In the online shooter Fortnite, the patch mills never stop. A new update came on Sunday for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. The most important new item: The Boombox. Professionals are already cursing about it. TSM_Myth says: “Epic is trolling us.”
What’s going on with updates in Fortnite? Normally, Thursday is patch day in Fortnite. However, during the time between the years, everything is a bit different. Updates strangely come late on Saturday our time or right on Sunday.
These are not big patches with server downtime and huge new feature lists, but rather slim content updates to 7.10.
Update No. 2 came on 30.12. – it mainly brought the Boombox to Fortnite: Battle Royale
This is what the Boombox can do: You can place the Boombox on the ground, and it emits powerful sound waves that damage and ultimately destroy all buildings in a large area.
The box kills about all new walls in its area of effect.
This is how professionals react to the item: Yesterday, professionals had spontaneous reactions on Twitter (via Dexerto). For them, the new item brings crashing down all their concepts and painstakingly trained reflexes.
CLG Wish says: “I am about to participate in a $100,000 tournament, and Epic Games brings a game-breaking item just hours before.”
WhosDixon accuses Epic of totally disrupting everything with these short-term patches.
Twitch star Ninja joked about it: “Have fun in your training fights with the new item LOL.” Ninja himself does little eSports and focuses on full-time streaming. He has a good laugh.
eSports professional TSM_Myth said in an interview that Epic is “trolling”. He will respond by “exploiting the thing to the max”.
What is the problem with the item? The Boombox disrupts the balancing in Fortnite overnight. Because the item can destroy all buildings in a confined space.
Especially in the endgame of competitive matches, endless building happens in a tight space. When the storm closes in, there is hardly any room – a centrally placed Boombox changes everything.
This requires a rethink in the playstyle of professional players – from builder to Rambo.
Recently, there was so much protest against the overpowered Infinity Blade that Epic had to backtrack and remove the sword. But apparently, that was a one-time thing, and Epic still intends to change Fortnite radically overnight. It was said that they cannot take the professionals’ need for stability into account.
The patch notes for the new update
Here’s what else was in the patch:
Some “ice castle items” were newly added for creative mode
The “Painbringer” assault rifle came to Save the World in the weekly store.
And the “Tree of Light” sword for Save the World now awaits as a weekly challenge reward
This is how you stay updated on Fortnite: You can find even more news, stories, and guides about Fortnite on our Facebook page, which is all about Fortnite and its spin-off Battle Royale!
We have already talked about the different design wishes for the patches. Casual players and professionals seem to want two different types of development for Fortnite. And Epic has decided to side with casual players:
After the beta, Fallout 76 had a rather rocky start. Nevertheless, many fans are convinced that the game has great potential. Our author Benedict also believes that Fallout 76 is due for a big comeback in 2019.
Fallout 76 has faced heavy criticism since its release. Review bombing has significantly lowered its Metacritic score, and many fans were disappointed with the delivered project. However, I vehemently disagree with the dire news that Fallout is already dead.
Fallout is certainly (still) not a completed game. But it has potential.
I see it this way, and many other players who have played Fallout 76 for a while agree. On reddit, there are threads praising the game, and people share their positive experiences with us on MeinMMO.
The launch of Fallout 76 was certainly not as good as it could have been. However, I see a flourishing future for the game in the coming time. Here’s why:
1. Fallout 76 has great potential
The consensus among most fans and in many forums is: Fallout has many flaws, but it is the foundation for a first-class game. It just needs to be worked on to become that game.
Some still regard Fallout 76 half in jest, half seriously as a beta or early access. Although it was officially released in November 2018, the designation “Beta” fits it well both currently and for the future.
Bethesda has already announced plans for Fallout 76 for 2019. If the issues of the current version are worked out and the new features are implemented for free, Fallout 76 was really a good beta until now. Because many players are already celebrating it, they just want “a bit more”.
What especially indicates that Fallout is a viable foundation and that a great game can be built on it are Bethesda’s current reactions. Communication with players during the actual beta left much to be desired.
Since then, however, it has steadily improved. With the first major patches after release, Bethesda immediately addressed some of the biggest criticisms. The developers have tried to fix the respective problems.
The release of comprehensive patch notes and information on what is being worked on is steadily improving after severe criticism. Although there are still some problematic areas such as communication regarding the remaining canvas bags from the Collector’s Edition.
However, Bethesda is now becoming increasingly active on reddit and Twitter and is responding to criticism. This is especially evident in hotfixes and smaller fixes that are being implemented in Fallout 76.
3. Players are tired of the hate
Critics keep pointing out that Fallout 76 is simply too bad to be able to like it. Some press uses this negative sentiment for headlines. Some gamers even go as far as to insult fans who like Fallout 76.
What repeatedly stands out when browsing forums and reddit are complaints from fans about the negative headlines surrounding Fallout 76. It seems that people are tired of constant criticism.
Personally, I feel the same way. I have come to understand that Fallout 76 has its flaws. Just imagine that in over 100 hours of gameplay, I’ve experienced a few of them myself! But they do not diminish my enjoyment of the game.
The group of people who enjoy Fallout 76 does not want to let anyone ruin their enjoyment of the game. Yes, Fallout 76 has flaws. But work is being done on them. And if they are not fixed, one can always stop playing the game.
What we do not need are people who dictate how we should view something – neither positively nor negatively.
4. The interest in Fallout 76 is high
The last reason is something that we journalists and writers notice more, which players and the community might overlook. The interest in Fallout 76 is quite high when measured against Google search trends.
This means that people are directly searching for content related to Fallout 76. They do not want to learn how bad Fallout 76 is. They want to know how they can succeed in Fallout 76 and get things done.
This is my opinion. What do you think about the future of the game?
Curious news and negative sentiment sometimes get a lot of attention and find approval quickly. However, these are usually flash in the pan that disappear just as quickly. The most popular information covers farming and patches.
This means that people are directly searching for content related to Fallout 76. They do not want to learn how bad Fallout 76 is. They want to know how they can succeed in Fallout 76 and get things done.
This is my opinion. What do you think about the future of the game?
Free2Play MMORPGs are still very popular. The ability to play for free simply attracts many gamers. And if the payment model is fair, there is nothing wrong with buying something in the in-game shop.
We present to you 6 free MMORPGs that will surely provide as much fun in 2019 as they do today. We focused on popularity and how likely it is that these games will still be well supported in 2019.
What is The Lord of the Rings Online?The Lord of the Rings Online lets you experience adventures in the world of Middle-earth. You complete quests together with friends that take place parallel to the story of the novels and even go beyond.
The focus is on quests and group content
You explore many dungeons and fight bosses
The social aspect is important. Players often meet at festivals to celebrate and make music
There is great housing where players can build their own homes
The lore of the game world is an integral part that fans place great value on
How popular is The Lord of the Rings Online? The MMORPG has a very loyal fan base. Although the game no longer has the high player numbers it once had, it still holds up well. The Steam numbers reflect only a part of the overall player base. The Legendary servers have helped to boost it again. The rating on Steam is “very positive”.
How secure is the future of the MMORPG? The developers still have many plans regarding the story of the game and plan bigger changes and new content. Therefore, fans can expect to experience many exciting adventures in Middle-earth in 2019.
Who is The Lord of the Rings Online for? The Lord of the Rings Online primarily appeals to fans of the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. But anyone who values a deep lore and plenty of group content will also find enjoyment here. The Lord of the Rings Online is one of the games that has defined the “online role-playing game” genre.
Here are predictions for the upcoming Team of the Week 16 (TOTW 16) in FIFA 19. We show you forecasts of which players might receive a new Inform card in Ultimate Team this week.
The TOTW release time in FUT 19: On January 2, the 16th Team of the Week will be released in FIFA 19. From 7 PM you can obtain the special cards from packs for one week, until TOTW 16 is replaced on January 9.
These are TOTW predictions: Based on their performances in the actual matches that took place, predictions are made about which players could be featured in the upcoming Team of the Week in FIFA 19.
Predictions are never really 100% accurate, but they give a good overview of likely Team of the Week players.
Prediction TDW 16: fifauteam
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This is how you benefit from TOTW predictions: You can use the Team of the Week to earn a lot of coins. The value of TOTW players increases when they are in the Team of the Week. You can find more details in our guide to TOTW trading.
In mid-December, the developers of Ashes of Creation briefly tested their PvP offshoot Apocalypse. Now, Game Director Steven Sharif shared insights into the game’s future plans. He also announced that the fortress mode will be delayed.
What happened? On December 26, the developers took the servers of Apocalypse offline again, surprising the players. There was only a brief note on Reddit about the servers being taken offline until January.
Many players complained because the PvP offshoot already contained several questionable contents. There was already a cash shop with a Battle Pass and other contents, which the community did not like.
When can I play Apocalypse again? The next beta phase is expected to start on January 11, 2019. From then on, Apocalypse should be playable every weekend. This was communicated to the players in a Discord post by Steve Sharif.
The exact times will be published in the week before the test weekend.
Release of Ashes of Creation Apocalypse – When?
The release of Ashes of Creation Apocalypse is planned for February 2019. The previous beta phases should ensure that the game reaches a standard expected by Intrepid Studios.
However, there is still no exact release date.
The fortress mode is also delayed
In the Discord post, Sharif also discusses the upcoming fortress mode. This will be an important part of Apocalypse, as conquests of nodes are planned for the later MMORPG. The mode is a kind of test run for the content in the later game.
Testing for the fortress mode postponed: However, due to the work on matchmaking and the servers of Apocalypse, testing for the fortress mode is delayed. These will only begin when the contents are also presentable.
Sharif expects that the alpha and beta backers will be able to test the mode by the end of January. He himself is dissatisfied that the tests are being postponed.
When will we learn more about the fortress mode? However, new information about the fortress mode will be available before the test ends in January. A developer livestream will take place on January 12 at 12:00 AM our time.
It will show images and videos from the first map. Additionally, Steve Sharif and guests will explain exactly how the fortress mode works.
In May 2018, we introduced the feature of user reviews. Here you will find the five best reviews that our readers have written and published online over the year.
What are user reviews? This feature has existed for a while on MeinMMO. It gives you the opportunity to rate a game you’ve tested and to write down your opinion about it.
The review is then checked by us, possibly supplemented with images, and then published online for everyone to see.
The most exciting and detailed reviews, where readers have put a lot of effort in, are highlighted and shared on our social media channels, such as currently with the user review of Atlas.
What criteria were used to select the best user reviews? For the user reviews that we feature separately on the page, we mainly pay attention to a detailed examination of the games and that the tester explains and justifies their rating.
The interest of readers in the reviews also plays a role in the selection.
This does not mean that we necessarily agree with the rating or content of the user reviews on MeinMMO.
Nostalgia and current games: Best user reviews 2018
This nostalgic love letter to Destiny 1 impressed readers deeply and reminded them of what it was like to experience the content of Destiny 1 for the first time.
It can be really intimidating to get into an MMORPG that has already released several expansions. This user review explains in detail why you don’t have to be afraid to start anew with Final Fantasy XIV.
With this detailed review of the state of the MMORPG Bless after release, the author attempted to view the game from as many different perspectives as possible.
This user review of Warframe conveys the years of experience and adventures the player has already had in the game, as well as anticipation for the upcoming content.
How can I write user reviews? You can find the option to write a review in the respective hubs of the games we cover. In the red box on the right side you will find the corresponding button.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to write a review for a new game or support an old favorite with a positive review. It’s also perfectly fine to point out negative aspects of the games. These reviews reflect how gamers see the respective game.
We plan to further expand this feature in the future and give you more options for text editing, for example.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Thanks to you, we had a strong year in 2018 at MeinMMO and are heading into 2019 with great plans. We look forward to a great time with you!
At this point, we at MeinMMO would like to thank you, our community. In the past year, we achieved significant milestones, expanded our Pokémon team, and received valuable feedback from you.
Now we even have a Discord server for the MeinMMO community, which has a special area for you Pokémon GO fans.
Pokémon GO on MeinMMO – Strong Growth of the Community
About a year ago, we wrote our first community special for you, our Pokémon community. Back then, we were excited to announce that on St. Nicholas Day 2017, we reached 10,000 members in our Pokémon GO group on Facebook.
How big is the Facebook group now? Now, in December 2018, we can proudly say that the group is on track to be three times as large as it was a year ago.
As of now, there are 27,119 members registered in the group. And new members join every day.
What makes our community special: You value proper tone and can calmly help other trainers with their questions. This is rare in online communities. While questions about IV calculators, trainer codes, or event start times appear frequently and are similar, they are nevertheless answered calmly.
If there are any posts or comments that cross the line, they are now reported very quickly and handled or deleted by our moderators. Thank you for your help!
The Moderator Team: For such a large group, it is important to have a functioning team. We are now solidly set up. Our moderators check posts, confirm requests, and take care of questions and issues.
Thank you Benni, Eric, Lisa, Max H., Max L., Madeleine, and Mela.
The Discord Server of MeinMMO Offers Channels for Pokémon Fans
To connect even better with you, we now have a Discord server for the MeinMMO community.
What is Discord? This is a free platform for all kinds of communities. On our server, you will find text channels to communicate with others in writing. Voice channels are also available.
Why you should join the server: On our Discord server, you can meet other players, chat or write with like-minded people, or arrange to play games together. For Pokémon players, we even have a dedicated channel for sharing friend codes. So if you’re looking for friends, you should take this opportunity.
The following Pokémon channels you can see there:
Pokémon GO News: Here you will see immediately when we publish news. You can enable notifications for channels to be alerted on your smartphone as soon as there is something new. You will read our news as one of the first and always be up to date.
Pokémon GO Discussion: Chat here with other trainers about everything related to Pokémon GO. Such as the best fighters, effective ways to collect coins, or which Pokémon should be evolved.
Pokémon GO Friendship Codes: Here you can post your friend codes to share them with other trainers.
Discord is available as a free app for smartphones (Android and iOS) and also as a desktop program for PCs.
Are there other channels as well? Yes. We have chat channels there for many games we report on at MeinMMO. This way, you can also easily talk to players from Red Dead Redemption 2, World of Warcraft, Fortnite, or many other games.
We are happy about many talented trainers in our community. In our photo gallery, you can see some of the Pokémon that group members have created themselves. Cute, right? The shown works come from Uli and Sabrina.
Short Stories About Pokémon: Regularly, Tobias van Helden provides the group with short stories about Pokémon GO, which he writes himself. He lets his flourishing Pokémon imagination run free and posts heartwarming or funny stories. For this article, he has selected two stories that we want to share with you.
Good Resolutions
Man: Yes, sweetheart, I mean it seriously, I will play less Pokémon GO in the new year. Here, you can take my phone while you go jogging. Then I can’t play. I will go to the bar and wait for you.
Sweetheart: Really? Thanks, Bunny! Then we will have more time for ourselves, see you soon.
Bunny: I want that too. I also bought a console, so we can play something together. The Switch.
Sweetheart: You are so sweet, see you soon.
At the Bar:
Bunny: Why do you look so depressed, young man?
Young Man: Oh… the guys at my job. You make good suggestions and always run into a wall.
Bunny: What do you do for a living?
Young Man: Oh, you probably don’t know, Niantic. They run online games.
Bunny: Uh… No, I don’t know. What do they want to do? Since I don’t play it, you can tell me openly.
Young Man: Oh, I suggested that Pokémon become stronger through raids/battles. 100 fights = 1 percent more damage and a maximum bonus of 100 percent with 10,000 fights. And what came out? A Pikachu with a coffee machine as an event. Of course, again boxes, a bit more XP, and so on.
Bunny: Your idea would be great! Well, for those who play it. I don’t play it…
Young Man: In PVP, my idea was that you could play for stardust or XP, which would take away from others. And what comes? New shinies.
Bunny: What a pity! Well, for those who play.
Young Man: The next event is just silly. The secret event! It starts Tomorrow. Every Pokémon sent 24 hours before the event will be received back as an exact copy. Since no one knows this, everyone just gets Taubsi and colleagues. No one sends good Pokémon.
Bunny: SUPER! Well, for people who play and know about it.
Young Man: And that’s not even the silliest thing. Whoever invests 100 euros in lucky eggs gets 2 incubators as a reward. But since no one knows this, no one does it. We could make money without end. I also have to go now, have a nice day.
2 hours later in a side street.
Sweetheart of Bunny: Good job, he believed you!
Young Man: Does that mean I get my money?
Sweetheart of Bunny: Sure, here. Give me his phone… he thinks I’m stupid too. As if I didn’t know about the fitness app and Pokémon GO. And the Switch, he only got because of the new Pokémon.
Young Man: Has he reacted yet?
Sweetheart of Bunny: Oh yes! 100 euros were deducted online. I’ll unexpectedly discover that the day after tomorrow by chance. He will be surprised. And the Pokémon thing was quite funny. He pretended to do it for me! It’s like “I send away the best 50 Pokémon to show you that you are more important to me. I now play more relaxed”.
The second story from Tobias follows here:
Christmas
Rick: What are you?
“What are you?”?! – Santa Claus!
Rick: Santa Claus? No, he looks different. He doesn’t have such a long tongue. You look like… Schlurp. That creature from the game my wife always plays.
Schlurp: Uh, no. You see, I have a red hat and a bag of gifts and animals that pull my sleigh.
Rick: Those things outside the window. Are they dragons? That… oh, what was his name, Dragoran? Are you kidding me?
Schlurp: No, listen… Hohoho.
Rick: And you think that convinces me? Also: Don’t keep licking the kitchen table with your tongue. What’s that about?
Schlurp: We have a good game, but to be permanently successful, we want to expand. A holiday that is associated with us was the idea. And Christmas fits perfectly. We also paid the Santa Claus. He went on vacation directly with Rossana. There were a few small problems with the layoffs of the elves, but early retirement and training measures as well as a holding company greatly mitigated the consequences.
Rick: And are you the new Santa Claus now?
Schlurp: Well, let’s put it this way: We work as a team. This way, it goes faster. Everyone helps out. I’m in charge of this side of the street. The opposite side does it another way.
Rick: What are those screams? Why are my neighbors from across the street running away? Are you serious? A Despotar in a Christmas outfit? He is chasing the kids while shouting “Merry Christmas”, but in a way that makes you think he wants to eat one.
Schlurp: This is our first year, we are still learning. There were time zones that were ahead of you. For example, we now know that Pummeluff should not serenade a pilot during the flight.
Sleimok should not be allowed to choose gifts; children do not find household waste that attractive. Oh, and that Mauzi wanted to clean out people’s houses, no one could expect that.
Rick: What did you lay here for me? An album “New Christmas Songs”. Let’s see, I’ll put the CD in.
Song 1: Oh Niantic, oh Niantic, how beautiful are your Pokémon…
Song 2: Last Christmas I gave you my Mewtwo and the very next day you sent him away…
Song 3: Run Trainer run, run Trainer run. Don’t let them get away, you have to catch them, run Trainer…
Rick: That’s… something different.
Schlurp: Cool, right? That was my idea. The games all developed it.
Rick: I can hardly bear to look. But okay, let’s see.
Game 1: Pokémon FIFA 2020. FC Relaxo against Borussia Heiteira.
Game 2: Pokémon Counter-Strike. Hunt cute Pokémon with pump guns, snipers, and co.
Game 3: Mensch ärger dich nicht.
Rick: Mensch ärger dich nicht? Why not Pokémon ärger dich nicht?
Schlurp: Honestly, something like that would be silly.
Rick: Um, okay. Then have a nice evening. Maybe until next Christmas.
Schlurp: No, we will see each other at Easter, the Easter Bunny was paid. He went on vacation with a Schlapor.
Our New Author Noah
As you may have already noticed, we at MeinMMO have had another author since September. Noah Struthoff now supports the team with his expertise on Pokémon GO. He comes directly from our Pokémon community and is active on Facebook and Discord.
Together with you, we want to improve in 2019. Therefore, we would be happy to welcome as many of you as possible on our Discord server.
We want to provide you with even better guides and write even more articles that are directly related to you as a community. You will find these as usual on our Facebook page for Pokémon GO.
In addition, our homepage Mein-MMO.de will undergo a redesign to make it even clearer for you. This way, you shouldn’t miss any news that is important to you. A new comment system is also in the works. Check out our greeting from the editorial team to get a better impression of our plans.
Bethesda has offered a special collector’s item for Fallout 76: Fallout Rum in a Nuka-Cola bottle. But with the “Nuka Dark,” the company is once again making negative headlines. The bottle is not what buyers have expected.
What happened? Bethesda collaborated with a rum manufacturer to bring a special Fallout-themed product to market. The “Nuka Dark Rum” is a dark rum with 35% alcohol and coconut flavors.
A bottle can be purchased for around $80 (approximately €70). However, what many buyers are now upset about: The rum comes in boring glass bottles encased in plastic.
Buyers expected that everything, including the casing, would be glass so that they could have something cool to display on their shelves or give as a gift.
Fans feel betrayed: That for $80 only a generic glass bottle encased in plastic is delivered, most buyers did not expect. While there is no official description stating that the outer packaging is glass, the image appears to show that the rum comes in glass bottles, which buyers are commenting critically.
Furthermore, the bottles were delivered with some delay. Some buyers even want to return the rum because of this. User Jehanne writes on Twitter:
I bought the Nuka Rum bottle as a gift for my father’s birthday. Now that I’ve seen it, the bottles are made of cheap plastic and I would rather not give it to him. Not for this price. It’s his 50th birthday and he likes Fallout. Can I return it? I don’t want to look like a cheapskate.
Other fans note that the online creative marketplace Etsy offers handmade “Nuka Cola” bottles for a third of the price – made of glass. These have the same design and only a different print.
Why the uproar? The fact that the rum bottles are only made of plastic, even though fans expected something different, is causing great discontent. This is especially due to Bethesda previously making some missteps.
The Collector’s Edition of Fallout 76 was supposed to include a canvas bag. This was abruptly replaced with cheap nylon, which caused frustration among buyers.
It got worse when Bethesda offered compensation of $5 in the Atom Shop of Fallout, the in-game store of the game. Only after the uproar did Bethesda promise to finally provide buyers with the bags.
Recently, it also came to light that some players were banned and should take action by writing an essay. Bethesda has stated that these essays will no longer be necessary in the future, but this also caused raised eyebrows.
What do you think about the situation?
Despite the many missteps, our author Benedict finds Fallout 76 successful and enjoys the game:
The players of Elite Dangerous are planning a joint event, for which more than 4,600 pilots have already registered. It will be called “Distant Worlds 2” and will engage players for about 8 months.
What is the goal of Distant Worlds 2? The aim of the joint missions is to reach Beagle Point. This is one of the most distant star systems in the game.
In total, at least 65,279 light-years must be covered from the origin system SoI. This location was already the target of the first Distant Worlds mission in 2016. Back then, the system was still called Ceeckia ZQ-L c24-0 and was renamed Beagle Point because of this mission.
But reaching the star system is not the only goal of the joint event. Especially the fun and exploring the planets on the way to Beagle Point are in the foreground.
How much time will the journey take? The Distant World 2 event will start on January 13. Overall, the organizers plan for an event duration of 8 to 10 months.
Not all players will be able to play the event simultaneously. Therefore, waypoints have been agreed upon, where participants will meet again and again. According to the official FAQ, approximately 5,000 light-years are planned per week.
However, since there will also be other activities along the route, one should plan for quite some time. The organizers expect at least 3 to 4 hours of playtime per week if you want to actively participate in the event.
How can I participate in the event? On the official website for Distant World 2, you can register. There you will also find information about the waypoints and the Discord server, through which the event will be conducted.
Which platform you participate in the event is up to you. The community organizes itself together on PC, as well as on Xbox One and PS4.
To successfully participate in the event, you need a spaceship that can jump 33.4 light-years. Alternatively, 16.7 light-years and some injections and boosters will suffice. For more specific questions, you can contact the organizers directly via Discord.
This is how Distant World 2 will proceed
The event begins on January 13 at the main star in the Pallaeni system. From there, it heads towards the first waypoint. In total, 15 waypoints are planned until the destination is reached.
What can I expect on the journey? Four stages for the event are planned, which are tied to the waypoints. The current plan looks like this:
First section: We lay the foundation for scientific studies, explore mysteries from the past, and make groundbreaking new discoveries.
Waypoints 6-9: We build the Galactic Starport and uncover secrets at the heart of the galaxy.
Waypoints 10-12: We map the Aphelion.
The final waypoints: A journey across the Abyss… and beyond.
Many of the events were also made possible because a major update for the game was released in December a major update for the game. This improved mining and introduced squadrons for organizing larger groups.
What tasks are there during the journey? Each participant can take on a specific role during the event and thus advance the storyline. The following roles are available:
Explorer – This role is assumed automatically
Fuel Rat – Take care of the fuel supply for stranded participants
Miner – An active role for gathering resources
Fleet Mechanic – Bring spare parts and help other players
Tour Guide – Summarize the key points of the event
Astrophotographer – Collect images from the event
Media – Report outside the game about Distant Worlds 2 (e.g., in videos or streams)
Fighter Escort – Protect the participants of the event
In the online shooter Fortnite the event “14 Days of Fortnite” is still ongoing. Today is Day 12. You need to destroy snowflake decorations. A map shows all the locations of the snowflake decorations. We also take a look at the rewards and the shop of Fortnite today on 30.12. There we see a new skin.
This is what the event “14 Days of Fortnite” is about: In Fortnite’s Christmas event, you can complete a new challenge every day that immediately rewards you.
In addition, game modes are rotating, there is a different patch rhythm, and Christmas skins appear in the shop.
Destroy 12 snowflake decorations – here’s how: In Fortnite, snowflake decorations are now appearing at various locations. These are small white stars that hang from lamps or dangle in front of shop windows.
Your task is to play the Grinch and destroy these decorations. You can smash them with the pickaxe or simply shoot them with a weapon.
To reach some decorations, you may need to build a ramp.
Here you will find the snowflake decorations to destroy
This map shows the known locations of the snowflakes in Fortnite:
How to complete all 14 Days of Fortnite challenges
This is how you solve “14 Days of Fortnite” challenges from last week:
We have already explained the 11 previous challenges of “14 Days of Fortnite” over the last few days here at Mein MeinMMO. You can still complete all challenges in Fortnite. You hardly need to pay attention to the order, only the reward of challenge 3 is needed for that of day 4:
In addition to these special challenges, the weekly challenges of week 4, season 7 have also been active since Thursday. We will tell you how to complete them in our article.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new hero has been announced for the MOBA Heroes of the Storm (HotS). The new hero Imperius has long been a wish of the community, which is finally being fulfilled.
What happened? On December 28, announcements about the new hero Imperius were made on the official Heroes of the Storm channels on Twitter and Facebook.
The Archangel of Valor has long been anticipated by the community and will soon be coming to the servers.
When can I play Imperius? According to the announcement, Imperius will be playable on the Heroes of the Storm PTR on January 2, 2019. Heroes typically spend about a week on the PTR before they are implemented.
We estimate that Imperius will be live around January 8.
Imperius: Archangel, new hero and fan favorite
Who is Imperius? Imperius is the Archangel of Valor from the Diablo universe. He is a member of the “Angiris Council of High Heaven,” along with
Auriel
Tyrael
Malthael
Itherael
Aside from Itherael and two former members, all Archangels are already represented in Heroes of the Storm. Imperius played the role of leader and frequently took command.
Imperius is known as a determined commander, who knows no compromise and often leans towards violence. His abilities from Diablo include excellent melee combat, teleportation, and telekinesis.
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What role will Imperius have? Discussions quickly arose about the role of the new hero. The personality and known abilities from the Diablo series lead to the conclusion that Imperius will be a melee hero.
A post appeared on reddit where players could vote on their guess. A developer from Heroes of the Storm said in this thread: “I vote for Bruiser.” This makes it very likely that Imperius will be a Bruiser, meaning an Offtank.
What abilities Imperius will have is still unknown. From his abilities in the Diablo universe, a similar kit can be derived as that of Tyrael.
What makes Imperius so special? Imperius is one of the heroes who has been awaited by the “Heroes of the Storm” community for a long time. For about two years, there have been discussions about the angel, as seen in this thread in the official forum from January 2017.
Others see a glimmer of hope in Imperius. The fact that a fan wish is being fulfilled after such a long time brings hope. According to an insider, at least the game development at Blizzard is not being cut.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the end of the year, Steam presents the most successful games on its platform. In 2018, many multiplayer titles played a significant role. Games like Monster Hunter World, Warframe, and PUBG are among the top online games. Amazingly, Realm Royale also makes it to the top category.
At the end of the year, Steam sorts its games into various categories. The most played games and those that generated the highest revenue are presented in rankings.
Many MMOs and MMORPGs were also among the most successful games on Steam in 2018. We give you a small selection.
Monster Hunter World
These Games Were Popular in 2018
The most played games on Steam were classified by peak simultaneous players. This counts the highest point within a year.
The games that had more than 100,000 players at the same time included:
What stands out? Especially classic games like GTA V, CS:GO, DOtA 2, Path of Exile, PUBG, or Warframe remain among the most successful games. But also new releases that came out in 2018, like Realm Royale, Monster Hunter World, or Scum, have risen to become successful games.
Especially games like Atlas or Counter Strike, which faced massive criticism in 2018, are among the most successful games. Despite all the criticism, these games are successful.
Which games sold amazingly well? Steam also leads the bestseller list for 2018. These are the games with the highest gross revenue in 2018. A total of 12 games made it into the “Platinum” category. Most of them are multiplayer titles that we also cover on MeinMMO.
Far Cry 5
PUBG
Monster Hunter World
The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO)
DOTA 2
Rainbow Six Siege
Rocket League
Grand Theft Auto V
Warframe.
Far Cry 5
What do these rankings tell us? This isn’t about evaluating quality, but rather shows how successful the games are on Steam at their peak. If a game is played a lot, it can’t be bad, at least in theory.
You can find the complete list of the most successful games on the Steam website.
The Steam Winter Sale 2018 runs until January 3rd. We have presented the best offers to you:
The probably best mobile player in the world in Fortnite shows his skills in a video. However, Ninja doubted the authenticity of the video. The proof video of the mobile player is so insane that it almost seems like a superhuman spectacle.
The clip caused a stir: A video from AdamxLegend circulated on Twitter (via Twitter). The video showed how he won 36 points in the Pop-Up Cup, an in-game tournament by Epic.
The clip lasts 1:55 minutes. In it, the player goes all out, edits, shoots, and builds like crazy and grabs the epic win at the end.
We show you a longer version of the video here:
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There are gamepads that people can plug into their mobile devices to play Fortnite, Ninja said. As long as he doesn’t see someone playing mobile without a gamepad, he doesn’t believe any mobile player’s achievements.
Ninja himself plays on PC.
The possibly best mobile player in the world in Fortnite
This is how the player proves his authenticity: AdamxLegend then uploaded a video showing him playing Fortnite on mobile while a camera films his hand movements.
In the video, he actually doesn’t use a gamepad, but also not an iPhone. He is using an iPad.
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In the video, he completes an obstacle course of the pro player Mongraal. In the course, players have to prove their Fortnite skills in building and editing at high speed.
The dexterity and control shown in the video are insane. What the player can do with 10 fingers is impressive.
This is how Ninja reacts: Ninja now seems convinced of the mobile player’s skills as well. He says on Twitter: “Guys, relax, I only expressed vague doubts. I didn’t know this was a well-known mobile player.”
AdamxLegend also doesn’t take Ninja’s doubts badly. He writes in the video that Ninja is a cool guy and the doubts are completely understandable. The video serves to show everyone that he is using neither a controller nor mouse and keyboard.
This is how players react: On reddit, the video is being commented on. Here, Reddit users are extremely impressed by the dexterity of the mobile player:
One says the video is even more impressive when you can see the fingers at the same time
Another asks: “Oh my God, what have mobile players turned into?”
A third hopes that his own girlfriend will never see what he can do with his fingers.
We asked you what you think are the best multiplayer releases of 2018. Here you will find the results of the voting. These are the best new online games and MMOs of 2018, according to our readers.
In 2018, there were several new multiplayer games that hit the market. Some of them were great, while others could have used a bit more development time. Here are the rankings of the MeinMMO users among the multiplayer releases of 2018.
[…] MHW was something completely new for me and there are hardly any games that were worth every single cent to me and were so much fun.
Despite the current content drought, it’s not over yet with MHW. Capcom plans to release the first expansion for the game in Fall 2019, which will bring a new snowy area.
2nd Place: Behind MHW, with 13%, is Red Dead Online. The single-player test of the long-awaited game from Rockstar was an absolute hit for many players in 2018 and was positively rated by MeinMMO readers. Players were especially impressed by the attention to detail and the lively world of RDR2.
3rd Place: With 9% of the votes, Battlefield V secured third place in the voting. Before the release, the new title from DICE was rather quiet. Yet despite the generally positive feedback from players, the shooter suffered from disappointing sales numbers.
Nevertheless, more MeinMMO users were convinced of it than of CoD: Black Ops 4, which had already received a lot of praise and hype before its release due to the blackout mode.
Conan Exiles beats Fallout 76, CoD: Black Ops behind Battlefield V
Surprises in the voting: Despite the great anticipation for the popular battle royale mode “Blackout” from CoD: Black Ops 4, the game did not make it into your top 3, finishing 2% behind Battlefield V.
In the survival games category, the underdog “Conan Exiles” achieved a victory over the AAA title Fallout 76 and was only slightly behind CoD: Black Ops 4. FO76 has faced a lot of criticism since its release, landing only in 7th place among MeinMMO readers, even behind Bless Online.
Since early 2018, the maps for scanning Pokémon in Pokémon GO have been discontinued. But will the maps return?
They were popular, but also controversial: maps for scanning Pokémon. At the beginning of 2018, the last pages that offered this service went down. Many players were disappointed about this.
We are investigating the question of whether the maps will come back and why they were banned in the first place.
Maps in Pokémon GO – A curse and a blessing at the same time
What are maps? Several websites offered Pokémon GO players a specific service: For a fee, players could unlock a map for their city or region.
The map then displayed Pokémon, and players could see where the Pokémon were located in their city. Rare Pokémon like Snorlax or Dragonite could be easily found this way. IVs were also partially scanned.
Not only Pokémon were displayed. Gyms and raids were also scanned. This made it easier for players to coordinate for raids since they could see the raids without being on site.
How did the maps work? The providers purchased bots from other large providers. These bots operated in a desired area and showed all the Pokémon they encountered. Therefore, the maps operated through several thousand accounts that circulated in an area.
Why did Niantic take action? The maps have been a thorn in Niantic’s side since day one:
Anyone who can find rare Pokémon so quickly and easily is cheating. Snorlax and Co. were supposed to be rare and not caught easily from a car.
Additionally, the map providers charged for their service. According to Niantic, no third-party should profit from Pokémon GO. For a similar reason, Niantic also banned the best player in the world for a month.
Niantic also confirmed that the thousands of bots driving the maps severely impacted the Pokémon GO servers. Since the bots were banned, the servers have been running more smoothly.
This is how Niantic proceeded: Niantic primarily targeted the providers of the bots rather than the maps themselves. A large provider named Bossland was one of Niantic’s targets.
Niantic improved their software to detect such bots. Many bots that were used could be directly recognized and banned.
Will the maps return?
At the beginning of the year, the last maps were shut down. Since then, no provider has managed to establish and operationalize a map. Is there a chance that the maps will come back?
How likely is it: Maps, as they were functioning before, will likely not return. Since bots are quickly detected and providers like Bossland have to deal with significant lawsuits, the future of maps looks rather bleak.
How it might work: The providers of maps and bots are still working to find solutions. They are attempting to program bots that are not easily detectable. However, Niantic continues to take action. There is hope for map lovers, as many providers are trying to find a solution.
Are there alternatives? There are no real alternatives to maps. The Nest Atlas from TheSilphRoad can help you find Pokémon nests. Such sites are becoming more numerous. They rely on the help of the player community, who can register the nests themselves.
Nest Atlas from TheSilphRoad
How did the shutdown of the maps affect things? After the maps were shut down, there was a loud outcry. Many players especially enjoyed playing with the maps. A large portion of these players has remained loyal to the game, even without a map.
Niantic is trying hard to keep these players engaged. Various events are meant to provide trainers with variety in catching Pokémon. They should see that it is also possible without maps.
The maps have now been off for almost a year, and yet thousands of fans remain loyal to the game. Many players enjoyed the game with maps, and this continues even without that service. It will be exciting to see if a map can make it back to the market.
Have you battled the new raid boss yet? It’s so easy that many players can defeat it alone:
How much do you really know about Patch 8.1 of World of Warcraft? With our quiz, you can find out.
Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance has been live for a few weeks and is being played a lot by the players. This is the perfect time to conduct a small knowledge check on World of Warcraft and see how well our community is informed about the current MMORPG.
We have created a small quiz of 10 questions that mainly deals with Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance. The questions start off easy but become more difficult towards the end and require more expertise.
If you are a regular reader of our site, you probably won’t have much trouble answering the questions – most points have been mentioned several times in various news articles over the past few weeks or months.
But now, have fun with the quiz and show us how much knowledge you have accumulated about the latest update of World of Warcraft!
Note: If you cannot see the quiz, it might be because of an ad blocker. It would be nice if you could deactivate this on our site, as this is the only way we can keep the site running in the future.
How many of the questions did you answer correctly? Did you always know the right answer? Did you find the questions too easy? Or was the riddle too tricky? Which question made you think longer? Let us know in the comments!
Did you like the quiz? Then you might also want to check out our other WoW quizzes from the past:
Since the launch of Destiny 2, the Eververse has lost more and more significance. Nowadays, the in-game shop has reached a point where it is basically no longer needed, says our author Sven. But what will happen to Tess’s store?
What was the problem with the Eververse? The Eververse caused quite a stir in the early days of Destiny 2. Numerous items like Sparrows or Ghosts, which could be found in Destiny 1’s regular loot pool, were initially only available through the Eververse.
While players could also obtain Eververse Engrams through gameplay back then, it took an extremely long time and the rewards were heavily based on luck. Often, players felt almost forced to spend real money.
Later it came out that there was an EXP problem in Destiny: players received less EXP than shown. As a result, cosmetic items were rarely available. Bungie themselves later said that this process made them appear as “greedy fools”.
Additionally, the selection in the in-game shop was almost larger than the loot pool of the “Curse of Osiris” DLC.
How the Eververse has changed since the launch: Due to loud and ongoing protests from the players, Bungie pulled the emergency brake and redesigned the unpopular cash shop in early 2018. Since then, the Eververse has been continuously weakened and has lost significance. Here are the main changes:
Items such as Ghosts or Sparrows have been integrated as rewards for specific activities and are no longer only available through the Eververse.
The Prisma Matrix was introduced. This system allows players to specifically hunt for certain items from a limited weekly pool.
Players can now earn 9 or more Eververse Engrams (3 per character) weekly with relatively little effort through special character boosts – purely through gameplay. From this, players receive almost all items from the regular Eververse selection.
Some of the most valuable items, such as ornaments, no longer drop as duplicates.
For special events like Dawning, the Crimson Days, or the Solstice of Heroes, there is a knockout system. You will not receive duplicates of event items from the event loot pool until you have received everything at least once.
The Eververse now even offers its own bounties, rewarding players with Glimmer for relatively simple tasks that can be easily completed on the side. This is a currency that can be used to buy most items directly.
Only a very few selected items can only be purchased with real money.
With the introduction of collections, players can easily dismantle numerous Eververse items without losing them completely. This gave many players a nice stock of Glimmer, which they can then spend on new items in the Eververse. It has become easier overall to obtain Glimmer.
Therefore, the Eververse has become unnecessary: All these changes have ultimately led to the fact that the Eververse is no longer a real cash shop and does not make sense in its current form.
Tess Everis’s store has, in my opinion, become completely irrelevant from an economic standpoint, as you basically no longer have to spend any money there. Most content can now be easily obtained or purchased with Glimmer.
There are only very few items that actually need to be purchased with real money. And even those do not differ qualitatively much from the other content and provide hardly any incentives for a real-money purchase. So you have a store that still offers microtransactions, but which hardly anyone needs anymore.
What will happen to the Eververse? In its current state, Bungie should either completely abandon the cash shop model and integrate all Eververse items into the game or make them available only through engrams and Glimmer, or fill the shop with new ideas.
If Destiny 2 distanced itself from the microtransactions, which currently hardly play a role, it would be a clear signal toward the community and would also create a round player experience where all the loot can actually be obtained in the game. This would be a significant step for Destiny 2.
However, it is unlikely that this will happen. Without additional digital revenue, it seems that Destiny 2 does not function well enough – at least from the publisher’s perspective. So the Eververse will likely not remain as it is for much longer.
Destiny 2 apparently falls short of expectations in terms of numbers. The publisher Activision stated this during an earnings call and announced in the same breath that they will supply Destiny 2 with new content more quickly and introduce new forms of monetization. Whether the new Annual Pass model will be enough is, in my opinion, to be doubted.
