Survey: What is the best GTA of all time?

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 3 minutes

Grand Theft Auto is now an integral part of the minds and game libraries of countless gamers. Just GTA 5 has delighted millions of players for more than 10 years now. But GTA 5 is not the only installment in the series that has attained legendary status among many players. So what is the best GTA that has been released so far?

What sort of survey is this? We asked ourselves what the best GTA of all time is. Since every player has their own favorite, this question is probably best answered with a survey.

You have the chance to vote for your favorite GTA here. However, we have limited the survey to the main games and the single-player experience. This means that neither the DLC for GTA IV nor GTA Online are separately represented in the survey. If you particularly like these, you will need to vote for the respective main game.

Start video
The graphic comparison of GTA 6 and GTA 5 in the video

Please also feel free to share with us why you chose a specific GTA and what you still particularly enjoy about the game.

You also have the opportunity in the comments to nominate a second or third place or discuss how you feel about the online mode of GTA 5.

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Summary of all GTA installments

If you’re not sure what each GTA installment was about, we will summarize the respective story of the games for you below.

The GTA games at a glance

Grand Theft Auto (1997): The first installment of the iconic series takes place in Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. You are an unnamed criminal committing various crimes on behalf of criminal organizations. The first GTA employs a top-down perspective.

GTA 2 (1999): The setting of GTA 2 does not resemble a real-life location like New York City for Liberty City and instead takes place in a fictional city. You play as the protagonist Claude Speed, who works for various criminal gangs and commits crimes. GTA 2 also employed a top-down perspective.

GTA 3 (2001): In GTA 3, you again play the criminal Claude Speed, who works for different employers in Liberty City. He was once betrayed by his partner Catalina and ended up in prison. Now he is seeking revenge. The setting Liberty City is based on the American metropolis New York City. GTA 3 was the first GTA in third-person perspective.

GTA Vice City: In GTA Vice City, you build a criminal empire as Tommy Vercetti in the city named “Vice City” after you were ambushed during a deal for the Forelli Mafia family. The city Vice City is based on Miami.

GTA San Andreas (2004): GTA San Andreas takes place in the fictional state of the same name and lets you travel through the cities of Los Santos (Los Angeles), San Fierro (San Francisco), and Las Venturas (Las Vegas). You take on the role of Carl Johnson (CJ), who returns to his hometown Los Santos after the death of his mother.

GTA Liberty City Stories (2005): In Liberty City Stories, you play as Toni Cipriani in the metropolis based on New York City. You are a mafioso working for the Leone Family and are confronted with internal power struggles and gang wars.

GTA Vice City Stories (2006): In Vice City Stories, you return to the fictional version of the sunny metropolis Miami. You play as Victor “Vic” Vance, who rises in the criminal underworld of the city through the establishment of various businesses and fighting against rival gangs. Vic also battles corrupt officials and former allies.

GTA IV (2008): In GTA IV, you are once again in Liberty City (New York City), this time playing as the immigrant Niko Bellic. He wants to build a life in the USA after losing his unit in the war due to the betrayal of a comrade. However, Niko encounters difficulties and soon works for the Russian Mafia as well as being a hired killer for various employers.

  • For GTA IV, the DLCs “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” were also released, each featuring a new protagonist and storyline.

GTA Chinatown Wars: In Chinatown Wars, released for the Nintendo DS and PSP, you fight as Huang Lee for your family’s honor. You are the son of a murdered gang leader and face betrayal within the Triads. Chinatown Wars also takes place in Liberty City and uses a top-down perspective.

GTA V: In the currently most recent installment of the series, you embody three protagonists: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor, who you can switch between even within a mission. Together, the three commit various heists and must deal with powerful criminals and authorities. GTA V also takes place in Los Santos (Los Angeles).

Currently, all fans of the GTA series are likely waiting for the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Since the release of the first trailer, however, it has been very quiet around the highly anticipated game – despite daily rumors. However, a former developer has now shared his assessment of the game’s development status: Former developer of GTA 6 explains what phase the game is currently in

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

The Creator of One Piece Reveals That Luffy Has a Secret Ally

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Ruffy not only moves the hearts of his allies, but also those of his enemies. In One Piece, he unexpectedly received help from an opponent, as creator Eiichiro Oda now reveals.

Warning: Spoilers for chapter 1106 of the One Piece manga follow. It is about the Egghead Island arc.

Where did he get help? In chapter 1103 of the manga, Ruffy was so starving that he could no longer move. However, in chapter 1106, an unknown person provided him with so much food that he regained his strength and could face his enemies.

A reader wanted to know in the 110th issue of SBS, a Q&A with Eiichiro Oda, who helped Ruffy. There were 4 characters to choose from:

  • Sanji
  • Franky
  • Kizaru
  • Sentoumaru

Who is the secret ally? It was never revealed in the manga who supplied Ruffy with food. Oda believes that the acquisition of food must have happened at light speed. He emphasizes the term light speed again, providing a clear hint that Kizaru must have helped Ruffy.

Kizaru (or Borsalino) is a Marine admiral who has eaten the Glitter Fruit. In terms of rank, he is higher than the vice admirals and is a high-ranking official of the Marines. He can transform into light through the Devil Fruit and move just as quickly. There is no doubt that it was Kizaru who fed Ruffy.

Kizaru also appears in One Piece Fan Letter:

Start video
First Impressions of the Anime Special One Piece FAN LETTER in the Trailer

Kizaru is a Marine soldier, but has good reasons

Why did he help him? As a Marine soldier, Kizaru is actually an enemy of Ruffy. His goal should be to eradicate piracy. However, it is understandable why the Marine admiral helped the Straw Hat.

Kizaru was tasked by the World Government to kill his old colleague Dr. Vegapunk. The two have known each other since they were cadets in the Marines and developed a friendship during that time. 

Although Kizaru struggled with himself, he wanted to carry out the mission. His helping Ruffy could be an expression that he disagreed with the plans of the World Government. At that moment, he placed his personal feelings above his mission objective.

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However, it may be that the assistance was only a one-time occasion. Whether the Marine admiral will support the Straw Hat Pirates in the future remains questionable.

Kizaru’s superior, on the other hand, shows no scruples and is incredibly strong. Even in the One Piece card game, he is so overpowering that fans understand why he manages the operations from the office: An admiral in One Piece is so strong that he was banned in the card game – “Even in the manga, he was barred from the office”

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

Viewers are concerned about StableRonaldo (21), who complains about health issues on Twitch but reacts totally inappropriately

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The Twitch streamer Rani “StableRonaldo” Netz (21) is one of the biggest streamers for the online shooter Fortnite on Twitch. In a stream on Twitch on November 7, he complained about serious-sounding health problems. The chat urged him to see a doctor. But StableRonaldo called his mom instead.

Why are his fans worried about StableRonaldo? The 21-year-old started his 6-hour stream on Twitch on Thursday with a self-diagnosis:

  • He wakes up early and feels fine. But as soon as he gets up, he has headaches, feels confused, and doesn’t even know where he is. His vision is also blurry.
  • He asks his chat: Do you think I’m dying? Should I be worried?
  • This is not a joke.

StableRonaldo is a good friend of Clix and like his buddy, he’s into Lambos:

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18-year-old Fortnite streamer buys a Lamborghini for 193,000 € – When he wants to show off, everything goes wrong

Twitch streamer first consults Dr. Google

This is what the chat suspects: The Twitch chat almost immediately yells: “Go to a doctor” or “Go to the hospital.”

Then they start speculating that the streamer might have diabetes or a brain tumor.

This is how the streamer reacts: The streamer listens intently to his chat, ignores the diabetes, jumps on the brain tumor comment, and exclaims: “Did my chat just diagnose me?”

Then he does exactly what everyone would advise against: he first googles “brain tumor” and goes through the checklist of symptoms:

The more symptoms he checks, the louder the chat yells “Go to the doctor” and the more worried StableRonaldo seems to get himself.

Ultimately, he calls his mother. She diagnoses: He is fine; he probably just misses his mom. However, the 21-year-old eventually says he means it seriously and will get checked out. He even asked his mother how much a brain scan might cost. His mother says he should make an appointment, and she will accompany him to the doctor.

StableRonaldo eventually muses about how many clicks he would likely get if he died live on stream. Then he continues to be live for 6 more hours without addressing the topic further, driving around in a sports car and entertaining his fans.

Twitter mocks: Diagnosis 18 Red Bulls a day

How is this being discussed? The Twitch chat shows a lot of sympathy and initially takes the issue seriously. Outside of that, however, people mostly shake their heads at StableRonaldo and his handling of the situation.

On X, formerly Twitter, people ridicule: The boy probably drinks 18 Red Bulls a day; the complaints stem from that.

We at MeinMMO cannot provide medical advice. If you want to live healthier, it is best to consult your trusted doctor or check with your health insurance for offers.

If you are suffering from such symptoms, you should urgently see a doctor and not leave the diagnosis to the Twitch chat or Dr. Google. How serious such problems can be was recently experienced by a German Twitch streamer: A German streamer (44) suddenly cannot speak properly live on Twitch: now wants to change his life

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

Leonardo DiCaprio mourns even after 30 years for his deceased idol, whom he has honored as the greatest actor of his generation

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of our time. Many of his movies are among the best of all time, and DiCaprio impresses in them time and again with his performance. However, he had an idol as well. This idol passed away 30 years ago, and DiCaprio still mourns.

The actor Leonardo DiCaprio started as a child in the monster movie Critters 3, but he quickly became a top performer. Films like Romeo and Juliet, Gangs of New York, and ultimately Titanic catapulted him to the elite.

He is known not just for one or two roles. Among his best films are:

For the film The Revenant – The Revenant, he even received the Oscar that many fans believed was long overdue. He is probably the idol of many young actors, but DiCaprio has an idol, who unfortunately passed away 30 years ago, as Filmstarts reports.

One of DiCaprio’s most famous films is Inception:

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Deutscher Trailer zum Sci-Fi-Blockbuster „Inception“

A young actor had a big influence on DiCaprio

Who is DiCaprio’s idol? In 2019, during the course of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, DiCaprio spoke with the website Esquire. Together with Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino, they talked about the then new film, Charles Manson, and also about Leonardo DiCaprio’s idol.

Leonardo DiCaprio names River Phoenix as his great idol. He admired the actor in his youth. He calls him the best actor of [his] generation and one of his biggest dreams was to shake his hand.

And one evening, at a party in Silver Lake, I saw him go up a staircase. It was almost like in Vertigo, because I saw something in his face, and I had never met him – I always wanted to meet him, always wanted to have an encounter with him – and he walked towards me and I somehow froze. And then the crowd came in my way, and I looked back, and he was gone.

Leonardo DiCaprio on River Phoenix

On October 31, 1993, the then 23-year-old actor passed away. DiCaprio explains in the interview how the death affected him, because the person who had a big influence on him and his friends was suddenly gone.

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Where is River Phoenix known from? The best-known films with River Phoenix are Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Stand by Me. For the film The Runaway into the Unknown, he was even nominated for the Oscar as the best supporting actor. He was considered a promising young actor, even though few of his films, apart from Indiana Jones and Stand by Me, are still known today.

His younger brother, Joaquin Phoenix, is also an actor and successful. He made a big name for himself with the role of Joker, which, after Heath Ledger, delivered one of the best performances of the villain: The 8 best actors of the Joker in the ranking – Who is the most impressive villain of Batman?

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

The 2nd season of Arcane on Netflix delights critics and fans – Receives better reception than The Boys and House of the Dragon

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Arcane was a surprise hit on Netflix in 2021. The series, based on the game League of Legends, captivated critics and fans who had never even played the MOBA. Especially the animation and the adult story were convincing. Season 2 seems to continue the high quality, at least the viewers are raving about Season 2.

What is Arcane? The animated series Arcane premiered on Netflix in November 2021 and was a major hit. The series is loosely based on characters from the video game League of Legends. However, the series excited not only fans of the game but also many critics and viewers who don’t even know the game.

Particularly the adult story and the impressive animation received praise. Even MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski was thrilled by the series. Many fans were waiting for the second season, which has finally started after 3 years, and it seems the series hasn’t lost any quality.

You can find a trailer for Season 2 here:

Start video
Arcane Season 2 Trailer – Nothing to Lose

One of the best series of 2024

What do critics say about Arcane Season 2? On November 9, 2024, Season 2 of Arcane started with Act 1. These are the first 3 episodes. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series is currently receiving very good reviews from critics. With 15 reviews so far, the series has a perfect score of 100%. This is better than, for example, The Boys Season 4 or House of The Dragon Season 2 from the same year.

Particularly praised are the world, the characters, and of course the animation, which is said to provide an emotional season. Elena Schulz from GameStar even describes it as the best she has ever seen.

Users are also responding enthusiastically on Rotten Tomatoes. With over 250 user reviews, the score is 97%. Similar aspects to those praised by critics are highlighted here.

  • Hallie / i: I can hardly contain my immortal, obsessive love for this series. It may be the best series I’ve ever seen, and I dare say, perhaps the best that has ever been made.
  • San S: Absolutely perfect…..love everything about [the series].
  • Nathan A: It’s phenomenal! Somehow an improvement over the animation in the first season while retaining the great story and characters.

Even in the Arcane Subreddit, the great enthusiasm is noticeable. Users are sharing memes and discussing the events of the current episodes. But be warned, you can expect spoilers.

The opinion of the users is currently based only on the first 3 episodes, but if it continues like this, the series will likely be one of the big hits of 2024.

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What does MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes say about Season 2? I have only been able to see the first 3 episodes so far and can only echo the great praise. At times, the series is too much like a music video, but the beautiful images, the fantastic animation, the great soundtrack, and the multifaceted characters ensure that the series is already one of the highlights of 2024. I can hardly wait for the next episodes. Especially since Season 2 will also be the finale of the series: The showrunner of Arcane explains why the series must end with Season 2

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

A new puzzle in WoW is so difficult that Blizzard has to explain the rules again

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

In World of Warcraft, the community is desperate. A new puzzle is so difficult that some want to cheat – and Blizzard gently warns.

Currently, Patch 11.0.5 is active in World of Warcraft, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the MMORPG. However, there are also a lot of hidden puzzles. Some are more “obvious” and part of a questline, while others are much more hidden.

But especially the hidden puzzles are something else: extremely difficult. So complicated that Blizzard even has to clarify the rules again.

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WoW celebrates its 20th anniversary – Here’s what you can earn

What kind of puzzle is this? What exactly awaits at the end of the puzzle is not yet completely clear. However, it is known that it has many individual steps and – at least many hope – leads to a new mount at the end.

What has Blizzard said about it? Blizzard has clarified in the official WoW forum what is necessary to solve the puzzle – and what is not. There were quite clear announcements:

  • There are no class restrictions – any character can solve the puzzle.
  • Addons are not necessary – all puzzles can be solved without the use of addons.
  • There is no time limit – once a puzzle has been published, it will remain available (except for the quests from Alyx that are part of the anniversary event).
  • Purchases are not necessary – none of the secrets require items from the shop or account services.
  • Ban-worthy behavior is not necessary (or allowed!) – anything that could result in account penalties, like hacks or glitches, is not required and cheaters will face the appropriate penalties.
  • Puzzles are difficult but fair – everything you need to solve the secrets of Azeroth is available to you.

In conclusion, they stated: “Please solve the puzzles at your own pace. Some puzzles are extremely challenging compared to other content. Please take your time and have fun with it!”

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Why did Blizzard say this? The puzzle poses some problems in solving it, as even the pros are slowly finding new clues – at times not at all. The more desperate the puzzle experts become, the more likely people are to try to solve the puzzle using cheats (like exploiting glitches). Usually under the assumption that the puzzle must be “bugged” and that one is just circumventing the bug.

Blizzard has now clarified that this is definitely not the case. Anyone who wants to solve one of the major puzzles in the game can find all the necessary details in the game – even if it sometimes requires a lot, a lot of time and brainpower. If you want to replay already solved puzzles, we have here the 10 biggest puzzles of World of Warcraft and how to solve them.

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

Throne and Liberty: 5 bosses that are so much fun

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 5 minutes

In Throne and Liberty there are many different bosses. All bosses have different abilities and mechanics to consider. However, five bosses are just really fun.

What kind of list is this? In Throne and Liberty there are many different bosses, and they all bring their own techniques and abilities that players need to pay attention to when fighting the big adversaries. After we have already looked at 5 bosses that are really annoying, here comes a list of five bosses whose fights are truly enjoyable.

Not every boss fight in Throne and Liberty is fun. However, the five on our list stand out with creative mechanics, interesting attacks, and a great fight.

This list is based on the author’s opinion and only includes field and guild bosses. Overlords from the dungeons have not been included in the consideration. The bosses on the list are not arranged in any specific order.

Start video
Throne and Liberty: Deshalb ist eine große und aktive Gilde so wichtig

Aridus

Aridus is probably one of the most challenging field bosses in Throne and Liberty. He waits for you on the 5th lower level of the Abyss of Syleus. The lich would love to make you sleep forever and brings an interesting mechanic with him.

For many, Aridus may be a book with seven seals, but his mechanics can be managed well as a group, and once understood, they are also really fun.

During the boss fight, wasps spawn that chase the players. If the boss puts all players to sleep, these wasps deal damage to wake the players up again. Anyone who has a wasp must wake their allies to prevent them from dying.

Especially players on the outer ring of the boss arena are in danger; they should be woken up by the team first, as the damage from the mechanic is higher on the outside than in the inner circle.

However, during the fight, Aridus also releases a green gas that deals a lot of damage to the players. Players should distance themselves from it as quickly as possible and need to be healed.

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In practice, fighting field boss Aridus is very interesting, especially once the group masters the mechanic around sleeping. Visually, the green abilities in the dark area provide a nice change, but otherwise, the fight does not stand out graphically.

Next up on the next page.

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

Scammers got rich with outrageous prices for the PS5, but now they have overplayed their hand

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

For the English word “Scalper”, there are only unpleasant translations in German like Wucherer, Absahner, or Abzocker. In any case, this is not a group of people that evokes much sympathy. After the Wucherer made high profits with the PS5 and made a killing, they have now lost out with the PS5 Pro and have to take losses.

What are scalpers? Scalpers are speculators, especially in the context of consoles, classic editions, or collectibles.

They buy a product at its release date, where they anticipate scarcity and an increase in value. Then they withdraw it from the market, hoard the product, and contribute to a shortage.

Finally, they sell the product at a hefty markup and for a high profit when they believe that the scarcity has peaked.

Start video
Sony releases the official reveal trailer for the PS5 Pro

Wucherer became rich with the PS5

How was it with the PS5? With Sony’s PlayStation 5, there was a much higher demand than could be supplied. Especially because production was delayed due to supply chain issues.

As a result, there were few PS5s on the market overall, and scalpers who had hoarded consoles in bulk at an early stage caused an additional artificial shortage. Therefore, scalpers who bought new PS5s as soon as they became available made a killing by selling their consoles at a substantial markup to desperate buyers.

According to reports from 2022, the PS5 was so profitable for scalpers that they could live off it and finance a better life for their families.

Only those who missed the timing to sell their PS5 in time were left with their hoarded stocks and had to suffer the consequences.

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With the PS5 Pro, Absahner are stuck with their stocks

This is how it is now with the PS5 Pro: Scalpers also seemed to speculate on a shortage of consoles with the PS5 Pro and stocked up on supplies. However, this shortage is now absent. Essentially, the PS5 Pro can be purchased freely in stores – probably because the console is expensive (around 800 €) and offers only a relatively small update compared to the standard PS5.

As a result, scalpers are now forced to offer their PS5 Pro at significantly reduced prices on sites like eBay. On German eBay, the cheapest PS5 Pro is currently priced at 580 €. A similar situation is also emerging in Spain, as 3DJuegos reports, where scalpers are facing a loss of 30 to 50 € per console.

ps5pro

However, this time again, Wucherer can make a good deal if they speculated on the CD drive. Because it only costs 120 €, is sold out everywhere, and is being traded at significantly higher prices on eBay. We have already warned about this phenomenon on MeinMMO back in September 2024. Anyone wanting to buy a complete PS5 Pro will soon have to pay more than 1,000 euros.

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

His 1st MMORPG was a worldwide hit, his new one only runs moderately on Steam because he is changing something crucial

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

Andrew Gower developed the MMORPG RuneScape in 2001, one of the most successful online role-playing games of all time. Now, in 2024, his new MMORPG Brighter Shores is launching, and it’s only performing moderately well on Steam. Gower explains the issues, saying players just need to get used to the new system.

Who is Andrew Gower? Andrew Gower and his two brothers, Paul and Ian, began programming games in the 90s. For two of the brothers, it became increasingly serious over time.

In 1999, Andrew and Paul Gower founded the gaming studio Jagex while studying in Cambridge.

In 2001, their MMORPG RuneScape was released, which has become one of the largest online role-playing games in the world over the last 23 years. Players spend an insane amount of time leveling up their skills in the MMORPG to the max level, which has reached absurd proportions.

But Andrew Gower stepped back from RuneScape in November 2011 and developed a new MMORPG Brighter Shores.

RuneScape is a massive success for Andrew Gower:

Start video
Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam Release

New MMORPG starts moderately on Steam

This is how it is going for Brighter Shores now: His new MMORPG Brighter Shores was released on Steam on November 6. It currently stands at 70% positive reviews, narrowly escaping the dreaded yellow area of “Mixed” reviews.

The new MMORPG had a maximum of 15,920 concurrent players on Steam so far; for a free-to-play MMORPG from such a successful developer, these are rather disappointing numbers.

Many players find the profession and skill system of Brighter Shores problematic: As Gamesradar writes, players felt like they lost the progress they had made every time they started a new episode.

This is completely contrary to the gaming experience of MMORPG players.

“Please give the game a chance”

This was his announcement: When his MMORPG had 67% positive reviews on Steam, Gower addressed the players in a blog post and asked: “Please, give it a chance.”

Gower assured the players: No progress would be lost. With the start of Episode 2, 4 new professions would be unlocked – but the professions from Episode 1 would remain intact and useful. You could always return to Hopeport, that is, to Episode 1, and continue to use the old skills.

The sense of irritation among MMORPG players seems to be due to the fact that the respective skills are relevant for a specific area and do not apply universally as in RuneScape.

Brighter Shores breaks with the traditional way skills work in an MMORPG

This is the idea behind it: Gower says that when you start a new episode, it could be equally fun for everyone as long as everyone starts at the same level, that is, with new skills.

However, if you introduced a single combat value for the entire game, experienced players would have a big advantage when starting a new episode.

With the system of constant restarts, you avoid dead content. However, it is by no means the idea that you complete Episode 1, switch to Episode 2, and never return to Episode 1.

Gower says: Tests have shown that players find the new system good once they get used to it. But it seems necessary to better communicate this system now.

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Skills and progress are part of the core DNA of MMORPGs

Here is the background: If an MMORPG so clearly breaks with the conventions of the genre, it is a bold experiment. With Gower, it is particularly ironic because he helped establish the intensive farming of skills in RuneScape, which he now identifies as a problem with his new MMORPG.

In RuneScape, skills are everything and define the character. Players spend months and years leveling individual skills, tackling specific lists, and enduring hardcore grinding.

To some extent, the negative feedback on the skill system of Brighter Shores is therefore not a communication problem, but a very real one: Many MMORPG players love progress in a game and want to become increasingly competent and powerful over time. The idea of starting fresh with each episode and providing everyone with the same starting conditions simply won’t appeal to everyone: The developer is so rich that his new MMORPG should make players happy on Steam

Our title image shows Andrew Gower at a RuneScape event in 2011. He rarely appears in public.

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

The Cloudstriders are considered the biggest waste in Destiny 2, but originally they could have been much cooler

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 3 minutes

Bungie has been rather sparse with the introduction of new races in Destiny 1 & 2. With Lightfall, it was the Cloudstriders, who had never been seen before, but they were considered the biggest waste. This race looked very different before the release, but Bungie decided to change direction.

Who are the Cloudstriders? The Cloudstriders were first introduced with the expansion “Destiny 2: Lightfall.” They are huge, muscular humans who have transformed into cyborgs with technology. They are the protectors of Neomuna, a city on Neptune.

In this role, they safeguard the city’s inhabitants and the Traveler’s veil against enemies and the darkness. The only representatives of their kind at the moment are Nimbus and Rohan, whom players will meet during the story of Lightfall.

Although they have a bulky and modern appearance, many fans were unable to warm up to the Cloudstriders. Additionally, Nimbus’ character annoyed many people. He never gave off the feeling that he knew what was at stake. Instead, he wanted to distribute fist bumps.

However, fans have now stumbled upon old concepts of the Cloudstriders and wonder if this design would have brought the race the popularity they deserve.

Start video
Destiny 2: Lightfall – Launch Trailer

Knights, monks, and Terminators mixed into a war machine

What did the Cloudstriders look like before? Reddit user SwirlyManager-11 has published some concepts of the Cloudstriders, showing which ideas Bungie discarded. These are dark beings that possess a humanoid body structure but appear anything but human; see for yourself:

Destiny-2-Wolkenläufer-altes-Design-Reddit
This is what the Cloudstriders looked like before the release (via reddit.com)

The concepts show three colored Cloudstriders as they pose. The first specimen even has metallic wings, a bandolier across the chest, and crystals around the shoulders and below the belt. The faces appear expressionless, with only serious glowing eyes visible.

The second specimen looks like a monk with green skin. The clothing is lighter and even features accents of plants that may originate from Neomuna. Additionally, the monk’s robe is tattered near the feet.

The last specimen is a massive warrior in thick black armor. The armor is partially noble, covered with a red cloth. Additionally, the Cloudstrider holds a staff with several spikes. The knight also has a style with an unusual helmet that makes him seem even more impenetrable.

When comparing these concepts with the final Cloudstriders, it quickly becomes apparent that Bungie has done a lot to ensure they hardly resemble each other.

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What do fans say about the original design? On Reddit, people discuss the general idea behind the Cloudstriders. They feel it is a shame that Bungie created such a cool faction from scratch, only to package them into a DLC and then forget about them. The following can be heard:

  • “Encountering a group of secret anti-guardians is such a great idea, and I still can’t believe they [Bungie] messed it up so badly.” – owen3820
  • “I have no idea why they did the whole two-people rule. I would have liked to meet other Cloudstriders, and maybe Nimbus’ younger, arrogant attitude would have worked as a second-in-command.” – ReadStraight8255
  • “I don’t think it was the aesthetic that put people off (I actually quite like it), but just the lousy writing. ‘Cow pat’ is not an appropriate reaction to someone watching their father calcify right in front of their eyes.” – 420Frederik
  • “I’m not sure what many people are talking about here because the current Cloudstrider aesthetic is definitely a turn-off for me, lol. Nimbus’ reflective bikini top is ugly, they have creepy facial features, and their neck looks really disgusting (not in a good way). Not to mention the weird bulging pants they are wearing? What’s up with that?” – xWinterPR

What do you think about the design of the Cloudstriders? Were you able to tolerate the Cloudstriders, or were you just glad when the story of Neomuna and Nimbus was over? Let us know your opinions in the comments. More about Destiny 2 can be found here: Former Destiny director wanted to make great games with new company – But his first game was Concord, and now he is in a crisis like Bungie

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

Aeternum should bring tremendous momentum for the MMORPG New World, but Amazon Games made a foreseen mistake

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

The new Aeternum version of New World cannot be considered a breakthrough success for Amazon Games, according to MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz. This was a disappointment due to the release timing.

As early as July 2024, I feared it could be a major mistake by Amazon Games to release Throne and Liberty and New World Aeternum within a few weeks. After all, both MMORPGs are being released for PC and console at the same time. And this is shortly after the launch of WoW: The War Within.

In the meantime, Lost Ark, also published by Amazon Games, was gearing up for perhaps the most important updates in months – with fresh starter servers that will only be available for a limited time, and a new endgame level.

Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world daily for 15 years. He made his first private contact in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated several years of playtime in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant genre representative of the last 20 years for at least a while.

In addition, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Silent Hill 2, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the last four major, well-known releases of the year are also in October.

The launch trailer of New World Aeternum:

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New World Aeternum: Well-Staged Gameplay Trailer for Launch

Collision with Purpose

While Throne and Liberty exudes the allure of the new and promises an – at least from today’s perspective – unusual focus on the massively, the fundamental player experience of New World has been known for more than three years. The numerous adjustments of the Aeternum version do not change that.

I therefore had early concerns that New World Aeternum could get crushed among all the October releases. In an interview with Roxanne Sabo (Community Lead for Lost Ark at Amazon Games), I brought up the topic. Her response:

Each of our live games is diverse and differs in many ways, including playstyles, business models, and settings. Lost Ark offers players a unique adventure and challenge, just like New World Aeternum and Throne and Liberty. We believe that each game offers a different experience and will find its own audience, with room for players who engage with multiple.

But is that true? In my personal case, the math hasn’t worked out. I am a big MMORPG fan and equally excited about the revamped Aeternum, the new patch of Lost Ark, and the new Throne and Liberty.

As a father of two kids and with a full-time job, however, I cannot pursue all these interests. I had to prioritize in October, and Throne and Liberty usually won out (and Dragon Age: The Veilguard).

My newly created character for New World Aeternum, on the other hand, is only level 33. There has been no time for Lost Ark in the past weeks. Many other MMORPG fans have likely experienced something similar. Too bad, marmalade – that’s what my 3-year-old son would say.

There are indeed good reasons to play New World Aeternum:

Start video
4 Reasons Why You Should Play New World: Aeternum

How “successful” is New World Aeternum?

Due to the lack of concrete numbers from Amazon Games, this cannot be stated with one hundred percent accuracy. However, there are various indicators:

  • On October 20, 2024, New World Aeternum reached 61,437 concurrent players on Steam. This is the highest value since October 2023, but still slightly below the peak at the launch of the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion (77,642) and significantly behind the all-time high from the launch in September 2021 (913,634).
  • The daily peak is now slightly over 30,000 concurrent players (via steamdb.info). The trend is downward.
  • It is unclear how many players have joined via consoles. However, one thing is clear: Amazon Games had to significantly increase the number of cross-play servers across all regions, but each region only needs one pure PlayStation and Xbox server.
  • Throne and Liberty has been a hot topic throughout October, which we can clearly see from Google Trends and the view counts of our articles. The launch of New World Aeternum was just a mild breeze in comparison. Within the console communities, we observed something like a mini hype. In the PC camp, however, complaints were more common.
  • While Amazon Games celebrates 4.5 million players in the first month for Throne and Liberty, a post on amazongames.com regarding the launch of New World Aeternum states:

We are very pleased and encouraged by the enthusiastic response from players and critics alike, and it was exciting to welcome even more adventurers to the supernatural island of Aeternum.

If developers and publishers release such a post without concrete player numbers, these are usually not very positive.

What will happen to New World?

While a The Elder Scrolls Online received a tremendous boost in player numbers through the delayed console release in June 2015, the launch of Aeternum has, in my opinion, almost faded away without effect.

If I am correct, this could be fatal for the long-term plans that Amazon Games has for New World. After all, developing an expansion like Rise of the Angry Earth is expensive. Content updates have been almost non-existent between the addon and Aeternum. Are fans of the game heading towards the next drought?

More on New World:
Amazon silently removes the last hint of the MMORPG for Lord of the Rings
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The most successful MMORPG from Germany since Tibia is not only becoming more beautiful but also conquering new platforms
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The chances for that, in my opinion, are high. After all, there are currently eight new games in development at Amazon Games. The known titles are:

  • Publisher for the hack-and-slash co-op game King of Meat
  • Publisher for a story-based open-world racing game from Maverick Games
  • Publisher for the new Tomb Raider game from Crystal Dynamics
  • Developer of the new MMORPG for the Lord of the Rings universe

Once Amazon Games finds the final direction for the Lord of the Rings MMORPG and fully enters development, the responsible parties are likely to throw as many creative minds as possible at the prestige project – and this will almost certainly include the experienced veterans from the New World team. Do you see it that way as well? More on this: There is a sign of life from the new MMORPG for Lord of the Rings by Amazon Games

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

LoL reaches a new level in eSports: A video even makes tough guys soft

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

For years, Riot Games has faced a challenging task with League of Legends: How do you turn introverted gamers into real stars that millions of fans care about? With a video ahead of the LoL Worlds 2024, they are taking a new approach and boldly embracing emotion – with great success.

This has always been Riot Games’ problem:

League of Legends has always marketed itself through its players, the stars and heroes of e-sports. The actual game can only be truly followed in depth by experts.

However, only a few e-sports athletes qualify to be typical stars. Only a few have extroverted personalities, enjoy appearing in videos, or give memorable interviews. These are more likely people from Europe and North America like trash-talking master Doublelift, who play a minor role internationally.

The true stars of LoL are South Koreans and Chinese. Players like Faker, Chovy, or knight. However, these are often very introverted, quiet individuals who show little emotion and are rather reserved in interviews.

Start video
LoL – Hall of Legends: Faker Trailer

Riot Games stages top players as silent heroes

This has been the solution for years: In the past, Riot Games often didn’t let players like Faker speak for themselves, but rather had others rave about them and showed the influence Faker has on others.

He was epic and silently staged as a superhuman hero, whose gameplay in the game speaks for him.

The most important marketing tool of Riot Games is the trailers for the anthems of the Worlds, in which players do not speak at all but are shown as stylized superheroes engaged in battle.

lol-faker
Faker prefers to stay silent.

Riot Games shamelessly embraces emotions

What has Riot Games done differently this year? Just before the Worlds final on November 2, LoL released the video “Make them believe: T1 vs. BLG“. This 7-minute production showcases the rivalry between the two finalist teams.

In the main part of the video, each player sits in an empty cinema and listens to an emotional message from relatives back home, wishing them well.

For example, supporter Keria is enthusiastically greeted as “Uncle” by two children, while Faker listens with emotion as his father speaks to him.

An emotional sound, the World theme in a piano version, further enhances the impact of these moments.

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What impact does the video have? The effects of the trailer can be seen in the German caster for LoL, Tolkin. Even a tough top-laner with nerves of steel.

He says the trailer moves him like no other, as it humanizes players like Faker, whom he has admired since he was 14. Even after watching the trailer multiple times, it still catches him emotionally every time.

What hits him the most is when the father speaks to Faker, showing in every interview how much he cares about his son.

Even in the comments on YouTube, you can see the fans are fully affected:

  • Hey, this was supposed to be a hype trailer, why are you making me cry?
  • I came here ready for war, but no armor can protect me from the emotional damage.
  • Wow, is it just me or is the teaser much more human than last year? […] The trailer with the families makes the players feel more like competitors and humans rather than characters in a game. In the end, you still give us hype.

From the reactions in the video, it’s clear that the trailer hits hard because it completely disregards coolness and epic staging, shamelessly playing with the sentimentality and nostalgia that LoL has now triggered: Faker becomes a world champion in LoL for the 5th time, winning the final with a powerful ultimate

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

A new strategy game on Steam can shorten the wait time for Civilization 7 – Has 91% positive reviews

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Strategy fans are longing for the 7th installment of the Civilization series. However, Civ VII must be awaited for a few more months. If you’re looking for a new 4X game in the meantime, you can check out a new strategy game on Steam. The unique aspect of Zephon: post-apocalypse and cosmic horror.

What game is it about? On November 8, 2024, the strategy game Zephon was released on Steam. The game, reminiscent as a 4X title, draws from well-known games such as Civilization 6 or Age of Wonders 4. But instead of turn-based strategy in a historical context, Zephon presents you with a post-apocalypse setting.

Humanity returns to a destroyed Earth, filled with robots and alien enemies. The game mixes elements of a technological apocalypse with cosmic horror, reminiscent of Lovecraft’s stories about Cthulhu.

The game aims to offer the following:

  • The game is expected to focus on survival strategy, which might appeal to fans of Frostpunk.
  • You can play Zephon in single and multiplayer modes.
  • Over 150 technologies.
  • There are cyberpunk abilities, but also magic.
  • In addition to combat, there is also economy and diplomacy.

The game comes from Proxy Studios, who previously developed a 4X strategy game with Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War.

You can see a trailer for the game here:

Start video
Zephon – Trailer for the Post-Apocalyptic Strategy Game on Steam

Excellent studio. Excellent game

How is the game received? On Steam, the game is currently doing quite well. With 206 reviews, the game stands at “Very Positive” with 91% positive ratings. It is praised mainly for feeling like an evolution of the developer’s previous game and for having improved on many elements from its predecessor.

  • Shroud: The love child of Civilization: Beyond Earth and Warhammer Gladius. Two fantastic games…
  • Andrew: Excellent studio. Excellent game. Thank you for Gladius and for Zephon. The new 4X diplomacy and the story elements are fun and refreshing. The trading and allying with enemies is great, as this was not possible in Gladius.
  • Miloch: If you liked Gladius, you should also like this game. It’s by the same people. It has many of the same elements, but is set in a completely different setting.

However, there are also a few negative voices, such as that of the user Runny Legs, who dislikes the similarity to Gladius. He also criticizes the UI but praises the diplomacy. He admits that it is not a bad game, but he finds the price too high.

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So if you are fans of Warhammer 40,000 Gladius or simply friends of a post-apocalyptic setting and cosmic horror, then Zephon might be for you. The game currently costs 39.99 € on Steam. If you would rather immerse yourself in a Chinese setting with countless characters, then this game is for you: A new game is conquering Steam and the PS5 – it spans 80 years and features 1,000 playable heroes

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

Amazon responds to increasing player frustration with their new MMORPG on Steam, PS5, Xbox

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The MMORPG Throne and Liberty was released on Steam: PS5 and Xbox over a month ago. Players have been complaining about how the dungeons are functioning. Amazon explains how they intend to solve the problem, or rather, how they will not solve it.

What bothers players about the dungeons? The problem is that the queues often drop out because some players do not accept the invite to the dungeon.

The player Darkness explains the issue on a Polish MMORPG site: People sign up for the “Random” dungeon search in Throne and Liberty because there are bonus rewards: However, they do not want to play a random dungeon, only certain ones. So they decline the dungeons that do not suit them – which frustrates everyone else.

An additional problem is that players can only play a limited number of dungeons per day – this highlights the “Pay2Win” oriented MMORPG design, as is common in South Korea.

Start video
Throne and Liberty: Claim the Throne – Launch Trailer of the MMORPG

Amazon announces penalties for leavers

This is how Amazon intends to solve the problem: Amazon announces that they understand the issues with the queue. To address the problem, they will introduce a “rejoin” timer and impose penalties on players who frequently decline such invites.

Amazon understands what you want – but you won’t get it

Should dungeons be more generous? That is not currently planned. While they understand that players want more Salvation Essence as rewards from dungeons, they must be cautious and pay attention to balance. The tokens should be rare and valuable.

Will more dungeons be available soon? Here, too, Amazon responds with a no. There are no plans for that. However, they plan to introduce a dungeon that offers higher replay value.

amazon-tl
Amazon’s announcement. Source: mmmorpg.org.pl

Free2Play design reveals its ugly head

What is behind this: These are the problems that South Korean MMORPGs are despised for. A deliberate scarcity of what can be achieved in a week, making the game grindier, more frustrating for players, and also more profitable for developers.

When Amazon then says, “Yes, it should feel rare and valuable,” it sounds somewhat cynical.

In such a system, it is clear that players will seek their personal maximum advantage and will not go into every random dungeon when they have only a few opportunities per day, while wanting to optimize their rewards: The 12 best free-to-play MMORPGs 2024 in comparison


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

Suspected Corruption at the Studio Behind Destiny and Diablo Games – 2 Top Executives Arrested

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

For Blizzard and Bungie, the Chinese gaming company NetEase has been an important partner. Both studios have released mobile variations of their major game series Diablo and Destiny in collaboration with NetEase. Among the gaming giant’s own games that have also been successful in the West is Once Human (Steam, Mobile). However, 9 employees of the corporation have now been arrested, including two top executives.

For which games is NetEase known?

Here in the West, we primarily know one game from NetEase: the survival game Once Human. Revelation Online, an MMORPG, was also theirs.

NetEase was Blizzard’s partner in China for many years and distributed their games there. In close collaboration with Blizzard, they developed Diablo Immortal.

Bungie has also made a deal with NetEase – from the partnership established 6 years ago, Destiny: Rising eventually emerged.

NetEase is the second largest gaming corporation in China after Tencent:

Start video
Once Human – Gameplay Trailer for the Major Update The Way of Winter

2 Top Managers from NetEase Are Arrested and Then Fired

This is what is happening at NetEase: According to reports, 9 employees have been arrested at NetEase, accused of money laundering and corruption. Among the 9 suspects are said to be two from the upper management, Xiang Lang (Head of Esports) and Yin Cuchen (responsible for long-standing game series like Westward Journey Online).

According to a memo, NetEase has fired the 9 employees for bribery.

As Eurogamer reports, the 9 suspects were excluded from NetEase’s internal systems shortly after the first arrests occurred. Allegedly, the case involves 28 suppliers and around 130 million euros.

NetEase’s management is now also warning other employees to play by the rules. Their usual screensavers have been replaced with a text reminding employees of NetEase’s conduct guidelines and compliance rules.

This is what NetEase says: As Eurogamer reports, a spokesperson for NetEase stated that they are investigating the allegations of corruption but will not disclose any details at the moment.

The last time we reported directly about NetEase on MeinMMO was when they destroyed their own orc statue out of anger with Blizzard:

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

LoL: After the Worlds 2024 Final, I know how football fans feel in the stadium 

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

The e-sports for League of Legends is growing larger. This was also evident at the finals of the Worlds 2024. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was on site and unexpectedly got goosebumps. And that was even before the actual games began.

Note: The title image is an edited collage featuring an image whose rights are owned by Riot Games. The photo was taken by Colin Young-Wolff.

I never had strong feelings about e-sports. I like watching it to see how professionals play video games on a level that I probably will never reach myself. This was also the case with League of Legends.

For the Worlds 2024, I had the opportunity to be present live at the finals. I could see the battle between BLG and T1 myself.

I didn’t have high expectations. I just wanted to experience a major e-sports event live. But I was completely surprised. I got goosebumps and was cheering before the actual matches started.

Start video
The Life of Faker – Why He is a Living Legend

The Beautiful Side of the Community

The finals of the Worlds started with musical acts, the most famous probably being Linkin Park. This really boosted the mood in the arena. People were dressed up in every corner, either in elaborate cosplay or simply as fans of the two teams. League of Legends has long been more than just a game, and you can feel that live in the community.

I initially had no strong feelings for either team. I didn’t really care who won, but that changed when a video was played. The video featured the 10 players, and various family members expressed their pride.

The video showcased the ambitions of the players, the pressure, and the human side that you rarely see behind the screen. You could just feel how much the game meant to each individual player.

Suddenly, I had goosebumps. I wanted to see the players win. You could feel the passion that the players brought to the stage. Even before the actual matches, I was captivated and not alone. The many fans celebrated the players and the teams they desperately wanted to win.

The beautiful thing was that there was no animosity toward the other team. I felt comfortable in the community, and there was no sign of the toxic reputation of the players. No matter who you were cheering for, the entire arena celebrated League of Legends.

You can watch the mentioned YouTube video here:

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Link to the YouTube content

The Best Game I Could Experience Live for the First Time

The matches themselves also intensified my new enthusiasm. T1 won, but it was a great final. Both teams fought for victory and did not give up even after defeats and setbacks. BLG and T1 showed what LoL should look like at the highest level.

Even if you don’t follow e-sports, as a LoL fan, you should watch the 5 matches because that is precisely what you love about League of Legends.

But I was particularly fascinated by the composure of the teams. With every defeat or setback in the matches, they remained calm. They kept fighting and tried to make the most of every situation. The teamwork also impressed me.

At that point, I was already fully engaged. I would have been happy for both teams, even though you could tell in the stadium that T1 had significantly more fans. But the BLG fans were also well represented. Right behind me sat a group of Chinese fans, and their enthusiasm for great plays completely swept me away.

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Finally, I Understand Football Fans

The final showed me an emotional side of e-sports that I could empathize with and immediately made me think of football fans. In my family, there are many football fans who regularly watch the games and celebrate both goals and losses, and thanks to the Worlds 2024, I was able to truly understand that for the first time.

I also cheered this time; different tactics surprised me, and even clumsy deaths or poor decisions made me tear my hair out.

I can finally understand why for many football fans, visiting a stadium is a major highlight, because I experienced that myself in LoL.

After this final, I want more. I am really looking forward to 2025 and the upcoming professional matches and, of course, the Worlds. The 2024 final did what I never thought was possible: I became an emotional e-sports fan.

Disclaimer: MeinMMO was on-site at the LoL Worlds 2024 as a press representative. The costs for the entry, travel, and stay were covered by the organizers.

For many fans, the current T1 is the best roster that the Korean team has ever had. Even aside from Faker, Gumayusi, Keria, Zeus, and Oner enjoy a large fan base. But what does the future hold for the team: LoL: The contracts of 4 players at T1 are expiring; will the championship team stay together in 2025?

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

A people in Warhammer 40,000 could easily wipe out one of the greatest threats of the world, but it has been sleeping for 60 million years

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 5 minutes

The world of Warhammer 40,000 takes place – as the name suggests – 40,000 years into the future. However, some of the most important events occur much earlier in the past and involve a race that is slowly awakening in today’s Warhammer: the Necrons. These warriors made of living metal are perhaps the greatest power in the universe. MyMMO explains who the Necrons are and where they come from.

To the untrained eye, the Necrons resemble robot zombies in space. They are made of black metal, look like walking skeletons, and do not speak. Their buildings and culture somehow resemble that of ancient Egypt.

But there is much more behind the Necrons. Their race truly lived and breathed 60 million years ago and became the soulless creatures they are today through a trick and a terrible war – long before the Emperor was even born.

Necrons possess technology that can bring an end to the entire universe – at least as we know it in Warhammer 40,000. And especially with one other power, the Necrons are particularly in conflict: Chaos.

In the rulebook it states about the Necrons: “Few races are as horrifying and dangerous as they are.” And there is a reason for that.

A mini-series by Games Workshop goes into the Necrons even more, and with The Tithes there is even a new series about the space bots:

Start video
Warhammer 40.000: The Tithes: Sacrifice – Der Trailer zur Mini-Serie von Games Workshop

A life plagued by disease – A war that wipes out an entire species

Over 60 million years ago, in the world of Warhammer 40k, there was the race of the Necrontyr, a species with enormous knowledge of technology and science. The major problem of the Necrontyr at that time, however, was their high mortality rate.

Due to solar winds and the resulting radioactive storms, the Necrontyr have been doomed to severe illness and short lives since their existence on their home world. Although they possess technology that allows them to traverse space, their short lifespans make colonizing foreign worlds difficult.

Nevertheless, the Necrontyr eventually encounter the “Old Ones,” one of the first intelligent species ever, blessed with such long lives that it is almost akin to immortality.

Despite the sickly Necrontyr’s pleas, the Old Ones are unwilling to share their knowledge. The Necrontyr, who have been torn apart by unrest until then, find a common enemy image, and a war breaks out that ultimately wipes out the Old Ones – and incidentally gives rise to many other species.

From frail sickly beings to immortal machines

During the “War in Heaven,” the Old Ones nearly defeat the Necrontyr. In a final desperate attempt, the Necrontyr turn to beings made of pure energy: the C’tan, or star gods.

Together with the C’tan, they plan a new war against the Old Ones. One of these gods, Mephet’ran the Deceiver, promises the Necrontyr eventually the things they desire the most: immortality and unity.

The rulers of the Necrontyr accept the offer, and the entire race undergoes “Biotransference”: In soul forges, the flesh of the Necrontyr is replaced by living metal. The souls of the people are lost in the process, and the Necrons are born.

Those who refuse have their limbs broken and are dragged to the forges. The last resistance is ultimately eradicated through another trick.

Immortal bodies without souls

The technology of the Necrons, and previously the Necrontyr alone, creates a weapons arsenal that is still considered the most powerful today:

  • Gauss disintegrators vaporize any matter, which ensures that Necrons are the declared enemies of the gluttonous Tyranids.
  • Anti-grav technology makes vehicles fast and agile.
  • Tesla weapons melt flesh and metal.
  • Beam weapons turn even small metal shards into deadly energy lances that pierce everything.
Warhammer Space Marine 2 Tomb Spider
A Canoptek construct of the Necrons with a Space Marine for comparison. Keep in mind: Space Marines are significantly larger than humans.

The living metal of the Necrons, however, is their most important material. This metal ensures that the bodies cannot essentially be destroyed anymore. Limbs simply reassemble. If a Necron is completely destroyed against all odds, it leaves the “phase” and reappears in a tomb world, where it is repaired or recreated.

Through the transformation and the constant cycle of death and life, most Necrons ultimately lose awareness of who they are: they become automatons. Only a few retain their mind and intelligence.

Necrons and C’tan ultimately defeat the Old Ones, who in their desperate attempt to protect themselves, create new races, inadvertently unleashing the very Warp into the world. They are eventually extinguished.

The birth of Orks and Eldar: Among the races created by the Old Ones against the Necrons, legend has it that the battle-hungry Orks in their proto form are included. Even the Aeldari, or Eldar, are said to have arisen as a warrior race for the Old Ones. Since all these races are highly psychic, the powers of Chaos react particularly strongly to them.

The Long Sleep after the War

After the war against the Old Ones, the Necrons strike against their weakened gods. As punishment for their betrayal, the C’tan are shattered into shards, as they cannot be completely destroyed.

The leader of the Necrons, the Silent King, recognizes, however, that the time of his people is over for now, and the Eldar are the dominant species that rule the galaxy. He puts his entire race into a stasis sleep.

The cities of the Necrons are transformed into necropolises, known today as tomb worlds. One of these is visited, for example, in Space Marine 2. The warriors are supposed to sleep there for 60 million years – until “now”.

Over time, many tomb worlds have been lost, others have awakened too soon or have been stirred. The Necrons are only slowly coming together again. Should they ever fully awaken, their number is said to be able to easily take on the Imperium of Man.

The Necrons’ alleged plan is to cleanse the universe and destroy the “lower species,” which for them are “nothing more than vermin.” However, they first need to eliminate one thing: the Chaos, which seeks to destroy all order.

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Blackstone – The end of Chaos?

Necrons and Chaos are essentially exact opposites. Since the C’tan cannot comprehend the Warp and cannot live within it, their creation is also vulnerable to the powers of the Immaterium. However, the Necrons have a weapon against Chaos: Blackstone.

This strange material can simply sever the connection between the real world and the Warp. The Necrons have erected a vast network of Black Fortresses and Pylons that are supposed to shield the entire galaxy from the Immaterium.

However, due to the ongoing wars in Warhammer, many of the bastions have been destroyed. One of these strongholds was Cadia. Which of the two powers would ultimately win the war is difficult to gauge, but the Necrons strive to rebuild their shield.

The problem is that humans and other psychic beings like Eldar need a connection to the Warp. Their souls are said to be at home there. What happens to them if the Warp “disappears” can only be speculated. What the awakening of the Necrons means could already be hinted at in Space Marine 2: The ending of Space Marine 2 could massively influence the future of Warhammer 40,000.

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

World of Warcraft has a big problem and it’s slowly becoming noticeable

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 3 minutes

World of Warcraft is plagued by a wealth of bugs and issues. It’s slowly becoming unfortunate – and somewhat embarrassing.

Currently, the 20th anniversary of the MMORPG is being celebrated in World of Warcraft with grand festivities. A huge event offers plenty of exclusive rewards and new content. This is actually a cause for joy, and many players are quite satisfied with what is being offered.

Start video
WoW celebrates its 20th anniversary – Here’s what you can earn

However, there are some difficulties that stand in the way of this celebration. The number of bugs and errors has drastically increased in recent weeks. Since the release of The War Within, some issues have arisen – some more drastic, others simply annoying. To mention just a random selection of them:

Additionally, there is a whole range of local problems that are especially reflected in the translations. The number of typos has drastically increased, and the translations for all current Blizzard titles are becoming more questionable – even if it’s not as bad in WoW as it is in Hearthstone.

However, it is becoming more common that for some things, the German translation is completely missing, and suddenly you hear English texts or voice lines.

WoW Blood Elf Angry Undead Roar titel title 1280x720
Many bugs are currently making WoW a frustrating experience – they are simply piling up.

Time Pressure and Lack of Quality Control

One reason for the number of problems, frequently cited by the community, seems to be the drastic reduction of the Q&A team (“Quality Assurance”). Activision Blizzard was accused of implementing the “Return to Office” orders primarily among Q&A staff to make it easier to fire them.

This inadequate quality control is also noted from time to time in the WoW subreddit.

Another factor is that World of Warcraft is now releasing new content almost constantly. Even seemingly small patches now bring so many innovations that there is hardly any time left to fix all the bugs before the update is released.

This has repeatedly led to many fans wondering: How can it be that the bug is still present in the “finished” patch when I reported it multiple times on the PTR?

Everything points to the fact that “more time pressure” and “less Q&A” together lead to a problem that is not beneficial to World of Warcraft. This is particularly unfortunate, especially since one would like to celebrate the game’s birthday and hope that the MMORPG has a long future ahead.

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Bugs Have Always Existed and It Has Been Worse

However, there are also some people who are exaggerating immensely. Because even if the quality is currently lacking due to the multitude of bugs, this is not the “buggiest WoW that has ever existed”. Those who claim that have forgotten many events from the past. To name just a few:

These are all bugs that many look back on and say: “Oh, that’s gaming history, that was amusing back then.” But if you remember the comments in the forums, it was not amusing for the players at the time and it prevented them from enjoying WoW for a long time.

There are small bugs and issues that can be forgiven. If suddenly something in an old raid doesn’t work anymore, it’s annoying but not the end of the world – it’s something you can do without for a few days. In a game of the size and complexity of World of Warcraft, there will always be strange interconnections that affect old content.

However, if the bugs cause parts of the current content to be unplayable or only barely playable, or suddenly problems arise that result in entire features needing to be temporarily disabled, then that is not a good sign. And it’s unfortunate when you actually want to celebrate something as impressive as the 20th birthday of a game.

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

Expert tests new difficulties in Diablo 4, directly masters the highest level with starting gear

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 3 minutes

With Season 6 came new difficulty levels in Diablo 4. An expert tested how far he could get with his character in hardcore mode – without strong endgame loot and with poor defensive stats.

What are these new difficulty levels? In early October, Season 6 started in Diablo 4 and introduced a new level system to the game. The maximum level for player characters is now 60, after that you collect Paragon levels – up to 300 levels. In addition, Blizzard has removed the often-criticized world tiers and replaced them with new difficulty levels:

  • Normal & Hard – unlocked by default
  • Expert – unlocked after completing the prologue of Diablo 4
  • Repentant – unlocked after the campaign/after skipping the campaign of Diablo 4
  • Torment Levels 1-4 – unlocked in the Pit

The Torment levels basically represent the endgame of Diablo 4. There you can farm the Torment bosses to obtain materials, runes, and uniques. Many players also go into the Pit to test their builds and maximize their potential.

The Diablo expert wudijo, one of the heads at maxroll.gg, has taken on a challenge again. This time he went through all Torment levels with a pre-leveled character – and weak gear.

Going through all four Torment levels with “Low Level” gear

What was the challenge? wudijo explains in his YouTube video from November 9th, that he wants to try to reach Torment Level 4 with his Spiritborn to attempt a run in the Pit at level 100. This level is already quite challenging and hardly feasible without a strong build and good gear.

Equipped, wudijo only has “Low Level” gear. Specifically, this means: His equipment has an item power between 60 and 70. Only the rings and the amulet have an item power of 200, as he did not acquire any with lower levels. He did not exchange the gear. Moreover, he plays in hardcore mode – a death of his character is permanent.

Gear at Torment Level 4 has an item power of about 750. This is also linked to the values of the affixes and the armor on the items. For the initial difficulty levels, his gear is sufficient, but not for the later Torment levels. Only the defensive values like armor and resistances to damage types become too weak due to the reduction as the difficulty increases.

Start video
Diablo 4 shows the new level system and difficulty levels in the video

“Trying a boss fight would be fun right now”

How did the challenge go? The expert starts with a Spiker Salve build of the Spiritborn at the “Repentant” level. The build is one of the strongest builds for the endgame in Season 6 of Diablo 4. The build is easy to play and equally useful against large groups and bosses. To test the difficulty levels, wudijo enters the nightmare dungeon “Ghoaruinen”.

At “Repentant” the expert has no problems, even Torment Level 1 goes smoothly. In the video, wudijo explains that he has to pay more attention at Torment Level 2, as his resistances are not well developed. “The damage is good, that’s a plus,” he notes. Still, his Spiritborn gets through the “Ghoaruinen” dungeon at Torment Levels 2 and 3 quite well.

Fights at Torment Level 4 take significantly longer. His defensive values also look pretty bad at this level due to the reduction – his armor is at 565 (1,000 is recommended). He increases his Spiritborn’s maximum health with a potion.

His strategy: End boss fights quickly before they become too dangerous. His Spiritborn also finishes the last dungeon. Afterwards, wudijo remarks: “So, that was the Torment Level 4 dungeon […]. Now I could attempt the pit run.” Then he realizes: It would actually be more fun to take on a fight against one of the Torment bosses now.

Many of the Torment bosses deal certain types of damage – Grigoire for example, deals lightning damage. Due to the poor resistances to elements, the expert chooses a boss that primarily deals physical damage. The massive damage and the poor defensive values of his heroine ultimately lead to his demise.

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How did the challenge end? The expert doesn’t even make it to the Pit because: In the fight against the Boss Lord Zir, his Spiritborn meets her end after just 10 seconds. Wudijo laughs and says: “Okay, all clear. […] I didn’t expect to take this much damage from the area effect.” He did not want to sacrifice a scroll of escape that would have saved his character from death for the run.

In a similar challenge, the Diablo expert wudijo leveled up in hardcore mode to the maximum level. He did not exchange his gear when he found stronger items, but only improved his starting gear. With that, he accomplished hard endgame content – but then failed at a particular activity in Diablo 4.

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

How much gaming developers really earn in Europe 2024

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

A report shows the current state of the gaming industry in Europe: What do you earn in game development? We see median salaries for various jobs in the industry. At the top of the food chain are experienced managers and analysts, at the bottom are the poor game testers. The type of game you develop also plays a role in salary. Anyone who loves fighting games should probably learn to also enjoy canned ravioli.

Where do the numbers come from? It is an annual survey conducted by the recruiting agency Values Value and a career platform Ingame-Job.

The survey is evaluated and visually prepared. The report can be downloaded for free (via boost.ingamejob).

The survey ran from March to June 2024, and 1,832 people responded.

How much do you earn in Europe? The statistics show eight different professional fields. The annual incomes are gross and the “median income” is indicated: This is considered, in contrast to the average, to be less susceptible to exceptions at the upper or lower ends of the spectrum.

The survey distinguishes between EU countries (including the UK and Switzerland) and non-EU countries, where salaries are significantly lower.

This is how much people in top positions in a company earn

The statistics show: Top management earns the most money at around €84,000. As an analyst, programmer, and project manager, you can still make over €60,000 in the EU zone. However, these are already jobs at the “top level”; even the game tester, who earns about €35,000 a year, is already a team lead or at least very experienced.

senior

This is how much people earn in a “Regular” job

What do you see at the mid-level? In the “mid-level” area, where you usually arrive after 2 to 3 years, salaries are significantly lower.

A “human resources specialist” earns about €37,000 in the EU. A game designer earns even slightly less. Artists and QA testers earn around €20,000, which is already in the range where money is quite tight.

mid-level

This is what beginners earn: Here, as in every field, it averages out to relatively little over the year. A game designer earns €19,368 in the EU, and outside the EU even just €6,756.

The more casual a game is, the less is paid

Does it matter what game I work on? Yes, indeed. The more “casual-friendly” the game is, the less you earn on average in your job.

For example, an employee working on a hardcore game earns about €18,000 more per year than someone working on a children’s game. Naturally, indie studios pay the worst, even if sometimes a hit comes from there.

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The genre also determines the salary

Which genre pays the best and which the worst? Just as it is important whether you work in core gaming or at an indie studio, the genre also has an impact on salary.

The cliché that typical mobile games pay well is actually true. Farm and city builders rank relatively high, as do match-3 games. These are all typical mobile games.

The best-paid genre, by the way, is real-time strategy, followed by MMOs. MMORPGs are only in the midfield.

There is the least money to be made if you work on visual novels or fighting games.

genre

How have salaries developed? As Tanja Laktionova, the founder of Values Value, reports, some salaries have decreased significantly for experienced employees in HR and game testing. This is because companies are cutting costs in these areas when things are not going well, and these positions are increasingly affected by layoffs.

Additionally, the job isn’t exactly secure. Last year, according to the survey, 21% of participants were fired. Recently, there have been many grim news from the gaming industry: Gaming publisher behind great game on Steam closes 2 days before Christmas: Fires everybody

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