Some weeks ago, rumors circulated that the developers of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn are working on a wedding system. Special costumes for this wonderful occasion have been promised and, of course, wedding rings would not be missing. However, after an announcement from 2012, this possibility was only valid for male and female characters. Regarding same-sex marriages, they wanted to wait for feedback from the community:
As for same-sex marriage, this is an extremely controversial topic that has been under discussion in the MMO world for the past few years. First we would like to start out with opposite-sex marriage, and then consider the feedback from our players in order to make a careful decision.
Then there was a long silence on the topic. At E3, the question was raised again at a press conference, to which Producer Naoki Yoshida replied in essence: The development team is still working on the idea – and more importantly: There will be same-sex marriages! You can marry whoever you want, regardless of what race, nation, or gender your partner belongs to. With this, they want to break common prejudices and not live these in Eorzea!
Unfortunately, not much information has leaked out yet, but it was confirmed in the interview that there will be special mounts for married couples that they can ride – possibly even together. It is also important: You should take good care of the ring, as discarding it is considered a separation!
What do you think of this change of heart? Does marrying even have a place in a modern MMO? Or is the discussion completely unnecessary, because love is love – regardless of gender?
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]As a married woman, I can fully understand that the desire for a romantic wedding also exists in MMOs. It is simply one of the most magical and wonderful moments ever. Why shouldn’t one be able to enjoy that virtually? For role-players, this kind of normal life – with marriage and children – is often an important part of the game. Of course, one can also say “I do” in-game without a sophisticated marriage system, as people always found a way in other MMOs. But it’s a nice idea and I am very curious about the implementation.
The question of whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry may be controversial – but isn’t love love? Who would be a game developer to prevent that? What do you think about this?[/intense_testimony_text]
The god MMO Skyforge rocks E3 with a gameplay presentation and introduces an innovative game concept: You not only switch skills in the field but also the entire class.
There will be no rigid commitment to just one class in Skyforge, the MMO from Team Allods. While you choose a class at the start, you can indulge in the skill buffet of other classes as you progress toward godhood. This ensures that every aspiring god and goddess is a truly enchanting, unique snowflake composed of a wild mix of skills. These are organized in a kind of skill atlas.
Never wait for the healer again
According to Team Allods, the concept allows a group of players to constantly switch roles, thus changing the firepower and composition of the raid team depending on the boss. Even absences in the roster can be easily compensated. To switch to another class, you don’t have to go to town or find a trainer; you can do it right on the spot, as long as you’re outside of combat.
At E3, three new classes were introduced that correspond to known MMO archetypes: the Gunner, the Lightbinder, and the Berserker. In early April, the Paladin and the Cyromancer were already presented. It is also known that a stealth class is supposed to be introduced into the game. Currently, some sources mention 10 classes at release, while others say 15. In any case, Team Allods intends to introduce new classes even after release.
Power through faith
According to a tester from the English gaming site massively, the controls remind him of DC Universe Online. The crafting system is strongly connected with followers that a player must gather on their way to divinity. Because only through faith can they achieve their ultimate goal and become a god.
In general, the tester from massively confirms the impression we described in our special on Skyforge a few weeks ago: The game is heading in an arcade-MMO direction and already offers some interesting ideas alongside extremely slick graphics. Whether it’s enough for Olympus, players will likely only find out in a year. Currently, no date for an open alpha or beta is known yet.
The trailer for Skyforge looks sleek and caused some “Ahhs” and “Ohhhs” at E3.
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 largest Hearthstone tournament in the world takes place in Sweden from June 14 to June 16. 12 of the best players worldwide and 4 WildCards will compete against each other. The whole event will be streamed live on a new website.
When thinking of e-sports, most people associate it with real-time strategy games like Starcraft or MOBAs like League of Legends, but Blizzard’s so-called casual card game Hearthstone is surprisingly well-suited for e-sports. The duels of the individual gamers swing back and forth. For viewers, they provide numerous suggestions for their own deck building – as long as you have the right cards.
One thing is clear: The guys competing here know the meta-game by heart and are even redefining it. “Normal” players can pick up some tricks here and apply them directly. Trying to copy a few tricks from Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar might land you with a torn ligament. And mimicking fast clickers with cat-like reflexes in Starcraft or LoL will likely end up in finger entanglement within 3 seconds. That can’t happen with Hearthstone.
The field of the 12 best players includes 2 German players, Ek0p for Doge Hoge and Gaara from Tempo Storm. Ek0p will compete in Group A on June 14, while Gaara will face players from the WildCard field the following day.
The relatively new site viagame.com is organizing the tournament at Dreamhack in Sweden, has been featuring it for a while, and will stream it live on its own page. The total prize pool for the tournament amounts to $25,000.
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.
In the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online there may soon be arenas and battlegrounds. Ahead of the E3 presentation from Zenimax, a fan has already been able to take a look at the ESO booth. What he discovered there is causing a stir and exciting the fans.
There are only two pixelated screenshots that have appeared on reddit, but apparently, there is some truth to it. A special 3v3 mode, as reported by the reddit member, was reportedly being tested when he walked by the ESO booth. Upon asking what it was and if it would be coming to the game soon, he was told it was planned for E3.
Unfortunately, not much can be seen, but there seems to be a 3v3 demo at E3 (Image by donjuice).
The mode seems to resemble a capture-the-flag arena, as is common in other games. A kind of flag was placed in the middle of the arena, which the players competed for. According to the Redditor, it looked like a lot of fun.
The lack of PvP modes outside of the large battleground of Cyrodiil is a sensitive topic among ESO fans. While some are satisfied with this decision, others vehemently demand the introduction of arenas or battlegrounds. Some even go so far as to make their continued play dependent on the introduction of such modes.
So far, there has been no signal from Zenimax to move in this direction. With the presentation that has now surfaced, that could change.
An employee from Zenimax has posted in the Reddit thread, but neither denied nor confirmed the matter. It is now only known that Brian Wheeler, the head of ESO’s PvP, will be present at the E3 gaming fair. Fans conclude that an announcement regarding PvP may be imminent. Console players, currently probably the most attractive target group for The Elder Scrolls Online, might be more excited about arenas or a smaller battleground, as is common in shooters.
As soon as more details become known, we will share them.
Update on 12.6.: Now the official statement from Zenimax has been released. The arena mode presented at E3 was specifically designed for trade fairs to give spectators and players a quick match insight into the combat system of TESO.
As The Elder Scrolls Online is a continuously evolving game, it is indeed possible to bring a type of “small-scale” PvP into the game if enough players demand it.
In this YouTube video, you can see the mode in action:
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.
Good news for all tank drivers among you: The release date for the mobile app of World of Tanks is finally set: On June 26, World of Tanks Blitz will be available in the iTunes Store! The Scandinavians have already been able to test it extensively, which caused WotB to land directly at number three in the iPad app charts.
Whether the app delivers on its promises will probably only be tested by us at the end of June, but Wargaming has brought a lot to the table to transfer the game experience of their tank MMO to the mobile version:
You can play with over 90 tanks from the USA, Germany, and the Soviet Union,
on 8 maps.
You can form squads or teams with your friends.
The graphics are very similar to the PC version.
You can either listen to the atmospheric sounds of the app or choose your own music.
Facebook has, of course, been integrated.
An in-game shop is available.
You can learn more about the app and its design in our article on World of Tanks Blitz.
Of course, the players of the PC version will not be neglected! Just at this moment, work is still being done to deploy update 9.1 and get everything up and running. In line with this, a video was released showcasing the contents of the patch. You may not expect many legendary new achievements, but as they say? Less is sometimes more!
The most important thing first: The combat mechanics for tank destroyers have changed: The camo factor after firing has been reduced and now matches the value of other vehicle types. But: This does not apply to premium tanks! However, there is good news for light tanks: The dynamics of the VK 28.01 and MT-25 have been significantly improved, their engine power increased, and the off-road capability of the tracked vehicles has been improved. For light tanks of tiers IV-VII, the maximum limit of the battle tier range has been reduced.
A new map – Kharkov – goes live with the update. Kharkov is not just any other map, but you fight there in a historically accurate environment from 1943. But the town not only invites you to marvel – you will also have numerous opportunities to prove your tactical skills. You can expect
tall buildings
several open areas
cover options like shell craters, embankments, barricades or tank wrecks
Additionally, four maps have been revamped to make them more balanced. You can learn more about this in this trailer for patch 9.1:
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.
In WildStar there are 6 different classes (Arcane Marksman, Esper, Warrior, Assassin, Medic, and Tech Pioneer), which can differ significantly from the stereotypical class profiles of other MMOs. For example, each class can become a damage dealer (DD) and also fill another role (Tank or Healer).
In the fifth episode of the Wildstar Cast, Darion takes a closer look at the various classes of the sci-fi MMORPG. He provides a basic overview of how the classes play, but also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each playstyle.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the Cataclysm, devastation entered World of Warcraft – Some regions were devastated – including Stormwind and Orgrimmar. With Patch 5.2, large parts of the cities were restored, but a blemish or memorial next to the Mage Quarter and Cathedral Square still remains: the formerly beautiful park.
Now, hope arose from a post on Twitter by Lead Content Designer Cory “Mumper” Stockton that the rest of Stormwind would also be repaired in Patch 6.0 or Warlords of Draenor.
The joy is, of course, immense, because many Alliance players – who care about their capital – criticize this state! But at the same time, the question arises: What about the other regions? When can one finally enjoy a sunset in Auberdine during a picnic again? Will the nasty craters in Azeroth perhaps be filled in again?
Which region is dear to you or is a thorn in your eye?
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]The question, the answer to which I probably already know:
Will there be an event this time?
Not only for role-players, it would have been nice if the previous changes to the cities had come along with an event. There are enough Wowlers who care about their city, and it could have been turned into a little contest in phases to gradually carry out the reconstruction. Players could have gathered ores / stones for the walls, provisions for the hardworking workers, etc. But unfortunately, after a patch, one simply logs in and it has changed – that is really potential that Blizzard is missing out on.
It may be too much to ask – but one can still dream. ;-)[/intense_testimony_text]
In the science fiction MMO WildStar, it is now possible to use real money to access additional virtual services. Paid realm transfers allow players to move their characters to any server of their choice. The game license C.R.E.D.D. grants 30 days of gameplay and can be freely traded within the game.
Transferring your character to another server will cost 16.99 euros. A few days ago, free transfers were offered for certain servers to relieve full realms and populate less crowded areas with players. This free service is only available for selected realms. However, the paid server transfer is not subject to such restrictions. Only a transcontinental transfer from Europe to North America or vice versa is prohibited, regardless of transporter technology. Here you can access the moving office of Carbine.
The game license C.R.E.D.D. is now also available for purchase. A green-skinned license vendor has been in the game between the banks and auctioneers since release, and now he finally has something to trade. C.R.E.D.D. will also cost 16.99 euros – the equivalent that players receive in-game for it is freely negotiable, but will likely amount to a sum in the platinum range. It is only possible to purchase a C.R.E.D.D. in the cash shop once every 22 hours.
It is also possible to gift this C.R.E.D.D. to a friend. You do not have to use it yourself or sell it through the special vendor. We have explained the effects of this tradable license on the in-game economy in a special article at Mein MMO: Play WildStar for free.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Did you also follow the first game presentations at the E3 gaming fair yesterday with excitement? Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much new for true MMO fans so far. But now a trailer has been released on the occasion of the presentation of the zombie sandbox game H1Z1 strong>.
As the numerous fans are increasingly looking forward to the early access and release, Sony would do well to heat up the mood! Contrary to all expectations, there has unfortunately been no concrete commitment yet regarding when the early access will finally begin – let alone when the release is scheduled. While there are regular hints that fuel hope, a final date has not yet been announced. According to this interview with Senior Designer Jimmy Whisenhunt, it is still supposed to begin in June.
The big consolation: At least the game is supposed to be offered in North America and Europe simultaneously on Steam Early Access, and that might happen very soon, if we are to believe the credits of the trailer. Hopefully, we will learn more about the current status of H1Z1 on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at 9:40 PM, when Sony’s press conference about H1Z1 takes place. You can find out when the other major developers will be up in our schedule for E3. Perhaps there will finally be a definitive date for the start of the early access phase.
A trailer that reflects the exciting and eerie atmosphere of the zombie MMO H1Z1 comes just in time to bridge the agonizing wait. This time, it is not only about the great environment and slaughtered zombies, but also the fight against other players is shown.
What do you think, will Sony keep us waiting or finally tell us what is going on and what the state of affairs is?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the end of June, there will be a major content update for The Elder Scrolls Online. In Patch 1.2, many small things will be improved in the game, such as the interaction with objects in the world or the lighting effects, but there will also be a few larger changes.
On one hand, a new veteran dungeon, the Crypt of Hearts, will be implemented into the game, and on the other hand, the campaign system in PvP will be fundamentally changed. Additionally, there will be the almost obligatory buffs or nerfs for individual classes, and the developers will even give us a brief insight into the plans for Patch 1.3.
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.
Update 2.8: War Loot is on the horizon and brings some exciting new features for Star Wars – The Old Republic, which you can celebrate starting June 10, 2014 in the nightlife of Nar Shaddaa – with plenty of bling! Special advertising terminals have been implemented on the Republic and Imperial fleets to lure you into the Star Event and Club Vertica Casino.
There you will find not only a stylish atmosphere but also the Smuggler’s Luck and Gangster’s Treasure slot machines – But beware: Gambling can be addictive! 😉 To try your luck at the Smuggler’s Luck slot machines, you will need Smuggler Casino Chips, which you can purchase with Warzone Commendations.
If you manage to get the boxes ringing, you can win unique weapons, armor, cosmetic abilities, and mounts alongside Smuggler Casino Chips, Gangster Casino Chips, or gold certificates!
A special feature is the Fortune Child buff, which increases your chances of winning at a Gangster’s Treasure slot machine. For these machines, you will need Gangster Casino Chips, which you can acquire with Cartel Certificates. The special thing about these machines is that there are two exclusive mounts – the Vectron Magnus or the adorable Rancor of the gangster boss (to the right in the image)- to be won. The latter is known as a reward for all diligent PvP players at the end of Season 1.
For gold certificates, you can exchange them for the following weapons, armor, or toys:
If you prefer a quieter experience, visit the VIP area and sip a delicious cocktail.
But of course, the update has even more to offer to live up to the name “War Loot”. We have already reported this in our preview of the roadmap from the developers of Star Wars – The Old Republic for this summer.
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]Wow, this is going to be an event! The slot machine idea is probably both a blessing and a curse… And will cause some gray hairs. The only downside in my view: Rancor was an exclusive reward for Season 1. Naturally, many players want to have everything, which is probably also the reason why this mount was included as a reward. Regardless of the (possibly) low chance of actually winning him, this reward unfortunately loses its exclusivity for the PvP players of the first season. What do you think about it?[/intense_testimony_text]
In the fantasy MMO Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, there is now a complete transformation service for the gender, race, and appearance of your characters. Additionally, Patch 2.2.8 has been released. Major announcements are also expected at E3 regarding the next major patch, 2.3.
Final Fantasy 14 may lead a shadowy existence in Europe, but in Asia and America, it is a big deal and has gained even more momentum with the port to PlayStation 4. With the Fantasia service, it is now possible to completely change a character’s appearance, gender, and even race. Fans have been requesting this service for a long time and, as is common in other MMOs, it costs real money.
Patch 2.2.8 in brief
With the newly released 2.8 patch, owners of Animus weapons can now upgrade them to Novus weapons. Additionally, the patch introduces players to a new sightseeing log to explore the most beautiful locations in Eorzea, and the Zodiac storyline will also continue. Also in 2.8 is a preview option that allows you to see how the armor you are currently viewing in the shop will look on your character – and changes are coming to the FATEs. These are dynamic events in the world of Final Fantasy 14:
You will be able to see on the map at the symbol of a FATE how far it has already been completed. I hope this will minimize disappointments of running to a FATE, only to find out that it has already ended by the time you arrive.
Announcements for 2.3 expected at E3
For the upcoming gaming expo E3, Final Fantasy XIV is planning a major appearance. Naoki Yoshida plans to present two of his producer letters live from E3. In these, the 41-year-old Yoshida usually announces new features for FF XIV in a somewhat Steve Jobs-like manner. Players have been promised significant changes. Concrete details for Patch 2.3 are expected. In the patch, it is already known that it will involve Ramuh, the Lord of Lightning.
Update: The secret behind the surprise has been revealed: In line with the gaming expo E3, a new class (Rogue) and a new job (Ninja) have been announced. Fans of Final Fantasy are certainly thrilled, as many have wished for such a combination. A matching trailer has also been released, showcasing the first promising gameplay scenes:
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.
Another E3 trailer has also been released, providing the first glimpses of the new boss battles of the MMO. We certainly don’t want to withhold this from you:
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.
Are you also getting excited about a round of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn after watching the videos? Then we can recommend the checklist for FFXIV, which will help you find out if the MMORPG is right for you!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Tuesday morning, the patch 1.1.4 will be applied to the European mega server of the fantasy MMO The Elder Scrolls Online. In addition to some balance fixes and bug fixes, it repairs the achievement screen.
Shortly after the Kargstein patch, some players raised the alarm: the achievement screen was suddenly empty. Zenimax, the developer company behind The Elder Scrolls Online, reassured that this was merely a display error. The hard-earned achievements of the players had not actually disappeared; they were simply not displayed correctly. With the 1.1.4 patch, this should come to an end. All achievements should now be displayed correctly again.
Enchanting will be easier, earning veteran points too
According to the patch notes, a bug in the PvP area of Cyrodiil has also been fixed that could severely affect the performance of players from both mega servers.
The enchanting of items through runes is currently considered the hardest crafting skill to learn. Some guilds have therefore passed on all enchanting materials to one of their players shortly after the release. With 1.1.4, the curve on which aspiring rune smiths advance in enchanting will be flattened. In the future, less inspiration will be needed to reach levels 25 and 26.
With the patch, the daily quests, known as dailies, in Kargstein will also become more attractive. Shada’s Tear, Rahni’Za, the Archivist’s Archive, Elinhir, and Spell Glove will provide more veteran points and a higher gold reward starting Tuesday morning.
Trailer aims to convince the undecided
Zenimax is also on its way to E3 and wants to promote The Elder Scrolls Online to convert skeptics of the single-player series. They especially have their sights set on console players who had good experiences with Skyrim on the PS3 and especially on the Xbox 360 – Skyrim sold exceptionally well on the Xbox.
To attract players to TESO, Zenimax has put together a trailer that showcases the world of Tamriel in its best light – if you like demons and fireballs.
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 Elder Scrolls Online is also featured at E3, and the developers, of course, took the opportunity to promote the MMO at the world’s largest gaming fair. To persuade more players to join TESO, Zenimax has put together a trailer that showcases the online role-playing game and the world of Tamriel in its best light.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are few days in a gamer’s life that receive the priority “Very high!” – because even on Christmas Eve, one can raid after the gift-giving, right? But the E3 is definitely one of those days when you spend the evening captivated in front of the monitor, eagerly waiting to see what renowned game developers will present in terms of hardware and software innovations. You can directly follow the conferences of Nintendo, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Sony, and Microsoft through a live stream.
The conferences are also supposed to run on the streaming portal Twitch. The schedule in German time is as follows on June 9, 2013:
Which press conference are you particularly looking forward to? The information on games Dragon Age: Inquisition and Diablo III will surely be exciting. But what surprises hide behind the “Unannounced title”? What will Bethesda and co. present?
At EA, the focus will likely be on Battlefield: Hardline, although the big surprise has unfortunately already been leaked – the game will revolve around the battle of the police against criminals. Besides that, Dragon Age: Inquisition will definitely be a topic. Many fans are hoping for Mass Effect – let’s see if something will actually follow.
Blizzard will, of course, report on classics like World of Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft II, and Hearthstone. Will the long-awaited release date of the expansion Naxxramas or Mobile Apps be revealed? Exciting news about the hack and slash MMO shooter Destiny is also expected, for which the beta should start this summer.
What date are you particularly looking forward to?
In the MMO area, I personally let myself be completely surprised. As a passionate Sims gamer, I am of course eagerly waiting for news about The Sims 4 – but FIFA will surely be quite interesting. Hmm, and I can’t wait for the mobile app of Hearthstone either – Ah, it will be great days!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Although long weekends, such as Pentecost, are known to bring little great news for gamers, the last few days have been blessed with exciting news around World of Warcraft. To ensure you don’t miss anything, we would like to provide you with a little overview.
First of all, let’s mention once again the very last episode of Azeroth Choppers, in which the Horde mount for Warlords of Draenor was announced, where we could also provide you with a glimpse of the gift for the tenth anniversary of WoW: the adorable Hogger.
Then it was officially confirmed that the Family & Friends Alpha for WoD is in full swing and the friend circle has been expanded. In addition to the usual suspects, streamers, fan site operators, and press representatives are also allowed to participate. Okay, one might say “And what do I get from it?” The great thing about it: there is no non-disclosure agreement – so in the coming days and weeks, countless new information about the upcoming expansion will flood in.
A small taste might be offered by this video from FatbossTV, in which the instance Bloodmaul Slag Mines is visited, located in the area of Frostfire Ridge and is designed for level 90-92. A total of four bosses are on the agenda: Magmolatus, Slave Watcher Crushto, Roltall, and Gug’rokk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPNOnvgmdiE Also, the inventory is supposed to be fundamentally revised with WoD, which surely will please the hoarders among us – but as the saying goes? “Having is better than needing!” Whatever your bags look like, with the addon, you will have enough space to take everything you can discover on your travels, because as was already known…
Quest items will have their own inventory.
For all you collectors out there, there will also be a toybox where great items like the Clumsy Marmot can be stored.
A similar overview will be available for heirlooms.
Bags can be sorted and organized according to specific criteria. For example, it will then be possible to assign bags to specific categories, such as food or gray items.
Items will receive the color of their rarity as a border.
You no longer need to take reagents out of the bank to use them.
However, new is that
Reagents will also receive their own interface in the bank, freeing up even more space in the bag mess.
The storage of the Void Storage will be doubled.
There is a lot to discover during the testing phase! But caution: There are no alpha keys! So if dubious emails reach you asking you to enter your data somewhere, the following rule applies: Think of our tips for account security and simply delete the email! It’s best to report the site so that other players don’t fall for it. If you want to participate in the beta tests, please remember to update your beta profile in the account management. It doesn’t matter if your subscription is frozen as long as you are not banned.
Also, with Warlords of Draenor, a new race starts at the Darkmoon Faire, which somewhat resembles the cloud serpent race in Jade Forest. If you want to see what it all will look like, we have a video for you – but unfortunately, all the curious ones will have to wait until the release of the expansion to test everything themselves.
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.
Good news is already available for everyone who is at home on the so-called ghost servers. After several weeks of suspending server merges until further notice, it’s finally moving forward. The following realms are next on the agenda:
Ambossar and Kargath and
Ysera and Malorne
on the agenda. Unfortunately, the merge of Rexxar and Alleria will not happen for the time being, as the technology is still being worked on.
Phew, what a newsflash! Which announcement do you like the most?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A few days ago, the long-awaited MMO “WildStar” was finally released, and I said goodbye to reality for almost a week to achieve my sprint to the maximum level.
What I particularly enjoyed and which points stand out negatively, you will find out in this review.
As is typical for the genre, you first have to choose a faction (Dominion or Exiles), a race, and a class. Those who want to read more about the species and how they found each other should take a look at this article.
A total of six classes are available, half of which have healing abilities while the other half can act as tanks – all can deal damage, of course.
At the beginning, all classes have few abilities. By the time you reach the maximum level of 50, the number increases to 30. But beware: You can only take 8 of them into battle, but you can choose freely. This variety ensures that no Esper plays the same, and you are always faced with a torturous decision: Do I take another damage ability, or would I prefer a stun? Do I save a healing ability for emergencies? Every attack has its justification, and there are very few “must-have” abilities.
The abilities are divided into 4 categories: Attack, Support, Utility, and Path.
Additionally, you can improve each ability up to 8 times to enhance its damage, healing, range, or effect duration. At the 4th and 8th improvement stage, an ability may even change fundamentally. A summoned companion, for instance, may gain life steal, or a ranged attack may throw enemies back several meters.
Lastly, you gain VIP points (or AMP in English). This resembles a classic talent tree where passive abilities can be enhanced. Critical strike chance, armor penetration, or reduced spell costs await in the first ranks – and then it’s a dead end.
However, if you want to delve deeper into the VIP tree, you first have to unlock the corresponding talents for purchase and find them in the world, which can sometimes be quite laborious. But those who undertake the search will be rewarded with stronger talents that can ultimately unlock entirely new abilities – one of the game’s first calls to explore the world.
Every beginning is difficult
After clicking through the relatively extensive character editor, it takes a while to get oriented, because unlike, for example, in World of Warcraft, your character only takes up a very small part of the screen – this is incredibly important for keeping an overview of everything in the world, but it feels strange at first.
The interface is significantly better than it was during the closed beta, but some decisions remain hard to understand. Why is the character screen accessed by default using “P”? Why do some functions, such as the Codex, which contains all the important background information about the world, have no key mapping at all? I can only speculate about these decisions, and every MMO veteran might consider changing the key bindings to align with long-established gaming standards.
Background story
For a completely new world, the developers at Carbine have gone to great lengths to fill each of the races with life while staying true to their humor. Whether you take the Lopp as an example, a race of space bunnies incapable of digging themselves out of holes, the constantly drinking Granok rock people, who must make some “rocky” innuendo in every sentence, or the sisterhood of the Torine, a mysterious clan of Amazons who worship an ancient power. There is a wealth of background information available for each species – those who are not interested can simply ignore it. No one is forced to read.
There is much to discover on Nexus; the lore is underestimated in WildStar.
Each area tells a small story, and you repeatedly find data cubes left behind by the mysterious Eldan that provide a glimpse into their actions. If you listen carefully, you will eventually recognize what they tried to do on the planet Nexus and where they might have disappeared to… but I won’t spoil that.
Starting at level 35, the areas begin to build on one another more strongly, and you unlock solo instances that tell a slightly more epic story. Although there are only a handful of these instances, each one is relatively long and unique. They are simply beautiful, exciting, and incredibly interesting.
The only downside is that upon “completing” the main story, you are left a little hanging. You are still urgently expecting that one big resolution that is hinted at everywhere and repeatedly, but it remains absent for now. But, well, two more areas are already marked on the map that will only be made accessible in the coming weeks – and heaven help us if the main story doesn’t continue there!
Presentation of the game world: Fun is guaranteed!
The world designers were very creative in designing the world.
If the developers succeeded in one thing, it’s creating a cohesive game world from scratch that overflows with humor without ever really appearing ridiculous. With every level-up, the narrator yells at you, literally telling me “how awesome I am” for just reaching a new level.
However, if I die and have to revive at the next graveyard, the mocking voice of an Eldan sounds, who insults me for failing yet again, but always in a humorous manner. My favorite line so far has been: “In this world, no one stays dead forever, but I find it nice that you try so hard.”
This continues with the various races of Nexus, whose codex entries have made me laugh more than once. The Aurin, for example, are a race of “tree-huggers” and nature lovers, and clever players can receive the following lore entry – a dime novel by the Aurin:
Hundred Shades of Jade Overwhelmed with desire and almost bursting with ripe fruit bodies, the Elder trembled as he gazed into the face of the new Matria of the village. Unseasoned and untried, she studied the bark of the tree sage as she traced her fingertips along the lines on his aged surface. “But this love must not be,” whispered Matria Wanderheartforest. “I am a Matria. But I have studied. You – you are, as I believe, a hybrid of three different tree sages. You are the ultimate tree sage.” She laughed. “Now,” she says playfully, “I believe I want to climb a tree…”
But humor is not everything. There are very serious scenes where NPCs die, or you even trigger a mass execution, after which you genuinely question whether you should have accepted that quest. Although the selection of soundtracks in WildStar seems smaller than in other MMOs, each track fits perfectly with the setting. The mysterious Eldan laboratories sometimes create a truly eerie atmosphere, and the lively music in the forests of the world makes you forget about the war for Nexus at times. The world is cohesive, and those who can warm up to the comic look will truly sink into it, only to resurface when server maintenance begins.
The combat system: No rest – for anyone!
Let’s get to the absolute heart of every MMO, the combat system. Similar to Guild Wars 2 or TERA, many abilities can be used while moving. At the same time, every attack also has an area effect: Melee attacks, for instance, have a small cone in which they take effect, while spells and ranged attacks produce a straight line of about 30 meters long and 2 meters wide.
The combat system in WildStar is extremely good!
The different hit areas are called “telegraphs” in WildStar and can be seen by both friends and foes as soon as you start an attack. Thus, the challenge in battles is to direct your blue telegraphs at as many enemies as possible while dodging the threatening red telegraphs.
Especially boss enemies have very complex telegraphs: Imagine a large circle from which you casually jump out, but at the last moment, big hooks protrude from the round area, and the whole thing starts wildly rotating. A handful of these telegraphs are only briefly displayed, and often one or two hits are enough to send your character to the next graveyard. Yet it is never frustrating: With each death, you know exactly what you did wrong and won’t make that mistake a second time.
Better yet: If you manage to interrupt an enemy during a particularly powerful attack, that enemy becomes vulnerable for 3 seconds and takes an additional 50% damage – thus tactical use of stun effects is doubly rewarded.
If you enjoy active combat systems, you will have fun here.
You can flip it and turn it any way you want: The combat system is incredibly fun. Never before in an MMO have I found myself so engrossed in purely hunting opponents that I forgot I had completed the quest 15 minutes ago. And this hasn’t happened just once or twice, but regularly. The fights are dynamic, and it’s easy to fall into a “flow”; or to quote a fellow player: “I feel like a damn Space Marine battling endless hordes; I don’t want to turn in the quest yet!”
Quests and Challenges
Let’s not kid anyone: The quests in WildStar are not a reinvention of the wheel. Nearly all tasks fall into the three most well-known categories “Kill!”, “Collect!” and “Deliver this from A to B!”.
Even kill quests can be fun.
Nevertheless, I can say with a clear conscience: Killing, collecting, and delivering has never been so much fun. It’s the first game where the quest doesn’t require any other system because the combat system and the many explorable areas turn even the normally boring “Kill 30 of these because they stole my cake” task into the greatest pleasure.
When questing, WildStar completely relies on the exciting battles: A bet that the developers have won. And truly, every time the thought creeps in, “Kill again…”, you hear the narrator shout, “CHALLENGE BEGINS!” and a timer starts ticking down. These challenges are completely optional and can be best compared to “bonus goals” from other games. If you fulfill them narrowly, you receive a random item. The better you perform, the more precisely you can choose what you would like to have. And that one housing item simply looks too good…
Objectively speaking, the quests in WildStar are standard MMO fare, but there’s just one problem: With the constant adrenaline rush, you can’t be objective. It’s fun.
Furthermore, it should be noted that leveling takes relatively long and is comparatively difficult. Unlike in WoW or SW:TOR, you can never be sure that you can defeat the enemy you are currently attacking. During my sprint to level 50, I died many, many times, and what can I say? It was a refreshing experience to finally have to fight for progress!
The Paths – Kill or Explore?
Every character chooses a path upon creation, either Scientist, Soldier, Settler, or Explorer. Each path has additional missions, which are typically distributed in the usual quest areas. What makes paths particularly special?
First of all: They are completely optional, and you don’t have to worry about them if you don’t want to. However, if you do engage with them, they reward you with titles, costume equipment, and useful abilities like group summoning or a fall damage mitigator.
Scientists study the world, open mysterious paths, and learn more about the world.
Soldiers mainly experience more kill missions; they either need to defend points against enemies or defeat particularly difficult bosses. Scientists study the world of Nexus and discover much about the background story or can analyze certain enemies to weaken them or gain useful buffs. Settlers can build multiple constructions at fixed positions in the game world that benefit all players: buff stations for additional experience points or even entirely new quest hubs. Finally, Explorers investigate every nook and cranny of the planet and must solve jumping puzzles to reach the highest peaks or the deepest caves.
The most fun comes when you wander around with a whole group and each path is represented once: Because you can help your colleagues with their path missions and gain progress in your own – practical and fun!
Dungeons and Adventures – 5 people die just as beautifully as one alone
From level 15, there are regular accesses to Adventures and Dungeons, the primary group content of WildStar. Dungeons are quite classic: a more or less tube-like area where you send the bosses off one by one.
The special twist: Each instance has a lot of challenges that you can complete for additional rewards. If you complete the instance within a certain time limit, defeat mini-bosses in the correct order, or rescue all captured NPCs, the reward in the form of loot and experience points increases. This allows even random groups to complete an instance, but those who truly want to loot everything will need to plan carefully with their group. The same system also applies to the much harder veteran dungeons, which are only accessible at level 50. Enter at your own risk.
The dungeons are challenging, but doable, with a good learning curve.
Adventures resemble small stories, where all participants can choose how they want to proceed: Should the farmers be supplied with weapons, or is it better to sabotage the enemies? Should we give the merchant his gold back or invest it in bribing a lookout?
Such decisions are made democratically, which ensures that the same adventure plays out differently every time and can lead to a different ending. Of course, there are already people who prefer the
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blizzard’s strategic online card game Hearthstone, there are three questions that the world is asking: When is it coming to Android? What is the best deck? What are the odds of getting a legendary card per pack? At least we can answer the last question for you today.
On the website kotaku.com, Steve Marinconz has extensively analyzed the distribution of cards in the 5-professional packs. He reviewed YouTube videos in which players publicly opened large quantities of packs to share the results with the viewers. A total of 1000 packs were opened, resulting in 5000 cards being recorded. Marinconz has now evaluated this selection.
A bit rarer than in every seventh egg – more like in every sixteenth
The probability of having at least one legendary card in a professional pack is 6.33%. One or more epic cards can be found with a probability of 19.33%, approximately in every fifth pack. And in 98.11% of cases, there is at least one common card in the professional pack. The most common distribution of the 5 cards is “4100”: Here, the player receives four common cards and one rare card. 61% of all packs exhibit this distribution. The second most common distribution (by a significant margin) is at 12.2% – here, a player receives 3 common and 2 rare cards.
The mathematical probability of hitting the jackpot and opening a pack containing 5 legendary cards is, by the way, 1 in a million. The chance of obtaining a pack with 5 golden legendary cards is 1 in 3.2 billion, making it approximately 43 times rarer than a 6 with an additional number in the lottery.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a livestream, the minds behind Guild Wars 2 discussed the introduction of the Story Journal. With this feature, it will be possible to play individual episodes of the Living World even after they have disappeared from the world of Tyria.
Joyful Anticipation and Delight: Live Stream Shows Excited GW2 Devs
Even within the first minutes of the livestream, a certain satisfaction and exuberance could be seen from the presenting trio.
This is also confirmed by Steve Waller, the Associate Game Director of GW2. Since the announcement, there has been a general joyful anticipation. Colin Johanson’s blog post, the Game Director, where he extensively explained the feature, was received with joy. The comments already indicated that players were really looking forward to it.
Colin Johanson then explains that the idea for the new Journal developed from ongoing contact with the community. They were constantly “out there,” on Reddit, in-game, in forums, in all possible outlets, listening to the players. This input and the experience from the first season of the Living World were then the reasons to work on the new Story Journal.
For a year, they have been working on a strategy to make the second season even better. That’s why they are now “ecstatic” about how excited players are about the idea.
Our Endgame is the Story
In other games, the endgame, said Johanson, consists of getting better gear and then doing the next raid and the next and the next… In GW2, however, the story is the endgame, with the constantly evolving and expanding narrative of the world of Tyria at its core.
Steve Waller sees the ability to replay previously played episodes as a great potential to re-engage with the story. When you are already deep into the story, you can take the time to go back and look at what happened in the early episodes. What led to this point in the story.
Johanson added that he has now played Living Story 2 multiple times and is excited about how many little story gems, references, and hidden hints Waller and his team have hidden in the second season. Fans of Guild Wars 1 will also get their money’s worth here. Just today, he found three new details, references to the first Guild Wars, that were simply “awesome.”
And it Costs Nothing
Another point that apparently makes the developers proud is that players do not have to pay anything for the Story Journal. Anyone who logs in for even two seconds during a running episode unlocks it for all their characters.
All you have to do is stay within the time window until the next episode goes live. This also allows for experiencing the Living Story with more than one character, even with characters that were not at max level when the story first appeared. Although the blog post mentioned a time window of two weeks; it may well be that some episodes last a bit longer, thus extending the time frame. An episode is considered active and can be unlocked until the next one begins.
If you miss this time window, you can still unlock the episode later for 200 gems. You can either buy them for real money or exchange your gold in-game for them.
Second Major Pillar of the Living World: Open-World Events
In addition to the introduction of the Story Journal, they want to continue focusing on large Open-World Events in Guild Wars 2, where the world evolves and changes. Everyone will be able to participate, regardless of whether they have unlocked the concurrent episode or not. Open-World Events will be designed, according to Waller, in a way that best serves the story.
The episodes of the Living World will, on the other hand, be experienced more frequently in instances. There, the best environment for “character moments” and personal developments is provided, Waller further explains.
Living Story Becomes the Continuation of the Personal Story
Johanson considers the current Living Story to be a continuation of the personal story. Therefore, similar rules also apply: players who have not unlocked an episode can accompany a friend experiencing it, but they will not receive any rewards.
First Season of the Living World Would Need Significant Adjustments
Long-term, they are considering integrating the first season of the Living World into the Journal, so players can experience these episodes later on. Much of the second season directly results from the first. But even though that would be nice, it currently has no priority. “No one is working on that at the moment,” says Johanson. All resources are currently focused on the second season and on some features that they are currently not allowed to discuss.
If the first season of the Living World finds its way into the Journal, it would need significant adjustments, especially the group content would have to be scaled down so that it could be mastered by a solo player.
Story Will Now Be Told More Like Current US Series – Episodically
Waller mentions an interesting aspect near the end of the livestream. With the now episodically experienceable Living World, GW2 is also looking to current US series like “Game of Thrones.” Series that tell a seemingly “endless” story in episodes that strongly interconnect and relate. With the Journal, Guild Wars 2 now has, in a sense, video recorder qualities. Players can experience the whole story on their own terms.
Players could – as with a TV series – simply tune in when it is currently happening or watch a replay later or enjoy an episode multiple times because they liked it so much.
Perhaps they also modeled the television format for successful series after completing a season of the Living World. Because in television, entire seasons are then released as DVD box sets. This, Johanson suggests, could also be an interesting option for the first season of the Living World, but they don’t want to commit to that just yet.
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]Mein MMO says: Wow, you can really see during the entire livestream how relieved and happy the three of them are that their ideas have taken root. Apparently, the whole team has been working towards this moment for a long time.
The Story Journal could be exactly the boost that Guild Wars 2 has been missing for the past few months. What do you think?[/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]
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.
Last week, Paradox Interactive announced the open beta test for Magicka Wizard Wars. In this multiplayer action game, 2 teams of 4 players each compete for control of various points on the map. The combat system is based on the single-player game “Magicka”, but allows players to combine only 3 elements instead of 5.
In Wildstar, the developers of Carbine Studios have now announced the option for character renaming shortly after the official release. This system is already known from other MMOs like World of Warcraft and allows the player to rename one of their characters – for a fee of €16.99.
The long-awaited “Family and Friends” alpha of Warlords of Draenor has now officially started. In addition to family members and friends, some gaming personalities (journalists, YouTubers, streamers, etc.) have also been invited to test the expansion of World of Warcraft and report on it.
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.