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.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, small gimmicks and special features gradually appear. One of them is the legendary Sparrow “Timebreaker”, which drops from the final boss Atheon in the raid “The Glass Chamber”. The Sparrow accelerates faster than is good for it.
A Sparrow in Destiny is the land vehicle of choice for trendy Guardians. A very special hover bike drops from the final boss Atheon in the raid “The Glass Chamber.” It is a relatively rare drop from a raid that only a few have seen so far. Consequently, only a few players have obtained it.
Now, a legendary and rare bike would already be cool, because hardly anyone has it and it really catches the eye, but “Timebreaker” has much more to offer than just its rarity or a streamlined appearance; the suicide bike can truly attract attention: The craziest bike in Destiny is faster than is good for the Guardian.
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Timebreaker can dodge left and right by default using the shoulder buttons R2 and L2. If you press both buttons simultaneously, the Sparrow switches into Overdrive and accelerates wildly. But you should be careful if you hold the buttons too long… because then Timebreaker will explode.
Currently, a guild summit is taking place at Zenimax. 20 representatives from guilds and communities have been invited to the headquarters to present to those who are really interested what changes are coming to The Elder Scrolls Online. With what ideas they are playing, what they envision. Zenimax is eager to hear the fans’ reactions and wants to involve them earlier in the future process. One of the highlights of the first day: In the daily dungeons that will come with Update 5, they are borrowing something from the competitor WildStar.
This will make it possible to complete the daily dungeons with different outcomes: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. WildStar has a similar system, which caused some problems in the meantime.
To achieve a Bronze run, in The Elder Scrolls Online, for example, only the three main bosses of a dungeon would need to be defeated, for a silver key additionally the mini-bosses. For the golden key, it could then be timed, additional conditions would need to be met. Depending on how the group performs, they will receive a higher reward.
The world of The Elder Scrolls Online should become clickable
In addition to the changes in the dungeons, the world should become more clickable and logical. It should become common in The Elder Scrolls Online to take an apple from a basket of apples and not a piece of meat or a glass bottle. This change goes hand in hand with a thorough overhaul of the crafting system: everything should become more logical, accessible, and clearer.
With so many new items to loot, they want to relieve the players’ inventory: pets and collectibles will get their own slots.
Everything is still coming: Spell weaving, alchemy, horse racing, glass armor
Furthermore, during the guild summit, they reiterated the intention to introduce completely new features into the game. In addition to the already known “Spellcrafting”, spell weaving will be introduced, along with alchemy, and a form of horse racing has also been confirmed.
The “glass armors” known from the single-player series will also make their way into the world of The Elder Scrolls Online.
In the sandbox MMO ArcheAge, the founders were promised a 10% discount on all marketplace purchases, but it was not granted. This is due to a misleading formulation, says Trion Worlds.
The initial problems in ArcheAge – such as long queues – have been resolved, but have been replaced by others. Currently, botters are causing problems in the game, many players have been banned, and there is an ongoing discussion on reddit about filing a lawsuit against the use of Hackshield. All of these topics are somewhat not very enjoyable.
Ten percent off everything … even pet food
A topic that has long concerned founders, but was almost swallowed up by the launch queues, is another: the founder benefits. Before the launch, founders were promised a 10% discount on all marketplace purchases, that is, on everything they would acquire during their ArcheAge career in the game’s cash shop. Now, 10 percent doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up over time and may have swayed some to purchase the package.
The story of ArcheAge is a story full of misunderstandings …
When ArcheAge finally went live, however, there was no sign of the 10% bonus. Users then loudly called on Trion Worlds to clarify the matter.
As Trion Worlds explains, there is a misunderstanding behind this issue. While they liked the idea, they knew it was something that could only be granted in the future as they needed support from XLGames, the developer. Therefore, they formulated that the bonus would be granted “after the launch,” but players believed – due to the formulation “after launch” – it meant “at the launch.”
In the spirit of goodwill, Trion Worlds is aware of the problems and is working to decide as generously as possible in the interests of the players. They still do not know when and how this 10% discount will be granted, but they already know that it will come and will count “retroactively.” This is currently a high priority, they are working with XLGames on it, and will not rest until it is satisfactorily resolved.
Mein MMO thinks: In MMOs, it’s always a strange story how much the refund in in-game currency will be worth if you might not even play the game anymore.
Fair to say, Trion Worlds has taken on another misunderstanding regarding subscription fees and has settled it in favor of the players.
It’s amazing what MMO developers have to pay attention to: What does “after launch” mean and how do players want to understand it? How do developers want them to understand it? Not so easy.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blizzard’s free card game Hearthstone, the Naxxramas board can now also appear in regular play.
The board on which you play in Hearthstone is the favorite playground of all those gamers who like to indulge in their gaming and fiddling impulses while waiting for their opponent’s turn. So, guys and gals who will tear apart every beer mat in 742 individual pieces in the pub and take the wax candle for dessert.
There are catapults that can be fired, windows that open, some lanterns: It is a playground for anyone who considers procrastination not something improper, but rather a way of life!
With Naxxramas, the expansion, a new board came into play where you could dip the mouse cursor into some green goo at the edge to see what happens. Just what one does.
Previously, the Naxx board was only used in the boss fights against Kel’Thuzad’s minions. Thanks to a hotfix from Blizzard last night, it is now included in the usual rotation, meaning it can appear in the Arena or Play mode. At the moment, there’s some speculation about whether the board will only be used for October, in line with the spooky Hallow’s End festivities. However, the trend seems to be that it will stay permanently in the game.
This was a blunt response from Blizzard community manager Christina Simms, CM_Zeriyah, to a post on reddit: A player noticed the unusually green and undead playground they found themselves in.
Although this is not exactly the announced expansion with over 100 cards or the Android port, it is certainly a bit of variety. A lot will likely happen in Hearthstone around the Blizzcon at the beginning of November or shortly after. Announcements regarding the Android/iPhone port and the next expansion are expected.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, the farm spots in the Rocketyard are still very popular. An expected further nerf with yesterday’s patch did not occur.
What shines so irresistibly blue and purple in Destiny?
Most probably thought that cave farming in Destiny would come to an end. Last week, five of the caves were closed with a hotfix, and Bungie made it clear: We don’t want you to play our game this way. Shortly after, some new spots appeared, mainly focused around the Rocketyard.
At the same time, however, the change with the engrams now means that players may challenge their luck even more. After all, the sparkle of purple engrams has become a bit more enticing after the patch: And who cares about the guaranteed legendary item from the vendor next week or the tedious farming of strange coins, to buy an exotic from Xur, when the next super loot is just a shot away in the cave (plus there’s a ton of EXP).
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The US magazine dualshockers even suspects that the absence of a nerf might be an acknowledgment from Destiny that players want to farm this way, and that they are allowing it.
The new treasure cave, which is more of a “treasure passage,” is still fully operational and enjoys a steady influx of players. It’s hard to believe that the developers weren’t aware of these new spots. Therefore, it’s surprising that the caves are still functioning after the patch.
However, it could also very well be that the remaining treasure caves will be closed soon. So anyone who really wants to try their luck should probably hurry in the next few hours. The last hotfix hit unexpectedly and without warning. Perhaps they are just waiting to see if players continue to use the spots in the Rocketyard after the patch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Playstation Network (PSN) is currently unavailable. Could the next DDOS attack by the infamous group Lizard Squad be responsible for this?
The Playstation Network PSN has been unavailable for an hour. This makes online activities on the PS4 impossible, affecting MMO shooter Destiny. There is still no official statement regarding this global outage. No maintenance work is planned, and the service is listed as online.
The group claims to want to prove to multimillion-dollar corporations how vulnerable they are and that they do not spend enough money to secure their users. They are attacking popular MMOs, such as Destiny, or services used by millions, like Twitch, with DDOS attacks.
Whether the group is behind the current PSN network outage is still unknown. The Twitter account through which the lizards have previously communicated is closed.
Update 13:15: That was just a brief disturbance; the PS4 network is back up.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The future of The Elder Scrolls Online is currently being negotiated at the headquarters of Zenimax. A “Guild Summit” is taking place there, a guild summit. Fans were presented with details about the combat system and crafting: Two new crafting styles will be introduced. With update 5, there will also be a powerful new item set.
20 guild or community leaders have been invited by Zenimax to the “Guild Summit” at the headquarters. Zenimax wants to be very close to the fans. The leading minds in development are presenting the planned changes and discussing them with the fans. A summary of the presentations from the first day has now appeared on Tamrielfoundry. It is so packed with information about the planned changes coming in the next months that we decided to present it piece by piece.
Combat System in The Elder Scrolls Online: Improve Flow, Give Actions Weight
The planned changes to the combat system in TESO revolve around the flow, the sequence of individual actions. It is intended to be smoother, but with small pauses between combat steps.
The author of Tamrielfoundry, who watched the video presentation, noted that combat with two weapons now looks the coolest and that each staff has received its own combat animation. Moreover, it now seems as if the individual actions really have “weight”.
Two New Crafting Styles: Dwemer and Xivyn
The next section of the presentation focused on the crafting system of Tamriel:
Crafting tutorials are to be introduced.
Crafting quests are coming that will not only provide inspiration and materials but also a type of treasure map that leads to a special resource chest.
Dwemer will soon be available as a new crafting style, with materials obtained from dismantling Dwemer constructs.
With the Imperial City, there comes another new crafting style, named Xivyn – this is the official name for the “Imperial Deadraic” style, which has been announced for some time.
With update 5, a new 5-piece item set will be introduced, allowing two Mundus stones to be active simultaneously when fully worn.
The Imperial City is not expected to arrive with update 5, but rather soon, as was mentioned by community manager Kai Schober in the official TESO forum, though not at the Guild Summit. If all goes well, the Imperial City should be the next major zone added to The Elder Scrolls Online.
We will keep you updated on the latest in The Elder Scrolls Online in the coming hours and days. It looks like we are about to be flooded with information, after the last few weeks have been relatively quiet since Quakecon. There, extensive changes to The Elder Scrolls Online were presented. It seems we are now receiving the details, as if they were connecting some points that have been somewhat lonely in the air.
The god MMO Skyforge aims for a fair payment system; skill should determine victory and defeat, not the size of the wallet.
The MMO Skyforge was the topic of a lengthy interview on mmogames.com with Eric deMilt, the Executive Producer of Skyforge, who, however, does not come from the Russian team Allods, but from the game studio Obsidian, the western partners of Allods.
Skyforge sounds more and more like a modern lobby MMO
In the interview, he discussed some details about the gameplay and the actual game flow. Skyforge increasingly resembles an MMORPG that applies more and more principles of MOBAs and MMOs. Similar to the MMO adaptations of major single-player franchises that aim to keep the “original game” as action-packed and brief as possible while seasoning it with some MMO gimmicks.
In the payment system, they aim for a low entry threshold. There will certainly be no direct “pay to win”; instead, skill should determine who wins or loses in the competitive part of the game – and not the wallet. At the moment, they are not yet thinking too much about what will be in the cash shop. Those are probably topics for later.
“Killing mobs and grabbing their stuff!”
Otherwise, many details in the game system are mentioned that remind one of current lobby shooters like Destiny. There should also be a “Central Hub” in Skyforge, where players can meet, interact, and plan ventures.
While typical kill and fetch quests should also form the backbone of Skyforge, they want to modernize them. Players will no longer need to return to the quest giver but can immediately collect their rewards. Players should be able to move as freely as possible: without checkpoints or rigid paths: “Basically, the games are about killing mobs and grabbing their stuff. That should make it as much fun as possible!”
Currently, Allods and Obsidian are looking forward to the start of the beta at the end of the year. They can’t wait to see what feedback players will give to the world. They are especially proud of the art design.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the dark fantasy MMO Rift, players can now tune in for a week to the expansion “Nightmare Tides.” The open beta is live.
Rift is getting an expansion called “Nightmare Tide” on October 8, which focuses heavily on story, introduces new features like the minion system, and brings more of everything: more instances, raids, mobs. An expansion, indeed. We have introduced it here and here in detail.
To get a taste of the water and breathe in the salty air, Trion Worlds is now offering players the chance to explore “Nightmare Tide” in the open beta. This is done through the Glyph system (which fans of ArcheAge have appreciated and come to love): Simply choose Rift, switch to PTS, the public test server, and off you go.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The expansion “Delta Rising” of the Free2Play SF-MMO Star Trek Online fully relies on the pull of the TV series Voyager.
Before the release of the expansion “Delta Rising“, Star Trek Online is launching a real Voyager offensive. In numerous blog posts, they attempt to remind Star Trek fans of the last Enterprise series that still followed the linear chronology. “Enterprise”, the series that came after Voyager, was set at the beginning of the Federation and long before Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway.
Star power and sex appeal
Cryptic Studios relies on a kind of nostalgia offensive with star power. Almost every blog post features images of the current Admiral Tuvok, Harry Kim, Neelix, the Doctor, or the still highly impressive Seven of Nine, which should give Star Trek Online, just like the struggling Voyager series, a sense of volume. Back then, Star Trek Voyager replaced the more tomboyish alien catwoman Kes with the Borg drone Seven of Nine, who cultivated a fondness for skin-tight jumpsuits.
In one of the latest blog posts, for example, the role of the Doctor was presented (“State the type of medical emergency.”). In another post explaining how the story developed in the Delta Quadrant, it turns out that a lot depended on which of the Voyager actors they could get to give the world depth. But they are relying not only on the actors but also on the scripts.
Fan fiction or worthy continuation?
The team, as they say, has intensively engaged with the story of the Delta Quadrant based on the Voyager scripts to consider how the quadrant has developed, which races from the series are now interesting, and which stories can be continued. After all, 32 years have passed in the STO universe since the journeys of the Voyager came to an end.
As mainstream Star Trek has completely detached itself from the “old” universe with the reboot of the movies, it seems to give the creators at Cryptic Studios a lot of freedom. One can be curious whether the expansion will maintain the quality of the TV series in its storylines. It is also questionable how much sympathy the fans really have for Voyager and how much nostalgia they feel. The reruns of Voyager air in Germany on Tele 5, making them more of a niche channel. Nonetheless, they are achieving decent ratings.
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