WoW: The Empire Strikes Back

[intense_lead ]Blizzard’s flagship World of Warcraft resembles a frighteningly successful sports team that becomes champions year after year, defying all challengers, even as the naysayers grow louder. Will WoW strike back in 2014?[/intense_lead]

In American basketball, the Miami Heat have been in a similar position for years. With superstar LeBron James, they are favorites for the title each season. However, every year new teams, the so-called contenders, emerge. They look young, fit, and agile. Tens of thousands of sports journalists earn their living writing about basketball, declaring a changing of the guard at the top – every year.

Warlords of Draenor
Does the championship team from 2014 look like this?

The Miami Heat are said to be getting old. The air is out, the dynamics have exhausted, the team is clearly past its prime. And on the other side: Just how great Golden State can shoot, how dynamic the Pacers are playing again this year! And then – when it’s time for the Finals, LeBron and his Heat will once again be crowned champions.

In MMORPGs, things have been similar for years. Many in the industry are tired of WoW still reigning supreme. They say: The graphics are now truly outdated, the gameplay is simply exhausted, the old stories of Arthas and Illidan have been told, it’s finally time for something new. Every decline in subscription numbers is now viewed as the final demise of WoW.

[pull_quote_center]Every game is now deemed the ultimate WoW killer, a savior – and every year, in the end, WoW is still just ahead.

After Blizzard took a big hit with the somewhat disastrous expansion Cataclysm, it seemed they would steer the ship back with Mists of Pandaria, but that excitement has since dissipated.

Especially with a fresh crop of contenders for 2014 like TESO, WildStar, and Everquest Next waiting in the wings, there was a critical eye on what Blizzard would have in store for 2014.

The answer: A lot, of course.

This year, they plan to bring the player models of the old races up to the level of the Pandaren, Goblins, and Worgen – a preview is set for the end of January. Additionally, Blizzard is returning to its strengths in storytelling. With Warlords of Draenor, the new expansion, it’s once again into the shattered world. This content was already addressed in Burning Crusade and that era is retrospectively seen by many fans as WoW’s golden age.

Dwarf Character WoW
“Look here ladies, I’m going to look sexy again soon!”

Further delicacies planned for the new year lie in a consistent development of existing content. With Mists of Pandaria, they already provided players with a taste of housing with their own farm. In Warlords of Draenor, players will now get their own fortress. The concept is reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate 2 and other games.

In addition, they are of course relying on proven concepts: The level cap will once again increase, this time to level 100. New raids are planned, new dungeons, new items, new quests. Throughout the last expansion, they also made good use of fresh concepts from Guild Wars 2, making mass questing in new zones easier to manage.

Housing WoW
Are you coming home again?

World of Warcraft and Blizzard also seem to be pursuing a strategy this year that has served the Miami Heat well. Instead of focusing on spectacular innovations or transfers, they polish their own strengths, observe what the contenders are doing, analyze that, and adopt the changes that prove beneficial into their own system.

For journalists, there isn’t much to report; fans of other teams may get a little bored, but in the end, it’s still enough to secure the title once again. Whether 2014 will end with the crown for Blizzard remains to be seen. The competition is strong this year, and Blizzard has not announced any killer ideas yet. But it’s just as clear that WoW will not relinquish the throne without a fight.

Depending on where one stands on the Miami Heat and WoW, one can either speak of an evergreen that is experiencing its third and fourth spring, or of a zombie that keeps coming back and is impossible to kill, no matter what you throw at it.

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Either way: Both deserve respect … just like a Duracell bunny. Or as LeBron James fans have been saying for years: Hail to the King, Baby.

By the way, that was also the motto of Blizzard’s second expansion Wrath of the Lich King.
And let someone say that our comparisons are far-fetched!

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

Dragon’s Prophet: Mounted PvE Combat and Olandra Trailer

In Dragon’s Prophet, a new update has been implemented that definitely brings noteworthy innovations.

In addition to the so-called Mounted Combat, which now also plays a role in PvE, there is also a new region and a legendary dungeon to explore.

holy-trinity-dragons-prophet

The special thing about mounted combat is now that it also introduces new tactical elements to the game, in addition to the expanded gameplay itself. Players particularly demanded more teamwork in dungeons and missed the Holy Trinity (the traditional role distribution into Tank, DPS, and Healing) in this context.

This aspect is now gradually finding its way into the game due to the mentioned dragon feature, as the choice of your own dragon now gains importance even in group play (the companion complements your mounted combat with tank, DPS, and healing skills depending on their orientation). This potentially means that the upcoming dungeons will be adjusted according to these new possibilities!

You can now work even more closely with your dragons and choose your preferred playstyle during combat… out in the wilderness or in your favorite dungeons!

Summary of the new patch contents:

  • Handras’ Shrine, a new dungeon in Olandra
  • Mounted PvE combat with a new approach to roles
  • Changes to the spawn rate for legendary dragons in dungeons
  • Update in housing (players can now gain experience)
  • New hairstyles and faces for both genders
  • Random mini-events in the world

Trailer shows gameplay experiences in Olandra

Additionally, a new trailer recently came out that showcases the latest region Olandra, where the legendary Underwater Dungeon Handras’ Shrine can now be found. The video is worth watching!

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Source(s):
  1. Offizielle Seite

The Division: Is the MMO shooter really coming out in 2015?

When looking at the first information, images, and videos about the next-gen MMO Shooter Tom Clancy’s: The Division, it almost seems certain that we will have a proper post-apocalyptic blockbuster on our hands. Now, rumors are intensifying that we probably won’t get to experience the apocalypse in the contaminated New York this year.

The press has listed The Division almost without exception in the lists of the most anticipated MMOs of 2014, and not without reason: The publisher UbiSoft has set the release date for the end of 2014. Apparently, the developers at Massive Entertainment see it differently. An employee, of course anonymously, is said to have commented on this ‘nonsense’. Of course, it could have just been anyone, but why has there been no denial from Ubisoft so far?

The engine for the game works; it is not finished yet, but it runs well. The development of the actual game has just begun (…). The fact that Ubisoft is publicly aiming for a release in 2014 is honestly ridiculous. We will never be able to release The Division this year. It is a big project and we have a long way to go.

Alleged anonymous employee of the developer.

Whether at the end of 2014 or sometime in 2015, we are certainly curious about how it will continue and are currently just enjoying a video with the first gameplay scenes:

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More information about the online shooter can be found on the official game page: http://tomclancy-thedivision.ubi.com/game/de-DE/home/

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Source(s):
  1. Gamereactor

Guild Wars 2: Alive and Kicking

Guild Wars 2 is in a strange position. It launched with huge hype, received excellent reviews from all game magazines (recently from us as well), and was a huge success with the fans: No MMORPG has sold faster than GW 2.

However, recently the innovative adventure seems to have lost some momentum. Discontent has spread among fans. The English-language site eurogamer.net has now given ArenaNet the opportunity to dispel rumors and offer a glimpse into the future.

First of all, the two heads of ArenaNet made it clear in the discussion that there is nothing to any rumors, that they are not scaling back server performance or have given up on further development of the game. On the contrary, they are very satisfied with the sales figures, a decline in sales is normal when the excitement of the launch has faded, and Guild Wars 2 is still performing much better than expected. They have not skimped on personnel either, but have hired additional staff. ArenaNet expects an additional boost when the game launches in China, Korea, Russia, and Brazil.

GW2 Expansion

Future larger updates, like in an expansion!

However, ArenaNet appears to intend to deviate somewhat from the previous philosophy of many small events and storylines. The designers want to draw inspiration from a narrative masterpiece like Game of Thrones and increasingly involve players in the mechanics of the world. This should no longer be limited to small events, but from modest beginnings, huge upheavals should arise. An example of such a world-changing, cataclysmic event can be found at the end of our post in a video.

Furthermore, ArenaNet plans to introduce content that players expect from an expansion, even though they want to stick with the idea of a Living World, which would be due after a year and a half: So perhaps an increase in the level cap or new ways to develop the character further, new races, regions, items, recipes, etc.

However, how exactly these new features will be introduced is still unclear. It should start relatively soon after Living World Season 1 concludes: So sometime after March 14, heading toward summer.

In any case, these expansions are planned, Guild Wars 2 is doing financially well, and the content development machine is humming. So say the creative minds behind the game.

We are looking forward to seeing how the world of Tyria will continue to evolve. Here is the promised video! It heralds the end of the first chapter in the story of Guild Wars 2 – and with quite a bang!

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Source(s):
  1. Eurogamer

WildStar – What Nexus has to offer

Hardly any other game has managed to evoke such enthusiasm in me before its release, and to finally give me a strong “hype” again, like “WildStar” has done in recent months, and there isn’t even a release date in sight.

But what makes me want to watch the few short videos of the game over and over again? I want to show you here as thoroughly as possible.

Before I continue, it’s important to note that there is currently an NDA in place for the beta (Non-Disclosure Agreement). Therefore, all information here is from public sources and may change before the game launches – but for a first impression, it’s more than enough.

The Standard Fare – Ordinary Story, Ordinary Game?

Let’s first look at the rough historical background: As with many MMOs, the central conflict is between two competing factions that players can join: the Dominion and the Exiles. Basically, this explains almost everything, as the Dominion has set the original goal of enslaving the entire galaxy, whereas the Exiles are from those worlds that have already fallen victim to the Dominion.

dominion exiles

Currently, the Exiles have fled to the world “Nexus” – only it’s unfortunate that this is the legendary planet from which the Dominion is believed to draw its power. Thus, the focus of the game is on exploring and battling for control of Nexus.

In total, there are 8 races and 6 different classes to choose from, each with 2 class-specific roles: Tank, Healer, or Damage Dealer.

The Deviations – Uniqueness to Behold

Up to this point, WildStar does not differ from an average “grind-to-death” MMO, but then the differences arise: There are no fixed skill trees; instead, you can choose exactly what you want. A Medic can either focus on damage or healing – or create a crazy mix of both that remains effective in combat.

The same applies to all classes; for the first time, hybrids seem genuinely useful and do not have to hide from their single-mindedly talented teammates.

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The classes themselves impress with cool effects and numerous customization options. As a Tech Pioneer, for example, one has combat robots that are sent into battle, or the character slips into such armor and rampages like a Space Marine across the battlefield. The Spellslinger blasts enemies with dual pistols – why does he use magic from the void? Right, so the ammunition doesn’t run out!

Each class is unique and is so impressive that it’s hard to choose without lamenting the one you leave behind.

The Combat System

The heart [intense_icon type=”heart” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /] of every MMORPG is, of course, the combat system, and here WildStar breaks new ground: Almost all abilities are area spells that either have linear, cone, or circular effects, and a large part of the abilities can be used while moving.

This means, on the one hand, that you almost never stand still, and on the other hand, it offers many new aspects for PvP, because what’s the use of the best equipment if my opponent is so skilled that he can simply dance out of my attack zones?

WildStar Combat System

Status effects also impact in a refreshing, new way: If your character is “blind,” not 50% of your attacks miss, instead, your screen turns black. If you are affected by “confusion,” then suddenly all keys work in the opposite way – I can already see myself taking a step over the cliff.

Video recommendations on the topic: Aiming in WildStar and the Ability mechanics.

The Path System

WildStar Paths

In addition to your class, you can also choose one of four different “Paths” during character creation. The options are Soldier, Explorer, Settler, and Scientist. And what distinguishes this from the classes? While the class primarily determines how you fight, the path decides what else you experience – often through missions that are only available to you.

All players can find out things about the background story, but only a Scientist can access all the details – Do you want to know what these ruins were used for? Analyze them with your probe! Are you interested in why this particular plant species only grows here and why its spores make you fly? Scan the surroundings and find out! (And I promise you right now – as a role-playing fan, this is exactly your path!).

Soldiers love to test experimental weapon systems, protect villages from attackers, or take down extremely tough bosses. If battles are what excite you, then there’s nothing standing in the way of a Soldier career!

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Not so much into battles? Would you rather seek hidden locations or try to figure out how to reach the top of the mountain? The Explorer gets tasks that primarily deal with the landscape, like a race, a treasure hunt, or descending into a hidden cave that perhaps no player has discovered before you…

The Settler, on the other hand, is able to build structures almost anywhere. Buildings? In the middle of the game world? You read that right! They can set up many constructions from campfires to taverns that offer new functions to other players, such as a buff or a special quest. Every time a player interacts with the buildings, the Settler benefits – a classic win-win situation!

Graphics and Design

WildStar is crazy in every imaginable way. I know no other world where giant hamsters fire nuclear weapons, space zombies seek a cure, or my cute Aurin with bunny ears and a fox tail scans daisies that turn out to be oversized monsters wanting to devour me whole.

The comic-like appearance is perfectly matched to the scenery, the expressions and gestures of the characters are great so far, and from what we’ve seen, the world is vibrant and cohesive without being absurd in a disturbing way.

The comic look also has the advantage that the game never has to be photo-realistic, which means compromises can be made in graphics without you really noticing (similar to “Borderlands”).

Conclusion

The incredibly funny humor, the crazy world, the announced housing, the possibility to pay the monthly fees with in-game currency, the combat system, the brilliant paths, and the fresh world where I can role-play has already captivated me.

wildstar conclusion
Where are the Aurin and the Exiled human looking? Our outlook is that WildStar will be an excellent MMORPG!

I confess, I am hyped to my fingertips.

In recent years, it has become common to scream every game as “WoW Killer”, and I really don’t want to lower myself to that level.

Nevertheless, I’m already starting to dig a grave. Whether I’ll bury a game in it, or the miserable traitors of the Dominion, remains to be seen.

http://youtu.be/ukb7oOCkhJw
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

WildStar – The “DevSpeak” Stephan Frost answered the questions from the community

Last night, Stephan Frost, the Design Producer of WildStar and the voice of the well-known “DevSpeak” videos, answered numerous questions from the community in an English-speaking forum.

One of the most important questions was probably about the endgame content and whether the game would offer enough of it at launch to keep players engaged for longer. Frost confirmed this and listed that there are many contents accessible only at level 50, including raids, veteran dungeons, adventures, PvP zones, and a large part of the housing items.

He also emphasized that it will be very difficult for most players to tackle the raids on the first day, as they would require a lot of preparation and demand everything from you. Furthermore, he mentioned that some developers are already working on the follow-up patches to quickly implement new content even after launch.

In addition, he answered small questions, such as why there are no female Chua as player models (which only underscores the game’s absurd humor):

Chua are neither female nor male, but primarily insane.

Chua Wildstar
So, who finds the crazy Chua?

Are you ready for the upcoming Open Beta of WildStar?

For many who can’t wait any longer, certainly interesting: The goal is still to release the game this spring and an Open Beta is set to “start soon”, though this should be taken with a grain of salt in programming terms.

Let’s hope that these great promises also come true, then nothing will stand in the way of a successful release of the MMORPG hope.

Until then, just enjoy one of the famous DevSpeak videos:

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P.S.: The interview is now completely translated on the German WildStar fansite Readycheck.

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Everquest Next: The Next Big Thing

If you spend 5 minutes on the topic Everquest Next and especially on the sister project Everquest Landmark, you will be amazed!

40 classes? A destructible environment? Dynamic quest system with mob groups following artificial intelligence? A sandbox mode like in Minecraft? If only half of that is true and works, Everquest Next will be the new hot shit, that much is clear.

And the nice thing is: Behind Everquest Next are not just some dreamers, but veterans of the gaming industry with over 20 years of experience. We answer the most important questions about Everquest Next and Everquest Landmark.

 

  • Everquest, Everquest – have I heard that before?
Everquest Logo

Oh, probably. The first Everquest was WoW before WoW became the new WoW. A hardcore MMORPG with a fantasy touch, which still exists today.

It was released in 1999, has since 16 races and 16 classes and was a huge success, it is still played by hardcore gamers. In October 2013, the twentieth expansion for the game was released. Yes, no typo: the twentieth expansion.

The successor project Everquest 2 went online in 2004 and was supposed to compete with the industry leader WoW – that didn’t quite work out. However, the two Everquest games are still considered by purists as an example of “real MMORPGs” with huge raids, guilds, character development, rare spawns, and all those hardcore things from which mainstream MMORPGs have turned away for quite some time.

  • Who is behind the new Everquest?

Sony, this billion-dollar giant that designed this thing … I believe the kids call it Playstation? Some sort of cross between a toaster and a PC, but apparently a few people seem to be very keen on it. Everquest is being developed by Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony. Major players in the gaming industry are involved in the project itself. SOE is also responsible for DC Universe and Planetside 2.

A new era is dawning

  • Why is everyone losing it over Everquest Next?
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Because it is supposed to be possible to manipulate the environment in the game quite freely. That is actually the feature SOE is advertising and exciting everyone because it changes the whole balance of a game. If everything works as promised, you could use spells to bring down a bridge where enemies are lying in wait, collapse entire caves, literally shoot your way free to the boss, and so on. A freely manipulable environment allows a return of creativity in problem-solving instead of boss kill after guide. An out-of-the-box thinking. It is just incredibly exciting.

While previous games have already attempted something like that, where you could slowly grind down the walls of a fortress until a passage formed, Everquest Next is supposed to go much further and be much freer. The fixed environment remains one of the biggest hurdles that separates MMORPGs from movies or other story elements.

The environment in previous games is simply a solid ground on which the exciting things happen. Something players don’t even think about. But if a cave, where you are hunting a spider or chasing a dragon, becomes important – and not just according to a script, but freely manipulable – a new era for MMORPGs would truly begin.

This is what many hope for from Everquest Next: The Next-Next-Gen MMORPG. A Guild Wars 2 taken even further.

Dynamic and organic as main design goals

  • Do quests still fit into this universe?
EQ Next Screenshot

For the quest system, Everquest Next will likely draw on Guild Wars 2. So no quest hubs with: Go there and kill 10 rats, when you are done, come back and I’ll make you a nice cloak out of rat fur, but dynamic events.

The magic words are “dynamic” and “organic”. When a group of goblins spawns somewhere in the world, they should pursue concrete goals: The goblins want to raid a neighboring village. Now an attack on the village is taking place – if a player is present, they will naturally try to protect the village, and next they might go on the counteroffensive, kill fleeing goblins, invade their nest, and slay the chief. Or the goblins withdraw in an orderly fashion and choose a new target. Or the goblins succeed in taking over the village; they become stronger and plan an attack on a trade caravan.

The quests should look roughly as dynamic and organic as this. The main design idea of Everquest Next is probably to break with many conventions of MMORPGs that players have come to take for granted.

With Landmark goes into the sandbox

  • What about classes?
EQ Next Klassen

For Everquest Next, 40 classes are planned. The developers intend to work with highly specialized classes. For example, a mage is supposed to become a pet class, the next is also a mage but specialized in destruction spells.

The creators of Everquest Next believe there will be enough room for these 40 classes, and they expect that these highly specialized classes will then manage with only a few skills. Numbers like 8-12 main skills per class are circulating.

And what about Everquest Landmark?
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Yes, it’s getting complicated now. Everquest Landmark is clearly inspired by Minecraft and other newer games where players can unleash their creativity. It’s called sandbox – the box is provided, the sand and the shovel too, but what the kids build there is entirely up to them. And it doesn’t really make sense to build a sandcastle. The sandcastle is just a sandcastle; the journey is the destination, and creating something is its own reward. Until the zombies come at night… well, the sandbox term hasn’t really fit since Minecraft.

Everquest Landmark operates under the same basic rules as Everquest Next, only that content comes from the users. Any creative player can then build their own world and visit the neighbor’s world. Quests can also be designed freely – it all sounds almost too good to be true at the moment, and one can assume that the development phase and the launch will come with some problems. But just the prospect of creating an MMORPG within very free boundaries makes many fans’ mouths water.

EQ Next Landmark

Everquest Landmark is possible because of the manipulation of space also in Everquest Next, it has to do with voxel technology. It’s pretty complicated stuff that ultimately means that the world consists of smaller elements that can be manipulated more easily (there is also a further video about EQ Next Landmark). This could indeed usher in a new era for MMORPGs. And this is what both the industry and players hope for from Everquest Next.

Hype or for real?

  • When does it start?
eq-next-landmark-screenshot

The alpha of Everquest Landmark is supposed to start on February 28. The closed beta at the end of March – and, well, with such an ambitious and revolutionary project, delays can certainly be expected.

At the moment, everything sounds almost too good to be true. Millions of fans sit in front of the clips with sweaty hands with every new video, imagining whether their dream castle will have two or three towers, and what color the lava flow should have that runs in the lowest caverns: Usually, this period of euphoria is followed by a harsh awakening when it goes into the alpha and beta stages.

  • Is the hype justified?

There is definitely reason for cautious euphoria from Everquest Next. Just from the idea of dynamic mob hordes or destructible terrain, exciting games could have already been created. Combining this with the Everquest universe, the know-how of Sony behind it, and a strong hand in the sandbox box?
The hype is definitely justified.

Everquest Next, Wildstar, and TESO are the hottest candidates for the next few years. Whether Everquest Next will really be released in 2014 – that remains to be seen. One thing is already certain: It will be free-to-play.

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

ArcheAge: Release in the West is getting closer!

[intense_lead ]What have people been waiting for here in ArcheAge for so long! But now things are finally moving in the game, as in an interview on mmorpg.com, Scott Hartsman, the CEO of Trion Worlds (publisher of the AAA title), shared a little bit of insight![/intense_lead]

He reports that the game is mostly playable in English and that this version is already being diligently tested by acquaintances and family members of Trion employees.

After the bad news of the past months (difficulties in the westernization of the Asian blockbuster, etc.), this is a really good piece of news for the fans of the upcoming MMORPG highlight ArcheAge, which was released in Asia last year; at least the release in the West, that is, America and Europe, is eagerly awaited.

The CEO also makes no secret of his excitement about the game  and can hardly wait to make it accessible to everyone:

[pull_quote_center]I spent 75% of my vacation playing ArcheAge. That’s no joke.[/pull_quote_center]

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It’s no wonder, the game offers a lot of sandbox features along with classic role-playing content and many other seemingly endless possibilities. These include:

  • Massive siege battles
  • A player-driven economy
  • Sea adventures on ships and boats
  • Spectacular flying maneuvers
  • Free building of estates in the open world
  • A variety of agricultural activities
    • such as the breeding of plants and animals
  • A very extensive crafting system

All of this and much more can be experienced in an open and seemingly boundless world, known for its beautiful settings – thanks to the CryEngine. Of course, the game likely has weaknesses too, but we’ll think about those when we actually test it ourselves!

By the way, during a chat with Trion, a rough date was also leaked. Whether it was meant seriously in this case is unclear; however, it was stated there that it won’t take more than 6 months until it actually releases here and thus achieves gold status!

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

Lord of the Rings Online: At least until 2017

For all loyal fans of The Lord of the Rings Online, it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief for at least another 3 years! Following Turbine’s statement that no work is currently being done on dungeons or raids, part of the community (in the official game forum) discussed whether the adventure in Middle-earth was nearing its end. But far from it. The community manager dispelled this rumor with the following reply:

I just wanted to drop in and address the concerns surrounding the license, again. We have said as far back as July of 2013, we plan to support LOTRO for many years to come. I really want to be as clear as possible on this subject to avoid any further confusion or misunderstanding. The license was renewed. (…)We have an agreement that runs through 2017.

This should reassure the community for now, as the plans to maintain the servers definitely extend at least until 2017. This whole endeavor is underpinned by a renewed license, which likely poses no obstacles.

But the question remains, what are the developers currently working on? Apparently, something other than the aforementioned popular group content. A small hint has already been provided: They intend to focus on existing content and improve it in the near future.

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

SWTOR 2.6 – Galactic Starfighter and a new Flashpoint

[intense_lead ]For about 6 weeks now, subscribers have been able to play Galactic Starfighter and on 14.01., the preferred players will join. However, when the game mode becomes accessible to all players in February, BioWare will release another patch for Star Wars: The Old Republic.[/intense_lead]

As previously announced, Galactic Starfighter will be expanded by a new starship class, adding a Bomber to the existing types of combat machines in the air. In addition to the previous “Conquest” mode, there is now the “Team Deathmatch” mode, where players can shoot down enemy ships without satellites.

bomber swtor
The bomber features heavy armor and can utilize a variety of exclusive special weapons, such as drones.

But that’s not all: A new role-neutral Flashpoint, named “Kuat Drive Yards”, will also be released and is designed to thematically connect starship combat with ground battles. To bring attention to this, a dedicated area will be prepared on the Republic and Empire fleets.

Moreover, the classes will continue to be refined to ensure balanced chances in PvP and PvE: Rogues and Saboteurs will enjoy an increase in dealt damage, while Sorcerers and Scholars will receive a talent to negate the increased casting time of certain abilities. Lastly, Mercenaries and Commandos will see improvements to their healing abilities, allowing them to apply their healing shields to more than one target.

Additionally, the cartel market will be expanded and a new delivery of cartel packs, featuring new mounts and fancy clothing, will be available, which can be purchased as usual with real money – or with the free coins that subscribers receive.

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

Guild Wars 2 Review: Anarchy Makes You Less Alone

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The buy-to-play fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2 has attracted many admirers and fans since its release in August 2012. Some have remained loyal to the game, while others have not.

Like no other game, Guild Wars 2 emphasizes the solidarity of a server community or guild. Additionally, GW 2 gives its players the feeling of being an explorer in an unknown, exciting land where new stories are constantly unfolding.

We have packed our backpacks and ventured into the vastness of Guild Wars 2 to introduce you to the game.

The classes, races, masses, and the question: What am I playing now?

GW2 PvPThe original Guild Wars was somehow different. While the game’s competitors were huge giants like World of Warcraft or Everquest, the first Guild Wars occupied an outsider niche. This attracted many hardcore players, who especially praised the PVP.

When Guild Wars 2 launched amidst great hype and rave reviews, the developer ArenaNet had some surprises in store that would shake up a stagnant MMORPG world. The first was the class design. Guild Wars 2 abolished the holy trinity of Tank, Healer, and Damage Dealer. A sacrilege at the time!

Each class was meant to be able to tank a bit, have decent self-healing capabilities, and be able to deal damage. The latter is self-explanatory. The intention was primarily to free healers from their supposed yoke, long lamented since time immemorial.

In total, 8 classes were ultimately available: Warrior and Guardian wear heavy armor. The Thief, Engineer, and Ranger wear medium armor and are designed similarly to their counterparts in other games. As for cloth classes, there’s the Elementalist, the dark Necromancer, and the Mesmer.

The Mesmer is a particularly sophisticated class that relies on illusions, clones, surprise attacks, and other tricks. It is somewhat of a mix between a wizard and a cloak-and-dagger duelist, like one might find in the France of the Three Musketeers and Cardinal Richelieu.

Tell me what weapon you wield, and I will tell you what skills you have

Another innovation in game design is that classes change their abilities with the weapon they are currently using. A warrior wielding a bow has an arsenal of skills that one would associate with a hunter in other games. Thus, it is possible to design and play a ranged fighter with incredibly strong armor in Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars 2 Action Combat
Guild Wars 2 offers an active real-time combat system that is very action-oriented.

If the same warrior picks up a sword in his right hand and a war horn in his left hand, he becomes a melee fighter who can buff and support the group through the war horn. If he carries a two-handed sword, he has a skill set reminiscent of the barbarian from Diablo 2. Conversely, if he takes a shield in his off-hand, he is considerably more defensively oriented.

Skills GW2
A small excerpt from the skills interface

These weapon differences apply to all classes. At first glance, it seems that the characters have an incredibly high number of ways to develop and specialize. This is certainly somewhat true, but there is no elaborated skill tree with combinations of various skills like in other games known.

Once you have committed to a warrior running around with a two-handed weapon and decided on certain class and ultimate skills, the quick bar will be quite sparsely populated. Of course, you can switch at any time, but even with another weapon, the final selection will still be limited.

The selection of abilities in the game sometimes seems as if you are standing with a tiny plate before a huge buffet. Although you’d ideally like to shovel 20 things onto the plate, there is only room for 6.

In any case, the class and skills system is an innovation that brings surprisingly many variations and benefits.

The peoples of Tyria: Less Tolkien, more Manga

The different races available determine the “personal story” of the main character and have effects on the gameplay that go far beyond merely changing the starting area.
The peoples of Tyria include:

  • the Charr, a cat-like warrior race with a bloody past
  • the Norn, a hardy northern people accustomed to cold and deprivation
  • the Humans, a race full of contradictions and opposites
  • the Sylvari, a nature-bound people wrapped in myths and legends
  • and the Asura, a small, highly intelligent, and super-cute species

Races in GW2
The races differ significantly from each other, both visually and historically.

Even at the selection of races, it’s clear that the universe of Tyria has nothing to do with standard Tolkien fantasy. While Sylvari appear somewhat similar to elves in orientation, there are numerous differences and nuances in detail and the well-crafted story quests. It is exciting to discover and get to know the various peoples, their stories, and ideas. The world of Guild Wars 2 is not a generic fantasy, but a world with history, personality, and character.

The gameplay: The dynamic events

The revolutionary element in Guild Wars 2 is the gameplay or how one shapes the ordinary day of an adventure. While in competing games, a hero arrives in an area, accepts quests, and then gradually works through them, he moves much more freely in GW 2.

[pull_quote_center]The player reaches a new zone and experiences adventures.[/pull_quote_center]

Dynamic events happen around him. In a certain area, there are “quests,” but they are modern and not so formally designed.

For example: The brave Mesmer reaches an area that has a clear problem: Perhaps meteorites are falling from the sky and crushing deer that need to be saved, or there are way too many sharks in the pond (ArenaNet put a lot of effort into underwater combat) or something else is amiss. Intuitively, the hero now follows his natural urge to do good, and is rewarded in-game for it.

When major events occur – when a dragon lands or an ogre tribe goes amok again – the individual player doesn’t have to worry about stepping on the toes of any guild if they just want to see what happens. The big events are like a big family gathering: Everyone is welcome, everyone can take what they want from the buffet. And the more, the better.

tequatl-gw2
Impressive world bosses like Tequatl present the greatest challenge in GW2 and should only be tackled with combined forces.

 

War of the Worlds instead of Ganking

world-vs-world-gw2
Epic mass battles are guaranteed.

This somewhat chaotic and anarchistic game principle, where something happens around me and I react to it, is taken to the extreme in PVP. While in other games things are neatly organized and clear, Guild Wars 2 feels dynamic and fluid: Everywhere seems to be on fire. Wherever you look, there is something to do, and the adventure has no beginning and no end.

In PVP, entire servers collide. Three worlds participate in a battle. But fans of battlegrounds or arenas will also get their money’s worth. ArenaNet remains true to the roots of the first Guild Wars. The coordination of players is supposed to determine victory and defeat, and significant gear advantages from optimized equipment do not exist.

Recommended article mentioning the world versus world PVP: The Robin Hood Problem: Everyone wants to be the hero

Overall, GW 2 breaks away from the convention of faster, higher, further – for max level characters, gear improvement is more about style. The game offers an incredible variety of earnable style items – there should be something for everyone, here are a few examples:

Innovative design decisions create the discreet charm of GW 2

Through some clever design decisions, a player can continually set their own goals that do not necessarily have to relate to a linear development of the character. When a single zone or map is completely completed, a premium reward is given. But a zone is not considered complete when all “quest points” are checked off as though they were on a to-do list. No, to fully explore a zone, it might also include climbing a series of plateaus to reach a mountain peak and take in the beautiful view.

This dynamic game principle has been adopted by ArenaNet even in the expansions and is followed consistently. While other games bring new content into the game at fixed intervals, which is simply added to the existing mass, Guild Wars 2 regularly features small stories occurring in the game that are only available for a limited time. With this concept of the “living world”, there is always something to do, and some story in Guild Wars 2 is continually advancing. This fits well with the rest of the game.

We have already reported on the “living story”: Scarlet Briar Holds the World in Thrall and Incident in Twilight.

living-story-gw2 The living story regularly brings new momentum to the game!

[pull_quote_center]Guild Wars 2 breaks with many conventions of the fantasy genre that have made it predictable and cozy over the years, but also somewhat bland.

This anarchistic approach of Guild Wars 2 should definitely be worth a visit for anyone who is looking for something new.

The conclusion on Guild Wars 2

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Guild Wars 2 is definitely worth the price. There are many moments when I paused while playing as the camera flew through a cave or my Charr looked down from a mountain, and I thought: Okay, now you’ve done something. This is really good.

In the long run, like with any MMORPG: One needs people to play with regularly. Otherwise, you level it up like a single-player and then feel somewhat lost about where the journey should go. I particularly missed the instance finder (which is already available now).

GW 2 was for me (and many of my friends) a short excursion into something completely different after a long period of the well-organized WoW, but none of us stuck around. However, no one regretted the excursion.

Since there are no monthly fees, I certainly intend to check in regularly with Guild Wars 2 to see what direction the game is developing in. I am curious. The 35 euros or so were definitely a good investment. If you calculate it in euros per hour of engagement, MMORPGs are unbeaten. And in GW 2, the sometimes very annoyingly implemented freemium stuff is absent, which bothers me in other games.

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Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
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Seven if the new approaches don’t sit well with some, it must be acknowledged that this game is of very high quality – in almost every respect. In my opinion, Guild Wars 2 has done the best job of presenting the player with a believable and extremely atmospheric world.

Everywhere around you, there is activity and movement. The idyllic landscapes, which are very diverse, compel you to stop and enjoy the surroundings! There’s also a ton to do in the game, and you decide for yourself what you’d like to do: from dynamic events to exploration to thrilling mass battles.

However, not everything that glitters is gold: I’m not comfortable with the dungeons, as I belong to the old school and prefer to structure fights against captivating bosses with a tank, DPS, and healer. Furthermore, the bosses could benefit from a few more mechanics. And the fascination with dynamic events diminishes after a while, but essentially that is nitpicking at a high level, as there really isn’t much to criticize otherwise. Players who don’t want to turn away from classic gameplay may not be satisfied in the long run.

As Schuhmann already mentioned, Guild Wars 2 is also great for playing something different. After all, there are no subscription fees and new content is continually added. You can’t go wrong with a purchase, especially since the acquisition cost is around 25 € – quite low.

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Pros

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Many dynamic events round off good quest design

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Great atmosphere in a world that is inviting to be explored!

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Successful world vs world and arena PVP

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Innovations bring momentum to the genre (no fixed roles in dungeons, no linear progression, no classic quest hubs, etc.)

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Regular continuation of the story through the living story

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Impressive world bosses and generally many group events

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]A unique area for each race, along with a personal story

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Customization through style items and skill choices leaves little to be desired

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Active, action-oriented combat system

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Very fair business model without subscription

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Interesting crafting system

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Cons

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Boss enemies in dungeons sometimes have too few interesting mechanics

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Only a small number of selectable weapon skills

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Due to the different approach, there’s a risk of not getting warmed up to the game drastically compared to the classics

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Long-term motivation for solo players is questionable

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Dynamic events sometimes feel too similar

[intense_icon type=”thumbs-down” size=”1″ color=”#dd3333″ /]Even if the graphics are good overall, they can feel a little blurry today

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[intense_icon type=”cogs” size=”1″ color=”#000000″ /]Minimum System Requirements for Windows:

  • Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or higher
  • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.0 GHz, Core i3, AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 or better
  • 2 GB RAM
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800, ATI Radeon™ X1800, Intel HD 3000 or better (with 256 MB video RAM and support for Shader Model 3.0 or better)
  • 25 GB of free hard drive space
  • Broadband internet connection
  • Keyboard and mouse

[intense_icon type=”cogs” size=”1″ color=”#000000″ /]Minimum System Requirements for Mac:

  • Mac OS®X 10.7.X or higher
  • Intel® Core™ i5 or better
  • 4 GB RAM or better
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® 320M, ATI Radeon™ HD 6630M, Intel HD 3000 or better
  • 25 GB available hard drive space
  • Broadband internet connection
  • Keyboard and mouse or equivalent

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

Dragon’s Prophet: Entwickler spricht über die Zukunft

Dragon’s Prophet is still one of the newcomers in the genre, but clearly enough time has passed for the developer to share their first conclusions. In a developer letter, John Tang, the President of Runewaker Entertainment, reflects on the turbulent journey of the free-to-play MMORPG.

The difficult weeks following the release are mentioned just as much as a whole range of upcoming content that fans of the game can look forward to.

Developer of Dragon's Prophet
Author of the letter: John Tang, President of Runewaker Entertainment.

After the obligatory thanks to the loyal community, which with their support contributes a lot to continuously improving the dragon game, he summarizes what has been added in the last 12 months: He lists 9 main regions, 32 dungeons, housing items, dragons, the PvP frontier system, tireless bug fixing, and so on.

We have certainly noticed: The game has indeed improved significantly since the premature open beta launch, and a few interesting features have found their way into the MMO. However, we feel that despite this, there is still quite a bit missing – which is also addressed in our test of Dragon’s Prophet .

It will be exciting to see whether the quality of the online role-playing game also experiences a sufficient increase in 2014, especially since the strong competition is not resting and a few blockbusters are waiting to be launched. The current advantage is that no other online game has established a similarly comprehensive companion system, and one could almost speak of a niche (for those who have always loved Pokémon and cannot get enough of companions). However, it must be doubted in the long run that merely the intense relationship with a dragon guarantees a long-lasting bond.

2014: The Dragon Evolution Continues

In order to provide players with incentives to continue exploring the world of Atreia or to offer MMO seekers an attractive package for new entries, they aim to deliver surprises in 2014. This initiative should be achieved through the following innovations in the near future:

  • an Dragon Arena, where players can pit their dragons against each other (these will also be somewhat controlled by the player with elite skills)
  • 10 exciting dungeons and 3 previously unspoiled regions
  • World bosses, which encourage group play (by offering better rewards)
  • Optimization of the PvP ranking system
Dragon Arena
The Dragon Arena will soon expand Dragon’s Prophet with a promising feature.

The quest design of Dragon’s Prophet has received the most criticism, as it is anything but exciting and varied. This will be tackled, which could particularly catch the attention of new players, but also veterans as soon as a new region is introduced. We look forward to seeing how well this hopeful sentence will ultimately be realized:

We will also work on improving the quests, focusing mainly on storytelling and variety in the quests. Additionally, we will introduce special NPCs and features designed to encourage exploration of the map.

But that’s not all, as the upcoming Dragon Evolution System, which holds further improvements regarding companions , will further enhance the companion system. This will introduce even more options for developing your dragon, and new dragon attributes promise more variety among the creatures – possibilities that will create greater depth in gameplay.

Will this be successful? We will keep you posted!

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

WoW: The Linear Progression

While outside in the world the grim specter of cold progression makes the rounds, players of MMORPGs have been struggling with a different phenomenon since time immemorial: The linear progression.

There is always the goal of getting one item level higher, looting one more artifact, rising another rank in PVP, to finally get closer to the ideal goal of a maxed character. We leave cold progression alone and take a hot look at the linear.

The next upgrade beckons

Everywhere in our lives we see upgrade opportunities. The old bike could be replaced with a new mountain bike, the old tube could be replaced with a sparkling LED screen, the wardrobe could also use an upgrade, and the Mickey Mouse watch on the wrist obviously no longer matches the new lifestyle, and when the gaze falls on the girlfriend – well, let’s leave that, otherwise we might get swapped for a newer model.

upgrade-wow

Let’s be honest: In life, you often get pretty stuck. Upgrade opportunities don’t easily arise, the voice of reason keeps saying: You can’t afford that.

And those who actually have a bit more money in their account will hardly go to their trusted blacksmith and demand new cutlery – preferably a decadent plus-five knife – but will invest the money sensibly, maybe even plan for a vacation or make another one-time expense that can’t be accounted for in the inventory afterwards.

In MMORPGs, especially in the ever-popular World of Warcraft, it’s quite different.

[pull_quote_center]WoW recognized the players’ longing for an upgrade a long time ago and has become a master at repeatedly dangling the carrot of progress in front of the player.[/pull_quote_center]

No day goes by, so the idea is, without the player’s avatar becoming a little stronger. Working towards a goal. He still logs out a little stronger than he logged in, or is at least close to the goal.

The possibilities that Blizzard and other manufacturers exploit are the meanest and most insidious of all: filling bars and growing numbers! What exactly is growing isn’t that important. Whether the faction bar with the guardians of the golden nightpot, our resilience against dragon breath, or – for the truly hardened – even the value in fishing.

As long as there is a number and preferably a leaderboard where you can compare it.

And it’s not just a male thing: For many WoW female players, nothing is more important than the number of their achievement points. There are rumors of entire guilds that are enslaved on Sundays to raid some ancient content because there is still an achievement missing. Let us take a moment to pray for these poor souls.

Fortschritt WoW

Various methods of progress, or not?

For most of us, it starts so harmlessly. At some point – probably in ancient times – it must have happened to each of us: The first level-up. Just a moment ago you were a lowly level one – and then something happened that you didn’t quite understand, a hotkey was pressed, a monster bit the dust, a light lit up, a number flashed, and: Ta-da! Make way, you beginners, I am level 2.

At some point you were even level 5, and the monsters that at first took you three hits now fell over at just a glance. The starting area was quickly abandoned, and you turned to new tasks, dreams of omnipotence arose. The journey continued, new abilities were unlocked, and with each logout, you felt closer to that magical state of having reached the max level.

[intense_progress size=”large” animation=”1″ colors=”success,” values=”60″ texts=”Not far until the next level!” /]

Well, for some casual players, those lucky clueless ones, the journey ended somewhere along the way. Or – as some players hold – the journey ended exactly at the maximum level, then these players logged out, started a twink, or were never seen again. For hardcore players, however, the game only begins upon reaching max level.

The collecting, the hunting, and the ladder of progress

Upon reaching the highest level, there are of course still opportunities to further develop the character: Now the character must be equipped with a series of items. With each item, the character becomes stronger and is therefore able to defeat stronger monsters, which drop better equipment, enabling the player to take down even stronger monsters.

WoW has elevated this to a high art.

Even in the times of The Burning Crusade, the hoops players had to jump through were clearly outlined. First, the most important main quests were completed, then it went into the instances, then into heroic instances, then into 10-man raids (after Karazhan), and finally with the guild into the increasingly difficult 25-man raid instances. Solo players were out of luck (or had luck), for them the game truly ended at max level.
The other players embarked on a clearly defined ladder. Step by step they had to climb. It is still like that today.

Each class has a specific playstyle that promises optimal benefit. Clever minds – usually bored mathematicians – create huge tables and wage small wars over what exactly this configuration looks like, but it is clear: It is somewhere out there. For the players, the ascent on a ladder begins, on whose top rung this ideal vision awaits.

The ladder of progress is narrow and steep …

WoW Item Jäger
So many hunters dream of this…

Now, there could have been various possibilities – and maybe there still are – to shape this ladder of progress. In WoW – and for most other players – the ladder has become narrow and high over the years: for each class, there is exactly one item of a certain quality in a specific level range, after which the next must be obtained.

A hunter in World of Warcraft can always check how strong his bow is. If he has the fifth strongest bow in the game, he knows exactly which opponent he must defeat to get to the fourth best.

It almost seems as if all hunters in World of Warcraft play the exact same character, only at different stages of their development. The hunter with ilvl500 already knows which items he will wear with ilvl510 – because there is only one “best” configuration.

… but it is fun to reach the top

Now, this ladder has several reasons. Especially WoW is a game that has polished away almost all corners and edges in recent years. Huge guilds, where real money is at stake, compete across continents in a race to see who will defeat the latest bosses first. Equal opportunities are to be maintained.

The elite hunter of the North American super guild should have the same opportunities as his rival from Sweden. But doesn’t this also rob the game of any surprise? Can a player shape his character however he likes? Can he give it his own personal touch – or even develop a distinctive style and still remain effective and not burden his raid?

Well, World of Warcraft at least makes an effort on a cosmetic level. For some years now, it has been possible to change and personalize the appearance of the game characters and their items.

style-item-wow
Would it be okay for you if desirable items simply looked a bit more special?

Other games follow a different philosophy. In them, items do not play such a big role, but progress then occurs through vanity items, i.e., items that only serve to boost the player’s ego, but do not make the character stronger.

The strange thing is, however, that many of these games live in the shadow. While the magical allure of WoW is likely based on the fact that in the world of Azeroth, it always goes higher, stronger, and further.

What do you think?

Do you like linear progression, or do you hope for a bit more variety in character development from new games like Guild Wars 2, Everquest Next, or TESO when it comes to your character?

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

Final Fantasy XIV: Gratis Tage am Wochenende

Former players who own a valid version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn but no longer have an active subscription now have the opportunity for a few days to test the latest developments in Eorzea thoroughly.

Who knows, it’s quite possible that one can get excited about the game again – after all, there have been quite a few new features recently; especially Patch 2.1 is already quite close to a major expansion. Apart from that, we can recommend the game to those who are sympathetic to the Asian style and want to experience classic MMORPG gameplay in a new guise. Just recently, we crowned FF XIV: ARR the biggest MMO surprise of 2013.  

[intense_testimonies]

[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]With Patch 2.1, we have added many new contents such as the Crystal Tower for alliances with 24 players, PvP battles in the Wolf’s Den, new extreme fights against the Primals, further developments in the main story, and much more. We want to give as many players as possible the chance to try everything that FFXIV: ARR has to offer. For this reason, we will hold a limited-time free login campaign this weekend! [/intense_testimony_text]
[intense_testimony_author company=”Square Enix, developers of FF XIV: ARR” link=”http://de.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/a22a9a9d9e2fa9828dacdd05e54b038c71c97bd3″ link_target=”_blank” image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2013/12/ffxiv-logo-300×200.png”][/intense_testimony_author]
[/intense_testimony]
[/intense_testimonies]

This action runs from Saturday (09:00 AM) to Monday (09:00 AM), i.e., from January 11 to 13, 2014. Have fun?

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

Guild Wars 2 – Scarlet Thorn holds the world in suspense

Colin Johanson from ArenaNet summarized at the turn of the year what happened in the world of Guild Wars 2 over the past year. Guild Wars 2 tells the story of the fantasy MMORPG in its living world as a series of short events that together form a larger narrative arc.

The world lives with it and changes every two weeks like a serialized novel that is published at regular intervals. Only that you can experience this novel as the hero of Tyria right in the front row.

In early 2013, the Flame Legion along with the Branded caused trouble, before the Sky Pirates wove their intrigues in Lion’s Arch. The end of the Sky Pirates posed the heroes of Tyria with the question of who could be behind these dark machinations. They did not have to wait long for the answer: Scarlet Briar was the puppet master behind the scenes.

GW2 living story

Briar proved to be a worthy antagonist for the year 2013. Her xenophobic plans took root in the literal sense when she even made nature turn against the united peoples of Tyria. Moreover, it seems that Briar is dancing at many different weddings: she is also knowledgeable about ley lines.

These are magical ley lines that stretch across the entire continent. When at Christmas the Flame Legion and the Branded returned and also turned out to be pawns in Briar’s master plan, it presented the heroes with further riddles.

Is Scarlet Briar simply crazy, or is she truly pursuing a devilishly cunning plan that will keep the heroes of Guild Wars 2 on their toes in 2014?

We are curious!

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

Until the doctor comes – Addiction or just a time-consuming hobby?

I am sure that pretty much every passionate gamer from my generation has heard the following accusation at some point:

You don’t have time for XYZ anymore, you are addicted to these computer games!

I believe that many people, especially parents, are not aware of the damage they can cause with such statements. I personally take myself as an example here, as I obviously have the most knowledge about it.

Like many others, I started with “World of Warcraft” (Okay – I also played “Silkroad”, but who remembers that anymore?) and became increasingly involved in the various game contents. At first, it was just evening dungeon runs (Scholomance, again and again Scholomance!) and later it became a raid group of 40 people, which meant that I had to have time for at least 4 hours, 2-3 times a week – that did not even include the farming time for flasks and buff food.

But back to the main topic: I thought a lot about whether I was really addicted, and I reflected very intensively on my actions. In doing so, I also did a lot of research: What exactly constitutes an addiction?

There are many opinions on this topic; some people are convinced that playing computer games for 2 hours a day already qualifies as being strongly at risk of addiction, while others argue that an addiction can never be measured by time – even if it can be an indicator. I hold the latter view and my studies in “Social Work” have only further confirmed this opinion, as one of the prevailing theses here is:

A supposed ‘addiction’ is only considered a disease when the affected person experiences distress.

This means, roughly translated: You are only addicted if something else is missed, which you would like to spend time on, but cannot due to the addiction. 

To give an example: You are dissatisfied with your grades in school and would like to study more, but you can’t because you are gaming all day. That would give us a distress (bad grades that you want to change) and a clear indication of the addiction.

World of Warcraft - can captivate players.
World of Warcraft – can captivate players.

I have always handled it differently. I didn’t really care about my grades, so I could spend my time on raids and role-playing without any distress. Since I also don’t drink alcohol, it became boring to attend parties with age – at least after a certain point when the alcohol level exceeds the magical “nervous threshold”.

Of course, one might say that I made it too easy for myself, as an addicted person will always deny their addiction, as the saying goes. That’s exactly what I did until my guardians had the brilliant idea to send me to an addiction counselor – how humiliating it is when your own parents think you are addicted, most people can probably imagine.

However, this turned out to be the best possible solution for me: After two sessions with the addiction counselor, he came to the conclusion that I was not addicted – I really felt a weight lift off my shoulders, and from then on I could pursue my passion without a guilty conscience!

What you can definitely take away from this: Do not let others convince you of anything.

Ask yourself, reflect on your actions honestly, and you will almost always have the right answer regarding your situation.

Phew, today I really spilled the beans a bit. Have you had similar experiences? What do you think of all the labels that can be quickly attached in our society? Let me know in the comments, until next time!

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

Defiance: 3rd DLC announced for February!

The 7th Legion – the third bite of the first SciFi season of Defiance

season-pass-box-tn

Ok, that was a bit of numbers that require explanation and that need to be supplemented by more. Currently, the first season of the MMOTPS Defiance is running. Those who have purchased the so-called ‘Season Pass’ for €34.99 receive not only some extras but also all the DLCs included in the first season, that is expansions. Your advantage, some nice extras and about €15 savings. What I actually want to get at is that Defiance is divided into seasons like a TV series with smaller DLCs. This fits quite well with the concept as the MMO is directly linked to the same-named television series. Now, the third part (DLC) for the ongoing first season has officially been announced. The expansion is to be launched on the live servers in February 2014.

Title of the third DLC: The 7th Legion or rather Die siebte Legion.

This will be about Bushido. No, not the rapper, but the Codex of the seventh Legion, led by Commander Yoshida Hiro, who still defends against the darkness in the dystopia of Defiance. Admittedly, there is not much information yet, but more will follow soon, and so we must wait together and make do with triggering Arkfall events – which is what the second DLC brought us. 🙂

To make the waiting time a little shorter, here again is the video for the 2nd DLC of the first season.

http://youtu.be/3dkDxXzLWAk

If you liked the little contribution and want to inform your friends and clan members, feel free to like, share, and comment. We appreciate every support! 🙂

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

New beta invitations for The Elder Scrolls Online!

UPDATE: From February 7, 2014, to February 11, there is once again the opportunity to participate in the Elder Scrolls Online Beta!

[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]We invite even more players to explore Tamriel as part of the ESO Beta!

Check your inbox – we are sending out more beta invitations. Don’t forget to check your spam folder briefly, and if you’re using Gmail, you might also need to look under “Promotions” to see if you were invited.[/intense_testimony_text]

[intense_testimony_author company=”Bethesda, Elder Scrolls Online” link=”http://elderscrollsonline.com/de/news/post/2014/02/04/neue-betaeinladungen–4-februar” link_target=”_blank” image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2013/12/teso-logo-e1388783226426-300×147.png”][/intense_testimony_author]
[/intense_testimony]
[/intense_testimonies]

All players who registered for a beta in TESO should check their inboxes as soon as possible! A large number of beta invitations have just been sent out for a stress test this weekend – no wonder, as we are slowly entering the final phase. After all, it’s only almost 4 months until the release.

[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]We welcome the new year with a round of beta invitations. Check your email inbox to find out if you received one. And don’t forget to look in your spam folder, just to be sure.[/intense_testimony_text]
[intense_testimony_author company=”Bethesda, Elder Scrolls Online” link=”http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/de/news/post/2014/01/07/neue-betaeinladungen–7-januar” link_target=”_blank” image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2013/12/teso-logo-e1388783226426-300×147.png”][/intense_testimony_author]
[/intense_testimony]
[/intense_testimonies]

A good reason to heat up the servers more frequently for the time being; considering that on Cyrodiil, the PvP map, theoretically up to 2000 players can play in one instance, such a test is certainly good practice.

Of course, new players also bring fresh wind to the feedback collection, which certainly helps to tackle the final touches. If you didn’t make it this time, don’t panic, another round will definitely be coming soon. And if that still doesn’t work out, Tamriel will just have to be visited upon the release on April 4, 2013.

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

LP WoW – Groinkh (VII) the big jump!

Noop Source of America
TADAAAAAA, TADAAAAAA!

The WoW double pack in January! Yay, the Groinkh is coming back today – because the fantastic video material from December has been used up – and shows you how his spectacular rocket jump test will turn out. If the little green guy survives, he would surely share a little professional insider tip with you as well as take down a massive cucumber…uh, hen. Check it out and if you like it, we would – as always – appreciate your support in the form of likes, shares, and comments!

With that said, wish you a successful new year again – coming directly from my side! 🙂

Oh, and here’s the way if you want to see Groinkh’s efforts regarding the NSA.

http://youtu.be/nNwC1geV8lM
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.

LP WoW – Groinkh (VI) rocks on in 2014!

Let's Play with Mein MMO

TADAAA! A happy new and successful year wishes you Mein MMO! The Groinkh is back in this year’s Let’s Play group and is participating in the new WoW episode to blow up a ‘camp’, hunt wild cucumbers, and engage in all sorts of other nonsense. But why am I talking here, just dive in and if you like it, always remember to like, share, and comment! We look forward to your feedback! 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNwC1geV8lM
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.