A Bungie developer discusses some details about enemies in Destiny 2. Have you spotted them yet?
David Bocek has been a Combatants Designer at Bungie since 2015. That means he works on the looks of the enemy races. In Destiny 2, he was mainly responsible for the Cabal Red Legion.
When a Reddit user discovered a detail about the warbeasts, the dog-like creatures of the Cabal, Bocek couldn’t hold back and spilled some more info about the enemies.
Warbeasts have brand marks
The Reddit user pointed out that the warbeasts have the symbol of the Red Legion branded on them. Each beast shows this brand on its hind legs, which can be seen particularly well in the following concept: Bocek happily replied that someone finally noticed this. He himself got this symbol as a tattoo after working on the Red Legion:
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Bocek is a guy who passionately pursues his work and describes himself as a huge Destiny fan and “Lore junkie”.
However, he revealed not only his tattoo on reddit but also another detail about the warbeasts: If you shoot off a beast’s helmet, you will see “barrel openings”. These were implanted in the poor creatures to pump a specific liquid into their brains, which makes them extremely aggressive.
Additionally, the scaly skin of the warbeasts is used by other Cabal units to create flexible armor. You can particularly see it at the joints of some Cabal units, like here with the Gladiators: Alongside this information about the Cabal, Bocek also shared a detail about the Fallen in Destiny 2: Unlike the Exiled in Destiny 1, the Exiled in Destiny 2 grow two additional arms: There is a reason for this found in the lore: The Fallen, including the Exiled, always have four arms. If they lose an arm, it regrows easily. However, the Exiled rank very low in the hierarchy of the Fallen, which is why they are allowed to have only two arms as a symbol of shame. Once a Fallen proves to be worthy to ascend in rank, they are allowed to regrow their arms.
That the Exiled in Destiny 2 can simply regrow their arms is a sign that they want to leave their traditions behind. And this is a sign that the Fallen are currently in a desperate situation.
According to Bocek, there are still many more hidden details that can be found throughout the game, showing how passionate the developers, who design all this stuff, are. They want players to enjoy the small details too, if they look closely enough to discover them.
Maybe you’ll slow down a bit in the Destiny universe over the next few days and take a closer look at all the enemies you encounter. What cool details about the enemies have you discovered?
In Black Desert Online (PC) the new class Rahn (Lahn) is already available in Korea. Soon the nimble swordswoman will receive her Awakening weapon: 2 swords.
In Black Desert Online there are regularly new heroes. Recently, the tough martial artist Mystique joined the servers. But in Korea, they are always a bit ahead. There the Rahn (or depending on spelling “Lahn”) roams and slaughters enemies. So far, the new heroine only fights with her regular weapon, a sleek sword and a chain with an attached blade.
Two swords are better than one – Rahn Awakening
The Rahn, like all heroes in Black Desert – starting at level 56, receives its own Awakening weapon. Awakening weapons are often radically different devices. For instance, the elf archer gets a sword, the tanky warrior a two-handed sword, and the berserker even a cannon!
However, with the Rahn, the style remains similar. The acrobatic swordswoman will receive two swords connected by a chain as Awakening equipment. What the new weapon will be called and what exactly it can do is still unknown.
On January 11, the Rahn’s Awakening weapon is scheduled to be released in Korea. Until then, there should also be more information about the skills and applications.
With these new, massive gaming monitors, Nvidia aims to take PC gaming to the next level and provide an alternative to TVs.
Who needs a bulky television when you can have an oversized gaming monitor? This must have been the question some people at Nvidia asked themselves when they designed what they call BFGD (Big Format Gaming Displays). The displays are specifically designed for gamers, featuring low latency and even an integrated Nvidia Shield to stream Netflix, Amazon Video, YouTube, Android apps, and more in 4K.
At the CES 2018 fair, Nvidia will unveil the new monitors.
BFGD release still in 2018
The first BFGD displays will be released this year from ACER, ASUS, and HP. Here’s what these beasts can do:
In principle, the BFGDs are massive monitors with G-Sync support that perfectly suit high-end systems. Experiencing the high refresh rate (120Hz) combined with 4K resolution on such large monitors is likely to fulfill many gamers’ dreams they didn’t even know they had.
But it’s not just PC gamers that will be attracted by the monitors. The low input lag makes gaming on other consoles better than on many TVs. We’re already accustomed to these low values from gaming monitors. TVs often have a higher delay. Anyone looking for a large display for their Switch should keep an eye on the BFGDs.
The integrated Nvidia Shield makes switching between gaming and other entertainment formats particularly easy. The G-Sync HDR technology also supports video playback in popular lower FPS formats, so that moving images can be displayed at their intended refresh rate.
During the CES 2018 fair, the massive displays are expected to be available for testing. So far, there are no prices for the announced monitors. However, you can expect that they won’t be cheap.
Weeks ago, we wanted to know from you which MMORPG or online game has the best endgame. Here are the results!
There are many MMOs and online games on the market. While games can often excite during the leveling phase and offer plenty of story or exciting questlines, the endgame in many games is rather poor. Other games only really start when reaching the maximum level and provide plenty of content. This keeps the game exciting at the highest level and guarantees some great hours.
With an overwhelming majority of the votes, World of Warcraft won the vote for the game with the best endgame. 37% of all submitted votes felt that no other game can match the endgame of WoW.
There are many reasons for this.
The most important reason is that Blizzard has delivered a continuous stream of fresh content with Legion. Just shortly after the release of Legion, the Emerald Nightmare opened its doors, was soon replaced by the Trial of Valor, before the Nighthold also came.
In summary, it can be said that there were new raids or dungeons roughly every 12 weeks in Legion – a clear record for Blizzard that has been appreciated by the fans.
But even if one is not into PvE and PvP, there are still plenty of other activities that can be pursued. The extensive “Pet-Battle” system with hundreds of different pets has captivated many players, and the hunt for achievements, titles, or the search for particularly rare toys is also exciting.
All these reasons have made World of Warcraft count as the MMORPG with the best endgame in our community.
2nd Place: The Elder Scrolls Online
In The Elder Scrolls Online, there are only a few designated “endgame” contents because – with some exceptions – the game always scales with the respective character level. Thus, a variety of zones is already available at the start for heroes to explore.
As a traditional “endgame,” there are only particularly hard dungeons and raids. But if the entire game fundamentally counts as “endgame” due to scaling, then it offers a lot of choices and does exactly what fans of Skyrim have always wanted. Regardless of whether it’s quests or PvP, thanks to the scaling, most content is always available when you want to enjoy it!
It is therefore not surprising that The Elder Scrolls Online lands in 2nd place with 9% of the votes.
3rd Place: Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV is considered one of the prime examples of what a fundamental overhaul can do for a mediocre MMORPG. In its second version, Final Fantasy XIV is more popular than ever, not least due to the many goals players can pursue even after reaching the maximum level.
Since in Final Fantasy every character can play all classes, these also need to be leveled separately – which takes some time. Overcoming all Primals in “Extreme” mode is likely to keep players entertained for several weeks, as well as constantly updating the relic weapon and, of course, the hunt for the highest item level, to continue to withstand new dangers in the game.
Those who still want more can get lost in crafting or look for clothing items to have the perfect look through “Glamour”.
In summary, Final Fantasy XIV offers a thoroughly solid endgame that does not have to hide from other MMOs.
All these things grant Final Fantasy XIV a solid third place with 8% of the votes.
Places 4 to 10
Only after some distance do the next titles follow in places 4-10. Here’s a small list of the games that didn’t make it to the podium and occupy the following places:
4th Place: Guild Wars 2 (6%)
5th Place: Destiny 1 (6%)
6th Place: Warframe (5%)
7th Place: Star Wars: The Old Republic (5%)
8th Place: Black Desert (4%)
9th Place: Diablo 3 (4%)
10th Place: The Division (4%)
Was your favorite also World of Warcraft? If so, why? Or would you have preferred to see another game on the throne that perhaps didn’t make it into the top 10?
A new wave of EX Raid invitations has been sent out in Pokémon GO. This once again ignored many trainers and has led to harsh criticism.
A few hours ago, Niantic sent out invitations to selected trainers who will be allowed to participate in EX Raids in a few days. There, they get the chance to battle Mewtwo and catch this rare monster.
However, the way these invitations are distributed regularly causes heated discussions within the community. A well-known YouTuber is so annoyed with the system that he is now taking a break from the game.
New EX Raid wave ignores regular players again
Since the introduction of EX Raids in Pokémon GO, this feature has been hotly debated among trainers. On August 14, Niantic announced that Mewtwo will soon appear in Exclusive Raids and trainers will have the chance to catch this special monster. It remains unclear how to qualify for this – and this annoys the trainers greatly. They find it unfair when others are invited and they are not.
Players struggle with the raid system in Pokémon GO
In the comments on our article, annoyed trainers questioned the system. It is simply too unclear according to what scheme the invitations are distributed. “Fresh players” sometimes receive invitations earlier and more often than regular players who have been around since the summer of 2016.
Reversal takes a break – YouTuber is frustrated with the system
One of the hardcore players from the Pokémon GO community is now taking a break. He has reportedly invested over $5000 in Pokémon GO and regularly maintains a large fanbase. He has 65,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 315,000 subscribers on YouTube.
In recent weeks and months, Giorgio “Reversal” Lapian has often expressed that he would like to receive an invitation to the Mewtwo raids. But he has been disappointed.
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After the recent wave of EX Raid invitations, Reversal drew his conclusion. An arena he frequently raids was chosen for the EX Raids. Yet again, he did not receive an invitation for it. For him, this system is too demotivating, and he will now pause Pokémon GO indefinitely.
Some of his followers believe that this is exactly the right decision. Reversal is an important part of the community with a large reach. Through this clear signal, he may be able to motivate Niantic to change the system or at least to ensure more transparency.
What do you think of Reversal’s decision to take a break?
Destiny 2 lacks a “free-for-all” mode. With the return of Rumble, that would change.
“Take care of yourself, Guardian. No one else will do it.”
With these or similar words, Lord Shaxx welcomed players in the Crucible when playing a round of Rumble in Destiny 1. Because Rumble was a PvP mode where everyone fought against everyone: There were no allies, there was no mercy. Everyone was an enemy.
Such a game mode is missing in Destiny 2. There are two reasons for this:
All PvP modes are played in 4vs4. A “free-for-all” mode does not fit in.
And the PvP modes rely on teamwork. A mode that only solo players can participate in also does not fit into the concept.
However, there are indications that Rumble could indeed return. And possibly soon.
No Rumble at Launch, but maybe in 2018
Official information about the Rumble mode is scarce. In June 2017, Community Manager DeeJ stated that there would definitely be no Rumble at the launch of Destiny 2. However, this phrasing leaves open the possibility – and keeps the hope of many Guardians alive – that Rumble might be added sometime after launch.
Datamining findings now fuel hope: Yes, Rumble is likely making a return soon.
Just a few weeks ago, we reported that TrialsReport, a normally reliable source, rummaged through the latest game files and discovered “new” PvP modes for Destiny 2. Among them wereMayhem, Rumble, and Elimination. They published these finds even before it was officially announced that Mayhem would come to the game with the Dawning event.
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It is therefore quite possible that Guardians in Destiny 2 will soon be able to play Rumble and Elimination again. Especially since the database entry for Rumble was recently updated and now has a description (the description is different from that in Destiny 1, so it is likely not just a simple placeholder that was copied over):
Keep in mind that these are merely database entries that do not prove that Rumble will actually return at some point. It is possible though. And since Rumble and Elimination came into the game files at the same time as Mayhem, they could become active quite soon.
The action MMO Blade & Soul has been on the market in Europe and the USA for 2 years. Reason for a anniversary celebration, during which you can receive gifts. There is, among other things, a new costume and the return of a classic dungeon.
Blade & Soul is celebrating its 2nd anniversary in the West in January 2018. Since then, quite a bit has happened in NCSoft’s martial arts MMO. Recently, the “Lost Continent” even brought the largest update to the servers so far. However, for the 2nd anniversary, there is hearty retro content!
On the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of Blade & Soul, the developers are bringing back an old instance. The “Black Ram Supply Chain”. This dungeon was the first endgame instance at the launch of the game and featured an exciting boss fight with the crazy pirate vice-admiral Poharan.
For the anniversary, this instance is returning. You can participate with heroes over level 50, and NCSoft has accordingly revamped the dungeon. You will also receive new daily rewards when you run through the supply chain.
Free costume and new customization options
In celebration of the 2nd anniversary of Blade & Soul in the West, there is a gift for all players. You will receive a chest of goodies once per account. In addition, there is a special daily quest for dungeons. The reward includes an anniversary costume and other goodies, such as fireworks. The costume consists of a chic suit, as well as a silly party hat shaped like a cake with a “2” as the tip.
Additionally, the following innovations will be coming:
You can customize your costumes with colors and patterns
The premium membership will be revamped and made more comprehensible
Upgrades will be cheaper
You can buy your own costume chest, which grants you the sexy set “Silver Tiger”
The celebrations for the 2nd anniversary of Blade & Soul begin on January 17, 2018.
With a trick, you can already “farm” legendary items in advance, so that you can grab a few in the upcoming WoW Patch 7.3.5!
The latest raid of World of Warcraft, Antorus, the Burning Throne, has been open for a while. This has allowed players to upgrade their legendary items from item level 940 or 970 to item level 1000.
A few days ago, a revelation came: With Patch 7.3.5, it will be possible to exchange the Awakening Essences needed for the upgrade directly for legendary items. 175 Awakening Essences are required to obtain a legendary item.
However, this brought a problem: Those who had already been diligent and upgraded all legendary items in their possession could no longer receive Awakening Essences. The quest “A titanic effort” is required for this, which is no longer available after upgrading the last legendary.
