The Korean MMORPG Bless does not hold back in Asia with half-naked beings that you can use as pets or even mounts. However, it seems that developer Neowiz will dress the pets a bit more in the Western version.
Half-naked pets? What is going on? Bless offers – like many Asian MMORPGs – quite revealing appearances for female beings. This not only includes sexy outfits for heroines. There are also some creatures that seem to have a rather low sense of modesty.
This is what the Harpy pet looks like.
These include, for example, harpies, fairies, and a monstrous spider creature that is part arthropod, part woman. All these beings are not just enemies; you can also capture them and “train” them to be pets or even mounts. Then a half-naked harpy follows you, or you ride on a spider lady with (almost) bare breasts.
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But perhaps not if you play the Western version of Bless.
Is the ESBR rating standing in the way of naked pets?
So far, it is not known how the revealing pets and mounts will look in the Western version of Bless. But the chances for a more modest appearance are quite good. Bless has an ESBR rating of T (Teen) in the West.
At least in the previous artworks and screenshots, Bless is quite revealing.
ESBR stands for “Entertainment Software Rating Board,” a kind of voluntary labeling for content in games. The T rating (approximately from age 13) covers blood and violence but not sexual and erotic content. For that, the next higher M rating would probably be necessary. However, games with lower age ratings often sell better in America.
Clarity about naked pets by the early access release
If the revealing pets and mounts are classified as sexual content, they would likely not be allowed in the game according to the T rating. Bless would not be the first game from Korea to appear more modestly in the West.
However, it might turn out differently, and the pets may be as open as in Asia here as well. We will only know more when Bless is released in early access on Steam on May 30, 2018.
It is officially confirmed: Battlefield V will receive a premium currency. It will be available for real money and is intended for the purchase of cosmetic items.
Official representatives of the publisher Electronic Arts (EA) revealed some details about the monetization model of the latest installment of Battlefield to the gaming site Polygon.
Monetization Model of Battlefield 5 – What You Should Know
Real Money Currency: It has been confirmed that there will be a premium currency in Battlefield 5. According to EA’s words, this in-game currency can only be acquired with real money. However, it is only intended for the purchase of cosmetic items in the game. Whether there will be cosmetics that can only be purchased with the premium currency remains unknown.
“Grind Currency”: Furthermore, besides the real money currency, there will also be a so-called “grind currency”. As the name suggests, it can be earned through grinding in-game. Whether this currency will only be available as an additional payment option in multiplayer mode or can also be obtained in the single-player experience is still unknown.
No Loot Boxes: While there were some rumors in March suggesting that EA wanted to try the loot box system again despite the loot box scandal surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II, those rumors have now been dispelled. According to official statements, there will be no loot boxes in Battlefield V.
No Premium Pass: There will not be a premium pass like in previous titles or a season pass. Upcoming content for Battlefield 5 is expected to be free and available to all players as part of a new live service – the Tides of War.
Microtransactions for Cosmetics: The necessary money is apparently to be generated through microtransactions with cosmetic items. For soldiers and various weapons and war technology, there are supposed to be numerous visual customization options in the game.
For example, weapons are said to have up to seven slots in which various cosmetic items can be attached.
No Pay-to-Win: However, the purchasable items will have no influence on gameplay and will be purely cosmetic in nature – this has been assured by Electronic Arts. All advantages – meaning everything that makes your soldier, weapons, or war technology stronger – can only be earned in-game and cannot be acquired in any other way.
In Borderlands 3, players will be able to experience the campaign with friends – at least that’s what a tweet from the Gearbox CEO suggests.
For many fans, this news was disappointing: Borderlands 3 will likely not be presented at E3 and leaves players waiting. But a good piece of news can be read between the lines from the developers: The 4-player co-op mode will likely return.
4-player co-op has “worked well”: In a rather humorous dialogue between Randy Pitchford from Gearbox and analyst Michael Pachter, the player count of several games was discussed. During this, it was jokingly mentioned that “Borderlands only allows four players, and they must be on the same team.”
When asked by a fan if he had “confirmed Borderlands 3 as a co-op for 4 players”, he replied somewhat more seriously: “Such a game has not been announced yet. However, why not? So far, it seems to have worked well.” This suggests that Borderlands 3 will also have a co-op campaign for 4 players.
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Why is there criticism? Many players find a co-op mode with only four players “too small”. They should orientate themselves towards other games, which can accommodate many more players simultaneously and where between 32 and 100 players can participate in a match at the same time.
Much speculation, no announcement: With all the small remarks and rumors that are already circulating about Borderlands 3, one thing should not be overlooked: the game has not been announced yet. So far, it’s just unconfirmed rumors and statements from the Gearbox CEO, who loves to have a bit of fun. Until the official announcement, all information should be taken with a grain of caution.
Cortyn says: I loved the 4-player mode in both part 1 and part 2, and I can hardly imagine playing such a game in solo mode anymore. Borderlands thrives on the crazy encounters and battles one has with friends while bandits explode, Eridium rains from the sky, and some villain drops cool lines. There is a lot to laugh at – and that is what made the campaign in multiplayer always great.
With Cyberpunk 2077, the developers at CD Projekt Red aim to make a splash – they appear to be digging deep into their pockets. The campaign is expected to be more expensive than that of The Witcher 3.
CD Projekt Red intends to invest heavily to launch an intense advertising campaign for Cyberpunk 2077. They want to overshadow even The Witcher 3 to do justice to the significance of Cyberpunk.
What was discussed: During a “Financial Conference Call” with investors, CD Projekt Red talked about the marketing campaign upcoming for Cyberpunk 2077. They stated that it is too early to release specific plans. They need to get “closer to the release” to outline precise expectations. Kicinski (CEO) and Nielubowicz (CFO) further explained that they have “high hopes for the title. (…) The [marketing] campaign will definitely be more expensive than that of The Witcher 3.” They do not want a campaign “like a flash.”
Most advertising campaigns are short and intense: For a few days or at most two weeks, a new game can be seen on every page or even on TV trailers, advertising banners on news portals or posters in city centers. A few days after the release of the game, everything is over. “Like a flash” refers exactly to that – Cyberpunk plans something bigger with more presence and long-term attention.
E3 could kick off the “marketing start”: Fans are eagerly waiting for more information about the game, and the upcoming E3 could fire the starting gun for that. After all, a first trailer is expected after years, and there might even be some first gameplay footage to see.
In about two weeks, we will know more. There is still no release date for Cyberpunk 2077.
Are you looking forward to news about Cyberpunk 2077? Or are you afraid that a large marketing campaign will only create hype that could lead to disappointment?
In a huge developer update, the PUBG team explains how the game is set to improve in the near future. Three major goals are on the plan:
Performance
Server optimization
Anti-cheat
As a result, the performance of PUBG should improve significantly and finally address one of the most common criticisms.
Lags have always hindered PUBG
Since the launch of PUBG, players have repeatedly voiced complaints about performance. Players with high-end PCs reported FPS drops that negatively affected the gameplay experience in the shooter.
In a Steam post, the team acknowledges that improvements to performance were not a top priority. Instead, features like map selection were implemented. Now they have stated which improvements are planned to allow the game to run more stable on systems.
Performance improvements
A few simple fixes are intended to generally improve performance. This includes the adjustment of lighting effects, which have previously stressed your graphics units. Additionally, the overload of the graphics units caused by vehicles driving over various surfaces is also to be fixed.
To increase players’ frame rates, movements, animations, and character models will be adjusted.
PUBG will also handle distant vehicles and other players within them differently – they consume too much performance
Server-side improvements
The changes to the servers are intended to reduce network latency. Overall, your actions should be represented faster on other players and items should not spawn too late.
Cheating
Regarding cheating, the team claims to have made the greatest progress in recent months.
It should now be even more difficult for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities
Hundreds of thousands of cheaters have been banned
Legal action is being taken against those responsible for the cheating software
News about the Sanhok map – detail perfection
A major content change will be the release of the Sanhok map in the near future. It is set to be unlocked before July.
New exclusive vehicles and weapons are planned for the small 4×4 kilometer map. These will be unlocked in the month following the map’s release. This includes a vehicle requested by fans: the three-wheeled Tuk-Tuk!
“The team focuses on perfecting every inch of Sanhok for players.”
The new version 5.6 of the PvP MMORPG Crowfall finally introduces the vassal system, bringing a new dimension to group play.
Now it is possible to build a vast kingdom together with your friends. You assign specific tasks and rights to fellow players, allowing them to build structures, for example.
Many innovations with the current update
The vassal system is here. Through this system, it is possible to invite other players to your kingdom and assign them the status of a vassal. Depending on their rank, they have specific rights and can, for example, construct buildings on your land or delegate work to other players of lower rank. In this way, you can also create entire cities and establish marketplaces to sell goods to visitors of your kingdom using the seller system introduced last time.
A new map has been introduced. This is the map of one of the dying campaign worlds, where you gather resources to expand your Eternal Kingdom.
The skill system has been revamped. You gain (even passively while not logged into the game) skill points in various categories. Skills that are in this category can now be assigned points to improve them. It is not possible to improve skills that are not in the trained category.
First steps towards procedural world design. The developers no longer need to distribute resources manually; this is now done through a random system. This is the first step towards a procedural creation of the campaign worlds.
The AI has been improved. The AI of the monsters guarding the resources has been enhanced. This makes it harder to gather resources.
New races are playable. With the Fae and the male versions of the forest and high elves, you have more options when creating your character.
During the campaign of The Division, we had to deal with some rogue agents from the first wave. We summarize for you why they turned away from the Division and what it all has to do with Aaron Keener.
Although The Division does not have a particularly thrilling or emotional story campaign, Massive has managed to create a strong network of various interesting stories in combination with various echoes and audio logs scattered throughout the game world.
One of the most interesting and important storylines revolves around the rogue first-wave agent Aaron Keener. Who he was and why he became a rogue will be examined in closer detail now.
Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t completed the campaign yet, you should not continue reading, as content from the final missions will be discussed.
The Background
After the outbreak of the pandemic, the US government declared a state of emergency and activated the Division. The first wave was dispatched to support local forces and regain control of the situation. Among them was agent Aaron Keener – call sign: “Vanguard”.
He was supposed to become one of the main antagonists for our agents.
Who was Aaron Keener before the outbreak? As part of the first wave, he was a well-trained soldier with a degree from the military college in South Carolina. Later, he was stationed in Djibouti, Africa. During his time on the front lines, he was less often found on the battlefields and more often organized the operational base on-site.
It quickly became apparent that Keener was very talented both militarily and as a decision-maker. After his time in the military, he became a Wall Street broker. Always convinced of being on top in every situation, Keener was adaptable and confident even then.
He was seen as a rising star who never had to deal with extreme resistance. With his likable personality, he was always able to convince others of his standpoint.
This character strength, coupled with military experience, willpower, and intelligence, led to Keener being characterized as the prototype for the ideal Division agent.
What happened after the outbreak? Aaron Keener was part of the first wave sent to Manhattan after the outbreak. One of the main objectives was the securing of the Dark Zone. The recovery of sick civilians took top priority.
But the CERA, an organization that operates in disasters, and the JTF, a coalition of police officers, firefighters, and volunteers, had long since lost control.
They ordered a retreat from the Dark Zone. The Division was forced to leave behind expensive equipment, comrades, and civilians. Additionally, they lost all hope of regaining control of the Dark Zone.
This was a key moment for Keener that was supposed to change his perspective. During this time, some event must have severely shaken his views. He decided to turn rogue.
From now on, sheer power and influence were his only pursuits – regardless of the cost. Laws and the lives of others no longer mattered to him. Audio logs from the West Side Pier also suggest that he might have developed sadistic tendencies along with his hunger for power.
What happened to the remaining Division agents? Aaron Keener gathered the remaining members of the first wave and convinced them of his cause. Those who did not join him were threatened with death. The agents who could escape were relentlessly hunted down.
This led to the activation of the second wave and thus the dispatch of our agents.
The nightlife in GTA 5 Online will soon be celebrated with new techno and house music. Rumors say a nightclub DLC is on the way.
This summer, GTA 5 Online is expected to get new music. One of the bands whose music will be in the game announced the news with a post on Instagram. Now fans of the game believe that the music will be for a new feature, nightclubs, as the rumors fit together well.
Nightclub addon for GTA 5?
Two new DJs and two bands are set to become part of GTA 5 Online this summer. These are Solomun, Tale of Us, Dixon, and The Black Madonna.
The image shows that these bands will be part of GTA 5 Online, or Los Santos, starting summer 2018. There is no exact timeframe for the music update so far. Rockstar has not officially announced it yet.
In Grand Theft Auto, radio stations have always played a significant role. Just remember back when you cruised through Vice City with KISS, AC/DC, and Nena.
Now fans believe that there is more behind this change. A feature that has only been rumored fits well with the new music. Rockstar insider Yan2295 says that a nightclub DLC for players of GTA 5 Online is on the way.
In this nightclub DLC, you will be able to buy and manage clubs. It is rumored to be released in June.
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In the past, Yan2295 has leaked many features ahead of time. That’s why the community pays a lot of attention to him regarding the nightclubs. The new music for “summer 2018” aligns well with the nightclubs planned for June.
Remember that Rockstar has not officially announced anything yet. Jumping on the hype train now would likely be too soon.
Overwatch has been hearing for a while that the similarities to the shooter “Team Fortress 2” are quite noticeable. Enough material for interesting crossovers, as the YouTuber The Winglet shows in his “Source Film Maker” video! There, the heroes from Overwatch fight against the characters from Team Fortress 2. I wonder how it will end?
Shootouts, humor, romances, and body parts: The Overwatch/TF2 crossover video has it all. From comic-style shootouts including flying body parts to grotesque humor and a romantic happy ending. And the video manages to pack it all into 8 minutes! And who would have thought that Mei could be so “cold”…
Battle for Azeroth brings tons of new content to World of Warcraft. It also has to look good. Blizzard is already taking care of the appearance of Battle for Azeroth. Data miners have now found new models and polished old textures.
New models and improved textures: In Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard is thoroughly polishing existing textures. Some old models, such as those of fire elementals and naga, are getting a makeover. They are likely to get attention thanks to the Island Expeditions.
