Blizzard and Deepmind want to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence. And slowly, the project is gaining momentum!
A while ago, there was a rather strange announcement at BlizzCon. Instead of a new game presentation, a scientist took the stage and announced that Blizzard is now working with researchers on a new artificial intelligence. The foundation is the strategy game StarCraft II, and the hope is to build the AI in such a way that it can learn to perform complex actions over time.
The goal of Project Deepmind is to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence and develop systems that can solve complex problems.
To achieve this, the first tools have now been released to test the artificial intelligences. These include interfaces to test the AIs in StarCraft II and a lot of replay material from professional players – over 500,000 matches have been recorded to have enough research material.
AIs still lose against the simplest difficulty in StarCraft II
However, this research is still in its infancy. On the official Deepmind site, they report on the first successes and failures of the project. Some AIs were already helplessly overwhelmed trying to command the building units in the game to gather resources. However, over time, the program learned more and eventually even managed to create bases. However, this was not enough to compete even against the easiest difficulty level of Blizzard’s own StarCraft II AI.
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But they are learning – and the AIs are learning together with the scientists.
This likely means it is only a matter of time before the AI learns that the easiest way to win is to hack and shut down the opponent’s PC. Or maybe steal power from their refrigerator … Perhaps we are just a bit paranoid.
Season 3 of For Honor introduces two new heroes: The Highlander and the Gladiator. Ubisoft released trailers for the characters and for two new maps.
“Grudge and Glory” is the name of Season 3 of For Honor, which starts on August 15 for free for all players on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This season introduces the largest content update of For Honor so far, delivering two new heroes, two new maps, tournaments, new gear, new gear qualities, and several gameplay updates.
Today, on August 10, Ubisoft revealed the new heroes in detail with two exciting trailers. These are the Gladiator and the Highlander.
The new heroes of Season 3
The Highlander is a Viking hybrid equipped with a heavy longsword and a kilt. His sword is the heaviest and longest sword in For Honor, with its weight meant to be felt in battle:
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The Highlander has a defensive stance that is good for counters and an offensive stance with which you can unleash deadly attacks. You can switch between these two stances at any time. Therefore, the Highlander is difficult to master in combat. According to Ubisoft, he is a patient warrior who combines strength and reach.
The face, beard, and war paint are fully customizable. Extremely detailed sword designs were also presented in a livestream. An exciting new character!
The Gladiator, on the other hand, is an assassin who belongs to the knight faction and is armed with a trident and a shield. Gladiators bring their brutality and skill from the arena into battle:
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The gladiators are lightly armored, making them extremely agile. They have increased stamina and shorter cooldowns, making them dangerous opponents. Their appearance is also customizable.
Both heroes will be available for free to all “Season Pass” holders at launch on August 15. All other players will have to wait until August 22 and unlock the heroes for 15,000 steel each.
Trailer for the two new maps
Season 2 introduces two new maps:
The Sentinel – a destroyed castle:
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Console players will soon be able to dive into the battle of the gods with Hand of the Gods: SMITE Tactics. The turn-based strategy game comes from Hi-Rez and is now entering closed alpha on PS4 and Xbox One.
Hand of the Gods (HotG) is a free-to-play turn-based strategy game that falls into the collectible card game genre. Titles like Hearthstone or Yu-Gi-Oh belong to the same genre.
However, Hand of the Gods is not just a card game; it also features a chess-like game board. You take on the role of a god like Zeus and build an army of mystical monsters and under-gods with a deck of cards. You send this army onto the game board and wage war against another god.
In the announcement trailer below for PS4 and Xbox One, you can get an idea of Hand of the Gods.
Hand of the Gods: SMITE Tactics – PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – Trailer
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Registrations for the Closed Alpha of HotG on PS4 and Xbox One are now possible
Hand of the Gods has been in open beta for PC since July 2017. Now in August, Hi-Rez Studio is following up directly with the closed alpha for consoles.
You can now register for the closed alpha of Hand of the Gods on PS4 and Xbox One.
Hand of the Gods will have the same status on consoles as it currently does on PC when registering.
“We have created a mix of action and strategy with great visuals”
Scott Lussier is the lead designer of Hand of the Gods. In a press release, he announced that with the help of the community, a unique blend of action and strategy with great visuals has been created. This sets Hand of the Gods apart from other games in the genre.
The team is now ready for further testing on consoles and wants to invite players to accompany Hand of the Gods on its way to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
If you want to test Hand of the Gods and meet the developers, you have the opportunity at Gamescom 2017. Hand of the Gods will be present in the exhibition area with a live demo in just two weeks. You can also get codes for the closed alpha here and collect plenty of prizes.
After a few days since the announcement of the release of the first expansion for Conan Exiles, Funcom quickly provides new information. We can expect not only giants and wolves but also better loot and explosions! Additionally, there are concrete facts about AI improvements.
In a video, the developers of the barbarian survival MMO revealed what exactly will change with the expansion “The Frozen North” – and also what has already changed. But see for yourselves:
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Light and heavy attacks are now treated separately.
Dodging and interrupting attacks (“cancel animations”) is now possible.
Fighting creatures feels better now.
Loot
Valuable items can now be dropped by enemies as well as found in chests scattered throughout the game world.
AI
When NPC camps are attacked, enemies behave much more intelligently. They will put up tougher resistance and launch harder counterattacks, making an attack on a camp more dangerous.
This improvement in AI also affects slaves, allowing them to defend player camps more efficiently.
Enemies in Conan Exiles are supposed to become smarter. Our slaves as well.
Buildings and Bases
The resource costs for building structures will be significantly reduced. Resources will thus be much more accessible, and building your own castles, towns, and bases will become easier.
There will be defensive domes to protect camps from avatar attacks.
Walls can be equipped with spikes and filled with cauldrons of pitch, making it easier to fend off climbers.
Minefields can be set as traps.
As attackers, trebuchets will be available to bypass defenses and break down walls from a distance.
Dungeons
Two more dungeons will be implemented (the specifics are unfortunately not yet known).
What dangers await us in the new dungeons?
The “Journey” System
With the upcoming update, there will be objectives to encourage players to pursue or explore certain things. These objectives also serve as a guide for beginners and those who do not know what to do next.
Exploration
Players will be rewarded for exploring the world and uncovering the map.
You have escaped exile, but do you crave the desert?
Sieges in the desert? A lot has changed since the early hours of the game!
If you haven’t played for a while but want to revisit the game with “The Frozen North”, it is already worth exploring the changes that have been added so far:
Alchemy
Using glass orbs and chemicals to create and transport explosive mixtures to demolish buildings, make enemies explode, or use clouds of suffocating gas against foes. Additionally, oil can be used to hinder enemies, or water to extinguish fires.
Items
Over 300 new items such as weapons, armor, and furniture have been added.
Dungeon – The Dregs
South of the nameless city are the entrances to the canals that were meant to dispose of the city’s sewage. After waste from many magical experiments was also disposed of there, creatures that are anything but friendly have formed. The dungeon offers a unique atmosphere and even new recipes for crafting armor, weapons, torches, and more!
The boss in the dungeon “The Dregs” in Conan Exiles: The “Abysmal Remnant”
Climbing
All kinds of objects such as walls, mountains, trees, and houses can now be climbed. By the way: Naked barbarians climb faster!
The Map
There are now markers on the map that show special locations that have already been discovered. Players also have the ability to set and label their own markers. These markers additionally allow you to see where other players are currently summoning avatars.
Dyeing
Clothing can now be dyed with dyes. Never again arrows from your own clan in your back!
Server
For each server type of the official servers (PvE and PvP), the options “fast” and “regular” have now been added to cater to personal preferences.
Benedict says: The changes are promising overall. The developers are clearly making an effort. Over 40 exploits and bugs have been eliminated that disrupted gameplay, and there are improvements being made at every turn. Many things already feel smoother and more enjoyable in Conan Exiles compared to the beginning. If the game continues to improve like this, I see a new secret favorite coming into my collection.
We know the release date for the update 1.7 for The Division . It will be released for free next week on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Just now, the State of the Game aired on August 10. Massive finally revealed the exact release date for update 1.7 – which will be the first major update in year 2 of The Division.
The update 1.7 goes live on August 15 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. That’s a Tuesday. A specific time was not mentioned, but larger updates can always be played after several hours of maintenance starting around noon. The update is free for everyone.
What content does patch 1.7 deliver in The Division?
The complete patch notes for The Division 1.7 will be released next Monday. However, the main changes are already known:
Global Events: Time-limited events that add modifiers to PvE activities, making them more varied. You earn “Global Event” tokens, which allow you to purchase rewards. The first event starts directly on August 15 and is called “Outbreak”. It might go live shortly after the launch of 1.7, but definitely on August 15, according to Massive. The event lasts until August 21.
Classified Gear: These are new versions of existing gear sets. If you equip five or six of them, you unlock 5-set and 6-set bonuses. The classified armor pieces will initially be available only during global events. Afterward, they will be added to the general loot pool. They represent the new best armor pieces. During the first global event, you can earn classified gear from Lone Star, DeadEYE, and Final Measure.
Commendations and patches: You will receive over 500 goals that you can complete to earn rewards. Some commendations reward you with a patch displayed on the agent’s right arm.
Post-character customization: A “bathroom” will be installed in the terminal where you can customize the appearance of your agents.
Encrypted crates: There will be new crates at the premium vendor that can only be opened with a key. You can buy and craft these keys for real money by finding key fragments in the game. These fragments drop from named bosses with a 20% chance. The encrypted crates contain cosmetic items.
Face masks: There are currently no screenshots of these new cosmetic items. They are supposed to be a surprise.
More information from the State of the Game:
Compared to the PTS phase 3, there will be a few bug fixes and adjustments with the release of 1.7. For example, the Ballistic Shield will be revised. To make it less powerful in PvP, it will receive 20% more damage from enemy agents in PvP. Additionally, the 3-set bonus from the D3-FNC set will be changed. Instead of ballistic shield health points, there will be a bonus on damage against elite.
The Storage Size will not be expanded with 1.7. No extensions are planned.
This weekend an event starts, during which you earn double performance containers. This event was supposed to take place last weekend but was then postponed.
In recent days and weeks, there have been many reports about lag. This issue is being investigated.
In World of Warcraft, many accounts have been affected. Top guilds like Limit have also been impacted and were banned – at least briefly.
In recent days, Blizzard initiated a larger wave of bans in World of Warcraft lol. The target was players who offered in-game services for real money or shared their account information with others. “Account Sharing” and real money deals are both violations of the terms of service for World of Warcraft and can therefore be sanctioned.
However, instead of celebrating this cleansing, the community’s opinion is mixed. Among the banned players are many members from professional guilds. They are idols for some, while for others, it is completely incomprehensible why Player X was banned while Y and Z are still allowed to play.
The topic has also resurfaced whether Blizzard should finally implement clear rules and rewards for PvE. This way, professional guilds could finance themselves better. After all, a full-time job during active raid times is hardly feasible, which is why money has to come from other sources – so far through in-game sales.
Players from Limit “free” again
Worse for some: Some players, like those from the guild “Limit”, were unbanned after a short time. Blizzard explained in emails to those affected that the ban was the result of a mistake and apologized.
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As is typical for the internet, this is not accepted and it is assumed that those involved simply “knew the right people” to avoid their punishment. After all, it is an open secret that all major pro guilds make real money offers in the game to finance their raid days.
The entire topic is currently quite chaotic and there are accusations from all sides. It will surely take a while until everything is clarified.
Activision’s marketing strategists are currently promoting energy drinks and Pop-Tarts to attract Destiny players. They could have simply asked the community, which has come up with its own Hearthstone- cards designed in the Destiny style.
Although the project is intended as a fun and fan initiative, the cards are not designed completely unrealistically. The new life steal ability from the expansion Knights of the Frozen Throne is included.
Alongside the standard adversaries of the Vex, Fallen, and Hive, there are also some hefty bosses included as Legendary cards, like Crota, son of Oryx, or Taniks.
Also, combat-specific equipment has been considered. We can find Crota’s sword or Skolas’ cannon. From the weapon arsenal of Destiny 1, we find the long-popular Red Death and the Warlock weapon Tlaloc.
Super and special abilities must also be present. Nova Bomb and Golden Gun are included, as well as the Titan bubble. Hunters can play with their throwing knife.
Even though this is a fan project, a collaboration between Blizzard and Bungie for Hearthstone is not so unlikely. They have already teamed up for the PC release of Destiny 2 on October 24, so why not collaborate on other levels? There would certainly be enough potential.
What do you think of the idea of playing Hearthstone cards in the Destiny style?
A possible leak regarding WoW is making the rounds. According to this, the next addon already has a name – and quite specific features.
It is that time of year again when a lot of leaks about the upcoming expansion of World of Warcraft sprout up. Currently, a potential leak is circulating on the forum of mmo-champion.
A user has copied the entire content of an alleged website that is supposed to provide information about the next adventure in World of Warcraft soon. According to this, the next addon is called “Veil of Shadows” and is set to be released on January 25, 2018.
Features of Veil of Shadows
The most important features of Veil of Shadows include the following:
Level cap raised to 120 (the classic)
The “Codex of Creation,” which allows you to customize skills in the “Forge of Illumination”
New weapons: Maces, pistols, spellbound weapons
Warships to travel the seas
New race/class combinations: Death Knights: Pandaren Shaman: Humans Paladins: Trolls, Night Elves Warlocks: Draenei, Tauren Druids: Pandaren
Scaling from 1-110 – new quests, dungeons, and raids in the old Azeroth
Faction campaigns: Experience a dramatic campaign just for your faction
The Villains of Veil of Shadows
After the heroes hurriedly set off towards Argus, the pillars of creation were left behind in the Tomb of Sargeras – where they were supposed to rest forever. However, nearly all supervillains in WoW had other plans and looted the tomb.
The corrupted Magni Bronzebeard has taken the Hammer of Khaz’goroth. He was corrupted by the Old Gods and now sows chaos for the dark masters.
Queen Azshara has finally grabbed the Tidesstone of Golganneth and raised her kingdom from the depths. She has used the stone to cause new mutations among the Naga and is now preparing to reclaim “her land.”
The Tear of Elune attracted the attention of the other side. Hakkar the Soulflayer sent his trolls from Zandalar to obtain the Tear. In the Hinterlands, in the destroyed troll city of Jintha’Alor, they strive for the rebirth of their god Hakkar.
The Aegis of Aggramar is in safe hands with Odyn and his Valarjar. Since the Titans were imprisoned, Odyn has been trying to pursue new goals with the other keepers. They want to find the Disks of Norgannon to decode ancient knowledge. A new Titan complex has been found deep under Uldaman – it is said to contain knowledge on how to defeat the Old Gods.
The Eye of Aman’thul fell into the claws of the Timeless Dragonflight. They intend to use it to finally corrupt Nozdormu. But others are now drawn to these dragons because whoever controls time also holds the key to immortality.
Are you ready for the most pathetic battle in Pokémon GO? Here, many Magikarp face off against the raid boss Magikarp. A battle experienced by only a few trainers.
The raid battles in Pokémon GO provide the cooperative gameplay aspect of the game. Players can team up in groups to defeat the raid bosses. These are divided into various difficulty levels, so some raids can work alone or with two players, while others require larger groups of at least 5-6 players.
The battle against Magikarp is one of the easiest raid battles, as the monster only knows weak attacks. Trainers have now let their Magikarp face the raid boss and filmed the “interesting” battle.
Magikarp vs. Magikarp – Who will win?
Many of you already know the famous fish from Pokémon editions on the Gameboy or from the TV series with Ash, Misty, and Brock. It has already become clear that a Magikarp is not spectacular in itself and does not have a wide arsenal of attacks. With the “Splash” attack, it may impress some trainers or Pokémon in Pokémon GO, but it does no damage.
Then there’s its second attack in Pokémon GO: Flail. The name already makes it clear that this is not a powerful water attack, but rather a … well … desperate attack.
Magikarp exists in Pokémon GO as a raid boss of the lowest difficulty level. This gives trainers a reason to get creative. Instead of grilling the fish quickly with their strong Pokémon, trainers brought out their own fish and sent many Magikarp into the ring. Curiosity had to be satisfied: Can Magikarp defeat a raid boss Magikarp?
The battle was uploaded to the Youtube channel of zecmo. Skip to about 2:24 minutes in the video if you just want to see the battle.
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At first, it is unclear whether there can be a winner in this battle at all. The trainers wonder if it is possible to reach a result within the given time limit. Then it becomes apparent that the Flail attack “somehow works” and the battle slowly shifts in one direction.
As the fish flail about, their health points slowly decrease. A total of nine trainers attack the raid boss with their Magikarp, which is eventually defeated within the time limit.
With Path of Fire, ArenaNet is currently working on the second expansion of the MMORPG Guild Wars 2. You will soon be able to preview the expansion for free.
The developers have announced a preview weekend for the expansion. During this weekend, it will be possible to take a look at a small part of the new content.
It doesn’t matter whether you have been playing Guild Wars 2 for a long time or if you are new to it. Even if you haven’t played GW 2 at all, you can participate in the event by signing up for it. Then you will play this “demo” and decide afterwards whether you want to dive in “for real”.
The Crystal Desert awaits!
You can play the introduction to the new adventure that takes you to the Crystal Desert. There you can explore the Amnoon Oasis. During your adventures, you can even unlock the Raptor as a mount.
The new expansion revolves around the return of Balthazar, the God of Fire and War. His armies are invading the southern lands of the game world. Although Path of Fire takes place in the desert, that doesn’t mean there aren’t diverse places to explore. The Crystal Desert offers many different biomes where you can discover plenty.
The preview event will take place from August 11 to 13. You will soon be able to start and get a first impression of the new adventures that await you in Guild Wars 2.
LEGO is simply great. With imagination and skill, interesting buildings and scenes can be created – for example, from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Thorsten is a passionate LEGO fan from Paderborn and enjoys playing the MMORPG ESO. He has combined both and recreated interesting places and scenes from the game with colorful building blocks.
He explains that ESO was his first MMO and he was immediately passionate about it. He particularly likes how detailed the world has been created. It is immediately recognizable whether a chair in the game is of Orcish or Breton origin.
Details and photos are important
When he wants to recreate a location from the game with LEGO, he first thoroughly explores the area in the game. This gives him a sense of the architecture and atmosphere. When recreating, he pays attention to details, such as a skeleton lying around.
Due to his large collection of LEGO bricks, it is not difficult for him to recreate even large scenes. For some of his works, he needed weeks or even months. Afterwards comes the photography, which is very important to Thorsten as he wants to present his work properly.
Next up is Morrowind
In an interview on the official website of The Elder Scrolls Online, Thorsten explains many more things, including how he approaches each scene, how he selects the right bricks, and which structures he finds harder to recreate. He is currently working on something for the Morrowind expansion, but does not want to reveal exactly what it is.
Arena of Valor is an authentic 5v5 mobile MOBA that celebrates its debut in Europe and Germany on August 10. The title is published by Proxima Beta, a subsidiary of Tencent Games. With this move, Tencent is entering the European mobile MOBA market for the first time.
Arena of Valor has already been released in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has seen great success within a short time: in under a year, the game reached the top of the Apple App and Google Play Stores – now Arena of Valor is finally coming to Europe.
Familiar MOBA Principles, Even with Voice Chat
MOBA fans will immediately notice the familiar look of the game. The developers have deliberately aimed to develop the best possible graphics while adapting the popular MOBA gameplay for a mobile title. Like every successful MOBA, Arena of Valor features three lanes and a jungle, various gameplay modes, including 5 versus 5, and a steadily growing pool of unique heroes.
Arena of Valor shares many similarities with well-known PC MOBAs: Players can compete with others from around the world, as well as invite their own friends to face off against another five-person team. The in-game voice chat allows players to discuss tactics with teammates – this not only maximizes the strategic depth of the fast-paced game but also enables quick responses to counterattacks.
The gaming experience is crowned by the soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer specifically for Arena of Valor.
A MOBA for “In Between” – Quick Rounds
While MOBAs on PC take a considerable amount of time, an Arena of Valor game fits easily into a packed daily schedule: whether during commute or lunch break, one round lasts about 15 minutes.
Only your own skill will advance you in Arena of Valor for victories and climbs in the rankings. A rival who has invested money in the game will therefore not have higher chances of winning. Most heroes can be unlocked with in-game currency, which you earn through gameplay and completed quests.
Arena of Valor will be available for download for both Android and iOS users starting August 10, expected from 5 PM.
An expert on Monster Hunter has been engaged with the alpha of Dauntless for a long time. What conclusion has he come to? Is he enjoying the combat system and gameplay of Dauntless even in the alpha?
YouTuber Gaijin Hunter has created numerous videos on his channel about the various Monster Hunter games. He has been doing this for years, with the first videos on Monster Hunter 4 appearing in 2014. He has now garnered over 32 million views on his videos. He can certainly be called an expert on Monster Hunter.
The most important thing for a game that revolves around killing monsters is the combat system. The developers know this, and Dauntless nails it excellently.
The combat system is not as action-heavy as in Monster Hunter. There aren’t countless actions, but only relatively few standard attacks that must hit. It’s about timing and getting into the perfect position. This is more reminiscent of Dark Souls.
The Behemoths, the enemies, are interesting and diverse. They force players to learn and counter their tactics. If players do not do this, they could go home.
The combat system of Dauntless includes the most important Monster Hunter elements: The animations are stylish, the hits feel impactful, and players can sever body parts from the Behemoths. Moreover, players can disrupt the Behemoths’ major attacks and interrupt them; the environment plays a role as well.
Teamplay is important; players need to pay attention to their teammates and revive them so the hunt doesn’t fail. Therefore, players must be close to each other, but not too close, so that one attack doesn’t wipe the entire hunting party. Many items buff or heal the group.
A praise for the AI: The Behemoth are clever and exploit the players’ weaknesses.
The Weapons in Dauntless
Currently, there are 4 weapons in Dauntless, but the selection is expected to expand.
With the sword, much revolves around building combos and then unleashing them. It is important to sometimes break off and dodge instead of stubbornly executing the combo. The sword is a starter weapon.
The hammer or gun-hammer is a particularly stylish weapon because it combines striking with shooting. It feels great to dodge a Behemoth while reloading. For Gaijin Hunter, it’s clear: Many will love this weapon.
With the axe, stamina management and timing are crucial. A player needs to know when to go “all-in” here.
The chain blades are fast and stylish. They have a relatively high range but only short “i-frames.” “i-frames” refer to the period when the character performs a move and is invulnerable during that time. Therefore, the player with chain blades is particularly vulnerable and must pay close attention to movement.
Alpha Gameplay from Dauntless: Combat System and Behemoth
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What would happen if ARK: Survival Evolved and Minecraft had a child together? It would be called PixArk and become a mix of survival and sandbox MMORPG.
Snail Games, who are currently celebrating great success with the MMO Dark and Light, have announced PixArk. As the name suggests, ARK is a major inspiration for the game. Furthermore, it seems to take place in the same universe.
Snail Games in an ARK Fever – Numerous Projects Planned
A first trailer for PixArk shows how the game plays out. You find yourself alongside other players in a pixel world that strongly resembles Minecraft. There, you gather resources, craft items and weapons, and try to survive. Because enemies in the form of monsters, as well as other players, will stand in your way. It is also possible to create your own buildings and, in groups, complete cities. This leads to PvP sieges, during which the buildings can also be destroyed.
Dinosaurs!
PixArk would not be an ARK game if there were no dinosaurs. They are also expected to appear in the game. Apparently, Snail Games is trying to bring the ARK game principle closer to a younger generation that favors colorful graphics and Minecraft. The game was announced at the Chinajoy fair but is slated to be released in the West at an unknown time.
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Minecraft meets ARK. That could work well. As seen in Trove and Minecraft, the pixel principle is quite popular. Mixed with survival and dinosaurs, this could attract a certain target audience. However, how it plays out remains to be seen.
Many positive reviews, but the community is not particularly large. LawBreakers had a rough start and player numbers continue to decline.
The first days after release are not going well for the low-gravity shooter LawBreakers. There are very positive reviews from gamers who play the shooter. Over 90% of reviews on Steam are positive, it is referred to as the best arena shooter on the market, a “Doom on Crack.” However, there aren’t many of them. LawBreakers struggles to maintain an active community.
60% player loss after beta
Can LawBreakers pick itself up again? As GITHYP reports, the shooter has lost 60% of players compared to the peak during beta. During launch night, only about 3000 people played the game simultaneously on Steam.
Before its release, LawBreakers was compared to Battleborn , which is described as a “shooter flop.” Unfortunately, the comparison with Battleborn now seems generous, as this shooter started with 12,000 players at launch. With this “player peak,” Battleborn managed to reach 19th place on Steam.
LawBreakers has only reached 73rd place so far. On Tuesday, there were only a maximum of 2700 players simultaneously. The lowest numbers of concurrent players hover around 1000. These are tough times for the low-gravity shooter that relies on speed and skill.
For now, players are not suffering from the low player counts, as even with 1000 people, there are still enough players for a match. In the long run, this could become a problem if numbers continue to decline.
Although it performed better than LawBreakers, Battleborn has gone free-to-play. Will the future look similar for LawBreakers? We hope for the best for the shooter and would be pleased with a long lifespan. Originally, LawBreakers was planned as a free-to-play game, but the developers eventually opted for a mid-range purchase price.
So what’s the point in Destiny 2 of destroying a solar shield with a solar weapon – if you rely on matching elemental damage?
If you now destroy a solar shield with a solar weapon, that shield explodes and deals additional damage to the shield holder and nearby enemies:
Matching elements have no further advantages.
What do you think about these findings? Many users in the comments under Datto’s video are dissatisfied with how elemental damages are currently behaving. The fact that matching elements now hardly have any utility would take the difficulty and strategy out of PvE.
Most of you will now know the new weapon system of Destiny 2. Instead of primary weapons, secondary weapons, and heavy weapons, there will be these weapon slots:
Kinetic weapons: This slot contains the weapon types auto rifle, pulse rifle, scout rifle, hand cannon, pistol, and submachine gun. They all deal kinetic damage.
Energy weapons: Here you find the same weapon types as in the kinetic slot – however, they deal elemental damage (Solar, Arc, Void).
Power weapons: These are all weapons that can eliminate opposing guardians in the Crucible with just one shot – like rocket launchers, snipers, or shotguns.
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Kinetic weapons deal more damage than energy weapons
Although the beta of Destiny 2 has now been over for a few weeks, the Destiny expert Datto now provides new insights he gathered during this testing phase.
Some guardians have already wondered why one should prefer a kinetic weapon over an energy weapon in battle – after all, the energy weapon provides additional elemental damage.
The answer: Kinetic weapons deal more damage than energy weapons of the same archetype. Datto compared submachine guns:
The first two weapons are legendary SMGs in the energy slot. The bars for impact are equal in length; they both deal the same amount of damage (51 damage on body shots, 132 damage on crits).
The bottom SMG (Showrunner) is in the kinetic slot. The impact bar is equal in length to that of the upper two energy SMGs, but the weapon deals 57 damage and 146 crit damage – so a few more damage points, even though the bar in the game is displayed as equal in length.
The Riskrunner is an exotic SMG in the energy slot. It has a somewhat longer impact bar than the other SMGs and therefore deals more damage than the other energy SMGs. The damage of the kinetic weapon is actually slightly higher than that of the Riskrunner, even though this has a longer impact bar in the game.
Conclusion: Kinetic weapons deal more damage than energy weapons of the same type with equal length damage bars. The other weapon types, like pulse rifles that Datto tested, behaved the same in the beta. How the exact numbers will look at the launch of Destiny 2 remains to be seen.
By the way: The crit damage on the upper SMGs is about 2.6 times greater than the standard damage. Only for the Riskrunner is the multiplier 2.2 – probably because the weapon is exotic. All these numbers refer to PvE.
What benefit does elemental damage have in energy weapons?
In PvP energy weapons are useful for quickly eliminating enemy guardians from their active super. They deal more damage when the opponent has an active super. The respective elemental damages don’t need to match. Every energy weapon with any elemental damage outputs the same increased damage against any super.
In PvE it’s surprisingly the same: Every energy weapon deals the same damage against every enemy shield. For example, if a Cabal Centurion with solar shield approaches you, it doesn’t matter whether you shoot at him with a solar, arc, or void weapon – all energy weapons deal increased damage, regardless of the element.
In Destiny 1, however, it is necessary to use a solar weapon against a solar shield to deal increased damage.
So what’s the point in Destiny 2 of destroying a solar shield with a solar weapon – if you rely on matching elemental damage?
If you now destroy a solar shield with a solar weapon, that shield explodes and deals additional damage to the shield holder and nearby enemies:
Matching elements have no further advantages.
What do you think about these findings? Many users in the comments under Datto’s video are dissatisfied with how elemental damages are currently behaving. The fact that matching elements now hardly have any utility would take the difficulty and strategy out of PvE.
The closed beta of FIFA 18 starts today, August 10. EA Sports has sent out the codes. There is bad news for players in Germany.
The release of FIFA 18 is getting closer. A month and a half before, EA Sports lets selected players test the upcoming football simulation: Today, August 10, the closed beta of FIFA 18 begins. The time given is 6 PM German time.
For you, the German players, there is no good news: You cannot participate in the beta – and not even watch! We have the most important information for you in summary.
Who receives beta codes? How can one register for the FIFA 18 beta?
Beta participants must meet these requirements:
You need a console account in the United Kingdom or North America
Platform: PS4 or Xbox One (there is no beta on other platforms)
You must be at least 18 years old
You must have played FIFA 17 regularly
However, even players from the United Kingdom and North America who meet these requirements cannot be guaranteed to participate in the beta. Because the beta invitations are strictly limited. Only selected players will receive an email with a code.
This code is account-bound. This means that if you find an offer for a beta code online, you won’t be able to use it, as it is not registered to your account.
Can I at least watch beta participants in a live stream?
And another blow for German FIFA fans: EA Sports prohibits gameplay material from the beta from being made public.
This means that beta participants are not allowed to stream, upload images online, or talk about the beta content. If there are no leaks, we won’t hear anything about the “FIFA 18” beta in our country. It serves only to allow EA Sports to collect data and feedback.
More information about the FIFA 18 beta:
The download size is said to be around 32 GB
Any progress made in the beta will not carry over to the main game
The player ratings in the beta are not final
The beta is expected to last about a week
During the beta, the game modes Kick-Off, Pro Clubs, Career Mode, and Ultimate Team will be tested
Fans of the MMORPG AION can be excited, as the new update 5.6 has been released and brings many new contents.
These include, first of all, four additional servers. One of them is available to German players. The other servers are in Polish, French, and English language. Additionally, the starting areas have been visually overhauled. New players will be pleased with even more detailed equipment.
New Challenges – Also in PvP
The update 5.6 further expands the story of the MMORPG AION. You will visit the Museum of Knowledge, where you face interesting challenges. In Narakalli, exclusive rewards await you. If you enter the Neviwind Gorge, you will face other players in exciting PvP battles. Here, battles await you in which 24 players compete against 24 opponents. But that’s not all. The battles expand over time, and more and more players are allowed until epic battles of 96 against 96 players emerge.
The Shimiols Help You
Also new for the PvP mode of the game is that group battles are now also possible in the Gold Arena. In the Tower of Challenge, you will fight your way up 40 levels, with each level being more dangerous than the previous one. Once your hero reaches level 66, he can summon the Shimiols as helpers by his side. These cute creatures grant you useful summoning effects. As your level increases, the Shimiols also become stronger and provide you with additional effects.
Therefore, there is plenty of new stuff to do in the MMORPG AION.
Here is the trailer for Update 5.6
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In Europe, you can currently catch many Incognito and Kangaskhan. In some cities, you will find these Pokémon particularly often right now and can fill your collections with them. In order for more players to participate in the Pokémon GO event, the radius has apparently been increased.
Catching rare Pokémon in Europe is currently significantly easier with certain monsters than before. Niantic surprised many players a few days ago with a special event in Europe.
Due to the event, Kangaskhan and Incognito spawn more frequently in some European locations. A change by Niantic has made it possible for more trainers to participate in the event even outside of city centers. At least, that’s what some trainers report on social networks.
Catching Kangaskhan – Radius increased by about 40 km
On Reddit and Facebook, many players are reporting that they can now catch Kangaskhan and Incognito at additional locations. At the start, the event was much smaller.
Since last weekend (August 5), trainers have been encountering monsters like Kangaskhan and Incognito more frequently, which were otherwise rarely seen in Europe. This special event will continue until August 21 and is taking place in eight German cities.
Trainers from London and other cities have noted that they can now catch these special monsters far outside the city center. An increase in radius of 35-40 kilometers is currently suspected.
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Radius in Berlin first reduced, now back to normal?
While some cities and players are pleased with an increased spawn rate of Kangaskhan and Incognito, other trainers are not at all thrilled. For example, Berlin and Manchester saw fewer spawns than before the radius increase. There has been no official statement from Niantic explaining why the radius was increased in some locations and reduced in others.
Apparently, the reduction was just a mistake. Latest information shows that the spawns in Berlin were readjusted overnight.
In the slasher Friday the 13th: The Game (PC, PS4, Xbox One), the enemies for the Counselors are often not Jason, but other players. That should change.
Those who know horror movies know: “The danger is the killers!”, whether incestuous cannibal families, guys with long steel fingernails, or people who like to wear masks and take up a knife the length of an arm – the enemy is quickly identifiable.
But what if the killer is not the danger, but suddenly the other victims start attacking each other with shotguns or machetes? What if Jenny grabs the machete? Or if Eric runs amok with the car and runs over teammates?
These are the real killers!
Less Survival, More Battle Royale – Everyone Against Everyone in Friday the 13th: The Game
In Friday the 13th: The Game, the psychokiller Jason should actually be the enemy of the Counselors, the survivors, but… too often it’s other players. In a post on reddit, publisher Gun Media states: “The problem is that team killing is increasing on all platforms and players hate it.”
The game thus feels less like an exciting survival adventure where you have to escape together, and more like battle royale – everyone against everyone.
With the next patch, team kills with weapons will no longer be possible – at least in public games. Shotguns or machetes will not inflict damage on teammates. However, there will still be ways to kill teammates: For example, by running them over.
Complaints Make an Impact – Trolling and Grieving
Gun Media believes it is important for the game that Counselors can hurt each other. This contributes to realism. However, there should be no mechanic that can be so heavily abused that the publisher is overwhelmed with complaints about unfair grieving and trolling.
When the patch that curbs murderous Counselors arrives is still unknown.
Friday the 13th is a special game and shows the change of times:
