Even in the third week of the expansion “Blackrock Mountain” for Blizzard’s card game Hearthstone, we can again expect three bosses and two class challenges that will bring us a total of 6 new cards.
After helping Lord Victor Nefarius in previous weeks to defeat the dwarves and fire elementals, we now turn against our former quest giver and head into Blackrock Spire. Highlord Omokk, General Drakkisath, and the well-known Rend Blackhand await a challenge and offer exciting mechanics that are particularly tricky in heroic mode. Those who have defeated all three can then attempt the class challenges for Priest and Druid, which are rather straightforward.
Almost all of the cards from the new wing have convinced me. The “Core Hound” will find its way into many Rush Hunter decks and might lure out the occasional big game hunter. With the “Dragon Companion”, it is now possible to create quite decent Paladin dragon decks, and the Priest’s “Twilight Whelp” has fantastic stats when you have many of the flying monstrosities in the deck. The Druid receives another powerful tank: The “Volcanic Lurker” will often ensure an early surrender of the opponent when combined with a Claw.
The legendary card “Rend Blackhand” I find to be extremely weak. Too many factors must occur simultaneously for it to be useful. In the worst case, you might not even be able to play it because you would have to sacrifice one of your own legendary minions if the opponent has none on the field. Only in combination with Sylvanas could that still make sense…
The trailer for Star Wars Battlefront has finally been released, which many have been eagerly anticipating.
Today was a bit chaotic for Star Wars Battlefront. The big information surge was supposed to happen only after fans at home had seen the highly anticipated trailer. However, the information embargo was broken a few hours early and the info deluge poured over the waiting fans before the trailer.
Anyway, here is the trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront, a new multiplayer shooter developed by DICE and heavily hyped by the global PR machinery. The trailer is said to have been created with in-game assets and their own Frostbite engine. Only a few cinematic settings have been used, but otherwise, nothing is fake. Everything is in the game. They wanted to prove that they could make their own trailers with the game engine of Star Wars: Battlefront.
Yesterday, selected journalists were shown the trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront, the hype of the moment. The game was also presented, and media questions were answered.
Actually, all of this should have remained under wraps until the trailer is shown tonight. But one site broke ranks and published their article already. Then EA quickly lifted the embargo, and now we have the mess: There are already about 800 pieces of information about the game, and many were looking forward to enjoying the trailer first. But that is still missing.
We have gathered and filtered out the 12 most important facts and impressions from the information flood of English-speaking gaming sites.
It orients itself to the “classic” trilogy and takes the new films into account, but pretends that the prequels never existed.
Star Wars Battlefront will be a First-Person Shooter and a Third-Person Shooter, players can choose the perspective they prefer.
It will focus on planetary battles, there will likely be nothing with space; but the various iconic vehicles will play a role: the AT-AT walkers, speeders, Y-Wing bombers, X-Wings, the Millennium Falcon, and there should also be dogfights.
The largest mode Walker Assault includes 40 players.
They pay extreme attention to the look of the game, it should be as close as possible to the first trilogy; they also use special effects that you would expect more in cinema.
Star Wars Battlefront starts with 4 planets: Tatooine, Hoth, Endor, and Sullust.
Before the release of the 7th film, there will be the first free DLC on December 8. It will be called “Battle of Jakku” and will closely relate to the new film. Pre-order customers can start on December 1.
There will likely be some sort of special “hero” and “villain” characters, like Vader or Boba Fett, that players can embody. They are not only powerful but also the main targets for enemies.
First impression: Looks incredibly good, but there has been little gameplay shown so far.
The focus is on the online mode, but single scenarios should also be possible, which players can tackle solo, in co-op or in split-screen; there will be no campaign.
There are no “classes” planned, but players define themselves by the weapons they choose, thermal grenades, air strikes, Darth Vader’s patented choking maneuver, blasters, and lightsabers have already been spotted.
The fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV will also support DirectX 11 with the Heavensward expansion. This is noticeable in the first screenshots.
In a new dev blog, which is currently only available in Japanese, Square Enix shows a screenshot captured with the current DirectX9 client and places the same image alongside the DirectX11 client. The differences are enormous.
Shadows play a much larger role and especially the reflection is striking. Later this month, a new benchmark is expected to be released, allowing players to ensure that their computers can run Heavensward . The add-on will be released on June 23.
DirectX 9
And here is DirectX11
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2 the April Fools’ joke has been brought to the Gem Store. Players can now, as needed, run around as an airplane or better said: as someone who thinks they are an airplane.
We could just resist the “Finally! Flying mounts in Guild Wars 2” headline: For 400 Gems there is a new item in the GW2 store that brings back the “April Fools’ joke”.
When you logged in on April 1st, you saw a sepia-colored world, your own hero stretched out their arms and made airplane noises while running – noises that a child might think airplanes sound like.
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.
So now you can run around at any time if you wish. For 400 Gems there is a box that you can place, whoever interacts with it will become an airplane (or a guy who thinks he is an airplane).
However, other players do not see that someone is devotedly training for a Pixar movie.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, the vendor Xur is selling the exotic hand cannon “The Last Word” this weekend. Is the weapon worth the 23 strange coins?
A Power Still in the Crucible
“The Last Word” is an exotic hand cannon in Destiny and therefore a primary weapon that deals kinetic damage. Especially in the Crucible, it was considered feared for a long time and consistently ranked among the top spots in surveys. At that time in November, when very few had the weapon, it even made it into the top 3. A real cult had formed around it. In January, it still managed to secure 6th place in the big reddit survey.
Even after several changes in the weapon balance patch, which limited the range of hand cannons, it is still considered one of the strongest all-purpose weapons in the Crucible, although it has strong competition from the Hawkmoon for PlayStation players.
Hand cannons are particularly suitable for experienced players who can aim well and quickly.
Shooting from the Hip
The special feature of “The Last Word” is that it should be fired “from the hip”, meaning without aiming down sights. Only then does the gun unleash its full potential. It is therefore important to land headshots in rapid succession without zooming in. With this approach, it can defeat most enemies in the Crucible in one-on-one situations at medium range. As special ammunition and shotguns have become rarer with the current patch, it may shine even stronger in the future.
Its strengths include immense stopping power and stability. It just fires well, thanks also to the area fire, a perk that allows for automatic firing.
This “quick firing” comes at a cost, however: The small magazine (only 8 shots) empties quickly. Therefore, shooters should certainly ensure that every shot counts and reload whenever possible.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The design of the weapon was inspired by gunslingers from the Wild West, who, in reality, likely never existed in such a pronounced manner as in our Hollywood-influenced version of the late 19th century.
Essentially, “The Last Word” is a weapon like from a classic western: You draw quickly, shoot fast, and then reload. As a special gimmick, Bungie has come up with a unique shooting technique: The Guardian, while firing, presses down the hammer with the palm to speed up shooting. This is called the “fanning” technique.
No one in the Wild West probably shot like this, but rather in films about this time. In “real life,” it would be detrimental for the revolver and the shooter’s accuracy. Fortunately, we are not in real life! It just looks cool.
Conclusion:“The Last Word” is one of the cult weapons in Destiny and worth buying for anyone who has 23 coins left and doesn’t think of Berlin first when it comes to the “Crucible”. The distinct style of the weapon should justify the investment.
In PvE, however, there is hardly any reason to use the weapon. Primary weapons without elemental damage are not very sought after anyway. The small magazine further undermines “The Last Word”‘s effectiveness.
Playing with hand cannons is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s an attractive playstyle with a relatively high “skill ceiling”: Good players can extract a lot from the firearm. It is a weapon to train and perfect skill in the Crucible.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Two weeks have passed again and HiRez brings us a new patch for SMITE. This time there is no new god and only a few balancing changes, but a good amount of bug fixes and some quality-of-life improvements. Of course, there are also two new premium skins that we want to give away to the public!
Demoness and Ninja
Just a few weeks ago, Bellona made her debut in SMITE and already she is getting a premium skin! The “Torment” Bellona obviously comes straight from hell or its Roman counterpart – new animations and a voice pack that will freeze your blood in your veins make her a true addition to any collection.
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.
But Xbalanque also gets some attention and no longer has to rely on his rather silly football skins. The new “Shinobalanque” skin turns the hunter into a real ninja, and he also gets a voice pack filled with plenty of flat jokes about ninjas.
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.
You want to win one of the two new skins that also unlock the respective god? Just leave a comment under this post and tell us if you prefer to fight on the battlefields of SMITE as a ninja or a demoness. Both skins will be given away 3 times each. Multiple entries are, of course, not allowed, and the giveaway will run until April 20, 2015, at 8 PM! Good luck! (And seriously: You want the demoness!)
Giveaway closed!
Medusa Nerf
As expected, the snake fangs of Medusa will be slightly trimmed, as her lethality has exceeded all expectations. The “Viper Shot” will be mercilessly nerfed: It now costs 10 more mana at every rank, scales only with 10% of physical power (previously 15%), the fixed damage has been reduced by 20%, and the attack speed has also been throttled. To reduce her particularly high effectiveness in the early minutes of a match, “Lacerate” deals less damage at lower ranks, but the maximum value remains unchanged.
Ultimate Time Display
With the last patch, it was tested with Thor and now it will be implemented for all gods: The ultimates will receive a visual effect showing how long they will last. This affects all gods that “fly” in some manner (like Freya, Thanatos, etc.) and all characters who have a set amount of time to trigger an effect after activation (Scylla, Ymir, Guan Yu). These changes could be considered a small buff, as the corresponding abilities can now be planned with a bit more precision than before.
It is Friday and you all know what that means: We want to hear your opinion and discuss a bit with you in the comments! Today we are dedicating ourselves to a topic that is only indirectly related to MMOs but has gained more and more importance in recent years: crowdfunding.
Everyone has probably heard the terms “Kickstarter”, “Startnext”, or “Patreon” in recent months. Crowdfunding is about the financing of a planned project being supported by the masses (=Crowd). This gives anyone who wants to realize something the opportunity to bring it into reality. Of course, only if they can find enough people who are willing to support this project financially (these are the “Backers”). Often, backers receive small “goodies” as a thank you, such as a dedication or, in the case of particularly high amounts, they can even influence the project.
Cortyn says: I also have some experience with crowdfunding. Essentially, the work on my book is also somewhat compensated by it (although it is more of a small “crowd” than a large mass). But even as a “backer” I have already participated in the financing of a project. Some of you may still remember the audio play “Allimania”, and the 20th episode was financed through donations on “Startnext”. That was two years ago, and the episode has still not been released. On the one hand, that is a bit sad, but at least the person responsible keeps their fans updated with audio samples and progress reports.
Star Citizen, with over 80 million dollars the most successful crowdfunding project. This is how it is Chris Roberts’ possibility to realize his vision of a modern sci-fi space simulation, which many obviously share.
[pullquote]For me, crowdfunding is one of the few pieces of evidence that people can still realize their visions in today’s times if they manage to inspire enough other people to do so.[/pullquote]Although crowdfunding poses many dangers for backers, as there are hardly any legal regulations to adhere to the plan, such as a timeline or product quality, the advantages clearly outweigh for me. People with a dream can fulfill it, and with a chunk of money, many things can be accomplished.
As a “backer”, one must only make one thing clear: you have no ownership claims, as you are donating voluntarily because you believe in the creativity and performance of a person or group. You are not “buying” anything in advance. You only hope that the desired project will be successful and that you will like it in the end. For me, crowdfunding is one of the few pieces of evidence that people can still realize their visions in today’s times if they manage to inspire enough other people to do so.
Which crowdfunding projects is the Mein MMO community involved in?
Michel supports, for example, the sci-fi MMO “The Repopulation” and above all Star Citizen, the most successful crowdfunding project of all time.
Chris Utirons, after initial skepticism, has taken a liking to the sandbox MMORPG Albion Online.
Zunjin is looking forward to the PvP successor in the spirit of Dark Age of Camelot: Camelot Unchained.
Then it seems that several, including m-coaster, have discovered the new MMO hope Crowfall for themselves.
Shroud of the Avatar or H1Z1 have also appeared a few times in the comments.
…many appreciate the transparency of the developers and the feeling of being part of the project. However, skepticism also seeps through.
And now to you: Have you had experiences with crowdfunding? If yes, what have you supported and why? If you would like to share, let us know how strongly you supported something and what you hoped for from it! Were your expectations met, or did you regret it? Or do you generally reject this kind of project funding? Let us know and discuss with us!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , Xur arrives on Friday, April 17th. He is a vendor of exotic items, but you can never know in advance what he will have available. His inventory is a surprise on April 17th.
Only the exotic machine gun Thunderlord is missing; otherwise, Xur has had every item he can sell in the last months since his first appearance in September. Of course, that doesn’t mean much.
In the early weeks, hardly anyone knew him and many current guardians only started playing Destiny around Christmas or in 2015. Some players have since switched classes or taken on additional guardians. Therefore, not everyone has all the weapons and armor Xur has ever carried. Others simply lacked the currency in between.
The thing that is still missing.
Xur’s Price List: How many strange coins the exotic weapons and armor cost at Xur
Xur only accepts strange coins as currency for the golden treasures. He wants 23 for primary weapons, 17 for special and heavy weapons, and 13 for armor pieces. By the way, it doesn’t matter where the weapons are ultimately worn; only the weapon type counts. So, Neither Land Beyond nor the Universal Remote, even if used as primary weapons due to a special perk, only costs 17 strange coins.
Bungie hasn’t said anything yet about whether and how Xur will be adjusted for the next DLC “House of Wolves”. Before “Darkness Awaits,” he was significantly changed. One of his new jobs, upgrading old exotic armor and weapons, will likely be handled differently soon, expanded, or perhaps even reassigned.
All about Xur, the strange coin dealer, on April 17th, 18th, and 19th in Destiny
When does Xur come to the Tower, how long does he stay?
Xur arrives on Friday, April 17th, at 11:00 AM. He leaves on Sunday, April 19th, at 11:00 AM. He stays for 48 hours.
Where is Xur?
Xur is thirsty and stands in the bar, the lounge.
http://youtu.be/ktiZoDMm0Y0
What’s with the numbers on the armor pieces?
These are the values in intellect, discipline, and strength. They can vary within certain parameters that differ by armor type: chest armors can reach the highest values, while gloves have the lowest. The principle is: the higher, the better. Here you can find more details.
What does Xur have this week?
Xur is selling this week the exotic hand cannon “The Last Word. The prediction has once again come true. The hand cannon is still considered a widowmaker in the Crucible and is indeed one of the absolute eye-catchers in Destiny due to its special firing technique.
For Titans, he has the Helm of Saint-14 (very strong 117/125) with him.
And the Warlocks receive another chance to acquire the Voidfang Vestment (144/155).
This week, there is also a chest engram and as always heavy ammo synths.
Which weapons and armor can he upgrade this week?
The thing about upgrading weapons and armor will probably be completely overhauled with House of Wolves. At the moment, Xur still plays a big role in the method. Here’s more about it.
These armors can Xur upgrade this week
For Hunters, the helm “Weakhead Radar” (94/101)
And the Achylophage Symbiote (strong 117/125)
For Titans, the chest armor Crest of Alpha Lupi (129/139)
And the Helm of Inmost Light (138/148)
For Warlocks, the chest Heart of Praxic Fire (141/151)
Some things are already known about the upcoming World of Warcraft Patch 6.2. Now, the first images of the new Tier 18 sets have also surfaced. New mounts and other items have also been discovered by data miners.
Which set looks the best?
This question is of course purely subjective. But for me, the clear winner is the Paladin Tier 18 set. Even the midriff-baring armor of the Druids can’t compete – how does it look on Tauren?
In the SF-MMO Star Trek Online, the arrival of the Iconians, an ancient race of dangerously patient and above all, vengeful aliens, is imminent. Next Tuesday, on the 21st of April, Season 10 begins.
Star Trek Online turns the page to the next chapter. For Season 10, they have come up with some interesting ideas, found a worthy opponent in the Iconians, and also enlisted some actors to reprise their old roles. With the expansion Delta Rising, some of the former Voyager actors were brought on board. This time, Robert McNeill (Tom Paris) is newly involved. The actress who portrayed his daughter in the series was also signed on for the season.
The Iconians will care very little about who provides the voice acting. Their plan spans over 200,000 years. They will likely be able to wait until next Tuesday, the 21st of April.
http://youtu.be/oI8XV8NLWz8
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, there were new updates from the developer Bungie from Thursday to Friday night. They announced the date for the next live stream and paid tribute to the purple ball.
Once a week, Destiny’s Community Manager, DeeJ, addresses the Guardians and shares what’s new. In the past, some fans have criticized his elaborate style: he often says very little with many paragraphs.
So this time he made fun of himself and paid tribute to the “most important thing in Destiny,” the “new ball” in the Tower. He talked about how beautiful and important it is. He brought in a developer who described how the ball captures the essence of Destiny. And he quoted the probably biggest Destiny YouTuber Datto on the topic, who expressed his confusion about how Bungie could ever top this masterpiece.
Important date announced
Well, he deserves the fun. An important date can be gleaned from the Weekly Update. On Wednesday, April 22, at 8:00 PM our time, a live stream will take place.
Here, the new “Social Space” of House of Wolves will be introduced: The Reef. And the Guardians will find out how upgrading legendary and exotic weapons will work. A picture showing the “300” Fatebringer sparked excitement, suggesting it could soon be upgraded to the new maximum value of 365. Because the Fatebringer comes from the “old” raid “Vault of Glass” and had previously not even been upgraded to the level of the first DLC – now it seems it will be able to perform at full power with “House of Wolves”.
If this applies to all legendary weapons and armor, Guardians will soon have plenty of options.
And the blades of Crota are now almost gone
A question that has also reached us today is now officially addressed by Bungie: “What is going on with the blades of Crota?” They have not been encountered in patrols on the Moon since the patch, but are still present in the “Fist of Crota” mission.
Tomorrow, on April 17, the vendor Xur is certainly expected in the Tower. He will be available at 11:00 AM. We will report on this in this post.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Star Wars: Battlefront, which is supposed to be the best Star Wars game of all time, a release date has now leaked out of nowhere. Now it is time to mark a specific day in bold on the calendar: The online shooter will be released on November 17, 2015, for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Dice, the creators of Battlefield, want to present a next-gen spectacle with their own interpretation of Battlefront, which is supposed to excite fans of the largest franchise in the world. In the last few weeks, hardly a day has gone by without news about the upcoming multiplayer hit. However, these were just small mosaic pieces, and until today, no one really knows what to expect or which features it will include.
Tomorrow everything is supposed to change: The first gameplay trailer with in-game scenes will be released. Actually, everyone had their eyes on April 17. However, EA surprised those waiting with an explosion of information today: First the new Star Wars 7 trailer, then screenshots and later an artwork, into which, as usual, a lot will be interpreted. Admittedly, I also dream of battling with an X-Wing.
The most significant news has just dropped: A fan found a piece of source code with the release date on the recently launched official website of Battlefront (reddit). If EA and Dice haven’t changed their minds suddenly, it will be happening in November. We are curious to see if it delivers what it promises. Are you in? Tomorrow we will also show you the gameplay trailer, which will be presented around 8:30 PM German time at the Star Wars Convention.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today the second teaser for the upcoming Star Wars movie was released, which is set to hit theaters this Christmas. It features familiar characters, including Chewbacca and a rather prominent mask. Otherwise, the trailer mainly includes action sequences with a lot of space battles – as one would expect from a proper Star Wars film.
For gamers, the end of the teaser revealed a little extra: A short advertisement for the upcoming game “Star Wars: Battlefront“. It’s basically a teaser within a teaser!
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
At the same time, the official website for “Star Wars: Battlefront” was launched today, where so far there’s only a countdown showing how long until the full reveal of the game. A few particularly clever people have been able to extract another image from the source code of the page, displaying some of the vehicles that players will likely control in “Battlefront” (see title image). In just under 17 hours, we’ll all know more! Perhaps a new screenshot will help to bridge the waiting time:
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV might break free from the conventional class structure in the future and try something new.
In an interview with one of the world’s most significant media outlets, Time Magazine (or at least its online edition), the mastermind of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, spoke about new plans for the classes.
With the Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist one will classically introduce a Tank, Healer, and DPS with Heavensward . However, it shouldn’t remain that every future class conforms to the Holy Trinity and fits 100% into one of the three roles. For the future, they also do not want to rule out “Hybrid” classes like the Dancer from Final Fantasy XI. However, care must be taken that these do not become too powerful, too difficult to play, or disrupt the balance. Through the current system, players can anyway take on any role.
Yoshida therefore mentions the idea of introducing a “skill tree” through which players can determine the orientation of their class themselves. Depending on what they choose, the role would be established. In Final Fantasy, it has always been about letting players play what they want. If something is changed in the existing system, it will be done in a very typical “Final Fantasy” way.
After all, Yoshida says, the “Red Mage” is one of his favorite classes …
The Red Mage is considered a jack-of-all-trades in the Final Fantasy franchise, able to wield both White and Black magic and still do some fencing.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The survival MMO H1Z1 takes its craftsmanship seriously. Very seriously. With the patch on April 16, bee hives are newly added.
“First the bees die, then the human dies,” it is said. In the world of H1Z1, the other way around is true: “First the majority of humans die, then they rise again as zombies, and then the survivors turn to beekeeping.”
With today’s patch, bee hives come to the survival simulator. Players can build “Bee Boxes”, their own bee hives, and take care of them for honey. From the honey, candles or restorative bandages can be crafted, or one can simply consume the honey for a quick hunger fix. The candles can be placed in the world to provide a little light and warmth. The bees will react aggressively if attacked, so the bee hives can serve not only as honey suppliers, but also as protection for one’s base.
http://youtu.be/4bWESFv97Nc
Groups and Molotov Cocktails are coming to H1Z1
Otherwise, the patch brings the new group feature. This would be significantly more important if it would prevent friendly fire, but that does not happen. You are simply in a group, without the associated benefits that this would normally bring. Additionally, there are new crafting options for H1Z1, such as making mattresses (Tarp+10 Clothes). The “rest and fatigue” feature that was activated with the last patch is now being revised.
And for the miserable militarists who take no joy in honey (completely incomprehensible): with the patch, the first throwable weapons were introduced: Molotov cocktails.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Halo Online is poised to become a kind of legend in the West. This is not due to the quality of the MMO shooter, but because the shooter fans in the West will probably never play it. However, here are 5 minutes of gameplay.
Numerous rumors and dramas are already unfolding around the Russian online offshoot of the legendary shooter franchise Halo. Modders are eager to play it from the West. Microsoft has a problem with that and is taking action against it.
http://youtu.be/61QfaRjv89I
But what is Halo Online really like? Are the players behind the no longer present Iron Curtain enjoying the shooter sensation and not sharing it with us? Well, it’s not quite like that. Halo Online is probably nothing particularly special, if you believe the testers. The huge aim markers particularly dampen the fun of the game. Otherwise, it seems to be a fast variant of the known patterns of Halo 3, which feels pretty decent without really blowing anyone away. The thrill likely comes from the fact that it is the first Halo in ages on PC and that you cannot play it in the West.
The fruits that one never tastes simply taste the best.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming MMO Camelot Unchained is considered the spiritual successor of Dark Age of Camelot. During the concept phase, it impressed with fresh ideas and concepts. However, some of the free concepts could prove problematic in practice. How can one ensure a balanced power dynamic with so much freedom?
Camelot Unchained is expected to feature two concepts that make other studios stay away, as they offer too many options and are therefore incredibly hard to balance. Balance and equity of power is so important in a PvP game.
First, there is the “Banes&Boons” system: with this, players can choose specific advantages and disadvantages for their character. The other system is an Ability Builder, allowing players to craft their own abilities and spells within a relatively broad framework.
In this preview video, the system can be observed during character creation:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In an interview with dualshockers, Marc Jacobs, the head of Camelot Unchained, discussed the difficulties of balancing such “many options” in a PvP game.
Jacobs has always been a fan of the “Banes&Boons” system, as he says. This allows players to tailor their character to their own style.
In a perfect world, one could later introduce some pros and cons that would primarily suit role players and would not be noticeable in RvR. And some others that would clearly be designed for RvR. The future will show how these challenges will be tackled.
Balance with the Ability Builder will be one of the biggest challenges
Jacobs has great respect for the “Ability Builder”. It stands on his “things that scare him” to-do list. Especially since it should not be a show, but rather to really give players decisions with consequences. Should it later turn out that it is not possible to reconcile the system with the archetypes, it will probably be scaled down and restricted.
Even then, one would still have a more robust system than most other MMORPGs that come to Jacobs’ mind.
Jacobs wouldn’t work with some former colleagues but would do RL-RvR
Jacobs provided an interesting response to the question of whether he had hired any former Daoc employees after the end of Mythic.
According to Jacobs, they indeed have a few former Mythic employees on the team, although most of the experienced folks have ended up at Zenimax Online. With some of the former colleagues from leadership, Jacobs wouldn’t want to work together anymore, but rather do “RL-RvR” with them. However, this is mutual. RvR is the war mode in Dark Age of Camelot, where players fight each other to the death.
The release of The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for consoles is approaching. Zenimax assured players that the game will run at least at 30 FPS. It also addresses the upcoming operating system Windows 10 – they want to support DirectX 12 accordingly.
30 FPS on Xbox One and PlayStation 4
On June 9, it will happen: Console players finally get entry to Tamriel. The FPS debate is a sensitive issue. Especially when major games are released simultaneously on PS4 and Xbox One, the FPS number stands out. To ensure that the journey doesn’t result in choppiness, Zenimax guarantees that the game will run at least at 30 FPS – at least according to Game Director Matt Firor in an interview with GamingBolt.
Whether one really notices the difference between 30 and 60 FPS and how much it affects the gaming experience is debated among scholars. In general, it can be said that players swear by 60 FPS in shooters, while MMORPG players might be satisfied with less due to the slower gameplay. Since TESO relies on an action combat system, players are required to have quick reactions, for example, when dodging. Whether the 30 FPS are sufficient here to ensure an optimal gaming feel on both consoles remains to be seen in live tests. These 30 FPS at a 1080p resolution are by no means set in stone.
Thinking about the future – DirectX 12
Just like ESO will come for console, Windows 10 will sooner or later reach PC gamers. The new Microsoft operating system comes with DirectX 12. The team at Zenimax remains calm regarding this significant release and promises that PC gamers on Windows 10 can expect DX12 support. It is stated that developers must adapt to changes.
As the Xbox One will also be upgraded to DX12, it can be speculated whether corresponding adjustments will follow. However, it is still unclear to what extent DX12 will “improve” the Xbox One. In that case, it would be irrelevant if it is true that The Elder Scrolls Online already runs smoothly on both consoles.
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.
InGuild Wars 2a new patch was released on April 14th, which enriched the fantasy MMORPG with some new hairstyles for your characters. Six new hairstyles were added for each race – three for each gender. Thus, the currently good mood at the Guild Wars 2 team will soon be found on the heads of the players. Fans of the cult series “Vikings” should be particularly pleased.
The country needs new hairstyles!
This year, the Guild Wars 2 expansion Hearth of Thorns is to be released, but before that happens, ArenaNet is still treating you to new hairstyles. The new hairstyles range from model bank teller to Rastafarian style:
The most interesting thing is, as can easily be seen in the title image – the reference to the cult series “Vikings”. The similarity to the characters Bjorn, the son of Ragnar Lothbrok, and his mother Lagertha, is striking. The developers must have found inspiration here. By the way, you can check out all the new hairstyles at Dulfy.
In addition to the good news that Guild Wars 2 is currently healthy and thriving, the focus at ArenaNet is currently fully on the new expansion. Can new hairstyles, which are supposed to bring variety to the game, shorten the waiting time?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
