In Black Desert Online, the Dark Knight has slipped out of the shadows and you can finally play a dark dark elf. In addition, there is a special event for the Dark Knight and discounts for the one-year anniversary of Black Desert Online.
Therefore, you will surely see many pale elves with large “war knives” zigzagging across the BDO world on their donkey starter mounts this evening.
The Dark Knight invites you to the Schnitzel Seal Hunt
In line with the launch of the Dark Knight, there will also be a special event in the game. From March 1st to March 29th, you can find Dark Knight seals from monsters and while fishing or gathering. You can exchange these until April 5th at the following rates:
15 seals: 1 Weapon Black Stone
10 seals: Armor Black Stone
The big celebration for the first birthday of BDO
Black Desert Online has now been available in the West for a year and is celebrating this with a big boss event that takes place on March 3rd, 2017. In it, you will fight special bosses for special loot.
But even those who do not want to fight and prefer to trade all day will get something. Every player can collect a special birthday cake for the 1st anniversary from their mailbox until March 8th, 2017. Unclaimed cakes will disappear afterwards.
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In addition, there will be 20 percent more combat experience and even 100 percent more points on weekends to celebrate the Dark Knight until March 29th. Ideal for dealing well with the Dark Knight. By the way, you can find out how the elf plays in the video by Refaser, which is embedded here.
Dark Elf underwear discount in the shop
In the real-money shop of Black Desert Online, there are 20 percent discount coupons for all currently active players from today. Ideal for buying the new underwear and jewelry sets for the Dark Knight, which are also available from today.
The coupons do not apply to gifts, pearl packages, loyalty items, and pet food! If you apply a coupon to an item that is already reduced by 20 percent, you will receive a total discount of 36 percent. Further patch notes for today’s update can be found in the source reference.
On PlayStation 4, Tearaway Unfolded. In this game, you dive into a paper world to deliver a secret message. However, there are also monsters in this world that want to stop you.
Additionally, Disc Jam: An action sports game where 2 to 4 players compete in a mix of air hockey and tennis. You throw a glowing disc back and forth. Below you will find a video that gives you an impression of it.
Thanks to cross-buy, there is another title for PS4: Lumo.
List of free PS Plus games for March 2017
Here is the complete game lineup:
Tearaway Unfolded (PS4)
Disc Jam (PS4)
Lumo (PS Vita, PS4)
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late (PS3)
Earth Defense Force 2025 (PS3)
Severed (PS Vita)
These games can be downloaded and installed starting March 7th. Until then, the February 2017 games are still available for download.
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Once a month, “PS Plus” members receive a delivery of free games that they can download from the PlayStation Store and add to their library. This game lineup is included in the subscription of the online service. PlayStation Plus costs nearly 50 euros per year.
Every month, online gamers on PS4, PS3, and PS Vita eagerly look to see which games they will receive from Sony this time. The games are often quite controversial in the community, as they can never meet the tastes of all players.
Are you satisfied with the “PS Plus” games for March 2017?
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EA and Dice have now announced names and themes for all 4 DLCs that will be released for Battlefield 1.
Players of Battlefield 1 will receive the first DLC, bringing the French army into play, later this month. More expansions are planned for the World War shooter, and the developers have now revealed details about them. The four expansions are available for individual purchase or as part of the Premium Pass, which also offers two weeks early access to the content.
As the developers have now announced, players with the Premium Pass will be able to play this expansion on March 14, 2017. Two weeks later, on March 28, the official release of They Shall not Pass in Battlefield 1 will take place.
“The route of the new content leads players across France: they fight in the cauldron of Verdun, take cover in the depths of Fort Vaux, where fierce battles rage in its gas-filled tunnels, and participate on the banks of the Aisne in the largest tank offensive of the war.”
In The Name Of The Tsar
After the France DLC, three additional expansions follow. The second expansion is called “In The Name of the Tsar” and unlocks the Russian army in Battlefield 1.
“Players march with the Russian army to the greatest front of World War I and fight in Galicia with the legendary Hussars during the Brusilov Offensive. They become part of the battles of Operation Albion on an icy archipelago and combat enemy troops in the snow-covered ravines of the treacherous Łupków Pass.”
Turning Tides
The third expansion is called “Turning Tides” and focuses on amphibious combat. There is a new destroyer that you can use to participate in battles at sea.
Apocalypse
The fourth DLC for Battlefield 1 is named “Apocalypse” and lets players participate in the most notorious battles of World War I. Improvised weapons and brutal tools assist you in the fights.
“Players conquer contested areas with brutal tools and unique weapons that have arisen out of necessity. As they descend into hell, they come closer than ever to the nightmarish horrors of World War I.”
In Final Fantasy XIV, Patch 3.55a is live. In addition to the final chapter of the Anima weapon quest, it also brings delivery requests for NPCs.
The first half of Patch 3.5 “The Far Edge of Fate” – the last patch before the expansion “Stormblood” in June – was released in January for Final Fantasy XIV. Now the second half is here, 3.55. However, it has also been split again because it wasn’t completely finished. 3.55a is already on the live servers, and 3.55b is expected to follow in a few weeks.
Criticism of Proto-Ultima and Anima Weapon Series
3.55a brings the final part of the Anima weapon quest series. Additionally, the fight against “Proto-Ultima” is now regular game content.
There is some criticism of Proto-Ultima from fans, as they expected more. Proto-Ultima was seemingly inserted into the “Dun Scath” instance without much care, and the encounter doesn’t fit well. It replaces the previous fight against the Succubus.
Mechanically, the encounter is likely not of a very high level. Fans refer to it as a “trash mob that you can easily wipe out.”
YouTuber Charles, an expert on Final Fantasy XIV, also criticizes the new part of the Anima weapon series. From his perspective, it seems more like an unnecessary extension rather than a true climax of the quest chain.
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After the hype from the fan fest in Frankfurt, parts of the community expected more from Patch 3.55a. Also, that the new emotes will be available in the cash shop (“5€ each”) doesn’t please Charles.
NPCs will become your friends when you run errands for them
A new feature is interesting: Delivery requests.
Here you can deliver items to NPCs. In return, you receive red and blue craftsman or gatherer’s certificates, Gil, and certain collectibles. You need to earn the NPCs’ trust first, then the requests and rewards will become more elaborate.
The next patch, 3.55b, is expected to bring the revised “Diadem” before moving on to Stormblood. Hopefully, the community will have less reason to complain then. It is typical for patches before major expansions in MMORPGs to be weaker.
In the past, there have been reports that the player numbers of the space MMO EVE Online are declining. However, according to recent information, the profit that CCP Games was able to make with the game actually increased last year.
As CCP Games announced, the revenue last year was increased from $65.7 million (in 2015) to now $86.1 million, which corresponds to an increase of 30 percent. Additionally, the number of active players of EVE Online doubled over the year 2016.
This could be attributed to the switch to the Free2Play model last November. Because with over 50,000 concurrent active fans, a new record was achieved.
EVE Online is still popular
EVE Online is therefore far from being dead. Even though the game has continuously lost players over the past years, 2016 shows that there is still great interest in the sandbox title – not only from the loyal fan base but also from new players. EVE Online presents a unique challenge, as there is no hand-holding like in other online games. Much of what the fans need to achieve on their own.
A game with certain risks
This “Risk vs. Reward” principle has a certain appeal. Because those who risk a lot in the game can achieve a lot, but there is also always the danger of losing everything. This was demonstrated by the “Brun Jita” event last weekend. During this annual attack event, ship losses amounted to about $13,000.
The year 2017 will surely be very interesting for EVE Online. Whether the upward trend can be maintained or whether players will drop off again will be seen throughout the year.
Guardians achieved an incredibly strong performance in Destiny: They completed a Nightfall strike in under three minutes.
The YouTuber Hazabow recently uploaded a video of the “incredible” kind. In it, he showcases a speedrun that he himself dubbed the “Fastest Nightfall Strike in the World.”
The Nightfall strike is the one from last week, where it was against the Hive monstrosity in “The Monstrosity Heist.” With his fireteam, Hazabow manages to complete the entire Nightfall in 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Take a look:
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This monstrosity has probably never been defeated that quickly
The enemies at the beginning of the strike are left behind. Until the door phase, the Guardians race through the strike with their Sparrows. At the locked door, they coordinate and take down the spawning enemies at a crazy pace, rush further through the strike, fly through the ship phase with swords, and eliminate the monstrosity within seconds.
For this, the Guardian uses The 4th Horseman – a shotgun with Arc damage. Since Arc burn and Specialist were active last week, this weapon hits extremely hard in the video. They also use Light weapons. Cheats are apparently not being used.
Unfortunately, you can’t replicate this now, as a new Nightfall has already started. What do you think of this achievement?
In FIFA 17 FUT, the TOTW 24 (Team of the Week 24) is known. These players receive IF cards.
This Team of the Week 24 features numerous highlights! With a rating of 94, Robert Lewandowski from FC Bayern stands out. Kane has also managed to hit an overall rating of 90. Many players, like Cesc Fabregas, Verratti, or Nainggolan are in the high 80s. Here is the complete Team of the Week 24:
The ratings and player attributes of the “Team of the Week” players – Week 24
Starting Eleven:
GK: Geronimo Rulli – Real Sociedad (Spain) – Argentina
LB: Alex Sandro – Juventus (Italy) – Brazil
RB: Nelson Semedo – SL Benfica (Portugal) – Portugal
LB: Patrick van Aanholt – Crystal Palace (England) – Holland
CM: Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea (England) – Spain
CM: Marco Verratti – PSG (France) – Italy
LM: Memphis Depay – Olympique Lyonnais (France) – Holland
CM: Idrissa Gueye – Everton (England) – Senegal
ST: Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich (Germany) – Poland
ST: Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur (England) – England
FW: Radja Nainggolan – Roma (Italy) – Belgium
Substitutes:
GK: Etrit Berisha – Atalanta (Italy) – Albania
CB: James Chester – Aston Villa (England) – Wales
CM: Naby Keita – RB Leipzig (Germany) – Guinea
CAM: Jens Toornstra – Feyenoord (Holland) – Holland
CAM: Adrian Gonzalez – SD Eibar (Spain) – Spain
RW: Susaeta – Athletic Club de Bilbao (Spain) – Spain
GK: Connor Ripley – Oldham Athletic (England) – England
CB: Mattia Caldara – Atalanta (Italy) – Italy
RW: Jota – Brentford (England) – Spain
ST: Jakub Sylvestr – Aalborg BK (Denmark) – Slovakia
ST: Conor McAleny – Oxford United (England) – England
These were the predictions:
TOTW 24 in FUT – Predictions
The YouTuber VIVALAFIFA sees these players as hot candidates for the Team of the Week 24:
Starting Eleven:
GK: Gerónimo Rulli (Real Sociedad)
CB: Kamil Glik (AS Monaco)
CB: Sokratis (Borussia Dortmund)
LB: Alex Sandro (Juventus)
CDM: Blaise Matuidi (PSG)
CM: Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea)
CM: Radja Nainggolan (Roma)
LW: Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyonnais)
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)
ST: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern München)
ST: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Substitutes:
LB: Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)
CM: Ruud Vormer (Brugge KV)
RM: Güray Vural (Kayserispor)
LW: Alexander Szymanowski (CD Leganés)
LW: Kingsley Coman (Bayern München)
ST: Konstantinos Mitroglou (SL Benfica)
GK: Connor Ripley (Oldham Athletic)
CB: Mattia Caldara (Atalanta)
LW: Jota (Brentford)
ST: Jakub Sylvestr (Aalborg BK)
ST: Conor McAleny (Oxford)
https://youtu.be/QWSI_r837VQ
We will update this article as soon as the TOTW 24 is announced by EA Sports.
What is the TOTW in FUT 17?
Every Wednesday, EA Sports reveals the Team of the Week in the “Ultimate Team” mode of their annual football simulation. This is also the case in FIFA 17. Here, players who showed outstanding performances in real football over the past week are rewarded with special cards that have improved attributes.
You can pull the TOTW cards within a week from those sets that may contain Rare (Gold) players. However, the chance of this is considered low. Additionally, you can purchase these on the transfer market when they are offered by other players. The prices are usually extremely high.
The Year of the Mammoth in Hearthstone has begun and Patch 7.1 brought some nerfs. We have the details for you.
Hearthstone enters the second year of the standard format, leaving the Year of the Kraken to usher in the Year of the Mammoth.
Two cards have been adjusted or “nerfed” as they have proven to be too powerful in the game. The widely hated Smalltime Buccaneer, a staple in every Warrior deck, now has only 1 health (previously 2). The Shaman’s Spirit Claws were weakened by increasing the mana cost from 1 to 2.
The ranked mode has now become a bit more attractive, as there are certain thresholds that you can’t drop below when reaching a rank. Once you achieve a certain rank, you can no longer drop down even after multiple defeats. This should encourage players to try new decks more often and spend more time in ranked matches. The thresholds are as follows:
Rank 20
Rank 15
Rank 10
Rank 5
Legend
Arena Mode – More Variables, More Variety
In the future, there will also be golden cards in the Arena.
The Arena mode has also been significantly revamped with the patch. From now on, only standard format cards will appear in the Arena, as the “wild” cards will disappear. At the same time, rare, epic, and legendary cards will be offered much more frequently, as well as spells. The “boring” cards from the basic and classic sets should appear significantly less often, as they provide interesting gameplay only in a few cases.
Finally, the Arena will now also feature golden cards if you own a golden version of the selected card in your collection.
Pre-order Journey to Un’Goro and Grab Card Backs
If you want, you can now also pre-order 50 card packs of the “Journey to Un’Goro” expansion for €44.99 in the shop and secure a special card back. The card back will, as usual, only be available during the pre-order phase.
Everyone else should start saving gold diligently.
The best-selling games in January are known. Alongside favorites like LoL, Overwatch, and WoW, ARK Survival Evolved and even Destiny make an appearance.
The analytics firm Superdata regularly releases figures, which games generated the most revenue digitally. This is primarily fueled by “microtransactions” that put money into the coffers. These small or not-so-small “in-app” purchases allow players to gain advantages or cosmetic items in the in-game shop of games. Therefore, practically all games on PC and consoles are so-called “Games as a Service” products with a long lifespan.
In January 2017, the table for the individual sectors looks like this.
The usual suspects dominate: LoL, FIFA, Clash Royale
Anyone who has dealt with these numbers before sees the “usual suspects” everywhere. On PC, the MOBA LoL is at the top, followed by the two Asian games Crossfire and Dungeon Fighter Online.
Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and World of Tanks follow in the ranks. There isn’t much change throughout the year; especially among the top games, it seems quite cemented.
GTA ages well – Destiny still brings in money
On consoles, FIFA 17 remains strong with its microtransactions. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare may have faced a lot of criticism, but revenues still come in and it’s not insignificant. Compared to its predecessor “Black Ops 3,” the title still looks bad. Black Ops 3 earned significantly more in the previous year than Infinite Warfare does now.
Grand Theft Auto V is a regular guest in the top ranks. The oldie was released in 2013 but earned more in January 2017 than it did the previous year. GTA V is aging well.
There hasn’t been much change in the upper ranks of consoles for years. Only the year for FIFA and the title for Call of Duty change from year to year.
However, a game like Destiny, where hardly anything has happened since September 2015, still generated significant revenue in January on PS4 and Xbox One. Competitor The Division was ahead of Destiny in 2016 but fails to make it into the top 10 in January 2017.
ARK Survival Evolved breaks into the non-AAA game ranks
Surprisingly strong for a “non-AAA game” from a major publisher are the dinos of ARK: Survival Evolved. Here, they bite off a significant portion of the pie among the big players. The game earned more money digitally in January on consoles than, for example, Battlefield 1.
In mobile games, “Clash Royale” remains a phenomenon. Pokémon GO ranks 4th here, even though little was happening in the game in January. Since the release of Season 2 in mid-February, that has changed again.
The year 2017 will be interesting for Pokémon GO players. Because according to Niantic, 3 major updates are planned!
Good news for Pokémon GO players: There will be major changes for the augmented reality game this year. During the “Mobile World Conference,” John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, confirmed that three major new releases are planned for 2017. The current features and mechanics are just the beginning of what players can expect in the future.
Trading feature? Arena overhaul? Many possibilities for updates
During his presentation, Hanke mentioned that the release of the 2nd generation was the first major update in 2017. Over 80 new Pokémon can now be caught or hatched by trainers in Pokémon GO. You can find all the new Pokémon of the 2nd generation here.
Niantic has three major releases planned for Pokémon GO this year. What changes these will entail and when they will be released have not been disclosed.
The community has been speculating for weeks about new features and changes such as:
PvP battles: “Trainer versus Trainer” battles where you can pit your Pokémon directly against each other.
Trading feature: Trading is one of the basic functions of a Pokémon game, just like Trainer battles. With such a trading function, you could expand your collection more conveniently. For some monsters, you even have to leave the country, as some Pokémon are not available in Germany.
Improved arena mechanics: The current arena system is not well received by many trainers. But Niantic is also not satisfied with the arenas. The battles do not yet match the vision that the developers have for this mechanic.
Regarding PvP battles and the trading feature , Hanke already commented in an interview with Vice. He stated that these features are already “on the way”. Whether it is really these features that will be released next remains unclear. Many players prefer improved arena battles and PvP options over a trading feature. Such a feature makes completing the Pokédex too easy and is a lower priority for some players.
If these three new updates come regularly, we can expect a major release approximately every 12-14 weeks. This news gives hope that Pokémon GO will remain interesting for many months or even years and will reward players with new features that provide variety in the game.
In Paladins, crystals are the premium currency used to unlock skins, among other things. However, there are ways to earn crystals without investing money.
Crystals are a premium currency in Paladins that allow you to get champions, cosmetic items, and chests. It is also possible to change your username with crystals. The easiest way to obtain crystals is by purchasing them with real money. However, there are ways to get crystals for free. We will show you how to get crystals in Paladins.
Daily Reward – Crystals as a reward for daily login
You will receive rewards for daily logins through the “Daily Reward” system. Players who log in daily to Paladins will receive gold and crystals over a period of 7 days. From Day 1-5, you get gold, and for Day 6-7, you get crystals.
If you fail to log in once, the system resets to Day 1. After Day 7, the cycle also resets. So, it is possible to receive crystals twice within 7 days.
If you have activated an “Account Booster”, you will receive an additional 200 gold and 5 crystals daily when logging in. Account Boosters can be purchased with crystals.
Daily Reward, the daily reward levels:
Day 1: 100 gold
Day 2: 150 gold
Day 3: 225 gold
Day 4: 350 gold
Day 5: 500 gold
Day 6: 15 crystals
Day 7: 35 crystals
“Refer a Friend” Bonus – Get crystals for free through friends
With the “Refer a Friend” bonus, you can unlock exclusive skins, crystals, and gold. You receive rewards by achieving milestones and when you play with referred friends.
Milestone Rewards
You receive these when a referred friend reaches level 15.
If you are the referred friend yourself, you will also receive rewards.
Team Play Bonus
If you play as a referred friend in a group.
1 hour played: 500 gold
5 hours played: 1,000 gold
10 hours played: 2,500 gold
15 hours played: 200 crystals
20 hours played: 200 crystals
Additionally, there are level rewards where you receive extra gold for reaching certain levels. The gold is obtained for referred friends and when you are the referred friend yourself.
PvE Quests – Win crystals weekly
In PvE (Player vs Environment), you and your team compete against the game. You fight against a team of bots that have enhanced properties and reduced cooldowns. If you manage to complete the PvE quest 5 times, you will receive 50 crystals. Once per week, the reward can be unlocked by each account.
It often happens that you can win crystals through special events. Here you need to keep an eye out and listen for when such an event is happening. Sometimes, for example, Paladins gives out crystals for watching an official livestream.
These are the ways to get crystals in Paladins. In conclusion, here is a brief summary of how you can obtain crystals:
Buy crystals directly in the shop
Get crystals as a “Daily Reward” for daily logins
Receive crystals through the “Refer a Friend” bonus
In The Division, we provide an overview of the bonuses and talents of all gear sets after Update 1.6.
With the first update “Incursions”, gear sets were introduced in Ubisoft’s MMO shooter. Over the following updates, additional sets were added, which, however, did not lead to the expected variety, but rather to significant imbalances in gameplay.
Therefore, the gear sets have been revised multiple times, especially with Update 1.4. But there were also changes with 1.5 and 1.6. The announced SEEKR set is not yet in the game. This needs to be reworked.
What the gear sets can do after 1.6
Therefore, we now list all gear sets with their bonuses and talents. What can the 14 unique sets do?
Call of the Watcher
2-set bonus: +30% precision
3-set bonus: +10% headshot damage
4-set bonus: Talent – Headshots with semi-automatic weapons mark the target and increase the damage dealt by 5% for 30 seconds. One target can receive up to three marks.
Assault Gear of the Striker
2-set bonus: +20% stability
3-set bonus: +10% damage to armored enemies
4-set bonus: Talent – Each consecutive hit deals 1% more damage. The bonus can reach up to 100%. Missed shots reduce it by 2%. The bonus decreases by 1% per second.
Authority of the Tactician
2-set bonus: +15% skill haste
3-set bonus: +10% skill power
4-set bonus: Talent – For each bullet your group hits a target, you gain 0.2% skill power, with the bonus capped at 30%. The bonus disappears only when a skill is used.
Path of the Nomad
2-set bonus: +15% health on kill
3-set bonus: There is a constant, minimal healing, allowing the user to regenerate all segments of the health bar during combat.
4-set bonus: Talent – If you take a lethal hit, you regain all health. Usable every 4 minutes.
4-set bonus: Talent – Deal 10 hits to a foe without changing targets to inflict damage over time. This is 50% of the damage dealt.
Loyalty of the Hunter
2-set bonus: +20% optimal range
3-set bonus: +10% headshot damage
4-set bonus: Talent – When you hit an enemy with a bullet, you and your group are temporarily protected. The further the shot distance, the greater the protection. Each group member’s protection disappears when hit by an enemy bullet.
Final Measure
2-set bonus: +25% exotic damage reduction
3-set bonus: +15% protection from elites
4-set bonus: Talent – When you are within the range of an enemy grenade or mortar, these are neutralized and added to your inventory. Usable every 8 seconds.
Lonely Hero
2-set bonus: +100% ammunition capacity
3-set bonus: +8% LMG damage and +8% shotgun damage
4-set bonus: Talent – When the weapon is holstered again, it is instantly reloaded.
AlphaBridge
2-set bonus: +100% health regeneration
3-set bonus: +5% weapon damage
4-set bonus: Talent – If the primary and secondary weapon belong to the same category, the equipped weapon gains the third (constantly active) talent of the weapon that is not used. Additionally: All talent requirements for weapon talents are irrelevant.
DeadEYE
2-set bonus: +40% initial stability
3-set bonus: +20% marksman critical hit damage
4-set bonus: Talent – While zoomed, marksman rifles lose the headshot bonus but gain a 100% critical hit chance. Only works with “zoomed scopes”.
4-set bonus: Talent – Damage is increased by 15% against burning targets.
Recover
2-set bonus: +30% more range for the support station
3-set bonus: +50% lifespan for the support station
4-set bonus: Talent – All mods of the support station are active simultaneously.
Banshee (Death Fairy)
2-set bonus: +20% looted DZ currency
3-set bonus: +10% damage to targets out of cover
4-set bonus: Talent – As a Rogue ammunition is fully replenished every 30 seconds. Damage from non-rogue agents is reduced by 10%. As a non-rogue agent damage against rogue players is increased by 10%. This bonus is increased to 20% for 10 minutes after being killed by a rogue agent.
D3-FNC (Frontline)
2-set bonus: +15% protection from elites
3-set bonus: +10% damage to elites (since Update 1.7)
4-set bonus: Talent – Allows the use of a submachine gun when a ballistic shield is active. The critical hit chance of the SMG remains active since 1.6. However, the shield no longer has an active skill mod. If the SMG is out of ammunition, you automatically switch to the secondary weapon.
With Patch 1.8 (PC) or 2.05 (PS4, XB1), the balance carousel continues in Overwatch . Roadhog is hit hard again, while Mercy is happy about new buffs.
With the beginning of the new month, a new patch has been deployed for Overwatch that is active on both PC and consoles. Version 1.8 brought both the server browser and the permanent game mode “Capture the Flag” to multiple maps.
Ana
New hero option: Sensitivity of Nanoboost
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Nanoboost.
Bastion
Configuration: Sentry
The reconfiguration time has been reduced from 1.5 seconds to 1 second.
The spread has been increased by 50%.
Maximum spread applies at all times (no increase from prolonged firing of the weapon).
The magazine size has been increased from 200 to 300.
No longer adds critical damage.
Configuration: Recon
The spread has been reduced by 25%.
The magazine size has been increased from 20 to 25.
Self-Repair
Can now be used while moving.
Now bound to the secondary fire mode (previously Ability 2).
No longer interrupted when taking damage.
A new resource bar has been added that depletes when self-repair is active and recharges when self-repair is not used.
Configuration: Tank
No longer provides bonus armor.
New passive ability: Ironclad
Bastion takes 35% less damage in Configuration: Sentry or Tank.
D.Va
Defense Matrix
Enemy projectiles no longer need to travel a minimum distance before being blocked.
Mei
Cryostasis
Mei can now also be targeted by allies while in Cryostasis.
Mercy
Resurrection
Mercy’s resurrection now not only grants allies temporary invulnerability but also herself.
New hero option: Sensitivity of Guardian Angel
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Guardian Angel.
New hero option: Beam Sensitivity
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Mercy’s Caduceus beams.
Roadhog
Shotgun
The spread has been reduced by 20%.
Chain Hook
Targets now land 3.5 meters in front of Roadhog (previously 2 meters).
The cooldown has been increased from 6 to 8 seconds.
Sombra
New hero option: Sensitivity of Hack
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Sombra’s Hack ability.
Symmetra
Turret
[CONSOLE] Damage per second has been increased from 21 to 25.5.
Torbjörn
Screw Gun
Ammo is now reloaded earlier during the reload animation.
Deploy Turret
[CONSOLE] Damage has been increased from 10 to 12.
Widowmaker
New hero option: Sensitivity of Grappling Hook
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Grappling Hook.
Winston
The critical hit zone has been reduced by 15%.
Zarya
New hero option: Sensitivity of Projected Barrier
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Projected Barrier.
Zenyatta
New hero option: Sensitivity of Orb of Harmony
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Orb of Harmony.
New hero option: Sensitivity of Orb of Discord
Players can now adjust the target sensitivity of Orb of Discord.
Additionally, there were some bug fixes. You can view the full patch notes as always in our sources.
We summarize our conclusion on the Open Beta here. Did the open beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands convince you or did it scare you off?
Initially, there was a closed beta for Ghost Recon Wildlands, which provided access to the game from February 3 to 6. Players were able to try out various aspects like weapons, missions, or gameplay in a large beta. However, several issues in Ubisoft’s tactical shooter were also clearly highlighted. The vague vehicle controls and the AI’s sometimes “clumsy” behavior were especially criticized.
Last weekend, players were able to test the tactical shooter Ghost Recon Wildlands in the second beta. Did the game fare better with fans in the open beta?
Criticism of the open beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands
When a game is in the beta phase, it is clear that the title is not error-free and still has some issues and potential for improvement. After the closed beta, players requested a later release so that the developers would have more time to improve. There are now many positive feedbacks from participants after the open beta.
While there are still criticisms, many players found that the recent testing phase was the reason to purchase Ghost Recon Wildlands. These opinions can be found on Reddit or in the comments on our website.
There is still criticism regarding the behavior of various vehicles in the game. While one should not expect vehicle controls like in racing games from Ghost Recon Wildlands, the beta version of the cars, planes, and motorcycles did not convince. With a bit of practice, one gets used to the vague, imprecise controls. However, it felt like an unfinished project that required more work.
Another point of criticism was the matchmaking for coop players. Those looking for other players online, whether alone or with friends, often had to deal with players who preferred a different playstyle. A selection in the player search for “Stealth” or “Loud” would make it easier for other players to join the right team.
To date, players with grenade launchers encountered teammates with silencers. And as is often the case in online games, few use the communication system and then complain when missions do not go as they would like.
Much praise for the coop experience
The beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands convinced many players especially with its coop factor. In the tactical shooter, you can form teams of up to four players and work together on story missions and side missions. This also includes messing around in different vehicles or trying out daring maneuvers and stunts with players who are in the plane.
Being able to play story missions together with friends and not just engage in small operations in the open world is a significant plus point for Ghost Recon Wildlands, which unfortunately other games with coop modes do not offer. Far Cry 4 was mentioned in this context, where main and side missions cannot be solved with other players.
There are many positive responses regarding the open beta on Reddit. The required teamwork and the various ways in which players can approach the missions are well received. The character customization and the weapon customization with over 10,000 combinations were already convincing in the beta.
Conclusion on the open beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands
As expected, the game also had its rough edges in the open beta. However, in my opinion, these did not make the tactical shooter “unplayable” or destroy the enjoyment of the game.
One should not simply accept or ignore these problems, but it became clear during the test phase that the game can still be fun. If these obvious issues are resolved, we can expect an even better game at release.
Hopefully, the vehicle controls will be worked on before the release, and the community’s criticism will be taken into account. A major Day-1 patch could at least regulate many of the mentioned issues.
For me and my team, with whom I played both the closed and the open beta, the purchase of Ghost Recon Wildlands is now certain.
Did the beta phases of Ghost Recon Wildlands convince you to buy the game?
The little Murloc from HotS has to go back to the bench – nerfs limit him significantly after his rework.
The latest patch of Heroes of the Storm not only brought the new hero Lúcio into the game but also significantly overhauled the little Murloc Murky. In the latest balance update to Heroes of the Storm, the young Murloc has now been drastically nerfed again, as he turned out to be too powerful.
Murky – Nerfed across the board
Specifically, his health points have been reduced from 761 to 730, and his slime has been significantly weakened. The slow now lasts only 6 seconds (previously 8) and slows by only 20% (previously 25%).
It particularly hits one of the heroic abilities hard. The cooldown of Murloc March has been increased from 80 to 110 seconds. This talent was particularly powerful with the upgrade at level 20, where the march could be channeled indefinitely.
Besides that, other talents have been trimmed. Murky now requires more stacks to bribe mercenaries, and the healing of his rejuvenation bubble has also been reduced.
In addition, there are small buffs for Varian as well as adjustments for Tychus (shorter range, stronger self-healing) and a reduction of the root effect on Malfurion.
You can view the complete patch notes in our sources.
Cortyn says: I really liked the update of Murky, and I wondered for a while whether I was just good with the Murloc or he was too powerful – apparently the latter. I find it unfortunate that the slow is being weakened, as that was precisely his strength: slowing enemies while the rest of the team cleans up. Other adjustments, such as with the Murloc March, I find reasonable. Especially since the cooldown starts while channeling and not just when the spell is finished.
In March, spring begins, but a few promising online games are also launching this month. Above all is the highly anticipated open-world coop spectacle Ghost Recon. But Black Desert Online is also worth a visit again thanks to new heroes.
March may not always be sunny and warm, but officially, winter is over at the end of this month and sunny times are upon us again. It will also be sunny for fans of online coop games, as early in the month, Ghost Recon offers a special treat from the genre of online coop shooters.
Ghost Recon Wildlands – Four Daredevils Against the Cartel
In Ghost Recon Wildlands you fight as US elite soldiers in a near future against the ruthless Santa Blanca drug cartel. In the now tenth part of the Ghost Recon series, you are finally roaming an open world. The virtual Bolivia consists of 21 provinces that you can explore.
https://youtu.be/0Mm8VphsZ80
Ghost Recon Wildlands – The Full Open World
In this vast game area, the cartel has spread, produces drugs, and tyrannizes the locals. But not for long! Because your player characters are already on-site.
The goal is to dismantle the cartel and eliminate the boss “El Sueño”. But before you can take out the cartel king, you first have to eliminate his underbosses. You can only get to them once you suitably disrupt their operations.
Therefore, you roam through the wilderness and complete missions in the open world to weaken the cartel by blowing up a drug lab or kidnapping a chemist essential for drug production. The vast game world offers countless possibilities, and you determine how you proceed.
“This is my gun, there are many like it, but this one is mine!”
To ensure you are equipped for every mission, Ghost Recon Wildlands offers you numerous weapons with over 100 additional components to build. This way, you can create the ideal weapon for each task.
Is the enemy heavily fortified? Then build the perfect sniper rifle and pick off the baddies from a distance.
If you want to storm the place, then build yourself a top assault rifle with extra magazine, reflex sight, and under-barrel grenade launcher for that big bang! The best part of the whole spectacle is that you can play Ghost Recon with up to four players in coop mode!
Ghost Recon Coop Mode – The Four-Man/Woman Army
Similar to Ubisoft’s The Division, you can easily and straightforwardly play Ghost Recon in coop mode. You can invite up to three more ghost elite soldiers to your team and then act particularly effectively against the cartel.
For example, one of the players can act as a sniper taking out enemies from a distance, while two comrades storm the base wildly shooting and spooking the enemy. Player number three arrives in the combat zone via helicopter, provides air support, and ensures a successful retreat.
Only in coop mode does Ghost Recon Wildlands really come into its own, but if you currently have no players at hand, the parts of the comrades are also taken over by the AI. Similar to your weapons, you can also customize your respective Ghost soldiers individually.
Ghost Recon Wildlands will be released on March 7 for PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
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In The Division, the Last Stand PvP mode utilizes normalization. We explain how this works here.
The “Last Stand” DLC introduces the eponymous “Last Stand” PvP mode. In it, you engage in 8v8 battles, defeating some NPC enemies along the way, and try to collect data faster than the opposing team.
To prevent players with optimized builds from dominating in this enclosed PvP mode, Massive employs normalization. This is only active in “Last Stand”; the “normal Dark Zone” is not affected by this. The developers aim for skill, not gear, to determine victory.
How Normalization Works – The Division 1.6
During the PTS phase for 1.6 and “Last Stand,” normalization was tested and adjusted multiple times. When you enter a “Last Stand” match in The Division 1.6, your characters will be modified (normalized):
Gear: All equipped items (weapons and armor pieces) are set to a Gear Score of 256.
Armor:
Main attributes (firearms, stamina, electronics) are set to the maximum roll for the equipped armor pieces.
All bonuses on gear and performance mods are given the maximum roll.
Weapons:
Weapon talents are activated based on the normalized main attributes.
All weapon bonuses (including mod bonuses), weapon damage, and attributes are set to their respective maximum values.
Additionally:
All players are set to a 35% armor reduction. This armor reduction can, however, be influenced by talents and skills.
What is Not Affected by Normalization?
With all these adjustments, the question arises: What remains untouched by normalization? What features still make my agent unique?
You can freely choose the character talents
The gear set talents function in “Last Stand” the same as in the rest of the game
The weapon set bonuses and weapon talents remain normal
Furthermore, you can choose the bonuses on the armor pieces and mods. These will be maximized – but which bonuses get maximized is up to you.
Have you played “Last Stand” yet? What are your impressions?
You want to play SMITE Tactics, the fun mix of Hearthstone and a turn-based strategy game? Then you need a beta key. We have a whole bunch of them for you.
SMITE Tactics is a whimsical spin-off of the colorful MOBA title SMITE, where real gods fiercely battle over lanes, towers, and minions. If the hectic fighting in MOBA is too much for you, you can instead try SMITE Tactics. This game is a clever mix of a turn-based strategy game and the card spectacle Hearthstone.
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You control your supreme god turn by turn and summon better monsters, lesser gods of your chosen pantheon, servants, divine artifacts, and spells with mana crystals that increase each round. You have prepared this reinforcement as a card deck before the battle, just like in Blizzard’s card spectacle Hearthstone. By winning, you gain resources and acquire better cards with them.
SMITE Tactics – That sounds totally awesome! I want to play it!
The gameplay of SMITE Tactics sounds fun and is. However, if you’re already eager for the god tactical card battle, you need a beta key because the game has only recently entered closed beta. But don’t despair, dear readers! We have received a bunch of keys from the developers at Hi-Rez Studios and would love to give them away to you. To do so, you just need to sign up through the embedded form and perform 3 actions. As long as supplies last!
SMITE Tactics combines the gameplay of Blizzard’s card game Hearthstone with the tactical turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic. Additionally, it features all the cool deities from the MOBA SMITE, resulting in a game with hit potential! We tried the beta of SMITE Tactics and have some cool giveaways for you!
SMITE by Hi-Rez Studios lets you pit ancient deities against each other in a fast-paced MOBA. But what to do if you prefer a more relaxed strategy game or card battles but still love the gods and their designs?
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With the currently closed beta of SMITE Tactics, the folks at Hi-Rez have developed exactly the game that might appeal to more relaxed players and fans of the gods.
On one hand, it is a turn-based strategy game in a limited arena. This arena is divided into various rectangular game fields, with obstacles and dangerous terrain between them. You start with your main god on one side of the field, while the opponent starts with their leader on the other.
The goal of the game is to take down the enemy leader by reducing their health points to zero through attacks and spells. Each round you can make movements and attacks with your main god as well as your minions. Positioning is important since ranged fighters need a clear line of sight, and melee fighters need to be within reach of their opponents.
If you poorly position your figures and plan ineffectively, you could lose what you thought was a secure match because your strongest fighter can’t reach the enemy in the decisive round. Anyone familiar with the iconic strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic should get accustomed to SMITE Tactics quickly.
Card Battling like Hearthstone
If you’ve been paying attention, you’re probably wondering, “Yes, nice, you say there is a main god to start the game per side and nothing else. Where do the spells and minions come from?” Quite simple: You have a set of cards in your hand, and each card represents either minions, lesser gods from your pantheon, useful items, or spells. Each round you draw another card.
Each card requires mana to be played. This mana is gained each round. You start with two mana crystals and gain one crystal each round. If you want to summon particularly strong creatures like the Furies or the Ice Giant Ymir onto the battlefield, you’ll need to be patient. Cheap cannon fodder like archers or cursed Vikings, on the other hand, are available from round one for just 1 mana.
If this all sounds familiar: Yes, it is exactly the same gameplay as Blizzard’s card epic Hearthstone.
How Does SMITE Tactics Play?
Since both Hearthstone and Heroes of Might and Magic are turn-based strategy games, the two game concepts fit together perfectly. Additionally, there’s an important strategy aspect in play. Before each game, we choose a card deck built around our main god and their pantheon.
Currently, there are pre-made decks for Zeus (Greek Gods), Odin (Norse Religion), and Ra (Egyptian Mythology). Each deck has a different strategy:
Allfather Odin’s Vikings are a rough bunch and rely on strong melee fighters and direct damage spells
Main God Zeus and his Greek Gods are balanced fellows who feature strong ranged and melee fighters as well as many buffs
Sun God Ra from Egypt is a master of magic and nasty effects. He steals minions from enemies or simply kills them with magical power.
In addition to the above-mentioned main gods, there are currently alternate options available like Freya or Poseidon. Furthermore, there are the gods of ancient China that you can unlock. You earn more cards for your decks by winning many rounds and thereby unlocking resources for card purchases.
Additionally, a campaign mode is planned that will grant you further rare cards. Alternatively, you can buy cards for real money or dismantle excess copies to build new ones from the scraps – just like in Hearthstone!
Jürgen’s Conclusion on the SMITE Tactics Beta
I love Hearthstone, and I played the earlier Heroes of Might and Magic games to the utmost. And I am also a huge fan of ancient gods and myths. However, SMITE itself has never truly impressed me, but SMITE Tactics opens doors for me and captivated me from the very first turn. The blend of card game and turn-based strategy with tactical positioning on the battlefield works brilliantly and convinces.
However, the game still shows its beta state quite clearly. Many cards simply have some fantasy artwork as placeholders, often dead creatures just disappear without animation, and sometimes I couldn’t execute skills and properties despite the correct conditions. The balance also isn’t optimal yet, as I often win very quickly, and sometimes I have hardly any chances against the enemy’s strategy.
But I don’t want to be too critical as everything is still in beta, and some rough edges and issues are completely acceptable. However, if Hi-Rez puts as much effort into SMITE Tactics as it did with SMITE, then this could become the godly strategy game we are all waiting for!
Cortyn’s Take on SMITE Tactics
SMITE Tactics is a diamond in rough form. Unrefined and uncut, currently more like a piece of coal. But while playing, you can already see what this project could become in time. The tactical elements are already grand, and the mix of card game and strategic positioning of your units brings fresh air. This makes the game less “luck-based” than a pure card game, but at the same time less suited for chess masters compared to similar games.
I am most looking forward to the campaign mode, which is currently only seen as an empty menu item on the start screen. Just the tutorial missions have sparked my appetite for “more” absurd stories from the war of the gods’ pantheons. I will definitely check back into the game in a few months. If Hi-Rez does it right, there could be a little strategic gem awaiting us here that, like Paladins, could become a very solid free-to-play representative of its genre.
But until then, a lot of time and work needs to be poured into SMITE Tactics. Simply importing the models from the “real” SMITE won’t be enough to uncover the hidden diamond. Be sure to keep an eye on the project: In a few months, it could be on everyone’s lips.
MOBA Fan Leya Also Checked Out SMITE Tactics
The tutorial of SMITE Tactics already captivated me with a lot of atmosphere and gives hope for a promising narrative style. That’s why I’m especially excited about the planned campaign mode. The gameplay felt quite refined and rounded for an early beta. While the animations were still peppered with bugs here and there, they reminded me of one of my favorite games from back in the day: Battle Chess.
In SMITE Tactics, I had the feeling of being on a chessboard. It is crucial here to logically link each move in the correct sequence and be aware of your playing field. Especially the menu and card selection could still be embellished. But if SMITE Tactics continues in its current direction, it could become a true gem among strategy games.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the sandpark MMORPG ArcheAge , the February patch 3.0b brought a behemoth and a new underwear system.
The highest zone in ArcheAge so far was introduced last week: Reedswind. And high is meant literally here: The region consists of floating islands. The Thunderwing Titan, a powerful undead, rules there. We already introduced this recently.
However, it didn’t take long for the first adventurers to claim his scalp. Yesterday, ArcheAge announced its achievement: The guild FEMA managed to defeat the Thunderwing Titan. The “Version-First” kill goes to Kyrios, a US server.
With the February update 3.0b, a new “underwear system” was also introduced. Trion Worlds happily announces “Change Your Underwear, the power of underwear has now reached the next level.”
In ArcheAge, underwear is a complicated matter. Through Synthium and jewels, it can be enhanced to yield better stats.
Underwear is indeed a controversial topic in ArcheAge. It must be washed regularly to maintain its stats – every 30 days, “Synthium Soap” must be used to keep the stats intact.
Trion Worlds proud of its own underwear system
At Trion Worlds, they are proud of their underwear and say: We have our own system for our version, which is not as “RNG-heavy” as in other regions. We have underwear from various sources. In the past, Trion Worlds has repeatedly emphasized that they are negotiating with the Korean developer XLGames to make their version less “pay-to-win” than the original in Korea.
What the future holds for ArcheAge is already known. A glance at South Korea helps – they have come a good way up with the heroes, through an Alternate Advancement:
