A developer of Borderlands 3 speaks quite casually about the development of games in recent years. He wonders why others have not taken more from Borderlands.
In the course of the gamescom 2019 there are currently various interviews and releases about different games. Chris Brock, one of the producers of Borderlands 3, spoke with colleagues from PCGamesN. He wonders why other games have not copied more from Borderlands.
What was discussed? In the interview, it was not only about Borderlands 3 but also about the competitors and rivals of the game. So other loot shooters, such as Destiny 2 or The Division 2. Brock confirmed that they had “learned a lot from these games”.
They specifically analyzed what these games do well and also what does not work well for them. Only after that did the team gain an understanding of what they wanted to do themselves and could then implement that vision.
Shooting mechanics inspired by Titanfall and Destiny: During the discussion about endgame content, it was also about the weapons in Borderlands. After all, the game boasts having nearly infinite weapons. In doing so, Brock specifically mentioned Titanfall and Destiny. These games have “wonderful shooting mechanics” and they themselves do not want a multitude of weapons if they feel terrible.
Did Borderlands influence other games? According to PCGamesN, Brock appeared somewhat shocked that this influence apparently only runs in one direction. He said:
There are moments when I wonder why some of these games have not copied from us [Borderlands].
Loot inspection after the fight against the bunker
Do you see it the same way as Chris Brock? Or do you find many elements in games like Destiny or The Division that are clearly inspired by Borderlands?
During the gamescom 2019, we will be discussing the Shadowkeep expansion of Destiny 2 live on stream. Our questions will be answered by developers from Bungie.
What kind of stream is this? During gamescom 2019, you can watch highlights, interviews, and interesting discussions on our stream. For our Destiny 2 readers, we have picked a special highlight: a discussion about the upcoming expansion Shadowkeep.
And we will be speaking with none other than the Project Lead of Shadowkeep, Scott Taylor, and the UX Director Orvar Halldorsson.
When is the stream? On Wednesday, August 21st, our Destiny 2 slot will start at 1:15 PM. So keep this time free to tune in. The interview is expected to last about 30 minutes.
What is the gamescom together? This year, we will be present at gamescom as an exhibitor and are putting together a large live show. We cordially invite you to be part of our program “gamescom together”.
We want to celebrate gamescom together with you, all our brands, our friends, partners, and companions. That’s why we are joining forces with GameStar.de and GamePro.de to create the ultimate show for gamers.
Under the hashtag #gctogether we will keep you updated on our social media platforms. However, you can also use the hashtag yourself to share your experiences at gamescom. You can find more information about our show program in the following post:
During the gamescom 2019, the survival shooter Synced: Off Planet was introduced. Viewers see direct comparisons to Division or World War Z. But what are the differences?
What is Synced: Off Planet? The Chinese game giant Tencent is responsible for, among other things, Ring of Elysium. With Synced: Off Planet, they are currently working on a new shooter that is set to be released in 2020. In Synced, the battle is PvPvE – your enemies are other players and cyborgs known as “Nanos”.
To escape from the dangerous cyborgs that inhabit the planet, all survivors want to leave this planet. And that is a tough fight among survivors.
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These comparisons made by gamers: Under the trailer on YouTube, one can read sentences like:
“It looks just like World War Z with a touch of Division”
“So Division but with space zombies”
“World War Z: Robot Edition”
“Well, that looks like Tom Clancy’s The Division with zombie DLC”
But how true are these comparisons? We show you how Synced differs from other shooters you already know.
The differences of Synced to Division, WWZ, and other shooters
First of all, it should be said that Synced: Off Planet is not a first-person shooter, but a third-person shooter. During the gamescom together, Synced: Off Planet was already an important topic:
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A match in Synced consists of up to 50 players and 1,000 Nanos on a single map. The players are divided into 16 teams with up to 3 players.
No zombies, but Nano-Bots
Your PvE enemies are the “Nanos” – these are cyborg enemies that have been corrupted by nanotechnology. You protect your base from the Nanos, which continuously attack in waves.
Artificially created microorganisms have taken control over technology and humanity. These organisms turn into dangerous cyborgs.
Survivors gather to strengthen the team
At the start of a match, you first roam the map collecting more survivors on the planet. Then you build a base. In this base, survivors are healed – you strengthen the group there.
Piece by piece, you fight your way to the rescue shuttles.
No loot shooter
Unlike The Division, Synced is not a loot shooter. Everything is clearly focused on the three core elements:
The collection of survivors
Building a base to strengthen the group and heal survivors
Escorting as many survivors as possible to the rescue shuttles
Mind games with opponents
As a special ability, you can synchronize with other players or opponents. When you use this skill on teammates, you see through their eyes. When applied to Nanos, you can control a group of them.
So by controlling the Nanos, you can trick the other players.
When is the release of Synced: Off Planet?
The shooter is currently still in a pre-alpha.
Beta phase: An open beta is planned to start in early 2020, which will initially be available on PC. Whether it will be on Steam or the Epic Games Store is still unclear.
During the gamescom 2019, we find out with pro Cihan whether FIFA 20 can deliver on all its big promises. Join us live in the gamescom together stream.
What to expect: For gamescom 2019, we have a special highlight planned for all FIFA fans.In our stream, we will investigate together with pro Cihan whether FIFA 20 really lives up to its pre-release promises.
When does the stream start? On Wednesday, August 21st, it will start at 2:30 PM. Keep this time free to tune in. We will talk for half an hour about EA Sports’ upcoming football simulation.
What happens in the stream? We will play with Cihan “Advert or Truth” about FIFA 20. We will quote some slogans that EA Sports uses to promote FIFA 20 – and see if they are truthful or just empty advertising phrases that have nothing to do with reality. After all, developers often exaggerate when they drum up the promotional campaign.
Cihan was able to play FIFA 20 extensively and will provide honest first impressions in the stream.
Who is Cihan actually? Cihan Yasarlar is in his mid-20s, comes from Berlin – and is a professional FIFA player. He is contracted as an eSports athlete with RB Leipzig. Cihan has already achieved several successes. He is the ESL champion of the years 2017 and 2018 and has also been champion of the Virtual Bundesliga. He is also a FIFA European champion 2017. He is considered one of the best German FIFA players.
What is the gamescom together? This year, we are represented with a booth at gamescom and are putting together a big live show. We warmly invite you to be part of our program “gamescom together”.
We want to celebrate gamescom together with all of you, our brands, our friends, partners, and companions. Therefore, we are joining forces with GameStar.de and GamePro.de to create the ultimate show for gamers.
Under the hashtag #gctogether, we will keep you updated on our social media platforms. You can also use the hashtag actively to share your experiences at gamescom. More information about our show program can be found in the following post:
By then, there will definitely be new information about the mysterious Pokémon. Whether it will be released immediately or if there will just be an announcement remains to be seen.
We will keep you updated on MeinMMO and will update this post as soon as there is new information about Jirachi.
Jirachi in Pokémon GO – What is known about the release?
So it can be assumed that there will be a special research again this time. This is common for mysterious Pokémon.
Is there any information about the special research? A few weeks ago, a leak regarding a special research appeared. The data miner Chrales found the test passages that Professor Willow will say to you during the research.
This gives a rough idea of what tasks there will be. For example, you should close new friendships and catch Psychic and Steel-type Pokémon. If the leak turns out to be true, you can expect quests like these.
At the GO Fest in Dortmund, some players were already able to catch Jirachi
As an attacker, it has a lot of competition that it cannot overcome. Therefore, it remains much more of a Pokémon for collecting rather than for battling.
We will show you which Pokémon from Generation 5 are waiting for you here:
In Destiny 2 today, on August 20th, is the Weekly Reset. There are new activities and challenges to tackle. Additionally, you should ensure that you complete your Solstice armor soon.
Here’s what you should do now in Destiny 2: While Bungie is currently focused on the gamescom 2019 discussing the future of Destiny 2, you only have one week left to upgrade your Solstice armor to legendary rank.
With today’s Weekly Reset, the last week of the Solstice of Heroes – the Summer Event 2019 – begins. Although you can still upgrade the armor to Masterwork afterward, the step from blue to legendary armor is only possible until August 27th. So hurry up.
What’s new in Destiny 2? So far, Bungie has surprisingly revealed a lot at gamescom. In addition to two new trailers, fresh Exotics and even a new endgame activity from Shadowkeep have been unveiled. You can find all the information collected on our Destiny 2 page.
Let’s now take a look together at what activities the new week brings.
Nightfall Strike on August 20th on PS4, PC, Xbox One
You’ll obtain Powerful loot by successfully completing a Nightfall and mastering a Nightfall with at least 100,000 points. For this, you need Xur’s challenge card to raise the modifier.
The Modifiers in Strikes and Story Missions
These are the modifiers in the Vanguard Strikes and Missions:
Solar Burn
Grounded (You take more damage in the air)
Brute (Melee abilities deal more damage and charge faster)
The burn modifier remains active all week, while the others change daily.
For the weekly powerful loot, you are allowed to complete 3 heroic story missions and 3 heroic strikes with the focus element corresponding to the burn element.
What to expect in the Crucible, Gambit, and Reckoning
These PvP modes are available in the Crucible:
Quickplay
Competitive
Showdown
Rumble
Private Match
The modifiers for Reckoning:
Void Burn
Prism
Grenadier
For Powerful loot:
complete 5 Crucible matches
complete 3 Gambit matches
complete 4 Gambit Prime matches
successfully complete Reckoning runs (up to 100%)
What does the Drifter have? Before you dive into Gambit, be sure to pick up bounties from the Drifter. A bounty grants Powerful gear: “The Power of the Traveler”. Use Supers, defeat enemies with Supers, and create Orbs of Light for this.
The Flashpoint takes place this week in the Tangled Shore. Complete this along with the accompanying adventure to receive 2 Powerful rewards.
Ikora Rey rewards completing 20 random bounties during the week with a Powerful reward.
Petra Venj is back this week right next to the Landing Zone. Curse Week 2 is active. If you complete Petra’s mission, the Ascendant Challenge, as well as a total of 8 of her daily bounties, you will get a Powerful item for each of these tasks. The 3rd Ascendant Challenge is live.
Spider has the bounty Blood Splicer waiting for you.
You will also be rewarded if you gather 5,000 Clan XP for Hawthorne this week. Additionally, you can complete the bounties “Strength of Memory”, “To Each Their Own”, and “With Both Hands” to obtain additional powerful loot.
With Werner and Benedict 99-40, you can find the weekly bounties “Imperial Bestiary”, “Trial of the Mind”, “The Imperial Greeting”, and “War Loot”.
The Glimmer highlights in Eververse:
The exotic emote “Paperwork”
The exotic Ghost shell “Jubilant Shell”
The exotic ship “Summer Dragons”
The exotic Sparrow “Legacy-2”
As well as the multiplayer emote “Silly Handshake”
In Fortnite the Junk Rift is a new item that is supposed to be particularly strong against the Mech. However, it could be too powerful.
What is the Junk Rift? Update 10.10 introduced the item “Junk Rift” to the game. It is a kind of airstrike that can be called in. Instead of bombs, different items drop from the sky that flatten everything underneath.
In the introductory video of the new item, you can already see the main target of the Junk Rift: the overpowering Mech. However, it seems that the Junk Rift will not only be a counter but might also be a bit too strong otherwise.
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Junk Rift in Fortnite – Too strong or a good counter?
Where is the problem? The Junk Rift not only easily destroys the Mech but just about everything. It is therefore not just a counter but also a powerful weapon against the building kings in Fortnite.
So anyone who has just built up and wants to heal might be crushed by a port-a-potty or a giant anchor when the Junk Rift is deployed.
Is the Junk Rift a good counter? The item has another disadvantage. It takes a long time to create destruction. So if you want to use the Junk Rift against a Mech, it has to be standing still, because otherwise, the robot can easily run away.
The Junk Rift is therefore not a great counter against the Mech, but much more against campers who barricade themselves in buildings.
Here could be problems: Especially in the eSports scene, the Junk Rift could cause tensions. After all, it is quite normal there to build up at the end of the round and play in close quarters.
If a dinosaur comes from the sky that flattens everything underneath, there could be many kills.
What do you think of the Junk Rift? A good item or too strong?
For days, Pokémon GO has been teasing the reveal of Jirachi. In line with this, they post a new image of the Pokémon every day. Trainers are now making fun of this.
How are they making fun of it? For the release of Jirachi, Niantic has come up with something special. They have shown an image of a starry sky every day. With each passing day, the constellation has become clearer, and Jirachi has become recognizable.
This is exactly where the players are having fun. They are spotting other Pokémon in the constellation and sharing these sightings on Twitter.
Jirachi in the constellation – Or what do you recognize?
This is the original image: First, we show you the image from the latest teaser for Jirachi. The outlines of Jirachi can be seen quite clearly in the starry sky:
It can also go like this: Some trainers do not recognize Jirachi at all, but rather completely different things and show this on Twitter.
A highlight from the numerous images is a Pikachu with a Jirachi hat. Pikachu with hats exists often, so why not with a Jirachi hat?
When can we expect Jirachi? These teaser images should conclude this evening, on August 20th. At 10 PM, the last image of Jirachi should arrive.
Whether the mysterious Pokémon will already be here or just announced remains to be seen. Until then, one can calmly continue to search for other Pokémon in the constellation.
Do you want a sneak peek of Generation 5? Here we introduce you to some legendary Pokémon:
The Iceborne expansion for Monster Hunter World is approaching us rapidly. To help all hunters meet the challenges for Iceborne, Capcom provides some assistance. All hunters will receive strong armor and can earn rewards by helping other players.
What kind of armor is this? Even before the release of the Iceborne expansion, players are given a small aid for the big monster hunt. With an update on September 4th, all players of Monster Hunter: World as well as those of Iceborne will receive the Guardian Armor.
The armor can be upgraded and has higher defense values and some helpful abilities. Players can use the set right from the start, gaining an advantage in the story of Monster Hunter World.
The Guardian Armor, as presented in the developer diary
The developers say about the armor that, besides the higher defense, it also possesses optimal skills to survive in the harsh world of Monster Hunter World. The armor is said to be so powerful that it will carry players through the story of the game and can even be used in High Rank.
What is Hunter Helper? Additionally, a new feature has been introduced, allowing players to earn rewards by assisting other hunters.
With Hunter Helper, users can help players in the High and Low ranks at Master Rank. High Rank hunters assist Low Rank players. Players who respond to help requests and complete quests together with other players will receive an additional reward corresponding to their rank. There is also an exclusive in-game trophy for helping teammates.
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What is all this for? Hunters must meet a certain requirement to begin with the expansion: They must have completed the main game’s story and reached rank 16.
According to the developers, they aim to assist players with the Guardian Armor and the Hunter Helper system, ensuring that as many players as possible have the opportunity to play Iceborne.
In Destiny 2 we have an exclusive news about Shadowkeep for you. With the new Autumn expansion, new content is coming for dungeon fans.
Where did we get the info from: Our Destiny author Sven is currently at the gamescom 2019, where he was able to speak this afternoon behind closed doors with Shadowkeep Project Lead Scott Taylor and UX Director Orvar Halldorsson from Bungie about the new Autumn expansion.
Shadowkeep will be released on October 1, 2019.
We have this info for you: We were able to speak with Bungie for about half an hour. Among other things, we asked if there would be additional “dungeon activities” in Shadowkeep like the Shattered Throne.
And Bungie replies: Yes, you can look forward to new activities like the Shattered Throne. When exactly this will come remains to be seen, but if you purchase Shadowkeep, it will definitely be included.
They clarified that this does not refer to the new Nightmare Hunt mode. This is an endgame activity that was already shown yesterday in a livestream in the background. The new dungeon content will be something unique.
So far, it is still unknown whether Shadowkeep will introduce one or several dungeon activities. But PvE fans can already rub their hands in anticipation.
What are dungeons anyway?
This is meant by dungeon content: So far, there is only one dungeon in Destiny 2: The Shattered Throne.
This was introduced with the Forsaken expansion. It is basically a kind of mini-raid for up to 3 players, where you can solve puzzles, master jumping passages, and defeat nasty enemies.
Area in the Shattered Throne
The Shattered Throne has been considered one of the best PvE experiences in the game since its introduction. It can be described as a large, mysterious mission that fascinated many Guardians with its mysterious atmosphere. You can also conquer the Shattered Throne solo or with a partner – but it presents a tremendous challenge – which you can do for the Armor of the Solstice of Heroes .
Guardians praised this dungeon, as it finally brought a raid experience for players who did not want or could not form a fireteam of 6, but preferred to traverse the Destiny universe in smaller groups.
And now we know: More of this good stuff for PvE lovers is on the way – and that already with Shadowkeep.
The special thing about the Shattered Throne is also that it is only active every 3 weeks. Whether the upcoming dungeon content will also be time-limited remains to be seen.
Already tomorrow, on Wednesday, August 21, we will be speaking live on camera with the Project Lead of Shadowkeep, Scott Taylor, and the UX Director Orval Halldorsson at 1:15 PM. Perhaps we can extract even more info from the Bungie developers then. Be there, here are all the details:
When WoW Classic is released, will anyone still play the “regular” WoW? For Cortyn, the answer is clear: Both games complement each other perfectly.
Next week, after years of waiting, WoW Classic will finally launch. Azeroth as it was 15 years ago is once again within reach. I am looking forward to diving back into Classic. However, I also don’t think that Classic can replace the “current” WoW.
I belong neither to the faction that thinks Classic will utterly fail because everything is completely outdated, nor do I think that the current WoW is bad and that Blizzard has long strayed from the right path.
I enjoy both games, both WoW Classic and WoW Retail. And I’m already quite sure that I will play both games, although with different motivations.
WoW Classic – What is earned lasts forever
The big advantage of WoW Classic for me is that there is absolutely no reason to rush anything in WoW Classic. I already know which content will be released in the coming months, and character improvement is only minimal, at least compared to Retail.
Everything I earn in Classic, every piece of the T0 set, every skill point in tailoring, or every reputation level with the furbolgs of Timbermaw Hold is basically for eternity.
Finally back to Scholomance…
Of course, this also means that there will be a definite point in time when Classic will have nothing more to offer me, and I will come to the conclusion that it was simply enough. That in the end, it was a nostalgic journey back to the beginnings of WoW, the rekindling of a passion from my youth.
The day will come when I have my T3 from Naxxramas completely and the feeling of being “finished” settles in. From a developer’s perspective in an MMO, this is probably something terrible, but I look forward to it, even if that moment is still a few years away.
The certainty that everything I earn in Classic will have a certain value “forever” and that my progress will not be reset with the next patch makes WoW Classic the perfect counterpart to the rather hectic retail variant.
At least, as long as Blizzard doesn’t also push out “The Burning Crusade” in two to three years.
Retail – Constant change and ongoing story
In stark contrast stands the current WoW, also known as “WoW Retail”. Here, there’s a patch roughly every three months that brings new gameplay mechanics and content, often devaluing old content.
Whereby “devalued” is of course a difficult term. After all, what I earned in patch 8.1 was quite strong and helpful in overcoming the challenges of patch 8.1. I find it understandable and not so bad that new challenges arise with the next update (8.2) that require better equipment.
The big advantage, however, is that in Retail, the story is driven forward significantly. In Classic, there was comparatively little story. Instead, Azeroth was a static world that had a persistent “status quo” that fundamentally never changed.
Retail tells the exciting stories of Sylvanas, Jaina, the Lich King, and introduces fun characters like Flynn Fairwind and brought back lost people like Calia Menethil.
This feeling of a constantly advancing story has never really been present for me in Classic. The story was (with a few exceptions) in the background and basically only built on what Warcraft III had established and then further inflated.
Additionally, the mechanics of “WoW Retail” still keep me entertained.
I enjoy having to relearn the “Mythic+” dungeons after a new patch and working to be able to clear things like a “Mythic+10” instance again. I don’t find the item spiral bad as such, and it motivates me because the other content around it fits.
Retail and Classic get along almost as well as Jaina and Thrall.
Both games form a unit for me
In summary, I think I will spend a lot of time in both versions of World of Warcraft in the future. I want to know how the story of Retail continues, eventually have my 400th mount, or finally complete the 1000 pets.
At the same time, I also want to have the feeling from Classic that my progress lasts, that everything earned remains for the time being, and that I don’t have to worry that nobody will want to take me into Scholomance with my T0 set tomorrow.
I have come to believe that both games separately give me exactly what I seek in World of Warcraft.
But what do you think?
If you need a few tips to prepare for WoW Classic, you can find them here:
At gamescom 2019, our author Jürgen was able to play Wargaming’s new free-to-play shooter Caliber. Read here why the shooter might appeal to older players.
What is Caliber: At first glance, Caliber looks a bit like Call of Duty: a shooter with modern soldiers. So, is Wargaming thinking of a clone of these games? Not really, because Caliber is more like a mix of World of Tanks and a hero shooter than a team deathmatch like Call of Duty.
More Overwatch than CoD
These are the hero shooter aspects: In Caliber, you play in teams of four. These consist of elite soldiers from various special units modeled after real military units. For example, there are the German KSK and the Polish GROM.
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However, these are not just different skins: each unit offers four classes:
Assault Soldier
medic
Support
Sniper
However, the assault soldier from the KSK has different weapons, skills, and abilities than his comrade from Poland. Thus, the various soldier classes from different units are something like unique heroes, as known from hero shooters.
Later in development, the guys will also gain their own call signs in the local language to personalize them even more. New soldiers will be unlocked, as known from World of Tanks, through game progress.
A shooter for older players
This is how Caliber plays: During the presentation of the game at gamescom, the responsible developer offered me to quickly try out the game. Nothing I would like more!
A PvE session quickly began, and together with three teammates, we were to secure a building and take a landing zone at the end.
This is how tactical the gameplay is: Right at the start of the session, I was warned: “Don’t run ahead alone, stay with your team!” And they were right. Because Caliber is not a fast-paced shooter, it is a tactical positional battle.
To withstand the entrenched AI opponents, you must carefully advance and eliminate enemies with precise shots. Like a real military unit, we move forward slowly and take out enemies accurately.
Everyone must fulfill their role: like in an MMORPG, each of us has a specific task. If we mess that up, the whole team suffers. Because there are no respawns, and only the medic can revive fallen comrades multiple times in a row.
I, as an assault soldier, had the task of flanking positions and reacting quickly to situations. Our supporter provided covering fire, the sniper eliminated distant enemies, and the medic dropped healing packages without which we would have been in quite a bind.
If someone dies for good, they are permanently out of the current round and can only watch.
This is how realistic Caliber is: Anyone familiar with typical shooters like Call of Duty will quickly experience a few peculiarities in Caliber:
Jumping off balconies in full gear really hurts! Use the stairs like a normal person!
When you reload, your soldier changes magazines and puts the old one, if it still contains ammunition, on the belt. This means that it’s better to empty a magazine before switching, otherwise, you might end up with only three half-full magazines. And resupply is rather rare!
Sprinting costs valuable stamina, which only regenerates very slowly. You also need stamina to activate your class skills. So running around all the time is not an option!
That’s why tactics are more important than reflexes: How important tactical action is became clear to us especially at the end of the mission. Just before the end, a helicopter dropped more enemies who pressured us from all sides. We were completely taken by surprise.
One by one, team members fell. I was also taken out quickly. Even the heroic medic, who wanted to revive me, was blown up by a grenade at the last second.
My 1st Highlight of Gamescom
Who should play Caliber? This final scene showed more than ever that Caliber strongly focuses on tactics and precision. Just having good reflexes is not enough here. Therefore, the game is especially interesting for older players who enjoy playing shooters but find the pace of games like Call of Duty or Battlefront far too fast and hectic.
The target audience is therefore virtually the same as that of World of Tanks: players over 30 with an affinity for military and realistic weapons.
Jürgen’s conclusion: I have always liked the idea behind Caliber, namely a shooter with a slower pace and more tactical depth. Frantic shooting and jumping around stress me out.
Therefore, Caliber at gamescom was truly my game. I had a lot of fun and was genuinely disappointed that we couldn’t finish the round properly. I would have loved to play a few more rounds of Caliber, also in PvP.
The new ArcheAge Unchained is based on Buy2Play and does not use a subscription model. We met with the publisher gamigo at gamescom to discuss this.
What is ArcheAge Unchained? Yesterday, gamigo announced a new version of ArcheAge that is supposed to completely forgo Pay2Win content.
Instead, the MMORPG will be Buy2Play and everyone should have the same prerequisites and opportunities. In return, there will be a season pass and a store that is supposed to focus purely on cosmetic content.
Who did we talk to? Vice President Mervin Lee Kwai III revealed more about the business model at gamescom and also addressed your questions and concerns.
Initially, the focus was on the new season pass and the store. We also discussed the division of the community and housing.
In the second part of the conversation, we talked about the upcoming update in autumn. This part will be published later this week as a separate article.
Gamigo plans multiple season passes simultaneously
What are the differences between the legacy server and Unchained? Marvin Lee Kwai told us in the conversation that there will be no differences between the two games.
You start at zero in Unchained. Nothing can be transferred from other servers. Even if everyone starts from scratch, we will not hold back any content. Unchained will include all areas and content from the previous ArcheAge.
The only difference between the versions lies in the business model. The new season pass is especially in focus for Unchained.
How is the season pass structured? In ArcheAge Unchained, there will be two season passes. The first is a standard version and free. Additionally, there is a premium pass that contains further rewards. However, this costs real money.
Through both passes, you will receive a new currency that can be exchanged for cosmetic rewards and titles. Additionally, the free pass is also supposed to include reward potions that provide small advantages in the game.
However, these advantages are not supposed to be present in the premium pass.
Currently, the developers plan that multiple passes can run simultaneously. So if you complete Pass 1 after a month, you can immediately start Pass 2. If it takes two months, you will get Pass 2 later.
A pass lasts for three months. During this time, you will have daily missions such as defeating monsters or participating in PvP.
Each completed task gives XP, and the pass contains a total of 55 levels. After that, you have completed it.
How much will the premium pass cost? A premium pass for ArcheAge is supposed to cost 10 dollars.
What can we expect in the shop of ArcheAge Unchained? The shop of the Buy2Play game is also supposed to completely avoid gameplay advantages, as Mervin Lee Kwai repeatedly emphasized.
All content is supposed to be purely cosmetic, so that all players have the same chances.
How does housing work in ArcheAge Unchained? In the Free2Play version of ArcheAge, you need a continuous subscription to claim land at all.
In Unchained, any player can build. In our comments about Unchained, players feared that there might be a lack of space and that players could secure plots and sell them at high prices to later entrants.
What do the developers think about this? Mervin Lee Kwai is not worried about this. On the one hand, there are many more building spaces compared to the release version. Also, the latest Haram update included new plots.
On the other hand, the tax certificates are not offered in the marketplace of Unchained. Maintaining multiple houses will therefore be more difficult, especially due to the required labor points.
Additionally, the hurdle of owning multiple accounts is supposed to be higher due to Buy2Play. Nevertheless, the developers are keeping an eye on the issue:
We are not naive in this regard, but we believe due to the three mentioned points that there will be enough spaces for everyone.
Legacy players remain loyal to their server
Is ArcheAge stealing its own players with two versions? Another concern of players was that the two separate servers would divide the community. After all, both are supposed to be at exactly the same state.
Mervin Lee Kwai sees this relaxed:
We have frequently introduced new servers. Players like to try them out, but most return to their home server after 2-3 months. They often invest too much time in their environment for that.
The developers view Unchained more as an opportunity for newcomers and people who reject the old subscription model. The previous target group is expected to remain with the old ArcheAge
When will Unchained be released? New information on the costs and release date of ArcheAge Unchained will be published soon.
However, the next big update for ArcheAge is planned for autumn. This applies to both the legacy servers and Unchained. What exactly will be included in the patch will be revealed later this week.
The opening night at gamescom was already exciting yesterday:
Explicitly, there are 6 that will become particularly strong, and that you should not miss in the 5th generation.
However, the values are not yet official. A lot can still change, so this should initially be regarded as a rough estimate.
You should remember these 6 legendary Pokémon
When could the Pokémon appear? There is no release date yet. According to some teasers for Gen 5, the first monsters could already appear this year.
Legendary Pokémon usually come in raids. It may take some time until all these legendary monsters are actually in the game.
Here the starters of the 5th generation were already shown
This is important regarding the values: All these values are not officially from Niantic, but were determined by Gamepress using the formula for calculating values.
Especially with legendary Pokémon, it may be that Niantic adjusts this later since the values sometimes seem too strong.
The same applies to the attacks. They often determine whether a Pokémon is good or bad. They are, just like the values, not yet known.
Despite all these circumstances, the current values already give a hint about which legendaries can actually become strong.
1. White/Black Kyurem
The black Kyurem
Type: Dragon and Ice
Attack value: 310
Defense value: 183
HP value: 244
Maximum CP: 4596
What makes this Pokémon special? Both white and black Kyurem are each fusions of an item and normal Kyurem. Normal Kyurem is already quite strong, but the two other forms are even more powerful.
Only Deoxys has a higher attack value, but Kyurem is much more durable and could overshadow any other Pokémon with the right attacks.
However, one can actually expect a nerf, as if these forms of Kyurem come into the game, they will easily dominate the types Ice and Dragon.
2. Thundurus (Therian Form)
Type: Electric and Flying
Attack value: 295
Defense value: 161
HP value: 188
Maximum CP: 3659
What makes this Pokémon special? Thundurus can take on two forms. There is the Incarnate Form and the Therian Form. Especially the latter makes Thundurus powerful.
Its attack value of 295 is by far the highest among Electric-type Pokémon, and with the right attacks, it could become the best attacker of its type. As a Flying attacker, Thundurus is also the best. However, it also depends on the attacks.
Its disadvantage is its fragility. But here too, it can only be hit very effectively by 2 types.
3. Landorus (Therian Form)
Type: Ground and Flying
Attack value: 289
Defense value: 179
HP value: 205
Maximum CP: 3922
What makes this Pokémon special? Landorus, just like Thundurus, belongs to the trio of “Forces of Nature”. It also has 2 forms, with the Therian Form being better.
With the right Ground-type attacks, Landorus is a better attacker than Groudon and would lead the list of Ground attackers.
4. Terrakion
Type: Rock and Fighting
Attack value: 260
Defense value: 192
HP value: 209
Maximum CP: 3698
What makes this Pokémon special? Especially as a Fighting-type Pokémon, Terrakion could become interesting. With good attacks, it could replace Machamp as the top attacker.
As a Rock-type Pokémon, it could also not be bad, but with Rhydon and Tyranitar (in Gen 5 also Aerodactyl), it has strong competition.
5. Reshiram
Type: Dragon and Fire
Attack value: 275
Defense value: 211
HP value: 205
Maximum CP: 4038
What makes this Pokémon special? Reshiram could become particularly interesting as a Fire attacker. It would then be the Fire Pokémon with the highest attack value in the game, and with good attacks, it could also become the top attacker there.
As a Dragon attacker, it is also not bad, but it has a lot of competition. One should hope for good Fire attacks here.
6. Zekrom
Type: Dragon and Electric
Attack value: 275
Defense value: 211
HP value: 205
Maximum CP: 4038
What makes this Pokémon special? Zekrom has the same values as Reshiram but has Electric as its second type. If you ignore Thundurus, it could be the best Electric attacker in the game.
As a Dragon attacker, the same applies as for Reshiram. It is good, but has better competition. Here, one should hope for strong Electric attacks.
Which legendary Pokémon of the 5th generation are you most looking forward to?
On Wednesday, we will discuss the MMORPG Blade and Soul and the new Archer class during gamescom 2019. We were able to try it out.
What kind of stream is this? While gamescom 2019 is taking place in Cologne, some people from the MeinMMO team are there on site. In the livestream, we will show you highlights of games and exciting interviews with developers.
When does the stream air? On Wednesday, August 21, starting at 4:00 PM, the gamescom magazine will be airing. Blade and Soul will have a small appearance in this 1-hour slot. We will add the exact time here later.
We have now been able to try the Archer and have much to say about it. It shoots incredibly fast and is easy to learn. However, you will need a lot of skill in the endgame. Stay tuned for what you can expect from the gamescom together stream.
What is the gamescom together? This year, we will have a booth at gamescom and put on a big live show. We warmly invite you to be part of our “gamescom together” program.
We want to celebrate gamescom 2019 together with you, all our brands, our friends, partners, and companions. Therefore, we are teaming up with Gamestar.de and Gamepro.de to create the ultimate show for gamers.
Under the hashtag #gctogether, we will keep you updated on our social media platforms. You can also actively use the hashtag to share your experiences at gamescom. You can find more information about our show program in the following post:
Today, on the 20th of August, Epic Games released the patch notes for the new Fortnite update. We will show you the changes and new content such as the Junk Rift.
What’s included in the new update 10.10: The new item “Junk Rift” is making its way into the game. With it, you can drop gigantic objects on your enemies.
Additionally, there are new unstable consumables that change constantly. The map has also changed accordingly.
Junk Rift and Unstable Consumables in Fortnite
The Junk Rift: The Junk Rift is a throwable item. When thrown, it breaks upon landing and creates a large rift in the sky. Huge objects will fall quickly from this rift to the ground.
The falling object destroys everything it hits. Vehicles and destructible objects are instantly flattened upon impact.
You can find the Junk Rift in stacks of 2. You can carry a maximum of 4. This epic item can be found in chests, on the ground, in llamas, and supply drops.
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How much damage do objects from the Junk Rift do? Upon impact, there is a shockwave that deals damage to players. A direct hit inflicts 200 damage and slightly knocks back players. The shockwave deals 100 damage.
Unstable Consumables: You can find the unstable consumables at the site of the explosion on the map. They randomly transform back into instant consumables from the past. These can turn into the following items:
Apples (restore 5 health)
Mushrooms (restore 5 shield)
Coconuts (restore 5 shield and health)
Peppers (increase your movement speed temporarily)
Bounce Pads (temporarily reduce player’s gravity)
Shadow Stone (temporarily turn you into a ghost with increased movement speed. You can also phase through buildings)
Save the World – PvE Changes
New in the shop: The Six Shooter is a rocket launcher and is now available in the Save the World shop. The weapon fires small, fast rockets. You can shoot up to 6 times before needing to reload. The weapon does not consume ammunition but has low durability.
Cloaked Star: This week, you need to help the character Cloak Star reach the radio station.
Recently in Fortnite, a famous streamer tried out the parts he despises in Battle Royale. See for yourself:
At the opening of gamescom 2019, Bungie delivered and revealed some details about the upcoming expansion Destiny 2 Shadowkeep. Among these was a new trailer for Season 8, the “Season of the Undying.” Destiny veterans may already recognize some scenes from the video.
What kind of trailer is this? At the opening of gamescom 2019, Bungie showcased two new trailers for the upcoming Destiny 2 expansion Shadowkeep. After the gameplay trailer, there was a cinematic clip for the upcoming Season 8, which follows the current Season of Opulence and heralds Shadowkeep.
The “Season of the Undying” will focus entirely on the Vex, even though the expansion takes place on the Moon and primarily centers around the Hive. However, Bungie revealed at the Guardian Con in July that the cybernetic Vex will invade the entire solar system during the season. To thwart these “invasions,” all Guardians will be needed.
The video was likely intended for Destiny 1 DLC in winter 2015
Why is the video so old? The video shows Vex seemingly resting before a massive installation. Suddenly, you see “Vex milk,” the liquid found within the bodies of the machines. The milk seeps into the metallic bodies, causing them to awaken.
According to a theory, the scenes could belong to a DLC that was planned under the name “Vex Void” for Destiny 1. An old roadmap shows that Vex Void was supposed to be released after the expansion The Taken King, which at that time was still called Comet:
The “Vex Void” expansion was actually due in December 2015 – as the 3rd DLC for Destiny 1
At that time, Bungie shifted Destiny 1 to “free updates”, and then the Sparrow Racing was released
“Vex Void” was supposed to be the third DLC for Destiny 1
What do the players say? The trailer for the “Season of the Undying” is very well received in the community. The graphics are particularly praised.
One player mentioned that the trailer explained more about the Vex and the Black Garden, which will play a role in Shadowkeep, than the campaigns of Destiny 1 and the Destiny 2 DLC Curse of Osiris combined.
Other players see the reuse of old Vex footage as less recycling and more that Bungie has been honing a Vex story for over two years.
A new entry on the Australian classification website has caught the attention of Rockstar fans: A title called “Bonaire” has been refused classification. More than just the name is currently known. However, it fuels theories that it could be a DLC for Red Dead Redemption 2.
What title is it? A new entry has recently appeared on the Australian classification website, where ratings, i.e., age classifications for media, are indicated. This apparently concerns a new title from Rockstar.
The title “Bonaire,” categorized as a video game, was classified by the authority on July 19, 2019. However, a release has not been achieved: Bonaire received the stamp “refused classification.” Classification was denied, and the title is thus considered banned in Australia.
What is Bonaire? The entry does not clarify what the title is exactly about. The name alone fuels exciting theories.
Bonaire is an island off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. The Caribbean played a significant role in Red Dead Redemption 2: In Chapter 5 of the campaign, some members of the outlaw gang wash up on the fictional tropical island of Guarma.
Why was it banned? The classification website did not state why the title was refused classification. However, Australia is known for its stringent ratings.
Bonaire is only the second game from Rockstar that has been denied classification in Australia from the outset. Previously, the classification of Manhunt from 2003 was excluded.
GTA San Andreas had its classification revoked in Australia after the scandal surrounding Hot Coffee. Hot Coffee is an usually inaccessible sex mini-game in San Andreas, which players could access through a mod.
There is new footage of the upcoming action-adventure Marvel’s Avengers. For the ongoing gamescom, 19 minutes of gameplay from the first mission “A-Day” has been released. All Avengers are showcased along with their various fighting styles.
What is being shown? Square Enix and the developers of Crystal Dynamics have released a new video for Marvel’s Avengers. In this action-adventure, players embody the superheroes Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and Iron Man and can take down villains solo or in co-op with up to four players.
Just in time for gamescom, there is now nearly 19 minutes of gameplay from the prologue mission. A demo of the mission can also be played on site at the fair.
What can be seen in the video? The clip showcases the gameplay of the first mission. The “A-Day”, the Avengers Day, is celebrated with a large ceremony. However, rogues are causing trouble and seize a heli-carrier.
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In the mission, the individual Avengers gradually take center stage. The order appears to be dictated by the game. One hero after another gets to shine and display the differences in combat. From time to time, the Avengers also fight together or engage in humorous banter over the radio, as is typical from the movies.
How is the gameplay received? Opinions on the shown scenes are divided. While some players praise the gameplay, others are more skeptical.
Many fans are pleased that the graphics have been improved and the heroes now look more lifelike. The fights look fun, and each character seems to have a purpose. It appears that each of the heroes fulfills a specific, important role.
Other players are less enthusiastic. The gameplay seems very slow or not exciting. Furthermore, it is said that the sound effects lack “oomph” or that the combat and the sounds do not match well.
First official gameplay material from FIFA 20 is online from gamescom 2019. This shows several matches and the Volta mode.
Where does the gameplay come from? At gamescom 2019, attendees can try out FIFA 20 this week. Already today, on August 20th, the first influencers are streaming matches from the upcoming football simulation live from the fair.
Among them is the big FIFA YouTuber DjMaRiiO, who has over 5.5 million subscribers and has already posted his first FIFA 20 gameplay from gamescom on YouTube.
Warning: Heavy spoilers ahead!
The video is over an hour long, we embed it here and summarize the highlights:
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In the first minutes, DjMaRiiO only navigates through the menu of this demo version. In addition to the settings and several information screens, you can choose
the Volta mode
the kickoff mode
Tournaments (like women’s tournaments)
Skill games
the Champions League
and the career mode
to select.
First, you see a kickoff match in classic style in the video. The game starts at minute 8:52. It is a match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. After a few minutes, where you can admire the new stadium atmosphere, player faces, and some game moves, he leaves the match and switches to Volta.
Volta in the video: At minute 15:08, you get a glimpse into the story mode of Volta. Volta is the big innovation in FIFA 20, where you play on small fields. Street football returns to FIFA with Volta.
The video shows a cutscene where the player avatar enters an abandoned warehouse where kicking takes place.
If you don’t want to spoil the cutscene, you can jump directly to minute 17:15, where Volta gameplay is shown. A 5v5 (including goalkeeper) is played.
From minute 24:27, you can look at some customization options you have for your character in Volta. Because this can be freely customized – from gender to size to clothing.
From minute 42:00, a Volta match between PSG and Manchester City can be seen.
A “King of the Hill” match will also be played at minute 48:50. This is a new mode in the kickoff house rules, where you have to capture zones. We present this zone control mode in FIFA 20 here.
Zone control in FIFA 20
And from minute 1:00:50, another round of Mystery Ball is played. In Mystery Ball, the player in possession of the ball gets various boosts, for example, for shooting. This boost is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. When the ball is out of play, the boost switches.
At the end of the video, we take a brief look at the career mode of FIFA 20, but unfortunately, it doesn’t go further than the manager selection.
During gamescom week, we expect more footage of FIFA 20.
Update: More Volta gameplay can be found here:
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