Wolverine is probably the most iconic member of the X-Men. He has appeared in countless movies, games, and series. Of course, he also had various appearances in the comics. Here we present to you 7 unusual variants of the mutant.
How was this list created? This list focuses on variants of Wolverine from various comics. Additionally, these are all variants where, outside of short cameos, it is unlikely they will appear in the MCU.
Who is Wolverine, actually? Wolverine is arguably the most well-known X-Men. His abilities include retractable claws made of adamantium and a healing factor. He is more of an anti-hero, who often acts brutally and uncontrollably.
The character has built a large fanbase, which has also been created by Hugh Jackman, who has portrayed the role since 2000. However, he will probably never play the following variants.
Wolverine is back: Official Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine
7. Captain Logan
First appearance: 2009 in Wolverine Noir #1
This story is like a classic noir detective story. An example of this genre would be Se7en by David Fincher. In this story, Wolverine has no powers and claws, but a gadget with claws that he uses just like his known version.
He is an alcohol smuggler and detective, who is also in love with Jean Grey in this world. In a fight with Cyclops, he uses his claw gadget to injure one of his eyes. Unlike his counterpart, he can get drunk, and he is probably drunk most of the time. (via Marvel Database)
Noir stories were most prevalent in the superhero area with the Nolan Batman trilogy or also with the Daredevil series from Netflix. A Wolverine story in this genre would be quite exciting as a standalone film or series without a universe.
6. Weapon Omega/ Weapon X
First appearance: 1994 in X-Men: Alpha #1
Earth-295 was almost entirely conquered by Apocalypse, who also killed large parts of the population. In this version, Wolverine is even rougher and more brutal than in the known version. When he tries to save Jean Grey and is stopped, he loses an arm and later receives a metal replacement that allows him to extend claws.
This Wolverine became really powerful as Weapon Omega. Through the Celestials, he gained powers comparable to Apocalypse. And he wanted to destroy Earth and its inhabitants. Ultimately, Jean Grey stopped him. He later atoned for his actions and wanted to kill his helpers. He said about himself that his guilt cannot be atoned for. (via Marvel Database)
As with most other entries, this story is incredibly complex and, due to the many characters, complicated to transfer into a film. In X-Men: Apocalypse, at least in 2016 the iconic villain could already be seen on the big screen.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is one of the most popular co-op games on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. The developers are now testing a new PvP mode. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus played it live together with a developer at gamescom 2024 and is thrilled – even though nothing worked at all.
“Can’t I perhaps get you excited about Vermintide?” This question initiated one of my most fun moments at gamescom 2024. I was actually supposed to listen to the developers of another game. But because the next group of journalists was already coming, a developer from Vermintide took care of me and told me a bit about his game.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 brings back the beta for the versus mode on Steam
With flamethrowers, plague balls, and Gatling guns against the heroes of Ubersreik
The PvP mode is absolute chaos and in the best possible sense. The idea is simple: Actually, you fight in Vermintide together with 3 teammates mainly against Skaven, nasty little rat beings.
Now, however, there is the option to embody exactly these rats. In a 4-vs-4 match, two teams compete on slightly adjusted maps. While the heroes simply need to get as far as possible, the rats are supposed to stop them.
Which team you play for at the beginning is random. The five heroes remain the same, while the rats get a few special units to choose from:
Gutter Runners are assassins who leap at enemies from a distance and literally stab them, disappearing with a smoke bomb if in danger
Packmasters drag the heroes with a hook and hang them in distant positions
Globetrotters throw poison balls that obscure the vision of the heroes and inflict damage over time
Warp flamethrowers are exactly what they sound like: Rats with flamethrowers spreading green plague fire
Ratling gunners fire at a distance with rapid-fire weapons and theoretically mow down enemies
At each respawn, you can choose one of two rats you want to play as “Pactsworn.” As a proud member of Clan Eshin, I, of course, played a Gutter Runner whenever possible, albeit with moderate success. All rats, however, are really fun.
Although we lost every round, even with the developer right by my side, I had a blast. Pun intended.
To clarify: We played live from gamescom directly with other, real players somewhere in the world. The PvP mode was already ready for testing, and we simply logged in with dev accounts and joined a quick match.
Although I love Vermintide, I hadn’t played it for a while. Accordingly rusty I was while gaming and correspondingly badly we were beaten. We lost, and yes, that’s mostly my fault. Sorry, teammates!
In theory, however, the PvP mode is really fair:
Games are played in rounds, alternating which team plays as heroes and which as Pactsworn.
The further the heroes get, the more points they receive. The points are totaled at the end of each round.
If one team has so many points that the other cannot catch up, the match ends immediately to avoid unnecessary frustration.
The balancing is surprisingly good. Heroes have only limited revives, but can take some hits. Rats can respawn as often as they want, but can be killed with a targeted hit. Moreover, they can only enter the game hidden from the heroes and must maintain a distance.
This makes the entire mode a tactical team fight, where communication and teamwork are key – just like in the actual co-op part of Vermintide.
The motto of the Packmasters: ‘My hero, YOINK!’
A co-op game gets PvP and it works frighteningly well
In general, the PvP mode plays very similarly to the “normal” Vermintide. Sure, the rat players are a bit smarter than the AI (unless you play against me – the AI would be more successful there). But since they can be taken down quickly, they do not pose a significantly greater threat than usual.
The focus of the teams is not necessarily on the thought that they have to stop opponents and be better than other players. More important is to simply function well as a unit. Only then can one even win.
Unfortunately, I only had about 40 minutes with the developer to check out the mode. However, those 40 minutes were at least my highlight on that day at gamescom. While chatting, the dev also mentioned: It’s all more of an experiment.
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the large gaming event as the official media partner of Gamescom 2024. It’s going to be an exciting week for anyone making their way to gamescom. But also on screen, as further streams will take place – for example the FYNG show from GameStar, GamePro, and MeinMMO.
For years, they have repeatedly promised that the PvP mode is coming and tried different variations until this one finally arrives. It is all completely optional. No one has to compete against other players; the mode is just for fun and for those who are into it.
The short session excited me totally, and I am really looking forward to Vermintide again. Already from gamescom, I informed my team, and we plan to dive back in soon. After all, we have been shamefully neglecting the game, as Warhammer is one of the best franchises ever: In a perfect world, the biggest MMORPG today would be World of Warhammer
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At gamescom 2024, we were able to speak with Rod Fergusson, the head of Diablo, and Gavian Whishaw, the Executive Producer of Vessel of Hatred. The interview covered topics including the new class arriving with Vessel of Hatred in Diablo 4 and which spirits are the developers’ favorites.
With Vessel of Hatred, Diablo 4 gains a new class – the Spiritborn. MyMMO editor Benedict Grothaus had the opportunity to test the Spiritborn and its spirits in advance in July 2024. At gamescom 2024, he was able to discuss the new class with Diablo head Rod Fergusson and Gavian Whishaw, the Executive Producer of Vessel of Hatred.
As a fan of the wizard class, the Eagle spirit was the natural choice for Benedict Grothaus. In the conversation, he explains that he was also impressed by the Jaguar, especially its Ultimate. The developers also have their own favorites – and sometimes rely on surprising combinations of spirits.
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Blizzard explains the Spiritborn, the new class in Diablo 4 and its spirits
“I love the versatility of this class”
Vessel of Hatred is the first expansion for Diablo 4 and introduces a new class to the game. The Spiritborn has a connection to the “Spirit Guardians” and can summon them to utilize their skills. The spirits represent the special class mechanic of the Spiritborn.
In the interview, Rod Fergusson reports that it feels like there are four classes when playing with the spirits of the Spiritborn. He says: “[…] But then comes the moment when you remember: No, wait, it’s just one class, I can have so much variety with this class.” For him, the most exciting thing about the Spiritborn is that the class allows for so many combinations.
He adds:
Some focus completely on the Jaguar or mix Jaguar with Centipede or Eagle or whatever. I love the versatility of this class.
Of course, we wanted to know which spirits are the favorites of the two developers. While testing the new class, they were surprised to find that they also liked spirits that were not their first choice.
Rod Fergusson says:
Actually, I’m starting to change my mind about this. Originally it was the Centipede because I’m a huge fan of poison damage over time, I was a Necro main. I played the Centipede, but during a few playtests, I tried the Jaguar for a change and really started to love the Jaguar. So it could end up that I play a mix of Jaguar and Centipede.
To our remark that this is a strange combination, Fergusson laughs and responds: “Hey, […] I am Mr. Non-Meta; if I can create a build, I will do it!”
Gavian Whishaw, the Executive Producer of Vessel of Hatred, is continually surprised by how fast the Spiritborn is. He says: “There are so many skills that bridge distances so quickly – that’s why I’m not going fully on Jaguar, it’s too fast, it’s too much.” His plan is to combine the Jaguar and the Gorilla as spirits, but he is still not completely sure:
This kind of thing happens all the time. At the beginning of the season, everyone says this will be the meta […] and then you see players starting to explore the depth of the system. Other builds emerge. When I started, I was very focused on Gorilla and then added the Jaguar, but when I played the demo and just focused on Centipede, I thought: “Oh, there’s something there.” So I’m still unsure; I need to work it out and try mixing and adjusting.
We asked the developers how they ensure that not everyone plays the Eagle spirit to trigger “Vulnerability” – an important aspect for many builds. According to Fergusson, it won’t just be the Eagle that enables “Vulnerability.” He isn’t “too worried” about it.
By the way, MyMMO editor Benedict Grothaus also appeared in this year’s FYNG live stream. Over the gamescom weekend, you can also see MyMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski:
Regarding overly powerful skills and builds, the developers are now more relaxed. Fergusson emphasizes that the team has recognized that it’s okay if certain things are “overpowered” or work differently than originally thought. Balancing the five – soon to be six – classes is a central theme in Diablo 4, and we discussed exactly this with the two developers. The head of Diablo 4 revealed to us what is most important in balancing the classes.
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the great gaming event as the official media partner of gamescom 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The champion Corki continues to be a topic of discussion among players of League of Legends even 15 years after his introduction. Despite his low popularity and moderate win rate, Corki is particularly controversial in eSports.
Which champion is being discussed? The discussion on Reddit is about the Yordle champion Corki, who is one of the oldest champions in League of Legends and is still considered too strong.
Although Corki is one of the most unpopular champions in League of Legends and currently ranks 120th in terms of champions played according to op.gg, his win rate is currently only 46%. Nevertheless, he is indispensable in eSports, which causes frustration among many fans.
Start video
A 67-year-old grandfather becomes a legend in LoL and a nightmare for Riot Games
Even a rework doesn’t make Corki weaker
Why is Corki too strong? Especially in professional sports, Corki is a thorn in the side of many fans. Looking at the current statistics on gol.gg, you can see that Corki is currently among the most picked champions right after Tristana. The Fnatic pro Humanoid explains that ADCs generally have an advantage on the mid lane because their movement speed is significantly higher than that of mages.
In a discussion on Reddit, the user CSDragon mentions that Corki’s E ability has only been buffed for 13 years before patch 14.12 and has never been nerfed. The last nerf of this ability likely occurred in Season 1.
With patch 14.10, Corki received a rework intended to bring him back more into his ADC role and thus onto the bot lane. However, this did not work, as the user “Individual-Taro-8232” emphasizes on Reddit: Corki is still played more on the mid lane.
The reason for this is mainly his Q ability, which not only deals high damage to his opponents but is also difficult to dodge, especially if one is not faster than the Yordle.
What do players specifically demand? Players primarily demand that Corki is adjusted so he is no longer as strong on the mid lane for professional players. Users like “ricardo241” demand on Reddit even that Corki should disappear entirely, as if played correctly, he can destroy anyone in the early, mid, and late game.
Nevertheless, some users, like “MirrowFox”, share the hope on Reddit that with the latest patch 14.16, in which Corki was actually nerfed, the situation will balance out again. Currently, however, this does not seem to be the case.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players invest hours in creating their perfect character and guardian. However, in Act 3, a surprising twist occurs, which apparently some are struggling with.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players spend tons of hours in the character editor to create their perfect hero. Once they are done, it turns out they have to customize a second character – the guardian, a mysterious figure they encounter in dreams.
Many players hoped they could build a deeper bond with their created character in the game. They can, just in a different way than they thought.
Attention Spoiler: This article contains spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3 that concern your guardian.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is 1 year old and to celebrate the creators share your dirty secrets
When the hottest guardian is a mindflayer
What’s the problem?When you reach Act 3 after spending hours creating the hottest of all guardians, the reddit thread starts with a meme featuring Walter White from Breaking Bad.
You can see it here:
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What’s going on? The issue arises in Act 3 of the game. After players spend hours creating their ideal guardian, it turns out that this character is not quite what they thought. The guardian turns out to be an illithid (mindflayer), known as the Emperor, who is actually Balduran.
This surprising twist didn’t sit well with many players – especially those who were hoping for a romance with their custom-designed guardian.
What do players say? Many players designed the guardian to be intentionally unattractive to cope better with the disappointment in Act 3. One player on reddit summarizes the frustration of many succinctly:
That’s why I just hit the random button until I get a guardian so ugly that I’m actually relieved when Act 3 comes.
Another one writes on reddit: That’s exactly why I designed my guardian to look more like a parental figure instead of a goddess I’d want to sleep with.
This one-night stand also has no impact on your other relationships in the game. So if you’re interested in engaging in the adventure without any further consequences, you can do so without worry. You just have to expect some disgusted looks.
Not everything is good in World of Warcraft: The War Within. Especially not among the players. They are discussing, sometimes very exhaustively and offensively.
The early access of World of Warcraft: The War Within has been running now for three days. On Tuesday, the rest of the “normal” players can finally join in. These people did not buy the Epic Edition.
When Blizzard announced the early access for The War Within back then, the uproar was quite large. As expected, this did not diminish with the actual early access, and there is heated debate in the forums about whether this was a good or bad decision.
Supporters felt that early access is a nice bonus for the Epic Edition that one would have purchased anyway. Since it is primarily limited to story content, the advantage is not huge.
Critics believe that it has divided the community. The “shared experience” now depends on one’s wallet, and the early gathering of resources gives a huge, unfair advantage that will be felt for months.
Start video
WoW: The War Within – Shadows Beneath the Surface
Discussion Takes Place in the Game, Is Extremely Toxic
However, it must also be said that these discussions, for instance in the WoW subreddit, have mostly been drowned out again. Those who are already playing “The War Within” are largely positively surprised. The number of posts praising individual aspects of the expansion’s story or the love for details is significantly higher. Currently, the negative is being “pushed down,” so mainly positive posts are coming up.
This does not mean, however, that the discontent has disappeared – especially not from the game itself. Right in the trade channel, discussions about the “two-class society” that Blizzard has created with the early access flare up almost every minute.
It is rarely a rational discussion:
On one side, there are those who do not have early access and are loudly complaining that “Blizzard has completely ruined the game with the early access and everyone who bought it is an idiot who is contributing to the game’s downfall.”
On the other side, there are people who write sentences in the style of “If you went to work instead of whining in WoW all day, you could afford the early access too.”
Neither side provides a healthy discussion foundation, and attacking the other group does not contribute to understanding. On many realms, it is simply more pleasant to turn off the corresponding chats for now.
The “problem” is that many do not take their frustration to places where it would be heard or make sense. One can criticize Blizzard for the early access and should do so if it aligns with their beliefs. But attacking the players who are currently enjoying early access – that will hardly lead to a solution. It doesn’t help when big streamers loudly join this conflict.
How Bad is Early Access Really?
How strong the influence on the game will actually be can probably only be said in a few days. It is clear that buyers of early access have an advantage and can already build a lead on certain things. This relates more to the in-game gold than to actual character power. Because the item level and many activities are still limited, collecting crafting materials is already possible.
Although the bitter realization on many realms is: The typical “druid farm bots” that fly in groups of 10 from ore to ore already exist in The War Within. And unfortunately, they are those who end up dominating the market prices.
Cortyn says: I can understand the discussion around this topic and find that both sides are not particularly shining at the moment. It is not productive to insult people who evidently seem to have a lot of fun. Snapping at people and telling them to stop having fun has probably never helped. On the other hand, the counter-arguments are also not helpful, calling people poor, unemployed addicts who just can’t get their fix. Both do not lead to a rational discussion – and that is actually necessary.
What is your opinion on the early access of The War Within? Are you enjoying the game already and do you think Blizzard’s decision is good? Or do you stand on the other side and grind your teeth because the developers made such an unfair move? Or do you see both the good and bad at the same time and can understand both sides? After all – many in early access are already leveling their second or third character. Because you can reach level 80 in 3 hours.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
1.4 billion inhabitants and not a few of them are playing a game, Black Myth: Wukong. This beats China the rest of the world on Steamsingle-handedly.
Which game is meant? Black Myth: Wukong attracts true masses in front of the screen with its scenario in the Far East and the legends that almost every child knows there. However, the download makes the internet lines of Steam servers glow first.
How much has been downloaded?According to official data from Steam, around 55 percent of all data downloaded from Steam servers between August 16 and 23 came from China. A total of 1.2 exabytes of data volume landed on storage media in China during this period.
The entire rest of the world, including the USA, which account for about 12 percent of traffic share, lags behind China. By the way, Germany stands at a meager 2.5 percent.
Update on August 25: Meanwhile, it’s even almost 57 percent and 1.4 exabytes, measured from August 18 to 25.
Data on Steam traffic between August 16 and 23, 2024, graphic from August 23. Source: Steam
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Black Myth: Wukong: The final trailer for the action RPG from China
Black Myth: Wukong causes glowing lines from Steam
How much is 1.2 exabytes? One exabyte (EB) comprises 1,000 petabytes or one billion gigabytes (GB). The Chinese downloaded this 1.2 EB at an average of 105.8 megabits per second (Mbps). Our download speed lags significantly at 68.9 Mbps per second. The USA at least beats China here with 117 Mbps.
How do we know that Black Myth: Wukong is to blame? There are no official numbers from Valve on this, but clear indications can be found. For example, if you look at the player data on steamdb for the game, you quickly see where the majority of players are sitting in front of the computer.
The peaks of the daily rising and falling curve are reached around 2 PM UTC, which is in the middle of the night for us in Germany, but evening for China. Recently, about 2.5 million were playing at the peak – likely a significant portion of them Chinese.
This is also supported by an analysis by Simon Carless from Gamediscovergo: Asia, especially China, is the stronghold for Black Myth: Wukong. The western world is likely quite insignificant for the developers purely from the numbers. He estimates based on studies of the language used and information from users that around 90 percent of all players of the title come from China. You can find the graphics behind this link to X.
Before Season 4 of 7 vs. Wild begins, let’s take another look at all the past contestants. MeinMMO author Cedric lists who he thinks were the weakest 5 contestants of 7 vs. Wild from all seasons.
7 vs. Wild has changed over the years, and the participants have become increasingly diverse. While in the beginning it was only friends of creator Fritz Meinecke, there have now been participants from all sorts of categories.
Some contestants who were considered favorites before the season aired could not perform well in the show. Our “7 vs. Wild” expert Cedric has watched all seasons and “Behind the Scenes” episodes and created a ranking of the 5 weakest contestants of 7 vs. Wild, based primarily on their performance in the show and of course is to be understood with a wink.
[toc]
Does he belong to the weakest contestants? Jens “Knossi” Knossalla has already participated in 7 vs. Wild twice:
Start video
From the Witness Stand with Barbara Salesch to the King of Twitch – Career and Life of Knossi
Place 5 Pascal “Bommel” Bommert
Participation: Season 1
Placement: Place 5
Pascal “Bommel” Bommert actually had a good run in the first season of 7 vs. Wild. During a bathroom break at night, the contestant complained of severe pain. In a comment under the episode on YouTube, he mentioned that the medical checks that examined his chest pains were inconclusive.
What exactly led to the decision to give up, the contestant does not know for sure; he trusted his body and opted for caution. Nevertheless, he could probably have gone further. Once he reached civilization, he was very happy about food, which likely contributed a lot to his condition.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In MMOs, many players don’t just play one hero, but several. But why are the characters abbreviated as Twink, Toon, or Alt? The new Trivia article from MeinMMO reveals it to you!
If you search for “Twink” in the MeinMMO glossary, you will find the following: “Twinks are all characters that are not main characters. Players often use Twinks to experience different aspects of the game than with their main character.”
In addition to “Alt” and “Toon”, there are two other abbreviations that also refer to (side) characters. But why do we frequently use these terms? “Char” as an abbreviation for character would be much more straightforward. MeinMMO investigates and explains the origins of “Twink”, “Alt”, and “Toon”.
The MeinMMO community has voted – the best MMORPGs of all time:
Start video
The best MMORPGs of all time for PC and console
Where does the term “Alt” come from?
Let’s first look at the term whose origin is certainly the most straightforward: The term “Alt” comes from “alternative character” and thus refers to a … you guessed it … alternative to the main character.
Where does the term “Twink” come from?
The term “Twink” is significantly harder to define than “Alt”. Long before the first 3D MMORPGs, “Twink” was used in the US gay scene to describe young or young-looking, submissive, almost feminine men (via Wikipedia). This stereotype still exists today and is said to have expanded over time to include adult women from the porn scene who look like teenagers.
Many German players who first encountered the term “Twink” in EverQuest, World of Warcraft, and similar games probably had no idea of this original meaning. For them, they were just second or third characters. Although the term had already appeared in role-playing contexts before, such as in tabletop games or in Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs for short).
The term Twink was already used in Multi-User Dungeons.
When you hear RPG fans from back then talk about the use of the term “Twink”, you learn the following:
As early as the 70s and 80s, the best equipment from MUDs was referred to as “Twinkling” (via Reddit) and the term “Twink” was used in the context of power leveling (via Wikipedia).
In the context of Dungeons & Dragons, “Twinks” were apparently mostly young male players who wanted to create overpowered characters and allegedly did not care about the actual role-playing aspects of the D&D adventure (via mmo-champion.com).
In Anarchy Online and various other MMORPGs, “Twink” (or more generally: “Twinking”) was a term used for any character of a veteran who carried equipment that was usually reserved for characters of a higher level (via mmo-champion.com).
In Vanilla WoW, characters from PvP groups were sometimes called “Twinks” if they had equipment that was actually meant for higher character levels. Equipment that was obtained with the help of a stronger main character or friend (via Reddit). Later, this even evolved into a sort of elite Twink scene for low-level PvP characters of levels 19, 29, and so on.
This way, a certain parallel can be discerned to the previously described usage of the term “Twink”: A young, inexperienced character is equipped by an older, more experienced, and better-off character. Whether this actually explains the general use of the term “Twink” in games is hotly debated online.
Another theory is that the term derives from the English word “Twinkling”, because the aforementioned tabletop, MUD, and MMO players were primarily after the “sparkling” or “shiny” loot to equip their characters as best as possible.
In Souls games, there is also the term “Twink”, which is said to have originated from the targeted farming of the upgrade material “Twinkling Titanite” in Dark Souls. There, the term also refers to side characters that are equipped as best as possible to hunt down other low-level, but significantly worse-equipped characters.
Where does the term “Toon” come from?
The term “Toon” originally comes from “Cartoon” and refers in this context to the characters of an animated film, which are often depicted as anthropomorphized animals or objects, presumably heavily influenced by the well-known Looney Tunes from Warner Bros. – later continued by the Tiny Toon Adventures.
In the context of role-playing games, this term is said to have first appeared in 1984 when a certain Warren Spector (Deus Ex, System Shock) developed the cartoon RPG Toon together with Greg Costikyan (via Wikipedia), in which you actually dealt with cartoon characters.
The term Toon is also found in modern games like Splatoon.
The first mention of Toons as non-cartoon characters is said to have occurred in the context of The Realm Online in 1996. This is one of the first graphic MMORPGs, which also has a colorful, almost cartoonish graphic style.
The colorful look may have reminded some of the aforementioned Toons, which might have led to the designation for the characters of The Realm Online. From there, the term is said to have spilled over into other games like Diablo and Anarchy Online.
With Toontown Online, there was even an MMORPG from Disney in 2003, where the player characters were officially called “Toons” (via Wikipedia), which might have accelerated the spread of the term as a synonym for characters even more.
Which of the three terms “Twink”, “Alt”, and “Toon” do you regularly use, and when or in which game did you first encounter it? Share in the comments! Want more trivia knowledge? Then we have another exciting question for you: Why is loot always white, green, blue, purple, and gold?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When Bunny Tsukino was an ordinary student, she had a best friend. However, with every new Sailor Warrior that appeared throughout the anime and manga, she was pushed further into the background.
Who is it about? In the first seasons of Sailor Moon, Naru Osaka was still Bunny Tsukino, alias Sailor Moon’s best friend. She is the daughter of the owner of a jewelry store. In the anime, Naru is an only child, while in the manga, she has a younger sister named Naruru Osaka.
Naru and Bunny are inseparable – at least at the beginning of the anime.
Naru is suspiciously often the victim of villains. She was attacked by enemies in several episodes, even in the very first episode. However, as Sailor Moon, Bunny Tsukino could rescue her friend every time.
However, over time Naru became less and less visible, even though she got along so well with Bunny. In the very last season, she is seen only once when she is – as often – attacked by an enemy.
There are several movies related to Sailor Moon:
Start video
Japanese trailer for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos – Part 1
Bunny replaces her friend with the other Sailor Warriors
How was she replaced? Naru and Bunny did a lot together in their free time, and it seemed like nothing could come between the two. However, with every Sailor Warrior that revealed her identity, Naru was pushed further into the background.
Bunny no longer spent her free time with her best friend, but with the other warriors. As a result, Naru had less and less of a presence in the anime.
What happened to Naru? In the first season, Naru fell in love with Nephrite, who sacrificed his life to protect Naru. Naru’s heart was broken, and Bunny decided to set Naru up with Umino as a replacement.
In the second season, Umino and Naru actually became a couple. There is even a scene where Naru is seen sitting for the first time with the other Sailor Warriors and Bunny at a picnic. However, in the third season, the focus shifts to her relationship with Umino, which further distances her from Bunny.
If you want to see for yourself, you can still watch the Sailor Moon anime today. Although the series is quite old, we can think of 5 reasons why the anime is still worth a look: 5 reasons why you can still watch Sailor Moon today
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At gamescom 2024, MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya asked the lead developers of Monster Hunter: Wilds a few questions about the action RPG. A good game introduction plays an important role for the team.
At gamescom 2024, it’s possible for the first time to play a demo of the new main installment of Monster Hunter.
Monster Hunter World established the franchise in the West in 2018 with the release on PS4, Xbox, and PC. Before that, Monster Hunter was more of a niche presence for us on handheld consoles. Even then, the title came with some comfort features that were previously unknown. All of these made it easier to get into monster hunting.
I remember well how some veterans were not satisfied back then, as the challenge in all aspects of the game was simply part of it for them.
When playing the demo, I immediately noticed that a few new comfort features have been added. I asked the lead developers about this and spoke with:
Ryozo Tsujimoto – Producer
Kaname Fujioka – Executive Director and Art Director
Yuya Tokuda – Director
MeinMMO: I played the demo today, and it was really fun. It was also cool that we could play in multiplayer mode. One thing that immediately stood out to me is that it’s even a bit more beginner-friendly than Monster Hunter World seems. Is that intentional?
Ryozo Tsujimoto: Yes, that’s intentional. We took the feedback from Monster Hunter World to heart and revised things we thought players might find difficult or have issues with, especially since the map is now much bigger and you might get lost more easily.
MeinMMO:Are you referring to the autopilot of the new mount monster Seikret?
Ryozo Tsujimoto: You can navigate the large maps with the monster, but as you said, with the autopilot, if you want to go to specific locations with the monsters, you can now be automatically ridden there. This is especially helpful for new players who might get lost.
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Monster Hunter Wilds – Trailer shows new area and new monsters
New players should receive help
MeinMMO: I remember when Monster Hunter World came out, there were many discussions about the bugs that show monster tracks and made it easier to find them than in previous installments. Are you worried that hardcore players will be critical of the autopilot?
Ryozo Tsujimoto: We are working to improve usability and comfort to help new players by offering options to disable [like the autopilot] or options for players who are not familiar with the series.
MeinMMO: What would you say might be more for advanced players? You already mentioned that you integrated the autopilot for beginners.
Yuya Tokuda: I don’t think functions are explicitly just for beginners or advanced players. It’s simply an improvement in usability that benefits everyone, like the autopilot.
Even experienced players will benefit from it. It gives them the opportunity to focus on other things while riding. So everyone benefits. It depends on how you use it.
MeinMMO: I can imagine that this is especially relaxing in co-op. You can chat a bit while the mount runs automatically and exchange weapons.
Yuya Tokuda: Definitely. Players can gather resources on the map while they are on the monster. If you get lost, you can easily find the group again. No one has to focus on finding the way and can take time for other things.
An online service game should not be Monster Hunter
MeinMMO: One thing I’ve always wondered about Monster Hunter World is why you didn’t turn it into a service game? You could have stuck with World and continuously released new expansions, and players would have been happy. Have you ever thought about that?
Kaname Fujioka: We have made an online service game before. So it’s not like we don’t have experience in this area. But I think if you look at all the Monster Hunter games, the fundamentals are similar.
Every game in the series you play has the same approach, but there are some differences in the fundamentals. A new game allows us to make some changes and take other directions, which we wouldn’t know if we only had a base game.
Of course, with DLCs you get new content, but you can’t play with the fundamentals and create something new here.
MeinMMO: What are the fundamentals of Monster Hunter Wilds?
Kaname Fujioka: We are solely taking advantage of the latest generation of console hardware and PC. We are using this technology to create an immersive world that players can dive into. We let the player immerse themselves in the world, and where they want to go next is up to them.
Monster Hunter is getting bigger, but it’s still not an open world
MeinMMO:Are you moving more towards open world?
Yuya Tokuda: We have not set out to develop an open-world game, and of course, the definition of an open-world game is not fixed. Rather, we want to create an uninterrupted connection between the camp and the map to facilitate a more intense experience.
But yes, maybe it feels like we are moving more in that direction.
MeinMMO: The maps are getting larger, but how diverse will they be? I have to admit, when I saw the first trailer, I thought: “Oh no, another desert.” What other types and environments can we expect?
Kaname Fujioka: There are dunes in the desert, but it’s not just made up of sand.
There is also a great variety within the desert area, such as caves to explore, cliffs, and savannas. There is definitely variation within the same environment.
The second map we showed is set in a forest, which obviously offers a completely different atmosphere.
MeinMMO: What about underwater areas where you can fight?
Imagine laughter here, as underwater fights are a very specific topic in the monster hunter community.
Yuya Tokuda: No, there will be no underwater fights in Wilds.
MeinMMO: If everything is getting bigger now, will it also take longer to play the campaign?
Yuya Tokuda: We don’t want to make hour comparisons, but we are really excited to see how the story will be received. As for the story, we don’t want to reveal too much before the release, as we want players to experience it themselves.
It’s always important not to overwhelm players
MeinMMO: The story is also a tool to introduce new monsters and present them. One might feel that the story is mainly there for that purpose. That comment was also made more frequently by the community regarding World. Do you want to get even more out of the story?
Kaname Fujioka: I think it’s always important not to overwhelm players.
I think it’s only natural that the progression structure is there to introduce new monsters, but also to provide players with information they can use.
But we have taken the feedback from Monster Hunter World to heart and even developed a kind of immersive style in which the story unfolds for the player.
MeinMMO: I really enjoyed playing the demo. However, I do have one criticism that I care about. I find it silly when Palicos can talk, and I really like the meowing!
Yuya Tokuda: Don’t worry! You can adjust the meow language in the audio settings in the game. You will then receive subtitles that provide you with all the important information.
Palicos are the intelligent cats in Monster Hunter that walk on two legs and assist players with their active help. They usually emit the cutest meows imaginable. In Monster Hunter Wilds, they are fully voiced for the first time.
With this information, I was very happy. However, the interview didn’t end here. The first – or rather the last part – has already been published. It’s such a cute story that I dedicated a whole article to it:
For MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus, Dune: Awakening is one of the games he is looking forward to the most. Now, at gamescom 2024, he was able to play it for the first time, and the new MMO delivers everything our survival expert has wished for.
Huge areas where players interact with each other and NPCs, build their own bases, and join guilds to bring the world to life. That’s exactly what many are expecting from Dune: Awakening – and over a million fans are waiting for the game. For good reason, as the game is promising:
Funcom has a long history and has proven in the past that they excel in both MMOs (Anarchy Online, Age of Conan) and the survival genre (Conan Exiles).
Even seven years after release, Conan Exiles still regularly has over 10,000 players only on Steam (via steamcharts).
With the Conan saga, the studio has already successfully implemented a rugged franchise. Now, with Dune, a thematically related setting is on the way.
I was also invited to play Dune: Awakening for an hour. As quickly as the time passed, it could have been seven hours, and I wouldn’t have noticed. I felt right at home – and that’s exactly what was intended.
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Dune Trailer Shows Gameplay – From Survivor to Spice Hunter
A survival MMO that anyone can immediately find their way around
Dune: Awakening plays out almost exactly like Conan Exiles. From the very first second, the controls felt intuitive, everything was somehow logical – with the exception of some special skills.
The core features are certainly known to every survival player and almost taken for granted by Conan players:
Crafting is fundamentally done through the inventory, and advanced recipes are created at workbenches.
You build bases with components by creating blueprints and then filling them with materials.
Dune is a desert planet, so there are naturally sandstorms and the need for protection from heat and wind.
The only survival resource is water, which you need to pay attention to – and that you can obtain in emergencies from the blood of your enemies.
You level and skill your character through a talent system, learning new recipes as well as abilities for combat.
Just like Conan Exiles, Dune: Awakening has a ‘journey’ that roughly guides you through the game when you are stuck. Everything else is a large sandbox.
In an interview with Chief Creative Director Joel Bylos after playing, the head told me: The studio wanted to achieve exactly the connection to Conan Exiles. They took the aspects of the survival game that are celebrated and expanded upon. One example: climbing. That was the first thing I reflexively did: cling to a wall and climb up.
A base with friends.“Normal” vehicles are available too.Building works via blueprint.Combat is part of it too.This is how it might look later.
However, Dune: Awakening is not just a copy of Conan Exiles. It is indeed much more than just a survival game. The goal is to bring many players together on a server and let them survive on the desert planet. How many players can fit on a server is still undecided.
Dune itself is a franchise in the sci-fi sector known for its dark, adult atmosphere. It’s a lot rougher than Star Wars, even though that can be quite brutal at times. But with the content in Awakening, the developers have really captured Dune well.
Help, a sandworm has eaten my base!
While playing, I obviously couldn’t see much of that yet. Guilds are supposed to play a big role, especially when it comes to the fight for spice. And this shows why Dune excites fans like me so much:
There are references to the franchise everywhere, especially in light of the new movies.
Already in the test, I could fly around with an ornithopter and view the enormous world. For comparison: The starting map is said to be as large as the world of Conan Exiles, with the spice desert being eight times larger later on.
In the story, important and well-known NPCs appear later, such as House Harkonnen and the Fremen. From the Fremen, you can even learn how to move properly on sand.
Spice will – of course – be the central resource besides water. With spice, you can bribe NPCs and cook food, just like in the movie. And that’s important, as it boosts your almost magical abilities, but you can also become addicted.
My absolute highlight was a huge sandworm. At some point while playing, I noticed that I was apparently making noises on the sand. Panicking, I stopped and shortly afterward, a sandworm broke out of a dune next to me.
That alone was impressive. Shortly thereafter, I thought the perfect location for my base would be near a looter camp – right in the sand. When everything was finally set up, my worm-friend came back and took a bite, eating half of the base.
The spice skills are crazy.PvP can get heated quickly.With the grappling hook, you can pursue enemies.A spice explosion.Ornithopters are important for movement.There are even transport ornithopters.There are small and large sandworms. And this one…The Harkonnens!
Two drawbacks that are actually not drawbacks
In just one hour, not much more than a first impression can be gained. However, I have already found two things here that could at least at first glance cause trouble: the rather poor graphics and especially the PvP, which has previously ruined survival games.
Both are actually not a problem. Yes, the graphics are not as pretty as in many current games, such as Enshrouded. But that’s also not possible. When dozens of players play on a server and all build their own giant bases, overly demanding graphics would quickly overwhelm even the strongest computer. And experience has shown that survival fans prefer the desire for sandbox play.
As for PvP: It is purely optional. The vast spice desert only offers exactly that, spice. And you can also get it through trade. The area is intended for the war between guilds, who plow the sand with ornithopters and harvesters and fight over the rare resource.
Those who are solo and brave can try to get in somewhere at the edge of the desert and grab something. If you don’t feel like it, you just stay home and trade. The desert will also be reset regularly, like in Rust, to ensure fairness.
What actually bothers me, however, is the lack of a solo and co-op mode like Conan Exiles has. That is initially not planned, just like private servers, because it is simply problematic from the size. However, it is being looked into.
When I asked him what he enjoyed most about development, Joel gave me a very detailed answer:
What I enjoy most about developing games like Dune is thinking about what players might be most excited about. Also considering what game mechanics make Dune unique. I feel like there are often situations where you say: “Oh I liked that game, let’s do that too”. We have raids. MMOs have raids to defeat big bosses, we have raids to harvest spice fields, which gives a completely different feeling.
There is a political system in the game for the Landsraad, and with this design, I thought that something like this has never been done before. So how do we make this system work as we envision it? And I’m not sure if it works, […] but I’m willing to take this risk.
There is a feature in the game, […] that wipes the desert every week, which I’m very excited about. The area is a high risk because players can lose a lot. Similar to Rust. […] I wondered if we could get the mechanics to work. And I wanted to do this in a game that is long-lasting. There are safer areas and then there is the desert. […]
To see if the design is really successful, you only know when other games copy it. So I hope that some of our ideas are innovative.
Although Dune: Awakening will be an MMO and you can only play it online with others, it should still be possible to play solo. You just need to find a spot where you can plant your base. Guilds will be limited in their number of members so that no mega-guild can dominate a server and tyrannize everyone – the problem that led to the downfall of Last Oasis.
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the major gaming event as the official media partner of Gamescom 2024. It will be an exciting week for everyone making their way to gamescom. But also in front of the screen, as there will be more streams – for example, the FYNG show from GameStar, GamePro, and MeinMMO.
In conclusion, Joel also told me that he doesn’t want to make a game for the masses: “They only write bad Steam reviews anyway.” It’s important for him to deliver a good game for the people who are genuinely excited about it. And from what I’ve seen, Funcom is keeping its promise. I’m excited for Dune: Awakening and liked everything I saw. And although I’m absolutely infatuated, another game became my highlight: An RPG for Warhammer 40k is the best game at gamescom 2024
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The gamescom 2024 delivered with remarkably many highlights. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was on site and was invited by elaborate booths and many opportunities to play and chat with developers. However, one game stood out for him as a Warhammer fan.
My colleagues and acquaintances from the industry kept asking me towards the end of gamescom what my highlight had been. My honest answer was always: Everything.
I had never had a gamescom where everything I saw could excite me so much. Dune: Awakening, Atomfall, even Empire of the Ants were a lot of fun for me. Nevertheless, in the end, one game is clearly the winner for me: Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader.
At gamescom, Lead Narrative Designer Olga Kellner introduced me to the new DLC “Void Shadows.” Or more accurately, that was actually agreed upon – because she quickly left the field to me.
With this teaser, Owlcat is currently luring into the new DLC:
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Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader – The teaser trailer for the 1st DLC ‘Void Shadows’ on Steam
“Should I play for you or will you play yourself?”
Olga’s first question was whether I was familiar with the game. My answer: “Not really, I’ve only played about 250 hours,” made her think for a moment, then smile. After all, she offered me to just play the new content myself.
Apparently, I was only the second journalist to accept the offer, but who would turn down such an offer in the name of the Emperor?!
A brief overview of the content of Void Shadows:
The DLC brings a new companion: Kibella, an assassin of the Death Cult
With Kibella, two new classes come into play: Bladedancer and Executioner
Additionally, new missions on your ship, more story, and of course companion quests for Kibella
My gaming session consisted of the highlight of the DLC, the final battle against the new boss. Who that is, you can read in the spoiler:
This is the story of Void Shadow
In Void Shadow, you discover that something is wrong on the lower decks of your massive ship. A cult has settled there, the Genestealers, who according to lore are controlled by a new threat: Tyranids.
The leader steals your appearance and deceives your officers. You must now go clean up. Fortunately, you also find out in parallel that assassins of the Death Cult are on board.
This cult is a group of fanatics who honor the Emperor by killing, and doing so as bloody and brutally as possible. They walk a very narrow line towards chaos and are correspondingly dangerous – and are currently being critically watched by the Inquisition.
This is the story of the Death Cult:
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Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader: The trailer for the new Death Cult Assassin
I immediately fell in love with Kibella – and that is dangerous…
I don’t want to spoil the entire boss fight here, you should have something to play yourself. But being able to look at Kibella, the new companion, left me grinning like an idiot all day long.
Kibella is a Bladedancer and prefers to fight with blades in a fast, agile fighting style. Normally, I like the heavy bolters and flamethrowers in 40k – I have rarely been so captivated by simple swords:
With a jump, the Bladedancer evades opportunity attacks and lands between enemies, attacking them directly with her swords.
Blade Dance then hits all enemies in her vicinity with a series of attacks – and allies, should anyone stand beside her.
With various buffs, the Bladedancer makes her attacks stronger, inflicts damage on herself or allies for benefits, or causes enemies to bleed.
Kills reset some abilities, allowing Kibella to jump around even more and reach more enemies.
The “ultimate” ability of the Executioner then makes all enemies explode with a damage-over-time effect (like bleeding) and decimates the entire battlefield if prepared well.
For the experts among you: Together with a Psion, who gives Kibella buffs, a tank, and an officer, the Bladedancer can perform multiple moves and attack so often that she can easily take down six or seven enemies alone, even bigger ones. And that every round.
After the play session, I had some time to talk with Olga about the expansion, but for the first time in years, I was speechless during an interview. As a Warhammer fan, the action of the fights, the new abilities, and the sudden appearance of the new enemies excited me so much that I was simply blissfully happy.
15 hours more content, over 100 hours more to play
In the conversation, Olga told me that Void Shadows brings about 15 to 20 hours of new content to the game. However, it is distributed in Acts 1, 2, and 4, so a new playthrough would be ideal to see everything.
Moreover, Kibella is available as a romance option, and who would not want to have a killer by their side who slaughters everything around her at the slightest suspicion of heresy? I can’t think of anything better! But this means: I will need to sacrifice another 100 hours or more for another playthrough. RIP vacation.
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the big gaming event as the official media partner of Gamescom 2024. It will be an exciting week for everyone making their way to gamescom. But also in front of the screen, as further streams will occur – for example, the FYNG show by GameStar, GamePro, and MeinMMO.
For all the heretics among you: Death Cult assassins like Kibella are quite easy to seduce to chaos. Just a heads up…
Neither Olga nor the people responsible at Owlcat could tell me how much Void Shadows would cost or what would come afterward. This is still to be decided. However, it is known that the DLC will be released on September 24.
Although I was generally very excited about gamescom 2024 and everything I played was unconditionally good, Rogue Trader remains my highlight. There is no game I currently look forward to as much as the release of the “Void Shadow” DLC, even though I already know the ending. The official winners, however, look a bit different: Monster Hunter Wilds is the big winner of gamescom 2024 – all winners of the gamescom awards
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After two rather quiet months, the largest update in a long time is supposed to land on the servers of Lost Ark in September 2024. However, Amazon Games has announced an adjustment to the roadmap.
What does the new schedule look like? Initially, the responsible parties had presented the roadmap for the updates from August to November at the end of July 2024. However, via playlostark.com, they announced that the schedule for the localization of the new contents has been delayed. Therefore, Amazon Games has to adjust the plans for the upcoming updates of Lost Ark as follows:
On August 28, a patch will be released with nerfs for Akkan, Thaemine, and Echidna.
The Behemoth raid will already land on the live servers of the MMORPG on September 11, 2024. The required item level will be reduced to 1,620. At the same time, the Oktoberfest event will start.
The first October update will bring the new endgame class 4 on October 9, 2024, along with fresh activities like the Kurzan frontline and the Kenuart fortress, the continent of North Kurzan, and all the other changes that were actually supposed to come in September.
The Aegir raid will follow on October 16, 2024 (though this update may be postponed to October 23, 2024).
By the way, the developers’ update also states that they want to release the API (which stands for Application Programming Interface) of Lost Ark for the western version in the long term. Such an interface allows for privately developed addons or macro scripts, similar to WoW.
Have you seen the live-action trailer for Lost Ark yet?
A significant problem identified by the operators over the past months was the overwhelming or exhausting nature of the monthly release of increasingly elaborate endgame challenges for many players. As a result, they consciously applied the brakes in July and August and released comparatively small updates.
If you want to check out Diablo 4, now is the perfect time. Many of you can play it for free on a platform. However, you have only a few days left.
On Steam, you can get a limited-time free glimpse of Diablo 4. When you open the game’s shop page, you will currently find a button saying “Start Game” below the trailer, without having to pay any money for it.
How long is the offer valid? You can still play Diablo 4 for free for three days, until August 27, 2024, at 7 PM. However, the offer is only valid on Steam and does not mean that you can download the game and “keep” it forever at that time. After the promotion, you will probably no longer have access.
But even if you want to keep and continue playing the game after trying it out, there is currently an offer available.
Diablo 4: Developers offer insight into the Season of the Infernal Hordes
Try it for free – or buy it at a discount
Why is it worth taking advantage of the offer? If you are considering trying out Diablo 4 anyway, taking a free sneak peek is a great idea. Not all content is available, but it’s enough to get a first impression.
According to a post on Reddit, there is a limited level option up to level 20 – basically like in a demo version. However, that is enough to try out various content. You can:
And what about Battle.net? There is no way to play Diablo 4 for free for a few days on the Battle.net launcher. Currently, there are also no discounts for the game there.
What if I want to continue playing after the promotion? On Steam, you will find, as usual, a few options to purchase the game under the “Start Game” button. Here, there is a 40% discount on the standard edition of Diablo 4 until September 2, 2024 – which makes the game cost €29.99.
For the bundle with the expansion “Vessel of Hatred”, you will pay nearly €70 on both Steam and in the Battle.net launcher. The first DLC for Diablo 4 costs about €40 in the standard edition – which means that you will also pay about €30 for the base game here. If you plan to get the bundle, you should keep that in mind.
In the larger editions of Vessel of Hatred, you will receive additional content such as cosmetics and animal companions. You can already pre-order all editions on various platforms, and some of these extras can already be used in Diablo 4. You can find more about this here: Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred: Deluxe Edition – What’s included
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Due to the limitation of content, two of the biggest WoW YouTubers are complaining about the Early Access of WoW: The War Within, only to realize shortly afterwards that they themselves are part of the problem.
Who is complaining and why? Those who purchased WoW: The War Within in pre-sale for about 50 to 90 Euros have been able to dive into the new content since August 23, 2024. However, some challenges of the new expansion of World of Warcraft are locked until the official launch on August 27, 2024.
That the locked content also includes the depths from level 4 became clear to the two well-known WoW YouTubers and streamers Asmongold and Esfand only when they had mastered level 3 of the new dungeon content.
The Early Access of WoW – The War Within has started, here is the cinematic:
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Alleria: Light and Shadows – WoW Cinematic to The War Within
“Look at all the idiots.”
How do content creators react to the restriction? When Asmongold realizes that he has to wait until the official launch to tackle level 4 of the depths, he comments on YouTube as follows: “You’re telling me that we paid 40 dollars to not be able to play the game? That’s just dumb, right?”
After that, Asmongold admits that he would do the same if it were his game: he has to wait to tackle level 4 of the depths. He comments on YouTube as follows: “It’s such easy money. For sure. Look at all the idiots. Bro, who the hell goes along with this? Okay, we’re doing it right now.”
Esfand takes a pragmatic view: you just don’t want to wait until next week. It’s available, so you play it. By the way, Asmongold’s shadow McConnell was also present. His question to the two streamers: “Don’t you think that your behavior contributes to the questionable practices of the gaming industry?” Esfand’s response: “Sure … but don’t you also own a phone?”
With his counter-question, Esfand refers to the announcement of Diablo Immortal at BlizzCon 2018, where the Blizzard developers were booed and could only help themselves with a helpless question: “Don’t you people have phones?”
How do you evaluate the Early Access of WoW: The War Within? Are you satisfied with the offered content and the launch experience so far? Are you waiting for the final release? Let us know in the comments. More about the early access here: WoW: The War Within – What you can do in Early Access and what not
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Turtle Beach has introduced its next generation gaming headset with the Stealth 700 Gen 3. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann was able to take a look at the headset and listen to it briefly at gamescom 2024.
Turtle Beach is now launching the third generation of its Stealth 700. The new gaming headset will be released on September 22, 2024, at a price of 199.99 Euros. The device is compatible with PC, mobile phones, and all common gaming consoles.
At Gamescom, I already had the chance to hold the new gaming headset and listen to it briefly. My first impression is positive, but there are still some question marks that can only be clarified with a proper test.
New gaming headset comes with two wireless adapters at the same time
What is the special feature? Turtle Beach relies on two dongles for its 3rd generation headset. You can plug one into your PS5 and the other into your gaming PC. With a single button press, you can quickly switch between your platforms. This way, you can play on the PS5 first and later switch to your PC without having to unplug a dongle. This is great for people like me who play on multiple platforms at the same time.
What unfortunately does not work: You cannot use sound through both dongles at the same time, you always have to choose one connection.
What does work, however, is that you can use the headset simultaneously via dongle as well as Bluetooth. For example, you can play on the PS5 while simultaneously answering a call on your mobile phone. This “Dual-Connection” feature is nothing new and is now supported by many manufacturers, such as Razer or SteelSeries.
What is my first impression? The headset fits very closely around the ears, so you perceive very little of your surroundings, typical for a closed headset. This puts the focus strongly on the sound and the noises you hear through the headset.
During my brief wear at Gamescom, I was able to listen to music and a game (Wuthering Wave). My first impression is quite positive. The sound is powerful, and the closed headset brings the sound surprisingly well to life.
I was also impressed by the build quality of the headset. Many components are made of metal, which makes the headset appear very high-quality at first glance. The ear cushions are removable and replaceable. The main body continues to be made of plastic, similar to its predecessor.
What bothers me? The synthetic leather cushions get very warm, especially in the summer. I would have liked to have seen alternative fabric cushions. For example, Logitech offers this for its “G Pro X” headset series.
Unfortunately, but bearable: The dongles are for USB-A and not for USB-C. With the Steam Deck or other gaming handhelds, the dongles do not work; you will have to rely on Bluetooth here.
There are still question marks regarding ergonomics and battery life
What can I not comment on? I could not test the microphone. As someone who already uses a desktop microphone, the microphone plays a rather minor role for me.
I also cannot comment on the battery life. Turtle Beach rates the runtime at “up to 80 hours.” The headset is indeed robust, but also quite heavy. Whether I will feel the headset on my head and ears after 8 hours, I cannot say yet.
Another key issue is ergonomics: I personally have not had problems with Turtle Beach headsets, but I know from colleagues that the headsets can press very hard on large heads over time. I personally found the predecessor, the 700 Gen 2 MAX, to be very comfortable, while colleagues found quite the opposite. You can read the extensive test of the predecessor directly on MeinMMO: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max in review: Good gaming headset with difficult ergonomics
Webedia Gaming (GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO) accompanies the big gaming event as the official media partner of gamescom 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This is something MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya did not expect: When she asked the lead developers of Monster Hunter: Wilds a harmless question at gamescom, she did not foresee how difficult it would be to answer.
I was able to play the new main installment of the Monster Hunter series at gamescom both solo and in co-op. The demo of Monster Hunter: Wilds is, as expected, already of high quality and feels directly more action-packed to me than its predecessor.
After playing, I get to ask the lead developers a few questions, which I naturally do. I like to wrap up interviews with a fun or personal question to lighten the mood towards the end of the conversation.
I did not expect to ask the developers a “fun question” that would be so difficult that we almost have to end the interview! That is what I want to tell you here. The rest and the more serious part of the interview you will get tomorrow on MeinMMO.
You certainly saw that the community on Steam tagged your game “Dating Simulator” because of the blonde blacksmith. Now I wonder, if Monster Hunter really were a dating simulator, which monsters would you send on a date together?
Now imagine three Japanese developers sitting in front of me, breaking out into loud laughter. The PR and the interpreter also join in the laughter.
However, it does not stay with laughter for long. Suddenly I see serious faces, furrowing their brows. The hands come to the chin for the perfect thinking pose.
Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto concludes after intense consideration: For the entire series, Rathalos and Rathian are the “power couple”.
However, I do not accept the answer, as it is far too obvious. The two wyverns have long been known as the couple in Monster Hunter and might even become the flagship monsters of the dating sim.
Game Director Yuya Tokuda interjects: Among the new monsters, Lala Barina would certainly be romantic. It is really a tough final question!
Whether one finds La La Barina romantic or not, please let everyone decide for themselves.
La La Barina is a new monster that makes its debut in Wilds. This monster builds its nest in the Scarlet Forest, moves with grace, and mimics the appearance of a blooming rose.
This is of course quite fitting for a dating sim, but we still don’t have a couple.
PR staff Ian is getting nervous. Because the next interviewees are waiting for their interview with the lead developers. Ian assures me that he has not taken the three developers seriously throughout gamescom.
I look one last time questioningly around the room and see how the three developers are still sifting through their entire monster catalog in their heads and falling silent. My interview has now slightly exceeded the time.
After some discussion among the developers, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto blurts out the answer: Zinogre and Mizutsune.
For the lead developers of Monster Hunter Wilds, the dream couple for the dating sim: Left Mizutsune and right Zinogre.
So now we know which monsters would go on a dream date together!
Thus, we have started with the truly relevant information. I am now processing the rest of the interview. There we will talk about Monster Hunter as a complete service game and conflicts between newcomers and those who have been playing Monster Hunter for a long time.
Until then, take a look at our weapon list for Monster Hunter Wilds and maybe find a favorite there. I personally prefer the hammer for a few powerful arguments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Since April 2024, reports have been circulating that Valve is testing a new multiplayer game on Steam more or less secretly. Now the developers of Half-Life and Team Fortress are finally officially acknowledging their project.
Now there has been a quasi-announcement, as Valve has released the official product page for Deadlock on Steam.
The only information there: “Deadlock is in early development and includes many temporary graphics, experimental gameplay, and a localization still in progress.”
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This is Deadlock – The new MOBA shooter from Valve
In the case of Deadlock, Valve has apparently provided access to selected Steam users who can then recommend their friends for the current testing phase. Instead of official marketing, there was a pseudo-secret word-of-mouth promotion through which reports about Valve’s new project spread like wildfire – including its own Subreddit.
What are the players reporting? If Valve continues to reveal little information about Deadlock, the community has to step in. Here are the most important findings:
In terms of aesthetics and some mechanics, Deadlock strongly resembles the successful MOBA Dota 2, only packaged in a third-person shooter framework.
In the parties, groups of six heroes fight against each other on maps with four lanes, where NPC troops also move and fight against each other.
The goal is to break through the defenses of the opposing team and destroy the enemy’s patron, a huge glowing orb.
The 20 heroes of Deadlock take on roles as tanks, supporters, and assassins – each with four core abilities. Some fighters are said to resemble comparable multiplayer titles like Overwatch or Team Fortress 2.
Deadlock is said to be fast-paced. The heroes are highly mobile. Reloading is quick. Thanks to a zipline, one can be right in the action in no time. The maps are built vertically, and abilities allow champions to catapult themselves into the air.
All of this sounds like Deadlock could develop a competitive scene including e-sports events. Valve has already gained a lot of experience with DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike 2. The setup of the shooter definitely gives the impression of being designed for e-sports.
Don’t feel like slow leveling? From level 70 to 80, you can finish quickly in WoW: The War Within – you can manage multiple characters in one evening.
The Early Access of World of Warcraft: The War Within had been live for less than 48 hours, and yet many players had already leveled their characters to level 80. Not only that, some have already fully leveled a second or even third character. But how is it so fast? No exploit is necessary, but a simple trick: Currently, you can level up second characters super fast.
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WoW: The War Within – Shadows Beneath the Surface
How to level Twinks so fast? The answer is simple: Dungeons. Just sign up permanently for “Random Dungeons.” Completing a random dungeon only takes a few minutes and gives you a lot of bonus experience in The War Within. A single dungeon gives you nearly half a level.
Note that this primarily works if you already have a character at level 80 who has completed the main campaign. Because the campaign is necessary to unlock several features. Therefore, it is worth completing the campaign with the first character at least before starting to spam dungeons.
Random dungeons give bonus XP – as much as 6-7 quests and you only need 5-10 minutes.
Why is it so fast? The reason is that the item level of the equipment increases only slightly between level 70 and level 80. If you had strong equipment at the end of “Dragonflight,” you will barely have to replace it until level 80. However, this means that you are relatively overpowered for the dungeons between level 70 and 80. The enemies fall there like flies, so you only need a maximum of 5 to 15 minutes for dungeons – and that’s only if you take your time.
Leveling is somewhat slower between level 78 and 80 – here you will likely have to quest or run a few additional dungeons to grab the last experience points, as the scaling is slowly working against you. If you are lucky and end up in a group with many low-level characters, the pace remains high.
Note that with each additional character at level 80, your leveling speed increases again, as you receive a permanent bonus of 5% additional experience points for your account. Also, there is currently another XP bonus. A bonus event ensures that you get an additional 20% to 30% more XP. This way, you can even level from 70 to 80 in less than two hours. Some even only need 3 hours to level from level 1 to 80 – a world record.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
