after such statements?
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Twitch streamer Asmongold says: “Stop watching streams at 3 AM if you don’t have money!”
Loud, brash, and aggressive
What were those threads? In the forum for Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam, a player asked why people couldn’t stand Asmongold. He himself thinks he’s a great streamer. In nearly 250 comments, Steam users explain what they dislike about Asmongold (as of August 10, 2023).
Independently, a similar topic was discussed in the subreddit Gamingcirclejerk. The thread is about a video in which Asmongold criticized the style in which many games are written today. MeinMMO editor Schuhmann described it as ‘Buffy syndrome’. Another 570 comments discussed what could be criticized about the streamer.
What does Asmongold think? The Twitch streamer believes he knows exactly what some people have against him: He is loud, brash, and aggressive. He is also very confident about what he says, even if others would think he is wrong. That would make them really angry.
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Career and life of Asmongold in 3 minutes – What makes him special?
‘As if the crumbs in your keyboard developed a consciousness’
Why don’t people really like him?
maniacal<1>: ‘Maybe because Asmon is kind of annoying and his community is one of the most toxic in online gaming? [The real Zack seems] like a pretty smart and cool guy, but the character Asmongold? No, he’s a jerk.’
Aleuvian: ‘He looks like he would smell bad.’
Caz: ‘I find him clichéd, contrary, just to be contrary, rather than really sensible and logical, and he’s let his fame go to his head.’
DLM: ‘He has the IQ of an oyster. And that’s an insult to oysters.’
Boomer: ‘He is insufferably argumentative. But mainly the way he looks. No thanks.’
ZetaLordVader: ‘The guy just makes stupid faces and gives superficial and mindless reviews.’
YOURPALFROG: ‘Asmongold is so bad that he’s almost likable. As if the crumbs in your keyboard developed a consciousness.’
Indeed, Asmongold seems to have been quite accurate in his assessment, although he probably didn’t expect the creativity with which users express their dislike.
However, not everyone has something against the MMORPG streamer. While some are quite neutral and say they don’t mind him, they just aren’t generally interested in content creators, others even appreciate his analyses.
Asmongold takes it easy. In response to the more than 500 comments on the Reddit thread, he reacted with a simple: ‘Okay.’ The users in this subreddit were already unhappy with him during the controversy surrounding Hogwarts Legacy. Now they are once again dissatisfied with him.
Back then, the streamer showed little understanding for the critics of the game:
