In Pokémon GO the PokéStops and Gyms now look a bit different after the update 0.229 than you might be used to. We at MeinMMO have looked into what is behind the visual adjustment and explain it to you.
What are PokéStops and Gyms? The basic concept of Pokémon GO is that trainers go outside and explore their surroundings. Therefore, noteworthy locations, submitted in advance by players, are marked on the map with a PokéStop or a Gym.
Anyone visiting such a location can spin the photo disc of the PokéStop or Gym and receive a small reward in the form of items and Stardust. Gyms also serve the purpose that you can collect coins or battle (legendary) raid bosses there.
Now Niantic has changed the appearance of the PokéStops and Gyms. We explain to you the reason behind it.
What is new about the PokéStops and Gyms?
Those who regularly play Pokémon GO may have noticed some visual changes at the PokéStops today. From a distance, the stops now appear larger and the crossbar starts higher up at the stop.
Visual representation of PokéStop before (left) and now (right)
And the reddit user kodipaws was also surprised when looking at one or another PokéStop. As he writes in a comment, they looked as if they were leveled up, although they were not (via reddit.com). So what is behind the visual changes?
That’s why PokéStops and Gyms look different now
As Niantic has communicated, there was a new update (version 0.229) which brought some changes (via niantic.helpshift.com). In addition to fixing some bugs, like in the postcard book, visual adjustments have also been made in the game. These primarily affect the PokéStops and Gyms.
Distance to Stops and Gyms: The spinning discs of the PokéStops and Gyms are now visually represented differently depending on whether you are within 40 meters, 80 meters, or outside the range of this point.
Niantic decided to permanently increase the interaction range to Stops and Gyms from 40 meters to 80 meters after an open letter from the community in August 2021. With the adjustment of the representation, this distance should now be even more noticeable.
You can read about how this decision came to adapt the range in our related article:
Power-Ups: And another visual distinction has been introduced. Since December, trainers can perform Power-Ups at PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon GO. This allows them to gain a few bonuses, like items, bonus hearts for their buddy, or additional spawns.
However, this Power-Up is not possible at every point, as the noteworthy object must be scanned 360° for that. This can be easily realized with statues or playgrounds, but less so with a mural, for example.
To visually recognize these PokéStops and Gyms at a glance, Niantic has also made a change here. Thus, places that can be leveled up now look different from stops where a Power-Up is not possible.
How do you find the new visual representation of the Stops and Gyms? Have you already discovered these in the game? Or do you find these visual details rather unimportant? Feel free to share your opinion and experiences here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange thoughts with other trainers.
How can you modify them? The new weapon will be customizable at the announced forge. You can equip your blade with your favorite perks to make the best possible use of it.
Whether the exotic Glaives will be customizable is not known, but it cannot be ruled out.
What do you think about a new weapon type? Are you excited and can’t wait to see what new combat options Bungie will offer? Let us know in the comments!
In Destiny 2 will the new weapon type “Glaive” play a more important role than you think. Without it, you will have little chance of surviving against the new Scorn. One of the developers from Bungie commented on this in an interview.
What new weapon type is coming? No new weapon type has been added to Destiny 2 since Forsaken. Now that Witch Queen and a much more powerful threat could send humanity into the abyss, Bungie will gift you a new type of weapon: the Glaive.
With this new weapon, you will be able to withstand the new Lightfall of Savathun. James Tsai, the Creative Director of Witch Queen, spoke about known details regarding the new weapon type, stating: “To increase your chances of survival, Guardians will have their own new and small tricks.” This refers to the Glaive, which will be very versatile.
The Glaive will increase your chances of survival
In the recently released weapon trailer for Witch Queen, some new weapons were scrutinized. Among them, the Glaive was seen in various forms in action, tailored for each class.
The new weapon type Glaive
James Tsai emphasizes the uniqueness of the weapon and states:
It is our first new weapon type in the game since the bows and the only first-person melee weapon we have.
With its versatile usability, Guardians will find it easier to confront the Scorned Guardians.
What variants will there be? The weapon will be usable for each class, but the individual models will differ from one another. Each class will have its own Glaive, with their personal strengths.
Since the Glaive will have two rarity grades, namely Legendary and Exotic, one might assume that only the exotic blades will have certain “special powers” like shockwave projectiles or throwable bubbles. Similar to the exotic swords in Destiny 1, which were only class-specific Exotics.
This is only a conjecture. However, it is also possible that the exotic variant adapts to the class that wields it.
How can you modify them? The new weapon will be customizable at the announced forge. You can equip your blade with your favorite perks to make the best possible use of it.
Whether the exotic Glaives will be customizable is not known, but it cannot be ruled out.
What do you think about a new weapon type? Are you excited and can’t wait to see what new combat options Bungie will offer? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The American Zepla is one of the biggest streamers on Twitch for the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. Since 2014, she has been living in Ukraine. Now she plans to leave the country, fearing an invasion by Russia. On her flight, she wants to continue streaming and stay in touch with her fans.
This is Zepla:
Zepla is one of the biggest streamers for Final Fantasy XIV: She has 220,000 followers. When she streams, about 2,000 people watch her. Last year, she was on air for 820 hours. She tends to have shorter streams, but they are regular.
Zepla is a friendly, nice streamer who loves to wear bunny ears and gives viewers tips on Final Fantasy XIV. She raves about the Viera, one of the playable races in the MMORPG, known for their rabbit-like floppy ears.
However, she has now turned surprisingly serious towards her fans. The streamer lives in Ukraine and does not feel safe there anymore.
How does an American land in Ukraine? Zepla originally comes from Louisiana in the USA. Eight years ago, she lived an unburdened lifestyle and taught English in Taiwan, where she met and befriended some Ukrainians, as she recounts in an interview with VICE .
Ukraine sounded like a great place to live for her, and she wanted to teach there. The streamer says it was 2014 that brought her to Ukraine – after the Maidan Revolution, the country was in turmoil and on the move:
“When I arrived in Kiev, there were still barricades and some charred cars on the street. But people were really happy that Yanukovych was gone – for good reason. It was a frightening situation, but I wasn’t scared. My family, on the other hand, was really not that thrilled about my decision to go to Kiev.”
This is how it is today: The streamer says that in Kiev today, there is a very strange feeling of life, similar to the moments before a hurricane strikes:
“Everyone is preparing for it; you decide whether you go through with it or not, whether you flee. But it’s stranger and worse than that. With a hurricane, you see the dark clouds; you know something is coming. It’s obvious. You can feel the wind; you can taste it in the air and see the rain coming. You can see lightning on the horizon.
But here, there are still wonderful sunny days. And everyone goes about their usual daily routines. While you sit in a restaurant, you hear people talking about their plans to stay and fight. There’s still some normality to it. That’s the most depressing part of it all.”
Why doesn’t she just leave? As an American, Zepla could leave the country at any time, but she has built a life in Kiev, with a dog, house, and cat.
She is especially attached to her pets, as she says. Getting them out of the country proves to be challenging. She does not want to leave them in a potential war zone, and simply leaving with them does not work either – in the USA, dogs from Ukraine are considered “high-risk carriers for rabies.”
Zepla wants to get passports for her animals and then leave the country.
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On Twitter, Zepla writes about her life between “the plague” and “the war” – what a strange time.
How does she view the conflict? The streamer says she loves the people in Russia; there are many connections from Ukraine to the neighboring country, the problem for her is Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who sees Ukraine as a “blooming democracy” which could set an example for Russians, but she adds:
“So look, I don’t want to pretend that I’m a geopolitical analyst. I try to keep myself informed, but I make no illusions about my credibility. I’m a Final Fantasy XIV Twitch streamer who wears bunny ears every day on stream.”
