In the League of Legends last week a new champion arrived: Gwen. LoL fans had dreamed of a killer doll, but got a rather attractive human champion instead. And somehow, they are not satisfied with that. The new champion is just too pretty and not monstrous enough.
This is the new champion: The new champion Gwen is a doll, who fights with a pair of gigantic scissors. She is at home on the top lane in LoL.
Her backstory is: Originally, the doll was sewn together by Isolde, a queen who perished in an assassination attempt. Isolde’s husband, Viego, tried to bring his wife back to life. But that went wrong: The spirit of Isolde transferred into the body of the doll Gwen.
Fans expected a doll that was brought to life
This is the discussion around Gwen: After Gwen’s reveal, some LoL players imagined getting a champ that really looks like a doll brought to life. They hoped for Gwen to have an unnatural, monstrous look with buttons for eyes and visible “I have just been sewn together” features.
Gwen was supposed to look like an “unnatural person,” like a doll thing. On Twitch, users share their images of how they envision Gwen as a “doll.”
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Riot says: Monstrous characters are coming, but it will take until 2022
This is what Riot says: The discussion on Reddit about Gwen looking “too normal, too human, too sexy, and not enough like a doll” prompts character designer Ryan Mireles, the lead champion producer, to respond.
He says there has been a lot of internal discussion about Gwen. Originally, the plan was for her to look like a doll brought to life. But it was found that in that version, Gwen looked too similar to Shaco and Orianna. Therefore, they had the idea of making her a transformed doll like Pinocchio.
So Gwen now does not look like a doll that has come to life but like a doll that has been turned into a human.
Mireles says: Riot Games knows that fans want more monstrous champs, but that will take a while. They are currently transitioning to making fewer “normal people” and more champions like Renekton, Aatrox, or Lillia. But LoL fans will not notice this change until 2022.
And that does not mean that they will only build “creatures,” but simply fewer “pure humans.”
The interesting part is how the discussion in LoL has shifted. In 2016, fans criticized a new champion for “not being sexy enough,” 5 years later they wish for less “classically pretty women” and rather the unusual:
The British system builder “Fierce PC” has introduced a range of gaming PCs. These devices feature modern hardware, but the most important component is missing: Graphics cards are not installed in the computers. For instance, buyers must already own a GeForce RTX 3080, RTX 3090, or Radeon RX 6700 XT.
Have you already acquired a coveted RTX 3080 or RX 6700 XT, and just need the right PC? Then you should check out the new gaming series from a British manufacturer.
Currently, the system builder “Fierce PC” from the UK is offering a new series of gaming PCs (via overclock3d.net). These offer modern RAM, a fast processor, and a good motherboard, but the most essential component for gamers is absent: A graphics card is not included.
This seems a bit strange in the current situation with a shortage of graphics cards. For many people, complete PCs are currently a somewhat good option to get hold of a card of the new generation.
However, system builders are also affected by the shortage just like private individuals. Gaming PCs without a GPU seem like a stopgap solution. Besides that, the system builder continues to sell gaming PCs with graphics cards. The Nexus series “No GPU Range” can also be further configured in the shop.
Manufacturer targets buyers with strong graphics card
What kind of gaming PCs are these? Manufacturer “Fierce PC” intentionally calls the new series of gaming PCs “No GPU Range.” These computers are aimed at gamers who already own a graphics card, and they make this clear:
We present to you a series of systems where you can install your own graphics card. This system line does not come with a graphics card and cannot boot without one. We ask our customers to consider this when ordering from this series.
16 GB of RAM is the minimum that gamers should install in their systems today. The ASUS TUF B460-PLUS is also relatively placed in the upper entry-level class. In terms of SSD, “Fierce PC” opts for somewhat slower models from the manufacturer Seagate.
If you want a faster SSD from Samsung or an additional M.2 SSD, you must pay an additional £40 – 60. However, included in the price is a processor with built-in water cooling. “Fierce PC” uses overall solid components, but you won’t get high-end technology in the basic system.
Who are the PCs aimed at? With this series, the manufacturer is reaching out to customers who already have a strong graphics card and are looking for a new system for it. They are also suitable for players who are specifically waiting for their chance to obtain one of the currently scarce graphics cards and want to be ready right away, as long as they do not mind the effort of building one themselves.
Where can you buy the devices? You can buy the devices directly from the manufacturer (via Fiercepc.co.uk). They also ship their “ready-made” PCs from the UK to Germany. However, this may incur additional import fees and especially shipping costs.
This is what the manufacturer’s basic configurations look like.
Poor availability of graphics cards persists
It could take a while before there are enough graphics cards again due to the current shortage of semiconductors. Semiconductors are needed in many important electronic devices.
These include cars, refrigerators, or smartphones, as well as consoles and graphics cards. The poor availability is further intensified by the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The few available devices are currently being sold by dealers and scalpers and resellers at high prices.
That’s why even the possible launch of the RTX 3080 Ti in May 2021 leaves many players quite indifferent, as the current graphics cards are already hardly available. The Ti version of the RTX 3080 is said to be significantly faster than the regular RTX 3080, but offers less graphics memory.
However, currently, many gamers only wish to get a graphics card at a somewhat reasonable price.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The mid-season update of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is online and brings several new features. Among them is an adjustment in the league play mode that ensures that unfair players cannot join any matches for a while.
With the league play mode, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War introduced a SBMM mode (skill-based matchmaking). You compete almost exclusively against players who are roughly at your level. There are specific rules regarding equipment and modes. Events run twice a week where you play with 50 other soldiers for the best ranks. Better ranks mean better rewards.
With the league play rank, the level also rises. The matches become sweatier, and the pulse is pushed to the limit. If things are not going well, there are players who like to leave the match – “rage quit” becomes a thing. Especially in league matches, this is particularly annoying as it affects the placements at the end of an event.
With the new mid-season update of season 2, the CoD developers are trying to counter this. Two new rules have been introduced, which temporarily exclude soldiers who cannot behave from league play. MeinMMO shows you the details.
League play sanctions rage quit and friendly fire
What has changed now? The latest update does not want to allow bad losers who leave the match prematurely to simply start the next round. The same applies to players who excessively engage in friendly fire, that is, attack their own teammates. The developers state in the patch notes:
We have introduced new match penalties for players who leave an ongoing match or engage in friendly fire to improve the competitive experience for all players. With multiple offenses, the penalties increase – play nice or pay the price.
What do the penalties look like? It is currently not possible to say exactly. We tried to trigger a penalty but only felt guilty. Assuming other games with ranking systems (like League of Legends), the first penalty round could result in a 5-minute pause from league play.
The more often you engage in such behavior, the higher the penalties will be. It is quite possible that after that you will have to wait 15 minutes, and for more frequent offenses, even an hour.
Are there immediate penalties? If you leave a match once or eliminate a teammate, you do not need to worry. This is about multiple offenses that suggest a pattern. For example, if the game crashes or a teammate runs into your line of fire, you will not be immediately penalized.
League play aims to make Call of Duty more competitive
What is the appeal of league play? Regular multiplayer, with its many gadgets, scorestreaks, and different weapon classes, is not particularly well suited for competitive gameplay. Too many items ruin fair competition in too many situations. The multiplayer mode is war – that’s acceptable. But on a competitive level, it’s more about tactics, approaches, and the players’ gun skill.
Fans of Call of Duty who prefer a bit more competitiveness can find a home in the CDL modes or the league play mode. There is less equipment, smaller teams, and only a few game modes with selected maps. Additionally, through the league play mode, you can now earn rewards and have a leaderboard that reveals how good you actually are.
All equipment currently excluded from league play.
No wonder that CoD is now using harder measures in “league play”. The soldiers who participate here are among the top players and the biggest fans of the shooter series. Although the new sanctions for rage quitters and teammate killers will not make the problems disappear, it is quite possible that these unfair play styles will decrease somewhat.
The latest expansion of Hearthstone is launching. We will tell you which decks you can start with right away.
It’s that time again, Blizzard’s card game Hearthstone is being expanded with 135 new cards with Forged in the Barrens. So you know how to hold your own against your enemies in the new environment from the start, we have picked out a few decks for you. These decks use some of the new cards and are perfect for getting a feel for the innovations in the first days. The suggestions provide a good basis to refine the deck further and tailor it to your own needs.
How does it work? Each deck has three specifications from us.
Deck code: You can copy the deck code and paste it into Hearthstone while you are in the collection. Hearthstone will then build you the deck with all the associated cards. Please note that the deck codes only work after the official launch of the expansion.
Dust cost: The dust cost is the amount of Arcane dust you must pay if you want to create the deck and do not own any of the used cards. Normally, the actual costs are significantly lower than stated, as a large part of the cards are already owned by most players.
Description: The description is – as one might suspect – a brief explanation of how the deck works, which combos it relies on, and what to keep in mind.
Description: The Aggro Demon Hunter does not reinvent the wheel, but it does not need to. Demon Hunters (DH) are masters at finishing the game long before the opponent can even establish their own strategy. More so than the Hunter, the DH is the undisputed champion of “face damage” and short work of many other decks.
The new cards have only amplified this potential. “Rage” gets stronger and stronger and gives the DH a significant boost to its attack, which can lead to an unexpected finisher. The Oasis Ray causes additional damage to the enemy hero if it survives an attack. The Golem maker Kazakus creates a powerful golem according to your design and benefits from the fact that your deck contains no other cards that cost 4 mana.
Basically, it can be said that victory or defeat with this deck is likely to be decided within a few turns. The burst potential is tremendous, but if the enemy can recover, it will be hard to find a way back into the game.
Description: The “Watcher Button Mage” combines two new effects that the Mage can take advantage of. One is the various Watcher cards. These cannot attack by nature, but are extremely annoying for the opponent as they create different effects. For example, the Watchers increase the enemy’s card costs or strengthen the Mage’s minions when spells are played. Later in the game, Kargal Bloodbloom can summon a 5/5 minion for each summoned Watcher.
This is combined with the new ability to permanently increase the damage of the Mage’s hero power. Firewalking permanently increases hero power damage by 1 and can be played twice. “Daring Apprentice” in turn fires your hero power at all enemy targets. If your hero deals 10 damage this way throughout the game – which is guaranteed to happen – you activate the legendary minion Mordresh Fireeye, who deals 10 damage to all enemies.
Filled with many mean, already known cards like Jandice Barov or Astromancer Solarian, the deck drives the enemy insane.
Due to the many legendary cards, the deck is quite expensive, but at the same time ensures that you can play a frustrating card for the opponent almost every turn. Not to mention that you continuously deal extremely nasty fire damage to them.
Description: Murlocs and Shamans are simply a combination that heaven has devised. Or hell. Depending on which side of the battlefield you are on. The “Reader Murloc Shaman” relies on the superiority of the slippery comrades and combines old and new Murlocs to mercilessly overwhelm the opponent.
The new Murlocs from the Blooming Oasis provide buffs to each other and have quite convincing stats for their low cost that synergize well with other Murlocs.
The spell “Fury of the Finbear” grants minions +1 / +1 – in the case of Murlocs even +2 / +2. That is one of the most powerful buff effects available for 3 mana in the game.
However, the icing on the cake is the legendary minion Flurgl Firemant. He deals 1 damage to all enemies after a Murloc is played. This can quickly clear the board and deal a good amount of damage to the enemy hero.
As is often the case with “Swarm” or “Aggro” decks, the timing of when to throw all your Murlocs into battle is crucial. If you catch the wrong moment and the whole battlefield gets cleared, there are often very few chances to get back into the game. However, the Murlocs can also disassemble the enemy in no time if they get their chance.
What time does it start? The latest expansion of Hearthstone goes live on March 30 in the evening hours. Typically, this happens between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM German time. From then on, the 135 new cards will be available in the game and can be earned through packs or the rewards track.
Why should you play right away? The launch of a new expansion is always the most exciting time in Hearthstone. New deck ideas and all the fresh cards ensure that there is a fresh breeze in Hearthstone. After a few weeks, this feeling wanes as the meta settles and a few pro decks crystallize. Before that happens, one should take the time to enjoy all the innovations that Forged in the Barrens brings.
You can find more deck ideas to get started for all classes in our sources.
Are you jumping right in and trying out the new cards? Or are you waiting until a new meta has crystallized and you know what to expect?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The streamer DrDisrespect is known for his love of shooters and Call of Duty. But that has come to an end for now: The popular YouTube streamer hates the weapon “AUG” so much that he uninstalled Call of Duty: Warzone during the ongoing stream. The weapon is simply technically broken, judges the shooter expert.
This is the weapon in question: It is the Austrian “Army Universal Rifle” (AUG), which came into the game with CoD: Cold War. The tactical rifle has dominated Call of Duty Warzone since the start of Season 2 on February 25. In Call of Duty: Warzone, the AUG fires in 3-shot bursts, meaning with fire bursts.
“I say the weapon is even worse than the DMR. I believe the weapon is simply broken. Plain broken. I know the DMR was OP and was in a way also broken, but the AUG is simply technically broken.”
DrDisrespect
DrDisrespect elaborates: He believes the AUG simply does not fit the engine of CoD Warzone. The weapon does not work correctly. DrDisrespect thinks: CoD Warzone cannot handle a three-part combination:
the 12 tick rate of the servers
the different pings of the players
the “fire bursts” of the AUG
The combination leads to players being killed by the AUG. However, the game does not depict this correctly. Somehow, important data got lost along the way, believes the former “Call of Duty” developer.
For the AUG shooter, it appears on his screen as if he has taken out his target with three fire bursts. But for the victim of the AUG, it seems as if the shooter has not fired even once, and the victim suddenly falls dead.
This is the end: DrDisrespect clearly outlined these issues with the AUG in CoD Warzone just a few days ago. He repeatedly expressed his frustration with Call of Duty in general and the AUG in particular. But a few days later, the end was reached.
After DrDisrespect once again “fell out of nowhere” and lost a firefight that he felt had not even properly started yet, he shook his head and said he was so fed up with CoD Warzone: The current “FFAR” META is terrible. He simply cannot stand the AUG.
He just couldn’t believe he lost a firefight that he thought he should have clearly won.
The current “meta loadout” in CoD Warzone is a mix of the FFAR1 assault rifle for close distance and the AUG for long distance. We present you with the 10 most popular weapons in CoD Warzone and setups for that here.
A little later, it was finally over. DrDisrespect uninstalled CoD Warzone, cursing in front of the camera, exclaiming: “Get the hell off my system! Embarrassing!”
We embed the video here. The segment starts around 4:51:43.
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The final straw for the uninstallation was not the AUG, but three people in trucks, driving around with “hitboxes I can’t even explain.” It was as if people were driving around in cafés with bulletproof glass windows.
He called out to the developers: This is the perfect example of what you should not do with a successful game.
Today, on March 30, the Spotlight Hour with Snickmag starts in Pokémon GO. We will show you the bonuses and tell you if the hour is worth it.
What is a Spotlight Hour? This event takes place every Tuesday in Pokémon GO and focuses on a Pokémon that appears more frequently for one hour. Additionally, there is a bonus that complements the event.
This week is all about the Fire Pokémon Snickmag. We will show you whether the Spotlight Hour with the Pokémon is worth it this week.
Today’s Spotlight Hour with Snickmag – All Info
When does it start? The event starts as usual at 6:00 PM local time and lasts exactly one hour. At 7:00 PM, the spawns return to normal and the Spotlight Hour is over.
These are the bonuses: As usual for the Spotlight Hour, the general spawns are increased, and significantly more Snickmag appear. You can easily catch over 300 Pokémon in the hour.
Additionally, there are double candies for catching Pokémon. So, you will receive 6 candies per catch. If you use a Nanab Berry, you’ll even get 12 candies per Pokémon.
Is there Shiny Snickmag? No, the Pokémon does not appear in its shiny form yet. Shiny hunters will not benefit from this event.
This is the story of Snickmag: The Pokémon is essentially made of liquid lava, so it must always be in motion. If Snickmag stays still for too long, it hardens and can no longer move.
Snickmag usually lives in particularly hot places in the Pokémon world. It is said that it can rest near lava, as it is hot enough there for it not to harden itself.
Is the event worth it? In short: Not really. Snickmag and its evolution Magcargo play no role in the meta of Pokémon GO. You don’t need a strong specimen for your team. Additionally, the bonus is not worthwhile. Double candies are nice, but since you don’t really need Snickmag, you also don’t need double candies here.
You can comfortably skip the hour and not miss much. Instead, you can look forward to the Spring Event, which starts over the Easter weekend.
What else is happening in Pokémon GO? The Spotlight Hour with Snickmag is the last of these hours in March. But don’t worry, numerous Spotlight Hours await you in April as well. You can find out which hours those are and what other events are coming up here:
Since the Open Beta of Magic: Legends launched, many players have already gotten a sense of the new action RPG. However, the opinion on the game was rather negative shortly after the start. Now, the developers are addressing some of the biggest criticisms.
Actually, the action RPG is completely free-to-play, but it has a real money shop. In this shop, boosters and cosmetics can be purchased – but also loot boxes. It was precisely these loot boxes that posed a huge problem.
Because in the “Dimir Packs” lies the sixth class of the game, the Dimir Assassin. One pack costs 300 Zen (approximately between 2 and 3 euros) and the chance to obtain the class is roughly 1:250 according to players (via YouTube).
The class can also be purchased from other players for in-game currency, but it is so expensive that it is realistically out of reach for most players. This, combined with technical issues and criticism of the gameplay, led to the beta of Magic: Legends not being well received.
This booster pack of the Dimir Assassin was not well received.
Now the developers want to address exactly those points of criticism that players complain about the most.
Better performance and Dimir Assassin in the Battle Pass
What the developers are changing now: The most important change for many is that the Dimir Assassin is now available at level 50 of the free Battle Pass. This means: If you play enough, you can get the class completely for free.
What is a Battle Pass? With a Battle Pass (sometimes also called “Season Pass”), players can unlock new content simply by playing. The rewards usually consist of cosmetics, but sometimes also gameplay content, such as the class in Magic: Legends.
Battle Passes often come with two “paths”: a free one and a paid one with more content. This model is especially popular in free-to-play games, as it keeps players engaged and encourages them to play. Since Fortnite at the latest, Battle Passes have become a nearly ubiquitous feature.
Another major point of criticism was the performance of the game. Many players complained about lags or poor connections. According to the developers, they were surprised by the large influx of players, which the servers could not fully handle. However, with some technical improvements, connection and performance issues should now be resolved. Further changes include:
the too long tutorial will be shortened
collisions between players will be removed
chat spam will be reduced
Additionally, the developers are focusing on the endgame. According to some particularly diligent players, it was rather boring and lacked variety. However, the “endgame” is said to be larger than players have been able to discover so far and shall be further expanded based on tester feedback.
The complete changes can be found in the blog post by the developers of Magic: Legends (via playmagiclegends).
Depending on the launcher you choose, you will even receive some cosmetic rewards for free, which you can redeem until April 6. Once Magic: Legends is released later in 2021, it will also be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and thanks to backwards compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
However, those who test on PC already have no disadvantages – except that work is still continuously being done on the game and features are being improved. All content will be carried over, and there will be no “wipe”: Magic: Legends has actually already started
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Free2Play shooter Exomecha (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series) has released a new, brutal trailer. This shows some gameplay scenes from the game that look like a mix of Crysis and Transformers.
What kind of game is that? Exomecha is a competitive Free2Play shooter from developer TwistedRed. It is the studio’s first project. Officially, it is even classified as an MMORPG.
The game was already announced in the summer of 2020 but has not gained much attention so far. Now a new trailer featuring scenes from the game has been released.
In the gameplay snippets, there are several combat scenes with various futuristic weapons and other tools on display. The game mixes different sci-fi elements reminiscent of Crysis, Transformers, Halo, or even Titanfall. You can watch the trailer here:
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These are the highlights: In the snippets that showcase high-end graphics, you can see several weapons and gadgets in action:
In addition to assault rifles and shotguns, players can use sticky mines and attach them directly to enemies in close combat.
Players can also traverse the map using a grappling hook, making them quite mobile.
Moreover, there are vehicles with turrets that remind of the Warthogs from Halo. You can grapple into these and also take the vehicles from your enemies.
Tanks and helicopters are seen in the trailer. Helis fire rockets which players can even ride on.
The highlight, however, is clearly the gigantic mechs and a big metal dragon that appears at the end of the trailer.
The mechs are either armed with firearms or equipped with sword and shield, fighting in a manner reminiscent of Transformers. However, there may also be animal-mechs, as there are glimpses of cat and spider robots in between. The finale of the trailer is the dragon, which is only shown briefly.
How all these mechanics will look in the game remains to be seen. However, you can sign up for a beta on the official site (via exomecha).
Exomecha Looks Good and Bad at the Same Time
This is how players are reacting to the trailer: In the comments under the video, many players express skepticism. On one hand, they praise the graphics; on the other hand, some animations do not fare well.
Especially the movements when enemy players are taken out from behind receive a lot of ridicule:
In a comment, it says: “The stealth animations look ridiculous!”
In another comment, it states: “He gently laid him down and politely stabbed him.”
At the same time, the graphics and the gameplay in general are rated as good. Many commentators therefore agree: Exomecha manages to look both good and bad at the same time.
The Canadian Twitch streamer Félix “xQc” Lengyel showed a bank robbery on a roleplay server of GTA Online during a livestream. He wore a heart rate monitor and continuously showed his pulse to his viewers. The situation stressed the streamer so much that he was reportedly on the verge of fainting.
This is what happened: xQc was on the roleplay server of NoPixel, which had temporarily banned him some time ago, and he assembled a team for a bank robbery. The server consists entirely of roleplayers, even the police is controlled by real players. This intensifies the GTA experience even more, as each character has a real person behind it making their own decisions.
The stream became particularly interesting when xQc was in the bank he wanted to rob. His pulse shot up so high that he claimed he saw black due to the stress.
Pulse of 177 at xQc: “I think I’m going to faint”
This is the situation in GTA Online: The streamer stands in the bank and has even taken hostages so he can escape carefree after the robbery. Outside, the police is already waiting with their weapons drawn, wanting to arrest the streamer. The situation resembles a Hollywood-style bank heist:
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After the discussion with the police, xQc stands in front of the vault he still has to crack. His team is also there, and they are trying to solve the puzzles together in order to open the vault. It seems that the pressure is highest on xQc, as his pulse shoots up to 177. The streamer says twice, “I think I’m going to faint.”
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xQc manages to regain his composure, but the bank robbery fails. He and his team are unable to crack the vault and flee without any loot. After the incident, xQc stated: “I was so stressed, my heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t think anymore, the blood was rushing out of my head, I suddenly saw black.”
Who is xQc anyway? The Canadian is currently regarded as the biggest streamer on Twitch. In the last 90 days, xQc had by far the highest watch time – his content was thus watched more than any other Twitch streamer (via sullygnome).
The streamer stands out due to his direct and often harsh manner. He often insults other players or completely loses it in many situations. He also often plays on the edge of what is allowed. For example, there was an incident in November 2020 during a tournament around Fall Guys. Afterwards, numerous Twitch streamers called for xQc to be banned.
Why is the situation so stressful? Every gamer knows that sometimes games can really put you under pressure and can indeed be stressful. The NoPixel roleplay server takes this to the next level, as you encounter real players who are fully in their roles and interact with you.
The GTA gameplay there feels like real life, as anyone committing a crime will be arrested by the police, and every decision you make also influences other players.
A bank robbery is the ultimate discipline. After all, xQc had to guide his team, discuss with the police, and keep the hostages in check. The situation was surprisingly real, as each participant made their own decisions and thus altered the events. A stress situation that was almost too much for xQc.
The streamer has been on the roleplay server for a while. There he was also a victim of a robbery:
In Valheim you can now visit the continent of Northrend from one of the best expansions of World of Warcraft . This is made possible by a new mod that not only grants access to the large continent but also provides new loot.
What kind of mod is this? The mod has the simple name “World of Warcraft – Northrend” and transforms your map into the famous continent from WoW. It is more than just a “seed”, meaning it’s a reshaped map. The mod was released on March 25 on NexusMods and is created by the user “Drakoman The Fox”.
What is a mod anyway? Mods, short for “modifications”, are usually player-created changes to a game. They add new features or modify existing content. Often, they make the game easier or harder, sometimes they only provide very quirky options. Valheim officially does not support mods yet, so you should always make a backup before installing.
What is Northrend? The continent is the area where the entire second WoW expansion Wrath of the Lich King took place. Here, Prince Arthas Menethil ruled as the “Lich King” and commanded the undead Scourge that invaded all of Azeroth – the world of World of Warcraft.
Many areas such as the Grizzly Hills, Icecrown, and the Borean Tundra have been replicated with the biomes of Valheim. But even for brave Vikings who have not played WoW, the mod is worth it. Because it brings some changes and new content. You can even find new loot.
This is what Northrend looks like in Valheim. Image source: NexusMods.
New biomes and new loot
What exactly does the mod do? With the mod, you get the entire replicated continent as well as content that does not exist in Valheim otherwise. For example, you will find sunken crypts that are usually only found in the swamp, in other areas as well.
The three previously unused biomes Mistslands, Ashlands, and Deep North will also be filled with enemies and dungeons. Since Northrend is the land of the undead, Draugr settlements can also be found in many places.
In the Ashlands and the Deep North, you will also discover new loot that does not exist in the game otherwise. What exactly this is, however, is not mentioned in the description.
The world itself is mostly covered in snow, so you will be traveling in mountains or the Deep North. Since these areas are inherently a bit harder due to their cold, Northrend is likely a pretty challenging place.
However, important landmarks such as the Frost Throne itself or the dungeons from the expansion are missing. Dalaran is also not found – probably mainly because (yet) no one has been able to build a flying city in Valheim.
How do I install the mod? First, definitely make a backup of your world and your character. We explain in our guide, how to create a save game in Valheim.
Then visit the website of World of Warcraft – Northrend on NexusMods and download the necessary files. Extract them in the folder “AppDataLocalLowIronGateValheimworlds”.
You will also need additional mods for Northrend to function fully:
Only with these two mods can Northrend be displayed correctly and you can also obtain the new loot. Better Continents and Epic Loot are best installed via Vortex, the downloader directly from NexusMods. In our guide, we also explain in detail, how to install mods in Valheim and which are the 9 best mods.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S), you can find sets that provide you bonuses when you wear them. We will tell you how to obtain such sets.
You can acquire sets in ESO in various ways. This means that not only adventurers or PvP players can acquire the mighty gear, but also crafters can get them. Sets provide you bonuses, such as to health, magicka, damage, or stamina, and are therefore very important in battles.
Sets as Loot
Sets in the game world: You can regularly find equipment sets as random loot from bosses. In each zone of the game world Tamriel, there are usually three sets that are classified as light, medium, and heavy and drop in rarity levels green (uncommon), blue (rare), and purple (epic).
Be aware that these set items will bind to you as soon as you equip them. You can no longer trade them. Furthermore, you can specifically look for desired pieces. Certain bosses drop specific equipment as loot:
Bosses in public dungeons: Weapons, shoulder pieces, gloves
Dungeon bosses: Items for feet and waist
World bosses: Equipment for chest, legs, head, and weapons
Sets from Group Dungeons: Here, you must pay attention to whether you are in the normal version of the dungeon or in the veteran variant. In the normal version, you receive items of blue quality, while better purple items drop in veteran dungeons.
Set items found in a group dungeon are also bound to you, but can still be traded within this group. These items are also obtained as loot from boss fights.
Again, be mindful of the bosses and their loot:
Final boss: Weapons and jewelry items
Miniboss: Items for hands, feet, and waist
Normal bosses: Equipment for head, shoulders, legs, and chest
You can also find sets here in chests. Depending on the difficulty of the lock, the chance of obtaining a set item increases.
Sets from Trials: In ESO’s trials, you will find set items categorized into blue items for regular trials and purple items for veteran trials.
Boss: Golden, legendary jewelry
You can also find set items in chests in the trials.
Sets from Arenas: The loot here is comparable to that from trials. However, you will receive particularly powerful items in the Maelstrom Arena. For the best versions, you must complete the challenge in veteran mode. The set items will be delivered to you by mail after you leave the arena, are on the leaderboard, and the arena is the event of the week.
Sets through Crafting
First, you need to find the crafting station necessary for your desired set in the game world. Additionally, you need to research the properties of the set. These will be shown to you in the item description, along with the crafting stations you need to visit. You will then craft the set with the required materials.
In the MMORPG ESO, you can craft sets yourself.
Sets in PvP
If you play ESO in PvP, there is a special rule here. You do not receive set items as loot and do not craft them yourself. Instead, you buy them from a vendor in the Cyrodiil area or in the Imperial City. To buy sets in the Imperial City, you need Tel Var stones as currency, which you obtain from enemies in the PvP area or from defeated opposing players. With battlefield merchants, alliance points are required.
Victories on the battlefields reward you with two items, while a defeat still grants you one.
For more on the sets you can craft in the MMORPG ESO, check out the MeinMMO article “Craftable Sets with Locations“.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The update 16.10 in Fortnite is here, bringing a new predator, a newly discovered weapon, and some bug fixes. MeinMMO shows you what has changed in the game now.
What’s happening in Fortnite: After a downtime, the update 16.10 has been applied. This is a larger patch that brings some changes – some of them have already been announced by Epic. We have summarized the most important changes in our own patch notes in German.
New predator – dinosaur
What’s new? With update 16.10, a new wild animal has appeared on the map. This predator has hatched from the eggs that have been found on the map since the beginning of Season 6. So now we have 5 wild animals that can be hunted – or are we now being hunted?
It is not entirely clear where the dinos appear, but players have already seen that they have hatched from the eggs. One player even encountered a dino and was immediately attacked. So you should be cautious when you encounter the predator, as this Twitter clip shows:
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Like the other wild animals, the dinos can also be tamed (via Twitter). This means they will not attack you and can even help you in battle. So if you get the chance, you should ally with the predators. However, it is still unclear whether taming dinos requires you to craft and wear a Hunter’s Cloak.
New weapon – Recycler?
What has been found? The patch is also said to have introduced a new weapon. The “Recycler” weapon even requires ammunition that was previously unknown in Fortnite. The new gun is reported to use “trash” as ammunition – I wonder if this will also drop from ammo boxes?
The Recycler is said to deal 75 damage to players and have a magazine size of 3 shots. Additionally, the new weapon is expected to take 2 seconds to reload. The data miner XTigerHypexX has posted the stats for the new gun on Twitter:
Although the data miners have already found some information about the new weapon, it seems that it has not yet been added to the game. It is unclear whether it has not been found in-game yet or if it will be added later. We will inform you as soon as there is more information about the Recycler.
Bug fixes in update 16.10
Which bugs were fixed with the patch? Update 16.10 has mainly removed some bugs from the game that were quite annoying. According to the Fortnite Trello, these issues have now been fixed after the patch:
Splitscreen “Ready Button” issues
Duplicate XP notifications for legendary quests in parties – may incorrectly show a level-up
Anomaly on the Shark Island not always displaying
Legacies from Season 5 – Chapter 2 not displaying
Visibility is severely restricted while in the storm
Opening the inventory interrupts actions like opening chests and reviving teammates
Character quests do not count as progress towards overall challenges
Stackable items are not split when Shift-Dragged
Additionally, the Primal Shotgun and the “Makeshift” Shotgun have each received an overhaul. While the Makeshift has received a buff (via Twitter), the Primal Pump has been nerfed.
This nerf had been requested mainly by professionals because the shotgun was allegedly too strong. This was also one of the reasons why the hashtag #ripfortnite trended on Twitter again. Now, we will likely see whether the situation around Fortnite calms down after the Primal Shotgun nerf, and the game won’t actually be declared dead.
What do you think of the new update? Are there things you really want to try out or a bug whose removal you are particularly happy about?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”, a deal was made for a gaming mouse. However, the deal falls through because an important detail is missing: the Zaunkoenig M1K has no scroll wheel, and one of the “lions” does not like that.
In the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen”, innovative or quirky ideas are presented every week. Here, start-ups, inventors, and founders seek venture capital. They showcase innovative ideas and offer the investors, the lions, shares in exchange for money.
This time, an interesting product for gamers was featured: alongside a baking mix and liquor made from coffee beans, an extremely lightweight mouse for gamers was introduced.
This was presented: On March 29, 2021, the brothers Dominik and Patrick Schmalzried appeared on the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen” and presented the “lightest gaming mouse in the world.” The Zaunkoenig M1K weighs just 23 grams. The mouse is made of carbon fiber, which is why the small device is so light.
With its low weight, it aims to appeal primarily to competitive gamers who play fast-paced games like shooters. Lightness plays a significant role here.
The “lions” Ralf Dümmel and Carsten Maschmeyer liked the lightweight gaming mouse and snatched up the deal. They invested €100,000 for 25% of the shares. However, in the end, the deal did not materialize because one of the “lions” had concerns.
The title image has been taken from the Kickstarter project (via Kickstarter.com) for the Zaunkoenig MK1.
Deal for gaming mouse falls through due to missing scroll wheel
Here’s why the deal fell through: In the end, the deal between the lions and the Schmalzried brothers fell through because of a small detail: the scroll wheel. The Zaunkoenig M1K only offers two buttons and no option to scroll.
Carsten Maschmeyer later explained: “For many gamers, the scroll wheel is essential – a tool that Patrick and Dominik’s development did not have.”
It seems they also could not agree on the “pricing” of the mouse. €300 was likely too expensive for the investors for the lightest mouse. Further details have not been disclosed.
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What was the reaction of the viewers? On Twitter (via Twitter), there were also some comments from users about the deal, and the reactions were mixed:
“The product is so out of touch with gamer reality. Good for you that the deal didn’t happen, it would have been a waste of money and time.”
“I think the [falling through of the deal] is better this way. The product, in my opinion, is complete nonsense and has no future. I thought I was the only one who thought this while watching.”
What happens next? Ralf Dümmel and Carsten Maschmeyer want to continue supporting the two founders, even though the deal did not come to fruition.
And the founders seem to have taken the advice of the almost-investors to heart, as the second version of the Zaunkoenig is now equipped with a scroll wheel. However, this still costs a hefty €299.
You are asked: Do you want to tell us your opinion on what you wish for a gaming mouse? Then vote in our survey and tell us what is most important to you:
Brothers present “lightest gaming mouse in the world”
What kind of mouse is this? Inside the mouse, the PMW 3360 from Pixart is used, which is a powerful and high-resolution sensor found in many gaming mice. The mouse also utilizes durable Omron switches and has a polling rate of 1,000 Hertz. This means that the device offers current standards like any other gaming mouse.
Are there similarly lightweight mice? Comparable lightweight mice include the Glorious PC Gaming Race Model O- at 58 grams or the one tested by MeinMMO tested Roccat Burst Pro. Thus, the mouse presented weighs slightly less than half.
Here’s why the mouse is so expensive: The mouse is made from carbon fiber, which is why its price is also €299. The developers are already working on the M2K version, explaining the price on their own website (via zaunkoenig.co) and they are quite confident:
Yes, this is expensive for a gaming mouse. But it is a normal price for something made from carbon fiber. Each Zaunkoenig M2K carbon fiber shell is handcrafted in Germany. You really have to imagine the Zaunkoenig M2K like a Porsche on your mousepad.
Has anyone already tested the mouse? Some people have already had the opportunity to try the mouse. The YouTuber Brandon Taylor (186,000 subscribers) presented the mouse in a video. He is impressed by the low weight and excellent craftsmanship. However, he finds the price too high.
You can see his gameplay with the gaming mouse in his (English) video. We have embedded the video here for you:
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Can the mouse be ordered at all? If you are still interested in the €300 mouse, you can order it directly from the developer (via zaunkoenig.co). The mouse also comes from Germany, so there are no import fees, and the delivery time is likely to be comparatively short.
What do you think? Would you buy this extremely lightweight gaming mouse, or do you consider it a bad gimmick on your desk? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We show you how to complete the world quest “Failed Experiment” in World of Warcraft and defeat Gorgemouth.
In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, there are a number of world quests that can be quite challenging. Especially the battle pet quests can cause frustration. Inexperienced pet battlers can spend hours on a single quest, as the answer is not always obvious.
One of these quests is the battle against Gorgemouth and the associated world quest “Failed Experiment”.
Where can I find the quest? The world quest is in Maldraxxus and is located at coordinates 54 / 28, almost right next to the flight point. Like all world quests, it is not permanently active and is only accessible on certain days. The pet can always be battled, but rewards are only given when the quest is active.
Pet Battle: Defeating Gorgemouth in Maldraxxus
In general, there are several options for defeating Gorgemouth, which depend on your available battle pets. The larger your selection of pets, the easier the quest is to complete.
Option 1 – Low-Level Pets: Most pet battle quests in WoW: Shadowlands scale with the level of your battle pets. So if you assemble a crew of battle pets that are all level 1, Gorgemouth will also be at level 1. In this case, he only has one ability and cannot heal himself. This makes the fight extremely easy, so you can easily win with a team of low-level pets.
The “Lightless Wanderer” pet is suitable for this. The pet drops from Lady Ashwind in the Eternal Palace but is often sold in the auction house. It is a water pet, so it takes less damage from undead. At level 1, it already has the ability “Dash”, which deals damage to beasts and is particularly effective against Gorgemouth.
A Lightless Wanderer can defeat Gorgemouth at level 1 on its own. It requires no further assistance.
Gorgemouth poses a challenge for some players – but it is quite easy.
Option 2 – Familiar Duo: If you prefer to defeat Gorgemouth in a classic manner with a team of level 25 pets, you can use this team, which works well together:
Unborn Val’kyr (Shadow Shock, Curse of Doom, Unholy Ascendance)
Iron Starlette (Wind-Up, Powerball, Charge)
Whatever
The fight proceeds as follows:
Shadow Shock
Shadow Shock
Curse of Doom
Unholy Ascendance
Wind-Up
Charge
Wind-Up
Powerball (repeat until you win)
Usually, the fight should be won with the Iron Starlette. Otherwise, any random third pet must deal the final blow. Normally this is not necessary.
Option 3 – Burning Toxin: The last option relies on the ability “Burning Toxin”. This is a flying ability that reduces 6% of the opponent’s max HP each round. This allows you to quickly chip away at Gorgemouth’s many hit points. Many insect pets have this ability, but the following pets are particularly well suited:
Spunky Glowing Firefly
Purple Glowing Firefly
Just make sure that “Burning Toxin” is permanently active on the opponent. In the meantime, you can use “Scratch”, which deals increased damage against Gorgemouth.
If you follow one of these strategies, Gorgemouth should pose no problem for you and will quickly perish.
Note that the solutions presented are by no means the only ones. Many other combinations of battle pets can lead to victory. The ones mentioned above are simply considered “foolproof” and are virtually risk-free.
Are you actively participating in pet battles in Shadowlands? Or have you avoided this type of content so far?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Mid-Season Update of Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Warzone is partially online and brings new content for Cold War and a hefty data bomb for the Battle Royale Warzone. You can find all the information about the official patch notes and whether your hard drive will withstand the assault here on MeinMMO.
The new Mid-Season Update for Black Ops Cold War is already online and tomorrow morning (March 31) the rest for Call of Duty: Warzone will be released. Especially players of Warzone should worry about their hard drives – on all platforms you need to download at least 50 GB of data. If you play on PC and have Modern Warfare still installed, the update size increases to a staggering 130 GB.
MeinMMO shows you why the big update is necessary and provides information on the latest content swing. Here you can find the new roadmap, a summary of the patch notes, and what you can expect throughout the remaining season.
[toc]
Warzone & Cold War: Mid-Season Update on March 30 / 31.
When are the updates coming? The updates will be staggered again, and Cold War will be serviced first. The Mid-Season Update for the current CoD title has been online since this morning (March 30 / 6 AM). Players of Warzone must wait until tomorrow – here it starts on March 31 at 8 AM.
Cold War: Update on March 30 at 6 AM
Warzone: Update on March 31 at 8 AM
How large will the updates be? Especially fans of Warzone need to be very strong now. While Cold War will please you with a maximum of 14 GB, Warzone and CoD MW will burden your hard drive with up to 130 GB – at least almost 50 GB. The developers indicate the following update sizes:
Cold War Update Sizes
PS5: 12.2 GB
PS4: 7.4 GB
Xbox Series X|S: 14.18 GB
Xbox One: 9.13 GB
PC. 8.1 GB
Warzone Update Sizes
PS5: 52.0 GB
PS4: 52.0 GB
Xbox Series X|S: 57.8 GB
Xbox One: 57.8 GB
PC: 52.4 GB
If you play on PC and have the full Modern Warfare and Warzone installed, your download size will increase to up to 133.6 GB.
Why is the Warzone/CoD MW update so large? With at least 50 GB, the updates from Warzone are once again very large. The developers also explain why – because after the update, the files will be smaller again and you will save storage space in the end.
Warzone Storage Reduction
PS5: 10.9 GB
PS4: 10.9 GB
Xbox Series X|S: 14.2 GB
Xbox One: 14.2 GB
PC: 11.8 GB
You will thus save a little more than 10 GB on your Warzone data. If you still have Modern Warfare installed, the reduction will increase to over 30 GB on each platform.
Cold War: Update 1.14 brings something for everyone and a lot of changes
What does the new update bring? For Cold War, the developers have prepared quite a bit. There are new maps, new modes, and something for zombie fans. A new playlist also went online with the update. Here’s the overview:
3 new maps at launch
Control mode with 40 players and Prop Hunt at launch
Expansion of the League Play mode
New content for Outbreak
Changes to Dead Ops Arcade
Balancing adjustments
Throughout the season: Sniper rifle ZRG 20mm
Throughout the season: Custom weapon blueprints
Playlist for the Mid-Season Update
What are the new maps like? Three new maps sound strong at first, but the maps are very different and not suitable for all modes. The only 6v6 map is Miami Strike – a slimmed-down version of “Miami,” set during the day. Then there is “Golova,” which is already known from the Outbreak mode and is now available for Fireteam shenanigans in multiplayer. As a third option, “Mansion” is a map for the small gunfight modes.
What about the new modes? As many players have requested, Prop Hunt is returning right at the launch of the Mid-Season Update. There are new maps for the fun hide-and-seek game, and adjustments have been made to possible objects on the old maps that you can transform into.
In addition, a completely new Control mode with 40 players and Fireteam rules is coming. 10 teams will always fight for three active control points, and you get points for every second a team member spends in the control point. The first team to reach 1,000 points wins the round.
What’s new in League Play mode? There are now two new maps in the rotation – Apocalypse in the Control mode and Express in the Search & Destroy mode.
Additionally, the developers adjusted the Wildcards. “Lawbreaker” no longer allows you to select two primary weapons. You can now only select perks the way you want. “Extra Greed” has been removed – you can no longer use the Wildcard in League Play.
What’s new in Outbreak? The Zombie mode was introduced with Season 2 and was quite well received. The developers are continuing to expand the new undead adventure and bringing a new map into the Dimensions rotation: The Fireteam map “Sanatorium.” Now there are 4 maps in the Outbreak mode. Additionally, there is a new main objective, new intel to collect, and a new vehicle – the Dirt Bike. If you want to try your hand at the mode, you can find important tips for Outbreak here.
Outbreak brings Sanatorium into the game – at night.
What’s going on in Dead Ops Arcade? Fans of the crazy mode can be happy – you can now also earn experience points for the Prestige System and your Battle Pass. Previously, Dead Ops was purely a shooting fun without added value for your progress. Now, zombie kills in this mode also contribute to your XP.
What has changed in balancing? Quite a bit. The Mid-Season Update changes almost 20 weapons and adjusts the movement. Here’s an overview:
Krig 6 – Buff
Better visibility of enemies when aiming down sights
Change in fire properties with optics attachments
FFAR 1 – Buff
Increased bullet velocity – 12.8 %
Groza – Buff
Increased damage range – 40 %
Assault rifle attachments
Redesign of muzzle and under-barrel attachments that affect recoil
Milano 821 – Buff
More damage, more mobility – significant buff
KSP 45 – Buff
Increased bullet velocity – 32.5 %
Shorter burst delay – 20 %
AK-74u – Nerf
Less accuracy when firing longer
Reduced muzzle velocity – 23.4 %
LC10 – Nerf
Reduced range of first damage zone – 41 %
Middle damage decreased
SMG attachments
Redesign of muzzle and under-barrel attachments that affect recoil
Stoner 63 – Nerf
Damage range reduced – 25 %
Sniper rifles
No sight reflection anymore when no sights are on
1911 – Buff
Increased ADS speed – 11 %
Magnum – Nerf
Worse hip fire and weaker Akimbo variant
New barrel attachment for more damage
Movement
Slower transition between standing, crouching, and lying down
These are most of the changes. If you want to take a closer look at the adjustments yourself, you can find the patch notes in an English blog post (via treyarch.com).
What else is coming in the course of the season? The new sniper rifle ZRG 20mm is not available yet, but will be coming soon. In the English trailer for the Reloaded Update (via YouTube), it is stated that the weapon will come “next week”.
Additionally, the weapon blueprints will still be introduced in Season 2 – but without a date. Many players may already be looking forward to the announcement alone. So far, you cannot save custom weapon blueprints in Cold War to reuse a setup later.
Furthermore, the developers announced for the first time Gunfight tournaments for Cold War. However, we do not know exactly when the competitions for small teams will arrive.
Playlist for the Mid-Season Update
Miami Strike 24/7
Prop Hunt
Fireteam: Hardpoint – Golova
Sniper Only Moshpit
Nuketown 24/7
Gunfight
Fireteam Moshpit
Confrontation
Warzone: Zombie Threat Rises in the Mid-Season Update
Update March 31: The Mid-Season Update is now also available for Warzone, and Raven Software shows the following changes in the patch notes:
Fix for the Dev Error 6634 on Xbox
Armor plates should now spawn more regularly as ground loot
New ping options on the map
The base recoil of the AUG has been increased
Muzzle attachments now show “concealed muzzle flame” as “Pro”
Barrels with increased vehicle damage now actually deal more damage to vehicles
Problems with zooming when placing weapons on vertical walls have been fixed
Bug fix for an issue that affected some barrel attachments
These are the most important adjustments and already a large part of the patch notes. If you want to get an overview yourself, then check out the complete English notes on Raven’s blog (via ravensoftware.com).
Original report: There are no specific announcements for Warzone players. Only the roadmap gives a little insight into what is happening with the new update:
Currently, there are NPC zombies on the map “Verdansk,” which, however, have only been moving without spreading. With the new update, this could change and the zombies could suddenly appear in several places. However, since the update is only coming tomorrow, we cannot say how the changes will affect gameplay. Maybe it’s finally time for the “Verdansk” explosion.
The biggest “innovation” is thus the new file sizes in Warzone, which save you about 10 GB of storage space after you load the update. However, with this file size, it is also quite possible that much more will come into play, which the developers do not want to talk about yet.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The team behind the promising new MMORPG Ashes of Creation (PC) has talked about the upcoming Alpha One. In the testing phase, you can expect some interesting content: including 7-8 dungeons.
What is Alpha One of Ashes of Creation for? The developers at Intrepid Studios explained in a livestream about Alpha One that participants should not expect a finished game. It is not about cramming as much content as possible into this version. The purpose of the Alpha is to test game systems and see if the content that is already in Ashes of Creation works.
Players must see themselves as testers and should not believe that the Alpha is already representative of the release version of Ashes of Creation.
A testing phase with extensive content
What about the content? Despite the Alpha test, there will be a lot to discover and try out. In the livestream, there was talk of 7 to 8 dungeons that you are allowed to explore, including a raid for 40 players who will take down a boss together.
7 to 8 dungeons is a large number of dungeons for an Alpha test. As a reason for this amount, the developers explained that these dungeons and the mechanics within them need to be tested.
You can level up to level 20 and test the classes Cleric, Fighter, Mage, Ranger, and Tank with four races. With this hero, you will explore a large area and an island, which will encompass about 100 km² of landscape. However, this area represents only about 20 to 25% of the final landmass that can be discovered in Ashes of Creation.
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Interestingly, in Alpha One the Node System is supposed to be operational. There are 9 nodes in the test landscape that you can upgrade. Nodes are basically the centerpiece of a specific area. There you can establish a settlement, which you can then steadily expand into a city. You interact in the Node area by harvesting resources, engaging in crafting, fighting monsters, and gathering experience points that also flow into the Node and upgrade it.
Crafting and housing should be at least partially included. In addition, the combat system will be overhauled for Alpha One. The encounters are intended to feel better and more intense. A new action camera, which works differently than what you know from MMORPGs with tab-targeting, will be employed. Your movements are tied to the mouse, and you are basically always looking forward. If you wish to look back, you must press a key. This camera control is intended to ensure that you are always in the thick of the action.
When does Alpha One of Ashes of Creation start? After a further postponement of the date, the Alpha is now set to start on June 1. However, there will still be a preview phase between March 19 and June 1. This will, however, be under an NDA, and discussions about it are not allowed. The team explained that they still need some more time for fine-tuning to make sure Alpha One leaves a good impression.
Nonetheless, this is a very early version of the MMORPG. The developers emphasize that it is very important for the participants in the testing phase to internalize this.
7-8 dungeons sound like “real PvE MMORPG”
This is why the dungeons give hope: In recent years, only a few MMORPGs have been released, and those that did often focused on “sandbox content”: They offered little prepared PvE content like dungeons, and players were expected to engage in PvP and fight each other.
The scope of “7-8 dungeons at launch” sounds like something one expects from a “full-featured” MMORPG that also entertains PvE players.
Ashes of Creation is one of the big, last hopes that we will see such a fully-fledged online RPG with modern graphics after so many projects have failed in recent years. Blizzard canceled its Titan project, and “Everquest Next” never made it to release.
A new animated Netflix series about the MOBA and Steam mainstay “DOTA 2” (PC) has launched. Valve seems to have expected many new players from the series “Dota: Dragon’s Blood.” They did not come, but the star of the series, the Dragon Knight, is now significantly more popular in the game.
This is the series: On March 25th, Dota: Dragon’s Blood premiered on Netflix. The series aims to present a stylistic mix of anime and American cartoon.
In the series, Dragon Knight Davion developed a hatred for dragons because they cruelly killed his family when he was still a boy. Always those dragons!
The 8-episode series is about demons, dragons, betrayal, and gods that are not what they seem. Each episode lasts between 26 and 28 minutes.
The series is currently well received: On Rotten Tomatoes, Dota: Dragon’s Blood has a 93% audience score and 67% positive ratings from critics.
The trailer has received 2.3 million views on YouTube. We embed it here for you:
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These are the effects of the series: One can assume that Valve expected a surge of new players from the Netflix series who would discover DOTA 2 and then be excited about the complexity of the game which has been around since 2013.
However, the surge did not happen. The Steam database shows no significant change on March 25th. In fact, the number of players even slightly declined.
A Twitter account about DOTA 2 talks about the “Netflix effect.” While another Twitter user contrasts the player numbers of DOTA 2 to show: The Netflix effect did not bring more players.
What is the Netflix effect in games? It certainly does not run as hoped. After the launch of the Netflix series “The Witcher” in December 2019, the player count of the already four-year-old “The Witcher 3” exploded: It brought tens of thousands of new players to Steam.
The Witcher 3 reached a player count in January 2020 similar to its launch in May 2015. But in a complex genre like a MOBA, it seems that the “Netflix” effect does not work. The difference between series and game may be too great.
For DOTA 2, efforts are underway to attract new players. Fans are supporting the developers in this:
In Pokémon GO, the details for the spring event over the Easter holidays have been revealed. You can expect a new shiny, rare spawns, and a new mega Pokémon.
When does the spring event start? It begins this Sunday, on April 4th, at 10:00 AM local time. The event will run until April 8th – so you only have 5 days to take advantage of it.
The event is essentially the occasion over Easter, and numerous Pokémon related to the Easter festival will appear in the game. MeinMMO gives you the overview here.
Shiny Scoppel and Mega-Schlapor for the spring event
Here are the bonuses: The list of bonuses is long again this time and includes some surprises. We show you the complete list:
In the wild appear: Pikachu with flower crown, Chaneira with flower crown, Owei, Marill, Plusle, Minun, Haspiror, and Scoppel
Shiny Scoppel appears for the first time in the wild
In the 2 km eggs you will find: Owei, Evoli with flower crown, Pichu with flower crown, Togepi, Azurill, Haspiror, Wonneira with flower crown, Mampfaxo, Geronimatz, and Scoppel
Mega-Schlapor appears for the first time in Mega Raids
Exclusive field research includes, among other things, Geronimatz and Azumarill
You will receive special stickers by spinning PokéStops and opening gifts
There is a special collector’s challenge that includes a lucky egg, mega energy for Schlapor, and XP
Double candies for hatching Pokémon
Lucky eggs are active for one hour
The hatch distance is halved
Below you can see the shinies of the Scoppel family.
How strong are the event spawns? The spawns of Chaneira are particularly interesting. The Pokémon is quite rare outside of events, and the shiny form is coveted by trainers. Now you can catch it with a flower crown as an exclusive Pokémon.
Additionally, you can catch a bunch of other shinies. All listed Pokémon also appear in their shiny forms – especially interesting is the new shiny Scoppel, which is also expected to appear more frequently.
Why is Chaneira so popular? The Pokémon is one of the best defenders in the game. The evolution Heiteira is even the best defender. So if you want to effectively earn coins in arenas and actively defend an arena, you should place a Heiteira.
For some time there has now been the shiny form of Chaneira in the game. It is greenish and differs quite significantly from the normal form.
