The Elder Scrolls Online: “About server maintenance, bots and chests”

Regularly, the developers of The Elder Scrolls Online  are available for questions and answers in their Q&A session. This time, it was about the maintenance schedule – yes, why do those darn maintenance works take place on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 6 AM? That would be the best time to play or farm in peace while others are already sweating at work? According to their statements, it is the best time to disturb as few players as possible in terms of gameplay. The choice was made after analyzing the origin, time zone, and peak times of all active ESO fans. 

Understandable, but it probably won’t change the regular verbal jabs on ESO’s official social media channels. However, the question of whether there will be changes to the loot distribution from chests in instances should hopefully make you happier. The answer has been known to us for a while, but the developers wanted to emphasize again: with the release of Kargstein, each group member will receive their own loot from it. This should end the theater around the loot.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Kargstein

This system is also supposed to be implemented in the trials, so that every player has a chance at a great reward, which of course depends on the loot list of the respective boss. In addition, chests await after successfully completing the raid.

Leaders guarantee several items from a large list of potential loot for each player. In the trials, there is also a weekly reward from the Undaunted for completing, which works similarly to the sent crafting materials – each player will receive a chest containing a random reward.

There was also a statement regarding the bot problem, but no final solution was presented. At the moment, they are only looking out for suspicious farming figures. It would also be a small miracle if the developers of ESO would simply solve the problem while other game developers have been struggling with it for years.

We are always looking for new ways to prevent “botting” and make it less attractive. The whole matter is tricky since we certainly don’t want to affect normal players with draconian measures or changes to the game. Therefore, the methods we choose must be carefully considered and many minds are involved.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Reborn – New Beginning with PS4 and Xbox One Version?

The makers of the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online have postponed the launch of the console port by six months. We wonder what that could mean.

The six-month delay came as a surprise to most. While signs were increasing that Zenimax would not be able to meet the date for PS4 and Xbox One; such a drastic delay was still unexpected. Especially considering how important the console release is for the game. After all, 6 out of 7 Skyrims sold worldwide fit either into an Xbox 360 or a PS3. Had everything gone according to plan, the console versions would have been released in an atmosphere of hype surrounding the PC version.

The console titles could have settled in a ready-made nest of top reviews, word-of-mouth, and hype instead of in a world where Angry Joe throws dollar bills around as Cobra Commander.

It cannot be denied that The Elder Scrolls Online is not exactly a bed of roses after a month. The MMORPG launched with too many bugs, and too many failures in communication and support burden the title. Even the biggest fan must admit that TESO could have benefited from a few more months in development.

The Elder Scrolls Online: PS4 and Xbox

A console release six months after the launch of the PC version means that Zenimax not only has much more time at the drawing board to bring the game into top shape but also a fresh start in the minds of customers. However, for this purpose, the marketing machinery must also be restarted, which is associated with enormous costs.

On the other hand, one hopes that the title will present itself in a better form by Christmas than it is today. With the announced features and numerous bug fixes, Zenimax shows initiative and a vision. However, the delay was only announced late and has consumed a lot of goodwill among console players. But such wounds heal quickly – especially when some mad things have been going on until Christmas. With the offer to players to start on PC now and switch to console later, they also send a message of goodwill.

The worst-case scenario: Star Wars: The Old Republic

[quote_right]Free2Play?[/quote_right]

At the moment, wicked tongues claim that The Elder Scrolls Online is already on the verge of collapse, that the game will soon become “Free2Play” and that Zenimax wants to cash in on console players before it is too late.

This is an extremely negative assessment of the situation, which we do not share. While the game undoubtedly has problems, the “good” core of the game, the good substance, is visible. Also, “Star Wars: The Old Republic“, often cited as a title that started strong and crashed quickly, serves as a poor example. After all, SWTOR developed splendidly after a while, although by then a large mass of players had moved on to the next hype title.

The best-case scenario: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

In the best case, Zenimax takes the same difficult path as Square Enix. Their Final Fantasy title (a name that is at least as big as The Elder Scrolls in Asia) struggled at launch with enormous problems and disastrous test results. The atmosphere was terrible, so they took a hard (also unpopular) step, took the game offline, improved it and later resurrected it as “A Realm Reborn” – and that with resounding success.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Skyshard

Of course, no one at Zenimax is talking about taking the PC version offline. But continuing to develop the game for 6 more months, smoothing the rough edges, getting the balance right, and only then opening the gates of Tamriel for PS4 and Xbox One players could prove to be a clever move.

Of course, the whole thing would have a taste of “The PC players were the guinea pigs”, but in MMORPGs we are a little bit always that, aren’t we? Console players would probably have dealt with the growing pains of an MMORPG even less than MMO veterans on PC.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

ArcheAge: Raise your own mount large!

Are you also looking forward to the release of ArcheAge? If so, we have a great video tip for you: the (now 6th) weekly live stream “Exploring ArcheAge”, which focused on the traveling options of the MMO!

These are, of course, available in traditional forms, such as Recall and the opening of world portals. But if you prefer to explore the atmospheric and varied world of ArcheAge on your own, you can rely on means of transport like carriages, vehicles, gliders, small boats, and even impressive sailing ships.

ArcheAge carriage

If you have a lot of patience, you can mount the lovingly raised mount – sometimes even two at a time. But before you can saddle your steed, a big task lies ahead of you: raise it with your own hands! You can play with the cute lion cubs, elk calves, and foals, feed them, take them along on your exciting adventures… In short, just love them!

Of course, the mounts have their own attributes and can be equipped by you – but take good care of them, as the creatures around you can attack your loyal companions!

But what am I telling you – see for yourself! You can expect exciting 39 minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A_fLW-Ic5C0
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

The Elder Scrolls Online – What can we expect in Kargstein? (TESO-Cast #22)

Kargstein is the new adventure zone of The Elder Scrolls Online. In addition to more veteran ranks, it offers a completely new leveling area with its own NPCs, landscapes, and stories. However, the endgame is finally being implemented with the zone: the trials.

They are designed for 12 players and are meant to present a really tough challenge for groups. Additionally, they are made more difficult by the soul reservoir, which limits the number of revivals, and for those seeking even more challenge, they can also compete in a leaderboard with other groups.

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Final Fantasy XIV: Interview about Patch 2.3 with the Producer

Unfortunately, the meeting with the producer and director Naoki Yoshida of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn won’t be quite as cozy – but if you watch the next livestream for Patch 2.3 while drinking a coffee, it’s almost the same! You should definitely keep Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 11 AM GMT free if you want to learn more about the upcoming update and its contents firsthand.

The live broadcast will be divided into two parts. On one hand, there will be information on the following topics:

  • The 3rd part of the Zodiac Weapon quest line, which is set to be implemented with Patch 2.28 in FFXIV ARR
  • Primae Ramuh
  • The three new dungeons Shipbreaker Island, Tam-Tara’s Rest and Stoneskin Watch.
  • The ability to recycle items by breaking them down and receiving new items in return.
  • The mob hunt.
FF XIV MMO

In the second part, you will be asked. If you have questions about designs of equipment items, monsters, hairstyles, and emotes, post them in the official forum of Final Fantasy XIV ARR and with a bit of luck, you might soon get a response from the lead designer Takeo Suzuki, who will take care of answering the submissions this time.

Even though the broadcast will be in Japanese, we hope for exclusive insights into the new content – it’s definitely worth a click! You can follow the whole thing on Youtube, Niconico, and Twitch. Meanwhile, you can actively participate in the discussion on Twitter under the hashtag #XIVLive. If you don’t have time on May 24, there will be a video recording available, where you can watch everything again at your leisure.

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Interest in WildStar explodes

The start of the Open Beta has given the SF MMORPG WildStar a significant boost in attention. The publisher NCSoft has high expectations for the title, which has seemed relatively quiet until now.

Google’s interest in WildStar has nearly tripled with the start of the Open Beta. Google Trends shows how much a term interests Google users. In the last 90 days, WildStar barely succeeded in generating attention, the so-called buzz.

April was entirely focused on The Elder Scrolls Online. However, from May 7 to 8, that changed rapidly. In Germany, the search term “WildStar” has surpassed the relatively constant competing titles “Guild Wars 2” and “Star Wars: The Old Republic In the three months prior, it was roughly at the level of Final Fantasy XIV, which may succeed in Japan, but is treated rather poorly in Germany.

WildStar Google Trend Interest

Buzz War among the MMORPGs in Germany

The interest in WildStar comes with a diminishing buzz for The Elder Scrolls Online. In the last few days, WildStar has even managed to surpass the competitor that started with much buzz. Of course, these are not long-term trends. Especially at release or during key events of a title, interest spikes sharply, only to quickly fade again. For the long-term success of a title, it is important to establish itself at a high level.

Google Trend MMORPG

Key Release for NCSoft

For the publisher of WildStar, NCSoft, the game is of strategically high importance. Besides Guild Wars 2, they primarily have Asian titles in their portfolio, which struggle in the Western market. Sales Manager Simon Cowley stated to the British online site mcvuk.com that the pre-sale figures and the beta feedback from WildStar provide grounds for optimism so far. For NCSoft, WildStar is the “key release,” the most important launch, in the summer. The MMORPG has the potential to become one of the few titles to truly take off on PC in 2014.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

World of Warcraft: The strategy with the free 90s worked out

Several months ago, Blizzard made an offer to all pre-order customers of the next expansion Warlords of Draenor that many couldn’t refuse: Those who pre-order the expansion can boost one of their heroes to level 90. Many gladly accepted the offer.

Warlords of Draenor has already sold over 1 million copies. This makes WoD one of the most successful expansions in the Warcraft franchise so far, even as interest in the title has noticeably declined after 9 years. During the current content drought, 200,000 subscribers were lost.

Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick described Warlords of Draenor in a presentation on the financial report of the software giant as “: (…) already one of the fastest selling expansions in the franchise’s history based on pre-sales”, thus one of the expansions in the entire Warcraft series that sold the fastest in pre-sales.

Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime added: “(…) that the incentive of being able to immediately boost one character to level 90 for those who do pre-purchase likely had a lot to do with driving sales.” From Blizzard’s perspective, the strategy with the free level 90 thus worked perfectly.

[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]Mein-mmo.de says:
Well, it is a bit disheartening when in-game things are so successfully used to influence the market in the “real world”. The idea of the free level 90 with the pre-order seems to have paid off for Blizzard more than well.

Evil thought: Those who try to exchange virtual money for real money as a player will be banned by Blizzard for it.

That there are hard marketing calculations behind decisions that have a direct impact on the virtual world and gaming experience has to be accepted. Nonetheless, we view “conveniences” or “special bonuses” in full-price titles with ongoing subscription costs with some skepticism. [/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]

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The Elder Scrolls Online: Kargstein wird Hartstein

In an interview with an English website, the Chief Content Designer of the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online revealed more details about Craglorn. The new adventure zone is coming soon and is considered the first raid.

12 players will take on everything Zenimax throws at them in Craglorn. But they will also compete for best times against other players. Richard Lambert, the Lead Content Designer of TESO, is responsible for the development of all zones. In an interview with tamrielfoundry, he reveals details about the planned adventure zone:

  • Lambert has been looking forward to the development of Craglorn all along. For him, it is a return to “Old School” raiding like in Everquest or World of Warcraft, when raiding was still hard.
  • Craglorn was designed with the idea of bringing players together and making them fight for their survival.
  • With Veteran Rank 1, players can head straight to Craglorn. There is no need to complete any prerequisite quests or qualify in any other way.
  • The loot from the bosses and quests will be bind on pickup. It is not tradable. The rewards for the fastest players on the leaderboard are also Bind on Pickup (BoP).
  • Items can be further upgraded as usual in The Elder Scrolls Online through crafting skills.
  • Mini-bosses, known as Bannermen, will appear in trash packs and make it difficult for the group to mindlessly tear through the trash. They will require a strategy adjustment depending on the special abilities they possess.
  • Players involved in a PvP campaign, which grants them numerous bonuses because their alliance dominates there, will also benefit from these bonuses in the raid.
  • Currently, 3 souls are planned per player for the Soul Reservoir. When a player dies, one of these 36 souls is consumed. If all are exhausted, the instance is considered failed, but it can be restarted.
  • There will also be achievements for Craglorn. More will be added later.
  • The trash in the raid will give players a glimpse of what the bosses can do later.
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Guild Wars 2: Mit Orchestermusik bald noch epischer

The fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2 is leveling up acoustically. In a live stream, the composer hinted that he has composed thirty minutes of new music for the next “Living Story”. Now he intends to record it with a live orchestra.

The live stream introducing the new musical instrument, the drum, wrapped up after 49 minutes, when in-house composer Maclaine Demer started chatting. For the next big chapter of the Living Story, he composed thirty minutes of epic music and is now flying “to far away lands” to record the music with a live orchestra.

The music in many MMORPGs often takes a back seat, but for some audiophiles and mood players, it is particularly important. In a discussion thread in the English forum reddit, some fans complained about the initially generic background music of the title but also noted that it has improved in recent months. Especially the music for the event about the attack of the giant killer puppet (mein-mmo.de reported on this) received much praise.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131056365″ params=”color=d71212&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131056400″ params=”color=d71212&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

With the upcoming release in the growth market China on May 15 and the issues with the European mega-server, ArenaNet currently has its hands full. Overall, an announcement regarding the Living Story 2 is expected by the end of the month. Speculations suggest that the continuation of the “Living Story” may revolve around Mordremoth, one of the Elder Dragons.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

WildStar: Gold status granted

WildStar presents itself in top form at the start of the open beta. The SciFi-fantasy MMORPG plays smoother than it did a few months ago and the German localization surprises, aside from a few minor issues, with a successful implementation.

Since Thursday everyone can take a look at the much-discussed online role-playing game, which will be released on June 3rd, so in just over a month. Listening to the first voices, whether in public chat zones on the planet Nexus or in the respective gaming communities, one gets the impression that Carbine is offering players a truly mature, yet fun package. The general tenor so far is positive.

Those who were somewhat dissatisfied a few months ago may find a completely different gameplay experience. Much has improved for the better in that time: whether it’s a more modern UI, user-friendly menus, improved quest flow, or the new options in character creation – it already feels like a sufficiently finished game at this point.

Just a word about localization: Many concerns have been raised, especially since the English version boasts a specific humor that is not easy to transfer into other languages. However, after several hours in the German version, it can be said: Well done, better than expected for a start.

Yippie, WildStar is ready for launch!

Over 8 years of development time and a generous budget, with many experienced developers and a very intensive beta phase, have seemingly paid off. Almost everyone agrees: A AAA MMORPG is being released here, with a version that can be confidently labeled as ready for release. Thanks to the hardworking Chuas and adorable Aurins. The remaining 4 weeks are enough for the final polish, as no significant flaws are left to find. Meanwhile, performance is still a concern, but according to the developers, many optimizations are already in the pipeline for the launch.

How often in recent years have we heard that a game would have benefited from a few more months, that it was released too early? Such doubts have hardly emerged here so far. It is a different story with the recently released The Elder Scrolls Online, where the community often plays the “The game has potential” card. It is a good game – unfortunately not yet as polished as hoped.

WildStar

Negative opinions about WildStar are almost exclusively based on personal preferences: “The graphics are too colorful for me, I don’t like the comic style,” to take the classic example. The quest presentation is also not for everyone, especially not for players who insist on fully voiced quests. MMO players who were socialized with classic titles will not be bothered by this. After all, there were neither cutscenes nor full synchronization there. More on that later. At the moment, I just want to say that WildStar offers a thoroughly polished gaming experience. And that’s anything but a given today.

The calm before the storm?

Will the concept of WildStar succeed beyond the release and captivate players even after one, two, or three months? We will report extensively on mein-mmo.de about this. It will be especially interesting to see to what extent this game appeals to the masses – are we perhaps witnessing a renaissance of the blockbusting MMORPG, with a revamped World of Warcraft 2.0? It would be a wish for the developers. However, it is still relatively quiet around WildStar, as we have already reported. Is there a lack of interest, or is it just the calm before the storm? The trend on Google in recent days gives hope.

WIldStar

We cannot guarantee it for every single player, but according to our beta experiences, several hundred hours of gameplay fun are definitely in store. One feels at home as an MMO veteran. Because WildStar primarily relies on tried-and-true features but expands them, revealing interesting innovations. Another question will be whether players would prefer a game that breaks more conventions, like Guild Wars 2 once did. WildStar, on the other hand, operates within the genre lines.

Whether there will be problems at the beginning, despite the positive signals, can never be completely ruled out. However, we are on the right track.

Most importantly: How do you like the open beta so far? Is WildStar captivating you, or can you not get into its outlandish style?

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World of Warcraft: Workaround for lost Authenticator

Do you know that feeling? The raid in World of Warcraft is scheduled for 7:30 PM. At 7:25 PM, you rush home, quickly start the computer, take care of your personal basic needs while it boot up, and then try to log in at 7:29 PM (still standing). You call into Teamspeak that you’re there, but of all days, a hotfix has to be downloaded today! Then the moment arrives, the atmospheric music of the login screen plays, and it could start right away. But where is the authenticator?

For this problem, there are only two good tips: Attach the physical authenticator directly to the monitor stand or install it on your smartphone – provided you haven’t left it in the bathroom and now have to run back. But even this seemingly elegant solution has its pitfalls: The upcoming update for the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator on iOS (on iPhone, iPad, and iPod) can reset the beloved app or authenticator. 

Workaround to avoid the problem

To avoid being caught by Murphy’s Law, you should take the following precautions:

  • Link your mobile number with mobile notifications. In case of a problem with the authenticator you can remove it via SMS!
  • Note the serial number and recovery code provided in the app.
  • Now you need to remove the authenticator from your Battle.net account. To do this, log in to your account and enter two consecutive authentication codes there.
  • Then update the app as usual. To save on connection costs, it’s best to use a wireless network – according to Blizzard’s statement, this is also the recommended way to prevent unwanted resets. 
  • Now add the authenticator back to your account.

Unfortunately, it is not known when the update for the mobile app will be available, but we hope that this message reaches you in time before it becomes unnecessarily complicated because you can’t access your account.

Learn more about the mobile authenticator and your account security in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYZLTxevPMY
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Rift: The Four New Souls and the Language Issue

Patch 2.7 Bloodline for the online role-playing game Rift should be another milestone in the history of the MMO: Four exciting new souls, countless quests, and UI improvements are just part of the new content. Unfortunately, the anticipation was overshadowed by two mishaps:

roft_seelen

First, there was a serious error, which announced that the deployment of the update would be slightly delayed. In the meantime, the update has been successfully deployed (at least partially). Given the emotions that flared up immediately, the development team of Rift was probably very glad to be able to write these lines on the planned release date for the patch:

We are proud to announce that our RIFT Update 2.7: Bloodline is now live.

rift_seelen2

But the second issue has still not been resolved: There are localization problems and the translations of the skills of the new souls have not been fully translated into German. As a result, the ability names are missing, or they are all simply the same.

If you are playing in English anyway, you might wonder who could be bothered by this – one could just switch the language. However, there are many players who want to play in their native language and with their familiar interface and addon settings, which is currently nearly impossible – and they feel quite frustrated about it. A community manager from Rift commented on this last night as follows:

We are currently investigating what exactly has happened here, and the new German text will be provided as soon as possible.

Today, a hotfix is supposedly set to be deployed that will partially resolve the issue. We will keep you updated on this!

Katja: Mistakes are, of course, human! But we still hope strongly for the disappointed players that a solution will be found. With a price of 5,000 diamonds (rounded up to about 25 euros) for the soul package, one can expect that everything works as it should.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

WildStar: New video takes on a more serious tone

At the start of the Open Beta a new WildStar video has been released. However, those who expected a humorous visual explosion with striking accents, even more striking words, teeth-baring furballs, and plenty of explosions, might be surprised. They can do other things too! And not badly at all.

The video proves that many do not believe at first glance: WildStar has a serious, even bombastic background story. As in the sci-fi thriller Prometheus, there is also an ancient race in WildStar, the “Creators” or Eldar, who traveled and explored the universe long before the younger races. Long gone, they have left their traces everywhere. Nexus, the mysterious planet over which the Exiles and the Dominion will fight, is considered the home planet of the Creators… And the rush that draws all intelligent races of the universe to this outpost of civilization at once – what consequences will it have? What secrets does the planet hold? And would it perhaps be better to leave what sleeps eternally undisturbed?

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With the atmospheric cinematic trailer, Carbine shows that behind the sci-fi MMORPG there is a background concept that can give players the coveted “epic” kick.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

Zenimax makes an immoral offer to PS4 and XBoxOne players in The Elder Scrolls Online

The release of the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online originally scheduled for June for the next-gen consoles Playstation 4 and Xbox One has been postponed according to today’s confirmed reports until the end of the year. The developer Zenimax makes a tempting offer to console players: They can start playing on PC now and later switch to their console of choice for 14.99 euros.

What appeared to be a debacle this morning could turn out to be a lucky break for Zenimax. They took advantage of the delay in console adaptation for a bold step: Console players can now begin their adventure on PC and later continue smoothly on their favorite console for a fee of 14.99 euros.

The last game of the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim, has sold 20 million copies. More than four-fifths of them for consoles. Many console players were eagerly anticipating the MMO, and there was great disappointment shortly after the announcement of the delay.

The Elder Scrolls Online: PS4 and Xbox

But with the recent developments, console fans now have the choice to wait until after Christmas or to join the looting masses on PC that are currently exploring Tamriel. Thanks to Zenimax’s offer, they will be able to continue playing later on their favorite console with the character they start on PC now. For 14.99 euros, they will not only transfer their account to the new console but also receive an additional 30 days free.

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WildStar Beta, future plans in TESO & Siege mode for SMITE

The most important news of the past days is the announcement of an Open Beta for the upcoming sci-fi MMO WildStar. It was originally said that there would only be beta weekends, but in the latest press release from developer NCSoft, it was announced that an open testing phase will take place from May 08 to May 18.

Also in The Elder Scrolls Online there were a few news items. In a press report about TESO, ZeniMax now gave us a small insight into their future plans. For example, they want to introduce a rights system soon, automatic level adjustments for dungeons, or the Dragonstar Arena, which is supposed to be similar to the Trials but designed for 4 players.

Last but not least, a new patch in Hi-Rez MOBA Smite brought several new features to the game. Not only was the new god Osiris implemented as a playable character, but a new game mode was also introduced. In the sieges, two 5-player teams compete against each other on 2 lanes and there is even a brand new league system.

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Is the console version of Elder Scrolls Online being delayed? +++officially confirmed+++

Oh dear, the rumor mill about the console version of The Elder Scrolls Online is brewing! Allegedly, the following text appeared this morning on the official page of ESO.

When does The Elder Scrolls Online officially launch? The Elder Scrolls Online officially launched on April 4, 2014 on PC and Mac. While it has become clear that our planned June release of the console versions isn’t going to be possible, we have made great progress, we have concluded that we’ll need about six more months to ensure we deliver the experience our fans expect and deserve. For additional information on the delay, please see this blog post (link).

eso_konsole

Summary: The developers have realized that it is currently impossible to release the console version for TESO and that the release is delayed by approximately 6 months. The initial reactions were disappointment and frustration, but then it got mysterious: The post was deleted and allegedly the comments on the official social media platforms were removed. Additionally, there have been bans of some users in the forum because they expressed their frustration and resorted to verbal blows.

Unfortunately, Bethesda and ZeniMax Online have not yet commented on this, but as soon as there are any updates, we will keep you informed! Until there is an official statement from Bethesda or ZeniMax Online, this news should be considered a rumor.

Who among you is eagerly waiting for the console version? Please raise your virtual hand! 😉

[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]If this is indeed true news that just came out too early, it would be very sad for all fans. But the wave that has been initiated because of this is insane. It’s a shame that there is no official statement on this yet! [/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]

Update:

It is now certain: The console version for ESO will be delayed!

It has become clear to us that we will not be able to adhere to our planned release date for the console versions in June. Even though we have made great progress, we will still need about six months to provide our fans with the experience they expect and deserve.

Bethesda or ZeniMax Online made another statement today at 4:15 PM in an official blog post.

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DC Universe Online – Amazon Fury Part 1 is finally available

Several weeks ago, we previously introduced you to the next expansion Amazon Fury Part 1 for the MMO DC Universe Online. Now the DLC featuring Wonder Women and the battle of the Amazons is finally available, and you can (hopefully) quickly put an end to the Chaos in Gotham City.

To fully immerse yourself in the story, we recommend that you become an Amazon yourself, to relive the most exciting scenes and moments of the Amazon war. This way, you will understand how Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, was so easily confused by Circe and why she wants to destroy Gotham City.

dc_universe_p10

But not only is the story definitely worth playing the first part of Amazon Fury – the new adventures in the palace district, the warehouses, and the harbor of Themyscira are truly thrilling! If that wasn’t enough action, try to save the city from its demise in the Alternate Phase “The Siege of Gotham”. There, you can accept daily quests from the Amazons to actively support Wonder Women and her entourage.

Tip: As legendary players, you can enjoy the new features for free as usual, while others can purchase the expansion pack for €8.99.

So, have you not quite decided whether to try out the expansion? Then this trailer will surely whet your appetite for more!

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WildStar relies on old values: Combat, War, and Capitalism

The SF-MMORPG WildStar relies on the three big K’s: War, Competition, and Capitalism. With the Open Beta on the horizon and the release in sight, it’s high time to take a look at the inner values of this MMORPG hope.

Back to the Future

While The Elder Scrolls Online focuses on immersion and community, WildStar beats with a cool-calculating capitalist heart. And where other games promote cooperation, WildStar fuels the competitive spirit. While in some games a hero can reach the end of the line after just three weeks, WildStar offers continuous improvements even after three months.

Three indicators that have caught our eye in recent weeks:

  • In an interview with our magazine, French pro-gamer Pryda mentions that his guild has stopped raiding in TESO. They are preparing for WildStar.
  • The term “WildStar” is being Googled worldwide. However, interest is strongest in the Scandinavian countries: in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Scandinavians are considered the Koreans of Europe when it comes to pro-gaming and e-sports. Guilds from these countries were the first in the world to defeat numerous raid bosses in World of Warcraft, achieving so-called World-First-Kills. This is the Holy Grail in MMORPGs. Unless there’s a Scandinavian beer brand, a pair of skates, or a pop band named WildStar, one should assume that enthusiasm for the game is high in these countries.
WildStar Google Trends
Regional interest in the last 90 days for the search term “WildStar”. Source: Google Trends.
  • In a post, one of the devs explains a seemingly obvious point in detail: WildStar would never interfere in any form in the competition between players: There would be no loot gifts, nor any advantages. Additionally, the sometimes somewhat quirky devs of WildStar send clear signals that they want to heat up the competition among players.

Capitalism Triumphs!

One of the selling points of the game is the C.R.E.E.D. system (a play on the English word for greed). This allows players who are wealthy in-game to pay for their playtime directly with in-game currency.
Players who don’t have to count every cent in real life can buy playtime for euros and then sell it in-game for in-game money.

Otherwise, capitalism is the name of the game in WildStar. The game features a sophisticated crafting system, relies on rare drops, even rarer elite recipes for crafters, and a robust auction house system. Just as an interior designer capable of creating the rarest furniture pieces, one can earn a fortune from fashion-conscious Aurins and Chuas.

And money is also a kind of high score, even if most of us may not play in the first league…

War is Good for Business

In PvP, one can orient themselves towards the battlefields and arenas typical of the genre. But even here, the status quo is not enough. Instead, they keep up with the times and take cues from successful games like League of Legends. A spectator mode is already in the works. Then the top games can also be followed by average PvPers. This is a big hit in League of Legends, where the best players can even make a living from their successes. Additionally, there will be regular rankings and an announcer voice to further escalate the spectacle.

WildStar PvP

The rivalry system ensures that there’s always something going on in the wild. With it, one marks their arch-enemies to keep an eye on them. Anyone who craves the excitement of continuous PvP should play on a PvP server. Things get really intense there. With the release, according to the latest information from the community manager responsible for Germany, Bronn, there will also be a German PvP server. The names for the two PvE servers are already set as Toria and Ikthia.

Besides the arenas, the war bases will be the territory of the best of the best of the best (Sir!). Here, 40 players clash head-on. The path to the top will lead through countless dead aliens. Many expect that existing guilds with e-sport aims will invade WildStar to take over the PvP on a specific server, thereby creating fear and hair-pulling from just the prospect of playing against them.

With the Warplots, which offer countless configuration options, a varied and exciting meta-game is guaranteed. Cookie-cutter strategies are unlikely to be found with 40 players on each side and a dev team that pays such close attention to balance.

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Competition Breeds Success: Who Will Get the First Kill and the Best Weapon?

For the core component of an MMORPG, the raids, Carbine has come up with something special. On one hand, they take inspiration from Vanilla World of Warcraft and extend the raids to 40 players. On the other hand, they want to make them challenging.

WildStar Raid Boss
WildStar promises challenging raids.

According to the philosophy of chief developer Frost, raids are only for core gamers and they will want it to be a bit tougher.

Another draw for many players is to equip their character with best-in-slot items. In many games where equality is valued, this is usually done within a few weeks, while in typical hunter-gatherer games like Diablo 3, it never really ends.

In WildStar, the best items, the artifacts, are incredibly hard to obtain. And even if one has them, they aren’t necessarily the end of the dream. Only when the hero and their weapon have gone through hell and been tempered in purgatory do they reach that goal: for an artifact can be continuously enhanced through such trials.

European and international top guilds are undoubtedly already at the gates of Nexus, waiting to compete against each other to rise to the top of their respective fields.

Who will be the toughest in PvP, who the richest in the trading system, and who will first slay the biggest bosses and acquire the best items?

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Star Wars: The Old Republic – Developer plans for the upcoming summer

Last night, the developers announced in the official forums of the Free2Play MMORPG “Star Wars: The Old Republic” what is coming with game update 2.8, aside from the already announced features.

First, a new event will take place called “Nar Shaddaa Nightlife”. In this event, the Republic and the Empire can use their hard-earned credits on various slot machines to obtain special certificates with a bit of luck and skill, which can then be exchanged for unique rewards; however, what exactly these look like is still unknown. The event will last from June 10 to August 21 – exactly the time span between Patch 2.8 and 2.9.

PvP Rewards

The rewards for both PvP modes (Warzones and Galactic Starfighter) will be temporarily doubled. Between Patch 2.8 and 2.8.1, all space pilots will benefit from double fleet requisition and double the amount of credits, while between Update 2.8.1 and 2.8.2, all foot soldiers can look forward to double the number of Warzone medals.

Furthermore, all pilots will have access to two new starships that they can steer purposefully towards the nearest meteor.

Group Finder, Nightmare Mode, and Events

The Group Finder operations will be revamped and simplified. Max-level players will be strengthened and will no longer need high-tier equipment to participate in the operations, while rewards will be improved and some boss fights will be toned down to forgive minor mistakes.

Nightmare Master

The “Nightmare Palace” will receive a Nightmare Mode, raising the bar once again to continue providing a challenge for the most ambitious players. At the same time, the buff from the Nightmare Mode of the “Nightmare Fortress” will be removed, lowering the difficulty and making the associated titles no longer available – those who want to grab them should hurry!

Additionally, between June and August, all major server events, except the Rakghoul Plague, will return, giving players another chance to help the Gree, collect bounties, and earn double XP.

“Many people are currently working on a very big thing”

Lastly, it was mentioned that the developers, aside from Patch 2.8 and 2.9, are working on something big, which is still a secret – but not so secret that it can’t be mentioned already. One can be curious.

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You can look forward to these 5 things in The Elder Scrolls Online

Nearly a week ago, restless and discontented voices were silenced with a gift package in The Elder Scrolls Online. On one hand, Matt Firor brought five free days for every player with an active subscription.

However, much more important for the peace of the realm was a long list of announced improvements and expansions that are set to gradually find their way into the fantasy MMORPG over the coming months and years. In our special, we take a closer look at the list.

I confess: I was overwhelmed by the list. While we were piecing together the news about the five free days, Dawid, who was working with me on the news, kept discovering new points on the list that excited him: There are new raids planned, the thief quest is coming, and so on. It was too much to comprehend all at once.

Additionally, new topics constantly pushed in, but today, nearly a week since “THE LIST” (by Matt “Grisham” Firor) has been among the people, it is time to take a closer look at the most important points.

Hey, take your hand out of my underwear drawer!

  • A legal system where theft and killing of NPCs (non-player characters) have consequences if you get caught.
TESO Punishment

This is the point at which most people have clicked their tongues. A clear commitment to the single-player series with an embedded moral gray zone.

The MMORPG ArcheAge brings a similar system. Players accumulate penalty points, can be tracked down and arrested by other players, must answer to a jury, and ultimately serve their sentence.

Many players have resented TESO for the absence of a punishment system. On the other hand: How exactly should it work? Will it then be possible to kill innocent NPCs? For that, they would first have to be introduced.

And will the chronically kleptomaniacal TESO players cope with not peeking into other people’s underwear drawers? Will Zenimax go a step further and prohibit the quick reading of 200 tomes in four seconds while casually looting and eyeing skill points?

Anticipation: High. The system simply belongs in TESO. It will be exciting to see how it will be implemented.

When will this come? I think relatively late. This is a typical “nice-to-have” feature that will require a lot of work. Maybe with a first expansion? The best time for such a feature would be at the launch of the strategically important console release of TESO (which will play on its own server and not with the PC gamers, who otherwise would have too much of an advantage.)

Cosmetic fans, pay attention

  • Dyeing and tinting of armor

A small thing at first glance, but important to many players. Especially because the rather “realistic” color choices currently look like gray in gray in ochre gray – like a rainy November day. A splash of color here and there would be nice. Purists, however, will roll their eyes. Should the spectacle slide into bright Asian colors, the path to costumes in the in-game shop would not be far. Next, players would be running around with Khajiit masks and thinking they are Catmen! Wait, I think I saw one of those recently…

Anticipation: Low for some, but for those who spend six hours in the character editor, it could hardly be higher. It just doesn’t fit the grim atmosphere in TESO. However, Zenimax has so far proven to have a pretty good hand and could limit themselves to subtle colors.

How do new guilds fit into the game?

  • Story and quests for the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood
Elder Scrolls Online: Brotherhood

A major point of criticism from the “This is not like Skyrim” faction. While the Fighter’s Guild and the Mage Guild made it into the game, the Thieves and the Dark Brotherhood did not. Even an MMO player with little connection to the Elder Scrolls series would concede that the storylines of the Mage and Fighter guilds represent highlights in the game.

Great stories could surely arise around the Dark Brotherhood. The only question is: How should this work? Do you want to start them at level 10? Then the content would be unattractive for a large number of players who by then would already be strolling in veteran ranks? Or do you introduce them directly at the end level? Then newcomers would have to wait a long time.

Anticipation: For newcomers (keyword: console version), this could be a great thing; for veterans, not necessarily. Except as a high-level version or if the guilds become quest givers in new adventure zones: then it would surely be a great idea that many would appreciate.

When will this come: Maybe with one of the next zones? Or only with a possible expansion? Maybe Firor will surprise us here and pull some members of the Dark Brotherhood out of his Santa Claus hat for the next adventure zone. The assassins and thieves surely won’t sneak into the game just like that. You will definitely hear some fanfare.

Spell weaving! Sounds complicated? It is!

  • Weaving spells

Spell weaving was the first thing that raised questions: “Is it really what I imagine?” And the answer was a wise nod.
Spells that a player can assemble themselves are an interesting concept in an MMO, especially in one that proudly boasts such a large kit of skills from which a player can customize their character.

If spell weaving comes, it will surely happen within strict parameters, similar to how it was with glyphs in World of Warcraft. If certain aspects of a spell are too good (a flame strike without range but with eightfold damage, like a Three-Finger-Fire-Deathpunch), it ruins the already fragile balance.

Perhaps one could change a color or slightly modify something. A major overhaul of the game’s balance will not be allowed.

Anticipation: Probably too high. But we are happy to be pleasantly surprised by Zenimax.

The return of Darkness Falls?

  • PvP dungeon in the Imperial City

Here I can shine with my Dark Age of Camelot expertise, because this idea comes from the old-timer. A PvP dungeon!

DaoC Legion
Memories awaken: PvP Dungeons in DAOC

In DAOC, it was a particularly tasty dungeon that offered rich loot. It was only open to the realm that was currently ahead in PvP. The realm then had access to the dungeon for a certain period of time, could undertake a realm-wide action to send the resident arch-villains to the other side, and fill their pockets.

It was roughly like storming a department store during a winter clearance sale, only everyone was armed and it wasn’t about fur coats but about loot being carried out. Well, at C&A, a thousand-eyed demon monster that sucks the souls of the fallen isn’t usually slain… On the other hand, I haven’t been to a C&A in a long time.

Moreover, the PvP dungeon was a great place to level up; the exp was increased.

A particular joy was when the realm changed that occupied the PvP dungeon. Then it was like a spring cleaning. A new army stormed into the PvP dungeon after the triumph over some castle and killed mobs alongside enemy players until Darkness Falls belonged to them alone. Such a sweeping action was possible because only those who still had access to the PvP dungeon could respawn directly on site. The rest found themselves at a graveyard outside.

This also set off a constant circulation in the PvP area, because when 200 people from the currently dominant realm were in the PvP dungeon, they couldn’t defend their fortresses…

Anticipation: Probably too low at the moment. This was a huge deal in DAOC, gave everyone a goal, and breathed new life into the game. The exp was good, it was a “server-wide” event, and the slaughter after each change was a lot of fun for the whole family.

When will this come? Probably the first time Firor thinks the game needs a gameplay boost. End of the year? Around Christmas maybe?

Things that are simply due now

This was of course not the entire list; it will be completed by a whole host of changes that players would have wished for at release.

  • Better facial animations of NPCs
The Elder Scrolls Online

This is urgently needed and has been noted as the big weakness in the presentation since beta. Unfortunately, such things typically take a long time…

  • Migration of the European mega server to our European data center.

The European servers somewhere in America (probably in Maryland) have indeed angered many German players because the impression was given before the release that the servers would be located in Frankfurt. Well, at least most had assumed that if there was already a European server, it would also be in Europe.

There is no date for the move yet, but every week, one of the officials reaffirms that it is really high on the priority list and that they will definitely do it as soon as things calm down regarding bugs, bots, and gold sellers.

When will this come? Soon. I think by the end of May, this should be settled.

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  • A system that allows players in groups to see each other even if they are in different phases.
  • Personal adjustment of the field of view
  • Two new veteran dungeons: Crypt of Hearts and City of Ash
  • New region in Kargstein with a new trial: the Serpent
  • Improved ways to pick up items in the world
  • Horse racing
  • Dragonstar Arena – similar to trials, but for up to four players
  • Improvements in fishing
  • Improvements in the crafting system
  • Improved group search
  • New guild features: changes to the user interface of the guild store, customizable guild emblems, tabards, and guild kiosks – guild stores that are accessible to everyone and available to the highest bidding guild.
  • Automatically leveling dungeons that adapt to the level of your group leader.
  • Achievements for repeating dungeons

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What do you think? What are you most excited about from the long list of things? Let us know in the survey! Or do you have something else in mind? Then share it in the comments!

Diese Umfrage ist geschlossen.
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