It’s a celebratory time at SWTOR. As a thank you, players receive 2 expansions of the MMORPG for free!
In the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, there is again a reason to celebrate – and the players benefit from it. The developers show their generosity and are giving away two expansions for free to the player base.
All players can get the first two expansions of SWTOR for free – “Rise of the Hutt Cartel” and “Shadow of Revan.” The stories tell of the sprawling conflict between the Empire and the Republic, culminating on Makeb. However, shortly after, the Revanites reappear and seem to have brought their master back to life.
Unlocking the two expansions is incredibly simple. You just need to visit the official SWTOR site (link to code entry), log in with your game account, and enter the code “REVANRETURNS“.
If you also want to snag a cool swoop bike, enter the code “KOTORSPEEDER” on the same site afterwards.
“Rise of the Hutt Cartel” and “Shadow of Revan” for free
The reason for this generous action is the release of the classic game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox One. The classic game from 2003 was re-released today, on October 24, 2017, in the Xbox store.
Also new are several offers in the SWTOR cartel market. The clothing items reminiscent of the heroes and enemies of the original KOTOR are available in the shop for 2 weeks again. So if you want to get the cool armors of Revan or Darth Malak, you can now spend your cartel coins in the shop.
However, you shouldn’t take too much time to decide. Because both codes are only valid until November 6.
If you haven’t checked back into SWTOR for a long time, you should take advantage of this offer.
Today, Destiny 2 is coming to PC and I, Leya, am looking forward to it – even if some console players are currently advising against buying it.
When Destiny 1 was released in 2014, I didn’t have a PlayStation 4 yet. I played my games on PC and had little reason to buy a PS4 – but Destiny always intrigued me.
Back then, I was still a student with a small budget and found the idea absurd to buy a console just for a single game. My computer was sufficient, and there were plenty of other cool games.
I marked Destiny off my list – it just wasn’t meant to be.
I came too late to Destiny 1 – the train left in 2017…
In 2016, I started working as a freelance writer for Mein MMO and was earning a living. A few months ago, I decided to finally get myself a PS4.
Because even though I am a PC gamer at heart, I can appreciate consoles a lot: comfortably lying on the couch with the controller, my cat purring curled up next to me, playing my games on the big TV – that has its charm.
I got Destiny 1 and downloaded the online shooter in 2017. I quickly realized that the train had left for me… All Guardians had long been in endgame content and had reached the maximum level multiple times. I could hardly find players who were still as inexperienced as I was.
However, I enjoyed the incredibly smooth and wonderful gunplay! The story campaign was enough for me to finally understand why players love their Destiny so much. Yes, the gunplay was as good as everyone said and the atmosphere was captivating.
After about 20 hours of play, I marked Destiny off my list again – it was a short but beautiful time.
The Announcement: Destiny 2 is coming to PC – Finally!
Then came the announcement: Destiny 2 will also be released on PC! Finally, my chance to fully immerse myself in the Destiny universe and enjoy the complete Guardian experience on my favorite platform!
The gunplay still felt as wonderful as on the console and was perfectly tailored for PC.
The graphics amazed me: the high frame rate and high resolution made even every little water droplet come alive.
I could play Destiny with keyboard and mouse! On PC, I feel right at home.
My anticipation rose.
Tears flood the Destiny community – but I don’t care
But in recent weeks, bitter reports from console players have surfaced everywhere. Destiny 2 is much worse than Destiny 1 and would not offer any content after 40-60 hours.
Some PC players are now developing skepticism about whether they should even buy and play Destiny 2. Some console players even advise PC players against Destiny 2.
But I damn don’t care!
I’ve wanted to play Destiny on PC for almost three years now. My friends, who are PC players, will join me in battle as Guardians.
If Destiny 2 can give me a good time for 60-80 hours and I can enjoy the content until then, I will be happy.
I was never in the endgame of Destiny 1 and cannot make a comparison – similarly, many PC players will feel the same. I simply don’t want to let the bitter reports from console players drive me crazy and I won’t do that.
This evening I will start Destiny 2 as soon as the servers are online. My biggest concern right now is that the servers will hold up. Because I am planning a livestream where you can witness my first steps in the PC full version of Destiny 2. We will embed the stream here.
Otherwise, I am still full of anticipation and am looking forward to the full Destiny 2 experience on PC.
Today, on October 24, Destiny 2 launches on PC! From 7:00 PM players will be able to arm themselves with their keyboard and mouse to become a new Guardian of Light. Including me, Leya, and I warmly invite you to follow my first steps on PC in Destiny 2 live.
It could of course happen that I might get stuck in the queue longer or that the servers could crash – after all, it is a launch! If significant crashes occur and Destiny 2 becomes unplayable as a result, we will switch to another game as a back-up: Warframe.
The stream starts at 7:15 PM and is embedded below. You can read why I am looking forward to Destiny 2 on PC under the stream.
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The upcoming MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar will receive an automap created by one of the fans.
For a long time, the developers of the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar resisted the implementation of an automap. Originally, players were supposed to navigate using in-game maps that could either be found or purchased. These maps were only meant to represent the general area and not show the player’s actual location or where merchants and quest givers are.
Automap system aims to simplify navigation
The plan has since changed. Because it is very difficult to navigate in the game world. A fan of the online game created a map called “SotAMap”, which marks all important locations in each area.
The development studio integrated this map system a few months ago as a rudimentary automap system. But now, SotAMap has been purchased from the creator to customize it to the game and keep it regularly updated.
Automap is continually expanding
New features are already planned for the future. Merchants and quest givers are expected to appear on the automap, making it significantly easier to navigate, especially in the winding cities. Those who do not wish to use the automap function can simply turn it off. However, the system is a great relief for everyone who wants to know where they are and where they need to go.
Warframe, the loot shooter from Digital Extremes, has always been a game that teases a lot of story but probably never expands much on it. That changed dramatically when I took on the quest “The Second Dream”!
Warning: The text contains major spoilers about the story of Warframe!
Warframe and the first Destiny have quite a bit in common: Both games feature heroes in futuristic suits, blasting aliens and mutants with all kinds of weapons while chasing after new loot. And both games take place in a universe that hints at a lot of story but tells very little of it.
Space Ninjas without Faces
That was how it felt to me. When I first tried Warframe back in 2013 – then still an intern – I thought, “Wow, everything looks so cool and these weird, degenerate clone minions must have an amazing story!”
Then came the appearance of my Warframe, and I was even more thrilled. What is the deal with these bizarre yet somehow cool combat suits?
Why do the “Frames” all look rather organic even though they are clearly of artificial origin and contain metal and plastic parts? And what actually is a Tenno? Am I a person sitting in there? Why do I never see “myself” and why do I change genders with the suit? Some of the Warframes clearly had a male or female figure. Are the Warframes actually not suits?
More Questions than Answers
But unfortunately, almost nothing is explained. Instead, the mysterious female voice Lotus and the onboard computer Ordis constantly feed me cryptic snippets of story. This raises even more questions, such as what “Sentients” are supposed to be or who the hell the Orokin were.
This ancient civilization was supposed to have created the Tenno before it fell and the Tenno along with Warframes were buried somewhere. But by whom and why? And who were the Orokin at all, whose beautiful and frighteningly clean structures hover in a kind of interdimensional space called the “Void”?
Where Is the Story?
I played longer and traversed several planets in search of loot, but also for the story, for the meaning behind all this grind. But after countless hours in the game, there came a disillusionment: “Okay, nothing more is coming, the grind is just everything and the world is just a backdrop!”
Disappointed, I left Warframe behind for a while and only occasionally let my buddy convince me to take another look. Such a point was reached again when the Open World Update Plains of Eidolon was announced, and I had to play the game again for professional reasons.
The Quest That Was Supposed to Change Everything …
When I returned to the game after a long absence, I could already see that there were a lot of quests in the Codex. I found tasks that were supposed to earn me a Kubrow space dog and quests to obtain a kind of space jetpack called ArcWing.
And then there was the quest “The Second Dream”, which my buddy highly recommended but stubbornly refused to reveal any details about.
He said it was just too amazing, you had to experience it for yourself! So I got to work, unlocked all the necessary prerequisites, and started with the preceding quest “Natah”. What the heck is a “Natah” supposed to be?
The Awakening from the Second Dream – Warning Spoilers!
During the Natah quest, which started off quite generically, I suddenly encountered something completely new, a kind of probe. The thing was harmless in itself, but Lotus, the ever-present voice in the background and mentor of all Tenno, suddenly vanished! Something had chased her away, and in her place was a weird guy named Tenshin, who wanted to convince me that Lotus had been lying to me all along.
Eventually, Lotus returned and turned out to be a representative of the mysterious Sentients, the former arch-enemies of the Tenno! But instead of annihilating the Tenno and their Warframes, she switched sides and helped them survive. However, she first kept me in the dark about more information. But then there was the follow-up quest “The Second Dream” …
Showdown on the Moon – Spoileroo!
Natah brought the long-drifting story of Warframe quite a leap forward, but what was to come in “The Second Dream” was absolutely unpredictable! It started with the mysterious Stalker, a kind of “evil Warframe” that occasionally appears in the game as an unexpected miniboss, making an appearance in a cool cutscene. He now seems to work for the Sentients and knows some terrible secret to annihilate the Tenno.
A cool quest series followed, sending me into the Void, where in one mission, the Earth’s moon suddenly appeared! The severely mangled satellite had presumably been hidden by Lotus for centuries. But why? After some more tough battles, I finally managed to fight my way into the center of the moon and witnessed in another cutscene how a cryo-pod released a delicate, humanoid figure in a kind of space suit.
Shortly thereafter, I was attacked by the already familiar drones of the Sentients and had to retreat to the ship with the unknown figure in my arms while swarms of Sentients fell upon me!
The Truth About the Tenno! – Still more Spoilers!
Back on the ship, a spectacular showdown with the Stalker occurred, and in the end, I could finally place the still unknown humanoid figure in a hitherto unreachable part of my ship in a kind of throne.
Then the space suit opened, and what followed: A character editor!
I really didn’t expect that, because behind the mysterious, rescued person was the true self of my Tenno! The Warframes are not just suits; they are living beings! They exist only in telepathic symbiosis with the “Operator”, the young human I was just putting together in the surprisingly diverse editor.
A New Face for Warframe – Still Spoilers
I can even customize the voice and clothes of the Operator, even though he just sits in his throne and does nothing. The whole thing is accompanied by atmospheric music. As if in a trance, I spent nearly an hour tinkering with the Operator until an androgynous figure with purple hair and a kind of mechanical laurel crown was sitting on the throne.
Now the term Tenno, actually a title of the Japanese emperors, finally makes sense. As my Operator sits still on the throne, it really resembles a divine ruler!
Afterward, for the first time, Lotus herself appeared and explained some background information. Finally, I could ask questions myself and heard the voice of my character. Finally, I got answers! And finally, I know that Warframe is not just a fun, continuous grinding game with space ninjas.
The Story Continues!
With the awakening from the Second Dream, even more questions arise. But now I know that Digital Extremes has actually thought something through and wants to bring more story quests. I can hardly wait for the continuation of the story in the yet-to-be-played “War Within” and in the upcoming quests.
For me, after the Second Dream, Warframe is no longer the same game. Rather, it finally feels complete, just like my Tenno is now finally whole with Warframe and Operator in one place.
How did you feel about your awakening from the Second Dream? Was it such a big revelation for you too, or did you already suspect all this beforehand?
Changes to the secret Gear Sets in The Division are coming soon. They drop far too rarely.
The secret Gear, known as “Classified Gear,” was introduced with Update 1.7 and has since been highly sought after by agents. These items represent the best armor pieces in the game, as they provide not only additional bonuses but also higher attributes than any other armor pieces.
The most efficient way to obtain secret Gear Sets is through Global Events. During an event, you can specifically farm Global Event Credits and use them to open special containers that may contain secret Gear Sets. If you play a lot during the Global Event week, you’ll collect some of the coveted items.
If you don’t have time during this event week or only manage to get a few set pieces, you can still get them after the event. After that, the sets move into the general loot pool. However: After a Global Event, the chances of obtaining secret Gear Sets are significantly lower.
And here lies a larger problem: Over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to acquire the specific secret armor piece you desire.
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The YouTuber and Division expert MarcoStyle has conducted calculations on the drop probabilities of secret armor pieces.
First: The chances of obtaining Classified Gear from containers are at 1% and as a drop from named bosses at 3%. In the following calculations, the 3% chance has been used as the basis.
The first Global Event in August introduced the first three secret Gear Sets: DeadEYE, Final Measure, and Lone Star. Assuming you were still missing the secret “Final Measure” gloves for your build after the event, you had a 0.167% chance that this specific item would drop from a boss kill.
Why is that? There is only a 3% chance that any Classified item drops. After the first Global Event, this could have been DeadEYE, Final Measure, or Lone Star, and from each set, it could be the backpack, mask, knee pads, chest piece, holster, or gloves. So, the chance to obtain the “Final Measure” gloves was already extremely low back then.
However, the second Global Event is now over, which introduced three new secret Gear Sets. These also entered the loot pool with the 3% chance. This means that while there are now more secret Gear Set pieces in the loot pool, the likelihood of obtaining the desired item is significantly lower.
For example: If you still want the “Final Measure” gloves, the current chance is at 0.083% (upon a boss kill).
But that’s not the end. In the future, two more Global Events are scheduled, each of which – according to the current information from the PTS – will bring four new secret Gear Sets directly.
Once all 14 secret Gear Sets are in the game, the chances of getting the “Final Measure” gloves will be 0.036% (upon a boss kill):
In other words: You have to kill an average of 2778 named enemies to obtain the desired item. Or to put that into perspective in terms of performance crates: You need to open an average of 8333 crates to get the desired item.
How are the developers responding to this problem?
These calculations show that it’s currently not worth farming secret Gear Sets from named bosses – and it will be even less worthwhile in the future. Other ways to obtain Classified Gear must come soon when there isn’t a Global Event running.
There have already been announcements from the developers: There will be “Classified Caches” as rewards through the new game modes Skirmish and Resistance. These containers will then guarantee secret items. And if you are in the Dark Zone, you can also earn crates that drop Exotics and Classified items.
It is clear: New ways to obtain secret items are coming. However, this does not change the fact that the chances are so low with the named bosses.
Possible changes could be:
Increasing the drop chance for bosses. When three secret Gear Sets were in the loot pool, the chance was 3%. If 14 are in the loot pool, the chance should be 14%. However, this could lead to there being too many secret Gear Set pieces.
A token system could also be possible: You receive tokens from boss drops that you can then exchange for the desired items. However, a look at Destiny 2 shows that players don’t want tokens as loot, but rather items directly. After all, it’s more exciting to extract a perfectly rolled item in the Dark Zone than a token.
Or: Implement an option that only specific Gear Sets can drop in the game. If you still need the “Final Measure” gloves, you could set it so that only the Gear Sets from Global Event 1 are in the loot pool.
We will see if the developers will respond to these low drop chances. What solution do you propose?
Developers are making a fortune with loot boxes. That is why developer studios are now being restructured.
Manveer Heir has now been in the video game industry for 12 years. He worked as a developer on Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Wolfenstein, among others. A few days ago he gave an interview on the Waypoint podcast (link in the sources) and spoke very little positively about Electronic Arts.
EA just announced that Visceral Studios is being closed. The developers have been known in recent years primarily for the “Dead Space” series – outstanding horror shooters. Most recently, Visceral was working on a “Star Wars” game, a more linear single-player title.
Open World and Multiplayer for More Profit
In an official statement, EA explained that the game will now be developed by another studio and that the direction of the development is changing. They want to “create an experience where players will keep coming back for a long time”.
According to Heir, this means in plain language: The game is to become “Open World” and probably also have a multiplayer mode. Because that can be marketed better in the long term.
This corporate policy is also the reason why games are increasingly being forced to include a multiplayer mode. BioWare, in particular, has always been known for its strong single-player titles, such as the “Mass Effect” or “Dragon Age” series. These games have received a multiplayer mode and a (more or less) open world. But this did not happen because fans wanted it, but because it can generate long-term revenue.
“EA is not concerned with what players really want – EA is only concerned with what players are willing to pay for. Those are not necessarily the same things.”
And it goes without saying that players are willing to pay for it. Although most “casual players” cannot imagine it, Heir recounts individual users who have spent more than $15,000 on “loot boxes” for the multiplayer of Mass Effect 3. These boxes contain weapons, power-ups, or cosmetic options for the characters.
EA Restructures the Studios
Next, he mentions Anthem, the multiplayer shooter currently in development at BioWare. This is anything but a typical BioWare game, which is actually known for compelling single-player titles. “What this means is that linear single-player AAA titles are currently dead for EA.”
However, Heir also provides reassurance here as he states: “Twelve years ago, there was once this trend to focus more on Open World.” And there will always be developers who will fill the niche, leading to the birth of new single-player studios.
The upcoming mobile MMO Lineage 2 Revolution offers an exciting game mode for PvP enthusiasts called Fortress Siege. In it, two clans battle for a fortress. A round of Fortress Siege was shown live at Twitch Con 2017.
Lineage 2 Revolution shares not only the name with the successful online role-playing game from Korea. The game also looks and plays like a modern PC title. Only, it is not a PC game, but a mobile game!
Lineage 2 Revolution is by no means a small mobile game for a quick play session. Rather, the game is immensely successful in Asia and is expected to be released here soon. Then you can participate in game modes such as Fortress Siege.
Clan vs. Clan PvP for global buffs
In addition to PvE like quests, dungeons, and raids, there is PvP in Lineage 2 Revolution. And quite a lot of it. If you enjoy large battles, you can throw yourself into the game mode Fortress Siege with your clan. Clans apply every week to participate in the fights for the coveted fortresses.
Afterward, the chosen clans fight in the Fortress Siege mode for control of a fortress. Since clans can have up to 50 players, around 100 players can participate in the battle in total. The winning clan gains control of the castle and receives global bonuses for a week. Then the battle for the control of the castles starts again.
Gameplay from the 30-vs-30 Clan Siege Battle at Twitch Con 2017
How such an epic mass slaughter unfolds was showcased at the Twitch Con 2017. There, 30 players, led by famous streamers like Disguised Toast, competed to capture the fortress. For this, the leader of the respective faction had to conquer the enemy altar.
This altar is located – as in a MOBA – behind gates and defensive towers that must be overcome first. Each side has such fortifications, and in the center of the symmetrical playing field are buff stations that provide either a damage buff or enhanced healing.
Respawns – The more you die, the longer you are dead
Clever teams incorporate these buffs into their tactics, as this is the only way to effectively overcome enemy troops and towers. In the battle, players can die as often as they want, but those who die more than 10 times must wait longer for respawn.
Absolute permadeath players can wait a maximum of 60 seconds for respawn, a very long time in a fast-paced MMO like Lineage 2 Revolution!
Castle Sieges are even bigger!
The Fortress Sieges are by the way not the largest PvP event in Lineage 2 Revolution. In the even mightier Castle Sieges, up to 200 players enter the battle.
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Anyone who wants to see the quality of the gameplay of Lineage 2 Revolution for themselves will have to wait until November 15th. Then the game will be released here on Android and iOS.
On the streaming platform TwitchTV, there are now emotes from Halloween boxes. However, most of the content disappears after a short time.
The loot box madness continues beyond your favorite games. We know the box principle from shooters like CS:GO and Overwatch, but also from games like League of Legends or Hearthstone: Buy a box (and/or a key for it), open it, and enjoy contents that are “maybe” valuable.
Those who now use the cheer function on TwitchTV can earn some special emotes like the Zombie Kappa. However, most are only temporary. There are even duplicates. In the community, this feature causes heated discussions.
6 temporary emotes and Zombie Lord Kappa
We are making great strides toward Halloween. Instead of candy, the TwitchTV platform provides us with boxes containing uncertain content.
From now on, you can get the Halloween boxes on Twitch.TV until November 3rd. They are available when you use the cheer function on streaming channels. “Cheering” is a type of tip function to support streamers. A portion of the money goes to Twitch.
If you spend at least 250 bits (about €3.50) in a cheer, you unlock a Halloween box.
What’s in the box? In the Halloween box, there is one of a total of six temporary Zombie emotes. If you collect all six temporary Zombie emotes, you unlock the Zombie Lord Kappa – and only that one stays forever.
So I just have to buy 6 boxes, right?
Unfortunately, with the box principle, TwitchTV also adopted the aftertaste of the system. There is no guarantee that you will get a new emote per box. It is possible that you receive an emote multiple times and therefore need to buy more than six boxes to permanently unlock the Zombie Lord Kappa.
You must spend at least 1500 bits to receive the six temporary emotes that then unlock the permanent Zombie Lord Kappa.
Only one emote per cheer! No matter how valuable – Q&A
In the Q&A, the team answers important questions, which we summarize here:
The event with the Halloween boxes runs until November 3rd at 11:59 PM PDT (November 4th 07:59 AM German time).
Streamers receive the same percentages through the bits as before the event.
You earn a box when you cheer at least 250 bits.
Stacking is not possible. 125 bits now and 125 bits tomorrow do not count as a total. Only individual cheers worth at least 250 bits qualify for a box.
Cheers of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, or more bits do not grant you multiple boxes. There is a maximum of one box per cheer.
Anyone who spends 5000 bits or more in a single cheer instantly unlocks the Zombie Lord Kappa. This corresponds to a bit purchase price of €65.83!
There is a “low” chance that you will receive duplicates. You can thus receive the same emote from two different boxes. Essentially a dud.
The emotes only last until the end of 2017. After that, all but the Zombie Lord Kappa will disappear.
Boxes received can be found in your Twitch inventory at twitch.tv/inventory.
Anyone who wants to top up their bits can buy them at Bits.twitch.tv.
On Reddit, the community reacts negatively to the new feature. “Don’t bring RNG gambling loot boxes to Twitch,” writes user SteveBobSamuel in the Twitch subreddit. However, many see the problem not directly in the loot box function, but with the luck factor.
The cheer function has been available on Twitch for over a year, and many viewers use it to give tips to their favorite streamers. For this group of viewers, it’s simply an added bonus, as they already buy and spend bits.
Problems arise for viewers who want to unlock a permanent emote. Reddit user zeromussc writes: “The fact that you need all six temporary emotes to unlock a permanent emote is annoying. Otherwise, I think it’s fair.”
For TwitchTV viewers who frequently use the cheer function, the box system is a nice addition. However, anyone who desperately wants to unlock a new, permanent emote will feel the similarity to the known loot box principle with its random factor.
What do you think of the feature?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Battle.net launcher has been expanded with numerous features in recent days. Among them are gifts!
At Blizzard, the goal is to connect players more closely through more social interaction opportunities. Because those who have many friends in the Battle.net games will surely spend more time there – a clear plus for Blizzard.
The biggest change is the introduction of a new tab in the app. The “Social” section, in German software called “Chats”, offers numerous new possibilities to stay in touch with friends even outside of the games. If desired, one can create their own groups with up to several hundred members.
For each group, different chats can be set up, with accessibility determined individually for each player.
Moderation rights can also be distributed if the groups are to be more than just a loose gathering of friends.
Those who wish can also join the corresponding chat channels with a headset, as it is also suitable for voice chat.
Additional customization options, such as a wide selection of profile pictures, complete the feature.
Overall, it can be said that Battle.net now has similar features to the Discord software – the best characteristics have been adopted.
Be “offline” and still play
If you just want to casually play without social contacts, you previously had to forgo your Battle.net games. Now there’s a possibility to make yourself “invisible” on Battle.net, appearing as “offline” even while being in the software and the corresponding games. We have explained how you can be invisible in Battle.net in this post.
Good friends give a loot box
One of the best features is probably the ability to now gift games and in-game items (like shop pets) directly to friends through the launcher. Someone has a birthday or deserves a small sign of appreciation? Then you can directly gift them playtime in WoW, loot boxes in Overwatch, or card packs in Hearthstone. Received gifts are then practically displayed directly in the launcher and can be easily redeemed.
To promote the new feature, every user of the app receives a free classic card pack from Hearthstone, which can be picked up in the “Gifts” menu with just a few clicks.
However, there is also criticism: Character services in World of Warcraft, such as server transfers or faction changes, still cannot be gifted to fellow players.
What do you think of the new features of the Battle.net app? Is it a cool thing, or do you only use Discord and TeamSpeak, making this unnecessary ballast?
What would an honest PC launch trailer for Destiny 2 look like? Like this!
A week ago, Bungie released the official launch trailer for the PC version of Destiny 2. Such launch trailers are fundamentally meant to persuade undecided players to purchase the game by tantalizing them with action-packed scenes and bombastic music.
All of this applies to the PC trailer of Destiny 2 as well. Furthermore, it lists grandiloquent quotes from various magazines that want to put Destiny 2 in a particularly good light. Thus, the MMO shooter is referred to as “the biggest shooter of the year,” “a technical marvel on PC,” or “the best PC game of E3 2017.”
Many Guardians agreed after seeing this trailer: “Awesome trailer that really delivers!” But: Is the trailer also “honest”?
This question was explored by the YouTube channel Cross Coast Gaming, which created an “honest PC trailer” for Destiny 2. It is currently spreading in the Destiny forums. We embed it here for you:
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This honest trailer amusingly summarizes some criticisms of Destiny 2:
It starts by stating that you will spend over 170 dollars on the game over the course of Destiny 2 – for expansions and microtransactions. Because if you only buy the launch version, you won’t experience the full Destiny 2 experience of the coming months and years.
You fight against the same enemy races in Destiny 2 as in Destiny 1. Only this time there are alien dogs (the war beasts of the Cabal).
The Arcstrider is basically just a Blade Dancer with a staff – so a pole dancer.
The player count in PvP matches was not doubled, not tripled, but reduced!
Console players only have 30 FPS.
You can quickly switch from one activity to another via the Director without having to go into orbit. If you want to go from the raid to the Crucible, you just have to kick two of your friends that you like the least.
A few more things are criticized, but in the end, the conclusion is drawn: Destiny 2 is “Destiny with 2 team members less in the Crucible.”
This trailer is currently very well received in the English-speaking community. It is described as “fantastic.” However, one user also writes that he laughed throughout until he realized how sad the video actually is. Do you feel the same way?
The unfortunate shooter Battleborn received one final update before the developers at Gearbox ceased development and published nothing more for the game. Thus, the game has ultimately died a design death, even though the servers are still running for now.
Battleborn started as an ambitious project and was supposed to be the new hit game from the developer Gearbox. In Battleborn, thrilling PvP battles in MOBA style combined with a witty story mode, supported by the typical Gearbox humor. Unfortunately, Battleborn was only briefly successful. As soon as Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch hit the market, player numbers declined and in the end, only about 50 people played the game on average.
But before Battleborn ultimately dies a design death, the developers are releasing one last update. So to speak, the “last meal” of the game. In the final patch, you’ll receive new skins for your heroes. Curiously, they are all inspired by Borderlands, the funny loot shooter by Gearbox. Thus, the crazy chaos witch Orendi gets a Tiny Tina skin. Fitting, considering both characters are voiced by actress Ashly Burch.
Additionally, there are a few new taunts and final bug fixes. For example, damage should better scale with level-ups and adjustments from the game’s upgrade system. Previously, this led to unintended damage spikes in the mid and late game. With the bug fix, the damage should scale a bit more consistently and understandably.
Battleborn Servers Still Online, But For How Long?
With the final patch, the developers see their work done and will not invest any further effort into the game. However, the servers will continue to run for the foreseeable future. So, anyone who still wants to play Battleborn can do so. But don’t expect to find a game quickly. The current average number of active players in the last 30 days on Steam was 54.4.
Battleborn was actually a great game that doesn’t deserve such an end. Read our obituary for Battleborn and mourn. There is also a playlist with cool Battleborn and Borderlands songs there.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
SuperData has published the new figures for the month of September. They show which games generated the most revenue digitally in the past month. At the top is Destiny 2 for consoles, while on PC, League of Legends once again leads the field.
As in every month, you can see from SuperData’s figures which computer games generated the most revenue digitally worldwide.
PC: League of Legends remains the leader, DotA 2 falls off the list
The month of September shows interesting trends on PC.
While League of Legends once again holds the number 1 spot in the PC ranking, the dungeon beat-em-up Dungeon Fighter Online has swapped places with the MMORPG Fantasy Westward Journey 2. The online shooter Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) has moved up to rank 4, while the Chinese Counter-Strike Crossfire has slipped to position 5.
Rank 6 is held by World of Warcraft, just like last month, while rank 7 is once again occupied by World of Tanks.
The highly acclaimed single-player RPG Divinity: Original Sin 2 debuted at position 8 and Overwatch remains true to its place at 9, just like Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) at position 10.
Consoles: Destiny 2 rises to the top, Overwatch drops out
In the consoles, primarily on PS4 and Xbox One, there have been some changes:
FIFA 18, which was only released at the end of September, enters high at position 2.
Rank 3 was held by NBA 2K18 in September.
GTA 5 and FIFA 17 come in at positions 4 and 5.
Blizzard’s Overwatch is no longer in the top 10.
Mobile: Lineage drops, Fantasy Westward Journey leads the list
In mobile games, the list has been shaken up. Position 1 is again held by Fantasy Westward Journey, while Honour of Kings (Arena of Valor in Europe) occupies rank 2. Clash Royale moves up to position 3, followed by Monster Strike at rank 4 and Fate/Grand Order also climbs to position 5.
Following these are the games Candy Crush Saga at position 6, Clash of Clans at rank 7, and Dragon Chronicles at rank 8. Lineage 2 Revolution and Lineage M occupy positions 9 and 10.
Yes, the latest trailer of Battlefront II forthe single-player campaign looks phenomenal: It features an engaging story with diverse characters, impressive graphics and, last but not least, a few gameplay snippets that make you crave for more. Crave for what exactly? Let’s dive deeper into the dark matter together!
You play as Iden Versio, the commander of a special unit with the striking name “Inferno Squad“, who must face her failure during the Battle of Endor. We are in the year 4ABY – the year the return of the Jedi occurs. The year the Empire is defeated.
Blood, sweat, and tears from the Emperor! This is the stuff that first-person shooters in my humble world are made of! Without mercy, the tables are turned and you are thrown headfirst into the fray.
Aspects that I wish for
The threat should be palpable: You hide fearfully behind a barrel when Luke stands tall before you. Short: I want to see Luke from a completely different perspective!
Despair: Not only is the Death Star destroyed, but with it also all hope. The Empire seems crushed and fallen comrades are piling up around you. Short: I want to empathize with the Empire.
Discrepancy: It seems like a battle of David against Goliath, yet it is the torn Rebels who gain the upper hand! Short: I want to see the slap in the face of the Empire!
Characters instead of caricatures: Even the seemingly antagonistic Empire would benefit from a deeper profile with concerns, wishes, and fears. Short: I wish for profound characters with individual motivations.
The fictional backstory
The backstory to the campaign (“Battlefront II: Inferno Squad” by Christie Golden) is still fresh in my memory: It also highlights the antagonistic side of the Star Wars saga, depicting its diversity and creating richness in facets. This novel can serve as a damn good template for achieving depth even in this short campaign (Let’s remember: It’s supposed to last only 5-7 hours).
Star Wars has always been more than just swinging lightsabers and flying X-Wings. It is a fairy tale of good and evil. How nice that now the evil is also given a voice and this trailer hints at making it a real theme.
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Guddy’s conclusion
Admittedly: EA has it easy with me at the moment. I am simply in a Star Wars fever and would likely get goosebumps even from a video of a nose hair trimmer as long as the familiar sounds of John Williams delight my ears. But Battlefront 2 actually has the potential to be solidly liked by me due to its theme upon a sober glance.
The update 5.01 is available for download and installation on PS4. How large is the system software update, what are the patch notes?
If you want to play online on your PS4 this evening, you first need to download a new system software update. This has been available since shortly before 11 AM (October 24).
The update is version 5.01 and is 374.7 MB in size.
The installation may take a few minutes.
Update 5.01 – Patch Notes
The patch notes are straightforward:
The system software update 5.01 improves system performance.
In previous smaller PS4 updates, “stability” was always improved. Now it is the system performance’s turn.
Whether there are additional changes hidden in this update that are not mentioned in the patch notes is currently unknown. While this article is being written, no secret innovations have been discovered in the reddit forum.
In Destiny 2, today, on October 24th, is the Weekly Reset. New activities are coming, such as the Nightfall and the Flashpoint.
First, an important info about the Weekly Reset: Today is the last reset in 2017, taking place at 11 AM. At the end of October, on October 29th, the clocks will shift. In the winter time, the weekly reset will therefore already be at 10 AM – one hour earlier.
Next week could be a bit turbulent regarding times. In the USA, the clocks will shift a week later, on November 5th. However, we will get the calculator out in time to provide you with the correct dates mentioned by Bungie during this time.
Let’s now first look at the weekly reset! What activities are coming?
Nightfall on October 24th on PS4 and Xbox One
As Nightfall this week The Arms Dealer is up.
The modifiers:
Fallen Assault: Abilities recharge faster.
Time Loop: Zero Hour: Mission timer cannot be extended.
The challenges in the Nightfall:
Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
Complete the Nightfall with less than 3 deaths.
Take down a Harvester while fighting Bracus Tynoc.
Flashpoint, Treasure Maps, Meditations, Raid Order
The Flashpoint is on Io. You can master public events there.
Cayde-6 also has treasure maps for Io.
Ikora Rey has the missions from last week available as meditations: Six, Wrath, Sacrilege. Meanwhile, the new missions are live: Unbroken, Vengeance, and Theft.
The affair surrounding Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is making waves that reach the gaming industry as well. One of the most important gaming forums worldwide, NeoGAF, has now closed after allegations of sexual harassment were raised against the site’s head.
“Sexual harassment” is more in the public focus than ever before. Powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been one of the biggest topics on our planet for days. Weinstein is alleged to have sexually harassed actresses in countless cases. More and more allegations are coming to light.
Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
This event is making big waves and reaching more and more people. Because the actresses in Hollywood found the courage to confront such a powerful man, more victims of sexual harassment are finding the strength to go public and say: “I have remained silent until now, but something like this has happened to me too. I was sexually harassed.”
These waves are now reaching the gaming sector as well.
NeoGAF temporarily down
There are allegations against the head of the huge gaming forum NeoGAF, who allegedly sexually harassed a woman during a trip to New Orleans in 2012. The allegations can be found here on Imgur. It is said that he had stood nude in the shower with the woman unsolicited.
As reported by PcGamesN, in the course of this, 11 administrators or moderators from NeoGAF have left to make a statement of solidarity. Many users have also joined their departure.
Currently, NeoGAF is offline, and it is speculated that it may stay that way.
Other gaming forums seeing significant membership growth
PcGamesN notes that other gaming forums are currently seeing a significant increase in members, benefiting from this exodus from NeoGAF.
The NeoGAF forum is one of the most important gaming forums worldwide. Here, the news of the hour is discussed. Industry insiders and developers regularly participate in discussions. One or the other rumor may also have originated from the imagination of a NeoGAF member.
We at Mein-MMO have reported on discussions and information that originated in the NeoGAF forum. Especially regarding Destiny, there were revelations—game director Luke Smith commented there, for example. Leaks about Destiny 2, which later turned out to be true, were also found on NeoGAF.
It is currently unclear whether the story of NeoGAF ends and the forum remains down or if it will open again. The situation is confusing. Moderators are distancing themselves from the head of NeoGAF, and more and more are announcing their withdrawal—users also seem to be leaving the forum in droves.
Whether the forum will open again—perhaps under different leadership—is currently unknown. Allegedly, the head of NeoGAF is preparing a statement.
NeoGAF back – but chaos continues
Update 24.10 10:55: NeoGAF is back. The founder’s statement is available. He denies all blame and describes the allegations as false. You can read the statement in English here.
Essentially, the forum operator holds the difficult political situation of 2017 responsible for the break with the moderators. He wants to focus NeoGAF more on gaming in the future.
Many users express dissatisfaction with the statement and open protest threads or posts. Numerous users are getting banned. Whether NeoGAF will recover from the crisis remains to be seen.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
If you’re looking forward to classic MMORPG adventures, you’re surely keeping an eye on Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. It has now also been confirmed when the Pre-Alpha will begin.
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen aims to bring back the classic MMORPG feel that the Everquest series created. Group adventures are primarily in focus here. On your journey through the vast fantasy world, you will experience many adventures that you will generally only be able to master in a well-coordinated party – just as was the case with Everquest 1.
1,000 Dollar Pre-Alpha comes at Christmas
The developers have talked a lot about the online role-playing game so far, but soon you will also be able to get a picture of it yourself. Because as it has now been announced, the Pre-Alpha will start this year during the Christmas season. A specific date will be announced later, but it is said to be at the end of the year.
Designer Brad McQuaid also participated in a stream about the current version of the MMORPG and shared more about the game while gameplay was shown. Although they want to revive the times of Everquest 1, Pantheon will also offer many modern features such as matchmaking.
Nevertheless, it remains a hardcore MMORPG for groups. With this, the team aims to fill a gap that has appeared in the market. Many MMO fans have reportedly asked for a hardcore group experience and the big games are not fulfilling that wish.
Therefore, according to Brad McQuaid, Pantheon makes sense and will try to fill this gap. The game is also more about the individual stories that players experience in the world and less about a large, predetermined story that everyone must follow. How this will play out, we will likely first learn during the Pre-Alpha.
Some games in Overwatch are pretty short. But only after 3 seconds the decision was already made in this match of our PotGs.
Every week, absurd, exciting, or simply funny moments happen in Overwatch that are often captured in a “Play of the Game”. We searched social media and picked out three special highlights for you. Enjoy our three “Play of the Game” moments of the week in Overwatch!
As McCree, it can be quite challenging to take out many players with the gunslinger. The moment must be timed perfectly; otherwise, the ultimate fails, or an opposing Genji reflects the first shot. Player MrWorldWide impressively demonstrates how to properly reflect shots as Genji.
He not only takes out the opposing McCree but also two more teammates of the gunslinger. And as if that wasn’t shameful enough, Genji then also delivers his voice line “Good aim, McCree” – Ouch!
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As a “Hanzo Main”, it’s pretty tough these days. You get mocked, laughed at, and even a religion of your own helps very little. But player Keldrix shows that you don’t have to care about the ridicule; you just need to apply “simple geometry”. In a 3vs3, the gates opened, and he had charged his scattershot. Together with Soldier: 76, he fired exactly once into the enemy’s starting area. That must be one of the fastest matches in Overwatch that has ever occurred.
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That Overwatch has a toxic community is now well known. In the Plays of the Games, there are some very unpleasant gameplay scenes. But Prax seems to have generated a whole new level of “BM” when he set a “definite sign” with his Bastion before running over the opposing team. We at least had to chuckle.
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Have you experienced a particularly cool gameplay scene that you’ve captured on video? Then just send us a link to the video (preferably on YouTube), and maybe you’ll find your clip here next week!
The PC and console build of Destiny 2 may differ in the future – but Bungie has a different goal.
In Destiny 2, console players on PS4 and Xbox One have had a clear advantage over PC players. They were able to start the MMO shooter a month and a half earlier, solve a lot of secrets, and have long been playing the “hard” endgame content such as the raid or the trials.
Today, October 24th, the catch-up begins on PC. At 7 PM the starting shot will be fired. For the first time, PC players can fully dive into the Destiny universe. A week later, the raid and the trials will be unlocked – from then on, all players will be on the same level across platforms – or?
A look at other MMOs and online games shows that the PC version of Destiny 2 could not only catch up to the console version, but also “overtake” it directly. Because while updates on PS4 and Xbox One first have to go through a complex certification process, developers on PC have more freedom and can implement new features and changes directly.
Therefore, it is common in other online games: The PC receives the new content first, with consoles following days, if not weeks, later. Will this also be the case with Destiny 2?
DLCs, patches, and updates are supposed to come everywhere at the same time
In an interview with Bungie’s PC lead David Shaw, PC Gamer pursued this question. Shaw stated: When DLC 1 and DLC 2 are released, this will happen simultaneously on consoles and PC. This means that as soon as the endgame content is activated on PC, the Destiny 2 builds on all platforms are supposed to move into the future hand in hand.
This simultaneity also applies not only to expansions, but also to updates and patches, as confirmed by the studio Vicarious Visions.
If necessary, the PC version may diverge
According to Shaw, Bungie intends for the versions on all platforms to be 100% identical. However: If something dramatically unexpected happens on PC, this version may diverge slightly from the console versions. They still want to keep the builds as similar as possible.
As soon as Destiny 2 is released on PC, they will closely monitor the game and listen to what PC players have to say. They have the tools to respond to PC-specific challenges and issues.
The “One Design Build” across all platforms remains the big goal, but this should not be a hindrance to quickly respond to specific PC issues.
The question remains how the weapon meta on PC will differ from the consoles. Thomas Gawrys from Vicarious Visions believes that there will definitely be differences due to the mouse and keyboard controls. Because the guardians will play differently on the platforms.
Bottom line remains: Bungie wants the Destiny 2 versions on all platforms to be as uniform as possible. However, they can also respond if the PC presents new challenges.
New leaks about World of Warcraft are causing a stir. Did a Blizzard employee secretly leak the new addon?
We are in the heated phase before BlizzCon. In just two weeks, Blizzard’s event will take place and is guaranteed to reveal the next expansion of World of Warcraft. During this time, rumors and leaks also sprout from the digital ground, just like fake leaks that want a bit of attention.
A new image was released on Reddit, apparently taken with a mobile phone. It shows the logo of the (possibly) next expansion of World of Warcraft: Tides of Vengeance. The photo was apparently taken from the website that is supposed to promote the new addon.
Normally, one would dismiss this image as “fake” outright – but a similar image with the same logo was posted just a few days ago.
Either someone has gone to great lengths to fake not just one image, but two images – or there is something to these leaks, and Tides of Vengeance will indeed be the next expansion.
The phrase “The waves are her domain … and the storm is her ally” is also not completely convincing for many fans. It sounds “too uncreative” and lacks the substance that Blizzard usually delivers. However, thematically, this phrase would fit very well with a Naga expansion featuring the Old Gods. The new book for World of Warcraft “Before the Storm” would also perfectly match this leak.
Final certainty will probably only come at BlizzCon 2017 – taking place on November 4th and 5th.
What do you think of all the leaks, fantasies, and ideas? Is it fun to speculate or should one just keep quiet and wait for what happens?
