Currently, “Battle Royale” is arguably the most popular game mode, making games like PUBG and Fortnite really big. Should Overwatch follow this trend?
The impact of Fortnite and similar games is also being felt by major publishers. When the player count and time invested in such games increase, time spent on other games must decrease.
According to some analysts in a summary from Investors.com, it is not the games themselves that are so successful, but rather the game mode. Therefore, analysts expect major publishers (such as Activision and also Blizzard) to follow suit and simply implement these modes into their games to rekindle player interest.
What the analysts are indirectly suggesting is the assumption that Overwatch will also implement a “Battle Royale” mode to recapture players. Time and again, one hears the wishes of fans from both games that such a mode would be perfect.
However, I don’t believe that will happen.
Battle Royale does not fit Overwatch
Battle Royale requires a gigantic map that would need to exceed the size of all current Overwatch maps combined. This presents an almost impossible challenge for Blizzard and the quality standards of Overwatch. Months are spent refining individual “small” maps. If one were to create a “Battle Royale” map, either the quality would massively suffer, or Blizzard would spend nearly a year solely on the design of the map.
Furthermore, I find Battle Royale unsuitable for Overwatch. Most characters in Overwatch are designed for teamwork and have many weaknesses when played alone. This can also be beautifully demonstrated in Deathmatch, where typically the same 4-5 characters are selected who can survive best on their own.
Even if one entertains the thought and expands on the idea, many questions and possibilities remain that all sound “just mediocre” interesting. What does progress within a round look like? Do you perhaps unlock your hero’s abilities gradually? Do you “find” charges for the ultimate as loot on the map? Do the damage numbers increase? I believe it would then end in a Widowmaker sniper tournament. That would certainly be exciting, but it doesn’t require a Battle Royale.
The best case scenario would be a mode in the Arcade, in a drastically stripped-down form – but that would hardly differ from the existing Deathmatch.
One does not have to chase every trend – and I hope that Blizzard does not do so in this case.
Would you want an Overwatch “Battle Royale”? Or are you glad when this hype is finally over?
Ubisoft offers microtransactions for unlocking weapons or outfits in the campaign of the newly released Far Cry 5, but this is not as bad as it may sound.
The open-world spectacle Far Cry 5 has been available since March 27, 2018, for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Prior to its release, Ubisoft assured that the included microtransactions are only meant to accelerate progress in the game. The offered items could also be unlocked by playing the game. And so far, they have been right with their announcement.
Ubisoft offers payment with in-game or premium currency
The premium currency in Far Cry 5 is silver bars, which can be found in small quantities around the game environment or purchased with real money in the shop. Those willing to pay can choose between silver bar packages ranging from €4.99 for 500 bars to €49.99 for over 5,000 bars.
If you don’t want to spend real money in the game, you don’t have to. Most available items are also offered in the in-game currency.
This currency can be earned quite well in the game: defeated enemies have money on them, it is hidden in bunkers, and can also be earned by selling animal hides. A money guarantee is the dog companion Boomer, who keeps finding ammunition or coins in the environment.
Moreover, the best weapons cannot simply be purchased in the shop from the start, but are unlocked through the story or specific objectives.
While you can buy weapons and other items from the merchants in the game using in-game currency, the premium shop is displayed in the main menu of Far Cry 5. There, you can only purchase vehicles, weapons, or clothing with silver bars. Either you save the silver bars found in the game for the items you really want, or you ignore these items.
These weapons only seem to be particularly painted or decorated and do not provide any advantages in the game.
So far, there seems to be no reason to raise alarm about the microtransactions in Far Cry 5. Should that change, we will report on it at Mein MMO.
Sea of Thieves is getting a huge update for PC and Xbox today, March 27, with the number 1.0.1. We will show you what issues are being fixed.
During the maintenance on March 27, the Sea of Thieves developers will provide a massive update for the community. It is the first update after release and is as big as the entire game. The focus is on performance improvements and bug fixes.
Sea of Thieves Patch Notes 1.0.1 – Download Size
The servers of Sea of Thieves are currently unreachable and are expected to remain down until 3:00 PM due to planned maintenance. Nevertheless, you can already download the patch that will be available to you after the maintenance.
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Players with poor internet will have to be strong now, as the patch is huge. The developers faced the choice of reducing the size of the update in the coming days. However, this would delay the update. So, they decided to release the update now, so players can benefit from improved performance and bug fixes sooner. Therefore, you will have to download several gigabytes now.
Update size on PC: 19.53GB
Update size on Xbox One: 9.99GB
Update size on Xbox One X: 18.97GB
Patch Notes
Bug Fixes
Players who redeemed their Black Dog Pack code can now see these items in their chests
Characters should no longer lose details like hair colors and scars
When digging up a chest, there is no longer a chance that you cannot lift the chest
Players should no longer miss items or weapons after starting the game
Weapons, clothing, and cosmetic ship changes now persist even after server migration in other sessions
Players will now correctly see the titles of other players
Snakes should now function properly and look at the player when they are excited
The movements of animals and skeletons on slopes have been improved
The game should no longer be in “Not Responding” status when accepting a game invite during matchmaking
The notifications of the trading post faction should now be displayed correctly when turning in various items
The lighting conditions have been adjusted at various outposts and islands to improve performance
After being killed by multiple explosive barrels, the tinnitus sound no longer persists after death
Seagulls now fly over floating barrels
Players can no longer be held by an apparently invisible kraken tentacle
Many potential game crashes have been fixed
Performance Improvements
Significant performance improvements on all platforms. Especially the 4K native resolution on the Xbox One X was the focus.
The chance of tearing on the small ship has been significantly reduced
The chance of tearing in taverns has been reduced
Large frame rate improvements when traversing large islands
Reduced chance of frame rate drops at outposts
Improved foliage for a better player experience in jungle areas
Further improvements for all platforms are in progress
Known Issues
The gold and reputation rewards after turning in quests may be delayed
Player achievements may be activated with a delay.
Are you afraid to land in Fortnite: Battle Royale in the Tilted Towers? No problem. With our guide, you will survive the house battles and walk out of the city with tons of loot!
The Tilted Towers are like the Bild newspaper of Fortnite – everyone talks about it, but no one wants to see the place from the inside. So, who are the two dozen crazies landing in this maze of buildings every round?
What seems like pointless self-torment has a significant reason, as the Tilted Towers offer several advantages:
more loot than you can carry,
many opportunities to work on your combat skills, and
more time to enjoy the sights, as the city is almost always in the first safe zone.
Moreover, the buildings provide cover and plenty of space to hide. Even passionate trap setters can gather plenty of materials for funny kills with a bit of strategic thinking.
But like any major city, the Tilted Towers also have some social hotspots where things can get hectic. Here, tactical skill is required! If you land cleverly, you can ambush fighters with a bit of loot and snag some kills.
We turn every stone in the Tilted Towers: Where do most players land? How can you capitalize on that? After our guide, you won’t have to fear the city anymore!
Basic Tips for Landing in the Tilted Towers
Whoever has a weapon first has the advantage – this principle applies across the map of Fortnite: Battle Royale, even more so in the Tilted Towers. How to get to the city before anyone else, is revealed in our guide to landing faster!
In the Tilted Towers, make sure that you either
hold the high ground – meaning an elevated position,
or stay within a building
Whoever sprints across the central square right after landing will experience a gauntlet that will most likely end in the lobby of the game. Therefore, always land on a building or at least directly next to one to seek refuge.
If you play in duo or team mode, always land together at one spot. Distributed teams will have no chance, as they will have 75% of their firepower stripped away. If you are ambushed by multiple opponents, your team cannot help you – and you will have to become the passive spectator afterwards.
The tall building with open side walls on the roof is probably the most popular landing spot on the entire map. The building is large and offers tons of weapons and items. Many players land here – whoever finds a weapon first has a big advantage.
Avoid this building – luck decides who remains alive after landing here. However, this does not mean that you cannot return later. In fact, a fort built on the roof of this building offers a perfect all-round view.
If the zone’s progression indicates towards the Tilted Towers, you can build a home there and have a complete view of the city (and any latecomers from other parts of the map).
The Tilted Towers are predestined for trap use. Those who explore the large buildings will quickly become careless. Traps can be placed in places that seem illogical at first glance – and they can provide the trap setter with easy kills.
Therefore, always move slowly through the buildings and keep an eye on the ceilings. If you have traps yourself, you can of course place them in a hard-to-see spot.
Keep an eye on the surrounding areas of Tilted Towers
Many players focus only on what is happening directly in the city – a big mistake. Specifically on the south and west sides, other players can lie in wait on hills and capture simple victories after a fight, as players in the city are focused only on their immediate surroundings.
Therefore, always keep an eye on the surrounding areas if possible. If you need to heal and there is no cover – build yourself one (including a roof). This makes it harder for distant players to take aim at you.
If you have a sniper rifle or a similar long-range weapon, you can also turn the tables and take out careless players from a building.
Tastes differ here for sure – I have discovered the southern zone of the city as my preferred landing spot. Here is a church tower (which I avoid) and directly west a small four-story house that provides a good foundation of items to start with.
The church tower is a bad idea – land in the building next door (bottom left in the picture)
The house is also rarely approached. Then you go directly south down a steel staircase to a building that is almost never visited and offers great loot. Both on the roof and inside the building itself, there are various loot spots. Through a small hideout, you can access the basement, which may also contain a chest.
Now you have several options:
If the city is too crowded, you can exit it to the southwest through the ravine and try your luck elsewhere or
you can walk east up the hill to the next building.
If you choose the building east of the church tower, you can go up to the roof and get a first all-around view of the city. But be careful, there is a great danger from both the building in the center and the mountain behind you!
Now the players in the Tilted Towers should be quite thinned out – so you can venture into the center. Look for the roofs of the tall buildings as quickly as possible to gain an advantage over your remaining opponents.
Keep your eyes peeled and pay attention to the surrounding buildings. It is easy to be caught by a player through a window.
What are your experiences with the Tilted Towers? Do you have any further tips?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Just before the arrival of update 1.1.4, Game Director Chris Barrett speaks out and promises the community soon answers to random rolls and weapon slots in Destiny 2 These are two of the biggest points of criticism that arose even before launch.
The update milestone 1.1.4 for Destiny 2 is already knocking at the door. Only a few hours separate players from the long-awaited March patch, which will make many changes and adjustments to Destiny 2. This aims to make the game more attractive for Guardians again.
The focus is clear – Destiny 2 should become a hobby again
A fan asked in a discussion thread on Reddit about Bungie’s plans on whether Destiny 2 should become a time-consuming ongoing occupation for many Guardians again or rather lean towards a game where people do not feel “forced” to invest several hours daily.
In response to this question, Barrett provided a clear answer: Bungie wants to re-establish Destiny 2 as a hobby where there is always something new to do and cool, even more powerful stuff to chase.
Random rolls and the old weapon slot system – Guardians deserve answers
Furthermore, it was asked whether random rolls, in the same form known from Destiny 1, will also find their way into the successor.
It was also raised whether there is a chance that the old weapon system from the first Destiny title could eventually replace the current system in Destiny 2.
Here, Barrett was somewhat more reserved but pointed out that both random rolls and weapon slots are very high on Bungie’s priority list and promised that final answers from Bungie can be expected in the near future. After all, they owe the players these answers.
Sven thinks: The word “promise” holds enormous significance here. The studio is usually very cautious and sparing with such binding statements. If Bungie did not have a real solution to present in the foreseeable future, they likely would have avoided this terminology.
Furthermore, it should not be overlooked that Chris Barrett is not known for throwing around clichés, empty words, or false promises. So far, he has not given the community a reason to distrust his words. On the contrary – his honest and direct manner makes him so popular among the community.
It indeed looks like fans will soon receive answers to some of their most pressing questions, which will significantly influence the future of Destiny 2.
What do you think? Will random rolls and the old weapon slot system possibly return?
In the new gym leader costumes, you can let your Pokémon GO character shine in your team’s colors.
Defending gyms in Pokémon GO is a way to earn coins and represent your team. Those who are diligent in this area now have access to new clothing in the shop. These are chosen to match your team colors and help you better identify with Team Red, Blue, or Yellow in the game.
Gym Leader Clothing and Prices
The new outfits give reasons to defend more gyms. Because you unlock the clothing with the progress of your gym leader medal. The gold gym leader medal is unlocked when you have defended gyms for over 1000 hours in total.
These clothing items are based on the progress of your medals. So it could be that there will be more new clothing in the future in connection with other medals from Pokémon GO.
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The following clothing items for female gym leaders are now available in Pokémon GO
Gym Leader Gloves – 50 Coins – requires Bronze Medal
Gym Leader Skirt – 200 Coins – requires Silver Medal
Gym Leader Shoes – 100 Coins – requires Silver Medal
Gym Leader Top – 220 Coins – requires Gold Medal
Total 570 Coins
Male gym leaders have the following selection:
Gym Leader Gloves – 50 Coins – requires Bronze Medal
Gym Leader Shorts – 200 Coins – requires Silver Medal
Gym Leader Shoes – 100 Coins – requires Silver Medal
Gym Leader Top – 220 Coins – requires Gold Medal
Total 570 Coins
Do you like the new outfits for the trainers? Perhaps you will wear them as you embark on new adventures soon, as the game will be expanded with quests. These are tasks where you need to catch certain monsters or engage in gym battles. Everything we know about the new quests in Pokémon GO, we will show you here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The World of Warcraft is coming to television! Soon, Azeroth will influence Peter and Stewie, who are in conflict like Alliance and Horde.
Blizzard’s MMORPG World of Warcraft has been the topic of various television shows at times. In addition to numerous documentaries, there are also some funny references, including a complete South Park episode. Now World of Warcraft is receiving another one of these honors, as another comedy series has decided to dedicate an episode to the conflict in Azeroth: Family Guy.
On April 1, the episode “Veteran Guy” will air on the American channel Fox. According to a rough summary of the episode, Peter and the others impersonate war veterans and are therefore sentenced to join the U.S. Coast Guard.
Family Guy: The Coast Guard for Azeroth?
What exactly this has to do with World of Warcraft remains completely open in the description. At least the teaser image for the episode is very much reminiscent of some promo images from Battle for Azeroth, where Orcs and Humans face off – in this case, Peter as an Orc and Stewie as an Alliance member, while the war is already raging in the background.
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On Facebook, they promote the episode with the words that “only someone as crazy as Leeeeroooooy Jeeeeeenkins would miss this episode” and that viewers should tune in on Sunday for “a bit of Warcraft magic.” Whether the episode treats World of Warcraft as a side topic or actually makes it the focus remains to be seen.
However, it will likely take a few months before the episode is broadcast in localized form on German television. However, there shouldn’t be a lack of streams for the original version on the internet starting April 2 …
Monster Hunter World received its first DLC on March 22, bringing a new monster to the game with the Dämonjho. The update also included a major balance adjustment for nearly all weapons in the game. This led to shifts in the tier list for both single and multiplayer.
Shortly after the update, the Japanese site gamy.jp created a new weapon ranking for both single player and multiplayer. The utility of weapons can vary significantly in a group versus alone.
The ranking is based on weapon mechanics and player opinions. The ranking reflects the status as of March 23, the day after the balance update was released.
Tier List for Weapons in Single Player
Below you will find an illustration of the tier list for single player. The great sword, hammer, and sword & shield have benefited from the recent changes.
Weapon Ranking in Solo Play on March 23. Image source: gamy.jp
Weapon Ranking in Solo Play
SS – Bow / Hammer / Great Sword / Energy Blade
S – Long Sword / Sword & Shield / Dual Blades / Light Bowgun
This is how the ranking in single player is explained:
Since the update, it is noticeable that sword & shield now excels with quick attacks, thanks to the circular slash combo.
The chance of paralysis has increased for the hammer, making monsters immobilized faster.
The great sword deals significantly more damage. The damage buff from Charged Slash II and III combined with a simple tackle is a relief in solo play.
The ranking of switch axe and heavy bowgun has drastically decreased. The switch axe requires a lot of macro-management, causing many players to turn their backs on it.
The heavy bowgun has several disadvantages in its mechanics, including low mobility and long reload times.
Tier List for Weapons in Multiplayer
In multiplayer, the ranking is somewhat different from single player, since a different dynamic and situation for the weapons arises in group play. The hammer is also among the top here. It is also noticeable that the great sword is top-tier in single player, while it ranks at the bottom in multiplayer.
Weapon Ranking in Multiplayer on March 23. Image source: gamy.jp
Weapon Ranking in Multiplayer
SS – Sword & Shield / Dual Blades / Hammer / Energy Blade
S – Hunting Horn / Long Sword / Bow / Light Bowgun
This is how the ranking in multiplayer is explained:
The heavy bowgun ranks here at the bottom tier, as it tends to interrupt other hunters’ actions with its attacks.
In multiplayer, the hammer shines in the SS tier, as it also benefits from its increased paralysis chance.
The great sword drops significantly here, landing in the B tier, as the strong True Charged Slash can be difficult to hit in group play.
Sword & Shield are also top-tier in multiplayer. The weapon deals decent damage. Players are also able to support the group by using items while wielding their weapon.
The hunting horn has risen from a low rank to a high S rank in group play due to the recent adjustments. This weapon is designed for support and has received improvements to its buff capabilities.
Energy Blade, Dual Blades, Bow, Light Bowgun, and Long Sword are in the top tier, as their macro management is easy to handle.
Lance and Gunlance are solid in defense and still land in the A tier.
What do you think of this tier list? Do you agree or would you arrange the weapons differently?
Today marks the official launch of the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar. However, this is overshadowed by a controversial announcement to “transfer” EU players to Travian Games.
The fact that players from Russia and the Baltic States were “ceded” to the Russian publisher Black Sun was met with discontent in the SotA community.
Instead of learning from the situation, the developer studio Portalarium is now repeating this and transferring EU players to Travian Games. This bombshell was dropped just a day before the official launch of the MMORPG. Consequently, the mood among EU fans is quite sour.
Players from the EU now feel displaced. Although they still have access to the official forum, can participate in discussions, and manage their guilds outside the game, this step is met with frustration. This is partly due to the new prices of the game. Through the Portalarium shop, SotA costs $39.99. However, through the EU shop, it amounts to €39.99.
The price difference is explained by the taxes that apply in the EU even for digital purchases. However, the prices are significantly higher than a 1:1 conversion of dollars to euros plus taxes. Therefore, European players have to pay significantly more.
Those who do not switch lose access to service
Apparently, for legal reasons and due to data protection, consent is required to transfer data from Portalarium to Travian Games.
Those who do not agree here seemingly lose all claims to use the service. Anyone who does not want their data transferred to another company will no longer have access to the item store. The situation regarding already purchased items remains unclear.
What about the Telethons?
It is also unclear how the Telethons will proceed. Through these, Portalarium has been generating funds for the further development of the game every month. Viewers of the live show had to purchase something in the item shop.
But how will this work now, as the item shop cannot be used by EU players? And how does it affect taxation, as EU players now have to pay taxes for digital purchases related to the game?
In Fortnite, the “Battle Royale Starter Pack” is now live in the PlayStation and Xbox shop. The pack includes the so-called Halo Skin and 600 V-Bucks for about €5. Players have been waiting a long time for this offer.
For about a month, players have been eager to purchase the “Fortnite Battle Royale Starter Pack”. It was visible early on but could not be acquired. This was one of those cheap leaks that companies sometimes experience and nobody can explain, which stir up excitement for what is briefly visible. If only they could always be prevented…
Battle Royale Starter Pack – Here you can buy it for PS4, Xbox One, and PC
In any case: It is finally here, and the pack is available in the PlayStation Store and in the Xbox Store. It is also expected to come to PC. On PC, it is now also available – you can find the pack simply in the Fortnite store within the game, where you usually buy V-Bucks.
What’s included in the pack:
There is an exclusive outfit “Renegade Agent Outfit” – only for Battle Royale – this is the so-called “Halo Skin”
Additionally, “Catalyst Back Bling” – only for Battle Royale
And 600 V-Bucks
Image source: Fortniteintel
The price: It costs €4.99.
How long is the offer valid? It is still not really known. Originally, it was only announced until April 1st. There is no expiration date found in the shops.
Why is this something special? Normally, 1100 V-Bucks cost €10, but you don’t get anything for free. With the Battle Royale Starter Pack, you get the skin as well. Therefore, the offer is enticing, and it seems some people like the skin.
Is this really the Halo Skin? No, the design is inspired by the “Orbital Drop Shock Troopers” from the Halo universe, but Epic does not have rights to the name and calls it something completely different. Epic would certainly deny that the skin is from Halo. Just like with the John Wick incident. But… it is the Halo Skin.
The action MMORPG TERA will launch on consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4 starting April 3rd. However, buyers of a founder’s pack can start as early as March 27th. We will show you what is in the different packages.
TERA will be released on April 3, 2018, for consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4, after being available on PC since 2011. However, buyers of one of the founder’s packs can already start today. The various packs include items like game currency, mounts, titles, or loot box keys. Alternatively, you can also get access to the TERA head start with Twitch Prime.
The smallest founder pack costs 29.99 euros in the respective console shops. The included items can only be claimed and used by one game character. The included items are:
1,000 EMP, which can be spent in the in-game TERA shop
Character title “Founder”
Mount Blesse: A fiery ostrich mount with a movement speed of 280
Beutelin: A companion with a mobile 72-slot inventory
10 Cassette Keys: Lockboxes may contain valuable consumables, such as EXP boosts, crystals, and enchantment materials
TERA: Deluxe Founder Pack
The Deluxe Founder Pack costs 59.99 euros in the respective console shops. The included items can only be claimed and used by one game character. The included items are:
2,500 EMP, which can be spent in the in-game TERA shop
30 days of Elite status, which grants various account bonuses
An additional character slot
Bank expansion with 72 slots
Character title “Founder”
Mount Gloria: A ghost wolf mount with a movement speed of 280
Paw Prints: A companion with a mobile 72-slot inventory
20 Cassette Keys: Lockboxes may contain valuable consumables, such as EXP boosts, crystals, and enchantment materials
TERA: Super Founder Pack
The Super Founder Pack costs 99.99 euros in the respective console shops. The included items can only be claimed and used by one game character. The included items are:
5,000 EMP, which can be spent in the in-game TERA shop
90 days of Elite status, which grants various account bonuses
Three additional character slots
Three bank expansions with 72 slots each
Character title “Founder”
Cosmetic item “Fiery Halo”: “You are so fashionable that it burns in the eyes!”
Mount Schlitza: A deathsteel wolf mount with a movement speed of 280
Popolin: A companion with a mobile 72-slot inventory
50 Cassette Keys: Lockboxes may contain valuable consumables, such as EXP boosts, crystals, and enchantment materials
TERA: Ultimate Founder Pack
The Ultimate Founder Pack costs 149.99 euros in the respective console shops. The included items can only be claimed and used by one game character. The included items are:
10,000 EMP, which can be spent in the in-game TERA shop
180 days of Elite status, which grants various account bonuses
Four additional character slots
Four bank expansions with 72 slots each
Character title “Founder”
Cosmetic item “Fiery Feathers”
Mount Tempa: A bronze-colored wolf with a movement speed of 280
Companion pack with five companions: Rambo, Frog King, Purpuri, a Draka, and the carnivorous plant Nimmersatt. All companions in this pack have the ability “Automatic Looting”
100 Cassette Keys: Lockboxes may contain valuable consumables, such as EXP boosts, crystals, and enchantment materials
The war between the Alliance and the Horde is endless in WoW. The Horde is guilty of starting the war – but the Alliance is guilty of not preventing it.
The conflict between the Horde and the Alliance is the cornerstone of World of Warcraft. In every expansion, it’s about the war between the two factions, sometimes more intensively, sometimes less. But what superficially seems like a “You started it” or “No, you started it!” has deeper reasons that are firmly rooted in the structures of the Alliance and the Horde.
At least that’s how the user seinera sees it on Reddit. In a very extensive post, seinera explains with many references the geopolitics behind the wars and why the war machinery in Azeroth keeps turning in circles and will probably continue to do so for a long time. Here’s a brief summary.
The Horde: Hunger as an Ever-Present Fear
On the side of the Horde, seinera sees a perpetual underlying fear: the fear of starving. For the lands of the Horde are mainly barren landscapes, such as the Barrens or Durotar. Once fertile lands, like Lordaeron, have been rendered useless by the bio-weapons of the Forsaken.
Furthermore, nearly all Horde races are hunters. The cultivation of grain and fruit is virtually non-existent. While Thrall tried to make the Barrens usable for this purpose, it took too long and caused rejection within their own ranks.
Without a functioning agriculture, the Horde constantly lives with a fundamental fear: hunger. To open up new hunting grounds or to plunder food is a natural consequence of war. However, the areas plundered by war are usually destroyed, for example by the use of Sylvanas’ plague, which means they haven’t made any progress.
The leaders of the Horde also face another problem: they have to expend almost all their energy to remain in power. Because very little is truly solid and politically “stable” within the Horde.
Here are a few examples:
Baine Bloodhoof had to win a civil war nearly five years ago to succeed his father. He was only able to raise an army with financial help from the Alliance – thanks to Jaina.
Lor’themar Theron is only the regent of Silvermoon, appointed by the last king of a now-extinct noble family that also became traitors. During his short reign, he has already had to order two pogroms – against the high elves and the void elves – because he cannot deal with internal disagreements.
Orcs have changed their leader three times in the last five years.
The troll leader Vol’jin died after just one year – who leads the trolls now is uncertain.
Gallywix is an intriguer. His power is based on deception, fear, and money. He might rule for years – or be murdered next week.
Sylvanas‘ power position is relatively stable, as she is revered like a goddess by her people. However, there was a rebellion six years ago. Even among the Forsaken, there is now political opposition, as the “Desolate Council” (which governs for her in Undercity when she is away) has different plans than she does.
The wars always end for the Horde with many resources consumed and very few gained. This exhaustion provides for a temporary peace, as the Horde regains strength before the fears (mentioned above) kick in again.
The Alliance: Abundance and Passivity
According to seinera, the Alliance is not only passive and a “victim” of the Horde’s raids, but also fails to meet its responsibility. Because if it is the Horde that starts every war and breaks the peace, then it is the Alliance that fails to maintain the peace.
The leaders of the Alliance are all “firmly in the saddle” regarding their positions:
Anduin Wrynn is the descendant of an old royal family and is popular.
Prophet Velen is an ancient Draenei, revered by his entire people for millennia.
Gelbin Mekkadrill has been the democratically elected leader of the Gnomes for years.
Tyrande has ruled the night elves for 10,000 years and is the high priestess of Elune, who has been saved multiple times by Elune herself. Aside from a dispute with Maiev, there has been no resistance in her ranks.
The Council of Three Hammers is a relatively “new” political entity, but the individual members within their dwarf faction are virtually undisputed.
Genn Greymane is battered after the defeat in Gilneas, but has the support of the humans and night elves. His position is also secure.
However, the Alliance not only has strong political leaders but also plenty of wealth. Its territories consist largely of fertile lands, forests, or maritime regions with fishing. The Alliance focuses on the cultivation of grain and fruit. Even with some exceptions, like the poverty in Westfall, the Alliance as a whole does not suffer from this and thrives.
The Alliance is only a military alliance. Otherwise, they have no real unity and are rather uncoordinated, whether in trade or other plans – often the races even end up with differing intentions. Added to the discord is the paralysis when they are not at war – the Alliance does not decide, it only reacts. Over the years, this has led to built-up distrust that holds the Alliance back from extending a helping hand to the Horde. Only this could take away the reason for the Horde to attack repeatedly.
The initiative in every conflict lies with the Horde. They start the first attack, have great success, and cost the Alliance many resources. The Alliance must sacrifice its resources to avoid losing wars instead of preventing them in the first place. Even after a war ends, the Alliance focuses on rebuilding and then falls back into passivity – until the Horde strikes again.
The End of the War – What Must Be Done to Achieve the World of Peacecraft?
Towards the end, seinera even gives some suggestions that could lead to enduring peace between the Alliance and the Horde.
The Horde must cleanse the lands they possess and finally start with controlled agriculture to permanently eliminate the fundamental fear of hunger.
The Alliance must overcome their resentment and support the Horde – financially and politically.
The leaders on both sides must avoid populist and inciting rhetoric and, if in doubt, even act violently against it.
Both sides must disarm to build trust and free up more resources for other areas of life.
But of course, that won’t happen in the near future. Because what would World of Warcraft be without war?
You can find the complete post by seinera in English in our sources.
What do you think of seinera’s analysis and thoughts? Does it sound logical and coherent to you? Do you believe that Blizzard actually puts so much thought into the situation in Azeroth?
World of Tanks (PC) is now available as version 1.0 and looks like a modern game. So is it worth diving into the tank MMO? And what kind of players should definitely join?
World of Tanks was released in 2010 and has been continually expanded since then. Eventually, the old BigWorld engine reached its limits and was recently replaced by the new Core engine. The result is World of Tanks 1.0. But what is it about World of Tanks now and is it worth starting to play with the new version?
Fast Tank Action
World of Tanks is an action MMO with tanks. Your “character” is thus a heavy tank. There is no storyline or campaign. It’s all about PvP, that is, the fight among players. Each team consists of 15 players who fight against each other with their guns. Alternatively, there is also a larger 30vs30 mode with even more tanks.
The goal is to capture the enemy’s base or hold a neutral point depending on the map. If all tanks are neutralized, the round ends as well. If you are destroyed, you are out and can’t rejoin. This makes rounds in World of Tanks often quite short.
So it’s the ideal game if you want to quickly play a few rounds with the tank after work or during a break. You can either enter a match alone with 14 randomly selected players or compete in small teams of 3 players.
Tanks of All Nations, Unite
Before the battle, you choose a tank from your collection. It doesn’t matter which nation the tank belongs to. German tanks fight side by side with French, Russian, or US models.
Only the tier matters, as only tanks of similar strength are sent into battle. The tier is called “Tier” in the game, derived from the English word for level. The higher the “Tier”, the more modern and stronger the tank.
At Tier 1, you’ll find ancient machines from the interwar period. In the middle tiers, there are famous tanks from World War II, including the Panzer IV, the T-34, the M4 Sherman, or the mighty Tiger.
In the top tiers up to level 10, you will often find machines from the 1960s or curious prototypes and uniques like the mighty Maus or the experimental E-100.
Over 500 Tanks from 10 Nations
If you think that there were only a handful of tanks in the war, you’ll be quite surprised by World of Tanks. There are now over 500 vehicles in the game. They come from each of the 10 nations:
Germany
Russia
USA
United Kingdom
France
Japan
Sweden
Czechoslovakia
China
Poland
Each nation has special characteristics that reflect in the vehicles. German tanks are quite accurate, Russians can take a lot of hits, and the French are fast and have drum magazines later on.
Every Tank Also Falls into One of 5 Classes:
Light Tanks: These vehicles are ideal scouts and can cause trouble in the rear.
Medium Tanks: These all-rounders ideally operate in packs and attack from the flank.
Heavy Tanks: These heavy machines are the “tanks” among tanks. They can take a lot of damage and are heavily armored. Therefore, they are usually found at the front.
Tank Destroyers: If World of Tanks were a shooter, tank destroyers would be snipers. They usually stand well camouflaged in the second row and shoot precisely into the fray.
Self-Propelled Guns: These tanks are mobile artillery. They shoot over enormous distances and over obstacles. However, they must also see where the enemy is and rely on scouting.
However, the classes are not set in stone. There are heavily armored tank destroyers that roll to the front like a battering ram. Or heavy tanks that can also act as snipers. Each tank has its own unique gameplay.
Progression Through Research
So how do you acquire the individual tanks? You start with a small little tank that hardly deserves the name “tank”. When you play, you get experience points and silver, depending on your battle performance.
With the points, you unlock new components. Among other things, a new engine or a better main gun. The game is based on reality. So you can’t just attach an 88mm cannon to a little Panzer III.
The unlocked components are then paid for with silver. When you have enough points and have researched certain components, you can unlock and buy the next higher tank in the next tier. This is how you progress through the tiers.
The higher the tier level, the more expensive and longer the unlocking takes.
Arcade Action with a Bit of Realism
The competing game War Thunder allows you to experience realistic simulations. In World of Tanks, things are far less complex. Every tank has hit points. Once they are gone, it explodes. Precise hits on components can immobilize the engine, jam the gun, take out individual crew members, or even blow up the ammunition storage.
Aside from an ammunition explosion, however, a tank can survive such damages. The failure is repaired after a short time, and the affected module is still partially usable. As long as the tank still has hit points, it will roll and shoot.
The armor works quite similarly to real life. If a projectile hits at an unfavorable angle, it will ricochet with sparks. But even if it penetrates, it can somehow get stuck in the armor. Depending on how you angle the armor plates by positioning the vehicle’s hull, a shot may still be deflected.
Additionally, you need to be aware of the various types of ammunition. Some shells penetrate better, while others deal significant area damage but lack piercing power.
Free2Play with Premium Shop
World of Tanks is a free-to-play game that you can play for free without restrictions. However, you can still spend real money there. With that, you can buy the following goodies:
There is a Premium Subscription that you can take out. This will give you more experience and in-game currency per battle.
You can also get special Premium Tanks. These are only available for real money and are usually quite solid at their tier. They are generally not better than regular tanks.
Special Ammunition can also be purchased for real money, but it is also available for in-game currency.
What Has Changed with Version 1.0?
All the previously mentioned features have been long in World of Tanks, and they remain in place with update 1.0. Only the presentation has changed. But it has turned out really well. The game now includes:
High-resolution textures
Dynamic dirt, snow, or sand that sticks to tanks
Explosion craters and unevenness that can be seen on the tank’s suspension
Beautiful light effects
Water and grass dynamically deform when you fire your gun or drive through.
All sounds sound much more impressive
Every map has a unique music intro and a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the gameplay.
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With all these innovations, World of Tanks 2018 presents itself like a modern game.
Is World of Tanks Right for Me?
World of Tanks excites tank fans with its engaging gameplay and numerous tanks. However, not everyone enjoys the arcade gameplay. Therefore, we have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the tank MMO:
World of Tanks is the right game for you if you …
love fast action in between
are interested in tanks
are a good team player
are looking for a motivating free-to-play game
appreciate gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master
World of Tanks is less suited for players who …
prefer realistic simulations
have problems with hit points in tanks and would rather have a dynamic damage model
prefer to rush forward alone
have an issue with faster progress through spending real money and being able to buy the best ammunition directly
cannot deal with toxic players. World of Tanks has millions of players, including some pretty salty individuals. So the tone can be a bit rough.
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If you also want to try World of Tanks, you can find access in the following button. Create an account, download the game, and then you can start playing.
The button is equipped with an so-called affiliate link. By registering through one of these links, we receive a small commission from the provider. For you, this does not change anything.
The Sea of Thieves developers planned to take gold from players when they die. The community did not think that was cool at all. Now, the feature is being scrapped.
Those who die in Sea of Thieves go to the Ferry of the Damned and must wait for a certain time before they are allowed back on deck of their ship. The developers also planned a tax that the deceased player would have to pay for their death. However, the community found it not funny at all that they would have to pay for their death.
Now, the developers have thrown these plans overboard.
No more death costs in Sea of Thieves
When it became known that there would be death costs in Sea of Thieves due to a future update, some players took to arms. “In the game, you are a pirate on the high seas, and now you have to pay when you die? IN A PVP GAME?”
Afterwards, the developers explained that it was never planned to charge costs for PvP deaths. However, that was still not what the community wanted. Players were completely against this idea of costs.
This feedback reached the developers at Rare. Producer Joe Neate tweeted that the death costs are “dead” and now gone.
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Furthermore, Rare is commenting on the griefing problems that currently exist in Sea of Thieves. There are currently issues with pirate crews camping other players. They kill the other crew, wait for them to respawn, and kill them again. This happens over and over until the dominant crew has had enough.
Rare states that they are reading the feedback on griefing and are aware of it. They are now considering what short-term changes the developers can implement to combat griefing. An update on this topic and further feedback points will come later this week.
Ultima Online is one of the forefathers of MMORPGs, but initially had a poor standing during development at Origin/Electronic Arts. EA preferred a new Ultima single-player title. At least initially.
The Ultima Online team back in the 90s was a young bunch. Today, Richard Garriott (Creative Director), Starr Long (Executive Producer), and Ralph Koster (Designer) are veterans in the video game industry. At the developer conference GDC, they reflected on Ultima Online and the challenges that the “forefather of MMORPGs” faced at publisher Electronic Arts back then.
Richard “Lord British” Garriott was driven by a vision. He wanted to expand his popular Ultima series in the mid-1990s to allow thousands of players to interact in one world simultaneously. He called this vision “Multima”.
However, publisher Electronic Arts was anything but enthusiastic about the idea and initially only provided the developer with a relatively small budget of $250,000. This came only after the game was presented three times. The first two times, Electronic Arts had rejected “Multima”.
Electronic Arts wanted to focus on single-player games
EA believed in the Ultima series, which at that time consisted of the single-player RPGs. Origin was then working on Ultima 9 at the end of the “Trilogy of Trilogies.” EA wanted to focus on this title, as the series already had a large fanbase and the games consistently sold well.
The idea of a multiplayer Ultima was not well received. The company projected that only about 30,000 copies would sell. Nevertheless, Richard Garriott continued to work on the game with his team.
Fans saved the MMORPG
When the budget was exhausted, EA wanted to pull the plug. Garriott and his team came up with the idea of sending out beta discs for a fee of five dollars. Over 50,000 interested players signed up. Electronic Arts did not expect this and recognized the potential in the game. They offered Garriott full support and even pulled team members from Ultima 9 to work on Ultima Online, as the game was eventually named.
After the launch in September 1997, Ultima Online sold over one million copies and became a milestone in the MMORPG genre.
Shortly before the release of update 1.1.4 for Destiny 2, Bungie released a new developer video. In it, the Sandbox Design Lead, Josh Hamrick, explains the philosophy behind the March update. And surprise: a little self-irony and a different tone than usual can be felt throughout the video.
There are only a few hours left until the long-awaited update 1.1.4 for Destiny 2 finally arrives. In the run-up to this milestone update, Bungie has now released a video in which the Sandbox Lead of Destiny 2 – Josh Hamrick – explains Bungie’s motivations and philosophy in developing the March update.
