The team leader of Team Yellow has been missing for days. Members of the Pokémon GO team “Intuition” are searching for their team captain, who has simply not been seen since the last update.
It has been about a week since Spark was last seen. He is the leader of the Pokémon GO team “Intuition” and known for his jokes and goofy nature. But since the last update, he has simply disappeared.
Players are worried and have started a search campaign on Twitter and other social networks.
Pokémon GO update replaces Spark
The latest Pokémon GO update (0.69.0) not only changed the motivation of the gym defenders, but apparently also the motivation of the team leaders. A bug has caused Spark, the blonde leader of Team Yellow, to be replaced by Candela, who is actually responsible for Team Red.
The first reports about the absence of Spark reached social networks on July 20, after the update became available. On that day, trainers from Team Yellow noticed that in the evaluation system, their usual team leader was no longer rating the monsters, but Candela had taken over that role.
Normally, the team captains come to the fore in the evaluation system, who assess the battle points of the corresponding Pokémon of the players and give an evaluation about it.
This is not Spark! Source: nikk2k Reddit
When the team selection of Pokémon GO started last summer, fans already built sympathy for the three different team leaders. Even back then, it was noticed that Spark was seen by the community as more of a “goofball” and “fidgeter,” while Candela from Team Red and Blanche from Team Blue were portrayed much more seriously.
Source: Twitter @T_blocks
Missing person reports for Spark
A reliable leader is undoubtedly important for the members of any team. Therefore, the members of Team Intuition do not let themselves be stopped and start search campaigns on Twitter and Reddit. This results in creative “photoshopped” images like these:
Niantic knows about the issue and is working on a solution
The search campaign for Spark did not go unnoticed and Niantic commented on the current situation. Apparently, the bug in the evaluation system is already known. We hope that there will be a solution soon and that Spark will return.
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The chubby Roadhog from Overwatch is too weak. The developers see this too and now have concrete ideas on how to help him become more “tank-like”.
Roadhog has become an eternal source of suffering in Overwatch. While some players are satisfied that Roadhog has finally been reined in, many feel that he is now useless and only serves to provide opponents with lots of charge for their ultimates.
Meanwhile, the developers have also realized that the nerf to Roadhog was too strong and are now steering in the opposite direction. There have been many suggestions in the official forum on how to help the former master of one-hit combos back on his feet.
The Principal Designer Geoff Goodman has spoken up. According to him, they are currently testing the following changes for Roadhog internally:
Roadhog takes 50% less damage while healing with Take a Breather.
Roadhog can move at full speed while healing with Take a Breather.
These changes, along with some other hero adjustments, will probably be tested on the test servers as early as next week (after the release of Doomfist).
Healing while moving and damage reduction = too strong?
There is an awareness that this could make Roadhog “too strong,” but these are just test values that might be adjusted later.
The goal is to make Roadhog significantly “tankier” without giving him back his former lethality. At the same time, he should not become even more of a “bullet sponge,” where opponents can charge their ultimate faster. Therefore, damage reduction and increased mobility seem to be the best solution.
Cortyn says: Although I appreciate the developers’ general idea, I find the changes inappropriate. In my opinion, Roadhog should not be a mobile hero that zips across the battlefield while healing. He is slow and massive – this perfectly fits his character. But maybe the gameplay feels significantly better than it appears. My first impression, however, is “Please no”.
The card system of Paragon is actually a good idea and distinguishes the game from similar titles. However, the developer studio Epic Games is not really satisfied with it.
They expected more from the cards, a kind of “wow effect,” which would attract players in droves to Paragon because they want to try out this card system. But that did not happen. Epic Games, however, does not want to bury its head in the sand and is planning a major update for August 8th, which will revise the card system. A lot of player feedback will be taken into account.
Less focus on numbers
The revision aims to remove upgrade cards and focus on fewer “numbers”. Until now, players had to pay attention not only to compile decks with specific CP costs but also to ensure that the CP costs enable the most damage and the highest health points.
This often led to many players using the same builds, making the battles anything but varied. With the revised system, the focus should be on abilities rather than numbers. Each card will receive a type of ability that will impact the match.
Cards will be clearer
If one stands out from the crowd…
Removing upgrade cards reduces the number of cards in the game and forces players to choose cards with more utility. Additionally, the cards are supposed to be clearer. Every player should know at first glance what the card offers them. This is particularly meant to help new players find a good entry point into the game. This will go hand in hand with an update of the designs on the cards.
Moreover, an itemization system will be introduced, about which the developers want to provide more details at a later date. New cards and updates for Paragon are also expected to be released at shorter intervals.
Fresh information about the new PVP mode Survival has arrived in Destiny 2. Here’s what you need to do in this Battle Royale mode.
A limited number of lives, no respawns, and coordinated team play should represent the core mechanics of the new game mode Survival in Destiny 2.
In this mode, you must stay alive at all costs. Because if too many players die, it’s game over. This encourages a team-oriented and cautious playstyle, mistakes are punished.
Testers describe Survival as a mode that is strongly driven by the team concept and is not really intended for random groups. Unlike the Trials of Osiris, this mode is still meant to feel more “casual”.
The lucky ones who have already played this mode see Survival as a fantastic addition to the PVP mode of Destiny 2 and hope for many more modes that emphasize team play.
The Altar of Flames – the new map on Mercury
In addition to the new game mode, a new map has also been introduced. The Altar of Flames is located on Mercury. It is a medium-sized map with some sniper lanes as well as opportunities for battles at medium and close range.
The power ammo is located fairly centrally on the map, which means that players will encounter each other while picking up ammunition and will have to fight over the coveted ammo.
The design of the map strongly resembles a mix of the Lighthouse from Destiny 1 and the map Vertigo. You can check out a walkthrough of the map in the following video:
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The first new cards from the Hearthstone expansion “Knights of the Frozen Throne” have been released. Among them are some “deadly” hits.
The next expansion for Hearthstone “Knights of the Frozen Throne” is coming our way rapidly. In just a few weeks, at the beginning of August, the next expansion is set to launch. Traditionally, Blizzard releases all new cards in advance so that players can prepare for the launch.
Some new cards have already been revealed, here are the highlights for you.
Legendary Warlock Card with Heavy Lifesteal
For Warriors, there is the minion Mountain Fire Armor. With a mana cost of 3 and solid stats of 4/3, it is already a good choice. Additionally, it has an interesting Deathrattle effect: When it is your opponent’s turn, you gain 6 Armor. So it might be worthwhile to give this minion Taunt.
Also for Warriors is the new weapon Blood Razor. For 4 mana, the attack power of 2 and durability of 2 are quite weak, but the weapon has both a Battlecry and a Deathrattle: “Deal 1 damage to all minions.” That should help many Enrage Warriors and also give the Armorsmith a boost.
The legendary card for Warlock is Blood-Queen Lana’thel. For 5 mana and stats of 1/6, it is also quite weak. However, it comes with Lifesteal (damage dealt heals the hero) and has +1 attack for each card discarded during the game.
Shamans also get a weapon, the Ice Breaker. This costs 3 and has 1 attack and 3 durability. Additionally, it has the nasty effect of destroying any frozen minion that is damaged by it.
Rogues receive a little combo gnome. The Plague Scientist costs 3 mana, has 2 attack and 3 health. As a combo effect, it gives a friendly minion the Poisonous attribute.
As a neutral minion, the Nerubian Unraveler waits. With a mana cost of 6 and stats of 5/5, it is relatively weak, but can massively slow down spell-heavy decks – as the cost of all spells is increased by 2 as long as this card is in play.
Neutral is also the Ticking Abomination. For only 4 mana, it brings strong stats of 5/6 to the battlefield, but has a dangerous side effect. Its Deathrattle deals 5 damage to all allies.
The first neutral legendary minion is Prince Taldaram. For 3 mana and stats of 3/3, it has a unique effect. Its Battlecry makes it become a 3/3 copy of another minion – but only if you have no cards in your deck that cost 3 mana. Thus, you can cheaply copy other legendary minions that are already on the board to double their effect (Ysera, Velen, Malygos, etc.).
What do you think of the new cards? A good start for the new expansion or does it leave you cold?
In Guild Wars 2, the developers have found a number of cheaters in the current PvP season. As a punishment, they have been assigned the “Dishonored” status and can no longer participate in PvP battles.
The developers at Arenanet had already announced this weeks ago: Those who cheat in PvP can expect punishment.
Many players would use unscrupulous methods to boost their PvP rating. Particularly popular: Account sharing with players and guilds that then raise the account in PvP and earn a better rating for in-game currency.
Guild Wars 2 – Account Sharing Match Manipulation
Account sharing, especially when trying to illegally boost one’s rating, is however strictly prohibited. Therefore, the developers have acted on their threats and have identified a number of dubious accounts.
These players have committed offenses such as account sharing and match manipulation through agreed rounds. Many players have also participated in so-called win trading. This means that both sides agree beforehand on who wins, thus manipulating the competition.
Guild Wars 2 – Dishonor for Match Manipulation
The penalty for such conduct is comparatively mild. The players in question have all been assigned the status “Dishonored” in PvP. This status is usually given for repeatedly leaving PvP rounds. As long as one is “Dishonored”, one cannot participate in any PvP round.
In the case of the caught players, the penalty applies for the rest of the current PvP season. Once the status has worn off, the players can return to play as usual, and the PvE mode is completely unrestricted for them. One can only hope that they have learned their lesson and will behave properly in the future.
Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno will only be available for a short time in Pokémon GO. Niantic has now announced the time windows during which you can catch all legendary birds.
Two legendary Pokémon can currently be caught in Pokémon GO. These were released during the GO Fest on Saturday and are called Lugia and Articuno. In the coming weeks, two more legendary birds will be released, which many trainers are already waiting for: Zapdos and Moltres.
The developers have now announced that the legendary bird trio will only be active in the game for a few days and will then disappear again. We will show you when you should go hunting for them.
Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres Times – When are the birds available?
In a blog post, John Hanke, the head of Pokémon GO developer Niantic, explained that the legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are only available for a limited time in the game. This topic has sparked many discussions in the trainer community over the past few days, as players were unsure whether Articuno would stay forever or not.
Now there is clarity that the legendary trio is only available for a limited time in the game, and it will apparently be deactivated again afterwards. You can catch the birds at the following times:
Articuno (Team Mystic) was released on Saturday, July 22, 2017, and will be available until Monday, August 1, 2017.
Moltres (Team Valor) will be released on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, and will remain available until next Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
Zapdos (Team Instinct) is the last part of the bird trio release. You can find it from Tuesday, August 8, 2017, until Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in the game.
The published dates from Niantic refer to the releases in US times. Therefore, we have shifted the times back by one day in the overview. As it turned out, Moltres did not appear on July 31st with us, but on August 1st.
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This means that each bird of the legendary trio is available in the game for about a week and can be caught by you. Whether the three birds will return later and remain in the game for unlimited time is unfortunately not known yet. Lugia apparently remains in the game and will be available longer as a raid boss – This is how you defeat the raid boss Lugia
The next DLC of Dead by Daylight has been revealed. A lady rabbit goes hunting in “A Lullaby for the Dark” – and she thirsts for human flesh.
Almost a month ago, Dead by Daylight celebrated its first birthday on PC and announced that the next DLC of the horror game is already in the works. Now, footage has been released for the first time through the colleagues at rockpapershotgun, along with numerous gathered information.
The upcoming DLC will be named “A Lullaby for the Dark” and will include a new killer (the “Huntress”), a new survivor (David King), and the new map (“Red Forest”). And the best part: The DLC is completely free and thus a “thank you” to the loyal fans and players.
David King is a pretty unpopular guy. He is a spoiled child and his favorite hobbies include bar fights and collecting debts. However, he was part of a rugby team and can therefore also act in a team – his perks focus on that.
I Got You, Son – You gain 50% more blood points when you save other survivors or stand in the way of the killer (to bodyblock, etc.).
Line Break – This can be activated when injured. For a short time, you receive a speed boost and are immune to damage and traps.
It gets really crazy with Just a Scratch – You start the match injured and can never be fully healed. Instead, you can pick yourself up from the ground (when you fill the bar), leave no blood trails, and make less noise when in pain.
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Which skills the “Huntress” will have is not yet known. However, judging by the trailer, she will be able to throw her axe. This should put an end to the times of “Pallet Looping”. Also, she sings – very creepy.
A Lullaby for the Dark is set to be released tomorrow, on July 27, 2017.
There are news for all clan members of Destiny 2: Will the clan from Destiny 1 still exist?
Update 25.7: As many questions have arisen regarding the topic. Due to the extended beta of Destiny 2, Bungie has postponed the date from which clan transfers from Destiny 1 to Destiny 2 are possible. The process will now begin on July 26, which may still take several hours. Perhaps then on Wednesday evening our time.
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Note: The article was originally published at the end of June.
Original announcement:
Bungie is preparing for the release of Destiny 2. Last week they announced the last dates in Destiny 1 and gave an insight into what rewards veterans can look forward to. In “This Week at Bungie,” they discuss the preparations that clan members – especially clan leaders – need to make.
Clans can be transferred to Destiny 2
Clans will gain significant importance in Destiny 2. “Community” and “teamwork” will be essential in the sequel, Bungie emphasized repeatedly during the gameplay premiere. Therefore, clans will become an in-game feature, allowing you to earn rewards with your clan and guide solo players through so-called Guided Games through endgame content.
Note: A clan in Destiny 1 is a group of players who come together to play through the content in Destiny. A group can be created and turned into a clan on Bungie.net.
The community manager DeeJ writes that many guardians are asking: “Bungie, will my clan also exist in Destiny 2?”
The answer is “Yes!” However, your clan leader must take action to transfer the clan to the sequel.
Starting July 25, clan leaders must visit their clan page on Bungie.net and decide whether they want to convert their group into a “Destiny 2” clan. Clan founders can also decide whether to transfer their titles and permissions to another member who may be better suited for the upcoming adventures in Destiny 2.
You have one month to make all preparations for Destiny 2 (an end date is not yet known). After that, the new clan creation feature will go live on Bungie.net to support Destiny 2. More information on this will follow in the future.
What happens to my clan in Destiny 2?
Your clans that you convert into a “Destiny 2” clan will retain their basic structure. The maximum is 100 players per clan. Each “Destiny 2” account on a platform can join only one clan.
The two major innovations regarding clans are:
that you can act as guides in a clan, to lead solo players through endgame missions such as raids, nightfall strikes, and trials,
and that you can earn clan rewards. Each member of a clan receives rewards based on the overall success of the clan.
Additionally: You can manage the clan overview directly in the game and send invitations to new members. So you don’t need to go to an external website for this.
However, there is also a “sacrifice” with this new clan system: If your clan was part of a larger clan alliance, this will unfortunately be broken up. However, they are considering new options for communities to connect on a large scale.
You have until after the beta of Destiny 2 to take action as your clan leaders. Then, on July 25, Bungie will provide detailed information on what you need to consider for your clans.
In the end, DeeJ thanks all clan leaders for guiding their clan members into a new game.
The beta for Destiny 2 reveals its final secrets. You want to know how much health you have in the Crucible or how fast a weapon can take you out in the Destiny 2 beta? We provide the answers.
More and more information from the Destiny 2 beta is coming to light. The Reddit user Mercules904 has unveiled the last secrets of the Crucible and pressed his nose against the screen to determine the optimal Time to Kill (TTK – the time required to kill a Guardian with maximum health using a weapon under optimal conditions) and the health of the Guardians. He analyzed frame by frame.
This is how much health a Guardian has in the Crucible – What does the armor value bring in Destiny 2?
The health bar in Destiny 2 is divided into two sections: The white part indicates your shield. Once the shield is destroyed, only your health is displayed in red. Based on data from countless Crucible matches, the following health points have been determined based on your armor:
Health points without shield: 70
Shield with an armor value of 0: 116
Shield with an armor value of 5: 126
Shield with an armor value of 7: 128
Shield with an armor value of 9: 130
If you have a maximum armor value of 10, your total health is 70 health points plus the shield value of 131 summing up to 201. This is how much damage you can withstand before you need to respawn.
From this information, interesting conclusions can be drawn. The difference between armor values 0 and 10 is only 15 points that you can tank more damage. That doesn’t sound like much but can make the difference between victory and defeat in close multiplayer battles.
Furthermore, a high armor value offers a higher chance to escape from a fight, should you find yourself caught off guard and suffer a strategic disadvantage in the first exchange of shots.
It must be considered that with high armor sacrifices must be made in the other stats of recovery and mobility. Particularly, escaping from hopeless fights is better managed with high mobility.
How important the recovery value will be remains to be seen. Since the number of players in the various Crucible modes has been reduced from 12 to 8, and with it potentially the number of encounters decreases, it can certainly happen that Guardians shift their focus to armor and mobility.
What are the optimal TTK of the weapons in the beta?
Note: The optimal times listed here only apply under very specific conditions:
The opposing Guardian has, for simplification purposes, an armor value of 9 = 200 health points
The weapons are fired at their optimal range without damage fall-off
The opponent has no beneficial effects on their health points or shield
Only weapons from the beta with their best perks are equipped
No perks are active that, for example, deal more damage after a kill
Only kinetic and energy weapons are listed, power weapons are considered “one-hit kill” weapons and are therefore not considered
Scout rifles
In the beta, two representatives of scout rifles were playable: The Error Message and the Black Scorpion-4SR. The Error Message is counted among the slower-firing scout rifles while the Black Scorpion fires faster but deals less damage per shot.
For the Error Message, the optimal TTK is stated to be 1.20 seconds, but all shots must hit critically (headshots). The Black Scorpion has the advantage here, killing with six critical hits in 1.17 seconds. When comparing these values with the best scout rifle in its predecessor, glaring gaps are revealed.
The Mida Multi-Tool kills in the best case in 0.90 seconds. In these ranges, a difference of 0.3 seconds is enormous.
The type of very slow-firing scout rifles like the Jade Rabbit in Destiny 1 even kills in 0.80 seconds. However, no representative could be played in the Destiny 2 beta.
Pulse rifles
Here we could get our hands on the Nightshade and the Nergal PR4 in the beta. Since both representatives belong to the same type, the TTK is stated to be 1.20 seconds. Again, there have been great losses compared to Destiny 1, whose pulse rifles range from 0.67 to 1.00 seconds.
However, since the pulse rifles in the beta forgive much more (not all bursts have to be headshots), they felt among the best compared to hand cannons.
Hand cannons
With hand cannons, the Better Devil, the Suro GJS-42 and the Minuet-42 as well as the exotic Sunchaser could be tested. The optimal TTK is given for the legendary hand cannons with 1.30 seconds. The Sunchaser sends the Guardians to the afterlife after 1.20 seconds. For the best possible time, a total of four shots must be fired, two of which must hit critically.
Here, too, the weapons have been debuffed across the board. In Destiny 1, the optimal TTK was around 0.80 seconds. A massive nerf. At least the hand cannons in Destiny 2 are more “in line” with the other weapon classes, which should prevent them from being the only option.
Auto rifles
Here Bungie gifted us in the beta with the Scathelocke and the Deathstalker-4AU. Also, the exotic auto rifle Workhorse is part of the game. The Scathelocke sends you to the afterlife after 1.10 seconds, while the Deathstalker takes 1.17 seconds for the same.
The Workhorse takes a full 1.67 seconds before it can take a Guardian out. However, thanks to the exotic perk that increases the rate of fire as long as you hold down the trigger, this is a purely theoretical value, reducing the TTK to 0.93 seconds. The highest rate of fire of 900 rounds per minute can be achieved after firing 15 shots and fires as fast as a submachine gun.
Auto rifles unfortunately only reach their full potential at short range and when a large number of shots hit critically. At long distances, these weapons are unusable. Auto rifles performed better in Destiny 1, with a TTK of around 0.90 seconds.
Submachine guns
On paper, submachine guns offer the best TTK of all weapon types in the Destiny 2 beta. The Showrunner, the Phosphoros MG4 and the Red Mamba-3MG offer an optimal TTK of 0.93 seconds. The exotic representative Risky Business takes exactly 1.00 seconds to send a Guardian to virtual screen death.
Nonetheless, submachine guns were not among the most popular weapons of the beta, due to their short range and the difficult-to-control recoil. Particularly the recoil makes it almost impossible to achieve the headshots needed for the optimal TTK.
We are curious how other representatives of this indeed interesting weapon class will perform in the main game and whether Bungie will offer us ways to better control the recoil.
Pistols / Sidearms
In the beta, the Needle and the Urchin-3SI could be tested. While the optimal TTK of the Needle is stated to be 1.17 seconds, the Urchin-3SI offers the best TTK of all weapons in the beta with a value of 0.83 seconds.
This, however, is not a reason to celebrate. To achieve this value, six shots must hit critically, which is difficult to achieve with a sidearm, often used as a panic weapon.
Compared to Destiny, the TTK has not fallen sharply (between 0.50 and 0.70 seconds), but the number of required headshots has increased. It can be doubted whether this weapon class will play a significant role in the meta of Destiny 2.
Numbers don’t lie: PvP is significantly slower
Mein MMO says: Yes, we are looking at a beta. Yes, Bungie has clearly stated that nothing is final and can fundamentally be changed, but the trajectory is clear. The battles in the Crucible are intended to become more tactical and last longer.
The numbers impressively support this, the TTK has risen across the board.
This effect is further exacerbated by the massive nerfing of abilities like melee or grenades, which additionally slow down the fights, combined with the reduced movement speed.
We are unsure whether all these changes were necessary in one fell swoop, or whether it would have been better to approach them step by step. Although it is still unclear how the new Trials of Osiris mode (or what it will be called in the second part) will play, we see the risk that games will be stalled until the power ammunition is available, and that sniper rifles will again be played. Also, flanking will be made more difficult as team shots are effective.
What is your opinion on this? How will PvP evolve in Destiny 2? Let us know in the comments!
Blade and Soul will soon receive new raids. To ensure that as many players as possible can experience these raids, servers will be merged. It starts in August. Additionally, a new class will soon be added to the game and there will be eSports events as well.
The Kung-Fu MMORPG Blade & Soul will soon receive the new updates “Cloudy Water” and “Origin of Darkness”. These updates will include new story quests, as well as new dungeons and even raids. But what to do if no raid can form on the server because there are too few players?
Blade & Soul – Server Consolidation due to Raids
To keep the servers of Blade & Soul well populated, the developers at NCSoft plan to merge the existing realms in August.
This means that starting August 9, EU players will be distributed to the realms Jinsoyun, Eisenherz, and Naksun.
In the USA, there will only be Yura and Zulia as servers from then on. NCSoft will provide details about the server merge at a later time. In the comments and forums, the players are divided.
Some welcome the server consolidations and hope for a more stable population. Others see the game dying. The game has consistently lost players since its launch. However, according to other opinions, this is completely normal and no cause for concern.
eSports Championships at Gamescom and PAX West
Furthermore, soon bigger eSports championships will take place in Blade & Soul:
On August 24, the EU Regional Championship will be held at GamesCom
On September 3, the North American Regional Championship will take place at PAX West
All this information comes from an open letter by Producer Jonathan Lien. In it, he also announces a new class but does not mention which one it is. It likely revolves around the new Maestro class.
In August 2017, Xbox Games with Gold subscribers receive four cool games for free download. Included is a third-person shooter and a slimy adventure.
Those who subscribe to the Xbox Games with Gold service get a selection of games every month that can be downloaded for free. Since the selection covers many different genres, you keep discovering cool new games or classics.
After a false leak previously announced the four games for August 2017, the official game selection is now here. You can expect motorcycles, slime, hack and slay, and weapons.
Games with Gold August 2017 – Free Games for Xbox One and Xbox 360
In August, four cool games await you, appealing to different play styles. Those who focus on skill in connection with vehicles can prove their skills in Trials Fusion.
In Red Faction: Armageddon, fans of third-person shooters will get their money’s worth. Thanks to backward compatibility, Xbox 360 games can also be played on Xbox One. These are the games in the Games with Gold subscription for August 2017:
Free Games for Xbox One:
Slime Rancher – From August 1 to August 31 for free: In Slime Rancher, a fun adventure awaits you. The slimy sandbox game in first-person perspective presents you with new interesting challenges.
Trials Fusion – From August 16 to September 15 for free: In this racing game, you need to be not only fast but also overcome obstacles. Set best times for yourself or compete against other players on the leaderboard.
Free Games for Xbox 360
Bayonetta – From August 1 to August 15 for free: In this action game from Sega, you play as a witch who stylishly kills her opponents with combo attacks and various weapons. Executions and torture attacks with chainsaws are part of the “interesting” combat system.
Red Faction: Armageddon – From August 16 to August 31 for free: In this installment of the third-person shooter, you can expect various game modes. Among them is a wave-based “infestation” mode, where you must defeat waves of enemies with up to four players.
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Skull & Bones, the pirate MMORPG announced at E3 by Ubisoft, is said to have generated unprecedented interest from players. Therefore, Ubisoft plans for the pirate spectacle to be successful in the long term. It is expected to still be relevant 10 to 15 years in the future.
Since the major announcement of Skull & Bones at E3, it has been rather quiet around Ubisoft’s pirate spectacle. However, according to the developers, there is a great interest in the pirate MMORPG from players.
Skull & Bones: Extremely High Interest in the Beta
Due to the many beta registrations, Skull & Bones is, according to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemont, the most anticipated Ubisoft game to date. No game from the company has ever received so many beta registrations. Therefore, Ubisoft hopes for a great and especially sustainable success for Skull & Bones.
According to the developers at Ubisoft Singapore, Skull & Bones is intended to remain relevant for as long as possible. They cautiously aim for 10 or even 15 years of relevance and content updates if the title is successful.
Skull & Bones: From the Naval Combat Mode of Assassin’s Creed to Its Own Game
Originally, the developers in Singapore developed the naval combat system for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. However, since the naval battles became too complex for the assassin stealth game, they wanted to turn it into its own IP, according to an interview with Gamespot. The result is Skull & Bones, a standalone pirate naval battle MMORPG.
And while the interest in the beta for Skull & Bones is undeniably high, users in the comments and forums are generally rather skeptical. They fear that Skull & Bones may flop like For Honor if it relies solely on multiplayer battles. Rather, many players are hoping for a version of Assassin’s Creed without assassins and more pirates instead.
Frost Death Knights and Retribution Paladins can rejoice in World of Warcraft with a little extra help on damage, while Subtlety Rogues and Kil’jaeden are likely to curse under their breath…
After the final boss of Patch 7.2.5, Kil’jaeden, was first defeated worldwide by the Method Guild a few days ago, Blizzard followed up shortly after with a hotfix. This affects not only the general class balance but also the Tomb of Sargeras and particularly Kil’jaeden in Mythic mode.
Specifically, this means: Buffs for Frost Death Knights, Retribution and Protection Paladins, Nerf for Subtlety Rogue, Retribution Demon Hunter, and Kil’jaeden.
Here is a list of the major changes that will be implemented on the European servers during the night from July 25 to 26, 2017.
Death Knight
Frost
A bug was fixed that prevented Rune Weapon from generating a rune at the correct speed of 1.5 seconds.
The damage of all abilities was increased by 5%.
Paladin
Protection
The damage of the following abilities was increased by 4%: Shield of Vengeance, Judgment, Hammer of the Righteous, Blessed Hammer, Consecration, Shield of the Righteous, Eye of Tyr.
Retribution
Blade of Justice now deals 10% more damage.
Crusader Strike now deals 10% more damage.
Zeal now deals 10% more damage.
After the Frost Death Knight was pushed down the DPS rankings by its unholy brother, compensation was needed at this point. The holy Hammer swingers have also lost some strength lately, not least due to the changes to Blessing of the Ashbringer, and although they are not at the bottom, a little help with damage numbers is certainly appropriate.
Only the buff for the Protection Paladin, who already deals a lot of damage (and can take comparatively little), is questionable – especially compared to the equivalent nerf for their horned colleagues:
Demon Hunter
Retribution
Demon Spikes now reduces physical damage taken by 12% (previously 10%).
The damage of Fracture was reduced by 5%.
The damage of Soul Bomb was reduced by 10%.
The nerfs to the Rogue should be looked at separately, as no change is being made to the class itself, but rather to the currently best legendary items that the Subtlety Rogue can equip:
The duration of Master Assassin’s Cloak was reduced from 6 to 5 seconds (all specializations).
The cooldown reduction of Denial of Giants was reduced from 0.3 to 0.2 seconds.
Additionally, there are some adjustments in the Tomb of Sargeras that affect the Fallen Avatar and especially Kil’jaeden:
Tomb of Sargeras
Fallen Avatar
The health points of the Fallen Avatar were reduced by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
Kil’jaeden
The health points of Kil’jaeden were reduced by 5% on Mythic difficulty.
Armageddon now spawns 6 Armageddon Rains (previously 8) on Mythic difficulty.
Illidan’s Blind Gaze now deals less damage at all difficulty levels.
Demons’ Obelisk now spawns 3 Obelisks on the first use of the ability on Mythic difficulty.
Professional Guild Exorsus is upset about the hotfix
Especially the nerf to Kil’jaeden is upsetting for some raid guilds, as they feel like unpaid testers after hundreds of attempts on the final boss. How sensible the changes are is also questionable, as a large portion of the player base will likely still take a long time before they can face the Avatar or Kil’jaeden in Mythic mode.
Hotfix changes showing complete disrespect to all the efforts of top guilds. Free testers done their job, wasting month of their life.
The development studio Neowiz is working hard to launch the new and completely revamped version of the MMORPG Bless.
At its announcement in 2011, Bless was eye-catching. Many MMO fans had high hopes that an interesting online role-playing game was in development.
However, the game could not meet the expectations of testers and the publisher. Even before release, the game was essentially dead. But the development team did not give up and announced plans to revamp the MMORPG Bless.
Everything has been improved
This includes the systems for combat, resource gathering, crafting, mounts, and how to improve the character. Neowiz has taken all the feedback from testers to heart and wants to do it right this time. Regarding a release in the West, Neowiz intends to take matters into their own hands and has even hired community managers for Europe and the USA. But first, a major test of the new version is coming up, and it has now been confirmed when it starts.
The revamped version of Bless will launch on a test server in Korea on August 1.
The previous client can no longer be used as so much has changed in the game. The focus of the first test phase will be on character creation and improvement. The rune system has been revised and new systems for support, evolution, repair, and more have been introduced. The combat system now clearly differentiates between classes, and the entire skill system has been improved.
Does Bless really offer more fun now?
The same applies to crafting, which is now based on recipes that you first have to obtain to be able to create the corresponding items. Everything is supposed to feel smoother and more fun now. The UI has also been revamped, making it easier to chat or explore randomly generated dungeons with groups. An improved onboarding experience for newcomers is also included.
Perhaps we will receive some new information about Bless at the start of the beta in Korea and find out if it has really improved that much.
Paladins receives the new patch OB 55. A new champ is coming, drawing his power from the stars. Jenos is a damage-support with extremely high mobility. Furthermore, the MOBA shooter now gets a champion rotation where you can wildly try out new characters. Starting with OB55, you can also fight on the new map “Chasm Quarry”. The most important aspect of this patch is: Torvald finally gets an epic skin!
The hero shooter Paladins will soon receive a new patch, OB55. This update brings a galactic supporter into play, who can not only heal but also deals significant damage.
New champion Jenos has the power of the stars – Here are his skills
The new champion in Paladins is named Jenos and brings with him the strength of the universe. With his 2600 health points and the following abilities, he will shake up Paladins significantly:
Star Splitter is his weapon and deals 120 damage every 0.13 seconds at medium range.
The Astral Mark is a heal that lasts for 10 seconds and can be used through all walls. The target is healed for 250 every second for a duration of 10 seconds. 8 seconds cooldown.
The Void Grip is a control ability. A target is lifted for 2.5 seconds and takes 150 damage per second. If the target uses a movement ability, it becomes free early. 12 seconds cooldown.
To escape himself, Jenos uses the Stellar Wind. This is a buff with no cooldown that prevents him from using his weapon during it. He moves 75% faster, can jump higher, and falls slower to the ground.
His ultimate Through Time and Space freezes Jenos for 1.5 seconds, making him immune to control effects during that time. Then he fires a long beam that pierces all obstacles, dealing 2400 damage.
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But there is not only a new champion, but also a new map! In the Chasm Quarry, the new siege map, there are new assets and thus a fresh design. While the payload is pushed, attackers and defenders have to fight in a long corridor – there will mainly be long-range battles, although flankers can take shortcuts.
New hero rotation with Paladins OB 55
With the release of the patch, there is also a new hero rotation. The following heroes can then be played for free:
Cassie
Fernando
Pip
Skye
Viktor
The patch for the Open Beta 55 goes live tomorrow, on July 26, 2017.
Black Desert Online offers every hero starting at level 56 a new Awakening weapon along with new skills. In Korea, a feature is coming that unlocks new skills for the basic weapon, providing a sort of second Awakening. Read here how it works.
In Black Desert Online, every player at level 56 is excited, because finally there is a new weapon. The so-called “Awakening weapon” is a new weapon, such as a large scythe for the previously unarmed Sorceress or a two-handed sword instead of the usual sword-and-shield combo of the Warrior.
The problem was, developers and players found; as soon as the hero unlocked their Awakening weapon, they only used that. The “basic weapon” remained unused. Now, they want to address this with a “second Awakening”. This is supposed to empower the basic weapon.
Black Desert Online – Awakening before Awakening
Thanks to the new gameplay mechanic “Rahm’s Enlightenment”, players in Korea receive three new skills for their basic weapon. One of them is the primary skill, while the other two are secondary abilities.
The secondary skills can be combined with the main skill to create a new skill. This ability is as powerful as the Awakening skills. You can see how these skills look in action in this video from Korea.
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Due to these new skills, basic weapons will also become more attractive and need not shy away from the Awakening weapons. When the new feature will come to the Western version is still unclear. Likewise, the release of the new class Mystic, a female version of the fighter. You can view the character creation options of the new heroine in the following article.
How do you want to develop your hero in Albion Online? What equipment should he wear? What are others running around with? The Character Builder provides answers to all these questions.
It has been about a week since Albion Online, the sandbox MMORPG from the Berlin developer and publisher Sandbox Interactive, was released.
Unlike most other representatives of the MMO genre, this game primarily relies on the will and initiative of the players. There are no questlines in Albion that guide you through the world of the game. How you progress in this title is entirely up to you. This does not mean, however, that you have to do it completely without motivation and guidance.
Clothes Make Classes
One of the fundamental mottos of Albion is “You are what you wear”. Without a fixed class system in the game, your equipment and its effects largely determine what role you take on in the game.
If you prefer to play as a healer but can’t stand flowing robes anymore? No problem, just wear plate armor. Which combination you choose to equip is up to you. You can easily lose track of the mutually influencing effects and the corresponding buff food.
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To counteract this and simultaneously provide you with some new inspirations for future equipment builds, Albion Online has a Character Builder.
Your Desired Build – Equipment and Skills
In this, you can arbitrarily combine all theoretically available equipment items and their possible abilities. This way, you can easily find out which combination of skills and effects suits you best.
This is possible for both solo play and group configurations. With this, you will already know in advance which paths in the fate tree you should focus on to be able to use the items you have chosen.
Tool Shows You What Others Are Wearing and Why
In addition to the combinations you create yourself, the Character Builder also gives you access to equipment combinations created by other players. You can sort these using some quick selection fields.
This way, only the builds that actually interest you will be displayed.
The tool also includes an article section. In this, you will find helpful guides and tips on the various sections of the game, such as Farming, Housing, or a list of the best resource gathering spots.
To create and upload your own creations, you will also need an account on the official game forum and must possess either a Founder or Starter Pack of the game.
Regarding Fortnite, the colorful and fun survival co-op shooter from Epic Games, there was recently an “Ask-me-Anything” session on Reddit. During this, the developers talked about their future plans: more events, heroes, buildings, and game modes.
Fortnite has only recently been available as an early access title and it is already a lot of fun. However, there is still much to improve and expand. Therefore, the developers recently held a Q&A session on Reddit, where players could voice their opinions.
Fortnite – Early access version will be continuously expanded
During the AMA session, numerous questions were asked. For example, about upcoming content, the backstory of the zombies, or about comfort features like inventory access via the main menu. You can find the collected answers here:
There will be new events, outposts, mission types, heroes, and building plans – The possibilities are currently only limited by the team size.
A “Endless Horde Mode” is currently in planning and should come this year.
The collectible book will also continue beyond 100.
There will be a colorful mix of new content, as well as more events like at launch. Events are important to the developers!
The biggest challenge in development was integrating the building system into a shooter. Therefore, you cannot crouch!
Players want a kind of “Placeholder Mode”, where they can indicate where a structure should be but is not yet built. For example, to convey a building plan nonverbally to the team. Or even to predefine and save specific structures, such as a watchtower or a simple wall ring. The developers think this idea is good and will keep it in mind.
The system of how individual achievements in a mission affect the loot level is not final yet, hence the somewhat strange fluctuating reward levels.
It is intended that with simple survivors, who are just picked up somewhere, only the finder receives a reward. In challenge missions, where a survivor is overrun by zombie hordes, all players receive a reward.
Possibly an open-world mode will come in the further future.
There will be no skill reset, there will be enough skill points to unlock everything over time.
There will be no larger stacks than 99 in the inventory.
Customization options like hats or backpacks for heroes are planned.
Heroes will be continuously balanced, including the explorer, which some currently find not very useful.
The balance in Overwatch is a major problem in the community. Does it cater to the pros or the “casuals”?
Although Overwatch is basically a solid game, there are always some issues that the community encounters. One of them is the balance of the game, as it seems Blizzard is not following a clear line.
Whose balance policy is Blizzard following? The pros? Or the “casuals”?
The user unampho sparked a discussion in the official Overwatch forum, which gained a lot of traction. Ultimately, even Jeff Kaplan, the Game Director of Overwatch, chimed in and explained Blizzard’s position:
“I have seen so many posts in this forum accusing us from both sides; that we align balance only according to the pros or only according to the casuals.
Both views are massively exaggerated simplifications of how we actually arrive at our solutions. We feel responsible for all aspects of the game. And when we talk about balance changes, we discuss a lot how it affects all levels of the game. We are not blind to either side and will continue to represent both. Some decisions are more aimed at one group than the other – but always with long considerations of what that means for the other side.”
Players are disappointed by Kaplan’s views
The hoped clarification from this post by Kaplan did not materialize. Most players agree (at least in the forum) that balance should only cater to the pros. Because only then can Overwatch establish itself as an eSport title.
For instance, the buffs to Winston and nerfs to Roadhog seem completely unnecessary to many “pros”. These overpowered and underpowered characters are the reason why “more and more professional teams are throwing in the towel”.
Cortyn says: The discussion is difficult. Especially since most players are “casuals” – and that probably includes the majority of readers and me as well. The discussion has taken on a messy “Us (pros) against the others (casuals)” character, while most players seem to forget that they themselves belong to the casuals.
Nonetheless, I also believe that the balance should be more oriented towards the best players. Because only then do I have an incentive to get better – to be able to master characters I currently struggle with.
What should the balance of a game be based on? Pros? Casuals? A healthy mix of both?
