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.
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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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.
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.
The 7th Legion – the third bite of the first SciFi season of Defiance
Ok, that was a bit of numbers that require explanation and that need to be supplemented by more. Currently, the first season of the MMOTPSDefiance 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.
UPDATE: From February 7, 2014, to February 11, there is once again the opportunity to participate in the Elder Scrolls Online Beta!
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[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]
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.
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[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]
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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.
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! 🙂
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.
With the release of the new Lord of the Rings film “The Desolation of Smaug”, we take a look at the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online. We wonder what fascination still emanates from this game of a completely different kind.
It can’t be a game to enslave us all, can it?
The strongest backstory of all MMORPGs?
Lord of the Rings Online had a strange starting position from the beginning. While the backstory of competitors often grew from the history of offline computer games (Warcraft, Ultima, Everquest), no source material in the fantasy sector is as prominent as the story of the Lord of the Rings.
This posed a difficult question for the developer: If we set our game in a world where legendary heroes already exist, what should the players do?
Exciting stories await you in Isengard, the Mirkwood, or in the halls of Erebor, which serve as the backdrop in the new Hobbit film. HDRO interprets Tolkien’s visions at a high level.
Fantasy role-playing games of this time were full of archers named Leegolas or Darklegohlas. Did one really want a Lord of the Rings game, where in the starting zone twelve atrocious spellings of Legolas meet eighteen variations of Gandalf? And above all – what should these heroes do? Destroy the Ring?
That was hardly feasible. After all, millions of moviegoers would have noticed if behind Frodo and Sam there was an army of backup heroes.
Furthermore, hardcore Tolkien fans already found Peter Jackson’s interpretation too daring and quick. A version of the Lord of the Rings tailored to the modern wants of moviegoers with ADHD. The purists wrinkled their noses. The fantasy fans, to whom such things did not matter, were already playing WoW.
Another problem was that almost every inhabitant of Earth has precise ideas of what the world of HDRO must have looked like.
Every village where hobbits lived had to look exactly like the one from their imagination or at least like the village from the film. And how could one still surprise the player when the key points of the storyline were so clear?
The Shire, the home of the hobbits: Does this beautiful backdrop also match your imagination?
If, in a fantasy game, the player’s usual goal is to be the hero of that game and to change the world for the better – how should that work in the Lord of the Rings when that function has already been taken over by other characters?.
Down to earth, grounded and gruff: The Gimli among MMORPGs?
Lord of the Rings Online had a completely different flair from the often brightly colored competitors from the beginning. While in most competing games, it was normal for a fifth-level wizard to hurl fireballs, a warrior could glow in the dark by level 22, as if he had to serve as a guide for nighttime dragon landings, and where no NPC considered that wild demons were being summoned before their eyes, the developers of Lord of the Rings Online chose the opposite approach: Low-tech, for deceleration.
In Lord of the Rings Online, RP friends find many like-minded people.
Even today – after five expansions and in the seventh year of the game – there are still only the four starter races: hobbits, dwarves, elves, and humans. And when a character is created, led through the Shire, and finally finds his way into Bree, he might look up in surprise: Nothing is glowing at all.
Even today, this remains the strongest fascination:
[pull_quote_center]Lord of the Rings Online is pleasantly grounded and low-tech.
No level-8 warrior named Aragorn rides past and pulls a huge purple firestorm behind him while shouting, “OMFG ROFL I’m glowing.” The chat is usually pleasantly quiet. Even the audience seems more mature and agreeable than in many other games, more like a fantasy opera audience.
Unlike most competitors, here the “RP” in “MMORPG” is capitalized, the Roleplay.
Tip of the editorial staff – The article series on the topic of roleplay in MMOs:
Already when looking at the individual classes and their abilities, the difference to other games becomes apparent. An archer in the Lord of the Rings can shoot with the bow, which he does well, but he cannot magically rain down millions of arrows or jump 42 meters backward like a ninja while pulling ice arrows from a magical quiver. An archer in the Lord of the Rings aims for the head or sets a trap.
His enemies are quite fearsome: goblins, orcs, or ogres – but he defeats them with the means of a competent warrior, like a hero, not with those of a superhero or demigod.
The hobbits flee while they still can – they are not gods.
This also applies to the other classes. While wounds in other games usually disappear magically, that is not the case in a universe that takes Tolkien seriously: If every injury could be cured with a bit of fairy dust, there would be hardly any exciting story to tell.
Thus, the characters in the Lord of the Rings have morals instead of hit points. The healer is a bard who encourages fighters in the face of terror with cheerful tunes to keep fighting. Although this may sound a bit soft to some, it is fundamentally a consistent way to approach the game concept of “healing”.
The game characters also look different from those in contemporary fantasy games. They are dressed in earth-tone or pastel-colored clothing. The highest fashion is sometimes a fashionable feathered hat that a hobbit lady would wear. Weapons do not sparkle, but are forged or made from better wood.
[pull_quote_center]Crafting – which plays a shadowy role in many games – is fully utilized in Lord of the Rings Online.
While in other games entire trees are chopped down, the diligent hunter in HDRO bends down and hacks off a piece from a branch.
Bloodthirsty monsters can make life difficult…
The funny thing is: This makes the storyline seem more personal and dense. The main quests lead from the civilized and orderly world to more and more corrupted zones.
At the beginning, the goal is still to solve a few everyday problems (in roleplay, this means reducing giant spiders or rampaging wolves), leading one to the story around the Fellowship in hostile territory. The player often moves parallel to the famous main storyline and almost feels reverent when he really sees Frodo or Aragorn.
The deceleration of the Lord of the Rings
Through the deceleration of the game and the fact that Lord of the Rings Online takes the source material seriously, it creates a different game feeling and a different rhythm than most competing games. This seems to be what makes the classic so appealing.
This also ensures that, while so many competitors from the last seven years are no longer around, many still enjoy checking out Lord of the Rings Online.
Today’s Lord of the Rings Online player does not have to forego familiar conveniences. Even in HDRO, there is now an instance finder, and the later expansions correspond much more closely to modern role-playing conventions. And to be honest: In the endgame, it does sparkle, gleam, and superhero more than in the original game “Shadows of Angmar”.
Lord of the Rings Online scores with a great atmosphere!
[pull_quote_center]The game can now be started with a partially downloaded client.
So, if after watching the movie The Desolation of Smaug you feel like controlling a hobbit yourself, you can do so within half an hour. Maybe it will indeed be a game to enslave?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Although people primarily associate “The Elder Scrolls” with exploring a large, atmospheric game world, it should not be overlooked that the MMO coming out in April will also be designed for epic large-scale battles.
[pull_quote_center]largest PvP battles ever seen in a major online role-playing game[/pull_quote_center]
Expectations are already high in this regard, especially since TESO is considered the unofficial successor to the open-PvP classic Dark Age of Camelot – many players still reminisce fondly about the battles of that time.
[quote_box_right]In the meantime, we have also published a guide to PvP in Cyrodiil .[/quote_box_right]Why this connection? Matt Frior, the current game director of The Elder Scrolls Online, was significantly involved as a producer in the success of DAoC. During this time, he became a bit of a celebrity in the MMORPG scene. He also has quite a few threads in hand this time. But let’s talk more about the actual game now.
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So, in a specially designated PvP area called Cyrodiil, the alliances Ebonheart Pact, Daggerfall Covenant, and Aldmeri Dominion will vie for dominance over Tamriel.
In the Q&A series “Ask us anything,” the developers revealed some further details about the upcoming PvP spectacle a few days ago. In short, this is called AvA – Alliance vs. Alliance. Upon entering this world, the player will be assigned to their alliance and a campaign that lasts up to 3 months, which is best explained by a war cycle (by default, you access the alliance war menu by pressing the letter “L,” where you can join a campaign).
As a result, we want to present you once again some facts about the instanced open PvP in a small overview, also taking older information into account.
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Facts about Cyrodiil
Cyrodiil is the seat of the Empire of Tamriel, located in the center of the continent, and is an area in itself that does not interfere with the PvE experience. To get an idea of the size of the map, the following sentence was made:
[pull_quote_center]If you were to run a straight line from the northernmost point all the way down south, it would still take you longer than our team took to present the dungeon at QuakeCon.
We remember: The presentation lasted about half an hour, and considering that there are quite a few obstacles along the way, players can already be certain that the desire for a massive map will likely be fulfilled. However, it is also possible to move on a mount.
The open battlefields can accommodate up to 2000 players per instance, whereas a maximum of 200 can be displayed on screen, which is already quite considerable. The map is available to characters of level 10 and above – in Cyrodiil itself, there will be a leveling up to level 50.
The leveling will also be possible in this area, whether through PvE quests or PvP battles
Multiple teleportation routes simplify travel across the vast map
There’s plenty to discover in Cyrodiil (settlements, crafting resources, runes, and caves) – connected with many quests
There are a number of settlements in Cyrodiil whose inhabitants yearn for protection and support
Mass battles are certainly the highlight, but that doesn’t mean that other types of fights won’t also occur:
[pull_quote_center]At choke points, at the endpoints of the supply lines of opposing alliances, and in the cities of Cyrodiil, individual fights often occur.
Backgrounds for the War over Cyrodiil
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The video explains the motives behind why the alliances are fighting for dominance. The video is in English, but there is an option to enable German subtitles.
Fortresses and Sieges
In principle, the goal is to conquer and control fortresses and other useful outposts. By holding territories, the alliances gain bonuses.
Castles and supply lines are interconnected through a travel network
Mines, sawmills, and farms are managed to strengthen the defenses
Established camps serve as bases for the more flexible resurrection of alliance members
When it comes to the design of the castles the designers were inspired by medieval structures that house both an outer and inner level. Even if the outer level is breached, it does not mean that the battle is over – it actually becomes progressively harder as you move inward. To enhance the combat experience, there was also a significant reduction of bottlenecks like stairs and a focus on height variations.
Fortresses can be stormed at any time
There are NPC guards, but they are not too great a hindrance: The focus is on player-versus-player battles
Mass control is an important tactical element in combat
There should be enough healers in the party
Things are not looking good around the outer gate of the castle (Image source: Video Combat in Cyrodiil)
Even for a completely unprotected castle, it takes about 15 minutes to take it
Several siege weapons such as battering rams are necessary
A single player cannot accomplish this; it requires a group
2 captured flags must be held for a period of time in the castle
It costs a lot of resources to rebuild a destroyed castle
[pull_quote_center]When a castle is attacked, a symbol appears on the map for everyone in the zone that indicates the status of the assault
As you can see, you need not worry about missing the action. Generally speaking, you will be informed of the most important events on screen, such as when a new emperor is crowned.
Rewards and Character Development in PvP
High-level characters have advantages in The Elder Scrolls Onlinein combat – the character development is designed to be significant, although a healthy balance is still maintained. While you are in Cyrodiil and engage in activities, you will earn alliance points, experience, and gold.
Bethesda promises us thrilling PvP fights – we are excited! (Image source: Combat in Cyrodiil Video).
Special alliance war abilities lines can be earned throughout the game
There are two lines to choose from here, and the emperor receives an additional one
The abilities are useful in battles against other players and sieges
50 PvP ranks, including 25 titles and several grades to achieve
Defeating higher-ranked alliance members yields more points
Guild quests increase your reputation in the respective guild
The rank of players is publicly displayed and visible to everyone
Achievements are shown on leaderboards
[pull_quote_center]With alliance points, you can purchase armor and weapons or enhance various abilities lines tailored for Cyrodiil
A special honor: The coronation as emperor in Elder Scrolls Online
Lastly, the greatest achievement is to receive the coveted emperor title and take a seat on the throne of respect.
In principle, every player has the chance to be crowned emperor. Of course, everyone will recognize and envy you just for the exclusive armor that will adorn your valuable character – until the ‘glorious’ term of office ends.
The unique abilities line designed to help maintain your alliance at the top of the ‘food chain’ and solidify your position is another factor. This remains even after losing the title – albeit weakened, it is still desirable – a highly useful reminder of former times of domination.
But how do I become the head of an empire?
This is approximately how the emperor’s armor will look.
This happens once your alliance claims all the necessary castles – afterwards, the highest-ranked player is honored to rule over a gigantic empire. This means that consequently, the one with the most alliance points may take a seat on the throne. Points can be increased by conquering enemy fortresses, defeating opposing players, and healing allies.
The question that I also asked myself is, how can the other alliances even contest the rule without fortresses and fewer bonuses? This was at least addressed somewhat during a Q&A session.
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[intense_testimony_text]When a player is crowned emperor and their alliance holds the castles around the imperial city, how will the other alliances be able to regain a foothold in Cyrodiil without real access? And if the emperor loses their status when killed, what prevents that player from simply avoiding Cyrodiil once crowned emperor?[/intense_testimony_text]
[intense_testimony_author company=”Source of the Q&A” link=”http://elderscrollsonline.com/de/news/post/2013/09/09/fragt-uns-was-ihr-wollt-allerlei-7″ link_target=”_blank”]Mitchell Antico[/intense_testimony_author]
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The answer from a TESO developer: Access to Cyrodiil is always possible and occurs through secure retreat areas that opponents cannot attack or capture. It is therefore always possible to contest someone’s claim to the emperor title. If an emperor is dethroned (i.e., their alliance loses the necessary castles for the title), then this player loses their emperorship as soon as they die, change zones, or leave the game. But the emperorship does not only benefit individual players – the entire alliance receives a bonus if they have the emperor.
That should be it for PvP in The Elder Scrolls Online for now. There is surely much more, but I think this gives a good feel for it. What do you think? Does it sound like this open PvP can surpass that of Guild Wars 2 and not just connect to Dark Age of Camelot but even exceed it?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A few days ago, we were still speculating about the new class in Tera, which the developer Bluehole brought closer to the players piece by piece with teasers, lovingly torturing them. Anyway, the cat is out of the bag now. In the video listed here, which was released recently, you can clearly see the new Elin class. Since the English name has not been assigned yet, the western community has temporarily given it names like “Dark Elin”, “Reaper”, and “Flying Sword”.
To be allowed to play this hip Elin class, you must have at least one other character at level 40 or higher. Only then can you access the new class, which begins its adventure at level 50. By the way, this is a midrange DPS character that wields a chain sickle (a kind of kusarigama) and uses dark magic to instill fear in the opponents.
The Koreans won’t have to wait too long and can start getting to know a new playstyle on January 9, 2013. When this class will be available for our Tera version is still unclear. However, it has been announced, so in my prediction, players here can look forward to it in 2-3 months.
Especially MMORPGs that promote an eSport idea support this mode. Players are thus somewhat comparable to each other.
The chances of becoming a hero in this mode are pretty high: No one really cares. After winning a battleground in which you played a great role, the thing closes, someone might type “gg”, and then you stand alone waiting for the applause that doesn’t come. If you make the mistake of demanding applause from the often completely unknown teammates at the end of a match, with the humble remark: “Well, didn’t I do great, you noobs?” you often receive nothing but open hostility in return.
Realm versus Realm: Chaos, Tumult, and the Full Program
And this is where the other, chaotic, unfair, strategically demanding, and overall addictive and delusional PvP comes into play. RvR or Realm versus Realm. There, entire realms of a server compete against each other. Or in the fantasy game Guild Wars 2, even entire servers (in that case, it is called World versus World).
In GW2, battles for fortresses get heated!
There is no fairness here; there are no set times, but rather, here is war, which famously follows no rules – much like love. It is about holding fortresses, achieving mission objectives, and above all, it is about coordination, coordination, and coordination
Where in one form of instanced PvP it is helpful to pay attention to chat or the map, but not at all obligatory, things are different in RvR or WvW. As soon as you are on the relevant map, you are confronted with the Teamspeak channel. Once logged in, you often see two hundred people in one channel while the current commander or zerg leader issues endurance slogans or discusses tactical objectives (often in a dialect that utterly shatters any form of immersion).
And in fact, something exciting and deeply unsettling happens in this form of player versus player conflict. Here, there are actually heroes. The only problem is: You rarely are one yourself. In a game like Guild Wars 2, true armies often clash. The screen is overloaded with the various abilities swirling around, and players each want to be a hero.
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No player life counts for so little and no triumph means so much as on the battlefields of such a server-wide battle. Things do not go fairly here, but through a clever game principle, it is possible for an individual to contribute something decisive to the battle.
Whether you lead an attack at the right moment, flank and eliminate the opposing healers with a sneaky maneuver, or otherwise draw attention to yourself. Since there is a fixed group of players pursuing a common goal, the opportunity exists to stand out from a mass of players. This, of course, also has a downside: As in Highlander, there can be only one.
Or as I once read accurately in a forum about one of the first MMORPGs I ever played: “What is this nonsense? I play my archer to be Robin Hood! Not the third from the left who falls from the wall!”
But let’s be honest: What would Robin Hood be without all the guys who fall from the wall?
Just a guy in silly pants, right?
Our tips:
If you’ve never plunged into the madness of a server-wide battle and are now tempted: Guild Wars 2 is currently considered the hottest candidate for such an experience. If you like it even bigger, you can check out Eve Online, where there is only one server, and the space battles last days and are legendary
Orient yourself to the zerg, meaning the largest mass of your own players
It is best to join a Teamspeak channel and listen to what the leader has to say
Even in a mass battle, a small group of players can accomplish more than an individual, having a few friends by your side makes a significant difference
Always keep in mind that you are the hero of your own story! No matter what others say: They are just NPCs paid by the developer!
Why do we actually enjoy playing online role-playing games so much? For some, it might be about being part of a virtual community, spending time with friends in-game, and feeling comfortable and secure.
For others, progress is the priority: There is always a nastier boss, a shinier item, yet another achievement to obtain (and one that no one else in the friend circle has!).
But if you dig a little deeper, isn’t it true that most of us also want to be the hero?
The Hero in Solo PvE: Make way, here I come
It is not hard for game designers to bestow the hero role upon the player. In every single-player game, it is ultimately the player who defeats the villain, saves the princess, guides the father’s trade empire through tough times, arranges the Tetris blocks correctly, slays the rogue, dons the crown, and ensures peace and justice.
Who else would do that? Luigi? Mort? Claptrap? Or some other useless sidekick?
If you help the lovely lady, you will be her hero (Image from WoW).
No, the player is molded to be a hero. In PvE mode, this is not a problem. The player in an MMORPG goes on a quest safari. Moves from zone to zone and ensures peace and justice. Like a cowboy, he rides into the village – in an MMORPG, villages are called quest hubs, of course – he looks around briefly, recognizes the poor villagers by the exclamation mark above their heads, and takes down the bad guys.
He does this for one to three levels, then the zone is cleared, and he moves to the next one. The villagers wave goodbye, and the one or baby NPC looks up at his mother (or a corresponding alien) and sighs: Ach! I wish I could be like him.
Heroes in Multiplayer PvE: Often only room for one on the podium
This hero role that the player claims for himself is already put to the test when he joins a party with other players. There, he may be just a small cog in the machine. Perhaps he is the healer, trailing behind an over-equipped tank, without much to do. Or he might be the weakest DPS and feels that the others would do just fine without him.
It gets much worse in a raid. There, you are one of ten, one of twenty-five, one of forty heroes. And usually, some players hold an exposed rank. Who did they cheer for during the heyday of WOW? Kungen, the tank of the then elite guild Nihilum. The other thirty-nine? Experts might have heard of them. In the victory photo, there is only room for one.
Nevertheless, maybe the individual player doesn’t feel quite like the hero in the front lines, but at least he has clearly won.
The boss is dead in the dust, isn’t he?
In the fight against the boss, everyone can be a hero, even if they are one of many (Image from Rift).
And the voice that whispers softly in your head that you were just one of many – you can silence that. If necessary, you hum a few tunes from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack – or, like any sensible person, make lightsaber sounds while you slice gray mobs outside the capital.
The PvP Paradox: One must lose for another to win
In PvE, there are ultimately only winners and heroes over the long term. Every boss will eventually drop the loot. But how does it look when it comes to fighting other players? On one side the shining hero – and on the other?
This time, there is no dead pile of pixels scurrying home with its head down, explaining to the little rascals that someone has looted again. No, this time we find ourselves. Not as shining heroes, but as victims of self-satisfied, dull-shining little heroes.
Losing can hurt, especially against other players (Image from Tera).
We are stabbed in the back, torn apart by lasers, betrayed, cheated, and squashed by a massive zerg. We are thrown off bridges, subject to stun hacks that make us swing at nothing, and shredded by double and triple combos.
Long live PvP!
The place where heroes only rise when weighed against losers. Let’s take a closer look:
Instance PvP: Battlegrounds and Arenas
The exciting question in PvP is that of design. On one side is the neatly segmented “Instance PvP”. In most games, these are battlegrounds or arenas. A certain number of players on each side compete against each other, with clear objectives: Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Deathmatch, or whoever eats the most blueberry pies first.
The good thing about this design philosophy is that, in theory, each side starts on equal footing. It is a chessboard, and everyone has the same number of pieces – at least in theory. In practice, the queen on black is twice as strong as the one on white and can shoot lasers from her eyes – but in theory, everything is fair.
Especially MMORPGs that promote an eSport idea support this mode. Players are thus somewhat comparable to each other.
The chances of becoming a hero in this mode are pretty high: No one really cares. After winning a battleground in which you played a great role, the thing closes, someone might type “gg”, and then you stand alone waiting for the applause that doesn’t come. If you make the mistake of demanding applause from the often completely unknown teammates at the end of a match, with the humble remark: “Well, didn’t I do great, you noobs?” you often receive nothing but open hostility in return.
Realm versus Realm: Chaos, Tumult, and the Full Program
And this is where the other, chaotic, unfair, strategically demanding, and overall addictive and delusional PvP comes into play. RvR or Realm versus Realm. There, entire realms of a server compete against each other. Or in the fantasy game Guild Wars 2, even entire servers (in that case, it is called World versus World).
In GW2, battles for fortresses get heated!
There is no fairness here; there are no set times, but rather, here is war, which famously follows no rules – much like love. It is about holding fortresses, achieving mission objectives, and above all, it is about coordination, coordination, and coordination
Where in one form of instanced PvP it is helpful to pay attention to chat or the map, but not at all obligatory, things are different in RvR or WvW. As soon as you are on the relevant map, you are confronted with the Teamspeak channel. Once logged in, you often see two hundred people in one channel while the current commander or zerg leader issues endurance slogans or discusses tactical objectives (often in a dialect that utterly shatters any form of immersion).
And in fact, something exciting and deeply unsettling happens in this form of player versus player conflict. Here, there are actually heroes. The only problem is: You rarely are one yourself. In a game like Guild Wars 2, true armies often clash. The screen is overloaded with the various abilities swirling around, and players each want to be a hero.
No player life counts for so little and no triumph means so much as on the battlefields of such a server-wide battle. Things do not go fairly here, but through a clever game principle, it is possible for an individual to contribute something decisive to the battle.
Whether you lead an attack at the right moment, flank and eliminate the opposing healers with a sneaky maneuver, or otherwise draw attention to yourself. Since there is a fixed group of players pursuing a common goal, the opportunity exists to stand out from a mass of players. This, of course, also has a downside: As in Highlander, there can be only one.
Or as I once read accurately in a forum about one of the first MMORPGs I ever played: “What is this nonsense? I play my archer to be Robin Hood! Not the third from the left who falls from the wall!”
But let’s be honest: What would Robin Hood be without all the guys who fall from the wall?
Just a guy in silly pants, right?
Our tips:
If you’ve never plunged into the madness of a server-wide battle and are now tempted: Guild Wars 2 is currently considered the hottest candidate for such an experience. If you like it even bigger, you can check out Eve Online, where there is only one server, and the space battles last days and are legendary
Orient yourself to the zerg, meaning the largest mass of your own players
It is best to join a Teamspeak channel and listen to what the leader has to say
Even in a mass battle, a small group of players can accomplish more than an individual, having a few friends by your side makes a significant difference
Always keep in mind that you are the hero of your own story! No matter what others say: They are just NPCs paid by the developer!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
From now until January 31, 2014, all new PlanetSide 2 players receive a 100% starter bonus in the form of an XP boost and a free premium item (selectable from three different weapons).
So, if you’ve been considering diving into the mass combat shooter adventure Planetside 2, now would be the right time to do it. Because the game launch will be sweetened for a limited time with some free items. Those who hesitate too long will miss out.
Alongside this, here’s a Let’s Play of the popular F2P MMOFPS, which can surely help make the landing into a new world a bit smoother.
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If you’ve been involved with an MMORPG for a long time, you sometimes feel like you’re in a somewhat uneventful relationship. There are good times, there are bad times, and there are times when you’re waiting for the next big content patch.
Well, there’s perhaps no equivalent for that in a marriage, but both in MMORPGs and marriage, there is the option to look for something new.
In marriage, that could cost you your house and home, but in the world of online role-playing games, surprisingly, it costs nothing at all. The sexy fantasy game Tera Rising, for example, invites WOW married players to a hot flirt. We’ll take a look at this and provide visitors from Azeroth with some first hints on how to make the romance work.
So beautifully new
A test flight from Azeroth to Arborea. You’ll learn the first steps here!
Alright, we start our article with a lie. Tera isn’t that sparkling new, of course. It was released in Asia in 2011, in Europe in 2012, and last year it became free-to-play and uses the so-called freemium model (everything is initially available for free; if you’re willing to pay a monthly fee, you get some advantages).
But those few years that this hotshot has been out have done the game quite a bit of good. Most MMORPGs that start with a lot of hype to become the next WOW killer fail under these expectations: No endgame, no long-term motivation, the player base dwindles, and the game’s quickly back to being history.
Therefore, there’s no need to worry about Tera. Although the game isn’t brand new anymore, what’s much more important is: It plays new.
It still has that new car smell. That’s due to the combat system, the game’s greatest strength, but let’s take it step by step.
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When it comes to installation, WOW exiles have to get used to the harsh reality of everyday life again. The entire client has to be installed first before you can start playing. There are no newfangled gimmicks here, where you go hunting with a partially downloaded game and pick up the rest on the go – that’s not how this client works.
The first pleasant surprise may await some players during character creation (especially male players): In the race selection, there are several races where the female figures would have to suffer from significant back pain – if everything were realistic.
So… let’s say: The average elf in Tera could certainly make a living as a go-go dancer in Las Vegas. The male counterparts are often muscle packs that look like they could lift a small dragon—before breakfast, no less.
This devilish demoness will stand in front of the group as a lancer.
You can tell that Tera is an Asian game and maintains a corresponding aesthetic. There are several races that may seem quite strange to us Europeans. Half-demons, stone giants, and other stuff. While WOW players probably feel right at home with the Poporis, a “nature-loving” race is simply talking panda bears. With the Elin, a kind of schoolgirl fantasy come to life, some might wonder: Is this really within the bounds of good taste?
The holy trinity: Tank, Healer, DPS
When it comes to classes, Tera doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The main tank is the lancer, a guy with a huge shield and a – who would have guessed? – lance. The warrior can also tank, relying less on a shield and more on a series of dodges, and therefore must hear a lot if he doesn’t manage to do everything right in the dungeon: cloth tank will be the least of it – but what would MMORPGs be without the tank being flamed?
The priest is mainly responsible for healing, with the mystic stepping in as a secondary healer, which is also the only pet class in the game. Of course, there are mages and archers, and then there are melee classes such as the relatively agile Slayer (a guy with a massive two-handed sword) and the heavily armored Berserker, who strangely also prefers two-handed weapons, with which he can block, unlike the Slayer.
So: two ranged DPS, two melee DPS, tank, healer, off-healer, and off-tank – that’s how the class lineup of Tera looks in hard technical jargon. This becomes important when it comes to dungeons (which can also be organized through an in-game tool, by the way). The group consists of a tank, a healer, and three DPS. Thus, the holy trinity is intact in Tera.
Fans of the Holy Trinity will quickly be happy in Tera: The combination of tank, DPS, and healer is necessary to master the toughest challenges!
At first glance, few differences
The nice thing about Tera is that it offers a smooth transition for WOW players. Quest givers have an exclamation point over their heads, monsters drop loot, items are equipped, it goes from quest hub to quest hub, and the character gets stronger over time.
Some tips to ease your start:
The quest tracker is clickable and opens a small window. The actual mobs or NPCs you’re looking for are highlighted in color. If you click them again, they are shown on the mini-map.
Most of the stuff you find and that doesn’t seem useful at first is crafting material – just collect it and when you’re in town, deposit it in the bank, as inventory space is scarce in the game, like it used to be in Diablo.
It’s best to log out in cities, then you’ll earn bonus EXP, you can return to cities using a “Back to town” scroll, which you’ll loot regularly later; in these cities you can also skill up and repurchase consumable items.
Unlike WOW, Tera is significantly harder, so it’s advisable to regularly repurchase bandages, buff runes, and similar items in towns.
The special: The BAMS
Now it all may not sound very exciting at first, but Tera’s great strengths lie in its action-oriented combat system, which feels more like a shooter. While games like WOW are based on targeting an enemy via Tab and then pressing a few hotkeys while the avatar on the screen takes care of the rest, it looks quite different in Tera.
David versus Goliath? Standing still and hammering hotkeys is so yesterday. Dynamic boss fights are today!
Your character has to work hard, throwing itself left and right like Mario used to (or… more primitively, rather like Lara Croft) to dodge huge monster paws. In the two seconds that the beast spends pulling its claws from the ground, you’d better land a few hits on the monster and then dodge away from the lightning bolts that will fry the cute little bunny that was just standing behind you.
While in WOW most long-term players only get their heart rate up during hardcore raids because the raid leader is having a tantrum, in Tera, even the first elite mobs cause sweaty palms. By the way, in Tera, they are called BAMS: Big Ass Monsters, and they deserve that name entirely.
It does have a bit of Shadow of the Colossus feel to it when you bring down such a behemoth. That’s also because the first characters in Tera aren’t well-equipped elite twinks whose main character gives them heirlooms, but poor folks who struggle from quest reward to quest reward.
Today is a good day to die… or to start with Tera
The masterminds at Tera have also realized that the game may be a bit too hard for us spoiled WOW veterans, and have recently introduced a kind of elite weapon that players have to earn themselves (all available in-game and without needing to pay for it), From level 10, enemies drop strange relics that can be combined into an “epic” weapon (which is not purple, but yellow). This weapon can in turn be upgraded with various drops. As a result, the normal Tera character has more firepower than in previous months, and the game has become significantly more accessible. Ideal for a hot flirt.
Our tip: Especially during a quieter phase in WOW, there may be some guildies looking for something new. Hunting together is easier, and the Big Ass Monsters may not be as terrifying. Tera Rising is definitely suitable for a quick affair. And maybe it will turn into something more! Play TERA now for free.
At the beginning, it’s advisable to slap BAMS in groups!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Just before the end of the year, the guys and gals from the American publisher En Masse revealed a special treat. This year, a new class is set to be unleashed in the world of Tera Rising. We’ll reveal more details, get entangled in unfounded speculations, and take a look at what fans can expect from Tera in 2014.
Mid-Range DPS Class
While the European sources are still rather tight-lipped about the new class, in Asia, they are already a bit more forthcoming. Originally, the new class was designed as a tank, probably to counter the tank shortage that typically plagues every MMORPG, causing long waiting times before the instances. However, this plan has now been abandoned.
The focus now is primarily on offering newcomers an attractive class and planning a leather-wearing DPS who feels most comfortable at mid-range. He is more of a physical damage dealer than a magical one. Thus, he has a lot in common with the archer. However, the developers promise that the new class will be distinctly different from him.
We speculate: Kusarigama Fighter?
A new loading screen has appeared in the Korean version
Now, one didn’t need too much imagination to think of a kind of spear fighter, perhaps an Amazon wielding a throwing spear or a Bushido fighter twirling a staff? Xena, the Warrior Princess, with a throwing chakra? The information that only the nymph-like Elins are eligible as a race for the new class sparked heated debates among fans.
Latest teasers suggest that the new DPS class could be a fighter with a Kusarigama. This is an Eastern weapon that those who enjoy Eastern culture might recognize from the films that served as inspiration for Kill Bill. A Kusarigama consists of a sickle attached to an iron chain that can be swung wildly: a sort of morning star with a much longer chain and a much sharper end. Truly a spectacular weapon.
Currently, it is planned that the new Elin-only DPS class (affectionately dubbed Dark Elin by the community) will function as a sort of premium class, meaning it can only be created by players who already have a character at level 40 or higher. Corresponding chain sickles would then be newly introduced as drops in the game.
But that’s not all Tera has in store. A new battleground is planned where players will have the opportunity to become one of the Big Ass Monsters that make Tera appealing for many games. As such a house-sized monstrosity, the goal will be to protect the precious loot from the greedy claws of a party of seven players.
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An interesting and new concept. We are curious to see how it develops further.
More dungeons, more sets, more loot, more everything
In the Asian version of Tera, numerous other dungeons and instances have been announced. It seems there’s something in the development pipeline for three, five, and seven-person dungeons. Even solo dungeons are planned. Additionally, a rookie server with faster level progression is supposed to help newcomers get to the endgame faster.
An image of an upcoming dungeon
Players who have always had that nagging feeling while looking at their avatar that something was missing, reacting to it with a twitch in their left eye, can finally breathe a sigh of relief: the unsightly equipment slot in the middle of the character will finally be filled.
However, all of these things have only been announced for the Asian version of Tera. According to En Masse, the new BAMS battleground Kumasylum is already on the way for North America in January. Since the European publisher Gamesforge usually patches simultaneously with En Masse, this is likely to apply to us Europeans as well. Update: Gameforge has now also followed suit and announced the battleground for January (see video).
We are definitely keeping our fingers crossed for the Kusarigama Fighter and are looking forward to new content in 2014!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Star Trek Online is three games in one: A spaceship simulation, a crew management mini-game, and a classic MMORPG. We take a look at what aspects of the free-to-play online game are convincing and which wouldn’t even lure a Ferengi away from the Dabo table.
Star Trek Online picks up where the last Star Trek television series left off. It involves battling the Dominion in the south of the map with the various races known from Deep Space Nine.
The Borg with their assimilation frenzy also play a major role. They were primarily known from Star Trek Voyager and The Next Generation. Additionally, the Klingons are on a crusade against the Federation.
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The story from the latest Star Trek film featuring the Next Generation crew led by Captain Picard has also been adopted. In fact, it was that successful franchise that nearly got killed and necessitated the reboot. In any case, Romulus has been destroyed, and the remnants of the formerly proud empire are looking for a new home.
In addition to the Federation and the Romulans, the Klingon Empire is also playable. There are a whole range of races to choose from when customizing the main character, though it has little more than cosmetic effects on the gameplay.
How Much Star Trek Is in Star Trek Online?
Like many others, I did not grow up with Captain Kirk, but rather with Picard, Data, Worf, and the rest being a key part of my youth.
In contrast to the usually more calm and philosophical episodes and the important questions of the series (How does Data become a human? How important is Worf’s honor and can he submit? Will Picard and Dr. Beverly finally get together? And how much longer will it take until Wesley Crusher dies in a transporter accident?), Star Trek Online focuses heavily on action, space battles, and phaser duels. In two hours of Star Trek Online, the average player will experience more phaser fire than even a rough character like Worf in a good year of the series.
Although Star Trek Online continually strives for intricate quests and coherent dialogues, and especially in story quests, the game also succeeds in hiding clever references (one encounters Scotty and Bones during a typical time travel mission), it is probably not particularly suited to such a combat-heavy concept as that of an MMORPG.
Space, the final frontier…
Star Trek was relatively pacifist compared to Star Wars. However, in the later series and the storyline, the source material became significantly more militaristic, so the game cannot be faulted for that. A real Star Trek feeling comes primarily from the well-developed mini-game (the Duty Officers), while it is least pronounced in the outside missions.
This brings us to the individual game modes.
The Space Game
Star Trek Online has clear strengths in this game mode. After the first missions, every player takes command of their own ship, which can then be equipped, specialized, and controlled like the character in other role-playing games.
The ship designers put a lot of effort into their designs; almost every ship known from the series has received an in-game counterpart. The actual fights take place like in a classic MMORPG: Skills are unlocked and distributed through bridge officers, the weapons have a certain cooldown, and in space battles, everything is fired that can be fired.
There is even a classification of the ships into the classic trinity of Tank, Healer, and Damage Dealer. Destroyed enemy ships can be looted – these are familiar mechanics in a new and interesting variation.
Similar to a dungeon run in other games, players can search for a space scenario through a robust group search tool, and usually within a few minutes, one hears: “Full power to shields” or “Target the weapons!” Clearly the best part of the game.
The Outside Missions
The outside missions are just as you would imagine: A group of up to 4 crew members beams down somewhere, phasers drawn, the captain is controlled, and there is a lot of phaser blasting. Medical officers (the blue shirts) are the healers, technical officers (identified by their yellow shirts) take on tank functions, and the redshirts (who always die first in the series) are mainly responsible for taking down the enemies.
Unfortunately, the maps and tasks in the outside missions often seem somewhat lacking in detail, the controls are clunky, most of the action is based on relatively dull ranged combat, and only a few keys are needed for controls.
Especially because the outside missions visually resemble those of other well-known MMORPGs, there is little atmosphere here. Anyone used to the hectic pace of a typical round in Tera or Guild Wars 2 will not be jumping for joy at the sight of Star Trek Online’s outside missions.
More than that: Even offline games like the Bioware classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic look significantly more agile than the outside missions in Star Trek Online.
The Duty Officer System
While in normal gameplay one only deals with their own bridge officers that they take along on outside missions and who stand in for various skills during ship battles, the Duty Officer System involves the entire ship’s crew. Although one shouldn’t expect too much here, it’s more of a text-based mini-game in the player’s imagination than a graphically detailed masterpiece.
Still, it surely appeals to the Star Trek fan and collector when they can send a personally selected security officer (a grumpy, defected Klingon deserter or even their own Borg drone freed from the Collective) on a mysterious mission involving participating in an illegal Bat’leth tournament.
This is an aspect of the game where Star Trek Online has an edge over many other games, yet it does not seem fully integrated into the main game.
How do you assemble your crew?
While the officers provide small advantages in combat and the rewards brought back from missions are important for large projects in-game guilds, I would have liked to see this innovative element of the game developed further.
It’s certainly atmospheric to unload one’s heavy captain’s heart to the bartender in the ship’s bar and be rewarded with a small skill bonus for the next hour – if the player’s imagination does 60% of the work.
The Overall Surroundings: Endgame and Free-to-play
Are you already scanning for Star Trek Online?
The good news upfront: Star Trek Online can be played quite well without spending a cent on it. Although you often miss out on the last 10% of firepower if you don’t want to grind for months, it is still playable. However, you need to be careful how you skill your character and ship. Re-specs cost the in-game premium currency for some reason in Star Trek Online.
In the endgame, Star Trek Online can become somewhat monotonous over the long term. There are factions that require reputation farming if you want to reach the top category of items. And the reputation farming involves the same handful of scenarios: it’s not particularly ideal or exciting. Those who join a guild (a fleet) get the opportunity to invest in large fleet projects, which unfortunately involves even more farming.
For Star Trek fans, a visit to STO is definitely worthwhile. For everyone else, a visit comes with reservations. Star Trek Online cannot fully keep up with the latest generation of MMORPGs, but some innovative approaches are certainly present and worth a trial run.
[/vc_tab][vc_tab title=”Pros and Cons” tab_id=”1388469760942-2-1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
Pros
[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]A Star Trek feeling arises
[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Extensive space features
[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Detailed ships and characters
[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Innovative and motivating mini-game
[intense_icon type=”thumbs-up” size=”1″ color=”#81d742″ /]Designing own missions with the Foundry
[intense_icon type=”cogs” size=”1″ color=”#000000″ /]This configuration is at least recommended:
Operating System: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+
RAM: 1GB RAM
Hard Drive: 10GB of free hard drive space
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics
DirectX: Version 9.0c or higher
A year is once again coming to an end, and we want to take this opportunity to reflect back. The big MMO releases were probably absent this year, the calm before the storm, but still, a few titles emerged in 2013 that we will give credit to in this article.
2012 was a strong vintage, with several highlights such as Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, and Tera. These MMOs have likely caused headaches and declining player numbers in one online game or another. 2013 was supposed to be even bigger, especially since many were originally expecting long-awaited titles like WildStar, The Elder Scrolls Online, ArcheAge, or Blade&Soul this year. Surprise! These are most likely coming in 2014.
However, upon closer inspection, it must be said that two games seized the moment over the past nearly 365 days and managed to attract attention.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – resurrected from the dead.
If we were to give out awards, then the prize for “The Biggest Surprise in 2013” would have been very fitting here. Who would have thought that the Final Fantasy MMO would return with such force, especially considering the big wound it left more than 2 years ago? Almost no one!
Some may still remember: Final Fantasy XIV is technically not a new game. Since it did not meet the expectations of the players and the developer, the creators decided to take the Final Fantasy MMORPG off the market to improve it from the ground up.
A very bold step – which game publisher has ever completely withdrawn a published game and shut down the servers for about a year? This radical decision to meticulously elevate the game under new management earned Square Enix a lot of respect.
The risk has definitely paid off, as FF XIV: ARR has been extremely successful since its rebirth. The influx caused the servers to glow for weeks, and there are still occasionally queues today. And this with over 60 servers. We reported shortly after the release, which took place at the end of August, about the success of the relaunch.
The special thing about this: Square Enix is relying on the Pay-to-Play model, which was actually considered obsolete before this success. Many players have realized that its advantages cannot be overlooked – even future AAA-MMOs will take this route. So it can be said that there has been a “resurrection” in two ways.
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But what actually makes Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn special, since the game is not exactly brimming with innovations? Quite simply: It relies on tried-and-true content, to which great attention is paid in every respect. Players do not necessarily always want innovations; it can often suffice to fill already appreciated content with a lot of attention to detail – instead of just “half” implementing it as has been the case with some games lately.
Anyone who has had enough of classic MMORPGs, which include a semi-turn-based combat system or the Holy Trinity, will probably not be happy here. For the others, they can look forward to an atmospheric world, an exceptionally good class and crafting system, spectacular dungeons, as well as an exciting story and housing. By the way, Update 2.1 was released two weeks ago, bringing many new features to Eorza.
Neverwinter – some like it, others don’t.
The Free-to-Play MMORPG Neverwinter opened its doors at the end of April and has been quite successful since then. The online role-playing game based on Dungeons&Dragons received good reviews in particular from the German press, despite some criticisms that were voiced here and there.
There were, among other things, the initially low variety in the endgame, the absence of the Ranger, various issues with exploits, monotonous PvP modes, and so on. However, all this is largely history now, as there is now more than enough to do, and the Ranger is finally available to players in choosing their class for a while now.
The guys and gals from Cryptic and Perfect World can look back on a successful year. Even though this game still divides the community, it must be acknowledged that many players enjoy it and that numerous allies await one in the world of Toril.
The action-packed combat system makes it immensely fun in the dark dungeons of Neverwinter and flows smoothly, and the Foundry, the quest editor, features player-created stories daily, while the modules, colloquially known as expansions, regularly bring community-requested content into the game.
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Neverwinter has definitely earned a place in the upper echelons and is worth a look, even if the long-term motivation sometimes still has a question mark and the areas, while very nicely designed, might be a bit too instanced for some. For a change or a little fun, it is at least sufficient, maybe even for more?
Conclusion on the best MMOs in 2013
Neverwinter and Final Fantasy are probably the big beneficiaries of a period where it couldn’t be quieter. Who knows how successful they would have become if the major competitors had made their market debut this year already. Nevertheless, it’s important to state that they are still highly recommended games that might have been overlooked in terms of competition.
Dragon’s Prophet unfortunately didn’t make it onto ‘Mein MMO’‘s list of the best online games in 2013. The free dragon MMO from Runewaker simply released too early, which is very unfortunate given that it has potential. Initially, it was similar for Neverwinter, but still on a completely different level.
Who knows, maybe it can still become a very good game, but currently, there are still too many areas that need improvement. One might be disappointed since Runes of Magic was once the surprise title par excellence and that, as is well known, comes from the same developer. Expectations were correspondingly high. So, for now, Dragon’s Prophet remains just a hidden gem for those who appreciate companion features and love dragons.
Another hidden gem: Defiance
Defiance faced a lot of criticism because the futuristic MMO-Shooter, which is tied to the namesake TV series, fell short of expectations.
We tried it about six months later and found, contrary to some other opinions, that Defiance is fun and that the connection to the series is quite successful.
There may be debates about long-term motivation, which might not really be present; however, a large section is now free to play and otherwise the unrestricted version is not very expensive at around 10€. For example, anyone looking for an alternative to Planetside 2 can have a good time here with a brief interlude!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
So, as announced, here comes the Let’s Play for the new space combat PvP in Star Wars: The Old Republic. You might wonder that this time it was recorded without Groinkh, uh Björn. Dawid wanted to give it a try and ta-da – he presents his first Let’s Play, so please be considerate. The starting point was, by the way, the review of the successful addon ‘Galactic Starfighter’. In this space battle, I fight for the Republic and teach the apprentices from the Empire a lesson!
By the way, I am already a little surprised – it’s not that easy to speak into the void and still play reasonably well. I should have made more phone pranks as a kid with people who always have just the answering machine on 😀
In the 2nd episode, there will be fewer explanations, but more action!
Have fun.
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And once again, I warmly welcome you! I hope you have had a good Christmas and that some MMO titles were placed under the tree for you – or at least a voucher to get the desired title yourself.
For most, the direct post-Christmas period is the perfect time to stay up all night indulging in gaming passion, while some struggle to do anything else.
But what factors contribute to everything else becoming secondary and gaming taking the top spot on the priority list?
What reasons are there to roam through fantastic worlds until dawn and spend the next day in bed? That’s exactly what I want to talk about today!
To get the most important point out of the way: There isn’t just one main reason. Many factors come together and are expressed differently for each player, so here I present my personal views:
1. People
My biggest motivator is always my fellow players. In the worlds of World of Warcraft or SW:TOR, I have met so many nice people that my main aim is to continue doing things with these individuals and to actually do them.
If a guildmate wants to level with me until 5 AM – please, I’m in! But even when the last friend has gone to bed at that hour, my fellow players are still a reason, because if I want to have fun with them again tomorrow, it can’t be wrong to craft a potion or two or collect some armor, as I don’t want to be a hindrance!
2. The Story
I would never think of pausing a good movie and finishing it on another day; the same goes for me with books and video games.
I want to know how the story continues, I want to know why the princess has teamed up with the dark lord, and I want to know it, damn it, right now!
Stories can captivate in MMOs too!
If I had these questions in mind when going to bed, I could forget about sleeping anyway. Of course, this reason doesn’t apply to all MMOs, because especially at max level, exciting stories are rarely experienced anymore.
Far too often, you can only complete “daily missions” that unfortunately offer no exciting content. That’s exactly why it’s easier for me to shut down my PC prematurely when the “leveling phase” is already behind me.
3. The Character
Improving one’s character is motivating!
Only in third place is the continuous improvement of my character – which doesn’t mean that it’s unimportant to me! I am happy when my Cortyn finally breaks the 30,000 HP barrier or lands her first critical hit over 5,000 damage.
The slow accumulation of attribute points has surely cost me one exam or another where I could have performed better.
4. Success Experiences
I consider as success experiences everything that makes me happy somehow in the game. This category is actually a mix of the three previous ones, because what could be better than defeating a big end boss with my friends, who just happened to have the armor piece I need, and then being rewarded with a story sequence? Nothing.
Defeating bosses after thrilling battles for the first time is always nice…
It’s exactly these moments that make me love this hobby so much, when all previous criteria come together and I can’t find anything I dislike at that moment. And it’s precisely these moments that make me addicted to it.
It’s not just the cool item, it’s not just the level-up, and it’s not just my fellow players. The perfect mixture of all these forces me to keep playing and not let go of the keyboard. And I like that.
Do you see it differently? What keeps you glued to the monitor?
Let me know in the comments, and otherwise: Until next time when I write about the topic “Addiction or just a time-consuming hobby?”!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The next milestone in the history of World of Tanks has been reached: Now there are already over 75 million accounts filling the database of wargaming.net, further underscoring the popularity of the tactical MMO shooter.
However, this only indicates a certain degree of activity, as registered user accounts do not say much about actual activity – nowadays, almost every Free to Play title boasts such data, even if they do not come close to 75 million.
But here, the developer has a response ready and shows a more than considerable number: According to wargaming, up to 1 million players are playing simultaneously worldwide on all servers! The number of active players is likely much higher than the figure mentioned here. So, behind the data are more than just dead accounts.
Update 8.10 brings graphical improvements and more
In addition to this news, which is particularly pleasing for the operators, players have also been able to experience a little Christmas surprise just before the holidays.
With the update that comes with the version number 8.10, the visual quality of the tank MMO has been elevated to a higher level. You can best appreciate the graphical improvements in the following video, particularly highlighting the polished lighting effects:
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Yes, these are changes that enrich the game atmospherically – the eye eats too, after all 😉 Besides the development on the surface, starting with this extensive update, Japan, the “Land of the Rising Sun,” also plays a role on the battlefields. 13 Japanese tanks and a suitable tech tree make the Asians a serious alternative in vehicle selection.
Speaking of battlefield: Not only various tanks and a tech tree now represent Japan, but also a newly introduced terrain of 1,000,000 sqm that features a village amidst Japanese landscapes and, according to the creators, offers various tactical possibilities.
The map “Hidden Village” is located in Japan and promises tactically thrilling battles due to the uneven terrain.
Additionally, there are a few other minor changes, but these changes are among the most significant.
After a relatively short time, the survival simulation DayZ has already achieved its first successes. Currently, over 250,000 players have access to the post-apocalyptic MMO. Great sales numbers can be assumed, but there is even more to say.
Maruk Spanel on Twitter (CEO of Bohemia Interactive).
UPDATE (01/06/2014): The number keeps growing. Now there are already over 800,000!
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This is actually just an early access via Steam, which opened its doors a few days ago. On the gaming platform Steam, this is a relatively new form of service called Early Access, which is most comparable to crowdfunding (the parallels to Star Citizen or Minecraft are unmistakable). What does this concretely mean in this case?
Quite simply: For about €25 you are granted access to the alpha version, which is a fairly early version of the software that is far from being considered finished. The official release is therefore likely still a long way off.
In the so-called Early Access, participating players are now able to contribute to the ongoing development of the game. The funding naturally also benefits the developers, allowing them to gain further resources, which is beneficial for quality. The feedback from players is no less valuable, and a meaningful incorporation of critiques can immensely help in earning the goodwill of the target audience and meeting their interests in the final product.
What can you expect in this city?
However, only projects that attract significant interest can actually make use of this privilege. Due to the history of DayZ, this success was almost to be expected.
Meanwhile, project leader Dean Hall also addressed the question in the official forum about whether it was worth purchasing the game at this point.
The somewhat surprising yet honest answer is also a clever statement to prevent expectations from soaring to unmanageable heights at this early stage. It is made clear that this game is still at the beginning and programming errors are likely to be found at every corner. It is aimed at hardcore fans who want to be involved from the start.
I have already watched a few streams of DayZ on twitch.tv and had to notice that despite the inconsistencies, both streamers and viewers are having a lot of fun – even those who cannot be classified as hardcore fans. Maybe a bit too modest?
As we are likely to report on DayZ more frequently in the near future, perhaps we should clarify what kind of online game we are talking about here.
What is DayZ actually?
DayZ is a survival horror MMO that initially gained popularity as a modification of the game ArmA 2: Combined Operations and at times accommodated over a million players. This mod was developed under the leadership of Dean Hall, who originally processed his war experiences with this project.
Of course, Bohemia Interactive did not miss out on this success, and thus the creators of ArmA 2 engaged Dean Hall as project leader to release DayZ as an independent game in the future (in English: DayZ Standalone). Given the success figures, this step can already be considered a stroke of luck.
Enough now, let’s get to the point!
This (undead) person has also been infected by the virus.
…an unknown virus has almost wiped out the entire humanity and there are only a few survivors left. Apocalypse pure, with stinking zombies and crazy humans. In the midst of this catastrophe, your adventure begins in the post-Soviet state of Chernarus. Sounds almost like The Walking Dead.
An exciting game concept that obviously works.
In simple terms, the goal is to survive. As we know, in extreme situations, humans will use almost any means necessary. Therefore, it seems only fitting to beat up other players in the hope of obtaining glorious canned food or a handy axe. Yum, yum. Who wants to starve, anyway? Those who die in DayZ lose everything and have to start from scratch! However, food can not only be obtained from people but also by hunting animals. Everyone to their liking 😉
Died? You get to start over.
It’s safer in teams.
In an open and persistent world, you search the areas for scarce goods, prove yourself against zombies, but also against humans who may not always want to join forces with you (these are real people, after all). This alone will create quite a few surprising moments.
What do you think about it? Do you find the whole ‘spectacle’ just as fascinating?
The disappointing part upfront: Star Trek Online has the rights to almost everything related to Star Trek, but unfortunately not to the trendy 
Space, the final frontier…
How do you assemble your crew?
