The survival MMO Pioner reaches an important milestone on Steam. The unusual mix of survival struggle and MMORPG aims to appeal to various types of players.
What is Pioner? This is a survival MMORPG from the Russian developer GFA Games. It was announced 4 years ago and aims to offer players a tough fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
The twist is: Pioner aims to be interesting for PvE players, as well as for fans of competitive PvP skirmishes. You find yourself on an island that seems isolated and where anomalies wreak havoc.
This already reminds you in the description of similarly designed games like Stalker 2 – at least regarding the scenario. On Steam, Pioner has now reached a new milestone.
Here you can watch the trailer for the game:
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PIONER: New trailer for the dark survival MMO on Steam
The game’s concept has many fans
What has Pioner achieved? The developers recently announced that their game has already been added to the wishlist by 100,000 users on Steam. Of course, this doesn’t say anything about the success of the title at release, but it is a good mood barometer.
Who is Pioner suitable for? Fans of dark apocalyptic scenarios will get their money’s worth in Pioner. And various player types are supposed to be addressed.
The developers explain in a Q&A on Reddit more details about the game world. According to them, it is supposed to be about 50 square kilometers in size and divided into two halves. The left side serves PvE gameplay. Here you will find classic missions that can be completed solo or in a team.
The right side, on the other hand, is a PvP area where players can fight each other. As a third option, there is also a separate, distinct area called “Shadowlands”. Here there is both PvE and PvP.
If you don’t want to deal with opposing or allied players, rest assured: Despite the multiplayer approach, Pioner is also intended to be feasible for pure solo players.
In Path of Exile 2, many players were looking forward to playing the ARPG with their friends or partners. However, many are now dissatisfied.
How does the co-op mode work in Path of Exile 2? In PoE2, groups of six players can play through the entire game together. The endgame is also available to all collectively. To ensure bosses cannot be defeated without resistance, the strength of the enemies on the map increases depending on the number of group members.
The loot that the group finds also scales with the number of players. Playing in a group sounds like a well-thought-out experience on paper. However, it is now clear that there are many issues.
Do you know this useful NPC already?
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This NPC in Path of Exile 2 identifies your items
Everything Depends on the Host
What does it look like in practice? In reality, the co-op mode often conflicts with the other mechanics of Path of Exile 2. This becomes especially evident in the endgame. If a player dies on the maps, they cannot re-enter the map. However, this means that the host cannot enter anymore either.
The host is the only player who can interact with the league mechanics windows. The other players cannot access the rewards from the rituals, nor can they complete the Delirium fog or trigger explosions during the expedition.
The items obtained through the mechanics initially go to the host. While they can distribute these later, it can also be quite time-consuming with 5 guests.
How could the co-op mode be improved? The co-op mode of Path of Exile 2 could be improved in various areas. The community has collected some points on Reddit.
The user necrotwy reports on Reddit about their experience with couch co-op: “[…] Every time a player dies, the game freezes a few seconds later […] Oh, and the game continues to run in the background, while the screen stays frozen forever. […] Either you quickly close the game or you die (and of course lose the map).”
No-Special5543 also explains on Reddit what needs to be improved: “[…] I’ve noticed that you lose honor in Trials when another player gets hit. I can only hope that this is another Trials bug.”
He also has another request for the developers: “[…] And we urgently need a shared minimap to know what other players have already explored. Please implement this feature if possible.”
The cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket can include many details. Some of these are so precise that you can recognize well-known locations from them.
Although Pokémon TCG Pocket was only released a few months ago, there are already some cards that you can collect. Besides the regular cards, there are also the rarer variants that come with special, immersive details.
But it’s not just the immersive details that are to be discovered on the cards. Players from the community have now even been able to use some details to identify locations from the main games where the Pokémon from the cards are situated.
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Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A 008 – What is behind the missing card?
Fence and Tree Astonish Players
The beginning is made by the player “asch_win” in his post on Reddit. He took a closer look at the card of Habitak (A1, 191). On the card, the player observed details such as the fence, the grass, the trees, and 2 buildings.
He noticed that the location must clearly be Route 16 next to Prismania City. Coincidentally, you can also find and catch Habitak in the tall grass on this route in some games.
In another post on Reddit, another player discovered additional cards that can be assigned to further locations in the games. The player was also able to assign the cards of Digda (A1, 238), Alpollo (A1, 121), Dodu (A1, 199), and Rattfratz (A1, 189) based on various details.
We’ll embed the Reddit post here for you:
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In the same post, another player also noticed something special. This concerns the Full-Art variant of Relaxo (A1, 250). If you take a closer look at this card, you will also find Knofensa, Myrapla, and Bluzuk.
If you now take a look at the corresponding Pokémon cards, you will discover that next to the Pokémon itself, there is also a body part of Relaxo. What this looks like in detail can be seen in the comments on Reddit.
The player also identified the location where the Pokémon on these cards are located. It is Route 12, where you can wake up and catch Relaxo in some Pokémon games using the Poké Flute.
The Marvel universe offers countless heroes that you have never seen in the cinema. Among them are not only serious characters but also some silly ones that function more as a joke. However, one heroine from the comics is so powerful that she has been able to take on the strongest villains in the universe.
Which superheroine is it? In 1991, Doreen Allene Green, better known as Squirrel Girl, debuted. Although it may seem so, she is not a mutant. However, she has many abilities:
Superhuman strength
Giant squirrel tail
Night vision
Regeneration
Her most important ability is her communication with squirrels, which she can command and use in battle. Similar to Deadpool, she is a rather silly character who also likes to break the fourth wall to chat with the reader.
But despite her absurd abilities, she has achieved a lot. She has even defeated some of the strongest villains in the comic universe.
In the new game Marvel Rivals, you can fight as Squirrel Girl:
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Marvel Rivals: The launch trailer for the shooter featuring Marvel superheroes on PS5 and Steam
Squirrel Girl has also defeated Thanos
Which villains has Squirrel Girl defeated? Despite her silly appearance and quirky abilities, she has already been able to defeat some super-villains in combat. During her first appearance in Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol.2) Issue 8, she saved Iron Man from Dr. Doom, whom she defeated by sending countless squirrels against the villain.
Her greatest success was celebrated in GLX-Mas Special Vol.1, written by Dan Slott, from 2006. In this comic, she fought alongside her squirrel sidekick Tippy-Toe against Thanos himself. Although it is not shown how she did it, in one panel she stands behind the defeated Thanos while a Watcher explains that she saved the multiverse (via cbr.com).
Additionally, the Watcher mentions that this Thanos is neither a clone nor a robot. This is a side note referring to the fact that Thanos’s creator Jim Starlin explained in a comic miniseries that many times it was not actually Thanos who was defeated, but his clones.
In She-Hulk No. 12 from 2006, Dan Slott also explained that there was a Thanos clone who even managed to outsmart the Watcher.
In The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl No. 3 from 2025, she also managed to stop Galactus. However, she did not even have to fight the giant planet eater. After a conversation in which both mock Thanos, Galactus leaves Earth alone (via Screen Rant).
Whom else has she defeated?Marvel Database lists other characters that have been defeated by Squirrel Girl. These include:
Ego, the Living Planet
The Avengers
Giganto
Deadpool
Wolverine
Fin Fang Foom
Kang
Venom
Should one take all of this seriously? No. Squirrel Girl is like Gwenpool, a character that has been intended as a joke from the beginning. It is absurd and the gag of these stories that such a character can defeat powerful beings. This usually only happens in special comics that serve as funny events or collections of short stories.
In the major events of the comics, she has no significant appearances. One can also assume that she will not take on a major role in the MCU. However, as a minor cameo character, there could very well be an appearance. According to MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, the Hulk should finally receive an important role: I still can’t forgive Marvel for wasting one of the most exciting heroes after 16 years
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
World of Warcraft is still difficult to play as a woman at a high level. Many report that it only gets worse in the higher ranks.
That women often feel uncomfortable in World of Warcraft is not just an “old hat”, but unfortunately a persistent issue. Again and again, there are stories of women who are either harassed or insulted because of their gender or feel uncomfortable – even though they just want to enjoy a game.
One of these stories has now been discussed in detail. Many fellow players give tips on how to defend oneself against such misconduct.
What type of post is this? The 20-year-old player LuciCuti describes in her Reddit post that she has been playing WoW for over 4 years and is trying to break into the higher levels of play – that is, Mythic+, the Gladiator title in PvP, and mythic raiding. However, she has repeatedly faced problems with male players who behave inappropriately towards her. From unwanted flirting attempts to insults and accusations, it’s all there. Here are a few excerpts from the post:
I had people asking me in the middle of a raid if I was single, where I was, and all that. I sent a screenshot to the guild leader, and he wanted to have “a serious word” with the person, but that never did anything except make the person message me even more aggressively.
In PvP, her experience was different. There, she was immediately dismissed as bad – simply because she is a woman:
In PvP, I know you don’t necessarily need Discord to become a Gladiator, but almost all groups ask if you can join voice chat, and saying “no” seems to ruin the mood. But I’ve also been insulted because I supposedly get carried – just because I’m a woman and that happens immediately as soon as I join the conversation, even though they’ve never seen me play. They insulted me and kicked me out, so I’m done with PUGs in PvP.
In other guilds, she has experienced that others help her, precisely because she is a woman – she is treated specially and even if she contributes almost nothing, the men seem to be fine with that. She doesn’t feel taken seriously as a player:
I also don’t want to be taken along just because people want to get closer to me. At the beginning of the expansion, I was pretty busy, so I hardly accomplished anything in the game. I found a guild that I could play with, and they knew I was busy; it was a simple heroic raid guild. They told me to just ask, and then they would take me through dungeons with four people, and I thought that was just a nice thing they did in the guild.
After two weeks, I realized that I was the only woman in the guild and the only person they were doing that for. It took almost a week of me deliberately going afk at every single pull in the dungeon before they finally said something.
In summary, her criticisms are:
Many men don’t play with her because they value her performance as a group member, but because she is a woman and hope for something from it.
Intrusive behavior in many guilds is “normal” and is often tolerated by the leadership.
In many groups, she is insulted as soon as it becomes clear she is a woman.
Shortly after, she edits her post again and adds:
To all the people sending me private messages [on Reddit] and inviting me to their guild while your whole profile is full of porn, I hope you’re doing this as a joke because that’s the dumbest shit ever if you’re serious about it.
This is how the community reacts: While there are certainly some inappropriate comments, which have many downvotes, the community also has some good tips on how to deal with the problem – because LuciCuti seems to be far from the only one with such experiences.
SharkRaptor recommends the “Visage Program” from Raider.io. Guilds that mark themselves with this label claim to be particularly inclusive towards women and other marginalized groups.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
Others also report their negative experiences, such as meggles_, who writes:
I am a woman and used to play at the top of the raid rankings with my guild (Top 10 in the world) and unfortunately, it is like this: The higher you go, the worse it gets. Of course not all men are like this, but in my experience, guilds at the higher end tend to have more of these problem cases than casual guilds, and they are less likely to kick such players because skilled players are hard to replace.
The best advice I can give you is not to let them win – defend yourself verbally if you feel able to. Don’t let yourself be put down. Don’t be afraid to leave if the people are terrible – there are always better guilds out there. The ranking isn’t worth being treated like dirt. I wish someone had told me that back then.
Many upvotes also go to the comment from Curious_Insider0719, who gives her fellow player some tips on how to deal with such behavior and how to ensure that she has found the “right” guild:
1. Your age is irrelevant to gameplay. It has virtually no impact on anything, but if necessary, just lie. Add a few years.
2. It’s tough to endure, but if someone asks you personal information or sends you messages in the game or tries to talk to you about other things than the game in game: Shut it down. Don’t engage. It’s easy in the game; you can just ignore it, but on voice it’s harder, but set the boundaries clearly. “I won’t answer that or that is irrelevant to what we are doing,” will eventually get through. It’s not easy to develop a thick skin and use it. Guys wouldn’t have a problem responding exactly like that, so do it just like they do. Stand up to create that barrier.
3. When you’re out with new people for the first time, don’t speak for a few times. I’ve raided with many who just muted themselves. People who just don’t want to talk. Until you’re somewhat established, just say that you’re muting for some reason. Unless you’re the raid leader, you don’t need to talk. Yes, I know that is part of socializing in the game, but as long as you listen, that should be enough.
4. Less is more. Don’t give them all the “I am a woman and this age” information. It just escalates. I used to want to tell people that I am a woman, but now it’s none of their business because many people can’t handle it and are just creeps.
Most of the posts are worth a closer look, as many women report their experiences and strategies on how they can deal with such behavior in World of Warcraft (and other MMORPGs).
That such behavioral strategies are necessary to play an MMORPG in peace is above all: damn sad.
Even after over 20 years of World of Warcraft, women still experience many bad situations in Azeroth. The problem will likely only be curbed if each and every individual ensures that such incidents are not tolerated – and some stop seeing WoW as a singles platform. Because most just want this: to play an MMORPG. Much more pleasant problems exist in WoW Classic with the streamer guild “OnlyFangs”, which only has to deal with internal power plays.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What looks like the rejected alpha version of a Metal Gear Solid 6 is Black State – a new shooter on Steam, where doors are not just doors.
What kind of game is this? Black State is a story-driven third-person shooter from the developer Motion Blur. The devs are based in Istanbul and state on their website motionblur.com that they make “AAA games with an independent soul.” Black State is the studio’s third game.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), there was gameplay from an early version of the shooter. In about three and a half minutes, it becomes clear what famous game franchise likely served as inspiration for the developers and what is intended to make the shooter special.
You can watch the gameplay trailer from CES here:
Start video
Black State: Shooter on Steam reminiscent of Metal Gear shows new gameplay
Metal Gear from Turkey
What does the trailer show? At the beginning, the protagonist wanders through a lavish estate, with the highly polished marble floor reflecting the entire surroundings. But waiting behind the first door is a group of enemy soldiers.
In combat, our character seems as if they have trained under Big Boss himself: The animations in close combat and gunfights strongly resemble Snake (also known as Big Boss) from Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series. We wouldn’t be surprised if the protagonist has pilfered from his wardrobe.
After the first firefight, the game’s big feature is introduced, as the same door through which we just entered the room suddenly leads into a futuristic hallway that wasn’t there before. When closing and reopening, the level behind the door changes, and all of this happens without a loading pause.
A lot of fuss about doors
How are the reactions to the trailer? Many comments under the trailer on YouTube address the similarities to Metal Gear. ITMeCE writes: “Metal Gear… is that you???” samhanmma especially feels “old MGS vibes,” while Drawerofstuff00 feels it “like an alpha of what MGS6 could have been.”
A detail in the trailer that is mocked concerns the doors. They are not always opened with a matching animation, and when they are, they look “like when my grandmother pulls aside a curtain,” comments znt_.
Some have also noticed that the doors open in the wrong direction relative to the hinges. This is nitpicking at a high level, but if one wants to score points with realistic graphics and doors play such a big role, such little details stand out negatively.
When and where will Black State be released? The developers have not yet provided a release timeframe. Currently, only PC is known as a platform, and there is already a shop page for the shooter on Steam.
The Hong Kong Customs has once again seized undeclared electronic components worth nearly 1.8 million euros. The alleged smuggler now faces a hefty fine.
What exactly happened? During a routine inspection at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Hong Kong Customs stopped an outgoing container truck that was officially carrying micromotor materials.
Micromotors are small, powerful motors used in medicine, electronics, automotive technology, and robotics. However, during the search, officials discovered a large amount of undeclared electronic components. These were clearly different from the motor components and were hidden among the declared goods.
According to a press report from the relevant authorities, the 47-year-old driver was arrested and released on bail after an initial interrogation; investigations are ongoing (via customs.gov.hk). So far, the authorities have only referred to a “suspected smuggling case” as the connections have not yet been fully clarified.
What components were found? Among the seized items were:
Approximately 670,000 integrated circuits: various semiconductors, presumably for different applications
Around 80,000 other electronic components: possibly watch movements, RAM units, mobile phone lenses, and motherboards.
Since the press release provides few details about the seized components, it cannot be clearly stated what specific components they are.
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
Additionally, Hong Kong Customs conducted Operation “Sea Guardian” in August and September 2024, where three alleged smuggling cases were uncovered using deep-sea vessels. This operation resulted in the seizure of large quantities of allegedly smuggled electronic products with an estimated market value of about 500 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 62 million euros) (via Customs and Excise Department Hong Kong).
Why is smuggling happening in Hong Kong? Hong Kong is a free port and does not impose import duties and taxes on products or services. Duties, specifically tariffs, are only levied on a few products, such as tobacco or high-proof alcohol (via HKETO Berlin).
In contrast, mainland China imposes a standard VAT rate of 13% on the sale of goods and import VAT (as of January 2025, via WKO). However, the amount of VAT typically depends on the type of service.
The tax difference between Hong Kong and China increasingly incentivizes smugglers to bring goods across the border without declaration, for example, to gain competitive advantages through lower prices.
What penalties do the perpetrators face? Individuals caught smuggling can expect severe penalties. In Hong Kong, fines of up to 2 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 250,000 euros) and prison sentences of up to seven years can be imposed. The seized goods are generally confiscated and destroyed or otherwise disposed of. This information can be clearly derived from the import and export legislation of Hong Kong (via Hong Kong e-Legislation). As is often the case, the severity of the penalty can vary significantly depending on the specifics or circumstances.
Monster Hunter Wilds is on the starting blocks and will be released worldwide on February 28, 2025: Humble Bundle is already sending you on a hunt in the predecessors for €24.09.
What kind of offer is this? On Humble Bundle, the New Year Hunting Collection is currently available in preparation for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds.In this collection, you will receive the full versions of the last two installments of the main series of Monster Hunter, including the deluxe upgrades and both DLCs.
From €9.62 – Monster Hunter Rise + Deluxe Kit
From €14.43 – Sunbreak DLC + Deluxe Kit
From €19.24 – Monster Hunter: World + Deluxe Kit
From €24.05 – Iceborne DLC + Deluxe Kit
The offer is valid until January 25, 2025.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: New Trailer Reveals Release Date
What is included in the DLCs and Deluxe Kits? Iceborne (World) and Sunbreak (Rise) offer new areas, a lot of monsters, weapon skills, new equipment, and fresh quests/events as well as a new story.
The Deluxe Kits only include cosmetic additional items such as hairstyles, face paint, armor sets for your hunters, Palico and Palamute (only Rise), as well as gestures and stickers for online mode.
The total price of all games and content amounts to about €150. Furthermore, there is already a 20% voucher for the spin-off games Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2 from the first price category.
Who is the bundle worth it for? Anyone looking forward to Monster Hunter Wilds and who has little to no experience with the franchise might find this deal definitely interesting. The base games alone offer over 500 hours of content according to howlongtobeat.com, and the DLCs expand the experience by hundreds more hours.
Experienced hunters will also get their money’s worth
Even those who have spent several hours in the games can use the two DLCs Iceborne and Sunbreak to bridge the waiting time until Wilds and will surely find a challenge in Master Rank.
If you already own something from the collection, you can alternatively currently put together a bundle of individual base games or DLCs on Fanatical.com.
Monster Hunter World already changed the formula of the earlier parts and created larger, freely explorable areas. Thus, World provides a good basis to engage with the fundamental game mechanics and the many weapons that will return in Wilds.
In Fortnite today, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the new update is activated. All information about Patch 33.20 can be found here.
Tuesday, 14.01.2025
12:21 PM
The downtime is over and you can log in again. However, there are still no patch notes available. If Epic Games provides these later, we will update our article.
12:16 PM
So far, there is no information on how much longer the downtime will be delayed. We are keeping an eye on it.
11:41 AM
King Kong is also supposed to be available as a skin. His files have been found and show his head and body:
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According to Shiina, the OG styles of Renegade Raider and Aerial Assault Trooper will be added today. These have returned so that players who missed them can earn them. However, only the original fans will receive the OG styles.
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You will slowly be kicked from the servers one by one so that the downtime can begin. An update cannot be downloaded yet.
09:33 AM
The player search is now gradually being disabled. The server shutdown will follow at 10:00 AM, so be ready.
What happens when the server is down? The servers are shut down. During this time, you cannot play Fortnite.
Server Down in Fortnite – from when? The servers will be shut down on January 14, 2025, at 10 AM. Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes prior (via x.com).
When can I play Fortnite again? That depends on the duration of the downtime. This is a somewhat larger patch after the long winter break. So expect that you will not be able to play for 1-3 hours.
When will patch notes be released? Epic Games only sporadically presents patch notes for updates and usually only after downtime. Once they are available, you will read them here.
Start video
Fortnite: Chapter 6 – Season 1 showcases its new skins and Godzilla in the gameplay trailer
Fortnite: Patch 33.20 – What do leakers say?
What can I expect with the upcoming update? The leaker Shiina has already made several guesses on X.com about what exactly could be in the update. You can expect the following things:
Godzilla is supposed to appear as an event on the map for you to defeat
Hatsune Miku is coming as a skin
Many instruments are supposed to soon be used as back accessories
First leaks about Season 2: OG
New shoes for your skins
King Kong is supposed to come to Fortnite
The “Ballistic” mode is supposed to receive an update
Possibly new information about Demon Slayer in Fortnite
We will accompany the start of the downtime and provide you with the most important information, so if you are excited about any leaks, make sure to stay tuned. Meanwhile, a player has reached level 10,000 in Chapter 6 Season 1 and the community is not celebrating it: Player reaches level 10,000 in Fortnite – Generally criticized
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A candidate goes to their job interview, but it is over after 5 minutes. Because they did not know that the evaluation began the moment they entered the company building.
A young man applied for a position at a company and showed up for the interview, but after 5 minutes it was already over. Because the HR manager did not like his behavior.
Start video
“We have created a monster” – A Spanish model earns up to 10,000 euros a month, yet she is not real
Candidate enters the office and behaves unfriendly right away
What was the problem? An employee from the company reports that the candidate showed up for the interview. But he was dismissive towards the receptionist and rejected contact with her. The receptionist tried to engage the candidate in conversation, but he showed no interest.
What the candidate did not know was that the “receptionist” was actually the HR manager, who was already assessing his skills. The employee explained on Reddit:
She called him back into the conference room and explained to him that every single person on our team is valuable and deserves respect. Due to his interaction with the “receptionist,” the HR manager felt that he did not fit into the company. Thank you for your time, but the conversation is over.
The first rule is therefore: Be nice to everyone in the building, no matter who you meet. Because all people in the company are equally valuable and deserve respect, even if they do not work on the executive floor.
Many people on Reddit agree and say: Kindness is really important in everyday life.
Among young people of Gen Z, a trend seems to be particularly popular: Job Ghosting. This is now shown by survey data from a platform that asked candidates and companies: 78% of all candidates are said to have intentionally ignored the employer: There is a popular trend among Gen Z: They do not show up for interviews
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of Ubisoft’s most important projects in recent years. After fans were unsettled by several delays, a developer speaks up on X.
What does the developer say about the game? Dan G, a Lead Animator at Ubisoft, commented on January 4, 2025, about a new teaser that shows a video of a meditation minigame from the new Assassin’s Creed Shadows:
I work for Ubisoft and … there are many of our own games that I do not play … we have free Ubisoft games on PC and 2 free ones on console per year … I can hardly wait for this one! A new era of Assassin’s Creed is dawning!
Several delays of the release, which according to the latest information is scheduled for March 20, 2025, have caused uncertainty among fans. In a statement Ubisoft justifies this decision by saying that these additional weeks are needed to ensure a more engaging gaming experience from day one.
This way, Ubisoft might want to avoid a similar situation to that of Star Wars Outlaws, which caused Ubisoft’s stock to drop by 13.5%. All the more pressure is now on the new Assassin’s Creed-project.
What does the future of the franchise look like? CEO Yves Guillemot says in an interview on the official studio site, that reinterpreted and modernized remakes of older Assassin’s Creed-games are in the works. He adds that the worlds in older games are still extremely rich.
Simultaneously with the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Animus Hub is expected to be launched, which will serve as a launch platform for all upcoming Ubisoft games in this series.
How is it going at Ubisoft? The studio has been under critical public scrutiny for a while. A report from an industry expert portrays Ubisoft’s current situation.
According to rumors, there are deeper structural and cultural problems within the company, and Ubisoft’s management suppresses critical analyses as they prefer new content over solving existing problems.
In Path of Exile 2, there is a wide variety of builds, skills, and classes that aim to allow every player to play the ARPG in their own way. A gamer has now taken this concept to the extreme.
What has the player achieved? Path of Exile 2 is considered a challenging ARPG. Some have already compared it to Dark Souls. Despite elaborate builds, valuable weapons, and sophisticated bonuses, adventurers often fail against bosses in the game. One even relies on damage as the best defense. Many gamers even resort to meta builds to successfully master their runs.
In stark contrast is Reddit user llnesisll. He has built a character that is completely different from all others. For fighting, the ranger only uses his fists, without any weapons or other active skills.
He shows how the fight looks on Reddit:
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What does the gamer’s build look like? Instead of dealing damage to enemies with skills or minions, a player faces his foes only with bare hands. Without active skills, without spirit gems, and without other buffs, he has defeated the campaign of Path of Exile 2.
However, he was not unskilled. In a longer video on YouTube, he shows his stats and the passive skill tree. When defeating the final boss, he had 78% fire resistance, 84% lightning resistance, 57% cold resistance, and 0% chaos resistance.
His character also has 1435 health points, 37 energy shield, 457 mana, and 100 will, which he does not use. Additionally, his ranger is equipped with 12% armor, 65% evasion, and 25% block chance.
As a class, he plays the ranger and focuses heavily on melee damage with the built-in jewels. He needs that to defeat the bosses and other enemies without any abilities.
To ensure that his punches deal the necessary damage, he has enhanced his fists with passive skills such as “Rage,” “Martial Tempo,” “Elemental Focus,” and “Close Combat.”
Here you can see the cinematic intro of Path of Exile 2:
Start video
Path of Exile 2: The Cinematic Intro of the Greatest Diablo Competitor
How does the community view the character? The player base of Path of Exile 2 is astonished on Reddit that llnesisll has made it so far with his ranger and was even able to defeat the campaign’s final boss. Comparisons to the famous One Punch Man are also mentioned on Reddit.
Without abilities, there is also no need for mana, which is why the fist fighter is still using the smallest mana flask from the beginning of the game. Soft_Relationship_23 also notes this on Reddit, writing: “Nice mana flask, brother.”
After eight years of development, the release of the mod “Classic Offensive” for CS:GO is blocked by Steam. The developers are unable to explain why it was suddenly rejected, as the project had previously been coordinated with Valve.
What kind of mod is this? “Classic Offensive” is an ambitious mod for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that aimed to bring back the classic gameplay experience of Counter-Strike 1.6 into the modern version of the game.
Since the beginning of development in 2016, the team worked on transferring the nostalgia of the early days with classic weapons, sounds, physics, and gameplay elements into the Source engine of CS:GO. The mod had been available on ModDB for years, receiving regular updates and support from the modding community.
Now, the finished mod was supposed to be released on Steam, but Valve put a stop to it.
Start video
Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer
Developers do not understand what is going on
Why did Steam stop the release? According to the developer team, they adhered to all legal requirements for using Valve’s Counter-Strike IP and submitted the final build for review on October 6, 2024, as stated in a statement on X.com.
Steamworks had previously required that the build must be finalized before a release could occur. However, instead of approval, the developers received only an automated message weeks later that the Steamworks app for the mod was “withdrawn” – without explanation.
“We do not understand what has happened,” the team explained in their statement. Since the end of 2020, the developers stated there had been no communication with Valve, despite many employees of the company being informed about the project.
What are the next steps for the mod? In the statement, the team expresses disappointment over the sudden rejection and warns other modding teams working on projects related to Valve’s games.
“We feel compelled to advise other modding teams that rely solely on Steam as a release platform to reconsider their strategies,” the team writes. They believe that other projects could also face similar fates, if Valve decides to block them.
Nevertheless, there remains hope to find a solution through further attempts to contact Valve or other companies in the Counter-Strike environment to finally publish “Classic Offensive”.
The reactions of the gaming community to the blocked release of the Counter-Strike mod are mixed. While many players are disappointed as they had been looking forward to the mod, there are also critical voices (via X.com). Some players argue that the developer team should have anticipated a rejection from Valve and that the team might have been better off developing an independent game.
If you want to duel with other players in Pokémon TCG Pocket, you need to follow certain rules. One player has learned the hard way that there is a specific mistake he must not make.
What mistake is it? To retreat your Pokémon from the active position back to the bench, you must pay the retreat cost. This is a mechanic that also exists in the physical version of the Pokémon trading card game.
The costs are shown on the cards in the lower right corner. With cards like X-Initiative and Leaf, it is possible to minimize the retreat costs.
However, there is a limit to how many times you can retreat your Pokémon, even if you can pay all the costs. In the Reddit forum, some players warn to keep this rule in mind.
Do you already know what the mysterious Promo A 008 is about?
Start video
Pokémon TCG Pocket: Promo A 008 – What is behind the missing card?
Retreating Pokémon is only possible to a limited extent
Why do players warn about this? User Demisanguine writes on Reddit about what happened to him. He wanted to send a card with X-Initiative to the bench, only to retreat the subsequent Pokémon. This makes sense, for example, if you want to use an ability of a Pokémon that only works in the active position.
However, the player then realized that he could not swap his Pokémon back from the bench. It is only possible to send a Pokémon from the active position back to the bench once per turn. As a result, he was unable to use his attack and lost the match, which he was even close to winning.
Some players may not even know that this rule exists. Therefore, the user hopes to prevent other collectors from making this awkward mistake.
What do others say about it? Several users even mention possibilities for how it is still possible to make more than one swap. This can be used to get rid of poison, for example:
You can use a fossil for trading, which can become Aerodactyl-ex. This can heal poison.
In the past, it would have even been possible to swap Pokémon infinitely. User Azureblue9 explains that this was the case in the trading card game for Game Boy Color. But with the modern adaptation, the developers probably want to prevent duels from dragging on too long.
The conclusion is: When planning your tactics, remember that you can only swap once per turn!
It probably won’t be long before new cards are introduced in Pokémon TCG Pocket that also have to adhere to this rule. However, there may be some that expand this rule. When the new set comes out, you’ll find out here: Pokémon TCG Pocket Next Set: Info & Leaks on the Release of the New Cards
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pokémon GO brings the next Gigantamax Pokémon. The monster crab Kingler challenges trainers. And they know: This won’t be easy again.
When does Gigantamax Kingler appear? Gigantamax Kingler appears on February 1, 2025, between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. During this time, his own event is taking place: the Dyna Battle Day.
During this time, it appears in level 6 Dyna battles. The following bonuses are available:
You can collect up to 1,600 Dyna particles, the limit is increased
Giga Kingler appears at all power sources in the game
Power sources are renewed more frequently, so more battles are possible
You get eight times the amount of Dyna particles at power sources
Additionally, you receive double Dyna particles from walking (from 12:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
You only need a quarter of the walking distance to receive Dyna particles (also from 12:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
But one thing is clear: Getting the Pokémon will be difficult despite all the bonuses.
Start video
Dynamax in Pokémon Go – How to participate in the gigantic battles
How difficult the Dyna Battle Day with Kingler in Pokémon GO will be
What kind of Pokémon is Gigantamax Kingler? The Gigantamax form of Kingler transforms the monster into a gigantic crab, which is also notable for its long beard. The Pokédex states that Giga Kingler crushes everything with its left claw and emits alkaline bubbles that have a corrosive effect.
In Pokémon GO, Kingler is one of the strongest water attackers overall. Its Gigantamax form is expected to be a top monster, at least for the time being, as it will become the most powerful water attacker for Dynamax battles.
In past Gigantamax days, Niantic mentioned that you would need 10 to 40 trainers to defeat the beasts. Experience shows that about 20 trainers are needed onboard to succeed in the battle – at least if you have the right counters and tactics.
This also means: Many trainers, who lack a suitable community in their area, will have problems successfully tackling Gigantamax battles. Trainers in the Reddit community for Pokémon GO also point this out:
“Oh yay -,- . every rural player,” comments user Clarkt01 (via reddit).
“Don’t worry, we feel the same way in big cities,” replies user littlebenoit (via reddit).
“My community simply doesn’t care. We are a small town, but we have a dozen players + an active Discord. I’m lucky if I can do a Dynamax Frigometri battle. This GMax just doesn’t happen for us,” says user CastelofWamdue (via reddit).
What Pokémon to use against Gigantamax Kingler? The best counters are likely to be Dynamax Gortrom, (Giga)dynamax Riffex, and Dynamax Bisaflor. The soon-to-be-released Dynamax Zapdos should also be an option.
How difficult Giga Kingler will be this time remains to be seen. However, Niantic has clarified in the past that these battles are meant to be the toughest challenge in the game. Accordingly, one should not expect them to get easier. MeinMMO author Paul Kutzner also had his difficulties with Gigantamax in Pokémon GO – his assessment can be read here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Without a graphics card, you can’t really play. But there has long been a debate over one aspect: How much video memory do you need if you want to play reasonably well? MeinMMO has tested several games for you.
[toc]
If you want to buy a graphics card, you can choose either AMD, Intel, or Nvidia. But especially one aspect regularly occupies many players, and that is the video memory of the graphics card. Can you still play with 8 GB of video memory without issues today, or will I have no chance in 2025 or at the latest 2026?
What is video memory? Video memory is a component on your graphics card. Video memory, or VRAM, is soldered onto the GPU and cannot be removed.
Why is video memory important for gaming? Video memory is responsible for various tasks. The VRAM stores textures, shaders, and other graphic data that you need for gaming. The rest of the graphics card can then access the data stored in VRAM.
What happens if the VRAM is too small? If the video memory is too small, it eventually becomes full. Then you may experience crashes or graphical artifacts and severe stuttering when the graphics card deletes old data to load new, necessary data.
What can be done about it? Lower the graphics settings. If you reduce the settings, your graphics card has to load fewer data into memory. This also prevents “overflow.” Alternatively, you can reduce the screen resolution.
Start video
Battlemage: Check out Intel’s new graphics cards in the video
Video memory in practice: How much is needed?
The German magazine ComputerBase conducted a test with the shooter “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” and found that 8 GB of video memory is no longer sufficient. Many additional features such as ray tracing and DLSS also require graphics card memory. Only with 12 GB does the game run quite well, but not without issues.
We tested 10 PC games ourselves using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32 GB RAM, and a Radeon RX 6700 XT, which has 12 GB of video memory. A second test was conducted with a Radeon RX 6600 (8 GB GDDR6). The corresponding data can be found in the following table:
Game
VRAM Usage
Game Settings
Anno 1800
5.4 GB
Full HD, high details
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
8.1 GB
Full HD, medium details
Cyberpunk 2077
7.3 GB (7.9 GB)
Full HD at medium quality, (Ultra)
Forza Motorsport
5.6 GB
Full HD, medium quality
Civilization 6
7.8 GB
Full HD, maximum quality
Enshrouded
8.8 GB – 9.3 GB
Full HD, maximum details, 100% rendering, FSR 3.0 (Balanced)
My Time at Sandrock
7 GB
Full HD, high details
The Division 2
7.1 GB
Full HD, high details
Forza Horizon 5
10.6 GB
Full HD, high details
Dragons Dogma 2
10.1 GB
Full HD, high details, ray tracing
It can be seen that many games already require a lot of video memory. The general problem, however, is that not every game requires the same amount of VRAM: A game like Anno 1800 needs rather little memory, while Diablo 4 caused a “memory leak” which filled the graphics card’s memory to the maximum without compromise and then caused crashes.
However, it can generally be stated that 8 GB of video memory is now considered tight in 2025. Even in Full HD, where 8 GB long stood as a recommendation. This is primarily because features like DLSS, FSR, and ray tracing often require a lot of video memory.
How much video memory should there be in 2025? Basically, this depends on two factors: First, which games you want to play with your computer, and second, what resolution you are using. In general, the rule is: The higher the resolution, the larger the video memory should be. The most common gaming resolutions are Full HD, WQHD, and 4K. Besides that, there are also UWQHD and 8K, but these are less commonly encountered.
If you want to play modern or demanding PC titles and not limit yourself to older titles, we recommend the following values to ensure you are future-proof:
Full HD: At least 12 GB of video memory
WQHD: 16 GB of video memory or more
4K: 20 GB of video memory or more
But keep in mind: If you plan to switch from Full HD to a WQHD monitor in the future, you should already anticipate needing a faster graphics card now. Otherwise, you will have to buy not only a new monitor later but also a new GPU. More and more users are now playing in WQHD or higher resolutions.
Which graphics cards could be tight? Both the RTX 4060 and the Ti variant from Nvidia as well as the Radeon RX 7600 from AMD rely on “only” 8 GB of video memory. For some games, that is still sufficient today, but in the future, it may become tight.
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Which graphics cards are recommended? With the RTX 4070 and the RX 7700 XT, you are better positioned. Both graphics cards are equipped with 12 GB of video memory, making you better prepared for the future.
8 GB of video memory is sufficient for older titles and partially for Full HD
For which games is 8 GB sufficient? 8 GB is particularly sufficient for many games in Full HD, especially if you prefer to play older titles. Games like the MMORPG “Star Wars: The Old Republic” do not require a high-end graphics card with a lot of video memory.
Even new titles can be played with 8 GB. This means that 8 GB is still sufficient in 2025, but it is not future-proof. You should be prepared to reduce graphics settings. Specifically, you will need to reduce textures and shadows, or in some cases lower the resolution.
AMD or Nvidia: You are considering buying a graphics card but don’t know whether you should buy a graphics card from AMD or Nvidia? On MeinMMO, we explain the similarities and differences and tell you what to consider when buying a GPU: How important is it to me whether I buy an AMD or Nvidia graphics card?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Throughout Dragon Ball, Son-Goku can transform into several forms of Super Saiyan. In one movie, there is even a very special form that has never been seen again afterward. There is a good reason for this.
Where did the form appear? The special Super Saiyan was seen in the fourth Dragon Ball movie, originally titled Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug. The German title Dragon Ball Z – The Movie: Super-Saiyajin Son-Goku already reveals that this is about the new form.
Goku fights against the villain Lord Slug here and initially stands no chance against him. In a moment of anger, he suddenly transforms into a kind of Super Saiyan that had never been seen up to that point.
The first time Son-Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan is in the fight against Freezer. The plot of the movie is supposed to take place before that.
The Z in Dragon Ball Z is no coincidence:
Start video
Dragon Ball: This is what the Z in the title stands for
Son-Goku transforms into a special Super Saiyan
What kind of form was that? Goku’s hair stands up like a true Super Saiyan, and he receives a yellow aura. However, the blonde hair and green pupils are absent. Instead, the hair gets a reddish tint from the aura, and the pupils completely disappear.
The false Super Saiyan also differs in power level. Goku gains strength and is able to challenge Lord Slug for a while. But compared to the true Super Saiyan, he falls short in terms of strength.
Son-Goku does not have full control over this form. It seems as if he is not fully aware when he becomes the pseudo-Super Saiyan. Moreover, he is unable to defeat Lord Slug in that form. If you want to see the form for yourself, you can do so in a YouTube video by user RinneyUploadz1.
Why was it only seen once? The fourth Dragon Ball movie Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug was released in 1991. Just 10 days later, the real Super Saiyan was revealed in the manga, this time with blonde hair. The reason for this is time savings.
The false Super Saiyan was therefore something like a teaser for the real, optimized Super Saiyan. That’s why it only appears once in the movie. There are further hints in other movies about the form, but it is never shown in all its glory there.
A player orders a new graphics card on Amazon, but instead of the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, he receives a completely different GPU – an outdated 7770 HD. This is a big problem at Amazon and other retailers who have to deal with scammers. Anyone who orders a graphics card for their gaming PC expects the correct delivery. But what happens when a completely wrong GPU arrives instead? Exactly that happened to a player who ordered an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on Amazon but instead received a Sapphire 7770 HD. The received graphics card is significantly weaker than the purchased model.
The user shared his disappointment on Reddit and wrote: “I can’t believe this happened to me” and posted a picture of the wrong graphics card he received. The buyer returned the wrong card but remains frustrated as he now has to wait for the correct delivery and has lost a lot of time.
What is the problem? There is always the issue with retailers that players order products but receive the wrong ones: In this case, another buyer might have swapped the original for a cheaper alternative, or the seller himself packed a counterfeit in the box. Such cases happen repeatedly and are hard to prevent. Other players report similar experiences.
The received graphics card is over 12 years old
What happened to the user? The buyer had ordered an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT. This card is among the best cards from AMD and is known for its excellent performance in gaming at WQHD resolution (1440p). It offers 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and very strong performance for modern games. The price for this card is around 500 Euros, with special versions like the “Sakura Edition” potentially being more expensive (via idealo.de).
In comparison, the buyer received a Sapphire Radeon HD 7770, a card introduced in 2012. It is hardly sufficient for modern games with only 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. It is also too weak for current games, as limited performance and low video memory (VRAM) make it inadequate for contemporary applications. The price of this card is under 50 Euros on the used market (via ebay.de).
The two graphics cards differ enormously in their performance – one could say that regarding gaming performance, they represent two completely different worlds.
Check out the brilliant Collector’s Edition of the NVIDIA TITAN Xp in Star Wars style in the video
The community reacts with understanding and humor
Some Reddit users responded in the comments with understanding and immediately recommended contacting customer service if the card was no longer available. Some found the incident amusing and joked that it was a “free upgrade,” as he now received a better model.
Others emphasized the importance of always recording a video when unpacking expensive electronics like graphics cards to have proof in case of disputes. And especially to show that one did not quickly swap the graphics card themselves.
If you receive a wrong graphics card, you should act quickly
Better safe than sorry: Check if it’s a mistake or possibly an attempt at fraud. Be generally cautious with very cheap offers and keep an eye out to ensure you are buying from trustworthy sellers.
Stay calm and act quickly: Contact the relevant customer service immediately and explain that it is a misdelivery. In most cases, Amazon will offer a refund or exchange.
Secure evidence: It is advisable to make a video when unpacking expensive electronics to have proof in case of doubt. In addition, you can take photos of the received goods to be sure.
Check the seller: Pay attention to whether the item is sold directly by Amazon or by a third party. Returns and complaints can be more complicated with third-party sellers.
At the torment levels, you will receive the quest “Echo of Hatred” in Diablo 4where you must face a tough boss. How to defeat the Echo of Lilith and how to find the dungeon, you can learn here at MeinMMO.
What is the quest about? With the unlocking of torment level 1, you will receive the quest “Echo of Hatred.” You need to find the Echo of Hatred, as “Lilith’s presence still echoes in your mind” after you have completed the main story of Diablo 4.
However, simply entering the dungeon is enough to complete the quest “Echo of Hatred.” If you do not defeat the Echo of Lilith, the quest is still considered complete.
Update, January 14, 2025: The article has been revised and updated.
What kind of boss fight is this? This is the boss fight against Lilith. However, this is not the Lilith from the campaign, but her echo. In this version, Lilith is quite a tough nut to crack, and there are a few things to consider in order to defeat her.
Where can I find the Echo of Lilith? You can find the Echo of Lilith at the torment levels in the final dungeon “Echo of Hatred” at the waypoint “Nevesk,” southwest of Kyovashad. The level of Lilith corresponds to the torment level you are currently in.
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Echo of Lilith – Attacks and Abilities
The Echo of Lilith has two phases – Embodied Hatred and Mother of Humanity. Additionally, she has two types of attacks that can literally make your life hell: normal attacks and attacks that can one-shot you, killing you with a single hit.
Phase 1 – Embodied Hatred
In the first phase, there is a bloody circle on the ground that spatially restricts the combat area. Make sure not to step out of the circle while dodging, as you could die if you do.
Lilith attacks you with blood orbs and a melee attack using her wings. She also spawns a type of “fire lines” on the ground when she still has more than 70% health. Throughout the fight, Lilith spawns a wave of spikes that can deal deadly damage.
After that, Lilith flies up, and markers appear on the ground. Lilith’s shadow clones jump into the areas and release waves of spikes again. Lilith herself comes back down and spawns a fourth wave of spikes.
In the second phase, Lilith causes blood bubbles to spawn that can slow you down and make you vulnerable. During certain attacks in this phase, blood bubbles create deadly red souls that can chase you. Similar to the first phase, Lilith also performs a melee attack here, but this time with her tail.
Lilith flies back into the air, pulling all enemies together and slowing them for 3 seconds. She spawns ghouls that attack you. After a delay of 2 seconds, Lilith slams down to the ground, creating deadly damage in a large circle.
Afterward, Lilith knocks you back and attacks you with area damage from three lines, in the shape of a trident, dealing heavy damage. She performs this attack again, after which a shadow clone performs the same. This is followed by a shadow explosion on the ground that deals deadly damage.
Lilith then flies high and leaves the combat area. Upon her return, she covers the ground with a thick layer of cursed blood. After a delay of 3 seconds, the blood ignites, dealing deadly damage for 2 seconds to all enemies trapped in it.
If Lilith’s health falls below 85%, she tears off a part of the platform you are standing on with her wings. After 6 seconds, the severed section plummets into the abyss and instantly kills all players standing on it. As the platform collapses and for 2 seconds afterward, deadly red souls chase you again.
After that, Lilith tears off a second part of the platform, teleports to the center, and uses a ground slam. When Lilith’s health drops below 30%, she will destroy the final corner of the platform. This phase is particularly challenging for survival, as the combat area is very small and you have little room to dodge Lilith’s attacks and the red souls that are chasing you.
For completing the dungeon “Echo of Hatred,” you receive very little loot – but player titles and a mount.
Movement speed is very important here, especially to escape attacks quickly. Boots with multiple charges for escape are also helpful to dodge more often.
If your class allows it, add mobility skills like teleport or dash to your bar and a skill that makes you immune – like blood mist (Necro) or flame shield (sorcerer).
You can either dodge the spike waves, make yourself immune, or position yourself behind Lilith if her position allows it.
To avoid the “trident” lines, move away from Lilith and run in a large circle. The middle prong is always directed straight at you, so move sideways. To avoid running into one of the side prongs, you must be far enough from Lilith.
If Lilith’s health falls below 70% (below 40%), she will summon 2 (3) enemies that will attack you. These deal very little damage, so be sure to dodge Lilith’s aerial attacks while taking out the enemies. Stay at the edge of the arena and let them come to you.
After the third platform destruction, it becomes extremely difficult to stay alive and deal damage, as the combat area becomes smaller and more dangerous. Try to stagger Lilith with crowd-control skills and then deal as much damage as possible to shorten this phase of the fight or to kill her. With this strategy, one player defeated Lilith – but they had to switch their gear mid-fight.
Staggering Lilith allows you to deal uninterrupted damage for 5 seconds – visible in the blue bar under her health. If you stagger her before her health drops below 70% and kill her before the end of the stagger, you will skip the most difficult parts of the first phase.
If you die often in the fight, teleport between battles to a city to repair your damaged equipment.
What rewards can I expect? If you defeat the Echo of Lilith, you will receive a bit of loot (in our case, it was 2 Legendaries), the mount “Blood-soaked Steed,” achievements, and a player title. The last two rewards depend on whether you defeated Lilith solo or in a group, as you can see from the 3rd screenshot:
When you defeat the Echo of Lilith, you get a mount.The mount “Blood-soaked Steed” as a reward for defeating Lilith.Player title “Glass Leader of the Bands” for defeating Lilith in a group.
If you want to try out some builds, we have created a current tier list in Diablo 4. There we show you which classes and builds are the strongest in the endgame, including a brief description of what the builds can do and what makes them good: Diablo 4 Tier List: The Builds in Endgame in German
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Meridian 59 catapulted the MMORPG genre into the 3D age in 1996. Now the developer who kept the game running solo since 2000 has spoken out.
For the feature image, we use a stock image.
Who is this developer? Behind the Reddit user DAT_DROP is GuardianKana, or Gilroy, who announced in a letter to the community on January 7, 2000 (just over 25 years ago) that the last patch for Meridian 56 had gone live (via gilcon.net).
On the community platform, the developer explained that they handed over the moderation of the MMORPG to the players that day and reduced the team behind the game to just one person – himself.
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The Fate of a Pioneer
It was a different time: In the letter to the community, Gilroy wrote at the time:
We all know that Meridian 59 has been around for over 3 years, and many people say it has long has its best times behind it. Think of the games you play today… How many of them were there in 1996? Not many, I would bet.
It is due to the unique community that has grown here, and especially because of you! Each of you is part of a larger, greater whole that was inconceivable just ten years ago. You are all pioneers in a frontier land, and in decades you will be able to tell your children how you played the very first 3D online role-playing game of all time, Meridian 59, what friends you had, and what battles you fought.
When Meridian 59 was released in 1996, it was the first MMORPG with 3D graphics and thus a trailblazer and important pioneer for the entire genre. A few hundred players fit into every version of the game world at that time.
The technological advancement that developers achieved with games in the 90s and early 2000s was so comprehensive that games seemed to become outdated much faster than they do today. When Gilroy wrote the letter to the Meridian 59 community, there were already Ultima Online, Phantasy Star Online, and EverQuest.
How does the community react to the nostalgic post? With over 5,300 upvotes and 146 comments, many players celebrate the journey back to the beginnings of 3D MMORPGs.
Vakhir writes on Reddit: “Absolute legends trying to keep the lights on as long as possible. Thank you for the help with everything.”
TommyEarsPizza remembers on Reddit: “I was one of the beta testers for this game. They printed the names of all testers in the back of the manual. As a kid, I thought it was the most incredible thing ever. I thought I was a celebrity because my name was printed there.”
Osleg was a fan (via Reddit): “Oh, the countless hours spent there! It was THE game at the time.”
