Heroes of the Storm: Mecha-Tassadar saves the world from Kaiju Diablo

To showcase the legendary skin of Tassadar from Heroes of the Storm a little better, Blizzard has now provided him with a small trailer.

Apocalypse: Canceled

Currently, the Mecha-Tassadar skin is available at a reduced price in Blizzard’s Heroes of the Storm. To promote the rather unusual appearance of the Starcraft hero a bit, they have quickly put together a small introduction trailer. The video showcases not only the basic appearance of the alternative skin but also parts of his voice and, of course, the abilities in action, most of which have also been massively reworked. Additionally, there is even a unique mount, as Tassadar suddenly transforms into a fighter jet form. By the way, Mecha-Tassadar saves the world from the threat posed by Kaiju-Diablo – bringing back some childhood memories of the Power Rangers or cheesy mecha anime. You should definitely take a look at the metallic Protoss yourself:

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The skin is on sale for 25% off until Tuesday, so anyone looking to stomp across the battlefields of the Nexus as a mech should act soon.

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

Sea of Thieves is supposed to be the best game that the cult studio Rare has ever made

The pirate multiplayer game shown at E3 “Sea of Thieves” is said to be the best thing the cult studio Rare has ever made, at least if Microsoft is to be believed.

The development studio Rare had a partnership with Nintendo in the 90s. This period is where the studio gained its excellent reputation. Especially 007 Golden Eye on the Nintendo64 is considered a true masterpiece of the era. The first-person shooter has shaped the genre until today.

But those times are long gone, in 2002 Microsoft bought the Brits from Rare and has since then let them develop mainly for the Xbox and its successors. There have not been any real hits since then. That is supposed to change with the pirate multiplayer adventure “Sea of Thieves”.

Sea-of-Thieves-Crew

A representative from Microsoft, Kuno Tsunoada, the mind behind Kinect, has expressed confidence that Sea of Thieves will be the best game Rare has ever made. The game should thrive on the emotions players develop during the story. That is precisely the strength of the development studio. In this direction, they want to continue to apply their efforts. And Sea of Thieves will be the best game Rare has ever developed.

There is still very little known about “Sea of Thieves” at this point, this trailer was shown at E3:

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Source(s):
  1. Gamespresso

War Thunder: Churchill, Centurion, Comet – the British are coming

By the end of the year, the military MMO War Thunder will also receive British tanks.

German, Russian, and American ground forces are already in War Thunder, which is mainly praised for its realistic aerial combat simulation, but they have also engaged in the ground offensive. British tanks are expected to follow by the end of the year.

War-Thunder-Churchill

Three tanks in different variations are set to find their way into the game. The heavy infantry support tank named after Winston Churchill, Churchill Mk. III, is supposed to excel particularly due to its superior armor.

The medium cruiser tank A34 “Comet” will have to make compromises in terms of armor, but in return, it is more maneuverable and has excellent firepower with a 17-pounder anti-tank gun for its weight of only 33 tons.

War-Thunder-Comet

The medium tank Centurion was only completed at the end of World War II and could no longer intervene in the events, but proved itself in later conflicts. The extremely powerful QF-20-pounder main gun of the Centurions fires projectile shells. We have used the image of the Centurion as the title image.

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Source(s):
  1. War Thunder

Marvel Heroes was Marvel Heroes 2015 because the gaming press is outdated

The superhero MMO Marvel Heroes 2015 will probably rename itself every year to attract new tests and attention from gaming magazines.

When Marvel Heroes was released, it received a thrashing. The game just wasn’t very good. Reviewers took a look at it, found a lot to criticize, wrote their reviews: 58 points on the review aggregator Meta-Critic as a result. This is roughly equivalent to a 4 or 5+.

At Gazillion, they rolled up their sleeves, worked hard for success, and released new patches week after week. A fan base formed around the superhero brawler with Diablo in its DNA and a Marvel license in its back. The game improved significantly, but hardly anyone outside the fan base noticed. The 58 on Meta-Critic remained an indelible mark.

Marvel-Heroes2015

Gaming press has not yet adapted to new models

The problem behind this, explained David Brevik in an interview with gamesauce, is the gaming press. They looked at a game upon release and then not again, no matter how much the developers worked on it.

Normally, gaming magazines would come back for a new expansion to test, but since Marvel Heroes received weekly patches and everything was offered for free in the game, there was no thought of such a thing. They simply had no expansion to promote.

The gaming magazines had not yet adjusted to the new model of a “live service,” according to Brevik.

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With the new name, the testers returned to Marvel Heroes

Marvel-Heroes-Ding
Now even more lovable!

Therefore, they opted for a “rebranding”, transforming Marvel Heroes into Marvel Heroes 2015 last year; the gaming magazines came back, conducted a test – and the Meta-Critic rating shot up from 58 to 81.

This “rebranding” is now planned annually, similar to how sports games also release with a new number every year. But whether it will be called “Marvel Heroes 2016” is still uncertain. They are likely to rename the game again at the end of the year, again to “rebrand”, and it will coincide with a major patch.

Brevik now knows what they did wrong back then: They absolutely should have launched it as “beta”, then players and press would have tolerated much more.

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Source(s):
  1. Gamesauce

Destiny: Warlock Helm “The Ram” – the strongest armor piece in House of Wolves?

In the MMO shooter Destiny , the Warlock helmet “The Ram” is considered one of the strongest new armor pieces. What can this thing do in PvE and PvP?

The Warlock in Destiny received three new exotic items with the “House of Wolves” expansion:

Destiny-Goat Helmet

The helmet has already caused a stir in advance because it is a real eye-catcher, with the horns drawing players’ attention as Concept Art.

What can the helmet “The Ram” do

The Ram has stats of intellect and strength – it is a “Split Helmet.” It can reach a maximum of 77 points in each stat.

The perks are:

  • Infusion: Restores health each time you pick up a Light Sphere
  • Scholar’s Touch: Restores Super Energy when an opponent is defeated with melee
  • Strength of the Ram: Enhanced armor. Each melee hit with the Voidwalker triggers “Lifesteal.”

Here, especially “Strength of the Ram” is decisive.

This is what the Ram does in Destiny’s PvE

In PvE, the “Lifesteal” effect allows Voidwalker Warlocks to significantly regenerate their health with a melee attack every 3 seconds. To trigger the Lifesteal effect, you do not have to kill enemies.

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In May, when many obtained the helmet for the first time, this aspect was considered the helmet’s decisive perk, making it a “Melee” PvE helmet for the Warlock.

However, these early discussions have become outdated, as the crucial trait becomes significant, especially in PvP.

This is what the Ram does in Destiny’s Crucible

The Ram’s helmet actually makes the Warlock not only a lifeforce-vampire but especially a cockroach: It survives many known “kill combinations” that it wouldn’t survive without the helmet, such as two body shots from sniper rifles with moderate firepower, some typical grenades, and two headshots with the Thorn. Although it survives these by a narrow margin, it does survive.

As a Sunsinger with the helmet, it even survives more classic kill conditions, such as the wave of the Blade Dancer or two body shots from a sniper rifle like Praedyth’s Revenge. This is thanks to the increased armor value – otherwise a relatively useless stat, because it is so difficult to raise to relevant heights, “The Ram” ensures that it has noticeable effects.

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Huh, isn’t he dead?

Conclusion: The helmet is currently probably one of the strongest items in the game and gives Warlocks a significant tactical advantage in PvP due to the “Wasn’t he supposed to be dead?” surprise effect. In PvE, it is a strong item when playing solo, but in crucial moments during important PvE encounters, you would probably prefer another item, unless it is Brawler mode. With most enemies that matter, you do not want to engage up close.

Destiny-Handcuffs of Nothing-295
Also considered strong: Handcuffs of Nothing.

In a comparison of all new exotics in “House of Wolves,” “The Ram” along with “Handcuffs of Nothing,” also a Warlock item, ranked at the top. Only “Heavenly Night Falcon” could reach similar heights. The Hunter helmet is strictly suitable for PvE. Apparently, the Warlock is the big “Exotic” winner of this DLC – also thanks to the Ram.

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Evolve: Hunting Mode 2.0 – this is how Evolve will address the matchmaking issues

At Evolve, the new Hunt Mode 2.0 is coming soon. The developers have addressed the community and provided answers to the most important questions.

Free for All Players

The first and most important question about the upcoming Hunt 2.0 update from Evolve should put many players at ease, who were already suspecting a cost trap: Like all game modes, Hunt 2.0 will be free.

Abe-Caira-Evolve
In team play, an average is calculated to find a suitable monster.

Many players were worried about how their performance would be evaluated. Here, they have answered extensively and were mostly able to provide reassurance: Your rating as a Hunter is independent of your rating as a Monster. So if you are a very good Hunter but have never played Monster before, now is the perfect time to try the other side of Evolve – the opponents will be just as inexperienced as you are. The same applies, of course, if you have only played Monster so far and now want to try out the Hunter roles.

Furthermore, the current level you have achieved (between 1 and 40) will no longer be an indicator of what kind of opponents you will encounter. For the new opponent assignment, only your previous performance and league placement will be used.

Playing Together with Friends

Evolve Wildlife Guide
The buffs of wildlife are still being revised.

Groups can still register together – with a maximum of 4 Hunters. With 5 players, no ranked game can be started, as the risk of cheating would be too high. But what happens if one player is in a higher league and another is in a lower one? In such a case, the system calculates the average value of the team and searches for a skilled Monster that approximately matches that average. Particularly pleasing (and long demanded) is the fact that a player who leaves the game shortly before a loss will now also be assigned a loss. This makes manipulation of the leaderboard more difficult.

The new Hunt 2.0 mode will completely replace the old one. However, the general game principle will not change. There will still be a revision of the wildlife buffs (some are too strong and others too weak), but otherwise, nothing will change in the general game mechanics.

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Star Wars Battlefront: Strong pre-sales numbers leave publisher EA exultant

In the multiplayer shooter Star Wars Battlefront, the developers at DICE feel the pressure that comes with the name “Star Wars”. The publishers at Electronic Arts are excited about extremely strong pre-orders.

At Electronic Arts, there is a good mood: Star Wars Battlefront is being well received, it was said during the announcement of the quarterly figures. After the presentation of Star Wars Battlefront at E3, pre-orders exploded. The numbers are “extremely strong.” Electronic Arts seems to have already planned Battlefront as a hit.

Now similar results are expected from Gamescom. They look forward to Gamescom, consider the public fair an important moment, and anticipate overwhelming reactions.

Star-Wars-Battlefront-Koop

Meanwhile, the developers at DICE remain humble in every interview: It is not about making a DICE game with Star Wars Battlefront, but rather it has to be a Star Wars game with the qualities of a DICE game, said General Manager Patrick Bach to GameIndustry.

A lot is at stake for the Swedish developer studio, it is clear. With success, they could soar, no longer regarded as just a Battlefield studio, but as a Star Wars studio. However, Bach dismisses this notion, stating that at DICE they do not try to plan too far ahead, as that could lead to a loss of passion. When you plan big and then have to change those plans, it can cost creativity.

It is probably better to be prepared for everything and then to respond spontaneously to events.

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

World of Warcraft: Beware of biting role players! – Why RP players can be mean sometimes

Anyone who has ever been on an RP server in World of Warcraft knows that these people often do not understand fun. But why is that?

Atmosphere leeches harm roleplaying

World of Warcraft - Blood Elves
If you start on the wrong server, you not only diminish your own enjoyment but also that of all others, even if unintentionally.

For most players of World of Warcraft, roleplaying is a book with seven seals. RPers are a strange fringe phenomenon that simply behaves oddly and sometimes surprisingly hostile. 

But why are roleplayers on their own servers often so terribly dismissive towards those who do not share their passion and love for embodying their avatars? This can basically be explained quite easily: It is a simple protective mechanism.

Roleplaying thrives on a vibrant world where as many other RPers as possible wander about. This “beautiful, perfect world” is gradually destroyed when more and more players join a roleplaying server who have nothing to do with roleplaying, but are only “here because of the nice atmosphere”. On the one hand, that is of course understandable: RP realms usually have a somewhat elevated linguistic style because roleplayers generally place a high value on spelling and are somewhat allergic to abbreviations. A “Let’s take off to deal with the witch” sounds much better than “lfm pvp-m8s, warlocks ganken“.

When all else fails, we become mean…

SWTOR Ziost 3.2
Quick action against non-roleplayers: All purely self-defense.

Most of the time, attempts are made to convert lost souls: Because anyone who is not a roleplayer can still become one. Some “Xhúntêrkìllôr” turned out to be a perfectly acceptable teammate weeks later.

The problem is those who come to an RP server and have nothing to do with RP. Over the years, it has unfortunately been shown that politely pointing out the wrong server choice does not lead to success. Only one thing has worked relatively long: Ruthless rejection, at least towards the worst troublemakers. Even today, the forum of the realm “Die Aldor” is regarded as a den of nastiness. Only a few still know the origins of this. Anyone who finds this harsh and unjustified I always like to give the following comparison:

Imagine a tennis team wanting to play on the tennis court. However, the court can only be used to a limited extent because unfortunately, a boxing club has decided to train on the tennis court today.

WoW Aldor RP 2
Roleplayers meeting in Stormwind – luckily without troublemakers.

Exactly like this, RPers feel when everyone else comes with the argument “But I also pay my 13 euros a month!” – Hey, why don’t you play on a server that does not explicitly say “roleplaying”?

… and yet are actually quite nice.

Basically, RPers are also just normal players who prefer a different way of playing. Just like raiders would likely freak out if PvPers could suddenly attack an instance, it bothers us when someone in sparkling armor spams spells and hops through the RP tavern while spamming “olololol”.

Nevertheless, RPers are not so far from the others as one might think. While in PvE people complain about hunters, bad tanks, and AFK healers, roleplayers also suffer from their little problems. The video “Aldor-RP – Chapter 1” from the German Youtuber M.N. Machinimas parodies exactly such issues. From strange character concepts to the eternal “I do better RP than you!” discussion to the creepy figures from Goldshire, the video amusingly shows what roleplayers have to deal with.

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I hope this post could help you empathize a little with the “elite, unfriendly, and aggressive” RPers – because behind them are almost always just ordinary, nice people who want to protect what makes them happy. And unlike other groups, they can only do this themselves, as game developers rarely care.

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

Skyforge Guide: How to unlock classes for free?

In the Free2Play MMO Skyforge , additional classes must be unlocked. How does that work?

Normally, MMORPGs start with character creation. Here, one of many classes can be chosen, and that is what you stick with for your hero’s journey. In the new Free2Play MMO Skyforge, it’s different. The hero can switch between the available classes at any time. It works similarly to a MOBA. However, not every hero is immediately selectable in Skyforge.

But how can you unlock additional classes in Skyforge?

First, you must choose one of the three base classes. Everyone starts with these: the Tank Paladin, the Support Lichthüter , and the Range-DPS Cryomancer.

Players who have purchased a founder’s package or a Collector’s Edition have access to a larger selection. They can use this to acquire up to four classes in Skyforge. However, fundamentally, the following remains unchanged. Even players who purchase packages and thus gain access to classes must unlock the following.

Cryomancer - Legendary
The Cryomancer – one of the three base classes in Skyforge.

As one of these three classes in Skyforge, you will initially collect the “colored” sparks in green, red, or yellow. This can be done both in the “open quest areas” when completing quests there for the first time and through adventures. You receive the development sparks after completing the instance.

By choosing exactly the adventure that promises the right sparks, you can somewhat control your progress.

First unlock the basic function of the base class in Skyforge

Pressing “K” takes you to the skill tree of the respective class. Here, you must first unlock the basic abilities of Cryomancer, Lichthüter, or Paladin with “colored sparks”. These are essentially the base functions. Progress is relatively quick until you reach a junction that unlocks “the second level of the Atlas and class sparks”.

This point needs to be reached.
This point needs to be reached.

Now, you will regularly receive sparks for exactly the class you are playing during normal adventures. These are not colored but presented in white. You loot these class sparks from regular enemies, mid-bosses, or instance bosses.

Then search for the way in the second level of the Atlas of Progress

Important for “unlocking” new classes is the second level of the Atlas of Progress, which you also reach by pressing the “K” key; you can switch tabs at the top left. Here, you need the colored sparks to unlock additional junctions.

Now, you must choose the class you want to unlock. To decide which class is right for you, players can run a trial for all in the research center or check this article.

Skyforge Training

Once you have decided on a class, you now need to locate the junction where the “new class” you want to play is connected. Then you mark this junction with a right-click and select “Find Path,” and Skyforge’s interface will then continuously inform you which sparks you need to collect to ultimately step into the role of your desired class.

… and finally become the class you want

As you collect these colored sparks, you also receive class sparks, allowing you to chase your desired class in the second level while improving your current class in the first level.

Skyforge Archer

Be careful: While medium classes like the Kinetiker, archer, shadow master, or necromancer are relatively quick to achieve, advanced classes like the monk, knight, warlock, gunner, berserker, or alchemist require significantly more effort.

It is important to note that not every junction in Skyforge costs the same; points far from the base classes can cost up to 600 sparks.

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

From the life of an after-work gamer: There it is

The MMO shooter Destiny takes a lot of time that not everyone has. But even after-work Guardians love the game – some days much more than others.

Life is beautiful. No, not with Jade. Although as an after-work Guardian, in the morning after a Destiny session and a maximum of three hours of sleep, the cosmetics would really come in handy to at least somewhat cover the dark rings under my eyes.

Exceptionally, I am currently in a good mood about our beloved game. Because it has actually happened: After the second Nightfall of the week (Taniks), I only hear in the party “Tschallahorn. There is the Tschallahorn!” and I am already close to my next outburst of anger because of this damn game and that again everyone else is getting the good loot, until I eventually realize that the thing has actually dropped for me.

Destiny-Gjallarhorn


My voice gets so squeaky with joy that my clan mate mistakenly confuses me with the ten-year-old son of our fellow Guardian. But I don’t care. Today I forgive him everything.

“There it is!” Just like Oliver Kahn (@Junghüter: that is basically the dad of Manuel Neuer), I would love to grab the trophy now and hold it up to all the cameras in the world. It fits somehow, he’s also a “Titan” – better said: “THE Titan!”

Destiny-Titan


Actually, I thought I would either never get the thing or very precisely one day before the G-Horn nerf. But now it has happened much earlier, and I can finally call the Chuck Norris among rocket launchers (with “Wolfpack Roundhouse Kick”) my own. Now I just have to level it up. And I started that yesterday as well. Well, I tried. But apparently I was just too tired around three in the morning. Quickly before going to bed, go to the moon, complete two loot missions, and turn them in.

Of course, it’s very important before turning in to switch the weapons and armor. But you can quickly lose track of that and forget the ONE weapon that you actually wanted to level. But even that doesn’t drive me up the wall this evening. Life is beautiful. I am tired.


This guest post comes from after-work Guardian Bernd Mutschler. To his first column, where he describes life between wife, child, full-time job, and Destiny, click here:

From the life of an after-work Guardian

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

RIFT: Part 2 of the Nightmare Saga is live!

Since yesterday, players can experience the second part of the nightmare saga from the current RIFT patch Wandering Nightmares and face the new story missions.

The Origin of Lord Arak

The story quests of the current Rift patch 3.3 “Wandering Nightmares” were not all available at launch. Since yesterday, players can play the second of a total of three acts. In this part of the story, you travel back in time and experience crucial moments that shaped Telara into the world it is today. Alongside the events of the Mathosian Civil War and the fall of Sprosshafen, players seek to uncover the origin of Lord Arak.

Lord Arak
Who is Lord Arak really? Where does he come from?

Those who face time travel can expect some rewards, such as a personal NPC that opens portals to all sorts of (random) places. Since some of these rewards are tradable, they also make great additional income or gifts for fellow players.

The third act is expected to follow in August and conclude the nightmare saga – a big final battle is likely ahead.

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

Random encounters in MMORPGs – senseless or exciting?

The community of the MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar has been discussing random encounters in the game for some time. Do they make sense in an MMORPG?

Random encounters are perhaps known from Japanese role-playing games like the Final Fantasy series. The hero wanders through the landscape, and suddenly a battle occurs out of the blue. This should have provided excitement in the past, but it also always brought frustration. Especially when trying to quickly reach the next town with only a few hit points left, enemies would suddenly appear out of nowhere and finish you off. These random battles were already present in The Bard’s Tale games from the 1980s – so they have a tradition in the RPG genre.

Random battles in MMORPGs?

In the upcoming online game Shroud of the Avatar, which is already being tested in Pre-Alpha, such random encounters also play a role. You wander alone or in a group across the world map, and suddenly you are pulled into a scene where you have to face some bandits or skeletons. This leads to ongoing discussions in the community, as it raises the question of whether random battles can even work in an MMORPG.

FF8 Boss
Everyone is prepared…and then random opponents appear just before the fight and throw all planning out the window. How would that be? (Image from Final Fantasy)

A nice surprise!

Random encounters always bring an element of surprise and a certain tension. You can never be sure if you are being lured into an ambush. However, it also throws all planning out the window. You are well-equipped in the group, have prepared everything for the next boss fight, and suddenly you are confronted by some skeletons. All that planning is then in vain. Generally, a well-thought-out tactic is important for many MMORPG fans.

You want to be well-prepared, as many are not satisfied with just defeating the boss. They want to do it as effectively and quickly as possible. The strategy must succeed.

WoW Selfie 3
You get into the perfect position for a selfie and suddenly opponents ambush you… Annoying or exciting?

If you are then distracted by random encounters, it is annoying – in addition, you cannot prepare for them and must act spontaneously. Quickly coordinate the group and ensure that you are effective despite all the surprises. This can lead to frustration on one hand, but on the other, it can also offer a new challenge.

Random encounters in an MMORPG can thus work and bring tension to the game. However, not all gamers will like this feature, especially those who prefer to plan every battle well.

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

Warframe: Echoes of the Sentients introduces parkour system, unlocks new dimension

For the free-to-play MMO shooter Warframe , a new update titled “Echoes of the Sentients” is released. This brings the new Warframe Equinox and introduces a kind of parkour system.

Warframe is growing and thriving, with fresh gameplay content coming with the new update. The three main changes are:

  • Players can embark on a quest to unlock the new versatile Warframe Equinox.
  • A movement system brings real momentum to the game, similar to a parkour system with climbing, jumping, grappling, and gliding.
  • With Archwing, players can now also explore underwater; a dive mode allows the waters beneath Uranus to be explored.

Additionally, there is a new boss, new weapons, and plenty to discover.

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Echoes of the Sentient has been live on PC since yesterday, July 31st. A list of all the changes can be found on the German homepage of Warframe.

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

Hearthstone: 4 new cards – and this card back will be available in August!

Every day, new information about the upcoming Hearthstone expansion “The Grand Tournament” is being published. In addition to 4 new cards, there is also a new card back that you can earn in August.

Class Cards for Mages and Warlocks

HearthStone Spellslinger

A new class card for the Mage has been revealed, the Spellslinger. For 3 mana, its stats of 3/4 are relatively solid. However, as is common with Mages, the card also has a high element of randomness: Both players receive a random spell card. The usefulness of the Spellslinger can range from “Saved my game” to “Led to my downfall.”

HearthStone Demonfuse

Demon Fuse is the new card of the Warlock. For 2 mana, a demon on the board is buffed by +3/+3, but the opponent gains a mana crystal in return. Warlock rush decks could become even stronger, especially demons with additional effects, like The Mistress of Pain, should benefit greatly from this.

Two Neutral Minions from the Crusade

The Argent Horserider is a neutral minion with terrible stats of 2/1 for 3 mana. However, it has charge and divine shield and can deal the finishing blow to many stronger minions without leaving the board itself.

The last new card for today is the neutral Argent Watchman. For only 2 mana, it has impressive stats of 2/4. Its major drawback: It normally cannot attack and has “Inspiration: Can attack normally this turn.” In order to participate in the battle with this minion, 2 additional mana must be invested each round. Deck builders will surely find a use for it, but so far it seems to be the weakest card of the new expansion.

New Card Back in the Name of the Tournament

HearthStone Card Back August

Regardless of the new expansion, you can also earn a new card back in August. As usual, you just need to reach rank 20 in ranked play to receive the new card back at the end of the month. Since you cannot lose rating until that rank, it’s relatively easy to earn the card back.

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

Destiny: The white PlayStation bundle in Destiny style can be ordered

In Germany, the sale of a white limited edition Playstation for the Destiny expansion “The Taken King” has begun.

The white beauty, the Playstation bundle with the special look, that we introduced to you a month ago, is now available for pre-order. While it can be ordered through retailers like Amazon in other countries, according to the Playstation blog, it is only available at Media Markt in Germany.

There, the exclusive bundle costs 429 euros. It consists of a white 500 GB Playstation in the Destiny design and the legendary edition of “The Taken King.” The version includes the expansion “The Taken King,” the base game, and the first two DLCs “The Dark Below” and “House of Wolves.” In addition, the version includes an upgrade to the digital collector’s edition which comes with three exotic class items with EXP bonus, three emotes, three shaders, and an early access weapon pack.

PS4 bundle Destiny

The bundle is now available for pre-order, it can only be picked up with the release of “The Taken King” on September 15. It can also be shipped, with shipping costs of 4.99€ applied.

Disclaimer: We do not receive anything from Media Markt for this article. This is purely informational, as some readers have inquired about the edition.

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

Nexon is working on a Free2Play Titanfall Online for the Asian market

The Korean MMORPG expert Nexon will bring Titanfall to PC in Asia – and it will be a Free2Play version.

Titanfall-Online-Auge-in-Auge

“It’s different elsewhere”, this is as simple as it is true. The gaming market in Asia operates entirely differently than here in the West. Players do not have powerful PCs at home, consoles are rarely found. The blockbuster franchises here, mostly hardware-demanding shooters for consoles or PCs, can hardly be played in Asia.

Online games are strong there, especially in the Free2Play sector: People meet in internet cafes and play Free2Play, paying a small fee for usage. The clique there often replaces the extended family, the club or the circle of friends.

Therefore, some of the best-known “Western franchises” in Asia are available in versions that we don’t even know here. Call of Duty Online exists, for example, Borderlands Online or Halo Online. All these games are only available in the Russian or Asian markets.

And soon “Titanfall Online” will join them. Nexon promises an intense gaming experience from the license, which they want to shape into a new and exciting online experience with their own Free2Play expertise.

This is the launch trailer for the Western Titanfall from 2014:

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Guild Wars 2: Fractals are getting easier and harder at the same time

With the upcoming expansion “Heart of Thorns”, some things are changing in Guild Wars 2. Especially the fractals are being adjusted to attract more players.

Double difficulty yet beginner-friendly

As soon as the first expansion of Guild Wars 2, Heart of Thorns, goes live, there will be some changes to the fractals of the mist. The small group instances, which usually consist of 3 random islands and a boss encounter, will be significantly shortened. In the future, the fractals will only consist of a single island, so players can enjoy them even during a short gaming session. Additionally, there is a desire to make the content more beginner-friendly, to appeal to newcomers and players who have previously hesitated.

If you are thinking of a general simplification of the content, you are mistaken. At the same time, ArenaNet is increasing the maximum difficulty level from 50 to 100 and is revising the mist lock instabilities. At the highest levels, multiple hurdles will be placed in your way. Nevertheless, the difficulties of the fractals should be communicated much better by the game: Clear chat messages will indicate what the difficulty of each fractal is.

More rewards, clearer announcements

New weapon skins await all who face the fractals.
New weapon skins await all who face the fractals.

Of course, the revision also brings some new rewards for players. There will be daily achievements that demand a different difficulty level from you each day – this should make it easier to find like-minded players (who have to complete the same task). Those who face the fractals will be rewarded with fractal weapon skins, ascended gear, and many other rewards.

Anyone who wants to see all the changes should take a look at the official developer blog.

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Source(s):
  1. guildwars2.com

Business figures: How it goes at Aion, Guild Wars 2, Blade and Soul and WildStar

The Korean MMO company NCSoft has presented its figures for the second quarter of 2015: The struggling MMO WildStar has lost even more. Guild Wars 2, Aion, and Blade and Soul are doing well.

Blade.and-Soul-Fliegen

The Korean MMO publisher NCSoft is publicly traded and therefore regularly reveals its figures, unlike many other MMO companies. The business figures for the 2nd quarter of 2015 paint the picture we have known from Korea for quite some time. Especially the “oldie” in the stable is doing well: Lineage I has made significant gains compared to the last quarter. The Korean evergreen, significantly older than WoW, plays almost no role in the West.

Otherwise, almost all games have seen a slight increase: Aion (distributed in Europe by Gameforge), Blade and Soul, and also Guild Wars 2 reported an increase in revenue from April to June compared to the quarter between January and March. Only the struggling SF-MMO WildStar is once again looking at the TV screen. The numbers were already extremely weak, and the game has lost another 20%.

Most of these games have prospects. An expansion for Guild Wars 2 is expected to come out soon, which is highly anticipated. Blade and Soul is expected to finally come to the West by the end of the year. For WildStar, a transition to a Free2Play system and a port to China are on the horizon. There are also rumors of a partnership with Steam, but at the moment, it is still completely unconfirmed.

QuartalsZahlen-NCSoft
The figures are in millions of Korean Won. 1 million Won is approximately 780 Euros. WildStar made 1.6 million Euros in the 2nd quarter, GW2 17.5 million; Lineage 66.7 million.
WildStar Free to Playjpg

Compared to the 2nd quarter of last year, in 2014, almost all games have remained relatively stable, only Blade and Soul and Lineage I have made a significant jump upwards.

For WildStar, the 2nd quarter of 2014 was the release quarter, and revenues have decreased tenfold compared to then. This also means that NCSoft earned significantly less in the West in the 2nd quarter of 2015 than in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

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Armored Warfare: There is round the clock and in German for the next Early Access

In the military MMO Armored Warfare, the next Early Access phase will run all day and will also be available in German.

Obsidian Entertainment, the minds behind Fallout: New Vegas, are developing a version of World of Tanks for the Russian company mail.ru with a focus on modern warfare and RPG elements. Armored Warfare is what it’s called. They have already held three Early Access events since May, each time giving players a little more to see.

The next event will take place from August 13 to August 30. This time it will be available 24 hours a day.

In addition to upgrades and updates, they are also offering a German version of the client for the first time.

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Black Desert: New class is a female ninja, intended for experts

In the Korean MMORPG Black Desert, the eleventh class has been introduced: a Kunoichi, a female ninja.

At the end of the presentation of Valencia, the desert zone, one could already catch a glimpse of her, and indeed: The eleventh class of Black Desert will be the Kunoichi, a type of female ninja.

Black-Desert-Kunoichi-schleichen

Kunoichi can do everything, just must not get caught

The class will likely play as a typical “Glass-Cannon”: Hits hard like a horse, takes as much as a mosquito, so must absolutely not get caught. To avoid the part about “getting caught,” she will have some stealth mechanisms and tricks at her disposal. It will be about distracting enemies and appearing behind them. Once they are lying dead on the ground, defense no longer matters.

Black-Desert-Kunoichi

Publisher Daum and the developers of Pearly Abyss warn: The class is more suitable for veterans who would be able to pay attention to many things at once. With the Kunoichi, there is again a clear commitment to gender lock, recently Daum surprised with both a male and a female variant for the wizard.

And for those wondering: All good and well, but when can we play Black Desert here in the West? The release is planned for early 2016, recently there was also a positive sign of life.

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