Another day, another time with plenty of information about the upcoming feature patch for Guild Wars 2. This time, the focus is mainly on a new subcategory of achievements, namely the item collections.
The World Needs New Achievements
Almost all types of items in the game now have their own achievements, which you can now view under the category “Item Collections”. At first glance, this category may seem a bit empty, but that’s because a large portion of the collections are hidden and will only become visible once you have discovered at least one piece of the respective collection. Completing the new achievements will not only reward you with achievement points, but also many useful and stylish items can find their way into your inventory through this. Some recipes and cosmetic adjustments will even only be available through these achievements, such as the new “Ghost Artisan Backpack”.
Types of Unlocking
In total, there are three different ways you can unlock collections and make them visible. For consumable items, such as food, it is completely sufficient to consume them once. The “Base Sets” are directly viewable so that your achievement menu doesn’t look completely empty if you are a newcomer. The last category of collections is unlocked by discovering an item; when you occasionally visit dungeons, they will eventually appear on their own.
Armor items that can still be sold at the trading post must first be soulbound before they can be added to your collection – they shouldn’t just be passed around.
Retroactive Credit? Many, not all.
All items that you once had and are currently linked to an achievement will be retroactively credited to your collection; the same applies if the item is still in your possession – veterans will likely achieve a lot of collection achievements upon their first login. However, you will not be credited for already consumed consumables and items that are no longer in your possession and do not have an achievement – these must be found anew.
Goodbye, Collection Overview
Finally, some commands in the game have been renamed; what used to be “Store All Collectibles” will now be “Store All Materials”, as the collection overview disappears (because the minis are missing, for example) and simply becomes your materials storage for crafting components. The developers apologize in advance for the confusion this may cause.
You can find the entire developer post as usual in our sources.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Korean MMO Black Desert, planned for release in early 2016 in our region, has released another trailer.
Black Desert is in the trailer business. A few days ago there was a Russian one, now the South Koreans are following suit. The third closed beta phase starts on September 17.
This time, the trailer showcases everything that can be resolved without sword, arrow, and axe: crafting. Although, for chopping wood, you do need an axe, right?
The discussion about the sandbox MMO ArcheAge is currently ignited by a sensitive topic. Is the head start perhaps not worth as much as some think?
This is a topic with explosive potential that MMOs have been contemplating for quite some time, described by the term “Pay2Win.” What advantages do we offer? How much money do we charge for them? One method of distributing privileges to players who pay for them is the head start. This is now sparking a dispute in ArcheAge. Should it ultimately not be worth as much as assumed?
What is a head start and why is it there?
Nowadays, it is common for players to be allowed into the game before the actual release. This is called a “head start.” Three to five days before it opens for the general public, who have only purchased a standard edition, owners of a “special” edition or pre-order customers or otherwise privileged ones can already secure the server.
This is not particularly tragic for a “normal” theme park MMO. Who is the first to reach the maximum level is usually not too important. Sure, people with a head start might find a less crowded quest area and therefore have an easier time progressing, but that is generally not too bad for others.
For the publisher, a head start has two advantages: On one hand, money (the privilege is usually sold at a high price), and on the other, there is not an overwhelming rush to the servers at the exact moment but rather it is spread out over two dates – or, in the case of The Elder Scrolls Online, even three. There, they gave pre-order customers a three-day lead, buyers of a special edition even five.
And why is the topic so critical for ArcheAge?
While hardly anyone complained about the head start in The Elder Scrolls Online or WildStar, the situation in ArcheAge is somewhat different. This is because in ArcheAge, players are in stronger competition with each other than in TESO or WildStar.
Here, “building lots” are limited. Especially the best spots, which stand out due to their ideal location, are highly coveted.
In addition, the game features open-world PvP. This means that whoever gains a special advantage in the first 4 days – and this will certainly happen – can benefit from this advantage for a long time.
There are already extensive reports about guilds preparing for the server launch strategically. They plan to plant, protect, and chop down 2000 trees in secret locations to craft the first boats, thus dominating trade and relieving others of their savings.
You can imagine how it would turn out for players who arrive in ArcheAge four days late. One might say that we could be talking about wolves and lambs here.
And is this not working out now?
The excitement among some owners of a founder’s package (which grants a 4-day head start in ArcheAge) now comes from the fact that Trion Worlds announced they would not start with all servers at the head start. They reserve the right, should the interest be significant enough, to bring servers online at the actual release on September 16. This means that these would be “virgin servers” on which no one has an advantage, as they would start only on September 16 and not four days earlier.
This implies, conversely, that the number of “disadvantaged” players, who start four days later than the “hardcore gamers,” could decrease on the servers that are already online at the head start.
And that would diminish the “head start advantage” that many “wolves” were hoping for.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the upcoming luxury MMO Destiny, fans are now closing a feature gap: Players willing to raid can find friends through an external site.
The MMO shooter Destiny launches with a six-person raid – more will follow through DLCs. Six people – that is a size typical for normal group instances in other games, but in Destiny they are raids. Challenging raids even in two difficulty levels.
No Group Finder in Destiny
However, there is no “matchmaking” or “group finder” system in Destiny – as in other MMOs. With such a system, players registering for an instance in World of Warcraft or WildStar are automatically placed in a group. The system ensures that the classes complement each other, meaning there is a healer and a tank present.
That is not the case in Destiny. Here, you need to have friends on your friends list and can arrange a proper shootout with them in the raid instance on Venus. Perhaps Bungie wants to prevent strangers from turning against each other when things don’t go well. After all, the raids are supposed to be intense.
In a test run, they sent off four teams of six shooter players each to tackle a raid. No team succeeded. One even disbanded, apparently overwhelmed by the MMO requirements, and decided to play more shooters instead.
In Destiny, you need friends to raid, and you can now find them on the Internet
Not everyone is okay with this; not everyone has real-life friends with a PlayStation or Xbox of the same generation, and a Halo love that results in a Destiny purchase. As Forbes reports, fans have now created a remedy for this. On the website thatwizardcamefromthemoon.com, named after the Dinklage voiceover meme, players can find raid friends.
On this page, you enter your class (there are three to start), your time zone, and the console you are playing on. The search on the site is supposed to output suitable players. The site operator reports that three days after the platform’s launch, already 500 Destiny players have registered on the site. And after Forbes, Kotaku, and probably within twelve hours 40 other sites have reported on this, this number should significantly increase in the days leading up to the release.
Perhaps, some speculate, Bungie will eventually integrate some kind of raid finder into the game itself. However, that would devalue the work of the dedicated creators behind That Wizard Came from the Moon.
As an MMO site, it should be noted that the idea of such an external site isn’t entirely new. Communities from other MMOs have found such solutions in the past. Even in World of Warcraft, which is actually well-covered in terms of raid finders, there are external sites where players can find and arrange for more exotic raids.
Update 20.12.: It has now been three and a half months since the release of Destiny, sites have come and gone, and community alternatives to raid finders have emerged. We have revisited the topic “How do I find a group for the raid in Destiny” on mein-mmo: Destiny Raidfinder: How to find German-speaking players for Raid, Nightfall, Weekly.
Blizzard’s free card game Hearthstone is cracked. Luckily, the culprit is one of the good guys.
Elie Bursztein is one of the leading members of Google’s Anti-Abuse Team (kind of like Google’s police) and is apparently also a top-notch hacker and an avid Hearthstone fan. Together with his wife Celine, he created a tool that would practically ruin Hearthstone because it takes the thinking out of the game for players. However, he refrained from releasing it because Blizzard was able to make him understand the consequences of his actions: Bursztein’s intellectual work would ruin the enjoyment of millions of players.
The tool could, among other things, provide a quite precise prediction of what the opponent will play in the next round. And it would then display this to the user of the tool. Such a live-analysis tool would – as anyone can imagine – be a huge advantage for the user. It would probably take Blizzard’s card game by storm and harm Hearthstone in the long run. It would be a bit like every player having their own chess computer in their pocket. And since Bursztein apparently still intended to refine the project further, it would have become tricky in the foreseeable future.
And Blizzard is like: Yeah, great job, but kind of dumb for Hearthstone, right?
The Burszteins, Elie and Celine, presented their program – with a noticeable French accent – then in English to hacker colleagues at Defcon 22 in Las Vegas, a kind of hacker convention. There or shortly thereafter, they were approached by Blizzard employees. They were, according to Elie Bursztein, enthusiastic about the work but convinced the top hacker not to release the tool because it would ruin the game.
Despite the time he and his wife invested in the program, Bursztein therefore wants to keep the program to himself.
There exists a video of the 42 minutes in which Bursztein presents his work on the program, most of which revolves around formulas, logic, and considerations to make the game explainable, and has very little to do with any exciting hacking actions:
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In Blizzard’s MMO World of Warcraft, there is a page circulating that promises new players to access the game for free until September 26.
Even one of the largest Warcraft sites in the world, joystiq.com, reported it last night: World of Warcraft is said to be available for free to any new player who wants it via the Battle.net app. A link leads to a page associated with Blizzard. Here it is stated that World of Warcraft will be free to explore until September 26. At the moment, anyone can already do that, but only up to level 20. The website suggests that this is now coming to an end and that the maximum level can be significantly higher. The current game, without the two still paid expansions, includes the base game, the expansions “The Burning Crusade”, “Wrath of the Lich King”, and “Cataclysm” – the maximum level is therefore 85.
Unfortunately, there is still no information from Blizzard about the story, and the – as far as we could ascertain – first site that reported on it has since deleted the news post. However, with the largest international gaming sites starting to report on it now, it seems either there is something to it and someone found the page before Blizzard could explain and promote it, or it is some kind of prank.
Either way, we will likely know more soon.
A free promotion like this is not entirely unlikely. The Starter Edition usually costs 15 euros but has been reduced to 5 euros several times. It is conceivable that Blizzard saves on this and simply gives away the game for free – in digital times, this is no problem – hoping that after the free month, players would stick around and purchase the two missing expansions, Mists of Pandaria and Warlords of Draenor, at a discounted price. Statements from World of Warcraft’s lead designer, Tom Chilton, that expansions present a barrier for new players, have recently pointed in a similar direction.
Update 9:40: Ah, okay. Blizzard has now commented on this. This website is part of a promotional campaign aimed at enticing players of other Blizzard games to try World of Warcraft. This is not an offer that you can accept on your own; it has to be made to you by Blizzard.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blizzard’s free card game Hearthstone, there is a new card back to earn every season. The one for September follows a pirate theme.
Until rank 20, the Hearthstone player must progress to earn the right to wear the respective card back of the season. A season always runs from the first to the last of a month. For the sixth season in Hearthstone, Blizzard has come up with something special and surprises with a pirate card back.
So, those who reach rank 20, which is not too difficult, can call this stylish back their own at the beginning of the next month.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The company Zenimax, which is behind the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, has laid off employees who were directly involved in the development of TESO.
After the launch, fewer employees are needed
In response to Gameinformer, Bethesda stated that Zenimax Online has laid off employees who were involved in the launch of The Elder Scrolls Online, either as developers or in customer service. On Twitter, rumors of layoffs at Zenimax had already circulated.
In an email, they informed the online magazine that this is part of the normal process for such games. They needed a large workforce for development and an expanded support team to handle all the inquiries they expected after the launch. Now, after half a year, the game is running smoothly, and the community has flourished. Therefore, they have adjusted the size of the team to current needs. However, the workforce is still large.
Development of The Elder Scrolls Online reportedly unaffected
Bethesda assures that the ongoing operation and development of The Elder Scrolls Online are not endangered or restricted by this. They continue to invest heavily in the development of TESO, are committed to the game, and are “committed.” They are continuing to develop content for PC, working on the implementation of The Elder Scrolls Online for consoles, and planning to expand into important international regions for the company.
At this moment, nothing is known about the scale of the layoffs. On Twitter, some industry insiders spoke of “large layoffs,” which could be translated as mass layoffs. Colleagues expressed their sympathy on Twitter or even offered job opportunities – as is customary in the industry. Bethesda’s need to confirm the layoffs to several gaming magazines (including joystiq) suggests that this is not just a few employees, but rather a larger number of staff.
Already in June, reports emerged that 300 employees on fixed-term contracts in the Zenimax branch in Galway, Ireland, were laid off from customer support. They were also meant to cushion the expected surge at the release.
Gameinformer does not provide any numbers but expresses sympathy for the employees affected by the layoffs. We at mein-mmo would like to join that sentiment.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The warplane MMO War Thunder has recently been making waves. For Gamescom, a World War II tank was transported to Cologne.
War Thunder is primarily an aerial combat MMO, with battles taking place over burning Europe during World War II. Recently, however, it’s also been hitting the ground: with Ground Forces, a tank expansion is on the way. At Gamescom in Cologne, War Thunder was not only present with uniformed ladies but also showcased a fighter aircraft, a Messerschmitt BF 109 K-4, on display. Additionally, War Thunder had a real tank, the SU-100, at its booth.
How to get such a colossus, a Soviet tank destroyer weighing 31.6 tons, to Cologne is now demonstrated by Gaijin Software in a video. More about War Thunder’s appearance and its rival World of Tanks can be found in this article.
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In the SF-MMO Star Trek Online (STO), the expansion Delta Rising also brings some familiar faces from the TV series “Voyager” on board the MMO.
Tim Russ (Tuvok) and Garret Wang (Harry Kim) were already known to adorn the next expansion “Delta Rising” in Star Trek Online. Now, the game’s homepage has announced further additions. Ethan Phillips (Neelix) and Roberto Picardo (the Holo-Doctor) will reprise their roles. And Jeri Ryan (Seven-of-Nine) is also on board.
Soon, the fans can expect a detailed presentation of the crew members and their new roles. The eternal ensign Harry Kim was recently promoted in a ceremony. Seven-of-Nine, it is heard, has committed to the Daystrom Institute, and Neelix is likely still serving as an ambassador.
More about Star Trek Online and the planned expansion Delta Rising can be found on our thematic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the upcoming zombie and survival MMO H1Z1, the infection with the eponymous virus likely brings both advantages and disadvantages.
At Gameinformer, they had the opportunity to play the current version of the survival MMO H1Z1. And they became acquainted with the new “infection level.” Because now one must not only watch out for hunger, thirst, and HP, but also for the H1Z1 virus.
Smells good, looks bad: An infected person. (Smells good – only meant actively, not passively.)
The tester writes that he intentionally allowed himself to be bitten by a zombie to reach infection level 4. At level 5, one dies. Just before the zombie exit, however, his character developed special abilities. Thus, he could already scent other players from a distance on a “pheromone” trail. However, such a high infection level also brings disadvantages: Vision becomes blurred. Not to mention the impending death. Probably, one transforms into a zombie upon reaching the level and thereby loses control over the character.
In a stream about the game, SOE President John Smedley had already talked about how the infection level will likely rise through contact with infected individuals or the consumption of contaminated food. It can be lowered by penicillin, an item in the game. Learn more about H1Z1 on our topic page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
And once again, a study has been published that focused on video games. This time, it is not about the terrible influences of video games, but about the distribution within the population: Which groups of people play the most, and what is the distribution between men and women?
Eye catcher: There are more adult female gamers than teenage males
One of the biggest highlights of the study is the finding that there are now more adult women who count video games among their hobbies than there are underage male players. Overall, the young men only make up 17% of the total player base, while adult women account for a substantial 36%, which is more than double! Fascinating… or maybe not?
Player distribution: Only a small difference between women and men
Source: The Entertainment Software Association (theesa.com)
According to this study, men only have a slight edge in terms of their pure numbers, as women now make up 48% of the player base, and men only make up 52%. This may sound surprising to just about every reader, as a look at the servers of WoW, SWTOR, or WildStar reveals a completely different picture, which is why further clarification is needed: Any type of video game declares a person as a “gamer” – at least in this study. This also includes all mobile, smartphone, and Facebook games.
My opinion: I don’t find the results of the study surprising at all. It seems rather like an attempt to desperately find some sensational news. The mere statement “More adult women play than male teenagers under 18” makes me roll my eyes a bit. In a larger group of people, more individuals play than in a significantly smaller group. Well, who would have thought that! Since seemingly everyone who plays “Minesweeper” or “Solitaire” once a month has ended up in this statistic, I am not surprised at all. Just because someone eats salad once a month doesn’t mean they are a vegetarian.
That there is no distinction made between players who invest several hours in a game daily and “gamers” who play a round of “Snake” on their phone definitely does not reflect positively on this study. Nevertheless, I am glad that there is more engagement with the topic – even if no exciting results come out of it.
I can absolutely understand Carbine’s decision. Many realms are currently relatively empty, and large raid groups form only rarely due to the high demands placed on players. There is practically no competition for “World First Kill,” even though a few dedicated guilds are certainly doing their best.
The Warplots will likely gain popularity due to the server merge. So far, only a few have seen a warplot.
Also, the big feature of Warplots is still rarely used – acute player shortage is often a reason, since not everyone is keen on PvP and certainly not in such a large, coordinated group.
The mentioned problems can be resolved by megaservers, I see that. And yet I could cry.
… but you will get surnames! And new people!
A small downside: New players could soon take a seat at the tavern.
I hear the little voices in the role-playing forum desperately trying to point out the positive aspects that such a megaserver can have for role players. It could bring new people because if everyone is on one server, the chance is high that newcomers will become enthusiastic about RP. Sure, this is a valid point. But for every new role player, there will also be ten trolls who just enjoy ruining the fun for others, and that is very easy to do in role-playing.
A second point is that surnames are supposed to be THE realized dream of every role player. Short and sweet: They are not. My Cortyn is already named Leafshade, whether that is displayed above her head or not is completely irrelevant. A nice feature that could already be had through addons if one really wanted it. I don’t want it. I don’t want all the rest either.
WildStar takes what it gave me
I am currently playing on “Toria”, the German RP-PvE realm and it is quite empty.
As a role player, a somewhat empty server is a blessing, as it has led to interesting developments. “CREDD” cost about 1-2 platinum in the first weeks, without wanting to brag: I will play WildStar completely for free this next year due to this low price. When I hear stories about how CREDD costs 50 platinum or more on other realms, I can only smile in satisfaction. That will end.
On Toria, it feels familial: “Everyone knows everyone”.
A second beautiful advantage of a half-empty RP server is that you know almost all players. I know almost all players and at least every guild on the realm is known to me. It’s hard to put into the right words, but it feels like a large circle of acquaintances united under the realm name Toria. Everyone knows everyone, both in the Exiles and in the Dominion. That will end.
It is this feeling of togetherness, the feeling of a community that has formed over the last three months that is being destroyed by packing all players together with a flood of “Olololol-epics!” people. No, I do not consider myself and all role players to be better, and I cannot speak for everyone, but I simply have different expectations of a game. And role-playing without the appropriate environment is difficult. Because RP is not just “what you make of it,” but also strongly dependent on the environment. And try playing tennis on a soccer field while two teams are kicking against each other. It doesn’t work.
My idea: A bit naive, perhaps underdeveloped
My option may be a bit too romantically idealized, but let me explain: Why not merge all servers except the RP servers? Let us live in peace with our little, perfect world! We don’t want large PvP groups or super raid competitions; we are already delighted if we can sit on a chair with a click! Yes, I can already hear your counter-arguments that there are also PvE players who are on an RP server and they too want to experience content. Let them transfer for free, as is already the case!
I really have no choice
I know it’s never as hot as it’s cooked, you shouldn’t praise the day before the evening, and don’t distribute the wild until it’s caught. But all those wise sayings don’t help me right now to cope with simply being incredibly gloomy about this decision. The last months of role-playing were so grand because there was hardly any harassment from “non-role players” because you could simply RP right in the capital without being ridiculed from the side about how silly you behave.
xXxShàdôwhúntâxXx comes running. For RP players, the rule is: Better hide before it’s too late.
That will come to an end, and at the latest when xXxShàdôwhúntâxXx hops across my screen for the first time, my Cortyn will suddenly pay more attention to the housing item “Rope”. Whether she will soon be hanging from one of her beloved trees can only time tell.
After reading through this column a second time, I realize that I haven’t written so negatively and so melancholically in a long time. WildStar and the role-playing have become a matter of the heart for me – please don’t ruin it for me. Please, Carbine, please.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blizzard’s free online card game Hearthstone, new heroes might soon find their way into the game. However, new classes are not to be expected.
In an interview with mmorpg.com, Eric Dodds, the lead designer on Hearthstone, ruled out the introduction of new classes for the foreseeable future. While the Death Knight and Monk enjoyed some popularity in World of Warcraft, Hearthstone already has nine classes, and those are currently enough with all the combinations they offer.
This is also related to the number of match-ups, as certain classes perform against others. New classes are not something that is ruled out forever, but players should not expect them in the near future. From now on, anything is possible, and they will always keep an eye on what fans currently desire and look forward to.
Garrosh is the villain – also in Hearthstone
Responsible: Garrosh Hellscream.
Dodds had better news for all those tired of having to play Garrosh Hellscream when they crave their warrior deck: “Sure, we have heard from the fans that not all of them are big Garrosh fans. Some even think he is quite the bum, which I find to be a completely reasonable assessment.” The introduction of “skins” or alternate heroes for the existing classes is definitely a direction they are looking into and discussing internally.
What does Blizzard think of the current meta-game?
With Naxxramas, they have achieved their initial goal and significantly shaken up the existing meta. In the future, they will keep an eye out to ensure that the game does not become too complex. Currently, there are some combinations with deathrattle that are a bit too “crazy” for Blizzard’s taste.
One reason for the Hunter flood: The Mad Scientist.
In the meta-game, Dodds also noted a rise of Hunters. Before they balance this, however, they want to wait and see. Dodds does not seem convinced that the Hunter flood indicates a sustainable trend. Nevertheless, the Hunter is currently stronger than Blizzard had anticipated. They did not expect such a rise.
He also commented on the invasion of Warlocks with Zoo decks. This is primarily a problem at the mid-rank levels. At the top, Zoo Warlocks appear hardly at all. Like everything else, they will also keep an eye on this and react as necessary.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For the last time before the release of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, the buff “Black Prince’s Blessing” is active on players. Furion once again proves to be particularly benevolent and grants all players a reputation bonus of 100% with the faction “The Black Prince”.
At the same time, all of his enemies are dropping the coveted quest items “Secrets of the Empire”, “Seal of Wisdom”, “Seal of Power”, and “Titan Rune Stones” much more frequently. Anyone who has not yet claimed the legendary cape should seize the opportunity and tackle this now.
Since the cape not only has a unique visual effect, but the questline also describes one of the most exciting developments within World of Warcraft, filled with many scripted events, completing it is worthwhile from several perspectives.
The buff lasts for exactly two weeks, until September 16 – take advantage of the opportunity before it expires!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The luxury MMO Destiny will probably have to wait a while for the first complete test reports.
As the magazine Polygon reports, potential buyers of Destiny will apparently have to decide for or against buying Destiny without a test from their trusted magazine. Polygon explains that the press can only start testing one day before the official release. Given the short time and the immense scope of the game, it is impossible to provide readers with a reasonable review.
There won’t be any tests for Destiny initially, but there will be live streams
In response to this news, the PR department of Destiny reportedly contacted Polygon. Later, it was mentioned that the game would not be received on Monday as initially assumed, but rather on Friday afternoon. However, this is of little help because the servers would only be opened for the press on Monday morning (which would be Monday afternoon our time). However, there is no video ban. Therefore, it seems that the first live streams of the game can be seen from Monday morning US time.
Other media outlets have also dealt with the delayed review copies. Normally, as Gamezone writes, such a situation is a sure sign of a flop. They mention SimCity, which the press also did not get to see in advance. The publisher probably feared that potential buyers would be deterred by the reviews. However, Destiny, as Gamezone continues, has a huge beta behind it, allowing for a deep insight. And Destiny is an online game. Here, a preview test on empty press servers would not convey the true gaming experience either.
Update: The delay in tests will likely lead to more attention, not less
Update Thursday 1:30 PM: Reports are now coming in on how the major gaming magazines are handling this news. A trend is emerging that will likely please Bungie: The game is so big, many magazines are referring to it as the “biggest release of the year,” that Destiny is receiving special treatment.
Many sites want to stream Destiny extensively and discuss it at the end of each day. Ign.com mentions a roughly week-long coverage with 4 hours of streaming a day and discussion rounds afterwards. Other sites also want to stream intensively at least. It seems that the delay in tests leads to more attention rather than less.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The current flood of information regarding the upcoming feature update in September for Guild Wars 2 mainly concerns the hero wardrobe and the new, simplified customization options. We have summarized the key changes for you:
What am I wearing today, what will I wear tomorrow…
The first improvement concerns the equipment wardrobe in general. Armor sets and skins are now clearly separated, making it easy to see at any time whether you are dyeing something, viewing a particular equipment set, or need to use transmutation charges to make the changes visible. Speaking of viewing: No matter whether you have unlocked a specific armor set or not, in the preview you can try on all clothing sets – even if they are still locked, the interface will indicate whether they are currently available or offered at a reduced price.
Finishing Moves: Now also in the Wardrobe
The well-organized wardrobe of today also has finishing moves ready, which are now listed in the wardrobe as they are considered part of character customization.
In addition to listing your existing finishing moves, you can also see ones that you do not yet own. As with the clothing sets, you can also preview each type of amusing execution when you send your enemy back to the next waypoint in a PvP round – regardless of whether you already own the finishing move or not.
Miniatures: Available account-wide starting in September!
The biggest change likely occurs in the area of miniatures (“Minis”), as these can now be permanently unlocked for an account, thereby destroying the corresponding item. Once unlocked, any character on your account can access this mini, and the corresponding slots in your bank space will be removed once you collect the minis. If you do not want to bind your minis permanently, you can still use them by double-clicking and keep the item in case you want to sell the little companion. As expected, you can preview all miniatures even if they are not yet in your possession – this is especially handy when wanting to check out a previously unknown miniature in the trading post.
In the coming days, there will be more information on the topics “Collector’s Passion” and “Trade 2.0”. You can find the original post from the developers as usual in our sources.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The science fiction MMO WildStar is transitioning to four mega servers. German, French, and English servers will be merged. Roleplayers are hit hard as they lose their roleplay-marked servers and have to make do with a chat channel.
There will only be four servers worldwide for the SF MMO WildStar. Two for PvE, two for PvP, separated by North America and Europe. This follows the model of The Elder Scrolls Online. Guild Wars 2 also took this path just in April.
WildStar sweetens the merger with free realm transfers
The transition from the current system to “mega servers” is confirmed. Game Design Producer Stephan Frost recently mentioned in an interview that they want to ensure solutions are presented for the issues associated with a server merge. Players should feel that such a merge brings benefits. It seems Carbine has found that solution, as once again, the Director of Operations Cougar was sent to deliver the news.
Carbine does not provide a schedule for the transition. However, until the mega servers arrive, all realm transfers will be free.
No more combined English, French, and German servers
To combat the “Tower of Babel” problem where suddenly three different languages are spoken on one server, they want to implement different language channels. Roleplayers should also find their place here. Three separate “RP” channels will be established for them, divided by language.
While the boundaries between individual servers that unite into a mega server will disappear, they will still exist between the four mega servers themselves. Players will not be able to switch from EU-PvP to EU-PvE or vice versa. The regional lock remains in place.
This is how WildStar wants to solve the problems associated with a server merge
WildStar aims to solve persistent issues with server merging as follows:
Identical character names should not cause issues; with the server merge, surnames will be introduced.
If guilds on different servers that are being merged have the same name, the oldest guild with an active leader will retain it. The other guilds will be marked for now until a solution is found later. They will likely need to rename themselves.
Previously, players could have 6 characters on one server; this number is now increasing to 12. Those who have even more characters on their account after the merge can keep them, but they cannot create new ones.
The friends list will remain intact and will be updated.
The reasoning for the merge is, at least indirectly, attributed to the rush at the launch of WildStar. The “increased capacities” that were needed for that are no longer necessary.
The aftermath of the guest passes?
“You must get involved with WildStar!” – Many friends were invited through guest passes.
My MMO thinks: This was probably inevitable. WildStar relies on active servers. Cougar states: “This in turn allows for more characters, more groups, more activities, and more raids … more of what makes WildStar so exciting.” He is absolutely right. Just to keep the raid operations going, which is one of Carbine’s crown jewels, a well-populated server is essential.
At release, players were invited to the servers with guest passes. This caused an incredible influx at the beginning, which faded and left ghost servers behind. The situation, as Carbine must have seen, likely would not have dramatically improved in the coming months.
The server merge now referred to as “mega servers” is likely a result of this “guest pass” decision at launch. Initially, they were pleased that they had to add numerous servers in the early days because the queues on the PvP servers became too long. The aftermath of that action has been seen in recent weeks.
Most players, especially in the USA, should benefit from the server merger and find a significantly more vibrant WildStar in their environment after the transition.
Roleplayers and non-English speakers will likely be hit hard
There could be understanding problems between roleplayers and non-roleplayers.
Roleplayers, who depend on their neighbors thinking like them and everyone adhering to certain rules, are hit hard.
Also, us Europeans who insist on speaking different languages might be demanded to make compromises with the transition to the mega server. However, the core clientele of WildStar likely shouldn’t have issues communicating in English. Those who started playing WildStar solely because it offered roleplay servers or was playable in German might turn away from the game in frustration. The number of players who would abandon the game due to excessively empty servers is likely much higher.
Raid guilds will be pleased with the increase.
Short-term, WildStar will certainly hear some mockery from critics and have to endure one or another “free-to-play” jab. In the long run, this transition will likely be the right, if not the only right decision. And it is better to communicate it early and clearly than to hide it for a long time and delay the inevitable merge.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the luxury MMO Destiny, Activision has come up with something clever to keep the fire simmering and the fans engaged. With the Google technology from Street View, it’s already possible to reach the stars.
With Google to the Stars
Okay, this is something new. A week before the release, fans of Destiny can already embark on a journey to Mars, Venus, and the Moon. Destiny uses the Google technology that is also behind Street View and Google Maps. In everyday life, it’s used to see what the vacation spot you visited as a child looks like today, or to check if Rome is still standing.
Bungie uses the technology for different purposes. With PlanetView, players can pass the time until the MMO shooter launches on September 9th. Bungie ensures that fans do not lose sight of Destiny. Considering the marketing budget with TV spots and massive billboards around the world, this is hardly surprising.
With PlanetView, travel to the Moon, Mars, or Venus – in the Destiny edition
In Destiny, the player (even in German) is invited on a tour of the planets Venus and Mars, and you can also stop by the Moon. However, the tour guide is surprised: “What? No weapon? Well, if you say so.”
As the publisher Activision states, PlanetView gives fans just a small taste of the vast world of Destiny that will be available to explore starting September 9th. Players could gain insights into the backstory of the planets, useful gameplay tips, or even hints on hidden items.
PlanetView is set to expand later as new locations are added in DLCs
PlanetView was created in collaboration between Bungie and Google and utilizes Google Maps technology. The project intends to continue later. This likely means that more locations will become accessible in PlanetView when they find their way to Destiny through DLCs.
That at the start, only three locations—the Moon, Venus, and Mars—are available for viewing is a cause for complaint among some critical fans: it suggests that the scope of Destiny is smaller than it was made to appear.
The campaign is additionally introduced with a trailer, which we will present to you afterwards. You can find the PlanetView here. However, loading takes a bit even with a fast internet connection, so patience is advised. This is true for both this and while waiting for the release of Destiny.
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The MMO shooter Destiny will be released on September 9th for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. A PC version is not yet confirmed, but it is considered likely.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The sandbox MMO ArcheAge has disappeared from the Steam store for several days. The community manager explained in the English forum reddit that this is due to technical reasons.
Shortly before ArcheAge disappeared from the Steam store, complaints in the internal forum of ArcheAge increased that players were unjustly charged for a founder’s pack. Additionally, players complained that the packages purchased on Steam did not allow for a founder status.
In the official forum of ArcheAge, community manager Evan “Scapes” Berman commented and said only that they are aware that ArcheAge is currently not being offered on Steam. However, they are in talks to resolve this and bring it back. He did not address the reasons. The information situation remains extremely thin. Neither Steam nor Trion Worlds are commenting on their social channels.
Mein MMO believes: Transparency is always a delicate issue. While developers today often speak freely about trivial matters in one-hour streams and large AMA sessions, they suddenly hit a wall of silence on something as important as availability on Steam. It would be especially important here to give potentially unsettled fans a clear signal.
In a stream following the Open Beta, “Scapes” and other Trion Worlds staff discussed that they are currently working on a critical piece of software that needs to be ported from the Korean original to their own system. This piece of software governs the account and billing systems. It determines who is considered a patron in the game and who is not. It is conceivable that there could be issues with this if it also involves integrating information from Steam into this system.
The launch of the game today would certainly be under a better star if the Steam issue were clarified by then.
