One of the most successful German Hearthstone players has had enough. Blizzard simply does nothing for the competitive players, he claims.
Among the most famous German Hearthstone experts is certainly Adrian Koy, who is known to most as Lifecoach. In every match, he meticulously analyzes the many possibilities and counter-options available before making his decision at the last moment.
Lifecoach is indeed a phenomenon in his own right. He earned a large part of his wealth first as a professional poker player and later in the real estate market. Then he switched to things that he enjoys more: Hearthstone. Here, too, he has a solid record, having earned over $130,000 in tournaments, placing him 9th worldwide.
However, Lifecoach has “had enough” of Hearthstone, as he himself puts it. In his view, Blizzard has been working against the competitive scene for three years and is removing mechanics that allowed for strong combos.
“Either Blizzard is unable to change it, or they simply do not want to change it.”
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However, he has already found an alternative: Gwent from the Witcher developers. In this game, it would be different. If you lose a game, it’s not due to RNG factors but simply because you played poorly. Mistakes are punished more severely, and good moves are rewarded.
“I want a mental challenge. When I develop a passion for something, I want to be able to improve at it. With Hearthstone, that’s simply not possible anymore.”
It is worth mentioning that Lifecoach has announced his retirement from Hearthstone several times before. Although this time it does sound more serious.
The RNG factor in Hearthstone constantly leads to wild discussions. For some players, it is a nightmare as it undermines strategy and sometimes turns the game into a coin toss. Other players love Hearthstone precisely because of these random factors, which always create exciting, absurd, and unforeseen situations.
The background download for Overwatch has begun and the PTR is closing. Are we getting a new hero now?
If you started your Battle.net launcher today, you will have inevitably noticed that Overwatch has begun downloading a future update. The PTR, the test server for Overwatch, has now been closed.
At the same time, maintenance work has been announced for Tuesday, February 28, 2017, between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM – the perfect time to roll out the new patch.
Along with patch 1.8, most players expect that the next hero will be implemented in Overwatch. Although Blizzard has not made any official announcement about this, the teasers and hints strongly suggest that. However, the next hero will not be Doomfist – this has already been confirmed by Jeff Kaplan – which shifts the focus to the young inventor Efi Oladele and one of her robots. According to a leak that had predicted much before, the robot lady is named “Anchora” and is a quadruped tank.
Other hints indicate a more “human” appearing robot resembling a mecha suit from anime series. The posters in Numbani speak of a “Fashion Week” that is held in “Numbani, New York and Paris”. And – oh what a coincidence – on February 28 in real-time, the Fashion Week in Paris begins. Coinciding with the date of the patch. Perhaps “Aetria” is also a new character that will soon see the digital light of day.
Revelation Online, the colorful and action-packed MMORPG from My.com, launches today, February 27, into open beta and thus into the soft launch of the release version.
If you’re not in the mood for carnival today on Rose Monday, February 27, but are looking for fast and colorful Asian MMO action, you can unleash yourself in Revelation Online today. From 14:00 Between 14:30 and 15:00, the early access of the online role-playing game starts. At least, if you have purchased a founder’s package. Regular access to the beta will otherwise be available only on March 6.
Open Beta and Soft Launch
As is common with many MMOs, the start of the open beta also serves as a soft launch for the release version. Therefore, there will be no more wipes, and the heroes you create today will remain with you. However, your characters from the closed beta are gone forever and deleted.
If you reserved a name by February 21, you can enter it today with your brand new heroes and head out. If you want to have a founder’s package: You can purchase one at the provided link. They will be available until the official start of the open beta on March 6.
In WoW, with Patch 7.2, new designs for artifact weapons are coming soon. However, obtaining them won’t be that easy.
The artifact weapons are at the center of character development in World of Warcraft: Legion. Sure, there are still traditional loot and equipment items, but they pale in comparison to the sheer power of a well-equipped artifact weapon. As a downside, this means that all players of a specialization will run around with the same weapon.
To compensate for this, Blizzard has designed numerous alternative skins for the artifact weapons. With Patch 7.2, each weapon will receive another variant with a total of 4 different colors.
The Challenge Version of Artifact Weapons
1. Color: The base variant of the new skin is available through a weapon-specific challenge. This is a tricky quest that presents players with a few challenging tasks and is reminiscent of the “old” quest lines from Curse/ Blessing (Priest) or Lok’delar and Rhok’delar (Hunter). The exact quest lines are not yet available on the PTR, and they may not even be testable before the patch’s release.
2. Color: Defeat Kil’Jaeden on heroic while wearing the challenge version of the weapon (Color 1).
3. Color: Win 10 rated battlegrounds while wearing the challenge version of the weapon (Color 1).
4. Color: Defeat all dungeon bosses from Legion while wearing the challenge version of the weapon (Color 1).
Talented players who seek out all types of content should acquire the new skins in a relatively short time. However, it is also possible that the various challenges are relatively hidden and, similar to the “Hidden Skins”, must be discovered in the game world.
In Destiny, the Gjallarhorn will soon be available for everyone to purchase. It comes with several features but also has its price.
The biggest Destiny fans among you will need to clear more space in the living room soon, because in 2017, you will be able to purchase some action and collectible figures for the MMO shooter – including a Gjallarhorn in “almost life-size.”
The Titan features “Glass Chamber” armor with Gjallarhorn and a taunt.
The Warlock has “Kingsfall” armor with Malicious Touch and Black Spindle.
The Hunter wears “Iron Banner” gear with the Ace of Spades and Thorn.
The figures are about 18cm tall and cost $20 each. In an interview with Polygon, Chris Council, the brand manager of McFarlane Toys, stated that the company closely collaborates with Bungie and pays attention to many details. Many of the toy designers are huge Destiny fans.
However, these three figures are not the only toys that McFarlane will be releasing in 2017.
Lord Saladin towers over the Guardians
Additionally, a figure that is 25cm tall is being produced, thereby surpassing the other action figures by a few centimeters: Lord Saladin, who is equipped with his axe. This Iron Lord will cost $34.99 and is expected to be on shelves by the end of 2017.
All four figures are male, by the way. Council mentions that female action figures unfortunately tend to sell worse than the male ones. Exceptions would be characters like Harley Quinn.
However, it is emphasized that this is only the first wave of Destiny figures. McFarlane Toys would love to work on a female Guardian in the future.
Gjallarhorn and Gjallarwing as toys
Furthermore, McFarlane Toys is working on two Destiny toys that are not action figures. For $34.99, a Gjallarwing Sparrow will be available, which is compatible with the Guardians (18cm). You can place the figures on the Sparrow.
Additionally, there is this:
If it’s not clear from the picture: This is an Iron Gjallarhorn in “almost life-size.” It is a prototype made by McFarlane for a hefty $10,000.
The retail version will look similar, but the company is still working on the materials and details. In retail, the Gjallarhorn will be sold in three parts. The final product is expected to cost $150 and be light enough for cosplay use.
On top of that, the rocket launcher can produce four different sounds, including the explosions of the main projectile and the tracking projectiles.
Gjallarhorn and Gjallarwing will be available for purchase by the end of 2017.
According to the US site Polygon, McFarlane has applied for a special permit from US authorities to be able to forgo the “orange ring” around the muzzle of the Gjallarhorn. This “orange cap” is a requirement for toy guns in the USA to prevent them from being mistaken for “real guns.” There is likely no such confusion with the Gjallarhorn – it remains to be seen whether this permit will be granted.
In For Honor, the Samurai faction succeeded in reaching the Knights’ fortress in the faction war.
The “Faction War” represents the meta-game of For Honor and is meant to reflect the global and cross-platform war between factions. Players use their war resources to defend their own territories or conquer enemy areas. The map is updated every six hours, making the front shifts visible.
Since the launch on February 14th, each faction has managed to gain dominance multiple times, which subsequently led to a collapse and the loss of conquered territories. Thus, the faction war balances itself out more or less.
But a few days ago, the Samurai faction was able to celebrate a strong triumph: they managed to reach the Knights’ fortress. What happened then?
Players are disappointed – nothing happened
The great disappointment: The enemy fortress cannot be attacked, nor does any event start. After all, there are “Events” above the fortresses on the map. In short: Nothing happened at all.
Players hoped that Ubisoft would have built in some reward for this – even if it were just a steel bonus for this time. However, the faction war continued as normal. Discontent spread on reddit. Ubisoft is accused of missing an opportunity to set another “goal” in For Honor.
Faction War – Round 1 ends soon
However, the faction war will offer an “event” again in just a few hours that fans are looking forward to. On the coming night from Monday to Tuesday, the first round of the faction war will end at 3 AM. What will happen then is still unclear.
The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new stand-alone add-on called Morrowind in June. In it, you will once again visit the region of Vvardenfell, and you can see how it looks in a gameplay video from developer ZeniMax.
You recently got to see the first gameplay scenes from Morrowindin a new trailer for the upcoming stand-alone expansion of The Elder Scrolls Online. Now the developers at ZeniMax have gone even further: In a stream on Twitch, Creative Director Rich Lambert runs through the new regions of Vvardenfell for 20 minutes while community managers Gina Bruno and Jessica Folsom relay questions from the community.
ESO – Morrowind: Pure Nostalgia!
In the tour through Morrowindyou will see the most important regions and cities of the land.
The journey starts in Seyda Neen, the starting region after the tutorial of Morrowind. By the way, you can still play this tutorial if you don’t create a new hero but continue with your old character. Seyda Neen was already the starting region in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.
Next, we head to Ald’Ruhn. During the time of ESO-Morrowind, there is a holy place of the Ashlanders here, who still live in yurts and gather around the hollowed-out shell of a giant mudcrab. This will even be accessible!
The highlight of the tour is clearly the stop in Sadrith Mora, where the famous giant mushrooms of the Telvanni wizards can be found. The wizard with the “biggest” one is the top dog here. You even get to see one of the bizarre mushroom towers from the inside.
The neat and canal-pierced city of Balmora is next on the agenda. There you will see one of the giant silt striders that take the place of the usually existing way shrines in ESO.
Finally, the journey leads to the city of Vivec, named after a god who lives there in person. This settlement was gigantic and complex in ancient Morrowind; in ESO, the city is just being built and is therefore far from finished. So, it won’t be easy to get lost.
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We have embedded the recording from the stream here for you. Those who want to explore Morrowind themselves will have to wait until summer. ESO – Morrowind will be released on June 6 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
During a livestream at Paladins the new champion Inara was introduced. She will be the first female champion on the frontline and seems to wield the element of earth.
So far, the frontline in Paladins consists exclusively of men. However, it is already colorful and diverse in the frontline, as we have:
What Paladins is still missing, however, is a lady in the frontline. Starting with patch OB 45, Inara will support the gentlemen in front with her stone spear and barriers.
Paladins OB 45: Inara – What we know about the new frontline lady
So far, we don’t know what Inara looks like, but we have already gotten an impression of her abilities and weapon. Inara briefly appeared in the champion selection on the PTR. Her planned abilities were visible here, but nothing more.
During the last Paladins stream, Inara was officially confirmed and introduced as a frontline champion. With her abilities, she manipulates the ground and stone, and her weapon also has stone elements.
Inara’s abilities – Will she be a barrier tank?
It is still uncertain whether the presented abilities will remain exactly as they are, as they have only been briefly seen on the test server. They have not been officially confirmed yet.
However, the abilities give a good impression of what the planning is for Inara’s role. She seems to be some sort of barrier tank.
LMT: Stone Spear – Fires three projectiles, each dealing 350 damage in 0.6 seconds, every 6 seconds.
RMT: Earthern Guard – Enter a defensive state that lasts 5 seconds. You receive 50% reduced damage.
F: Warder’s Field – Place a stone obelisk that pulses, slowing enemies by 60% and dealing 150 damage per second.
Q: Impasse – Place a thin wall that grows from the ground and lasts for 8 seconds. Activate the ability again to make the wall grow to its full height.
E: GAE Bolg – Prepare a devastating spear throw and gain increased jump height. Once the spear is thrown, it will pierce through shields and immobilize enemies for 2 seconds in a radius of 25 units from the impact of the spear.
The translations of the abilities are not official.
Inara’s weapon and gameplay – How will the spear function?
During the stream, it was possible to take a look at Inara’s weapon. It is a spear with three sharp, floating stones at its end. In the following video from “Joshino”, some initial gameplay of Inara can be seen. Unfortunately, there isstill no look at Inara herself,but thefunction of her weapon and abilities.
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Leya says: Inara’s spear outwardly looks to me like a ceremonial staff, and I could imagine that she is some kind of elemental priestess. Her spear and abilities suggest that she can manipulate earth and stone. Perhaps she is also a witch/mage like Evie. The winter witch Evie influences ice and snow as she wishes and also has a staff as a weapon. Who knows …
Inara’s planned abilities seem to be suitable for holding back opponents and protecting objectives. I wouldn’t want to get too close to her spear, it deals good damage and additionally has an AoE stun with the ultimate. I’m curious whether these abilities will make it into Paladins or if a lot will change for Inara. I’m definitely looking forward to the frontline lady and can’t wait to test her.
How do you like Inara so far, and what do you think her background is? With the new heroine, Paladins’ current tier list will surely shift again.
The sales figures of the PlayStation VR exceed Sony’s expectations.
Many people are skeptical about virtual reality. Is this really a technology that the gaming world has been waiting for? Can VR headsets succeed in the market despite their hefty prices?
Among these skeptics was Andrew House, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. He doubted that VR would storm into gamers’ living rooms. When Sony had to decide how many “PlayStation VR” headsets should be produced, House was one of those who advised a lower number and more caution.
915,000 units sold in 4 months
As reported by the New York Times, House revealed specific sales figures in an interview: The PSVR was sold 915,000 times by February 19 (about four months after launch).
According to the CEO, Sony’s internal target was 1 million sales within 6 months. The set goal will likely be achieved.
There are no official figures from the competition, but the market research company SuperData estimates that Oculus Rift sold 243,000 and HTC Vive 420,000 units by the end of 2016.
More top titles, more players
A general problem with VR is that most games only offer short gameplay experiences. After a few hours or even minutes, the fun is already over. The market is predominantly filled with mini-games. AAA titles are scarce.
One exception is Capcom’s Resident Evil 7, which was released in January 2017 and can be played entirely in virtual reality.
According to House, it is a success: Since the release of the horror game, the average playtime for PSVR users has doubled. However, more AAA games will be needed to speak of the “breakthrough of VR”.
The “external” expectations for the PlayStation VR were much higher than Sony’s internal ones. Analysts had already lowered their very high sales expectations in December after the big hype around VR had not materialized in 2016:
Today is the last day of the open beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands – Use the last minutes in Bolivia now.
Since Thursday, February 23, players have been able to participate in the test phase of Ghost Recon Wildlands. In two regions, various story missions and side quests can be found that provide initial insights into the story of the tactical shooter. The end of the open beta of Wildlands is still today at noon, so you should quickly complete the tasks you set for yourself in the game.
Wildlands – Open Beta ends today
Last weekend, you could explore two regions of Ghost Recon Wildlands. The Itacua region was already known from the closed beta and gave players the opportunity to approach the missions with different tactics. In Montuyoc, the story continued and provided further insights into the story of Wildlands. If you have not yet completed all the missions you intended to do here, you should hurry.
Today at 12:00 PMis the end of the open beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands.
Then the doors to digital Bolivia will close, and you will have to wait until March 7 for the official release of the game for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
During the beta, there were errors and server issues that made playing during this test phase difficult. However, these problems mainly occurred at the start of the beta, and became less frequent over the weekend. Thus, in the last few days, one could still get a good impression of the game.
Did the beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands convince you, and will you buy the game?
Sombra hacking is not just bad, sometimes it’s really humiliating. Just like in our Overwatch PotGs of the week.
Every week, absurd, exciting, or just funny moments happen in Overwatch that are often captured in a “Play of the Game”. We have once again searched social media and picked out three special highlights for you. Enjoy our 3 “Play of the Game” moments of the week!
Our first entry comes from player FlyingPotato, who enjoys having a bit of fun with Sombra. On the map Eichenwalde, he discovers an opposing Pharah who feels a bit too secure in the air. This one gets hacked decisively and has trouble regaining altitude. But she manages to prolong her death – but Sombra shows no mercy.
Anyone who plays Roadhog knows the problem. Some heroes, like Tracer, are incredibly hard to catch with the hook. Either they shove you away, teleport, or dissolve into smoke. Player Fancyhog obviously played against too many Tracers that evening, as he was able to predict their teleportation precisely. “Cheers love, the cavalry is here” – not today, Tracer.
https://gfycat.com/BigheartedIndolentConure
Sniper duels in Overwatch are either some of the most exciting or the most boring moments in the game – there is hardly anything in between. In a 3v3, rounds are usually decided quickly, but as quickly as in this case, it is unusual. Player SLM as Hanzo just comes out of the spawn room and climbs the first wall when the enemy Widowmaker swings up and prepares for the deadly headshot. But she probably won’t feel like a true winner.
Have you also experienced a particularly cool game scene that you captured on video? Then just send us a link to the video, and maybe you will find your clip in this post next week!
Today, Hearthstone will unveil a new expansion – at least all the information suggests that.
Hearthstone is slowly entering the “hot phase” again. The meta is once again stagnant, and most players have gotten used to the cards from “The Streets of Gadgetzan” by now.
A few weeks ago, rumors about the next expansion surfaced, as a voice actress who has worked on other Blizzard projects, had the title “Lost Secrets of Un’Goro” listed on her resume. Shortly after this became known, the title was removed from the resume.
And today seems to be the big day when the curtain falls and Blizzard finally reveals the next expansion. How do we know this so precisely?
Ben Brode himself announced it on Twitter! He wrote that “he is looking forward to Monday” and posted a picture of himself with an axe and exotic plants in the background. The setting strongly resembles Un’Goro, which is yet another confirmation of this addon for fans.
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Concrete details will probably be revealed throughout the day – likely in the late evening hours. As soon as there is a first trailer, fresh cards, or even a fixed release date, we will of course report on it.
Update: Yes, the new Hearthstone expansion really came. All information can be found in this article:
At Destiny, we received a fairy tale from our community. Iocaste tells a story featuring numerous Exotics and legendary weapons. Can you find them all?
This Destiny fairy tale comes from our reader Iocaste, enriched with 92 exotic weapons, exotic armor pieces, and legendary weapons. Enjoy reading.
A long time ago on the Nemesis Star …
Long ago, in an eternity far away, two queen rulers lived on the Nemesis Star.
In the south reigned the Dragon Queen Suro. Suros Regime was benevolent, and her realm stretched from Dusk to Garrison. But her dragon breath was so foul that it once sent two to the morgue and even drove all hawks to the moon.
The Thunder Princess Telesto lived with her husband Mida and her brother Tlaloc in the north. The princess’s marriage was no shining dance machine, but Mida multitooled his universal device like an eternal warrior.
Nova Mortis and Telesto – Something is brewing
Nova Mortis, the beloved of Tlaloc, despised the beautiful Telesto. She devised a plan to unleash the first curse upon the kingdom. She sought out the terrible Ahamkara in the south, a dragon that once attacked Telesto’s kingdom and was banished as punishment. The cunning of this cryptic dragon led to the discord between the two queens, causing them to avoid all contact ever since.
“Oh terrible Ahamkara, Telesto’s strength, intellect, and discipline far exceed my own. Help me forge a curse to execute my plan C of seizing the throne. Take my soul as payment,” Nova pleaded.
Ahamkara snorted. This was the opportunity to take revenge on the Thunder Princess now that he finally possessed a soul.
Someone was eavesdropping!
But they were not alone. The Outcast Klaas overheard the murmuring, and his seventh sense gave him the extremely good advice to seek out the Dragon Queen Suro.
Ahamkara began to weave the curse: “Oh Shinobu, heed my plea, grant me the oversoul, I vow to you Shinobu!” He repeated the words over and over again until a brilliant beam shot into the sky.
Telesto’s husband Mida must pay the price
Thunderlord Mida returned home after a crashed party when something evil reached him. Such a pity. As tipsy as he was, a malicious touch was enough to be caught by the pull of doom.
The news of his death spread like wildfire and cloaked the Thunder Princess in mourning. Therefore, Tlaloc represented her on the throne.
In the south, Suro also heard the rumor that Mida was dead. Shortly afterwards, her servant Primus appeared with a prisoner.
“He has breached the Queen’s bow and intruded into your land. We apprehended him at Saladin’s Watch,” said Primus.
Suro glared angrily at the Outcast. “How dare you, unauthorized one!”
“My name is Vex Mythoklaas, short Klaas, and I witnessed the first curse. The terrible Ahamkara forged it in the forests near Monte Carlo under harsh light for Nova Mortis. It contains a doctrine of death and has the force of Zen meteors. Its victim has already been claimed.”
“This crafty dragon…” The chain of events of this first curse was a thorn in the Dragon Queen’s side. “That is a Khwostostrove! Primus, saddle the horses, the 4th Rider shall carry Klaas.” Suro stormed angrily out of the hall and prepared for the journey north.
Tlaloc, the beloved of Nova Mortis, sits on the throne
Meanwhile, Tlaloc had made himself comfortable on the throne and received 44 bows of homage.
Necro, the prince’s chaperone, approached him: “Your Highness, I have the Dragon Queen Suro, she requests an audience.”
“Grant the foreigner entry,” replied Tlaloc.
“Where is the Dark Drinker?” asked Suro as she saw the young man on the throne.
“You mean Mida?”
“Who else, that fool erased all small change in no point 25 for his booze,” Suro mocked.
Tlaloc looked at her with a vacant stare. “He saw the light of the abyss and received a one-way ticket.”
“000h, so he truly met the red death?” she retorted, not very surprised.
“The fate of all fools.”
“And the princess?”
“Only a red ghost of her former self.” Sadness flickered across his face.
“And who are you?”
“I am Tlaloc, son of the Lord of Wolves Bool and twin brother of the Thunder Princess Telesto. What do you want?”
“I have no time for explanations. Take me to Telesto, Bool’s twin.”
Tlaloc nodded to Necro. “My name is Necro, Chas M. Necro. I know how it goes.”
Suro stared at him in bewilderment. “What do you mean?”
“Yes this way.” He showed her the way to the princess’s cell.
Telesto overheard her brother and Suro and decided to play a sleeper simulator. Suro stormed into her shabby supercell and blew into the Gjallarhorn. “Well, now that the ice is broken, rise Telesto. What a shame that we harbor grudges against each other every new day, beyond patience and time. But now I want to support you, Thunder Princess. Listen, your husband was a victim of the first curse ever.”
“For heaven’s sake, no!” Telesto trembled.
“There was a witness, it must be true, such is the promise of the Outcast.”
“Which party pooper set this in motion?” the princess asked.
It was Nova Mortis!
“It was Nova Mortis and the terrible Ahamkara. But do not worry, I have a trick up my sleeve. This black, scrawny traitor will pay.” The Dragon Queen reached out her hand towards Telesto.
“Don’t you dare touch me! This nemesis has led me astray. For that, I will annihilate her and cast her out of my kingdom! This shall be my will, whether she despairs or not!” she shouted loudly. She gathered herself momentarily and calmed down. “Suro, forgive my outburst.” “Primus,” Suro said, nodding understandingly at Telesto, “find Nova as quickly as you can.”
“Yes my Lord, I will fix this quickly. Dead or alive?”
“Alive.”
Necro appeared outraged: “But… but… but that makes no sense!”
“That is my last word,” hissed Suro. Primus bowed and set off.
Using the Fabian strategy, he tracked down Nova Mortis in the ash factory. As she resisted, Primus shouted: “You are found guilty!” Primus bound Nova in shackles of nothingness. She attempted to seduce him, but he resisted. The bringer of fate met her bad karma and she saw no land outside anymore.
In our State of Play, we take a look at the paid MMORPGs WoW, ESO, Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Black Desert. Where do they stand at the beginning of 2017?
Final Fantasy XIV has few problems, and the problems it has are often complicated and tricky. For example, Square Enix introduced a new mission type with Heavensward, which never really worked because collectors and hunters wanted to benefit at the same time, causing endless struggles.
Unlike most other MMORPGs, FF14 does not have a content, but a fatigue problem. New game content, new tiers, new dungeons, raids, quests, and grinds come regularly. Some players complain: It’s always the same. What I’ve done recently is now worthless.
We are aware of the problem, but we don’t really have a solution. The team is trying hard for variety, the leader states. They want to convince with quality here.
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In general, players are quite satisfied with Square Enix and the mastermind behind Final Fantasy, Naoki Yoshida. Unlike the often rather bland leaders of other MMORPGs, Yoshida is celebrated like a rockstar.
Final Fantasy XIV has been stable in its niche for years. Heavensward came and went – it hardly changed the status quo of FF14. Those who like it still like it. But Heavensward did not change the status quo as hoped. Final Fantasy XIV remains a niche game away from the mainstream.
In contrast to the fantasy orientation in Heavensward, Square Enix is now focusing much more on “Eastern,” with a clear Asian look. They want to try it this way.
What is the perspective for Final Fantasy XIV?
FF14 adheres to classic MMORPG ideas: It always goes higher, faster, further. The item spiral continuously rotates upwards.
It is an MMORPG that has developed independently from the rest of the market. Everywhere, game content is now “scaled”; games adopt Free2Play ideas and take different paths. Final Fantasy XIV doesn’t care about any of this: Players who want to play the new expansion must first quest through the long main quests of the base game and Heavensward. That’s the rules.
FF14 has its target audience, has its roots, follows its own goals, and pushes through.
On one hand, there is the impression that FF14 would like to be more successful in Europe and the West – its main success is in Japan, but Final Fantasy XIV is not willing to make too many compromises for this.
The fans love it. Others look at it a bit puzzled. This will probably not change with the second expansion, Stormblood. Final Fantasy XIV is what it is, since the “relaunch,” and it is probably good that way.
In the second part of the “Chronicles” series of World of Warcraft, there are many details about Draenor and the first wars between humans and orcs.
The backstory of World of Warcraft, with its maturation over more than a quarter of a century, is one of the more complex stories in video game history. Those who want to know every detail of the world must lock themselves away for weeks with books, comics, websites, and a movie to grasp the full extent of Blizzard’s universe.
However, many sources have become outdated over the years, have been revised, or even completely retold to fit better into the “big picture” of the story.
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With “World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 2”, the backstory continues. This time, the focus is primarily on Draenor, the development of the planet, and the orc clans. It begins with the shaping of the planet from the wild energies of the elementals and leads through the wars between orcs and ogres to the invasion of Azeroth and later the counter by Turalyon and Khadgar.
But the story of Azeroth is also woven further. How was the Dark Portal opened and what was the course of the war? Why did the orcs already have death knights on their side? Chronicles 2 provides answers to all these questions and fills in the logic and knowledge gaps that have accumulated over the decades.
The book will be released on March 14, 2017, in English – exactly one year after the release of the first book. A release date for the German version is still pending.
A large part of the contents of Chronicles still comes from the pen of Chris Metzen, before he announced his retirement last year.
With Life is Feudal, the indie studio Bitbox Ltd. aims to create a medieval sandbox MMORPG where players enjoy a lot of freedom. A second closed beta has now started.
The new beta of the MMO part of Life is Feudal started on February 20 and will last for about two weeks. The beta is intended to gather feedback from testers. Survival elements also play an important role in the beta. For example, you need to build shelters to protect yourself from wild animals. You will gradually obtain better gear, just like in Conan Exiles, and thus become more powerful.
Guilds build gigantic cities
What happens when you join forces with guilds can be seen in a new trailer. This showcases the player cities of several guilds, which look impressive.
In the game, it is essentially possible to construct buildings anywhere the ground is flat enough. The video excellently shows what magnificent settlements can be built collaboratively and how the climate zone can influence design. For instance, a city built in snowy regions can also be designed to resemble a Viking settlement.
Trade, Diplomacy or War
Life is Feudal aims to stand out not only through battles or building settlements but also offers you the opportunity to establish a player-driven economy. You manufacture goods yourself that you trade with each other. Additionally, diplomacy plays an important role. Can you come to an agreement with the ruler of the neighboring kingdom, or will it lead to war, where cities are besieged? You are part of this world and can significantly contribute to its development.
According to the US site Massivelyoverpowered, players who have purchased access for at least $45 have access to the beta.
In For Honor, the Creative Director reveals four “secrets” to winning in 4v4 modes.
The matches in For Honor can be brutal. The 4v4 modes (Dominion, Elimination, Skirmish) are particularly hard to master, as chaos reigns on the battlefields and the heroes often beat each other up “dishonorably”.
How you can use this scenario to your advantage is explained by the Creative Director Jason Vandenberghe. In an interview with gamesradar, he gives four tips to win 4v4 battles (especially in Dominion).
Tip 1: Block like there’s no tomorrow
At first glance, it seems like an obvious recommendation, but according to Vandenberghe, it’s the first thing you need to learn properly. Your fights end too quickly if you haven’t internalized the basics of blocking.
Keep in mind:
Not all heroes maintain their block position. Assassins can only hold a defensive stance for a short time, so you need to pay close attention to the timing.
In advanced training, you will learn how to block the attacks of multiple opponents. In 4v4, it is common to be outnumbered. Get familiar with this mechanic.
After you block an attack, transition directly to a quick strike. Use a swift attack or a Guard Break. Pay attention to the combos that opponents use. You may need to keep your guard up for one more strike.
Tip 2: Know your ideal distance to the enemy
Every hero has their preferred distance to the opponent at which they execute their attacks. For example, a Nobushi wants to strike from a greater distance, so you shouldn’t let the opponent get too close. However, if you are fighting against a Nobushi, try to get as close as possible. This is where she feels uncomfortable.
Vandenberghe believes that the better you manage your distance, the closer you are to victory. Feel free to exhaust your stamina for this purpose: Roll away from the opponent or rush towards them to maintain the perfect distance.
Tip 3: Communication and coordination
If everyone on your team has the same hero, it may look cool, but it’s not very tactical. Each hero has different strengths and weaknesses that are crucial on the battlefield. Which roles your heroes should take in Dominion mode, we cover in the provided link.
Additionally, Vandenberghe suggests that it can lead to success if you split your squad into teams of two. Alone, you are easy prey, but in two-person teams, you should not lose sight of the control zones. However, two-person teams are generally a good strategy.
Furthermore, he advises to play “dishonorably”. If an ally nearby needs help, strike the enemy from behind while they are distracted. Ultimately, it is not about honor, but about victory.
Tip 4: Distract the enemies
In 4v4 matches, the biggest threat is being attacked at once by multiple heroes and having to face them alone. Here, retreating is a good tip. However, it’s also worthwhile to confront the enemies to distract them for a while.
Use long-range attacks and move in a way that enemies cannot surround you. Keep them at a distance and make sure they follow you. Vandenberghe emphasizes that these enemies cannot score points for your team as long as you distract them. Meanwhile, your allies will be in the majority and can capture the zones.
In short: When dealing with multiple opponents, the main goal is not to defeat them, but to stay alive as long as possible and distract the enemies.
From this evening, the special Pikachu is available in Pokémon GO – Start time and duration of the Pikachu event can be found here.
A new event awaits the players of Pokémon GO this evening. To celebrate Pokémon Day, Pikachu has put on a party hat and is celebrating with you. For a limited time, you can find this special Pikachu with a hat in Pokémon GO. Once the event is over, you won’t be able to find this rare specimen in the wild, so you should keep an eye out for the little electric monster in the coming days.
Special Pikachu for a limited time
On February 27th, it is Pokémon Day, and the Pokémon GO team is celebrating it with its players. Tonight at 10:00 PM, the event starts and will be active until March 6th at 10:00 PM. What makes this event special are the special Pikachus that celebrate Pokémon Day with festive party hats. If you catch a Pikachu with a party hat during the event, it will keep this hat forever.
You can only find these special Pikachu during the Pokémon Day event, so you should keep your eyes open. It is uncertain whether these Pikachu in this form will ever be incorporated into the game again. Therefore, the time from tonight at 10:00 PM is particularly important for collectors to add a rare specimen to their collection.
It is unclear whether Raichu will also wear a party hat when you evolve a corresponding Pikachu. During the Christmas event, there was a similar action with this Pokémon, which wore a Christmas cap instead of a party hat during the event. The evolved form could also wear this cap. We will find out in the coming hours whether this is also the case for the Pokémon Day event.
Patch 7.2 of World of Warcraft allows players to choose Legendaries to their liking – at least in theory.
The system surrounding legendary items in World of Warcraft has been a topic of discussion for months. Players have repeatedly complained that they only received a “bad” Legendary and would much rather have had Legendary X and Y. While Blizzard has refused to implement a “Token” system, arguing that it would devalue Legendaries too much, a new system has sneaked in with Patch 7.2 that most players will likely appreciate.
We have already reported that on the Broken Shore, the new area of Patch 7.2, there is a fresh currency and “Tokens” that, when used, create solid equipment for a character. These Tokens are now the key to specifically seek certain Legendary items.
For when the Tokens are used, they can create not just an epic item, but with a bit of luck, you may even get a Legendary. This Legendary corresponds to the equipment slot for which the Token was intended.
Legendary Targeting Possible with Patch 7.2
To clarify, a small example: You want the legendary shoulders for your class because they are the “Best in Slot” item? Then you should spend your earned currencies on the Shoulder Armor Token on the Broken Shore. Because if a legendary item is created, it is guaranteed to be for the shoulder slot.
Blizzard is responding to players’ desire to be able to “hunt” certain Legendaries instead of being completely dependent on the (largely) hated RNG. While it can still take some time with the Tokens to obtain the desired Legendary, the chances of it being the “desired legendary” drastically increase.
What do you think about this change? Do you think it’s good that legendary items can now be targeted? Or should Blizzard leave the system as it was in Patch 7.1.5?
In the future, Destiny will see an adjustment to Skorr’s Fable. A meaningful change?
The Awakening of the Iron Lords introduced the “Iron Lord” artifacts, including Skorr’s Fable. This item is currently a kind of “Gjallarhorn” among the artifacts, as one can be sure that at least one opposing Guardian in the Trials of Osiris has Skorr equipped.
This artifact causes the Super abilities of nearby allies to recharge faster when your own Super is full. So it only brings you advantages if you play in a group and stay close to each other. A prime example of such a scenario: The Trials of Osiris.
Changes to Skorr are planned
In the latest “This Week at Bungie,” Senior Designer Josh Hamrick announced some balance adjustments, including to Skorr. For the effect of Skorr to take place in the future, you must first get a kill. The effect then lasts for one minute. After that, another kill is required.
Bungie believes that this will not have a major impact in PvE, as one should be able to kill an enemy every 60 seconds. However, in the Trials, Skorr bearers will be forced into more activity.
By the way: Josh Hamrick added via Twitter that Skorr’s effect cannot be triggered by grenade kills.
Guardians puzzle over whether these changes make sense
On reddit, some Guardians are unsure whether Bungie’s plan will really work. They believe that especially PvE will suffer under these changes.
Several users write that they like to use Skorr in raids, before going up against a boss, when Guardians are joining or when switching characters. This allows the Super to be charged in advance, preparing all Guardians for the fight. Since in these phases before a fight, the Skorr effect will no longer be activated after the patch, this “Quality of Life” benefit would be lost.
Some also pessimistically believe that not much will change in the Trials. Guardians will continue to camp, and when an enemy comes near, they will simply take them down and benefit from Skorr’s Fable.
What do our readers say?
However, the overwhelming opinion seems to be that it is a meaningful change. Anything that goes against “camping” is welcome. Our readers also see it this way.
Chriz Zle writes that Skorr’s Fable will be balanced perfectly. KingK thinks that the adjustment sounds good at first. vvV AmNesiA Vvv considers the changes mentioned by Hamrick to be worthwhile adjustments and additions to patch 2.5.0.2.
m4st3rchi3f predicts a significant impact on the Trials: “I suspect that Skorr will pretty much die out in the Trials, as the likelihood of everyone getting a kill within 60 seconds is relatively low (it does happen that one person gets a double kill). That means if it happens, the “strongest” player should use it.”
Rets suggests that Skorr should also be activated by an assist – to make team shots make more sense.
Now we ask you directly about this topic: Do you consider the Skorr adjustment to be meaningful?
