The developers of Larian have shown with Baldur’s Gate 3 how successful an early release in an early access phase can be. So successful that another promising role-playing project is soon following this strategy on Steam.
In an interview with gamesradar.com, Spiders CEO Jehanne Rousseau revealed that the team was only able to push for an early access start at publisher Nacon thanks to the great success of Baldur’s Gate 3 – the enormously successful role-playing game from Larian was also in early access on Steam for quite some time.
Here you can watch a trailer for GreedFall 2:
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Greedfall 2 spielt drei Jahre vor den Ereignissen des ersten Teils
The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 serves as a model
What exactly does the studio head say? Specifically, Jehanne Rousseau explained: “It was [Baldur’s Gate 3] that allowed us to convince Nacon to make early access for GreedFall 2. I had been asking for years to have early access for our game, and they said ‘No, RPGs never work, this won’t work.’ And since Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s been: ‘Look, it works, let’s do it.’”
Rousseau hopes that early access on Steam will facilitate a lively exchange with the community, so they can implement feedback into improvements and additional options before the launch.
For every game they have developed in the past (besides GreedFall also Steelrising, The Technomancer, or Bound by Flame), it has been very frustrating for the studio head that the most important feedback often came from players only after the release, and then they would think: They are right, we should have done that.
What do I need to know about GreedFall 2? The new role-playing game from Spiders takes place three years before GreedFall and leads you to the Old Continent, where you will encounter a decaying core filled with disease and crime in an exotic setting of crumbling cities.
Once again, you are an outsider dealing with different interest groups and must find your own solutions for various challenges – sometimes with cunning, sometimes with diplomacy, sometimes with violence.
A senior employee at Amazon reportedly took advantage of the working conditions to negotiate the maximum salary with minimal work. After being let go from Google, he moved to Amazon. There, he shares how little he did for the company and how he received almost 330,000 euros in salary for it.
How little did the employee accomplish? The employee started at Amazon as a Senior Technical Program Manager about 1.5 years ago, and so far, it seems his tactic has not been discovered. He applied to Amazon with the intention of “doing nothing” and getting paid until he is caught and fired (via X).
His current work routine consists of denying other teams who want to integrate into his team. Alternatively, he leaves them with 95% of the integration work.
According to his own statement, he only works eight hours per week. Most of the time, he would spend the time in meetings.
He has 0 Kingpin Goals. This is the system with which Amazon defines goals for its employees.
In the 1.5 years, he reportedly only processed seven tickets that came to him.
For an automated dashboard, he allegedly only took three days to create it with the help of ChatGPT. In contrast, he told Amazon that he invested three months in the project.
For all his “work” that he has done in the 1.5 years, he reportedly received a proud salary of 330,706 euros in his senior position. The post has now been deleted (via teamblind.com).
Amazon is known not only for its warehouse but also for its movies and series:
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The Summer When I Became Beautiful – Teaser for Season 1 of the Amazon Series
Divided Opinion on Exploiting Working Conditions
What do other users think about it? In the comments, several users find such behavior acceptable. X user Olua_AO writes that people who only work two hours a day and get paid for eight (which gives them enough time for their personal lives) are the winners in life.
DracoThinks believes that one should “exploit the exploit” if the game is “manipulated.” Thus, he supports what the employee revealed to the public. By exploiting, the senior manager would at least not be the only one, as many employees exploit a trick to work as much as possible from home.
However, there are also some voices that disapprove of the behavior. User HapiiHD writes that people like the employee in the following example are the reason why such mass layoffs exist at all. Moreover, they are paid far too well.
User TheMonkDev adds that such people would diminish the work of honest employees who just want to work and earn money.
In an interview that took place during the gamescom 2024, Christoph Hartmann, Vice President at Amazon Games (New World, Lost Ark), spoke about the use of AI in games.
What does Christoph Hartmann say? The head of Amazon’s game studios has great hopes for the use of artificial intelligence in game development for several reasons:
The gaming industry faces a difficult challenge. In order to compete with competitors for people’s leisure time (like TikTok and various streaming services), developers need to be bold and try new things.
At the same time, game development is becoming increasingly expensive, making risks extremely risky. And developing a game is already a risk or gamble because one spends more and more years on a project and has to predict what the zeitgeist will look like in five or six years.
According to Hartmann, the use of AI can significantly reduce the duration of game developments, thereby lowering costs and allowing more products to be completed in the same time frame.
Additionally, shorter development phases and lower costs should make it possible to focus more on innovation and risk again.
This year, an important launch for Amazon Games is still upcoming with New World Aeternum:
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Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version
“This explains the quality of their game stories”
How does Christoph Hartmann assess the potential dangers of AI? In the next part of the interview, which you can find on IGN, the Vice President is asked about the strike of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union, which demands agreements to protect actors and voice actors in video games from artificial intelligence (via tagesspiegel.de).
Christoph Hartmann first emphasizes that he has to be careful with statements on the topic, as Amazon Games is constantly dealing with the organizations involved in the strike. Nevertheless, he seems not to share the concerns of the actors and voice actors.
When we talk about the use of AI, we hope first and foremost that it helps us develop new game ideas, which has nothing to do with taking someone’s job away. And specifically for games, we don’t really have actors… most of the team is working in programming, and that will remain the case because this is about innovation.
According to Hartmann, AI should mainly be used where it comes to tedious tasks. He cites localization, i.e., the translation of all texts into different languages, as an example. This is labor-intensive and studios always have to question whether the translation into certain languages will be economically viable. AI can significantly help expand the target audiences.
How does the community react to the statements? Under the interview and on platforms like Reddit, the statements of the Amazon Games chief are not received very well.
grizzlyfoxcat writes on IGN something like: “So he’s saying that acting is a boring, artless task that can be replaced by AI. He has no idea what kind of talent is needed to develop a game; he’s just another executive issuing orders based on numbers.”
LordofDarkness42 comments on Reddit: “This honestly explains the quality of their game stories. If the higher-ups think so little of voice acting, I can’t imagine that the writers receive much attention either.”
Sloafuge echoes on Reddit: “I think this speaks volumes about the quality level we should expect from Amazon Games.”
pmmeyourdoubt has an alternative idea for the use of AI (via Reddit): “Honestly, an AI would do a better job in his position. Replace him.”
Assessment of the MMORPG expert from MeinMMO
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate the situation? I truly believe that there are areas in game development (especially in smaller and medium-sized studios) that can benefit from the use of AI. Many activities primarily involve hard work and little creativity.
Minimizing these tasks to improve quality in the creative areas, shorten development times, and improve working conditions (keyword: less crunch) would definitely be a good thing.
However, the claim that “you don’t really need actors for game development” is false in my opinion. A “The Last of Us 2” or “Baldur’s Gate 3” would never be as good without the outstanding performances of the actors and voice actors.
Or just listen to how much passion and joy the German voice actor Vinvent Fallow brings to the character Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI. This, in my view, is material that no AI in the world could ever replicate.
How do you see it?
By the way, Christoph Hartmann also talked in the interview about the studio’s current MMORPGs, New World and Lost Ark, as well as upcoming projects like the Lord of the Rings online RPG, for which they are still looking for the special twist. More on this here: There is a sign of life from the new MMORPG for the Lord of the Rings from Amazon Games
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A podcast series about Dragon Age: The Veilguard is starting soon. There, you will learn more about your companions who accompany you in Thedas. MeinMMO reveals the details.
What kind of podcast is this? The podcast Vows & Vengeance will provide the backstory to the highly anticipated new Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The new podcast series will also introduce us to the companions of the RPG with whom our protagonist Rook goes on adventures in Thedas. Knowing a little more about them might even be beneficial. Because in The Veilguard, our companions have to like us in order to become stronger.
Are you hyped too? Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released on Halloween, October 31, 2024. Here you can watch a trailer for the RPG:
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Dragon Age: The Veilguard – New trailer reveals release date in October 2024
All 7 Veilguard companions will be introduced in the podcast series
What is the first episode about? The former thief Nadia is drawn back into action by the allure of one last big heist. Unbeknownst to her, she is working on behalf of the Dread Wolf and sets out to find a powerful, ancient artifact.
Together with her love Elio, she finds herself caught in a web of lies that endangers the entire world. When Elio is banished to the Fade – a mysterious, magical dimension – Nadia embarks on a desperate rescue mission to bring him back.
Here you can see the podcast teaser on YouTube:
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How is the podcast structured, what else can you learn? The first episode introduces the main characters Nadia, Elio, and Drayden, while each subsequent episode highlights one of the companions from The Veilguard.
This narrative is complemented by the appearance of voice actors of well-known characters from previous games, including perhaps the most popular dwarf from Inquisition – the chief scout Lace Harding (Ali Hillis). She also fights as a companion at your side in The Veilguard.
When will the podcast be released?Vows & Vengeance is an eight-part podcast series that will be released every Thursday from August 29 to October 17.
Here is the complete schedule:
Episode 1 on August 29: Nadia, Elio, and Drayden
Episode 2 on September 5: Harding
Episode 3 on September 12: Davrin
Episode 4 on September 19: Bellara
Episode 5 on September 26: Taash
Episode 6 on October 3: Lucanis
Episode 7 on October 10: Emmrich
Episode 8 on October 17: Neve
Matthew Mercer from Critical Role will also be present, lending his voice to the skeleton assistant Manfred of the necromancer Emmrich. He also voiced Minsc from Baldur’s Gate 3. The two MeinMMO editors Karsten Scholz and Sophia Weiss have summarized all the important info about Dragon Age: The Veilguard: All about the release, collector’s edition, factions, and companions
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The German fantasy film “The NeverEnding Story” is 40 years old. To celebrate the anniversary, actor Noah Hathaway spoke about a dangerous stunt that nearly cost him his life.
What does Noah Hathaway say? The American actor, who played the role of Atreyu in the cult film “The NeverEnding Story” at just twelve years old, recalled in an interview with indiewire.com a nearly fatal accident during filming.
According to Hathaway, the German director Wolfgang Petersen was known for demanding that actors perform their own stunts. Atreyu was supposed to fall from trees, ride horses, fight through a swamp, and confront monsters.
Even before the actual filming began, extensive riding training was scheduled, the actor further explained. And during that, an accident occurred that would affect him into adulthood.
Before we started filming, I was training on a horse. It got spooked, took off, and jumped over a fence. I flipped, and it fell on me and broke my back. I spent two months in traction in a German hospital before we could even shoot a scene. It was a lot, but I pulled myself together, and we filmed for almost a whole year.
What other anecdotes does the actor reveal? Noah Hathaway had more memories from the shoot:
Atreyu was originally supposed to have green skin, so the boy was painted green at first. Later, they abandoned this idea and opted for a tanned protagonist. Noah Hathaway was therefore tasked with visiting a tanning salon twice a week.
The pressure during filming must have been enormous. Hathaway describes: “Wolfgang was a madman. We did 30, 40 takes, sometimes of stunts like falling from a tree. Everything hurt. “
Painful was also an encounter with Gmork, an evil, wolf-like creature. It was said to weigh a few hundred pounds and was thrown at the actor in a scene using an air cannon. At one point, it knocked Hathaway unconscious: “My father said I snored for about five minutes,” the actor recalls.
It was not the only time Hathaway lost consciousness during filming. The scene where Atreyu is deep in the swamp was also dangerous. In addition to mud, dry ice was used to give the sequence an eerie atmosphere. It was cold. Plus, there was mud everywhere. When too much of it got into the actor’s mouth, he had to be pulled unconscious from the artificial swamp.
Looking back, Noah Hathaway comments on the filming back then: “It was totally crazy. There’s no way you could get away with something like that today.” Pretty shocking, right?
Why should you have seen “The NeverEnding Story”? The 1984 film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ende and thrilled an entire generation of fantasy enthusiasts with great effects, lovable child actors, quirky characters, and the exciting battle against the all-consuming Nothing.
As viewers, we follow the ten-year-old Bastian Balthasar Bux, who secretly reads “The NeverEnding Story” in his school’s attic, but also the young warrior Atreyu, who in the fantasy world of the book must stop the Nothing and save the severely ill Childlike Empress.
Those who saw the film back then with enthusiasm still remember the luck dragon Fuchur, the encounter with the ancient Morla, or the goblin couple Engywuk and Urgl. And maybe you now also have the wonderful music in your ears that plays when Atreyu rides through the air on Fuchur. Here’s another filming anecdote from an actor: The star from Gladiator had a problem three months before filming: he was bald and weighed too much
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the end of the year, we are allowed to embark on our very first journey into Middle-earth in anime format, and MeinMMO author Ody is so ready for it.
Which movie is this about?“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” is an anime film that takes us back to Middle-earth – this time “through the eyes” of the renowned anime director Kenji Kamiyama.
The film is set about 200 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings” and revolves around Helm Hammerhand and his daughter Héra. Hammerhand is one of the most famous kings of Rohan, alongside Théoden.
Due to a diplomatic mishap of the highest order, war breaks out between Rohan and the Dunlendings, led by the young prince Wulf. The shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn, known from the films and books, will return as a narrator for the film.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be released in German cinemas on December 12. You can watch the German trailer for the film here:
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The Lord of the Rings: The Battle of the Rohirrim – The next film in Middle-earth will be an anime
A Love Letter to Middle-earth
The trailer has not been received positively by all LOTR fans. Some are bothered by the fact that it is an anime and not a live-action film. Others criticize that the focus is on Hammerhand’s daughter Héra rather than on the king himself. However, I am really looking forward to the film. To me, it feels like a love letter to Middle-earth
I immediately notice that with Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, and Peter Jackson, the producers of the original film trilogy are back on board. Rohan looks exactly as I expected, and the clothing and armor also fit wonderfully into the picture. Even if the trailer didn’t contain snippets and music from the films, you would know – yep, that’s it!
The anime has taken on a very exciting story to tell: Helm Hammerhand is a familiar name to many fans, his name is even part of the name of the fortress Helm’s Deep. The decision to perhaps focus more on his daughter does not mean that Hammerhand will be any less interesting or important.
I also don’t think it’s a problem that the film is being released as an anime. On the contrary, I notice that the understanding of anime or “cartoons” as a medium is not particularly widespread. We know from series like Invincible or the Castlevania anime that animation doesn’t have to be just for kids.
If someone looks at you funny because you, as an adult, are going to see an anime film, I would just ignore it. You can be sure that this person is missing out on some great productions, while you hopefully enjoy the new LOTR film.
Humans are not as strong compared to other races from Dragon Ball. MeinMMO reveals who the strongest among humans are. This time, we have crowned a special number 1.
In Dragon Ball, there are different races that have their individual characteristics. The Saiyans are known to be a warrior race. No wonder that the Saiyans Son-Goku and Vegeta keep saving humanity from destruction. But how do things actually look on the human side?
How were the humans selected? MeinMMO evaluated the listed characters in this power ranking based on the following criteria:
They do not belong to any other race or species. C18 and Tenshinhan are disqualified, for example, because they are a cyborg or a descendant of an alien species.
They have already demonstrated their fighting techniques and strength in battles.
They appeared at some point in the anime, meaning in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, or Dragon Ball Super. We did not consider the movies, which is why Olibu does not appear here.
From all these criteria, we crowned the ultimate champion of humanity. We were able to award a very “special” first place. But you should read for yourself.
Place 5: Videl
Videl lives for fighting before she marries Son-Gohan.
First appearance: Episode 200 (Dragon Ball Z)
Special technique: Videl Rush
Videl is the daughter of the legend Mr. Satan. She has dedicated herself to martial arts since she was a child. She won the junior version of the Great Martial Arts tournament at a young age. Son-Gohan teaches her how to control her Ki so she can fly and use energy attacks, thanks to some coercion.
In the fight against Spopovich, she was able to demonstrate that she is an extremely capable fighter. Unfortunately, she faced a supernatural opponent, which eventually drained her strength. Additionally, she gave up martial arts when she married Son-Gohan and gave birth to Pan.
Place 4: Yamcha
Yamcha is a baseball pro after his martial arts career.
First appearance: Episode 5 (Dragon Ball)
Special technique: Wolf Technique
Although Yamcha died ridiculously against a plant man and his death pose became a meme, he is one of the strongest humans on Earth. He is one of Son-Goku’s longest-standing friends and trains so hard that he even masters techniques like the Kamehameha.
Unfortunately, Yamcha never makes it past the quarter-finals of the Great Martial Arts tournament. Over time, he realizes that he cannot keep up with his friends and hangs up his fighting suit. Instead, he dedicates himself to a career in baseball.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Twitch streamer Trymacs sent his colleague Rumathra an angry voice message. The reason for this is the new add-on in World of Warcraft.
Who is this about? During the stream, the Twitch streamer Trymacs sends his colleague Rumathra an angry voice message, as a clip on TikTok shows. The reason for this is that Rumathra, together with Papaplatte, is hosting a 72-hour stream for the new WoW add-on The War Within. Trymacs is upset because they have joint plans that were supposed to take place shortly after the event of Papaplatte and Rumathra.
Vom Pizza-Lieferant zu einem der größten deutschen Twitch-Streamer – Leben und Karriere von Trymacs in 2 Minuten
“You play WoW instead of preparing”
What bothers Trymacs about the situation? The streamer seems mainly bothered by the fact that he and his friend Rumathra already have plans for Monday, August 26th. On that day, the two want to play version 1.0 of Core Keeper, which they have been waiting for according to Trymacs for three years. He also planned to play the game for many hours over several days.
Trymacs is now worried that Rumathra may not be fit enough for their plans if he is streaming WoW for 72 hours straight and not preparing for their joint plans. Of course, Trymacs’ “anger” towards Rumathra does not seem entirely serious.
Although Trymacs doesn’t seem to mean his words entirely seriously, many users still show little enthusiasm for his reaction.
Reactions from the community: Even though many are aware that the streamer doesn’t mean his words seriously, they still find his reaction unacceptable.
tosch4one says: Papaplatte meets Rumathra on equal terms and doesn’t always joke at his expense.
Deechen comments: Hmm, WoW with a friend in a chill environment and just having a good time or Core Keeper with an angry person who insults and puts you down? Yeah, tough decision.
The user Impp reacts similarly: I don’t understand how Rumathra can be friends with Trymacs. Every clip I see, he makes fun of him.
Did you know what happened to the young Link you played in The Legend of Zelda “Ocarina of Time” and “Majora’s Mask”? The answer is quite dark.
Many of you probably had your first encounter with the hero “Link” from the “The Legend of Zelda” universe during the golden age of the Nintendo 64 console. This is where the two titles “Ocarina of Time” and “Majora’s Mask” were released, which still rank among the most beloved Zelda games of all time.
You play the hero’s journey of Link, the boy from the Kokiri village, who becomes the “Hero of Time.” He defeats Ganondorf, rescues the princess, and later even prevents the moon from crashing into the world of Termina.
But what most probably didn’t know: Link, the Hero of Time, came out of these experiences anything but positively. They traumatized him and led to him finding no peace even in death.
The latest Zelda was recently revealed:
Start video
Nintendo has introduced The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The Hero of Time – A Legend That No One Knows
If you don’t remember the events of “Ocarina of Time,” here’s a brief summary:
Ocarina of Time is a time travel story where Link, as a child, comes into contact with the “Master Sword,” through which he essentially freezes for 7 years. Once he awakens as an adult, the world is under Ganondorf’s control.
In the game, you repeatedly switch between these two timelines (by putting the Master Sword back into its pedestal). After defeating Ganondorf, Princess Zelda uses her power to send Link back to the past so he can live his life again and have a fulfilling childhood this time. The sword is also sealed again, preventing further time travel.
Zelda bids farewell to Link – and then sends him back to the past.
Even though Zelda’s idea was for Link’s benefit, the decision had consequences: Because Zelda thus created two different timelines. The “Adult” timeline, where all the events of Ocarina of Time took place, and the “Child” timeline, where Link lives his new youth.
For Link, however, this was extremely burdensome. Because he still had his memories of all the years he fought in Hyrule and the friendships he had formed. But in this “new” timeline, these things never occurred. He had been locked out of “his world,” where he was the Hero of Time.
However, since Link still has a heroic and good character, he warns Zelda in this timeline about Ganondorf, allowing Zelda and the king to act against Ganondorf before he puts his schemes into action. In this “Child” timeline, Ganondorf is therefore rather unceremoniously thwarted early in his plans.
A Second World in Majora’s Mask
However, Link doesn’t stay with Zelda for long; instead, he wants to search for Navi – his fairy friend who left him without a word. In doing so, he ultimately wanders through the forests of Hyrule and is found by the “Horror Kid.” Link is transported to another dimension: The realm of Termina, which is threatened by the moon that will crash into the world in three days. This is the game “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.”
Again, time plays a significant role. Link is able to “reset” the destruction of the world repeatedly and travel back three days before the moon strikes. All beings he has met – except for the new fairy accompanying him – lose their memory of him.
In Majora’s Mask, Link must keep rewinding time – and ultimately destroys the universe.
After countless time jumps, he finally succeeds in preventing the moon’s impact and freeing the “Horror Kid” from the mask and defeating the dark being Majora.
However, the destruction of Majora “saves” the world from the moon’s crash – but at the same time, the entire universe of Termina is wiped out, as it was merely an invention of the powers of the mask and the Horror Kid. All the experiences, all the friendships and heroic deeds that Link experienced there were simply not “real” – and there is no one who can remember them. Except for Link himself.
After that, Link finds himself back in the “real” world and continues to search for the fairy Navi.
What happens to him after that is not entirely clear. But one thing is certain: Link dies eventually.
Twilight Princess and the Dead Hero
In “Twilight Princess,” you encounter the “Spirit of a Hero” multiple times throughout your journey. This is an undead skeleton with a suspicious sword and shield that teaches the hero of the game new sword techniques. This skeleton is the Hero of Time – that is, Link from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask.
The protagonist from Twilight Princess (left) and the Hero of Time from Ocarina of Time (right).
The fact that the Hero of Time is depicted as a skeleton knight is no coincidence. It is a being known in Ocarina of Time as “Stalfos.” People who get lost in the forest and do not belong to the Kokiri become Stalfos there. Since the Hero of Time is not a Kokiri but was taken in as an orphan by the Deku Tree, this fits.
Or to put it very clearly: Link, the Hero of Time, never found his friend Navi while wandering through the forests, ultimately got lost himself, and could find no peace in death due to all the experiences and doubts, losing two “realities”.
Who would have thought that such a dark story lies behind Zelda?
Where do the info come from? The information comes from the book “Hyrule Historia,” which was published several years ago. With the book, Nintendo has brought the Zelda games into a chronological order and explained the connections between the various games. Because even though you often play a “new” Link, many games in the Zelda universe are clearly connected to each other.
Did you know what happened to your shining childhood hero? Or would you have been happier if you had never had this new information, since you can no longer look at the “Hero of Time” with the same innocent eyes? In any case: You’re welcome. Link was never entirely harmless anyway – he could also kill a villager.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Empire of the Ants sounded completely unappealing to MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus. The gamescom 2024 had so many great games – and he has to check out a strategy game for consoles at the request of the boss. Luckily, because it is an extremely positive surprise.
Being a video game journalist sounds like a dream job for many: You talk to the devs, get a lot of games for free and earlier, and basically get paid to play. Sometimes, however, you have to deal with pretty tedious tasks.
While planning for gamescom 2024, MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski made an appointment for me to Empire of the Ants, a real-time strategy game with ants. She said: This is exactly my game, after all, I am an RTS nerd.
In itself, that’s correct, but Empire of the Ants is a strategy game for consoles with ants and somehow not really what I usually play. Nevertheless, Leya insisted that I attend this appointment.
Even though I trudged into the hall with moderately much desire, I must now thank her for it. Empire of the Ants absolutely surprised me and even if the game will certainly not attract hundreds of thousands of players, I had surprisingly much fun.
Start video
Empire of the Ants: The trailer for the ant strategy game on PS5
Real-time strategy with controller works – thanks to a trick
Why I was skeptical at all: I love playing real-time and turn-based strategy games, preferably on a large scale. Crusader Kings, Total War: Warhammer 3, and Sins of a Solar Empire are among my favorite games. Dawn of War is still one of the best strategy games for me.
What they all have in common is that you play them with mouse and keyboard because you simply need a quick overview and have to manage several menus to manage troops and base building.
However, Empire of the Ants is designed for controllers and is supposed to be primarily a strategy game for consoles. That can’t work – I thought. But a trick from the developers makes the game a unique experience.
Instead of playing a “god” who manages everything from above, I control a single ant with the controller that is right in the action. Through the sticks and buttons, I command whole armies instead of individual troops and send them around – either from a distance or up close.
Base building works by crawling to one of the nests and expanding it there through a menu on the ground. I have to actively “walk” to the buildings and troops I want to build or train.
While playing, I felt a bit like Captain Olimar – you know, the little astronaut with the bulbous nose who coordinates the little beetle men through the tall grass in Pikmin.
In fact, Empire of the Ants plays similarly. Through a cursor, I select spots on the ground, structures, or enemy armies to send my units there, gather resources, or attack troops.
Similar to Mount & Blade: Bannerlord, I stand as a commander in the back and make sure my ants, bugs, and other insects really win the battle. The selection of troops is somewhat smaller than usual and roughly follows a rock-paper-scissors principle.
The game is played in different “missions” with different tasks and varying degrees of challenge:
Exploration is aimed at casual players, here you are supposed to mainly walk around alone and discover the area or rescue worker ants.
Tactically brings a combat component into the game, you command a few troops, but you don’t really build anything yourself. According to the developers, it should help players find their way into strategic gameplay.
Strategically is finally real-time strategy with base building, resource management, troop training, and enemies to defeat.
Although the boss explained to me in the conversation that I should better play an exploration mission, I accidentally selected a strategic objective directly. Luckily, because I was totally thrilled by the gameplay.
Here you can see the detailed gameplay video of Empire of the Ants from GameStar:
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Because I play an ant and not an invisible commander, playing with the controller feels natural. I am indeed the commander who is just passing on the queen’s orders to the workers and soldiers, monitoring that everything goes the right way.
I think what really helps while playing is the mission approach. The whole game feels more like an adventure and leans on the campaign, something that is often the highlight for players in many RTS games.
In various chapters, you are supposed to complete a certain number of tasks to proceed. In total, there should be between 30 to 60 hours of gameplay, plus a 1vs1 PvP mode and a FFA mode for 3 players. Cooperative gameplay is not planned for now.
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 all those taking the journey to gamescom. But also on the screen, as there will be further streams – for example the FYNG show from GameStar, GamePro, and MeinMMO.
Empire of the Ants will certainly not be a game that I will play hundreds of hours repeatedly. But I definitely want to check out the campaign and maybe play casually from time to time. The game will be released on November 7 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. At gamescom 2024, it is definitely my surprise tip – my highlight was actually another one: An RPG about Warhammer 40k is the best game at gamescom 2024
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
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
Start video
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.
