The Repopulation: The sandbox MMO will be released in 2015

Above and Beyond Technologies, the developers of the indie MMO “The Repopulation”, have outlined a release window that is not too far off. By the end of 2015, this sandbox MMO is set to launch. Additionally, a teaser provides a little taste of the factions and nations system.

The Repopulation is a crowdfunding project that has already raised more than 1.5 million dollars with the help of many supporters. The journey takes players into the future, into a science fiction universe full of freedoms.

As was once the case with Ultima Online or Star Wars Galaxies, there is a strong emphasis on social interactions, a wide range of individual development options, and player-generated content.

Based on classics, but offering something new

The creators are not only relying on “old-fashioned gameplay”, but are also striving for innovations. For example, it is possible to switch between different combat systems depending on your preference. In RPG mode, players hunt using the traditional MMORPG combat system. The action mode, on the other hand, is inspired by newer MMOs like TERA. Here, typical shooter elements such as aiming freely are introduced.

The Repopulation Combat

The game largely avoids linear areas, offering players a dynamic world filled with larger, public quests that fit their chosen play style. Whether as a thief, diplomat, builder, animal tamer, craftsman, or entertainer – many professions and paths are available.

Colonial powers creating a new civilization

The Repopulation World

As is common in sandbox games, there are conflicts over territories. The original goal was to collaboratively colonize a fertile planet and build a new home. However, as history has often taught us, not all settlers involved could agree. Thus, as it had to happen: two factions emerged with differing geopolitical interests. And, of course, they want to enforce them by any means necessary.

To ensure that it doesn’t go unnoticed: PvE fans will also be catered to. PvP is not mandatory, especially since not only humans pose a threat, but also other species that do not want to give up their place in the world without a fight. Additionally, the land still needs merchants or craftsmen who engage in tasks other than fighting.

The latest alpha teaser shows glimpses of the factions system, where it is also possible to build nations that control land – with player-created bases. In general, there is a greater focus on freely building cities or houses – in the open world, mind you – with a multitude of customization options.

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The science fiction MMORPG – the new savior for sandbox fans?

At least on paper, the features sound like paradise for sandbox enthusiasts looking for a fresh, mature setting. For us, it is among the most promising indie MMOs set to be released in the foreseeable future. The components of the game listed here represent only a small part of what is planned for the release. Notably, several mount types, an elaborate pet, crafting, or skill system, with which the character can be extensively customized, are mentioned. The previous trailer gives us even more insights into the gameplay systems of The Repopulation:

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Those who want to check out an early version of the game and support the project can do so through Steam. But beware: one shouldn’t expect too much just yet.

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

Diablo 3: Hacker Misfortune – 9000 dollars seized, earned nothing, life ruined

Two Diablo 3 item hackers had a stroke of bad luck. Although they earned not a dime, they were pursued by the FBI, owe Blizzard a pretty penny, and are considered convicted.

In 2012, the world was also not in order. Blizzard came up with the idea to introduce a real-money auction house in their hack and slash epic “Diablo 3”. This led two hackers, Patrick Nepomuceno and Michael Stinger, to have some foolish thoughts, as reported by the US site Fusion.

According to Stinger’s account, Nepomuceno used a remote access tool with which they could access the computers of people who followed a link that supposedly contained a picture of a “rare item”. In reality, however, this link brought the victims’ computers under Nepomuceno’s control. He logged in the Diablo 3 heroes and took them out.

D3-Auction-House
Real-money auction house

Stinger claims he wasn’t in it for the money. He didn’t even know what was happening exactly. He merely spread the link and enjoyed “free items” in Diablo 3. Nepomuceno remains silent about the accusations against Fusion.

A crime without victims?

They pulled off the stunt on nearly 30 people, it lasted for three months, they seized items worth $9,000, and put them up in the auction house. But Blizzard was quick: The two were banned, and Blizzard returned the stolen items to their owners. So, no one really got harmed, you could say. A crime without victims. All good, right? Well …

On a fine December morning at 6:00 AM, FBI agents came to Stinger with drawn weapons and charged him with a felony. Although no measurable damage had actually occurred to anyone, gaining access to other people’s computers through a tool is no minor offense.

Diablo-3-Ashbringer
Ashbringer: Would definitely be worth a pretty penny today: But the auction house is history.

“It’s just a computer game”

Although the two didn’t make any money from the action – Blizzard banned their accounts before they could sell their loot – the justice system assumed a value of “$8,000” and that catapulted the action into the category of serious crime. The trial, at which the two pleaded guilty, resulted in prison sentences of 2 and 3 years on probation. Additionally, they must pay $5,654.61 to Blizzard for investigative costs.

And perhaps the harshest consequence: They are now considered convicted. While Nepomuceno remains silent, 21-year-old Stinger complains that he is in college and that the black mark on his past will come up in job interviews: “They check my background, and it says that I gained unauthorized access to computers.” That will make it difficult to find a job: “I just wanted virtual items. It was just a computer game.”

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

Destiny: Who needs friends? The first solo heroes are on their way, Urrox must face defeat

In the MMO shooter Destiny the record chase has begun. The first solo kills from the Prison of Elders have been reported. A huntress has defeated the 34-level boss Urrox alone.

Favorite quote of Destiny PvE players: Let’s see if I can do this solo! In the last content, Crota was defeated in every conceivable way. With the new content, it starts again similarly.

A huntress has taken on the 34-level boss “Prison of Elders” Urrox this week and already tackled it alone at level 33. It takes good nerves, a strong strategy, and everything must come together to take down Urrox solo. Normally, he is intended for three grown guardians.

The experts in Destiny are looking at this, nodding confidently, and saying: “I already know what I’ll do next.” The layperson is amazed and wonders.

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League of Legends: Ekko gets a “Prince of Persia” skin

The new champ in League of Legends Ekko can play with time. A sand skin is fitting. It reminds of the “Prince of Persia.”

Anyone wondering: Hmm, skinny guy, one-handed sword, quick, can manipulate time… who does that remind me of? For that, Riot Games is now hinting: The Prince of Persia. The new skin for Ekko may not officially have that name, but one can assume that Riot had it in mind.

“Sandstorm” is the name of the new skin, it will cost 975 Riot Points. By the way, Ekko is quite popular at Riot as a mid-laner, but can also shine in the jungle or on the top lane.

LoL-Ekko-Sandsturm

Three more new skins can also be looked forward to by LoL players… or not – depending on taste. Here are Nightmare Tryndamere, Knockout Lee Sin and Order of the Lotus Irelia. They landed with Sandstorm Ekko this week on the public test server.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Surrender at 20

World of Warcraft: It is official – no flying in Draenor, this also applies to upcoming expansions

In World of Warcraft (WoW) with Patch 6.2, flying will not return. Not in all of Draenor anymore. This also applies to future expansions.

“Flying” is a sensitive topic in WoW. Players have collected a lot of flying mounts over the years. For crafters, collectors, and twinkers, flying was ideal for quickly getting from point A to point B. For years, autonomous flying was one of the unique features of World of Warcraft.

Since the 2014 expansion Warlords of Draenor, there has been no movement on your own dragon, carpet, or demonic mount anymore. Players are grounded in the new world. So far, Blizzard has said: They are considering allowing flying in Draenor later. They are not sure yet.

A decision has now been made.

WoW Reins of the Corrupted Dreadwing

So much for flying

In an interview with Polygon, WoW’s lead designer, Ion Hazzikostas, talks about the topic of “flying.” They initially removed it as an experiment to see what would happen. If you had asked him back then, according to the lead designer, he would have bet that it would come back later.

Now they have seen what the flying ban does to World of Warcraft, and they like it. With flying, the world felt “much smaller” and less adventurous. Players would just fly over difficult spots.

Hazzikostas goes back deep into WoW’s history, before The Burning Crusade, when the first expansion introduced flying mounts: Before, without flying, players had to sneak into enemy camps, rescue prisoners, and fight their way out. With flying, players could land precisely at the prisoner, free him, and simply fly back out.

At Blizzard, they think: Only without flying is there room for secrets, exploration, and adventure.

World-of-Warcraft-Lavahorse

At Blizzard, they never say never, but: At the moment, they think that World of Warcraft is better off overall without flying. It will not be reintroduced for Draenor. That is the direction they are currently heading for the future.

There’s more room for exploration, for secrets, for discovery and overall immersion in the world. At this point, we feel that outdoor gameplay in World of Warcraft is ultimately better without flying. We’re not going to be reintroducing the ability to fly in Draenor, and that’s kind of where we’re at going forward.

This also applies to future expansions, according to Hazzikostas. Maybe there will be exceptions in certain zones if it fits with the ideas. Additionally, they want to continue working on fixed flight paths, the “flight taxis.”

But it is clear: The WoW developers are not fans of players flying over their current and future work.

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

Age of Conan celebrates its 7th birthday, not quite sure how to throw a party

For the seventh birthday of the Free2Play MMO Age of Conan, there is a gift for the players: Two new zones. However, there comes a price tag with it. The festive mood is spoiled.

It’s one of those somewhat unfortunate marketing ideas. One thinks: We are planning new game content anyway and it’s soon birthday time, let’s bring that together. And since it fits so nicely, one forgets that players expect gifts or a celebration for the birthday of an MMO and that free of charge.

They announced an “extended, permanent” version of the birthday event. There should be rewards, a riding bear, a new 1-3 player dungeon with multiple instances. The two “new” zones: The blue mountains and “the snowy tundra of Vanaheim.”

Age-of-Conan-Varnaheim

Sounded good, until players realized: It’s not available for free, it’s behind a paywall. There is the normal version and also a Collector’s Edition in the cash shop.

Funcom-Shop

The reaction in the forum is quite nasty. Some of the “freemium” players complain: We have paid for the last 6 months. For what actually? Another player says: “It’s like coming home and saying to your wife: Happy Birthday, dear! Give me $20, and I’ll take you out to dinner!”

Well. Birthday party a bit ruined.

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Allods Online is trying again on Steam after 5 years

The fantasy MMO Allods Online is trying again on Steam in its “old days.”

Allods Online, the Russian free-to-play MMORPG, has now been around for 5 years. Launched as a successor to free-to-play games like Runes of Magic, the game did not receive the same attention in Europe and North America as it did in Russia. This was mainly due to a controversial launch: The game faced a lot of criticism for its monetization methods.

Allods-Online-Steam

Now the Steam platform has been discovered, and they want to try again here. Currently, the game is in the “Greenlight process” and they are campaigning for community votes. Some free-to-play MMOs have recently made the leap to Valve’s platform. Tera certainly has the most significant successes to report.

Allods Online is currently working on Patch 6.1. From the move to Steam, they hope for an influx of new players and a new platform where the game can be discussed.

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

ArcheAge: So it is – Server mergers are coming

In the sand park MMO ArcheAge , servers will be merged. However, in a slightly different form.

ArcheAge back then: 6 weeks of hype

Looking back at September last year: The queues are huge, the frustration is high. ArcheAge is the new hot thing in the Free2Play market. The first servers quickly filled up, the “emergency reserves” were already made live in the first hours as additional worlds. New servers need to be procured and shipped to Europe. Customs is causing trouble. The influx of players is as large as the frustration over the queues.

ArcheAge_NeueServer

At that time, there was already the fear: When the rush subsides, the new servers will be empty, and ArcheAge will no longer be fun on them. In other games, this is not a problem: servers are merged. For ArcheAge, that would be hard to imagine, as everyone has their property in the open world: especially the “desired building spots” are occupied on every server. If two were merged: Would one then have to take everything away? Would one lose their house and home?

At Trion Worlds, producer Victoria Voss later states in an interview with us: Server mergers would be the last step. The infrastructure is not designed for it. Very difficult. This is not planned.

Still, at the end of the year, the CEO of Trion Worlds gives promising prospects: They expect ArcheAge to develop well, retaining players, announcing record numbers.

However, some mistakes have already been made. Since the mishap of the “Auroria” release in early November, the high flight is over after 6 weeks. The hype is fading. Trion Worlds is getting bogged down in smaller and larger problems.

ArcheAge RangeDD

ArcheAge today: The belt must be tightened

A look at today: The rush in ArcheAge has long since subsided. In 2015, a new producer started, with several content patches running more smoothly this time. Big plans for the future are in place. But the fat times are over, the belt must be tightened. The new servers from back then are indeed relatively empty and “server transfers” have now been officially announced, with most players interpreting that as server mergers.

They traveled to Korea specifically to clarify this with the developers of XLGames, getting the technical “okay” here. In Korea, they are working on automating the manual transfer process as much as possible. They want to do this in a “non-traditional manner”. Further details are not yet available, and the mergers are planned for the second half of 2015.

ArcheAge Tank

The fans in the ArcheAge forum react as they always do to such things: With a shitstorm. At least that hasn’t changed since the early days. However, Trion Worlds has now brought one of the most famous community managers and PR people onto the team, the Everquest veteran with a dwarf fixation, Linda “Brasse” Carlson. She assures now: They are aware of how important land is. They will talk to players for months, gather feedback, and clarify everything.

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Source(s):
  1. Trion Worlds

The Lord of the Rings Online: Game Content 2015 – Minas Tirith, new PvP maps and Bingo Boffin

In the Fantasy MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine has unveiled plans for 2015. A new PvM map is coming, heading to Minas Tirith, and episodic adventures will be introduced.

The producer of The Lord of the Rings Online, Athena Peters, spoke out in the forum and explained the plans for 2015.

In The Lord of the Rings Online, players can look forward to:

  • A new “PvM” map is set to arrive in the summer. “Player versus Monsters”, also known as Ettenmoors, is the game’s “PvP”. Since it would be pointless for the “good races” to fight against each other in The Lord of the Rings Online, it is arranged that half of the players remain with their heroes, while the other half takes on the role of monsters. The new map will be set in the ruins of the city of Osgiliath.
  • Also in the summer, the adventures of the Hobbit “Bingo Boffin” will be told – these will be episodic, with a new one unlocking each week.
Minas Tirith - The Lord of the Rings Online
  • And for the late autumn (which should be around November/December), Minas Tirith is planned. The producer promises an exciting and surprising approach to the siege of Gondor – something that players have never seen before.

What awaits players besides new game content, we will summarize soon in a new article.

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

Destiny: How Trials of Osiris works – Rewards, Win Streaks, Lighthouse

In the MMO shooter Destiny, Bungie has come up with something special. Those who achieve a flawless record in the new event Trials of Osiris will be richly rewarded: They can go to Mercury.

This is how the Trials of Osiris work

Yesterday, the Trials of Osiris went live. Much was already known about the event before, now probably almost everything. For those who are asking: What is this? And much more importantly: What loot is there? Here’s a brief summary:

  • Trials of Osiris is a PvP event
  • It runs weekly from Friday evening at 7:00 PM to Tuesday at 11:00 AM
  • As with Iron Banner, the level advantages are activated
  • It is PvP for pre-made teams of 3 players; there is no matchmaking; Bungie finds your enemies, not your friends
  • The 3-person teams compete in the elimination mode against other teams in a best-of-9 format. Think of it like a tennis match: the first to win 5 sets wins the entire match – where a “set” in the Trials of Osiris lasts only between 30 seconds and a few minutes, while a match usually finds a winner after about 10 minutes
  • The goal is to win as many matches as possible before losing 3
  • You can buy buffs for Passage Coins from Brother Vance that help achieve the goals
Destiny-TrialsofOsiris
This is the Egyptian armor that so many are excited about.

And these are the rewards

There’s a chance for rewards while playing after a match: legendary weapons and armor, but they are from a “different pool of items.”

The actual Trials of Osiris loot works such that each player receives a “scorecard” for 100 Glimmer from Brother Vance. On this “card,” wins and losses are noted. If you have 3 “losses” on the card, you are out of the tournament but can go shopping with the card. Depending on how many wins you have, there are different rewards. You can buy up to and including the win rank, which means that if you win 8 times, you can enjoy all of these rewards.

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Our reader Lightningsoul summarized this; we have added a bit:

  • 2 – Light Particles + Passage Coins
  • 3 – Light Particles + Passage Coins
  • 5 – Armor piece Light 42 for your own class (these are the ones with the Egyptian look, for anyone asking: Where can I find the Egyptian armors?)
  • 6 – Ethereal Light + Passage Coins, there’s also a chance for Exotics
  • 7 – Legendary weapon 365 – there are a total of 9, but this is not sure at the moment
  • 8 – Ethereal Light + Light Particles, there’s also a chance for Exotics and legendary Trials of Osiris gear
Destiny-Vance
The image shows the inventory of Brother Vance from a player who goes to him with a full card and is just opening the reward on level 8.

It’s important to note that the rewards for levels 5 and 7 will change weekly. However, the two guaranteed “Ethereal Lights” are worth it. They are the key to Light Level 34.

You can also buy back into the tournament for 100 Glimmer. This can be done as often as the players want.

Only the tough get into the garden: The Lighthouse

It was clear in advance: something would happen at “9 Wins”. The catch: nothing happens at 9 Wins alone. Players must actually achieve “9 Wins without a loss” for this banner to appear:

Destiny-Makelloser-Sieg

Then players can select an “exclusive zone on Mercury” and can travel there: The Lighthouse, Caloris Spires on Mercury. This is the “secret” social space, which the dataminers have already found. The image was sent to us by a reader:

Destiny-Der-Leuchtturm

The first players to discover this and travel there were, to put it mildly, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

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(If this is too Broman after 5 seconds, here is the relaxed Swiss version):

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The rewards for the flawless players are impressive: there’s also Ethereal Light, Passage Coins, Light Particles, a chance for Exotics, and special emblems, as well as special editions of the legendary weapons.

It is important that players have room for the emblem before they open the chest. There have been complaints about this: it will not be sent afterwards, but simply disappear.

The weapons that can be contained in the chest with the “Master” perk are similar to “Prison of Elders” special variants of the weapons sold by Brother Vance. Here, the elemental damage is rolled when “looting the chest.”

Destiny-Juwel-von-Osiris

And what about the fate of all fools?

The exotic scout rifle “Fate of All Fools” has not yet been found by anyone in the game. It seems that this will come later, if at all, and is currently not obtainable. Some had speculated that it would be tied to the 9 Wins … doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment.

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

Echo of Soul: Open Beta soon, everyone can try it now

The Korean MMORPG “Echo of Soul” will transition to Open Beta on May 28. Although the game is officially still in Closed Beta, there are essentially no more restrictions: Everyone can now take their first steps as a Soulkeeper in the world of EoS.

For those who haven’t checked out this action-packed F2P MMO from the creators of Lineage 2, the ongoing stress test offers a chance to do so. Players who reach level 45 in Closed Beta will also be rewarded with the unique costume accessory “Pioneer Feather”. However, achieving this milestone requires constant sprinting. Because on Monday, the servers will go offline to prepare the game for the soft launch next Thursday. You can sign up and get started on the official website.

Note that all progress from the Closed Beta will otherwise be deleted. Starting from the Open Beta, there will be no worries about losses: server wipes will be a thing of the past. In that sense, it can be equated with a normal release.

Echo of Soul Screenshot

Still unsure about what kind of game this is? Then we recommend our first impression of Echo of Soul and whether there is a suitable class for you, you can read here. Echo of Soul relies on a wide range of tried-and-tested content. In summary: It is a classic theme park MMO that aims to attract players with high accessibility and some new impulses. For example, there is the possibility to level up through PvP or PvE and randomly generated dungeons that promise variety.

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Guild Wars 2: Stuttering Beta for Heart of Thorns starts

In the fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2, there will be an hourly closed beta for Heart of Thorns on May 26th and 27th.

Some time ago, we introduced a fresh idea from ArenaNet: Monsters in the regions of Dry Top and Silverwastes could suddenly drop the coveted invitations for the closed beta test for the expansion ‘Heart of Thorns’.

Now ArenaNet has announced what these drops entitled players to: There are a total of 6 hours spread over three two-hour blocks in the evening and at night from Tuesday, May 26th to May 27th.

  • May 26th, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM CEST
  • May 27th, from 12:30 AM to 2:30 AM CEST
  • May 27th, from 4:30 AM to 6:30 AM CEST

In the beta, players can already play the new Revenant, parts of the new story are available, as well as the outpost on the map “Green Gates” and a partially completed version of the meta-event in this zone.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. GW2

Skyforge: Rats in the City – the new location Veines in the Panorama

The fantasy MMO Skyforge presents a new location with the city of Veines.

It must be really terrible to endure existence as a mortal on the planet Aelion. They must reproduce like rabbits there, as low as the life expectancy is, and as high the chances of falling victim to some monsters, aliens or divine outbursts of rage.

This time Skyforge introduces the city “Veines”: Again it is said, “The once peaceful city.” By now, one could describe any spot in the world like this: “Once it was peaceful here, now gigantic, flesh-eating plants; crazed mechs; humanoid killer rats; insane sea creatures lurk for the players.”

Skyforge-Veines-Wachen

Veines has reapers of death, the rat-like Vrid and new creatures that sound quite snakelike: vipers, hydras, gorgonids (that’s the scientific name of the Medusa).

The Allods Team has prepared a panoramic image. You can view Vines in 3D here. Safely.

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

Destiny: The new endgame lasted no more than 3 hours – 1 class was enough

In the MMO shooter Destiny , the new endgame activity “The Prison of Elders” lasted a little over two and a half hours before the first players defeated it.

On Wednesday evening around 7:00 PM, House of Wolves went live. It took a few hours, and the first prominent Destiny players reported “Mission Accomplished.” Someone from Invigorate-Gaming finished around 12:09 and tweeted that, although without video. It’s always a thing. Of course, that didn’t stop Invigorate from letting out a little cheer.

Among the streamers, The HM05 was likely at the forefront, as he had previously delivered special raid performances and worked tirelessly on how to defeat Crota with this or that handicap.

Due to his celebrity status and the video, it was assumed that he and his team were the first to defeat Skolas at level 35 . Among known Destiny players, they were the fastest and allowed themselves to be celebrated as winners for a couple of days. US sites reported on the same evening about the alleged first in the World-First race. 12:18 was given as the time, and a video was provided to prove it.

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“We had more than half an hour lead over the next streamers,” it says on reddit. However, it couldn’t be said if someone faster was not streaming.

So, did one of the usual suspects with a large fan base or the ambition to achieve something like this win? No.

The tactic was: Omission

Because the announcement of the winner in the World-First race is now up to Bungie. They have determined the fastest team.

They were neither streamers nor players who had made a name for themselves so far, but they must have planned and executed this very well. At 21:24, the kill had already occurred. That should be according to our time. It would have taken about 2 hours and 20 minutes after the content “House of Wolves” started until the hardest part was already over. Everything must have gone according to plan or even better for the three.

Titan Power – once again

Destiny Schedule

At 8:00 PM, the Nightfall was completed, at 8:13 the story was wrapped up quickly, at 8:25 the 28 version of Prison of Elders, at 8:50 the 32 version, then they skipped the 34 version and went straight for the 35 version. Logically: In the 32 version you get an armor core, allowing the players to reach level 33, assuming the upgrade of an exotic. With 32, the 35 boss would not have been feasible: The damage penalty would have been too high.

Apparently, they accomplished this with three Titans. It was already said beforehand that they could prove to be very strong in the Prison of Elders due to their bubble. It seems that this held true. However, due to Bungie’s system, it cannot be determined afterwards which specialization the players had. So it could also have been one or more Punchbros… although the Bubblebro variant is more likely.

Destiny Titan

Currently, there are no major details or a kill video available. But it seems like an outsider has triumphed or… the Titan power has struck again.

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Heroes of the Storm: Sacrilege! Blizzard takes the Space Marine’s cigar

As hardcore Starcraft fans will notice, Tychus becomes a non-smoker in Blizzard’s MOBA “Heroes of the Storm”. Blizzard cuts off his cigar.

It is one of the iconic images from Starcraft: The visor of a Space Marine lifts and a cloud of cigar smoke wafts out. The distinctive cigar gave “Tychus Findlay”, an avid cigar smoker, a personality, as some fans believe.

In the MOBA “Heroes of the Storm”, Blizzard reuses all heroes. Here, Tychus, a Gatling gunner, is depicted as a non-smoker. This was seen in a new skin “Prisoner Tychus”, which was briefly visible in a trailer. Ironically, the act of smoking a cigar was prominently featured in the now 8-year-old teaser trailer for Starcraft 2, clearly used as a stylistic element and identifying feature. Something that cool tough guys do. But times change.

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The idea that one could do without a cigar must have only recently occurred to Blizzard. Apparently, a cigar was initially planned for Tychus in this skin. It was later removed. At Kotaku, an expert in such pop culturally significant questions, they believe it might be because Blizzard does not want a “tobacco reference” in the ESRB rating and therefore opted out.

In a thematically closely related news, the absurdly large nipple rings of Azmodan stand out: They have clearly been enlarged compared to D3.

All of this sounds amusing, but for some it is indeed a reason for excitement. The related thread on reddit has been quite active. There is even an official statement from Blizzard. It states that showing this cigar would be banned in some “countries”. So, they would have to make “two versions” of Tychus to make everything fit. They didn’t want that. Therefore, they removed it. The “multi-nationality” of the game has thus led to the need to pay attention to the different regulations here.

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

How Elins saved TERA in swimsuits

That TERA has seen a great influx since its release on Steam has already been mentioned. However, an interesting side story illustrates how essential individual items in the cash shops of free-to-play games often are. And how could it be different in a game with a lot of bare skin? Of course, it’s about swimsuits.

Japan’s Influence in the Ingame Shop

The former producer of Bluehole Studios, Kim Nak Heong, has revealed a bit about TERA’s past. Originally, the intention was to present the Castanic as a “beautiful” race to appeal to a broad audience in many countries. For this reason, the horned women are also in the spotlight of most trailers. The developers were relatively surprised that the Elin prevailed as the most popular race, which is also reflected in the sales of swimsuits in the ingame shop: The revenue from Elin swimsuits is greater than that of all other races combined. Curiously: Only a few months before release the Elin were not even planned as a separate race.

In fact, Elins weren’t supposed to be its own separate race. It was just a female Popori. We only changed it two months before the release of the game. When we received feedback from those in North America, they were asking “How do these guys reproduce?” They didn’t really understand how animal-like Popori and human-like Elins could mate. We didn’t really think this through either. So ultimately, we decided to separate Elins from Poporis in the race selection screen. Even the name “Elin” was decided during that time. They were just going to be female Poporis.

Other outfits, whose design motivations often came from Japan, are said to be responsible for TERA’s persistence. In particular, the typical maid outfits have been a big bestseller and have ensured that TERA could easily transition from a subscription model to a free-to-play model.

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Who would have thought that a race originally designed as a filler race would one day save an entire game? So that is the story behind why the action MMO is in such good shape today, regularly receiving large content updates, and ranks among the most successful MMORPGs worldwide. By the way, the game is doing particularly well in the West. So well, in fact, that it is performing better in NA/EU than in Asia.

If we didn’t bother with Elin school swimsuits because Tera was unpopular in Japan back then, Tera right now would be in a completely different state.

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

ArenaNet introduces changes to the WvW of Guild Wars 2

Changes and improvements keep an MMORPG alive and ensure that it remains interesting. Therefore, developers periodically introduce major updates, altering some features.

The MMORPG Guild Wars 2 will introduce some changes to the WvW system with the upcoming expansion Heart of Thorns. These changes include:

  • No supplies are required for upgrades anymore.
  • The storage capacity for supplies and the size of supply deliveries will be reduced.
  • Upgrading no longer costs any gold.
  • Individual upgrade options are now grouped into ranks.
  • Upgrading to the next rank occurs automatically after a certain period of time.
  • There are two ranks for storage and three for all other objectives.
  • The higher the rank to which one wishes to upgrade, the longer the upgrade will take.
  • With each delivery from a Dolyak caravan, the remaining time will be reduced by a certain amount.
  • The time required for a complete upgrade of an objective remains approximately the same.

Additionally, there are these improvements to the WvW upgrade system:

  • The number of trait ranks for “Brawler” and “Defense Against Guards” has been reduced from 10 to 5.
  • “Applied Valor” and “Applied Strength” have been removed from the trait lines “Defense Against Guards” and “Brawler”.
  • Trait lines with a bonus of 1% to 5% now receive a bonus of 2% to 10%.
  • The total cost of siege weapon trait lines has been reduced from 75 points to 60 points.
  • The total cost of the trait line “Supply Carrying Capacity” has been reduced from 300 points to 145 points.
  • “Supply Master” and “Terror of Mercenaries” remain unchanged at 15 points.
  • All progress paths for traits with five ranks have been unified and now include 35 points.
  • All progress paths for traits with four ranks have been unified and now include 15 points.

So, anyone who enjoys playing in the WvW of the MMORPG Guild Wars 2 and wishes for a little more flair can look forward to the release of the add-on Heart of Thorns, which is set to be released later this year. According to Amazon, this could be the case by the end of June.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. guildwars2.com

My MMO asks: Do you play alone or in fixed groups?

As every Friday (if we don’t forget *cough*), we want to ask you a question again today and are curious about your opinions! The question is quite simple, but the answer might not be: Do you play MMOs solo or in fixed groups?

The more, the better

World of Warcraft: Nostalgia
Little break by the campfire after questing together? That evokes nostalgia.

In the early days of the MMO genre, many things were unwritten laws: Anyone who wanted to have fun with World of Warcraft or the first Guild Wars had to act in groups. Social interaction made MMOs truly appealing, because if we are honest for a moment: Almost every single-player RPG would have entertained us better than a vacant online world ten years ago. Story was minimal in the quests, exciting boss fights were a rarity during the leveling phase, and the environments were often so expansive that after many minutes of walking, one would frequently wonder if they couldn’t better spend their time.

And yet, MMOs captivated for many hours, if not even months or years, because you could experience them with others. Raids for 40 people or a player-driven economy created incentives to interact with other characters. When there were no game contents, people just created their own (like PvP in Hillsbrad – Tarren Mill vs Southshore).

Many games in one

Nowadays, MMORPGs are often many games in one. There are extensive solo quest lines with cutscenes and decision options, often numerous mini-games (Triple Triad, Pet Battles, etc.) and plenty of content that can be tackled alone. The latest MMOs are also increasingly showcasing so-called dynamic events, where groups are formed automatically. However, the heroes mostly complete tasks “anonymously”, without saying a word to a fellow player.

Many MMOs have now become solid single-player titles, and to have fun, you often don’t need other players at all. The needs of players have changed significantly in recent years. And so, I now come to our question through long detours: How do you consume MMOs; in groups or alone?

WildStar
“Can we play together?” – “???”

Cortyn says: In the past, there was little I could do alone in WoW, except perhaps raise my reputation with Darnassus. Nowadays, there are many contents specifically tailored for solo players, such as the personal progress bar in WildStar. Essentially, this is a good expansion and allows many MMOs to reach a larger audience, although they are drifting further away from their original justification for existence: social contacts. WildStar, TESO, WoW, GW2 or TERA can now be played alone without problems, and one can have fun for many hours. However, these games can’t really keep me engaged for long if I can’t gather players around me. Still, I keep encountering people who only occasionally visit the auction house, but otherwise want their peace.

How do you play MMOs? Do you have fixed groups and can’t have fun without them? Or do you often enjoy such games alone and find the other players disturbing? And above all: Why? Let us know in the comments!

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

Neverwinter: Free2Play MMO gets Guild Fortresses in a PvP module

In the action MMO “Neverwinter”, guilds will soon have the opportunity to claim a stronghold. This means guild PvP and lord tower.

In Neverwinter, players will soon fulfill their childhood dream of being a knight residing in a stronghold. With the announced seventh expansion “Strongholds”, guilds will be able to seize their own stronghold and defend it.

Neverwinter-Strongholds-Banner

However, they will not just move into a ready-made nest and find everything superb, but they will have to get the castle in shape first. They will need to “pacify” the surrounding area (meaning defeat monsters), then reinforce the castle and finally defend it against attacking monsters or other players.

The Executive Producer describes the expansion as a step towards players being able to write and develop “their own stories”. It involves them liberating a land overrun by orcs with their guild, and then defending their little patch of earth against all invaders.

This sounds like a really exciting addition to the game. The expansion is expected to arrive this summer. Also announced for this year is the module “Underdark”, which is likely to appeal more to PvE fans.

Neverwinter Strongholds
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Destiny: Xur, Agent of the Nine, offer and location on 22nd May.

In the MMO shooter Destiny on Friday, May 22nd, Xur, the Agent of the Nine, will make his first appearance in the Tower or the Reef after the DLC. Does he already have new exotic weapons and armor? Where is he located? What does he have to offer?

Little is known about Xur so far. Whether he will appear in the new Reef is uncertain, but it is considered possible. What he will have to offer cannot be predicted at this point. However, much should become clear soon: His arrival is imminent.

Could Xur have the new exotic weapons and armor for sale?

It seems that the 5 new exotic weapons found in the database are likely out of his reach. He probably won’t sell any of them, not just this Friday, but never. The three “Fallen weapons”: the pistol Dreg’s Promise, the shotgun Lord of the Wolves, and the fusion rifle Queenbreakers’ Bow are Raid weapons, that much is known. Xur typically does not sell those.

Nothing has been heard about the “Fate of All Fools” yet. If it is in the game, it is likely somehow tied to the “Trials of Osiris“. This would likely exclude it from Xur’s offerings. Perhaps we will know more by tomorrow around this time, when the first guardians have achieved the “Nine Wins” in the Trials of Osiris.

Destiny-Ram

Also, no one has randomly found the last new exotic weapon, the “347 Vesta Dynasty” in the game. It is even assumed that it never truly made it to Destiny, but was an early version of the hand cannon “Vestian Dynasty” and was left behind as data residue.

However, there are increasing reports of guardians randomly finding exotic armor pieces. This means: These 9 new exotic armor pieces could be gradually sold by Xur.

Destiny-Xur

All about Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on May 22nd, 23rd, and 24th in Destiny

When does Xur come and when does he leave again?

Xur arrives on May 22nd at 11:00 AM; he leaves again on Sunday, May 24th at 11:00 AM CEST.

Where is Xur located?

Xur is somewhat hidden in a doorway in the Reef. Our friends from ProNDC will show you exactly where he is hiding.

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What’s up with the numbers in parentheses?

These are the values that the armor piece reaches in this edition. We do not yet know new parameters for the values in Strength, Intellect, and Discipline.

What does Xur have for sale this week?

Xur has the exotic hand cannon The Last Word” for sale this week. It can be acquired for 23 strange coins. It certainly comes just in time for the Trials of Osiris, which start this evening.

Destiny-Das-Letzte-Wort-225

For Titans, he sells the gloves “No Plan B” (106/111). The armor pieces cost 13 strange coins each.

Destiny-Kein-Plan-B-225

For Hunters, he has the boots “Radiant Dance Machines” (136/144).

Destiny-Strahlende-Tanzmaschienen-225

For Warlocks, the chest armor “Starfire Protocol” (166/175).

Destiny-Sternenfeuerprotokoll-225

This is likely to be quite disappointing, as there are no new DLC items on offer.

The helm engram might be really attractive to players. Anyone wanting to try their luck here might receive one of the 3 new helms. However, the likelihood of getting the exact right one seems to decrease further. As a new “exchange option,” Xur offers to exchange 2 strange coins for a light particle.

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