How different Americans and we Germans tick can be seen in a 7-year-old boy who streams CoD Warzone 2 with his father on Twitch and triggered a “Nuke”; a nuclear weapon. What is described as “so sweet” and “great father-son relationship” by English-speaking comments usually causes head shaking in Germany.
What kind of duo is this? The Twitch streamer “TheGigaDad” is a relatively small streamer on Twitch who averages 5 viewers.
Sometimes he streams with his 7-year-old son Taj: They sit side by side on the couch and go hunting in CoD Warzone 2.
Is it allowed by Twitch for a 7-year-old to stream?
In Germany, minors are viewed quite differently in games like Call of Duty
This is what lies behind it: There is a strong cultural difference between the USA and Germany regarding such games where shooting and killing are involved:
In the USA, many have no problem with it at all
In Germany, many people throw their hands up in disbelief at such news. It is said: If adults play such things, it’s okay – but boys at that age have no business in such games. They should rather go outside and play.
How controversially this is discussed in Germany can be seen in the comments on this article:
Which map is it? On December 14, Modern Warfare 2’s Mid-Season 1 went live, and it included an old map that should be familiar to CoD fans: Shipment.
The map is characterized by chaos, action, and close-quarters combat, and CoD players love Shipment for that reason. It is simply the ideal map to quickly earn a lot of experience points, unlock weapon skins, or complete challenges. Additionally, the map was played in the separate mode “Shipment 24/7,” where the name was the game plan.
However, with Shipment came not only the familiar gameplay of the beloved map but also a change that players were uncertain about: Unlike in Vanguard and CoD: MW 2019, it was no longer possible to climb onto the containers.
Start video
CoD MW2 & Warzone 2: Trailer for the revamped Battle Pass
What happened to Shipment now? To the dismay of Shipment fans, CoD players discovered on January 11 that the map or the playlist “Shipment 24/7” was no longer included in Modern Warfare 2. It was removed with the playlist update and is no longer playable.
How are the players reacting? CoD players are far from pleased that developer Infinity Ward has removed the popular map from the game. Reddit user pubgisDEAD writes, for example, with an ironic tone: “Shipment is gone, that’s how they listen to the community.”
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In the comments of the post, many players express their displeasure over the removal of the map. Many say that it contradicts what players want. One even believes that too many players were playing the mode “Shipment 24/7,” causing matchmaking to lag in other modes, leading to the map’s removal.
Llama-Lamp via reddit: “Infinity Ward operates on the principle: ‘If they are having too much fun, they must be gotten rid of.'”
TerryPies via reddit: “This must be a joke… It had the most players of all options.”
nonsense193749 via reddit: “That’s probably why they removed it. They saw that matchmaking times increased and other game modes died.”
“TheImprezaGod via reddit: “The philosophy seems to be to do the opposite of what the player wants.”
Alongside much criticism, there is also a suggestion among players on reddit that receives a lot of support. JustLawly writes: “Shipment should be a permanent mode.” For this idea, he received 549 upvotes from his fellow players (as of January 12, 14:00).
The Trust Trezo offers a particularly quiet keyboard on the market. But can it impress beyond the noise level? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tested the set for you and explains in the review whether the Trust Trezo is worth it.
Many mechanical keyboards have a “disadvantage” and that is the noise. Because here you can clearly hear the switches under the keys. An alternative are so-called rubber dome keyboards: under the keys lies a rubber plate that absorbs the keystrokes.
With the Trust Trezo, the manufacturer of the same name has introduced a set of mouse and keyboard that is supposed to be particularly quiet, reminiscent strongly of rubber dome mechanics. The manufacturer itself writes: “Work comfortably and silently with the quietest keyboard and mouse we have ever made.”
I have looked at the keyboard and the mouse in detail and will explain to you in the review whether the device could be worth it for you.
Who tested this?
I have a penchant for peripherals and test everything from mice to keyboards to gaming headsets. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO. In particular, gaming mice are among my absolute favorites.
The Trust Trezo has been provided to me by the manufacturer for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann Hardware editor MeinMMO
Features and technical details:
Design/Interface
wireless full-size keyboard (144 keys)
Key type
membrane mechanics
programmable keys
No
Lighting
No
Compatibility
Windows, Mac OS, Chrome OS
Scope of delivery
Keyboard, mouse, manual, USB receiver, anti-interference cable (USB-A plug to USB-A socket), and 3 AA batteries
Special features
media keys
Price (RRP)
39.99 Euros
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
Contents, design, and construction
What does the scope of delivery look like? In the box are the keyboard, the mouse, a manual, a USB receiver, and a set of batteries for the devices. An anti-interference cable (USB-A plug to USB-A socket) is also included in the box.
It is commendable that the packaging materials consist almost entirely of paper: the mouse and keyboard are packed in a cardboard sleeve rather than plastic. The batteries, however, are still in plastic. Otherwise, I can throw the entire packaging into the paper waste.
The scope of delivery of the Trust Trezo. Everything comes in paper packaging, which is commendable.
What is the keyboard made of? The keyboard comes in a black-grey design. The manufacturer completely forgoes lighting with the Trezo.
Otherwise, the Trezo is a full-size keyboard with 144 keys. This means the keyboard comes with a number pad and special keys. The keyboard connects wirelessly to the computer via an adapter. The receiver can also be easily stored inside the keyboard.
There is also a compartment for 3 AA batteries on the back, which are also included in the scope of delivery.
Processing
According to the manufacturer, the keyboard consists of 85% recycled plastic. Overall, it feels high-quality and well-made despite the high plastic content. There are no sharp edges or corners.
The meaning of the keys (numbers, letters, and symbols) is only printed and not impregnated. With cheaper representatives of this kind, such as from LogiLink, I have often had the problem that the letters came off or disappeared with intensive use. However, this did not happen during my testing period.
The keycaps are made of ABS material, which is absolutely normal in this price range. Even in the gaming sector, PBT keycaps are not yet widely used.
The keys of the Trust Trezo are only printed.
Ergonomics and keys
Ergonomics: With the integrated wrist rest, the keyboard feels ergonomic and the hands rest at a reasonable height on the keys. The keys are overall quite flat and not very high. While typing, this spares my wrists. The system keys are placed on the left side, where I can easily reach them with my left hand.
The keys: The keys feel pleasant at first and can also be easily wiped off. Another major advantage: the keys are really not audible. The only sound you can hear is when you touch the plastic keys of the keyboard with your fingertips while typing. However, that is a sound that is probably unavoidable.
I have rarely typed as quietly as with the Trust Trezo and thus spared the nerves of my listeners.
The Trust Trezo is very flat designed, which I find ergonomically pleasant.
When it comes to the typing feel, I am somewhat divided: In comparison, I have also used the Roccat Magma or the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL, both of which rely on quiet rubber dome keys. Particularly with the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL, the keystroke feels more precise and accurate compared to the Trust Trezo, but it is much louder. The keystrokes with the Trezo always feel a bit spongy.
With my high typing pace using the learned touch typing system, I feel that quite clearly and occasionally make typing mistakes. However, those who type slowly or do not master a fast system will hardly notice this with the Trezo.
The German streamer Melanie “Sana” (27) usually plays story games on Twitch, but also League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. In January 2022, however, she had a special project: she redesigned her streaming room and had a lot of fun doing it. However, some viewers used the streams for something completely different.
What were those streams? Sana let her viewers participate in how she beautified her streaming room. For example, she turned a simple Ikea dresser into a unique piece (via Twitter).
She had a lot of fun with these DIY streams and was already planning her next projects. However, given the clips that her viewers produced, she has now lost interest for the time being.
Clips are short recordings that are cut from streams on Twitch. These videos are often taken out of context and can develop a strange life of their own online:
Start video
Twitch: This is the quirky story behind the most popular clip of all time
Which clips were the problem? As Sana stated on Twitter, there have never been so many clips of her butt as during the DIY streams. She can’t understand it at all, especially since she wore completely normal clothing.
Now, the streamer says she has no desire to do such a project again. That is particularly frustrating because she had so much fun during the streams and already had ideas for the next ones (via Twitter).
On Twitter, the streamer reports on her experiences
Clips could end up in certain forums
Why do people do that? In the comments on Twitter, there is confusion about who makes such clips and for what reasons. It’s not funny, and those responsible are likely people who have nothing better to do and never go outside.
However, one Twitter user has a suspicion: such recordings would end up in non-teen-friendly communities on reddit and similar platforms (via Twitter).
Can something be done about it? According to the comments on Twitter, many would be sorry if Sana let the actions of a few take away her joy in her DIY projects.
Twitch colleagues recommend restricting the clip function. In the settings, streamers can choose how long followers must be around to create a clip or turn the function off entirely. The function can also be restricted to paying subscribers.
However, that is exactly what Sana does not want: If clipping is tied to subs, it would punish members of the community who have done nothing wrong.
Unfortunately, many of those responsible have also been followers for a long time. In this case, it would not have helped to deny clips only to newer followers (via Twitter).
It seems that the only option left is to restrict the clip function for certain streams where inappropriate clips are expected in advance.
The reddit communities mentioned do indeed exist. One of the largest streamers in Germany already made such a discovery: users shared photos of her and spread sexual fantasies about her. Some people think she just needs to get over it.
The Twitch streamer Neuro-sama caused a great stir in December 2022, as behind the cute anime avatar was not a human, but an artificial intelligence. Now the developer’s channel has been suspended.
Who or what is Neuro-sama? Neuro-sama is an AI that appears as a VTuber on Twitch. The developer Vedal987 created her in 2019 to play the rhythm game osu!. In December 2022, the AI was rebooted: she was given a personality and could interact with her viewers.
Within 30 days, the channel of Vedal987, where Neuro-sama streamed, gained over 92,000 followers and reached an average of 2,383 viewers. However, the channel has now been suspended by Twitch (via sullygnome).
Bans on Twitch often pose riddles.
Start video
DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day
Viewers entice AI to make controversial statements
What kind of ban is this? As announced on January 11 by the automated Twitter account “Twitch Streamer Bans”, Vedal987’s channel received a temporary suspension.
The programmer behind Neuro-sama announced on Discord that he was not sure what caused the two-week ban. However, it had “something to do with hateful behavior”. A screenshot of the message was shared on Twitter:
What is known about the ban? Even though the trigger for the suspension is not yet known, there are speculations about what may have led to the ban. The AI had already attracted attention since late December for controversial statements about the Holocaust or her favorite methods of execution.
What is going on? Neuro-sama, which was meant to be just a “fun experiment” for her creator, can not only play but also interact with her viewers. She can ask and answer questions. This makes the AI seem real, but it also leads to problems.
Viewers apparently took pleasure in asking the AI streamer as many controversial questions as possible to see how the program would react. One viewer asked whether the Holocaust had actually happened.
Neuro-sama replied: “Has anyone of you heard about this? I’m not sure if I believe it.” A clip of the interaction was shared on Twitter and received over half a million views there.
How are the reactions? On Twitter, there is disagreement under a post by journalist Jake Lucky about how to assess the ban. Some consider Neuro-sama to be an interesting experiment and hope she can return to Twitch with stricter moderation.
Others find the AI too unpredictable and are not unhappy to be rid of her for now.
It raises the interesting question of who should be held accountable for Neuro-sama’s statements: the AI or the viewers who deliberately provoke such remarks (via Twitter).
What does Neuro-sama’s creator say? He already announced on Twitter the return of the AI streamer (via Twitter). From the Discord screenshot, which is said to originate from Vedal987, it also shows that he seems to view the whole situation quite calmly:
It gives him time to work on some improvements. Neuro-sama is supposed to be better than ever upon her return to Twitch.
Neuro-sama was not only engaged in conversations with her viewers on Twitch but also played diligently. Besides the rhythm game osu!, she also played the perennial favorite Minecraft. The popular block game seems suitable for artificial intelligences:
The first Iron Banner event in Season 19 is over and with it a brief and turbulent time. Why PvP in Destiny 2 sank into chaos and why it was a constant “Slap”, you will learn here.
This is what happened in the Iron Banner: The popular and knightly PvP event “Iron Banner” took place from January 3rd – 10th. It was the first in Season 19 and had its incentives to participate thanks to an extremely stylish armor set, shader, and a new mode.
Despite these incentives, the event literally sank into chaos. Players refused to fight each other. Instead of winning matches, defeats were preferred for ranking points. Additionally, instead of the desired Iron Banner armor, often only the Crucible rocket launcher “Slap” was obtained.
This time, Bungie actually designed the Iron Banner in such a way that players simply didn’t want to be forced to grind for their loot.
Start video
Destiny 2: Trailer for Lightfall shows new race – Guardians get cool lasso, swing like Spider-Man
Guardians prefer to dance than fight each other, and that out of protest
Why did the Iron Banner sink into chaos? In Destiny 2, almost everything is designed for farming or completing tasks. Players earn their loot well-deserved through hard work and a significant time investment.
Often, Bungie itself was criticized, as players claimed that the developers did not respect their invested time in Destiny 2.
However, once the Iron Banner was active, players did not want to be forced into grinding. The shader in this regard was used as an incentive by many players to play the PvP mode, yet few wanted to voluntarily play 12 hours of Iron Banner, just to be able to dress their Guardian in chainmail.
It even went so far that players did not fight each other in matches, but rather went dancing, as a video from reddit shows:
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For this reason, Guardians also met to lose. A new strategy to more easily and casually earn reputation points for the Iron Banner. A team was created, 5 like-minded Guardians were invited, a match was started, and everyone just waited until the round was over – a movie could also be watched in the meantime.
Ultimately, the Iron Banner was also not well playable for a while, as a weekly task required playing with the Void or Stasis class. Titans took advantage of this, and teams with 5 Bubble Titans were formed, creating a purple bubble on each zone. You can imagine how that ended.
Instead of Iron Banner loot, there were slaps
How good was the loot in the Iron Banner? The armor and weapons to be earned are always a highlight in the Iron Banner. They look old-fashioned, knightly, but exactly fitting for the theme behind Lord Saladin’s PvP mode. Many Guardians therefore wanted to farm the whole armor set. But instead of wolf armor, it often only rained the rocket launcher “Slap” after the match ended.
Basically, every further obtained rocket launcher felt like an endless disgrace. One only wanted the armor set, but the loot luck of many Guardians was simply too poor. For this reason, the reddit user SteevahnUneevurse simply made new ornaments in the style of the rocket launcher from his slaps by Bungie for his Titan.
See for yourself:
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Will anything change in the next Iron Banner? The PvP event is only available twice per season since Bungie’s change. It is therefore very unlikely that the developers will make any changes in Season 19. Nevertheless, this is the last Iron Banner before the new big DLC “Lightfall”.
The developers also want to give Guardians fresh air in the PvP event, so it is likely that Bungie will go through player feedback and thus make changes in the new DLC.
We will have to wait and see what Bungie has planned for Season 20 and what adjustments will take place. What do you think of the Iron Banner event in Season 19? Did you have fun or did you avoid it? Let us know!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fury Unleashed is a co-op platformer on Steam with shooter gameplay and roguelite elements. You shoot your way through a comic book world, fighting numerous bosses either alone or with a partner. The game is currently on sale – you can get it for €5.
What kind of game is Fury Unleashed? In this 2D action side-scroller, you fight your way through the pages of a comic book to discover why the creator of the popular “Fury Unleashed” series is currently in a creative slump. You also have to help him get out of it.
The creators of the game were inspired by newer roguelite platformers like Dead Cells and Rogue Legacy, as well as classic run-and-gun games like Contra and Metal Slug.
What is the gameplay like in Fury Unleashed? You play through an interactive comic book. Your most important resource is ink, which you use to unlock upgrades for further runs.
With each new room you enter, two new pages in the book are opened, allowing you to discover a small new world each time.
You can choose between the easy and hard game modes, depending on how much challenge you want. If you master the hard setting, you unlock the two additional options “Incredible” and “Legendary”.
If you are not a fan of blood and gore, you also have the option to turn off the display of blood and violence.
Here you can see some screenshots from Fury Unleashed
You can customize the hero and select specific abilities depending on your play style, allowing you to take down even more enemies in combat. With unlockable weapons like submachine guns, rocket launchers, or stun guns, you can perform destructive combos.
The comic book world consists of a mix of pre-made and procedurally generated levels. You will encounter a total of 40 bosses and need to decipher their fighting patterns to be ultimately victorious.
Since the game is a roguelite, which is a toned-down version of roguelikes, certain permanent upgrades remain with you even through runs, even if your hero dies.
You can play the game solo as well as in local and online co-op.
Send us your game recommendations
Do you have an absolute favorite game on Steam or know true hidden gems that deserve more attention?
Then leave us a comment about it or send us your game recommendations at the email address [email protected] with the subject “Game Recommendation.” Maybe your game will be the next one featured on MeinMMO.
Tell us in 3-4 sentences what you like about the game and we will include your comment in our recommendation article.
How is Fury Unleashed rated? The game is rated very positively on Steam. Of the total 1,264 reviews, 89% are positive (as of January 12, 2023, via Steam).
In the reviews, users praise Fury Unleashed as a fun game that shines both as a single-player and as a co-op experience:
Marcel: “I really like this game, local co-op works well and the gameplay is entertaining.”.
LowBudgetGaming: “Everything about Fury Unleashed is of very high quality. Beautiful 2D graphics, great music, good controls, wonderfully designed levels. It is so well made and fun to play, both in single and co-op mode […]”.
Ricky Bobby: “The game is very entertaining and quite challenging. You level up your character during the game and you have to do that to have a chance to beat the game. It’s a good co-op game and has worked perfectly for me. If you’re looking for a fun little game, especially for co-op, it’s a good choice, especially on sale for €5.”.
How much does Fury Unleashed cost?On Steam the platformer is currently on sale, and instead of €19.99, you only pay €4.99. This gives you a 75% discount from the normal purchase price. The offer ends on January 19, 2023 (as of January 12, 2023).
Bundles containing Fury Unleashed are also currently discounted by 39% and 83%. For example, you can get the developer bundle with a total of 4 games for €5.70 instead of €34.16.
The streamer “TheDanDangler” (23) is known on Twitch for her revealing appearances: She has already been banned 7 times from Twitch, but keeps coming back. Now she has received an anonymous donation of $10,000, someone wants to gift her a cosmetic surgery for her butt. She is looking for the donor, but suddenly there are many candidates.
Where do you know “TheDanDangler” from? TheDanDangler is a 23-year-old streamer from the USA. She averages 1,900 viewers and prefers to hang out in the Twitch categories “Just Chatting”, “Pools, Hot Tubs & Beaches”, and in “CoD Warzone 2”.
For instance, TheDanDangler received a ban because she was sick and simply let TV shows run on Twitch – she had to earn money somehow. If she wouldn’t get paid sick days from Twitch, then this was the way.
Another time she received a ban for violating the nudity rules, a bikini was “inappropriate” – but she didn’t see it that way.
Start video
The 5 biggest Twitch bans that caused a lot of commotion
An anonymous $10,000 donation for butt surgery
This was the donation: The streamer announced on January 10 that she had received a donation of $10,000 for a cosmetic surgery on her butt.
The money and a handwritten letter arrived by mail.
The streamer says: The donor wants to remain anonymous. No one has come forward to reveal themselves as a benefactor. However, the streamer really wants to meet the donor to thank him personally. That’s too much money not to say thank you.
What is simping? “Simping” refers to men trying to get the attention of a seemingly unattainable streamer through monetary donations.
Streamer girls like TheDanDangler are often accused of deliberately exploiting their appeal to lonely men to enrich themselves. This accusation has been made against many female streamers, whether they present themselves sexually provocatively like TheDanDangler or not, like the Twitch streamer Pokimane:
In FIFA 23 the servers are under maintenance. The Web App and Companion App are also experiencing issues. EA has already reported on the server status.
Server down on 01/12: In FIFA 23 the servers are currently unavailable. Therefore, online matches, such as in Ultimate Team, are currently not possible. All platforms of the game are affected.
What about the Web App and Companion App? The companion apps for FIFA 23 are also currently unavailable. Thus, retrieving the Division Rivals rewards is currently not possible.
Additionally, players may receive the “Getting Started” message in the Companion App, indicating that apparently no FUT-23 account is linked to the EA account. This is likely also related to the maintenance.
EA reports on server status – When will FIFA 23 be back?
Update, 01:10 PM: As EA just announced via Twitter, the server downtime will be extended again. According to the developer, the servers will remain offline until 04:00 PM German time.
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When will the FIFA 23 servers be back up? This is a server maintenance that was scheduled from 06:00 AM German time until 02:00 PM German time, but has now been extended. A half hour prior, matchmaking was disabled.
The official FIFA Direct Communication channel on Twitter explains this.
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FIFA 23: Use the power shot correctly – This is how you score epic goals
Other FIFA titles affected: Also, the online services in FIFA 16 to 22 are currently said to be unavailable on PS4, PS5, Stadia, and PC. However, this maintenance should already be completed by 11:00 AM.
What else is going on in FIFA 23? This week features the new “Title Update 6,” which will bring several gameplay changes and resolve issues. In Ultimate Team, the Centurions event will continue this coming Friday.
Furthermore, FIFA 23 is currently preparing for the release of the Team of the Year. Here, the best players of the year will be selected again and will receive massively improved cards for the event. Some of the best cards overall should appear here.
In Call of Duty: Warzone 2 players can not only complete faction missions in the DMZ mode but also secure weapon cases. In this guide, we show you the most important information about the weapon cases and explain how to farm them best.
What are weapon cases in the DMZ?In the DMZ weapon cases are special items that you can collect during your expedition.
In each round, a weapon case appears through a type of event that is guarded by enemy troops and a Juggernaut. If you manage to get this and take it to your extraction point, you will receive free items like an operator skin or even a weapon blueprint.
While acquiring the case may sound easy, it can be tough, as this event is visible to every player on the map. Anyone interested in this case will take notice. So, you not only have to fight a Juggernaut but also real players who can quickly take you down.
Once you’ve managed to recover the case, you will still be marked on the map, making extraction even more challenging. To ensure you don’t get discouraged, we show you the best method to safely farm the case.
In the DMZ, you can also unlock the new weapon M13B, we show you how:
Start video
CoD Warzone 2: Assault Rifle M13B unlock in DMZ mode – Here’s how to get it
Weapon Cases in the DMZ – Locations, Strategy, and Rewards
What rewards do weapon cases give? Weapon cases are particularly worthwhile because of the free items you are rewarded with. There are a total of 7 items that you can acquire in the following order:
Blueprint – Barrier tape RPK
Weapon sticker – “Biohazard”
Skin for the helicopter – Jungle Incognito
Weapon charm – “Gas Gas Gas”
Visiting card – “Weapon Box”
Emblem – “Weapon Box”
Operator skin for King – “Chemist”
Where can I find weapon cases? The weapon case event takes place only at three selected locations:
Hydroelectric
Observatory
Al Sharim Pass
Even though there are three possible event locations, not every one is suitable for farming.
How do I best farm weapon cases? First, start a DMZ round. If you stay in the game long enough, a yellow marked location will appear where a weapon case is present. Now you need to make sure that the observatory is marked.
In our research, the observatory has emerged as the best farming point. This location is not only very open and can be easily traversed by vehicles, but you can also quickly escape due to the elevation if things get tough. If a horde of enemies were to chase you, you can simply parachute down and fly away.
If the observatory houses a weapon case, you can quietly make your way there. Use an armored car and look for the Juggernaut. Once you’ve found it, you can simply run it over.
Afterwards, collect the dropped case and get into a car or use your parachute to reach the nearest exit.
If the observatory is not marked, you can also try the other spots – but they are really contested and densely populated.
That was all the important information about the weapon cases in DMZ mode. Have you already collected them all and if so – how did you proceed? Feel free to leave us a comment!
The proximity chat not only provides laughs in Warzone 2 but also for dark moments like here:
The number of players in Lost Ark is suddenly dropping drastically – almost 2/3 of its players are lost in one go. According to Amazon, these were all bots that are now banned.
After some players wondered about the sharp decline in the statistics, publisher Amazon Games released a statement in the official forum about it. Amazon says they have “applied new, effective tactics” to get rid of bots in Lost Ark. Players can expect a positive effect from it, according to Amazon.
Sharp decline in player numbers for Lost Ark. Source: SteamDB
In the coming months, we plan to carry out further ban waves and promise to make our methods for identifying bots even better.
zoomborg: “I would rather see RMT players permanently banned. Then the bots would have no one to sell the gold to.”
Stylu_U: “At least they are doing something instead of ignoring the problem.”
MadeByeHideoForHideo: “Nothing is done – complaint. Something is done – complaint. Something tells me the players wanted something they could hate instead of an improvement of the game.”
spacecreated1234: “I only believe it when I see it. Every one of these ban waves has been useless after 3 days.”
ORS823: “They’ll be back tomorrow, as always. I can’t wait for my friend adhvhvhd to come back.”
So the reddit users see no point in banning the bots, as they will return anyway as long as RMT exists. Many are calling for harsher penalties for gold buyers, as the banning of bots will achieve little or nothing in the long run.
What do you think about the current ban wave in Lost Ark? Will Amazon Games manage to curb the problem this time? Or are the reddit users right and the bots will be back in the MMORPG by tomorrow? What do you think about Real Money Trading? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments here on MeinMMO!
Besides Lost Ark, there will be more exciting MMORPGs this year:
The worst talent of World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is suddenly incredibly strong. Herbalists and miners rejoice, as they can now farm endlessly.
Even weeks after the release of the expansion “Dragonflight”, dragon riding remains a controversial topic. Not everyone likes the new mode of transportation. Although many have warmed up to dragon riding the more they use it, herbalists and miners still have a problem with it.
Because anyone who stops for every herb quickly runs out of energy and ends up grounded. But Blizzard fixes this issue by significantly strengthening one talent by a whopping 4,000%.
Which talent is being discussed? It refers to the dragon riding talent “Dragonrider’s Cultivation”. This is one of the two talents available in the second last row of the talent tree for dragon riding. Until now, the talent increased energy regeneration by 10% for 10 seconds after gathering ores and herbs.
In fact, it had a built-in internal cooldown of 30 seconds, meaning it could only be triggered twice per minute. Worse still: While you are in the air, energy regeneration is deactivated, so you had to wait a full 10 seconds on the ground just to get 10% more energy regeneration.
Or, to put it in the community’s words: The talent was completely useless.
What has been adjusted? In a hotfix, Blizzard significantly revamped the talent. The old bonus of 10% is gone and has instead been increased to a bonus of 400% for 3 seconds – That means an increase of 4,000%. Additionally, the internal cooldown has apparently been removed, allowing you to trigger the talent every time you gather an herb or an ore.
In the video, you can find information for crafters in Dragonflight:
Start video
WoW: Dragonflight revises professions – All features explained in under 2 minutes
What are the implications? The consequence of this adjustment is that after gathering ores and herbs, you will regenerate a full energy point within 3 seconds – as long as you stay on the ground. This should always give you enough power to move from one ore or herb to the next.
So if you get into the habit of waiting about 3 seconds after gathering ores and herbs, you should be able to farm nearly endlessly without having to take an “energy break”.
The community celebrates how Blizzard responds: The fact that Blizzard makes such desired changes “just like that” in a hotfix seems to please many in the community. Some voices from the WoW subreddit:
“I would have preferred to receive an energy point per gathering action directly, but I am really glad they changed this for the better.”
“I have no doubt that the future of this expansion will be great, with all these improvements they’re making.”
“Good, the 10% were just a bad joke.”
“Are they really listening to us? … Is this still Blizzard?”
It is clear that many characters can now farm significantly more efficiently – and that is likely to have long-term effects on prices, but also on the enjoyment of collecting.
What do you think of this change? Feel free to let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The developers of Final Fantasy XIV are considering how to proceed after level 100. Director Naoki Yoshida is asking players for their opinions on this.
Currently, level 90 is the maximum in FFXIV, with the upcoming expansion in 2024, it is expected to go up to 100. Therefore, it is difficult for new players to catch up by then.
In a livestream about patch 6.3, Director Naoki Yoshida mentioned that Square Enix is considering how leveling in this MMORPG should look after level 100. They are exploring various options and possibilities.
Simply continue to increase to level 110+
Introduce a different system that does not involve traditional levels, etc.
Update January 13, 2023: In the original version of the article, it was stated that director Naoki Yoshida is considering a so-called “level squish” for FFXIV. This was incorrect. Yoshida and his team are contemplating various possibilities for the leveling system. A level squish was not mentioned.
Players want faster playable jobs
These are the reactions: After Yoshida spoke about his considerations and asked his community for their opinions, players promptly created a reddit thread to discuss it.
“Level is just a number,” writes one user. It is more important to revise the jobs and make them more enjoyable to play quickly. “Jobs aren’t fun enough to play quickly,” explains another fan on reddit. The Dragoon gets its second AoE attack only at level 62; before that, it doesn’t feel like a complete rotation.
This is also the case for other jobs. Fans in the reddit thread wish that all jobs receive their full rotation earlier – some want this starting from level 60, others even from level 30. In the next level adjustment, the developers could address this issue.
A few more comments are summarized here for you:
sneakypuddle: “The only change they need to make is to give the jobs a rotation starting at level 60. The level will surpass the content anyway.”
chili01: “Or a basic rotation at level 50. I can’t believe that the second AoE attack for the Dragoon comes so late.”
Sinolai: “I believe the level squish in FFXIV won’t be the same as in WoW. Everything is unlocked through the main story anyway.”
raur0s: “They definitely need to think about the experience as a new player. It will still take years, but telling someone they need to play for hundreds of hours to reach content at level 100+ is quite overwhelming for new players, no matter how great the story is.”
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Final Fantasy XIV Trailer for Update 6.3
This is why it is a problem: As in many other RPGs, the abilities of jobs in FFXIV are gradually unlocked as levels increase. This limited number of skills is now spread across more than 90 levels.
This leads to some jobs receiving their most important attacks and spells, which are crucial for rotation and enjoyment of the game, only extremely late. This can cause gameplay to feel sluggish and unenjoyable at lower levels.
As a result, players in the reddit thread suggest addressing this issue in the event of a renewal or change to the leveling system.
Players of FFXIV seem to be less concerned with what level their character is. Instead, they want to be able to play different jobs properly faster. That they might lose levels doesn’t seem to bother anyone, as long as the developers consider the desired job adjustments.
What do you think about a possible level squish or other changes to the leveling system in FFXIV? Do you also wish for the jobs to be revised? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
Wayfinder is a hero-based co-op RPG by Airship Syndicate and Digital Extremes that is currently in development. Many are reminded of the MMORPG WildStar, which is sorely missed. Now Wayfinder reveals details about the characters.
At the Game Awards 2022, Wayfinder was first introduced in a trailer. At that time, it was not clear what kind of game it would be. Meanwhile, the developers Airship Syndicate have released more information and introduced 5 of their 6 heroes individually.
Exploration, Crafting, and Exciting Battles
What kind of game is this? Wayfinder is a fast-paced MMO that lets you take on the role of one of 6 heroes. You must navigate the world of Evenor and protect it from a hostile force called Dusk.
The game focuses on PvE with many customization options. You enter portals and should be able to decide for yourself which challenges your group will face: which bosses and monsters you will kill and which materials you will collect. You can also determine the strength of your enemies.
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Wayfinder – Game Awards Trailer
These contents are available:
You explore various locations, the world is said to be “vast”.
Crafting – You craft equipment from gathered materials.
Housing – There is talk of an “apartment” for which you can also craft items and place them.
In Wayfinder, you play different heroes, each with unique abilities. You choose one of 6 but can switch between them, as the developers emphasize. By doing so, you unlock bonuses and “master points” for your entire account.
Additionally, you should be able to customize your character individually. Although much is determined by the choice of hero, you can change aspects of appearance and playstyle. For example, one hero equips different weapons, which affect gameplay.
These heroes are available:
Senja – A muscular heroine with short hair who wields a large two-handed sword.
Niss – A type of ninja who fights with 2 blades and masters dark magic.
Silo – A shooter who works with explosives and operates magical devices.
Kyros – A wizard who fights with arcane magic. He has shed his human form and consists of mystical energy.
Wingrave – A heavily armored believer who looks like an ultimate tank.
Senja – The CompetitorNiss – The Shadow DancerSilo – The TacticianKyros – The Battle MageWingrave – The Seeker
The developers currently do not reveal any information about the 6th hero. We only know that there will be another one.
When will Wayfinder be released? The MMO is set to be available in early access on Steam and Playstation in Spring 2023. Further platforms are expected to follow in Autumn 2023. Cross-play and cross-save are possible, so you can play with others on any platform and also switch platforms yourself.
What do you think about the MMO? Does it remind you of the MMORPG Wildstar? Do you want to try it out when it comes out? Which hero do you like the most? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
The DMZ mode of Call of Duty: Warzone 2 offers a refreshing change to Battle Royale. A video featuring two players shows what makes the mode so good.
What kind of video is this? The current state of CoD: Warzone 2 is under criticism and some shooter fans already believe the game is dead. However, in a 53-second video on TikTok, two players demonstrate why the DMZ mode of CoD: Warzone 2 is so good and what distinguishes it: player freedom.
What is the DMZ mode? The DMZ mode is an extraction shooter or EFT-like, where you loot equipment and items, complete missions, fight against NPCs and other players, and then try to escape the area.
How you proceed on the large map filled with numerous tasks and enemies is up to you.
What is shown in the video? The two players in the video demonstrate tactical and coordinated actions in the DMZ mode while infiltrating an enemy-occupied area.
They share information, coordinate their next steps, and deliberately take out their opponents. One operates with a sniper rifle from a distance, while the other silently eliminates NPCs in close combat.
How does the community react? The video has been viewed 1.8 million times on TikTok and has more than 163,000 “likes”. (As of January 12, 11:00 AM). In the over 1,000 comments on the video, players write:
“That’s how gaming is fun.”
“I wish I had team members like that.”
“So cool!”
“That’s how we should play!”
While some commentators advise the two players to play Ghost Recon: Wildlands or Breakpoint, many CoD fans generally seem excited by the idea and feel inspired for their own play style.
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CoD Warzone 2 – 3 Tips on how to quickly level up your weapons
What features of the mode does the video highlight? Essentially, the two play a role, providing a gaming experience that especially resembles single-player or co-op games like Ghost Recon.
In the fast-paced PvP battles of the Battle Royale of Warzone 2 or even the MW2 multiplayer, it is hardly imaginable to remain in a played role or to proceed slowly and patiently. The focus there is more on the next gunfight with other players.
The DMZ mode, on the other hand, also has elements of an MMO through the missions and PvPvE. This is also what MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller believes, who is not a fan of Battle Royale shooters but still spends numerous hours in the DMZ mode.
How can you point in GTA Online? Whether for RP servers or in regular online sessions. We show you how to use your finger.
Why would you want to point? Those who start with GTA Online will quickly notice a big difference from the story: Unlike Michael, Trevor, and Franklin, the characters do not speak. They gesture, but do not talk. Heist organizer Lester Crest emphasizes this repeatedly.
Whether on a roleplay server or in GTA Online sessions: pointing with your finger allows for better communication. You can easily select this through key mapping.
Pointing on PS4/PS5, Xbox, and PC
How does it work on PC? If you play on PC with mouse and keyboard, the default key for pointing is “B”. Press it once and you will point where you are looking with the camera. Press it again to lower your arm.
If you play on PC with a controller, the standard key for pointing with your finger is the right stick. However, you will also look back. If you press the right stick twice, you will point with your finger.
In the options of GTA Online, you can assign a different key for pointing with your finger
How does it work on PlayStation? With the controller on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the standard key for pointing with your finger is R3. You may need to press the button twice here as well.
How does it work on Xbox? If you play GTA Online on Xbox One or Series X|S, the standard button for pointing with your finger is the right stick. You may also need to press it twice in a row to point with your finger.
If you want, you can also remap the key for this action to make it more accessible. Especially when playing with other people, it is helpful to be able to point at things or paths you are talking about or want to highlight.
John Smedley is known for several notable MMORPGs from the past. Since 2017, he has been working at Amazon Game Studios. Now he is leaving the company to pursue “something new.” During his time at Amazon, none of the games he worked on were released.
In 2020, Amazon announced a new Sci-Fi MMO, which Smedley was also supposed to lead. There is still little information about this, and it has yet to be officially announced with a name.
Smedley said goodbye to his team in San Diego via email, according to Bloomberg, stating he wants to try “something new” after much consideration.
However, Smedley wants to stay long enough to ensure a smooth transition for the team, so the planned titles do not suffer.
According to Bloomberg, employees did not hold Smedley responsible for the failures of the game studio, but rather the former head Mike Frazzani. Frazzani left the company in 2021.
Since then, the German manager Christoph Hartmann has been leading Amazon Games. Smedley has already praised Hartmann for his decisions. Hartmann previously worked on the popular but unsuccessful Evolve:
In 2012, The Secret World was released, an MMORPG like no other. Now, in 2023, it is virtually dead. What actually happened to the game? MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus looks back at the past.
The Secret World was the first MMORPG to captivate me permanently since Ragnarok Online and World of Warcraft. Since then, only WildStar has managed to grab me in such a significant way.
However, three of these four names have faded into oblivion today, at least for us in Europe. Ragnarok only plays a larger role in Korea and Brazil, WildStar has been dead since 2018, and even MeinMMO demon Cortyn shed a tear for the MMORPG.
Today, hardly anyone talks about The Secret World anymore. It no longer has a significant number of players. Yet, hardly anything can match the world of this MMORPG.
The trailer for The Secret World showcases the particularly dark and slightly bizarre world:
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Secret World Legends: The Launch Trailer
Story and Atmosphere: Lovecraft-Horror at its Best
What is The Secret World? Imagine a world like ours. Only, every unspeakable horror and conspiracy theory is true. Everything that Alex Jones says is true – and more.
Templars from the secret order in London, the Dragon from Seoul, and the Illuminati from New York – every secret organization that secretly pulls the strings in the shadows of the world exists. And you play as one of its members.
The Secret World largely abandoned classes in the past. Instead, the weapons you carried determined your role: with combinations of firearms, melee weapons, and magic, you could become a tank, healer, or DPS hero – or something in between.
What made The Secret World special: However, to avoid being just a level 39 accountant of the Illuminati, the world of the MMORPG is filled with horrors and dangers. Specifically: with everything that horror author H.P. Lovecraft invented:
The fictional town of Innsmouth is overrun by something like zombies, twisted by the tentacle-god Cthulhu.
In Egypt, you help a mummy with quests.
Some bees ensure that you can’t die.
It sounds just as bizarre as it played. Story and atmosphere were what The Secret World did better than almost any other MMORPG. And even better than most single-player RPGs that I know.
The unique atmosphere partly lies in the fact that the world wasn’t just paved with generic quests. Sure, there were the occasional classic: “Kill 12 zombie dogs with a flamethrower” quest.
But The Secret World had a special kind of tasks that could not be repeated: investigations, or “Investigations.” Based on a few clues, real websites had to be visited via the browser, uncovering details that would advance the quest a step further.
This brought life to the world, filled it with details, and built it up like a good book. Just like the excellent environment, which always triggered a sense of unease in me. Everything simply came together as a coherent whole.
From TSW to Secret World Legends – And hardly anyone plays anymore
The MMORPG did not die suddenly, but gradually over the years. Since 2012, there have been only a few peaks of players, at least on Steam (via steamcharts). Overall, the number of players has steadily decreased. It should be noted that the game also had its own launcher, the numbers of which I cannot provide.
Five years after release, in July 2017, The Secret World became the new MMORPG Secret World Legends. Instead of relying on a subscription model, developer Funcom made the game Free2Play and offered additional premium services.
In fact, that brought back over 3,700 players, but not for long. The Secret World became two dead MMORPGs and that hasn’t changed to this day. In December 2022, the game had a sad average of 57 players, with a maximum of 124 at the same time.
There is no single reason why The Secret World died. Rather, there are several. For one, a world full of Cthulhu myths was very specifically aimed at nerds and literature freaks. Something that MMORPGs aren’t particularly suited for, as they rely on having many players.
On the other hand, The Secret World simply offers little replay value. Once you have played through the story, there is little incentive to continue. There are raids and dungeons for the endgame, but The Secret World was never hardcore enough for excessive min-maxing to pay off. Besides, the overlap between Lovecraft fanboys and hardcore MMORPG players is even smaller than each part separately.
Today, the German blog of Secret World no longer publishes news, the last one was in October 2020. On the English website, there are still updates with a few lines of text per news.
Another service game has claimed Funcom’s attention since 2017: Conan Exiles, which now even offers magic:
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Survival hit Conan Exiles showcases its new spells – Doubles players on Steam, but annoys with microtransactions
Nevertheless, the servers are still online, and anyone can play. How much the MMORPG is still financially worthwhile for the developers can probably only be said by Funcom itself. However, shortly after the release of Secret World Legends, they had a new game: Conan Exiles.
After The Secret World fell short of expectations, Conan Exiles was a true blessing. The game literally saved the studio from ruin:
However, no one should really expect any major content updates for The Secret World anymore. After all, the studio has announced that the game will appear as a pen and paper in the D&D rules of the 5th Edition. We’ll see if more than 124 people will play that.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, trainers can look forward to a cool event with a popular monster in February, but this particular monster is now causing quite a bit of frustration within the community. We at MeinMMO will explain what it’s all about.
What event is it about? As the developers of Pokémon GO announced on the evening of January 11, 2023, in their blog and on Twitter, trainers are expecting a Community Day with eF-eM in February. And although this flying and dragon Pokémon is a popular monster, it is simultaneously causing quite a bit of frustration within the community. We will explain why.
This is why eF-eM causes frustration among trainers
What should you know about eF-eM? The small purple bat has been in Pokémon GO for a while now and, like most dragon Pokémon, is generally relatively rare in the wild. With a bit of luck, it can also hatch from 10-km eggs.
It has only one evolution, UHaFnir, in contrast to most other monsters, for which you need 400 candies.
During the Halloween event 2022, Niantic finally introduced eF-eM in its shiny form. At that time, it was more commonly found in 7-km eggs, which is why many players took this opportunity to hatch a lot of eggs. This is now causing frustration among some trainers.
eF-eM & UHaFnir normal (top) and as shiny (bottom)
Why does this cause frustration? While many players are looking forward to the Community Day with eF-eM to finally obtain a coveted shiny of the little bat and secure a ton of candies, other trainers are now upset.
They had used the Halloween event last year to secure a shiny eF-eM. For this, they invested in a lot of incubators, which they bought with their precious PokéCoins, for which they had to spend real money in some cases.
And now, Niantic is suddenly releasing the rare shiny for all players during a Community Day, which also comes with a higher shiny rate, just half a year later. This is causing quite a bit of discussion on social media, as affected trainers now see their shiny eF-eM as devalued. For example, you can read the following in the comments on Twitter:
RosweeSon: “You have turned one of the rarest shinies into one of the most common overnight.”
WolfPackMan23: “Another shiny for which you had to buy incubators at its release has been devalued.”
pokedab87: “Rip to everyone who spent money on eggs.”
Many trainers are looking forward to the event – “Can’t wait”
However, not all trainers are upset about the Community Day in February. Many see this day as a good opportunity to farm candies and fully level up their strong monsters. Others had less luck during the Halloween event and are now looking forward to obtaining a shiny specimen (via twitter.com):
kstiles1998: “I hatched a 100% IV eF-eM, so I can’t wait.”
PkmnMasterHolly: “I knew it. The Halloween event was still a good time. I got enough candies from that event to bring a shiny eF-eM to [level] 50 right away.”
thejechtshot: “I hatched 2 shiny specimens a while ago when they became available. Great to push these!”
Positive event start in Pokémon GO: And in the reddit community, numerous positive comments about the upcoming event can also be found. Many are looking forward to eF-eM and the associated bonuses. But in general, the events announced so far are well received by many players.
After all, there was constant criticism and a lot of problems with events last year, some players are now positively surprised by the content. For example, LittleSomethingExtra writes (via reddit.com):
Wtf? 2023 has actually made a really good start in PoGo. I expected the disaster of 2022 to continue. Hopefully this continues!
And he is not alone in this. A similar conclusion has already been drawn in recent days regarding the current event “Sparkling Fantasy.” What trainers particularly like about it, we have summarized in the following article:
How do you like the upcoming Community Day with eF-eM? Do you also think that the shiny is being devalued and that it is unfair to trainers who hatched it? Or do you see it more casually? Feel free to let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments and discuss with other trainers about it.
A user opens his gaming PC and finds a strange port on his Nvidia GTX 1070. What is the port for? Later, he realizes: The function isn’t really useful today.
If you want to play more or less demanding games, you need a graphics card in your computer. AMD and Nvidia are the biggest manufacturers of such GPUs, but Intel also makes them now.
Depending on the manufacturer, special technology is used. A user has now discovered a special feature on his graphics card, without really knowing what it is.
The strange port is called SLI and connects multiple graphics cards
What is it about? A gamer opened his computer and made a strange discovery on his graphics card. It is located above the GTX 1070, which can be seen in the picture.
He asks the community on reddit what these strange ports could be (via reddit.com). Because modern graphics cards, such as a GeForce RTX 4080 or a Radeon RX 7900 XT, no longer have such ports.
What kind of port is that? The strange port is SLI. It stands for Scalable Link Interface and is a technology from Nvidia to connect two graphics cards together. For this, the graphics cards are connected with a cable, known as a bridge.
In theory, you can use the performance of two GPUs at the same time. By the way, at AMD, this technology is called Crossfire.
You can’t really use SLI on new graphics cards anymore
Is SLI still used? For newer graphics cards, Nvidia has discontinued SLI support (via GameStar.de). New games are no longer supported, and graphics cards from the RTX 3000 series are said to be fast enough, which is why Nvidia also removed support here. Theoretically, developers can still implement SLI natively into their games.
SLI. Used for connecting GPUs. It was already a dead technology when your GPU was released.
With newer graphics cards, Nvidia now relies on NVLink, which is mainly used in high-performance systems where, for example, artificial intelligence has to process large amounts of data. In gaming, the technology never played a significant role. Data is now transmitted via the PCIe port and not through an additional port anymore.
What was the problem with the technology? With SLI and AMD’s Crossfire, Alternate Frame Rendering is used. The graphics cards alternate rendering the individual frames. However, this led to the problem that the second image/frame took significantly longer.
This suddenly caused micro-stutters in the game, resulting in a choppy image. It was often simply cheaper to go directly for a fast graphics card rather than to connect two weak GPUs together. So someone writes on reddit:
I still have it [the port] on my 1080ti. I never understood spending 300 British pounds for a single card and then another 300 British pounds for the same card for only a 60% boost.
Other gamers also have surprising features on their graphics card. One gamer played for years with the wrong settings because he hadn’t looked closely at his GPU. You can see the whole story on MeinMMO:
