With the update 3.0.0, a new weapon has been added to Fortnite: the Desert Eagle handgun. According to Epic, it is supposed to be loud and extremely powerful – but is that true? We took a closer look at the weapon in Battle Royale mode!
The handgun primarily represents an improvement over the revolver and can be found in the rarity levels epic (purple) and legendary (orange). That the new cannon is supposed to deal massive damage is also illustrated by the ammunition that this weapon requires.
You need to fire heavy ammunition – which was previously reserved for sniper rifles. But how much damage does the handgun really deal?
How to find the new Desert Eagle handgun
You can find the weapon
randomly as loot on the ground,
in treasure chests, and
even in supply drops.
Since it is difficult to distinguish from the standard pistols from a distance, you can still quickly recognize which weapon it is based on the rarity (standard pistols only exist up to the rarity of uncommon – blue).
How much damage does the handgun do in Fortnite: Battle Royale
With the epic variant, you deal 78 damage with a body shot – critically, the handgun deals a whopping 187 damage. Many opponents are already history with that! You can also check out the true destruction potential in the following video:
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There are already voices claiming that the weapon is too powerful. At least the video reinforces this impression. But is that really the case? The fire rate of the weapon is extremely poor at 0.8 shots per second.
In fast close-range fights, the weapon is likely to be used little – it shoots too slowly for that. Here, shotguns, pump-action guns, and submachine guns will be the much better choice.
Desert Eagle in Fortnite: Battle Royale – Ideal for initiating fights
Robert says:Brutal damage, low fire rate – the new handgun strongly resembles the revolvers already in the game, which, however, are not very popular. Moving enemies are hard to hit – especially if you want to land a critical hit.
Among the pistols, the suppressed variant deals more consistent damage – even when the opponent is moving. However, the new handgun does have its use. It is excellent for initiating a fight.
With a body shot damage of 78, you can quickly take out opponents after switching weapons. If this play style is not for you, you can at least use the heavy ammo of the handgun for your sniper rifle!
How do you like the new handgun? Let us know in the comments!
Those who want to secure the rewards of Season 8 of Overwatch need to step up. Season 8 ends tomorrow.
Once again, the current season in Overwatch is coming to an end. Tomorrow, on February 25, 2018, the 8th ranked season of Overwatch will end.
As usual, rewards await at the end of the season, which will be granted to all players who have completed at least their 10 placement matches and thereby received a skill rating (SR). Depending on the achieved skill rating, there is a different number of Competitive Points (CP).
Bronze: 65 CP
Silver: 125 CP
Gold: 250 CP
Platinum: 500 CP
Diamond: 750 CP
Master: 1,200 CP
Grandmaster: 1,750 CP
The received CP depend on the highest rank achieved in the season. For example, if someone was temporarily “Gold” and later dropped to “Silver”, they will still receive the 250 CP for their Gold placement.
The Competitive Points can be used to unlock golden weapons. The golden weapons do not provide any gameplay advantage, they are simply cosmetic enhancements for each respective hero. Each of these weapons costs 3,000 CP, so it takes a while to unlock one or even multiple weapons.
Overwatch Season 9 is already on the horizon
However, there is not a long break until the start of the next season. Just 3 days later, on February 28, 2018, the 9th ranked season of Overwatch will begin. Then, another 10 placement matches must be completed and the fun starts all over again.
The 9th ranked season of Overwatch will also last about 2 months before Competitive Points and other rewards, such as spray logos and profile pictures, are awarded to the players.
What rank did you achieve in Season 8 of Overwatch?
In Monster Hunter World, the event schedule for March 2018 has recently been released. Among them is an event quest that looks quite suspicious. Some fans suspect that this event is a sign of the first DLC monster: Deviljho.
Monster Hunter World regularly offers special event quests, where hunters receive new challenges and extra rewards. Capcom recently announced the first events for March 2018.
There is an event that raised eyebrows among many players:
The event doesn’t sound too difficult at first. Hunters just need to take a stroll through the Ancient Forest and collect 10 mushrooms. What a pleasant break between monster hunting! Or is it not?
The requirement and difficulty of the quest definitely do not look like a nice walk in the woods! “A Simple Task” requires Hunter Rank 30 and is marked with a difficulty of 9 stars. The difficulty of a quest in Monster Hunter World is measured in stars, and star level 9 is currently the highest quest available.
So why is a simple collection and delivery task set with such high requirements?
Fans Suspect: First DLC Monster Deviljho Will Surprise Hunters Here
That something is not right with the “simple task” has not gone unnoticed by many fans. On Reddit, a user mhunterhcump posted an interesting theory about this quest. He suspects that the Deviljho will surprise players during the mushroom hunt.
Who is Deviljho?
Deviljho, also known as Demonjho in German, is a Brute Wyvern. This carnivore is always hungry and has been observed eating its own kind.
Although Deviljho appears to be a cold-blooded reptile, these monsters have a high body temperature and therefore a high energy consumption. That is why they are constantly looking for food and even kill mass amounts of monsters. Deviljho rank high in the food chain and should be tackled by experienced hunters.
Among fans, Deviljho is also referred to as the Spicy Pickle due to its appearance.
Why Deviljho could be behind the event quest “A Simple Task” is explained by the Redditor as follows:
The requirements for the quest are too high for a simple collection task
Deviljho has the reputation of appearing when hunters least expect it
Deviljho was announced as the first DLC monster for Spring 2018
In the first teaser video of the monster, Deviljho is seen in the Ancient Forest. This is also where the event quest will take place.
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The Start of the Event Quest Could Counter the Fan Theory
There is one factor that could speak against the theory, and that is the date. The start of the event “A Simple Task” is scheduled for March 9. However, Spring 2018 officially begins on March 20, and Deviljho is slated for Spring.
It is very likely that a strong monster will disturb the collection trip. However, it could be any strong monster from Monster Hunter World. Here we have a list of all monsters along with their materials and locations. It could just as well be the Bazelgeuse that has a tendency to disrupt and surprise players in any area of the map.
What do you think is behind this suspicious event quest? Do you also believe it’s Deviljho or do you think of other monsters?
Just in time for the start of the second phase of the Overwatch- League, the summary of the code of conduct has been released, which players and team representatives are expected to follow.
After various offenses by some players, it was also time for these rules to be made public. In contrast to other leagues, however, Blizzard shows only a summary and no detailed information on the mentioned points.
The code was created to establish a harassment-free environment for players and to ensure that the game itself maintains its integrity and does not lose its reputation.
The Code of Conduct
According to the rules published by Blizzard, team members and officials should
… uphold and maintain the highest standards of personal integrity and sportsmanship.
… compete at the highest possible level at all times.
… comply with all applicable laws regarding the game.
… participate in no practices or activities that bring them or others into public disrepute or involvement in a scandal.
… engage in no form of harassment or discrimination.
… participate in no betting related to games, matches, or the entire Overwatch tournament.
… make no false, defamatory, or insulting remarks, comments, or statements.
… exploit no cheats, bugs, or glitches in Overwatch.
Each of these points makes sense, but is also not particularly surprising. Reactions in forums like Reddit and in various comment sections are rather amused.
The Community’s Reactions
After all, such rules should be self-evident. Some also raise the amused question of whether the rules were published specifically for Félix “xQc” Lengyel, who has often been noted for insults in the past and was even suspended because of this.
Others see the rules as a direct transition to the realm of Pampers and cotton balls: Is everything that someone finds offensive now going to be punished? Critics fear that now every little comment will be penalized.
However, probably not much will change. In the past, “indecent behavior” like provocatively showing the middle finger has been penalized, even without official rules being publicly announced. Ultimately, it’s about making a clear statement to the outside world.
What do you think? Will the league become quieter because of this?
Black Desert Online (PC) shows the first images of the new region Drieghan. In it, you can expect rugged mountains full of wild beauty!
The sandbox MMORPG Black Desert Online is known for its beautiful graphics. This applies to both player characters and the game world. As you wander through the magnificent Black Desert world, you can explore:
Only mountain regions have previously been somewhat neglected, but not for long.
Off to the mountains of Drieghan
The new region coming soon to Black Desert is called Drieghan. It is a wild, rugged mountainous area. There, you can expect secluded mountain villages, mysterious shrines, bizarre rock formations, cozy hot springs, and romantically wild mountain valleys.
There are already first images of the new region, which we have collated here into a gallery for you.
Digital Extremes has released the first images of the new open-world map of Warframe. The new open area will be on the planet Venus, and the Corpus faction roams here. The new map seems to lean heavily towards Cyberpunk and industry.
In the Devstream 107, Digital Extremes unveiled the first images of the new open-world map on Venus. This will go in a completely opposite direction compared to the free map on Earth: the Plains of Eidolon.
In the Plains, players find themselves in a large natural area with plenty of water, hills, sunshine, and a day-night cycle. The new map on Venus, however, will be colder and greyer, focusing on a large industrial area inhabited by the Corpus. Instead of a day-night cycle, there will be regular ice stormson Venus that make it difficult for players to traverse the map.
There will be an industrial city underground on Venus
During the Devstream, the developers talked about their plans for the new open-world map. The Orokin performed terraforming on Venus to make the planet habitable for them. The Corpus faction populated Venus when the Orokin fell and continued their work. There is a coolant on Venus that maintains a low temperature on the planet.
On Venus, there remains a civilization that lives underground. They are called “Solaris United” and are unfortunate laborers of the Corpus. They are responsible for processing and refining coolant for use on the surface of Venus. The cold on Venus then causes ice storms.
Here is an initial teaser film of the new open-world city:
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This concept drawing is meant to give a good idea of the direction the industrial underground city will take.
A floating glacier is set to crash into Venus
Above Venus, there will be a floating island that is an icy glacier. Originally, the Orokin placed a golden orb here, around which ice formed. The current plan is for this glacier to crash into Venus and shatter here. The lower GIF shows the formation of the glacier.
It is conceivable that Digital Extremes is planning something similar to what they did with Operation-Plague-Star back in the day on the Plains. Here, a comet crashed into the Plains of Eidolon, bringing infected enemies to the Earth.
The lower concept drawing shows the glacier on Venus.
The free terrain on Venus will be even larger than the Plains
The Plains of Eidolon consist of an area of 5 square kilometers with hills, mountains, gorges, valleys, and bodies of water. The developers promised that the open-world map on Venus will be significantly larger than the Plains.
In order to implement the larger areas, the developers have likely used a new technique that allowed them to better design free terrain.
The lower concept drawing shows what it should look like outside on the open-world map. It appears that this is covered in snow.
Here, Digital Extremes provided insights into the new terrain technique on Venus.
What else was discussed in Devstream 107?
The new open-world map was the dominant topic in the Devstream. However, there were several other interesting pieces of information:
The new “Corpus-Spider” enemies have their own attack patterns and different sizes. It is conceivable that they are native to the new open-world map of Venus. After all, it belongs to the Corpus, and one of the spiders seems to be growing so large that it hardly fits in the corridors of the closed maps. But that’s just my assumption and not officially confirmed!
Dark Sectors will be something completely new and renamed. The Dark Sectors are currently undergoing a rework. This has adjusted this mode so significantly that Digital Extremes wants to create something new and standalone from it. At its core, it will be a leaderboard-based arcade mode with a speedrun feel.
No new information on Umbra.
Captura, Warframe’s photo system, will be expanded and can now display text overlays.
For those who want to see more images of the new open-world map of Venus, they can find them in an Imgur album:
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What do you think of the first images of the new open-world map? Do you like this industrial cyberpunk atmosphere, or would you have preferred something different?
The first open-world map of Warframe has recently received new content. There are new world bosses:
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, the second FUT Champions qualification month is currently underway. Here you will learn which German esports players currently have good chances to qualify for the eWorld Cup.
There are many ways to reach the FIFA 18 World Championship this August. One of them goes through the Weekend League and the FUT Champions Cups.
February is a qualification month. For each console, the top 64 players are invited to a qualification tournament called the FUT Champions Cup. To get there, very good Weekend League performances are required during the four February weekends.
Currently, three out of four weekends with 40 games each are over – so 120 out of 160 total. The last qualifying spot, which is the 64th, currently stands at 114 wins and 6 losses on both consoles.
From this, and from the experience of the last qualification month, it can be concluded: To end up in the top 64, at least 152 wins out of 160 games are needed.
These German professionals are looking good
Xbox One
Among the top 64, some well-known names can be found. The already qualified players can be found further down in the article.
DHoudek (120-0) and Schalke’s Tim Latka (118-2) can enter the last Weekend League with ease. Under normal circumstances, their qualification cannot be taken away from them.
Also, Futwiz Dubzje and Stuttgart’s Marlut (115-5) have a good chance if they can maintain their level. They can afford up to three losses in the last weekend.
PlayStation 4
On the PlayStation, the German esports players are even doing better.
Leipzig’s Cihan, Wolfsburg TimoX, and CodyDerFinisher all stand at 118-2 and are thus nearly through.
Close behind are Leverkusen’s M4rv, Wolfsburg’s Salz0r, and Eisvogel. All at 117-3 and will likely qualify even with a mediocre performance.
Also well positioned are Schalke’s Idealz (115-5) and Stylo (114-6). If they keep playing as they have, we will probably see them at the second FUT Champions Cup again.
These professionals could surprisingly miss qualification
While there are no major negative surprises on the Xbox, it looks different on the PlayStation. All three of the following players were present at the first FUT Champions Cup in Barcelona – they will likely miss the second.
Rusherbande has not made it into the top 100 even once in 2018 and will probably miss qualification this month.
Also Stuttgart’s Dr.Erhano has already bid farewell to qualification with poor results. He joined the FIFA 17 World Champion and criticized EA and the FIFA Patch 1.08 from the end of January on Twitter.
Hasoo19 from Team Expert is also not in the official top 100 of February. According to Futwiz, he is currently in 209th place and is therefore already out of the running for qualification. Only a perfect last weekend and a lot of luck could still save him.
These professionals will certainly play in the playoffs
Already in November, the FIFA players were able to qualify for the first FUT Champions Cup. This took place in January and went exceedingly well for the German participants. Seven of them made it into the top eight on their respective consoles and are already securely participating in the Global Series Playoffs:
Xbox One
“Sakul” from Team Fokus
“Megabit98” from VFL Bochum
Nicklas “NRaseck7” Raseck
PlayStation 4
“Testotier“
“MoAubameyang” from Team Expert
“TheStrXnger” from FC Basel
Kai “deto” Wollin
How does the qualification system actually work?
The road to the Grand Final of the FIFA eWorld Cups in August is long.
In June, two live playoff events with 64 participants will take place, one per console. The top 16 players will receive a ticket for the final event.
There are various ways to qualify for the live playoffs:
The FUT Champions Cups: As mentioned above, there was one in January; the next is in April. You qualify through the Weekend League in November and in February. The top eight players of each console advance to the playoffs.
The FIFA eClub World Cup is an official event with professional esports clubs like Schalke 04 or VFL Wolfsburg. Of 32 participants, two advance to the playoffs.
Official FIFA leagues like the TAG Heuer Virtual Bundesliga provide additional participants.
There will be various licensed qualification tournaments and a “last chance weekend” in May. More information will be announced by EA.
The winner of the Grand Final gets to call himself the official FIFA 18 World Champion and receives a large prize money as well as a trip to the awarding of “The Best FIFA Football Awards”.
In summary: The Crucible will be more diverse in the future. Barrett concludes that they want to ensure that players receive more different game modes – both in the Crucible and then in the private matches planned for May.
The uniform 4v4 will therefore be broken up and supplemented with more mode variants. And these are definitely not coming too late…
Will you play PvP in Destiny 2 more often when the new modes come?
Barret also promises that they are working on bringing back a 2v2. However, they cannot yet provide a release timeframe for this.
In summary: The Crucible will be more diverse in the future. Barrett concludes that they want to ensure that players receive more different game modes – both in the Crucible and then in the private matches planned for May.
The uniform 4v4 will therefore be broken up and supplemented with more mode variants. And these are definitely not coming too late…
Will you play PvP in Destiny 2 more often when the new modes come?
The pure 4v4 Crucible in Destiny 2 will soon be a thing of the past. In the future, there will be mode alternatives.
In mid-February, an important and forward-looking event took place: For the first time in the history of Destiny 2, a PvP mode was playable that deviated from the standard 4v4.
The problem: The other PvP modes have long been boring. Since the launch of Destiny 2, they have been played exclusively in “4 against 4”.
But that should change in the future.
Why did Bungie actually decide on 4v4 in all modes?
In Destiny 1, there was a significantly greater variety of PvP modes than in Destiny 2 now. You could play in 6v6, 3v3, 2v2, and even in a free-for-all mode. Back then, no one actually cried out for a 4v4, which is why Bungie’s decision in May 2017 was quite surprising that there should be a uniform 4v4 in Destiny 2.
Bungie’s Eric Osborne mentioned a few reasons why they decided on this step back then:
The first internal tests with 4v4 matches reportedly felt very good.
Teamplay and tactics come to the forefront, and the matches are less chaotic than in 6v6.
Moreover, the limitation to 4v4 is an advantage for the designers: They could create tailored maps and thus provide better experiences for the players.
How did players react to 4v4?
When this new PvP direction became known, we started a Facebook survey asking what you think about it. The first opinions were fairly balanced, with a narrow majority liking the fact that all modes would be 4v4. Many commented that 4v4 is indeed interesting, but there should definitely be alternatives. Otherwise, the PvP could quickly become monotonous.
And so it happened. Shortly after the launch, Guardians complained about the boring Crucible. Even events like the Iron Banner were merely standard 4v4 modes with different tokens as rewards. It quickly became clear: A pure 4v4 harms the PvP, harms the long-term motivation.
Bungie deviates from the set 4v4 course
Bungie recognized this too, and as the Crimson Week has now confirmed, mode alternatives are a pressing necessity that Guardians long for.
As Game Director Christopher Barret recently announced, the Crucible will therefore change in the future. There will be a greater variety of modes.
Specifically, this means that at the end of March 2018
a 6v6 Iron Banner will be introduced. This brings the Iron Banner back to what it was in Destiny 1, which was also played in 6v6.
the Rumble mode returns. This is a “Free-for-All,” although it is still unknown how many Guardians will compete per match.
the Countdown mode will be added to the weekly Crucible playlist. This will probably still be played in 4v4 like during the Dawn event.
Keep in mind that these modes will not be accessible permanently starting in March. They will rotate weekly. For some Guardians, this is indeed a dampener – they want to be able to play Rumble whenever they like, they write on reddit.
Barret also promises that they are working on bringing back a 2v2. However, they cannot yet provide a release timeframe for this.
In summary: The Crucible will be more diverse in the future. Barrett concludes that they want to ensure that players receive more different game modes – both in the Crucible and then in the private matches planned for May.
The uniform 4v4 will therefore be broken up and supplemented with more mode variants. And these are definitely not coming too late…
Will you play PvP in Destiny 2 more often when the new modes come?
The MMORPG Bless does not want to just present you with text when you talk to NPCs. Even the Japanese and Russian versions use voice output. Now there is a first example of the English version.
Reading texts in an MMORPG can be tiring and boring, especially when talking to NPCs. It is much more exciting and atmospheric when the characters communicate via voice output. In Bless, you will hear the NPCs – and also yourselves – speak.
Praise for the voice output
The developers of the MMO have already received a lot of praise for the Japanese version, as the voice output is said to have been very well done according to the fans. The team aims to maintain this high quality in the localization of the other versions. Currently, voice output is planned for the English version as well as for the German, Spanish and French versions. More languages may follow.
https://youtu.be/ZmSuXIIZtUk
The English voice actor gives it his all
Now the developers have released a video showcasing voice recordings for the English version. The voice actor Brent Miller is giving his best, as can be easily seen in the video. He speaks not just one character, but several, altering his voice for each.
This will likely be similar in the other language versions. Instead of hiring many different voice actors, they let a handful voice multiple characters, adjusting their voices. This is common practice in MMORPGs.
The voice output is intended to create a dense and exciting atmosphere during the story of the MMORPG Bless. By the way, your hero will also have a voice, which you can choose during character creation and which you will then hear, for example, in cutscenes during the story.
The MMORPG genre seems to be fading more and more from the mainstream. But is that really the case? Our author Schuhmann is hesitant. Given that MMORPGs like WoW, The Elder Scrolls Online, or Final Fantasy XIV are supposed to be out, they are surprisingly doing well.
When I started on the site “Mein MMO” in 2013, I thought it would mainly be an MMORPG site.
At that time, WoW was somewhat in a crisis, but still overshadowed the genre. WoW was the big player, the number one that everyone knew, even if they had nothing to do with MMORPGs. Although WoW was no longer as relevant after the disappointing Cataclysm and the plushy Mists of Pandaria compared to the Burning Crusade or WOTLK times, World of Warcraft was still a giant.
Additionally, Guild Wars 2 felt fresh. It had only been released a year earlier. I thought Guild Wars 2 could become the next big title and establish a different MMORPG culture alongside WoW: a freer interpretation of the genre, without the constant higher, faster, further of WoW.
MMORPGs 2013: Golden Age Ahead
There was a lot going on in 2013:
Final Fantasy XIV had just made its comeback and was on the radar.
SWTOR could still make the turn as a Free2Play title and develop brilliantly with the great license, I thought.
Moreover, WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online were just around the corner – I saw them as sure hits.
On the horizon were games like Titan from Blizzard or Everquest Next from SOE. I thought: These massive AAA titles would usher in the next golden era of MMORPGs. I assumed: This nonsense about “WoW-killers” would be over and we would be kicking off with innovative and high-quality games.
There were also niche classics worth a look, like Lord of the Rings Online, Rift, or Star Trek Online. We wanted to engage with exotic titles like Tera or Dragon’s Prophet on the site. In Asia, people were already talking about gems like ArcheAge and Blade and Soul.
No question: Mein MMO would primarily focus on MMORPGs. Golden times were ahead. That’s what I thought in 2013.
Focus Shifted to Other Online Games Between 2013 and 2018
When I look back at the last few years, I see very little of that.
Sure, we have WoW news almost every day. We have updates on Final Fantasy XIV and Black Desert, news about Guild Wars 2 or The Elder Scrolls Online. We also cover Asian games or provide insights on the crowdfunding MMORPGs that have been interesting for years but are still nowhere in sight.
However, our readers’ interest has mostly been elsewhere in recent years. Other games dominated online gaming: shooters like Destiny, Warframe, or The Division, games like PUBG or Fortnite that are seemingly made for Twitch. Games that focus on eSports, like LoL or Overwatch.
Recently, there has also been the coop RPG Monster Hunter: World, which players perceive as a refreshing change amidst all the discussion of DLCs and microtransactions that otherwise accompany online gaming and drag it down.
In recent years, MMORPGs have somewhat faded from the focus of online gaming.
What Has Happened to MMORPGs in Recent Years?
No question about it. The golden era, which was dreamed of in 2013, never came.
Titan was scrapped by Blizzard because the game apparently no longer matched the spirit of the times. From the remnants, Blizzard created Overwatch and earned huge sums.
The Asian games have nearly all faded into niche status. Some say that Free2Play players devour MMORPGs like a locust swarm: first, they all gather around a new game, only to leave shortly thereafter.
WildStar almost fizzled out. After that, no major western MMORPG has been announced. For four years now, no publisher has really dared to tackle the topic – although there are subtle MMORPG sprouts emerging recently.
The PC releases of WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online turned out to be flops
WoW reached a low point with “Warlords of Draenor”
There was no tangible western MMORPG that fans were really waiting for
It looked grim – there were no major hopes on the horizon in 2015.
2018 Looks Much Better
Today, when we look at the MMORPG genre, the perspective has improved significantly.
Of the new MMORPGs and potential titles we had on the radar in 2013, ultimately two games have prevailed:
The Elder Scrolls Online has succeeded by fully embracing the “The Elder Scrolls” legacy, focusing on story and freedom
Black Desert has found a niche somewhere in the intersection of fans of sandbox, PvP, and grind
But these two games alone do not define the turnaround. Overall, the MMORPG market has become broader and more interesting.
WoW has recovered. Final Fantasy XIV has developed properly. Guild Wars 2 is in a better place after the “Path of Fire” expansion than after the weak Heart of Thorns.
Existing MMORPG Hits Engulf Themselves
Only a few MMORPGs that were big in 2013 have truly disappeared by 2018. Most are still doing well. However, they are no longer the phenomenon they once were. They have lost their luster outside of their niche.
Instead of having one big lighthouse game like “World of Warcraft”, today there are four or five first-tier MMORPGs that are perceived as “successful” and “good”. Even games outside this top tier have their fans.
The MMORPGs that were a hit back then are still around: They are bringing out expansions and exciting players. But somehow MMORPGs have fallen out of trend.
Their external impact has diminished over time. They have moved more under the radar of mainstream gaming, which is now focused on games like Fortnite.
The publishers have reacted. One gets the feeling that games like WoW or Guild Wars 2 are now placing more value on retaining existing players or winning back old ones than on exciting new players. They are enveloping themselves.
Because today they are courting a gamer generation that prefers fast gameplay and direct feedback. It is difficult to attract them with the appeal of MMORPGs that hope players will immerse themselves in a world for years.
A Counter-Movement Is Apparent
However, in recent months, it has become apparent that this calm also has its allure. Games like Final Fantasy XIV or The Elder Scrolls Online seem to be able to retain and even win back players with their slow development tactics.
Black Desert dreams of a port to PS4 and Xbox One and a shining future
It is clear: MMORPGs may be more “out” in 2018 than in 2013, but in this niche, older titles are partly flourishing and making their fans happy, who don’t let anything come between them.
Waiting for the Next Big Thing – MMORPG Fans Are Fragmented
However, it seems that the unbound MMORPG fans out there are all waiting for the next big thing.
In the past, there was always a “next MMORPG” to look forward to. That is no longer the case.
Since there are no “big, new western MMORPGs” anymore, the interest of unbound fans is spreading across the existing MMORPGs. Some see them as a kind of placeholder to pass the time until the MMORPG they are really waiting for comes out.
Which game ultimately binds these unbound fans is the exciting question:
It is clear that when looking at what has changed in MMORPGs between 2013 and 2018: MMORPGs have perhaps become even more of a niche genre than before, but in this niche, things are developing in a much more colorful and vibrant way than one could have guessed back in 2015.
I am curious to see how the next five years will unfold.
In our irregular series “State of Play”, we look at the current state of the MMORPG market. The last article in the series was published about a year ago:
Shiny Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite have now been discovered in Pokémon GO. Good news for the 2nd Community Day!
Good news, trainers. Just in time for the 2nd Community Day in Pokémon GO, there is a new shiny Pokémon family to be found in the game. The developers listened to the requests and unlocked the special Shiny Dratini. When you evolve these, the evolutions will also be shiny.
Shiny Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite in Pokémon GO
Trainers had been eagerly waiting for this confirmation over the past few days. Now it is officially confirmed: Shiny Dratini can be caught in the wild in Pokémon GO. This was confirmed by trainers on the night of February 23rd to 24th, 2018.
The new form of the little dragon is affectionately called “Pinktini” by trainers. You can see why in the following image from Reddit user breadmaker85, who documented his encounter with the TheSilphRoad community.
Catching Fest at the 2nd Community Day in Pokémon GO
Niantic fulfills the wishes of trainers with these shiny monsters. During the first Community Day in January, Pikachu with the Surf attack appeared frequently in Pokémon GO. Additionally, trainers often found the shiny variant of the little electric monster.
As we got closer to the second Community Day, many trainers wondered if there would be a similar phenomenon for Dratini. After all, the dragon is generally already rare to find in Pokémon GO. A shiny variant would be the cherry on top for many.
While we do not know how high the chances of shiny Dratini during the Community Day are, initial reports indicate: The chance for shiny Dratini would be about the same as for shiny Pikachu during the 1st Community Day. This would be about 2-3 shinies out of 100 catches on average.
Currently, it is assumed that the shiny form of Dratini will also remain in the game after the Community Day, but the chances of obtaining it will decrease after this event.
The 2nd Community Day starts today, February 24th, at 11:00 AM German time in Pokémon GO. We have prepared a Community Day guide for you, in which we share the most important information with you. You are also warmly invited to share your experiences in our Pokémon GO group on Facebook.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Norwegian studio Funcom is planning a major reveal for a new game. On a teaser page, there is a countdown and a mysterious scene. Is a shooter MMO in the works?
Funcom is a developer and publisher from Norway, known primarily for brutal and risqué barbarian games featuring Conan (Age of Conan & Conan Exiles) as well as the mystery MMORPG Secret World Legends.
Apparently, Funcom has another game currently in development.
A Mysterious Bar
There is not much to see about Funcom’s new project so far. On a teaser page named “Countdown2zero”, there is a shabby, haphazardly put together bar scene. A knife is stuck in the bar, cables hang from the ceiling, a sign advertises “Kebap and Falafel”, and the fictional beer brand “Gunness” is likely being served.
Behind the bar stands a worn-out leather chair with a carpenter’s hammer. Behind it, a corpse with a squashed and covered skull hangs upside down from the ceiling. Connections between the hammer and the cadaver are not out of the question.
In the image, you can click on terms, which will then display info or silhouettes:
The Bar: “Booze helps when coming back from the zone, but it does not last.”
Pripp: The outline of a burly bartender appears
Selma: A casually lounging silhouette appears
Dux: The outline of a figure with a top hat and beer bottle appears
A grotesque outline of a being with small legs and a huge upper body and hood appears.
Above the scene, a countdown hangs from chains, counting down to February 28, 2018.
Funcom’s New Project – Hero Shooter, RPG Shooter or Battle Royale?
More than the bar scene and the text with silhouettes can be seen. But there is enough to speculate:
The setting should be modern, possibly post-apocalyptic
There are likely various characters. A hint towards a hero shooter or even a MOBA?
The setting seems dark and brutal, the brutally mutilated corpse in the background seems to disturb no one.
There seems to be a “zone” where one spends their days. And what one does there seems so terrible that they can only temporarily distract themselves with alcohol. A “zone” also existed in the shooter Stalker, where one had to brave horrific dangers in the post-apocalypse to retrieve valuable items. So is it really a post-apocalyptic setting?
Perhaps the “zone” is also a type of battle royale combat zone, where people slaughter each other to survive. That would explain why all the characters in the scene seem to be desensitized to violence.
There seems to be more than just humans in the game world. The silhouette of Bormin seems to hint at some sort of mutant being.
Dux’s top hat could indicate mystical powers like magic or psi. Does the game have a fantasy aspect?
Could we expect an MMO shooter like Destiny 2 or Warframe?
Or will it be a new MMORPG?
Whatever lies behind Funcom’s new project, it is certainly creative. Because the Norwegians have often proven that they can create highly original and curious games.
We will learn more about the exact nature of the project at the latest on February 28.
Until then, you are warmly invited to speculate in the comments!
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team there are now new upgraded Player cards, the MOTM (Man of the Match). Here you can find the Players of the Day in summary.
At the end of January, the first MOTM cards in FUT 18 were released. MOTM stands for “Man of the Match,” which in German are referred to as Players of the Day.
As of today, February 24th, the next Players of the Day in FUT 18 have been released. This time, directly 15 players received new cards with improved ratings.
Which players get MOTM cards? These cards are awarded to players who showed strong performances in a match but did not make it into the Team of the Week. Usually, matches from national or international cup competitions are considered. The best players from these matches are determined by EA Sports and rewarded with orange or orange-blue cards.
Here are the new MOTM at the end of February in Ultimate Team
Here are the official MOTM cards:
94 GK David De Gea
90 ST Antoine Griezmann
88 RM Thomas Muller
87 RF Willian
87 ST Ciro Immobile
87 LF Sadio Mane
86 ST Michy Batshuayi
86 ST Timo Werner
86 CM Ilkay Gundogan
85 LM Manuel Fernandes
85 ST Valere Germain
84 RB Branislav Ivanovic
83 CDM Fred
81 ST Will Grigg
73 CM Andy Cannon
From a German perspective, Timo Werner (from 82 to 86), Thomas Müller (from 86 to 88), and Ilkay Gündogan (from 85 to 86) are interesting.
These Players of the Day are only available for a limited time. EA Sports does not specify a timeframe, but we assume that they will be in packs for about a week. This should last until March 2nd – however, this is not confirmed.
More info on the Players of the Day – Release, cards, rating boost
The MOTM cards are upgraded Player cards. The overall ratings are increased by 1-2 points compared to the standard cards (or previous special cards) of the players. In some cases, the rating boost can also be significantly higher, changing even the quality of the player.
The Players of the Day do not have fixed release dates. The first batch was revealed on January 27th, the second batch on February 24th. Most MOTM cards are expected to be released between March and July, as the important cup matches take place during this time.
More info:
You can obtain the MOTM cards by pulling them from packs with luck or purchasing them on the transfer market. The chances of pulling a MOTM card are the same as the chances of getting the corresponding player at another time.
If you already have a standard card of the player who receives a MOTM card, nothing happens to your card. It remains unchanged.
A record has fallen in World of Warcraft again. A dungeon of difficulty “Mythic+28” has been completed within the time limit.
With the endless rotation of the item spiral in World of Warcraft, characters become stronger and stronger. This allows players to take on and overcome increasingly difficult challenges. An almost infinite increase in difficulty is possible with the “Mythic+” system of dungeons. Through different effects (“affixes”), more health points, and generally deadlier opponents, the instances become increasingly difficult. Especially the time limit that needs to be adhered to becomes harder to maintain.
A new record has now been set, and a “Mythic+” dungeon of difficulty level 28 has been completed. The group of Naowh, Fragnance, Gingì, Imbanane, and Fanstér ventured into Lower Karazhan and completed the dungeon flawlessly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR4RLKYdmMM
This was made possible by a relatively lenient combination of affixes, which are comparatively easy this week. However, for a “+28” dungeon, the term “easy” is relative. The affixes of the week were:
Explosive: Killed enemies place a debuff on all player characters that deals 10% of their health as damage over 4 seconds. This effect is stackable.
Enhanced: Normal enemies have 20% more health and deal 30% more damage.
Quaking: All player characters periodically send out a shockwave that deals damage and interrupts nearby allies.
What is particularly impressive is that the group had almost 3 minutes left on the timer – they could have almost allowed themselves a wipe.
What was the hardest “Mythic+” dungeon you have completed within the time? Are you still stuck at the “M+15” threshold?
In The Divisiontoday, on February 24th, is the big vendor reset. These items are particularly worth it.
Currently, in The Division, there is a new event where you can scoop up double resource containers. So if you are actively farming loot during this event, also take a look at the stores where the vendor reset occurs on the night from Friday to Saturday.
Here are recommended new offers.
Recommended weapons since February 24th.
Special Equipment Vendor: Liberator with Agile, Predator, and Determined
DZ East 42nd: G36C with Predator, Prepared, and Focused
DZ East 31st: AK-74 Black Market version with Sustained, Demanding, and Responsive
DZ Park Ave: SASG-12 S Black Market version with Responsive, Sustained, and Capable
The mods after the vendor reset
DZ East 46th St: Targeting Scope VX-1 (12x) with Headshot Damage, Critical Hit Damage, and Stability
DZ East 40th St.: Muzzle Brake with Stability, Critical Hit Chance, and Headshot Damage
DZ 05: Quick Release Magazine with Reload Speed, Critical Hit Damage, and Fire Rate
DZ 05: Rifle SuppressorOmega with Headshot Damage, Critical Hit Chance, and Precision
DZ 05: Short Grip with Critical Hit Damage, Reload Speed, and Optimal Range
Wolves Den Safehouse: Small Laser Pointer with Precision, Critical Hit Damage, and Optimal Range
DZ West 42nd St: Prototype Performance Mod with Seeker Mine Damage
Advanced Weapons Vendor: Short Grip with Critical Hit Damage, Reload Speed, and Stability
Special Equipment Vendor: SR-7 Suppressor with Critical Hit Damage, Stability, Critical Hit Chance, and Reduced Threat
DZ East 34th St: Prototype Performance Mod with Sticky Grenade Damage
Special Equipment Vendor: VerticalGrip with Optimal Range, Stability, and Critical Hit Damage
Special Blueprint Vendor Offers
The blueprint vendor in the terminal offers these blueprints:
AK-47 Classic – Assault Rifle
Navy MP5 N – Submachine Gun
Holster
Stamina Knee Pads
Small Grip – Red – with Critical Hit Damage
EXPS3 Holo Sight – Tan – with Optimal Range
The blueprints in Camp Clinton:
SASG-12 – Shotgun
Short-barreled Rhino – Pistol
Holster
Stamina Backpack
Ti-Rant Suppressor – with Critical Hit Chance
PRO Laser Targeting Optic – with Critical Hit Damage
The story of Overwatch is full of secrets yet to be uncovered. Why can Zenyatta, for example, float as the only known Omnic? We now know the answer: It just looks really bad when he walks.
Zenyatta is one of the most played heroes in Overwatch currently and has one of the highest win rates. But even though he is present in so many matches, we know very little about the omnic monk.
A connection to Genji is mentioned multiple times, but a real background for the religious Omnic is still missing. Also, a small detail is never discussed: Why can Zenyatta actually float? Sure, as a machine, he could just install modules – but there are no visible thrusters anywhere.
In many videos, we see Omnics walking. Bastion and Orisa are prime examples showing that sentient robots cannot just float around. They use their legs for movement, just like humans do – even though there are certainly more efficient ways.
Whenever an Omnic is seen floating, it has thrusters or other modules that allow it to move in the air. These Omnics can actually fly, and not just levitate a meter above the ground like Zenyatta.
Regarding the monk, two questions arise: Why doesn’t Zenyatta have to walk when his fellow beings are grounded? And what purpose do his legs serve then?
Fan demands: “Let Zenyatta walk!” – and Blizzard responds
This question seems to have also occupied a fan in the Overwatch League. He stood in the crowd holding a sign that said: “Let Zen walk!” – “Let Zenyatta walk!” The sign, which was probably just meant as a gag, actually caught the attention of Blizzard.
The official Twitter account of Overwatch picked up the fan along with the sign and added a scene. In this, we see Zenyatta using his legs to walk. And that should make it clear to everyone why he prefers to float…
The reactions of the fans to the tweet are very entertaining, by the way.
What do you think of the action? Do you think it’s cool that Blizzard engages in such fun? Should Zenyatta really walk? Leave us a comment or check out our Overwatch page on Facebook!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, the first winter upgrades are live. This is how the player ratings of individual players in the Premier League change. Overview of the ratings refresh cards.
Today, on February 23, the ratings refresh phase, the winter upgrades, in FUT 18 begins. Hundreds of players will be provided with new, upgraded standard cards over the coming days. The new ratings are intended to reflect the real performances of the players on the pitch.
The player rating updates will be released sorted by league. Let’s start with the ratings refresh of the Premier League.
Important: There are no downgrades this year.
These players receive upgrades to their player ratings in FUT 18 – Premier League
Here is an overview of selected new Premier League cards:
Complete list:
David De Gea – GK – Manchester United 90 → 91
Eden Hazard – LW – Chelsea 90 → 91
Kevin De Bruyne – CAM – Manchester City 89 → 91
N’Golo Kante – CDM – Chelsea 87 → 88
Christian Eriksen – CAM – Tottenham Hotspur 87 → 88
Paul Pogba – CM – Manchester United 87 → 88
David Silva – CAM – Manchester City 87 → 89
Harry Kane – ST – Tottenham Hotspur 86 → 88
César Azpilicueta – RB – Chelsea 85 → 86
Alvaro Morata – ST – Chelsea 84 → 85
Nicolas Otamendi – CB – Manchester City 83 → 85
Mohamed Salah – RW – Liverpool 83 → 85
Nemanja Matic – CDM – Manchester United 83 → 84
Kyle Walker – RB – Manchester City 83 → 84
Roberto Firmino – ST – Liverpool 83 → 84
Ederson – GK – Manchester City 83 → 84
Riyad Mahrez – RM – Leicester City 83 → 84
Raheem Sterling – RW – Manchester City 82 → 84
Leroy Sané – LW – Manchester City 82 → 84
Anthony Martial – LM – Manchester United 82 → 83
Heung Min Son – LM – Tottenham Hotspur 82 → 83
Gabriel Jesus – ST – Manchester City 81 → 83
Marcus Rashford – LM – Manchester United 79 → 81
Fernandinho – CDM – Manchester City 82 → 85
Wilfried Zaha – RM – Crystal Palace 81 → 82
Marcos Alonso – LWB – Chelsea 81 → 82
Andreas Christensen – CB – Chelsea 81 → 82
Sead Kolašinac – LWB – Arsenal 80 → 81
John Stones – CB – Manchester City 79 → 80
Phil Jones – CB – Manchester United 79 → 81
Cenk Tosun – ST – Everton 78 → 80
Jesse Lingard – CAM – Manchester United 78 → 80
Ben Davies – LWB – Tottenham Hotspur 78 → 80
Aaron Mooy – CM – Huddersfield Town 77 → 78
Eric Choupo-Moting- LM – Stoke City 77 → 78
Jordan Pickford – GK – Everton 77 → 79
Jürgen Locadia – ST – Brighton & Hove Albion 76 → 77
Arthur Masuaku – LWB – West Ham United 75 → 76
Andrew Roberton – LWB – Liverpool 75 → 76
Christian Atsu – LM – Newcastle United 75 → 76
Nathan Aké – CB – Bournemouth 75 → 77
Ashley Young – LWB – Manchester United 75 → 77
Harry Maguire – CB – Leicester City 75 → 79
Demarai Gray – LM – Leicester City 74 → 75
Laurent Depoitre – ST – Huddersfield Town 74 → 75
Alex Iwobi – LM – Arsenal 74 → 76
Chris Wood – ST – Burnley 74 → 76
Christopher Schindler – CB – Huddersfield Town 73 → 75
Jamaal Lascelles – CB – Newcastle United 73 → 76
Richarlison – LW – Watford 73 → 76
Jóhann Gudmundsson – RM – Burnley 73 → 76
James Tarkowski – CB – Burnley 73 → 78
Harry Winks – CM – Tottenham Hotspur 72 → 75
Moritz Bauer – RB – Stoke City 70 → 75
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – CAM – Crystal Palace 69 → 74
Ahmed Hegazi – CB – West Bromwich Albion 68 → 75
Nick Pope – GK – Burnley 68 → 75
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – ST – Everton 65 → 71
Alexander Sørloth – ST – Crystal Palace 69 → 71
Guido Carrillo – ST – Southampton 74 → 75
The ratings refresh phase lasts until March 5. By then, EA Sports will gradually release the upgrades from the other leagues.
In addition, there are now special set offers, PL SBCs, and thematic week objectives.
In the provided Twitter link, you can also see how the “weak foot” and “skill moves” ratings improve:
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How to get the ratings refresh cards in Ultimate Team
Once the winter upgrade cards are released, they can be pulled from the sets. The only requirement is that the set can contain players. The “old” cards of the respective players will no longer be found in the sets from this moment on.
If you already own a card of a player who is being upgraded, it will remain unchanged. It will not be automatically updated. If you want the card of the player with improved attributes, you must pull it from a set. It is also possible to acquire the winter upgrade cards from other players on the transfer market.
With the end of the faction rally, Bungie plans to roll out update 1.1.3 on February 27. This brings several new features, such as a scoring system for the Nightfall strike or a public chat for the PC version of the game. The emblems and auras will also be revamped.
Today, on February 23, the Agent of the Nine makes an appearance in the Destiny universe. Let’s welcome Xur together.
All information about Xur in Destiny 2 on February 23 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
When does Xur arrive? – Time
Xur arrives every Friday at 6 PM. He then chooses a quiet location on a planet or moon of his choice, from where he can bring his goods to the Guardians without disturbance. You have until the next Weekly Reset on Tuesday to browse his inventory – then he disappears without a trace.
Where is Xur? You can find Xur at this location today
Xur has certain positions where he likes to settle for the weekend. This time he sets up his stand in the Tower Hangar.
Offer and Inventory of Xur – List of items with prices
Weapon: Scharlach – Hand cannon for 29 Legendary Shards
The weekly PvP event Trials of the Nine starts on Friday evening at 6 PM in Destiny 2. The Trials end with the weekly reset on Tuesday evening at 6 PM.
In many games, a vibrant world is important. Therefore, the environment in Squadron 42, the single-player campaign of the MMO Star Citizen, is designed to offer a lively game world.
The single-player campaign Squadron 42 places a strong emphasis on telling a thrilling and dense story. And you experience this in an environment that is intended to be as believable as possible. This also includes daily life aboard the Idris-class warship where you are stationed.
Life on a gigantic ship
The game offers you not only missions where you engage in intense space battles in your fighter or explore abandoned space stations or planets. In between, you also “live” on the large warship. And here you encounter many NPCs that make the environment feel “alive”:
NPCs follow a daily routine
If an NPC gets hungry, they go to the mess hall to eat
Each NPC has their own job that they perform on board
If crew members are tired, they lay down in their beds
NPCs react to events: If there is, for example, an explosion and a fire, then NPCs will rush to help with fire extinguishers
AI recognizes what interests you
The game’s AI reacts to the player. It is programmed to always check what you are currently looking at. Then a timer counts down. If you are still looking at the object or NPC once the time is up, something interesting will happen. The NPC might speak to you, a door might open, etc. This is designed to make it always interesting for the player to walk through the spaceship, making you feel as if you are truly aboard a “living” ship.
These details have now been presented in a new video by Star Citizen:
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Do you know how high the chance for a Skin Shard and how low the chance for Emotes from Hextech Chests in League of Legends (LoL) are?
The developers at Riot Games are now revealing what the drop rates for loot box content in League of Legends look like. In a post from the League of Legends support, the chances for the various rewards of Hextech Crafting have now been disclosed.
Hextech Crafting – The Chances
The reward system of League of Legends, Hextech Crafting, rewards players for good matches with chests. These must be opened with keys, which can also be earned. Randomly, key fragments are distributed at the end of a won game – playing in groups increases the chance of getting a fragment. Three fragments combined yield a key to open a chest.
Through sportsmanship and good behavior, you can also earn fragments.
In the chests, there are various rewards: from Skin Shards, which can be transformed into permanent skins with in-game currency, to Gemstones, which can be crafted into additional chests. The Gemstones can also be saved for particularly rare skins.
According to Riot’s explanation, the value of a skin has nothing to do with how often it drops. A legendary and thus particularly valuable skin could drop as frequently as a “normal” skin.
There are about 800 skins in League of Legends that can drop from chests. This means there is a 1:8 drop chance (0.125%) for each individual skin. Exceptions are skins like Hextech-Annie, which are exclusive to the Hextech system. The chance for such a skin to drop is 1:2500.
Chances of Hextech Chests – How high are the chances for the contents?
Skin Shard – 50%
Champion Shard – 25%
Permanent Emote – 10%
Ward Skin + 150 Orange Essence – 11.5%
Summoner Icon + 150 Orange Essence – 3.5%
BONUS
Gemstone – 3.6%
Bonus Chest + Key – 10%
In Patch 8.7 of League of Legends, Masterwork Chests are released. These are exclusively for cosmetic items. The chests can only be purchased in the in-game shop.
Chances of Masterwork Chests – How high are the chances for the contents?
Skin Shard – 70%
525 Orange Essence – 10%
Permanent Emote – 10%
Ward Skin + 150 Orange Essence – 10%
BONUS
Gemstone – 3.6%
Bonus Chest + Key – 10%
Frequently asked questions about the Hextech system of League of Legends are answered on the support website.
