The biggest (and unfortunately almost the only) change in this patch are the two story-based flashpoints that players have already experienced during “Shadow of Revan” – these are now also available in hard mode. To entice well-equipped veterans into the instances, there are a few very special rewards waiting.
There is one “command walker” as a hovercraft, where one should rather speak of “small tanks”. Fans of the strongholds will also get their money’s worth, as they can acquire some particularly beautiful decorations, such as a crate full of illumination probes or a main computer terminal that has some performances in store. But there is also something new for clothing fetishists (read: role players), the Massassi equipment set is waiting for new owners who want to show it off.
Start of the 4th PvP Season
Simultaneously with the release of the patch on February 12, the 4th PvP season begins, and it has already been announced that it will only last until patch 3.2. Exact details about the associated new equipment items have not been disclosed yet, as some fine-tuning will probably still be done before the patch hits the live servers this Sunday.
All in all, while this is not a substantial patch, the two hard flashpoints with their new rewards should at least sweeten one or the other evening.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A Japanese player seems to have gained access to the next DLC “House of Wolves” in Destiny. At least, some pics of those new weapons and armors that vendors in the Tower will sell are now circulating.
A mysterious post has appeared on the US forum Reddit a few hours ago. A Japanese player claims – in relatively difficult to understand English – that he has gained access to the DLC “House of Wolves”. And he posts Ingame screens as proof of the “new” weapons and armors of the vendors in the Tower. We have summarized them for you in three galleries.
Furthermore, there is a “Announcement” screen showing House of Wolves with a new storyline, a new exclusive raid, three new Crucible maps, and a new strike. So far, this is something one might have already guessed.
However, the screen also shows: Hundreds of new weapons, armors, and gear. Sounds interesting and that was not to be expected.
In principle, you can already see the armors “in-game” on the screens, which data miners have found and which were purchased from the vendors in the Tower.
There are also images of a new Nightfall, which is then probably tuned to level 32.
Release date of House of Wolves on May 19?
It’s not entirely clear from the Reddit post whether and how the user has also obtained a release date. Initially, one assumed after the big leak in early January that it would be in March. The Japanese user mentions something about May 19.
As mentioned, this is all not official, but it looks very “real”. Keep in mind: The weapons on which the screens are based are already “in the game”, but the items are not yet obtainable. And they do not necessarily have to go live like this.
Here are images of the new Warlock armor:
And here are images of a bunch of new weapons that are said to be available from the Vanguard vendors.
And here are more weapons, this time from the Crucible:
The current vendor weapons start at 272 and go up to 331 damage. The House of Wolves weapons here should then, if they start at 300, probably go up to 365.
Today is finally the day, the next big content patch for WildStar, the “Protogames Initiative”, is on the starting blocks, and while you read this, you probably can already download it.
We summarize once more what changes and expansions the patch brings and tell you whether the game is still worth a look.
Itemization
One of the biggest annoyances in WildStar was previously the rather poorly implemented itemization, which is now being addressed, at least in the PvE area. Finally, there is a clearly recognizable progression curve, and you know in which order you can tackle the different content.
As a fresh level 50, you should start with the veteran ship missions, which are also being introduced in this patch. Once equipped there, adventures, then dungeons, and finally raid instances await brave visitors. In summary, character progression should now feel much more logical and comprehensible.
Fragment Zero and Veteran Ship Missions
The new ship mission is accessible from level 6 and is supposed to represent the very first step into the world of group content of WildStar – if you want, you can of course also tackle it alone, as it scales with the number of group members, as usual.
Small cinematics and data cubes are a novelty for these small missions, but the “old” ship missions also receive an overhaul: All can now be visited in veteran mode at max level!
Fresh level 50s should therefore take a detour into the previously often undiscovered mini-instances, which can now also be easily accessed through the group finder and no longer need to be discovered in the world.
The Protostar Academy
WildStar is to become more accessible, and not just since yesterday.With the new instance for level 10, “Protostar Academy”, they are taking this announcement seriously!
Hardly has one set foot on Nexus, one can already face the challenges of this small dungeon and is gradually introduced to the difficulties of a “real” instance.
Unusual mechanics, such as interruption protection (“Interrupt-Armor”), are explained to you in short boss fights. Gradually, other mechanics come into play: environmental effects that must be avoided, additional minions that a boss summons, or different phases of a fight, until at the end of the instance you really feel like you’ve mastered a real challenge.
