The MMO Destiny has sold games worth 500 million dollars to shops and partners. It is set to surpass the highest expectations that Activision Blizzard has set for the new billion-dollar franchise.
As eurogamer reports, games worth 500 million US dollars were shipped worldwide on the first day. How many games were actually sold and what the profit looks like is hard to ascertain from this figure. By “sold”, Activision means “delivered to partners and shops”, not to the end consumer. It currently looks like many fans purchased the game through the Xbox Store or the Playstation Store. However, the over 11,000 worldwide midnight sales likely sold some units as well.
The head of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, speaks of “extraordinary demand from fans”.
Furthermore, they now claim the title of the largest launch of a new franchise in video game history. The title was previously held by Ubisoft with Watch Dogs and reportedly 4 million units sold in the first week.
Destiny as the next billion-dollar brand and simply as a “great game”
Eric Hirshberg from Activision added: “From the very beginning, we were confident that our belief and commitment to Destiny would pay off. But few would have expected it to do so on the very first day.” The reported development costs for the MMO Destiny also amounted to 500 million dollars.
More than ever before, Hirshberg continued, they are convinced that Destiny could become the next billion-dollar franchise in their stable and has what it takes to rise to one of the most important series of the generation. But even more importantly, Bungie has created a great game with Destiny that you can’t keep your hands off.
Analyst: Destiny could sell 20 million units, reach “Call of Duty” level
Other media are meanwhile reporting on the sales success of Destiny. Gamespot has spoken with an analyst who is giving investors a “thumbs up” signal. According to analyst Arvind Bhatia, his firm now has even more confidence than before that Destiny could achieve sales of 15 million units. Now it is even considered possible that Destiny could achieve “20 million units sold” when everything is said and done. This would correspond to a level normally reached only by titles like “Call of Duty”. Bhatia came to this assessment after consulting with Activision and various retailers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new Flashpoint “Rakata Prime” has been released today and can be accessed on the live servers of Star Wars: The Old Republic, leading the “forged alliances” storyline to its finale.
On the mysterious jungle planet, which was also the main world of the legendary Rakata, it will be your task to uncover the truth behind the legendary “Starmap” – it siphons energy from a nearby star and transforms it into something – what exactly that is, you will have to find out for yourself! As with previous updates, you will again be accompanied by the Wookiee smuggler Jakarro and his translator droid to assist you with advice and actions (and a bit of cheekiness) during the assault on the temple site.
Galactic Strongholds coming soon for preferred players
Starting next Tuesday, September 16, all players with preferred status in Star Wars: The Old Republic will also gain access to the game’s housing feature, the “Galactic Strongholds”. Free2Play players will have to wait another month – they will be able to take possession of their homes only on October 14.
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Lastly, it has been revealed in the official forum of Star Wars: The Old Republic that the first teasers for the major Patch 3.0 will appear within the next week and a complete announcement with all the new features is expected by the end of the month – we will keep you updated as soon as new information is available.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMO shooter Destiny affects the sales of the next-gen consoles. In the UK, one million units of the PlayStation 4 have now been sold.
In an interview with digitalspy, Fergal Gara, the Sony boss in the United Kingdom, discusses the impact that the shooter Destiny has on PlayStation 4 sales: In recent weeks, it has slowed them down a bit, but now it has led to an explosion.
In the past two weeks, the sales of the console had noticeably cooled down, according to Gara, as many were waiting for the release of Destiny, especially the attractive bundle: Many fans likely did not want to miss out on the new “white PlayStation 4” with Destiny included and were willing to wait until the last moment for the release of the package.
Now, with the delivery of the white PlayStation 4 bundle and the numerous orders coming in on Tuesday morning, the milestone of one million has been reached.
Amazon in Germany also offers attractive bundles that will surely stimulate purchases as well. Destiny is offered in a bundle either with an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4 for 399 Euros. The white bundle is currently available exclusively from one retailer, but it is expected to be available in regular retail later.
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Do you know what I can’t stand besides flamers, haters, and trolls? Quitters who can’t finish a game properly just because they’re on the supposedly weaker team. In the extreme cases, some players throw in the towel after just three minutes, and all it takes is for the “First Blood” to be claimed by the opposing team.
The slain player often receives sarcastic and humiliating emotes like “Super!” and “You are the best” thrown at them. As soon as possible (thankfully this can only happen after a few minutes), there will be a query with F6 asking if one wants to give up the round.
Honestly: Giving up after the first player death feels to me like a football team quitting because they didn’t get the kick-off in the coin toss. Where does this enormous demotivation come from?
Friends are mightier than F6!
Fight the F6s: With friends by your side, you can “enjoy” matches all the way to the end.
This is another reason why you should always go into the battlegrounds of SMITE with at least two acquaintances: Because then a request to give up cannot succeed, as more than half of the players must agree. And to be honest, I have learned much more from defeats than from easy victories. When you get truly “overrun,” you often see some god combinations and attack strategies that you wouldn’t have thought of, and you are a bit better prepared. Those who only finish matches in which they achieve an easy or undeserved victory (for example, because an opponent left the game) will not improve either.
[quote_right]Not with me, weaklings![/quote_right]
Of course, defeats can be demotivating, but personally, they push me towards new heights. And when the first “weaklings” hit “F6” after five minutes to agree to a forfeit, it really ignites my will to turn things around and enthusiastically hammer on my now quite worn “F7” key to continue the game.
Only an honest defeat is a good defeat
Another point is that I would feel bad if I gave up. It always makes me a bit sad when the opposing team aborts the game before the real end – a victory through enemy capitulation just doesn’t feel “right”. For me, it’s part of the game to smash the Phoenix and then the enemy Titan and to win properly – especially because, in these final battles in the enemy base, one can often relinquish control again, as the enemies are clearly at an advantage here. At the same time, I want to allow the opposing team that beautiful, euphoric feeling of storming our base so that they can “seal the deal,” as they say.
[quote_right]Those who can’t lose shouldn’t play either.[/quote_right]
Often enough, I hear comments like “Don’t waste my time” or “OMG, please forfeit, you can’t do anything,” but that only motivates me further.
So here’s a call to all my dear quitters out there: If you don’t want to finish a match, no matter how poorly it goes – then don’t even start the game. Those who can’t lose shouldn’t play either.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Guild Wars 2, a new program is being launched for the Autumn Tournament: Killer PvP guilds can provide a home for a developer and adopt them for the duration of the event.
At ArenaNet, it is said in a forum post that there was a lengthy conversation, and it was decided to step out of their own shell, out of the comfort zone, to leave their own guilds and worlds for a time, and to experience the game as other players do.
Therefore, guilds that actively participate in World vs. World are asked to contact ArenaNet to “adopt” a Guild Wars 2 developer. They will then fight alongside them in the Autumn Tournament and are expected to gain firsthand insights into World versus World.
Take good care of our developers, ArenaNet asks.
However, the developers are subject to similarly complicated rules as Gremlins. The GW2 players should treat them with care; always remember that they are spending their free time here; should not be used as a sounding board for all sorts of complaints, and they should also remain more in the background: No one should expect them to lead the team into battle right away.
A dampener for European players: At the moment, this action seems to only extend to the US servers of Guild Wars 2. Perhaps that will change. The initial reaction seems positive, with many guilds reportedly having already made an offer.
In the sandbox MMO ArcheAge, the labor point potions are apparently being reverted to their previous state before the change.
One of the most controversially discussed topics of the past week was: The last-minute change in the ArcheAge cash shop. In a live stream and postings on the website, Trion Worlds elaborated on this decision. It was an important attempt, the insights had proven useful, but now some of the changes are being rolled back.
They are already working on reverting the “labor point potions” to their previous value. They will then have a 12-hour cooldown and cost 300 credits. This has already been suggested to XLGames. Currently, both Trion Worlds and XLGames are working at full speed. However, there can be no guarantee that the potions will be reverted in time for the launch. (The labor points in ArcheAge – like a kind of “energy” in browser games – regulate a player’s participation in crafting and trading activities; the labor points essentially have a cap; fans were concerned that too many labor point potions would jeopardize long-term balance).
As for the Archeum chests in the shop, the second hotly debated change, there is currently no news. However, they will be in contact with XLGames to increase the drop chances of Archeum. The drop rate was too low for players in the beta. Initially, they only wanted to introduce the new chests in connection with an increase in drop rates in the open world. However, XLGames wants to wait, as they say, until more data is available to make such an important intervention.
The APEX items will cost $10 each in the shop and grant 1250 credits. This Apex can then be traded in-game for the gold of other players. For a 30-day patron status, 2250 credits are required, which means you need 2 APEX items and will then receive the 30-day status and still have 250 credits left. $20 translates to about 15 or 16 Euros, depending on how Trion Worlds calculates, which corresponds to the costs in other games like WildStar, where C.R.E.D.D. is slightly above the price of a regular subscription.
Moreover, free-to-play players in ArcheAge will have the option to purchase full access to the auction house with a special item. They will then also be able to list items in the auction house themselves.
An auction house in Europe serves two servers, while in North America even three.
No German Servers for ArcheAge, No Special Servers
Additionally, they do not intend to set up “special servers” in ArcheAge or any that are only for founders. For the head start, they will not launch fresh servers; the existing ones from the open beta will have to suffice. However, they reserve the right to open further servers (for example, at release) if the success of the game is so great that they become necessary.
Two Characters per Account, More Available for Purchase
Players – even those with patron status – will be able to create only two characters per region (i.e., EU or North America). However, character slots can be purchased for 1000 credits. Up to six characters per region can be created at maximum.
By the way, patron status begins when a player logs in for the first time. No hours are deducted before this.
They are continuing to work on bringing the founder packs back on Steam, until then players can purchase them on the Trion Worlds homepage. After launch, they will remove the “founder packs” from the market and replace them with new “starter packs”.
The sandbox MMO ArcheAge will enter the head start on Friday, September 12, for owners of a founder pack. The actual release of the free-to-play title will take place on September 16.
The MMO Destiny is playable for some for more than 30 hours, the first test and the excitement about it have also been around and there is a console war raging on Metacritic. What do the hardcore fans think of Destiny so far?
French “Test” Topic of the First Day
Just a few hours after the game was released, a test by a French magazine appeared with a mediocre rating. By the way, it appeared on many pages right next to a news about Bungie’s warning that early tests should not be taken seriously.
Globally, other magazines eagerly jumped on this test, pointing to it, calling it a “Clickbait,” and irresponsibly writing a test so early, claiming it was only fabricated to generate clicks. Nevertheless, they were happy to report on it. This is probably called having your cake and eating it too.
The Console War Rages on Metacritic
Meanwhile, on Metacritic, as noted by Gamezone in a venomous article, fans of Xbox, PlayStation, and PC are fighting. They rate Destiny down on the “enemy” console, up on their own, complain about PSN or that the game doesn’t match Borderlands enough or that it’s going downhill with Bungie and that the absence of a PC version is the worst – or whatever. Right now, neither the fans on Metacritic nor the early “reviews” from colleagues are very informative.
Many large sites have formed streaming teams, writing articles about the first hours of gameplay and conducting a sort of “perpetual test” with regular impressions.
What Do Hardcore Fans Say About Destiny?
In search of opinions, we ventured into the English forum Reddit and into the cave of fans, the Destinygame subreddit. “Was the hype justified?” is the question. And the answer is a resounding “Sort of.”
Many enjoy the shooter part of the game, even though a certain “grind-heavy” nature could already be observed in early levels. The processes and tasks repeat quickly. The RPG elements are rather shallow, while the controls and shooter elements are viewed positively.
One criticism at the moment is the lack of “social components” in the game; there Bungie probably still has to catch up, fans agree. And even though max-level characters have already been spotted, the endgame is still a long way off for hardcore fans. There is so much to do, one fan happily remarks.
Especially, in early experiences, teamwork is praised. Completing the “strikes” with lousy gear and after some struggle gives fans a kick and fills them with satisfaction.
But “Is the hype justified?” – a fan has an answer to that too, and it is quite unsentimental: “No, no game can ultimately match the immense hype.” Destiny, so perhaps the consensus, is good, as good as players could expect from the beta, but not “the greatest game of all time.”
Perhaps with the announced DLCs, it will get there, after all, Bungie plans to support the game for over 10 years. There’s still plenty of time for judgment.
In the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, TESO, the update number four seems to announce a lot of group content for next week.
This week, community manager Kai Schober announced in the forum that there will be no maintenance work. They are so close to releasing the fourth update that they prefer to invest all their energy and time into this rather than deploy another interim patch.
Some fans would have liked to see a restart of the EU server, as they are complaining about performance issues and lag.
Generally, it is now assumed, for example on reddit, that the next update will be deployed in the USA on Monday next week and in Europe on Tuesday morning. This has not been officially confirmed. Update four for The Elder Scrolls Online will especially please fans of group PvE: Here, they are tweaking the phasing, animations, and bringing a whole lot of endgame content back into the game.
Update Wednesday 4 PM: It is now officially confirmed that one can expect update 4 next week. It was officially confirmed in a forum post (source 2). They plan to reset the servers on Thursday or Friday, then these complaints should also be resolved.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Landmark, the Minecraft-like MMO to Everquest Next, now has a combat system.
If you have been following the coverage around Everquest Next and are wondering why it is so quiet: For the most part, players can always see in the “sand and digging box” Landmark, how far the development for Everquest Next has progressed. And right now, they are far enough along to introduce the combat system. Three weapons are available, you can also die now and the action begins.
Although, as mmobomb writes, there’s still nothing to win, it still looks fun. We have the trailer for you: http://youtu.be/jZqF1KEMWoU
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the god MMO Skyforge , a new class is introduced with the Paladin.
The Paladin is one of the three base classes in the god MMO Skyforge that players start with. The others are the Lightbinder, from which healing classes will branch out, and the Cyromancer, an ice mage who is the progenitor of the DPS in Skyforge.
A video about the Paladin can be found below. Also interesting: On the homepage of Skyforge, you can find the individual skills of the Paladin as well as the mouse combinations used. Many actions are performed by left or right mouse button, repeated or alternating presses. This “arcade”-like combat system, which is unfamiliar to us Western MMORPG players, could become more common in the coming years with Black Desert, Bless, and Blade and Soul. All these games with an Asian touch rely on combos and a more dynamic combat system, which we long-nosed individuals are more accustomed to from fighters.
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In the MBOA League of Legends, the strategy for the coming years is becoming clear, and it can be summarized in one word: cult. Apparently, Riot Games wants to take the game to the next level by giving the champions new stories, putting a face to the top players, and providing a narrative for eSports.
League of Legends is currently at the pinnacle of gaming. In any statistic – Riot’s brainchild is at the forefront. How many hours a game is played; how much money the developer makes; how many players are playing in total; how popular a game is as an eSport; in the Twitch rankings, in this or that statistic – everywhere League of Legends is number one. And comfortably number one at that. The foundation is laid, the structure is in place, and there is nothing more to improve on the formula.
So, who should the game learn from? Dota 2, Counter-Strike, or one of the emerging MOBAs? No. Then from whom? From the major sports leagues of this world. With celebrity culture, a cult around the sport, and a cult around the champs, Riot Games now seeks to usher in a new era.
Game Culture: Giving Faces to the Characters
A first taste of the direction Riot would take, was received by fans a few months ago. A lavish clip garnered attention, showcasing the familiar champs known from the lanes suddenly as stars in their own film: What would a movie look like with the well-known champs as characters? Well, pretty stunning.
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This new trend of making champions more than just “top laners with Q, W, E, and R” will be Riot’s new strategy to make the game even more popular. This is also reflected in the latest news: A reboot of the lore is on the horizon. Fans are being asked for more creative freedom in the design of the champions, to reboot their backstories and break free from overly tight constraints.
Celebrity Culture: Putting Players in Front of a Camera
The second major idea Riot Games is pursuing is the celebrity culture around the top players. Whether Faker, Bjergsen, or HotshotGG – in League of Legends, top players should become stars, and the “normal” players become their fans who watch them on streams, seeing them standing next to a comparatively tiny host in an obscure behind-the-scenes view, or presenting themselves in short videos.
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Some players visibly struggle with taking on such an unfamiliar role. The arguably strongest player at the moment, the Korean Faker, seems much more comfortable producing Gragas highlight plays on a conveyor belt than making a statement on camera about how he feels about being perhaps the most recognizable name in League of Legends. Meanwhile, other players feel quite at home in front of the camera.
Whether this strategy will eventually bear fruit in making the top players into “social media” stars is going to be an interesting question. It seems to be the most shaky of the new pillars at the moment.
Giving the Game Culture and Tradition
In football, it’s quite normal to reference the veterans of earlier times, fantastic matches, and historic moments from past tournaments. In League of Legends, this “earlier” was only three years ago, and the “former” veterans are now 24, yet they are spoken of as if they were approaching retirement age. No question, League of Legends is fast-paced. Unlike other sports, where it takes decades for changes to take place, no season in LoL resembles another. Maps are revised, the balance changes, new champs are constantly added to the game.
Nevertheless, Riot Games is now making an effort to bring the tradition of the game itself to the forefront. They aim to put the rapid growth (from 200 viewers at the World Championship in 2011, to the expected 45,000 in 2014) into perspective. To show that they are more than just a Tamagotchi or a Hula-Hoop, some trend that no one remembers after three years, but a new piece of lifestyle, a part of our world. And to achieve this, they are employing an ancient method: they relate the past, create connections, give facts dynamics, weave a narrative framework: they engage in the oldest profession of mankind. They tell a story.
They want to convey the stories behind successes and failures, tournaments and victories. In short: they are building a myth around the game itself that recalls American sports movies or documentaries. The myth is meant to give the happenings on the ever-growing screens in the ever-larger halls and before an ever-growing audience more depth and more dimensions.
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It will be interesting to see if League of Legends succeeds with this three-part strategy in strengthening the game “outside of the game”. The actual recipe of the MOBA, as the values show, probably needs little alteration. Success vindicates Riot.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The sandbox MMO ArcheAge is just a few days away from the headstart for founders. Could a special game mechanic make the launch particularly turbulent?
Every crowd has its magic
The opening minutes in an MMO are often remembered by many players. This probably applies to the technicians in the server rooms as well. In a “normal” theme park game, like WildStar, an enormous number of players log in as soon as the clock strikes “release”.
The goal is to be the first to reach level 5, to be the first to leave the starter zone, to stay ahead of the “wave” of players so that the quest zones are as empty as possible, the green mob fields remain lush and green before the masses trample over them and you end up in an MMO traffic jam. The first minutes in an MMO are not only the most memorable but also a bit like when an “all-you-can-eat” buffet is opened up for looting or a free beer stand is launched. Exciting, satisfying, but you need to use your elbows.
In the sandbox MMO ArcheAge, this is no different – those who logged in during the open beta found themselves surrounded by a horde of level 1 characters. In ArcheAge, solo players do not share the mobs – unlike in other games nowadays. When groups were not formed, there was quite a crowd around the mobs during the open beta.
What matters for building a house? Location, location, location
During the head start of ArcheAge on September 12 – when it counts – the situation is even more intensified. Because in a theme park MMO, it ultimately doesn’t matter when you leave the beginner zone. No one will take anything from you. There’s really no reason to push to the front at the buffet and load your plate up to your chin: Because the buffet will never run out. The mobs respawn, quest items reappear.
In ArcheAge, however, the buffet does empty. Although mobs respawn here too and of course you progress through the quests, prime properties for the much-praised sandbox elements of ArcheAge may be taken: “Land” is a finite resource, and the best spots are coveted. Those who arrive late must take what’s left. The official forum is currently discussing this so-called “land grab”.
A user explains the ranking of properties and what to look out for:
By the coast
Near special crafting stations
Mild climate
Located in a non-PvP zone
In a PvP zone but at least blessed with one of the other advantages.
Coastal access is optimal because it gives you flexibility and makes it easier to build your trade empire. Crafting stations nearby shorten the distances. In a mild climate, certain plants and animals thrive better. Those who build in a non-PvP zone can sleep more soundly.
ArcheAge, the game with the real estate agent
A “land grab” refers to the phenomenon in ArcheAge or other games where the fastest players secure the prime pieces and occupy the best positions. In ArcheAge, it adds to the fact that players with a head start have already made plans to occupy properties in their vicinity and later sell them to latecomers at outrageous prices. Yes, that’s right: Soon, players won’t be complaining about a too difficult quest mob or an annoying quest, but about real estate prices in a certain neighborhood.
Billy and Sarah-Mae are still paying the purchase price of their little house to local real estate whale Jerry “The Blade” McKey.
Especially the founders, who go live four days before the others, have the opportunity to establish themselves before Free2Play players start. Particularly intense: guilds that as part of their strategy to achieve world domination have already scouted areas and plan to occupy them.
But even among the founders, there will be scrambling and fighting for the first spots in the first hours. Therefore, ArcheAge could experience one of the most turbulent opening hours in the history of MMOs when the headstart begins on Friday.
My MMO says: This is a highly interesting new dynamic that sandbox MMOs bring to the genre. The first hours and days of ArcheAge will surely be an unforgettable experience for many players who have been looking forward to it for a long time. The question is whether and how this competition system among players will affect those who come too late. Such elements are certainly good for the genre. No one needs more MMOs that follow the same design principles.
Usually, the countless gaming forums are precisely the wrong place to share personal matters, such as misfortunes, as such posts are often dissected by flamers and trolls and dragged into the abyss of human indecency. Just think of the well-known case in which a son had died and the father wanted to thank the community in his son’s name in the World of Warcraft forum for all the fun his son had. The first comment at that time was “What did he drop?”.
Community organizes events and donates in honor of the ailing guild leader
Tabytha and David Armstrong.
It is all the more delightful to hear that such things can also happen quite differently, as happened a few weeks ago on the Eldre’Thalas server: Tabytha and David Armstrong have been successfully leading a guild there to this day. David decided to create a thank you thread for the developers at Blizzard because World of Warcraft is a very big deal in their life and a passion that the two have shared for many years – but the 33-year-old Tabytha is suffering from cancer and doctors predict a life expectancy of only about one more year.
The community reacted promptly: On the weekend following the thank you, about 250 players from all possible realms gathered on Eldre’Thalas and organized large events with giveaways, participants could win countless prizes, such as rare mounts or vouchers for real life. Overall, the event in honor of the ailing guild leader and her husband was a complete success that moved both to tears. They said they were “overwhelmed” by the sympathy and countless get well wishes from their fellow players.
Through a subsequent fundraising appeal on youcaring.com, they can even attend BlizzCon (the fundraising goal was $500, but it was surpassed tenfold in a short time), a long-standing dream of the couple – of course, only if treatment methods and health do not stand in the way. The community managers at Blizzard immediately offered the two to meet at Blizzard’s trade fair.
Players organize events for the cancer-stricken Tabytha Armstrong, who is expected to live only another year (Image source: Heather Newman, venturebeat.com).
[quote_right]”WoW is more than a game”[/quote_right]
In an interview, Tabytha stated how grateful she is to the community for all this support and that her family could now understand when she told them repeatedly “WoW is more than a game”. For many, it is a social fabric that can provide support and strength – like in this shining example, which will likely be talked about for a long time, but unfortunately so far represents a rare exception.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
However, both Bungie and XBox head Phil Spencer want the “older” generation of consoles not to be overlooked. In an interview with Polygon in June, Activision Blizzard CEO Eric Hirshberg spoke about the importance of the older console generation: “When you listen around, many are talking about switching to the next generation. But they haven’t done that yet. So you simply can’t ignore the platforms where most players are currently playing.”
Bungie has done a lot to ensure that Destiny is fantastic on the older consoles
Phil Spencer has now also spoken up in a tweet. A user complained on the social network that he couldn’t afford an XBox One to enjoy Destiny on. Spencer responded: “I wouldn’t dismiss the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 version so quickly; Bungie has done a lot to make it great.”
Bungie is already planning for the future. Anyone who buys the digital edition of Destiny for PlayStation 3 or XBox 360 by mid-January can later switch to PlayStation 4 or XBox One. They can take their Guardian along with all gear.
Since 2:00 PM our time, the servers for Destiny are up. This divides the gaming world into the lucky and the waiting. Because not everyone can play: Those who own a digital edition are enviously looking at those with a retail version.
The gaming world is split. Since 2 PM – when it became Tuesday in New Zealand – the servers for Destiny have been open. Those who own a retail version of the game (for example, because they ordered from a retailer like Amazon who delivered it earlier) can start leveling up their Titan, Warlock, or Hunter right now.
Those who bought a digital version will have to wait until midnight in the original country of the store. Australians who purchased a US version of Destiny to save money will also have to wait until it becomes Tuesday in the USA.
For us in Germany, that means: Waiting until midnight. Attempts to fiddle with the Xbox or PlayStation and change the region settings until something happens have proven fruitless. It looks bad. And even going to the store to try to grab a CD version of Destiny will probably end in disappointed faces. Although we wouldn’t be surprised to read somewhere tomorrow about crazy raids on innocent electronics stores (Please, don’t get any stupid ideas!).
Whether the live streams from major sites, YouTubers, and “gaming” personalities who are clamoring to share their first hours of Destiny with the world really offer relief or if the agony of not being able to play is only reinforced, everyone has to decide for themselves. On our topic page, you can find everything we have covered about Destiny so far.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the shooter MMO Destiny, which is just about to be released, the hardest decisions must be made right at the beginning: What do I play? Which class is right for me? Which one suits me? Which class is the best?
Our short class guide hopefully helps you with the difficult question of class choice.
The races don’t matter in Destiny
Some might not even be able to spontaneously decide on a class if the nice gentleman with the pistol asked them to.
First the good news for everyone who stands in front of the chip shelf for twenty minutes because they can’t decide: The race choice doesn’t matter in Destiny. Everyone can just choose what they like best. There are no race bonuses or anything like that. One less difficult decision to make.
Whether you choose the human race or prefer the blue-skinned and rather esoteric Awoken, or even warm up to an Exo, a kind of cyborg: There are no gameplay differences.
With the classes, it looks different. Three starting classes are available, which may choose one of two specializations at level 15 (that is, approximately in the mid-game). In an MMO shooter that relies on 6-man raids, the question is trickier than it seems at first glance. From the MMO scene, many joked at the beginning: “LFM 5 other ranged DPS for the first raid!” In practice, it will be different.
Elemental damage could influence the group composition
At the moment, it is believed that in the higher difficulty levels of the raids, mobs will appear that are particularly susceptible to certain types of damage. There are three such damage types in the game. Each of the six subclasses causes one of these damage types as a standard option. Therefore, for example, the magazine vg247 recommends mixing these damage types so that the completed 6-man team does not find out that an important damage type is missing and now has to compensate in another way.
At the moment it is:
Hunter Gunslinger and Warlock Sunsinger deal Solar damage
Hunter Bladedancer and Titan Striker deal Arc damage
Warlock Voidwalker and Titan Defender deal Void damage.
So if you plan to play as a trio in Destiny or even to go in a six-man team, this could play a role.
The Titan is the one for the really tough tasks in Destiny
The Titan is the man (or woman… or robot) for the tough tasks in Destiny. In its basic form, it is all about steel, steel, and more steel. In MMOs, it would probably be the “Tank” or at least the “Off-Tank”; in shooters, maybe a grenadier, the guy with the rocket launcher, or another heavy-hitter. A frontliner, indeed.
From level 15, the Titan goes into two specializations.
As a Defender, he acts as a mix of tank and supporter, likely playing the central role in the 6-man raids. Here, he buys valuable seconds for the rest of the team and takes on a tactical key role. Visually, he resembles a walking arsenal of firepower, especially preferring thick armor on the upper body.
As a Striker, he is a kind of off-tank, a heavily armored melee fighter with shotguns, grenades, and melee weapons. So a suitable choice for people who prefer direct combat.
The Hunter – quick on their feet, quick in their mind
The Hunter is an agile ranged or melee fighter in Destiny, ensuring that enemies fall quickly and, to survive longer, should avoid being hit as much as possible. A kind of modern rogue or sniper or blades master or something in between.
Aesthetically, he appears as a post-apocalyptic Robin Hood or a cross between a character from “Dune” and the hero of the Assassin’s Creed games that so many adore.
At 15, the Hunter must choose one of two paths.
As a Gunslinger, he takes on the sniper role, as known from shooters. Here, he must pay attention to the same thing as a home buyer: Location, location, location. Only with proper cover can these beautiful headshots be made with the necessary precision to earn so many likes on YouTube, accompanied by nu metal.
As a Bladedancer, he comes close to the classic MMO rogue. “Hit and Run” is his creed, striking undetected from ambush is his lifeblood. And quickly vanishing afterward is likely the best method to pursue his career for as long as possible and avoid pre-retirement through enemy contact.
The Warlock – refined poet, plasma ball thrower
The Warlock is a kind of destructive mage or a range fighter with magic support. He plays the role of a “glass cannon” in Destiny: Deals damage like a horse, takes hits like a mosquito. Therefore, he should get hit even less often than the Hunter. If the Warlock doesn’t have to worry about enemy contact, he can rain fire and brimstone on enemies from the back rows (or plasma and something else, depending). Visually, he prefers masks, long coats, and special effect plasma balls.
At 15, the Warlock also goes in two different directions.
As a Voidwalker, he is a grenade and magic slinger who, like a Duracell bunny, continually deals damage. He leans more towards direct damage.
The Sunsinger, on the other hand, is more suited for more refined players (i.e., for people who listen to Mozart while laying waste to the world). He can buff team members, works with “damage over time” attacks, which are poisons or curses in other games, and can even return from the dead.
You can also see the classes in action in the live trailer. By the way, the lady is the Warlock.
It is a well-known fact that Blizzard’s card game “HearthStone” is thematically set in the World of Warcraft, and theoretically can be played in any tavern in the world by travelers, thus the next step is only logical: HearthStone finds its way into the world of WoW.
Although not in all its beauty and tactical depth, players will be able to purchase three items from an NPC named “Benjamin Brode” (a nod to HearthStone developer Ben Brode), which among other things allows the famous game board of the card game to appear in the world. “Benjamin Brode” is located in the players’ garrison if they have the appropriate buildings.
In addition to the game board, one can also purchase a “booster pack” and the “victory hand”, which when used will play the characteristic sound effects of the card game and come with a nice animation.
It is still unclear whether these items require any specific prerequisites (such as an active HearthStone account), but at the moment it seems this is not the case.
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The failed Kickstarter project Yogscast is now providing disappointed backers with Landmark keys. As reported by PCGamer, the 13647 backers of the failed Kickstarter project “Yogventures” will receive free keys for Landmark.
The backers had invested a good half a million dollars into the project, which failed in mid-July because the studio “Winterkewl,” commissioned by the British YouTuber group “Yogscast,” found the project was too ambitious – or maybe even two sizes too big.
At that time, Yogscast informed the fans that the project had become too ambitious for the mere six developers of Winterkewl. Therefore, they decided to cancel “Yogventures.” However, this was good because now they want to develop the game “TUG,” which aligns more with Yogscast’s vision.
To sweeten the deal for the somewhat sour fans, Yogscast came to an agreement with SOE to provide the backers of Yogventures with beta keys for Landmark.
Anyone who wants to check out the Landmark beta without having their heart broken by a Kickstarter project can sign up here: https://www.landmarkthegame.com/yogscast
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
S2 Games, the developer studio behind the MOBA Strife, is laying off almost half of its staff. They cite mismanagement as the reason.
As reported by mmobomb, the news of the layoffs first appeared in the English forum reddit. A representative of S2 Games surprisingly spoke openly and clearly to the fans: They had to lay off developers because the team had grown too quickly ahead of the open beta, and they could not financially sustain such a large team.
Strife is not doing poorly; the open beta has gone solidly – they simply hired too many employees. They compared it to Heroes of Newerth, which had a launch team of 20 employees. For Strife, it was 80. A number that might sustain the game if it were “fully developed,” but at the moment, they are still in growth and cannot manage that.
The farewell of the employees last Friday was difficult. There were tears, not just from those leaving. However, they remain optimistic for the future and are determined to grow more responsibly. 50 developers remain in the team.
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In the survival MMO H1Z1, there might be a hint on the Twitter account about when the MMO could finally enter Early Access.
At the moment, it is speculation, but since the date for H1Z1’s Early Access has been overdue for a while, everyone is obviously keeping an eye out for hints. Many actually expected that an Early Access date would be announced by the latest during SOE Live in the middle of last month. But that didn’t happen. Now, SOE President John Smedley mentioned in a stream that it could happen in September with Early Access. However, he doesn’t want to commit to anything. Since he mentioned “in four to six weeks it will start” back in April and that turned out to be wrong as they changed their strategy, Smedley has become more cautious.
So why are we reporting on the topic again? On the official Twitter account of H1Z1, a tweet from graphics card giant Nvidia was retweeted. They announced a big event, a “PC Gaming Day,” for September 18th. Unbelievably important things are supposed to happen there, mysterious secrets will be revealed, and absolutely spectacular things will take place, although they are not revealing a word about it.
This hint can not only be found on the Twitter account of H1Z1 but also on those of Sony Online Entertainment’s other games… only there isn’t really a big PC announcement to be expected – except maybe the Open Beta for Landmark. The other SOE games are more oriented towards consoles. It could also be that Nvidia is simply linked on the company Twitter accounts as part of a collegial or strategic partnership.
But since “Game Reveals” are also on the agenda for Nvidia’s event, and the Early Access of H1Z1 is overdue, it stands to reason that something could happen. Perhaps H1Z1 fans should mark September 18th in their calendars. However, nothing is officially confirmed. But… at some point, it has to happen.
It is now known that Sony Online Entertainment takes unusual paths, seeks new forms of communication, and is willing to leverage such synergy effects as a big NVIDIA event would offer. Therefore, it could well be that they use such an event to reach a broad player base and broadcast outside their own follower ship. They would anyway catch on to such an announcement.
Since SOE has assured that they will notify fans a week before Early Access, and since the event takes place on September 18th, Early Access could potentially begin at the end of September. Any longer and it would become a running gag.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
