The team from Planetside 2 gives fans a behind-the-scenes look: This is how bugs are analyzed and eliminated in the shooter MMO.
Even if boss Matt Higby protests: “Bugs? There are no bugs here!”, bugs are part of everyday life for game developers like the team from Planetside 2, much to the dismay of gamers.
In a video, the SOE team now shows who is involved and what steps are needed to make the little pest leave its desk and disappear: There are build managers, quality assurance, and programmers involved, all because one doesn’t want to be as invisible as initially expected.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny, next Tuesday, the endgame event for PvP players, Iron Banner, will start. Here, PvP players might find the items they need to reach level 30.
This is where the Champions of Destiny are born
The “Iron Banner” event will start on October 7 and will run for a week until October 14. This is the first time this endgame event for PvP players will start in the live version of Destiny. Information is still scarce. It has already been tested in the beta.
The special feature of this PvP mode in Destiny is that the level and the equipment of the Guardians WILL NOT be balanced. Each participant is as strong as their gear and light level allows. This means that higher-level players with the best armor pieces and weapons will have an advantage.
What rewards will there be and how will you obtain them?
Currently, the details of the reward system for the mode are not yet set. Based on the beta, regarding how the “The Witch Queen” event was conducted, and from Bungie’s announcement a few weeks ago, it seems very likely that a range of new legendary items will be introduced into the game.
In the beta events, these were mostly legendary weapons of all types. The “The Witch Queen” event notably introduced two legendary armor pieces for the chest and helmet. Some players are still missing legendary weapons.
This is what Jolder’s Hammer looked like in the beta. If the legendary machine gun returns, it will have different stats.
The “Iron Banner” will likely give out Bounty missions that players can only complete in this specific endgame mode, which will only be active for 7 days.
In addition to the rewards for these bounties and possible rewards directly after completing a round, there will also be a reputation vendor for the event, most likely Lord Saladin. Here, “top” items might await players who increase their reputation: Alongside legendary weapons, there should be emblems, shaders, and a legendary ship.
This legendary jump ship “Birth of History” was given to a few lucky players as an Iron Banner reward in the beta.
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On reddit, some players suspect that through the “Iron Banner” event, armor pieces with a maximum light value of 30 could now be available for Crucible fans. Currently, there are legendary items with a light value of 30 only in the raid “The Vault of Glass” – other legendary items max out at a light value of 27.
Those who do not participate in this raid will only reach level 29 or stay below. For this, it would be necessary that alongside legendary weapons, legendary armor pieces are also introduced to the game since only helmets, chest pieces, legs, or boots currently hold the light values.
Since the new event for PvP players is positioned at the upper end of the scale, just like the raid for PvE players, it is likely that armor pieces with this increased light value will be available next week. The exciting question is: How will they be obtained and will the performance of the Guardians play a role? Currently, in the Crucible, the item distribution is mainly criticized for being random. Performance plays only a secondary role. There are higher expectations from the “Iron Banner” in Destiny now.
Anyway: For all Crucible fans, Destiny truly begins this Tuesday.
This was the loot in the beta – uncertain if everything will return:
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Hello and welcome back to one of my columns. After my Whining Wednesday has unfortunately fallen victim to censorship this week (just because I wanted to throw a flash mob party for my boss!), I decided to touch on another topic as well.
I want to introduce games here that, in my opinion, fundamentally differ from others and provide a unique experience, or are true exemplars of their genre. You probably haven’t heard of most of these games here – but that’s precisely the point, I want to draw your attention to real gems that have definitely received far too little recognition so far.
I’ll start with a game that was recommended to me by a friend, namely “Juniper’s Knot”. Talking about it as a game might underestimate it, as it is technically a “Visual Novel”, a story primarily told through text and images.
You read that right, there are no choices and the gameplay consists of nerve-wrackingly clicking “Continue” to view the next line of text – so if you’re only after hardcore, skill-based action, you can confidently leave this one behind.
What makes this game so great that I absolutely praise it to the sky?
In short: the story. I want to briefly explain the basic setting here without giving away too much of the plot, as that of course adds the most appeal.
“Juniper’s Knot” is told alternately from the perspective of two characters. One is a demoness who has been trapped for a while in the ruins of a decaying city by a protective circle.
The second character is a young man who has lost his way and accidentally stumbles into this demoness’s prison. From then on, you experience the dialogues between the two characters while also gaining insights into their thoughts. The texts are brilliantly written, the characters feel incredibly alive, relatable, and without making a secret of it, I shed quite a few tears during the story because it is incredibly well staged – the graphics and sound effects are a true enrichment.
With its relatively short “playtime” of two hours, “Juniper’s Knot” is perfect for server maintenance. However, I would recommend experiencing this story at night or in dim light – not because it is extremely scary, but because it simply fits wonderfully with the atmosphere. This “game” made me sad and at the same time happy and reminded me why I love video games in general so much – it is a time in which I am simply thoroughly happy and content, even when a game brings me to tears.
The fantasy MMO Guild Wars 2 has now been honored with a wobbly but highly impressive tribute made of dominoes.
The 8-year-old son of a Guild Wars 2 fan is a total domino enthusiast and builds the wildest structures with the pieces, only to – as is customary – bring them crashing down. This has now resulted in an impressive video paying tribute to Guild Wars 2 with dominoes.
While the initial designs are relatively straightforward: a Guild Wars 2 logo and the dragon logo collapsing, the constructions and ideas throughout the clip become increasingly extraordinary, culminating in a spectacular finale. The designs are inspired by in-game motifs. Truly impressive!
A few weeks ago, a fan clip for GW2 was released that received a lot of attention. Now the domino madness. GW2 seems to have particularly creative fans. Hopefully, ArenaNet sends them all that toaster that can engrave the dragon head logo into the toast, which we consider an absolute fan dream at mein-mmo!
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The SF-MMO WildStar is focusing on its major updates, the content drops, and is canceling events for Halloween and Christmas.
“And cancel Christmas!” is the punchline of a legendary outburst by the Sheriff of Nottingham in the movie Robin Hood starring Kevin Costner. It’s not meant to be that harsh in WildStar. Instead, the decision to forgo an in-game Christmas event is a consequence of a new direction for the MMO.
Less is supposed to be more, WildStar’s calendar still packed
Before the release, it was announced, new content would be delivered every month. Therefore, team members were already working on content that wouldn’t be released until a year later. And so, events like Christmas or a small Halloween scare are already “almost” finished. But this “almost finished” is no longer sufficient for Carbine. They miscalculated.
With the first patches, too many bugs entered the game, the quality assurance was too thin, spread over too many projects, and just a few days for testing were simply not enough. The fans were frustrated.
Now they have pulled the emergency brake, given up on smaller events, and want to ensure that the “big” changes are done well. In the last Nexus Report, we saw Mike Donatelli with over 100 pages of DinA4 paper: All bug fixes and changes.
In November, the next drop will come with numerous bug fixes, balance changes, new features, and the end of the prologue.
And in January, there will be a major update with daily dungeon missions, the new Protostar Arena (with tutorial dungeon), and a second arena map.
The discovery of slowness
With this packed schedule, there simply wasn’t time to make Christmas happen in a way that could have been presented to the players. In the beginning, we often talked about how WildStar would face the same questions as Blizzard at the end of Vanilla World of Warcraft. Apparently, similar answers are now being found.
Blizzard is known for only releasing truly “polished” content. And taking their time – sometimes too much. The recent changes in WildStar indicate that they have now also discovered these solutions and are willing to take the drawbacks, even if it means a canceled Christmas event.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A biting yet surprisingly benevolent Honest Trailer has emerged for Destiny. It is said to be the hottest “7 out of 10” of the year.
The Honest Trailers by Smoshgames have gained cult status on YouTube. With deep bass and cutting humor, a narrator rushes through movies and games, parodying excessive industry trailers that hype their product with an epic voice and background music. In contrast, the Honest Trailers show more how the games really are, often satirically and biting.
Surprisingly gently (at least compared to other major titles), the MMO shooter Destiny comes off. Although Smoshgames also notes that much in the game feels like it will come later in a DLC and that Bungie keeps players waiting for more, but “Border Halo-Lands of Warcraft Online” already has its appeal. Because despite all the complaining and the average reviews, so many simply couldn’t stop playing it. However, getting off lightly in an Honest Trailer still means being biting and occasionally a bit harsh: Many will surely resonate with the trailer when it comes to the loot system in Destiny, the lack of trading options, or the troll attempts of the Cryptarch.
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In ArcheAge, hacks cause frustration. Apparently, players can secure early access to the coveted expiring plots through them.
This morning, we learned from one of our readers on Facebook that there are probably issues with hacks in ArcheAge. Apparently, it is always the same users who manage to claim new land for themselves. This is scarce in ArcheAge and only becomes available when the rent for existing buildings has not been paid for an extended period. Then eviction looms. Since the building site is so sought after, entire crowds of players gather at threatened buildings to quickly place their scarecrow there and secure the spot.
So how is it possible that the same players succeed? Quite simply, they cheat, according to a post on reddit. This is causing a stir. At the moment, one player on Kyprosa is particularly in the spotlight. He has several threads dedicated to him in the official forum, and he also plays a leading role in some videos.
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According to the user on reddit, there have been tricks and hacks in Russian forums for a long time on how to gain an unfair advantage – the Russian version was playable well before the Western one. Hacks that allowed teleporting directly to the dealer with the cumbersome trade packs originated from these forums. Also, bots, it is said on reddit, rolled out of these forums like on an assembly line. And also a hack that allows securing the building plot while the building is still being demolished. As the user on reddit explains, hackers exploited packet spoofing.
What might be even more concerning: According to the user, the hacks are currently being translated into English. Then they could appear even more violently.
ArcheAge particularly vulnerable due to crafting and trading focus
MMOs, especially in their beginnings, are often plagued by hacks and cheats. Both WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online struggled in their initial months with a true flood of bots. They prefer games that they see potential for significant economic success. With ArcheAge, it was actually assumed that the ability to buy gold from other players for APEX, which indirectly means exchanging euros for gold, could deter hackers and gold sellers. Apparently, this is not the case.
Since the economy in ArcheAge is strongly in the foreground and resources like gold or land are the most valuable goods and indirectly also determine a player’s power, ArcheAge is even more vulnerable than other games. Because while in most MMORPGs gold can only buy a limited advantage, that is not the case in ArcheAge.
A lure of the sandbox that also makes the game extremely vulnerable to those who unscrupulously gain an advantage.
Official statement from Trion Worlds: They are investigating
There is also an official statement from Trion Worlds: They are monitoring the situation but do not yet have enough evidence to prove real “foul play”. The fact that one player frequently succeeds in building first is possible but suspicious. They have already contacted XLGames to investigate whether there are other methods to claim land.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the conspiracy and horror MMO The Secret World, a buy-to-play game, the user interface is set to become freely configurable.
In the September letter from the producer, alongside some announcements about the Halloween event, there is also news about the user interface. With a click on the lock in the upper right, the components of the menu can soon be unlocked. These parts can then – like a mosaic – be freely moved around the screen. This change is said to come with release #10 – what they call larger content updates in The Secret World.
With Halloween comes – typical for TSW – new and returning missions for players. Besides the Cat God event and the spooky stories from Solomon Island, a conspiracy theorist will reach out to players, whose ideas and stories will soon sound less absurd … Although, anyone who is surprised by any bizarre twist in The Secret World or thinks something is impossible simply hasn’t played long enough.
This is how the Halloween event was announced two years ago.
http://youtu.be/791JvAn_y-Y
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Skyforge, players can become gods and deal with alien invasions.
Not “Cowboys vs. Aliens”, but “Gods versus Aliens” – this is what the upcoming MMO Skyforge will be about, which is set to enter beta at the end of the year. Much has already been revealed about the action MMO, and now we also know how the creators at Team Allods envision large events: as alien invasions.
The players of Skyforge are Immortals in the world of Aelion, whose main god has disappeared, making them a coveted target for alien invasions. They want to increase their influence on this world. Other worlds also have nasty gods, so to speak.
In MMO terms, the invasions mean: alien invasions are server-wide events that occur periodically, progress in multiple stages, and promise greater rewards for participating players. The final parts of this event then take on a raid format, leading to the opponents’ ship, and after a conclusion, the “best” players can even enter a kind of “hard mode”.
How exactly the invasions will function in gameplay, whether it will result in server-wide mass battles like in Guild Wars 2 or instanced group action like in World of Warcraft – or perhaps a mix where the initial stages are more buffet-style “free for all” and then become more exclusive later on, is not entirely decipherable from the dev blog post. It definitely sounds like an interesting concept.
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In the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, the announced justice system has now been detailed.
The justice system is probably what the “Elder Scrolls” series has and what the online spin-off TESO lacks the most. While in the single-player games the supposed heroes can fully indulge their kleptomaniac tendencies, that hasn’t been possible in The Elder Scrolls Online until now. However, that is set to change, as we have known for a few months.
Now further details about the so-called justice system have become known. There are to be three crimes:
Theft – Either one robs NPCs directly through pickpocketing or takes their possessions in the world. With the new changes, Tamriel is set to become significantly more interactive, with even more clickable objects.
Burglary or unauthorized entry – In every city, there should be NPC homes that can be robbed and plundered. To do so, one must first gain access and should better not get caught in the process.
Murder – Currently, the plans foresee that players can attack any NPC, but can only kill almost everyone. Merchants, quest NPCs, and those responsible for travel cannot be killed.
And how do NPCs in The Elder Scrolls Online react to these crimes?
For these crimes to have consequences, TESO is introducing a series of systems. NPCs are to react to criminals according to their nature. Some flee, while others will defend themselves. Surprises are planned: A seemingly easy target could turn out to be a veritable werewolf. This is intended to make the world more vibrant and unpredictable.
Moreover, the city guards will initiate the pursuit, and nearby guards should also respond when their comrades chase a fleeing criminal. This “heat,” or the attention generated after a fresh crime that attracts the guards, is expected to fade relatively quickly. However, a criminal accumulates a sort of bounty, which then “Enforcers,” other players in the service of the law, can hunt. Players can sign up for this service for justice by putting on a tabard – this will also mark them for open world PvP.
The system is not only intended to be a pure “cat and mouse” game between criminals and law enforcers, but it is planned to be more complex – with a “capture the flag” mechanic (the return of stolen goods) or tracking down thieves’ hideouts.
Furthermore, criminals and law enforcers are to receive their own skill lines.
In recent days, a guild summit took place at the headquarters of Zenimax, where the developers of The Elder Scrolls Online laid their cards on the table and discussed plans for the coming months and perhaps even years. This article is part of our coverage of it. More about the MMO TESO can be found on our topic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The online card game Hearthstone is on top. During development, that wasn’t always the case. It was said that it was the hardest to convince the leading minds at Blizzard themselves about the game. Furthermore, after a rather unsuccessful port of Starcraft to the N64, there were long-standing reservations against other platforms at Blizzard.
Holy Shit – It worked!
In an interview with Chris Metzen by Polygon about Blizzard’s journey, a chapter is also dedicated to the card game Hearthstone, which causes huge viewer numbers on Twitch and now has 20 million players. This was not planned, as Chris Metzen says: “We did not expect a worldwide success. It was just a little thing that we made with a lot of love. But holy shit, it worked!”
Hearthstone was developed by Team 5 at Blizzard. Team 1 takes care of Starcraft, Team 2 takes care of World of Warcraft, and Team 3 is dedicated to the Diablo franchise. Team 4 dealt with Titan, the planned next-gen MMORPG, and the “Team 5” – significantly smaller than the others – wanted to develop something that emerged from Blizzard’s enthusiasm for Magic: The Gathering.
That, Metzen recounts, was something they played almost excessively during the still modest early days of Blizzard. The company grew larger when Starcraft hit in Asia, and later again when World of Warcraft developed into the giant we all know today.
“What the hell are you doing?”
When the idea of Hearthstone emerged and circulated in the now larger Blizzard, the project was not welcomed everywhere with open arms: “I really can’t say that everyone here was excited about the project. Some asked what the hell we were actually doing – and why?” They could never convey to the colleagues with words what the appeal of Hearthstone was. Only when it made the rounds in a playable state did the critics fall silent.
Hearthstone, it was clear, would work well on the new platforms for games, on iPhone and Android. However, there were initial reservations at Blizzard based on the company’s history. In 2000 they ported Starcraft to the N64, which didn’t go so well. After that, they kept their distance from anything that was not playable with mouse and keyboard.
Hearthstone on Android, iPad, and iPhone also a concession to the new world
However, they have now recognized the signs of the times and reopened: “At my home, most gaming now takes place on tablets. I can hardly get them out of the hands of my children. We are very skilled developers for PC. But just as the world has changed, we need to be open-minded about what is right for our games.”
This change in thinking at Blizzard is likely what has also led to Hearthstone’s port to iPad and the upcoming one to iPhone and Android. An announcement for this is expected at Blizzcon in the second week of November.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, there are numerous myths, rumors, and legends. A video in the style of “Mythbusters” tackles the most popular Tower Legends.
“DefendTheHouse” has previously taken on popular video game myths to test their validity. Mirroring the template of the TV show “Mythbusters”, two amateur pyrotechnicians regularly examine so-called “Urban Legends” like: “If you consume fizzy powder and cola simultaneously, will your stomach really bloat and will you explode?” or “If you jump just before hitting the ground in a falling elevator, will you really be unharmed?”
Now, “DefendTheHouse” in Destiny is addressing quite different questions such as: “Can I really run someone over with my Sparrow?” or “Can I dodge a Warlock’s Axion Bolt if I crouch?”
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If it’s too slow for you to kill enemies with the Sparrow trick, you can also try this variant that circulates under “Dinklebot, I Choose you” on reddit. It’s also a pop culture hat trick showing how to combine Destiny, Pokemon, and Peter Dinklage (and indirectly Game of Thrones) into a meme.
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In the MMO shooter Destiny, there is a new blog post from the creators Bungie. They apologize for the troll incidents of the Cryptarch, briefly address fan theories about the development history, and openly discuss a raid finder.
The weekly update on Destiny is a wild mix of fan questions, fun, and information.
Engram change leads to purple rain in Destiny
In the first half of the blog, it is mainly about the Cryptarch Rahool. He did not realize how cruel he had played with the feelings of the fans in recent weeks. They came to him with rare and legendary engrams, and he rewarded them with green items. As a result, he appeared like a troll, who amused himself over the self-generated frustration. That has now been made clear to him. The Cryptarch has recognized how cruel he was with the feelings of the item seekers, and he apologizes for it.
Alongside some pics of the Cryptarch’s troll incidents, Bungie quoted the immortal poet, who was once known as Prince, regarding the current emotional states of the engrams.
I never meant to cause you any sorrow.
I never meant to cause you any pain.
I only wanted to one time to see you laughing.
I only wanted to see you.
Laughing in the purple rain.
Purple rain, purple rain!
“Purple,” that is lila, is also the color of legendary items in the game. “Purple Rain” refers to a flood of these legendary items that are now supposed to rain down on players due to changes in the engrams.
No comment on conspiracy theories
Last week, many theories emerged about Bungie and the origin story. However, they will not comment on that. Every player and every developer wants Destiny to be a better game than it is now. Dealing with rumors and gossip or hanging onto wild theories does not bring the goal any closer. It is more important to focus on what lies ahead for the game. At some point, the blog says, the time may come to revisit the development process of Destiny, but that is then not the job of the community manager or this blog.
Thus, Bungie addresses the fan theories that the now finished Destiny is the result of some last-minute changes that cut story elements and entire zones from the game.
This is a difficult topic, as the blog states, because the raid is intended for a team that works together and goes through thick and thin. However, Bungie has heard some strange stories about completely strangers managing the “Glass Chamber” together.
Currently, internal discussions are taking place about whether to extend matchmaking to the difficult challenges in Destiny.
Although it didn’t make it into the blog post, it is our video of the week:
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In the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, details about two of the biggest changes coming to the game next year have now been revealed. With the Champion System, character development will change, and with the Imperial City, the PvP zone Cyrodiil.
Imperial City in The Elder Scrolls Online Will Be Even More Chaotic Than Expected
In the Imperial City, it became clear during the Guild Summit that it is a PvE zone where PvP will be possible. The most important piece of information: All three alliances can access the Imperial City simultaneously. Access depends on whether an alliance controls its six own strongholds. Defending them will therefore be crucial. .
The entrance, the sewers, will be a kind of gigantic Public Dungeon designed to be traversed by one or two high-level players. In the Imperial City, siege weapons will not function.
In Cyrodiil, there will be buffs similar to those from Mundus Stones. However, players will only receive them temporarily, and they can radiate to nearby friends.
Stats Will Be Increased Tenfold for Better Differentiation
The Champion System, which replaces the current veteran system in The Elder Scrolls Online, necessitates some changes.
Currently, the stats are too close together and therefore hard to differentiate. Therefore, all stats in the game will be increased by a factor of 10, allowing progress through Champion Points to be better represented. If someone has 2,500 HP now, after the changes they would have 25,000.
Additionally, significant changes will be made to the stat mechanics — the current soft caps will be removed, and the points that a stat can receive from a specific source will be limited. Through these new measures, it should be easier for players to specialize in a “build” and thus differentiate themselves more clearly from other players of the same class. Moreover, the goal is to make items more important.
Points Flow into Completely New Constellations
Already with Update 5, players will feel the first effects of this design change. The passive bonus from veteran ranks will be lower, but players can now actively invest points.
These points will go into three different “constellations”, but the system does not allow a player to invest points only into one of these trees; rather, it requires that points flow alternately into the constellations. These constellations are inspired by the constellations in The Elder Scrolls Online and grant special bonuses upon reaching milestones.
Mein MMO says: These are drastic changes being announced here in just two days. They will certainly keep TESO and the players engaged well into 2015.
It’s an interesting idea to inform players now about what they can probably expect in a year or beyond. This has the advantage of giving developers the opportunity to receive and process fan feedback. However, it also has the disadvantage of making players feel like they are playing a game that is currently inferior to what they will be playing in six months or a year.
The changes presented here are complex and will certainly require players to take a closer look at them and present them in detail when they actually come up. Nothing is set in stone yet, and things can change before they go live. It is certainly an interesting approach to show fans the cards openly, involving them in these design decisions at such an early stage.
Currently, a Guild Summit is taking place in The Elder Scrolls Online, where about 400 important pieces of information are shared, and we have already reported on it twice:
6 free shooters with plenty of MMO elements are presented to you in this article. The games are free-to-play and primarily financed through an in-game shop. This can quickly raise the suspicion of pay-to-win. We have ensured that skill, not the wallet, decides, and we present you the best free shooters. For a quick game or as a main game: A download is always worthwhile, and you won’t have to reach for your wallet.
6. Planetside 2: Size matters
The battles in Planetside 2 remind of the old Halo matches: In a spacesuit and with a heavy weapon, you fight for one of 3 factions. You are supported by armored vehicles, aircraft, and turrets. Goal: Capture control points and bases.
Therefore, Planetside 2 is strongly reminiscent of the Battlefield series in terms of gameplay mechanics. However, there is a crucial difference: The fight never ends. Once you’ve captured all the bases, the enemy is surely already back at the first one and reclaiming it. This creates a continuous cycle without end. Caution: Addiction risk. You can choose between 3 factions, each featuring typical classes such as medics or light assault units.
Conclusion: Planetside 2 offers a great gaming experience with huge PvP battles and atmospheric graphics. All gameplay-relevant items can be obtained without real money, allowing you to immediately join the battle in one of many areas. A must for fans of the Battlefield series! By the way, Planetside 2 is also set to be released on PlayStation 4 soon.
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Based on the series of the same name, Defiance is a true MMO shooter in the Borderlands style. Compared to other shooters, you have time to explore the world and you are not rushing from fight to fight. If you don’t want to spend money on Destiny, you should definitely download Defiance!
The online shooter from Trion Worlds, Defiance, is connected to the sci-fi series. It features a great story that is even better understood if you follow the series of the same name. The game world closely resembles Borderlands or Fallout. Graphically, Defiance looks like Borderlands, although some textures appear muddy. However, this is balanced out by good gameplay and a wide selection of weapons and vehicles. You can for example place insect eggs on your opponent, play the classic healer, or mow down the masses of monsters with a minigun.
Conclusion: The free shooter Defiance is a lot of fun in connection with the series. The stories complement each other and are creatively implemented in the game through appealing gameplay. The graphics are nice to look at but are designed for larger battles, which is why some details had to be sacrificed. However, there is a large selection of weapons, numerous story missions, dynamic events, and a freely explorable world, differentiating the game from classic “fight-to-fight” games like Planetside. The game also offers a free-to-play version for PlayStation 3.
http://youtu.be/4kPeaqmklwQ
4. Firefall: Finally a finished game on the market
The shooter Firefall had a long history and many changes to the concept right from the start. Nevertheless, Firefall has become an exciting shooter MMO that impresses with an open world and nice graphics.
Firefall has succeeded and was finally released in the summer of 2014. After a long beta phase, players can look forward to an open game world. While some quests take you into instanced areas, this does not disturb and even adds extra fun. The open-world atmosphere is supported by graphics that beautifully depict the infected Copacabana in Rio and contribute to the storytelling. Whether in first or third person view, it’s all about killing monsters, running around, collecting ores – the typical life of an MMO player.
Conclusion: The long development time of Firefall has done the game good. Especially the open game world is impressive, and at the launch of the game, it was also densely populated. The gameplay here also resembles the offline shooter Borderlands. With real money, you can achieve success faster in crafting or obtain permanent mounts. Fortunately, there’s no pay-to-win!
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If the enemies in Warframe get too close, they can be easily dealt with using a katana. However, the free co-op shooter captivates not only for that.
As a ninja unit, the katana is not just a gimmick in Warframe, but a fundamental weapon in the fight for justice. The story around Warframe is only provisional, but it helps to understand why you need to execute the aliens. The game has gone through some changes but feels like a fully-fledged free-to-play experience that can engage players for hours with detailed graphics and a comprehensive upgrade system. By the way, don’t expect a rigid shooter: Warframe invites you to dynamic battles, where the term ninja includes the acrobatic feats you associate with the name.
Conclusion: The somewhat shallow plot does not prevent you from falling victim to the berserk fury in Warframe. From a distance, you shoot with your weapon, in close combat you dodge and decapitate masses of opponents with the katana … ninja style. In various game modes, you play together in co-op with your friends. Warframe is therefore a must-have title for co-op fans! It is also referred to by many as the Destiny for PC.
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“I hear thunder but there’s no rain” – that’s not entirely true, in War Thunder it rains, and indeed artillery and other large-caliber shells from the sky. While futuristic space ships were previously steered in free shooters, in War Thunder you either fly an airplane or ride on tank tracks.
As a direct competitor to World of Tanks, War Thunder is an MMO war simulation. Together with other enthusiastic tank drivers, you don’t just fight on land but also in the air, which requires even more strategic thinking. But strategy is not the only requirement: If you want to efficiently take out your opponent, especially in an airplane, you should fully exploit your skills. Only with daring maneuvers can you get behind enemies and take them out deliberately. The different types of aircraft all have different characteristics and can be further improved through upgrades. War Thunder is free and, like almost every free-to-play game, comes with an item shop. However, this does not provide any game-deciding advantages.
Conclusion: War Thunder is different from Planetside 2 or Firefall. It doesn’t take place in the future, but in the past, set during World War II, the shooter spectacle emphasizes strategy and realism. Downloading War Thunder doesn’t mean pay-to-win, but rather a very good free-to-play shooter.
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1. World of Tanks: Rolling through the mud on treads
The most successful free-to-play game on this list is World of Tanks. Similar to War Thunder, in World of Tanks, you don’t control a crazed space ninja, but rely on massive steel and the firepower of your cannon.
World of Tanks delights, especially with thrilling battles that take place on huge maps. However, at a high level, it can sometimes be a bit slow: Whoever shows up first will be ruthlessly shot down. Strategy and a good advance are the key to victory. Once you have won, you can spend your earned points on a better team or a stronger weapon. What we particularly like: Every tank has its purpose. The smaller ones are used for reconnaissance and are harder to hit, while the larger tanks provide pure destruction. MMO roles in a different way.
Conclusion: World of Tanks put the third-person tactic shooter genre in motion… or rather, on the treads. As a free-to-play, it has an in-game shop, but here too it doesn’t bring any game-deciding advantages. Therefore, the tank simulation is recommended for everyone who doesn’t want to hold a weapon but would rather sit in one.
http://youtu.be/ZJjgDrqZFqE
All the games presented here have special features. For a lot of strategy and somewhat more leisurely action, we recommend the two tank games World of Tanks and War Thunder. If you prefer fast-paced and sprawling battles, don’t miss Warframe. Firefall is more for explorers: The worlds are vast and invite you for extensive walks in a spacesuit. We also enjoyed the connection between video game and series in Defiance. Here, sci-fi fans especially get their money’s worth. In contrast to the PvE-heavy title Defiance stands Planetside 2. Here the player gets good old PvP home cooking with huge areas and endless battles.
Each game is worth downloading. You don’t have to pay anything, and there’s no pay-to-win in these games!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Guild Wars 2 there are no raids, only open world bosses. The signs are increasing that this could change soon.
PCGamesN borrowed Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker and is tracking down ArenaNet. Is there something in the works, are they planning to introduce raid content? A job posting is now looking for a “Game Designer: Raid Content” for Guild Wars 2. The job description specifically asks for a designer who is familiar with high-level boss fights and has experience with combat systems that involve multiple players. Sounds like a boss designer.
Chris Whiteside is a fan of guild raids in Guild Wars 2
Additionally, according to PCGamesN, Chris Whiteside, the Studio Design Director, reacted very positively three weeks ago in the Guild Wars 2 forum to player suggestions for permanent raid content in the game. He is personally in favor of it, thinks it’s a great idea and wants to integrate it into the Living World. He loves the puppet fight and apparently couldn’t wait to discuss it with the fans.
The conversation mainly focused on how to improve the lives of guilds in Guild Wars 2 to better meet their needs. And obviously some guilds wish for raid content in the game. Whiteside likes the idea of bringing something like this, ideally linked with the story, that raids could offer tactical challenges and provide rewards that show that a guild has truly completed the raid.
The signs are there, the discussion is open, but nothing is certain. At least it seems that raid content for Guild Wars 2 is a topic that is being seriously considered in the hallowed halls of ArenaNet.
In this Youtube video, you can experience the puppet event from the beginning of the year again, which is considered one of the highlights in the history of Guild Wars 2:
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In the survival MMO H1Z1, the developers from SOE provided new insights into their game. Along with fresh buildings like the police station and a supermarket, several features from the crafting area were also introduced. Additionally, advanced weapons, graffiti, mind-altering substances, and the farming aspect of the game were now visible in H1Z1.
In recent weeks, there has been little opportunity to see new gameplay in H1Z1. This was because SOE implemented a new sound engine, and everything that is so close to the code causes the game to run quite unstable in the weeks that follow, revealed Steve George, the producer of H1Z1, in a stream.
This scarcity of information in recent weeks also had its positives: For the first time in a long while, there was plenty of new content to observe and discover in a stream.
While previous streams mainly consisted of beginners performing the same H1Z1 rituals, Paul Carrico, the crafting designer of H1Z1, and producer Steve George significantly enhanced their stream, so to speak, in the middle of the game. A foundation for a fort at the edge of a road had already been laid, the required crafting materials were present, and fans could see how H1Z1 would play out after the first few hours, which they had experienced often enough, like in the Groundhog Day movie.
Graffiti and drugs – H1Z1 in urban high
Among the highlights of the stream was the revelation that there will indeed be mind-altering substances in H1Z1. It had been known for some time that players could extract ethanol from self-grown grain and create “Moonshine”, but this time the stream featured “Sizzle”, a type of sugar rush drug that caused strange effects on the screen.
Also new: Streamers could decorate their hut with a kind of graffiti via a keyboard command. Whether players will later manage to do this without dev-tools is uncertain. Graffiti would certainly fit well in the world of H1Z1. Recently, the Twitter account already asked what players would write on a kind of survival bulletin board.
Cars now have trunks and batteries; helmets and police station new
Overall, the world of H1Z1 now appears significantly more complex and varied than in recent months. Although it seems that the spawn of zombies has been slightly adjusted downwards at the moment. This, however, made it possible to view the new loot system. In a supermarket, there were mainly food items, in a warehouse, they found an axe and some crafting items, and in a newly designed police station, they rummaged through the cabinets and lockers for firearms.
The developers were particularly impressed with a new “Patriot motorcycle helmet” in US colors. Anyone caught with it soon found themselves facing a shotgun with orders to drop it immediately. A preview of the psychological terror and the games players will play against each other, which will also enter H1Z1. As is known, these are pronounced in DayZ.
Significantly more features and characteristics have been added to the only vehicles in the game, the jeeps. They now have a spacious trunk and can be locked while sitting inside, so not everyone jumps in immediately, as in previous streams. They also have batteries that can be removed, rendering the vehicle inoperable. In the further course of the stream, the focus was mainly on crafting and base building.
All in all, the stream was certainly reassuring for skeptics who think H1Z1 is progressing too slowly or that the game could turn into a pure shooting spree.
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The sandpark MMO ArcheAge enjoys great popularity. Two million players have already registered for the game, and with the hundred thousand bots that have been disposed of, that number has already been accounted for.
ArcheAge: Two million players, truly successful
Trion Worlds CEO Scott Hartsman addresses the fans in a letter, bringing numbers. Two million players have now registered for the western version of ArcheAge. This is far beyond expectations. And as he states: “The bots and banned accounts have already been accounted for.”
ArcheAge tweaks the bot detector and spam filter
An important piece of information, as bots have been one of the dominant topics recently. As community manager Scapes points out, the bot detector was too “conservative” in the initial weeks, meaning it was too cautious. They adjusted it last week to lower the number of bad apples in ArcheAge. According to Hartsman, the number of caught and banned accounts is now in the six figures, so in the hundreds of thousands.
But not only bots are a problem; spam also annoys players. Until now, a temporary solution has been used, but they now want to install the system that ensures as spam-free conversations as possible, which has also worked for Rift. This is what they swear by at Trion Worlds. Hartsman states that a delivery has arrived, which will soon ensure that the world of ArcheAge will be significantly less affected by gold sellers and spammers.
In the future: Small patch, Auroria, large patch, events
Otherwise, the letter from Hartsman discusses what the producer of ArcheAge, Victoria Voss, announced in interviews with us and other media last week: ArcheAge has passed its initial phase, and now, with the unlocking of Auroria, the northern continent, an important milestone is approaching.
Additionally, they are diligently working to bring the current Korean patch 1.7 to the West. It will change quite a bit. And they are also preparing events – for example, for Halloween.
Patch 4.11 brings challenges for gold sellers, relief for healers
Now, very soon, the next patch is coming to the players, the 4.11. This will already bring the first challenges for gold sellers, as it now requires level 15 to speak in the larger channels. They have also discovered a heart for healers and are giving healer weapons as quest rewards and in Hasla, that dreadful and wondrous place where players grind their endgame gear with various tokens.
Additionally, they are relieving the somewhat talkative court channel of interjections. Only parties involved in the process can speak in this special chat. And the skin of the Kraken will be more resilient; only siege machines should be able to penetrate it in the future – and yes, that includes cannonballs.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The expansion “Nightmare Tide” for the Dark Fantasy MMO Rift has been postponed by two weeks to October 22.
Yesterday we reported the news that “Nightmare Tide” is entering a one-week open beta. Shortly thereafter, Ocho, Community Manager at Trion Worlds, announced that the beta will last a little longer: The release of “Nightmare Tide” has been delayed.
There’s no big story behind it, no significant single event, but merely the realization that a little more time is needed to deliver an optimal outcome for the players.
“Release dates are tricky,” writes Ocho, “the only way to commit to them would be to release the expansion months after the work on it is completed.” The team has been working hard on the expansion of Rift over the past weeks and was eager to meet the set date of October 8. However, after a re-evaluation and feedback from the open beta, they now believe it is not a good idea to adhere to the deadline at all costs.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, Xur, the Agent of the Nine, has reappeared. He accepts strange coins as the only currency in exchange for exotic weapons and armor pieces.
Every Friday at 11 AM in Germany (2 AM in the USA), Xur appears in the Tower at a hidden location. He offers exotic items that are randomly selected from a pool of items. He always stands a bit hidden, and Guardians are always searching for him anew.
Xur – The Most Beautiful Weekend Visitor in Destiny
It’s a bit like the players are in a kind of long-distance relationship with Xur, picking him up from the station every Friday, but not really knowing what mood he is in. Okay, and they also don’t know at which platform he arrives.
But why is he so eagerly awaited? Simply put, he has such delicious treats: The offer includes one exotic armor piece for each of the three classes in Destiny, plus one exotic weapon. The exotic items in Destiny have the ability to push the limits of normal items.
Many hope for this: The Vex Mythoclast, but it is unclear whether Xur even carries raid items from the hard mode.
