David Gaider, lead writer of the Dragon Age series, has moved from Bioware to Beamdog and is leading a team of writers there. Is a Baldur’s Gate 3 or a Baldur’s Gate Online coming?
How do we come to the conclusion that such a game could be developed? Beamdog owns the rights to the Baldur’s Gate series. They are currently working on a new game titled Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear, which is set between the games Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. Trent Oster, founder of the development studio, has previously stated that he would like to develop a real third installment. Now David Gaider, the former lead writer of the Dragon Age series, joins the team and works there as Creative Director, a position in which he leads a team of writers.
A new Baldur’s Gate?
All of this suggests that a new game in the Baldur’s Gate series could be in planning. However, the suspicion that it is a single-player RPG is very likely. The focus seems to be on story with Gaider on the team. However, there could very well be more behind it. Unless a studio hits a big success or operates on a small budget, which often comes with less impressive graphics, it is particularly difficult for smaller studios to sustain themselves with single-player games. An online component would therefore be quite conceivable and sensible.
Perhaps not an MMO but an online RPG
That it is a true MMORPG is rather doubtful, as the production costs are extremely high, just like the risk. However, there is a possibility of creating a Baldur’s Gate Online similar to Richard Garriott’s Shroud of the Avatar. There would then be a standard single-player mode that could be played offline and alone but also an online mode.
In this mode, friends would take on the role of party members, and there might even be an “open” zone where housing and trading with other players exist. This possibility is conceivable. However, whether there is even a new Baldur’s Gate in planning remains to be announced by Beamdog; until then, everything is speculation.
Andreas thinks: David Gaider at Beamdog can only mean that they are planning a large RPG for me. Gaider is known for his engaging stories in the Dragon Age games, and he is simply someone who enjoys crafting narratives. I also consider it likely that it could be a Baldur’s Gate 3, and that it might even have an online component is absolutely conceivable. I am already excited to see what the future will bring.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Happy Wednesday everyone – it’s time to complain a bit again. But before I get all upset, here’s the good news: I finally got into the Overwatch beta! Okay, that might only be good news for me and not for you all. But you can’t have everything, can you?
While I was casually playing last night and getting used to the game’s new progression system, I quickly leveled up. Fortunately, defeats also give experience points, because my performance with Reaper is not exactly the best (Okay, neither is it with Reinhardt… or Tracer… or McCree… oh, never mind!). For every single level-up, there’s a loot box reward. Yay, loot! I like that!
Devaluing player performance: Randomness and real money
Already in the game, I saw the ominous “Shop” symbol next to the “Open” button of the reward boxes. And indeed, the official announcement states that there’s currently consideration to sell the reward boxes of the level system for real money. And that really bothers me. I accepted that skins have become standard and that even full-priced titles are no longer profitable without cosmetic offerings, but this particularly annoys me in this case.
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The reward boxes are – who would have thought it from the name? – a reward for playing, for progress, and for performance shown in-game. Everything that can be included in them (skins, emotes, profile pictures, etc.) feels significantly devalued in my view if it is also offered in the shop.
It’s bad enough that the rewards are random – but random items that are also purchasable? That’s a bit too much for me and already bothers me a lot – and this is just in planning. I’m against it.
What do you think? Should a progression system be separated from other cosmetic things? Will you buy loot boxes for real money? Or do you not care as long as there’s finally beta access?
P.S.: Now I have to juggle Overwatch and RP – why does a day only have 24 hours?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny weapons master Banshee-44 calls for Weapon Day on 10th of February.
If you deal well with Banshee, you will receive some bounties that lead to exotic weapons. Every Wednesday, his selection of legendary weapons changes, which Guardians can order to pick up in various versions a week later. If there are no strong versions available, you can simply hoard the order slips and hope for better versions of the ordered weapon the following week.
Thus, some players have had the same orders in their inventory for weeks and hope for that one perfect roll, the so-called God-Roll, with the best possible combination of perks.
These are the test weapons in Destiny starting February 10th.
These 5 weapons are intended for tests. This way you can increase your reputation with Banshee:
With a Häkke auto rifle, you can go against Cabal.
With a Suros auto rifle, you need to achieve precision skills.
A hand cannon from Häkke wants double kills.
A sniper rifle from Omolon must be tested in the Crucible.
Another sniper rifle from Omolon wants to take down Fallen Captains.
These 5 weapons can be ordered this week
The highlight this week is the auto rifle Suros Ari-45. With high impact and range, it’s an interesting weapon if it has stability perks.
Once again, the rocket launchers JLB-42 and JLB-47 are duo. If you only want to take one, take the 47.
Then the rather disappointing offer from Banshee-44 ends with two shotguns. They are Jingukogo-D and Strongbow-D, both from Häkke. They are not particularly sought-after weapons.
Recommendation: This week, the Suros Ari-45 clearly stands out. A JLB-47 rocket launcher is also worth considering, although last week the best possible weapon essentially came in.
These weapons have strong rolls available this week
The pulse rifle Suros PDX-41 is available this week with perfect balance and a tracking module.
A Suros Dis-43 is available this week with Rodeo, Perfect Balance, and Flared Magwell.
The rolls for the 5 weapons from last week can be found here in the video: Thesan FR4, Herja-D (with decent perks), Suros Dis-43, Uzume RR4, Eirene RR4.
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In the fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, patch 3.2 is approaching. Square Enix reveals some highlights of what players can expect there.
The patches in Final Fantasy XIV follow the same pattern in many aspects. Large boss fights and daily quests are among the basic ingredients of each expansion, along with story progression and new dungeons. These 4 components have been presented this week.
With “The Antitower” and “Historic Amdapor (hard)” two new four-player instances are introduced.
The primal Sephirot is one of the icons of the Warring Triad and is about to awaken from its artificial slumber. In the Twilight of the Gods – Sephirot, 8 players at level 60 will be able to prove themselves against him. Hmm, looks impressive.
The new story will be called “The Gears of Change” and revolves around Grandmaster Aymeric Ishgard’s decision to lead into a new era without the everlasting dragon war.
The beast tribe “The Gnath” will also appear in 3.2. Actually, “The Binder” makes every Gnath think and feel the same. But a few of them have managed to separate from the collective. They call themselves “The Unbound.” Those who earn the trust of the beast tribe can obtain this mount in the Vath settlement after much effort.
For more about patch 3.2, which is set to be released on February 23, check out this article:
The hero shooter Gigantic is already in a crisis before its release. The studio is running out of money, and employees are being laid off.
Gigantic was actually supposed to be released in 2015 for Windows 10 and Xbox One. The date could not be met and employees had to be laid off at the end of last year. Now there are further “significant layoffs.” And this will, of course, have an impact on the game, as they say. After all, key personnel for important systems are now missing.
As a reason for the layoffs, developer Motiga states that they are not financially capable of maintaining the entire studio. Motiga wants to negotiate aggressively with partners and investors to secure funding. They hope to rehire the laid-off employees as quickly as possible, as stated in a letter to the fans.
The beta of Overwatch has restarted again. We took a first look at the new progression system and reveal how it works.
Random Rewards as Progression
The Overwatch beta has restarted again and since last night players are once again diving into Blizzard’s hero shooter. One of the most eagerly awaited features is the new progression system that has finally found its way into the game. Jeff Kaplan, the game director, talks in a new video about the exact plans and how this will affect the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41DLNBzp68Q
The primary goal for the developers was to create a system that has minimal impact on gameplay. This means that there should be no power increase, so matches can remain fair, no matter how many hours one has already played. It was also important not to force players into the role of specific characters.
The solution they arrived at is simple: there is an account level, and this increases continuously. Every match grants experience points.
Upon leveling up, a reward box is given, containing a total of 4 items.
As is common with Blizzard games, the items have different rarity levels. This starts at “common” (white) and goes up to “legendary” (orange). Although leveling up takes longer with each level increase, there is said to be no limit to how high it can go, allowing one to always unlock more content.
The range of potential contents in the boxes is vast. So far there are:
Exclusive skins
Spray logos
Voicelines (special voice “emotes” of the characters)
Normal emotes
Victory poses
“Play of the Game” intros
Player icons
Additionally, there are credits in the boxes, which can be used to directly purchase items one desires.
However, there is a small downside: Blizzard has announced that the reward boxes will also be sold for real money. This does diminish the thrill a bit when one finally draws their beloved skin from a box after a long time.
In the MMORPG Neverwinter, there is a lot going on. After the latest module “The Maze Engine” was announced, the developers are now discussing changes to the mount system and older dungeons that will be reintroduced into the game.
Mounts are simply part of an MMORPG. They represent a kind of status symbol and help players get from A to B faster. In the MMO Neverwinter, there are also mounts, but this system is now set to be revamped. One of the previous problems is that no one wants a new, cool mount when their current one has reached rank 3 or 4. Because new mounts simply aren’t fast enough. Therefore, with the module “The Maze Engine”, the appearance will be separated from the properties of the mounts.
Mounts can be customized
You can then assign a new mount the speed that the best mount in your stable has. The same goes for the active and passive abilities of the mount. If you prefer to ride mount A but want to fight with mount B, you will soon be able to give mount A the abilities of mount B. This way, you always have an all-around mount, where you can decide which one to use without having to give up certain abilities. Additionally, in the future, you won’t need to “stash” mounts in bags anymore. They will not require inventory space.
New, old dungeons
Neverwinter launched in 2013 with a substantial number of dungeons, but some have been disabled over time for various reasons. Some of these dungeons the developers want to bring back with “The Maze Engine”. These dungeons include: Mantelturm, Refuge of the Pirate King (formerly Hideout of the Pirate King), Frozen Heart, and Caverns of Karrundax. Additionally, the existing dungeons Cragmire Crypt, Gray Wolf Den, and Temple of the Spider will now be included.
Each dungeon will require a certain level that you must have achieved to enter. For the dungeons, groups of three are sufficient, and the difficulty level will adjust to your level. This also applies to the loot you find and the EXP you receive.
From level 70, you will delve into epic dungeons, which represent revamped versions of regular dungeons or new end-game dungeons. You will enter these in groups of five, and you can expect very valuable loot. Currently, it is still uncertain when the new module “The Maze Engine” for the MMORPG Neverwinter will be released.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , the patches for the update on 9.2., for patch 2.1, have been released.
At this moment, the patch notes for 2.1. went online. There are no big surprises. It will be the expected PvP update. There is almost no news for PvE: Some fixes in the raid King’s Fall are coming, and some other rather marginal changes are making their way to Destiny: In the Nightfall strike, there will be fewer Ghost shells, thereby increasing the likelihood of other rewards.
The major highlights such as the event Crimson Week or changes to PvP were introduced in recent weeks. There are going to be significant changes to PvP; Bungie wants to finally tackle the lag issue. However, the damage referee, which is supposed to disadvantage laggers, is currently only active in Control. You can best read about the changes in the major articles we had on this.
The patch is not live yet at 19:27, but it is said to appear on all platforms in the next few minutes, according to Bungie via Twitter.
The February Update is being deployed to all platforms. Your download will be available soon. Please stand by.
Additionally, a problem with Häkke pulse rifles has been resolved so that they should now deal similar damage to other pulse rifles.
There are two new “Inferno” playlists: Inferno 3v3 and 6v6. These come in addition to the “Freelancer” solo queue playlists (which can only be signed up for individually).
In the Nightfall strike, there will now be a lower chance of Ghost shells, but a higher chance for other items.
In the raid’s Totem room, players can become more immune using the sword’s block function. Totems now kill players after a longer time if they stand under the totem for too long.
The next Iron Banner returns on February 23 at 7:00 PM.
In Iron Banner, there will now be 20% more reputation for a win. Additionally, Lord Saladin will be marked when you can pick up the special packages at ranks 3 and 5.
In the Trials of Osiris, rewards will now happen more frequently so that players do not leave empty-handed. Additionally, the wait time after a match will be reduced by 15 seconds.
The most important changes that patch 2.1 brings to Destiny can be read in these articles:
In the MMORPG Skyforge, a new patch is coming that takes players to the “Magnican Lakes” area – numerous challenges await here.
Swampy Adventures in the Magnican Lakes
Skyforge will receive a major update on February 10, 2016, and – as is customary for an MMORPG – it brings numerous new content and improvements. The main attraction is definitely the new hostile territory “Magnican Lakes”, which has been overrun by hostile creatures. The high humidity has caused all sorts of plant creatures to come to life and now claim the zone – something that MMO players won’t sit back on for long.
They look fancy, but they’re mean: The swampy nymphs.
When the enemies are defeated near their respective resonators, different rewards await. Sparks of Revelation and trophies wait, depending on the defeated opponents. The more adversaries are destroyed, the more powerful the enemies become.
However, the Magnican Lakes are no walk in the park. To succeed, certain limits of tactical acumen must be achieved. This starts at 3200 and ultimately goes up to 4100 – a certain preparation is therefore essential.
Apart from the new zone, there are also numerous other adjustments, such as the ability to change the keyboard layout in certain areas of the game or to extract further information from the combat log – so that it is always clear later what the opponents have done (or what you have done to them).
The MMO shooter The Division has introduced the hostile factions in a new, atmospheric trailer.
New York on the brink of apocalypse. Here, man becomes the greatest enemy of man. It is not zombies or aliens causing trouble in Ubisoft’s cover shooter – it is humans from whom danger arises in The Division. Some of them behave as if they have shed all humanity.
The Division divides your opponents into four groups.
There are the Rioters, looters who are disorganized and try to survive without regard for civilians. The law of the strongest rules.
The Rikersare escaped prisoners from Riker Island. They are criminals who now seek to rise as the new kings of the streets. They want to pay back to the society that once locked them away.
The Cleanerswant to see the world burn, making little distinction between civilian and combatant. They swear by the cleansing power of fire.
And the dangerous fourth faction, which has now been introduced for the first time, is indeed the Last Man Battalion. A quasi-military organization that considers itself the last resort.
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In the MMO shooter The Division , the data for the open beta is known.
The rumors were true. There will indeed be an open beta for The Division. The leak from the Italian Xbox site turns out to be correct, as expected. All players will be able to participate in the beta, there are no access restrictions.
The beta starts for players on Xbox One on February 18.
For players on PC and PlayStation 4, it starts one day later, on February 19.
The beta will then end on February 21 – at the end of the day, as they say.
As Ubisoft announces, the open beta will be a little larger in scope than the closed beta. A “completely new story mission” has been added. Additionally, players participating in the beta will receive a special in-game reward. This will be exclusive.
How to participate in the open beta of The Division on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Ubisoft also provides a note on how you can participate in the beta: You do not need a beta key.
On Xbox One, go to “Games” and search for Tom Clancy’s The Division Open Beta, on PS4 you can find it in the PlayStation Store, and on PC, the open beta is already under free games.
In ArcheAge costumes will soon have useful attributes.
Costumes are stylish – and make heroes stronger
The creators of ArcheAge are once again bracing for a wave of outrage they will provoke with the latest announcement. Costumes in their MMORPG will have attributes and bonuses in the future, making them a useful part of the character and no longer just “cosmetic fluff.” In the official forum, many players welcome this change, as this has been the case in the Korean version for a long time.
Coming soon with values – Costumes in ArcheAge.
However, Trion Worlds’ reputation with ArcheAge is now so tarnished that some players see this as a sign of the impending doom of ArcheAge, which would push the game more into the “Pay2Win” corner. Moreover, there had already been trouble regarding this system, and it was removed.
But there should be “in-game opportunities” to upgrade the costumes. Because they can also “level up” and thus gain strength. The details will be presented later.
If this has upset anyone, they might enjoy this little video.
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A new pet, the “Monkey King Narayana,” has been sighted on the Korean servers. Cute and nice to look at – if he comes to us, it will surely take a while.
For more information about the game, you can find it on our ArcheAge topic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming MMO shooter The Division has recreated parts of New York quite realistically. However, the developers want to distance themselves from real historical events in this world city.
The developer Ubisoft Massive aims to create a realistic recreation of parts of the city of New York as they might look in a post-apocalypse. The game world is supposed to feel like a real city – not like a haphazardly put together environment where you can frolic around. But how close does the game city come to its inspiration, New York City?
The setting fits
After reviewing the following video, you can actually find some places in The Division that should feel familiar to New Yorkers. However, in order to reach a final judgment, it is necessary to look at the entire game world in the final version of the MMO shooter.
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The story has neither historical precedent nor a political statement
As realistic as this environment may seem, the developer distances itself from parallels to real historical events. The Division takes place in Manhattan, where the terrible terrorist attacks were also carried out on September 11, 2001. When asked by Kill Screen, Creative Director Julian Gerighty responded that there are absolutely no parallels between The Division and 9/11.
Of course, the MMO shooter also deals with a terrible theme, which is why the interviewer was surprised by this clear distancing. However, Gerighty emphasized that this topic was not even mentioned in internal discussions – at least not when he was present.
In Destiny, the Crimson Days event starts on February 9. It’s not just love in the air – no! New challenges await in the Crucible.
This week, all chocolate and flower shops around the world are looking forward to Sunday: it’s Valentine’s Day. Love is in the Air! Apparently, some employees at Bungie have butterflies in their stomachs too since this day is being used as an occasion for the next small event in the Destiny universe.
Not only will the Tower be covered entirely in red and decorated with numerous hearts and roses, but there will also be some new Shaders, Emotes, and Ghost shells making their way into the Destiny universe. There will be a unique PvP event where you can only compete in pairs – as a couple. Regarding PvE content, we will have to wait a bit longer.
When does the Crimson Days event take place?
In Destiny, a new week always begins on Tuesday, which is why the Crimson Days event starts on Tuesday, February 9. It is expected to begin around 7:00 PM. It ends a week later on February 16.
New PvP Game Mode: The Crimson Doubles
This mode is very similar to Trials of Osiris – just in doubles. A “couple” can face an opposing team in the elimination mode for five rounds to claim victory. You can start this PvP event through the recommended activities in the Director (bottom left of the screen). You need to partner up – there will be no matchmaking. So set out some candles, dress up, and enjoy a nice date!
The level advantages are also disabled – meaning that items from Year 1 can also be used.
By the way: If your teammate dies in this PvP mode, you will receive the power of the “Broken Heart“. Driven by revenge, you can draw your weapon faster and recover more quickly from damage taken. From a gameplay perspective, maximum values for armor, agility, recovery, and weapon handling will be granted. With this advantage, you might just be able to achieve victory. The “Broken Heart” lasts until you revive your partner, the round ends, or you go down yourself.
New Bounties and Rewards
Even Lord Shaxx, who is not particularly known for his charming side, has fresh bounties ready for the couples. There will even be a new quest titled “Crimson Bonds”. It is recommended to visit Lord Shaxx in the Tower before diving into the Crimson Doubles.
At the end of the Valentine’s Day quest, you will receive the “Crimson Days Emblem” as a reward. The shaders and ghost shells (up to Light level 320!) can be obtained by participating in the Crimson Doubles. The ghost shells at higher light levels are highly coveted; they are probably the most interesting items you can get during Crimson Days.
Additionally, there will be “Crimson Sweets” that provide advantages for your fireteam. After consumption, all equipped weapons gain more XP for 30 minutes.
Eververse Supply
Tess Everis offers you new gestures this week, specifically designed for two guardians, such as a secret greeting or the “Fist Bump”. These festive emotes are only available this week, but once acquired, they will remain in your possession forever.
Is that it?
Yes, that’s it. Bungie announced some time ago that not much more content will be coming in this event. It can be assumed that the Crimson Days event will not draw back those who have already declared Destiny “dead” in various forums for hours at a time. It is likely a nice event that brings a bit of variety and introduces a new 2vs2 mode in the Crucible.
In these challenging times of Destiny, one might sarcastically remark: Now finally something new. But it’s definitely time for Bungie to reveal the next big thing.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We wish everyone lots of fun who managed to get an invite.
Progress and New Game Modes
After Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch took a break last winter, the closed beta continues today. The developers have been quite busy over the past two months and want to present a variety of new content. The announced highlights include:
In addition, there will be numerous balancing changes to the characters, which will be detailed at a later time. For those who do not want to jump directly into battle against other players, there is reason to breathe a sigh of relief. The official announcement promises numerous changes and updates to “private games,” including pure AI matches. This is certainly helpful for newcomers, so they don’t have to prove themselves against “super pros” right away.
However, there is still no exact time for the resumption of the beta. Many expect it to be at 7:00 PM our time. We will keep you updated in this article as soon as a specific time is known and confirmed.
By the way, there are supposed to be new waves of beta keys. Although no exact details have been provided yet, according to a tweet, this is supposed to happen “soon” once the servers are back up and running.
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Haven’t signed up for the Overwatch beta yet? No problem, you can still do that now at the official Blizzard site.
Update 18:10: Things are happening on Overwatch’s social channels. They say: There is no fixed date for the beta launch, but the plan is still to do it today. There is no option for a pre-load. The patch notes will be posted together with the beta launch.
If you want to learn more about the game, you should take a closer look at our Overwatch topic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MOBA League of Legends, there are some champions that had concepts but for various reasons have not (yet) made it into the Summoner’s Rift.
In the official LoL forums, players can suggest certain champion concepts that they devised themselves or with friends. Many of these concepts are then partially used as templates for new champions. If a concept is particularly well thought out and fits into the plans of the developers and champion designers at Riot Games, such a concept can also be completely adopted.
However, you don’t have to design a new champion directly if you want to express your creativity in League of Legends. Skin suggestions are also gladly accepted. You can find the forum section for that here: Official Riot Forum for Skin & Champion Concepts
But now let’s take a look at a few of the heroes that (still) haven’t made it into the Rift.
Ao Shin – The Storm Dragon
During the first teasers of Jhin, many players believed that the dragon Ao Shin had finally made it into the game. Unfortunately, that was not the case. However, he is still in production, which is not entirely easy due to his complicated concept. Currently, it is said that he will probably appear in early 2016 – maybe there will be more information about this hero in the near future. Here is the LoL wiki page of Ao Shin.
Averdian – was he turned into Heimerdinger in LoL?
A blue, meditating alien that strongly resembles the movie “Mars Attacks”. Rumors say that this champion was used as a basis for Heimerdinger, which would of course explain Heimerdinger’s Legendary skin.
When the “Noxian Night” map was released in 2010, this champion could be found lying in a coffin there. Even among the developers, the alien was so popular that RiotNocturne made his forum avatar Averdian. He stated that he was working hard to bring this champion into the game and would only change his forum avatar again when the work on this champion was officially completed. In July 2011, he changed his avatar, suggesting that Averdian did not make it. Here is the LoL wiki page of Averdian.
Tabu – The Voodoo Shaman – looked more like a Blizzard character than LoL
This image might suggest that he is some kind of hippie Blizzard character who prefers to listen to death metal. It is very likely that this champion was reworked and turned into Swain. Tabu could also be found in a coffin on the “Noxian Night” map from 2010. Here is the LoL wiki page of Tabu.
Gavid – The Plant King
About this champion, all that is known is that he looks like a large plant with thorns. No abilities or other details are known, which is very unfortunate. Like the previous two champions Averdian and Tabu, Gavid was also found in a coffin on the “Noxian Night” map in 2010. This suggests that work on these champions has been definitively discontinued. Here is the LoL wiki page of Gavid.
Priscilla – The Spider Queen – Will we see her brother in League of Legends?
Looking at this hero, you can immediately see into whom the Spider Queen was reworked. Guess who?
That’s right, Urgot! Even though it seems likely that Elise would have been the solution, a closer examination reveals the visual similarities to Urgot. Unfortunately, none of her abilities were known. In 2011, there was temporarily an item called “Priscilla’s Blessing” on the Dominion map – a clear reference to this champion. However, the item, like Priscilla herself, failed to make a lasting impact and was removed again.
In fact, there was a survey on the League of Legends forum in 2011 asking whether the Spider Queen should make her way into the game. About 24,000 of around 28,000 votes cast were in favor of “Yes”.
URF – The Manatee – from Warwick’s victim to LoL’s mascot
This is probably one of the few champions in this article that most of you can say “Oh that one – I know him”. Originally, URF was only intended as an April Fool’s joke by the developers at LoL. However, he was embraced by the players so quickly that he has now become a sort of mascot for League of Legends. When the Urf, the Manatee Skin for Warwick was available, it was mentioned in the skin description that Warwick killed and disemboweled Urf. Although this is a sad ending for the cute Urf, April 1st has since been recognized as Urf Day in LoL. Here is the LoL wiki page of URF.
Well – The Hydrosoul – was this LoL champ gutted for buffs?
This champion was actually nothing more than a rumor. Unfortunately, he did not fully make it into the game. Not fully means in this case that his passive ability “Vortex” is the “Noxus Slaughter” buff on the “Twisted Treeline” map. His W ability “Typhoon” was also implemented as a buff in the Twisted Treeline. Here is the LoL wiki page of Well.
Omen – a prototype for Kha’Zix?
By canceling this champion, the way for Riven was probably cleared. This should please us all because who doesn’t like the typical Riven players in the top lane, who are all at least 5 times better than their rest of the team? But I should probably write a separate article on that. There were speculations that Omen was reworked into Kha’Zix (the appearance suggests so), however, Riot Games stated that this is not true.
Rob Blackblade – The Dashing Rogue – Would he have fit into LoL?
From his appearance, he would rather fit into Super Nintendo games and clearly contradicts the champion style of League of Legends. This was also one of the main reasons why this hero did not make it to the game servers of LoL.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At WildStar, a position has been filled. The former “Lore Guru” Chad Moore is now the Game Director and thus the main person responsible for development.
From Plot to Producer
At Carbine, the studio behind the MMORPG WildStar, there has once again been a significant change in leadership. Chad “Pappy” Moore, who was previously responsible for the game’s story, is the new Game Director of the title and is largely responsible for the upcoming plans and features.
From Lore Guru to Chief – the rise of Chad Moore.
The official “State of Affairs” post reads more like an inaugural speech than a major new announcement. Moore summarizes the successes of the last year, discusses the three major content patches, and once again mentions what is planned for Arkterra in the next update.
Further major steps this year would include more content, such as the ability to dive into the Halon Ring, an asteroid belt around Nexus, and experience numerous adventures there. Also planned for this year is the release of the game in China, where the open beta has recently started.
Moore emphasizes that the connection to the community is very important to him, and he believes that a dialogue between players and developers is essential to ultimately deliver a good product.
Mein-MMO says: Although Moore’s open letter reads positively, it has a strange undertone. Just a few weeks ago, there were allegations and claims that people are being placed in positions at Carbine that they cannot handle. It seems at first glance strange that the former story writer suddenly takes on the role of Game Director. On the other hand, Chad Moore is one of the “cool guys” who has always enjoyed staying in touch with the community and has a great reputation with me for his beautiful lore. And finally: At some point, things must turn around positively for WildStar.
The developers of the upcoming MMO shooter Escape from Tarkov have released an initial Developer Diary discussing the online game.
Interestingly, Escape from Tarkov is not the first game in this universe. The online game is based on the shooter Russia 2028, which is currently on hold, and the online shooter Contract Wars. All games are essentially set in the same fictional future Russia. Everything the developers learned from the two projects is now used to make Escape from Tarkov something special.
As realistic as possible
A Russian military expert, who prefers to remain anonymous, assists the team in achieving the highest possible realism in the game. To this end, they train with real weapons. These weapons are implemented into the game 1:1, as are their actual sound effects. Particular attention is paid to the animations. Using motion capture, the movements are recorded under the direction of the military expert. These are then transferred into the game, resulting in astonishingly realistic outcomes, as seen in the linked video below.
Especially when it comes to handling weapons, such as how to change magazines or fix jammed firearms, the implementation is intended to be as realistic as possible. The countless animations captured through motion capture are integrated into the game using a special technology, allowing for smooth transitions between the different animation stages. There should be no delays or missed movements. Everything is intended to feel as fluid as possible. The level of realism the developers want is extremely high.
Attention to Details
Everything the player does should be represented through animation. When opening a door, one can see how the hand pushes down the handle. When picking up a can, the character truly reaches for it. A light switch is actually pressed. The developers even pay attention to small details, such as ensuring that the position of the hand relative to the object being interacted with is correct or that objects have weight, and the hands holding a weapon must account for this weight, which is reflected in the animations.
Check out the entire Dev Diary for Escape from Tarkov directly here. You will see what details the developers focus on. More such video diaries are already planned.
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In The Division, the developers have introduced a new mission featuring the Lincoln Tunnel. This example showcases their concept of a cover shooter.
Anyone who has played the beta of The Division knows: The Division requires a change in thinking. If you confront enemies head-on and rely on your reflexes, you’ll find yourself on the ground quickly. The shooter player’s Plan A doesn’t work, because The Division is a cover shooter, and tactical action is crucial for survival.
In the beta, only one main mission was playable. Here, agents rescued a doctor from Madison Square Garden. The developers have now extensively introduced another main mission. It takes place in the Lincoln Tunnel to meet Roy Benitez, the leader of the Joint Task Force. He is dealing with a gang that wants to escape from Manhattan. The agents of the Division cannot allow that.
In the video released by IGN, the Level Design Director of The Division explains what goes into designing a mission. The player should always have different options to resolve a situation.
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There will be “lanes” where enemies will come and where you will move forward yourself. As is customary for a cover shooter, each level is designed to always provide tactical options in different positions, requiring the player to answer questions for themselves.
Should I approach the enemy at ground level or try to gain a height advantage?
How is the cover when I get closer to him?
What weapons are they using, what do I have? What is the ideal distance for a conflict?
The mission in the Lincoln Tunnel
The mission in the Lincoln Tunnel is divided into several sections. The agents will face snipers for the first time here and will need to adjust their tactics accordingly. As seen in the mission, the developers fulfill their promise to tell the story dynamically through gameplay, allowing the mission to unfold without interruption from cutscenes.
The action tells the story of The Division.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When thinking of World of Warcraft, there are considerations for putting together a special package for visitors of the Warcraft movie – there could be in-game rewards!
From the cinema straight to the PC – The package offer
The upcoming Warcraft movie is the perfect opportunity for Blizzard to generate a bit more attention for the now slightly dusty World of Warcraft. Apparently, the game studio has come to the same conclusion, as some players were recently allowed to participate in a survey. They were asked about their interest in a “World of Warcraft Ultimate Movie Edition.” This would be available – according to current drafts – for free with the purchase of each cinema ticket (likely in the form of a code).
The content at least sounds nice: all expansions (up to and including Warlords of Draenor), 30 days of game time, and a special in-game item.
Run, little human, run. Grab the offer!
However, one should not overestimate the plans for this potential offer. Blizzard wants to make all “old” expansions free, so that new players only have to purchase the most current addon. Consequently, the code on a ticket would likely be worth “only” 30 days of game time and a special item – but even that would still be a very lucrative offer.
Whether the “Movie Ultimate Edition” will actually be used and whether it will also make it to Europe remains to be seen.
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