The manufacturer havit offers a small gaming keyboard. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested it and is surprised at what you get for 50 euros. You can read the full review here on MeinMMO.
With the KB487L, the manufacturer havit has a small gaming keyboard in TKL design in its portfolio. The price is around 50 euros, making it not really expensive. Notable, in addition to the color and the numeric keypad, is mainly that you do not get RGB lighting. Most “gaming” keyboards usually do not skimp on that.
I wanted to find out what kind of hardware you get for 50 euros, so I ordered the keyboard. And I am actually surprised at what you get for your money.
Why I am so positively surprised, but still not everything is perfect, you can read in my test.
Who tested it?
I have a penchant for gaming mice and privately own over 20 gaming mice and have tested over 15 keyboards. At MeinMMO, I have been testing hardware for our readers since 2019. Besides the PC and the PS5, I am now also using the Steam Deck.
I bought the havit KB487L TKL privately and tested it for MeinMMO.
Benedikt Schlotmann Hardware editor MeinMMO
Features and technical details:
Design/Interface
Wired, TKL design, 89 keys
Key type
Mechanical switches, red, (Jixian)
Programmable keys
No
Lighting
No, only active numeric keypad lights up white
Compatibility
PC, Xbox, Steam Deck
Scope of delivery
Keyboard, manual
Special features
TKL keyboard with numeric keypad, N-Key rollover and Anti-Ghosting
Price (RRP)
49.99 euros
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Scope of delivery, design and structure
What does the scope of delivery look like? In the box, beside the keyboard, there is also a manual. That’s all there is.
How is the keyboard structured? The keyboard comes with a customized TKL layout. Even though you get a small keyboard, it still offers you a numeric keypad. It’s well integrated and within good reach for the right, typing hand. The rest of the keyboard is the typical German keyboard layout (ISO-DE).
The numeric keypad is activated and deactivated using the FN key. When the numeric keypad is active, the background lights up. Otherwise, the keyboard is unlit and does not offer any RGB feature.
The havit KB487L TKL and its scope of delivery.
Processing
The keyboard features a robust plastic casing, in which the keys and switches are embedded. However, the keys sit so deep that it is difficult to remove the keycaps from the keyboard. Changing the keycaps is therefore somewhat more cumbersome.
It is a pity that they are not hot-swappable switches, as those can be replaced. But you shouldn’t expect that for 50 euros. In return, you do get quite good PBT keycaps.
The havit KB487L TKL in front design
On the packaging it says PBT and the keys also have the known rough surface that you’ve come to expect from PBT keycaps. Whether these are PBT keys with a doubleshot process, I cannot say; the manufacturer does not mention it either. However, it is clear that the keycaps feel pleasant under your fingers and do not get as dirty as comparable ABS keys.
The cable is unfortunately permanently connected to the keyboard and cannot be removed. Additionally, the cable is relatively short at 1.5 meters. Personally, that doesn’t bother me, as I use a USB hub directly on the desk.
The back of the havit KB487L TKL
Software
There is no software, at least you cannot download it directly from the manufacturer. On the other hand, there is also no adjustable RGB lighting. On the official page, you only get the manual, in German, English, and Chinese.
You still get some rudimentary functions: You can use the FN key to access various preset macro keys, lock the Windows key, or activate the numeric keypad.
High-end gaming with dozens of macros and fine-tuning is of course not possible here. For everyday use, the functionality is usually completely sufficient so far.
On the next page, you can read everything about the ergonomics and keys of the keyboard. In the conclusion, you will find out who I can recommend the keyboard to.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many Destiny 2 fans have already completed Lightfall and are setting out to complete their collection of gear and exotics through side quests and public events. We took a look at the overall duration and show you how long the latest expansion can keep you busy.
How long does the Lightfall campaign take? That completely depends on you, which difficulty levels you have chosen. You can choose the classic variant with easier enemies, while the legendary variant might keep you occupied longer.
On average, you can expect between 5 and 10 hours depending on the number of players, gear, experience, and difficulty level.
But we are only talking about the campaign here, meaning the main missions that mark the finale of the Light and Darkness saga. Once you’ve completed these, Lightfall doesn’t stop, as there are still more things to do.
With Lightfall, the Season of Resistance has also started. Here is the trailer:
Start video
Destiny 2: Lightfall – “Season of Resistance” trailer
Side Quests, Collections, and Weapons Extend the Time
How long do side quests take? This can’t be easily estimated, as each Guardian has their own pace. However, there are three new exotic quests that focus on acquiring the following jewels:
In the case of Deterministic Chaos, this quest can be started right after completing the campaign, while the other two quests can only be unlocked by completing additional tasks. The guides have been linked in the list.
If that isn’t enough, there is a seal and triumphs that you can also chase. Lastly, the subclass “Strand” must also be unlocked, which takes enough time as well.
Essentially, one could say that the campaign was just the tip of the iceberg, as there are many more things that you have set out to achieve.
Lastly, keep in mind: Depending on how positively or negatively you perceived Lightfall, take your time. Enjoy the time solo or with your friends and have fun in Neomuna, Strand, and the new exotics.
How long did it take you to finish the Lightfall campaign? Did you race or try to enjoy the atmosphere? Let us know in the comments!
The new Season 11 of The Division 2 is online. There is a new Manhunt and some fresh gear. What the new season has to offer and how things will continue in the coming months, you can find out here.
With considerable delay and update stress, Season 11 of The Division went online on February 27. The loot shooter is getting less attention. In the meantime, further development has even been halted. Therefore, the content packages are relatively small, but at least there is still something:
Season 11
Fresh Manhunt over the next weeks
2 new Exotics
1 Gear-Set / 1 Brand-Set
4 named parts
Quality-of-Life adjustments
New Season Pass
We briefly introduce you to the new content, along with the roadmap for Season 11. You can watch the trailer for the new season here:
Start video
The Division 2: Season 11 – Trailer
The Division 2: Contents Season 11
What does the season have in store? In the coming weeks, you will face 4 new enemies to ultimately hunt down the new villain Stovepipe. Until May 2023, there will be occasional new Manhunt missions. Also, as usual, league and gameplay events will take place during that time.
Here is the roadmap:
Season 11 is somewhat more generous when it comes to new gear. There are even 2 new Exotics – one weapon and one armor piece:
Exo-Weapon: Sacrum Imperium
Headshot kills of marked enemies give you movement speed (30 seconds cooldown)
Further headshot kills reduce the cooldown
Exo-Backpack: NinjaBike Messenger Bag
Counts as part of an equipped gear set – can also count for 2 sets simultaneously
On top of that, there are 2 new sets for your arsenal:
Gear-Set: Hotshot
Focus on marksman rifles: Multiple headshots in a row improve your stats
Backpack buff: You can miss a headshot and the headshot streak continues
Brand-Set: Habsburg Guard a.k.a. “HG”
Piece bonuses: Headshots, marksman rifle, status effects
The reactions to Season 11 are mixed. Under the tweet with the announcement (via twitter.com), some players are happy, while others complain about problems in the game and say that The Division 2 crashes more frequently on PC.
There are also some users who celebrate the new gear and brand sets. But they don’t know what to do with the stuff. Here, a larger inventory is being demanded, as such items are hardly collectible anymore when you already have a wide inventory of weapons and gear.
@Mindstrike writes: “With these new sets … is there a chance that you’ll give us more space in the inventory/bank?”.
The enterprising streamer Ludwig Ahgren has decided to own a team in Riot’s shooter Valorant . For $500,000 (€470,000), the 27-year-old assembled a team called: “MoistMogul”. But when the team played, it didn’t go as well as a Twitch clip shows.
Who did they buy? Ludwig, along with his new business partner Charles “MoistCr1TiKal” White , purchased the team “BreakThru” and renamed it to “Moist Moguls”. “Mogul” is a brand name that Ludwig likes to use on YouTube. “Moist Esports” is the company he has now joined as a co-owner.
The team consists of 5 players:
Brady “thief” Dever
Alex “aproto” Protopapas
Xavier “Fyuh” Carlson
Brock “Brawk” Somerhalder
Tyler “sym” Porter
The team has been assessed as “having potential”; it consists of former players from Ghost Gaming and FaZe Clan. Ludwig joked that he spent €500,000 of his partner’s money for the team. But no one should tell him that (via twitter).
Start video
Valorant Champions Tour 2023 LOCK IN Cinematic Trailer
$500,000 investment during the “e-sports winter”
Why is it so absurd? This investment in an e-sports team comes at a time when e-sports are in crisis. People are talking about the “e-sports winter.”
Teams and companies are declaring bankruptcy in 2023, scenes are falling apart, many employees in e-sports are being laid off overnight, and money is lacking everywhere.
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“The Guard” was an e-sports company in LA that actually wanted to take off.
Just last week, the end of “Beyond the Summit” and “The Guard” was announced; actually established organizations that were no longer viable in the difficult climate of 2023 (via venturebeat).
Some see the failure of Blizzard’s “Overwatch League” as a reason why a lot of money is being pulled out of e-sports. The fact that Overwatch can no longer be played in China dealt another blow to the league.
Esports are dying, teams are too expensive – But Ludwig enjoys burning money
How does Ludwig see it? Ludwig also mentions that he looks forward to losing money in e-sports. He is already aware that he is taking a high risk with the team, as he could be eliminated from the league early, which is not so unlikely and would have to wait a year.
In a Twitter clip, he explains that e-sports teams are overpriced because they are cross-funded, but he has enough money to burn – it’s enjoyable and somewhat addictive.
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Ludwig watches his team for 2 hours – suffers in agony
So how was the first game? Ludwig watched the first match of his team against the weakest team in a tournament, “Turtle Troop” in a live stream (via youtube).
For over 2 hours, the streamer suffers along and sees how his team loses one by one. The viewers repeatedly comment by writing “500k” in the chat – a reference to how much money the team costs and how badly they currently look.
This annoyed the speakers in the chat after a while. It’s like stepping on someone who is already down.
A Twitch clip is currently circulating from this longer YouTube video showing Valorant crack Tarik watching the owner Ludwig suffer during the game.
Ludwig appears disheveled in the video, shouting “It’s about faith!”, nibbling on his fingers. Tarik and his viewers are enjoying themselves over it.
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The great Hoenn tour concluded the last season in Pokémon GO. We wanted to know: What grade do you give the event? Here is your answer.
That was the event: On February 25th and 26th, the great Hoenn tour took place in Pokémon GO. From 10:00 to 18:00 each day, players could go hunting for event monsters.
The tour highlighted the monsters of the 3rd generation, offered a special research, wild Latias and Latios, and the Proto-Raids featuring Kyogre and Groudon as the highlight. You can also read about how the event went in the ticker for the Hoenn tour.
For the first time, players didn’t have to buy a paid ticket for the global “tour” event after the “Kanto” and “Johto” variants – this was only possible for the local variant in Las Vegas. At the same time, the worldwide variant was missing some bonuses compared to previous examples – like an increased shiny rate, egg hatching bonuses, or similar.
At the end of the event, there was both criticism and praise for the Hoenn tour. On one hand, players were happy that the event was free and argued that they had already received a lot for it. Others, however, criticized the missing bonuses compared to previous years’ variants.
Given the various opinions, we wanted to know from you: How did you like the event? Here is how you responded.
How the Hoenn tour was received by you
Here are the results of the survey: In our survey about the Hoenn tour, you could rate the event with school grades. And the result: relatively balanced. While some gave the Hoenn tour a weak grade, others definitely praised it.
A total of 2,058 users participated in the survey. Here’s an overview of the responses:
23 % gave the Hoenn tour a “5” with the conclusion “It was not so good, I hoped for much more”. Here, there was criticism.
With 22 %, the “2” with the conclusion “I had a lot of fun, but more bonuses would have been nice” was just behind.
18 % awarded a “3” and said “It was okay, but I missed some content”
Also 18 % gave a “4”: “It was average, with a lot of room for improvement.”.
11 % called the event a “total failure”.
And 8 % said the Hoenn tour was one of the best events.
This results in a comparatively broad overall picture with a slight lean towards criticism. In the end, the event was neither a failure nor a resounding success – but it surely had room for improvement.
The problem with the weather: In addition to our summary survey, we conducted another survey as part of the live ticker for the Hoenn tour. The question was: “How do you find large events like the Hoenn tour in winter?”
Because: Depending on the location, the weather could disrupt the gaming plans, such as rain and cold. The results looked like this:
827 players participated in the survey
52 % thought large events like the Hoenn tour in winter were annoying and preferred them in summer.
35 % voted for “No problem, I play in any weather”.
And 12 % said: “I don’t mind the weather, I play from home.”
In which areas do you relate to? How did you perceive the event itself, what did you experience during the tour? Tell us in the comments and share your event experiences!
In Pokémon GO, the new season has begun. It revolves around the theme “Rising Heroes” – and one of the most important upcoming events is already known: The Community Day in March 2023.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What kind of game is it? Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore (PC/Console) is an upcoming survival MMO developed by the German studio Blankhans.
The game immerses you in the land of Tormentosia, a Pen&Paper world created by Hauke Gerdes. Hauke is the former community manager of the internet TV station “Rocket Beans TV” and known as the creator of his own fantasy worlds.
What is Coreborn about? In Coreborn, the world is threatened by Sorgoth, the world devourer. Consequently, the once feuding peoples of Tormentosia come together to reclaim their lands and start the rebuilding process.
Your task is to build a city, continuously expand it, and defend it from attacks. Additionally, you embark on exploration tours and gather resources.
If you want to take a look at the game’s gameplay, you can watch the gameplay trailer here:
Start video
Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore – The Gameplay Trailer
How do you participate in the test? The closed alpha of Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore runs from March 2 to March 5, 2023, on Steam.
To take part in the alpha test, you must visit the Steam page of the survival MMO and click on the green button “Request Access”.
Here you can get to Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore on Steam
The developers grant access for the testing phase to a limited selection of players. If you are eligible to participate, you will receive an email from Steam informing you about it.
What do we know about the release? Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore currently has no exact release date but is expected to start early access in 2023. The full release is aimed for 2024.
According to the official Discord of Coreborn, the survival game will not only be released for PC via Steam but also for console and mobile. Crossplay is also planned.
On Steam, Coreborn: Nations of the Ultracore currently faces very strong competition within the survival genre. On February 24, Sons of the Forest was released there, which became the largest survival game on Steam just 14 hours after its release.
With Throne and Liberty, a new, big MMORPG is coming in 2023. Developed by veterans at NCSoft and released, at least for us in the West, by Amazon Games, the game has all the potential to become really big. But where can you actually play it?
On which platforms will TL be released? Throne and Liberty is now known by several names. Originally announced as Lineage Eternal, it disappeared for a long time and reappeared as Project TL, now it has a final name.
With such a long development time, it’s also often a reasonable question where you can actually play the game in the end. Currently confirmed are PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. However, according to current knowledge, there will not be Last-Gen versions for PS4. We will update this article if that changes.
Is Throne and Liberty coming to Steam? For many Western players, this is an essential question that is difficult to answer. But currently, the answer is: very likely yes. Below, we explain two reasons why this is so likely.
Two reasons speak for a Steam release of Throne and Liberty
The first reason: This is the publisher Amazon Games. They have always relied heavily on Steam and did not even offer their own launchers for the two major MMORPGs New World and Lost Ark, and have done very well with that so far. A similar concept would be quite conceivable for Throne and Liberty.
Start video
Throne and Liberty – Official GeForce RTX Gameplay Reveal Trailer
The second reason: This is a statement from a PR person from NCSoft on April 5, 2022. They stated to the Korean website newsis.com: ‘Throne and Liberty is thinking very positively about the Steam release while Guild Wars is preparing for the release. Steam has a very large impact in the Western market as a PC gaming platform and we are actively considering targeting the American and European PC markets with it.’
Release still this year – With many open questions
What speaks against it? Against a release on Steam, at least against a pure release on the platform, namely NCSoft’s own platform. With “Purple,” they have long established their own method of getting games to people.
On the official website of Throne and Liberty, there is also a link to Purple, which is still ‘dead’ and leads to nowhere. However, a Steam link is currently not to be found. On neither of the two platforms is the game officially listed yet.
It is also possible that Purple is only used for the release in Korea, while the Western market relies on Steam. It is also conceivable that both launchers are used in parallel for Throne and Liberty. However, this is currently nothing but speculation.
When will Throne and Liberty be released? The new MMORPG is set to be globally released for PC and consoles in the first half of 2023. There is currently no exact date. The communicated timeframe in 2023 was only recently confirmed again in a presentation to shareholders.
The chances are good that the game will indeed be released soon and not postponed again.
What do you think of Throne and Liberty? Are you excited about the MMORPG? Or do you fear that the title will once again adjust its release period and you’ll have to wait even longer? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
We from MeinMMO have already taken a look at the upcoming version 3.6 of Genshin Impact and have gathered information and leaks about the release date, new characters, and expected banners of the next update.
But we have already ventured a glimpse into the following version 3.6 and compiled initial information about the new characters as well as the future banners.
In doing so, we rely on both officially confirmed information and leaks. Please note that the leaks are pure speculation and not facts.
Update from March 31, 2023: In the meantime, the release date, characters, and banners for version 3.6 have been officially announced. Here you can find all the info:
When does version 3.6 start in Genshin Impact? The new version is expected to launch on April 12, 2023.
Here you can see a trailer for the current version 3.5 in Genshin Impact:
Start video
Genshin Impact: Version 3.5 “Windblume’s Breath” Trailer
The new characters in version 3.6
What new characters will be in version 3.6? For this, Hoyoverse has already teased two new playable characters: Baizhu and Kaveh.
It is almost certain that both will come into the game in version 3.6, as it has been common for previous characters that after the release of the splash art, they appear in the next version.
What do the leaks say about Baizhu? Baizhu is likely to be a 5-star character and catalyst fighter. There are mainly two speculated aspects regarding his abilities:
It is likely that Baizhu will be a healer.
Some leaks also suggest that he uses a Dendro shield in combat.
What do the leaks say about Kaveh? It is speculated that Kaveh will enter the game as a 4-star figure and be a two-handed fighter.
Expected banners in version 3.6
What banners will be in version 3.6? In addition to the two new characters, there is speculation about which other event banners will appear in the upcoming version.
One expectation is a rerun banner of Dendro-Archon Nahida, as it has been customary for Archons to receive a rerun four patches after their release (in this case version 3.2).
Furthermore, Nilou is speculated as a potential candidate for a rerun.
What else do we know about version 3.6? One aspect that has already been confirmed is that Dehya will be added to the standard banner in version 3.6.
Otherwise, a new area that expands Liyue is suspected. Others speculate about a new Sumeru zone. It is also expected that new enemies will appear, such as special Anemo and Hydro Hilichurls and a Dendro dragon.
Keep in mind that the leaks are purely speculation and everything can change or turn out to be false until the launch of Genshin Impact version 3.6.
In Pokémon GO there is a new research that you have to buy as a ticket for €6 in the shop. Now Pokémon GO announced another bonus.
What kind of research is this? The research is called “Willow’s Outfit” and has been available since the start of the new season “Rising Heroes.”
The special research is not free, but you have to buy it in the shop for €5.99. In the research, you can receive an outfit in the style of Willow, after he disappeared in the Ultra Dimension. There is also a Melmetal, which has the move “Hammer Arm.”
Niantic has now announced: On Twitter, the official Niantic support channel stated that trainers who have purchased the ticket can receive more Melmetal with “Hammer Arm” by evolving Meltan during the new season Rising Heroes.
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This brings the advantage that you could select different Meltan with suitable stats to evolve them into Melmetal, instead of relying only on the Melmetal encounter from the research.
You can get Meltan using the “Mystery Box.” When activated, it works like incense, allowing more Meltan to spawn. This also gives you the chance to collect candy – because for evolution, you need a total of 400 candies.
Do I get the move even without a ticket? Niantic announced when presenting the season that you can also unlock “Hammer Arm” for Melmetal in the future using a Charged TM. Currently, this is not the case yet.
If you want to know more about Pokémon GO on MeinMMO:
Is Hammer Arm strong? The move is currently exclusive to Melmetal, but in raids, Melmetal is still outperformed by other steel attackers like Metagross – here you can find the best attackers for raids in Pokémon GO by type.
However, Melmetal is a feared opponent in the PvP league – even without Hammer Arm. PvP expert “JRE47” has now shared an analysis of the move on the Pokémon GO subreddit “TheSilphRoad” (via reddit).
According to JRE47, the move is indeed interesting for PvP, even though it is not necessarily an upgrade, but rather an alternative to Melmetal’s previous moves. Especially in the Master League, it gains access to moves it normally would not have. JRE47 recommends always keeping the move “Superpower” and then deciding between “Stone Edge” and “Hammer Arm.”
Overall, this would make Melmetal a bit less predictable – however, the move is more of a “sidegrade” than an “upgrade.”
In summary, the evolution bonus for Meltan provides the opportunity to secure more Melmetal with Hammer Arm – but this seems primarily beneficial for PvP fans. Additionally, the move can also be obtained later via the Charged TM.
What do you think of the ticket? Is the research interesting for you? Let us know in the comments.
The new king of Twitch is Kai Cenat, he is 21 years old and has only been streaming since February 2021. Now he is breaking two records on the streaming platform, but he is currently without an exclusive contract. Some are already speculating that Twitch could lose its new superstar again.
Who is the streamer? Kai Cenat started streaming on Twitch in February 2021 and has experienced rapid growth since then. By September 2022, he had pushed former Overwatch pro xQc off the number one spot in terms of “active paid subscriptions”.
What has Kai Cenat achieved now? During his subathon, which he held in honor of Black History Month in February, Kai Cenat set two new records:
as the first streamer, he broke the mark of 300,000 paid subscriptions
thus, he became the most subscribed streamer in the history of Twitch.
Despite his success, the 21-year-old feels inadequately supported by Twitch. Now, former record holder Ludwig Ahgren and rapper Drake have also stepped in, demanding fair compensation for the streamer.
What is the problem? Although Kai Cenat is one of the biggest streamers on Twitch, he does not have a lucrative exclusive contract with the platform. Given his new status as the sub-king of Twitch, other providers may be interested in poaching him:
Before Kai Cenat and Ludwig, Ninja was the streamer with the most subs on Twitch. You can see what happened to the blue-haired Fortnite streamer in our video:
Start video
Through Fortnite to the largest streamer on Twitch – Who is Ninja and what is he doing today?
What are the demands? On Instagram, Kai Cenat has already received prominent support: In response to a post celebrating the 21-year-old’s record, superstar Drake himself made it clear what he expects from Twitch: “Motivate the kid and send him 50 million”
Ludwig Ahgren, the record holder before Kai Cenat, congratulated the streamer on Twitter and issued a warning to his former streaming home: Pay the man, or you will lose another record streamer.
He himself set the then record for the most paid subscriptions on Twitch in spring 2021 and switched exclusively to YouTube a few months later.
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Currently, it seems that Kai Cenat is still overwhelmingly happy about his success. On Twitter, he wrote that it has been a great journey to this milestone (via Twitter).
The Canadian rapper Drake was already involved in setting a viewer record on Twitch in 2018. He streamed at the peak of the Fortnite hype alongside Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, bringing gaming into the mainstream.
Even today, Drake has quite an affinity for the streaming scene.
In 2023, Blizzard Entertainment is one of the most well-known names in gaming. Franchises like Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo are globally recognized – World of Warcraft is one of the most successful games of all time and triggered the MMORPG boom in gaming. But how did Blizzard break through in 1994? That is explained by one of the founders, Allen Adham.
Who is speaking?VentureBeat reports on a panel at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, where Allen Adham also spoke.
He co-founded the studio “Silicon & Synapse” in February 1991 with his college friends Mike Morhaime and Frank Pearce, which later became Blizzard. Adham was the one in 1993 who found the name of the studio too technical. His suggestion “Chaos Studios” did not appeal to investors, and they ultimately settled on “Blizzard”.
Adham was among other roles the “Executive Producer” at the company and programmed games like “Warcraft: Orcs & Humans”. He is also considered the original lead designer of World of Warcraft.
That sounds like an enormous workload, and it was: Adham worked 14 to 16 hours, 7 days a week for Blizzard back then. He left the company in 2004 to switch to the finance sector. However, he returned in 2016 and has been working on new Blizzard projects since then.
Start video
Trailer for Warcraft: Arclight Rumble, the new mobile game from Blizzard
Blizzard made good games as early as 1992 – but the breakthrough only came in 1995
This was Blizzard’s situation back then:
People know Blizzard today, but if you go back far enough in time, we were just a small indie developer. We weren’t even called Blizzard.
The company was called “Silicon & Synapse” back then, and no one knew how to pronounce it correctly. Adham says the company had always developed great games (Lost Vikings was released back in 1992), but the breakthrough was lacking.
The major success came only when Warcraft (1994) set the stage for Warcraft II (1995).
The problem back then was that you first needed to be discovered by players.
Blizzard put giant heads on the game boxes, and they got bigger and bigger
This is how the company made the breakthrough: Adham says that back then customers still bought games in stores, and there was a gigantic mass of boxes from which one had to somehow stand out:
How do you get someone who scans all these products to take your game off the shelf?
The answer was ultimately: giant heads. They put these as cover art on the game packaging.
As Adham says, each of Blizzard’s early games had ever-growing heads, a technique to capture the attention of customers.
This was the spark of the idea that led Blizzard to success 30 years ago (Source: Mobygames).
“We didn’t want to spend money on other brands”
These were Blizzard’s ideas: Adham further explains that Blizzard didn’t want to pay money for a big brand, but wanted to develop its own brands by connecting to well-known themes that were already familiar to people, so to speak, to general folklore. This way, players could quickly form emotional connections:
Warcraft was high fantasy
StarCraft was high science fiction
Diablo had a biblical tone
Overwatch was Blizzard’s answer to superheroes
Allen Adham.
One of Blizzard’s key design principles was “Gameplay first”: Blizzard prioritized core gameplay above all else, aiming to appeal to as many people as possible.
Chess is a game you can teach an eight-year-old in 5 minutes.
Still, chess can be played for a lifetime and has been popular for centuries. Adham aims to achieve the same for the next projects and franchises from Blizzard:
Ideally, our games will be played for 10, 20 years. […] When we think about the next game franchises, we’re talking about welcoming everyone. That makes the design of the games and game franchises more difficult.
However, some who worked at the company back then say that the Blizzard Adham describes here is no longer the Blizzard of today:
After the high Destiny 2 player numbers of the recently praised DLC “The Witch Queen,” the Guardians wondered: “How well did it go at the start of the Lightfall DLC in 2023?“ MeinMMO tracked the player numbers during the release and shows it to you.
By the end of Year 5, the mood in the Destiny 2 community was rather mediocre. After weak seasons, especially the “Season of the Plunderers,” and problems in the game, the regular players of the loot shooter found it hard to get into DLC mood for Lightfall.
And this, even though Bungie drummed up the hype with a fresh start, a brand-new location, and the new, mobile subclass “Strand”. Some even announced they would cancel their pre-order of Lightfall because it had overwhelmed them with the grind of Destiny 2.
Yet when the witness arrived live in the solar system on February 28, 2023, at 6:00 PM, the Guardians apparently returned to their light-giver, the Traveler. MeinMMO shows you the Steam numbers at the Lightfall launch.
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Destiny 2: Lightfall – Gather all Guardians trailer
DLC launch brings Destiny 2 new Steam record
No one expected this: The launch of Destiny 2: Lightfall was, after all these signs and criticisms from the community, seemingly under a bad star. Players expected that Lightfall would be a flop in pre-sales. Also, because Bungie did not announce a million threshold for pre-orders this year, as it did for Witch Queen.
All the more surprising was that the developer Bungie ended up with the Lightfall DLC on Steam, despite everything, experiencing a player influx like never before on launch night.
The Steam charts from the evening of the Destiny 2: Lightfall launch
290,112 honored Savathun simultaneously at the launch of the Witch Queen DLC in 2022.
292,513 checked in 2019 when Destiny 2 migrated from Battle.net to Steam. This Destiny record has now been broken by Lightfall 2023.
316,000 players were logged in simultaneously on the evening of February 28 for the launch of Lightfall.
However, these numbers only apply to players on Steam and also include the curious NewLight players who were playing free-to-play and thus for free in Destiny 2 last night, so likely did not purchase Lightfall but only checked it out. However, one can assume that the storm and player numbers were similarly high on PS4, PS5, and Xbox last night.
More on Destiny 2: Lightfall can be found here on MeinMMO:
Another piece of information is that player numbers on Steam, although fluctuating depending on the quality of the current content offering, have remained quite stable for years. This has led to Destiny 2 hardly leaving the top games ranking in the Steam charts.
Last night, the loot shooter ranked 6th among the top games – thus considered a perennial favorite. Destiny 2 is almost tied with the current survival hit Sons of the Forest
Destiny 2 in the ranking of the top games on Steam (as of: 01.02.2023/ 6:00 PM)
Can Destiny 2 maintain this level? Currently, the numbers have readjusted. At the time of this MeinMMO article, 186,346 simultaneous players were playing the new Lightfall content.
However, these numbers are expected to decrease over the coming weeks and then stabilize at the Destiny all-time standard between 90,000 and 60,000 players at peak.
Excluding the statistics for the other platforms, one cannot assess the relative popularity of the Destiny 2 expansions. But the statistics show that the Lightfall hype was great, albeit unexpected.
Whether Bungie can not only lure its players into the game but also convince them of the long-term offering of its loot shooter remains to be seen.
Are you excited about this unexpected success of Destiny 2 and now have the appropriate answer to questions like “Does anyone still play this?” Or do you say that the level won’t be able to hold with Lightfall? Please write your response in the comments.
In Destiny 2: Lightfall, players are currently being killed by completely new enemies:
The community is furious and even many loyal fans like Aztecross and lore expert Byf are disappointed with the ending of the Destiny 2 expansion “Lightfall”. Our Destiny author Christos shows you what the community thinks of the ending.
SPOILER WARNING
In the following post, we will discuss the story of Lightfall. If you don’t want to be spoiled, you should click away.
Why are many players dissatisfied? Lightfall provided many adjustments in its update that were meant to change Destiny 2 in a positive direction:
Many well-known mods were revamped or removed
You can now save your builds
Ability cooldowns were drastically nerfed
Guardian ranks were implemented, with a new interface
Strand, the 5th new subclass, has been implemented
These were just some of the biggest changes and although they need to be absorbed first, many Guardians agree about the campaign of Lightfall. They say it is bad and do not understand what Bungie was thinking with this choice of story implementation.
The story explains nothing, leaving players only with question marks
What do the fans say about Lightfall? No matter where you look, you see the pitchforks and torches of the community spreading their discontent across all available social media channels. YouTube, reddit, Steam, and also Twitter are being flooded by players with question and exclamation marks.
The biggest problem is the story of Lightfall, because this expansion is supposed to herald the end of the Light and Darkness saga. It does that, but without enlightening the Guardians on what is happening.
The problem is so severe that one of the most loyal fans of Bungie, lore expert My name is Byf, couldn’t even find words for the ending of Lightfall. He commented on Twitter as follows:
OK … I have a video in the works about the story. First impression … I hate to say this, but without a shadow of a doubt there is some massive blundering … No comments on the thread, as spoilers are still a thing, but damn. So many promises remained unfulfilled.
Byf commented on the story of Lightfall (via twitter.com)
In his video (via YouTube.com) he goes into detail about what Bungie actually messed up:
The Guardians were constantly kept in the dark
No information regarding the Veil and how it works was revealed, even though seemingly everyone around your Guardian was well aware of it
And even the long-time Guardian Aztecross has an opinion about the story that is not any better:
Somewhat disappointed by the delivery of the Lightfall campaign. It started super strong and then seemed to rush from the middle to the end. Disappointment for me given the setup of this (DLC).
Aztecross commented on the ending of Lightfall (via twitter.com)
However, many Guardians criticize not only the story but the overall picture of Lightfall (via reddit.com).
He has no depth and was inappropriately developed for the serious situation of Lightfall
Strand is weak and not as cool as Bungie marketed it
The new mods have messed up Stasis and existing builds
However, keep in mind that this is just the first week of Lightfall. Changes and new features are always hard to digest at the beginning. A raid is still to come and there are four more seasons to enjoy. So be surprised if Bungie can and will resolve the questions that have arisen there.
Has Bungie reacted to this outcry? So far not yet, but the discontent is still on everyone’s lips and Bungie could, especially since this sentiment is visible across almost all channels, react to it. Either it will clarify what the Veil actually is, or Bungie will reassure you for the upcoming seasons that will deal with this issue. However, it is also possible that the raid will reveal an important story detail.
These options offer enough opportunities to unveil many secrets.
What do you think of Lightfall? Do you find the expansion as bad as the majority of the community or can you not understand the discontent? Let us know in the comments!
A beta for Throne and Liberty took place in Korea. It was actually subject to a confidentiality agreement to prevent any information from leaking out. However, testers still report on their experiences, and some points raise skepticism.
What do the testers say?For the “final beta,” around 100 people were allegedly invited in Korea in February. They were able to test the new MMORPG and were even said to have received an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 as a reward. Officially, they are not allowed to talk about their experiences, but some information has leaked out, for example on reddit or in Korean forums:
There is harsh criticism of the combat system, which is said to be too static and boring.
The story is supposed to be more of a summary of events and generally very jumpy.
The main focus of the endgame is said to be on PvP. Additionally, there should be open PvP at night without a karma system.
There will likely be XP and loot drop boosts.
The monetization model relies on “buying time.” What exactly this means is difficult to say due to possible translation errors. Optionally, TL is either Free2Play with a shop that offers many time reductions, similar to Lost Ark, or a subscription model.
Throne and Liberty, on the other hand, receives praise primarily for its graphics. This is said to be a “9.8 out of 10.” For instance, you can realistically see the character’s mouth speaking in dialogues. The character editor and the “interactive environment” are also praised. There are, however, no statements about the unique weather system.
The information mentioned here should be taken with caution, as there is no guarantee that the individuals actually participated in the test. However, the criticism of the combat system can be observed in the trailers.
You can watch the latest trailer from January again here:
Start video
Throne and Liberty – Official GeForce RTX Gameplay Reveal Trailer
The combat system relies on long animations and little movement
What do the testers say about the combat system? Throne and Liberty utilizes tab-targeting and is said to be very static overall. For about 80% of the abilities, you should not be able to move while casting them. You just stand still. AoE effects should be placeable on a target, which can then hit multiple enemies.
Some animations, however, are said to last quite long, which is supposed to rob melee fighters of their fun. Thus, opponents can likely dodge or run away during the long animations and not get hit at all.
For ranged players and mages, however, this is not supposed to be much of a problem, because your abilities fly directly to the enemies.
What do the testers say about the story? Here, there are three slightly different statements that do not necessarily have to contradict each other:
One user states that the story is just a summary of events. One learns a bit more about the background of the world. It is not cheesy, but somewhat jumpy.
Another user believes that NCSoft has done “everything in their power” to adapt the story for Western players from the EU and NA and to engage them.
Also, PvP is a topic of discussion. There are said to be PvP events where you can kill other players. There will also be a “karma system” for player kills. This karma system will be deactivated at night (3 hours day, 1 hour night, always in cycle) (via ThisIsGame). This could mean that open PvP is possible everywhere at night without consequences, which would likely frighten many PvE fans.
Amazon brings Throne and Liberty to the West
When will we finally learn more about Throne and Liberty? NCSoft has been very reserved with official statements and gameplay videos so far. Although there is no concrete release date, the developers emphasized in February that the MMORPG should come in the first half of 2023.
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.
