Amazon wants to launch 2 MMORPGs on PS5 and Xbox Series almost simultaneously – Do they have to postpone a release again?

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 4 minutes

Amazon Games has a lot planned for this year. With Throne and Liberty and New World Aeternum, two major MMORPG releases are scheduled in just a few weeks for late summer 2024. But is that a good idea? MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz is skeptical and expects a delay.

The MMORPG year 2024 has some highlights to offer. Behind three of the biggest releases, Amazon Games serves as either developer or publisher.

I am looking forward to all three releases, but I get a bit anxious when looking at the schedule. It strikingly reminds me of 2021/2022 when Amazon Games released the prestigious project New World and the western version of Lost Ark within just a few months.

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

A History of Failures

It has been almost eight years since the responsible parties at Amazon Games announced that they wanted to invest significantly more money and energy in game development in the future. Until 2016, they had primarily developed mobile games and the licensed game ‘The Grand Tour Game’ for PS4 and Xbox.

With the MMORPG New World, the 4vs4 brawler Breakaway, and the multiplayer shooter Crucible, the studio presented several projects in a bid to realize their new ambitions. However, that did not materialize:

Additionally, there are other prematurely discontinued projects like Nova, Intensity, or the MMO for Lord of the Rings, which was to be created together with Tencent. Due to this disappointing yield, Mike Frazzini, until then head of Amazon Games, had to vacate his position in March 2022.

The trailer for the release date of Throne and Liberty makes you want more:

Start video
Throne and Liberty: New trailer reveals release date, introduces the fantasy world of Solisium

Too Many Issues Spoil the Broth … or Something

The most successful game for Amazon Games so far is likely one that they did not develop themselves: Lost Ark reached a higher peak with its western launch in February 2022 than New World (1.325 million simultaneous active players); additionally, the isometric MMORPG managed to retain the heroes long-term on the servers better than New World.

Currently, the daily peak of Lost Ark on Steam is almost 25,500 simultaneously active players. This is not spectacularly good compared to the launch peak and player numbers of other MMORPGs, but it is definitely a bit better than New World.

However, just like the Aeternum adventure, Lost Ark has been facing problems in its western version:

The major challenge when releasing and supporting two such extensive and ambitious projects within a few months: You cannot consolidate the available manpower but must split it between the two games.

This makes it harder to release the best possible version on launch day or to get the problems and issues under control at launch.

The trailer for the new Aeternum version of New World:

Start video
Trailer for New World Aeternum announces console version

Lack of Trust in Amazon Games

Additionally, MMORPGs that are released on the same platforms within a short time can cannibalize each other. Those who passionately play Lost Ark will not return to New World and vice versa.

I see all these issues soon returning to Amazon Games when Throne and Liberty and New World Aeternum release on consoles (and PC) within just a few weeks. And that – just by the way – quite shortly after the launch of WoW: The War Within on August 27, 2024.

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von Karsten Scholz
Die Macher von Rust wollen New World immer noch kaufen, Ex-Entwickler von Amazon erklärt, was dafür nötig ist
von Cedric Holmeier

The late summer / early autumn is therefore packed with exciting MMORPG releases. A Throne and Liberty or New World Aeternum could easily get caught in the crossfire, and the chances of that increase if both versions face issues during their respective launches.

While Amazon Games now has significantly more experience than two or three years ago, the studio has so far failed to prove that they can genuinely compete with the big players in the industry and release great, long-term successful games.

Until this proof is provided, I lack trust in Amazon Games.

Is Another Delay Imminent?

Ultimately, it would not surprise me if the responsible individuals at Amazon Games consider another delay after reviewing the feedback from the recent beta testing phases of Throne and Liberty as well as New World Aeternum.

One option could be to release Throne and Liberty first only on PC to attract as many owners of PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series to the console version of New World.

Alternatively, New World Aeternum could also be released a bit later to allow for greater focus on the launch and subsequent support of Throne and Liberty.

What do you think of the situation? Would you like to try Throne and Liberty or New World Aeternum? And how do you assess Amazon Games’ previous work? Let us know in the comments! Last year in 2023, Amazon Games had to lay off about 280 employees; the developers of the various teams were probably not affected.

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

A virtual character from Japan fills entire concert halls in Germany, now gets its own anime movie

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Hatsune Miku is one of the biggest stars from Japan, even though she only exists virtually. There are now over 100,000 songs featuring her computer-generated voice. Now, the idol is getting her own anime movie.

What kind of movie will it be? The movie is titled “Project Sekai the Movie: The Broken World and The Miku Who Can’t Sing” (original: Project Sekai: Kowareta Sekai to Utaenai Miku) and will be released in Japanese cinemas on January 17, 2025.

The film is based on the mobile game called “Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!” Ichika Hoshino is a high school student and a musician. In a CD shop in Shibuya, she discovers a song by Hatsune Miku that she has never heard before. This leads Ichika to encounter an unknown version of Miku.

Ichika learns that this version of Miku has trouble reaching a large audience. Therefore, she teams up with her to present her music to the public.

Since some anime movies have recently made their way to us from Japan, it is possible that the film will be available to us at a later date. However, we do not know if it will be released directly as a theatrical film or first as a streaming film.

You can watch the trailer for the film here:

Start video
Teaser trailer for the anime film Project Sekai the Movie

Hatsune Miku is a well-known virtual phenomenon

Who is Hatsune Miku? Hatsune Miku originates from a music software created by Crypton Future Media. With the software, anyone can apply different singing voices to their own songs and melodies. Because Hatsune Miku can be used by anyone, there is a vast number of songs featuring her.

The most famous singing voice of this software is Hatsune Miku. Her voice quickly evolved into a character that garnered much attention. However, there are other well-known characters from the universe such as:

  • Kagamine Rin
  • Kagamine Len
  • Megurine Luka
  • MEIKO
  • KAITO

There are even real concerts where the virtual idol performs. Her body is projected onto a special glass screen. In Germany, there are also concerts featuring the Japanese idol (via Miku Expo).

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A whole franchise has developed around Hatsune Miku. There are plush toys, mugs, and many other products featuring the virtual idol. The Japanese star has also appeared in video games like Just Dance and Yakuza.

Thus, she ranks among the most successful franchises from Japan. There is another franchise from Japan that has achieved global success: Pokémon is one of the most successful gaming franchises of all time – And it exists only because of a feature of the Game Boy

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

The best movie of 2023 is currently free – It won 8 Oscars and is a creative science fiction film

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

The theme Multiverse is mainly known through DC or Marvel movies and is often a point of criticism. However, there are also other films with this theme that do not require watching countless movies. MyMMO editor Nikolas Hernes believes that Everything Everywhere All At Once rightfully won many awards. Currently, you can watch the film for free.

What kind of film is Everything Everywhere All at Once? The film was released in 2022 and comes from the Daniels, the directing team of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Both also worked on Swiss Army Men, the film in which Daniel Radcliffe plays a corpse.

As the confusing title of the film suggests, it’s about basically everything. It’s a multiverse story of a married couple from China trying to make money with a laundromat in America. However, their life isn’t going well. The husband, played by Ke Huy Quan, wants a divorce, and there’s also something wrong with the tax return, causing issues with the authorities.

This all sounds like an ordinary drama or comedy at first. But the chaos begins when the multiverse reveals itself, and Evelyn, played by Michelle Yeoh, must stop the evil entity Jobu Tubaki. An emotional sci-fi comedy unfolds with almost infinitely creative ideas.

You can find more sci-fi films here: The 13 best science fiction films according to IMDb

Start video
Everything Everywhere All At Once – German trailer for the sci-fi comedy

Emotional and absurd at the same time

What makes Everything Everywhere All At Once so good? First of all, the many multiverses are really creative. There are not just evil versions of the characters. Physical laws are altered, or even the physiology of people. I just mention hot-dog fingers. And there’s a fantastic gag related to a popular Pixar film that I don’t want to spoil for you.

This leads to funny situations that are not only silly but also very well shot. I mean, there are also fight choreographies that can compete with action films. The environment is utilized in the fight scenes, and gags are told. You can tell that most of the stunts are performed by Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan themselves.

All of this sounds like fun sci-fi action, but Everything Everywhere All at Once is so much more. Behind all the absurd events lies the emotional story of the family. It’s about the relationship of the couple, the pressure from their own family, their own dreams, and what it takes to be happy.

The chemistry of the actors is fantastic. You can feel the emotions in every situation. Everything Everywhere All at Once achieves what few films can: every conceivable emotion is brought together organically. And in the end, I also had tears in my eyes.

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The film won eight awards at the 2023 Oscars. Among them, best film, best director, best actress, and also best supporting actor. If you need to see one thing from the Oscars, it’s Ke Huy Quan’s speech. Seeing his reaction simply warms your heart.

Where can you watch Everything Everywhere All at Once for free? Currently, you can watch the film in the ARD Mediathek for free. This is available until 10.08.2024 at 0:00. You don’t need a subscription for this. However, since the film is rated 16, you will either have to watch it after 10:00 PM or register and confirm your age. If you are a tough cookie, you might also like this film: A new horror film on Netflix rated 18 – it starts off so thrilling that it’s barely bearable until the guy from Die Hard 4 messes everything up

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

Pokémon GO: Takeover of Adventure Week Announced, Brings 2 Strong New Attackers as Shadow Pokémon

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

Team Rocket is back in Pokémon GO and is taking over an event. And they bring really strong Pokémon for you.

What kind of event is this? The event Adventure Week: Takeover focuses entirely on the villains around Team Rocket. It begins on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 00:00 and runs until Monday, August 12, 2024, at 23:59.

As usual, Team Rocket also brings you some bonuses and new Shadow Pokémon. You can also look forward to the debut of a new legendary Shadow Pokémon.

Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins

Strong new Shadow Pokémon

What new Shadow Pokémon are available in the event? At the start of the event, you will receive a new special research task that gives you a Super Rocket Radar. If you complete this by September 3, 2024, at 09:59, you can challenge Giovanni and obtain his Shadow Cresselia.

You can also find new Pokémon among the Rocket Grunts. These include Shadow Praktibalk, Shadow Galapaflos, and Shadow Flapteryx. These 3 Pokémon can also appear as Shiny if you are lucky.

Shadow Cresselia and Shadow Praktibalk should be particularly interesting. Praktibalk evolves into Meistagrif, whose normal form is already listed among the best attackers in Pokémon GO. Therefore, the Shadow variant should rank even higher.

Cresselia is a strong Pokémon for the Super and Hyper League. Here, too, the Shadow variant is expected to perform even better.

Which Shadow Pokémon are available in raids? Of course, there are also some Shadow Pokémon in raids that you can challenge, defeat, and catch.

5*-Shadow Raids:

  • Shadow Lugia* (on August 10 and 11, 2024)

3*-Shadow Raids:

  • Shadow Blanas
  • Shadow Voltenso
  • Shadow Vibrava

1*-Shadow Raids:

  • Shadow Voltilamm
  • Shadow Felino
  • Shadow Koknodon
  • Shadow Schilterus

What bonuses are there in the event? During the event, there are 2 active bonuses.

  • Team GO Rocket appears more frequently in balloons and PokéStops
  • You can remove the move Frustration from Shadow Pokémon by using a Charged TM
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What other content is available in the event? If you complete field research during the event, you can earn rewards such as Mysterious Parts as well as Charged and Fast TMs.

PokéStop showcases, where event monsters are in the spotlight, are also active during the takeover.

For $9.99 (approximately €10), you can purchase a box in the Pokémon GO web store. Here, you will receive 7 Rocket Radars, 7 Premium Battle Passes, 7 Ultra Balls, and 7 Silver Pinap Berries.

Additionally, you can purchase another box for 315 PokéCoins. This includes an incubator, a Rocket Radar, and a Premium Battle Pass.

What do you think of the event? Do you have a highlight that you are particularly looking forward to? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and engage with other trainers here. If you want to know which events are still waiting for you in August 2024 in Pokémon GO, we have the perfect overview for you.

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

The German survival hit Enshrouded delights the community with a large update and an offer on Steam

Linda Knabe Linda Knabe Reading time 2 minutes

The developers of the survival game Enshrouded show with the third update that they take the wishes and feedback of the community seriously. The game has not only received improvements but also new features.

At the beginning of the year, the survival game Enshrouded from the German developer studio Keen Games was released. The game was well received in the community and among genre fans and already had over 2 million players by March.

In the game, you create your own character, a “touched by the flame.” With this character, you must confront an evil mist that engulfs the entire world. The focus of Enshrouded is on exploration, adventure, combat, and an extensive building system. Even during the beta, testers impressed with their constructions.

Now a video announces the third major update and shows you some of the improvements and innovations:

Start video
Enshrouded shows the content of the latest update in the trailer

What offer is available on Steam? Until August 5, 2024, you can get the game on Steam at a 20% discount, currently only paying €23.99. If you also want to grab the official soundtrack, it’s available in a bundle with the game at a 28% discount.

What does the update bring? The video gives you a brief insight into the innovations and improvements that the update of Enshrouded brings. You can find all the detailed information in the patch notes.

First, the developers present that you can now individually and very precisely adjust the difficulty level of your world in Enshrouded. With various sliders, ranging from 10% to 100%, you can set the HP, stamina, or damage of enemies. You can also adjust whether enemies should attack you simultaneously, how much HP you have yourself, or how long it takes for your character to starve.

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Tough survival battle or “cozy game”

A mechanic that is not untypical in survival games and can certainly enrich your gaming experience. Depending on whether you are looking for the ultimate challenge or want to enjoy the game more as a “cozy game.”

Then a few smaller innovations are presented, such as the ability to display your equipment in your base now, or that the character editor has been expanded. Additionally, there are a few quality-of-life updates that are meant to improve the overall gameplay.

How is it received? The community is responding quite positively to this update, judging by the comments (via YouTube) below the video. “These developers are S-tier,” writes one user in their comment, referring to how Keen Games seems to really take the feedback and wishes of the players to heart.

“I already love this game and you keep making it better,” says another comment. Another user also writes that the developers at Keen Games are really a breath of fresh air for gamers. They and Enshrouded are great.

Looking at the other comments, there is a lot of praise for the developers and especially gratitude for really listening to what the players have to say. Once again, with this update, the developers are asking for feedback in order to possibly improve and adjust it. There is also a major update coming for a popular co-op shooter: Helldivers 2 is bringing the biggest update for the shooter in August – there are finally new enemies

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

Graphics cards could soon become significantly more expensive – But is an upgrade worthwhile in 2024?

Benedikt Schlotmann Benedikt Schlotmann Reading time 2 minutes

Graphics cards are among the most important upgrades if you want to upgrade a gaming PC. However, they could become significantly more expensive soon, if reports are to be believed. Nvidia plans to reduce production.

Where is the information coming from? One of the leading Taiwanese financial media, UDN, claims that Nvidia is significantly reducing the production of its high-end RTX 40 series graphics chips in preparation for the launch of the Blackwell-powered RTX 50 series. The British colleagues from PCGamer.com report on this.

Nvidia’s approach is not unusual. Before the release of a new graphics card, production is reduced so that retailers do not have thousands of old graphics cards in stock.

Start video
Check out the brilliant Collector’s Edition of the NVIDIA TITAN Xp in Star Wars style in the video

Graphics card prices are expected to rise significantly, but is an upgrade even worth it?

What does this mean for gamers? The source claims that the prices for the RTX 4070, 4080, and 4090 graphics cards will most likely rise by as much as 50%.

What are the current prices like? The current demand for the RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 is quite high, as not only gamers but also AI companies are interested in the GPUs. As a result, prices have remained very stable, and both graphics cards have only been slightly below the MSRP. The MSRP for the RTX 4070 is 659 euros, while retail prices are around 600 euros (via geizhals.de).

What speaks against buying a graphics card? If Nvidia really reduces its production significantly, this indicates an imminent launch of the next GPU generation. If you are not in a hurry to upgrade your gaming PC, it would be wise to wait until the next generation comes out. Typically, you get 30 to 40% more performance with the next generation, and it’s usually worth waiting for an upgrade.

Additionally, Nvidia regularly relies on the buyer-unfriendly practice of offering certain features only for new products, such as DLSS 3.0 for the RTX 4000 generation. For this reason alone, we would advise you to wait.

When will the new GPUs be released? Experts speculate that this should happen between November 2024 and January 2025. Of course, this doesn’t help you if your graphics card is broken and you urgently need a replacement.

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Recommendations for graphics cards: If you are looking for an upgrade for your gaming PC, check out our graphics card ranking. Here, we present all the important graphics cards from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia that are currently worth buying: The best graphics cards for gaming for every budget in 2024

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

The author of One Piece honors the end of another manga, dedicates a cover to it

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Fans of My Hero Academia must stay strong this week. The mangaka Kohei Horikoshi will release the last chapter of the manga on Sunday. To celebrate the farewell appropriately, Eiichiro Oda, the mangaka of One Piece, will release a fitting “gift”.

What has Oda prepared for Horikoshi? The cover images in the One Piece manga are usually drawings by Eiichiro Oda. However, this new chapter will feature a drawing by Horikoshi instead.

You can view the drawing by the My Hero Academia mangaka in the tweet from opfanatic2024:

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The image shows Captain Smoker dissolving into smoke thanks to his devil fruit powers. Next to it, there is an inscription from One Piece. Below it, the name of the marine soldier is written in Japanese script.

But there is more behind the image than one might initially think. It has actually been several years since Horikoshi created the drawing. In the SBS publication number 77, Oda revealed what the story behind the image is.

MeinMMO reveals to you which are the coolest ships sailing on the seas of One Piece:

Start video
One Piece: These are the 5 coolest ships sailing the oceans

The mangaka of My Hero Academia is a longtime fan of One Piece

What’s the story behind the image? Horikoshi submitted the image in a competition where fans had to draw images for One Piece in 2002. At that time, the 16-year-old Horikoshi was not yet the mangaka of My Hero Academia, but rather just a fan of One Piece. The first volume of My Hero Academia was only released 12 years later.

The image actually made it into the “Usopp Gallery Pirates” segment in issue 23. Horikoshi worked hard on himself and succeeded in getting his own manga published by the same publisher as One Piece.

Horikoshi told the story to Oda at a New Year’s event of the publisher. He was so impressed that he mentioned it directly in his own manga. It’s nice to see that Oda remembers the story and uses the image of young Horikoshi as the cover for the upcoming chapter.

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What’s next for My Hero Academia? Horikoshi recently mentioned in an interview (via VIZ) that there are background stories he hasn’t incorporated into the manga. However, he has no intention of drawing and publishing them.

As it stands, the mangaka of My Hero Academia does not seem to want to release a sequel. Therefore, it may be that with the last chapter of MHA, the story is completely concluded.

Currently, fans only have the anime to enjoy the hero story. After the end of the anime, it may be that they have to say goodbye to the franchise entirely. However, there is another shonen manga that could follow in the footsteps of My Hero Academia: Popular manga gets an anime, could reach the level of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer

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

What comes after Cataclysm Classic? Survey from Blizzard hints at a real ‘WoW Classic Plus’

Karsten Scholz Karsten Scholz Reading time 3 minutes

A supposed survey from Blizzard is currently making the rounds on the internet, in which the developers of WoW Classic ask numerous questions about an upcoming nostalgia version of the MMORPG. Many of the answers could indicate that they want to implement a frequently mentioned wish of the community.

In recent years, Blizzard developers have sent out surveys to selected players of World of Warcraft multiple times to obtain feedback on possible variants of WoW Classic. We owe Cataclysm Classic to such a survey, as many respondents voted for the implementation of the Cataclysm expansion.

What is this new survey about? On various social media platforms (such as X) and content channels (like here on Youtube), another survey is currently making the rounds, which allegedly comes from Blizzard and is supposed to include questions about another version of WoW Classic.

Various question-answer combinations could indicate that the Blizzard team wants to fulfill the already long-standing wish in the community for a true “WoW Classic Plus” variant – at least that is what part of the community now suspects.

With the Season of Discovery, Blizzard is trying many experiments – as shown in the interview:

Start video
WoW Classic: The Devs on the Season of Discovery in Interview

WoW Classic, but new

The idea of “WoW Classic Plus” is to expand the original version of World of Warcraft after the final Naxxramas patch with new content specifically developed for WoW Classic. This could be old concepts that were never released in their original form, content from later expansions in adapted form, or fresh content that no one has on their radar.

Here are some of the features from the survey that Blizzard might envision for a new version of WoW Classic:

  • New or previously unfinished stories and lore content.
  • New reputation factions and reputation rewards
  • New or re-released dungeons and raids
  • Introducing new or later released classes to WoW Classic, as well as new or later released class and race combinations
  • Minor class changes and regular balancing adjustments for all classes
  • Improved experience for new and returning players
  • New group events and event rewards
  • Guild bank
  • Collections UI, extension of the quest log, and customization options for the UI
  • Dual talent distribution
  • Improved honor system for PvP
  • Enhanced social features such as group search or a way to search for specific guilds
  • Optimized flight paths for wind riders, boats, and zeppelins
  • Improved inventory management
  • Implementation of flying and flying mounts
  • Provision of summoning stones before instances
  • Provision of the Chrono Amplifier to save World Buffs

Would you want to play a version of WoW Classic that includes all these features?

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What does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz think about the survey? The structure of the survey and the nature of the questions strongly resemble previous Blizzard surveys on WoW Classic. So I certainly find it possible that the survey is genuine.

At the same time, I do not believe that Blizzard will actually implement the type of “WoW Classic Plus” that many Classic fans have likely had in mind for years. In my recent interviews with Holly Longdale and other WoW officials, I was repeatedly told:

  • It is virtually impossible to release the perfect “WoW Classic Plus,” as every WoW fan understands something different by that. With every decision made for such a version, a part of the fans will be left disappointed.
  • With the experiments in the current Season of Discovery, Blizzard is already delivering a variant of “WoW Classic Plus” in which the vanilla experience is expanded with new content.

I believe Blizzard will continue down this path and will attempt more new experiments with the next Classic seasons – based on feedback from previous seasons and responses from community surveys.

An important advantage of the seasons is that they are time-limited. If an experiment fails, it does not affect a permanently available version of World of Warcraft. In addition, the current strategy is well received: “The smartest thing they could have done” – German story genius praises Season of Discovery, explains what makes it so good

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

How I Met Your Mother: The well-known saying of Barney almost didn’t exist, but a joke in episode 3 was too funny

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

How I Met Your Mother was one of the greatest comedy series of all time. A particular fan favorite is Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris. However, his most famous catchphrase almost didn’t exist because Barney was not supposed to be annoying.

What is How I Met Your Mother? How I Met Your Mother aired from 2005 to 2014. In its nine seasons, it follows a group of friends who meet regularly at a bar. Similar to Friends, the main themes of the series are love, absurd situations, and many jokes.

Many of the laughs are attributed to the character Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris. His trademark is his suit and the phrase: “It will be legen… it’s coming… daar.” Originally, they didn’t want to give Barney such a phrase, as they were concerned he would become annoying. However, a joke in the script overcame all concerns.

More comedy series can be found here: 5 series like Married… with Children

Start video
How I Met Your Mother – Promo teaser for season 8 focusing on Barney

Complicated but Good

Barney has two trademarks. He always wears a suit, with few exceptions, and he says the phrase as often as possible: It will be legen….där. Usually, he fills something between legen and där according to the situation. Originally, they didn’t want to give Barney such a phrase because they were worried he would become annoying.

The creators of the series, Carter Bay and Craig Thomas, explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the iconic phrase was not actually planned to be a recurring element. However, the writers of the first season, Chris Miller and Phil Lord, turned legen…där in the third episode into a wordplay that was very well received.

Why did Barney still get a catchphrase? In the episode, Barney says in the English version: legend… wait for it, and I hope you´re not lactose intolerant, cause the second half of this word is…dary. The mentioned lactose intolerance is a pun with the word Dairy, which means dairy. In the German version, Barney actually says: It will be legen… today, the girls will only want you because the last part of this word is…där.

However, the wordplay alone was not the decisive argument for Thomas and Craig, but the addition of cause the second half of this word is. This makes the sentence more complicated and lengthy, but that’s exactly what was their twist for the recurring catchphrase.

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von Niko Hernes
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Malcolm in the Middle: Malcolm did not appear in 2 episodes because he walked off set in protest
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Despite the long and convoluted sentence, Barney’s catchphrase paid off. In the interview, they say that everyone on set laughed when Neil Patrick Harris delivered the line during filming. Ultimately, it became his trademark. Often, unplanned things turn out to be the best. The same goes for a character in Two and a Half Men: A character in Two and a Half Men was supposed to disappear after only 2 episodes, but she was just too good.

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

The situation of the new MMORPG Tarisland one month after release

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The release of Tarisland is now more than a month old. Time for a conclusion on the current state of the MMORPG.

Where does Tarisland stand currently? The MMORPG was released on June 21, and the current season of the game is already in full swing. Players are currently trying to obtain the best items of the current level from the raids. All raids are already unlocked. Only a few unlocks of the Epic difficulty level are missing for some raids.

The daily tasks in the game are, for some players, now quite boring and more of a chore to obtain good upgrades for the current equipment.

Who is writing here? Cedric Holmeier is an MMORPG expert at MeinMMO and has been following Tarisland from the beginning. He has also been playing the MMORPG daily since its release.

Here you can watch a trailer for Tarisland.

Start video
Tarisland: Trailer for the global launch shows cinematic class action

Between Boredom and Challenging Content

The daily routine of the MMORPG consists of the same daily tasks that need to be completed. This includes a run in the Arcane Realm, which represents one of the 5 dungeons of the game in a tougher environment.

On raid days, players are currently running the same raids as since the beginning of the game, but in a more challenging version, with more mechanics than before.

Those who are not raiders are likely having a hard time enjoying the game right now. Crafting is one of the major weaknesses of the MMORPG, which is often criticized or suggested for improvement on Discord. Since the game’s launch, not much new has been introduced in activities besides PvE and PvP content, and the existing content has long been exhausted.

The game is struggling with player loss in America and Latin America, and thus the developers tried to merge the servers with the still popular European server. You can read how that turned out here: Tarisland wants to reduce your waiting time, but instead of playing, you now lag through the map

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Is the Air Already Out?

Currently, the air has somewhat gone out. Many players are returning to other MMORPGs, and the initial hype has significantly waned. With a potential new season featuring new content, raids, and events, the game may become interesting again.

Currently, one can clearly notice what the game lacks, which is why there are many good suggestions in the MMORPG’s Discord that the developers can implement to enhance the player experience. The next season of the game will have to show whether Tarisland can establish itself in the long term, or whether it will really be over after such a short time.

The developers of Tarisland do not want to overwhelm players with their content and are continuously reducing how much time is required for various activities in the game. An example of this is the Dark Invasion, which has been significantly reduced: In the MMORPG Tarisland, there was already little to do, but the new update is supposed to save you even more time.

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

The actor of Chibs did not get his scar just for Sons of Anarchy – it originates from the time before he became an actor

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

In Sons of Anarchy there are many impressive characters. Everyone has their own favorite. The character Chibs is one of the most popular figures in the series. His iconic scar is not just make-up. The actor playing Chibs had the scar even before his acting career started.

What is the Glasgow Smile? The Glasgow Smile is a specific type of scar on the face. The scar stretches the mouth into a perpetual smile. The most famous example of this is seen in The Dark Knight on the Joker, played by Heath Ledger.

The character Chibs from Sons of Anarchy also has such a scar, which serves as his trademark. However, unlike Heath Ledger, the actor playing Chibs wears the scar not just as make-up but for real. He got the scar from a fight before his acting career, where he almost died.

Also genuine is the biker past of some actors in Sons of Anarchy: A fan favorite in the biker series Sons of Anarchy was a real member of the Hell’s Angels

Start video
German trailer for season 1 of Sons of Anarchy

After he nearly died, he chose acting

In an interview with Inside of You, Tommy Flanagan, the actor playing Chibs, spoke about receiving his scar. This was before his time as an actor. According to his own statements, he was still working as a DJ in Glasgow in his 20s.

In the interview, he recounts how guys approached him at the time and told him they had killed his brother. He then hit one from the group, grabbed a bottle, and wanted to confront them outside. He waited for the group, but then the guys attacked Flanagan with knives. He sustained several wounds, including the Glasgow Smile on his face.

Despite the numerous wounds, Tommy Flanagan survived the attack, during which he claims he nearly died. In the hospital, a friend approached him and asked if he would rather work in his theater company instead of living the dangerous life as a DJ in Glasgow. He accepted the opportunity, even though he had never thought of becoming an actor.

In the interview, he shares how the original Mad Max films inspired him and that he got to work directly with Mel Gibson on his first film, Braveheart. He then appeared in films like In the Body of My Enemy and Gladiator, and ultimately in Sons of Anarchy in 2008.

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Why is this scar actually called the Glasgow Smile? As History Defined explains, the Glasgow Smile was considered a punishment in Scotland in the 1920s and 1930s by gangs. It was a form of message to rival gangs.

If you were in the wrong territory, you would be marked for life. Nowadays, this is said to still happen, but not to the extent it did during industrialization. Sons of Anarchy has many sources of inspiration from real life. For the role of Jax Teller, Charlie Hunnam spoke with a real young biker: “He was like an old-school outlaw” – The star of the biker series Sons of Anarchy spoke about the real “Jax Teller”

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Inside of You auf YouTube
  2. History Defined

The First Descendant has a hidden mechanic that ensures you always have too little of certain materials

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In The First Descendant, many players often search for materials that are not as rare as they think. The reason for the shortage is often a hidden mechanic.

Update, July 30: We have revised the article after its release and clarified the connection between the hidden stealth mechanic and the materials.

What is the problem? In The First Descendant, there are various materials and loot that you gain for completing your missions. A popular source for farming new loot are enemy outposts.

You can complete an outpost loudly with lots of gunfire or silently eliminate your enemies. Depending on the approach you choose, there is different loot. However, some players are not aware of this.

Here you can find out what the encrypted vaults are and where to find them:

Start video
The First Descendant: Encrypted Safes – What is it and how do you find them?

Sneaking for Loot

What kind of mechanic is this? In The First Descendant, you can only obtain some materials if you complete the outpost missions quietly, meaning stealthily. Many players are unfamiliar with this mechanic and spend their hours in the game hastily and loudly eliminating all enemies.

This prevents many players from getting the materials that are only available through sneaking, causing them to always have too little of these. If players were to complete the outposts more stealthily, they wouldn’t experience a shortage of the materials that are only available for quiet completion.

As one user reported on Reddit, the fact is so unknown that he often finds himself in discussions in the game when he suggests to sneak through the mission instead of eliminating all enemies with a loud bang.

Why is this not known? The problem lies in the description of the mechanic. The game refers to the requirement for extra materials as “successful infiltration”. This doesn’t sound to everyone like they need to complete the mission stealthily.

Additionally, many players are not aware that they depend on the descendant Sharen to complete an outpost quietly. You can try as hard as you want, but with a Bunny or a Valby, the “successful infiltration” will not be achieved.

The user AZSharpe only realized this through a post on Reddit: “Oh. My. God. I have just made the connection. This is a somewhat vague description to imply that you are stealthy. I thought this mission was called infiltration, so only a completed mission would be a successful one. Wow! I wonder what else I haven’t understood properly.”

Also, more_stuff_yo finds on Reddit that the mechanic is well hidden: “Aside from the poor phrasing, players cannot see the additional rewards without scrolling all the way down the tooltip when they see the outpost on the map. If someone approaches from the access side, they will likely only see the highlight and won’t even realize that they need a successful infiltration rating. […]”

Not so good for stealth but perfect against bosses is the character Freyna. She is a poison expert and can melt bosses away with a build just enough. The First Descendant Freyna Build: This is how you melt bosses in hard mode

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

Voice actors thought AI would steal their jobs – But apparently Twitch streamers are the real threat

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

Some well-known German Twitch streamers will be heard in the upcoming animated film Transformers One. This has sparked criticism. Shouldn’t professional voice actors be doing this instead?

This is the situation: There is currently a large discussion on social media about the upcoming animated film Transformers One, which is set to explore the backstory of the famous Autobots. The film boasts a star-studded cast – at least in the original English voiceover. Because several Hollywood stars can be heard:

  • Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as Optimus Prime
  • Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as Sentinel Prime
  • Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) as Elita
  • Laurence Fishburne (Matrix) as Alpha Trion

However, for the German voice dubbing, a slightly different approach was taken. Several of the larger supporting roles have been cast with influencers. This doesn’t sit well with some people.

Start video
Do you recognize these German Twitch streamers by their dubbing voices in video games?

Are influencers ruining movies?

What is the criticism? The German casting is currently being heavily criticized on social media. The general sentiment seems to be: Leave the German voiceover to the professionals, that is, professional voice actors. Many accuse those responsible of using influencers to profit from their reach, sacrificing quality in the process.

Timm, who discusses films on the YouTube channel “Filmriss”, shared some members of the German cast on X, with the plea: “Just stop it already.” The post was seen nearly a million times.

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Later, the YouTuber followed up with clips from the new German trailer and the phrase: “This is even worse than feared.” (via X)

Voice actor criticizes: Marketing takes precedence over quality

The voice actor Tom Ferenc, who also streams on Twitch, judges harshly: He can only feel ashamed. The voice performance of the influencers is “infinitely affected, read off, lacks playfulness, and ultimately prioritizes marketing over quality.”

For “real voice actors” like him, it is “a slap in the face.” Especially since these are people who haven’t learned the job, but would receive “20 times” the fee (via X).

Twitch streamers don’t think it’s a big deal

Are there also counter-voices? Yes, there are. Other content creators, in particular, seem to struggle to understand the criticism.

  • The Twitch streamer Baso wonders why the comments are so mean, as it’s “such a cool opportunity to say 1 or 2 sentences in a movie.” (via X) In a separate post, she stated that she would also love to voice a small role, but in light of the hate, she would probably keep that to herself (via X).
  • Papaplatte sees the problem more with the companies that make such decisions. After all, it’s clear that one would accept such a role if it were offered. And the fact that large companies use influencers to sell their products is nothing new – that’s just how the world works (via TikTok).
  • The Twitch streamer MrMoregame calls for patience. After all, not all of them are automatically bad (via X).

The author explains: The blame lies with the production companies

The author of the post later clarified that his criticism was never aimed at the influencers themselves; he wishes them this opportunity. He also does not want to be the face of the hate that this situation has now brought about.

The YouTuber explains: There is nothing wrong with cameos, that is, short guest appearances, but with larger supporting roles or many small roles, the casting can ruin the film. As an example of successful dubbing by influencers, he cites Gronkh and Knossi (via X).

In Germany, there is a love-hate relationship with dubbing

Why is this a big issue? Especially in animated films, the trend in the English-speaking world has been to cast celebrities instead of trained voice actors for some time now. For example, Chris Pratt received heavy criticism for his role as “Mario”.

However, in Germany, not only animated films are dubbed, like in the USA, but practically everything. The German dubbing culture has a reputation for being among the best and most elaborate in the world. Despite all the purists who like to proclaim that they always watch everything in the original version.

Our colleagues at MoviePilot even list 10 movies and series where the German dubbing is better than the original.

Now, with such a high standard in German dubbing – in the eyes of critics – opting for influencer fame over quality seems particularly poorly received. Especially since it is not an option for every viewer to simply resort to the English original.

Others read:
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28 years old MMORPG is re-released, earning up to 6 million euros daily
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Monopoly GO: All Free Dice in April 2026 – Today’s New Codes
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A bit of unintentional comedy also resonates through the whole discussion, as voice actors were a topic repeatedly last year, especially in connection with AI. Because the professionals fear that publishers might simply replace them with artificial intelligence as technology progresses, a strike was even called in the USA last week – and now the influencers are turning out to be a real threat.

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

HandOfBlood hosts a large dart event on Twitch – a man from RocketBeans wins without playing

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 2 minutes

On Friday, an influencer Dart tournament hosted by HandOfBlood took place on Twitch. At its peak, 70,000 viewers were watching. Among the standout remarks was one from Nils Bomhoff, a host from RocketBeans. On Twitch, however, MontanaBlack won the weekend with his event “Haufen Kartons.”

What kind of tournament was it?

  • HandOfBlood hosted a Dart tournament in Berlin on Friday evening and invited numerous German influencers, particularly from the LoL scene such as NoWay4U, Broeki, Tolkin, and Kutcher. But other well-known streamers like Mowky, GamerBrother, and Papaplatte were also present.
  • HandOfBlood himself had to cancel the event at the last minute – he caught Covid. He wrote on July 26 that it was really tough for him to prepare an event for half a year and then cancel it last minute (via twitter).
  • However, he seems extremely satisfied with the tournament, and the atmosphere was excellent.

Through his LoL team Eintracht Spandau and his own history, HandOfBlood is well-connected in League of Legends.

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

Brammen and Powlster win Dart event

Who won the tournament? The team Brammen and Powlster emerged as the winners. A total of 8 teams competed. The team with the largest reach on Twitch was Papaplatte and NoWay4U.

During the halftime, DJ Ötzi was heard.

Special events dominate the weekend on German Twitch

How did the tournament go? At its peak, 70,167 people were watching HandOfBlood.

It was a big “Special Event” weekend in Germany anyway. MontanaBlack even reached more viewers with his own special event “Haufen Kartons”, where 90,795 viewers were watching at the peak on Sunday.

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Link to the Twitch content

What was discussed during the tournament? One of the moderators of the Dart tournament was Nils Bomhoff from RocketBeans. He apparently delivered the quote of the night when Papaplatte and NoWay4U needed only a 17:

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On reddit, the clip was commented with: “180 from Nils Bomhoff, without him playing.”

This topic is also very relevant because a very similar case was hotly debated in the USA, and in Germany, a comment blogger, who usually discusses every topic on Twitch, has been ignoring this topic for weeks because he feels personally connected to MontanaBlack. If you want to know more about the background of the clip and why it is being passionately discussed in Germany, we recommend our article: 21-year-old tells how MontanaBlack is said to have taken his 17-year-old girlfriend away

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

Steam: Strategy geniuses show map of the Holy Roman Empire with 357 playable nations – fans rejoice

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

The developer Paradox Interactive has been creating large historical strategy games for 25 years, which are particularly popular on Steam. Next up is likely Europa Universalis V. Paradox Tinto, based in Barcelona, is working on it. They have now released a map of the Holy Roman Empire, and it is so detailed and fragmented that history fans are already gasping for breath.

Which game does this insane map belong to?

  • Officially, nothing is known. Unofficially, everyone is aware that it is about “Europa Universalis V.” The game will likely simulate the world from 1337 to 1821, re-enacting historical events while giving players the opportunity to change history.
  • Europa Universalis V has not been officially announced yet, but evidently, Paradox Tinto is working on the game under the codename “Project Cesar.”
  • The predecessor, Europa Universalis IV, was released in 2013. It started in the historical year 1444, has received countless expansions, and costs 370 euros on Steam. Everything indicates that Europa Universalis V will be even more complex.
Start video
Europa Universalis 4: Trailer

Central Europe breaks into 357 nations

This is the map: Paradox Tinto has released the map showing the region in 1337 (via forums.paradoxplaza).

The map shows the political landscape of the time, fragmented into dwarf states. With 357 playable nations, the map is even more fragmented than in part IV. The area includes present-day regions like Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and of course, Germany itself.

EU-V-map

Right in the center and in southern Germany, additional nations have been added. Bavaria now breaks down into Upper and Lower Bavaria. The historically significant diocese of Fulda is its own region, and many other peculiarities can be recognized.

The map from 1337 reflects how fragmented the country was at that time.

In comparison to the map from EU V, you can see the current starting map of Europa Universalis IV here. You can see that Austria and Venice have gained substantially, and even France is no longer as fragmented over 100 years later.

EU IV

Political situation is extremely convoluted

This is what the developers say:

How complex the situation was is explained by developer Pavia. He is Content Design Lead at Paradox Tinto:

What can I say, when the map speaks for itself … The countries of Germany are highly fragmented into various principalities, making the political situation extremely complex. The emperor in 1337 is Louis IV of Wittelsbach from Upper Bavaria … Because, yes, Bavaria is also divided. He is married to Margarete of Avesnes, daughter of Count William of Hainaut, Holland, and Zeeland, while his son Louis is Margrave of Brandenburg. However, the most powerful force of the era is the Kingdom of Bohemia, whose king John is also Duke of Luxembourg, ruling both countries in personal union while also being the overlord of the Margraviate of Moravia, which is governed by his son Charles, as well as the Silesian principalities. The third contender is likely the Duchy of Austria, ruled by Albert II of Habsburg. He also governs over some countries in the formed duchies of Swabia and Carinthia. In addition, there is a multitude of medium and smaller countries throughout the region with very different forms of government, which will likely make this HRE a very playful experience …

And can all the nations be played? Yes, theoretically. But usually, one starts in the region with Austria or Brandenburg. The nations feature elaborate mission trees in Europa Universalis IV, which favor a certain playstyle:

  • As Brandenburg, you conquer the north of Germany and expand towards Poland, then become Protestant to form Prussia.
  • For Austria, expansion towards Italy is intended and a union with Hungary.
  • But Poland, Hungary, or Bohemia are also good starting countries – but if someone wants, they can also start with Ulm.

In the role of these great nations, one tries to first make as many small states as possible vassals diplomatically and then eventually annex them.

Essentially, Europa Universalis V will be about uniting the multitude of tiny states into a large entity.

How do players react? Most reactions are initially enthusiastic. Memes are posted, but there is also serious, informed criticism from history enthusiasts about the map.

Anyone who wants to know more about the phenomenon Europa Universalis IV and dive deeper into it, we recommend our article about Europa Universalis IV and what makes the strategy giant so unique: A gigantic strategy game for 370 € on Steam is insane: Every country plays completely differently

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

Pokémon GO: Spotlight Hour brings Togedemaru and Stardust bonus

Paul Kutzner Paul Kutzner Reading time 2 minutes

In Pokémon GO, the next spotlight hour is waiting for you. Here you can look forward to the Pokémon Togedemaru and a stardust bonus.

What kind of event is this? Every week on Tuesday, there is a so-called spotlight hour in Pokémon GO. This is a recurring event where one Pokémon is in focus and appears in very high numbers during the event.

Additionally, there is a bonus that is also active for 60 minutes.

In the next spotlight hour, Togedemaru will take center stage. This Pokémon comes from Generation 7 and has the types Electric and Steel. It has no evolutions.

Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins

Spotlight Hour on July 30 – Start and Bonuses

When does the spotlight hour start? As usual, the spotlight hour starts at 6:00 PM. It lasts for 60 minutes and ends at 7:00 PM.

What bonuses are active? If you catch Pokémon during the event, you will receive double the amount of stardust. This bonus applies not only to catching Togedemaru but to all Pokémon you catch within the 60 minutes.

If you still have Pokémon encounters from field research open, for example, with Pokémon that generally give you more stardust, then this event is the perfect opportunity to catch those monsters.

Can you catch Shiny Togedemaru? Yes. If you are lucky, you might encounter the Shiny variant of Togedemaru during the event.

Is the spotlight hour worth it? Togedemaru is not a Pokémon that impresses with its abilities in raids. You won’t find it on the list of best attackers in Pokémon GO.

It doesn’t play a significant role in the battle leagues either. While it shouldn’t be represented at all in the Ultra and Master Leagues, it at least plays in the lower midfield of the Super League. However, you should prefer other Pokémon here.

If you want to add Shiny Togedemaru to your collection and haven’t had much luck so far, then this event could be the perfect opportunity for you to go on the hunt.

The additional stardust from the bonus can also help you replenish your supply a bit.

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What do you think about the spotlight hour? Are you going out to take advantage of it, or would you rather stay at home? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments and exchange views with other trainers. We have also put together an overview of the upcoming events in August 2024 in Pokémon GO for you.

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

Counter-Strike 2: Shooter god in retirement offers course for 137 € – But he is accused of ripping off

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 3 minutes

Ukrainian Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostylijev (26) is considered one of the best players in CS:GO (now: Counter-Strike 2) and is generally revered as one of the best shooter players worldwide. Now he wanted to capitalize on his reputation and launched a program for €137 to “get as good as he is” – but the project failed shortly after its launch.

Who is he?

  • The Ukrainian s1mple is statistically considered the second-best player in Counter-Strike of all time. Only the French player ZywOo is statistically better, according to the specialist site HLTV, which has continually showered s1mple with awards.
  • s1mple usually plays for the team “Natus Vincere” and has won around $1.7 million in prize money. He is also active on Twitch but has been struggling with the platform, as he is repeatedly banned for using the Russian word “Pidor” (roughly “faggot”). The Ukrainian says he uses the word among friends as a joking insult, that’s just how it is. But Twitch does not understand that and considers the word hateful.
  • s1mple announced in October 2023 that he would end his career as a professional in Counter-Strike 2. He does not like the new version of Counter-Strike and calls it a “shitty game.” In 2024, he returned for a match in Counter-Strike 2, but it did not go well.
Start video
Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer

s1mple thinks Counter-Strike 2 is terrible, sells lessons for it

This was his new project: On June 3rd, s1mple launched the “Play Like S1mple” project together with the ESL FACEIT group.

The idea was to offer a sort of online course for Counter-Strike 2, with lessons from s1mple and guests. Access to the project costs $149 – about €137.

In the meantime, the offer was already reduced to $97, which is about €90.

https://twitter.com/s1mpleo/status/1790065381937144228?s=46

Those who pay should receive private access to s1mple

The star player said:

In addition to the educational part of the lessons, I want to build a real connection with my people, which means you can look forward to various online and offline activities for the members.

According to the US site Dexerto, buyers were promised 70 teaching videos, along with monthly tournaments, private Discord channels, and a private communication channel to s1mple and his friends.

Project quietly ends after 6 weeks

This is the current status: According to Dexerto, the project was practically shut down about 6 weeks after the launch, even though it can still be purchased:

  • Since June 6th, the social media channels have been silent, and s1mple himself has been quiet on social media since June 15th
  • The videos were set to private on July 17th
  • Buyers received their money back starting July 22nd
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“Click on their heads”

What was the reaction to the courses? It was generally negative. Some people who purchased the course publicly stated that it simply was not worth $149/€137. The project was labeled “pure fraud” – there are better guides on YouTube.

One user on reddit says: “The project failed because the guides were poorly made and basically boiled down to ‘click on their heads and now you have full control over B.'”

Another user says: To offer detailed guides for every level of knowledge requires a “shitload” of work, as Counter-Strike is so complex. There is already established and strong competition in terms of guides and analyses.

Allegedly, the project had gone very well and had many buyers, as a news account reported.

https://twitter.com/CS2CIS/status/1816362890074677407

This is what it’s about: It seems that the whole project did not receive the community response that was hoped for. It received a lot of negative criticism.

Simply giving people their money back speaks well for the organizers and is decent. However, doing so without any statement seems strange.

We have seen a similar project before, back then by Ninja. Apparently, this is the attempt of popular shooter players to somehow make money off their name. However, the actual benefit of these videos and courses is questionable. Just because someone is an outstanding shooter player does not mean they can convey their knowledge particularly well. Stars often seem to lack the patience for that: The biggest streamer on Twitch offers a “Masterclass” for €200 – but testers ridicule it

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

The First Descendant: Farming gold quickly and easily – The best method currently available

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

In The First Descendant, gold is an important currency that you need to strengthen yourselves. We’ll show you where you can quickly and easily farm gold and what you should keep in mind.

This is how you quickly farm gold: Although the method has been slightly nerfed, it is still one of the best ways to farm gold. We are talking about the Valby run in the fortress “The Defense Line: Strategic Outpost of the Vulgus”. With Valby, you will then defeat the surrounding enemies near the boss of the outpost. Make sure not to defeat the boss, otherwise you will have to deal with a cooldown.

Other ways to farm gold include:

  • selling items you don’t need
  • completing special operations
  • completing all missions
  • defeating tough bosses with a Gley or Freyna build and selling the items you find
  • defeating every enemy that comes your way

So it is quite simple how you can quickly get gold. It only depends on which activity you want to complete without falling into a monotonous loop. Why you need gold and what you should pay attention to while farming will be explained in the following section.

Start video
The First Descendant: Encrypted Safes – What is it and how do you find them?

What do I need gold for? In The First Descendant, gold is an essential currency that you need to do many things. This includes buying items, upgrading items, or resetting your descendants. For all these things, you will inevitably need more or less gold.

For this reason, it is important to gather a supply of gold so that you have enough on hand in case of emergencies and don’t have to go farming every time.

Which descendants are strong for farming gold? That depends on which farming method you are using. However, the following descendants might turn out to be good options:

In addition to descendants, it is also worthwhile to look at your external components. These items that you can socket into your descendants come with various effects that can increase your drop rate while farming Kuiper and gold.

These were all the important information to quickly and easily get gold at the moment. Which methods do you use and which descendant is employed for that? Let us know in the comments. To level up quickly, here is a short guide: The First Descendant: Level up quickly – The current best method to farm XP

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

Twitch streamer Mowky makes serious accusations against Anni The Duck

Lydia Lydia Reading time 3 minutes

Anissa “Anni The Duck” Baddour was one of the biggest streamers on German Twitch until serious allegations were made against her in May 2024. Her former best friend “Mowky” announced a detailed statement – now it’s here.

While Anni The Duck initially showed some understanding in her statement on X, she relativized many of her insights during her comeback stream. This eventually led Mowky to consider releasing a detailed statement after initially deciding not to, following Anni’s supposed understanding and the end of her career.

On July 27, 2024, the long-anticipated video appeared on a “disposable account,” as Mowky did not want to jeopardize her main channel due to potential copyright strikes. We give you an overview of the content.

Start video
Reved explains on Twitch how much she suffered in the relationship with Anni The Duck

From toxic friendship to identity theft

In her video, Mowky reports what happened behind the scenes for a long time before her public reaction. The friendship with Anni The Duck was already supposed to have been stressful beforehand. Anni allegedly prioritized her needs over those of people around her and refused to have clarifying conversations.

In addition, Anni allegedly copied features from Mowky, including her hair color, headsets with animal ears, and the name of her cat,

Finn. Mowky says that the fans of her supposed friend were practically attacking her and accused her of copying Anni. This eventually led Mowky to change her own appearance.

Furthermore, the streamer uncovers contradictions in Anni The Duck’s statement video and comeback stream. For example, the number of her therapists changes during Anni The Duck’s narration. She also makes contradictory statements on topics like friendships and money concerns.

You can watch the full video here:

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Anni allegedly spread serious claims

The most serious allegation is that Anni conducted a smear campaign against Mowky. She is said to have spread the following:

  • Mowky is dangerous, has been physically aggressive, and throws objects around
  • Mowky suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and takes strong medication – at the same time, she is said to refuse to take her medication
  • Because she refuses to take the medication, Mowky is deemed insane and cannot be believed
  • According to Mowky, Anni also claimed she had raped 3 men. The alleged victims were said to have known nothing of the accusations

These accusations are said to have never been clarified by Anni and had both professional and personal consequences for Mowky. The rumors were “carried by two managements,” and friends wanted to turn away from her.

The streamer also states that she now has significant fears about approaching people if it could be interpreted as sexually harassing.

What allegedly lay behind the outburst in May

The emotional outburst in May allegedly occurred after Mowky contacted the 3 affected men and learned that they knew nothing of the alleged rapes. She was reportedly very angry and eventually lost her composure when she was again asked about Anni The Duck during the stream.

Mowky denies that she consciously chose the timing to sabotage Anni’s collaboration with Sony for the new Garfield movie.

Additionally, Mowky addresses the allegations that Anni The Duck mistreated her cats. The animals were said to have suffered due to the frequent moves and the streamer’s constant absence, as well as the overall living situation.

More on the topic
More on the topic
Anni The Duck is accused of abusing her cats and treating them like toys
von jacquelinek
More on the topic
Anni The Duck explains in the statement why she sometimes feels disgusted by her fans
von jacquelinek
More on the topic
Anni The Duck loses a good part of her fans in just a few hours that she has built up over 7 years
von jacquelinek

Finally, Mowky urges not to idealize other people, especially those on the internet. Such parasocial relationships are dangerous because one never knows who one is dealing with and giving affirmation to. A similar plea was expressed shortly before by YouTuber Taddl: German YouTube star criticizes the glorification of influencers – “cancels” himself

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

The Steam hit The First Descendant introduces its 1st new hero since release – Here’s how Luna works

David U. David U. Reading time 2 minutes

The First Descendant is getting a new heroine for battle with the update. You will find out who the descendant “Luna” is and what she can do in our overview.

Who is Luna? Luna is the upcoming descendant of The First Descendant and is both a soldier and a singer. With her, the loot shooter gives you a musical supporter who can also deal damage.

What can Luna do? Luna is a supporter who can shoot in specified rhythms with her synthesizer gun, thus activating various effects. You can strengthen your allies this way, and your shots become more powerful when you shoot in a specified rhythm.

When Luna dances to a fast rhythm, she increases her allies’ ability strength, and with a relaxed dance rhythm, their mentality recovers and resource consumption decreases.

Watch our video if you want to know how the encrypted vaults work.

Start video
The First Descendant: Encrypted Safes – What is it and how do you find them?

What modification modules does Luna have? Luna uses two different modification modules that give you the option to support your allies or turn yourself into an attacker. The following are known:

  • Nimble Footsteps – Modification: The modification increases her mobility and the effect range of her dances, thereby strengthening her allies.
  • Noise Surge – Modification: The modification transforms Luna from a supporter into an attacker. Dash in rhythm through enemies to deal damage and weaken them. When the inspiration meter is full, summon a stage that restores your mental strength and shields.

Other content in the update included new equipment, as well as modules, but also a new enemy (Gluttony). You can defeat this enemy to obtain weapons and components.
Also, the ultimate weapon “Peace Maker” was introduced into the game.

If you want to take down the new enemy Gluttony or other strong enemies, but you still lack the suitable equipment, take a look at this article on the Freyna Build. She has so much power that with this build, you are even able to defeat bosses in hard mode. The First Descendant Freyna Build: This is how you melt bosses in hard mode

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Nexon The First Descendant Patch Notes