Speedrunners are currently completing the new survival game Sons of the Forest (Steam) in absolutely insane times. Among the fastest is even a German. However, the records will likely remain unbroken from now on, as the glitch that makes them possible is said to have been patched.
This is the speedrun: The site speedrun.com maintains a leaderboard of the records for the fastest completions in various games, including Sons of the Forest. There are different categories. The current fastest completions are:
7 minutes, 27 seconds, and 567 milliseconds by the American spiceeTV (Difficulty: Peaceful; the fastest completion overall)
7 minutes, 54 seconds, and 867 milliseconds by the Lithuanian Mantelio (Difficulty: Hard; the fastest completion on the highest difficulty)
7 minutes, 29 seconds, and 450 milliseconds by the German Melvin 20 (Difficulty: Peaceful; the fastest German)
The stick can bypass normally locked doors and even glitch outside the actual map. Therefore, the speedruns are all in the “Any %, Glitched” category.
Additionally, speedrunners utilize other mechanics and potential glitches, such as building speed while opening a book while running downhill. You can see the fastest speedrun here:
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Hotfix Patches Glitch – Never again such fast speedruns?
The fastest speedruns are all from March 2nd, but were recorded several hours earlier – even before the third hotfix was applied. This hotfix fixed a bug where “the hell door did not block certain interactions.”
This likely means that sticks can no longer be placed through the door. These super-fast speedruns are likely a thing of the past now.
Do you want to try your hand at Sons of the Forest? Here are 5 tips to get started:
The fastest speedruns without glitches on Peaceful take slightly under 51 minutes. So you need at least an hour even if you are fast. Speedrunners are known for finding glitches repeatedly.
It is not impossible that there will again be completions faster than 7 minutes someday. However, that is rather unlikely at the moment.
By the way, players are increasingly finding themselves in a moral dilemma in Sons of the Forest:
What is this hotfix? On March 1, Endnight Games, the developer studio behind SotF, released hotfix 3, which aims to fix some minor issues with the game. The patch contains a total of 5 changes. (via Steam).
Here you will find an overview of the changes:
Fix: Bottles assigned to a hotkey are no longer removed after use
Arms and legs are equipped first and no longer eaten immediately when you use the corresponding hotkey
Fixed the issue where the labeling of hotkey buttons in the inventory view didn’t match for some keys
Fixed: The hotkey icon displayed the first hotkey for all unassigned items.
‘The collision calculation at the door to hell has been fixed. Certain interactions were not blocked there.’
In a previous hotfix on February 28, Endnight Games made some improvements. For example, the patch introduced the hotkey system and all associated hints, which received further improvements in the latest hotfix.
What was the problem at the entrance to hell? The patch notes include a fix for an issue with the entrance to hell. Certain interactions were not blocked there.
These “unblocked interactions” may refer to a known exploit that speedrunners used to access hell. For this, players had to drive sticks into the ground in front of a door at a specific location to glitch through the door during the animation. The Twitch streamer Dhalucard used the exploit in his speedrun.
It is therefore quite possible that the usual speedrun method no longer works due to the hotfix.
Start video
5 Tips for a Good Start in Sons of the Forest
Are there any reactions to the hotfix? Yes, on Steam players can rate the hotfixes (thumbs up or down) and leave comments. The hotfix received over 7,400 “likes” and over 860 comments (as of March 2, 10:30).
Many of the comments are very positive and appreciate the work of the developers. However, some players are also asking for improvements to other issues – performance is mentioned repeatedly.
Additionally, players are addressing a bug with the AI companions’ GPS. It sometimes shows an incorrect or even multiple positions on the map where they are supposed to be. However, some players found a trick to respawn Kelvin or Virginia.
A gamer purchased an RTX 3080 Ti from a second-hand dealer for a few euros. He could hardly believe his luck and feared the worst. However, he has now tested the graphics card.
The user was at a second-hand dealer looking for accessories for his Steam Deck. Instead, he discovered a graphics card that had been completely unprotected: No static case, no original packaging, and no protection for the PCIe connector (via reddit.com):
I thought, hey, this probably won’t work, but it could be a cool addition to my desk. I bought it for 18 dollars because the seller had no idea what it was.
He has now successfully tested the graphics card and found out that it is the RTX 3080 TI AORUS Extreme. For an RTX 3080 Ti, you usually pay around 1,200 euros or more in retail. So that was a real stroke of luck for the user. Because you won’t find a working RTX 3080 Ti anywhere for that cheap.
The reactions on reddit also show this. Some are really envious that the gamer made such a good purchase and got such a great graphics card for around 20 euros.
Our header image comes from the reddit thread linked above.
Is used hardware worth it at all? In many cases, it can pay off to look for bargains on eBay and other platforms, even aside from official retailers. Most gamers take good care of their hardware and try to monetize their old hardware after an upgrade. Here, you can often get modern hardware at significantly lower prices.
For a used Radeon RX 570, you now pay around 100 euros again – during the mining boom, you could pay 300 euros or more for the popular gaming graphics card. These graphics cards are still sufficient for many games, you don’t have to spend 1,000 euros on a graphics card. And for some new titles like Diablo 4, you don’t need a powerful computer:
Basically, you should not buy very old hardware that is more than 5 years old. In many cases, you won’t get official software anymore or only old CPU sockets. If you buy a very old CPU and want to upgrade to a modern system, you will have to buy everything new, which often becomes more expensive than if you directly buy current hardware.
Avoid outdated and very slow processors, such as the entry-level Core 2 Duo, Intel Pentium 4, or AMD Phenom.
Some private sellers also offer the option to test hardware before buying. If you have the opportunity and live nearby, take the chance. This way, you can minimize and narrow down future problems.
Be cautious with certain offers regarding the payment method. Behind them could be fraudsters who just want your money. Such fraudulent offers can also be found on Amazon.
Not everything has to go well with used hardware. A well-known tech YouTuber wanted to build a gaming PC entirely from used hardware, but that went pretty wrong. This was mainly due to a specific component:
In Pokémon GO the Community Day with Slowpoke and Galar Slowpoke takes place in March 2023. We will show you all the content and bonuses here.
This is the Community Day: The Community Day in Pokémon GO takes place regularly once a month. A special Pokémon is always put in the spotlight during this event.
This Pokémon can then be encountered significantly more often throughout the game and also brings an increased Shiny rate. In addition, there are always a selection of different bonuses that complement the event.
Community Day in March 2023 with Slowpoke & Galar Slowpoke in Pokémon GO
When does the Community Day run? The Community Day with Slowpoke and Galar Slowpoke takes place on Saturday, March 18th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time.
Can Slowpoke be Shiny? Yes, Slowpoke can be Shiny. And Galar Slowpoke will also be available in its Shiny form for the event, making its Shiny debut.
Exclusive move: As always, there will be a special move for the Community Day. This time it is “Surfer”. Your Pokémon will learn it when you evolve Slowpoke or Galar Slowpoke into Lanturn, Galar Lanturn, or another evolution.
This is possible during the event and up to 5 hours afterwards.
Bonuses for the event – with easier evolution for Galar Lanturn
These bonuses are available during the event: A special bonus of the event is the changed evolution of Galar Slowpoke to Galar Lanturn. Normally you have to catch 30 Poison Pokémon while Galar Slowpoke walks with you as a buddy.
The Galar versions of Slowpoke, Lanturn and another evolution
But on Saturday, March 18, 2023, this will change from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. During this time, you must alternatively catch Psychic Pokémon. Thus, Slowpoke itself is an option to catch to advance the evolution.
Additional bonuses during the event:
Triple catch XP
Double catch candy
Double chance for an XL candy when catching for trainers from level 31
Incense & Lure lasts for 3 hours
Snapshot surprises
An additional special trade
50% less Stardust cost when trading
In addition, there will again be bonus raids after the event. From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Slowpoke and Galar Slowpoke can appear in level 4 raids. A victory will bring additional spawns of both Pokémon around the gym for 30 minutes. However, these raids can only be fought on-site.
Additionally, there will be a limited research task that will bring you up to four King Stones for evolution. In the shop, you will also find a Community Day research for one euro as usual.
In an interview, voice actor Marios Gavrilis tells us about the nuances of his work and his opinion on current trends in voice acting. Marios is particularly known in gaming for his roles as Alexios in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Batman in Arkham Knights.
Thanks to modern technology, many AAA video games have become true cinematic spectacles that rival many films. For some of them, high-profile actors are also hired to lend their voices to the characters.
Marios Gavrilis (via Twitter) is one of the most well-known German voice actors and actors, whose voice can be heard in gaming as well as in anime, TV series, and films. As gamers and series fans, you have likely already heard his voice. We at MeinMMO asked him to tell us more about his craft.
“Voice acting is teamwork”
MeinMMO: Hi, can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Marios: Yes, hi, my name is Marios Gavrilis. I am an actor and voice actor, and I have lent my voice to many characters in various games.
Including lead characters, Alexios from Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is probably the most famous example. Sam Porter Bridges in Death Stranding, Dani in Far Cry 6, Batman in Gotham Knights. Currently, Hammond in Dead Space, as Isaac Clarke’s sidekick, as well as various other roles and NPCs. Some larger NPCs, some smaller.
I started speaking during my acting studies. Working with my voice has always suited me, and I especially started with games back then.
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That’s why voice acting in gaming has always felt like a homecoming for me. Back then, I dubbed my first Call of Duties, smaller roles but still important ones. There are no unimportant roles.
I have been working in the profession for about 15-16 years. I am an actor in front of the camera, for film and television, and a voice actor for live-action and anime. People might also know me from Money Heist as Denver.
MeinMMO: Voice acting is an area that normal consumers have relatively little insight into. Tell us how a recording day went for your role as Alexios.
Marios: Voice acting is teamwork. Just like classical theater work. It’s never a one-man or woman show. Before the microphone, sure, I’m alone, but there is a sound engineer who oversees everything technical during the recordings. There is a director who gives artistic instructions and makes sure that the various roles fit together.
In the gaming sector, we are usually a team of 3 people. In the dubbing of series, there are four of us. There is also an editor who ensures that we are lip-syncing. This is a bit different in gaming.
Sam Porter Bridges from Death Stranding was one of Marios’ most well-known roles alongside Assassin’s Creed.
Then we go into the studio and start working on the lines. We hear the original sound, the actor in the original language of the game, played through our headsets.
Then we have a “wave form” of the original actor’s audio on the screen, and depending on whether it is a cinematic cutscene or an in-game gameplay scene, we must match this wave form.
In a cinematic, that’s very strict. We must really hit this wave form precisely, because these cinematics are played differently than an in-game line, where you see the character speaking. There you generally have a bit more tolerance regarding timing.
And then it starts. We work our way through line by line. For example, with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. That was by far the largest gaming project I have had so far. Not only in gaming, but especially there, we had easily 200 to 300 recording hours spread over 1.5-2 years, so very, very much.
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On his Twitter account, Marios gives insights into his work in the studio before the microphone.
MeinMMO: That’s a lot of work. There is this notion that voice acting is not a very physically demanding job, but 200-300 hours sound tough.
Marios: Yes, especially when working on the more energetic and action-packed scenes. There are sessions where you need real endurance, it’s not easy.
Also in the anime sector. The characters are often “over the top,” so exaggerated and have very intense energy. And you have to handle all that too. Therefore, it is indeed a physically demanding job.
MeinMMO: You mentioned the term wave form. Can you briefly explain what that is?
Marios: The wave form is basically the waveform of the audio recording of the original speaker. If we were to record our conversation now and load it into a recording software, the audio track of the recording would have a certain waveform.
Afterward, we have to align ourselves while speaking. We have the recording, the waveform, and we need to try to accurately hit the waves, match the pauses. That way we are in sync.
“A gaming character must be felt and played just like a live-action character”
MeinMMO: Up to your role as Alexios, you primarily worked in the film and series sector. How did you return to a role in gaming?
Marios: I have always voiced games, but not such major lead characters as Alexios. Alexios was then the first major role in a AAA title.
Go with the flow. I never said I didn’t want to voice games, it just happened as it did. I was asked for the casting of the role and I won it.
But I have always managed well by doing my tasks well. One job leads to another. If I do my work well, it will attract attention elsewhere, and then I will be invited to castings, asked for roles, and so on.
I try not to force things too much, but to do the best I can with what I have, and through that, recommend myself for other jobs.
Start video
Do you recognize these German Twitch streamers by their dubbing voices in video games?
MeinMMO: How does voice acting in series differ from gaming? Is there something you might like more or less?
Marios: The craft is basically the same; it’s all acting. A gaming character must be felt and performed just like a live-action character.
From an acting craft perspective, there is no difference between being the voice of Norman Reedus in Death Stranding or voicing Mahershala Ali in True Detective 3.
Technically it’s a bit different. In live-action, we have to be really lip-synced. We look at an image. In gaming, we typically don’t have an image.
This means that we don’t work lip-sync but “wave form” sync. That’s the crucial difference. But from the perspective of performing authentically, that you must be credible, true, feel the character, clearly play the postures, that’s exactly the same.
“Especially in the anime sector, good craftsmanship is all the more important”
MeinMMO: The trend of AIs has also seeped into voice acting, for example in the form of audiobooks. What’s your opinion on that?
Marios: Exciting topic. So my standpoint is the following: I believe the question is not whether it will be possible in the future for an AI to completely replace us. It will. That’s beyond question. It’s already happening and will only get better. And it will someday be so good that the technology will advance to the point that you won’t hear a difference between a human and a non-human voice anymore.
That’s not the question I’m asking myself. The question is not whether we can do it but whether we want to do it. This is an ethical and moral question. Do we want AI to replace humans? Yes or no? Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.
The human or humanity is something very beautiful that should be preserved, with all its flaws. All those flaws and quirks. And the fact that a human is not perfect is what defines us. AI might even be able to integrate that imperfection, simulating what it means to be human. And that still leaves the question of whether we want that or not.
There are also dangers of misuse. Look at the whole deepfakes. It’s already like that. I believe that each of us has seen this deepfake of Tom Cruise on TikTok; it’s the most well-known example.
It can become a huge trap that we set for ourselves with technology. And I find that series like Black Mirror, one of the best series, address exactly these dark sides of technological progress.
MeinMMO: The German dubbing often receives harsh criticism, especially in the anime sector. What do you think is the reason for that?
Marios: There are dubbings that are indeed not as good as others. But it’s not consistently bad. There are always differences, but that’s true everywhere. Just like in film: there are good actors and there are not-so-good actors. There are good movies and there are less good movies.
It’s no different in dubbing. It’s a cross-section of all possible forms at every quality level. In anime, many established voice actors that you know may not have wanted to do anime. I believe that is changing slowly now.
Even as an established voice actor in the live-action sector, you have to be into it. Not everyone is excited about anime. I can understand that. Look at how the Japanese do it. It’s really intense. That’s also physically and vocally very demanding.
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YouTuber Ninotaku addressed the topic of German dubbing in a video.
Many colleagues have no desire for that. But especially in the anime sector, good craftsmanship is even more important. Because you’re voicing characters that are sometimes larger than life, and you can’t just speak them artificially. It has to be authentic.
Perhaps the budget for anime dubbings just hasn’t been as high in recent decades as for a blockbuster. I don’t know much about that. But I believe that’s also changing. Anime is increasingly moving into the mainstream in public perception and becoming more successful.
Look at the huge anime community that exists. I feel it myself and always watch what’s happening on social media. It’s really amazing. Therefore, I believe it’s slowly changing and anime rightly receives the quality standard it deserves.
MeinMMO: You sometimes say in your tweets and videos that something sounds like “voice acting.” What do you mean by that?
Marios: My acting coach always says “Stop acting like an actor. Be a real human being.” And that’s what it’s about. When you hear it’s voice acting, it means certain characters, melodies, and ways of speaking are being employed that make you think, “Ah, sounds like a voice actor.”
Then, I think we’re not doing our job right. We have the task, at least that’s how I see it, to create the illusion for the viewer that he really thinks “The character is speaking, not the voice actor.”
Otherwise, it sounds forced and artificial, and I don’t buy it from the actor. Because then, they use certain melodies that are so typical for voice actors. And the actors that I really admire, they all don’t sound like that.
They sound like people. And then I think, “Wow, amazing voice, amazing performance.” He or she has literally become the character.
MeinMMO: If you could freely choose a character, who would you voice?
Marios: If I could freely choose? It’s a difficult question because I have already voiced Batman. What could possibly come after Batman? For me, he is the ultimate comic hero. Even though I believe I am more of a Joker type.
I want to answer the question differently. I think if I simply do my job well with the roles I already have, the roles that suit me will come automatically.
We thank Marios for the interview and look forward to hearing more from him in upcoming games.
Blizzard has delivered a lot with the new heritage armors. At least that is what the community of World of Warcraft says, marveling at the new images.
Several weeks ago, Blizzard gave a small preview of the heritage armors of the original Warcraft races – Humans and Orcs. The feedback at that time was rather mixed, and it was quickly explained that the preview would not show everything. Various colors and some details were incomplete, and there were also errors in the datamining.
Now a second preview has been published, and there is significantly more to see.
Humans get a lot of options: It was already clear in advance that a heritage armor for Humans would be particularly challenging. After all, a ‘traditional Human’ can be a lot – it can be an infantryman but also a mage. Accordingly, the heritage armor for Humans includes not only multiple designs but also several colors to cater to different classes – each a variant for plate, leather, and cloth. But see for yourselves:
Orcs have several colors: Orcs also get the choice of 3 different sets, even if the differences here are smaller. Mainly the colors differ and represent a typical ‘grunt’ or ‘Orc warrior’ design. For a race like the Orcs, who have all lived a warrior-like life in the past, this seems quite fitting.
When will it come? The heritage armor of Orcs and Humans can be earned with the release of Patch 10.0.7. There is currently no specific date for the release, but realistic estimates range from the end of March to mid-April. Then you can earn the corresponding armors and add them to your collection.
How do you like the heritage armors for Orcs and Humans?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The seemingly unremarkable indie game Vampire Survivors became an absolute hit in 2022. Among the enthusiastic fans is Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox. He has now demonstrated his perseverance and proudly shared his latest achievement: a rare Achievement.
Which game is it about? Vampire Survivors is an indie game developed by “poncle” and describes itself as a “Gothic Horror Casual Game”. The simple game mechanics delighted thousands of players in 2022: In a sort of reversed “Bullet Hell”, players mow down countless monsters approaching from all sides with a barrage of automatically generated bullets.
If you somehow missed the hype around Vampire Survivors in 2022, you can take a look at the game here:
Start video
Vampire Survivors Launch Trailer
Xbox chief doesn’t shy away from the grind
What exactly has Phil Spencer achieved? On his official Twitter account, Phil Spencer shared a screenshot on February 26 showing that he has just unlocked the achievement “Victory Sword”. To achieve this, 100,000 monsters must be defeated in a single run using the character Queen Sigma.
Only 4.7% of Xbox players have managed to do this so far. Phil Spencer’s collection is thus currently complete, as he writes that he has now obtained all currently available achievements: a total of 162, including the DLCs. The rarest achievement, “EXTRA: Chaos Malachite”, is owned by only 1.8% of Xbox players – on Steam, the numbers are slightly higher at 8.7% and 2.7%.
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Data from the achievement tracking site Exophase not only shows that Spencer has indeed unlocked all 162 achievements, but also that he has spent nearly 260 hours with the game (via Exophase).
According to the website Steam Hunters, achievement hunters on Steam typically need 57 hours for 100%. Therefore, Phil Spencer has also found great enjoyment in Vampire Survivors beyond just collecting achievements.
Gamers cheer: “Damn legend”
How is this received? Quite well. Phil Spencer’s tweet has already been viewed nearly 685,000 times, collected 6,900 likes, and numerous comments. Other players also proudly share their achievements or feel inspired to take on the grind.
Why is this so special? Xbox fans seem to feel validated in their choice of console: Because the head is “one of them”, a “real gamer”, and a “damn legend”. In comments, it’s said that one simply does not have this passion for gaming with the competition from Nintendo or Sony.
At a time when criticism frequently arises that modern releases are soulless cash grabs, it seems to be well received that an important decision-maker actually cares about games.
A boss who shares a passion for gaming sounds enticing to many gamers. However, it was revealed that Microsoft employee tricked Bill Gates, the Microsoft chief, to break his obsession with Minesweeper.
The new coop game Wayfinder (Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox) was shown for the first time at the Game Awards 2022. It impressed with an exciting setting and a wild genre mix – and evoked strong memories of the deceased MMORPG WildStar. Now, the developers of the MMORPG classic are speaking up.
If the project is not quite an MMORPG in terms of gameplay, like WildStar, the overall setting still reminds of the deceased MMO. Wayfinder mixes fantasy and sci-fi in its setting and implements it with a rather colorful graphics.
Additionally, some steampunk and martial arts elements are present in the world of Wayfinder, and fireballs as well as shotguns are also not in short supply. In its overall impression, Wayfinder shares quite a lot with the much-missed WildStar.
Even the developers of WildStar think that Wayfinder looks like WildStar – and they think that’s really good
What do the WildStar developers say about it? Recently, two well-known figures from WildStar spoke on Twitter about an update for Wayfinder. The game had announced that on February 28, new tests will take place as part of a closed beta on the PS5. They also point out that early access on Steam will start in May.
The former producer of WildStar, Stephan Frost, comments on the post with the words “Ooooh, this is exactly the kind of update I was waiting for.” You can already hear here that the former developers are excited about Wayfinder. But it gets even bigger.
In response to Frost’s tweet, the former creative producer of WildStar, Chad Moore, says: “This is the 2nd chance for the best MMO ever.” And with that, he describes that he sees a rebirth of the dead but still beloved WildStar in Wayfinder.
You can also see the tweet here:
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Release within this year – tests are already running
When is Wayfinder coming out? The action RPG is set to enter early access on the Steam platform in May 2023. At the same time, the version for PS4 and PS5 will go online. Other platforms like Xbox are expected to follow in the fall.
By the year 2023, the game should also be released and will offer a free-to-play approach.
Cross-play and cross-save between platforms will be possible, so you should be able to play together with everyone and also switch to your console of choice at any time.
How can you participate in the tests? If you are on PC, it is very easy. Just visit the Steam page of Wayfinder and press the big green button that says “Request access”. However, not everyone will get in right away, so a little luck is also involved.
To participate in the console tests, you need an account on playwayfinder.com. There you can register for the upcoming tests. This also works for the Steam version, should you not have luck directly through Steam.
Currently, a closed beta phase is running on PC and PS5. However, more beta tests are to follow before the early access starts in May, but they currently do not have a date yet.
What do you think of Wayfinder? Do you see the game as the great 2nd chance of WildStar? Are you excited about the game and participating in the tests? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
In League of Legends , there was a bizarre situation with the European team Fnatic. They had two world-class ADCs on the team but played a terrible season. For the Swede, Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, it was an untenable situation: He was afraid of being replaced by the German Upset if he faltered. Now, Fnatic is resolving the situation: Upset is apparently going to Team Vitality.
This was the situation:
For years, Rekkles played for Fnatic, was the main ADC there, and became one of the most important figures in European League of Legends; he became a legend. But then the Swede moved to G2 – Fnatic replaced him with the German player Upset, who led the team for 2 years.
Last season, however, Rekkles returned to Fnatic, and Upset was benched.
Strong substitute player unsettles Rekkles – Demands clarity
This is what Rekkles said now: The Swede Rekkles recently made it clear in a Twitch stream that the situation with Upset does not work for him:
According to Rekkles, there were uncertainties throughout the season; no one was really sure of their position. He always felt Upset breathing down his neck.
After the season, the situation became even more difficult:
According to Rekkles, Fnatic made contact with Upset to see if he would come back to the roster.
An expert suggested that Upset should become the main ADC again, and Rekkles could play as a “range supporter” (via dotesports).
Start video
LoL stages its biggest professionals in a trailer so perfectly that I still get goosebumps 4 years later
Rekkles says: The situation with Upset was difficult for him. As long as Upset was there, Rekkles felt: if something went wrong, he would be benched and Upset would play. When he heard that Fnatic was talking to Upset, it hit him:
This caught me off guard, even though it makes sense; the guy is damn good. I told Fnatic that I needed a promise that Upset would not play for them in 2023, because otherwise it wouldn’t make sense for me to commit here… They then gave me the promise, which is why I felt so empty [when he heard they were talking to Upset]. I wasn’t sad or angry; I just felt empty.
Rekkles explained that it was already a strange situation for Upset to be on the bench because he is just so “fucking good”.
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This happened immediately after: After Rekkles expressed his concerns in a stream about how it felt to have Upset breathing down his neck, the situation resolved.
An insider report surfaced that Upset is switching to Team Vitality for the next split, to Perkz’s team.
Upset has already posted a “bee” as confirmation.
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The current ADC of Team Vitality, Neon, meanwhile asks his teammate Selfmade how it feels to be on the bench. “Cold and it wears you down,” writes Selfmade. He too had been replaced at Team Vitality.
It looks like Upset will soon be playing alongside the other big legend in European LoL, Perkz. Last year, things went only mediocre for them:
The cooperative shooter Deep Rock Galactic has 97% positive reviews on Steam. Now, the team behind the title has announced a shooter in the style of the popular indie game Vampire Survivors.
What kind of game is this? With Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (PC), Ghost Ship Games, the team behind the successful cooperative shooter Deep Rock Galactic, has announced a new game. However, unlike Deep Rock Galactic, the new title will not be played from a first-person perspective and will feature a top-down view.
Moreover, the developers describe the game on Steam as a “survivor-like auto-shooter.” This means that Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor departs from the path of the first-person cooperative shooter and takes the surprise hit “Vampire Survivors” as a model.
Nevertheless, you will take on the role of a bloodthirsty and heavily armed dwarf, fighting against alien hordes with brute force. This time, however, alone – Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor does not offer a cooperative mode.
You can watch the announcement trailer for Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor here:
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Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor – Announcement Trailer
What do we know about the release? As can be seen from the announcement trailer, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor will be released on Steam. However, at this time there is still no precise release date.
However, the Steam page of the game mentions a planned “early access” release date in 2023 (via Steam).
In the Footsteps of Success
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor combines the successful recipe of two different games, Vampire Survivors and Deep Rock Galactic. Both have extremely positive reviews on Steam, but what are these games?
What is Deep Rock Galactic? In Deep Rock Galactic, you take on the role of dwarves who receive missions from the eponymous mining company “Deep Rock Galactic.” These missions range from collecting certain resources to killing aliens. Killing aliens is the core principle of the game.
Time and again, you venture as heavily armed dwarves into procedurally generated caves and slaughter alien hordes. In the first-person shooter, you have access to 4 classes and various “tools” such as flamethrowers and Gatling guns. Additionally, the title is playable cooperatively with up to 4 players.
Deep Rock Galactic was released in 2020 and has since gathered over 150,000 reviews on Steam, of which 97% are positive.
What is Vampire Survivors?Vampire Survivors is a popular indie game that enjoyed a huge hype in 2022. Today, the game has over 177,000 reviews on Steam, with a strong 98% positive rating.
Game-wise, Vampire Survivors relies on a simple principle, wrapped in a pixelated retro style. You are in a top-down perspective and control a character using the WASD keys, fighting monsters on an open area. They approach from all sides, and you must try to survive for 30 minutes.
What are the first reactions to the trailer? The first reactions to the trailer are mostly positive, even though apparently no one expected such an announcement.
On YouTube, the user “El Burrito” succinctly summarizes the announcement: “This is unexpected and super.”
Comments on the Ghost Ship Games YouTube channel are similar (via YouTube):
User: “I don’t usually like top-down games, but this has caught my attention and interest.”
coldfries: “I didn’t know I needed this crossover until now. It just fits perfectly! Survivor-likes are one of my favorite genres. Many games attempt to create a unique experience, some succeed, some don’t. But turning one of my favorite games of all time into a survivor-like? That’s brilliant.”
big slaps: “Apparently, it will be a ‘Deep Rock Galactic’-style Vampire Survivors. Looks cool.”
If you like games like Vampire Survivors, you might also enjoy Brotato. It even received good reviews from HandOfBlood and costs only 5 euros.
The 28-year-old streamer Crunkmuffin struggles with the fact that Twitch takes 50% of the revenue. She demands that Twitch should leave every streamer, even the small ones, with a share of 70%. Close to tears, she complains to the viewers about her plight: They do give her enough money, but Twitch is so greedy.
How much revenue does Twitch take?
Twitch takes 50% of the revenue that streamers receive from donations and subscriptions.
Some of the biggest streamers currently have a deal that guarantees them 70% of the revenue.
But even this deal will change in summer 2023; then even the big streamers will only receive the current 70% of the revenue for the first $100,000, after which even these exceptional streamers will drop to a 50:50 deal.
This is what a streamer says: The relatively small Twitch streamer Crunkmuffin from the USA finds this distribution unfair. In a Twitch clip she posted on Twitter, she says:
Why doesn’t Twitch stop taking half of the money you give me? Am I being unreasonable? […] You are paying me enough, you are paying me more than enough to be here. It’s not on you. But here I am, and I have to tell you how Twitch is literally taking half of my money.
The streamer further elaborates on Twitter:
People need to know that she doesn’t even earn $4,000 a month. If she were to earn $4,000 a month, she would hire an editor to help improve her channel, for instance, when she shows Dungeons & Dragons content.
The situation makes her feel like she’s not entertaining enough when it’s Twitch as a company that is the problem, not caring enough and “holding her back”.
The streamer is frustrated: When she is on air for 15 hours and people pay her well, she ends up with a salary like for a “9 to 5 job” (via twitter).
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This is her demand: Crunkmuffin demands that Twitch grants all streamers a 70:30 split for the first $100,000. Taking half is not fair.
How is it being discussed? Crunkmuffin’s post is being discussed in various ways:
Many agree that a 50% cut is really high.
Others say: Twitch also provides the infrastructure and charges for it. One person adds: A streamer of her size causes Twitch about $25,000 just in data consumption. Twitch is not a ‘profitable company’.
Many also advise her to generate revenue through other platforms like Patreon and through sponsorships from which Twitch takes a smaller share.
Start video
Prime Gaming, the secret behind Twitch’s success
This is how it continued: After she posted her frustration on Twitter and international media picked it up, it wasn’t long before she started streaming on the Twitch competitor Kick.
They then also responded via Twitter, saying “The problem has been solved.” They published Crunkmuffin’s new streaming channel on Kick. (via twitter)
What is Kick? Kick is a streaming platform that aims to establish itself as a competitor to Twitch and has managed to attract some controversial Twitch streamers. Recently, alongside Adin Ross and Trainwreck, Corinna Kopf has also made the switch.
Behind the platform is a gambling casino that has been banned on Twitch – apparently, “Kick” wants to be a haven for people who struggle with Twitch.
The new sci-fi RPG Starfield is causing quite a stir. A fan apparently can hardly wait for the release, which is why he put together a 400-page document with all the information about the new game from Bethesda – even though there isn’t even a release date.
Once the hype around a game has caught on, you get excited about every new piece of information, no matter how small. The more disappointing it is when the developers then postpone the release date. This also happened to a Starfield fan named “Gokamo”.
But instead of simply being frustrated, he used the time to be productive. His intensive work is now paying off. He published an over 400-page document in which he has compiled all publicly available information about Starfield.
The whole thing reads like a scientific treatise, with a table of contents, notes, and cross-references. An impressive achievement! Especially when you consider that “Gokamo” created the document in his spare time and was not paid for it.
The images you see here in the reveal video for Starfield can also be found at several points in Gokamo’s document:
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Gameplay reveal of Starfield looks like No Man’s Sky, Star Citizen and Fallout
The ultimate source for Starfield: All information, images, videos and leaks collected in one place
Although Starfield no longer has a fixed release date, plenty of information about the game is circulating online. The first official teaser video was published by Bethesda in June 2018, the release of Starfield was actually planned for 2022.
Over time, a lot of material has accumulated, which Gokamo has independently processed and curated. He is a big fan of Bethesda’s games, starting with The Elder Scrolls Morrowind back then. He also grew up near the Kennedy Space Center, with family members having worked on rockets. He is a huge space nerd and the idea of a Bethesda RPG in space fulfilled his childhood dreams.
What attracts him to Bethesda’s games is mainly the scope and attention to detail, he writes in the document. He praises the vast worlds and the freedom that players have to explore them. No other studio delivers open-world gaming of this quality.
The community is excited about the scope of the document
As he himself writes in the introduction, the document is not a good introduction to Starfield, especially if you have never heard of it before.
Rather, he started the work to keep all the information about the RPG in his mind. Throughout the entire development period, Bethesda only provided new information in small doses, so one could quickly forget something. The announcement that Starfield is to be released exclusively for Xbox and PC is likely to have stuck in many people’s minds.
Among Starfield fans and also on reddit, Gokamo’s work is causing quite a stir. Under a post there, there are plenty of positive comments. However, there are also voices warning of disappointment.
I have to say that I respect his effort!
It’s crazy how much some people are looking forward to this game!
u/Aaron123494 and u/MangoFuckinSnapple
A reddit user jokes that a certain Hodd Toward might be hiding behind “Gokamo”. A little joke at the expense of Todd Howard, Bethesda’s head honcho himself. Others hope that fans will not be disappointed after the release.
Oh man, after reading the first few pages of the document and his motivation for it, his personal story with Bethesda and his love for space, I unfortunately get the feeling that nothing will meet his expectations.
I hope he is satisfied with the game that is ultimately released. Nothing can fulfill 8 years of hype and expectations.
u/desfore
Now your opinion is sought! What do you think of the fan’s action? Will you take a look at the document to pass the time until Starfield? Or are you skeptical about Starfield? Leave us a comment and discuss with the community!
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Destiny 2 Lightfall is finally here and after a long wait continues the story of the loot shooter. Just shortly after the release of the new add-on, players found a build for the Warlock that is way too strong – because in this build, Guardians have a super that never ends.
Update, March 2: Bungie has temporarily disabled the “Dynamo” mod in a hotfix, which means it can no longer be used in the Warlock’s helmet (via Twitter).
This adjustment is to be understood as a nerf for the Warlock with the Dawnblade super.
Which super is it about? As YouTuber Plunderthabooty shows on his channel, there is a way to play the “Dawnblade” super in Lightfall so that it never ends. Dawnblade is one of two solar super abilities of the Warlocks.
When the super is active, the Warlock wields a sword in their hands that is filled with solar light. This sword is called “Duskblade.” With the Duskblade, the Warlock can strike and throw solar projectiles at enemies. Additionally, they can stay in the air longer.
Why is the super infinitely usable? This is due to the build. You need to use the Dawnblade with the class ability Phoenix Dive and combine it with the mods “Dynamo” (in the helmet) and “Distribution” (in the class item). Additionally, “Icarus Dash” as a solar aspect improves movement, as well as the “Glare of the Scorched” as a solar fragment.
If you are near enemies with this build and use the Phoenix Dive, you reduce the cooldown of the class ability and the cooldown of the super when you use the class ability.
Moreover, with this build, you deal burning damage (scorching) to your enemies with each dive. Every time you scorch an enemy, the effect stacks and eventually it explodes. Furthermore, you receive some healing with each dive.
However, it is important that you are always near an enemy and use the Phoenix Dive to keep the super going. If all enemies are dead, the Dawnblade will eventually end.
You can see the YouTuber’s video, including some scenes that showcase the absurd strength of the super, here:
https://youtu.be/PkoKre2O7cQ
What build is needed? To use the Dawnblade optimally, you need to play the following build:
Class ability: Phoenix Dive
Solar aspect: Icarus Dash – For dodging + better movement
Solar fragment: Glare of the Scorched – the class ability charges faster when you scorch targets
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Is a nerf conceivable? The super is currently extremely strong as it does not end as long as enemies are near you. YouTuber Plunderthabooty even advises his viewers to play the fun combination before it gets nerfed. He assumes that a fix might not be long in coming.
The Dawnblade is so strong in combination that it may even affect the difficulty you choose:
Pax Dei is a new sandbox MMORPG for PC, inspired by medieval mythology. You encounter magical creatures and spirits, fight with typical weapons such as sword and bow, and can explore a completely open world. It is being developed by indie studio Mainframe Industries, founded by former developers of EVE Online.
What kind of game is it exactly? In Pax Dei, you create a character and explore the beautiful game world in Unreal Engine 5. It looked really good in a preview, which we from MeinMMO could participate in, about the level of Ashes of Creation.
The focus is on group play, as even the fights against PvE creatures are tough. For special points of interest, you will have to form a group with other players and can rely on a Holy Trinity.
However, the MMORPG does away with fixed classes, allowing you to define your playstyle through the choice of weapons. This – and also the combat system – is reminiscent of New World. You can strike lightly and heavily, dodge, and block. Even the “jump animation” while dodging looks very similar in both games.
Additionally, Pax Dei offers:
A very interesting building and housing system.
A zoom function that allows you to focus on decorations, equipment, and elements in the open world. This makes small engravings on worn equipment visible, which is supposed to play a role in the lore.
A player-driven economy system. No equipment drops from mobs; only materials are available, from which players can then craft armor and weapons.
There will be PvP, but no details have been provided yet. It is only clear that players will not be forced to participate in PvP if they do not want to.
It is first scheduled to be released on Steam for PC. However, it is planned as a cloud MMORPG later, which should allow it to be played on consoles or smartphones.
When will the MMORPG be released? A release is planned “soon.” A more specific date has not been provided to us.
Here you can watch a first trailer, which, however, does not show any gameplay:
Start video
Pax Dei – Reveal Trailer
Housing and Detail Richness as Absolute Highlights
What really sets the MMORPG apart? Pax Dei has two special features that stand out from the usual sandbox market. One is the building system:
You can claim an area in the open world for yourself and build wherever you want. However, this area can never be on a road or at a special point of interest.
There is the option to build completely alone in your area or to open it and have friends help you. Besides typical decorations, you can also set up crafting stations.
Anyone who wants can also connect their housing area with other players. This allows for the establishment of small settlements and towns.
In the preview, several developers teamed up, built several houses, and put a small fence around it. It looked like a cozy medieval settlement. Everyone also designed their house according to a profession. In front of one hut, there were several smelters, while another had alchemy tables in his house.
You can give up your housing zone, but they cannot be attacked or destroyed by other players.
In the preview, we already saw various floors, walls, and doors, which were made of either stone or wood. There are also fences, crafting stations, and all sorts of decorations for your house.
The other special feature is the zoom function on all sorts of elements in the game. At the beginning, a mushroom was shown to us, which simply grows on the ground and can be collected. With the zoom function, the mushroom suddenly took up almost the entire screen.
It is displayed in great detail and also informs us about some information about itself. It said, “Insects avoid this mushroom; does this mean something?” The game indicates that you should not consume this mushroom.
This may initially sound like a very niche element, but it plays an important role in the world. There are no story quests, but there are journals, inscriptions on walls, or engravings on objects. Even in the short, 20-minute preview, there were dozens of different elements that could be zoomed in on.
Who is behind the game? The game director is Reynir Hardarson. He co-founded the studio CCP Games, known primarily for EVE Online and thus one of the most successful sandbox MMORPGs.
The CEO is Thor Gunnarsson, who previously held the management position at CCP. With Pétur Örn Þórarinsson, there is another member from 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 work for Mainframe, all focused on Pax Dei. There are also supposed to be former developers from Blizzard involved. The studio was founded in April 2019.
A sandbox game that still sounds very vague
What is our impression of the game? Graphically and in terms of housing, Pax Dei makes a really good impression. Especially the communal settlement looked very impressive. However, some questions remained.
For example, there were 8 slots for weapons and tools, which could also be switched during combat. However, what was missing were abilities. In response to my inquiry, it was said that many weapons with different playstyles are planned and that they will also have abilities. However, it didn’t get more concrete.
The content itself also raises some questions. While we were shown some fights against monsters in the open world, from which you can find materials for crafting, many players could get frustrated by the complete freedom without quests, dungeons, and clear explanations. A certain thread is also important for sandbox games.
Lastly, the answers to questions about PvP were unsatisfactory. It is unclear whether this will take place in the open world or in arenas and whether PvP will play an important role.
This would not be a problem at all if they were not talking about a release “soon.” Because it seemed to me more like they were preparing for the first alpha or beta tests. It is also somewhat disappointing that we cannot present gameplay to you.
What do you think of 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.
The German streamer “Real_Bazzi” seems to have ruined his Twitch career. The streamer was hugely successful with GTA 5 content in 2021, but has shown casino streams on Twitch for the past week. His colleague xRohat warned him, saying he was terribly disappointed, as one earns enough as a streamer, and one shouldn’t show casino content out of pure greed. Yet, Real_Bazzi continued with the casino streams – thus Twitch wielded the ban hammer.
What was “Real_Bazzi” successful with? The German streamer quickly built a solid career on German Twitch through role-playing in GTA 5:
Within a few months, Real_Bazzi made his breakthrough on Twitch in 2021. From 20 average viewers in July 2021, it rose to an average of 34,375 viewers by November 2021.
This rapid ascent was fueled by role-playing in GTA 5 : In Rockstar’s game, many Twitch streamers play together on private servers. If a “newcomer” stands out positively, he can be seen in the streams of established colleagues and can grow quickly if their viewers take a liking to him.
Real_Bazzi imitated the figure “Marcel Heris” of the successful German Twitch streamer MontanaBlack, whose real name is “Marcel Eris”. This was a brilliant idea that led to a rise on Twitch, which takes others years of hard work. Since 2021, GTA 5 has been the most popular game on German Twitch, having surpassed League of Legends at that time.
Start video
Career and Life of MontanaBlack in 2 Minutes: What Makes Him Unique?
What was the problem? On February 20, 2023, Real_Bazzi suddenly started showing casino streams on Twitch. This gave him a particularly “bad taste”.
As the opinion blogger AlphaKevin details, Real_Bazzi had already destroyed his life through gambling once. Twitch was now “his second chance.”
AlphaKevin shows a clip in a YouTube video where Real_Bazzi talks about his life: According to his own statements, he had been addicted to gambling for 8 years and destroyed his life with his addiction. He suffered from panic attacks and still feels the consequences of the addiction today (via youtube).
Real_Bazzi says:
Smoking is not as bad as casinos. I’m telling you how it is. As someone who was addicted to gambling for 8 to 10 years. I destroyed my life. […] Even today, although I haven’t gambled for 2 years, I still bear the consequences of it, dude.
The bad boys of Twitch led him to gambling addiction
Why did he start gambling again? AlphaKevin explains: Real_Bazzi had repeatedly condemned gambling in his streams, but has now come into contact with the German casino streamers Scurrows and Orangemorange, the “Bad Boys” of German Twitch. He received an offer from a casino site (via esports.com).
In a clip, you can hear Orangemorange telling the addicted streamer to trust him, that he will make “at least 200,000.”
Especially the casino critic AlphaKevin shot against Real_Bazzi and showed his follower loss since he turned to gambling:
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The video from AlphaKevin made waves. Another streamer, xRohat, criticized that Real_Bazzi accepted the casino offer, stating:
“I am incredibly disappointed. […] We earn way too much money for what we do already – and then to accept a casino deal too – that just doesn’t compute in my head.”
8 days after starting the casino streams, the permanent ban from Twitch arrives
This happened immediately after: About a week after Real_Bazzi began showing casino streams on Twitch, he received a permanent ban from Twitch on the night of February 28 to March 1: Twitch accuses him of violating the platform’s rules regarding gambling, having posted affiliate links as he recounts in a video.
The streamer himself denies this. He says he has appealed the ban.
What is the reaction now? It is generally considered frowned upon and unscrupulous to show gambling on Twitch. There is an implication: Those who do this earn through secret deals with casinos, drive their viewers into gambling addiction, and lead them to financial ruin.
For this reason, Real_Bazzi’s case has been critically discussed on Twitter for some time. Even before the ban, some users on Twitter predicted that the streamer would regret this and fall hard.
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The ongoing conflict between the critics of casino streams, like Tanzverbot and AlphaKevin, and the casino streamers Scurrows and Orangemorange has flared up again. This conflict led to a brawl at the gamescom 2022.
AlphaKevin shared a screenshot of Real_Bazzi, who would stream on the same platform as Ron Bielecki – Scurrows then called him a “disgusting guy” who is a “gleeful snitch”.
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What’s behind this: It is known that Twitch reacts extremely sensitively to pressure from social media. If there’s extensive discussion about a streamer behaving inappropriately, the likelihood of a ban is high.
Established casino streamers also watch carefully, where exactly they live, where they stream, and how they approach it.
In any case, the example shows how quickly one can rise on Twitch, but also how quickly one can mess up their career.
Perhaps a consolation is that even a “permanent ban” on Twitch does not necessarily last forever:
In Destiny 2 has launched Lightfall and with it the long-awaited continuation of the story. However, to play this, you must choose between two difficulties. We will show you when you should opt for which difficulty.
How does the campaign work in Destiny 2? In the loot shooter, the system behind the campaign has changed significantly. Since Witch Queen, Guardians can choose between two difficulties:
Classic – So easy that everyone can keep up with the enemies
Legendary – So hard that you need to rethink your tactics and cannot just rush through
Players can therefore decide shortly before their journey through the story which burden is imposed on them, as the legendary variant can be quite intense at times.
However, before you opt for the classic version out of fear, we will show you why the legendary campaign is worth it despite the challenge and when you should choose the classic one.
Start video
Destiny 2: Lightfall – “Season of Resistance” trailer
This difficulty suits you in Lightfall
Which difficulty should I choose? It depends entirely on what effort you want to impose on yourself and where your focus lies. If you are more of a newbie, fresh from the light and taking your first steps in Destiny 2, then you should prefer the classic variant.
With this difficulty, you can calmly pursue the campaign and enjoy the story.
Enjoy the game first before facing challenges
However, if you have been in Destiny 2 for a longer time and have a variety of good weapons, then you should stick to the legendary campaign. It offers exactly the challenge you are looking for, and on top of that, you will be showered with a lot of loot.
What loot does the campaign offer? In the classic variant, you receive a chest with blue engrams, upgrade modules, and possibly even legendary weapons and gear for each completed stage of a mission.
If you tackle the legendary campaign, you will receive far more items and goodies for your light bearer, and for each stage of a mission, you get two instead of one chest. Upon completion, you will be rewarded as follows:
Conclusion – What you should consider: The legendary variant of the campaign is particularly worthwhile for players who want to reach the maximum power level faster, as well as complete their exotic collection. Additionally, it takes a bit more time and keeps you engaged longer, but rewards you generously. After each section of the legendary campaign, you receive 2 chests, and thus you really drop a lot of loot along with upgrade modules to boost your own power.
If you do not want to deal with tense nerves and prefer to familiarize yourself with Destiny 2, then opt for the classic variant. This way, you can calmly pursue the story and are more focused on understanding it. The loot in this variant is rather sparse.
This was our guide on the topic of difficulties in Destiny 2: Lightfall. Which one did you choose, and do you find the story cool so far? Please be considerate of players who are not as far along as you and avoid spoilers in your comments.
Those who have already immersed themselves in the new Destiny 2 story of Lightfall have immediately encountered them – the nasty Tormentors. Their name is quite fitting. The new enemies are not only lightning-fast and fling Void discs at you, but they are also extremely durable and hard to kill. MeinMMO now reveals everything you need to know about them to maintain the upper hand.
Which enemies are new in Destiny 2? The tormentors, or “Tormentors” as they are called in the original, are sinister executioners of the Witness wielding a powerful scythe weapon. They can not only grab a Guardian but also take away their Light.
These new enemies come from the Void of Darkness
Thus, they are subjects of the Witness
Through the Darkness, they can execute agile maneuvers with unfathomable speed
They also know no fear and are extremely resistant to weapons, except for a few critical areas. And as if that wasn’t enough, they are also enhanced by Witness and Pyramid technology and have a nasty one-hit kill attack. An inattentive Guardian can quickly meet their demise if they are not careful.
In Destiny 2: Lightfall, the new Tormentor enemies present new challenges to players
These are the methods Tormentors currently use against Guardians in Destiny 2: Lightfall:
Tormentors use a massive scythe for melee attacks and can shoot Void projectiles with it.
They can create a Void vortex in the air that releases more Void projectiles and is particularly deadly while pursuing Guardians.
If enhanced by the Darkness, they execute a heavy slam attack with the scythe and create a Void explosion. This applies a suppression debuff to players, preventing them from using their Space powers.
Tormentors also have a nasty and malevolent scythe grab attack. This is almost always a one-hit kill. In other words: if you get grabbed by them, you are dead.
Do you also want to know what it’s like to face a Tormentor? Then check out this video:
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Destiny 2: Lightfall – Trailer Game Awards
How Guardians respond to Bungie’s new fighters
Players are stunned by the deadly movement: On the Destiny subreddit, almost 750 comments about the new enemies have accumulated, and there seems to be a consensus: Tormentors are incredibly terrifying! Some players experienced exactly one damage phase with the Tormentors – only it was unfortunately not theirs. Additionally, there are the tight spaces that Destiny 2 sends you through during the Lightfall campaign.
While the Tormentor growls incomprehensible words of Darkness, it seems to want to say: “I am not trapped here with you. You are trapped here with me!”
The Guardian LightningBlehz enjoys being tormented and comments:
The number of times I have run away from a [Tormentor] and screamed “Please let me live, I’m sorry, please don’t grab me, just let me live” was much greater than I thought. I love them.
And the player Caelen_Trupp finds the new enemies as tough as they are eerie:
They are incredibly terrifying. After I destroyed both of their arm weak spots, they go into sicko mode and sprint towards your melee range while suppressing you every five seconds.
Veterans smile wearily: Some veterans of Destiny 2 had less fun. For them, Tormentors were easy prey. However, if these enemies also appear in the challenging activities, then even the veteran Guardians in Destiny 2 will need to come up with new tactics against them.
Especially in the Legendary campaign, Tormentors are already challenging and take a while to gain the upper hand over them. It is also helpful to understand their mechanics.
Nimbus is the NPC merchant of Neomuna and a daredevil
How to effectively kill Tormentors in Destiny 2
How to kill a Tormentor? Like every enemy, Tormentors in Destiny 2 are not unbeatable. You just have to know how. So we have listed all the important details about how to best approach the Tormentors.
First of all, you should shoot the two glowing weak spots on the Tormentor’s shoulders. At the beginning of the fight, these are the only two weak spots that can take damage.
Now a larger, glowing weak point on the Tormentor’s chest is revealed. Hitting this causes bonus damage and gives you the chance to kill the Tormentor faster.
These practical combat tips are also helpful: The Destiny 2 editorial team from MeinMMO has successfully taken out some of these new enemies and has a few practical tips:
Due to the malevolent scythe grab attack that pulls you in and kills you, always maintain enough distance.
Covers can block the Void projectiles. This is particularly important when Void vortices are flying towards you. These cannot be destroyed.
At the beginning of a fight, Tormentors are still quite slow. You should use this to quickly destroy their weak points on their arms. Only when they get angry will they increase their movement.
When choosing weapons and abilities, Stasis has proven to be as good an option as flashbangs. But Tormentors also react allergically to the exotic bow “Le Monarque,” the shotgun “Traktorkanone,” or the grenade launcher “Dürresammler.”
If the Tormentor swings their scythe, they often announce an attack. Use that characteristic to avoid in time.
Tormentors will continuously suppress Light abilities. In this case, your super is disabled. Therefore, it is wise to think carefully about when to activate your ultimate.
With a finisher, you can give a Tormentor the final blow. However, only try this if it is the only enemy of this type on the field. We speak from experience.
Feel free to let us know in the comments how your first experience with a Tormentor was! Did you find them tough enough? Or were you not impressed in any way? Which weapons do you find most effective against the tough enemies?
Destiny 2: Lightfall has also changed the Tower and brought forth something that might please many veterans:
For months, the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been occupying the gaming industry. Competition authorities around the world are dealing with the case. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has now used Hogwarts Legacy as an example to criticize the PS5.
He criticized that players on different platforms have different gaming experiences, even though they would be playing the same game. Spencer promises that the same version of Call of Duty will appear on all platforms. He aims to counter an argument from Sony, who fears the exact opposite.
If we say a game will be available on all platforms, we mean it. Let’s take Hogwarts Legacy as an example. A great game that was recently released. There is a quest that is exclusively playable on PlayStation. This mission is not available on Xbox.
I know that this is part of the gaming industry. But we have no interest in treating Call of Duty content in that way. The same game should be playable in the same quality on all platforms. We do the same with Minecraft, for example.
Even with Hogwarts Legacy, there are exclusive contents for PlayStation. Phil Spencer promises a different approach. Here you can watch the trailer for the Harry Potter game:
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Hogwarts Legacy presents the officially best trailer of gamescom – Has over 600,000 views on YouTube
Xbox turns against exclusive content to score points with authorities
Everyone should be able to play the same version: Spencer promises that Xbox will handle future releases like it does with Minecraft. The classic plays the same on all platforms, regardless of whether you’re on PC, in front of the PS5, Xbox, or Switch.
All players should have a great experience, no matter which platform they play games on. However, he also notes that his considerations only concern the base version of games. Cosmetic content is a different matter.
It remains to be seen whether these statements can also convince Sony. PS5 players currently enjoy plenty of exclusive advantages with CoD, such as early access to the beta and various unique cosmetic items.
What is the dispute between Sony and Microsoft about? Microsoft is working on the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The company behind blockbusters like World of Warcraft or Call of Duty has had a few difficult years. Activision Blizzard has faced several scandals, including criticism for sexism and the treatment of labor rights.
Sony is against the acquisition. They fear that Call of Duty could become exclusive to Xbox in the future. The shooter franchise is extremely important for console sales, argue the Japanese. If CoD were to be released only for Xbox in the future, Sony would face significant financial losses.
Surviving in Sons of the Forest can be cruel. Players have found this out and are increasingly surrendering to their dark side. Sometimes significantly more than they would like.
Sons of the Forest is a huge hit on Steam, primarily due to the many ways the game can be played. At its core, the game is still a survival game, meaning: you have to face dangers, and manage hunger and thirst.
But how you do that is up to you. Are you trying to make your way peacefully through the woods without drawing attention? Or do you slaughter everything you find to get food – including other people?
Some players have apparently discovered the path of violence and are now marauding through the woods, spreading fear and terror. This raises moral concerns.
Video producer Anna Alberg from MeinMMO was also quite reckless. Her crew even has the friendly mutant Virginia on their conscience:
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Sons of the Forest: Fear, Laughter and a Teamkill after 30 Seconds – How Crazy Our First Hours Were
“I started doing terrible things”
User Bamfcah started a thread on reddit, listing his misdeeds. He reports how he mutilates human opponents in Sons of the Forest or even lets them watch while he eats their body parts – while they are still alive.
(Other) cannibals seem to be his preferred and only targets. The player explains that he frees mutants that are locked up somewhere in cages and watches as they destroy the humans’ camps. He then leaves the mutants alone.
The reason: the cannibals have apparently attacked or even killed his Kelvin. The companion is an absolute favorite in the community. And apparently, many other players agree with Bamfcah that they would react similarly.
I would never let anything happen to Kelvin – I would even resort to disobedience:
Others report that they deal with cannibals in a similar way. Maybe not as extreme, but still quite ruthless and brutal. Some at least ponder their actions afterward.
The thread is one of the larger ones in the subreddit of Sons of the Forest with 79 comments. A question that many apparently ponder is: “Are we actually the bad guys?” Another user responds:
“I asked my crew the same question last night. We stormed through a camp and slaughtered everyone. As we ran away, we heard a whimper and saw a woman mourning over a corpse. I shot her in the head and realized… yes, we are the bad guys. But hey, I now have three new, fancy watches and some extra ropes.”
One of the major features of Sons of the Forest is the AI. Opponents react according to your behavior. This means: as long as you leave them alone, they usually don’t attack you either. At least up to a certain point.
They also mourn for killed friends, return to corpses and weep over them – or come to you and take revenge. While this can be mechanically exploited, some apparently find it quite burdensome.
Moral decisions, like how cruel one must be to survive, make the appeal of Sons of the Forest. Even if the game offers little in terms of story content, such tales are the reason why it is so hyped:
World of Warcraft is in a crisis that many players find frustrating. WoW demon Cortyn explains why the endgame currently has huge problems.
World of Warcraft is doing a lot of things right with Dragonflight. Many features are well-received, the reduced need for grind and general “twink-friendliness” are clear plus points. Because even though WoW has fewer players, it has become better. But the more time passes since the release, the more it becomes apparent that the endgame of the former MMORPG giant is struggling. The part “Mythic+” has turned from a fun undertaking into a torture, annoying different roles every week.
So it’s time again for me to vent a bit about the problems that have built up over months and years.
Mythic+, or: Every week a different player hates it
For those who are not familiar with WoW, here’s a brief summary: “Mythic+” is a system where you have to complete certain dungeons repeatedly at increasing difficulty. A “Mythic+12” is harder than a “Mythic+6”. With higher levels, not only does the difficulty increase through health and damage, but additional effects, known as affixes, are also added.
Affixes rotate every week, so you essentially have a different combination each week. This is meant to keep dungeons “fresh” and “interesting”.
In fact, they ensure that ranged damage dealers, melee damage dealers, or healers collectively do not want to play in the corresponding week in varying order.
In the past, there was even the affix “Necrotic”, which reduced the healing received by tanks. This forced tanks to constantly “kite” and only run back and forth in panic. The affix was so unpopular that tanks completely refused to play during the corresponding weeks – and it was subsequently removed.
This frustration that “Necrotic” caused for tanks has now spread to all other player groups.
Tanks that were just running away – a particularly annoying affix that robbed many of their enjoyment.
“Raging”, “Volcanic”, and “Thunderous” require ranged damage dealers to essentially be in constant motion and to interrupt every second or third spell – not to mention channeled spells.
This week, “Bursting”, “Tyrannical”, and “Terrifying” suddenly have all healers facing acute internet problems that will likely only be resolved next Wednesday.
Affixes are no longer an enhancement but ruin the enjoyment of a class. A shadow priest who has to interrupt every second spell due to some super annoying affix mechanic simply isn’t fun. A healer who has to click on fireballs the whole time is also far from the fantasy one actually enjoys.
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WoW Dragonflight: All Dungeons of Season 1 in the Ranking
Why are people only complaining now?
The first question that inevitably arises: Why is this suddenly a topic? After all, World of Warcraft has had affixes and the “Mythic+” system for many years. Why is the community suddenly noticing that this system is annoying?
This is probably mainly due to the fact that WoW has had very different, bigger problems in recent years. The overload of different systems, the narrative difficulties, and the twink-unfriendly mechanics especially in Shadowlands led to criticism being focused on completely different aspects.
Mythic+ stood out as “solid” at that time. It was never exceptionally good, but also never particularly bad. It was an acceptable pastime. A constant that always brought good loot and a clear incentive to improve.
With Dragonflight, a lot has changed. WoW is more twink-friendly than ever before. Dragon-flying has made travel interactive again. The game world is more open, and goals are more purposeful to achieve. The reputation factions with smaller tiers feel more rewarding and no longer so overwhelming.
Or in other words: The majority of World of Warcraft has shifted from “bad” to “good”. But Mythic+ has remained in the “medium” range – and stands out as a negative example.
A look at the subreddit or the forums of World of Warcraft reveals every day one or more threads that increasingly receive more approval. It is a problem that has long simmered and is now flaring up.
WoW fans are fed up with affixes – they need to change fundamentally.
How can Blizzard fix the problem?
Because “just complaining” is something anyone can do and is rarely productive (but often fun), I want to present some possible solutions as well.
Option 1: Positive affixes for more fun
In the WoW community, the idea of fundamentally reworking all affixes has been circulating for a few weeks. Instead of the affixes only being negative aspects to be avoided, they could have positive effects for the group if played correctly. The Reddit user “MrKny” had the following ideas for all affixes:
Bloodied: Now heals everyone standing in the pool of blood.
Encouraging: Also boosts players, even if only briefly.
Explosive: Destroying the orbs grants 1% haste per orb, the buff lasts 30 seconds and is stackable 20 times.
Terrifying: When the effect is removed, it gives the dispeller or the last healer a random 10% buff to haste, crit, mastery, or versatility for a few seconds.
Bursting: Also deals reduced damage to nearby enemies.
Enraged: Also applies to players below 30% health and remains for 10 seconds afterwards.
Raging: Slams all nearby enemies when the effect ends.
Stormy: Grants players and enemies 5% haste per tornado nearby.
Volcanic: Can now also hit enemies and give them a debuff, causing them to take extra damage.
Surely this change would require a rebalancing of the dungeons, and some fights could indeed become harder. But that’s okay. At least I want to fight against the abilities of the mobs and bosses in a dungeon, and not against the “weekly bullshit” that’s thrown in my way this time.
Option 2: Abolishing all affixes except the seasonal one
A second option that could simply be tried out would be the abolishment of all affixes except for a seasonal affix. This way, the “flair” of a specific season could be retained, and small accents could be set. Whether that’s “Thunderous” or “Awakened” or something completely different. With a limitation of only one affix, Blizzard could also think significantly more creatively and larger – or simply keep it to a small “side effect”.
More about World of Warcraft can be found here on MeinMMO:
Another option would be, instead of affixes, to give bosses (and perhaps also trash) new mechanics from a certain level (about “Mythic+10”). This could be a new boss ability in every fight. In parts, this is even already present in WoW, if somewhat unintentionally.
Here I explicitly mention positively the Academy of Algeth’ar, at least two bosses. Because both Crawth and the Echo of Doragosa have mechanics that only become truly relevant in longer fights.
The bird Crawth is initially a simple fight. You dodge a cone-shaped attack and heal the area damage that comes in every few seconds. Especially at lower levels, you can blow this boss away before anything else happens.
But at higher key levels, you must also shoot gates. This applies a debuff to the player, resulting in the area damage from the boss being reduced again. At the same time, it covers the entire battlefield with negative effects for the rest of the fight. Permanently falling fire fields, tornadoes, and winds that slowly shift the character are the consequences. Basically, a mechanic that only becomes relevant at higher levels.
Doragosa and Crawth are examples of fights that automatically become more difficult at higher levels.
Even more drastic is the case with Doragosa. When we first fought the Echo of Doragosa at “M0”, we were visibly confused. The fight was over very quickly, and apart from “Everyone gets pulled” and “The dragon breathes towards a target,” nothing else happened. For a final boss, it was astonishingly boring and uneventful.
However, this changes dramatically at higher levels. Because every time you are hit by Doragosa’s abilities, you receive a debuff. Once you have 3 stacks of this debuff, you leave a harmful area on the ground that not only takes up space but also fires arcane orbs through the room every few seconds, spreading the debuff further. What starts out manageable becomes a chain reaction that creates more and more areas with longer fights.
This ability is basically a “new” ability that only appears at high key levels. Such mechanics that continuously become harder can be wonderfully utilized for M+.
For me, it’s relatively clear that affixes in their current form are no longer sustainable, and at least my guild has already drawn consequences. From two nights of “Mythic+” per week, it has now become one – and they are also only playing as much as “absolutely necessary” for a good reward.
And that is incredibly unfortunate because the dungeons themselves are so much fun for me that I want to visit them many dozens of times.
But at least I have hope – because in recent months Blizzard has been very diligent in responding to player demands.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
