The zombie MMO with sandbox elements H1Z1 is currently still in development, but that doesn’t stop the developers from having some fun with an early build. In the live stream, they showcased the “Minecraft”-like components of their game as well as the shooter actions.
The seemingly empty world of H1Z1 follows the building block logic of Minecraft, Starbound, and similar games, as one can gather from the stream. With an axe, one chops down a tree, turns the wood shavings into planks, shapes them into sticks, and combines them with some fabric to create a bow.
But the first problem arises: “Where do you find fabric when you need it?” After some aimless searching, the playing developer, in the tradition of the German discus thrower Robert Harting, tears his shirt off and crafts himself a bow. With the bow, he then goes first hunting deer and eventually zombies.
However, the playtester only hits a zombie’s knee, which leads his teammate to the fateful statement that the zombie must have gotten an arrow to the knee… because that also happened to a guard in Skyrim, whose tortured lament became an internet hit, the two have to listen to a few jokes for the next minutes.
At many points, the two moderators make it clear that they are still playing in a pre-alpha phase, and that the finished game will differ in many aspects from the provisional gameplay mechanics. Nevertheless, you get a good first insight from the video. We’ve got the stream for you here.
H1Z1 scores with Robinson Crusoe motifs
You can already see in this early phase why there is so much hype around H1Z1 and why many are waiting for the game. The game principle known from Minecraft and Starbound, where you build something from small beginnings and use it to climb the ladder of civilization, seems to be the game principle that the entire MMO community is waiting for. Shooter fans might not be exactly blown away by the combat aspects.
At first glance, H1Z1 also appears to be a modern vision of “Robinson Crusoe.” The novel, which is often read as a youth book today, was originally intended as advertising for colonialism: the great European could recreate the entire civilization from within himself. Only the player in H1Z1 is not doing this on a deserted island, but in the zombie apocalypse. Who would have thought that Robinson Crusoe would once determine the gameplay principles of modern times? Maybe SOE will still teach us a few tricks from a zombie; then we could call him “Friday”…
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The small online card game Hearthstone, designed by Blizzard employees to show that one can still be small, is poised for a huge leap a quarter after its official release. Three reasons are responsible for this.
Hearthstone was actually just an attempt to return to its roots and create a “small” game again. An online collectible card game that will likely remind most players of Magic: The Gathering at first glance. The reviews were positive. We let our Cortyn loose on Hearthstone and she returned with 82% . Gamestar gave it 81%, and at Meta-Critic, it landed at 88%, also thanks to a 100% rating from the currently trending magazine Polygon. The players, for whom Blizzard still enjoys a top reputation, started engaging with the game during the beta.
The game is already performing excellently. Now, after a quarter of a year, signs are emerging that Hearthstone could level up in terms of popularity and significance. We will tell you why.
The Naxx expansion is coming in July, bringing more complexity
For weeks now, the first cards from the Naxx set have been introduced. The themes are based on the classic World of Warcraft raid “Naxxramas”, which returned with Wrath of the Lich King.
What impact does such a set have? Huge, if you ask someone who really knows about it.
[quote_right]Easy to play, hard to master[/quote_right]
According to Hearthstone pro Amaz, on the sidelines of Dreamhack, the set will significantly advance the game. Because so many new cards increase the strategy level and the variety of decks. Amaz, the runner-up in the $25,000 Dreamhack tournament in Sweden, is anyway a Blizzard fanboy, as he says. And he is already enthusiastic about Hearthstone because it is so easy to play, but so hard to master.
A date for the Naxxramas expansion was not known for a long time, but now Blizzard is talking about July. Some speculated earlier that it had to be June 20, for the eighth anniversary of Naxxramas. We can credibly deny this with the wisdom of hindsight. There will be no beta for Naxx.
Outlook: An expansion of the card deck can increase the long-term fun in Hearthstone, as long as it is well made. But there is hardly any doubt about that. With new cards and creative players, deck ideas from the past could return (like now the Freeze Mage deck of Dreamhack winner Rdu). The meta would change, and new combinations would be possible. Just a few cards are enough to tip the fragile balance and throw it off course. And no one knows what it will look like when it comes to a standstill. Exciting. Regular expansions ensure a fluid gameplay and of course also keep the money flowing into Blizzard’s pockets. Naxxramas could just be the first of many expansions.
Hearthstone as an eSport – Events, Prize Money, Reddit and a Scene
When people think of eSports, they often envision nimble players, lightning-fast raids, brilliant split-second decisions, and crazed frenzy. In Hearthstone, however, the pros look more like poker players, equipped with headphones, staring at the monitor in hoodies, unable to take their fingers off their faces from tension. Seconds pass with every turn. You can see the players think.
However, the game is by no means tedious or boring due to the tight time limits, the various strategies, and the short round duration, but rather achieves an unexpectedly high entertainment value. Especially since, despite all the strategy, luck also plays a role, and the duels can turn with a lucky draw, a “lucky punch”.
By now, specialized sites have also formed around Blizzard’s card game, shedding light on strategies, decks, and trends. With viagamer, a streaming service has emerged that aims to take reporting to a new level. A scene is forming.
If Hearthstone manages to establish itself somewhere between Dota 2, League of Legends, and Starcraft as an eSport power, it would be a huge deal.
Because the “normal players” already love to analyze and dissect the pros’ game from their home subreddit /r/Hearthstone. Since no direct “skill level” is required and while the pros play with the best cards, these cards are also accessible to “normal” players, there is great potential.
Outlook: Hearthstone as an eSport sounds strange at first, but it can give the game a real boost. Blizzard should take a page from Riot’s book, as they have managed to achieve a wonderful balance with PR and marketing ideas between “playing yourself” and “watching the pros at work.” Riot does this by allowing a lot to happen; players themselves take care of their marketing and popularity on Facebook, Twitch, and with donation buttons. Riot provides a league system, a bit of celebrity culture, and the opportunity to watch top games at any time. The eSport scene in Hearthstone is no longer in its infancy but is still at the beginning. It will be exciting to watch how Blizzard reacts here and whether they will promote it. They certainly have the means. Just by introducing 2 new AVs in WoW, which you can get by watching a top tournament, they would have opened up new buyer segments.
Mobile Version Expected “Soon”
To really take off, many agree that Hearthstone needs a functioning version for iPhone and Android more than anything else. The game is now running on the iPad, but it still looks poor on iPhone and Android. These would be the natural media for a “casual game” in the best sense of the word. A quick round while waiting for the bus or during a smoke break could further integrate the game into gamers’ everyday lives, significantly increasing the number of daily matches and ensuring it becomes “viral,” thus really taking off.
Outlook: An Android and Windows 8 Touch version for Hearthstone has been announced for the end of the year. The consequences are obvious: more matches, more fans, more opportunities for others to watch and get infected with the Hearthstone virus. The iPhone is the most natural medium for a game like Hearthstone.
Conclusion: The mobile version will come “soon,” Naxxramas in July even “sooner.” This will give the game a huge boost, both qualitatively and quantitatively. With the increasing complexity of the game due to the expansion pack, the “social factor” through eSport, and the increased activity through the mobile version, Hearthstone is likely to really gain traction by the end of the year and become an even bigger topic than it already is.
Not bad for a game that was developed “just like that” and “to see what it’s like to work in small teams again.” Hats off, Blizzard.
Or as the saying goes: The devil always shits on the biggest pile. But if you have earned such a good reputation that countless companies, sites, and people are just waiting to see what you do next to become part of the hype, then there is nothing wrong with that. Many people around Hearthstone, streamers, site operators, casters, eSport newcomers, want and are counting on Hearthstone being a massive hit. At the moment, it looks like it will be.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Once again, it is time for a new part of the Artcraft series from Blizzard, which this time features the male representatives of the Humans. Of course, this faction will also receive a graphical overhaul in the upcoming expansion of World of Warcraft. Especially for the Humans, it was high time, as the comparison images impressively demonstrate. Moreover, there are new updates from the Alpha server, where changes to the character models of the Draenei have become visible.
Over the years, the graphics of the game have improved significantly, new races have been introduced that have more polygons and expressions than the original races, to the point where they felt like outsiders in the world of Azeroth, somewhat like Simpsons characters in an anime. Therefore, Blizzard decided that with the upcoming expansion Warlords of Draenor, all old races would be brought up to the level of the newly introduced Pandaren race. This proved to be much more time-consuming than expected, which is why it is still unclear which races and genders will look better at the launch of the expansion, which is said to come “in the fall”.
As usual, the updates on the male Humans were presented by Chris Robinson, the Art Director of World of Warcraft. The update for the latest models is centered around the motto “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Of course, Blizzard has made great efforts to ensure that the original feel and fundamentals of the male Humans remain intact.
How do you like the new look of the strong gender of Humans? Do the facial features remind you of Shrek in any way?
Some models in alpha test
As Robinson hinted, some models of the revised factions of World of Warcraft will soon be visible in an Alpha version of the next expansion.
So said, so done: Images of male Humans and Draenei have now appeared on the Alpha servers, although in the case of the Draenei, they are still “raw versions” that could be changed. Even with these pics, it is evident that Blizzard’s plans – as usual – are coming together: The essence, the soul of the characters, remains intact compared to the original versions; visually, however, they fit better into the new world.
Blizzard is therefore paying more attention to the “essence” of the character because they are aware of how strongly players identify with their avatars and that they react allergically to “larger” changes. Blizzard has never received such angry letters as they did when they changed the ears of a Night Elf model in a patch.
In just under a week, the first major content patch will bring the inhabitants of Nexus to new heights, expanding the game “WildStar” with two new zones and a plethora of customization options. Bit by bit, the developers are revealing more of the content:
The new daily area, the Northern Wastes, will feature not only new enemy types with unique telegraph patterns but also new rewards, including mentions of epic items – this should provide players with the necessary gear to tackle the challenging veteran dungeons and adventures more easily.
Also new are the more detailed insights into the Rotting Refuge: In this zone, the main story will continue, unraveling several mysteries – but also developing some new ones. “The Globellum,” a subzone of the area, is a large monster that, surprisingly, is immune to transmutation and has been feeding on the Grief Chamber and its creatures for years. Not too far from there, a tribe of Pell has taken it upon themselves to protect the Genesis Chamber from contamination – and it is here that players will learn a lot about Drusera and the backgrounds of the “Primary Genesis.” More details about the two zones can be found here.
Mutated Housing and Customization Items
Throughout the day, countless customization options have been introduced that will also be available in the patch: You will be able to style your entire house in the theme of transmutation. From bony growths, disgusting pustules, and mutated phage eggs, to the characteristic eyes, there will be just about everything a contaminated inhabitant of today needs in their home.
Of course, the matching costume cannot be missed: In accordance with the entity’s desires, you can dress yourself as a transmutation victim and explore the expanses of Nexus – how long that will last when absolutely everyone is running around like that is, of course, questionable.
Besides the already known Transmutation hoverboard, there will also be expansions for all other mounts, so you can, for example, cover your Trask or Grinder in purple contamination and show everyone that you might have stayed a little too long in the Grief Chamber.
Finally, there will be three new color variants, but how these can be obtained is still questionable. Should they be available as “World Drops,” the price will likely rise into the high double digits in platinum.
The South Korean MMO with sandbox elements, ArcheAge, which has now been tailored for the European market, has published details about its payment model. Essentially, it remains Free2Play, but offers subscribers bonuses reminiscent of a freemium model. Additionally, it takes some inspiration from EVE Online.
The “Patron” in English refers not only to a regular pub visitor who has a barstool named after him but also to the landlord. ArcheAge now adds a new definition to the term: it refers to the subscribers of the game, which is currently still in the alpha phase of its European incarnation. While Trion Worlds adds that this status is by no means “necessary,” it “only brings more fun.” However, the bonuses a Patron receives already seem to offer significant advantages.
Subscribers sleep better
There is a 10% increase in experience points for building and fighting, and everything in the marketplace is 10% cheaper. Those who want to play completely Free2Play can use the auction house to purchase items but cannot list their own. Furthermore, when offline, they do not regenerate any “Labor” points, which are necessary for crafting.
A Patron regenerates these points faster when online, has a cap that is 5000 points higher, and – particularly importantly – also recovers while sleeping, meaning when offline, regenerating 5 Labor points every 5 minutes. These are partly bonuses that resemble browser games and correspond to a so-called freemium model , one might even call it pay-to-win.
They can build on these stones …
Additionally, like in “Star Wars: The Old Republic” or “Lord of the Rings Online,” the Patron gains access to a special currency that allows them to buy goodies in a shop, including vanity items like pets or special musical instruments, as well as loot boxes with “surprises.”
Another restriction will particularly affect players with sandbox ambitions: those who do not pay cannot own land. Free2Play players can therefore focus on the PvP and combat elements of the game.
Hardcore players can earn their paid status through own efforts
From EVE Online, as well as WildStar, the PLEXX model is adopted. In ArcheAge, it will be called “APEX”. A virtual item that can be purchased for real money, then exchanged in-game with other players for “virtual currency.” When redeeming APEX, a month of “Patron” status is granted. This way, particularly busy hardcore players can finance their bonuses themselves.
[intense_testimonies][intense_testimony][intense_testimony_text]Among the relevant announcements in English forums, discussions have already taken place. One poster says: “One should simply consider ArcheAge as a paid game with the option to try it out for free once.” Another adds: “Anyone who wants to play the game “seriously” will not get around a monthly subscription.
Due to the interesting APEX function and because ArcheAge has a lot to offer in PvP and beyond crafting, some players may indeed succeed in truly playing “Free2Play.”[/intense_testimony_text][intense_testimony_author image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2014/01/Logo-022.png”][/intense_testimony_author][/intense_testimony][/intense_testimonies]
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In collaboration with Square Enix, we have a very special treat for you today. We are giving away a physical Collector’s Edition (a boxed version with all the goodies) for the fantasy MMO Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
As you may have noticed, our site has been doing very well in recent weeks and months. We are all happy with how things are developing here, how many of you now regularly drop by to see what’s new and exciting (or just bizarre and funny) in the world of MMOs and MMORPGs.
Therefore, we decided to give something back to you. For the first giveaway, we wanted to make it special, not just T-shirts and mousepads, but something big. And we have it for you.
The first prize of our giveaway consists of a Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn for PC.
This treasure chest contains, besides the game on an additional disc, information about the background story of Eorzea, five exclusive cards showcasing the character art, and a concept hardbook with previously unpublished concept drawings. This is the tactile stuff you can touch and smell, something you can really experience. The digital contents of the box include a mount, a helmet, a Chocobo decoration, and a Mini-Behemoth as a companion. In addition, we will also include a pen, a mini fan, and a keychain in Final Fantasy style with the package.
For the second prize, we won’t hold back either. Here you will receive the pen, the fan, the keychain, and optionally a standard digital edition of Final Fantasy or – if you already have the game – a 30-day gaming card for the MMO.
We are glad that for the first time in the history of our website, we can offer a giveaway and with such great prizes.
[intense_blockquote color=”#f2f2f2″]What do you need to do to participate in the giveaway?
Become a fan of our page on Facebook.
Like the giveaway post.
Read the terms and conditions[/intense_blockquote]
The giveaway runs from Thursday, June 26, at 4 PM, until July 3, at 4 PM. So there is still enough time to prepare for the next major content expansion of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn: Update 2.3 will be released on July 8.
The giveaway has now ended!
If you are worried that we will spam you on Facebook as a result of this giveaway: We usually publish two to five postings on Facebook a day. To my regret, we do not show cat pics or photos of Schuhmann’s lunch, but only refer to new news and articles on our site and present them briefly.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Tanks, World of Tanks, World of Tanks … no matter where you look – everywhere only World of Tanks. Tank fans now have the opportunity to not only play the war MMO from Wargaming on PC but also to download it for iOS devices. World of Tanks Blitz is officially available for Apple smartphones and tablets!
Mobile Tank Battles
Playing World of Tanks during an evening gaming session is pretty cool. However, playing World of Tanks as a Blitz version on the go is even cooler. You can get the action-packed free-to-play game for iOS tablets
iOS tablets: from iPad
iOS smartphones: from iPhone 4s
The game is available for free in the App Store! In Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, World of Tanks Blitz already launched back in May this year.
“With World of Tanks Blitz, we bring our experience in creating AAA free-to-play MMOs to the highly competitive mobile market.” said Andrey Ryabovol, Director of Global Operations at Wargaming. “The development team has worked hard to bring fresh elements to the mobile version of our successful brand World of Tanks, and we are sure that players around the globe will have a lot of fun with World of Tanks Blitz.
Since the first soft launch in other countries, the game has been further improved by Wargaming. The mobile version of World of Tanks now also offers Facebook integration, enhanced graphics, a cooperative two-player mode, and much more. Overall, you can expect over 90 famous tanks from the USA, Germany, and the USSR. The vehicles are divided into four different classes: light, medium, heavy, and tank destroyers.
In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, the Patch 1.2.3. brings new lighting conditions, the Crypt of Hearts, and enemy invaders into the supposedly protected starting zone of the PvP zone Cyrodiil.
The patch has been live in Germany for a few hours, in the USA since yesterday, and as was the case after the Orsinium update, reports from fans about issues and bugs are accumulating, although this time the issue reports are noticeably milder.
Interestingly, in the PvP zone Cyrodiil, players can “clip” through a certain point and thus enter the supposedly protected starting zone of the opposing factions. Especially in so-called “tilted” campaigns, where one realm dominates the others severely, these protected respawn zones were the last refuge of the defeated. The loss of this protection zone has led to complaints from fans. Zenimax is already on it and is considering deploying a hotfix.
The guards in front of the protected zones of the battlemaster have now been brought into the game with a hotfix. Around them, there are still numerous other flashpoints, as vampires seem to react even more violently to silver than usual.
These negative voices are countered by a generally positive tone regarding the changes to the graphics. A user posted a “before-and-after” image of the interior lighting of a cathedral on reddit. It looks very impressive.
The SF-MMORPG WildStar has been on the market for four weeks now, many players have reached the endgame and are facing such high demands in dungeons and adventures that the mood in the mixed groups seems to be at boiling point regularly.
Upon reaching level 50, the new Nexian starts off cautiously, as they need to collect 150 Ancestor Gems for their upcoming raid career (a reward for things that used to give EXP before the level cap), then they need to complete a few events and increase their reputation with their faction. Soon, however, they will be faced with the task of completing dungeons or adventures at the heightened “Veteran” difficulty, and not only that, they must also complete them on “Silver” or even “Gold” to enjoy certain bonuses, such as access to the 20-player raid, the Gen Archives, or better items. At this difficulty level and under the challenging conditions of a medal hunt, the tolerance for mistakes is “zero” or at least “close to zero”.
Back to “Start” at the smallest mistake?
Players are now complaining in the English-speaking forum reddit that these high demands make playing in a mixed group through the Group Finder a torment. Right from the start of the dungeons, there is an “elitist” atmosphere: Either you complete the dungeon on Gold or not at all! As soon as it suggests that something might go wrong, individual players leave the group, spread a bad mood, or vote for the dissolution of the party, only to be grouped with much better players the next time.
Damage dealers languish in the queue
This “elitist” behavior is widespread, especially among tanks and healers, as they wait only minutes or even seconds for the next invite, while damage dealers suffer more significantly. Players on reddit attribute this to the system in WildStar, which leads players to consider dungeons as “failed” even if they managed to play through them till the end but faced difficulties along the way.
Threads discussing this topic on reddit currently receive the most comments and upvotes. Some suggest that Carbine should introduce a “restart” mechanic so that a group does not completely dissolve with the first mistake, but simply starts again from the beginning. Others advise coming together in organized groups. Apparently, the Group Finder is just not suited for this type of PvE. Other players propose separating “medal runs” from regular runs to relieve the pressure.
Diese Umfrage ist geschlossen.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For a long time, it has been quite quiet around the free-to-play MMO Rift, but now a letter from the producer announces the new expansion Nightmare Tide, the update to 3.0. The new content will take players into the planar realm of water.
The key facts of the planned expansion at a glance:
The level cap will rise to 65, and with the new Mastery system, it will be possible to further customize the heroes.
There will be new dungeons, raids, and zones, new stories and quests, new items and craftable goods – in short, the full package. All of this is promised to remain completely free, as Rift has assured. The new items are expected to scale moderately at the beginning. A top-geared character should not expect to immediately swap their best-in-slot gear for green quest rewards. It is worth staying engaged now and gaining an advantage for the patch.
With the “Nightmare Rifts,” a new type of rift will be introduced. Players will have to face seemingly endless waves of enemies in a surreal environment. The difficulty level will remain scalable.
Collectible minions will be introduced as a new feature in the game. Players can deploy them for specific missions, for which some minions are better suited than others. Rewards such as resources or items will be at stake.
There will be two new item slots. Players can either unlock them immediately by purchasing the digital edition or earn them in-game. The producer assures that the process will be fair and just.
The complete letter from the producer can be found here in German.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Tech Pioneer or “Engineer” is one of the ranged classes of WildStar. Equipped with heavy armor and a corresponding heavy weapon. Whether you call it a blaster or a rocket launcher doesn’t really matter, because with the weapon you can basically do anything.
In addition to his heavy equipment, the Tech Pioneer can summon robots as permanent companions that fulfill various tasks: Tanking, healing, slowing down, or attacking. He can be played as both a damage dealer and a tank, but neither up close to the enemy, rather always at medium to long range.
The continuation of the Living Story of Guild Wars 2 is just around the corner. Only a few days left until it continues on July 1, 2014, with Season 2. If you want to get in the mood, we have a new trailer for you today that presents the contents and story of the continuation of the Living Story.
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The Zephyrites have suffered a terrible misfortune, and rumors are spreading about an incident in the western areas of the Brisbane Wilds. Players can team up with familiar faces like Marjory, Kasmeer, Rox, Braham, or Taimi and their friends to get to the bottom of the events.
The new parts of the story will continue to be released bi-weekly after the launch on July 1.
New Chronicle Feature
The great thing about Season 2 of Guild Wars 2 is not only that the Living Story is finally continuing soon, but also that you can experience it again and again afterward.
This is what the new Chronicle feature of Guild Wars 2 is for, which allows the episodes to be called up individually afterward. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the first season of the Living Story.
Guild Wars 2 Specials
Anyone who doesn’t own the online role-playing game Guild Wars 2 yet but is interested in buying the MMORPG should take advantage of the next few days.
The reason: From June 25 to June 30, 2014, two versions of Guild Wars 2 are 50 percent off. This way, you can get the Digital Deluxe Edition and the Digital Heroic Edition for half the normal purchase price!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the end of June, according to some reports, the zombie MMO H1Z1 was supposed to enter Early Access. The date has been postponed, but now print media is coming out, assuming that H1Z1 is already in circulation. Now SOE chief John Smedley himself has spoken out.
In a reddit thread (the English forum serves as the unofficial homepage of the game), a user reported that he just read in the monthly print magazine Gameinformer that the start of Early Access is imminent. Now he can hardly wait for it to finally begin. In recent days, several rumors have emerged, suggesting that it is indeed happening soon, which were also picked up by German gaming magazines.
SOE chief John Smedley directly contradicted this under the thread and was able to reveal the source of this information, which turns out to be false, namely himself: “It’s very simple. They had a release date, but it turned out to be wrong because we decided to hold the game back a bit longer. We decided that only after the interview with them. Simply put.”
How “real” should it be if it is still supposed to be fun?
In the reddit forum, they are currently discussing further features of the game, quite controversially. One faction of players wants it to be as realistic as possible; they want a hardcore survival struggle, as it would unfold in “reality,” with hunger, thirst, severe restrictions due to injuries, and similar features. Another faction of players fears that this could significantly impair the enjoyment of the game.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In South Korea, infants are dying from malnutrition because their parents are completely immersed in the virtual worlds of MMOs and MOBAs. The political parties now want to take action against this addiction.
Here, gamers tease each other about the supposedly too high gaming time and how long the other has been sitting in front of the PC again. In South Korea, online gaming is even more widespread and is reaching dimensions that are causing debates in society.
Tragic Deaths of Infants Fuel Debate
In April, a 22-year-old was arrested for letting his two-year-old son starve. The unemployed father was supposed to care for the child while his wife worked in a distant car factory, but the father became so engrossed in online gaming that he forgot about his son. In 2009, a couple let their 3-year-old child starve while they were playing an online game together, taking care of a virtual child.
The government wants to limit the advertising opportunities of the gaming industry and require them to invest 1% of their revenue into a fund to combat gaming addiction. These measures remind Europeans of regulations against the cigarette industry.
According to a member of South Korea’s Democratic Party, online games are preventing some people from being able to live at all. The industry must accept this and acknowledge the problems.
Representatives of the gaming industry protest against this. They invoke free speech, request to refrain from regulation, and emphasize the necessity for artists in any medium, including video game design, to have the freedom to express themselves.
Why is South Korea so Obsessed with Online Gaming?
The distant South Korea is regarded by local gamers as the epitome of the highest gaming arts. In League of Legends, for example, one often hears the joking exclamation “Best Carry EU,” which is outdone by “Best Carry Korea.”
In documentaries on the topic, experts mention that the constant threat from communist North Korea leads society to tend toward escapist tendencies, escaping the threatening reality into a fantasy world. Others say that the ambitious South Korean people yearn for sporting successes, feel athletically disadvantaged, and seek these experiences in eSports.
Some of the top universities in the country now offer bachelor’s degrees in eSports. Some of the most successful Starcraft and League of Legends players in the country have reached pop-star status.
Cover image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With The Elder Scrolls Online, the patch 1.2.3 will be deployed on Wednesday morning. In line with the title, it brings changes to the lighting conditions, the visibility slider, and independent of the name, a new veteran dungeon.
“1, 2 or 3? You will know if you are really standing correctly when the light turns on” – the older ones among you will remember.
Ironically, patch 1.2.3 (it really is called that) of TESO also addresses lighting conditions. They are supposed to change, especially the light entering buildings is to be beautified. Also in the patch, which will be deployed on German servers on Wednesday morning at 4 AM: The veteran version of the Crypt of Hearts and a free field-of-view slider.
As a nice gag, Zenimax now allows players to pick up decorative armors and weapons that are scattered around the world. However, you won’t get rich doing this – they cannot be sold.
Additionally, Zenimax has some balance changes and bug fixes in store – and, as some might complain, surely also some problems. The last content patch brought TESO players not only Kargstein but also frustration. The maintenance on the American server took significantly longer than the estimated four hours. We will keep you updated.
Meanwhile, Zenimax is pleased that the second content update could now be rolled out quickly, as they were somewhat behind the 6-week-per-update schedule with Kargstein, taking 7 weeks, but now they are back on schedule.
Quote from the German community manager regarding this:
Good, update 1 was a week late. If update 2 takes place as planned tomorrow and the day after, we will be back in the set timeframe. In the last 11 weeks, we have also released 12 live patches.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny, by the Halo creators Bungie, the previously unimaginable development costs of half a billion US dollars left many mouths agape. In an interview, Pete Parsons, the COO of Bungie, clarifies the figure.
“You have to ask Activision about the size of the marketing budget, but we are not nearly that high on production costs,” Parsons said in an interview with gamesindustry.biz, an online site that focuses on the financial aspects behind the titles.
The rights to the world are with the developer, not the publisher
The interview reveals how proud Bungie is of the terms they were able to negotiate with Activision. The game’s license, the registered trademark, will be under Bungie’s name. This is a rare occurrence in such a deal, which Parsons attributes to his company’s unique position: “We emerged from Microsoft as an independent company with a great reputation. And that comes from the great people we have. More than half of the original Halo team is still with us. I think Activision saw that and recognized the potential of our vision.”
Halo as motivation
For Parsons and the team at Bungie, it is a motivation to reach the level of Halo once again: People are still talking about the game more than 10 years later, placing it among the best entertainment they have ever experienced. It ranks alongside Harry Potter or Star Wars. Years later, Halo still holds significance for many people. That is just fantastic.
Ten-year plan and the significance of the title
When the interviewer mentions that Activision holds the title in high regard, given that a ten-year plan is in the works, Parsons corrects him: That is how Bungie came to Activision. That was their idea. If you are leaving a universe you have grown fond of – what could be better for a young and bold company than to take on such a massive project?
That is why the title is also called Destiny. Originally, it was just a codename for the game. A title that was briefly changed to “Tiger,” but “Destiny” expressed so much about where they wanted to go with the game that they returned to it: “We want to tell the story over ten years.”
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From time to time, industry leaders such as Blizzard Entertainment (developer and publisher of World of Warcraft) are looking for new employees – sometimes employees whose job description certainly allows for some speculation.
Note on the Warcraft Series
Currently, they are looking for a Senior Writer to support the Blizzard team with creative skills. However, this person will not simply write a few Warcraft stories, but will also be involved in “television and animation writing”.
So what does this mean? Could it be that Blizzard is planning a Warcraft series in addition to the Warcraft film, which has already completed filming?
Overall, it seems that Blizzard is not completely averse to the idea, as Rob Pardo from Blizzard recently stated. During a developer Q&A, he was asked why they were creating a film instead of just a brilliant series in the Warcraft universe.
Comparison with Game of Thrones
Fans received the answer that Blizzard is not opposed. When they started with the film or the planning of the adaptation, according to him, Game of Thrones did not exist yet. We all know how that series turned out.
Of course, Blizzard now also knows how successful series of this kind are or can be, and it is not surprising that they would like to do both (film and series). Pardo reveals that if Duncan Jones (the director of the film) does his job as well as hoped, then perhaps other studios will approach Blizzard wanting to create a series in the Warcraft universe.
And then … who knows.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Screenshots of the Hearthstone expansion Naxxramas have appeared on the English forum Reddit. Players and the media are diving in like vultures, while Blizzard maintains a wall of silence.
“It is our company policy not to comment on rumors and speculation, but thank you for your interest,” was the standard response that the colleague from pcgamer.com received.
Logically, the leaked pics of the expansion on Reddit (where else?) are likely “legit”, meaning real. After all, all the class cards are now out on a weekly basis, and Blizzard has already stated that there will be no beta. So the release seems to be imminent.
Naxxramas will bring 30 new cards, most of which are themed around “Deathrattle”. When a character dies, a new effect occurs. Pro gamers and casual players alike are looking forward to the expansion: 30 new cards will stir things up in the game and open new strategic possibilities.
We will now take a brief look at the leaked screenshots; those who do not want to spoil this should squint their eyes as if watching a horror movie and scroll to the end.
[Spoilers from here on regarding the cards]:
Blizzard demonstrates with the expansion that they take the Naxxramas idea seriously. There are two cards with Feugen (4/7) and Stalagg (7/4) that have the special property of Thaddius appearing when both die in a match. Feugen and Stalagg were two mini-bosses in the Naxxramas raid that had to be killed simultaneously to reach their boss Thaddius (and additionally, one had to perform an incredibly difficult jump over a plague pit that even the best occasionally fell into).
In addition to Feugen and Stalagg, the leaked pics contain only one more exciting card: The chief of Naxx, Kel’Thuzad himself, has values of 6/8 and summons an undead creature every round that soon meets its end. Just like the original.
Mein MMO says: This has a bit of the quality of a “sex tape of a starlet accidentally surfacing on the internet” whose star is currently fading, seeing pixelated images of cards. But Hearthstone is so popular that such tricks shouldn’t be necessary. Surely, the release of Naxx is approaching soon.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Soon it will be update time again in the online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. During this year’s E3 2014, Square Enix announced that Patch 2.3 will be released on July 8, 2014. This is a more than extensive update, which is named “Defenders of Eorzea”.
Dungeons upon Dungeons and much more
You can look forward to the brand new dungeon “Shipbreaker Isle” in the online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The game’s developers are also integrating a few hard versions of already available dungeons, such as the Stone Vigil and the Tam-Tara Deepcroft. Not only the group dungeons will expand, but the Crystal Tower will also be enhanced with a new area. In this raid, designed for 24 players, you can expect three new bosses to defeat with Patch 2.3.
And almost obligatory for a major content update: The main scenario, meaning the story of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, will of course continue. The creative minds behind the MMO also have worked hard on the side quests and have a surprise ready. It is probably the most popular quest line in the Final Fantasy MMO: The criminologist Hildibrand is back and wants to help you uncover the next mysterious case .
By the way, housing finally allows single players to enjoy private accommodations.
Features in the Video
In the latest video, which is entirely dedicated to the Patch 2.3 of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, you get a comprehensive insight into what to expect with the extensive update for the MMORPG .
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For the PvP fans among you, the new update has plenty in store as well, such as the new battles for up to 72 players. Yoshida, the producer of FF XIV, was inspired by Dark Age of Camelot.
In today’s issue of Update, everything revolves around the Sci-Fi MMO WildStar.
Over 1000 accounts banned:
As in every new MMO, Wildstar is also flooded with bots, hackers, and gold sellers. The first wave of bans did not take long, resulting in approximately 1000 accounts being banned for “suspicious activities.” Although the developers claim that their system is nearly flawless, they acknowledge that it can never be completely avoided.
World First goes to Enigma:
The guild “Enigma” from the US PvE server Avatus has become the first guild worldwide to defeat the final boss of the first raid “Genarchiv” in the 20-man mode. After the initial bosses were taken down relatively quickly, the final boss “Dreadphage Ohmna” proved to be quite a tough opponent. However, on the night of June 21, the American guild finally achieved the Firstkill.
First content patch comes in early July:
To conclude, there is also a preview of the first content patch. It is named “Transmutation” and truly lives up to its name. This patch will implement 2 new areas into the game, the “Putrefaction Refuge” and the “Northern Wastes,” both of which directly connect to the main story of Wildstar.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
