Politics discovers gaming for itself – Grand Coalition negotiates eSports

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

eSports is on the rise and gaming is the future. What Korea has known for years has now arrived in Germany. In the coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and the SPD for the Grand Coalition, eSports and video games are on the agenda.

Yes, politics is actually something we rarely bother you with – for good reason. It is too controversial and rarely has anything to do with gaming. However, in the current negotiation talks for a possible Grand Coalition, it is also about us: the players.

Although it is not even certain whether our new government will actually be black/red. Nevertheless, the “Digital Working Group” has already come together, consisting of Dorothee Bär (CSU), Lars Klingbeil (SPD) and Helge Braun (CDU). They are discussing four main topics:

  • Expansion of broadband: In the coming years, the government plans to invest 10-12 billion euros in the expansion of a fiber-optic network: Fast internet ahoy!
  • Net neutrality: All content should continue to be treated equally. Anyone who pays should have the same relevance.
  • Data ethics: A new commission should be established for topics such as internet policy, data protection and digitalization.
  • Labor market: To compensate for a shortage of skilled workers, an immigration law is to be passed.
    reichstag-3080084_1280

The Grand Coalition puts the E before Sports

In addition to the somewhat abstract plans, the working group is also working on a concrete plan. According to Dorothee Bär, “Computer games need to finally receive the status they have long deserved. “

Germany and Europe are still quite behind in this regard. So far, eSports has only arrived here to a limited extent and often gets overshadowed by events of other sports like football. The Digital Working Group aims to change that – and let eSports arrive here as well.

  • The plans aim to classify eSports teams as non-profit organizations. This aligns them with regular sports teams and would mean, among other things, that they would pay fewer taxes. This makes it easier for corresponding teams and organizations to establish themselves.
  • An additional effect the working group aims for is the prospect of eSports as an Olympic discipline. The Olympic committee has been considering this decision for a while, and Germany could help with this decision.
Equality is also important: There is now the first female player in the Overwatch League!
Olympics

Germany should become more attractive for the games industry

Germany should also become rewarding again as a location for the gaming industry as a whole. In particular, the extensive expansion of the fiber-optic network should create a foundation for German productions.

To create further incentives, the German Computer Game Award should also be strengthened. The gaming counterpart to the German Film Award should encourage companies in game development.

Overwatch League LA Gladiators Fan
A fan of the LA Gladiators at the Overwatch League – maybe soon also with us!

From “killer games” to “the future”

All plans and demands of the working group are currently just one point in the negotiations for a possible government. However, there are still obstacles that need to be cleared away.

  • On one hand, a large coalition would first have to come about. The talks about eSports, net neutrality and fast internet will definitely play a role, but not the only one.
  • On the other hand, all involved parties would then have to give their consent. This also involves convincing politicians like Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, who until two years ago attributed tragic incidents to “killer games”.

But at least there is some hope!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. gameswirtschaft
  2. gamestar
  3. unikrn

Fans want to raise $450,000 to save the dead MMO Marvel Heroes

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In a bold attempt, dedicated fans are planning to save the action MMO Marvel Heroes. They need $450,000 and a miracle. If necessary, they will also make Marvel Heroes without Marvel.

We have extensively reported on the drama surrounding Marvel Heroes. For years, it was a “Cinderella” story among MMOs. The game developed from modest beginnings into a decent MMO brawler where players could play as all the noteworthy names in Marvel’s superhero universe.

A solid fan base loved the game, where they could be Doctor Doom or Squirrel Girl – depending on their mood.

Marvel-Heroes-Doom

First Cinderella, then just ashes: Marvel Heroes

However, Gazillion apparently overextended itself: They moved to PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version was barely developed further. PC players left the game. The hype around the console version faded. Negative news about the CEO made the rounds.

Ultimately, Disney pulled the plug and no longer renewed the Marvel license for Marvel Heroes. This meant the end for the game and the studio behind it.

Emma-Frost-Marvel

They need $450,000 and a miracle

Now, a group of fans has gathered on the Indiegogo platform, trying to scrape together $450,000 to establish an indie studio, buy Marvel Heroes from Gazillion’s bankruptcy estate, and approach Marvel regarding the license.

The project is called Marvel Heroes Rebirth.

If Marvel refuses, they would consider using other assets. They would make Marvel Heroes without Marvel, with their own superheroes.

Marvel-Heroes-Omega Characters

You can tell: The group has large plans. They call themselves the Paragon Institute. The studio they want to establish is “ElderMage Studios.”

The development studio intends to be set up as a learning studio, where experienced developers support newcomers.

So far, these are all distant dreams – of the $450,000 they aim to raise, Marvel Heroes Rebirth has only collected $245. If you want to learn more about the project: Here you go to

Here are the details about the end of Marvel Heroes:

Marvel Heroes closes just 6 months after the PS4 launch

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. mmorpg

Destiny 2: Weekly Reset on 6th February – Nightfall Strike, Flashpoint

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In Destiny 2, today on February 6th, is the Weekly Reset, the weekly reset. New activities are live, such as the Nightfall strike or the Flashpoint.

Today at 6 PM, the first Iron Banner in Season 2 ended. If you haven’t grabbed the exclusive emblem or armor ornaments yet, you don’t need to bite your fist now. Because in the next Iron Banner, you can pick up where you left off this week; your progress will be saved. You can read all the info about the Iron Banner progress in Season 2 here.

With the Weekly Reset, a new week has just begun, in which no event will take place in Destiny 2. However, we expect official info on Fridays about the Crimson Days event, which is to be celebrated in mid-February, starting from February 13th.

destiny-hüter-merkur

Let’s see what the current week brings.

Nightfall strike starting February 6th on PS4, Xbox One, and PC

This week is A Garden World the Nightfall. Only players who own Curse of Osiris can complete the Nightfall strike.

The modifiers:

  • Heavyweight: Abilities recharge faster.
  • Timewarp: Zero Hour: The mission timer cannot be extended.

The challenges:

  • Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
  • Complete the Nightfall with fewer than 3 deaths.
  • Eliminate the Armored Minotaurs in under 90 seconds.

Flashpoint, Raid Challenge, Treasure Maps, Meditations

The Flashpoint is on Io. You are to master public events there.

Cayde-6 has treasure maps for Io.

The Raid Challenge this time takes place in the Throne Room. You must defeat Calus.

Ikora Rey has meditations for the missions Six, Sacrilege, and Tree of Probabilities available.

In the Eververse, there is the emote “Grief” and the exotic emote “Mic Drop”. Additionally, you can buy weapon ornaments for the Skyburners Oath and the MIDA Multi-Tool for Bright Dust.

Already read? The Prometheus Lens was once OP, then nerfed – what is it now?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

DC Universe Online will first kill Superman in 2018

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

DC Universe Online is still going strong … The loyal fanbase keeps the action MMORPG alive in 2018 and looks forward to regular content updates, such as the upcoming death of Superman.

According to Steamcharts, about 300 players are playing the MMORPG on Steam at the same time. However, this does not include players from the console versions (PS3, PS4, Xbox One).

Daybreak Games does not provide official numbers. However, it seems that the operation is still worthwhile, as content updates are released regularly. When DC Universe Online finally arrived on Xbox One in May 2016, after the developer parted ways with Sony, there was a significant influx.

DC Universe Online Superman

Superman dies!

Thus, an update has been announced for the 80th anniversary of Superman, which will kill the superhero. It is supposed to recount the story of Doomsday and the death of Superman.

This is based on a comic series from the 90s, in which the last son of Krypton was indeed killed by the entity Doomsday. However, the hero returned later, leading to a series of confusions, as there were suddenly several versions of the hero and only one was the real one.

DC Universe Online

The Atlanteans are back

Daybreak Games wants to tell this story in DC Universe Online starting in April. In addition, the Deluge update is already planned for March, which introduces the Atlanteans into the game world, whose most well-known representative is Aquaman. Deluge brings the following:

  • Deluge is a large episode full of adventures
  • The episode will cover the return of the Atlanteans, including heroes and villains like Aquaman, Mera, Black Manta, Corum Rath, and others
  • The story consists of a series of single-player and multiplayer adventures set in Central City and the new Spindrift Station, an Atlantean outpost in the ocean
  • There are new rewards such as gear, items, and feats
  • Deluge will permanently introduce the rewards of the Starro The Conqueror event into the game

DC Universe Online is therefore still active and continues to receive content updates, thanks to the loyal community.

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  1. MassivelyOP

Creepy WoW Theory: Is Gallywix the “King of Diamonds”?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

A creepy sign has appeared in Orgrimmar from WoW. Are the Goblins plunging Azeroth into chaos?

For over a year, the community of World of Warcraft has been puzzled by the strange statements of a boss. In the Emerald Nightmare, there is Il’gynoth, a creature of the Old Gods, who repeatedly whispers strange phrases to the players.

The most famous sentence is: “The Diamond King once was now made into a peasant.”

Almost all previous theories assumed that the “Diamond King” refers to Magni Bronzebeard, who literally consists of diamonds. But would that not be too obvious? Wouldn’t WoW be shoving Magni in our faces?

WoW Gallywix Grin Goblin

This would lead us to a new theory that this is intentionally a red herring. For the “Diamond King” could also stand for wealth and possession. Wealth that a Goblin possesses. The richest Goblin will Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix, who currently leads the Goblin people.

In cartomancy, the art of card reading that has long been used by fortune tellers in the real world, the King of Diamonds symbolically represents the “Diamond King” – a successful businessman who acts shrewdly and wisely. Since Il’gynoth essentially predicts the future, this is a nice detail that could perfectly suit Gallywix.

“At the table of the master of the child king serves. Three lies he will present to you.”

This sentence can also be easily translated to Gallywix. For Gallywix is a so-called Trade Prince. And a prince is – who would have thought – the son of a king. Does that not make Gallywix a “child king”?

In the latest cinematic of the Horde, it is definitely Gallywix who promotes the mining of Azerite and is the one who brings up this topic.

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Creepy Sign in Orgrimmar

WoW Telescope Orgrimmar

The most important hint that the Goblins are connected to the Old Gods and the minions of the Void is very clear in World of Warcraft. With Patch 7.3.5, Orgrimmar was revamped, and now there is a message there. Behind the message is another small hut with a telescope that can be used.

When you look through the telescope, the player apparently sees a firefly aimlessly flying across the screen. However, the creepy thing happens if you wait long enough. After about 20 seconds, a red-glowing symbol appears on a wall in the background for no apparent reason.

WoW Secret Symbol Horde

The symbol has been used multiple times in Warcraft. Recently, it appeared on Argus and was a sign of the Void. The corrupted Draenei on Mac’Aree worshiped this symbol.

The assumption is obvious: Is Gallywix (and thus the Goblins) seduced by the Void and the Old Gods? After all, he is handling Azerite, about which we still do not know exactly what it really is. Because it could, like Saronite, simply be the blood of an Old God – and not just the blood of Azeroth.

The YouTuber Pyromancer has also picked up this theory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6l3ah40OfM

It is also interesting that in Battle for Azeroth, apparently a Goblin Zeppelin crashes near Teldrassil. Maybe shortly before the tree goes up in flames?

The Goblins benefit from the war, as they control the economy and the production of the Horde’s weapons. The more war there is, the greater Gallywix’s profits. For him, it’s a classic win-win situation. For the rest of Azeroth, it could mean doom.

What do you think of this theory? Could the Goblins, with Gallywix, turn to the Old Gods? Or is it all just a tinfoil-hat theory? Where does the mysterious sign come from?

Have you read the theory that Elune is slowly being corrupted?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit.com/r/wow/

Where does the term “MMORPG” actually come from?

Guddy Hoffmann-Schoenborn Guddy Hoffmann-Schoenborn Reading time 2 minutes

The term “MMORPG” is now well-known. But what does it actually stand for and, more importantly, where does it come from? We dug deep into the vastness of the internet to find out: Where does the term “MMORPG” actually come from?

The term Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game is quickly explained: Translated, it means Mass-Online-Community-Role-Playing Game. It means that multiple players can play the game online in its mostly persistent world at the same time. In extreme examples, this can also mean several hundred players all at once, even if that is not the norm. However, the exact minimum number is not defined.

While most games of this type were indeed role-playing games in their early days, that changed over time. Now, for many games, the further abbreviation “MMO” is appropriate to include games of various genres that are based on “Massive Multiplayer Online”.

WoW Khadgar Harbingers

The Origins of the Term

While the roots of MMORPGs extend deep into the 80s and even the 70s, the MMOs as we know them today emerged only later. The predecessors simply lacked the “Massive” aspect. This first appeared in the 90s with games like Neverwinter Nights and Meridian 59. Back then, the term MUD was still used: The Multi User Dungeon.

But the term “MMORPG” was not yet in common use.

That changed on a broad level with the game Ultima Online: Richard “Lord British” Garriott, the creative mind behind the game “Ultima Online,” was the first to publicly use the term “MMO(RPG)” in 1997 to describe his game. He went down in history and is still considered the father of MMOs today.

Meridian

And what about Meridian and Legends of Kesmai?

Was Garriott the first to ever say “MMORPG”? Probably not.

Because similar terms were already mentioned two years earlier, though not publicly, but rather behind closed doors.

In the mid-90s, developers began to differentiate their games from those that catered to “only” up to 8 players and had already called themselves multiplayer. In a meeting of software developers around MPG-Net and Legends of Kesmai in the mid-90s, the term Massively Multiplayer was thrown into the room: the cornerstone for our current “MMORPG”.

Also, in a meeting of the developer studio 3DO, according to “Developing Online Games: An Insider’s Guide“, the term “Massively Multiplayer” and “MMPRPG”, meaning Massively Multi-Player Role-Playing Game were mentioned.

However, since meetings are less media-effective than advertising campaigns, MMPRPG was soon replaced by Garriott’s MMORPG and spread in this now known form.

Whoever invented or coined the term and how much it has changed since then, one thing is certain: MMOs are an essential part of today’s video game culture and are hardly to be imagined without.

Read more about the history of MMOs here!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. The Development of MMORPG Culture and The Guild

Crazy glitch allows 6vs50 matches in Overwatch

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

A strange bug in Overwatch allows players to compete against 50 opponents at the same time. This creates insane game modes!

In the past, small glitches and bugs have occasionally found their way into the live version of Overwatch. There was, for instance, a bug long ago that allowed matches of 12vs12 by filling both sides with 6 bots.

A new glitch now makes the old limit look like “peanuts.” It is currently possible to set a whopping 50 bots for the opposing team by exploiting this bug!

Insane game modes with 50 bots

The community didn’t question what such a bug is doing in Overwatch; instead, they jumped on the error and created some particularly insane game modes. Here are some examples:

  • Genji Hell: 2 Genjis against 50 Bastions
  • Cops and Robbers: 6 Soldier: 76 against 50 Roadhogs
  • Zombie Apocalypse: Selected heroes against 50 Reapers using only melee attacks
  • Meat Grinder: 6 Doomfists against 25 Roadhogs

The YouTuber mazarisfx made a small video about his game modes, where things also get just downright crazy. Some overpowering situations he simply cannot handle with his team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJT755BW_Qk

Also for fans of McCree, “the hour has struck,” as they can now take out as many opponents as never before with their Ultimate. 20 Zenyatta kills with one click – and that, even though the revolver only has 6 shots.

https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/GentleSecondAmericantoad

And to conclude: When winter comes, all Torbjörns move south…

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This opportunity surely won’t last long, as it is a clear game error. However, given how much fun players are currently having with the “new modes,” it is only a matter of time before Blizzard turns this bug into a funny feature.

