The latest class in World of Warcraft is getting even bigger – at least that’s what the data mining suggests. A questline promises Dracthyr a third talent tree.
Although Patch 10.0.7 will be released in just a few days, data mining for Patch 10.1 Fury of Neltharion is already in full swing. A still incomplete questline has attracted special attention, as it teases a new specialization for the Evoker class in World of Warcraft. We reveal what it’s all about – and how likely it is.
Spoiler warning: This article contains details about a possible questline in Patch 10.1 – but you should have already noticed that while reading the introduction.
What was found? In the game data of Patch 10.1, the colleagues from wowhead uncovered some exciting details about an incomplete questline. The questline currently only exists in outlines, and the quest text is incomplete. Instead of the actual quest text, there is a summary of what is supposed to happen during the quest. Particularly suspicious is the first quest, as it states (translated):
Only for Evokers. Upon login, you will be greeted with the message “REMINDERS OF A NEW SPECIALIZATION”. This quest appears at the mailbox and is from Emberthal, who wants you to travel to the Forbidden Island. The secret revealed in Patch 10.0.7 (does not need to be completed for this quest) will unfold and she needs your help to dissuade Ebyssian, whom she views as futile.
The next quest step is a longer RP event where the player character activates some objects while Ebyssian and Emberthal have a conversation. It gets interesting again only during the next quest.
In the currently last step, Adamanthia must be subdued and the Evoker hero must assist Ebyssian and Emberthal. The description states that you should either “boost/heal Ebyssian and Emberthal (most efficient method) or deal damage to Adamantia.”
What does this mean? The interpretation from wowhead is that Evokers may receive another “Support” specialization, focusing on empowering and enhancing allies – so it would likely be a healer specialization with additional boosting effects. However, this is still just data mining and in a very early state. It also occasionally happens that initiated and later discarded ideas still exist in parts within the game data. Until more information is available, this information should be taken with caution.
How likely is a new specialization? That Blizzard would provide a wholly new specialization during a class expansion seems quite odd at first glance. However, since this would be a specialization for the Evoker, which was implemented with Dragonflight, the likelihood does increase somewhat. It could give the class an additional boost, and if this comes true, Blizzard likely planned it a long time ago.
More news about World of Warcraft can be found here:
Has Blizzard done something like this before? To a smaller extent, yes. Blizzard once split the druid specialization “Feral” into two new specializations, namely Guardian and Feral – previously the same talent tree with many overlaps. This made druids the first class with 4 specializations and strictly speaking, the first class to receive a “new” specialization – even though it had been playable before.
Would you be excited about a third Evoker specialization? What should it look like to make the Evoker class interesting for you?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Guardians from Destiny 2 are currently unintentionally disguising themselves as residents of Neomuna. Just like them, the players are now merely silvery-shining shadows of their former selves. Bungie is aware of the issue and has now announced both a fix and schedule changes.MeinMMO ensures that you stay up to date.
What problem is currently occurring in Destiny 2? Normally, Guardians in Destiny 2 find it cool to be invisible. Enemies can be misled this way, and one can escape from critical situations.
However, being invisible is less fun when, for example, in a PvP match, almost all Guardians – including the enemies – are invisible. Exactly this is currently the case, and it is not a show of solidarity from the players towards the residents of Neomuna.
This usually happens after activities where one has been praised by other Guardians for the new appreciation system or has opened the appreciation tab themselves.
Both the enemies and most teammates suddenly become only glassy buddies in PvP, barely visible and even harder to hit.
In some cases, one’s own crosshair can also disappear, or even the entire weapon becomes invisible.
As you can see, they see nothing!
Tip for ratings: You can rate in two ways. Once directly via the overview page shown in the image. Or you can click at the top right directly on “Full results”. Our impression is that the invisibility bug occurs less frequently with the second method. Feel free to try it out and let us know.
Understandably, this is a significant problem, especially in team-based PvP activities. However, players report that the bug often occurs in PvE as well. Bungie has been aware of the bug since it became known.
On March 4th, the developer already announced via Twitter that they are working on a solution and also provided players with a temporary workaround for their problem:
“We are investigating an issue where some player characters and weapons become invisible after repeated interactions with the commendation screen following an activity. It is recommended to restart the game app to fix this issue.”
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Bungie has been aware of the issue since March 4, 2023
However, this only temporarily fixes the problem and does not guarantee that it won’t happen again two matches later. Many players have therefore decided to currently avoid the Crucible until Bungie can fix the issue.
However, with the fix, changed schedules come into effect, so the start of the Iron Banner has been postponed, and the Trials of Osiris have been brought forward.
Start video
New gameplay of Destiny 2: Lightfall takes you to spectacular heights – “This moment was made for Guardians”
Invisibility is supposed to end on March 16
Hotfix schedule shifts the Iron Banner: In the weekly blog, Bungie has now gone into more detail about the invisibility issue and made further announcements for the Crucible.
These do not only include information for the hotfix but also a schedule shift for the Iron Banner and the Trials as well as news about both events in the coming week.
Regarding the issue, Bungie shared the following this week:
The fix [for the invisibility bug] is set to go live on March 16 – two days after the start of the Iron Banner. However, we don’t want our Iron Banner premiere to start with two days of invisible Guardians – or for anyone playing Iron Banner to have to restart Destiny 2 every hour. So we are making the difficult decision to postpone Iron Banner by a week.
In Season 20, much in Destiny 2 is quite opaque – not just the story
These are the newly scheduled PvP dates:
The “Trials of Osiris,” the PvP endgame, now starts on March 17 (previously March 24)
The Iron Banner event now starts on March 21 (previously March 14)
Between the first week of Iron Banner, which ends on March 28, and the second week of Iron Banner, which begins on April 4, there will only be a one-week break. Fans of Lord Saladin should be pleased with this.
For more current news about Destiny 2, you can always find it on MeinMMO:
Expect even more information: Bungie also announced that Guardians can expect a double dose of Crucible information in the upcoming “This Week at Bungie” blog, which will be released on March 16. This means there will be additional or even new details about the Trials and the Iron Banner that will come into play in the ongoing Season of the Resistance.
Are you glad that this pesky invisible bug is finally being fixed? Or did you enjoy confusing your opponents with the transparent look in PvP? Feel free to leave us a comment with your opinion.
At least the raid was not affected by the invisibility bug, and thus the guardians could have an exciting but also short race:
Terraformers is a new colony-building and resource management game on Steam. It is rated very positively at 87%. Currently, you can get it 20% cheaper.
Terraformers sends you to Mars with the mission: Build a colony on the red planet. Pay attention to the wishes of the inhabitants, restructure the planet, and discover what Mars has to offer.
The strategy game left Early Access on March 9, 2023, and had its full release on Steam.
Here you can see a trailer for Terraformers:
Start video
Terraformers – Official Trailer
Make the red planet habitable
What does the gameplay in Terraformers look like? Manage your colony, meet the expectations of the residents, and found new cities to further expand your settlements.
In addition, you send your people out to explore Mars and secure resources. Mine metals and use them to expand the infrastructure, such as a transport system that allows you to exchange between the various settlements.
The building system works through building cards, whose resource requirements you must meet in order to “play out” the desired object and place it. Round by round, the buildings can produce new resources again. However, you must act quickly; if your inhabitants become dissatisfied, it can quickly lead to the end of the game.
Additionally, terraforming must not be missing. Let a volcano erupt or ice asteroids strike the planet to change your environment. You also take care of the settlement of various life forms: from bacteria to bears. However, you must also address their needs, but you can also gain some advantages from the inhabitants.
How do players rate Terraformers? The number of reviews is still manageable: In total, Terraformers has 934 player ratings on Steam. However, 87% of them are positive, making the game perform very well on the platform – including the Early Access reviews.
Many users praise the gameplay of the strategy game, saying it is relaxing to play yet challenging. In addition, some also appreciate the ambiance itself, they like the design of the game.
However, some criticize the gameplay, saying it is boring and repetitive.
How much does Terraformers cost? Currently, the strategy game is on sale. Instead of €19.99, you currently pay 20% less, bringing the price to €15.99. The sale ends on March 16, 2023. (As of: March 12, 2023).
The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online will receive Update 37 with the DLC Scribes of Fate on March 13, 2023. This will begin the storyline “Shadows over Morrowind”. All information about the new update can be found here on MeinMMO.
When will Scribes of Fate (Update 37) be released? You can play the new DLC starting March 13 on PC/Mac and Stadia, as well as from March 28 on Xbox and PlayStation.
From what time can you play Scribes of Fate (Update 37)? The time is not yet known, but you can check the server status at any time here (via ESO Server Status).
Do you need ESO+ for the DLC Scribes of Fate? Yes. To run the new DLC dungeons, you need ESO+. Alternatively, it is also possible to purchase the DLC for crowns in the shop. However, we recommend the ESO+ option as it has additional benefits for you. However, the new features of the base game, i.e. Update 37, are free for all players.
[toc]
Two new dungeons in Scribes of Fate
What are the biggest innovations through Scribes of Fate? With the new update, two new dungeons are appearing, which provide a glimpse into the storyline of the upcoming chapter Necrom and start the narrative “Shadows over Morrowind”.
The new dungeon “Bal Sunnar”
You can find this dungeon in the east of Stonefalls.
What sets are available here?
Binding of the Rite Master (light)
Nix-Hound Howls (medium)
Telvanni Executioner (heavy)
Roksa the Twisted (Monster Set)
The new dungeon “Hall of the Scribes”
You can find this dungeon in the south of Rift.
What sets are available here?
Embers of the Rune Carver (light)
Apocryphal Inspiration (medium)
Abysmal Armoring (heavy)
Ozezan the Inferno (Monster Set)
Read-aloud function for better accessibility
With the next update, you can have a large part of the menu read aloud. You can also choose whether you want a male or female voice. You can change both the speed and volume.
This way, ESO takes another step towards accessibility. But even so, it can be quite nice from time to time to just have some things read aloud instead of struggling through the menu yourself.
Hide shoulder protection
Until now, you only knew the “Free Sight” function, with which you can hide your headgear. You can find it in your collection under the Appearance → Headgear. However, to hide your shoulders as well, you must stand at a costume table.
Otherwise, the function is the same as the familiar hiding of the headgear.
At the costume table, you can apply the new function.
Improvements for housing
For housing, there are several small adjustments to make it a bit more comfortable for you:
Additional filters for the search – You can now see if the furnishing items are in your bank, in your inventory, a storage chest, or your collection. You can also filter the items based on whether they are bound or unbound.
Resetting the training dummies – You will soon be able to reset your training dummies even while in combat.
A better overview of who is visiting your home. There will soon be real-time notifications that inform you whether a player has entered or left your house. You can also kick players out if they misbehave.
More detailed view when purchasing a house – You can now see exactly which furnishing items are included when purchasing a furnished home.
If you’re interested in more about ESO, you might find this interesting:
The prologue quest for the new chapter will be available for free to all players in the Crown Store. You can conveniently find this quest named “Eye of Fate” in the showcase or under the “Quests” tab in the Crown Store.
Do you already know the ESO Event Ticker? If not, you should definitely check it out. There you can find out everything about the numerous in-game events in ESO, and we link our guides to the events there. If that sounds interesting to you, just check it out here:
He has accumulated years of experience as a moderator of the MMORPG subreddit – Now Protobear shares his impressions with us in an interview.
Protobear or U/Proto_bear has been one of the moderators of the MMORPG subreddit for 7 years. Among the current moderators, he has been there the longest, aside from the AutoModerator from reddit itself.
If you are often in the MMORPG subreddit, you have certainly read his name before. Proto_bear, alongside the title “God of Salt.” What that means exactly can be read in the interview.
We talk with the moderator about changes and issues in MMORPGs. For example, why is it rule number two: “Do not be toxic”?
“The MMORPG community constantly resists changes”
Anny from MeinMMO: You have been a moderator of the MMORPG subreddit for 7 years now. How did you become the “God of Salt” and what does the title mean?
Protobear: I became the admin or “God of Salt” when a new admin was being sought because the previous one had left. I had previously shown initiative and managed to build an engaged community on Discord.
The title refers to the subreddit, which is often called a “salt mine” because people can sometimes become very “salty” about their favorite games [Note from the editor: “Salty” colloquially means something like “angry” or “upset”]. The name “God of Salt” comes from an interview with Steven from Ashes of Creation.
MeinMMO: In recent years, the MMORPG genre has seen many flops and failed releases. What are the biggest changes you have seen as a moderator of the subreddit in recent years?
Protobear: I have noticed some changes. First, I observed that smaller games can exist and a successful launch is not the key to a game’s success. ESO, for example, has developed well because Zenimax Online stuck with the game despite it being anything but a commercial success at launch. It is better to grow slowly than to have explosive numbers at launch.
On the negative side, I have observed that games take the safe route and follow a standard formula, which is why many are very similar. Even if details may differ, small changes seem much more significant due to the slow development of the genre and are therefore welcomed. And when a game tries new things, it is said to have “not enough MMO” even though it possesses the same qualities.
On the positive side, New World has shown the industry that players want MMORPGs. Furthermore, Riot, which is currently gaining weight in the genre, could lead to new MMORPGs appearing on the market. However, if the Riot MMO fails, the genre could go through tough times. […]
MeinMMO: How has the subreddit changed with the genre? Has the community changed?
Protobear: The MMORPG community constantly resists change. This is due to their strong attachment to their favorite games or the fear of losing them. Nevertheless, the subreddit has undergone significant changes.
We have been inspired by other subreddits and collected feedback to make substantial changes to our rules. For more positivity, we are working with developers again this summer and have introduced a spotlight program. [Note from the editor: In the program, developers can participate for free. Their MMORPG will then be pinned in the subreddit for several days, gaining attention and feedback from the community.]
Moreover, there seems to be less emphasis on player numbers now. People are moving away from the idea that a single game dominates a genre. These changes reflect how the community’s attitude regarding the potential of an MMORPG is changing.
In the video, you can see the trailer for the anime MMORPG Blue Protocol:
Start video
The new MMORPG Blue Protocol showcases its colorful anime world – Set 2,000 years in the future
“Toxic behavior has been tolerated by developers for years”
MeinMMO: Many MMORPG fans believe that the community is becoming increasingly toxic and that everything used to be better. What is your opinion on that?
Protobear: My view is that the subreddit has not become more toxic over the years. Although there are some toxic cases, we have reduced them by promoting positive content and moderating strictly.
The problem with the MMORPG genre, however, is that players can be very passionate about their favorites. This sometimes leads to toxic behavior towards other players who speak out against the game due to negative experiences. For example, this is the case with Black Desert Online. Players feel the need to defend it because they do not want it to disappear.
Moreover, inclusivity in the industry has increased, and marginalized communities are now more visible. This can lead to resistance from individuals who oppose changes. Women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community are becoming increasingly visible. Some players are openly hostile towards them.
This creates a toxic environment in the gaming community, for which developers are responsible for managing and improving. Toxic behavior has been tolerated by developers for years, ironically creating a “safe space” for insults.
My point is that toxicity is a multifaceted problem – on the one hand, with a culture created by MMORPG studios, and on the other hand, with a fundamental us-vs-them mentality of the players.
Nevertheless, there are games that have cultivated a positive community – for example, Final Fantasy XIV and Guild Wars 2. It takes effort and commitment from both developers and players to create a healthy environment. And it will take time for the necessary changes to be fully integrated into the industry.
Which MMORPGs does Protobear play himself?
MeinMMO: Which MMORPGs are you playing?
Protobear: That’s a tough question because I haven’t had much time to play lately. I played Dragonflight at release because WoW has always been very important to me. But due to my work, I am now rarely home and mostly have to resort to my Steam Deck.
ESO has been working very well for me lately because the combat system is designed for controllers, and you don’t always have to invest so much time. Currently, Destiny 2 is my main MMO (if you can even call it an MMO) that I play to fill the void.
In addition, I am looking forward to catching up on Guild Wars 2 and FFXIV now that the main storylines have been expanded.
MeinMMO: Which upcoming MMORPG is the community looking forward to the most and why?
Protobear: It is important to note that I do not speak for the entire community. In my opinion, the Riot MMO and Corepunk are two of the most anticipated MMORPGs. Riot has a huge following, and there are high expectations for their entry into the genre.
Corepunk, on the other hand, has attracted a lot of attention due to its unique blend of MOBA and MMORPG elements.
We thank Protobear for the interview!
Are you often on reddit and did you already know the moderator? What is your opinion on the topics? Feel free to tell us in the comments here on MeinMMO!
Diablo 4 will have its big release on June 6, 2023. The available classes at launch have already been announced. However, there is a possibility that more characters will follow later. Now we want to know from you, which of the current classes would you like to see in the new Diablo?
Which classes are confirmed? At the launch of Diablo 4, you will have 5 classes available:
As was the case in Diablo 3 and Diablo Immortal, you can choose the gender freely and customize your character’s appearance. You do not have to commit to one character, but can play multiple.
Each of the classes in Diablo 4 is expected to receive refined gameplay mechanics. In addition to class-specific strengths and weaknesses, the playstyle will be customizable, allowing for different play experiences even with characters of the same class:
Will more classes be added? Currently, there is no information on whether and which classes will be added to Diablo 4 after release. However, there is a good chance that latecomers will be included in the game.
As PCGames reports, game director Joe Shely responded to the question of whether more characters would be added beyond the 5 classes with the following: “We are looking forward to talking about things that will come in our live service and in future expansions.” He also stated that it is a tradition in Diablo games to add new classes.
Now we want to know from you: What other class do you wish for in Diablo 4? We have listed the previous classes from Diablo to Diablo: Immortal in the survey that have not yet been announced for the new game.
This is how you can vote: Let us know in the survey which class must be present in Diablo 4. Each person has only one vote, and you cannot change your choice afterwards. Therefore, choose your favorite class that you do not want to miss in Diablo 4.
Feel free to also tell us in the comments why the class should definitely be included in Diablo 4, or which character you absolutely do not want to see in the new game. Perhaps you have a guess as to which class could come to Diablo 4? Please let us know.
In Conan Exiles starts the third and final part of the big “Age of Sorcery” update. The developers have granted MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus an early preview, and it’s now clear: there will be a step into the future of Survival MMOs.
I have been observing for a while now that the future of survival games and MMOs is developing in a certain direction. A direction that increasingly links both areas.
The upcoming Dune game has started this trend. Dune: Awakening combines survival with MMORPG and together they create almost a new genre. Here, survival elements and social interactions play an equally important role.
Now Conan Exiles is also taking a step in this direction. With Age of Sorcery, magic was introduced and the entire game was overhauled. The story will now continue in the third act, but the features really amaze me.
As a reminder, this is the Age of Sorcery:
Start video
Survival MMO Conan Exiles presents the new expansion in detail in the video
The new journey is like a free class system
With part 3 of the Age of Sorcery, the journey is completely overhauled. The journey is an exciting feature in Conan Exiles. Different tasks guide you through the world and give you clues on what to do next. A kind of guide when you might not know how to proceed.
You will always be shown which task you can pursue next, to encourage you to explore more of the world or expand your base. So far, the journey has been quite linear, leading you essentially from the beginning to the end through the game.
Instead of always showing individual steps, the milestones are divided into individual, meaningful areas with chapter 3. This way, you can clearly choose which path you want to follow:
Do you want to become a better archer or swordsman?
Is your interest more in building and gathering?
Does your heart even beat for alchemy or blacksmithing?
Or do you want to devote yourself entirely to one of the gods of the world?
The trailer shows how it looks:
Start video
Conan Exiles: The new travel system explained
Essentially, the system remains similar and still rewards you with experience and partly cosmetic items. It is designed for newcomers to make it easier to get into the game and get a feel for what they can do.
However, the division into specific areas is a way for players to gain expertise in an area through a skill-based system and thus take on a specific role – like in an RPG.
You can switch at any time or dedicate yourself to another “profession”, but especially in cooperative play, it can be beneficial to distribute roles. The new journey system makes this much easier.
The story is full of NPCs – They even have quests!
The actual hook of the new season is the story about the wizard Mek-Kamoses, who has brought magic back to the lands of the exiled. He is currently preparing new rituals in which you are supposed to help him.
As is typical for Conan, things are rough, with the blood sacrifice of a young princess, who fights with all her might, and the battle against other evil wizards. The idea here is that a huge red beam tells you all over the map: something is happening back there.
This is what the dark ritual looks like … that you are supposed to aid.
Mek-Kamoses himself then gives you tasks that guide you through the story of season 3 and the new dungeon, where you learn more about the new systems. While it’s not a lot of quests, there is still a connection between story and gameplay that sandbox survival games usually lack.
Through special items, you can earn rewards from Mek-Kamoses and his followers, such as new armor. A bit like the grind in modern MMORPGs.
By the way: the solar eclipse plays a central role in the new story. That’s why it replaces the night in the game with an eerie, red glow.
Build your own companion
As a third major feature, the developers introduced me to Golem building. Instead of further expanding the actual magic, in season 3 you have the opportunity to create golems through a workshop.
This works through individual components like torso, arms, and legs, which you need to assemble and then animate. The twist here is that you can choose exactly what your golem should be able to do, at least to a certain extent:
Limbs made of stone are cheaper but last less than iron or rarer materials.
Special components that you can rarely find from enemies give the golem abilities like a buff aura or higher threat against enemies.
Depending on the weapon you give to the golem, it can even collect various resources like wood, stone, or herbs for you.
Golems function like slaves. They can follow you, fight for you, and guard areas. However, they have a significantly higher health pool. In return, you cannot heal them. They hit hard and take a lot of damage, but when they are broken, you have to build a new one.
Along with the golems, there are new “blood crystals” from rare enemies that you need to animate them. Additionally, season 3 brings a new battle pass and new shop items. Most of it you can already check out live on the test server.
Golems are built in your own workshop.Crystals are obtained from tough enemies.
Conan Exiles takes the first step into the future of survival MMOs
Even if the changes look relatively small on their own, I think the direction is clear. Survival games are evolving towards MMOs and towards what many MMORPGs cannot deliver: an open world for many at once.
In conversation, the developers told me that they see it similarly to me. Large survival MMOs are the logical development of the genre, which is now slowly becoming possible as technology advances.
A very good thing, in my opinion, as the genre has plenty of room for improvement:
The 27-year-old Raffaela Raab polarizes as “The Militant Vegan” already on TikTok and YouTube, now she spreads her views on animal rights also on Twitch. Reason enough for MeinMMO to take a closer look at the activist.
Note: This article was originally published on March 12 and updated on April 6.
Who is The Militant Vegan? The 27-year-old Austrian Raffaela Raab advocates for animal welfare online as “The Militant Vegan.” She claims to be a doctor and to have worked in a hospital, but in the long run, she wants to make a living from her activism.
She gained fame primarily through TikTok, where her videos sometimes reach several million views. In addition to her appearances on all major social networks and even on German television, the activist is now also present on Twitch and even OnlyFans, which has already caused a lot of commotion.
Where does the name come from? “Militant Vegans” is actually a derogatory term for vegans who supposedly want to impose their lifestyle on others. The 27-year-old was apparently called “militant” so often that she made the term her trademark.
The streamer Sandra Friedrichs advocates for a new perspective on gaming as abnormaldisaster on Twitch:
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 Militant Vegan Polarizes
Why is she so controversial? As an animal welfare activist, The Militant Vegan wants to convince people to refrain from animal products and to no longer support animal suffering. However, her methods are highly controversial.
What is actually vegan? Vegans refrain from all foods of animal origin. Unlike vegetarians, they do not only avoid meat and fish, but also do not consume eggs, dairy products, or honey. For many, it is not just a specific diet, but a lifestyle: They avoid, as far as possible, products that involved animals in their production, such as detergents with animal-derived surfactants or cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
How does the activist approach it? In many videos, The Militant Vegan can be seen confronting passersby in pedestrian zones and discussing with them. She often confronts her conversation partners brutally with details of factory farming and animal suffering.
She rarely allows counterarguments and often interrupts her conversation partner, not infrequently with deliberately provocative questions such as: “Would you also find it okay to eat humans?” or “Would you also kill the animals yourself?”
The term speciesism also frequently comes up: The discrimination against beings based on their species is equated with discrimination against humans and often placed on the same level as racism or the Holocaust.
Critics see this as a trivialization of the atrocities committed against humans and an insult to the victims (via taz).
What is the point? The 27-year-old is well aware that she provokes with her approach and it seems that she wants it that way. In a conversation with the YouTubers ApoRed and Leon Machère, she explained that she does not want to be just another “cooking vegan” or “health vegan.”
Rather, she asked herself how she could draw attention to the problem of factory farming and has also used her marketing experience to make the topic accessible to a wide audience (via YouTube).
One can therefore assume that The Militant Vegan is at least to some extent putting on a show and deliberately relying on the shock factor.
Reach for a “good cause”
What is The Militant Vegan doing now on Twitch? The activist has only one goal: to reach as many people as possible. For that, she now also uses the streaming platform Twitch. She has had an account since 2021, but has hardly streamed actively until now.
Since mid-February, the 27-year-old has been regularly visible on Twitch. She is mainly seen in the “Just Chatting” category and speaks with guests about veganism, but also shows the similarly controversial game Hogwarts Legacy.
She already has over 24,600 followers and averages more than 1,000 viewers (via sullygnome).
She was also involved in her first Twitch drama when she clashed with the German streamer HoneyPuu on a call. When she lost her temper with the 22-year-old, HoneyPuu accused her of pressuring her conversation partners and not allowing them to think. She promptly ended the conversation (via YouTube).
Even the casting show “Germany is looking for a superstar” (DSDS) was used by The Militant Vegan to spread her message. This is simply the next logical step to establish veganism in pop culture, she explained.
Even if singing is less the focus during her appearances, the 27-year-old is active as a musician on Spotify. The title image shows a screengrab from the music video for her latest single “What You Don’t Want” (via YouTube).
Here you see a reaction to her appearance:
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How is this received? The activism of The Militant Vegan is intended to provoke, and she is quite successful at it. Clips from her videos were for a time indispensable in almost every reaction compilation. There, she was met with mild laughter by some, while others reacted with disdain and mockery.
Even among vegans, the methods of the 27-year-old are controversial. Many, including the Twitch streamer Simon “Unge” Wiefels, who has been vegan for 13 years, believe her cause and message are correct, but do not agree with her methods, calling them “catastrophic” (via YouTube).
Some fear that such an approach will not convince anyone of a vegan lifestyle; rather, it would scare people away. In a vegan forum on reddit, it is argued that some people simply need a push in the right direction.
Controversy over transphobia and ties to the far right
What other criticism is there? At the beginning of the year, the vegan YouTuber TiltedFloste released a video in which he showed the Militant Vegan’s statements in a Discord.
The activist is accused of making transphobic remarks and “jokes” at the expense of people with disabilities. She is also said to provide a platform for far-right “swabblers,” which is particularly problematic in light of her comparisons to the Holocaust (via YouTube).
What does The Militant Vegan say about it? These allegations against the 27-year-old are not new, but they have been summarized once again. In the past, she had denied the accusations (via Twitter).
What is the new development? Since early April, the activist has also been found under the new name “The Wild Vegan” on the pay platform OnlyFans, where she sells erotic content. This has been actively discussed on Twitter.
Critics of the 27-year-old now even speculate whether her entire previous appearance was just a show to attract attention and then rake in money with OnlyFans: after all, she seems to have been producing content for a while that she is only now publishing.
However, The Militant Vegan justifies the decision by stating that she can draw even more attention to her cause, animal welfare.
Pax Dei is a new MMORPG for PC (Steam) developed by former developers of CCP Games (EVE Online). It promises a lot of freedom, a high degree of detail, and action-packed battles. In some communities, it is celebrated as the new “sandbox hope”.
What kind of game is it? In Pax Dei, you create a character and explore the beautiful game world. However, you do not just follow quests mindlessly, but can basically do whatever you want. The developers emphasize this repeatedly in their previews.
The focus is on collaboration with other players, as even the battles against PvE creatures are tough. For special points of interest, you will need to form a group with other players and can rely on a Holy Trinity.
The further you move away from the “Heartlands” – something like the safe zone – the more difficult the content is supposed to become. However, there are also supposed to be rarer rewards. PvP is possible as well. However, all player types should find their place, including solo players.
Pax Dei does away with fixed classes. Instead, armors and weapons determine your playstyle.
You start by gathering resources and crafting things. Crafting is supposed to play an important role, as monsters do not drop equipment. Everything is crafted by players.
There is an interesting building and housing system.
The game uses a zoom function that allows you to focus on decorations, equipment, but also elements in the open world. This makes even small engravings on worn equipment visible, which is supposed to play a role in the lore.
It is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, leading to really beautiful graphics.
It is supposed to be released first on Steam for PC. However, a Cloud MMORPG is planned for later. This should allow it to be played on consoles or smartphones as well.
Here you can watch the official presentation along with the first gameplay:
Start video
Pax Dei – Official Announcement with Gameplay
A medieval world full of dangers, mystique, and freedom
Why do so many place high hopes in Pax Dei? After the first presentation, the new MMORPG sounds like a kind of Albion Online in third-person and, thanks to Unreal Engine 5, with beautiful graphics. Additionally, elements of New World have been mixed in with the mystique, the medieval world, and the combat system.
Especially the richness of detail and the developers’ love for the project excites many. In the video, it shows that the chest and leg pieces have several “layers” of armor. You wear a chain shirt or leather armor under the plate armor. This is not found in many other MMORPGs but is actually very realistic.
Furthermore, the equipment can be customized very individually, such as its shape or even the small rivets on plate armor. This way, every player should be able to create their individual armor.
However, the details go much deeper. There is a zoom function that allows you to look closely at an element in the game. In a preview that we participated in from MeinMMO, a mushroom was shown, simply growing on the ground and can be collected. With the zoom function, the mushroom suddenly took up almost the entire screen.
It is depicted in great detail and also reveals some information about itself. It said, “Insects avoid this mushroom, does that mean anything?” The game communicates that you should avoid consuming this mushroom.
This zooming in allows story details to be placed on walls, in books, or even in small engravings on rings. This is meant to invite exploration.
What about housing? You can simply claim an area in the open world for yourself and then build your house on it. You have the option to build completely alone in your area or to open it up and let friends help you. You can construct floors and walls, typical decorations, and also crafting stations.
Anyone who wants can also connect their housing area with other players. This way, settlements and cities can be established. In our preview, several developers teamed up, built houses, and built a fence around it. This created a cozy medieval settlement.
What do we know about the combat system? The fights remind a bit of New World. You have different weapons that you can switch between, need to actively target enemies and can dodge attacks. So far, no abilities have been seen in the game, but those are supposed to come later.
A tidy UI and targeting of enemies are shown in the video.
What else do we know about gameplay? As a solo player, you should be able to contribute resources and participate in building cities, but especially the tough areas will likely be group content.
There should be a lot of “drama” in the game world, which could relate both to the tough PvE mobs and possible PvP battles. EVE Online is particularly known for players writing the best stories in the MMORPG.
It is currently unclear whether there are penalties for death in PvP, such as the loss of equipment like in Albion Online.
Former developers of EVE Online bring hope
Who is behind the game? The game director of the game is Reynir Hardarson. He co-founded the studio CCP Games, known for EVE Online and thus one of the most successful sandbox MMORPGs. That is why many have high hopes for this new MMORPG.
CEO is Thor Gunnarsson, who temporarily headed the management of CCP. With Pétur Örn Þórarinsson, there is another member of EVE Online on the team. He was the game design director and takes on the role of lead game designer at Mainframe.
Currently, over 70 developers are working for Mainframe, all focusing on Pax Dei. The studio was founded in April 2019 and received a financial boost of 30 million dollars from various investors, including Riot Games.
When will Pax Dei be released? There is still no official release date. However, you can register on the official website for an alpha. It is also said that Pax Dei will be released “soon” – initially only on Steam. The cloud version is supposed to be tackled after the release.
What do you think about Pax Dei? Does the concept of the game appeal to you, or do you prefer to place your hopes in another MMORPG? Feel free to write it in the comments.
Lemnis Gate is one of the most unusual shooters of recent years. It is played in first-person, but with turn-based gameplay and a time mechanic. Although the game received good reviews, the shooter is being discontinued after less than two years.
What kind of game is it? In Lemnis Gate, you play a match in 1v1, 2v2 or local multiplayer. There are various modes such as Deathmatch, Search and Destroy or Domination. You also have different operators with different abilities at your disposal.
A game consists of several rounds, each lasting 25 seconds. In these 25 seconds, you can do whatever you want. Then the game resembles a classic first-person shooter.
When your turn is over, it is the opponent’s turn and they can react to your moves. If an operator dies in a round, they are in ghost mode. However, you can still perform the usual actions there. If you manage to kill the opponent who killed your operator, you can return to life.
The high player counts were something Lemnis Gate never achieved. On Steam, only 807 people played simultaneously shortly after the release. But among its few players, it was popular. On Steam, the shooter received 758 reviews, 86% of which were positive. In addition to Steam, the game was also released on PS4, PS5 and in the Xbox Game Pass.
Start video
Lemnis Gate – Gameplay Trailer
Lemnis Gate will be discontinued in July 2023
What has happened now? The low player numbers are taking their toll. On July 11, 2023, the servers will be shut down. PC players will no longer have access to the content from that point on, but console players can still play locally against each other.
Before that, on April 11, the sale of Lemnis Gate will be discontinued.
What led to the shooter’s failure? Looking at the reviews, there were many positive ratings around the release. They praise the complex gameplay, which requires a lot of thought and planning. One user described it as “4D chess with guns”.
Some had already feared that the large player numbers would not materialize – also because Lemnis Gate was Buy2Play, which is a barrier to entry.
There was an early desire to switch to Free2Play to have more players for matchmaking. This was said to have been difficult already in January 2022, four months after the release. At times, there were only 8 players online on PC simultaneously.
In the last few months, the shooter lacked both new updates and new players. The shutdown was therefore the logical consequence.
Did you play Lemnis Gate? And if so, will you miss the shooter?
This week, WoW was primarily in focus with its new updates 10.0.7 and 10.1. A lot of information was shared about it. But Lost Ark, Bless Global, and the indie MMORPG Past Fate also made headlines. We have summarized all the important news.
The week in the podcast: In their own podcast MMO News, Alexander Leitsch and Mark Sellner talk again this week about the most important news around MMORPGs. Topics included the new information on Throne and Liberty, Amazon in general, Bless Global, the new MMORPGs Teredor, Pax Dei and Pantheon, as well as the latest news around Lost Ark and WoW.
You can listen to the podcast on Apple, YouTube or here on Spotify:
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In Guild Wars 2, there was only a shop update this week, which introduced a summonable noodle stand that can seat 3 people (via GW2).
In ESO, the new DLC Scribes of Fate will be released on March 13 with the prologue for the upcoming expansion Necrom and two new dungeons.
Puma has entered into a collaboration with FFXIV and is releasing shoes in the style of the MMORPG (via FFXIV).
Black Desert is releasing the new expansion “Land of the Morning Light” in Korea this March. This brings a new area but eliminates the usual grind spots (via YouTube).
Dark Age of Camelot has brought back its speed leveling event. If you want to start with the old MMORPG from 2001, you can participate (via DaoC).
ArcheAge has released its roadmap for 2023/24. This includes a revamp of Hiram City, new equipment items, an increase of the quest log to 150 quests, and a new playable fairy race (via MassivelyOP). Furthermore, the Twitter account of ArcheAge will be deactivated on March 17 – important news will only be shared through the official website and Discord.
Albion Online has released a new patch that has slightly adjusted the rules of the Crystal League (via MassivelyOP).
CCP Games – the company behind EVE Online – has laid off 13 employees. However, a new game, not EVE itself, seems to be affected (via MMORPG.com).
A new pirate MMORPG has launched on Steam with Uncharted Waters Origins. However, it is being torn apart in reviews for relying on gacha and pay-to-win mechanics (via Steam). The trailer promised grand game worlds and diverse battles:
Start video
Uncharted Water Origins Battle Preview
This is what happened with the MMORPGs in development:
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 did we perhaps forget something important? Feel free to write it in the comments here at MeinMMO.
If you’re looking for the currently best MMORPGs, you’ll find them here:
MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller enjoys playing shooters and survival games. In ARK: Survival Evolved, he gathered over 1,500 hours of gameplay and also had a lot of fun with other survival games like No Man’s Sky, Valheim, and Sons of the Forest. A survival game that he particularly likes is Icarus.
Sons of the Forest has done many things right and fulfilled several criteria that I desire in a survival game.
There are dangers to fight, the ability to build a base, various weapons – especially a bow, I love bows – and beautiful nature. I actually don’t need much more to be happy in a survival game. If the game world and its atmosphere engage me and I can immerse myself for hours in building and farming resources, then I can play a survival game for days and have fun.
All of this is accomplished by Sons of the Forest. But while I was walking through the forest and making my way to the next cave, I kept thinking about another survival game and got really eager to play it again: Icarus.
Icarus is not the most well-known game in the genre. For months, I haven’t heard anyone talk about the game, and on Steam, it only had an average of 2,172 players in February (via SteamCharts). In case you don’t know Icarus or have forgotten what it was, I will introduce the title again.
Survival game by DayZ creator with a special twist
Icarus is a survival game by DayZ creator Dean Hall and his new development studio RocketWerkz. The game sends you to the eponymous planet Icarus and was released on Steam in December 2021. Since then, it has received a free DLC that added the new map “Styx”.
The planet Icarus has been chosen by humans as the “new Earth”. The “old” Earth we humans successfully destroyed in the game’s backstory and now want to make the unknown planet inhabitable through terraforming. However, this undertaking fails due to an unknown, exotic substance. This substance now offers the possibility to create new, advanced technology, which is why humans see it as a source of wealth.
Your task is therefore to land on Icarus with a space capsule and find and harvest the substance. However, your license, which allows you to stay on the planet, is time-limited. When it ends, your capsule will lift off again, and you will be stranded on Icarus.
The special twist of the game is to give you a certain time pressure. You must fulfill your current missions before the timer runs out and then return to your capsule. With the collected resources, you can then improve your equipment in the space station and soon embark on your next visit to Icarus. The gameplay principle reminds of extraction shooters and EFT-likes like The Cycle: Frontier or Marauders.
We embed the trailer for the new DLC map Styx here:
Start video
Icarus Styx Trailer
Icarus will cough and huff and blow your house down
I am a big fan of the fact that the enemies in Icarus are not zombies, cannibals, or mutants, but simple animals like bears and wolves. This harmonizes with the realistic graphic style of the game and its atmosphere, and it is the main reason I got the urge to play Icarus while playing Sons of the Forest.
I feel comfortable in my little forest on Icarus surrounded by normal animals, building my log cabin, hunting my food, and simply enjoying the process of settling the “new Earth”. Then it occurs to me that I am pursuing a goal on Icarus and that this “new Earth” is not made for peaceful settlers.
On Icarus, there are regular strong storms and bad weather, from which you must seek shelter in your house. But your creation not only needs to look pretty, it must also withstand a lot. The storms wear down the durability of the walls and roofs, and the planet seems to scream at you: “I will cough and huff and blow your house down.”
During a storm, you are primarily occupied with repairing the damage. With a bit of bad luck, a tree may have fallen on your house or lightning may have struck. Once you finally finish the repairs, you must replenish your supplies again. This means you will have to hunt the various animals again, harvest a variety of plants such as watermelons or pumpkins, and produce oxygen, which is not naturally found on Icarus.
Only then will you have some time again to fulfill your goals before the next, possibly even stronger storm rolls in. This keeps things from getting boring in Icarus, especially in the early hours. There is really a lot to do on the hostile planet.
Icarus occasionally receives new content from RocketWerkz. For example, when it was released, there were no buffalo, and in the beta, there were no watermelons or pumpkins. With the first free DLC, the new map “Styx” was even added. All of these additions contribute positively to the gaming experience and atmosphere – but they are also content that I feel heavily affects performance.
In the beta of Icarus, I had no performance issues – no lags, stutters, or FPS drops. When the survival game officially launched in December 2021, I barely played it. I was too engrossed in other games, and Icarus slipped down my list. Now, with the release of Sons of the Forest, I took another look at Icarus and was pleased to see the many changes and new content. But suddenly, I also felt stutters and FPS drops.
I have spent several hours in Icarus over the past few days, and I would be completely thrilled with what the game has become if it weren’t for the performance issues that some player reviews on Steam also report.
Normally, Icarus feels tailor-made for me. It has beautiful nature, an immersive atmosphere with devastating storms, normal animals instead of mutants and zombies, a satisfying and varied building system, various resources to farm and items to craft, and quests that promise me several hours of fun along with the survival gameplay.
If RocketWerkz improves performance with future updates or I find a workaround that works for me, then Icarus is one of the best survival games of recent years for me.
Another survival game that would likely love to receive the title of best survival game 2023 is Nightingale:
FaZe Clan introduced their first esports team composed entirely of women in a clip on Twitter, which will compete in the shooter Valorant. The community is excited.
FaZe Clan is an American esports organization that has various professional teams in games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and the shooter Valorant.
Recently, the company posted on Twitter the introduction of a special new team: 5 players form FaZe Clan’s first esports team that consists entirely of women.
Start video
Valorant Champions Tour 2023 LOCK IN Cinematic Trailer
These are the 5 Valorant players
FaZe Clan posted a video clip on March 7, 2023, on Twitter, in which the five players are humorously introduced as the new team for Valorant.
In it, FaZe Clan writes the headline “The first roster consisting only of women from FaZe Clan is introduced”:
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Who are the players? The Valorant team consists of:
Emma “emy” Chloe
Diane “di^” Tran
Madison “maddiesuun” Mann
Jennifer “refinnej” Le
Vannesa Emely “panini” Emory
The women have previously played together in various professional teams. All 5 first competed in 2022 at the Champions Tour Game Changers Series III in North America under the team name Hamboigas.
When will we see the team in action? The team’s first major appearance with FaZe Clan will be in the upcoming Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) of the Game Changers program.
The new team aims to complement the well-known VCT competition season by “creating new opportunities for women and other marginalized genders in VALORANT esports” (via playvalorant.com).
How does the community react? The community responds excitedly under the Twitter post regarding the new team. Many FaZe members and Twitter users welcome the players and are thrilled that FaZe now has the first team consisting of 5 women.
Very good addon with good content compared to other addons. Certainly one of the best modern addons so far. It is still fun, and there are actually more updates.
Almost one in three has quit
However, with around 31 % of respondents, there is also a large part – almost one in three – who did not find lasting happiness with Dragonflight. They do not like the expansion or the praised changes that are celebrated from another side are seen as mistakes. Don77 writes:
I’ve quit; there has been nothing to do since January, and Patch 10.0.5 and now the upcoming 10.0.7, which has already been extensively tested on the PTR, haven’t changed that. Maybe some content for a few hours and that’s it. Patch 10.1 needs to be seriously impressive, otherwise it’ll be the same with Dragonflight, and it’ll line up with Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands.
Others view it more soberly, like “Misterpanda”, who writes:
I am no longer playing either. The leveling phase was good, and I like dragon riding. But to me, that’s more of a (cool) transportation method, not a main feature. Farming reputation/factions is not my thing. And that’s what the content consists of aside from M+ and raids, which is also not my thing. I believe if WoW finally became free-to-play, I would check in regularly. But for a ongoing subscription, it’s just not enough for me as a casual. But that’s okay; there are many other good games, and WoW will release more expansions.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
Others view it more soberly, like “Misterpanda”, who writes:
I am no longer playing either. The leveling phase was good, and I like dragon riding. But to me, that’s more of a (cool) transportation method, not a main feature. Farming reputation/factions is not my thing. And that’s what the content consists of aside from M+ and raids, which is also not my thing. I believe if WoW finally became free-to-play, I would check in regularly. But for a ongoing subscription, it’s just not enough for me as a casual. But that’s okay; there are many other good games, and WoW will release more expansions.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
Similarly, “projectneo” sees it:
Very good addon with good content compared to other addons. Certainly one of the best modern addons so far. It is still fun, and there are actually more updates.
Almost one in three has quit
However, with around 31 % of respondents, there is also a large part – almost one in three – who did not find lasting happiness with Dragonflight. They do not like the expansion or the praised changes that are celebrated from another side are seen as mistakes. Don77 writes:
I’ve quit; there has been nothing to do since January, and Patch 10.0.5 and now the upcoming 10.0.7, which has already been extensively tested on the PTR, haven’t changed that. Maybe some content for a few hours and that’s it. Patch 10.1 needs to be seriously impressive, otherwise it’ll be the same with Dragonflight, and it’ll line up with Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands.
Others view it more soberly, like “Misterpanda”, who writes:
I am no longer playing either. The leveling phase was good, and I like dragon riding. But to me, that’s more of a (cool) transportation method, not a main feature. Farming reputation/factions is not my thing. And that’s what the content consists of aside from M+ and raids, which is also not my thing. I believe if WoW finally became free-to-play, I would check in regularly. But for a ongoing subscription, it’s just not enough for me as a casual. But that’s okay; there are many other good games, and WoW will release more expansions.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
We wanted to know if you are still playing WoW: Dragonflight – and you answered loudly. The result paints a grim picture… or?
A few days ago, we asked you how your interest in World of Warcraft Dragonflight looks after the “initial hype” has faded. We wanted to get a picture of our readership and see how the readers of MeinMMO are still active in WoW after almost 3 months.
To the question “Are you still playing WoW Dragonflight?” there were four answers to choose from:
Yes, I am still playing actively.
No, I have quit.
Yes, but much less than at release.
I have never played.
To get a more accurate picture, we will exclude all votes that answered “I have never played” from the result. We will only consider the players who have played Dragonflight at all.
The result is:
Yes, I am still playing – 1493 votes (41 %)
No, I have quit. 1073 votes (31 %)
Yes, but much less than at release (1005 votes, 28 %)
41 % are still very active after 3 months
The majority of participants in the survey are still engaged with Dragonflight after almost 3 months. Although the original content has mostly been completed, there is still enough to do – which is certainly also due to Blizzard having already released a patch with the trading post and the next one is already on the horizon. In the comments to the survey, “Slix” wrote:
Yes, top addon compared to the last 3-4. No grind mechanics, extremely twink-friendly, top balancing in raid and good balancing in M+ Overall really well done, I am having fun like never before.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
Others view it more soberly, like “Misterpanda”, who writes:
I am no longer playing either. The leveling phase was good, and I like dragon riding. But to me, that’s more of a (cool) transportation method, not a main feature. Farming reputation/factions is not my thing. And that’s what the content consists of aside from M+ and raids, which is also not my thing. I believe if WoW finally became free-to-play, I would check in regularly. But for a ongoing subscription, it’s just not enough for me as a casual. But that’s okay; there are many other good games, and WoW will release more expansions.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
Similarly, “projectneo” sees it:
Very good addon with good content compared to other addons. Certainly one of the best modern addons so far. It is still fun, and there are actually more updates.
Almost one in three has quit
However, with around 31 % of respondents, there is also a large part – almost one in three – who did not find lasting happiness with Dragonflight. They do not like the expansion or the praised changes that are celebrated from another side are seen as mistakes. Don77 writes:
I’ve quit; there has been nothing to do since January, and Patch 10.0.5 and now the upcoming 10.0.7, which has already been extensively tested on the PTR, haven’t changed that. Maybe some content for a few hours and that’s it. Patch 10.1 needs to be seriously impressive, otherwise it’ll be the same with Dragonflight, and it’ll line up with Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands.
Others view it more soberly, like “Misterpanda”, who writes:
I am no longer playing either. The leveling phase was good, and I like dragon riding. But to me, that’s more of a (cool) transportation method, not a main feature. Farming reputation/factions is not my thing. And that’s what the content consists of aside from M+ and raids, which is also not my thing. I believe if WoW finally became free-to-play, I would check in regularly. But for a ongoing subscription, it’s just not enough for me as a casual. But that’s okay; there are many other good games, and WoW will release more expansions.
“Gaminator” also blames encounters with the community:
I played it, but haven’t played for about 1.5 months. Not because I dislike the addon, but WoW itself is just not mine anymore, I’m done. The community is also another reason why I just let it go. Players have become so sensitive; if you do something differently in M+, randoms leave right away, even if it went well, and then you have a mess on your hands. My time is just too valuable to share it with a game that has such a community.
Overall, 69 % of players who started with Dragonflight are still playing, although nearly 28 % play significantly less than at the beginning. With 31 %, almost one in three has turned their back on the game in the meantime.
It is quite normal for Blizzard to lose players in the first months after the launch of an expansion. However, since Dragonflight has had a weaker start than Shadowlands, this could have negative effects. It is up to the developers to prove in the coming months with content patches that World of Warcraft has indeed become a better game – and perhaps attract new and old players.
What do you think about this result and how do you interpret it? Would you have thought the numbers would turn out differently?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Fortnite, Chapter 4 Season 2 introduces a changed map, a new season pass, and other content. There is also a new cool motorcycle. However, many are disappointed that the motorcycle can do not much more than look cool.
Vehicles have existed in Fortnite for a while now, and since Chapter 4 Season 1, motorcycles have been introduced for the first time. With Season 2, there is now a completely new motorcycle that players can try out. This is the Rogue motorcycle.
However, enthusiasm is limited, mainly due to the restricted functionality. And because the predecessor was simply said to be better.
All important information about the new season can be found directly on MeinMMO:
The new motorcycle cannot jump, and many players miss that
How do players react to the new vehicle? Many express disappointment. Because behind the cool appearance are few useful features. The vehicle cannot jump or turn properly.
Especially the lack of jumping is a problem for many. The map is branched and offers hardly any roads where one could really utilize high speed. The severely limited turning ability would also make it less useful for quick escapes.
A user on reddit sums up the thoughts of many players by writing:
Poor off-road, terrible at turning, no good brakes, gulps fuel. And for what? Can it race on the bridge south of Mega City?
Another adds:
Roads are too winding, and there aren’t enough roads in the game to be useful at all, and it can’t jump.
What do many players wish for? Many users wish for the return of the dirt bike from Season 1. Although it didn’t look as stylish, it could jump and offered good options in the game and fit well with the intricate map of Fortnite.
In comparison, the new Rogue motorcycle is a step backward for many players, and many would have preferred the dirt bike as an alternative to the new vehicle.
What do you think? Have you tried the new motorcycle yet and found it weak, or can you get used to the new vehicle?
For all other changes that Epic Games has made to the map of Fortnite, you can read in the following article directly on MeinMMO:
After Lightfall failed to impress with its campaign in Destiny 2, the new ability “Strand” is turning into a true highlight of the DLC. That’s why we present to you today a powerful Strand build for each class: Titan, Warlock, and Hunter, detailing what you need to recreate them.
What the builds can do: Strand has revealed captivating properties in Destiny 2 that pack a punch. After Guardians had access to all aspects early on, they were able to familiarize themselves with the ability.
Strand is fun, especially when you know what fragments, aspects, and mods to put into your gear.
MeinMMO has thoroughly tested three solid and well-functioning Strand builds from Season 20 for each class and presents them in this article. This way, you can recreate them easily.
With the finished Strand builds, you can then bind your enemies as seen in this trailer and effectively neutralize their resistance. Even that of Champions!
Start video
Destiny 2 shows new insights into Strand in its trailer – The focus in Lightfall
3 strong and solid builds with Strand focus
We describe in detail which components make up the three Strand builds. We will specifically cover the required Exotics, Strand options, mods, and how to play the build. For these Strand builds, it doesn’t matter whether you are a Hunter, Titan, or Warlock – there’s something for every class.
Orbs of power more important than ever: After Destiny 2: Lightfall, Orbs of power are again more important than ever. Those who generate many Orbs can push their abilities incredibly well. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the right mods.
[toc]
Strand-Hunter – Lasso-swinging gunslinger
The Hunter gains captivating properties in Destiny 2 with Strand. He is the only class allowed to swing with a lasso in his super and throw it at his enemies with a bang. His lasso is as sharp as a steel cable and can literally cut a massive group of enemies in half with the heavy attack of the super.
Our first Strand build works with the Exotic “The Sixth Coyote” which grants you two dodges.
Strand-Hunter build with the Exotic “The Sixth Coyote”
What makes this build special? With this build, the Hunter can bind any opponent. Thanks to the Exotic, he can use “Binding” twice in a row. Fighters can no longer shoot or defend themselves. This makes even bullies and Champions helpless. Additionally, you can stun Unstoppable Champions as well.
This is what “The Sixth Coyote” can do: The function of this chest armor is straightforward. It grants you a second charge for the Hunter’s class ability – that is, for dodging.
In this Strand build, we use the Hunter Exotic “The Sixth Coyote”
We have listed everything we currently use in our Hunter build. Of course, this can still be adjusted to fit your own playstyle by trying out a different grenade or other aspects, fragments, or mods.
Our recommendation for this build:
Super Ability: Threadrunner > Silkstrike – combines a grappling hook with a rope arrow.
Grenade: Binding Grenade – A type of bola that can bind enemies.
Melee: Threaded Spike – A rope arrow that damages targets, bounces, and refunds energy.
Class Ability: Bold Dodging – Nearby enemies recharge your melee.
Armor Exotic: “The Sixth Coyote” – Exotic chest armor
Strand
Aspects
Binding Impact Attacks your targets by diving down on them, slamming into the ground, and binding them on impact.
Witwenseide You have an additional grenade. Your grappling creates a web of grappling points. So grapple more often and create grappling points that you and your fireteam can use indefinitely.
For the Strand fragments for this Hunter build, we recommend:
Strand
Fragments
Thread of Defense: Picking up an Orb of power grants you Woven Armor.
Thread of Mind: Defeating bound targets grants class ability energy.
Thread of Generation: Dealing damage generates grenade energy.
Thread of Continuity: Binding, unraveling, and ripping effects on targets last longer.
The build can be effectively complemented with the following weapons and values:
Armor Values: For the Hunter, we recommend focusing on high mobility, resilience, and discipline values in your armor.
Kinetic Weapon: The exotic submachine gun “Osteo Striga” deals damage over time, or the exotic auto rifle “Mercury Storm” with its catalyst “Nano-Thread” allows you to generate additional threads.
Energy Weapon: For using the strong option “Transient Rounds”, we recommend a Void weapon in the energy slot.
Weapon Perks: Strand weapons with the perk “Slippery”.
To round out the build, armor mods are also important. They bring you additional benefits. In this table, you’ll find all the mods we use.
However, please note: The first row of the mod overview corresponds to your own armor stats. So if you need more resilience instead of grenade, to reach, for example, 100, you’ll need to adjust that accordingly.
All required armor mods for the Hunter-Strand build
How does the build play? The Hunter becomes a lasso-swinging gunslinger with this build. His task: Nothing moves anymore, and it also doesn’t shoot back.
To achieve this, you first use your grenade in a fight. It will bind the enemies hit, so they are suspended in the air. You can now eliminate them with little resistance. It gives you the option that defeated enemies generate a thread that you can use again. You can shoot it, which triggers an explosion, or you can throw it. However, we find shooting it often more effective. Plus, you always have your dodge jump ready to bind more targets.
The reason why this build works so well lies in the fragment “Thread of Mind”, which grants you class ability energy when defeating bound targets. Additionally, the aspect “Binding Impact” can also be used to bind enemies. In between, you can also use your ultimate for tougher opponents.
So this build is a self-starter when it comes to maximizing the immobility of your enemies. Hunters can keep their opponents suspended in the air almost endlessly.
On the next page, the Warlock will get his turn to unleash the meanest needle in all of Destiny 2 on his enemies.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Forspoken is considered a failure by players and critics, the studio has now been dissolved. Now Square Enix comments on the sales figures and they are said to be poor.
The new game Forspoken from Square Enix has not received a good reception among players and critics. Now the head of Square Enix explains that the sales figures have been very weak. This may also be due to the “difficult” reviews. After all, we have learned from the criticism.
The fantasy game Forspoken has been officially available since January 24, 2023, and has not had a good launch. On Metacritic, the ratings stand at 64%, while on Steam, the reviews are now at 59% with over 3,000 reviews. The studio Luminous Productions has now been dissolved.
Sony presents new games for PS4 and PS5 – Here’s what you can look forward to in 2023
Poor sales figures and bad reviews for Forspoken
In a press conference on February 3, 2023, the president of Square Enix, Yosuke Matsuda, commented on Forspoken. In his conversation with investors, he explained that the sales of the game had been quite weak following “difficult” reviews. He himself describes it as “lacklustre.” (via videogameschronicle.com).
This also makes him blame the critics for the poor performance of the game, which for 80 euros simply no one wanted to buy. After all, they have also learned lessons from the criticism. He explains:
The game has also received positive feedback for its action features, including its parkour and combat abilities, resulting in outcomes that will improve our development capabilities for other games in the future.
How are players reacting? On reddit many players shake their heads. Many critiques have been justified, and it was not just due to the weak story. The performance was also a disaster, as someone explains:
Additionally, you needed a high-end RTX card [from Nvidia] and even that had problems running Forspoken. The game was simply not ready for launch.
Many believe that the game would have benefited from another release delay to at least elevate the game to a reasonable technical standard.
How is Square Enix doing anyway? The large publisher Square Enix has not been doing well for years, with many game releases failing and big successes being absent. In the past, several games have tanked. This includes the expensive Babylon’s Fall, which had to die after not even a year. This was supposed to be the new service game from Square Enix that would regularly bring in money.
On the other hand, Square Enix at least has a strong long-term performer that is currently keeping the publisher afloat. And that is an MMORPG that only a few years ago turned around and can now attract thousands of players daily:
The Strategy GameTotal War: Warhammer 3 is currently free to play on Steam. Afterwards, the fantasy game is available with a discount of 33%.
Total War: Warhammer 3 is a strategy game with a fantasy setting where you build an empire, assemble armies, and command them in battle.
Besides a solo campaign, the game offers PvP and co-op elements that allow you to engage in battle together with or against other players.
Here you can see a trailer for the “Immortal Empires” mode in Total War: Warhammer 3:
Start video
Total War: Warhammer 3 – Launch Trailer Immortal Empires
Epic Battles in Real Time
What does the gameplay in Total War: Warhammer 3 look like? You are responsible for building your empire. Establish settlements, conquer cities, and recruit your units: choose your fighters from various unique races. The gameplay operates in a turn-based strategy system.
In battle, however, the game mechanics change, and you experience the epic battle in real-time. Command your units, devise tactical maneuvers to overwhelm your enemies, and determine the battle in your favor.
How long can you play Total War: Warhammer 3 for free? You can try the strategy game for free until this weekend, until March 13, 2023, at 7:00 PM.
How much does Total War: Warhammer 3 cost? After the free weekend, the game is available at a special price on Steam. Instead of €59.99, you pay €40.19. That’s a discount of 33%.
You can also get numerous DLCs for Total War: Warhammer 3, which are currently also available at reduced prices.
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Start video
Mother takes 15-year-old son out of school so he has time for Fortnite – This is how it went for him
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Mark from MeinMMO:Would you say that, especially in gaming, you are more often contacted by individuals identifying as female?
Nando: I can’t go into detail on this for data protection reasons since we are also bound by confidentiality. But regarding this topic specifically, yes, definitely.
I would like to add, due to societal conditions, the topic “men as victims” is still a very difficult one that is simply not often addressed in public.
I dealt with this extensively in the context of my bachelor thesis. This certainly also influences the work and how men can present themselves as victims, or as they might not want to.
“It is not bad at all to take a break”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you identify individuals in gaming whom you believe might need your help? How do you approach them?
Nando: It is very important to first use this medium “games” and just the game to find some common ground. People should get to know us in their gaming world. It is their playground and their universe, and here comes someone new who is playing in a professional, social work role.
I first clarify why I am actually here and what my function is. I have noticed that being open and transparent on various platforms is positively received, to communicate what my aim is, and that there is no pressure at all.
We do not obligate anyone to take our offer. It is an open, free, and anonymous offer. This is very important to people. They need to know that they can, if they want, remain completely anonymous while receiving advice and support for as long as possible. This definitely helps.
Nando always shows himself with a smile
Mark from MeinMMO: Toxic communities and players, misogyny, and insults are unfortunately almost a daily occurrence in multiplayer titles. What advice would you give to people who are affected by this?
Nando: It’s good to have someone in your environment with whom you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. Because it can quickly happen that you take to heart what you are being attacked with there and think you are doing something wrong.
Always question the purpose of the game – why am I playing this? Why do I want to play it? If you reflect on this and the reason no longer applies or the environment is no longer present for which you originally played it, then…
It is absolutely fine to take a break, step back, and find something else. To simply turn off the console and make a hard cut, just to avoid having that negative environment in front of you.
This is definitely good advice. Or maybe even just play a single-player game. There are many good single-player titles where you can focus on yourself in peace and do your own thing.
And if you feel like trying online again, that’s of course also okay. But just knowing that I have an alternative where I can do exactly what I want is important.
Almost one in five finds gaming communities toxic or problematic (via statista.com).
“Young people are confronted with various media daily”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you deal with video game addiction in teenagers?
Nando: I come from the field of addiction help, or analog addiction assistance. As I mentioned, using the medium “game” is important. It is simply the life world. Young people, including myself, are confronted with various media daily.
You have to make sure to use the medium sensibly and pay attention to the typical criteria associated with addiction when it starts heading in that direction.
There are phases where you play a bit more and perhaps even excessively. But as long as it stays balanced and healthy and you can still pursue your other activities and have a social environment, your education, school, or studies, and you are not escaping from anything, it does not meet the criteria for addiction.
Average daily usage time of teenagers aged 12 to 19 for computer, console, tablet, and smartphone games in 2022 (via statista.com).
But we don’t say “you are addicted to video games.” It is only important to engage with the medium sensibly. To question, why am I using them? What do I really need them for? What is actually sensible? These are also questions that we often receive directly from people.
When I see the connection to the analog work again, it is the same. You use the access you get. That’s how it is in normal street work, you immerse yourself in the environment and are in the life world. Many street workers are also on the streets, in this social space.
This is exactly where we go in. And we try to find access through the medium of video game that people are engaged with. Build contact with them, and if desired, perhaps alleviate everything a bit.
“One must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games”
Mark from MeinMMO: Often I stumble upon young people in games whose parents want to completely forbid them from gaming, yet they use these games as a retreat. What advice would you give to both the teenagers and the parents in such a situation?
Nando: When I think about how it was for me with my mom, it’s often the case that she has never really engaged with the medium. It is important for parents to talk about it and for them to know exactly what their children are playing.
They really need to engage with the medium and find a sensible measure. To talk to their child, that is very clear. What is important to the child? Why does it enjoy it? Why does it have such a big significance for my child?
You can always do something nice in games:
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Mark from MeinMMO:Would you say that, especially in gaming, you are more often contacted by individuals identifying as female?
Nando: I can’t go into detail on this for data protection reasons since we are also bound by confidentiality. But regarding this topic specifically, yes, definitely.
I would like to add, due to societal conditions, the topic “men as victims” is still a very difficult one that is simply not often addressed in public.
I dealt with this extensively in the context of my bachelor thesis. This certainly also influences the work and how men can present themselves as victims, or as they might not want to.
“It is not bad at all to take a break”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you identify individuals in gaming whom you believe might need your help? How do you approach them?
Nando: It is very important to first use this medium “games” and just the game to find some common ground. People should get to know us in their gaming world. It is their playground and their universe, and here comes someone new who is playing in a professional, social work role.
I first clarify why I am actually here and what my function is. I have noticed that being open and transparent on various platforms is positively received, to communicate what my aim is, and that there is no pressure at all.
We do not obligate anyone to take our offer. It is an open, free, and anonymous offer. This is very important to people. They need to know that they can, if they want, remain completely anonymous while receiving advice and support for as long as possible. This definitely helps.
Nando always shows himself with a smile
Mark from MeinMMO: Toxic communities and players, misogyny, and insults are unfortunately almost a daily occurrence in multiplayer titles. What advice would you give to people who are affected by this?
Nando: It’s good to have someone in your environment with whom you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. Because it can quickly happen that you take to heart what you are being attacked with there and think you are doing something wrong.
Always question the purpose of the game – why am I playing this? Why do I want to play it? If you reflect on this and the reason no longer applies or the environment is no longer present for which you originally played it, then…
It is absolutely fine to take a break, step back, and find something else. To simply turn off the console and make a hard cut, just to avoid having that negative environment in front of you.
This is definitely good advice. Or maybe even just play a single-player game. There are many good single-player titles where you can focus on yourself in peace and do your own thing.
And if you feel like trying online again, that’s of course also okay. But just knowing that I have an alternative where I can do exactly what I want is important.
Almost one in five finds gaming communities toxic or problematic (via statista.com).
“Young people are confronted with various media daily”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you deal with video game addiction in teenagers?
Nando: I come from the field of addiction help, or analog addiction assistance. As I mentioned, using the medium “game” is important. It is simply the life world. Young people, including myself, are confronted with various media daily.
You have to make sure to use the medium sensibly and pay attention to the typical criteria associated with addiction when it starts heading in that direction.
There are phases where you play a bit more and perhaps even excessively. But as long as it stays balanced and healthy and you can still pursue your other activities and have a social environment, your education, school, or studies, and you are not escaping from anything, it does not meet the criteria for addiction.
Average daily usage time of teenagers aged 12 to 19 for computer, console, tablet, and smartphone games in 2022 (via statista.com).
But we don’t say “you are addicted to video games.” It is only important to engage with the medium sensibly. To question, why am I using them? What do I really need them for? What is actually sensible? These are also questions that we often receive directly from people.
When I see the connection to the analog work again, it is the same. You use the access you get. That’s how it is in normal street work, you immerse yourself in the environment and are in the life world. Many street workers are also on the streets, in this social space.
This is exactly where we go in. And we try to find access through the medium of video game that people are engaged with. Build contact with them, and if desired, perhaps alleviate everything a bit.
“One must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games”
Mark from MeinMMO: Often I stumble upon young people in games whose parents want to completely forbid them from gaming, yet they use these games as a retreat. What advice would you give to both the teenagers and the parents in such a situation?
Nando: When I think about how it was for me with my mom, it’s often the case that she has never really engaged with the medium. It is important for parents to talk about it and for them to know exactly what their children are playing.
They really need to engage with the medium and find a sensible measure. To talk to their child, that is very clear. What is important to the child? Why does it enjoy it? Why does it have such a big significance for my child?
You can always do something nice in games:
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Mark from MeinMMO:Would you say that, especially in gaming, you are more often contacted by individuals identifying as female?
Nando: I can’t go into detail on this for data protection reasons since we are also bound by confidentiality. But regarding this topic specifically, yes, definitely.
I would like to add, due to societal conditions, the topic “men as victims” is still a very difficult one that is simply not often addressed in public.
I dealt with this extensively in the context of my bachelor thesis. This certainly also influences the work and how men can present themselves as victims, or as they might not want to.
“It is not bad at all to take a break”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you identify individuals in gaming whom you believe might need your help? How do you approach them?
Nando: It is very important to first use this medium “games” and just the game to find some common ground. People should get to know us in their gaming world. It is their playground and their universe, and here comes someone new who is playing in a professional, social work role.
I first clarify why I am actually here and what my function is. I have noticed that being open and transparent on various platforms is positively received, to communicate what my aim is, and that there is no pressure at all.
We do not obligate anyone to take our offer. It is an open, free, and anonymous offer. This is very important to people. They need to know that they can, if they want, remain completely anonymous while receiving advice and support for as long as possible. This definitely helps.
Nando always shows himself with a smile
Mark from MeinMMO: Toxic communities and players, misogyny, and insults are unfortunately almost a daily occurrence in multiplayer titles. What advice would you give to people who are affected by this?
Nando: It’s good to have someone in your environment with whom you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. Because it can quickly happen that you take to heart what you are being attacked with there and think you are doing something wrong.
Always question the purpose of the game – why am I playing this? Why do I want to play it? If you reflect on this and the reason no longer applies or the environment is no longer present for which you originally played it, then…
It is absolutely fine to take a break, step back, and find something else. To simply turn off the console and make a hard cut, just to avoid having that negative environment in front of you.
This is definitely good advice. Or maybe even just play a single-player game. There are many good single-player titles where you can focus on yourself in peace and do your own thing.
And if you feel like trying online again, that’s of course also okay. But just knowing that I have an alternative where I can do exactly what I want is important.
Almost one in five finds gaming communities toxic or problematic (via statista.com).
“Young people are confronted with various media daily”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you deal with video game addiction in teenagers?
Nando: I come from the field of addiction help, or analog addiction assistance. As I mentioned, using the medium “game” is important. It is simply the life world. Young people, including myself, are confronted with various media daily.
You have to make sure to use the medium sensibly and pay attention to the typical criteria associated with addiction when it starts heading in that direction.
There are phases where you play a bit more and perhaps even excessively. But as long as it stays balanced and healthy and you can still pursue your other activities and have a social environment, your education, school, or studies, and you are not escaping from anything, it does not meet the criteria for addiction.
Average daily usage time of teenagers aged 12 to 19 for computer, console, tablet, and smartphone games in 2022 (via statista.com).
But we don’t say “you are addicted to video games.” It is only important to engage with the medium sensibly. To question, why am I using them? What do I really need them for? What is actually sensible? These are also questions that we often receive directly from people.
When I see the connection to the analog work again, it is the same. You use the access you get. That’s how it is in normal street work, you immerse yourself in the environment and are in the life world. Many street workers are also on the streets, in this social space.
This is exactly where we go in. And we try to find access through the medium of video game that people are engaged with. Build contact with them, and if desired, perhaps alleviate everything a bit.
“One must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games”
Mark from MeinMMO: Often I stumble upon young people in games whose parents want to completely forbid them from gaming, yet they use these games as a retreat. What advice would you give to both the teenagers and the parents in such a situation?
Nando: When I think about how it was for me with my mom, it’s often the case that she has never really engaged with the medium. It is important for parents to talk about it and for them to know exactly what their children are playing.
They really need to engage with the medium and find a sensible measure. To talk to their child, that is very clear. What is important to the child? Why does it enjoy it? Why does it have such a big significance for my child?
You can always do something nice in games:
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Mark from MeinMMO:Would you say that, especially in gaming, you are more often contacted by individuals identifying as female?
Nando: I can’t go into detail on this for data protection reasons since we are also bound by confidentiality. But regarding this topic specifically, yes, definitely.
I would like to add, due to societal conditions, the topic “men as victims” is still a very difficult one that is simply not often addressed in public.
I dealt with this extensively in the context of my bachelor thesis. This certainly also influences the work and how men can present themselves as victims, or as they might not want to.
“It is not bad at all to take a break”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you identify individuals in gaming whom you believe might need your help? How do you approach them?
Nando: It is very important to first use this medium “games” and just the game to find some common ground. People should get to know us in their gaming world. It is their playground and their universe, and here comes someone new who is playing in a professional, social work role.
I first clarify why I am actually here and what my function is. I have noticed that being open and transparent on various platforms is positively received, to communicate what my aim is, and that there is no pressure at all.
We do not obligate anyone to take our offer. It is an open, free, and anonymous offer. This is very important to people. They need to know that they can, if they want, remain completely anonymous while receiving advice and support for as long as possible. This definitely helps.
Nando always shows himself with a smile
Mark from MeinMMO: Toxic communities and players, misogyny, and insults are unfortunately almost a daily occurrence in multiplayer titles. What advice would you give to people who are affected by this?
Nando: It’s good to have someone in your environment with whom you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. Because it can quickly happen that you take to heart what you are being attacked with there and think you are doing something wrong.
Always question the purpose of the game – why am I playing this? Why do I want to play it? If you reflect on this and the reason no longer applies or the environment is no longer present for which you originally played it, then…
It is absolutely fine to take a break, step back, and find something else. To simply turn off the console and make a hard cut, just to avoid having that negative environment in front of you.
This is definitely good advice. Or maybe even just play a single-player game. There are many good single-player titles where you can focus on yourself in peace and do your own thing.
And if you feel like trying online again, that’s of course also okay. But just knowing that I have an alternative where I can do exactly what I want is important.
Almost one in five finds gaming communities toxic or problematic (via statista.com).
“Young people are confronted with various media daily”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you deal with video game addiction in teenagers?
Nando: I come from the field of addiction help, or analog addiction assistance. As I mentioned, using the medium “game” is important. It is simply the life world. Young people, including myself, are confronted with various media daily.
You have to make sure to use the medium sensibly and pay attention to the typical criteria associated with addiction when it starts heading in that direction.
There are phases where you play a bit more and perhaps even excessively. But as long as it stays balanced and healthy and you can still pursue your other activities and have a social environment, your education, school, or studies, and you are not escaping from anything, it does not meet the criteria for addiction.
Average daily usage time of teenagers aged 12 to 19 for computer, console, tablet, and smartphone games in 2022 (via statista.com).
But we don’t say “you are addicted to video games.” It is only important to engage with the medium sensibly. To question, why am I using them? What do I really need them for? What is actually sensible? These are also questions that we often receive directly from people.
When I see the connection to the analog work again, it is the same. You use the access you get. That’s how it is in normal street work, you immerse yourself in the environment and are in the life world. Many street workers are also on the streets, in this social space.
This is exactly where we go in. And we try to find access through the medium of video game that people are engaged with. Build contact with them, and if desired, perhaps alleviate everything a bit.
“One must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games”
Mark from MeinMMO: Often I stumble upon young people in games whose parents want to completely forbid them from gaming, yet they use these games as a retreat. What advice would you give to both the teenagers and the parents in such a situation?
Nando: When I think about how it was for me with my mom, it’s often the case that she has never really engaged with the medium. It is important for parents to talk about it and for them to know exactly what their children are playing.
They really need to engage with the medium and find a sensible measure. To talk to their child, that is very clear. What is important to the child? Why does it enjoy it? Why does it have such a big significance for my child?
You can always do something nice in games:
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
As a digital streetworker, Nando is online to help teenagers and young adults when they need assistance. In an interview with us, he talks about his work and also gives direct tips to those affected.
Each of us is probably active in gaming communities. Either directly in the games themselves or in the surrounding worlds. Often there is a rough tone of voice where it should actually be pleasant, which can escalate quickly.
Some people do not pass by such things unnoticed, especially when combined with real-life problems. Nando is part of the Digital Streetwork program. He and his colleagues are online and try to help where help is needed.
Nando is an expert in social skills, social media, and gaming and actively approaches young people in these communities, trying to work out solutions with them and refer them to the right places.
In a comprehensive interview, we talked to him about digital streetwork in general, but also specifically inquired about the problems that arise in gaming and why.
In this part of a two-part interview, the focus is on how those affected can deal with the situations. Nando has some advice that might also help you.
Mark from MeinMMO: Are there problems that only occur in gaming, which you don’t know from Reddit or other social platforms?
Nando: I believe that this aspect of anonymity in games is even more pronounced. You also find this on various platforms, but from what I can tell, it is indeed a very significant factor in games.
For example, if you belong to a certain group or a certain gender, I already have the feeling that it is worse in gaming. In explicit cases, if it turns out that a woman is behind an account, things can often escalate in a particular direction.
At least I have often observed that it tends to go in a sexual direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Mark from MeinMMO:Would you say that, especially in gaming, you are more often contacted by individuals identifying as female?
Nando: I can’t go into detail on this for data protection reasons since we are also bound by confidentiality. But regarding this topic specifically, yes, definitely.
I would like to add, due to societal conditions, the topic “men as victims” is still a very difficult one that is simply not often addressed in public.
I dealt with this extensively in the context of my bachelor thesis. This certainly also influences the work and how men can present themselves as victims, or as they might not want to.
“It is not bad at all to take a break”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you identify individuals in gaming whom you believe might need your help? How do you approach them?
Nando: It is very important to first use this medium “games” and just the game to find some common ground. People should get to know us in their gaming world. It is their playground and their universe, and here comes someone new who is playing in a professional, social work role.
I first clarify why I am actually here and what my function is. I have noticed that being open and transparent on various platforms is positively received, to communicate what my aim is, and that there is no pressure at all.
We do not obligate anyone to take our offer. It is an open, free, and anonymous offer. This is very important to people. They need to know that they can, if they want, remain completely anonymous while receiving advice and support for as long as possible. This definitely helps.
Nando always shows himself with a smile
Mark from MeinMMO: Toxic communities and players, misogyny, and insults are unfortunately almost a daily occurrence in multiplayer titles. What advice would you give to people who are affected by this?
Nando: It’s good to have someone in your environment with whom you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. Because it can quickly happen that you take to heart what you are being attacked with there and think you are doing something wrong.
Always question the purpose of the game – why am I playing this? Why do I want to play it? If you reflect on this and the reason no longer applies or the environment is no longer present for which you originally played it, then…
It is absolutely fine to take a break, step back, and find something else. To simply turn off the console and make a hard cut, just to avoid having that negative environment in front of you.
This is definitely good advice. Or maybe even just play a single-player game. There are many good single-player titles where you can focus on yourself in peace and do your own thing.
And if you feel like trying online again, that’s of course also okay. But just knowing that I have an alternative where I can do exactly what I want is important.
Almost one in five finds gaming communities toxic or problematic (via statista.com).
“Young people are confronted with various media daily”
Mark from MeinMMO: How do you deal with video game addiction in teenagers?
Nando: I come from the field of addiction help, or analog addiction assistance. As I mentioned, using the medium “game” is important. It is simply the life world. Young people, including myself, are confronted with various media daily.
You have to make sure to use the medium sensibly and pay attention to the typical criteria associated with addiction when it starts heading in that direction.
There are phases where you play a bit more and perhaps even excessively. But as long as it stays balanced and healthy and you can still pursue your other activities and have a social environment, your education, school, or studies, and you are not escaping from anything, it does not meet the criteria for addiction.
Average daily usage time of teenagers aged 12 to 19 for computer, console, tablet, and smartphone games in 2022 (via statista.com).
But we don’t say “you are addicted to video games.” It is only important to engage with the medium sensibly. To question, why am I using them? What do I really need them for? What is actually sensible? These are also questions that we often receive directly from people.
When I see the connection to the analog work again, it is the same. You use the access you get. That’s how it is in normal street work, you immerse yourself in the environment and are in the life world. Many street workers are also on the streets, in this social space.
This is exactly where we go in. And we try to find access through the medium of video game that people are engaged with. Build contact with them, and if desired, perhaps alleviate everything a bit.
“One must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games”
Mark from MeinMMO: Often I stumble upon young people in games whose parents want to completely forbid them from gaming, yet they use these games as a retreat. What advice would you give to both the teenagers and the parents in such a situation?
Nando: When I think about how it was for me with my mom, it’s often the case that she has never really engaged with the medium. It is important for parents to talk about it and for them to know exactly what their children are playing.
They really need to engage with the medium and find a sensible measure. To talk to their child, that is very clear. What is important to the child? Why does it enjoy it? Why does it have such a big significance for my child?
You can always do something nice in games:
Then reflect together with the child. Discuss it and give it the time it needs. At the same time, also pay attention to how much time it spends there. Not all people are good in the internet, nor in games. Parents must maintain a good relationship with games and of course with their children.
Then the same advice applies to the children, teenagers, and young adults. Ask yourselves why this game is important to me? Why do I want to spend time there? But also don’t lose sight of the fact that parents do not want to forbid anything outright. They are simply concerned about where you spend your time and what you do.
Just communicate with each other. It always sounds easier than it is, but it is very important.
Information about the medium itself is very relevant
Mark from MeinMMO: The statement “Your bad behavior or your problems come only from gaming” has surely been heard by many. What do you say to that? Do you see video games as a problem or as help and a tool for improvement?
Nando: We must engage with the topic and scrutinize the medium of video games. See what possibilities exist and why that is good, and also why it can be bad.
I believe this is the life world of young people. It must be accepted and seen that these are entertainment media. Everyone uses a different approach or platform for their entertainment or to watch something.
If you do not filter the content and do not inform yourself, I would say that the experience I make almost daily can lead in a negative direction.
However, if it can be used sensibly and applied correctly, games are definitely a good method to distract oneself. If you have a nice game and can dive in for an hour or two, as long as you can control it, it’s a great way to forget about the negative things.
Especially when you say to yourself: “I can’t deal with this right now, and I need a break. I need something positive for myself,” then it is very good and should be utilized. As long as afterwards, after two or three hours, you can say: “Okay, I have used this medium, and now I can tackle my things again.”
Ultimately, it is just a hobby. That’s why I find a conscious approach to it very reasonable.
We thank Nando and the Digital Streetwork team for the interview.
Have you ever had such experiences? Can Nando’s tips perhaps help you as well? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
The new PS5 Update 23.01-07.00.00 brings plenty of new features and useful functions. There is now debate in the community about a new feature. But how much “spoiler” is really behind it?
Sony has released a major update for the PS5. It finally includes full support for Discord on the PS5. How you can set up Discord on the PS5, you can read here on MeinMMO.
In addition, the update has brought a few more improvements and features. But especially a new “function” is being discussed: When you highlight a game in your library with the controller, the game progress is displayed as a percentage.
Some believe that this is already a form of spoiler and that there should be an option to hide the display. After all, you would always know how far you are in your game.
Is the thrill of playing not knowing how far you are?
What does the criticism look like? The criticism is quite understandable for some on reddit . Some users do not want the PS5 to unsolicitedly inform them that the game is almost completed. That would already be a form of spoiler if the console provided such important information. This would be particularly disturbing for story-driven games.
What do others say in response? On the other hand, some respond that such a “function” already exists internally in some games. Here, you are rewarded for a certain amount of game progress, and that is no spoiler. And the online magazine Gamerant also finds the spoiler accusation strange: Because then the time display on a movie would also be a spoiler. After all, you immediately know how many hours you need to watch before you see the credits.
What do you think? Do you find the new “feature” not so bad, or does it bother you as well when you see your game completion displayed as a percentage? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss with others.
More about the PS5: For more exciting features that you can use on your PS5, you can find in the following article, here on MeinMMO:
