WoW: Lorenhall is really great, but I see a big problem

WoW demon Cortyn has taken a close look at Lorenhall in World of Warcraft and draws a preliminary conclusion. Much is good – but one thing raises concerns.

With Patch 11.1, the capital city of the Goblins finally came into play – Lorenhall. However, it is not a “traditional” capital in the form of a hub, but a complete area with enemies, quests, and plenty of hidden details.

Purely in terms of atmosphere, Lorenhall is really excellent. The different cartels all have a noticeable influence on the city, and Goblin society feels like a “real” society and not just superficially created, as is often the case with cities in WoW. You will find various professions – including event planners for a wedding, a cleaning company, and various transport service providers. Plus, there is a stall on every street corner selling – mostly dubious – food that was probably cobbled together from street ingredients.

Start video
WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels

A dirty, disgusting city – perfect for Goblins

The pollution of the city, along with a sewage system that is accessible in several places, greatly contributes to the oily, exploitative style of this city, which fits wonderfully with the Goblins.

The F.A.H.R.E.N., or the “car” of the Goblins with its many small side missions, also creates moments that sometimes evoke GTA vibes or make you feel like you are in Mario Kart. Everything is coherent and fits Lorenhall.

There are a few minor issues that I noticed negatively with the patch. For instance, some characters are not voiced. This is not a big deal – but it is curious when in a conversation some Goblins (like Gazlowe) speak their lines while others (like Renzik) remain silent. This means you are half-listening to a conversation, while the other half requires active reading. It feels odd but could simply be a small bug.

WoW Wedding Planner
In Lorenhall, you can enter many houses – and you can find someone almost everywhere. Like this wedding planner.

Now let’s get to the big “but” of the patch. Because with all the cool ideas and interesting details, there is one major flaw that could soon become a real problem. For:

Lorenhall does not feel like Warcraft.

I am aware that Goblins have always been a core part of World of Warcraft and also the Warcraft games before it. Their inventiveness, their penchant for explosions, and their greedy, hyper nature have long been a part of the game.

But until now, they mostly played a secondary role. They were never really in the spotlight, and therefore it was okay for them to be somewhat “quirky” and “technologically advanced”.

Lorenhall fits wonderfully with the Goblins, but it is “ugly” in the sense that everything feels artificial, cramped, and stuffy – and that is the intent. However, when I now imagine spending 3, 4, or even 5 months here, it could become as unpleasant as it was in the Maw. You quickly get tired of it and hope to return to more colorful and pleasant areas.

It thematically reminds me more of parts of WildStar or even Borderlands – brightly quirky, modern, and dirty with rather few fantastic elements in the sense of classic fantasy.

WoW Goblin Family Holiday
A family is on vacation in Lorenhall – even if the children are a bit unruly.

Lorenhall as an area is excellent. It has many details, has made the Goblins more interesting and profound, and has some funny, grand ideas. But I believe that the area would have worked better if it had been present at the start of The War Within – as an alternative to the Isle of Thorn, Heilsturz, and the Resonating Depths. Because now Lorenhall stands alone and must bring joy over the next months. And for that, the Goblin aesthetic is, in my view, too “little fantasy”, too slimy, and oily.

I hope I’m wrong. But if the events of the past allow a conclusion about the present, then I believe that in 2 to 3 months at the latest, people will be fed up with the Goblin look and will long for fantasy elements that have been somewhat replaced by technology and modernity in Lorenhall.
Blizzard knows that Patch 11.1 is not perfect – because there was no solution for one problem.

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

ExtraEmily feels the wrath of the internet for calling a friend on Twitch by the wrong name

Emily “ExtraEmily” Zhang is in trouble. The Twitch streamer is facing the accusation that she let the N-word slip, and the 27-year-old simply can’t defend herself against it. It even seems that her friends are enjoying seeing her in such difficulty.

This is the streamer: ExtraEmily (27) is a successful Twitch streamer who reaches about 8,000 viewers when she goes live.

She is generally considered a harmless and nice creator, somewhat scatterbrained and off-kilter, which many find somehow cute. We previously reported on her when she let a check for almost $2,000 expire because she forgot to take it to the bank.

But now she has gotten into hot water. This time, her scatterbrained nature seems to lead to serious consequences.

Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know

Phone call with black Twitch streamer takes a strange turn

This is bothering her: ExtraEmily was on a call in the stream with ComedyRussell, an African American Twitch streamer. She asked him if he could name 3 Twitch streamers he would never stream with.

Russell named ExtraEmily three times, apparently as a joke.

ExtraEmily appeared slightly offended during the enumeration of her name, exclaiming “That’s not true” and “Bruh, Nick uh!” The English word “uh” is comparable to the German “äh”.

Then she apparently realized that this “Nick uh” sounds like a racist insult, shook her head slightly, shouted “Russell, that’s not even true” and extensively picked her nose.

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Tweet goes viral, reaches 31 million people

This is the result: This passage led to a tweet that has now reached 31 million views and is titled “ExtraEmily accidentally let a word slip.”

Under the video, ExtraEmily is compared to Pokimane, a streamer with an otherwise impeccable reputation, who allegedly also had a verbal slip of this kind in the distant past. People are still upset that Pokimane never faced any repercussions for it.

But even though Emily insists under the clip that she didn’t say the word, she can’t escape the situation. People claim they heard “the N-word” and also saw ExtraEmily’s surprised face when she realized which word had slipped out.

Streamer says she mixed up her black friends

This is what the streamer herself says: ExtraEmily states that the clip gained so much attention that she felt she needed to address it. She said “Nick uh” because she called her friend by the wrong name. So she basically wanted to say “Nick, uh, Russell.”

Apparently, she confused Russell, with whom she was speaking, with another African American Twitch streamer, with whom she is friends, Nick “Nmplol” Polom. He was in the room with her at the time. This wasn’t exactly great, but it somehow fits her scatterbrained nature.

This makes it even worse: A third friend of hers, the Syrian Myth, also tweets into the flaming discussion:

Emily recently called me a “b*tch n*gga” on the phone (of course joking), but I still didn’t like it, so I’m glad to see this b*tch burn now.

For the streamer, this is apparently an extremely uncomfortable situation. She screams on X (formerly Twitter): “Help me, what do you do when the internet believes I’m a racist when I’m not? Please believe me, I said Nick as you can see. I swear, I don’t just throw around the word like that.”

twitch-emily

This is behind it: The excuse “I mixed up my two black friends at that moment” isn’t great either. In this case, however, it seems more like an unfortunate slip of the tongue than malicious intent. Nick was in the room with her, and neither he nor Russell took the remark badly.

There are three currents in the comments:

  • Some people take it very seriously and are upset that “cute streamers” like Pokimane or ExtraEmily get away with such seemingly racist outbursts, while men are banned for the N-word on Twitch
  • Others seem to just enjoy making ExtraEmily sweat.
  • And others defend Emily, saying the author of the tweet wants to cancel her – she should sue him for it

A streamer who lost a promising career to the “N-word” was Daniel “Dubs” Wahl. He couldn’t get out of the situation at all: Fortnite pro (16) goes racist on Twitch – clan punishes him immediately

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

Finally, we know when Dragon Ball Z was officially meant to end – and who Son-Goku’s true heir is

Three former editors of the manga of Dragon Ball were invited for an interview and revealed one of the biggest secrets. From this, we can conclude who should actually succeed Son-Goku.

What secret did the editors reveal? The three legendary Dragon Ball editors Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda addressed in an interview with KosoKoso how Dragon Ball Z was actually supposed to end (via X). The official ending is currently the Majin Buu Arc, after which Son-Goku dedicates himself to training the incarnation of Buu.

But actually, the story was supposed to end after the Cell Saga. Toriyama had reportedly expressed a desire multiple times to end the manga after the victory over Cell. However, the editorial team applied such strong pressure on Toriyama that he added the saga to Majin Buu.

The fact that the story was supposed to end with the Cell Saga shows who should actually succeed Son-Goku.

The name of the anime already reveals when Dragon Ball should end:

Start video
Dragon Ball: This is what the Z in the title stands for

Dragon Ball Z was supposed to end with the Cell Saga and Son-Goku’s successor

Who was supposed to be his successor? Ultimately, it was not Son-Goku who defeated Cell, but his son Son-Gohan.

  • Cell lands as an egg on Earth, undergoing a metamorphosis and absorbing more and more fighters to regain his former strength. Among the victims are also C18 and C17.
  • Son-Goku and his friends engage in a battle with Perfect Cell. The Saiyajin sacrifices himself by teleporting himself and Cell to Master Kaio’s planet and blowing everything up. But Cell survives the attack.
  • Now it’s his son’s turn: Son-Gohan transforms into a double Super Saiyan during the fight and manages to destroy Cell with a final Kamehameha. 

When the Z team wants to revive all the victims killed by Cell, Son-Goku remains in the realm of the dead. He had already been revived once, which is why Shenlong does not bring him back to life. 

However, Goku does not mind at all, as he would only attract evil opponents and the Earth is safe with Gohan. Accordingly, Son-Goku should have actually remained dead at this point and Son-Gohan would have been the next protector of the Earth.

Thus, we know who should take up Goku’s true legacy. In the Dragon Ball GT anime, it looks like Son-Goku’s granddaughter Pan is the next protector of the Earth.

How did the ending go for Toriyama? Editor Fuyuto Takeda wanted to make it as easy as possible for Toriyama to work on the grand finale of Dragon Ball. Therefore, he found ways for the mangaka to enjoy the finale.

The two agreed not to create a complex story. The Cell Saga was much deeper due to time travel, which they wanted to avoid with Majin Buu. Instead, the team relied on comedy to keep Toriyama entertained until the end:

  • Mr. Satan is a silly character who suddenly takes center stage
  • Majin Buu himself is hilarious and only thinks about food
  • Son-Gohan became the Saiyaman who protects the city

If the last arc had not been so humorous, it would have likely been harder for Toriyama to work on it. Meanwhile, we know that Dragon Ball Z was not the end of the anime. There were further series that are partly intertwined: Dragon Ball Daima is well-received and is actually based on the anime many fans hate

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. CBR

Monster Hunter Wilds: The complete patch notes for the Day One patch are here and resolve many issues from the beta

Tomorrow is the day and Monster Hunter Wilds is launching. Hunters can finally go on a monster hunt again. Shortly before this, Capcom released the patch notes and shared what has changed compared to the beta.

Through the past beta phases, Capcom was able to collect valuable data and player feedback. Based on this, it was announced that many problems, hurdles, and obstacles would no longer be an issue in the full version at release.

The complete patch notes have now been released. The changes especially affect some gameplay elements, some weapons, and performance. What exactly has changed can be read here.

[toc]

Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds Shows What It Has to Offer in Launch Trailer

Changes to Gameplay

In the beta, several aspects of the gameplay were criticized. These issues have been addressed as follows:

  • Hitstop and sound effect adjustments
    • Especially special moves and finishers have been adjusted to feel heftier and more powerful
  • Mitigation of “friendly fire”
    • Damage effects from characters when hit by allies have already been mitigated in the public beta test
    • In the full version, this mitigation is also implemented for upward swings with the hammer
    • To negate damage reactions, players also have the “Buffer Jewel” decoration available
  • Adjustment of the frequency of area changes by monsters
    • The frequency with which monsters change areas has been adjusted to be approximately that of Monster Hunter: World
    • In the full version, players can also use field camps and fast travel

Adjustments to Weapons

The weapons have also been revised and adjusted based on the feedback and data. The biggest changes affect the insect glaive, lance, bow, sword and shield, and the morph axe.

Insect Glaive

  • To strengthen aerial actions, “Catapulting Dance” is added
    • After catapulting, chaining into various aerial actions is possible
    • The strength of aerial attacks increases by two levels with each catapult
  • A recoil effect is added at the start of the Sinking Strike
  • The effect of the orange extract is changed to “Negated recoil when weapon drawn”
    and the extract combination Red+White+Orange now also reduces wind pressure, quakes, and roars

Lance

  • The charge counter now allows blocking while charging, and it can be performed after any other action
  • Power-blocking now charges faster to high levels when strong attacks are deflected
  • Perfect blocking and power-blocking can be chained into a newly added action

Morph Axe

  • Various adjustments have been made to ensure a more satisfying transition to sword mode after building up the axe mode gauge
  • Parameter improvements for various actions, including the Full Unleashed Strike
  • During the Full Unleashed Strike, recoil is now negated

Sword & Shield

  • Upward strike can now be used while blocking
  • Parameter improvements for various attacks, especially normal attacks and Perfect Charge
  • Improved query for the chopping and side strike combo as well as for block strike and Perfect Charge
  • Improved evasion effectiveness of backstepping and sliding dodge

Bow

  • Balancing of the bow: improved attack power and better querying of actions like normal attacks and parabolic shots; reduction of the power of target marking shots
  • During the focus attack, not all wounds are now fixed at once, but wound by wound with a short delay in between

Other Weapon Changes

  • General extensive adjustments to skills and element values for balancing the full version including endgame
  • General adjustments regarding hit detection and low damage values in comparison to previous MH titles

Performance

A major point during the beta phases was also the performance. Therefore, the target performance has been adjusted as follows:

Source: Monsterhunter.com

A rendering bug in frame rate priority mode has also been fixed and performance has been fundamentally improved.

Tomorrow it finally starts, and you can explore the world of Monster Hunter Wilds. If you want to know which monsters you will encounter there, you can take a look at our monster list: Monster Hunter Wilds: All currently known monsters in the list

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to receive one of the best campaigns from D&D: “Curse of Strahd” is coming as a mod to the RPG

Larian Studios are no longer the only ones creating content for Baldur’s Gate 3. At the latest, since the official mod support, the community has been delivering new content for the game on its own initiative: from clothing and spells to additional classes and gameplay options. A group of modders has come together to establish a popular D&D story in the game.

What is Curse of Strahd? Curse of Strahd is an adventure module for the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The campaign takes place in the kingdom of Barovia and revolves around the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, whom players can find in Ravenloft Castle. It is a Gothic horror story with various encounters, magical objects, and numerous threats of all kinds.

Curse of Strahd has established itself as one of the best and most popular campaigns in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Strahd is one of the most well-known D&D villains, and the adventure module is based on the classic Ravenloft module from the early 80s, which will be dear to many players. Therefore, a group of Strahd fans started a project to present the beloved setting anew in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Here you can see the trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3:

Start video
Launch Trailer for the Role-playing Game Baldur’s Gate 3

A Legendary D&D Campaign as a Mod

What does the mod include? The best answer is provided by the modders themselves on Reddit:

“Our goal is to integrate the entire campaign of Curse of Strahd into the game. We want to deliver the most engaging adaptation possible while staying true to the dark, gothic horror that has made this campaign legendary. But every great adventure begins with a single step, and we start with the famous Death House, the eerie introduction to the horrors of Barovia.”

After the Death House, the next stops are the halls of Castle Ravenloft, as well as the foggy wilderness of Barovia. The group plans, in addition to the environments, to establish new mechanics and “eerie encounters that make Barovia a living, breathing nightmare.”

How far along is the development of the mod? The project is currently still in development and continues to look for new team members. However, they have already released some images that illustrate the atmosphere of the setting and the environment design.

Here are some of the images that the team has made available on Reddit:

How will players be able to access the mod? In response to a query from an interested party about whether the mod will also be released on PS5, the team unfortunately responds with bad news. Larian’s official mod support currently does not allow for the development of levels. Therefore, Curse of Strahd will only be accessible to PC players.

But console players need not hang their heads, as they do not have to completely forgo mods. In the in-game mod manager provided by Larian, players can comfortably scroll through available mods on the title screen and customize their game to their liking. Those who want to learn more about mod support in Baldur’s Gate 3 can find more information here: Baldur’s Gate 3: The 10 Best Mods for Your Run

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. 3DJuegos
  2. Reddit

Here are 10 games that have reached the “God Tier” in reviews on Steam

The platform Steam by Valve offers a plethora of games. We at MeinMMO present to you 10 that have reached the “God-Tier” in ratings. MeinMMO has compiled the games for you in a list.

How was the list created? Some games on Steam are rated so highly that they can be ranked in the “God-Tier”. These games all have over 100,000 ratings and are extremely positive rated, have 95% positive ratings or more – they are loved by players.

We briefly introduce you to 10 games, showing what makes them special, when they were released, their costs, and what the player ratings look like.

The journey begins with a celebrated indie game from 2024.

10. Balatro

Start video
Trailer for the roguelike poker game Balatro by LocalThunk

Developer: LocalThunk

Rating: 98% of 104,660 ratings are positive.

Price: 13.99 €

Release: February 20, 2024

What is Balatro about? The game was developed by solo dev LocalThunk. It is a turn-based roguelite where you must play poker hands to earn points. 

With various jokers, there are many crazy combinations to discover and play. Furthermore, there are upgrade options with tarot and planet cards. The roguelite aspect is represented by new decks and coupons that grant you permanent boosts for future runs.

Balatro was awarded Game of the Year at the Indie Game Awards 2024.

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

A race in WoW is being actively bullied in the latest patch – you can guess which one

In Lorenhall, the new area of World of Warcraft, not all races are treated equally – the players notice this too.

What about the races? Patch 11.1 Lorenhalt is full of details and focuses heavily on the story of the Goblins. They have never really been in the spotlight and have mostly been minor appearances in side quests. With the capital Lorenhall, however, this has changed and Blizzard has given them a large, vibrant city as a playable area. Visitors, however, do not have it easy – and one race in particular does not. Gnomes are actively despised by the residents.

Start video
WoW Patch 11.1: Gallywix’s Control over the Cartels

How does this manifest? In the WoW subreddit, player Utigarde noticed that his character is sometimes treated oddly. At first, he thought this was the case for all characters of different races, but then he realized: It’s only Gnomes that are affected. Because they are actively bullied by the Goblin NPCs.

Many Goblin NPCs deviate from their actual path to intentionally walk towards Gnome characters, show them a brief insulting gesture, and then continue on their way. There seems to be a deep-seated dislike involved.

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Where does this conflict come from? The fact that Goblins and Gnomes are in constant conflict runs through the entire lore of Warcraft. On one hand, it’s because they are quite similar in their “function.” They are both a small race that takes on technological achievements for their faction. Therefore, they are mostly in competition over who can create the better, more efficient, or simply deadlier invention.

This conflict can also be found in game mechanics. Engineers have always been able to choose between a Goblin and a Gnome specialization. With Goblins, everything usually explodes one way or another, while with Gnomes, there are almost always quirky effects and something gets mind-controlled or turned into a sheep.

This is how the community reacts: Players find this detail deliciously amusing and think that WoW clearly needs more such quirks. Especially when it comes to Gnomes:

  • “All NPCs should do this in every area.” – Frydendahl
  • “Wait, you people don’t regularly walk up to Gnomes and bully them? I think it’s great that the NPCs are finally becoming more realistic.” – Yaxion
  • “At least they are picking on someone their own size.” – EndTree

So if you are playing as a Gnome in Lorenhall, you better toughen up – or live with the good conscience that the Goblins are only insulting you because they already know in their hearts that you are better. Of course, you should consider the general meanness of the Goblins when choosing your cartel.

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

In a Berlin pirate game on Steam, your crew is your ammunition – And you can test it for free now

In a pirate game on Steam, you use round little creatures as cannonballs to free the royal cook from the claws of alligators.

What kind of game is this? Fluffy Sailors is a pirate game set in a world inhabited by round little creatures. As players, you take on the role of the mouse hero who must rescue the royal cook from the claws of the alligators.

Your cuddly crew serves as your cannonballs, with which you try to sink the enemy ships of the rats, cats, and badgers in action-packed naval battles. The game principle is that of a roguelite: After a defeat, you return to your home port, report to your queen, and have the opportunity to give your ship some permanent upgrades.

Fluffy Sailors will be released in March 2025 on Steam, but you can already set sail in the free demo.

In the trailer, you can get an impression of Fluffy Sailors:

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In the charming pirate game Fluffy Sailors, your cute crew is your ammunition

Shooting Cats with Cannons

How does it work? The naval battles in Fluffy Sailors take place in a limited space. Once all enemies are defeated, you can collect your loot and have your ship repaired. Don’t forget to restock your cannon fodder – um, your loyal crew. Because if you don’t quickly collect the creatures after a failed shot, they will sink to the depths of the ocean.

Some enemies surrender instead of being sunk: You can then add them to your fleet and deploy them in the next level. Over time, you will encounter new enemies that use different ships and tactics – and, of course, would fit well in your fleet.

Additionally, in a run, you have the opportunity to acquire further upgrades, such as dynamite, cupcakes, or coffee, which influence how quickly your dash charges or how much damage you deal. This way, you can always progress a little further until you eventually reach your goal.

Fluffy Sailors doesn’t take itself too seriously: The fact that the individual levels slightly differ from run to run in typical roguelite fashion is explained by saying that the royal navigators are still very inexperienced – but they are surely trying their best.

The Steam Next Fest is currently running on Steam, where players can try out hundreds of upcoming games. One of them is already storming the charts of the gaming platform before release – but not everyone is thrilled: New Multiplayer Game Has Already Had the Fourth Most Players on Steam in the Demo

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

MMORPG pioneers from Regensburg are making a new MMO after 28 years – trading magic and orcs for guns and zombies

A developer studio from Regensburg, Germany is making a new MMO with zombies. The studio is known for one of the first MMORPGs.

Who are the developers? The developer studio from Regensburg is CipSoft, primarily known for the MMORPG Tibia released in 1997, which continues to receive updates to this day.

CipSoft is a true pioneer of MMORPGs. Tibia is considered one of the oldest and still playable MMORPGs and has recorded 32 million players and 200 million euros over the years.

The new game from CipSoft, Persist Online (PC), however, does not focus on bashing orcs with magic. Instead, it employs various firearms to take down nasty zombies.

Start video
In Persist Online, you fight through zombies

Hardcore MMO with Zombies

What kind of game will it be? “Persist Online” is somewhat reminiscent of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov, but it features an open world that is persistent, offers space for hundreds of players, and allows you to enter every building. You can also capture locations like a sawmill with your guild in the open game world, which provides you with wood.

In addition to the open world, there is a so-called bunker, similar to a social hub, which offers you crafting opportunities to create weapons and gear. Outside the bunker, you may encounter zombies and other players who may be hostile towards you. Overall, PvP is intended to be a crucial factor in the gameplay.

However, you should not underestimate the zombies either, as they grow stronger the further you move away from the bunker – and dying to the zombies can also be devastating, as a notable feature of the MMORPG is the hardcore aspect:

  • Upon death, you lose all items in your inventory.
  • PvP is available everywhere on the map, except in the bunker.
  • There is no minimap, but “friendly fire” exists. So you have to be careful whether you are shooting at an enemy or possibly your teammate.

To defend yourself against the zombies and avoid such a tragic death, firearms and melee weapons are available, each having their own skill tree – the same goes for tools. You level up the skill tree of a weapon by using the respective item, unlocking new abilities. There is no fixed class system.

Developers invite you to test: CipSoft announced in February that players can sign up on the game’s website for tests of Persist Online. You will then become part of a testing group that will participate in planned playtests and gain access to the game for a specific period of time.

If you can’t satisfy your craving for new MMOs only with short playtests, MeinMMO editor and MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz shows you which MMOs and multiplayer games are coming out this year: New MMOs and multiplayer games 2025: Look forward to these releases

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

If inZOI feels like an MMORPG to you, it’s no coincidence

inZOI on Steam seems to be one of the most promising games for the year 2025. One of the developers of the game talked about how his son was the reason for his switch from MMOs to life simulation and how his experiences in MMOs have also helped him with inZOI.

The developer of inZOI, Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim spoke in an interview with PCGamer about his career. He has been developing video games for 20 years, but initially in a very different genre, namely MMOs. For example, he was involved in the development of Korean MMOs like Elyon or Aion.

The trailer gives you an insight into the gameplay:

Start video
Trailer for inZOI provides insight into gameplay

Son as Inspiration for the Switch from MMO to Life Simulation

How did the developer come to the life simulation genre? The reason for the switch from MMO to life simulation is his son, says Hyungjun Kim. He has long liked the genre and has played many life simulations with his son.

One day, his son asked why there were not more games in this genre, which inspired the developer to start developing one himself. He wanted to enrich the genre with something new that could also sustainably remain in him.

The experience Hyungjun Kim gained from developing MMOs actually helped him in the development of inZOI. The design and creation of large worlds and detailed items are similar in both genres, allowing him to use his experiences.

Moreover, his skills in character customization or building integration have significantly contributed to how he was able to design inZOI as he wanted.

The parallels in development in these genres surprised the developer himself. So if some things in inZOI remind you of an MMO, it might be due to Hyungjun Kim’s previous experiences.

Finally, Hyungjun Kim mentioned what he hopes for the game: “I hope this game will be a source of beautiful memories for many people – just as it already is for me.”

The game inZOI impresses even before release in its trailers with a lot of realism. But not everything in the game is necessarily logical and realistic, as the game hosts ghosts: Whoever is too mean in inZOI on Steam will be punished by becoming a ghost and has to make amends for everything

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamer

An expert has correctly predicted the internet and the iPhone: Now he believes that immortality will be achievable in five years

Ray Kurzweil is a famous scientist who deals with ideas about the future. His previous assumptions have almost always come true. He now suspects that immortality could be achieved in 5 years.

What kind of expert is he?

  • Ray Kurzweil is a famous futurologist. Born in 1948, he is primarily known today as an inventor, author, and expert in artificial intelligence.
  • As a graduate of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he has developed several important innovations, including optical character recognition and speech synthesis.
  • His talent has earned him numerous awards, including the “National Medal of Technology and Innovation,” one of the highest technological honors in the USA.
  • He also worked for a long time as an engineer at the tech company Google.

Why is he trustworthy for many people? What gives him credibility are his accurate predictions in the recent past. According to the website IGN.br, 86% of 147 predictions that Kurzweil is said to have made were correct:

  • In 1990, he predicted that the best chess player in the world would lose to a computer in 2000. This actually happened in 1997 when Deep Blue defeated chess player Garry Kasparov.
  • In 1999, Kurzweil stated that by 2023, a $1,000 laptop would have the computing power and storage capacity of a human brain. This has already come true.
  • He also predicted the emergence of the internet and the development of the iPhone.
Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real

Humanity is expected to achieve immortality by 2030

When are we expected to become immortal? According to Ray Kurzweil, humanity could achieve a form of immortality as early as 2030. This is reported by the French magazine Jeuxvideo.com. His idea is based on the concept of technological singularity. This is a point where advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and nanotechnology converge and will exceed biological limits of humanity. He bases his idea on three theses:

  • Extending lifespan through technology: Medical advancements are expected to increase our life expectancy by more than a year for every year that passes.
  • Human-machine integration: There is expected to be a direct interface between the brain and AI that will enhance our cognitive abilities.
  • Gene editing and regenerative medicine: With the advancement of gene therapies and stem cells, age-related diseases could be eradicated or even reversed.

This is expected to lead to the possibility of humans becoming immortal in the near future.

By the way, these plans are not new concerning immortality: Various billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman, have been investing a lot of money in regenerative medicine for years. However, there is also criticism of the plans to develop life-extending drugs: Billionaires are developing life-extending pills – but a CEO warns that this could lead to a world full of ‘privileged zombies’

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

New MMORPG Reaches Goal on Kickstarter After One Hour: 4 Fans Already Invest 9,500 €

Through the platform Kickstarter, the legendary MMORPG developer Raph Koster raised funds for his new project Star Reach. It didn’t take long for him to gather the money for his “Living Galaxy Sandbox” MMORPG.

Who is Raph Koster? The 53-year-old Raph Koster (in the title image) is a first-generation MMORPG developer. He worked on the predecessors of today’s MMORPGs, the so-called MUDs (Multi User Dungeons)

In the 90s, he was the Lead Designer of Ultima Online and also worked on the legendary MMORPG Star Wars: Galaxies.

He is a proponent of “sandbox MMORPGs,” where players enjoy maximum freedom. This is the branch of MMORPGs that has been at a disadvantage compared to WoW and theme park MMORPGs for about 20 years.

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First trailer shows the new Star Reach

Koster plans a SF-Sandbox

This is his new project: Since 2019, Koster has been working at his own company “Playable Worlds” on the SF MMORPG Stars Reach. At its core, Stars Reach is meant to be a sandbox again, a world that evolves driven by the players.

Koster claims that in Stars Reach you will be able to alter the landscape and build cities. You can even ruin planets, just as humanity has ruined its 8 home worlds. That’s okay – there will always be new worlds to explore in the endless galaxy that can be ruined.

After one hour, the new SF MMORPG Star Reach reaches its goal on Kickstarter

What he wanted on Kickstarter: On Kickstarter , Koster raised money for the project. The actual goal was 190,000 €, or 200,000 $. However, fans had gathered the money within just one hour.

Meanwhile, the first stretch goal has already been achieved, and a bonus race will be developed.

Koster promises: Anyone who spends 30 $ or more on Kickstarter will gain access to Early Access in a month when the Kickstarter campaign ends.

One can speculate that Koster is not really about collecting the full production costs for the game, but also about generating initial hype for his project. Such crowdfunding actions often create loyal fans who then serve as multipliers and promote the game and its brilliance outward. This phenomenon can be seen with Star Citizen.

Many trust the MMORPG guru so much that they are putting their credit cards to the test

This is particularly noticeable: Koster is proud that he financed the project within 1 hour. It is noticeable how much trust is placed in him and his project:

  • The “small package” for 30 $ was taken by 784 backers.
  • But many users also participated in the project with 100 $ and more and then claimed certain bonuses.
  • 126 people indulged in the “Homesteader” package for 120 $, which included an exclusive pet and promised land ownership at launch.
  • Even more, 146 people, paid 450 $ to secure a “lifetime land right,” as well as a robot dog companion and other bonuses.
  • 16 people entered the Nebula Surfer tier for 2,000 $, the “best offer for solo players” and could claim their own planet.
  • 4 players spent 10,000 $ and indulged in the “Galactic Plenipotentiary Tier,” allowing them to bring up to 15 people into the game, and receive their own guild spaceships – and of course their own planet, for which they could even choose the appropriate climate.

With so much early praise and invested money, one can only hope that the MMORPG turns out well. Such “MMORPGs where you buy land in advance” have often disappointed players: Player pays 10,000 $ to become king in MMORPG – subjects rebel

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

WoW: How do I get to …? Big guide for all places

Are you lost in World of Warcraft and don’t know how to get to a specific location? This guide explains how to reach every important place.

World of Warcraft is vast. Very vast. No wonder, as with 10 expansions, Azeroth has continually expanded, gaining new continents, planets, and even entire dimensions. However, switching between different locations is sometimes not so easy. Especially newcomers or returnees might feel overwhelmed by all the portals and requirements.

Again and again, you can read the question in various chat channels about how to get to location X or area Y. Because not everything is intuitively accessible.

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WoW: The War Within – Forces Within

To lend you a helping hand, we have compiled a large guide that briefly explains how to reach each major area.

We explain the basic requirements for each area and also offer simpler alternatives. However, be aware that the alternatives are mainly intended for characters who have already unlocked the area.

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How do I get to Khaz Algar? How do I get to Dornogal?

Khaz Algar is the setting of the expansion “The War Within.” The island is located on the map to the southeast of the continent Kalimdor but can only be reached through portals or by participating in the corresponding quest.
You reach the island automatically during the introductory quests that start at level 68. There, you will experience the teleportation from Dalaran and at the end, you will be teleported to the coast of Khaz Algar.

You will be summoned to Silithus to receive a message from Magni. From there, it seamlessly continues to Dalaran. The quest line leads you shortly afterward toward the new capital Dornogal.

Alternatives: There are also alternatives for the way to Khaz Algar:

  • In the portal chamber of Stormwind and Orgrimmar, there is a portal to Dornogal each.
    • In Stormwind, you will find the portal in the second room, which is somewhat hidden. After entering the portal room, you must go straight ahead and then around the corner, up a staircase.
    • In Orgrimmar, you must turn left directly in front of the actual portal room to reach a second portal chamber.
  • Mage players can learn the ability to open a portal to Dornogal at level 78.

How do I get to the Siren Isle?

The Siren Isle is a new area in patch 11.0.7 of The War Within. Here lies the Ring Circe’s Ring and plenty of transmog.

To reach the Siren Isle, you must complete a small quest line. This begins after reaching the maximum level (80) in the Council room in Dornogal. The quest line will lead you directly to the Zeppelin, from where you can reach the Siren Isle.

Once unlocked, you can use the Zeppelin at the coordinates 72 / 5 to get to the Siren Isle.

WoW Dornogal Way To Siren Isle
To the northeast of Dornogal lies the way to the Siren Isle.

How do I get to Lorenhall?

Lorenhall (Undermine) is the capital of the goblins and also the new area from patch 11.1. The journey to Lorenhall is not possible directly but requires the completion of a quest chain that you can accept from level 80. You will then be taken into the Resounding Depths and must complete several missions in the southeastern part of the map.

Afterward, you have the option to reach Lorenhall via a large drill. The position of this drill can be seen on this map:

WoW Teleporter Undermine Ringing Deeps
You must unlock the drill during the quest line.

After spending some time in Lorenhall, you will also unlock a direct portal from Dornogal to Lorenhall. You will find the portal here:

WoW Teleport Dornogal Undermine
You unlock the Lorenhall teleporter very early.

The unlocking is only necessary once per account. Second characters can directly use the teleporter in Dornogal from level 80 and skip the quest line if needed.

How do I get to the Forbidden Island?

The Forbidden Island is the first new area of the Dragonflight expansion that became accessible with patch 10.0.7. The Forbidden Island is located at the far north of the Dragon Isles and is not connected to the main island. You have several options to get to the island:

  • You can simply fly there using Dragonriding. It’s best to start from the Broken Coast and fly directly northeast.
  • Once you have unlocked the flight point in the village of Morqut on the Forbidden Island, you can return there anytime via the normal griffon flight.
  • Through the Dragonflight Expedition, you can unlock a teleporter to the Forbidden Island at a reputation level of 25.
WoW Forbidden Reach Rare Mob Map
You can easily fly to the Forbidden Island with your dragon.

The Forbidden Island is primarily designed for level 70 and a quest from Valdrakken takes you there for the first time. But don’t worry: the introductory quests only need to be done once, additional characters can simply skip them.

How do I get to the Zaralek Cavern?

The Zaralek Cavern is an area from patch 10.1, Glut von Neltharion, and is thus part of the Dragonflight expansion. Unlike other areas in the game, the Zaralek Cavern is somewhat hidden. It is located “beneath” the other areas of the Dragon Isles. The advantage: There are three different entrances, all of which you can reach with your dragons. Three entrances are in the Plains of Ohn’ahra, another one in the Azure Mountains:

  • Access 1: Plains of Ohn’ahra – Coordinates 89 / 29
  • Access 2: Plains of Ohn’ahra – Coordinates 36 / 56
  • Access 3: Azure Mountains – Coordinates 19 / 24
WoW Zaralekhoehlen Entry Points

Note that the Zaralek Cavern is designed for heroes at level 70. The quest line begins in Valdrakken, but you can also fly directly into the cave without a quest and start exploring.

How do I get to the Emerald Dream?

The Emerald Dream is a new region introduced with patch 10.2, Wächter des Traums, and is thus part of the Dragonflight expansion. The first time you enter the Dream, you will do so at the end of a quest line that automatically begins in the capital Valdrakken. It leads you near the Shadow Refuge, all the way to the west of the Plains of Ohn’ahra. There you can switch to the Dream through the large portal.

WoW Emerald Dream Portal Ohnahra

Once you have completed some quests in the Dream, however, there is another, much faster way to the Emerald Dream. In the capital Valdrakken at coordinates 64 / 58. From there you can directly switch to the Dream.

WoW Emerald Dream Portal Valdrakken
For the second portal, you need to complete a few quests in the Dream.

By the way: If you want to leave the Emerald Dream, you just have to fly through the same portal you entered the Dream through.

How do I get to Argus?

Argus was the final area of the “Legion” expansion; it is a standalone planet. Here you will find numerous rare enemies with toys, mounts, and also some interesting quests. But Argus is at the very end of the gameplay cycle of Legion, which requires several prerequisites to unlock Argus for the first time.

  • Character must be at least level 45
  • Achievement: Union of Islands (Friendly with all 5 factions of the Broken Isles) and subsequent unlocking of world quests with Khadgar in Dalaran
  • Completion of the quest line “The Legion Judgers,” starting in Dalaran with Khadgar at the landing site
  • Completion of the scenario “Assault on the Broken Coast,” which follows
There is a lot to do on Argus – if you can get there!

Once all of this is fulfilled, you go to Dalaran in the Violet Citadel to Khadgar and accept the quest “The Hand of Fate.” Follow this quest, as it will eventually lead you directly to Argus. There, you should play a little longer to unlock teleporters.

If you unlocked Argus in this way, you can return there anytime via a teleporter in Dalaran (Broken Isles). You will find the golden teleporter at Krasus’ Landing.

How do I get to Draenor?

Draenor is a separate world and the setting of the “Warlords of Draenor” expansion. Essentially, there are several ways to get to Draenor.

The first time, it is worth completing the quest line. If your character is still below level 50, talk to Chromie in Stormwind or Orgrimmar to start the time travel for Draenor. Then the quest will automatically guide you to Draenor.

If your character is already above level 50, you can accept the quest “Warlords of Draenor: The Dark Portal” at notice boards in the cities of Horde and Alliance. You can also manually travel to the Blasted Lands and take the quest directly from Khadgar.

WoW Pet Guide Menagerie Location
In Draenor, there’s the Garrison – and much more.

In any case, you will play the intro scenario afterward and arrive at your garrison in Draenor, which also grants a Garrison Hearthstone for quick returns.

If you do not want to play the intro scenario, you can also use a special trick. Draenor and Pandaria are connected by a magical chair circle. When you are in Pandaria, visit the Timeless Isle in the east. Go to the coordinates 70 / 77 and dive. You will find an underwater cave with a chair circle. Sit on one of the chairs and then click the fire in the middle to be teleported directly to Draenor (Gorgrond).

This cave teleports you directly to Draenor.

Alternatives: There are several options to later get to Draenor.

  • The Garrison Hearthstone will always bring you to your garrison in Draenor as soon as you have obtained it.
  • Mage players can open a portal to Draenor.
  • In the portal chamber of your capital (Orgrimmar or Stormwind), there is a portal to Draenor (Stormshield or Warlords).

How do I get to the Shattered World?

The Shattered World is the setting of the “The Burning Crusade” expansion, the first add-on of WoW.

If you are below level 50, you can start the time travel for “The Burning Crusade” with Chromie in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. In this case, the quest will directly lead you to the Shattered World.

You can also speak with a mage in front of the portal room (Orgrimmar) or in the Mage Tower (Stormwind) and tell them that you should check-in in the Shattered World. They will teleport you directly to the Hellfire Peninsula.

Shattrath – The Heart of the Shattered World.

Alternatives: There are two alternative ways to get to the shattered world later.

  • Mage players can open a portal to the shattered world.
  • In the portal chamber of your capital (Orgrimmar or Stormwind), there is a portal to the shattered world (Shattrath).

How do I get to Mechagon?

Mechagon is an island from patch 8.2 and offers many fun activities, mounts, and the Mechagnomes as a new race. You will find it on the continent of Kul Tiras when you travel west over the sea from Stormsong Valley.

To reach Mechagon for the first time, you must first complete the introductory quest line surrounding Nazjatar. After that, you can go to Boralus (Alliance) or Dazar’alor (Horde) to accept the follow-up quest. Goblins or Gnomes will talk about this and you should quickly recognize the quest. They want you to travel to the Tiragarde Sound and explore a mysterious chamber.

From there, the path is linear. Complete the quest chain and in the end, you will safely arrive on the island of Mechagon.

WoW Portal Guide Mechagon Pascal-K1N6
With Pascal, you can later build teleporters to quickly return to Mechagon.

Alternatives: There are a number of other ways to get to Mechagon.

  • You can simply fly from Kul Tiras to Mechagon. This is possible either by griffon if you have unlocked the flight point or you can manually fly with a flying mount.
  • Build the “Extremely Safe Transporter: Mechagon” in Mechagon. You will unlock the recipe while playing there. The transporter is consumed upon use, but it may be worth always having a few on hand.

How do I get to Zandalar?

Zandalar is the continent dominated by the Horde in the “Battle for Azeroth” expansion. Here, a large part of the story takes place for Horde players.

This is how Alliance players get to Zandalar: Alliance players must inevitably advance the war campaign.

Gradually, you will unlock 3 outposts on Zandalar that you can reach from your command ship in Boralus. This is the only way for Alliance players to get to Zandalar. Without the outposts and their unlocking, it is not possible in any other way.

Dazar’Alor, the heart of Zandalar.

This is how Horde players get to Zandalar: Horde players begin their journey in Orgrimmar and must speak with the (then) Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner. Then it continues to Nathanos and Thalyssra, who have a special task. At the end of the scenario, there is the quest “Zuldazar” and you will arrive in Zandalar.

After that, Horde players can have a mage create a portal directly to Dazar’alor or enter through the portal in Orgrimmar itself.

How do I get to Nazjatar?

Nazjatar is an important area of the “Battle for Azeroth” expansion and was introduced with patch 8.2. Here, the plot revolves around Queen Azshara. Additionally, there are many achievements, mounts, toys, and pets to obtain in Nazjatar.

Nazjatar has a number of prerequisites that players must meet to enter for the first time. You must:

  • Have reached level 50
  • Completed the quest “The Unification of Kul Tiras” (Alliance) or “The Unification of Zandalar” (Horde) and unlocked world quests on your faction’s ship
  • Unlocked all 3 outposts in the enemy territory (beginning of the war campaign)
Nazjatar – one of the expansion areas of BfA.

After that, you will automatically receive the quest “Wolf Offensive” or “Warchief’s Order” in Boralus (Alliance) or Dazar’alor (Horde).

Complete the respective quest line and after a few missions, you will arrive in Nazjatar. Here you should play the story until you unlock a permanent portal. Once that’s done, you can return to Nazjatar via the portal chamber in Boralus (Alliance) and Dazar’alor (Horde) at any time.

How do I get to Northrend?

Northrend is the setting of the “Wrath of the Lich King” expansion and is located in the northern part of the world map. There are several ways to get to Northrend.

This is how Alliance players get to Northrend: Alliance players can use multiple ships to reach Northrend, which depart and arrive in the respective harbor every few minutes.

  • The ship in the harbor of Stormwind sails to the Borean Tundra.
  • The ship in the Menethil Harbor (Wetlands) sails to the Howling Fjord.
Dalaran is the center for Northrend travel.

This is how Horde players get to Northrend: Horde players also have two options, depending on where they want to arrive in Northrend.

  • A zeppelin from Orgrimmar flies to the Borean Tundra every 3-5 minutes.
  • A flight ship near Undercity (Tirisfal, Brill) flies to the Howling Fjord. Note that you must be in the “old” version of Tirisfal for this. After level 50, the area becomes devastated. A dragon is marked on the map (Zidormi). Talk to her to show the old Tirisfal.

Alternatives: Northrend can be reached by several options.

  • Mage players can open a portal to Northrend (Dalaran).
  • In the portal chamber of your capital (Orgrimmar or Stormwind), there is a portal to Northrend (Dalaran).

How do I get to Kul Tiras?

Kul Tiras is the continent dominated by the Alliance in the “Battle for Azeroth” expansion. Here, a large part of the story takes place for Alliance players.

This is how Alliance players get to Kul Tiras: To get to Kul Tiras for the first time, you must play the intro experience of Battle for Azeroth. This should start on its own in Stormwind once you reach level 10. The first quest is called “The Hour of Reckoning” and asks you to speak with Mathias Shaw at the harbor of Stormwind.

After that, the quest and the progression are very linear. Just follow the missions with the battle for Undercity and the escape from prison until you have unlocked Kul Tiras in the end.

After that, a ship will permanently run from Stormwind to Kul Tiras and the portal room in Stormwind also has a portal to Boralus.

Kul Tiras – Alliance players have a portal.

This is how Horde players get to Kul Tiras: Horde players must inevitably advance the war campaign.

Gradually, you will unlock 3 outposts on Kul Tiras that you can navigate to from your command ship in Boralus. After the respective unlocking, speak with your captain. This is the only way for Horde players to reach Kul Tiras. Without the outposts and their unlocking, it is not possible in any other way.

How do I get to Oribos?

Oribos is the capital of the “Shadowlands” expansion. The way to Oribos is essentially linear and the first unlocking happens – more or less – automatically. You need the current expansion “Shadowlands” for this.

You only need to complete the introductory experience of Shadowlands. This starts with the quest “An Icy Summons” from level 48 in Orgrimmar (Horde) or Stormwind (Alliance) and then runs linearly. You first travel through a portal to Icecrown and then to the Maw. Just complete all offered quests and follow the story. You will end up in Oribos, from where you can further plan your journey into the Shadowlands.

WoW Portal Guide Oribos Guards
Oribos is the hub in the Shadowlands.

Alternatives: There are also other ways into the Shadowlands.

  • In the portal chamber of your capital (Orgrimmar or Stormwind), there is a portal to Oribos.
  • Mage players can open a portal to Oribos at level 60.

Permanent Portals and Shortcuts

Since World of Warcraft is extremely large, the developers have also built in a number of fixed portals that you can reach from your respective capital. In Orgrimmar (Horde) and Stormwind (Alliance), there are numerous portals that make traveling more convenient. You unlock these portals over time, for example, by reaching certain levels or when the story has progressed far enough.

It is generally advisable to bind the hearthstone to Stormwind or Orgrimmar. From here, thanks to the many portals, there is the shortest way to (almost) all areas.

Portals in Stormwind

WoW Stormwind Portal Locations
The two portal locations in Stormwind.

The portal chamber is easy to find in Stormwind. Go to the Mage Quarter and then to the Mage Tower. Ascend this to the very top and walk through the large portal. Then you will be in the portal chamber. Here you have shortcuts to the following areas:

  • Emerald Dream (Pandaria)
  • Shattrath (Shattered World)
  • Time Caves (Kalimdor, Tanaris)
  • Exodar (Kalimdor)
  • Dalaran (Northrend)
  • Azsuna (Broken Isles)
  • Oribos (Shadowlands)
  • Boralus (Kul Tiras)
  • Stormshield (Draenor)
  • Bel’ameth (Dragon Isles)
  • Dornogal (Khaz Algar)

Additionally, on the 1st level of the Mage Tower, there is a gentleman who can take you to the Hellfire Peninsula (Shattered World) upon request.

The portal chamber has many shortcuts.

In addition, there are several portals in the northern part of the city. These portals are mainly associated with the Cataclysm expansion, but they can drastically reduce travel time. These portals are unlocked through quest lines and are accessible as soon as you have progressed the story in the respective Cataclysm area far enough.

WoW Portal Guide Portal Circle Stormwind
The Cataclysm portals offer many fast routes to distant places.

The portals lead to:

  • Shadow Highlands (Eastern Kingdoms)
  • Vashj’ir (Eastern Kingdoms)
  • Deepholm (Maelstrom)
  • Uldum (Kalimdor)
  • Hyjal (Kalimdor)

Portals in Orgrimmar

The two portal locations in Orgrimmar.

The portal chamber in Orgrimmar is a bit better hidden, but it basically offers the same options as the portals at the Alliance. Go to the entrance tunnel of Orgrimmar that leads into the city. Next to a large door stands a mage guard who guards the tunnel to the portal chamber. You will have easy access to the following places as soon as quest progress and level align accordingly. These portals exist in the main chamber:

  • Dalaran (Northrend)
  • Emerald Dream (Pandaria)
  • Zuldazar (Zandalar)
  • Azsuna (Broken Isles)
  • Oribos (Shadowlands)
  • Silvermoon (Eastern Kingdoms)
The portal chamber has everything important in Orgrimmar.

If you go directly left down the stairs at the entrance, you will come to a smaller room with additional portals. From there, you can access these places:

  • Warlords (Draenor)
  • Time Caves (Kalimdor, Tanaris)
  • Shattrath (Shattered World)
  • Dornogal (Khaz Algar)

Additionally, you will find some portals to areas of the Cataclysm expansion in the north of the city. However, you must have played the story missions of the respective expansion far enough for them to be unlocked.

WoW Portal Guide Portal Circle Orgrimmar
These portals lead to the Cataclysm areas.

The portals lead to:

  • Shadow Highlands (Eastern Kingdoms)
  • Vashj’ir (Eastern Kingdoms)
  • Deepholm (Maelstrom)
  • Uldum (Kalimdor)
  • Hyjal (Kalimdor)

If you are missing a location in the list that is not mentioned here, please let us know in the comments and we will update the guide.

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

Monster Hunter Wilds: 7 Tips for Beginners to Make Hunting Easier

Monster Hunter Wilds starts on 28.02.2025, and not only veterans will rush to the new installment of the Japanese cult series. Many newcomers will also probably embark on the hunt for the first time. To help you get started, we have compiled 7 tips for beginners.

Who is this list suitable for? Monster Hunter Wilds is the new major title in the well-known Capcom series. With a release on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC, the new installment can appeal directly to a large audience at launch, and many beginners will also find their way to the title.

To provide newcomers with a pleasant start, we have compiled 8 general tips that will help you in your hunt for big monsters. If you don’t yet know whether the game is for you, check this out: Monster Hunter Wilds is about to be released: What you should know before buying

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You can find a review talk about the game here:

Start video
GameStar Talk with MeinMMO Editor-in-Chief on Monster Hunter Wilds

1. Collect (almost) everything you run past

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the areas are not only full of small and large monsters but also full of plants and resources that are useful for your adventure. When you dash to the next quest on your Saikrii, you can aim with a right-click or the L2/LT button and collect countless items while rushing by.

You should definitely do this, as most items like herbs, honey, or nullberries are always useful. They take up space, but when you’re back at base after 1 or 2 hunts, you can simply put them in your chest. Almost all items are worth collecting in some way, even if only as ammunition for the bows.

You should also always pick up ores along the way, but you will need to stop briefly for that.

2. Carefully observe the attacks of the monsters and study the monster lexicon

Monster Hunter Wilds Arkveld Forest Background

The large monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds are structured like boss fights and thus have various attacks that may not be recognizable at first glance. Therefore, it is worthwhile to take your time with new monsters instead of rushing into battle.

Often, you will quickly learn when the best opportunities for counterattacks arise. Especially the first monsters will teach you playfully how to recognize when a monster is about to attack.

If you have significant troubles farming or hunting a monster, then the monster lexicon is your best friend. There you will find out weaknesses, resistances, and where to locate the monsters.

3. Use your environment

Monster Hunter Wilds 2nd Trailer title

The various areas in Monster Hunter Wilds are not only beautiful and full of flora and fauna, but also extremely useful in combat. In some places, you can find traps to lure the monsters into.

In other locations, you can drop stones on the monster. This can also be done by aiming (right-click, LT or L2 button) and then using the grappling hook. You can also use it to pull yourself up at certain places to possibly dodge or activate flash flies.

Regularly, you will find ammunition that you can shoot at the monster with your slingshot (aim and then shoot) to deal solid damage. This can also be done quickly, so you should use this ammunition regularly.

4. Seek help when you need it

Monster Hunter Wilds Iceshard Cliffs Trailer Screenshot

Learning the various monster tactics is a significant aspect of Monster Hunter Wilds, but sometimes you cannot defeat a specific monster even after countless attempts. So, just seek help instead of getting frustrated and throwing your controller in the corner.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, you not only have multiplayer options but also the ability to call helper hunters. These are NPCs that act like fellow players, helping you in combat, healing you, and sometimes setting traps.

5. Don’t always try to perform spectacular combos and try out weapons

Most weapons in Monster Hunter Wilds have long and powerful combos and attacks, but they also take some time and can leave you vulnerable. With unknown monsters, this can often go wrong, which is why you should also use short combos that do not have many attacks.

This way, you are on the safe side if a monster suddenly unleashes a gigantic attack. Many of these short animations can also be canceled with a block or a dodge maneuver, giving you additional security.

You should also try out all weapons to find out which weapon suits your taste. In the training room, you can try new weapons and learn combos without having to jump directly into battle. The first monsters are also worthwhile training partners as they usually have slow and predictable moves that you can test with.

6. Alma and the Saikrii are your best friends

The Saikrii is a new mount that not only quickly takes you from A to B. On it, you can switch your weapon, heal while riding, and sharpen your weapon, and if necessary, you can call it and run away. Regularly, you can also get items from its pockets during your adventure, which refill over time and often match the hunted monster.

With Alma, you can not only accept quests, but she also provides you with valuable hints during combat if you are unsure how to proceed.

7. At the beginning, do not focus on farming a specific armor set

In low rank, you will already hunt many monsters due to the story. You can also directly farm and craft them, but it’s only worthwhile under certain conditions if you want to be efficient. Full armor sets have buffs but also weaknesses. Since you do not know which monster awaits you next, you should be cautious.

In low rank, it is often worthwhile to craft simply the next best armor pieces and continue with the story. The resources you need are usually not much, and often it is sufficient to defeat a monster 1 or 2 times. However, if a monster gives you significant trouble, you should produce armor and weapons that correspond to its weaknesses.

If you want to take it easy and farm a monster even in low rank, then don’t hold back.

Do you think we’ve missed essential tips for beginners? Then feel free to write them in the comments. Many players want to enjoy Monster Hunter Wilds completely alone but also appreciate tips. If you’re looking for more guides about the game, you can find them here: Monster Hunter Wilds: All guides, beginner tips, and information at a glance

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

An actress from Fallout is afraid that a missing body part will become her trademark

Ella Purnell played the lead role of Lucy MacLean in the series for Fallout. At the same time, she voiced Jinx in the Netflix series Arcane. However, a physical trait that connects her two characters becomes her greatest fear.

What connects Jinx and Lucy? Although the two figures come from a video game, there is another small similarity between them. Both Jinx and Lucy have a finger amputated during their lives. For Lucy, it’s the index finger, while for Jinx, it’s the middle finger.

  • Lucy has her finger cut off by the ghoul. He does it as compensation for her biting off his finger. Later, she has a new, dead finger sewn on.
  • Jinx loses her finger in a fight with Vi. The sharpshooter Caitlyn aims from a distance at Jinx but only hits her finger.

However, this similarity seems to worry Ella Purnell. She is afraid that this physical trait will become a trademark of hers.

What a performance Ella Purnell delivers in Fallout is hinted at by the following trailer for the series:

Start video
The official trailer for the Fallout series on Amazon in German

This finger is the curse of my life

What does she have against the finger? During an interview at the IGN FanExpo (via YouTube), Purnell is asked if she is afraid of being cast for roles with missing fingers. And indeed, she responds:

That would truly be one of the worst things that could happen to me.

Ella Purnell at the IGN FanExpo

She explains how annoying it is to have her finger painted every day. Because Lucy in the series has a dead finger sewn on, it likely had to be painted every day in a rotten, bluish color. She complains that the finger is the curse of her life.

The index finger is the finger she uses the most. However, she probably shouldn’t have used it due to the color. It would have been viewed sideways if she had used her painted finger to pick up food.

What role did the finger play during filming? The finger even had its own name and was affectionately dubbed Poop Finger, in English Poop Finger. The makeup designer Mike Harvey came up with the idea to name the finger that way.

The name spread so quickly that later everyone on set referred to the body part as Poop Finger.

Lucy comes from a vault that was originally used for a social experiment. Depending on which vault one ended up in, a different experiment awaited them. One man was extremely lucky because he landed in Vault 69 – and the experiment is exactly as you think: Fallout has a “Vault 69” and it is as bad as you think

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. PCGamer

Trymacs has an expensive Fortnite account, but only because his Twitch colleagues want to tease him

The Twitch streamer Max “Trymacs” Stemmler seemingly has a very expensive Fortnite account because he owns many emotes. However, he did not acquire them himself. His fellow streamers have found a way to annoy the content creator.

Why does Trymacs have an expensive Fortnite account? Fortnite is actually a free-to-play game. However, if one wants to acquire emotes or skins, real money can be spent. The more an account has, the more “expensive” it is.

The Twitch streamer Trymacs presumably has a particularly valuable Fortnite account thanks to his many emotes and skins. But not because he buys the cosmetic items himself, but because his fellow streamers send them to him. They do this to annoy him.

In our video, we summarize Trymacs’ career for you:

Start video
Vom Pizza-Lieferant zu einem der größten deutschen Twitch-Streamer – Leben und Karriere von Trymacs in 2 Minuten

“I am already furious again”

Why does Trymacs let himself be annoyed by it? Some emotes are dances set to current music. Trymacs is not a fan of these emotes. You can already see this when he tries to promote his creator code in Fortnite in a clip (via YouTube), but then gets distracted by the dancing emotes in the background.

With a disgusted fascination, the streamer watches the dances for a moment and then says: “Okay, guys, change of plans, don’t buy anything. I just went through the emotes, I’m already furious again. I was just about to promote my creator code, and now I can’t do that.”

In another clip, Trymacs opens a gift from his streamer colleague JulianCoM in Fortnite. It is a dance to the song “I like the way you kiss me.” According to Trymacs, this is his “hate emote” and he says: “He [JulianCoM] did that on purpose.”

Sascha “unsympathischTV” Hellinger also mocks this, saying that emotes are only sent to him because it’s so funny to see Trymacs get annoyed by it.

Those who want to watch the clips can check out the relevant YouTube video by Satter Hugo starting at minute 04:59. With other things, it is not so easy to annoy Trymacs. For example, the YouTuber ApoRed had it out for him in a diss track, but the Twitch streamer was looking forward to the insults: Trymacs is looking forward to being insulted by ApoRed – then disappointed with the result

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

Pax Dei gives you 5 chances to save your house in the MMORPG

Since the last cleanup, many players have again left the Early Access of Pax Dei. Therefore, the development team is once again resorting to drastic measures to create more space in the MMORPG.

What are the developers doing? This month, a cleanup operation is taking place. Just like in August 2024, abandoned plots will be removed to make room for new ones. During this cleanup operation, almost 8% of all plots were removed

Since then, there have been various occasions when the plots were cleaned up. But this time, you have one more chance to secure your house.

When is the operation taking place? Players have until February 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM to secure their plot. Then the cleanup operation will be conducted.

You can see how beautiful the world of Pax Dei looks in the following trailer:

Start video
Pax Dei: Trailer for the Early Access launch shows beautiful medieval world

5 chances to secure your plot

How can the plot be saved? You only need to meet one of 5 criteria if you want to save your plot. The following 5 points must apply for the plot to be deleted:

  • No login in the last 28 days
  • There are fewer than 20 building components on your plot
  • You have fewer than 7 chests
  • There are fewer than 7 crafters on your plot
  • You have not built a market stall yet

To prevent the deletion of your plot, the easiest way is simply to log in. This way, you can ensure that what you’ve built does not fall victim to the cleanup operation.

Is that fair? It is understandable that the development team wants to leave space for players who are active. Therefore, regular cleanup operations are justifiable. Additionally, there are many criteria that must be met for a plot to be deleted, making it harder for a player’s plot to be removed.

However, such cleanup operations have a bitter aftertaste, considering that Early Access costs money. When Pax Dei is not on sale, the standard version costs 40 euros. 

Moreover, a “fixed number of plots” is promised on Steam. If these are deleted, the developers do not adhere to the description available for Early Access. Nevertheless, Pax Dei is one of 6 MMORPGs that MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz is particularly looking forward to: Which MMOs will rock in 2025? Here are 6 games I am particularly looking forward to

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. mmorpg.com

PS Plus Essential: All free games in March 2025 for PS4 and PS5 – This time with a surprise RPG in tow

The games for PS Plus Essential in March 2025 for PS5 and PS4 have been officially announced. We present the games briefly and show when they will be available.

Which PS Plus games are there in March 2025? Also in March 2025, there are again three games that you can get with the PS Plus Essential subscription.

When will the games be available? The games are always available from the first Tuesday of a month:

  • PS Plus games available: March 4, 2025, around 12:00 PM

Everything important about the free games of PS Plus Essential in March 2025

Here we briefly introduce the three games:

Dragon Age: The Veilguard (PS5): Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a story-driven role-playing game by BioWare, which forms the fourth part of the Dragon Age series. Instead of a single hero, a group of unique characters is at the center, who together combat a great threat.

The game relies on an action-packed combat system, player-driven decisions, and handcrafted areas instead of an open world.

With its emotional stories and the ability to build close bonds with companions, The Veilguard has further developed the Dragon Age formula of previous titles and offers a captivating adventure for fans of the series.

Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Unleashes the Dragon in Official Launch Trailer

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection (PS5/PS4): TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is a retro game collection that includes 13 classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games from the 80s and 90s. This includes arcade titles, NES, SNES, Sega, and Game Boy games.

The collection offers enhanced features like online multiplayer for some titles, save functions, rewind, and a digital gallery with concept art.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate (PS4): Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a remaster of the 2010 platformer Sonic Colors. The game features improved graphics, smoother performance, and new features like an additional game mode and customizable content.

Players control Sonic through colorful worlds, utilizing the powers of the Wisps and battling Dr. Eggman to free captured aliens.

What else should I consider? If you haven’t grabbed the games from last month for PS Plus yet, you should hurry. Once the new games are available, the old ones will be turned off again. If you want to get the games, you absolutely need the paid PS Plus subscription for your PS4 or PS5.

More about PS Plus: Do you want to know which content belongs to which subscription of PS Plus and which one is best for you? MeinMMO introduces you to all the options of PS Plus and explains which is the best fit for you: PS Plus Subscription: Essential, Extra or Premium – Which package suits me?

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

Player spends over 180 hours in Season 7 of Diablo 4 to reach Paragon Level 300

With each new season, leveling starts over again in Diablo 4. A player has endured the grind up to Paragon level 300 and draws a conclusion. Spoiler: The effort is hardly worth it – and the community agrees.

In Diablo 4, you reach the maximum character level at level 60, after which the grind for Paragon levels begins. Overall, you can collect 300 Paragon points for your Paragon boards to further improve your character. However, the grind is extremely time-consuming – and many players find the reward to be limited.

In a post on Reddit, Mr_Juicer reports about his grind up to Paragon level 300 in Season 7, which has been running since January 21, 2025. In the last season, he managed to reach level 240, and now he wanted to have the assurance to achieve it at least once. Especially after level 270, it became very tedious as he repeatedly did the same activities.

How did the player reach the highest level? He mostly spent time in the Hell Rifts. He advises listening to music or being entertained in other ways while grinding, as it makes the grind easier. He also used the group finder in Diablo 4 to do numerous Hell Rift runs without having to consume many seals himself.

While he could have leveled faster in the Pit, his Blood Wave Necro was simply too slow for the high Pit levels. “[Hell Rifts] might have been relatively slower, but this allowed for an easier gameplay loop that didn’t burn me out,” he explains.

When asked how long the leveling took overall, he writes that over 300 hours were invested in his Necro alone. The pure XP grind cost him about 180+ hours. He spent a lot of time just finding a group. “The spots were always gone quickly,” he notes.

Start video
Gameplay trailer for Season 7 in Diablo 4, the Season of Witch Power

“There really is no reason to do it”

Why is the effort hardly worth it? The author of the post explains that he probably will never do it again – solely for his “mental health”. Just for level 300 alone, you need to collect 1 billion XP, he notes.

He finds the rewards disappointing. Specifically, he writes:

A mount trophy and a mount are really a bit meager considering how much work it is. […]

Why isn’t there at least exclusive cosmetics or a chest with a guaranteed mythical unique of your choice, so you have a tangible memory of the accomplishment? Just an idea.

A permanent UI change for Paragon level 300 would be really cool – like a golden frame around the character or something! Instead of just “Level 300: 0/0 experience” being shown.

This is what the community says about it: In the comments, users discuss the long grind. ShootHotHug states: “There is no real incentive other than the pride of having done it. The mount is a joke, so something like a special frame, a unique cosmetic item, or a pet would definitely be worthwhile.”

Extension-Lie-3272 writes: “I am at 270 and see no reason to continue… My character runs great, and the board maybe gives me +30 to a desired stat? Everything I need is done.” And the post creator replies: “Yes, other than Paragon points, there really is no reason to do it.”

In the comments, Mr_Juicer points out that you can also collect the 300 Paragon levels on the eternal realm since the achievement and cosmetics will be unlocked account-wide anyway. So you have no time pressure but also don’t benefit from seasonal XP buffs or similar.

To level up to Paragon level 300 in Diablo 4, it makes sense to play a build that allows you to move quickly through the activities. Other players, however, prefer not to have to pay much attention to rotations or huge damage. For instance, a player asked the community for a class for lazy players in Diablo 4 and received a recommended ideal build that hardly requires pressing buttons.

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

One of the best mechanics in gaming was only used 2 times and now Warner Bros. has killed it

Many genres in gaming have established themselves with various mechanics. Watchtowers are a big example of this. However, sometimes developers try something new and innovative that players love. Monolith Productions did this with the Nemesis System. However, it has hardly been used, and now Warner Bros. is closing the studio.

What will happen to Monolith Productions? On February 25, 2025, Warner Bros. announced the closure of Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. As part of this, they are also canceling the Wonder Woman game that Monolith Productions was working on.

For some time now, Warner Bros. has been facing problems in its gaming division. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was a flop, and Multiversus also faced challenges. Nowadays, Monolith is primarily known for the two Shadow of games from the Lord of the Rings universe. In particular, their Nemesis System impressed players.

Start video
Shadow of War – Trailer for the Dark Lord of the Rings Game

An innovative system that was hardly used

What is the Nemesis System? In Shadow of Mordor, encounters with various enemies are saved, and these enemies can then rise in rank and strength in the game. This means that rivals are created, who grow throughout the game and occasionally encounter you.

This is not only exciting from a gameplay perspective but also narratively, as small, personal stories arise with various Orcs and Uruk-Hai. Monolith Productions then further developed this system in Shadow of War.

Has the system been used more often? No, outside of the two Mordor games, the Nemesis System has not been used in this way. This is probably also due to the fact that Warner Bros. patented the system in 2015.

But even in the many other games from Warner Bros., the system was not utilized. Now, with the closure of Monolith Productions, it seems even less likely that we will see the system again in the near future.

Monolith Productions has developed many classics and innovative games. Among them is the horror shooter series F.E.A.R., the agent shooter No One Lives Forever, or the Middle-earth games. Unfortunately, studios in the gaming industry are regularly closing. A modern AAA team has also suffered this fate: They made a fortune with Baldur’s Gate 3, canceling the new AAA game of the team behind Anthem 2.0

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Kotaku