What do you think about this glitch? Should Blizzard make this a permanent option for fun custom games? Or should the bug be fixed quickly?

Don’t want to miss any news about Overwatch? Then subscribe to our Overwatch Facebook page and stay updated!

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. kotaku.com
  2. reddit.com/r/overwatch/

EVE Online: Botter problem becomes a plague, players have had enough

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 3 minutes

Bots are a problem in online games, especially in EVE Online. Because those who use bots can disrupt the entire economic system and also shift the balance of power.

Although CCP Games announced that they would take tougher actions against players who use bots, the situation currently threatens to escalate. EVE Online player Stu Miner noticed that Nyx pilots from the organization “Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic” were behaving very strangely. The ships seemed completely unaware of him. Even powerful combat ships that could have easily taken him down ignored him. Together with friends, he then ambushed several ships from the organization and destroyed them – effortlessly. This was a clear sign for him that there were botters at work, whose ships were controlled by scripts.

EVE Online Skins

Bots harm the economy in the game

The situation boiled over within the community when this became known. Because botting on such a large scale, as the “Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic” does, harms the game:

  • Bots farm the in-game currency ISK without having to do anything for it
  • In a month, all Nyx bots can farm 1.1 trillion ISK if they are only active for 10 hours a day
  • With 24 hours of activity, Nyx bots can make 2.6 trillion ISK
  • 1.6 billion ISK is worth about 500 PLEX, which can be used to cover the 20 dollars for a subscription
  • If 1.1 trillion ISK is farmed in a month with 10 hours of activity, bots can generate about 13,750 dollars
  • As real money trading is possible, botters make a lot of money in the game
  • The more ISK floods the market, the less value honest ISK farmers’ work has
  • Paying customers feel worthless
  • PLEX are becoming increasingly expensive

EVE Online - Amarr Fleet

Bots can disrupt the balance of power

These are serious implications for the game’s economy. But it gets even worse. Because botters can not only influence the economy in the game but the entire power structure:

  • Players who have become wealthy through bots buy powerful combat ships with the money
  • They attack the organizations of players
  • With illegally “bot-farmed” money and the purchased super fleets, organizations can be weakened or wiped out
  • Wars in EVE Online can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars since the destroyed ships also need to be replaced

EVE Online - War of Demigods

Measures against botters are barely effective

As the measures from CCP Games to combat botters evidently do not yield results and the organization “Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic” continues its game-harming activities in EVE Online, many players of the MMO are currently angry. Community manager Paul Elsy also refers to it as a “plague”.

Even if the developers ban thousands of accounts due to botting, players do not believe that there is currently an effective method that can curb botting.

The “Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic” has reportedly been operating in the MMO for five years, and only now has the suspicion arisen that they are engaging in botting. One can imagine the damage they have already caused. Now it is up to CCP Games to provide clear evidence against the organization and take action. However, many more botters will surely be active in EVE Online, which is why players now want to take matters into their own hands to save the MMORPG.

CCP Games is already working on measures to better combat botters.

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Source(s):
  1. PCGamer

The anti-cheat update in PUBG has been postponed, but ReShade is blocked

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

Bluehole announced that the release of the anti-cheat update for the online shooter Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds had to be postponed. However, the tool Reshade is already blocked.

The cheats in the battle royale shooter PUBG are rampant. The developers recently even mentioned that the situation was escalating. The team is currently working hard on new anti-cheat measures that were supposed to be implemented this week with a new update. But now this update has been postponed due to unforeseen problems. A new release date has not yet been set.

PUBG Blue Zone

Reshade is already blocked

However, the development team announced on Twitter that they are already blocking the Reshade tool. This has led to some criticism from the community when it became known that the tool no longer works. Many PUBG players use it to optimize the game’s graphics with richer colors. However, Reshade can also be used to cheat, as certain settings allow players to better spot opponents in the distance, thus improving aiming. Those who use Reshade gain an unfair advantage.

PUBG Screenshot2

More tools may be affected

If you have Reshade installed, you will not be able to start PUBG as long as the tool is on your PC. If you find that you cannot start the shooter even after uninstalling Reshade, you may need to reinstall the game.

Besides Reshade, other tools may also be banned, including Nvidia’s Shadowplay, which is used for recording gameplay.

The developers of PUBG state that players should report if a harmless tool is banned. The team will review this and take action if necessary to ensure everything works again.

Innocents may also be affected by the anti-cheat measures in PUBG.

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Source(s):
  1. Gamespot

Leak for Red Dead Redemption 2: Deeper focus on Online than GTA V

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

A leak about Red Dead Redemption 2 gives insight into RockStar’s plans. Particularly interesting: The online mode is said to be even more in focus than in GTA V. There are also mentions of a battle royale mode. This sounds like one of the modern pseudo-MMOs and the logical evolution of GTA Online.

On February 1st, RockStar announced a delay of the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 to October and released some screenshots.

The site Trusted Reviews is now reporting a major leak about Red Dead Redemption 2. They say: They have been sitting on the leak since August 2017, but only share it now that they have seen the additional screenshots.

Because only now do they consider the leak credible. The leak included several images that match the newly released official screenshots.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Schnee

Online mode brings open world

The leak states that Red Dead Redemption 2, just like GTA Online, gives players the opportunity to freely explore the open world. However, RDR2 is said to have more depth than GTA:

  • NPCs would decorate their businesses with small items and pack up when night falls – Red Dead Redemption 2 therefore has a day/night cycle
  • There are tasks and quests that players can undertake: Such as traveling long distances to eliminate a target or using a bow
  • RDR 2 will offer some kind of housing – players can own and upgrade tents
  • Merchants offer their goods
Red Dead Redemption 2 Charaktere

PvP mode like in PUBG?

Red Dead Redemption 2 is also expected to include various player-versus-player modes such as

  • Revive and Survive – 2 teams fight against each other. There is time to revive teammates before they die permanently
  • In Money Grab, two teams try to bring as many money bags as possible to a safe location
  • Nothing is known yet about the battle royale, but that is also the name of the last-man-standing mode with a death zone, which games like Fortnite or PUBG owe their current popularity to
Red Dead Redemption 2 Titel Wiese

Gambling and shopping trips

  • In the open world, there are regions like Armadillo or Ridgewood. Here, NPCs such as grave diggers, gunsmiths, or merchants live.
  • Players can also gamble with them
  • Players are expected to be able to fish, breed animals, or dig for gold, they can also search for plants – systems like fishing seem to have depth, as you can choose bait and even buy a can of worms
Red Dead Redemption 2 Schütze Sonne
  • A companion app is also being developed for Red Dead Redemption 2
  • The game is expected to be playable in both multiplayer and campaign modes from a first-person perspective
  • There will be opportunities to go on bounty hunts, search for treasure, or embark on adventures with strange strangers.
  • A “wanted” level is also expected, which sounds very much like GTA.

There is a lot of information in the leak that sounds like GTA Online and one of the new “pseudo-MMOs”. Even if they now seem credible and fit with statements from the developers that they want to focus on online, it should be noted: The leak and the information are not official.

What is official, however, is the release date

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Trusted Reviews

PS Plus February 2018 – The free games are now available!

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

PS Plus (PlayStation Plus) free games for February 2018 are now live. Here are the free games for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita included in the subscription.

As of today, February 6, 2018, the PS Plus games for February are available. You can now download and install them. To do this, open the PlayStation Plus section on your console and add the games to your library.

These are the free games for PS4 in February 2018:

  • RiME – In RiME, a land full of secrets awaits you. It is a single-player puzzle adventure where you play as a young boy who wakes up on a mysterious island. You explore the island and solve various puzzles.
  • KNACK – In this game, you become the unusual hero “Knack”. He is made up of various parts and by picking up more parts, he can become a mighty “Crusher”. Your mission is to save humanity from a goblin army.

In this video, you will get a first impression of RiME and KNACK:

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List of Free Games for PlayStation Plus – February 2018

Here is the full game lineup:

  • Knack (PS4)
  • RiME (PS4)
  • StarBlood Arena (PS Plus bonus title – PS VR)
  • Spelunker HD (PS3)
  • Mugen Souls Z (PS3)
  • Exiles End (PS Vita)
  • Grand Kingdom (PS Vita & PS4)

You can download the games starting February 6, 2018. Until then, the “PS Plus” games for January were available for download.

What are the free games for PS Plus?

Once a month, “PS Plus” members receive a delivery of free games that they can download from the PlayStation Store and add to their library. This game lineup is included in the subscription of the online service. PlayStation Plus costs about 60 euros per year (12 months).

Interesting articles about PlayStation 4:

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. tuttotek

Destiny 2: What happens to your Iron Banner progress in Season 2?

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In Destiny 2, the first Iron Banner of Season 2 is drawing to a close. What will happen to your previous progress?

Since the second season, there are several ways to earn “Iron Banner” rewards:

  • The standard way: You play Iron Banner matches, earn Iron Banner tokens, and redeem them with Lord Saladin for Iron Banner engrams. These engrams contain special weapons, armor pieces, or cosmetic items.
  • Additional tokens can be earned through daily challenges and Iron Banner milestones.
  • A seasonal milestone grants an exclusive emblem when you achieve a more complex goal (play 30 Iron Banner matches).
  • With enough tokens and Legendary shards, you can buy Iron Banner gear directly from Lord Saladin.
  • And when you reach certain goals, Iron Banner ornaments are unlocked with Lord Saladin, allowing you to customize your Iron Banner armor.
destiny-2-titan-eisenbanner

On February 6 at 6 PM, the first Iron Banner of Season 2 ends. What happens to your Iron Banner tokens and the progress on ornaments then?

Progress will carry over to the next Iron Banner in Season 2

The community manager Cozmo answered these questions a few hours ago via Twitter. Many Guardians want to know right now if their Iron Banner progress will reset for the next Iron Banner.

Cozmo’s responses:

  • All Iron Banner tokens that you do not spend now will be available again at the next Iron Banner in Season 2. In other words, if you don’t like the current rewards, you can save the tokens until the next event.
    However: The official Bungie site mentions that you should redeem all your Iron Banner tokens before the Iron Banner ends with the weekly reset. Some doubt whether Cozmo is actually correct with his statement.
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  • The progress for the ornament goals will carry over to the next Iron Banner. You will need to win 25 Iron Banner matches or achieve enough melee and grenade kills in Iron Banner to obtain specific ornaments in Season 2. If you haven’t reached these goals now, you can still complete them in the next Iron Banner.
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  • For the Season 2 milestone, you also have the entire season’s time to achieve it. If you haven’t completed the 30 Iron Banner matches, you can catch up in the next Iron Banner.

What goals do you still need to achieve in Iron Banner in Season 2?

Destiny 2: All new Iron Banner weapons of Season 2 at a glance

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bungie
  2. Twitter

The Division: Server down on 6.2. – Emergency Maintenance and Update 1.18

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

Today, on February 6th, the servers for The Division are down. Massive is conducting emergency maintenance for several hours and is deploying Update 1.18. What is changing?

Update: You need to download an update. It carries the version number 1.18 and is around 2.8 GB in size (varies depending on the platform)

Update 12:52 PM: Massive has just announced that the maintenance will be extended by one hour. New end time: 2 PM.

If you wanted to play The Division all day today, Tuesday, February 6th, then Massive is making that impossible. They announced that they need to conduct emergency maintenance today.

Here are the important times:

  • On February 6th, the servers will be shut down at 10 AM.
  • The maintenance will last four hours, so you can play The Division around 2 PM again.
division-rot

All platforms, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, are affected.

What is changing today? – AlphaBridge glitch will be fixed

Two statements are made in the changelog:

  • A problem related to the secret AlphaBridge set will be fixed
  • A UI issue will be fixed where gear optimization was reset between two sessions

Massive does not provide any further details.

The AlphaBridge set issue that Massive mentions is likely a glitch that recently appeared. This allows for significantly more talents than intended to be stacked on a weapon. This grants unfair advantages, especially in PvP.

Division-Rot

This is presumably why Massive is calling it an “emergency maintenance” to fix the AlphaBridge set glitch as quickly as possible.

So far, it is not known whether you will need to download and install a hotfix today, or whether Massive can implement the changes server-side, without requiring a download. Update: You need to download an update. It carries the version number 1.18 and is around 2.8 GB in size (varies depending on the platform)

AlphaBridge is considered in The Division 1.8 as a set that is not among the best secret gear sets, but is still interesting. Here we present an innovative AlphaBridge build that you can enjoy in the post-apocalypse of New York.

If Massive provides further information about today’s changes or the maintenance, we will update this article.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. forums.ubi.com

Win 10,000 dollars in the Black Desert costume contest

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

With Carnival around the corner, a costume contest in the MMORPG Black Desert is almost a must – and there is even a lot of money to win.

Are you artistically talented and would like to participate in a costume contest where you can submit your creation and maybe win? The MMORPG Black Desert offers you an opportunity for that.

The costume contest runs from February 7th to April 11th. However, the submission deadline is March 5th. So you don’t have quite a month to come up with a cool costume design and implement it artistically.

Black-Desert-Ran-02-Ausschnitt

How to participate

To participate, you must keep the following in mind:

  • Provide your name, your region (EU or USA), your in-game family name, and your class name
  • You need to create a front and back view of the costume
  • The design should be in line with the style of the game, meaning it should have a European medieval flair
  • The costume must be visible on your character
  • You must submit the images in jpg format
  • You may not copy other artworks; it must be a costume designed by you
  • The design must not be offensive or violate the terms of service
  • You can submit multiple designs

Black-Desert-Oktoberfest

There are prizes to win!

Of course, there are prizes to win:

  • The winner from all regions receives 10,000 US dollars (minus taxes) or pearls worth 10,000 dollars
  • The first place from the regions EU and USA receives 3,000 dollars each
  • Additionally, there are benefit packs and in-game items for participants depending on their ranking

You will post your design in the official Black Desert forum as a jpg file. The BDO team will review it and allow it to enter the competition. The first voting will then take place from March 14th to 19th. Afterwards, the BDO team will select a top 30, among whom you can vote again for the regional winners from March 28th to April 3rd and for the global winner from April 4th to 9th. The winners will be announced on April 11th.

Recently, a 50-dollar tent caused some discontent within the Black Desert community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzoCadFcWYs
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP

Monster Hunter World: One player throws another onto a giant bat

Robert Albrecht Robert Albrecht Reading time < 1 minutes

This looks like a plan: A player in Monster Hunter: World managed to throw a teammate from their own hunting group onto a monster – including a riding opportunity!

Funny action in Monster Hunter: World: A hunting group is dealing with the fluffy bat Paolumu, when a player gets the idea to fling their buddy onto the monster. And it even works!

But that’s not all – the player throw not only deals significant damage, the thrown player even manages to stay on the monster and activate the riding mode, allowing their group members to deal even more damage!

But see for yourselves:

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This action will surely not be repeated too often, but it at least brings some laughs. And if we are honest, actions like these are what make it exciting, right?

Have you done any more cool actions in Monster Hunter: World? Let us know in the comments!

Also feel free to visit us on our Monster Hunter: World Facebook page and send us your highlights from Monster Hunter: World!

fluffy

Here we have more about the special monster:

Do you already know the bat fluff from Monster Hunter World?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. YouTube

Neverwinter: Freut euch in Lost City of Omu auf mächtige Beute

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

With the upcoming adventure module Lost City of Omu, your heroes in the MMORPG Neverwinter will receive even more powerful loot – which is desperately needed, as you will face dangerous challenges.

Loot is always good in an MMORPG, as it is a reward for all the efforts you put into an adventure. And acquiring powerful weapons is a special achievement.

In the upcoming expansion Lost City of Omu for the MMORPG Neverwinter, particularly dangerous challenges await you. To master these, you can obtain powerful loot.

Neverwinter Omu Artifact

Look forward to powerful artifacts

This loot consists of interesting items:

  • Powerful artifact weapon sets of the pilgrim that you can buy on the ZEN market
  • The Carafe of Atropal Essence, which equips you with the destructive power of the Atropals
  • Completion of the artifact equipment set of Atropal Essence with belt and necklace
  • Testaments of the brave warriors of Chult, with which you can unleash the hidden powers of your primeval gear and upgrade them to the highest level
  • Ampoules of the Soul Purger, which further bolster the new weapons
  • Additional artifact equipment pieces for the neck and belt slot, which complete the artifact sets of the Serpent and the Skull Lord
  • New artifact equipment sets that have item level 455 and even an item level of 500 at legendary quality

To obtain this loot, you will face many challenges, including the new hunts of Omu, where you visit dangerous ruins and the trial “Cradle of the Death God”.

The expansion Lost City of Omu will be released on February 27 for the PC version of Neverwinter.

Neverwinter Omu Artifact 2
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. MMORPG.com

Guild Wars 2 changes the gameplay of the Mesmer and angers many fans

Jürgen Horn Jürgen Horn Reading time 2 minutes

The Mesmer class in Guild Wars 2 will undergo a radical change starting February 6th. This renders many old builds useless, but opens up new possibilities. Many players are not happy about this!

The Mesmer class in Guild Wars 2 has primarily focused on so-called illusions. These were illusions that lasted until they were “shattered” by the Mesmer using other skills. Meanwhile, the illusions dealt significant damage, raising the Mesmer’s DPS.

However, with the update on February 6, 2018, the gameplay of the illusions will fundamentally change.

Clones instead of Illusions

Guild-wars-2-legendaere-ruestung-04

The major change in Mesmer gameplay with the update affects those illusions. When you summon an illusion, it attacks once and then breaks. Instead, a so-called “clone” appears.

The clone looks like the Mesmer itself and has a rather weak attack. It cannot match the DPS of the illusion. Instead, it always runs towards the enemy and can be shattered there for more damage. This fundamentally changes the gameplay of the Mesmer.

Developer says: “The old Mesmer was too passive”

Guild Wars 2 Legendary

According to the developers, this was necessary to break the stagnant meta gameplay of the Mesmer. It was noted that players often summoned only 3 illusions and mostly used standard attacks. Other skills were not widely utilized, as shattering abilities would kill the illusions.

This passive gameplay was not in line with the developers’ vision, who hoped for more dynamism and skill usage from the Mesmer. Thus, they decided on the mentioned changes.

Players angry – Old builds often useless now

Guild Wars 2 Erfolge

In the related forum post about the Mesmer changes, developer Robert Gee anticipates that some players may not be pleased with these changes. And indeed, this is the case, as many players bitterly complain in forums, comment sections, and Reddit posts.

Many see their familiar builds as useless and a waste. ArenaNet has finally ruined the Mesmer. In this form, it draws too much aggro, as the clones no longer deal enough damage. And the important momentum mechanic of the Chronomancer specialization has also been altered.

Not everyone hates the re-balance

However, not all players are angry. Some recognize that the adjustment was necessary and that the old Mesmer was not in line with the creators’ intent. These players look forward to new ideas and builds to adapt to the changed situation.

Guild Wars 2 is not only changing the Mesmer. The WvW mode will also undergo significant changes.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. ArenaNet
  2. Reddit

Dr DisRespect returns to Twitch – 390,000 viewers and a heap of money

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The scandal streamer Dr DisRespect returned to Twitch and PUBG last night. Twitch briefly went down, money flowed in streams – there were special matches and thought-provoking moments.

With a lot of fanfare, the doctor returned to Twitch yesterday. This was a highly anticipated event after a few weeks’ break. And at the beginning, it seemed like Twitch was actually responding accordingly to this self-proclaimed mega event: Twitch was down for 10 minutes. Dr DisRespect and his fans liked to credit themselves for this: We broke Twitch.

However, the US site Kotaku points out: Well, actually, Twitch handles larger eSports events quite well. There might have been other factors at play.

But such details are not really a concern: Twitch Down will surely be part of the legend of Dr DisRespect.

5000-Dollar-Twitch

Even though the doctor likes to pretend that millions and millions watch him in his arena, the number of simultaneous viewers only reached a maximum of 390,000. That is still a bit below the record of another bad boy of Twitch, the LoL streamer Tyler1. He broke the 400,000 mark during his own dramatic return.

Apparently, it’s a trend to theatrically stage one’s own return.

A perfect PUBG match for the doctor

Nevertheless, the stream was a total success for Dr DisRespect and indeed, the stream was something special.

His first PUBG match of the year went as if a higher power was watching over him. The first match developed entirely in his favor, allowing the doctor to actually back up his grandstanding with a strong performance.

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At one point, a crate fell from the sky at his feet and the doctor laughed: “This is not a scripted game!”

Donation after donation

As Polygon notes, several donations of over $500 came in during the stream, including a $5000 donation. However, one must be cautious, as these donations are not necessarily real and can be refunded. But so much money can throw even a professional off balance.

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The stream also brought the doctor approximately 12,000 subscribers, resulting in about $30,000 in subscription revenue.

Infidelity is thoughtfully addressed

The reason for the break on Twitch was that Dr DisRespect was allegedly “unfaithful” to his wife. A moderator of his channel had then gone public (via dexerto) and claimed that the doctor had cheated on his wife with four others.

This has two consequences in the stream:

  • The doctor now relies on bots to moderate his channel
  • And he said: He and his wife – this is a learning process, a rebuild, an empowering process: “The older we get and the more we know about each other, as individuals and as a group, the more we start to understand certain things.”

Well, no one can say that the doctor lacks depth.

More about the self-proclaimed “face of Twitch”:

DrDisRespect returns to PUBG.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. kotaku
  2. polygon

Tentacles and Flame Swords: Cool, New Weapon Models in WoW

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

In Battle for Azeroth, there are quirky weapons. We show you the coolest new weapon models from World of Warcraft!

In World of Warcraft, there will soon be a greater variety of weapons again. With Battle for Azeroth, the artifact weapons have become obsolete and there are numerous new models for armament. Even while questing on Zandalar (Horde) and Kul Tiras (Alliance), there are plenty of new weapons to be acquired.

The colleagues from wowhead have already dived deep into the data of patch 8.0.1 and brought most of the weapon models to light. Today we show you some weapons that Horde players can presumably acquire while questing on Zandalar.

In just about 11 minutes, the various weapons are presented. All weapons come in four different color variations.

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Burning Swords and Tentacle Weapons

One sword particularly stands out, consisting only of a hilt. The blade, on the other hand, is made of a pillar of flame and thus resembles the already known “lightsabers” that have been in the game since Classic. Anyone who likes a fiery appearance will probably want to add this one-handed sword to their collection.

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If a sword made of flames is not crazy enough, then perhaps you prefer something tentacled. Because a off-hand weapon with the name Xalzaix has been found, which apparently is connected to the Old Gods. However, this octopus-like thing is not “worn” in the off-hand but hovers around the character.

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This reminds many of the demonology artifact weapon of warlocks, the Skull of the Man’ari. However, it is still unclear for which classes Xalzaix will be accessible. It could also simply be a quest item.

The exact sources for these weapons are still unknown. Most fans assume that many more weapon models will follow, which can then be acquired in dungeons or raids. So far, it seems to be “only” the models of quest rewards.

What do you think of the new weapon models? Are you excited to finally be able to wield normal weapons again? Or will you directly transmog the weapons into your artifact weapon?

Have you already taken a look at the continent of Zandalar in a round flight?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. wowhead.com

Pokémon GO trainers speculate: Is the Valentine’s Day event coming soon in 2018?

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

Trainers in Pokémon GO are currently looking forward to the next event. And it can only be one thing: the Valentine’s Day event. Most people expect a repeat of the Valentine event in 2018.  But when can we expect this and what possible rewards await the players?

Last year, the event was announced on 08.02., which also started on the same day. It ran for a week until 15.2., ending one day after Valentine’s Day. The rewards for the Valentine’s Day event in 2017 promised mainly double candies, boosts for buddy Pokémon, and increased chances for certain Pokémon like Cleffa or Chansey.

Does the Valentine’s Day event in Pokémon GO start very soon?

Another indication of a Valentine’s Day event in 2018 lies in the fact that the Community Day was moved to the 4th week of February, on the 24th. Users on Reddit suspect that Niantic wanted to prevent an overlap between the Valentine’s Day event and Community Day.

reddit pokemon go valentinstag event 2018
Reddit is buzzing with speculations about the Valentine’s Day event in 2018

If we look at the history of other events in Pokémon GO, it’s reasonable to suspect that the flow might repeat itself to some extent. The Thanksgiving Catch Event in 2017 offered double experience points and Stardust, similar to the event in 2016. However, there was a larger difference in presentation: The social aspect was more prominent than ever.

Other speculations suggest that quests could be unlocked for the first time. Data miners found in the latest update 0.91.1/1.61.1 for Pokémon GO that the quest feature was part of the update:

It looks like quests are coming to Pokémon GO – Update 0.91.1/1.61.1.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. pcgameshardware.de
  2. reddit