Currently, there is a summer lull in new releases in the MMO sector. Therefore, we are looking at already released titles and presenting you with the 10 MMOs that had the most players on Steam in February 2021.
How did the list come about? The list revolves around MMOs that currently according to the Steamcharts website have the most players on the platform. The focus was on the average players over the last 30 days.
We selected multiplayer titles that are played online only, provide permanent progression, are designed for group play, and are regularly expanded.
What are MMOs? Broadly summarized, we define MMOs as follows:
They are multiplayer games, with a clear focus on multiplayer
In theory, all players are connected online – it is a “huge” community. Even if everyone plays in their little room, the shared lobby is still massive.
They are regularly updated by the developer with patches, updates, expansions, DLCs, or even new titles in the franchise, to keep them relevant, and were designed this way from the start.
There is a certain level of persistent progression
Titles that are completely atypical for an MMO, such as a card game like Hearthstone or FIFA, are excluded
What is Final Fantasy XIV?Final Fantasy XIV has developed into one of the most popular MMORPGs in recent years. A lot has changed in 2013 due to the game’s major makeover, and many content updates and expansions like Shadowbringers now await players.
The MMORPG resembles classic Japanese RPGs, which is due to its strong focus on story, and offers everything a player’s heart desires:
A massive game world
A lot of focus on the story
A profound crafting system
Challenges in the form of dungeons and raids with varying difficulty levels in the endgame
Only the combat system feels a bit outdated and is particularly clunky and slow, especially at the beginning. For those looking to try FFXIV: Since August, the game has a larger Free2Play scope and you can even play up to level 60 and visit first dungeons.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
How many players does FFXIV have on Steam: The MMORPG had an average of 16,759 players in the last 30 days. At peak, 25,961 players visited the game.
What do players say? Final Fantasy XIV received 815 reviews in the last 30 days, with 87 % being positive. The game is praised for its story and challenges, but criticized for its rather mediocre start and lack of voice acting despite adjustments in August 2020:
Scynith: “Great game, astonishing graphics and cutscenes. The story is fantastic and satisfies that RPG thirst when you’ve played everything else and are looking for a similar feel.”
Goblinmoon: “If you like FF games, you should enjoy this too. The look is similar, although of course as an MMO it has different gameplay mechanics. I like that you can play every class and profession on the same character.”
AcidPhreak: “Gameplay-wise it’s definitely a nice old-school MMORPG, even the tab-target system is fun. What’s really unacceptable is the silence. Damn, I feel like I’m playing a silent film or something.”
Final Fantasy XIV is regularly expanded, including with the job Dancer, which was introduced in Shadowbringers.
For whom is FFXIV suitable? Fans of MMORPGs looking for a long-term engagement, who enjoy following a story and want to try their hand at challenging dungeons, should definitely check out Final Fantasy XIV.
However, you need to be okay with a classic and less dynamic tab-targeting combat system and navigate through a boring phase or two at the beginning. However, it is worth it for the endgame.
The Nvidia RTX 3090 is currently the fastest gaming graphics card. A YouTuber now shows how the graphics card achieves only 5 FPS in Minecraft. He uses various graphic enhancements to do this. The game looks extremely good, but the graphics card gets quite stressed.
Nvidia has presented the GeForce RTX 3090, the currently fastest (and most expensive) gaming graphics card. With this graphics card, you can theoretically play anything. But what if you want to play Minecraft with the most demanding shaders and texture packs? A YouTuber has now shown in his video that even the fastest graphics card may not necessarily achieve that.
Who is it about: The YouTuber AsianHalfSquat specializes in Minecraft and related topics. In his videos, he often presents modifications, graphic enhancements, or gimmicks that make life easier. Currently, the YouTuber has 563,000 subscribers.
What you can see: In one of his recent videos, AsianHalfSquat played Minecraft on a GeForce RTX 3090. However, he didn’t just play the game, but also installed multiple graphic enhancements. The video has now almost 1.4 million views.
At the beginning, he set himself a high goal: he wants to push the game to under 1 FPS. He explains at the start of his video that less is even better, but 1 FPS is already a goal. He happily adds, “It’s time to make my PC suffer.”
By the way, he recorded the game in 4K, although he usually plays in WQHD (1440p). Here you can watch the (English) video on YouTube:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
To achieve under 1 FPS on his PC, he prepared a total of three settings, each using different texture packs.
Update February 4, 2021: We have updated the article with feedback and added two notes.
Minecraft does not need a fast graphics card
What you should consider: Minecraft requires a lot of RAM, a lot of computing power, and therefore a fast CPU (via minecraft.de-gamepedia.com). A weak processor limits this faster than a weak graphics card.
Without appropriate modifications or additional shaders, the GeForce RTX 3090 cannot be fully utilized. The YouTuber explains in his video that it is mainly about pushing his PC to its limits, which is why he specifically chose certain shaders.
What are these texture packs? These allow you to beautify your game afterwards, often created by fans. The packs start at 16×16 pixels per block. Very high-resolution packs of 2000 pixels or more are mainly for screenshots or pictures and are not really suitable for gaming due to their huge texture sizes.
Raytracing update for Minecraft: Only since the raytracing update or with high-resolution shaders does the graphics card become interesting in Minecraft (via Techstage.de), as this gives the card calculations to work on. Raytracing can currently only be used with Nvidia graphics cards. This can also be done easily with an RTX 2060.
This will get an official successor in February 2021 with the RTX 3060. This one is mainly aimed at Full HD gamers and the mid-range market and is a competitor for a possible Radeon RX 6700 XT:
This is his first setting: For his first test, he installed the “PBR Resource Pack” with enabled raytracing. But to his disappointment, he finds that the RTX 3090 achieves an easy 45 FPS here. He is not very satisfied, as he explains that he “actually wants a setup that makes the game unplayable.”
This is his second setting: For his test, he installed Patrick’s Resource Pack with a resolution of 256 pixels. The YouTuber deliberately chose a very high-resolution pack; after all, the game should become unplayable.
AsianHalfSquat now enters a large forest with the activated texture pack, and the result is immediately noticeable: the game runs anything but smoothly, and it barely achieves 7 FPS. He has reached his goal because with 7 FPS, one can hardly play properly.
7 FPS are still not unplayable for YouTuber AsianHalfSquat. Source: YouTube.com
This is his third setting: Since he has not yet reached his actual goal (1 FPS), he tests another texture pack. This time, he installs the “Stratum resource pack” for Minecraft with a resolution of 2048 pixels with enabled raytracing shaders.
The YouTuber is impressed by the extreme details of the rocks – rather less by his framerate. Because at this resolution, it is 5 FPS.
This is his final test: Finally, he increases the render quality to factor 1.16. Thus, he has finally achieved his goal of making Minecraft absolutely unplayable.
If you are looking for more crazy ideas of what you can do with your RTX 3000 graphics card, you will find a driver. This one has installed multiple RTX graphics cards in his BMW. With this, he wants to mine while on the go. We show you what it looks like and whether it really works in our article.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Destiny 2 has presented the Season of the Chosen, but at the reveal, the design of the armors was the topic of conversation and not the weapons or activities.
This is what players are talking about: Destiny 2 revealed the Season 13 on February 2nd. It is called Season of the Chosen and starts on February 9th. Guardians were able to learn something about the 3 new Strikes, new seasonal activities, and tons of weapons in a spectacular trailer.
However, the main topic of discussion right now is not what the Guardians will shoot with or at in Season 13, but how they will look while doing so. The shown gear causes a lot of laughter, but also complete confusion and head shakes.
What kind of armor is this? The bone of contention is the set you see in the title image. To be precise, this is not armor, but universal ornaments that are available in the Season Pass.
This means you can apply the appearance to (almost) all armor and give any legendary armor this look … if you want to. Because the spiky hats, especially from the Titan, and the pom-poms don’t seem to really appeal to the players.
Armors from Season 13 of Destiny 2 are now a meme
This is how the community reacts: Players are currently divided. Some can’t stop laughing and are eagerly creating memes.
They then share these on reddit – much to the delight of other users:
Not everyone is laughing: Other Guardians do not find this funny at all and think the armors are just ugly. They say on reddit: “Dear Armor Design Team…” – implying that they need to talk.
But here on MeinMMO, readers also seem to talk more about the design of the armors rather than the new trailer or fresh content.
Mr.Tarnigel wonders: “I took a good look at the ornaments, phew, it’s hard to imagine that someone could program that without coercion. What the hell is that ball on the helmet?”
Bienenvogel lets it out: “One thing I have to point out: I’m usually not one of those who say the armors in D2 [Destiny 2] are bad or even ‘ugly’, but the one in the picture above… Help! ? I assume that is the seasonal armor? Ugh, unfortunately not my taste at all.”
Shin Malphur dryly agrees but gets to the point: “Yeah, the armors are not the hit, but the rest really makes me look forward to the season!”
What do you think of the armors? Are the Guardians exaggerating and soon there will be transmog anyway? Or can you not get used to the new armor design either? One thing is for sure: Season 13 provides a lot of discussion and starting February 2nd, it will definitely be about the activities and guns.
Sometimes not only the players cheat, but also the bosses in WoW. Sludgefist has learned new tricks to troll the raiders.
Some bosses in World of Warcraft have it quite tough. Every day they are overwhelmed by nasty players and still have to stick to strict rules. Once the players have found a solid strategy, it is always repeated, and the boss has to follow the rules.
Sludgefist from Castle Nathria apparently had enough of that and made his own rules – which brought him victory over the players.
Sludgefist has learned new tricks – the raid looks surprised!
What happened? In the WoW subreddit, the user NickyG91 posted a short clip from the fight against Sludgefist in Castle Nathria. The clip shows the boss’s transition phase. Here the tank is targeted before Sludgefist charges straight at the tank to reach him and ideally destroy one of the pillars.
However, the Sludgefist in the video apparently has no desire to follow the tactics and rules of the players. Instead of charging in a straight line, he just runs in a zigzag pattern to perfectly avoid all the pillars and charge directly into a wall.
Accordingly, the raid reacts surprised and with a lot of “WTF?” and laughs off the defeat.
More news about WoW: Shadowlands can be found here:
Why is this strange? Normally, Sludgefist charges straight at the targeted player, allowing you to let him run into the four pillars one by one. This stuns him and makes him take additional damage for a few seconds before the fight continues as usual.
However, if you fail to complete the task and let Sludgefist run directly into a wall, he collapses the entire hall, causing lethal damage within seconds.
Little wonder, then, that the fight ended with a defeat of the raid team within seconds. Some bosses seem to be learning after all.
Have you ever experienced such a bug or another interesting incident in the current raid?
In Pokémon GO today, on February 3rd, the Raid Hour with Raikou starts. We will show you the best counters and tell you why you should participate.
What is a Raid Hour? This event takes place every Wednesday in Pokémon GO. For one hour, legendary raids will appear on almost all gyms.
This week is all about Raikou. The Electric-type Pokémon has its first and so far last Raid Hour in a long time today.
Counters and info for the Raid Hour with Raikou
When does the event run? The Raid Hour runs from 6:00 PM local time. Black eggs will appear on the gyms beforehand, which will hatch at exactly 6:00 PM.
These are the best counters: Raikou is an Electric-type Pokémon and therefore only has a weakness against Ground-type. You should focus on these Pokémon. The best counters are:
Pokémon
Attacks
Rhyperior
Mud-Slap and Earthquake
Excadrill
Mud-Slap and Drill Run
Garchomp
Mud Shot and Earthquake
Groudon
Mud Shot and Earthquake
Landorus
Mud Shot and Earth Power
Rampardos
Mud-Slap and Earthquake
Rhydon
Mud-Slap and Earthquake
Mamoswine
Mud-Slap and Steamroller
Golurk
Mud-Slap and Earth Power
Donphan
Mud-Slap and Earthquake
For more information on counters and Raikou, check out our guide to the legendary beast:
How many trainers are needed? You can defeat Raikou with just 3 trainers. However, we recommend at least 5-6 trainers for the Raid Hour.
Keep in mind that you can also invite players to raids. This prevents too many players from gathering in one place and potentially violating Corona regulations.
Reasons to join: Raikou is an incredibly strong Pokémon. The monster is among the best Electric-type attackers – only Zekrom is stronger. So you should participate if you don’t have a good Raikou in your team yet.
Additionally, Raikou can be Shiny. So you should also secure a shiny variant.
A more detailed analysis of Raikou’s viability can be found here:
How much do all cars from GTA Online cost if you want to buy them for real money? MeinMMO has calculated.
What is being calculated? The online mode of GTA 5 has been around for 8 years this year. During this time, Rockstar Games has released several DLCs whose contents can be purchased with the in-game currency “GTA Dollars”. You increase your in-game balance by grinding missions, heists, and illegal sales in the game.
If you want, you can also buy the in-game currency for real money. You buy so-called Shark Cards on Steam or in other shops. They come in different versions at different prices. You can see the prices in the following overview (via Steam Shop):
Red Shark for 100,000 GTA Dollars costs €2.49
Tiger Shark for 200,000 GTA Dollars costs €3.99
Bull Shark for 500,000 GTA Dollars costs €7.49
Great White Shark for 1,250,000 GTA Dollars costs €14.99
Whale Shark for 3,500,000 GTA Dollars costs €37.99
Megalodon Shark for 8,000,000 GTA Dollars costs €74.99
This is how much you will have to pay if you want to buy all the content
This is how it works in GTA Online: Over the years, prices for supercars and other vehicles in GTA Online have risen. By now, a vehicle like the Krieger costs around $2.8 million GTA, which is about €35. It’s not uncommon to have to shell out a few million dollars for new content in GTA Online.
Here you can see the prices for trucks, cars, boats, and planes from a dealer in GTA Online
So let’s assume you want to buy all the cars that the game has to offer with real money. Not that it’s necessary. But let’s assume you want to do that. Then you will have to dig deep into your wallet.
We also assume that you have enough garage spaces. Otherwise, you would have to add the prices for real estate. We’ll roughly do that later in the article.
Michael’s Audi is still one of the cheaper vehicles
This is how much you need to spend: All cars from GTA Online would cost a total of 161,102,879 GTA Dollars. This would amount to €1,503.79.
So, if someone really wanted to buy that for real money. Which would be crazy. But doable. You would buy 20 Shark Cards at €74.99 each and also a Shark Card for €3.99.
Regular cars totaled: 83,823,200
Cars tied to specific real estate (like Terrorbyte, Tank, Monster Truck, Ramp Buggy, etc.) totaled: 77,279,679
272 vehicles in the calculation
Excludes planes, helicopters, motorcycles, boats
The prices for the cars that you can put in your garage, as well as those that need specific real estate as a prerequisite or garage, have been calculated here. Tuning is still excluded. Depending on the car and paint job, you can add easily another 1 million per vehicle.
How much do other contents cost? We took a rough look at what you would have to pay for the remaining content. Since the world of GTA Online now offers so much to buy, we have kept it to a rough overview here:
The 8 most expensive properties cost a total of 6,656,000 GTA Dollars
The most expensive bikes for your garage space cost a total of 240,000 GTA Dollars
The most expensive properties (for making money) cost a total of about: 73.8 million GTA Dollars
This consists of the Maze Bank CEO office, Vehicle Warehouse, Bunker, Hangar, Nightclub, Arcade, Biker Clubhouse, Arena Workshop, Facility, and the Casino Penthouse. All upgraded to the max
The most expensive businesses for these properties (Coke Lab, Vehicle Warehouse, etc.) cost approximately: 22.7 million GTA Dollars
The most expensive special vehicles cost a total of about 35 million GTA Dollars (tuned)
For the most expensive weapons & upgrades, you would also need to shell out about 10 million dollars
These contents alone would cost a total of about 148.4 million dollars. Converted, this would roughly be €1,391.
A hefty sum for the content in GTA Online, right? What vehicles do you own in GTA Online and have you ever invested real money? Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments on MeinMMO and exchange ideas with other multiplayer players.
The Kilo 141 assault rifle was considered the best all-round weapon for long distances before the integration of Black Ops Cold War into Call of Duty: Warzone, but it received a nerf. MeinMMO examines whether the weapon is still competitive.
Why is the Kilo no longer a standout? The Kilo 141 assault rifle is one of the first weapons unlocked in Modern Warfare. It is a great beginner’s weapon and shines with outstanding stability coupled with average damage. This makes it strong in Call of Duty: Warzone – really strong. At least until its peculiar nerf.
Because a developer posted on Twitter a few weeks ago: “The Warzone-specific range buff for the Kilo 141 has been reduced.” But at that time, this Warzone buff was not known at all. It later emerged that 17 other automatic weapons besides the Kilo had such a buff. These weapons only lose damage at distance once and do not have a third damage range.
The Kilo now has a third damage range in Warzone and thus loses some of its strength at distance – exactly where it was previously so strong. But apparently, that doesn’t stop the weapon and the Kilo is still very popular. MeinMMO looks at whether the weapon is still competitive and shows a few alternatives if you want to switch.
The Kilo remains extremely stable and thus strong & popular
Why is it still strong? The Kilo 141 is still a powerhouse when it comes to stability and accuracy. When you pull the trigger, the recoil of the first few shots is still noticeable and needs to be compensated for, but after a few bullets, the fully automatic weapon sits very well in your hands and allows you to keep your crosshair steady on the target even at long distances. With a Command Foregrip and the VLK 3x Scope, even the kick of the first few shots is hardly noticeable.
Moreover, it performs better in its second damage range than most of its direct automatic competitors. With a typical Warzone setup (longest barrel and Monolithic Suppressor), the damage drops at around 48 meters, and up to nearly 87 meters, it is even better than the M4A1. The M4 is a bit harder to control, but it takes down enemies nearly 50 milliseconds faster than the Kilo in its first damage range.
Theoretical Time-to-Kill comparison:
Warzone weapons with range focus
Enemies with 3 plates
Full Warzone setups
Only chest shots
Kilo 141: up to 48 meters 639 ms / up to 87 meters 799 ms / after 87 meters 1.039 ms
M13: up to 54 meters 673 ms / from 54 meters 875 ms
Grau 5.56: up to 47 meters 658 ms / from 47 meters 904 ms
M4A1: up to 45 meters 593 ms / from 45 meters 816 ms
Bruen Mk9: Every distance – 705 ms
M16: Every distance – 767 ms
Whether M13, M4A1, or Grau – the typical assault rifle alternatives with range focus all lose against the Kilo in the range between 45 and 87 meters. Alternatives like the Bruen Mk9 or the range beast M16 can beat the Kilo, but you absolutely need an SMG or shotgun as a secondary weapon, as you will often be at a disadvantage in close combat.
The problem with the Kilo is its low firepower at distance
What are the downsides of the Kilo? The assault rifle is still fully competitive within these 40 meters between 45 and 87 meters. But often you need to put pressure on enemies who are even farther away. Here, the Kilo is not much fun, as you need 14 bullets to down the enemy.
The M13 also needs this many in its second damage range starting at 54 meters but comes with even higher stability and a significantly higher rate of fire, allowing you to take down enemies faster – Kilo: 750 rounds/minute / M13: 890 rounds/minute.
The Kilo’s time-to-kill is over one second after 87 meters. This is a terrible value that you should avoid.
This is precisely where the nerf of the Kilo comes into play. Without its third damage range, the weapon would surpass its direct assault rifle competition at range. But in its current state, it simply loses too much damage against the equally stable competition.
Pros and Cons of the Kilo after its nerf
Pros
Still very stable and precise
Strong between 45 and 87 meters
Cons
Over 1 second TTK from 87 meters
Is the Kilo still a top rifle in Warzone?
The Kilo 141 remains a strong alternative in Battle Royale but is no longer among the top weapons in Warzone. For an all-round weapon focusing on range, the time-to-kill at greater distances is too high.
However, this does not mean that the weapon cannot deliver strong performances in Warzone. Stability and control are among the most important characteristics for weapons like Kilo 141. A weapon that gives you a certain security when firing at your enemies is very valuable in a game like Warzone. It improves your mindset and confidence in battles, leading to better performances.
But if you haven’t switched yet, you should at least consider the alternatives. There are weapons that give you a very similar feeling but deliver more damage at longer distances.
The Kilo in Warzone – No longer top, but also not a flop.
Try alternatives – competition can keep up with the handling
Which weapon should I switch to? If you’re looking for a very similar gameplay feel to that of the Kilo, you essentially have two alternatives:
Both weapons are very accurate, hardly veer when firing automatically, and deal more damage at distance. The Grau hits harder up to 47 meters, while the M13 deals more damage at range.
However, the M13 burns through your magazine like nothing due to its high rate of fire and low damage per bullet. The Grau, on the other hand, comes with a very good “Iron Sight” (sight), allowing you to save on optics and have space for an additional attachment. The “Cold War” LMG Stoner 63 also falls into this category, but brings some disadvantages in mobility.
If you want more damage and are willing to take a bit more recoil, then go for the M4A1. It is a bit more unstable but still very stable and offers good time-to-kill values. Even more damage can be obtained with the CR-56 AMAX, which comes with even stronger recoil.
Other stable alternatives include the Bruen Mk9 and the M16. However, both are rather weak in close combat, while assault rifle all-rounders still deliver acceptable time-to-kill values at short distances.
If you are still using the Kilo 141 and have noticed that it deals too little damage in some situations, then now is a good time to switch. If you are bringing a sniper rifle as a second weapon anyway, you could stay with the Kilo since you will likely switch to your sniper at long distances. However, you should also consider whether one of the best submachine guns in Warzone might be better suited.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With patch 11.2, the new set 4.5 started in Teamfight Tactics. The first official tournament for it took place on the last weekend of January. We reveal which combos the pros used to win.
What kind of tournament was it? The Cloud9 Fates NA Qualifier was an official tournament that allowed players to qualify for the World Championship in mid-2021. The best players from the leaderboard in America participated, needing to prove themselves in the new set 4.5 for the first time.
Notable during the tournament:
Only 25% of the “Top 4” players in all matches leveled up to level 9. For many, this was a lower priority than the right combo or leveling champions.
In the early game, duelists, sharpshooters, and cultists were popular. The combo of Yuumi and Janna was particularly frequently used for the mystic buff.
The most popular combo in the Top 4 revolved around the executioner and the champion Kayle (present a total of 5 out of 20 times).
We at MeinMMO now present the builds with which the respective matches in the tournament were won.
The player GrandVice8 won the first match in the tournament. In the endgame, he relied on a combo of divine and executioner units. The entire build revolved around the champion Kayle.
How the match went:
GrandVice8 started with a board of 3 cultists, finding an elect Vladimir. He fed his board with Pyke, Diana, and Kindred to gain the Assassins and Spirit bonus.
In the midgame, he quickly leveled up to level 7 to bring Yone and Irelia to the field, thus obtaining the Adept buff. In the meantime, he used the champion Ornn to build two items for him and then sold him.
In the late game, he found an elect Kayle, which he then combined with Lee Sin, Shen, Yuumi, and Xayah.
Match 2 – Spirit/Butch
The second match was won by the player SpencerTFT. He relied on 4 spirit units and an elect Zed. The combo also revolved around this character.
How the match went:
In the early game, SpencerTFT relied on sharpshooters, spirit, and the character Vi, who took damage at the front.
At level 5, he already found an elect Zed. He then deployed Pyke and other spirit units onto the battlefield.
He continued to roll for new champions to get Zed to level 3.
In the endgame, he added Samira, Yone, and Zilean to his board.
Match 3 – Divine/Frontline
The third winner was Bertasaurus, who played a combo of divine and frontline fighters. Notably, he equipped his Zilean with both a spatula item for duelists and one for divine units.
How the match went:
Early in the game, Bertasaurus found an elect Wukong, which he kept throughout the match. Initially, he played with 4 frontline fighters and 2 sharpshooters.
In the midgame, units like Jax, Irelia, Yuumi, and Janna joined the battle.
In the late game, he replaced the weak frontline fighters with Sejuani and Aatrox and brought Lee Sin onto the field as a duelist and divine champion.
Match 4 – Ninja/Assassins
The fourth match in the tournament was again won by GrandVice8. This time he relied on an elect Akali and 6 assassins combined with 4 ninjas.
How the match went:
At the beginning, GrandVice8 found an elect Wukong and played divine, frontline fighters, and sharpshooters.
At level 6, he found the elect Akali and played her with frontline fighters and 4 ninjas.
In the endgame, he swapped out the frontline fighters for more assassins.
Match 5 – Divine/Executioner
Just like in the first match, the player Numanotaihasin managed to play a combo with Kayle this time. However, he found Kindred as the elect executioner. Unlike GrandVice8, he made Kayle a duelist and skipped the adepts.
How the match went:
In the early game, he played duelists and divine champions as a combo.
At level 5, he already found Kindred as the elect champion.
At level 7, he was able to make Kayle a duelist and temporarily played 4 duelists, 3 executioners, 2 divine, 2 spirits.
In the endgame, he removed one duelist and instead opted for Xayah, Morgana, and Janna.
What do you think about the combos? Did any of them surprise you? And will you try them out yourself?
How much time did you spend in PS4 games in 2020? The Playstation Year in Review gives you an answer and a free reward.
This is the Playstation Wrap-Up: As every year, there is also a Playstation Year in Review for 2020. Sony announced this on the PS Blog. You can retrieve your personal statistics and find out what you have been doing on PS4 and PS5 over the past year. This includes playtime, trophies, and other interesting info. Additionally, you can also get a theme for PS4.
How to get your statistics: You can access your statistics on the Wrap-Up page. However, there may be issues. Try refreshing the page multiple times if it doesn’t work for you. Otherwise, you can find your Year in Review on the official Playstation site.
These are the prerequisites:
You must have a registered PSN account.
Be 18 years or older.
Have played at least 10 hours on a PS4 between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
Also, keep in mind that you need to have enabled additional data collection. There have already been issues with this last year. You can find this option in the settings under [Settings] > [Device Data/Health & Safety] > [Device Data].
This is what an example from the Year in Review looks like. (via PS Blog)
Playstation Year in Review 2020, including free PS4 theme
What statistics does the Year in Review show? Similar to the year 2019, the Wrap-Up shows some interesting data about your gaming year:
This is the reward: For all PS4 players, there is a free theme. PS5 players miss out since there are no themes yet.
This is what the theme looks like:
This is what the new theme looks like. (via PS Blog)
How do I get the theme? You will receive it at your registered email. So check your inbox. If you have reached the Wrap-Up page, you can also manually download the theme there.
What did you achieve in your favorite games in 2020? Were there any surprises among your highlights?
With patch 5.45, the new upgrades for the Resistance weapons in Final Fantasy XIV are now available. Here you can learn how to enhance your weapons.
With patch 5.45, players can now enhance their relics twice.
To upgrade your Resistance weapon to version 5.45, you must first upgrade it to the version of patch 5.35. If you missed this step, you can read all about it here in our special guides:
To unlock the next upgrade of your Resistance weapon, you must first start the next quest in the queen’s watch questline in Gangos by speaking to Marsak (X: 6.4 Y: 5.7) and accepting the quest “Memories of the Queen”.
This quest will lead you to the new dungeon Delubrum Reginae, which is designed for 24 players. After completing the dungeon, you can start your weapon upgrade.
To upgrade your relic, get the quest named “Recrafted Swords” from Gerolt in Gangos (X:6.2 Y:5.0). This quest is immediately followed by the second quest named “Well Hammered”.
For the first step of the upgrade, you need to collect 15 “Mourning Clumps of Memory,” which you can farm at the following locations:
We tested participating in a Critical Battle for you. Obtaining a Mourning Clump of Memory is not guaranteed. When you do the Crystal Tower in unsynced mode, you do not receive Clumps.
This is what a Mourning Clump of Memory looks like
FFXIV 5.45: Clumps of Unrest and Wrath
According to the reddit user Hakul, the next step of the upgrade takes you away from the Bozjan Southern Front.
To complete the quest named “Help from the House of Wonders”, players must collect 18 Clumps of Unrest.
These can be obtained by:
Completing the 24-man raid of the expansion Heavensward
Completing FATEs in areas of Gyr Abania
Additionally, you must collect 18 Clumps of Wrath. You can obtain these by:
Completing the 24-man raids of the expansion Stormblood
Completing FATEs in the areas of Othard
After bringing the Clumps to Gerolt, you can accept the final quest of this upgrade: “Weapons by Choice”.
FFXIV 5.45: Earthen Artifacts
To complete this level of the weapon upgrade and the quest “Weapons by Choice”, you will need to deliver 15 Earthen Artifacts to Gerolt.
You can farm these by completing the following content:
The new dungeon “Delubrum Reginae” at the Southern Front of Bozja.
The “Palace of the Dead”
This article was originally published on the multiplayer site MGG, our partner. We have translated it into German.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some German suppliers have received a new quota of PlayStation 5 consoles, shipped or sold. However, those buyers hoping for a decent profit through reselling on eBay are now greeted by an error message.
What is this rule? Anyone trying to sell a PS5 on eBay may receive an error message stating:
You want to list a PlayStation 5. This item has quantity restrictions on how many can be listed each week. You have reached this limit and cannot list this item at this time. However, you can list another PlayStation 5 7 days after your last PlayStation 5 listing. Non-verified sellers or those who do not meet our minimum seller standards may not list a PlayStation 5.
According to gameswirtschaft.de, this should apply to sellers who have previously traded few or no products on eBay, have been inactive for a long time, or have received few to no ratings.
The regulation has been in effect since November 2020. Currently, it is particularly important because many new consoles are being delivered or offered for sale. At the end of January, for instance, MediaMarkt and Saturn delivered pre-ordered PS5s.
Scalpers make a lot of money with the PS5
That’s why the rule is important: The trade in scarce goods like the PS5 was a major issue at the release of the new console in 2020. Buyers who purchase limited items like the PS5, Xbox Series X or new graphics cards to resell them at inflated prices are referred to as “scalpers”.
These scalpers have sold the PS5 for between 800 and 1,000 Euros – significantly more than its actual price of €499.99 for the disc version and €399.99 for the digital version. With the new rule, eBay is at least slightly restricting the trading of the PS5 on the platform.
Where can I buy a PS5? On February 2, some retailers like Amazon had new consoles in stock again. Otto also had PS5 consoles on offer again. However, the offers are already out of stock.
Those who purchased a console from the providers are expected to receive their package by February 14. The PS5 is still in high demand among gamers, but more supply will surely come. However, we cannot say exactly how long it will take. If you still want to buy a console, you can find more information in our article: When can you finally buy the PS5 again? The current status in February 2021
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In FIFA 21, the new Title Update 9 is now also available for PS5, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. This changes some offensive moves and corrects a bug that made Squad Battles easier.
Update, February 3: The Title Update 9 is now also available on consoles. Anyone playing FIFA 21 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Xbox One should expect a patch today. This was announced by EA Sports via Twitter:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The update is once again full of changes. We will show you the most important ones here.
Patch notes show nerfed tricks and removed glitch
This bug has been removed: The patch notes contain an entry stating that a “certain type of goalkeeper pass in online matches caused the AI not to attempt to regain possession of the ball.” This bug has now been fixed and is likely aimed at Squad Battles.
There was a glitch that occurred when you played a light pass with the goalkeeper to the open space in the corner flag area. The AI opponents would no longer attack, and you could simply run down the clock. Especially regarding some objectives, such as Icon Swaps, this trick was very popular among many players. This will likely no longer be possible in the future.
These tricks will be changed: The patch notes also provide information that some skill moves will be altered.
The bridge move (double tapping R1/RB) sometimes caused it to slow down the opponent’s defender. This is now supposed to be removed. How this will affect gameplay remains to be seen. It is clear that the bridge was very popular as a small speed boost.
The flick and lift of the ball (pressing the right analog stick) will be adjusted. The ball is supposed to move less accurately, both when running while lifting the ball and when using skill moves that lift the ball into the air.
Volley chips will be less effective when shot from more than 10.67 meters to the goal. The further away you are, the less promising the shots will be. Lifting the ball and then chipping it over the keeper was also a popular way to score spectacular goals – but apparently a bit too effective.
These changes come with the update: In addition to the points mentioned, there are still some other changes that you can find in the patch notes (via FIFA Forum). These include the following points:
The referee should no longer whistle the game in potential goal situations so often.
Several menu and display errors have been fixed.
In career mode, coaches sometimes wore jerseys.
One starhead has been updated, and four former starheads have been added. EA has not yet disclosed which ones they are.
In the MeinMMO Podcast, we talk to cyber criminologist Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger about the dangers of online gaming. Tune in and get informed.
What is it about? Online games have become an integral part of everyday life for many people. They are played by millions of players and have become social networks, but this also poses dangers, for example with Roblox.
Especially children are often confronted with fraud and foul insults for the first time here. In the worst cases, sexual offenses occur as perpetrators gain the trust of children through the game and even gain access to them.
In an interview with a cyber criminologist, we learn how to protect ourselves and our families in online games.
Every Friday, we also look back at the hottest topics of the week in the podcast that have made waves in the gaming community. Last week, for example, it was about thongs on Twitch and the new ESO addon.
Feedback? Suggestions for topics?
Here’s how you can get involved: We always appreciate constructive suggestions for improving our podcast. Please write your feedback in the comments below the article or in our Discord and tell us how you liked the current episode.
You can also make topic suggestions for the future. Is there a game or a topic that especially concerns you? Would you like to hear specific guests with us? Then speak up and put it in the comments.
We look forward to seeing you!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Since 2018, the Community Day has been held monthly in Pokémon GO. MeinMMO editor Noah Struthoff likes the event, but believes that it has taken a turn for the worse in recent months.
This is my stance on the Community Day: Since January 2018, there has been a Community Day every month, except for March 2020, and I have been participating each time. The event was a real highlight for me for a long time, but over the past few months, my enthusiasm has waned.
There are several reasons for this, as the event has changed quite a bit. Therefore, I will list 3 things that the Community Day needs in order for it to turn positive for me again and for me to enjoy the event more.
I want to emphasize: The Community Day has never been a complete disaster for me. It is simply the development that has occurred over the past few months that makes the event seem a bit dull.
Often, I play a Community Day and ask myself, “Why do I actually need this Pokémon now?”. While I used to play for the full 3 hours, I’ve now only been playing 2 out of the 6 hours that I get excited about.
What could make the Community Day better
1. Fresh wind in Pokémon selection: First, we should take a look at the Pokémon from past Community Days:
Machop
Electabuzz
Magmar
Charmander
Porygon
Magikarp
Haunter
Weedle
Samurott
The last Community Day was in January with Machamp.
These Community Days occurred between May 2020 and January 2021. I can categorize the list of Pokémon into two categories:
Pokémon that were already in the game as Shiny
Pokémon that bring a new Shiny form but are pretty useless
In recent months, there has been no real highlight for the Community Days. The Pokémon were either useless or I already caught them multiple times as Shiny.
Here I would like at least a surprise sometimes. The Community Days started in 2018 and 2019 with really good monsters. Dratini, Bagon, or Beldum were among the rarest Pokémon in the game back then, and suddenly they appeared everywhere for 3 hours – the hype was huge.
Now there is a Community Day with Weedle – a Pokémon that is already abundant without an event.
I understand that Niantic cannot throw out a real blockbuster every month, and I’m not expecting that. However, it would be nice if at least occasionally a rare and strong Pokémon would get a Community Day. There is still a lot of selection, like Sableye, Dratini, Shroomish, or Gligar. Those would be Community Days where I would prefer to play all day.
A Community Day with Sableye would be a nice change.
2. New bonuses on Community Day: Since 2018, there have been exactly 3 different bonuses to choose from for Community Day:
Triple Stardust
Triple XP
Reduced hatch distance
The bonuses are nice, but they have become a bit stale. There are some opportunities to introduce a different bonus.
For all players above level 40, XL Candy is extremely important. A bonus that increases the chance for XL Candy would be very strong.
Otherwise, I would simply like something new here – maybe even a bonus that has never been there before. However, I haven’t been playing Community Day for a bonus for a while now.
3. Finally good moves again: The Community Day also brings an exclusive move that a Pokémon can only learn there. This has introduced several powerful moves into the game, such as:
Tyranitar with Launch
Venusaur or Torterra with Flora Statue
Swampert with Hydro Cannon
Metagross with Meteor Mash
The last highlight for me was the Rhyperior with Rock Wrecker. I leveled up several specimens and really benefited from it. However, the Community Day that introduced this move was already almost a year ago.
Since then, there have mainly been moves that are interesting for the PvP league but offer little advantages in raids. Recently it was Machamp with Counter. An attack that doesn’t enhance the Pokémon in raids at all. Why couldn’t Machamp learn a strong Fighting move too?
If the bonuses and the Pokémon themselves do not appeal to me, at least a strong move could provide the incentive to play a few rounds. However, this incentive has completely disappeared in recent months.
What do you think? Do you think the Community Day has developed positively or negatively in recent months? Let us know in the comments.
In February, there is also a Community Day coming up. You can find all events in this month here:
There are sites like Einbiete.com that promise you endless free V-Bucks for Fortnite. But you should stay away from these sites, and we at MeinMMO will show you why.
What kind of sites are these? Sites like Einbiete.com advertise free V-Bucks. There you are supposed to receive thousands of V-Bucks through a generator, which you can then use to buy skins, cosmetics, and emotes.
What happens if you open one of these sites? When you click on it, a page appears where you are asked to enter your Epic username and the platform you play on.
The website looks outwardly serious and as if it could be from Fortnite itself
Once you have registered with your name and platform, you can select the amount of V-Bucks and a free skin. After a short download phase, during which the items are supposedly “transmitted” to your Fortnite account, a window appears asking you to verify.
For verification, different options are offered: either you install the site to gain access or you install a supposed YouTube downloader. Or you are asked to subscribe.
What trap you are eventually presented with is apparently randomly selected.
This is one of the sites that appears when you want to verify yourself at Einbiete.com
Do not use these sites!
Why you should never use such sites: The supposed verification, which we mentioned above, leads you to other sites. On some, you are supposed to provide your mobile number. However, to use the service, you are then supposed to take out a paid subscription that costs you 4.99 euros weekly.
This is one of the pages that appears when you want to verify yourself at Einbiete.com
Instead of receiving free V-Bucks, you will suddenly be prompted to take out a paid subscription, and it is also not guaranteed whether you will even receive the V-Bucks afterwards. However, the probability is extremely low, as experience with other websites of this type shows.
Furthermore, it is forbidden to acquire V-Bucks outside of the Fortnite store or through unofficial gift cards – this could also lead to an account penalty.
We strongly advise against using generators, hacks, or such dubious sites.
Why do such sites attract a lot of interest?
Why do players become aware of them? V-Bucks can only be obtained if you purchase them for real money. The smallest amount you can purchase, which is 1000 V-Bucks, costs around 8 euros.
If you desperately want V-Bucks to buy a skin but do not want to spend any money on it, such sites that advertise free amounts of V-Bucks first sound very tempting.
To suggest more security to the player, this site even uses the well-known “F” of the Fortnite logo as a browser icon and designs the site in the style of Fortnite.
The browser icon looks as if it comes from an official Fortnite site
This way, players might think that it is a site supported by Epic Games and thus allowed. Players who are less knowledgeable about the topic could easily fall for it.
Such sites should not be used. However, if you still want to collect or give away V-Bucks without purchasing them directly from the Fortnite shop, there are a few options like gift cards that are allowed. If you own the “Save the World” mode as a founder, you can even earn some V-Bucks there.
Roblox has evolved into a social network for kids. However, this comes with dangers. MeinMMO author Andreas Bertits shares his own experiences with the platform and also spoke with the developers and a cyber criminologist.
Even though not much is reported about it, Roblox is one of the the most successful games overall. Over 150 million active users contributed to the platform being valued at around 30 billion USD (via Finanzen.net).
Roblox particularly appeals to children and teenagers and provides a great way to stay in touch with friends and have fun during the Corona pandemic, when this isn’t possible in person due to contact restrictions, school closures, and lockdowns.
As reported by the market research company Nielsen via SuperData, Roblox was made the third most successful online game in terms of revenues due to the Corona crisis in 2020. It even overshadowed Fortnite. According to SuperData, this is because Roblox is used as a social network, especially among younger players.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The trailer provides a good insight into what Roblox is.
Roblox is more than just a game
What is Roblox anyway? Roblox started on February 27, 2008, as a kind of game-building kit. Visually, it resembles a mix of Lego and Minecraft and specifically targets younger gamers. They can create their own games using the building kit, where almost anything is possible.
From shooters to racing games, puzzle games, adventures, RPGs to MMOs, where many players can meet and interact with each other. The games are made available to the users, who can use them for free. Popular titles include:
Natural Disaster Survival – A survival game
Scuba Diving at Quill Lake – A game where the goal is to find treasures while diving
Theme Park Tycoon 2 – A building game
Work at a Pizza Place – Players have to manage a pizzeria
Murder Mystery 2 – A co-op horror game
Jailbreak – A game in the style of “cops and robbers”
If you want to visually customize your character or buy special pets in some games, you need Robux. The virtual currency can be purchased for real money. There are countless games on the platform, and new ones are added regularly.
We looked closely at Roblox and were able to have conversations with the developers and a cyber criminologist about the dangers that younger players can expect in their first social network and what users and parents should pay attention to.
A social network for kids
In an interview, we spoke with Laura Higgins, Director of Community Safety and Digital Civility at Roblox Corporation about this topic:
Andreas Bertits: According to SuperData, Roblox was the “third most successful digital game of 2020 in terms of revenues and surpassed Fortnite thanks to strong mobile growth.” This implies that the “platform became the social network of choice for young gamers.” How do you provide an online environment that is particularly suitable for young players?
Laura Higgins: We have seen how Roblox has helped connect people from all over the world during this pandemic, and our community has supported each other in many ways (via Roblox Blog).
When we surveyed almost 3,000 teenagers in our community from around the world about the impacts of COVID-19 on their online lives and their relationships with parents and friends (via Roblox Blog), they shared how they use our platform to stay in touch with their friends and find new ones. The majority (62%) stated that conversations with their real friends were among the most important activities when they met on Roblox. Almost 30% stated they had also started learning programming and building their own games.
We have a strict safety system – one of the strictest on any platform (via Roblox Blog) – and continuously develop our system to create a safe and decent community where millions of people from around the world can learn, play, and be creative together. For example, we filter all text on the platform, and a “human” team of over 1,700 people works around the clock to protect our users and monitor safety in multiple languages using a combination of machine scanning and manual moderation.
Additionally, we have partnerships with over 20 leading global organizations focused on child safety and internet safety, such as USK in Germany, WePROTECT Global Alliance, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Fair Play Alliance, and kidSAFE. As a member of the USK, we work closely with the organization and follow their recommendations to ensure we comply with local regulations and create a safe experience for our German users.
Andreas Bertits: Harassment, insults, and generally a “rough manner” are unfortunately quite common on the internet. How do you protect younger players from toxic players?
Laura Higgins: We are tirelessly working to create a safe, decent, and diverse community (via Roblox Blog) and have zero tolerance for content or behavior that violates our rules. For instance, we have extremely strict chat filters that block inappropriate words or phrases like swears or discriminatory language, and we update them daily.
We also actively encourage our users to report any activities that make them uncomfortable or that they are concerned about: Players can easily mute or block players they encounter, and report inappropriate content/behavior through our “Report Abuse” system, which is clearly visible throughout the website and within the game.
Finally, online safety and civility also involve education. Our Digital Civility Initiative (via Roblox Blog), which is a major part of my job, aims to equip children and their parents with the skills and resources to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape.
We invest significantly in building a community that inspires positive play, but also in providing resources to parents (via Roblox Blog), educators, and the entire industry to promote safety and civility on the Roblox platform and beyond.
What is Cyber Grooming?
A major danger in Roblox is cyber grooming: this refers to when individuals online deliberately target people to establish sexual contacts. This usually happens through chats or videos.
It is a particular form of sexual harassment that can lead to sexual abuse. Cyber grooming is not solely limited to minors, though they are the main focus.
In cyber grooming, the perpetrator initially builds trust with their victim by flattering and getting close (in English, “grooming”), but ultimately aims for abuse. Often, victims are blackmailed, causing them to keep their experiences to themselves. (via Wikipedia)
Andreas Bertits: It is possible that sexual offenders are looking for younger players on social platforms and exploiting their inexperience with the internet in general. Is there a way to protect children or a form of support for parents who want to protect their children on your platform?
Laura Higgins: Roblox was designed from the beginning for children and teenagers, and we have the responsibility to ensure that our players can learn, create, and play safely. That remains our highest priority and will never change. By default, we have extremely strict chat filters in place to protect our community, blocking inappropriate content, including questions for personal information, and we use automation to flag content for further review by our moderators.
We monitor chat behavior that clearly indicates an attempt to lure a player from our platform to other, less restrictive third-party chat apps (via Roblox Blog). For users under 13, our filters are even stricter, such as blocking any use of numbers and potentially personally identifiable information. We do not allow sending images or videos through chats or one-to-one interactions between users.
From a technological standpoint, we pursue a layered approach, which includes proprietary cutting-edge technology, third-party machine learning solutions, and specific rules for the types of content to be blocked, which we continuously review and improve. Recently, we have also collaborated with Microsoft on a grooming detection technique [Codename “Project Artemis”] that can identify, address, and report individuals trying to lure children for sexual purposes.
This technique adds an additional layer to our existing safety measures, and others in our industry will be able to use and benefit from this technology. Ultimately, we work closely and transparently with regulators and safety groups in every country we operate in, promptly reporting any suspicion of child exploitation, abusive materials, or online grooming to the relevant authorities and working diligently with other digital platforms to share this information so they can take appropriate action on their platforms.
Education is important!
That companies like Roblox Corporation proceed so prudently is, of course, very important for parents and a relief. My children can confirm that the chat filters really work well. Nevertheless, it is absolutely necessary to sensitize children accordingly and educate them about what can happen on the internet.
The cyber criminologist Dr. iur. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger, M.A. has some tips for parents.
Leya Jankowski from the editorial team of MeinMMO spoke with cyber criminologist Dr. iur. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger, M.A. (who also addresses the topic on his Instagram account). He currently provides parents with some very important tips:
Leya Jankowski: What can you pass on to your children about what they need to pay attention to?
Dr. iur. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger: Children should be taught by their parents that just because they are playing online with someone, does not mean they know who that person is or what intentions they have. The underlying issue is that some sexual offenders (cyber groomers) deliberately build trust with children through the shared gaming experience.
As perpetrators generally cannot send videos or pictures in the games themselves, they try to redirect conversations with children to messengers or other platforms. Therefore, children need to be told not to give anyone in the game (or otherwise), whom they do not personally (physically) know, their mobile number, home address, etc. Parents should also discuss that some offenders may offer children game advantages (e.g., currency) – depending on the game – or threaten them with the loss of advantages (e.g., in clans or guilds) to extort sexual acts from the children.
An important issue appears to be the choice of names for children, meaning giving no hints about their age and potentially their gender. At the same time, children should not use the same username everywhere, as this makes them traceable.
Topics like fraud, insults, and digital hate crimes are ultimately a theme in every game with a possibility of online communication.
Leya Jankowski: When should I as a parent be alert?
Dr. iur. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger: That’s hard to say, as many manifestations outward can also be part of uncomplicated gaming. It is important to convey to the child not to disclose personal data, regardless of how well they play together in the group or with fellow players.
As soon as I hear that fellow players want their phone numbers or suggest talking via a messenger, I would – depending on my child’s age – be sensitized and talk with my child again about the risks.
It is hopefully self-explanatory that children should not receive smartphones too early and unprepared, but should also use online games. Parents should not rely solely on age ratings, as they are often very low, allowing access to children from 0 or 6 years old. It’s better to try the games oneself or watch Let’s Play videos to get an impression of the game and any risks (communication, in-game purchases, usernames, etc.).
Leya Jankowski also had an extensive interview with Dr. iur. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger about crime in online games. You can listen to it in our MeinMMO podcast:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Spotify that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Roblox is meant for kids, but parents should be cautious
Experiences with Roblox: I have three children who all love playing Roblox and want to share my experiences with the game:
MeinMMO author Andreas Bertits
My three girls (16, 12, and 10) love Roblox. There’s something for everyone on the platform, and they often play together. They meet online with friends they can’t see right now, chat with them, and play together. Some new online friendships have even been formed.
With their pocket money, they occasionally buy Robux or receive some extra when they do special chores around the house or for example, collect apples in the garden. My wife and I make sure this always remains within a reasonable framework. We understand that Roblox is fun for them, and if they want to spend part of their money on it, then that is fine.
My wife and I had to deal with Roblox ourselves first. It’s important to us that our children enjoy what they do, while being able to play safely and carefree. We are not helicopter parents who constantly monitor our children. But of course, we pay attention to what games they are playing, how long, and with whom.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Murder Mystery is a very popular Roblox game. The video shows that many children play.
This applies to both online games and their free time outdoors. During the Corona pandemic, meeting friends has become difficult, and we sometimes turn a blind eye when they spend a little longer on the PC – as long as it stays within a reasonable framework.
As a games journalist and gamer, who is also married to a gaming enthusiast, we are probably much deeper into the subject than other parents. We do not want to prohibit our children from playing.
It has simply become part of society, and both my wife and I played video games in our childhood and youth – so why shouldn’t we allow that for our kids?
The internet is full of dangers for children
However, the internet is a place where you must be cautious. Under the cloak of anonymity, bullying occurs online, harsh insults are exchanged, and even death threats are not uncommon. Even if some gamers may think that a rough demeanor ” goes along with it,” I do not agree.
There should be no place, neither real nor virtual, where it is okay to threaten someone with death or bully people. A polite and civilized manner must always be possible and pursued. In my opinion, everyone should always ask themselves whether they would write what they are writing to their parents. I convey this to my children as well, so that they behave decently. However, unfortunately, you can always expect such individuals.
Moreover, chat rooms or online games can be misused for predators to approach children. Especially when kids are inexperienced and might be trying their first social platform, it’s immensely important that they are protected. Here, parents must simply pay attention and talk with their children about what they need to be aware of. Similarly, operators of online games and platforms are also obliged to protect users.
Especially during the Corona pandemic, it has become an even bigger challenge for parents to protect their children from the pitfalls of the internet. I see this in myself. My wife is a trained nurse and is therefore extremely in demand in today’s times. Accordingly, she works a lot to contribute her part to combating the pandemic.
I, myself, work as a journalist in an area that, fortunately (so far), has not been affected by the crisis. People are currently playing a lot; they need distractions at home during lockdowns and contact restrictions, and video games are just right for that.
My wife and I are trying to balance job, homeschooling with three children, and household chores. Keeping an eye on what the kids are up to and playing is simply impossible. And we don’t want that either. We want to give our children trust and educate them to be independent and responsible. But for that, we must make them aware of the dangers lurking on the internet.
My children can come to either my wife or me at any time if they want to try out a new game or if they’ve had uncomfortable experiences in a game. And yes, that has happened before.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Roblox is simply fun for many and offers plenty of funny moments.
Roblox takes its responsibility seriously
All three of my children told me that they have been insulted and bullied in Roblox – and in other games – from time to time. However, Roblox uses filters to obscure bad swear words. According to my kids, that actually works quite well. It’s noticeable when another player insults someone; you just can’t see what exactly they are writing.
However, I found a description from my youngest daughter, 10 years old, particularly unsettling. She reported that in the chat, “Boys” or “Girls” are occasionally sought out to meet at certain spots in some Roblox games and have private conversations.
My children know how to behave in such situations. My wife and I have talked with them. Nevertheless, shady individuals always find ways to circumvent safety precautions to approach children. Such matters should be reported immediately to the relevant staff!
It is important to report inappropriate behavior in Roblox!
A small conclusion at the end: In conclusion, it can be said that children – especially during the Corona crisis – use online games as a kind of substitute for not being able to meet their friends in person. Therefore, it is quite okay to let them play so they can maintain social contacts.
But caution is advised! Parents must engage with the games and the community their kids come into contact with. Here, simply some points need to be considered, including sensitizing children and making them aware of the dangers. And game developers have the responsibility to create a safe and civilized environment for their players.
With patch 1.3, the new banner for the character Xiao was released in Genshin Impact. However, this is being criticized because changes have been made to the duration.
However, the banner does not run for the usual 21 days, but only for 14. This leads to two main points of criticism:
On one hand, players have 7 days less time to earn Primogems. This currency can be earned daily, which can then be converted into wishes.
On the other hand, the banner coincides with free wishes. Those who are not active every day at the right time will miss out on 5 free wishes that can be earned through an event.
Many players feel pressured to spend real money to earn Xiao. However, even though there is a guaranteed chance to obtain the character, it can still cost up to 440 euros. The reason for this is the tiered purchases of Genesis Crystals and the fact that one may need a large number of attempts if luck is not on their side.
The new banner for Xiao.
“miHoYo knows how to make players whales”
What do players say about the short duration? Even before the release of patch 1.3, MeinMMO reader Leyaa expressed criticism regarding the banner duration. She wrote:
What bothers me is the duration of the banners. 2 weeks instead of the previous 3 is simply too little. Less is more! This means you have less time to make pulls on a banner. Definitely a step in the wrong direction.
She is not alone in this. On the Hoyolab website, there were also many negative comments regarding the shorter duration:
The user Sarapyon1228 wrote: “Xiao is a popular character, and his banner lasts only two weeks. Oh man, miHoYo knows how to make players cry or turn them into whales.”
The user Relyx fears not getting Xiao: “miHoYo, please extend Xiao’s banner, please! I need him and I can’t whale.”
However, the criticism is not only directed at the short duration. Through the event “May luck be with you”, players receive free wishes. However, those who do not log in every day at the right time will miss most of them.
What are whales? Whales are players who invest a lot of money into games that are actually free-to-play. Usually, only a few percent of players spend so much money that they essentially carry the “game on their backs”.
What is the event about? The new event rewards you for logging in daily:
Day 1 brings one wish
Day 2 brings Mora
Day 3 brings two wishes
Day 4 brings Mystical Enhancement Ore
Day 5 brings two wishes
Day 6 brings 1 Hero’s Wit
Day 7 brings five wishes
This event also brings bad vibes to the community.
The problem here is that the event does not start until February 11. Consequently, players will not reach day 7 until February 17. The banner for Xiao will also end on February 17 at 3:59 PM.
So you have to log in every day for a week, and on the final day, even from 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Otherwise, you will miss the 5 free wishes for the new banner with Keqing, a character that some already own.
What do you think about the three banners in patch 1.3? And will you try to take advantage of the event “May luck be with you” for Xiao? Feel free to write it in the comments!
For more information on the events and content of patch 1.3, you can find it here:
The mythic keystone dungeons (“Mythic+”) are among the toughest PvE challenges in World of Warcraft. This week, the affixes Inspiring and Storming await you, which can be a bit tricky. MeinMMO gives you tips on the affixes and shows which dungeons work best.
Which affixes are active this week? On each keystone you receive, there can be up to four affixes that always apply to the entire dungeon. The following affixes are active this week:
Fortified (Level 2+) – Normal enemies have an additional +20% health and +30% damage
Inspiring (Level 4+) – Certain normal enemies have an aura that grants their allies immunity to control effects, similar to the affix “Charming” from BfA
Storming (Level 7+) – Enemies in combat regularly summon whirlwinds that deal damage to players and knock them into the air and backward
Prideful (Level 10+) – Once you have defeated 20% of the enemy forces, a manifestation of pride appears that you must defeat
In the dungeon browser (key I), you can find an overview of this week’s affixes.
How long does the affix week last? The Inspiring/Necrotic week starts on Wednesday, February 3rd and ends on Wednesday, February 10th. Along with the week, there is a major buff for ten classes.
Those who are not used to the affixes or do not know them yet could be surprised by them. They are not necessarily difficult, but especially Storming could overwhelm many players and Inspiring requires a bit more planning. Nevertheless, no dungeons this week are absolutely unfair; all are manageable with some preparation. We give you tips on how to play each affix correctly and in which dungeons you have it a bit easier this week.
The best dungeons this week
Where can I get through easily? As almost always, the Mist of Tirna Scithe and the Halls of Atonement are relatively easy to master this week. If you want to earn a selection of cool items in the Great Vault, look for keystones from these two dungeons.
Both the Mists and the Halls provide enough space to properly play the whirlwinds from Storming without pulling unwanted groups into the fight. The routes hardly change; Fortified makes the fights only slightly harder and may slow you down by a few seconds or minutes.