Image source: wowhead.
Image source: wowhead.
Image source: wowhead.
But there will also be new models. In Battle for Azeroth, fluffy alpacas are making their way into the game! Whether these cute cloven-hoofed animals are suitable as hunter pets or just decoration for the environment is not yet known. However, fans hope for an alpaca mount.
Image source: wowhead.
More detail for notable characters: Some models are even getting a little more love in Battle for Azeroth. They receive not only polish or a new model, but are also equipped with new details.
For example, Jaina Proudmoore gets an anchor as a necklace. Jaina is one of the main characters of the addon, and the anchor is the emblem of the seafaring kingdom of Kul Tiras. Jaina shows her connection to it – despite some issues with her people.
Larvae and ghosts: Besides fiery opponents and pretty protagonists, Blizzard is also taking care of the less beloved inhabitants of Azeroth. Larvae, which can mainly be found in plague areas, are getting a polish.
Image source: wowhead.
A new model is available for banshees and ghosts. The haunting figures now resemble floating corpses rather than distorted spirits. What Blizzard plans to do with the undead is not yet certain.
Image source: wowhead.
What do you think of the new models? Are you excited about the new opponents, or do you also want an alpaca mount? Do you find the detail on Jaina appropriate? Leave us a comment!
The community is currently accusing the developers of Destiny 2 that the new Escalation Protocol event is barely manageable. Bungie has now hinted at an adjustment of the difficulty level.
Escalation Protocol in a fireteam of three? In the “This Week at Bungie” blog from May 24, 2018, Bungie addressed some fan questions regarding the Escalation Protocol. The difficulty level, potential matchmaking, and larger fireteams were the focus of the discussion.
The studio emphasized that this new PvE event is designed to be completed by a fireteam of three maximum-level Guardians. This statement caused a lot of frustration and head-shaking among the fans. Following this, Bungie backtracked and even hinted at adjustments to the difficulty level.
The Escalation Protocol could become easier
Not feasible: Many community members stressed after the developers’ explanation that the event can hardly be managed under these conditions. Many players who have already reached the new max power level of 385 are still not even remotely able to tackle the Escalation Protocol in a team of three. Frustration is spreading.
Even exceptional players like Gigz could only complete the event after eight hours and numerous failures as a trio. Increasingly more fans are demanding that the developers please demonstrate how they successfully finish the event in a three-man fireteam – preferably in a video.
Bungie has now backtracked: On Reddit, the community manager Cozmo wrote that they have reviewed the feedback and are now considering an adjustment to the difficulty level. They were concerned that the event might become too easy and it was possible that they had overdone it regarding the difficulty. While they cannot change the fireteam size, adjusting the difficulty at the end of the event is within the realm of possibility.
Event could become easier: A reduction in difficulty seems highly likely given these statements. However, there has been no concrete confirmation from the studio or a potential timeline for the adjustment.
We will continue to follow the matter for you and report on further developments.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) has actually filed a lawsuit against Fortnite. It concerns a violation of copyright. The lawsuit has been ongoing since January 2018 in South Korea.
Lawsuit filed in January: As reported by the Korean Times, PUBG Corporation has filed a complaint against Epic Games. The court is supposed to determine whether the game from Epic Games “Fortnite” is a copy of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” and whether copyright has been violated. It is an injunction lawsuit.
Lawsuit ongoing in South Korea: An official representative of PUBG said on Friday that they filed the lawsuit back in January. The lawsuit is ongoing at the “Seoul Central District Court” against Epic Games Korea.
No public statements on the legal dispute
This is what PUBG says: PUBG told the Korean gaming site Inven that they do not want to share any details or the progress of the process. The lawsuit was filed in January to protect copyright.
This is what Epic says: Epic states that there is nothing to share with the public about the process as long as it is still an ongoing procedure.
Evidence of 11 major similarities
Similarities between Fortnite and PUBG: According to a report from Inven, PUBG has submitted evidence of 11 major similarities between Fortnite and PUBG. These similarities include:
the style of the interface,
the mini-map,
the overlay of the crosshair,
the way health points regenerate,
and the number of players in a match.
Source: Invenglobal
There was trouble back in September
Dispute arose in September: The current lawsuit continues a public dispute between PUBG and Fortnite from September 2017. At that time, PUBG complained that Fortnite was introducing a “Battle Royale” mode that clearly relied on PUBG and sought proximity to PUBG in advertising. Epic is the developer of the Unreal Engine, which is also used by PUBG. Therefore, they are partners. Developer Bluehole found it particularly frustrating that such competition was coming from a business partner.
Fortnite has overtaken PUBG: Since September 2017, a lot has changed. Back then, PUBG was the huge giant in PC gaming and Fortnite, with its PvE mode, was actually failing. However, Fortnite: Battle Royale has now surpassed PUBG as a free alternative and is enjoying worldwide success. The game is free to play on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and iOS. A port for Android and a release in China are expected to follow. Currently, Fortnite earns over 296 million US dollars a month. Hardly anyone would have believed that possible back in September 2017.
Release of Fortnite in South Korea likely the reason
Fortnite is set to come to Korea: Epic Games is currently preparing to bring Fortnite to South Korea. They have formed a partnership with Neowiz Games, the company behind the MMORPG “Bless.” The two companies plan to release Fortnite in the country’s internet cafes in the second quarter of 2018. Apparently, this is the reason for PUBG to file a lawsuit. Their parent company Bluehole is also based in South Korea.
Could the Fortnite servers be shut down due to the lawsuit?
Before it was a fake: Ironically, there were rumors some time ago that PUBG had sued Fortnite. When on April 12 the servers at Fortnite were down for an extended period, fake news circulated that it was due to a lawsuit by PUBG. Therefore, Fortnite was supposedly “banned” and the servers would be shut down. That was a blatant lie at that time. Ironically, however, the lawsuit was indeed already underway in South Korea. But whether the injunction lawsuit, if successful, will actually have an impact on our Fortnite servers remains to be doubted. We do not know much about the legal dispute yet, but it seems to be about the release of Fortnite in South Korea.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today marks the early start of the MMORPG Bless Online, with the official launch taking place on May 30. We explain what you should know for the release. What time does Bless start?
When does the headstart begin? Early starters who purchase a Founder’s Pack will begin today at 7 PM. This is actually the standard time when Steam launches new games. Since all players (USA and Europe) start at the same time and there is no pre-load, you should be prepared to wait a bit. There may be issues and queues.
Can you buy the founder’s packs beforehand? No, you cannot purchase Bless or start a download beforehand. Everything is scheduled to start this evening. So it will be quite crowded.
There is one server for the USA and one for Europe. Current information mentions only two servers, one for the USA and one for Europe. However, this does not mean that you will see all players on your server, as there are different instances. You will be randomly distributed into these instances, but you can also switch if you want to play with someone who is in a different instance.
You are bound to your faction. At the start, you choose whether you want to belong to the Union or Hieron faction. You will then be bound to this faction, and each of your characters will automatically belong to this faction. If you want to “switch sides”, this can only be done by deleting all your characters and starting completely over.
The Races and Classes of Bless
Choose between five classes. The early access phase of Bless Online offers you five classes, regardless of which faction you belong to:
Guardian
Berserker
Mage
Ranger
Paladin
The classes Assassin and Mystic will be introduced at a later time.
Each race has its own starting zone. If you want to start together with friends, make sure that you all choose the same race. Each race gets its own starting zone.
What does the ingame shop offer? If you possess the ingame currency Lumina (which you can also earn in the game), you can purchase items like EXP potions, more inventory space, and temporary protection from PvP attacks in the ingame shop – as PvP is possible everywhere in the world.
This should make your entry into the MMORPG Bless Online a little easier.
Shortly after the release of Conan Exiles, Funcom discusses plans for the future of the game. Conan Exiles is set to receive new content, including a DLC. However, the community has mixed feelings about the DLC.
A DLC for Conan Exiles comes in June: Funcom mentioned in its first quarter 2018 financial report that new content for Conan Exiles is on the way. According to reports, Conan Exiles will receive bug fixes and “Quality of Life” updates, new features and functionality, and DLC packs in the coming months.
The new features will generally be free. However, it is still unclear how the DLC will be structured. Nevertheless, the DLC is expected to be released this coming June.
Some players are still exploring the last areas in the game, and something new is already on the horizon.
The DLC brings “optional content”
The most significant gameplay changes will likely come in the free updates that everyone will receive. The DLCs are expected to contain “optional content.” Funcom has not yet revealed what exactly this entails.
The community suspects new cosmetic items and settings. Some players hope for new options in character creation. Others think there could be new materials or a new look for buildings.
These would be innovations that would likely please players on PS4 and Xbox One. PC players already have access to a wide database of mods through Steam. Options such as different character options are already available as mods.
The mods of Conan Exiles.
ARK as a Negative Example
The community is divided: Reactions to the DLC have been mixed in the official forum so far. Many players are excited about new content and are satisfied with what Funcom has already accomplished. They trust that the company will make the right decisions.
Others fear that Conan Exiles might take a path similar to ARK. They are concerned that Funcom prefers to sell new content rather than fix existing bugs. Players are particularly unsettled that the DLC is set to be released so early. They hope that the DLC will not include features that should have already been present in the finished game.
On Monday, the Early Access of the MMORPG Bless begins. We have compiled 5 things that users should know before deciding to purchase.
The launch of Bless: In recent months, the MMORPG “Bless” has been controversially discussed by the community – also on our site. On Monday at 7:00 PM, Early Access starts on PC. There is no preload. The regular launch for players without founder pack is on Wednesday, May 30th. However, even then one will have to purchase access, as Bless is a Buy2Play title. We summarize 5 things that one should know before launch.
1. Bless is an AAA MMORPG and perhaps the last of its kind
High production costs: Bless was announced by the Korean MMO specialist Neowiz in 2011. It is said to have been in development since 2009 and employed more than 150 developers. Bless runs on Unreal Engine 3. The production costs of Bless are estimated at around 61 million US dollars (via mmos). This makes it an AAA MMORPG. MMORPGs with such investment are now almost exclusively developed in South Korea.
Looks good, sounds good: From the beginning, Bless focused on its high production values – the music comes from Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. The first trailers made waves in 2014. They were well made and showed a fascinating fantasy world. Here is the current Steam trailer.
Bless did not succeed in South Korea: The original launch of Bless in South Korea was not successful. That was in January 2016. Over the following months and years, more and more servers were merged until Bless was ultimately taken off the market in mid-2017 for a fundamental overhaul. Critics mainly criticized the lack of good performance in the original Bless. Unique selling points were apparently in short supply: a Mein-MMO reader who could test Bless in 2016 described it as an “old-school MMO.“
Fuss over port to Europe: Actually, Bless was supposed to be released here in Europe in 2017. The German publisher Aeria Games was on board. However, after Neowiz announced that it would be overhauling Bless, Aeria Games withdrew. Therefore, developer Neowiz is now releasing the game themselves in Europe and North America.
Steam version without free trial: Neowiz has revised Bless for the global version. However, only a few influencers were allowed to play the newly revised Steam version beforehand. Bless launches on Steam without a free trial period directly with a paid Early Access version.
3. Bless offers faction PvP for everyone
No PvE servers: Bless will not offer PvE servers. The developers emphasize how important the constant war between the two factions Union and Hieron is for the game. There is an item that grants protection against PvP, but it only lasts for 10 minutes. Until the maximum level, it can be purchased with gold, after that with the real money currency Lumenia.
It is unlikely that one can afford to maintain this PvP protection permanently. Even if you can earn the premium currency, the amount that can be exchanged per week is limited.
However, it is equally unclear whether Bless will become the gank festival that critics fear. If you have doubts and want to avoid PvP at all costs, it makes sense to wait for the release and check out initial reports. It is difficult to infer what the actual PvP behavior in the Steam version will be based on the gameplay systems.
4. Bless has a cash shop but swears it will not be Pay2Win
Not a Free2Play game: Unlike many Asian MMORPGs, Bless is not a free-to-play title. The entry price will be around €27. In addition, Bless has announced that it will introduce a cash shop to the game. It will not be purely cosmetic but will contain “convenience” items.
Cash shop with boosters: In the shop, there will be items that make it easier for players to progress. A premium membership can also be purchased, which grants moderate bonuses and is intended to enable faster progression. The previously known percentage values are in the range of 10% or 20%.
Mainly cosmetic: The developers of Bless have repeatedly emphasized that Bless is not meant to be a Pay2Win title. This is important to them. Neowiz primarily wants to earn money for future development by creating cool skins for pets, weapons, and characters and selling them through the cash shop.
5. The community is divided, but many are excited about Bless
Bless discussed controversially: In recent months, discussions about Bless have repeatedly flared up among players interested in MMORPGs. Negative points about the game mainly include the open PvP, the lack of special “features,” and the cash shop. However, there is also an enthusiastic community eagerly waiting to venture into a new MMORPG.
Every beginning holds a magic: For many, the first days in an MMORPG are considered the most beautiful and intense time, when everyone is still a beginner and friendships and experiences are formed.
Bless will in the worst case die down relatively quickly. At the moment it still seems quiet around the MMORPG. A mainstream success is not to be expected. This is a game for the niche. Bless is a big unknown after the overhaul for Steam. A variety of difficulties could arise regarding content supply, the cash shop, or individual gameplay aspects. The fact that Bless starts with only 5 classes and likely retains a lot of content for the time being could also become a problem.
What does Mein MMO recommend? We definitely recommend caution with the large founder packs until you really have a good picture of the MMORPG. There is a lack of a closed or open beta to get an accurate impression. Currently, one is buying a pig in a poke. One should not expect miracles from Bless – it is certainly not a “next-gen MMORPG.” If in doubt, it is advisable to wait at least until Wednesday and the official release date; one can endure the 48 hours – and even then Bless is still “new” and one can take the launch experience with them.
Have you decided to purchase or will you wait for initial reports?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The song “Through the Fire and Flames” by Dragonforce is considered the ultimate killer in the Guitar Hero games. Now, a bard from Final Fantasy XIV has taken on the challenge to play this song using the composition feature of the MMORPG – in its full 7-minute glory.
The compositions are a relatively young feature in Final Fantasy XIV that allows players to play their favorite songs through keyboard and controller inputs. Nevertheless, creative gamer minds have already created countless cool tracks, ranging from Final Fantasy melodies to classics like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. Players now have access to nine different instruments. With each content update, this feature continues to expand.
Has the video sparked your interest in Final Fantasy XIV? Here’s how you can test it for free:
If you don’t have fixed gaming partners, you have to approach the team modes in Fortnite: Battle Royale solo or in a team of random players. A random team? It probably won’t be that bad, thought our author Robert. But he should be mistaken. A report on experience.
Generally, I avoid playing Fortnite: Battle Royale with randomly selected players. Considering the dozens of play styles and tactical nuances, it is nearly impossible to find a complete team that harmonizes with one’s own play style. When an aggressive player encounters three defensively playing players, the chances of success are low.
Now my absolute favorite mode – “Pure Gold” – was active, but my fixed gaming partner was not online. I play the mode alone as well, but since I still had a few challenges to complete that need to be done in a team, I took the plunge into the cold water and completed about 20 games with randomly assigned players.
To put it positively: It was an interesting experience. But always in order.
Joyfully, I start the player search in the “Pure Gold” mode. The loading screen hasn’t even disappeared when a full-fledged argument between two children reaches my ears. Admittedly, my Spanish is a bit rusty – but I undoubtedly witnessed an argument. Probably over the controller (or whatever children argue about).
The deafening noise persisted throughout the entire match. I seem to remember that a third voice joined the “conversation”, but it could also have been my ringing ears.
To my shame, I must admit that it took three complete games before I realized that individual players can mute themselves. Until then, I had to endure tirades in French, Italian, and English. Needless to say, we were not remotely successful in any of the rounds.
Occasionally, the verbal battles were countered by annoyed other players – I do not wish to quote the non-youth-friendly language here. After I finally figured out how to eliminate the annoying background noise, I was faced with the next challenge: Tilted Towers.
Tilted Towers are the Lottery of Fortnite: Battle Royale
Everyone knows that the odds of winning the lottery are infinitesimally small. The same goes for the largest city in Fortnite: Battle Royale. Whoever lands in Tilted Towers first and finds a usable weapon can really go to town. It’s pure luck – nothing more.
If all four team members agree to land in Tilted Towers, that’s okay. However, that has never been the case. Only one player always wanted to land in the Towers, but was outvoted by the others. But that didn’t stop him from his plan.
Needless to say, the player in the city was nearly always eliminated within the first 30 seconds. More importantly, it makes absolutely no sense to land in the Towers when playing a mode like “Pure Gold”.
All equipment items are legendary – always and exclusively. Therefore, there is no advantage in landing in the Towers – on the contrary. It is impossible NOT to stumble over a SCAR, a sniper, and a close-range weapon at any other spot on the map as well.
As sensible as landing in Tilted Towers: The Chewbacca Defense
Landing in Tilted Towers is the Chewbacca Defense of Fortnite – it makes no sense. The only result is a diminished or scattered team across the map with very little chance of success.
To make matters worse, I also frequently encountered a type of player that shouldn’t exist in such a mode – AFK players (AFK – away from keyboard: absent players).
Why start in a mode only to not play it?
Three people choose a drop spot – great, I think, we understand each other. Unfortunately, the fourth player has entirely different plans, namely none at all. If someone doesn’t jump from the battle bus, they will inevitably be dropped at the edge of the map. There, absent players sail peacefully until they are eventually consumed by the storm.
For the rest of the team, this means: One player less and lower chances of success. Thank you very much!
To the absent players out there: You can also complete certain challenges (survive x players in team mode) if you actually PLAY the game. Sounds weird, but it’s true.
After all these stumbling blocks, I decided to go solo again in the “Pure Gold” mode – and it finally became fun again.
What are your experiences with randoms? Do you have any curious stories to tell?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
From May 29th, EVE Online players will be able to advance into a new area of the universe. The Abyssal Deadspace is a new PvE environment that rewards brave players with special items. The expansion aims to bring new players to EVE Online.
New PvE content awaits you on May 29th!
When does the new expansion start? The update will go live on May 29th at 1:00 PM. The servers should be accessible again for everyone 30 minutes later, at 1:30 PM.
What content does the expansion bring? The summer update expands the game with the Abyssal Deadspace, a new PvE activity in EVE Online. It is a kind of parallel dimension where ships of the powerful Triglavian Collective reside.
Additionally, players can find Mutaplasmides in Deadspace. These can be used to enhance or weaken modules, depending on how lucky you are.
The special feature: The content is intended to be suitable for solo PvE players.
CCP is also revising how players colonize planets. The entire process is now supposed to be simpler and faster. Tooltips have been added to make the system more accessible to players.
New system requirements for EVE
The system requirements will increase. This is the first time since 2013 that CCP Games is raising the system requirements for EVE Online.
Windows:
OS: Windows 10
CPU: Intel i7 Series or AMD Ryzen 7 series @ 3.6 GHz or more
RAM: 16 GB or more
VIDEO: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 580 or better with at least 4 GB VRam
Mac:
OS: Mac 10.13
CPU: Intel i5 Series @ 3.8 GHz or more
RAM: 16 GB or more
VIDEO: AMD Radeon Pro 580 or better with at least 4 GB VRam
The expansion aims to attract veterans and newcomers: EVE has also revamped its tutorial. Developer CCP hopes that this free expansion will bring new pilots to EVE Online and that veterans will find their way back to the MMORPG.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Conan Exiles is successful – and developer Funcom is doing well because of it. Already in 2017, Conan Exiles marked the best quarter for the company in years. The upcoming numbers are likely to be even better. What does this mean for Conan fans?
Conan Exiles “rescues” Funcom: Since its release, Conan Exiles has enjoyed huge popularity. It has already been in the Top 10 of the most played games on Steam and has sold over 1.4 million copies.
Thus, more copies of Conan Exiles have been sold than in the first three years of Age of Conan. Funcom put everything into the development of Conan Exiles and apparently got it right.
Funcom has ripped a leg off – and it worked.
First quarter of 2018 still hesitant, second likely to be larger: The numbers for the first quarter of 2018 could not yet be compared to those from 2017. The early access of Conan Exiles gave Funcom a boost like it hadn’t seen in a long time.
Now that Conan Exiles has been fully released on May 8, the finances in the second quarter should be significantly better. Conan Exiles will soon be Funcom’s best-selling game of all time and is likely to become the new workhorse.
Doing well: Conan Exiles.
A new Conan game is coming in 2019
Funcom uses new energy for more Conan: Fans of the Conan universe should be particularly pleased with Funcom’s good standing. Funcom already has plans for a new Conan game, set to be released in the first half of 2019.
Funcom is collaborating with the RTS studio Petroglyph, which has developed classics like Star Wars: Empire at War and Grey Goo. So perhaps fans will see a Conan strategy game in 2019.
Reunion with Conan? Perhaps, 2019.
How are the other games doing? Funcom is also working on other projects besides Conan Exiles, which are gradually being forgotten. However, there are still some notes in the financial report:
The “Saga of Zath” servers with fresh characters from Age of Conan were very successful.
Additionally, Funcom notes that another game will be released in the second half of 2018. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a turn-based tactical adventure game, with the first plans already released in February.
Funcom’s subsidiary in South Carolina is also working on another game that will not take place in the Conan universe. This game is set to be a shooter, but no information is expected to be released on it in 2018.
On May 28, Bless Online enters Early Access. Players will have to choose one of the two factions by then. But what is the mood among German-speaking players? Which side do they want to fight for: Union or Hieron?
Union prevails, Hieron are rather the underdogs
We have browsed through the forums a bit and tried to capture a sentiment of the Bless community before it all starts on Monday.
Where are the German players playing?
On the fan page Bless EU, there are two subforums where guilds can recruit members. This is done separately by faction. Guild recruitment for Union has slightly more than double the entries compared to Hieron. The majority of players will side with Union.
What does it look like internationally?
To gauge the balance of power, players created a poll on Strawpoll with 1,295 participants.
Union is leading with 54%.
Hieron must expect slightly fewer players with 46% of the votes.
In another poll with 572 participants, the distribution looks similar.
38% want to fight on the side of Union.
28% pledge allegiance to the faction Hieron.
And 34% are still undecided.
The proportion of Union players will probably be slightly higher. Many players compare Union to the Horde in WoW and therefore want to join the “rebels”.
Some are still uncertain
Especially the undecided players will probably spontaneously choose a side. This will have very different reasons.
A player on YouTube writes, for example, that he joins the side with the most beautiful characters.
Another player wants to look at the capitals of the factions first and then decide.
On which server do you play Bless Online?
The server question isn’t as pressing. Bless will only have one server for Europe. The server location is Frankfurt. However, there will probably be several channels on this server. Currently, 2 channels are planned for Europe. The number of channels could still be increased.
Where is the Mein-MMO community playing?
Where do Mein MMO readers play? Readers comment on our posts about Bless and explain why they have chosen a particular faction.
The reader Chiefryddmz checks out Union. He is most interested in the starting area there. His class of choice is the ranger.
Fenrir wants to start strong with faction Hieron in Bless Online because they do not start in a desert, like the Pantera.
To know exactly how it looks in our community, we created a poll. Participate in our survey and tell us which side you want to join in Bless. You have only ONE vote.
