The surprise hit of the summer, the survival MMO Ark Survival Evolved, is doing good for the modding community and also brings a “Hunger Games” mode.
Ark Survival Evolved is the feel-good story of summer 2015. In fact, there’s only good news. Now you’re gaining points with the crucial “modding community” for a survival game. The topic of modding was already opened up in July, and now Studio Wildcard is advancing this further. They are providing modders with better tools, an easier-to-use editor for the Unreal 4 engine. It includes everything that can also be found in the game itself. These are the tools that modders need to create their own exciting version of Ark, as stated by the developers – with their own weapons, maps, and creatures.
To further fuel creativity, together with Alienware, they announce a modding competition worth $25,000. Talented modders can submit anything they want. A jury will then crown the three winners, showering them with cash prizes and hardware.
Details about the competition can be found in the sources.
Ark gets a “Survival of the Fittest” mode
They also show what is possible with the modding tools. They are incorporating a so-called “Hunger Games” mode – for obvious reasons, they don’t call it that, but rather refer to it as “Survival of the Fittest”. This is the same mode that H1Z1 knows as “Battle Royale” , originally coming from ARMA. By the way, Battle Royale is a Japanese novel that was released years before the Hunger Games and whose combat arena operates on very similar criteria as in the best-selling cycle. This really annoys some people if you don’t mention it.
Players start in a relatively large area. Those who die are out. The combat area keeps getting smaller, forcing the players into conflict. The last one standing wins.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We have all 132 new cards for Blizzard’s online card game Hearthstone. This means that all the cards of the new expansion “The Grand Tournament” are now known.
Yesterday, the last cards of the new Hearthstone expansion The Grand Tournament were revealed in a livestream and later on Facebook. Now all 132 newcomers are together, and everyone can start creating their own decks to try out with the launch of the addon. We took this opportunity to compile all cards in a gallery to present them to you in a clear manner.
On the following page you will find all the new cards, sorted by class and rarity; most are already available in German, and those that were revealed yesterday by Hearthstone are in English – have fun browsing!
Warrior
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMORPG The Secret World the release 12, a major update, comes next week. It overhauls game mechanics.
Most MMORPGs struggle with the “RPG” part in the genre title, where The Secret World shines. The stories are considered outstanding, competing with their dense atmosphere, wit, and spirit against many classic single-player RPGs or adventures. This is hard to say about other MMORPGs.
However, the “MMO” elements pose difficulties for The Secret World, having become static and stiff over the years. While the competition has improved, providing players with more activities and clearer goals, TSW has not followed this trend. A few months ago, the accessibility of the game was significantly increased, and now they want to address the MMO mechanics next week.
The new challenge journal.
Thus, the currency jumble is simplified, relying only on “Black Bars” and converting existing currency into this all-purpose currency. “Challenges” are introduced – 4 daily, 7 weekly, all tracked well in a journal. Additionally, two new raids are introduced, and world bosses are brought into the game. We have already presented the details.
In the MMO shooter Destiny the page has failed that is supposed to provide just one piece of information: Is Xur selling the Gjallarhorn? Elsewhere, all the damns are breaking or skepticism is coming out.
There is a page on the net that exists solely to answer one question: “Is Xur selling the Gjallarhorn?”
And the question is answered with a huge “NO.”
Because this unlikely occurrence has not happened in Destiny for months. Until yesterday, Xur had only once, in the second week after the release, sold the exotic rocket launcher. Back then, no one could have guessed that Gjallarhorn would develop into THE dominant weapon in the first year of Destiny. “I won’t waste my exo slot on a stupid rocket launcher,” was the sentiment back then in the comments.
In the months that followed, it became clear how powerful Gjallarhorn is. Because of the cluster rockets that emerge when firing Gjallarhorn, a rocket from this monster rocket launcher deals more damage than anything else in the game. Among German fans, the rocket launcher earned itself the nickname “The golden crowbar” – not very elegant, but it gets the job done through sheer force.
As it slowly circulated how strong the thing is, players often asked if Xur had the rocket launcher this time. And since the answer was always the same, “No, and stop bothering,” the website “isxursellinggjallarhorn” was created with the permanent answer “No!”
And it was still saying that yesterday, 10 hours after Xur actually had the Gjallarhorn. “You had just one job!” was the comment this time. In the meantime, the operator of the site has woken up and changed the text to “Yes!” and included a gif. Yay!
Holy crap, Xur sells Gjallarhorn
The day Xur sold the Gjallarhorn, August 14, caused excitement, disbelief, anger, or some kind of euphoria among hardcore Destiny fans. In the heart of the community, on reddit, chaos was declared, the normally well-moderated subreddit descended into chaos as mouse cursors turned into Gjallarhorns. And on Twitter, #Gjallarhorn was briefly the trending topic.
Gaming magazines are reporting on the unusual occurrence in Destiny with headlines like “Holy crap, Xur sells Gjallarhorn!” (Kotaku), “Destiny players cheer: Xur sells Gjallarhorn” (The Verge).
But is this really a coincidence?
Forbes is skeptical: They have asked Bungie if everything is being done right. If this is all really a coincidence. Bungie says: Yes, it’s all a coincidence. Xur is a mystery. We have no idea what he sells.
In the sandpark MMO ArcheAge , the “Evolution” occurs, involving a series of server mergers. Which servers are affected? How does it work?
In ArcheAge, two major things will happen this year. Patch 2.0 is coming, bringing a load of content that has not been out in Korea for long. This is expected to provide a new boost.
Additionally, some servers in North America and Europe that no longer maintain sufficient populations will be closed, and new ones will be opened where the players from the closed servers will land with their characters.
The details of this process, referred to as “Evolution”, have now been published. In Europe, 6 servers are affected by the merger:
Aier and Orchidna will merge into Anthalon
Melisara and Nebe will merge into Sirothe
Nui and Janudar will merge into Leviathan.
Stay and be merged or transfer beforehand?
Players on one of the 6 servers can either transfer to a server that is not affected by the merger or participate in the merger. Specific conditions apply for transfers to “a full server”. It is also clearly outlined what can be carried over during the Evolution.
There will also be a “Restart” server, which cannot be transferred to, but only started anew.
If you take it easy on the 6 affected servers, you will be transferred.
The process is expected to take place between August 25 and mid-September. Starting August 25, players can sign up for transfers (those players who wish to leave the Evolution servers before the Evolution), on September 8, the transfers will be carried out, and mid-September will see two days of maintenance during which the server merger will take place.
Trion Worlds will harshly punish hacking during Landrush
Housing will play an important role in the upcoming sandbox MMORPG Shards Online. Therefore, the system should be tested early.
Initially, the test of the housing system for Shards Online was planned for August 15, but has now been postponed to August 19. On that day, the servers will open at 9 AM German time. Anyone who wants to participate in the test will be able to download the client on August 18 through the Shards Online Dashboard.
Join the testing of Shards Online housing!
This first housing test focuses on placing houses in the world and decorating them. You will be able to place your own house in the landscape and furnish it according to your ideas. A total of more than 10 different houses are available for you, which you can equip with over 100 decoration items. During the test phase, you can use special commands to try out all the houses and decoration items. The server will remain open for a few days, so you have enough time to extensively test the housing.
Housing is a very important feature for many MMORPG fans. One wants to have a home in their “second home” and furnish it as they envision, and then invite friends over. The more freedom one enjoys, the more creative one can be and the more fun a housing system is. We will see how this will be implemented in Shards Online.
A sandbox full of possibilities
Shards Online aims to follow in the footsteps of the classic Ultima Online and offer a sandbox adventure where players have full control. The developers want to provide MMO fans not only with interesting worlds but also enable them to create their own worlds where they can set their personal rules. Players then jump from “Shard” to “Shard” to explore other peoples’ worlds. Want to know more? We have introduced Shards Online here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13UYO4rS4Q
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the MMO shooter Destiny, the expansion introduces eight new Crucible maps. These have now been presented.
The coverage of Destiny is currently a bit annoying and frustrating for journalists worldwide. The US magazine Game Informer has basically the “exclusive rights”; they visited Bungie, received information, and are now gradually releasing it. For Game Informer, this is a great thing, as the articles receive worldwide attention, and particularly popular ones are read over 300,000 times.
Game Informer has video material on the news, but other sites cannot embed it … it is a bit annoying for journalists, but maybe that will change when the live streams begin.
In any case, Game Informer has now introduced the eight new Crucible maps that will come to Destiny with the expansion “The Taken King” on September 15 for Playstation 3 and 4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
Bannerfall – just like the Tower, but a bit different
The map “Bannerfall” is a symmetrical map of medium size – suitable for Control or the new “Capture the Flag” mode Rift. Visually, the map resembles the Tower, but the action takes place in another part of the Last City.
The name Bannerfall alludes to the fact that one flag belongs to the “New Monarchy”; however, the other flag is no longer discernible and is tattered.
Frontier – Showdown at the Station
Frontier resembles a type of transfer station. It is a semi-symmetrical map, also suitable for the “Rift” mode. Players will find long sightlines for snipers and a mix of open space and enclosed terrain. A bridge in the middle of the map is of tactical importance.
Crossroads – the map with the teleporters
Crossroads on Mars features Vex structures. However, the landscape is overgrown with strange fauna. Due to the “teleporters”, it is a rather quirky, unusual map intended for the “Mayhem” mode with lots of Supers.
Sector 618 – Playstation exclusive and a kind of PvP jump puzzle
The Playstation exclusive map Sector 618 is a kind of factory with moving platforms and rigid bridges. Players are expected to find various options to traverse the space, and surprise routes notoriously bring surprise effects.
Ghost Ship – the smallest new map is set in the Reef
Ghost Ship will be the smallest new map coming to Destiny with The Taken King. It is set in the Reef. A Fallen ship serves as the location, which has been attacked by the Hive, leaving the wreck damaged on one side.
Exile – enemy contact in enemy territory
The new map “Exile” takes place on one of the Hive ships that move through the rings of Saturn. The environment resembles the Dreadnought, the new zone, and is expected to be a relatively elongated, narrow map suitable for Clash and Control. There are three large main lines and a lower level, a kind of catacombs, which is intended to give the map a new dimension.
Memento – city atmosphere in the dead zone
Memento plays like the House of Wolves map Widow’s Walk in the European Dead Zone. It will be a rather small urban map. Nature has already claimed much of the city. There are numerous obstacles and blocked sightlines. This map is also designed for Clash and Control and will focus even more on verticality, meaning different heights, than in Widow’s Walk. The height advantage can be crucial.
Vertigo – fear of heights, brought to you by the Vex
Vertigo (English for a sense of dizziness) takes place on Mercury, on a Vex structure high above the planet. There will also be teleporters here that will move players to a platform with interesting strategic options.
On the Game Informer site, there are short clips about the maps we have presented to you here. The video from the English fan site PlanetDestiny also provides insights into the 8 new PvP maps.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
At SMITE, the testing phase on Xbox is coming to an end. The game will be released next week …
Last Chance for Some Offers
After a rather long testing phase, the Moba from HiRez Studios is finally transitioning into release. SMITE will be accessible to all players on Xbox One starting August 19! Those who want to dive into the battlefield of the gods will have the opportunity to download the game from the Xbox One online store and jump right in. Until August 31, there is still a chance to merge the PC account with the Xbox one or purchase the Founder’s Pack, which includes all current and future gods – after that, both offers will expire.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
If you don’t know anything about the third-person perspective Moba, you might want to read our review. Otherwise, it may also be worth keeping an eye on our site, as we occasionally raffle off keys for skins and various gods.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, the developers have released a guide for the Imperial City.
It will start on August 31 on PC, and on September 15 and 16 on the consoles Playstation 4 and Xbox One: The Imperial City will open its gates, and Update 7 will be released.
This will be the first truly new content to come to the game in over half a year. Up until now in 2015, the focus of the developers has been on transitioning to a Buy2Play model and the launch on Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
But it’s not just systems that are coming to the game. The Imperial City is also a place to explore, with new adventures to experience. The Imperial City is divided into 6 above-ground districts, each with its own story and design. These are essentially quest areas.
Then there are two dungeons to explore: The Prison of the Imperial City and the White Gold Tower. At both locations, players will feel the unholy presence of the Daedra. Here, players who want nothing to do with all the PvP stuff can also go directly.
But 6 districts and two instances are not everything: The three factions have prepared hideouts in the sewers, essentially safe zones, and this very sewer is, in itself, another adventure. It can happen that one gets hopelessly lost in all the game content. Therefore, Zenimax has now published a “guide” for the Imperial City, complete with a large map and a legend. This way you can always see where the hideouts of your faction are in the 6 areas.
Anyone interested in exploring the Imperial City ahead of the official release can learn more about the individual districts on the TESO homepage and get to know the geography. For those who prefer hands-on experience, check out the test server.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Star Wars Battlefront , EA has introduced the new mode “Supremacy”. This mode is inspired by the Conquest mode from Battlefield and is set to be an XXL spectacle that pulls out all the stops.
There will be five important points to control in the “Supremacy” mode. Each team starts with two points already under control, and a fifth point is located centrally. This must be captured. After that, Battlefront assigns a point for each team to capture. This means: At all times, you are defending one point while attacking another. Action is guaranteed.
The mode is designed to ensure spectacular, massive battles with ground troops, aerial combat, the greatest heroes, and the darkest villains of the Star Wars universe. The significant advantage of the mode: The action is always just a stone’s throw away. But why would anyone throw stones when they have a blaster?
The Supremacy mode will feature the largest maps in Star Wars Battlefront. With TIE Fighters and X-Wings, there’s a lot going on in the air as well. The heroes and villains bring cinematic flair to the mayhem. The three heroes known so far will also differ tactically. Darth Vader is expected to be more defensively oriented with increased health points, while Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker can switch between offensive and defensive and rely on mobility.
DICE is not shy, admitting that they drew inspiration for “Supremacy” from the Conquest mode in their own Battlefield titles and promises that players will spawn near the action.
After Gamescom, new gameplay material for Overwatch has been released. Finally, Lúcio gets his own appearance…
Support Healer with Knockback Mechanic
Now that Gamescom is a while behind us, fresh gameplay material of Overwatch has been uploaded on YouTube. This time we see Lúcio using his various buffs to enhance his teammates and significantly contribute to his team’s victory. Particularly amusing are the moments when he simply knocks people off the map – a mechanic that will both bring a lot of fun and a high level of frustration. Also, strategically using his ultimate ability provides a decisive advantage in some gameplay scenes, but see for yourself:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The previous World of Warcraft Patch 6.2.1 has been renamed to 6.2.2 and now brings not only flying but also some new features …
Actually, the patch 6.2.1 was supposed to be released a few weeks ago and allow players to fly in Draenor. However, the patch has been delayed a bit longer and some new content has been added, which can be tried out under the name 6.2.2 on the test realm. We take a look at the new changes.
Easier Legendary Quest Line
Those who have previously avoided the legendary quest line may have a new incentive to start it with 6.2.2.
Those who have not yet started the quest line for the legendary ring might want to wait for the next patch, because then the initial steps can be significantly accelerated. Once per week, Apex crystals can be exchanged to progress faster in the early stages of the legendary quest line. For 14958 Apex crystals, you get 5 Dominance Geodes, and 20,000 Apex crystals yield 75 Elemental Runes. This approximately doubles the rate, and you can at least complete these two quest steps early and thus work towards the legendary ring even as a latecomer.
New Rewards for Timewalking
The timewalking feature is to be made a bit more attractive. For this reason, a new currency is being introduced, which will strongly remind WoW veterans of the justice points from previous expansions. The Time-Warped Badges will be dropped by bosses in all timewalking dungeons and can be exchanged for various rewards at a new NPC in Dalaran.
Of course, there are the standard items, such as new weapons and armor of item level 675, which could help some to reach the required item level for a raid. The highlight of these rewards are the two new mounts, namely a new dragonhawk and the Ironbound Wraithcharger, which was originally supposed to come to the real money shop.
But even more can be done with the badges: You can buy reputation tokens for old factions, snag a few new toys with which you can temporarily transform into a broken Draenei. Pet collectors can complete their zoo and have new chances for various crocodile pets, and twinkers can look forward to the upgrading options for their heirlooms.
New Items for the Events
Can we soon walk around as Deathwing?
Finally, the patch contains some changes to the annual events. The Hallow’s End will receive a new quest line that will lead us to the Shadowmoon Valley of the shattered world. As new rewards, there will be items you can use to festively decorate the guards of your garrison. The real gems, however, are probably the costumes of Deathwing and VanCleef – last year there was the Lich King. The exact prices of the costumes are still unknown, but they will probably be very high, judging by last year’s model.
The Winter Veil has also been updated, and it also receives a small new quest line and, of course, a new gift – as every year.
Release Date of Legion – already in Spring?
From the revision of these two events, some people want to draw even more conclusions. Especially a user on Reddit, who has correctly predicted some content of Legion (and claims to have contacts at Blizzard) is sure that the patch 7.0 and thus the introductory event of “Legion” will be rolled out before the end of the year. A release of the next WOW expansion is expected to be in the first quarter of 2016 – that would definitely beMuch earlier than feared.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Recently, the developers at Massive answered some questions about the “Dark Zones”:
there are actually no “Dark Zones” (plural), but only one central, which is supposed to be very large, much larger than what has been seen in the demo build so far outside the Dark Zone, there is no player-versus-player combat
if a player attacks others in the Dark Zone, he becomes a “Rogue Agent”, with a bounty on his head. The Rogue Agent is specially marked so that other players can recognize him on the map.
http://youtu.be/xfioc47j-Cc
the more players the Rogue Agent kills, the higher his rank rises, and with it the bounty placed on him; if the Rogue Agent survives for a while without killing new opponents, his status slowly expires, he becomes a regular agent, and he receives his own bounty; at the lowest rank, this period lasts 2 minutes, at the highest 5
this Rogue status is also tied to a lot of “Dark Zone experience points”, which Rogue Agents can lose if they are killed, and players who take them down can gain them; thus, Rogue Agents live so dangerously
there is no friendly fire in the game; to attack your own allies, you must first leave the group – they will be warned and given a “grace period” to adjust to the new situation
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
in the demo scenarios, there was a 3-vs-3-vs-3 scenario; the actual Dark Zone will be able to host many more players at the same time, how many exactly will be determined in beta tests
both in the Dark Zone and outside of it, “Best-in-Slot” gear can be found, the best items in the game; however, it is somewhat more likely to secure these coveted items within the Dark Zone.
Today we are dealing with the question of which drop has pleased you the most in an MMO. Was it a powerful weapon? An elegant outfit? A particularly stylish hat?
A central theme in almost every well-known MMO is loot. No matter if it’s about new weapons in Destiny, new armor sets in World of Warcraft, or that one color crystal in SWTOR, loot is essentially indispensable in today’s game systems.
But not always is the sole purpose of improving the character; often it’s also just about visual upgrades that make the character look a bit more epic than before. Particularly MMORPGs often offer a variety of different designs to keep players searching for exactly the clothing they ultimately want. Systems like transmogrification ensure that you can also apply this clothing to your current gear to show off.
There’s plenty of loot waiting in Hearthstone – maybe your favorite card?
But loot can also be important in other ways: Often you associate an item with a specific raid night, a particularly exciting fight, or simply the people you played it with? Or how challenging the hunt for the loot was? How much bad luck you had to endure before you finally defeated it and could take the trophy home.
We ask considering all these aspects: What was the best drop you’ve ever received in a game?
Cortyn says: I can’t decide on just one item for my favorite drop. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Was it my first epic item? Completing the T2 mage set? No, for me, two items stand out personally. Both are from World of Warcraft.
Still not thrown away today!
With my mage, I received the item “Neltharion’s Tear” after our first Nefarian kill (that was a months-long effort). I didn’t know about this item until that point, but I was thrilled. Not only because of its stats (which were outstanding at that time), but also because it was an item that referenced Deathwing and had a golden “flavor text” that spanned multiple lines – an absolute rarity in the WoW of that time.
One of my favorite RP items … connected with a lot of farming work.
The second item would probably be “Mark of the Dragon Lord”, also from the Blizzard game. I associate it with a lot in roleplay, as it could wonderfully be used as a summoned protective spell that dutifully circles around its owner – almost a predecessor to the shadow orbs, and with a drop rate of 1% from a boss at the very end of an instance, a considerable effort.
But now it’s your turn: Which item drop has particularly stuck in your memory? What made it unique and why is it important to you? Let us know in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV will receive a new 24-player raid in Patch 3.1. Additionally, a new feature for the Grand Companies will be introduced.
In an interview with PcGamesN, the mastermind of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, hinted that with Patch 3.1, a new raid will also be introduced. It is said to be a 24-player activity about the same size as the Crystal Tower. However, it will not be a traditional raid but will involve airships. Players will land on floating islands and explore them. Anyone can join as long as the 24-player limit is not exceeded.
For the “Grand Companies,” powerful factions in the game that players join, Yoshida also envisions a new feature: here, players will be able to recruit soldiers for the Grand Companies. This will be a new element that expands players’ possibilities.
Mein MMO says: Certainly two interesting pieces of information that will be elaborated on in the coming months. Especially the aspect regarding “soldiers for the Grand Companies” is already sparking discussions. Whether it would be possible to assemble your own NPC party instead of bringing companions from other players and traveling with them.
Whether the new 24-player activity moves away from the classic raid concept and offers an alternative endgame is also being hotly discussed by fans.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny on August 14th, Xur, the Agent of the Nine, will be in the Tower or the Reef. What exotic armor pieces and weapons does he have? And what is the “Three of Coins?”
New Item for Xur Confirmed with The Taken King: Three of Coins
There is initial information about Xur, whom we can expect from September 18th, because with the new expansion “The Taken King” changes are also coming to our friend Xur, to his old “That’s not stuck, that’s grown” face.
At Game Informer, they briefly introduced a new item for him. It’s called “Three of Coins.” The item will be available for purchase from Xur and increases the chance for an exotic drop from the next boss you fight.
But that is still in the future, let’s focus on the current Xur.
All about Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on August 14th, 15th, and 16th in Destiny
When does Xur arrive at the Tower and when does he leave again?
Xur arrives on Friday, August 14th at 11:00 AM at the Tower. He will leave again on Sunday, August 16th at 11:00 AM. Until then, you can shop with him.
Where is Xur located?
Xur is celebrating the day in the bar at the Tower.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
For Titans, he has the helmet “An Unyielding Skullfort” (perfect 127/135). The helmet costs like all armor pieces 13 strange coins.
For Warlocks, the helmet “Light Behind Nemesis.” (super strong 126/133)
For Hunters, the helmet “Achylophage Symbiote.” (extremely strong 125/131)
And an exotic glove engram.
Xur not only has the Gjallarhorn, the most coveted item in the entire Destiny universe, but the three helmets also have truly outstanding stats.
“Three of Coins” sounds like something interesting. Currently, a lot of information about Destiny and the expansion “The Taken King” is swirling around, if you’re interested, check out our Destiny theme page , where you will surely find more. If you want to stay updated, take a look at our Mein-MMO Facebook page or follow our author Schuhmann on Twitter.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the coming months, there will be some new pets and mounts in World of Warcraft . We’ve listed how you can obtain the new companions here for you.
Traitor Murlocs and a Moose in the Shop
Although a lot of time will pass before World of Warcraft: Legion is released, at least in the coming months we can expect some newcomers among the battle pets and mounts.
Murkidan, the cute Murloc designed after Illidan Stormrage, will be available for all BlizzCon attendees. As in recent years, both physical and digital tickets count.
The adorable, purple kitten Leuchtpfötchen with a scroll on its back (perhaps a messenger of love letters?) will be available for purchase in the shop, the same goes for the large Grove Warden, which will serve as a mount.
The demon duo, consisting of the small but always hungry Pet Knurps and the rideable Illidari Demon Hunter will be available with the purchase of the Collector’s Edition of World of Warcraft: Legion.
Lastly, the Archon pet Zeradar will be credited to all buyers of the Collector’s Edition of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.
Some users have already noticed that all new companions and mounts that were presented on the website are hidden behind a paywall in one way or another. Whether Blizzard has shot itself in the foot with this announcement remains to be seen. A few “free” alternatives would have definitely been a more elegant solution.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming multiplayer shooter Star Wars Battlefront will launch without a single-player campaign. Peter Moore from Electronic Arts talks about the reasons.
Gamespot had the opportunity for an interview with one of the heads of Electronic Arts, Peter Moore, during Gamescom. He takes care of the operational business, being something like a Chief Operating Officer, a manager.
He was asked whether EA does not regret delivering Star Wars Battlefront without a story campaign.
According to Moore, one never regrets such decisions. They are always a product of the time. When they developed the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, the preferred payment model in the genre was the subscription model. However, by launch, that was no longer the case. So SWTOR had to be relaunched as a free-to-play title.
“Yes, but,” the interviewer interjects, “the statistics clearly show that games like Star Wars Battlefront sell better when they launch with a single-player campaign.”
“Yes, that’s true,” says Moore. “That may indeed be correct. But the statistics also show that such a single-player campaign is barely played.”
In the MMO shooter Destiny, the dates for 3 live streams have been announced. On three Wednesdays, they will present the expansion The Taken King.
You should see this if you want to stay updated on The Taken King
The Weekly Update brings good news: The dates for the announced live streams are known. On three Wednesdays, they will present the expansion “The Taken King”.
On Wednesday, August 19, at 20:00 our time, they will tackle Year Two in Destiny: What will daily life in the Tower be like? What are the mechanics? How will the Guardian become a unique, significantly stronger snowflake? It’s advised not to dismantle any items before watching the live stream
On Wednesday, August 26, at 20:00, there will be action. They will take a look at the new zone, the Dreadnaught and will also go into a strike.
Then, there is one Wednesday free (September 9) and on the following Tuesday, The Taken King in Destiny will already begin.
So, in the next five Wednesday evenings, there will be 3 streams, one will be early to bed, and by the fifth, Oryx will already be a few hours on the loose.
On a personal note: We will cover the live streams in articles at Mein MMO and provide a German commentary in the form of a live ticker. It went quite well before “House of Wolves”. Let’s see if we can do it again and whether you find our offer this time as interesting as it was before House of Wolves. A small disappointment: It looks like Professor Broman won’t be there this time, but Mr. Fruit (a humorous YouTuber) and the streamer Laced Up Lauren will represent the community in the streams.
Warning for Cheaters: Bungie sees everything
For cheaters in the Crucible, there was a warning this time. There are two options for punishment in Destiny: “Restrictios”, which are temporary, exclude cheaters from certain activities. They are intended as a warning shot for cheaters to improve. For first-time offenders, these could last one to two weeks. For repeat offenders, they could extend over months.
The second punishment is “Bans”, which are permanent and apply to the entire game. This is only issued if you don’t want to see someone in Destiny anymore.
If you have an unreliable internet connection, you may be considered an “undignified challenger” and excluded from Crucible activities until your connection improves. But this only applies to the “most extreme cases” and not to the usual, sporadic lag that everyone sometimes struggles with.
At Bungie, the servers provided data on all players every second. Bans or punishments, however, are carried out manually.
The next Wednesday evenings are thus planned. On Friday, August 14, Xur appears at 11:00 in the Tower or Reef. That date at least matters for our calendar – we will welcome Xur and report on his inventory.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With Overwatch, we can soon expect Blizzard’s first shooter. Will Overwatch revolutionize the shooter genre? Read here my thoughts on the upcoming multiplayer action game.
Disillusionment at the start: Can Blizzard make shooters?
At the beginning, I was quite doubtful. Can Blizzard even make good shooters?
When the first cinematic for Overwatch was shown just over a year ago, I was hyped from the very first moment. Blizzard is developing a new world, a new story, and thus also a new universe. The hype lasted about as long as the cinematic, because shortly after came the revelation: Overwatch will be a shooter. I was really skeptical. Why not a new MMO? Can Blizzard even make shooters? Isn’t everything too cute for a shooter?
The rest of BlizzCon only reinforced my doubts: There will be no campaign, and story will be outsourced and told through websites, books, and potential videos. Since a captivating story is one of the main arguments for a new game for me, my anticipation reached a low point – there could hardly be talk of joy anymore. More of a: “Maybe it will be better than feared.”
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
At the beginning, there were only two aspects that spoke for Overwatch. The first was the fan reactions from those who could try the game at BlizzCon – they were all enthusiastic. There were hardly any skeptical voices, and almost every statement contained at its core a sentence like “I didn’t expect it to be so much fun.”
Doubts about the game were only slowly resolved.
The second point was simply the fact that Overwatch comes from Blizzard. Blizzard is still a guarantee for a good game for me, I will not debate that much. A game studio that cancels games they themselves don’t believe in or that don’t meet their own standards (Thralls Adventure, StarCraft: Ghost, Project Titan) I trust to develop a good game.
Would those alone have been reasons for me to be excited about the game?No. It only lessened the doubt that Overwatch would flop and be quite boring.
… and the build-up of anticipation
My interest in the game was gradually increased because I – just for the site – naturally had to stay informed about what was happening in Overwatch.
The developers were also very clever in regularly releasing new information about the characters and gameplay videos, so there was never a long break where you heard nothing about the game. Each video pulled me in more.
The highlight was this year’s Gamescom because a roommate thought it was a great idea to completely fill our apartment with friends who all wanted to play Overwatch at Gamescom. And absolutely everyone was enthusiastic. And what motivates more than the opinion of people from your immediate surroundings? No article, preview video, or developer promise can compare to that. I can hardly wait to finally get my hands on the game and will exert every earthly effort to somehow sneak into the beta.
Especially with and against friends, Overwatch is a huge fun.
A colorful shooter – Can this work?
Again and again, you read comments like “The comic style puts me off” or “It’s way too cute for a shooter“. For me, the graphic style triggered the exact opposite. I have played enough serious and brutal shooters, like Left 4 Dead 2, Evolve, or Call of Duty. A relaxed, light approach to a shooter is very appealing to me.
Of course, there are already comparable games that also have a more comic-like graphic (like Team Fortress or Borderlands 2), but these still rely on a high degree of violence and a lot of dark humor. That has its justification, and I certainly don’t want to portray it negatively – especially I liked the Borderlands series a lot.
The world is colorful, relaxed, positive and yet harmoniously coherent.
But since Blizzard is aiming for a large target audience again, the violence is largely omitted, at least in terms of the depiction of atrocities. Does that bother me? No. I like the relaxed approach.
I like the consistently positive basic atmosphere that resonates in the design of the characters and the whole game. Although some characters have quite dramatic backstories, the game remains heartfelt, almost loving. The characters just radiate joy and are the idealized idols of heroes that one wishes around the world. And that is relatively new for a shooter – even if someone can surely name a counterexample now.
Overwatch – Easy to learn, hard to master
Even if you’re not a good shooter player, you can still have fun in Overwatch.
Blizzard has set itself the motto “Easy to learn and hard to master” for all its games, and Overwatch will be no exception. For those who have little experience – or simply no talent – for first-person shooters, Overwatch can still be a lot of fun, as some characters do not require pixel-perfect aiming and function more as supporters or tanks who protect the team with portable shields
It is precisely this fact that makes Overwatch a game for the entire friend circle. While shooter veterans grab precision-focused heroes like Widowmaker and McCree, inexperienced players can access characters where timing and positioning are at the forefront, such as Torbjörn or Mercy.
The crucial point
And that’s the crucial point that makes Overwatch already great for me. It brings together groups that have spread over the years to other MMORPGs or MOBAs. At least in my case, the game will stronger reunite old friend circles, as it is a game for everyone and likely the only one in this genre that can really achieve that for a while.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
