While Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 generally performs well with the press, it receives harsh criticism from some user reviews on Metacritic. Where do the negative ratings come from?
Today, October 12, is the official release of Black Ops 4, and the first ratings from the press look good. On Metacritic, the latest Call of Duty installment scores 87.
In contrast, user reviews show about a third of the ratings are negative. Where does this come from if Black Ops 4 is doing so well with the press? The main reason for players’ frustration is likely the (non-existent) story mode.
Why is there no singleplayer campaign, according to developer Treyarch? The singleplayer campaign was never intended for Black Ops 4. From the very beginning, the focus was on multiplayer, incorporating story elements and improving social aspects.
No campaign, but Battle Royale – not everyone agrees with this
This is why many user reviews are negative: According to the reviews on Metacritic, some fans are still dissatisfied with the absence of a story campaign in Black Ops 4. There are numerous negative ratings, mainly concerning the missing campaign.
Many suspect that a campaign was cut in favor of the battle royale mode.
At the time (afternoon on October 12, 2018) this article was written, negative reviews have increased from 35 (out of 105) to 70 (out of 130). The overall rating from users stands at 5.7.
That they are getting a battle royale mode is for many only a small consolation. Not everyone is a fan of battle royale and would hardly willingly give up a story for it. They want Activision and Treyarch to feel this through negative ratings.
But there are story missions, right? Even the missions for individual specialists are not enough for many as a replacement. These are cooperative missions that can be played solo as well. It is criticized that they are nothing more than small tutorials that one hardly wants to play more than once.
What else is being criticized? Some players believe that Black Ops 4 should not be a full-price title since this is no longer justified without a campaign.
Others find: Story was never the most important in CoD
On reddit, the topic is viewed not as negatively; many are much more relaxed about the missing story.
This is what fans respond to the criticism:
Singleplayer has never been the most important in Call of Duty
The stories were usually mediocre to bad
Campaigns were usually very short…
and offered little replay value
Besides, with annual CoD installments, one can forgo the story for a year
Therefore, many can overlook the fact that the campaign is sacrificed for more multiplayer content.
That Black Ops 4 is still a full-price title does not bother most, as there are enough content with Blackout and the zombie mode in addition to the regular multiplayer. Furthermore, Treyarch plans to deliver content for years.
On Thursday evening, invitations for EX-Raids in Pokémon GO were sent out again. The day before, there were some issues.
When do the EX-Raids take place? The wave of new EX-Raid passes is scheduled for October 15 and 16. Trainers will again have the opportunity to challenge Deoxys.
Friends can invite you: Many players were also invited to the EX-Raid by hyper friends. They sometimes have the opportunity to challenge two Deoxys in one day, as they have received a pass themselves and were additionally invited by friends.
What is the problem? Niantic already made a first attempt on Wednesday evening and distributed passes. However, these reached only a few players. Most players were quite surprised when they did not receive an invitation, even though they had qualified for the EX-Raid in advance.
Hardly any player was invited: In many communities, players complained that only one player in their group received an invitation. In other EX-Raids, only two to three players were invited.
Mockery from the players: On Reddit, users mocked the initial raid cancellations from the day before the invitations. The user “chefjonnie” writes “Cancelled EX-Raid for a wave that never happened”. He also posts a picture of a notice regarding a canceled EX-Raid.
The user “dawgystyle” responded and addressed the raid passes that one receives as compensation: “I would prefer two Mewtwo over one Deoxys.”
More errors from Niantic: It is not the first time that Niantic has trouble implementing new features in the game. Already with the EX-Raid pass distributions for Mewtwo, there were initial difficulties and dissatisfaction within the community.
Today Xur arrives in Destiny 2.Where is the Agent of the Nine and what Exotics does he have in store? Here are the location and inventory on October 12, 2018.
This week has seen quite a few developments around Destiny 2:
Xur brings Exotics again today. Let’s welcome the Agent of the Nine together.
All information about Xur in Destiny 2 on October 12 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Since the launch of the Forsaken expansion, Xur has only brought old Exotics so far. But some of them already had quite appealing perks. What about today? What does he have with him?
When does Xur arrive today? – The times
The Xur-time: Xur has appeared every Friday for four years. So also in Destiny 2 Forsaken. From 7:00 PM on Fridays, the noodle face is there.
When does Xur disappear? The Agent of the Nine packs up on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 PM and disappears until the next Friday.
Where is Xur? You can find him today at this location
Xur’s location: This time Xur sets up his stand on Titan in the area “The Rig”.
Fortnite: Battle Royale has brought back one of the most hated challenges in week 3. You need to eliminate an opponent with a trap again. This is tricky and annoying, but it can be done easily with this trick.
What is the deal with the trap challenge? Few tasks – perhaps aside from time trials – are hated by players in Fortnite more than the cursed trap challenge. For this, you need to get kills with traps. In week 3 of season 6, this task raises its ugly head again.
What’s so bad about the task? First of all, you need to find a damage trap and place it in a location where opponents are. And the opponents also need to walk into the traps, which are actually quite visible.
Nevertheless, there are a few methods that work reasonably reliably.
How to optimal place traps:
The offensive variant: Professionals use traps offensively as a weapon. They build a thick fortress and when an opponent breaks in, they simply place traps on the walls, floors, and ceilings. The opponent often doesn’t see it coming and meets a miserable end in the traps.
The defensive variant: Sneaky individuals hide traps under the ceiling of rooms that cannot be seen from the door. They often place a bait, such as a purple or legendary weapon, and then close the door again. Some players who open the door later will greedily approach the item and then be killed by the trap shortly thereafter.
Both methods require a certain skill level. But it can also be easier. Much easier!
The easiest method to solve the trap task
If you don’t feel like placing traps or actively using the constructions, you can get the kill with minimal effort.
Guaranteed trap kill: Start a 50vs50 game and get a trap. Then head into the battle and take down an opponent.
When the opponent is helplessly crawling on the ground, build walls around them and place the trap on top. Shortly thereafter, the trap should tear apart the unfortunate player, and you will easily have the kill.
That’s why 50vs50 is best suited: Of course, this trick also works in other team modes, like 4-man squad or duos. But in the 50vs50 mode, defeated opponents do not disappear when your last teammate goes down. Therefore, this mode is overall the best option. And you will find more loot there too.
We show you the best weapons from the Blackout mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and explain when they are particularly worthwhile.
As soon as you dive into the Battle Royale mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the large number of different weapons can overwhelm some players. The numerous firearms are found randomly. It is not always clear which weapons are truly useful and which ones should be kept throughout a match.
Which weapon is the right one? There are tons of weapons in Blackout mode, and each of them can and should be useful in certain situations. The developers have emphasized this often.
At the start of a round, every weapon found is better than nothing. However, as the match progresses, you will come across many more examples, and it is important to weigh whether you should keep your current weapon or look for something better. You can’t go wrong with the following weapons.
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The best weapons for the Blackout mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
One thing to note: This list does not include pistols. Pistols are only useful in the first moments of a match and should be quickly exchanged for better weapons. Because against armored enemies, they are virtually useless, and you will generally be at a disadvantage against any other type of weapon.
GKS (Submachine Gun)
What makes the GKS special? The GKS has a moderate rate of fire, remains relatively stable, and is easy to control, especially for beginners. However, this submachine gun is only really effective at close range. With increasing distance, the weapon quickly loses its effectiveness.
When should you use the GKS? The GKS is particularly worthwhile from the start until about the middle of the match. Especially when you are initially navigating through numerous buildings in search of better equipment, the GKS is a solid choice.
However, as the game progresses, you should look for a replacement. As soon as you find an assault rifle, swap out the SMG. Because as more and more players wear Level 2 or Level 3 body armor, the effectiveness of SMGs is generally significantly reduced.
Until then, the GKS is a consistently solid secondary weapon and pairs well with a mid-range assault or sniper rifle.
Here are more SMG alternatives: Other decent SMGs are the Spitfire and the MX-9. If you don’t have a GKS on hand and come across one of these two weapons, you can easily use them until you find a better alternative.
SG-12 (Shotgun)
What makes the SG-12 special? All shotguns in Blackout are strong, but they have a significant drawback – low penetration and range. You must get really close to the enemy and aim to unleash the full power of the weapon. Since the SG-12 fires automatically, it is the better choice among the two shotguns.
When should you use the SG-12? At the beginning of a match and especially in tight spaces like houses or the yacht from Hijacked, the SG-12 is very powerful and a good alternative. At the start, many encounters occur in close quarters, as players increasingly search houses and other buildings for loot.
Once you have the opportunity, you should swap out the SG-12 as the match progresses, or keep it as a secondary weapon if you prefer to barricade yourself in buildings. However, you are better off with an assault rifle as your primary weapon.
KN-57 (Assault Rifle)
What makes the KN-57 special? The KN-57 is essentially a fictional variant of the AK-47. Due to its caliber, it is strong against body armor, has manageable and predictable recoil, and generally high damage. It is easy for beginners to handle but also a reliable alternative for veterans.
When should you use the KN-57? Especially at distances up to 100m, the KN performs well. With a stock, a grip, and a sight with low magnification (2x), the KN is also a reliable weapon at the end of each round.
Further alternatives: Another good assault rifle is the Maddoxx RFB. This weapon is also precise, hits hard, and can also be well controlled. However, these advantages diminish quickly with increasing range.
One of the best weapons if you find it – The Auger DMR Tactical Rifle
Perfect when you don’t have a sniper rifle: The Auger DMR is a semi-automatic tactical rifle with the range of a sniper rifle. It is very strong, precise, and pairs perfectly with a sniper scope. You can fight at long distances with it, but with a bit of practice and finesse, you can also easily take out enemies in close range.
Very good, but rare: In short: The DMR is basically one of the best, if not the best weapon in the game. Its only major drawback – it is very rare.
Titan – The best (and only) light machine gun (LMG)
The only LMG in Blackout: The Titan is currently the only LMG in Blackout, unless you count the special weapon. This weapon makes you slower and takes forever to reload. But it has a large magazine, and you can shoot quite accurately with it when using the sight. Crouch or lie down – then you will noticeably reduce the recoil of the Titan.
Perfect for suppression – but not a primary weapon: The Titan is well suited for mid-range combat and as a suppression weapon. In an emergency, you also don’t have to worry about precision. You can shoot continuously with it and just lead the weapon on target – the magazine is large enough.
As a sustained primary weapon, however, it is less suitable. In addition, it has a strong bullet drop at long distances. However, in combination with an assault rifle or, in an emergency, with an SMG, the Titan can still be useful.
Paladin HB50 – The best one-shot sniper in Blackout
The Paladin can kill with one shot: The Paladin HB50 is the best weapon of the Blackout mode for long distances. It fires slowly but deals massive damage and can kill opponents with a headshot if they are not wearing Level 3 body armor and are not “overhealed” to 200 health points with a Trauma Kit.
A strong alternative to the Paladin: The second sniper rifle – the Koshka – is also an excellent sniper and is only slightly inferior in a direct comparison. It fires faster than the Paladin but deals less damage. With a little practice, the Paladin is the more effective sniper when it comes to taking down a target with 1-2 shots.
Hellion Salvo Rocket Launcher – The vehicle terror in Blackout
No use in solo mode: The rocket launchers are actually a total inventory space waste. You can only carry four rockets in total, the rocket launcher itself is found only rarely, and it is relatively weak against human targets. When playing solo, there are no real reasons to carry this thing around.
Effective in Quads and Duos: In team modes, however, this changes dramatically. Trucks or helicopters can be absolutely deadly in the hands of a skilled team. And here, the Hellion rocket launcher can show its strengths. It can track its target and with a precise shot, take out an entire squad along with the appropriate vehicle.
Best escape tool in the Blackout mode – The Grapple Gun
A tool and not a weapon: A gadget that is worth it: While the Grapple Gun is not a real weapon, it is one of the coolest gadgets you will find in Blackout mode. Every Grapple Gun – a kind of grappling hook – comes with five shots.
That’s why this gadget is worth it: You can use it to climb tall buildings like Batman, escape from hopeless danger situations, or attack from positions where no one would expect you. If you find it, be sure to try it out. It’s worth it!
The game world of Fallout 76 is a post-apocalyptic version of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It hopes to gain a boost for its tourism sector through the attention generated by the online RPG. This has now even led to an official cooperation.
Now, Governor Jim Justice and the tourism office of West Virginia are teaming up with Bethesda to plan advertising campaigns together and boost tourism and attract players.
Cooperation between Bethesda and the tourism office of West Virginia
This is what they hope to achieve through a collaboration: Justice hopes that such advertising campaigns will bring more attention to the entire state. In his opinion, it is high time for that.
For years, I have been saying that we have everything: beautiful landscapes, the best people you could wish for. And now we can share part of that with the whole world through the unique perspective of this video game.
What will this cooperation look like? Currently, Bethesda and the tourism office are working on campaigns that will benefit both parties. While Bethesda hopes for advertising for Fallout 76, West Virginia wants to “enlighten” players about the state, its culture, and landscapes.
There are no concrete details on planned campaigns yet. T-shirts for Fallout 76 were recently sold at West Virginia’s Mothman Museum, but they are now all sold out. By the way, there will also be this museum in the game.
These places and myths will be found in Fallout 76
Besides the Mothman Museum, there are many other locations in Fallout 76 that can also be found in reality. Bethesda has taken great care in recreating West Virginia and its features.
Here are strong center-back talents in FIFA 19 that can strengthen your defense in career mode. Some of these young defenders can be signed for a low price. Overview of CB, RB, and LB talents.
Winning games starts in defense: No matter how many goals you score: If you don’t keep your net clean, you won’t earn many points in career mode. Therefore, you urgently need a defensive line that makes your goalkeeper’s job easier.
Need talents for your defense: There are numerous young talents in defense that you can sign for a low price. Some of them can mature into undisputed defensive leaders after just a few years, if not months. Additionally, the sale of developed talents can bring a lot of money into your coffers.
Tips for your talents: Don’t let your talents sit on the bench. Develop them, play them alongside established players, and most importantly: Let your talents complete as many training sessions as possible to boost their stats.
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Top talents in center-back (CB) in career mode
Opportunity for optimization: Unlike talented forwards, there are hardly any players in defense with a starting rating over 80. There is a lot of room for growth here, which you can fully exploit without investing too much money.
The 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt is the top defensive talent this year. The center-back plays for Ajax Amsterdam and already has an overall rating of 80, which can rise to 91.
Teammate Frenkie de Jong is two years older, but comes very close to de Ligt: His starting rating of 78 increases up to 86. Moreover, you can also use the flexible de Jong in central midfield.
CB talents in the Bundesliga
In the Bundesliga, you can find Dayot Upamecano, a very good center-back with a rating of 76, which you can increase to 88.
At the German record champion FC Bayern Munich, you will find a promising reinforcement in Lars Lukas Mai: The center-back rated at 64 can also reach 84 during his career.
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Talented and young full-backs (RB, LB) in career mode
Defensive specialists for left and right: On the flanks, it’s not just about defense. Your RBs and LBs also need to have some offensive skills.
The highest potential comes with Liverpool’s right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold: The RB starts with an overall rating of 78 and can increase to 88. He also brings the necessary offensive drive. In FIFA 19 Ultimate Team, the Englishman could also be a reinforcement.
Teammate Joe Gomez can rise from 77 to 87. The advantage: Gomez can also play in center defense if necessary.
In the Italian Serie A, you can find another good player for the right side of your back four in Davide Calabria: Like Gomez, he jumps from 77 to 87.
RB and LB talents in the Bundesliga
Also on the flanks, you’ll find good reinforcements for your defense in the Bundesliga:
Nordi Mukiele from RB Leipzig has a rating of 77 and can go up to 86. He can also play center-back.
Gian-Luca Itter from VfL Wolfsburg is one of the few talented young left-backs in the FIFA 19 career mode and can reach a rating of up to 85 points.
At Borussia Dortmund, Achraf Hakimi is currently making waves. Even in FIFA 19, the versatile full-back impresses: From 75, Hakimi can rise up to 85.
Even more defender talents: With these defensive specialists, you can build your team into an absolute defensive wall over several years. You’ll find even more talented defenders in the table below:
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
Affordable defender talents can be found by searching for talents with low starting ratings.
The last few days have not been easy for PUBG players, as a new update caused significant matchmaking issues. It involved a type of region lock that was supposed to automatically assign players to their region’s servers. As a result, there were malfunctions with high pings.
PUBG apologizes for the issues and has a first solution ready.
Ping issues in PUBG hopefully resolved
What was the problem? A patch as a hotfix for PUBG was released a few hours ago, intended to fix the ping problems. Players frequently spoke about these issues in recent days, as the latest Update #22 did not function as it should.
We are aware that many of you have had a poor experience with the matchmaking changes that came with Update #22. […] The improved system was supposed to automatically send players to the region where they have the lowest ping. Unfortunately, a bug in ping calculation meant that player regions were not correctly recognized. This resulted in players being sent to matches in a region where they did not have an optimal gameplay experience.
PUBG says sorry: Additionally, there is an apology to the many players whose matches were negatively affected. The team addressed the issue on Twitter on October 8th after many frustrated fans had reported.
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The solution: In a statement from October 12, the team explains that they released a hotfix within the last 24 hours that should resolve the ping issues. Players should thus be assigned to the correct region in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
They are now working on further issues. The fix for that is expected next week. For PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, the FIX-PUBG campaign is currently underway. A faster and better matchmaking system is one of the goals.
This is what they aim to achieve with the changes: The goal of these fixes is that PUBG now prioritizes sending players in matches to servers of their region. If the waiting times become too long, players will be placed on the servers nearest to their region. This aims to prevent players from experiencing unnecessarily long wait times.
The solution seems to work: Some players report on Reddit that since the hotfix they have had fewer issues playing PUBG. For them, the matchmaking correction has worked. Have you noticed any changes in the last few hours?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is here and the first ratings have appeared on Metacritic. Find out here how the game is received by press and players, and what the first reviews say.
Opinions are divided: Just hours after the release of Black Ops 4, there are currently only meaningful numbers available for the PlayStation version. The PC version was only released this morning and has not been tested enough yet.
This is what the press says: The press gives Black Ops 4 a strong score of 87 points. All 13 reviews published so far are positive.
This is what players say: As usual, player opinions differ from press opinions. The meta score here is only 6.5 from 83 ratings. Of the 22 user reviews submitted so far, however, 13 are positive. 3 reviews are balanced, while 6 are negative.
Dissatisfied users miss single-player campaign: The reason for the comparatively many negative user reviews usually comes from two camps:
Many players have never forgiven Treyarch for not including a solo campaign in Black Ops 4. From these players, there were often scores of only 0 points.
Others, on the other hand, abhor Battle Royale and do not want anything like that in the new Call of Duty. Even these players did not give good ratings. Those who liked the new mode often gave high scores.
Here you can find a few exemplary ratings for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Game Informer – The best Battle Royale experience
The best rating so far came from the US site Game Informer. They awarded 95 points and praised it as the “best Battle Royale experience” so far. Additionally, there is a fun zombie mode and the consistently solid regular multiplayer mode of the game.
JeuxActu – Lacks ambition
The French website JeuxActu is less enthusiastic. They also awarded 80 points, but criticize that Black Ops 4 shows little ambition:
With Black Ops 4, Treyarch has definitely created the most community-oriented game in the series, but it still feels like a work that lacks ambition and instead relies on tried-and-true mechanics.
GameSpot – Better to wait
The author of the review from the site GameSpot does not want to commit yet and wants to play the game longer. But so far, his rating is rather mixed:
With the standard multiplayer mode and zombies, [Black Ops 4] has difficulties fully embracing the future and the mix of old content and new ideas isn’t always fitting. From what I have played, Blackout manages better to incorporate elements from Black Ops’ past while also putting a stamp on current trends.
The storyline of Patch 8.1 in World of Warcraft is receiving criticism. Even the “Red Shirt Guy” has nothing good to say about the story and finds it to be “damn bad”.
Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance, the next chapter of World of Warcraft, brings a lot of story again, this time set on Darkshore. While the Horde is trying to secure its supremacy, the Alliance strikes back.
However, this narrative has many flaws and issues in the eyes of some players. Even the “Red Shirt Guy” believes that it is poorly written.
Who is the “Red Shirt Guy”? Ian Bates became known as the “Red Shirt Guy” when he pointed out some gameplay errors regarding the lore at a BlizzCon. He asked why Falstad Wildhammer was not in the game, even though his character was alive. Even the former story chief Chris Metzen had to ask, “Isn’t Falstad dead?” – and was mistaken.
Since then, Bates has been honored in the game with an NPC of his own and repeatedly explains lore mistakes and issues.
Falstad along with the “Fact Checker” – an honor for the Red Shirt Guy.
Spoiler warning: Since this is about the storyline of Patch 8.1, there will be spoilers. You have been warned.
Lore errors and issues in the staging
This is the storyline of 8.1: In the questline of Patch 8.1, which takes place on Darkshore, it mainly revolves around two things:
and Nathanos wants to raise the night elves Sira and Delaryn as Forsaken.
The first blunder is the presence of a certain corpse during the resurrection of Delaryn and Sira. As Alliance players, they see the corpse of Astarii Starseeker. However, both in the game and in the associated short story, she was burned alive. Therefore, finding her body in an intact state is impossible.
The second, more significant problem from Bates’ perspective is that the entire questline on both sides is “poorly written.” By this, he does not mean that he dislikes the course of the story, but rather how it is staged.
The Horde is successful, although NPCs claim otherwise
The problem from the Horde’s perspective: From the Horde’s perspective, the experience should feel like a defeat, as the NPCs say so. After all, the Horde lost one of the Val’kyr, a significant loss for the Banshee Queen. Yet, it does not feel like a defeat. All other objectives of the mission have been successfully accomplished. Not only were both night elves Sira and Delaryn found, both were also successfully resurrected.
And even better: Both seem very eager to help the Forsaken and join enthusiastically.
Image source: wowhead
While the storyline tries to convey that the “Army of the Black Moon” is a massive threat to deal with quickly, the opposite is true. The troops, commanders, and also Sira are eliminated without much difficulty.
Alliance: The Night Warrior is incompetent and weak
The problem from the Alliance’s perspective: From the Alliance’s perspective, the whole situation is even a bit silly. We see Tyrande performing the ritual to become a Night Warrior, and it is repeatedly said beforehand that she will be much more powerful than before. Once the ritual is complete, Tyrande says the following words:
“Teldrassil burned because I chose to spare Saurfang. Countless innocents were murdered. Entire families wiped out in a matter of heartbeats. The time for mercy is over.”
What sounds like a cool declaration that Tyrande is going on a revenge spree turns out to be ridiculous just minutes later.
Image source: wowhead
Tyrande breaks into the Undead’s camp and freezes all Forsaken with the power of the moon – but does not kill them. The Forsaken are merely incapacitated, and since one of the Forsaken still speaks, the spell does not seem fatal. Moments later, Tyrande even explicitly states that Malfurion should not kill the Forsaken. That is not exactly a clear “The time for mercy is over.”
The fight against Nathanos also turns out to be disappointing. Instead of demonstrating her newfound power, Tyrande is stopped by the Val’kyr after just a few seconds. She breaks free and hides in the shadows until Malfurion arrives.
Of course, it is Tyrande’s first fight as a “Night Warrior,” but the fact that she is immediately overwhelmed by Nathanos and taken out by the Val’kyr doesn’t speak well for a successful warrior who supposedly gained more power.
Especially the comparison of Nathanos Blightcaller’s fight with Genn Greymane in Legion, a relatively young Worgen (compared to Tyrande’s age), makes the whole situation even more ridiculous. Because there, Blightcaller was at a disadvantage and could only escape because the airship exploded.
Image source: wowhead
The problems of 8.1: In summary, the Alliance appears weak in the questline, Tyrande incompetent and inexperienced, and what is described as a “victory for the Alliance” is actually a clear victory for the Horde.
No chance for improvement?
This is the suggestion from the Red Shirt Guy: Bates admits, however, that he does not believe Blizzard will make significant changes to the questline. After all, the recordings of the voice actors are already in the game, and that is usually the last step. However, he has some ideas on how to salvage the scene:
For example, it would be more sensible for Nathanos to die in the fight with Tyrande and then be resurrected by the Val’kyr, which would kill the Val’kyr. Then it would feel more like a victory for the Alliance.
Alternatively, the fight could happen in such a way that Tyrande gains the upper hand in the fight, and just at the moment when Nathanos is about to lose, the night elves are resurrected, and he is brought to safety.
Bates does, however, note that the associated cinematics have not yet been unlocked. While they may provide some more context, they probably won’t be able to fix the blunders and problems of the storyline.
What do you think of the upcoming story in Patch 8.1? Or would you rather wait and see for yourself before making a judgment?
FIFA 19 gets a spin-off for smartphones and recently the beta is available – but only for Android. Here is what you need to know about the mobile, playable version.
FIFA Mobile is heading into the next season soon, but beforehand there is a beta. With this, the developers want to gather feedback for the full version.
When will the full version of FIFA Mobile be released? Starting November 7, you can also play FIFA on your smartphones. But what are the contents of the beta? Here you will find everything you need to know about the beta of FIFA Mobile.
Beta for FIFA Mobile started – only in the Google Play Store
When can you test the beta? It was released on October 11 and can already be downloaded from the store.
Are there prerequisites? No, but there is limited access and you must register on the official website. So you should hurry with the download. On Twitter, EA will inform you as soon as there is no more access.
FIFA Mobile with Icons, Campaign, and Player Training
As in the last year, there are also Icon cards in FIFA 19 Mobile. A new single-player campaign is also included. Similar to the major editions, there is now training for your players.
What are Icons? These already exist in the FUT versions for consoles and PC and are cards of famous former professionals. Thus, in the mobile version, you can now unlock icons like Ronaldinho, Owen, or Maldini. You can find a list of available icons through the FIFA Mobile Guide.
This is included in the single-player campaign: The campaign apparently consists of several chapters, in which you can earn new players and other rewards. More campaigns are expected to follow after release.
What is the purpose of training players? This improves their attributes and raises player ranks. You can upgrade a bronze player all the way to a master card. The following levels are available:
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Elite
Master
Additionally, you can also specifically improve the individual attributes of players through skill boosts.
Will you take a look at the mobile spin-off?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the blackout mode, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 now has its own battle royale. We provide tips that will help you get started and thrive in blackout.
“Those who come second here are already losers!” The quote, originally from the Hollywood film Top Gun, captures the essence of the battle royale principle. However, it’s not just about killing as many enemies as possible – survival is also an important keyword. There are many other aspects to consider.
What is Blackout? With Blackout, Black Ops 4 expands the classic multiplayer experience of Call of Duty with a proprietary battle royale mode.
In familiar battle-royale fashion, 88 players (100 in quads) drop into an ever-shrinking playing area to fight for survival. They use various weapons and gear from the world of Call of Duty. Vehicles can also be utilized on the largest map in the history of Call of Duty.
The following tips and tricks should help you ease into the battle royale mode Blackout.
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What is important when jumping in Blackout?
Your first action is to jump from the helicopter. After deciding on a landing spot while still on board, it is advisable to go straight into a dive after jumping.
This way, you can move across the map quickly while still maintaining good control. You will arrive quickly at the bottom, which could already have a significant impact on the course of the match.
Where should new players land if they don’t want to die immediately?
The map has specific hot spots where action goes down – usually right after the jump. Newcomers should initially avoid these danger zones. On this heat map, the heavily contested areas are clearly visible.
Try as a newcomer to land as far away from these spots as possible – somewhere on the edges of the map. There are plenty of wooded areas, smaller outposts, or single buildings that are not in the center of action but already contain weapons and gear.
Where should experienced players land who are looking for immediate action?
Intense fights occur at almost all named locations such as Firing Range, Rivertown, Nuketown, or Cargo Docks. The heat map can also be used here as a reference to clearly see the hot spots.
However, caution: even as an experienced player, there is a risk of being shot immediately after landing if you’re not quick enough.
What should you do first after landing?
It’s simple: find a weapon! Whether you are a beginner or a pro. If you don’t, you risk running into an armed enemy with every step you take, which leaves you defenseless if they notice you. This usually results in a swift end to the match.
It doesn’t matter which gun you find first – as long as you have one. You can always swap it later for a better one.
Improve your arsenal: Once you have found a firearm, proceed strategically. Try to avoid engagements until you have enough equipment (better weapons, armor, bandages) to handle a fight with better chances.
Important: Especially after landing, make sure to close the doors behind you. An open door immediately signals that someone was here. This invites practiced or well-equipped players to hunt you down.
The shrinking collapse circle: Stay on the edge or in the center?
Both strategies have their pros and cons. With increased experience, however, you’ll quickly find which playstyle suits you better.
What to keep in mind in the center: There are many players who swear by barricading themselves in the center of the circle and waiting in defense mode. In this case, you are not immediately affected by the circle’s contraction and can focus on players who are wandering around or are forced to move.
The downside, however, is that opponents can approach from all directions, and you quickly lose overview.
What to pay attention to at the edge of the circle: The other option is to stay at the edge of the collapse and move cautiously with the circle. This has the advantage that you can focus on a smaller area where potential opponents might appear. It is unlikely that opponents will come from behind.
The downside is that you might also be forced to move by the shrinking circle at an inconvenient moment.
What are the blue light pillars shooting into the sky? Should I go there?
Have you wondered about the blue light pillars shooting into the sky and visible for miles? These pillars indicate the position of a mystery box. They contain guaranteed valuable loot, such as a level-3 body armor and a good weapon.
However, these crates are protected by zombies. And here you must be cautious. While fighting against the zombie NPCs is fun, you could be taken out from behind by another player. You are rarely the only one wanting to secure the loot from the box.
What gear and weapons should you look for?
At the beginning, you should focus on the following three aspects:
Healing: In Blackout, you can heal yourself after being wounded, allowing you to stay in the game longer. But it doesn’t happen automatically – you must manually initiate the healing by pressing the corresponding button. It is generally advisable to quickly tend to your wounds after each hit, which also works while sprinting.
You can use first-aid bandages, med kits, and trauma kits that heal you significantly, but take longer to use. Trauma kits can even “overheal” you by 50 extra health points, bringing you to a total of 200 health points, provided you used the trauma kit while fully healthy – highly recommended before any fight.
Armor: Armor, or rather body armor, is extremely important and provides you with significant advantages in combat, which vary depending on the level. One of your goals should be to find and equip the highest possible level (1-3) armor as quickly as possible.
Body armors of level 1 or 2 can be found quite often and are generously spread across the map. Level-3 armor is rare but offers the best protection – including headshot protection, which none of the other armor levels provides.
Weapon mix: The right weapon mix can be crucial during a blackout match. It is advisable to have a mix that covers both close-range and long-range combat. An assault rifle and a sniper or an SMG and a tactical rifle are desirable all-around combinations for the fight.
If you master these three areas as a beginner, you can start experimenting with additional equipment, attachments, and perks to further enhance your skills.
How can you generally improve?
Even though you can get quite far in blackout with a defensive play style, you will eventually have to face your opponents in combat.
That’s why you shouldn’t shy away from playing aggressively – even though you might die quickly and lose initially. Because you will only get better in this area if you practice – so shoot and fight.
You can best practice this in the numerous hot spots spread across the blackout map. Just dive into the action from the start once you feel somewhat familiar with the game.
Fortnite: Battle Royale has brought an exclusive series of challenges with the new Skull Trooper skin. They were quite tricky. Therefore, Epic has now turned the tasks into the complete opposite.
As a special bonus, all buyers of the skin received a special challenge series, through which they could earn experience points, battle pass stars, and their own back bling “Ghost Portal”.
Skull Trooper Challenges were too hard
What were the special tasks for the Skull Trooper? The challenges for the new skin were pretty tricky. Among other things, you had to open 10 chests in one round and deal 1,000 points of damage in a single match.
Incredibly difficult challenge: The last task is especially difficult, as you need around 10 kills for it. Depending on how many hitpoints and shields your opponents have. This can only be achieved by really skilled players and those with a lot of luck.
Epic nerfs the challenge, now it’s a piece of cake: Epic has reacted to the criticism from some players and has completely turned the task into the opposite.
In a Reddit post, a developer from Epic explained that now you only need to play 20 matches during the weekend of October 12th to 14th, 2018. The matches only need to be played, not won. You just must not quit the game.
Back bling arrives automatically next week: If you can’t complete these 20 matches over the weekend, you will simply receive the back bling with the Ghost Portal during the next week. However, you still need to buy the Skull Trooper from the shop first.
A YouTuber has found a way to score corners directly into the goal in FIFA 19. This is how you can execute the ultimate corner kick.
The perfect corner kick: Corner kicks offer you a good opportunity to take the lead relatively easily through a set piece. Especially in the early days of the FIFA 19 season, converting sharply taken corners into goals by trick shots worked surprisingly well. But there is an even better way.
Direct Corner in the Tutorial
The YouTuber ZAN OMG has found a method to reliably score goals directly from corner kicks: Instead of passing to a teammate first, ZAN OMG simply shoots the ball from the corner flag into the angle. You can see how successful he is in the corner tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1gUp9X12Mo
This is how the direct corner goal works: To get the ball from the set piece directly into the goal, you need to keep a few points in mind.
Use players with high “Curve” values: You need to give the ball a lot of spin so that it goes into the angle and not somewhere in the box. Therefore, use technically skilled players like James Rodriguez, who is one of the best Bundesliga players in FIFA 19.
Celebrate the corner goal: If you did everything right, the ball should fly directly into the top corner and your opponent has no chance to prevent the goal. Now you can celebrate your dream goal extensively – unless, you prefer to skip the goal celebrations and replays like some players.
But keep in mind: This technique requires some practice and does not come naturally right away. It’s quite possible that your opponent’s goalkeeper will catch the first attempts directly out of the air. This also applies to perfect free kicks. You can find even more tricks to surprise your opponents here:
The planned changes to Pokémon’s stats could take away an important place for Pokémon GO from Heiteira.
In the coming weeks, Niantic intends to release Generation 4 in Pokémon GO. But before that, they are tweaking the balance of Pokémon. Those with many hit points will soon have fewer. Therefore, trainers are now worried about their beloved Heiteira.
What will change? The developers have already explained which stats they will adjust for the rebalance. And it sounds like the best gym defenders will be affected.
For the changes to Pokémon’s stats in battles, Niantic is adjusting the CP and HP values. Additionally, defense and stamina values will be rebalanced. Especially the latter two values are interesting for trainers who regularly take over gyms.
The defense and stamina values of Pokémon will be rebalanced. This will allow Pokémon with high defense values to be used more effectively in battle to outlast the opponent, rather than just running out of time.
Many Pokémon GO players immediately think of one Pokémon: Heiteira!
Why is there now fear for Heiteira?
Heiteira is the evolution of Chansey and at first glance does not look like a strong gym defender.
The pink Pokémon radiates joy and has a look that says “Everything will be alright”. No trainer expects this Pokémon to be a strong attacker. And that’s not the case. Heiteira has extremely high stamina and hit points instead.
This makes Heiteira a strong defender: With its high hit points, Heiteira is popular as a gym defender. In battles, it only retaliates weakly, as its attack is not worth mentioning. However, this makes it difficult for trainers to defeat Heiteira before the time runs out.
This currently makes Heiteira the best gym defender in Pokémon GO.
This annoys trainers about Heiteira: To defeat this defender, strong counter Pokémon and a lot of time are needed. No trainer wants to tap on their screen for 10 minutes just to slowly bring the Pokémon’s HP down to 0 (via DiceMonkey).
If the defending trainers also feed the Pokémon with golden razz berries to restore its stats, the spectacle becomes even more annoying and prolonged. This frustrates the attackers.
Among fans, the announced change to the battle stats is received with mixed feelings. One side is extremely happy that Heiteira might soon lose its position as an annoying defender.
“The best thing about the meta change in Pokémon GO is the tears of those who relied so heavily on Heiteira as a gym defender.”
Unhappy trainers: Others have more mixed feelings. Just when they finally get a Heiteira that is currently so strong, the nerfs are already on the way.
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The future of Heiteira is still uncertain: It remains to be seen how exactly the balance changes in Pokémon GO will look. Niantic plans to implement these changes before activating Generation 4. That should be soon, as Generation 4 is already in the latest update of Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 aims to join the genre with its new battle royale mode. But how does this new competitor differ from the two giants PUBG and Fortnite?
Three battle royale games compete for the top spot: The year 2018 has so far been dominated by two major battle royale games. PUBG and Fortnite attracted millions of players to their screens and became a huge hit thanks to influencers like Dr. Disrespect and Ninja on stream.
On October 12, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will also want a piece of the pie with its new blackout mode. But which battle royale game offers what? How do they differ and which game is best suited for which player?
Fortnite – Silly but Challenging
What is Fortnite? Fortnite: Battle Royale is a colorful battle royale game by Epic Games. It originated as an experiment in September 2017 since Fortnite was initially a pure PvE title.
Since Fortnite initially resembled PUBG, there was a now-resolved lawsuit with PUBG developer Bluehole, which fueled Fortnite’s popularity. Over the next few months, Fortnite gained immense popularity and now has millions of players.
What makes Fortnite special? The main highlight of Fortnite is the building system. As in the PvE mode, where you build fortifications against zombies, you can smash and rebuild almost the entire game world in Battle Royale.
A crucial tactic in the game is to find shelter immediately in a small, self-built fortress while using ramps and towers to gain a strategic position. Additionally, you can install traps in the fortresses or use trampolines for quick repositioning.
How does the item system work? Fortnite has a minimal inventory of 5 slots. There are no backpacks or bags to expand your storage. So, you need to think carefully about what to bring. You can choose from various firearms in different, color-coded rarity tiers. There are no mods for the guns.
In addition to weapons, you’ll find healing items, shields, and items that instantly create a powerful fortress, grenades that make opponents dance, or an item that teleports you into the sky.
Gameplay and Maps
How do the fights play out? Fortnite plays out quickly and dynamically. There are many weapons that promote mobile gameplay. The self-built fortresses slow down the gameplay a bit, but there are enough items that allow you to either blow up or bypass fortresses.
How many maps are there? Fortnite has been using the same map for a year. However, it changes constantly, often from week to week. The most significant changes occur whenever a new season begins.
The theme of the seasons determines how the map changes. So far, there have been knights, superheroes, and Halloween horror themes, leading to comets striking, cities being destroyed and rebuilt.
Are there alternative game modes? Fortnite regularly offers new game modes that are mostly time-limited, including 50vs50, a training mode, a heist mode, or game modes where you only have sniper rifles or only explosive weapons. Once, there was even a mode that transformed you into Thanos from the film Infinity War. Or a disco mode! So, there is always variety and new modes to discover.
What does Fortnite cost? Fortnite: Battle Royale is free to play. It finances itself through microtransactions. You can purchase cosmetic items and the current battle pass in the shop for real money.
Skins do not give you gameplay advantages. The battle pass, on the other hand, is a progress system where you gradually unlock additional rewards like skins and outfits.
Who should play Fortnite?
Who is Fortnite ideal for? Those who do not want to engage in building will likely not have much fun in Fortnite. The game is therefore optimal for players who enjoyed games like Minecraft and are quickly able to build massive towers from scratch.
Additionally, there is fast gameplay and a silly, colorful graphic style. If that doesn’t bother you, feel free to dive in.
Settings are an important aspect in almost every narrative genre, and it is no different for MMOs. For many players, the setting is one of the decisive features of a game. We want to know which settings appeal to you the most?
Prefer to keep it realistic: Most multiplayer shooters often stay in a modern and realistic setting. Exemplary examples are shooters like PUBG or the “CoD: Modern Warfare” series.
Many players prefer this setting because they can better immerse themselves and identify with it. The genre often also splits into modern and historical games.
Sci-Fi ahead: Future fantasies have been with people since ancient times. There is definitely something cool about zooming from one planet to another in your own spaceship and shooting evil aliens with a laser.
In Sci-Fi settings, technology plays a major role. However, mystical elements are often mixed in, such as the Force in Star Wars or the Light in Destiny.
Fantasy is not always just fantasy: One of the most widespread and simultaneously versatile settings. In addition to the “classic” Tolkien fantasy setting, there are many branches, as developers try to incorporate their own creative ideas into the genre. For example, World of Warcraft differs fundamentally from The Lord of the Rings Online.
Different developers from different countries always have their own vision of fantasy. The fantasy games of Asian developers often differ drastically from those of Western developers. Accordingly, player preferences often differ.
Irie says: I am a hardcore fantasy fan in almost all aspects of the genre. But it also plays an important role for me how interesting a setting is presented by the game.
In Destiny, for example, the whole Sci-Fi-space-magic story about the Traveler immediately hooked me. It was exciting and mysterious. I don’t care for realistic settings at all.
But now it’s your turn: Which setting appeals to you the most? Or do you have no preferences? Tell us!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fortnite: Battle Royale has announced a new vehicle. The “Quad Crasher” is a type of mini bulldozer that is said to be particularly effective against buildings. Is Epic planning to further nerf building?
What is a Quad Crasher? The Quad Crasher (in English “Quad Crasher”) was recently announced in the game news and is a new vehicle. The vehicle looks like an all-terrain cart with a bulldozer shovel.
When will the Quad Crasher come? The new vehicle could possibly arrive in the game as early as next week with the expected upcoming patch 6.3. Epic usually introduces announced items in the next update if everything goes smoothly.
If the Crasher does not replace an existing vehicle, there should then be three different vehicle types in the game together with the Golf Cart and the Shopping Cart.
What can the Quad Crasher do? According to the description, you can charge a boost. This enables height jumps, but buildings can also be explicitly breached. It seems that the Crasher can be used offensively and will thunder through fortifications like a wrecking ball.
Does the Quad Crasher make building unnecessary?
How will the meta shift? Recently, Epic introduced the Quad Launcher, a quad rocket launcher into the game. It can fire multiple projectiles in succession, turning fortifications into wood scraps in no time. Many players complain about this and see building in Fortnite in danger.
First Quad Launcher, now Quad Crasher: The similarly named Quad Crasher strikes the same chord. It is yet another item explicitly designed to destroy buildings. This means builders in Fortnite may have an even harder time soon.
Does Epic hate building? Probably not, but the many anti-building items likely serve a purpose. Epic apparently wants to change the meta, meaning the overall gameplay strategy. Players should be less entrenched and play more dynamically.
Fortnite seems to focus more on casual play: This could also flatten the skill curve. Normally, building quickly reveals who is a pro and who is a noob. Casual players usually master building less well than veterans, who can construct a massive fortress in seconds.
If Epic should make building less strong, less engaged players will have more success and be happier. This way, Epic achieves a larger number of satisfied players.
It’s not the end: However, the Crasher is likely to become a rather rare item. It is still likely worth building a fortress. It just may not be as safe as before.
The reason why Warfronts in World of Warcraft are not accessible to raid groups is a trivial one, which the Game Director has now revealed.
Warfronts in World of Warcraft are a game content for 20 players. However, even though that corresponds to a raid, players cannot sign up as a raid for it. A maximum of 5 players can sign up in a group, entire raid groups must stay out.
The reason for this has been answered by Ion Hazzikostas, the Game Director of WoW, in a Developer Q&A.
The balance is meant for random groups: Warfronts were designed from the beginning for “Pick up Groups,” meaning random groups that get to know each other only by signing up for the battle.
For proper, coordinated groups, the whole thing is simply not designed. According to Hazzikostas, the Warfront would be boring because a coordinated raid team would rush through the Warfront faster than the map design can keep up.
This would cause damage dealers to wait at the city gates, having taken everything, while the rest is still farming resources for the siege weapons. This would lead to long waiting times and simply not provide an enjoyable gaming experience.
Heroic Warfronts are an option: However, Hazzikostas does not want to rule out that one can never sign up as a raid for the Warfront. The developers are currently discussing the topic, and perhaps there will eventually be heroic Warfronts that require more coordination or a full raid group. However, this is not planned yet.
Would you wish that Warfronts are accessible for entire raid groups? Or is it good that you can only sign up with small groups?
The October update makes Xbox cuddly: In addition to streaming in Dolby Vision, the revamped avatars are coming to the consoles. However, these colorful figures do not just have fans, as especially male players find the avatars too androgynous.
Microsoft has released a new Xbox update of around 698 MB that is currently being distributed. The October update brings not only Alexa skills, streaming in Dolby Vision, and new languages for the Narrator but also the revamped avatars, which, however, do not only have fans. Particularly male players feel underrepresented.
What the October update brings
New avatars: The new avatars from the October update are meant to represent various body shapes more accurately for gamers. The figures can be in wheelchairs, and amputations can also be displayed.
Additionally, the avatars are intended to reflect various moods, life circumstances, or the hobbies of the players. Further outfits and accessories for the colorful figures can be purchased in the Avatar Store. New content is to be added monthly.
The new avatars can be accessed in one’s own profile. If players do not warm up to the new figures, they can either stick with their old avatar from the Xbox 360 era or completely ignore the characters.
Skills for Cortana and Alexa: In the USA, it is now possible to operate your Xbox with the help of voice assistants Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa. It can be assumed that the skills will also be applicable here in the near future.
Streaming in Dolby Vision: Owners of an Xbox One S or Xbox One X can stream content in Dolby Vision after the update. Netflix with a premium subscription will be supported at launch, but more compatible apps are expected to follow.
Narrator with additional languages: The languages Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, and Dutch have been added to the Narrator. There is also an Australian version of English.
Players seem dissatisfied
What do players think about the update? On Reddit, players are mainly discussing the avatars, which have reportedly been released despite criticism from Xbox testers. Male players seem particularly unhappy with the colorful figures: They allegedly find the available avatars far too young and too feminine.
A post on Reddit that was supposed to thank Microsoft for representing a woman in a wheelchair has been taken over by players who are complaining about the young “hipster” avatars.
Rather than showcasing a variety of different body shapes and types of gamers, the avatars seem to look more like children or young adults. A 51-year-old player complains that there are no aging options and that his avatar looks more like he did at 21.
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