The Noblegarden Festival 2023 in the guide for World of Warcraft. We have all the rewards, tips, and tricks for the Easter event in Azeroth.
With the end of the Easter holidays in the real world, the Noblegarden Festival begins in World of Warcraft. There, the inhabitants of Azeroth celebrate the arrival of spring and the awakening of nature after winter. There are plenty of eggs to search for and numerous rewards.
When does the event take place? In 2023, the Noblegarden Festival takes place from April 10 at 10:00 AM to April 17 at 09:59 AM.
Noblegarden Festival – New reward for 2023
The Noblegarden Festival 2023 is the first in the Dragonflight expansion. There is only one new reward, but it is compatible with all your dragons. For the price of 200 Noblegarden chocolates, you can buy the toy “A Dragon’s Basket with Eggs” from the Noblegarden Festival merchants.
The toy grants you a buff for 15 minutes when used. As long as you are in the air with the dragon, it carries a large basket with eggs in its mouth.
The Raszageth mount with egg basket. A real eye-catcher.
Unfortunately, the toy does not work while your dragon is on the ground, even though this currently looks like a bug that may be fixed in upcoming patches.
Guide to the Noblegarden Festival – Everything you need to know
What do you need to do during the Noblegarden Festival? Even though the Noblegarden Festival is considered one of the “big” annual events, the process here is quite simple, as there is basically only one necessary task to secure various rewards: Collecting eggs.
Each egg found can be opened and rewards you with a piece of Noblegarden chocolate. This chocolate can then be exchanged at a vendor for numerous rewards. The prices for the various rewards range from 5 chocolates to 500 chocolates.
Merchants and quest givers can be found in every known starting area.
The trick with collecting the eggs is that the eggs – in addition to the chocolate – can also contain some of the rewards. So you are unlikely to have to collect several thousand pieces of chocolate, but will already receive some of the cool rewards while searching.
Where can you collect the eggs? Collecting colorful eggs can be done in all cities of the respective starting areas.
These are for the Alliance:
Azulwacht (Azurmyth Islands)
Dolanaar (Teldrassil)
Goldshire (Elwynn Forest)
Kharanos (Dun Morogh)
These are for the Horde:
Bloodhoof Village (Mulgore)
Brill (Tirisfal)
Falkenwing Place (Eastern Plaguelands)
Bladefist Mountain (Durotar)
The eggs are “hidden” everywhere in the outdoor area of each location. Since they are quite colorful, you should spot them quickly. Generally, they also respawn within a few seconds.
The eggs are quite large and colorful – you can hardly miss them.
Keep in mind that you can find the eggs in all possible “versions” of the villages. For example, you can activate the War Mode when the location is otherwise overcrowded with players or activate an alternate Chromie timeline with a character below level 60 to have less competition while searching for eggs.
Tip for collecting: If you want to collect eggs faster and more successfully, you should also assign the interaction key in the options. Then you don’t have to search for and click on the eggs painstakingly, but can simply walk near them and pick them up with a key press. We’ve explained how to assign an interaction key here.
What rewards are available? The Noblegarden Festival offers a total of 21 different rewards that you can buy for Noblegarden chocolates. If you want all the rewards in simple form, you would need to collect a whopping 2015 eggs.
However, keep in mind that the amount will decrease significantly, as you will already receive many of the rewards from the eggs beforehand. Additionally, it’s possible to buy the most expensive reward – the mount “Swift Springstrider” – from other players at the auction house instead of spending the 500 chocolates for it.
Are there any other rewards? Apart from the “tangible” rewards such as toys and transmogs, there are also different achievements and some tasks for the travel log to earn points for the trading post. Those who haven’t reached the maximum here yet should collect some eggs or complete the daily quests to finish several tasks simultaneously.
Pokémon GO has changed the prices of remote raid passes and caused frustration among many players. We wanted to know: Are you still buying any? Here are the results.
Three remote raid passes now cost 525 PokéCoins instead of 300 PokéCoins
The price of a single remote raid pass has been increased from 100 PokéCoins to 195 PokéCoins
Additionally, a new premium battle pass bundle for local raids was introduced. It costs 250 coins for 3 local passes, while a single one costs 100.
Furthermore, the use of remote raid passes has been limited to 5 per day. At the same time, there is now also a chance to get remote raid passes as rewards from research breakthroughs.
In light of these changes, we wanted to know from you: Are you still buying remote raid passes? Here you can see the result of the voting.
Clear opinion on the new remote raid pass prices in Pokémon GO
Here are the results: As of the evaluation time on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, a total of 3,469 trainers participated in our survey. A clear trend has already emerged regarding how they plan to deal with the passes in the future.
A full 70% voted “No, I will not buy any more.” This result corresponds to 2,428 votes.
“Yes, but less than before” received 20%, with 680 votes
“I am undecided” was chosen by 9%, which means 310 trainers
“Yes, just as often as before” will only be 1%, or 51 of the participating trainers buying remote raid passes in the shop.
The results align with the prevailing sentiment regarding the changes to remote raid passes.
Some players and creators addressed an open letter to the developers at Niantic, expressing their confusion regarding the changes. They argued that the changes were not only inconvenient but particularly hard on certain groups of trainers, such as rural players without a local community.
The argument was made, among other things, that bonuses for playing locally should be introduced instead of weakening remote features if players are to be motivated to participate more in local raids.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Can you understand the frustration, or do you view the changes neutrally or even positively? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
New World brings back the annual Easter event “The Revenge of the Rabbits”, where you can earn gypsum, storage space in your own house, and a new item for more luck in the game. This year, the drop chances have been adjusted so that you have a guarantee for each item.
What is behind the rabbit event? From April 12th to April 25th, the Easter event will be active. It revolves around rabbits that have been corrupted by Azoth and have become stronger as a result. They are located in all areas and can usually be dispatched with a single attack. You can find all the important spawn points here:
Just like last year, you can find items for higher drop chances, a chest with 1050 storage space in your own house, and gypsum from the rabbits. Additionally, there is a new skin for the headpiece. However, this year, there is a guaranteed drop when you kill enough rabbits.
400 rabbits for more storage
What do the drop chances look like?
The diamond gypsum has a drop probability of 66%. You can find a maximum of 6 gypsum per day.
The corrupted rabbit’s paw has a drop probability of 80% and you can find a maximum of 5 per day.
The corrupted rabbit mask is the new head skin and has a drop probability of 0.5%. However, you will receive the mask guaranteed after you kill 200 rabbits. Here you can only get one mask during the entire event.
The corrupted rabbit’s storage chest is the grand prize of the event. The drop probability is only 0.25%. However, after 400 killed rabbits, you will receive the chest guaranteed. Here, you can only get one per event.
The daily rewards are reset at 5:00 AM German time.
Is the event worth it? Sort of. Those who still need to upgrade their equipment should farm the 6 gypsum daily to either gain competency or further shadow shards. The chest is also a useful addition to your own house, which is definitely worth it.
However, aside from that, it is just a small fun event that doesn’t require too much engagement.
For those thinking about a return to New World, you can find a current impression here:
Are there any MMOs that you are looking forward to and following their development? Let us know.
You can vote here: We want to know from you via survey which MMO is the most exciting for you and why.
The search for a new MMO is not easy at all. While in the single-player sector a hit chases the next one, and we no longer know where to find the time for all the games, it looks completely different for Massively Multiplayer Online games.
Even though you might focus on one game for a long time with MMOs, the desire for something new and fresh apart from World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy Online, and the like is strong. But which MMO star in the sky have you set your sights on? We want to find out with the survey embedded above.
If the titles above mean nothing to you, you will find a brief summary of each game in the following sections.
The sandbox MMO aims to provide you with a world that reacts to your actions. This is supposed to work through a complex economic system, castle sieges, or dynamic quests. Depending on who currently owns the individual cities (called nodes), other NPCs, quests, and secrets are unlocked.
Also exciting: You don’t just choose a class as usual; you combine two of the total eight different classes, resulting in a rather individual playstyle.
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Ashes of Creation Trailer for the first Alpha
ArcheAge2
Developer: XLGames | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Release: 2024 | Cost model: Free2Play
With the successor of the same name MMO from 2014, everything is supposed to be different and better. Starting with the graphics in Unreal Engine 5 to the twice as large sandbox game world, the developers want to turn everything upside down while staying true to basic elements like guild battles, ship battles, housing, and trade.
Blue Protocol
Developer: Bandai Namco | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Release: 2023 | Cost model: Free2Play
The theme park MMO wants to captivate you with its time travel story and fantasy setting with a slight sci-fi touch. In addition, there is an action-packed and dynamic combat system where you rely on combos, dodge rolls, and powerful attacks. Unlike other MMOs in this area, you don’t receive your loot directly from defeated enemies, but through crafting.
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The new MMORPG Blue Protocol showcases its colorful anime world – Set 2,000 years in the future
MMOs with isometric perspective have been in vogue again since Lost Ark. Corepunk brings everything that a gamer’s heart desires with dungeons, mounts, and a focus on world exploration. However, what is exciting is the crafting system, where you need to specialize in a profession to become a skilled craftsman, similar to the latest WoW expansion Dragonflight.