Is Mega-Schlapor worth it? The mega evolution of Schlapor is not only of the normal type but also of the fighting type. This makes it quite interesting in battle. The stats of Mega-Schlapor are solid, and no fighting Pokémon has had a higher attack stat so far.
The problem, however, is the moves. So far, the mega evolution is reportedly going to learn a really bad fighting moveset: Kick and Focus Blast. This means it would not win against other fighting Pokémon. If Niantic tweaks the moves, then Mega-Schlapor could become much more interesting.
What other bonuses should you take advantage of? The chance of Geronimatz in raids and quests is particularly interesting. The Pokémon is normally extremely rare and has only recently become available as shiny in Pokémon GO. So you should hunt and complete the quests around Geronimatz.
Additionally, the 2 km eggs are worth it. You will find almost exclusively possible shinies there, and with the halved hatch distance, you can hatch more effectively.
What comes after the spring event? The spring event is just the kickoff for a packed April. Numerous raid and spotlight hours await you. There will also be more events with new Pokémon and special bonuses. We will provide you with a detailed overview of all events in April:
What if the MMO you have invested years of your life into closes its doors? You will experience this scenario in the horror game Agony of a Dying MMO (PC).
What kind of game is this? Agony of a Dying MMO is not an online game itself but places you in one. You will experience the final hours of a game that has accompanied you for a very long time and has become a part of your life. In this, you take on the roles of several players who each have their own perspective on the title and its ending.
Why does the game have to close? The fictional MMO Agony of a Dying has been struggling with massive problems since the introduction of Nazis as a playable faction. A very toxic community has formed, and most players have turned their backs on the MMO. Only a few fans remain.
However, these players are not enough to keep the servers running, which is why the developers will soon close the doors to the game.
The suffocating end of an MMO
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How does it play? Essentially, it is an adventure. The players you embody travel one last time through the virtual world and talk about the end. It mainly involves reading the chat and listening to other players. Meanwhile, you walk or drive through the very pixelated landscape.
All of this creates a suffocating and gloomy atmosphere, which is underscored by the quirky graphic style. It is still in Alpha. This means not all features and content are present in the game yet.
The game principle may sound quite simple, but Agony of a Dying MMO is received quite well by players. Because it strikes a nerve. It plays with the fear that many MMO fans likely have: that the game that means so much to them will eventually be shut down.
What do players say about the title? We have summarized some comments on the trailer on Youtube and on the game itself from reddit for you.
葉10 says on Youtube: ‘This is unbearably real. How ridiculous it all seems is a perfect summary of how we cling to these simulations. It is truly depressing.’
JVG writes about the trailer (via Youtube): ‘Well, that was really depressing. And it is just a demo.’
Pontificatus: Maximus explains on reddit: ‘This is too close to reality for many MMOs and their players…’
unpleasantraccoon writes on reddit: ‘After watching the trailer, I now feel sad.’
EndlessKng sees it humorously (via reddit): ‘If I want to experience that, I just play Archeage or TERA…’
Here’s how to participate: You can download the current Alpha of Agony of a Dying MMO for free from its own website (via alphabetagamer). You need to engage with the game and its story. Graphically, don’t expect too much. The title looks more like a Playstation 1 game. But this only adds to the atmosphere. Agony of a Dying MMO already shows in its Alpha how depressing it can be for players to witness the end of their favorite game.
In Destiny 2, it will take some time before the new Season 14 starts and brings fresh content. We are checking to see if the roadmap still has a surprise in store and what else could be coming.
Where do we stand now? Since February 9, 2021, Guardians have been enjoying Season 13, showing a turtle empress where the (trial) hammer hangs.
They have received a new command center like in Avengers, which will also play a role in later seasons
Season 13 runs until May 11, 2020, and the gaps in the official roadmap are becoming increasingly larger. MeinMMO is checking whether there is still something in between the gaping content holes that can lure the Guardians in front of their screens.
A look at the roadmap and its empty spots
This is what the official roadmap for the Season of the Chosen looks like
This is guaranteed to come: Today, on March 30, the new Strike “The Trials Grounds” will be available for all players. Season pass holders have been able to try the mission for a week.
The ritual battle on a moving fortress represents the third and final Strike introduced in Season 13. With the Weekly Reset at 7 PM, “The Trials Grounds” will also become the trial of the week. If the Strike felt too easy in the preview, players can prove their skills here.
On top of that, the roadmap lists the Iron Banner event for April 13. However, this is unlikely to entice most Guardians as a real “event,” after all, the PvP mayhem happens every month.
When do the Olympics 2021 take place? From April 20 to May 9, the “Guardian Games” will be held. We don’t know much about the competition at this point. The Destiny version of the Olympics lets the three Guardian classes Hunter, Titan, and Warlock compete for glory and honor.
The heavy MG is supposed to make a comeback and bring an exotic catalyst
Is that all that’s coming in Destiny 2 before Season 14?
Guardians are already well acquainted with the content running dry toward the end of the season. They always cling to the addition “and more…” at the end of the roadmap. This way, Destiny 2 fuels players’ hopes that Bungie still has a content ace up its sleeve. Sometimes rightly so, as Exotics and even live events have already been hidden in the empty spaces.
This could come: The seasonal story around the Battlegrounds and the Cabal Challenges is concluded with the new Strike “The Trials Grounds”. After all, we managed to prevent Zavala from becoming Bracus-Zavala, a servant of the Cabal, and forged a kind of truce with Caiatl. Even if the seasonal triumph reveals that the story of Season 3 has concluded, there could still be some surprises.
We have learned that there is a Psion roaming freely who can kill Guardians. It wouldn’t be surprising if we end up hunting the assassin who nearly missed Zavala sometime this season. It feels too much like a Cabal story to be relevant for the still unannounced Season 14. Furthermore, Caiatl is also looking for the rogue sniper, so she might continue to throw us small story bits on a weekly basis.
In Season 13, Guardians have also spent a lot of time watching Crow (formerly Uldren) become a Guardian. A large part of the community speculates that Crow will soon take over as the leader of the Vanguard, succeeding Cayde-6 – something others categorically deny. This most likely won’t happen in Season 13 anymore, but another hint is certainly still possible.
High up on the wish and speculation lists is the expectation that another Exotic is coming. Season 13 has thus far only brought 2 weapon Exotics: Narration of a Dead Man and Ticuu’s Divination. Additionally, each class received an armor Exotic.
Based on previous seasons, 3 Exotic weapons wouldn’t be out of the question. However, it is quite questionable whether another one will actually be added – so better temper your expectations. After all, the event Exotic Erben-Erscheinung may still be relatively unknown to many players.
A creepy spaceship invites exploration
A weekly visit is worth it here: The big surprise hit of Season 13 was the secret Umbral mission. The trip to a spaceship plagued by strange events that drifts aimlessly in space is considered by many to be the best content Destiny 2 has ever had. Read here the recommendation of MeinMMO author Sven Galitzki about it.
A weekly visit to the Umbral mission is also worthwhile. Here you receive top loot, an Exotic with random rolls, and new lore pieces and story snippets. Just before Season 14, you will have fully explored the story of the spaceship and recovered the last datapad. It is speculated that the discoveries aboard the spaceship are directly related to the content of Season 14.
What dark experiments with the darkness were conducted aboard the Glykon?
Everything thus seems to be ending rather quietly in Season 13. A few story bites are still in store for the Guardians. Storytelling has recently become one of Destiny 2’s strengths – a shift compared to the days of Destiny 1. Otherwise, the Guardian Games are likely the main reason to log in. It will be interesting to see whether Bungie can skillfully implement the cool concept of pitting Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans against each other.
Do you believe there’s still a big secret coming before Season 14 starts in May? Are you looking forward to the Olympics in Destiny, or does that just elicit a yawn from you? Let us know in the comments.
