My-MMO asks: How are you preparing for the release of “The Division”?

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 3 minutes

In this edition of “Mein-MMO asks”, everything revolves around the upcoming MMO shooter The Division. How are you preparing for the launch?

Division-Concept-Christmas

Ubisoft’s The Division has been the talk of the town for weeks. In the last beta phases, we were able to get a relaxed impression of the third-person shooter. But now it’s getting serious: The launch is imminent. Already on March 7th at 14:01 Ubisoft will press the button that starts the servers. The journey of our agents can begin – at least if one can manage to get a disc version of the game by then. However, today is still Friday, so there’s still some time to make the most important preparations for the post-apocalypse of New York. Therefore, we want to know from you how you will spend the remaining waiting time. Or are you not getting The Division at all at release?

Are you getting The Division at release?

Are you one of those people who are impatient, curious, and eager? Or do you prefer to sit back and wait for the first reviews? Personally, I consider myself more of the former type of person who has been itching to jump into the adventure for weeks.

Division-Yesterday

However, one must not forget that nowadays the price for a video game can be quite steep and one feels doubly annoyed when one has spent money on something that doesn’t end up being enjoyable. I personally will start my agent journey straight at launch. The beta phases have whetted my appetite for more. How the servers will cope with the enormous influx at the beginning and what other unexpected problems may arise remains to be seen. One should expect that in the initial phase. After all, The Division is still in its infancy, and things rarely go smoothly.

Are you using the preload?

The Division offers the possibility to download the game files in advance. The preload is already available on Xbox One and PC, while for PlayStation 4 it will be available on March 6th.

I will probably start my preload soon, just so I can jump in right at launch. Many still face the problem that their internet connection feels like it takes an age for larger data amounts. So a preload comes in handy, so our friends with slow connections can also start their adventure in The Division in a timely manner.

Are you getting the digital version or the disc?

For me, a difficult decision with upcoming games is whether to get the disc or the digital version. I might still be a bit old-fashioned, but I simply enjoy holding the disc cases and the disc itself in my hand and later placing them on the shelf.

Division-Krankenwagen

In my opinion, digital versions feel a bit less personal. Basically, I prefer disks. But digital versions are more convenient: you don’t have to swap the disc for every game change, but simply select the desired game on the screen. With The Division, there is also an advantage to the disc version in that you can start the game already on March 7th if your trusted retailer releases the game before the official launch date. Buyers of the digital version will have to wait until March 8th.

What other preparations are you making?

The Division Agent Origins

So, now that it is settled when you will get The Division and the preload has also been done, what else is there to do? Twiddling your thumbs? We want to know what other preparations you are making to ensure your perfect start in The Division. For example, I will stock up on drinks and snacks and say goodbye to all my friends and acquaintances for a few weeks.

No, of course it won’t be that extreme. But I am really looking forward to it.

How are you preparing? What will your coming week look like?

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

World of Warcraft: Secondary Attributes in Legion – Buff or Nerf?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

In the current version of World of Warcraft: Legion, the developers are adjusting the impact of secondary stats. What will change for players in WoW?

Benefits of Secondary Stats Will Be Linear in WoW

With the upcoming expansion “Legion,” the attributes in World of Warcraft are being revamped. Overall, the increase is intended to be linear, to ensure a more enjoyable character progression for players throughout the expansion. In the official forum, it was explained how this is to be achieved.

The stats in World of Warcraft can generally be divided into two categories: primary and secondary. The primary stats include all “class-specific” stats, such as intelligence, agility, strength, and stamina. Secondary attributes encompass all other values, such as critical strike, haste, and mastery.

WoW Yrel confused
If you have problems understanding the changes just like Yrel – don’t despair. It will still be fun.

The developers are dissatisfied with the effects of secondary attributes. These often have little importance at the beginning of an expansion but become too important towards the end. The reason for this is fairly easy to understand.

In the “starting phase” of an expansion, it is important to first increase the primary attributes, as these increase the “base damage” – the primary attributes act additively.

Secondary attributes act as multipliers, as they amplify the base damage – the higher the base damage, the stronger the effect of haste, critical strikes, or mastery.

This leads to secondary attributes becoming more important later on, and primary stats falling into the background, paired with the issue that values increase exponentially with rising item levels.

Therefore, in Legion, the increase of secondary stats is reduced. So, per item level, there will be less haste, crit, mastery, and so on. You can see the increase curve compared to now here.

WoW Legion Secondary Stat chart

If all of this is too complicated: Don’t worry. In the forum post, it is explicitly emphasized that one does not need to understand this adjustment in detail to have fun and success in Legion.

Mein-MMO says: Even without being an expert in mathematics, the planned changes sound good at first glance. At least the developers’ explanation seems coherent, and a continuous increase in values should bring a higher level of satisfaction than is currently the case. However, whether the entire system will actually work as hoped will probably only be assessed towards the end of Legion – certainly two or three content patches later.

For more news and articles about the game and the current alpha of the “Legion” expansion, check out our World of Warcraft topic page.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. us.battle.net/wow/en/

Destiny: Xur on 4.3. – Here is what the Agent of the Nine has today and where he is

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In the MMO shooter Destiny , Xur arrives at the Tower today on March 4th. What does he have and where is he?

At this point, we generally summarize the last week and provide a preview of the new one. Tell what’s going on in Destiny. Currently, there is little new to share regarding Destiny’s prospects. Bungie is filling the time until they present new content for spring with some live streams. Next week, they want to tweak the Crucible again, further reducing lag.

It almost seems like they’re letting the storm coming from Ubisoft, called “The Division“, pass overhead. Both games share some parallels, although they exhibit clear differences. But at least the target audience should be similar and have many overlaps.

Destiny-Xur

But let’s get to Xur and his offerings.

All about Xur on March 4th, 5th, and 6th in Destiny

When does Xur arrive and when does he leave again?

Xur arrives on March 4th at 10:00 AM. He leaves on Sunday, March 6th, also at 10:00 AM.

Where is Xur in the Tower of Destiny?

Xur is located by the Speaker.

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What is the deal with the Glass Needle?

You can read everything about the Glass Needle in this article.

How do you farm the Strange Coins that Xur wants?

We covered the strange coins in this article.

What does Xur have this week?

Xur is selling the Fatebringer, a hand cannon. It was exclusive to PlayStation players in year 1. There is no Engram this week.

Fatebringer-Destiny
Type44-in-Offside-Destiny

For Titans, there are the boots Mk. 44 Standasides (44 INT, 40 STR).

Hunters are excited about the helm Graviton Forfeit. (59 INT)

Graviton-Forfeit-Destiny

For Warlocks, there are the Shackles of Dusk. (56 DIS).

Shackles-of-Dusk-Destiny

Xur has a legacy engram, a primary weapon engram. Year 1 weapons with year 1 stats can drop from this.

If you want the latest information on Destiny as quickly as possible, subscribe to us on the Mein-MMO.de Facebook page or follow our author Schuhmann on Twitter.

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

The Division: Sind das die ersten Patchnotes 1.1? Hier sind sie auf Deutsch

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 3 minutes

A user on reddit has rummaged through the PC preload files of The Division and discovered the Patch notes 1.1, the Day-One-Patch.

Division start

The Division is approaching us quickly. Xbox and PC users have already started the preload, while PlayStation users still have to wait a little longer.

Already, a clever Division fan on reddit has searched through the PC preload files. He stumbled upon the following .txt file, which is said to be found under (Support>Readme>English). He presents the content on reddit. We translate the fun for you into German. Here is the content:

These are probably the Patch notes 1.1

Ubisoft Entertainment
Tom Clancy’s The Division™ v1.1

The menu has undergone a complete overhaul:

  • It is now displayed as a grid, which should make it easier to search for items.
  • The “Outfit Sets” option has been added to quickly equip all items of a set.
  • The “Inspect” feature has been added.

Visual Improvements

  • The lighting design has been adjusted to improve “Global Illumination” and add “Volumetric Lights” at traffic lights.
  • Illuminated signs now actually cast light
  • The atmospheric fog in several time and weather combinations has been improved.
  • The lighting at night and the contrast have been improved.
  • Overly exaggerated “rimlight shaders” on characters have been adjusted.
  • Reflections on car windows have been improved.
  • SSAO has been improved to be better emphasized.
    Division snow

Mega Map and Open World Updates

  • A new “Missions Overview” has been added to the Mega Map.
  • Contaminated areas now show the required filter level on the Mega Map.
  • Field files with audio will automatically play when picked up.
  • When starting field files with audio from the menu, they continue to play outside the menu.
  • Subtitles have been added to field files with audio.
  • The usability of the mission entry menu has been improved.
  • The amount of crafting materials contained in “Loot Crates” has significantly increased.

More Updates:

  • In the settings menu, there is a help menu that contains all tips.
  • Tutorials have been added for certain gameplay features and mechanics (these can be turned on and off in the options menu).
  • “Skill Modifiers” have been added directly to the gear (previously only available through gear mods).
  • A character selection issue has been fixed: it would freeze with certain input combinations.
  • A problem that blocked progress when accepting a group invitation at a certain time has been fixed.
  • When logging into or creating a Ubisoft Club account, there is no need to go back to the start screen.
  • Log-in bugs have been fixed.
  • The landmarks in the Dark Zone are getting a new symbol that now changes dynamically depending on whether NPC enemies are present or not.
  • The user interface has been equipped with additional information (why you cannot pick up a certain item).
  • Multi-GPU performance has been improved.
  • A problem that caused a white screen at startup has been fixed.
  • Performance in “Windowed Mode” has been improved.
  • The turret no longer targets non-rebellious agents. Neutral players in the line of fire take no damage (this was criticized during the beta!).
  • Additionally, many other stability improvements, optimizations, adjustments, and minor bug fixes have been carried out.

Warning: These “Patch notes 1.1” are not official. However, the likelihood that they are correct can be considered quite high.

What is coming in Year 1 of The Division? Find out here.

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

Destiny announces hotfix for next week

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In the MMO shooter Destiny , a hotfix 2.1.1.3 is set to be released next week. The goal is once again to reduce the lag in the Crucible.

This week’s weekly letter to the Destiny community is quite thin. A new stream show has been announced for next Thursday, March 10. They want to keep the community engaged over the next few weeks and showcase different aspects of the development process. After last week’s focus on the Dreadnaught and its design, they will return to the Twitch studio on Wednesday.

There, they plan to introduce the audio team and promise a video documentation never seen before on the topic “Audio in Destiny.”

Most Aggressive Matchmaking Settings Yet

A hotfix is also scheduled for Tuesday, March 8. Patch 2.1.1.3 will introduce “new, even more aggressive” matchmaking settings for the Crucible that take even less account of skill differences than the current ones, resulting in even less lag. These rules will apply to all playlists. The damage referee will also be active, penalizing “laggers.”

matchmaking_update_3_3

This is the provisional peak of a development that has been noticeable in recent weeks.

As Bungie states: The matchmaking’s primary goal is for players to experience as little lag as possible . The second goal is to prevent extremely good players from facing very weak players. However, they will never prioritize a skill difference over a high lag risk.

Regarding the elephant in the room: When will they finally tell us something about the PvE patch? DeeJ said: Corresponding stream shows are being planned. Players should still practice patience until they give them a stronger reason to unload their favorite weapon into an alien. They definitely deserve it.

On Friday at 10:00 AM, Xur will be there. We will be there to welcome him.

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

League of Legends: Aurelion Sol, the Star Forger, will be the next champ in LoL

Patrick Freese Patrick Freese Reading time < 1 minutes

Developer RiotGames has released a video for League of Legends in which we can see the new champion “Aurelion Sol” for the first time.

In the past days, various teasers have appeared that got the LoL players thinking. Now we have the first insights into the long-awaited dragon champion Aurelion Sol – the Starforger.

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“It’s just … so sweet…”

As we noticed with the teaser featuring the ARAM announcer, this voice likes to make fun of others and shows how superior it is.

I’m very curious about what story is hiding behind this character. If the lore is even remotely as great as this teaser, then we can expect a lot. Because let’s be honest: It crushes the sun in the video. Hello?!

What I’m wondering at this point is…

… does it even fit, size-wise, into the Summoner’s Rift?

Read more about Aurelion Sol, the new version of the dragon champ Ao Shin, in this article:

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

The Division: 2 Updates, 3 DLCs – This is the Year-One Content!

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

In The Division, Ubisoft has now revealed in a video what Year 1 of the MMO shooter will entail. There are some exciting things to come.

The launch of The Division is just around the corner. To make the purchase more appealing, Ubisoft has released a video outlining the Year-One content. First, there will be two free updates, followed by three expansions. We present them here.

Division Concept

This is the content that will be released in Year 1

Initially, the following free updates will come:

  • Update 1.1: Incursions: A brand new endgame activity specifically designed for teamwork will launch in April. You will face seemingly unbeatable opponents; however, you will be rewarded with new, powerful weapons and gear.
  • Update 1.2: Conflict: This update brings new features to the Dark Zone and is planned for May. It is said to be the “beginning of a wild manhunt in the Dark Zone.” Additionally, a fresh operation will take place at the well-known Columbus Circle.
division year one

Throughout the year, three paid expansions will be released, which are included in the Season Pass (thus also in the Gold Edition and the Sleeper Agent Edition). Each DLC builds on the existing The Division content, continues the agents’ journey, and advances with new content, gear, and gameplay.

  • Expansion 1: Underground: This DLC is expected to be available in June. Here you can explore the previously uncharted underground world of The Division. You will face deadly enemies in a seemingly endless tunnel network with up to three other agents.
  • Expansion 2: Survival: This DLC is set to be released in the summer. As the title suggests, you must survive for as long as possible in a new challenge. You will need to gather supplies and craft high-tech materials. Or will you succumb to temptation and go rogue?
  • Expansion 3: Last Stand: A new threat will arise this coming winter. Prepare to face a relentless enemy.

The Division is said to be an ever-evolving player experience. Your agent will become stronger as they gain more experience.

It should be noted that Xbox One will receive the game content one month before PC and Playstation 4.

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Additionally, more features will be added throughout the year, such as Loot Trading (in April) and Dark Zone Features (in March). Furthermore, new Gear Sets, more weapons, daily missions, weekly missions, Dark Zone events, and a Challenge Mode will be introduced.

You can find more information about the Season Pass in this article.

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

Paragon: Early Access starts with Founder Packages!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The MOBA Paragon starts in a few weeks in Early Access. Through founder packages, there is guaranteed access.

Early Access between $20 and $100

With the upcoming action MOBA Paragon, we are slowly entering the hot phase. As Epic Games has now announced, they will start selling the founder packages in two weeks.

From March 14, 2016, the packages can be purchased and there is something for every wallet. The actual Early Access begins just 4 days later, on March 18.

Paragon Title

The cheapest package will be the Founder’s Pack for $20, which grants access to the game and a small number of skins, boosters, and “other cosmetic items”.

Significantly more premium in price and content are the “Challenger Pack for $60” and the “Master Pack for $100”. They also grant access to the game and – depending on the price – a significantly larger number of skins and cosmetics, some of which are only available in these packs. As a special bonus, there is a regular “Founder’s Pack” included that can be given to a friend to quickly win over a loyal teammate.

More details about the three packages will be released in the coming days. We will keep you updated, including regarding the prices in euros.

Paragon Title

It is clearly emphasized that purchasing the packs will not grant any gameplay advantages. Everything that influences gameplay can only be earned and not bought. They want to nip any suspicion of “Pay2Win” in the bud, as anything else would be deadly for a competitive game.

If you are excited about the game, but not so excited that you want to put money on the table, you can still still sign up for the beta and, with a bit of luck, participate in selected beta weekends.

For more information and articles about the game, you can find our Paragon news site.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. vg247.com

World of Warships: Part 2 of the “Anime” crossover with Arpeggio of Blue Steel is live

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The fleets of World of Warships are growing, as the second part of the anime update is now live.

The sweet Iona sinks them all

Some time ago, we reported that the naval MMO “World of Warships” has entered into a collaboration with the creators of the anime “Arpeggio of Blue Steel – ARS NOVA -“. The series takes place in the near future, where vital trade routes on the seas are blocked by the mysterious “Fog Fleet”, the internet has been cut off, and communication as well as supply beneath the countries has come to a standstill.

These strangely futuristic battleships, which are operated by adorable anime girl AIs, are now also available in World of Warships.

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Now the second part of this update is rolling out, in fact, it is already available on the live servers. Players can secure the sisters of the fog, Haruna and Hiei, in a new mission. Players have 2 months to complete this mission.

The ship from the ARS NOVA series, introduced earlier, is getting a visual upgrade, as the torpedo animation will be adjusted to match that of the anime.

World of Warships Iona
The little Iona is also here to lead your ship to victory.

Anyone who is “not into” the “big-eyed nonsense” can simply deactivate it. Ultimately, the ships are just cosmetic and acoustic upgrades, they do not differ in gameplay from the regular models.

For more news and articles about the game, you can find them on our World of Warships topic page.

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

No Man’s Sky: Release date for PC and Playstation 4 is set

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The space simulation No Man’s Sky has a release date.

On June 22, the ambitious project No Man’s Sky is set to release in Europe. The game with the vast universe has long been considered one of the most exciting projects lurking on the horizon. Many are reminded of the game that Spore was supposed to be – with countless, huge worlds for players to explore and discover.

No Man's Sky 2

Despite its status as an “indie game”, the title receives the attention of a AAA game, as it has already been discussed on US television.

The numerous worlds to explore are said to be procedurally generated (not manually, but “automatically” so to speak). It is not an MMO in the sense that there are simply too great distances between individual players, as they say.

Officially, it is categorized as an “Adventure Survival Video Game.” Without direct missions or collectibles, it has often raised the question, as was the case with the space simulation Elite:Dangerous, what exactly one does in the game, and to what extent it is a game and not just a so-called “walking simulator”.

Today at 5:00 PM, a press embargo likely lifted, so there should be a lot of previews in the coming hours.

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No Man’s Sky will be available for both PC and PlayStation 4. For the PS4, it is one of those prestigious games that are console-exclusive. The game will actually be available not just digitally, but also in a Blu-Ray version.

In our article about interesting games for PlayStation VR, No Man’s Sky took a strong first place.

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

The Division: Spielt der 3. DLC auf Liberty Island? Grafik zum Season-Pass

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

An advertisement graphic from an Austrian games shop provides hints about the third DLC of The Division. Does it lead the agents’ journey to Liberty Island?

The launch of The Division is imminent. On March 7, the MMO shooter opens its doors in this region for hobby agents. Even before a minute has been played in the full version, we are curious about what the future of The Division looks like.

Division-In-Game

So far, Ubisoft has said little about the expansions post-launch. We know that a season pass is available, granting access to three DLCs and various items. There has been little information about the third expansion – aside from the name.

division-season-pass

Now, an advertisement graphic from the Austrian games shop GamesOnly has surfaced, illustrating the extent of the season pass. It also shows a hint about the third DLC.

This is included in the Season Pass

The season pass includes the three major expansions:

  • Expansion 1: Underground: Here you gain access to a new area. You will explore the uncharted underground of New York City. Intense coop action with up to three friends is expected here.
  • Expansion 2: Survival: Here, agents must survive as long as possible in a very hostile environment. This is said to challenge even the most skilled agents.
  • Expansion 3: Last Stand: There is currently no official information about this.
  • Additionally, with the season pass, you will receive a sawed-off shotgun and various clothing and weapon skins. The graphic also mentions in-game events and exclusive content.

Will “Last Stand” take place on Liberty Island, the island with the Statue of Liberty?

Since no information has been revealed about the third DLC so far, the image depicted on the graphic is particularly interesting. You can see the head of the Statue of Liberty, with a subtle change from the original: a skull is seen instead of the usual facial features.

Division-Waffenskin-Facebook

Now the community wonders whether this might be an indication that the third DLC is set on Liberty Island. This is the small island where the Statue of Liberty has stood alone for some time.

It could also be that this image is not representative of the third expansion at all, as there is still no official information. However, this graphic provides fuel for speculation.

What do you think? Will our agents soon be heading to Liberty Island?

Do you want detailed background information about the setting of The Division? In this article, we present a video series from Ubisoft that highlights some aspects of The Division.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit.com
  2. vg247

Destiny: February Iron Banner drop chances were better, but still poor

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

Once again, an Iron Banner has passed in Destiny. We look at the drop chances compiled by a reddit user.

Destiny-Ironbanner-Exklusiv

In the last Iron Banner, a user kept track of the chances for good loot during this event. His result: About every 9th match resulted in an Iron Banner drop.

At that time, we wondered whether the chances for certain items were simply bad, or if they might be buggy. Now the same user has diligently noted everything once again. He played 301 matches and arrived at the following result.

You can find which items dropped for him and how frequently in this table:

destiny-drop

Chances for Iron Banner items increased – albeit barely noticeable

In the previous Iron Banner, he had 34 Iron Banner drops in 300 matches. This time it was 46, which means 12 additional items. Additionally, he had received ten more legendary engrams than last time. The chances have indeed increased a little, but they are still far from satisfactory. Especially the PlayStation exclusive gloves were scarce.

  • According to his calculations, the Iron Banner post-game drops increased by 4%.
  • The chance for legendary engrams grew by 3.4%.
  • The PlayStation exclusive gloves were so rare that they were nearly nonexistent. Overall, he saw only four of them.
Destiny-Iron-Banner-Saladin

Warning: These are not universally valid findings, but are based on “only” 301 matches. Since Bungie does not release its own numbers, this is likely the best approximation of a statistical drop chance we have.

You can view the exact drop rates from the previous Iron Banner that the user collected in this article.

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

Call of Duty: Black Ops III: Event Viewer brings eSports live into the living room – available for PS4

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

According to the latest press release from Activision, the first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops III brings esports directly to your home: Live broadcasts of the CWL are now available on PlayStation 4.

The esports arena of Call of Duty: Black Ops III is highly developed. Players can form clans and compete against each other. There are not only private tournaments but also official tournaments where teams from different countries compete against each other.

CoD-Black-Ops-3

Activision has established its own esports league for the first-person shooter, the “Call of Duty World League” (CWL). This league is intended to be the point of contact for multiplayer fans of the series worldwide.

CoD Event Viewer brings esports live to your living room

And now it’s here, as Activision announced in a press release: Exciting matches of the CWL are brought directly to all PS4 players at home through the Call of Duty Event Viewer. You just need to link into the live coverage via the main menu of Black Ops III by selecting the corresponding point at the top left of the screen.

Through the Event Viewer, the most important games of the CWL Pro Division from Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as additional major esports events, will be broadcast.

CoD-Black-Ops-3

The regular matches of the CWL take place every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additionally, there is a “gigantic prize pool” at the end: The CWL will provide a total of three million dollars this year for the Pro Division and the Call of Duty Championship.

The weekly broadcasts and the first final matches take place on the following dates:

Europe
Weekly Broadcast
Tuesdays at 4:00 PM German time
Wednesdays at 4:00 PM German time
Stage 1 Final – 200,000 US Dollars Prize Money
March 25 to 27

North America
Weekly Broadcast
Tuesdays at 12:00 AM German time
Wednesdays at 12:00 AM German time
Stage 1 Final – 250,000 Dollars Prize Money
April 1 to 3, 2016

Australia & New Zealand
Weekly Broadcast
Tuesdays at 8:00 AM German time
Wednesdays at 8:00 AM German time
Stage 1 Final – 150,000 Dollars Prize Money
March 18 to 20, 2016

At the end of the announcement, it is noted that the Call of Duty: Black Ops III Live Event Viewer is only available for PlayStation 4 users with an active internet connection.

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

Escape from Tarkov setzt auf hohen grafischen Realismus

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

It is evident from the graphics that Battlestate Games places a high emphasis on realism in the shooter MMO Escape from Tarkov .

The developers of Escape from Tarkov have released a new Developer Diary where they discuss the graphics in the game. Like the rest of the game, the visuals are designed to be as close to reality as possible.

Escape from Tarkov MMO-Shooter
Aiming for the most realistic overall picture

To achieve this high level of graphic quality, the team first takes photos of real locations and tries to obtain blueprints of buildings. Then they implement this in the game and ensure that they refine the details as much as possible. Every small detail and everyday object should have a place in the world to represent the overall picture as realistically as possible. However, the team always keeps in mind that everything must be supported by the story and the gameplay.

Every detail must be accurate

Escape-from-Tarkov Screenshot

Every building consists of several parts. They model the individual rooms, the staircases, each wall, and then fit everything together properly. They even pay special attention to each door, consisting of highly detailed models that are then downscaled for the game and provided with a high-resolution texture. This applies to every object in the game – from the oven to the guitar that lies around somewhere. The team uses many so-called normal maps for the textures, which give objects structure and depth.

For the characters’ equipment, they refer to real objects, which they study closely and then create 3D models for the game. Even with the faces of the characters in the game, they ensure to make them as unique as possible and give them features that distinguish the characters from one another. This level of detail runs through the entire game Escape from Tarkov – from the small bush to every vehicle to the machine gun.  You can check all this out in the new Dev Diary of the MMO yourself.

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More articles about Escape from Tarkov:

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

Black Desert: Start on March 3rd is delayed [Update: Delayed again]

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In the MMORPG Black Desert, the launch will be delayed by a few hours on March 3rd.

Today was supposed to be the launch of Black Desert. Some players have already been playing for 4 days, but officially it starts today for everyone. Therefore, the servers were taken offline for maintenance this morning. They were supposed to be back online at 3:00 PM for everyone.

But it will take longer than planned. The maintenance has been extended by two hours.

The new official time is 5:00 PM today, March 3rd. We will keep you updated should there be any further delays.

Update: They need one more hour to fix a final issue. The new time is now 6:00 PM.

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

Black Desert: Here is the launch trailer – “More than just a pretty face”

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The launch trailer for the MMORPG Black Desert released today.

“More than just a pretty face” is one of the press quotes that Daum likes to reference when introducing Black Desert.

The game is considered beautiful, and for a long time this was the advertising message, the feature that was highlighted: Look at this graphics. Look at this character creation.

Fans of the game who have been engaged with it for a long time speak more of the freedom and opportunities that this unique game offers them. With complex economic systems, trading missions, crafting professions, a PvP system, or simply grinding mobs, the game stands in contrast to the “go to a village and take all quests” model that is popular here in the West.

In this article, we have summarized everything you need to know about the launch of Black Desert at 5:00 PM.

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

The Elder Scrolls Online: Trial of Lorkhaj is also available in “Normal”

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 2 minutes

With the upcoming DLC Thieves Guild of the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, the trial “The Hollow City of Lorkhaj” is introduced. Zenimax Online wants to ensure that as many players as possible can enjoy this adventure.

In the search for a new, interesting adventure for the MMO, one came across the background story of The Elder Scrolls and the dro-m’Athra. These are Khajiit who have been affected by the moon beast Lorkhaj. The souls of dro-m’Athra are forever corrupted by the crooked dance. Thus, they represent the counterpart to the “normal” Khajiit, who are known for their graceful dances.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Dungeon
The Evil in the Temple

The adventure takes place in the mountains of Shadowfen, which is located south of the Do’Krin Abbey. There, one discovers an ancient temple that was once the destination for pilgrim Khajiit seeking enlightenment. However, the temple was built on a seal that was meant to keep the dark dro-m’Athra trapped. You can see what this area looks like and the effort the developers made to integrate the architecture of the Khajiit in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtqUe-fJfQo

Normal or Veteran?

The “Hollow City of Lorkhaj” has one more peculiarity. It is a trial dungeon in which twelve players act together. However, this dungeon should not be withheld from a small group of high-level players.

The developers of The Elder Scrolls Online want to ensure that as many players as possible can experience the new adventure.

Therefore, the “Normal-Mode” known from other dungeons was also introduced in this trial. You can choose whether you want to take on the trial in “Normal” or “Veteran” mode, depending on what level your hero is and what challenge you want to face.

For more information about the upcoming DLC Thieves Guild, you can read the following articles of ours:

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

FIFA 16: Es geht um hunderte Millionen – So viel verdient EA jährlich mit dem „Ultimate Team“

Tom Rothstein Tom Rothstein Reading time 2 minutes

The Ultimate Team modes of FIFA, Madden and NHL generate around 650 million dollars for EA each year. EA’s CFO Blake Jorgensen reveals some numbers.

In the Ultimate Team mode of FIFA 16, it is possible to purchase FIFA Points through microtransactions. This allows players to open packs to quickly acquire new players and consumables. Especially during special events, such as TOTY, many microtransactions are made. This is something EA is particularly pleased about.

fifa-16-ultimate-team

As reported by GamesIndustry, EA’s Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen has now laid out the role of digital content for the company:

“The extra content business is worth 1.3 billion dollars a year. About half of that is our Ultimate Team business.”

So the Ultimate Team modes of FIFA, Madden and NHL generate around an annual revenue of 650 million dollars for EA. This accounts for about 30% of all digital revenues from EA. Additional revenue from extra content is generated, for example, through season passes for Star Wars Battlefront or map packs for the Battlefield series.

dortmund-fifa-16

The Ultimate Team mode was initially introduced in the FIFA series and quickly became one of the most popular and played modes in the game. Looking back at EA’s financial reports from the past years, one can recognize a rapid growth of this mode. By now, Ultimate Team also plays an important role in Madden and NHL.

The Ultimate Team modes have roughly the same value as EA’s entire mobile business, which is also very successful and growing steadily.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Jorgensen emphasized several times how valuable the Ultimate Team has become for EA’s digital business. One can assume that we will continue to enjoy the Ultimate Team mode in these sports titles for a long time. How it will evolve remains to be seen.

Which players are now the best in the game after the winter upgrades? In this guide, you will learn which players, sorted by attributes and leagues, have the highest ratings.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. GamesIndustry
  2. vg247

Destiny: Ex-Bungie-Komponist klagt: “Activision will anonyme Entwickler”

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The former composer of Destiny and Halo, Marty O’Donnell, speaks in an interview about working in large teams.

Marty O’Donnell is responsible for the soundtrack to Destiny and many Halo titles, having worked for Bungie for many years. His departure and subsequent legal dispute with Bungie caused quite a stir among fans.

In an interview with Playboy, O’Donnell and his partner Jaime Griesemer discuss their new project, Haywire Studios, and the VR game Golem. Griesemer is also a Bungie veteran, having been the Design Lead for Halo 2.

The interview does not directly address Bungie, Destiny, or the reasons for the public dispute between O’Donnell and Bungie/Activision, but it does provide insights into what daily life in a game studio is like and the conflicts that arise from working for a giant like Activision in a huge team.

Activision’s unwillingness to release this soundtrack as a standalone work contributed to the rift between O’Donnell and Bungie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkNBJsx3WLs

O’Donnell seems especially troubled by 3 things about working in a large studio:

A large studio has many power struggles and intrigues

Everything becomes impersonal. During Halo 2’s time, someone asked him how many people were working on the game, and he could visualize the office, counting how many people were sitting at each desk, coming up to 67. That was the last time he could count like that. In the end, only 9 people worked directly for him in the audio team. In the new studio, that’s the total number of employees.

Griesemer adds: When so many people work on a project, it often becomes more about power and the right to make decisions rather than actually making good decisions.

Destiny DLC Screenshot

In large projects, the individual often remains anonymous

What O’Donnell further dislikes is the trend of large publishers like EA or Activision trying to keep developers anonymous and denying them recognition. This really annoys O’Donnell. After all, people do not look forward to the next “EA game”; they like a developer because they made something great.

People like Spielberg or Woody Allen have entire teams around them. They appreciate their team. Companies like EA or Activision lack the emotional connection to the brands. Yet the team is so important. Ultimately, it is always the team, not an individual, that is responsible for the success of something.

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One’s own ideas often get sidelined

The third thing that seems to weigh heavily on Marty O’Donnell is the lack of freedom in a large studio. You constantly have to wait for approval to do something the way you want to do it.

Often, creative and talented experts stand idly by, waiting for someone to give them permission to do things as they see fit.

It is even worse when you finally have the opportunity to present your idea that you have worked on for so long, only to hear, “Yes, that won’t work.” Or when something is accepted but later rejected.

Destiny Multiplayer

The core points of contention as to why O’Donnell left Bungie after so many years have been highlighted in this article.

Mein MMO says: Even back then, the impression was that O’Donnell felt less valued and respected in the new huge Bungie under Activision compared to the “old Bungie times.” The soundtrack he recorded with Paul McCartney and an orchestra seemed to matter a lot to him. He really wanted to release it as a standalone work. However, Activision seemed to block that.

When Activision did not use O’Donnell’s music for Destiny trailers but instead used its own, it triggered a chain reaction that ultimately led to his departure.

Besides personal recognition, it seems O’Donnell also missed camaraderie and connection in a small studio. It seems he has now found both again.

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

Black Desert: Costs, System Requirements, Server – The Essentials for Launch

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

In a few hours, Black Desert will officially launch in Germany. We have the most important information about the release.

The first players have already been playing for 4 days, officially starting for everyone today at 5:00 PM. We answer the most important questions about the release of Black Desert.

What is the cost of Black Desert? Is it Free2Play?

No, Black Desert is not a free-to-play game. It costs approximately €30 for the smallest version. There are no monthly subscription fees. However, there is a cash shop.

Currently, there is no freely accessible demo or trial version. However, some guest keys have been distributed among buyers. With these, you can test for free for 7 days.

Black Desert Steparu Beast Master

Where can I download the game? How do I get my bonus items?

Once you have purchased the game, you can download it from your account page. You can find this on the game’s homepage when you are logged in under “Account.” There you can also request any promo items, such as pre-order items. In early access, they sometimes arrived with a 24-hour delay.

Here is the download link (purchase required).

Which class should I play?

Black Desert starts with 7 classes in Germany, with 4 more being added over time. You start with Berserker, Warrior, Valkyrie, Tamer, Ranger, Sorceress, and Witch/Mage. Only Witch/Mage are the exact same class in male and female. The other classes are subject to a so-called gender lock and can only be played with the intended gender.

All classes in Black Desert also have a “race lock” and can only be played in the designated form. It is not possible to play a “Giant Warrior” or a “Human Berserker.”

Black Desert Pre Order Kostumes

The 4 classes that will be added later are Plum and Blader, as well as Ninja and Kunoichi. They are already available in the Korean version of the game. Additionally, classes there have received an “Awakening Weapon” variant, allowing them to gain a different weapon and playstyle.

During character creation, you will also be given a brief introduction to each class regarding how difficult they are to play. Here we have also listed an overview of the classes.

Is Black Desert also coming to Playstation 4 and Xbox One?

No. While the developers leave a backdoor of “Who knows what the future holds. We do not rule anything out,” in reality, it is unlikely that a Korean MMORPG will be released for the consoles Playstation 4 and Xbox One. There are currently no plans for that.

Black Desert is currently a pure PC game and will likely remain that way.

Black-Desert-Valencia

What are the system requirements for Black Desert? Can my PC handle it?

The minimum requirements are an Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB of hard disk space, and a GTS 250, GeForce 9800 GTX, or Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics card.

The recommended requirements are an Intel i5 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 40 GB of hard disk space, and a GTX 650/GTX 550 TI/Radeon HD 7770/Radeon HD 6670 graphics card.

Which server should I start on?

There are three European servers: Alustin, Croxus, and Jordine. On each of these large servers, there are “channels” between which you can freely switch. Therefore, the channel you choose is not that important.

There is no official German server. It’s best to coordinate with friends or acquaintances. A clear recommendation is difficult to give.

Black-Desert-Gandalf

Where can I find information about Black Desert? Where are there guides and tricks?

Black Desert looks stylish but has as many details as one of those Excel spreadsheet sandbox games. It requires knowing recipes, understanding game mechanics, or even figuring out how to play at the beginning.

Since Black Desert is relatively complicated but has been on the market in Korea for a while, there are many instructions, videos, and guides in English available online. If you are proficient in English, you can check out the ‘Black Desert Bible’ as a Google document.

In the coming weeks and months, we will strive to summarize and answer the most important questions in separate articles. We have already covered tips for leveling up through grinding. A beginner’s guide with 10 tips can be found here.

Otherwise, you can also feel free to ask questions about the game in the comments below this article. We have some readers who are well-versed in Black Desert Online and are happy to share their knowledge.

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