Has Valve “accidentally” leaked a hint about the third part of the popular zombie shooter series Left4Dead?
One might think that Valve has no interest in releasing a third part of any of the company’s games. Fans have been waiting for Half-Life 3 for twelve years now. Left4Dead 3 is also one of the candidates. Many gamers wish for the game, but Valve simply announces nothing. The predecessor was released in 2009. That was almost seven years ago, so it’s about time for a sequel.
Is Valve working on Left4Dead 3?
There is a possibility that Valve is working on this. Becasue a screenshot from a studio employee shows a folder named “left4dead3”. The screenshot was published as part of a tutorial of the Destinations Workshop Tools. Of course, this caught attention immediately, which is why the screenshot was quickly replaced with one that no longer shows a “left4dead3” folder. Nonetheless, some users immediately made a copy of the original image, which is currently spreading across the internet.
Interestingly, the folder list in the screenshot was scrolled down just enough to see “left4dead3”. Was this an intentional “leak” or does Valve just want to tease the fans? Is Left4Dead 3 actually being worked on and what about Half-Life 3???
Fans need patience
One should not expect an answer from Valve itself. When they are ready, they will announce the game. Many fans are now hopeful and wish to soon go zombie hunting again with friends. The multiplayer shooter Left4Dead and its successor still captivate players today. A Left4Dead 3 with new possibilities, modes, and modern graphics would certainly attract a lot of attention.
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In The Division, the shotgun “Showstopper” is one of the new weapons introduced in update 1.3. Let’s take a look at what the Showstopper can do and how to obtain it.
An automatic shotgun? That sounds promising.
That’s exactly what the weapon “Showstopper” is, which has been available in The Division for a few days now. It was supposed to arrive with update 1.2, but its release was delayed until 1.3. Yet now the disappointment: The Showstopper does not live up to expectations. Let’s take a closer look.
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What Makes The Showstopper in The Division Stand Out
Showstopper is a named high-end shotgun based on an AA-12 automatic shotgun. You can obtain it from bosses in missions in Heroic mode – but with a low drop chance. It has also been sighted as loot in the raid “Dragon’s Lair”. However, you do not need the “Underground expansion” to get the weapon.
The Showstopper has the lowest base damage of all shotguns. This title was previously held by the SASG-12 shotguns, which are now significantly outperformed by the Showstopper. However, its rate of fire and magazine size are exceptional. Here are the specific stats:
Rate of Fire: 240
Magazine: 20
Precision: 10
Stability: 30
Optimal Range: 14 meters
Reload Time: 2.5s
+246% Stagger as a bonus
The SASG-12 shotguns, considered the best shotguns in The Division, are significantly better than the Showstopper in terms of stats. When it comes to dealing damage, the automatic shotgun disappoints. Can at least the talents of the new weapon impress?
The weapon comes with two random talents (the first time for named weapons) and one fixed talent:
“Showstopper”: The precision of this weapon increases as the magazine gets lower. The crosshair gets smaller the more ammo you expend.
This talent cannot currently be rerolled. Massive intends to fix this soon. Additionally, the Showstopper works with the talent of “Call of the Watch”, which is not intended. Massive also wants to fix this bug.
YouTuber WOBO noticed that the weapon gains precision when going into cover. No other shotgun in the game does this. The reason for this is not known. Perhaps another bug? Or a special feature?
You can see the increasing precision of the Showstopper in the video starting at 0:50:
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The Showstopper is the first named weapon to allow attaching a weapon skin. Furthermore, it is only possible to equip mods to the optics and the underbarrel.
Overall, the Showstopper is not well received by many agents. The low base damage is noticeably felt. If you want to take down enemies quickly, it’s better to choose another shotgun. After all, one opts for a shotgun to deal devastating damage at close range. The Showstopper cannot provide that. While the Showstopper lacks power, its unique talent offers a fresh change. One can enjoy roaming the streets and the underground of New York with it. YouTuber Skill Up stated that it feels great to hold it. However, there is too little power behind the shots, making it unsuitable for the greatest challenges – especially not in PvP.
Perhaps the bugs associated with this weapon (Call of the Watch and increased precision in cover) should not be fixed to keep it more interesting for players.
Have you already obtained the Showstopper? What do you think of the shotgun?
This week we want to know what you think about the ranked system in Overwatch . Is it your thing or just elitist nonsense?
Ranked in Overwatch – Curse or Blessing?
For almost 3 days now, the ranked mode of Overwatch has been available on the PC version of the game, and players can start completing their placement matches and earn “Competitive Points” to purchase golden weapons. Furthermore, every player now receives a rank in the form of the “Skill Rank”, which provides clarity on how well one performs compared to their teammates and opponents.
So does the new mode make you have fun? After all, everything is a bit more serious here and the matches take longer. Therefore, we want to know from you this week: What do you think of the “Ranked System” in Overwatch?
Cortyn thinks: As I mentioned in my column on the “5 things I love about the ranked mode of Overwatch“: I love the ranked mode. Schuhmann may argue and say “Oh, Cortyn, don’t exaggerate, you love everything you like!”, but the game mode delivers exactly what I expected from it.
Finally, there is a measurable value by which one can compare their skills with others. Finally, it is disclosed who is ranked “how good” by the system. Are the rounds always balanced now? No, sometimes you still get steamrolled or take on that role yourself. But at least you now always know why the Overwatch matchmaker brought the players together.
Additionally, there’s the longer round duration, which I personally like – because I get more XP in one go, and what is better than an experience bar that fills up significantly from just one match?
But enough about me, let’s talk about you! How do you like the ranked mode of Overwatch? Have you checked out this mode yet? Do you avoid ranked games perhaps? And what would you change about this mode if you could? Discuss actively and let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
According to an analyst, the PlayStation 4 will receive a Slim version. This is expected to be released alongside the high-end PS4 “Neo” as early as September of this year.
Reportedly, Sony is currently also working on a slimmer PS4 model, a PS4 Slim. At least that is what analyst Damian Thong claimed to the Wall Street Journal. According to him, both Sony consoles are expected to be presented at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, which takes place from September 15 to 18, 2016.
Furthermore, his statements indicate that fans will not have to wait long for the new PlayStations after the announcement: These consoles are expected to be available for sale shortly before or at the start of the Tokyo Game Show.
Sony has not yet commented on this report, so all information should be taken with caution. It is also unclear whether the analyst is merely speculating or if his statements are based on insider information.
You can look forward to these Pokemon in Pokemon Sun and Moon!
A Japanese-language video has been released on the official Pokemon YouTube channel, showcasing more new monsters that we can look forward to in the new Pokemon installment. In the video, you’ll see not only the animations of new and old Pokemon but also how they battle each other.
These are the new Pokemon:
The names of the Pokemon are hard to determine because the video is in Japanese. There is a (Bug-Electric?)-type Pokemon that looks like a square caterpillar, a fish that seemingly has sharp teeth but can also shoot a purple beam, and also a Pokemon that looks like a mix of Pikachu and Marill.
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According to the Twitter account of Game Freak, the developer of the game, we can look forward to more news about Pokemon Sun and Moon around July 2nd (Saturday).
Funcom has released Update 5.0 for the MMORPG Age of Conan, which among other things relaxes free-to-play restrictions and introduces the previously announced Raid Finder.
About the Free2Play model: Now it is no longer necessary to obtain a access pass for certain areas or for raids. You can access all areas for which you have permission – regardless of your membership status. Of course, you still need to own the appropriate package to gain access to certain areas, but entering them should now be significantly easier.
Raid Finder and Daily Challenges
Additionally, a Raid Finder has been introduced with the new update. Through this tool, you can now more easily find players who want to tackle a raid with you. The tool offers various dungeons in a rotating system. In addition, new rewards await you in the raids. Also new are daily challenges that you can take on. The more you complete, the closer you get to valuable rewards. This way, you constantly have something to do.
A Lot of Improvements
Rewards also await you when you log into the MMORPG daily. Per account, you can obtain these every 24 hours. This is intended to provide an incentive to log in to the game daily. If you have an active membership for Age of Conan, you will also receive new, permanent perks. The update additionally introduces numerous changes to the UI, items, classes, dungeons, as well as quests and some general improvements. Players of the MMORPG Age of Conan can therefore look forward to a very extensive update.
Today is Xur day in Bungie’s MMO shooter Destiny. We take a look at his location and his offerings from July 1st to July 3rd.
Slowly, the chaos after the Update 2.3.0 seems to be calming down. After some maintenance and hotfixes, Destiny is now cruising smoothly again, and the Guardians should be able to enjoy the upcoming weekend in the Iron Banner. After all, “The Rise of Iron” is approaching. And you want to be prepared for the quests with Lord Saladin.
However, this is still a work in progress. Let’s look at the here and now. The scruffy Exotic trader Xur announces his arrival. Let’s welcome him.
All about Xur in Destiny on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd on PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360
When does Xur come and when does he leave again?
Xur arrives on Friday, July 1st, at 11 AM in the Tower or the Reef. He then will sell his wares until he leaves on July 3rd at 11 AM. However, not without taking your Strange Coins first.
Where is Xur? What is his location this weekend?
This weekend, Xur chooses a nice location to present his inventory to the Guardians. This time, Xur is hanging out in the Vestian Outpost, in the Reef,. Our friends from ProNDC will guide you there:
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Blizzard releases a comic about the backstory of the Dwarves – and first signs of the Burning Legion in World of Warcraft.
The Return of a Dwarf King
Recently, it seems Blizzard is starting a new tradition of accompanying upcoming game content with various media. World of Warcraft: Legion is now also getting some comics that shed light on the backstory of certain characters. The first one focuses on the Dwarves and offers a glimpse into the story of Moira Bronzebeard, the Council of Three Hammers, and the diamond-turned king Magni Bronzebeard. Moira is worried and is tired of visiting her father just to maintain the appearance of a good daughter. She knows that she is a disappointment to the frozen king. However, when she visits the statue in the old Ironforge to have some self-talk, something unexpected happens… You can best read about what the fate of Ironforge has to do with the approach of the Burning Legion in the comic “World of Warcraft: Legion – Magni – Fault Lines”.
Currently, the comic is only available in English on the American site of World of Warcraft. You can listen to it and watch it here, as it is additionally accompanied by fitting music: Link to the animated comic
As soon as the work is published in German, we will add the corresponding link to this news.
Since the comic has the number “#1” on the cover, it can be assumed that more stories will be released before the addon is released, which will also cover other races.
You can find more articles and news about the upcoming expansion on our Legion overview page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the latest patch of Overwatch there has been a bug affecting all control maps. Blizzard is considering disabling these maps.
Update: A patch for this bug is now live and the maps are functioning as intended.
Control maps hardly affect ranking
Since Wednesday, PC players of Overwatch can compete in ranked mode and improve their skill rating, collect their first “Competitive Points” for unlocking golden weapons, or just have a good time.
However, there is a bug that has made it from the public test server into the live version of the game and is causing frustration among players of the ranked system.The different control maps, namely Ilios, Lijiang Tower, and Nepal, have almost no influence on a player’s skill rating. Regardless of whether you win or lose, the effects are minimal in both cases and do not reflect what you would win or lose on another map.
Blizzard might remove the maps from the rotation
In the official forum, Jeff Kaplan has now responded to player complaints. “This bug is our top priority and we are trying to fix it as quickly as possible.”
Upon further inquiry from the players, Kaplan added: “A fix for the bug will be live soon, or we will disable the control maps in ranked mode.”
Why exactly the bug made it into the live version of the game is still questionable, as several players had already reported it during the testing phase of the patch.
In the long run, this bug should have no impact, so there will be no reset of the skill rating, as the bug “works” in both directions. Those who win on a control map gain only a few points, and those who lose also only lose a few points. Therefore, this bug is “fair” for all players and just needs to be fixed.
For more news and articles about Blizzard’s hero shooter, check out our Overwatch game page.
In Destiny , Bungie reports on the past, present, and future of the MMO shooter.
Bungie’s weekly update, “This Week at Bungie,” has no concrete news this time. They are currently somewhere between light and darkness. The developers are tinkering with the future, maintaining the present, and planning to honor the past.
They announce an event for next week, “that celebrates all of you.” On Thursday, July 7th, it’s “Bungie Day.” We can probably expect more concrete information around that day. The “Moments of Triumph” for Year 2 are highly anticipated, which are likely meant to celebrate “all of you.” Let’s wait and see what Bungie will pull out of the hat.
“The Rise of the Iron Lords” is drawing closer
Moreover, Bungie mentions in the letter to the community that they are currently planning the next insight into the upcoming autumn expansion. They also want to welcome “esteemed guests” who will soon discuss the upcoming major Destiny adventure with the developers.
No later than September 20th, we will all learn how to rise to become an Iron Lord. Currently, you can still train for this moment and prove yourself in the Iron Banner. This PvP event will continue until Tuesday and should now work flawlessly after already two maintenance breaks. Furthermore, they respond in “This Week at Bungie” to the most frequently asked questions about Destiny on the old consoles, PS3 and Xbox 360. Starting in August, these will not receive any new contents or events. Bungie again highlights the following aspects:
Old consoles will no longer receive major game updates or content releases.
“Destiny: The Rise of the Iron Lords” will only be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Destiny events and activity availability will change in August 2016 for old consoles. Events like “Trials of Osiris” and Iron Banner will no longer be playable on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Also, Silver purchases will no longer be possible on old consoles starting in August 2016. Players can still buy items in Eververse Trading Co. with Silver from old consoles.
Price Highlights for You on the 8th Day of the Steam Summer Sale!
On the 8th day, the Steam Summer Sale 2016 continues to deliver interesting offers in the daily highlight rotation. Keep in mind that the games in the rotation are just a selection from over 12,500 discounted games, which remain valid until July 4, 2016, at 7:00 PM. Every day features highlights from various genres that will make any gamer’s heart happy. Our highlights from the past days are worth a look! Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Our 5 Highlights of the Steam Summer Sale from June 30
Patrick’s Personal Recommendation from June 30: Cities: Skylines
A city-building game as complex as this, I haven’t played in a long time. In Cities: Skylines, you’ll face various challenges when trying to build a large, beautiful, and well-populated city. How do you handle your city’s waste? Do you generate electricity with solar energy or prefer to set up a few coal power plants in the area? When you start a city, it begins with a road where you can build settlements. Of course, the people moving into your small city not only need electricity and water but also shops and jobs.
As soon as you fulfill the basic conditions of a city, the first “problems” arise that you need to solve creatively: Do we need a bus network to relieve the streets of cars – and if so, how much should the fare be? Or maybe subways that only stop at main buildings like universities or theaters? Through tweets from your citizens, you learn what the residents of your city are unhappy about – but also what is working well. In Cities: Skylines, you can really invest many hours of gameplay without getting bored.
If you enjoy building cities and paying attention to details, you should definitely give this game a try.
As Skyforge approaches its first anniversary, a major update is being prepared for players. We reveal what new features are coming.
For Skyforge’s Birthday, it will be (Desolate)
Not much longer and Skyforge will celebrate its first birthday. In good “old” tradition, the MMORPG featuring demigods will release a new update fitting this celebration, which will be launched on July 20, 2016, and is titled “Battle of Equals”.
The centerpiece of the patch is a new region, the Anteyskaya Heath, a deserted wasteland. Here, giant worms (Dune says hello) await as new foes, alongside a new form of progression that only exists in this area – however, details on this have not yet been revealed. PvP players can look forward to fair matches, as Skyforge will host a new kind of tournaments where 6 players compete against each other (3vs3). Unlike the rest of the game, gear does not count here, and character stats will be normalized to create a fair environment where only skill and teamwork lead to success.
Newcomers can also look forward to the patch, as it should now be noticeably easier to catch up to the “endgame” of the game. Annoying farming will be reduced, making it faster to dive into the more current content of the game.
Aside from that, starting on July 13, certain “celebrations” will take place in Skyforge to appropriately honor the anniversary. Although no specific details are available yet, players can look forward to “unique anniversary rewards”.
For more news and articles about the demigod MMORPG, you can find them on our Skyforge game page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new, spectacular in-game trailer has been released for the upcoming fantasy MMORPG Revelation Online. In it, we see the colorful world of the fantasy online role-playing game from the air, just as our flying heroes can experience it.
Are you looking forward to Revelation Online, the upcoming new fantasy online role-playing game from Korea? Then you should check out the new trailer, as it showcases all possible angles and corners of the magnificent world of the game in more than 5 minutes of aerial shots. We see bright river landscapes, dense forests, desolate wastelands, floating towers, and endless oceans. The entire trailer consists of in-game scenes, so it reflects how you, as a player, should experience the game. Moreover, there is a good reason why we see everything from the air in the practical bird’s-eye view.
This way, not only can we better recognize the landscapes and their details, but our heroes themselves should also see the game world from this perspective more often, because in Revelation Online, our characters can fly once they reach a certain level and receive their own powerful wings. Just like in the MMO Aion by NCSoft, our avatars in Revelation Online are also mystical beings that can grow wings. With this, we can freely glide through the skies and enjoy the world in all its splendor, just like in the trailer here.
What do you think of the world of Revelation Online? Are you looking forward to gliding through the skies yourself, or do you find the whole world too colorful and Asian games just the devil? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We show you what you need to pay attention to as a sniper in the new Battlefield 1.
Shortly after this year’s E3, we already showed you an overview of the different classes in Battlefield 1. The YouTuber “Westie” has now dealt with the role of the sniper in more detail and explains in a detailed video how the individual weapons and their ammunition behave on the different maps. Not only gravity, but also critical hits will affect the effectiveness of the snipers in the future.
Physics is an important factor in Battlefield 1
It is already known from various games that a bullet, after being fired, loses height over time – this is called bullet drop. However, in Battlefield 1, the bullet also slows down over longer distances and approaches the ground more and more until it finally hits the ground. The further a bullet flies, the faster it approaches the ground, as it loses speed over time.
Source: Westie Youtube
Another important point for the sniper rifles in Battlefield 1 are critical hits. At the top graph of the image, you can see that this rifle has a significantly increased damage graph at shorter distances, which decreases back to the damage baseline at medium distances. This weapon, therefore, deals increased “critical” damage at shorter distances.
The different weapons have different damage graphs and should be chosen based on the map. If you have a secure position at a great distance from the opponent, a weapon that causes critical damage at long distances is recommended.
The different sniper rifles
In the closed alpha version of Battlefield 1, there are currently 3 different rifles available for snipers to choose from.
The Russian 1895 – A rifle for medium distances that can be used with or without a scope.
The German Mauser Gewehr 98 – Good for long distances. Offers 2 different scopes.
The British 1907 SMLE MK 3 Lee-Enfield – Deals a lot of damage at shorter distances, offers a scope or iron sights.
As the game is still in development, there will probably be more options for weapon selection for snipers. But what does a sniper player actually do against planes or vehicles?
As a scout, you have the option to load special ammunition against vehicles and airplanes. This special ammo does not provide a 10-shot magazine but must be reloaded after each shot. With these rounds, you are effective against light vehicles and planes, but not against heavy tanks or landships! In general, a lot has changed regarding reloading in Battlefield 1.
In this video, “Westie” analyzes the different weapons, their ammunition, and what physics has to do with all of this.
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In EVE Online everyone is in a cheerful EM mood. The historical successes of Iceland want the developers to celebrate together with the community.
Iceland is participating in a major football tournament for the first time. Currently, the team is causing a stir in France – all in Viking style. Many experts did not expect Iceland to survive the group stage of the EM. Now the Icelandic players have already advanced to the quarter-finals.
CCP Games, the developers of EVE Online, are a company based in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, which is closely following the European Championship. Together with the EVE community, they want to celebrate this fun now.
The developers are calling for everyone to post a picture on Twitter with the #EVEONLINE on every remaining game day of the Icelandic team, expressing your support for the squad. This gives you a chance to win some PLEX.
If Iceland scores more victories, every active account will receive the following rewards:
Quarterfinals on July 3 against France
Thorax Quafe Skin – Permanent
1x Festival Launcher
200x Barium Firework
200x Copper Firework
200x Sodium Firework
Semifinals on July 7
Megathron Quafe Skin – Permanent
200x Barium Firework
200x Copper Firework
200x Sodium Firework
Final on July 10
Hyperion Quafe Skin
1x Skill Injector
Hyperion Quafe Skin – Permanent
2x Festival Launcher
400x Barium Firework
400x Copper Firework
400x Sodium Firework
If Iceland should be eliminated, which the company of course does not expect, there is still a consolation prize:
Tristan Quafe Skin – Permanent
1x Festival Launcher
200x Barium Firework
200x Copper Firework
200x Sodium Firework
Will you celebrate with Iceland? The developers at CCP seem to be able to do this:
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In The Division, several issues have arisen with the Underground expansion and Update 1.3. Massive lists the official bugs in the Ubi forum.
So far, various problems have arisen after each update of Ubisoft’s MMO shooter, which the developers are diligently addressing – and will address. This also applies to the recent Update 1.3, which is currently available only for PC and Xbox One. Next week Tuesday, it will be the turn of PS4.
In the past, among the problems were severe exploits, which Massive penalized. So that every agent knows what is allowed and what is not, a page with known issues was created in the Ubi forum. It also indicates which of them are considered exploits.
After Update 1.3, no exploits have surfaced so far; however, many bugs have emerged, which we will outline below.
Known Bugs and Issues After Update 1.3 in The Division
Right after the launch of the Underground expansion, connection problems and delta errors occurred. Massive has already addressed these. Some bugs are still under investigation:
Map Bug: The map does not load correctly and causes players to revert to the character. The map cannot be opened at all. Fast travel is not possible because of this.
G36: The base damage is too high. This will be reduced in the future.
Showstopper: “Showstopper” should be able to be recalibrated. A fix is on the way. Additionally, the weapon should not work with the talent from “Call of the Watch.” A fix for this is also already prepared.
AlphaBridge: The gloves of this gear set are rolled incorrectly. Or they come with no attribute at all.
PP-19: When recalibrating the always active talent, the new talent gets attribute requirements.
Blue Division Tech in DZ 201+/231+: Apparently, low-quality Division Tech drops in high Dark Zone classes. This should not be the case.
High-Ranked Targets: There is a bug here that causes all “Search and Destroy” missions, high-ranked targets, and high-risk targets to be at level 30. There are lower drop rates for target data.
Underground: If a boss is standing on a train/bus and is killed, the loot falls on the roof of that vehicle and is inaccessible to the player.
Impulsifier: This skill currently does not scan all nearby enemies.
First Aid: With this skill, there is a problem where first aid is shot through the ground instead of landing on it.
Dragon Hoard: In the raid, boss drops can apparently be obtained multiple times.
While some of these problems still need to be investigated further, hotfixes are already on the way for others. When these will be deployed remains to be seen. Just a few hours ago, the page was updated: A fix for the map bug, the AlphaBridge gloves, and the overly strong G36 assault rifles is already on the way.
However, these are not all the problems that agents are complaining about. There are reports of bugs that prevent scrolling down in the mods. Some players are still having issues getting the Underground content to work. Complaints about lags, even in PvE, have been noted. Some agents get stuck on ladders and have to restart the game. From our community, there has also been the report that when rolling for weapon talents, players receive different talents than the ones they actually selected.
The list could be continued. It seems that Massive still has several tasks ahead before the game runs smoothly.
Actually, I had planned a lot for this week. I wanted to play through some games that I got during the Steam sale and relax in the sun for a few hours. But that didn’t happen because Overwatch has introduced the ranked mode.
But why does that take more of my time than before? Has Overwatch become a (even) better game because of this? Yes and no. The core mechanics have obviously not changed. The balancing hasn’t either.
1. The atmosphere fits
As a friend of mine said: “I had more fun in these rounds than in all matches before.” I feel the same way. But why? It’s the complete package. Just the music, when a ranked match is found, gives me chills. In general, there were some variations in the soundtrack, especially when the game leans towards its decision – rarely has music so well accompanied the mood as in the dramatic last seconds of a battle in the ranked mode.
2. Who plays with whom?
Moreover, it always annoyed me when someone simply claimed that the opposing team “must surely be a full premade group” and that’s why we lost. To me, that was never more than a pretty lazy excuse. In ranked mode, you now always see who is playing together and who signed up individually. Sure, Blizzard is patting itself on the back, but so far, it has always been the case that “fair” teams were matched against each other. So about 4+2 against 4+2.
3. Finally a measurable comparison
The skill rating or the “rank” you achieve finally gives an indication of how good you actually are. Often, you had to ask yourself, “why the hell am I matched against SUCH opponents?” – both in devastating defeats and in pretty quick victories. Now you have a reasonable reference point (besides the level) and can much better understand why you are playing against opponents X and Y. Although there is still a “hidden” MMR, with the skill rating I at least have something substantial in hand.
The rating under each name reveals how “good” teammates and opponents are.
4. Longer matches
Since the ranked system necessarily consists of several matches per map (up to 4 rounds for Assault, in Capture it’s a “Best of 5”), the duration of individual matches increases. While matches before were over after 8-10 minutes, there are now rounds that last 20-30 minutes, depending on the balance of the two teams. Yes, Overwatch is then less “a game to fill gaps” in ranked, but requires time in one go. However, this is balanced out by the fact that at the end of a match, you earn a lot of experience points (because the rounds last longer) – 7,000 points are not uncommon.
5. Communication
Since the introduction of the ranked mode, I use the game’s voice chat much more often and hardly experience any “idiots” who insult or berate me. The conversations are friendly but focused, and significantly more players use this feature than before. It has been a long time since I added some “randoms” to my friends list to play – but hey, it has happened!
Here’s a “pro tip”: At the beginning of each match, press “O”, switch to the group view, and activate the headset for team chat. This way, you are not only in the voice chat with your group but with the whole team.
A small negative point
However, there is a small unpleasant point. Whenever someone leaves the game early, things get a bit strange. If this happens in the first 2 minutes of a match, the game is simply canceled – a good decision that I fully support. However, if someone leaves the game after this 2-minute mark, the round continues.
There are no substitutes because who wants to join an ongoing ranked game? One team is therefore disadvantaged for the rest of the round but can choose to leave the game early without a penalty – they still receive a loss. This leaves a bitter aftertaste, but it’s probably the only sensible solution; otherwise, players would simply “cycle through” who leaves the game to never receive a loss. Caught together, hanged together.
The “old” Overwatch rule still applies here: Play with friends, because they won’t let you down, no matter how badly the round goes.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Who still remembers Avatar? The CGI movie by James Cameron, where blue-skinned aliens had to fight for their homeland?
Exactly for this movie, Kabam is currently developing a AAA-MMO. However, for mobile devices. You will soon be able to visit the world of Pandora on your smartphone. Kabam, along with the film studio 20th Century Fox and James Cameron’s production company Lightstorm Entertainment, aims to provide a visually impressive gaming experience. The genre has been chosen as strategy. Apparently, you will be able to fight large battles on the distant world.
A Mobile MMO with a huge budget
“We develop games that our fans remain loyal to even after years, and the game based on Avatar will in the foreseeable future offer them new and unprecedented experiences,” says Kent Wakeford, Chief Operating Officer at Kabam. “James Cameron and the Avatar franchise stand for groundbreaking technologies and set new standards. We want to meet these standards by creating the best possible AAA-MMO for this franchise.”
The Mobile Game based on Avatar is being developed at Kabam’s studio in Los Angeles and is using the largest budget ever allocated for a game – 14 million US dollars! In terms of the story, it will apparently represent a transition to the upcoming second Avatar film, which is set to hit theaters at the end of December 2018. Much more is currently not known about the game.
“Just like the Avatar movies, this mobile game will open new horizons of experience for its players – everywhere! The game offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a vibrant and interactive world and experience the beauty of Pandora through your smartphone or tablet,” promises Mike Verdu, President of Studios and Chief Creative Officer at Kabam. “For development, we not only have one of the largest budgets in the history of mobile gaming, but also a talented team at our disposal. Our users can look forward to a fantastic gaming experience!”
One can thus be excited about what Kabam delivers as an MMO for mobile devices.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny , we present a focus combination for the Hunter that is designed for the Crucible.
The YouTuber Nexxoss Gaming presents in the video a custom focus combination for the Nightstalker. He calls this Guardian setup “The Trapper Hunter”. Why? See for yourself:
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Nexxoss tunes the focus nodes and his equipment for the Nightstalker, resulting in a meaningful combination that performs well in PvP. It is designed for a rather passive playstyle, as you set “traps” for your opponents and then strike mercilessly.
How to skill the focus
Vortex Grenade: This grenade continuously deals damage to enemies.
Triple Jump: Here you can choose the jump that suits you best.
Shadowshot: You enhance the Super with Quiver. This allows you to fire the Shadowshot up to 3 times. These will serve as “traps”.
Smoke: With smoke, you slow down and “confuse” enemies that are in the cloud. Here you choose the node Trap, causing the smoke to stick to surfaces and explode when enemies are nearby. These smoke grenades also serve as “traps”.
Unknown Path and Path of the Fearless
Lockdown: This makes smoke and grenades last twice as long. Lockdown is crucial for this combination, as you rely heavily on the smoke.
Prowler: Also an important focus node for the “Trapper Hunter”: The Super charges faster, and the Void Anchor sticks to surfaces where it waits for the prey. This also makes the Super a “trap”. Thanks to Quiver, you can set up to three traps with it.
The Weapons of the Trapper Focus
For weapon choice, you generally have free rein. Pick ones that allow you to quickly eliminate enemies while they are caught in the trap.
Nexxoss has the pulse rifle Grasp of Malok as his primary weapon.
The secondary weapon is the fusion rifle Plan C. A solid shotgun, such as the Conspiracy Theory-D, also proves useful.
The heavy weapon is the machine gun The Blind Watcher.
The Armor and Attributes of the Trapper Hunter
The armor pieces that the YouTuber assembled make the focus combination more interesting.
Pay attention to them – also the Ghost shell – ensuring that you fully invest in Intellect and Strength. You need these stats at level 5 to have your traps back online quickly.
Strength reduces the cooldown of the smoke melee attack: 29 seconds at level 5.
With high Intellect values, you can use the Shadowshot more frequently. At level 5, it’s every 3 minutes and 40 seconds. The Prowler reduces the time further.
Crucial is the helm Graviton Forfeit: With this, you also gain the Shadowstep, which is invaluable in PvP. You can escape grenades, rockets, and enemy fire by darting around the corner. Additionally, Nexxoss has the perk From the Ashes on the helm, which grants him bonus Super energy for grenade kills.
For the gloves, perks that reduce the cooldown of the smoke melee attack are recommended. For example, the Tormented Shroud Grips with Devourer. Additionally, your preferred primary weapon should be able to reload faster with the gloves.
For the chest piece, Nexxoss uses the Tormented Shroud Chest with the perk Earthly Medicine, which grants a boost to recovery on grenade kills. However, this is not crucial for the combination. The main thing is that Intellect and Strength are generally improved.
For the leg armor, the Iron Lords Boots are interesting: After Void double kills, you gain +5 Agility for 5 seconds. Also interesting is the perk King of Conquerors: After capturing control zones in the Crucible, weapon and movement speed are increased. A useful perk in the Control mode.
For the cloak, artifact, and the Ghost shell, you should focus on Intellect and Strength.
How to play with the Trapper Hunter in PvP?
With this focus combination, you can play tactically passively. You set the “traps”, whether they are smoke grenades or arrows, in places where you expect enemies. When they get stuck in the smoke or are held by the arrow, you have a significant advantage and can quickly whittle down their health. You can also hold multiple opponents and eliminate them comfortably.
In the following impressive gameplay video by Nexxoss, you can see the Trapper Hunter in action:
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The German development studio Sandbox Interactive has announced the start of the final beta of the MMORPG Albion Online!
On August 1st, the starting signal will be given. Then you can experience the new world of the MMO with plenty of new features. The current beta phase will end in mid-July, so that the game can be prepared for the final phase.
Beta with a new world
The last beta introduces the already announced new game world, which consists of three new biomes – swamp, mountains, and steppe. Here you can find valuable resources, but you also have to defend yourself against the creatures that dwell there. Depending on the biome, you will encounter different monsters. The world is also divided into safe and unsafe areas. In safe areas, you are under the protection of the king, while in the Outlands you can engage in PvP battles at will.
A reputation system is also newly introduced. Through this, you accumulate reputation through your actions. Those with a poor reputation will have problems with the guards of the cities. The artifact system allows you to craft faction-specific artifact weapons with unique appearances and special abilities. You can further improve these weapons through a new enchantment system. Spells are also switchable based on need.
It’s almost time
The guild versus guild system, an item system, destiny board, resource spawning, and the mission and fast travel system will also be revamped for the final beta. Before their start, a player event will take place on July 17th. On July 18th, the servers will go offline for the first time. There will then be a wipe, resetting all accounts. Your advantages from purchased founder packs or purchased gold will of course remain intact.
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