The TV series based on Defiance was cancelled after the 3rd season, but there is still no end in sight for the game.
The series dies, the game continues
The MMO Defiance has always been a bit of an oddball, as the game is based in the same world as the eponymous TV series, sharing the setting and much of the storyline. The series was – to the dismay of its fans – cancelled after the third season, which puts the corresponding PC game in a somewhat precarious situation.
The developers do not really see this as a problem, as they state: “The game continues to progress and we will also update the story. Although the game and the series are set in the same universe, we are independent in San Francisco, while the series takes place in St. Louis. We will continue to address the lore that we share, in case the TV series is ever continued.”
Defiance recently received a new update and is approaching its 3rd anniversary. “Dark Metamorphosis” expands the game with numerous new missions, new storylines, and thus carries the torch on behalf of the series.
For more information and articles about the game, you can visit our Defiance news page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is a video that has appeared regarding The Division that could show the cinematic opening of the game. Warning: Spoiler!
A user has found a video in the Steam forum which may be the opening of The Division. He has directly shared it in the reddit forum of the community. It is a cinematic video that deals with the outbreak of the smallpox virus. This leads to the apocalypse in Ubisoft’s MMO shooter.
The video initially involves a chemist/terrorist who wants to enhance the “creations of Mother Nature”: He wants to alter the smallpox viruses to make them deadlier. He cheerfully narrates how he has created this killer virus.
His virus would now stand in place of nature: Deciding who will live and who will die. This is “natural selection in its finest form.” In the end, he declares:
We will meet in hell.
Then the scene shifts, and we find ourselves with a woman who is hiding from Cleaners. However, this scene does not end well for the young lady.
In summer, the ambitious space simulation No Man’s Sky will be released for PC and PS4. We take a look at what to expect in this online game.
No Man’s Sky is an upcoming adventure survival space simulation developed and published by indie studio Hello Games. According to the developers, the game focuses on “discovery and survival in an infinitely procedurally generated galaxy.“
A huge online game world awaits you
There is often discussion about map size in upcoming games. Especially in MMOs, like The Division, players worry in advance if the game will provide enough space to freely explore. In No Man’s Sky, you definitely need not worry about that.
The game advertises that you can travel to every planet or every hill you spot on the horizon. You can seamlessly fly from one planet to another. Every star in the sky is said to be a sun with its own solar system that you can visit.
According to recent estimates, there are about 18 trillion planets in No Man’s Sky. That is an incredible number ‒ with 18 zeros! No matter which planet you travel to, which oceans you dive into, which mountains you climb, only you decide where to go.
You will be provided with an unimaginably vast galaxy as a playground. All of these planets could not have been created by hand. They are procedurally generated, so to speak, “automatically”.
This galaxy of No Man’s Sky is a shared world: You are connected online with other players. The catch in No Man’s Sky is, however, that the game world is so large that you will very rarely meet another player. A true online experience is probably not to be expected.
According to Sean Murray, the game creator of the space simulation, 99.9% of the galaxy will never be visited:
It is either quite beautiful or seriously depressing.
Discover things no one has seen before
In No Man’s Sky, you explore previously unknown solar systems and discover unique life forms. Each landscape of each planet differs from the others, and each planet is inhabited by different species. In addition, ancient artifacts are said to be scattered everywhere that could reveal the secrets of this universe. Many planets are expected to never be discovered, and in most cases, you can assume that the planet you will visit has not been seen by anyone else before.
This also means that you will not find a Let’s Play or online guide on the internet that will answer your questions about specific planets or help you in various situations. You will be the very first on the planet. This is what true discoveries are about.
By the way: In this galaxy, there are also unknown races and factions that want to communicate with you or are hostile. There will also be opportunities to learn a little lore about the various cultures. These beings also have relationships and rivalries with each other.
Danger lurks in No Man’s Sky
In No Man’s Sky, it’s not just about discovering alien worlds, but also about sheer survival. In every solar system, on every planet, in every ocean, and every cave, danger can await you. And you are indeed vulnerable.
Both your ship and your equipment can be destroyed. Every encounter with an alien species shall challenge your skills. Whether it is spaceship battles or first-person combat on planets, you will encounter enemies who want to kill you. It is advisable not to die. Because one single mistake – and you could lose everything. In No Man’s Sky, every victory and every defeat is supposed to have lasting consequences.
Your weapons, suits, and ships need upgrades
In No Man’s Sky, there are many different elements to discover. These are based on our periodic table, but some are also fictional. With this, you can craft consumables and technologies that will be useful during your journey.
Your weapons, suits, and ships can be customized. Extensive customization and modification options are expected to be available.
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It has not yet been confirmed whether No Man’s Sky will support virtual reality. However, Sony stated that it is certainly an interesting speculation. It is also no secret that the developers of No Man’s Sky, Hello Games, have played around with VR technology. For a space and exploration game, where you can admire picturesque landscapes, the new technology is definitely appealing.
No Man’s Sky will be released on June 22, 2016 for PlayStation 4 and PC.
The SF/Fantasy MMORPG WildStar loses a key figure with Brett Schreinert.
In the community forum “reddit,” there is currently only one topic: TimeTravel is gone. Brett “TimeTravel” Schreinert was one of the developers who frequently engaged with the community, addressing their questions and responding to their concerns. He had been at Carbine since 2011.
His name is closely associated with the hopes of a WildStar that was meant to provide players with real raid experiences like in the days of WoW. Most recently, he was the “Multiplayer Systems Lead.”
@WSSesshoumaru I am sorry for the drama my departure is causing =( I also can’t really go into the details.
Schreinert could not comment on the background of his departure. He only said that the rumors were true, and he was no longer with Carbine. A mutual separation usually sounds a bit different.
Even though the transition to a Free2Play model probably did not have the hoped-for success, WildStar still has two hot irons in the fire with a launch on Steam and in China. Another update is also announced.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With The Division, the launch is just around the corner and inquiries like “When will the servers go online?” are increasing. We look at the official dates for the server launch on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
The official release of The Division is March 8, 2016, which has been known for a while now. A few days ago, the news came that the servers will go live in Central Europe on March 7 at 2:01 PM, as it will already be March 8 in Australia at that time.
But when exactly can we start our agent journey? This is indeed somewhat confusing, as it depends both on your platform and the version purchased (digital or disc). We will now clearly show you when you can start The Division.
At these times you may start with The Division
Physical Disc Version
Playstation 4 and Xbox One: You may start directly when the servers go live, which is on March 7 at 2 PM our time.
PC: Here, you can only start on March 8 at 6 AM.
Digital Version
Xbox One: Here it starts directly at 12:01 AM on March 8.
Playstation 4: It also starts at 12:01 AM on March 8.
PC: PC players will have to wait a little longer. Here it starts at 6 AM on March 8.
So you can really start right at launch, a preload is available on all platforms (now also on PS4). Depending on the platform and region, the download size varies between 26.9 and 34.4 GB.
What can we expect in the first year of The Division?Find out here.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In The Elder Scrolls Online one does not see itself as an MMORPG and makes that responsible for its success.
Matt Firor, the head of ESO, gave an interview to the British site Metro. In it, he did a lot to shake off this “MMO term”.
One is not an MMORPG in the “traditional sense,” Firor told the online site. Internally, the term is not used very often. After all, one can play ESO just as solo as the other Elder Scrolls titles. However, if one wants to play “super-grindy” with dungeons, trials, and group bosses, then one can team up with others and maintain that play style within The Elder Scrolls Online.
One does not impose anything on players.
The Elder Scrolls Online runs fantastically even “under the radar”
In fact, one is “super-successful” in turning players who had nothing to do with MMOs into online players. The success of The Elder Scrolls Online may have remained a bit “under the radar,” but it is simply running fantastically.
One sees itself as an “Online RPG.” The term “MMORPG” carries a lot of baggage. The term is associated with numerous prejudices, most of which are outdated and obsolete.
One had to convey to players that one is not a traditional MMORPG as from 2004, but an “expansive Elder Scrolls role-playing game.”
For Firor, MMOs today are not a genre, but much more a technology.
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By the way: Firor repeatedly used the term “2004-style MMORPG” in the interview. For anyone who cannot decode that immediately. The MMORPG World of Warcraft was released in November 2004 in the USA – it seems clear that one wants to distance oneself from WoW and the games in its wake.
The term “MMO” or “MMORPG” is probably difficult on consoles
My MMO thinks: This is an exciting topic that currently has a lot at stake. The Elder Scrolls Online is “actually” a MMORPG through and through and has numerous parallels to the “classic MMORPGs,” even those before the time of World of Warcraft. The roots to “Dark Age of Camelot,” an earlier game by Matt Firor, are unmistakable. And of course, MMORPGs could also be played solo back then. A trend that has increased significantly in recent years.
That players first think of something like this when they hear “MMORPG” probably gives marketing people a headache.
The fact that one rejects the term “MMORPG” probably has to do with the clear target group being “The Elder Scrolls” players. This group has become more console-oriented since Skyrim. The thought of “how World of Warcraft” could rather deter them. Too many “nerd prejudices” come up that are anything but appealing.
These same phenomena cause games like Destiny or The Division to reject the term “MMO” and not even come close to it, although they incorporate many elements from the genre.
However, these games prefer new and unburdened terms like “Action-Online-RPG” or “Shared-World-Shooter.”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Vladimir’s abilities will also be adjusted in the big Wizard Update for the MOBA League of Legends.
In the past few weeks, we have already reported on some of the wizards that are to be adapted to the current game of League of Legends in the announced update. Often, these champions are not mobile enough or their concept is simply outdated, so a revision would do them good.
Here you can find the changes for Malzahar, Vel’Koz and Cassiopeia. But now let’s get to the changes that RiotStashu announced in the official LoL Forum.
The sustain of Vladimir should remain!
In the thread about the wizard changes in the LoL Forum, players are supposed to express what makes a champion (who is being revised) unique. With Vladimir, the community and the developers agreed immediately: the sustain during the game, through the ability to steal health from enemies, defines this champion.
Other champions require special items that give them lifesteal or spell vamp – which Vladimir has built-in by default. This unique theme will definitely not be discarded by the developers, but rather built upon.
The planned changes to Vladimir in the LoL Update
Properties and abilities that they do not want to change:
Sustain: Vladimir is the best in his role and probably, alongside Mundo, the best in the game.
Health points as cost: It has always been risky to use certain abilities as it costs health. This will be retained and possibly enhanced.
The interplay of AP & HP (ability power and health points): Vlad has always been the wizard with a lot of ability power and health. This will be kept.
Transfusion (Q ability) targeting: Not everything “has to” be a skill shot – the developers of League of Legends believe it is important for the “feel” of this spell to choose its target.
Strengths and weaknesses: Against low damage, Vladimir is simply superior due to his sustain. However, opponents with gap closers (skills to get closer to a champion) and burst damage pose significant problems for him. This will also not be changed.
Blood Pool (W): A unique ability that will definitely be retained.
Properties that they want to improve:
Stack management: The increased costs of his Blood Waves (E) are conceptually good, but they want to improve it for game flow.
Although Vladimir has had strengths and weaknesses until now, they have often been hard for opponents to discern. In the future, they want to make these more obvious.
Counterplay: This ties into the previous point. As an opponent, it often feels like you cannot avoid Vladimir’s damage once you are near him. They want to improve this in the wizard update of LoL.
Blood Waves (E): This spell reads much stronger and more exciting than it actually is. In the future, there will be more BLOOD here… … so… MUCH MORE BLOOD!
How Vladimir is supposed to be in the Wizard Update in League of Legends
Vladimir’s kit should feel very similar and his overall strategy will largely remain unchanged.
Phases in which Vladimir is strong or weak should become much more obvious for the player and the opponent. This way, one can see when to attack or how to plan attacks.
Much DPS and strong self-healing should still be present in Vladimir. However, not as confusing as it is currently.
Mein MMO thinks: In general, this champion should simply be much more fun to play with or against. Currently, you stand on the lane and spam Q and E and make no real decisions. I am curious if changes will be made to his ultimate ability “Blood Plague” as it was not mentioned in the forum post.
What do you think? Are these the “right” changes that Vladimir needs? Or is everything blood.. uh.. GOOD, just the way it is now?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At The Division, Massive provided some answers about the upcoming Year-One content.
For a few days now, the Year-One content has been known. Ubisoft has let the cat out of the bag and announced two timely free updates and three paid DLCs that will all be released within the first year. This raised several questions about what can be expected from the announcements. In an email interview with Gamespot, the Creative Director Magnus Jansen provided some hints about the upcoming content. What are Incursions exactly? What is the Underground all about? And what about Brooklyn? We summarize his answers.
How extensive are the free updates?
According to Jansen, the first free updates in spring will bring “several exciting new features, activities, and content for everyone.” The Division is a large game with a lot to do. However, the developers are trying to pack as much as possible into every update (including the free ones) to ensure that both PvE and Dark Zone players are provided with content.
Jansen further emphasizes that they are constantly listening to the community and will quickly add the most requested features, such as Loot Trading. When asked whether weapons will also be introduced as DLCs, the Creative Director replied that new tools will be introduced hand in hand with new challenges. So yes, new weapons and gear will also come. However, they should adapt to the seriousness of the situation.
Any “crazy” cosmetic items are ruled out. Furthermore, Jansen states that there will be no way to purchase weapons, armor, or consumables that strengthen the agents through microtransactions.
What are Incursions?
An Incursion is a PvE endgame activity for a group of four players who have reached the maximum level. Incursions require preparation and coordination, as they are “extremely challenging”.
The first Incursion will be released with the first free update in April. More Incursions are in development, but it is still too early to talk about them without revealing too much.
As we already covered in this article, Incursions are not activities for a large number of players, thus not raids. If one were to draw a comparison to Destiny, the Strikes would come closest.
What is the “Underground” of the first paid DLC?
The Underground of New York will be a vast, labyrinthine world. In The Division, some factions have penetrated into the city’s underground and threaten to break the quarantine and cause even more chaos by destroying vital energy, water, and gas supply lines running beneath the streets.
Now it is up to the agents to venture into the darkness, locate enemy factions, and stop them from causing further damage. When asked whether the Underground would be introduced with this expansion, Jansen replied that there will already be some canal and subway sections available at launch – both inside and outside the Dark Zone.
What is the status of Brooklyn and the other two DLCs?
Regarding Brooklyn, Jansen mentioned that there are things people will have to wait for until launch.
At the moment, some assume that Brooklyn could be the starting region of the game. Jansen’s answer seems to confirm this.
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No new information about the other DLCs was revealed by Jansen. He only spoke about what is already known. But he assured that each DLC would offer a completely new experience. They would not just add “a little more of the old.” The in-game experiences are supposed to be continuously expanded.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , the Grimoire counts the Guardian’s points. We have a guide on how you can get all 4895 points and catch up to the top of the world
No more content in the shared-world shooter Destiny? Nothing to do and yawning boredom? Not with us. We show you how you can maximize your Grimoire points and also learn about the excellent backstory.
Bungie is taking innovative approaches in storytelling with Destiny. Instead of experiencing the story in the game, you only need a browser!
If you recognize irony here, you’re right. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a second look at the so-called Grimoire cards that you can earn in-game and then read on Bungie’s website. The universe created by Bungie does not need to hide behind the complexity and diversity of ideas of well-known fantasy epics. Why certain aspects are not found in the game has been speculated about since release. A key person dropped out a year before the release, and Bungie had to completely reconstruct the story.
Moreover, Grimoire points represent a good indicator of how experienced a Guardian is and what he has seen in the game. Only a few Guardians worldwide have reached the maximum, magical limit of 4895 Grimoire points. Have you discovered your masochistic side and want to join the elite circle of those Guardians who have done and seen everything? We show you what you need to do and what to watch out for. You can check your current progress at any time on www.bungie.net.
General Grimoire Cards and What You Need to Reach 4895
To achieve everything, you need to own all three classes and have leveled them up as much as possible. Many Grimoire cards are unlocked just by playing the story and the Crucible. Exotics also provide you with Grimoire points as soon as you find them. Since there are exclusive weapons on PlayStation (e.g., the Jade Rabbit), Xbox players will not be able to reach the maximum Grimoire points.
The following Grimoire cards are unlocked through “normal” gameplay:
In Guild Wars 2, numerous questions from the community were answered. Where is the living world?
The developers of Guild Wars 2 held an “Ask me anything” (AMA), where they addressed numerous questions from the community. We have summarized the most exciting statements regarding the future of the game, additional content patches, and even the next expansion for you.
Regarding the schedule
Currently, 120 developers are working on the “live version” of the game, while 70 developers are completely focused on the mysterious 2nd expansion. A significantly smaller team of 30 people is trying to bridge the gap and is working on both projects simultaneously.
They emphasize that it is not as important for the developers to deliver something by a fixed deadline. Things are only released when they are truly satisfied with them, as quality is deemed significantly more important than a strict schedule.
The main content of the April update will be the improvement of the gaming experience. They want to remove a large part of the grind currently necessary from the game and improve the corresponding rewards.
The third raid wing is expected to open in May or June.
The map design in Heart of Thorns
The developers are less satisfied with the current design of the maps in the new regions of Heart of Thorns. The current maps tend to force players to primarily engage in group events. This results in only a few characters being able to “explore the world freely” – something they would have liked to achieve. In the future, players should not see the “hour-long Zerg” as the only method to make progress.
Therefore, they want to improve rewards in other activities to support different playstyles. In general, the HOT expansion has shifted the focus strongly towards organized play, leaving the “casual” experience somewhat behind.
Where is the living world?
The “living world” has always been very popular in Guild Wars 2, meaning a continuous story released in several chapters. This will continue to exist in Heart of Thorns, but it won’t be until the quarterly update in July that players can expect it. To participate in the new season, one must own the current expansion. Additionally, players can expect “changes in the world,” which will permanently adjust certain areas to correspond with the new events.
Regarding the significant changes to WvW battles, while they do provide some answers, the statements remain relatively open and unspecific.
These are just a few highlights from the extensive AMA session. You can find a complete list of all answered questions in English in our sources.
For more news and articles about the game, you can find them on our Guild Wars 2 topic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Hearthstone , players are getting a bit hyped up – there will be a very special announcement next week.
The Announcement of the Announcement
It has been almost 4 months since the last expansion of Hearthstone, the Explorer’s League, so it’s time for new content. Since a spontaneous announcement is far too outdated, it was announced that something big will be announced. On March 11, 2016, there will be a major reveal in the livestream on Twitch at 7:00 PM our time.
Although there are no reliable statements, the really “big” surprise is unlikely to be that. It’s time for a new card expansion and a specific date for the release of the new “Standard” game mode. In the comments, fans assume that some new cards will also be revealed in the upcoming stream.
If these rumors turn out to be true, one can probably expect the new expansion by the beginning of April at the latest, as there is little time between announcement and release date in Hearthstone. Rumors say it’s to give players less time to farm gold…
We took a closer look at Mei, a specialist character from Overwatch. Read here about how the little “Ice Princess” plays.
Mei – The Little Ice Princess
After thoroughly engaging with Roadhog, a tank from Overwatch, in the last few days, we are dedicating today to a more fragile character. We have completed several extensive games with the frosty specialist Mei. The young (and damn cute) girl doesn’t actually have much to do with war; after all, she only peacefully researches the effects of the different climate zones of the Earth. But first, let’s take a brief look at her abilities.
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The endothermic blaster shoots snow at short range, causing only minimal damage. With sustained hits, the opponent becomes slower and is completely stunned for a brief moment after a few seconds. Alternatively, Mei can fire a strong projectile at long range that deals significantly more damage.
Cryostasis is the typical “ice block” of a mage from almost every game. Mei becomes invulnerable for 5 seconds and regenerates a large part of her health points. The ability can be cancelled early with a right-click.
Ice Wall creates a solid wall of ice that blocks vision. The wall lasts for a few seconds but can be destroyed early by damage. If the wall is placed under other players (or herself), they are lifted and can reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible.
The ultimate ability Blizzard creates a snowstorm in the targeted area that first slows down and damages all enemies, then stuns them for several seconds if they remain in the effect.
No one gets through the Ice Wall quickly.
Cuteness and Cruelty in One
In gameplay, Mei is a specialist, meaning she is a more defensive character. Her “snow beam” is excellent for slowing down enemies, and with a well-placed ice wall, you can easily halt the advance of an entire team. However, this cute little thing also has her rather cruel moments. If you shoot enemies long enough, they freeze and become defenseless. That’s the perfect moment to stand right in front of the enemy, smile cheerfully in their face, and then shoot a big chunk of ice between their eyes.
Mei’s real utility varies greatly depending on the map being played. In attack, she is rarely useful (or I am just too incompetent with her), but she is fantastic in defense. In case of doubt, she can delay escorting a payload solo for several seconds by simply charging into the enemies and activating the ice block. Those are often the valuable 5 seconds in which your own team can regroup. The Blizzard is even one of those ultimates that can be an absolute “game changer.” Many times you see the opposing team already typing “gg” before the Blizzard appears and stuns all enemies, whom Mei then takes down one by one with her ice projectiles.
Isn’t she adorable?
And the best part? She has a voice line where she says “Let it go…” Disney’s “Frozen” gives a shout-out.
However, unlike many other heroes from Overwatch, it is also easy to misplay with Mei. A poorly placed ice wall often hinders your own team and allows the control point to be captured by the opponents. Unfortunately, many toxic players have also noticed this and are already trolling through the games joyfully walling in their own team or blocking important sightlines.
But those who can befriend Mei and enjoy being the tipping point can expect mainly one thing: a damn “cool” time.
For more articles and news about the game and the current beta, you can find it on our Overwatch themed page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A quote in an advertising graphic from The Division that puts Destiny in a bad light is causing a stir. The quote seems to have been taken out of context.
It’s about to start! On Monday at 14:01 Ubisoft will launch its servers and invite agents into the world of The Division. To make their game appealing to a broad audience of potential customers, Ubisoft has released about two new TV spots that make you excited for the MMO shooter.
Now an advertising graphic has emerged that is causing a stir and confusion. In the advertisement, it seems as if GameZone clearly prefers the new shooter The Division over the “other shooter” Destiny:
[The Division] blows Destiny out of the water
Colloquially translated, this means that The Division would annihilate Bungie’s MMO shooter, that The Division is superior to Destiny. The problem is that GameZone did not say this – at least not in that context.
The statement only referred to the number of beta players
GameZone’s statement neither referred to the quality of the games nor did the website intend to declare that The Division is superior to Destiny. The article, written by Tatiana Morris, only referred to the number of beta testers: Here The Division had 6.4 million more than Destiny with 4.6 million. That is the actual context.
According to the US site Kotaku, Ubisoft asked the journalist for permission to use this quote. She granted it, but without inquiring how or in what form the sentence would be used.
In the future, the journalist wants to avoid such confusions and ask more precisely. The second quote, with which Ubisoft is promoting, should also be taken with caution. The site IGN is said to have remarked on The Division that it is the “best new franchise.” That has been said. However, that quote dates back to E3 in 2013.
The official release date of The Division is March 8.
The required experience points to reach the maximum level in the MOBA League of Legends will soon be drastically reduced.
In a post on the official League of Legends forum, a player asked what the developers think about possibly adding extra experience points to the “First Win of the Day” bonus (a reward that gives double influence points for a win). This method would not make leveling up the account to the maximum level (30) too easy, but would significantly reduce the effort.
By the way, an account at level 30 is needed to start ranked games or to unlock all mastery points.
The surprising answer from RiotMeddler
The lead gameplay designer of League of Legends, RiotMeddler, gave an answer that most players did not expect. At Riot, various concepts for a better “experience” while leveling have already been developed. Ultimately, it was concluded that possibly in the next patch the total experience points required to reach level 30 will be halved.
This concept was already tested by RiotGames last year on the Russian servers of League of Legends, yielding positive results. The concept used has now been improved and will soon be implemented on the servers of all other regions. This change will make many players happy, as there has been a long-standing request to make the “grind” of experience points somehow more “pleasant”.
The impact of this change in League of Legends
“If you need fewer games to reach level 30, then you will also have less IP available at level 30. – And what about runes?”
This issue has been considered. Through the permanent reduction (50%) of the costs for the typical Tier 3 runes, you should still be able to purchase your set. In addition, “fresh” level 30 accounts cannot start ranked games immediately because they likely lack the minimum number of champions required for those games.
“Shouldn’t certain summoner spells like Flash and Smite also be unlocked at earlier levels?”
Riot is satisfied with the system of summoner spells and when they become available for accounts. Especially jungling is difficult for new players to understand, as they need to concentrate on mastering the individual lanes. Receiving Flash later is intended to keep the fast “power plays” that experienced players are more skilled at than new players out of the early game. The dominance of smurfs (i.e. second accounts) over new players in LoL is already significant enough without this summoner spell.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At SWTOR , the Eternal Championship has been postponed to a later date. We have all the information for you.
The arena still needs polishing
The planned “Eternal Championship” in Star Wars: The Old Republic, an arena for the player where they are supposed to experience 10 different fights that will also help them significantly in developing their character, has been postponed again.
Thus, it will not be part of Chapter 11 (Patch 4.2) of the “Knights of the Fallen Empire” storyline. Community Manager Eric Musco announced this in the official forum and provided some reasons for this decision. They are still not convinced that they can deliver a fun feature that meets their own quality standards.
They have also decided to bring the Eternal Championship to the test realm to have it thoroughly tested by the community beforehand. However, there is still no fixed date for this, and it seems there won’t be one in the near future – because they plan to provide new information only in “4-6 weeks”.
The postponement also means that the announced Wookiee companion Bowdaar, who is a “reward” for the arena fights, will also not be included in Patch 4.2 (thus Chapter 12).
Mein-MMO thinks: Postponing announced content once is already annoying, twice is just irritating for the fans, as the people at BioWare surely know.
Given how long and thoroughly the Eternal Championship has been discussed, it is surprising that the feature is still in a state that they don’t want to subject to the players. There is a great risk that the PvE arena is slowly turning into a running gag, but one that is not funny.
The decision to bring the Eternal Championship to the test realm now seems a bit desperate: “Tell us what doesn’t work” could be inferred from this move. It’s no wonder that comments on Dulfy.net (source) are already tearing it apart.
For years, Fortune magazine has released a list of the “100 best companies to work for.” This list garners much attention, aimed primarily at the high achievers of tomorrow, the people every company seeks after. In 2016, Google regained the number 1 spot for the seventh time in 10 years.
Two major names in the gaming industry are also represented.
If Rioters do not feel well, they can stay home
Riot Games, the developers behind League of Legends, rank 39th. Last year they were at 13.
At Riot, there are some interesting concepts. Employees can leave within 60 days of being hired and receive up to 10% of their annual salary, up to a maximum of $25,000. This ensures that no one works there if they do not feel it is right for them.
Moreover, Rioters can set their own work pace. It is also okay for them to stay home if they do not feel well. The goal is to prevent burnout. The aim is to achieve a high pace that can be sustained over years and at which one feels comfortable.
Nearly 1900 employees work for Riot, 561 of whom are outside the USA.
The most common statements about the company are things like “It is fun to work here,” “I am proud to tell others where I work,” or “The people here care about each other.”
Call of Duty Day turns into a water battle
At the giant Activision Blizzard, there are over 7000 employees. This year they are ranked 77th on the list, last year they were at 96.
Activision Blizzard has franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft in its portfolio. On the day of the new Call of Duty release, all employees come together, dress in costumes, and participate in a company-wide water gun battle. One of the employees describes it as “The best day of my life… every year.”
At Activision, 17% of employees are women, and 31% belong to minorities. The majority of the minority consists of Asians (16.4%) and Hispanics (9.6%).
Many statements from employees here also revolve around being proud of what they do and who they work for. Additionally important: employees can be themselves in the company.
Both Riot and Activision have commented on their placements and acknowledged them with some pride. Both companies emphasize how important employees and a positive corporate culture are for their success.
For the ranking of the 100 best employers, Fortune evaluates employee surveys (which count for 2/3) and considers hard facts such as hiring methods, healthcare, internal communication, and similar factors.
In Destiny, there are many different weapon perks, each of which has a different effect. Usually, you can tell from the name what advantage the respective perk offers. But what about “Sword of Aegeus”, “Hannibal” and “Malleus Maleficarium”?
The weapons in Destiny are characterized by various perks that offer the Guardian customization and enhancement options for their weapon. In general, the higher the weapon rank, the more options are available for perks. Often the name of the perk reveals what it does. Otherwise, there is always a description text that clarifies most uncertainties. But why are some perks named as they are? We want to look at the perks “Sword of Aegeus”, “Hannibal” and “Malleus Maleficarium”.
The meaning behind the Sword of Aegeus
Sword of Aegeus is a random perk that various weapons can have, such as the legendary pulse rifle Griff von Malok.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Vex Minotaurs.
But why specifically against Vex Minotaurs? What does a Sword of Aegeus have to do with it? Both Aegeus and the Minotaur are figures of Greek mythology.
Aegeus was the father of Theseus, a later king of Athens.
The Minotaur was a creature with a human body and a bull’s head, which was trapped in a labyrinth created by King Minos of Crete.
And to cut the story short: Theseus, the son of Aegeus, killed the Minotaur.
Aegeus also left his sword under a heavy stone. Once Theseus was strong enough to roll the stone away, he could take hold of the sword.
This establishes the relationship between Vex Minotaurs and the Sword of Aegeus
What is the perk Hannibal about?
The Hannibal perk is also part of the random perk selection and can enhance several weapons, such as the legendary scout rifle Star Threads.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Cabal Centurions.
Why is that? The Carthaginian Hannibal is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity, who inflicted several severe defeats on the Roman Empire during the Second Punic War. Centurions were officers of the Roman Empire who commanded “hundreds”.
It is noteworthy, however, that Hannibal lost the war and the perk is named after a general who ultimately fell to the centurions. Nevertheless, he certainly dealt them solid damage.
What does Malleus Maleficarum mean?
Now we come to a perk that many may find difficult to imagine just by hearing the name. Malleus Maleficarum is a random perk that can be selected for various weapons.
The description reads:
This weapon deals bonus damage to Hive witches.
And what is the connection between the name and the description?
This time, the name takes us into German history. The Latin term means “Hammer of Witches”. The Hammer of Witches is a work that legitimized witch hunting. According to current research, the first edition was published in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, a Dominican, in Speyer.
This written treatise aimed to justify witch hunts against those who opposed them. However, this work received neither ecclesiastical nor secular recognition.
This is how Malleus Maleficarium relates to the Hive witches.
At Bungie, there are evidently some employees who are also somewhat familiar with history. Have you ever wondered about the names of these perks? Whether yes or no, now you have ammunition to bombard your friends with.
More curiosities about names in Destiny can be read here:
The survival game “The Culling” is now in Early Access. Four days ahead of schedule.
On March 8, “The Culling” was supposed to launch in Early Access on PC and Steam. Apparently, they couldn’t wait any longer and surprised all fans by going live already on March 4.
The game has been marketed as a “brutal Battle Royale.” 16 players fight each other with fists, poison arrows, melee, or firearms until only one remains. Crafting and looting corpses for their gear is also part of the game.
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The survival genre is currently popular among developers, after the zombies from H1Z1 and later the dinosaurs from Ark: Survival Evolved were successful last year.
In The Division there are various ways to customize and improve your agent. Arekkz Gaming gives you tips on how to create a healer build that your squad will appreciate.
The launch of The Division is just around the corner. Many future agents are already planning their journey through the apocalypse of New York. After all, a lot is already known about what will shape the gameplay of the MMO shooter. For example, we already know all the skills that will be available at launch. You must decide during your journey whether to focus on the Medical, Technology, or Security tree. Or you can avoid specializing in one area and unlock the skills of the various trees as parallel as possible. The choice is yours.
In this article, we will focus on the Medical area and examine whether it is possible to create an “ultimate healer” with the available skills and talents. We will use the work of YouTuber Arekkz as a template.
How to create the “perfect healer build”
Focus on the attribute “Electronics”
Before we talk about the skills, let’s discuss attributes. According to Arekkz, only one attribute is crucial for a healer: Electronics.
Electronics influence the strength of your deployed skills. The higher the skill power, the more effective your skills are. This means that your agent’s quality as a healer will be significantly increased.
Alongside Electronics, there are Firearms and Stamina as attributes, but for the “ultimate healer,” especially Electronics are of great benefit.
Use these skills and skill mods
If you want to assemble an agent who takes care of the health of themselves and their teammates, you must choose the right skills. There are three skills that you can select simultaneously.
First Skill: First Aid: This is a first aid kit that heals you and your allies within a certain range. Can also be thrown.
Each skill has skill mods that allow you to improve or change that skill. Arekkz recommends the mod “Defibrillator”, which allows you to revive allies from a distance and grant them a portion of their health.
Second Skill: Support Station: You place a device that can heal and revive allies.
Here, he recommends the mod “Life Support”, which gives the device the ability to revive allies within a radius.
Additionally, you can choose “Ammo Cache”. This mod replenishes your allies’ ammunition when they reload. It also reduces the skill cooldown.
Recovery Link – Signature Skill: Heals you and your allies. It can even restore more than the maximum health (“Overheal”).
These talents should be chosen
In total, 4 talents can be selected at the same time. Arekkz recommends these:
Triage: When you heal an ally with a skill, skill cooldowns are reduced by 15%. This allows you to use your medical skills again soon.
Battle Buddy: When you revive a teammate, damage taken for both agents is reduced by 50% for 10 seconds. This is particularly beneficial in the heat of battles.
Combat Medic: When you use a medkit, you heal your group members and other allies within 20 meters by 40%.
Here is the advantage: Even if your medical skills are not yet available, you can heal your allies with medkits.
Critical Save: Use a medkit when low on health to increase damage resistance by 40% for 10 seconds.
This talent would be chosen by Arekkz as the fourth. If you cannot heal from a distance due to the cooldown of skills and need to make your way to your allies, you will have more damage resistance.
Here is the video from Arekkz Gaming:
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Note: This combination of medical skills is primarily suited for playing in a team. If you wander through New York alone, definitely other combinations are recommended. But any unit would appreciate a healer with such skills.
In Black Desert one indulges in a Korean peculiarity: players are rewarded for leaving their computers running, even when they are not sitting at them.
Those who sleep, win. In some games, it is lucrative and advantageous to keep the computer and the game running while the actual player does something completely different, perhaps not even being at home.
The first time I encountered this “peculiarity” was in a MOBA that today hardly anyone knows. Players would place their characters on a kind of “marketplace” with a player shop and then go to bed while their PC stayed on. Their character would sit there for 8 hours, offering goods. During that time, one could do nothing else in the game – so they could go AFK. A completely ridiculous action from my perspective back then. I couldn’t explain for many years who came up with such ideas. And why the developers didn’t just implement an auction house, like in other games.
Later in ArcheAge, it was the same: players regenerated energy faster when they were online, so people just stayed logged in for hours while they were actually working or at school. Then the Western publisher realized: This is blocking our servers and other people cannot play. Endless long queues and a lot of stress at release were the consequences.
Normally, such players would have been kicked out of the game by an “AFK auto-kick.” But ArcheAge didn’t have that at the beginning, and when it was later introduced, it was easy to bypass. Because in the Korean version, that was not provided at all.
ArcheAge: By the way, all of them were AFK back then.
Again, a strange situation that no one could understand for a long time: Why does ArcheAge have such huge queues? It was then sold as “We are just incredibly popular.” That may have been true, but it surely also included a bit of “people will do anything to not log out” in the mix.
In Black Desert, AFK playing is really worthwhile – there is even a top 5 for clever AFK play in Black Desert
In the new MMORPG Black Desert, players gain even more benefits by simply letting their computer run: The “workers” they employ only repeat their tasks when the player is “logged in.” Otherwise, they just finish their current job and then become unproductive. Gathering materials goes AFK significantly faster. Those who log out as soon as they stop playing are at a disadvantage.
Moreover, players regenerate energy faster and – the crown jewel – can even “AFK fish.” A game mechanic where the character simply fishes automatically. The whole mini-game normally associated with fishing is ignored. The unattended hero fishes slower than when manually controlled but steadily. This brings gold, increases fishing skill, and is intended by the game. No bots, dubious macros, or anything else are required – fishing bots have been common in games like WoW for a while now.
Here, a YouTuber created a top 5 list of things you can do AFK in Black Desert. No. 5 doesn’t work in our version because you can’t create patrol points, but the other things work well. It may look like real satire, but it’s meant seriously:
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Now, from our perspective, this sounds completely nonsensical: Who benefits from computers running at night or during the day when no one is sitting in front of them? What kind of ridiculous game design is that?
This is due to a peculiarity of the Asian MMO model. People play in so-called “PC cafes”, in PC bangs, and rent a computer by the hour. The money they pay for that partly flows back to the publishers of the game. For the developers in Korea, such “AFK hours” are profitable as long as someone pays for their seat in the café.
This peculiarity should disappear from ports
In Europe, such mechanisms are unnecessary and should disappear from the ports. Here we play at home. No one at Daum benefits if players are logged in AFK. They have no deal with our energy suppliers or internet providers.
For many reasons, I do not want to let my computer run at night or when I am not sitting in front of it: electricity costs, material wear, a rudimentary environmental awareness, and it’s also loud. If I have it running in a second window while I do office work, it distracts me and makes the computer unnecessarily hum.
This is the problem with Asian ports, not the gender lock
This example shows why ports from Asia are often so difficult. You can feel the cultural differences. In Korea, it is “worth it” for the provider to incorporate extreme time sinks into the game. 20 minutes in which one can be AFK while something is being produced, or a distance is being covered. Here in the West, such game mechanics that expect us to sit idly in front of the computer during that time simply seem inexplicable and strange.
Our games go different ways. Instead of riding for 20 minutes, a Western game would have a portal or allow fast travel. If one crafts the same item x times in Guild Wars 2, then the production process accelerates towards the end. Why would ArenaNet want me to watch bars slowly fill up for 20 minutes? They gain nothing from it. However, their colleagues in Korea would benefit from it, as I would have to rent an additional hour in the PC café.
In the column about gender lock, I advocated for accepting games from the East as they are – with their peculiarities like gender lock and aesthetics. But this AFK thing – that would be a “meaningful localization” of games if such mechanics did not make it to the West. Or what do you think?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
