The MMO shooter Destiny has sold over 20 million copies. Among the players are Xbox One chief Phil Spencer and actor Zach Braff from the cult series Scrubs.
20 million players play 2 billion hours of Destiny
This week Activision released its business figures, which also included Destiny. The game has sold 20 million copies by now. That’s the number of registered players. Together, they have spent over 2 billion hours in Destiny. This means an average buyer of the game has fought against the Darkness for more than 4 days, over 100 hours, collected items, idled in the Tower, got annoyed about something, and been happy about something.
For everyone who finished the story after 20 hours and put Destiny on the shelf, others have put in overtime.
Players include Phil Spencer and Zach Braff, Mike Tyson, and The Big Show
With so many players, there are also a few celebrities among them. Xbox chief Phil Spencer has spent over 300 hours playing Destiny. A colleague at Microsoft outed Spencer as a diligent Titan player (level 34!) on Twitter.
Zach Braff, known to the German audience primarily as the scatterbrained but lovable doctor JD from the comedy series “Scrubs,” is also a Destiny fan. In an interview during E3, he even jokingly set the goal of becoming the new voice of the Ghost. By now, we know that didn’t happen.
Braff primarily uses Destiny to spend time with his 15-year-old nephew.
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There are also some celebrities in the game itself in the form of well-known TV stars. Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) has been publicly replaced, as his somewhat lax performance as the Ghost became a running gag in the first year of Destiny. With the expansion “The Taken King,” he will completely disappear from the game. Apparently, he wasn’t available for the DLC either, and the Ghost remained silent. With the expansion The Taken King, we will hear a new Ghost, Dinklage’s role will be recast and re-voiced.
But Dinklage is not the only well-known voice. Nathan Fillion is considered a fan favorite in his role as Cayde-6. In his TV series Castle, as fans quickly recognized, he included a little nod to them:
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With actor Lance Reddick as Commander Zavala, there’s another US star in the game that is also known in Germany (for example, from Fringe). In the upcoming add-on “The Taken King,” his role is supposed to be expanded. The voices of Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Lennie James (The Walking Dead), and James Remar (Dexter) are also featured in the game. Especially the faction and class vendors are prominently cast.
… and celebrity gamers
But back to the passive Destiny consumers, who could also be recognized on the street: In the past, several celebrities have identified themselves as Destiny fans, including heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson, wrestling superstar The Big Show, and Eminem, although … well, with Eminem, it’s somehow uncertain.
Oh, and there are also prominent Destiny fans in Germany: Footballer Lewis Holtby is among them. The photo (right) comes from his Facebook channel.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With World of Warcraft: Legion, we can expect a new hero class. In an interview with the developers, new details came to light.
Glaives – only for Demon Hunters
Unlike what is currently stated on the official website, Demon Hunters will only be able to wield a single type of weapon, which is glaives. Glaives are exclusively designed for the new hero class and come in pairs – it is therefore only one item that serves as both main hand and off hand. In future expansions, it might be reconsidered whether Demon Hunters can also wield other agility weapons, such as daggers or swords, but for now, this decision is satisfactory. The developers see absolutely no issue in the reduction to a single weapon type, as in “Legion” one is solely focused on their artifact weapon.
Another new leather class
Only elves can become Demon Hunters – and they will wear leather.
Moreover, Demon Hunters will rely on leather. In theory, they compete here with some other classes, but Blizzard sees no difficulty in this either. In the recent expansions, they have increased the emphasis on the personal loot system, leading to a significant reduction in disputes and disagreements over loot distribution.
As Blizzard also stated, there are no space issues: With Legion, a twelfth character slot will be available for every player.
In the SF-MMO Star Trek Online, Season 11: New Dawn is approaching. A new chapter begins and plans are in place to elevate players from Captain to Admiral.
The Iconian War, that Star Trek Online has been building up to for so long, is coming to an end. Now Cryptic has announced Season 11 “New Dawn”. Here, they intend to open a new story, where players will meet a traveler from another time. The focus of the story will be on hope and discovery. Not much will be revealed yet; that is still to come.
A logical step is being taken in the area of “mini-games” so to speak. In Star Trek Online, you could already send crew members on missions for a long time. This system has now also been adopted by World of Warcraft, Rift and Skyforge . With New Dawn, it will be possible not only to command crew members but also your own inactive ships. They will not only be “kept ready for switching”, but can also be sent out, receiving certain attributes depending on their type.
Thus, while World of Warcraft’s crew member system was “adopted” with Warlords of Draenor, they are now taking the second step back from World of Warcraft. There, since the last patch, ships can be sent out, although not spaceships.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Heroes of the Storm, there is soon going to be a new character coming from the StarCraft universe – unfortunately, this is not the hero many had wished for. Where is Fenix?
Artanis is a better fit than Fenix
Artanis has taken Fenix’s place for now.
Fans of the StarCraft lore have long anticipated Fenix as a playable character in Heroes of the Storm and have now been bitterly disappointed. The next hero from the StarCraft universe will be Artanis, who will play an important role in the new expansion “Legacy of the Void” and is therefore thematically more fitting.
At Blizzard, they are trying to smooth over the situation and assure: Fenix will still come. They have currently just pushed him further back in the schedule because he will have a comparable resurrection mechanic to Leoric, and they did not want to release two similar heroes in such a short time. This gives more time to refine Fenix and give him unique mechanics that do justice to the legendary Protoss.
The Iron Banner is in Destiny the chance for Etheric Light. But getting there isn’t that easy. Especially if you really don’t like PvP. A end-of-the-day Guardian reports.
Yes, I did it. I, the total noob in PvP, dared to venture into the Iron Banner. Somewhere on the internet (where could it have been?) I read that the Iron Banner is the easiest way to get Etheric Light. What would Gandalf say now? “Flee, you fools!” But no. Since I still find it hard to listen to older, wiser people, I brave it. Armed with Hawkmoon, some half-baked shotgun, and Ir Yûts song, I take off.
Greatness awaits, they said! Go to the Iron Banner, they said!
Everything went great! Then came the first match …
I must admit: So far, I’ve avoided PvP like the devil avoids holy water, and when I dared to talk about the Trials of Osiris in the party chat, I was just laughed at. I have done some exotic bounties and completed all those that don’t require PvP. The others have occupied (just like Urzok) bounty slots on my Warlock for ages – more out of sentimentality than with the justified hope of successfully completing these bounties someday.
This is how it is without Dorn in the Crucible. Great map. You can really jump nicely. Especially past the objective. Exactly… hop-hop!
Boom, boom, boom! Why isn’t he dying? Oh, he’s one of us
Completely free from all tactical constraints, I run through the map and shoot at everything that isn’t on the trees by three. Ha, someone comes around the corner. Boom, boom, boom. Three headshots with the Hawkmoon. WHY ISN’T HE DYING, THAT STUPID LAGGER???
Upon careful consideration, I conclude that it might also be due to the fact that “the stupid lagger” is actually on my team. Time to think, I actually have enough, because while I shot my own teammate, I was chopped up by some lousy, invisible hunter with his Arc Blade.
This is all happening too fast for me. While I finally take aim at an opponent and pull the trigger, I get sniped again by someone with the Dorn (alternately with Partycrasher, Efrideet’s Spear or any other conceivable weapon) from the left, right, behind, or above.
The fist is on! What?! Where is the bubble coming from?
But finally my super is full. Melee attack with the Titan – THE FIST OF CHAOS. I run through the map. Ha, there they are. Three reds in one spot. I will take you down. I take a run, jump off, land precisely, and activate my super. A beautiful, blue-glimmering “bubble” appears. Oh damn, wrong focus. But since the enemies are luckily even more confused by this action than I am, I still land a melee hit – before I die.
And so it continues. Another nice example is the story with the heavy ammunition. “Heavy ammo incoming,” echoes from my speakers. Uh, how? Where? What? By the time I get there, there’s either none left, or I’m of course where at least three opponents are waiting for me. The result should be known…
Well, eventually the game is over, and to my greatest surprise, my team actually won. Motivated by my glorious performance, I immediately start the next game. After a few games, I slowly realize that I’m not performing as badly anymore. Might also be because the opponents are not always equally skilled.
Interestingly, I lose most of the games in which I hit somewhat and vice versa. But I’m okay with that. At the end of the night, I am quite satisfied with myself for my standards.
Now it’s tactical playing!
I’m still not on rank 3. At least one Etheric Light should be there for all the effort. So we go into the Iron Banner as a three-man team on the last day. Then it gets wild. Now I’m told I also have to play tactically. While I still have to complete the “15 Zones capture bounty.” “DO NOT CAPTURE ZONE C!!!” Huh, why is that? “Because the enemies will spawn elsewhere!” Oh, is that how it is?
This is all too much for me. I’m just too static and standing too much in one spot. Unless I’m hopping in the wrong direction again. But still. On Monday night (Tuesday morning), sometime during the night, it is done. Two bounties completed and I fly to the Tower to turn them in. With the whole “last day bonus,” this should surely be enough for the 3700 points and rank 3. Of course, it’s not enough. I’m missing 13 points…
The call of the Etheric Light
That’s enough for me now. I don’t want it anymore. I’m tired and I want to go to bed. And I want that stupid Etheric Light. I want! I want! I want!!! So, one more game. And that’s when it goes really well. In the quarter-hour Iron Banner, I get two kills on some crappy map that I couldn’t remember the name of again. But I’ve learned: If I’m bad, my team wins. And so it is this time too.
Finally: I am on rank 3. My Hunter is at 34. And I’m tired.
The end-of-the-day Guardian is Bernd Mutschler. In two columns, he has already reported about his adventures in Destiny on our site:
In the dark fantasy MMORPG The Secret World, a major currency conversion is coming soon. Players are advised to buy what they want now, the developers recommend.
Don’t worry, The Secret World is not planning any equivalent of a “Grexit.” It is about virtual currencies, not Euros. And again: Don’t worry. Although Funcom is facing financial difficulties, The Secret World does not plan to close. The current currency conversion has very mundane reasons.
With the next update, Issue #12, they aim to revise and expand the MMO aspects in The Secret World and have decided to eliminate the current currency confusion. Essentially, all current currencies (except PAX) will be converted into “Black Bullion” at a certain ratio. With Issue #12, a second currency will also be introduced, Mark of the Pantheon, but that is irrelevant for now.
It is important:There is a cap on how much Black Bullion one can possess. For subscribers, it is 2400, for non-subscribers, it is 2000. If you have more Black Bullion than these limits after the conversion, you will receive 200 PAX for each Black Bullion above the cap.
So check out the conversion table on Funcom, take out a calculator, check if you would be over the limit, and if so: happy shopping!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Now at Gamescom, it has been announced that they will transition from Alpha to Closed Beta. It starts on August 28th. The Closed Beta will take place on weekends.
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From currently tens of thousands of testers, they aim to scale up to hundreds of thousands, are looking forward to the new feedback, are considering dropping the NDA, and are generally optimistic. The only thing they want from PC players: Windows 10 must be installed.
The interest in headsets remains unbroken. However, their price-performance ratio is catastrophic, as the industry speculates on the ignorance of buyers.
Who buys headphones and a microphone separately instead of the headset saves quite a bit of money with this combo. The statement that a €30 headphone can match the sound quality of a €150 headset is no exaggeration. For this reason, some devices will also be presented here.
[toc]
Headphones
Before some models are suggested, technical details must be clarified. Paragraphs related to headsets also apply to headphones.
The Surround Effect
Surround sound allows you to determine from which direction the sound is coming. This makes it easier to locate enemies in shooters. With headsets that have one speaker (also called a driver) per side, the effect will either not occur at all or be simulated. Surround or 5.1 headsets have multiple speakers per side and are of course more expensive.
As already mentioned, the industry speculates on ignorance, as there are no real surround headsets. In fact, the simulated effect, which may require a sound card, is better.
Source: bereviews.com
The ear itself does not perceive surround sound. However, our brain can calculate this effect. The sound usually does not arrive at the same time in the right and left ear. It is a matter of fractions of a second, but this is sufficient for the brain to determine the direction via this time difference. A 5.1 speaker system, which is distributed throughout the room, works accordingly.
The 5.1 headset with three speakers per side does not, however. Because they are only slightly offset and the distance between the speaker and ear is far too small. Thus, the brain cannot calculate the surround effect. However, if it is simulated, the sounds are played back with a delay in the left and right speakers.
USB Connection and Sound Card
You can choose between USB and jack connection. To understand the difference, it is important to know that a digital signal must be converted into an analog one. This conversion is either handled by the sound card, which requires the jack connection, or a processor built into the headset. The latter uses USB.
If you do not have a sound card or only have the onboard variant, a USB headset is the better choice. Those with a sound card installed should always prefer the jack connection. Because it cannot be used in conjunction with a USB headset.
If you have the budget, you can also buy a sound card with a new headset. It does optimize the sound and is important for headphones to enable a surround effect. However, the card only accounts for a comparatively small part of the sound quality. So if you have a limited budget, it’s better to invest it in better headphones.
Terms
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Impedance: Also called nominal resistance. The lower the impedance, the more sensitive the headphone is. This means that less power is required. For mobile and thus power-saving devices, a low value of e.g. 16 ohms is useful. However, the sound is less detailed compared to headphones with high impedance.
Headphone Amplifier: These are standalone devices or built into sound cards that amplify the signal. With high impedance, 80 ohms or more, the sound quality is also improved.
Sound Pressure: This value determines how loud the headphone can be at maximum. It is specified in decibels (dB). Sounds over 85 dB are harmful to health.
Total Harmonic Distortion: Also called distortion factor. It indicates the distortion caused by the headphone. The specification is given in percentage. The value should be kept as low as possible.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Closed: These are soundproof. Thus, sound hardly escapes, and the environment does not perceive the noises. A closed design leads to stronger bass.
(Semi-)Open: Sound penetrates outside through holes in the housing. This improves the surround effect and reduces bass.
On-Ear: The headphone rests on the ear. This makes the device smaller, but it also reduces wearing comfort.
Over-Ear: The headphone encloses the ear. It is larger and more comfortable to wear. Depending on the material, e.g. artificial leather, it can get very warm.
In-Ear: These are plugged into the ear. They have the best bass reproduction. However, the ear canal must be sealed airtight. For better wearing comfort, earpieces can be made by an audiologist. These are tailored precisely to the individual’s ears.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Dynamics: Also referred to as signal-to-noise ratio. It is given in decibels and represents the ratio between the loudest and quietest part of a music track. Titles require about 20 decibels, orchestras more than 80 for optimal sound.
Purchase Recommendations
Since everyone perceives sound differently, it makes sense to test these in a store beforehand. Only a few devices are mentioned here; the perfect one depends on many factors, such as which music one prefers. Many prefer a device that has a strong bass.
Superlux HD-681 (~€30)
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This is the previously mentioned €30 headphone with good sound quality. It is over-ear and semi-open. The materials are quite inferior, and the artificial leather leads to heat buildup when worn for extended periods.
There are several models available in approximately the same price range. HD-681 has a warm sound tuning, meaning higher bass and treble. HD-681 B leads to slightly nasal reproduction. HD-681 F has less bass. A sound card is not worth it for this device.
Creative Aurvana Live! (~€60)
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At around €60, this device is twice as expensive as the Superlux counterpart. However, it is the better choice in terms of quality. With an impedance of 32 ohms, it is also suitable for mobile devices. The biggest disadvantage of this closed headphone is its poor isolation. However, this only becomes a problem at high volumes. As a sound card, the Asus Xonar DG is recommended for €30.
Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro (~€150)
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With the open design, the surround effect improves. It has a warm sound tuning and thus a strong bass. The device is sold in various impedance variants. For 80 and 250 ohms, the sound card Asus Xonar DX for about €60 is recommended.
An alternative model is the Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro. It also has a warm sound tuning but has a closed design and thus even stronger bass.
The Big Three (over €200)
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The big three refer to AKG K701 (low bass, high treble), Beyerdynamic DT880 (largely neutral), and Sennheiser HD650 (focus on bass and fundamental). They are quite similar, so an audition is recommended. To achieve optimal sound experience, a headphone amplifier is necessary. This can be done by, for example, the Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card for €160.
On the next page, we will focus on microphones.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Gamescom in Cologne has a winner, at least when it comes to the awards: The Gamescom showers Star Wars Battlefront with pre-release praises, like one only distributes treats in Cologne.
Trade fairs like Gamescom are always a showcase of individual games, and in the end, awards are presented. These are not exactly the Oscars, because the games should at least be finished for that, but it makes clear which game a jury has the highest expectations for.
An expert jury has been able to agree on Star Wars Battlefront in no less than 4 categories. Awards are given for:
Best of Gamescom
Best Console Game Sony Playstation
Best PC Game
Best Online Multiplayer Game
and the audience award for the game that fans are most looking forward to, is also bagged.
No other game can keep up, maybe only “Metal Gear Solid V”, which the experts rate highest for the Xbox One.
This was the highlight of Battlefront’s appearance at the EA press conference:
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In MMOs, two expansions determine Gamescom, otherwise little surprises
From an MMO player’s perspective, Gamescom was not a revelation. Nevertheless, there was plenty to report: The WoW expansion Legion was announced and Destiny dropped many hints about the Taken King, although not really about Gamescom, but more in conjunction with it. Thus, the flood of details from Activision created a stir among fans and journalists.
However, both Legion and Taken King are “expansions” that fill pages like ours. That cannot disguise the fact that surprises were virtually absent. Currently, one can only report from Guild Wars 2 that the “Heart of Thorns” expansion will be released in 2015 – anything else would also be a huge disappointment, as the whole year has been dedicated to this expansion. The Elder Scrolls Online completely skipped Gamescom. Surprisingly, about upcoming titles like The Division, nothing was heard during the presentation for the Xbox One.
But maybe some stories are brewing in the background and will be unleashed on the world in the coming days. And there is still a day of Gamescom left .
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Days ago, in a more or less exciting presentation, the latest expansion of World of Warcraft was revealed. It is called “Legion” and mainly deals with the namesake burning legion, which attempts once again to destroy Azeroth. But what do we know so far and what does it mean? And how thought out does everything seem this time?
When the demons ring 3 times …
The burning legion gets new servants. What background do they have?
The burning legion is not only the name of the foes in the latest WoW addon but also a very important part of the existing Warcraft story. After the War of the Ancients (10,000 years ago) and the attack on Nordrassil (Warcraft 3), the demon brood under the leadership of the dark titan Sargeras is attempting for the third time to destroy Azeroth.
Gul’dan sets the stone rolling, who was banished from Draenor and travels to our Azeroth to make the former tomb of Sargeras a portal nexus of the burning legion. Meanwhile, he awakens the captured remains of Illidan and frees other dark creatures that the night elf guardians had kept sealed away from the world. The largest invasion of the burning legion so far begins – and this is a statement that raises high expectations.
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In general, the concepts of the different areas sound pretty exciting and the developers have once again managed to create quite a colorful mix. Suramar will probably satisfy the little lore freak in me, as the old elf city played an important role in the novel series and certainly offers plenty of information about the culture of the highborn night elves.
Val’Sharah offers insights into the emerald dream and thus forms a strong contrast between “healthy nature” and “corruption”. The other areas also sound promising, as they have different themes; from the original lore of the druids, the Vrykul, and the pure Valkyr.
Since Blizzard wants to place even more value on storytelling, I am optimistic that at least the leveling phase will captivate me, possibly for two nights without sleep.
Especially Suramar is highly anticipated, as it is a historic place in the Warcraft lore.
Demon Hunters and Artifact Weapons
Both the new hero class and the artifact weapons sound exciting, but the information is still sparse. I am particularly interested in the reason why the demon hunters are joining the Horde and Alliance, as they originally belonged to the Illidari – a loyal elite unit that also suffers from the thirst of magic that Illidan and Kael’thas quenched with fel magic.
Gameplay-wise, the class seems exciting, especially with new mechanics such as the double jump or the ability to see enemies even in invisibility and through walls. How much of this will be found in the final version remains to be seen, as usually some aspects are removed during the beta phase.
Artifacts accompany you throughout the entire addon.
The artifact weapons seem fantastic at first glance, as they combine many aspects that have long been requested. A weapon that gains power over time, is tied to exciting class missions, and can also be visually customized? At least the idea has already convinced me.
I am also pleased that they are adopting certain aspects of the garrison despite the criticism, such as the new champions in the class halls. While this is another step towards “We are the absolute superhero,” when even important characters like Lady Liadrin let us command them around, it is probably just a logical consequence after all the deeds we have already accomplished in World of Warcraft.
The website reveals even more …
The Banshee Queen plays a bigger role – but which one?
Some details from the official “Legion” website have remained unmentioned so far. Those who look carefully can indeed recognize some placeholders that Blizzard will surely fill in the coming months to maintain the hype and further increase anticipation. In addition to a four-part audio play series for the new addon, there will also be some comics and videos that hopefully reveal more of the story and shed light on the various main characters.
For we know that Sylvanas will play a bigger role, but no word has been said so far about her exact actions. I also have high expectations for the naga antagonist Tide Mistress Athissa. She should be more than just the typical “throwaway naga” and I am burning with curiosity as to why her fanatical devotion to Azshara even surpasses that of Lady Vashj – for she was at least in the books unmatched in “fangirlism” (and jealousy).
The nightmare distorts the areas. It definitely looks dark …
Logical gaps in the lore
As exciting as most of the presentation sounded, I am also confused about some aspects of the lore. A small point of criticism is Frostmourne, whose shards one must collect as a frost death knight to forge the artifact weapon. So far, it was said that the shards were securely locked away. And now they are just lying around in Icecrown? The shards of the most powerful death knight weapon ever? … Really?
This is what the isles looked like in Warcraft 3 – freshly lifted from the sea.
A second important aspect is the location of the addon. The “Broken Isles” do exist in the lore, but they were raised from the depths of the sea by Gul’dan (the “original”) only a relatively few years ago. So how can lush vegetation and even an entire world tree have formed in such a short time? In the case of the elves and their Nightwell, I can still understand that they may have lived under a magical dome, but how did the Vrykul manage it? Or are they completely new islands? Or – as I fear – has this detail been completely forgotten?
I am hyped! But …
As so often, the motto is: Wait and drink tea!
For many reasons, I am looking forward to the addon. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it gives me some incentives to return to Azeroth. Especially the lore surrounding the new elf race or various races of the legion intrigues me greatly, as well as all aspects related to the naga and Queen Azshara. I will probably also take a look at the PvP again, as the new system sounds much more motivating than the previous one.
At the same time, I am skeptical. None of the previous announcements sound like the big “game changer” that will long-term solve the motivational problems of World of Warcraft. Fairly, it must also be said that much remains unclear regarding “Legion”. A hasty judgment would not do justice to a game that has already managed to captivate me anew five times.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, the Crown Store will be filled up generously again in August. A spotted Senche-Leopard is the highlight.
Otherwise, there will mainly be costumes in the summer month, which are more for festive occasions. Expect these outfits at the end of August:
And for those who find that too conservative:
For those wondering why it has been so quiet about The Elder Scrolls Online, while everything else is buzzing with gaming: The Elder Scrolls Online was not at Gamescom. The information that they had was released shortly before at Quakecon, when they explained what the future has in store for TESO. A visit to Cologne would not have been worth it.
Much more buzz is expected for The Elder Scrolls Online on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC in September, when Update 7, the Imperial City arrives. It is set to launch on August 31 for PC, September 15 for Xbox One, and September 16 for Playstation. At the moment, the Imperial City is still on the test server.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , the level system will be adjusted with the expansion “The Taken King”. What level will veterans start at?
Currently, there is unrest among Destiny players. Because Destiny will change the level system. So far, players level up to level 20 through experience points, after which they must improve their four equipped armor pieces to reach level 34.
With “The Taken King”, players will only be able to level up through experience points. The players’ fear: “Then I’ll drop down to level 20!”
That’s not the case.
Players will be set to the level that corresponds to the light level they achieved with their Guardian. That means: If someone currently has a Guardian at light level 34, they will start at light level 34. However, if a Guardian has been at 34 but has sent the armor to a second character and is now down to level 20, they should also start at level 34 with this Guardian.
With the “Level Boost” for The Taken King, which we recently reported on, players will be able to increase the level of ONE Guardian to a value that allows them to start with the new game content.
The exact level is not yet known. However, players should not have to engage in Year 1 content anymore, but can start directly with Year 2 content. This is intended for both newcomers and players who want to create a second or third character but don’t want to start all over again.
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Light will be a type of gear score, a number that tells you how strong you are
The “light” will not completely disappear from Destiny, but it will become the new “gear score”, an indicator of how strong your equipment is. This was explained by Community Manager DeeJ to the US site IGN. To do this, the values of weapons, armor, and other items will be totaled. With The Taken King, ghost shells and class items will also have values in Destiny.
This way, players can be informed: You are at level 40 and have this gear, these or those activities are suitable for you. Currently, the “light level” affects the damage of players. It can be assumed that the new “light value” will not do that, but will really just be an abstract value to tell players how strong they are; it itself will have no influence on the game. However, confirmation from Bungie is still pending for this assumption.
The Sleeper Simulant will also contribute to your new “light”.
That’s why Destiny needs this “gear score” with the adjustment
Mein MMO believes: To explain the idea behind such a “gear score”: The height of the light is essentially the number that differentiates fresh level 40s from “experienced level 40s” who have already had the opportunity to collect equipment.
So far, Bungie had to assume that even players who had “long been in the game” had not necessarily reached level 34, as they were not playing in groups and thus lacked raid gear (base game), the upgrade materials (Darkness Awaits), or etheric light (House of Wolves). Because level 34 could only be reached through certain activities that required a fixed group – at least at the beginning of each section. So the level served as a sign of how well-equipped a Guardian was.
With the changes, it addresses the idea that every player will eventually reach level 40. Thus, the level no longer has the exact distinction it had in the first year. Therefore, a new distinction is needed: “This is for advanced players who have already collected strong items,” “This is for players who are just relatively new to level 40.”
Oryx is likely to be for level-40 players… but not for completely new level 40 players.
Never again: Forever 29
As an example: Very soon – with such a system – everyone will be at level 40. Even Guardians who are currently not at level 34 but at level 32 because they lack etheric light. Because simply playing, regardless of the content, gives experience points. Currently, level 32 Guardians will be recommended the Prison of Elders at level 32.
With “The Taken King”, all Guardians will be level 40, so a new way must be found to tell players: “This is suitable for you. For the other, you should first get stronger.” For this, there is the new “light” as a gear score.
This is the same system that MMORPGs like World of Warcraft use. One says: 100 is the current maximum level. Anyone who has progressed through the story will reach this. And those who continue to play will gradually find better items. And with the next major content patch, we will not increase the level cap, but rather introduce better items that allow players to “get stronger” and thus achieve a higher gear score.
In relation to Destiny, this could mean that in Year 2 of Destiny, players will remain at level 40. And Bungie will introduce “stronger items” with the upcoming DLCs to increase the gear score. This is currently pure speculation, but these changes would pave the way for it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blade & Soul , players must decide which side they want to fight for. Will they join the order-obsessed Coelin Order or the freedom-loving Karmin Legion?
Control or Chaos?
Although players in Blade & Soul generally pursue the same goal – to defeat the genre-typical evil forces, they can distinguish themselves from one another by choosing a faction. This not only has story-related reasons but also determines which clans they can join throughout their character’s career. So, let’s take a brief look at the views of the two factions.
The Coelin Order – Order Above All
Hansu is the Jedi Master leader of the Coelin Order.
In a world that has been plagued by war and produced numerous corrupt politicians, the Coelin Order wants to bring about change. The collective pursuit of a better world must continue at all costs. The order does not shy away from simply “removing” corrupt parts of the system and establishing a system of complete control and order. Mutual control is one of the core aspects of this faction, as it allows the corruption to be tracked directly and creates safety for all. The Coelin strive for values such as unity, dignity, and order – as a large collective that strengthens the will of the community and eliminates threats posed by individuals.
The Karmin Legion – Freedom for All!
Sansu leads the Karmin. At least a little bit.
In direct contrast to the Coelin Order stands the Karmin Legion. The members of this faction are tired of a few powerful beings placing themselves above the will of the majority of the people. They regard freedom as the highest good. Both the freedom to create their own place in the world and the freedom to oppose anyone who wants to limit that freedom. They believe that a government is only meaningful if it succeeds in protecting the people – since it has failed to do so, it is of no use anymore.
Especially in the Coelin Order, the Karmin see only another grouping that will repeat the mistakes of the past in the end to grasp for power themselves.
Which faction you ultimately swear allegiance to is, of course, up to you.
With the upcoming addon for World of Warcraft “Legion“, Dalaran returns as the capital. But how does this fit together historically?
No Love for Jaina
What could have motivated Jaina to give up her power in the Council of the Kirin Tor?
With “Legion”, Dalaran will once again become the capital and thus the hub of events for World of Warcraft. However, those who played “Mists of Pandaria” a bit more attentively might start to wonder. Officially, the Horde was banned from Dalaran when the Blood Elves wanted to use their connections to the city’s mages to steal an artifact from the Alliance. Horde players surely remember how they were thrown out of the city by Jaina Proudmoore and all Blood Elves were locked away in a large cleansing operation. The icy lady took a hard stand back then.
In “Legion”, however, Dalaran is once again the capital of both factions. The reason for this is that Jaina is stepping down from her role as leader of the Kirin Tor to make way for Khadgar. Whether this happens voluntarily, is forced by Khadgar and the Council of Six, or if other circumstances (death, madness, chocolate cravings) are responsible is yet to be known.
Dalaran will visually be adjusted. But we will have to wait for the first images.
Even though the “old” Dalaran will remain in Northrend for gameplay reasons, the revised version will naturally have some changes to reflect the transformations of recent years. Among other things, the Violet Hold is also located in Dalaran, which represents one of the dungeons of the addon – of course with new enemies.
In the hack-and-slash Diablo 3, it will soon be back in action. The end of Season 3 and the start of Season 4 are known. The new Patch 2.3.0 is expected in the middle of the month.
Fans of Diablo 3 won’t have to wait much longer for action to return to the somewhat static spectacle. Traditionally, a new season spikes interest in Diablo 3, significantly increasing playtime.
Blizzard has now announced dates:
The current Season 3 is set to end on August 23 at 5:00 PM. That is a Sunday.
The new Season 4 starts on Friday, August 28, at 5:00 PM our time.
Once again, 6 new cards for the upcoming Hearthstone expansion “The Grand Tournament” have been revealed at Gamescom. Almost everyone can marvel at their new class cards …
Plenty of Class Cards
On Paladins, the Warhorse Trainer awaits, which has relatively solid stats of 2/4 for 3 mana. As long as he is on the field, all your Silver Hand recruits gain +1 attack. This is thus an indirect buff for the new Inspiration mechanic, as it encourages the Paladin to use their hero power more often.
Priests finally receive a new healing spell. The Flash Heal costs only 1 mana and heals a whopping 5 health points. In combination with an Auchenai Soulpriest, this can also be used to deal damage. This is mainly meant to increase the importance of minions that activate a certain bonus with a healing effect.
Druids also receive a new spell! For just 1 mana, they can cast Living Roots and choose between 2 effects: They either deal 2 damage or summon 2 Saplings with 1/1. Kripp mentioned possible combinations with the Violet Teacher, as this would ensure the board gets flooded quickly with many minions.
Warlocks receive a small update, as the Fist of Jaraxxus works slightly differently than previous spells. For 4 mana, it deals 4 damage to a random opponent and seems weak at first glance – however, this effect is also triggered when you would have to discard the card (e.g. due to Soulfire or the Succubus).
The Charged Hammer expands the weapon arsenal of Shamans with a powerful new feature. For 4 mana, the hammer has an attack power of 2 and a total of 4 charges. However, the Deathrattle effect replaces the Shaman’s hero power: “Deals 2 damage,” similar to the Priest’s Shadowform. Like his light-casting counterpart, the Shaman must sacrifice his totems for this.
As a small nod to the control deck of the Warriors, who heavily rely on Alexstrasza, they receive Alexstrasza’s Champion as a new minion. With proud 2/3 for only 2 mana, the card is already quite playable, and its Battlecry gives it the special kick: If you have a dragon in hand, the card gains +1 attack and Charge.
What do you think of the new cards and what do you think of the expansion The Grand Tournament?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny the first new exotic weapon of the “Taken King” expansion has been introduced: The Sleeper Simulant will be a heavy fusion rifle.
This is the idea behind the new heavy fusion rifle in Destiny
As the first new exotic weapon, Destiny presents the Sleeper Simulant to the US magazine Game Informer and thus to the public. This is the gun, which fans have already seen in a picture of the Collector’s Edition: But it is not a sniper rifle, as one would think, but a heavy fusion rifle.
“Heavy fusion rifle” – what does that mean? It is a fusion rifle (actually a special weapon) in an XXL version, which is used in the slot for heavy weapons. In the article, the weapon is described as a portable rail gun. It has a lot of punch, as it is supposed to compete with rocket launchers and machine guns in Destiny.
Using the Sleeper Simulant, Bungie explains how to design exotic weapons. One wonders: Which of the rules that usually apply should this weapon break?
The Sleeper Simulant is supposed to feel heavy and powerful. The heavy fusion rifle will fire laser beams that bounce off walls and take out multiple enemies.
How to get the Sleeper Simulant
To obtain the weapon in the game, Guardians must find relics of the Golden Age and bring them to the gunsmith. These relics remind him of a long-lost exotic weapon: the Sleeper Simulant. The Guardians begin their journey to assemble the weapon. Bungie has not revealed the individual parts of this questline yet, as it should remain exciting.
In terms of aesthetics, Bungie wanted to represent incredibly advanced technology that is still in its early stages, a first prototype of the future, so to speak. For this, they drew inspiration from earthly examples of such technology: the Mars Rover or the first stealth fighters. These are examples of incredibly impressive technology that is simple, almost primitively designed – without frills and polish.
The Sleeper Simulant in Destiny is designed to fire a shot and then observe how the beam flies through enemies, ricocheting and causing chaos. When the weapon was first tested in the game, it was noticed that players wanted to use it like a “normal” weapon: aiming at enemies and hitting them. It felt heavy and slow. Players quickly backed away from it. Therefore, some fine-tuning needed to be done: especially with the sights. But such a process is something every weapon goes through.
This Youtube video contains 40 seconds of footage of the Sleeper Simulant. The gameplay is from Game Informer, who tried a test run with a yet-to-be-upgraded version of the Sleeper Simulant:
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The features of the Sleeper Simulant with Taken King in Destiny
The Sleeper Simulant will also evolve over time and become stronger in the hands of the Guardians. With one perk, the weapon starts off with four more being unlockable over time.
1. Like every Exotic with Taken King, the Sleeper Simulant starts with a property that is immediately available: This is the penetration and ricochet effect of the projectiles. These can also deal precision hits.
2. The barrel can be upgraded in one of three ways:
With CQB Ballistics – stability bonus
Linear Compensator – range and impact bonus, straighter recoil, reduced stability
Accurized Ballistics – range and impact bonus, better target acquisition, reduced stability
3. Auxiliary perk: “Just a Scratch” – Reduces target distraction from incoming shots while the Guardian aims with the Sleeper Simulant. It is designed to help the Guardian “stay on target” during the long charge time.
4. Stats upgrades:
Speed Reload – faster reload time
Perfect Balance – increases stability
Single Point Sling – brings the weapon to readiness faster, increases handling speed while aiming
5. Exotic perk: Increases the number of ricochets to 5
Blizzard has announced another hero for Heroes of the Storm at Gamescom. She comes from the StarCraft universe and stitches the Terrans together: The Medic.
“Please state the type of medical emergency!”
For a brief moment, viewers of the livestream probably thought it was a joke, but it seems to be true: One of the next heroes in Heroes of the Storm will be the Medic!
Many details about her abilities are of course still unknown, but a few key facts have already been revealed. As expected, she will be a support character and will be able to heal individual targets. The main reason for her appearance is relatively simple: The game needs more support heroes, as the existing ones are often targeted for bans in team leagues, leaving few good alternatives.
In the Medivac, the whole team can be flown around.
However, her ultimate ability drew particular attention: She can summon a Medivac that the entire team can enter to swiftly hover over the battlefield and allow her team to disembark elsewhere. The developers noted that she would have to forgo another heroic ability (likely a healing ability) to do this. Depending on the situation, a Medivac can have devastating effects, especially if one can directly fly to the boss after a short team fight to beat him down.
With Windows 10, Microsoft has introduced crossplay between PC and Xbox One into the discussion and has now opened itself to this idea. However, it seems not far enough yet.
As FFXIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida mentioned in an interview, negotiations with Microsoft about an Xbox One port are still ongoing. However, Final Fantasy XIV also runs on Windows 7 and Windows 8, and there are still concerns about the crossplay between Xbox One and PlayStation consoles. Once Microsoft embraces the idea of crossplay, Square Enix is ready to bring the game to Xbox One.
Yoshida is also keeping an eye on Nintendo’s latest console, Nintendo NX. However, they want to wait to see when the console will be released, how widely it will ultimately be adopted, and how Nintendo feels about crossplay. Negotiations here have not yet begun.
The presentation of the new World of Warcraft addon “Legion” has not only provided new insights but also raised many new questions. One of them is the role of Gul’dan …
Back in Azeroth
Anyone who hasn’t taken a look at the cinematic yet should catch up here. Keep in mind that this is just a snippet of the opening cinematic; the complete version will likely be available much later (possibly at BlizzCon).
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To summarize what was seen: Gul’dan uses Fel magic to free Illidan from his prison. Some may now ask: Wasn’t Illidan dead? While that was thought, Maiev seems to have captured part of his essence – after all, it was her fault that Illidan escaped, so it seemed only logical that she also brought him back.
For all who can’t keep up with the current story: The video takes place in our Azeroth and not some strange parallel universe.At the end of “Warlords of Draenor”, Gul’dan was thrown by Archimonde through a portal – and now we know where to, into the Azeroth of our time. After freeing Illidan from his palace and casually turning the tomb of Sargeras into an interface for many demon portals, he disappears to Suramar, where he will ultimately await us as a raid boss. What exactly Illidan’s role in all this will be remains to be seen.