However, in the Mists, make sure to watch out in the last section so that you are not thrown into the depths. This could quickly ruin your run. Take a Night Fae with you who can provide you with a resurrection point after the second boss.
Alternatively, Plaguefall and The Necrotic Wake offer a relatively easy way through. Particularly, the Wake has become significantly easier due to the latest nerf on February 3rd.
These dungeons are more difficult: The Theater of Pain is likely to pose a bigger challenge. Especially on the platforms before the boss Kul’tharok, it is difficult to avoid the whirlwinds, and they can mean quick death for inattentive players.
In addition, Theater of Blood is still tricky despite the nerf, but no longer as hard as it was a few weeks ago. Generally, the dungeons this week are indeed the two hardest, but not absolutely unmanageable. Anyone still missing keystones in these two dungeons should take advantage of this week.
Fortified and Prideful – What you need to pay attention to
What are these affixes? These two are a bit different. Fortified alternates weekly with Tyrannical. The two affixes either strengthen normal enemies or bosses.
Prideful, on the other hand, is the seasonal affix. For the entire first season of Shadowlands, this affix will be active from level 10.
How to best handle the affixes: Fortified and Tyrannical do not have any special mechanics. You just need to be careful at higher levels not to pull too large enemy groups with Fortified. However, that doesn’t work too well with Inspiring this week anyway. Use your cooldowns for “trash mobs” as well.
With Prideful, on the other hand, you need to handle it correctly. Defeating the manifestation grants you a damage buff for one minute, which you should ideally use against particularly tough enemies.
Try to reach a 20% mark before a tough fight and then defeat the manifestation before you look for the next fight. Be sure to ensure that the manifestation does not appear in the middle of a fight. Add-ons like Mythic Dungeon Tools show you how much percent an enemy is worth and even allow you to plan routes
Mythic Dungeon Tools allows you to plan routes. Source: curse.
Inspiring and Storming – What you need to pay attention to
How to best handle the affixes: Inspiring and Storming are the two special affixes for this week. Both require planning and foresight so that they do not surprise you in the middle of the fight.
Inspiring usually affects at most one enemy in a group. This enemy enhances all others in the vicinity but is itself vulnerable to control. Use abilities like Polymorph, Knockback, or other effects and pull the other enemies out of its effect area so that you can control them in the fight.
Alternatively, you can take down the “inspiring” enemy immediately with cooldowns and then eliminate the remaining group.
Storming is especially tricky for melee fighters because the whirlwinds are not always easy to see and can distract you from your target. Although the affix is actually quite simple, it can quickly ruin your run if you are not careful.
Watch for small gray whirlwinds on the ground that soon become whirlwinds. Avoid them and their movement. They move in a spiral for about 10 seconds. Multiple whirlwinds can be active simultaneously, so always keep an eye on the ground.
These “swirlies” indicate where a whirlwind will spawn. Source: wowhead.
If you are in a tight area, position yourself so that you are never thrown into other enemies when you cannot avoid the whirlwinds at all. It is advantageous if the tank tries to either keep the enemies still or pull them away from the whirlwinds. Constantly running in circles, which is currently popular, could disturb melee fighters especially.
Which classes have it easier? Generally, more mobile classes have an advantage, as they are not particularly affected when they are knocked away by the whirlwinds. They don’t deal much damage, but they interrupt spells and throw you out of melee range.
Likewise, classes with strong control effects can be useful for the entire group to distract the “Inspiring” enemies. Strong classes are therefore:
Warriors who can simply ignore the whirlwind with Charge or Heroic Leap
Mages, especially Fire Mages, with Polymorph and Pyroblast
Rogues with Knockback and Blind as well as strong damage even on single targets
Death Knights who become immune to the winds of Storming through Unholy Death
Which classes have it harder? Storming is the tricky affix of the week and can ruin the game for most classes. Especially spellcasting classes with long cast times and slow melee fighters are at a disadvantage here.
Healers can also be caught unfavorably by the whirlwinds, causing them to either interrupt a spell or attempt to finish it – which in an unfavorable case can lead to a wipe if the spell doesn’t go through. The following classes are at a disadvantage:
Healers with few or weak instant casts like Holy Priests
Spellcasting classes with long cast times like Destruction Warlocks
Slow melee fighters, such as Paladins or Enhancement Shamans
In FIFA 21 the Future Stars event has been announced. Here you can find all the information about the event.
When does Future Stars start? As a new loading screen in the game shows, Future Stars will begin next Friday, February 5th at 7:00 PM.
The countdown to Future Stars ends on Friday evening at 7:00 PM
This is Future Stars: The Future Stars event is all about strong talents who could potentially become absolute world stars. In recent years, talents have received special cards during this event, showcasing how they could perform at fully developed potential.
A highlight in FIFA 20 was the special task cards that could be continuously improved. For example, there was a card for Daniel James with progressively stronger versions. Whether such a feature is planned this year in FIFA 21 is still uncertain.
James received a 75-rated card that could be leveled up to 86 through tasks
It is likely that some talent could receive a strong card. We look at the predictions for some players who may be included.
Since the pool of potential talents is very large, there are already plenty of predictions from the community trying to guess which players will be included. In the FIFA subreddit and on YouTube, for example, speculation is already in full swing. We look at some names that often come up.
Even Fati’s POTM card was very strong
Ansu Fati from FC Barcelona is included in most predictions. No wonder: The young player is only 18 years old but is already valued at 80 million euros. The forward already had a good POTM card, but a possible Future Stars card is likely to be even better.
19-year-old Bukayo Saka is also a favorite of many players. The winger from FC Arsenal already had a TOTW card with a decent pace of 89 – a Future Stars version is likely to be significantly faster.
In the Bundesliga, Florian Wirtz has emerged. The 17-year-old has quickly become a regular and definitely deserves a ratings upgrade. It’s quite possible that he will be included in the event.
Other possible cards for Future Stars: There are still several other cards that are frequently mentioned. Possible candidates include:
Dest (Barcelona/RB)
Tapsoba (Leverkusen/CB)
Gravenberch (Ajax/CM)
Bellingham (Dortmund/CM)
Reyna (Dortmund/LW)
Eduardo Camavinga (Stade Rennes/CM)
Pedri (Barcelona/CAM)
Wesley Fofana (CB/Leicester)
Who will ultimately be in the team and what the event will look like will be revealed next Friday at the latest. Which talents do you think should be included? Tell us in the comments.
Sated 1,250 Anima gives a “new” quest in World of Warcraft from today for all players. To do this, you just need to take down a boss.
In World of Warcraft, collecting Anima is important for many players. After all, it can unlock upgrades in the Covenant Sanctum. However, Anima is scarce, so every possible source should be utilized. A new quest is available for all players from today (February 3rd) that rewards you with a nice chunk of Anima.
What kind of quest is it? The quest is called “Redemption for the Redeemer” and starts with the quest item Remornia. You receive it after defeating Prince Denathrius in the raid Castle Nathria. From today, the last boss is also available in LFR mode, which means players without a fixed raid group can now access the quest.
You can simply sign up via the group finder for the last wing of the raid.
Defeating Denathrius is not quite easy – especially in LFR, it takes a few attempts.
How much Anima does the quest reward? The quest rewards a total of 5 Anima badges, each granting 250 Anima – a total of a hefty 1,250 Anima. So you should already accept your weekly quest in the Covenant Sanctum beforehand, for which you need to collect 1,000 Anima. You can then complete both in one go.
Note that the amount of Anima for the quest is not increased by War Mode. This bonus only applies to world quests, not to one-time story missions.
If you have already received the quest in normal or heroic mode, unfortunately, you cannot complete it again. The Anima bonus is thus a one-time opportunity.
More news about WoW: Shadowlands can be found here:
Quest concludes storyline: The quest is also the conclusion of the story around Revendreth and reveals what happens to Denathrius after the fight. So if you are interested in the storyline, you should definitely complete the quest.
However, keep in mind that Denathrius is the final boss of Castle Nathria. He is usually a bit more difficult in LFR and requires a number of attempts before being defeated with a “random group”. So you need a bit of patience.
Have you already completed the quest? Or will you be collecting the hefty amount of Anima later in the day?
