The Twitch streamer Robcdee is Australian and known for his IRL livestreams in Japan. However, to extend his visa in the country, he had to officially rent an office. He has now presented it in the livestream.
What is so special about the office? Robcdee is a full-time streamer on Twitch. For his content, he categorizes it 100% as “Just Chatting” and is live almost daily for about 8 hours.
However, he does not sit at home and play, like most streamers do. Instead, he shows cities, helps strangers, goes shopping, or eating. All of this he shares with his viewers.
It seems even stranger that he now had to rent an office to extend his visa. Since he did not need a large space, he rented a small room on the sixth floor of a building. It resembles more of a cell than a real office:
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How is the room used? When looking at the size of the “office,” it seems unlikely that Rob will actually spend much time there.
As he mentions in another clip, he even had to go to the office twice for his lawyer to show that it is actually used as a workspace:
The [office] is one of the requirements for a Business Management visa, which allows me to stream full-time.
And when I had to prove that I had an office, I came here to confirm it with all the nameplates and so on, and my lawyer said: ‘I’m sorry, I need to ask you to go back there, place your laptop there [on the table], and take another picture.’
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In fact, Japan requires that for a Business Management visa of a company an office is needed, as well as a revenue of approximately 90,000 dollars. It seems the streamer now meets this requirement.
For his fans, this is good news. With his IRL streams, Robcdee reaches around 1,800 simultaneous viewers daily over 8 or more hours.
Ninja reaches more viewers than Robcdee, but not as many as he used to.
The well-known streamer Ninja does reach an average of 14,000 viewers, significantly more people, but is no longer number 1 on Twitch. Nevertheless, with this, and with his Mixer deal, he still attracts viewers:
Razer has introduced the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog. Notably, the keyboard offers new keys (switches) that are supposed to be versatile in configuration. MeinMMO explains what you can do with the device.
Here’s what it’s about: Since February 5th, you can purchase a new gaming keyboard from Razer called the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog.
The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is the successor to the previous Razer Huntsman. The GameStar tested the predecessor and criticized the loud keys, the lack of a USB hub, and especially the high price. The Huntsman V2 Analog aims to address the weaknesses of its predecessor.
Razer’s new keyboard relies on new technology
This is the technology Razer relies on: The manufacturer uses optical switches for its Huntsman V2 Analog. These work through a light barrier that triggers a signal. This is supposed to offer particularly low response times.
What does this have to do with the analog stick of the controller? Inside the switch is a sensor that measures the light intensity caused by pressing the key. If you press the key harder, less light reaches the sensor. According to Razer, this is supposed to make the switches react as precisely and accurately as the analog stick of a controller.
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog: This is what the new switches look like
How well does it work? Since Razer announced this type of analog switches only with the new keyboard, we do not yet know how these switches will perform in practice. Initial reviews will provide insight into whether the new technology proves itself in practice.
You can already use optical switches in the Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro, which MeinMMO has tested. However, the pressure sensitivity of the individual keys cannot be adjusted here.
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog at a glance:
Design/Interface
Wired
Key Type
Optical switches
Programmable Keys
All keys are programmable via software
Lighting
Yes, RGB lighting (16.8 million colors) and additional edge lighting
Compatibility
PC (Windows with software)
Inclusion
Keyboard, manual, stickers, additional USB cable for USB passthrough
Special Features
USB 3.0 passthrough, integrated memory, “Razer Chroma” lighting
Price (RRP)
€269.99
In addition to the new switches, the keyboard offers RGB lighting that you can configure as desired. You can save the lighting settings just like the programmed keys in the memory. The device is also illuminated at the edges.
Compared to its predecessor, the keyboard also comes with USB 3.0 passthrough, allowing you to connect another device.
The Huntsman V2 Analog uses the “Razer Synapse 3.0” software for adjustments and lighting.
What else is special? Players can adjust how quickly the keys trigger. Razer calls this feature “Adjustable Triggering.” Players can freely choose a trigger distance between 1.5 mm and 3.6 mm.
Even more interesting is the ability to set up dual-triggering for keys. You can define two different trigger points. If you press the key harder, another function will be triggered.
An example of the dual function: If you press the key halfway down, your character in the game will crouch. If you press the key all the way down, the character will lie on the ground. However, how well this works in practice remains to be seen.
Various views of the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog with and without wrist rest
Price and Availability: You can purchase the keyboard from Razer starting now, with additional retailers following from February 9, 2021. The keyboard costs €269.99.
Is the price worth it? Whether the high price of the keyboard can ultimately be justified will become clear in a test, as with the predecessor model, the difference between optomechanical and regular mechanical keys was practically indistinguishable in normal gaming day-to-day (via GameStar.de). How the analog switches perform here remains to be seen.
The BlizzCon 2021 will take place in February under the name “BlizzConline” and will be completely free for everyone. But what will there be to see?
Update from February 5: We have updated this article with new information about BlizzCon 2021. Among other things, we already know, that Diablo 4 will not be released in 2021.
According to Brack, the BlizzConline will be completely free:
We want it to be a big, virtual celebration. That’s why the BlizzConline will be free to watch and participate.
When is BlizzCon 2021?The BlizzConline will take place on February 19 and 20, 2021. The community is already heavily discussing what they might expect at the event. In a new introduction video, the organizers have already revealed something about the schedule:
On Friday, there will be the opening ceremony and new information about the games. In addition, there will be “Deep Dives” on specific topics
On Saturday, various community activities such as Q&As or competitions will take place
The streams will start on Friday at 11:00 PM German time, on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
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What does BlizzCon 2021 cost? So far, there have been virtual tickets for BlizzCon every year, allowing interested parties to watch and see the various panels. This year, however, no one is expected to have to pay anything.
The BlizzCon itself will be completely free. Instead, you can optionally purchase various goodies for BlizzCon:
Where can I watch? According to the new information, BlizzCon 2021 will be shown via various streams. These correspond to the stages that are usually seen at the physical BlizzCon.
So far, these streams cannot yet be accessed, but you will probably find them on the official BlizzCon website. Between the streams, you can switch back and forth.
Afterwards, all streams will be made available as “video on demand”. Keep an eye on the official YouTube channel of Blizzard.
What’s already confirmed: In the first video as well as in the official announcement, Blizzard has already revealed some community competitions and events. So there will definitely be:
Competitions in cosplay, art, and digital storytelling, as well as a talent contest
the cosplay show
the march of the Murlocs, an event about everything related to the little fish creatures
The registration deadline for participation in the competitions, however, has already passed.
Possible announcements at BlizzConline
What else is coming? Otherwise, there is no specific information about the games and what will be shown at BlizzConline. However, some information and hints already allow us to infer things that you will get to see:
Overwatch – Throughout the video, the melody of Overwatch played in the background, and gameplay from the new co-op mode was shown. Like Diablo 4, Overwatch 2 will not be released in 2021. Nevertheless, there may be new information about the state of development.
Gameplay shown from Overwatch 2.
Diablo – Diablo Immortal has completed its first alpha and many testers loved it. It is still in development, but the announcement of a release window at BlizzCon 2021 is certainly possible.
The development of Diablo 4 is also progressing, even though it will not be released in 2021. Here, the developers have already confirmed that an update for the game is coming and “that it will be something really exciting”.
StarCraft – Blizzard announced that with StarCraft 2 it is now over. There may be a third part or another game in the franchise shown. StarCraft has always been one of Blizzard’s pillars. However, the likelihood is relatively low.
Heroes of the Storm – There are no concrete indications here, but Brack mentioned the game several times in the video. Since the e-sports for Heroes of the Storm was discontinued in 2018, things have been quiet about the game. However, Blizzard may still take action here.
Hearthstone – The card game is thriving and continuously receives new content. Presumably, there will also be a new expansion in 2021, which will be presented at BlizzConline.
Whether a major new title outside of the established franchises is on the way remains uncertain. WoW is doing as well as it has in the last 10 years, but given the current state around Corona and the developers working from home, this seems rather unlikely. Especially considering the extent of content already planned for the existing games and those that are likely to come, a new franchise would be quite bold.
Guilds are an important part of MMORPGs, but everyone has their own ideas of what a “good” guild is. What are yours?
These are guilds in MMORPGs: The concept of guilds has existed in MMORPGs almost since the genre’s inception. Usually, a guild is simply a group of players with shared interests who complete content in the game together.
Over time, developers have integrated new features into their games to make guilds more interesting and appealing to players. This includes, not least, guild housing, which is available in some MMORPGs, or various other bonuses that players can utilize when joining a guild.
Thanks to the diverse content of MMORPGs, guilds can also have different focuses and cater to different types of players:
Some players value a friendly atmosphere within the guild.
Some players expect the guild leadership to organize events for the members.
For some players, the skill level within the guild matters, especially if it is a raiding guild.
Some players appreciate that guilds offer options for voice chat, such as a dedicated Discord server or TeamSpeak.
Some players prefer very large guilds where there is always a lot going on.
Others prefer smaller, quieter guilds where everyone knows each other well.
Exciting and funny articles about guilds in MMORPGs on MeinMMO:
Your opinion is requested: The search for a guild that you fit into really can take a long time in an MMORPG. Many factors play a role in whether you feel comfortable or prefer to seek another home. But what are they for you?
What expectations do you have for a good guild? How do you approach searching for a community in MMORPGs? Do you have a checklist that a good guild must fulfill for you? Or do you prefer to create your own guild where you have the say?
Tell us about your experiences with the search for guilds in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Apex Legends offers a selection of heroes, the Legends. Which of the Legends in Apex Legends are the best choice and which ones should you rather avoid to secure victory? In our tier list for Season 8, you will find out!
Every Legend in Apex Legends has three skills: one active, one passive, and one ultimate ability. Since you currently play Apex Legends always in a team, skills that benefit the whole squad are especially useful.
Otherwise, all heroes are equal in their stats; they only differ in appearance, height (and thus hitbox), and abilities.
[toc]
This article was first published on February 12, 2019, and updated on February 5, 2021, with new data.
This is how the tier list is weighted: Before each match, you need to select a hero. Here are the currently available characters divided into tiers. The higher a Legend is in the tier, the more useful she is with her skills for the team.
The highest tier is currently the S-Tier, the ultimate. The A-Tier is also very good. B-Tier heroes are okay, but rather situationally useful. In the C-Tier, however, are Legends that are only conditionally useful and are therefore more for enthusiasts.
How is the rating determined? The tier list is based on the tier lists from Dexerto, The Loadout, Ginx, and data from the Apex Legends Tracker Network (see source citation). The list was compiled together with Apex expert Florian Franck, who has now played over 600 hours of Apex and has ground every battle pass up to level 110.
The heroes here are so good that they actually have a place in every team.
Wraith
Who is Wraith? Wraith is a mysterious, pale woman who can switch between alternate dimensions. She is an offensive character who can flank enemies optimally.
Why is Wraith so good? Wraith has the smallest hitbox of all Legends and is therefore the hardest hero to hit. Her very unique movement in crouched position (“Naturo Walk”) has been replaced with new animations; nevertheless, Wraith is the most played Legend in Apex Legends.
In addition, Wraith has a kind of danger sense that warns her of enemies. She can relay this through ping to the team, thereby warning them of ambushes.
Wraith can also set up portals as her ultimate, which can swiftly move the whole team from one place to another. With her tactical ability, she becomes briefly invulnerable and almost invisible. Ideal for either surprising the enemy or quickly fleeing. These skills make Wraith extremely versatile, which is why she is currently missing in hardly any team. One disadvantage is that Wraith, like Lifeline and Pathfinder, takes 5% more damage due to her small hitbox.
Bloodhound
Who is Bloodhound? Bloodhound is a tracker and identifies as genderless. He can track enemies and is good for cautious teams as well as for aggressive pushes. His ultimate ability “Beast of the Hunt” is particularly ideal for aggressive pushes.
Why is Bloodhound so good? Bloodhound is only narrowly in the S-Tier. The hero is played quite often and has some useful skills. However, he lacks skills to inflict direct damage.
With the enormous buff to his tactical ability “Eye of the Allfather,” he catapulted himself from B-Tier to S-Tier. The cooldown time has been adjusted, and the skill can now be used significantly more often.
He can actively detect hidden enemies and traps. He can also trace enemy footprints and how old they are. His ultimate makes him faster and highlights enemies.
In professional esports teams, Bloodhound has seen a resurgence since Season 6.
Primarily, Bloodhound is used for tracking enemies, and his tactical ability can also be used during his ultimate ability “Beast of the Hunt.”
A-Tier: Generally Useful
In the A-Tier, you’ll find the best heroes in the game, who are not as overwhelmingly strong as those in the S-Tier. A-heroes are always a good idea.
Fuse
Who is Fuse? Fuse has been around since Season 8. He can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens.
Fuse is an explosives expert and according to EA’s description, “a woman’s man, a man’s man, and full of testosterone.” His abilities make him suitable for offensive players.
Why is Fuse so good? Fuse has two damaging abilities. This makes him an extremely strong Legend. To lure out enemies from cover, he can use his knuckle cluster as a tactical ability.
With his passive ability “Grenadier,” Fuse can carry an extra grenade. With his mechanical arm, he fires grenades further, faster, and more accurately.
With his ultimate ability “The Wrecking Ball,” he starts a bombardment similar to Gibraltar and Bangalore, surrounding the target area with a wall of flames. The fire wall blocks enemy Legends’ paths and inflicts heavy damage.
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Who is Lifeline? Lifeline is a lively medic. She is entirely focused on healing and is ideal for those who like to support their team.
Why is Lifeline so good? With Lifeline on the team, you don’t have to worry about healing. You can use her healing drone after every fight to replenish the whole team. This is also extremely useful when you stagger out of the zone half-dead and get healed right there.
With Lifeline on the team, the chances of survival increase significantly, especially in the mid and end game, when it’s important to get back in shape quickly.
Blue supply boxes on the map can also be opened by Lifeline, containing two additional items.
Additionally, Lifeline generates a shield when reviving teammates and revives faster than others. The revival is handled by Lifeline’s DDM drone. Thus, you can jump back into the fray while the drone automatically revives the friend. Her ultimate is extremely useful and drops one of the coveted supply packages with defensive materials right at your location.
There are really no reasons not to have this character on your team. Only Lifeline’s slender stature means she takes 5% more damage than normally sized Legends.
Gibraltar
Who is Gibraltar? Gibraltar is a tank primarily there to draw fire, protect the team, and distract the enemy.
Why is Gibraltar so good? Gibraltar is quite useful in certain squads, particularly when being patched up by Lifeline and Wraith or Bangalore provides enough offensive power.
He can shield himself from fire and shoot back. This also makes him a very good sniper, as he can aim in peace without worrying about counterfire. Additionally, he has a stationary shield dome and an orbital bombardment. His tactical ability “Protection Dome” and his ultimate ability “Defensive Bombardment” were significantly nerfed in recent seasons. Nevertheless, “Gibby” is a frequently played Legend, and his passive ability, the “Weapon Shield,” blocks 75HP. Moreover, as a hefty character, he has a buff that allows him to take 5% less damage. However, his hitbox is larger than that of most other Legends.
Overall, Gibraltar places himself in the A-Tier. Since he can take so much damage, he forgives more tactical mistakes and is a good beginner hero.
Mirage
Who is Mirage? Mirage is a character that you can currently only get through real money or lengthy unlocking. He is a brash, tactical hero who confuses enemies with illusions and requires a bit of skill.
Why is Mirage so good? Everything Mirage does is send holographic images of himself. The holographic image can be controlled and takes over all inputs that the player makes. Since Season 7, the holographic images also have 45 health points. However, they cannot be used as shields since bullets can pass through them.
His passive ability “Now You See Me…” automatically cloaks Mirage when he uses a respawn beacon. He also cloaks himself and the teammate when reviving.
With his active ability, when he goes down, he confuses enemies with additional images that he automatically sends out. His ultimate, on the other hand, releases a whole holographic squad and makes him invisible as well. Play Mirage if you like to have fun and think tactically.
Why is Octane so good? With Octane, everything is about speed. With his tactical ability, he sacrifices some health, but becomes 30% faster for six seconds.
With his ultimate ability, Octane places a jump pad that catapults teammates and himself through the air. Both Octane and other players can receive another boost in the air by jumping again.
As a passive ability, he regenerates health points continuously.
His speed makes it difficult to hit him and allows him to loot faster after the landing and snatch weapons from enemies. But even if they should get to him first, he can escape at lightning speed.
Pathfinder
Who is Pathfinder?Pathfinder is a funny and lovable robot. He can easily traverse difficult terrain and is highly mobile. At the start of the game, he had one of the largest hitboxes ever.
His grappling hook allows him to move quickly and pull enemies in. This is indeed a useful and especially funny feature.
His passive ability lets him hack computers and determine the next safe ring. This skill is rarely useful.
His ultimate creates useful zip lines. With Season 7 and the new map “Olympus,” Pathfinder’s zip lines are a more than useful addition. Olympus is a sprawling map with many abysses. Due to these changes, Pathfinder earns a place in the A-Tier again. Additionally, Pathfinder takes 5% more damage due to his small hitbox.
Wattson
Who is Wattson? Wattson is a static defender and can set up electric fences with her tactical ability, which damage enemies and slow them down.
Why is Wattson so good? She is currently the only Legend capable of carrying two ultimate accelerants in the same slot. With her passive ability “Spark of Inspiration,” her ultimate ability “Interceptor Pylon” is fully charged. Wattson can deploy up to three Interceptor Pylons at once, which disappear after 90 seconds. These recharge shields of other Legends. Grenades and the ultimate abilities of Bangalore and Gibraltar are deflected and have no effect.
The cooldown of her electric fences is reduced near the generator. As a result, Wattson has taken on a significant role in esports teams. Especially in buildings, her electric fences and Interceptor Pylon provide an enormous tactical advantage. In open fields, the Interceptor Pylon is not suitable, as it can be destroyed by the enemy.
The B-Tier contains heroes that are also useful. But compared to the A-Tier, their abilities are not equally as useful in every situation. Therefore, they are rated slightly lower. In the right situation, however, their skills are still very strong.
Horizon
Who is Horizon? Horizon has been around since Season 7. She can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens. Together with her robotic vacuum companion N.E.W.T., she is trying to secure a place in the tier list. Currently, she only makes it to the B-Tier.
Why is Horizon so good? With her passive ability “Spacewalk,” air control is enhanced, and impact from falls is reduced with Horizon’s customized space suit. Combined with the tactical ability “Gravity Lift,” a tactical advantage can be gained in heated battles.
With the Gravity Lift, the direction of gravity is reversed, and players are lifted upward, receiving a boost when leaving the lift. Horizon’s ultimate ability is the “Black Hole.” By activating N.E.W.T., a tiny black hole is created that pulls players in and flings them back with a gravitational wave.
Knocked out enemies can be pulled out of cover this way. A well-placed grenade guarantees a kill. Grenades are also attracted by the black hole.
Moreover, the black hole messes up the typical Apex Legends evasive movements during combat and slows down all enemies. They almost become easy targets.
Bangalore
Who is Bangalore? Bangalore is a soldier and weapons expert. She is designed for fast, aggressive advances and is ideal for offensive players.
Why is Bangalore so good? Bangalore is extremely useful as she brings a good mix of skills. Her smoke grenades obscure the area, allowing you to advance well-protected. Just be careful that no Bloodhound spots you in the fog.
If you come under fire, Bangalore’s passive ability Tactical Sprint activates, and you’ll move faster to either find cover quickly or storm the enemy position.
Finally, with her artillery strike as an ultimate, she can draw enemies out of cover. Ideally in combination with the smoke grenade to confuse the enemy as much as possible.
Bangalore is the optimal offensive assault character in the game and should also find a place in many teams.
Crypto
Who is Crypto? Crypto was introduced in Season 3 as a surveillance expert and hacker. He can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens. With his tactical ability, Crypto deploys a flying drone that reveals enemies within a radius of 30 meters. Additionally, banners of fallen teammates can be collected with the drone. The respawn of teammates occurs at the respawn point immediately.
Why is Crypto so good? Crypto works well in coordinated teams. With various buffs, Crypto is solidly placed in the B-Tier. If the drone is destroyed, the cooldown is forty seconds.
His ultimate ability “Drone EMP” is exceptional. Crypto’s drone creates an EMP explosion that damages shields, slows down enemies, and disables traps.
Crypto is a rather passive Legend. Through reconnaissance with his drone, he doesn’t really fit the fast-paced and intense gameplay of Apex Legends. He stands more in the backline, providing reconnaissance.
Rampart
Who is Rampart? Rampart is a quick-witted Modder and has been mixing it up in Apex since Season 6. She can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens.
Why is Rampart so good? Rampart has established herself solidly in the B-Tier. She acts as a defensive Legend and can place reinforced covers. This tactical ability blocks incoming enemy fire and additionally strengthens outgoing fire. Her passive ability reveals which weapons Rampart prefers to use: LMGs. “Modified Loader” increases magazine capacity and grants faster reloads when using LMGs and the minigun.
“Sheila” is a stationary minigun and can be deployed by Rampart almost anywhere. It can also be assembled on the new vehicles called Trident. Both teammates and enemies can use the minigun. It has a high ammunition capacity and a long loading time. Infinite reloads with “Sheila” are possible.
Whoever plays Rampart needs a lot of tactical understanding. The reinforced covers must be placed strategically to gain an advantage. On the map “Olympus,” Rampart is ideal for blocking narrow access points to stop enemy squads that are running with the zone.
Loba
Who is Loba? Loba has been part of the game since Season 5. She can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens. As a high-society thief, she can spot epic (purple) and legendary loot (gold) through walls and supply boxes with her passive ability “Master Thief.” “Best Friend of the Thief” is her tactical ability and allows Loba to teleport to reach hard-to-access positions or to get to safety.
Why is Loba so good? In Season 6, however, the teleporter was partly bugged, causing Loba to slide down the tier list.
The “Black Market Boutique” is a portable device and Loba’s ultimate ability that allows items nearby to be teleported into the inventory. Each allied or enemy Legend can select up to two items. Ammo is no longer counted in this limit since Season 7. So you can stuff your pockets with ammo as you like. After a respawn, weapons and ammo are often missing. A well-coordinated team can thus be operational again in no time thanks to Loba after a respawn.
C-Tier: Below Expectations
The C-Tier contains the heroes that currently do not quite meet expectations. However, even a C-Tier hero has useful skills in the right situations, and if you can handle them well, this choice is also legitimate.
Caustic
Who is Caustic?Caustic is another control hero. The sadistic psychopath sets traps with poisonous gas and drives enemies out of cover with gas grenades. If you want to play him, you need to unlock him first or buy him with real money.
Why is Caustic so good? Caustic’s skills are heavily situational. The gas traps are easy to see, and if they are not cleverly hidden, hardly anyone will walk into them.
His passive ability lets him see through gas clouds and makes him immune. Nice, but nothing more. Other heroes have better skills.
His ultimate is a gas grenade. However, it doesn’t deal much damage and mainly serves to flush enemies out of cover.
Caustic is therefore a hero you should only play if you’re really good at cleverly placing your traps, as one player impressively proved. Most teams will likely choose heroes from higher tiers with useful skills.
But no matter what the tier list says: If you have fun with a hero, or you know them particularly well, then play them too. Additionally, the heroes are constantly being revised by the developers, and thus, the list can still change significantly later on.
Revenant
Who is Revenant? The synthetic nightmare Revenant has been available in Apex Legends since Season 4. He can be unlocked for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens.
Why is Revenant so good? Due to several nerfs in Season 6, Revenant has become less interesting to many players. His tactical ability “Silence” is thrown and deals damage in the impact area, deactivating enemy devices and abilities. With his passive ability “Stalker,” Revenant moves crouched faster and can climb higher on walls than other Legends.
Teams that like to play aggressively often choose Revenant: with his ultimate ability “Death Totem,” he summons a totem that keeps users alive for a specific time. When activated, the totem turns users into shadows for 30 seconds. Shadows have no armor and cannot heal. If a shadow is eliminated, it is sent back to the totem and returns with a maximum of 50HP.
Revenant has had some ups and downs, but at present, he is uninteresting for most players and thus only places in the C-Tier.
The PUBG Global Invitational.S will be the longest e-sports event of the battle royale shooter. The eight-week LAN/online hybrid event starts on February 5th and will be broadcast live from the Paradise Studio in South Korea.
32 of the best PUBG teams in the world will participate in the on-site tournament. The prize pool amounts to $3.5 million and will be additionally increased through the Pick’Em Challenge. In this challenge, players can purchase exclusive in-game PGI.S items. 30% of the revenue from these sales will go into the PGI.S prize pool.
This is how PGI.S 2021 will take place in Korea
The 32 teams are already in Korea and were in quarantine due to the legal regulations regarding the Corona pandemic. After the quarantine, the tournament can finally begin for the teams.
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The video from PUBG Esports explains the tournament and format.
The PGI.S begins: The first phase of the tournament starts on February 5th and ends on March 28th. The 32 teams have been divided into four groups and will compete in placement matches over the weekend. The group stage will determine the starting order for the following weekly survival matches.
In the survival matches, teams must prove their skills, as only a victory guarantees entry into the weekly final matches. The teams will do everything they can to win every match and secure as many chicken dinners as possible. In PUBG, the winner of a match receives what is known as a “chicken dinner.”
The final matches will be held on the weekends and guarantee a share of the prize pool for a top 4 finish.
Teams that did not directly qualify for the weekly survival matches from the group stage can still advance. If a team wins one of the weekly survival matches, the team with the next highest rank from the group stage automatically advances and takes their place.
The 16 teams that did not qualify for the weekly final will compete in an additional set of placement matches to determine their position on the waiting list for the following week.
The champion will be the team with the highest earnings: Each week, the sum that teams can win in the weekend matches increases. The team that earns the most money by the end of the tournament in March will be crowned champion. This keeps the tournament exciting and varied until the end.
The 8 weeks of PGI.S explained in detail.
The hygiene concept of PGI.S and how it will be implemented: Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting measures, the tournament will be held without spectators on site. To ensure the health of the e-sports athletes and avoid infections, there is a comprehensive hygiene concept:
Two-week quarantine for all teams
Temperature patches worn by participants
Mandatory masks throughout the venue
Temperature checks at entry
Thorough disinfection of the venue
Regular PCR tests for participants
Continuous presence of paramedics on site
For PUBG, the health of the participants is the top priority. If a player tests positive for Covid-19, immediate quarantine will be imposed, and all contacts will be tested promptly.
These teams are the favorites
These regions are home to the teams: Seven teams from Europe have qualified. In addition, there are six Chinese teams, four Korean teams, four North American teams, two Latin American teams, five Southeast Asian teams, two Japanese teams, and two teams from Chinese Taipei.
From a European perspective, some of the best teams from recent years have traveled to Korea to become the champion of PGI.S. We present the favorites for the title.
Two European teams have a good chance of landing in the top spots
Team Liquid from Europe has big ambitions: Team Liquid finished second in the PUBG Continental Series in October 2020, losing to the Russian team Northern Lights. For Team Liquid, Jord “ibiza” van Geldere, Jim “Jeemzz” Eliassen, Nikolaj “clib” Haugaard Madsen, Anssi “mxey” Pekkonen, and substitute Miloslav “PiXeL1K” Feik have traveled to Korea.
If Team Liquid can maintain the consistently high level of the past months, a podium finish could await them.
The chances for FaZe Clan: Another team from Europe, FaZe Clan, hopes for victory at PGI.S. Gustav “Gustav” Blønd secured first place with his team in the European PUBG Continental Series 2. He aims to build on this achievement alongside David “Fuzzface” Tillberg-Persson, Ludvik “Aitzy” Jahnsen, Ivan “ubah” Kapustin, and substitute Rory “rawryy” Logue.
After finishing second at the PUBG Global Championship 2019 with a prize of $600,000, FaZe Clan’s next objective is to become the champion of PGI.S 2021. Given the successes of the past two years, the team has a good shot at victory.
These teams are additional favorites at PGI.S in Korea
We present three additional favorites who have a good chance of becoming champions at PGI.S in Korea. Two teams are from Asia, and one from North America.
Gen.G has already won a major tournament: In 2019, the South Korean team Gen.G won the PUBG Global Championship 2019 and secured a prize pool of $2 million. In-game leader Cha “Pio” Seung-hoon aims to win the tournament in his home country alongside Park “Loki” Jung-young, Na “Inonix” Hee-joo, Go “Esther” Jeong-won, and substitute Bang “Alphaca” Ji-min.
The home advantage should benefit Gen.G and serve as additional motivation.
LG Divine could cause a stir: Another dark horse is the Southeast Asian team LG Divine. The team succeeded in the Asian PUBG Continental Series 2, winning the tournament and taking home a prize of $80,000.
Nguyen “Leviz” Huu Doan travels with his team from Vietnam to Korea. He will compete at PGI.S with Ngo “Nickyyy” Thanh Hung, Phùng “Turtle” Mạnh Hiếu, Dinh “JEnd” Viet Lam, and substitute Dinh “Junnn” Trong Thuan. As an underdog, the team could cause quite a stir.
Shoot To Kill compete without an org: Shoot To Kill come from North America and currently lack an organization. At PGI.S, they can showcase their skills and attract the attention of organizations.
Kurtis “Purdy” Bond is the in-game leader and will participate at PGI.S alongside Aaron “aLOW” Lommen, Timothy “Uncivil” Ebarb, Luke “luke12” Newey, and substitute Andrew “Pentalol” Franco. The team won the North American PUBG Continental Series 1 in 2020, securing a prize fund of $73,844.
In Korea, the team must push beyond its limits to become the champion in the end.
All PGI.S teams presented: The total of 32 teams are composed as follows:
Team
Players
Europe FaZe Clan
Fuzzface Aitzy ubah Gustav rawryy
Europe Natus Vincere (NAVI)
ceh9 Besto TheTab Orange Kemba7
Europe ENCE
SKUIJKE Rustanmar Tiikzu D1gg3r1 SENTEX
Europe TSM
Iroh Fexx vard MiracU Wookiebookie
Europe Team Liquid
ibiza jeemzz clib mxey PiXeL1k
Europe Digital Athletics
Mert Mitraleius Smash CodeMarco SIXMO
Europe Virtus.pro
BatulinS Lu spyrro H1RUZEN Dyrem
North America Soniqs
hwinn M1ME Shrimzy TGLTN Sharpshot4k
North America Shoot To Kill
Purdy aLOW luke12 Uncivil pentalo
North America Oath
Snakers Relo Balefrost PATKAPS Trevor
North America Zenith
Kickstart Roth Shinboi Poonage wolf
South America META GAMING
SzylzEN Ragnaldinho Wick2d sparkingg kriztem
South America FURIA
rustyzera necro raspu killdemo RDS149
Southeast Asia Buriram United Esports
Noardra Eaddy GodMiao Conaxy Jowman
Southeast Asia Attack All Around
Gems SviTT Jayers J4nku2of Boblee
Southeast Asia Daytrade Gaming
Flash PuuChiwz Nourinz vanOtica Belmoth
Southeast Asia LG Divine
Leviz Nickyyy Turtle JEnd Junnn
Southeast Asia DivisionX Gaming
LongK Fergus NBK IQ500 NielT
China Tianba esports
LinShu M200 LuRen mingz Z9Max
China infantry
Boliang Jiaoyang longskr 9 L1nnnn
China Triumphant Song Gaming
VoliBEAR Peng ShanD1anX IAMSIA yuyu
China Multi Circle Gaming
Tank Summer LingDu EviLLee HangHang
China Four Angry Men
GODV XXLU 112 FOREVER PIGNAN
China Petrichor Road
XDD Mamu Myl longdd gray
South Korea Gen.G
Pio Inonix Loki Esther Alphaca
South Korea DAMWON KIA
Under Seongjang kAyle indigo
South Korea T1
Starlord Adder Aqua5 Daengchae
South Korea Afreeca Freecs
Hikari Akad EJ R0wha
Chinese Taipei K7 Esports
BuYoHoo Lokslok ZhenNan Savior
Chinese Taipei Global Esports Xsset
YanLi Leo MaoYe CC
Japan DetonatioN Gaming White
Melofo Gokuri SSeeS Machao
Japan ENTER FORCE.36
amonot satou Sylphia Pureboy
PUBG promises entertainment experience in early March
Between the first tournament phase, which ends on February 28th, and the second phase, which begins on March 9th, there will be the so-called “survival tournament”. This fills the break between the two halves and offers viewers, according to PUBG, “a new entertainment experience.” What exactly this term entails is currently still unknown.
Anyone who has ever wanted to experience how a large e-sport tournament is organized should follow the live streams during PGI.S. The entire event will be broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube.
The most powerful perk in Dead by Daylight is becoming significantly weaker. Survivors must say goodbye to the old Decisive Strike.
In Dead by Daylight, there are several perks that the community considers to be overpowered. Some of these perks are so strong that you can practically see them on every survivor. One of these perks is Decisive Strike. It often gives survivors a second chance. At higher ranks, almost every survivor uses it – but that will change soon, as it is getting a rework.
What does Decisive Strike do? Decisive Strike is an “Anti-Tunnel perk”. It is mainly intended to help survivors who are repeatedly focused on by the killer in quick succession. After being unhooked, a timer of 60 seconds starts. If the killer picks up the corresponding survivor again within these 60 seconds, the survivor can complete a skill check. If successful, the killer is stunned, allowing the survivor to escape.
This perk is so powerful that it is practically always used in matches at more experienced ranks. Hardly any survivor gives up this powerful perk.
Decisive Strike is also part of our Top 10 perks for survivors:
What will be changed? Decisive Strike will receive a series of additional conditions that will deactivate it prematurely, rendering it useless. This will make the perk useful only in a smaller percentage of situations.
If the survivor performs any of the following actions during the 60-second timer, the perk will be immediately deactivated and can no longer be triggered:
Repair a generator
Heal (yourself or another player)
Ritualize a totem
Sabotage a hook
Rescue another survivor from a hook
The limitations make Decisive Strike more situational.
What does the change mean? The adjustment ensures that Decisive Strike will only be useful in situations where the survivor is actually being “tunneled”, meaning directly pursued again. If the survivor has time to hide and engage in other tasks, then the perk can no longer be used.
Many survivors used it to “run in front of the killer” in the last seconds to distract him from another survivor and then stun him directly with the perk. This will no longer be possible unless they have not performed any meaningful tasks in the meantime.
For more about Dead by Daylight, you can find here:
When will the change come? It will still take a few weeks until the change to Decisive Strike goes live. The adjustment is expected to arrive with the next major chapter, which is anticipated in March. The smaller mid-chapter patch, which will be released next week, will not contain this update.
What do you think of these changes? Are they sensible innovations to Decisive Strike? Or would you have had a different idea?
Thomas Mahler is the Game Director of the Austrian developer Moon Studios, who are behind the Ori series. In a longer post, he complained about developers who promote their games better than they turn out at release. He has since apologized for his harsh words.
What does Mahler criticize? In his post on the platform resetera, the Game Director mainly refers to three games or the people behind the games:
Peter Molyneux, a British developer who has created games such as Populous and Black & White.
He accuses all three of making their games appealing in advance with promises they ultimately could not keep. He also criticizes gaming journalists for jumping on this hype and therefore neglecting to feature games that actually deserve it.
What does he say in his apology? In a tweet, Mahler apologized for his harsh criticism and sometimes crude language. He is bothered by how hype culture harms both players and developers.
He himself is a passionate developer, but also a gamer, and wanted to start a discussion with this. However, the way he expressed his criticism was not correct and he did not represent Moon Studios as he should have.
Yet, under the tweet, many player reactions are gathered, agreeing with his original criticism. The accompanying text has not been deleted yet.
“Three examples that you are being fooled”
How was the criticism expressed in detail? Mahler is annoyed that players and journalists keep falling for lies. And that has been going on for years.
First, he criticized Molyneux, who according to him had many ideas, but his games could not deliver:
He was the master of “Instead of telling you what my product is, let me just ramble on about what I think it could be and excite you all!” – And that was fine until you actually laid down your money and the game was not what Peter had touted.
However, even before the release, there was criticism and leakers spoke of bugs and framerate issues. The release version was not well received by many players, as the first test by GameStar shows:
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It took some time and updates before No Man’s Sky developed into the game that fans originally expected.
Mahler criticizes not only the false promises at launch but also the prices that the game receives afterward:
Of course, there were massive backlashes when No Man’s Sky was finally released and the product was not what Murray hyped. But what happened then?
They released a bunch of updates, so let’s forget the initial lies and deceptions and hey, let’s award him again with accolades because he finally somewhat delivered what he had said the game would be years before. Thanks, Geoff Keighley. Rewarding such behavior will surely help the industry to become stronger.
His third example is the release of Cyberpunk 2077. Here, Mahler does not criticize much, but links to the video from YouTuber BeatEmUps titled “Cyberpunk 2077: CD PROJEKT are all Liars”.
Mahler describes the hype around these games from a developer’s perspective. He recounts that in 2014, his game Ori and the Blind Forest almost made it to the cover of a gaming magazine.
But in the end, they chose No Man’s Sky:
Ultimately, they had to choose No Man’s Sky because it was the “bigger game.” I somewhat agreed back then and thought: “Okay, I get it, they have to promote the bigger game, they clearly have to be after the clicks. That sucks, but that’s how the game is played.”
But then I really felt cheated when No Man’s Sky came out and it became clear that all this hype was actually based on lies, and the honest guy who just showed his actual product got kicked in the balls because the lying guy was able to invent some stories that had absolutely no substance.
Mahler emphasizes that he is not “cursing other developers, but liars.” In his view, everyone should actually agree that this behavior is not okay:
Don’t sell me features that don’t exist. Don’t paint a picture you can’t deliver. Just don’t lie to me. You are fooling gamers, you are fooling journalists (who should know better, so shame on you!), and you are fooling other developers.
Mahler is known for being critical of events surrounding gaming. He warned on resetera about the hype around Unreal Engine 5, which promises photorealism. However, in his view, this could lead to many games looking very similar because scans from the real world would be used.
On next-gen consoles, Mahler also criticized that 1TB is far too little storage space:
The MeinMMO Podcast on the hottest topics of the week is here. We talk about Destiny 2, Pokémon cards, and a new survival MMO that looks like The Division with zombies.
If you haven’t been following the news around gaming closely in the past few days, we have the solution for you now. In our Friday podcast, we provide you with an update on the hottest topics of the week. Just check out the session and be back up to date. And even if you have followed the news, we still give you deeper editorial insights in the podcast.
The News Show from February 5
These are our topics: In gaming and the gaming community, it really never gets boring. Every week something explodes somewhere or a new announcement hits. This week there were quite a few news and events that we will talk about in our new podcast episode. Tune in and get up to date.
In the current episode of the podcast, we discuss the following topics:
Here’s how you can participate: We naturally welcome constructive feedback and improvement suggestions for our new news show! Share your opinion in the comments under the article or in our Discord and tell us what you think of the new format. You can also reach us via email at [email protected].
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Destiny 2 improves the exotic Aeon Cult glove trio for Season 13. There is a real novelty, as the armor exotic now gets its own mod slot and special modifications.
In Destiny 2, Season 13 is just around the corner, starting on February 9 with the new season. Accordingly, more and more details are now being revealed.
There were also some new details in the latest “This Week at Bungie” blog regarding the Season of the Chosen. This includes information on the overhaul of a nearly forgotten exotic trio.
This is the exotic in question: It is about the Aeon Cult gloves. This exotic armor piece was introduced with the first DLC “Curse of Osiris”(2017) and is represented in different appearances across all 3 Guardian classes:
Aeon Swift for Hunters (in the title image)
Aeon Safe for Titans
Aeon Soul for Warlocks
Warlock with Aeon Soul
The special feature of this trio: Other carriers of this exotic benefit from certain buffs when specific actions are performed.
For Hunters, it is dodging
For Titans, it is melee
For Warlocks, it is throwing grenades
The Aeon Cult allies will receive grenade energy for Warlocks, melee energy for Titans, and dodging energy for Hunters. Other allies (who do not wear the exotic) receive a fraction of the shared energy.
This is how the exotic Aeon Cult gloves change in Season 13
However, these quite cool-looking gloves are practically unused by anyone and have always been considered by the community to be the worst armor exotic in all of Destiny 2. Because the effects hardly justify the use of the sought-after exotic slot.
But now it seems that Bungie wants to change that. The gloves will be overhauled for the upcoming Season 13. They will still promote teamwork, but it will be done differently now.
Titan with Aeon Safe
Own mod slot: Instead of a fixed perk, all 3 Aeon Cult gloves will have their own special mod slot that will be unlocked as soon as you receive this exotic.
Special exotic mods: In addition, there will be 3 special mods for these special mod slots. These will also be unlocked as soon as you obtain this exotic. The mods are identical for all classes and allow you to take on specific roles within the group – regardless of which class or focus you play.
The 3 Aeon Cult mods in detail
Sect of Power:
Sect of Insight:
Sect of Zeal:
Do the gloves finally pay off now? Only practice will truly show that. But with this new mechanic, the gloves could indeed come into play in certain activities like the Fireteam Nightfalls and prove to be helpful there – but rather only for coordinated teams.
What do you think of the gloves? Have you used them before? And will you try them out in the new Season 13 after their overhaul? What do you think of the approach with the special, dedicated slots? Let us and other readers of MeinMMO know in the comments.
Another exotic that deviates from the static image is Fatebringer from Season 12. Here you can get various versions with random perks.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Player NisaY led the European leaderboard in the shooter Valorant . But now he has been banned by Riot Games for a year. He sees himself as innocent.
Who is it about? 23-year-old player Yasin “NisaY” Gök was part of the Beşiktaş Esports team. But the Turkish team has now kicked him out. NisaY was ranked 1st in the European leaderboard in Valorant.
However, the player disagrees with Riot’s decision.
The ban from Riot and the kick from the team
Riot’s ban: On February 4, the Turkish Twitter account of Valorant-ESports announced that they would be banning player NisaY. The team caught him using cheats in a ranked game.
As a consequence, a 12-month ban was imposed on player NisaY. He is now not allowed to play or participate in any tournaments. At that time, NisaY was at the top of the European leaderboard for Valorant with 75 wins and a rating of 771.
We embed the translated tweet about the ban here as an image:
This is how his team reacted: NisaY was still playing for the Beşiktaş Esports team at that time. After Riot’s ban announcement, they terminated the contract with NisaY. On Twitter they write (via Twitter with Google Translate):
“We have terminated the contract of our player Yasin “NisaY” Gök. We will provide the necessary explanations regarding the future of our VALORANT team in the coming days. […]”
This is what NisaY says about it
In a tweet from February 2, NisaY explains that he was downgraded from Valorant’s highest rank in the leaderboard, Radiant, to the rank of Immortal.
He had contacted the anti-cheating team to clarify the situation.
The rank distribution for ranked matches in Valorant
Then the ban followed. In a statement (via Twitlonger) NisaY professes his innocence. He writes: “I am not that stupid to cheat just to play Radiant.” Further in the statement:
“They said they had never experienced anything like this at any Riot tournament. We went back a long time and continuously exchanged information with Riot. When we asked them what 3rd-party software it was about and if they could show us evidence (since we were under pressure from the community), they said they would not do that.”
He explains that he received a 12-month ban due to suspicion. “If they had actually determined that I used cheats, that would have been a permanent ban.”
What do you think about this? Do you think Riot Games must now provide evidence to NisaY to justify their ban? Or is it enough justification if Riot reviewed this with their team and sees the ban as justified? And if all of this is true, are 12 months enough as a ban duration?
Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments how you feel about it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO there are indications of more transparency regarding eggs. Dataminers have found corresponding files that speak for a list of Pokémon that are supposed to hatch from eggs.
It was discovered: The dataminers from Pokeminers shared their findings on reddit . There was also a part named “egg_transparency_help.” It is about the transparency regarding the content of the eggs.
This is one of the major points of contention in Pokémon GO. Trainers have long demanded to see what could be inside the eggs. Now it seems that such a feature will be available soon, but players are demanding even more.
More transparency regarding eggs – But is that enough?
What is exactly in the files: In addition to the file regarding egg transparency, a text was also found in this context. It states: “Pokémon that are higher on this list hatch more often from this egg.”
Thus, you not only get a list of Pokémon that are in the eggs, but also a rough overview of the probabilities.
At the bottom of the list of 10 km eggs, for example, Milza is likely to be found. It is considered particularly rare in the eggs.
This is being demanded: Many trainers find this a good start, but they demand even more transparency. They call for the exact chance of each Pokémon to be listed.
Thus, the eggs are being compared to loot boxes from other games. There, developers are required to disclose the exact rates of the respective items in the loot boxes. Trainers state that Niantic should also take this step.
Edocsil47 writes on reddit: “A good start, but we should remember not to stop until the actual numerical hatch rates are published. Relative placement shows only part of the picture and can still be a scam.”
You should keep this in mind: So far, this is only information from dataminers. Niantic itself has not yet commented on this. Therefore, it may still take some time before this feature is implemented. It may also not appear at all. So consider this report with a degree of skepticism.
However, the events in February are certain. Here’s the overview:
With the Blackwood addon, NPC companions are introduced into the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). But does that even make sense in an online game?
MMORPGs are social gaming experiences. Meeting other players, forming groups, and experiencing adventures together is essentially the heart of the gameplay. However, there are MMORPGs where NPC companions can take on the role of players. The Elder Scrolls Online introduces this this year with the major storyline Gates of Oblivion and the Blackwood addon. NPC party members also play a major role in SWTOR.
But doesn’t this feature completely contradict the fundamental social aspect of the genre? Let’s take a look at the situation.
Groups of heroes often represent the core in a role-playing game.
A look back at the history of NPC companions
Where do NPC companions come from? When tabletop role-playing games emerged in 1971 with Chainmail created by Gary Gygax and the 1974 release of Dungeons & Dragons, the gameplay principle was that several friends would come together to experience adventures as a group. Even here, it was the social aspect that formed the foundation of the game.
In the mid-1970s, role-playing games were transferred to computers. The first games were dnd from 1975 as well as pedit5 and Dungeons, which followed shortly after.
At that time, multiplayer was already a topic in the computer gaming sector, as the multiplayer game Maze War was released in 1973, but it was difficult to implement this on a commercial scale. Multiplayer games were then limited to universities and test environments.
With Richard Garriott’s Ultima series and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord by Andrew Greenberg and Robert Woodhead, it became evident in the early 1980s how commercially successful such games could be. This laid the foundation for a success story that continues today.
However, due to the lack of widespread multiplayer options, it was necessary to simulate the group experience in some way. Hence, computer RPGs introduced the option to create multiple heroes, who would take on the roles of the players in a tabletop game – that is, warriors, healers, mages, and thieves.
A money group is central in Baldur’s Gate.
This group simulation was later modified in some RPGs. The player created not a complete party anymore, but only a hero. Along the way, they would encounter non-player characters (NPCs) whom they could recruit for their team. This appeared in Ultima 4 in 1984 and was adopted in many other video games. A prominent example is Baldur’s Gate from 1998, which gave NPCs a deep backstory as well as personalities and even allowed for romances.
NPC companions were essentially born out of necessity to provide RPG players with a quasi-group experience because multiplayer options were still extremely limited at the time.
Do NPC companions make sense in MMORPGs?
With the rise of MMORPGs in the 1990s, the situation changed. More and more households had access to the internet, which gradually became more affordable. Thus began the triumph of online games.
MMORPGs still relied on the principles of tabletop RPGs: a group of heroes experience adventures together in another world.
But now it was possible for real players to take on the role of party members. The social aspect of the tabletop template found its way into the game – and it was very successful.
However, problems also arose:
What if players wanted to experience adventures alone?
What if they quickly couldn’t find a group?
What if players became so accustomed to NPC companions that they didn’t want to miss out on experiencing their stories?
In the MMORPG SWTOR, NPC companions play a role.
Games like Guild Wars or Dungeons & Dragons Online and also Neverwinter allow players to hire henchmen who assist them in quests. These are not NPCs with deep backstories and personal stories. Essentially, they are just sidekicks who fight and allow players to experience content that is actually meant for groups alone.
That’s different in Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR). The MMORPG developed by Bioware builds on the experiences the studio gained with titles like Baldur’s Gate. The NPCs you find along the way come with their own quests that let you learn more about these characters. This makes it interesting to travel with them. They are more than just cannon fodder.
Likewise, Zenimax Online’s MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online aims to introduce NPC companions with the Blackwood addon. These are also meant to be more than just sidekicks who simply fight. It’s also planned that you will get to know these NPCs to learn more about them and their motivations.
The NPCs in ESO are also designed so that you can play group content alone. If you can’t find anyone to play with at the moment or simply don’t feel like social interactions, you can take an NPC with you on your adventures.
The pros and cons of NPC companions: The system has its light and dark sides.
Advantages:
You don’t always need other players to complete group content
You always feel like you are in a group
You experience additional adventures that relate to the NPCs
Fights become easier
Disadvantages:
The social aspect suffers a bit
Players might prefer to use NPCs rather than look for real players
It could become harder for groups to find players since they prefer to travel with NPCs
MMORPGs could evolve more into single-player games as togetherness might not be necessary anymore
Conclusion: NPC companions do have their place in MMORPGs. However, they should not undermine the social aspect of an online game to the point where players become irrelevant.
What do you think? Do NPC companions make sense in MMORPGs for you, or should they not exist at all?
Do you want to know when item levels came into MMORPGs? We’ll tell you.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The YouTuber Logan Paul has secured the holy grail of Pokémon cards – and that 7 times. For this, the American had to shell out a whopping 2 million dollars.
What did Logan Paul buy? The YouTuber purchased 7 displays of the Base Set of the 1st generation. These were the first Pokémon cards ever released. The displays are still sealed and have not been opened for over 20 years.
According to statements from Logan Paul, there were only 7 offers for the English version of the display currently. He bought them all and had to pay 2 million dollars for it. But why is it so expensive?
Pokémon hype drives record sums
What is so special about the Pokémon cards? There are only a few copies of these cards left in this condition worldwide. They date back to the 90s and have not been sold in markets for about 20 years.
Each time one of these displays is opened again, the remaining displays become even more valuable.
The displays are also so valuable because they are the English versions. The cards are most in demand there because there is the greatest demand for English cards worldwide.
Why did Logan Paul buy the cards? Just a few weeks ago, the YouTuber opened such a display in his livestream. At that time, 300,000 people watched and they raised $130,000 for charity. Logan Paul wants to repeat just that, which is why he bought the displays.
The first display is set to be opened in February. For this, Logan Paul is now offering auctions where individual boosters can be bid on – starting price per booster is 10,000 dollars.
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In this video, Logan Paul shows the purchases of the Pokémon cards.
What can be in the boosters? It’s pure chance. There are boosters that don’t even recoup a fraction of the 10,000 dollars. On the other hand, you can also pull really rare cards that can easily be worth over 50,000 dollars. Cards like Charizard, Blastoise, or Venusaur are in here, all of which have enormous value.
However, the cards need to be graded. In the first opening a few weeks ago, all holo cards were graded 10/10. There was even confirmation that they were pulled in Logan Paul’s opening. That should increase the price even further.
This is what makes the prices so crazy: After Logan Paul opened the first display, the hype surrounding Pokémon cards exploded. While the YouTuber paid 200,000 dollars for the display at the time, he now had to pay up to 400,000 dollars for the current ones.
In comparison, the same cards cost 500 dollars in 2007. Now these displays are worth around 400,000 dollars. A price increase that makes your head spin.
How did German streamers react to this? The streamer Trymacs, who recently opened Pokémon cards worth 40,000 euros, reacted to the video. He himself said that he would probably want to bid as well and at least wants to buy one booster. Whether that will work out, we will find out by February 27 – on that day, Logan Paul will then open the next display.
How joy over rare Pokémon cards can unfold, we show you here:
Several Warcraft games for mobile devices? The Blizzard CEO has basically confirmed it. We reveal what’s coming for you.
A few years ago, Blizzard announced that they wanted to increase their presence in the mobile market. Despite somewhat negative comments like “Don’t you have smartphones?”, it’s a fact that many people around the world own a smartphone and can play games on it.
The development of these mobile titles seems to be progressing well, as the CEO stated that they are already in “advanced development”.
Where does the information come from? Activision-Blizzard recently held their “Financial Earnings Call,” during which the major franchises of the developer were discussed. The successes of the past year were enumerated, and some plans for the future were hinted at. Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Blizzard, spoke with the investors and revealed some future plans.
What was said? Kotick revealed a whole range of information. Much of it is still a bit vague, but for fans of the Warcraft series, it should still be a reason for joy. Kotick mentioned that they plan to “deliver more and more premium content for the Warcraft franchise to maintain and grow the World of Warcraft community.”
However, the next quote is even more interesting:
We have created several mobile free-to-play experiences, and they are now in an advanced state of development.
It seems that Warcraft will not only receive a single mobile spin-off but several.
What kind of games could these be? So far, this can only be speculated. However, there could be a whole range of titles, as the Warcraft franchise lends itself to a variety of possibilities:
Pet Battle Mobile: The pet battle system from World of Warcraft could receive a mobile spin-off that connects with the base game. This way, players could have pet battles on the go.
Hero Collector: A typical collection game where the player collects various known Warcraft characters and sends them on missions or lets them compete against other players, similar to “AFK Arena.”
Strategy Title: A mix of Warcraft III and mobile games that focuses on base building and interaction with other players. For instance, a Night Elf could establish a base and send troops to attack a rival Orc.
Ultimately, Blizzard has hardly any limits, and what will actually be implemented remains to be seen.
A strategy spin-off for mobile? It could be conceivable.
More info at BlizzConline? As concrete information is still lacking, players hope for more detailed info at BlizzConline. This event will take place in just under two weeks and replaces the usual BlizzCon, which is canceled due to the Corona pandemic and the corresponding protective measures. Nevertheless, Blizzard wants to deliver a great show and surely present one or the other innovation for the coming years – a Warcraft mobile game would be one of the possible candidates.
Are you excited about one or even multiple mobile games in the Warcraft universe? Or can you not come to terms with the idea at all?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For the announcement of the Crew Pack of February 2021, Fortnite told an exciting story about a mysterious fox clan, but what happens next?
What kind of story is this? On January 24, a few posts from Fortnite appeared on Twitter. However, these were not “real” reports about the game, but someone was trying to make contact with a familiar character from Fortnite.
The story began when the mysterious character made contact with Drift from Season 5 – Chapter 1. The person mentioned a fox clan and that they were in great danger. As it turned out, the character was “Vi”, the crew skin of February.
Vi explained that the fox clan is being pursued by an ancient evil power and that she is the only one who managed to escape. Since Drift had received a fox mask back then, he is also a target and in danger. She asks Drift for help and that they join forces.
Vi is the mysterious character from the fox clan
So the story ended: To prevent the evil power from becoming suspicious, Vi ended the conversation and deleted all traces of this discussion that had taken place with Drift. Consequently, all posts from Fortnite on Twitter were also deleted. The story ended there, leaving players puzzled. Here you can follow the conversation again:
This is what happened after the story: A few days later, the new crew pack was announced, and it quickly became clear: Vi was just the skin from the package. But what about the story? What happens next with the fox clan?
I have been asking myself these questions since the posts from Fortnite on Twitter. What I have always particularly liked about Fortnite is the story that is told in the background. I closely followed the story from Chapter 1 and it was always one of my highlights.
The story with the Visitor from Chapter 1 led through several seasons and was exciting
If I’m honest, I have missed the storytelling since the start of Chapter 2. There are somehow no real connections that can be linked from season to season. When this story with the fox clan emerged, I was thrilled and full of hope for more.
This is what I still hope for: When the story was no longer continued, I was left with a bitter aftertaste. I wondered: Was this all just hype to announce the skin? I hope not, because in my opinion, there is still a lot of potential!
A return of Drift, new characters from the fox clan, and a reunion with the old place Lucky Landing are just a few of the things I can imagine. I want to know who else is part of the clan and who is behind the old evil power. So please, Fortnite, continue the story!
Will we soon see Drift and “Kevin” the cube again?
A theory about Season 6 also keeps me hoping for a continuation of the story. Players believe that the respective seasons from Chapter 1 are linked to those from Chapter 2. They would repeat, but with a different twist. Since we are now in Season 5 – Chapter 2 and Drift had appeared in the same season from Chapter 1, there could still be a reunion.
What do you think? Do you share my opinion and want to hear more from the story, or would you rather focus on fighting on the map?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Magic: Legends is an upcoming action RPG with a special twist: instead of fixed skills, you fight with a deck of cards and spells that rotate. You build your decks yourself, significantly influencing your play style. Principal Lead Designer Adam Hetenyi explained to MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus in detail how it all works.
What is Magic: Legends? The new free-to-play action RPG from Cryptic Studios and Perfect World brings the famous trading card game Magic: The Gathering (“MTG”) into a gameplay reminiscent of the Diablo series.
Alone or in a group of up to three players, you control a “Planeswalker,” among the most powerful beings in the Magic universe. Unlike traditional ARPGs, you do not gain increasingly more abilities but cards. These represent spells and are assembled in the form of decks.
Planeswalkers are beings with the extremely rare ability to walk between the planes of existence. This inherent ability is usually associated with enormous magical potential, making wizards more powerful than most mortals.
What is so exciting about deck building? Decks, your actual abilities, are the absolute core of the game. In Magic: Legends, you build your own deck from over 175 different cards. This ultimately determines who you are in the new ARPG.
The decks are independent of the actual class you play. Each of the five currently known classes can use any deck. This should provide you with countless combinations.
In the interview, Adam Hetenyi answered some questions about the unique system and allowed me to take a deeper look at the feature. Additionally, there was insight into the current build of the game and its mechanics.
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Gameplay and explanations of deck building in the new video.
Deckbuilding in Magic: Legends – How does it work?
At the beginning of our interview, Adam showed me a bit of gameplay from the current test build of the developers. Unfortunately, I can’t show you any images of that. But I can at least summarize how deck and class building will look in Magic: Legends.
Decks in Magic: Legends consist of twelve cards, four of which are active at the same time while playing. When you use a spell, its card is shuffled back into the deck, and you draw a random new one. You can have up to two different colors in your deck.
The colors of the cards in the decks are independent of your Planeswalker and follow different fundamental ideas that later determine the orientation of your deck:
Blue – Focuses on control of opponents and refreshing your own spells
Red – Uses elemental powers for spells with great firepower but also brings a risk (expensive cards or creatures with less life)
Green – Summons powerful creatures of the wild and strengthens them
White – Heals and strengthens allies
Black – Drains life from opponents and uses typical “dark” powers like necromancy
From these colors and spells arise thousands of combinations with different approaches. They determine your play style, and even a single change can make a difference in gameplay.
A deck can consist of up to two colors and be used by any Planeswalker.
Every deck can be played by every class, and just this leads to differences – the same deck can function as a healing deck for the Sanctifier, but as a tank deck for the Beastcaller.
Adam Hetenyi explains in the interview how this works in detail and gives tips on how you can build your own decks.
Magic: Legends in Interview – Deck Building as the Cornerstone
Adam Hetenyi: There is a really accessible learning curve in the game. We guide you through our core systems, giving you only a few spells at a time so that you understand how the rotating spells work.
This is an important point because ARPGs usually have a fixed rotation with fixed buttons. And we have twelve spells in the deck but only four active at once – people need to get used to that. This is part of what sets the game apart from others, what allows it to function as a Magic ARPG.
People will need to practice a bit before it becomes a habit. But we believe that most good, deep game systems are characterized by having a certain learning aspect. You start with two spell slots and then unlock the others.
MeinMMO: Do I need to know the rules of the Magic card game to build my own decks and play the game?
Adam Hetenyi: No, absolutely not. If you are familiar with MTG, it will give you some insights about deck building. You will instantly recognize more synergies. However, you do not need to know MTG to play Legends.
The idea of a spell is not too hard to explain. It is a spell that you cast. A summoning is also self-explanatory. For complicated things like combos with triggers and effects or status effects, it gets more complex.
But players do not have to deal with those complexities right from the start. You will not find legendary artifacts in the first 10 minutes of the game. This level of complexity builds up, and you will become more familiar with it over time.
Adam Hetenyi is the Lead Principal Designer for Magic: Legends at Cryptic Studios. He previously worked at Sony Online Entertainment and spent over seven years at Trion Worlds, including as Lead Game Designer on Trove and Senior Game Designer on RIFT. He is also a dedicated Magic player.
Decks as “a kind of mix” of MMO classes and Magic cards
The types of decks you can build are diverse, as Adam explains to me. They are “a kind of mix” of typical MMO classes and Magic decks. Whether you play a pet class, a support character, or a tank depends entirely on how you build your deck. In a group, you can even focus more on specializations.
In this, Magic Legends focuses on customization, Adam emphasizes. In a creature deck, for example, which is based on summoning and strengthening allies, it may be enough to exchange two spells and you will become the tank for the group.
Basically, you can choose whether you want to focus on decks with immediate effects or prefer to build complex “machines,” as Adam calls them, that need to get started and then work continuously well. However, everyone should feel comfortable with what they want to do.
MeinMMO: Will there be dedicated PvP and PvE decks?
Adam Hetenyi: Not really. […] For the moment, we will likely see players using similar decks in PvP that they already have for PvE. Only the strategy will differ against an intelligent opponent compared to hordes of AI enemies.
Interestingly, creatures are still very effective in PvP. If you choose the right summons, you can really put pressure on your opponent. […] This way, you can get kills with skill shots and combos that you prepare with your summons.
The fight against AI opponents could look similar to fighting against real players.
At this point, Adam also explained another system of Magic: Legends – enchantments. These enhance levels that you play with additional effects, such as enemies exploding upon death or hitting harder but being slower. This makes it harder, but the rewards will also be better.
For such things, clever players can then build extra decks that only work for exactly these enchantments and are otherwise rather weak. Adam says: “This is a sort of extra level of deck building. You create your own challenge and at the same time the solution for it.”
MeinMMO: What should I consider when building my first deck? Can you give three tips for newcomers?
Adam Hetenyi: Yes, of course.
Consider which color feels the most natural to you. The different colors have different themes, and for beginners, it is important to choose a play style that suits them.
Decide whether you are more interested in summoning creatures that help you in combat or whether you prefer to be the heroic wizard who does everything themselves. This determines more about your gameplay.
Improve your deck based on these decisions. Creature decks, for example, want boosts or healing for allies. Pure spellcasters want cards that provide them with more mana.
Creatures are very efficient, but they offer little immediate effect. If you can keep them alive, they are very valuable. But if they die often, they become less useful. With spells, you must pay attention to your mana and ensure you always have a spell you can cast.
A completely white deck usually focuses on summoning, healing, and strengthening allies.
MeinMMO: “Mythic Rare” cards are supposed to be the heart of a deck around which it is built. Can you briefly explain what these cards are?
Adam Hetenyi: “Mythic Rare” spells are the strongest spells in the game that stand alone and are the rarest. This does not mean that they are the only valuable spells – you can build a deck around a “Mythic Rare” spell, but decks also work without these cards.
You do not have to use them if you have them. They are rather an indicator that they are a significant advantage when you operate in their gameplay field. For example, the green spell “Rampage” fits ideally into green creature decks.
New cards, “when you simply play the game”
MeinMMO: Earlier information stated that you can obtain cards by completing missions or through boosters. What is the easiest way to get new cards?
Adam Hetenyi: The easiest way is to simply play the game. You unlock spells fairly quickly by just playing. At a certain point, you will probably want specific cards. […]
Additionally, you have your meditation area, something like your personal project space, where you can spend your arcane library’s ether and planar mana to unlock special spells. Ether is the all-purpose currency in the game.
Booster packs also contain spells, but only a small selection. They are a shortcut but not really necessary. Boosters won’t propel you forward dramatically but will only slightly expand your range of options.
Planar mana is a currency in Magic: Legends.
MeinMMO: Do you ensure in this way that there is no Pay2Win?
Adam Hetenyi: Yes. Whenever a free-to-play game is released, players are concerned that it might become Pay2Win. At Cryptic, we have thought a lot about monetization because we see games as long-term projects.
We want players to enjoy and play the game. Of course, we also want them to pay for it, but not at the expense of their enjoyment. Even here, we experimented a lot […] and concluded that it does not help or retain the player base in the long run, even if you get a short-term boost.
Players need to feel connected to their progress – if they just jump to the end, it feels empty. That’s why we want players to stay in the game, give them things to do, and ensure that most of what they get also comes from gameplay. Monetization should rather complement that.
MeinMMO: Loot is an important feature in hack-and-slash and ARPGs. How will Legends bring that rewarding feeling of new loot?
Adam Hetenyi: Ideally, it will feel very rewarding. As you say, a good loot system is a cornerstone of an ARPG. We received feedback that we do not have enough of that in the game. Just spells and artifacts aren’t enough.
Therefore, we have implemented an entire equipment system. First, it is good for the game, and secondly, players expect such features from an action RPG. They are used to it, and not having this feature would be seen as a deficit.
You will receive equipment drops and unlock cosmetic options. I cannot go into detail yet, but you will get equipment for killing enemies, which you can then pick up.
“We will bring updates several times a year”
MeinMMO: MTG has just announced the new set Kaldheim. Will there be cards from the new set in Legends?
Adam Hetenyi: Not yet. Our plan with the MTG releases is to hook into them. However, we hope to celebrate simultaneous releases at least to some extent in the future. Right now, we are focusing on the planes we are visiting – for example, Dominaria. […]
The cool thing about working with Magic is, of course, that there are so many places and background stories, spells, and characters to draw inspiration from.
For the moment, we are only allowed to visit Dominaria. Other areas may come later.
MeinMMO: How often will you bring new cards and content into the game?
Adam Hetenyi: We will bring updates several times a year with new content, spells, and events.
We cannot give more specific details about release times yet, but we can say: with over 25 years of content, there are many planes and stories to explore. As Wizards of the Coast brings more content for Magic, we hope to incorporate all of that into Magic: Legends.
MeinMMO: But that means you are definitely going in a Games-as-a-Service direction?
Adam Hetenyi: Yes, absolutely! That is essential for everything here. You cannot just release a game and then walk away. We see our open beta as chapter 1, and there may be 20, or 40, or 100 chapters. […] We will continuously bring new missions, levels, spells, and classes throughout the year, year after year – that is the plan.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the conversation.
Details about Gameplay – How do I play Magic: Legends?
Decks are certainly the core of the game, but they are not the only factor when playing. Your play style consists fundamentally of 5 components:
Your class determines your starting deck and the abilities you can cast without cards. The starting classes include the Mindmage, Geomancer, Beastcaller, Sanctifier, and Necromancer
The cards and the deck determine your orientation – whether you cast many powerful direct spells or summon companions
The colors of the spells indicate which fundamental “theme” they follow
Artifacts enhance your spells and give you synergy to make combos even stronger
Equipment that you collect while playing and that can also change your appearance
The cards you draw are randomly selected from the deck. If you’re unlucky, you may find that you keep drawing only creatures and no boosts – or vice versa.
In a group, you can specialize your decks more than when playing solo.
There are cards that grant you mana or allow you to draw new cards to prevent something like that. A hand swap, known as a “mulligan,” is not yet in the game but could come.
Adam told me: “We currently have no mulligan mechanic, but that’s something people are asking for. I’ll keep that in mind for the future. We haven’t found a good way to implement it yet.”
Magic: Legends will be released for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox and will be free. The beta of the new ARPG starts on March 23, 2021. If you want to get a sense of it yourself, the beta is the ideal opportunity to get to know deck building and other content.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The demand for graphics cards is currently high and many are also willing to pay high prices. However, there are also some graphics cards you should avoid unless you can get them at a great price. MeinMMO explains why you should avoid the purchase andwhat alternatives there are for urgent users.
The most important things at a glance:
You should not buy new GeForce RTX 2000 or Radeon RX 5700 (XT) cards right now, as prices are at the same level as current models but with less performance potential. In the long run, prices for all graphics cards will drop again.
Patient people should wait until 2021 to buy new hardware until prices and offers stabilize or wait for good deals.
People looking for alternatives urgently can consider pre-built PCs and gaming laptops with RTX 3000. The mobile variant offers less performance than the desktop GPUs.
Those who pay attention can also find good deals on older graphics cards in the used market. Here, patience is worthwhile.
Many gamers currently want to upgrade their gaming PCs and are willing to invest a substantial amount of money. Especially with old graphics cards, good money can be made right now, as they are currently in high demand. The latest graphics cards, like the GeForce RTX 3080, are currently hardly available or only available at very high prices.
However, you should take a few things into account when buying a graphics card and refrain from buying a number of specific graphics cards new in the shop – unless you get them at a very good price. On paper, the GPUs offer high performance and top titles run smoothly on them, but we advise against investing money in so-called “last-gen hardware.”
Finally, we give you a tip on what you can do if you absolutely need new hardware.
These graphics cards you should not buy new in the shop:
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
GeForce RTX 2080 Super
GeForce RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2070 Super
GeForce RTX 2070
GeForce RTX 2060 Super
Radeon RX 5700 XT
In the following section, we will go into detail about the graphics cards and explain what speaks against buying them and why you should be patient.
Update February 5, 2021: We have adjusted the article and put more focus on the used market.
Nvidia’s RTX 2000 series
These graphics cards are at stake: The RTX 2000 series had a Super refresh back in 2019. This increased the performance a little more. Currently, the RTX 2080 Super has been replaced by the GeForce RTX 3080.
The RTX 3000 series is significantly more efficient and powerful than the previous generation. The recommended retail price is also below that of earlier models from the 2000 series.
The RTX 2000 cards are powerful cards, but at their current prices, they are definitely not recommended, as the new generation is already available. You should either wait for a substantial price drop or opt for the latest series when available.
What you should consider when making a purchase: In general, with the RTX 3080 for 699 euros, you get significantly more performance than with the RTX 2080 Ti at a lower price. However, this is only theoretical, as prices are currently very high. Since some people do not have enough patience, scalpers make several million dollars from RTX 3080 sales. If you still want to buy one, you should pay attention to:
You should pay less for the RTX 2080 Ti than for an RTX 3080, as it offers more performance. Currently, prices for the RTX 2080 Ti are between 1300 and 1400 euros (via Geizhals.de), for various custom models of the RTX 3080, you currently pay between 1150 and 1300 euros (via Geizhals.de).
The RTX 3070 is a better deal compared to the RTX 2070 Super, especially since the prices for the RTX 3070 are about 100 euros lower than the Super card (700 vs 800 euros, via Geizhals.de).
You should pay less for the GeForce RTX 2080 Super than for the RTX 3080. Currently, prices for an RTX 2080 Super start at 1100 euros (via Geizhals.de), you can get an RTX 3080 in the best case already for 1150 euros.
Also pay attention to the used market: Here you can often find good deals on last-gen graphics cards and pay significantly less than for new models and save several hundred euros. The RTX 2000 models still offer sufficient performance in 2021, and a RTX 3000 graphics card is not necessarily required.
Compared to the RTX 2000 generation, you get more performance than the top model RTX 2080 Ti at a significantly lower price – at least theoretically. Some testers like GameStar assure that the RTX 3080 has 60 – 80 % more performance than the RTX 2080.
In the following table, we compare the current prices of old graphics cards with Nvidia’s recommended retail price. Here you can see that the prices of the old models with less performance currently cost significantly more.
Graphics cards
Price
GeForce RTX 2080 Super
from 915 euros
GeForce RTX 3080 FE
719 euros (RRP)
GeForce RTX 2070 Super
from 819 euros
GeForce RTX 3070 FE
499 euros (RRP)
GeForce RTX 2060
from 399 euros
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
319 euros (RRP)
Prices from Geizhals.de, as of February 3, 2021, prices may change daily.
So if you are patient, you can generally get significantly more powerful GPUs for less money.
For Nvidia’s last high-end model, the RTX 2080 Ti, you currently pay over 1200 euros (via Geizhals.de) and even the RTX 2080 (Super) models currently cost around 1000 euros (via Geizhals.de).
It is therefore only worthwhile to opt for the “last generation” if they currently fall below the new models. Currently (as of February 5, 2021), the old models sometimes cost more than the new cards.
AMD’s Radeon RX 5700 XT
This graphics card is at stake: The Radeon RX 5700 XT is considered by many to be one of the best graphics cards in the mid-range and WQHD sector. Websites like GameStar still list the RX 5700 XT as the best alternative for gamers looking to play in WQHD or Full-HD with more than 60 FPS. As another alternative, there was only the RTX 2060 Super from Nvidia at a similar price-performance level.
Here’s why you should avoid purchasing: The recommended retail price from AMD was 369 euros for the RX 5700 and 419 euros for the XT model at the end of 2019.
Currently, you are paying about 500 euros and more for used models (via Geizhals.de) and new devices are hardly available. Even for the RX 5700 XT, you should only buy it if you get it at a very good offer for 350 – 400 euros. Prices were at this level in mid-2020. Another interesting alternative will soon be the RTX 3060. The RTX 3060 Ti currently costs 800 euros and more (via Geizhals.de), in this case it makes more sense to look at the RTX 3070, whose price currently (as of February 5, 2021) is at a similar level.
What you should note: The next generation is expected to be released in spring 2021 with the 6700 (XT), which should be significantly more powerful and efficient. With a possible release of the RX 6700 (XT), AMD is likely to also stop production of the old generation. With the RX 6800 XT and RX 6900 XT, there are already two high-performance AMD alternatives available, but they are currently hardly available.
With the GeForce RTX 3060 announced at CES 2021, there will also soon be another graphics card targeted at the mid-range that could compete with a possible RX 6700 (XT):
RTX 3080, RX 6800 (XT): Be patient when buying graphics cards
For hardware, one tip is particularly important right now: Be patient and take your time to monitor the market. Currently (as of February 3, 2021), prices are significantly above the recommended retail price and this is true for both old and new graphics cards.
Tip for the patient: If you are patient, you can occasionally find good offers. One tip from us is the availability ticker at HardwareLuxx.de. This lists shops where you can currently get an RTX graphics card. This way, you get the GPU cheaper than if you buy the cards from scalpers on eBay.
Impatient buyers may generally resort to last-gen hardware, but the high markup for graphics cards from the last generation can hardly be justified at the moment (as of February 5, 2021). Also because the modern cards offer significantly more performance than the old cards for a theoretically lower price.
When will availability improve again? Currently, it does not look like the graphics card market will improve in the coming months. There are several reasons for this:
On one hand, availability is severely restricted due to the Corona pandemic, and less is being produced.
On the other hand, crypto mining is becoming attractive for many users again. Graphics cards are also needed for this.
If you want to know more about graphics cards and hardware, you can find more articles on MeinMMO:
The reasons for needing new hardware quickly can vary. The old hardware is broken or causing other problems are two reasons for that.
If you urgently need current gaming hardware, you currently have two alternatives if you are not willing to pay the high prices for graphics cards or fallback on old products.
The used market occasionally offers bargains
On the used market, you can find last-gen graphics cards. Prices here are often lower than new purchases in the shop. Those who keep an eye out can find very good deals here. However, it does take some time to get an overview of the market.
Pre-built PCs with RTX 3000 graphics card
The most expensive alternative is to buy a gaming PC with the RTX 3000 series installed.
The advantage is: The advantage is that computer manufacturers are supplied significantly better and are prioritized higher than individuals who only seek a graphics card. Hardware manufacturers often install graphics cards in their own complete PCs first.
When does the purchase not pay off? Buying a pre-built PC can be worthwhile especially if you are considering upgrading your PC significantly. However, if you already have a modern system, buying new hardware is hardly worth it.
Gaming PCs like the Predator Orion 3000 currently cost €1,549.00 on Amazon and provide you with a current Intel processor and 16 GB of RAM includes a GeForce RTX 3070.
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How fast is the mobile variant of the RTX 3000? In general, you should note that the mobile variants of the RTX 3000 are weaker than the desktop graphics cards. According to Notebookcheck.com, the performance of the mobile GPU is below that of the standard RTX 3000, but it still offers sufficient performance for 4K resolution and frame rates over 100 FPS.
Also, ComputerBase.de states in its test that gaming notebooks have never been faster. However, Nvidia makes it difficult for interested parties, as the graphics cards have very different names. This makes buying a notebook trickier than in 2020.
First notebooks with RTX 3000 already available: Since the end of January 2021, the first RTX 3000 laptops have been available in stores. Prices here start at just over 1,000 euros for models with a GeForce RTX 3060. Gaming laptops thus offer a significantly better price-performance ratio than in 2020.
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Gaming notebooks that focus on the RTX 3000 graphics card include the Blade notebooks from Razer. Depending on the model, prices range from €1,799.99 to €3,599.99.
In our article, we present to you what the new Razer laptops can do and for whom they are worthwhile:
In Destiny 2, the Season of the Chosen is starting soon, and Bungie has shared fresh info about the arsenal.
In Destiny 2, right after the release of Beyond Light and the start of Season 12, there was a severe loot drought. Bungie made this issue a top priority and has diligently pushed out new weapons.
For the Season of the Chosen starting on February 9, they aim to avoid this mistake and are now introducing part of the new arsenal. For the first time, there is info about the seasonal weapon from Season 13. Additionally, you’ll get a closer look at guns and rewards from challenging activities.
This is the seasonal weapon: The grenade launcher “Salvager’s Salvo” is the new seasonal weapon of Season 13.
This is a breach-loaded grenade launcher. You initially only have one shot until you load a new grenade – think of the infamous weapon “The Mountaintop”. Such guns consume special ammo in Destiny 2.
Salvager’s Salvo reminds of a wooden version of The Mountaintop
Where to get the grenade launcher? Bungie continues the approach from Season 12 for seasonal weapons. Like with the sniper rifle “Adored”, you can earn the weapon through a quest. You can complete these in the 3 core activities.
Strikes (PvE)
Crucible (PvP)
Gambit (PvEvP)
Once you’ve earned Salvager’s Salvo, you can accept follow-up quests from Zavala, Shaxx, and the Drifter to enhance the weapon with an ornament.
The Season of the Chosen wants to lure you into the Nightfall and Trials
This is what you get in the Nightfall: For some time now, Guardians have known that 3 popular guns from Destiny 1 are returning and can only be earned through the Nightfall: The Ordeal.
The Swarm – a heavy machine gun
The Palindrome – a hand cannon
Shadow Price – an auto rifle
Bungie has now shown what the polished returnees look like in Destiny 2 – big surprise, almost identical:
These 3 returnees want to lure you into the Nightfall
Here’s how to increase your chances: The higher you set the difficulty of the Nightfall, the greater the chance of receiving one of the three weapons at the end of the activity.
However, the drop is not guaranteed even on Grandmaster.
If you achieve a Platinum or Gold score, the chance increases further. So take down champions.
Only through the Grandmaster difficulty will you have a chance at the adept version of the mentioned weapons. This gives you access to adept mods and you receive a stats bonus if the weapon is a full masterwork.
What special adept mods are coming in Season 13 or what rolls you might find on The Swarm, The Palindrome, and Shadow Price are currently unknown.
Now we have a better look at the Trials gear (cover image)
But there is also more information about the fresh weapons and cosmetics
For these weapons, you’ll sweat: The new image shows 3 new weapons that expand the loot pool: An auto rifle, a hand cannon, and a sword.
For the Trials weapons, you must sweat
The auto rifle strongly resembles “The Messenger” from the original Trials variant.
The sword is modeled after the “Grail of Temptation” from Season 11.
The hand cannon appears to be a 180 or 140 variant and was briefly featured in the Season 13 announcement trailer.
The weapons can also come as adept versions from the Flawless chest in addition to the normal versions.
We know nothing about the names of the Egyptian-themed cosmetics. By the way, we also can’t share any information about the perks or whether these are all the new Trials weapons.
These cosmetics are available: With a bit of luck and after winning matches as well as Flawless victories, you have a chance to earn a new ghost shell, a sparrow, and a Trials ship. These items should serve to show off.
Is that all the new loot from Season 13?
What else is coming: No, these are not all the new weapons you can hunt in the Season of the Chosen. We still do not know all the loot that will await you starting February 9. However, this has already been announced:
For each core activity, two new weapons will be added. So for Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit.
We know of two new Exotics coming with Season 13: The Solar Bow “Ticuus’s Divination” and a currently secret Exotic from Tex Mechanica.
Season 13 is set to bring 3 new armor Exotics that you will farm in legendary Lost Sectors.
Bungie has already shown more Cabal weapons. These will be earned through seasonal activities and, for example, the Season Pass.
3 very unpopular and underused Exotics will be thoroughly overhauled and revamped – more on this will be available soon on MeinMMO.
The legendary weapons in Cabal style resemble the Leviathan raid
What do you think of the presented weapons? Can you not wait to hunt for loot and would like to take a detour into the Nightfall or the Trials? Or is the fact that you have already seen many of the guns somewhere, somehow, bothering you? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
The Adventure Table in WoW: Shadowlands has been fixed. If you enjoy leveling up your champions, you can now enjoy it again.
The Adventure Table essentially offers the follower missions from WoW: Shadowlands. For small amounts of Anima, you can send adventurers and troops on quests to obtain special rewards. You can earn gold, Anima, and gear, but also mounts and pets.
The missions are carried out by adventurers, who first need to be leveled up in order to be effective. An adventurer at level 12 offers little help in a mission designed for level 60. They will easily fall to the ground in one or two hits, which increases the likelihood of mission failure.
The XP missions are appearing again, as seen in the top right. Image source: wowhead
What was the problem? XP missions that were particularly good for leveling only appeared up to a certain point. After all major campaign missions were completed, no new XP missions appeared.
This was mainly a problem for Night Fae players, but Necrolords could also skillfully complete campaigns to the point where no XP missions appeared.
This is particularly problematic because players still unlock new adventurers week after week, who then start at level 1. Leveling them up later is time-consuming, as you essentially send them on “suicide missions” and plan for defeat XP.
What has Blizzard changed now? A hotfix has now ensured that the coveted XP missions also reappear when you have completed all campaign missions. This should make it easier to level up new adventurers at lower levels later on. This is also important because the level of the additional troops is based on the average level of the adventurers. If you leave some adventurers at level 1, it also ensures that your troops are at a lower level.
Do you still regularly use the mission table? Or have you already acquired all relevant rewards and hardly care about it anymore?