Craftable legendaries allow farming of Awakening Essences
However, with a trick, you can unlock this quest again! Simply head to an auction house and buy one of the craftable legendary items at level 940 or 970 (that can be used by your class). Once the item is in your possession, you can return to Arcanist Vridiel in Dalaran and accept the quest again.
From now on, you will receive Awakening Essences from the usual sources: raid bosses in Antorus, the daily emissary caches, the first heroic dungeon of the day, etc.
The purchased legendary item can be sold again after you have re-accepted the quest. This keeps your financial loss within limits – ideally, you can simply trade a legendary with your friends until everyone has re-accepted the quest.
With the release of Patch 7.3.5, it should be possible to exchange the farmed Awakening Essences directly for legendary items. Those who act wisely now can save a lot of time later!
What do you think of this method of farming legendary items? A good thing, or does it take even more of the uniqueness away from the orange items?
Many users in the forums are singing the praises of The Division. New players are writing that they are surprised at how good the game is.
Old “The Division” YouTubers are returning, posting new reviews, and praising the game to the heavens. It’s described as “fantastic” or “finally feels complete.”
What are the reasons for The Division experiencing a second spring right now?
The Division has more content than ever before…
When player numbers rise in an older online game, it’s usually because it has been supplied with new content. This is also true for The Division: At the beginning of December, the free update 1.8 was released.
This update was the largest update in the history of The Division so far, bringing two new game modes, the long-awaited map expansion, new items, and all kinds of improvements and innovations to existing mechanics. After almost a year of content drought, there is finally something to do in post-apocalyptic New York.
The player counts skyrocketed at the launch of update 1.8 – however, they did not fall again a few weeks later: Instead, they now remain at a high level that is almost five times higher than before the launch of 1.8.
Many players are therefore not just rushing through the new content, they are keeping their agent’s gear on for longer. Because there are several reasons beyond “lots of content” why The Division is now so popular again.
… and has fewer bugs than ever before
One of the main reasons so many players left The Division in Spring 2016 was all the bugs, exploits, and balance issues of the game.
Hardly a day went by without a new problem appearing. And when Massive deployed a fix for one issue, new annoyances sprang up elsewhere.
The peak was reached in summer with update 1.3. The developers introduced new gear sets too quickly without properly balancing any of them. This caused severe balance issues. It felt like Massive was just chasing after the problems – hopelessly trying to gain control over them.
In August, the developers pulled the emergency brake. They stated publicly that their game was not fun in its current state. They postponed their previous plans and fundamentally overhauled many endgame mechanics. In Fall 2016, update 1.4 was released, which laid the foundation for the current renaissance.
Months of improvements, bug fixes and balance adjustments followed, so now, at the beginning of 2018, we have a Division that is better than ever. Now, community feedback that Massive implemented over two years of post-launch development is bearing fruit. And since The Division finally got new and free game content with update 1.8, many agents are taking the opportunity to evaluate all the improvements.
PvP players get their share
Since its launch, The Division has been a shared-world shooter with both PvE and PvP elements, with the PvP part always feeling lacking. The “agent vs agent” combat was only possible in the Dark Zone, which many agents preferred using to hunt NPC bosses.
At the beginning of 2017, the first standalone PvP mode called “Last Stand” was introduced, which was however paid and had a strong focus on PvE. A mode that allows pure PvP was awaited in vain.
In addition, the rogue system in the Dark Zone has been revised. There is no more friendly fire; now you must display your intention to become rogue beforehand. This is meant to enable fairer PvP battles. Overall, it should be more rewarding to become rogue and hunt rogues.
The loot is good
The Division is a loot shooter, where the objective is to continually acquire new and better loot and gradually upgrade your character. And there is currently tons of loot in The Division that can be grinded for months!
In summer 2017, “secret gear sets” were introduced. These have higher stats than standard gear and provide additional bonuses, allowing you to optimize your build with them. The secret gear is quite rare.
Moreover, Massive regularly holds special events where double loot can be acquired. However, the “Global Events” are significantly more popular, as they liven up the PvE area with modifiers and significantly increase the chances of secret gear sets.
Loot hunters have a lot to do!
The Division enables a great variety of builds
Those who have only played other online shooters like Destiny 2 in recent months will be surprised at how complex and RPG-oriented The Division is. Because there are numbers everywhere – and in a good way.
There are many things you can customize, improve, and use to give your agent a unique touch. Be it the random perks on weapons, the diverse mods, or the abilities – even every piece of armor is relevant and offers its own advantages.
On top of that, the various gear sets allow completely different playstyles, making for an excellent variety of builds that invites experimentation.
There are many screws you can turn to optimize your builds. Tinkers and perfectionists will have their fun.
In 2018 it should continue to be “great”
These are just a few of the reasons why so many agents are returning to The Division and staying there. New features like loadouts or late appearance customization are also coming.
Discount promotions for The Division can be found online regularly. In the PlayStation Store, for example, it currently costs €14.99 (until January 20). Otherwise, you can find Amazon offers for the Gold Edition of The Division, which includes the season pass:
While the open beta of Life is Feudal MMO has been running since November, the early access phase begins this January.
The developers stated that several issues need to be resolved before they can offer Life is Feudal MMO on Steam. This seems to have been addressed, as the early access phase of the MMORPG starts on January 11. From then on, it will be possible to dive into the medieval world through Valve’s gaming platform, survive, and build and defend a kingdom together with other players.
Survival, PvP and Building
Since November 2017, fans have been playing in the open beta, which represented the soft launch. A whole series of cities have been built, and many battles have already been fought. PvP plays a significant role in Life is Feudal – just like survival.
You start like in a typical survival RPG with nothing and must first gather resources to obtain gear.
Survive in the Medieval World
The building aspect is what fascinates many players about the MMO. A video shows how the community builds a massive castle, starting with a small hut. If you are interested in a hardcore survival MMORPG focused on PvP and building, you should mark January 11 as the start of the Steam early access phase of Life is Feudal.
Cloud Imperium Games has now discussed what fans of the MMORPG Star Citizen can expect this year. Alpha 3.1 is just the beginning.
Alpha 3.0 of Star Citizen has been running since the end of last year 2017. However, testers report some issues such as unoptimized performance and bugs. Therefore, Cloud Imperium is currently working on a new version. Alpha 3.1 is expected to bring a lot of optimizations and bug fixes to Star Citizen.
The new version is planned as part of the quarterly releases at the end of March 2018. In addition, the balancing of the game economy will be adjusted and the AI improved.
Every quarter of 2018 will feature a release with new content for Star Citizen
At the end of June, the next major release for Star Citizen this year will introduce base systems for mining, mobile refueling, and repair. Additionally, players will have the ability to create their own missions. It will then be possible to hire mercenaries, carry out transport missions, refuel spaceships in space, and much more. The June release will also bring improvements to the AI and is expected to create more life on space stations.
In September, the introduction of “Object Container Streaming” will continue. This will handle all objects in the game as “containers” that can be streamed as needed. This will optimize memory usage and allow the Stanton system to be equipped with even more objects. Furthermore, the September release will optimize many existing systems.
More missions and even more to do
At the end of the year, another version will follow, which will further expand the Stanton system, providing players with new locations to explore. In addition, players will be able to live out their roles and advance their careers. More missions that you can complete together with friends or alone will give you even more to do. Cloud Imperium Games plans to further elaborate on each release soon.
Fans of the upcoming MMORPG Camelot Unchained are still waiting for the launch of the first beta. The development studio has now hired more employees.
Camelot Unchained is a PvP MMORPG, funded through crowdfunding, and is intended to be the spiritual successor to “Dark Age of Camelot.” Because many DAOC fans have been waiting for something like this for years, interest in Camelot Unchained is high.
The studio behind the game, City State, has set ambitious goals, which are repeatedly reflected in the shifting schedule. Fans have been waiting for the start of a beta for years: “BETA WHEN?” has become somewhat of a rallying cry and running gag about the game.
City State Has Hired New People and Is Looking for More Employees
Now the studio City State has gone on a recruitment tour: Several positions are open. A community manager and a senior animator have already been newly contracted.
New employees mean more work to do, and if there is a new community manager among them, it can only mean that the developers are expecting an increased volume of questions from the community when the first beta of the online game Camelot Unchained starts soon.
With the new staff, the team is now preparing for the imminent launch of the first testing phase.
Big Announcements Are Coming
In addition to the community manager, a designer has also been hired to work on animations. The game’s graphics regarding character movement will be improved. Furthermore, the studio is still looking for more employees. Moreover, there should soon be a series of big announcements. Many fans hope for news regarding the beta launch.
The Game Is Making Progress
The team has also announced that they are making good progress in terms of:
UI
ability buttons
floating text in combat
bugs that caused disconnections
In addition, new animations and further graphics are being worked on. The developers are still being tight-lipped about the beta launch.
There is now gameplay material from New World, the legendary MMORPG that shipping giant Amazon is working on. The game is set in the time of the “discovery of a new world” but apparently has significant mystery elements.
In autumn 2016, shipping giant Amazon announced that it was working on three games. All of them were intended to be multiplayer and suitable for the streaming platform Twitch, which is owned by Amazon:
New World is supposed to take place during the time when America was discovered, in the 17th century. However, New World is said to be equipped with supernatural elements. Everything that was thought to be real back then would indeed be real.
Leak allegedly shows gameplay material from new MMORPG New World
In the subreddit for New World, a ~25-second leak with this gameplay material appeared out of nowhere. It starts abruptly with a description of how to work together in groups.
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There is not much to see – only the promise that people will work together to exert immense power: economically and militarily. The graphics of New World look fairly standard at first glance, but the map promises a certain tactical depth.
Roanoke points to mystery and horror elements in New World
In a snapshot, “Roanoke” can be seen – this is a legendary colony surrounded by numerous myths and horror stories. In Roanoke, 118 settlers disappeared without a trace after the colony had been left on its own for several years. Only a tree with the inscription “CROATOAN” was found. Since then, Roanoke has been a popular motif in horror stories.
It should be noted: The leak appeared in the subreddit without context. Currently, it is unknown where it originated from and whether it is “real”.
However, fans agree: If this is a fake, someone really put in a lot of effort. It doesn’t look like footage from a known game.
We’ll see when new information about New World comes! Currently, two things especially speak for the MMORPG:
It has a new, fresh setting
and it is by Amazon – money shouldn’t be a problem.
A shock for the German community of World of Warcraft. The streamer and fan site operator Patrick Michalczak, known as Vanion, is dead.
According to Vanion.eu, the founder of the site, Patrick Michalczak, passed away on January 2 at the age of 39. No details have been given regarding the cause of death, and it is requested to refrain from speculations out of respect for the deceased and his family.
Vanion.eu is only releasing the news because rumors and false reports about Michalczak’s death are already circulating.
As Buffed reports, Michalczak’s business partner Andreas Scholten will continue the site Vanion.eu on behalf of the deceased.
We at Mein-MMO.de extend our condolences to the family of the deceased, his friends, and colleagues.
Just two weeks ago, shortly before Christmas, Michalczak and Scholten reflected on 8 years of Vanion.eu in a podcast.
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Gaming and getting paid for it? It’s possible! As a streamer on Twitch, you can increase your income or even make a living from it. We explain what you need for it and even have some tips from the pros!
What is Streaming?
Streaming refers to the playback of recordings in real-time. On Twitch, this specifically means: the streamers play video games, record themselves, and allow others to watch them via direct video connection.
What exactly the streamer shows is up to him, as long as it adheres to the rules of the streaming service. Shooters and MOBAs are some of the most popular channels, but board and role-playing games are also offered by streamers.
The platform where most streaming currently takes place is Twitch. Twitch belongs to Amazon, has been in business for years, and is the dominant player in the industry. From small hobby streamers to large professional channels and even companies and broadcasters, you’ll find everything here.
How do I become a streamer on Twitch?
To start your career on Twitch, you need 5 things:
A Twitch account
Streaming software
A computer with gaming accessories
A good internet connection
An idea
You can get the account, the software, and the idea for free – for the rest, you’ll probably need to dig into your pockets. But it’s ultimately an investment that should pay off sooner or later.
Gaming and getting paid – the dream of many players.
At this point, it must be said: Successfully streaming is work! If you just want to game a bit and show it to a few people, basic hardware is perfectly sufficient. But if you want to stream professionally, it means that you’ll need sometimes very expensive peripherals and the willingness to put in the work.
No matter if you want to start as a hobby streamer or aim for a streaming career, the beginnings are the same and small, until the first success. With our tips, getting started will be easier, and you’ll get an overview of what to expect.
One who made it: Kripparian.
Internet Connection – Not Unfamiliar for Streamers
The most important tool for a streamer is their connection. Even with the best PC, you have no chance of success if the stream is not stable or does not come about at all. Investing in a sufficient connection is always the first step.
You should not focus on the speed that the provider offers for the download, but rather on the upload. The better the upload, the better the quality of the video that makes its way to Twitch.
There are roughly three values you can orient yourself by:
Absolute Minimum: 3.5MBit Upload. With this amount of data, you can stream in the simplest quality and get a feel for the streamer experience. However, don’t expect extraordinary streams with this.
The Average: 6MBit Upload. With 6MBit, you provide your viewers with a pleasant picture that rarely lags, and watching remains fun even after some time. The upload is already limited to 6MBit on Twitch. Everything above serves as a buffer for short outages to keep the quality consistently high.
The Professional Connection: 10MBit or more Upload. From 10MBit, you can fully exploit the potential of any computer and deliver the best quality to your viewers. Moreover, you can order “business connections,” which receive special support from the providers. In general, you have a right to the elimination of a disturbance within 24 hours.
A fast connection is a must if you want to stream!
Create and Set Up a Twitch Account
Creating an account on Twitch is easy: you visit the website www.twitch.tv and navigate to the “Sign Up” button in the upper right corner. In the following pop-up, you just need to come up with and enter a username and a password, complete with your birth date and email address, and you’re done! The account is created.
After creation, you immediately get started by choosing 3 games that you like. These are only important to suggest streamers you might be interested in. Select the games and confirm your choice to come to the actual website.
Here you navigate through the drop-down menu to the right of your name in the upper right corner to the “Dashboard”. From here, you manage the entire streaming profile, from the title of the stream to the settings for the chat.
Streaming Software
After you have created and set up your account on Twitch, you need software that displays what you want to show. There are many common programs for this, such as “XSplit”, “Bebo”, or “Open Broadcaster Software“, abbreviated as “OBS”.
Which of the programs you want to use is ultimately up to you. They all come with roughly the same functions and work similarly. OBS is a free open-source software that our author Leya also uses for the streams.
The homepage of OBS.
To connect OBS to your Twitch account, you need your “stream key”. You can find this when you click on “Settings” on the left in your Twitch dashboard. In your settings, you will find the link “Stream Key” at the top.
A click on this and the “Show Key” button gives a warning not to share the key, and finally shows it. Copy the long string and paste it in OBS under “File”, “Settings”, “Stream” at “Stream Key”. You can now use OBS to stream a video to Twitch.
Correctly Set Up OBS
The next step should be to set your settings for audio, video, and connection. Much of that depends on your personal preference and technical possibilities. However, there are some guidelines.
Settings/Output
Video bitrate: 3000-3500 for 1080p (Full HD), 1800-2500 for 720p (HD)
Encoder: Software (x264)
Audio bitrate: 128 Hz
Settings/Video
Base (Canvas) Resolution: Always use the native resolution of the monitor you are capturing the game on (commonly 1920×1080)
Output (Scaled) Resolution: The base value scaled down by a factor of 1.5 (so in our base resolution, it would be 1280×720)
Common FPS values: Here, 60 (or 59.94) are the values that offer the best quality. However, the resolution should be 720p because achieving 1080p at 60FPS without very expensive hardware or a second computer is impossible. 720P at 60FPS delivers better quality than 1080p at 30Hz.
Settings/Audio
The settings here should all be correct already. Check to see if the devices all show the standard of your computer or the devices you want to use.
Settings/Hotkeys
Hotkeys are optional, but a practical way to quickly access actions. It is recommendable to set a hotkey for starting and stopping the stream as well as a push-to-mute button. The community will thank you for it during the first sneeze.
Once you’ve set everything to your liking, you just need to give OBS a source to stream. Go back to the main window and click on the large plus sign at “Scene” on the bottom left (Add Scene). Give it any name you can easily identify.
You now assign a source to the scene through “Sources”. With a click on the plus sign there, you get a drop-down menu from which you can choose one of three settings for the game you want to stream:
Display Capture: Captures the entire content of the monitor. Useful in a setup with multiple monitors if the game occupies the entire area of one.
Window Capture: Specifies a window whose content is captured. More comfortable for games played in (maximized) windowed mode.
Game Capture: Specifies the game to be displayed from a list of active processes. Pleasant, but sometimes cumbersome.
This is what the window capture of a browser with a great website looks like.
Hardware and Peripherals – What Works for Gaming, Doesn’t Always Work for Streaming!
To put all the streaming theory into practice, you need the right equipment. Along with devices like a mouse and keyboard to play games properly, you also need to be able to communicate with the community somehow.
To give practical tips, we spoke with three German streamers who can support themselves through streaming: Cirouss (Overwatch and various), TheEnclase (Hearthstone and PUBG) and Cillidbaaang (Rainbow Six: Siege and Call of Duty: World War II).
Cirouss has gained more recognition with his work as a caster for Overwatch – until streaming became his profession.
Webcams:
Cirouss uses the Logitech Brio. However, many streamers also commonly use the Logitech C920 and C922. In the high-end area of streaming, even DSLRs worth up to €2500 are used.
TheEnclase has streamed without a webcam since day one – and still attracts several hundred viewers each time. If charisma is enough, a webcam isn’t mandatory but makes the start easier.
Cillidbaaang relies on the Razer Kiyo. The camera from the gaming giant brings the advantage of including a light ring, thus providing better effect quality. It’s suitable for both beginners and professionals.
With a webcam, you can show yourself in all your glory!
When it comes to recording voice, all three agree: at the beginning, it’s perfectly fine to stream with a gaming headset that offers decent quality for voice. Enclase still uses such a headset today for successful streams.
Cirouss and Cillid, on the other hand, rely on professional condenser microphones and generally recommend microphones with XLR connections as soon as you become more known and bigger. If you integrate a second computer, you should also invest in a mixer to manage music, game sound, and microphone.
Especially important for sound quality is to avoid USB headsets. XLR connections always yield better results. Cillid also recommends a small mixer and a sound card for better quality at the beginning.
A good microphone rarely hinders streaming. It just belongs.
Computer:
A good computer can handle a decent stream on its own for the beginning. The three German streamers also agree on this. However, it is important that the PC is equipped with 16-32GB RAM and a powerful processor (8 cores are recommended). With a high-end PC, you can achieve extremely good results even without a second computer.
If streaming eventually becomes a profession, acquiring a second computer ensures the best quality. The computers are connected to each other via a capture card. When it comes to the computers, pay attention to the following:
Gaming Computer
should ideally display the game to be streamed at 144Hz
strong graphics card (at least Nvidia GeForce 1070 or AMD RX 480)
at least 8GB RAM
Streaming Computer
should handle most of the streaming work
at least 16GB, better 32GB RAM
strong processor to capture and display many sources simultaneously
Having two screens is almost unavoidable. You need one for the game and the other for the chat. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone to keep an eye on the community. However, a second screen is more practical. More monitors are only conditionally necessary for beginners and even later.
Cillidbaaang’s setup – multiple monitors are very helpful for overview.
A computer and the appropriate peripherals are still not everything you need to successfully start streaming and enjoy sticking with it.
For a practical insight into the profession, you can find our interview with three professional German streamers: Cirouss, Enclase, and Cillidbaaang here.
The Step to Success: In Conversation with Professional Streamers
Streaming involves more than just hardware and a basic understanding of Twitch. To become a streamer, you need to be able to adapt to the profession. To provide you with a bit of assistance, we spoke with three German streamers who earn their living from Twitch.
Cirouss: The Nice Neighbor You Like to Hang Out With
Cirouss is a streamer who specializes mainly in shooters and community games. With numerous community events, tournament casts, and much engagement in German eSports, he attracts primarily a competitive clientele.
His career in streaming actually began as a shoutcaster while casually streaming Guild Wars 2 and HEX: Shards of Fate. He has recently become better known through Overwatch, Destiny 2, and Escape from Tarkov.
Cillidbaaang primarily offers his viewers shooters, but he is also known for the music on his stream. For some viewers, that’s a certain extra that makes him one of their favorites.
He started with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and has recently mostly offered Call of Duty: World War II and Escape from Tarkov beside his main game Rainbow Six: Siege.
Cillidbaaang at TwitchCon, an event specifically for Twitch partners and fans.
TheEnclase: A King for a Kingdom Full of Wombats
TheEnclase is an old hand in German streaming. Besides his ambition in gaming, his presentation on stream is particularly important. His brusque style and dark humor have attracted and built a community that claims the wombat as its emblem.
The “Wombat Army” feels a deep love-hate relationship with their “king” and therefore supports him in (almost) everything he plans – although he never shows his face. With his unique character, he mainly aims for entertainment, which he likes to highlight at Hearthstone as his main game.
These three streamers entertain their viewers in diverse and unmistakable ways. However, they all have in common that they are self-employed and place a high value on proximity to the community. Through their different durations on Twitch and their average number of viewers, they provide a good overview of growth as a streamer.
Our Questions for the Streamers
To be successful as a streamer, it is not enough to just show your own gameplay to the world and wait for people to watch it. You need to bring “that certain something” that makes people want to support you. In our discussions, the streamers shared their own views and some tips for streaming newcomers:
The Heart of the Stream – What Makes a Streamer’s Success?
TheEnclase: “I guess just go for it. But I also believe that many simply aren’t made for streaming – like in every ‘job’ or ‘hobby’.
If you can’t stand playing for 8 or even 24 hours straight, if you don’t have a good eye for the chat, and if at the beginning you look at the viewer count and let that discourage you from making little progress … then you should just quit.
As a streamer, you should either be extremely good at a game and/or have a special personality. If both aren’t there, there won’t be success in most cases … Which is understandable amid the mass of streamers today?
The wombat graphic of the “Wombat King” Enclase. Even loyal viewers are immortalized in the stream.
Cirouss: “Have fun streaming and NEVER start with the intention of making money from it!”
Cillidbaaang: “There are two types of streamers: Entertainers and Pro Gamers. People watch entertainers to be entertained. Entertainers need to pay attention to the chat and be interactive. Pro Gamers only need to offer good gameplay; people want to learn from them.
The most important things for entertainers like me are multitasking to be both entertainer and player, and having fun with what you’re doing. You shouldn’t start streaming to get rich, but because you enjoy it. If it then works out, success will come with a bit of luck.
For newcomers, I recommend one of two concepts: Be yourself or be someone else. But be a personality. If you choose to embody a fictional character, then own it, but make it clear. The main thing is that you’re true to yourself (or the character) and have recognition value.”
What game did you start with, and how important is content choice for newcomers?
TheEnclase: “Duel of Champions. Everyone should play what they can at the beginning or what they enjoy. The top games have a lot of competition – but also more potential viewers. I don’t think it matters too much… in smaller games, it might be easier to build a starter community.”
Cirouss: “I started with Guild Wars 2 – like most, it was a coincidence that I started streaming. The choice of content is a personal matter. Everyone should stream what they enjoy and what they consider to be right.”
Cillidbaaang: “I started with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. To start, as a smaller streamer, it’s helpful to play what is liked to be watched if you want to dive in full force. Otherwise… just play what you enjoy. Watching a streamer who is having fun with the game is always more enjoyable than sitting with a bored wannabe.”
Destiny was recently a game where many streamers dared to start. It also meant a boost in popularity for existing streamers like Cirouss.
What were your first successes? At what point could you say: I can make a living from streaming?
TheEnclase: “Hmm … I had quite a bit of success from the beginning. I was one of the best players in Duel of Champions, which was quite a small game. Within days, a first community formed, back when it was still in English.”
Cirouss: “You always have successes in streaming, sometimes smaller things and sometimes larger ones like the Twitch partnership. For me, it was the small things that piled up and grew larger over time. It’s more of a process that led me there.”
Cillidbaaang: “I started as a YouTuber. Eventually, it became too boring for me as there was no interaction with the community. Exactly that interaction was eventually the reason I started, and the success I had made me a streamer.”
Some streamers involve their community in their success – at Enclase, there are limited collectible products to win.
What made you really make a living from streaming?
TheEnclase: “I don’t know. It just kept growing, and eventually, it was enough… it wasn’t really planned.”
Cirouss: “The point when I first exceeded 400 subscribers and it kept going well was crucial for me to implement streaming as a full-time option.”
Cillidbaaang: “To be honest: luck. I was one of the first players in Germany to get a beta key for Rainbow Six: Siege and had the equipment to stream. I had the right feeling for the right game at the right time and the motivation to stick with my plans. The killer instinct, so to speak.”
Even with Twitch, money has to be made – streaming is work.
With these tips, you now have everything at hand to become a streamer yourself. You just need the motivation and courage to get started!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Bungie talks about the raids in Destiny 2. We might soon be fighting against a big boss – without adds, without specific mechanics.
Joe Blackburn is the raid team lead of Destiny 2, so the raid chief at Bungie. Just a few days ago, he explained in a series of tweets what matters in Destiny raids: Namely, the right positioning and the line of sight during a fight. In a first-person shooter, the design of the environment plays a significant role.
Now Blackburn shared some information about the raids in Destiny again. He has read a lot of criticism in the forums that all previous raid boss encounters only allow brief damage phases on the boss. Why not have a fight with a “permanent damage phase”, where you can continuously shoot at the boss?
When designing such a raid fight, it should be fun
According to Blackburn, prototypes of such fights have already been tested, but they all come with the same core problem: It simply isn’t fun to constantly shoot at the same target.
There are opposing voices saying that this would work in other online games as well. As an example, he mentions WoW, where DPS boss fights are fun. However, there are significant differences between traditional MMOs and Destiny: In traditional MMOs, much depends on pressing the right keys at the right time. When do I use the ability, when do I use the potion? In the FPS Destiny, such elements are eliminated. Here you keep pressing the same shoot button whenever you have your target in sight.
The fun and challenge in first-person shooters lies in quickly switching targets, aiming at them, and finding new, better positions for new combat situations.
The simple idea of placing a boss in the middle, where six guardians shoot at it for four minutes, does not work. This is why there are
damage phases
and phases when the boss is immune, and new targets are prioritized,
available. The few seconds when the boss is vulnerable feel much more intense.
The idea of a pure DPS fight is still not off the table. Blackburn writes that he is still intrigued by the challenge of creating a fight where six guardians are alone in a room with just one boss. There are no adds and no “wrong time” to shoot at the boss. But if Bungie does something like that, Blackburn wants the guardians to love that fight.
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A user asked in the comments where to send design ideas for the “One Boss, No Adds, 6 Guardians” fight to the developers. Blackburn replied that he looks at every design idea for a boss or activity on the Reddit front page. The challenge then lies in bringing an idea into the game.
PUBG is too shallow for you? Then you should definitely keep an eye on the upcoming online shooter Escape from Tarkov (PC). We introduce the combat simulation for PC in “What is Escape from Tarkov”, which aims to be more than just a survival shooter.
Currently, it seems that the gaming trend is moving toward increasingly larger challenges. Players are expected to engage more deeply with game mechanics, not receive everything for free, but work hard for their successes, and regain the feeling that their character is exposed to dangers, and that it will not be a walk in the park to fight against other players.
Hardcore and Realism
Escape from Tarkov aims to provide such a hardcore gaming experience. The online shooter from the Russian studio Battlestate Games is currently in closed beta. An open beta is just around the corner, with a date to be announced. The developers do not want to be pushed into a box, and comparisons with similar games are not welcome. Because Escape from Tarkov is not just a hardcore PUBG with MMORPG elements; it is an independent product.
The story takes place in the near future. The Russian city of Tarkov has been sealed off due to a conflict. Several mercenary groups are fighting for dominance in the streets. Looting scavengers are looking for valuable items and want a piece of the pie. You either belong to the private army BEAR, the mercenaries from USEC, or the Scavs, who are essentially civilians banding together to cause chaos. Your goal is: Escape from Tarkov! But that’s easier said than done.
Tarkov is divided into several zones, or play areas. You need to fight your way through these areas. In each area, you must complete specific tasks and survive to reach the next area and eventually leave the city. PvP is at the forefront, as Escape from Tarkov is a competitive shooter. Of course, it is possible to team up with other players, but fundamentally, you never know whom you can trust, and every encounter with another player can end in a firefight.
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Escape from Tarkov is divided into several features:
Survival – Survive in each play area and search for better equipment
Tactical Combat – This is not just about simple shooting; cover and aiming are essential
Modification – You can customize your equipment – especially the weapons – with many mods
Character Improvement – Your character has skills that you can enhance
Trade – You sell loot to traders or become a trader yourself
Base – Your base serves as a retreat that you continuously expand
Escape from Tarkov: Survival
When it comes to survival, you need to act carefully at all times. Every step could be your last if enemies are hiding in the bushes, waiting to ambush you. Escape from Tarkov focuses on a lot of realism. This starts with the interaction with the game world. For example, if you use a light switch, you illuminate a room, which helps you find loot better, but the light can also attract other players who want to hunt you down. Collecting loot takes time during which you may be defenseless.
Additionally, every hit can lead to death, even a grazing shot. Injuries need to be treated quickly, as you could bleed out or develop an infection. Poisoning is also possible. Storming into a building and shooting does not get you to your goal. Furthermore, you need to eat and drink.
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The battles are tactical. Stealth is required, and it’s best to use a scope to spot enemies from afar. The environment must be taken into account. Who could be hiding where? Where could you take cover? Since every hit can mean the death of your character, it’s important to think carefully about your next step.
You should always communicate with your team and plan every action carefully. Your own skill plays a greater role in aiming and hitting than the skills, which only provide a small boost.
Modification
The mods for your equipment – especially for the weapons – are enormously diverse. It is possible to customize every weapon. And this applies not only to its appearance but also its function. Which suppressor do you want to use? Which barrel is suitable? This can affect the physically accurate ballistic calculations of the projectiles, which also impacts your hit probability or the overheating of the weapons.
The developers of Escape from Tarkov want your weapons to become a part of your character. You should be able to identify with your weapons just as you do with your character. The weapons have been modeled as closely to the originals as possible, and the team even enlisted the help of a military expert.
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Escape from Tarkov is not a classic shooter where your personal skill with mouse and keyboard decides the outcome. There are plenty of skills that you can improve over time through use. However, not to the extent seen in MMORPGs. You cannot suddenly become significantly better with a rifle just because you increased that skill. Skills are meant to provide small support and show you that you have learned something.
Additionally, you will also lose your skills if you do not use them for a while. If you want to learn them again, it will happen much faster. Skills exist in various categories:
Physical – These skills increase your health points or endurance slightly
Mental – Abilities like attention and stress resistance can be found here
Combat – Here you increase skills for various weapons and also handling grenades, etc.
Practical – How well you can trade, hack, move stealthily, or pick locks is determined in this category
Special – Here you will find skills that specifically apply to members of individual factions
Trade
Trading plays an important role in Escape from Tarkov. Traders are both NPCs and players themselves. Anything you find in the game areas that you don’t need can be sold to these traders. Or you can browse their inventory to find a better weapon. Depending on how you interact with the traders, they will offer you better or worse prices.
If you are a trader, then other players will buy from you. In doing so, you must ensure that you always have a large selection and offer fair prices. Otherwise, other players will look for alternatives. There is also a separate flea market for trading. Your trading skills determine how well you can sell or buy goods.
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A base is important because it’s where you retreat to rest and store your loot. Your hideout starts as nothing more than an old bunker. You gradually expand it over time to gain access to fresh water through a water purification system or to produce bandages in a medical station. Additionally, the warehouse is important to hide equipment in case you expire and your body is looted.
At workbenches, you craft ammunition and modify your weapons. Depending on which modules you use to expand your base, you gain certain bonuses. You can find/unlock modules during your adventures. However, it is necessary to keep the base running, for example, with a power generator for which you need to keep finding gasoline.
How can you start and play Escape from Tarkov now?
As you can see, Escape from Tarkov is a complex game. The developers are deliberately targeting players seeking a hardcore experience with great challenges. However, it should also be possible for beginners to join in. The team is currently planning special beginner servers. Additionally, the skills do not have a particularly large impact on the character, allowing a newcomer to hold their own against a veteran.
If you are looking for a game that challenges you more than PUBG or Overwatch, then you should keep Escape from Tarkov in mind.
The game is still in beta, and many of the features mentioned are not yet implemented. This includes player trading, the base, poisoning, and so on. In our preview, we of course covered the entire game as it is intended to be in its final state and not just the current state of the beta.
You can already participate by purchasing a preorder package with access to the beta through the shop. The game’s release is currently only planned for PC. Depending on how the soon-to-start open beta progresses, we might expect an official launch in 2018. The online military shooter adopts a Buy2Play model. The developers do not believe in Pay2Win and Free2Play.
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When the failed 1.0 version of Final Fantasy XIV (PC, PS4) was taken offline five years ago, hardly anyone expected that the game would develop into one of the strongest subscription-based MMORPGs on the market by early 2018. Revenues are higher than ever, and the numbers of active players are slowly but steadily increasing.
However, the critical voices from the community have long complained about the lulls between individual content patches and their repetitive content. Will the developers be able to address this criticism in the coming year? What are director and producer Naoki Yoshida and his crew planning for the future of Final Fantasy XIV in 2018?
2017 – The Year of Records for Final Fantasy XIV
The year 2017 started with a bang for FFXIV: At the beginning of February, the MMORPG took home two Guinness World Records at the Fan Festival in Frankfurt. Square Enix continued to build up the hype for the upcoming expansion “Stormblood” until it was released in June, catapulting the number of active players to its highest level since the release of “A Realm Reborn”.
But FFXIV was also doing excellently in other areas:
The concert “Eorzean Symphony” was completely sold out.
After the success of the restaurant “Eorzea Café” in Tokyo, another café opened in Osaka in 2017.
Moreover, the Japanese TV series “Father of Light”, which was localized in Germany by Netflix and is themed around FFXIV, quickly became a hidden gem among fans.
The Updates in Stormblood
With the launch of “Stormblood”, the developers also addressed various criticisms that had been repeatedly raised by the community.
Raid Content for Everyone, Hardcore and Casual
The difficulty of the epic raids was slightly lowered to accommodate the request of midcore players. The goal was to make it easier to get into raiding and to introduce a third difficulty level between hardcore and casual content.
At the same time, the development team released the first ultimate fight “Endless Shadows of Bahamut” in October, which was meant to satisfy the hardcore audience, which it indeed did. Raider Layla Bell, who already has two World First kills under her belt, wrote on her Twitter: “This is the best fight I’ve ever done”.
Other players from the raider community have praised the fight for its high fun factor, and FFXIV briefly landed in the Top 10 of the most-watched content on Twitch thanks to the Endless Shadows.
Overhaul of the PvP System
PvP enthusiasts were also not overlooked in the expansion. In Stormblood, the PvP mode received a tailored skill system, with the number of skills drastically reduced compared to PvE to make it easier for new players to get started and to implement balance adjustments more quickly.
In September, “Rival Wings” was introduced, a new PvP mode for 48 players, strongly reminiscent of modern MOBAs. Despite obvious balance issues, the mode quickly gained popularity, especially among Japanese players.
Community Criticism of Final Fantasy XIV
However, despite all the positive feedback and improvements in Stormblood, there have been continuous critical voices among players.
Players also complain about the lulls that begin about a month before the release of the next patch, as they feel there’s not enough content to bridge that time.
Additionally, the steep gear progression curve, which renders equipment nearly useless about six months after release, has been repeatedly criticized by players. This issue has existed since the launch of “A Realm Reborn”, but developers have not yet properly addressed or tackled it.
“Never Change a Running System?” – Near and Distant Future of Final Fantasy XIV
Do Naoki Yoshida and the team plan to address the “chronic issues” of the game in 2018?
For the year, Square Enix has big plans for FFXIV, and the feedback from the community plays a significant role in that. Content Patch 4.2 is already coming at the end of January, bringing, in addition to the usual contents, especially:
A complete overhaul of the projection system
Expansion of the inventory
Balance changes for jobs like Black Mage and Monk
Group ranking in PvP and adjustments to the “FEAST” mode
All important updates that players have been waiting for a long time.
To combat the monotony of patches, the long-delayed “Forbidden Land Eureka,” which according to Yoshida is content “that has never existed in the game before” will finally be released with the 4.2x patch series. The details have so far been kept well under wraps and will only be revealed in the next producer letter on January 19.
The community’s wish for difficult 4-man content is also expected to be fulfilled in 2018, as well as cross-server features.
Additionally, official PvP tournaments, the next ultimate raid, the assistant app, new PvP maps, balance changes, and much more will be introduced.
Most importantly, however, is the announcement of a fan festival in the USA on November 15, 2018. This was an important piece of news, as fan festivals have always been accompanied by the announcement of a new expansion.
The community can thus look forward to what the developer team has in store for them in 2018, or to put it in Yoshida’s words: “Please look forward to it!”
About the author: I am Echo Mirage: raider, crafter, and community person who has been active in FFXIV for over 5 years. In the German community, some may know me from the Facebook fan page Eorzea 24/7, where I post daily news, fan art, memes, and more and regularly organize fan gatherings for players from the Berlin and Frankfurt area.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
It is a frequently asked question: What happens to the artifact weapons in WoW: Legion when the addon comes to an end. A newly found cutscene now gives insight into the fate of the historic weapons.
With Antorus, the Burning Throne, the last raid for WoW: Legion has arrived. With Argus, the Unmaker, the last boss of the addon has fallen. This marks the end of the Legion expansion: Data miners have now discovered a cutscene that provides hints about the fate of the artifact weapons.
Spoiler warning! If you do not want to find out what happens after Argus falls and what happens to the artifact weapons after Antorus, you should not continue reading!
The fate of the artifact weapons as vessels for dark energy
Once you have defeated Argus, the Unmaker in Antorus, you will see a cinematic. In this, Sargeras plunges his gigantic sword into Azeroth in a final act of wrath, specifically in Silithus, where it creates a massive wound.
This sword is now gradually poisoning the lifeblood of the Titan Azeroth through Sargeras’ power and thus threatens to destroy the planet. To prevent this, Magni calls upon you aboard an airship to absorb the power of the dark titan and render it harmless.
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To avert the damage, the champions of Azeroth must together contain the sinister energy in vessels that can withstand the power – the artifact weapons. With united forces, they finally succeed in absorbing the power.
The weapons are (still) not destroyed. Most of the artifact bearers are still standing at the end of the cutscene, holding their weapons in their hands. However, the weapons are probably corrupted afterwards…
Since this is datamining, please note: The cutscene is currently not complete, some voice lines are missing, and the scene can be changed at any time before the release of Patch 7.3.5!
If you enjoy battle royale games like PUBG but currently have no cash for purchasing the game or a new computer, there’s a quick alternative. BRUH.io is free, has retro charm, and runs in the browser!
Fans of high-end graphics will probably be horrified by BRUH.io’s pixel aesthetics. For everyone else, it presents a pleasantly simple game of rough pixels that doesn’t require extensive instructions. A handful of keys are explained, then you choose a server and one of eight skins: Boom, you can jump in without registration.
However, registration is necessary for those who want to save their progress and compare their high scores with others.
An eternal cycle
When your game is running on the chosen server, you start as a ghost. You can walk around observing, passively participating in the rest of the skirmish. You also become a ghost when you die in BRUH.io.
When the next game starts, you are automatically added and herded together with opponents into a hall where you can practice shooting. Then, finally, it begins and you spawn in a random location on the map.
From now on, the goal is to quickly take out enemies and be on guard because the enemy can lurk anywhere! In the end, there can only be one: the “Last Man Standing”!
Although you start with a mundane pistol, you can equip yourself with better weapons scattered on the street in BRUH.io. There are 12 different guns in the game, and whether it’s a rifle, shotgun, or sniper, each weapon has different advantages. The shotgun deals more damage, the sniper increases visibility, and others have a higher fire rate. Also, med kits are available along the way.
No, BRUH.io is not complicated or demanding – and it doesn’t aim to be. While you can somewhat deduce where someone is based on the gun sounds, those who remain in motion and cleverly hide behind cover will have an advantage. However, extensive tactical understanding is not required.
It’s about quick fun in between. This is reflected in the short matches that last five to seven minutes. The brevity is enforced by the map shrinking over time. Moreover, the map is filled with so many beautiful details that it’s worth just looking around. I’m waiting for the Easter edition…
BRUH.io in numbers
Since its launch at the end of December 2017, BRUH.io has recorded the following data (as of 06.01.2018):
Games played: 3,037,528
Kills: 2,510,125
Shots fired: 146,358,112
Players who died from gas: 272,508
Registered player with the most kills: User “fractal” with 1,485 wins, 8,667 kills and a win rate of 41%
The developers see themselves as hobbyists, as revealed by the Twitter profile of Sam Stiles. He also has a clear answer to the question of why the game is called BRUH: “Bruh is a silly word that I just like!” Simple. Just like the game itself.
