Camelot Unchained starts on July 4th with the first Closed Beta. And according to designer Mark Jacobs, this is also a real, classic beta in the sense of a “Beta Test.” Players should not expect a mere showcase.
Nowadays, the release methods of online games are no longer as easy to see through as they used to be. There are soft launches and early access versions, or developers see their product as a never-ending construction site because they believe an online game is “never finished.”
It is all the more refreshing that City State Entertainment has now stated that the recently announced beta of the MMORPG Camelot Unchained will also be a “real” beta. This starts on July 4th.
No Early Access, but “classic beta”
Anyone who wants to participate in the beta must either purchase the game or have received corresponding access privileges from the Kickstarter campaign.
Mark Jacobs states that this is not an early access phase. Because what is being presented does not yet correspond to such a version, and they do not want to use this term for something for which it is not intended.
The beta is really about a “beta test” of some game mechanics.
This is what the first Closed Beta of Camelot Unchained offers
The beta will give you a first taste of the MMORPG. Possible features include:
Building construction
Crafting
A persistent game world and persistent characters
Heroes with different class and race bonuses
The first beta consists of siege battles that take place on multiple events every Saturday
On islands, you can fight against each other
There will be large battles but also small skirmishes
Depending on how well this beta goes and how quickly the developers can implement the tester feedback, more testing phases will follow. However, the release of Camelot Unchained is planned for 2019.
In Destiny 2, there is no normal matchmaking for some activities. We will show you how you can still search for and find German-speaking fire team members for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
When searching for players in Destiny 2, Bungie follows a clear policy:
The “easy activities” like Strikes and standard PvP playlists start with normal matchmaking. You will automatically receive random teammates to complete your fireteam.
In contrast, there is no normal matchmaking for the “hard activities” such as raid content, Nightfall Strikes, and Trials. You have to ensure that your fireteam is filled with players yourself. Bungie once stated that these activities require good communication and teamwork, which cannot be guaranteed with normal matchmaking.
Many have never defeated the raid boss Calus
The best and easiest way to participate in the hard activities is to be in an active clan. Most clans today organize themselves through WhatsApp groups, where they communicate dates or fixed playtimes. This makes it easy to find teammates for the weekly rewards. What you need to know about clans in Destiny 2 is summarized here.
However, there are also many Guardians out there who are not in any clan or whose clan members are no longer as active as they used to be. Some Guardians are shift workers or have only sporadic time, so they do not want to commit to the “obligations” of a fixed clan. Still, they want to have seen the raid from the inside at least once…
Because without the hard group activities, Destiny 2 is only worth half.
We present three ways for you to find company for the heavy Destiny 2 activities at any time of day or night on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Guide Games in Destiny 2
What are Guide Games?
Guide Games were introduced shortly after the launch of Destiny 2. They allow solo Guardians to find a clan in-game that then guides them through the selected endgame activity. The search process is similar to that of a dating app: The solo Guardian is shown a clan along with its emblem and description. If the clan appeals to him, he can choose that clan and take on the challenge with them. If not, he can view another clan.
Advantages of Guide Games: You do not have to visit external sites or make complicated appointments with strangers. Guide Games are convenient for finding teammates for Nightfall or raid activities; you simply start the special player search in Destiny 2.
Disadvantages of Guide Games: While Guide Games are convenient, they can also be frustrating. The player search can sometimes take over an hour for solo players. So you need to have a lot of patience. There is no guarantee of finding a suitable clan. However, you can keep the matchmaking running until you find a nice, German-speaking clan. Currently, there are (still) no Guide Games for the Trials of the Nine, only for raid and Nightfall.
Facebook Groups for Destiny 2
Information about Destiny 2 Facebook Groups:
Many Guardians who are quickly looking for one or two teammates for raids, Trials, or Nightfall Strikes use relevant Facebook groups for Destiny 2.
There are several of these, which comprise thousands of members and are usually sorted by platform. Simply enter “Destiny 2”, “German”, and the corresponding platform (PS4, Xbox One, PC) in Facebook’s search bar to find large Destiny 2 groups, such as the “Destiny 2 Germany PS4” group.
In these groups, there are always numerous Guardians looking for teammates. It is often sufficient to post in the appropriate group that you are looking for players, or you can keep an eye out for who currently has a spot open. You can usually get into such groups quickly, often you need to make a group membership request.
Advantages of Facebook groups: There is always something going on, and you can see exactly who you are teaming up with. You may even receive an invitation to a clan. You can clearly communicate the expectations you have for potential members.
Disadvantages of Facebook groups: Especially in Facebook groups with thousands of members, there is unfortunately often a questionable tone, which is why many people prefer to stay away from large FB groups. It can also be frustrating to find suitable teammates. You never know exactly who you are getting into.
Note: In addition to Facebook, there are several other social media and forums through which you can connect. Facebook should suffice as an example.
Bungie’s Raid Finder / Fireteam Finder
In addition to the Guide Games and Facebook, you can also organize yourself through external websites, via appropriate LFG pages (Looking for Group). Here, Bungie itself offers a fireteam finder, which we will now discuss in more detail.
What is Bungie’s fireteam finder and how does it work?
On the Bungie.net site, you can select the tab “Find Fireteam” and then access the official fireteam finder. If you have set the Bungie site to German, this will be completely in German.
First, you can select your platform on the left side: PS4, Xbox One, or PC (Battle-net).
Next, you need to decide which activity you are looking for members for. Raid, Nightfall, Strikes, Trials, and Crucible are available for selection. If you are just looking for company, you can also choose “Up for Anything.” Clans usually look for new clan members here.
In the middle of the screen, several posts will be listed where other Guardians are looking for teammates. It is noted directly how many spots are still open in the respective fireteam.
Important: Above this list of community posts, you can set the language you are searching for. If you only find English posts, you need to set the filter to “German” first.
If you click on a post, you will see the members who already want to participate in the activity, as well as the spots that are still open. Keep in mind that you must be logged into Bungie.net to claim a spot. Since the login is through your PSN, Xbox, or Battle.net account, your gamer tags will be displayed directly in the fireteam finder, so you can quickly connect with each other on your platform.
How do I create my own search post?
If none of the search posts appeal to you, you can create your own post. To do this, click on “Create Fireteam,” choose a meaningful title, set the number of players needed, and write a short text introducing yourself or stating the requirements for participation. You can also specify the platform, activity, or language of the post here.
Note: This fireteam finder also works through the Companion app. To do this, select the icon with the two ships in the app.
Advantages of the fireteam finder: You can filter the members you are looking for in advance. Choose the platform, language, and activity, and you will receive a list of those also searching. The fireteam finder is easy to use, and you can see the gamer tags directly, with which you can then connect.
Disadvantages of the fireteam finder: It may take a while to find enough fireteam members.
If you have further questions about Bungie’s fireteam finder or want to report an annoying user, you can find advice from the Bungie help page.
How do you search for and find fireteam members for raids, Trials, and Nightfall in Destiny 2?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The low-driven shot is an effective weapon in FIFA 18. Here you will learn how to execute it and when you should use it.
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, there are special weekly tasks for the Ratings Refresh until Friday (March 2nd). One of them is to score five goals with low-driven shots. We will explain this effective shooting technique, which is also popular among FIFA professionals, in more detail now.
How do I perform a low-driven shot?
To bring the ball flat, placed, and powerfully towards the goal, you only need to press the shoot button twice. On Xbox, this is by default double-B, while on PlayStation 4 it is double-circle.
When you first press, you charge the shot. Depending on how far you are from the goal, you need to hold the button longer. When you release, press the shoot button again immediately after. This time, you just tap it!
How long you need to hold the button on the first press is a matter of practice. If you quickly tap the shoot button twice, the ball will roll towards the goal. However, if you hold the button too long, it will not work either.
You control the direction like with any other shot using the left analog stick. The low-driven shot is most effective when you aim for the far corner.
The low-driven shot is strongest when you run straight towards the goal but come from the left or right side.
It’s important to consider the strong foot: If you are left-footed, you should approach the goal from the left; if you are right-footed, from the right.
Feel free to try the shot just outside the penalty area or from a relatively sharp angle. If you charge the shot bar long enough, the goalkeeper will usually be at a disadvantage!
Tips and tricks for the correct application
Besides the execution and the best situation for the low-driven shot, there are also some minor tricks:
Make sure to release the sprint button before the shot. This reduces the risk of your ball going to the corner flag or missing.
Check before the game which goalkeeper the opponent is using. There are some keepers who master the foot save and often fend off the low-driven shot. This includes players like De Gea, Fährmann, or Begovic.
Practice makes perfect! At first, the shot may feel unfamiliar and often fail. However, once you figure out how long to charge and where to aim, you will have an effective finishing move in your repertoire.
To celebrate your goal success appropriately, you can get inspiration from our celebration tutorial.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A popular Fortnite streamer makes over $100,000 a month just from his subscribers on Twitch. This could make him one of the rare income millionaires if the rest of 2018 goes as well for him.
Anyone who achieves a partnership with the livestreaming website Twitch.TV can earn money monthly from their subscribers. The Fortnite streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins has now reached over 50,000 subscribers who transfer money to him each month. According to his statements, this is a new record for solo streamers on the platform. If the subscribers stay, it means a strong income for him and the status of an income millionaire.
10,000 new subscribers in just one week
The former Halo professional player “Ninja” has been streaming his games since 2013. On February 16, 2018, he announced on Twitter that he has now reached 40,000 subscribers.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Not quite a week later, he announced that an additional 10,000 have joined, breaking the solo streamer record on Twitch. Alone on February 22, there were reportedly 1,621 new subscriptions.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
On Twitch.TV, there are basically two ways to follow streamers:
The “normal” follow. It works similarly to Twitter. You follow a streamer for free and are notified when they start their livestream.
Subscription – The paid option. As a subscriber, you pay a fee (depending on the model $4.99, $9.99, or $24.99) per month. Such subscriptions can be easily canceled and can last from one month to infinity. A part of this subscription payment goes to Twitch.TV, another part to the corresponding streamer.
Through subscriptions, streamers are thus supported financially. Unlike a donation, subscriptions also bring benefits in the chat, such as certain emotes.
Subscriptions continue to rise – millionaire status?
The number of subscribers on Ninja’s stream continues to rise. During his stream on February 26, the display in his stream showed 54,745 subscribers. Let’s assume that each of these subscribers chooses the lowest payment model at $5 per month, and the streamer receives 50% of these earnings, that amounts to $136,862 per month. This 50% is an estimated value. Popular streamers on Twitch.TV likely receive a larger share of the subscription revenues.
If this subscription number remains the same over the next 12 months, he would earn 1.6 million dollars in a year. And this does not yet take into account the subscribers who have chosen a larger subscription model.
If a taxable person earns one million euros or more in a calendar year, they are referred to as an “income millionaire.”
Donations come in addition
Payments from subscribers are not the only income of a streamer. There are also viewers who donate money. This can happen without a subscription, just in between. Just like the cheer function, where viewers pay with bits.
Ninja previously played Halo professionally and was part of teams like Renegades, Cloud 9, Team Liquid, and Luminosity. After his Halo career, he became a full-time streamer. Through the battle royale games PUBG and Fortnite BR, his career reached new heights.
Shroud of the Avatar will be released on March 27 and aims to be a mix of single-player RPG and sandbox MMO. However, since there has already been a lot of criticism about the game before its official release, the developers believe in an organized smear campaign against their title.
Every month, the developers of the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar (SotA) release a comprehensive update that brings numerous innovations and changes. Just on February 22, version 51 was released, which introduces the possibility for players to specialize in certain skills. Additionally, there are new side quests, visual improvements, optimizations to the combat system, adjustments to adventure scenes, and much more. Each update is full of content.
The criticism just doesn’t stop
And yet there is a lot of criticism. The reviews on Steam are currently “mixed”, the player count of the early access version is according to Steamcharts at an average of 150 players (it should be mentioned that SotA can also be played without Steam and that the number of Steam players makes up only about 35 percent of the total player population according to the developers).
In many comments to articles about the game, criticism arises. Among other things, the following are criticized:
a supposed strong departure from the concept that was presented during the Kickstarter campaign
too much grinding, although the game was supposed to have little grinding
too much focus on the in-game shop
hardly any choices with real consequences, although this was announced
a rather dry presentation of the story through very many texts
an offline mode that feels more like an MMORPG and not like a single-player RPG
An organized smear campaign against the game?
Starr Long, the producer of the game, commented in the comments section of an article on Eurogamer regarding the criticism. He wrote: “It should be mentioned that we have been victims of an organized campaign by a group of individuals for years. They post on every website, in reviews, on social media where features of the game are mentioned. This group spreads misinformation. They take information out of context and present information that is incomplete. And that is to harm the game and manipulate opinions against the project. Therefore, one should be cautious about the “facts” from some sources.
Is there really such a smear campaign against the game? Or does Shroud of the Avatar have to deal with disappointed fans whose passion has turned into resentment?
A change in direction of Shroud of the Avatar may have alienated fans
For fairness’ sake, it must be said that a Kickstarter-funded game never has it easy. Sticking to the vision presented during the Kickstarter campaign is difficult. Especially when you want to involve the community in the development process. Then a vision can change. This becomes problematic when you have already raised money for the originally planned design and then the changes upset the players who were looking forward to the “original idea” and had given money for it.
Judge for yourselves about the MMO
According to designer Richard Garriott, however, they fulfill the original vision of the game. Shroud of the Avatar is a role-playing game that can be played both as a single-player RPG and as an MMORPG.
Does a group of angry fans really exist who want to ensure that the game fails?
Or are the mixed reviews due to something else?
The best part is: Everyone can make their own judgment about the online game based on the Free2Play trial, which can already be looked at now, before the release of the game on March 27, and play for free in SotA.
Twitch now offers the ability to cheer for the teams of the Overwatch League with Bits. However, the teams themselves are not directly supported by the money.
Blizzard has signed a contract with Twitch for the broadcasting rights of the Overwatch League. This means that for the next two years, Twitch will be the official broadcaster for the eSports event Overwatch League.
Twitch viewers cheer for their teams, but who gets the money?
Since the second phase of the League has started, some of Twitch’s popular features are available specifically for the Overwatch League. Viewers earn League Tokens for Overwatch League skins by watching. They can cheer for special loot using so-called Bits.
This cheering is already being done quite a bit: Viewers have cheered 20 million times in less than a week, contributing approximately €227,000 to the coffers of Twitch and Blizzard. But who gets the money?
Cheering for the Overwatch League: Emotes and Twitch Badges as Rewards
A while ago, Twitch introduced the so-called cheering. Viewers can purchase Bits, which are credited to their accounts and can then be given to a streamer as a tip. In return, rewards such as chat badges are offered.
This feature is now also available for the official Twitch channel of the Overwatch League. Bits can be purchased with a credit card or via PayPal, allowing viewers to cheer for their favorite team through chat commands.
With the commands, individual teams are cheered. There is a leaderboard for which team has been cheered the most with the most Bits thrown into the donation jar. Additionally, donors also receive rewards:
For 150 Bits, the logo of the cheered team is given as an emote
For every 100 Bits, one of currently 26 Overwatch League emotes is provided
With 40,000,000 Bits accumulated in the entire stream, every viewer with a linked Battle.net account receives a Tracer skin in the game. More goals are expected to come
This is what the display looks like in the Twitch channel of the league. As of: 25.02.2018 at 16:40.
The Bits do not go to the teams!
Twitch advertises that through the special chat commands, individual teams can be cheered on. Each team has its own chat command, and “normal cheering” does not work on the channel.
What has caused some confusion, however: The teams cannot be directly supported through cheering. The Twitch FAQ about Overwatch League cheering states that cheering is part of a larger partnership and supports the players as well as the league as a whole.
Thus, the teams do not receive the full amount of the Bits and cannot be specifically supported with donations. Instead, the partnership between Twitch and Blizzard is supported. There are no figures yet available indicating whether and how much money the teams will receive from this pot.
Paladins has exciting days behind it. In trying to pull off the same stunt that Fortnite managed so brilliantly with Battle Royale, the studio behind Paladins almost had everything blow up in their faces. Fortunately, at the last moment, they pulled the emergency brake and changed tactics. The fans of Paladins can breathe a sigh of relief.
Fortnite and Paladins were in a fairly similar situation until a few months ago. Both were interesting and decent games that could only wave goodbye to the zeitgeist that was headed in another direction.
Fortnite was a co-op shooter with progression mechanics from the mobile sector featuring an interesting gameplay principle that became monotonous over time. An initial hype quickly faded.
Paladins was a hero shooter in a world that leaves little room for hero shooters alongside Overwatch. All other Overwatch competitors like Battleborn, Gigantic, Paragon or Lawbreakers were either dead or well on their way there. Super prospects for Paladins.
But there was some good news: Fortnite and Paladins were released for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Both games had great potential and perhaps even higher ambitions. They were driven by functional, motivated, and inspired teams.
Paladins and Fortnite had a solid foundation for success. But time was running against both games. Overwatch was preparing a major eSports league and the zeitgeist had fallen for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Fortnite and Paladins struggled with issues and difficulties that needed resolving. It would take time and a lot of work. They weren’t playing in the concert of the big shots, but they wanted to be there.
Fortnite skyrockets, Paladins stays on the ground
Then, at the end of 2017, the paths of the two separated:
Fortnite left all its problems behind. Epic released a battle royale mode that was clearly inspired by PUBG. But no one cared. Fortnite skyrocketed with the new mode. Fortnite was like PUBG, but as an accessible and family-friendly free-to-play variant playable on PS4 and Xbox One.
Even though the PvE players in Fortnite grumbled that they were being neglected for the new mode, Hi-Rez looked on enviously.
Hey, let’s make a battle royale shooter too!
It’s understandable that Paladins wanted to follow the same path as Fortnite: Let’s leave the old problems behind and start something new.
At the Hi-Rez Expo in January 2018, Paladins unexpectedly announced its own battle royale mode: “Paladins Battlegrounds.“
The new mode would have much in common with Fortnite: it would be free, playable on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and provide action-packed gameplay. But it would also differ from Fortnite: there would be unique heroes with skills in Paladins.
It was clear: Hi-Rez was putting a lot of work into ensuring that Paladins Battlegrounds would be released as quickly as possible.
Fans did not embrace the shift to battle royale
However, after the announcement of the battle royale mode by Hi-Rez, the mood among Paladins players was grim. They felt: “You’re neglecting us for the new hotness.” Additionally, there was low morale following the “Cards Unbound” update, which was perceived as pay-to-win.
The studio was on the verge of being torn apart from within. The fans turned against the game. Developers also rebelled against the recent changes in Paladins and complained to the gaming press that the pay-to-win cards were pushed through against the team’s will by the higher-ups.
Furthermore, the new battle royale mode was probably not performing as well as initially thought.
But at the last moment, Hi-Rez pulled the emergency brake and decided against following Fortnite’s lead. In a producer letter comes the change in direction:
The pay-to-win cards will be reverted.
The battle royale mode will return to internal testing and be revised, operating under the motto YOLO.
Paladins Battlegrounds will be a standalone game and not a mode that functions within the same client as the core game, as with Fortnite.
Separate teams will work on Paladins and the “new Battlegrounds” game, which will also have a different name.
Surely, this was a tough decision for Paladins. But currently, fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
The example of Paladins shows just how intense the stunt was that Fortnite managed with its “Battle Royale” and how many factors must align for such maneuvers to not derail a train in full motion.
Now, we can only cross our fingers for Hi-Rez and Paladins that they are back on calmer waters. Even though it’s important to react quickly to trends, fans have little understanding for such drastic changes.
The sci-fi MMORPG Perpetuum was born in late 2010 and has now died in its seventh year. But the game and the developers hold their heads high.
In Perpetuum, humans stretch their feelers through anomalies to distant galaxies. As they cannot travel through anomalies themselves, they send their robots across space. For there, resources, new energy sources, and power await!
As a player, you controlled one of the robots – and that could be pretty cool!
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
If Mechwarrior and Eve Online had a child, it would probably look like Perpetuum.
In a persistent sandbox world, you took on the role of a Mechwarrior on a single server to explore alien planets, mine resources, and trade. Such resource-rich planets led to fierce power struggles – Perpetuum was not just a pure strategy game; it also offered fights and battles.
Everything was interconnected, which meant a variety of tasks and challenges: You could rise to become a respected trader, work in marketing, and of course, fight against other mechs to secure dominance. Whether you acted in a team or as a lone wolf was up to you.
The end of an era
All this is of course now in the past: On January 25, Perpetuum closed its official server after seven years for financial reasons. The developers now look back on the past years with a bittersweet smile. In a blog post, they bid farewell to Perpetuum – in a way that ensures the game’s dignified exit.
“At first, we had no idea what we were actually doing,” admits developer Gargaj. “We had a vague idea and then just tried to implement that idea. If we had known what developing an MMO meant, we probably wouldn’t have even attempted it!” Because yes, it means sweat, tears, and a hell of a lot of work.
At the beginning, most of the developer team was only in their early 20s: Their heads full of dreams, their hearts full of ambitions, but experience close to zero. They were indie before the term became trendy.
“The thought that we might not make it or that it might not even be meant to be never crossed our minds. Instead, we took a headlong dive into the MMO business!”
From inspiration came an idea, and from an idea came a game. The development of Perpetuum was characterized by passion, but not by great financial resources or skill. There was no manual they could follow, no teachers who could teach them much. Nevertheless, it worked for the most part.
“We knew it wouldn’t last forever.”
However, the developers had no illusions from the beginning. They simply wanted to make the best of their abilities and the resources available to them – and are satisfied with the results.
The journey from beginning to end was bumpy, full of ups and downs – and an early access that the team experienced drunkenly. Until the end, they poured work and effort into the game, even though they knew long before the actual end that it was coming soon. They didn’t want the game to suffer a slow, miserable death.
The players thank them with final, respectful messages under the blog post. Sometimes, you just have to let go of things when they come to an end. That is a shame, but perfectly okay – and the developers of Perpetuum show how to recognize your own limits and gracefully draw a line.
The end is a new beginning
Not only the developers are now going their own ways, but Perpetuum itself is not entirely dead yet. The official server may be down and the developers no longer maintain the game, but it continues to live on a standalone server.
This is maintained by the community and is now called “The Open Perpetuum Project“. This also explains why the game is still available on Steam. One can be curious to see how it will develop after the official death.
Did you play Perpetuum and can share personal anecdotes? Or have you never heard of the game?
The online role-playing game Guild Wars 2 has been around since 2012. Is it even worth getting back into? Find out here what has happened over the past years.
Guild Wars 2 is a unique online role-playing game that continually evolves. Since the second season of Living Story, there have been profound changes in the world of Tyria. New areas and features are being added regularly. Sometimes, however, something changes, like the city of Lion’s Arch, which gets destroyed and then rebuilt.
So, anyone who has stopped playing Guild Wars 2 in the past and now wants to jump back in will quickly lose track and, quite literally, no longer understand the world.
Therefore, we have summarized the most significant changes to Guild Wars 2 over the past few years for you. We have based this on the work of the fan site GuildNews.
The article was updated on September 3, 2019.
The Living Story
One of the special features of Guild Wars 2 is the “Living Story”. In regular episodes, the game’s story continues like a TV series and evolves the world further. The story is told in seasons. Each season has a clear structure and brings profound changes.
Aside from the first season, you can play all episodes for free if you logged in during the time when the respective episode was running. Otherwise, you need to unlock them using the real-money currency “Gems” or play with a friend who owns the episode.
You can replay the episodes you own at any time to create achievements.
Warning, the following summaries of the story contain spoilers!
Season 1 of the Living Story
The legendary first season of the story began on January 28, 2013, with “Flame and Frost”. At that time, the two fan favorites, Rox and Braham, were introduced. Players assisted the ambitious young Charr warrior and the young Norn with maternal complex in their respective tasks.
The story of the two NPCs was then elaborated in a total of 20 episodes, and players encountered even more iconic NPCs that have since become established in the story’s repertoire. These include:
The lovable spacey lady Kasmeer
The tough detective Majory Delaqua
The brilliant and slightly crazy Asura whiz kid Taimi
The treacherous Sylvari Canach, who turns out to be an ally in later episodes
The bear-like Charr Rytlock Brimstone
Scarlet’s Grand Entrance!
The story began harmlessly, but as it progressed, the coolest villain that Guild Wars 2 has ever had appeared: Scarlet Briar! The insane Sylvari reminded players of the Joker from Batman, and in each episode, a new devious plan of hers had to be thwarted. But what Scarlet’s end goal was only became clear towards the end of the story.
There, Scarlet destroyed the great city of Lion’s Arch, which remained a ruin in the game for many months. In the end, players were able to defeat the villain in a thrilling final battle and thwart her plan. But something happened.
Season 2 of the Living Story
The second season began on July 1, 2014, and initially aimed to uncover Scarlet’s machinations. It was still unclear what she aimed to achieve with her villainy.
But soon the true background became apparent. The plant dragon Mordremoth had awakened, and the powerful Elder Dragon unleashed its deadly vines all over Tyria. In the 8 episodes of season 2, players had to mobilize the anti-dragon pact and launch a major assault on Mordremoth’s jungle refuge.
The disastrous outcome of this operation and its consequences then became part of the story for the large add-on Heart of Thorns.
More Jungle for Tyria
In addition to the new story, the areas “Dry Top” and “Silverwastes” were added in season 2. There were new achievements, treasure hunts, and jumping puzzles. You could complete new dynamic events and collect the new currency “Geodes” for the Ambrit weapon set.
Additionally, there were plenty of achievements from the story and the new set “Luminous Armor”.
Season 3 of the Living Story
At the end of Heart of Thorns, Mordremoth was defeated at great cost, but its death brought unforeseen effects and upheaval. A significant part of the third season of the story revolves around their exploration.
Additionally, there are more troubles:
Two new old dragons awaken and seem to inherit the powers of the already dead dragons Zhaitan and Mordremoth.
In Kryta, a conspiracy of cultists is rising, aiming to overthrow the queen.
The offspring of the deceased dragon ally Glint stirs.
A mysterious Mursaat (known from Guild Wars 1) named Lazarus offers his help against the dragons.
Taimi discovers that killing the old dragons destroys the world.
The season ends with the explosive appearance of the fire and war god Balthazar and reaches its climax in the expansion Path of Fire.
New Maps and Even More Masteries
Each episode of season 3 introduced a new mastery. For instance, you could learn to harness special energies or shoot yourself like cannonballs from lava tunnels. The new masteries were mainly necessary for the progress of the respective episode and for achievements.
New maps included the “Ember Bay”, the “Bitterfrost Frontier”, the “Doric Sea”, the volcano “Draconis Mons”, and the “Song of Magic Land”. Additionally, you could obtain new legendary items.
Season 4 of the Living Story
The 4th Season of the Guild Wars story continues the events surrounding the end of Balthazar. It revolves around the newly awakened dragon Kralkatorrik and the undead lord Palawa Joko. Additionally, you will visit familiar regions from the old Guild Wars expansion Nightfall, including Istan, the island of the Sunspears.
Season 5 of the Living Story
The fifth season of the Living Story was announced on August 30 and is set to start on September 17 with a prologue event. The focus is on the Elder Dragon Jormag and the associated Icebrood.
As a special innovation, attack missions are planned, where 10 players must face off against tough bosses. They are intended to ease the entry into raids.
In terms of mastery, the spirit animals of the Norn will be the focus.
The Major Expansions
So far, there have been two major expansions for Guild Wars 2. Each expansion brought a highlight to the preceding season of the living story. So like a concluding movie for a TV series.
Additionally, many more gameplay mechanics and several maps were added.
Heart of Thorns
Heart of Thorns, the first expansion of Guild Wars 2, brought the big final battle against the dragon Mordremoth in the Maguuma Jungle. There are huge, intricate maps with multi-stage events at high difficulty. The expansion introduced the following important innovations:
A new class called Revenant: This heavily armored character can summon the souls of past heroes and thus develop new powers.
The “Masteries” as a new skill feature: You can now learn and improve special abilities. This includes gliding through the air, deciphering ancient scripts, or using mushrooms as trampolines.
Specializations: Previously, there were trait lines, which were changed to specializations at the launch of Heart of Thorns. They culminated in elite specializations, giving classes more options and new weapon choices.
You can embark on a scavenger hunt for the coveted pre-cursor items. These are precursors of the even more sought-after legendary weapons. Some new ones were also introduced in Heart of Thorns.
Path of Fire
The second expansion Path of Fire came in 2017 and brought the fight against the ruthless god of war Balthazar. This time, the setting was the continent Elona, which played an important role in Guild Wars 1. Additionally, the following features were introduced:
Mounts: Finally, there are Mounts in Guild Wars 2! This allows you to travel faster, and each of the 5 animals has special abilities. For instance, the Raptor can leap horizontally for great distances, the Skimmer glides over water, and the Griffon can even fly briefly!
New Elite Specializations: Path of Fire finally introduced a second elite specialization for each class. This allows you to further expand your options.
General Innovations and Adjustments
Over the years, several general innovations and adjustments to the system have been introduced. These include the following features:
The Fractals have been revamped: Now you receive a fixed fractal per level instead of a random selection. Additionally, new fractals have been added, including the “Twilight Oasis”.
Currently, there are seven raids, with the latest one released in May 2019. Most of them consist of three or four boss fights, as well as small intermediate events and enemy groups.
As loot, the raids ideally offer the coveted ascended gear, special skins, and gold rewards.
PvP and WvW
There have been several changes in PvP and large world-versus-world battles.
Changes in Structured PvP
Since the launch of Guild Wars 2, there have been ongoing adjustments to Arena PvP:
The currency “Glory” has been removed; instead, there is more gold.
You can unlock new rewards through success reward paths.
Your equipment is irrelevant and taken from PvE. The stats in PvP are determined by worn amulets, runes, and sigils.
The Arathi Highlands shine in Battle for Azeroth in a new light. We show you how the zone in WoW is developing.
With the upcoming expansion Battle for Azeroth, much will change once again in World of Warcraft. While the war between Horde and Alliance rages on, more and more places in the world are becoming battlegrounds for the two factions.
These Warfronts provide an instanced scenario where the goal is to conquer a hostile fortress. Like in a real-time strategy game, units can be produced and attacks can be launched.
One of these Warfronts is in Arathi, namely the battle for the Stromgarde Fortress. This was once the seat of an entire kingdom, but has been ravaged multiple times, occupied by thieves and ogres. In BfA, Horde and Alliance fight for supremacy.
Arathi Highlands in beauty – only in the scenario?
The YouTube channel IS4 Studio shows both zones in a “before/after” comparison.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What is interesting, however, is that in this particular phase of the Arathi Highlands (where Stromgarde is located), the zone has also been extensively revamped!
It is noticeable that many places have not only been visually updated but also received completely new tasks. Small valleys have become mines that will surely be used for resource extraction.
However, it is still unclear whether this “new” Arathi Highlands will also be visible outside the Warfronts. Currently, it seems to be used only for the Warfronts and has no impact on the “old world” – but it is still very early in the Alpha of Battle for Azeroth.
What do you think of the appearance of the “new” Arathi Highlands? Should other zones also be revised once again? Or do you not want a “second Cataclysm”?
SK Telecom T1 is actually considered one of the best teams in League of Legends. But the LoL gods seemed tired and mentally blocked. They were probably overthinking. An 18-year-old jungler brings the turnaround. With his naivety, Blossom seems to inspire the team around star mid-laner Faker.
eSports is a world of its own:
24-year-old Bengi is already a veteran, serving only as a mentor and coach for his team.
His 21-year-old pupil Blank, who was supposed to replace him, is struggling, overthinking, and falling into a crisis due to fans’ criticism.
And 18-year-old Blossom is the new star of League of Legends. An instinct player who avoids overthinking.
All three are or were junglers for SKT. The jungler in LoL is kind of a “free spirit.” While the other four team members take clear positions that they must occupy during the laning phase, the jungler can roam the battlefield, appear unexpectedly, exert pressure, and determine the course of a match.
The LoL heroes are tired – SK Telecom T1 in crisis after final defeat
For years, SK Telecom T1 was the dominant team in League of Legends. With star player Faker in the mid lane, who is considered the best LoL player of all time, and strong players in every position, the Koreans won title after title, the last one in 2016.
Faker, LoL god
But recently, their dominance has shown cracks. This was partly due to Bengi, a legend in the jungle position, leaving the team in 2016.
Overthinking and too much fan criticism block young pro players
After the defeat, they brought back former star jungler Bengi as coach. But the new season did not start well.
Peanut (20) has left SKT. Blank (21) became the face of the crisis in the jungler position. In a match against Afreeca Freecs in early February, SKT was humiliated. In a 38-minute match, jungler Blank only dealt 612 damage to other players. That’s unacceptable.
However, Blank had previously contributed with this great steal to secure the quarter-finals at the World Championships just a few months earlier.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In earlier interviews, Blank’s problem becomes clear: The 21-year-old overthinks and places too much value on community feedback. When he plays poorly, the comments in Korean forums become more severe. This likely affected Blank so much that it blocked him. A problem that seems to plague some young LoL pros.
18-year-old instinct player brings the turnaround
But soon the only 18-year-old Park “Blossom” Beom-chan started as a jungler for SKT and that brought the turnaround. He was named MVP in his first pro match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kFeHhFghHs
Since then, Blossom has shown excellent gameplay and strong variance with champions. He impresses with heroes like Jarvan IV and the more unusual pick Zac.
In contrast to the passive jungler Blank, who likely overthinks, Blossom is considered an aggressive instinct player.
Colleague Faker describes him as “naive and pure.” He plays without thinking, but instinctively knows when to initiate a fight. An important requirement for a successful jungler at the highest level.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitch that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The young Blossom loves this aggressive style. With Bengi, he now has a mentor who tells him to just play like in practice and not overthink. Blossom cites Ruler, the AD carry of Samsung Galaxy (now known as KSV eSports), as a role model. This is the star player of the team that took the World Championship title from SKT in November 2017.
Blossom seems to set a different tone at SK Telecom T1. While the other team members seem rather introverted, they jokingly complain about Blossom: He just talks. All the time.
Apparently, SK Telecom T1 needed someone like him.
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, the winter upgrades for the Italian Serie A (Calcio A) are well-known. These players receive new cards during the Ratings Refresh.
These players will receive upgrades to their player stats in FUT 18 – Serie A / Calcio A
Here is an overview of selected new Serie A cards:
The complete player list:
Paulo Dybala – CAM – Juventus 88 → 89
Samir Handanović – GK – Inter 87 → 88
Dries Mertens – ST – Napoli 86 → 87
Miralem Pjanić – CM – Juventus 85 → 86
Lorenzo Insigne – LW – Napoli 85 → 87
Medhi Benatia – CB – Juventus 84 → 85
Ivan Perišić – LM – Inter 84 → 86
Mauro Icardi – ST – Inter 84 → 86
Ciro Immobile – ST – Lazio 82 → 85
Mattia Perin – GK – Genoa 83 → 84
Stefan de Vrij – CB – Lazio 83 → 84
Andrea Consigli – GK – Sassuolo 82 → 83
Douglas Costa – LM – Juventus 82 → 83
Raúl Albiol – CB – Napoli 82 → 83
Juan Cuadrado – RM – Juventus 82 → 83
Sergej Milinković-Savić – CM – Lazio 80 → 83
Stephan El Shaarawy – LW – Roma 80 → 81
Allan – CM – Napoli 80 → 81
Aleksandar Kolarov – LB – Roma 79 → 81
Faouzi Ghoulam – LB – Napoli 79 → 80
Lucas Leiva – CDM – Lazio 79 → 80
Luis Alberto – ST – Lazio 77 → 80
Milan Škriniar – CB – Inter 74 → 80
Salvatore Sirigu – GK – Torino 79 → 80
Simone Verdi – RW – Bologna 78 → 79
Federico Chiesa – RW – Fiorentina 75 → 77
Lucas Torreira – CM – Sampdoria 75 → 77
Rômulo – RM – Hellas Verona 74 → 76
Mattia Caldara – CB – Atalanta 76 → 78
Thomas Strakosha – GK – Lazio 74 → 77
Federico Di Francesco – LW – Bologna 73 → 76
Antonín Barák – CM – Udinese 72 → 75
Nicolò Barella – CM – Cagliari 70 → 75
Patrick Cutrone – ST – Milan 65 → 71
Moise Kean – ST – Hellas Verona 64 → 70
Filippo Romagna – CM – Cagliari 63 → 68
How to get the Ratings Refresh cards in Ultimate Team
As soon as the winter upgrade cards are released, they can be pulled from the packs. The only requirement is that the pack can contain players. The “old” cards of the respective players will no longer be found in the packs from this moment on.
If you already own a card of a player that is being upgraded, it remains unchanged. It will not update automatically. If you want the player’s card with improved attributes, you must pull it from a pack. It is also possible to purchase the winter upgrade cards from other players on the transfer market.
Is the Evening Devotion of Radius a strong choice for the Warlock in Destiny 2? How does the chest armor perform in PvE and PvP? Can this Exotic be recommended?
The first DLC “Curse of Osiris” introduced numerous new Exotic armor pieces for all three classes in Destiny 2 on December 5, 2017. Among other things, the Evening Devotion of Radius made its way into the game. This is an Exotic chest armor that can be particularly beneficial for Stormcaller Warlocks.
Evening Devotion of Radius – How to Obtain the Exotic
There are several possible sources for this Exotic chest armor:
Planetary Surge – Detailed Effects of the Intrinsic Perk
Benefit 1: Rifts release an Arc Shockwave. Contrary to popular but mistaken belief, this is not a constantly pulsing shockwave that is triggered every few seconds while the Rift is active.
Instead, the shockwave is activated once when the Rift is triggered – similar to the perk “Landfall.” It deals significant damage to nearby PvE enemies with red health bars and is capable of obliterating a large portion of them directly. Against enemies with yellow health bars, the damage is much lower. It is enough to strip their shield and take away a bit of health.
The shockwave can also knock back enemies in the immediate vicinity. This can buy valuable seconds to regenerate or reposition yourself.
Benefit 2: Rift energy charges faster when surrounded by enemies. This benefit is powerful and is the core of this Exotic armor.
The Rift energy charges faster the more enemies gather around you. You can use your Rift radius as a good guideline for the necessary distance. If the enemies are within your Rift (and you in the middle) or at a comparable distance, they count towards activating or scaling this benefit.
The minimum number of enemies needed to “trigger” the perk is 3. If the number of enemies in the immediate area is lower, the Rift charges at its regular speed. However, with 3 or more enemies, the time required to charge the Rift is significantly reduced.
It applies: the more enemies surround you, the faster your Rift charges. This effect can stack to the point where you can ideally place a new Rift approximately every 10 seconds. Since the Rift lasts longer than 10 seconds, this allows you to maintain your Rift continuously – as long as there are enough nearby enemies.
What Can the Chest Armor Do in PvE and PvP?
In PvP, the advantages of this Exotic chest armor do not really come into play. You are too rarely surrounded by enough enemies for the intrinsic perk of the Evening Devotion of Radius to be effective. The shockwave when triggering the Rift also does not impress in PvP.
In PvE, on the other hand, this Exotic is one of the best that Warlocks can currently equip. Since in PvE activities such as raids, nightfalls, or heroic public events you often encounter large masses of enemies, this Exotic armor can often showcase its full potential.
Once you are surrounded by enough enemies, the Evening Devotion of Radius provides you with so much Rift energy that you can theoretically keep your team and yourself continuously supplied with a healing or damage boost. It also allows you to act as a tank at the front, by simply placing yourself in the middle of the enemy masses with the Rift or drawing them to you. If you have also activated the Arc Soul, you further increase your damage output.
For Whom Is the Evening Devotion of Radius Worthwhile?
Generally, the Evening Devotion of Radius is worthwhile for all three focuses of the Warlock. It is definitely the best support gear for this class and all Warlocks benefit immensely from its properties.
However, an aggressively playing Stormcaller can best exploit the full potential of this armor. This subclass has a long-lasting super, which inevitably brings you close to larger groups of enemies during play. Thus, after the super expires, you can immediately come back to life with a fully charged Rift and dive back into remaining enemy masses. If you also activate the Arc Soul, you will receive an almost continuous damage bonus as well.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
This Exotic is excellent for all Warlock players who either like to support their team or be aggressively at the front. For PvE activities, the Evening Devotion of Radius is definitely worthwhile – you can’t go wrong with it! However, in PvP, this chest armor does not hold its own. There are definitely better alternatives for this mode.
What do you think about this Warlock Exotic? Feel free to share your opinion in the comment section.
Players around the world are reporting how trolls are ruining the multiplayer in Monster Hunter World. The trolls enjoy preventing other players from looting after the hunt. They shamelessly exploit the Friendly-Fire mechanics of MHW.
Those who go hunting in Monster Hunter World will be richly rewarded after their work! Once the monster is killed, players can pull out their hunting knife and carve the animals for loot. The monsters then drop materials such as teeth, horns, claws, scales, or fur, which are further processed into weapons and armor. By carving the animals, hunters obtain additional and important loot besides the quest reward.
Especially after a long and exhausting hunt, the feeling is even better when the loot can finally be cashed in. However, trolls are currently making it impossible for other players to loot the monsters in multiplayer.
Complaints from hunters affected by the problem are popping up worldwide (over Twitter, Reddit and forums) from hunters who have been affected.
“Griefers” use Friendly-Fire to disturb other hunters
Players who attempt to ruin the fun for others in online multiplayer are referred to as “griefers” without directly violating the game rules.
Monster Hunter World has a Friendly-Fire mechanic. Hunters can paralyze or hit other players with their weapon. This disturbs the affected players in their actions.
The trolls use Friendly-Fire to prevent other players from carving a monster for loot. Usually, the “griefers” operate in groups and disturb a teammate who has accidentally joined their group. In Monster Hunter World, players can join an ongoing quest from other players at any time. They do not need to be friends in the game.
When the random teammate tries to loot the monster after the hunt, the trolls take turns hitting their victim in the group. They can then carve the monster without disturbance, while the random teammate gets nothing. To obtain the loot from a slain monster in Monster Hunter World, you must carve it. The loot is not automatically collected by the game.
In the video below, you can observe the process. The player tries to carve the slain Anjanath, and the other three teammates hit him, interrupting his looting action.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Friendly-Fire is actually useful in Monster Hunter World’s multiplayer
Friendly-Fire has its uses in Monster Hunter World and is actually meant to help teammates. For example, if a hunter gets paralyzed by a monster, a teammate can simply give them a slap with their weapon. This will free the hunter from the paralysis and reduce the risk of being attacked by the monster.
Friendly-Fire can also be used to assist other players onto the back of a monster. When a player rides a monster, they can freely attack as they wish and are safe from attacks.
Capcom is aware of the problem and is considering solutions
Capcom stated to Waypoint that they are aware of the problem through player feedback. The discontent over trolls has continuously grown, and they are currently considering solutions.
It is probably not easy for Capcom to tackle the issue with loot-stealing trolls. The “griefers” are not doing anything illegal and shamelessly misuse a game mechanic originally intended for teamwork.
What could solutions be?
One possibility would be for the developers to turn off Friendly-Fire after completing the quest, preventing trolls from disrupting the loot process.
Another option would be to introduce an automatic collection mechanic. However, many players might view this critically. Carving the monsters is simply part of the game.
It remains to be seen how Capcom will ultimately respond to the issue.
Have you ever lost your loot to trolls? What solutions would you like to see from Capcom?
Trolls are unfortunately not just a problem in Monster Hunter World, but in online gaming:
A player posted their interesting discovery in Metal Gear Survive on Twitter: a hidden message from one of the employees of Konami.
Metal Gear Survive is the first Metal Gear game released after the messy break between Konami and Hideo Kojima. Kojima is regarded as the father of the series, and his departure was undignified.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
However, after the mudslinging between Konami and Kojima, it wasn’t only the fans of the series who were upset about how the company treated the creator of the Metal Gear series.
Because apparently one of the employees at Konami who worked on Metal Gear Survive decided to make it clear in their own way whose side they are on in the conflict.
Observant fan finds the hidden message
Twitter user @NourishedPsyche noticed an interesting detail while playing Metal Gear Survive.
When the game prompted him to enter his name, he noticed that the initials of other names on the clipboard spell “KJP FOREVER”.
Crucially: KJP is commonly used as an abbreviation for Hideo Kojima’s new company name, “Kojima Productions.”
But hey, it could just be a coincidence. It happens sometimes… right?
Possible. The fact is, however, that the same names in reverse order also appear in another place in the game.
Or is it “Konami forever”?
Some Twitter users have argued that the message could also be read as KOJP, meaning Konami Japan.
However, the full name of Konami’s video game division is “Konami Computer Entertainment Japan” and is abbreviated accordingly as KCEJ.
Thus, this interpretation seems less likely.
You can watch the launch trailer for Metal Gear Survive here:
PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) as a mobile version for iOS and Android is actually only available in China, but with these tricks, you can also play it in Germany.
Last week, the first mobile versions of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds went live in China. Both mobile-PUBG are free-to-play and are really good.
If you are not afraid of a little technical preparation, you can now play PUBG on your smartphone anywhere in the world.
But don’t worry, with our guides, we will take you by the hand. The installation should not be a problem.
Download PUBG for iOS or Android
Actually, the mobile version of PUBG is only available for the Chinese app stores, but with a little trickery, you can gain access. The US site Rolling Stone has explained how to get access.
Android
Android installation of PUBG
To get the Android version of PUBG, you first need to download the TapTap app store and search for PUBG there.
There you will find PUBG: Army Attack and PUBG: Exhilarating Battlefield.
PUBG: Army Attack is a modified version of the original game
PUBG: Exhilarating Battlefield is practically a recreation
After you have downloaded a game, you need to sign in there. We will explain the signup process with QQ further down in the article.
iOS
iOS installation of PUBG
For iOS users, the installation is a bit more complicated than for Android users. Here you first need to create a Chinese account for the iTunes store.
Then, create a new Apple ID there, and select “China” as the country.
Confirm the email address with the code that will be sent to you.
Now log in to the App Store with the new Apple ID. You will be asked to complete the data during the first login.
Enter an address (Rolling Stone recommends making one up) and select “none” as the payment method. This is the last option in the list (selected from the beginning)
After that, confirm the address and you can browse the App Store.
If you now search for PUBG, both versions PUBG: Army Attack and PUBG: Exhilarating Battlefield will also appear here, which you can download.
Signing in with QQ – creating an account
Now you are almost ready to start. However, for Android and iOS, you will need an account with QQ or WeChat to start a mobile round of PUBG. We will show you how to set this up quickly.
Sign in there with a nickname and password and have the activation code sent to your phone number.
Now, visit the App Store again and download the QQ app.
Launch the app and select the right (blue) button.
You should then log in there with your phone number.
The upper field is for entering the country. Tip: If you are unsure about Chinese characters, type “Germany” into the search bar and find a result afterward.
Now enter your phone number (without the leading 0). So (+49) 170 123456 etc.
You will now receive another confirmation code via SMS, which you enter in the app.
Now two fields will appear again. One with numbers partially censored by stars and below an empty field. Enter the password you chose when creating your QQ account in the empty field.
After you have assigned the permissions, you are finally done!
If you now start one of the downloaded games from the app store, you will be greeted on the start screen by two buttons. The right blue button stands for linking with QQ to log in. If you select this, the QQ app will open for the first time, which will ask for your confirmation (again blue button) for the PUBG login.
Now the game starts and you can venture into the survival adventure on your smartphone. The game is intuitive and you get used to it quickly.
In my test game, I noticed that the controls worked easier than expected. Also, the ping was not bad enough to make the match unplayable – in the first round, I managed to reach second place. Although headshots on the small heads are more of a matter of luck, the mobile version is as exciting and fun as the PC or Xbox version.
An absurd situation: The Division 2 and Borderlands 3 are two games that have not yet been announced, but both could still come out before the similarly situated Anthem. All three titles are aiming for a release within a year, with March 2019 as a deadline. It’s getting tight around the ailing Destiny 2.
As soon as a trend is established in gaming, studios rush to send their own variations into the race. After everyone wanted to develop a hero shooter like Overwatch two years ago, studios are now working on battle royale shooters.
One exception: Destiny and the MMO shooters. Destiny 2 still has the field pretty much to itself. That is likely to change within a year.
Where are the alternatives to Destiny 2? They are on their way
Destiny was a huge success for Activision in 2014, but hardly any game has been released since that really walks in those paths. The reason: Games like Destiny need years in development. Fans expect an open world, thoughtful progression mechanics, and high-quality presentation. That takes a few years.
But in fact, it should be the case in 2018/2019. Three games that are likely to be similar to Destiny may appear around the same time and compete for players who are disappointed with Destiny 2.
The funny thing is: Two of the games haven’t even been announced yet, but that’s just a formality at this point. It’s clear that large teams have been working on them for years.
Borderlands 3 – the most announced unannounced game of all time
What is the status: Borderlands 3 is not yet announced, but everyone knows that Gearbox has been working on the title for years. All signs point to it. Again and again, fans are told “Wink, wink – look forward to it.” It’s getting a bit ridiculous that the title is still not officially announced and that’s why no one wants to talk about it.
When will it finally be presented? The next big thing for publisher Take Two will come in October with Red Dead Redemption 2. But Borderlands 3 should be presented soon. It’s getting a bit ridiculous to keep it quiet much longer. 400 people have presumably been working on it for years – and everyone knows it. Maybe it’s still not clear what Take-Two is actually calling it. Whether it will be Borderlands 3 or Borderlands Online?
The Division 2 – A huge studio has been working for 2 years on … nothing?
What is the status? The Division 2 has not yet been announced. But The Division 1 has not had a roadmap for months on how it will proceed. The studio Massive in Malmö has not been working with its “The Division” team on The Division for years. Other Ubisoft studios are taking over the ongoing development of the game. However, Massive is diligently expanding its The Division team, and there is even a movie announced. But how the franchise will continue in terms of gameplay, no one has told the fans – and it hasn’t been for months.
When should it come? Publisher Ubisoft has announced four new AAA games by March 2019. Two of them are already known, namely “The Crew 2” and “Skull & Bones.” The probability is high that one of the two unannounced games is indeed The Division 2. It could actually be released in autumn 2018 or does one want to wait until the movie is out? Ubisoft’s plans are nebulous.
What can we expect? It is unclear whether The Division 2 will really be a standalone sequel or a “stand-alone” expansion of the first part. Both are quite possible and makes sense. The advantage for Massive is that after The Division 1, they now know what fans expect and how the release of such a game works. Perhaps one could avoid the typical launch crisis that usually haunts such games.
When will it finally be presented? We might learn more soon. The next big thing from Ubisoft is FarCry 5 at the end of March. After that, the stage could be free for a presentation of The Division 2. E3 in June would be an opportunity.
Anthem – the only announced MMO shooter
What is the status? Anthem was presented at E3 2017, but there is only sparse information about the shooter. Except for a scripted presentation, nothing has been seen yet.
When should it come? Anthem was originally scheduled for the end of 2018, but it has now been postponed to spring 2019. Rumor has it that Anthem really needs to be released in March 2019 so it falls into EA’s current financial year. That would be important for investors.
What can we expect? A third-person shooter that focuses on loot and story. What direction Anthem will take exactly and whether the title can lead BioWare back to former greatness is still open. One thing is clear: it’s all or nothing for the studio. BioWare is focusing on Anthem, the shooter must be a hit.
In Star Wars: Battlefront 2 a temporary game mode called Jetpack Cargo has recently been integrated. Armed with jetpacks and rocket launchers, the action is intense. Our author Guddy finds this mode engaging, even if the matches can sometimes drag on.
In Jetpack Cargo, a team of eight fighters gathers points by retrieving cargo and bringing it to the destination. The Capture the Flag mode has a twist: Each fighter is equipped with a jetpack and a rocket launcher, making the game much faster-paced and providing a different perspective on the gameplay.
Is Jetpack Cargo Worth It?
And yes, the mode delivers on its promise. The fact that everyone has access to a jetpack noticeably enhances the dynamics, along with the short cooldown time of the two jetpack boosts. Everything around you shoots, flies, and zips through the air, making it truly enjoyable.
With jetpacks, you naturally play faster, need to react more flexibly to the environment and opponents, and thus break free from the typical gameplay style to some extent.
However fast the mode may be: It can take a while.
A match lasted 50 minutes for me, with some even claiming it went on for an hour and a half in Jetpack Cargo! Here, a “sudden death” after a certain period would be a good choice, as otherwise, it drags on quite a bit.
Nevertheless, I currently have a lot of fun with Jetpack Cargo.
The Mode is Well Received
Threads like this one on Reddit show that the mode is well-received. Similar to the recently limited-time “Test Your Metal” event in For Honor, many players are also craving more here. They want the mode not just temporarily, but ideally as a regular mode permanently.
However, it is a shame, besides the fact that it is temporary, that the map selection is very limited. It is only played on the map Mos Eisley, which diminishes the actual replay value somewhat.
Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of the players shows that there is still more to Battlefront 2 than debates over loot boxes,fun mods and licensing rumors. What do you think? Have you played it yet? What do you think of the mode?
The Throne War MMO stands out significantly from other MMORPGs: The developers once presented it as Game of Thrones meets EVE Online. This could make Crowfall (PC) something special.
In Crowfall, you are a so-called Crow, essentially a soul that resides in a sky kingdom, the Eternal Kingdom. You live here and want to continually expand your realm. However, this is not so easy, as the resources needed for this can only be found in the Dying Worlds.
Campaigns in the Dying Worlds
The Dying Worlds are worlds that are slowly being devoured by a dark force, the Hunger. Each of these worlds is inevitably doomed. Only in the eternal kingdom are you safe. Yet, somehow you have to get the resources from the Dying Worlds. So, you set off as a Crow to visit one of these worlds in a campaign.
A campaign can last several weeks or months and begins with your arrival in the world. Since you are essentially just a soul, you first need to find a body. You will find one in fallen warriors, who can be found in the ruins of the Dying Worlds or in graveyards. When you possess a body, also known as a Vessel, you adopt some characteristics from it – depending on which race it belonged to.
You are essentially training your body, but through a sort of mental connection, you can also adopt some of the characteristics into your soul.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
It is possible to change bodies during the campaign. For instance, if you are killed, you should look for a new body. This can have different characteristics, and your equipment can also be lost due to your virtual demise. It is still possible to assemble a “Vessel” from different body parts, allowing you to combine abilities in a way that suits you.
Once you have found a body, you start exploring the world and gathering resources there. During a campaign, you must try to accumulate as much power and resources as possible in the Dying World. This also means that you must build something in the world. For example, you will find ancient ruins of long-destroyed castles that you can restore and use as a base.
You also want to ascend in the campaign world and improve your vessel.This works differently than you might know from some other MMORPGs. You collect offerings in the world that you present to your god. The higher quality and more elaborate the offerings, the more EXP you receive for them – it is also possible to sacrifice your bodies! This means you must scour the world for valuable items. When you level up, you improve your skills and attributes. Along the way, you gather resources to expand your base or craft new equipment.
Exploring the world is not without danger, especially as the campaign progresses. The closer the Hunger gets, the more aggressive the environment reacts, making exploration tours and the search for offerings difficult.
PvP is central
PvP is a core element of Crowfall.
In the campaign worlds, your task is to amass as much power as possible, to return to the Eternal Kingdom with as many resources as possible to further expand it. This leads to rivalries between players in the Dying Worlds. Consequently, massive battles, castle sieges, PvP skirmishes, and wars take place there. It is possible to lay the castles of other players to waste. Especially in sieges, Crowfall wants to provide many options.
Build siege engines such as catapults to bombard the castles from the outside. In the meantime, another group of players sneaks into the castle, surprising the defenders. You can leverage many tactical options, which is also important for group play.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
At some point, the Hunger will begin to devour the world. Then you return to the Eternal Kingdom with everything you have achieved, which you will continue to expand based on your accomplishments. Thus, over time, you will establish a vast empire according to your vision. Here, you can expand your land parcel by parcel, build castles, establish villages, and much more.
It is also possible to connect players’ kingdoms to create trade routes. Trade and economy are another important aspect of the game. The economy is meant to be entirely player-driven.
And again and again, you travel to a new campaign world to conquer and achieve new things that will benefit you in the Eternal Kingdom.
Recently, many sandbox titles have been announced. Crowfall is regarded as one of the biggest MMORPG hopes.
Crowfall is still in development – Release, Open Beta
Currently, Crowfall is still in the alpha phase. Not all of the previously mentioned features have been implemented yet. The entire economic system and all relationships will be introduced gradually.
It is already possible to play a campaign and see how it progresses. However, not all features are integrated here either. The fundamental pillars and framework of Crowfall are in place, and the remaining game elements will be gradually implemented to ultimately achieve the MMORPG that has been described.
A soft launch of the game is planned for this year. This means the beta will start, which will then eventually open for everyone. This “Open Beta” will eventually transition into the release after several updates, without an official launch.
The transition will be seamless, and the label “Beta” will disappear when the developers believe Crowfall has reached a status that is good enough for a “release version”. This soft launch is still planned for 2018. However, it is not yet clear when exactly that will be.
What Crowfall offers you – Overview of Features
Focus on PvP
Conquest wars in the Dying Worlds
Sieges
Building castles and fortresses
Gathering resources
Character creation through bodies and parts
Game is divided into campaigns
Expansion of the Eternal Kingdom
Player-driven economy
Crowfall currently finances itself through an in-game shop, where you can purchase not only access to the game in the form of founder packs, but additionally houses, castles, parcels, and decorative items for your Eternal Kingdom. This, along with the Kickstarter campaign from 2015, has led to over 20 million dollars being raised.
Furthermore, the developers received a funding boost from investors of 6 million dollars at the end of 2017 to accelerate development.Crowfall is distributed in Europe by Travian Games for PC. The model is Buy2Play.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
New teasers and hints from Blizzard suggest that the next hero in Overwatch will be Brigitte. We reveal why this is so.
Speculation is running high about the next hero who will join Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch. Just a few days ago, many fans speculated that the new hero might be Emre Sarioglu, who was mentioned in a small “lore file”.
Now Blizzard has released an old letter that Torbjörn wrote to his wife after he was severely injured in a mission and lost his arm.
This letter mentions that Reinhardt saved Torbjörn. The Swedish engineer then promised Reinhardt that he could decide on the name of Torbjörn’s child and would thus become its godfather.
The odds are high that this refers to Brigitte, whom we also saw in the cinematic “For Glory and Honor” and the comic “Dragon Slayer”. In the comic, she took care of Reinhardt’s armor and, like her father Torbjörn, was a gifted engineer. She often worries about Reinhardt and advises him to finally hang up his armor and hammer and enjoy retirement.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
There are also further hints from Jeff Kaplan himself when analyzing his older interviews. He has already stated that players “would already know hero 27”. This applies to a number of characters that have been teased in comics, cinematics, or in the game. But only a few have such a concrete image as Brigitte.
Brigitte is likely to be a tank
Furthermore, it seems that Brigitte is likely to be a tank.
Kaplan mentioned that the new hero “is present in every internal playtest” – this speaks for a tank or a healer. Given that a new healer was recently released with Moira, a tank seems far more likely.
Of course, nothing has been confirmed yet. Only when Blizzard finally fully reveals it will we have certainty.
Are you looking forward to hero 27? Do you also suspect that it is Brigitte? Or are you expecting another hero?
