Today, on September 3rd, the Limited Research with Iscalar in Pokémon GO is happening. Everything about the start, Shinys, and the event bonuses.
The first big event in September 2022 for Pokémon GO is here: On Saturday, a three-hour Limited Research with Iscalar awaits you. This is accompanied by bonuses and special Pokémon in the wild.
In the overview, we show you the details.
Iscalar Event on September 3rd – Start, Shinys, Bonuses
When does it start? The event begins today Saturday, September 3rd, at 11:00 AM local time. It ends on Saturday at 2:00 PM local time.
What bonuses are there? You will receive double the amount of candy for catching Pokémon during the event. Additionally, the chance to find shiny Iscalar is increased. However, it is unclear how high the chance is during the event.
As field research, you will receive tasks that reward you with Iscalar encounters.
What does Shiny Iscalar look like? In the following graphic, you can see the normal and shiny form of Iscalar and its evolution Calamanero:
Pokémon in the wild: In line with the event, the Pokémon you encounter more frequently in the wild will change. These include Alolan Rattata*, Kramurx*, Hunduster*, Fiffyen*, Blanas, Zobiris*, Felilou, and with luck Galar Zigzagoon* (which appears less frequently). The Pokémon marked with a star (*) can be found as shiny.
What you need to know about evolution: If you want to evolve Iscalar, you will notice that it does not work “normally”. You need to turn your phone for that. We show you the evolution trick for Iscalar here on MeinMMO in detail.
How strong are the Pokémon? Iscalar is not useful in PvP or PvE. Its evolution Calamanero is at least usable in PvP and plays in the top-middle of the Super League and Hyper League. There are many strong alternatives.
Will you participate in the Limited Research with Iscalar? Which of the contents are you most looking forward to?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Destiny 2 is starting the weekend. But before you grab some bounties and get going, you should pay a visit to the good old Xur. We have shadowed him and reveal where he will land and what he has to offer.
What happened in Destiny 2 this week? Bungie has taken over the second week of Season 18 and sent you to a new chapter of the seasonal pirate quest in the Cosmodrome.
Before that, the aftershocks of the raid race needed to be digested. Because cheaters are no longer only active in PvP, but are cheating live in the PvE endgame.
Bungie’s boss, Joe “The Moustache” Blackburn, has meanwhile taken the time and revealed some new details about the upcoming DLC Lightfall that you may find interesting:
Season 18 sends you on week 2 to a new pirate hideout
All information about Xur on September 2, 2022 – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
When does Xur come? The exotic merchant is a creature of habit and therefore always visits Destiny 2 on Fridays at 7 PM. Anyone who still has gaps in their exotic collection expects him then, as he is the fastest way to own everything. And that at reasonable material prices.
Where is Xur? This is his hideout for the weekend
Xur’s position: Xur has landed, so we can tell you where you need to fly.
Xur is located in the European Dead Zone in the Twisted Cove.
Xur’s inventory from September 2 – September 6 – All Exotics at a glance
What does Xur have to offer? As the chosen exotic merchant of the “Nine,” a mysterious group in Destiny 2, Xur delivers new weapons and armor to players weekly on their behalf. All characters, including Warlocks, Hunters, and Titans, can shop from him. Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned Guardian, his wares are guaranteed to be better than Spider’s offer.
This is his offer for you this week:
Xur’s offer from September 2 – 6 at a glance
Weapon: Tractor Cannon – Void Shotgun for 29 Legendary Shards
Titan: Unquenchable Lion – Arc Leg Armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +7
Resilience: +17
Recovery: +9
Discipline: +7
Intellect: +12
Strength: +10
Total: 62
Warlock: Contraverse Hold – Void Arm Armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +12
Resilience: +12
Recovery: +8
Discipline: +12
Intellect: +6
Strength: +13
Total: 63
Hunter: The Dragon’s Shadow – Hunter Void Chest Armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +14
Resilience: +18
Recovery: +2
Discipline: +12
Intellect: +2
Strength: +12
Total: 60
Our purchase recommendation: For Hunters, the “Opulent Chest Armor” with a purchase is worthwhile. It has 22 recovery and 25 intellect, making for an interesting distribution. The Hunter helmet “Opulent Headpiece” is also quite interesting, with a total value of 63.
Xur also sells legendary items and offers unique rolls for exotics from no longer available exotic missions from past DLCs every week. However, note: You can only buy the weapons if you also own the appropriate DLC.
You can only shop for the DLC exotics if you also own the DLC!
Currently, he has these two weapons on offer:
The exotic hand cannon “Fatebringer” (Beyond Light) with “Snapshot Sights”
The exotic scout rifle “Narrative of a Dead Man” (Beyond Light) with “Moving Target”
This is the cost of the weapons: For these two exotics, the costs are 1 Ascendant Shard, 1 Exotic Code, 125,000 Glimmer, and 200 Legendary Shards each.
Xur always has: You will always get an exotic engram for 97 legendary shards from Xur, as well as the weekly quest to obtain an exotic code.
Next week “Eruption” starts in the Iron Banner
As the Trials are on break until September 16, PvP fans should look forward to the Iron Banner. It will start next week and bring the new mode “Eruption” to Lord Saladin.
Play “Eruption” mode in the Iron Banner starting September 6.
What is Eruption and how does the mode work?? It is a modified version of the former team deathmatch mode “Conflict,” which Bungie has adorned with a new “BOOMSHAKALAKA!” Just like in “Conflict,” you earn points for your kills in “Eruption”.
In Destiny 2, however, this new mechanic also significantly boosts your space abilities. Kills grant you and your team ability energy. This increases if you manage to take out a series of enemies without dying. Assists count as well.
The first kill grants you only a small amount of ability energy.
Your second kill without dying gives you the buff “Charging.” You begin to glow. From now on, every kill is worth 3 points, and you also gain +10% super energy and +20% grenade, melee, and class ability energy.
If you make your fifth kill without dying, you buff yourself as “Ready.” Now your Guardian shines brightly, your position is marked for your team, and the hunt is on.
“Ready” kills now grant you +12% super and +5% grenade, melee, and class energy. Additionally, the team benefits as it gets +5% super and +10% grenade, melee, and class energy.
Next week, it will be interesting to see how “Eruption” (German: “Ausbruch”) is received in the Iron Banner by the Guardians and whether the mode performs better than “Rift”.
How about you? Do you still visit Xur? Or is your collection already complete? And will you explore the Iron Banner? Or have you already decided that this mode is not for you? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
By the way, you should be careful in the future when leaving a match. Bungie plans a “Quit Prevention” in PvP:
In Pokémon GO there are various Pokémon that you need to evolve using special items. We at MeinMMO will show you which evolutions with Sinnoh Stone are particularly worthwhile in 2022 and how you can obtain the item.
Which evolutions are we talking about? The majority of monsters in Pokémon GO can be easily evolved using a certain amount of candies. However, not all of them. For some, you also need a specific evolution item: one of these items is the so-called Sinnoh Stone.
All evolutions with Sinnoh Stone at a glance
Slurpuff to Slurpuffe (Cost: 100 candies)
Rhyperior to Rihornior (Cost: 100 candies)
Tangela to Tangrowth (Cost: 100 candies)
Electabuzz to Electivire (Cost: 100 candies)
Magmar to Magmortar (Cost: 100 candies)
Togetic to Togekiss (Cost: 100 candies)
Driftloon to Drifblim (Cost: 100 candies)
Yanma to Yanmega (Cost: 100 candies)
Krookodile to Krookodile (Cost: 100 candies)
Drifloon to Drifblim (Cost: 100 candies)
Skorgla to Skorgro (Cost: 100 candies)
Sneasel to Weavile (Cost: 100 candies)
Corphish to Crawdaunt (Cost: 100 candies)
Porygon2 to Porygon-Z (Cost: 100 candies)
Kirlia to Gallade (Cost: 100 candies)
Roselia to Roserade (Cost: 100 candies)
Swablu to Altaria (Cost: 100 candies)
Snorunt to Froslass (Cost: 100 candies)
However, some of these Pokémon are particularly worthwhile. For this reason, we have summarized an overview of the 10 best Sinnoh Stone evolutions for 2022 below.
The 10 best evolutions with Sinnoh Stone
How was the ranking created? Since Sinnoh Stones are not so easy to come by in Pokémon GO, we have listed 10 Pokémon below, for which the evolutions are particularly strong and you should prioritize using the Sinnoh Stone on:
What is the Sinnoh Stone? The Sinnoh Stone is a special item that you need to evolve certain Pokémon from Generation 4, which originates from the Sinnoh region. You can recognize the item by the round purple ball and the crystals on it.
Sinnoh Stone
How can you get the Sinnoh Stone? Sinnoh Stones are relatively difficult to obtain in the game. You can receive them with some luck through rewards in Trainer battles, by winning in the GO Battle League, or if you have defeated the Rocket Boss Giovanni.
Sometimes you can also secure a Sinnoh Stone by spinning at PokéStops or by opening gifts. However, even here, the evolution item is correspondingly rare.
1. Roserade
Roserade normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Pokémon Roserade comes from the 4th generation and belongs to the types Grass and Poison. It can be evolved from Roselia using 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Roserade can especially impress with its high attack value. Its endurance and defense are also solid. With Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb, it deals significant damage to opponents, and it can also score well with Razor Leaf and Leaf Storm. Therefore, it is one of the best Grass and Poison attackers in Pokémon GO.
2. Mamutel
Mamutel normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Mamutel evolves from Quiekel to Keifel. To evolve from Keifel to Mamutel, you need to use 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone. The Ice and Ground Pokémon comes from the 4th generation.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Like Roserade, Mamutel can also impress with really strong attack values and high endurance. It only has a slight weakness in defense. Its moveset Powder Snow and Avalanche causes significant damage, which makes it one of the best Ice attackers in the game.
Furthermore, Mamutel is a strong candidate in the Master League of the GO Battle League. In there, best use a moveset of Powder Snow, Avalanche, and Steam Roll.
3. Rihornior
Rihornior normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Also from the 4th generation, Rihornior is a Ground and Rock Pokémon. This is the final evolution of Rhyhorn. Again, 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone are needed to evolve from Rhyperior, the first evolution, to Rihornior.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Rihornior impresses especially with high attack and endurance values. Its defense value is also commendable. With Catapult and Rock Throw, it deals significant damage to opponents and is thus the best Rock attacker in Pokémon GO.
4. Elevoltek
Elevoltek normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? If you evolve Electabuzz using 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone, you will get Elevoltek. It is an Electric-type Pokémon from the 4th generation.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Elevoltek can also impress with a high attack value. However, its endurance and defense are not as strong. With its charged attack Thunder Punch, it deals particularly high damage to opponents, which places it among the top 10 Electric attackers in Pokémon GO.
5. Togekiss
Togekiss normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Fairy and Flying Pokémon is the evolution of Togetic. This monster from the 4th generation requires 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, just like all other monsters on this list.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Even though Togekiss has only average values, it can score well as a Fairy attacker with its moveset of Charm and Dazzling Gleam in raids. Additionally, it performs well in the Master League with Charm, Ancient Power, and Flamethrower. Alternatively, it serves excellently as a strong Arena defender .
6. Kramshef
Kramshef normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Another Pokémon from the Sinnoh region that requires a Sinnoh Stone for evolution is Kramshef. This evolution of Kramurx belongs to the types Dark and Flying.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Kramshef benefits mainly from strong attack and endurance values. Its defense is rather poor, which makes it less durable in battles.
With Peck and Air Slash, it can perform well, especially as a Flying Pokémon, and thus ranks among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
7. Yanmega
Yanmega normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Bug and Flying Pokémon from the 4th generation is an evolution of Yanma. Again, you need 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone for evolution.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Yanmega can especially shine with a strong moveset of Bug Bite and Bug Buzz. It also has strong values in attack and endurance, making it a good Bug attacker for raids.
8. Snibunna
Snibunna normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Dark and Ice Pokémon Snibunna also originates from the 4th generation. It is the evolution of Sniebel.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Snibunna especially impresses with a high attack value. Its endurance and defense are solid. For use in raids, it is well-suited as both an Ice attacker with Ice Shard and Avalanche, as well as a Dark attacker with a moveset of Foul Play and Leech Life.
9. Tangoloss
Tangoloss normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Tangoloss is a Grass Pokémon from the 4th generation that can be evolved from Tangela using 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? While its attack and defense values are rather solid, it particularly impresses with its strong endurance. Its fast charge move Vine Whip is quite quick. Although it cannot reach Roserade’s level, it is still one of the best Grass attackers.
10. Skorgro
Skorgro normal (left) and Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? If you evolve Skorgla using 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone, you will get the Ground and Flying Pokémon Skorgro.
Why is the evolution worthwhile? Skorgro particularly shines with a high defense value. Thus, especially in its Shadow variant in the Ultra League, it is a top candidate. Use it best with a moveset of Night Slash, Night Slash, and Earthquake.
In addition to the 10 Pokémon mentioned above, whose evolutions are particularly worthwhile, there are other monsters that can only evolve with a Sinnoh Stone. So if you have any Sinnoh Stones left, you can also evolve the following monsters:
With AddOns, you can customize and simplify your gaming experience in WoW Classic. We at MeinMMO show you which ones are particularly worth it for the new expansion Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK).
What are AddOns? They are modifications that provide players with additional information and make WoW more comfortable. For the WotLK expansion, which is coming out this month, there are a few “Must Haves”.
The recommendations are based on a top list of popular AddOns from curseforge.com as well as on the MeinMMO editorial team’s own assessments.
Deadly Boss Mods (DBM)
Deadly Boss Mods (DBM) simplifies all fights in dungeons and raids. The AddOn shows you which abilities the boss is using and gives hints on what you need to do. In particularly critical situations, it sends you a warning.
Additionally, DBM distributes hints to specific players when they have a task to fulfill. Usually, the displayed messages are self-explanatory and make many fights more relaxed.
According to the top list from curse, DBM is the most popular AddOn in WoW Classic. Even professional guilds rely on it. In some guilds, you won’t even be accepted without boss mods.
The AddOn displays available quests and objects on your map. The AddOn shows you exactly where you need to go, what you need to collect, and where the enemies to be killed are located.
Additionally, Questie offers a tool that shows which tasks you have already completed and how much you can still accomplish in each zone.
In the in-game database, you can display all kinds of NPCs and their locations. It works the same for mobs and objects. You can find all kinds of information through Questie to progress quickly without much searching.
With a new expansion, of course, come new content, monsters, NPCs, and so on into the game. Sometimes, you might miss something rare because it’s out of sight. That’s why it’s worth using the AddOn RareScanner, at least initially.
This gives you a button on your screen that scans everything around you and shows how rare it is or if something rare can drop there. The scanner also displays this information on the world map. You see NPCs, treasures, events, and enemies.
Once the AddOn finds something, it triggers a sound effect. It then shows you the exact location of the find.
What AddOns do you use? Which ones do you consider particularly useful in the new expansion WotLK? Or would you prefer to enjoy the game without modifications and not rely on AddOns? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
You have a Nintendo Switch but are not really getting along with the included Joy-Cons? Then there’s the perfect alternative for you – and it’s also cost-effective. We’re talking about the Split Pad Pro from Hori. MeinMMO editor Maximilian Dettenthaler has tried out the controller for you.
The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles in the world. In fact, it ranks fifth in the best-selling game consoles, doing even better than its quasi-predecessor, the also extremely popular Nintendo Wii.
The console is celebrated for a variety of reasons: in addition to the large selection of games, many exclusive titles, and family-friendliness, the mobility of the Switch is certainly a major selling point.
In handheld mode, it is the perfect console for on-the-go. Although it has a slightly lower resolution (720p instead of a maximum of 1080p when the console is docked and connected to a compatible device), it is perfectly suited for train rides, waiting room stays, or for players who love to travel.
What bothers me about the original Nintendo Switch? The console from Nintendo has a clear problem that I cannot deny: the Joy-Cons that come with it out of the box.
The Joy-Cons are often not just (much) too small for most adults, but they also make the console feel quite heavy. They are simply not ergonomic at all and thus very uncomfortable. Especially after long periods of playing in handheld mode, it can sometimes happen that your hands hurt or even cramp.
For this reason, I bought the officially licensed Split Pad Pro from Hori. And at just around 40 Euros, it is also a really cost-effective alternative to the rather annoying standard Joy-Cons, for which you typically have to pay 60 to 70 Euros. In this article, I will explain why this investment is definitely worth it for you.
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The ergonomic controller for the Switch in detail
The Split Pad Pro is very well made, stable, and of good quality for the price. Unlike the standard Joy-Cons, it does not have its own battery and can only be used in handheld mode.
And although the power supply is therefore drawn from the console itself, the energy consumption of the Switch is, surprisingly, not really measurably higher in my opinion.
The ergonomic grip of the two handles and the lighter weight also ensure that the controller – especially compared to the normal Joy-Cons – fits really well in the hand and thus doesn’t become tiresome for hours of play.
Therefore, the Split Pad Pro is well suited for both children and adults with larger hands.
The Split Pad Pro from Hori really fits comfortably in the hand
The controller is very precise – it even competes comfortably with the highly praised external Pro Controller for the console. And the well-known drift problem of the Joy-Cons does not exist here either. Additionally, the Split Pad Pro is effortlessly compatible with the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch and, in my opinion, provides the best experience you can have with the console in handheld mode.
You can also read an experience report on the Switch OLED on MeinMMO:
What functions does the Split Pad Pro offer? The controller offers some practical extras and functions that are absent in both the Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller:
There is a button with a turbo function on each side of the controller. You can assign this to any button, as well as the D-Pad, allowing the controller to “be told” to rapidly repeat the selected button press or even hold it down continuously. I found this function particularly useful in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when I assigned the run button to turbo, allowing Link to run automatically and continuously without any further action – at least until stamina runs out (so better collect your stamina containers!). You can also manually adjust the turbo frequency to your needs.
In addition, there is another trigger button on the back end of each side of the controller. This can also be customized to your liking. This is something you may have seen in other controllers, such as the Xbox Elite Controller or even the upcoming DualSense Edge for the PS5.
Here you can see the additional bonus buttons and the trigger
What disadvantages does the Split Pad Pro have? Aside from the fact that it is a pure handheld-mode controller, the Split Pad Pro also lacks a rumble function (vibration) and gyro sensors (motion control).
However, since these functions are only truly effective in selected titles, I find these shortcomings personally manageable.
Who is the controller recommended for? For anyone who often plays in handheld mode with their Switch and finds the included standard Joy-Cons simply uncomfortable, the Split Pad Pro from Hori is a must-have!
In my opinion, the advantages clearly outweigh the minor flaws, and with just around 40 Euros, the controller is really not too expensive. Especially compared to the Joy-Cons, for which you have to pay at least 60 Euros or more.
Pro
Additional buttons and triggers with practical functions
Precise controller with comfortable concave thumbsticks
Good ergonomic grip
Low weight
Compatible with the Nintendo Switch OLED
Excellent price-performance ratio
Contra
Lack of rumble function
Lack of gyro sensors and thus no motion control
Not suitable for docked mode
Further recommendations around the Nintendo Switch: Are you looking for more tips surrounding the Nintendo Switch? Then be sure to check out the following article: Here we explain how you can significantly improve your console for around 15 Euros:
Destiny 2 has provided current insights into the ongoing restructuring of PvP. Among other things, it was revealed why your PvP matches in the first hours of Season 18 felt so good to play. However, there is also a concerning trend that Bungie will soon address. MeinMMO explains what to expect in PvP and how SBMM matchmaking is being received.
This is what Bungie communicated to the players: In the latest blog post from Bungie, known as “This Week at Bungie”, the developer mainly discussed Bungie’s insights into the state of PvP in Season 18.
Alan Blaine, Bungie’s Principal Designer, mentioned the particularly concerning trend in PvP, which will be prevented in the future with a so-called “Quit Protection”.
He also shared the overall status of the introduction of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). A system that Bungie wants to test in Season 18 for the “Control” mode.
Players are currently testing SBMM matchmaking in the “Control” mode
Those who leave will be punished in the future
What is the “Quit Protection” in PvP all about? In the first week of Season 18, Destiny 2 players played 140,000 more hours of “Control” than in the first week of Season 17. This increased the total number of players who enjoyed playing control by about 11%. Clearly, many wanted to try out the new matchmaking for its effectiveness.
At the same time, however, the percentage of players who leave a Crucible match early has also risen. In the last week alone, from 8% to 12%.
The reasons for this are not entirely clear yet.
Bungie suggests it could be a natural reaction from players to the new system.
However, players might also leave their PvP matches more often because they are dissatisfied with the map, getting picked off too often, or facing teams they cannot compete against.
Avoiding an impending loss could also be a factor.
Or because players are simply fed up with cheaters in the Crucible.
Despite the stated reasons, this behavior is something Bungie views critically. Especially since matchmaking intentionally groups players in this configuration. This is intended to ensure that 12 similarly skilled players have a balanced match. If one leaves, the balance is gone.
This means no escaping cheaters and teams anymore: Since you’d rather leave than finish the PvP match, Bungie will add the so-called “Quit Protection” or “Quitter Protection” in an upcoming patch. So soon you will no longer have a choice and will have to deal with the cheaters in the match until the end. This is also a problem that Destiny 2 is plagued with.
What are the consequences for leaving? What consequences you will have to face is not yet known. Bungie wants to go into more detail about this at a later time. However, we will keep you updated.
It could be conceivable, for example, that Bungie will impose a ban on you for leaving a match early. This could be 15 minutes for the first offense, 30 minutes for the second, or 60 minutes for the third – culminating in a complete playlist matchmaking timeout.
Even if this is just an assumption of ours, it would mean that unintentional leaving of PvP Control matches – for instance, due to an internet outage – would not be too serious for players. However, players who intentionally and repeatedly quit would need to consider it carefully.
It can be concluded that Bungie’s “Quit Protection” is a bold move. Time will have to show whether this truly manages to solve the problem of notorious “Quitters” and, above all, how the developer intends to keep them in the match, even when cheaters are dominating everything.
In Destiny 2, you can currently play PvP on 24 maps.
How the new SBMM matchmaking performs overall
However, before the new “Quit System” comes, the actual skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) must first prove itself to players. And the SBMM launch was as bumpy as that of Season 18.
What is “Skill-Based Matchmaking”? Skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM, helps to assemble lobbies in PvP games. If SBMM is prioritized in a match search, the skill of a player (in Destiny 2, their K/D) is considered the most important factor in lobby creation. Thus, players are preferred to be matched with players who are similarly skilled.
Bungie admits to errors at the start of SBMM: At the introduction of the new matchmaking system, not everything went smoothly. SBMM matchmaking was supposed to be integrated into the “Control” mode right after August 23. However, that did not go as planned.
Instead, players quickly realized that suddenly their skills did not matter for matchmaking anymore. Neither did the platform. Instead, the “Control” mode used simple standard matchmaking – essentially Bungie’s fallback solution for emergencies.
Bungie’s standard matchmaking selects players based on their connection latency in the first 15 seconds.
After that, all players are indiscriminately mixed together. Basically, the system just takes the first 11 Guardians it finds, ignoring both connection and platform as well as skills.
The mode could not be played for long. By the evening, Bungie noticed the error and corrected it. Nevertheless, some players felt surprisingly comfortable with this matchmaking. Only after that could players try out the new SBMM matchmaking.
For years, Bungie has been trying to keep PvP friendly and competitive. However, players do not seem to feel truly comfortable in any system.
On reddit, player Titan Master Face writes about it:
One wishes for a competitive game mode but complains when it is competitive.
On the other hand, one also wants a casual game mode but complains when it is too easy.
However, since the introduction of SBMM matchmaking in “Control”, players have at least reported more positive impressions overall.
Players are now reportedly finding people with similar combat efficiency much more often in matches, which offers more class diversity.
And they are less often stomped by so-called “try-hard” PvP players, making the games overall more exciting and also more relaxed.
With a few optimizations, for example regarding player connections, it could therefore become a solid option.
Bungie is already planning to address the number of poor connections during PvP matches and investigate this issue more closely. If successful, this could also be the path to more casual players in the Crucible.
What were your impressions of the new SBMM matchmaking? Are you coping with it, or does it not fit you yet? Feel free to tell us in the comments which lobbies you have encountered and how the matches felt for you.
Whether other things in the stale playlists will soon be revised, you can read about here:
How is WoW: Shadowlands doing after the end of Season 3? “It’s at a low point,” explains a well-known YouTuber.
Who is speaking? The information comes from YouTuber Bellular, who has analyzed data from sources like “Warcraft-Logs” and “Raider.io”. Bellular has been publishing interesting analysis videos on the current state of various MMORPGs for years, with World of Warcraft frequently being discussed.
In one of his previous videos, Bellular had already dissected the raid numbers of the Mythic raids, but these only affect a small percentage of characters. Now he has turned his attention to the more accessible raid variants – the Normal and Heroic raids.
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Normal and Heroic Raids: Participation drops by over 66%
What is Bellular comparing? Bellular primarily looks at the numbers from the Normal and Heroic raids of the latest patches but sometimes also references older expansions like Legion. He examines how many active guilds defeated the first boss of a raid and then how many of those guilds were able to defeat the last boss within the same raid tier. The absolute numbers indirectly indicate player attrition – as they show a clear decline.
Raid participation in Shadowlands on normal. Image source: Bellular YouTube
It is notable that Castle Nathria made an extremely impressive start. From this perspective, it was one of the most successful raids of all time and even overshadowed the Legion raids.
Castle Nathria (Patch 9.0) had a whopping 48,419 guilds that defeated at least the first boss “Shriekwing” on Normal.
39,509 of these guilds also achieved the kill on the final boss “Lord Denathrius” on Normal, which is 81.60%.
In the Sanctum of Domination (Patch 9.1), only 21,649 guilds defeated the first boss on Normal.
Of those, 17,757 guilds made it to Sylvanas and defeated her on Normal, which is a remarkable 82.02%.
In the Mausoleum of the First on Normal, there were still 14,393 guilds at the first boss and defeated him.
However, only 9,798 guilds reached the Jailer, just 68.07%.
The numbers for the Heroic variant of the raid tell a very similar story; the drop in participation is roughly equal, as this graphic shows:
Participation in the Heroic raids. Image source: Bellular YouTube
Where does the player attrition come from? On one hand, a certain player attrition over time is normal, but in Shadowlands, it was particularly drastic between patches. There are several reasons for this, all of which interconnect:
Shadowlands had long periods of content drought between the patches.
Shadowlands had extremely many mandatory systems that characters had to “grind through” if they wanted to be fit for the endgame.
The sheer amount of systems was confusing and caused frustration.
The fact that the final boss kill in the Sanctum of Domination occurred significantly less frequently is likely due to the Sanctum being exceptionally tough and having several strong barriers along the way. Fights like Anduin, Halondrus, or even the Jailer himself were difficult. There were many mechanics that would cause a raid to fail immediately if just one person made a mistake. This alone likely caused some raid groups to break apart.
What is not included in the data? Note that the data does not yet account for the current Season 4 – after all, it is only a few weeks old. Bellular himself mentions that he is having a lot of fun in the current season and that the entry feels easier. The entire season feels “smoother” and better than the previous patches of Shadowlands.
However, whether this will ultimately lead to a better balance remains to be seen. Typically, patches only manage to slightly soften the loss of players and not attract new players. This usually only happens with the release of a new expansion.
Finally, it must also be said that from the number of raid guilds, only a limited player count can be inferred. Many casual players likely never enter the raids or only see the LFR version of them, if they see them at all. World of Warcraft supports many different play styles, and the hunt for ever better gear and tougher fights is not interesting for everyone.
Nevertheless, the data undoubtedly shows a trend, which we hope Dragonflight can break. After all, the beta has started, allowing more players to get a personal impression of the next WoW expansion.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After a one-month streaming break, Twitch star Imane “Pokimane” Anys (26) returns. However, she doesn’t want to continue as before. In a YouTube video and subsequent stream on Twitch, Pokimane talks about her reasons and how things will proceed from here.
This is Pokimane
With over 9 million followers, she ranks 9th on Twitch and is the only woman in the Top 10
Now she is back, but there are limitations: Pokimane wants to stream less and focus more on other platforms
Pokimane returns to Twitch – but less frequently and irregularly
Here’s how Pokimane made her return: On August 28, over a month after announcing her break, Pokimane announced via Twitter that she would start streaming again on September 1. When the big day arrived, she initially released a video on YouTube.
In the video, Pokimane explained why she took the break and how things will proceed for her now. In the subsequent stream, she revisited the discussed points before moving on to her regular gaming program.
Here’s how Pokimane plans to move forward: The Twitch star explicitly stated that she does not want to stop streaming. However, it will be significantly less and irregular. Instead of streaming 6 days a week, she wants to be live only 2 to 3 times a week.
Here’s what she wants to do instead: Fans don’t have to completely miss Pokimane. The streamer still manages several other social media accounts. She especially enjoys Instagram and TikTok.
Here’s why Pokimane is drawn to other social media: The streamer explains that she enjoys the feeling of being able to spontaneously post an Instagram story or a short video on TikTok and then continue with her day.
She stated that she does not want to wake up, rush to her PC, and play for 8 hours straight. Moreover, she has a higher percentage of female followers on other platforms, with whom she can exchange ideas about topics beyond just gaming.
With this step, Pokimane joins a growing number of content creators who wish to withdraw from the streaming giant Twitch and focus on other platforms.
Pokimane discusses the pressure that streamers are under
Here’s why she wants to stream less: Pokimane has been active as a streamer for nearly a decade. While it was new and exciting in the past, Twitch seems to be losing its allure for the now 26-year-old.
On one hand, this is due to the competitive nature of the industry. Pokimane states that she no longer wants to be under the pressure of having to chase every trend and stream more than the competition.
I have played pretty much every major trendy game. […] When I see something on Twitch now, I feel like I’ve already done it all.
While there will always be games that can capture her heart, Pokimane says she now enjoys gaming outside of her streams more. This way, she can enjoy the games as she did as a child.
There is more to being a streamer than just gaming
Here’s what Pokimane says about full-time streaming: In her stream, Pokimane discusses the “dream job of a streamer.” It is not merely playing video games all day and getting paid for it. When she’s not live, she still constantly thinks about streaming.
Additionally, there is much more happening behind the scenes, such as meetings with partners. All of this is very stressful, and she no longer feels like she can give her all in the stream. On YouTube, she describes streaming as a “hamster wheel” that she doesn’t want to be a part of anymore.
Here’s what else is behind it: Pokimane also addresses another downside of life in the public eye: one is in a constant feedback loop from people telling them what they think of you. Especially as a woman, she receives many unsolicited opinions.
Due to this, Pokimane feels that one only does what people want from them. There is little room left to grow as an individual and to find out what brings one joy.
However, withdrawing from streaming is anything but easy for Pokimane; she became visibly emotional, and a tear or two was shed. She fears disappointing her fans with her decision.
Thus, Pokimane certainly does not want to completely stop streaming; she wants to keep this part of her identity. However, gaming and streaming do not have to be everything. Instead, she wants to have the freedom to create the content she enjoys.
Is this happening to others as well? Other Twitch streamers are also discussing the working conditions of full-time content creators. While American jorbs couldn’t cope with success and developed anxiety, the case of German streamer Kalle Koschinsky shows a structural problem.
Twitch is increasingly criticized for its seemingly arbitrary ban policies and the algorithm that invites self-exploitation. Do you think the streaming platform can continue like this, or does something need to change fundamentally? Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion.
Formerly the king of Twitch, Ninja might also soon leave the platform, at least if we believe his cryptic hints.
In the new anime MMORPG Tower of Fantasy you have 3 equipped weapons. We at MeinMMO explain to you how to best assemble your team.
In Tower of Fantasy, you draw different characters within the Gacha system, called Simulacra. Each of them provides you with a new weapon – you can equip 3 of them and switch between them in combat.
There are the elements of Fire, Volt, and Ice. Additionally, each weapon has specific values that you need to consider when you want to assemble an ideal team.
Where do our builds come from? We gathered our information from videos by YouTubers GuitarRock First and Exnal, as well as from our own experiences with Tower of Fantasy.
This is how the principle works
Fundamentally, your team should consist of these 3 roles:
One of the characters is responsible for breaking the enemy’s shield
A DPS deals damage
A Support charges abilities, buffs, and possibly heals
Each weapon has 2 values that you need to look at to find out what it is suitable for: Shatter and Charge.
The number indicates how well the weapon is suited for Shattering or Charging.
A high value for Shatter means that you can excellently break the shield that sometimes appears around your opponents and looks like a blue bubble. The values range from 3.2 to 13.
A high value for Charge means that using the weapon charges the abilities of the other weapons in the team. You can tell because the outline of the other weapons (bottom right on the screen) lights up and eventually blinks. Then you can use a special attack. The higher the Charge value, the faster the attack charges for the other weapons.
Weapon Resonance Effect for Important Buffs
Additionally, you should note that the weapons fall into a Holy Trinity. There are Tank, DD, and Support. The so-called Weapon Resonance effect comes into play when building a team.
What does the effect bring? Depending on which types of weapons you combine, you receive a buff:
Balance (Tank, DD, Support): Your damage and defense are reduced by 5%. Shattering and Healing is 20% more effective.
Sturdiness (2 Tanks): Your defense increases by 25%, Shatter by 60%, and enemy aggro by 800%, drawing them to you.
Attack (2 DDs): You deal 10% more damage.
Blessing (2 Supports): Your healing is increased by 100%.
If you are in a team with other players, the buffs are even stronger.
If you’re playing solo, you should focus on Balance or Attack, as the other builds provide too few advantages alone.
Builds with Nemesis are Among the Strongest
A few lucky players have already drawn the SSR character Nemesis at the event. With her in your team, you can play the currently strongest build in the global version of Tower of Fantasy. You can find a tier list of characters here.
What makes Nemesis special? Nemesis brings the Volt Resonance to your team. As a result, your Volt attacks deal 15% more damage, and your Volt resistance is increased by 25%. The requirement is at least 2 Volt Simulacra in your team.
The Volt Resonance offers a decisive advantage.
This is what the build looks like:
Nemesis (Support, Volt)
Crow (DD, Volt), alternatively you can take Samir
Meryl (Tank, Ice), alternatively take King
With Meryl it is a Balance build, with King a DD build. Both are very strong, so it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences.
Options if you don’t have Nemesis yet
What alternatives are there? Many of you probably haven’t drawn Nemesis, or you’re missing the other SSR characters from the currently strongest build. There are alternatives that are almost as strong, for example:
King (DD, Fire) + Crow (DD, Volt) + Zero/Tsubasa/Samir as an alternative DD build
Coco Ritter (Support, Ice) + Huma (Tank, Fire) or Meryl + Samir (DD, Volt) as an alternative Balance build
If you don’t have any SSR characters at the beginning, you can also use the SR character Echo to break enemy shields. She carries a halberd with a Shatter value of 12.6. You can also use Ene at the beginning for Shattering, her value is 10, which is already very good.
What build are you currently playing? Are you going for Balance, DD, or something completely different? Which SSR character do you like the most? Were you lucky enough to pull Nemesis or Frigg? Are you a Tank, DD, or Healer when you’re with others? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
The CEO of a crypto exchange had absconded with the assets of his clients. Now he has been arrested. He and his colleagues face over 40,000 years in prison. MeinMMO explains what’s behind this.
Cryptocurrencies are a complex topic and many people regularly gain or lose money with them. Now the CEO of a crypto exchange has been caught. He had absconded with the assets of his clients, causing a billion-dollar damage.
Our cover image is taken from the YouTube channel TRT Haber.This depicts the arrested CEO of Thodex.
Company was the first crypto exchange in Turkey with nearly 400,000 users
What kind of company is this? Thodex was the first digital exchange in Turkey where users could trade and exchange their currencies. At its peak, the platform had nearly 400,000 users. Initially, the company was called Koineks and changed its name to Thodex in 2020 to operate globally.
In 2020, the company was licensed as a Money Service Business (MSB) by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
What exactly went wrong? In fact, there was no major crash in 2021. According to various sources, in April 2021 the users’ funds were frozen, and the CEO of the company fled with the clients’ money and disappeared.
He initially claimed that the trading halt on the platform was due to cyberattacks and that the investors’ money was safe. A little later, he absconded from Turkey. Shortly thereafter, the Turkish police arrested dozens of Thodex employees and seized several company devices.
What has happened now? The CEO of Thodex has now been captured in Albania. The Turkish prosecutor’s office has demanded 40,564 years in prison for the CEO and his 20 colleagues. After all, more than 2,000 people have been harmed and are also listed in the indictment. Whether the defendants will ultimately receive such a high penalty is still unclear.
Thodex was alleged to be involved in large-scale frauds and thefts
What is behind the theft? The cryptocurrency crime analysis company Chainanalysis specifically looked at Thodex in its overview for the year 2021, in the broader context of crypto frauds worth a total of 2.8 billion dollars that year, involving “rug pulls”:
A seemingly legitimate company is established, operates normally for a while, and suddenly all the money is gone. Thodex is said to have been such a fraud. According to the analysis company, many of these frauds can be attributed to Thodex (via chainanalysis.com).
Reports vary widely on how much money was ultimately stolen, explains the online magazine PCGamer. After all, cryptocurrencies fluctuate in value very strongly and are dependent on the day.
Currently, cryptocurrencies are having a hard time: The currencies are currently in crisis. The values of Bitcoin and others are falling sharply, and many users are now selling their mining equipment: Former crypto miners are flooding the market with cheap graphics card deals, selling graphics cards even below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price:
On Steam, you can now play the new hero shooter GALAHAD 3093 in Early Access, which mixes elements of the Arthurian legend with futuristic combat robots.
GALAHAD 3093 is a tactical hero shooter where the Arthurian legend is transported into a new setting: in giant battle robots, the knights fight against each other with their mechs, also known as “lances”.
As knights, different characters are available, and the mechs can be customized to the player’s preferred combat style.
Here you can see the launch trailer for GALAHAD 3093:
Start video
GALAHAD 3093 – Early Access Launch Trailer
This is GALAHAD 3093
What does the gameplay in GALAHAD 3093 look like? Players battle each other in online PvP mode. The setting serves futuristic arenas where 12v12 battles take place.
Players have tasks such as scoring points, destroying enemy generators, and taking care of their defense. In the end, the team that maintains the most bases over the longest period and accumulates the most enemy kills wins.
You can equip your robots with different weapon types and have various modules and systems:
Melee: Mini & Shotguns
Range: Beam & Plasma Cannons
Base Defense: Rockets, Guided Missiles & Grenades
Movement: Boosting & Jump-Jet
The robots can also be upgraded, improving mobility, damage, and defense.
Currently, there are dozens of different lance variants and weapon systems in the game. Additionally, players can choose from hundreds of modules.
What knights are there in GALAHAD 3093? The pilots of the robots are called knights and incorporate well-known figures from the Arthur story into the game. Each pilot has their own active and passive ability. Here is an overview of some of the characters:
Arthur: can perform an orbital strike with X-Calibur
Gwen: protects herself and her teammates with the “royal dome”
Mordred: has a teleport ability that allows him to move quickly
You can see more knights in the launch trailer. Currently, there are 8 different knights available.
Here are some impressions of GALAHAD 3093:
What does the multiplayer look like in GALAHAD 3093? There are two modes in multiplayer. One is called “Team Deathmatch” and the other “Base Assault.” Players have a total of 7 maps available, in which they can play both modes. Coordination with teammates should be important in the game to achieve victory.
How long will GALAHAD 3093 stay in Early Access? On Steam, the developers state that Early Access can last anywhere from 6 months to over a year. The duration depends on the internal roadmap and the feedback and suggestions from the community.
How much does GALAHAD 3093 cost? Currently, there is a special offer on Steam: Instead of €20.99, the team shooter costs €17.84. The offer ends on September 8. If you want to buy GALAHAD 3093 along with the Founders Pack, you can get both for €23.43 now.
What do you think about the Early Access of GALAHAD 3093? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
With the new “Season of Light”, the egg pool in Pokémon GO has also been adjusted. And especially the 10 km eggs have received a good upgrade, trainers find.
New monsters in the eggs: If you look at the currently possible monsters from 10 km eggs, it becomes clear that the options have been shuffled a bit. Two newcomers in the 10 km eggs stand out in the “Season of Light”:
Now more players should have the chance to get both monsters – and even the shiny version is available.
In addition, there are a few adjustments: Lin-Fu, Milza, eF-eM, and Miniras have all moved down one rarity level. However, there are now only three rarity levels for the 10 km eggs.
The pool now looks like this (possible shinies are marked with an asterisk*)
In the Pokémon GO subreddit, some trainers are discussing the change. Especially the farewell to Ohrdoch and Emolga is easy for most, as they provide little utility in the game once hatched.
Geronimatz and Flampion also now have little rarity value, although the latter still counts among the strongest attackers in Pokémon GO.
Notably, in the comments, some trainers would have liked to say goodbye to Lin-Fu as well – they apparently have had enough of it by now, especially since it can be obtained quickly in the battle league. Overall, the pool change is well received:
“Yes, no more Emolga! Finally,” a trainer is happy (via reddit).
“Actually a good change,” finds Uster “SilverBeldum1” (via reddit).
“That’s pretty great! I don’t need Lin-Fu or Psiau, but this still feels like a significant upgrade overall” (via reddit).
“This is probably the best 10 km egg selection they have ever had” (via reddit).
Overall, the 10 km egg now mostly contains Pokémon that are at least somewhat rare. Riolu has been around for a while, but as Lucario one of the most popular and best attackers in the game.
Monsters like Wuffels, Miniras, Milza, eF-eM, and Viscora may still be missing from the collections of some trainers – just like the two fossils.
A warlock in World of Warcraft apparently places maximum value on exclusivity and equips his demon just as well as himself.
Season 4 in World of Warcraft Shadowlands works a bit differently than previous seasons. Everything goes a little faster, the gear can be rapidly upgraded and this time loot can even be specifically purchased with a new raid currency.
Some players use this to equip not only themselves but also their companions in particularly impressive ways – such as their felguard with the powerful weapon of the Jailor.
What kind of weapon is that? It is the “Hammer of the First Judge.” This is a mace with a unique “Use” effect that extracts the soul of the target. Subsequently, a small soul fragment appears that must be killed to gain a powerful buff for 60 seconds.
In most guides, this weapon is currently the best that a melee fighter can equip – not to mention that the effect is just cool.
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Why is it so popular right now? Like most other weapons and trinkets, raid loot in Season 4 of Shadowlands can be specifically purchased if you have the necessary dinars. You basically earn these “on the side” by simply killing the current raid bosses. This way, characters can specifically work towards items if they had bad luck with drops.
This also explains why the warlock got this weapon at all. If this weapon were to drop normally in the raid, several melee fighters would surely fight over it. However, through the dinar system, characters can buy not only weapons and equipment that are meaningful for their own characters, but also weapons that they cannot use – like the Hammer of the First Judge.
Why does the felguard carry this weapon? A glyph can activate that the felguard equips a random weapon from the warlock’s inventory upon summoning. While this may look stylish, it has no effect at all…
…except that some warrior or death knight might now roll up crying in front of this demon.
The glyph “Felguard” allows the guard to equip a random two-handed weapon from the warlock’s inventory, making it lucrative for warlocks to keep two-handed weapons in their inventory to customize the demon a bit.
At the next demon meeting, the felguard may well show off a little.
What have you bought with the strange dinars, or have you not earned them yet?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What was the tweet? Ninja posted a mysterious tweet. Without providing further context or explanations, the 31-year-old wrote that he needs a break.
It is currently unclear whether he means a break from streaming or something else. As of now (September 02), the reason behind the statement is also unknown.
The exact wording from Ninja was:
I just need a break… I don’t know when I’ll be back or where.
Clix via Twitter: “I hope everything is alright, G.O.A.T.!” (Note: G.O.A.T. = Greatest of all time)
All Just Marketing?
Is there a plan behind the post? In the comments under the post, there are also some users who suspect that this is a marketing move and that Ninja might switch as a streamer to YouTube.
FaZeCoomer via Twitter: “It’s a marketing stunt. He said ‘or where’, so he will be making a comeback on YouTube Gaming.”
ItsIsaiahClark via Twitter: “He’s moving to YouTube.”
What indicates Ninja’s transition to YouTube? Just a few hours before Ninja posted the mysterious tweet, he shared a stream notification on the social network. The streamer wrote, “Big things are coming” (via Twitter).
Additionally, it seems that Ninja is no longer a partner on the streaming platform Twitch and lost the badge that indicates the status (via Twitch).
If Ninja really announced an upcoming transition to YouTube with this tweet, he would not be the first streamer that the platform has poached from Twitch this year.
A major Psychic event starts in September in Pokémon GO. With a new Shiny, a new Mega Pokémon, a Raid Day, and more exciting content. We’ll show you the details in the overview.
What kind of event is this? Pokémon GO hosted a Psychic spectacle last year as well. In September 2021, two new Pokémon were introduced to the game. A new Pokémon will also feature in this year’s spectacle: Mega Alakazam is coming to Mega Raids.
We will show you how the spawns, raids, eggs, and field research will change, and what else you need to know about the event.
Psychic Spectacle in Detail: Start, Wilderness Spawns, Raids, Bonuses
When is it happening? The event starts on Tuesday, September 6th, at 10:00 AM local time. It will be active until Monday, September 12th, at 8:00 PM local time. (Note: The German version of the official Pokémon GO blog states that the event runs until December 12th. This is an error. September 12th is the end date of the event.)
What’s new? You can encounter Mega Alakazam in Mega Raids. And with a bit of luck, also as a Shiny. Additionally, the shiny version of Pygraulon will be released.
Mega Alakazam: You can encounter Mega Alakazam during the event. If you evolve Kadabra into Alakazam during the event or catch Alakazam after a raid battle, it will know the charged attack Psychic. In Trainer Battles, Gym Battles, and Raid Battles, Psychic deals 90 damage.
Wilderness Spawns: The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wilderness (Pokémon marked with an asterisk (*) can be encountered as Shiny with luck):
Abra*
Slowpoke*
Traumato*
Natu*
Trasla*
Spoink*
Somniam*
Fleknoil*
Mollimorba
Monozyto
Pygraulon*
With luck, you can encounter Kadabra and Kirlia
7-km Eggs: The 7 km eggs you receive during the event may hatch Kussilla*, Isso*, and Klingplim.
Field Research: The rewards for field research during the event include Puppance*, Palimpalim*, Pygraulon*, and with a bit of luck, Hypno. Additionally, a Timed Research focused on Curveball throws is running, rewarding you with Pygraulon*.
Raids:
Difficulty
Bosses
Level 1 (Red Egg)
Unown E Unown P Unown S Psiau*
Level 3 (Yellow Egg)
Alolan Raichu* Woingenau* Girafarig* Kommandutan
Level 5
Deoxys in – Normal Form* – Attack Form* – Defense Form* – Speed Form*
Mega Raids
Mega Alakazam*
Extra Event “Raid Day”: On Sunday, September 11th, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the Raid Day event featuring Deoxys will take place in Pokémon GO. During this time, all forms of Deoxys will appear in 5-star raids and you’ll receive up to 5 additional free raid passes by spinning photo discs at gyms. Additionally, the chances of encountering Shiny Deoxys are increased.
PvP: In the Season of Light, the Psychic Cup is taking place. Only Pokémon with a maximum of 1,500 CP that are of the Psychic type can participate. The Pokémon Mew is not allowed to participate.
How do you like the look at the Psychic Spectacle? An event you are excited about? Which of the contents do you like the most?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the AI Midjourney, you can create your own artworks without having to pick up a pencil. Now a user even won an art competition with it, but this is not going down well on social media.
Which competition is it about? The Discord user Sincarnate, whose real name is Jason Allen, created images with the artificial intelligence Midjourney and participated in an art competition in the category “digital arts”.
In the competition named “Colorado State Fair Fine Arts 2022”, Jason Allen took first place with the work “Theatre d’Opera Spartial”.
We are embedding an excerpt of the winning placements of the art competition here. In category 5 “Digital Arts”, you can see the title of the AI-generated winning image and Jason in first place (via coloradostatefair.com):
Users see danger for creative professions and highly skilled jobs
What reactions were there? The user @GenelJumalon shared a screenshot on Twitter, where the happy winner reports about his triumph on Discord. To the screenshot, @GenelJumalon also wrote “Yes, this is quite shitty.” and made his lack of enthusiasm clear:
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There was also a lot of criticism from other users under the post, and the fact that an AI won an art competition was not well received.
A Twitter user even saw the success of the AI as a threat to “highly skilled jobs” and “the death of art”. Over 4,800 people seemed to agree with this thought and pressed the like button.
We see the death of art right before our eyes – if creative professions are not safe from machines, then highly skilled professions are also at risk of becoming obsolete.
Even though the reactions to the successful participation of Midjourney in the competition are rather critical, the general mood towards AI is quite positive and has already captivated the Internet.
What is Midjourney? It is an artificial intelligence that creates images. With Midjourney, you can create your own artworks by entering some words or a sentence, and the AI generates an image from it.
The developers of Midjourney even offer a Discord bot for creating images that you can integrate into your Discord server.
If you want to create an image with Midjourney, you type any scenario into the Discord bot, and the AI designs corresponding images within minutes.
Recently, several creations from Midjourney caused a stir on TikTok, where the AI shows how the last selfie will look that will ever be taken on Earth.
In the survival hit Rust, players can enjoy a new mode that presents them with a special challenge and promises excitement.
What game is it? Rust is a survival game focused on PvP, available on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One. The popular title follows a classic survival approach, leaving you naked and unarmed in the wilderness.
Then you loot equipment and build a shelter. Genre-typical elements like crafting and base building are available to you.
Since Rust places a strong emphasis on PvP and players can equip themselves with weapons, action-packed gunfights and excitement are part of the daily routine.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the survival MMO Rust – in 2 minutes
Rust brings a new mode
What kind of mode is it? Rust received a hardcore mode as part of the monthly content update on Thursday, September 1, 2022, making the typical survival gameplay even more challenging.
The hardcore mode is characterized by taking away important tools from players, making the game more demanding. Shooter fans are already familiar with the principle from games like Escape from Tarkov.
The Rust hardcore mode does not affect the main game and is not imposed on anyone. It is an optional mode that you can play but do not have to. You can activate the mode via command on your server.
What tools does the hardcore mode remove? As YouTuber SHADOWFRAX reported before the release of the hardcore mode, the new mode removes or limits features that are used in Rust for orientation and communication.
No map, no compass
limited chat functions (no global chat)
removes safe zones
removes the team system
Limits the number of sleeping bags on a map to 5 per player
How does Rust provide the ultimate thrill? Rust is characterized by intense player encounters, PvP battles, and the will to survive.
When players are also deprived of the map for orientation, some chat functions for communication, and the safe zones as a secure refuge, chaos and war are almost a foregone conclusion.
Since communication is limited, it is more difficult to understand the intentions of other players. A certain distrust quickly arises because you can never know who is quick on the trigger. And then there’s the fear for your own loot and the disorientation … pure excitement!
How popular is Rust? Rust is one of the most popular survival games on Steam. The title had an average of nearly 83,000 players on the platform in August and reached a peak of 134,000 simultaneous players that month (via steamcharts).
At the current time (September 1), over 44,000 players are playing Rust, placing the survival hit ahead of genre competitors like ARK: Survival Evolved (39,500 players) and 7 Days to Die (14,940 players).
Rust also enjoys great popularity on Twitch and captivates many viewers during special streaming events.
The beta of World of Warcraft Dragonflight has begun. Many more players now have access and can explore the Dragon Isles.
For a long time, many fans complained that only a few streamers, journalists, and YouTubers got access to the alpha of Dragonflight . Now the time has come for more players to be invited. The beta of Dragonflight has started.
How can you participate in the beta? If you haven’t registered for the beta yet, you should definitely do so to have a chance to gain access. Simply agree to the “Opt In” procedure on the official Battle.net website and then you have a chance to be drawn for the beta.
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Until when does the beta run? A specific end date for the beta of Dragonflight is not yet known, but the end date is at least foreseeable. Dragonflight is expected to be released in any case in 2022, so the developers have a maximum of 4 months to get the latest expansion into the best possible shape. After all, they want to avoid the debacle of Shadowlands, where many features were well-received in the beta, but last-minute major changes were made and particularly critical feedback was ignored.
How do you get a key? Please note that there are no “keys” in the traditional sense. There is no code you need to enter, even though dubious sites may try to sell you such codes. If you receive an invitation to the beta of Dragonflight, your Battle.net account will be activated immediately, and you can download the client in the selection for the game version.
More about WoW and Dragonflight can be found here:
What if I was already in the alpha? In that case, your alpha access should have simply been converted into beta access. You just need to update the client to the latest version and you can participate in the beta again. However, your characters were deleted – you will have to start fresh in the beta if you want to participate.
Do you already have access to the beta of Dragonflight? Or would you prefer not to be spoiled?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Right now, so many players want to log in to WoW Classic that the servers can no longer handle the load without difficulty. The new expansion Wrath of the Lich King hasn’t even been released yet. The pre-patch is enough for the influx. Blizzard is now offering free transfers.
This is how big the surge is right now: There are no official player numbers for World of Warcraft or WoW Classic. Some websites count created and logged-in characters, but these do not accurately reflect the total number of players.
Nevertheless, it is already visible that since the release of the WotLK pre-patch, significantly more players are logging in than before. This is reflected in the server loads, which in Germany are either “High” or even “Full” for 4 out of 6 realms.
On the English servers in Europe, things are even tougher. Gehennas has queues of over 10,000 players, Thekal puts you in a queue of more than 9,000 people during peak times. And this is despite, or perhaps because, Thekal is one of the “new servers” where everyone starts fresh.
The same picture is emerging on US servers. The popular servers Benediction and Grobbulus are just as overcrowded as their European counterparts. And those who manage to log in might be greeted with a black screen without characters:
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How is Blizzard responding? The problem with the influx has apparently been recognized. On Twitter, the official support writes in response to the reports of the overcrowded servers: “We have had other reports about this issue and are currently looking into it.”
Due to this, free server transfers have been established on US servers and now also in Europe. These can be selected directly in the queue. If someone wants, they can therefore transfer their characters for free to another realm.
If you just want to watch the glorious intro cinematic of WotLK, you only need to start the game – or just watch it here:
Start video
Whoever starts WoW Classic now will be greeted with one of the best cinematics of all time
WotLK will be released in just under 4 weeks, players want to play now
Where does the surge come from? With the pre-patch, leveling has been significantly eased. On the one hand, there is still the handy buff for 50% more experience. On the other hand, the required experience from level 60-70 has been significantly reduced.
So, anyone who wants to raise a character or prepare a Death Knight now has ideal conditions. Because the new class is also already playable. The expansion itself, however, will not be out until September 27.
However, not all players are happy with the current content. Besides the login issues, especially one change, which differs from Wrath of the Lich King 14 years ago, is not well received. Because the controversial Dungeon Finder is not in the game as players are used to:
For today, Thursday, September 01, Destiny 2 announced a hotfix. This means that all players will not be able to log in for a while on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Google Stadia. MeinMMOfollows the server downtimeand tells you what issues the developers are addressing.
This is what you need to know today: After Bungie has already maintained Destiny 2 in the background for the past few days, the server downtime is now scheduled for today.
To ensure you know exactly when you can play and what changes are being made in the game, MeinMMO will guide you through Hotfix 6.2.0.2 and update this article with fresh information.
Update History:
20:00: The patch notes for Hotfix 6.2.0.2 have just been released. “An ogre has gone silent!” More information about what Bungie has fixed can be found further down in the article.
19:10: Good news. Your grenade launchers are reactivated. As soon as Bungie publishes the complete patch notes, we will link them below in the article so you know what else has been adjusted.
19:00: All done. Bungie has integrated the hotfix and players can download the update. The download on Steam is 377.7 MB.
18:45: Maintenance has begun! Bungie has just taken its servers offline. Now it means to wait 15 minutes patiently. If you want to hear the latest news about Lightfall in the meantime, check here what Joe Blackburn revealed in a recent interview.
17:00: In one hour, the Destiny 2 servers will go offline for maintenance. Players should prepare and finish their ongoing activities.
8:00: Destiny 2 already started the daily and full-day backend maintenance early this morning. However, you can still log in. The official server downtime will only begin later this evening. All times and information can be found further below.
This is a Cloudrunner from Destiny 2. They once emigrated from Earth and evolved into supernaturally large humans. However, once they accept their calling, they will only live for another 10 years.
Maintenance on 01.09. – All Times and Server Downtime
As part of the update, Bungie will implement some fixes and banish faulty content from the game. However, players will also have to accept a downtime.
These times are important today:
At 18:00 German time, maintenance will start in the background on all platforms.
From 18:45 the servers will go offline and you will be automatically kicked from all activities.
Around 19:00 the servers are supposed to come back online and update 6.2.0.2 will roll out for all platforms. However, you can log in and start playing again from then on.
Officially, the maintenance for Hotfix 6.2.0.2 will only end at 20:00.
It is important: Even if you have downloaded the update and are back in the game, there may be connection issues until the maintenance ends around 20:00. You may also have to expect queues when logging in. Also, note that third-party applications as well as the official companion app may not be correctly accessible.
Destiny 2 is looking for the key to all problems.
This changes with Update 6.2.0.2 in Season 18
This is what the update bringstoday: Currently, Bungie’s to-do list is very long. Since the start of Season 18, some bugs have once again slipped into the game. In addition, many items are still disabled that players cannot use.
Bungie has not yet released information about the latest bug fixes. However, there is a long list of known issues.
Some fixes may already be part of today’s update:
Warlocks and Titans should keep their fingers crossed. Their resilience isn’t working as intended. They can no longer withstand anything when playing Arc 3.0.
Regarding the armor Exotics, the Titan’s “Ice Avalanche Mantle” is still waiting for reactivation after it could briefly be used on Thursday.
Just like the latest Titan Exotic “Contact Launcher,” which has also been temporarily locked.
Then, some Arc 3.0 abilities, such as Thundercrash or Ballistic Strike, are buggy. The latter, for example, currently does not work with the armor mod “Heavy-handed”.
The Bungie app and third-party apps like “Destiny Item Manager” (DIM) or the Ishtar Collective have been struggling with long loading times since the start of Season 18.
If you experience problems in the game yourself, it is recommended to report them directly via the official Bungie Help Forum to make the developers aware of them.
What’s in the patch notes? The comprehensive list of all changes for Hotfix 6.2.0.2 is published by Bungie in the form of patch notes. And Bungie has made quite a few adjustments in this update:
Let us know how the current Season 18 is going so far. Have you noticed any other bugs while playing that Bungie should address? Then feel free to leave a comment here.
And if you want to learn about brazen live cheaters in Destiny 2, we recommend this article:
