Genshin Impact developer is working on a new game – It is said to become an open-world shooter

The developer HoYoverse (formerly miHoYo) scored a big hit with Genshin Impact and is now working on a new game. This is set to be presented in more detail on May 13. But already there are first hints about what kind of game it could be.

What is known about the game? The name of the new game is Zenless Zone Zero. Not much is known about it, only that it is supposed to be a “AAA open-world action-adventure” that incorporates shooter elements into its gameplay. At least that’s what the well-known gaming analyst Daniel Ahmad says (via Twitter).

The game world is supposed to be “vibrant and paranormal.” Of course, Zenless Zone Zero will again feature anime graphics.

It is currently unclear whether it will be a pure single-player game or whether you can also explore the shooter with friends in co-op mode, as is the case with Genshin Impact.

When will we learn more about the game? HoYoverse has already created a dedicated website for the new game, where a countdown is currently running. This ends on Friday, May 13, around 8:00 AM (via Zenless). Then we will learn more details.

However, the website is available in English, indicating that the game will also be released globally.

Start video
Genshin Impact: 12 powerful characters that will improve any team

HoYoverse achieved massive success with Genshin Impact

Why should you keep an eye on this game? HoYoverse developed an open-world game with Genshin Impact that achieved huge success in both Asia and the West. On average, players spend around 160 million dollars per month worldwide. The most successful month was October 2020 with a revenue of 233.7 million dollars (via Sensor Tower).

In total, more than 3 billion dollars have been generated since the release in September 2020. For comparison:

  • Guild Wars 2 has generated approximately 700 million dollars since its release nearly 10 years ago – in 10 years and after 3 expansions (via NCSoft).
  • Daybreak – the company managing a total of 8 games, including Lord of the Rings Online, Planetside 2, DC Universe Online, and EverQuest 1 & 2 – achieved a revenue of about 620 million dollars in the entire year of 2021 (via EnadGlobal7).
  • Activision Blizzard King generates about 2 billion dollars in revenue in a quarter (3 months) (via Activision).

The game managed to keep players engaged through regular updates and simultaneously earn a lot of money via the gacha system. Regularly new characters are released in Genshin Impact, which you can obtain with luck from a banner package.

However, players would not have stayed engaged if the content and the world had not been designed so well. The attention to detail, the pretty graphics, and the stories have captivated many players.

However, fans have also been waiting for a new update for quite some time. The upcoming patch 2.7 has been postponed:

Genshin Impact: Release and livestream for patch 2.7 postponed – When will the new update come?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

15-Year-Old is supposed to be the ‘new god’ of Smash Ultimate – Wins tournament with Minecraft character

Smash Brothers Ultimate is one of the best-known games by Nintendo. At a tournament in Japan, a 15-year-old has now won, who is already being referred to as the “God.” Supposedly, he has only been playing the game for 2 months.

The “Smash World Tour” is an international tournament series where players can qualify for the Smash World Tour Championships for both Ultimate and Melee. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate received top ratings upon release and is among the most famous fighting games you can play on the Nintendo Switch.

By participating in community events worldwide, players can earn points for the Smash World Tour leaderboard. The top players on the leaderboard must then compete against each other in the championship at the end.

At one of these tournaments, Kagaribi #7 in Japan, some of the best players in the world have gathered. And a 15-year-old player has defeated several professionals and ultimately secured the 1st place.

More on the topic
9 Tips to Get Better at Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
von Noah Struthoff

A Minecraft character wins the tournament as the “God”

Which character did the winner use? The 15-year-old player won the tournament using the character Steve.

Steve is a character from Minecraft and has some special abilities that no other character can. He sets up a crafting table in the arena. There he can upgrade his tools and attacks with resources that he collects from the stage. He can also place blocks anywhere in the arena.

How good is the character? Steve shows good statistics. He is among the most chosen characters and has an above-average win rate of 62% (via pgstats.com). The player acola has therefore chosen one of the most popular and strongest characters to win the tournament.

This is Steve.

Pro highlights the winner as the “God of Ultimate”

Who is speaking? Juan DeBiedma, better known as Hungrybox, is one of the best Smash Bros. players. He is counted among the so-called “five gods of Melee.” These are the best players who dominate most tournaments, leaving the other participants far behind.

DeBiedma is considered the best Jigglypuff player. He was the Smash Summit Champion in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and has won DreamHack 5 times.

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Twitch streamer cheers so hard that he faints
von Schuhmann

What exactly did he say? In a tweet, he praised the winner of the tournament in Japan and explained that he could be the next “God of Ultimate”.

A 15-year-old Steve player from Japan, who has only been playing offline for 2 months, just won a major tournament against Shuton, Yoshidora, Tea, Kameme, KEN, Kome, and many others. His name is あcola (acola). Possibly the next god of Ultimate. Keep an eye on him.
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More news about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: At the end of October 2021, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate announced that it would add a final character to the game. The big finale features none other than Sora from Kingdom Hearts. And this has not only brought fans to tears but also moved our MeinMMO author to tears:

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The last character made the fans and me cry

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Of all things, the creators of the most complex economic MMO are developing a shooter – This time for real

The studio CCP Games is usually associated with the complex space MMORPG EVE Online. However, the universe of this classic is set to expand in the future – to include a shooter. We at MeinMMO summarize.

What is the situation? On May 6, the EVE Fanfest took place in Iceland for the first time in 4 years. At this event, the developers behind the cult MMO, CCP Games, showcased not only a lot of new content for the world of EVE but also new plans to expand the universe.

In addition to a mobile game, a tactical multiplayer shooter in a high sci-fi setting is also reportedly in development. It is being produced by the studio spin-off in London and initially caused some confusion upon its announcement.

CCP has already announced the shooter Project NOVA, which was even playable at one point, but the project was then canceled in 2020. However, the plan to create a shooter does not seem to be abandoned; only the complete concept behind it is said to be changing.

What do we know about the shooter? Unfortunately, not much yet, as the project doesn’t even have a name. Aside from the fact that it is being developed in London, we know the following:

  • It will be a tactical multiplayer shooter set in New Eden, the world where EVE Online is also based.
  • The focus of the game will be on an atmospheric environment and aims to deliver innovative gameplay elements.
  • At the Fanfest, CCP wants to continue engaging with the community to hear how fans envision a shooter in New Eden.
  • No further information or a date for when we will receive an official announcement is currently available.

The game currently without a name is still in pre-production, which is the stage of development where active development has not really begun yet. Rather, ideas are currently being gathered, and a more detailed concept for the shooter is being created.

According to CCP, this addresses a significant wish from fans to be able to play an FPS game in New Eden. 

The first image of the new shooter

Shooter and EVE – The fourth attempt

There have been shooters in New Eden: The unannounced shooter without a name from London is not CCP’s first attempt to bring a shooter to life. Besides the canceled Project NOVA, which was halted before its release in 2020, there were two other attempts.

In 2013, CCP launched its first shooter, Dust 514. It was also supposed to incorporate influences from EVE Online but function independently. The title was released as Free2Play for the PS3, but only three years later, in 2016, it was discontinued. During this time, at the EVE Fanfest 2014, the developers announced another shooter named Project Legion, which also disappeared into obscurity.

After Project NOVA was officially canceled in 2020, the developers announced they would be working on the foundation for a new shooter. However, it is unclear whether this concerns the unnamed game. Nevertheless, CCP has confirmed to us that the core idea of an FPS from NOVA has been retained, but no assets or graphics from the new project will be used.

Gameplay from the now-canceled Project NOVA

What does the community say? Nonetheless, the community is open to the new project. Since it is still very early in development, many fans hope that the new shooter will finally be what they wish for from an EVE FPS. These voices are especially loud at the Fanfest when speaking with people on-site. 

However, there are also negative voices among fans on reddit. Many do not understand why CCP is opting to pursue a new project instead of investing in EVE Online. Some even speculate that the first price increase of EVE in 18 years is directly or indirectly related to the shooter.

Others have loved Dust 514 and hope for a better version of the shooter to return. So far, both we and the fans can only wait.

What do you think about the announcement? Have you spent time in EVE Online and like the world of New Eden? Would you like to play a shooter in this setting, or are other titles like Halo Infinite enough for you?

Feel free to tell us in the comments here at MeinMMO; we look forward to hearing your opinion.

MMORPG EVE Online finds a clever way for space pirates to combat Covid-19

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit
  2. Roger Sieber

There are 5 champions in LoL that are so bad that professionals do not play them

In League of Legends you currently have the choice of over 150 different champions. In the professional leagues, most of them have been played or at least banned. However, five champions were completely ignored by the professionals in 2022. We at MeinMMO reveal which ones they are.

Which champions are they? Looking at all professional leagues from Riot Games, including the regional leagues below the well-known LEC, LCS, and so on, there are five champions that were neither played nor banned in 2022:

  • Brand
  • Garen
  • Katarina
  • Rammus
  • Swain

It’s remarkable, considering there were already 2,841 games, each featuring 10 champions used and 10 banned. Yet none of the above-mentioned five played a role (via gol.gg).

In addition, there are four other champions with Fiddlesticks, Neeko, Illaoi, and Quinn that were never played, but at least banned.

What is the reason for that? In the current situation, the champions Brand, Rammus, and Swain are simply too weak to play an important role. They also do not achieve good win rates in normal ranked games. Riot Games saw it this way and introduced a rework for Swain in Patch 12.8.

However, Garen achieves at least a respectable win rate of 51.24 % in SoloQ from Diamond upwards, and Katarina has a win rate of 49.91 %. Here, the issues are rather that both champions can win a game single-handedly but offer little for a well-coordinated team. They lack outstanding damage, CC or synergy with other champions.

Start video
Cinematics of League of Legends create goosebump moments – Here are our 3 favorites

27 champions play no role in the highest leagues

How does it look in the top leagues? If you only look at the very big leagues – LEC, LCS, LPL, LCK, and PCS – even more champions drop out.

In total, 27 of them have not been used even once in 2022:

AniviaKaynTaliyah
BrandMaster YiTeemo
EliseNasusTwitch
EvelynnNeekoWarwick
FiddlesticksNunuXerath
FizzQuinnYorick
GarenRammusVel’Koz
HeimerdingerShacoIllaoi
KatarinaSwainAurelion Sol

According to the current state, little will change in this statistic in the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational. There, the best teams from each region will face off to fight for the first international title of the season. However, it will be played on the current Patch 12.8. At most, the champion Swain could surprise after his rework.

However, significant balance changes are planned for the future. These are intended to slow down the game, which particularly benefits champions like Garen or Swain:

LoL wants to tackle its biggest problem that players have been complaining about for years – Riot announces major balance changes

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Millenium

The most expensive MMO in the world is so real that even blankets crumple realistically

Many players wish for their games to look as realistic as possible. Now, the world’s most expensive MMO, Star Citizen, has demonstrated how realistically bed linens can crumple. And the community agrees that this is the last feature that is truly needed right now.

The MMO Star Citizen is considered the most expensive MMO in the world, as over 450 million US dollars have been invested in the game so far. The team behind it regularly develops new content and aims to convince both old and new players of its own world. However, the possible release date of Star Citizen is still far away.

In the latest update, a new feature has been introduced: NPCs can now relax and go to bed. But the real highlight is the bedding.

Crumpled Bedding is the Highlight of the New Update of Star Citizen

What has been introduced now? The development team behind Star Citizen regularly sends out emails with updates and announcements for the game. In the “development report” from April 2022, the developers explained that they have been addressing an important part of NPCs’ lives: sleeping. NPCs can now also take a break and lay down to sleep.

Those who think that the sleep cycle is the new highlight are mistaken. The developers clarified that what makes it special is the realistically crumpling bedding.

We knew early on that we had to deal with the deformation of bed sheets to achieve the level of realism expected from Squadron 42. If this is successful, the AI will be able to deform its bed sheet when entering, exiting, or sleeping on it. This is a challenging task and increases the complexity of the function. What happens, for example, to the sheets when the AI needs to leave the bed in an emergency?

However, what excites the developers leaves many users in the Star Citizen community shaking their heads. Many are questioning whether such a “feature” is even necessary.

The next update has brought many new features, like mining.

Community is Divided on the Usefulness of this “Feature”

For example, users on reddit discussed how important and meaningful virtual bedding really is. And there is a general consensus that they would prefer a finished game over features like virtual blankets that can crumple. And there are indeed people who believe that the game is more marketing than an actual game.

Some users even mock, wondering what will come next? Will we be able to watch people realistically using the toilet in the future? And another person likely voices what many think:

Yes, the stuff is cool, but such things should be done only when all essential features are finished and there’s still time before the official release.

via reddit.com

Some users are now afraid that they will not even witness the release of Star Citizen. Because during the Kickstarter campaign, it was said that Star Citizen would be released at the end of 2014. Now we are in 2022. However, Chris Roberts, the head behind Star Citizen, stated in an interview that the game will definitely come.

The head says about the long development time of Star Citizen: “It’s not a pipe dream”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Streamer streams her vacation on Twitch – Shows live how her phone is stolen

Elina is a streamer from Sweden who traveled to Italy four days ago. From there, she shared her vacation experiences live on her phone. However, her last livestream ended unpleasantly. A motorcyclist stole her smartphone live. The streamer is in good health, though.

What exactly happened? Elina was walking through the streets of the Italian city of Naples and initially moved along the main streets. However, she gradually moved away from these major roads into narrow alleys because she was being followed by a drunk man and was also afraid that her phone could be stolen. Therefore, she kept the smartphone not too far from herself with her selfie stick (via Twitch).

However, avoiding the narrow alleys did not help. Just before the theft, she said: “The streets are so long here, it’s crazy. If I were to die live in front of the camera, live in the stream, that would probably be good content.”

Not even five seconds later, a motorcyclist rides past her and steals the phone. The stream continues for a few more seconds, showing the street Elina had been looking at earlier. Then, however, the stream is shut down by the thief.

The theft is available as a clip on Twitch:

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Link to the Twitch content

Streamer is doing well despite the shock

How did the streamer react to the theft? Elina reported shortly after the robbery in a story on Instagram and revealed that she was doing well under the circumstances. She was “a little shaken” because her phone was stolen.

According to comments from her community, she is supposed to be traveling in Italy with her father and brother. Whether they will continue the vacation together is not known.

In the comments on reddit and on Instagram, many users expressed their shock over the theft and generally warned about the city of Naples. Thefts by motorcyclists are not uncommon there.

Start video
What happened when Twitch appointed a woman to the security council who behaved like a deer

Real-life streams are not without danger: The so-called IRL streams are popular on Twitch because viewers can follow their idols in real life. They see what they eat, where they walk, or how they spend their vacation. However, dangerous situations often arise in the process.

On the one hand, many streamers hold the camera far in front of them, making it easier to steal. In 2020, we reported on how a streamer had his phone stolen live while streaming Pokémon GO. Streaming and interacting with the chat also makes one less aware of their surroundings.

On the other hand, they live show their location and can thus become targets for attacks or stalking. This happened to streamer Beddle. She showed IRL streams of her surroundings, and a stalker pinpointed exactly where she lived:

“He counted the steps” – Twitch streamer tells how she was followed by a creepy stalker

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

I bought 80€ headphones for on-the-go – Now they even replace my 600€ gaming headset

MeinMMO author Marko Jevtic is always on the lookout for the best accessories for his gaming setup. However, his best purchase has been the Moondrop Aria. These are in-ear headphones for under €80 that can hold their own against the most expensive devices.

Good sound is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in gaming, especially for shooter fans. When explosions sound amazing and you can hear every bullet ricocheting off the walls, it doesn’t just help with immersion. 

A really good pair of headphones can be like a kind of “audio wallhack,” revealing the most relevant information with high precision even through several walls. Nothing makes you significantly better in games faster than the ability to detect things with your ears instead of your eyes.

Especially in multiplayer shooters, it is infinitely important to know exactly where your opponents are, how they move, and how they are equipped. If you can accomplish that just by accurately listening, you know you are equipped with the right headphones.

To get the best out of this, I have already tried several products. From the very good HyperX Cloud II and Cloud Alpha headsets to the €600 Beyerdynamics DT1990 Pro, I have tried everything recommended by experts and used by professionals.

And although I can recommend these devices without hesitation, I no longer use any of them. Instead, my headphone of choice for the past year has been a tiny device that I only paid €79 for.

It’s the Moondrop Aria – high-end IEMs with an outstanding price/performance ratio.

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Moondrop Aria: The best headphones under €100 

What bothers me about typical gaming headphones? Until now, my favorite headphones were the Beyerdynamics DT1990 Pro. These open-back monsters have outstanding sound quality and provide a fantastic, open sound stage. They are excellent for both music and gaming, no question about it. But they have a few drawbacks that are annoying or even problematic:

  • As open-back headphones, they let a lot of external noise in.
  • They are relatively heavy and large, making them unsuitable for on-the-go use and tiring after long hours in front of the PC.
  • On hot summer days, they are uncomfortable to wear and cause a horrible sweating feeling.
  • They give you the famous “headphone hairstyle” with visible dents in your hair.
  • The MSRP is a hefty €600.

Which headphones am I using now? That’s why in June 2021, I sought an alternative for my DT1990 headphones for on-the-go and hot summer days and stumbled upon the Moondrop Aria.

The Moondrop Aria belongs to the category of in-ear monitors, or IEMs. You often see this type of wired headphone used by the biggest pop stars like Ariana Grande on concert stages, as they need to produce studio-quality sound in a compact format.

Moondrop Aria headphones
The Moondrop Aria are wired in-ear monitors, or IEMs.

The Aria cost only €79 on Amazon and have excellent reviews. After 571 Amazon reviews, the headphones stand at 4.4 stars, rtings.com calls them the best wired headphones, and tech YouTuber Optimum Tech believes they leave little to be desired. 

However, the most convincing for me was the conclusion from headphones.com:

With €80, the price/performance ratio of the Aria is phenomenal. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the Aria can compete with anything up to the €300 mark. […] From the price to the fit to the sound quality, the Aria offers an extremely compelling package. For me, the Aria is an ideal entry-level IEM. 

So, I ordered them as an occasional substitute for my extremely good, outrageously expensive €600 headphones. And when I tried the Moondrop Aria, it was clear within minutes: 

These things will replace everything I have used so far. They sound just as good as headphones that cost almost 8 times as much, they have significantly better wearing comfort, and they are much more flexible to use.

For me, the Moondrop Aria are not just clearly the best headphones under €100 – I firmly believe that most gamers do not need to buy other headphones.

Moondrop Aria: Advantages and disadvantages of the headphones

What are the strengths? The advantages of the Moondrop Aria quickly became clear after a brief test:

  • Incredibly good price/performance ratio
  • The small form factor makes the headphones always comfortable to wear.
  • They are very well suited with the AUX connection on the gaming PC and for on-the-go use.
  • As in-ear headphones, they do a good job of isolating from the outside world and let almost no other noises through.
  • The sound stage is surprisingly open, even though the Aria, as IEMs, naturally have a smaller sound stage than large open-back headphones.
  • The sound profile is very neutral, balanced, and clear. 
    • You can clearly hear every instrument in your favorite songs.
    • Explosions in games are not exaggeratedly powerful and do not become tiring over time.
    • Footsteps in shooters are clearly audible and can be easily assigned to a direction.
    • Small weaknesses in the treble can be well compensated for with equalizer settings.

The bass pleasantly surprised me. The small Aria obviously cannot shake as much as the beefiest headphones, but they sound surprisingly powerful for their compact size. Whether listening to the rumble of heavy machine guns in Call of Duty or the dirty beats of my rap playlists, the Aria consistently provided enjoyment.

Another fantastic advantage is the interchangeability of individual elements. You can completely replace the included 0.78-pin cable, as well as the silicone tips. 

That’s why I replaced the standard cable with one from Tripowin that has a built-in microphone. If you want the headphones to be wireless, you can even use special Bluetooth antennas instead of a cable, like those from Linsoul.

Instead of the standard silicone tips, I use the AZLA SednaEarfit XELASTEC, which adapt to the shape of my ears for better isolation and a stronger hold in the ear. You need to pay attention to buy the right size for your ears.

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What are the weaknesses? With these upgrades, I was able to address most of the few critiques I had for the Aria. Because before buying the Moondrop Aria, you should be aware of the following disadvantages:

  • The standard accessories are average. 
    • The braided cable has no special features and can quickly tangle or fray.
    • If you need a microphone with your headphones, you have to upgrade.
    • When walking or jogging, the included cable makes many noises that you can hear.
    • The silicone tips do not have a good grip and can become uncomfortable over time.
  • For the IEM, you need to change the filters relatively often as dirt and moisture can “clog” the sound passages (replacement filters and tweezers are included and can be bought cheaply).
  • IEMs have very short cables (1.2 meters), which is why I need an AUX extension at my PC.

So if you want a truly perfect experience with the Aria, you’ll need to upgrade certain aspects. Fortunately, every disadvantage can also be eliminated according to personal preferences and needs, so you get exactly what you need from the headphones. The cost of upgrades is manageable given the low purchase price of €79.

More on the topic
That is why voice chat in multiplayer games is so damn important
von Benedict Grothaus

Conclusion: The Moondrop Aria are a clear purchase recommendation for gamers

The Moondrop Aria blew me away a year ago and still do today. I originally wanted to use them for jogging, for my Nintendo Switch, and for gaming sessions on hot summer days. But since I bought them, I have not gamed without them.

They sound excellent, are incredibly practical and handy, and can comfortably stay in the ears for hours. In-ear monitors are an incredibly good alternative to all the bulky gaming headphones you usually find on gamer desks. 

When I raved about the Moondrop Aria to my MeinMMO colleague Tarek Zehrer, he also bought them. What he wrote to me afterward made me very happy but was not surprising: “You weren’t exaggerating. I hear instruments that I never noticed before. These are now my favorite headphones.”

Yes, markedly more expensive headphones can sound somewhat better than the Moondrop Aria. And if you’re a mega-audiophile with the right budget and absolutely don’t want to compromise, those more expensive products are a better choice.

But if you’re looking for headphones that are equipped for every gameplay situation and every music genre, that are customizable to your own needs, and that also cost less than €100, you cannot ignore the Moondrop in-ear monitors.

If instead, you’re looking for wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones, colleague Benedikt Schlotmann has tested several for you:

I tested 5 in-ear headphones blindly and was surprised by the winner

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

MMORPG EVE Online turns joke about Excel spreadsheets into reality – and all players love it

The MMORPG EVE Online is humorously referred to by some as “Excel spreadsheets in space.” A feature was introduced in 2020 that allows you to hide the graphics and work directly in spreadsheets. Now an export function is coming to integrate this into Excel. Players love this announcement.

What has EVE announced? During the ongoing EVE Fanfest, innovations for the space MMORPG have been announced. This includes an official partnership with Microsoft, which allows data from EVE Online to be exported and integrated into Excel.

What sounds totally boring at first glance is being celebrated frenetically by fans of the MMORPG. The topic of data plays an essential role in EVE.

Creative Director Bergur Finnbogason said on stage:

This is not an April Fool’s joke, this is real. I’m not lying. We actually reached out to [Microsoft] and they said: ‘Oh my God, we love Eve’.

The Excel integration is primarily aimed at making it easier for small groups of players and beginners to keep track of their own data.

Here we introduce you to 5 old MMORPGs that are still actively played:

Start video
5 old MMORPGs that are still actively played

EVE Online makes running gag a reality

Why is data so important? According to Finnbogason, many players are already using external tools to monitor their data. This includes checking things like resource production or prices during trading.

Even in large wars like World War Bee 2, data played a significant role. After all, ships worth 800,000 euros were destroyed.

The collaboration with Microsoft and the spreadsheet program Excel is therefore not out of the question.

Already in 2020, a feature was introduced that allows you to turn off the 3D graphics. Instead of showing a battle, the background simply goes black and you can only access the UI and the texts. This is sufficient because the graphics only visualize what is already communicated through the texts.

How do fans react to the Excel spreadsheets? Overall positively. Especially hardcore players appreciate that they can export their data more easily and directly to Excel.

However, some criticize that the Excel spreadsheet was pretty much the only good announcement at the Fanfest for EVE. There is criticism, among other things, for:

  • Missing new content. Primarily revisions were announced, but no real innovations.
  • The direction of EVE is increasingly moving towards scripted events, which many hardcore players dislike. On reddit it is mentioned: “EVE, the harsh PvP sandbox is dying, EVE, the living universe is being born. But they are obviously not the same game.”
  • Adjustments to the “New Player Experience” that, while important for the game, completely bypassed the hardcore viewers attending such a Fanfest.
  • Many long presentations that contained hardly any useful information.

In addition, the EVE Online community is currently a bit tense because subscription prices are being increased:

MMORPG EVE Online raises subscription prices after 18 years – Exceeds the pain threshold of WoW and FF 14

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Two failed MMORPGs want to give it another try, planning major updates for 2022

With Legends of Aria and Rift, two MMORPGs that currently do not play a major role, are planning major updates for 2022. Additionally, Lost Ark and Black Desert have announced their next updates. We have once again summarized all the important news of the week for you from MeinMMO.

The highlights of the week:

The controversies of the week:

New details on Throne and Liberty, more Pay2Win in Black Desert?

This is what happened with the major MMORPGs:

This is what happens with the small MMORPGs:

This is what happens with the MMORPGs in development:

This was the news of the week from the world of MMORPGs at a glance. Tell us, what was your personal highlight? Or did we perhaps forget something important? Did you experience something exciting that you want to share with us? Feel free to write it in the comments here on MeinMMO.

If you are interested in all MMORPGs that are still scheduled to be released in 2022, you can find a list here:

12 new MMORPGs set to release in 2022

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The best MMORPGs and online games you can play in 2022

In 2022, the demand for MMORPGs and online games is still high. In the MeinMMO Podcast, we discuss what the best games currently are and who they are best suited for.

This is the topic: Those looking for a new online game in 2022 have many titles to choose from. Some have been around for years or decades, while others have only recently been released. But which games are truly worth your time?

In this episode of the MeinMMO Podcast, Alexander Leitsch, Gerd Schuhmann, and Marko Jevtic discuss this. They refer to our written list where you can find the 15 best MMOs and MMORPGs.

In the podcast, they also talk in depth about the peculiarities and recent developments of these games – because online games are constantly evolving. They also share a lot of their own opinions and experiences about these games.

Here you can listen:

You can also listen to the podcast here:

In our regular podcasts, we also cover special topics like the announcement of Witcher 4 and invite special guests like the guys from the LoL eSports team Eintracht Spandau. In the last issue, we also talked about Diablo Immortal, the PC version, and the general success chances of the ARPG.

Suggestions or Criticism?

This is how you can contribute: You can actively participate in improving the podcast. If you have feedback such as suggestions or criticism, or just want to submit a cool topic suggestion that should definitely be discussed, visit our Discord server.

Alternatively, you can also directly send an email to [email protected] and share your thoughts with us. Share your opinion in the comments.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Diablo 2 Resurrected: German player reaches max level in 8 days – „How the hell is that possible?“

The German Twitch streamer Teo1904 achieves an incredible success in Diablo 2: Resurrected. After just 8 days, he reaches Level 99 in the first ladder. For this impressive achievement, he couldn’t sleep much. He dedicates the triumph to his late friend.

The first ladder of Diablo 2: Resurrected started with Patch 2.4 on April 29, 2022. For many fans, the ladder is the reason to play Diablo 2 at all, which is why the anticipation for the patch and the competition was even greater.

Together with a group of other players, the German Twitch streamer Teo1904 managed to reach Max Level 99 in just 8 days (via reddit).

This makes him the first player in the world to achieve this. Users on reddit are incredulous and ask: “How the hell is that possible?”

The latest patch is presented in the trailer for Diablo 2 Resurrected:

Start video
Diablo 2 Resurrected introduces new Patch 2.4 in the trailer – Adjusts balance, brings new content

Player dedicates his success to a deceased Diablo speedrunner

How did he do it? For this insane achievement, Teo1904 had to play a total of 19 hours a day. Overall, the player needed 138 hours. Just to go from Level 98 to Level 99, he had to play over 28 hours.

By comparison: In those 8 nights, Teo1904 slept a total of only 34 hours, which is about 5 hours per night.

For Teo1904, this success is particularly special for several reasons. Not only did the player achieve something incredibly difficult and time-consuming as the first, but he also defeated the Diablo legend MrLlamaSC.

Additionally, he dedicates this success to his friend Unsullied13, a well-known Diablo speedrunner. He passed away shortly after the release of Diablo 2: Resurrected in October. His Lightning Amazon is therefore named “Teo_Unsullied”.

In the clip, you can see how he dedicates the moment of triumph to a deceased friend:

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Community congratulates, is both concerned and impressed

How is the community reacting? Reactions to reddit about this success range from endless praise to astonished concern:

  • “Congratulations to him! This is no easy undertaking.” – LegendaryRQA
  • “Rest in peace, unsullied. It was fun to watch the team stream. Congratulations on 99! And now get some sleep.” – volatilebool
  • “That’s just not human.” – Barialdalaran
  • “They used so many cool strategies. I don’t know if any of them were new, but it was cool to see them in action and executed perfectly.” – TheSkov21

If you want to take on the ladder yourself now and need a little help with the rune words, we can help you:

Diablo 2: Resurrected – All rune words as a list and what they do

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

3 lovable NPCs in Elden Ring whose lives you can ruin with your help

Typical of FromSoftware games, Elden Ring also has numerous questlines from different characters. While most of them are rather quirky, creepy, or even evil, there are also some friendly faces. However, some of the quests have a dark twist – you want to help, but it only leads to the downfall of these NPCs. We will give you three examples.

Elden Ring features not only a mysterious game world, but its inhabitants are quite strange, too. Right at the start of the game, for example, you are greeted by Varré, a quirky guy wearing a white mask, who mocks you for your virginity and predicts an imminent death.

So it is all the more pleasant when you meet a friendly character. They are rare, but they exist, and often need your help.

In 3 specific cases, however, helping does not lead to the desired outcome; your support makes everything much worse. We will show you which characters are affected. If you are looking for a general overview and solutions to the quests, you can also find our guide with all quest lines here.

More on the topic
Elden Ring: All NPC Quests and Side Missions Overview – How to Find Them
von Marko Jevtic

Warning: These are spoilers. If you want to be surprised by what these quests entail, you should not continue reading.

Boc the Seamster – In Search of Rebirth

What kind of NPC is this? Boc is probably the friendliest and most harmless character you can meet in the entire game.

The odd mixture of human and beast is not only friendly and shy, but also apparently plagued by bad luck.

He is easy to overlook, as he has been cursed and is doomed to stand as a bush in the landscape. You can free him from this curse.

Elden Ring Boc Finding Cover
This is the little, (perhaps not at first glance) sympathetic guy.

The poor fellow tells you that all his belongings have been lost in the nearby coastal cave. He was attacked there by his wilder “relatives”.

Nevertheless, he gives you his last possession, a sad 10 mushrooms. You can retrieve his sewing gear from the cave, and from then on, Boc becomes your personal tailor, who can visually alter certain armor pieces.

It quickly becomes apparent that this unfortunate fellow has been through a lot and wishes for a fresh start. He would like to be reborn as a human.

You can grant him this rebirth in his quest. However, the result is not what Boc expected.

While he becomes human, something has gone wrong with his transformation. You meet his human form, recognizable by his hat, but the sympathetic soul has become an empty vessel.

If you return, you will find the corpse of his new human body. Although you only want to help, it has led to his tragic end. You could have saved his life with a simple compliment.

How can you avert his tragic fate? Instead of granting him rebirth, you need the “You Are Beautiful” head, with which you can give compliments to others. If you use this, Boc has a change of heart, accepts his beast form, and realizes that he does not need to be reborn.

So be careful, because your actions have consequences in Elden Ring. The exact steps for Boc’s Quest are listed in our corresponding guide if you are unsure of what to do.

Warrior Jar Alexander – In Search of Strength

What kind of NPC is this? Alexander belongs to the race of living jars that can be found throughout the Lands Between. Unlike most silent specimens, Alexander is a kind and very talkative warrior.

In your first encounter, you must free the chunk from a hole in the ground, where he somehow got stuck. Alexander then tells you that he wants to become the strongest warrior in the Lands Between.

Alexander seems to have the talent to get stuck. Is this symbolic for his quest?

From then on, you can encounter him in various parts of the game world and even call on him for help in the epic boss fight against Radahn. Alexander struggles with not being strong enough and is constantly searching for his highest power.

You can also find him bathing in a lava flow, trying to toughen up. During your conversations, it becomes clear: He sees you as a rival in his quest. Nevertheless, he treats you with the utmost respect and is very friendly.

If you complete all the steps of his quest, you will finally encounter Alexander in the Endgame area, the Fallen Farum Azula. Here, the friendly giant jar challenges you to a fight to test his strength. However, in the supposedly friendly duel, Alexander seems to exceed his limits, provided you are victorious.

While his conversations reveal that he has no problem with an honorable warrior’s death, it may not be such a tragic end. However, we found it very sad that one of the few good souls in Elden Ring voluntarily departs, just for the sake of honor and pride.

After all, you don’t find many allies in the Lands Between, and it hurts to feel “responsible” for the death of a friend.

At the end of the battle, after his last words, the poor warrior jar shatters, and his remains, a large shard and the innards, take the form of a powerful talisman that you possess. At least you can carry a piece of him with you.

More on the topic
Elden Ring: All Legendary Talismans and Their Locations in the List
von Christos Tsogos

It is still a very sad ending for one of the friendliest NPCs in the game, who strongly resembles the beloved Dark Souls character Siegmeyer of Catarina.

Unfortunately, there is no way to reach a different ending of the quest here. His legacy can be carried on through another quest that leads to the home of the jars.

Thops – In Search of the Key to Return Home

What kind of NPC is this? Thops is a former sorcerer from the Academy of Raya Lucaria. After it was overrun and sealed during the civil war between the Caria family and the librarians, he took refuge in the Church of Irith in Liurnia of the Lakes. You must go there to start his quest line.

When you speak to him, he offers to teach you some spells. For that, he expects no compensation besides the usual runes. Moreover, the friendly sorcerer tells you about the academy and that he would like to return there to continue his studies.

elden-ring-thops
Thops seems depressed during the first encounter.

However, since it is sealed and can only be opened with special glintstone keys, returning home is not possible for him.

On your travels, you need to go right there and thus find one of these keys yourself. If you actually discover it, you can also offer it to Thops instead. However, he declines because he doesn’t want to take the only key with which you can enter the academy for your main quest.

Although he could simply accept and return to his beloved place of learning, your quest is more important to him than his homesickness. And this, even though you don’t really know each other.

Of course, there is another key to find, and you can give this to Thops. When you later go to the academy, it quickly becomes clear: It would have likely been better if the sorcerer had never returned.

For there you eventually find him sitting at a desk – dead. Thops’ return to his academy has cost him his life, and he would have probably preferred to stay in the church.

There are other NPCs in Elden Ring whose fates end tragically through your help. Outside Xtra has presented which other characters can be affected in their extensive YouTube video.

If you are interested in more stories about Elden Ring, you might enjoy this video about a community legend:

Start video
A half-naked player in Elden Ring became a community legend – This is his story

Such quests show that Elden Ring is complex not only in terms of gameplay and difficulty. Its story and side missions can also delve deeper and bring unforeseen consequences.

Especially the sympathetic NPCs hold a place in the hearts of fans, such as the actually lovable half-wolf Blaidd, who goes mad out of love for his mistress Ranni.

If you want more information about the main story of Elden Ring, we recommend you check out our summary of the backstory, which involves gods, demigods, betrayal, strange family circumstances, death, and rebirth:

Elden Ring Lore: The Complex Story Explained Briefly

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

A tinkerer builds a real aimbot that aims better than professionals

The robotist Kamal Carter has presented his latest invention on YouTube: a robot that automatically moves a gaming mouse and shoots at targets in shooters. This literal aimbot is so good that it even beats many Valorant professionals in competitions.

Kamal Carter has a relatively small YouTube channel with currently just under 1,000 subscribers. But he is causing quite a stir in certain gaming circles.

Because Carter has literally built an aimbot that shoots his opponents in shooters for him. Or, as Carter himself says: ‘I built a robot that scans pixels and targets based on colors on the screen.’

The intent here was not to discover a better way to cheat. ‘It’s fun to build a robot.’

Hardware aimbot has no issues with anti-cheat software

While off-the-shelf cheating aimbots consist of software that examines the screen for opponents and then aims and shoots for you, Carter has built a robot that actually moves the mouse on the table.

This way, it is less likely that I will be detected by anti-cheat software, because the mouse moves as hardware itself.

You can check out the development process and the successes in the game here:

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How does the robot work? The design of the aim robot is both very simple and highly complex. ‘For 2 long, tedious months’ he has been working on this robot.

Carter has built a kind of motor-powered picture frame around a Logitech mouse. With 4 wheels that can move in all directions, the mouse can be controlled in any way. Using sensors that scan his screen for a specific pixel color, this process is then automated. He has wired the mouse so that it clicks immediately when the sensor detects a target.

Robot aims better than many pros, but has its limits

Carter then had this robot shoot at targets in the aim training game Aim Labs. Players can not only work on their shooter skills in a virtual shooting range, but also indirectly measure themselves against high scores on a leaderboard.

In the aim scenario he chose, an average player manages about 40 – 50,000 points, while Valorant professionals achieve scores in the range of 80 – 100,000.

Carter was able to top all of that with the robot. His ‘Aim Lab’ high score stands at 118,494, easily beating even many professionals.

His ambition was stirred to beat the high score of shooter legend TenZ. This Valorant pro and Twitch streamer has an incredible high score of 146,902 (via Aimlab).

But this record was too big even for the robot. One of the motors of the aim machine broke down as Carter continued to refine the robot.

In the YouTube comments, viewers are thrilled. In particular, the technical implementation amazes experts. Many commentators are convinced that Carter can break TenZ’s record when he repairs the robot.

However, the robotist receives criticism for the mouse. The old, small office mouse from Logitech causes some shaking of heads: ‘Please give the robot a better mouse. You’re holding it back.’

If he listens to this advice, Carter might use one of these mice on his next attempt:

The best gaming mice for shooters

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PC Gamer

WoW player reveals how you can make the MMORPG much nicer with simple tricks

User SIDESKETCH posted a screenshot of World of Warcraft on Reddit. It looked so cool that many players wanted to know what his settings are. In doing so, he revealed some tricks that actually improve the graphics in WoW and even enhance performance.

What are these tricks? You don’t need an external tool or any addons for the adjustments, just targeted changes in the game settings.

The most important and surprisingly for many is the adjustment of the resolution scaling. This is set to 100% by default and adapts to your screen resolution. However, SIDESKETCH discovered that both performance and graphics benefit when you reduce this scaling by 4 to 10%.

He further emphasizes that the Resample technology FidelityFX is the “MVP” when it comes to getting the best out of the game. You can find the setting under “System -> Advanced -> Reconstruction Quality”.

You can find the complete thread with his explanations and justifications on Reddit.

What are SIDESKETCH’s other settings?

  • For antialiasing, he chooses MSAA x8
  • Projected textures must be enabled
  • 7 for view distance
  • Shadow quality: High
  • Computer effects: High
  • If your monitor only supports 60Hz, you should cap the FPS at 60, with 120Hz at 120
Improve WoW graphics
This comparison image was shared by the user on Reddit.

“As if I suddenly put on glasses in WoW”

Does it really look that much better? Many players say that the changes actually make the game prettier for them. Especially the effects of weapons and spells become more attractive, and objects like the ground or walls appear less blurry.

Our WoW demon Cortyn tried the settings himself and is especially thrilled with the resolution scaling: “I find the difference so drastic. As if I suddenly put on glasses in WoW.”

Even on Reddit, this trick and the adjustments to FidelityFX are praised multiple times. The rest mostly consists of standard settings or general tips found elsewhere.

If you want to see a direct comparison, you can find a slider image from SIDESKETCH here (via imgsli) and another from the community here (via imgsli).

Does the trick really work for everyone? No. In the comments, some people say they don’t notice any difference. Additionally, the effect is said to vary depending on the area you are in.

Some swear by the NVidia Sharpening filter for better graphics. However, this only works with the manufacturer’s graphics cards and only in fullscreen.

What do you think of this trick? Has it helped you as well or did you expect more? Feel free to write it in the comments.

One of the best WoW guilds in the world played in Berlin, now quits – “We had to sacrifice everything in life for the raid”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

I tested 4 vacuum robots – what difference does the price make?

In the test, I assigned the same tasks to four vacuum robots: vacuuming, mopping, and avoiding obstacles – and how loud are they while performing their tasks? The robots cost between €215 and €750. What difference does the price make for casual users at home? 

Who is testing here? I am Patrick, and I purchased my first vacuum robot three years ago. However, it went back the same day because I was absolutely dissatisfied. A classic impulse buy on sale, you know it. Before buying my next robot, I spent about 6 hours researching the topic and watched around 20 test videos of the market-leading vacuum cleaners. Since then, I haven’t returned a robot anymore. 

My fleet for dirt combat now consists of four vehicles. They belong to different price categories and are suitable for beginners and advanced users. But what difference does a vacuum in a set for €750 make compared to the cheaper €215 model?

For my test, I locked all subjects in a room where they had to master the same scenario: vacuuming cornflakes off the carpet, mopping jam off the floor, and avoiding bottles as well as a step ladder (without knocking them over). I also measured the noise levels. 

The test devices – X500 Pro, S50, X8 Hybrid, Q7 Max+

Vacuum Robot Participants
My four test candidates in comparison

The Tesvor X500 Pro: My first decent vacuum robot, which I acquired after evaluating many tests. Priced well for beginners, it can mop and vacuum. With a purchase price of just under €229, it is the cheapest participant in the test.

The Roborock S50: The vacuum is priced one tier above the Tesvor X500 Pro. It can also mop and vacuum and is said to perform better in tests than the Tesvor. Is the price of around €400 justified? 

The Eufy X8 Hybrid: The unique feature of the Eufy X8 Hybrid is that it works with Twin-Turbine Technology, which is supposed to provide really strong suction power. Will this show in the test against the other participants? With a price of just under €499 (RRP), it is about as expensive as the Q7 Max+. 

The Roborock Q7 Max+: As the newest and most expensive participant in the test, my eyes are particularly on it. It was provided to us for testing by Roborock. The special feature is that a vacuum station is included in the package. Therefore, the price totals €750. Without the station, the vacuum costs €470 (RRP). However, since I will also be evaluating the station during the test, we assume here the set price.

Technical details of all test devices at a glance:
Suction PowerMax. RuntimeBattery CapacityMax. AreaDust ContainerMap StorageDimensionsPrice
Tesvor X500 Pro1,800 Pa100 Min2,500 mAh150 m²600 mlCreate yes,
store no
35.3 x
35 x
9.65 cm
~€215.00
Roborock S502,000 Pa150 Min5,200 mAh150 m²480 mlYes35.3 x
35 x
9.65 cm
~ €400.00
Eufy X8 Hybrid2,000 Pa180 Min5,200 mAh180 m²400 mlYes34.5 x
34.5 x
9.75 cm
~ €499
Roborock Q7 Max+4,200 Pa180 Min5,200 mAh240 m²470 mlYes35.3 x
35.3 x
9.65 cm
~ €750
The suction power is specified in PA (Pascal)

With the navigation, you can jump directly to the corresponding section of the article:

The Suction Test – Who vacuums better? 

This is how it was tested: In the test room, which measures about 12 – 13 square meters, I laid out a short-pile carpet (dimensions: 130 cm x 190 cm, pile height 12 mm). I crushed a bowl of cornflakes (30 grams) and distributed it on the carpet, then walked over it with shoes to crush the crumbs and work them into the fabric.  

Then I started the vacuum cleaners one by one for a complete cleaning (not spot cleaning, but for the whole room) and then weighed the cornflakes that ended up in the robot’s dust container. This way, you can estimate how good the suction power of the different models is. With each robot, I set up the same test scenario with a new bowl of cornflakes (30 grams). 

Here’s how the models performed:

DeviceAmount Vacuumed
Tesvor X500 Pro24/30 grams
Roborock S5027/30 grams
Eufy X8 Hybrid29/30 grams
Roborock Q7 Max+29/30 grams

This is what stood out when vacuuming

Tesvor X500 Pro with Cornflakes
The Tesvor X500 in action – It is the only vacuum robot in this test with two brushes – one on the left and one on the right

Tesvor X500 Pro: In the app, I set whether the suction power should be ‘normal’ or ‘strong’ during cleaning. The X500 Pro does not have a carpet recognition feature that automatically increases the suction power. It struggles to detect objects, almost knocking over the step ladder during cleaning, but it accurately detected and avoided the bottles. The robot bumped into furniture quite hard. Also, it got stuck a few times on the edge of the carpet and once abruptly stopped the cleaning process. 

Of the cornflakes, the X500 Pro vacuumed about 24 grams. Some flakes were distributed by the brushes in the room, and smaller crumbs remained stuck in the carpet. For rough vacuuming in this price category, the model is quite good and okay for beginners. However, there is a lot of room for improvement in performance. So, if a thoroughly vacuumed floor is very important to you, you should opt for another model. It is okay for clearing the major mess once a day, so that the main cleaning on the weekend is less strenuous.

Pro
  • It reliably recognizes stairs
  • Suitable for beginners
  • Good price/performance ratio
  • Low height of 7.5 cm
  • Dust container holds 0.6 liters
Contra
  • The WeBack app is not very user-friendly
  • Maps of your apartments/rooms cannot be saved in the app
  • Very limited functions
  • Mopping function with too few adjustments
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Roborock S50 with Cornflakes
The Roborock S50 during its work

Roborock S50: The automatic carpet recognition, which can be activated in the Xiaomi Home app for the S50, is positively noticeable. It only takes a fraction of a second for the vacuum to recognize a carpet while passing over and increase the suction power. During the overall cleaning, it runs along the outer walls and then makes its way across the room in a cross pattern. The object detection works well – the bottles stayed put, and the ladder only wobbled briefly. It handled the carpet edges well and did not get stuck. Other objects in the room, like the competitors of the cleaning crew, were approached carefully. 

It vacuumed about 27 grams of cornflakes. A few flakes were found in the carpet, while others were shot across the room by the brush. The suction result is very strong for the price.

Pro
  • Vacuuming is relatively fast (about 1 square meter per minute)
  • Good system for vacuuming – first the edges and then across the room
  • App is easy to understand, with many options
Contra
  • Quite tall (9.6 cm), does not fit under every piece of furniture
  • Dust container holds only 0.48 liters
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Eufy X8 Hybrid with Cornflakes
Here, the Eufy X8 Hybrid finds its way over the cornflake carpet

Eufy X8 Hybrid: The candidate from Eufy carefully runs along the walls during the overall cleaning and gradually moves inward. The object detection works excellently – it only lightly touched the step ladder and safely avoided the bottles. With the carpet, the X8 Hybrid had no problems at all and immediately, thanks to the activated carpet recognition, engaged its turbo on the short-pile. Additionally, it operates really quickly and manages to clean about one square meter per minute. 

It collected about 29 grams of cornflakes, which is almost a perfect result. I found a few cornflakes on the carpet, but hardly any in the room.

Pro
  • Vacuuming quickly (about 1 square meter per minute)
  • Is quite quiet while working
  • Excellent object detection
  • Strong suction power
Contra
  • Neutral: The app is easy to understand, but mopping options are missing
  • No settings for the mopping function
  • Height of 9.78 cm, does not fit under every piece of furniture
  • Small dust container with 400 ml
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Roborock Q7 Max on dirty carpet
The Roborock Q7 Max on the dirty carpet

Roborock Q7 Max+: At the beginning of the room cleaning, the Q7 Max+ first approaches the edges of the room and then focuses on the inner area. While observing, it becomes clear that the laser navigation guides it very carefully through the room. The step ladder was only lightly touched, and the bottles were only slightly pushed aside. As soon as it reaches a carpet, the turbo kicks in within a fraction of a second. This feels even a bit faster than with the S50 and the X8 Hybrid. The cleaning speed, however, is roughly the same as with the other two, at about 1 square meter per minute. The Tesvor is a bit slower. 

The Q7 Max+ vacuumed about 29 grams of the distributed cornflakes on the carpet, about as well as the X8 Hybrid. There’s nothing to complain about; that’s a strong result.

Bonus: Since I am evaluating the set price of €750, including the vacuum station, I will touch upon the accessories. It is super convenient that the vacuum cleaner automatically empties itself at the vacuum station immediately after cleaning. The station contains a dust bag that collects dust and dirt. This way, you don’t have to remove the container from the robot every time you vacuum and empty it in the trash. This only happens every few weeks, depending on how much dirt the vacuum picks up from the floor.

Other stations from Roborock rely on bag-free storage, which I personally prefer, as that way you save the bags and the waste they generate. In the test with the cornflakes, the vacuum station worked well and emptied the robot successfully on the first attempt.

However, I have had the Q7 Max+ in use for several weeks, and the station struggles with pet hair. I have a German Shepherd, which sheds a lot during coat changes. Often, the station fails to empty the full dust container with hair and dust, resulting in having to manually tip out the box again. I have already reported this problem to Roborock, but have not received a solution yet. The vacuum station adds an extra €300 to the Q7 Max – I expected more reliability. Smaller loads in the dust container, however, are easily handled by the station.

Pro
  • Very strong suction power
  • Excellent object detection
  • Vacuuming quickly (about 1 square meter per minute)
  • Easy-to-understand app control
Contra
  • With vacuum station, quite expensive and unreliable
  • Only 470 ml dust container
  • 9.65 cm tall, does not fit under every piece of furniture
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The Mopping Test – Against Jam 

This is how it was tested: In everyday life, it often happens that the bread roll lands with the jam-covered side on the floor.  

I distributed jam on my laminate floor for each of the four robots and let it sit for a day. The stains became hard and sticky. I then urged the cleaning devils to target the soiled areas with their spot cleaning.

You should know this: All robots in the test are hybrids. They can vacuum and mop. There are specific mopping robots that claim to be able to mop well – I haven’t tested any of those. None of the four participants have the option to lift the mop (which mopping robots do when they recognize a carpet). In my case, I removed the carpet from the test room. An alternative is to set “No-Go Zones” on the maps in the robots’ apps where carpets are located. They then avoid these areas and do not wet your carpets. 

The test makes it clear that these four robots can mainly vacuum. Mopping is more like a “nice extra” to wipe away superficial dirt and dust from the floor. Not, however, to remove stubborn stains. They generally just drive through the rooms with a wet cloth.

I filled all the water tanks with lukewarm water and dampened the mops. 

Here’s how the models performed: 

Tesvor X500 Pro: The WeBack app of the Tesvor is quite cumbersome, making it take a few minutes to send the robot to the exact location where the jam stain was. While mopping, I noticed that the robot uses a lot of water and drenches the floor. Additionally, the spot cleaning was spread over a fairly large area of about 2-3 square meters, which made targeted cleaning difficult. 

  • The water tank holds 350 ml.
  • The mopping tank replaces the actual dust container – thus, there is much less space for dust in the tank while vacuuming
  • Poorly translated mopping regulation in the app with “slow”, “fast”, “normal” as mopping modes (and no, they do not regulate the speed of the robot)

Roborock S50: With the Roborock S50, the area cleaning via the app is complicated. I could not activate it while stationary; only after I sent the robot to a specific point and it was still moving, could I start the cleaning while it was driving. However, there is a button on top of the robot to start spot cleaning specifically at the location where the robot stands. 

The mopping itself went okay. The amount of water used was suitable for the laminate floor and can also be adjusted in the app. The robot was barely able to remove any of the jam stain – but it was more targeted than the Tesvor. I’m giving it a score of 4 for mopping. 

  • The water tank holds only 140 ml
  • The water tank is an additional attachment at the bottom of the robot, which does not affect vacuuming
  • The mop can be “inserted” into the tank; it is easy to wash
  • Understandable mopping configuration in the app

Eufy X8 Hybrid: For the X8, the manufacturers explicitly point out that the mopping mode is not intended for stubborn stains. Perhaps that’s why there are no options in the app to adjust the mopping performance. The water tank with the cloth is clipped onto the back of the robot, and one just selects the cleaning mode. The X8 then takes off just like it does during its vacuuming process—only it has a mop underneath that is automatically moistened via valves in the water tank. This is also reflected in the mopping performance – nothing special. I give it a score of 5 for mopping. 

  • The water tank holds 250 ml 
  • No app control for the mopping mode
  • Feels very careless without control

Roborock Q7 Max+: The mopping performance of the Q7 Max+ is already more thought out than that of the other candidates in my cleaning crew. According to the manufacturer, the mop is supposed to exert a uniform pressure of 300g at every point. With up to 30 levels for water flow that can be selected individually or in predefined categories, you can precisely configure how much moisture should be applied to the floor. When mopping, the Q7 Max+ made the best impression compared to the other candidates and was able to remove a visible portion of the stain. However, not all the jam. 

So I had to take a damp paper towel again and could then wipe up all the remains of the jam with little effort. I give the Q7 Max+ a score of 4 for mopping – just sufficient if you want to eliminate dust and light superficial dirt from the floor. But that’s all.

  • The water tank holds 350 ml
  • Best mopping result in the test
  • Understandable control in the app with 30 levels of adjustment

Noise Level – Who vacuums quietly and efficiently?

This is how it was tested: During the area cleaning of the suction test, I hung a noise meter from the ceiling at head height in the test room. I then recorded the quietest and loudest noise level for each robot in the room. Just as if they were buzzing around your office. I also let all robots run at their highest suction power once to determine the max value in the entire room.

DeviceNoise Level (Min/Max)
Tesvor X500 Pro63 – 74 db
Roborock S5068 – 80 db
Eufy X8 Hybrid63 – 74 db
Roborock Q7 Max+60 – 73 db

Conclusion: More money = More performance? 

According to the bare values on paper, the expensive models already offer better performance. But is the extra cost worth it compared to the cheaper models? It depends on what you intend to do with it. The Roborock S50 has good app control and, at a price of nearly €400, is a solid vacuum robot for beginners. If you are new to vacuum robots but have high cleaning requirements, you will get strong price/performance here. Of course, this can also be done more cheaply with the Tesvor X500 Pro, but you have to make significant sacrifices – the app control alone is worlds worse.

With higher expectations and more budget, you will look at the test candidates towards the X8 Hybrid and Q7 Max+. Both vacuums cost about the same (Q7 Max €499 RRP – €769.99 with vacuum station, X8 Hybrid €499 RRP) and still differ. The mopping function on the X8 Hybrid feels merely careless, completely lacking app control. So if you have a sensitive floor, you should opt for the Q7 Max, where the water amount is adjustable. The suction result is about the same for both expensive models, but the X8 Hybrid still goes around the walls a bit more carefully. Map storage works very well, and both object detection and carpet boost function as intended. Both also handle pet hair well, but should be on the move at least once a day so that the dust containers do not fill up during travel and hinder suction power.

If you want to choose the Q7 Max+ because of the vacuum station, you should be aware of the problems highlighted in my test. Once pet hair is in play and the robot’s dust container is fairly full, the station no longer vacuums it as intended. That was my observation in the test. The type of pet hair may make a difference, but in its current state, I do not find the vacuum station worth the additional cost.

In summary, I advise you: if you want to simply dip your toes into the world of vacuum robots, then go for at least a model at the level of the Roborock S50. The advanced technology makes cleaning quite pleasant. If you can stretch the budget a bit more and are looking for more settings options, the Eufy X8 Hybrid and Q7 Max are strong candidates. For a household without pet hair, the vacuum station is also quite good. It should be noted that there is, for example, a vacuum station for the Roborock S7/Max that is bagless and can be emptied directly into the trash.

Which robot for which budget?

If you want to spend a maximum of €250, I would recommend the Tesvor X500 Pro from my test, which targets beginners with a price of €215. But you also need to bring a certain level of frustration tolerance, as some comfort features like map storage are missing. Alternatives that are often recommended are the Roborock E5 and the Trouver Finder.

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If you want to spend a maximum of €400, I can recommend the Roborock S50 based on my test, which costs about €400 new. It is a solid vacuum cleaner that already offers many comfort features of the higher models (like map storage, mopping mode). However, the S50 is popular and often sold out, as it is already an older model. As alternatives, I can recommend the bigger brother Roborock S5 Max for €400 or the 360 S7 for €319.

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If you want to spend a maximum of €500, both the Eufy X8 Hybrid for €499 and the Roborock Q7 Max for €499 from my test are options for you. Both have their pros and cons but are solid purchases. The suction power of both devices is solid, with the X8 being slightly more meticulous in some scenarios. However, the Q7 Max clearly wins when it comes to mopping.

As alternatives, I can recommend the Ecovacs T8 Aivi for €479 (the RRP is €799, but the model is often on sale) or the Roborock S7 for €499.

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If money is no object to you, then the Roborock Q7 Max+ (with vacuum station) from my test is the way to go. However, you should keep in mind that the station has its issues if the dust container is full of pet hair. If you prefer a different model of this kind, the Roborock S7 MaxV Plus with bagless vacuum station for €999 is an option. This model has a maximum suction power of 5100 Pa according to the manufacturer (the Q7 Max offers 4200 Pa) and comes with a mop-lifting function in mopping mode. So, lots of comforts.

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Have you already had a vacuum robot at home? Or did you perhaps discover a model through this test that you would like to acquire? Please share your thoughts on the topic here on MeinMMO in the comments and tell us about your experiences.

How a vacuum robot improved my gaming room, I will show you based on a test with the Eufy X8 Hybrid.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The most expensive items in Destiny 2 cost up to 800 euros, but are not sold by Bungie

In Destiny 2 you can purchase virtual items such as emotes, ornaments, ships, and sparrows with real money. Many guardians consider the prices set by Bungie in the shop to be expensive. However, there are also sellers who are offering items from Destiny at even more exorbitant prices.

What items are we talking about? Primarily, these are emblems. These badges can usually be earned and equipped in Destiny 2.

However, there is a distinction between rare and not-so-rare emblems, as some require special challenges that must be completed in order to earn the badge.

A rare emblem not only provides a guardian with a cool status symbol but also adds the final touch to their identity. Guardians often like to equip emblems from solo flawless runs from dungeons to show that they have successfully faced this challenge.

There are also rare and cool emblems that cannot be earned and are only available through the merchandising shop or special donation campaigns from Bungie. These badges not only look great but are also so rare that they are sold for outrageous prices on eBay for 800€.

Destiny-2-Wucherangebot-Ebay-Emblem
 Source: Ebay.de

Not only emblems but also services

What else is being sold? On eBay, not only emblems are offered but also services for real money:

  • Raid carries
  • Flawless carries for the Trials of Osiris
  • Exotic quest completions
  • Dungeon completions
  • Completing bounties
Trails-duell-PvP-Destiny-2

One might think that you are paying other guardians to take away the fun part of Destiny 2. Tasks and challenges that often require a lot of effort or even practice are taken on by skilled players for “small” money.

Is this legal? Legally, it is not an offense for a guardian to take someone into a raid. The buyer is essentially paying for the time investment that the seller puts in to guide them through the raid or mission. However, usually, one just stands around to ultimately collect the loot for nothing.

However, it’s different when it comes to emblems. There, one is actually in a gray area, where it is difficult to assess whether it is legal to sell such digital content.

If, however, the seller wants your data so that they can log into your profile to take you through the raid or put emblems in your inventory, this violates Bungie’s terms of service. If Bungie catches wind of this and you get reported, your account will be banned. It can even go so far that you can never log in with the affected account again.

What do you think about these rare emblems and the business from which players derive their profit? Do you think it’s okay, or are you strictly against it and Bungie should hold the sellers accountable? Let us know in the comments if you have ever bought an emblem on eBay!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

After whirlpools and cooking shows, the latest Twitch meta is a lawsuit between 2 superstars

The trial between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is currently the biggest trend on Twitch. Streamers and viewers react simultaneously, turning an emotionally charged legal process into a mega-event. What’s behind it will be revealed here.

In 2021, Twitch saw a surge of mega-trends that largely moved away from gaming:

The big MMO streamer Asmongold stated in December 2021 that this “react content” will be the future of Twitch. In the latest of its kind, he is also actively participating.

Streamers React to the Trial

What is the new trend? Twitch is currently dominated by streamers like Asmongold, Pokimane, or Hasanabi, who watch the TV broadcast of the trial between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard and react to it live.

These streams attract thousands of viewers, and the homepage of Twitch as well as the most popular categories are dominated by the topic. Many viral clips are also created as a result.

On Reddit and YouTube, a clip of Asmongold is currently going viral, in which he reacts to a brief glance at Amber Heard’s camera and analyzes it. He wants to find out whether her crying is acted:

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What makes the streams so popular? The appeal of this format largely lies in the fact that well-known faces from Hollywood and Twitch are confronted with a very dramatic and controversial topic.

Since both the broadcast of the trial and the reactions of the streamers are live, the reactions and emotions feel all the more genuine. Viewers can also react in the chat, feeling like part of a community similar to a local pub.

Furthermore, the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is a very emotionally charged topic, both for those involved and for many viewers and fans. Strong opinions, controversial moments, and dramatic stories arise – both in the courtroom and in front of the viewers’ screens.

The live broadcasts of the trial are especially popular in the USA, but are also a hit on social media platforms like TikTok.

On Twitch, this trial takes on new dimensions with the react format, becoming a very special spectacle for the streamers and viewers. Pokimane, for example, graphically tracks how often Heard cried during the trial or how often Depp had to grin or even laugh.

Pokimane Depp Heard trial screenshot
Streamer Pokimane counts the emotions of Heard and Depp during the trial, reacting to the events in the meantime.

Trial Depp v Heard – Background Information

The trial Depp v Heard, which has been ongoing since April 11, is complex and difficult. It actually revolves around an allegedly defamatory newspaper article, but it primarily concerns the question of who abused whom in the relationship between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

Johnny Depp is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces thanks to a illustrious acting career in films like Pirates of the Caribbean and being a two-time titleholder of “Sexiest Man Alive”. Amber Heard also has a respectable Hollywood career with films like Magic Mike XXL or Aquaman, but she is not as well-known as Depp.

The two actors had a relationship that began in 2012. They married in 2015, but Heard filed for divorce in 2016 and requested a restraining order against Depp.

The trial over nearly 48 million Euros seeks to clarify what happened at that time and since then. It also includes many dramatic and traumatic descriptions of domestic violence with physical and sexual dimensions, as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

Our expertise at MeinMMO relates to gaming. For those who want to learn more about the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, we recommend checking official sites or news magazines:

– A current report from Associated Press
– A current evaluation from ZDF Heute
– A current news article from the Süddeutsche Zeitung

Important Notice: If you are experiencing acute violent assaults from your partner, if possible, please call emergency number 110. Women can find support at the “Help Hotline – Violence Against Women” at 08000 116 016 or via online counseling at www.hilfetelefon.de around the clock, free of charge and anonymously; men can turn to the number 0800 1239 900 or online at www.maennerhilfetelefon.de.

The trial Depp v Heard will take a short break starting May 9, but is scheduled to continue on May 16 and end on May 27.

The topic of sexism is a generally significant one on Twitch. Just recently, a female streamer publicly called out a viewer for a sexist comment:

Twitch streamer reprimands viewer for sexist comment – “You are simply unbearable”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Kotaku
  2. vox.com

Former developers of LoL announce new, ‘quirky’ MOBA – Hire one of the graphic heads from Arcane

Theorycraft Games is a new studio made up of many former developers from Riot and Blizzard. They have now announced their first game, which will likely be a MOBA like League of Legends. They also mentioned that the Art Supervisor from the Netflix series Arcane is on board.

League of Legends, Valorant, Destiny, Overwatch, Halo – these are the games that the developers from the new studio Theorycraft Games have worked on. On Twitter, the studio describes itself as being “on a mission to create deep games with 10,000 hours of playtime that are simply better when playing with friends.”

The first game that is supposed to fulfill this “mission” currently carries the codename ‘Loki’. This has now been officially announced by Theorycraft Games. With the announcement, it was also revealed that more creative minds are joining the studio:

  • Andrew Yip, former Game Designer at Legends of Runeterra.
  • Kévin Le Moigne, Art Supervisor of the popular Netflix show Arcane. He was responsible for concepts and color design in the LoL series.

There isn’t a trailer or gameplay scenes available yet. Initial images are already showing how the “quirky” game is supposed to look.

Loki is for fans of “MOBAs, adventures with friends, and team-based competitive PvP”

What exactly kind of game Loki is supposed to be is currently still not entirely clear. However, it apparently is a MOBA that combines a vibrant graphic style with a post-apocalyptic setting. The developers describe this mix as “pop-apocalyptic”.

The developers have also clearly stated who the game is aimed at: “If you like MOBAs, adventures with friends, and team-based competitive PvP, we have something new for you!”

The game has been in development for over a year and is currently refining the gameplay with many playtests. Over 100 players have been able to test it, and more are expected to join.

However, the call for new playtesters is currently limited to players from North America. It is not yet known whether German gamers will soon have the chance to join in.

If you think that this announcement affects Season 2 of Arcane, we have good news. After concerns about the future of the Netflix hit, Riot has responded with a clear answer:

Because Netflix is having major problems, LoL fans are worried about Season 2 of Arcane – Now Riot responds

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Pokémon GO: Dataminers find the Lapras you’ve been waiting for over a year

At the beginning of 2021, data miners discovered an image showing Lapras wearing a bow tie in Pokémon GO. Now this event Pokémon has received stats and many suggest that it could be appearing soon.

What kind of Pokémon is this? The image found in 2021 is titled Lapras Costume 2020 and is also referred to as “Drip Lapras” by the community. In this special event version, Lapras wears a blue bow tie. This skin is based on a plush toy collection that Nintendo released in 2018.

For a long time, this was the only image available in the files. Icons, stats, and further information were missing. However, the PokéMiners have now found new details about Drip Lapras:

  • On April 14, a visual update for the Lapras skin was identified
  • Today, on May 7, the PokéMiners discovered the stats and abilities

For a short time, the costume also showed the option to be transferred to Pokémon HOME. This option was disabled less than an hour after the data mining.

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When will the costume be available in the game? There is currently no official statement on this. Drip Lapras has been in the game’s files for at least a year, and it is possible that it will remain there a bit longer.

However, the water festival will take place from May 12 to May 20. There is no detailed information about this event yet. Many hope that Lapras with the bow tie will make an appearance at this event.

More on the topic
Pokémon GO: All Events in May 2022 – Dates and Bonuses
von Patrick Freese

A true gentleman skin that many are waiting for

Why are so many looking forward to Lapras? Drip Lapras is highly anticipated because the bow tie makes the Pokémon a true gentleman.

There is even a dedicated Twitter account named “Where is Drip Lapras” (via Twitter). This account has already tweeted that the news about Drip Lapras has made their day.

What do you think of the Lapras costume? Are you eagerly waiting for the Pokémon with the bow tie?

If you want to battle and catch a Lapras, you can take advantage of the ongoing Air Event, which lasts until May 8. Lapras is part of the level 3 raids. You can find everything about the Air Event here:

Pokémon GO brings the first legendary Mega Pokémon in the Air Event

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

After the boss threw in the towel, a woman from Disney is now supposed to improve WoW developer Blizzard

Studio Blizzard (WoW, Overwatch, Diablo 3) is facing major issues following a sexism scandal in summer 2021. With Jen Oneal, they initially found a new leader committed to equality. However, she resigned after just a few months on the job. Oneal was paid less than her co-leader. Now Blizzard presents Jessica Martinez as the next hope as the new number two.

Who has been the boss of Blizzard until now?

  • For years, Blizzard was led by Mike Morhaime (54), a likable, softly spoken man who fostered a family atmosphere and was well-liked by fans and employees. He came from the time when Blizzard was independent. Morhaime co-founded the studio in 1991 in Irvine, California
  • In 2018, J. Allen Brack, a veteran WoW guy, took over. He once made headlines by saying, people didn’t actually want WoW Classic, they just believed that, but it wasn’t true. After the sexism scandal in summer 2021, Brack had to leave. He was seen as a “representative of the old guard”, who once laughed at BlizzCon about a woman complaining that women in WoW looked like they came from a lingerie catalog.
  • Activision installed a dual leadership at Blizzard in August 2021 with Mike Ybara and Jennifer “Jen” Oneal. But after just a few months, Oneal left. Since then, former technical chief Ybara has been leading Blizzard alone within the larger company “Activision Blizzard”, which could soon belong to Microsoft.
More on the topic
These are the two new bosses of Blizzard – What they have done so far
von Benedict Grothaus

Leader left because she had no faith in the company to take equality seriously

Why did Oneal resign so early? Officially, Oneal announced her resignation in November 2021 because she wanted to fight for good causes elsewhere.

In fact, she apparently resigned because she was paid less than her co-chair Ybara. Allegedly, he had a higher salary due to his previous position, and Blizzard did not want to adjust her pay – only when it was too late did they relent.

Oneal apparently felt that Blizzard was not taking its “renewal” as seriously as publicly stated, and stepped down.

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This is the new one: Blizzard has now introduced Jessica Martinez as “First Vice President” and “Head of Culture”. She is thus the “number 2” at Blizzard behind Ybara, who was quietly promoted to “President” in February 2022. Previously, he was only “Leader”, whatever that means (via activisionblizzard).

Martinez is expected to work on Blizzard’s “culture”, focusing on the development and promotion of talent. This likely corresponds to an agreement that Blizzard made with an equality committee (via mmorpg.com).

Martinez comes from 14 years at Disney, where she worked as Chief of Human Resources and strategic advisor. Blizzard highlights that she also contributed to culture at Disney.

kirsten.hines-blizzard
Kirsten Hines is effectively the new equality officer at Activision Blizzard.

In addition to Martinez, Activision Blizzard had already appointed Kirsten Hines as the new Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Officer in April.

The controversial head of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, emphasized during the presentation of Hines that they wanted to become the “most inclusive company in the gaming industry”.

We have already extensively addressed Blizzard’s “women problem” on MeinMMO:

Employee says: In 2020, Blizzard had 3 powerful women, all are gone in 2021

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.