Bungie has heard the players’ feedback
At the beginning of the video, Hamrick emphasizes that they have clearly heard the feedback from the guardians. Weapons don’t feel strong enough, guardians don’t feel strong enough – Bungie has recognized these concerns from the community.
As a result, many things were put to the test – the movement speed of the guardians, the charge time of supers and abilities, the performance of the weapons.
Philosophy shift: Outliers are welcome!
Then, a rethink took place. After looking at and analyzing everything calmly, they said to themselves: “Hey, we have some cool weapons here – they feel good and play really well! Maybe too good. Too strong.” Back in the times of Destiny 1, this would have meant that they would nerf the corresponding weapons.
As a visual example for this constellation, Hamrick uses a board with protruding nails. In the past, Bungie would have hammered the nails back into the board until there was a smooth surface. However, for the March update, they chose the opposite.
This time, the developers said: “Hey, these things are really strong right now. Let’s elevate everything to their level!” So, they’ve finally moved away from the previous motto of nerfing everything down to the level of the weakest link.
Everything should get better – the hero moments are back!
This is how Bungie began to elevate everything to a higher level – in PvP and PvE:
They noticeably improved movement speed
Struggling supers were strengthened and their regeneration rate drastically increased
Abilities now charge faster
Weapons were noticeably strengthened
The gameplay flow in PvP was significantly improved through numerous changes
The combination of all these adjustments grants more frequent hero moments again
This will lead to more grandiose plays and many crazy moments – just like in the times of its predecessor – the Sandbox Lead is sure of that.
In conclusion, Hamrick emphasizes that Bungie has really listened to the community. The update is largely based on player feedback, they trust it and feel good about the chosen direction. They want to make Destiny 2 the game that everyone loves.
Here you can watch the developer commentary on the March update yourself:
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However, this rule will be lifted if a player from an exclusive region like China teams up with a player from another region like EU or NA. As a team, both players see both servers and can choose from them.
The PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) update for this week is ready with weapon skins. Take advantage now to get this special weapon skin, which will be available for only a few weeks. Also in the update: The long-discussed region lock.
A new update is available for PUBG on PC, which now unlocks weapon skins for the battle royale shooter for the first time. Those who take advantage in the coming weeks will secure a special skin for the one-year anniversary. The update is about 1.9GB on Steam.
PUBG Weapon Skin Update – How to find weapon skins?
There will be weapon skins for each weapon from PlayerUnknown’s that you as a player can equip. This is done through the customization menu. Weapon skins can be categorized as “Acquired”, “Equipped”, and “Tier”.
There are two ways to obtain weapon skins in PUBG:
You can acquire skins by purchasing the “Triumph Crate” box. It is a weekly “random” crate. This means it joins the other crates in the pool and there is a 20% chance of receiving this crate. You will then need to open it with a key that you purchase on the Steam market.
As a reminder, the drop rates of the crates are:
Survivor 10%
Wanderer 10%
Biker 20%
Desperado 10%
Militia 20%
Fever 10%
Triumph (new) 20%
The second option is the “Raider Crate”, which can be exchanged for in-game currency BP. This crate does not belong to a pool that offers different crates but can be selected directly.
What’s in the crates?
With loot boxes, developers have to indicate the chances of the various items contained in them. For the new boxes, the following loot chances are available.
Triumph Crate
Desert Digital – R45: 15%
Rugged (Orange) – UMP9: 15%
Rugged (Orange) – SCAR-L: 10%
Rugged (Orange) – M416: 10%
Rugged (Orange) – AKM: 10%
Rugged (Orange) – Kar98k: 10%
Gold Plate – Win94: 5%
Trifecta – P92: 5%
Desert Digital – Mini14: 4.5%
Trifecta – Micro UZI: 4.5%
Gold Plate – Sawed-Off: 4.5%
Desert Digital – Kar98k: 2.5%
Trifecta – SCAR-L: 1.3%
Desert Digital – M416: 1.3%
Gold Plate – SKS: 0.6%
Glory – UMP9: 0.32%
Gold Plate – S12K: 0.32%
Glory – AKM: 0.16%
Raider Crate
Rugged (Beige) – Crossbow: 20%
Rugged (Beige) – M16A4: 20%
Rugged (Beige) – S686: 20%
Rugged (Beige) – SKS: 20%
Rugged (Beige) – Kar98k: 6.5%
Rugged (Beige) – S12K: 6.5%
Silver Plate – R1895: 3%
Jungle Digital – P18C: 1.4%
Silver Plate – DP-28: 1.4%
Silver Plate – S1897: 0.4%
Jungle Digital – SKS: 0.28%
Silver Plate – Vector: 0.28%
Turquoise Delight – P1911: 0.08%
Silver Plate – SCAR-L: 0.05%
Jungle Digital – AWM: 0.05%
Turquoise Delight – Tommy Gun: 0.028%
Turquoise Delight – Kar98k: 0.0128%
Turquoise Delight – M16A4: 0.0128%
Gold Plate – S686: 0.0064%
Gift Skin for SCAR-L
On March 23, 2016, PUBG launched in early access. From a game with a few testers in pre-alpha, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds quickly evolved into a game that broke multiple records and became a phenomenon in the gaming community.
The developers are grateful for the success of their game and your support. Therefore, they reward you with an exclusive weapon skin.
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The weapon skin “Year One” for the SCAR-L is free for you. All you have to do is log in to PUBG. And that is until the first week of May when maintenance begins. Anyone who logs into PUBG only after that is unfortunately not eligible for the skin. So hurry up to secure this special skin.
The Year One skin for the SCAR-L is not tradable and cannot be destroyed.
Region Lock for PUBG Activated
Besides the new weapon skin system, there are changes to the server selection in PUBG. In recent months, calls for a region lock for China have been raised, which aims to restrict Chinese players to the Chinese servers.
The developers now present a solution that addresses the issue. They will now only display the servers that match the player’s region. Other servers will be hidden and not available.
However, this rule will be lifted if a player from an exclusive region like China teams up with a player from another region like EU or NA. As a team, both players see both servers and can choose from them.
10 new cards from the Witchwood have been revealed. We tell you which highlights await you in Hearthstone.
Last night (26.03.2018), the developers of Hearthstone started to introduce more cards from the upcoming expansion “The Witchwood”. A total of 10 new cards were introduced by the developers, including a legendary hero card for the Shaman.
A neutral, epic minion for 3 mana is the Nightmarish Mutation. It has stats of 3/4 and counts as all minion types, including: Elemental, Mech, Demon, Murloc, Dragon, Beast, Pirate, and Totem.
Priests receive the new spell Terrifying Nightmare. For 3 mana, you can summon a copy of a friendly minion, which, however, only has 1 health left. It can be healed to its maximum value!
Glinda Crowfoot is the legendary minion of the Warlock. For 6 mana, she has solid stats of 3/7, but her card text makes her truly powerful. As long as Glinda is in play, all minions have Echo! Echo allows played cards to be played again in the same turn, provided you can pay the mana cost.
A new legendary hero awaits Shamans. Hagatha the Witch costs 8 mana, grants the hero 5 armor, and deals 3 damage to all minions upon entering the battlefield. The Shaman’s hero ability also changes: When you play a minion, you get a random Shaman spell into your hand.
Also for Shamans is the minion Witch in Training. For 1 mana, it provides a 0/1 minion with Taunt, which is also a Beast. As a Battlecry, it gives a random Shaman spell to your hand. Every real witch needs a toad, right?
Hunters receive a spectacular legendary minion. Houndmaster Shaw costs 4 mana and has impressive stats of 3/6. Additionally, he gives all other Hunter minions Rush. Rush allows minions to attack on the turn they are played, but this attack can only target other minions.
Druids receive a new spell, the Witchwood Apple. For 2 mana, you get three Treants (2/2) into your hand.
Also for Druids is the spell Irrwischwald. For 4 mana, you summon as many 1/1 Sprites as you have cards in hand (maximum 7). A simple way to flood the board quickly.
Another highlight is the spell Reprimand for Paladins. For 2 mana, it ensures that the opponent has to pay 5 mana more for each spell to cast it in the next turn. This effectively protects the Paladin against area spells or other unwanted effects.
The Rotten Apple Tree is a neutral minion with a mana cost of 5 and stats of 4/5 with Taunt. As a Deathrattle, it restores 4 health to your hero.
More card reveals will follow in the coming days. You will of course be informed about all the highlights here.
What do you think of the new cards from the Witchwood? Which ones do you like and which ones do you dislike?
The update 1.1.4 for Destiny 2, which is set to be released on March 27, 2018, is just hours away. Here you will find a summary of all important information regarding Bungie’s penultimate update milestone from the Spring roadmap.
The update 1.1.4 is only a few steps away. This roadmap milestone represents the most extensive update for Destiny 2 so far and introduces many long-awaited changes for Destiny 2, aimed at making the game more appealing for Guardians again. Here you will find the most important information about the update.
When will the update be released?
The update 1.1.4 will be released on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. It is associated with maintenance and needs to be downloaded and then installed. Once the servers are back up after maintenance, you can play the new version of Destiny 2.
Maintenance and Down-Time on March 27, 2018 – The exact schedule
6:00 PM – Start of maintenance, servers go offline. Players will no longer be able to log in to Destiny 2.
7:00 PM – Players still in a Destiny 2 activity will be returned to the main screen. Update 1.1.4 should now be ready for download and can be installed.
8:00 PM – Estimated end of maintenance. Destiny 2 should be playable again.
Regarding the upcoming weapon adjustments, Bungie recently noted that with the March update, the precision of hand cannons will be increased both when firing from the hip and when using the sights. The weapon precision in the air will also be increased at the same time.
The following contents of the update have been postponed
The introduction of modifiers for Heroic Strikes, originally planned for March 27, 2018, had to be postponed to the May update due to a larger issue.
Would you unconditionally transfer all rights to your biography, your streams, and images of you to someone else? The players of the Overwatch League are doing exactly this, as a scan of the official rules now shows. The codex of the Overwatch League has been leaked. While the rights of streamers are curtailed, the codex grants Blizzard some privileges.
There must be rules, even in eSports. They ensure fairness and the sportsmanship expected in a competition. They apply in the Overwatch League as well, and as seen with xQc, Profit, and OGE, they are enforced.
There is also an official rulebook for the Overwatch League. This regulation was available for all players to review before the league started. If they wanted to participate, they had to sign it.
The broadcaster Richard Lewis has now published a scan of the book. So this is not officially from Blizzard and is thus a “leak.”
That insults are unacceptable is a universal truth and not exclusive to eSports. The “Code of Conduct” contains an entire section addressing this issue.
Blizzard is very strict about what members of the Overwatch League may and may not do. In descriptions that a German official could not have written better, many possible offenses are listed.
Besides a clause that prohibits obscene gestures, names, and expressions within the league itself – which has already led to trouble for Profit from London Spitfire – the streams of the players are also in focus.
No type of material may be produced or shown in the streams of the players that would bring the members of the league into “disrepute.” Blizzard translates this to mean that no scandal, mockery, or shock may follow. The members include, among others:
The league itself
Activision Blizzard and all their games, products, and services
The pros are not allowed to promote non-Blizzard games
Even for streaming, there are strict rules for the players of the Overwatch League. Blizzard regulates exactly what players may and may not do on Twitch and YouTube. There is even a special “Streaming Policy,” a separate set of rules.
Many of the rules are obvious and coincide with those of Twitch and others. However, some are very specific and result in restrictions for the streamers. Some of the rules are:
Streaming is prohibited one hour before and after any Overwatch League event
Products not made by Activision Blizzard may not be promoted, and streamers may not call for their purchase
Streaming such games is allowed, however
Streaming other tournaments is prohibited
Cheating is forbidden
Advertising for drugs, politicians, weapons, and pornography is not allowed, etc.
Moreover, players are prohibited from streaming with more than one other pro from the Overwatch League, otherwise they are considered a “team.” This is only allowed if they have previously obtained permission from the league and their team.
If you do not adhere to the rules, the ban hammer threatens.
Blizzard may create a reality show
In the “Version 1.0” of the official rulebook, there are also rules that require more than just regulating streaming and handling penalties. Blizzard even directly intervenes in the lives of the players with these.
Under section 8, there are regulations regarding the names and stories of the players. More specifically: The players transfer to Blizzard all rights to their biographies, names, and streams, which the company may use worldwide and without charge for any purpose.
A comic about Geguri? Blizzard can do that.
But particularly contentious is section 8.2, “Reality Programming.” Here, Blizzard takes it a step further and stipulates: If the league office decides to create a reality show, it is free to install cameras in every room of the team accommodations – except for the bathroom.
These cameras may run 24/7 and would turn each of the team houses into a Big-Brother knockoff. Blizzard would also own all rights to this material. And just like with the previously mentioned content like names, they would not have to pay the players anything for it.
Blizzard’s statement on the leak
One should approach the information with caution, as with all leaked documents.
As a statement from Blizzard, it was said about the codex that it is a living document that evolves in consultation with all parties. Individual facets are not discussed.
