Whining Wednesday: Bonus Madness in MMOs

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

I wish you a cool Wednesday and hope that you don’t get upset about many other things in the heat – because you have me for that. But I also don’t want to get too worked up in these temperatures that even melt demons. So let’s talk about something that actually sounds positive: bonuses (or alternatively bonuses, for the word fetishists among you).

Play me! Play me! I offer you extras!

I already mentioned it last Wednesday when I ranted about the new weekend events in World of Warcraft. Through bonus events, they wanted to achieve that players play certain game content more often. Ultimately, this has led me to only desire the respective content as long as a corresponding bonus is granted.

Treasure Goblin Hots
The treasure goblin in HotS is a nice bonus. But what happens once he is no longer in the game?

A few days ago, I asked a friend if we wanted to play some Heroes of the Storm. The reaction was: “No… or is there currently bonus XP? Otherwise, let’s play Smite, as you collect fantasy points there right now“.  Setting aside that “fantasy points” is an immensely fitting name for a relatively silly currency, the statement jolted me. With almost all multiplayer games, I only spend time when some bonus is waiting. That can be extra experience in HotS, extra apex crystals in WoW, or a skin in the weekend challenge of Evolve. And somehow… that makes me sad.

“In the past, everything was better”

Even in SMITE, events with bonuses regularly lure - is it really fun or more of a compulsion?
Even in SMITE, events with bonuses regularly lure – is it really fun or more of a compulsion?

Yes, yes. I am doing it again and feeling a bit nostalgic. But you know, I used to play games primarily for one reason: they were fun. They still are today, but – at least in the mentioned examples – it is slowly becoming a tedious chore. From all sides, the games seem to be shouting at me, saying: “Play me now, or you’ll miss out on bonus XYZ and you will regret it!” Especially disturbing are these thoughts with boosters that are time-limited. During the free 7-day booster, I played HotS like crazy. And why? Because every minute I play another game would be a waste regarding my gold status in HotS.

Slowly it tears me apart. I rush from one bonus event to the next and whenever I want to relax at a game after work, all games scream at me again from the side: HERE! ME! ONLY NOW! SUPER GREAT AND EXTRA AND WITH CREAM!

Goliath Evolve
Play me! A skin is waiting! Come on, play me!

“Not paying attention to these events anymore” is easier said than done. The cold calculation of efficiency is always part of the game. Because if I don’t win two games tonight, I can’t buy the new hero tomorrow. Or to compare it metaphorically with a German trait: If there’s already an “All you can eat” buffet, then I’ll take as much as I can carry and also pack something for home. After all, you want to take everything you can get for your money. And then a little more.

But enough complaining, I will lie down in some virtual snowy area. Don’t let the sun roast you and let me know in the comments how you deal with these countless bonus events that are currently pouring down on us. Until next week!

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

H1Z1: Plans for July are quieter, but a Screaming Zombie is coming

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In the survival MMO H1Z1 , the developers have now presented their plans for July, they will take a step back.

H1Z1

H1Z1 is in early access, so it’s still in a relatively early stage of development, and therefore the pace of development is rapid. In June, they had set quite a few goals and by the end of the month, things got a bit more hectic than planned.

In July, they want to take things more slowly and focus mainly on bugs and stability.

However, some new features will also be added in July, here is a selection:

  • On July 14, “Leaderboards” will be integrated into H1Z1, allowing players to assess how strong the competition is before a battle royale.
  • On July 21, the “Professions” will be introduced, a RPG element in character creation that grants certain bonuses. Additionally, the developers will introduce a new type of zombie called the “Screamer” into H1Z1: these will be loners that should be taken out as quietly as possible before they start screaming and attract their buddy zombies.
  • On July 28, the “Meat” and “Noise Grenade” will come: both are designed to manipulate zombie hordes.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit H1Z1

League of Legends: New Game Mode – Black Market Brawl!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

At regular intervals, there are temporary game modes in League of Legends with modified rules. Now, a mode comes that brings some changes: The Black Market Brawl.

Powerful Minions and Strong Mercenaries

The Ironbacks are the new
The Ironbacks are the new “Tanks” of your minions.

In the Black Market Brawl, everything revolves around the new mercenaries: Mercenaries can be hired in the shop of your base, appearing with each minion wave from the moment they are paid (and taking the place of a regular minion). Once the mercenaries are hired, they can be further upgraded to have a greater impact on the game.

A “Ironback” mercenary, for example, receives less damage from towers and enemy champions in its standard version. If you upgrade the creature further, it deals additional damage to towers and other buildings. In total, there are 4 new types of mercenaries, each with a different main purpose: Chasing enemy champions, Harassing and Damaging enemies, Improving one’s own minions, and Dealing damage to buildings.

A New Currency and Fun Items

The
The “Ocklepods” enhance other minions through shields and grant vision.

The mercenaries are paid not with gold, but with a new currency, the so-called Krakens. These are obtained for certain actions in the game, for example, killing champions grants two Krakens, while assisting only grants one Kraken. But Krakens are also generated over time, so you never fall too far behind.

In addition, there are a variety of new items for the “Black Market Brawl” that probably won’t appear in any other game mode. The Mirage Blade marks hit targets and, when activated, teleports you 350 units away – far away from the champion who was marked.

With the various upgrades of the mercenaries and the new items, the “Black Market Brawl” should bring some fresh air to League of Legends. Those who want to reignite the debate about “which MOBA is much better than all the others” might see this game mode as a small concession to Blizzard – as there are different mercenaries in Heroes of the Storm, albeit with much simpler mechanics.

The new mode does not have a release date yet, but it is on the test server.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. surrenderat20.net
  2. kotaku.com

The Elder Scrolls Online: PSN Down – new issues

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

On the evening of 7/7, there are problems with the network of Playstation 3 and Playstation 4. This makes online games like The Elder Scrolls Online or Destiny unplayable for some users.

Just like last Friday, 3/7, there are again difficulties with the Playstation network PSN tonight. As several US sites report and as can also be seen on social networks, many players are having problems and are reporting #PSNDown.

Under this hashtag, the anger of players who feel deprived of their gaming evening is bundled on Twitter. Sony is aware of the difficulties, has noted this on the status page, and asks for understanding and patience. The problems seem to affect the Playstation 4.

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

Destiny has unveiled the gift for veterans

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In the MMO shooter Destiny , veterans have been promised a reward, but they have to earn it first.

We have already extensively reported on the controversy that Destiny prefers players who start with Year 2, and it has been suggested that veterans could earn something. We now know what this is: An emblem.

Destiny Emblem

To obtain this emblem, players must complete 10 different tasks by September 9, which are:

  • Level up a character to the maximum level
  • Complete all story missions in the game to their respective endings – in the base game and the two DLCs
  • Complete the 2 raids on Hard difficulty and defeat the 35 level version of Prison of Elders, namely Crota, Atheon on Hard, and then Skolas
  • Complete 50 Public Events
  • Win 100 Crucible matches
  • Find all Golden Chests

Whether you have already obtained the emblem or what you still need to do, you can read here.

Destiny Crota

After September 9, the emblem will no longer be available. It is supposed to be an award for veterans in the first year, so to speak.

For the first anniversary, there was also an interview with Will Wheaton. And there is this documentary about the first year in Destiny, which especially highlights the community around the game:

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.
Link to the YouTube content

“You get something better!”

My MMO says: With all due respect, this is a nice idea. But it would have really been better if it could have just been done without pressure.

After using the emblem to mitigate the backlash concerning the Collector’s Edition; and after speaking of the emblem as “You get something better!”; and after letting the statement linger in the air for 2-3 weeks … after all this, the emblem is now a disappointment.

Because fans have, as so often, built up enormous expectations in the meantime: At least we get the Fate of all Fools!, it was said. Or “special emotes” that no one else will receive.

Whether a scavenger hunt ending in an emblem is really the thrill remains to be seen. Certainly, the “exclusivity” is what makes the task appealing, not the emblem itself. What do you think?

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

Destiny: Sheldon Cooper’s Archenemy chats with developers

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of Destiny found themselves at a chat session with actor Will Wheaton and discussed the development of the title.

A week ago, a conversation round was announced. Some of the big names from the Destiny development team talked, under the umbrella of Sony’s Playstation, with Will Wheaton. He is the child star from Stand by Me and Star Trek – The Next Generation, who now plays Professor Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory and is somehow considered a poster-nerd in US pop culture.

Destiny-Thieves Den

As expected, it was a very pleasant, friendly affair. No one was crucified, interrogated, or confronted with criticism. It was emphasized how great the success, how positive the atmosphere surrounding the title, how grand the vision of Destiny is, and that they are continuously working on success.

The main pillars of the title were “hopeful” and “inviting”, the emotes and the voice system were specifically designed to ensure that there would be as few negative experiences as possible, but rather positive interactions with fellow players.

In development, the team and collaboration are at the center. If someone has a good idea at Bungie, it gets implemented. Everyone is passionately involved. They read fan reviews and would love to immediately say: “You’re right, we know that, we’re taking care of it!”

Talking about the Oscars while killing aliens

Destiny-Goliath

Luke Smith summarized Destiny as “an excuse to talk about the Oscars while killing a few aliens.”

We didn’t learn much new, for Taken King it was indicated that they will emphasize the weapons and their origins more, namely the weapon manufacturers. Additionally, they want to incorporate a lot of fan feedback and ensure that the coveted loot is obtained directly from the world.

Nevertheless, even though it doesn’t sound like great news, it turned into a pleasant conversation in a chat tone, accompanied by numerous images from a year of Destiny and also fresh ones for the next expansion “King of the Taken”, which should clearly be promoted with the interview.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

Additionally, the reward for players in the first year has been revealed. However, it still has to be “earned.”

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

HearthStone: Trump is now successful!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time < 1 minutes

He is among the best Hearthstone players in the world and his Twitch stream is one of the most popular ever. But only now has Trump’s career also “officially” begun: He has won his first tournament.

The Arena Legend in Constructed

Trump is a master of the Hearthstone arena and arguably the embodiment of the gaming term “Value” as he even masters randomness with his grandly thought-out moves. He has authored numerous guides and regularly achieves win streaks of 9-12 in the arena. Blizzard considered him so popular that they dedicated an item in Signed Hearthstone Card in World of Warcraft to him – and that, even though he had not won a single tournament until now. Until now. Last Sunday, he managed to win the “HTC Recharged” tournament. There he outperformed other celebrities like Reynad and was able to demonstrate to everyone that he also has insight outside the arena. But did anyone really doubt that?

Here is the video of the final round of the tournament:

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.
Link to the YouTube content

The photo used for the title image comes from Trump’s Facebook page.

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

Blade&Soul: Stylish Wings and Useful Pets

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

While we are still waiting in this country for a release of Blade&Soul, the game is continuously being developed in the Far East. This summer, several major expansions are planned, with new systems for pets and wings on the way.

Adorable Creatures to Build Yourself

Like almost all MMORPGs, Blade&Soul is now also getting a pet system in China. The little pets are supposed to grant a buff, but it is not intended to increase character attributes. So far, we can only speculate about the usefulness of these creatures; increased gathering rates for gold or experience points could be two possibilities. Many of the cute companions will be available as rewards through the PvP system, while others will need to be assembled from “parts” to create a complete specimen.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

A Bit Over the Top

They do look pretty. But what use will they have?
They do look pretty. But what use will they have?

Another new feature will be the introduction of wings for the Chinese Blade and Soul. This system is expected to be released toward the end of the current year, and even here, the benefits are still questionable. So far, it has only been announced that traditional “flying” will not be enabled, as it would have a significant impact on PvP skirmishes. What exactly the noble wings will bring or whether they are just an additional accessory to make the already hot ladies appear even more unattainable remains to be seen.

While it may still take a while for Blade & Soul to be released here, many details about the European version are already known.

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

Runescape: After almost 14 years, there are now Raids

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

After over a dozen years, Runescape is experiencing a small revolution. It has taken nearly half a generation for the game to receive one of the most widespread features: raids.

Better late than never

Despite its old age, Runescape remains strong on the saddle - and is now introducing raids.
Despite its old age, Runescape remains strong on the saddle – and is now introducing raids.

With the now 154th edition of “Behind the Scenes of Runescape,” it has been proven that even games with almost antique value can catch up to modernity after more than a decade. With the content update, which is set to be released in July, Runescape will for the first time allow players to participate in raids with 9 other players. While there will initially only be two bosses, in the future more raiding parties are planned, which will also increase in difficulty.

The patch brings much more: A completely new planet called Mazcab awaits brave heroes to explore it. The new world is populated by the “Goebies,” a frog-like race in desperate need of help from players to free themselves from their current oppressors.

Generally, Mazcab is meant to offer something for all types of players: PvP fans can help the Goebies transport resources from one camp to another (or prevent enemies from doing so). Story lovers can find historical fragments in the forests. Hunters will rejoice over new “Elite” enemies that occasionally spawn instead of a regular foe.

A brief overview of all the new features is provided in this video:

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.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. pcgamer.com

Star Citizen: According to the Battlecruiser developer, it is clearly too ambitious

Andreas Bertits Andreas Bertits Reading time 3 minutes

The space MMO Star Citizen might be in trouble. Derek Smart, developer of the Battlecruiser series, claims to have learned something along those lines, and furthermore, two producers and other employees have left the company.

If Star Citizen turns out the way designer legend Chris Roberts envisions, then fans of space games can expect a dream come true. In late 2012, Roberts launched a crowdfunding campaign for a spiritual successor to the cult series Wing Commander. So far, nearly 85 million US dollars have been raised. Star Citizen essentially consists of two parts: a single-player series titled “Squadron 42,” where you fly exciting missions and experience a story just like in the earlier Wing Commander games.

The other part resembles an MMO. You create a pilot and explore the vast, persistent universe as a trader, adventurer, mercenary, pirate, or smuggler – similar to Elite: Dangerous. Since the concept was so well received, it has been continuously expanded. Ground battles have now also been announced, where you will run through space stations or ships and engage in intense combat, like in a shooter.

Houston, we have a problem!

Star Citizen Shooter Module
The FPS module has been delayed indefinitely.

The concept of Star Citizen sounds very ambitious. Too ambitious, according to Derek Smart, who made a name for himself about 15 years ago with the space series Battlecruiser. Smart explains that he was informed by an insider that the developers of Star Citizen had to put the shooter aspect of the game on hold. And indeed, the shooter test module was recently delayed indefinitely.

Without disrespect to anyone, I’m just going to say it: it is my opinion that, this game, as has been pitched, will never get made. Ever.

According to Derek Smart, the game is far too ambitious and too large and cannot be realized even with the 85 million dollars raised through crowdfunding. There is no developer or publisher in the world who could bring such a game to fruition with a budget of under 150 million dollars.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

Therefore, according to Derek Smart, Star Citizen will not appear as announced and showcased in videos. He even goes further, stating that today’s vision of Star Citizen would technically surpass GTA5 and Halo. As a reminder: The budget of GTA5 was over 250 million dollars.

The original vision which I backed in 2012? Yes, that was totally doable. This new vision? Not a chance.

The technical scope of this game surpasses GTAV, not to mention the likes of Halo.

Do you have any idea what those games cost to make and how long they took?

Do you know how many games which cost $50 million to make took almost five years to release? And they were nowhere in scope as Star Citizen?

That the developers might actually be struggling is underscored by the fact that both the executive and senior producers have left the company. Additionally, it is reported that the community manager and a concept artist have also departed. On the other hand, it was recently announced that a new studio is being established in Frankfurt, which will handle some aspects of Star Citizen.

Star Citizen Chris Roberts
Did Chris Roberts ultimately ask for too much?

It is therefore a somewhat opaque situation. It would not be surprising if a game as ambitious as Star Citizen has encountered some issues that they now need to solve somehow. That personnel changes occur repeatedly is also nothing unusual in the industry. One must now wait to see how the situation around the space game develops. Perhaps studio head Chris Roberts will speak out soon and clarify the situation.

Anyone who wants to read Derek Smart’s very extensive article can do so on his blog: dereksmart.org. He also advises players against investing money in this vision that will never materialize:

stop buying virtual items for a goddamn game you don’t have.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. golem.de
  2. dereksmart.org

H1Z1: Today the wipe and military base are coming

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In the survival MMO H1Z1 it is finally here, the patch that was postponed twice brings military bases today and there will be a wipe.

Between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM our time, the H1Z1 servers will be down today. A new patch is being deployed. It was actually scheduled for last Tuesday, then for Thursday, but it has been postponed twice and is only coming today, and it does not bring everything that was actually announced.

H1Z1-TMC

The patch from July 7 changes quite a bit on the map: the new military bases: military checkpoints and Camp Bastion are being added. Such a change to the map necessitates a server wipe. When the servers restart, the struggle for survival will begin anew.

Additionally, grenades have been changed – they now react to left click, and handling has been significantly improved. Furthermore, dark clouds and rain are returning to the game, and one reduces the excessively fierce bear’s killer touch. Changes are also being made to the aiming devices of the weapons.

However, the team mode for battle royales did not make it into the patch; DGC wants to keep an eye on that a bit on the test server.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. reddit h1z1

Destiny: Here are the 6 Bounty from Petra Venj for the week of July 7th.

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In this week’s MMO shooter Destiny, there are 6 bounties from Petra Venj active. It’s about the wanted and the queen event. We show you where to find the targets.

This week, no new bounty for Destiny has arrived; there are 6 existing ones. We show you in videos where the targets can be found.

The Queen Events in the week beginning July 7 in Destiny

In these bounties, you must track down a public event, wait for it to start, and then successfully complete it. You will receive an Aether key, which can open an Aether chest, where another treasure key may be inside.

Pirsis, the Pallas Curse

The first bounty takes you against Pirsis, the Pallas Curse, on Earth in the Rift.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

Beltrik, the Veiled

In the second bounty, you hunt Beltrik, the Veiled, in the Flame Caves on Venus.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

Weksis, the Weakling

In the third queen event, it’s about Weksis, the Weakling. He is in the shooting line on the Moon.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

For Weksis and Beltrik, we also have pictures of the exact spawn locations of the chest. You can find them in this article.

The Wanted Bounties

The Wanted bounties from Petra Venj are significantly simpler. Here, you just have to reach the target location and clear the enemies out of the way.

The Wolf Looters

You will find the Wolf Looters on the Moon in the Halls of Wisdom.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

The Twisted Claws

The Twisted Claws can be found on the Moon, in the subzone Worldgrave.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

The Howling Raiders

Those seeking the howling raiders in Destiny will find them on Venus. They are in the Halls of Whispers.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

We hope this small overview has helped you and guided you safely to your goal.

You can find more information about Destiny on our topic page.

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

Heroes of the Storm: Is the Butcher too strong or are you too weak?

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

The players of Blizzard’s MOBA Heroes of the Storm are currently complaining primarily about one problem: The Butcher. He is way too powerful, says a large part of the community. But what is it about all this criticism?

Ah! Fresh meat!

Butcher-Heroes-of-the-Storm
The probably cuddliest assassin in the world.

The latest addition to HotS, the Butcher from the Diablo universe, is currently turning matches into a pure … well, slaughter fest as an assassin. Apparently effortlessly, he plows through enemy heroes, leaving nothing but devastation and plenty of fresh meat in his wake, which in turn makes him even stronger. The outcry among players is loud: Why is the new hero so overpowering?

New heroes – often overpowering to rake in cash?

Whether it’s LoL, SMITE, or HotS, almost all MOBAs have to regularly listen to the accusation that new heroes are too overpowering in the first few weeks. The reason for this is said to be that more players are willing to spend real money to be rewarded with some “easy wins” with the new character for a few days. While such accusations sound logical – after all, every company wants to make money somehow – I personally do not believe this is the main reason. I cannot imagine that a reputable company can afford to regularly introduce completely overpowering heroes just to get a few extra coins. The reputation of a game is simply ruined too quickly nowadays.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

New heroes are unfamiliar

New heroes are primarily one thing for a variety of players at release: unknown. Because one does not quite know what the new character can do, it is often much easier to scream: “He’s totally overpowered! Nerf him!” In the case of the Butcher, I find such calls unjustified. Well, I’m not playing at a professional level. But in the area around rank 20 of the hero league, I never found the Butcher to be too strong if you know his abilities. You can escape his life steal by just running away, and after that, the good meat mountain is often hopelessly lost. A targeted stun can even end the fight particularly quickly if you catch the moment of his “Unstoppable” correctly. Those who know exactly how an enemy hero works can quickly figure out how to defeat him.

Better too strong than too weak – at least at the beginning

Smite Goddess Nox
Nox from SMITE was way too weak at the beginning. The result: she became so unpopular that she had to be completely reworked.

Completely independent of the possible revenues, one must also consider the following: A new character can never be “perfectly” balanced, simply because there is no perfect balance. Therefore, a new character should rather be a bit stronger to appear “cool.” Because nothing would be more boring than a new hero who is not fun to play because he is too weak. The first impression is incredibly important, even with new game content. If it’s going to be poorly balanced, then rather a bit too strong – at least in the first few days. But I’m sure that can be debated.

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

Destiny: Weekly Nightfall Strike, Prison of Elders and Variks on 7.7.

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

In the MMO shooter Destiny today, Tuesday, July 7th, a new ID week begins. What awaits in the weekly Nightfall Strike, what’s in the Prison of Elders for the Guardians? And what is Variks selling.

Today is the seventh day of the seventh month and thus not only reset day but also Bungie Community Day. Since 9:00 AM this morning, live streams have been taking place, and later in the day, further information is expected, what veterans can expect in terms of special rewards as they enter Year Two.

But first, about the reset.

Destiny-Shadow-Thief

Weekly Nightfall Strike is against Taniks

In the Nightfall Strike, a strike is selected and equipped with three modifiers, alongside the fixed “Nightfall” and “Epic.” Due to the 2, players must start over if the entire fireteam dies, and the strike is significantly tougher. Those who complete the Nightfall receive 24.5% more experience and reputation for the week, as well as a fun effect above their heads. Additionally, there’s a chance for Exotics and a lot of strange coins.

This week’s Nightfall leads again into the DLC-2 strike “Shadow Thief“. The modifiers are: Switching Light (more melee damage from enemies), Specialist (special weapons deal increased damage), and Arc Burn.

Destiny-Sepiks-Prime

Weekly Heroic Strike is Sepiks Prime

In the weekly Heroic Strike, Sepiks Prime awaits. Solar Burn is active.

The Prison of Elders in the week starting July 7th in Destiny

Destiny-Qodron

In the 32 prison, Quodron awaits

Last week he was the shining star of the 34 prison, this week it drops down to 32. We are talking about the Sultan of Time, the Tsar of Tenderness, the God of Goblins, here is Qodron!

  1. Vex/Catapult – Grenades have a significantly lower cooldown
  2. Vex – Void Burn
  3. Fallen/Brawler – Guardians deal increased melee damage
  4. Vex/Small Arms – primary weapon damage is doubled
  5. Vex/Trickle – ability cooldowns are increased
Kaliks-Reborn-Destiny

In the 34 there’s a reunion with Kaliks Reborn

The 34 version of the Prison of Elders gives Guardians a reunion with Kaliks Reborn. We will explain how it works in this article.

  1. Cabal/Specialist – Special weapon damage is doubled
  2. Fallen/Switching Light – Enemies deal increased melee damage
  3. Fallen/Airborne – Players deal more damage while in the air
  4. Fallen/Exposure – Guardians’ shields are increased but do not regenerate
  5. Fallen/Grounded – Players take more damage while in the air
Destiny-Skolas-Tanz

What can Skolas do this time?

Skolas has a permanent spot in the rotation of the Prison he occupies, here the 5 waves leading up to him remain the same. Only his wave, number 6, changes from week to week. He receives two new modifiers each time, which cannot be burns.

This week, the modifiers Small Arms and Switching Light are active. Primary weapons deal increased damage and enemies deal increased melee damage.

  1. Hive – Exposure/Brawler – Guardians’ shields are enhanced, do not regenerate, and their melee damage is increased
  2. Vex – Ground/Airborne – Guardians deal increased damage in the air, but also take more damage there
  3. Cabal- Catapult/Arc Burn – Grenade cooldown is reduced, Arc damage from everything and anyone is increased
  4. Fallen – Specialist/Juggler- Special weapons deal double damage, enemies drop no ammo for the weapon they were taken out with
  5. Fallen – Trickle/Small Arms – Abilities have an increased cooldown, primary weapon damage is significantly increased
Destiny-Variks

What is Variks selling?

Variks is selling a legendary rocket launcher and leg armor. The leg armor has the following stats:

  • For Warlocks 144 strength
  • For Titans 155 discipline
  • For Hunters 77 intellect and 76 discipline
  • Destiny-Variks-Boots-077
  • Destiny-Raketenwerfer-Variks-077

Tips, tricks, guides for the challenges in Destiny

Throughout the day, we will present particularly interesting instructional videos: Clips of Guardians showing the servants of the darkness who is the king of Kong here.

Traditionally, Nexxoss kicks things off with a Nightfall run: Steady, careful passage. Nexxoss explains the sections step by step. The Nightfall isn’t without its challenge, due to the many Arc enemies and melee fans.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Stephan Frost: Former Face of WildStar Joins Blizzard

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time < 1 minutes

Stephan Frost, the former Design Producer of WildStar, has found a new job with none other than Blizzard. He will now have a significant influence on the future of World of Warcraft.

“… and this is DevSpeak!”

Most players will remember Stephan Frost from the various DevSpeak videos of WildStar. He was long regarded as the voice and face of Carbine’s SciFi MMORPG WildStar. Shortly after the game’s release, he announced that he would change employers due to a fantastic offer – which many players took quite badly.

Now, almost a year later, after a brief interlude at Amazon, he is switching again: this time to Blizzard, as the new Design Producer of World of Warcraft. His first day at the game developer was “overwhelming” – let’s hope that this enthusiasm will also reflect in the future of the game.

Perhaps it is exactly his humor and slight touches of overly motivated madness that World of Warcraft needs to bring “fresh wind” back?  In the coming months, we will surely hear a lot from Frost – at the latest probably at BlizzCon.

Here’s one of the old “DevSpeak” videos, in case you have forgotten the good gentleman:

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.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. massivelyop.com

EVE Online will grant beginners 1 or 2 million skill points as startup assistance

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The SF-MMO EVE Online plays with the idea of making it easier for beginners to start.

As PcGamesN reports, CCP, the developers behind the complex SF-MMO EVE Online, are considering easing the “new player experience” by providing some more skill capital. Nothing has been decided yet, but at CCP they tend to grant new players some skill points: one or two million feels just right. Two million skill points correspond to roughly what a player could accumulate in one or two months of playtime, it is further stated.

On reddit, the community is discussing the pros and cons. While some oppose the “this has always been the case and has always worked” method, others advocate for such a starting bonus. After all, with each passing year, the advantage of veterans becomes even greater. An EVE veteran wouldn’t be impressed by 1 or 2 million skill points anyway.

EVE Online is currently facing some upheavals. The AEGIS update will be released in two parts. In particular, AEGIS 2, which will be significant on July 14, will see changes to the Sovereignty system implemented.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PcGamesN
  2. MO Aegis

Destiny: The 6 Most Popular Special Weapons in PvE

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 5 minutes

In the MMO shooter Destiny the special weapons category includes various types such as shotguns, sniper rifles, fusion rifles, and most recently, pistols. Which of the countless weapons turns out to be the most popular in everyday life?

It’s true: Sometimes Destiny is a bit of a weapon porn. With each expansion came new guns. By now, you can even use the old pieces from last September fully again.

Destiny special weapons

The Guardians have their favorites and swear by one or another killing machine. No one understands fun in this regard: Oh my god, how could you forget my favorite!

After a lot of PvP, with shotguns and pulse rifles today, the focus is on PvE and the special weapons.

User Research provides important and completely useless data

The User Research team at Bungie is responsible for keeping statistics on everything possible. And there’s a member of the Bungie User Research team who regularly publishes data on Reddit.

Destiny Tower
Who pushes the Guardian down?

So, for example, we learn that in the history of Destiny, 229,167,040 Guardians have been thrown from the Tower. This number is from the start of July. Or we’re told what the deadliest area in Destiny is.

Admittedly, one can do as much with this in everyday life as knowing the capital of Uruguay. However, there are also statistics that make you perk up, either because you wonder about it anyway or want to know if your own idea matches reality. Recently, statistics about “secret weapons” were published.

Now there was a list: Which special weapons were most used in PvE in June? It’s not an exact ranking, since the weapons change significantly from day to day, but still a very interesting overview.

Feel free to ask yourselves which weapons you guess, and then see what the statistics say.

Destiny-Her-Benevolence

Check out the next pages for the 6 most popular special weapons in PvE of Destiny during June.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Reddit
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Star Trek Online: Armada system sounds like “More Drama, Baby”

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The SF-MMO Star Trek Online will receive a new Armada system with Update 10.5. This sounds like a lot of potential for little dramas about betrayal, loyalty, and everything in between.

Fleets are the guilds of Star Trek Online, Armadas are a type of alliance consisting of up to 13 guilds.

The whole thing is built hierarchically. There is an Alpha Fleet, which is essentially the chief guild. It has three Beta Fleets “under it.” And those can invite three “Gamma Fleets” in turn.
This means: An Armada can consist of up to 13 fleets. They share resources, enjoy various bonuses, and the Alpha Fleet receives the lion’s share.

Star Trek Online Voyager

When the Beta becomes Alpha

If a Beta Fleet no longer wants to be part of the Armada and the Beta status, it can break away from the Armada, take its up to 3 Gamma Fleets with it, and become a new Alpha Fleet, while the Gamma Fleets become Beta Fleets, which can invite new Gamma Fleets.

Joining such an Armada is no easy task. Before bonuses become active, there is a kind of trial period. Additionally, some interface changes will make it easier for commanders to manage their fleets.

When looking at the concept of the Armada system, one does not need a lot of imagination to see that there is definitely potential for drama. Here you can read the details about the new system on the STO website.

Krenim-Holding-STO

What else is in Update 10.5?

With 10.5, new episodes are also set to continue, featuring the voices of stars from previous Star Trek series (this time the voice of the Ferengi Nog from DS9 has been acquired). Other “celebrities” have already been recorded, as revealed in an interview with a US site.

The developers at Cryptic also plan to further expand the fleet projects. In line with the Armada, there will be a new research station called “Krenim Holding.”

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

Final Fantasy XIV presents player numbers and new raid Alexander

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV has a total of 5 million paying players, though not at this moment, but over its entire lifetime. Additionally, a first look at Alexander, the new raid, is granted.

Player numbers are a sensitive matter. The current figures are rarely available. 5 million – this is the figure that Final Fantasy XIV has now announced as a benchmark number. However, these are not the current player numbers, but the total sum of players who have maintained a subscription over the last 21 months. These 5 million do not include players who only briefly checked in during the trial period. It’s an impressive number, though far from the 7.1 million “active paying players” of World of Warcraft.

In “Heavensward,” raiding will begin soon. The Sharylander castle ruins have suddenly come to life, as it is said. The Indigo Hand has summoned the Machina Primus. With Patch 3.01, it will be against Alexander in Final Fantasy XIV.

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.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Game Revolution Spielerzahlen
  2. MO
  3. FF XIV Alexander

Black Desert: Costumes – From Angels with Wings and Demons in Stockings

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Korean fantasy MMORPG Black Desert has been praised mainly for its extensive character customization. However, to truly make the heroes look stunning in the game, an array of different costumes is needed. A very dedicated Youtuber has now showcased all the clothing items in a video series.

A Long Look at the Costumes in Black Desert

Black-Desert-Cash-Shop
If the dress is “ruined,” it offers deep insights.

Those who are wandering in Black Desert have many ways to enhance their avatar’s appearance. As is standard for Free2Play games, most cosmetic upgrades can be found in the cash shop. The selection is gigantic, and there should be something for every player. No matter if you play as a man or a woman … – come on, let’s be honest. With the costumes, you all play as a woman anyway, right? Who could blame you?

The Youtuber Steparu took the time to go through all the costumes in the shop individually. In a ten-part video series, he shows the different outfits: from a pretty black dress to a rather revealing “angel costume,” there is likely something for every fetish taste.

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.
Link to the YouTube content

One feature I particularly like: clothing can look “destroyed,” as if you have been wandering through the forest for weeks. Now someone just needs to explain to me why clothing wears out so quickly in the chest area for women … magic!

Black Desert will be released on July 14th in Korea. Then the beta will also end, and all previous servers will be merged into a megaserver.

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