Even before the release of Overwatch the first copy appeared. Following the motto “Brash wins,” everything has indeed been plagiarized…
The Legend of Titan – Overwatch for the Poor
Not surprisingly, but still repeatedly amusing, is the fact that good games quickly get a very “similar” product in China. This has now happened to Overwatch, which has seemingly been copied by a Chinese company. According to 2p, the displayed screenshots are apparently only concept ideas so far, but to speak of “ideas” would be exaggerated.
Not only has the character design been taken from Overwatch; the entire interface, abilities, and even the level design (those who look closely will immediately recognize the map Watchpoint: Gibraltar).
So, who recognizes Bastion?
From Tracer’s pistols to Bastion’s configuration: Turret to Reaper’s shotguns, every detail of the Blizzard template has really been copied precisely.
To top it all off amusingly, the game will be called “Legend of Titan,” so that no one forgets which game Blizzard has canned and from whose “ruins” more or less Overwatch was created. According to the manufacturer, Legend of Titan is supposed to be a mix of First Person Shooter and MOBA (how surprising!), but the game is supposed to run on several mobile platforms, including the iPhone 3GS. So far, a total of $760,000 has been invested in the game, although little of it likely went into creative ideas.
However, whether the “game” will ever be released or whether it has already been legally challenged into the ground during the planning phase by Blizzard is still unknown.
For more news, articles, and guides about Blizzard’s hero shooter, you can find them on our Overwatch game page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There will be no further titles for Assassin’s Creed this year, but Ubisoft is planning a mobile MMO specifically for the Chinese market.
The games from the Assassin’s Creed series have so far been very similar in gameplay, but now a MMO in the Assassin’s world is set to be released specifically for the Chinese market. But not just any MMO, it will also be a special mobile MMO, designed for mobile devices like smartphones or tablets.
For this, Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft has teamed up with the Chinese mobile publisher Ourpalm: Work on the MMO version of Assassin’s Creed in Beijing has been ongoing since 2014. Further information about the game and whether it is also intended for the western market is still not available.
China – different countries, different customs
In China, some franchises known in the West, such as Borderlands or Call of Duty, have MMO offshoots – this is rooted in the differing gaming culture in the East compared to the West. Many Chinese computers would not be able to properly run current Western games. Additionally, online games are popular in China.
Some suspect that this is due to the effects of the now-discontinued “One-Child Policy” and other peculiarities, which have made “PC cafés” a social meeting point for Chinese youth, while we in the West prefer to game at home. However, in recent years, the trend in Asia has strongly shifted towards mobile gaming. Ubisoft seems to be acknowledging this trend now.
The Overwatch trailer “Dragons” showcases the two ninjas Hanzo and Genji in full action, including their dragon ultimates. However, the truth is that Hanzo has a completely different superpower – he can create arrows out of nothing!
The CGI speaker films for Overwatch are among the best game trailers available today, and the beautiful and dramatic trailer “Dragons” is no exception. It features a wild duel between the two ninja brothers Genji and Hanzo, where the latter unleashes his typical bow-and-arrow attacks.
But if you look closely, a few curious details come to light. Hanzo actually starts with seven arrows but seems to continuously create new ones out of thin air throughout the film, as the YouTuber Hankshaw meticulously counted and came up with a total of 15 existing arrows, of which only twelve were actually fired. Two broke, and one arrow even disappeared without ever being shot.
Hanzo has superpowers!
Since according to the laws of mass and energy, matter cannot actually be created from nothing, it seems that Hanzo possesses god-like powers! – just like heroes in films used to have in westerns and action movies, but mysteriously, they lost them over time.
If you want to experience Hanzo’s power for yourself, we’ve embedded Hankshaw’s video here. Enjoy counting! Overwatch is actually releasing tomorrow at 01:00 AM, so there are only a few hours left until you can play the divine ninja Hanzo yourself.
The Alpha 2.4 of the space MMO Star Citizen is being extensively played on the public test server, and now it can be discussed what the update brings.
The biggest new feature of the update, and therefore a significant step towards an MMO, is the introduction of persistence in the online world.
This means that everyone who receives an invitation to the test server and can now see Alpha 2.4 will find that any earned money, the Alpha-UEC, as well as everything you buy, your configurations in the hangar, your ships and cargo, the armament, and everything related to your character, such as reputation in the world, will be saved.
So when you log out and back in, you will find your character and your items as they were during your last gaming session. In Port Olisar, you will now find many shops with items that you can use to customize your character.
Everything will be saved – until the wipe
However, the developers state that they will still conduct wipes from time to time. After all, this is still an alpha, and a lot of work is still being done. Thus, persistence in this early phase of development of Star Citizen is just a “test” to check certain features and innovations. However, at some point, Star Citizen will also have the “final wipe”, after which everything will be saved permanently. But it will probably take a while until then.
New ships and revamped controls
In addition to this major innovation, Alpha 2.4 also introduces the ability to pilot the Starfarer ship and view the new vessel Reliant in the hangar. With the new feature “Port Modification System”, you can now customize your hangar. Due to player feedback, the developers have also adjusted the controls. Currently, there is no date for when Alpha 2.4 will be deployed on the regular servers of Star Citizen. However, it should only be a matter of a few days.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Soulbound Studios cracks the first stretch goal and talks about the future funding model of the sandbox MMO with aging process – Chronicles of Elyria.
After only a few days, Chronicles of Elyria – the upcoming sandbox MMORPG from Soulbound Studios – had already raised nearly 1 million dollars on Kickstarter and reached its first goal. The first stretch goal has now even been unlocked.
Gambling / Gaming is the 1,500,000 USD stretch goal, which should provide a lot of fun in taverns.
This prompted the developers to announce their funding plans for the time after Kickstarter, with especially German players likely to be pleased with the latest announcement. Because to the dismay of many Europeans, Kickstarter currently only accepts credit cards, which prevents many German players from “backing”, as credit cards are still quite rare and unpopular in this country compared to other countries like the USA.
To not leave all these players out in the rain, the developers from Soulbound Studios decided to extend the current promotion. They want to offer the current “Original Tiers” for another 30 days after Kickstarter on their own homepage, where they can also be paid via PayPal.
For 1,750,000 USD, tunneling is set to come to the game, allowing for the construction of underground player dungeons.
Likewise, they want to give players who have already supported Chronicles of Elyria – the MMORPG where you age and die – the opportunity to upgrade their previous pledges within these 30 days to the current “Original Kickstarter Tier”.
Those who decide to upgrade later will no longer be able to choose any of the “Original Kickstarter Tiers” after the 30 days, but will only be able to receive one of the new “Post-Kickstarter Tiers” that will be released then, which will differ in price and rewards from the current tiers.
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The plan is to start the closed alpha at the end of 2016, to then enter the early access phase in the first or second quarter of 2017. The official release is expected for the third quarter of 2017.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, a key art for the next expansion “Rise of Iron” has been circulating on the internet for a few days now. We will explore some theories that the Guardians have put forward so far.
This poster depicts a Titan in the center, surrounded by wolves, wielding a flaming axe (or hammer?). In the background, a shattered wall rises.
So far, there is no official information about this expansion, but Kotaku claims that there will be a new raid featuring the Fallen. The image has sparked numerous speculations over the weekend, despite or precisely because of the lack of information available. We want to introduce some theories collected by the YouTuber MoreConsole.
The Setting – Where does the “Rise of Iron” expansion take place?
We can assume that Bungie has packed this poster full of hints that point to upcoming content. The wall reminds many Guardians directly of the Cosmodrome on Earth. And clever Guardians have found a logo that reveals the specific location on this poster:
This logo is the emblem of the Russian Federal Bureau of Aeronautics, an organization that operated in the Cosmodrome during the Golden Age. The symbol on the wall is already findable in the game: right where the journey of our Guardians begins:
What role does Lord Saladin play and what is the Iron Banner?
Many Guardians are sure: The Titan in the image is Lord Saladin, whom we all know from the monthly Iron Banner event. The armor in the image matches that of Lord Saladin, and the wolves seem to leave no doubt: after all, the wolf is the ubiquitous symbol of the Iron Banner. However, it may also be an unknown Titan.
Speculations are being made here: Does the “Rise of Iron” expansion possibly tell the story of the “Iron Lords” and the “Iron Wolves”?
These are groups that defended the Last City in its early days. So far, little is known about them: both the Iron Lords and Iron Wolves are honored in the Iron Banner tournament – the names of the weapons are named in honor of the Iron Lords. The speculation strongly suggests that we will learn more about these mysterious groups and the early defense of the Last City in the fall.
So far, we have only encountered Lord Saladin in the Iron Banner through PvP. How this will change with the update remains to be seen.
But what role does Lord Saladin play in this? The edges of the wall breach in the poster show flames licking at the edges. Did Lord Saladin – if it is indeed him in the poster – break through this wall with the flaming axe himself? What could be the reason for that? And what is the meaning of the axe?
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The community is divided on whether it is truly an axe or rather a hammer that the Titan proudly holds in his hands. However, the tendency clearly leans towards an axe. And just as the axe is ablaze, the Guardians are also fired up about this new potential melee weapon.
With the “King of the Taken” expansion, swords found their way into the game, allowing players to eliminate enemies up close. Will axes now emerge as a fresh weapon type this fall? And will there be different elemental damage types? This could mean that the Titan on the poster wields a Solar axe.
A clever Guardian may have already found this axe in Destiny: The Titan emblem “Thalor’s Golden Maul” depicts a golden axe. According to its description, this symbolizes Thalor, a victor in the Crucible. It seems Bungie has already envisioned Titans with axes in advance. An early concept art of the Titans suggests this as well:
If the axe is introduced as a new weapon type, it is still unlikely that only Titans will wield the axes. Hunters and Warlocks would probably not be pleased.
The Wolves – more than just a symbol of the Iron Banner?
The poster shows the Titan surrounded by three wolves. These are not the Fallen from the House of Wolves, but the “real” pack animals. Reading through the speculations of the Guardians, one often comes across the pious wish that these wolves should play a larger role in the game:
They should be found directly in the game: for example, as controllable units for combat. Guardians want to interact with them; they should be more than just the symbols of the Iron Banner.
Will every Guardian stride through the Destiny universe with wolves by their side in the future? This speculation seems quite unlikely. But who knows what Bungie will pull out of the hat this fall.
What do you think of these speculations? Do you have different theories on the matter?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard’s first new franchise in 20 years, Overwatch, launches today. When will new heroes come?
Blizzard has already announced that there will be more heroes released for free after the “starter heroes”. In the meantime, there have already been rumors about the new heroine “Sombra.”
In a Japanese interview, Scott Merce, one of the key designers of Overwatch, has now revealed more information. Players probably won’t be able to expect the new heroes anytime soon. They are currently in the prototyping stage. Blizzard plans to add “some more” before the year ends.
The same applies to new maps: they plan to add some within a year after the launch.
In The Division, the value “Toughness” is introduced with update 1.2. What does this mean?
Update: The English term for this is “Toughness”.
In the special report for the May update of The Division, the developers presented numerous innovations that will come to the agents. In this livestream, the new value “Toughness” was already visible, which will be displayed instead of the health points. However, the developers did not address this new value in the stream.
What is “Toughness” in The Division?
In a previous State of the Game, Massive stated that “Toughness” will be a new value that reflects health and armor value. This brings more transparency: You can quickly see with which items you can absorb more damage. “Toughness” directly indicates how “tanky” you are.
When you open your inventory, you will see the SPS value, health points, and skill strength. With update 1.2, “Toughness” replaces health points, allowing you to keep track of this value.
There will be no changes to the attributes of firearms, stamina, and electronics. These will be displayed as usual. This could be inferred from the livestream. Stamina will continue to increase your health – at least no changes are known for this attribute.
How is the “Toughness” value calculated?
The YouTuber MarcoStyle took a closer look at the livestream and examined the values and numbers we saw. He came up with a formula to calculate “Toughness”. His result roughly matches the numbers shown in the stream. The formula is:
This means you need to calculate your health points with the percentage of your armor value. You can find this in the character data. This way, you can already find out what Toughness you will have starting from update 1.2.
An example:
You have 70,000 health points and the current armor maximum of 65%. Then the calculation is:
70,000 : (100 – 65) x 100 = 200,000 Toughness
By the way: If you have an armor value of 0%, Toughness equals your health points.
MarcoStyle came to another exciting conclusion with this formula: The higher the armor percentage, the more decisive it becomes for Toughness. The following graphic shows the curve of how much Toughness depends on armor value:
From the last ten possible armor percentages, you can squeeze out 114k Toughness. From 0-10% armor, Toughness only increases by 11k. For this graphic, he calculated with 100,000 health points.
Below is the video from MarcoStyle:
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Kingdom under Fire 2 talks in detail about the different heroes, their backstory, and showcases fresh gameplay material.
The Different Heroes of KuF2
Kingdom under Fire 2 is a daring mix of real-time strategy and MMORPG, as players must not only lead a “hero” into battle but also direct complex troop movements and guide their soldiers to victory. The “boss” of the game, Sang-Youn Lee, a developer at Blueside, has presented the future plans of the game in a new video, highlighting the various classes that are already implemented in the game.
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The development of Kingdom under Fire 2 is far from complete. Currently, there are 80 different unit types in the game that players can command in their battles, and this number is expected to rise to 350 by the final version of the game. Additional classes are also planned, including at least the “Elf Master” and the “Dark Mage”; however, no specific details about their appearance or abilities have been revealed yet.
On May 24th, Overwatch celebrates its official release. But at what time does it actually start?
Shortly after midnight the launch begins
After years of waiting, Overwatch, Blizzard’s first foray into the shooter genre, is finally at the starting line. On May 24th, the game launches simultaneously on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. To avoid any confusion or uncertainty about the exact launch date, Blizzard has written a new blog post that equips players with all the important information.
In Germany, Overwatch is set to be released on May 24th at 1:00 AM, so players can start shooting shortly after midnight.
Last week we asked: Will you get Overwatch? More than half of our readers have already decided to purchase it, while about a quarter is waiting for the release to see if friends will join. You still have the opportunity to benefit from the pre-order, so you can secure the “Noire” skin for Widowmaker (e.g. here on Amazon).
On PC, the installation of Overwatch is typically easy, occurring through the Battle.net launcher. If one has purchased the physical game, they must first add the included key to their Battle.net account to register the game license. On PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it’s similarly straightforward – with a physical version, inserting the disc is sufficient; otherwise, Overwatch must be downloaded from the respective store.
If you need a detailed guide for the individual steps, you can find it in our sources.
If you want to further prepare for your first battles, you should also check out our guides and experiences to get an initial overview of the tactics and capabilities of the various heroes.
In an article by gamesindustry, Matt Firor talks about the success of The Elder Scrolls Online. He says not to talk about numbers, but the success of The Elder Scrolls Online in 2015 was huge. It exceeded all expectations.
“We are successful because we didn’t go Free2Play”
He attributes this to, among other things, the transition from a subscription model to a pay-once model. This allowed them to attract the “RPG” fans, particularly the Skyrim players.
Producer Matt Firor.
Initially, they had alienated players with the subscription model, but a “pay once and play the game” concept resonated well with RPG fans, especially the console players on PS4 and Xbox One. They gained millions of new players. MMO fans still had the option to subscribe.
Firor also takes pride in not jumping on the “Free2Play” bandwagon. Because you can “play out of the box” and don’t have to buy anything additional. This has been well received by many Elder Scrolls players.
DLCs like the Thieves Guild bring players back
Now that the game is running, it shows that the DLCs they release bring a lot of players back to ESO. The Thieves Guild missions and the Dark Brotherhood were highlights in Oblivion and Skyrim and are now also focal points of the content strategy in 2016.
Especially the Thieves Guild has brought many former players back. They expect the same from the Dark Brotherhood.
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What helps ESO additionally: The debate about whether an “MMO” can work on consoles was settled through Destiny and The Division .
In the past, Firor says, the terms MMO and MMORPG were interchangeable, but now some developers, including Zenimax Online, have decoupled “RPG” from “MMO” with their games.Today, MMO is a technology, not a game design anymore. Any game that allows millions of people to play together is an MMO.
In many ways, The Elder Scrolls Online is not an MMORPG, even though it has certain features, but it is its own thing.
Fallout Online?
When asked if Bethesda is planning other MMORPGs now that The Elder Scrolls Online is running well, Firor did not want to reveal anything. The question surely targeted “Fallout Online.”
They are only a year after the console launch of ESO, said Firor. They might think about such things, but at the moment they are just enjoying how well The Elder Scrolls Online is performing.
And so the success story of ESO is set to continue:
Blizzard has released the latest cinematic for Overwatch . Check out the video “Hero” here and learn more about the story of Soldier: 76.
Soldier: 76 – Old habits are hard to break
Blizzard has just fulfilled its promise and released the last of the four announced cinematics for Overwatch. This time it revolves around John “Jack” Morrison, who is probably better known to players as “Soldier: 76”. He was genetically enhanced at a young age as part of a “Soldier Enhancement Program” to have faster reflexes and better stamina – traits that were particularly useful to him as an agent and leader of Overwatch. After his supposed death, he no longer works for Overwatch, but pursues his own goals to uncover a major conspiracy.
The latest cinematic takes place on the Dorado map, long after Overwatch was disbanded. Most people live in fragile peace, but gangs and criminal organizations dominate certain neighborhoods – and this is where the story of the cinematic “Hero” begins…
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This time there was remarkably little of the actual “hero” of the story to be seen. What do you think of this storytelling style? Just right, or did you wish for “more” from Soldier: 76?
Also, be sure to check out the other cinematics that Blizzard has released in recent weeks and months:
For the shooter MOBA Battleborn , an “Honest Trailer” has been created that pokes fun at the game. Check it out here.
“With all the nonsense like Borderlands, just without the charm”
Somehow, it is also a special form of honor when a game is featured in an “Honest Trailer” by the YouTubers “Smosh Games”. This has now also happened to the latest game from the Borderlands creators Gearbox, which found its MOBA shooter Battleborn at the center of the latest video.
In an amusing (and not entirely serious) way, the trailer highlights the peculiarities of the game (complex systems, character development) and also reveals what is not quite successful (mediocre, transparent story, lacking tutorials). In the end, they recommend: “Check out an FPS/MOBA hybrid that is surprisingly fun to play … before it gets overshadowed by the behemoth Overwatch.”
Anyone who speaks English should definitely watch the “trailer” – it is definitely worth a look.
For more news and articles about the MOBA shooter, check out our Battleborn game page.
In The Division, a team managed to complete the incursion “Falcon Lost” using only pistols.
What weapons do you use to tackle “Falcon Lost”? The AUG and Vector submachine guns? Or do you prefer an assault rifle instead?
What about trying a pistol – and only a pistol? That’s what agents Bratpfanne007, Jaspin 72, Respectar, and COBRA-AUSTRIA thought: They executed the “Pistol-Only” run on “Hard” difficulty live on Twitch. Here’s a recording of how they managed it on Youtube:
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It seems the Division agents take their self-imposed challenge very seriously: They use no weapons other than pistols and even forgo grenades. As an essential skill, they utilize the Ballistic Shield, which allows them to use only sidearms anyway.
During the run, the agents had to contend not only with the LMB but also with a few bugs. Nevertheless, they were able to destroy the MTW and stop the enemies in the end. At least they didn’t have to worry about one thing during this attempt: the ammunition.
The agents’ gear scores during this respectable achievement were beyond the 200 mark.
In autumn 2016, we expect the new football simulation from EA Sports, which will be named FIFA 17. We list 10 aspects in which FIFA 17 should improve compared to its predecessor FIFA 16.
What can we expect in FIFA 17? What innovations does the football simulation bring?
We will likely only get official answers to these questions at E3 in June. Until then, we are allowed to make guesses, speculations, and wishes. The CEO of EA, Andrew Wilson, has already heated expectations by revealing: FIFA 17 will make a significant leap in personalization, gameplay depth, and competitive aspects. How they will implement this concretely is still unknown.
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If one wants to create a list of all the things that should improve in the FIFA series and what the community wishes for, it is definitely a hopeless endeavor: The suggestions from fans are so diverse that one would come up with a hundred different things.
Therefore, we limit the following list to 10 things that we expect from FIFA 17. For this, we not only draw on our own opinions but also on contributions from global internet forums and comments from our own community.
Top priority: Gameplay!
All the great features and modes that EA Sports comes up with are secondary if the gameplay is not solid. Because as Adi Preißler once stated: “The critical aspect is on the field.”
Not only must the control over players and game events feel good, but the artificial intelligence should also behave truly “intelligently.” EA advertises every year that the defense lines, movement paths, and positional play – that everything is optimized. In practice, however, fans still complain about bizarre and wildly erratic behavior of the computer players.
While significant improvements have already been made to gameplay in recent years, coarse blunders from the AI in FIFA 16 repeatedly create moments that raise players’ pulse and send controllers flying through the air. EA Sports should continue to minimize this issue in FIFA 17. The outcome of games should depend less on the game itself and more on the players’ performances.
Additionally, the referee sometimes officiates the events in a rather adventurous manner. There is hardly a game in which players do not complain at least once about the referee, whether for fouls or offside decisions. Our reader Warlock notes, for example, that the referee often calls offside too early, despite him having long stopped running and can’t even reach the ball. We all know such scenes.
In short (as I realize that I need to self-restrain): Most fans will surely welcome it if the events on the field become even more realistic. FIFA 16 is by no means all bad – many fans, myself included, still play it frequently and enjoyably – but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The “Ultimate Team” mode should focus more on playing
We probably shouldn’t worry about the “Ultimate Team” mode. According to EA, this is the most popular mode in the game and brings in a lot of money for the company. We can expect that this will be refreshed in FIFA 17, will receive a few new features, and will enchant fans once again.
One thing that does need changing here: Playing matches should become more rewarding. To buy objects on the transfer market and open packs, a lot of coins are needed. However, it takes a long time to “earn” a decent team, as the rewards after a game tend to be rather meager.
It’s difficult to make significant strides this way, as players also need to be supplied with consumables like contracts.
Then some fans dig into their wallets and invest a few euros via microtransactions to advance faster. Mega stars like Ronaldo or Messi can hardly be earned through playing alone.
Hence the wish: Playing matches should become more profitable.
The “Pro Clubs” mode needs a significant upgrade
Andrew Wilson has promised a significant leap in personalization and gameplay depth for FIFA 17. This hopefully also applies to “Pro Clubs”, as a lot more can be extracted from this mode than has been done so far.
Many fans wish for more options in the career mode of the FIFA series. Our reader III wishes for a comprehensive manager part, which would “incredibly enhance” the football simulation for him.
Additionally, there are internet presentations suggesting an online co-op career or similar features that promote the aspect of “playing together.” We will have to wait and see what surprises EA Sports will present for the career mode.
More stadiums, more atmosphere
A few years ago, the “stadium atmosphere” in the FIFA series was quite limited: In the stands, some pixels moved rhythmically to the beat, and the fan chants were not exactly top-notch – it had little to do with football as we love it.
EA has made significant strides in this regard in recent years. Now, fans can be identified as people in the stadium, and the acoustics are also more varied and “realistic.” An important point that benefits the stadium atmosphere is: EA Sports is increasingly integrating more real stadiums into the game.
We hope that they will continue on this path for FIFA 17: Add even more stadiums (preferably more from the Bundesliga), make the fan chants more varied, and continuously improve the football atmosphere. Every fan of the round leather would surely appreciate that.
Give us the Third League
A wish that is especially expressed from Germany: The Third League. It contains some traditional clubs that fans want to see (again) in the FIFA series. However, the licenses for this league lie with the German Football Association, which EA still has to negotiate.
Hope comes from a statement by EA producer Sebastian Enrique: “I always push our licensing team to get more. I can promise nothing, but the 3rd league is on our list of things our community wants.” We would be happy about that. As our reader Norm An says: “3rd league and I’m in.”
Give us the ability to play unfairly
In football simulations of yesteryear, there was the ability to do diving and “intentional fouls” on demand, where players jumped into opponents head first.
Well, it’s probably not essential for FIFA 17. But we and many other fans of the game would be keen on it. And then a red card would follow if a brutal foul is committed. In that case, you’re to blame yourself.
But what impact diving and intentional fouls would have on game balance and how they would ultimately be received by fans is questionable. If the opponent gets away with a dive, the anger towards the referee and the opponent would be boundless. The developers likely want to avoid this (additional) frustration potential.
But perhaps EA Sports will find a way to integrate this appropriately. In the real world of football, diving and “frustration fouls” are also part of everyday life.
FIFA 17 and indoor football? What about it?
For many fans, FIFA 98 is considered the best FIFA ever. Why? Because of indoor football! For years, fans have been calling for this mode to return, which excited many players back in the day.
The chances of it returning in FIFA 17 are, however, slim. EA Sports has not made any hints lately that they will re-integrate indoor matches. But: Hope dies last.
https://youtu.be/nh4uA_djAuo
60 euros for an “update”?
One thing fans have been complaining about for years: The annual FIFA installments are merely updates to their predecessors. Therefore, the price of around 60 euros for the standard edition is met with disbelief. Among others, our reader Longard points this out.
Of course, EA cannot reinvent football every year anew. But more innovations in gameplay modes, personalization options, or social features would likely encourage gamers to invest the hefty 60 euros.
How about a cover star from the Bundesliga?
This pious wish does not have the highest priority; however, many fans would welcome this step from EA. For years, only Lionel Messi has adorned the German cover of the football simulation from EA Sports. The logo of the Virtual Bundesliga is also displayed. However, a star from the Bundesliga is sorely missed.
It has been a while since players like Bastian Schweinsteiger or Mats Hummels were on the cover. On the covers of “FIFA 16” in other countries, additional stars like Jordan Henderson, Mauro Icardi, or for Austria David Alaba are featured.
What improvement suggestions are particularly on your mind?
In the MMO shooter Destiny, a Redditor has completed a large-scale study on the Three of Coins. These are his results.
The reddit user wiggly_proof presented a significant community project back in April: He wants to shed light on how the Three of Coins work in Destiny. Because with this item, one only knows roughly how they function. However, Bungie has never revealed the exact details. Therefore, the Destiny player called for a comprehensive study. Some reddit users were immediately enthusiastic about this committed project and helped him gather the data.
The Three of Coins are consumables that Guardians can acquire from Xur since “The Taken King” or receive through the Nightfall strike. They increase the chances of obtaining an exotic engram from the next ultra-kill or through a completed Crucible match. The effect is stackable and is supposed to increase when the last “Three of Coins” usage did not drop an Exotic.
Here are the results of the “3oC Study”
wiggly_proof analyzed previous studies on the Three of Coins in the reddit forum and, with the help of volunteer supporters, collected additional data in a labor-intensive process. He proceeded methodically to obtain results on the “Cooldown” of this buff.
In his self-conducted study, he and 32 other users activated a total of 1660 coins and were able to obtain 167 Exotics. This group collected data for the “Three of Coins” speed-running: The Guardians used a coin approximately every 2-3 minutes, each time after swiftly defeating Draksis.
As a comparison, a study by the user GreenLego was referenced, who used a single coin every day for weeks while also eliminating Draksis. There were over 20 hours between each of his 3oC usages.
As wiggly_proof now claims to have proven: The Three of Coins have a “Cooldown”, during which the chance for Exotics is significantly lower. While in the speedrun, an exotic engram dropped every 9.94 coins, with the “One Coin Per Day” method, only 5.15 coins were needed. The chances for Exotics through the Three of Coins are therefore nearly twice as high when not used in rapid succession.
The exact cooldown of the coins, however, is not revealed here. It apparently lies somewhere between 3 minutes and 20 hours. Further investigations would be necessary to narrow down this timeframe until the Three of Coins regain their full effectiveness.
There are two theories: One says “This is a cooldown, the coins are weaker after a successful use, and after a certain time has passed, they are back to being ‘normally strong’.” And another theory says: This is not “black or white”, but follows a formula and becomes “slowly” stronger after a successful use.
Which theory is accurate will likely require further extensive studies.
The following graphic from the user shows the comparison in detail:
The blue curve shows the speed run, while the orange shows the slow method. On the right is the axis, indicating how many coins were used, and upwards is the probability of when an exotic drops. It is immediately apparent that the chances for Exotics per coin are significantly higher with the “One Coin Per Day” method.
What information can we take away from the Three of Coins study in Destiny?
What conclusions can we draw from this? If you want to get the most out of the Three of Coins, you should use them cautiously. However, if you proceed like GreenLego, it takes on average over 5 days to obtain an exotic engram.
Or you can spend the Three of Coins generously: You will only obtain an engram approximately every 10 coins, but it averages only about 30 minutes if you choose the speed run method.
In a side study, the user also found that there are no differences in the types of exotic engrams that drop. He could not identify any statistical anomalies among the various weapons and armor pieces.
Caution: These results are not official but generated by dedicated fans of Destiny. Therefore, all information should be treated with caution. Furthermore, not all factors that influence the effect of the coins could be taken into account.
Nonetheless: What do you think of these findings?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Tom Clancy’s The Division, there are numerous abbreviations for certain terms. We tell you what they mean.
Those agents who are diving into Ubisoft’s MMO shooter must first find their way in this hostile world. What is that glowing thing on my wrist? What is it about and how do you control the colleague at all?
The many abbreviations in The Division do not make the entry easier, but additionally cause confusion. However, a solid knowledge of most of these cryptic letter combinations is necessary to enhance the agents effectively.
This is what the abbreviations in The Division mean
Many abbreviations concern information about your weapons and items. However, you also encounter other strange designations.
ISAC= Intelligent System Analytic Computer. This is the talking clock on your agent’s wrist. It supports you in the post-apocalypse by warning you of enemies, accepting transmissions, or creating ECHOs. The Division technician Simon Keyes is responsible for maintaining an ISAC node in New York.
ECHO = Evidence Correlation Holographic Overlay. Your watch uses data from technical devices, such as surveillance cameras or smartphones, to make past events visible to you as a 3D hologram. Some of these ECHOs you need to activate to complete missions.
JTF = Joint Task Force. This is a crisis intervention team consisting of police, military, and medical emergency organizations. The Division agents support this unit.
DZ = Dark Zone. This is the PvP area in The Division, into which you can seamlessly transition from the open world. The “DZ” abbreviation, for example, appears with the DZ class, which depends on your level and gear score.
Mods: Modifications. You can equip and upgrade skills, weapons, and armor pieces with mods.
RST = Armor. If you increase the armor value, enemy bullets can do less damage to you. The current maximum is 65%. This will be raised to 75% with the May update.
SPS = Damage per second. A statement of how much damage you deal with your weapon. This value depends on numerous factors, which are not very transparent to the agents. However, the “true strength” is not only represented by the SPS value alone.
SPM = Shots per minute. A statement for the fire rate of the weapon.
Battleborn and Overwatch are often compared, but they actually play in completely different leagues. To clear up the misconceptions, we have outlined the main differences here.
Since the release of Battleborn, it has been compared to Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch, although technically Battleborn was announced earlier.
Battleborn Vs. Overwatch – What are the differences?
But we want to finally put an end to the annoying comparisons and have gathered a few arguments that highlight the main differences between the two games. However, what we definitely do not intend to do here is pass any judgment. So we are not saying which game is “better”, but just how they differ. Incidentally, the primary source we used was YouTuber Total Biscuit, whose video on the subject we also link here.
Overwatch is primarily a pure multiplayer title. There are three game modes and a total of 12 uniquely designed maps with clear differences in design. In the Escort game mode, we must escort an object through the map while the opposing team tries to stop us. In the “Assault” mode, one team attacks and must capture points while the other team defends them. The “Control mode” allows both teams to capture and hold up to three points, and lastly, there’s a hybrid mode that starts as Assault and ends as an Escort mission.
Battleborn offers 9 different maps and also three PvP game modes. In addition, there is also a PvE campaign that we can undertake cooperatively with up to four other players. The three PvP game modes are Incursion, Capture, and Meltdown. Capture is a typical shooter mode in which we take fortified positions and gradually collect victory points. In Incursion, each team has a giant combat robot secured by strong shields. We must destroy this by cleverly guiding small minion robots to it to disable its shield. Lastly, there’s Meltdown, where we must escort minions safely to scrap presses, earning us victory points.
Here we must safely escort small robo-minions to scrap presses.
Overwatch
Battleborn
Three PvP game modes
Three PvP game modes
12 original maps
8 PvE missions
9 maps that are quite similar
Point 2 – Heroes, Style, and Setting
Overwatch currently offers us 21 heroes, some of whom are quite eccentric. For example, the scientist Winston is an ape and Zenyatta is a floating Zen robot monk. The rest of the crew consists of lovingly designed heroes who mostly keep it grounded. The graphic style is somewhat akin to a Pixar animated film, colorful and lively, but still subtle.
The heroes are divided into four classes: Attackers, Defenders, Supporters, and Tanks. Moreover, all of them are available from the start. If the selected hero is not performing well during the game, it can be switched at any time in the starting zone, and multiple copies of the same hero are also allowed. Character progression is not present; although there are levels you can gain between battles, these have no effect on the game but merely unlock cosmetic items like new skins or emotes.
The story of Overwatch and the backgrounds of the heroes, while well-developed, take place entirely outside the game in comics, blog entries, and stylish rendered cutscenes. The game itself does not concern itself with the plot but rather throws all heroes, regardless of their loyalty in the story, into teams and lets them fight each other. The humor of the game is original and funny but remains mild and family-friendly.
Battleborn starts with 25 heroes to choose from. Most of them are extremely eccentric and originally designed. For instance, there is the completely insane chaos witch Orendi, who has four arms and a hearty appetite for entrails, or the healing ninja mushroom Miko. The heroes are categorized into Attackers, Tanks, Defenders, and Supporters.
Between missions, heroes can level up and unlock not only cosmetic items but also completely new skills. In addition, only a handful of heroes are available at the start; the rest must be unlocked through specific actions, for example, by eliminating a total of 50 other players or destroying 800 minions.
The graphics are extremely colorful and filled with flashy effects, resembling the style of Wildstar. A well-developed story is present and is relevant in the PvE mode; however, the individual characters are also well-crafted, and further information about their backgrounds can be unlocked through challenges. Additionally, there are fun comic sequences outside the game that explain further backgrounds. The humor of Battleborn is dark, coarse, and quirky.
Overwatch
Battleborn
21 heroes, all available from the start
25 heroes, most of which must be unlocked
4 hero classes
4 hero classes
Story only relevant outside the game
Story in PvE mode
Hero progression unlocks cosmetics
Hero progression unlocks new heroes and skill variations along with cosmetics
Funny and original lines from heroes, more subdued but always striking humor
Dark humor and coarse lines, especially in missions, not necessarily family-friendly
Point 3 – Gameplay
Overwatch plays out like a fast-paced team shooter in the vein of Team Fortress. The action is rapid, and there is a distinction between regular hits and critical headshots. All heroes are quite fragile, often going down after just a few hits. Even tanky characters like Roadhog can be quickly eliminated; however, respawn times are short, allowing constant action.
Overwatch offers fast shooter action with a short acclimatization period.
Within a match, there is no progression for heroes; they all remain equal in terms of abilities and have all skills available from the start. Only the ultimate skill needs to be charged slowly through hits and kills. There are no further talents or equipment; each hero starts the match with the same abilities and stats. This makes Overwatch very beginner-friendly.
Battleborn is less of a shooter and more of a MOBA. Unlike in League of Legends or Heroes of the Storm, we must guide minions into the enemy base in two of the three PvP modes to help secure the win. This makes it much more important to protect our own minions and eliminate those of the enemy rather than just focusing on the enemy players.
In Battleborn, focusing solely on enemy players is not always the smartest move. Rather, minions are the key to victory.
Heroes are quite durable and cannot be taken out with a single hit. Furthermore, heroes can level up to 10 levels during a match and choose special talents each time, which allow for additional tactics. Each hero also has an ultimate skill that becomes available only at level 5.
Heroes can collect special shards during battle to activate defensive structures, particularly strong minions, or personal equipment. The latter are earned in the PvE mode and a special “loadout” can be assembled before a match. This then provides valuable bonuses in combat once the items with shards are activated. Overall, the gameplay of Battleborn is tactical and requires some acclimatization to handle the sometimes very different heroes.
Overwatch
Battleborn
Shooter gameplay like Team Fortress
Shooter with strong MOBA elements
Heroes can be eliminated quickly
Heroes are durable, especially at higher levels
Fast-paced gameplay with short respawn times
More tactical gameplay with sometimes very long respawn times
All skills available from the start, ultimates must be charged with actions.
Ultimate skill only available from level 5, but limited by cooldown.
No changes to stats and skills in-game
Heroes can level up to 10 levels and gain new talents each time; pre-defined equipment can be activated for additional bonuses
Unlimited identical heroes allowed, heroes can be switched at any time
No hero copies allowed, hero cannot be switched
Easy-to-learn gameplay, quick entry
Players can activate tactical advantages like towers, equipment, or minions with in-match currency
More difficult entry, heroes are hard to master
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The community of ArcheAge has a pretty bad reputation. Trion Worlds now wants to actively address this and take stricter action.
Community Manager fights toxic players
Even the community manager Celestrata admits that ArcheAge has quite a problem with disruptive elements in its own community. From the outside, the ArcheAge community often appears unfriendly and infiltrated by trolls. That is exactly what Trion Worlds wants to address, as the social interaction of players should be made friendlier and more respectful.
ArcheAge should become more relaxed. That’s why there are now stricter rules against trolls and flamers.
In a long open letter to the community, Celestrata reveals the first steps that will be taken to achieve this goal.
Restructuring the forum: Some areas of the official forum will be closed, but new sub-forums will also be created to better group players and their concerns and to create more overview. In the forum, players from all servers should come together and experience a sense of community instead of splitting up by servers.
Stricter rules for in-game chat and forums: In a separate letter from customer service, the new, expanded chat rules have been presented. At the same time, enforcement of these rules will now be stricter, so that more players who violate them will face penalties that ultimately result in exclusion from the game.
Numerous community events: Celestrata wants to put the community and all “Content Creators” around ArcheAge more in focus and support them. Through various events, players can receive special titles or other in-game rewards for their creative achievements.
Celestrata emphasizes that these are just the first steps on the long road to freeing the community from its bad reputation. However, it is also necessary for players to commit themselves to ensuring that ArcheAge remains a place people love to return to and invite friends to.
Korea meanwhile gets a Treant mount
In the Korean version of the game, a Treant mount has been announced. The controlling player can jump far with the tree beast and even throw rocks at enemies to inflict damage. However, how one gets this rather unusual means of transportation is still uncertain.
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Some fans can hardly wait for the release of Overwatch as the anticipation is so intense that they recreate Overwatch in other games…
CS:GO – Terrorists against Overwatch Agents?
The last days before the release of a long-awaited game are often a nightmare for true fans. Especially with Overwatch, the excitement often turns into an agonizing longing until one can finally plunge back into the battlefields of the future. Instead of simply waiting apathetically in a desk chair for the release, YouTuber eNinja grabbed some friends and recreated the game in Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
They not only took on the character names of the different Overwatch heroes but also copied their playstyle and created corresponding profile pictures. McCree was allowed to use only his revolver and flashbangs, while Bastion set up on an elevation and simply sprayed down with the MG from there – and Widowmaker… well, she just pulls out her sniper rifle.
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This is rounded off with a typical “Play of the Game” and slight role-playing elements, as the players repeatedly typed the well-known catchphrases of the Blizzard heroes in the chat.
Fortunately, players don’t have to wait long for relief: Overwatch will be released on Monday night at 1:00 AM simultaneously for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
To make the wait feel worthwhile, check out the following articles about the individual heroes and the background story of the game:
