The veteran ranks that one must climb in The Elder Scrolls Online after reaching the maximum level are for many players a reason for criticism. Once you reach Rank 1, it feels like you’re hitting a wall. Before that, everything went relatively smoothly, but starting from Rank 1, the difficulty increases significantly, and going solo became much harder.
While the increased difficulty can be seen as a challenge, for many players it was simply TOO hard. They felt forced to level up in groups, and “forced” is something you really don’t want in a game. The developers seem to agree with this, as the veteran system is being completely overhauled.
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Well, last night it finally happened: I was allowed to get beaten up in WildStar by all rules of the art and helplessly watch as my colleagues, the developers from Carbine and my boss himself were trampled into the ground – my First Aid was just a drop in the bucket.
To give it some meaning: Yesterday, several members of the European press were invited to test the new battleground Dolchsteinpass along with the developers, ask questions, and simply see what the “Content Drop 2” has to offer. Meanwhile, all other players had the chance to play in the opposing team and show us where the dragon has its horns.
The Press Event – The Flesh is Willing, Technology is Buggy
At exactly 5:45 PM I was ready to go – as it should be, my Cortyn was already leveled to 50, had somewhat suitable equipment, all VIPs assigned, all healing and pushing spells ready (in WildStar, you can practically play as a pacifist – at least as an Esper) and the Skype conference was also on time. The starting signal was supposed to be given at 6 PM; unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Technical problems prevented joining a queue on the test realm. That was annoying and visibly uncomfortable for the brave guys from Carbine, but ultimately not a big problem: It led to a small Q&A session that even turned into small talk and lightened the whole atmosphere. About half an hour later, we were finally allowed to dive into the fray and to make it short: We were mercilessly defeated in both battles despite the competent guidance of the PvP lead developer “Kevin Lee”.
By the way, that was only because I had to play Dominion this time and had nothing to do with my missing tail causing me to confuse “right” and “left”! Fortunately, the German community manager “Bronn” was there to assist us and could at least iron out the most significant of my healing mistakes. By the way, he is the only Chua I wouldn’t push around. At least not often.
The oft-repeated mantra “The devs are listening” felt incredibly real. But the developers didn’t just listen; they talked a lot and didn’t hold back. They spoke very casually about future plans and upcoming changes, where employees from other companies would have to think about whether they might be breaking some confidentiality clause. Either these gentlemen are incredibly experienced, or – much more likely – they are just open-hearted sympathizers who have an incredibly great corporate policy behind them. I simply can’t say a bad word about them (and not just because I would like to participate in something like this again. So believe me!… honestly!). But back to the actual battlefield…
Dolchsteinpass – Great Atmosphere!
The new PvP map is significantly larger and also a bit more complex than the previous battlegrounds. Played with 15 players on each side, the primary goal is clear: reduce the HP display of the opposing fusion core from 100 to 0. Similar to the “Blood Oath Halls”, this can be achieved by having your team take control of up to three “Uplinks”. Each of these secondary objectives ensures that every few seconds an airstrike hits the enemy bunker, slowly but surely eroding the remaining hit points.
Destroying the bunker goes noticeably faster when you manage to bring a bomb from your base to the enemy’s and place it directly on their fusion core. If done successfully, the opposing team loses 10 hit points immediately. But that’s easier said than done: Delivering the bomb is not that easy!
You will need an escort, as the bomb carrier will be marked clearly visible on the map, and furthermore the bomb has a time limit – sooner or later it will explode, no matter how far you managed to deliver it. But that’s not the whole deal: If you manage to kill an enemy bomb carrier, you can pick up the bomb yourself and promptly carry it back to your fusion core. Anyone just wanting to stir up some chaos can let the bomb timer run down and throw themselves into the enemy hordes at the last moment, taking entire groups with them into data nirvana; characters caught in the explosion die immediately. Only a rogue would think about blowing up their own team…
But who could summarize that better for you than the ever-popular “Mr. Frost” from Carbine, who humorously summarizes everything in the latest DevSpeak:
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Also, the “surroundings” of PvP are actively being worked on to provide all players with the greatest fun possible; the most important change obviously concerns healers: So far, the battleground equipment was only somewhat worthwhile, as “PvP Offensive” and “PvP Defensive” did increase the damage dealt and reduce the damage taken, but healing remained entirely unaffected. In the current version of the game, healers mainly use PvE gear from veteran instances.
This issue will be resolved with the following change: “PvP Offensive” will be renamed to “PvP Power” and will now influence both offensive and supportive abilities.
Furthermore, the values on the existing battleground armor sets will be massively reduced, as the “soft cap” for these attributes could already be reached with 3-4 items – with the patch, wearing a complete PvP set will always make sense.
Towards the end, the question came up about what the future of E-Sports in WildStar would look like and whether there were already concrete plans in that regard. This was denied; there are no concrete plans yet, although the telegraph system certainly offers an excellent basis for fair competitions. They may return to that in the future.
In short, it was a truly interesting day filled with many exciting revelations, and even PvP skeptics should slowly consider whether they should take a look after all. I would almost skip role-playing for that. But only almost!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Imperial City is set to enhance PvP in the Fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online. It resembles Darkness Falls, a dungeon from the genre classic Dark Age of Camelot. However, it will not be a copy but rather an evolution. It could bring about such a significant change that players will experience a completely different TESO after its introduction.
Access to the Imperial City in Cyrodiil, a PvP dungeon, will be determined by the power dynamics in Cyrodiil. When the dominance in the PvP zone changes, so does the right to access the Imperial City.
The Imperial City is such an attractive spot because players will find numerous bosses, mini-bosses, and events here. It can be assumed that a successful visit to the Imperial City will be quite lucrative. Additionally, repeatable PvE quests are planned. And there will be new craftable items with the “Imperial Daedra” armor.
The city is divided into districts. An alliance can control one of the districts at any time, which rewards them and allows them to respawn in that district. Each district will have a different basic theme. There will be an arena, a temple district, a market place, and an arboretum, resembling a park.
Access to the city will be through the sewers, a tribute to Morrowind. Each alliance will have its own access point. The channels are arranged to create a large intersection, allowing alliances to meet and battle in the sewers.
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Mein MMO thinks: The most interesting outstanding question: “Will more than one alliance have access to the Imperial City at the same time?” So far, we have assumed that, as in the spiritual predecessor of the Imperial City, the Dark Age of Camelot dungeon “Darkness Falls”, only one alliance will be allowed in the Imperial City at a time. The three separate sewer entrances with the intersection suggest a different solution.
It is conceivable that an alliance only needs to possess its “normal” fortresses to gain access. Then, with a balanced map, all three alliances could have permanent access. In any case, the variation with the division of the city into districts allowing respawns is a critical deviation from the “Darkness Falls” concept. The question is whether respawn will also be allowed when the player’s alliance no longer has access to the Imperial City.
In our view, the Imperial City will completely reshape PvP in Cyrodiil. Depending on how lucrative a visit here is, the place could also establish itself as the most important leveling area. We are very curious about the answers Zenimax will provide to the currently open questions.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMO World of Warcraft, fans are so eager for the release of the next expansion Warlords of Draenor that a creative phrasing on Facebook led to high hopes and then to disappointed faces.
One cannot accuse Blizzard’s alternate account on Facebook of malicious intent: They creatively stated that a scout behind the Dark Portal had seen something quite strange. Maybe it was nothing. They didn’t know. But the next day around noon, one should “be here”, then something would happen – or perhaps not. Alongside this, they posted a laden image of a triumphant Garrosh Hellscream over Cenarius.
Now, to put this in the right context, it should be known that if MMOs were celebrities, World of Warcraft would be a mix of Tom Cruise, Shakira, the Queen, and President Obama. Every single tweet from the fourth employee on the left is analyzed, interpreted, posted on numerous fan sites, and read by hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans.
The post on Facebook has now been eagerly interpreted by fans as either “Oh my God, we’re getting a release date for Warlords of Draenor tomorrow” or “Oh my God, the pre-patch is coming tomorrow” or “Oh my God, something amazing is happening at the Dark Portal tomorrow, I have to be there.” The fact that the “here” in the Facebook post did not refer to the “Dark Portal”, but to “the Facebook” page got somewhat overlooked in the general tumult, if the fans even heard it at all. Who knows what can become of a rather dull piece of news when it is spun through the “Telephone Game” wolf via the trade channel in Orgrimmar or Stormwind among the fans?
According to fan reports on that very Facebook page, countless players gathered at the “predicted” hour on various servers at the Dark Portal, waiting for something monumental to happen there.
The answer: Nothing. Blizzard’s Facebook page merely wanted to raffle off 1000 beta keys at that time – and indeed on their Facebook page. It had nothing to do with the Dark Portal or any release dates. And a little tidbit: German players were apparently excluded from the raffle.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Finally, all 31 Hearthstone cards for tomorrow’s expansion have been revealed. There are 31 because the two minions Feugen and Stalagg summon the 31st card, Thaddius. And that is – like in World of Warcraft – quite a monster.
Blizzard unveiled the last 10 cards last night. Now all 31 cards for the expansion are known. While information was sparse in the months before, they are now releasing it like candy during a Rosenmontag parade.
Among the highlights of the last cards is certainly Thaddius, an 11/11 monster that appears when the two 5-mana creatures Feugen and Stalagg have croaked. Overall, Naxxramas, as announced, is themed around death rattles. Here, Blizzard is showing creativity. There are cards with positive and negative effects upon dying. The new card Zombie-Chow has great stats for a 1-mana creature (2/3), but heals the opposing hero for 5 health points with its death rattle.
The Unstable Ghoul, on the other hand (1/3 with Taunt for 2 mana), is a ticking time bomb and deals 1 damage to all minions when it dies.
Kel’Thuzad’s card is now known as well. This legendary minion will likely be a reward for completing the Frostwyrm Lair. For 8 mana, you bring a 6/8 minion onto the board who summons every friendly minion that died this turn.
If you are now impatient for Naxxramas (or were already before reading this article), rest assured: You won’t have to wait much longer. Already on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the gates of the first wing of Naxxramas should open for German players.
Sometime between 01:00 and 08:00 in the morning, it should be ready, as Blizzard wants everyone worldwide to indulge in playing Hearthstone at the same time.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Batman is 75 and the superhero MMO DC Universe Online pays tribute to the Dark Knight.
Even though Christian Bale doesn’t look that old, Bruce Wayne (Spoiler!), also known as Batman, could have been eligible for retirement for over 10 years. 75 years have passed since his first appearance in “Detective Comics”. The first one was released in 1939.
Since then, he has gone through many changes, but has always managed to stay “relevant” to the viewers. The superhero cinema of the last 25 years would be hard to imagine without the various Batmans. Whether in surreal movie versions by Tim Burton, the more squeaky and candy-colored variations of the late 90s (Batman with nipples) or the masterpieces that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale have given us (okay, we primarily mean the second one with the Joker) – cinema would be poorer without Batman. And right now, they are working on a US TV series called “Gotham” that is supposed to take place on the fringes of the Batman saga. Not to mention the comics that have repeatedly brought forth great stories.
Batman is also well represented in video games; most people think of the “Arkham” single-player series. For MMO fans, however, he is associated with the superhero MMO DC Universe Online. There he plays a central role alongside Superman and Wonder Woman. The creators of DC Universe Online have now dealt with the role of the Dark Knight in three clips.
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Before the release of “Curse of Naxxramas”, the first expansion for Blizzard’s free card game Hearthstone, 5 more cards have been revealed, including the anticipated reward for completing the Arachnid Quarter, Maexxna.
The 5 cards that Blizzard has now published on Facebook are:
Maexxna, a legendary beast creature, with 2/8 for 6 mana cost, that destroys any minion it damages. Some refer to it as a 2/8 king cobra, and it is likely that Maexxna will be a reward for successfully completing the Arachnid Quarter. By the way, the card matches the leak from a few weeks ago, which suggests that the other cards will also be correct. Unlike the leaked card, the “live” Maexxna, however, costs one mana crystal more.
Stalagg, a 7/4 minion for 5 mana cost, that summons Thaddius with its deathrattle if Feugen’s deathrattle has also been triggered. This legendary card also matches the leak. It will likely be available along with Feugen as a reward for successfully completing the Construct Quarter. If Feugen and Stalagg are so strong, one can be curious about what Thaddius can do.
Stoneskin Gargoyle, a 1/4 minion for 3 mana cost, that completely heals itself at the start of the player’s turn. Blizzard has already confirmed that this card will kill itself if the Auchenai Soulpriest is active, which converts every healing spell into damage.
Mad Scientist, a 2/2 minion for 2 mana cost, that plays a secret from the player’s deck as a deathrattle.
Sludge Belcher, a 3/5 minion for 5 mana cost, with taunt. Upon deathrattle, it leaves behind a slime buddy with 1/2 that can also taunt.
Mein MMO says: Just before the release of Naxxramas, Blizzard is revealing some cards for Hearthstone that will shake up the meta game alongside the other 25 cards. Right now, everyone is talking about the synergy effects of the Undertaker, which gets stronger by 1/1 for each summoned minion that has a deathrattle. Here, with the low-cost Mad Scientist and the double tank, there are already some candidates. Stalagg and Feugen could further strengthen the Undertaker.
Surprisingly, so far (almost) all data from the “leak” have matched, so it might be that Blizzard will not surprise the players this time.
Only Maexxna is one mana point more expensive in the official version than in the leaked version. We have already summarized the data that were in the “leak” here: What can the bosses in Naxx do.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, the introduction of spell crafting is planned as a new feature for the future. In an initial preview of the system, it proves to be complex, open, and deep. It combines elements of lockpicking, exploration, morphing, and the crafting system.
So far, spell crafting has only appeared as a buzzword in a long list of things planned for The Elder Scrolls Online. Now, there were first details during the panel at QuakeCon regarding the future of The Elder Scrolls Online.
Spell crafting emphasizes exploration of the world
Thus, spell crafting will likely be closely tied to the Mages Guild and will be much more than just a gimmick. However, Nicke Konkle, who presented the system, emphasizes that they want to ensure that spell crafting does not disturb the overall balance.
Players will be able to summon a magical spell ball. They will follow it through the world; it leads players to certain magical gateways. Behind these gateways, players can then find stone tablets, some intact and some shattered.
As with lockpicking, there will be a special mini-game to trace the stone tablets using charcoal and paper. The spell will then be recorded in a collection book and saved in this way. The spell can then be enhanced with special effects through spell crafting, similar to how morphing works with regular abilities.
Spell crafting also has crafting character: tablets can be traded
The effects include Ultimate, AoE effect, Enduring, Reduced Cost, and Ritual. As an example, Konkle mentioned that one could morph a lightning spell with an AoE effect into a chain lightning spell. And a temporarily summoned pet becomes a permanent companion with “Enduring”. The quality of the stone used for the “weaving” of a spell also determines the quality of the spell tablet and the spell contained within it. This spell tablet can also be traded. Or it can be used by oneself, and the crafted spell can finally be selected as a regular ability in their ability bar.
When spell crafting will be introduced into the game is currently unknown. It seems to be a complex and well-thought-out feature that we should not expect to see too soon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Carbine repeatedly draws players to their test server to let enough people test the latest content for WildStar. This time, they are not only offering mystery boxes but also a massacre with press representatives on top. If all goes well, you might also have the chance to massacre your favorite Mein-MMO succubus, Cortyn.
The upcoming content drop for the SF MMO WildStar is all about PvP. They aim to especially fine-tune the balancing. The main attraction of content drop #2 is definitely the new battleground “The Daggerstone Pass.” Here, various known battleground ideas are being mixed into a new blend. It will focus on laying the enemy base to waste. To do this, satellite uplinks need to be captured, or you can just jump into the enemy base with bombs and pay homage to the coyote from the Roadrunner cartoons.
For Monday evening, that is today, Carbine has also thought of another spectacle and wants to give the WildStar players the opportunity to clean the floor of the new BG with a “Press All-Star” team. The new battleground “Daggerstone Pass” will be played in two rounds. Once from 6 to 7 PM and once from 10 to 11 PM.
Those who come first can be one of the 15 chosen ones to really show the press how it’s done. A level 50 character on the PTR is available at the push of a button.
Get Cortyn’s Scalps
The Press All-Star team will consist of representatives from the European and North American games press. From what we hear, people from MMORPG.com, Curse, Gamespot, and some other outlets will be there. And we at Mein-MMO.de were also asked if we would like to stop by.
If all goes well, you can get Cortyn’s scalp between 6 and 7 PM. The press will play Dominion at 6 PM, so the players will need Exile characters. For the 10 PM appointment, it will be the opposite.
Update: You can now read about how the press event turned out here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In an interview, the developers of TERA elaborated on some changes planned for the major expansion. While in Korea they speak of a “Summer Update,” German players can probably expect it no sooner than the end of the year.
Improved Leveling Experience and Guild Housing Demands Ambition
We already addressed the new level cap and new zones last time. “TERA Next”, as the new expansion will likely be called, is also set to enhance the overall leveling experience. An expansion of such magnitude not only means new content but also allows developers to rethink and optimize existing systems. This time, they made an effort to present the quests better. The background story is expected to play a comparatively larger role.
Moreover, extensive adjustments will be made to the dungeons. Over the years, many dungeons have accumulated at level 60, which had to be re-examined due to the level increase. Therefore, the developers have decided to completely remove some instances from the game, especially those that have nothing to do with the story. The remaining group content will be tailored to level 65, so that the difficulty and rewards align with the new maximum level.
A known weakness of TERA is that there is little variety in leveling. The new accompanying “Daily Playthrough System” aims to counteract this. Players will receive additional objectives that reward them with lucrative treasures upon completion.
The guild housing that will come with the update will, in addition, show that it has little to do with quiet house building, but rather puts the competition of guilds in the foreground. There will be a leaderboard: the 10 guilds that perform best in the monthly Guild Competition will be rewarded with access to a flying fortress, which will appear all the more impressive the higher the guild can place itself.
And for the quality of the guild housing, it will require not a special talent for furnishing later on, but an active guild that goes out to gather materials and haul them into their home four walls.
New Instances in TERA Next
Two new instances are planned on the way to the new maximum level 65. One for level 61 and one for level 64. According to the developers, the two dungeons are not too difficult, and a coordinated and balanced group should have no problems with them. Similar to Sirjuka Gallery or the Temple of Recklessness, you will collect value coins here that can be exchanged for glyphs. The appeal for heroes will particularly lie in the ability to stock up on completely new Master Glyphs alongside old ones.
At level 65, two new instances will be ready. A 3-player instance, similar to “The Channels,” will not require a tank or healer, but the difficulty will resemble that of a 5-player instance, the developers warn. The 65-instance for 5 players will take about 20 minutes and will match the difficulty of the “Edge of the Abyss.”
In the dungeons, players will also face new boss mechanics, as a cunning boss will repeatedly pull and push players. It is important for the heroes to develop proper timing to still deal damage to the boss. Meanwhile, it is clear what is meant by the “competitive” dungeon we mentioned in the last post. Players will fight bosses on two adjacent platforms and can even observe each other during the fight. The one who kills the bosses the fastest wins. It definitely sounds like an exciting affair: Do you focus like in a 100-meter run on your own performance or motivate yourself by the weakness of your opponent, as in a mountain finish of the Tour de France?
Additionally, another dungeon for the end level will soon be introduced. Perhaps this one will attract progress gamers? Since it will still take a while before the race for the EU first kill begins, check out a teaser video in the meantime. It appeared out of nowhere, like two Popori in a bar.
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Mein MMO says: Still in July, the “Wounded World” Update will be released with 5 new dungeons. In a few months, the largest expansion in the history of TERA. Moreover, market analysts recently announced that the Asian MMORPG was among the top 3 of the highest-grossing MMOs in 2013. Apparently, the game is doing well after some issues in the past. It launched spectacularly as a pay-to-play title but couldn’t retain players long enough, switching to a free-to-play model.
In any case, it now pays off that the development team systematically eliminated the weaknesses in game design. By now, there is much more variety in end content and, for example, the old enchantment system that caused a lot of frustration at the beginning is no longer in this form. And work is still ongoing. However, the fact that new zones, levels, skills, and guild housing are coming makes fans optimistic. Honestly: Many thought that after the switch to the free-to-play model, it would only go downhill.
A major criticism was also the leveling experience in TERA. The developers have also announced that there are several improvements in this area. It is still unclear to what extent this will enhance the player experience, but if they do it well, nothing stands in the way of a second spring. However, they still need to work on the too large content gap to Korea, especially TERA Europe. Otherwise, the “comeback” leaves a bittersweet taste.
For more information about the expansion, you can refer to the sources where, among other things, the revised enchantment system or the new battleground will also be discussed.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Superdata claims to have received the data directly from the publishers. In recent years, the site has established a reputable standing, which is why the published data is receiving much attention and sparking some discussions.
Noteworthy in the table – besides the impressive dominance of World of Warcraft – is how strongly NCSoft is represented on the list. This includes games that are particularly strong in Asia: Aion, Blade & Soul, Lineage 1 and 2. The most successful game in Europe and North America, Guild Wars 2, does not offer a subscription option and is therefore not accounted for.
Two strong representatives from completely different directions appear on the list with EVE Online and TERA. EVE Online is considered, alongside WoW, the only MMO that has been able to grow continuously for years. TERA seems to be the only Asian MMO that has also managed to attract attention outside the eastern market; in the West, it opted for a free-to-play model – with the option for special advantages through a monthly quasi-subscription.
Star Wars: The Old Republic and Lord of the Rings Online demonstrate that this often-derided transition of a full-price title to free-to-play does not have to mean the end for an MMO. Both games are already several years old, both rely on large licenses, and both generate a substantial amount of revenue for their operators.
According to the market study, the reason for this is not necessarily that more players are joining, but rather that the existing players are spending more money in-game through microtransactions.
The shift from a subscription model to a free-to-play model with a cash shop has recently found some imitators and fans. Notably, SOE’s president John Smedley is a strong advocate and wants to also give players the opportunity to design items and offer them in the cash shop. In 2014, classic subscription MMOs like WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online have again entered the market, which will likely compete for a place in the top 10 in the coming years. The Final Fantasy XIV, released in 2013 and reportedly having over 2 million accounts, is expected to reappear on this list in the coming years.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a new developer blog, Associate Game Designer James Chen discusses the nuances of zombie AI in the upcoming survival MMO H1Z1. And here, deer can actually save lives.
The zombies in H1Z1 are not driven by their insatiable hunger for brains like “real” zombies, but by code in C++. This may seem a bit underwhelming at first glance, but the new dev blog tells this story in an exciting way.
Chen is primarily responsible for the behavior patterns of NPCs and their spawn points. Once any NPC has spawned, the system relies on “sensory data,” meaning whatever a zombie or a deer sees or hears. The evaluation of this data is then supposed to influence NPC behavior. A zombie could be programmed to react to sounds by rushing towards the sound source. In contrast, a deer would be programmed to run away from the sounds. But these should only be guidelines and not followed in an “all-or-nothing” style.
If a player makes too much noise but ducks behind cover, a zombie might notice this and stagger in the general direction of the player. However, on the way, it encounters a startled deer. This becomes the more rewarding target for the zombie, and it chases the deer instead of the player. And perhaps the deer is running away from a wolf, which naturally follows the deer and then spots the zombie. Maybe the zombie then engages in a fight with the wolf, allowing both the deer and the player to slip away without a fight.
It may also be possible for a player to scare a deer and chase it through a city besieged by zombies. If the plan works, all the zombies could chase after the deer, giving the player the opportunity to loot the city.
How zombies process their sensory data can be seen in the following clip, where a player seems to have their mind elsewhere:
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The signs are increasing for a more precise date when we can play Naxxramas in Europe. It looks like early Wednesday morning.
Originally, it was assumed that Naxxramas would open the first wing on Tuesday in the USA, and then with a one-day delay in Europe – each during the standard maintenance. But now a forum post brings new information. Naxxramas will appear at the same time in Europe and the USA. That it is announced for Europe on Wednesday the 23rd, and not already for Tuesday, is due to the different time zones and the time difference.
If taken literally, this would mean that it will appear in the USA between 5:00 PM and 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time. And if it appears simultaneously in Europe, the Arachnid Wing of Naxxramas would have to open in a time window from 1:00 AM to 7:59 AM.
Phew, quite complicated. The scheduled maintenance in America will take place on Monday night to Tuesday from 12:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT, at which time it would still be Tuesday for us. Therefore, Naxxramas will probably not be open immediately after the US maintenance. Maybe the Americans will have to wait for us this time until we finish the maintenance. That would be something different.
Update 21.07. – 10:30 PM: Blizzard has now confirmed that Naxxramas will not go live with the maintenance in the USA, but later. It really looks like a time between 1:00 AM and 7:59 AM for us.
Update 22.07. – 8:00 PM: Well, Blizzard couldn’t wait and even opened Naxxramas 5 hours before the earliest presumed date. The Arachnid Wing will be open for free for the next 4 weeks. The patch is approximately 198 MB.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
WildStar, otherwise up-to-date, currently offers players no option to switch to previously saved gear at the push of a button. That is expected to change soon.
Players notice this at the latest when they venture into PvP or want to make use of the secondary specialization: In WildStar, you actually can’t save armor sets. Instead, the items of the secondary gear lie unprotected and unordered in the inventory and are in constant danger of being broken down into their components.
This glaring omission, which deviates from the now-standard expectations of MMOs, is even stranger in WildStar, as the game otherwise boasts all the comforts: mounts at the push of a button, a very friendly approach to modders, colors, costumes (strangely with a switching system), everything that the modern MMO player desires – only in this feature they bizarrely skimped.
All the more annoying, because the game grants every class a secondary role in the Holy Trinity, which requires different equipment. And for PvP, a different kind of gear is needed.
It’s a bit like getting into a luxury limousine that has every comfort from a DVD player to side airbags, a mini-fridge, and air conditioning, only instead of electric window lifts and a sunroof, they only move when you diligently crank the hand crank.
The API makes it impossible for the otherwise resourceful modders in WildStar to work around the problem without the help of Carbine. However, that is expected to change now.
The equipment manager is, according to CRB_BokehBot on reddit, hotly debated internally and is currently being added to the internal dev build. However, the step is too complex and important for a quick implementation on the live servers. Players should expect to see it in one of the next content drops.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Purchasing the Imperial Edition of the Fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online on Steam rewards new buyers with an exclusive pet, a gray hound. Loyal fans who already bought the Imperial Edition in stores are left out. And that causes problems.
The Steam Edition was 50% cheaper right from the start, and the Palomino horse along with other bonuses of the Imperial Edition were an additional perk, not to mention a “loyal wolfhound” in gray. One could naturally say, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” but not everyone saw it that way. Many loyal fans had long purchased the Imperial Edition with the firm belief that they would receive all the premium benefits and pets that Zenimax would offer with the base game. That seemed to be the implied deal.
Therefore, immediately after the announcement of the wolfhound, the somewhat angry question arose: “And how do I get the dog otherwise?” Would it be possible to become the proud owner of the gray quadruped through the item shop?
But that will not be possible. An “exclusive” pet, which was indeed advertised on Steam, cannot now be made available to everyone retroactively.
However, in the official forum, a “brown wolfhound” was promised, which players would then be able to purchase from the item store. The consolation prize dog will be called “Riften Wolfhound.”
Mein MMO says: As trivial and obscure as the news may seem at first glance, it is precisely such matters that annoy hardcore gamers. You introduce the Imperial Edition as a collector’s item and demand a pretty price for it, but also promise that one will receive all imaginable advantages linked to the purchase of the base game. To later introduce another version of the base game with other “exclusive” rewards is a sensitive matter. If one releases the ultimate “Lord of the Rings” DVD box with all the bells and whistles for a high price and then a year later lures with an even more ultimate DVD box, that may be common in the film business, but it leaves a sour taste in the realm of MMOs.
Once you open this Pandora’s box and entice with “exclusive benefits” here and there, you hit a strange note with collectors who want to have everything in a game. Though Blizzard has already taken the lead with such “exclusive pets” for very special occasions and conventions, the campaign with the double-exclusive rewards here didn’t seem to make anyone truly happy. How much players are agitated by such a supposed “triviality” is evident from the extent of the related forum thread: the English-language thread now has 27 pages and over 800 comments.
We at Mein-MMO.de feel especially sorry for the poor mud crab, the reward from the regular Imperial Edition, which is now shunned in favor of a prettier dog. Surely, no one is thinking about its feelings here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a forum post, Blizzard responded to the accusation that they reduce the complexity of World of Warcraft through excessive simplification, such as by trimming the talent trees. However, for Blizzard, this is a necessity.
If a game only grows linearly, Blizzard CM Micah Wipple (Bashiok) stated, one quickly ends up with a tangle of complexity. More and more abilities, more and more decisions, more and more game systems would be stacked layer upon layer until a game emerged that could not be reasonably developed further.
With an expansion, it is always appropriate and also a good time to review existing and increasingly complex systems and to critically question oneself.
Blizzard has two principles in their design philosophy: On one hand, it is about “concentrated coolness” and on the other, giving players choices in important decisions. It is not about letting them choose between a lot of actually meaningless stuff, but about having them make a few decisions with significant impacts.
The earlier talent trees were neither “concentrated cool” nor did they lead to important decisions. Instead, players were demanded to make many decisions with minimal impact (2% more of a stat). Additionally, the talent trees presented players with questions that had only one or two correct answers if they didn’t want to play a sub-optimal hero. Over the years, the developers have been scratching their heads over how to make the talent trees more appealing and fairer. Ultimately, it was decided that talent trees simply did not work for World of Warcraft.
It is nobody’s fault, but every system tends to become increasingly complex over time. Therefore, it is always necessary to take a step back, look at the big picture, and critically evaluate what exists. Otherwise, you end up with a bloated system that demands players to make a lot of decisions that are neither important nor fun.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Images of the five races available for the “Hieron” faction have surfaced for the Korea MMO Bless Online. The mix features a colorful assortment typical of Asia MMOs, including knights, elves, and shapeshifters.
The Korean MMO Bless Online looks so good that it is becoming increasingly interesting for the West, and information about the game is piling up. Recently, the publisher for China was confirmed, and now images of the races are emerging. Like many Asian MMOs, Bless Online relies on quite a wild mix.
Hawkmen
The Hawkmen are visually inspired by one of the most exotic peoples a Korean could imagine: the Germans or Dutch. They are earthy and homebound, brave, and loyal. Compared to the other races, they appear like a kind of “big brother”.
Sylvan Elves
The elves are elegant, graceful, and descend from an ancient kingdom. In the past, they had the longest lifespan of all races; today, they hardly live longer than humans. They see themselves as guardians of ancient knowledge and often appear to others as intelligent and noble.
Lupus
The Lupus lived in seclusion in a forest for centuries. They have developed a shamanistic appreciation for their environment and strive to exist in harmony with nature. However, when their animal instincts take over, the peaceful woodland dwellers can prove to be quite combative.
Mascu
The Mascu are only half the size of the other Hieron races. They are still considered strangers in the land after a crash of their airship made them unwilling newcomers. Even though they still see themselves as foreigners and outsiders, they have become essential for trade in the country.
Fedaykin
The Fedaykin come from another dimension, where they were supposed to serve as gatekeepers, but their spirits have been corrupted over time. Fedaykin are a religious people, covering their faces with cloth or veils.
While the Hawkmen, elves, and wolfmen are available for admiration in the next beta test, the introduction of the Mascu and Fedaykin is planned for later, as read on mmosite.com. A total of 10 races are planned for Bless Online. The 5 races of the other realm represent counterparts to the races of Hieron presented here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The series of next-gen MMOs with stunning graphics from Asia continues. There is good news for Kingdom under Fire 2, a mix of action MMO and strategy game reminiscent of titles from the Dynasty Warriors series: a publisher has been found for China.
Kingdom under Fire 2 will be published by ChangYou for the Chinese market. ChangYou has already secured the rights to Bless Online and Project Black Sheep. Because a war is raging not only on the battlefields of fantasy worlds but also in the business world. But it’s not about items or territories; it’s about the Chinese market. ChangYou intends to challenge the dominant player Tencent Games with an armada of new, stunningly beautiful games. The success of the massive corporation Tencent is based in the gaming sector on casual games and side-scrollers that are almost completely unknown in Europe.
Currently, there are 3 classes to choose from in Kingdom under Fire 2:
The Berserker is a melee fighter with a monstrous one-handed sword and magical firepower in his left paw. Visually, he at least resembles a Chaos Warrior from the Warhammer Online universe.
The Gunslinger is an elegant and delicate swordsman who carries a massive pistol as a ranged option. His combat style seems like a cross between a French musketeer and an efficient killing machine, straight out of Game of Thrones.
Spellswords are dark elves who, lightly dressed, aggressively and magically enhanced, sweep through the ranks of enemies, attacking them with a sword and various magical powers. They somewhat resemble a warrior amazon with a decent hint of a Marvel superhero.
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Kingdom under Fire 2 is – before anyone gets sweaty palms – like many other of these next-gen Asia games still in a development stage. An English version of the game is in open beta in Southeast Asia. According to information from mmoculture, there will later be a Playstation 4 version. Currently, new character classes are being worked on. Originally, the game was supposed to be released around 2010 but was likely stuck for a long time in varying states of crisis, related to uncertain working conditions, strong competition, and market adjustments (in Southeast Asia, one would likely have faced shipwreck with the hardware requirements at the planned release time). The news of a solid publisher for the vast Chinese market and the launch of the open beta should calm the spirits and may help bring Kingdom under Fire 2 into calmer waters.
The mix of an action MMO combat system (so nothing tab-based) with strategy elements looks promising in the trailer and recalls games from the Dynasty Warriors series. Most of the time, it seems that one seeks to slash through nameless foot soldiers of the opposing armies.
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The wait is over! The Curse of Naxxramas, the first expansion of Hearthstone, finally has a release date — and it won’t be long now. Already next Wednesday, on July 23rd, the necropolis will open its gates and players can finally enjoy new cards and bosses in the game.
Until now, numbers for The Elder Scrolls Online were difficult to find, as the developers kept everything under wraps. However, the market research platform SuperData has compiled a ranking of the most profitable MMOs from 2013 in an economic report. That World of Warcraft is in first place is no surprise, but surprisingly, the report also included information about the player numbers of TESO.
Another large MMO is currently still in beta in Europe. ArcheAge from Trion Worlds entered the closed beta phase last week, after being in alpha for some time. However, only players who were either very lucky or who purchased a “Founder” package, which is anything but cheap, had access.
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The process for a 21-year-old Australian who single-handedly caused a stir in the world’s currently most successful online game, League of Legends, begins on July 24.
In August 2012, a hacker known as Jason gained access to the North American League of Legends server and thus to, as he claimed, the data of 24.5 million accounts. Riot’s president, Marc Merill, reassured that no payment or billing information was affected but still urged users to change their passwords.
Famous streamer “Phantomlord” kicked from the game live
A year later, in August 2013, the hacker showed himself for the first time. The then-popular streamer James “Phantomlord” Varga lost access to his account live on air. It was then transferred to Brazil, forcing “Phantomlord” to play with lag and with and against Brazilians. This happened despite him being careful with his account information, never giving it to anyone or neglecting his account security in any way. He didn’t have to, as the hacker, known as Jason, had obtained it back in August 2012 and planned to cash in or at least have some fun.
He terrorized chat rooms and forums, transferred the accounts of well-known players to Brazil, and signed as Jason (optionally with the modest additional title God or King). He made a fortune selling skins to players that were no longer available in the game, known as legacy skins.
Twitter account of Riot president taken over
When he also took over the Twitter account of Riot president Marc Merill and caused some trouble by leaking a card game planned by Riot, he likely went too far. Although he allegedly reached an agreement behind closed chat doors with Merill regarding the return of the Twitter account, the police were now on his trail, tracked him down, but allowed him to remain free pending a hearing.
Even during this transitional period, the hacker opened the website LoLIP-op.com, where players could order problems for the accounts of other players. They were either thrown out of the system or harassed with DDoS attacks during important games. This service thrived. Allegedly, the hacker made $1,000 a day from it. When he bragged about his power in the Reddit forum (he liked to consider himself on par with God), the community and some eSports journalists took notice of the “service” and reported it to the police.
The hacker received an internet ban from a judge until his trial began on July 24.
His mother does not see him as a criminal mastermind
The exact circumstances will become clear – at the moment, the statements of the hacker and the Riot employees contradict each other in some important parts, and the sources are not entirely clear. It is said that the hacker acted alone and on his own at least at times. Elsewhere, it is discussed that Jason was part of a larger organization, a hacker group, with still unknown members. For his mother, the hacker is not a criminal mastermind with great criminal energy, but rather someone who used information that was freely available on the internet. Some media believe they have at least found partial blame with Riot employees who, after the hack became known, did not change their passwords, allowing “Jason” to gain access to sensitive systems through a backdoor.
Some think he acted out of pure vanity; he himself repeatedly spoke of wanting to point out Riot’s security flaws and to get them to publicly acknowledge them.
According to information from Polygon, the hacker “Jason” is a 21-year-old Australian who lives in a rural village and suffers from Asperger’s syndrome. This is the personality disorder that Jim Parsons chose as the basis for his role as “Dr. Sheldon Cooper” in the series “The Big Bang Theory.”
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
