Diablo 4: 3 Things You Should Consider in Season 5 to Avoid Wasting Materials

Nicole Wakulczyk Nicole Wakulczyk Reading time 4 minutes

With Season 5, some changes came to Diablo 4. Some of these were known beforehand, while others were not. To ensure you don’t waste materials because of this, we’ve put together some tips for you.

Season 5 in Diablo 4 recently started and brought new endgame content to the game, a new reputation system, but also new bottlenecks. These are primarily related to changes that were not known beforehand and were not described in the patch notes for Patch 1.5.0.

What resources are scarce? As players switch to World Tier 4 and want to upgrade and enchant their equipment, they currently notice various shortages of materials:

  • Rune shards to open the pit
  • certain materials for crafting
  • Seal powder / seals for Nightmare dungeons at World Tier 4

The shortage of materials is due to the fact that they simply drop less frequently than before – or not at all. To avoid wasting your materials and manage them well, we have compiled some tips for you below.

Start video
Diablo 4: Secret change brings more loot for everyone who likes to grind

No rune shards in Nightmare dungeons

In a YouTube video, Diablo expert wudijo explains that Nightmare dungeons currently do not drop rune shards, as they should. You need rune shards to open the pit in Diablo 4. And in the pit, you get important materials for the crafting system ‘Masterworking’ (Completion). wudijo says: The pit is currently essentially not in the game.

Tip: You can also get rune shards from other sources, but the amount is limited. So if you plan to do some runs in the pit, keep this in mind. Otherwise, wait until there is a hotfix for this.

Rune shards? None in sight.

Shortage of Nightmare seals at World Tier 4

With the switch to World Tier 4, many players use Nightmare dungeons to level up quickly and improve their glyphs. However, there seems to be a shortage of seals for this. Previously, you also got them from chests at the Tree of Whispers, but that does not seem to be the case with many chests currently.

Tip: If you want to open a Nightmare dungeon, you may have to craft a seal yourself. For that, you need seal powder, which you get, among other things, when you dismantle seals. Currently, it is advisable to farm seals for Nightmare dungeons and seal powder at World Tier 3 to create seals for World Tier 4. wudijo even advises to currently avoid Nightmare dungeons unless absolutely necessary until this is fixed.

New Bottleneck: Legendary Crafting Materials

While players suffered from a gold shortage in Season 4, there seems to be a new bottleneck now: crafting materials. Players notice this especially at World Tier 4, when they want to improve and enchant their gear.

With Season 5, the developers tweaked the crafting systems: You no longer need Angel’s Breath for enchanting. Still, it hits hard when you want to enchant affixes on items: While this previously cost gold, now your material supplies are primarily suffering.

Tip: Don’t waste your materials by constantly rerolling affixes. Wait, if in doubt, until you find an item that fits your build. Initially, you won’t notice the shortage too much if you collect and dismantle a lot of loot. But later it will become increasingly evident, especially if you frequently change, upgrade, and enchant your gear.

You need a bunch of rare and legendary materials for crafting.

Are there positive changes as well? There are not only bugs or negative changes that were not known beforehand but also positive ones:

  • With the hell hordes, an option has been added in Diablo 4 that allows you to farm gold effectively. If you’re short on gold, spend your “Burning Ether” only on the gold chests after the run.
  • In addition, World bosses can sustain more damage, making the battles feel better and not finishing in a few seconds.
  • Season 5 also introduced a fresh reputation system in Diablo 4. It has 20 levels – but you can also continue grinding and earn rewards afterward.
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What does Blizzard say about this? Currently, it is not known when and if Blizzard will change anything about the bottlenecks. Especially the missing rune shards pose a problem for many players. Without them, you simply cannot enter the pit. Usually, they drop in Nightmare dungeons, which is currently not the case. On X, Community Manager Adam Fletcher wrote on August 12: “The rune shards don’t impact too much, as materials for masterworking in the hell hordes are still available.”

Whether something will change about the drops in the hell hordes when the pit can be visited again is unclear. Currently, the new endgame activity is a good way to farm loot, gold, and materials. You can read more about it here: Diablo 4: New content in Season 5 makes the toughest dungeons unnecessary, drops everything you need

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

A new game for Steam, PS5, and Xbox will be a brutal soulslike in the Middle Ages – revealed in an impressive trailer

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The Nexon team is not only active as developers but also as publishers. In addition to The First Descendant, the studio is currently responsible for the release of The First Berserker: Khazan on Steam. This time, we are dealing with a brutal Soulslike instead of a shooter.

What is The First Berserker: Khazan? Although the name is similarly structured to Nexon’s current hit, the game comes from the developer Neople. In the title, we take on the role of Khazan, a former general. 

  • Khazan and his friend Ozma, the most powerful wizard of all time, defeat the dragon Hismar. The two are celebrated as national heroes after their victory.
  • The emperor becomes envious of the two and accuses them of treason. Ozma is killed, while Khazan is banished to the icy mountains.
  • Therefore, Khazan embarks on a quest for revenge to eliminate his enemies.

As is common in a role-playing game, we can equip Khazan with various items. The items provide different bonuses that strengthen the protagonist. There will also be several types of weapons and character skills. 

The gameplay is a typical Soulslike. We encounter extremely difficult enemies and bosses whose tactics we must understand. This way, we can parry or dodge attacks at the right moment.

In the following trailer, the developers provide more details about the story of The First Berserker: Khazan:

Start video
The First Berserker: Khazan – Insights into the Soulslike of an MMO Studio

Everything You Need to Know About the Release of The First Berserker: Khazan

When will the title be released? The publisher and the development team indicate a release for 2025. A more precise timeframe will likely be provided in the coming months.

On which platforms will the game be available? The First Berserker: Khazan will be released for PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Is there a German voiceover? Unfortunately, The First Berserker: Khazan will not have a German voiceover but will only feature German texts and subtitles. Instead, players can choose between English, Japanese, Chinese, or Korean voiceovers.

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What does the gameplay look like? In another YouTube video about the game, the developers showcase 15 minutes of gameplay. In it, we see the beginning after Khazan has been banished to the snowy mountains. Khazan first fights against some guards before encountering a yeti-like creature.

What’s noticeable about the gameplay: The developers did not hold back on the blood. After the hits and especially in the intro, there is so much red life essence visible that we wonder how the hero even got this far without a blood donation.

In addition to The First Berserker: Khazan, Nexon has three other games planned for the West. Through the new titles, the publisher and developer are experiencing a significant upturn, which is reflected in the business figures of Q2 2024: The MMO company behind First Descendant makes more money than ever before – Developing 4 new games that are set to come to the West

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

New patch in The First Descendant actively combats parasites

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

In The First Descendant, there is a plague that has been annoying fans since release, and that is the parasites. Players who blindly follow you without playing the mission, shooting opponents, or helping you. However, soon you won’t have to deal with these players anymore, as the developers have an effective solution to the problem.

What do these parasites want? Nothing but loot, while other players do the work. They just stand around or follow you, not actively participating in missions or operations, and only wait for the loot distribution that awaits at the end.

Through their selfish behavior, they hinder other players, as these have to fill the gap left by the indifferent teammate. Even in advance, the developers were aware that such a problem exists, but until now they could only implement a new reporting function so fans could bring attention to these players.

However, with the latest patch, which is set to be released on August 13, things will change, including how The First Descendant deals with these AFK players.

Start video
The First Descendant shows the skills of the new descendant Luna in the gameplay trailer

AFK farming will become more difficult in Special Operations

What is The First Descendant planning? With Hotfix 1.0.7, the developers want to filter players in the “Special Operations”. At each major stage, players can choose whether to continue or quit. The system should now be able to recognize who is just standing around AFK. This will result in an immediate selection of “quit” for these players.

It is still unknown what hit rate the system operates with and whether it can be outsmarted. However, the developers are definitely demonstrating that they are actively working on a solution to the problem to enable players to enjoy their gaming experience.

When is the patch coming? Hotfix 1.0.7 is scheduled for release on August 13, 2024 – which is a Tuesday. However, it will not only bring the change for AFK players but also adjustments for item farming. The patch notes are likely to appear only on the day of the patch itself, so you will have to be a little patient.

Aside from the loot lurkers, things are going very well for NEXON. They already have plans for more games that are set to be released in the West. You can find out more details here in our overview: MMO company behind First Descendant earns more money than ever before – developing 4 new games to be released in the West.

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

The most wished game on Steam overtakes Warhammer and Elden Ring, celebrates a big success just before the release

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

The currently most desired game on Steam can celebrate another success and climbs to the top of the charts in a not insignificant category.

Which game are we talking about? Black Myth: Wukong is just around the corner for its release. The action RPG from the Chinese studio Game Science is reminiscent of Soulslikes and is based on the famous novel “Journey to the West”.

This has also served as a template for, among others, Dragon Ball or the game Enslaved. Black Myth: Wukong differs from both but puts the Monkey King from the tale in the spotlight. Everything else you need to know about the release can be found in an overview on MeinMMO.

The game is highly anticipated on Steam and has become the most desired title on the platform (via steam.db). Now Black Myth: Wukong impresses with another first place in a list.

Start video
Black Myth: Wukong: The final trailer for the action RPG from China

The game leaves the competition behind

What has the game achieved? Currently, Black Myth: Wukong is ranked 1 according to steam.db for the most sold games on Steam, ahead of long-time favorites like Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, or the current The First Descendant.

Even the upcoming Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has left Black Myth: Wukong behind. Just like Borderlands 3, which, thanks to a price reduction and the upcoming live-action film, is gaining more attention again.

Most interesting for genre lovers is that Black Myth: Wukong has even surpassed Elden Ring in current sales figures. The game from FromSoftware is often referenced as a comparison.

Is the comparison valid? Indeed, Black Myth: Wukong will take different paths in some aspects. For instance, there is no open world like in Elden Ring, but rather individual levels that are lavishly designed and therefore remind more of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or Lies of P.

Also, the scope is said to be significantly more manageable. According to the developers, Black Myth: Wukong is expected to provide at least 15 hours of gameplay.

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Whether the game can ultimately surpass Elden Ring and other top titles on Steam with its overall sales figures, or whether the current hype will only last a short time, remains to be seen. The release is scheduled for August 20, according to the developers. At the same time, they have a request for fans, which all those should heed who do not want to encounter spoilers.

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

More and more players over 30 who log into LoL no longer play classic LoL

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

In League of Legends, there is a trend: while people log into LoL through the client, they no longer enter the classic “Summoner’s Rift”, but instead divert to one of the many other game modes. The classic “LoL” is too stressful and toxic for many since they turned 30. This is evident from a thread on reddit.

This is classic LoL:

  • The LoL, as played by professionals, takes place on the map “Summoner’s Rift”. It is a 5 vs 5 game that follows the classic rules of a MOBA, established by a mod for Warcraft 3 21 years ago.
  • Players have fixed roles, stay on their assigned lanes and positions in the early phase. Later, the game transitions into phases where teams roam the map, seek fights against opponents, or complete specific tasks.
  • This LoL has clear tasks for each role and also prohibitions. There are unwritten “best ways” to play. There is a meta that changes with a new patch every few weeks. Players pay close attention to whether others make mistakes and play ambitiously to climb the ranks.

But for many LoL players, this way of playing the MOBA has become too stressful.

For many, an alternative to the stressful LoL, Swarm:

Start video
Swarm – Trailer for the new LoL PvE mode

Player says she switched from Summoner’s Rift to ARAM and never wants to go back

This is the discussion now: In a thread on reddit, a player now says:

  • She has sweated in Summoner’s Rift for years, but she has had enough – she only plays ARAM now and can’t imagine going back
  • In ARAM, there is no struggle over who gets to play what role, no meta nonsense that constantly changes
  • As a girl playing LoL, she is constantly trolled and annoyed by teammates – against that, she loves the pure chaos of ARAM

Why should I get upset about a 40-minute game when I can jump into fast-paced, action-packed matches that are really fun? I swear, the only time I ever get angry is when I’m driving and when I’m playing “Summoners Rift”.

“Welcome to the nursing home” – Many LoL players over 30 play other modes

These are the reactions: The reactions show that the player has struck a chord. It is noticeable that not only ARAM is played, but also the many other new modes in LoL like Swarm or Teamfight Tactics. Particularly players over 30 seem to be fleeing from the Rift:

  • “Welcome to the nursing home,” says a user – a nod to the fact that many are simply “Too old for Summoner’s Rift” and the ambition there
  • “I feel the same – I’m over 30 and since Season 3 I only play ARAM or TFT. Swarm was fun”
  • “Ha, I only play ARAM and my friends only play TFT. We’re all over 30 – it’s so true”
  • “For many of us, the switch to ARAM went hand in hand with growing up and focusing more on our jobs. We no longer have the time it takes to climb the ranks. I started with LoL when I was fresh out of university. Now I’m 32, engaged, have been working for years, and only have time for ARAM, just like most people.”
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ARAM is for many “LoL, but with more fun”

What is this ARAM?? “ARAM” is LoL, but all 5 players on a team play with random characters and on just one lane. ARAM stands for All Random All Mid and originally comes from a custom mode that players organized themselves. With ARAM, Riot has established it as an official mode.

This is essentially the chaotic, less structured variant of LoL, where team fights happen immediately and there is no long build-up phase. There are no objectives or great strategies. Fights happen almost constantly, and when you die, you buy items.

Since everyone gets random characters, the matches are not balanced and fair at all; some champs are much stronger than others, and winning and ambition are not as central as in classic LoL, but rather it is more about pure fun. Besides, it seems LoL has just recognized this and is embracing the change in its player base: League of Legends is experiencing a third spring thanks to Arena and Swarm, changing its strategy for the future

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

19-year-old wants to break world record for staying awake, banned on YouTube 12 hours before his goal

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

The content creator Norme had set out to break an old world record, where he had to stay awake for several days. He had actually planned to celebrate his success on YouTube, but 12 hours before reaching his goal, the platform banned Norme.

What did Norme intend to do? The all-time world record for staying awake was set by Rober McDonald in 1986. He stayed awake for a total of 453 hours and 40 minutes, which is nearly 19 days. 

However, Norme oriented himself to the previous record holder Randy Gardner, who managed to stay awake for 11 days and 24 minutes at the age of 17. YouTube itself is 19 years old, which is why he opted for the previous world record.

To enable viewers to follow his record live, he launched a “Stay Awake for 12 Days WORLD RECORD” stream. However, 12 hours before he reached his goal, the live stream was banned by YouTube.

Another well-known YouTuber from Germany is HandofBlood:

Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute

YouTube removes the live stream for good reason

Why was the stream removed? In an official message from YouTube, it states that the stream did not comply with community guidelines. To ensure viewer safety, the stream was removed from YouTube.

In a further message, they specified that the stream did not comply with guidelines for harmful and dangerous content.

This made Norme so sad that he was close to tears:

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What YouTube means by this: Lack of sleep can be extremely dangerous for the human body over such a long period. That is also the reason why Guinness World Records officially removed the record for the longest time awake.

After his ban, Norme switched to Kick, but was banned there too. Therefore, he reportedly switched to Rumble (via Reddit) so that viewers could follow the finale live.

What can happen? In a video by Guinness World Records, Randy Gardner is seen as he set the world record at age 17. He did several things to ensure he didn’t fall asleep:

  • He invited two friends to keep him awake at the time
  • He had himself driven around and visited different places – with the radio turned up loud so he wouldn’t fall asleep
  • He drank a lot of Coca-Cola to stay awake from the sugar and caffeine
  • He alternated between cold and warm showers
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His two friends tested Randy Gardner every six hours with 20 tests to check his mental state.

Towards the end, it became clear that the lack of sleep was becoming dangerous: Randy Gardner suffered from mood swings, memory loss, slurred speech, and hallucinations. He also had coordination problems.

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After that, Randy Gardner slept for over 14 hours. He was monitored by a team of doctors at the hospital.

This shows how dangerous Norme’s attempt was and explains why YouTube does not want such behavior displayed on its platform.

There are other crazy world record attempts as well. A game has set a record for continuous gaming, which was even recorded by Guinness World Records. The world record was under different conditions that allowed the player to take short naps: WoW player sets world record for continuous gaming – breaks old record by over 23 hours

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

The lightsaber of Samuel L. Jackson from Star Wars is special not only because of its color – It is a tribute to Pulp Fiction

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu is one of the most popular characters from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. As Mace Windu, he also has an unusual lightsaber color. His purple lightsaber is special not only because of its color. It contains a reference to his most iconic role.

Why is Samuel L. Jackson’s lightsaber so special? In Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones from 2002, we see Mace Windu, played by Samuel L. Jackson, fighting for the first time. His lightsaber is showcased during this scene.

Mace Windu’s lightsaber is purple. A color that had not been seen before. Previously, there were green, red, and blue. However, Samuel L. Jackson wanted a purple blade. In addition to the color, the creators also hid a reference to his most iconic film.

Meanwhile, there are also new techniques for lightsabers in series: The Acolyte: The new Star Wars series showcases one of the most legendary Sith lightsaber techniques for the first time on screen

Start video
The Acolyte takes place decades before the Star Wars films

A Special Engraving

After Samuel L. Jackson already took on an important role in the Jedi Council in Episode 1 as Mace Windu, he was also supposed to appear in Episode 2. As he revealed to Graham Norton (via YouTube), he met with George Lucas specifically to discuss his lightsaber.

Originally, Jackson only wanted to participate in Star Wars. The character itself would not have mattered to him. He would have been satisfied with a Stormtrooper role. However, he became the Jedi Mace Windu. For the big fight scene in the arena from Episode 2, Jackson obviously wanted to fight.

He asked George Lucas for the purple lightsaber. Lucas initially did not want that, but Jackson argued: I am the second coolest Jedi in the universe, after Yoda. Lucas thought about it and then gave him the purple lightsaber. However, the lightsaber had a little surprise for Jackson.

The original lightsaber from the films is engraved with BMF (Bad Motherfucker). This is a reference to his role in Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino. The wallet of his character in the film also says Bad Motherfucker.

You can see the engraving on the lightsaber in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on YouTube. The clip can be watched from about 06:40.

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Meanwhile, many other lightsaber colors have been added since Mace Windu’s blade. These can be seen not only in the films but also in comics or different series. If you’re interested in a top list about Star Wars, you can check this out: All 15 Star Wars movies ranked

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. VidaExtra
  2. Screen Rant

I have been working from home for 5 years and I will never want to miss an upgrade to my setup again

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 4 minutes

MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has been using a height-adjustable desk for 3 years. And there is hardly any upgrade that has been as important for the home office.

In general, I have spent 8 to 10 hours a day, sometimes even longer, sitting at a desk. First studying, then working, and then came hobbies like gaming, where I also sit at the desk. Sitting for long periods is not only uncomfortable but also unhealthy. Health experts recommend that people in office jobs follow the so-called 60/30/10 rule (via medi.de):

  • 60 percent dynamic sitting.
  • 30 percent standing.
  • 10 percent intentional walking.

In an 8-hour workday, that equates to 2.5 hours that one should spend standing.

Then I received the suggestion to test an ergonomic and height-adjustable desk, which came at just the right time. I have been using the desk for 3 years now, and I no longer want to miss it, as it has become a real help in my daily life.

Our editorial team specializes in gaming and tech, not health. This article does not replace a personal conversation with a doctor. If you have health problems related to sitting or work, please contact your trusted doctor.

You can find extensive health tips at the Federal Ministry of Health, in a conversation with your personal family doctor or an orthopedist.

A real help both in the home office and while gaming

For MeinMMO, I tested the Flexispot E8 in detail in 2022. In daily life, however, I opted for a wooden board from Ikea at that time instead of the manufacturer’s board. Since then, I have been using the desk in my daily work and in the evenings when I game or relax by building brick sets.

When I tinker with my computer, replace components or simply clean the PC from cat hair, I also use the desk: I raise the desk to about the height of my navel and can then lean over the computer without having to kneel on the floor or twist my back.

I have been using the desk for 3 years now, and it has never let me down.

Benedikt at the desk

What I like: The desk and the frame are robust and heavy; the frame weighs about 30 kg. The two built-in motors also ensure that the weight is well distributed and that the desk stands stable and secure when raised.

The high weight makes the desk very stable, even when two cats are playing on it or when various things are lying on the desk.

The electronics for height adjustment and for saving different height profiles still work perfectly today. The assembly took about 20 to 30 minutes 3 years ago and was also not an issue. I was just glad that my wife helped me carry it when setting it up.

Benedikt at the desk 02

What I don’t like? After 3 years, I can think of several points that have bothered me in hindsight:

  • The motors are quite loud and clearly audible when I adjust the desk. However, since this only happens half a dozen times a day, it can be forgiven.
  • I cannot manually adjust the speed of the height adjustment, and making an absolutely perfect fine adjustment of the desk height is also hardly possible with the built-in touchpad. However, it doesn’t really matter if it’s off by half a centimeter.
  • The touchpad is okay and works, but not every touch is recognized immediately. By the way, there is also no real lock. Once the cat managed to touch the touchpad, and the desk raised itself.
  • The high weight comes at a price: if you want to move the desk, you need a lot of strength, and ideally two people.
  • The anti-collision system did actually fail me once: when I raised the desk, I shattered a lamp between the desktop and my cabinet behind the desk into a thousand pieces.

Also noteworthy: after 3 years, my desktop started wobbling. However, that was quickly resolved. I turned the desk upside down and had to tighten the 4 screws again. Since then, everything has been rock solid again. I learned to check the screws every 6 to 12 months.

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I would buy a height-adjustable desk frame again

Would I buy the desk frame again? Flexispot charges 499.99 euros for the E8 desk frame, and I find that fair for the functions the desk offers. A tabletop is not included in the price, by the way. However, any wooden board works, just like I used a board from Ikea. You can currently get the Flexispot E8 only directly from Flexispot.

However, there are plenty of other manufacturers that offer height-adjustable desk frames. Flexispot is just one example. Whether it’s Desktronic, Ergotopia, or Flexispot: in the end, I would definitely buy a height-adjustable frame again because I use it almost daily in my routine.

The home office brings a few new problems. I purchased an upgrade for my setup for just about 30 euros, and it has made my work life significantly easier. You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO: My most important purchase for the home office 2021 cost me just 30 euros

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

Age of Empires, Warcraft or C&C are cool – But what was actually the first RTS in video game history?

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

There are many real-time strategy games, and some of them are really good. But what was actually the first title that can be assigned to the genre? Let’s take a look into the past.

Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, or Warcraft are some of the most well-known representatives of real-time strategy. Their successors are among the best games in the genre today. However, the origins go back much further. So the question arises, what was actually the first true real-time strategy game? Come along, let’s take a journey into the gray prehistory of video games.

Start video
Oldschool strategy in the trailer for ‘Herzog Zwei’

Experiments in real-time …

Where do the origins of the genre lie? First experiments took place as early as the 1970s. Invasion from 1972 was a mix of board game and video game and already contained early real-time elements. However, not much of that remains today.

Especially in the early 80s, a number of titles appeared that contained the first approaches of real-time strategy games. They were called Utopia, Modem Wars, or Nato Commander and experimented with various approaches. Of course, these games were technically very limited.

… led to a milestone in the genre

What was the first true RTS? Herzog Zwei is regarded as the first true real-time strategy game. It is a Japanese game from 1989 that oddly carries a German title. Of all the games from that time, it resembles the later representatives of the genre the most and contained elements that were groundbreaking.

In Herzog Zwei, you control a mech that is maneuvered across the battlefield. However, there are also ground troops that the player must tactically maneuver to ultimately destroy the enemy base.

This is what real-time strategy looked like in 1989.

As is typical, you can give commands to the units, lead them into battle, and must manage various resources. Herzog Zwei was already quite similar to today’s known real-time strategy games. The game revolutionized the genre and can now be played in a slightly enhanced form on the Nintendo Switch (via Nintendo Shop).

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Another game brought the breakthrough

Was Herzog Zwei a success? Unfortunately not. However, the game influenced subsequent titles and served as inspiration. Just three years later, Dune II from Westwood was released, a game that made the genre more known and introduced the now established controls in such games. Additionally, it was based on the eponymous book series and the film by David Lynch, which, by the way, was not the first attempt to bring the desert planet to the screen.

The term “Real-Time Strategy” along with the abbreviation “RTS” also comes from this time, namely from Westwood co-founder Brett W. Sperry, who used it in connection with his Dune II (via gamespot.com)

Subsequent games like Command & Conquer or Warcraft brought further popularity, so that the genre experienced its great boom especially in the 90s. A few years later, 3D graphics would again open up new perspectives and tactical possibilities. But that’s a story for another time. You can find more trivia facts about video games and entertainment on MeinMMO.

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

MrBeast finally responds to the allegations that threaten his career on YouTube

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is the most successful YouTuber in the world. But he is currently going through what is arguably the most challenging phase of his career. While he seems to be publicly trying to ride out the situation, he is internally responding to the many issues.

What scandal is threatening his career? MrBeast’s career has been under constant fire for about a month. It seems that more and more is coming out since the dam broke:

  • On July 21, allegations were made against a key member of MrBeast’s crew, Ava Kris Tyson: Tyson allegedly sent inappropriate messages to minors (via sportskeeda).
  • On July 24, allegations surfaced against MrBeast himself, claiming he is a fraud, manipulated videos and events, and issued autographs that he didn’t actually sign.
  • On August 8, further allegations emerged that MrBeast employed registered sex offenders, who he later had to let go. Additionally, he allegedly covered up scandals and misconduct (via gamestar).

We have previously reported on a successful company that fell into trouble due to the behavior of its CEO:

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Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?

Severe criticism of MrBeast for apparently trying to ride out the scandal

How is MrBeast addressing this publicly? Essentially, not at all. There has been no statement from MrBeast.

On YouTube, he seemed to just carry on. He apparently had thousands of negative comments deleted under his new video from August 3, which urged him to make a statement, as YouTuber Asmongold could confirm in a self-experiment.

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Internal memo from MrBeast to employees becomes known:

What is he doing internally? As reported, MrBeast sent an internal memo to his employees on Wednesday to explain what to do next (via yahoo):

As your supervisor, I take responsibility and commit to improving and evolving my leadership style. I am aware that I must also create a culture in which all our employees feel safe and can do their best work.

A “full assessment” of all his activities is to be initiated. Additionally, it is planned that:

  • A new head of the HR department is to be hired.
  • A system will be created to allow anonymous complaints about misconduct.
  • All employees will receive mandatory training in “safety, sexual harassment, LGBTQ, diversity, sensitivity training, and workplace behavior”.
  • It will be investigated whether participants in his new game show were treated improperly.

Furthermore, MrBeast has hired a law firm to investigate the behavior of Ava Kris Tyson.

This memo was sent to employees on Wednesday, as reported by Yahoo. A spokesperson for MrBeast confirmed the authenticity of this memo.

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Despite the scandal, MrBeast remains successful

The spokesperson suggests that the allegations against MrBeast may not significantly impact his success. His latest video from August 3, despite the many negative comments, has been the second most successful video on the channel, achieving 100 million views in a very short time.

MrBeast has repeatedly drawn attention with spectacular stunts. However, this has also received criticism in some cases. For example, he paid for surgeries for 1,000 people to restore their eyesight damaged by cataracts: YouTuber posts a video where he gives sight to 1,000 people – But some reactions are not as planned

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

A farmer thought a cow had eaten his Rolex – 50 years later he gets it back

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

A 95-year-old dairy farmer living in England lost his Rolex to a greedy cow 50 years ago. The strap of the Rolex was loose and it must have fallen into the grass while he was working in the field. The family thought the piece of jewelry was lost forever. However, with the help of two experts, including a Twitch streamer, the man gets his beloved watch back.

The title image is a symbolic image: It is from el_duderino123 from Pixabay.

How did he lose the watch?

  • As the page “The Scottish Farmer” reports, the dairy farmer James Steele lost his Rolex while working in the field 50 years ago.
  • Although he searched for days, he could not find the watch in 1974. He suspected that a cow might have found and swallowed the watch that had fallen into the grass. Apparently, the strap was loose.
  • The watch, a Rolex Air-King Super Precision 5500, he had bought for £100 Sterling at that time. The purchasing power of that amount would be around €1,600 today. He earned the money by delivering milk for years. The farmer decided to buy a new Rolex and thought he would never find the old one again. As can be seen in pictures (via horolonimics), he still wears his “new” Rolex today.

An insane story about 400 USB sticks protruding from house walls is told in this video:

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In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?

Son engages experts to search for old coins on his land

This is how the watch was found: The missing Rolex became a legend over the decades, which the farmer’s children told each other.

James Steele’s son, Andrew Steele, ultimately took over the farm. He decided to have his field searched for old coins because as a child he had discovered a coin from 1789 and since then developed a penchant for such historical artifacts.

Andrew engaged a metal detection expert who had previously found old coins: Liam King.

King repeatedly searched the field over a period of 9 months but could not find any coins. However, he found many other things and also that legendary watch that had long been given up for lost.

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Cow apparently really ate the watch

However, the watch was no longer in good condition. It is indeed believed that the watch was swallowed by a cow and passed through all 4 stomachs in the ruminant’s digestive tract, eventually ending up in the field, which was plowed every 3 years.

The watch had stopped at 12:40 and had now turned completely green.

The watch was not in good condition:

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Dutch Twitch streamer restores the Rolex

What happened to the watch? Andrew, the farmer’s son, engaged another expert: Kalle Slaap, a Dutch specialist in the restoration of mechanical watches and a content creator on Twitch and YouTube.

When the expert heard about the watch, he took it to his workshop in Grootschermer and worked on the restoration of the Rolex for 2 months. The progress of the repair can be followed on his YouTube channel. By now, the 5th update on “The Rolex that was eaten by a cow” has been released.

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Farms and technology may not seem to go well together at first glance. In June 2023, we reported on MeinMMO about a story where a man hid 2,000 computers in a barn, which he then put up for sale on eBay: A man hid 2,200 computers in a barn for 23 years, now he sells the devices on eBay for 100 euros

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

In Deadpool & Wolverine, there is a guest appearance that the actor had to wait a whole 10 years for

Christoph Waldboth Christoph Waldboth Reading time 2 minutes

Deadpool & Wolverine is a movie full of crazy gags and ideas. Some characters and their actors make guest appearances, including a Hollywood star who had to wait ten years for this moment.

Attention Spoiler: If you don’t want to know anything about the guest appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine, you should watch the movie first and then continue reading.

Which actor is it about? Most of you probably know the American actor Channing Tatum from his roles in movies like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, or Jupiter Ascending. By the way, Tatum has his own opinion about the latter.

In Deadpool & Wolverine he has a guest appearance as well, albeit a rather small one. He plays a role that he was actually supposed to portray several years ago. It is the character Gambit, a Marvel character that particularly appears in connection with the X-Men.

About 10 years ago, Tatum was already cast for the role. However, various production circumstances meant that a corresponding film was never made.

Start video
Wolverine is back: Official Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine

A solo movie was planned

What happened 10 years ago? At that time, the X-Men were still part of 20th Century Fox, a studio that has since been acquired by Disney. Gambit was supposed to appear in X-Men: Apocalypse and subsequently receive his own solo film.

Channing Tatum was considered for this role, as he was very eager to take on the part. But the pre-production of the project was slow, and no suitable director could be found. The film was dead, and so was Tatum’s appearance as Gambit.

The acquisition by Disney changed nothing about that. There were no further plans to produce a Gambit film. At that time, Channing Tatum thought the role was lost forever.

Only when Ryan Reynolds contacted him did things change. Reynolds has significant influence over the Deadpool project. He wished for an old colleague back as director and offered Channing Tatum a guest appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine. This fulfilled a long-held dream for the actor.

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How did Tatum react? The actor is very grateful for the opportunity his friend Ryan Reynolds offered him and says:

I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he (Ryan Reynolds) fought for me and Gambit. I will probably be indebted to him forever. Because I don’t know how I could ever do anything that compares to that.

Channing Tatum via jeuxvideo.com

Who knows if Disney and Marvel might reconsider a solo movie with the character now. Or if Ryan Reynolds himself will revisit Gambit in a future project. After all, for Deadpool & Wolverine, the actor had more than 18 different ideas – even if most of them were rejected by Marvel.

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

5 crossovers with Alien that hardly anyone knows

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

The alien from Alien is one of the most famous movie monsters from science fiction. Most people also know that the Xenomorph has fought the Predator several times. But did you know that there are other crossovers? We introduce you to 5.

What is the Xenomorph? The Xenomorph first appeared in 1997. In the movie Alien by Ridley Scott, the monster terrorized the crew of the spaceship Nostromo. In four additional films, the Xenomorph was seen spreading chaos.

In addition to the main series, there is also the spin-off Alien vs. Predator from 2004. This film featured the Predator battling Xenomorphs. Alongside two mediocre films, the two also clashed in comics. In comics, the Xenomorph met other well-known characters as well.

The series began with Alien in 1997:

Start video
„Alien – The eerie being from a foreign world“ – Trailer with Sigourney Weaver

[toc]

1. Batman and Superman vs. Aliens

Start video
German trailer for Batman The Dark Knight

Comic: Superman vs. Aliens (1995)

Superman and Batman have battled the Xenomorph multiple times, both individually and together. The fight began in 1995 with Superman vs. Aliens. Prior to that, there were comics where Batman fought the Predator.

Superman allegedly finds survivors from his home planet Krypton and flies to a planet without a yellow sun, causing his powers to wane. On this planet named Argo, an alien queen had landed some time ago, and Superman now has to fight her. (via CBR)

Batman and Superman have faced the aliens multiple times, and characters like Darkseid also wanted to use the Xenomorphs to defeat the heroes. If you’re interested, you’ll find many encounters of these iconic characters. Often the aliens appear alongside the Predator.

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

„My wife won me in a raffle for Guild Wars 2“ – as a consolation prize, so to speak

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

It’s anecdote time again! In this special, MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz reveals why he met his wife through a giveaway for Guild Wars 2 and is still considered the best consolation prize of all time.

The last time I shared stories in written form, it was about my freelance time before MeinMMO and stories about risqué superheroes. Today, we go a bit further back to my beginnings in the video game industry.

In the summer of 2009, I landed as an intern at the buffed editorial team, which grew and thrived due to the ongoing success of World of Warcraft. In the six months in Nuremberg and Fürth, I learned a lot and met many great people who became friends.

From Intern to Ninja

Among them were Imke, Lars, Benny, and Ramon, four other interns who sought their way into the industry with great passion and motivation. The five of us got along so well that Imke invited us to help expand her existing blog Ninjalooter.de during and after our internship (which is no longer maintained today due to a lack of time, but is still online).

When Karsten Scholz dipped his toe into the video game industry, Wrath of the Lich King was rocking the WoW servers – here is a particularly iconic scene from that time:

Start video
WOW WotLK Classic: Die Pforte des Zorns

The creative alliance quickly showed initial results. In April 2010, for example, the first NinjaCast went live, which became increasingly popular with each new episode. In addition, there were many articles, but also special projects like an interactive talent planner for Guild Wars 2, a 109-page online guide to the datacrons from SWTOR, or download templates for the Gwent card game from The Witcher 3.

The site was doing great. Meanwhile, the team grew, adding stalwarts from the buffed community like Haggy and Cala, but also former buffed editor Florian, who is now Head of PR at THQ Nordic. If there had been Patreon and Steady back then, we would probably have gone “All in” with Ninjalooter and the NinjaCast.

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How Life Plays Out

Ninjalooter.de was not just a small blog stumbled upon by a few people each month by chance. We made a name for ourselves, even among some MMORPG developers. This explains why, for example, ArenaNet supplied us with three versions of the upcoming online role-playing game before the launch of Guild Wars 2, which we were allowed to raffle off in our community.

The highlight, of course, was the grand prize: the packed Collector’s Edition of Guild Wars 2. The task for everyone who wanted to participate in the giveaway was: “Send a photo of yourself and complete the sentence ‘I deserve the Collector’s Edition because…'”

Normally, Imke would have received the submissions and collected them for evaluation. However, since she was on vacation at the time, I stepped in. So, until the deadline, almost new works from the community arrived every minute, each photo more creative than the last.

The Collector’s Edition of Guild Wars 2 was quite impressive.

A Contest Changes Everything

A particularly nicely staged picture collage featuring three pets and their owner caught my eye. Since I knew the email address, I took a chance and thanked the participant for her contribution. I wanted to know how life was with the little furry creatures and whether the dog got along with the two cats. I myself also had a feline sibling pair.

A friendly response and new questions yielded further emails. A few days later, we sat together on Skype for the first time. “Wait, you live in Leipzig? I’m in Berlin!” We had to meet. We fell in love. We have been together for almost twelve years now and have two wonderful kids.

However, in the end, it didn’t work out for the Collector’s Edition of Guild Wars 2 or the two standard editions. I was something like the consolation prize, which she still playfully reminds me of from time to time. If you want to know more about me, check this out: Our new MMORPG expert introduces himself: “Hello, I’m Karsten”

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

YouTuber shows secret Minecraft feature that hardly anyone knows

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

A secret feature in Minecraft is hardly known to anyone. Behind it lies real work – and a logical structure of the game world.

In Minecraft, there is a lot to discover – very much. Even veterans who have been there from the beginning may not know every trick in the huge sandbox game, so you constantly come across something new.

Now, Pirate Software has shown a small feature that most likely few people have ever seen. Certain mobs have a very special perspective on things.

The story behind the original inventor of Minecraft is also curious:

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The Story of Notch – The Man Who Invented Minecraft

What was shown? Jason Thor Hall, who many may know as “Pirate Software” on YouTube, is a former Blizzard developer who regularly offers insights into game development, unearthing curious stories or features along the way.

Recently, he showcased a feature in Minecraft that many probably have never seen before.

In Minecraft, there is a “Spectator Mode.” There, you can observe a world as a passive viewer, have a clear view of everything, but nothing and no one can interact with you. This is particularly interesting on PvP servers or for admins to comment on matches or look out for wrongdoers.

However, a “hidden” feature in this mode is that you can click to slip into the body of passive mobs and then experience the world from that mob’s perspective. Your camera moves along with the movements of the respective creature.

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Pirate Games shows that the developers unexpectedly put a lot of effort into this, because:

  • If you slip into the role of an Enderman, you will see the whole world with inverted colors. This is a special filter that is active only here.
  • If you slip into the body of a spider, the screen will be divided into several sections, just as if you actually had the many eyes of a spider.

Even with the Creeper, there is a special visibility, as it sees the whole world slightly pixelated and significantly greener.

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Why do these features exist? That’s a good question that Jason Thor Hall also asks. Because at first glance, there seems to be no reason to build such a feature into the game. The spectator mode is already quite specific – and it is likely to be rare for someone to actually want to experience the game from the perspective of a spider or an Enderman.

It probably is just a bit of fun that a developer included. It is certainly “logical” that some creatures have a different view of the world of Minecraft.

Did you already know about these small, hidden features? Or is this the first time you have heard that the world can look completely different from the perspective of a Minecraft mob? We have reported on Pirate Software before, because he simply makes good videos that often go viral.

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

I bought a controller for fighting games a year ago and now I can’t live without it

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 4 minutes

Tekken, Street Fighter, and countless other fighting games are a traditional genre that primarily took place in arcades. Unfortunately, this culture never really existed in Germany. To experience arcade gaming, MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes bought a suitable controller a year ago.

Why did I buy the controller? When you watch professional matches in Tekken or Street Fighter, you see that players don’t always use a classic pad. Often, the pros have a bulky box with a stick and many buttons. This is called an arcade controller or stick.

A year ago, I also bought one because I wanted to see how it feels to play with it and whether it changes the experience. With Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, the timing was perfect. This year, I realized how bad I am at these games, but also how much fun it is to use such a controller.

The most important game for the controller for me was Tekken 8:

Start video
Tekken 8 Gameplay – Game Awards Trailer

It feels like I’m learning to play again

What makes arcade sticks so special? An arcade stick is significantly larger than a pad. It’s a big box with a large stick on the left and many buttons on the right. Usually, you have the controller on your lap or on the table, depending on your preference. Since there is only one stick, you can typically only use the controller for arcade games like fighting games, specific shooters, or platformers.

The controller tries to replicate the arcade experience that one never truly had in Germany. In Asian countries like Japan or South Korea, there are still arcades where correspondingly adapted versions of games are played.

Playing with the stick for the first time felt very unfamiliar. I not only have to learn how a game works, but also how to hold the controller properly. The arcade stick doesn’t make this easy, as there are several grip styles, and you have to find one that suits you.

With Street Fighter 6 and later Tekken 8, there were also two different ways of movement. In Street Fighter, you fight exclusively in 2D, while in Tekken, movements go into 3D depth. That was difficult, and to this day, I haven’t found the right grip style. The downside of the stick is that you have to learn both the game and the controller. Accordingly, I often lost.

Tekken 8 King
Executing the moves of the wrestler King in Tekken 8 was particularly tough

The sounds are a dream for me and a nightmare for those around me

What is fun about an arcade stick from the beginning is the sound of the buttons. It’s a completely different feeling to hear the constant clicking. Almost like a rhythm. The volume helped me move away from classic button-mashing. You can tell by the timing if you’re playing deliberately or panicking.

However, this can become annoying for those around you. If you prefer to play quietly or have to, then you need to get an arcade stick with quiet buttons or modify one yourself.

Arcade Stick, Pad, or Hitbox?

Does using an arcade stick make you better at fighting games? In my estimation, no. You might look like a total sweat with the bulky stick among your friends. However, skill is only improved through personal training. The big advantage of the stick is that you can press the buttons faster, and due to the grip style, combination moves become easier.

With the pad, on the other hand, you have to assign combinations to the shoulder buttons for specific characters. However, you are faster and more precise in moving your own character with the D-pad. There are also games that are more enjoyable with a pad. An example would be Mortal Kombat 1.

I personally don’t notice that the stick gives me any advantages. Just like with the pad, I had to train with my character to get better. Ultimately, it’s your personal preference that decides here. Both are also used in tournaments.

With a hitbox controller, one could argue that it’s better than other options. You again have a bulky box, but the stick on the left side is replaced by buttons. This makes you faster in movement and attacks. However, I have never played with such a controller, so personally, I can’t say anything about it.

A professional’s assessment can be found on Maximilian Dood’s YouTube channel, a content creator for fighting games.

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Arcade sticks are just fun

Personally, I find playing with the stick much more enjoyable than with the pad. It’s just a change to not have to use the same controller for every game. You feel a bit like you’re in an arcade hall, just without having to throw in a lot of coins into the machines.

What’s next? I started with an inexpensive model. There are countless models of arcade sticks with various prices. Online, you can buy sticks from official brands or even custom-built ones from users. If you are handy, you can even order individual parts and build a stick with your own design. There are countless tutorials for that.

If you buy a stick, you should know that it is only suitable for specific games. You won’t be able to play an action-adventure or a shooter with it. At least you look a bit more professional than your friends with a stick—assuming you’re not getting wrecked. I myself was even defeated in the past by my grandmother: My game of the year 2024 is coming out next week and reminds me of how I virtually fought my grandma

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

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard you cannot control your companions, because that would overwhelm you.

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you will only control one character – your own. The companions will act on their own.

When thinking back to the first Dragon Age, one certainly has memories of the great story and the challenging, tactical RPG battles. You could take control of each party member and plan every step in combat very precisely.

However, this will not be the case in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You will only be able to control your own character. The reason: You would be overwhelmed otherwise.

Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard introduces your companions in the trailer

What was said? In a conversation with Edge magazine, Game Director Corinne Busch spoke in more detail about the companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They are meant to act quite independently (via gamesradar.com):

You are in this world, you are very focused on your own actions. We wanted the companions to feel like they are complete characters who have control over their own actions. They make their own decisions.

This makes Dragon Age: The Veilguard distinctly different from the previous games in the series. While they had already become increasingly action-oriented, this time it seems they are taking it up a notch, as it continues:

[The game] requires significantly more actions per minute. It places greater technical demands on the player. When we tried to give you control over the companions as well, we realized that it didn’t really help the player experience. In fact, it hurt in some cases, considering how demanding it is to control your character alone.

In other words: You would simply be overwhelmed if you also had to control the companions.

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How was it in the past? In the first part of Dragon Age, it was common to switch to a tactical view during combat. Here you could sequentially select an action for all characters, including companions, and then let the time continue. For many, this was a “true RPG experience” that required significantly more planning. In the second part, this feature was still present in traces, but the tactical view and strategic approach were simply unnecessary in most cases. The second Dragon Age played more like an action RPG in the style of Diablo, and “Inquisition” only reinforced this trend.

However, it remains to be seen whether it truly seems that managing your own character is already fully occupying you. After all, you can modify the characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard a little and equip them with your own abilities – at least if you are kind to your companions.

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

A character in The Lord of the Rings is so powerful and could have changed everything, yet he is missing in the movies

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 2 minutes

A popular and powerful figure from Middle-earth is missing from the The Lord of the Rings– films. He was even so strong that the One Ring had no influence on him.

The Lord of the Rings is vast and full of fascinating characters, many of whom appear in the films. However, one character did not make it into the films, even though he is particularly powerful. This character is Tom Bombadil. Although he plays a significant role in the books, he does not appear in the film trilogy.

Tom Bombadil is one of the most mysterious figures in Tolkien’s world

Who is Tom Bombadil? He is one of the most enigmatic figures in Tolkien’s universe. Tom first appears in The Fellowship of the Ring when Frodo and his friends encounter him on their journey through the Old Forest. Tom saves Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin and takes them home with him. He is described as an old man in a blue coat and a hat who is always cheerful.

But he is not just any kind-hearted resident of Middle-earth – he is likely the oldest, at least according to his own claim. He existed before the Elves. Tom was here before the river and the trees, Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn (via jeuxvideo). This suggests that he could be a god-like figure.

Could he perhaps be a nature spirit, a powerful god, or a Maia? Perhaps he is even a manifestation of Ilúvatar himself? Who exactly he is remains a mystery. Tolkien himself never fully explained who or what Tom Bombadil really is.

Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

What makes him so special? He is so powerful that he is immune to the One Ring. While the Ring corrupts and drives others mad, Bombadil seems completely unaffected by its power. Tom can even see Frodo when he is wearing the Ring. While the Ring usually makes its bearer invisible to others, it seems to have no effect on Tom. He also seems to have no desire to keep it or use its power.

At the Council of Elrond, it is considered whether Bombadil should keep the Ring. But Gandalf and the others reject this idea, stating that Bombadil is too carefree and does not take the threat of Sauron seriously enough. Despite his power, he is too distant from the world’s concerns.

Tom Bombadil has a deep connection to nature and animals. He prefers to live in seclusion in his own little realm, together with his wife Goldberry, where he sings cheerful songs.

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Why is he missing from the films? One of the main reasons could be that Bombadil’s appearance in the books, while cool and fascinating, is not essential to the main plot. The films needed to focus on the central story to package everything well.

Another reason could be that his appearance might have disrupted the narrative flow and raised too many questions that could not be satisfactorily answered within the films.

However, Tom will finally make his appearance, which is well received by fans. He is going to appear in the second season of the series The Rings of Power.

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

We thought: Witcher 4 would be without Geralt – Now we know: A part of him remains

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Witcher 4 will have to manage without the Witcher. But at least a little bit of Geralt of Rivia will remain and be preserved.

The next Witcher installment will have to do without Geralt. This has been known for quite some time. However, that does not mean we have to completely forgo the famous monster hunter, as at least his voice will likely appear in one form or another.

The TV series of The Witcher also continues:

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The Witcher: New teaser for season 4 shows Liam Hemsworth as Geralt for the first time

What has been said? The voice actor of the English original, Doug Cockle, revealed in an interview that Geralt will be a part of the new Witcher 4 in some way (via yahoo.com):

The Witcher 4 has been announced. I can’t say anything about it. Geralt will be part of the game. We don’t know yet how much that will be, and the focus of the game will not be on Geralt; this time it’s not about him.

In fact, Cockle seems to be excited to play Geralt again. He also lent his voice to the Witcher in the anime adaptation. He himself has no idea in what way Geralt’s story will continue or how he will be utilized in the new game:

I’m excited to find that out. I want to know! I haven’t seen a script so far – I probably shouldn’t even tell you if I had seen it. So I could just be lying boldly right now, but I’m not … or am I?

Why isn’t Geralt participating? That Geralt is no longer participating should have been clear to most players of The Witcher III. Because even though there were many different endings, most of them made it clear that Geralt’s story in this capacity is simply told out. It would also be quite difficult to process the numerous different endings in a new installment in a way that each story is logically continued.

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However, if Geralt only appears as a voice, perhaps as a “moral voice in the head” or in flashback scenes, then that would fit much better. Something similar has already been done in many other games, such as in The Last of Us 2 with Joel.

It seems more likely that the story will now focus more on Ciri. The young woman was already the indirect focus of the storyline in Witcher 3, as Geralt spent a long time trying to find his adopted daughter again – and depending on how you finished the game, he managed to do so more or less well. At least over 300 developers are working on the new Witcher – so it will be a big game.

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

Fortnite shows new trailer for Chapter 5 Season 4, starting next week – Featuring 8 new skins from the Marvel universe

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

The online shooter Fortnite: Battle Royale is approaching a new season with Chapter 5 Season 4. A teaser trailer lasting 91 seconds now gives players a taste of the season, which will start on August 16. Epic reveals and showcases 8 skins from the Battle Pass and announces 3 new weapons.

What does the teaser trailer show? The 90-second teaser trailer for the new Fortnite season cheekily recreates many scenes from famous Marvel movies:

  • We see Doctor Doom, along with Emma Frost and a strange variant of Sabertooth, freeing the Spider-Man villain Mysterio. Doctor Doom tears down the remnants of the current season in Fortnite, with whom they collaborated with Fallout.
  • We see the Fortnite variant of Captain America (as Captain Jonesey) and Wolverine in the banana form Peelverine.
  • The teaser trailer features iconic scenes from the Avengers movies as forces of supervillains and superheroes clash against each other.

Here you can watch the trailer for Chapter 5 Season 4 in Fortnite:

Start video
Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 5 Season 4 – Official Trailer to Absolute Doom

The new Battle Pass transforms you into 8 villains and heroes from Marvel

What skins are in the Battle Pass this time? Fortnite lists 8 skins:

  • Gwenpool – the mix of Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man and Deadpool – this skin will be available to anyone who purchases the “Absolute Doom Battle Pass,” in the normal version costs it 950 V-Bucks, in the premium version 1,500 V-Bucks.
  • War Machine – known from the Iron Man movies.
  • Peelverine – the banana variant of Wolverine.
  • Emma Frost – an icy opponent of the X-Men, a telepath without the annoying scruples that plague Professor Xavier.
  • Captain Jonesey  – the Fortnite mascot as Captain America.
  • Mysterio – Spider-Man’s opponent who relies on special effects.
  • Shuri – from the Black Panther universe.
  • Doctor Doom himself – who will become a special reward through quests for the Battle Pass in Fortnite.

These skins can already be seen in the trailer.

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What else is known? Epic is teasing 3 new weapons:

  • Dual Micro SMGs
  • Captain America’s Shield
  • the arsenal of War Machine

For more information about the new season in Fortnite, with the current state of knowledge and some leaks, check out our info page on Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 4: Fortnite: When does Chapter 5 Season 4 start? All about the release, Battle Pass, and leaks

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