What MMO means (Massive Multiplayer Online Game)

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

For newcomers, the internet and its variety of terms are not an easy place. So many words need to be learned just to have the faintest idea of what others are talking about. MMOG, MMORPG, MMOFPS – Help, what does that mean?!

Many online games are called MMOs, and the clear classification into this category is not always straightforward, but there are four factors that are clear indicators for such a game:

1. The word “Massive” in the name – this means that many people can be active in one game at the same time, within a game world or a server. They must also be able to interact with each other in various areas of the game – whether in a city, through group searches, or in the open world. There is no set definition of when an MMO reaches a theoretical “massive” player count.

More on the topic
MMO and MMORPG – What is the difference?
von Andreas Bertits

2. MMOGs usually have a persistent game world. This means that the virtual world continues to exist even when the individual player turns off their PC. Additionally, the environment changes even when the player is not logged into the game, whether it’s the automatic gathering of resources or the unfolding of a whole background story that occurs without the player’s action.

3. There must be some form of communication between human players, with the option to mutually influence the game events. This is given, for example, when one wants to face a great enemy together – or when one gives gifts to a teammate that help them progress in their adventure or simply bring them joy. Unlike games where the online mode is just an accessory, MMOs are designed for online gaming and the ability to play together with others. Group play (Multiplayer) should be a central component, whether through raids, dungeons, or PvP, complemented by a range of social features (guilds, chats, etc.).

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What does MMO mean these days? Games-as-a-service
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4. “Games as a service” – characteristic of MMOs is that they are developed further by the operators over a long period, regularly maintained with expansions, patches, and other additional content.

In general, more and more games build on “MMO elements” and adopt the design ideas and social features of an MMO. This is one reason why conventional multiplayer online games are increasingly referred to as MMOs today, even though the number of possible players in a zone is very low. The different online genres show increasingly fluid transitions, which dilutes the MMO concept.

More on the topic
These are currently the best MMOs in 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One
von Jürgen Horn

MMO Definition Today

Due to some changes that this term has gone through, we recently revisited the definition and created our own: What does MMO mean today, in 2019?

At Mein-MMO.de, we specifically address the subgenres MMORPG, MOBA and MMO-Shooters. You can find an MMO database in our MMO list sorted by the respective genre. There, you will find good examples of which games belong to the MMO genre.

One special feature is also the different business models in MMOs. Here you can find out what free-to-play, buy-to-play, and pay-to-play mean.

P.S. Why do we only read “MMO” instead of “MMOG”? There is probably no all-encompassing and clear explanation that uncovers this change. This change can best be explained by the fact that MMOG sounds longer than its “counterpart” and doesn’t sound quite as good.

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

The Secret World: Preview Issue #8

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

With release #8, the Venice Agenda, two important innovations will soon be introduced in The Secret World: the scenarios and the augmentation system. On the official page, the developer Funcom expressed enthusiasm about the status of the update.

The customization options in The Secret World are already very versatile; these will be further intensified with the augmentation system, and according to Funcom, its development is also already very advanced. Players will be able to take the next step towards uniqueness with their powers.

With the new system, players will soon receive four previously non-existent ability trees in the interface, each representing one of the following main groups: damage, support, healing, and survivability. Each of them consists of ten augmentations, which in turn are divided into 5 different quality or rarity levels.

Augmentation system in TSW
Example augmentation system in The Secret World

To activate the augmentations, they need to be added to your active powers on your bar – each power indicates the color and thus the group that the respective power can complement. An example: The power “Suppressing Fire” of the assault rifle is a pure damage power, and therefore can only equip the damage group.

How do I actually get these items?

Completely new tactical possibilities are supposed to arise in several areas of the game, both in PvP and PvE – with the nice side effect that you can once again put a stamp on your character. But one step at a time.
Where do I actually find the so-called augmentations? You will receive these as loot during the game, specifically in the scenarios, which, as mentioned above, also represent a central feature in release #8. In the scenarios available in different difficulty levels, you will have to face dangerous monsters.

In any case, you will be rewarded with augmentations for successfully defeating a boss. The are in their raw state, aside from exceptions, but are not yet ready for use. To gain their benefits, specific runes and resources must first be used in the processing.

Improved powers open up new possibilities

Of course, these are not just trivialities, as this effort will grant you bonuses for your powers. For example, you can increase your damage, achieve improved block values, or strengthen team healing. The developer has also hinted that some of the scenarios will be tough and thus may almost require these enhancements. It will also be interesting to see what kind of dynamics this will create in PvP battles.

I always find it quite exciting in role-playing games to be able to customize my character to a high degree. Sure, it can be overwhelming at first, but in my opinion, it often turns out to be a benefit in the end.

More information can of course be found at the source, which also mentions other requirements for using augmentations.
Source: News article on The Secret World website

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

WoW: All expansions until Cataclysm now included in the base game

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

With the slogan “A new era has begun,” Blizzard has been advertising since yesterday that for just €14.99, all expansions up to and including Cataclysm are now included for free in the base game of World of Warcraft. With this version, it is possible to enjoy yourself in Azeroth up to level 85.

This is of course extremely appealing for those who want to start now or have been considering embarking on an adventure in World of Warcraft for some time. A good step, as I can well imagine that multiple purchasable expansions can be confusing and may represent a barrier to entry—especially for new players. Following the motto: “What do I exactly need now and what might I have to forego if I skip two expansions?”.

But even players who already own the base version benefit from this change. For former players, for example, such a gift can certainly entice them to re-enter the world of Azeroth.

Only Mists of Pandaria, that is, the level range from 86 to 90 and the content associated with the addon, are not included in this package. The Pandaren expansion must therefore still be purchased separately.

Source: Blog post on the official World of Warcraft website

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

Dragon’s Prophet: It will soon get hot in Auratia!

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The publisher Infernum has announced a new update named “Blood and Fire,” which brings players of Dragon’s Prophet a new region, among other things.

The area is called Aluntia and is surrounded by dangerous volcanoes, low-lying lakes, and unexplored caves waiting to be discovered. At the heart of Aluntia lies the mysterious Dragonheart Temple, which has only been entered by a few daring adventurers – out of fear of having to face the Legendary Dragon.

Fight your way to the Dragonheart

Dragon's Prophet: Blood and Fire

The memorial has long been spared from external influences, as surrounding lava prevented access to the mystical temple. However, a way in has now been found. Will you follow this path? Don’t hesitate too long, as rumors say a revival of the powerful villain Kronos is imminent.

For more information on the content update of Dragon’s Prophet, you can refer to the original announcement of Blood and Fire.

Today, the “Call to Arms” event has started, where you are rewarded for inviting friends – the more, the better the rewards. Additionally, there are only a few hours left to redeem a voucher that fills your backpack with a total of 3 Dragon Tamer Whips. It is really nice that the publisher regularly gifts its players. Let’s hope the players appreciate it.

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

SW:TOR – Secret of the Spaceship Add-on Revealed

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

Just a few days ago, the new planet “Oricon” has been made accessible, and already we are expecting a new announcement for the free-to-play MMO “Star Wars: The Old Republic“: A new digital expansion is on the way and will be released on December 3 – at least for subscribers.

The new addon is called “Galactic Starfighter” and brings new content, especially for starship combat. For a long time, there has been speculation about the “SSP” (Secret Space Project) – then there was the mysterious teaser a few weeks ago – and now finally the long-awaited clarity.

Space Battles for up to 24 Players

The days of battles being just a simple minigame for single players are over; now you can engage in battles with up to 24 players. It has little in common with the old space fights; each player can take on various roles with their ship (e.g., scout or combat ship) and unlock a variety of weapons, upgrades, and new abilities. Additionally, the developers at BioWare make another promise: Regular patches will continuously expand the new mode.

Galactic Starfighter: The new addon for SW:TOR

Paying Players Get Early Access to the Addon

Paying players benefit as usual from a lot of bonuses, such as pilot suits, exclusive titles, and skins, but there is one more thing: Access to this content will be staggered, so subscribers can take off on December 3, players with preferred status start on January 14 – the rest can join the battles starting February 4.

The last major expansion (“Rise of the Hutt Cartel”) was released in April this year, shortly after the transition to the free-to-play model. The continued development of content is a sure sign that the game will continue for a while – one can only hope for that.

For more information, visit the official page for the expansion:

http://www.swtor.com/de/galactic-starfighter
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Role-playing meets MMO

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

In the meantime, there is an endless selection of fantastic worlds to dive into day after day. There we participate in our raids, farm our buff food, and craft the best equipment. It hardly makes a difference whether we wander through Azeroth in WoW or fly through the vast galaxy of Star Wars; the basic principles differ only slightly.

World of Warcraft

But wouldn’t it be great to take on a real role within this game world? To be more than just a controlled avatar that “spams skills” and “loots epics”? What if I am not just playing the mage – but actually am the mage?

What sounds absurd at first has already become everyday life for many people, albeit slightly toned down compared to the initial description. We are talking about so-called role-playing (RP). In essence, this word is already contained in “MMORPG”, but very few see more behind it than distributing skill points or filling an experience bar. Role-play offers the perfect opportunity to get to know the “cute night elf” next door or to witness an exciting cantina brawl up close.

The Story Behind a Character

The main goal in role-playing is, of course, fun, as with almost any leisure activity, but there are still some things to consider if you don’t want to bump into trouble everywhere. Trying to portray a character in the world is most successful when you are already somewhat familiar with the backstory and know what exists in that world: No one will believe a vampire in WoW, and an arcane mage would probably be laughed at rather than welcomed in SW:TOR.

SWTOR Companions

However, if you know the backstory well enough, it becomes easier to create a coherent character – keeping in mind that less is often more. A poor craftsman is much more interesting to other players than the ultra-evil lord of the Sith with incredible powers. In some games, like Neverwinter, it is even possible to write a suitable biography – which is then also visible to other adventurers in the character menu.

Almost every current MMO has one or more role-playing servers; sometimes they are specifically marked by the developers, and there are special rules in place, such as extended naming policies. If there is no such server, the community chooses one for themselves that will serve this hobby.

Three Reasons for Role-Playing in an MMORPG

But what exactly draws role-players to an online game and makes them settle into the game world? Here are the main reasons that make RP players spend a large part of their leisure time in an MMORPG.

  • The Virtual World Itself

This may sound trivial, but the world with its backstory is the most important motivating factor. Why does the continent look the way it does? What races are there and why? How long ago was the last great war, and what triggered it? These and many other questions want to be answered, because just like with a good book, role-players need background information to develop a character that fits into the world and is attuned to the many small details.

  • Customization Options

Characters in Guild Wars 2

Every role-player loves their character and wants them to be something special – this does not necessarily mean having extraordinary abilities, but only that their appearance is unique. The more buttons and sliders available in character creation, the better. But it doesn’t stop there: A role-player doesn’t care if their character’s pants are enchanted with “+17 agility”, as long as the pants are blue and match their shirt. A variety of different clothing pieces is enough to make an RP player’s heart race.

  • The Community

Role-playing is something incredibly social. Unlike “Looking for Raid” groups or PvP battlegrounds, where everyone does what they think is right, the RP player relies on others. Their portrayal is worthless if they have no audience and no one to interact with.

Twilek in Star Wars: The Old Republic

Only the experiences with others make these experiences so valuable and enjoyable. It is always exciting to meet new characters and see how they interact with your avatar, but it is always important to remember: A character can call the Twi’lek dancer in front of them “cheap piece”, as long as they don’t forget that behind others are also people, and you can and should be friendly to them – no matter how much the characters may hate each other.

Conclusion

Of course, there are many other factors that make an MMORPG a good gathering place for role-players, as they also enjoy farming a bit or checking out the latest raid instance – just not as intensely. If someone wants to try their hand at RP, they should simply ask nicely for help on the appropriate servers; newcomers are often gladly introduced and guided into the subject. So what is there to lose?

Further articles on role-playing in MMOs:

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

Planetside 2 – Will mass battles soon be stutter-free?

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

On October 23, 2013, the highly anticipated performance update will be released, which aims to improve the frame rate (FPS) in the F2P shooter MMO Planetside 2 by up to 30% in some cases.

Creative Director Matthew Higby from Sony Online Entertainment commented on this in the forum and even promised further improvements regarding performance. He also emphasizes that a performance boost was observed generally across all tested hardware configurations.

Planetside 2

If this change is really as significant as it sounds, many shooter and MMO fans can look forward to mostly smooth large-scale battles soon. At least those who have had their issues so far.

The free-to-play MMOFPS Planetside 2 is very popular, but not all players enjoy a fluid game – the hardware requirements for Planetside 2 are anything but low. Especially in this genre, delays are extremely bothersome, as every second, even millisecond, counts in determining victory or defeat.

Since October 8, 2013, it has been possible to test the patch on the test server already.

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

The F2P MMORPG Allods Online opens subscription servers

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

Allods Online now offers an additional subscription server as a free online role-playing game. This sounds a bit paradoxical in light of the reports from recent years, but this alternative is a wish of many players.

Continue reading “The F2P MMORPG Allods Online opens subscription servers”
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First Impressions: The New Warzone Arenas in Star Wars: The Old Republic

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 3 minutes

We remember: Two weeks ago I reported about Update 2.4 of Star Wars: The Old Republic, where among other things the long-awaited PvP content was discussed. Meanwhile, this update has reached the live servers, and I wanted to take a look at the 3 new warzone arenas. My dear Padawan!

Refreshing Different: Arenas in the Star Wars MMO

The first impression is quite positive, as the battles follow a different pattern and that makes them so interesting. In the already known warzones, it is also about holding your own against players from the other side of the Force, but there are other framework conditions there. I wouldn’t even say that the number of players makes a difference. In the warzones, 8 players face off against each other, while in the arenas it is notably 4 that enter the battle, so that depending on the perspective the Empire or the Republic decides the match.

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Of course, that is also a factor, without question. With that number of players, it is no longer so easy to compensate for the mistakes of an individual. Here, everyone has to make a significant contribution so that after 2 or 3 rounds the laurels can be reaped. What I actually wanted to get at is that this time it is mainly about staying alive until the end. This creates a whole new dynamic that is skillfully staged by the map design.

In the 8vs8 warzones, the goal was always to capture a base or lead an object to a target to earn points. It was not about you, but more about the environment. In the arenas, however, you have to make sure not to be outsmarted. Here, you will not be revived. Once you are out, you are out. In the 8vs8 versions, it was sometimes possible to sacrifice yourself or simply rush into battle – even after a death, not everything was lost yet. This is usually different in the arenas.

Tactical Play in the Arena

You can particularly recognize the new dynamic in the probing of the opposing groups. It is first attempted to get well positioned in the arena – a meaningless death does not exactly inspire enthusiasm among your teammates. The maps also allow you to act from a hiding spot or, for example, surprise an opponent from a bridge, from ambush basically. However, I have also experienced reckless players – it can work, but it doesn’t have to. That team play is important should be clear – usually a “weak point” is chosen that should be defeated first. If you don’t pull together here, defeat is usually already certain – unless you have opponents who act the same way, which can sometimes be quite funny. But against good teams, that looks very different.

By the way, here you can see what the new arenas are called and which places serve as battlefields:

Arenas in the Star Wars MMO

Currently, there is a bug that causes faulty group compositions. I have had many battles where I had to face 4 opponents with only 2 teammates – surely the sneaky Empire is responsible for this circumstance, grr! “Truly dark it is, much anger I see,” Yoda would say. Hopefully, this problem will soon be a thing of the past.

Only then do you realize how important it is to also succeed as a group. The 3vs4 battles all ended in devastating defeats. Whether the class balancing is not optimal here, I cannot say yet. Although there have already been some discussions in the forum, these are merely subjective impressions – after all, several factors play a role: the equipment, the skill tree, teamwork, and the abilities of the player themselves. Nevertheless, for example, a Jedi Shadow has natural tactical advantages that he can use to his advantage.

Conclusion: The new arenas in Star Wars: The Old Republic bring variety to the far, far away galaxy and are definitely convincing!

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

Incident in the Twilight – Guild Wars 2 Update

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

As part of the “Living World” of Guild Wars 2, the developers have provided the MMO with another update on October 1st, named “Twilight Incident”. The setting of this event is the Twilight Garden, a dungeon within the Sylvari starting area of Caledon Forest. This instanced area has been expanded with a path that presents you with several tasks: Solve puzzles, try to bypass enemy traps, and face the horror that lurks at the end of this previously hidden fortress.

The Living Story in Guild Wars 2 opens the hunt for new rewards

Guild Wars 2 MMO

But of course, all of this comes without rewards: If you enter the new path in exploration mode, you can expect the improved exotic Nightmare weapons, which are also equipped with a pretty blue glow. Additionally, a new miniature will be available for your collection. For regular participation in the event, you can also grab the Flutsch Sack, a new back item similar to the dragon wings from previous events.

However, not everything can be done in the dungeon: Throughout the Maguuma Jungle, you can find key parts; five of them are enough for a complete version, which can then be used in the Twilight Garden to open so-called Aether chests.

Achievements in World vs. World PvP are now more generously rewarded

Battle-hardened World vs. World players will be pleased with a new feature: At the end of each match, reward chests will be granted, depending on performance, with up to three available. Additionally, with the start of the new season, WvW skill points have been refunded and can now be redistributed.

New hairstyles in Guild Wars 2

And also in the gem store of the online role-playing game, the shelves have been reorganized. The “Complete Makeover Kit” now grants all races new hairstyles, and the Halloween death blows known from last year are available again – this time, however, in a permanent variant. Finally, the Black Lion Chest Keys have gained some attractiveness, as the little boxes can now contain a miniature of the Sylvari Caithe or a holographic Scarlet.

Here is a selection of the new hairstyles that are now available in Guild Wars 2:

Source: https://www.guildwars2.com/de/the-game/releases/october-01-2013/#twilight-assault

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Neverwinter: Upcoming merging of the shards

Finja Köster Finja Köster Reading time < 1 minutes

Players will soon have the ability to communicate and interact without restrictions, as the servers will be merged!

What has always been planned by the developers of Neverwinter is not that far off in the near future. From the current 3 shards (Beholder, Dragon, and Mindflayer), there will soon be only one.

Information about Character Names and Auctions in the Neverwinter MMO

You don’t have to worry about your character name or guild name, as it will not need to be changed when the merger occurs. Pay attention to your auctions, as they will either go to the highest bidder or be returned to the provider. Every Astral Diamond transaction will be automatically reversed. All existing active orders for Zen or Astral Diamonds will be credited to your exchange account. No worries if you own a less powerful PC or laptop, as the maximum server population is the same as before the merger.

For more information about the shard changes, click here.

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

Tera: 4 new dungeons and summer festivals for the action MMO

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

Finally, there is proper content again in the F2P MMO Tera. A total of 4 brand new dungeons will be deployed today. Starting around 2 PM, according to the planning from Gameforge, players will be able to face the previously unknown challenges.

Attention, breaking news for endgame players: You also have something to do again after you are probably sick of the Queen. Furthermore, it is possible to equip yourself with new powerful weapons and armor – this will thus also replace the best set so far. Finally, it’s about time, many players equipped with visionary gear might think. In this sense, every player type, whether casual or hardcore gamer, has quite a lot to do. Of course, other sets are part of the big update as well.

In addition to the instances, various class changes are also worth mentioning, but everything in due time. Let’s start with the group content first. The developers certainly put a lot of thought into it and set interesting accents in the MMO Tera.

A new concept in Tera – The 3 Player Dungeon: The Channels.

We know sayings like this since the existence of MMOs: “This is impossible, why does it take so long as a DPS to get into a group! Even after the coffee break, I am still standing here without an invitation!” The developers addressed this conflict, as you can’t impose any role on everyone in the group. After all, not everyone wants to identify with the role of tank or healer – for whatever reasons.

The good thing about the 3-player dungeon “The Channels” is that the role is simply irrelevant! Depending on the composition of the group, artificially controlled companions will assist you. If there are only DPS in the group, a helper with healing powers will be at your side. Overall, you will encounter 3 bosses here who stand in your way: Watchman AA-23, Plecostoma, and Kerkion.

The shattered fleet: 5 players fight for Barbosa’s head!

In the dungeon “The shattered fleet”, designed for 5 players, you will also face a maximum of 3 boss monsters. However, before you confront Barbosa, you must first defeat Toonga and Jack, who will definitely have a problem with that. By the way, a question: Have you already completed the freeskimmer? It would be advisable, as those who can’t swim won’t reach the final boss Barbosa…

Kezzel’s Maw: 7 players against the stone giant, is that enough?

Kezzel's Maw Tera MMO

Hopefully that will be enough! This group size is new, as a recommended composition of 7 players has not existed in the action MMO Tera until now. A tip: Don’t let the stone giant advance too quickly! How do you prevent that? For the sharpshooters among us, it should be no problem, as those who could handle cannons well in the Corsair Fortress should be precise here.

Of course, in this case, other players are not the target, but the monster Kezzel (…otherwise, you won’t be very popular).

The greatest challenge from the new dungeons: The Wonderholm.

In this instance, you feel like you are in the wrong movie, game, or whatever (

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

WildStar: Ability Mechanics Introduced

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

The WildStar videos from the developers are really cool, in a positive way. In the latest Devspeak, the abilities mechanics are in the foreground. See for yourself what it’s like to get to know contents in a humorous way.

A Modern Combat System in the MMO WildStar

Carbine Studios, the developer of WildStar, has been working for about 8 years to establish a top upcoming MMO – or in this case on the planet Nexus. However, the game will definitely be released in 2014, likely in spring.

The combat system itself seems to be quite interesting, as they are trying to refresh some stale concepts with a bit of flair and various adjustments. Cast time, instant casts, and channeling. These are the genre-specific terms associated with combat abilities. In most cases, it often follows the same pattern. Many players probably have enough of the repeatedly recurring gameplay mechanics.

Wildstar MMO

As you can see in the video, the creators focus on dynamics. This means that more opportunities are provided to react to specific situations in combat (otherwise you might as well pack up). Furthermore, there is a lot of movement in the game, as compared to some other online role-playing games, a different approach is taken in the action-packed combat system: You can always move while executing abilities. More explanations can be seen in the video.

More Videos about WildStar

At this point, I would also like to recommend the other videos. The question is, of course, whether you find the game itself interesting, but even then, there’s a chuckle in it. I found them quite funny.

http://www.wildstar-online.com/de/media/videos/
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Neverwinter: Beginner’s Guide

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

Every beginning is hard, especially with an MMO. The publisher Perfect World has kindly published a guide for its new players, which I don’t want to withhold from you.

We all know it, as a newcomer you are often overwhelmed by all the new features and it can be quite frustrating at first, depending on the complexity. In such cases, it is extremely helpful to have a clear overview of what to pay attention to when starting. This guide summarizes it in 8 points.

8 Tips for a Better Overview in the Action MMO Neverwinter

For a veteran, these explanations are surely nothing groundbreaking, but not everyone arrives as a full-fledged MMO pro in Protectors Enclave, the capital of Neverwinter.

Neverwinter F2P MMO

In the guide, you will find useful definitions and explanations regarding mounts, the inventory, potions, or praying in Neverwinter. Questing or the PvP mode are of course included as well. Finally, we go a bit deeper into the subject, which includes the quest editor. Because here you can create your own quests and let other adventurers participate. A paradise or even a podium for creative storytellers. With this feature, you can not only write your own story, but also create the backdrop and the participating protagonists.

The guide from Perfect World can be found here on the official site.

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

Play the MMO Guild Wars 2 for free until October 7th

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 3 minutes

Guild Wars 2 is a very successful MMORPG, with over 3 million copies sold. It is also one of the few online role-playing games that has not followed the free-to-play trend. With the current buy-to-play model, which is highly praised, meaning buy once and play forever, there is, however, a slight disadvantage: Downloading the game to simply check it out is unfortunately not possible in most cases.

Such a permanent situation would naturally not be ideal in this genre, as we know that an MMO thrives on generating regular income over the years and maintaining a healthy player base. This is definitely still the case with GW2, where everything feels very lively – but a few new players are certainly always welcome. There are many players who would prefer to test a game before emptying their wallets. A game can have the best reviews – they are still not a guarantee. Individual preferences are indeed very diverse, especially with such complex and extensive products.

Finally test Guild Wars 2, but hurry, this is not a permanent state!

MMO Guild Wars 2

That said, there are several reasons why NCSoft and ArenaNet organize these test weeks every few months. For players, it means: For a short time, anyone who has wanted to take a closer look at the game can do so – without having to enter into any commitments. After the test period, it is up to everyone to buy the game or remove it from their “to-play” list.

This test week runs until October 3rd and then ends. It will surely be a few more months until the next phase. Update: You can still play for free until October 7th – the test has been extended by 4 days!

You can register on the official site:  https://www.guildwars2.com/de/

What is Guild Wars 2?

Before you make your internet connection glow, it would be wise to familiarize yourself a bit with the MMO. I can only say that the open world invites you to explore and have adventures. ArenaNet has succeeded in creating an atmospheric and vibrant environment.

The developer was quite bold in several areas, as Guild Wars 2 showcases different concepts. The dynamic quests, which at least deviate a bit from the classic “quest giver with an exclamation mark above their head,” are refreshing. The creators also take an interesting approach with the equipment improvement, which is probably unique in this form – true to the motto “Equal opportunities for all.”

Unlike other representatives in the genre, the focus is not on improving equipment values after every content update. What matters more is the appearance of the equipment, which can indicate how much someone has achieved in the game – both in PvP and PvE. A hard-to-reach armor looks correspondingly more stylish. It is also worth mentioning that there are no fixed roles for group formation – the holy trinity consisting of tank, healer, and damage dealer in its classic form, for example, to tackle bosses, does not exist here. Particularly this somewhat different approach has led to lively discussions in the communities. Some prefer a clearly defined structure, while others enjoy it being more flexible or dynamic.

As with its predecessor, PvP is one of the central components (Note: in GW2, PvE is separate from PvP). This includes structured arenas and WvWvW, where players fight for their servers in a specially designed area for territories and more – not infrequently resulting in epic mass battles.

A GW2 video for illustration

This is just a small part of what GW2 offers. If any of this appeals to you, I would recommend trying it out. Uninstalling is still possible. You must be aware that the game polarizes and can therefore please one person while giving another headaches. In any case, there is a lot of love put into it. The following video is also recommended, as it attempts to provide some explanations:

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The MMO Aion celebrates its 4th birthday and continues to grow!

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

The European version of the free online role-playing game Aion has proudly turned 4 years old today. Not only a wine, but also an MMORPG can mature over the years and provide a better experience when consumed.

Aion had a spectacular launch in 2009: A huge number of players flocked to the highly announced spin-off from NCSoft. Everything just sounded very good. Different factions waging war against each other; the seemingly limitless possibilities in the air while flying; a fantastic backdrop thanks to the Cryengine, and so on.

But unfortunately, the then version did not resonate with the Western world – some did not like the high PvP ratio, while others found the game too grind-heavy. In any case, critical voices increased.

Then everything took its natural course and players left the sinking ship. The operators then decided to switch to a different payment model instead of giving up the project. This last chance turned out to be a stroke of luck – the switch from subscription to free-to-play model got the Asian MMO back on track.

The MMORPG Aion makes a successful return

AIon MMORPG Screenshot

Not only the adjustment to the changing market, which increasingly fell victim to P2P games, brought new players to the role-playing game. A large part is also due to the developers, who managed to continuously improve the gaming experience. Whether it’s various adjustments to PvP and PvE, the introduced housing, the new classes, as well as numerous comfort improvements – many of these changes gradually increased the quality of the game. Also those that were missing at launch.

It is not only important to deliver extensive updates, but also to recognize where the weaknesses lie or with which innovations one can best keep players entertained. The mistake of the premature release has been compensated. The free-to-play MMORPG is certainly still not for everyone, but a large player base has formed – with now 7 completely localized versions in Europe.

Statistics confirm the upswing and version 4.5 on the horizon

Publisher Gameforge, which has been taking care of the game operation since the changeover, released interesting numbers about the MMO. Since the MMO became free and is in the hands of Gameforge, more than 4 million accounts have been created to date within 1.5 years! The very extensive update 4.0, which was released not too long ago, alone attracted more than 350,000 new players to Aion. The newly added classes, the bard and the ranger, seem to be quite popular – over 100,000 characters have since chosen these paths.

The content update 4.5 will be released at the beginning of next year, by the way. A highlight here is certainly the Aethertech, a new character class.

Celebrations in the sign of the birthday

Several events and surprises are meant to help keep this anniversary in good memory. More information about the Shugo-King’s Tomb, the boost events, the AION birthday cake, the in-game gifts, and the offers in the shop can be found on the official page.

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

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: “Over a Million Players”

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

More than one million unique players since release, over 600,000 of them daily and around 350,000 at the same time. As the numbers show: The game is booming at the moment.

These numbers were announced by Producer Naoki Yoshida during the Tokyo Game Show, where he presented Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and delivered interesting news. Given the initial server issues, where error messages and server maintenance due to overloads were commonplace, these numbers are not particularly surprising. Generally speaking, it is quite a surprising success that almost no one thought possible. Even though Final Fantasy is a big brand, these are remarkable numbers, especially considering the predecessor, which most players probably do not have as fond memories of.

Servers are running smoothly again in FF XIV: ARR

FF XIV News

Meanwhile, the servers are running smoothly, which Square Enix of course uses to proudly present this milestone. Additionally, Yoshida did not miss the opportunity to refer to the new update. By the way, it will soon be possible to switch servers for free. Quite a few players settled on servers of other continents to avoid the overloaded realms. They will be able to transfer to their home servers in the foreseeable future.

Housing announced

Update 2.1 is expected to be released either in November or by December at the latest. For the housing fans among us: Free companies will soon be able to have their own house in Eorzea (private accommodations will follow shortly thereafter). There will be a total of three different house sizes and with over 300 furnishing items, there is more than enough for hobby interior decorators to let their creativity run wild.

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PvP is coming to the Final Fantasy MMORPG

PvP is not currently a feature of the existing version – a feature that many players in an MMO do not want to miss. However, that will change soon: With “The Wolves’ Den,” the residents of Eorzea will soon have the opportunity to put their learned skills to the test – in combat against each other. For fairness, the level groups will be formed at levels 30, 40, and 50 – meaning that you will only encounter players that are approximately at your level.

Here is a small preview of the 4vs4 arena:

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Also new dailies and dungeons

If you like “Groundhog Day,” you can look forward to a larger selection of dailies. Notable are also hard mode versions for already known group content as well as a completely new dungeon for 8 players called Pharos Sirius, which is said to be more than just a tough nut to crack. But that’s not all, as a Primals named Good King Moogle will not let you have its loot easily upon encounter. Anyone who wants to read more details about the patch can find this in the original announcement and source at dualshockers.com.

One can be curious how many players Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn can retain beyond the first month. At least there is enough content planned in the near future.

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

Oktoberfest also in Aion

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

Yes, the festival also takes place in Atreia, the world of the Free to play MMORPG Aion. From now until 2nd October 2013, you have the chance to participate.

Now, of course, one might wonder what the goal is. Events are usually associated with rewards. Does that mean going to a place and then celebrating until the early hours with familiar and fleeting acquaintances? Not quite. You can perhaps make up for that after work.

Support the Brewmasters in the Aion Autumn Event now

You need to help the Brewmaster with barley supplies, otherwise, there will be a shortage of barley juices for the celebratory part of the population. In Atreia, much is expected. So, you take on the role of an employee to ensure that the festival is a complete success and the mood remains high. All you have to do is log in daily and take down monsters. Depending on the intensity, you will receive moist barley, which you hand over to Torang for further processing (in Sanctum or Pandemonium). He will help you turn it into dried barley. Afterwards, you go to a Brewmaster of your choice. The food engineers responsible for the festival are well-known to be Aimaz, Nitam, or Mekov. You will be rewarded with tickets.

On 2nd October, it’s payday! The amount of the reward depends on your commitment at work. So, help out vigorously if you want to be showered with valuable items. You will receive these from the Brewmasters.

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Update 6.0.2 live bei Runes of Magic

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time < 1 minutes

The new patch brings new content to the F2P MMO Runes of Magic starting now. The update includes a previously unseen area, where challenges and many quests await you. In the continuing story, you will accompany Morrok Wallinder to Sarlo, the new zone.

There, you must defeat Maderoth at the end, who resides in the Belathis Fortress – his new stronghold. In this dungeon, you will face 5 powerful bosses together with your fellow players. In addition to the area and the associated dungeon, the patch also features an event instance that includes a new minigame. Furthermore, the level cap has been raised to 82. You can find out more in the patch notes for the Community of Sarlo.

Weekend Event: Experience, Drop Rate, and TP Increased

Due to the inconveniences of the past weeks, with increasing server maintenance that marred the gaming experience, the publisher Gameforge is providing you with special items. You will receive the items as soon as you log in to the game with a character.

This weekend (21st and 22nd of September) and next weekend (28th and 29th of September), you will also be granted an additional experience and TP bonus.

Killing monsters will accordingly yield 250% more experience and talent points – and with a 200% increased drop rate.

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

Star Wars: The Old Republic – Preview of Update 2.4

Dawid Hallmann Dawid Hallmann Reading time 2 minutes

The update “The War of Horror” brings many new contents to the Old Republic. In addition to the PvE content, this time the PvP content is particularly in focus. Fans of PvP battles had to be very patient in this regard, but the wait will soon come to an end. However, that does not mean that PvE players won’t get a piece of the pie. On October 1, 2013, it will finally be time for the F2P MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic.

PvP: 3 New Warzone Arenas

It is already clear: 3 new PvP arenas are coming our way, which will differ in their setup and provide variety. 4 players on each side will then fight for victory on Corellia, Tatooine, and in an orbital station, with a maximum of 3 rounds. I’m particularly looking forward to this because I actually enjoy PvP battles a lot in SW:TOR. I have experienced many nerve-wracking but also fun students in the 8vs8 warzones; unfortunately, it became a bit boring due to the few alternatives. The 4vs4 arenas are definitely a reason for me to swing the mouse again in the Old Republic. More information can be found here on the official developer blog.

New Raids and the Planet Oricon

The Planet Oricon in SW:TOR

Surprisingly, a relatively large amount of PvE content is coming our way, which has recently been delivered by Bioware at a fairly good pace. Therefore, most expected a purely PvP update here, especially since Bioware announced player versus player challenges for 2.4 long ago. Actually quite nice, so there is something for everyone. To the delight of the PvE fans, this means that two new operations will be implemented –  “The Fortress of Horror” and “The Palace of Horror”. This means the item hunt begins again, as the new enemies also drop a new armor set that must be farmed.

The new planet is Oricon. In addition to the raids taking place on this relatively dark and devastated planet, you can also expect new story missions. Many play SW:TOR primarily for the story, which in this form of presentation is unmatched. So, even for those who do not find raids and PvP battles appealing, there is something available. Sounds like a pretty extensive update.

Preview of the PvP Content

A hot tip for those who want to get an impression beforehand. In a recorded Twitch video you can watch some exciting battles between Bioware employees and selected guild members, who had the honor of demonstrating their skills against the game’s developers as part of an event.

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