With almost 77,000 simultaneous users, the “Wallpaper Engine” by 2 German developers is one of the 10 games on Steam with the most concurrent players. This has puzzled many for years. Now a new report explains what lies behind this anomaly.
Even today, the “Wallpaper Engine” ranks 10th among the games with the most simultaneous players, between the MMOs Ark: Survival Evolved and Rust.
A new report now solves the mystery of the enigmatic “Wallpaper Engine.”
The “Wallpaper Engine” has more players than Destiny 2 or Warframe right now (as of July 23, 1:02 PM).
What was so confusing about the Wallpaper Engine? That such a program stands at number 10 in concurrent users has always been a riddle. Because usually, only games stand that high on Steam.
Why is the Engine so popular? As a report in “MIT Technology Review” explains, the program is heavily used by Chinese users, who use it as a kind of “Cloud Drive” to exchange files that are otherwise strictly prohibited in China. Especially porn:
“More than 200,000 Steam reviews are written in Chinese, from 2016 to 2022. These reviews revolve almost entirely around one thing: porn. Or more specifically, using the software as a Cloud Drive and video player to exchange adult content.”
According to the magazine, online pornography is heavily censored in China and is punishable by law. Steam is one of the only global platforms that is available in China. So, Chinese users have sought a creative way to distribute content via international high-speed servers.
With such images, the program promotes itself.
Of the 1.6 million submissions of wallpapers, 7.5% were marked as “for adults.” Often these are anime characters in sexually explicit poses.
The German program became popular in China around 2020 through an article by journalist Cui Jaianyi: He discovered on the Wallpaper Engine, among other things, porn, hentai animes, Donald Trump memes, and pirated copies of Hollywood movies like “Joker”.
Such games usually come from Germany on Steam:
Start video
New F2P shooter on Steam shows in the trailer why it is the German answer to Escape From Tarkov
How do the developers react to this? The report quotes Kristjan Skutta, who was invited to an event in China in 2019 and was asked how his program was being used. He reportedly reacted to the question with a laugh and said:
“What’s wrong with that? The Wallpaper Engine is just a framework. It doesn’t matter what you upload with it – even crazy videos. I don’t think it’s a problem.”
The Chinese government might see it differently. Many Chinese people the magazine spoke to expressed fears that China might close the loophole on Steam.
The title image is one of the currently most popular wallpapers on the site. It comes from a 20-second clip from the website bilibili.com
According to the magazine, online pornography is heavily censored in China and is punishable by law. Steam is one of the only global platforms that is available in China. So, Chinese users have sought a creative way to distribute content via international high-speed servers.
With such images, the program promotes itself.
Of the 1.6 million submissions of wallpapers, 7.5% were marked as “for adults.” Often these are anime characters in sexually explicit poses.
The German program became popular in China around 2020 through an article by journalist Cui Jaianyi: He discovered on the Wallpaper Engine, among other things, porn, hentai animes, Donald Trump memes, and pirated copies of Hollywood movies like “Joker”.
Such games usually come from Germany on Steam:
Start video
New F2P shooter on Steam shows in the trailer why it is the German answer to Escape From Tarkov
How do the developers react to this? The report quotes Kristjan Skutta, who was invited to an event in China in 2019 and was asked how his program was being used. He reportedly reacted to the question with a laugh and said:
“What’s wrong with that? The Wallpaper Engine is just a framework. It doesn’t matter what you upload with it – even crazy videos. I don’t think it’s a problem.”
The Chinese government might see it differently. Many Chinese people the magazine spoke to expressed fears that China might close the loophole on Steam.
The role-playing game Darkest Dungeon has thousands of players on Steam. A company has planned a very successful board game version through a Kickstarter project, which will be released soon. However, due to complications, additional costs are occurring, which the backers who have already paid are now expected to cover.
This is the dispute:
Mythic Games has offered an official board game spin-off of the adventure RPG Darkest Dungeon.
The game will not be available in stores, but can only be obtained through Kickstarter if you support its development.
After a very successful campaign, the creators are now asking for more money from the backers. They feel “robbed in broad daylight” or “extorted”.
Kickstarter operates via “crowdfunding,” which can certainly go wrong, as shown by 4 failed MMORPGs:
Start video
4 crowdfunding MMORPGs that really flopped
What kind of project is this? Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game brings the popular RPG to the home table. The cooperative board game is designed for 1-4 players and is expected to function similarly to the video game.
You help the heir of an old estate rebuild his family seat while having to fight monsters and eliminate villains. The game is a classic dungeon crawler and comes with miniatures of the heroes from the video game, cards, and even expansions.
The original goal of the Kickstarter campaign was only $300,000 (around €293,700). However, 28,842 backers ensured that nearly €4.9 million was raised. Now they are expected to reach into their pockets again.
Board games offer many a welcome change from cooperative video games:
Developers complain about significant additional manufacturing and shipping costs
Why are there additional costs? As Mythic Games explains in a statement, the prices for raw materials and shipping have increased significantly since the start of the campaign – up to 600% it is said. The reasons are Covid-19 and also the war in Ukraine.
Additional costs amount to over €1.7 million. Half of that will be covered by Mythic Games in cooperation with Darkest Dungeon creator Red Hook. The other half is to be contributed by the backers.
The amount of participation depends on the size of the purchased set. Those who only bought the core set are expected to pay an additional €17.62. If some additional options were chosen, about €28.39 will be added.
Refunds problematic – Kickstarter warns of risks
This is how backers are reacting: Fans who have already paid are outraged by the approach. They feel “robbed,” as stated in a comment. Others believe the practice is “shabby.” A user on reddit cannot understand why buyers should bear the costs:
In any other industry that comes to mind, the financial risk falls on the company providing the product. This risk is weighed against the potential financial gain of bringing the product to market.
Usually, this works in favor of the company […] but sometimes it does not. I do not understand why the additional costs should be my problem. Everyone is suffering from the [situation] right now.
Doc_Serious on reddit
However, there are indeed voices that support Mythic Games and are willing to bear the additional costs to keep their game. At the same time, some people are trying to get their money back – which is not so easy.
This is what Kickstarter says about it: According to the official rules of Kickstarter, providers are only required to deliver the work as promised and address concerns. However, backers are also held accountable.
They are reminded that when supporting a project on Kickstarter, they take on a risk: “Kickstarter is not a store. When you support a project, you are helping to create something new – you are not buying something that already exists.”
Since Kickstarter does not offer refunds, one should think carefully and research what kind of projects to invest in beforehand.
There are also problems with games and refunds in other areas:
Two upcoming works based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons and Lord of the Rings series have revealed new trailers. And although neither of them are even video games, they have hard MMORPG vibes.
What are these trailers? In the coming months, a TV series based on Lord of the Rings, Rings of Power, and a genuine D&D movie, Honor Among Thieves, will be released.
At Comic-Con 2022, new trailers were unveiled, filled with classic MMORPG elements, sparking the urge to pick up the sword again and hunt orcs and dragons.
D&D: Honor Among Thieves – Trailer plays with nerd charm
This is the trailer: The new D&D film revolves around the story of a group of thieves who… well, need to steal something. Fans of the role-playing game will surely spot references such as iconic spells or the legendary gelatinous cube in the trailer.
Honor Among Thieves mainly plays with completely outrageous humor and classic MMORPG scenes in the latest trailer. A petite druid transforms into a gigantic owl bear, the righteous paladin personally takes out wicked villains, and the bard… is just there too.
Honor Among Thieves is set to hit theaters on March 3, 2023.
What is behind D&D? Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most famous and largest role-playing games in the world. It is typically played at the table with character sheets, a storyteller, and dice. The longest session has been running for 40 years.
The game has shaped modern MMORPGs like few other games with its spells and dice system. Random values and even weapon damage in video games are often still calculated based on the D&D rulebooks.
D&D has evolved over the years and with Neverwinter and Dungeons & Dragons Online even has two running MMORPGs. Neverwinter was expanded with the most important class ever in 2021 and received the new expansion Dragonslayer in June 2022 . We have embedded the trailer for that here:
Start video
MMORPG Neverwinter showcases new expansion Dragonslayer in trailer with thrilling dragon hunt
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tells an epic story
This is the trailer: The trailer for Rings of Power focuses on the narrative that made Lord of the Rings so successful as both a book and a film. The newest trailer shows Sauron in his early years as a dark lord.
In fact, the elves, dwarves, and other inhabitants of Middle-earth want to finally turn to peace. However, evil stirs, and the Rings of Power, which are central to the “Lord of the Rings” saga, are being forged to dominate the world.
The Rings of Power will premiere on September 2 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
What is behind Lord of the Rings? The epic narrative by J.R.R. Tolkien has inspired many games and players. With Lord of the Rings Online, the franchise even has its own MMORPG, which has been completely free-to-play since April.
HDRO, like the series, strikes a more serious tone. It is about the fight against evil and war, leaving little room for humor. However, if you are into deep storytelling, this is the right place for you.
A new survival game featuring dwarves will soon be released for Lord of the Rings. Return to Moria will likely be released after the Amazon HDR series but is already exciting in the first trailer:
Start video
Der Gameplay-Trailer zu Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
The new trailers from Comic-Con contain everything an MMORPG fan wants to see in their game, and both franchises conveniently offer their own MMORPG as well. If you prefer to browse elsewhere, you will surely find a game in our list that makes you eager to play:
Diablo Immortal offers many builds to play your character. Typically, these builds are designed to deal as much damage as possible – making everything easier. However, a YouTuber has come up with a Necro build that deals almost no damage at all, but focuses solely on control effects (“CC”).
What is this build? The YouTuber and Twitch streamer DM: Diablo Immortal has uploaded a video on his channel where he introduces his “zDPS PvP Necromancer”. zDPS stands for “zero DPS”, meaning: 0 damage per second.
Although Necromancers in the tier list of Diablo Immortal are not among the best classes, DM (short for: DarthMicrotransaction) can visibly dominate with his build. This is because he effectively takes away all action possibilities from opponents.
Unlike our recommended build for the Necromancer, the zDPS build aims to continuously control opponents. According to DM, the build should simply be “as annoying as possible”. We have included his video for you here:
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This is what makes the build so strong: With the appropriate abilities, opponents can be hindered in movement and actions until your teammates finish them off.
This even helps against annoying opponents like Crusaders or Barbarians with their invulnerability effects, as these do not normally make them immune to control. You can simply wait it out and then take them down.
Additionally, DM’s build focuses on survivability with shields, rather than relying on companions as is typical for Necromancers. With the shields, you can even ignore damage effects that would otherwise prevent you from healing with bandages in PvP.
Know your opponents when playing in PvP! In the video, we showcase gameplay from all classes in Diablo Immortal:
Start video
Diablo Immortal: All 6 Classes in Brief Overview with Gameplay
Necromancer with Control Abilities is Just Annoying in PvP
What do I need for the build? Essentially, the build is based on just 4 of the abilities of the Necromancer combined with appropriate legendaries:
Ghost Form with Intrusive Fear
deals damage to opponents you move through and causes them to flee in fear
Bone Spikes with Face Without Mouth
instead of charging the ability, you fire 3 lines of spikes that launch opponents into the air
Bone Armor with Weight of the Grave Soil
also grants immunity to effects that would knock you out of position (“knockbacks”)
Bone Wall Backbone of the Digger
summons a pillar of decaying corpses that launches opponents into the air and slows further ones nearby
Your primary attack is freely selectable, although DM uses Soul Fire to make the build a bit more versatile and deal some damage. This isn’t necessary since you’re just focusing on CC, but it’s a useful enhancement.
Accordingly, weapons and shields are also of secondary importance. DM uses the Fascination of the Pyre in his build to ignite the Bone Wall and the Simulcrator to distract opposing pets.
Here’s how to play the build: The gameplay is quite simple; you rotate your abilities to launch opponents into the air. However, keep in mind not to cast the skills too quickly in succession.
You can give enemies one second or less before using the next CC to bait their long cooldowns or better sync your own cooldowns.
Use Ghost Form both for attacking to inflict fear on opponents and for escaping. If you are low on health, retreat and make sure to use Bone Armor before healing. As long as damage effects only affect your shield and not your health points, you can still heal up.
Survival is the top priority; you want to control opponents for as long as possible. Don’t take unnecessary risks and let your teammates deal the damage.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In League of Legends, a changing of the guard is happening in the USA in 2022. Historically dominant teams like TSM and Cloud9 are struggling – at the helm is now the team “Evil Geniuses”. They are making a clear statement of intent against the competition. The exciting part: Evil Geniuses is leveraging trash talk and young talent from North America.
This is the situation for LoL in the USA:
For years, “Team SoloMid” was dominant in the USA, winning 7 championships. Other strong teams were Cloud9 (4 championships) and Team Liquid (4 championships). Other teams besides these 3 played hardly any role in the race for the LCS championship.
However, since 2021, there has been a changing of the guard: Suddenly, the 100 Thieves team, which relies heavily on merchandise, and Evil Geniuses are on top, each winning a championship title. Even now, in summer 2022, both teams have fought their way back to the top of the league.
The “Evil Geniuses” are bringing spice and innovation to the game: they are focusing on US talent and love trash talk.
Also a fan of trash talk, Tyler1:
Start video
How the Worst Troll from Twitch Became the Face of League of Legends
LCS has long been considered a league for mercenaries and retired pros
This was long the problem of the LCS: The leading US teams were for many years heavily influenced by European mercenaries who played a dominant role in the North American LCS league:
Especially Scandinavian players like the Danes Bjergsen, Jensen, or Zven seemed to decide who would become the champion.
From China, the world champion criticized: In the USA, the competitive pressure from young talents on the complacent pros is lacking – they let old players play too long because they sell merchandise.
The LCS has long been viewed as a league of mercenaries and “old players” that offered too little space for North American talent. This led to US teams getting eliminated in international tournaments year after year, and fans lamenting and complaining extensively: this can’t go on, something has to change.
This is the special path of Evil Geniuses: Yet Evil Geniuses has gained success with these talents from North America. Key players include:
17-year-old Canadian jojoyun in the midlane
18-year-old American Danny in the botlane
Both players are young and can still improve:
In spring 2022, Evil Geniuses had a record of 9-9 in the league, but still became champions thanks to outstanding playoffs.
In summer 2022, the team appears much more dominant: With a record of 8-1, they stand at the top of the LCS.
This is unusual, as “young teams” are generally considered unstable. However, Evil Geniuses have, alongside the two young talents, some experience in the team, with 23-year-old support player Vulcan and 27-year-old veteran Impact.
“The old ways are dead”
This is how Evil Geniuses presents themselves: As interesting as their roster is, their presence on social media is compelling.
In a video from February 5th, “The Old Ways are dead,” the CEO of Evil Geniuses, Nicole L. Jameson, is seen making a statement of intent with two content creators:
The video begins with a jab at Jack Etienne, the head of Cloud9: She doesn’t even take his call.
Then, they take down their big rivals: FlyQuests are described as hippies, 100 Thieves are said to only focus on “hoodies,” meaning merchandise, and regarding TSM, they say: “They just don’t exist” and gleefully tear apart their plans.
In the video, the team highlights that they are going their own way with 4 players from North America and are not relying on mercenaries. While they technically have two people on the roster from outside North America, Impact (South Korea) and Inspired (Poland), top laner Impact has been in the USA for so long that he is no longer considered a mercenary.
The other team on the list with 4 North Americans is simply removed from the list with a snap of the fingers.
As a sign of the “new ways,” it can also be noted that 3 women make this statement of intent for Evil Geniuses.
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With the trash talk and bold proclamations, Evil Geniuses is bringing much-needed fire back to the LCS. Although EG has already taken a few slaps internationally. After winning the championship title in spring 2022, the young North Americans stated: they would take on Europe with ease.
At MSI, they played against the European representatives G2 4 times and lost every single game:
The 26-year-old DJane and producer Anika “Sintica” F. is a successful German streamer on Twitch. According to a leak from 2021, she is one of the 3 women on the platform worldwide who earn the most money. She now shows the messages from a person who donated over 1 euro to her during a Twitch stream. Users on Twitter find the messages disgusting.
Who is that?
Sintica is a pioneer of a trend: DJ artists host streams on Twitch for hours, where they play music and create an atmosphere. Especially during the Corona pandemic, Twitch became an alternative for some DJ artists to perform in clubs.
The German Twitch scene is dominated by men: Sintica ranks 35th among the most-watched German-speaking channels with 4.7 million watched hours last year, making her the second-largest female streamer in Germany. Three places ahead of her, at position 32, is Antonia “RevedTV” Staab.
Prime Gaming is an important factor in the Twitch ecosystem:
Start video
Prime Gaming, the secret behind Twitch’s success
This is what the streamer is showing now: In a tweet from July 22, Sintica shows a history of chat messages she received:
A user sent her a total of 8 donations of 1 euro each within an hour.
Each donation came with a chat message, in which the donor clearly indicates that he is masturbating to the streamer or describes sexual fantasies involving the streamer.
Apparently, he interprets the actions of the streamer while she is playing music as sexual acts directed at him.
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Female streamers feel sexually exploited on Twitch
This is what’s behind it: What Sintica describes is a phenomenon that many Twitch female streamers face. People treat them as sexual objects and communicate that to them:
The streamer Sweet Anita said in April 2021 that she feels sexually exploited because people cut clips from her streams and reduce her to her sexuality in these clips, even though she did nothing suggestive in the actual video. She said, 7 seconds of her butt gets 500,000 views in one day.
Sweet Anita says: People would deliberately steal her content to sexualize it in cheap clips. It ruined her enjoyment of Twitch.
The streamer Valkyrae found videos online that showed sexual acts, claiming that she was the one in them. Furthermore, there are entire Twitter accounts dedicated to sharing photos of female streamers that are masturbated to.
Another problem for female streamers is that their most successful clips are not particularly cool moments in games, but everyday actions, such as getting up from a chair or leaning forward, simply because in that moment their butt or breasts seem to be highlighted for a few seconds.
As the comments show, this is a problem that many users see Twitch responsible for addressing.
While Twitch has extensive rules on how streamers should behave in front of the camera to avoid causing offense, there seem to be no rules for viewers that have any consequences.
We at MeinMMO spoke with the streamer Gnu about sexism in gaming:
After Destiny 2 announced its last two expansions, the end of its great Light and Darkness saga has also been foretold. The current DLC “The Witch Queen” offered a retrospective story, and the upcoming DLC “Lightfall” is supposed to be the beginning of the end. So it is time to talk about a few still unresolved mysteries.
What is Destiny 2 preparing right now? The focus is currently on the impending end in the space shooter, as Bungie has already decided on the dramatic finale of its Light and Darkness saga. With the current DLC “The Witch Queen”, the Guardians are sent on a supposedly final journey to discover the great mystery of the ominous Traveler and the Darkness.
Even though Destiny 2 is not over, this still means the end of a very long and grand shooting saga that many Guardians have been accompanied by and influenced for years.
Today, we are bringing you up to date on the unresolved mysteries so that you are definitely prepared for what is to come.
The story of the Guardians begins with the Light of the Traveler.
Mystery No. 1: Light and Darkness
Since Destiny exists, the struggle between Light and Darkness has accompanied Guardians. Without it, there probably would never have been the Light-filled Guardians, and humanity might never have met the Traveler, under whose protection it still stands.
But what these powers, Light and Darkness, actually are and what secret motives their actions have, no one knows after 8 years of Destiny, except for Bungie, of course.
To this day, the Guardians have only received fragmented insights into this symbiosis of the two powers.
So far, it is only known that the Light promotes the creation of life forms and civilizations and increases their independence and complexity to create a harmonious universe.
In contrast, Darkness sows discord, as it sees existence as a struggle for survival and thus must defeat all other life to survive.
While the Light remains silent, the Darkness often takes the opportunity to reveal a few secrets.
Even the first hints at the existence of Light come only from a collection of Hive texts called “Books of Sorrows”, in which the creation of the Hive by the Darkness was already described before the Witch Queen DLC.
In a trailer for the DLC “The Witch Queen”, Bungie expanded on this story:
Start video
Destiny 2 shows launch trailer for the new expansion Witch Queen
Two sides of the same coin: The Traveler remains silent and keeps its mysteries to itself.
But it seems at least to be true, because the accounts say that the saga of Light and Darkness is about the “endgame” of existence. Everything has arisen from these forces, and the leading intelligences of these forces are, as far as we know, the deities of existence.
Both Light and Darkness have existed before the universe or time, and therefore both have “no beginning.” Instead, they were born from mathematical structures that then shaped reality. Both Darkness and Light only “play” with this reality to form and influence developing, complex patterns. Essentially, the Guardians in Destiny 2 are dealing with entities that are greater than the universe or that might even be the reason why the universe exists at all.
Whoever thinks about this for a longer time quickly realizes that this story sounds not only complex. It contains real science and plays with both entropy and fictional forces like “Paracausality”. A term that only exists in Destiny, by the way.
Exactly this incomprehensible play with the cosmos brings us to Mystery Number 2.
The Witness prepares for its grand entrance.
Mystery No. 2: Destiny is a Cosmic Game with Flowers
It is currently generally accepted that the game in which Light and Darkness are played in Destiny 2 is the universe. The original rules are the laws of physics, and the new rules are precisely the mentioned Paracausality in the Destiny universe.
You are playing a game within a game: This “game within a game” began when there was no time. It is played by two unimaginably powerful beings, Light and Darkness, in a garden. One player is “the Gardener”, who probably represents the Traveler, and the other player is “the Winnower”, who represents the Veil. Right now, Destiny 2 players are right in the middle of this secret “Flower Game”. However, many Guardians do not even know that it exists.
What is the Flower Game? The name “Flower Game” sounds simple. However, it is a complex game from which viable universes emerge.
The garden, as Darkness calls it, is merely a metaphor for the probability space, something that existed before time, space, and existence in general.
The Gardener (the Traveler) presses the flower seeds into the clay of the garden to see what becomes of them.
In the evening, the Winnower (the Witness), that is, Darkness, harvests the seeds of the day and separates what would thrive from what is corrupt.
The game is undecidable. For no one can predict exactly how it will end except by playing it. This statement also applies to the players of Destiny 2.
However, the game with the cosmos has a problem: While a vast number of universes are simulated in the patterns of the Flower Game, one and the same always inevitably happen. A “final form” (the “final form”) endlessly repeats itself and gradually dominates all other patterns. The Witness has always admired this dominant pattern. It frustrated the Traveler.
As the lore states, at some point the Traveler became so irritated about this that it decided to do something about it. The nature of this final form must be prevented because otherwise it restricts all other possibilities. To achieve this, the Traveler made itself a rule within the Flower Game. The Witness, its greatest enemy, was not at all happy with this rule change and was even angry to the point of panic over this plan. So it warned the Traveler back then. Everything the Light would intend to do with this new rule would merely delay the dominant pattern. It would come one way or another because it is inevitable. Since then, the Witness has done everything to undermine the actions of the Traveler or alter them to its own advantage.
This 4-dimensional chess game also has secret players, such as the Witch Queen Savathun or the ominous entity.
Who is hiding behind this statue? Is the entity perhaps a ‘she’?
Mystery No. 3: The Ominous Entity
Sometimes the term “Entity” is mentioned in Destiny 2. The pyramids themselves or the “Fleet of Darkness” could even serve this higher power. Because Light and Darkness are actually not enemies, but merely cosmic, paracausal abilities.
The Traveler has the ability to grant others the powers of Light, though only indirectly through its ghosts.
And Darkness can also pass on its abilities, such as Stasis or the Deep Sight Resonance, through the pyramids. Here another ability might come into play.
What actually created Light and Darkness? Some story details suggest that neither Light nor Darkness are omniscient and that there might actually be something greater behind both. Perhaps what has been referred to in the last already announced Destiny 2 expansion as the “Final Form”.
It is therefore not so unlikely that an entity or “The Final Form” has repeatedly ensured that the Flower Game eventually ends, thus bringing the struggle of opposing cosmic abilities to a close.
This is also supported by the fact that Darkness claims to have existed before time. Thus, the Witness could simply be an envoy to influence individuals and civilizations with their help.
If the Witness is merely a “child of the gods” formed from many that speak through him with one voice, then this could also apply to the Traveler. That is why it is still a mystery whether the Witness is this entity, the architect, or whether Bungie might still have something hidden in the Destiny cosmos that will soon be revealed. Maybe on August 23, 2022.
The path to the end is not far away: After all, the Guardians are now nearing the solution of these three mysteries. The saga of Light and Darkness will reach a dramatic climax in Destiny 2 with the “Final Form”, as Bungie wants to “not tell a story forever”.
But don’t be fooled. Destiny itself will continue afterwards. That will be another story, with more secrets.
What do you think about the mysteries of the Destiny story? Do you know any others that should be mentioned, or are you not interested in the story at all? We look forward to every comment from the MeinMMO community.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is getting Update 35 in August, which brings changes to the combat system. The community is reacting with mixed feelings. On MeinMMO, you can find out which viewpoints are represented and how they are distributed.
Changes to the combat system have always sparked plenty of discourse within the community. Opinions are extremely divided on this matter. Since Update 32 Deadlands, there have been heated discussions with each subsequent update of the base game.
The opinions of players vary widely. Some support the changes to the combat system, while others are strictly against them. Of course, there are also moderate voices among the players, but they are rather limited.
What changes to the combat system are being made? Two things are being adjusted:
The damage from light and heavy attacks no longer scales with attributes. This reduces damage by 6 – 11%.
Combat effects that give you buffs and enhance your damage will last longer.
The developers explain the changes by stating that they want to reduce the significant difference in outgoing damage, which is primarily influenced by light attacks. By extending global cooldowns and the duration of damage-over-time abilities, the developers aim to ease some stress from combat rotations. But will this work, or are they missing the target?
Since July 11, you can actually try out the planned changes on the public test server (PTS) yourself. You can download it via your client. However, you will need as much storage space again as the game itself requires.
Longtime players are annoyed by the frequent changes
There are critical voices in the community. In some cases, pronounced displeasure is apparent:
“Honestly, I’m skeptical whether the changes will bring the effects that will benefit the game (in my ESO environment),” writes The_Saint in the forum thread from July 6.
“I’ve just realized I can’t enjoy this game anymore. Whatever makes you happy about it, IT WILL be ruined in a few weeks. I no longer feel motivated. There are no progressions, it’s just exhausting,” writes Avishag in the official discussion thread from July 11.
“I don’t know if precise feedback on damage between Live / PTS will be possible now, since the Trial Dummy buffs don’t match with Live, but I’ve lost at least 20,000 DPS over eight parses. This effectively ends my ‘Rockgrove Hard Mode’ dreams and could lead to a prog group being dissolved,” writes QueuesAsTanks in the official discussion thread from July 11.
“The problem is that the overall damage has been nerfed. Why is that bad? Because ZOS won’t adjust the content,” warns Grabmoore in a comment on MeinMMO.
Our expert assessment aligns with the opinions of the players. MeinMMO author MiezeMelli is critical of the changes:
In the discourse, there are players who are relatively neutral towards the changes. However, this is more the exception. Most comments are for or against.
“I see the weakening of light attacks as uncritical, but in combination with the extension of the DoTs also ineffective,” writes Rollio in the forum thread from July 6.
However, there are players who are looking forward to the changes despite the heated discussion:
“Thanks to ZOS for these changes. I love ESO, but I’m bad at fighting – I simply don’t have the skill to switch bars and perform two to three actions per second,” writes mashugana in the official discussion thread from July 11.
However, it remains to be seen whether the implementation will proceed as the developers have envisioned.
If you’re interested in more about ESO, you might also find this appealing:
What stands out when keeping an eye on the ESO forum are critical voices from very different players. There are often controversies between casual and core players, but this time one can find counter-voices from many parts of the community.
There are also players who are just tired of the frequent changes to the combat system with every update. It is often criticized that the purpose is missed by far and the implementation of planned changes has not led to the hoped-for results.
User Jaava expresses in a forum post: “Aside from the fact that many things catapult us back years. Why do we actually have to heavily adjust the balance every three months?”
“I can’t remember any other game I’ve played that often presents ‘bad’ news with changes like ESO. At least regarding the changes to the combat system. So far, I have always been able to somehow arrange myself with the changes. But the changes have always missed the target ZOS aimed at with that, capping the immense damage that top players can pull out of the game. Subjectively, it has always made life harder for me as a mid-level DD than for the top players,” writes ASSOLoki in the forum thread from July 6.
The reasons for pros and cons are diverse, as every player naturally sets different priorities. Especially in an MMORPG, you often have to decide on one aspect of the game because the scope of the game in all its facets requires much time.
Diese Umfrage ist geschlossen.
What do you think about all this? And can you perhaps also understand the players who hold a different opinion? Do you have any other ideas besides what the developers have? Feel free to let us know in the comments if you have any ideas and thoughts you’d like to share with us!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Whoever wants to conduct a video call in everyday life needs either a device with a built-in camera or opts for a webcam. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has bought half a dozen and reveals which camera he liked best.
How did the list come about? Since I work from home and regularly sit in calls or phone calls with colleagues, I need a webcam. After all, I’m expected to be visible in the conversations.
For this reason, I bought several webcams. Because I wanted to find out which webcam is best suited for my setup and may accompany me in my calls. From these webcams, this list was created, where I present my test devices in detail.
What criteria did I use to evaluate?
Setup: How well and easily can the camera be set up? Do I need additional software? Image quality: How do I look in the camera image?
Accessories: What comes with the device, and do I need anything else for the camera to work?
How did I test? Basically, I did not install any additional software or make any further settings for any camera. For all webcams, “Plug and Play” was used: connect the camera and then make recordings with OBS Studio or comparable software. I recorded the microphone with Audacity.
In the article, you will find an image and a sound recording of the microphone for each tested camera.
All 5 webcams at a glance (from left): Logitech C920s, Trust Exis, Logitech Stream Cam, wansview Webcam, Logitech C270.
The 6-Euro webcam from the supermarket did not convince me at all
What does the device cost? I was able to purchase the Trust Exis for around 6 euros at a discount store around the corner. At that price, you can’t really go wrong, I thought. And I was mistaken.
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What is my impression? The camera has a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. That is very low, and correspondingly tiny is the displayed image. Programs like Teams do scale my image up, but then I look heavily pixelated and very blurry. Every reasonably decent smartphone offers a better resolution.
Especially interesting is the connection possibility. The camera itself is connected to your computer via USB-A. If you want to use the internal microphone, you still have to plug in a jack connection. However, it is so damn short that your computer’s USB port and jack socket must be right next to each other.
How is the microphone? I was unable to get the microphone working on my test system. That’s why you won’t find any test recording here.
The image of the Trust Exis is really terrifyingly poor.
Logitech’s entry-level cam delivers a mediocre image combined with a decent microphone
What does the device cost? With the Logitech C270, the manufacturer Logitech has a camera in its portfolio that you can get on Amazon for around 15 euros.
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What is my impression? The mounting bracket of the camera is fine and can also be attached to very bulky monitors. The setup is very quick, and the device is only connected via USB. The cable is also sufficiently long.
The image quality is a maximum of 720p; you will not get a Full HD camera. However, the image quality is sufficient for quick calls. Especially with changing lighting conditions, the device does not perform well. Noise cancellation works poorly. White balance and exposure adjustment are also not always optimal.
How is the microphone? The microphone is quite good compared to the image quality. My voice is clearly recognizable, but the recording does have some background noise.
Test recording with the microphone of the Logitech C270 (calm)
The Logitech C270 can only do 720p: A bit bright and few details in the background, but sufficient.
A webcam from China for 25 euros offers decent quality in Full HD
What does the device cost? With the wansview Webcam, the manufacturer of the same name offers a camera with Full HD resolution. The price for the webcam is 25 euros.
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What is my impression? The mounting is very easy and thanks to small adhesive spots, the camera also sits extremely firmly on very bulky monitors. Additionally, the camera is in a ball hinge and can be excellently readjusted if something is not right.
The image quality is indeed Full HD, but it does not completely convince me. The colors appear very pale, and the white balance does not work perfectly. However, the autofocus works well and quickly refocuses on me.
How is the microphone? The microphone of the wansview webcam is very quiet. I am understandable, but I would have to increase the output level significantly. What you can hear here is the default setting:
Test recording of the wansview webcam (calm).
wansview Webcam: A bit dark, but otherwise reasonable Full HD quality for under 30 euros.
Logitech’s mid-range can convince me with good image quality
What does the device cost? The C920s, like the C270, comes from the manufacturer Logitech. The price ranges between 60 and 70 euros. The camera officially offers Full HD resolution.
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What is my impression? The mounting is also no problem here. With a small additional foot on the mount, the camera does not slip off smooth surfaces and is additionally stabilized. The cable is also long enough so that I can run it behind my setup.
Through the official camera program from Microsoft and also via Discord, I appear sharply focused, and the autofocus does its job flawlessly. However, some colleagues criticize that I am not always displayed sharply on Teams. Therefore, I suspect it is due to the software and not the hardware.
The white balance works better than with previous models. The image is overall significantly more detailed than with the camera from the manufacturer wansview or Logitech’s C270.
How is the microphone? With the microphone, I am clearly understandable, although a bit artificial. Additionally, the recording has quite a bit of background noise, especially compared to the cheaper C270.
Test recording of the Logitech C920s (calm)
C920s vs C920: Logitech offers two different variants, but the technology is identical. With the C920s, you also get a privacy cover for the camera lens. Otherwise, the same hardware is inside the camera.
Logitech C920s: Good colors, good lighting, and above all Full HD resolution.
My most expensive webcam is bulky and offers a decent image
What does the device cost? Logitech’s Streamcam officially costs 160 euros but is now also available for 90 euros. The camera relies on Full HD and also uses a USB-C connection. An adapter from USB-C to USB-A was not included with mine. So if you don’t have a USB-C port on your computer, you will definitely need an adapter.
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What is my impression? Similar to the C920s, the Streamcam also uses a small foot on the mount. The camera needs this desperately, as the model is very bulky. On a delicate gaming monitor from HP, the camera wouldn’t stay and kept sliding down due to its weight.
The image quality can convince me. I appear continuously sharp, and the autofocus quickly finds me again even with fast movements. The white balance generally works well. However, in bright light, the camera darkens the rest of the image. Then the window in the background appears sharp and with high contrast, while I blend into the darkness.
Compared to the C920s, the image appears brighter and paler. Unlike the C920s, the Streamcam lacks depth of field. So background details are lost, but for me, that is not so important since I use the camera in conversations with colleagues.
How is the microphone? The microphone is really good; I sound natural, and the recording is almost without disruptive noise. Especially compared to the C920s, you can notice the clear sound difference.
Logitech Streamcam: Pale colors, but good Full HD resolution with fast autofocus.
My conclusion: Winner, Loser, and the Surprise
Who is my winner? I had to think a long time about the winner, as both the C920s and Streamcam from Logitech offer a good image. Overall, the colors on the C920s are somewhat more vibrant, and the depth of field is significantly better. However, the microphone of the Streamcam is the best in the test among all cameras.
Since the Streamcam also didn’t fit on all my monitors, my decision ultimately falls on the C920s, which is 20 euros cheaper.
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Who is the loser? By far, the cheap Trust Exis. The six euros are absolutely not worth the camera, and you should not consider buying it. Technically it is outdated, and for a few euros more, there are significantly better alternatives.
Is there a surprise? The wansview webcam actually surprised me. For 25 euros, there is already reasonable Full HD quality. If you are looking “only” for a webcam for irregular calls, I can definitely recommend this device. If you can compromise on image quality and prefer a better microphone, then the Logitech C270 is indeed also a viable option.
More exciting articles with short tests on hardware:
What do you think? Do you have a webcam that you can recommend or do you even own one from my list? Did you like my overview? Tell me in the comments!
More products for the eye: If you find normal webcams boring, you should take a look at the following example. Because this eerie device that looks like a human eye watches you when you are gaming or sitting at your desk. That may not appeal to everyone:
In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, there are recurring events. The PvP event White Plank’s Massacre starts again on July 28, 2022, until August 9. Here you’ll find out how to earn as many rewards as possible.
When is White Plank’s Massacre? The event begins on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 4 PM CEST and runs until Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 4 PM CEST.
What is White Plank’s Massacre? This is an annual event focused on PvP activities in ESO. During the event, you receive a 100% bonus in Alliance War, the Imperial City, and battlegrounds.
How to participate in White Plank’s Massacre
In the Crown Store, you can acquire the free quest “Details on White Plank’s Massacre”. This quest guides you to the goal of obtaining the event bonus:
Travel to your faction’s main gate in the Alliance War (Cyrodiil). You will enter the area not through a regular way shrine, but via the Alliance War in your menu under L (standard control on PC). In the top right of the menu, you can select the “Campaigns” tab. Now you will see a list of available campaigns in the top left. Press E to join a campaign. However, do not forget to set the campaign you wish to enter as your home campaign before entering. You do this with the R key
Why should you set a home campaign? In your home campaign, you gain progress in Cyrodiil towards your reward level. This affects whether and what rewards you receive once the campaign ends.
Find the quest giver “Prädikantin Maera” and speak with her to proceed with the quest.
These special rewards are available at White Plank’s Massacre
Look forward to these rewards from the PvP event:
new costume style pages: Bannerbearer of House Dufort
new body paint: Warscarred Body and Face
Style pages of the Black Dragon sound style
Costume style pages of the Vigilant of the Zero Legion
Laurel Wreath of the Massacre Victor (large decoration)
Pelinal’s Blessing (buff for 2 hours: double alliance points and experience points in PvP)
double resource nodes in Cyrodiil and the Imperial City
extremely many items at the “Golden” merchant in Cyrodiil
Pelinal’s Gift (container)
Special rewards from White Plank’s Massacre at a glance
Rewards
Source
Event Tickets (3x)
2 event tickets for the 1st daily quest in Cyrodiil or for battlegrounds
1 event ticket for the 1st daily quest in the Imperial City
Alliance Points and experience bonus for killed players (100 %)
Scroll of Pelinal’s Wildness (Item)
Pelinal’s Gift
Just Reward Daily Quests
Bag of Veteran’s Glory
Pelinal’s Gift (chance) Event Ticket Merchant (Impresaria)
Costume style pages: Bannerbearer of House Dufort (armor) NEW Body paint: Warscarred Body NEW Face paint: Warscarred Face NEW
Pelinal’s Gift (chance) Event Ticket Merchant (Impresaria)
Fragments for the Soulfire- Dragon Illusion (memento): Holy Hourglass Basin Illuminated Dragon Scroll Kvatch Incense
Event Ticket Merchant (Impresaria)
Fragment for Daggerfall Paladin (costume): Blessed Rubedite Enamel NEW
Event Ticket Merchant (Impresaria)
Additionally, you will receive the following rewards from Pelinal’s Gift:
Packages of Tel’Var Stones
Repair materials for Cyrodiil
Soul Gems
Alchemical ingredients
Style materials for your character’s alliance style
Style materials for the Akaviri style
Cold Fire siege weapons
Books about Pelinal as furnishing items
A field camp for your alliance
Chapter of your alliance style (with a bit of luck, the complete book too!)
A prismatic rune stone
Chapter of the Akaviri style (with a bit of luck, the complete book too!)
A transmutation geode
Container with two rune boxes for the face and body paint of the warscarred face
If you are interested in more about ESO, you might also find this appealing:
You receive 2 event tickets per day for the first daily quest in Cyrodiil or for battlegrounds. An additional ticket per day can be earned for completing a daily quest in the Imperial City. Remember to redeem your event tickets at the Impresaria by the event’s end. You can also possess a total of only 12 event tickets.
This is the fastest daily quest in the Imperial City
For this quest, you must enter the arena district. Once you have entered the Imperial City via the queue, you must head straight into the next room. At the end of the room directly to your left, you must interact with the ladder to reach the arena district.
On the platform you climb up to, there is an NPC who gives you the daily quest. You can recognize him by a blue quest marker above his head. To complete the quest, you must free 12 Imperials who are being held captive in this district by enemy NPCs.
The cool thing about the quest is that your progress also counts if Imperials are freed near you by other players from your alliance. So you’ll be quickly done with the task and you can turn it in.
These quests you can quickly complete in Cyrodiil
In Chorrol or at the Weynon Priory (Daggerfall Covenant), Vlastarus or Harvest’s End (Aldmeri Dominion), or Cheydinhal (Ebonheart Pact) you will receive daily quests that you can complete quickly without having to engage in PvP content.
For the 2 event tickets that you can earn, you need to complete 2 quests each.
There are many settlements in Cyrodiil where you can receive daily quests.
What to do if you still have costume styles missing at the end?
Exchange items in your community or guild
Of course, you might also receive one or another reward twice. But that’s no problem. You can simply swap with other players. Surely others are in the same boat.
Check the guild shops
If you really have no time to play until the event ends, then check the guild shops. Currently, you can find many of the rewards at low prices.
Special offers in the Crown Store
Some Crown Store items are still available for a limited time or at a reduced price:
Event Ticket (currency under events) for 250 crowns
Are you looking forward to the PvP event? Or don’t you play any PvP in ESO? Maybe you should reconsider, as there are many rewards.
In FIFA 22 Ultimate Team, the FUTTIES event continues. Today, Team 2 is released, and here you will find all about the FUT promo.
Update, July 22, 7:00 PM: The second batch of FUTTIES cards has now been released. There are once again some really strong cards like TOTS-Ronaldo, TOTS-Benzema, TOTS-Salah, and the TOTS card of Neymar.
Here you can see the complete team:
Here continues with the original article.
When does FUTTIES Team 2 come? The second “batch” of the FUTTIES event appears today, July 22 at 7:00 PM, in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team.
What kind of cards are these? The FUTTIES event is a kind of “Best-Of” of the FUT year. It brings back the best special cards from the ongoing FUT season into the game and also offers additional content as well as new special cards. Here you can see which cards Team 1 had to offer.
What else does the event bring? In addition to Batch 2, the FUTTIES event brings more special cards via SBCs (Squad Building Challenges) or objectives into the game. Especially strong are the voting cards, where FUT players can vote on which cards should receive upgrades.
The cards could come: The new loading screen of Ultimate Team already hints at the first cards of the new team. If you compare the stats with the already available cards, the following players should be featured in Team 2 today:
Karim Benzema (98) – TOTS
Vinicius Jr. (96) – TOTS
Adebi Pelé (98) – FUT Captains
The leaks are here: The famous FUT leaker FUT Sheriff (via Twitter) has published another leak. The leaker claims that there will be a strong FUTTIES card of Chiesa, which can be unlocked via SBC.
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It’s Friday again, and that means it’s time for a visit from the mysterious but cool black market dealer Xur in Destiny 2. A visit is worth it, so let’s first reveal what you might miss this week and where you can find Xur.
All info about Xur on July 22, 2022 – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
When does Xur come? The most famous vendor in Destiny 2 starts his sales every Friday at 7:00 PM. Anyone who brings him a few Legendary Shards and other materials to trade is welcome to choose something from his inventory.
Where is Xur? This is his inventory for the weekend
Xur’s location: Xur has arrived, as he is located on Nessus.
Xur’s position on Nessus
Xur’s inventory from July 22 – July 26 – All Exotics at a glance
What does Xur have on offer? For all Guardians who do not yet know Xur: He is an Exotic vendor of “The Nine”, a mysterious group in Destiny 2, and delivers new weapons and armor to players every week on their behalf. All characters, including Warlocks, Hunters, and Titans, can shop with him.
Weapon: The Queenbreaker – Linear Fusion Rifle for 29 Legendary Shards
Titan: The Healing Armor – Chest armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +6
Resilience: +26
Recovery: +3
Discipline: +16
Intellect: +10
Strength: +6
Total: 67
Hunter: Weakhead Radar – Helmet for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +10
Resilience: +16
Recovery: +6
Discipline: +12
Intellect: +2
Strength: +15
Total: 61
Warlock: Starfire Protocol – Chest armor for 23 Legendary Shards
Mobility: +2
Resilience: +25
Recovery: +4
Discipline: +17
Intellect: +2
Strength: +10
Total: 60
Xur also sells Legendary items and offers unique rolls for Exotics from previous unavailable exotic missions each week.
This is what Xur’s inventory looks like this week
Currently, he has these two weapons on offer:
The exotic hand cannon “Fallen Moon” with the perk “First Shot”
The exotic scout rifle “Tale of a Dead Man” with the perk “All Good Things Come in Four”
This is the cost of the weapons: For these two Exotics, the cost is 1 Ascendant Shard, 1 Exotic Code, 125,000 Glimmer, and 200 Legendary Shards.
Xur always has with him: You can get an Exotic Engram for 97 Legendary Shards from Xur, as well as the weekly quest to obtain an exotic code.
If you need a more detailed video on Xur’s inventory or the travel route, we have included Nexxoss for you. He shows everything in detail:
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Trials of Osiris from July 22 – July 26 – Map, Weapons, and Info
Which map is in play this week? Every weekend you only play on a designated map. This time, the Distant Shore on Nessus is in play.
This map awaits you this week
If you are interested in playing the Trials as a team, MeinMMO recommends the callout maps via Warmind. This way you can effectively describe to your fireteam where the enemies are located on the map, which provides useful information for the entire team.
This is how you get your loot: The Trials of Osiris have a reputation rank system. Your top loot reward from the PvP matches is currently available for:
Seven wins
50 rounds
as well as the notorious flawless run that leads you to the Lighthouse
This is the reward for a flawless run: Each week, a special weapon awaits you at the Lighthouse that you receive for your flawless run, that is, 7 wins, as a Master version. This time you will earn the sniper “Eye of Sol” as Adept. You can earn the weapon until next Tuesday at 7 PM.
All trial weapons have a Trials origin perk: “Fastball” – Improves reload speed, stability, aim assist, and range when you are the last remaining member of your fireteam or fighting alone.
Once you have received your desired weapon, you can focus your Trials Engrams at the 14th Saint for your desired weapon. In addition, you can earn upgrade prisms and Ascendant Shards. Keep in mind that your reward increases even more once you have a complete passage – even if you have lost one or two games.
When do the Trials start? The Trials (Trials of Osiris) start this Friday at the daily reset at 7 PM.
What will you be doing this weekend? Will you run the Trials of Osiris and farm the top-tier Nightfall? Or would you rather grind the Solstice Event in Destiny 2 to make your armor glow? Let us know!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Steam offers a huge platform for gaming or acquiring countless games. From AAA titles to quirky indie games, everything can be bought. Therefore, we would like to ask you how many games you have in your collection in total.
When playing on PC these days, you can hardly avoid Steam. On Valve’s gaming platform, there are countless titles, and new ones are added daily that you can include in your library.
And Valve is happy to help you with that. There are huge sales regularly where games are sometimes sold for just a few cents. Numerous games are also available for free and can be simply downloaded.
So if you’ve been gaming on Steam for years, you probably have accumulated quite an impressive collection thanks to recurring sales. Or maybe not?
We at MeinMMO would therefore like to know: What kind of Steam gamer are you? Do you have huge collections because you buy something during every sale, or are 1-2 games enough for you?
In this survey, all titles you own count. It doesn’t matter what genre the game comes from or from which sale you acquired it.
Here you can vote: You can cast your choice in the survey tool below this paragraph. You have only one vote that you can cast. So choose your answer wisely, as your selection cannot be undone.
Update July 26: The survey is closed.
Feel free to discuss with other users about your collection. What games do you mainly collect, what genres do they come from, and where did you get all your games? Join us in the discussions and feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For weeks now, MMORPG Lost Ark has been plagued by performance issues. Players are complaining about lags, stutters, and other problems. However, some of these can be greatly improved with just a few clicks. We at MeinMMO explain how this works.
What is the problem? For some patches now, fans have increasingly complained about performance issues in Lost Ark. The game seems to no longer run as smoothly as it did at the beginning. Smaller lags, stutters, and even complete “freezes” are unfortunately commonplace.
Our author Mark Sellner has already experienced this. The issue affects players with devices on all performance levels. Whether you have a budget gaming PC or a high-end device, Lost Ark sometimes just doesn’t run smoothly.
A user on reddit has now identified one of the reasons for this problem and shows that it can be played much smoother with just a few clicks. We at MeinMMO have checked the method and can confirm it.
Lost Ark is also one of the most beautiful MMORPGs; you can find four others in our video:
Start video
5 MMORPGs with the most beautiful graphics
What exactly is the problem? It may sound absurd, but the poor performance could actually be due to the chat of the MMORPG. More precisely, the main chat window is responsible for many of the stutters and lags.
It simply seems to load too much and is especially always there if you leave the default settings as they are. By the way, this is not the first time Lost Ark has had issues due to its chat; last time, a little love could crash the game.
How to improve your performance
What can you do about it? You need to empty your main chat, that is, the window that is enabled by default. This works best by not showing certain things anymore and only seeing the actual chat.
To do this, click on Chat Window Settings in the chat window and remove everything you do not urgently want to see all the time. In our case, we have removed help, error messages, warnings, loot, group loot, experience, and currencies from the main window.
Once you’ve done that, you can create a completely new, alternative chat window and reactivate those things there. You can then switch to the second chat window at any time to display the information when you need it.
Don’t forget to click “Apply” at the end to save the settings. Also, do not close the game with Alt+F4 as is common for many. Unexpectedly closing the client ensures that Lost Ark does not remember your settings, and you will have the same problem the next time you start the game.
This is what the trick brings: The main chat window only has the actual messages activated and is therefore no longer so flooded. This actually results in Lost Ark running considerably smoother. We cannot specify an exact number, as the game does not necessarily drop in FPS even when it has bugs, but demonstrates other negative behaviors.
The stutters and occasional freezes decreased significantly in our tests, which is why you should definitely try this option if your Lost Ark also tends to have these problems.
“This is incredibly helpful”
What do the fans say? After the post on reddit gained traction, the creator is being showered with praise and thanks. However, people are also speculating about what the technical origin of this issue could be. However, the little trick with the chat seems to help the majority of users.
We would like to share some of the comments with you here so you can get an idea for yourself:
WindWielder says: ‘This is incredibly helpful for me, thank you!’
tipertuba writes: ‘It’s unbelievable that such a setting can cause so many problems. But the change actually worked, finally the game is playable again.’
Ephemiel writes: ‘Just removing the experience points made the game run much smoother for me. No idea what the hell is wrong with the chat.’
Do you have similar problems? Did the little trick help you too? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Destiny 2 is currently celebrating the Solstice 2022. While some Guardians are still fueling the campfire in the European air zone, others have already discovered the coolest go-kart of the event. This new mini-Sparrow not only reminds of the racing game “Mario Kart” – it can also make its moves. MeinMMO took a spin and reveals its hidden gimmick.
Which mini-Sparrow is it? The new Sparrow is exotic, called “Quadrarad”, and belongs to the category of the so-called “mini-Sparrows” in the transportation options of Destiny 2. It was introduced with the event Solstice 2022. At first glance, the cool mini-kart design seemed to be the only highlight. But there’s more to it than meets the eye.
When the Guardians could try the mini-Sparrow for themselves, the little racer revealed nostalgic effects from probably the most famous racing game, Mario Kart, and a small extra gimmick.
For example, “Quadrarad” (ENG: “Quadracycle”) emits a shower of sparks during sharp left or right turns.
To make the effect even more authentic, the little Sparrow occasionally fires green or red “ghost” projectiles while racing.
In the video, Krypz shows how cool the racer performs in the game:
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What do players say about the new racer? The community is surprised that the little Sparrow has so much more to offer. In the preview of the collection, where one can click through all items of Destiny 2 without owning them, the little event Sparrow actually seems rather inconspicuous.
I got the impression that [the mini-Sparrow] sparkled when I saw it while clicking through the collection. But I didn’t expect little ghost shells would drop. That’s insanely cool, and I’ll definitely get it when it’s available for Glimmer.
Furthermore, the broadest group of Guardians in Destiny 2 seemed particularly excited about the new vehicle. The Titan player SoraxStacy147 enthusiastically commented:
Letting the coolest Titan ride a mini-Sparrow is really what Destiny is all about…! Oh, what’s that, something about darkness? Nooo! Look at my Titan: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH !!!!
And player Frostfang Piglet even thinks that especially these little Sparrows “[…] become even better when Titans […] use them.” Probably hinting that the stylish racer gets much better traction due to the additional weight from the powerful shoulder pads and can be steered more smoothly. If you’re lucky, you might soon spot some Titans on their new mini-vehicle in the game.
Sparrow racing was popular among many Guardians in Destiny – just like honking!
Is the Sparrow Racing League returning soon?
For many Guardian veterans, the sight of the new little mini-kart racer rekindled an old longing for the “SRL”, an abbreviation for the “Sparrow Racing League”. Because back then, it was just like Mario Kart, only in Destiny.
Instead of driving politely (or rather hovering), there was shoving and pushing.
There were ramps and acceleration zones on the tracks.
Maliciously placed obstacles and enemies, like the Vex and nasty Cabal, further made the tracks unsafe.
And now there is also this mini-kart Sparrow, which would be nearly perfect for the racing league.
No hope for the SRL in sight: Since Season 9, many Guardians have been eagerly waiting for Bungie to perhaps fulfill their hopes in a new season or during an event.
But unfortunately, nothing has officially been announced to date about whether it will ever make its return to the Destiny universe. So it’s the same with the SRL, just like with the heavily missed Sparrow honks: Hope dies last.
At least Guardians can continue to expand their personal Sparrow collection until perhaps that day comes:
This is what Mario Kart in Destiny 2 could look like.
The “Mini Racer” will soon be available for Glimmer
Do you want the Mario Kart feeling? Then you should log into Destiny 2 during the Solstice event 2022.
Tess Eververse will sell you the racer for Glimmer.
The mini-Sparrow “Quadrarad” is only available during the Solstice event 2022.
Those who don’t want to wait can buy it immediately for 800 Silver, the real money currency of Destiny 2, from the Eververse shop.
Guardians who prefer to use the in-game currency “Glimmer” should mark August 9, 2022, on their calendar. After the weekly reset at 7 PM, the mini-Sparrow will be available exclusively for 2500 Glimmer in the Eververse for one week.
No more Glimmer? A good source for Glimmer is the weekly challenges. Bungie holds several Glimmer packs for you as a one-time offer there. Otherwise, use the additional bounties from Zavala, Lord Shaxx, and the Wandering to restock your Glimmer supply.
What do you think about the new Sparrow? Did you know about its hidden features or are you taking a closer look now? Do you also believe that this “Mario Kart Sparrow” might be a hidden hint at the return of the Sparrow Racing League in Destiny 2? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you want to complete your summer outfit in Lost Ark with a pair of sunglasses, the Twitch Drops starting from July 22nd will help you out. We at MeinMMO explain how to get them.
What kind of glasses are these? If you secure the Twitch Drop starting from July 22nd, you will receive useful gifts this month that will help you in the game, as well as an exclusive skin once again.
This time, a stylish pixel sunglasses winks at you and waits to be put on. You have the choice to select one of four different colors.
The glasses themselves are in a pixel design and resemble an 8-bit character. The eyes have some white pixels, making it look like the sun is reflecting.
In this teaser, you can see the different glasses
What else is there? Besides the stylish glasses, you can also expect 1,000 Amethyst Shards. This is an in-game currency that you can only earn through achievements, Twitch Drops, and Prime Gaming. You can then redeem them at a merchant for mounts, companions, or the crystalline aura.
Additionally, there are useful combat item selection chests that allow you to secure the valuable large healing potions. This saves you a lot of gold, especially when raiding.
When are the drops active? On July 22nd at 5 PM, the new drops start on Twitch. You can get them from all streamers participating in the “Lost Ark Creator Program”. To do this, you need to watch a participating streamer for a total of four hours.
You have until August 18th for this, after which the Twitch Drops will disappear and will likely be replaced by the next ones. But for the summer and your wardrobe, you shouldn’t miss the cool glasses.
Lost Ark would look something like this not with sunglasses, but with a VR headset:
Start video
Lost Ark is working on a VR version for the MMORPG – Check out the crazy trailer here
How to get the Twitch Drops: It is important that you have linked your Twitch account with your Steam account and that Twitch Drops for Lost Ark are active. Only then can you pick up the coveted items.
Once done, you just need to select a stream with the corresponding drop and watch it for a total of 4 hours. Once you have done that, you will receive the in-game rewards by mail in the game. Sometimes, a re-login is required.
Now you can enjoy the stylish sunglasses.
What do you think of the Twitch Drops? Do you enjoy watching streams of your favorite MMORPG, or are you just here to collect drops? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
The most popular monsters in Pokémon GO are Shinys. However, according to our MeinMMO author Franzi Korittke, not all of them are worth seeing. What she does not like about the Shinys, she explains in this article.
Which Pokémon are we talking about? In Pokémon GO, you have the opportunity to catch the various monsters in their normal form, but some also have a Shiny version. This differs visually from the actual form and is very popular among many players.
And I am also immediately excited when it comes to Shinys. Because I mainly want one thing: a complete Shiny Dex. But I am also fascinated by the appearance of most of the shimmering specimens. Some, like Charizard or Umbreon, look much nicer in this form.
However, some Shinys do not appeal to my taste at all, and I believe they look much better in their normal form. I have summarized 8 monsters whose shimmering form I find the ugliest below and explain what bothers me about them.
I have only considered the Pokémon that can already be caught as Shiny in the game. The ranking order corresponds to my personal sympathy for the respective Shiny, starting with the one I find the ugliest.
1. Dragonite
Dratini, Dragonair and Dragonite normal (top) and as Shiny (bottom)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Dragonite is the final evolution of Dratini. The Pokémon originates from the 1st generation of games and belongs to the Dragon and Flying types. Its shiny variant can currently only be obtained by evolving Dratini through Dragonair.
What bothers me about the Shiny? The shiny form of Dragonite is one of the Pokémon in the game, whose Shiny I find simply failed. If you look at the shiny variants of its pre-evolutions, they shine in a strong purple. And with that, they make quite an impression.
This would certainly also apply to Dragonite. But not so. The shiny Dragon and Flying Pokémon suddenly turns green when evolving and does not match Dratini and Dragonair at all. And even compared to its normal variant, the shiny in this color, from my perspective, makes no impression at all.
2. Mamoswine
Swinub, Piloswine and Mamoswine normal (top) and as Shiny (bottom)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Mamoswine is the final evolution of Swinub. It originates from the 4th generation of games and belongs to the Ice and Ground types. As a Shiny, you can only obtain it by evolving a shiny Swinub.
What bothers me about the Shiny? Mamoswine along with the entire Swinub family have become victims of a terrible green tone when designing the Shiny. While Swinub still shines in a somewhat acceptable subtle green, it gets worse with each evolution.
Mamoswine’s body is simply covered in a dirty green fur layer that resembles mold and does not fit such a graceful being at all. The strong brown hue of its normal form looks, in my opinion, a thousand times more attractive.
3. Moltres
Moltres normal (left) and as Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? Moltres is a legendary Pokémon from the first generation of games and belongs to the Fire and Flying types. It has no pre- or evolutions. You can occasionally encounter the Pokémon in level-5 raids.
What bothers me about the Shiny? The legendary Pokémon is supposed to appear as a graceful fire bird. This is optimally reflected in the coloring of the normal form.
And even if the designers have oriented themselves to similar color schemes here and tried to clearly distinguish the shiny Pokémon from the normal form, I like the original much better.
This is because they have colored the body of the legendary monster reddish. As a result, it looks no longer graceful, but rather resembles a plucked chicken trying to fly with the few remaining feathers it has.
What kind of Pokémon is this? Espeon is one of a total of 8 evolutions of Eevee. The Pokémon originates from the 2nd generation of games and belongs to the Psychic type. You can only obtain its shiny variant by catching a shiny Eevee and evolving it into Espeon.
What bothers me about the Shiny? You can recognize the normal form of Espeon by its light lilac-colored body. This color fits perfectly with its cat-like, graceful body, in my opinion. And also regarding its Psychic type, this color choice works out well.
Therefore, it is surprising when you encounter a neon green Espeon after evolving a shiny Eevee. This does not match the rest of the appearance at all and gives me the indication “Caution poisonous! Do not touch!”.
And also compared to the other evolutions of Eevee, I cannot understand how one could decide on this color for the design. After all, the other Shinys appear much more cohesive and impress, like Umbreon or Sylveon. So, I definitely stick with the original when it comes to Espeon.
What tricks there are for Evolving Eevee, you can find out in our guide:
What kind of Pokémon is this? And the Psychic Pokémon Palpitoad also ranks among my list of the ugliest Shiny Pokémon. The monster from the 3rd generation is the evolution of Klang, but it can also be found in its shiny form in the wild.
What bothers me about the Shiny? Also with Palpitoad, the designers have again reached for the green and yellow color pot. While the normal form shines in a beautiful light blue and the red accents underline its special appearance, the Shiny appears dull.
Its body has simply been changed to a light green in the Shiny, and the red highlight has been replaced by a pale yellow. Comparing both variants, the shiny form completely fades away. For this reason, the normal form is also my personal favorite here.
6. Shardrago
Shardrago normal (left) and as Shiny (right)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Dragon Pokémon Shardrago is from the 5th generation of games and has no pre- or evolutions. You have the opportunity to get it in its shiny form occasionally in level-3 raids.
What bothers me about the Shiny? Shardrago looks very coherent in its normal form. Its body shines in a nice strong blue hue, and the red head as well as the red horns on its back complete this picture. In its Shiny form, however, Shardrago is green – grass green!
The color is also very strong, but it seems so dominant to me that its now yellow head does not stand out properly. Perhaps it would have been better if Nintendo had also kept the head of the shiny variant in a rich red.
I definitely prefer the normal variant of Shardrago, even though the shiny form, unlike most other monsters on this list, is at least still presentable.
7. Zigzagoon
Zigzagoon, Linoone and Obstagoon normal (top) and as Shiny (bottom)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Fighting Pokémon Zigzagoon originates from the 5th generation of games and can evolve into Linoone and then into Obstagoon. You can occasionally obtain this monster in level-1 raids.
