Minecraft-like MMO Trove has release date on PS4, Xbox One

Only a few days left, and PS4 and Xbox One owners will be able to dive into the adventures of the voxel MMO Trove!

If you own a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you can look forward to March 14, as the console version of Trion Worlds’ online game Trove will be released on that day.

The currently ongoing open beta has already attracted around 4 million players who explore and change the Minecraft-like pixel worlds, create their own worlds, craft items, and fight monsters together with friends to collect treasures.

Trove-PvP
Open Beta was very successful on PS4 and Xbox One

The open beta of the console version is a great success for Trion Worlds. So far, console players have built more than 1 billion blocks during their adventures in the voxel worlds and destroyed over 5 billion. The worlds can be destroyed, rebuilt, and designed according to personal preferences, similar to Minecraft.

“As Trion’s first title for the latest console generation, Trove is already at the top of the free-to-play charts, even though the official release is still a few weeks away,” said Scott Hartsman, CEO of Trion Worlds. “We have always believed that Trove would be the ideal MMO experience for consoles, and we are thrilled that so many Xbox One and PlayStation 4 gamers feel the same way.”

Get some gifts!

Trove Wings

If you make any purchase in the in-game shop during the beta of Trove, you will receive Disaeon the Immortal, the legendary dragon, as a thank you gift.

Additionally, to celebrate reaching 1.5 million players on each console during the open beta, there will be a giveaway of rare mounts (Trovian Tumbler for Xbox One, Chromatic Cumulus for PS4). Furthermore, there will be no wipe. Your progress in the open beta will carry over after the official launch.

If you are interested in playing an online game somewhat similar to Minecraft with many MMO elements on the PS4 or Xbox One, then Trove might be interesting for you.

More articles about Trove:

Trove: Open Beta for PS4 and Xbox One starts tomorrow

Trove will be released on PS4 and Xbox One – But when?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. MMORPG.com

WildStar: Not dead! Huge update reinvents Free2Play MMORPG

WildStar is bravely being developed and improved. Therefore, a large update full of cool content is coming soon. This includes two instances, new difficulty levels, and a new progression system.

WildStar may not be NCSoft’s most profitable game, but it is far from being dead!

WildStar Arkterra Statue

According to WildStar director Chad Moore, new content is still being actively developed and a major update is just around the corner. On March 8, “The Power of the Primordial Matrix” will be released and bring a lot of cool innovations to Nexus.

WildStar – New Skills thanks to Primordial Matrix

The Primordial Matrix is a force in WildStar that holds everything together and lies dormant in every being on Nexus. Once your heroes have reached the maximum level, they can harness this immense potential themselves after a brief introduction by Drusera.

WildStar Primal Matrix

To do so, you collect Uressence in dungeons, raids, and other instances, which you then expand into skills and bonuses in a complex system of Primordial Matrix interfaces. There are several essence colors, and depending on the activity, you will get one essence or another (but you can also exchange essences).

The Space Zombie Ghost Ship and the Revenge of the Cold Warlord

You can conveniently farm Uressences through the dungeon finder, with certain instances regularly promising special bonus rewards. Conveniently: This allows the developers to optimally group the few WildStar players together so that enough people come together for sufficient runs.

WildStar F2P Review

If you’re getting bored in the old areas and instances, you can enjoy a new expedition and a new dungeon. The expedition is called “Trouble from the Ether” and revolves around a ship of the Mordesh that was believed to be lost. Since the ship disappeared while fleeing from the contaminated homeworld of the Mordesh, pure horror should await there!

WildStar Primal Matrix Boss

It is likely to be gruesome in the new dungeon “Cold Blood Citadel,” as the gigantic Osun prepare for the resurrection of their warlord Harizog Coldblood. You had just knocked down the giant bully in Arkterra last year, and now he’s causing trouble again. Also cool: The new difficulty level “Overwhelming” lets you experience even tougher adventures and loot better rewards.

Related to the topic: WildStar – How your hero grows with the new update

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. NCSoft

The Division 1.6: Best Build for PvP – How to Deal Massive Damage

In The Division 1.6, we present a build that is incredibly strong in PvP (Dark Zone, Last Stand). Here’s how to build it.

The update 1.6 brought some adjustments to weapon and armor stats. The AlphaBridge build, which dominated since 1.5, has been weakened, and other character setups are now pushing forward.

The YouTuber Disturbed Gaming has created a build after 1.6, which he calls the “best DPS PvP build”. This is said to be fantastic all around and will quickly melt the health bars of PvP opponents.

High-end build for PvP – 1.6

This build relies exclusively on high ends and exotics. Gear sets are not used. Keep in mind that your items for “Last Stand” do not need to have maximum stat rolls, as they are normalized for this PvP mode.

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The armor pieces in this build

As a DPS build, the goal is mainly to ramp up the damage.

  • Gloves: Skulls MC Gloves (Exotic) – Damage is increased by 16% when no set bonuses are active. Additionally, bonuses for Assault Rifle and LMG damage and Critical Hit damage are applied.
  • Holster: High-end with Agile (When moving from cover to cover in combat, 2% of maximum health is healed for every meter traveled) with a bonus to reload speed.
  • Mask: High-end with Refreshing (Healing is increased by 30% when the last segment of the health bar is reached) with a bonus to skill power
    division-barret-brustschutz
  • Chest armor: Barret’s Bulletproof Vest (Exotic) – No skill in cooldown gives +10% skill power, 1 skill in cooldown increases damage by 5%, and two skills in cooldown provide +10% armor. Additional bonuses to health points and exotic damage resistance. Since you have less armor in 1.6 and it has lost significance, the +10% is not as strong as in 1.5. Alternatively, you can choose a Hasty Chest Armor.
  • Knee pads: Shortbow Championship Knee Pads (Exotic) – Your grenades explode after just 0.2 seconds, meaning they deal instant damage. Bonuses to health points.
  • Backpack: Specialized – 200% of firearms and stamina are added to skill power. Additionally, bonuses to health points.
    division-pvp-build16

In short: You have bonuses that increase your damage and improve your survivability, as health points and skill power are also enhanced. Regarding the main attributes, the YouTuber has:

  • Firearms: 6760
  • Stamina: 4741
  • Electronics: 2684

The weapons for the build

For weapons, you have several options (for example, submachine guns are now significantly better), but Disturbed Gaming uses:

  • the LVOA-C, which was already an outstanding weapon in 1.5 and is powerful in 1.6. The assault rifle comes with Sustained, Brutal, and Responsive.
  • Also the Pakhan: This exotic LMG comes with Sustained, Brutal, and Pakhan. This exotic perk is not particularly strong, but it gives you more rounds in the magazine upon kills when you reload.
division waffen mods

Focus on headshot damage and crit damage for the mods. You can find the effects of all weapon talents here.

Character Skills

  • First Aid with Overdose Mod: Heals more efficiently, can increase health points beyond the normal value.
  • Medic with Immunizer Mod: Removes status effects, makes allies immune.

Character Talents

  • Tactical Advantage: When you move from cover to cover, weapon damage increases by 2% per meter traveled for 5 seconds. Class with Agile.
  • Rescue Medic: Use first aid kit at low health points to increase damage resistance by 20% for 10 seconds.
  • Field Medic: Use first aid kit near allies to heal group members within 20 meters by 40%.
  • Precision: A headshot applies the Pulse effect for 10 seconds.
    division-agenten-waffen

This is how you get a build that allows you to deal massive damage in PvP while also taking care of your survivability. According to the YouTuber, it’s an excellent character setup to dominate in “Last Stand”.

How do you play?


All Gear Sets after 1.6 are presented here.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Dauntless: Beta in Autumn – Action RPG Wants Feedback for Development

The developers of the upcoming online action RPG Dauntless want to develop the game together with the fans. Therefore, early feedback during the alpha and beta is important.

First, the developers explain, that the beta of Dauntless will start this fall. Then, the city of Ramsgate will be open to all who want to participate. From here, initial adventures can be planned, during which you can join friends in hunting the Behemoths – gigantic beings that threaten the inhabitants of the world of Shattered Isles.

During the beta, you can provide feedback to the developers, who will review it and make adjustments if necessary. Additionally, new content will be continuously worked on during the beta to expand the game world and provide you with new opportunities.

Dauntless Heroes
A beta is not a final product

However, the beta will still contain many elements that are “in flux”. These include placeholder graphics or features that are not yet final or only implemented for testing. Throughout, the developers want to be as open as possible with the fans and discuss all changes and developments. The team does not only aim for the tastes of the broad masses. The open communication should ensure that particularly the ideas that might otherwise go unnoticed but are very interesting are heard. This is what should make Dauntless a unique game.

The developers deliberately do not want to publish a list of features that the team likes. They do not want to influence the fans, but rather give them the freedom to express their ideas about the game. Only in this way can the gaming experiences arise that are memorable. As for future announcements, there may be times when a new feature is roughly announced without the team going into details. Then the fans should express their thoughts and ideas about it.

Changes may still occur

dauntless-2

What is best for Dauntless is always at the center, but this can also lead to larger and smaller changes that may not please everyone. However, the community will always be informed about these changes. The developers are already showing enthusiasm for the rapidly growing community and the feedback they are receiving. The team is confident that they can create something truly special with Dauntless in this way.

If you want to join the beta and help shape the action RPG Dauntless, you can register on the official website.

More articles on Dauntless:

Dauntless introduces Embermane, fiery Behemoth

Dauntless: System requirements are nice and accommodating

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Are MMOs Dying? No, they are just different than before

For more than a decade, MMORPGs have been dying. But where do these cries come from, and what fuels them? How have MMORPGs evolved since then?

My crystal ball is broken. Therefore, I cannot say for sure where this journey is heading. However, you don’t need a crystal ball to see that the MMO landscape is changing, yes, it has already been changing.

Looking into the future is difficult. However, an autopsy is easy. And since our beloved MMORPGs are constantly dying, I will take a look at the corpse-strewn path of the past to dare a glimpse into the future.

Retrospective: When did the great “dying” begin?

wow_killer

WoW-Killer and “feature flood”

There are turning points that leave deeper imprints in the swamp of MMO history than others. “WoW Killer” was one such buzzword, amusingly often just attributed to the community or by overly eager letter throwers.

After that came the “unique selling proposition era”, every game had at least reinvented one wheel. And what is better than one wheel? Exactly, many newly invented wheels. Titles followed that tried to offer everything that could please the heart of an MMO player. Housing, leveling weapons, PvP, micromanagement, sandbox, fishing, farming, crafting, and so on…

There was simply always one more feature than the competition. Whether the new feature was sensible or not was often a different matter. The motto was simply: “In our game, you can do everything… except pet food!” Oh, good idea we need a pet system.

tiernahrung


Suddenly, existing MMOs with a large user base had a problem; there was competition. Much worse: some of them even had really good ideas.

The Free2Play Madness

Ultimately, an exchange of ideas was noticeable, as the games slowly approached each other. But when products no longer fundamentally differ from each other, how do you win buyers? Right, through the price.

“Oh Dan, am I really getting TWO in-game items to dye my clothes for free?”

“Yes, and that’s not all! If you act quickly, you get this donkey as well!”

But since hardly anyone is persuaded to switch their MMO because the competitor charges 2 euros less in subscription fees, “You pay not 10 euros per month, not 9 euros, not even 8 but only an incredible 7.99. Yes, you heard right,” they resorted to the ultimate marketing idea and simply slapped a Free2Play stamp on the entire package.

“Are you serious, Dan? I can play without ever having to pay? But Dan… Dan, who pays the developers? And the silly announcers? Dan? Dan, why are you crying, Dan? Dan? Two razors for one?”

50s


Watching the success of Free2Play, long-established MMOs quickly approached the new marketing ideas. Today, there is hardly a subscription system that cannot also be acquired through game currency via in-game shops. Even Blizzard has enabled this in WoW.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for MMOs?

And now? Is this the end? All MMOs are homogenized, and we just have to live with it? No, it’s not that bad.

The MMO landscape is constantly moving. MMORPGs are unfairly laid to rest with regular frequency. This is due to the fact that editors and players are reluctant to step out of their comfort zone. Just like the MMO landscape, its boundaries are also changing.

At the time of a World of Warcraft release, the boundaries of the term MMO were clearly defined. But the more competitors entered the market, the more those boundaries shifted.

Whether it’s The Division, Guardians of Ember, The Crew, or even a GTA5 online mode, many current games have an MMO component. Calling them an MMO is still difficult for me and many others. For hardcore MMO players, these games will never represent a full-fledged MMO. But how much relevance does the “Massively” have nowadays?

map


Whether there are 50, 500, or 5000 players on a server, I frankly don’t care as long as I’m struggling through dungeons with a familiar group of five friends.

Is Anyone Missing These 4 Massively Elements in MMOs?

What about the other typical MMO features?

  • World bosses? Thanks, but lag fests and pointless skill spamming, would I miss that?
  • Supply and demand in the auction house? Well, even the intern could probably program this manageable economic cycle simulation.
  • Vibrant believable game world? Of course, pictures of merchants standing next to 40 heavily armored knights on horses can be found on many medieval tapestries. And that there are more heroes, mages, and world saviors than farmers can only be credibly explained to me with a lot of potato schnapps.
  • General server chat? For me, it’s one of the strongest arguments against large MMO servers. Why should I care about the 0:2 of FC Hintertupfingen from the district league North? Mixed with the question of why there are no flying mounts and the obligatory statement that WoW is way cooler anyway, I can also thanklessly do without this feature in large part. And all of this before someone claims they are a good-looking girl and not a 42-year-old butcher master. Server chats are often so low-level that they knock my socks off.
chat

Of course, large PvP battles and open PvP form an exception that large servers necessarily need. Castle sieges and co. with 3-5 players may not convey a truly epic gaming experience.

However, hardcore MMO players do not have to mourn either. Pure MMOs will continue to exist. Whether in the guise of an AAA title, I doubt.

The dominance of the magical three letters WoW is too overpowering for Western publishers, and the moderately successful WoW killers have been too clear. With a player count of 10 million, they only smile mildly in the Far East. Elaborate MMOs will still see the light of the rising sun; however, how far they will cater to the wishes of the Western audience remains to be seen.

tentakle

No Fear of the Future

We will probably continue to hear the eternal dirge for the dying MMO. There are just as many reasons for it as there are against it. The narrower you define the term, the truer the impending death may become. Personally, I have hardly any fear of having to give up beloved game elements in the future.

Experiencing a “Witcher 3” in online mode with 5 or 10 friends in the same world is not a horror scenario for me. It simply presents new challenges for developers. Even a lobby MMO like “Skyforge” was able to impress me; I just missed a diversion besides group play and dungeons.

Where do you draw the line between Massively Multiplayer and Multiplayer? Do you really need servers with hundreds of players, or are friend lists and co. enough for you?


This text is by our reader Erzkanzler. More from Erzkanzler on his blog.

Also interesting:

What does MMO mean today? Everything and nothing

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Destiny – 6 Primärwaffen, die im PvE von 2017 dominieren

In Destiny, since “Rise of Iron”, some primary weapons stand out in PvE. We look at the 6 most important weapons in 2017 after Patch 2.5.0.2.

Some Guardians believe that the choice of weapon is secondary for PvE activities. You can face and defeat the Darkness with any weapon if you have a little skill.

Therefore, the Guardians primarily focus on PvP when it comes to the question of “the best weapons”. Which weapons should I rely on to not be outmatched by other Guardians? Which weapons have been dominant since the last balance patch? What is the new meta in the Crucible?

Destiny Loot

However, a quick glance at the statistics page guardian.gg reveals that certain weapons have also succeeded in PvE in recent months. Weapon choice is therefore not irrelevant in the fight “Guardians against Darkness”. Which weapons instill fear in the minions of Darkness when they see them?

Scout Rifles and Auto Rifles are top

destiny-raid-allgemein

Since update 2.5.0.2, pistols and hand cannons dominate the Crucible. Auto rifles are also seen more often. In PvE, pistols and “Hand Cannons” are used significantly less. Cross-mode, since “The Rise of Iron Lords”, Scout Rifles and Auto Rifles are outstanding.

The consistently strong green line shows all kills in percentage of Scout Rifles, while the upper pink line represents the Auto Rifles. These visibly increased since the update 2.5.0.2 in mid-February. The blue line, which is steadily declining, represents the Pulse Rifles. Notably, while the clever dragon was in the rankings before 2.5.0.2, it is now gone. The middle red line, around 10%, represents the Hand Cannons.

Our list of the six dominant weapons in PvE considers the statistics before and after 2.5.0.2 on PS4 and Xbox One. The PvE activities considered are the raid, heroic strikes, and patrols.

destiny-ferne-stern
The Far Star – Scout Rifle

Our list has included one weapon from the Iron Banner: The Far Star. This Scout Rifle belongs to the popular MIDA archetype – low impact of 38, but with an increased rate of fire.

ferne-stern-stats

The Far Star comes with excellent reload speed and a high aim assist, although its other stats are below average:

In contrast to the MIDA, the Star lacks stability, which can be countered with Perfect Balance, Smallbore, or Steady Hand. Fully Automatic or Fireball are also strong perks.

Update 2.5.0.2 brought no major changes to Scout Rifles, just an increase in aerial precision. Thus, this weapon class remains solid in both PvE and PvP. And the Far Star, with strong perks, is one of the best representatives of Scout Rifles.

On the next page, you can find a weapon from Year 2 that Guardians will probably never dismantle.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Bungie
  2. guardian.gg

Destiny: NASA uses orbit screenshot from the shooter for tweet

The space agency NASA used a screenshot from Destiny for a tweet.

The NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) also has to save wherever possible.

For a tweet about a new satellite that is supposed to be as big as a loaf of bread, the space agency NASA used a screenshot that players of Destiny will likely recognize as the background: It’s an image of the orbit. In orbit, players of the shooter Destiny are waiting before entering an activity.

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The NASA Twitter account has over 22 million followers. Such things do not go unnoticed.

NASA’s Photoshop skills are not exactly intergalactic level

Under the tweet, there is a lot of mockery. It is said that NASA can’t stop playing Destiny. The next one asks: “Are you waiting for the Crucible to start?”

The space agency’s Photoshop skills are not considered “alien” good, but rather below average. Some are honestly disappointed: No real pictures, NASA?

And one already suspects that nothing stands in the way of the next moon landing.

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On reddit, the Destiny community has long discovered the NASA tweet and asks: When will the ship on the screen be available in Destiny? And how much silver will you have to pay for it?

In this week’s videos, a user already had an idea for a “Destiny and NASA” collaboration:

Destiny: Videos of the week are galactically good

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Destiny reddit

Ghost Recon Wildlands breaks Ubisoft’s beta record from The Division

With the beta of the online shooter Ghost Recon Wildlands, Ubisoft was able to set a new record and even surpass the impressive numbers of The Division.

In total, more than 6.8 million players participated in the beta phases of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. This is more than Ubisoft could achieve with the beta of the online shooter The Division. At that time, there were 6.4 million players.

Ubisoft also announced that more than two billion minutes were played. More than 60 percent of players cooperated against enemies in the large game world. A graphic shows what players achieved during the beta.

ghost recon beta statistics
Beta provides valuable feedback to developers

The beta included two of the 21 provinces that you can explore in the final version. Itacua represented the starting area with its mountainous landscape, while the icy Montuyo already posed significantly greater challenges.

Ubisoft states that beta participants were able to provide valuable feedback to the developers, which should be taken into account as much as possible for the official launch of the game on March 7. This is necessary as the beta of Ghost Recon Wildlands received a considerable amount of negative feedback, including concerning the less than favorable performance of the game on console.

Testers will be rewarded

Ghost Recon Wildlands Screenshot2

Anyone who participated in the test phases, including the technical test, closed beta, or open beta, and plays the full version with the same Ubisoft account by March 31, will receive three exclusive missions in the Media Luna region as a thank you, which will be available for download after the game’s release.

In a few days we will see how Ghost Recon Wildlands plays in its full version and what changes and adjustments Ubisoft has made. On March 7, it launches on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

More articles on Ghost Recon Wildlands:

Ghost Recon Wildlands Beta Impression: How well did the open beta perform? Our conclusion

Ghost Recon Wildlands: Open beta ends – the last minutes are running out

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Source(s):
  1. Ubisoft Blog

Eternal Crusade becomes Free2Play – I mean “Free to WAAAGH!”

The Warhammer shooter Eternal Crusade will become Free2Play. “Blood for the Blood God” is the developers’ justification.

For some players, this comes as a surprise; others had suspected or predicted it: Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade will receive a Free2Play version in March.

For players looking to enter the battlefield in the distant future for free, there are certain limitations. The most significant is likely the drastically reduced progress. Free-2-Waaagh! players will only receive a third of the experience points, severely limiting their progress. Therefore, it will take much longer to unlock upgrades, classes, and weapons.

However, those who later decide to purchase the game for $20 (the cheapest option) will receive the difference in experience points back – the system remembers the “real” value that free players would actually earn.

WH40K Eternal Crusade Warhammer

The name “Free to Waaagh” originates from an earlier Free2Play concept of Eternal Crusade. According to this, free players could only play as Orks – the concept was later deemed too restrictive, but the name was retained. In an interview with mmorpg.com, Nathan Richardsson reveals that a Free2Play version has been planned for a long time, but they wanted to focus on other things and the retail version before the release.

“Ultimately: Why? The answer is simple. Blood for the Blood God and Eternal Crusade, with its four factions and large battles, fully benefits from having a Free2Play version. Even paying players benefit from free players and vice versa.”

For the future, they are staying the course. There is even a plan for a release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, fully capable of offering “crossplay”. Then people could take each other on across all platforms and wreak havoc.

Eternal Crusade Chaos Spacemarine

Currently, first keys for the Free2Play version are being distributed, which is now being tested. Owners of the game also receive additional bonuses, such as currency for the shop or a copy of the game that they can give to friends.


Recently, Eternal Crusade has been receiving patches more rapidly.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. mmorpg.com

Overwatch Update 2.06 – Was steckt drin? Wo sind die Patch-Notes?

Last night, the update 2.06 went live for Overwatch. What is behind it? Where are the patch notes?

The update 2.05 was long announced for Overwatch, which brought changes to Bastion, the server browser, and much more.

However, last night in our time, users reported: I’m currently downloading update 2.06. What’s included?

The update 2.06 for Overwatch weighs about 142 MB on PS4. 2.06 seems to have been an exclusive update for PS4 and Xbox One.

According to information from Blizzard, a critical bug was discovered in the server browser – Bill Warnecke stated this in the Blizzard forum. Warnecke is the Lead Software Engineer at Blizzard.

This bug caused players to become invisible in the “Capture the Rooster” mode – this is the Capture-the-Flag variant of Overwatch.

Update 2.06 fixes issues with invisible players on PS4 and Xbox One

Therefore, Blizzard temporarily disabled this mode and later reactivated it once the issue was resolved by the patch. So, 2.06 focuses on this specific arcade mode, as far as we can tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPJMqU5L0iI

For such “smaller updates and bug fixes,” Blizzard does not release patch notes – hence patches like 2.06 often lead to questions and confusion.

The major changes to Overwatch came with 2.05 earlier. Here you can read the patch notes for that:

Overwatch: Patch notes 1.8 / 2.05 – Bastion rework, Roadhog nerf, Mercy buff

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Mass Effect: Andromeda – “Softcore Space Porn” or not?

For almost 4 years, fans have been waiting for a continuation of the “Mass Effect” series. Slowly but surely, the latest installment “Andromeda” is coming into reach.

As the saga surrounding Commander Shepard is concluded, Andromeda largely features new characters embarking on a mission for the survival of humanity.

On Twitter, Aaryn Flynn from BioWare was asked whether unsuspecting viewers might get the impression that ME: Andromeda could be a “space porn”.

The reason for the question is that the game has received a rating of “Mature” – also because of fully nude characters. Previously, the Mass Effect titles always got by with “Partial Nudity”.

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Aaryn Flynn responded to the question: “Yes, it is absolutely a softcore space porn.” While many players recognized his irony as such, there were also numerous fans who were disappointed by the statement. They had hoped that Mass Effect relationships would be handled “better” and “more mature” and that there would be continuous development at BioWare.

Mass Effect Asari Dancers
Especially the Asari are popular among all races – making them earn easy money in strip clubs.

Flynn shortly thereafter retracted and apologized.

“Sorry, I gave the wrong impression. We have strong characters, great gameplay, romances, and more, all dealing with adult themes.”

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In response to the question of whether the romances and relationships would be “tasteful”, Flynn also quickly replied.

“Yes, definitely. Our developers worked hard to responsibly bring these characters to life. I apologize for my poor word choice.”

mass effect anromeda neu 2

The outcry is understandable, as Mass Effect holds a special place for many RPG fans. Some relationships spanned all 3 parts and led to interesting character stories, even though these often ended in the obligatory sex scene before the final battle. Relationships were supposed to be more than just the aforementioned scene in Andromeda, which is why many fans felt dismissed.

In the Mass Effect universe, sex is generally a fairly casual topic with few limits. For example, erotic magazines can be found in the game, and there are also frequent flings between the various alien species.

Especially the purely female race of the Asari is known for their “wild escapades” since they can pair with any other species – and at the same time every other species finds them attractive. Mass Effect really knows no taboos here and even mixes the flying “tentacle monster” race Hanar with the sluggish and emotionless Elcor. Even the relationship between human and machine in the form of artificial intelligence is a theme in Mass Effect.

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Mass Effect: Andromeda releases on March 23, 2017, in Europe for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Cortyn says: In my opinion, this is again “much ado about nothing”, as it is really difficult to overlook the irony in the developer’s statement. That Mass Effect will never really be a “space porn” should be quite obvious. Ultimately, it is therefore not surprising that a developer makes a casual joke about the game when the game itself addresses this topic so openly, unprejudiced (and sometimes incredibly humorously).


Not in the mood for Mass Effect? (Heresy!) – Then we have 5 other online games worth checking out in March.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. pcgames.de

Hearthstone: Because Un’Goro has no title song, the chef has to rap

The Un’Goro expansion for Hearthstone did not receive a theme song. The Game Director stepped in and created a piece himself.

With the announcement of a new expansion for Hearthstone, certain expectations from players arise. Not only are exciting new mechanics and cards desired, but also an interesting cinematic – with a cool song. “Journey to Un’Goro” breaks with Hearthstone’s tradition of presenting a song with each expansion that introduces the new content.

On Reddit and in the official forum, players have voiced their complaints loudly. Without an appropriate title song, Un’Goro would be a significantly worse expansion, regardless of the cards and mechanics yet to come.

Ben Brode, the Game Director of Hearthstone, could not let that slide and quickly grabbed the microphone to write his own song for the expansion. He soon released the piece on YouTube – and the community is thrilled.

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As some viewers noted in the comments, the perfect speed for the song would probably be 1.5x (which can be adjusted in the options). It didn’t take long before someone overlayed the song onto the cinematic. It may not match exactly with the visuals shown, but there are nonetheless some happy hits.

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Since the song is only “unofficially” part of the new expansion, there is consequently no German translation – after all, it’s just a pretty cool gag.


Read more about the latest expansion “Journey to Un’Goro” and the fresh quest mechanics in this post for you.

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Source(s):
  1. hearthpwn.com

The Division: Server down am 2.3. – Erste Bugs nach 1.6 werden gefixt

In The Division, on March 2nd, there is a server maintenance. Two bugs are being fixed.

On February 28th, update 1.6 and the DLC “Last Stand” were released. However, the launch did not go smoothly: The planned maintenance had to be extended by two hours due to complications, and subsequently extended indefinitely.

Today, two days later, the next server maintenance is taking place:

  • At 9:30 AM, the servers on PS4, Xbox One, and PC will be shut down. The estimated downtime is three hours, so you can return to post-apocalyptic New York around 12:30 PM.
    division-agent-schuss

Changelog on March 2nd.

Two bug fixes will be implemented:

  • The DeadEYE talent was still working with scopes without zoom. That will be fixed.
  • A problem will be fixed where you gained too much experience in the Dark Zone. Since 1.6, only a few NPC kills were sometimes needed to level up. Those who took advantage of the time after the launch of 1.6 could quickly level up in the DZ.

The main changes that 1.6 and Last Stand brought can be read here.

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Source(s):
  1. forums.ubi.com

Mecker Mittwoch: 12 Todesgriffe ins Gesicht – Multiboxer im PvP

Cortyn is struggling with multiboxers in the PvP of World of Warcraft. One single player controls 16 characters at the same time.

In the past few days, I played up a new class in World of Warcraft to check out the remaining class campaigns. Because I was a bit naive, I thought to myself, “Spend some time with a bit of PvP” – because I have been really enjoying it since Legion.

At least until a few days ago. Then, I encountered my worst nightmare in PvP. The opposing team had a total of 12 Death Knights and 4 Healing Shamans, all with suspiciously similar names.

WoW Multiboxer Name List
Oh, boy…

And – as it had to be – they were multiboxers. This “group” took apart all the opponents solo. 12 Death Knights focusing a single player with Death Grip and any attack simply mow everything down. If things get tight, the 4 Healing Shamans take care of the problem, keeping the whole group entertained and in top health with area and chain healing.

WoW Multiboxer Mounts

For those who don’t know multiboxers, a quick explanation: A player does not have just one account, but several. These are all played simultaneously by one person – with 16 characters, I assume several computers are necessary. Through macros and various helper programs, the inputs from one character are transmitted to all the other characters. So when the player presses “1” for an ability on their main character, all the other characters execute that keystroke.

The group encountered me multiple times over different days, sometimes as enemies and sometimes as allies. But the matches were never really fun, as it was always just “Ah, the multiboxer is playing on side X. So side X will probably win” – and that turned out to be the case every time.

What do you think about multiboxers in MMORPGs? Is it a cool thing when one can decide entire matches almost single-handedly? Or is it rather annoying and should be prevented by developers?


Last week I ranted about unboxing videos – I still don’t understand the hype.

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Ashes of Creation: Beeindruckendes Gameplay-Video zeigt Bosskampf

The indie studio Intrepid aims to create a very interesting MMORPG with Ashes of Creation that sounds almost too good to be true. However, with a new gameplay video, the developers prove that they follow their words with actions.

The new video showcases the mage we already know from the first video. This time, however, she is traversing a beautiful forest landscape, where she must fight against numerous foes. All of this already makes a solid impression in this early version and does not need to hide behind currently available MMOs. The graphics are extremely detailed, colorful, and simply beautiful. Even the interface already appears relatively polished.

ashes of creation caravan
Meaningful Seasons

The area shown in the pre-alpha video is an autumn forest, representing the seasons that play a role in Ashes of Creation. Not just visually, but also gameplay-wise. In different seasons, you will encounter different monsters or be able to complete different quests. Perhaps a part of the area is inaccessible in winter, and when spring opens the pass, you can establish a new trade route. Seasons are also supposed to affect NPCs, skills, and resources.

Is the game further along than expected?

Once again, the video shows how the mage floats over an abyss with her spells and opens a dungeon. In this dungeon awaits a boss fight against a particularly dangerous and large monster. She uses many spectacular spells. Overall, the video makes a fantastic impression.

It seems that the MMORPG Ashes of Creation is already further along than initially thought. The start of an alpha this year doesn’t seem so unrealistic anymore.

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More articles about Ashes of Creation:

Ashes of Creation: No teleport to instance – Exploration takes priority

Ashes of Creation: This is what the MMORPG looks like – First gameplay video

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Black Desert Online: Elfen auf Eseln! Dunkelklinge und Launch-Events

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.

The Dark Knight, formerly known as “Dark Elf” or “Dark Knight”, is finally here! The dark pointy ear has made it out of the Kamasylvia forest and has freshly arrived today, on March 1st, in the vast world of Black Desert Online. D

Black-Desert-Awakening

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.

blackdesertdarkknight

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.

In line with the theme: Black Desert Online – This is how the Dark Knight plays

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PS Plus März 2017 – Die kostenlosen Spiele sind bekannt!

PS Plus (PlayStation Plus) has revealed the free games for March 2017. Here are the free games for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita.

Just yesterday, there was a leak about the PS4 free games for PS Plus. As it turns out today, this leak is accurate.

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.

tearaway
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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What are the free games for PlayStation Plus?

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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Interesting: Sony’s expectations have been exceeded by PlayStation VR so far.

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Source(s):
  1. Playstation.Blog

Battlefield 1: All 4 DLCs Introduced – Release Date They Shall Not Pass

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.

They Shall not Pass – Release Date

Regarding the first expansion named “They Shall not Pass“, there are already interesting details. The epic new Behemoth (Char 2C tank) and four new maps have already been introduced by the developers. In addition, there are initial impressions of the weapons that will be included in the France DLC in the game. To use them, you must unlock them first.

Battlefield 1 They Shall not Pass Title

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.

Battlefield 1 In The Name of the Tsar Title

“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.

Battlefield 1 Turning Tides Title

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.

Battlefield 1 Apocalypse Title

“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.”


Want to experience Battlefield 1 even more intensively? Exciting gameplay video without interface

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Final Fantasy XIV: Patch 3.55a is live – Some criticism of Proto-Ultima

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. 

Proto-Ultima

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.

You can read the full patch notes here at Square Enix in German.

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.

Mein-Freund-der-NPC

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.

Final Fantasy XIV: The trailer for Stormblood is a feast for Asia fans

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EVE Online: Space MMO is far from dead – Profit increased in 2016

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
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

Eve Online

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.

More articles about EVE Online:

EVE Online: Surprise attack cost ships worth $13,000

EVE Online: Players assist scientists in finding exoplanets

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Source(s):
  1. MassivelyOP