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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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”:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
The content of Pokémon GO is meant to motivate trainers to move. Now, a Reddit user reports about his weight loss, which he achieved with the help of the game. We at MeinMMO have conducted a written interview with him, and he revealed to us how he accomplished this.
Who is it about? Unlike most other games, Pokémon GO is designed to go outside, move, and explore the area. The Reddit user FarTransportation376 took advantage of this and proudly reported on March 22 in the Pokémon subreddit about his weight loss.
He told us in the interview how he did it and what further goals he is now pursuing.
How a trainer lost 15 kilos with Pokémon GO
Why did FarTransportation376 want to lose weight with Pokémon GO? As he explains in his Reddit post, he has gained 60 pounds, or 30 kilograms, since his graduation, which is why he felt uncomfortable in his skin. However, his training in the gym did not bring any improvement, and he hated mindless running. With Pokémon GO, he found a special incentive to move.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
“Pokémon GO helped me lose weight, and I am forever grateful”
How much has FarTransportation376 lost? In our interview, the trainer proudly revealed that he lost nearly 15 kilos in just 2 months. He explained to us:
I spent 2 months and have gone from 225 pounds [112.5 kilograms] to 195 pounds [97.5 kilograms] (still not my goal, but very impressive for such a short time).
FarTransportation376
How long has he been playing Pokémon GO? He originally started playing Pokémon GO in 2016 but took a break due to his studies. However, a friend suggested that he start playing again in February 2023, to play together and walk regularly.
I started playing in 2016 but stopped in 2017/2018 when I went to university. I picked it up again in February 2023 after a friend suggested we all play and go for walks since we live in the city.
FarTransportation376
Trainer runs 50 km each week for the weekly reward
What motivated him to move? As FarTransportation376 told us, he lives in a city where he can reach 6 PokéStops and 2 gyms from his apartment alone. For many, the convenience would already win out, but the Reddit user saw it differently.
He realized that the lure modules did not spawn the best monsters, so he was motivated to explore his area, to walk around the city blocks and encounter numerous interesting and new Pokémon.
I was motivated to go out and walk because, although there are two gyms and 6 PokéStops in my apartment that I can spin without moving, the spawn rate of new Pokémon even with lure modules is not that great. If I walk a few city blocks, some new and really interesting Pokémon spawn.
I don’t always walk on a fixed route since I want to visit new PokéStops and gyms, so my route takes a different path each day.
FarTransportation376
In his Reddit post, he also explains that he enjoys hatching eggs and collecting candies with his buddy Pokémon through walking (via reddit.com). Which Pokémon are best suited as buddies, we will show you in the following post:
The trainer reached a special milestone: But the weight loss itself was not the only milestone that FarTransportation376 achieved. He tried to constantly increase the distance he walked. In the beginning, he walked 25 km and, with the help of the GO Plus, a corresponding catching gadget, managed to cover more than 50 km every week in the last few weeks (via reddit.com).
My statistics are not that great when considering my break. Since I restarted in February, I have covered 215.8 km, caught 4,211 Pokémon, and spun 4,580 stops. In the last three weeks, I completed the weekly walking challenge (50 km) with a GO Plus and I’m also on track to do it this week.
What else helped him with the weight loss? Besides playing Pokémon GO, FarTransportation376 also changed his diet and revamped his gym visits. He explained to us:
In connection with these walks, I made my gym visits more meaningful and focused. I always avoided alcohol and processed foods, and I cook much more vegan.
FarTransportation376
What is his next goal? The previous weight loss of 15 kilos should only be a milestone because he aims to lose more weight by summer. His target weight is currently 185 pounds, or 92.5 kilos. To achieve it, he has about 5 kilos left to lose.
I hope to lose the rest of the weight and reach 185 [pounds] by summer.
This advice FarTransportation376 has for like-minded individuals
Finally, we wanted to know from FarTransportation376 what advice he has for other players who also want to lose weight with the help of Pokémon GO. This answer was clear to him – just play, because it can be rewarding not only in the game but also outside of it. He wrote to us:
My advice to others: Play! It’s a fun game that doesn’t take much time if you don’t want to, but it can pay off both in the game and outside of the game when you train! The community is positive and there are new Pokémon in the game and new experiences on my walks every day.
FarTransportation376
Have you also lost weight with the help of Pokémon GO? Or would you have been more tempted to play from home with the numerous stops and gyms in the place of the Reddit user? Let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments and exchange thoughts with other trainers about it.
World of Warcraft is giving it all and releasing patch after patch. But how long can this go well? MeinMMO demon Cortyn dares to make a prediction.
When Blizzard announced the release date of patch 10.1 Fury of Neltharion at the beginning of the week, I had to blink several times. The next update is already starting in early May.
I want to be honest and never thought I would write this about World of Warcraft: It feels a bit too fast for me.
Maybe because I’ve been accustomed for years to only getting an update every 4 to 5 months, it now feels almost rushed.
No matter how much I think about it, I simply cannot comprehend how World of Warcraft manages to release so much high-quality content so quickly, as has been the case since the launch of Dragonflight.
Having patch 10.0.7 for just 6 weeks also means that the Forbidden Island as an “endgame zone” was only truly relevant for 6 weeks, just like the Onyx ring with its countless customization options.
The Onyx ring is quite complex – considering that it will only be truly strong for 6 weeks.
Blizzard has introduced a new system here, namely the aforementioned ring, and is burying it again after about 6 weeks.
That is fast. Very fast. Almost wasteful towards its own content.
The community is also mostly thrilled and confused. For many, Dragonflight is well on its way to becoming one of the most popular expansions of all time:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Reddit that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
And although I am very excited about the amount of content and the speed at which World of Warcraft is currently delivering, I still have this small, skeptical voice in the back of my mind whispering to me: “Just wait, the crash is coming.”
There is still this chance that Dragonflight can release this amount of content only because the players left Shadowlands very early. If that is true, then Dragonflight might just be getting a significant boost in content that is mostly already developed.
That, however, would mean that Dragonflight either experiences a major content drought until the next expansion or this expansion in turn has larger content gaps because this boost is simply used up.
I am truly confused about how this current pace is happening. Because even though Blizzard had hired 100 new employees for World of Warcraft just before the Dragonflight launch, their contributions will likely only be noticeable in the coming months – after all, the newest content had been in development long before the launch of Dragonflight.
But being pessimistic all the time is not pleasant either. Therefore, I will push the thought of the future a little into my subconscious and enjoy the fact that so much is currently going so damn right in World of Warcraft.
If Blizzard proves that they can maintain this pace, then I even dare to hope that World of Warcraft can reclaim the “MMORPG throne” that it has visibly – and rightly so – been crumbling from in recent years.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The next Spotlight Hour in Pokémon GO features Shellder. Why this is special and why trainers are looking forward to it, we will show you here.
What event is it about? Every Tuesday, a Spotlight Hour runs in Pokémon GO. The first one in April featured Owei. Next up is Shellder. This Pokémon from the first generation is underestimated by some trainers. At least at first glance.
In the community, trainers advise participating in the event. Because in addition to the actual candy bonus, you also receive a lot of Stardust. But why?
Why is the Spotlight Hour with Shellder worth it?
What you need to know: The normal bonus for the Spotlight Hour with Shellder is that you receive double the amount of candy for sending Pokémon.
Shellder itself is not a particularly strong attacker. With Cloyster, you have a good attacker in PvP in the Ultra League. But mainly, the hour is worth it for you to collect Stardust.
How much Stardust do you get? When you catch Shellder, you receive the following amount of Stardust per catch:
Without a Star Piece 1,000 Stardust
With a Star Piece 1,500 Stardust
With weather boost, without a Star Piece 1,250 Stardust
With weather boost and a Star Piece 1,875 Stardust
What do the trainers say about it? On Reddit, the Spotlight Hours for April are being discussed. User ApathicJellyfish is excited: “Shellder! I can finally go hunting for a shiny Shellder!”. User Tooldfrthis thinks, “I believe I will catch Shellder for the dust. One of the few [Pokémon] from the first generation besides Staryu, Meowth, and Paras that I will always catch.”
Will you also use the hour for the Stardust? Share your thoughts about it with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
In the USA, a billionaire has placed two statues of the Transformers in front of his townhouse. Since January 2021, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee have been guarding the house of Dr. Newton Howard. The neighbors do not find this funny at all, but the billionaire threatens to go to court if he is denied permission to display the statues.
What kind of statues are these? The statues are metal replicas of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. They weigh 1,814 kilograms. The statues were made from recycled motorcycle and car parts by an unknown artist.
The two Transformers were installed in January 2021, replacing two plant boxes that used to be there. There are other robot statues in the house.
Start video
Transformers: Reactivate Official Announcement Trailer The Game Awards 2022
Who does such a thing? Dr. Newton Howard is a professor of neurosurgery at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He researches remedies for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s among other things and has earned billions of US dollars through patents and investments.
Billionaire says: He is a man of transformation, his home a place of transformation
Why is he doing this? Howard says his work with artificial intelligence and prosthetic technology inspired him to place the two Transformers in front of his house. He is a man of transformation. The statues say: Transform yourself, your environment, the community.
In an interview, he explained:
They represent the coalition of humans and machines working together in harmony, but as different entities. We create robotic and prosthetic arms and all these things to compensate for harm. That doesn’t make us robots.
So in short: He does it because he can.
Neighbors are up in arms – Say the statues attract the wrong crowd
What is the problem? Some neighbors do not appreciate that giant representatives of pop culture are visible in their upscale neighborhood of Washington. The houses here are each worth several million US dollars. They apparently find the statues tacky. They believe they mar the neighborhood and drive property values down. They consider it an ego trip for Howard to place the statues on the sidewalk, which belongs to the whole community.
Moreover, people regularly gather in front of the robots to photograph them, for instance for selfies on Instagram.
A spokesperson for a neighborhood group says:
We have motorcycle gangs showing up and blocking the street to take photos. We have tourist buses. Pick your poison, we have it all. We can’t walk on our sidewalks. People yell and spit at us if we don’t stop when they want to take a selfie. “Disturbing” is still a nice word for what we’ve been enduring here for 27 months.
Is there anyone who likes the statues? Yes, indeed. The university students apparently like Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. A spokesperson for the committee says one must admit that not all neighbors find the statues so disturbing.
All university students living across the street consider the Transformers to be “of public importance”.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Statues are modern art, allowed to stay – Now it goes to court
What is the status? Howard says the statues are now being accepted by more and more people, and he is working to place 16 more Transformers sculptures in the city.
He apparently managed in 2022 with the help of a consulting firm. The consultants argued that the statues are modern art symbolizing the concept of “transformation”.
The neighborhood board had allowed the statues on the condition that the billionaire renew his permit every 6 months.
Recently, in April 2023, the board did not grant the permit. Howard then announced that he would go to court. He didn’t even know that a vote had taken place. The statues are part of his right to free speech. Moreover, they help the environment as they are made from recycling materials.
Recently, MeinMMO editor Marie Friske started playing the open-world RPG Genshin Impact – within a short period, the game has become one of her absolute favorites. Especially the interesting characters, the vast game world, and the flexible multiplayer system convinced her.
One evening, I decided to give the RPG and Gacha game Genshin Impact a chance. I had heard a lot about the game and started with high expectations – I was not disappointed.
This article originally appeared in December 2022.
In Genshin Impact, you play as a traveler, depending on which main character you choose at the beginning. With them, you explore the game world “Teyvat”. You meet various cities like Mondstadt or Liyue and their associated deities, the so-called “Archons.” Each one rules over one of 7 elements:
Anemo (Wind)
Geo (Earth)
Hydro (Water)
Dendro (Plant)
Electro (Lightning)
Pyro (Fire)
Cryo (Ice)
The deities have endowed selected humans with “Visions” and equipped them with the powers of their element. In gameplay, the characters have different abilities of an element. You create a party from characters with which you can prove yourself while exploring the world and in combat.
Already after the first few hours of gameplay, Genshin Impact completely caught my attention, and I have spent many evenings working through various quests and areas – sometimes until late at night.
Three aspects of the game particularly appeal to me and have ultimately made it a favorite for me:
The characters
The game world
The coop
Here you can see a trailer for version 3.6 of Genshin Impact:
Start video
Genshin Impact: Version 3.6 „A Parade of Providence” Trailer
Interesting characters with their own stories
One of the main aspects that defines Genshin Impact is undoubtedly its numerous playable characters. Besides the interesting character design, I am particularly convinced by the complexity of the characters:
In the backgrounds and voice lines reflect various traits, strengths, weaknesses, and complete stories. The latter the player also learns more about over time and experiences through interactions with the characters.
I especially like one character and his story on my journey so far: Zhongli!
Here you can see the character demo for Zhongli:
Start video
Genshin Impact: Character Demo – „Zhongli: The Listener”
The reasons for this can be read in the spoiler box, as I am revealing important information that represents major spoilers for the Liyue Archon Quest:
That’s why Zhongli is one of my favorite characters
Zhongli first presents himself to the player as an advisor to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, later revealing himself as the Geo Archon “Morax” or “Rex Lapis,” who was believed to be deceased. However, he staged his own death and now exists as Zhongli in his human form in Liyue – no one knows this initially.
Together with him, I as a player do shopping in Liyue. Zhongli generously orders the best goods, only to realize he doesn’t have any money with him. He does this in such a likable way that I only amuse myself about it instead of being annoyed.
In one area Zhongli is truly in his element: he quickly proves to be a source of numerous trivial facts about Liyue and shares them with me during the shopping trip in his philosophical and calm manner. I enjoy listening to him.
At the same time, the character also radiates a certain sadness. Especially when I once witness Zhongli thoughtfully looking at a Geo statue. It becomes evident that the character is internally broken.
Later, Zhongli also reveals the reason why he staged his death, which breaks my heart: he is tired of his existence as a Geo God after all these millennia and has already thought about whether his end has now come. However, he still felt obligated to his city of Liyue and the people, so he did not abandon them.
With his background story and dialogues, he embodies for me in a certain way the finiteness of life’s phases and life itself and shows that nothing remains forever, except for the memory. A harsh but beautiful realization.
In one of Zhongli’s voice lines, which is also my favorite quote from Genshin Impact, this becomes very clear:
“For those that live too long, the friends of days gone by and scenes from their adventures live on in their memories. As such I have no regrets in meeting you friend. Should the day ever come that we are not together, you will continue to shine like gold in my memories.”
Translated, it means:
“For those who live too long, the friends of days gone by and the scenes of their adventures continue to live on in their memories. Therefore I do not regret meeting you, my friend. Should the day come when we are no longer together, you will continue to shine like gold in my memories.”
Because I am not spared from temptation either and must admit that it sometimes seems quite tempting to buy additional wishes to increase the chance of getting one of my favorite characters, like Zhongli.
In version 3.3, a new playable character called “Wanderer” was introduced:
Start video
Character Demo – „Wanderer: Of Solitude Past and Present“
However, if one does not shy away from the grind, a good number of Original Resin can be earned completely for free. This is an in-game currency with which one gets wishes. Of course, the time and effort involved are significantly higher – for me, however, that’s just part of the game.
The acquisition of Original Resin is less of a “duty” for me but rather fun gameplay. I personally enjoy the quests in which you get to know the characters and thus the world of Genshin Impact better, such as the Archon Quests or the Legends Quests. If I can also pick up a treasure chest or two on the way to the objective, so much the better.
In the Legends Quests, I find the little trip with the absolute unluckiest character in the game particularly entertaining. We are talking about Bennett, a young adventurer who is followed by misfortune at every turn. At first, I think the character is exaggerating when he claims he has quite a bit of bad luck – but I was so wrong:
From a sudden weather change, miserable chest contents, to inedible food and an unsuccessful shopping trip, everything is included. Hardly any mission do we finish without incident. We were even locked in a ruin once because I made the mistake of letting Bennett operate a single switch.
The game even provides a small souvenir photo
However, since the adventurer always stays positive and shows gratitude for small good moments, the story is still nice to play and in the end, I am happy that even Bennett has some good luck.
Genshin Impact offers plenty of room for exploration
Treasure chests, puzzles, and enemies are abundant in Genshin Impact. It feels like you find a little extra at every corner within a beautifully designed game world that invites you to explore. Players have a lot of freedom in what they choose to do in Teyvat.
Whether I want to directly complete the next Archon Quest, play my way up in the “Winding Abyss,” or solve puzzles and explore ruins, it is largely up to me.
Also, regarding the multiplayer function, the player can decide when and how they want to use the coop feature.
It is up to you whether you prefer to play coop or solo
As I am also a big fan of single-player games and sometimes just enjoy being out alone, I appreciate this freedom of choice in the multiplayer mode immensely. If I want to play with other players, I can send requests to join or accept requests from other players to explore and fight together.
With up to four players, we can run around together and communicate via chat. This is very helpful if you need a bit of support – however, multiplayer is disabled during the Archon Quests and the Winding Abyss. There, you have to go through alone as a player.
Genshin Impact is a great RPG for players who enjoy exploring and are not afraid of grinding. And yes, it is also a Gacha game. In my opinion, the game is completely worth it, even without spending a cent. Since in-game currency can be earned, I find the wish system without real money somewhat time-consuming but quite feasible.
Furthermore, I perceive the game as very beginner-friendly. Especially in the quests, a lot of support is offered, and the puzzles are well solvable in terms of difficulty, ensuring that frustration is avoided. Instead, it is a beautiful feel-good game that can be played very well after a stressful day to get lost in a beautiful world.
I will definitely continue to explore Teyvat and am curious where the traveler’s journey will go next.
In February 2023, Wild Hearts was released, an action role-playing game by Electronic Arts for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. It was apparently meant to capitalize on the success of Monster Hunter World here in the West. However, Wild Hearts had a belly flop at launch. Just a few weeks after the launch, EA is now starting a free trial phase for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Anyone wanting to test it on PC needs an EA Play subscription for about €4 a month.
What kind of game is Wild Hearts?
Wild Hearts is an action role-playing game by Omega Force, the developers of Dynasty Warriors. In the game, you hunt giant monsters in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan.
Upon release, the game received reviews in the range of 80%, indicating good test evaluations, but there were some technical issues.
Here in the West, the game went almost completely unnoticed at launch – there was little attention in the media and on Twitch. Many may have been deterred by the high price of €80 on PS5, Xbox Series, or €70 on Steam.
Start video
Wild Hearts: Everything about the new hunting game in 3 minutes
This is the current promotion: There is currently a “Free Trial Phase” for Wild Hearts:
You need an EA account for this.
The trial phase is expected to cover the first 10 hours of the game, roughly until reaching Minato, the first village of the game.
The trial phase lasts until April 13.
Anyone who wants to buy it afterward will receive a 20% discount for PC and Xbox.
Is it worth playing? At launch, Wild Hearts had some supporters who claimed that the game was indeed fun. Since the release, several improvements and updates have also been added.
The general reaction from many fans of the genre at launch was: I’ll get Wild Hearts when it’s on sale later. The purchase price was seen as too high.
The trial can now be the chance to at least try the first 10 hours.
Gamers often complain that streamers have some advantages on Twitch. Often, these are exaggerated examples, but they are not entirely wrong. Actually, it doesn’t matter at all. On the contrary: It’s even good if streamers don’t have to work everything out themselves, says MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus.
“He can only do that because he is a streamer.” This or something similar regularly echoes in the chats of major streamers, in forums, or on Reddit, and even in the comments here on MeinMMO.
What advantages do streamers have? Streamers get to play games earlier, streamers receive pre-made characters from the devs, streamers get their own servers, and everyone helps the streamers as much as possible. And they also get paid for it.
This article was originally published in September 2021.
The accusations are manifold, and sometimes the dispute escalates to such a degree that a true “us against them” mentality arises. And to be fair, I must say: Yes, streamers have their advantages.
In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, there was recently an outcry that criticized exactly that. The streamer Rich Campbell completed a raid of the game after a week of progress, with help from a group of established veterans:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
He was “carried,” as it’s called in jargon – relying on others to compensate for his supposed inability and carry him through. Similar accusations are repeatedly made against Asmongold (featured image), one of the biggest streamers on Twitch. Whether and how much this is true remains to be seen. In any case, it’s absolutely fine for something like this to happen.
Show me the game, not how you fail
That’s why “streamer bonuses” are fine: If streamers can get through certain content, I also benefit as a viewer. After all, I get to see what a game has to offer that I might never finish myself.
Of course, I don’t want to see my hero fail over and over again. I don’t want to watch someone get stuck somewhere; I want to know how it gets solved and continues. Sure, now and then we all enjoy watching people fail. But if that keeps repeating – like in FFXIV over days or weeks – it becomes boring.
Streamers are entertainers, and as such, they don’t have to be professionals. They should entertain me and give me insight into what they are doing. If they lack the skills to achieve it themselves, then let them organize a capable team to help them. The main thing is that I can watch my favorite streamer.
Then they should just get better! Why? It’s not a streamer’s job to be the best at their game. If I want to see top gameplay, I watch the pros who usually also stream or are active on YouTube.
If I don’t like the style or content of a streamer, I watch something else. If everyone does that, he will be forced to change his content – or he disappears because streaming is no longer profitable. This is how Twitch has worked for ages.
The 2 types of streamers: If you take a closer look at the streams on Twitch, you will discover two concepts that are successful: Entertainers and pros. Pros show their game at the highest level.
Entertainers fill their stream with interaction and work through games and their emotions to convey them. In both cases, it’s about seeing what the respective game (or category) really has to offer.
“Literally doesn’t affect you”
The well-known content creator Frosty frequently accompanies “World First” races in Final Fantasy and is deeply rooted in the community there. He has also commented specifically on the discussion about Campbell.
In a tweet, he states: “Whining about the successes of others that literally do not affect you makes you look like spoiled brats. Just so you know.” (via Twitter.com) And yes, what advantage would you get if streamers fail over and over again?
I personally would lose interest in a game if I don’t see any progress. Even less so if people constantly nag at me for it.
The anger towards such “advantages” of the streamers is often born out of envy or a lack of understanding of the job, as far as I have observed. It is often complained that streamers supposedly only get paid for playing games and actually do no work.
This attitude is … strange. What exactly is good about someone playing a game in front of me that might not even be finished, or getting help from others?
Just because someone else plays earlier, my enjoyment of the game doesn’t suffer because of it. Moreover: If that person gives their opinion and I trust it, I can much better assess whether I want to spend money on a game myself.
The same goes for help from the community or from pros. Everyone has the opportunity to ask for help on Reddit or in Discords, and there are enough helpful players in almost all games. But not everyone wants that, as the feeling of reward and “I did this myself” gets lost in the process.
Two of the biggest streamers on Twitch: Asmongold (left) and xQc.
Some of these advantages, we journalists have as well. Publishers provide us with preview keys or invite us to events where they guide us through the game. We process this information and present it to you.
Streamers operate similarly, only that they primarily take a personal approach. Their strength lies in scoring through personality and an opinion that fans trust or want to engage with. In both cases, however, it’s important to thoroughly examine a game.
Some streamers even cleverly use the hate directed at them as publicity:
Redfall is a new vampire shooter from Arkane Studios, published by Bethesda. Redfall is meant for fans of single-player and co-op experiences, releasing on May 2 for PC and Xbox Series X. Players of the PlayStation 5 will miss out after Microsoft acquired Bethesda. Now there has been gameplay from a boss fight and some negative comments.
This is what we know about Redfall:
In Redfall, players must fend off a vampire plague. They fight alone or with up to 4 players in a co-op shooter against the gentlemen and ladies with the nice fangs.
MeinMMO author Maik Schneider got the chance to play Redfall early and says: It is “looting and leveling with crazy weapons and characters”. It reminds him strongly of Borderlands.
He judges that the world is exciting, but Redfall has its weaknesses in gameplay. The gunfights are not fun, and the controls are lacking. There is still a lot to improve.
Start video
Just shooting doesn’t bring anything – New gameplay from Redfall shows interesting combat system
This is the new gameplay now: The US site IGN released a 3-minute video on Good Friday, April 7, showing a boss fight. 3 players fight against “The Rook”, a vampire. The fight takes place on a farm, with many effects visible.
The player, from whose perspective we are watching, often runs away. Especially when his teammates go down, he takes on the thankless task of stalling, distracting the boss, and has his hands full.
In the end, he delivers the killing blow and gets to loot.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Players mercilessly dissect the new gameplay of Redfall
How is this commented on? The comments on YouTube are brutal and mainly focus on the playstyle of the poor soul recording the video:
“One must say: IGN manages to make every game they play look painful.”
“If you give the controller to your little brother …”
“Honestly, if IGN decides to show the gameplay footage from that guy, I wonder what the others have been playing together.”
“8 shots and 7 missed while the boss casually trots straight towards you.”
“Why are you fighting a giant boss in a fully furnished house? Why are you running away from the boss and shooting at adds while your team is dying? Why are you opening a locked door in the middle of a fight instead of reviving your teammates? Why are you throwing a translocator and not using it? Why are you shooting a sniper at an enemy standing right in front of you? Why do you get to deliver the killing blow when you’ve hardly done anything?”
Memo to self: Never record video footage of me playing anything other than strategy games, and even then, someone will come along and explain that I married the wrong cousin in Crusader Kings 3! Damn backseat gamers!
The Dane Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg is considered the most popular and significant player in the US-American League of Legends. He is inseparably linked to the name TSM. Bjergsen actually ended his career in 2020, then worked for a year as a coach in LoL, but returned in 2021 to shine as a professional player. However, that went wrong. Now he ends his career at 27.
Why is Bjergsen so popular?
Bjergsen has a story that many apparently can identify with: He experienced an unhappy youth in Denmark, where he was an outsider in school who was bullied. In nothing did he really feel competent. He even had suicidal thoughts.
However, because he was so good at the computer game LoL, he matured into a star, was able to switch to the USA, found friends and a community, played for TSM for one of the big teams, and was the linchpin of the team as a midlaner from 2013 to 2020, even becoming a co-owner of Team Solo Mid.
Bjergsen developed into a star on social media and the most popular and greatest player in the USA: He became a 6-time champion in the LCS, snagged 4 MVP titles and received numerous other personal awards. The Dane certainly also earned a lot of money in the USA.
Bjergsen is the greatest player in the USA – Faker is the greatest in the world:
Start video
The Life of Faker – Why He is a Living Legend
Bjergsen already retired after the World Championship disaster in 2020
What was the catch? Even though Bjergsen was the dominant player with TSM in the USA, and the fans kissed the ground he walked on, he could never convince internationally. At the Worlds, he regularly got eliminated early. The competition from China and South Korea has always been two or three classes better than the teams Bjergsen played for.
In 2020, he experienced an absolute disaster with TSM, getting eliminated with 0-6. After that, Bjergsen ended his career and became a coach at TSM.
Bjergsen in 2017.
In the last 2 years, Bjergsen played with “super teams”, but never made it far in the playoffs
How was his return? After a year as a coach, Bjergsen wanted to give it another try and play professionally again. His boss at TSM, Reginald, allegedly made him a great offer, promising him money and strong teammates, but Bjergsen switched to Team Liquid, where they assembled a “super team” of great European players like Hans sama or Bwipo.
But Team Liquid had no success, the team did not fit together, got eliminated in the playoffs against younger teams, and the team broke up after a year.
In 2023, Bjergsen wanted to give it one more shot with “100 Thieves”. He joined the team anew, replacing the German Abbedagge and was reunited with his old friend Doublelift.
But even this team could not convince – fell out in the playoffs, in the Spring Split 2023, against FlyQuest and Golden Guardians mercilessly.
This is the end: After the loss against Golden Guardians, Bjergsen has now announced his final farewell. He states that it is not about the elimination or the team, but that he has been struggling for a long time.
According to Bjergsen, LoL is so complex with the many champions that it takes a lot of time and effort to stay at the top. For a long time, he has made that effort. That was also the key to his success. Now, however, he no longer feels that fire after playing LoL for half his life.
One always chases that one success, the championship or winning an international tournament. But for Bjergsen, that probably no longer matters.
He says:
I have worked harder than many others, I wanted it more than many of them, and I was ready to sacrifice time with friends and family, ready to sacrifice personal interests, hobbies, and actually everything else.
For a long time, he has been telling people around him: If he no longer feels that he can give everything to win and be the best, then he will stop. And he believes that the time has now come.
Bjergsen does not see his first retirement as a retirement because he still wanted to win then, even as a coach.
This is now his first and only retirement from competition. He does not yet know how it will continue. He has decided not to immediately continue as a coach or streamer:
I would like to find out what my identity is when my whole time is not related to League of Legends.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What’s behind this: After the emotional video, it is hard to be a bit mean to Bjergsen. But, to put it bluntly: After 2021, the hype surrounding Bjergsen was more hype than actual sporting success. Previously, Bjergsen was dominant with his teams in the USA, but internationally, it was never enough against Korea and China.
After his comeback, Bjergsen’s teams were no longer the big force nationally: It all seemed cobbled together to desperately create a team that would make an impact at the Worlds. But that’s apparently not how LoL works.
His teams could convince in the regular season, but crumbled under the pressure of the playoffs. Even though Bjergsen himself still played strong in recent years.
It’s a shame for Bjergsen. You could tell he did not want to end with the 0-6 at the World Championship 2020. But ultimately, he did not manage to secure a place on the international stage in the last two years. So this part of what was otherwise a dream career will remain unfulfilled.
The MMORPG Tibia was created in 1995 in Regensburg, but experienced its best business year 25 years later. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, record numbers have been achieved – even in 2022, the success streak continued, allowing the employees to look forward to a hefty bonus.
What is special about the MMORPG?
Tibia was created in 1995 when four university students in Regensburg came together and invented what we now know as MMORPG. Back then, it was uncharted territory, there was no template, they only knew that a team from the USA was somehow planning something similar with “Ultima Online”.
One of the unique features of the MMORPG is that the students founded a company in Regensburg, CipSoft. To this day, they are the managing directors of the company, which now consists of almost 100 people.
Tibia is primarily played today in South America and Poland and continues to generate exciting stories in 2023, which we report on at MeinMMO.
How are business operations going? The business has been excellent since 2020. The lockdown surely played a role in that. However, in 2022, when measures generally eased, the revenue remained strong.
The managing directors say:
CipSoft’s record results in recent years were no exception but are part of a sustainably positive development.
The statistics confirm this sustainable positive development, with a boom during the corona year 2020:
How does Tibia make so much money? Tibia is a freemium game. You can play it for free or get a premium account, which brings benefits. Additionally, there is the premium currency “Tibia Coins.”
If you are interested in working for CipSoft in Regensburg, where they speak German and consistently use the informal “du,” you can find the current job offers.
The company distributes 25% of the profits to the employees
How do the employees benefit from it? This is another unique feature of the company from Regensburg. As managing director Stephan Vogel explains, the company distributes a quarter of the company’s profits to the employees each year in the form of a bonus.
This year, the bonuses correspond to more than 9 additional monthly salaries.
CipSoft now has almost 100 employees.
This will not only delight the employees but also the city treasury of Regensburg.
We conducted a large interview with Stephan Vogel, one of the heads of Tibia, on MeinMMO:
Last week, testers had the chance to try out the new MMORPG Blue Protocol. We summarize their opinions. There was also a major patch in New World, a new MMORPG, and a delay of Aion Classic.
The week in the podcast: In their own podcast MMO News, Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner are discussing the most important news around MMORPGs again this week. Topics included the test of Blue Protocol, the new information about Ashes of Creation, and the two upcoming games Aion Classic and Mad World.
You can listen to the podcast on Apple, YouTube or here on Spotify:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Spotify that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Diverse MMORPGs have launched Easter events, including EverQuest 2, Albion Online, Dark Age of Camelot, and New World.
NCSoft (Aion, Throne and Liberty) is suing Kakao Games (ArcheAge) because their new MMORPG ArcheAge War is allegedly too similar in gameplay and content to Lineage Mobile. Allegedly, this was copied (via MassivelyOP).
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 would like to share? Or have we possibly forgotten something important? Feel free to write it in the comments here at MeinMMO.
If you are looking for the best MMORPGs currently, you will find them here:
