Oh, dreams do come true! During a livestream about Star Wars: The Old Republic, the developer Bioware personally surprised fans with a teaser video called “Welcome Home”.
There are no further details about Housing yet, but this is definitely the best answer to the upcoming wave of high-profile MMORPGs in 2014! The apartment shown in the video is clearly located on the planet Coruscant. Are there more places to follow? I also suspect that it is an instanced housing system (it would be awesome if there were open housing zones on the planet where players could settle), but this is purely speculation in this case.
We can also expect an announcement on the official site soon, which will likely provide more in-depth information!
What do you actually think about Housing being introduced in SW:TOR? Does it maybe bring back memories of Star Wars Galaxies? For a long time, fans of the Star Wars MMORPG have constantly expressed the wish to integrate this popular feature into the game. Let’s hope that the implementation will not be too superficial.
Mein-mmo.de definitely gives a +1 for player accommodations for now! Who’s joining?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Elder Scrolls games are known for placing great importance on storytelling. The Elder Scrolls Online is no exception. In the MMO, various small stories are hidden that you can encounter in the world if you just keep your eyes open.
In this video from the beta, Darion presents one such story to you. The special thing about this story is that it completely does without battles. A good story doesn’t always need fights to be interesting – though they don’t hurt either.
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The developer company of The Secret World, Funcom, has been sailing through stormy weather in recent years. In their financial report, they are now providing updates.
The two oldies Age of Conan and Anarchy Online remain stable at a low level, while The Secret World is falling short of expectations. Funcom’s war chests are empty. With an injection of 5.5 million dollars, the promotional drum for the savior Lego Online is to be beaten. And as if that weren’t enough, they also have a peculiarity of the Norwegian state at home.
The oldies Anarchy Online and Age of Conan are chugging along
If game developers were football clubs, Blizzard could certainly be compared to Bayern Munich – and Funcom to HSV. Somehow, the Norwegians have not had luck for years. In every generation of MMORPGs, something gets in the way.
Anarchy Online launched in 2001, even before the big hype around MMORPGs. It is one of the longest-lasting MMOs and has been Free-to-Play since 2004. Despite an announced graphic overhaul and relatively stable player numbers, Anarchy Online is likely no longer a mainstay for Funcom.
Age of Conan was once considered the next WoW killer, but it never fulfilled its high ambitions or did justice to the renowned license. For years, it has been threatening to disappear from the players’ radar.
Both Anarchy Online and Age of Conan still have a loyal player base, still make money, as Funcom now reports. The numbers for the two games developed “relatively stable, given the difficult competitive situation,” according to Funcom.
Perspectives sound different.
The Secret World is taking on water
Things seem more serious for the situation of The Secret World. The title was supposed to fill Funcom’s coffers but sank against Guild Wars 2 and Diablo 3.
The problem with MMORPGs: In the development phase, a title only costs money. Only when the servers go live and players buy and pay for the title does a game generate money. The Secret World is not managing to recoup the invested money in sufficient quantities.
But The Secret World fans don’t need to panic just yet. Shutting down the servers would be even more expensive for Funcom. Also, further patches and content are planned. However, some compromises and delays are to be expected.
This has economic consequences: While Funcom was still able to earn 7.8 million US dollars in the last quarter of 2012, it was only 4.3 million in the last quarter of 2013. Profit shrank from 2 million to about 200,000 dollars.
Employees have already been laid off. Furthermore, Funcom is dealing with particularly aggressive NPCs in-house. The Norwegian unit Økokrim is responsible for economic crimes. Funcom announces full cooperation in the report but also expects fines for the coming year.
The Legos as a lifeboat
As a beacon of hope, Funcom sees the release of Lego Minifigures Online. The game is entering beta this summer. To ensure marketing for the title, Funcom has borrowed 5.5 million US dollars from its main shareholder KGL Investments.
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Funcom further confirmed in the financial report the new strategy active since 2012. According to this, smaller titles will be developed simultaneously, instead of focusing on a few large titles.
Mein-mmo.de thinks: How one can read from the numbers that “everything is okay, everything is running” is a mystery to us. The market for MMORPGs is becoming harsher. There is no longer room for all titles. While previously full-price titles had the path to free-to-play open, so many MMORPGs have now had that path that it is also getting tight here.
The talented designers of Funcom games and the long-time fans can only hope that the Legos from Lego Online can pull it off.
With the existing titles, Funcom apparently still managed to stay afloat in 2013.
In the first issue of the MMO Magazine, the fundamental question is what exactly an MMO is and what you can expect from this series. Nowadays, there are many different subgenres of Massive Multiplayer Online Games, all characterized by very specific traits. It is very easy to lose track there. This video presents the most important categories and dispels the common misconception that an MMO does not always have to be an MMORPG.
In the “MMO Magazine”, Darion explains various things from the world of gaming, especially regarding Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs). You can reach his YouTube Channel via this link).
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Do you also know the feeling when your favorite online role-playing game seems to be heading in the completely wrong direction? It becomes too difficult, too easy, too expensive, new features take forever to arrive – or whatever. Yet your feedback seems to go unheard? We have a great tip on how you can contribute to the improvement of Dragon’s Prophet.
The team from Infernum, which has also made a name for itself as the publisher of Runes of Magic, is known for its unconventional ideas – For example, the new Council of Osira. Since early February, fans of the MMO could apply not only to adorn themselves with a new title but also to work side by side with the community team in the future. The goal of this action is to involve the European gaming community more in the decision-making process, and thus in the further development of Dragon’s Prophet.
The Council of Osira is to become the first player-elected council in Dragon’s Prophet that represents the community. Players can now vote for their favorites.
Now that the first phase is finished and all applicants are known, it is up to you to choose the community representatives by March 7, 2014. They will participate in council meetings where they will be advised on which improvement proposals should be implemented. In addition, the three will write a newsletter to the player base every two months, in which they will report from their perspective on how things are progressing and what else awaits you in Dragon’s Prophet. Of course, the elected council members should also have an open ear for your concerns. How exactly you can contact them will be announced after the election.
So what are you waiting for? Head to the official forum, read applications, and vote for the best candidates! If the Council of Osira is truly integrated as promised, it is important to select engaged players for it. Take your time reading applications, as there are really many!
What do you think of such actions? Is that a great idea or should community managers focus on other things?
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First of all, the developers are fulfilling their promises and continuing to take care of “Galactic Starfighter”, this mode will be provided with a new map and two new starfighters that are primarily meant to function as support. They can repair hull damage to their allies or enhance maneuverability, which will provide new incentives for coordinated squad flights.
But there are also innovations in the “good old” PvP: From now on, players can battle on a new Huttball map set on the toxic planet Quesh – new, deadly traps included of course. Additionally, the first PvP season ends and the second begins, meaning a new equipment set will be made available to all battlefield veterans, which can be purchased as usual with the tokens from ranked warzones.
But there are also new contents for PvE lovers: A new tactical flashpoint has been added on Korriban and Tython, the home worlds of Sith and Jedi respectively. As with the “Kuat Drive Yards”, these instances can be visited at any level and with any group without necessarily relying on tanks and healers.
Finally, there are still a whole lot of class changes, for example “Force Sweep” or “Shatter” is weakened in PvP and only deals increased damage to the primary target; Exfiltrate can now only be used twice in a row before a cooldown occurs – however, the activation costs have been completely removed.
However, all balancing changes may still change over time, as a whole month will pass until the release of these adjustments – if any further major announcements are made, we will of course keep you updated!
A complete list of the current changes can be viewed here; unfortunately so far only in English.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Gaming sites fuel speculation about whether a tweet announcement from the WildStar team, stating that no beta key waves are expected in the near future, indicates an upcoming open beta. We took a closer look at this. Is this just a clickbait or is there a little more to it?
It takes quite a bit to see the starting signal for the open beta of WildStar in the sentence “We will not distribute any more beta keys at this stage,”. While we also believe that a bigger announcement is expected soon, deriving that from this sentence seems quite abstract.
Actually, this sentence from the WildStar community management only says that no major beta actions are to be expected concerning this phase of the beta. That implies to me that further phases will follow. That is my interpretation.
Moreover, there was also a statement on Twitter, indicating again on Twitter, that they “would not send keys for now, but certainly had plans to offer interested players a chance to experience the planet Nexus over the weekend.”
In any case, they reacted to the discussions about a possible open beta and tweeted a message that should, at least for now, stifle the speculations:
#clarification: We have halted the distribution of winter beta codes. This is not an announcement of an upcoming open beta for #WildStar!
What could that mean? More information about an upcoming open beta or even a release date? Or that the Chua will be able to reproduce in the game?
Update March 18, 2014: As we now know, this was most likely referring to the release announcement of WildStar. It all starts on June 3!
By the way, after the winter beta, the so-called beta weekends will continue:
Between the start of the pre-order phase and the release, the beta will take place over four partner weekends. And while everyone else has to obtain a code to participate, you have immediate access to every event. Here are the current dates for the weekends:
Friday, March 21, 3:00 PM CET, to Monday, March 24, 7:59 AM CET
Friday, April 4, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, April 7, 8:59 AM CEST
Friday, April 18, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, April 21, 8:59 AM CEST
Friday, May 2, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, May 5, 8:59 AM CEST
You will receive the code for this, among other things, through a pre-order, which also brings you further advantages (an exclusive accommodation called “Rocket House”, 3 days early access, storage bag in-game, etc.). You can pre-order WildStar from, among others, Amazon:
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As soon as we know when the open beta starts, we will of course update this here. In the meantime, read our WildStar preview or an article about housing.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When the sun rises over Icewind Dale in Neverwinter these days, nothing is as it once was. The inhabitants of the once peaceful Icewind Dale are corrupted by a dark magic, the black ice. Rumor has it that the vile wizard Akar Kessell is behind it, who was once killed by Drizzt Do’Urden in the fantasy novel by Robert Anthony Salvatore. But true to the saying “those presumed dead live longer”, Akar is back – and he wants to take control of Icewind Dale.
After already giving you a brief preview of Module 3: Curse of Icewind Dale over the weekend, new information about the upcoming expansion of the online role-playing game from the Dungeon & Dragons universe has finally been revealed. The most important locations will include Caer-Konig, the charming fishing village in Icewind Dale, Icewind Pass, and the Dwarven Valley. While you can engage in normal activities and crafting at the former, PVP and PVE enthusiasts among you will find much to enjoy in the other two zones. Numerous new campaigns with repeatable quests await you there.
The particularly brave among you should pay a visit to Kessell’s Refuge, the hideout of the undead Akar Kessell, to put an end to him. In doing so, you should use the dark magic of the black ice to craft helpful new armor with strong bonuses thanks to the new crafting profession.
If you want to learn more about the changes in PVP, we refer you to this news from February. It was previously unknown that there will be faction-based battlegrounds where the Arcane Brotherhood fights against the fighters of the Ten Towns. Which side will you choose?
But equipment for PVE is also being refined to make gear improvement more interesting. For dungeons, you will need certain dungeon keys before you can explore them.
Unfortunately, it is still unknown whether there will be a new class in the expansion Curse of Icewind Dale, but the watchful rangers among you can at least look forward to a new paragon path, the scout.
We really hope that the release of the third module won’t be delayed much longer – are you also this excited?
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The Elder Scrolls Online: The Complete Overview of All Races and Their Skills
Some time ago – even before the NDA was lifted – we compiled and presented you with the preliminary racial advantages in TESO. Now, as we are allowed to report directly from the beta, we update everything and also make it a bit more visually appealing. It is indeed more fun to browse such lists when the post looks a bit stylish. 😉
Now, long story short, here is the complete overview of the current racial skills from the beta weekend. Note: We had to obtain the bonuses of the Imperials from another source, as the guys and girls were unfortunately not yet playable. But all future Imperial tanks can look forward to it. See for yourself! 😀
The Bretons
Affinity for Light Armor: Increases experience gain with light armor by 15%.
Gift of Magnus: Increases max Magicka by 4%. [1/3]
Spell Resistance: Increases spell resistance by 14. [1/3]
Magicka Mastery: Reduces the Magicka cost of spells by 1%. [1/3]
The Orcs (Orsimer)
Skill with Heavy Armor: Increases experience gain with heavy armor by 15%.
Muscular: Increases max health and stamina by 2% [1/3]
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Swift: Reduces sprinting costs by 4% and increases your sprint speed by 3%. [1/3]
The Redguards
Shield Affinity: Increases experience gain with a shield and one-handed weapon by 15%.
Momentum: Increases stamina regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Fortification: Increases max stamina by 4%. [1/3]
Adrenaline Rush: Melee attacks restore 1 stamina. This can only occur once every 3 seconds. [1/3]
The High Elves (Altmer)
Destruction Skill: Increases experience gain with destruction staffs by 15%.
Spell Charge: Increases Magicka regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Gift of Magnus: Increases max Magicka by 4%. [1/3]
Elemental Skill: Increases the damage of cold, fire, and shock effects by 2%. [1/3]
The Wood Elves (Bosmer)
Archery Skill: Increases experience gain with bows by 15%.
Momentum: Increases stamina regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Innate Resistance: Increases your poison and disease resistance by 7 and your max stamina by 1%. [1/3]
Furtiveness: Reduces detection radius while sneaking by 1 meter and increases damage dealt from sneaking by 3%. [1/3]
The Khajiit
Feline Skill: Increases experience gain with medium armor by 15%.
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Furtiveness: Reduces detection radius while sneaking by 1 meter and increases damage dealt from sneaking by 3%. [1/3]
Bloodbath: Increases the chance of critical melee hits by 1% and increases damage from critical hits by 5%. [1/3]
The Argonians
Restoration Skill: Increases experience gain with restoration staffs by 15%.
Amphibious Lifestyle: Increases your swimming speed by 50% and the effectiveness of potions by 5%. [1/3]
Argonian Resistance: Increases your max health by 1% and your poison and disease resistance by 7. [1/3]
Fast Healing: Increases the healing received by 2%. [1/3]
The Dark Elves (Dunmer)
Ambidexterity: Increases experience gain with dual-wielding by 15%.
Dynamic: Increases max Magicka and stamina by 2%. [1/3]
Flame Resistance: Increases your fire resistance by 10 and your max Magicka by 1%. [1/3]
Flame Talent: Increases the spell strength of flame effects by 1. [1/3]
The Nords
Skill with Two-Handed Weapons: Increases experience gain with two-handed weapons by 15%.
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Frost Resistance: Increases your frost resistance by 10 and your max health by 1%. [1/3]
Toughened: Increases your armor by 2. [1/3]
The Imperials
Shield Affinity: Increases experience gain with a shield and one-handed weapon by 15%.
"Tough": Increases max health by 4%. [1/3]
Fortification: Increases max stamina by 4%. [1/3]
Red Diamond: Melee attacks have a 10% chance to restore 2 health. [1/3]
Everything Remains Different!
So, since nothing is as constant as change, a lot can happen until the TESO release. But for now, these numbers and facts should be helpful to you. Of course you are welcome to share the post and post it vigorously in your forums! Meanwhile, we will also stay active and see what else we can conjure up for you from the beta chest. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is our (almost) first TESO Let’s Play. 🙂
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Oh my, the latest announcement on the homepage of World of Warcraft once again makes fans’ hearts race: The Digital Deluxe Edition of Mists of Pandaria is unexpectedly available only until March 10. If you want to make a last-minute decision to upgrade your standard version or start as a newcomer in World of Warcraft, you should hurry!
If you don’t care for frills, the regular package is perfectly fine. You get access to levels 86 to 90 in both versions and can explore the beautiful Mists of Pandaria. Those who choose the Digital Deluxe Edition will also receive the following:
The proud Imperial Riding Mount which you can majestically ride or fly through the dense forests and green meadows of MOP.
Loyal by your side will be the Lucky Qilin Cub running alongside you.
If you also play Diablo, you can show off your adventures in Pandaria with an exclusive banner sigil and an ornament with the iconic badges.
All StarCraft II players will receive two new stylish portraits in Horde and Alliance style.
But what does all of this have to do with the upcoming expansion Warlords of Draenor? So far, the Digital Deluxe Editions of expansions have always disappeared shortly before the pre-sale of the new expansion started from the online shop of the online role-playing game. This means that if the DDE of Mists of Pandaria is disappearing now, it’s a good hint that you will soon be able to pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition of Warlords of Draenor!
Those who decide early to continue playing WoW will receive some bonuses in addition to the immense anticipation: You can boost a hero of your choice to level 90 for free, fly on a representation of Anzu, the Raven God, and receive the mini-version as a pet for free. As soon as the pre-sale starts, we will of course keep you updated! What the Warlords of Draenor expansion has to offer, we have summarized here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Elder Scrolls Online: The (Almost) First Let’s Play from Mein MMO
We don’t want to fully consider it a Let’s Play yet, but in our latest video, we would like to take advantage of the moment – the lifting of the NDA – to briefly demonstrate the wonderful atmosphere of TESO. Deliberately, we distance ourselves from louder LPs that often focus more on the action in the game, and just play casually for a bit. After all, that’s a large part of the game and it strongly reminds us of Skyrim. 😀
And what exactly are we playing?
Yes, yes, The Elder Scrolls Online, that’s clear. No, so a Wood Elf (Bosmer) that is accordingly (at least in the beta) located in the starting area of the Aldmeri Dominion. We are exploring a serpent cave, helping the crew of a stranded ship, and towards the end we prevent the summoning of an admittedly impressive storm caused by sea elves in the literal sense. We don’t tell much about the story here or in the video. Just watch and enjoy it quietly. 🙂
If you liked the little impression and you need to “convince” your friends to follow you to Tamriel, then simply use the video and feel free to share it on Facebook and Co.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Once, a mouse was dull. Just the little brother of the keyboard. My first mouse belonged to a Commodore Amiga. If I’m not mistaken, that thing had two buttons and was quite bulky.
Nowadays, mice have evolved: From a mere tool to a piece of art. But not only in design have mice evolved: These little critters can do much more now.
G600 Overview
Especially in MMO games, the functions of modern mice are essential for the gaming experience. I have tested and tortured several of these “Human Interface” devices, and ultimately, I settled on a Logitech G600.
With its 20 buttons, I can configure the Logitech G600 exactly as I need it for a specific MMO. League of Legends has very different requirements than a round of WoW. And even within WoW, there are differences. A casual round of solo questing with my rogue feels quite different from raid night with my hunter or the battleground with my dwarf priestess.
The buttons are divided into three main buttons, twelve thumb buttons, and a clickable scroll wheel. The wheel can also be tilted to the side. Additionally, switching profiles and DPI settings is easy. No driver is required under Windows! I have no idea how it works with Linux or Apple.
The Gaming Mouse in the MMO Test
So many buttons and functions are perfect for gaming. For some games, the mouse is even perfectly set up right out of the box.
Pleasant: Despite heavy use, there are no significant signs of wear, which unfortunately does not apply to every MMO mouse that has fallen into my paws.
With 8200 DPI, the mouse is somewhat oversized – I don’t push it to the limit – but it doesn’t hurt either. For someone using 8200 DPI for the first time, the mouse may seem hypersensitive, but thanks to the settings in the profiles, you’ll soon appreciate this accuracy! This makes it possible not only for MMORPGs but also a few rounds in Defiance, daredevil maneuvers in League of Legends, or headshot sessions in Planetside 2.
Most of the G-buttons are easily reachable with the thumb. A sign that the designers put a lot of effort into it and deserve their bread in the right job. I have functionally mapped the G-buttons using the Logitech Gaming Software, and I now use the mouse together with a Logitech Gaming Keyboard (G510S) – a satisfying combination for me. Even when working with Office, the buttons can be utilized if configured properly.
Especially useful for online role-playing games like World of Warcraft, Aion, or Star Wars: The Old Republic, these additional buttons are extremely helpful for quickly and conveniently accessing numerous skills. An immense advantage! Not only can skills be activated quickly, but also emotes, buffs, or food.
Instead of just jumping on the defeated enemies in the BGs like a beginner, you can perform an elaborate victory dance consisting of a series of emotes with the Logitech G600!
The Thing About Hand Size
In my opinion, the only weak point of the Logitech G600 is its size. Players, especially female players with small hands, will have difficulties handling the somewhat wide G600 (the mouse has probably eaten too much cheese…). I occasionally notice that I have to stretch my thumbs a bit – you need pianist fingers (or larger hands than mine) for the front row.
Maybe three rows on the left side would have been enough, especially since there is still the special G-Shift button on the right side that allows for additional assignments (as the saying goes: less is sometimes more). On the other hand, I simply mapped the buttons so that I mainly use those that are easiest for me to reach.
The “Swiss Army Knife” among MMO mice offers such a high range of functions that the device cannot be a micro mouse. That’s clear. In handling, I see small advantages with the Razer Naga or the R.A.T. mice.
Conclusion Logitech G600
The Logitech G600 is an excellent mouse for MMO games. Even after long and intensive use, it operates precisely. The buttons have good resistance. Those who enjoy this will appreciate the various lighting modes – others can also disable this option.
A little tip on the side: You will need a bit of adjustment time at first, probably more than with conventional mice. This can be a bit frustrating, but after some time, you’ll learn to appreciate the many functions if you use them.
And which mouse do you use for gaming? Or do you have other recommendations? Feedback is welcome!
This post was written by Frank, an avid WoW player and hardware fan who just wanted to contribute a visitor post (the text has been polished a bit by us).
https://youtu.be/3DRw7qsxTJ8
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March not only brings the beginning of spring, but also the birthday of the legendary Yasker, the ruler of Sarnaut. If that’s not a reason for all fans of the free online role-playing game Allods Online to celebrate! For this special day, the members of the committee in the capital have prepared a big party where you can snag the following items until March 10, 2014:
A gramophone that will play classical music for one minute.
The pickle jar with five delicious pickles – as they say, sour makes funny.
Each pickled cucumber restores health points and increases your stamina for 45 minutes.
In line with the motto “A little drink in honor, no one can refuse,” tasty wheat schnapps must not be missed!
For each glass of schnapps, you will regain useful mana in the online role-playing game Allods Online and increase your willpower for 45 minutes. But beware – watch out that you don’t become helpless due to too much alcohol.
Since celebrating together is much nicer, you can of course share these items for the birthday in the online role-playing game with your imperial colleagues to spread even more party spirit! Oh, and Kanians, Elves, or Gibberlings are of course not welcome – but the next reason to celebrate will surely not take long to come!
So if you’re already in a party mood, you shouldn’t miss the birthday in Allods Online. After all, it’s celebrated only once a year. So it’s worth paying the game a visit again.
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You have to give it to the developers of the free-to-play MMORPG Dragon’s Prophet: They are very eager to come up with new features, especially when it comes to strengthening the bond between the player and their beloved companion. As the saying goes?
The dragon is man’s best friend, or in this case, the Osira.
This is also made clear by the conclusion of Evolution.Phase.One, an update that was recently released. On one hand, the name sounds a bit cool, which is rather secondary, but on the other hand, and this is far more important, this completed phase symbolizes that the possibilities surrounding the accompanying dragons have reached a new milestone.
Here’s what’s new in this rather different (dragon) MMO!
The Mounted PvE Combathas been fundamentally revamped with this update, which should significantly enhance the fun for all types of players, whether tank, healer, or DPS. Overall, fighting goes much more smoothly thanks to the removed energy costs, and since the dragons now take most of the damage, you can finally stay seated longer on your faithful companion!
Join like-minded individuals on your journey to defeat the evil world bosses during the public World Event Phases II & III. It’s not for nothing. Promise.
The greatest heroes of Auratia should now set out to gather materials for the powerful Laedis Hero Set. You can obtain this through treasure hunting, the wandering merchant, and the open-world boss events. Once you have the materials together, John Warder (near the Path of the Elders) will certainly help you so that the so-called “Golden Gear” will adorn your head from now on.
Dragon Arena has been introduced, where Osira can now compete with their peers and rise to become the undisputed champion of the arena. For this, you assemble a team of 3 dragons and choose a master from a list of participants whose dragons you would like to challenge. A little sneak peek: Soon there will even be dragon championships, that is, large-scale tournaments!
To master the arena, one must also be a master of the compendium and evolution. The compendium serves as a kind of encyclopedia that collects information about all previously tamed dragons, including their stats and skills. Develop your dragons through evolution skills and challenges that expose you and your dragons to the toughest battles yet.
Mein-mmo.de says:
Dragons from Auratia come when called. Companions from other worlds acknowledge your message and may come back to it later.
And now let someone say that dragons are not suitable as pets. But jokes aside. Runewaker and Infernum have realized that they need to focus on their strengths, and those are the extensive companion features that are unique in this genre.
Let’s hope the niche is large enough to continue to stay in it. It’s certainly interesting to see that dragons are becoming more and more integrated into the gameplay. Back then, in our review of Dragon’s Prophet we criticized that the connection to the dragon was still too superficial and would benefit the PvP arenas. That is largely history now. We would even go so far as to say:
Those who fight too long against dragons will themselves become dragons.
– August Strindberg
Moreover, it is great that with the “sticker album”, also known as the compendium, increased focus is placed on the collecting passion. After all, this essential primal instinct of humans is appreciated in MMORPGs. The game still has weaknesses, especially in quest design, but it’s on the right track.
Last, but not least, we at mein-mmo.de wish you much fun with the trailer for Evolution.Phase.One:
http://youtu.be/phrBQvpuJU0
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
While you are probably all playing the beta, we at mein-mmo.de take a closer look at the deeper features of The Elder Scrolls Online, or TESO for short.
The first steps in Tamriel, the new world, new adventures, and new quests are attractive. And the focus of many of you is currently on the combat system, the PvP, the crafting skills, and the class skills, but long-term motivation in games now also includes a robust trading system.
Here, Zenimax is taking amazing new paths in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The pros and cons of the old system
World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, also WildStar, and many other games prefer an auction house to facilitate player trading. The irony is: An auction house takes away from players the opportunity to interact directly with one another. And that in an MMORPG.
Instead, an auction house serves as an intermediary, turning the busy spam in the trading channel, the back and forth between negotiating parties, into a list of numbers and items. The player picks out what they need.
Interaction with other players is reduced to a minimum.
The typical MMORPG auction house (here WoW).
A seller placing items in an auction house is to the buyer as much as an NPC.
Players often buy directly through instant purchase and do not compete with other players by bidding on auctions. Even eBay – one might chuckle – still demands too much interaction from MMORPG players; it must be the anonymity of Amazon instead.
Most auction houses take a certain percentage of each transaction as a commission fee. This acts as a gold sink, so at least some wealth flows out of the game. Without such gold sinks, every game would face permanent hyperinflation.
Fairly, the advantages of an auction house should also be mentioned. They are the same as with Amazon. It is incredibly convenient to find everything in one place, neatly organized with the cheapest offer at the top. Plus, everything is just a click away, there is no risk, no need to travel anywhere or talk to anyone to get your stuff.
And someone is changing that now?
For a bit, the auction house system felt like one of those axioms that are just set in stone. Just as there are no more open dungeons, only instances, and just as you need a tank, a healer, and a specific number of DPS.
And just as there are achievements and online shops and the price of RAM keeps rising and Sundays often turn out disappointing and the wireless mouse always runs out of juice when there are no batteries at home and the stores are closed, and you fumble around with the battery compartment for the TV remote and – well, it doesn’t matter! In any case, the auction house seemed to be set in stone.
But now Zenimax comes and does everything differently. Just like that: Bam. There is no auction house.
Oops! That was surprising.
And what comes instead of the auction house?
The terrible JRPG solution where players simply go AFK in the capital overnight and leave their toon logged in with some kind of belly stand, allowing anyone passing by to help themselves?
Yes?
Rest assured. That is not it.
For starters, you can trade directly with other players old-fashioned style, just like your fathers and their fathers did. You know, with “Want to Sell” and “Want to buy,” some haggling over the price, and a “Where shall we meet?” at the end. You need to talk and trade with other players, thus interacting. I know: Innovative concept for an MMORPG.
Intense negotiations between players will soon be part of daily business!
But the system is of course even smarter.
Players can join guilds that can accommodate 500 members. Each player can be in up to 5 guilds. These guilds have their own guild shop, accessible to guild members.
Thinking it through, it can be incredibly valuable to join one of the top trading guilds on the server. This sounds like secret societies, cartels, and huge bribery fees. Because what types will make up the best and richest trading guilds? Well, from people who have become very wealthy. And they certainly didn’t do it by always playing by the rules and never eating fish on Fridays, but because greed oozes from them.
I predict that the finest guilds will have entrance fees that everyone must pay if they want to participate in the trade of the elites. Perhaps some guilds may even limit themselves to 100 players or only 50 to be particularly exclusive.
Link to PvP
But Zenimax does not stop there. Because player guilds can claim a fortress in PvP and offer their goods in a shop that is also available to non-guild members.
Through this integration into both the trading and PvP systems, guilds take on a central role in The Elder Scrolls Online.
[pull_quote_center]It will no longer be only important for raiders and hardcore PvP players to hang out in the popular guilds. It will also play a decisive role for traders and collectors.[/pull_quote_center]
This collector dreams of being accepted into the largest trading guild.
While in other games they often pact in circles, wasting their time with price fixing, tier sacrifices, trolling in forums, and ruining individual lives, they are now forced into the light.
New ways – new dangers, new potential
You see: With a little imagination, exciting scenarios can already be thought up and considered solely through the changes in the trading system in The Elder Scrolls Online.
What if a guild forbids its members to trade outside of their ranks?
Could it be worthwhile for a guild not only to poach valuable raiders from other guilds but also to draw attention to a particularly skilled craftsman?
And how will the guilds position and organize themselves?
Will it be completely relaxed and everyone can blossom freely?
Or do certain guilds want exclusive rights to goods and try to dominate the realm in this regard?
We at mein-mmo.de believe:
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
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The decision not to have an auction house is a bold and interesting step. It will help to differentiate TESO from competing games. The renunciation emphasizes the image of a game for more mature players who value roleplay.
However, new paths often come with dangers that cannot be assessed. Where there are winners and trading masters, there will also be poor losers. The risk of permanent spam in the trading channel exists when traders feel excluded from the small circle. It would be exciting if the individual realms on the various servers developed differently.
Will you miss the auction house or are you looking forward to finally interacting more closely with other players? Do the new paths Zenimax takes excite your interest in the game, or is the concept, the hint of a sandbox, too far-fetched for you?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This resonant title describes the next and thus third module of the free-to-play fantasy MMO Neverwinter. So, off to the north, to Icewind Dale, which lies at the northernmost edge of the Forgotten Realms. And that already in spring 2014.
However, it is still not known too much about what stories await us around the icy regions. Only that the “Black Ice”, a malevolent magic, is gradually spreading and captivating the inhabitants; apparently, they are cursed by this magic and consequently controlled. A human wizard named Akar Kessell is involved in this, who sets out to seize Icewind Dale.
Alongside the gripping story and the already known PvP changes, the developer Cryptic Studios and publisher Perfect World revealed that another faction-based battlefield will be introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons-based MMORPG. Players will have the choice to either join the Ten-Towners or the hostile Arcane Brotherhood. The goal is to gain control over the “Black Ice”. PvE players should also not be left out, as there are also talks of new PvE campaigns.
Parallels to Gauntlgrym?
Whether this game content resembles Gauntlgrym is not clear from this, but a similar game mode could certainly be conceivable. In the deeply hidden and ancient dwarven city of Gauntlgrym, two factions of 20 players compete against each other for up to one and a half hours. During this time, it is essential to earn as many points as possible in both PvE and PvP-focused events. The faction with the highest score also gets access to the tomb of the dwarf king, where further very lucrative rewards can be obtained.
http://youtu.be/Ahct7XV_exY
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There are days when you just don’t feel like raiding, can’t find partners for role-playing, and even HearthStone has to take a break. So what do you do with your precious free time?
Interestingly, as gamers, we often have the same or very similar interests outside of games, which is why I want to talk to you about these in this new column, free according to the motto: What do gamers do when the keyboard takes a break?
I would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions, which can only happen if you diligently share them with me in the comments!
The Song of Ice and Fire!
I’m starting with the series “Game of Thrones” (GoT) or the book title “The Song of Ice and Fire”. I’m trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible to allow everyone the chance to dive into the fantasy epic themselves.
First, it should be said that GoT is probably not the typical “nerd hobby” as might be a collectible card game or live role-playing, because it is popular among almost all segments of the population, and the only people who have so far refused it were those who found it “too mainstream”.
But what makes this world so appealing?
What ensures that even different generations are fascinated by this series?
In my opinion, it’s not just the much-praised and often criticized use of sex and violence scenes, but the design of the world as a whole – although the first points certainly also have a large influence.
Unlike what is common today, the series does not shy away from convincingly depicting a brutal, cruel, and sexist fantasy world. War is a theme in countless shows, but few address the equally terrible “byproducts”. Taboo topics such as torture of prisoners of war, rape, mutilation, or incest are discussed and examined from multiple perspectives.
Here, few moral guardians appear who want to change this: The world is cruel, and people have gotten used to it. And it is exactly these conditions that make this world so convincing. As much as I detest violence in the real world – here it is coherent, if not great, and the explicit depiction is a welcome change from the now-typical “blacking out” of atrocities.
The second major factor is the characters and their complexity.
Westeros and the surrounding areas are brimming with different characters and none of them follow a simplistic superhero scheme like: “I want to do good because it’s good.” Every one of the over 40 (more or less) relevant actors has a significant past, their own set of moral views, plans, and intentions, and the first impression of a character is rarely the same as the one you have two episodes later … before it changes again. Despite this constant shifting of perspective, all roles remain convincing – perhaps even because of it.
The last point for me is the complexity of the world.
Unlike in many other stories, it’s not just two rival parties fighting for power, but a total of 11 noble houses, which even struggle with betrayal and envy within their own ranks. Magic and dragons are a mystery, now regarded as fairy tales, and many of the world’s secrets have been forgotten.
The viewer experiences a discovery, an exciting adventure, and for every secret revealed, two new ones emerge, without leaving you completely confused. Intrigues and political maneuvering are, for me, the pillars of the plot, supported by the magnificent performance of the actors.
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“Game of Thrones” is definitely a series for adults and the book or audiobook series is hardly suitable for younger readers, partly due to the high level of violence, and partly due to the very complex storylines, for which I myself had to read some chapters multiple times.
However, if you are not deterred by this, you can immerse yourself in this fantasy world and engage in the highly interesting game of intrigues, and should ideally complete it before the fourth season airs in April – for now only in English.
A final tip: If you can’t handle the death of beloved characters, you should avoid this series. One of the most common lines in the series is also a program:
In the game of thrones, you win or you die.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Runes of Magic, the first truly large free-to-play MMORPG, is now considered a classic. After more than 5 years, the servers are still running and the game is continuously being updated.
It seems there are still enough players around who continue to support the game and have fun. Patch 6.0.6 will address this and bring some interesting content and an event where players can express their affection.
Old Memories…
When I write about RoM, I automatically indulge in beautiful, but also memorable memories. I played the fantasy MMORPG for 2 years and it impressed me even more than World of Warcraft, which is why I stayed away from the genre Primus. This was true for quite a few players, as the community grew steadily and it wasn’t long before regularly aired TV commercials increased the player count again.
Runes of Magic is the epitome of customizing and individualization
– no, we are not talking about a car, but a character. Some may remember, but back then it was possible in some MMORPGs to level up indefinitely, and each level slightly improved your character – there was simply no end. This is not entirely the case in Runes of Magic, as the online role-playing game is largely oriented towards World of Warcraft. However, there are practically no limits when it comes to enhancing equipment items. You can constantly develop further and thus set new goals, although at some point it becomes unrealistic in terms of effort. Until then, though, you have more than enough to do.
I still mourn the multiple class system. Just recently, an article by Schuhmann addressed this dilemma – “The Class Struggle – Variety or Balance in Class Design?” In Runes of Magic, there were often problems with balance, but it was always incredibly exciting to combine classes and find the best mix – at Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn there is a similar system, but it cannot hold a candle to RoM in this regard.
Tied to all the possibilities of improving equipment, it was incredibly motivating to get the most out of it. However, the downside was that the gap between ambitious and casual players grew larger and the item shop, at least in my time, was not exactly reputable. At some point, the developer RuneWaker also increasingly focused on Dragon’s Prophet. While the last sentences might sound somewhat negative, players who do not want to play a next-gen MMO, whether due to insufficient hardware or due to changes in the genre, can definitely take a trip to Tarborea. The free-to-play MMORPG offers an incredible amount of features.
Now to the new content
After I have filled you with tales of past days, let’s move to the present and take a look at what has been newly added with Patch 6.0.6:
Level 85, World Boss and New Zone
In the previously pristine area “Jammerförde”, you can expect…
…new quests, items, and titles.
The level cap has been raised from 82 to 85.
The new world boss named Taren is better approached with a group.
New Raid Dungeon
Deep in the jungle of Jammerförde lies the “Cave of Horrors”, where many…
sea monsters, demons, and undead pirates roam.
The challenges come in 3 levels: easy, medium, and hard.
It’s worth driving the monsters out of this cave, as rumors say there are great treasures.
New Monsters
You will frequently encounter enemies you haven’t seen before.
Some monsters can buff themselves; if you defeat such an enemy, you will receive…
…a bonus on the talent points obtained and the looted items.
In addition, the skills have received visual upgrades.
Guild Castle
A new skin for the guild castle is now available for guilds.
This is, of course, also visible during a siege war.
Crafting
The recipe collection has been expanded for the following professions:
Carpentry, blacksmithing, armor smithing, tailoring, cooking, and alchemy.
Flower Festival
The Festival of Lovers is on everyone’s lips! Many events await you during the celebrations.
Anyone participating in the rose cultivation competition secures…
the blessing of the flower god and a chance at a rare unicorn mount.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The increase from level 90 to level 100 is expected to be massive again this time. Where Blizzard wants to go with this strategy is not entirely clear.
[pull_quote_center]It seems a bit like they’re trying to ensure that the psychological pressure to buy the add-on is increased, because a level 100 character is significantly more powerful than a level 90.
While with a constant increase in player power, the gap would only be small, as with earlier add-ons, when a player without the latest add-on could indeed defeat one with it.
Further relics from the past being trimmed
Blizzard has already eliminated some quirks and relics from earlier role-play days from the code. The rough edges of the game have become smoother. Along with other things, resistances, weapon skills, and hit cap have disappeared. Apparently, they want to continue this trend. Excessively strong racial abilities will be nerfed, new ones introduced to level the playing field for each race – something similar happened a few years ago with crafting skills. Additionally, the skills of different classes are to be further thinned out – and the crowd control abilities reduced.
How we see it
As Blizzard adds new abilities and skills with each add-on, but developers are likely constrained by a magical number of only 10 skills or so, this decision is understandable. If new skills come, old ones must make way.
Other games like WildStar or Guild Wars 2 limit the skills through a tight action bar, on which only a few of the numerous available skills fit. These players follow the philosophy of keeping the buffet huge but reducing the plate size. Blizzard keeps the plate size but cuts back the buffet.
We believe: Blizzard consistently continues on its chosen path. In part, old ties that no longer fit the concept will be cut. However, for some players, a part of class and racial identity will also be lost.
The compromise regarding the growth curve of player power, however, is difficult to justify purely from a gameplay standpoint. It would have been consistent to adjust the curve from level 1 to level 100, not just from level 1 to level 85. This apparently only serves to create an additional purchasing incentive for players.
With such purchasing incentives, Blizzard has lost quite a bit of trust in the past. Keyword: Annual Pass. With it, they ensured in the end of the unpopular expansion Cataclysm, that players would be tied to WoW for over a year. However, during that year, hardly any new content was released.
[pull_quote_center]Given the high quality of World of Warcraft, such a tactic is not necessary in our view, though understandable.
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At Blizzard’s flagship World of Warcraft, the expansion Warlords of Draenor is slowly taking shape. While there have been mostly images to marvel at from Blizzard in recent months regarding the new housing or the facelift of the old races, the dev blog this time is dedicated to hard facts. Because it goes deep into the game mechanics of the long-standing genre primus.
Player characters with over a million health points
Now, while images of new raids, even bushier dwarf beards, or one’s own garrison are more suited to attract fans’ attention, the real substance usually comes into play when numbers and gameplay are involved.
Already before the last expansion Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard considered out loud, to reduce the numbers. Because the damage points of opponents had reached the millions, players’ health points reached six-figure values (and at the upper spectrum), and even for DPS and similar values, players slowly needed a PhD in mathematics.
Before Mists of Pandaria, an idea was circulating that reminded of the old pre-Euro times: They wanted to possibly just drop three digits off high numbers, just as one used to convert the Italian Lira into Deutsche Marks.
The mega-number as a solution?
Furthermore, there was even the idea of a “MEGA-number”; instead of 1,143,478 health points, a character would then have 1.1 MEGA-health points, or something similar. But the plan was not implemented before Mists of Pandaria. Blizzard feared the wrath of players who would suddenly see themselves reduced to a hundredth.
During the item progression in Mists of Pandaria, damage numbers and values increased once again. Blizzard accordingly makes another attempt and declares war on the big numbers.
Compromise for the add-on found
This time, however, it seems that the developers fear disappointment among fans. Therefore, they only want to significantly flatten the growth curve of numbers and strengths up to level 85. Blizzard reassures: There will be no change in the actual strength of players. If a player’s damage is only one-tenth of the previous number, they will also reduce the health points of opponents by that factor.
The increase from level 90 to level 100 is expected to be massive again this time. Where Blizzard wants to go with this strategy is not entirely clear.
[pull_quote_center]It seems a bit like they’re trying to ensure that the psychological pressure to buy the add-on is increased, because a level 100 character is significantly more powerful than a level 90.
While with a constant increase in player power, the gap would only be small, as with earlier add-ons, when a player without the latest add-on could indeed defeat one with it.
Further relics from the past being trimmed
Blizzard has already eliminated some quirks and relics from earlier role-play days from the code. The rough edges of the game have become smoother. Along with other things, resistances, weapon skills, and hit cap have disappeared. Apparently, they want to continue this trend. Excessively strong racial abilities will be nerfed, new ones introduced to level the playing field for each race – something similar happened a few years ago with crafting skills. Additionally, the skills of different classes are to be further thinned out – and the crowd control abilities reduced.
How we see it
As Blizzard adds new abilities and skills with each add-on, but developers are likely constrained by a magical number of only 10 skills or so, this decision is understandable. If new skills come, old ones must make way.
Other games like WildStar or Guild Wars 2 limit the skills through a tight action bar, on which only a few of the numerous available skills fit. These players follow the philosophy of keeping the buffet huge but reducing the plate size. Blizzard keeps the plate size but cuts back the buffet.
We believe: Blizzard consistently continues on its chosen path. In part, old ties that no longer fit the concept will be cut. However, for some players, a part of class and racial identity will also be lost.
The compromise regarding the growth curve of player power, however, is difficult to justify purely from a gameplay standpoint. It would have been consistent to adjust the curve from level 1 to level 100, not just from level 1 to level 85. This apparently only serves to create an additional purchasing incentive for players.
With such purchasing incentives, Blizzard has lost quite a bit of trust in the past. Keyword: Annual Pass. With it, they ensured in the end of the unpopular expansion Cataclysm, that players would be tied to WoW for over a year. However, during that year, hardly any new content was released.
[pull_quote_center]Given the high quality of World of Warcraft, such a tactic is not necessary in our view, though understandable.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
European beta players must also play on the North American server!
By now, the European (beta) client is available in The Elder Scrolls Online. When you open the launcher, you may also be directly assigned to the corresponding server and a longer download will start. BUT the problem is that this weekend ONLY the North American mega server will be available. This means you also need to use the corresponding client. If you have mistakenly downloaded the European version of the beta client, then PANIC!!!! No, just kidding, you can still participate in the beta. 😛
What do you need to do to still participate in the beta?
You just need to take a deep breath and follow a few steps. We boldly take these steps directly from TESO support since they must know:
For Windows:
Click on “Settings” (under the gear icon) in the upper right corner of the launcher
Change the region to “United States” and click “Apply”
Close the launcher and access the installation folder of the client (normally: C:Program Files (x86)Zenimax Online)
Rename the folder “The Elder Scrolls Online (EU)” to “The Elder Scrolls Online”
Start the launcher and ensure that “United States” is still selected as the region and that you have access to the North American server
For Mac:
Click on “Settings” (under the gear icon) in the upper right corner of the launcher
Change the region to “United States” and click “Apply”
Close the launcher and access the installation folder of the client (“Finder”, then click on “Application” and finally “Zenimax Online”)
Rename the folder “The Elder Scrolls Online (EU)” to “The Elder Scrolls Online”
Start the launcher and ensure that “United States” is still selected as the region and that you have access to the North American server
Those who have already played in the beta don’t need to patch anything basically. You continue playing on the North American server and with the same version. More about this in the update further down! The language selection English, German,French is, of course, available to everyone. Maybe even finally in the starting area. 😉
FAIRPLAY! DISTRIBUTE!
So because we gamers have to stick together, we ask you to quickly spread this breaking news through social networks. So that other TESO fans who might not know about this can enjoy another beta test during the weekend AND can get the exclusive monkey! Which monkey – wait, first distribute the post! – okay, click here now! 🙂
Thank you and enjoy your time in Tamriel!
+++UPDATE+++
It seems that unfortunately, this weekend there will be no collision detection. We found the following:
Currently, only beta testers with full access will be able to enjoy the current version 1.8 including collision detection.
The Elder Scrolls Online v0.171 focuses on stability at high peak user load as we prep for launch day.
Please be aware that this is not the build currently on our PTS that has been in the news recently. That version is still in testing and is being refined on our PTS server before it is ready for a mass test. This test focuses on the overall stability of the game’s underlying infrastructure. Our goal for this test is to have very short – or no – login queues and to have an overall smooth user experience for our worldwide audience.
Here’s a brief overview of what awaits you in this test: Continue your characters from v0.17. Play through level 1-17 content for all three alliances. Create up to eight characters, increased from four. Fight for your alliance by participating in the Alliance War in Cyrodiil.
During this test, you will have access to the following areas: Khenarthi’s Roost Auridon Stros M’Kai Betnikh Glenumbra Bleakrock Isle Bal Foyen Stonefalls Cyrodiil
TEST GOALS
For this test, we have a few goals we’d like you to try to reach while playing the game.
Attain level 10 on at least one character.
Reach Rank 10 in any crafting skill.
Find and complete at least one group dungeon.
Travel to Cyrodiil and participate in the Alliance War.