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Streaming as a “welcome distraction” from her situation
Why is she still streaming? Zepla explains that she tries to continue streaming 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. She chats with her community on Discord, edits YouTube videos, and learns Japanese. All the things the Twitch streamer usually does:
“These are welcome distractions. When I do this, I don’t think about my situation. But as soon as the stream is over, I think about my situation again.”
Zepla is determined to stay in touch with her fans while fleeing and to stream as much as possible. She says she will stay at every hotel and AirBnB and spend whole days on Twitch.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is always a topic that touches the world of video games:
Sony revealed in its earnings call what the company’s future plans look like. A major focus will be service games. The company intends to release a total of 10 games.
What kind of games are these? Exact titles or names were not shared with the public during the conference. However, it is certain that all 10 games will be released by March 2026 and will be service games (via Twitter).
Service games are games that are constantly evolving and receiving new content. Typically, these games also have multiplayer, as seen in GTA Online or Destiny. Even Genshin Impact, one of the most successful service games in recent years, features an optional co-op mode.
This focus on service games aligns with Sony’s new direction:
CEO Jim Ryan stated that player behavior has changed, and games on PlayStation must now respond to that.
Shortly after, it was mentioned in an interview that the purchase is primarily about new games and not about Destiny. The game will continue to be playable on multiple platforms.
We also discussed the purchase of Bungie and its significance for Sony and the MMO market in our latest podcast:
Sony could turn its big hits into MMOs
What kind of games can players hope for? Since these 10 titles are expected to be released by March 2026, it is rather unlikely that any of them will be a classic MMORPG. These usually require many years of development time.
The structure of the new games will likely lean more towards GTA Online or Red Dead Online, expanding on the world of a single-player. A possible structure could be:
You can play the campaign solo or in co-op. This way, you get to know the world and the story of the game as in a classic single-player.
After completing the story, you can continue to complete tasks and missions in the world.
Regularly, new missions and possibly story content will be added to the game.
Ideally, an endgame open world awaits you, which you can explore with friends or random players. There will not be hundreds of people on a map, but rather 8 to 50 players.
They [Bungie] create massive, immersive games that have no end. While PlayStation’s strengths, as you know, lie in single-player games with rich stories. Our studios make those games, and they are some of the best games you can find.
The head of Sony also mentioned an “aggressive roadmap with live games.” Now we know that 10 games are planned for the next four years.
Which single-player games could become MMOs? There is no concrete statement, but there are many single-player titles on PlayStation that deserve such a transformation. Here is a selection we have compiled:
The upcoming zombie survival game Dying Light 2 is already available as a retail version before its release for some of you. But even though you can play it now, the developers ask you to refrain from doing so. According to them, there are good reasons for this. Find out all about it here on MeinMMO.
Why can you play Dying Light 2 before release?Dying Light 2 releases on February 4, 2022. However, some versions of the game have already hit retail as physical editions or were delivered too early to pre-order customers. Those who have managed to grab such a version could theoretically play the game right now.
Rather, the developers implore you to wait until February 4.
Developers want you to play the game as intended
What do the developers say? The developers do not want to forbid you from playing early. But they politely ask you not to do so and to wait until the release. In a tweet, they also explain why:
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According to developer Techland, various patches and fixes will still come into the game upon release, which should provide the gaming experience that the developers have envisioned for the game.
If you want to experience Dying Light 2 as the developers intended, you should wait until Friday and not spoil the game with an unfinished version.
What do the players say? There were lively comments under the tweet regarding the developers’ request to the fans:
AP wonders why there even has to be fixes at release: “A day-one patch shouldn’t be necessary.”
Daniel questions what the reviewers are actually playing: “What about all the reviewers? Do they have a day-one patch? Otherwise, they’re not playing the game as it was intended.”
For user HL, the matter is clear: “You know they [the players] won’t wait.”
Brandon Moore states: “Just release it already, damn it!”
So those who are among the lucky ones that could play Dying Light 2 already might be roaming around in the zombie apocalypse, collecting tons of weapons and taking down the undead.
The PlayStation inventor Sony has swallowed the Destiny developer Bungie and wants to develop more MMOs with the new expertise. MeinMMO author Maik Schneider has been active on PlayStation consoles for over 20 years and immediately thought of 5 titles that would wonderfully fit as MMOs.
Now the Japanese PlayStation makers have followed suit and also bought a gaming company: Bungie – formerly known for the shooter “Halo”, now mainly known for Destiny.
It is quite possible that among these new service games there are also some familiar game franchises. At least 10 service games are expected to be released by March 2026. I present to you 5 titles that I would like to see as MMOs and show how these games could be implemented.
What are service games? If a game has a live service planned, additional content will be released after launch to keep players engaged. However, this is less about announced story DLCs for single-player titles.
It’s about games that offer you seasonal content, a battle pass, or ongoing updates. Often, the active live service only ends when a sequel is released or the game no longer attracts enough players.
Part of this release strategy involves extensive in-game purchases or subscription fees.
Horizon – Sci-Fi loot in the medieval
What kind of game is this? Horizon transports players into a fascinating future, where humans have lost the ability to use advanced technology. Nevertheless, technology is omnipresent, as animal-like machines roam the world.
You experience the story of the tribal hunter “Aloy”, who uncovers a great secret in her quest for answers.
In a large open world, you should learn to defend yourself against the metallic beings and use them to your advantage. Helpful RPG mechanics support you, granting new strength with each level up.
For a glimpse of the gameplay and the world of Horizon, check out the gameplay trailer for the new Horizon: Forbidden West:
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What could an MMO look like?Aloy collects various weapons and armor on her travels. She continuously finds new materials and fights against nasty robot creatures.
The game offers not only initial similarities to Monster Hunter World. An implementation with a large co-op mode and long-term goals within the game would also be fun in Horizon.
The large robot creatures provide a wonderful platform for extensive opponent ideas with various tactics, weapons, and corresponding countermeasures.
Every robot monster must be dealt with in its own way and can take quite a beating before it gives up its valuable parts. These include parts for craftable weapons, armor, and materials needed to build your tribe.
Why does it deserve an MMO? Horizon bridges the gap between sci-fi and fantasy. Seeing the robots wander in this primitive world is a very special experience.
The cohesive gameplay and the colorful and vibrant open world made Horizon a classic in PlayStation history after just a few hours of play.
A true single-player masterpiece that could grow even more with the right co-op mode.
Resistance – Battle Royale’s alien feast
What kind of game is this? Resistance rewrites the history of World War I and II and transforms the world into a hungry alien nest. An asteroid crashed over Russia and from here the Chimera virus spread across the globe.
The virus causes not only coughs, colds, and hoarseness. It turns humans into genuine aliens who spread themselves and their technology all over the Earth.
As an immune soldier, you fight almost single-handedly against countless aliens of all sizes and make use of both human and alien arsenals.
We are embedding a gameplay trailer for the latest installment “Resistance 3” here, but beware: The game is from 2008.
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What could an MMO look like?Resistance provides an excellent foundation for a battle royale. As a special innovation, players could compete in 2 factions – humans against aliens.
In the end, the teams must also fight among themselves for victory, but depending on their race, the battlefield reacts differently to players – thus some paths could only open for aliens, others for humans.
Additionally, players receive an active ability unique to their race – for example, aliens could briefly see through walls in PvP, but would injure themselves in the process.
Furthermore, the innovative arsenal of weapons includes firearms like the drill, which could shoot through walls and create force fields. Or the Bullseye, which could stick a tracking ball to enemies, with all other bullets following the marker.
Why does it deserve an MMO? Resistance was a sort of PlayStation “Call of Duty” in its time. The campaigns were bombastically staged, full of action, scripted scenes, and explosions at every corner.
The PvP mode was great if you engaged with innovative systems like the tracking Bullseye. The series allowed battles with 64 players on the PS3. Outside of the Battlefield series, this was a small sensation and had a unique, fun dynamic due to its crazy mechanics.
Resistance came to a sudden end after the third installment but had much of what is now often played in shooters. Big battles like in Battlefield, fast movement like in Call of Duty, and a wide selection of different weapons like in Halo.
A new attempt would surely be deserved for the series.
God of War – Theme park MMORPG of the gods
What kind of game is this? Few characters represent “PlayStation” as much as the god slayer Kratos with his hack-and-slash adventures from the “God of War” series.
On his tours through Greek mythology, the furious fellow brutally kills many gods to take fate into his own hands.
The game provides you with a deadly range of sharp or blunt weapons and mixes it with RPG mechanics to develop you into a professional god slayer throughout the game – who might like to twist the heads of the sun gods.
We are embedding a trailer for God of War: Ragnarok here. Kratos shakes up the gods of Norse mythology in the latest installment and grows into his role as a father:
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What could an MMO look like? Kratos has sliced through the ranks of gods and only a few benevolent super-beings remain. The power vacuum leads to demons attempting to claim the warmed seats of the old gods.
Kratos doesn’t care about any of this anymore. However, the remaining gods see him as the savior of the new world and try to create warriors in his image.
Your job here is: aspiring demigods battling through the divine regions to gain strength and wisdom – from Olympus to Valhalla and back.
Similar to Elder Scrolls Online, you will improve your skills and equipment along the way, complete dungeons together, and fight on epic battlefields of mythology to protect humanity from being forever subjected to demons.
Why does it deserve an MMO? For over 15 years, Kratos has been wreaking havoc on the highest levels of existence while remaining unusually lonely.
The series has garnered so many fans – and many would surely like to face off on the battlefield instead of just comparing who has completed God of War III the most.
The mythological background offers so many templates to create vast worlds and fantastic adventures. An MMORPG with an action combat system would definitely be an exciting alternative.
Last of Us – Emotional survival adventure
What kind of game is this? Once again, Sony lets the world go to ruin. In Last of Us, the miserable remnants of our civilization fight against each other and a nasty fungus that has infected a large part of humanity.
The fungus infects the brain and reduces the host’s ambitions to a single instinct: Spread the fungus further.
In this world, you experience the emotional stories of the survivors and sneak through fungus-infested areas. Firearms and ammunition are scarce – skill, bows, and fire are your most helpful companions.
You can get a small insight into the world and the fight of Last of Us in the following gameplay video:
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What could an MMO look like? Last of Us has everything to be successful as a survival game in a large open world – just a system for base building is missing.
Similar to Rust or the dino hit ARK, players fight in a PvP environment for scarce resources and must additionally evade the dangers posed by the fungus monsters.
The story could take place a bit further into the future – firearms and ammunition are even rarer, melee combat, stealth, and bows are even more crucial.
The innovative element helps from the fungus heads. The world is divided into manageable regions, and in each there is a kind of germ cell. If the cell is not regularly cleaned, the fungus monsters spread further into the region and begin to attack player bases.
Player bases are generally hard to destroy by other players, but the fungus monsters can do that. Therefore, it makes more sense to prevent the players in a region from controlling the fungus nest.
You must team up with players in your region, fend off foes, smoke out the fungi, and take revenge on enemies. And of course, you can build an oversized base along the way.
Why does it deserve an MMO? Last of Us is an emotional adventure that has captivated millions of fans. A playable drama in a lost world with little hope.
Often, the struggle against the virus is not the central focus – it’s the remaining and degraded humans that turn the apocalypse into a bad world.
The title introduced many players to mechanics from the survival genre who had never engaged with stealth or crafting before – and in a dramatic and perfectly staged manner.
A large survival game in the style of Rust would have the potential to take the step further and sensibly expand the universe around the brain fungus.
inFAMOUS – Destiny with superheroes
What kind of game is this? inFAMOUS follows the story of an ambivalent bike courier who rises to become a superhero without being asked.
You decide whether to use your newfound powers as a helping hand or an angry fist to restore order in the neighborhood.
Over time, you gain more power and feel the effects of your actions on your fellow humans and society.
You can see what power you unleash in inFAMOUS in the original launch trailer from 2011:
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What could an MMO look like? inFAMOUS is Sony’s in-house superhero series and thus has much more freedom than titles in the hero worlds of Marvel or DC.
A superhero MMO in the style of Destiny with different classes and the fantastic effects of the space MMO could provide a lot of fun.
Even 10 years ago, the abilities created a strong sense of power. With modern technology, instanced areas, and challenging PvE content, the series has the potential to become a strong co-op experience.
The twist with karma only comes into play in the endgame. Each class offers a good and bad direction that you must choose after the story. When players from different factions meet in the open areas, fights are also possible.
As loot, there are armors and items that affect your normal ranged attacks and special hero abilities. Different attack elements and status changes play a role for greater complexity.
Why does it deserve an MMO? inFAMOUS attempted the bold move to bring superheroes to the console without the familiar faces of established comic heroes and generally delivered.
Many abilities were new to players at the time and they did not want to complete the game only for the story – their own growing powers were also a great motivator. Furthermore, it wasn’t clear from the start whether you would develop into a hero or a villain.
These freedoms that Marvel or DC games rarely offer make inFAMOUS a unique superhero adventure that deserves to be continued in an MMO.
PlayStation has released many interesting titles over the years. Meanwhile, the big single-player games are even coming to PC, reaching a new target group of affluent gamers.
With Bungie, Sony now wants to target the next audience and focus more on MMOs. Which gaming gems the PlayStation developers will pull out of the hat remains to be seen. However, it’s likely that the focus will be on multiplayer adventures, which should please many of us at MeinMMO.
By the way, we discussed what the deal between Sony and Bungie means directly after the announcement in our MeinMMO podcast:
We would also love to hear your thoughts on the topic. Which PlayStation game series would you like to see again? How would you implement the games as MMOs? Do you have anything against my MMO visions?
Discuss with us and the community in the comments on MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming zombie spectacle Dying Light 2 is coming soon, but suddenly the developers reveal that the controversial copy protection Denuvo will be part of the game. This has driven fans to the edge and since then the “feature” has been hotly debated.
What is the issue with Denuvo in Dying Light 2?Dying Light 2 is set to release on February 4, 2022. Suddenly, there was a small announcement on Steam that “Third Party DRM” was installed. Specifically, Denuvo. DRM (Digital Rights Management) is commonly understood as copy protection.
The Denuvo software is meant to ensure that Dying Light 2 cannot be pirated excessively. While the developers justify this step, fans have a completely different opinion and are furiously debating it on reddit and other platforms. But what is actually the problem?
Controversial copy protection Denuvo is said to weaken systems and consume hard drives
What is the problem with Denuvo? Denuvo has been criticized by gamers for years. For instance, GameStar reported that Denuvo slows down the PC due to numerous system queries and transfers huge amounts of data back and forth. This, in turn, is said to reduce the lifespan of SSD hard drives.
Fans are correspondingly in a bad mood. In a huge thread on reddit (over 1,300 upvotes and nearly 800 comments on February 2, 2022), many users vent their frustration:
Sanjay-Jurt: “This explains the icy silence about a GOG release” [GOG traditionally does not impose DRM measures]
How do the developers justify this? The last sentence in the upper paragraph also addresses the opinion of the developers. They don’t want their hard work to be exploited by grinning pirates. Therefore, the official statement from the devs on Steam reads as follows:
Dying Light 2 Stay Human was in development for seven years. During this time, over 1500 people invested their time and talent into the development of the game. To protect the efforts of the entire team against piracy, which we suffered from during the release of Dying Light 1, we integrated the Denuvo system, at least for the launch phase. This is a solution that is widespread in AAA games today.
As gamers ourselves, we understand your concerns and want to ensure that your gaming experience is not affected. We are still putting additional resources into testing the game, and at this point, we cannot detect any noticeable impact on the performance. We will actively review feedback during the game’s launch. Please feel free to share your feedback with us as well.
How could all of this turn out? As the developers hinted, and as various users on reddit indicate, the Denuvo protection could be removed after the game’s launch. In this way, the developers would ensure that there would be less piracy at launch. Such approaches have been observed in other games, including Titanfall 2.
In Pokémon GO, the Lunar New Year event is currently taking place, giving you a higher chance for a lucky trade. The trainers from The Silph Road and the reddit community have been trading diligently and are now sharing their chances of obtaining a Lucky Pokémon.
What is it about? Currently, Pokémon GO is celebrating the Lunar New Year, which focuses on the theme of friendship in addition to capturing. For this reason, trainers in the game can look forward to an increased likelihood of lucky trades.
But what is this rate actually? The community around The Silph Road wants to know more precisely and is therefore trying to determine the current probability. We have looked at what they have already discovered and will show you reports from other trainers.
How long does the event last? The Lunar New Year event runs in Pokémon GO from February 1, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time until February 7, 2022, at 8:00 PM local time.
What is The Silph Road? The Silph Road is a global community where trainers, dataminers, and Pokémon GO enthusiasts have come together to analyze the game in detail. They document their experiences and make these results publicly available to other trainers.
Your current chances of a lucky trade
As the community around The Silph Road mentioned in their post on their homepage, they were able to collect initial data on the current lucky trade rate during the Lunar New Year event (via thesilphroad.com). As of February 2, 2022, at 04:34 AM (CET), a total of 684 trades had already been conducted.
Of these, 68 turned out to be lucky trades, corresponding to a current rate of 9.94%. This means that about every 10th trade yields a Lucky Pokémon. Only actions where two “new” monsters were traded, meaning Pokémon that are less than 1 year old, were considered, as the chance can change based on the age of one of the Pokémon.
Is this rate good? Yes, when comparing the regular probabilities for a lucky trade with those calculated on the occasion of the Lunar New Year by The Silph Road, it is found that these are almost twice as high. Normally, your chance of getting a Lucky Pokémon is just under 5%, which corresponds to about every 20th trade.
By the way: Have you actually discovered our survey on the Community Day Classics yet? There, we want to know how often the “Community Day Classic” events should take place in the future. So feel free to participate:
These experiences have trainers made while trading
Similar experiences to The Silph Road are also being reported by other trainers who have also published their rates on reddit. However, they noted that especially at the beginning of trading, the chances for a lucky trade were higher than towards the end. You can find the following comments there (via reddit.com):
xudong76: “For me, it was 10% today. 7 Lucky from the first 30 [trades], then 3 from the last 70. LOL.”
hippie22222: “It’s the same for me. The first few times I was lucky, then it was bad.”
The reddit user Own_Fortune_6940 hopes for the adjusted lucky trade chances and the second daily special trade for an opportunity to obtain a Shlundo, a shiny Lucky Pokémon with an IV of 100%. He explains his assumption in the comments as follows (via reddit.com):
“If you make two shiny trades per day during the entire event, that’s 16 chances, with a probability of 10% of getting a Lucky Pokémon, and if you’re lucky, there’s a 1/64 chance that it’s a Shlundo. If I calculated correctly, the chance of getting a Shlundo during the event is about (16 x 1/10 x 1/64), so 1/40.”
Even though the chances of getting a Shlundo are still relatively low, it is still worthwhile to take advantage of the increased lucky trade probability during the Lunar New Year. So hurry up if you want to secure a Lucky Pokémon or two. When the next opportunity will be is still unknown.
How do you perceive the current lucky trade chances? Have you managed to get so many Lucky Pokémon directly, or do you prefer to hope for a Shlundo, like Own_Fortune_6940? Feel free to share your opinion with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers.
In the latest conference regarding the quarterly results, EA discussed the difficult release of the new Battlefield 2042. Apparently, it fell short of expectations for both fans and the publisher. CEO Andrew Wilson explains what caused the game’s failures.
This is what EA says: following rumors about Battlefield 2042 becoming Free2Play, there are now official statements regarding the game’s condition. Wilson mentioned in the conference that Battlefield 2042 “did not meet expectations.”
They thought the game was finished. But the pandemic years, during which developers had to work from home, were “challenging.” Battlefield 2042 is an ambitious game, but that apparently wasn’t enough. Wilson says:
We launched with strong stability. But as more players dove into the game, it became clear that we had unexpected performance issues that we need to address. Some of the design decisions did not resonate well with everyone in the community.
Bugs, Connection Errors, and Unpopular New Features
What was the problem with Battlefield 2042? The problems mentioned by Wilson have been present in the game since release. Players have issues getting into matches or encounter serious bugs that make playing impossible.
Additionally, there were numerous issues with gadgets, which made them unusable, or annoying “rubberbanding.” Your character was sometimes pulled across the map due to poor connection, without you being able to control it.
The technical condition was at times so poor, that even cheat providers have withdrawn. Their cheats could no longer function as intended. We have already criticized the technical condition in our review at MeinMMO:
Everything you need to know about the new Battlefield 2042 – in 2 minutes
What happens next? Despite the difficult start, EA wants to continue investing in the franchise. Wilson stated in the conference: “We are committed to realizing the full potential of this game and we are dedicated to our Battlefield fans. We have already introduced a series of major updates to the game, and there is still more to do.”
There are supposed to be “significant updates” in the coming weeks. We already know that Battlefield 2042 will get its first season. However, this is being postponed for now:
The new MMORPG Lost Ark was released in Korea in 2018. At its launch there, it was nicknamed Seagull Online, and the reason for this might also disturb European players: eternal queues.
Where does the quirky name come from? If you played the beta of Lost Ark, you might already have a guess. When you log into the new MMORPG, a ship welcomes you at sea, anchoring off an island.
This background is atmospherically complemented with sounds, and what could fit a harbor better than a seagull? The feathered creature is even visible in the picture if you look closely.
Every 30 seconds or so, the seagull screams loudly in the background, complementing the sound of the waves in the water.
However, the queues of Lost Ark were so long and so frequent that fans had to listen to a seagull screaming for hours while they were waiting to play.
In popular parlance, the game long carried the joking title “Seagull Online” since a small cult could soon form around the feathered screamer. After all, you need something to occupy yourself while waiting.
In the background, you can even see the seagulls
Why is this relevant? The topic came up in the Lost Ark subreddit, as many people are concerned about whether the launch in the West could turn into a similar debacle, and jokes about Seagull Online might return.
The thread about it has generated 376 upvotes and 111 comments in 13 hours. But how likely is it that a seagull will scream in our ears?
Long login wait times are part of MMORPGs like dungeons or raids. Most new titles have them; it’s just a question of how extreme they can get. Amazon, who also publish Lost Ark with us, recently had tough experiences with New World.
There, the queues lasted for hours and were fueled by the fact that people who logged in once hardly logged out again.
Will our launch be similar? It’s hard to say at this point. Amazon has already used the start of the beta of Lost Ark, where about 88,000 users were online simultaneously, to test the load.
There were queues here as well, but there was only one server. Moreover, these were relatively short at 3 to 15 minutes. Later during the beta, the queues completely dissolved as new servers were added.
In a blog post, Amazon confirmed that they already have more servers on hand for the launch, should the current ones not suffice (via playlostark.com).
The rush could also be alleviated by the two-part release. Pre-order customers can start playing from February 8th, while Free2Play fans can join starting February 11th.
Amazon has already taken precautions to ensure that the western launch does not become Seagull Online, but for now, we can only hope.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the MMORPG Lost Ark – in 2 minutes
Humor and fear are spreading
What is the mood like? The thread is being hotly debated and offers a variety of perspectives. Many people reminisce about long wait times in games like Blade and Soul or World of Warcraft. They take this omen with a grin.
Again, other players are worried, especially after the launch of New World, that Lost Ark will have a similarly problematic start and are already annoyed by a situation that hasn’t even occurred yet.
What do the fans say? We would like to share some comments from the reddit here.
User Kathygriffin writes: “I slept through a 75,000+ queue in WoW Classic when the server collapsed at launch. Sometimes it is just how it is. I hope they get a solid launch.”
Also, InsertDisc11 agrees: “I think the launch on the 8th will run much smoother than on the 11th. But we will see.”
RenRedd receives over 50 upvotes for his comment: “Not Seagull Online, but ‘YourNameIsAlreadyTaken Online,’ if they don’t change their naming policy at launch.”
KingAmed is more concerned about names: “Oh man, I hope the €100 I spent means I get the name I want.”
What do you think about the situation? Do you chuckle at Seagull Online or do you fear it’s an omen for a rough start in Europe? Are you worried about queues at all, or is it the naming policy that bothers you? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO.
World of Warcraft bids farewell to faction warfare – and long-term. But what will happen to the “War” in Warcraft now?
Fans of World of Warcraft look on with astonishment and sometimes a bit of concern at the changes coming in the coming months. Much of the game seems to be in flux, and what was almost a fixed law for nearly two decades is now being softened. Alliance and Horde will soon play together. However, the WoW chief said in an interview: It was time to uproot the game and its foundations.
Who is speaking? Ion Hazzikostas, the Game Director of World of Warcraft. He is basically the boss who leads the development of the game and has to approve decisions in the end. In an interview with the magazine IGN, he talked about the upcoming changes and what they mean for the future of WoW.
What is changing? The interview discusses a new option that will come to the game with Patch 9.2.5 later this year. For the first time in history, Horde and Alliance can form groups together and then tackle dungeons, raids, or even PvP battles.
What did Hazzikostas say? In the discussion, Hazzikostas clarifies several points. Over the years, they often quickly responded to community requests with a dismissive “No,” because the wish would have shaken the foundations of World of Warcraft. However, a change in thinking has taken place, so the developers want to implement the players’ wishes whenever possible. He stated:
[We] are reassessing these things that our community has always wanted and to which we said “No.” One of their wishes was the option for cross-play in some form. The answer to that was always: Well, it’s Warcraft, Orcs against Humans. It’s Horde against Alliance. That defines our entire IP.
But that has long since ceased to be true, Hazzikostas later says. Warcraft is much more than just Orcs against Humans; that was already the case in Warcraft III. After all, the last chapter took place in Hyjal, where Horde and Alliance had to fight together against a common enemy.
That is not the world we want to create, but also not the world or the story we have told in the last 20 years since Warcraft III. In the end, it has always been about the factions finding each other to defeat Archimonde and stop the great threats to the world.
He later added:
It is easy to assume in the short term that the core idea consists of ‘Horde against Alliance.’ And I believe if you go back to Warcraft I or Warcraft II, yes, it was literally just that because it was simply a 2-faction RTS game where the plot was created to provide a reason for the fight between the two factions.
However, starting from Warcraft III, I believe that the ideals of World of Warcraft were more about adventure, exploration, and the fact that we basically have more in common than what separates us. That both Horde and Alliance want to defend their homeland, find a home, and fight for family, honor, and justice.
More current news about World of Warcraft can be found here:
Without war, a core pillar of WoW is missing – or?
From the Game Director’s statements, the question inevitably arises whether World of Warcraft is thus giving up one of its brand cores. After all, the conflict between Horde and Alliance has been one of the central themes of the game for many players. Many forums mock the change and refer to the MMORPG as “World of Peacecraft” if Alliance and Horde can play together.
And indeed, Hazzikostas explains that there would only be “one way” with these changes. The freedoms that players of both factions will be granted will only increase.
This is a process that only goes in one direction. We will not loosen the rules and allow social groups to develop only to later say: “Forget it, that was a mistake.”
It has also been confirmed that the faction war will likely no longer play a major role in the future. The basic “Horde against Alliance” will probably no longer be a focus of the story. Nevertheless, there will still be tensions; however, these will be told through characters and groups, not by the factions as a whole.
Hazzikostas explains that they will focus on multiple perspectives in the future, such as those of the survivors of the Burning of Teldrassil, of Genn Greymane, or members of the Forsaken. Players will be able to decide for themselves where they stand regarding these events.
World of Warcraft is adjusting its fundamental principles, albeit slowly. But this could be exactly the change that the once greatest MMORPG needs.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
How big are the “screens”, “boxes” or generally televisions that you have at home? You responded to us in large numbers.
Here’s what it was about: Televisions have been an essential part of our lives for many decades. Whether for movies and series, news, documentaries, or gaming, almost all of us have a television in our homes.
Over the years, technology has continued to evolve, and the boxes have become less and less “box-shaped” and increasingly slimmer and wider. By now, there is a large variety of resolutions available for interested buyers. Therefore, we wanted to know in a survey: What resolution does your television actually have?
This is how you voted: A total of 6,709 MeinMMO readers participated in the survey. Each of you could cast exactly one vote, and the vote could not be undone.
The voting distribution is as follows:
65 inches: 27.88 % (1,871 votes)
55 inches: 27.56 % (1,849 votes)
75 inches or more: 16.92 % (1,135 votes)
50 inches: 8.66 % (581 votes)
43 inches: 7.61 % (511 votes)
40 inches or less: 4.59 % (308 votes)
58 inches: 1.88 % (126 votes)
70 inches: 1.85 / (124 votes)
I don’t own a television: 1.63 % (110 votes)
60 inches: 1.4 % (94 votes)
More on the topic of televisions on MeinMMO can be found here:
These were your comments: In a close race between two sizes, the televisions with 65 inches emerged as the winner with only a 22-vote lead. Overall, the sizes 55 and 65 inches are by far the most common among MeinMMO readers. More than every second participant has one of the two resolutions at home.
In the comments, quite a few owners of these resolutions reported and told us that they are satisfied with their choice. They offer good value for money and are affordable for many people.
However, price is not the only factor, as the distance to the television should also be considered. With a television that is too large in a small room, one will not be able to perceive the entire screen.
While not as relevant with the latest technology, a certain distance depending on size is still necessary. Otherwise, even with the very latest high-end TV, it just won’t work. […]
According to the current survey results, most people here should do well with 55″. About 2 meters distance should be manageable for everyone, but don’t forget, with 4k. With HD signal, it’s already 3.5 meters, and a larger TV makes very little sense for that.
MeinMMO reader BavEagle
I have the LG G1 Evo 65”. I think 65” is a great compromise between size and picture quality (considering input quality). This is my first OLED, and it is extremely good! […]
Unfortunately, I sit about 3.5 m a bit too far away; however, the resolution is better. Especially when gaming, I sit too far […]. Ideal for movies, just not so much for gaming.
MeinMMO reader Todesklinge
According to your comments, televisions are mainly used for gaming on consoles or watching movies and series. While some of you also like to use projectors and screens for home cinema. Sometimes, televisions are also used as screens for your PCs.
However, only a few of you completely forego televisions, as can be inferred from the 1.63% of the votes. For example, MeinMMO reader NewClearPower writes:
I have neither television nor console; I find traditional television horrendous nowadays […]. If I want to casually watch a movie or have a football match with friends, the 120″ screen comes down, and the image comes from the PC to the projector.
[…] Yes, price-wise a TV is cheaper, but it is also smaller. When I want to watch a good movie, I prefer to have the cinema feeling with it.
Others, however, mentioned in the comments that they have several TVs that they keep in the living room and bedroom. The “bedroom televisions” are usually smaller.
Did you expect the results, or was there a certain part of it that surprised you? If you could choose a desired resolution, what would it be? Let us know in the comments.
Lost Ark is known for its massive monster waves, challenging raids, and outstanding dungeons. However, one particular feature makes the MMORPG really good as well, and many do not even have it on their radar: the PvP.
Lost Ark shines in many areas. Whether you want to decorate an entire island in housing or prefer to fight gigantic, complex bosses with three friends, the MMORPG has that for you. You can even flirt in the game and make countless NPCs fall in love with you.
But one feature of Lost Ark is amazing, even though many only see it as an appendage. It is the PvP of the new MMORPG, which makes the hype rise even higher in me. But it seems I’m the only one who thinks this.And that, even though I usually don’t like PvP in MMORPGs.
Who is writing here? Mark Sellner is an MMORPG author at MeinMMO and so deeply engrossed in Lost Ark that he has already earned the nickname Lost Mark in the editorial team. He has been looking forward to the game for 7 years and absorbs every piece of information about it like an MMORPG sponge.
Let’s start from the very beginning – What can the PvP of Lost Ark actually do? Because as a major selling point, the mode is currently not used. Much more, numerous PvE contents are at the center of the campaigns surrounding Lost Ark. Even in my guild and among my friends, most want to focus on PvE.
I would like to focus solely on the arena PvP and its three modes and therefore intentionally leave out duels, GvG, and Rowen. Because of all people, it’s the rated arena matches of Lost Ark that totally captivate me, the PvP grump.
Because I feel for the first time that the PvP in an MMORPG truly values my time. There are various reasons for this, but I want to start with the first – the extremely easy entry.
The rated PvP in Lost Ark is basically available to me immediately. I need to create a character, bring him to level 26 and thereby to the first bigger city, and I can jump straight into the arena PvP matches.
In Lost Ark, I do not have a single disadvantage compared to someone who has already invested hundreds or thousands of hours into their character, as the arena is completely normalized.
All players have the same gear score, everyone has exactly the same number of skill points to spend. All that matters here are the individual skills of the respective player.
Start video
Lost Ark delivers intense action with 15 classes – See here in the video what they look like
Of course, someone who has already been at it for thousands of hours and gained experience will still beat me effortlessly – but at least not because he simply had better equipment.
That feels, as silly as it may sound, more satisfying. I know then that it was my fault if I died and that the opponent simply played better. It is more understandable and helps me improve myself.
Especially in the Team Elimination mode, where you compete in 1v1 matches consecutively, this mechanic comes into play for me the most. There you don’t even have the excuse that the enemy was in the majority, as is the case in Team Deathmatch.
Lost Ark values my time as a player
Additionally, the extremely short match times make the PvP in Lost Ark perfect for quick sessions. Because a round of PvP lasts only, depending on the mode, between 5 and 7 minutes. That is a perfect duration, as the battles always remain exciting, but never exceed my concentration ability.
In other PvP games I play, such as Hunt: Showdown, League of Legends, or the WvW matches in Guild Wars 2, a single session takes at least double but more likely three or four times as long.
And I can clearly notice how I begin to make stupid mistakes in a LoL round after 30 minutes, which I wouldn’t have made in the 7th minute. Or how I get restless in Hunt: Showdown after 20 minutes and can’t hit enemies as well as at the start of a round.
Concentration is essential for PvP battles, where only the skills of the players matter, and it feels good that Lost Ark has understood this. Players don’t feel overly challenged, even though the fights take place at a high level.
This makes it easier for me to play well over an extended period and take breaks exactly when I need them.
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And I can come up with another huge argument for the PvP in Lost Ark, it even helps you in PvE and in the normal game.
Of course, you can also simply not leave the PvP and fight for one of the coveted spots on the leaderboard, but if you are like me and want to experience PvE as well, the arenas are doubly interesting for you.
In PvP in Lost Ark, you can win quite a bit of loot. This includes mounts, titles, and other cosmetic items, as well as silver, gold, and even the real money currency crystals.
Additionally, you receive materials from the fights with which you can upgrade your equipment. Thus, the PvP is another way to improve your gear score, even if it doesn’t play a role in the arena itself.
What do you think of the PvP in Lost Ark? Will you give it a chance or are you only focused on the PvE in the game? Do you think that good PvP belongs in a modern MMORPG or do you believe that Lost Ark would have done just fine without it? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
In Pokémon GO the Lunar New Year event started on February 1, 2022, where you can encounter new quests and time-limited research. We at MeinMMO have looked at the tasks and show you which rewards you can look forward to.
What tasks are involved? As you are used to from past events, there will also be 7 special field research tasks for the Lunar New Year event. You can spin them at PokéStops. In addition, you can expect two time-limited research tasks around the event.
We have summarized for you below which tasks you need to complete, what rewards there will be, and whether they are worth it.
When does the Lunar New Year event take place? The Lunar New Year event starts on February 1, 2022, at 10:00 AM local time and runs until February 7, 2022, at 8:00 PM local time.
We updated this article on February 2, 2022, and added the missing rewards for the “Friendship Challenge”.
2 time-limited research tasks for the Lunar New Year event
During the Lunar New Year event, there are two time-limited research tasks, along with 7 new event field research tasks, that you can complete. These are available to every player and can be found in the “Today” view. The two tasks are divided into “Lunar New Year: Catch Challenge” and “Lunar New Year: Friendship Challenge”.
In contrast to field research tasks, these quests are time-limited. This means that you must complete and redeem them by the end of the event to secure the corresponding rewards. If you miss this, you will lose them.
With the help of the overview from LeekDuck, we have summarized the tasks of the two time-limited research tasks below (via leekduck.com). All Pokémon that you can also catch as shiny are marked with a (*).
Lunar New Year: Catch Challenge
Task
Reward
Catch 10 Pokémon
10 Poké Balls
Catch 25 Pokémon
15 Great Balls
Catch 25 Pokémon of Fire type
20 Ultra Balls
Catch 10 different species of Pokémon
Encounter with Leufeo*
Stage reward: If you have completed all 4 tasks, you will also receive 1,000 Stardust, 1,000 XP, and an encounter with Psiau*.
Lunar New Year: Friendship Challenge
Task
Reward
Send 5 Gifts and use a Sticker
Encounter with Flemmli*
Trade 3 Pokémon with a friend
Encounter with Krebscorps*
Send 15 Gifts to friends
Encounter with Flampion*
Send Gifts for 3 days in a row
Encounter with Leufeo*
Stage reward: If you have completed all 4 tasks, you will also receive 1,000 Stardust, 1,000 XP, and an encounter with Psiau*.
7 new field research tasks for the Lunar New Year event
Throughout the entire event around the Lunar New Year, you can collect special event tasks at PokéStops. As you know from the regular field research tasks, you just need to spin the photo disk at the PokéStop. The task will then be displayed in your “Field” view, which you access by clicking on the binoculars. You have unlimited time to complete these tasks.
With the help of the overview from Legends Lima, we have summarized all tasks and their rewards for you below (via reddit.com). All monsters that you can also encounter in their shiny form are marked with a (*).
Task
Reward
Catch 5 Pokémon
25 Mega Energy for Mega Gyarados
Catch 12 Pokémon
Encounter with Flampion*
Send a Pokémon
Encounter with Leufeo*
Win a raid
Encounter with Psiau*
Hatch an egg
Encounter with Alola Meowth* or Galar Meowth*
Send 3 Gifts
Encounter with Magikarp*
Send 3 Gifts and a Sticker
Encounter with Leufeo*
Which tasks are particularly worth it?
In the (field) research, two encounters are particularly worthwhile: Psiau and Meowth. We explain why.
Psiau
The Psychic Pokémon Psiau can be found for the first time in its shiny form in the game from February 1, 2022. Normally, this monster is rather rare, and you mainly get it from eggs. At the moment, it is also in the field research breakthrough for February and can be found in level 1 raids during the Lunar New Year event.
So, if you want to secure a shiny specimen, the event quest “Win a raid” now offers further opportunities to encounter a shiny Psiau. This task will particularly please shiny hunters.
Alola and Galar Meowth
Another interesting task is the one with Alola and Galar Meowth. However, the focus is primarily on the Galar version. This is quite similar to Psiau, the main way to get it in the game is through hatching eggs. Occasionally, like during the Lunar New Year event, it can also be found in level 1 raids.
Since the Steel-type Pokémon can also be caught in its shiny variant in the game, shiny hunters will also be pleased about this. Also, note that Galar Meowth evolves into Mauzinger, not Snobillikat. For all those who still need this Pokédex entry, it’s a perfect chance to catch up.
Alola Meowth, on the other hand, has been somewhat more common in the game and occasionally spawns in the wild. You can also hope for a shiny version with this monster. Additionally, Alola Meowth is one of the 22 monsters that give you a Stardust bonus.
Other interesting rewards
As the event is themed around Leufeo, which can also be found in its shiny form in the game for the first time, the corresponding tasks also offer further chances to obtain one. Leufeo also spawns in the wild throughout the event, so you will have good opportunities to encounter a shiny there as well.
If you regularly rely on Mega Evolutions, you should also not miss out on the Mega Energy for Gyarados.
How do you like the new field research tasks and time-limited researches for the Lunar New Year event? Which reward do you definitely want to secure? Feel free to share your thoughts with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and discuss with other trainers.
With Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a new fantasy spin-off of the Borderlands series is approaching. A new video gives us a glimpse of the gameplay we can expect.
What kind of game is this? “Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands” throws you right into a real tabletop RPG in video game form, led by the titular Tina.
Wonderlands will be released on March 25, 2022, and more and more information about the game is becoming known.
After we have already gotten to know some classes, a first glimpse into the gameplay has now been released by the gaming portal “IGN”. There, Seth Macy reports his first impressions from a test version of the game – showing what players can expect from the Wonderlands.
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Wonderlands mixes melee combat, heavy guns, and fantasy in the same pot
What is there to see? Unmistakably in the video is the fantasy vibe that the game has compared to Borderlands. Instead of barren desert planets or crazy space cities, we see an idyllic castle that is soon overrun by a skeleton army, or a lagoon full of pirate ships.
The well-known, somewhat crazy Borderlands humor is also included. For example, the player encounters a drawbridge that somehow needs to be lowered. Instead of relying on climbing maneuvers or attacks, the player attempts to convince the door to open with sweet coaxing – successfully.
Villages and crooked towers are part of the world view, just like catapults or nasty monsters that dash across the screen instead of the usual psychos, waiting to be dealt with.
To do this, players can use various attack types. The main tool of destruction remains the crazy weapons we also know from Borderlands, just with a fantasy twist.
Tina guides you through the Wonderlands
However, melee maneuvers and weapons also come into play, which can provide significant bonuses for your builds, as well as real magic.
The latter largely replaces the grenades from the games and comes in all sorts of shapes and colors. In the video, for example, a magical raven, a crashing lightning bolt, and comets descending from portals can be seen. Even while the spells seek their targets, you can continue attacking with melee and shooting weapons. Chaotic, but apparently also very varied.
What is missing in the video? What did not play a role in the gameplay video is the unusual open world of the game. The “Overworld” is designed as a tabletop RPG and shows your characters as small game figurines. This world has its own challenges and features. We will introduce the Overworld separately here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The legendary role-playing game Gothic is now a real MMO – just not officially. Fans have expanded the world and the game with a multiplayer mode. And MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus now fears for his free time because of this.
If you don’t know Gothic: the game from the German studio Piranha Bytes is considered one of the most popular role-playing games, at least in Germany. As the nameless hero, you complete quests, fight against gods and dragons. Summarizing the entire story would exceed the scope here.
The game became popular mainly for its simple yet exciting combat system, the many possibilities and storylines, as well as the role-playing aspect. You can fully immerse yourself in the role of the hero – or simply blow away anyone who annoys you.
For me, Gothic is a piece of childhood and youth. The first part was released in 2001, and the second already in 2002. I was already a nerd back then and fully immersed myself in the games – and for the first time, I could even talk about the hobby with friends. We all spent dozens of hours in the games.
Together with Ragnarok Online and shortly after that World of Warcraft starting in 2004, Gothic shaped a good part of my early gaming time. The appearance of the medieval band In Extremo in the first part even significantly contributed to my current taste in music. Gothic is one of the few games I have played through multiple times, just to see all the possible decisions.
Now a group of fans has started a project to turn Gothic into an MMO. Gothic Online: Untold Chapters is the implementation and even has its own website. In a new trailer, the team shows what the project is all about:
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Gothic as an MMO – And I will have no life anymore
Untold Chapters is based on the expansion of Gothic 2: The Night of the Raven from 2003 but includes content from both Gothic 1 and part 2. The magical barrier is still there, and the prisoners there are still mining for ore.
The fans’ MMO implementation focuses more on role-playing than on looting and leveling. Similar to the RP servers of GTA V Online, you play a role and interact with other players. Everyone has their own personality and fulfills their role in the world.
However, if someone wants to become “more important,” for example, to ascend to a mage or paladin, they are said to need to invest several months into the game and earn everything. All of this is already playable, and there is a guide for installation available on the official website.
I personally am still not quite ready for the project. Less because it doesn’t sound like the original Gothic but more because I would probably spend too much time there. I love Gothic and this MMO idea sounds excellent.
In other RP projects, I have worked on my role for years. But whether I can manage that again – no idea. Especially since 2022 is otherwise not lacking in good games. Let’s see if Untold Chapters can captivate me – or if all the new releases like Nightingale will draw me in too much:
Getting a RTX-3080 graphics card is still incredibly difficult. Tinkerer Mark Celica from “Mark’s Fabrication” has now gotten one – and used it in a PC that is quite unique.
Who is tinkering? A video has been published on NVIDIA GeForce’s YouTube channel, showcasing a very special PC constructed in Doom design. The design is the work of Mark Celica from “Mark’s Fabrication”.
Celica has built crazy custom PCs in the past and even secured second place in the “Cooler Master Case Mod World Series” in 2018, a kind of world championship for wild, DIY PCs.
Since then, he says, he has increasingly focused on handcrafted PCs – and has been inspired by various aspects of the Doom series. In particular, he is fascinated by the armor and the weapons.
It is fitting that his latest design also seems to have sprung directly from the game. Celica has built a PC that looks strikingly similar to the enormous cannon “BFG 10,000” from Doom Eternal.
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What’s in the cannon: Cecila explains that his PC is quite special. For one, the cannon has a laser effect that is meant to replicate the firing of the cannon. Additionally, the case is capable of tilting the cannon up and down. While this doesn’t enhance gaming, it looks cool.
However, the cannon also boasts substantial performance: it is equipped with a GeForce RTX 3080, which is still hard to come by today. Currently, you would have to shell out around 1,400 Euros at a minimum to secure the coveted graphics card (via Geizhals.de). Moreover, there are even more expensive models.
Alongside that, Cecila installed components such as:
An Intel i7 10700K CPU
An ASRock Z490 motherboard
16GB Zadak memory
Cooler Master for power supply and water cooling
What kind of cannon is this? The BFG-10000 is a monstrously huge cannon from Doom Eternal, intended for planetary defense. In Eternal, the Doom Slayer uses it to shoot a hole in Mars – even though the character Samuel Hayder expressed concerns beforehand that one shouldn’t just shoot a hole in Mars!
This moment has become somewhat of a meme among Doom fans and has been parodied in various videos. For example, here:
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It turns out: shooting a hole in Mars is no problem for the Doom Slayer. The BFG-10000-RTX-3080-PC has surely reminded some players of the Mars attack.
For playing Doom, the PC is definitely suitable. Only planetary damage is something this thing likely won’t be able to cause. Hopefully.
Shortly after the largest gaming deal in history, Sony suddenly counters and acquires Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2. This is not just about the studio, but also the expertise behind it. We talk in the MeinMMO podcast about what this deal means.
This is the topic: On January 31, Sony announced that it would acquire the developer studio Bungie – for an impressive 3.2 billion euros. Bungie is mainly known for their work on Destiny 2.
Interestingly, Bungie had previously worked as a studio for Activision Blizzard – and before that, directly for Microsoft. There is a certain irony in the whole story.
In the current episode, Schuhmann, Alex, and guest Benedict Grothaus, our survival expert at MeinMMO, will break down the deal for you. In the podcast, we will address some open questions about the topic, such as:
What exactly is behind the purchase?
What plans does Sony have?
Does Sony want to rebuild its leadership over Microsoft, or are there other goals?
What does the purchase mean for gaming and gamers?
Even though there is some mockery about the purchase from certain corners of the internet, Destiny fans are especially pleased. For them, the acquisition means that their favorite game will soon finally receive better support and more content after a long dry spell.
This is how you can get involved: 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 proposal that should definitely be discussed, check out our Discord server.
Alternatively, you can also directly email [email protected] and share your thoughts with us. Write your opinion in the comments.
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InDestiny 2 is currently turbulent. Just before the new expansion, Sony announces it’s acquiring Bungie. Then it becomes known that “The Witch Queen” is well on its way to becoming the most pre-ordered expansion in Destiny 2 history. Whether it will be equally exciting in the game after the Weekly Reset, we will reveal to you now.
This week: The Witch Queen remains, along with the Worm, in her crystal prison, and Mara Sov continues to do nothing to free her or to start the Worm Exorcism by the Intrigued Lady. Perhaps today is finally the day, as the new lunar year, which has cosmic significance, begins, and it feels like the perfect day for a Worm Exorcism. Moreover, there are only three weeks left until the launch of Witch Queen on February 22. But somehow the seasonal quest does indeed have the worm in it.
Additionally, Guardians will be put to the test again this week. The Trials Lab returns and comes with a reputation rank boost, allowing you to level up faster. In the Crucible, you can also let loose in the Showdown mode.
Many players have used the long season to finish unfinished triumphs and catalysts. Now, the focus is actually only on proper preparation for Witch Queen. To see if you are ready, you can easily check this website.
The latest trailer certainly makes you excited for the new content:
Caitl’s Champion is still not bored and challenges you again in the great tank on Nessus. Defeat him and prove that you deserve the title “Champion of Humanity” by facing him on the highest difficulty “Top-Notch”.
These Nightfall weapons are currently available:
The Swarm, Arc Machine Gun (Master)
The Palindrome, Void Hand Cannon (Master)
Playlist Strikes have these modifiers:
Solar
Stasis-Temporal Exchange
Blackout
The incineration modifier will accompany you all week; the others change daily.
This week’s bonus:
Bonus Rank points are available this time in the Trials of Osiris labs.
In the Vault of Glass, you will encounter the Gatekeeper Challenge “Strangers in Time”. To succeed, you must defeat the Minotaurs in the various timelines simultaneously with the Wyverns. With a bit of coordination, it’s a solvable challenge.
As a reward, the Challenge Mode offers the time-lost weapon “Vex Mythoclast”. The weapon will come with 2 perks per slot guaranteed.
The armor focusing in the raid this week is: Recovery
Crucible – Here are the PvP playlists:
Private Match
Rumble
Control
Elimination
Glory – Survivals
Glory – Freelance Survivals
Showdown
Labs: Trials of Osiris
Ascendant Challenge:
Petra Venjhas a super 5th Ascendant Challenge for all Jump Masters: the “Judgment Abyss”. You can find Petra and her quest offer on the shore in the Dreaming City. At least the curse is on cooldown this time. We are in the 1st curse week.
Sources for top loot in Season 15 of Destiny 2
This is the new Max Level: In the Season of the Lost, the maximum power level of your gear stands at 1,330. This means the power level has only risen by +10 compared to the previous Season 14.
You are not occupied with annoying levels anymore; instead, you can dive straight into the endgame.
This top loot (Pinnacle Gear) will bring you over 1,320:
Reach at least 100,000 points in the Nightfall: The Hollowed Subterranean (+2)
Don’t forget: Remember to collect your Glitter Dust gift in the Eververse this week. Otherwise, of course, there is also a new offer from Tess this week.
The ornament “Illuminated Steps” for the Exotic “Path of Burning Steps”
This week you can also get for Glitter Dustat Tess:
A weapon ornament for the bow “Trinity Ghoul” named “Bone Spark”
Exotic Sparrow “Taurus Firecracker”
The exotic ship “Taurus Rocket”
The shader
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Shortly before the weekly reset, Destiny 2 presents a new trailer for Witch Queen, showcasing the new weapon crafting and introducing you to “The Relic” as well as new exotics, including a truly wormy grenade launcher.
What was shown new? Destiny 2 takes you into the heart of Savathun’s Throne World in the latest trailer for Witch Queen. The video reveals details about the new, futuristic weapon crafting and also showcases the exotics of the new expansion. Guardians will soon forge their new arsenal on the altered Mars.
The weapons in the trailer had already leaked over a very short promotional trailer over the weekend. Thus, it was already expected that Bungie would soon present more details in an official trailer.
These new weapons await you in Season 16:
“Great Overture” – A grenade launcher that automatically reloads projectiles
“Parasite” – A “worm launcher” that can continuously increase its damage
“Osteo Striga” – The submachine gun features swarming projectiles that trigger a toxic salvo
Moreover, there will indeed be class-specific glaives with different properties/elements, as some Guardians have cleverly suspected.
Titan Glaive: “Blade of Action” – places a shield
Warlock Glaive: “Blade of Intention” – deploys a healing turret
Hunter Glaive: “Blade of Accord” – with a tracking chain lightning
What’s particularly interesting in the trailer: A close-up shows a weapon that seems to have a futuristic perk system, allowing players to change the characteristics of their weapon through switchable slots. This could possibly be a selection menu in the new weapon crafting where players determine which perks their weapons should ultimately have.
Futuristic, switchable weapon properties
This is what the finished assembled weapon looks like
In the trailer, Bungie also presents the first new armor exotics for all three classes.
These new exotic armors await you in Season 16:
Titan Chest: “Raufeif-Z” – a stasis wall replaces the normal barricade
Warlock Arm: “Osmiomancy” – an additional cold boost with improved targeting
What does the community say? The trailer definitely piques the Guardians’ curiosity. Especially since names and special properties of the new exotic weapons and armors are now known. The Witch Queen can probably expect a striking reunion with the Guardians when she first receives them on Mars in Season 16.
What do you think of the new Witch Queen trailer? Any ideas yet? Do the new weapons meet your expectations so far? Or are you not impressed at all? Let us know in the comments what you liked best and what you are most looking forward to.
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