Elder Scrolls Online: I understood the Champion System in TESO! – Oh no, not really

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

The Elder Scrolls Online tries to explain the new, complex Champion system, but it doesn’t become really understandable. Our author Schuhmann is at least driven to madness by it.

I admit: The new Champion system in The Elder Scrolls Online overwhelms me. It is supposed to come to the test server with update 6 sometime this month and then maybe go live in February, but: I have been reading about it for half a year. It somehow feels to me like a Rubik’s cube that I had as a child. I swear: Every time I wasn’t looking, it turned and changed on its own! I was just a tiny bit away from the ultimate solution that would have impressed everyone. All, I say.

The Champion system in TESO constantly presents me with new puzzles. Every additional piece of information I receive about the system confuses me!

TESO: Crypt of Hearts

Fair enough, one has to say: Zenimax means well. With angelic patience, they keep explaining the various ideas they want to introduce. A big article has just been published on the website two days ago, which is supposed to clarify how the new Champion system exactly works. Maybe that’s the mistake! They mean it too well.
“Why haven’t we read anything about it on gaming sites yet?” some will now ask.

Because it is much more important that TESO has disappeared from two more Australian stores, of course. I can hear your excited gasps for air from here. Yes, yes, Free2Play is virtually certain! But others, more serious sites should deal with that; we are focusing on something else.

TESO-The-Shadow

Back to the Champion system: In rough outlines, I understand it.

So far, so good

They want to give players a new opportunity to develop their character after level 50. Because the system until then was (How can I say that nicely?) … pretty stupid. Well, to be honest … you will still carry the old system further in TESO because … um … well, that’s a different topic

In every hour, players should be able to earn approximately “one” Champion point, which they then invest in a “skill” and then they will gradually become stronger. There are very, very many points (3600 is said) to earn, and players can spend a long time on this. So far, so good. That information would be enough for me. And if you care about your mental health, you would stop reading here.

For advanced players, there’s the following information: There will be a kind of “rested bonus”, like in WoW. If I don’t log in for a long time, I can earn the next point faster. Also okay. Then there was already a huge fuss about how many points seasoned players would start with in the new Champion system (they must be more than the poor fresh veterans).

ESO: Molag Bal

I would be happy and satisfied if I only knew that about the new system.

By Molag Bal, I believe I understand it!

But: The information players receive is significantly more extensive: There are 3 constellations of guardians: Warrior, Rogue, Mage. Let’s refer to that as “superior constellation.”

These 3 superior constellations have 3 smaller constellations beneath them. As soon as you earn a Champion point, it goes into one of the 3 superior constellations and turns in a row; you cannot influence it.

You can then distribute the point itself within the 3 subordinate constellations.

Each “point” in the superior constellations provides, depending on the theme of the constellation, values for mages (Magicka+more), warriors (Health+more), rogues (Stamina+more).

And now it gets nasty: In each of the constellations, there are also stars (how many, they cruelly do not say, I believe from the screens, there are 8). And if you invest points in these stars, you receive a very specific passive bonus.

If you invest 10, 30, 75, and 120 points in the collected stars of one of the “subordinate” constellations, you receive a “passive bonus” for that “subordinate constellation.”

TESO-Thief

Too little to understand, too much to stay sane

But how one arrives at the total of 3600 Champion points that are circulating … is a total mystery to me, because Zenimax, despite revealing far too much, does not tell me how many points I can invest in a star and how many stars there are in the subordinate constellations? If there are 8 stars, that would be 50 points per star, or what?

So do I need 9*120= 1080 points (6 ½ weeks of non-stop gaming) to unlock all “powerful” bonuses. And the 2520 points (3 ½ months of 24/7 gaming) after that don’t unlock any new bonuses anymore?

Maybe I’m just being silly. Maybe you need algebra to understand this, and when that was in school, I had … a strain!

TESO-Atronach

How much transparency is too much transparency?

These Zenimax guys drive me insane! Some things you just have to play before you can understand them. Is this transparency and openness still manageable? No, I say! But I guess I’m alone in this.

Would you like more good news? The new patch notes for TESO already have over 66 pages, and the two-hour live stream presenting the latest from the world of The Elder Scrolls Online starts tonight.

Oh, I wish every MMO made it so easy to follow!

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

Rift: Makeover for minions, dimensions, and crafting UI in update 3.1

Marcel Heck Marcel Heck Reading time 2 minutes

Trion Worlds has made several improvements to its free-to-play title Rift that aim to enhance the gaming experience. In update 3.1, a revamped user interface in crafting and numerous new features for the minions and dimensions will be introduced.

Stamina Recharge Minion

Minions are meant to be enslaved. With the new real-money stamina potions, your minions will be working overtime. Once you have administered a stamina potion to your minion, a 24-hour cooldown begins before you can boost them again.

Minions Adventure Rift

Additionally, there is the option to skip an adventure with your minion. If you choose to skip an adventure, it will be randomly replaced with a new one, which will also have a cooldown. Furthermore, you can link minions in chat and enable sound notifications for minions.

Rift Free Camera

Free flight certificate for your dimensions: Thanks to a freely movable camera, you can navigate freely through your dimension, without the terrain getting in your way. In the past, this feature has been requested multiple times by the community. Additionally, the permission structure of dimensions has been revised. With a “special list”, you will soon be able to allow friends or guild members to move items in your dimension. In return, you can deny access to uninvited guests by putting them on a blacklist.

A favorites feature has been implemented in the crafting UI. You can now mark crafting recipes as favorites by bookmarking them. A link to the quick bar is also possible. In the future, you will also be able to change the frame by right-clicking on your player portrait.

Rift Crafting Favorites

You can find an extensive list of all changes on the Developer Blog of Rift in German.

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

World of Warcraft: No to Free2Play – Veteran Mode more boring than expected

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In World of Warcraft , the announced Veteran Mode will be significantly less exciting than expected. According to data mining information, it seemed like a step towards “Free2Play.” That hope can be buried.

A few days ago, dataminers found hints of a “Veteran Status” in the code of patch 6.1 for World of Warcraft. At the same time, it’s been known for a few weeks that Blizzard is creating the possibility to indirectly trade “Gold for Game Time,” similar to games like WildStar, ArcheAge, or EVE that have had this feature for a while.

Some, including our Nico, saw a connection: Could it be possible for players without an active account to log in temporarily and then buy game time with their “old” gold from other players who purchased it for “real money” from Blizzard? That would be a win-win-win for everyone. Old players could play WoW “for free” again, existing players could exchange euros for gold without violating the EULA, and Blizzard would get more subscribers and thus more money.

It all sounded logical. But if that ever happens, it has nothing to do with the Veteran Mode. Because it is much more boring than expected.

World of Warcraft - Goren

What is behind the new “Veteran Mode?”

What data miners found regarding the Veteran Mode is, in practice, a pretty mundane affair, as posts from WoW Community Manager Bashiok in the US forum show.

The Veteran Mode is pretty much the same as the Starter “Edition,” which are trial accounts.

Players who once had an account can log in with that account and create new characters or play existing heroes (but none at level 21 or above). The only benefit is that, in principle: Ex-players do not have to create a new trial account but can create a level-1 hero with their old account and run around with them or with former mini-twinks.

All restrictions are active like in the Starter Edition, so no trading, no chatting, no leveling up. The only difference is: The characters can join a guild.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. US Battle Net
  2. MMO Bomb

Destiny: Offer and Position of Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on January 16.

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

In Destiny, Xur is the man around whom everything revolves. On Friday, January 16th, he appears in the Tower with a selection of exotic weapons and armor, the really good stuff.

Xur has become so popular and important that he has achieved a sort of “internet fame” that others wish to benefit from. There is an account on Twitter pretending to be a “key Bungie employee.” All week, he tweets only about being in “extremely important” meetings discussing what good Xur would have on Friday.

“Hmm! Let’s give them Icebreaker! I want Icebreaker, but my colleagues are for Red Death. What do you think?”

“Oh, I don’t want to say anything. I just came from a meeting, and I can only tell you, save strange coins!”

Destiny Moon Screenshot

Just to be clear: People like that do not work at Bungie; they just want followers and attention.

We also receive messages asking if we would already reveal what Xur has on offer (You can tell me, please! I’m a good boy!). And why we always wait until the very last moment before we reveal it…

It is impossible to predict exactly what Xur has in Destiny.

Everything about Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on January 16th, 17th, and 18th in Destiny

When does Xur come to the Tower and when does he leave?

Xur arrives at the Tower on Friday, January 16th, at 10:00 AM German time. Xur leaves the Tower again on Sunday, January 18th, also at 10:00 AM.

Where is Xur? What is his location?

Xur is located by the vendors of the Crucible.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

What’s up with the numbers on the exotic armors?

Exotic armors have varying high values for Strength, Intellect, and Discipline – even if they are otherwise the same item. This is referred to as a “roll.” The higher it is, the better it is. There is no data yet on where the limits for the “new” light-level 36 items lie; we dealt with the old limits in this article.

What does Xur have for Warlocks, Titans, Hunters in Destiny this week?

Xur has this week the exotic sniper rifle Icebreaker for 17 strange coins on offer. The Icebreaker is currently considered the second strongest PvE weapon in Destiny, while it is much less sought after in PvP. The special twist: The weapon regenerates its ammunition automatically, but cannot be reloaded for that. It is the ideal sniper to find a position, take six shots, and switch to another weapon. Especially in the previous raids and in Nightfall strikes with the solar damage modifier, the Icebreaker has been and is in demand. And Guardians are willing to do strange things to get it.

Destiny-Icebreaker-1601

For Hunters, Xur has the exotic Achylophage Symbiote available for 13 strange coins. With 104/112 Discipline.

Destiny-Achylophage-Symbiote-1601

For Titans, he has the exotic DLC helm The Glasshouse (Glass House) available. He wants 13 strange coins for it. The helm has a value of 113/122 in Intellect, which is a very strong roll. The Glasshouse has never been offered by Xur before.

Destiny-The-Glasshouse-1601

Warlocks can buy the exotic DLC helm Obsidian Mind (Obisidan Mind) for 13 strange coins from him this week. He has that for the first time as well. The helm has two values: 49/53 in Intellect, and 50/54 in Strength.

Destiny-Obsidian-Mind1601

Xur is not selling an Engram this week. His selection is considered the best in the last months.

Which exotic weapons and armors can Xur upgrade this week?

We deal with upgrading exotic items in Destiny through Xur in this article. He can basically upgrade everything except the Vex Mythoclast. Upgraded new weapons deal 14.5% more damage than their old version.

Destiny-The-Last-Word-0901

For the exotic weapons, he offers upgrades for the following guns:

  • The pulse rifle Bad Karma
  • The hand cannon The Last Word
  • The arc fusion rifle Plan C
  • The solar fusion rifle Infinity
  • The arc machine gun Thunderlord
  • The solar rocket launcher Gjallarhorn
Destiny-Light-Behind-Nemesis-512

For the exotic armors, the following items can be upgraded this week:

  • The chest armor Lucky Raspberry of the Hunters, with impressive 154/166 Intellect
  • The Achylophage Symbiote, a Hunter helm, with 95/103 Discipline
  • The Mark of Alpha Lupi, a Titan chest, this time with 127/133 Intellect
  • No Plan B, gloves for Titans, with rather poor 77/83 Strength
  • Light behind Nemesis, a Warlock helm with 101/109 Strength
  • Skull of the terrible Ahamkara, another Warlock helm with 108/118 Intellect
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Destiny: Crota’s End gets its Hard Mode – the date is known, the loot too

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

In Destiny, the hard mode of the raid Crota’s End starts on January 21 in the evening. Four new legendary weapons, the exotic auto rifle Necrochasm, a shader, and a ship will be up for grabs. Well, there will also be some surprises. Bungie has learned from experience.

We predicted it yesterday: The Weekly Update on the night from Thursday to Friday only had one topic at Bungie: The hard mode of the raid Crota’s End will open.

The hard mode is said to be tougher than last time

A patch is supposed to come as early as Tuesday to prepare the raid. The next update, therefore, is patch 1.1.0.4.

On Wednesday evening, German time, around 7 PM, the “hard mode” of the new raid in Destiny will open. This is an unusual time. It is also expected to be a manual start. Delays may occur.

Bungie warns: They have learned some new tricks to make the raid more challenging. There will be fewer opportunities for raiders to heal themselves, and the enemies will be tougher. The new baseline level is now light level 33.

Destiny DLC Screenshot2

The hard mode in Destiny in practice

The hard mode in Destiny is an opportunity for Guardians at the top of the food chain to test their skills and gear against “even tougher” enemies.

In practice, it works like this: Guardians who only do the “hard mode” will receive loot “twice” from each boss, once for a “normal” kill and then for the “hard” kill. For example, there are known screenshots of Atheon, the final boss, where someone immediately got two exotic weapons.

Destiny-Fang-of-Ir-Yut

The hard mode in Destiny is already a challenge in itself because Guardians deal significantly reduced damage with an unfavorable light level difference to the target.

What loot is available?

The main part of the loot consists of the four new primary weapons with elemental damage, which can drop from the final boss Crota:

  • The hand cannon Word of Crota, Void damage
  • The pulse rifle Oversoul Edict, Arc damage
  • The scout rifle Fang of Ir Yût, Arc damage
  • The auto rifle Abyss Defiant, Solar damage

They reach a value of 300/331 and are particularly sought after for the weekly nightfall strike and other activities. Each of the four weapons also has a bonus against certain enemies in Crota’s End. We have already introduced the weapons in more detail in this article.

The highlight of the raid will be the exotic auto rifle Necrochasm. It is the next evolution of the “white rifle” Husk of the Pit, which can then become the Eidolon Ally .

Destiny-Necrochasm

Crota now drops an item that turns the auto rifle into the exotic Necrochasm: The Crux of Crota.
In the image, the Necrochasm deals Arc damage, but unlike the Vex Mythoclast, it has no “strange” damage value, but remains at 331. Whether it can ultimately take the place of the Vex Mythoclast as the “new king weapon in Destiny” will remain to be seen.

What else is there in the Destiny raid?

There will be a new shader with the beautiful name Glowhoo. And a new spaceship will also drop, probably from Crota: Bane of the Dark Gods is the gem that also serves as a model for the cover image.

Fame and recognition are also up for grabs. Bungie has announced that they will elevate the first raiders to a virtual podium.

And speaking of Bane of the Dark Gods, on Friday, January 16, Xur will be back: Destiny: Offer and position of Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on January 16.

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

H1Z1: Experience the first hours of H1Z1 in the stream (if the servers are running)

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

When H1Z1 started in Germany, it was almost midnight. You can experience the first hours of the new zombie MMO from Sony Online Entertainment live in the stream.

The Early Access was scheduled for 7:00 PM. It was postponed several times. At around 11:40 PM, the first players could start downloading the game. Initially, only the starter pack was available. It was priced at €19.99, which was quite unfavorable for Europeans. The premium pack arrived on the stream a little later, costing €36.99.

The difference between the two packs is the number of crates, keys, and event tickets. With the event tickets, you can access the Battle Royale servers. With the keys you open the crates. And in the crates are “skins”, other models for equipment in the game. However, you have to find this equipment on your own.

SOE relies heavily on streamers, to promote the game during Early Access and hopefully make it popular. They have even named some servers after them. This is noticeable during the initial hours. Numerous channels are going live, and viewer numbers are skyrocketing. Some German streamers are also present on Twitch with H1Z1 (the largest German streams had between 1,400 and 1,700 viewers shortly after midnight, the largest international over 70,000).

However, the nearly 200,000 Twitch viewers are only looking at the loading screen in the first minutes. There are, as expected, problems with the login. Also, the official stream scheduled for midnight is still inactive at 0:20. The login servers are reportedly being “reconfigured” according to a tweet from Adam Clegg, suffering from heavy traffic.

H1Z1

Meanwhile, the H1Z1 team published a letter to the fans, making it clear that the game is still in an early stage and no one should be discouraged by the initial experiences.

Especially with the textures, they are at the beginning, and they want to significantly improve the “military gear” and the balance. The player model is at about 30%, and SOE aims to deliver female characters soon. And of course, there are bugs, bugs, and more bugs.

We are linking to one of the larger streams here, so you can experience the full “We’re waiting for H1Z1” feeling live. On Friday, January 16, we will embed the stream from our friends at ProNDC; by then, the servers should hopefully be running.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the external content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

SMITE: World Champion gains 1.3 million richer, Final in video; Patch brings new God!

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

The guys and girls at Hi-Rez had suspended their regular patches for a while, as last week the first official SMITE World Championship took place, featuring a prize pool of a whopping 2.6 million dollars!

The American team “Cognitive Prime” managed to prevail in the last of 5 decisive matches, securing the majority of the prize money (1.3 million!) for themselves. But even for the runner-up, the trip was worth it, as the European team “Titan” returned not as winners but with 500,000 dollars.

SMITE WM Infographic

Anyone who wants to watch the exciting and decisive battle for the championship can do so in the following video:

http://youtu.be/kd3k4cAB690

Patch introduces new God: Hou Yi

Quietly and secretly, after the World Championship, a new patch was released and deployed to the live servers. In addition to the new hunter “Hou Yi”, fans of Hel and Cupid can look forward to new skins, and followers of the assassin “Awilix” can breathe a sigh of relief as she receives her long-needed buff.

Hou Yi, Defender of the Earth!

The hunter from the Chinese pantheon is, according to legend, responsible for the fact that we now have only one sun in the sky and not ten – the other nine he shot down from the sky. Since then, the last sun bows to his will and only shines to an extent that makes life on Earth bearable. In Smite, Hou Yi is a hunter and his ability kit makes him particularly shine against assassins like “Loki”.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

His passive ability “Suntouched” grants him immunity against critical hits for three seconds after he has suffered such a hit – and that without cooldown. A new, interesting mechanic brings his ability “Ricochet”: Hou Yi fires a charged arrow that bounces off walls and thus becomes even stronger. This allows him to shoot “around corners” or even land multiple hits “over the wall”. His “Hunter’s Mark” allows him to mark enemy gods and still see them on the minimap even when they are in stealth. By the way, the mark also deals additional damage. The ultimate “Sunbreaker” rains down 9 suns, dealing damage to enemies in a large target area. The combination possibilities of these abilities make him a true counter god to stealers!

Skins and Emotes: The highlight is Solstice Hel

In addition to countless emotes that have found their way back into the game (including a dance for Serquet), there are also a few new premium skins. For Europeans, “Baby Fuwa Cupid” might seem a bit strange, but “Solstice Hel” should be well received. The two-faced goddess this time takes the form of a forest nymph, once for summer and once for deep winter – of course with a correspondingly funny voice pack in which the two personalities wonderfully insult or complement each other.

SMITE Baby Fuwa Cupid Hel Skin

Awilix – More Control

This time there was only one balancing change; otherwise, the focus was solely on fixing bugs. The ability “Summon Suku” from Awilix now moves 50% faster and also knocks up enemies hit from the side. This allows the assassin much more control and especially more opportunities to prepare in order to then draw in the knocked-up enemies with “Gravity Surge”.

In the near future: New Conquest Map

A small glimpse into the future was granted in a new trailer. The somewhat outdated graphics of the “Conquest” map will be polished up and given a new appearance. This trailer shows the battlefield in all its glory:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

When exactly the graphic update for the most popular Smite mode will happen is still unknown, but it will likely occur at the latest with the release of the Xbox version of the game – the beta is also around the corner. A developer video was also released a few days ago:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. hirezstudios.com (Patchnotes)

H1Z1: Here is the official, really fresh trailer for Early Access

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

For H1Z1 there is a new trailer to enjoy for Early Access.

The Early Access is set to launch today, Thursday, January 15th, at 9:00 PM on Steam. And on this occasion, Sony Online Entertainment has provided a fresh trailer.

Recently, one was posted on many gaming sites, but that was intended for the E3 six months ago. Not fresh, but rather a bit outdated, it had to serve as a placeholder on Steam until the new one was ready, deceiving some colleagues.

Here is the fresh trailer now. It shows the life of a young man (internally this skin is called Ivan) before the zombie apocalypse and in contrast to his current, somewhat less comfortable daily routine.

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

Action-MMO Neverwinter is coming to Xbox One in spring, registrations for February beta start now

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The action MMO Neverwinter is coming to Xbox One in spring. For players with an Xbox Gold membership, it will be free to play.

From February 5th to 8th, Perfect World is planning a beta for Xbox One, for which you can register at this link now.

Neverwinter takes place in the “Forgotten Realms,” a setting from the world of Dungeons and Dragons, which some may recognize from Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, or the single-player series Neverwinter.

It is a free-to-play game with strong action elements and a focus on group play in instances. Among today’s MMO titles, it comes closest to a type of dungeon crawler.

If it, like many games from Perfect World, continues toreceive criticism for asking too much money for premium items, it has managed to establish itself in the free-to-play PC market.

In China, the home market of Perfect World, the console version of Neverwinter was already released at the launch of Xbox One there. The game itself is thoroughly Western and feels very connected to the Wizards of The Coast and Dungeons and Dragons.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Evolve: “We only make the game, we do not sell it”

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The asymmetrical MOBA Evolve has received a lot of criticism after revealing the DLC plans yesterday. One of the co-founders of the Evolve studio Turtle Rock Studio addresses the criticism from fans. Times have changed.

Ouch, Turtle Rock probably didn’t expect that. The excitement of players for the new “Evolve” noticeably cooled yesterday, after a jungle of DLCs, different versions, and paid additional content was revealed.

Evolve Screenshot

Much criticism of the plans and prices

After all, the base game costs nearly 50 euros. When players then have to reach for their wallets again after months to spend 7.49€ for another hunter or even 14.99€ for a monster, it meets with incomprehension.

Especially in a market where players are currently learning to wait a half or full year until the “ultimate edition” or “game of the year” edition eventually goes over the virtual counter during a special promotion for a fraction of the original price – including all DLCs and expansions.

Evolve-the-last-4-hunters

“No one has to buy the DLC”

In a long post in the official forum, one of the co-founders of Turtle Rock Studios, Phil Robb, now responds to the fans’ criticism. The response can probably be summarized as “We are subject to the laws of the market.”

Robb explained that no one should feel compelled to buy the DLC. It is not mandatory. They still had many ideas for additional hunters and monsters that they could no longer implement in the game. Instead of throwing them away, they decided to develop them later. However, that costs money. It has to come in somehow.

As we got closer to finishing Evolve we ended up with designs for a bunch of monster and hunters that we just didn’t have the time and money to make. Instead of throw them all out, why not put together a budget to make them as DLC?

No one is forced to buy this DLC. They will pay attention to the balance. New monsters and hunters should not be stronger than the old ones. Furthermore, they enrich the game for “non-buyers” as they can play against the monsters and hunters.

Evolve

The market has changed

Robb subtly pointed out that at Turtle Rock they are not responsible for such decisions. They developed the game, and publisher 2K Games is now taking care of how the game enters the market.

Ultimately, TRS makes the games, we don’t sell them…and as the developers we’ve done our best to make a game that people want to play.

Back in the old “Left4Dead” days, Turtle Rock Studio had a team of 13 people and was under the warm blanket of Valve, who didn’t care much about profit. Today they are seven times larger, had to grow, but are still relatively small and swimming with the sharks. The industry has changed, so has the starting position. However, they still see themselves in the same role as before and are trying to establish themselves in this very tough business and develop great games.

I like to think we’re still the same down to earth guys we were then, trying to make great games in a very tough industry.

With all the bundles, they give players options. And options are never a bad thing.

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

World of Warcraft: 6.1 makes you dance

Nico Saborowski Nico Saborowski Reading time 2 minutes

Some details about the upcoming World of Warcraft Update 6.1 are already known. Now further details have been made public: For example, the colorblind settings will be introduced, as well as the jukebox, which will turn your garrison into a dance club.

Next Raid and Heirlooms

First of all: The release of the next raid, Blackrock Foundry, is not related to Patch 6.1. The WoW developers made this clear once again on Twitter. We have already compiled the release schedule for Blackrock Foundry for you. There are also news regarding the heirlooms, the level items. Similar to toys, pets, and mounts, there will be a new interface window for them. All your heirlooms will move there with the release of 6.1 and you can access them with every character.

WoW 6_1 heirlooms

Rock the Jukebox

Soon your garrison will be lively, as with 6.1 you can decide which music plays. A list of soundtracks has already been published (see source below), but it is still unclear how individual tracks can be unlocked. One thing is already certain: Nostalgic players will be pleased, as many songs from old dungeons, such as Zul’Gurub or the Black Temple, are included. While the jukebox caters to the ears, the colorblind settings cater to the eyes. These will also be included in Patch 6.1 to support colorblind players.

WoW Colorblind UI
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. www.mmo-champion.com

WildStar: “No more biting”, WildStar will become lighter, more manageable, nicer – and bigger in 2015

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

SF-MMO WildStar presents its plans for the year 2015. The focus is on becoming more accessible and not being perceived as a “hardcore” game. Especially solo players want to be offered something. And WildStar is set to grow, grow, grow.

WildStar

WildStar had a difficult year 2014, for 2015 Mike Donaetelli has now drawn up a roadmap that is supposed to consider solo players more. They want to design more shipboy missions. These are scenarios also for solo players. With a level 6 mission “The Horror of Fragment Zero!” they want to catch players early and introduce them to the system, which was probably a bit too hidden until then.

They are also keeping an eye on the so-called “casuals”, occasional players. They intend to promote game content that can be consumed in 30-45 minute units and announce a new “contract” system for this. Fun is the priority here (and the loot!).

They want to revise the group search tool. This should show everything in the future, as previously they had hidden a few secrets, such quirks Carbine probably does not want to allow anymore in 2015.

Moreover, the developers want to give WildStar players the opportunity to further individualize their characters. Housing is expected to be made accessible earlier. They are still proud of it, but probably some left before they could reach it.

WildStar 2015

Furthermore, Carbine also intends to reconsider the endgame zones, to avoid “combat fatigue”. This occurs when players have to complete too many strenuous battles in a short time.

Solo players should be able to enjoy a stronger “immersion”. This occurs when players fully dive into the adventure. They want to make another change to the reward system.

For raiders, it will be somewhat less “hardcore” in the future. The 40-man raids are history, the existing 40-man raid will be converted into a 20-man. The 40-man raid was under-accepted. A third 20-man raid is also planned. Just like a new dungeon, the Protostar Academy.

WildStar Protostar Academy 2

The academy is intended to serve as an introduction for newcomers into group play and have a tutorial character.

The ultimate protospiels, a second new dungeon, will present endgame players with a challenge.

At Carbine, they are working to avoid giving the impression that they have forgotten their roots and repeatedly talk about targeting a “variety of players and playstyles” and wanting to listen to the feedback and voices from the community.

Moreover, they want to “invest further in the game.” Thus, WildStar is not meant to become a discontinued model, but to grow, grow, grow.

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

Destiny: Old Gjallarhorn vs. New Gjallarhorn – Is it worth upgrading at Xur?

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

In Destiny there are new versions of exotic weapons since the expansion “Darkness Awaits” that go up to a damage value of 331. How much more damage does the rocket launcher Gjallarhorn deal in the test?

The rocket launcher Gjallarhorn is the most coveted weapon in Destiny. A YouTuber has looked into how much more damage the new version (with 331 base damage) does compared to an old version that was not yet with Xur, which has 300 base damage. Both weapons in the test are “fully upgraded.”

The Gjallarhorn is a special case among exotic weapons because it not only deals damage with the main rocket, but also with the 8 mini-rockets around it (the Wolfpack Rounds, also known as cluster rockets). But there are no surprises here, they also deal the increased damage.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

The test was conducted when the Guardian was at light level 31, targeting 30 enemies. The light level should therefore have no influence on the calculation.

The “old” version of the Gjallarhorn deals 908 damage points upon impact. The 8 rockets deal 267 damage each. This results in a total damage of 2882.

The “new” version of the Gjallarhorn deals 1039 damage points upon impact. The 8 rockets deal 306 damage each. This results in a total damage of 3299.

The result of the test confirms the trend shown by other exotic weapons as well: compared to the old exotic weapon, the damage of the new one increases by 14.5%. This is certainly noticeable.

Numbers are often a tricky matter in Destiny because Bungie doesn’t want to provide players with too much information here. But at least the question of upgrading seems to be clarified: Yes, upgrading exotic weapons in Destiny is worthwhile in every case.

We deal with upgrading exotic weapons at Xur in this article.

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

Final Fantasy XIV: 12 hours of maintenance for Patch 2.5 on January 20th

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

Final Fantasy XIV is undergoing maintenance for 12 hours to prepare for Content Patch 2.5.

The Patch 2.5 for Final Fantasy XIV will be a big deal and big deals are taken seriously at Square Enix. The servers are scheduled to be down for maintenance for 12 hours. This will take place overnight from Monday, January 19th to Tuesday, January 20th. The servers will be down from midnight. The maintenance work should be completed by Tuesday at 12:00 PM German time.

Patch 2.5 will also deliver three new instances. Two of them are “Hard Modes” of already existing dungeons and one is new. The new instance “Keeper of the Lake” will likely be part of the main scenario.

What else Patch 2.5 brings is already presented here, along with a spectacular trailer: Final Fantasy XIV: Update 2.5 ‘Before the Fall’ presented in the new trailer

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

Black Desert: Mass Assaults – This is what sieges look like in Black Desert

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In Black Desert, one begins with a test run for the game’s sieges.

The so-called “Large Scale” PvP, which means battles between players with more than, let’s say, 40 participants, is a typical component of the Asian MMOs that are coming our way in the next few years.

Black Desert has – like ArcheAge or Bless – such a “battles and sieges” mode planned, where many players clash and battle for the ownership of a fortress.

At the beginning, the guilds do not have any fortresses but are competing for one. The guilds can place a large tent and two smaller ones that serve as respawn points, and then they can fight until only one remains. That one takes possession of the fortress and defends it in the next round.

In Black Desert, the first such battle will take place on January 17 on only one server. If everything goes smoothly, the mode is set to be available on the remaining Korean servers starting January 24.

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

World of Tanks: Fortresses took a lot of work, but were worth it, probably also financially

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In World of Tanks, players seem satisfied with the strongholds from the Stronghold update. Tank drivers involved in clans played more, their battles are more intense, and clan members likely reach for their wallets more often.

In a conversation with gameindustry.biz Natallia Pershyts, the Product Manager of World of Tanks, spoke about the stronghold mode. It was revealed how important it is for WoT to get players into clans. Currently, they’ve succeeded with 30% of players.

The team battles between clans are said to be more intense and challenging. Especially for the clan leader, the commander, more strategically demanding tasks fall here. Playing in a clan requires different skills, players must learn teamwork and tactics, and therefore also spend more time than other gamers.

The strongholds in the “Stronghold” update, a type of base-building feature for clans, cost Wargaming a lot of work, and the team had some trouble, but the result was worthwhile.

Apparently, according to gameindustry.biz, World of Tanks also expects a higher willingness to pay from players integrated into structures.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

World of Warcraft: The next raid, Blackrock Foundry, and world boss Rukhmar will be available on February 4th.

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In the MMORPG World of Warcraft (WoW), Blizzard has now announced when the next raid, Blackrock Foundry, will open.

Similar to the last raid Highmaul, Blackrock Foundry will open in intervals.

  • On February 4th, Blackrock Foundry opens on NORMAL and HEROIC. The world boss Rukhmar is now also circling through the peaks of Arrakh.
  • On February 11th, the raid opens on MYTHIC.
  • On February 18th, the first wing of the raid finder opens. It features Gruul, the Dragonkiller, and the Smelting Furnace.
  • On February 25th, there’s the second wing of the LFR with Hans’gar and Franzok, Flamebinder Kar’gaz, and Kromog.
  • On March 11th (so there’s a 2-week break in between), the third wing opens with the bosses: Beastmaster Darmac, Commander Thogar, and “the Iron Maidens.”
  • Another 2 weeks later, the last wing will be tackled, on March 25th, the LFR heroes will face Blackfist.

Just because the next raid opens on February 3rd does not mean that 6.1 will be released then. Blizzard tweeted:

We have a little preview of 6.1 here for you: World of Warcraft: 6.1 brings pet-hunting in old BC-raids and a lot of love for Pepe

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

H1Z1: It’s starting!

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

The zombie sandbox MMO H1Z1 is expected to go into Early Access at 7 PM German time. Meanwhile, a fan trailer once again invokes the Walking Dead influences of the zombie MMO.

Typical question right now: When does it start? When does the Early Access of H1Z1 begin?

There is a countdown on Steam that seems to be confirmed by H1Z1 staff. It should start at 10 AM US local time. SOE is based in sunny California, which follows Pacific Time. That means it’s 7 PM for us in the evening. Nice release time. As everyone knows, it can get delayed with such a thing. But 7 PM is official.

1This is indicated by the game’s Steam page. And also this Vine from Jimmy Whisenhunt, who is responsible for the combat system and weapon design.

And even the boss names this time as the start date.

There will only be an English version of the game available, accessible from all over the world. Currently, the servers are only gathered in one location in the USA. Plans are in place to set up a second location in the United States and one in good old Europe. Also, the H1Z1 homepage now presents itself in a new light. The price for the starter pack will be $19.99, while the premium package will be $39.99. As for the conversion to Euros, it’s not yet known with certainty. That’s the latest update.

Meanwhile, a new fan trailer has appeared that emphasizes the “Walking Dead” influences of H1Z1. It tells the story of a survivor in the world of H1Z1 as he confronts the titular virus, seeks refuge with the military, escapes to the countryside with a group, and begins to slowly learn the harsh realities of the new world. By the way, no in-game footage was used for the trailer.

These strong influences from the U.S. hit series “The Walking Dead” seem to be something SOE does not want to deny. The genre is not something they want to reinvent.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

We will probably accompany the Early Access start tomorrow with a stream at mein-mmo.

Update: A formal greeting is indeed provided by SOE for H1Z1.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Update 15.1. 10:30: This pic of the server list was tweeted. You can see the various symbols here. The picture actually shows a Carebear, the symbol for PvE servers, and one server is called “Smed’s Dead.” Very nice. In hardcore mode, when you die, you will also lose all your learned recipes and the ownership of all containers. They will still exist in the world but will be more assigned to the player.

Update 17:30: The start has been delayed by 2 hours. It is now planned for 9 PM.


Update 18:00: Perhaps a few EU servers will indeed come online throughout the day. SOE has now provided H1Z1 with a new trailer. It was briefly online, then they replaced it with the old one while waiting for the high-res version. The old version can still be found on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/zw7YgGH6RlM

Update 19:40: Yes … not such great news now. Smedley tweeted again when a user asked for confirmation of the 9 PM start. His response was a “So there.”

Update 20:40: It looks like it will take another hour. 10 PM seems to be the new estimate.


Update 21:25 It looks like they are sticking to the 10 PM schedule. The last patch will now be deployed to the live servers. Any remaining bugs will stay for now and are to be fixed as soon as possible.

Update 21:45: A data miner has now released the server list. There are 10 EU servers among them and 26 battle royale servers (including one for EU), one for each letter of the alphabet. Appropriately, the battle royale servers will be named using the NATO alphabet (that Charlie, Lima, Yankee stuff). Here’s the server list, in case someone wants to get in touch already. Update 21:55: And another hour pushed back. Now it’s expected to be 11 PM in Germany before it starts. 


Update 23:00: According to H1Z1, everything is ready and they are still waiting for an “Okay” from Steam. It can start any minute now.

Update 23:40: It is starting now.


Update 23:45: Early Access for H1Z1 can now be purchased. The standard version is priced at €19.99, while the premium package is likely priced at €39.99. It is currently not available yet but should follow soon. We explain the difference in the article linked below.

For information on the contents of the starter and premium packages, as well as the system requirements for the Early Access of H1Z1, click here: H1Z1: System requirements and packages for Early Access are known

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

Skyforge: Cryomancer in PvP tests with 32% popularity, Lightbinder with 14% comes last

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes
Skyforge Paladin

In the god MMO Skyforge , classical battlefields are used for PvP. Recently, a large multi-day PvP event took place. The ice mage Cryomancer has emerged as the most popular class for PvP.

In the upcoming Free2Play MMO Skyforge, it seems that the English translators are still on Christmas vacation, but the Russian community continues to be supplied with information. Recently, the Russian beta has apparently focused on PvP. A multi-day event is reported, with over 4000 players participating. The most active players participated in 60 matches.

The most popular class turned out to be the Cryomancer, the ice mage. The support class, the Lightbinder, was played the least. Team Allods also notes critically that the chances of winning with the supporter in the team are significantly higher. The classes were distributed approximately as follows:

  • Mage-DPS Cryomancer: 32%
  • Melee-DD Berserker: 18%
  • The range-DD Gunner is at 16%
  • The tanky Paladin is at 15%
  • The healing Lightbinder at 14%

It seems that the balance of four classes is under control. However, the Cryomancer is a clear outlier.

Coolness simply wins:

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

We also have images from the PvP event for you – but in Russian.

Recommended editorial content

At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.

I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
Link to the YouTube content

Learn more about the class system and ideas of Skyforge here: Skyforge: Class system inspired by League of Legends

 

We have already addressed the PvP concept of Skyforge here: Skyforge: Structured PvP presented – classic with flair

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

Hearthstone: The match will be remembered by Hearthstone hero Amaz for a while

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time < 1 minutes

In Hearthstone , the popular streamer Amaz recently played a match that he will probably remember for a while.

Recently, the US servers were briefly down and Amaz, perhaps the most popular Hearthstone player in the world, decided to give the Asia server a try. He hadn’t played there for a while, but had a solid deck ready and wanted to see how high he could go.

He played a Control Priest deck, exactly the type of deck with which he succeeded at Dreamhack in Sweden. He would easily handle the first fights against “Rank 25” players, the raging chickens, in his sleep. No question. “Guys,” he reminded his stream, “we’re not pushing around any noobs.”

Yet somehow there was a catch right from the first match… And against a “Free2Play” mage using only basic cards, the hero gradually loses his winning grin.

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