If you would like to have a serving of Lúcio on your plate in the morning, you can be happy. It seems that the Overwatch hero is getting his own breakfast.
What are Lúcio-ohs? In the Overwatch universe, Lúcio is not just a playable healer, but also a well-known musician. He has some advertising contracts and is marketed, for example, in the form of breakfast rings. In Overwatch, there is a spray logo that shows exactly this package.
Available for real soon? Fans have long speculated whether Lúcio-ohs could also have a reason to exist in real life – and that seems to be the case now. On Instagram, the account of The Junk Food Aisle has published a picture showing a pack of Lúcio-ohs. In the past, the site has always covered various junk food that was actually available for purchase.
Aesthetically matching: The cereals are of course matched to Lúcio – that is, in green and yellow, as one knows from his soundtracks or his standard skin.
“Loot Boost” for connoisseurs? The package advertises a “free loot boost,” which is said to allow you to “earn loot faster” – whether this is a temporary buff, like bonus percentages on XP gain, or just a concept drawing and idea, remains to be seen.
Of course, there is also the possibility that the Lúcio-ohs are just a PR gag and that breakfast is off the table. This would, of course, ruin the day for some hopeful fans.
Whether the Lúcio-ohs will also be available in Europe if released is a completely different question.
Would you like to start your day with a plate full of Lúcio-ohs? Or should the dear healer rather stick to his music?
For the Halloween event 2018, some Overwatch heroes will receive new skins. Images of three of them have now been released.
More skins on Twitter: Three more skins for the Halloween Horror Event 2018 have been revealed by the official Overwatch Twitter account. Wrecking Ball and Pharah will receive legendary skins, while Widowmaker will get an epic one.
Overwatch tweets more skins for the Halloween event 2018
The cute hamster Hammond in his “Wrecking Ball” is dressed in a spooky pumpkin lantern costume. His mech turns into a hollowed-out pumpkin covered with vines and leaves.
Hammond himself wears a mask with a distorted face reminiscent of a classic horror scarecrow. That’s it for cute …
Now it’s time to get PUMPED up!
Squash your enemies as JACK-O’-LANTERN WRECKING BALL (Legendary)!
Pharah’s new skin looks a bit like Reinhardt’s Halloween skin “Kalthardt”. She has traded her Raptora armor for knight armor and swapped her body for a creepy, blue glow.
Pharah has no body in her new skin; it only consists of the armor. When she removes her helmet, even her head is missing…
That’s the spirit.
BOO-P your enemies as ENCHANTED ARMOR PHARAH (Legendary)!
Through a leak, we at MeinMMO have already been able to predict some of the skins. Wrecking Ball was one of those we guessed correctly (indicated by the signs in the upper left).
For Pharah’s skin, we were at least right about the kind. However, a ghost knight was actually meant for Genji (indicated by the signs in the lower left). Widowmaker’s “Spider Queen” skin has now only turned out to be an epic skin.
Two of the skins already named and known from icons are still missing:
Bless Online is soon celebrating its official release in the West and will then be Free2Play. We interviewed the developers at Neowiz on this occasion and discussed the difficult situation Bless is currently facing.
In light of the release, we conducted an interview with the developers of Bless and discussed the current issues. In this dialogue, you will learn what the developers hope for from the release and how they plan to win back their players.
Neowiz believes in an influx of new players through Free2Play
MeinMMO: Bless Online is set to launch soon as a Free2Play title. Is Free2Play the best option for the official launch?
Neowiz: Absolutely. We expect that the influx of new and existing players will make the world of Bless a more lively and active place. Without the barrier to entry that a purchase price entails, players can freely test the game and then, if they feel it is right, support the game with cosmetic purchases in the Lumena shop.
MeinMMO: You mentioned there will be some changes and adjustments at launch. What are they?
Neowiz: In addition to the obvious switch to the F2P model, there will be bug fixes, quality of life improvements, and gameplay balance adjustments. Additionally, there will be new raids and events. You can check the patch notes for the exact details. Shortly after the launch, we will release a major patch with a level cap boost to level 50 and a lot of new content.
Early Access was not the best way to introduce Bless in the West
MeinMMO: Your player count on Steam is dwindling, and the servers remain quite empty despite login events and Halloween. How are you handling this until the release? Do you believe switching to Free2Play will be enough to attract new players? After all, Bless’s reputation is tarnished.
Neowiz: The transition to F2P will give many new players the chance to experience Bless without obstacles, and we expect that the influx of new and existing players will enrich the world of Bless with a more lively and active atmosphere. We also think that all new content and improvements made since the beginning of Early Access will impress both new and existing players at launch.
And honestly, we know that Early Access was probably not the best way to introduce players in the West to Bless. Considering that the game has already been released in other regions, we recognize in hindsight that people expect “Early Access” to resemble more of an “Open Beta” and less like a redevelopment of content and systems.
If we could go back, we would have done some things differently, but hopefully players will try Bless Online at the official launch and find it much better.
Neowiz believes it can be profitable without Pay2Win
MeinMMO: You promise players a “Always fair, never Pay-to-Win” model. But do you think it is possible today to be profitable with a strategy that is completely against Pay-to-Win, especially when player numbers do not reach astronomical heights?
Neowiz: Absolutely. We believe that it is the better choice to offer only cosmetic, convenience, and other non-P2W items in our shop, so players do not feel pressured to “keep up” with others.
We know that our players value fairness, and we want to respect this with our purchase options, letting them support Bless when they enjoy the game and not because they feel compelled to do so. Of course, there are also many previous successful examples of this model, and we have tried to follow those examples in our own style.
Neowiz hopes for a second chance from the players
MeinMMO: Players who purchased Bless during Early Access will receive premium rewards in the form of memberships, currencies, skins, weapons, and companions. However, most players have turned their backs on Bless due to poor performance, known bugs that made it to the Steam version, and new content that arrived too slowly or not at all. Do you think a premium membership will sufficiently satisfy the lost Early Access players, or what do you think needs to be done to bring them back to Bless?
Neowiz: We hope that returning players will like the costumes and the premium membership, but we do not believe that this is all we can offer them at launch. Since the start of Early Access, not only have many new content been added, but we have also made many bug fixes and changes.
We hope that experienced players returning to Bless will do so for the skins and gifts, but also for the new content we have planned for November and beyond. MMOs are never “finished” developed, and we will continue to refine, optimize, and add new content to Bless.
MeinMMO: Some developers say that the release of an MMORPG is crucial for its success. They believe that there is only this one chance to get it right; otherwise, the game is doomed to fail. Is there a concern that this one chance has already been missed, or do you believe that people will look at the release with fresh eyes as if it were new?
Neowiz: We do not see it that way. Games, especially MMOs, undergo many changes even after their release, as a live service is constantly updated. When looking at games like Final Fantasy XIV, Elder Scrolls Online, or even non-MMOs like No Man’s Sky, you can see that many games get a second chance when they make changes and improve things.
During Early Access, we made changes and improvements, and we believe that players will see this at launch and beyond with future updates.
Neowiz viewed Bless in the West as a “new version” of the game
MeinMMO: Do you see parallels to Final Fantasy XIV or Warframe? Two games that were on the brink of collapse but became successful again through consistent and fundamental improvements. One might think that this F2P conversion is your last chance to turn the ship around. Did you spend a lot of time preparing for the transition?
Neowiz: Of course, there are parallels to any game whose team has worked to improve the game for their players. With the official release now ahead of us, we have focused on preparing a better player experience and quality service based on the data we collected during Early Access.
We want as many players as possible to experience and witness the “more complete” version of Bless Online. Our time spent with the game during Early Access allowed us to prepare for the model we believe will best serve Bless and its players at launch and in the future.
We believe that players who play Bless at the official launch will see how far we have come since the start of Early Access, and we expect that the average player base will significantly increase – not only because of the removal of the entry barrier, but simply because the game is now better.
MeinMMO: The comments sometimes say that the Steam version was not very innovative compared to Japan and that features were held back. Do you understand where this comes from, and can you provide an example of an expensive innovation or change that was only associated with the West version?
Neowiz: Players have seen Bless in other regions and expected a direct port of the game on Steam, with all the content and features known from there. However, we viewed Bless on Steam more as a “new Bless” for a new region. Therefore, many things like design and other features had to be modified. For this reason, not every feature from other versions was immediately added to the Steam version.
The simplest example of a major change that only exists on Steam was the overhaul of the combat system. The team dedicated a lot of time and resources to completely change the combat and UI systems to make it smoother. This was the most widespread feedback we received from beta tests in previous regions. We wanted to give players on Steam the smooth combat experience they have been asking for.
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Bless aims to achieve a better balance between PvE and PvP
MeinMMO: In a previous interview, you claimed that it is quite challenging to adapt Bless from the Asian market to the Western one. You should have learned a lot in this regard. What have you learned? How will you apply the newly acquired knowledge in the future?
Neowiz: Players in the West value fairness in games and dislike aspects they perceive as P2W. Therefore, we removed items that existed in other versions of Bless to move away from anything considered unfair. Western players are also often more interested in solo experiences than players in other regions.
Hence, we have learned that we need to balance PvP and PvE accordingly. Even after launch, we will continue to make further balance changes based on player feedback to make Bless as good as possible.
MeinMMO: We see it in our comments: You still have some loyal players who believe in the success of Bless, see a lot of potentials, and fight alongside you. What do you think these players see in Bless that others seem not to?
Neowiz: We are of course grateful to our players! We appreciate the enthusiasm for Bless that many have shown. Bless is also a passionate project for our team, and we are glad that this is reflected in others. Players who have developed a passion for Bless see what we see! An amazing MMO celebrating its official debut in the Western market.
Neowiz wishes they had known earlier what players expect from Early Access
MeinMMO: If you had the chance to go back six months: What would you do differently?
Neowiz: Well, if we had known back then what we know now, we would have wished to have a better understanding of what players expected from Early Access. As mentioned before, we viewed EA as a time of continuous development and improvement, while many players expected a completely finished game.
Knowing this would have allowed us to better gauge and set player expectations for EA. Nonetheless, we believe that Early Access was a success, and we were able to gather a lot of valuable feedback that allowed us to prepare Bless for the official release.
MeinMMO: You said you should have communicated that Bless was an unfinished game in Early Access better. But isn’t that difficult with a game that was released two years ago?
Neowiz: Due to the numerous revisions made to Bless on Steam, such as the UI and combat system, we considered it a new version of Bless that was still in development during EA. As mentioned before, players expected a finished game because they had already seen a version of Bless in other regions.
However, we still believe that players could have better understood the stage Bless was at during EA if we had communicated our plan for Early Access more effectively. In hindsight, it would have been better to launch a kind of “Closed Beta” or “Open Beta”, but unfortunately, we cannot go back in time. Not yet!
The closure of the Korea servers benefited Bless in the West
MeinMMO: You still believe you can be successful, especially in the West. What’s the reason? After all, you had to end Bless in your home country and the other areas where you had problems.
Neowiz: The closure of the Korea server enabled us to change the team to focus on the Steam launch and the time after to make the game as fantastic as possible.
We still believe in the success of Bless Online in the West. We are looking forward to the launch and to new and existing players testing the new content, improvements, and changes we have made since Early Access.
MeinMMO: Players praised your interview with MassivelyOP and found it very refreshing that you communicated so openly – even on critical issues. Do you want to maintain this?
Definitely. We want to be as open as possible with the community. We hold nothing back, but the language barrier often makes things take much longer.
Our team in Seattle will soon be supported by some Korean developers, which should make the time between updates and translations much smoother. At the moment, the US team is working with the KR team across the ocean, and we are kind of bridging that gap.
Bless wants to work on performance beyond the launch
MeinMMO: Tell us about something in Bless that has been praised the most since Early Access. And also something that has been particularly criticized that you are currently working on.
Neowiz: From the start, players were very enthusiastic about the overhaul of combat that we released in the Steam version of Bless. They appreciated the lighter, more natural rhythm of combat and the clear user interface. After the debut of the combat system, we made some additional changes to the UI.
Something we know is causing much frustration for some players is performance issues. That’s why the team is focusing on finding ways to improve optimization not only for the launch but also beyond.
MeinMMO: Unreal Engine 3 has been around for many years. Did you have to modify this engine significantly to make it more current or what is the lever that needs to be adjusted to improve performance?
Neowiz: Many players asked us when Bless was announced on Steam whether we would switch to Unreal Engine 4. Unfortunately, that was simply not feasible for the team in this case. However, the team has put their collective heads into the engine to find ways to improve performance more easily.
The roadmap for Bless will be based on player feedback
MeinMMO: What are your concrete plans after launch? What does your roadmap for the future look like, at least approximately? The topic of “Player-Housing” has already been discussed.
Neowiz: In November, there will be a major update that includes new dungeons as well as an expansion to level 50. After that, updates will be planned for new dungeons, a restructuring of the “Rift of Space and Time”, skill expansions, and more.
We will look at the influx of players and feedback and adjust updates and the schedule accordingly. As before, we will continue to work hard to provide our players with a new variety of content. We want to deliver content based on player feedback and general demand, which is why our roadmap is constantly in flux.
The new console title “Bless Unleashed” is clearly connected to the name Bless Online. What were the reasons for this decision? Why did you seek a connection to a PC title?
Bless Unleashed is being handled independently by a separate studio, so we cannot talk about the development process. The IPs are the same, but Bless Unleashed is a completely different game with a different team. Think of two games in the same universe existing simultaneously like Dungeons & Dragons Online and Neverwinter.
In Red Dead Redemption 2 there are many activities that are far away from duels and raids. Body hygiene and a kind of escort for NPCs are among the things you can pursue in the Wild West.
This month, Rockstar Games is releasing the western game Red Dead Redemption 2. As is fitting for the setting, you rob trains, collect bounties, and experience, along with your gang, wild shootouts.
If you are not swinging the fastest Colt or fighting with others, there is still plenty to do. 6 things you can do in Red Dead Redemption 2 if you are not a cowboy.
Nutrition – Going out to eat
Between your duels and other action-packed activities, you can relax and have a plate of food. In the trailer, we see Arthur carrying a large plate full of stew.
https://gph.is/2pGORHz
What does that mean for you? So far, only speculation can be made about that. With the food, you might simply restore health points. You may also see visual changes in Arthur’s body, who gains or loses weight due to certain meals. There could also be temporary boosts (buffs) that are credited to you after eating.
After a hard day on the back of your horse, a warm bath also provides welcome relaxation in Red Dead Redemption 2. Meanwhile, it helps to wash the blood of your enemies off your body.
https://gph.is/2yqpnCe
What does that mean for you? You decide whether you want to bathe or shave. If you don’t do it, you give NPCs an unkempt impression, and they react accordingly with disgust. On the other hand, there could be advantages if your beard and the rest look well-groomed.
Taxi service for NPCs?
Your skills in riding or driving carriages can be used to chauffeur NPCs around. In the 2nd gameplay trailer, we see how Arthur is asked by three women from his gang if he can take them to a location by carriage. It could be that this is a side mission in the style of a taxi mission.
https://gph.is/2yjYfVD
What does that mean for you? It is possible that in Red Dead Redemption 2, you will find more of these missions. These might aim to transport NPCs from A to B and protect them from attacks.
Dancing – Watching or getting in on the dance
The rhythmic moving to the beats of the music seems to play an important role in Red Dead Redemption 2. In the trailers, we see how Arthur dances with other NPCs.
In another place, Arthur can be seen participating as a guest in a performance. As part of the audience, he can cheer or also create a bad atmosphere.
https://gph.is/2yomXUL
What does that mean for you? By dancing with other NPCs, you can probably improve relationships. Visiting a performance could be simply a pastime like in GTA.
Water activities – Fishing, Boating
You do not necessarily have to be on horseback or on foot in Red Dead Redemption 2. Trailers have already shown that traveling by boat is possible.
Fishing is also possible in Red Dead Redemption 2 to possibly catch ingredients for the next meal.
What does that mean for you? More variety in movement across the map is important so that traveling does not become too monotonous. So, with carriages, horses, boats, trains, and even draisines, the Wild West should not get monotonous quickly. Fishing is also popular in many online games to engage in calmer activities in between.
Exploring the beautiful surroundings
When Rockstar released the 2nd gameplay trailer of Red Dead Redemption, fans celebrated the visual details of the landscapes in the game. There, players can enjoy a view from the mountains in the distance or look up at other mountains from the valley, whose silhouettes shimmer through the sunset.
For a special feeling, you can view the impressive places of Red Dead Redemption 2 from the first-person perspective. If you particularly like it, you can activate the new cinema camera to observe the world from entirely different perspectives.
https://gph.is/2QCBSlY
What does that mean for you? You can enjoy the detailed world of Red Dead Redemption 2 from many views. First impressions show that Rockstar has put a lot of effort into the world and that it is worthwhile to explore it in detail.
More activities
Typical for cowboys: It is possible to rob trains and instill fear in fellow passengers. Before you dare to carry out such a large robbery, maybe robbing passersby or carriages is a good practice. Whoever wants can loot houses or collect debts from other characters in the game.
https://gph.is/2yvYLA7
In saloons, you can get drunk at the bar or bet your money on blackjack.
If you prefer something riskier, try not to stab your fingers in the knife game.
Fallout 76 could regularly receive updates, similar to MMO games. According to Bethesda, it is designed to enable straightforward support – even on a weekly basis.
Bethesda has big plans for Fallout 76. The first in-house online game (ESO was developed by Zenimax Online Studios) is meant to receive regular updates – and not just every few months.
The makers are expected to be able to respond flexibly and quickly to fan feedback. This is how the game is fundamentally designed, according to Todd Howard, head developer for Fallout 76.
Monthly and Weekly Updates Possible
This is how they plan to enable frequent updates:
On the one hand, Bethesda has a clear plan spanning several months and years; on the other hand, fan feedback is also crucial.
We can add things that players like or change parts of the game. And this part is very exciting for us: We have this game that we are releasing, but then we also have the game as it will be in one or two years.
You can watch the complete English interview here.
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What we know about planned microtransactions: There are items that can be purchased for real money. These are intended to be purely cosmetic and can be unlocked in normal gameplay.
We will probably find out exactly how all this will work in the beta for Fallout 76 at the latest.
The Egg Event, where you received regional Pokémon from 7KM eggs, ends today in Pokémon GO!
Today, on October 8th, the event with the regional Pokémon from the 7KM eggs is supposed to end. Many trainers finally got their regional Pokémon this way. A week ago, Niantic extended the event in Pokémon GO.
Continue to breed after the event ends: Even though the event ends tonight, you can still breed regional Pokémon afterwards. You just need to have received the 7KM eggs in your inventory before the event ends. So fill your inventory with eggs from gifts now and casually breed the regional Pokémon in the coming weeks.
You can only receive the special eggs with regional Pokémon through gifts.
Possibly the last chance: After the event ends, trainers will probably not have the opportunity to breed regional Pokémon so quickly again. So take this chance one more time!
Source: PokeWiki
Which Pokémon can hatch? In addition to the Alola Pokémon, you have the chance to breed Tauros, Kangama, Porenta, and Pantimos. These Pokémon cannot be caught everywhere in the world and are therefore considered particularly rare. Additionally, you can also breed Tangela and Porygon.
Now it’s your turn. Which regional Pokémon have you been able to breed so far? Have you managed to hatch all the monsters, or is one still missing?
At this point, a survey should be displayed. If you can’t see it, please just respond in the comments about how successful breeding regional Pokémon has been for you so far.
The Red Dead Redemption 2 releasing this month seems to focus on the various weapons. According to the latest information, there are supposed to be over 50 weapons this time.
It won’t be long until players can venture into the Wild West of Rockstar in Red Dead Redemption 2 again. The developers apparently place a great emphasis on the various weapons, of which there are rumored to be over 50 in the game. Players are also expected to interact significantly with their firearms.
More Weapons, Special Interactions
How many weapons will there be? According to information from RockstarINTEL, there are supposed to be over 50 different weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2. It is unclear whether this only refers to the guns in singleplayer mode or if this also applies to the multiplayer part.
While the singleplayer of RDR2 releases on October 26, multiplayer fans will have to wait until November. The mode will then be activated as a beta.
How many weapons were there in the predecessors? RDR2 will offer more firearms with over 50 weapons than its predecessors. Red Dead Revolver from 2004 offered a total of 28 different weapons. Red Dead Redemption from 2010 then had 36 weapons, albeit with just one DLC.
What interactions are possible with the weapons? Players are expected to be able to interact with the weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2. For instance, special shooting techniques like “revolver fanning” that is often seen in western films will be possible. This technique involves holding the trigger while repeatedly striking the hammer with the other hand.
Additionally, players should also be able to spin the cylinder of a revolver or toss their weapon around.
What else should be considered with the weapons? Rockstar wants players to engage with their weapons like with their horses. Only the weapons that players carry can be used, and larger firearms will be stored on the horse.
Furthermore, players must pay attention to their weapons. External influences such as water or mud have a direct effect on the guns and can influence their effectiveness in combat.
What professional streamers earn in terms of money is actually a big secret. However, a top streamer from Hearthstone now reveals the numbers. Disguised Toast concludes from his numbers what Fortnite star Ninja could be earning.
That big streamers on Twitch like Ninja earn a lot of money from streaming is probably well known to every gamer. But how much actually comes in is a well-kept secret. Until now.
The streamer Disguised Toast reveals his numbers and shares what he and other top streamers earn month after month.
Who is Disguised Toast? Most people probably know Disguised Toast from his Hearthstone videos, where he showcases funny combinations or brilliant plays. He is also among the top streamers on Twitch, having been in the top 10 at one point. On average, Disguised Toast has around 10,000 viewers on his channel.
In a YouTube video, he has now revealed what streamers like him – as well as top streamer Ninja – earn each month.
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What are the sources of income? Basically, there are four income sources associated with Twitch:
Donations (directly to the streamer)
Advertisements (before and during the streams)
Subscriptions (Twitch subs)
Sponsorships (paid content, such as playing specific games or live appearances)
How much does Disguised Toast earn per month? Disguised Toast is quite open about his own income. He reveals that he earns the following amounts per month:
Donations: $2500
Advertisements: $4000
Subscriptions: $14000
This means he makes about $20,000 per month in “fixed” income. What he earns additionally from sponsorships is a “bonus” for him and varies greatly.
Disguised Toast emphasizes that he is still in the “lower range of earnings” when it comes to streamers of his stature. This is because he does not provide incentives for donations and never uses the advertisement button in his streams.
Sponsored Streams – The big unknown: How much one earns through sponsored content varies.
Disguised Toast explains that he earns between $1,000 and $10,000 per hour for a sponsored stream with nearly 10,000 viewers. Larger streamers with more viewers earn correspondingly more.
How much does Ninja earn? It is hard to say exactly. However, just from Ninja’s subscribers, he earns $423,500 per month. This corresponds to about €370,000.
In total, advertising, donations, and sponsorship deals are not even included!
What he earns from other sources of income can only be estimated for Ninja. If the numbers are in a similar ratio as with Disguised Toast, he could easily be at $700,000 per month and more – but only Ninja himself could provide exact figures. However, he is likely to easily exceed his numbers from half a year ago.
What do you think of such high earnings by streamers? Is it absolutely exaggerated “for a bit of gaming”? Or do you think it’s justified since streamers entertain thousands of people every day?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Those who already own a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and were looking forward to getting an early glimpse will be disappointed for now and will have to exercise patience.
The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on October 12, 2018, is getting closer. At the same time, many fans are already proudly presenting themselves as owners of the game on Reddit and other discussion platforms. In some countries, Black Ops 4 has already been delivered to retailers.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 cannot be played yet
Update needed: Leaks and early gameplay seem to be kind of inevitable. But Treyarch has apparently put a stop to it. The fourth part of the Black Ops series needs an update first before players can dive into Blackout or fight on one of the 14 regular multiplayer maps.
This is reported by several players who have already secured a disc version of the game. However, the update is not yet available for download and installation.
When can we expect the update? When this update will be released is still unclear. However, it is not uncommon for Call of Duty games that the servers go online a few days before the launch of the title. Perhaps the update can also be loaded early so that all owners of an early copy of the game can still take a look inside the game.
Is it worth getting an early copy this time? It is also possible that the required update will only be provided on release day in the form of a day-one patch by the developers, or if a patch is released early that the stats are reset again at launch. Whether an early copy of the game will really be worth it remains to be seen.
Because Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 completely forgoes a single-player campaign. The online modes clearly take center stage in this year’s Call of Duty title. The traditional multiplayer part of Black Ops 4 is supplemented by the in-house battle royale mode Blackout. This mode has already received numerous praise from the press and players during the beta phase.
In Fortnite, a program is launching soon that will allow content creators to earn money. However, there are some provisions that are quite loosely worded. Epic’s code stipulates certain things that popular YouTubers actually violate.
This is the new event: A new event starts in Fortnite this week. However, it isn’t about gameplay, but about the game’s shop. Players can support a “content creator”.
This refers to YouTubers, streamers, cosplayers, artists, and all other types of creators who regularly create content related to Fortnite.
The “artist” then receives about 5% of the money that a player spends in Fortnite when they buy the currency V-Bucks for real money and has registered the content creator in the shop as the “recipient”.
However, the “content creator” must apply to Epic to be eligible for the program.
Anyone who wants to apply must meet some “normal” requirements: including having at least 1000 followers and regularly creating content for Fortnite. They must also adhere to a code of conduct.
No spam, not too much advertising, no gambling
The code prohibits, among other things:
Hate speech, spam, threats, harassment, discriminatory or illegal behavior
Anyone who violates this can be immediately removed from the program.
Be authentic, don’t use clickbait
This is what Epic demands: Epic wants content creators to use the official names of things in Fortnite and behave in a way that aligns with the “Fortnite” brand. Players should be welcoming and friendly to everyone.
Additionally, Epic is explicitly against “clickbait advertising.” Successful creators built their audience over a long time by “coming across honestly and being entertaining.”
Content creators should behave “authentically.”
Red Sama – German YouTuber
It sounds like Fortnite doesn’t like its own YouTubers
This is the interesting part of the code: There are at least three things that are quite interesting about this code:
Gambling is prohibited. But Epic Games relies on “Fortnite Save the World” on a loot box system. Loot boxes are currently under strong suspicion of being “gambling.” Some countries have already explicitly enacted rules regarding this.
Some of the most successful YouTubers in Fortnite clearly rely on clickbait methods to promote their videos and are incredibly successful. Like the controversial YouTuber Ali-A or the inventor of “StripFortnite”, RiceGum.
Many content creators do “excessive advertising” – depending on the definition. Because they finance themselves through advertising deals. Depending on how one interprets “excessive advertising,” all “successful” content creators in Fortnite could be affected by this clause.
It will be very interesting to see how strictly Epic interprets this code, and whether it will affect Fortnite’s content creators and thus the YouTube culture surrounding the game.
Most successful streamers and YouTubers have their own sources of income and are not dependent on complying with the code. Epic explicitly states: Don’t expect to make too much money from this initiative.
Content Creator: Ali-A
Is Epic trying to curb excesses or educate YouTubers?
This is what’s behind it: The interesting question here is,
whether Epic uses the code to educate its “YouTubers” and steer the community in a different, more serious direction
or whether the code serves to filter out “extreme” cases, and Epic tolerates the “normal, not-so-great” behavior that has established itself
The controversial German-speaking YouTuber ApoRed was even explicitly accused of “clickbait” by Epic. He therefore seems to not qualify as a content creator:
In West Virginia, there is reportedly a “real” vault located beneath a hotel. This bunker will also be found in Fallout 76 and was previously a secret project of the US government. What is it all about?
Recently, a major preview event took place in West Virginia, where select players got a glimpse of the upcoming online RPG Fallout 76.
This event took place at a special location – the Greenbrier Resort. This massive hotel complex was once part of a secret project of the US government and was planned as a bunker for Congress. Therefore, one could almost say it is a real vault.
A “real” vault for a Fallout event
The Greenbrier Resort has been part of a secret project of the US government called Project Greek Island since 1958.
What is Project Greek Island? In 1958, a bunker was commissioned by then US President Eisenhower due to increasing fears of a nuclear attack.
In the event of a catastrophe, every member of Congress including their families were to fit in the massive bunker. Therefore, it was equipped with everything people needed to survive for an extended period.
One of the first screenshots already showed the Greenbrier Resort in Fallout 76
The Greenbrier Resort was chosen as the location for this bunker – a hotel that was frequently used for government purposes. The project remained secret until the 1990s when the Washington Post reported on it. After the revelation, the project was shut down.
This hotel also hosted guests for the preview event for Fallout 76.
In this video from MassiveG, you can get a direct insight into the Fallout event. The video does not show gameplay, as the embargo lifts on October 8 at 4 PM. Here you can at least find two screenshots.
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Greenbrier Resort has already been the subject of speculation
In advance, there were rumors about whether the Greenbrier Resort might be included in Fallout 76. Fans constructed a map based on numerous hints and gameplay snippets that shows various potential locations in the game world. These include
Vault 76, which is located west of Morgantown,
a Vault-Tec university near the Monongahela River,
the Etam Earth satellite station
and an abandoned amusement park that many believe to be Camden Park.
In a few weeks, we will know more about the locations in Fallout 76. Because from October 23, owners of the Xbox One who pre-ordered Fallout 76 will already get a look at the B.E.T.A of Fallout 76.
PC and PS4 players will have their turn a week later, starting on October 30.
In Holland, the first was allowed to ride into the Wild West of Red Dead Redemption 2 for an afternoon and see the game weeks before its release. However, the background is tragic.
Jurian tells his story: Jurian, a man from Holland, reached out to a gaming site in the Netherlands to share his story. He suffers from Neurofibromatosis Type 2. This is an hereditary tumor disease. It is incurable. With this illness, benign brain tumors develop.
Jurian says he has been fighting this illness since 2004 and has now given up the fight. He says he has survived for a long time, but now he has had enough.
Jurian believes he only has weeks left to live. He says he is anxiously waiting for the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. The western epic is set to be released on October 26. Jurian’s father, Haran, contacted RockStar Netherlands to see if anything could be done.
They wanted to help but needed the “okay” from their headquarters. After all, the game has not yet been released and little is known about Red Dead Redemption 2.
But indeed. At the end of last week, two employees from RockStar Netherlands came to Jurian’s home for an afternoon and were able to hold a private demonstration for him. In the end, they took the game back with them. “Sadly,” as Jurian writes.
That’s why Jurian is making this public: Nothing was heard from RockStar itself about the private visit. Companies are often accused of being charitable only for PR reasons when such stories become public.
Jurian decided to go public with the story on a Dutch gaming site because he had previously read about a case where Nintendo did something similar.
And RockStar would have done something nice for him as well, writes Jurian.
Story making waves: The story has crossed the borders of Holland and is being discussed in the international gaming forum reddit. There, Jurian’s story has received over 6000 upvotes.
It is discussed that it is a pity Jurian cannot be given the game entirely. However, people understand that the reality of business creates problems and makes this impossible. It is believed that curious fans, YouTubers, or journalists have besieged Jurian to get a version of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Some hope that RockStar had only instructed Jurian to spread this version of the story. In reality, he would be sitting right now playing Red Dead Redemption 2 endlessly.
A very similar story occurred a few weeks ago with Fallout 76:
Does the name Infantry Online ring a bell? This MMO shooter, which was even published by Sony Online Entertainment, was released in 1999. The game was discontinued some time ago but has now made a comeback.
Rumored dead live longer, they say. And this is evident in the online game Infantry Online, which has been revived by fans after six years in obscurity.
A classic returns!
What is Infantry Online: In 1999, the developer studio Harmless eGames LLC released an online shooter played from a top-down perspective. Players ventured through several zones and had to confront their enemies either on foot as a soldier, in a vehicle, or in a spaceship.
In addition, players could choose to fight together against AI enemies like zombies and aliens or against each other in various game modes, including Capture the Flag.
In 2000, Sony Online Entertainment took over the distribution of the title and operated it for twelve years until the servers were shut down in 2012.
Fans bring the MMO back: Fans were disappointed and worked on bringing the game back in any way possible. They succeeded this year. Infantry Online is playable for free on its own website and offers the same gameplay as before.
Alongside hundreds of players, you will engage in battles
You will fight each other in game modes like Capture the Flag, Skirmish, and Fleet Zone
You will face waves of zombies and aliens together
League games in the United Skirmish League and the CTF Public League take place weekly
Players also get the open-source tools to create their own maps and host their own servers
The game is set to become bigger than it ever was
The developers have big plans: Together with the community, the developers want to make Infantry Online even bigger than it was during its “official times.” One can only hope that Daybreak Games does not interfere, which originated from Sony Online Entertainment. The legal situation regarding Infantry Online is not clarified on the official website of the game.
Active participation from old fans: As seen from the league games, there is certainly a lot happening in Infantry Online. Especially fans from the past feel addressed and are excited to indulge in nostalgic memories once again.
Scott McCulloch writes on MassivelyOP: “Oh wow, that was a great game. I played it when it launched back in 1999 or 2000. I want to play it again!”
Even older games have a chance nowadays. If the community is engaged, it is even possible to bring back titles like Infantry Online that were actually discontinued.
Do Primus Engrams drop in Destiny 2 randomly? Or are they tied to specific progress? As clever fans have now discovered, there seems to be a system behind it that can almost predict the drops.
Since the introduction of Primus Engrams with the launch of the Forsaken expansion in Destiny 2, numerous theories about how to best obtain them have circulated. However, until now, there was no reliable way to predict a Primus Engram drop. But now it seems that some passionate fans have deciphered the system behind the Primus drop rate.
Fan Theory: Drop rate for Primus Engrams can be calculated
What are Primus Engrams? These are special engrams (purple) that scale up to 600 over the player’s power level and yield legendary weapons and armor pieces.
How to obtain Primus Engrams?Bungie explained that you can obtain Primus Engrams by defeating challenging enemies and by completing Crucible matches. However, clever fans have apparently uncovered a particular system through extensive in-game testing that allows them to predict drops of Primus Engrams.
As their theory suggests, the number of enemy kills is crucial for the drop. Between 1,800 and 2,000 kills guarantee a Primus Engram according to the testers’ experiences.
Enemy category determines the kill points: Certain enemy categories have different “kill values.” The numbers are not set in stone, but many other users on Reddit can now confirm these approximate guidelines:
Enemies with red health bars count as 1 kill
Enemies with orange health bars equal about 5 kills
Enemies with yellow health bars and bosses correspond to about 20 kills
Other engravings can also be calculated: The same system apparently applies to rare (blue) and legendary (purple) engravings – just with different values. Blue engravings appear for around 100 kills, and purple engravings for about 300 eliminations.
According to the testers, the drop rate can be estimated so accurately that they were able to predict when rare and legendary engravings would drop simultaneously.
Keep in mind: According to the testers’ statements, there are still some additional factors that affect the calculations of the drop rate for Primus Engrams.
It should be noted that the Primus determinism buff works differently if the Guardian has recently received a Primus Engram. If not, Primus determinism speeds up this process.
The guideline of 1,800 kills is based on a fresh buff and does not apply to players who have not seen a Primus Engram for days. These players are likely to receive their Primus Engram sooner. Other factors such as the “Well Rested” buff or fireteam medals will be tested in the near future.
By the way: The fan theory also suggests that Bungie has changed the way Primus Engrams previously worked. Because they used to seem tied to the difficulty level of the respective enemies. Currently, it seems to be harder to obtain a Primus Engram. However, it is easier to predict the drop.
In Fortnite “Save the World” a major patch is expected in November. After months without much new content, Epic plans to expand the story and introduce fresh missions. A ghost town and the storm are expected to arrive in “Save the World”.
What’s happening in “Save the World”: While Fortnite “Battle Royale” receives new weekly updates and is constantly changing, the PvE part “Save the World” has been quieter than usual in recent months. Updates do come, but they usually only concern the game’s shop.
Perhaps the PvE team has recently focused heavily on transitioning to Free2Play. Because new systems are needed for that. But that’s just speculation.
In any case, a new patch for Fortnite Save the World has now been announced.
Bru-Tal continues
What’s new: A larger update is planned for November 2018. The update will bring:
the 2nd story part of “Bru-Tal” – a third part will follow later. The story is expected to tell Ray’s backstory.
a “ghost town” in Bru-Tal as a new map to bring more variety to the missions
and a new type of mission will be introduced that resembles “Battle Royale”: “Limited Time Missions.” Here, players must hurry to collect data as a storm narrows the map further – just like in Battle Royale
What’s behind it: The story campaign of Fortnite ended for a long time after the second of four zones. Although there were still missions after that, there were no cutscenes or storyline. Fortnite is still in Early Access – the campaign is supposed to be added later.
Now, it’s Epic’s turn to deliver the second part of the campaign for Bru-Tal in November. However, there will still be a missing third and final part of Bru-Tal and the complete story for the fourth zone.
Fewer “Leechers”
Changes to matchmaking: Previously, the level of a group’s leader determined which missions the party could join.
As a result, high-level players could carry their “little friends” into missions that were far too high for them. This would annoy “random players” who suddenly had to carry along a low-level player.
This will no longer be possible when “random” players are involved. Then the level of the entire group will determine which missions you can join and which you cannot.
However, it will still be possible to bring along “little friends” when you are in a full group.
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When will this all come? The Bru-Tal update seems to be coming in November. Whether the matchmaking change will arrive sooner is unknown. There is no current roadmap for “Save the World.”
More about “Fortnite Save the World” and when it might become free:
Engineers had to wait long in World of Warcraft, but they finally get their exclusive auction house back in the new capital, Boralus or Dazar’alor.
With Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard granted very few useful bonuses to professions. Many features that were standard in previous expansions were missing in the latest add-on of World of Warcraft. One of those conveniences returns with Patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance – exclusively for engineers.
A standard is missing for “Ingis”: Even in Mists of Pandaria and Legion, an auctioneer just for engineers was the standard. Consequently, there was great disappointment among engineers when there was no dedicated auction house in Battle for Azeroth and the other gameplay features were rather lackluster.
With Patch 8.1, Blizzard aims to rectify this by introducing the NPC Copperbolt Mechazang, who will again serve as an auctioneer.
Where can you find the auctioneer? As expected, you can find Copperbolt Mechazang next to the profession teacher for engineering, where you can also find the respective scrapper from which you can farm Expulsom.
Please note that the information is still from the PTR of Patch 8.1. It could change by the release.
This is what it is about: Normally, there is no auction house in the capitals of a WoW expansion. Players have to return to the “old” capital to participate in auctions. The “exclusive” auctioneer is a special service for engineers.
What alternatives are there? If you are not an engineer, you don’t have to walk far for an auction house. Both in Boralus (Alliance) and in Dazar’Alor (Horde), there are portals to the capitals (Stormwind and Orgrimmar). Both locations also have a return portal, so using the hearthstone is unnecessary.
Additionally, you can also spend 5 million gold for a mount that comes with its own auctioneer. Of course, it is cheaper to just ask if someone with the mount could set it up for a moment.
Are you looking forward to the auction house robot for engineers? Or do you find it unnecessary due to the numerous portals?
The hero pool of Heroes of the Storm is growing again. A new demon from Warcraft is joining – will it be Mal’Ganis?
On the official Twitter channel of Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard is once again publishing a lot of small teasers for the next hero. In the meantime, it is clear that the next character will be a Dreadlord.
What are Dreadlords? Dreadlords are demons from Warcraft who played a significant role in Warcraft 3. Typically, Dreadlords work with intrigue and manipulation to achieve their goals. In Warcraft 3, they were a hero unit and have thus been a fixed part of the Warcraft universe for almost 20 years.
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Which Dreadlord will it be? Blizzard has not yet revealed exact details, but Mal’Ganis seems to be the most probable choice since the quote in the tweet is by him. He is the Dreadlord that Arthas hunted for a long time and was largely responsible for the Scourge. Alternatives would be Balnazzar (the leader of the Scarlet Crusade), Varimathras (a longtime aide of Sylvanas), or Detheroc (a failure demon).
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What can the Dreadlord do? Details about the abilities are also not yet known. However, if Blizzard follows the templates from Warcraft 3, a Dreadlord should be able to use a plague swarm, put enemies to sleep, activate a vampiric aura, and possibly rain Hellbeasts from the sky. This would suggest an assassin role.
Whether this will really happen, or if Blizzard will develop some new abilities instead, we will surely find out in a few days. There is currently no release date for the Dreadlord. However, he might land on the PTR this week.
Are you excited for a Dreadlord? Which one would you like to play?
A Halloween event in 2018 in Pokémon GO would be exciting for many players. Niantic is giving the first hints in this direction.
In Pokémon GO, in-game events regularly take place that reward trainers with special bonuses like items or Pokémon. In recent years, monsters from new generations have made their way into the game as a result.
What’s new? This autumn, trainers are eagerly awaiting a spooky Halloween event. Niantic has now hinted at this.
Halloween in Pokémon GO – When does it start?
Why is the event popular?
The Halloween event in Pokémon GO first took place in 2016.
In 2017, the event was launched again and brought the first monsters of Generation 3 into the game. Back then, they were ghosts – fitting for the event.
In 2018, fans are once again hoping for a special celebration.
Veiled announcement from Niantic: In a newsletter, the Pokémon GO team has now mentioned something like a Halloween event for the first time. The following excerpt can be found in the current email newsletter:
Trainers, there are important news! Professor Willow reports that spooky things are happening nearby. Are ghost Pokémon behind it? Stay tuned to find out the solution to the mystery.
It is now suspected that an event featuring ghost Pokémon is forthcoming in Pokémon GO, as many trainers have anticipated. They are still waiting for an official announcement with event details from Niantic.
On Reddit, the newsletter quickly made the rounds. Since many trainers are already assuming a Halloween event, the first official hints regarding it are warmly welcomed by the community.
Here’s how fans are reacting:
Trainer ozarkslam21 hopes for shiny Gastly. Others elaborate further on this wish and want Gengar to have the move Shadow Claw.
Trainer Calamity25 writes: “I don’t know why, but I find Halloween events to be the best [events]. Maybe again with the Lavender soundtrack?”
Others hope that the Halloween event 2018 will also bring Generation 4 Pokémon into play. However, fans are calling for an increase in storage spaces at the same time. An announcement about this was already made in the summer, but it was retracted.
Overall, the mood on social media after this announcement is good. During data mining of the new Pokémon GO update, experts already found hints of an autumn event. However, it is still unclear whether Halloween is meant by this.
What are you hoping for from this year’s event?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, the boss Riven in the raid “Last Wish” sometimes dies in seconds due to a specific strategy. Even the raid lead, Joe Blackburn, is unsure whether this is okay or an exploit.
What’s going on? The final boss Riven in the Forsaken raid “Last Wish” is actually quite tough. But with a very specific tactic, he goes down in a matter of moments.
The key here are various Guardian abilities that increase damage, along with rocket launchers with “cluster bombs.”
Players have been discussing this tactic ever since. There are two interpretations:
it’s an exploit that wasn’t intended and should not be used
it’s a clever use of game mechanics, and therefore absolutely fine. It distinguishes good players to use something cleverly.
This is what Bungie says: In an interview about this mechanic, it becomes clear that even the person responsible at Bungie doesn’t know if this is a bug or okay.
Raid lead Joe Blackburn says that the team is monitoring the situation and paying attention to the community’s reaction. They are considering how to handle the boss encounter.
They want to “find what is right for the encounter.”
Raids should take 20 hours at first, later 20 minutes
What’s behind it: In the interview (via Gamesradar), Blackburn advocates the idea that a raid must take 20 hours the first time. After that, players want to complete it in 20 minutes. This corresponds to the players’ wishes.
Blackburn considers this important advice for game designers. You can see its implementation in games like Super Mario or Dark Souls.
The goal is to,
make a level seem so challenging at the beginning that players think they can never achieve it
but the mechanics remain predictable enough that players can learn and reliably master them when they are capable
What is an exploit and what is clever in a raid?
This is okay: Blackburn sees no problem in players defeating the boss “Morgeth” in a short time by shooting the IKELO shotgun at the back of one leg. Anyone who has the IKELOS weapon has invested time in Destiny and earned it.
This is connected to the “20 hours – 20 minutes” design idea, Blackburn explains. However, one must find a middle ground.
If players have earned weapons like the Whisper of the Worm, the IKELOS shotgun, or the Thousand Voices, then the Guardians should also feel successful with them without the content becoming boring.
This is not okay: In contrast, it is a bug that players equip the 100k Nightfall emblem and then suffer no damage in a specific phase of Shuro Chi. This is a bug that will be fixed.
Twitch star Ninja is unhappy with his status in Fortnite. He has showcased the game to billions of viewers, yet does not have his own skin in Fortnite. That seems to bother him.
This annoys Ninja: In a recent stream, Twitch star Tyler “Ninja” Blevins expressed his frustration that Epic Games promoted another streamer via their Twitter account.
On October 2, Fortnite tweeted: “Are you looking for a fun, relaxed Fortnite stream? Then check this out.”
Recommended was “Lusidream.tv” and not “Ninja.” This bothers the star streamer on camera.
I’m not angry, I’m not angry, but …
This is what Ninja says:
“Fortnite tweeted: Are you looking for a relaxed, humorous Fortnite stream? Then tune in to … @NOT NINJA, because we want Ninja to not have his own skin.”
Ninja gesticulates animatedly:
“I’m not angry about it, but … I’ve supported the game pretty much since it came out, and I’ve shown it to about a billion people. […] But I don’t deserve to get anything.”
Here is the video:
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What is behind it? one must consider that Ninja streams live for several hours every day, and one doesn’t have to take every word too seriously, but his statement touches on an important core.
In all seriousness, Ninja’s complaint is probably not fully serious and angry. After all, Fortnite has made him “indirectly” a millionaire several times over through the Twitch collaboration.
Riding on the wave of Fortnite’s success, Ninja has become the biggest streamer in the world with over 10 million Twitch followers. But a special honor for Ninja is indeed missing in Fortnite.
Ninja demands special treatment for himself
This is what Ninja wants: Ninja seems to believe that he deserves a specific honor in Fortnite, such as a special skin or an emote. The disappointment here seems to be somewhat played for laughs in front of the cameras, but covers a true core.
The “exceptional streamer” Ninja also wishes for an “exceptional status” from Epic and wants to be treated preferentially and not be regarded as “just another streamer.”
This is how Ninja justifies his claim: By reaching so many people with his videos, Ninja claims a special role for himself. The streamer says he has reached 1.5 billion people across all his channels since he started making videos about Fortnite.
Moreover, he has been practically there from the beginning.
Interestingly, even Ninja, the biggest streamer in the world, feels that he deserves more support and love from Epic. A controversial German streamer feels the same way, claiming that he deserves more support. ApoRed cites exactly the reasons that Ninja mentions for Epic to support him more strongly:
He has been following the game early on
and he has an enormous reach
No special status for the exceptional streamer
Is Ninja right with his demand? At events and promotional activities, such as the Pro-AM tournament at E3, “Ninja” was clearly the star player. But that was due to his good performance and outside attention, not a decision by Epic to highlight Ninja as a star.
Thus, Ninja is indeed not granted special treatment by Epic. He is not highlighted in comparison to other streamers.
This is why Epic does it: It seems that Epic wants to rely on a wide range of personalities and not become dependent on a single figure, even if he stands out as much as Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. Probably a well-considered and deliberate decision, ensuring that no single streamer should be bigger than the “Fortnite” brand.
