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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
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.
The future of the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online is currently taking shape. Some of the numerous agenda items include the waxy faces of the NPCs and petty thefts that some painfully miss in The Elder Scrolls Online. Apparently, The Elder Scrolls Online wants to become more like the single-player hit Skyrim.
A new program will ensure that NPCs’ mouths and text match
It has been and is one of the biggest criticisms of The Elder Scrolls Online: no matter how good the voice acting may be and how beautiful the scenery is – the faces of the NPCs during dialogues resemble a visit to Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. Whether they are telling you about the loss of their children or inviting you for a beer, the faces of the NPCs in Tamriel never come to life.
Many fans and journalists have criticized this. However, there has been nothing heard about the issue until now. At QuakeCon, the waxy faces were addressed for the first time, not only recognized as a problem, but Zenimax was also able to present a solution.
The program “FaceFX” will be introduced as an upgrade. It can already be admired in some games. It ensures that the mouth and facial features also adapt to the phonemes of the spoken words. A small video presented a before-and-after comparison.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
That in the future players could violate the law in The Elder Scrolls Online was already known; now there are some details. Players will be able to steal by sneaking and then looting chests or containers. The stolen items will have a value when they can be sold to a fence.
In addition, players will be able to murder NPCs when they enter “sneak” mode. A statement that Creative Director Paul Sage received surprisingly much applause and giggles from the audience. He also enjoyed his little “murder spree” in the presentation.
The mechanics will correspond quite a bit to the single-player title here. Players should not be caught by guards during their misdeeds, otherwise they will hunt and apprehend them, demand fines, or attack.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What players will have ahead of single-player titles: players can earn the bounty on particularly notorious repeat offenders themselves and assist the guards in their hunt. This is intended to lead to a lively and exciting world PvP when the bounty hunter and the criminal play cat and mouse.
These are just some of the many changes that were highlighted at QuakeCon; we will also keep you informed about the rest.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMO shooter Destiny makes quite an impact and hires a star for the audio track, but that can also bring problems if the star isn’t as motivated as in other roles.
Peter Dinklage, who is not only the hidden star of “Game of Thrones” (he plays the dwarf character and bro friend Tyrion Lannister), was recruited as the voice of the A.I. companion “Ghost” for Destiny. The fans were initially really excited about this. Dinklage gained a lot of recognition in the target audience as Tyrion Lannister. But then the fans heard Dinklage’s voice in the Alpha. The eye-rolling over some allegedly (or even actually) cheesy lines he had to read was almost audible. Especially one line (“That wizard came from the moon”) he delivered with so little enthusiasm that it actually became a small internet meme.
Bungie, the makers of Destiny, have since responded, tweaking the settings and giving the voice a bit more enthusiasm.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
A new card has been revealed in Hearthstone that will bring movement to the game. Loatheb can really ruin the opponent’s day.
Loatheb is not only the third and final boss of the Plague Quarter in Naxxramas, which is expected to open on July 30, but will also make its way as a legendary and playable card.
It is expected that every player will receive it upon completing the Plague Quarter, that is, by defeating the boss Loatheb. Similar cards will likely be available after completing each wing, so the successful Naxx adventurer will soon own Maexxna, Baron Rivendare from the Four Horsemen, and Kel’Thuzad. Instead of Thaddius, they will likely receive Feugen and Stalagg after completing the Construct Quarter, after their joint death rattle will then reveal Thaddius.
So far, Baron Rivendare is the only one of these cards that has been officially introduced and confirmed, but there are already accurate concepts for the other Hearthstone cards through a “leak” that has proven to be correct. This is also the case for Loatheb.
The mushroom monster is now confirmed as the second boss card and has the following stats: 5 mana, 5 damage, 5 health, and as a bonus ability, it increases the cost of enemy spells in the next turn by 5 points.
Due to the unique nature of its ability, several questions about Loatheb immediately arose, especially regarding its synergy with Milhouse Manastorm, who sets the cost of enemy spells to 0 in the next turn. If Loatheb is played first and then Milhouse, Milhouse completely cancels out Loatheb, and enemy spells cost no mana in the next turn. If Milhouse is played first and then Loatheb, all enemy spells will cost 5 mana in the next turn.
Anyone who plays Loatheb, bounces it back to their hand with Shadowstep, and plays it again sets the enemy mana costs for spells in the next turn to 10. Surely, Loatheb introduces a new tactical variant to the free card game Hearthstone.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Heroes of the Storm is expanding with a new map. It is called “Garden of Fears” and follows the classic model of 3 lanes. The twist is that there will be a day/night cycle that players can influence. During the day, mercenaries inhabit parts of the garden on the map, while at night they are replaced by night monsters. Additionally, visibility is reduced during the night phase. It will only end once all night monsters have been eliminated.
That the developers of The Elder Scrolls Online have undergone a shift in thinking has likely been noticed by some as the veteran ranks were completely revamped. Now they are focusing on the next aspect of the game, the PvP. According to Creative Director Paul Sage, players “can definitely expect arenas in the not too distant future”.
With Warlords of Draenor, Blizzard is once again faced with the difficult decision of how to proceed. The current plan is that flying will be disabled at the start of the expansion for the new areas. It will only be unlocked after a few weeks. However, the developers are still unsure how exactly. Perhaps simply via gold, or possibly through an epic quest. This will be decided in the short term.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
A US site has now compared the revenues of various MMOs in an economic report. Surprisingly, the report also mentions clear subscriber numbers for The Elder Scrolls Online. These had previously been kept under wraps.
The site superdataresearch.com states that it received all figures from the developers or publishers. The site calculates a Top 10 of the most profitable games for the year 2013 and surprisingly also provides subscriber numbers for Zenimax’s Fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online.
For June, they were said to be 772,374. That would be a good success for the MMO, though not a triumph. Zenimax has not confirmed this number so far.
The last single-player entry in the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim, has sold over 20 million copies, the majority of which were for consoles. A console version of The Elder Scrolls Online was pushed back from its announced release date in June to the end of the year. There are now increasing signs that it could even be pushed to a date in 2015. At the moment, Zenimax is working on a redesign of the game in various areas.
Mein MMO states: For the beta of The Elder Scrolls Online, 5 million players registered, and experts estimated that about 20-40% of them would buy and play the retail version at launch. That would have meant between 1 and 2 million visitors in Tamriel. However, sales figures are not known. If 772,374 were still playing after a mixed launch and the free month had ended, it would probably still be within the realm of calculation. Whether the data is correct will surely be clear in the coming days. They seem plausible in any case.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As soon as Update 14 for Lord of the Rings Online was released, the guys from Turbine are already teasing the next menu item on Tolkien’s epic menu. But there is also a dampener: There will be no separate starting zone for the new class, the Beorning.
Since they are skipping the second level cap increase (with Update 14 it first jumped to 100), there is now more time for other things.
However, the Beornings, the new class that is to be introduced later, will have to settle for a new intro. There simply wasn’t enough time for a completely new starting zone. By the way, those who want to play a Beorning will have to reach into their pockets. The new class aims to be funded with Turbine Points – just like it was with the Runekeeper and the Warden, the last two introduced classes, long ago. The time saved by foregoing the level increase will go into the new system for Legendary Weapons.
Before Update 15 begins, a smaller patch will be introduced, leading players into the Deathswamps. With Update 15, a new zone will come. For the heroes, it will then go to Pelagrir, against the Haradrim, nasty corsairs, and their allies, a gang of ruthless half-trolls. In an epic assault battle, players will try to retake the city of Pelagrir alongside Aragorn.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online, or TESO, is now available on the gaming platform STEAM. To play there, players simply need to add TESO to their game library. Keys are not distributed to veterans.
The next few days will be critical and eventful for The Elder Scrolls Online. QuakeCon in Dallas is approaching. In advance, the TESO devs from Zenimax have opened up a variety of topics that are now all crying out for filling details. The veteran system is being revamped, the combat system is under review, and there will also be significant adjustments in PvP. Those who are optimistic even hope for information about the planned port to Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Hardly a stone will be left unturned. So there will definitely be enough to talk about in Dallas.
However, the convention started with a completely different announcement: From now on, The Elder Scrolls Online is playable on STEAM. But this won’t be a big deal, as STEAM will be leveraging TESO’s infrastructure and will use its payment system, launcher, and patcher. Active TESO players who want to use STEAM can simply add the game to their library. New keys are not distributed to veterans by Zenimax.
In advance of QuakeCon, there was also a preview of the guild heraldry that will come with the next content patch in August, which will be focused entirely on the guilds. The screens show numerous emblems from various sources that will soon be found as guild symbols in Tamriel.
Mein MMO says: For TESO players, nothing is likely to change with this announcement. Rather, it is a signal from Zenimax that they also want to reach players for whom STEAM has become so essential that they don’t play anything that isn’t available on the Valve platform. And the fact that it was immediately marked as “50% Sale” and “Now available” on the homepage is surely beneficial for sales.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Korean next-gen MMO Bless Online has found a publisher for the Chinese market. For some observers, Bless Online is among the major Eastern MMO hopes alongside Blade & Soul and Black Desert.
After recently Bless Online received a hefty funding boost – an investor injected considerable capital – there is now more good news for the MMO with stunning graphics, a PvP focus, and a seamless world without loading screens: With ChangYou, an excellent publisher for the Chinese market has been secured.
ChangYou took over the Chinese port of Blade & Soul last year and achieved great successes here. More than 1,500,000 units were sold, according to figures from January. For Bless Online, an even greater success is anticipated.
And who knows what the developers at Neowizz Games can do with such a well-filled war chest. Many fans here in the West, of course, hope for a port to our lands, but that is likely to remain music of the future for the foreseeable time.
Bless is developed with the Unreal 3 engine. The game is worked on by the “NeowizzBless” team, which consists of 150 people, including some MMO veterans who have previously worked on Tera, Aion, or Lineage 2.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