The academy will not lower the challenging difficulty of the other instances, but will at least better prepare new or inexperienced players. However, there is no heroic version of this dungeon – it is meant to be just a tutorial.
The Ultimate Protogames
If the academy is too boring, you can also grab 4 friends and plunge into the Protostar game show. This dungeon is relatively easy to conquer, but if you want to achieve really good performance, you’ll probably have several days of hard work ahead of you.
Overall, heroes of the Dominion and Exiles can expect 6 rooms to master each time. 3 of these are fixed boss encounters, while the other 3 are randomly selected from a pool of 8 event rooms.
It will thus take a while to experience all possible combinations. Depending on performance in the individual rooms, you receive a score – after all, it is a game show – that will determine bonus loot at the end. Although the instance also drops quite good rewards at low scores, those who really want the best gear should prepare for long evenings, during which they must overcome much proto-football and even more angry vending machines.
Many More Adjustments
In addition to these highlights, there are of course a multitude of changes that are more cosmetic in nature or that enhance the general “quality of life” within the game. Especially in the area of housing, players should take another look, as many more adjustments can now be made to create their dream home – or a stinky dump with plush figures, if that is what they like.
Conclusion: In any case, everyone who still has some CREDD on the high side should take another look at WildStar – and everyone else should at least consider it, as the game is still progressing and improving with each patch.
[pullquote]Less grindy, more fun[/pullquote]
I personally have a pretty good feeling about the patch, which has also been strengthened by an exclusive stream with the developers. If you’ve always wanted to try another class, you’ll be pleased to know: Between levels 16 and 49, you get 15% more experience points through all quests, which will eliminate some dry spells (especially in the far ends). “Less grindy, more fun” was one of the big goals for this patch.
If leveling was “too casual” and instances were “too hardcore”, you should find your way back to Nexus now at the latest – as the development is now significantly more linear, noticeably more thought out. Just better.
In this must-see trailer, you can watch the features of the monster update in moving images:
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.
For the dark fantasy MMO Rift the new content patch 3.1 has been released last week. The trailer shows a distinct steam-punk orientation.
Steam-punk refers to a genre that leans toward “old-fashioned science fiction”, featuring steam-driven, mechanical robots. A world where everything crashes, hisses, and hums. As if the fever-dream technological fantasies circulating in late 19th century Victorian England had come true, and as if it were no problem to create an artificial intelligence from a tangle of gears, oil, and a lot of metal.
In the quite barren world of Rift, this aesthetic is embraced with patch 3.1. “Storm at Sea”. What awaits players on the new island and especially in the 3-boss raid Tyrannenschmiede, we have already introduced to you here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMO Final Fantasy XIV will support the Heavensward expansion with DX 11, making it look even prettier. Rumors about a possible port to the Xbox are currently unconfirmed. However, there are hints about it.
In the Live Producer Letter, a video letter, the mastermind of FF XIV, Naoki Yoshida, announced that with the expansion Heavensward it will also support DX 11, which will ensure smoother water animations. This is confirmed and certain.
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.
Yoshida wishes that “all players” can play Final Fantasy in the same world together. Yoshida has spoken on this topic on several occasions. He wants to clearly bring FF XIV to Xbox, is willing to compromise, but it’s up to Microsoft. Officially, there is nothing new on this topic.
However, during the Live Letter, Yoshida clearly and noticeably held an Xbox controller up to the camera. For the site dualshockers , this is a sign that an announcement could be coming soon. In the past, Yoshida has frequently made hints that were followed by announcements shortly after.
Dualshockers lists the following circumstances as evidence that there might be more than mere coincidence behind this: A controller like this has never appeared before, it was prominently placed, was not needed during the presentation, and at the beginning of January Microsoft introduced cross-platform possibilities between PC and Xbox One with Windows 10.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, the week begins on Tuesday with the Nightfall. This week, the weekly Strike is against the Archon Priest on Venus.
This week’s Nightfall is a surprise. Tagged “Taste the Rainbow,” it is described as somewhat crazy, “A bit of everything,” like in the Skittles commercial.
This week, as in the last, a so-called Triple Burn is active: All three elemental damage types deal significantly increased damage. The target of the weekly Nightfall Strike this week, from February 3rd to February 10th at 10:00 AM, is Aksor, the Archon Priest on Venus in the Strike Winter’s Run.
He hasn’t been in rotation for a while. Since a safe spot under the stairs for the final boss Aksor was fixed, he hasn’t appeared.
The modifiers for the weekly Nightfall Strike in the week of February 3rd.
Nightfall – if the entire fireteam dies in the battle against the Archon Priest, it goes back to orbit
Epic – the enemies are significantly stronger than in the heroic weekly Strike
Solar Burn – solar damage is significantly increased, applies to enemies and Guardians alike
Void Burn – void damage is also increased
Arc Burn – and arc damage is as well, yes, it’s a Triple Burn again
The weekly heroic Strike has the modifier Void Burn active.
What weapons should you bring?
This week, the focus is again on: Elemental damage is key.
Weapons with high range like Black Hammer, Ice Breaker, or even Gjallarhorn could hit hard here. The Strike Winter’s Run has some “higher-up” sniper spots from which you can decimate opposing enemies. This is particularly important for solo runs.
For the primary slot, the goal is: Elemental damage is key. Perhaps Atheon’s Epilogue, Fatebringer, or one of the new Crota weapons. Many want to experiment with Word of Crota to see if they can handle Fatebringer.
Tips and guides for the Nightfall on February 3rd.
The strategies for the Nightfall aren’t set in stone yet; it’s been too long since it was last configured this way. However, a Triple Burn is generally a reason to celebrate because everything flies nicely into the air. And especially when you’re running with three players, it can get explosive. If the enemies die quickly, you can revive losses.
If you are running solo, it looks different. Here, it is crucial to keep your head down and regenerate after each hit.
Throughout the day, we will upload videos and clips from Guardians who have completed the Strike Winter’s Run against the Archon Priest. You’ll usually find good tips and tricks on how to do it efficiently or creatively. Until then, you can read our post from October 8th, as the Nightfall was last active in this combination in Destiny.
In the first video, you can see the experienced three-player team around Nexxos Gaming in action. The Titan’s loadout is exquisite, featuring the solar weapons Black Hammer and Gjallarhorn. The primary slot includes Ir Yût’s Fang, the new scout rifle with arc damage, which is recommended for dealing with Captains. Gjallarhorn is complemented by Ruinenflügel. It is a relatively calm walkthrough with explanations and tips about the individual spots. Special care is required for Hobgoblin snipers. And at the end with Aksor, there is a safe spot, a cheese spot.
http://youtu.be/iRPG1OnYjk4 In a two-player team, these guys are out there. The perspective holder has Fatebringer, Ice Breaker, and either Gjallarhorn or the Void machine gun Zombie Apocalypse. It’s a run without commentary, with a lot of sniping, and at some points, it feels a bit like an Ice Breaker commercial. The Strike just screams for it. For Aksor, you go up onto the hill.
http://youtu.be/CZiwv8rCd0Y And for the really tough players, here’s a solo walkthrough at the end. With Crota’s pulse rifle Corruption of the Soul, Ice Breaker, and a Void machine gun, you’ll quickly pass through the critical spots. Perhaps inspiration for anyone who wishes to try it solo in Destiny this week. As seen in the videos, it is indeed precarious. Because with Triple Burn, one can not only kill easily but also enemies can do so as well. http://youtu.be/Q9OvG0S2BEg
In the survival MMO H1Z1 there will be a first wipe this week. Additionally, they plan to reduce the number of weapons and ammunition in the game soon.
It has been announced for a while, and some have demanded it loudly, to get rid of the dupes in the game: The survival MMO H1Z1 will likely make a fresh start this week, clearing the table and deleting everything. This includes the players’ characters, their names, and the state of the various servers.
No one at DGA knows for sure if everything will work this week, if the wipe will happen, and if the changes will take effect. However, according to producer Steve George, it is “very likely.”
#H1Z1 You can most likely expect a Character/World wipe sometime this week. Get those screenshots while you can!
A patch is expected to be deployed soon that will shift the loot slider in the world of H1Z1 back to the left. Currently, there are too many weapons and too much ammunition in the game. The developers have probably overdone it after the initial scarcity and are now adjusting accordingly. A corresponding patch could still follow during the day today, Tuesday, February 3rd.
we’re toning down guns and ammo you find btw. way too much out there.
A fourth grader in Texas was expelled from elementary school because, in the eyes of the school administration, he threatened a classmate with “the one ring” from Lord of the Rings. He told a friend he could make him disappear. Quite a terrorist act, in a way.
Jason Steward, the father of the fourth grader, shared this bizarre yet true story with a newspaper in Texas last week. His nine-year-old son had watched the third part of The Hobbit over the weekend (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies). The next day, he brought a ring to school and told a classmate he could make him disappear if he put on the ring.
As a result, the student was expelled from school with the announcement from the principal that threatening other children would not be tolerated, regardless of whether those threats were of a magical or other nature.
As the boy’s father assured the newspaper, his son does not possess the necessary magical abilities to make his friend disappear. And if he did make him disappear, he would certainly bring him back right away.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the Racing MMO The Crew, seeing crazy car stunts is not surprising, but this slide between two school buses is still more than worth seeing. A completely different kind of car stunt can be admired in SOE’s H1Z1. Or should we rather say in DBG’s H1Z1?
Every week, there are very special moments in the MMOs we cover, which are sometimes captured on YouTube and are more than worth a look. This week in Ubisoft’s “The Crew,” there is an extraordinary stunt on snowy roads.
In H1Z1, we present a moment when two players in a Battle Royale are surprisingly caught off guard by a speeding police car, but somehow, it does not go according to plan.
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.
Sony Online Entertainment, the MMO studio behind MMOs like Everquest Next, H1Z1, PlanetSide 2 or DC Universe Online, will no longer belong to Sony, but will continue as Daybreak Game Company.
Sony Online Entertainment has been purchased by the investment firm Columbus Nova, as the studio announces.
All games will remain, for the players nothing will change, as they write in a post to friends, partners, and players. This change means that they will essentially proceed as an “independent software studio” and will now also be able to develop on other platforms: Yes, also for Xbox and mobile.
At SOE, they expect even more resources from the transition.
New Name Daybreak Game Company
As part of the transition process, they will leave the name SOE behind and continue under the name “Daybreak Game Company”.
SOE’s president John Smedley repeatedly posted on Twitter that nothing will change for the players and that he is looking forward to developing for Xbox. Smedley later explicitly mentioned the possibility of H1Z1 and DC Universe Online for Xbox.
All of our games are still here and will continue to be 🙂
As Jason Epstein, one of the senior partners of Columbus Nova, informs, John Smedley will remain president of the studio. They hope for much from the collaboration, considering SOE a valuable addition to the portfolio and citing the successful early access of H1Z1 as one of the many examples of the talent and dedication of SOE employees.
Smedley was one of the founders of Sony Online Entertainment in 1995. The studio established itself as an MMO specialist over the past twenty years with games like Everquest, Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies or Vanguard. At the moment, they have two hot projects with the survival MMO H1Z1 and the upcoming MMORPG Everquest Next.
Controversy over H1Z1 early access appears in a new light
Mein MMO says: Oops. How this will affect things remains to be seen in the future. It sounds positive, as it is presented. However, it has often been shown in the past that such extreme changes do not always bring only good things.
Now the repeated accusation of why a “huge corporation like Sony” relies so much on early access as SOE does with H1Z1 appears in a different light. SOE is not the “huge corporation Sony”, but just a studio under this giant roof. Or “was,” as must now be said. Good luck to Daybreak Game Company.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In H1Z1 the fight against cheaters and hackers has been taken up, and with some enjoyment.
Sony Online Entertainment, led by President John Smedley, likes to brag that they are so tough on “hackers” and “cheats” in their games that even the big “black sites” eventually stop developing new cheats for SOE games, as it proves to be unprofitable.
Even in the Early Access game H1Z1, the fight against cheaters is taken up with delight. This is showing results.
There are threads on reddit where “Statements from the Banned” are compiled. They complain that they have been caught again. Some are already on their 4th account. Meanwhile, access to H1Z1 still costs $20.
At SOE, they apparently like such image collections. As combat designer Jimmy Whisenhunt wryly commented on Twitter: “Dear hackers, we’re sorry that some of you can no longer play. Thank you for your tears and donations. More bans are coming.”
Dear #H1Z1 cheaters: Sorry some of you suddenly can’t play anymore, your donation and tears are greatly appreciated. More bans inc.
The building-and-digging game Landmark pays tribute to its players and their creations with a video memorial.
One year has passed since Landmark was released, and what has happened in that year is showcased by SOE in a spectacular video. It emphasizes the great and creative players they have found at Landmark. These served as inspiration and repeatedly showed the Everquest Next developers what is possible with the development tools.
Players’ creations are becoming bigger, prettier, and more innovative. They also want to involve player feedback in other aspects of Everquest Next. For instance, they listen to their suggestions regarding the design of the races.
As mentioned in the video, Landmark is just about to enter an Open Beta.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There has been no news regarding a possible PC release for Destiny for more than half a year. This would seem logical. Will we learn more in September?
A PC release for Destiny still appeared logical to Activision Chief Hirshberg in an interview back in June 2014. Destiny would fit well on PC, as the genre and setting are perfectly suited for a PC port, he said back then.
Why is there silence regarding a PC port of Destiny?
But they do not want to overextend themselves at the moment and, if they port Destiny to PC, they want to ensure that it achieves the highest possible quality.
This interview from June with the US magazine Polygon is the last thing we have heard from Bungie regarding a PC port. Since then, they have remained silent. This can only be due to two reasons:
They are genuinely not working on a PC version.
They are working on a PC version but are saying nothing about it. Perhaps they have come to an agreement with console manufacturers Sony and Microsoft not to disclose anything about a PC port, so that the “quasi” exclusive title Destiny continues to sell consoles. Silence, then, is intended to entice actual PC players to switch to a next-gen console to enjoy exclusive titles. If they definitely knew, “This will eventually come to PC,” the pressure to switch would be weaker.
Leak provided hints
In the past months, there has been no new information about a PC release, but a “leak” provided a glimpse into Destiny’s future plans. This “leak” has not been officially confirmed, but its credibility has not been seriously questioned either. It simply appears too coherent and fits too well with the “official” plans we have for Destiny in 2015 and beyond. The next DLC “House of Wolves” is expected to be released in March, which is supposed to be of a similar scope and size to the December DLC “Darkness Awaits”.
If Bungie were to decide now to release a PC port, they would find themselves in an awkward position with these two “previous” DLCs. Should they just give those to players of a PC base game? Would they have to purchase these separately at release? Do they want two versions for Destiny?
Comet in Destiny is likely to be Destiny 1.5
According to the leak, a kind of Destiny 1.5 is supposed to be released in September 2015 as a standalone expansion. It currently carries the name Comet: Plague of Darkness. Apparently, Bungie wants to retain this “Comet” title as a designation for such “.5” expansions and will use this name for the upcoming titles Destiny 2 and Destiny 3.
This Destiny 1.5 is supposed to be different from the previous DLCs, if the rumors are to be believed. It is set to be sold as a “new base box” and include not only new content but also the base game of Destiny and the two DLCs “Darkness Awaits” and “House of Wolves”. A new “season” pass is likely to be offered that will include the next 2 DLCs, which would probably build on Destiny 1.5.
Furthermore, they want to “sort of” start anew with 1.5, raise the base level to 30, and introduce some new zones and missions.
It is to be expected that Bungie and Activision will launch their marketing machinery again in advance of Comet. This could also provide an opportunity to market a PC version and create a favorable environment for it.
However, these are currently all unconfirmed information. We only know that Bungie is planning such a larger “expansion” but do not have any official details.
Are the clauses expiring after a year?
September will mark a year since the launch of Destiny. Therefore, it would be quite conceivable that any “contracts” with Sony or Microsoft have expired. As is known, the exclusive contract with Sony regarding the PlayStation-exclusive base game content Hawkmoon, Monte Carlo, the strike Dust Palace, and the Crucible map Exodus Blue is set to expire in September. After a year, these contents will be available to Xbox players.
And if for Sony this one year for the DLC content was enough to hope for an advantage over Microsoft, then perhaps they are also content with this one year without a PC version.
A PC release in September would make sense
The release of Destiny 1.5, the Comet expansion, therefore appears to us at mein-mmo.de to be a “logical” time, should they decide to release a PC port for Destiny. It would be a clean break and a clear new beginning; the PR machinery must be ignited again in August anyway. PC players would then more or less “skip” the first year of Destiny and start directly with a Destiny that is known to have significantly more gameplay content than in the 20 version and is probably also more polished and mature.
Many long for a PC version
Likewise, console players are in a similar situation to The Elder Scrolls Online. They will also never experience the “base game” but only a then improved version “Tamriel Unlimited“, which will have been developed already for over a year by the time of its console release in June.
Once again: All of this is currently still speculation. There has been no news since June 2014, which seems ever stranger, since Destiny is such a great success and a port to PC is practically inevitable.
At Evolve, it has now been clarified which fictional inspirations the monsters Goliath and Wraith have.
In an interview with Gaming-Bolt, producer Chloe Skew discussed the inspiration that designers drew for the monsters. After all, they are playable characters that need to seem threatening while still remaining sympathetic.
Monsters in Focus
Monsters are important! After all, the massive creatures that a single player controls against a team of four cooperating opponents are at the center of the game.
In Evolve, there is this massive size difference: The monsters tower over everything, being forces of annihilation; the maps are designed specifically to highlight the size of the monsters, says Skew. The new, fourth monster Behemoth, a sort of fighting rock giant, is said to be the largest monster they will ever create: Something larger simply won’t fit on the map.
He just wants to play! (Imagine a white woman in the right claw)
Cthulhu – Health
The interviewer then asks Skew about the aesthetics that the developers drew from. He thought the design reminded him of a mix between Pacific Rim and the Power Rangers.
Skew replied that it was about making the monsters “sympathetic” since players take on their roles. Therefore, they couldn’t make them “too” strange. They based the designs on pop culture monsters, like the giant ape King Kong, for which one also feels a kind of sympathy. The hunters should feel as if they are fighting against an “intelligent” creature.
For the flying, tentacled monster “Kraken”, they were inspired by something else. Here, the Cthulhu mythos by H.P. Lovecraft was indeed the model. When designing the various monsters, they made sure to cover the different archetypes. While Goliath is the brute monster, the third monster Wraith fulfills more of a “rogue” role.
The asymmetrical MOBA/team shooter Evolve will be released on February 10 for Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Black Desert may take longer for the West release than expected. A possible console port is something that the developers could envision.
Black Desert really sends conflicting signals about a port to the West. In the meantime, there was talk about the end of 2015, early 2016. Now, a long interview has appeared with Do-Sung Go, the Project Manager at Pearl Abyss. And here, the outlook for the West sounds significantly gloomier.
According to his statements, a West release is currently not a priority. First, they will release the game (in this order) for Korea, Japan, and Russia in their respective versions. Only after that will the USA and Europe, the West, be considered. One can expect this “after 2016”. More precise details will be available once agreements with publishers for each region are settled.
Nothing specific has been decided yet regarding the release of Black Desert in the western market. The current service order is set as Korea, Japan, and Russia and considering this line up, US/EU is most likely to be launched after this, approximately after 2016.
The choice of publishers will also affect how much Black Desert will be adapted to the respective market. They will also discuss with each publisher how the payment model will look. There is nothing concrete to report yet. In the Korean Black Desert, there will also be gear available in the cash shop, but they want to structure this so that the purchasable gear has as little impact on the game as possible.
Console port on Playstation 4 and Xbox One still under discussion
Do-Sung Go at least does not dismiss a console port of Black Desert on Playstation 4 and Xbox One. This is something that is still being discussed at the moment. From the developers’ perspective, it remains to be clarified whether the platforms support a frequent patch process.
First information on system requirements for Black Desert
When asked about the system requirements for the visually appealing Black Desert on PCs, Do-Sung Go mentioned that one would need approximately this setup for 30fps at 1600×900 on high settings:
However, even then, genre-typical FPS drops may occur during large gatherings of players. They also want to create settings that weaker PCs can handle well.
In this week, World of Warcraft finally continues. Starting Wednesday, the Blackrock Foundry will open its gates, and the new world boss Rukhmar will also roam the peaks of Arak.
From Wednesday, February 4th, it is finally time: The Blackrock Foundry opens its gates. This Wednesday, it will kick off on the “Normal” difficulty and on “Heroic”. A week later, on February 11th, the hunt for the significant World First kills begins on “Mythic”, and from February 18th, the individual wings of the Raid Finder will gradually open their doors.
On the website Icy Veins, there are already the first “guides” for the new bosses in World of Warcraft, and the loot has been viewable for a while in World of Warcraft’s dungeon compendium. In normal mode, Raiders can expect iLvl 665, on heroic 680, and on mythic, it goes up to 695.
For those who can’t check in-game right now to ponder with a slight drool about what the new gear will look like on their own astral body: There’s also the exact loot list on mmo-champion.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Neverwinter , the new class, the Paladin, is extensively presented in a dev blog.
Neverwinter takes place in the D&D universe, which is well known for its class variety, especially in newer editions. Therefore, the initial disappointment among Neverwinter fans was significant, as relatively few options were available from all these possibilities. Cryptic is changing this by regularly introducing new classes.
Next up is the “Oathbound Paladin”. Depending on the oath he takes, he fulfills one of two roles:
With the Oath of Protection, he takes 10% less damage and deals 500% more threat. He becomes a classic tank, capable of casting an absorb shield on himself and his group while having various taunt abilities.
On the other hand, with the Oath of Devotion, he becomes a healer, likely specializing in group healing, hot effects, and increasing the healing received by his allies.
Known from numerous other games, the Paladin in Neverwinter also relies on his auras, which grant a positive effect to all allies or impose a negative effect on enemies:
Aura of Courage: Bonus damage for you and allied players within 30 feet.
Aura of Truth: Enemies within 30 feet deal 5% less damage.
Aura of Wisdom: You and your allies within 30 feet receive a 10% faster recharge.
Aura of Haste: +20% movement speed for you and your allies within 30 feet, and you generate action points 20% faster.
For the exact details in the dev blog, click here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, an employee has now commented on Xur’s inventory, the Agent of the Nine. This is said to be determined randomly, but it is known beforehand what will be available.
Small talk puts Community Manager in a bind
A clip from November 2014 is circulating on the internet. At that time, Bungie’s Community Manager David Dague (DeeJ) was hanging out with Guardians in a casual setting, and one recorded the conversation. DeeJ was asked whether Xur’s selection was “random.” DeeJ humorously replied that it was not random but followed a “plan.”
He himself had already asked the people responsible during the Sunbreaker issue, and received the response: “Are you asking as a Community Manager, with a legitimate concern, or are you asking as a Warlock who wants a helmet?”
Deej then said: “Everyone is worried about the Sunbreaker gloves for Warlocks.”
And the “others” then: “That won’t be a problem anymore.”
It’s quite clear in the video that DeeJ meant this as a funny anecdote.
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 longing for Gjallarhorn causes conspiracy theories
But now this clip appears in the Bungie forum and gives us a statement about Xur.
According to DeeJ, Xur’s selection is random (“Xur is randomized”). However, at Bungie, they know in advance what he would offer. That is “the plan” that DeeJ spoke about in the video. Occasionally, Bungie can perform a miracle, like during Christmas, when they forced Xur in Destiny to stay longer. But otherwise, his inventory is determined by the same chaos as the other loot drops in Destiny.
For DeeJ, these conspiracy theories about Xur are a sign of how much the Guardians long for Gjallarhorn. Questions about Gjallarhorn are the most common type of questions that reach DeeJ. Even more frequent than questions about a larger vault. But that is outside of his control.
DeeJ promises to do his utmost to speak with the people who work on the code so that Xur becomes valuable again in the future.
However, Xur’s inventory has not appeared particularly random on a broad basis in recent weeks. The discussion revolves around whether the new DLC items are weighted more heavily, to the detriment of the old exotics (like Gjallarhorn). The reasons why this topic is so hotly debated, you can read in this article.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, you can still find loot caves. This one is on Venus and promises a pleasant farming experience, especially for low-level players.
Loot caves in Destiny were a big deal around October/November. We regularly reported on them and mapped new spots. Then Bungie closed them, and new ones were found until the big boom of treasure caves was essentially over. With patches and hotfixes, they became less attractive, while the regular strikes became more lucrative.
However, this doesn’t stop players from searching for and finding these special spawn locations. Here we have an up-to-date spot on Venus for you. There’s currently some contention about who exactly found it. But that shouldn’t concern the Guardians too much. According to the finder, the spot is ideal for Ether Seeds and House Banners, making it a lucrative glimmer farming spot.
http://youtu.be/SrV7gCE8eKc
Loot caves are based on specific positions and mechanics
Farming with a loot cave is still a method to obtain glimmer and certain materials. For low-level guardians, it can also be the way to take the first light levels through engrams.
These loot caves are essentially based on positioning yourself so that the mobs spawn continuously. You should not stand anywhere that interrupts this spawn. Even today, they can provide a change from the “strike routine”; moreover, missions can often be completed here without much running around.
When you find such a spot, the enemies come out of their holes like on a conveyor belt, they die relatively quickly and leave loot, usually engrams.
Even though loot caves play hardly any role in the day-to-day of Destiny today, they are equated by outsiders with the typical play style of Destiny and are even given a monument in new games.
The developer studio ArtCraft Entertainment Inc. aims to set new standards with the upcoming fantasy MMO Crowfall. The game principle is to be re-conceived from theme park and sandbox MMORPGs.
Much is still unknown about Crowfall, only that it wants to completely change the MMO scene. This is possible when you look at the developer prominence behind the game: Founder of ArtCraft Entertainment J. Todd Coleman was the Creative Director of Shadowbane, Wizard101, and Pirate101. Another co-founder is Gordon Walton, who was previously the Executive Producer of Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Thus, they bring a lot of experience that they will need: Although Crowfall is said to be oriented toward the 2004 released and now discontinued Shadowbane, it will be neither a typical sandbox nor a typical theme park MMO.
The Western Wall of ArtCraft Entertainment
On the website play2crush.com, the developers have expressed their views on the MMO genre in a provocative manner. Starting with a jab at the gaming industry, which only focuses on mass market success, they write: “With a theme park MMO, you cannot lose, and with a sandbox MMO, you cannot win. If you can neither win nor lose, why do you even play?” Good question, yet they want to win with Crowfall and develop a next-generation MMO. It is also clear what they do not want:
We do not want to kill rats anymore and no longer fill experience point bars or collect unnecessary junk.
What all this means is still unclear, as the developers are keeping game information under wraps. However, the comic graphics of Crowfall are intended to be clear and straightforward.
Dynamic Conquest and a Player-Driven Economy as the Holy Grail
The core idea of the game involves two key features: on the one hand, dynamic conquest and on the other, a player-driven economy. “Combining these two concepts is the holy grail of MMO development,” says Coleman.
In the conquests, different servers fight for their territory, similar to what happens in Guild Wars 2 in “World vs. World”. The uniqueness comes from the novel server system: Unlike in previous MMO titles, the basic game world is not distributed across all servers and then inhabited by the respective players of a server, but each server has its own virtual realm. Thus, on Server A, the game world could resemble a burning steppe, while on Server B, mountains, rivers, and valleys could embellish the landscape. According to Coleman, each server is “very unique” and predestined to be changed by a dynamic game world.
How exactly the player-regulated economy is structured will likely be revealed soon. The crafting system is expected to be a central component of the game and show parallels with those of EVE Online, Ultima Online, or Star Wars Galaxies. No wonder: The legendary designers Thomas Blair and Raph Koster, who had a major influence on crafting in SWG, are now pulling the strings at Crowfall.
They especially criticize that there have been no new impulses in crafting in recent years.In an interview with mmorpg.com, they express optimism that the team will manage to counteract stagnation with fresh ideas. Crafting is set to re-engage players and play a key role, whether for creating equipment, conquest items, or building cities.
After a Decision Comes Consequence
In Crowfall, decisions play an essential role. Every decision carries consequences. This is intended to involve players more deeply in the gameplay than ever before in an MMO. How these high goals will be implemented and achieved is not yet known. A countdown runs on the official Crowfall website until 25.02.2015, after which a major announcement regarding the game is expected, hopefully containing more detailed game information. Until then, one can already create an account and browse through the forum, where the developers have already revealed some small hints about the game.
Conclusion: Quite big promises from ArtCraft Entertainment, especially J. Todd Coleman. But Coleman truly speaks to my soul. The MMO genre needs to evolve to counter significant fluctuations and declines in player numbers. That is a fact. We have all seen what has happened to the titles of recent years: Free-to-play, megaservers, and often unsatisfactory quarterly numbers. Leading back to a rebranded homogenized mass that has grown old. Who dares to develop a new AAA MMORPG?
In the Western market, there is hardly anything apart from Everquest Next, as the risks are high – online role-playing games are among the most complex projects in the gaming industry. In Asia, the world is a little different. There, new titles are regularly released, bringing fresh air to the market, but hopeful AAA MMOs like Black Desert and Bless Online are still awaited here. Therefore, I think it’s good that the developers of Crowfall publicly commit to taking a new step and fundamentally changing the MMO genre.
Before the announcement on 25.02, one can only speculate and guess whether, and if so, to what extent Crowfall will revolutionize the scene. The question also is: How will all these innovations be implemented and what new features can we still expect? Nevertheless, I am very curious whether the search for the holy MMO grail will be crowned with success. What do you think?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