Into the Echo aims to lure you in with time travel and a rather unconventional experience and progress system. Not everyone follows a prescribed path like lemmings, but explores individual aspects of the game. How this is supposed to look in practice is still unknown.
Palia is a kind of cozy MMO. Instead of saving the world from doom again, you focus here on a simple life full of happiness and joy. You decorate your house and garden, chat with the villagers, and go fishing, mining, or hunting. So, imagine a kind of Animal Crossing MMO.
With a high-fantasy setting, 9 different races, and 14 classes, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is among the more classic MMOs. The focus is clearly on PvE with 15 dungeons that are supposed to exist at release.
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Here are 10 minutes of gameplay from the alpha of Pantheon, the MMORPG hope for PvE fans
Pioner
Developer: Lionheart Studio | Platform: PC | Release: 2023 | Cost model: Unknown
If fantasy doesn’t interest you much, Pioner might be just right for you. Because here the post-apocalypse takes center stage. As a former special agent, you fight against monsters and nature and try to survive with what is hopefully a well-stocked arsenal of weapons.
Throne and Liberty
Developer: NCSoft Korea | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox X | Release: Q3 2023 | Cost model: Unknown
Throne and Liberty (or Project TL) might still be known to you under its former name Lineage Eternal, which was originally planned as a game from an isometric perspective, but will now take place from a third-person view. Throne and Liberty is based on an open world, weapon instead of class selection, and castle sieges.
Can you manage everyday life with a mobile phone for less than 100 euros? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has purchased the inexpensive Blackview A60 Pro and reveals what it’s worth and what it isn’t.
With the Blackview A60 Pro, an affordable phone from 2019 regularly appears in the bestsellers on Amazon. But is the performance of a phone that costs less than 100 euros still enough in 2023?
Because I hear such comments repeatedly in my circle of friends: You can’t get good hardware for 100 euros, because somewhere the manufacturer has to cut costs. So one might as well buy a “real” phone.
That’s why I ordered the model and used it in my everyday life. And I was actually surprised at what such an inexpensive device can achieve.
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What’s included in the box? The package includes a micro-USB cable, a charger, and a quick start guide. The phone already comes in a sturdy silicone case and a screen protector is also pre-installed. You see that less often in the higher price segment.
What technology is inside the A60 Pro? Inside the smartphone, a Mediatek Helio A22 is at work. The CPU is from 2018. The chip is combined with 3 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. Additionally, there’s a 6.1-inch display with a low resolution of 1280 x 640. The main camera has 8 megapixels, while the front camera has 5 megapixels.
While a fingerprint sensor and Face ID are included, the device unfortunately does not support NFC. However, it does have a notification LED. It is especially annoying that it still uses a micro-USB connector for charging. This is simply outdated – neither in 2019 nor in 2023.
Build Quality: The phone is completely made of plastic. Nevertheless, it feels well-built and fits nicely in the hand, but its dimensions of 156 x 74 x 9.8 mm are not really small.
How does the 100-euro phone perform in everyday life?
What works really well? Most everyday tasks can be handled by the phone without any problems. I don’t miss the performance of my significantly more powerful Galaxy Note 9 at all. Sending a text message, a message via Telegram, or quickly checking the DB app works flawlessly on the model. It’s also sufficient for a quick phone call or the morning newspaper.
The display is surprisingly good and bright. Even in bright sunlight, everything is still clearly visible at the highest brightness setting. The colors of the IPS display are vibrant enough but, unsurprisingly, do not compare to an OLED display. I don’t expect that in this price range.
Another major strength is the excellent battery life. In everyday use, it comfortably lasts one and a half to 2 days for me. And during that time, I can also play for half an hour or more multiple times. My old Galaxy Note 9 always needs to be charged at the end of the day. In comparison, the battery level of the Blackview A60 Pro is about 60% when I go to sleep.
The display is still bright enough even in high sunlight.
What doesn’t work so well? However, the limits of the device are quickly reached with other tasks. The manufacturer has cut costs on the camera; the images look flat, and there’s strong noise in low light. The same goes for close-ups. For a quick snapshot, it’s sufficient, but for everything else, the camera is too weak.
Landscape orientationPortrait orientationImages taken with the Blackview A60 Pro – useful for quick shots or reminders, but nothing more.
The same applies to gaming: graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact are simply not enjoyable on the device. This is not only due to performance but also due to the touchscreen, which feels very sluggish. In the racing game “Need for Speed: No Limit,” I regularly crash into the guardrail; the game runs smoothly overall.
The built-in speakers are also quite thin; I would recommend using in-ear headphones or similar.
Additionally, it is annoying that the phone still uses a micro-USB connector. Combined with the 5-watt charger, this leads to long charging times when the battery is empty. So, a quick charge before shopping isn’t possible.
To charge the phone from 11% back to 100%, it had to spend nearly 6 hours on the charger.
Detail view of Blackview A60 Pro, here with micro-USB port. The jack is on the top.
Blackview A60 Pro: Practical everyday companion for under 100 euros
Is 100 euros worth it for such a device? In principle, it depends on what you want to do with such a phone. The Blackview A60 Pro really impresses me for daily tasks. If you don’t want to game and only want to make phone calls and perhaps have your train tickets digitally, then you get a practical device for everyday use. For most everyday tasks, you don’t need a high-end phone for 1,000 euros.
However, if you want to actively game, multitask, or type out a detailed email, the Blackview A60 Pro quickly reaches its limits. The touchscreen is not responsive enough, and the performance is too weak. In comparison to my Galaxy Note 9, I miss the higher resolution.
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Are there alternatives? Yes, with Ulefone and Xiaomi there are other manufacturers that offer very affordable phones in this range. Blackview also offers more inexpensive models.
However, the built-in hardware is very similar across all budget devices. For example, the Ulefone 14 also features the Helio A22, which is already used in the Blackview A60 Pro, offering you a modern Android and USB-C. The same applies to the Xiaomi Redmi 9C. Sometimes the camera is a bit better (more megapixels), but the battery is somewhat smaller.
With a simple change, you can make World of Warcraft much more enjoyable. An option from Dragonflight eliminates long-standing issues.
Most of us have been playing World of Warcraft for a very long time and have become accustomed to problems and difficulties. When something is very “annoying” to click on, WoW players mumble to themselves and endure it. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Since Patch 10.0, there has been an option for the “Interact Key,” which I want to recommend to you.
Where can you find the setting? Simply press the Escape key, select “Options,” and then the “Controls” subsection. Now scroll down a bit and check the box for “Enable Interaction Key.” Then assign a corresponding key for “Interact With Target” in the menu directly below.
For most, the “F” key would be suitable here, but the choice is of course up to you.
A somewhat “hidden” setting with a significant effect.
What does the setting do? You only notice how great the setting is over the course of days and weeks. But let me give you a few examples.
Currently, the Noblegarden festival is taking place. This is the Easter event of World of Warcraft. Here you can collect eggs in various cities that you need for achievements and rewards. The catch: Everyone else is collecting the eggs too, and only the first person to click the egg gets the loot. With the Interaction Key, you are faster than anyone who has to click the egg manually.
Do you remember those quests where you have to rescue small animals like squirrels that dart across the screen in a panic? Usually, you run after them like crazy, trying to wildly click them 30 times just to complete the quest after 10 minutes of frustration. That’s no longer necessary. Because the Interaction Key also eliminates this problem.
The function is even suitable for bypassing bugs in World of Warcraft. Do you also know that sometimes an ore or a treasure chest spawns “in the ground” and cannot be clicked? With the interaction key, you can avoid this problem too. Especially in Dragonflight with the “Moving Earth,” this is quite valuable.
Whether you want to talk to NPCs, pick up a quest item, or open a door – with the Interaction Key, you save yourself the hassle of moving the mouse and ensure that even the smallest objects are hit.
It is a small but very useful setting that I can only recommend to every WoW veteran and newcomer. In any case, it is definitely better than Click-To-Move …
The best counters against Demeteros (Incarnate Form) in Pokémon GO in the guide. We show you the best attackers and movesets. With these, you can defeat and catch the boss in raids.
What kind of Pokémon is Demeteros? Demeteros is a legendary Pokémon from the fifth generation of Pokémon. It belongs to the Ground and Flying types and has an Incarnate Form and a Therian Form.
How long is Demeteros in raids? You encounter the boss from April 11 at 10:00 AM local time until April 17 at 10:00 AM local time in 5-star raids. Here we show you the best counters against Demeteros (Incarnate Form) and what types it is weak against (type effectiveness).
Defeating Demeteros (Incarnate Form) in Raids – With These Counters
Crypto-Mamutel with Powder Snow and Avalanche
Proto-Kyogre with Cascade and Blizzard
Crypto-Mewtu with Psycho Cut and Ice Beam
Crypto-Snibunna with Ice Shard and Avalanche
Mega-Rexblisar with Powder Snow and Meteorologist
Galar-Flampivian with Ice Fang and Avalanche
Mamutel with Powder Snow and Avalanche
Mega-Firnontor with Ice Scythe and Avalanche
Crypto-Arktos with Ice Scythe and Ice Beam
Mega-Sumpex with Water Gun and Water Cannon
Mewtu with Psycho Cut and Ice Beam
Snibunna with Ice Shard and Avalanche
Rossana with Ice Scythe and Avalanche
Arktilas with Ice Fang and Avalanche
Glaziola with Ice Scythe and Avalanche
Crypto-Porygon-Z with Target Shot and Blizzard
Crypto-Regice with Ice Scythe and Blizzard
Crypto-Keifel with Ice Shard and Avalanche
Crypto-Alola-Vulnona with Powder Snow and Meteorologist
Crypto-Walraisa with Ice Scythe and Ice Spear
Weaknesses of Demeteros in the Incarnate Form: The Pokémon belongs to the Ground and Flying types and has weaknesses against Ice and Water. Especially against Ice. Therefore, focus on attacks and Pokémon of these types in raids to defeat Demeteros in the Incarnate Form.
Are there Shiny Demeteros in the Incarnate Form? Yes, after a raid you have the chance to catch the Pokémon in its shiny form. You can see what it looks like in the following graphic:
How many trainers are needed? If you have the top counter Pokémon and have reached a relatively high level (40+) in Pokémon GO, you can defeat Demeteros in the Incarnate Form with two players. With lower levels, but strong counters, you should rely on more trainers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today, April 11, the Spotlight Hour with Shellder starts in Pokémon GO. We will show you everything about the bonus, Shinies, and the times of the event.
What kind of event is this? Every Tuesday, a Spotlight Hour takes place in Pokémon GO. For 60 minutes, a Pokémon selected by Niantic is in focus and can be found almost everywhere in the wild. This is accompanied by a bonus that grants you more XP, Stardust, or Candy. The Pokémon and bonus change from week to week.
In today’s event, you will encounter Shellder, which originates from the Kanto region. Additionally, there are more Candies and lots of Stardust. Today’s Spotlight Hour is special because it is worthwhile due to two resources.
Spotlight Hour on April 11 – Start, Bonuses, Shiny
When does it start? As always, it kicks off at 6:00 PM. You can make use of the bonuses until 7:00 PM. After that, the event ends, and a new one will start next Tuesday.
What bonuses are there? You will find Shellder very frequently in the wild. They are located in many places and spawn almost everywhere. Those who want to increase encounters even further can activate a Lure Module to attract more specimens.
Additionally, you will receive double the amount of Candy for sending Pokémon.
This is the second Spotlight Hour in April 2023. Two more events of this kind will kick off this month. In the overview, you can see what else to expect:
Can you catch Shiny Shellder? Yes, the shiny version of Shellder has been active in Pokémon GO for a long time. If you’re lucky, you can catch it during today’s Spotlight Hour. However, the chances of this are not increased.
Comparison of the shiny forms of Shellder and its evolution Austos
Is it worth attending the Spotlight Hour today? If you’re looking for a strong attacker, you should think of Shellder’s evolution. Because Austos plays in the upper midfield in the Hyper League in PvP. However, it is not particularly useful in raids.
If you also activate Star Pieces during the event, you can significantly fill your Stardust supply. Depending on how actively you play, you should get several 100,000 dust out of it.
The bonus for sending Candies is useful to efficiently tidy up your collection. This way, you can get more Candies and lots of Stardust at today’s event.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Before the beta, the Sorceress was not in demand at all. In our previous ranking, she landed in last place. However, during the two beta tests in March, she apparently managed to impress you with her skills, power, and versatility, allowing her to jump directly to 2nd place.
This is the Necromancer: If you, like my esteemed colleague Maurice Weber, prefer to have others fight for you in Diablo 4, then the Necromancer and his small army of skeletons are just right for you. On top of that, there are various curses and blood magic, and the perfect dark cocktail of death and doom is complete.
The Necromancer has been considered the unbeatable favorite among the classes of Diablo 4 since its announcement. Both at MeinMMO and at the colleagues from GameStar, the Necromancer has consistently been voted in first place.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
Before the beta, the Sorceress was not in demand at all. In our previous ranking, she landed in last place. However, during the two beta tests in March, she apparently managed to impress you with her skills, power, and versatility, allowing her to jump directly to 2nd place.
Rank 1: Necromancer
34.84 % / 491 votes
This is the Necromancer: If you, like my esteemed colleague Maurice Weber, prefer to have others fight for you in Diablo 4, then the Necromancer and his small army of skeletons are just right for you. On top of that, there are various curses and blood magic, and the perfect dark cocktail of death and doom is complete.
The Necromancer has been considered the unbeatable favorite among the classes of Diablo 4 since its announcement. Both at MeinMMO and at the colleagues from GameStar, the Necromancer has consistently been voted in first place.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
Expectations and reality can often be far apart. Therefore, after the beta of Diablo 4, we wanted to know how you liked the announced classes.
After the announcement of all classes of Diablo 4, we asked you in a survey which of them sounds the most exciting and fun to you. You responded in large numbers and established a popularity ranking.
In March, you all finally had the opportunity to test all the classes for yourselves. During the two betas, you had access to all 5 classes and could check if your expectations were met.
That’s why we launched a new survey after the beta and wanted to know if your opinion has changed. The new ranking reflects your votes.
Rank 5: Barbarian
10.36 % / 146 votes
This is the Barbarian: The barbarians are the only pure melee fighters of Diablo 4 and are therefore well equipped. With up to 4 different weapons, which they can switch seamlessly in combat, they send their opponents to the afterlife. They use their own fury as a resource.
The Barbarian had not had a particularly good standing in surveys even before the beta. In our class survey on MeinMMO, only the Sorceress was less popular than the Barbarian, which placed him in 4th place. But after the beta, the Sorceress experienced a strong rise.
The Barbarian thus slipped further down to the last place. However, for the fans of the class, there is still hope that it will become more enjoyable and especially that it can endure as a melee fighter on the front lines. There are still a few months until the release, allowing for further balance adjustments.
Rank 4: Druid
15.05 % / 212 votes
This is the Druid: They harness the wrath of nature in their attacks and have access to earth and wind magic. But the special feature of Druids is their ability to shapeshift into animals. As werewolves and bears, they use their claws and fangs to tear apart their enemies.
The Druid is among the 3 classes that were introduced first, but its skills and class feature were unknown for a long time. However, this did not prevent fans from being very excited about the Druid.
In our first survey, the class landed directly in 2nd place, but after the beta, some were disappointed with their gameplay experience. There was considerable criticism towards the Druid, and even at MeinMMO, it slipped to 4th place.
Rank 3: Huntress
17.32 % / 244 votes
This is the Huntress: The Huntress also belongs to the well-established Diablo classes. With her versatile skills, she can deal a lot of damage both in melee and at range. Additionally, there are bombs, traps, and enchantments that she can apply to her weapons.
This way, the Huntress can either freeze, poison her opponents, or tear them apart with the power of shadows. The fast class also proved during the beta that with her builds, one can defeat a World Boss alone at level 25.
In our previous survey, the Huntress also landed in 3rd place. Your impressions from the beta likely confirmed this ranking, as she maintained her position.
Rank 2: Sorceress
22.43 % / 316 votes
This is the Sorceress: What would Diablo be without a mage class? So there are also Sorceresses and Sorcerers in Diablo 4, with whom you can choose to burn, freeze, or zap your enemies.
The Sorceress was supposed to become a glass cannon according to the developers, who could deal a lot of damage but take little in return. This was not confirmed during the beta tests, as the class could do both. Thanks to her skill set, she was capable of strong attacks but could also shine with robust shields.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
Before the beta, the Sorceress was not in demand at all. In our previous ranking, she landed in last place. However, during the two beta tests in March, she apparently managed to impress you with her skills, power, and versatility, allowing her to jump directly to 2nd place.
Rank 1: Necromancer
34.84 % / 491 votes
This is the Necromancer: If you, like my esteemed colleague Maurice Weber, prefer to have others fight for you in Diablo 4, then the Necromancer and his small army of skeletons are just right for you. On top of that, there are various curses and blood magic, and the perfect dark cocktail of death and doom is complete.
The Necromancer has been considered the unbeatable favorite among the classes of Diablo 4 since its announcement. Both at MeinMMO and at the colleagues from GameStar, the Necromancer has consistently been voted in first place.
The beta tests have only confirmed his top position. With his fun builds, where you can curse your enemies or let them fight against hordes of undead minions, the class impresses on all levels.
For about 35 € the company Trust offers the rechargeable, ergonomic wireless mouse Bayo. Our author Schuhmann says: The vertical mouse is the Birkenstock of mice. It may not look very sexy, but it is ideal for marathon sessions in strategy games and MMORPGs. You can also work with it, it protects against RSI. Also, it lights up now, but that could have really been omitted.
That isthe catch with ergonomic mice: In March 2014, I switched to a vertical mouse for the first time, back then I was no longer using the PC just to play World of Warcraft or Civilization V for hours, but started making money from writing as well.
This article was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated for you in April 2023.
As a result, the time I spent sitting at the PC doubled, wildly clicking and moving the mouse pointer across the monitor, either to activate skills in WoW or to shuffle letters and sentences around.
After a few days of this new strain, my wrist hurt, my elbow ached, I felt somehow uncomfortable: carpal tunnel syndrome was approaching.
You hold a vertical mouse like a wedge.
Physical pain ends with vertical mouse, but you have to rethink
My friends laughed at me, shook their heads at this oddly shaped thing in my hand, and my brain had to rewire itself. After all, I had twisted my arm for decades when sitting at the PC, now the arm stayed straight. Somehow that felt odd.
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For days I felt like I was doing something terribly wrong, but my arm was feeling better.
The catch with the vertical mouse is that the arm and hand remain in a natural position and you hold the mouse like a wedge: The index and middle fingers rest on the left and right mouse button, the thumb holds the mouse firmly and you remain relaxed.
This is how I like the Bayo Trust mouse after 4 months of testing
Is such a mouse suitable for gaming? For certain games, a two-button mouse is completely sufficient. It is a calm, introspective way of playing.
Some MMORPG players swear by mice with 16 programmable buttons to reach every obscure skill at the push of a button, with the left index finger you can trigger the teleport stone or produce cookies for everyone: For such min/maxers who want to save 0.3 seconds, a vertical mouse is hardly suitable.
A mouse like the Bayo Trust is suitable for games that you can play at the same pace as you write a text, surf an internet forum, or manage your bookkeeping. So for games that can be paused: It is suitable for games that wait for you until you are ready.
The Bayo Trust officially has 6 buttons and you can set 800-2400 DPI, but I don’t use all these functions in everyday life. The thumb buttons annoy me more when I accidentally go back a page in the browser.
For me, it is important that the mouse works reliably – and it does. The few problems I had with the mouse in 4 months were solved by briefly removing and reinserting the USB stick that came with it.
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The tech YouTuber Obil demonstrates the mouse in a test.
Important: Rechargeable batteries – Less important: It lights up
That’s why I appreciate the Bayo Trust: The ergonomic mouse Bayo Trust is an evolution of the simple vertical mice that I bought in 2014 and 2018:
In 2014, I bought a wireless mouse from CSL for 25 € – today it still costs 20 €. That was the absolute “basic vertical mouse.” With that mouse, I had to stop every 7 years, get up from the PC, and get new batteries.
In 2021, the Bayo Trust is available: It works just like the old mouse, except it has rechargeable batteries, so I save myself the constant battery changes. To charge it, the mouse needs to be connected to the PC via a cable – otherwise, it works wirelessly as well.
The further “new feature” that the Bayo Trust offers compared to the old standard vertical mouse is that it lights up a little via a side bar. But anyone who buys such a mouse can probably do without it, and the function can be turned off.
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Bayo Trust in testing: 35 € mouse gets good reviews on Amazon
What do others say about the mouse? On Amazon, there are now 5156 reviews about the Bayo Trust, with 4.5 out of 5 stars the mouse is rated excellent:
Some who were skeptical at the time of purchase due to the low price say they would never go back to a conventional mouse after a few months with the vertical mouse, as the pain in their wrist is finally gone.
Often it is recommended to buy a wrist rest with the mouse to further protect the hands – I also use a wrist rest and can recommend it:
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A woman, however, says she has delicate hands and cannot reach all the buttons – This is a common problem with mice.
Occasionally, users also report technical problems: The mouse would be lagging – However, I cannot confirm that with my model after 4 months of testing.
Pros
prevents RSI
easy to install
rechargeable batteries
reliable and solid
reasonable price/performance ratio
Cons
too few mouse buttons for min/maxers
a bit of unnecessary light stuff
you get teased by friends if you tell them about it
Update 10.4. 2023: I have been using the mouse for one and a half years now. It still works perfectly, I never had problems with the device and haven’t thought about changing the mouse since then.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Tibia was created in 1995 in Regensburg. Because the developers have always gone their own way, there are very bizarre stories from the online role-playing game. One of the most exciting stories emerged in 2005: the Regensburg team put a door in their MMORPG that no one would open for 11 years.
What is special about Tibia?
Tibia is an MMORPG from a different time that doesn’t follow a clear blueprint like later MMORPGs. Modern MMORPGs were oriented towards Everquest and wanted to be as fair and standardized as possible. But the developers of Tibia were 4 students from Regensburg who just went for it.
Developers build a door in their MMORPG, through which no one may pass for 11 years
What kind of door was it? In 2005, the developers added a door to their MMORPG with the inscription: “You see a gate of expertise for level 999. Only the worthy may pass.”
The developers said in an interview with Vice that it was actually just a gag, and for a long time, there was nothing behind this door.
Because level 999 was completely illusory in 2005. No one would reach that for 10 years, one knew. Especially since in Tibia you can even lose experience points and levels if you die.
But after 2005, Tibia continued to grow, the game got bigger and bigger, players leveled up higher and higher, and by 2016 it was time.
This was a big deal at the time. The site 3dJuegos writes there were two groups of players:
One group helped Kharsek collect as many experience points as possible. He should finally reach level 999 so that everyone would finally learn what was behind the damn door.
Another group wanted to prevent that, chasing him, killing his spawns right in front of him, or sending mobs against his healer.
So the opening went: Ultimately, the player reached level 999 in August 2016, and the players of Tibia were excited to finally find out what was behind the door.
A user on reddit wrote at the time:
I’ve never heard of the game in my life, but the most important thing in my life right now is that this stupid bastard opens the stupid door.
Already in 2016, there were things like Twitch and YouTube, and everyone expected to either be present live at the reveal of the big secret or to find out within hours.
Kharsek opened the door, saw what was behind it, logged out, stayed offline, and told no soul what was behind the door. Even when he later returned to Tibia, he said nothing about the door.
The community was in an uproar. After waiting patiently for 11 years, they still learned nothing. There were many theories about what could be behind the door: treasure chests, NPCs, maybe levers and secret stuff.
But Kharsek remained silent, the developers never said anything anyway, and it remained a secret.
A year later, a Twitch streamer says: I will open the door if you pay for my vacation
And what was really behind the door? It took almost a year until June 2017, when the next player reached level 999. He wanted to make the most of the moment, started a Twitch stream, and said: He would only open the door if the viewers paid for his vacation to Morocco: he wanted to earn $500, but not enough money was raised. With just $33, he passed through the portal.
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Ultimately, the player went through the door and found a portal to a tropical island with some nice items and a golden trophy with the inscription “Congratulations on reaching level 999.”
It would have probably been cooler if the door had remained a secret forever.
The expectations that had built up over 12 years could probably never have been met.
In the USA, the team “Cloud9” has won the LCS championship for the second consecutive time in League of Legends. They only have one American player on the LoL team. The main burden is carried by two strong acquisitions from South Korea. After long testing, Cloud9 has apparently found its identity, as a branch of South Korea.
This is the story of Cloud9: Cloud9 has gone through a strange development:
For years, “Cloud9” was a US team that was progressive and alternative. A rarity in the macho world of League of Legends: Their star player was an ADC named Sneaky, a fan of cross-dressing. Sneaky was in the team from 2013 to 2020, relying largely on North Americans.
Suddenly, starting around 2019, they became ambitious, kicked Sneaky out, and paid a lot to acquire the best players from Europe, like the Dane Zven (ADC, a master of the pentakill) or the Croatian Perkz (midlaner and absolute leading player)
When that didn’t work out, they started a bold experiment and transformed Cloud9 into a branch of South Korea starting in 2021. This time it has worked.
Start video
7 Facts about LoL that only true veterans know
First expensive stars from Europe, then Cloud9 fully focused on South Korea
What was it like with South Korea? The first experiment of going fully with South Korea failed in 2021. They brought in the analyst “LS,” who wanted to build a 10-man roster and relied on the top-laner Summit from South Korea – the previous top-laner, the Australian Fudge, was moved to the mid-lane.
The previous star player Zven, an ADC, was even relegated to lower leagues because a new South Korean, Berserker, entered the team. Furthermore, Zven allegedly insulted the jungler Blaber after a mistake in such a way that there was no longer a place for him in the first team.
However, this experiment failed for reasons still unclear today after just a few weeks: Coach LS was surprisingly fired, and Summit left the team shortly afterward.
We at MeinMMO asked you which dead MMORPG you wish would return the most. Now that the survey is over, we present you the results and introduce the 5 games that you voted to the top.
Update: We conducted the survey in Summer 2020. The article was last updated on April 15 with new links and updated in April 2023.
It was important that the titles considered had no official servers anymore. MMORPGs still active on private servers were still included in the vote.
What does the result show? 1,446 votes were cast, with each participant only allowed one vote. We provided 17 games directly, and you could also vote for “another” and then leave a comment. The ranking of places 17 to 6 is as follows:
Starquest Online – 0.07% (1 vote)
Worlds Adrift – 0.28% (4 votes)
Mythos – 0.34% (5 votes)
Battlestar Galactica – 0.69% (10 votes)
Phantasy Star Online 1 – 0.69% (10 votes)
MapleStory 2 – 0.97% (14 votes)
Matrix Online – 1.52% (22 votes)
Lego Universe – 1.66% (24 votes)
Bless Online – 1.73% (25 votes)
Dragon’s Prophet – 2.01% (29 votes)
City of Heroes – 2.01% (29 votes)
Marvel Heroes – 2.49% (36 votes)
In addition, 91 votes (6.29%) were cast for “another,” which accounts for the third place in the ranking. However, only the game RaiderZ that met the criteria was mentioned in the comments. The others were titles that, while not being actively expanded, still run on official servers, such as Guild Wars 1 or Rappelz.
And now we come to the 5 games that you wish for the most to return, with places 1 and 2 having a strong dominance.
This article was originally published on August 28, 2020, and was brought back up on August 28, 2021, to draw players’ attention to the old list.
[toc]
Place 5 – Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Setting: Fantasy | Developer: Sigil Games Online / Sony| Release Date: January 30, 2007 | Discontinued: July 31, 2014 | Payment Model: Pay2Play and from 2012 Free2Play | Voting Result: 3.25% (47 votes)
What kind of MMORPG was it? Vanguard: Saga of Heroes aimed to blend theme park and sandbox elements and succeeded in many areas.
At the heart of the game was crafting, the various classes, and challenging dungeons where everyone could find challenges. Additionally, there was a housing system for 5,000 accounts per server.
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The YouTube channel MMO Attack tested Vanguard in May 2013 after it became Free2Play.
What made it special? Vanguard focused on 15 very different classes and truly difficult dungeons, where you could face significant challenges with a group.
However, some bosses could only be defeated if a specific class was present, which helped keep all classes relevant.
Other features included crafting in the MMORPG, where you could learn one of three crafting classes through a quest, which later split into two additional classes. Leveling professions was achieved not only through collecting materials but also through quests and tasks for NPCs.
What did it fail to achieve? The MMORPG was released with many gameplay errors, performance issues, and bugs. As early as 2007, the first servers were consolidated, meaning there were no more dedicated role-play servers.
Vanguard simply had no chance against World of Warcraft, which had released the new expansion Burning Crusade just days before Vanguard’s launch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Diablo 4 will be one of the more expensive new games at €70. Additionally, there will be a shop for cosmetics and regularly a Battle Pass. A user on Reddit complains about the Battle Pass and receives heavy criticism.
What’s the deal with the Battle Pass?
Diablo 4 will have a Battle Pass that accompanies new seasons. In the details about the Battle Pass, Blizzard has already revealed that the feature will cost around €10 and each pass will run for 3 months.
Battle Passes have two paths: a paid one with cosmetics and a free one, which can also include special boosts.
The first season won’t appear until a few weeks after the release of Diablo 4 on June 6. An exact date is still pending.
This is the discussion: On Reddit, the user GMMoira criticizes that no one is upset about this very Battle Pass. The game already costs $70, and he expects to receive all content for that.
The user complains: “A Battle Pass belongs in a free game, not additionally in a $70 game (more if you buy the Collector’s Edition).” The thread has no upvotes but over 390 comments.
The reactions show a general lack of understanding for the creator’s opinion and are partly even shocked by his views.
You can find all information about Diablo 4 in our overview here. In the video, you can find more information about the endgame:
Start video
Diablo 4: Insight into the Endgame
“Why are you upset about something that no one has to buy?”
In the comments, other users explain that Diablo 4 will be supplied with new content over the years. This content requires work that needs to be paid for somehow. And that is better through a Battle Pass than through other systems.
“I prefer that they bring a Battle Pass, cash shop, or whatever, as long as it’s cosmetic and doesn’t affect gameplay,” writes user PyrocXerus. If it motivates the developers to create more content and new expansions, he is okay with the Battle Pass.
Many others agree and note: no one has to buy the Battle Pass or skins. They are even glad if someone buys a skin for their Druid if it means getting new content. All of this is 100% optional.
No one forces you to buy the stuff. You pay €70, and even if you only play through the game once, you certainly have more hours logged than with many other €60 games.
Others do complain about the Battle Pass, however. Reader Arnas thinks, for a game costing €70, Battle Pass and real-money shop don’t belong. He is no longer interested in such things.
In general, however, the consensus seems to be that the fewest fans are really bothered by it. The content is optional after all, and Blizzard has repeatedly confirmed that it will not lead to Pay2Win:
The school principal Silke Müller has been advocating for digitalization in schools and educating children on how to use the internet, social media, and influencers responsibly for years. In an interview, she shares with us her concerns, wishes, and successes in this area.
Social media, Twitch, and YouTube play a significant role in the lives of kids today. With smartphones, they are always connected, aware of the latest trends, and know what is happening on the internet.
However, the unfiltered consumption of online content also brings problems. They start with “harmless” pranks and lead to life-threatening trends. Silke Müller, a principal from Niedersachsen, has been addressing these issues at her school for years. (Link to Twitter profile)
In a two-part interview, we talked with her about the digitalization at her school and her role as the Commissioner for Digital Ethics in Niedersachsen.
This interview was originally published in February 2023.
“Somehow we have forgotten to transfer our values and norms to the internet”
Irina from MeinMMO: Hi, can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Silke: My name is Silke Müller. I come from beautiful Niedersachsen, Landkreis Oldenburg, and I am the principal of a secondary school, the Waldschule Hatten. We have about 850 children and 85 colleagues, as well as school chickens and dogs.
In Germany, we have what feels like 30 different types of schools. You can imagine it as a combination of main and secondary schools, up to grade 10, but with a different concept called secondary school. The children go into professions, to further schools, or however they pursue their first educational qualification in Germany.
Waldschule Hatten
We have been strategically digital since 2009, starting with projects back then. Since the 2013/14 school year, all children from grade 7 have had a parent-funded tablet.
We focus on three core objectives alongside the regular analog teaching: imparting low-threshold IT skills, a foundational understanding of AIs, and especially a digital ethics.
Irina from MeinMMO: You are the Commissioner for Digital Ethics in Niedersachsen. What can our readers imagine under this term?
Silke: I have actually been involved in this digital development world for a very long time, and it is very important to me that we connect civil society, industry, market economy, education, and politics. Because we can only be successful if we understand each other and are in exchange.
This led to my being awarded by the Niedersachsen Ministry of Economics in 2021 as the first Digital Ambassador of Niedersachsen. My focus is on highlighting, mediating, and awakening awareness for digital ethics.
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Even if much at the Waldschule is already digital, some things are still analog.
The term digital ethics is as ridiculous as it may be easy to imagine, as it concerns peaceful coexistence online. And we are touching on the topic that, in my view, is not only endangered online. It also spills over into the analog world.
We have somehow forgotten to transfer our values and norms to the internet. It is still not a lawless space, but it continues to be perceived as such. And that is a huge problem. We do not need to think about censorship. Should we think about legal regulations or legislative proposals? Or do we first have to start with ourselves and ask, “How do we want to interact with each other?” And this discussion is, in my opinion, not being held.
“They care about how many hearts they have”
Irina from MeinMMO: Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok have become integral to kids’ everyday lives, much like VIVA and MTV were in the past. What effects on kids’ behavior in school and on the playground have you observed over the years?
Silke: I’d like to interrupt briefly because I see it a bit differently. I also had MTV, Unplugged, and so on. The difference is that we were often consumers of provided content. We were not content producers at that point, but those who simply consumed.
We had to accept the programming that was aired, whether it was pop, rock, or heavy metal. Now, of course, it’s entirely different. One reason is that the channels are very diverse and offer so many different programs. TV channels still have a certain ethos in what they broadcast. It is getting worse with trash TV, but it is regulated.
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Silke also warns on Twitter of dangers and points out opportunities that digitalization brings.
Social networks are not regulated. This means that children remain consumers, but on the other hand, they are also producers. They can create and post content themselves. And that is where the real disaster begins. Character formation through likes begins.
It is extremely important to them how many followers they have. They care about how many hearts they receive. And if you think about the fact that people who don’t even know you are rating you, then you as a person take a backseat. It is only a facade that I present.
This leads to kids becoming very superficial. They aspire to “look what he or she has, I want that too.” This “fame” behind it. Possibly even misguided by cosmetic and health trends. This leads to extreme directions, with a lot of fitness and body forming.
On the other hand, it leads to them trying every ridiculous thing. We had this trend where deodorant was sprayed on the arm until it turned blue, resulting in injuries and scars. Everyone would say, “What kind of nonsense is that?” They do it because it’s a TikTok trend.
Photos from the school bathroom, next TikTok trend. Facebook has already become the old people’s network for the kids.
On the school’s homepage, there is information not only for students but also for parents who want to learn about social media.
This is a huge disaster because not only does character formation through likes exist, but influencers have also gained a status where they can, in a certain way, operate manipulatively, even if unintentionally.
But real democracy education, engaging with topics, with political and social themes, is not happening. If someone says, “I think it’s cool, I don’t think it’s cool,” the follower thinks the same without forming their own opinion.
And I would say: I recently spoke with someone who told me, “You know what, Silke. I’m really thankful that we didn’t have smartphones back then. Otherwise, I would have drifted off just like that.” That is a true statement.
On one hand, it is very practical. If I’ve driven 10 km and realize I’ve forgotten my phone, I turn around. I don’t want to demonize everything. But on the other hand, as unreflected and unfiltered as we let it happen, it is simply an extremely great danger for children who are in the process of finding themselves.
Start video
Twitch streamer wants to change the perception of gaming as Miss Germany: “One should not demonize it, but also not glorify it”
The issue is that we in the school bubble have too little knowledge and typically say as teachers, “Everything was better in the past. Kids need to stick together again.” Yes, because they live a different life.
With the introduction of social networks, everything has changed socially. We can demonize this and brush it off, but we can’t simply sweep it under the rug. And we are too little concerned with this. I believe that this issue is much too little in the societal spotlight.
One says, Germany is lagging behind in digitalization. That is certainly one aspect, but we also talk very little about the content issues.
“I wish for a greater understanding of how much influence influencers actually have”
Irina from MeinMMO: What is your stance on influencers whose fan groups primarily consist of kids and young adults?
Silke: I believe this has always existed. We also had our Bravo posters in our rooms, and if a star wore a pair of pants, then you had to buy it. The essence of influencers has always existed.
We once had Daniel Jung as a math influencer here. The kids said, “Hey, you are the math giant!” One has to ask oneself why there must be people who explain math on the internet? Yes, because we seem to be failing in schools. We indeed do not reach everyone.
More about Daniel Jung can be found in our interview with him:
There are many influencers who are only commercially driven, but there are also those who are “meaning influencers.” One can demonize it or say, “Okay, this is now the time.” Fame and celebrities have always existed. And there have always been good and bad ones.
Now there are new dimensions of direct contact. In the past, stars from movies and music were unreachable. Now an influencer can say, “Hey guys, you are my family.” This direct way of feeling addressed leads, of course, to me hanging on that person’s every word and dealing with what someone does much less critically.
This “glass between us” no longer exists. One feels part of an influencer’s life. Problems arise when I find everything totally great and more or less follow a guru. That is difficult.
What are “parasocial relationships”? These types of relationships typically arise between fans and their stars. The unique aspect of parasocial relationships is that a feeling of intimacy is created: Fans feel as though they truly know the individuals – without ever having met them personally or having exchanged messages with them.
Due to the constantly growing social media landscape, especially influencers now have the opportunity to engage with their fanbase much more significantly and bind them in different ways. More on this can be found at houseofyas.de.
Irina from MeinMMO: What do you think of the statement: ‘Influencers, due to their reach, have a role model function that they must live up to’?
Silke: A lot. There are two sides to the coin. On one hand, you cannot blame someone who says, “I have the means, I want to try something and earn money with it.” The network has achieved that, and there are people like Daniel Jung who also put in an incredible amount of work. This is a legitimate business model. One does not just hold the phone in front of one’s face, and that’s it.
However, it must be said that anyone who is in the public eye must know that they influence people. That is a responsibility that one has. One can express their opinion, but still be a democratic person. So not “What I say counts,” but “This is my opinion. Follow me or not, but think about it yourself.”
This sentence is often missing from influencers. I also try to be an “influencer” for digital ethics and state that I want to have a positive impact. I still hold myself open to criticism and am open to discussion. If someone else finds it silly, I say, “Let’s step into the ring and discuss it out.”
More community interviews on MeinMMO can be found here:
One cannot simply say that the responsibility lies there. For me, responsibility also means not following someone blindly. This does not only depend on the person leading but also on those who sometimes follow blindly and stupidly.
One has to say, “Okay, it is also the responsibility of each individual to question critically, at all times.”
Irina from MeinMMO: What would you wish for more from influencers regarding their young fan base?
Silke: I think I wish for a greater understanding of how much influence they actually have. And how much danger they can pose if they do not reflect on what they are selling.
If they are advertising figures, then everything is fine. Everyone must decide for themselves what to buy. Everyone is responsible for themselves. It is not about raising a warning finger and saying that one should be careful.
But sometimes I miss this awareness of how much influence they can have on a child’s psyche. I wish that an influencer would realize: What I do changes and shapes young people. How do I want to shape young people? This question should be asked by everyone at the beginning.
The former largest streamer on Twitch has a different opinion, however:
Irina from MeinMMO: What role do games as a social network play in the everyday lives of kids from your perspective?
Silke: Every online game, in my view, is a social network because they always have multiplayer modes. Kids can communicate with each other through various contact options, which naturally offers a significant space for people with not-so-good intentions.
If I pretend to be Carola12, I could just as easily be Günther56 to lure kids in. Keyword: cybergrooming. One tries to lure children to lead them into sexual dependency. In the “best-case scenario,” as harsh as it sounds, only digitally. But it can also become analog, with meetings and thoughts of abuse.
It is simply the case that many children play games, and many parents do not know which platforms offer what possibilities. Keyword: Roblox. When I hear from elementary school parents that their children are playing Roblox, I say, “Okay, but you do know that there are possibilities for violent right-wing radicals and pedophiles there?” And then one just gets wide-eyed, “Excuse me? But that’s just like Lego.”
We again have the problem that we leave children completely unaccompanied in a world that we cannot control or know at all. It’s like sending a child on a bike to the highway and saying, “I don’t have a helmet for you right now, but be home by 6 PM. You’ll be fine.” And of course, it is not okay.
What can parents do?
Irina from MeinMMO: What tips do you have as a principal for parents who are overwhelmed by all this digital stuff? Where should they start?
Silke: I am well connected and work closely with Prof. Dr. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger. He heads the Institute for Cybercriminology at the University of the Police of the State of Brandenburg. I am a huge fan of his and do everything he says. He once gave a lecture at the school, and I remember one sentence from him, where he said, “People, don’t give your kids a game that you haven’t played yourself for two weeks to see what happens.”
Great tip. I think it’s fantastic. No network without being registered yourself and knowing what happens there. Of course, this not only involves questions of attitude, but also what one can effectively do.
We have also spoken with Prof. Dr. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger at MeinMMO:
There’s the “Law4School” initiative by lawyer Gesa Stückmann. She organizes webinars against cyberbullying for students, parents, and teachers to educate: “What am I allowed to do? What am I not allowed to do?” And I tell you, you will be astounded. She explains which penalties apply and makes clear what is happening online.
Then there’s the “Weitklick” initiative, which offers great materials for parents, children, and all areas of society. There’s also Klicksafe against cybergrooming.
One really has to say: Media education does not mean: “My child has only 2 hours of screen time.” Five minutes are enough for kids to be run over.
Media competence is not a restriction. Of course, children should not be hanging in front of the screen all day, but if you think you can protect them that way, that is nonsense. At the same time, bans do not help either. That’s almost like removing social life by saying, “You don’t have your phone anymore.” That is a sanction, but not education.
The second part of the interview will be released next week and will cover the technical questions about the digitalization of schools.
APB: All Points Bulletin (2010, PC) was an MMO shooter that involved huge amounts of money in its development. The game was supposed to reinvent the “online shooter” genre as a sandbox game. In the end, however, it became one of the biggest flops in gaming history.
What kind of game is APB: All Points Bulletin? APB: All Points Bulletin was released in 2010 and was an MMO shooter with a real-time game world.
Two factions were at the center, with players able to choose a side:
Enforcers, who upheld the law
Criminals, who engaged in illegal activities
There were missions where both sides fought each other. The player had to complete tasks while the opponents attempted to stop them.
The article was originally published in August 2022 and was updated for you in April 2023.
Here you can see a trailer for APB: All Points Bulletin:
Start video
APB: All Points Bulletin – Erster offizieller Trailer
Who is behind the development of APB: All Points Bulletin? In 2002, the creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, David Jones, founded the game studio Realtime Worlds.
Crackdown was the studio’s first game and was released in 2007. The player took on the role of an agent with superhuman abilities due to biological enhancements, combating crime in a futuristic city.
The studio was able to build on the success of Crackdown and approached the development of a new game with more budget and a larger team: APB: All Points Bulletin.
“The development costs amounted to over 100 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive video games in history”
The development of the game took 5 years. In addition to its own funds, the studio was able to secure significant investor sums.
What was APB: All Points Bulletin supposed to offer the player? APB was announced in 2005, with a release planned for 2008. The game studio aimed to uniquely renew the “online shooter in a sandbox” genre with this game.
The game promised a massive world with extensive content and allowed players to customize their characters in numerous ways.
Character design was one of the main focuses of the APB developers. At the same time, grinding was intended to be perceived not as a task but as fun gameplay.
By “sandbox,” we mean games that give players enormous freedom and allow them to play as they wish — without many quests or a storyline. The player is supposed to engage in the “sandbox” and express their creativity. Well-known sandbox games include Minecraft, The Sims, Mount & Blade, or GTA 5 Online.
What caused APB: All Points Bulletin to fail? The game launched 2 years late in 2010. It followed with criticism from players:
First and foremost, the shooting gameplay and the use of vehicles were criticized.
Actions in the game felt unfluid, and the game responded sluggishly at times.
There were also issues with matchmaking.
Many felt that the game needed more time in development.
Here you can find the English video from GVMERS about APB: All Points Bulletin, which tells the background story of APB-All Points Bulletin:
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What could have caused the internal failure? Among other things, the studio cited the following issues: According to a former employee, the problems in the gameplay were known to the developers. Beta testers had already pointed out the difficulties in the game, which were not addressed. They relied more on David Jones’s assessment than on external feedback.
An interesting problem was raised by Nicholas Lovell. The business blogger from Gamesbrief argued that too much money was available and nobody knew how to use it effectively. A problem that many startups with high financial means may have faced (via the guardian.com).
The expectations for APB were high, and everyone expected a worthy successor in the style of GTA. Aspects that, according to David Jones, ultimately led to false impressions and high demands (via eurogamer.net)
Mission in APB: All Points Bulletin, Source: YouTube
How was APB: All Points Bulletin and its remake rated by players? On metacritic, the game has a user score of 5.7 (10 is the highest score).
Since the rating also includes comments made after the server shutdown of APB: All Points Bulletin, they likely refer to the remake and not solely the original game.
The APB games seem to be polarizing. Of the total 294 ratings, only 28 are mixed. 126 ratings are negative and 140 positive:
The user TonyJ wrote on June 30, 2010: “It really has the potential to be a great game. The customization options are ridiculous. Last night I crafted a piece of clothing that looks exactly like what they sell in my college bookstore. Right now there are still some bugs, especially performance issues. It seems that [the performance of your system] has no impact on whether you can run the game correctly or not. RTW says they are working on the problem, but it has been known for a few weeks. The gameplay is fun. Driving an ambulance and running over opponents while your friends dangle out of the windows and doors gets the blood pumping.”
On the other hand, criticism was voiced by MikeP on June 29, 2010: “This is a terrible game. The driving, which I was looking forward to the most, is so sloppy and responds so poorly that it feels like steering a brick on a tricycle. This game was a huge disappointment, and I wish I hadn’t wasted my money. There’s a reason there are no reviews yet.”
The Legacy of APB: All Points Bulletin
What happened to the game studio Realtime Worlds? With the flop of APB: All Points Bulletin, the game studio of David Jones also descended.
Employees were laid off, and the upcoming project was canceled – the game studio went bankrupt. Allegedly, there were issues with paying salaries (via gamedeveloper.com).
On September 23, 2010, APB: All Points Bulletin went offline. APB was taken over by publisher K2 Network, who had also been responsible for “War Rock” (via eurogamer.net).
On the APB website, it states: “The development costs amounted to over 100 million dollars [approximately 98 million euros], making it one of the most expensive video games in history.” (via apb.com)
MeinMMO author Maik Schneider comes from a different era in MMORPGs and could hardly relate to the “WoW generation” for a long time. However, a strong franchise title pulled him into the vortex, from which he did not escape for over 1,000 hours – mostly as a solo player.
Personal computer logbook Ensign Schneider of the “USS Hau Drauf”, stardate 67091.97 – The files of the Starfleet tactical simulation program are finally available not just to the “Red Squad”, but also to regular officer candidates. Time for a bit of space action.
So or something similar were my first thoughts when Star Trek Online (STO) transitioned to its Free2Play model on January 17, 2012. I knew immediately, this is for me. Captain Janeway and other bridge figures of the “Star Trek” franchise accompanied me when I was still called “snotty brat” and even sparked a lasting interest in science.
To be a starship captain … that was literally a dream of mine. Not just once. STO provided exactly that, and I took control of a self-painted space cruiser for countless hours. More than 1,000 hours, to be exact. Mostly as a solo player.
Update: I originally published this article on July 28, 2020, and revised and adapted it in April 2023.
Most of the time in STO, I was flying one of the many variants of the “Enterprise D” – a Galaxy-class.
But flying alone through the vastness of space for 1,000 hours seems quite hefty. For me, at that time, it made absolute sense because I actually expected something different from an MMORPG.
When I started playing MMOs, the session usually began with an annoying whistling concert from the router. That was a part of connecting to the internet in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Big MMORPGs like World of Warcraft with 3D graphics still had years to wait until release, and instead of a Battle.net launcher, I only had my Internet Explorer. Because my first MMO was a browser game.
I played a few browser games until I came to “Galactix-Online” and stayed for a while. Here, you sat together with 19 other players in one of many galaxies. You built up your base, fleet, and research, and launched raids on the resource asteroids of the enemies.
Devious attacks on your own resource stores were also part of it. Every few months, there was a reset that declared a round winner and reset the progress for the next round to 0.
“GO” is no longer around today, but you can imagine it quite similarly to the much larger OGame. The German YouTuber “Aeonitas” introduces you to the browser game in his video:
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When I joined “Galactix-Online”, there were already established structures within the player community. 2 large alliances, led by a few galaxies, escalated into a major war towards the end of the rounds, and the winner usually decided the entire “season” for themselves.
The large alliances consisted of extremely active players who rarely spent a night without checking to see if their ships and asteroids were still okay. These players were constantly on the lookout for new recruits and scouted the scoreboards for new soldiers who gave their free time in the service of the alliance.
They were therefore looking for me.
Through the concept of having 20 players in a galaxy who all sat in one boat and shared a forum, a funny bunch quickly formed from an unknown group. As a “diplomat” of our “Galactic”, I also got in touch with more active galaxies and progressed from round to round.
Eventually, life got in the way, and I stopped playing as actively. Even the little Galactix Online was slowly but surely losing steam. The game probably never had more than 2,000 players; only a fraction of them played as actively as I did. You got to know each other, challenged each other, and occasionally played a round together in a galaxy or alliance.
I expected something similar from “real” MMORPGs back then. But the reality looked different – no one came by and took me along just because I played actively. The connection of the entire community was much lower.
Everywhere there are players, but hardly anyone plays together. I found that strange at first …
So how did I accumulate 1,000 hours? Due to these false expectations, I never thought about joining a larger “guild,” which in STO of course are called “fleets.” So I trudged along through the activities, and Star Trek Online still managed to captivate me time and again over the years. Thus, I accumulated countless play hours in my account.
The first few hundred hours still with a buddy, but after my first comeback, it was just solo from then on. For me, STO was really just the right fit:
I could tap commands for energy distribution, course changes, or firing on my keyboard for hours.
The ship battles in MMORPG style were a huge fun, managing about 40 abilities at the same time. You’re constantly distributing buffs, debuffs, dodging, drawing fire onto yourself, and time flies during battles – it was fantastic.
The fan factor certainly played a role too. Star Trek is simply the best.
Eventually, you could even build a starbase with your “fleet.” That thing consumed an unbelievable amount of “dilithium” (one of the collectible premium currencies), and I had to practically beg my long-inactive buddies to join me here once again.
I ground for this thing with such passion that the base of the “combat command” still stands as a testament to my tireless commitment to video games. And as a reminder to also stop someday.
If you want to see more of Star Trek Online, check out the German YouTuber “Teddykrieger”:
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Personal computer logbook Admiral Schneider, commander of the “Schnitzelbasis”, stardate 84141.21 – My old ship “Hau Drauf” is docking for technical upgrades for a few days with us. Unbelievable that the old bucket is still flying missions. The same could be said about me. I’ll check if “Cargo Bay 3” is still a tribble breeding ground.
Why did you stop? New games, new friends, new challenges. Star Trek Online was fun for a long time, and with every new trailer, nostalgia kicks in for a moment.
But the air was and still is out. Quite precisely with the completion of the starbase, for which I squeezed every dilithium asteroid in reach for several months.
Star Trek Online will always be something very special for me, and there will never again be a game that I play solo for so long – even if it was truly fantastic for a while.
After the huge success of the Netflix series Arcane, fans are now eagerly waiting for the 2nd season from the world of League of Legends. The hope was to see the first episodes of season 2 of the LoL series by the end of 2023. However, it seems that this will not happen, as was revealed in a new interview.
What’s up with Arcane?
Arcane tells the story of some heroes from the MOBA League of Legends.
LoL maker Riot has already announced a second season, though without a release date. Now the CEO talks about the new episodes, of which some are already finished.
This info is now available: In an interview with the Chinese website Bilibili, Riot CEO Nicolo Laurent discusses the future of Arcane (via bilibili.com, at minute 18:30). There, the CEO confirms: Yes, there will still be a second season of Arcane.
A fan asked on the Chinese social media platform Weibo when the season will be released. Laurent’s response: ‘It’s not finished yet […] and unfortunately, it won’t be this year anymore.’
Season 2 of Arcane will therefore not premiere until 2024 at the earliest. The reason for this is that Arcane was simply too successful. However, there is still some good news.
Start video
Arcane: Season 2 in the teaser
Arcane: Season 2 not until 2024, the first episodes are already finished
Laurent explains that the success of Arcane has significantly raised the expectations for season 2. These now have to be met, which is why the production will take longer.
Laurent says: ‘You want this quality and we don’t want to rush. This takes time.’ Had they known earlier how well season 1 was received, they would have started production of season 2 sooner. The studio is now paying the price for that.
However, Laurent has already seen the first 3 episodes of season 2 before his flight to China. The CEO does not go into detail about the content, but emphasizes that they want to deliver quality.
A specific date is still missing. Season 2 of Arcane will not be released before 2024.
With the upcoming patch 10.1, World of Warcraft will receive a new area and a new raid. A mechanic from 18 years ago, the famous “Class Calls” by Nefarian, was expected to return. However, according to the latest information, Blizzard has decided against it, despite the fact that sound files had already been recorded.
What sort of mechanic is that? The “Class Calls” were a completely unique mechanic in Blackwing Lair. The final boss Nefarian would choose a player and take control of them.
These players would harm their own group with their abilities. Depending on the class, different effects occurred – rogues, for example, would poison almost the entire raid. The mechanic was so special, that new classes received a call in the ancient raid years later.
This is new now: As wowhead has discovered, the entry for the Class Calls has disappeared from the dungeon journal. This means that the ability is no longer listed, so it likely won’t be used anymore.
At the moment, the patch is still being tested and changes can constantly occur. However, it looks like at least this mechanic has now been scrapped.
You can find all information about patch 10.1 for World of Warcraft in our overview here. In the video, you can see the latest cinematic:
Start video
New WoW Cinematic shows the power of the incarnations and quite dark figures
Players are excluded to make the fight easier
Blizzard gives no reason why the ability was removed. However, colleagues from wowhead report that some raid groups have already considered which players to intentionally abandon.
Since some of the Class Calls would be significantly harder than others, they would just leave out the corresponding classes – and instead include many of those whose effect is particularly easy.
Since Blizzard has represented the philosophy “bring the Player, not the Class” for many years, the decision here is obvious. Even in the comments, some fans show disappointment, but secretly they are relieved.
Particularly effects like that of the druid, which transforms him into a random form every 6 seconds, would have been more annoying than a challenge. Especially for “casual” groups, the ability would have simply been too cumbersome.
Many people think it takes experience and a lot of dedication to become a seasoned and bitter veteran in online gaming. But that’s a misconception. We show you 7 simple steps to achieve what others have to train for years in the MMO genre.
As a newcomer in the world of online video games, one often looks in disbelief at experienced veterans, who have a wonderfully red complexion from the pain of many years and whose voice is rough from all the screaming. The hands of these honorable, wise people are often crooked from smashing out furious flames on their noble, mahogany-colored keyboards.
We want to show you how to reach this wonderful state in no time.
This article originally appeared in December 2019 and was updated for you in April 2023.
An envious player has achieved the ultimate state of unhappiness.
Step 1: Order the biggest edition and inform yourself properly
As soon as a new MMO is announced, it is essential to find out, above all else, what the most expensive edition is. This should be pre-ordered immediately. Ideally, in a way that you can’t return it under any circumstances.
A physical edition is immediately torn open, every code redeemed immediately, every receipt ripped, burned, and erased for eternity. It is important to burn all bridges behind you. There must be no doubt, there can be no way back.
The Collector’s Edition of Conan Exiles. Professionals don’t settle for anything less.
From now on, it is essential to take every little thing that developers say about their MMO and look into what is really behind it.
Because what many don’t know: Many developers only speak quietly and cautiously about their game at the beginning. They hide many features they have already developed. They want to keep this information for a big surprise later.
When a developer says, “We offer an MMO for PvE and PvP fans,” it means that the MMO will start with at least 8 dungeons, 3 raids, and fantastic boss battles. Of course, there will also be a ranked system, which will ultimately lead to a $30 million world championship.
The roadmap of Anthem is far too sparse. The developers intentionally leave room to hide their true intent.
Many beginners make the mistake of thinking too small when looking forward to a new game. They even curb their enthusiasm to avoid disappointment.
This isn’t fun. Don’t make this mistake.
Step 2: Explain to fans of other MMOs why they are totally wrong
The second step is for many the highlight of a real MMO life. One either chooses an already established game or another new MMO and finds out where its fans are sitting.
Then one makes every effort to convince these fools that they are on the wrong path and that one’s own game is much better.
A duel between two “new” games took place in 2014.
One mocks the other game:
That it has such poor graphics and that it will “be dead soon” – the developer is known for flops.
Furthermore: Where is the innovation? This is just crap off the shelf.
Especially, when the “enemy MMO” comes from other cultures, it is important to enlighten the fans about their delusion. Everyone knows that only cheap mass-produced goods are sent out from there.
A model from Black Desert.
One praises one’s own game highly, because many clueless people don’t even know what a gem it is. They are completely unaware of what the game director said at a live event in Tokyo some time ago about the development plan. They just have no idea.
Share your knowledge with them, but don’t be too extensive. Citations or links make you seem weak.
Anyone who doesn’t know what Chris Roberts said in a livestream in 2013 from his living room doesn’t need to come!
On the other hand, anyone attacking your game is probably a miserable content creator, who just tries to get clicks from stupid people with their own, completely wrong opinion, or they are a dumb troll who just wants to cause trouble.
For advanced users: To support your own position, it is beneficial to create multiple accounts that then support your views and ridicule hostile opinions.
Experts like Datto can only be taken seriously if they represent your opinion. Otherwise, they are “so-called experts” – Pah.
Step 3: Prepare thoroughly for the release
When the long wait is finally over and the MMO releases, it’s important to make the most of that time.
Cancel all appointments and obligations, prepare any social contacts that you will surely not be available to talk for months.
Stock up on food that is quick and easy to prepare or even can be eaten raw, or get lists of local food deliverers. Make sure to have variety in your menu composition. You’re not an animal.
Reasonable nutrition during an MMO release.
Take all your vacation or think about how you can convincingly call in sick and arrange your life so that for weeks or months you do nothing else but immerse yourself in the game that will surely provide enough content to completely captivate and fulfill you.
It’s best to arrange it so that you can eat right where you also game. This saves time and is clever.
Someone is surely going to clean up after.
Step 4: Play like a madman
At this stage, it is important to fully devote yourself to the game and play through it. However, one must pay attention to achieving the highest possible efficiency.
Therefore, consume current guides and videos about your MMO on a second screen or smartphone to reach the maximum level and the best gear as quickly as possible. An ideal place for this is the toilet – this way, you can make optimal use of time that would otherwise be wasted.
But don’t tell anyone that you’re reading guides. It could cast a bad light on you.
The optimal level of gaming is reached when you dream of the MMO at night.
Correct mindset of an MMO player during the release of an MMO.
Whatever you do, do not make the mistake of giving advice to other games or answering their questions. You don’t want to ingratiate yourself with the masses.
Let them know that only noobs ask such stupid questions while pros like you operate in completely different spheres that are beyond the comprehension of these simple folks. They surely haven’t even theory-crafted, and they can only dream of the cool cosmetics you have.
It’s important in this phase to inform others about your progress. That way you can happily write under guides that you accomplished that without any help, and you’ve done it weeks ago. Noobs are interested in that.
Now your wisdom is in demand.
Step 5: Save the game
For many connoisseurs, the most beautiful phase follows now. Because you recognize, as one of the first, that the MMO offers a good foundation, but it is still lacking in features and especially content. Because you have already played through everything.
With some improvements, the game would be much better, and you already have ideas for new boss mechanics and fantastic new content. And the next better items must come soon, you’ve already got everything.
Now is the time to save the MMO.
If you don’t tell the noobs how to go on – who else will?
Now take the opportunity to describe your experiences from the last weeks and make it clear to other players that you are the only one who can save the game now. Explain how dumb the developers are for not listening to your ideas.
Emphasize what you achieved in phase 4 and how much time you’ve invested in the game to earn the status of infallibility, which should be respected by all: After all, you are a recognized expert in the MMO. No one in their right mind would doubt that.
If any noob dares to contradict you, explain to them where they can stick their noob opinion. Ideally, insult them and/or their mother so drastically that everyone realizes who is in charge here.
Surely they’ve hardly made it through the tutorial, otherwise, they wouldn’t be writing such nonsense.
Step 6: Be bitterly disappointed
Although you have made a lot of effort to promote your ideas, it seems that the developers have now retreated.
Now is the time to fully unleash your anger at the broken promises. Always emphasize how well the game was once on track before wrong decisions were made to please some casuals, while the developer alienated the true audience – that is you.
Here you can use your enormous knowledge to make it clear to everyone what twisted lies the developers once told to deceive and lull you into security.
All the promised features did not come, the roadmap is now ridiculous, and the only ones defending the game are blinded white knights, who are surely secretly paid by the developer.
Step 7: Find the next game
After that, find a new game and start with phase 1.
