LoL: HandOfBlood’s Team will not enter the LEC, attempts what other Twitch streamers have failed at

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

HandOfBlood achieved in 2024 with his team Eintracht Spandau in League of Legends what he had long wished for. But after the victory at the EMEA Masters, there was a long silence about the German eSports team. Now it is known how it will continue, and the idea reminds of another German team of a Twitch streamer.

Editorial note: The original version of the article was unclear about why NNO had to found another team, but this has been clarified.

What is Eintracht Spandau? In November 2021, the German Twitch streamer HandOfBlood founded Eintracht Spandau, a LoL team that played directly in the German Prime League. At the beginning, things did not go particularly well, but this year they were able to achieve good success.

Not only did they become the German champions of the Prime League, but they also became champions of the EMEA Masters, which is basically the Champions League in European LoL outside of the top league LEC.

What happens next was unclear for a long time. However, in a recent video, they explain the new direction of the team and it reminds of the German team NNO.

Start video
Everything you need to know about the LoL team Eintracht Spandau – in 4 minutes

They’re taking the streamer path

What does the future hold for Eintracht Spandau? In a recent YouTube video, Christian Baltes, the co-managing director of the team, and Kevin Westphal, the head of the eSports division of the team, explain how the future of the LoL team will look. They make it clear right from the start that they will not be joining the LEC.

They explain that sponsors have stagnated and viewer numbers have not grown satisfactorily: We are in an ecosystem that does not reward sporting success at all. According to the video, there has been no financial success in the three years since the team was founded.

To keep the organization sustainable, they need to reduce costs.

To do this, they want to focus more on reach. They want to shift from a sports focus to an entertainment focus. They aim to focus on players who not only want to work as professionals but also as Twitch streamers or content creators.

They will remain in the Prime League, but the players should be live more often and thus become more approachable. The players will train less and stream more.

In the end, they announce that the powerhouse of the team, PowerOfEvil, will continue to stay in the team.

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The strategy was already used by another German streamer team. The streamer team NNO has long followed a similar strategy. They did not primarily focus on eSports but continued to focus on streaming. However, when NoWay, Broeki, Karni, Agurin, and Tolkin ascended to the first German league, there was a problem.

With their own streams, they had no time for the league, and due to the regulations, they could not combine the streams with eSports. They formed a team of other players and managed the new team behind the scenes.

But ultimately, the project failed. They had too high costs and hardly made any money. The 5 streamers were simply not suited for organizational tasks.

Could Eintracht Spandau manage the shift in focus? Unlike NNO, Eintracht Spandau has a whole organization behind it. They have people who take care of bureaucratic matters, such as contracts or insurance.

How streaming and the focus on content will qualitatively affect gameplay remains to be seen. The fact is that, according to the video, they will invest less time and money in the sports aspect of the team than before. In other European countries, influencers manage LoL teams as well. A Spanish team wants to now snatch a new talent: LoL: Team of a streamer wants to bring a talent from the USA to Europe – Would make history

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

A young actress wanted to star in The Big Bang Theory but was rejected – Today you know her as a Marvel star

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

When one thinks of the series The Big Bang Theory, one quickly also thinks of Penny and her actress Kaley Cuoco. However, she was not the only one who wanted a role in the series. Another actress, who is now known as a Marvel star, auditioned for the series.

A lot changed for The Big Bang Theory before actual production. The group of four nerds and Penny was not set from the beginning as we know it today. Many actors auditioned for the roles.

Penny as a character has probably undergone the most bizarre changes. At one point, she was planned as a robot, and at another time, she was even a different character, with a different actress – But that version was hated by test audiences.

After a while, it naturally comes out who else auditioned for various roles in such a series. Particularly interesting is an actress who is mainly known these days as a major Marvel heroine.

Start video
The Big Bang Theory – Trailer of Season 1

An unknown actress wanted to get into the series

Which actress is it? In 2020, actress Brie Larson talked in a YouTube video about various auditions she had in the past. She also mentions that she auditioned for The Big Bang Theory. However, she was rejected because she was too young.

While she doesn’t specify which role it was, one can assume it was the role of Penny. Although Brie Larson is only 3 years younger than Kaley Cuoco. But as The Hollywood Reporter reports, Cuoco was also initially rejected for being too young for the role of Katie, which later became Penny.

Where do we know Brie Larson from today? In the early 2000s, Brie Larson was not a big name in Hollywood yet. She played smaller supporting roles in series. Then came films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in 2010 or 21 Jump Street in 2012. In 2017, she starred in the major blockbuster Kong: Skull Island.

In 2019, she was first seen as Captain Marvel in the eponymous film. She also embodied the character multiple times in the MCU. For instance, in Avengers: Endgame in 2019 or in The Marvels in 2022.

Although she appears in large franchises, she is also present in smaller films and series and is often praised for her performance. In 2016, she even received the Oscar for Best Actress for the film Room.

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As The Hollywood Reporter reports, several actresses were interested in the role of Penny. Among them was Marisa Tomei, who even auditioned with Jim Parsons. Most people probably know Tomei as Peter Parker’s aunt from the current Spider-Man films.

Tara Reid and Elizabeth Berkley are also said to have auditioned. Reid is primarily known from trash productions like Sharknado, while Berkley played smaller roles in various series, including CSI or Saved by the Bell. But not only with the character Penny was there a lot going on behind the scenes. Raj and especially his actor had a major problem: The Big Bang Theory: One of the main actors was fired for no reason – but the creator brought him back

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

LoL: Team of a streamer wants to bring a talent from the USA to Europe – Would make history

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Europe is currently struggling in League of Legends. The EU teams have not really performed well at the current Worlds. Only G2 has shown potential. The team of the biggest Twitch streamer from Europe now wants to compete too and is likely to bring in a prodigy from the USA.

Which team is it about? Three EU teams have made it to the Worlds 2024. Among them is MAD Lions KOI, a team that partly belongs to Ibai, the biggest Twitch streamer in Europe. However, the team is not really doing well.

At the Worlds 2024, the team was eliminated in the Swiss Stage without winning a match. However, they do not want to give up. In order to compete against the top teams from Europe, they want to grab a prodigy – and it just happens to be from the US region.

Start video
LoL abolishes the LCS!

A young prodigy from Canada

Which player is it about? Jojopyun is a Canadian midlaner who played for Cloud9 until 2024. With Evil Geniuses, he even competed at the Worlds in 2022 and he holds the record as the youngest player to ever win the LCS. He is considered a young prodigy due to his great talent, although he has only been active as a professional LoL player since 2020.

As Dexerto reported, there were problems between Cloud9 and Jojopyun, leaving him currently without a team. For Mad Lions KOI, this actually fits pretty well, as they terminated their collaboration with midlaner Fresskowy after the poor Worlds performance.

According to sources from the esports site Sheep Esports, Jojopyun has even reached a verbal agreement with Mad Lions Koi to replace Fresskowy as a midlaner. Saint, OMON, and Kamiloo were also in talks.

The special thing about this is that with a potential deal, Jojopyun would be the first NA player to join the European league LEC in a starting roster. This has never happened in the history of League of Legends.

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Whether he will really join the LEC has not been officially confirmed yet. An official announcement is likely to be seen in the next few weeks, as MAD Lions KOI will have to announce a replacement for Fresskowy.

The European region urgently needs a resurgence of new talent to keep up with China and South Korea in the long term. With such a player, at least fresh air would be brought to the league, as one of the biggest problems seems to be that good players do not have good opponents to develop further. Twitch streamer NoWay also says this: Twitch streamer explains Europe and G2’s disappointing performance at LoL Worlds – Proves to be a prophet

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Dexerto
  2. Sheep Esports
  3. Leaguepedia

Twitch employee responds to accusation that it is no longer a gaming site

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

“Just Chatting” is the most successful category on the streaming platform Twitch, but the community is less enthusiastic about it. In a livestream, a Twitch employee was confronted with criticism that Twitch was allegedly no longer a gaming site and responded.

What is “Just Chatting”? With over 55 million hours of watchtime, the “Just Chatting” category is the most popular on Twitch (via streamcharts). In these streams, no video games are played; instead, the streamers just chat with their audience.

Streamers can engage in different activities alongside, but this is not always the case. Especially during the Corona pandemic, “Just Chatting” was a very popular category.

Categories like “Just Chatting” invite what are called IRL streams. In these, people stream their travels or attendance at certain real-life events. The community can thus partake in the experiences of the streamers.

There are many different streamers on Twitch. In our video, we introduce you to three German female streamers:

Start video
3 German Twitch streamers you should know

Community dissatisfied with the development of Twitch

What is the community dissatisfied with? Twitch originated in the gaming scene. It was a platform for streaming video game play. Twitch is increasingly moving away from this origin and is targeting a broader audience with its content.

Some long-time viewers who watch Twitch solely for gaming content are upset about this. The “Just Chatting” category can also contain content that is not suitable for younger viewers.

This includes the so-called “Hot Tub” streams, where streamers sit in a pool wearing little clothing. This is a loophole in Twitch’s guidelines that state that streamers can wear little as long as it relates to pool content. By now, “Hot Tub” streams even have their own category on Twitch.

“Why is Twitch no longer a gaming site?”

What did the Twitch employee say? In a Twitch stream, the head of the community department, merrykish, and a senior producer from Twitch answered viewer questions. The stream was held due to the latest patch notes.

One viewer’s question was: “Why is Twitch no longer a gaming site?” Merrykish replied that Twitch is still a gaming site but that “Just Chatting” has joined in and become the largest category over the past three years.

The community would, according to Kish, show what they like to watch on Twitch and that they also want to see things outside of video games.

However, gaming will always remain the “livelihood” of the streaming platform. “Just Chatting” will be supported just as much as the video game content on the site.

You can watch the excerpt of the stream here:

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How did the community react to the statement? Reactions are mixed. Some agree with her, while others continue to criticize the rise of the “Just Chatting” category due to its dangers for younger viewers.

Twitch is continually criticized as a platform, particularly by its own community. Through updates and new guidelines, they often tread on users’ toes. This was also the case for the VTuber community when they established new rules regarding their utilized characters: A community feels specifically targeted by Twitch’s new rules

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

CoD Black Ops 6 Zombies: All Gum, Perks and Ammo Mods in Overview

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

To succeed in the Zombie mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and survive as many rounds as possible, you need to choose the right equipment. To give you an overview, we summarize all the available gums, perks, and ammunition mods here at release.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, there are 28 different gums, 6 Perk-a-Colas, and 5 ammunition mods. Each of these items has a special effect and helps you survive against the zombie hordes.

If you want to access a specific item list, you can jump to the respective topic here:

By the way, you can find a summary of the most important information about the Zombie mode here: CoD Black Ops 6: Everything you need to know about the new Zombie mode

[toc]

All Gums Overview

How many gums are there? In CoD Black Ops 6, there are a total of 28 different gums available at launch across 5 rarity tiers:

  • Rare
  • Epic
  • Legendary
  • Ultra
  • Wacky

Here you can see an overview of all gums and their rarity tiers. After the image, you will find a detailed listing of the candies and their effects.

CoD Black Ops 6 Zombies Gums
All Gums and their Rarities Overview

Rare Gums

Stock Option

  • Lasts 1 minute
  • The ammunition is taken from your supply and not from the weapon’s magazine.

Kill Joy

  • Spawns an “Insta-Kill” power-up.

Anywhere But Here!

  • Instantly teleports you to a random location.
  • A stunning explosion knocks nearby zombies away.

Cache Backe

  • Spawns a “Max Ammo” power-up

Temporal Gift

  • Activates on the next time-dependent power-up.
  • A power-up lasts longer.

Shields Up

  • Lasts 3 minutes
  • The armor is twice as strong.

Arsenal Accelerator

  • Lasts 5 minutes
  • Charges your field equipment faster.
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Epic Gums

Nowhere But There!

  • Instantly teleport to a randomly selected downed player.
  • Instant revival of nearby players.

Who’s Keeping Score?

  • Spawns a “Double Points” power-up.

Free Fire

  • Lasts 1 minute
  • No ammunition is used when firing weapons. Does not work with Wonder Weapons.

Soda Fountain

  • Activates when buying a perk
  • The next perk purchased gives an additional random perk.

Profit Sharing

  • Lasts 2 minutes
  • A portion of the essence you earn is also received by nearby players and vice versa.

Respin Cycle

  • Re-spins the weapon in the mystery box after it has turned into a weapon of equal or higher rarity.

Exit Strategy

  • Immediately activates the extraction vote. Reduces zombie spawns during the extraction.
Start video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows the zombie mode in the trailer

Legendary Gums

Idle Eyes

  • Lasts 30 seconds
  • All zombies ignore you and stand still.

Wall Power

  • Activates on wall purchase
  • The next weapon bought from a wall is a Pack-a-Punched weapon.

Crate Power

  • Activates when spinning the mystery box
  • The next weapon pulled from the mystery box is Pack-a-Punched.

Phoenix Up

  • Revives all team members
  • Team members revived by the gum retain their perks

On the House

  • Spawns a “Perk Can” power-up

Wall to Wall Clearance

  • Lasts 30 seconds
  • Wall purchases cost 10 essence.

Immolation Liquidation

  • Spawns a “Fire Sale” power-up

Ultra Gums

Perkaholic

  • Gives the player all Perk-a-Colas on the map.

Near Death Experience

  • Lasts three minutes
  • You can revive or be revived by being near other players.
  • Players revived by the gum retain all their perks.

Hidden Power

  • Upgrade your currently held weapon to Legendary rarity.

Wonderbar!

  • Activates on the next spin of the mystery box.
  • The next weapon from the mystery box will be a wonder weapon.

Reign Drops

  • Spawns all core power-ups at once
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Wacky Gums

Newtonian Negation

  • Lasts 3 minutes
  • Dead zombies fall straight up.

Indiegestion

  • Lasts 3 minutes
  • Dead zombies have extreme flatulence.

If you start a run in the Zombie mode of CoD Black Ops 6, you will have a package of 5 gums with you from the beginning. This is different for Perk-a-Colas and ammunition mods, which you will only get during the course of the round.

On page 2 you will find all Perk-a-Colas and ammunition mods from CoD Black Ops 6.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2

I tested a phone for under 100 euros with Android 14 – is it really as bad as it sounds?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 6 minutes

Can you get through everyday life with a phone for under 100 euros in 2024? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann bought a device and explains what works well and what you have to forego in this price range.

Many manufacturers, such as Samsung and Apple, have now far exceeded the threshold of 1,000 euros and phones are expected to become significantly more expensive in 2025. But what if you don’t want to spend more than 100 euros on a phone?

For this reason, I bought a very cheap phone to find out if a device for under 100 euros in 2024 is worth it. Two years ago, I also tested such a budget phone for under 100 euros. I was also curious to see if anything has changed in the budget range compared to before.

What did I pay attention to when buying? I made sure that it was a current model from 2024 and that I would get a modern Android. This is still Android 14, number 15 has only been distributed for a few weeks. My last criterion was to stay under 100 euros.

In the end, I decided on the Oukitel C53. The device is priced at 99.99 euros, but it is rarely sold at the MSRP. Technically, you get a 6.6-inch phone with an IPS display and an entry-level 8-core processor. In addition to the camera (13 MP and 5 MP selfie), it has a 4300 mAh battery.

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Technical details of the Oukitel C53 in table format:

Display and Hz rate6.6 inch HD+ IPS display with 60 Hz
Dimensions and weight165.7 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm; 215 grams
Resolution720 x 1612 pixels with 267 ppi
CPUOcta-Core, Spreadtrum Unisoc SC9863A, 4 x 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A55, 4 x 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A55
RAM4 GB RAM
Storage64 GB, expandable up to 1 TB
Main camera13 MP
Selfie camera5 MP with face recognition
Network2G, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth: 4.2 LE
Price (MSRP)99.99 €

Who tested it?

I am a tech editor at MeinMMO and have a penchant for peripherals, testing mice, keyboards, and gaming headsets. I have been testing hardware for our readers at MeinMMO for many years. Especially gaming mice are among my absolute favorites. In addition to the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck.

Transparency notice: I ordered the C53 myself via Amazon.

asks meinmmo benedikt

Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware editor MeinMMO

Performance good, battery life excellent

How does the model feel in everyday life? I use the phone in everyday life to go shopping or to make calls with agencies. And here the device works excellently. Even to pick up a package at the packing station or use Microsoft Teams, the performance is more than sufficient.

The battery life is also impressive. In everyday life, the battery lasts 5 to 6 days before I need an outlet. Unfortunately, charging takes a very long time, as fast charging is not supported and wireless charging is also not available.

What I also like: The 6.6-inch display is surprisingly bright and also easy to read outdoors. Checking Google Maps or calls outside is therefore no problem.

Oukitel C53 outside
The Oukitel C53 offers a surprisingly bright display

The storage space is not huge at 64 GB, but it can still be expanded with a memory card. This is still common in this price range.

Can you play with it? I actually tried the fairly demanding Diablo: Immortal on the Oukitel C53. It works, but it does not run smoothly even at the lowest settings. Occasionally, the cutscenes also stutter.

Oukitel C53 side view
The Oukitel C53 in side view.

Camera and Android issues

How good is the camera? I am quite honest: The camera is below average. For a snapshot, it is definitely sufficient if you want to photograph a price tag or a list of ingredients just before shopping.

However, if you really want to take good photos, you are better off with a proper camera or an expensive phone:

  • Close-ups are very blurry and inaccurate.
  • Colors look dull, unnatural, and lacking in detail.
  • In poor lighting conditions, such as many clouds, the sensor hardly copes and the pictures are noisy.

For a direct comparison, I took shots with both the C53 and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Here you can clearly see the differences.

Close-ups: On the left the Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the right the Oukitel C53:

Photo Galaxy S21 Ultra close-up
Photo taken with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, close-up
Photo Oukitel C53 close-up
Photo taken with the Oukitel C53, close-up

Notably, the colors are significantly more muted and the Oukitel has a slight blurriness. Pay attention to the face of the sheep or the outlines in the image.

Once with the default setting: On the left the Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the right the Oukitel C53:

Photo Galaxy S21 Ultra normal
Photo taken with Galaxy S21 Ultra, normal setting
Photo Oukitel C53 normal shot
Photo taken with Oukitel C53, normal shot

Pay attention especially to the colors: With the Oukitel (right), the colors look much more muted, and the background is blurrier compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

What about Android? Basically, the Oukitel C53 offers you a modern OS with Android 14. However, security updates have not been available for a long time. If you work with such cheap devices as I do, you know: Manufacturers ship the devices, deliver a handful of updates, and then it’s over. You are only on an up-to-date update level with the big manufacturers.

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Very good device for everyday tasks, conditionally suitable for gaming and photos

What is my conclusion? For under 100 euros, I am really positively surprised. The phone runs surprisingly smoothly, and the battery life is excellent: With an active network (SIM card) and daily use during shopping, the battery lasts between 5 and 6 days. Even my Galaxy S21 Ultra can’t keep up, where the battery manages only 2 days at most.

On the other hand, you can tell that the manufacturer had to save: The camera is really weak, and the images seem to get noise as soon as a cloud covers the sun. And yes, while it is Android 14, security patch level is from August 2024. You won’t really receive regular updates despite Android 14.

Also annoying: The battery takes 4-6 hours to fully charge, and there is no fast charging function available in this price range. So quick charging is also not possible.

For whom is the device recommended?

  • You are looking for a device for making calls or chatting.
  • For undemanding tasks like emails, calendars, and shopping.
  • You want to travel and only need your phone to be reachable.

For whom is it not worth it?

  • You want to regularly engage in gaming with your device.
  • You want to actively use your phone for photography.

Are there alternatives? Yes, there are other manufacturers like Ulefone and Xiaomi that offer very cheap phones in this range. Blackview and Oukitel itself also offer more affordable models.

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Android 15 was released in 2024, but many phones do not receive the update. What does this mean for me as a user? Am I at risk because I am using an old Android phone? You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO: How dangerous is it if my phone does not get an update to Android 15?

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

The 5 strongest attacks that were only used once in animes

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 4 minutes

Many anime heroes master exaggeratedly strong attacks that can eliminate evil. Some of these are so overpowered that they are used only once in the anime. MeinMMO has looked at the most extreme attacks and compiled a power ranking.

Warning, spoiler: The article contains various spoilers for different anime. We mainly discuss the outcomes of certain battles.

What is the ranking based on? The ranking only considered attacks, moves, or states that occur only once. It is possible that the attacks were used by other characters in the past, but are not seen in the anime itself. 

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As a small example: it could be that Son-Goku’s Genkidama overshadows several of the attacks mentioned here. However, since the Genkidama was used multiple times, it does not qualify for this ranking.

Rank 5: Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor

One Piece Ace
Ace creates a small sun.
  • Anime: One Piece
  • User: Puma D. Ace

What kind of attack is this? This attack is Ace’s trump card and his strongest attack. The pirate creates a gigantic fireball thanks to his Devil Fruit, which looks like a small sun. The ball can then be hurled at an opponent to annihilate them.

When is it used? Ace uses the attack against Pirate King Blackbeard as a final move. The two battle on an island, with Blackbeard relying entirely on his darkness powers. Unfortunately, Ace ultimately lost the duel and was captured by Blackbeard.

Rank 4: Baryon Mode

Naruto Baryon Mode
Naruto’s appearance during Baryon Mode.
  • Anime: Boruto
  • User: Naruto Uzumaki

What kind of attack is this? Baryon Mode is a state that Kurama, the nine-tailed fox, can enter with his Jinchuuriki. It resembles nuclear fusion, where Naruto’s and Kurama’s chakra creates a new form of energy that greatly enhances Naruto’s powers. The attack consumes all of Kurama’s chakra, meaning the fox spirit completely disappears from the user.

When is it used? Naruto used the power in battle against Isshiki Otsutsuki, a member of the Otsutsuki clan that includes Kaguya. Using Baryon Mode, Naruto was able to drain the remaining life energy from Isshiki upon physical contact. By the end of the fight, he crumbled into dust. However, the price was that Kurama disappeared from Naruto.

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Pages: 1 2

Diablo 4 has made it easier to obtain the best items with Season 6 – Players are now demanding the old system back

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 2 minutes

With Season 6, the developers have made a big overhaul of Diablo 4. Among other things, you can craft Mythic Uniques in two ways. However, players are anything but thrilled.

In Diablo 4, you have the opportunity to craft the rarest items yourself. With “Resplendent Sparks,” you can craft Mythic Uniques and even in Season 6 in two different ways:

  • From two Resplendent Sparks and 50,000,000 gold at the blacksmith
  • From two Resplendent Sparks, runes, and 5,000 gold at the jeweler

Where to get the sparks and what you can craft is explained in our overview.

This is the difference in the crafting systems: However, there is one important difference in crafting mythics, namely: at the blacksmith, you need fewer materials but receive a random mythic. Conversely, at the jeweler, you craft a specific Mythic Unique but need a ton of runes.

Players criticize the new system and wish to return to the old approach. Before Season 6, you needed four sparks but received the mythic you selected – without any randomness.

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Diablo 4: Der Gameplay-Trailer zur 6. Season, der Saison des aufsteigenden Hasses

The random crafting is said to be “painful”

What are players criticizing? In a post on Reddit, Ornery_Departure6262 writes that they wish the crafting with 4 “Resplendent Sparks” would come back. They are at Paragon level 210, have collected three sparks, and have three useless mythics stored in the chest.

Before Season 6, they could have crafted the mythic they needed from them, they write. Now they have to rely on the random generator because they don’t have enough runes. They are not buying the DLC. The runes are part of the first expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred.

Various users discuss the runes in the comments. For example, imyourdad789 writes that crafting mythics is a bit too difficult this season. Blizzard should require 2 of each rune instead of 6.

In Diablo 4, you can craft runes at the jeweler, but that also happens randomly, as you receive a random rune for 3 identical runes. The random rune crafting is “painful,” writes Rathma86 in the comment.

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What players recommend: Individual players give tips on how to get runes faster in order to craft mythics. Klaus0225 suggests visiting the undercity of Kurast and using rune tributes. With the tributes, you have higher chances of getting rune drops. hugcub suggests using the tributes of the titans to farm boss materials. They note that they were able to collect enough runes from the bosses to craft mythics.

What do you think of the new crafting system? Have you been able to craft a mythic with it, or do you still lack certain runes? Feel free to leave us a comment.

Other players have randomly received mythic uniques even though they actually wanted to “buy” boots from a merchant. Generally, the merchant seems to be a good source for strong loot in Season 6. You can find out more about it here: You can easily get the rarest items in Diablo 4 from a merchant

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

Too little gold in World of Warcraft? Players complain about high costs

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 4 minutes

World of Warcraft is getting more expensive, everything costs more gold – but you get less of it. But is that really true?

In World of Warcraft, it is sometimes like in the real world – without money, not much works. Gold is basically needed for almost all activities in the game, even if it’s just to repair equipment. However, farming gold in World of Warcraft has become tougher – at least that is the opinion of some people in the various forums of the game. But is that really the case?

Start video
WoW: The War Within – Forces Within

What is the current problem? Looking at the official forums or the WoW subreddit, a post appears every few days complaining that you earn too little gold in World of Warcraft to cover the “running costs” for endgame activities, such as repairs, enchants, or buff food. It is claimed to be harder than ever to earn solid gold to engage with the content that is enjoyable.

When was it better? Looking back at the history of World of Warcraft, the best time for earning gold was probably around a year into the “Warlords of Draenor” expansion. Here, players could earn massive amounts of gold through the garrison. Quests sometimes offered several thousand gold pieces as rewards – and those who played many characters could maximize their yield. Some amassed many millions back then and still benefit from it today.

This period was not healthy for the game’s economy, even though some may long for it today.

What is the real problem? If you look at the comments from different players, the opportunities to earn gold are actually no different than in recent years. The problem is rather that gold must be actively earned and engaged with. Many endgame activities don’t provide a passive gold flow that ensures a stable income.

WoW Gold Orc Laugh Goblin Cry titel title 1280x720
Some have no gold – others are making a fortune.

Those who primarily play mythic dungeons or raids need to upgrade their equipment. Not just repairs, but also enchants, gems, weapon oils, and buff food must be purchased to truly participate.

However, raids and dungeons do not generate much gold themselves. A “Mythic+” dungeon gives only a meager 54 gold as a “consolation prize,” and a raid boss usually provides a similar amount. Wiping once usually incurs higher costs already.

Additionally, there are further spending opportunities. The professions system has NPC quests that reward you with profession knowledge upon completion. However, you often need to buy materials to complete them.

Most players wish they could earn gold in the activities they primarily play – meaning that “Mythic+” and “raids” would automatically cover the necessary gold costs required for this content.

You have to “work” for gold – that’s always been the case

Gold has always been a limited resource in World of Warcraft, primarily gained through one thing: time. You invest time by farming something. Whether it’s completing quests, gathering herbs and ores, or special items that others buy.

What often surprises me in the discussion is the lack of ability to see things holistically. People complain that enchants in the auction house cost 25,000 gold – that it’s way too much and that one can’t earn that much gold.

The answer to that: Yes, you can. Just be an enchanter and use your profession.

Every profession in World of Warcraft can currently generate a solid gold stream that can cover the costs in the game.

The only thing you have to spend for that is time.

Of course, we can debate whether that is still contemporary (Ha, pun!). I understand people who say: Hey, I just want to play Mythic+ or raids. I don’t want to have to farm gold to then be able to play the content I enjoy.

But I believe that this is an essential part of an MMORPG with a player-driven market. If gold didn’t matter, then many systems in the game would be inappropriate, and the whole MMORPG surrounding it would need to be overhauled.

WoW Gnome Cheer chest loot titel title 1280x720

How can you earn gold in WoW? There are many ways to do so, each with varying efficiency. Here are some simple ideas that anyone can do:

  • World quests: Some world quests offer a daily gold reward of 800 gold or more, usually earned in under 2 minutes.
  • Weekly tasks: The reward boxes from most weekly tasks grant 1,000 gold and more.
  • Farm wax: Collect wax deposits. These almost always contain crafting materials that you can sell in the auction house. You can exchange the wax and buy a bag with crafting materials – for example, ores. It always contains a zero stone, which is worth several thousand gold.

If you need more detailed tips on gold farming in The War Within, our guide can help.

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Conclusion: Gold is a problem if you don’t want to deal with it

World of Warcraft has changed. While previously many players played “the whole game,” many are now focused on individual content – for example, they only log in for raids or Mythic+.

However, these are content types that generate no gold at all – because they primarily generate rewards in the form of better equipment. That’s what these contents are primarily there for.

Gold does not come without some form of effort – otherwise, the inflation in the game would be even greater than it currently is. Therefore, one must specifically set aside some time with the intention: “I’m going to do something that earns me gold”.

It doesn’t have to be much time. With half an hour a week, you can usually cover ongoing costs already. And for those who cannot even accept the idea of spending time to earn gold – there’s always the WoW token and thus the option of using real money. Though opinions on that vary.

What is your experience with gold in World of Warcraft? Do you find it too exhausting to cover the daily costs in the game right now? Or are you one of those savvy auction house pros, who within seconds rake in millions of gold because they catch the perfect time?

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

After that you will see Darth Vader with different eyes

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

In a new video, Marco from Nerdkultur talks about one of the most famous villains in film history: Darth Vader. He shows how many actors were involved in the character and what else lies behind the dark Sith Lord.

Who is Marco Risch? Marco Risch has been uploading videos with news, reviews, analyses, and interviews about current movies, series, and video games on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur since 2015. 

In his Podcast Nerd & Kultur he chats every Sunday with his colleague Yves Arievich about topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. Together, they are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.

In a new video, Marco talks about Darth Vader and shows how many actors and ideas are behind the iconic character:

Start video
Marco from Nerdkultur analyzes Darth Vader from Star Wars

Darth Vader is not just one person

Few villains in film history are as iconic as Darth Vader. Marco shows this in a new video, where he particularly deals with the backgrounds behind Darth Vader. A major point of the video is that Darth Vader is not just one single person.

Marco identifies 7 individuals who have been behind the mask in nearly 50 years of Star Wars. One of the least known is Bob Anderson. Anderson was once an Olympic fencer who worked in Hollywood after his athletic career. He provided excellent swordfight choreography.

However, agility was not required in the lightsaber battle. George Lucas wanted the weight of the lightsabers to be conveyed in the fight. However, David Prowse, the actor for Vader, was unable to execute the choreography due to his physique.

For the fight scenes in Star Wars – Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, Anderson himself slipped into the costume and duelled with Luke Skywalker.

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The design of a samurai

There is also a lot behind the design of Darth Vader. Marco explains that the colors play an important role. Darth Vader is dressed entirely in black, while the stormtroopers and the background are white. He is the contrast that immediately catches the eye. According to Marco, this reminds of The Hidden Fortress by Akira Kurosawa.

Thus, Darth Vader is also visually inspired by a samurai. His iconic appearance is thanks to John Mollo and Ralph McQuarrie. They combined a motorcycle suit, a church robe, a gas mask, and a Wehrmacht helmet.

His iconic breathing comes from Ben Burtt, the sound designer of the films. He simply held a microphone to the breathing apparatus of a diving suit.

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But that is just a small part of Marco’s video. Anyone who wants to know exactly which actors were also important for Darth Vader and what film tricks were used to make him who he is should watch the video. Another analysis from Marco is about the sci-fi movie Dune 2: After that, you’ll see DUNE 2 in a new light

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

“Thank you for your hard work” A guild from Throne and Liberty is so kind to each other that others can only marvel

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Although Throne and Liberty is all about the guilds trying to ascend the throne, one guild stands out with its approach. It is particularly friendly and delights the community.

Who is it about? On Reddit, the user Br1ghtest showcases the guild chat of a guild. Within it, there are messages, translated from Japanese, thanking a player who had said goodbye for the day earlier.

Messages like the following fill the entire chat:

  • “Thank you very much for your hard work”
  • “Thank you very much for your visit”
  • “Thank you very much for your support.”

Players who thank others for playing and are so friendly with each other seem to actually be a rarity. At least that’s what the community finds.

Why a large and active guild in Throne and Liberty is so important is explained here:

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

Community is amazed

How does the guild come across? On Reddit, the guild manages to astonish the community. Very few have experienced such friendly guilds before, and they are even rarer in Throne and Liberty. Here, guilds frequently create problems internally as well. Even Reddit users report rarely experiencing such nice gestures in their own guilds, even outside of Throne and Liberty.

On Reddit, BicycleOne865 notes, “We can learn a lot from them.” The user AynixII responds to Reddit that this has already been done in Final Fantasy XIV and adds: “Why? Because it was enforced in the beginning and then became a habit. Other MMOs allow toxicity, so they are toxic.”

The user fymp thinks on Reddit that this is due to cultural differences: “A non-toxic community. The Japanese culture is different.” Lonely-Piper5715 adds on Reddit: “In Western culture, I feel like I’m constantly stuck in middle school.”

It seems to be different for some users in their guilds. Legal_Application170 reports on Reddit somewhat sarcastically that you get kicked from American guilds if you go offline.

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What does the post trigger? The post on Reddit that shares the chat messages triggers in many a desire to be in such a guild or to change their own guild accordingly.

Some now want to switch to a Japanese guild, although there are surely also Japanese guilds that are not as friendly as the guild whose chat was published.

If you are out by yourself or with friends and one of the strong guilds blocks your way to the boss again, just try this trick. With it, you can easily walk past them: In Throne and Liberty guilds block your way to a boss, but with a trick you can simply walk past them

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

Cristiano Ronaldo costs only 10,000 coins in EA FC 25: 5 reasons why you should play him now

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 4 minutes

In EA FC 25, Cristiano Ronaldo, short Ronaldo or CR7, is no longer considered one of the top categories of the best strikers and therefore costs only 10,000 coins in Ultimate Team. However, he is still excellent for the current meta of the game. On MeinMMO, we present you with 5 reasons why you should try the Portuguese at his current price.

This is why Cristiano Ronaldo costs only 10,000 coins:

  • CR7 is no longer among the fastest players in FC 25 in Ultimate Team
  • despite his 5-star special moves, his dribbling feels cumbersome
  • he does not possess the usual best PlayStyles in FC 25* for shooting, passing, or dribbling
  • he is hard to link (Professional Saudi League)

Although Ronaldo still enjoys a cult status among many fans, he is not used as frequently in FC 25 as other major strikers, who even have a worse rating than the Portuguese (86 rating).

For comparison, consider the number of games played by Premier League striker Alexander Isak (85 rating). According to the database of the EA FC service page Futbin, he is played almost twice as often: Ronaldo has around 650,000 games; Isak 1.2 million games in FC 25 (as of October 22, 2024).

Start video
EA FC 25 trailer shows new features for Ultimate Team

5 Reasons why you should play Ronaldo in the current meta

Why the former world footballer Ronaldo could be much more than a cult figure in Ultimate Team in FC 25, we will reveal to you below.

1. Reason: Golden PlayStyle for OP Power Shots

Power shots (hold L1+R1 during shot charging on PlayStation/ LB and RB on Xbox) are almost too good at this point in FC 25. While you have to take care of aiming completely by yourself, once you get the hang of it, you can score from almost any position with these powerful shots.

Ronaldo possesses the “Power Shot” PlayStyle in Gold. This significantly shortens the charging time, and the shots come at the goal with even greater force:

EA FC 25 Cristiano Ronaldo PlayStyles Focus on Power Shot Gold
In addition to the power shot, Ronaldo has 5 more PlayStyles in FC 25.

The Power Shot PlayStyle is especially effective for direct shots. If you have Ronaldo in your team, we recommend using this shooting method, especially for long-range shots with the Portuguese.

Even if the goalkeeper reaches the balls and deflects them for a corner, Ronaldo’s heading strength automatically forces the next dangerous situation after set pieces.

2. Reason: PlayStyle for strong outside foot shots

If your opponent defends Ronaldo’s power shots well, you can also rely on another helpful shot. The “Trivela” PlayStyle, which Ronaldo possesses in Silver, gives your outside foot shots (L2+Square on PlayStation/ LT+B on Xbox) even more accuracy.

These shots are excellent for curling the ball past the opposing goalkeeper with a lot of effects. If you initially don’t find the right spots for these shots, the Trivela PlayStyle also activates automatically in some moments and offers you a sort of shot assistance.

3. Reason: Strong finishing even under pressure

All these shooting techniques would be worth much less if your player were to miss the shots under pressure. Ronaldo has a crucial value that helps him maintain his composure in front of goal, even under pressure:

EA FC 25 Cristiano Ronaldo Stats
CR7 has a strong composure rating of 92. See the last value under Dribbling.

The value mentioned is the composure value, which you can find under the stat “Dribbling”. Only the strongest strikers with the best shots in FC 25, like Harry Kane from Bayern, hold this value above 90.

Combined with his strong physical attributes (Ronaldo has his own body type in EA FC), the high composure value ensures that his shots do not lose quality under pressure from opponents.

4. Reason: Heading strength after crosses and set pieces

Ronaldo has retained his danger from set pieces over the years. His tremendous jumping ability and heading precision, combined with the PlayStyles “In the Air” and “Power Header,” make him a difference-maker on high deliveries like crosses and corners, making him hard to defend.

EA FC 25 Cristiano Ronaldo jumps highest after a corner
Jumps higher than anyone else: Ronaldo dominates in the air after a corner.

Especially corners are a reliable method in FC 25 if executed well and can save you points in tight games. If you have Ronaldo in your team, select him before the match in the team management in the corner instructions as a target man so that he automatically positions himself in the most dangerous area during a corner.

5. Reason: Strong tricks through PlayStyle and 5-star special moves

Since Ronaldo can no longer sprint past his opponents, he must rely on his technique and trick skills. With the 5-star special moves, Ronaldo can perform even the most difficult skills in FC 25. This makes him harder to predict.

Add to that the “Tricks” PlayStyle, which further expands his repertoire of special dribbling abilities. In FC 25, the Tricks PlayStyle allows you not only to execute unique flick movements with the right analog stick but also very strong shot feints (X button while charging a shot on PlayStation/ A button on Xbox).

With these special feints, you can delicately roll the ball past your opponent while they expect a shot from Ronaldo.

The tricks shot feint was one of two new cool skill moves in FC 25 that we introduced in more detail on MeinMMO.

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By now, there are already some well-playable cards from the Saudi Professional or ROSHN Saudi League (SAU 1) that you can use to get Ronaldo to full chemistry. For chemistry styles for Ronaldo, we recommend either “Hunter” to boost his speed and finishing or giving him more finishing, dribbling, and physicality with “Marksman” to additionally receive the running style “sustained (controlled).”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s eternal rival Lionel Messi also no longer counts among the most popular cards in FC 25, although he is still very playable. On MeinMMO, we find that Messi is especially suited against deep defending opposing 5-man lines: In EA FC 25, you can get one of the best players of all time for just 20,000 coins

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

Fans of The Witcher star Henry Cavill attacked a German influencer because they thought he was having a relationship with her

Lydia Lydia Reading time 2 minutes

The young mother Marie shares content about gardening and self-sufficiency under the name “Wurzelwerk” on YouTube. But then she caught the attention of fans of former Witcher star Henry Cavill.

What kind of influencer is she? Marie, aka Wurzelwerk, is a German blogger and YouTuber who produces content on gardening and self-sufficiency. She has over 474,000 subscribers on YouTube.

What started as a hobby has long become a full-time job: The YouTuber now has a large team, her own farm – and an alleged relationship with actor Henry Cavill.

Henry Cavill has many fans – including a cute dog.

Start video
Bitch falls in love with Henry Cavill and is invited by Netflix to the Witcher premiere

Fans discovered Henry Cavill’s house in a photo

What were the rumors? The rumors about a relationship between the influencer and Henry Cavill originated from DeuxMoi, a celebrity gossip page. In October 2023, a post appeared where an anonymous informant claimed that a British actor was having a secret affair with a German gardening YouTuber.

The celebrity reportedly bought a farm for 10 million pounds to convince the YouTuber to move to the United Kingdom.

The post ended up on Reddit, where diligent internet detectives quickly identified Marie from Wurzelwerk as the alleged partner of actor Henry Cavill. The influencer had posted a selfie in September in a room that closely resembles a room from an Instagram post of Henry Cavill (via Reddit).

Additionally, the YouTuber had announced “big news” shortly before. Furthermore, she had moved into her own farm with her then-boyfriend (via YouTube).

In October 2023, Marie aka Wurzelwerk felt compelled to make a statement on Instagram, clarifying that she was not together with the former Witcher star and also had no intention of moving to England.

However, it seems that the matter was not yet settled.

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“I thought I had thick skin”

What happened next? In a video from October 16, 2024, the influencer answered her viewers’ questions in a Q&A on YouTube. She also addressed the story with Henry Cavill again.

The YouTuber reported that she had been severely “torn apart” by fans of the actor. In addition to unpleasant comments on social media, there were even awkward encounters with these people in real life.

“It was really, really intense for 2 or 3 months,” said Marie from Wurzelwerk. She didn’t want to go online at all to protect herself from it. However, she did not take legal action, the YouTuber explained.

Instead, she “completely shut herself off” from it until she eventually heard nothing more about it. Instead, she prefers to help others affected by hate online – for this, she refers to the services of the non-profit organization HateAid.

“I thought I had thick skin because I have been active online for several years and many opinions come my way every day,” said the YouTuber, “but that was next level. So, that was not cool.”

We at MeinMMO also engage against hate online: A statement against hate

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When fans get so involved in the private lives of their idols, it is referred to as parasocial relationships. With actors like Henry Cavill, this phenomenon has been known for some time, but especially with influencers, the modern celebrities, it can often be particularly intense: The poster child nerd from Twitch can’t have a girlfriend: “I want him to be unhappy and lonely like I am.”

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

How much Dragon Age do I need to know to understand The Veilguard?

Benedict Grothaus Benedict Grothaus Reading time 3 minutes

On October 31, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox. The role-playing game has a long history with many predecessors and spin-offs but is also set to attract new players. But do they even understand what’s going on?

This is how big Dragon Age is:

  • Before The Veilguard, there were already 3 previous parts of Dragon Age. The first part, Origin, was released back in 2009.
  • In addition to the main series games, there are numerous spin-offs as well as a pen & paper and even action figures.
  • In 2022, there was even a Dragon Age series on Netflix called Absolution.

Do I need to know all the predecessors? Generally, no. Each Dragon Age before could stand alone, and it will be the same with The Veilguard. Although we can’t say anything about the contents yet, the developers have already talked about the player experience.

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In the interview with IGN, Game Director Corinne Busche explains that “new players shouldn’t feel like” they’ve missed out on anything. Accordingly, you likely won’t need any prior knowledge to enjoy The Veilguard at least.

However, it’s a different story if you want to understand all the connections or recognize the importance of certain characters. Because that only works if you know the world – and it’s vast.

You can already check out detailed gameplay here:

Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard shows 20 minutes of gameplay from the new fantasy adventure

Veterans get to see something, but new players shouldn’t “miss anything”

Dragon Age has been building a continuous world since 2009 that you can shape as a player yourself. Every decision you make in the games affects not only that part itself but also its successors.

BioWare speaks here of the “world state,” which you can track when you link your saves to your EA account. In the Dragon Age Keep, you’ll find a tapestry where certain facts are recorded, such as:

  • Which characters are still alive?
  • How did you handle certain situations?
  • Who has reached which position or is in a relationship?

These events are significant in shaping the world. To have the full experience for The Veilguard, some players are currently speedrunning through all predecessors to have their own world state and know what has happened.

Moreover, you’ll encounter many characters from the past. For example, Solas plays a significant role, who is introduced as an antagonist in The Veilguard. Two characters, Varric and Harding, also appear, whom you might know from earlier parts – but without the knowledge, you won’t have any connection to them.

Additionally, there’s information about the elf gods you’ll be fighting against or the factions that appear in The Veilguard. If you’re not familiar with Dragon Age, you’ll be missing a lot of background to get excited about certain details.

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In The Veilguard you create your own past

However, all of this mainly applies to the details of the game. The Veilguard takes place in a completely different part of the Dragon Age world. The developers emphasize: The south of the first three parts is one matter. The north of The Veilguard is a completely different one.

That’s why, for the first time in the history of Dragon Age, you won’t be able to import saves, meaning no world state. You reshape the world during character creation, with several choices (via The Gamer).

In the end, it comes down to what exactly you want from The Veilguard. If you just want to enjoy a role-playing game, you can safely skip the predecessors. If you’re interested in the world, you can always catch up.

However, if you want to experience a complete epic, with a vast world, its backgrounds, and an enormous lore, it is advisable to play the first three parts beforehand or at least read a summary of the events. In the first hours, dedicated fans like our Head of Editorial Rae Grimm are definitely very enthusiastic: After 7 hours of gameplay, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is everything I’ve ever loved about BioWare

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. IGN
  2. The Gamer

Steam: In the new shooter Strinova you can switch between dimensions – already 15,000 players before release

Ody Ody Reading time 2 minutes

As part of the Steam Next Fest, there was a free demo for the shooter Strinova. It was tried out by almost 15,000 players and literally adds a new dimension to the genre.

What kind of game is Strinova? It is a multiplayer hero shooter. In it, you compete against other players in 5v5 matches. You can choose from several characters with fixed roles like “Support” or “Duelist.” Each hero promotes a certain playstyle with their abilities. 

Compared to other hero shooters on the market, the game from the developer studio iDreamSky stands out with its anime look. In line with this, it also provides you with a new mechanic. In Strinova, you can switch freely between a 2D and a 3D form. 

This ability is already demonstrated by the developers in a trailer:

Start video
Gameplay trailer for the anime shooter Strinova on Steam

What can the new mechanic do? The “Stringification” – the ability to switch between a 2D and a 3D form – opens up many tactical possibilities for you. For example, the 2D form helps you to dodge bullets. However, you cannot shoot while in this form.

In your 2D form, you stick like graffiti to walls but remain mobile. From this position, you can hide, reach higher positions, or launch a surprise attack. When you activate your 2D form in free fall, you become a parachute and slow your descent.

Successful Demo and Release Period

Is there a demo? For the Steam Next Fest, there was a playable demo of Strinova. According to SteamDB, it peaked at almost 15,000 players simultaneously. Although the demo can still be downloaded on Steam, you will be greeted with a message that it is already over.

On which platforms will Strinova be released? The game has been announced for PC on Steam and in the Epic Games Store, as well as for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile devices. The developers have not yet mentioned a release period, but Strinova is expected to be released “soon.”

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Strinova was one of the most played demos of this Steam Next Fest but was surpassed by another multiplayer shooter. To find out which one, read here: New competition for Battlefield on Steam already has 4 times as many players as the original before release

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

CoD Black Ops 6: Maps – The maps await you in multiplayer and zombie mode

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 4 minutes

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 offers you a decent selection of maps. What they look like and how they are structured can be found here.

The multiplayer will have a total of 16 different maps at the release of Black Ops 6: twelve 6v6 maps and four compact strike maps, where 2v2 or 6v6 can be played.

All maps from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are small to medium-sized and, as typical for CoD maps, divided into three lanes. The focus of the maps, according to Activision and Treyarch, should be on action, but every playstyle should find its place. This means that there are both tight areas for close-quarters combat as well as areas with larger distances for sniper rifles.

Additionally, at launch, 2 zombie maps will be available, where you can play the new round-based zombie mode of Black Ops 6.

Start video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 shows the zombie mode in the trailer

All 6v6 Maps from Black Ops 6

In total, there are 12 core maps for classic 6v6 matches available at the release of Black Ops 6:

  • Babylon
  • Derelict
  • Lowtown
  • Payback
  • Protocol
  • Red Card
  • Rewind
  • Scud
  • Skyline
  • Subsonic
  • Vault
  • Vorkuta

In the gallery, you will find an overview with all core maps (6v6) included in the multiplayer at the launch of Black Ops 6:

CoD BO6 Map Babylon
Babylon
CoD BO6 Map Derelict
Derelict
CoD BO6 Map Lowtown
Lowtown
CoD BO6 Map Payback
Payback
CoD BO6 Map Protocol
Protocol
CoD BO6 Map Red Card
Red Card
CoD BO6 Map Rewind
Rewind
CoD BO6 Map Scud
Scud
CoD BO6 Map Skyline
Skyline
CoD BO6 Map Subsonic
Subsonic
CoD BO6 Map Vorkuta
Vorkuta
CoD BO6 Map Vault
Vault

All Strike Maps from Black Ops 6

Strike maps are smaller and more compact, which is why you can also hold 2v2 matches there. Nevertheless, they also provide space for action-packed 6v6 face-off modes. In face-off battles, you are not allowed to use killstreaks, which offers a completely new dynamic for the maps in 6v6.

There are a total of 4 strike maps available at launch:

  • Gala
  • Pit
  • Stakeout
  • Warhead

In the gallery, you will find an overview with all strike maps (2v2 and face-off 6v6) included in the multiplayer at the launch of Black Ops 6:

CoD BO6 Map Gala
Gala
CoD BO6 Map Pit
Pit
CoD BO6 Map Stakeout
Stakeout
CoD BO6 Map Warhead
Warhead

All Maps from the Zombie Mode at a Glance

With Black Ops 6, the round-based zombie mode returns to the shooter series. At launch, two different maps will be playable:

  • Liberty Falls
  • Terminus

In the gallery, you will find an overview with all zombie maps that are playable at the launch of Black Ops 6:

CoD Black Ops 6 Zombies Liberty Falls Pump and Pay
Liberty Falls Pump and Pay
CoD Black Ops 6 Zombies Terminus Security and Control
Terminus Security and Control

The maps are very large and spacious and are designed to offer plenty to explore, including again various Easter eggs. The images show only 2 selected locations, which represent just a small part of the maps. There are many more locations.

The multiplayer of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 not only has 16 different maps at launch, where you can let loose with the new Omni-Movement. There is, of course, also a selection of various game modes: CoD Black Ops 6: All modes from the multiplayer explained

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

If you want to know how the story of Space Marine 2 continues, you need to watch a new series on Amazon Prime

Johanna Johanna Reading time 2 minutes

To learn how it continues after the events in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 you do not have to wait for a DLC or another video game. Instead, you will find out in the upcoming Amazon series “Secret Level”.

What kind of series is this? It is “Secret Level” on Amazon Prime Video. The animated series premieres on December 10, 2024, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and features a variety of different video games.

Each episode covers a game, including Mega Man, God of War, and The Outer Worlds. The failed shooter from Sony, Concord, is also part of it.

Start video
Space Marine 2 shows in the video what content is coming in the next few months

Secret Level episode continues the story of Space Marine 2

What will happen in the episode? There are no specific details about the content of the episode yet. Only the info that the episode is supposed to pick up shortly after the events of Space Marine 2.

You can find out information about the end of Space Marine 2 and the possible consequences for the Warhammer franchise here: The end of Space Marine 2 could massively influence the future of Warhammer 40,000

Who is involved? The actor Clive Standen, who voiced Lieutenant Titus in Space Marine 2, will also return in the Amazon series.

Who is directing the episode? The episode will be directed by producer Dave Wilson, who first came into contact with Warhammer in 2004. He worked on the video game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and was responsible for one of the opening sequences of the game.

This scene is very popular within the Warhammer community and is still regarded as one of the best animations ever made, even after almost 20 years.

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Understanding the entire lore of Warhammer is not that easy. The experience was also felt by MeinMMO author Johanna when she played Space Marine 2 for the first time: Space Marine 2 made me want to dive into Warhammer 40,000, even though I’m really bad at it

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

Pokémon GO: Player discovers abandoned gym in the sea, sees his great opportunity

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Almost every trainer has probably occupied a gym in Pokémon GO. Gyms located in remote areas are particularly coveted, as they can be held for as long as possible without losing control over them. A trainer has now found such a desirable gym.

What kind of gym did the trainer discover? A trainer shared a picture of an unoccupied gym in the sea on Reddit. He has been observing the gym for several days and found it to be gray in color. The gym is about 10 minutes away from his location on the pier.

He hopes that his Pokémon can stay in the gym for several weeks. He suspects that his own Pokémon will not be kicked out of the gym too quickly since it has been unoccupied for several days.

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Another user in the comments claims to have found an even more remote gym, which was also located in the sea. It is said to have been in Greece, but about 500 meters out in the sea from the coast. It was supposed to be on a small rocky island but was removed after about a year.

In the following video about Pokémon GO, you will learn more about Dynamax:

Start video
Dynamax in Pokémon Go – How to participate in the gigantic battles

Remote gyms offer several advantages

Why can such a gym be worth it? As a user writes in the comments, trainers could receive multiple rewards more easily through remote gyms:

  • The Gym Leader medal, for which you must defend gyms for up to 15,000 hours at the highest level
  • Stardust, which you receive by feeding a Pokémon in a gym you occupy
  • Candies, which are occasionally obtained by feeding Pokémon in gyms

Thus, trainers would eventually reach the daily cap of 50 coins, but even after that, they would have enough time to earn Stardust, the medal, and candies.

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Depending on which other trainers are roaming around, it might be the case that you don’t even reach eight hours. About half of you would not wait for trainers to receive their 50 coins.

Presumably, the trainer discovered a similarly remote gym from the following article. His Hornliu has been in a gym for 7 years and can defend it successfully. He does not reveal exactly where he found the gym. He only gives a hint: Pokémon GO: Monster successfully defends a gym – For more than 7 years

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

Developer says: On the first day on Steam they sold 174 copies, today it is over 45 million

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of Bohemia Interactive have been on Steam for 15 years. The head of the development studio takes this opportunity to thank Valve and releases the company’s sales figures.

Who is it about? Marek Spanel is the CEO of Bohemia Interactive. The development studio behind Arma and the subsequent zombie simulation DayZ has been on Steam since June 1, 2009.

At launch, the Czech development studio sold only 174 copies of Arma 2 on Steam. This was reported by the CEO of the company on X.com. Arma 2 is also the game that the legendary zombie simulation DayZ originated from as a mod.

On the occasion of the belated 15th anniversary of the company, the CEO also reveals the current sales figures of the games on Steam until the present year 2024 and thanks Valve, the operators of the platform.

The latest product from Bohemia Interactive is DayZ Frostline, you can watch the trailer here:

Start video
DayZ Frostline: Release trailer for the new expansion of the survival shooter on Steam

Millions of games sold

How many games has the company sold so far? Today, 15 years after its founding, Bohemia Interactive has sold 40,933,454 units on Steam itself. The CEO does not specify which games make up which sales share. It is also possible that expansions and DLCs are included in the statistics.

6,327,383 units have been sold through retail and activated on Steam. This likely includes codes purchased on third-party websites.

In total, the Czech development studio has sold 47,260,837 units that are played on Steam. According to Steam, 92 products are now part of Bohemia Interactive’s catalog.

How is it going at Bohemia Interactive? The developers of the Arma series have been releasing new games repeatedly for years. There is also no holding back with DLCs for DayZ; just recently, a new map called DayZ Frostline was released, where players need to pay much more attention to survival.

Especially the low temperatures require new clothing and some stays by a campfire. In Arma itself, the developers are adapting to the new Enfusion Engine, which they are further developing with the current title “Arma Reforger.”

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Arma 4 is scheduled to be released in 2027. Until then, fans can enjoy the other titles from the studio. If you want to learn more about the new expansion of DayZ, you can read a review on MeinMMO. We took a closer look at the update: Steam: In the survival shooter DayZ, the cold is now your deadliest enemy

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

NCsoft will ‘restructure’, numerous layoffs after Throne and Liberty

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

NCsoft seems to be doing really poorly, as reported. For after Throne and Liberty, they intend to lay off many developers.

In recent years, a rough wind has blown through the video game industry. Almost all major developers have shrunk their teams or made layoffs. Now the next wave is coming for NCsoft – and this time many developers are likely to be affected. They are even considering “voluntary resignations”.

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

Where does the information come from? The Korean site Yonhap News discusses the recent events at NCsoft. Additionally, the occurrences are being discussed in the MMORPG subreddit.

What plans are there? According to Yonhap News, plans are currently being finalized to make “internal restructuring”. The goal is a “significant amount of staff in game development”.

There will likely not only be layoffs, but they are also considering offering employees the voluntary resignation – something they last did in 2012.

This aligns with the plans of the still relatively new CEO Park Byung-moo, who took office at the end of 2023 and has been trying to re-establish NCsoft since then.

Lineage
Lineage ran well on mobile for a long time – but that time seems to be over.

Why are there so many layoffs? Yonhap refers to it as “further decline in performance”, which basically means: NCsoft is not making as much money anymore. Sales are sluggish and projects are falling short of expectations. Sales dropped by 30.8% and profits last year even fell by 75.4% compared to 2022.

The main reason for this is likely the decline in sales of the mobile offshoots of Lineage. Revenues from this area at one point made up 67% of sales, but that figure dropped to 38% last year.

Was Throne and Liberty a flop? It’s not so easy to say. The Korean version of Throne and Liberty likely fell short of expectations and lost many players quickly. The global version of the game is probably doing significantly better, but the game is “less well monetized” (from the investors’ perspective), which means that no significant long-term profits are to be expected here. Additionally, the profit must be shared with Amazon, with whom they collaborate.

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What about Guild Wars 2? Whenever NCsoft is mentioned, there is a bit of concern for ArenaNet and thus also Guild Wars 2. At least currently, there are no indications that ArenaNet is also affected by the layoffs. It seems as though they are allowed to still “do their thing”, so there is currently no acute danger for Guild Wars 2.

How severe the layoffs at NCsoft will be is something we will surely hear about in the coming days or weeks as the plans are put into action. We can only hope that this has little impact on the games we like.
However, Throne and Liberty also has entirely different issues: Some players block your path, forcing you to use tricks to get past.

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