With Fractured, indie developer Dynamight Studios aims to create a sandbox MMORPG in the style of Ultima Online, offering a huge world thanks to Spatial OS.
Looking for a new sandbox MMORPG that reminds you of the classic Ultima Online? Then you can now participate in the Kickstarter campaign for Fractured and help with funding. Nearly $35,000 have already been raised, with a goal of $117,100.
A new, large sandbox world
What is Fractured? The MMORPG aims to provide a classic sandbox MMO experience where you carve your own path in a huge open world.
You explore a vast world
You gather resources to craft items or build houses
You participate in an economy that is entirely player-driven
It is even possible to build and manage an empire
You engage in fast-paced, action-packed battles against monsters
You team up with other players in guilds
PvP plays a role but has some special features
The choice of race determines gameplay. Fractured seeks to bring fresh air to the genre with an interesting system. The choice of your race determines how you play.
Humans – Humans can decide how they want to live. You make choices and must also face the consequences of your actions. PvP is possible but comes under a strict justice system.
Beastmen – The Beastmen live in a society of harmony and peace. Here, PvP plays no role, but cooperative elements are emphasized.
Demons – For the demons, it’s all about dominance and combat. Therefore, open PvP exists among this race, focused on becoming the most powerful warrior.
Each race inhabits its own world. While it is possible to travel between worlds, it is governed by strict rules.
Spatial OS enables simulated worlds. The developers of Fractured utilize the Spatial OS technology, which allows for the creation of massive simulated worlds. A very large world is promised, which feels alive and should be fun to explore.
Diablo-inspired battles, MOBA development. The combat in Fractured strongly resembles Diablo. You play from an isometric perspective and actively fight by clicking on enemies and executing over 400 special attacks. Your hero improves over time through horizontal progression reminiscent of MOBAs. The developers plan to explain how this will work in more detail later.
Kickstarter is progressing well. A recently launched Kickstarter campaign aims to fund the MMORPG. The team hopes to raise €100,000 by July 25, which only covers a fraction of the costs. This money will be used to hire new staff to bring the MMORPG into a playable state faster.
Release, Alpha, and Beta. Fractured will enter its first Alpha phase as a Buy2Play game this December. The beta is planned for next year. Currently, nothing is known about the release, as it depends on how the testing phases go.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Warframe has made an enormous leap on Steam. The online shooter has managed to conquer the top of the free-to-play bestsellers. It is noticeable that Path of Exile has also secured a place at the top – the two games are more similar at their core than one might initially suspect.
On Reddit, the user SoulCraftey noticed that Warframe has for the first time surpassed Dota 2 and secured the first place among the free titles as a bestseller. For the bestseller list, the platform measures the total revenue a game earns through Steam.
Warframe recently reached a new player peak: With the story quest “Sacrifice”, 129,002 players logged into the online shooter simultaneously. This broke Warframe’s old record of 121,377 players. This growth has likely also contributed to the economic success. Dota 2, on the other hand, has a current record of 1,291,328 players logged in simultaneously and is financed, among other things, by a Battle Pass.
Snapshot of the bestsellers among free games on Steam, June 25, 2018 – 1:00 PM.
Warframe is funded through microtransactions: Community is willing to pay
What do players buy in Warframe? The base game of Warframe is free, and it is possible to earn all relevant content without spending a cent. However, new weapons or Warframes can also be purchased through microtransactions. Additionally, there are various cosmetic items for the characters, pets and housing. It is also possible to speed up some processes in the game with real money.
Warframe has some hefty prices: Whoever wants can spend a lot of money in Warframe. For example, there is the so-called Prime Access. The most expensive version of this package costs nearly 125 euros, which includes the respective Prime Warframe and additional benefits such as extra Platinum or cosmetics. However, there are also cheaper items for a smaller budget.
Players perceive the payment model as fair and even welcome high prices: In the end, no one gains a real advantage by purchasing items in the game with real money. Only time can be saved here. Some even perceive it as good that one has to dig deep into their pockets. This way, one would think carefully about whether it is really worth giving up the free grind.
Interesting: Path of Exile and Warframe are together at the top
Path of Exile and Warframe have more in common than one might initially think: Both games …
had a release in 2013
have a strong focus on PvE
are considered underdogs in the minds of many players
involve a grind for better and better equipment
have building stronger and sometimes crazy builds as core gameplay
have built a loyal community
Warframe is an online shooter and Path of Exile is a hack-and-slash, both promoting a hard grind and experimentation with builds. Path of Exile also has, like Warframe, quite expensive microtransactions that players are willing to purchase.
Both games are no longer underdogs, but still feel like it
Warframe was even among the absolute top earners on Steam in 2017. Path of Exile was still in the top 40. Both games were long considered free-to-play underdogs, which players willingly supported with their wallets. With these numbers and sizes, it is already difficult to still speak of an underdog. In the free-to-play market, both games have grown into significant sizes.
The charm of the underdog remains nonetheless: In both cases, the games (still) do not feel like the polished AAA game when logging in. The graphics are partly quite outdated, and there are also some curious bugs.
The developers still maintain close contact with the community. Digital Extremes (Warframe) holds regular dev streams. Here, the developers sit comfortably on the couch and present new features in the game. It feels as if one is watching a group of friends hanging out in a living room.
Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile) also seeks direct contact. The studio was recently largely acquired by the Chinese giant Tencent. However, the developers remained transparent and promptly published a letter explaining their reasons. This was well received in the community.
Those who financially support both games can still feel like they are helping “the little guy. This preserved and down-to-earth charm is simply well received.
Whether Warframe and Path of Exile will establish themselves as permanent top sellers remains to be seen: Just recently, both games received major updates (Sacrifice in Warframe and Incursion in Path of Exile), which likely gave the games a boost. This may well be temporary.
However, the steady (financial) growth of Warframe is impressive and likely owes a lot to the tireless community building. We have already addressed this topic in detail on Mein MMO:
Since Epic revealed its future plans for Fortnite: Battle Royale, various streamers have expressed skepticism about limited building options. Their main argument: Without building, the skill gap will be smaller. This would have various consequences.
What exactly is Epic planning?As reported by Mein MMO, the endgame in Fortnite: Battle Royale is mainly dominated by pump shotguns, rocket launchers, and the building mode according to Epic. Adjustments are to be made in the coming weeks that aim to disrupt this triumvirate.
What this will look like is, however, not known. Since the announcement, many streamers have expressed skepticism about this topic.
The discussions have not left “Doc” cold: According to Dr. Disrespect, who is actually at home in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Fortnite can only function with the building mode. It is his unique selling point:
“This game is built on building. Both used for defensive mechanisms for new players, and offensive mechanisms for good players, right. Plain and simple.
You take that away, you just have a very cartoony, RNG shooter. It’s not going to work man, I guarantee.”
Freely translated:
“Fortnite’s integral component is the building mode. It is used defensively by new players and offensively by advanced players. It’s that simple.
If you remove that component, all you have left is a random shooter in cartoon style. That’s not going to work!”
Ninja has also commented: But not only Dr. Disrespect has spoken out about Epic’s announcements. Ninja, one of the best Fortnite players in the world, also shared his perspective:
“Fortnite: Battle Royale is characterized by its large skill gap. A limited building option would reduce this skill gap or even make it disappear completely” (referring to the building mode).
Streamers fear for their viewers: The higher the skill gap, the more varied players can come to victory. Very good players perform feats that “normies” would never be able to accomplish.
If you take away a tool for impressive tactics from the streamers, it could also diminish the attractiveness of watching them play. It is therefore logical that the streamers view the announcement skeptically.
Ninja at least put forward a first suggestion: Limit the resources to 750 units (currently 999) – at least on a trial basis.
What Epic is specifically planning will likely be revealed in the coming days. What do you think about it?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A bot for DOTA 2 can now defeat entire teams. To do this, it learns a lot… namely a proud 180 years per day.
The OpenAI project is making waves again. After the self-learning artificial intelligence managed to defeat Dota professionals in “1 against 1” almost a year ago, the system is becoming increasingly sophisticated and smarter. Currently, the “OpenAI Five” already competes against 5-player teams, although so far only against amateurs.
Millions of matches per day: To improve, the self-learning AI must collect data. This is done by competing against itself repeatedly in simulations. Per day, it plays as many games as fit into 180 years – an almost unimaginable amount. 80% of the games are played against itself, and 20% against older versions of itself.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
They’re not even playing DOTA, critics say: Although most players show impressiveness at how the bots are developing, there are also objections. Many players criticize that the bots do not actually play real DOTA 2 because they operate under too many constraints. The bots only play in “Mirror Matches”, meaning they always face identical heroes, wards cannot be used, summons and illusions are also not allowed. Some items are also banned, as is invisibility. These are conditions that would never occur in a real match, hence the results should be taken with caution.
From the independent development of OpenAI Five, they hope to gain important insights for the general creation of AIs. Because the researchers believe that “AI has the potential to be the most positive thing ever created by humanity.”
On July 28, a live match of OpenAI Five against professionals will be held at the big “The International” tournament of DOTA 2. How the AI performs against the professionals will be revealed then.
What do you think of OpenAI and the successes of these bots? Are they still just at the beginning? Or is it already impressive what these programs learn on their own?
The Redeem clan is once again making headlines with a remarkable action in Destiny 2. This time, a team led by the exceptional player Gladd defeated the raid boss Calus in a truly very creative and eccentric way.
Once players have mastered all the challenges presented by the game, many Guardians in Destiny 2 often seek their own challenges. Some try for the fastest completion of the raid, others for the quickest boss kill. Yet others attempt to send the final boss to the virtual afterlife in the most creative way possible. For this, a team from the Redeem clan has come up with something really outlandish.
Guardians take down Calus with Telesto – But in a way you wouldn’t expect
Calus in a different light: This week, members of the famous clan investigated whether Telesto explosions could take down the final boss of the Leviathan raid. However, simply shooting the exotic fusion rifle at Emperor Calus would be far too easy for these top players. Therefore, Redeem tried a completely unconventional method this time.
The strategy: To give the task a special twist, they decided on a sort of human Telesto bomb. During the damage phase, the team shot Val Ca’our with the Telesto while aiming at one of its members. The fired Telesto projectiles stuck to the player’s body.
This Guardian then jumped up to Calus as a living bomb and triggered the explosions of the Telesto projectiles attached to him upon contact with the Emperor. Additionally, they utilized the damage buff from the empowering Rift.
It works! And it actually worked! It does require a high degree of coordination and communication, but it is definitely possible to hold Calus back in such an eccentric way. In the following video, you can watch the entire action in full length:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
A fun fact on the side: Apparently, it also requires a very powerful PC. Because the human Telesto bomb had to ensure simultaneously that their PC did not overheat or crash due to the numerous explosion effects.
Initially, the remaining team members even turned away from the explosions until they noticed that the effects did not strain their PCs too much.
What do you think of this action? Have you also tried similarly crazy things in Destiny 1 or 2?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This coming weekend, you can participate in a Safari Zone at Pokémon GO in Westfalenpark in Dortmund. Additionally, a global event is starting!
When does the Safari Zone in Dortmund start? The Safari event in Westfalenpark is active on June 30 and July 1.
What can trainers expect on-site? Trainers will experience a special event and can catch Pokémon that are rarely found in Europe. Westfalenpark is one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
Pokémon GO with Unown and Surskit in Germany
Special bonuses are active: During the event, lure modules will be activated at all PokéStops in Westfalenpark throughout the day. If you spin the Photo Discs there, you will receive special 2KM Eggs.
Rare Pokémon: In the event area in Dortmund, Pokémon like Unown and Surskit will also appear in the wild. For collectors, this is an ideal opportunity to enhance their PokéDex with these special monsters.
No gyms, no raids: There will be no gym battles in Westfalenpark, as they are not available during this time. This also means that there will be no raids during the Safari Zone in Dortmund in Westfalenpark.
Food and drinks are provided: If you want to relax, head to one of the Team Lounges in the park. There you will find charging stations for smartphones, snacks, and drinks.
No entry fee: The event is free for all trainers.
There are also Shinys: Worldwide, Roselia, the Grass and Poison Pokémon, will appear more frequently. With a bit of luck, you might catch Shiny Roselia. Niantic confirmed that the shiny form of Roselia will be available to catch during the Safari Zone in Dortmund. The exact time for worldwide catching activation is still unclear.
Creating groups is becoming more difficult in WoW: Battle for Azeroth. Blizzard is limiting the options that interface addons can use.
Group quests in World of Warcraft can be completed with just one click. Interface addons automatically create groups for particularly challenging tasks, making it easy to find other players. However, Blizzard intends to put a stop to this. With Battle for Azeroth, addons can no longer create groups.
What’s changing? With Patch 8.0 (Battle for Azeroth), players can no longer create groups independently through addons. Players must manually fill in the name of the groups (and optionally a description). You can’t even copy descriptions into the fields using “CTRL+C” and “CTRL+V” – only direct input is still possible.
Restrictions do not apply to searching. These restrictions, however, have no effect on addons that only search for groups. This will still be possible with addons. Only the automatic creation of groups in the group finder is no longer possible.
Too much chaos as the reason for abolition? Fans speculate why Blizzard made this decision. One possibility is that the addons have led to a flood of possible groups. Those who looked in the group finder often saw hundreds or more groups for a single quest, often with only one person.
Another assumption is that the constant querying by addons has overloaded the group finder and led to performance issues. If hundreds of thousands of players continuously send automated requests to the system, this could have caused performance losses.
Completing world quests will likely take a few seconds longer in the future. There is currently no official statement from Blizzard.
New discoveries from data mining regarding the new map Fortnite. Apparently, with the start of week 9 of season 4, Tilted Towers is set to grow larger. However, the rocket will likely be gone soon. Read here what it might be about.
The story of Tilted Towers: Tilted Towers is the largest city on the Fortnite map. It promises strong loot and is centrally located. Therefore, it is often visited right at the start of the game, which leads to particularly thick carnage. As a result, about a third of the player base regularly gets eliminated within minutes after the game starts, making the mid-game correspondingly thin.
Dataminers at work: The “Buddies” are particularly eager dataminers. They have often dug up important information about Fortnite from the code. Recently, they found a wealth of data that showed the map in week 9 of season 4. Some things are different in it.
A large tower is being built in the south.
Tilted Towers has grown larger: It is immediately noticeable that a new building has appeared in Tilted Towers. A tower now rises at the lower edge of the map. It was previously hit by a meteor, later the crater was filled in and construction cranes were ready for rebuilding.
Now it seems there is a kind of skyscraper standing there. So Tilted Towers was not destroyed, it is now even larger!
The Dusty Forest
A forest in the crater: In the crater of Dusty Depot, where the meteor hit, quite a bit has changed as well. More and more plants have grown there. Now a small forest has emerged. And possibly the hop rocks in the area have influenced the plants.
It is becoming green in the crater.
Perhaps they provide especially a lot of wood? Or there are strange effects in this area as the trees generate an anti-gravity field? We will probably only know on Thursday.
The rocket is gone
Rocket launch not from player hands after all: Apparently the rocket in the new map is no longer in its silo. It has likely been launched and has done something. The assumption that players could fire it themselves, as initially believed, now seems unlikely.
Battlefield 5 puts an end to the continuous fire from tanks and other vehicles. The ammunition for heavy war machines will be limited. Once it runs out, vehicles and aircraft will need to be supplied with new ammunition.
Battlefield offers more than just infantry: Vehicle combat and air battles are essential parts of the Battlefield series. This will not change with the release of Battlefield 5. However, some mechanics related to the use of vehicles will change.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Westie, Daniel Berlin, the Design Director of Battlefield 5, recently revealed some new details about vehicle battles.
Heavy war machines must be supplied with ammunition
As Berlin mentioned in the interview, fans of Battlefield V can expect some changes. However, he does not refer to the upcoming Battle Royale mode.
Limited ammunition for heavy artillery: Just like infantry, vehicles in Battlefield 5 will have limited ammunition capacities. Once the ammunition stock is depleted, vehicles will need to be resupplied. Aircraft will also need to be reloaded once they have fired all their ammunition.
This is how reloading works: If the ammunition in the vehicle is exhausted, it must return to a supply point to replenish its supplies. The vehicle does not need to be exited for this.
If an aircraft’s ammunition is depleted, the pilot must head to their own airfield. Balloons will be floating in the sky there, which need to be circled for a while to refill the ammunition supplies.
No more camping in tanks: This new mechanic aims to prevent players from settling in advantageous positions and continuously firing on their opponents. This could become a problem, especially in Grand Operations. Due to the limited ammunition, this is no longer possible in Battlefield V. A tank will eventually have to abandon its position and move to a supply point. An aircraft will also have to retreat at some point. This benefits the game’s balance, according to Berlin.
A nightclub DLC will be released in July for GTA 5 Online. You will soon be able to open your own clubs and promote them.
New DLC on the way: GTA 5 Online is regularly updated with new content to keep players entertained in the online world. The next content expansion revolves around the nightlife in Los Santos.
Release: The developers have not yet provided a specific date for the release of the nightclub DLC. So far, we only know that it will happen in July.
Leaks were right: In May, we already reported that GTA 5 might soon get nightclubs. A photo initially showed that the new content and new music will be activated “summer 2018”. A leak also stated that the DLC was roughly aimed for June 2018 – Close enough.
What’s new in the DLC? In July, the nightclub scene in GTA 5 online will explode. Talents from all over the world have decided to live in Los Santos and their fans will soon swarm all clubs. They want to hear the new sets from the bands Solomun, Tale of Us, Dixon, and The Black Madonna.
Buying nightclubs: You can open new clubs and design them according to your wishes with setup, design staff, and promotion. The rule is: The more popular the club, the faster your cash registers fill up. This is in contrast to other jobs in GTA 5 Online, where you smuggle drugs or steal money, clean work.
More details coming soon: Rockstar states that more details about the new nightclub DLC will follow soon. It remains to be seen whether there will be limousines or other cool vehicles that fit the nightclub theme. What would you be excited about?
The classic manager career is still one of the most popular modes in FIFA 18. We have five tips to make your career more exciting without just focusing on the best talents with the highest potential.
Career mode fans have probably played a career with each of their favorite clubs. The motivation to start a new one or always look for the best talents decreases accordingly. Below, we present five ideas for starting a new, varied career.
The idea: You start an international super league, bringing together the best teams in the world – with your club right in the middle.
Execution: The English league is the best suited, as there are four divisions available. When selecting your club, you can swap other clubs between the leagues. You place the best teams in the world into the four English leagues along with the club you want to play with. It becomes particularly difficult if you start with your club and the European top teams in League 4.
Advantages: You play in a league against the best teams in the world and have the exciting task of fighting your way up from League 4.
Disadvantages: The European competitions look quite strange and mainly consist of weak clubs.
2. Your Own Team
The idea: You create yourself and about 20 friends, colleagues, or teammates and play a normal career with a team of these players.
Execution: In the player editor, you can create new players. You add all of them to your desired club and then transfer the original players from the squad to another club. When creating your friends or colleagues, you should also edit their stats so that the players develop differently. For example, you give your buddy, who just stands up front and tries tricks, high dribbling and low stamina.
Advantages: It is even more fun to watch yourself, your friends, or colleagues develop. You can also play with multiple players on a console with your own team – fun is guaranteed!
Disadvantages: Creating around 20 players is quite time-consuming. Additionally, the career mode sometimes “forces” you to buy other players or sell your own.
3. The “One Name” Team
The idea: Your team can only consist of players with the same last name.
Execution: You start a normal manager career with two rules: You choose a last name and may only sign players with that name. Furthermore, all other players must be put up for sale and the first offer must be accepted. This doesn’t work with all names, but it is certainly possible with names like Sanchez, Rodriguez, Müller, or Pereira.
Advantages: The commentary in the game is funny to listen to and you feel like a world champion when a player with the chosen name appears in the youth scouts!
Disadvantages: You have limited options regarding the team composition.
4. For Career Mode Professionals: The Hardcore Career
The idea: You play the hardest possible manager career: with the worst players on the highest difficulty.
Execution: Choose a club from the English 4th league and create 20 players for this team, setting each stat to 1. If you want it even harder, you can make them all 50 years old and as small as possible. Transfer the original squad of the club to another club. Now you start a normal career with your club at the “Legend” difficulty, and the hardest career can begin!
Advantages: Even for career professionals, this is a challenge; every transfer and every scouting must hit the mark!
Disadvantages: It takes a while to create the players, and the gameplay can be somewhat frustrating at first.
Tip for FIFA Legends: Combine this variant with the super league above to increase the difficulty even more.
5. Detailed Statistics in Career Mode
The idea: You essentially play a normal career but keep track of your players’ statistics across seasons.
Execution: In this Excel spreadsheet, you have the opportunity to enter your players’ statistics in various competitions after each season. The data is automatically summed up and entered into “all-time statistics” in Table 1. You can of course use the table in a normal career or in one of the above-mentioned. Entering the data is particularly fun in the “own team”.
Advantages: Offers what FIFA does not: cross-season statistics for your players. Who is your record player after five seasons? Who has the best minutes per goal ratio? And who has developed the best?
Disadvantages: You have to enter the data yourself.
The Crew 2 focuses on a follower system in the latest installment of the “social driving game”. The goal: do crazy things to gain followers. Those who don’t participate won’t progress in the game.
Show more, gain followers: Inspired by social networks like Instagram or Twitch, one goal in The Crew 2 is to increase the number of followers. This happens all in real-time, followers come in live, releasing endorphins. You become popular and exciting, the number of followers increases. However, those who are boring gain few new subscribers. It has to be spectacular, it has to attract attention. The counter ticks with wins in races, cool overtakes, or stunts. A daring stunt on a bridge will secure you more followers than a seemingly boring ride in the desert.
We need followers. Let’s drift close to the rock wall and almost crash!
Popularity becomes a real currency
Those who are popular are successful: Only those who collect followers in The Crew 2 unlock more races or disciplines. For example, 15,000 followers are required to advance from “Beginner” to “Popular”. Only then do cool new events or the rise to the Touring Car Championships await.
Yeah, we are about to reach 15k followers and will be super popular!
Dystopia like in Black Mirror: The Netflix series “Black Mirror” shows in perhaps its best episode, “Nosedive”, how the future might look. People rate each other, doing everything possible to be in the good graces of others. Those who don’t conform lose out, shutting themselves out. Because the number of likes results in a score. The higher the score, the more societal privileges one receives. One’s value determined mainly by the score. Thus, it becomes almost obsessive to show every special situation in life to others, striving only for that.
Every special situation is converted into potential likes. This creates a constant inner restlessness, one only compares oneself, wanting more. But could this not be exactly a goal of Ubisoft? A Games-as-Service racing game that it doesn’t let go? Because those who don’t participate in the follower system get less.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Just fantasy? In China, the Communist Party is working on a similar system. However, there, it is not “popularity” that matters, but being well-behaved and obedient. Those who behave poorly in the Chinese “Social Credit System”, such as not paying rent, fare dodging, or criticizing the government online, must live with restrictions in everyday life. The internet gets worse, certain career paths are denied, or even travel bans can be imposed.
The “M-Question” – Follower System in The Crew Mist or Motivation?
Do we need such a system in The Crew? Such a scoring system in games isn’t liked by everyone. But it seems to reflect the spirit of the times.
The commentator “Joe Banana” on Mein-MMO calls it nonsense:
This follower stuff is total nonsense. (…) there are some idiots sitting at Ubisoft thinking that the hunt for likes and followers is the new cool thing for today’s youth?
But studies show: Yes, many people use it. Teenagers feel pressured by the app “Instagram”, which uses similar mechanisms, to always be online, fearing missing out, as stated in an article from Mittelbayerische. The insane growth of Instagram, with the latest statistics showing that 15 million Germans actively use the app, demonstrates that it is deeply ingrained in today’s society, especially among youth. And a factor is the “addiction to it”.
Rewards trigger the brain
A clever move? The follower system in “The Crew 2” feels instantly familiar and triggers the reward system in the brain. The Crew 2 could indeed hit the nerve of the times and create a buzz with a unique system for a racing game, fostering long-term motivation. Even if the actual gameplay might not always be convincing, as players complain about unrefined driving physics.
Outsmarting the police? Should definitely get a lot of followers.
Actually a known progression system: Similar systems are already known from MMOs where you collect experience points, level up, and unlock new content. The follower system is just that, modern and cool. Currently, the “follower system” is still quite rudimentary. But Ubisoft could score points with their “Games-as-Service approach” and expand this core feature in the future, bringing new impulses. And they are likely planning to go a step further:
The Crew 2 wants to connect the feature with real life: An integrated app should capture special moments that you can then share on Facebook and the like. Ubisoft refers to it in the blog post as an opportunity to “perhaps increase your number of real-life followers”. New features are expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. Who knows, will this also lead to more followers and unlocked items in The Crew 2?
What do you think, is this going too far? Or is the follower craze a motivating feature that should be enhanced in games? All important information about The Crew 2 can be found here:
After the debacle with Battlefront II, EA plans to rethink its approach. In the future, there will be no more loot boxes. With one exception: Sports games like FIFA 18 will still retain randomly generated packages for real money.
What happened at EA? The publisher giant Electronic Arts (EA) recently appointed a new Chief Design Officer: Patrick Söderlund. He is also responsible for the monetization systems of EA games and shared some encouraging words regarding loot box critics in an interview with Gamesindustry.biz.
Loot boxes caused huge trouble
Image of the enemy: Loot box: One of Söderlund’s key statements was the abandonment of RNG loot boxes in upcoming EA games. This refers to all systems involving the purchase of mystery bags for real money in the game, which can contain a variety of items.
Rethinking after Battlefront II: This system borders on gambling, leading players to spend exorbitant amounts of money on often useless items, resulting in a massive shitstorm for Battlefront II, accompanied by image damage and economic losses.
No loot boxes, no pay-to-win – only cosmetic items!
Therefore, they now want to take a different approach to monetization: In the future, EA games will no longer contain loot boxes. Instead, players should be able to purchase precisely the items they really want.
No more pay-to-win! In the cash shops of Anthem, Battlefield 5, and others, there will only be purely cosmetic items. Not items that improve gameplay or provide advantages. All of this was present in Battlefront II, which further frustrated players.
Exception: FIFA and others
Does this apply to all EA games? No, because there is still an important exception: Sports games, like the upcoming FIFA 19, will continue to have their form of loot box. In FIFA, this would be the player packs for the “FIFA Ultimate Team” (FUT) mode.
Loot boxes are accepted in FIFA: This is because players have traditionally supported this mode without much criticism and are willing to spend money on player packages. Furthermore, Söderlund states, FUT is just one of many modes in a FIFA game.
Enough game for the money: There is still the story, online mode, tournaments, and plenty of updates. Players get enough for their money, even if they do not like the FUT mode. The mode with the loot boxes can be safely ignored. In Battlefront II, however, this was not possible, as loot boxes were an integral part of the progression system.
Söderlund’s statement on the topic is as follows:
One must view it from the perspective of fairness. Fairness is the most important thing. When someone purchases a product from us, they should receive full value for their money. There should be a fair economy in the game, so that one cannot pay for victory. We do not want people to spend money to be better than others. This is important to us. However, we observe the market and see that it is acceptable for people to pay for other things, such as how they look in games. That seems completely fine.
What do you think of EA’s shift in approach?Is it the end of loot boxes, or do you think EA will bring back the RNG mystery bags at the next opportunity?
In the first half of 2019, the MMORPG classic Dark Age of Camelot (DAOC) will be playable for free. However, the Free2Play version has some limitations.
Dark Age of Camelot is an MMORPG from the early 2000s; it belongs to the generation of classics like Ultima Online or Everquest. DAOC is considered by many MMORPG experts today as the game with the best PvP mode of all time: In open zones, three warring realms fought over castles and relics. Today, this “Realm versus Realm” PvP model is used by games like Guild Wars 2 or The Elder Scrolls Online.
Once, DAOC had numerous servers, but a few years after release, with the rise of WoW, the star of the game began to fade slowly. Servers were merged, the company behind it eventually closed down, but Dark Age of Camelot still exists, albeit under new management. One peculiarity: DAOC is still a subscription game as of 2018; unlike many other MMORPGs, DAOC has never transitioned to Free2Play.
Those who want to play Dark Age of Camelot still need to maintain a subscription in 2017.
Dark Age of Camelot: Endless Conquest – Free2Play as an extensive trial
This will change in 2019. Then in the fall, a permanent Free2Play mode will be introduced: Dark Age of Camelot: Endless Conquest. This is a new account type that allows players to play without an active subscription.
This Free2Play mode includes some limitations. While you can participate in PvP, you cannot progress beyond rank 3.9. This is relatively at the beginning of a PvP career. Additionally, you can only create one character and have some further restrictions regarding trading. Furthermore, you will only be able to choose from 4 classes per realm and will face notable restrictions in gaining experience points, gold, realm points, and bounty points.
These blocks and obstacles will be lifted as soon as you convert the trial account into a regular subscription account.
Dark Age of Camelot will therefore not be a “Free2Play title,” but will have a permanent trial version that is relatively generous. Those who want to play DAOC seriously will likely still need a subscription in the future, but it is now certainly more attractive for newcomers.
Not happening in 2018
Update 25.6.2018: As it has now become known, plans have changed somewhat. Dark Age of Camelot intends to continue offering a Free2Play option, but developer Broadsword will not do so – as originally planned – in the fall of 2018. The transition to Free2Play has now been postponed to the first half of 2019. Then the “Eternal Crusade” update should come and bring the change in the business model. This was announced in a producer letter.
Note: This article was originally published on 25.12.2017 – at that time, the fall of 2018 was still given as the target.
The spiritual successor to Dark Age of Camelot is Camelot Unchained, one of the games on our list of the top MMORPGs of the coming years:
We have 5 recommendations for anime fans in the Steam Summer Sale 2018. These include exciting stories, tactical battles, and psychological games.
The Steam Summer Sale is in full swing and discounts are available on numerous games until July 5th. Today we present you the 5 best games featuring plenty of pretty waifus, big round eyes, or overly dramatic hero action: The best anime games in the Steam Summer Sale 2018. We have focused on a colorful mix of RPGs and other genres – however, all the presented titles have a typical Japanese charm.
[toc]
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
What is it about? You dive into the virtual world of Gun Gale Online, known from the anime “Sword Art Online”. In this dystopian game world, conflicts are resolved with weapons that can be upgraded in an RPG manner. Your character can be customized. The exciting plot surrounding virtual realities and their effects captivates fans of the anime source directly. Additionally, there is a multiplayer mode that is also heavily based on the anime source. In co-op, you can face powerful bosses and in PvP fight against other teams of 4 players.
Who is Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet suitable for? If you liked the second season of the anime Sword Art Online, you will be happy in Fatal Bullet, as there is a reunion with some characters. You should also enjoy the mix of anime, RPG, and shooter action, just like typical “JRPG elements”, such as a dramatic story.
Steam reviews: 74% of the reviews are positive. The general consensus is that the game is especially recommended for fans of the anime. The extensive character customization and beautiful story are often highlighted. However, multiplayer is seen only as a nice addition and not as a long-term motivator.
What is it about? In Final Fantasy XV, you take on the role of Prince Noctis, who along with his three friends (and bodyguards) navigates through a large, fairly open game world. What begins as a humorous “road trip” quickly evolves into a dramatic conflict filled with magic, mystical creatures, and superpowers through the story.
The combat system is action-packed and allows for cool combos with strong spell effects and huge summons, as known from the “Final Fantasy” series. If desired, the game can also be paused during combat to analyze opponents and plan the exact approach. For exploration lovers, there are numerous side quests and also quieter moments when you can simply drive through the streets and take in the beautiful game world.
Who is Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition suitable for? If you have a powerful PC and want to experience a “fresh” Final Fantasy, you will be happy here. Additionally, FFXV has received a multiplayer mode in which you can join other players in battle. However, this takes place chronologically after the main story – you should complete that first.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Steam reviews: 82% of the reviews are positive. The fantastic characters and the combat system, which is a welcome change from the traditional turn-based approach of older FF titles, are especially praised. The long playtime of 70 to 120 hours, depending on completed side quests, is also commended.
What is it about? In a fictional world, a superpower begins to invade neighboring countries. Welkin Gunther is called into the militia and will now lead missions against the empire as a troop leader. Soldiers are moved and controlled individually, while the battle takes place in a turn-based manner. After each fight, a new cutscene advances the story. After all, what would an “anime game” be without girls with magical superpowers playing a decisive role in the war with firearms?
Who is Valkyria Chronicles suitable for? If you prefer to plan attacks rather than aim precisely, this is the right place. The pause function provides plenty of time for planning. Successful strategists are rewarded with the ability to further develop their troops and equip them with new skills. You won’t miss out on an exciting story.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Steam reviews: With 91% positive reviews, the game stands out significantly from the mass of other “anime games”. The uniqueness of Valkyria is praised, or as one user summarizes: “It’s like X-Com with weapons from World War II, mixed with a ‘Final Fantasy’ story and great graphic style. Fantastic!”
What is it about? In Doki Doki Literature Club, you take on the role of the nameless main character who must join an afternoon club at his school. By coincidence, apart from him, only pretty girls are in this club. The player has the freedom to choose which of the ladies he wants to try his luck with. What sounds like a cliché-laden visual novel quickly develops into a very dark, adult, and philosophical story. However, we won’t reveal the details – since the game is free, you can make your own impression.
Who is Doki Doki Literature Club suitable for? If you enjoy subtle, multi-layered psycho-horror, you will likely find happiness in Doki Doki Literature Club. There are likable characters and at the beginning a typical “dating sim” experience, which, however, is quickly overshadowed by horror. However, the game is not for the faint of heart.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Steam reviews: 96% of the Steam reviews are positive and recommend Doki Doki Literature Club. Many mention how much the game touched them and the strong emotions it evoked in the player.
What is it about? You take on the role of Rean Schwarzer, a student at a military academy of an aggressively expanding empire. Along with other students, you form a typical RPG group and traverse the land to uncover political intrigues. In the process, you will explore some secrets of the empire. The relationships between the individual characters have direct impacts on how well they harmonize in combat.
Who is The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel suitable for? If you have always longed to play a “Persona” on the PC – this game comes close. Unique characters with great backstories ensure that you fall in love with each one of them and don’t want to miss them anymore. Fans of story and an immersive game world will be happy.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Steam reviews: With nearly 95% positive reviews, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is among the “must-have” games in the JRPG category. The story is repeatedly highlighted, as well as the characters and their stories. The graphics may be a bit outdated, but they match the game world perfectly.
Fancy a battle royale with fast gameplay in a sci-fi universe? The Early Access of Islands of Nyne begins in July.
What is it about? Islands of Nyne is a futuristic battle royale shooter. With features like jump pads and anti-gravity, the game stands out from other representatives of the genre.
Date for the Early Access of Islands of Nyne: On July 12, Islands of Nyne will enter Early Access on Steam. It will include many new features that were not available in the closed beta. Initially, Islands of Nyne will only be released for PC, but console versions are already in development. Compatibility for Mac and Linux is also possible.
What is Islands of Nyne? Gameplay Trailer
Years in development: The development of Islands of Nyne started, according to the developer Define Human Studios, in late 2015. A closed beta began in April 2017, which will soon be replaced by Early Access.
What makes Islands of Nyne different? The futuristic aspect sets Islands of Nyne apart from “the other” BR games. Instead of the usual 100 players, here 50 players fight for victory in a match. You can choose between solo, duo, and squad modes. The game is played exclusively from a first-person perspective – the gameplay is fast with a short TTK (Time to Kill).
Do you enjoy competition? Islands of Nyne features an Elo system that ranks you according to your skill.
These features are included in Islands of Nyne:
Multiple game modes
Character customization
An Elo ranking system
Predictable weapon recoil
In-game currency for skins and crates
Leaderboards with match statistics
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The story of the Forsaken expansion of Destiny 2 will have a non-linear mission structure. The game allows you to choose which villain name you check off your revenge list first.
During the reveal stream and E3 2018, several details about the story of the Forsaken expansion have already been revealed. It is now known that: Cayde-6 will be murdered during the course of the storyline. The Guardians will then hunt for the murderer Prince Uldren and his accomplices – the eight Barons.
How you organize your revenge campaign before confronting Uldren is up to you. The campaign of the upcoming Fall expansion unfolds differently than it has been in Destiny 2 so far. This was revealed by Forsaken Project Lead Scott Taylor and Bungie’s Game Director Steve Cotton in an interview.
The Forsaken story offers a non-linear mission structure
According to Cotton, players in Forsaken will go on a hunt. Who they hunt and in what order they choose their targets is left to the Guardians themselves.
Cayde’s murderer did not act alone: Although Uldren Sov pulled the trigger and is thus directly responsible for Cayde-6’s death, other villains, the Barons, actively supported him on the way to this event. Once the expansion comes out, players will learn just how involved the Barons were. Scott Taylor explains that players will “hate them just as much as Uldren himself – if not more.”
Each participant must face justice: And you will have to hunt and take down each one of them to get to Uldren. At a certain point in the story, there will be a kind of list that you check off name by name. While you work towards the ultimate goal of confronting Cayde’s murderer, how you do it is left up to each player.
Does the order matter? Apparently not from a story perspective. Only the power level or difficulty may be decisive in who among the culprits is fought first.
Taylor himself is convinced that fans will have an “optimal” order shortly after the release of Forsaken, in which the missions can be completed the fastest, are the most fun, or offer the greatest challenge.
Enlisted is an exciting new MMO shooter that aims to distinguish itself from other representatives of the genre. The game takes place during World War II and is set to be released for Xbox One and PC. Enlisted is being developed in collaboration with Gaijin, the creators of War Thunder.
War is not a sport
Enlisted aims to do this differently: The developers explain that while many online shooters provide fun and thrilling gameplay experiences, they portray virtual war as a kind of sporting contest. Fairness plays no role in real war. There is hardly any overview. It is about surviving, surrounded by pure chaos. And this is precisely where Enlisted intends to make its mark. The game wants to show you a different side of war. A side that hasn’t been seen like this in an online shooter before.
War in Enlisted is chaos: In a charge against enemy positions, many soldiers die within a few minutes. They are shot down. And you will experience this in Enlisted as well. You charge forward. But during this charge, your teammates around you are gunned down. Gunfire, explosions, and bullets rain down on you. The chaos disorients you.
Enlisted is supposed to play consciously differently in battles compared to Battlefield V. Hundreds of players are supposed to make it even harder to distinguish between friend and foe during the chaotic battles, to maintain a strategy, and to achieve the goal. This is meant to provide an extremely intense gaming experience.
Realism not without accessibility: Enlisted aims to offer you a representation of World War II that is as realistic as possible. Every bullet can be deadly. However, this does not mean that the online shooter is only aimed at experienced players. Enlisted is meant to be particularly accessible. For example, you can jump directly into the game and start playing. You do not need several minutes to prepare. You start the game and participate.
Then, however, you experience a realistic scenario, in which every hit can be your end. The overall atmosphere of the game is meant to feel more intense, without being too difficult to play.
You are not alone
Teamplay is essential: Since Enlisted focuses on realism, it is important that you find yourself in a team and develop strategies together. However, since it can get so chaotic, you will need to find corresponding tactics. They must be enforced despite the chaos. The tactics must be adapted continuously. This also means that communication among each other is essential.
Command troops in the battles: Enlisted differs from other online shooters in that in some game modes you not only control your character but also command a unit of AI soldiers. You give these soldiers orders, which they then execute.
You need to approach this strategically. These troops are meant to ensure that the battles feel “fuller” and that there is more action. Additionally, when you die, you jump into one of your AI soldiers and continue playing this way until your squad is decimated.
The Second World War, more intense than ever: The developers’ goal is to provide you with a virtual war experience that portrays World War II as intensely as never before. Due to the scenario, three parties stand against each other, between which you can choose:
Germany
Soviet Union
USA
You will experience famous battles from the war and travel to strategically important locations. There you will then fight battles together as a team to achieve victory.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Multiple game modes. Depending on your preferred gaming experience, Enlisted offers several modes to choose from:
Campaigns – Famous battles of World War II will be playable in campaigns. The developers strive to recreate the locations and conditions as realistically as possible in creating these scenarios. Therefore, the campaigns will be released gradually. One of the first campaigns focuses on the battle for Moscow. Campaigns must be purchased separately.
Invasion – In these battles, you have to solve various tasks. You are supposed to capture and hold an area. The other team must either prevent this or drive you out. In doing so, each player controls not only their character but also AI soldiers.
Offensive – You build fortifications and fight using vehicles and heavy artillery. The maps are larger than those in Invasion.
Urban combat – Here, you fight in various cities that offer plenty of cover. Tactics play an important role.
Battle Royale – Enlisted also features a typical team battle royale mode. Each team represents one of the nations that fought in World War II. In this mode, you can even drive heavy vehicles, such as tanks.
There’s still a lot of work ahead for the developers of Enlisted
These questions about Enlisted are still open:
Free2Play – The team has shifted the focus to a free-to-play game based on surveys. This brings a lot of adjustments to the actual plans and the design of the game. Consequently, many questions cannot currently be answered because much can still change in the game.
First or Third Person? Currently, Enlisted supports both perspectives. However, the team tends to prefer the first-person view. But presumably, the option will remain in the game to also play from a third-person perspective.
What’s up with PlayStation 4? Enlisted has already been announced for PC and Xbox One. However, it is still unclear whether the online shooter will also be released for PS4. The developers state that this depends both on revenue and on Sony.
Historically accurate? The developers state that realism is an important feature, but fun comes first. Enlisted is not meant to be a war simulation. Therefore, a balance must be found between fun and historical accuracy. How this will look remains to be seen.
Enlisted: When is it coming out?
Enlisted on PC– The PC alpha of Enlisted is scheduled to start later this year. On the official website, it is possible to sign up for the alpha.
Enlisted on Xbox One: In the Xbox One Game Preview Program, Enlisted is also set to appear later this year. This leads to the assumption that the release of the game may not be expected until 2019.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Data miners have already revealed the challenges for Week 9 of Fortnite. Read here what challenges you will likely have to complete according to the leaks from the data miners.
News from the data mines: Once again, fearless data miners have delved into the depths of the Fortnite code to mine usable information for the Week 9 challenges of Fortnite. However, the work of data miners is currently not easy.
Epic seems to want to systematically suppress leaks of new content. Therefore, it is quite curious that for this week all information seems to be available.
If the current leak regarding the Week 9 challenges is true, then you need to complete the following tasks in Week 9:
Deal damage to opponents with explosive weapons (500): A rather tough challenge, as usable explosive weapons are not exactly common. Aside from rocket launchers and the like, it is also quite difficult to hit opponents with a remote bomb or grenade.
Search chests in Moisty Mire (7): There are quite a few chests scattered around here, especially at the film set and by a large tree.
Use a shopping cart (1): A strange challenge, as there are currently no shopping carts in the game. Will they return by Thursday? Or is it just a placeholder?
Visit taco shops in the same match (3): This challenge was also present in Season 3. It may be a placeholder.
Each of these week tasks is worth five shining stars in the Season 4 Battle Pass, bringing you closer to the final skin Omega.
These are the hard challenges in Week 9 of Fortnite
These three tasks give – provided the data miners are correct – each ten Battle Pass stars. This means: instantly level up in the Battle Pass!
Search between film titles (1): A very cryptic task. So far, one should always search between three landmarks. Are film references meant that are already on the map or that are yet to come? Or is it just a placeholder?
Eliminate opponents with shotguns (4): This task should be very easy to accomplish. Shotguns are among the most powerful weapons.
Eliminate opponents at Anarchy Acres (3): Nothing special here. Just the usual kill challenge.
Are half of the challenges just placeholders?
Something is not right… Indeed, a lot seems strange about the current challenges. Many of the tasks feel like placeholders. Have the developers added some nonsense just to troll the data miners?
The following challenges seem somewhat “fishy”:
The shopping cart challenge: So far, Epic has not managed to have the shopping carts function without exploits and glitches. It would be rather reckless to create a challenge for that.
The film titles: Perhaps this is a really creative challenge where you have to interpret film titles in landmarks. And perhaps references to movies will be added via a patch. However, it may also just be a placeholder for something entirely different!
Guides will come on Thursday: We will definitely keep an eye on this. By Thursday at the latest, we will know more and will provide you with the latest challenges for Week 9 as quickly as possible.
Pearl Abyss, the developers of Black Desert Online, have finally released information about their new title. The game is tentatively named “Project K” and will likely be an MMO shooter.
What is Project K? Until now, not much was known about Pearl Abyss’s new projects. Earlier this year, it was only mentioned in the financial report that they are working on two games that are supposed to be presented in the second half of this year.
One of the games is supposed to be a mobile MMO. The other project, on the other hand, is a shooter. It is supposed to have MMO or possibly even MOBA elements. Meanwhile, a bit more is known about it.
MMO Shooter from the Inventor of Counterstrike
What is now known? The game, which is still only called “Project K”, is supposed to be an MMO shooter. In a presentation by the new developer Minh “Gooseman” Le (the creator of Counterstrike), a few images of the game were shown.
Robots are likely included. Are they possibly Minions, like in a MOBA?
It depicts a rather dark, futuristic world. However, Le does not want to reveal more. He is already looking forward to being able to show more of the game “soon”. Then we will hopefully also find out whether the new game contains MOBA elements and if so, to what extent.
Such MOBA shooters have had little success so far, as the sad fate of Battleborn shows.