What bothers me about the Shiny? Also with this Pokémon, I find the color choice of its shiny simply not particularly fitting. While the normal Zigzagoon has a beautiful brown rodent-like body, the feeling is that the shiny has simply had the color dial turned in a photo editing program.
Thus, the shiny specimen appears simply gaudy and not beautiful at all. While this improves somewhat with its two evolutions, Meistagrif can be considered a solid Shiny, but still, the normal forms of this evolutionary line seem much more impressive to me.
8. Slaking
Bummelz, Muntier and Letarking normal (top) and as Shiny (bottom)
What kind of Pokémon is this? The Normal Pokémon Slaking originates from the 3rd generation of games and is the final evolution of Bummelz. You can only obtain its shiny variant through evolving.
What bothers me about the Shiny? Unlike most other Pokémon on this list, Slaking probably bothers me the least. Similar to Dragonite, I am also disappointed with the implementation of this evolutionary line. If you look at Shiny-Bummelz, it shines in a beautiful and cute pink.
This clearly distinguishes it from its normal brown form. However, the designers have obviously abandoned this concept with Muntier and opted for a light cream tone that only differs slightly from the original.
And even with Slaking, only the white collar was adjusted and colored in a subtle light brown. Even if a pink body might not have quite suited this gorilla-like Pokémon, I think there could have been a clearer color difference here.
Shinies that hardly differ from the original
The list of Shinys that I do not like is far from over. However, I would like to particularly mention a group of shiny Pokémon: the inconspicuous ones. These are not per se ugly but are simply poorly implemented because they hardly differ from their normal form.
This means the differences are so minimal that the changes are barely recognizable. I find this very unfortunate because, in my view, Shinys primarily serve the function of being shown off. Whether in a gym or in battle, you want to share your joy over your new Shiny with other players, and yes, I admit it, also to show off a bit.
Monsters that one cannot identify at first glance, of course, do not fare well. These include, in my view, especially the following Shinys:
Zekrom
Zapdos
Gengar
Togetic
Sunkern
Plusle
Lunatone
But even with some starter Pokémon like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander as well as Pikachu, the color differences are hardly noticeable.
Even if I do not like the Shinys mentioned above at all, and for that reason, I will not proudly show them off in gyms or battles, I still look forward to encountering them.
This does not stop me from welcoming them in my Poké Bag. Therefore, I will continue to actively hunt for Shinys to gradually get closer to my goal of a complete Shiny PokéDex.
What do you think of the Shinys in Pokémon GO? Which ones do you dislike at all? And what color do you think they should have? Feel free to share your opinion with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange thoughts with other trainers.
“The events are escalating”: Thomas Hackner, better known on YouTube as “HerrNewstime”, talked in a video about his new role as an active Twitch streamer.
Who is HerrNewstime? The YouTuber gained fame for his news on controversial topics and dramas involving influencers and politicians. He was one of the fastest to document the news in videos, clarifying issues and occasionally sharing his opinion.
By doing so, he distinguished himself from other channels and generated 317,000 subscribers. HerrNewstime seemed to be in the loop about everything and could cater to many different communities. The YouTuber also saw additional growth when he actively spoke against Article 13 in 2019 and participated in protests.
That was the case until February 2021, when he took a longer break that lasted until August 2021. After that, HerrNewstime attempted to be more active on his YouTube channel, although he frequently took further breaks.
Since 2022, he releases, at most, 2–4 videos a month, and otherwise, there’s not much to hear from Hackner on YouTube. However, he recently uploaded a video where he answered questions and highlighted his Twitch channel.
Start video
Twitch: This is the quirky story behind the most popular clip of all time
HerrNewstime is now an active gaming streamer on Twitch
What does the YouTuber say? In the YouTube video, he addressed questions from viewers asking what he is currently up to. HerrNewstime revealed that he streams several hours daily on Twitch. In the streams, he chats with his viewers or primarily plays GTA 5 Online with role-playing elements.
Why are there hardly any videos anymore? “The YouTube news itself has become a bit less, because, in my opinion, significantly fewer things are happening right now – also on YouTube. That’s why there are less frequent YouTube news,” said the 29-year-old.
He repeatedly emphasized that he is actively on Twitch and doing a lot of GTA RP. HerrNewstime enjoys his time as a streamer and described it as a nice experience.
However, he assured that he would be there with YouTube news if something relevant happens.
You can watch the complete video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r93XGuiL_jw
Community divided over HerrNewstime’s statements
What does the community say? They express themselves somewhat negatively in the comments about the video.
Cassiopeia states: “I can’t confirm that there are no news. There have been several things that could be reported on. Like now, for example, Danny. I thought you used to be quite quick about these things. If you don’t want to do that anymore, that’s okay too.”
Additionally, Cassiopeia thinks: “In the end, it was unofficially like: ‘I don’t want to bother with YouTube anymore, follow me on Twitch.’ The justification that there is hardly any news is nonsense.”
Rem Tilak writes: “I’m glad you’re not as active anymore. Your videos aren’t that great anyway, and you’re getting slower with the news. Besides, there’s always something to report on YouTube, and others do it better.”
CarloHD is disappointed: “It’s a pity, I just find the development sad, I miss the old [HerrNewstime]. (…) But some money changes EVERYONE.”
Of course, there are also positive voices, saying that they watch nearly every stream, always look forward to more content from HerrNewstime, and that he is the best. They will definitely continue to follow him.
This is what HerrNewstime’s Twitch channel looks like
The YouTuber has been active on Twitch for a while now, going live quite regularly since October 2021. He primarily chats with his community in Just Chatting and occasionally plays GTA 5 or Rust.
Since June 2022, he has mainly pursued RP in GTA 5 Online.
And in terms of numbers? They are not as high as on his YouTube channel, as he offers different content on Twitch. Currently, an average of 92 viewers follow his streams, and he has around 42,000 followers on the live streaming platform.
Nevertheless, HerrNewstime enjoys himself and is not financially dependent on Twitch, he mentioned in his video.
EA confirmed that there will be no Russian teams in FIFA 23. They were already removed from the game in FIFA 22. EA wants to stand in solidaritywith Ukraine during the times of the Russian invasion.
EA announced this to Eurogamer and stated the reason for the decision. They are removing the Russian teams as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The publisher stated: All Russian teams and the national team will not be included from the very beginning in FIFA 23.
Our expertise at MeinMMO relates to gaming. If you want to learn more about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we recommend checking official sites or news magazines:
– Ukraine Live Blog (via Zeit) – Focus: War against Ukraine (via ard) – Solidarity with Ukraine (via auswaertiges-amt)
“EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people”
This is how EA justifies the decision: In the statement from EA Sports, it says: “EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and calls, like many voices in the world of football, for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine.”
Furthermore, the justification states: “In line with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports will not include the Russian national team or Russian clubs in FIFA 23” (via eurogamer.net).
Why is this not surprising? There was a detailed statement on Twitter regarding FIFA 22 on March 2, 2022. The content is very similar to the statements made by EA to Eurogamer regarding FIFA 23 (via twitter.com).
Thus, EA continues to stand by the decision to make a statement for Ukraine and carries this on in the latest installment of the football game.
FIFA 23 will be the last real FIFA game from EA. The game will subsequently continue under the name “EA Sports FC”. Whether Russian teams will be available in the respective spin-offs is still open. More about FIFA 23 can be found here:
MMORPGs are known for the amount of time one can spend in them – especially when hunting specific things. A player desperately wanted a special mount in World of Warcraft and can finally call it his own after 4 years.
Which mount is it? “Invincible” is the horse of Arthas Menethil. When he became the Lich King, he simply resurrected his beloved horse as an undead, and this death horse with wings is now available to WoW players as a mount.
Invincible is one of the most desired items from WoW as it is an absolutely unique and rare mount. Accordingly, many players want to secure this mount and regularly go farming for it.
One of these players is the Twitch streamer Bingo1. After 4 years of farming, he finally got his dream mount and celebrates the drop properly with a sharp scream and a true “nerdgasm”, jumping wildly around the room:
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Why is Invincible so rare? Invincible only drops in the heroic 25-player mode of Icecrown Citadel and only from the final boss, the Lich King. You can only defeat him once per week and character.
So you have to clear Icecrown Citadel completely with every character – which should take about 15 minutes to half an hour. Accordingly, a lot of effort is required to farm such a mount.
World of Warcraft is full of rare mounts. In our video, we introduce you to 6 of them – do you own any of them?
Start video
6 of the rarest mounts in WoW – Do you own them?
9 years since the first attempt – 4 years of active farming
This is how long Bingo1 took: Bingo1 started his first attempt back in 2013, during Mists of Pandaria, as he explains himself. But he only started actively farming Invincible in 2018 in Battle for Azeroth.
In those 4 years, Bingo1 ran through the raid over 200 times for his mount – per character he tried with. The streamer admitted to having quite a bit of bad luck with the drops.
The player’s joy is therefore not surprising, as after so much work, one can certainly let out a cry of jubilation into the Nether. On the other hand, there are also players who apparently receive a sunken account as a gift and simply have outrageous luck:
