Palworld is currently facing a lawsuit from Nintendo. However, this does not affect the success of the game, especially in Japan.
How is Palworld doing? Since the release of Palworld in January 2024, it seemed for a long time that Nintendo and the Pokémon Company would refrain from legal action due to patent infringement.
Nintendo is demanding, among other things, compensation of 10 million yen. This is approximately 61,000 euros. The developers of Palworld, Pocketpair, have already responded to the announcement of the lawsuit – they want to stick with Palworld.
Only a few days later, the PS5 version of the game was released on September 25, 2024. In Japan, console players had to wait a little longer, until October 4. But the wait was worth it.
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Nintendo files lawsuit against Palworld creators!
Palworld reaches the winner’s podium
How is Palworld selling in Japan? Especially in the country where Pokémon originates, Palworld is currently celebrating great success. The PS5 version quickly became a hit and is according to PlayStation the most downloaded game in October.
In other countries like the USA, it at least reached the 10th place, and in Europe it reached 9th place (via blog.de.playstation.com)
By comparison: Other top titles like Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, which is traditionally very popular in Japan, is being pushed down by Palworld and only lands in “2nd place”. Followed by Metaphor: ReFantazio and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in 3rd and 4th places.
Currently, players worldwide do not seem to be bothered by Nintendo’s lawsuit. If the company wins in court, it could be that Pocketpair has to change their game or even take it off the market to no longer infringe on patents. We wanted to know earlier this year: Could Nintendo successfully sue the Steam hit Palword? – We ask a lawyer
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
CoD: Black Ops 6 is the latest installment of the well-known shooter series and the first to be available directly at launch on Game Pass. One might naturally wonder whether this helps or harms the game. A gaming analyst now explains whether the subscription had an impact.
What is it about? On October 25, 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was released and many fans of the series viewed it as a step in the right direction. This time, the game was also released directly at launch on Game Pass. Users of the Microsoft subscription could play the game on PC and Xbox without any additional costs.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows its new multiplayer in the trailer
It depends
Who is the analyst? Matt Piscatella is a gaming analyst with extensive industry experience. He has worked for companies such as Warner Bros. Games and Activision Blizzard. His specialty is business analysis in the gaming industry.
On Bluesky, Piscatella has now commented on Black Ops 6 and the influence of Game Pass. After 2 weeks, he concludes that Game Pass had no negative impact on Black Ops. But also no positive impact. The numbers for Black Ops 6 seem to be quite good:
The engagement of Call of Duty after the release of Black Ops 6 can only be described with the term ‘crazy’. […] The sales figures for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (excluding subscriptions and additional content) are also doing very well.
Matt Piscatella on CoD: Black Ops 6
However, he makes it clear that Black Ops 6 is not a general example of the influence of Game Pass. Regarding the possible influence of Game Pass on other games, he says: It depends.
He states that the debate about the influence of Game Pass has never been settled, as it depends on the respective games. Sometimes the subscription helps a game to go viral, but sometimes it can also harm the game.
Arcane Season 2 is, like the first season, packed with many hidden details and Easter eggs that can be seen in the background. We present to you 5 hidden details that only fans of League of Legends will understand.
Attention Spoiler: The following article discusses events from the first 3 episodes of Arcane Season 2.
Arcane is a series that can also be enjoyed by people who have never played League of Legends. This is due to the focused story and well-developed characters. However, fans of League of Legends can discover some details.
This includes the Black Rose, which we have explained in detail in another article. If you know your way around the Summoner’s Rift, you will recognize details that you know from the game. We will show you what we were able to discover in the first three episodes of the 2nd season.
A trailer for Arcane Season 2:
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Arcane Season 2 Trailer – Nothing to Lose
1. Junglers Will Feel at Home
The jungle is a role in League of Legends where you do not roam the lanes but take down monsters in between. Jungle enthusiasts will recognize a familiar monster in the series. At the end of the first episode of the new season, we see Singed in a snow-covered forest.
There, he captures a two-headed wolf with his gas, which he later uses for experiments. You can see this wolf in every LoL match. It is alongside the Blue Buff on one side and is part of a so-called jungle camp. It is accompanied by two small wolves that you must take down as a jungler to earn gold and experience.
Another jungle monster is also mentioned. In the English original, Heimerdinger talks about the Bramblebacks. That is the name for the Red Buff.
2. Items from the Game in the Series
The most important tool for builds in the various LoL matches are items. You buy them not only to get stronger and defeat opponents but also to defend yourself. This is also what Ambessa and her soldiers do, as can be seen in the third episode of Arcane Season 2.
While Ambessa is visited by Amara, you can see how Ambessa’s right hand places runes on an axe. These runes represent the relatively new item Kaenic Rookern. The item was not chosen randomly. It is a powerful magic resistance item that can protect you from magical damage with a shield.
Ambessa needs that, as her enemy is the Black Rose, who specializes in magic. The power of this magic is clearly visible in episode 3.
You might also suspect that the chainsaw used by the Zhaun fighter in episode 1 is the item Chempunk Chainsword. The green icon in the game at least reminds of it. The masks of the large Zhaun opponents also resemble an item: Turbo Chemtank. This item was particularly popular among large tanks.
3. Did Caitlyn Miss or Not?
One of the biggest discussion points is whether Caitlyn missed Jinx in episode 3 or if Vi blocked the shot. In episode 1 and the previous season, you see Caitlyn’s excellent precision. She hits the smallest targets from afar. She stays calm and even hits perfectly in a hectic battle.
This is also reflected in her ultimate. She crouches briefly, and her shot is guaranteed to hit a target. The only way to block it is if someone steps in the way. However, at the climax of episode 3, Vi blocks the shot aimed at Jinx.
In the details, it can be seen that she did not actually use her Ultimate. As @skyllianhamster explains on x.com, it’s clear that Caitlyn is not focused. Unlike in the ultimate animation, she is not preparing.
If you look at the scope, you can see how Caitlyn could have hit Jinx. Because Vi did not deflect the shot with a move, Caitlyn accidentally hit Vi.
The champion Janna is a popular support in League of Legends, devoted mostly to healing and saving. Janna is also one of the 2 hidden champions in Season 2. In episode 3, Jinx mentions a myth about the goddess Janna who saved miners from death.
Her ultimate fits perfectly with this. With it, she creates a large gust of wind that knocks back enemies and heals allies. She can provide control in a hectic team fight.
If we assume that the workers in the myth were running out of air because they were buried, then Janna’s knocking back enemies fits perfectly, as this ability could also help to clear mines.
5. Heimerdinger’s Hated Towers
Heimerdinger is one of the funniest side characters from Arcane and a true veteran in League of Legends. The brilliant scientist is mainly known for his annoying turrets, which are difficult to deal with in the game.
One of these turrets can also be found in the second episode of Arcane Season 2. When Heimerdinger and Ekko are talking at the holy tree in Zhaun, you can see an invention that the children are playing with. This is Heimerdinger’s turret, although this time it’s in a peaceful version with soap bubbles.
Even before World of Warcraft there were successful MMORPGs. Some of the best representatives from earlier times we have gathered here for you.
World of Warcraft has shaped the MMORPG market like hardly any other game ever has. But even before WoW, there were successful MMORPGs. Some of the most successful MMORPGs we have compiled for you in this list.
Many of the games are still online today. They owe this primarily to their loyal communities, who continue to play the MMORPGs and thus ensure the preservation of the games.
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Ultima Online
Release: September 30, 1997 | Platform: PC | Setting: medieval fantasy | Developer, Publisher: Broadsword, Electronic Arts | Here’s the official website of Ultima Online
Ultima Online had a significant influence on the MMORPGs as we know them today. Many of the systems that we absolutely want in our games today originate from this MMORPG, for example, housing.
The ISO-MMORPG has received numerous content expansions and updates since its release and is still playable today. Since 2014, Ultima Online has been operated by Broadsword Games, who are now also the operators of Star Wars: The Old Republic.
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Ultima Online: Trailer introduces new legacy server of the cult MMORPG
Even in 2024, something is still happening with the MMORPG. Just this year, the new legacy servers were released, which are intended to bring back the classic RPG aspects of the game to players. They are perfect for once again falling into nostalgia.
Star Wars Galaxies
Release: March 16, 1999 | Platform: PC, macOS | Setting: Fantasy | Developer, Publisher: Verant Interactive, LucasArts, Sony Online Entertainment
Star Wars Galaxies is the very first “Star Wars” MMORPG in history and thus the early predecessor of the still successful Star Wars: The Old Republic. The MMORPG takes place shortly after Episode Four of Star Wars, A New Hope, and offered players various classes to choose from. However, it was very difficult to become a Jedi at first.
Later on, players could immediately become a Jedi at the start, which displeased many players. After many updates, players lost interest in the game and in 2011, a week before the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the MMORPG was shut down.
Continue on the next page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new video about World of Warcraft fuels the nostalgia of the fans. It’s been well received for a long time.
World of Warcraft is celebrating its 20th birthday and this attracts many old players who are once again engaging with the MMORPG. To honor the event, Blizzard released a video titled “20 Years of Azeroth’s Greatest Adventures” – and hits the nerve it intended to strike.
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WoW celebrates 20 years of the highlights of Azeroth
What does the video show? It features some of the most iconic moments in the history of World of Warcraft. These are moments that have particularly stuck in the minds of players or have significantly shaped the fate of Azeroth. Among them are:
The beginnings of every hero in the starting areas.
The battle against Ragnaros in the Molten Core.
The battle against the Old God C’thun.
The opening of the Dark Portal at the start of “The Burning Crusade”.
The whole conflict surrounding Illidan in the shattered world.
The Lich King in Northrend and the final battle against him, as he wants to turn the players into undead slaves.
The other expansions are all dealt with much more quickly as one approaches modern times. While the battle against Deathwing (Cataclysm) is fully shown, the “Shadowlands” expansion is reduced to two seconds of battle against the Jailer. Only Dragonflight is shown a bit longer afterwards.
Clearly – Blizzard wants to capitalize on nostalgia here, and it seems to be succeeding with the video.
This is how the community reacts: The reactions under the video on YouTube are positive. Most enjoy the nostalgia and are happy to be part of this journey, which has lasted for many for 20 years – and hopefully has no end in sight. Some of the comments:
“The moment when Tirion Fordring is smashed with the Ashbringer will always be epic for me.” – Sebalarios
“There is no place as beautiful as home. Here’s to another 20 years.” – rowrowfightthepower9
“So this is what it feels like when life flashes before your eyes.” – l47l
“I am so proud to have been part of this great story. Thank you, Blizzard.” – SwineeTTV
What is special about it? When the YouTube channel of World of Warcraft uploads new videos, there are usually many discussions in the comments. The distribution of “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” is often mixed. However, this video is different; it seems to be very well received by almost everyone. At the current time, there are about 14,000 upvotes and only around 200 downvotes – so just over 1%.
Clearly, Blizzard wants to ride this wave of nostalgia for a while longer; after all, they are currently celebrating not only the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft but also the 30th anniversary of the entire Warcraft franchise. New information will be available tomorrow, as the Warcraft Direct takes place then and promises some “special” announcements.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Overwatch 2 turns back time and restores the original game – at least for a few days.
The story around Overwatch 2 is getting stranger – even if many can hardly imagine it. The once-popular game from Blizzard is now taking a step back and giving the fans exactly what they want: Overwatch Classic.
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Overwatch 2 Brings Overwatch Classic – as if Part 2 Never Existed
What’s going on with Overwatch 2? Overwatch 2 has faced criticism since its release. Not only has the completely canceled PvE mode never appeared, but many are also struggling with the new “5vs5” format. Especially tanks are dissatisfied, as they bear a special burden – so much so that many have completely lost the fun of it.
What kind of mode is coming now? Today, the game mode “Overwatch Classic” launches in Overwatch 2 and aims to provide – as the name suggests – the classic Overwatch experience. This means that only the original heroes from Overwatch 1 will be playable in a “6vs6 format”. Those who wish can therefore go into battle with 2 tanks. Alternatively, you can also revive the “good old days” and head into battle with 6 Torbjörns, who together with their turrets will create plenty of chaos.
The mode will be active for 3 weeks, until early December.
Community amused: From the outside, it looks rather funny, if not absurd. Our colleague Maurice Weber from GameStar also thinks so, who wrote on X:
Many, however, are pleased with the announcement. Reviving the old Overwatch is seen as a good thing. Unfortunately, it is only a temporary mode.
Is this really bad? Of course, it is quite ironic that Blizzard is now essentially bringing Overwatch 1 into Overwatch 2. However, this is exactly what a large part of the community has demanded.
Whether the mode is good enough to eventually become a permanent game mode or even entirely replace the “new” system of Overwatch 2 remains to be seen. So far, it seems to be a step in the right direction – even if that direction is the past. Originally, Overwatch was supposed to be Titan – and that led to many problems.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Although a character appears in the anime of One Piece in over 80 episodes, he is mostly seen in the background. By now, the character has become a running gag, appearing even in some movies and intros.
What kind of character is he? In One Piece, there is often a character who has a human body and a panda head. This is Pandaman. Although Pandaman has not uttered a single word, he has a backstory.
Pandaman is a wrestler. He is often beaten up by others because he claims to have seen Princess Kaguya. Therefore, he wants to become a villain. The character was born in Tibet and abandoned as a baby in a bamboo grove. He was raised there by living pandas.
So, where can Pandaman be seen?
Pandaman has not paid his debts to another side character named Tomato Gang, which is why he is constantly being chased by him. To collect the debts, Tomato Gang hired the character Unforgivable Mask, a rival of Pandaman. The panda man also has a female counterpart named Pandawomanmi, whom he loves.
Pandaman even has an astonishing bounty of 3,333,333 Berry. This is probably because he has debts to Tomato Gang. Unfortunately, his story is not told in the anime but rather by the author himself in Q&A sessions with fans.
Pandaman even appears in the latest One Piece movie:
Start video
One Piece Film: Red – The Official Trailer for the Anime Film in English
Pandaman is frequently seen, but only for a short time
Where does he appear? Pandaman has several appearances, not only in the anime.
In the manga, he appears at least once in every volume starting from volume 5.
In the anime, he is seen in over 80 episodes.
Pandaman also appears in 2 intros.
Even in the live-action adaptation, he is seen once as a bush and once in the book Noland.
Additionally, there are more spin-offs and video games in which he is featured. Presumably, Pandaman will continue to be a fixed part of One Piece in the future. However, it is questionable whether he will intervene in the story by the grand finale.
The roadmap of Throne and Liberty shows that the Tier 2 dungeons will not be long in coming. MeinMMO reveals what is currently known and how you can prepare for it.
When will the Tier 2 dungeons be released? According to the roadmap of Throne and Liberty, the Tier 2 dungeons are expected to be introduced in November. While the exact date has not yet been established, it will likely depend on the players’ progress.
However, the two-star coop dungeons will differ from the Korean version. MeinMMO reveals what is currently known and how else you can prepare for the new T2 dungeons.
[toc]
Here you can see if Throne and Liberty can also be played Free2Play:
Start video
Is the new MMORPG Throne and Liberty Pay2Win?
Throne and Liberty Tier 2 Dungeons
What kind of rewards are there? In the Korean version of the game, there were Tier 2 equipment as rewards in these dungeons. However, it was announced in the roadmap via playthroneandliberty.com that we will not receive this Tier 2 equipment in the European two-star coop dungeons.
A Reddit user has published the loot pool of the Korean Tier 2 dungeons, and it shows that besides the Tier 2 equipment, there are other valuable items available. Although we probably will not receive the Tier 2 equipment, some of the other items seen in the screenshot could also be available in our version:
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What rewards are there in Korea? In Korea, apart from the T2 equipment – which we will initially not receive – there are other equipment pieces in the boss chest that we could only obtain from world bosses until now. This prospect would be particularly positive for tanks and healers. Since Throne and Liberty published the loot distribution rules, many players have fled, as damage dealers are strongly favored.
The higher your contribution to a world boss, the better the chances for loot. This was particularly unpopular with tanks, as they cannot shine through high damage or healing. Their strengths lie in another area. But the MMORPG could counter this with the new two-star coop dungeons.
After completing a T2 dungeon in Korea, the boss chest can be opened with 450 Dimension Contract Marks. Screenshots on Reddit.com show that you not only receive equipment from world bosses but also rare equipment items that are usually dropped only by the arch bosses Queen Bellandir and Tevent – and these only appear once a week. However, weapons are not included, only armor pieces.
Since there is still no official information about the content of the T2 dungeons, it remains speculation which rewards await us in the chests.
Who can participate? The screenshots also reveal that the T2 dungeons in Korea require a combat power of 2,500 points to even enter the dungeon. This suggests that the new bosses in the instance will be difficult to defeat and probably have several mechanics and attack patterns.
A user on Reddit.com shared his concerns about the difficulty level of the T2 dungeons with the community and suspects that special builds will be needed to face the new dungeons.
But it is also uncertain whether the bosses will exhibit the same mechanics as their Korean counterparts.
Preparation for the T2 dungeons
What can I do to prepare? Even though much is still uncertain, you can still prepare for the upcoming dungeons. MeinMMO reveals how:
Save Dimension Contract Marks to maximize the number of runs when the dungeons appear
Increase your combat power to the expected minimum requirements of 2,500
Get an impression of the T2 dungeon bosses from the Korean version
Level up to level 50 if you haven’t done so yet
After that, you should be prepared for the new two-star coop dungeons. If there are new updates, we will update this article. If you have problems with bosses or general questions about Throne and Liberty, then check out our overview. There, we have listed all guides for the new MMORPG: Throne and Liberty: All guides for starting the new MMORPG.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon TCG Pocket you can open free booster packs every day. A YouTuber shows what it looks like when you spend over €200 on new packs in his video.
Besides battling against other players and the CPU, collecting the cards is also a major aspect of Pokémon TCG Pocket. In addition to the 2 free boosters per day, you also have the option to purchase more booster packs for real money.
A YouTuber has done this and shows in his video the yield he received from it. Additionally, he reaches a clear conclusion on whether this endeavor is worth it for you.
You can watch the trailer for the game here:
Start video
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket: The Trailer for the Mobile Game
A lot of money for many cards
What was his intention? As the YouTuber LEOsMIND explains at the beginning of his video, he wanted to spend the maximum amount of money possible in one day in the game. He simply wanted to treat himself to “something silly that is pointless and doesn’t make any sense”.
Within the video, he purchased the largest gold bundle twice, which is available for real money. Currently, this gives you 500 gold plus a bonus of 190 gold for the equivalent of €99.99. Later, he bought a smaller bundle, bringing his total spending to just over €200.
Since the amount of gold that can be used for new boosters per day is limited to 720 gold, it took him 2 days to convert the purchased gold into boosters. As the YouTuber mentions in the video, interestingly, there is a daily limit on spending gold but none for acquiring it.
We will embed the YouTuber’s video here for you:
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What is his yield? The YouTuber opened a total of 299 booster packs, which includes not only the paid ones but also those from the tutorial and the premium pass. As a result, he reached level 22 and collected a total of 1,539 cards.
He managed to obtain 196/226 cards from the first, currently still only available, booster series. Among them were 31 star cards, which have a higher rarity. He was unable to obtain the secret Mew card as he could not collect all the necessary cards.
Furthermore, he pulled 2 so-called God packs, where all the included cards are rare. The chance of receiving a God pack from a booster is 0.05%.
The rare, immersive variant of Mewtwo-Ex was unfortunately not among them. Since he really wanted this card and only lacked pack points at the end to obtain the card directly, he opened a few more packs at the end, earned the necessary points, and got this card directly.
What is his conclusion? The YouTuber clearly advises against trying to replicate his endeavor. Even though he enjoyed opening several boosters in succession at first, the number of duplicates he received this way is frustrating.
He also emphasizes that the more than €200 he spent for this video is a lot of money, with which you can also buy more sensible things. Additionally, he recoups some of the money through YouTube earnings.
Even though the number of cards with additional boosters is higher, giving you a greater chance of encountering good cards, the game, according to his statement, is not Pay2Win, but “Pay2Flex”. After all, there is also a version of the rarest cards that has a higher drop chance.
Whether you use this normal or the rare variant makes no difference for the battles themselves since the cards possess identical values and abilities.
If you are also playing the game but are more interested in the fighting aspect, you should definitely know which decks give you the best chances of winning. MeinMMO has put together the appropriate tier list of the best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket for you.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The charity event Charity Royale is organized every year by the Austrian Twitch streamers Rafael “VeniCraft” Eisler and willhaben. This year, the fundraising goal was already reached after nine days during the stream by Heiko “CastCrafter” Husch, thus breaking the donation record of Papaplatte.
What is Charity Royale? For six years now, the Charity Royale has taken place every year, organized by the Austrian Twitch streamers VeniCraft and willhaben. It is a month-long streaming event where every Twitch streamer streams for one day on their own channel.
Donations are made to the Austrian Make-A-Wish Foundation. A foundation that enables terminally ill children aged 3 to 18 to express their heartfelt wishes, for which donation money is collected for their fulfillment.
The Twitch streamer Papaplatte is also participating in the charity event. In the video, we summarize part of his journey:
Start video
This is how challenges for Papaplatte became a livelihood
After nine days, the fundraising goal has been reached
How was the fundraising goal reached? During the stream by CastCrafter, the event’s fundraising goal of 150,000 Euros was achieved. His community managed to surpass the incredible amount of 82,281.76 €. The success brought the streamer to tears, and he thanked his community multiple times.
Thus, he broke the record of Twitch streamer Papaplatte from the previous year. Papaplatte was able to reach a sum of around 70,000 € in the previous year with his community during his stream. You can see the moment in this VOD on Twitch.
Which streamers are participating? Both large and small Twitch streamers can participate in the event. On the event’s website, streamers can apply and thus contribute as well.
The “main streamers”, that is, big names in the Twitch industry, stream simultaneously with smaller streamers. The community then donates directly to the streamer, who forwards their sum to the event.
These big streamers will still stream:
November 11:stev0rr
November 12: krokoboss
November 13:MrsXeniaTV
November 17: mahluna
November 19: LetsHugoTV
November 20: nooreax
November 21: V1nKub
November 22: starletnova
November 23: Dhalucard
November 24: Veyla
November 25: Sintica
November 26: Papaplatte
Papaplatte will stream on November 26, perhaps he can surpass the record of CastCrafter.
What happens next? After the first fundraising goal has already been reached, the new goal has now been set at 250,000 Euros. However, around 228,000 Euros have already been collected, which is 90.83% of the goal.
So, it is not unlikely that this fundraising goal will also need to be replaced by a new one soon. One thing is certain: Several records have already been broken within the event this year.
Star Wars is one of the most well-known film franchises in pop culture and has likely inspired many modern filmmakers. But George Lucas also admired a legendary filmmaker. One of his films is also strongly reminiscent of Star Wars.
What is it about? Star Wars is one of the most relevant film franchises in all of pop culture. Everyone knows lightsabers, Darth Vader, or Yoda. Many young filmmakers have likely been inspired by George Lucas and his franchise.
But George Lucas also had filmmakers whom he respected and praised, including Akira Kurosawa. The legendary director has been a pioneer of film art. Looking at his film The Hidden Fortress from 1958 compared to Star Wars, one can see suspiciously many similarities.
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Star Wars Episode IV – Trailer for the download version
Star Wars and The Hidden Fortress
What are the similarities? Akira Kurosawa is one of the visionaries of cinema, and many of his films have been important sources of inspiration for other cult directors. Star Wars is very similar to the 1958 film The Hidden Fortress. The similarities run through several Star Wars films, as Nicholas Barber explains in an article for BBC.
The first similarity lies in the characters Tahei and Mataschichi. The two differ greatly in size, wander through a desert, and can’t even keep their mouths shut. The two help a former general to escort a princess in the film. This is reminiscent of C-3PO and R2-D2, who are supposed to help Obi-Wan Kenobi bring Leia to the base.
The princess from The Hidden Fortress even disguises herself as a simple peasant woman to hide. Just like Princess Amidala in the prequels of Star Wars. At the end of The Hidden Fortress, the heroes are rescued by a scarred enemy who switches sides towards the end. Similar to Darth Vader.
There are also some visual similarities. Darth Vader’s design was partially inspired by a samurai armor, and sword fights are a central combat method in samurai films. The iconic black fades of the Star Wars films were also frequently used by Kurosawa.
What does George Lucas say about this? In an old interview (via YouTube), George Lucas also spoke about Kurosawa and the influence he had. He says he only got to know his films during film studies. The first film he saw by Kurosawa was The Seven Samurai. After that, he was hooked.
Especially Kurosawa’s visual skills and camera techniques impressed George Lucas. The Hidden Fortress is not his favorite film by Kurosawa, but he admits that he was inspired by some aspects.
He appreciated how Kurosawa tells the story from the perspective of the two lowest characters (Tahei and Mataschichi). That’s where he got the idea with C-3PO and R2-D2.
The aspect with the princess acting within enemy lines, however, was for him more of a coincidence. Initially, he planned a story about an old Jedi who must flee with Leia, but it developed into the story of Luke Skywalker and his development.
Nevertheless, the story of the princess and the old general is quite close to Star Wars.
He further states that he believes that all stories have existed for thousands of years, and one eventually realizes that stories are repeated over and over again.
Is Star Wars a blatant copy of The Hidden Fortress? Of course not. Like all artists, filmmakers are also inspired by all sorts of things and films. Sometimes this happens consciously and sometimes unconsciously. In the case of Akira Kurosawa, it is even more special because he was a true visionary.
His camera techniques, perspectives, and ideas have continued to greatly influence many directors to this day. A Fistful of Dollars, The Magnificent Seven, The Usual Suspects are just a few examples of films that have been inspired by Kurosawa’s works. Compared to the concept phase of Star Wars, a lot has changed. Just like Master Yoda: Star Wars: Master Yoda almost didn’t exist – Another Jedi was supposed to take his role
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new game in the Destiny universe is in development. The first players have been able to test it, and some experienced Guardians have shared their impressions.
What game is it? With Destiny: Rising, a new game in the Destiny universe is officially in production, but it is being developed by the Chinese studio NetEase. Recently, an alpha test (not in Europe) took place, in which well-known Destiny experts participated and viewed the game. Many conclude that Destiny: Rising is surprisingly good but has a big problem.
What kind of game is it?
Destiny: Rising is a mobile game set in an alternate timeline. It will not continue the story of Destiny 1 and 2.
There will not be the typical classes Titan, Warlock, and Hunter. Instead, Destiny: Rising focuses on various characters like Ikora Rey, which you can unlock and play.
The playable characters have fixed abilities. Furthermore, they can only use specific weapon types and subclasses like Void or Solar, and cannot switch between elements.
Destiny: Rising will be a free-to-play title that relies on a gacha system for monetization. This means you unlock new characters by spinning a gacha machine and hoping to pull a character.
There is already a first trailer for Destiny: Rising, showing some gameplay and a selection of playable heroes:
Start video
Destiny: Rising shows first gameplay in the trailer
Experts agree on what makes Destiny: Rising good and bad
Who are the experts? Among the first players who could try Destiny: Rising during the alpha test were some experienced Guardians and Destiny experts who later released a review and video.
We looked at the reviews of English-speaking content creators “Fallout Plays,” Paul Tassi, and Aztecross for you.
Short introduction of the experts
Fallout Plays is a YouTuber and streamer who creates guides, news, and reviews about Destiny, but also occasionally covers games like Helldivers 2 or Space Marine 2.
Paul Tassi is a journalist and writer for the English-language magazine “Forbes.” He is well-versed in Destiny and regularly writes about Bungie’s shooter.
Aztecross is a YouTuber and streamer whose focus is primarily on Destiny 2. In his videos, he reports on the latest developments of the loot shooter, presents builds and new weapons or armor pieces, and shares his thoughts on the latest content.
What is the experts’ conclusion? The impressions of the experts largely align: for a mobile game, it is surprisingly good. While it may not reach the quality of Destiny 2 in some areas like visual presentation, story, and gunplay, the gameplay is generally solid. The negative feedback primarily centers on the monetization.
What is good? The variety of different modes (PvE and PvP) and the “MMO feeling” are particularly praised. The social system, including the social area called “Haven” (the counterpart to the Tower), is especially well-received and is said to be even better than in Destiny 1 and 2.
Additionally, there are features they wish to see in Destiny 2, such as Sparrow racing, new exotics, weapon perks, or a clan area that the clan can collectively expand and upgrade. Aztecross praises:
What is astonishing is that Destiny: Rising is genuinely a good game. It has really great activities, and the gunplay is pretty solid. […] I expected a mobile game, not even a good mobile game, and what you get with Destiny Rising is truly a fantastic mobile game.
What is bad? The major criticism from everyone is on the monetization, specifically the gacha system including pay-to-win mechanics. Fallout Plays states in his review: “I really wish this specific design philosophy of the video game industry would just crawl into a corner and wither away.”.
Aztecross adds in his video: “This is my only real criticism. […] It’s the monetization that I’m so concerned about. […] I just don’t like gacha systems.”.
In addition to the monetization, the voice acting is also heavily criticized. It supposedly contained text spoken in poor quality by artificial intelligence. However, according to NetEase, this is only a placeholder until the final recordings of the real voice actors are available.
The experts also pose the question of who the target audience for the game is. While they understand that Destiny: Rising is primarily aimed at the Asian market, it seems that due to its nature, it is only interesting for players who are interested in the new lore or enjoy gacha games like Genshin Impact.
The developers of Destiny: Rising, NetEase, also created the mobile game Diablo Immortal. The game has repeatedly struggled with persistent pay-to-win accusations and criticism regarding its monetization system. More about this can be found here: YouTuber reveals how “crazy pay-to-win” Blizzard’s new game is
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Blizzard has brought many innovations to Diablo 4 with the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. These include new features that apply to the entire game, even without the addon. Apparently, many players have not yet discovered all the improvements and are now surprised that there are new, practical features.
One of the features that players have been requesting since release is the ability to mark a city as a favorite. You return to the favorite city with the city portal instead of going to the next city.
Another change that has surprised players is the ability to access the wardrobe from anywhere. The option is now directly linked to the character sheet.
Start video
Diablo IV reveals the expansion Vessel of Hatred in new gameplay trailer
This is what players are saying: On Reddit, a user admits that they have just now discovered the city-favorite function. Others agree and say they didn’t know it was even possible.
The option has only been in the game since Vessel of Hatred, as explained by one player in the comments. Before that, the feature wasn’t even discoverable. In the official patch notes for patch 2.0, neither feature is listed. They were only briefly mentioned in the Campfire Chat.
In the game, the features are also easy to overlook. You can mark a city as a favorite by hovering over the corresponding city on the map. The wardrobe is now a small icon in the top left of the character sheet in addition to the physical wardrobe in inns.
Blizzard has not listed additional changes from Vessel of Hatred in the official patch notes. However, players have already found new features and content during testing that have not been mentioned, including:
the ability to see the duration of buffs while hovering over them
Many of these changes may sound small, but they are things that players are very excited about. These quality changes ensure that the flow of the game is less disrupted, and players encounter fewer hurdles while playing.
YouTuber and engineer Mark Rober presents a robot that can win any game of Rock-Paper-Scissors in a matter of milliseconds. His trick? He can detect the opponent’s hand movement in the blink of an eye.
Who is “Rocky”? The YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober is known for making complex technology exciting and understandable. His latest project is a specially designed robotic arm named Rocky, which has a single skill: It can play the children’s game Rock-Paper-Scissors in real-time and win almost every game. The robot achieves a reaction time that is hardly perceivable to a human opponent.
How does it work? The robot uses high-speed cameras and special sensors to analyze the opponent’s hand movements. An infrared motion sensor captures the movements of the hand and fingers a hundred times per second. This data is sent to a minicomputer built into Rocky’s body. Algorithms analyze the images to predict, a fraction of a second before the complete hand movement, whether rock, paper, or scissors is chosen.
Once it knows the outcome, it sends a signal to Rocky’s robotic hand, which then executes the appropriate counter-move with servomotors. According to Mark Rober, this process happens so quickly that the human eye can hardly follow it.
We present another curious story from the tech world in the video below:
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Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Whoever manages to defeat Rocky receives 9,500 euros
Rober has issued a challenge: Whoever can defeat Rocky can win 9,500 euros (10,000 dollars). This challenge is meant to demonstrate how difficult it is to compete against a system that reacts in fractions of a second and relies on precise technology. According to Rober, even tricks that are known to improve your chances of winning are not helpful.
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Does a tactic help? A study has found how to increase your chances of winning in the next duel (via arxiv.com). Researchers examined over 54,000 games of Rock-Paper-Scissors and found a typical pattern in human gameplay behavior, which they call “Win-Stay, Lose-Shift.” Players tend to choose the same symbol again after a victory while often switching to a different option after a defeat:
You can improve your chances of winning by consciously switching to the next symbol in the cycle after a victory – for example, from rock to paper. If you lose, you should choose the previous symbol. A simple pattern that works like a small cycle.
But does this also help in a duel against Rocky? The high prize amount clearly underscores Rober’s confidence in his own technology.
Blizzard has brought the most expensive mount into the MMORPG for the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft that has ever existed. Former Blizzard employee Jason Hall, known as PirateSoftware, explains why this is bad for WoW and Blizzard in the long term.
The mount is very large, thus striking, and has 2 NPCs on board that offer unique services that players would otherwise have to go to the city for: one can summon an auction house and a mailbox.
What the former Blizzard developer criticizes: Jason Hall worked at Blizzard as a technician for 6 years. Looking back, he says that he was terribly underpaid and had terrible working conditions. He eventually moved to Amazon Games, where he earned significantly more.
In a video from November 11th, which immediately attracts a lot of attention, he describes the $90 mount as a “symbol of greed” for Blizzard. It is downright absurd: the mount is covered in gold and even carries an auction house. The mount represents greed and is “the worst bullshit” he has ever seen actually going live.
Nevertheless, the event for the 20th anniversary of WoW is actually great and shows a lot of goodwill, but the mount “is just shit”.
“Reminds me of Star Citizen”
This is what bothers him about the mount: Hall says:
The old mount was a status symbol. It cost 5 million gold, and one had to find ways to earn that gold.
The new mount can be obtained by anyone willing to spend more money on it than on a AAA game, about one and a half times as much money.
Note: The old mount could also have been obtained through real money, via the WoW token it was possible.
Nonetheless, PirateSoftware says: The mount will certainly make Blizzard a huge amount of money, but in the long term, it is poison for the game:
That’s a $90 mount in a video game. It reminds me of Star Citizen. You buy a luxury car, one with collector value, that’s what you’re buying here.
The mount creates isolated monoliths in an MMORPG
What does he see as the biggest disadvantage? The mount takes an important aspect out of the MMORPG: the walking to the auction house, to a social hub.
If now everyone has their own auction house with them and no longer has to go to the city, it turns players into islands:
I don’t think there should be such a thing. […] Now you have this weird problem where you have mounts with a function and sell them for $90. You now carry a city with you. That takes something important out of the game: Because before, it was cool to go to a vendor and get the stuff done. There you could see other people.
Now you play an MMO, but create isolated monoliths that isolate players.
PirateSoftware believes: Strategy will fill cash registers in the short term, cost money in the long term
These consequences does he foresee for WoW: Hall says the mount symbolizes Blizzard’s attempt to squeeze as much money as possible out of the remaining whales and damages Blizzard’s image.
Overall, this will alienate players and lead to a loss of money. In the long run, this is a short-sighted strategy, a “losing strategy”.
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Are there also microtransactions that he likes? Hall praises the charity pets from Blizzard that are sold for a good cause. Those are initiatives that he can fully support.
The most important thing about microtransactions for him is that they are truly “micro”, meaning cheap. A microtransaction that is more expensive than a AAA game he considers obscene.
In the second season of Arcane, characters from League of Legends also hide in the form of cameo appearances.
The second season of Arcane has launched on Netflix. Although only the first 3 episodes have been released so far, the feedback is overwhelmingly positive and it already seems clear that we are witnessing a worthy conclusion of the series. However, just like in the first season, some new references to League of Legends and various characters have been hidden in the series this time as well.
Spoiler warning: If you haven’t seen the first 3 episodes of season 2 yet, there are now some light spoilers. Consider yourselves warned.
Start video
Arcane Season 2 Trailer – Nothing to Lose
2 Characters from League of Legends make a brief appearance
Which two characters were smuggled into the series? Observant viewers who are also familiar with League of Legends have been able to spot two “new” characters in the second season of Arcane. On one hand, we have the Yordle Teemo, and on the other hand, the cool sorceress Janna.
Here you discover Teemo: Teemo makes indirect appearances in several places and with various references. The most notable might be the character Isha – an orphan girl who clings to Jinx. Fans of the MOBA will immediately recognize the helmet she wears – as it is exactly the same design that Teemo uses in League of Legends.
LoL fans will immediately recognize Isha’s helmet – because Teemo wears it. Often, it’s the last thing you see.
Teemo also appears a bit more directly in the first season of Arcane – as an illustration in a children’s book being read by Silco’s subordinate when he wants to intimidate one of the Enforcers.
Here you discover Janna: The wind sorceress Janna is mentioned much more actively, as she is part of the plot of episode 3. The corresponding passage begins at minute 19:20 of the episode.
In the underground depths of Zhaun, Jinx has begun to reconnect the various ventilation systems – as part of a new, nasty plan. She is confronted by Vi and Caitlyn. The central hub of these ventilation systems displays a large image of a sorceress, who apparently has great significance for many older miners.
A massive depiction of the wind sorceress Janna – a legend in Zhaun, who saved miners from suffocation.
Jinx explains:
“Do you remember the bedtime stories about the spirit Janna that Vander told us? About the poor miners who could barely breathe underground. Then suddenly, a brave wind-lady hurried to their rescue. Hahaha. It’s really crazy what kind of nonsense people come up with when you cut off their air.”
As magic takes on an increasingly important role in the second season of Arcane, it is only logical that some sorcerers are slowly getting more concrete mentions here. Especially the powers of Noxus are also coming into play – in the form of the black rose.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player gets the PS5 Pro really cheap. There is a sales practice of large retailers behind it. And the player benefits from it.
A player reports on Reddit that he purchased the PS5 Pro for only $524. As proof, he shows not only a photo of the MSRP of the PS5 Pro but also his receipt. And indeed, he is correct that he only paid the equivalent of 500 euros for the PS5 Pro. The user uploaded the receipt as proof on Imgur.
Start video
Sony releases the official reveal trailer for the PS5 Pro
Broken seal on the packaging makes PS5 Pro cheaper
What is the “trick” behind it? The original packaging of the PS5 Pro is sealed. If the seal is already broken, it means the package has already been opened.
When opened packages are sold in stores, they are usually checked returns: The manufacturer/seller has checked the console once and then returned it to the market. In Germany, warranty and liability remain unaffected by this.
The user’s image with the discount on the packaging from the Reddit post.
Some companies, in this case Walmart, offer a discount on such returns because they are no longer considered new goods in the true sense. For this reason, the user had to pay only $524.25 on Reddit for the PS5 Pro. This translates to approximately 500 euros. The user explains himself (via Reddit.com):
The manager [of the store] adjusted the price and put on a new sticker when I pointed out that the seal was broken. The sale sticker was printed on the device that his phone was plugged into. But hey, feel free not to believe me. I’m playing the cheapest PS5 Pro in Missouri tonight.
That sounds very cheap at first, but one should consider that the console is sold in the USA with significantly lower taxes. In Missouri, the sales tax is 4.225%. In Germany, the price would therefore be around 600 euros. However, that is still 200 euros less than the PS5 Pro officially costs in Germany or Europe.
The community reacts cautiously: Some congratulate the user on his good luck in getting the PS5 Pro so cheaply. Others claim that the whole thing is just made up. However, the user tries to refute this by uploading not only a picture of the reduced price but also the receipt. In general, receipts can also be forged, but for a Reddit post, that would likely be too much effort.
PS5 Pro seems cheaper in the USA because of missing taxes
Is it worth ordering a PS5 Pro in the USA? No, not really. At first glance, the PS5 Pro seems cheaper since it costs $700 in the USA and that translates to only 628.51 euros. However, this price does not include taxes and other fees.
The former CoD pro Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag (32) is currently one of the highest-earning streamers on Twitch. He accidentally showed this to thousands of viewers.
Who is number 196? The streamer is Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, a former CoD pro and CEO of the gaming organization 100 Thieves. Due to his other commitments, he has been less active on Twitch in recent years, but in 2024 he is returning to streaming more frequently.
Over the past 365 days, the 32-year-old ranks 196 on Twitch regarding watch time: the number of hours viewers have spent watching his stream (via SullyGnome, as of: 11/12/2024).
On Twitch, Nadeshot primarily streams shooters; in 2024 Valorant was his game, but with the release of Black Ops 6, he has focused on Call of Duty – and with great success. In the past few weeks, he earned nearly $240,000.
Everything started with CoD for MontanaBlack as well.
Start video
MontanaBlack is one of the most well-known streamers in Germany – This was his very first video
Nadeshot accidentally shows his earnings to thousands of viewers
This is how much he earns: Nadeshot has made almost $240,000 on Twitch in the past 30 days. He revealed this accidentally when his opened browser tab was displayed instead of the Winner’s Circle in Call of Duty.
Most of his earnings come from subs, specifically paid subscriptions, with gift subs making up the largest portion. $116,700 came solely from sub gifts. This is complemented by $19,000 from purchased subs and $16,000 from Prime subs.
On top of that, Nadeshot can look forward to $71,000 from advertising revenue. However, he still has to pay taxes on the earnings. From what remains, he is expected to invest a significant portion into a supposedly fair cash shop.
You can see the crucial moment here:
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How did he achieve this? Since November 1, 2024, Nadeshot has been holding a subathon for the current Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a marathon stream that continues to extend as viewers subscribe to his channel. During the period from October 13 to November 11, he was online for nearly 400 hours, although he spent at least part of that time sleeping.
This currently places him 5th among streamers with the most active subs (via TwitchTracker). In addition, the advertising revenue contributes to this, as many streamed hours also mean a lot of ad broadcasts.
Nadeshot cannot regularly achieve such earnings with Twitch, and this is likely an exceptional situation for him. Nonetheless, he has just earned three times what one would typically make in the USA over the course of a year – and there is still no end in sight for his subathon (via United States Census Bureau).
Why is this special? In 2024, Nadeshot was mostly between 3,500 and 4,000 average viewers. While he is one of the larger streamers on Twitch, he is still far behind the top names like Kai Cenat, ibai, or the German Papaplatte, who all pull in several tens of thousands of viewers on average (via SullyGnome).
The hunt for shinies is a major topic for many players in Pokémon GO. A trainer has now discovered a helpful trick that many might not have known about so far.
In addition to searching for increasingly stronger Pokémon to defeat monsters in raids and Dynamax as well as other trainers in battles, collecting is also one of the major aspects in Pokémon GO. A particularly rare variant of monsters are the shinies, where you get Pokémon in a color variation that they do not possess in their regular form.
A trainer has now shared a trick that can make the search for shinies easier. And this trick seems to be unknown to many trainers so far.
Start video
Dynamax in Pokémon Go – How to participate in the gigantic battles
Check more Pokémon faster
What is this trick? Especially during events like Community Day, when many specimens of a Pokémon appear, it can quickly happen that when checking the monsters, you lose track of which Pokémon you have already clicked on.
That’s exactly what a trainer on Reddit has now discovered, which makes the search for shinies easier. If you click on a Pokémon on the map and see that the monster is not shiny, you exit the catching screen.
The interesting part is: Once you have done that, the Pokémon on the map then turns to face you and looks at you. If you now want to check more Pokémon, you can skip the monsters that are looking at you on the map and focus on the monsters that are not facing you.
This way, you avoid the risk of checking Pokémon you have already checked and can check more monsters in a shorter time, which increases your chances of finding a shiny.
You can also see what this looks like in the Reddit post from the user:
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Is there a limitation with the trick? As another trainer notes in the comments, the trick only works as long as you do not move. If you start moving, the orientation of the Pokémon remains focused on the spot where you were when you exited the catching screen.
If you are in a place with a lot of Pokémon and linger there briefly, this mechanic can be a good help. However, if you are moving quickly without resting, then the effect of this mechanic is diminished.
Does the trick work on all Pokémon? As some comments in the post note, there is one Pokémon for which this mechanic does not work. This is Nasgnet, the Rock-type Pokémon from Generation 3. This monster always looks north on the map, regardless of whether you had opened it in the catching screen or not.
To make good use of this mechanic, you also need many Pokémon to spawn. Especially during events, there are usually good opportunities for this. If you want to know which events will be available for you in the game in the coming weeks, take a look at our overview of the events in November 2024 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Veterans of monster hunting know: In Monster Hunter Wilds, the success of each hunt also depends on the choice of weapon. Therefore, we want to know from you: What is your absolute favorite weapon?
On the occasion of the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, 2025, many players are back on the hunt for monsters. The choice of weapon plays a significant role, and with 14 different types of weapons, it can sometimes be a tough decision.
To assist like-minded individuals in their selection, we ask you which of the powerful combat devices accompanies you most often on your hunts. Or also, which one you simply find the coolest.
Start video
New trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds shows captivating battles
Feel free to let us know in the comments why you love your weapon so much or what features you particularly appreciate. You are also welcome to name a second or third favorite weapon.
Additionally, you can also take the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people if you are undecided and support each other in making a choice.
If you are unsure about what defines each weapon or if you perhaps don’t know them all yet, we have a brief overview for you here:
All 14 weapons at a glance
Great Sword: A heavy and hefty melee weapon that deals a lot of damage with tremendous attacks, but is rather slow.
Long Sword: A fast and elegant weapon with extensive combos that feel like classic anime slashing. To master it, however, you cannot avoid learning the combos.
Sword & Shield: A versatile combo that allows speed and mobility, ideal for quick attacks and defense at the same time. This combination also allows items to be used while the weapon is drawn.
Dual Blades: Fast weapons with a high attack speed that become even more intense in demon mode and allow impressive combos. However, they offer little defense in return.
Spear: A defensive weapon with long reach and high protection from the shield; ideal for controlled, precise attacks. However, when your weapon is drawn, you will also be moving at the speed of a turtle.
Gunlance: A mix of lance and firepower that unleashes explosive attacks in addition to normal stabs. Reload moments can quickly become your downfall.
Switch Axe: A hybridized tool that switches between axe and great sword to offer a mix of reach and power depending on the situation. Here, it is necessary to weigh carefully when to use which type to get the most out of the weapon.
Energy Blade: A versatile weapon system that switches between sword and shield or axe and becomes very powerful through charged energy combos. The right switch is important for this weapon to be charged.
Hammer: A powerful but also very short and slow weapon. It is excellent for breaking monster parts precisely.
Hunting Horn: In addition to strong attack power, the hunting horn provides buffs for the team, triggered through musical “notes” combos to support allies.
Insect Glaive: An agile pole weapon that catapults players high into the air combined with an insect that collects extracts for status boosts. However, it does not offer blocking options.
Bow: A ranged weapon with high mobility and many types of ammunition, ranging from special arrows to elemental damage. A very accessible weapon with long range.
Light Bowgun: A fast and flexible gun that fires various types of ammunition and allows for quick dodging.
Heavy Bowgun: A massive gun with slower movement but high damage which has a shield for defense and strong ammunition.