I personally firmly believe that Destiny 2, in light of this statement, will increasingly rely on the Eververse in the future – whether in the context of a possible free-to-play model with a focus on the in-game store featuring completely new features that will be exclusively and only available for real money through the Eververse. However, these would have to be content for which players would be willing to spend real money.
It is conceivable that the Eververse, in addition to the Annual Pass model, offers cosmetic features such as housing within the spaceships or extensive cosmetic adjustments of the character – in the form of additional and subsequent options in the character editor.
Many fans have already wished for this in Destiny 1.
Housing would be something I would be willing to spend a few euros on. The new feature Temporal Wave is also in the same vein. I would willingly spend money on a direct purchase for a cool emote.
It will definitely be exciting to see what Destiny 2 does with the Eververse. Because as nice as it would be – apparently it doesn’t seem possible without a cash shop.
But it won’t be easy for Bungie and Activision. The Eververse itself has currently reached a point where it is redundant as an in-game store, but is still accepted and seen as fair by many players.
A renewed focus on the cash shop could backfire. However, I believe it is unlikely that the in-game shop will remain in its current state for much longer.
Are you looking for a series to watch over Christmas and the holidays? Our Leya has compiled a list of 8 Netflix series from 2018 that she binge-watched over individual weekends.
Actually, we at MeinMMO are a gaming site and don’t report on series. However, a few new releases on Netflix in 2018 captivated me deeply, and I absolutely want to tell you about them.
These series triggered my binge-watch syndrome, which is notoriously hard to stop. Almost like an MMO grind!
What series are these? The series I warmly recommend to you all share something in common: They are melancholic, dark, and dreamlike – just like winter itself. Therefore, they are perfect for watching while cozy on the couch during the holidays.
Altered Carbon – The Immortality Program
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What’s it about? In 2384, humans have the ability to store their consciousness and memories in a “cortical stack.” These stacks can be implanted into the body of another human, making people immortal.
However, in this dystopia, it’s a matter of money which body one inhabits. The especially beautiful and healthy bodies are reserved for the powerful, while a poor little girl can end up in the body of a sick old woman.
The special thing: Altered Carbon is the most expensive series that Netflix has ever produced. It is estimated to have consumed a budget of 7 million dollars per episode. You can definitely see that in the high-quality production. For comparison: An episode of Game of Thrones cost about 5 million dollars in the first season.
Altered Carbon is also based on the cult novels of the same name by Richard Morgan.
Content-wise, Altered Carbon deals with the problems of a two-class society and human mortality. It is precisely these complex and deeply philosophical conflicts that form the actual plot of the series.
Dealing with one’s past in another body and life. The question of eternal life and the resulting eternal boredom. The value of a life in a society determined by material possessions. These themes are presented in Altered Carbon in an intriguing way and stimulate reflection.
What’s it about? The cynical ex-cop Nick Saxman is now living as a hitman. Now he has to search for a little girl who has been kidnapped by a derelict Santa Claus.
By his side, Nick has a new partner: a flying, adorable, blue unicorn named Happy – the girl’s imaginary friend.
The special thing: Happy! is an extremely brutal and absurd Christmas story wrapped in a noir crime thriller. The creators of Happy! are also the minds behind the comic adaptation of Crank. They have transported the same dark humor and brutality to Happy! as well.
The depiction of violence in Happy! has a sort of artistic flair, as Nick Saxman dreams of blowing his brains out with two guns, with bright red blood spraying meters high against the ceiling and walls, the camera frantically spinning around him and a cheerful Christmas song playing in the background.
In Happy!, it also deals with the depiction of a completely broken mind, which is graphically highlighted repeatedly. At the same time, Happy! also offers an absolutely thrilling crime story, where each individual puzzle piece keeps you on the edge of your seat regarding the solution to the case.
For fans of: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Sin City, Crank
What’s it about? Princess Bean loves to hang out in the pub, is constantly drunk, and often gets into fights. Simply marrying a rich prince and fulfilling her obligations as the princess of Dreamland is out of the question for the teenager.
The special thing: The animated series Disenchantment comes from Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama. The typical humor found here is also present in Disenchantment: dark, socially critical and flat out. The series is set in a medieval setting, which is why this era is often mocked in Disenchantment.
Since Disenchantment was not produced for American television but for Netflix, sex and violence are depicted more directly than in Groening’s other creations. Netflix has so much confidence in the series that planning for at least three more seasons has already taken place.
Disenchantment loves to refer to other medieval series like Game of Thrones and parody them. However, the series is not a mere sequence of slapstick comedy. The episodes follow a coherent story that allows the characters to develop.
For fans of: Futurama, Game of Thrones, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
What’s it about? Sabrina Spellman is a half-witch torn between the worlds of mortals and magical witches. On her 16th birthday, Sabrina must finally choose one of the two sides.
Will she write her name in the Book of the Devil and fully surrender her soul to the world of witches? Or will she follow the path of mortals and therefore deny herself the full potential of her witch powers?
The special thing: Many assume that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is an adaptation of the 90s sitcom “Sabrina – Totally Bewitched!” However, this is not true. The fantasy-mystery-horror series is based on the comic book series of the same name by Archie Horror. This creepy and adult tone of the comics is transported into the series.
The storyline is sometimes predictable and yes, at times somewhat cheesy. Even though Sabrina is a half-witch, she struggles with the normal problems of a teenager: finding herself, first love, and the issues of school and friends. The same high school vibe that Harry Potter has can also be found in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is that one series that you don’t quickly admit to having binge-watched over a weekend, now discussing who should have a romance with whom. However, the mystical atmosphere and the uncertain motivations of the characters provide enough exciting material to keep you engaged.
For fans of: Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Horror Story
What’s it about? Hilda is a small blue-haired girl who lives in the wilderness with her mother. Here, various mythical beings reside, like bureaucratic elves, lonely giants, or the sarcastic wooden man. However, Hilda must unexpectedly move to the city of Trollberg and leave her beloved and lonely wilderness behind. New challenges await the adventurous girl, which are even more mystical than she could ever have dreamed.
The special thing: The universe of Hilda leans on an old Scandinavia and its myths but follows its own logic. Hilda must overcome her prejudices against the city of Trollberg, while its inhabitants often harbor distrust towards the mythical beings. They help each other develop tolerance and mutual understanding for what is different.
These messages step into the background and are organically woven into Hilda’s adventures. There is never the impression of a raised moral finger. That’s what makes Hilda unbelievably heartwarming in a charming way, similar to what you might expect from a Studio Ghibli film. The unusual pastel colors are also impressive, underscoring the dreamlike quality of the series.
For fans of: My Neighbor Totoro, Bridge to Terabithia, Welcome to Gravity Falls
What’s it about? David Budd is a police officer and war veteran who served in Afghanistan. After David prevents a terrorist suicide bombing on a London train, he is assigned as a personal bodyguard to Home Secretary Julia Montague.
However, David despises the political stance of the Home Secretary and constantly stands on the brink of betrayal against Julia.
The special thing: Bodyguard premiered on BBC One and achieved extremely high viewership ratings. The series finale was watched by more than 10 million viewers, while peak numbers reached up to 17 million viewers. According to Netflix, Bodyguard is one of the top binge-watch series worldwide.
It’s no wonder, as Bodyguard is a gripping thriller with strong characters. The tension here is psychological in nature. Bodyguard is told in a calm manner and features little ostentatious action.
Especially the constant power shifts between the two protagonists create suspense. It is never clear how they truly feel about each other deep down. Their relationship has a significant influence on the political events of the series, lending exciting depth to the drama.
What’s it about? Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim both see themselves as broken people. The two strangers share a commonality: inner pain. Therefore, Annie and Owen participate in a radical pharmaceutical treatment that supposedly repairs the human psyche.
The special thing: Maniac is a strange journey into the psyche of the two protagonists, portrayed through a fictional reality. The series comes from Cary Joji Fukunaga, who was also involved in the production of True Detective.
Notably, the miniseries has no agenda. It is not about politics, not about society, not about moral value communication. The central focus is simply the complexity of humans and their emotions.
Length: 10 episodes, each about 40 minutes, a second season is not officially confirmed. However, the series is self-contained.
The Haunting of Hill House
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UyBi5wW2wc
What’s it about? Hugh and Olivia Crane move into Hill House in the summer of 1992, along with their three children. Unexpectedly, the family has to stay at Hill House longer than they originally planned. However, the villa seems cursed, as each individual suddenly has paranormal experiences and visions.
Due to a tragic and unexpected death in the family, the rest flee from Hill House. Years later, the surviving members of the family return to confront the house and the experiences they had there.
The special thing: The Haunting of Hill House is a reinterpretation of the novella of the same name from 1959 by Shirley Jackson. The series does not reinvent horror but plays with typical human fears. Sudden coldness, ghosts, creatures, an old house, mysterious deaths.
However, the horror is intelligently crafted and can resonate even with viewers who usually have little interest in horror. Here, the focus is on what the paranormal triggered within the family, and how the individual characters handle their own psyche after dark experiences.
The Haunting of Hill House also features a special Easter egg that has delighted the internet. In many scenes, ghosts hide in the background, and viewers search for them and post about them in fan forums.
For fans of: Black Mirror, The Shining, The Conjuring
Length: 10 episodes, each about 40 minutes. A second season has not been officially confirmed but is conceivable.
You watch series best with good friends!
Have you found what you were looking for? Then grab something to snack on, something to drink, go to the bathroom one more time, and make yourself comfortable. These series have at least made me realize that I didn’t move my butt off the couch anytime soon. A good preparation is everything!
If you have any recommendations for a binge-watch series, please write them to us in the comments.
The interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has multiple different endings. But a flowchart on Reddit now shows what decisions need to be made to reach certain paths.
I missed it: What is Black Mirror Bandersnatch? It’s an interactive film where you actively shape the storyline using your remote control. You decide in a binary choice how the protagonist should behave in the next scene. Are there Frosties or Sugar Puffs for breakfast? It’s up to you to control him.
This is a spin-off of the well-known Netflix series “Black Mirror” and conceptually reminds one of Detroit: Become Human. A game that plays like a film and has multiple endings. It’s best to read the following article:
Continuing: Shortly after the latest Netflix film of the cult series Black Mirror was released, the community on Reddit started breaking down the endings of Bandersnatch.
To be honest, the features to quickly and easily try different decisions later on are still quite rudimentary. Therefore, here is a small help. But be careful: From here on, there are spoilers.
How many endings does Bandersnatch have? According to Netflix, there are 5. But it depends on how one defines an ending.
The post on Reddit currently mentions 11 completed endings, revealing what happens to the computer game “Bandersnatch” and the protagonist Stefan. And beyond the 11 endings, there are 4 more where you are forced to repeat the scene. What does Netflix probably mean by the 5 endings? In any case, these can be listed:
Stefan accepts the commercial offer from the gaming giant – Bandersnatch receives a 2.5/5
Stefan dies and the game is either not released or receives no rating
Stefan neither ends up in prison nor does he die – Bandersnatch gets a 0/5
Stefan ends up in prison – Bandersnatch is not released or receives a rating of 2.5 to 5
Stefan ends up in a psychiatric ward with the therapist after a wild action scene. The audience is conveyed that it’s all just a film and the actor was too much in character.
A flowchart on Reddit shows the possible paths
The first ending occurs very early and shows what the viewer is getting into with this Netflix experiment: After the first important scene, where a decision leads to real consequences, an ending occurs within minutes and the supposed game hit becomes a flop.
It’s about the scene where you decide whether Stefan should work alone or commercially driven on the title. Oh damn, I wanted the quick money. But hey, Netflix says there’s no “right” or “wrong.”
The dystopian series Black Mirror has released a new film called “Bandersnatch.” The interactive film allows viewers to decide how the story unfolds. Our Leya has completed the film and believes that all gamers should check out Bandersnatch.
What is Black Mirror? The British science fiction series plays with our fears and holds up a dark mirror to our faces. Each episode is a standalone short film that confronts us with the effects of technology and media on us as a society. Black Mirror is available on Netflix.
What makes Bandersnatch different: The Christmas special “Bandersnatch,” which is detached from the usual seasons, is something truly special. The interactive film features various scenarios and endings, through which I guide the protagonist like a puppet.
At the bottom of the screen, two options appear at certain points in the film, from which I choose and determine the fate of the protagonist.
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Bandersnatch is a film that I play through like a game
During the film, it is not difficult to figure out what the main plot point is leading towards. But that’s not a bad thing. What is much more impressive is the “how” in Bandersnatch. How I experience this film cannot be compared to any other film. I am actively involved.
An emotional experience: In my decisions, I always torment the protagonist through the worst possible options. Every time I feel bad for making life so difficult for him. But I just want to know what the torment does to him and the story. It fits with Black Mirror.
These emotions could previously only be triggered in me by games. In games, I often question my actions and feel much more personally impacted. Because I control the characters. That is one reason why I love playing so much.
Common issues: If you have ever played a game by Telltale (The Walking Dead) or Quantic Dream (Detroit Become Human), you will feel right at home with the “gameplay” of Bandersnatch. These games are structured like interactive films in which you also make decisions for the characters. However, there are “quick-time events” here where you have to press buttons quickly in action-packed scenes. That is absent in Bandersnatch.
These games give me the illusion that I completely determine the course of the story. In reality, it leads to a global ending that can vary slightly in different scenarios. This very illusion is also what Bandersnatch gives me. There are some paths that are simply predetermined, which I cannot change.
Bandersnatch as an experiment: The direction taken by the short film is incredibly exciting to me. I love this interactive film experience where I can empathize so strongly and leave a piece of myself in the film.
The concept of an interactive film is certainly still developable, but Bandersnatch is already quite groundbreaking as an experiment.
I recommend every gamer to check out Bandersnatch. Or play through it, depending on how you want to view it. It’s simply the kind of entertainment that appeals to us as gamers.
If you would rather passively watch a good series, we have a few tips from 2018:
