UFL: The first test of the EA FC competitor was well received by many fans and experts – this weekend you can play an improved version

Thomas Dummer Thomas Dummer Reading time 3 minutes

On the weekend, you can once again test the new football simulation with the Open Beta of UFL. After mostly positive feedback from the community, the developer studio “Strikerz” announced that it would improve some criticisms from the first test run.

What kind of game is this? UFL is from the small developer studio “Strikerz”, which is tackling its first major project in the gaming industry. The game was announced at Gamescom 2021.

Since then, the developers have been working on their own football simulation. After the first version of the Open Beta was released over the weekend from June 7 to 9, you can test an improved version with numerous updates for free this weekend (August 2 to 4).

Which consoles is the Open Beta for? The Open Beta is only playable on the next-gen consoles, namely PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. All other consoles cannot try the test version for now.

Start video
UFL: New EA-FC competitor shows Cristiano Ronaldo tricking and scoring goals

Fans give a lot of positive feedback after the first test

What did fans appreciate? Fans are excited about a fresh approach to football simulations. This is particularly shown in a post on the subreddit “UFLTheGame”:

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User Beautiful_Life_1788, the sender of the post, especially celebrates that the gameplay is something different than what he has been used to from FIFA or EA FC for the last decades. Many fans agree with him in the comments.

Especially the UI, meaning everything related to the user interface outside of gameplay, is very well received by the Reddit community (via reddit.com).

FIFA expert also sees UFL as a potential EA FC competitor

The FIFA expert and former coach of the German eNational team, Matthias “Stylo” Hietsch, has played more than 100 matches in the first version of UFL. After that, he gave an informed opinion about the new competitor.

We have summarized his analysis for you at MeinMMO: FIFA expert tests the Open Beta of a new competitor of EA FC – names 3 things that UFL does better

Stylo highlighted especially 3 positive aspects in his analysis.

What impressed the expert:

  • the various skins for players are a very good approach that still has a lot of potential for further improvements.
  • the communication between the developers and the community was very good during the first test.
  • the special movements are very realistic and reward players with better skill.

However, the game still needs a lot of time to become a serious competitor for EA FC.

Because besides the good approaches, Stylo, like the fans on Reddit, found many aspects that need improvement. Especially regarding the gameplay. With his analysis of the game’s weaknesses, he summarized many criticisms of the community.

Update should bring requested improvements for gameplay

These were Stylo’s biggest criticisms in the first test:

  • Sprinting is unbalanced: poor ball control, too slow in top speed.
  • Passes were still very inconsistent.
  • Ball handling from pass receivers was very sluggish.
  • Chipped shots with good players almost always resulted in a goal.
  • Defenders took too long to control regained balls.

A few days before the start of the second beta version, UFL announced on X that the “team has worked hard to ensure that UFL has a special place in the hearts” of the fans. Additionally, the new patch notes for the update were added to the post:

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In the patch notes, you will find a whole series of new adaptations for the second Open Beta. We focused on the most important changes.

What should improve in the new version? Some of the biggest criticisms that Stylo addressed in his analysis are said to have been directly improved in the new version. These include:

  • the OP shots with R1 (curled shots), which were far too strong, have been nerfed.
  • Players generally no longer feel sluggish, allowing for better movement.
  • Passes are now supposed to be executed more accurately.
  • For ball receptions, the pass receiver positions himself better, and receptions are smoother.
  • The sprint speed has been increased.

Further important improvements for gameplay

  • Goalkeepers have been improved: new animations, better rushing out, fewer rebounds.
  • Defending has been strengthened: faster direction changes, new animations for tackling and sliding tackles.
  • AI for defense improved: players recognize dangerous situations in defense faster, position themselves accordingly to cover dangerous areas.
  • AI for offense expanded: smarter and more efficient runs to create and convert scoring opportunities.
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The new Open Beta offers the following changes:

  • the skins for players now partly include upgrades for certain stats.
  • the reputation system for buying players has been revised.
  • the players have fixed perks at the start, and further perks can be unlocked by leveling up.
  • new game faces from over 200 players have been added.

How the announced changes will affect the game remains to be seen. The servers for the second test run are set to start in Germany on August 2 at 2:00 PM. Then you can judge for yourself the promised improvements. Many things are also expected to improve in the new EA FC. You can find the most important information here on MeinMMO: EA FC 25: All information on release, price, and innovations

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

WoW: Xal’atath attacks Twitch streamers – Between ‘cringe’ and ‘genius’

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

The Void draws closer in World of Warcraft. Xal’atath attacks Twitch streamers and this results in mixed reactions.

Currently, in World of Warcraft, the pre-event for the new expansion “The War Within” is taking place. But behind the scenes, Blizzard is apparently busy promoting and is engaging many streamers in a curious way. The various streams and videos are being visited by the antagonist of the new WoW addon. Xal’atath takes control and mocks the streamers and their viewers.

Start video
WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within

What is happening with streamers right now? In the videos of many well-known WoW streamers, there are currently small “incidents” where the screen suddenly darkens and a familiar voice “hijacks” the stream for a few seconds: Xal’atath, the new antagonist from World of Warcraft.

Here, for example, at Taliesin & Eviltel, starting at minute 12:00:

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The quality of these “invasions” varies quite a bit. While in many cases, “only” a video overlays the stream and Xal’atath says a few words about the respective stream, there are also some more elaborate animations.

Another example with MrGM starting at 0:30:

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Especially the one from Preach stands out here. But see for yourself, starting at minute 2:13:

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This is how the community reacts: Reactions to this type of promotion are quite varied. While some find it very “cringe” and apparently feel embarrassed for the participating streamers, many also find this method of promotion quite successful and entertaining – it’s something creative and different from the typical advertising style of game presentations.

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Some of the comments (via wowhead) on this:

  • “This is a great idea from Blizzard, the work that went into it is just amazing.” – Hyphie
  • “Wait, aren’t these just [the streamers] trying to be cringe? I thought they were just trying to be funny and emulate Xal’atath.” – Chaxton
  • “I know I’m probably in the minority, but … I love these videos.” – FczkDA

If you are now just confused with question marks over your head and don’t know at all what Xal’atath, the Void, or even the setting of the new expansion is about, we highly recommend this story article: The story of Xal’atath, the new antagonist from WoW.

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

No Man’s Sky messed up the launch on Steam – 8 years later the survival game is facing a big milestone

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

The space game No Man’s Sky carried many hopes, but the launch of the game on Steam went significantly wrong. Instead of giving up and moving on, the developers continuously provided the game with updates and are now facing a major milestone.

What kind of game is this? No Man’s Sky is an open-world game set in a science fiction universe consisting of many procedurally generated planets.

After a catastrophic start on Steam, the game is now facing a new milestone, after a recent success was celebrated.

Here you can see what to expect in the new update:

Start video
New update from No Man’s Sky reminds of Helldivers 2

New update creates a boom and good ratings

Why is the game facing a new milestone? No Man’s Sky is experiencing a real boom on Steam since its major update 5.0. With the update, a yearly peak in players was reached, and the game reached first place in the Steam charts (via SteamDB).

However, new players seem to enjoy the game more than old ones. For years, the ratings of the game have continued to rise. Meanwhile, No Man’s Sky stands at 79 % positive ratings on Steam.

A few more positive reviews and the rating label will change from “Mostly Positive” to “Very Positive.” This milestone was similarly achieved when the game received the “Mostly Positive” label in 2021.

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How do players like the game today? Today, players enjoy the game more than ever. Of the recent reviews on Steam, a full 92 % are positive. A figure that also pleases the head of No Man’s Sky. He writes about the success on Steam (via X.com): “Rank 1 in the Steam charts. It’s wonderful to see that the No Man’s Sky community has welcomed so many new players with open arms this weekend.”

No Man’s Sky is one of the few games that has fought its way back up from rock bottom. The game was accused of the developers hyping it excessively, only to fail to deliver on the promises. We created a look at the tough history of the MMO for the last milestone: No Man’s Sky reviews after 5 years “Mostly Positive”: Others developers should (not) take this as an example

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

First you should be able to play ARK 2 at gamescom, now XBOX is backtracking

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

Some fans may have been excited that they could finally try out ARK 2 at gamescom (spelling as such). But XBOX has apparently called off the whole thing.

What was announced? In a blog post (via xbox.com), XBOX announced what their program looks like during gamescom. They also published which games attendees can try out as demos at their booth.

Included were titles from other providers like Star Wars Outlaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Space Marine 2, but ARK 2 was also on the list. Surely a reason for fans to cheer, as the game was announced in 2020 and is set to be released at the end of this year.

You can see the trailer for ARK 2 here:

Start video
ARK 2 Trailer Release 2023

All just a mistake

What kind of retreat has XBOX made now? After the announcement of the program including the list of games was already published, there was a subsequent change. The list of playable titles was altered, and the demo for ARK 2 disappeared.

A footnote at the bottom of the page explains: “ARK 2 was originally listed as playable at the Xbox booth – this mention was a mistake and has been removed.”

The fact that a playable demo was to be shown at gamescom came as a surprise. For some time now, there has been a lack of signs of life from the game, especially since the release is still planned for this year. The last video on ARK 2, for instance, was posted on YouTube in 2022.

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Do players still believe in ARK 2? Players’ hopes for ARK 2 have diminished over the years. In the Steam forum for the game, there are dozens of posts and comments criticizing not only the development but also the direction that the gameplay should take.

However, the incorrect announcement might be a small sign of life from the game, even if a demo will not be playable at gamescom. You can find all information about ARK 2 and what Vin Diesel has to do with it in our overview: ARK 2: Release, Trailer, Gameplay – What we know so far

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

An MMO considers making the game’s most terrible sounds quieter, but the players want them even louder

Cedric Holmeier Cedric Holmeier Reading time 2 minutes

In Old School Runescape, the developers listen to their community. However, there is one decision made by the players that they cannot understand.

What sparked the debate? In Old School Runescape, players get to decide on changes in the game. The developers always present the changes, and then the players can vote for or against them. If 70% are in favor of a change, it will be implemented; otherwise, it will not.

However, the latest survey was rejected, and the developers do not quite understand why.

Here you can watch a video about the “Group Ironman” mode in Old School RuneScape:

Start video
Old School RuneScape shows the “Group Ironman” mode in the trailer

Louder instead of Quieter

What was the survey about? This time, the developers’ survey concerned various mini-games, including the mini-game “Temple Trekking”, a swampy obstacle course with various combat and puzzle challenges.

There, you encounter the “Nail Beasts”, which are said to make the most horrifying sounds ever. Even fingernails on a chalkboard and screaming babies are probably not as bad as these cat-like creatures.

For those who want to hear the sound for themselves, you can do so here:

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As terrible as the sound of the creatures may seem, the result to the question of whether the volume should be lowered is equally unusual. Only just under 60% of the players voted in favor, meaning the required 70% for a change was not reached.

On X.com, the developers write that the change will not be implemented, but they are also interested in understanding the reason for this.

They ask on X.com: “Help us understand. Do you want the Nail Beasts to be louder? Perhaps a small chance to play the sound at full volume when you receive an xp drop?”

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How have the players reacted? The players want the sounds of the creatures to be louder, not quieter. In response to the developers’ post, several comments are gathering on the topic.

@KanateKun writes on X.com: “Please make them louder (:” Also, @TheGentleSenpai agrees with this. He writes on X.com: “AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE”.

@Gearomatic has an idea on X.com: “Please add a 4th slider to the options for the volume of Nailbeast roars”

@SwateOpal makes a suggestion on X.com: “Please vote for them to get louder soon. If you vote for them to get quieter, it’s only fair to balance that out.” Also loud was a streamer who sang along while gaming and immediately regretted it: Twitch streamer plays Path of Exile, hears a song by 50 Cent and sings along loudly – immediately regrets it

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

5 Reasons Why Dr. Doom is More Fearsome in Marvel than Thanos

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 3 minutes

As everyone has probably noticed, Robert Downey Jr. returns for the next Avengers film. This time, however, he is not Iron Man but the iconic villain Dr. Doom. Why Dr. Doom could be more intense than Thanos is explained by MeinMMO with five examples.

Who is Dr. Doom, anyway? Victor von Doom is an iconic villain on Earth-616, often clashing with the Fantastic Four, but he has also faced off against other heroes in larger Marvel stories. His most distinctive feature is his green cloak and metal mask.

In the upcoming Avengers film, he will make his next cinema appearance in 2026. If you can’t wait until then, you can prepare by watching the Fantastic Four films from 2005, 2007, or 2015. Dr. Doom has the potential to become an even more intimidating villain than Thanos. Here are 5 reasons for that.

If you’re hungry for more before the next MCU movie, then maybe the X-Men are for you: All 14 X-Men and Deadpool films ranked

Start video
German trailer for Fantastic Four (2005)

1. He is incredibly intelligent

While Thanos isn’t dumb, Dr. Doom is considered one of the smartest people on the planet. Like Reed Richards or Dr. Banner, he is also a gifted scientist. He is knowledgeable in many areas of science. For example, he has an army of AI robots and medical knowledge.

In addition to worldly knowledge, he is also a great wizard in some comics and could hold his own against Dr. Strange. Thus, he is familiar with many facets of the Avengers. Whether he has all of this in the MCU is still unclear. (via Marvel Database)

2. He has a personal problem with Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)

Cool and calculating villains are loved by many, but it’s truly terrifying when someone is unpredictable. Dr. Doom is both of these. He hates Reed Richards so much that despite his intellect, he does things that are completely illogical.

In his solo comic series that ran from 2019 to 2020, Dr. Doom encounters a new universe where he is completely different. There, he is even friends with Reed Richards. This alternate reality cannot stand his current self, which is why he destroys the universe (via reddit). At another time, he sent Richards’ son to hell.

3. Dr. Doom bows to no one, not even Thanos

When comparing Dr. Doom to Thanos, one might initially think that he stands no chance. As Screen Rant shows, the two meet in the comic version of Secret Wars from 2015. In that encounter, Dr. Doom is insulted by Thanos. Doom asks him if he has the Infinity Gauntlet, to which he replies no, but he doesn’t need it.

Doom then tears Thanos’s skeleton out, causing him to turn to dust. Doom simply states: That seems wrong. While Thanos in the MCU has his own moral code, Doom is mostly driven by his pride and desire for power. Although Dr. Doom is incredibly powerful here, the scene shows that he can achieve almost anything.

4. The political influence of Dr. Doom

Most villains in the MCU often operate away from Earth. Doom, on the other hand, is the head of the fictional state of Latveria. This gives Doom some political advantages, as you can read in the Marvel Database.

If Latveria is considered a sovereign state, then Doom has diplomatic immunity. The heroes, who mostly act within the laws, cannot touch him. He can also travel to the USA for political matters without being arrested. With Civil War and Winter Soldier, we have already had films with political themes; with Dr. Doom, it could be taken to an even higher level. In one comic story, he even attacked Wakanda for vibranium. A theme that was hinted at in the second Black Panther film.

5. He is at his core the evil Tony Stark

The casting of Robert Downey Jr. seems a bit confusing at first, but looking at the previous reasons, it fits very well. Dr. Doom has technology and armor comparable to Iron Man, he is arrogant, proud, and kneels to no one, and most importantly, due to his appearance, he has a personal history with well-known characters.

With the Hulk or Spider-Man, one could create a personal connection to the villain. Additionally, he combines most aspects of the MCU: he has technology, magic, and political power all in one. The beloved charm of Tony could be flipped in this case.

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Even though we have to wait a while for the new Avengers film, Dr. Doom promises exciting stories. Are you looking forward to Dr. Doom or are you fed up with the MCU? Let us know in the comments. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans also have a history together outside of the films: Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America several times – Until Robert Downey Jr. convinced him

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Marvel Database
  2. CBR
  3. Screen Rant
  4. reddit

New horror anime is a must for fans of the genre, coming in just a few weeks

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

Fans of horror animes and mangas are likely already familiar with Junji Ito. The manga artist has become known for his eerie horror stories. The Uzumaki series is among his most famous works and is getting its own anime series. The new trailer reveals when we can look forward to the anime.

What kind of anime is it? Uzumaki has nothing to do with the ninja from Konohagakure, who is getting his own crossover with the Ninja Turtles. It is a creepy story revolving around spirals.

  • In the small town of Kurouzu, supernatural phenomena suddenly occur. The spirals that give the title are involved in this. 
  • The residents of the small town suddenly go crazy. For example, a man becomes possessed by spirals. He has to find them in his food and bathwater. 
  • There are even fatalities and natural disasters associated with the spirals .

The new anime is said to consist of four episodes in total. It is not known whether it will adapt the complete three-part manga series from 1998.

However, the new trailer already shows that the scale of the supernatural phenomena will play an important role:

Start video
Uzumaki: The horror anime shows its 2nd trailer

Uzumaki is a true feast for horror fans

What makes it so special? The residents of the small town fall into a madness that revolves around the spirals. The trailer clearly shows how creatively this madness has been implemented:

  • The pupils of a character suddenly start to spin.
  • The tongue of a character also turns into a spiral.
  • There are even people whose bodies spin around their own axis. The probably most horrifying scene is at minute 0:35, where a person is completely wrapped up in a container.

Just the soundtrack of the trailer makes it clear how creepy the anime will become. But the visuals also give us such a shiver while watching that we can’t wait to see Junji Ito’s grotesque ideas in an animated series.

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When will it be released? The trailer reveals when we can watch the series. Accordingly, it will be available on September 28, 2024. The anime will air on Adult Swim, and the next day it will be available on Max (HBO Max).

Before Junji Ito, another anime will start in a few days. The series revolves around Rick and Morty and could fulfill a big dream of Morty: Morty has longed for love for 7 seasons – in the new anime, his wish could finally be realized

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

A player tries to complete Baldur’s Gate 3 without being seen and accidentally discovers one of the most powerful builds

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 3 minutes

In Baldur’s Gate 3 there is a suitable playstyle for everyone. One player has now taken on the challenge of completing the game completely unseen. His build makes him ultra powerful – Here’s how to recreate it.

Who developed the build? The build comes from Bouch, a YouTuber with currently 58,500 subscribers. He plays almost exclusively Baldur’s Gate 3 and is behind challenges like Can you play Baldur’s Gate 3 completely as cheese or Can you succeed in Honour Mode while only wearing underwear.

What was the challenge? The player wanted to find out if he could complete the game completely without being seen. For this, he uses the stealth mechanic and completely focuses on being as unobtrusive and hidden as possible. These were the rules:

  • The player is considered discovered if a dialogue or cutscene is triggered in which the player character is directly addressed
  • If the status hidden is lost – regardless of whether due to being seen or the start of a fight
    • Exceptions are when a fight starts while the character is still hidden or invisible

This build can also immensely help you if you want to acquire the spear Nyrulna in Act 3 – as you have to steal it from a Djinn:

Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Entering Dinoland and Obtaining Nyrulna

Unseen through Baldur’s Gate 3 – Here’s how the powerful build works

What are the basic prerequisites? You need to choose the right race during character creation. These are your options:

  • Deep Gnome – Because of the advantage on stealth checks
  • Duergar – for the ability to become invisible starting from level 5
  • Halfling (Lightfoot) – Because of the advantage on stealth checks and the Lucky feature

Bouch chose the Halfling and gave him the background of street urchin, as this provides +5 to Stealth and Theft. As a class he chose Wizard. This class has direct access to the spells Minor Illusion and Enhance Leap. Starting from level 2, you will switch to Rogue.

In terms of point allocation, it’s important to note that for Enhance Leap to function fully, Strength must be raised to at least 15.

In summary: Take the Wizard at level 1 for the two spells. After that, acquire all skills, classes, and specializations that boost your stealth value and help you remain invisible for as long as possible.

How do you level up? Since you are not supposed to be seen, you miss out on a lot of experience points from conversations, direct fights, and the like. So the only option is to hide and attack enemies from the shadows. Ideally, you take them out with just one hit.

You can gather initial experience points, for example, by killing Shadowheart, Astarion, and the Mind Flayer near Astarion. More experience points are also available if you drop a rock on the mercenaries at the tomb.

Essentially, you have to rely on sneaky tactics throughout your entire run. Honor is not required here.

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What are other challenges? In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are some scenes that are automatically triggered as soon as you reach certain points in the game. For example, Lae’zel holds a blade to your throat right at the beginning.

Bouch has described many workarounds for this in his video. You can bypass Lae’zel, for example, by simply jumping through a wall with Enhance Leap, which normally cannot be jumped through. You can see how exactly to do this in his YouTube video at 1:25.

Are there NPCs that need to see you? Unfortunately, yes. Throughout his run, Bouch could not avoid six different conversation partners. One of them is Lazarus, who can accompany an NPC. You also cannot avoid the Dream Guardian.

What is your favorite build in Baldur’s Gate 3? Do you also support stealth builds like this one, or do you prefer pure Wizards, Clerics, or Barbarians, for example? For this run, a few truly game-breaking moves are necessary. The game even rewards you for this.

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

Pokémon GO brings strong World Championship event with 3 really good bonuses

Max Handwerk Max Handwerk Reading time 2 minutes

The Pokémon World Championships are coming soon. In line with this, there is an event in Pokémon GO with exciting bonuses.

When is the event? The Pokémon GO event for the World Cup starts on Friday, August 16 at 10:00 AM. It will run until Tuesday, August 20 at 8:00 PM.

This means the event will actually last two days longer than the actual World Cup, which ends on August 18.

While the best players in the world compete for the title in Honolulu, all other players can look forward to interesting bonuses in the event.

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

What’s in the Pokémon GO World Cup Event?

There are some bonuses you can secure during the event. Three of these bonuses are particularly noteworthy.

1. World Cup Pikachu and Shiny Lin-Fu appear: This year’s costume Pikachu is in a diving suit and can be found in field research or in level 1 raids. You can see what the monster looks like in the title image.

Additionally, Lin-Fu will obtain its shiny form, which you can also catch during the event. It will also be in level 1 raids and field research.

2. Special moves and Frustration: A special bonus is that you can unlearn the move “Frustration” during the event. This is usually only possible during Rocket events. It’s worth it, as you can teach useful moves to your strong Shadow Pokémon.

Additionally, there are the following event moves:

When catching:

  • Slurpuff knows Body Slam
  • Lin-Fu knows Tower Kick

If you develop the following Pokémon:

  • Morlord: Wet Tail
  • Altaria: Moonforce
  • Akkup: Volt Switch
  • Fiaro: Incinerate

They are all interesting monsters with good moves for the battle league. You can find tips for the battle league here.

3. Battle Week: Under the motto “Heavenly Teamwork,” a so-called “Battle Week” will take place during the same period – but it will only last 5 days.

However, it is still worth it because:

  • You will receive quadruple Stardust for wins in the battle league (only for single matches, not for finishing the battle sets)
  • You can complete 20 battle sets per day, so 100 battles
  • There will be a limited-time PvP research with rewards
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What else is in the event?

You will encounter the following Pokémon. Possible Shinies are marked with an asterisk.

Wild:

  • Menki*
  • Slurpuff*
  • Marill*
  • Paldea Felino*
  • Wablu*
  • Dartiri*
  • Rocara
  • Mabula*
  • Garstella*
  • Panzaeron*

Field Research:

  • Wablu*
  • Lin-Fu*
  • Garstella*
  • World Cup Pikachu*

Raids:

  • Level 1: World Cup Pikachu*, Lin-Fu*
  • Level 3: Slurpuff*, Galar Flunschlik*, Grebbit
  • Crypto 1: Crypto Magnetilo*, Crypto Dratini*, Crypto Felino, Crypto Skorgla*
  • Crypto 3: Crypto Woingenau, Crypto Kirlia, Crypto Zobiris*

There will also be a paid research available in the shop. And if you follow the World Cup streams on Twitch, you can receive a World Cup shirt for your avatars. This will then be available through a promo code. However, there is still some time until then, and more dates are coming up. You can find all dates in the overview of all Pokémon GO Events in August 2024.

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

Bungie is said to have cheated during the acquisition by Sony – was on the verge of insolvency

Christos Tsogos Christos Tsogos Reading time 2 minutes

At Bungie, the developers of Destiny 2, things are currently heating up and the further the discussion about the recently conducted layoffs goes, the more information comes to light about the company’s internal problems. Now, more former employees of Bungie have spoken up. And they have nothing good to announce.

What’s currently happening at Bungie?

And if that weren’t enough, there are now further opinions from former employees that paint an even worse picture of Bungie.

Will this future from the trailer still hold for Bungie?

Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer

Bungie has gambled high, must now pay the price

What information has come to light? The US news sites Game File and IGN have spoken with various former employees of Bungie. They now provide insights into the disastrous conditions at Bungie, even before the Sony acquisition took place.

According to a well-connected developer, Bungie was on the verge of insolvency had Sony not purchased the studio. When the studio was close to being sold, the management exaggerated the actual success and value of the company. Bungie sold itself for more than it was worth and promised profits that the studio could not deliver.

The harsh consequences are now the layoffs, as well as the spin-off and realignment of the studio. An anonymous insider, who wants to protect their career, says: “I think Sony paid too much for Bungie. I believe Bungie sold things they just couldn’t deliver.”

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The Final Shape was a success, wasn’t it?

Although the hype around Destiny 2 was huge at the release of “The Final Shape”, Bungie could not surpass the sales of Lightfall, which represents one of the worst expansions in Destiny 2.

According to insiders who spoke with Game File, the recent wave of layoffs had already been planned by management. No matter how successful “The Final Shape” might have been, Bungie would have had to part ways with many employees to survive.

This comes as a shock to many, as Destiny 2 recently presented its future plans – including Project: Frontiers. Many players suspected a reboot of the loot shooter or something very big, but as things have gone now, no one knows what the future of Destiny 2 looks like.

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

Helldivers 2 shows the all-powerful Joel in a video for the first time, and he really has superhuman powers

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 2 minutes

A bold team member from Helldivers 2 secretly films Joel as he fights against Over-Earth with a robot. Then the Game Master shows that he is really evil.

Who is Joel?

  • Joel’s full name is Joel Hakalax and he is a Swedish employee of the developer studio Arrowhead Game Studios.
  • In Helldivers 2, Joel works as a so-called Game Master (GM). These are employees who either create in-game events, help with problems, punish misconduct, or resolve disputes.
  • In Helldivers 2, Joel’s tasks primarily involve deciding which daily orders are active and where the enemies attack.

In the Helldivers 2 community, the name “Joel” is well known. Myths say he has superhuman powers. A newly posted video from Arrowhead shows: they are right.

In August, Helldivers will receive the largest update for the game so far. Here you can see the trailer for “Escalation of Freedom”:

Start video
Announcement for Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom shows extreme battles

Joel is evil and has a special power

What kind of video is this? Arrowhead posted a video on X.com that is supposed to show the Game Master Joel. They wrote about the video: “Did a brave member of our video team just manage to capture some rare footage of the elusive J.O.E.L?”

In the video, there is a person in a black hoodie sitting in front of several monitors. This person is supposed to be Joel. On the monitors, Helldivers 2 is running and we see that Joel is actually taking control of an enemy robot (a Hulk) and fights against a Helldiver. Additionally, there appears an option allowing Joel to fire a blue laser (Blue Beam) when he presses “Yes.”

Soon after, the cameraman had to cough, which made Joel discover him. Then the Game Master lets out an inhuman scream that sends the cameraman flying through the studio’s office. The video ends.

Here you can see the post on x.com including the video:

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Arrowhead shows Joel in a video on x.com

The video is clearly not meant to be serious, but definitely a funny way for the developer studio to engage with the community and utilize the saga of Joel. The players think so too.

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What does the community say about the video? Some players celebrate the video for being a fun way to interact with the community. Others react in typical Helldivers fashion:

  • “Little things like this make you appreciate the team behind this game. Stay strong, remain as you are, some of the other AAA studios can’t hold a candle to you. Thank you for your dedication.” (via X.com).
  • “Holy shit, that was funny! If I were the CEO of Arrowhead, I would definitely allocate development time for a tool that lets me take control of random enemies on the battlefield to troll players.” (via Reddit)
  • “I think it’s clear that Joel is not a person, but an entity.” (via Reddit)

However, some players also believe that the option to fire a blue laser shown in the video could be a reference to the Illuminated. This is an enemy faction from Helldivers 1. As early as March, part of the community thought the blue lasers in the sky were evidence of the new enemies’ appearance.

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

A law could prevent publishers from taking away your favorite games and progress – here’s how you can help

Jasmin Beverungen Jasmin Beverungen Reading time 2 minutes

That publishers shut down the servers of multiplayer games after a certain period is no longer uncommon. A petition across the EU now aims to combat this practice. It hopes to initiate a law that secures games from being permanently discontinued.

What is this petition? On the YouTube channel of Accursed Farms, Ross calls for mobilizing one million EU citizens. He has reportedly been working on a campaign for months to prevent the destruction of video games:

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Many games would stop support after some time, which would signify the end for the respective video game. Although the video game would have already been sold and the money taken, the customer would no longer have access to the product.

The petition he started therefore demands the following from the publisher:

  • The video game should be in a playable state once work on the game is stopped.
  • The video games should be designed in such a way that they can function independently of the publisher even after the end of support, without the need for a connection to the publisher or other parties.
  • The same should apply to games that include microtransactions.

This way, the publisher could comfortably stop support without annoying customers. He would still retain his intellectual property and would not even have to provide servers. Instead, he would need to find another way to make the game accessible or allow the creation of private servers.

Battlefield 2042 could potentially be affected at some point:

Start video
Battlefield 2042 reveals Season 7 in action-packed gameplay trailer

Petition could actually become law

Why could this become a law? The creator of the petition is confident that his proposal could become a law. Because as soon as 1 million signatures from EU citizens are collected, the EU must discuss the proposal as a potential draft law.

The following points would suggest that the proposal could indeed become law:

  • Politicians would not be interested in video games and would love easy gains.
  • The legal situation regarding this is currently unclear.
  • The initiative would correspond to consumer policy.
  • It would stand out from more serious topics.

However: For each EU country, a specific number of signatures must be reached; otherwise, the entire country will not count. Additionally, the petition has a time limit of one year.

If you are a citizen in the EU and have reached voting age, you can support the petition at the following link.

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Why does the petition exist at all? It often happens that publishers shut down the servers for certain games, rendering them unable to connect to the internet. This happened with Dragon Quest 7, for example, resulting in some DLC content becoming inaccessible.

Such a practice is also not uncommon with EA, as reported by our colleagues at GameStar. Last year, many multiplayer titles, such as FIFA, Battlefield, or Crysis 3, had their servers shut down.

Some players have managed to temporarily save an MMORPG. The community tried to donate money and subscribe to ensure the development team has enough resources to continue developing the title. However, the money donation unfortunately cannot prevent an ultimate end, which is why the petition would be a ray of hope: Steam: Players temporarily save an MMORPG that was about to be shut down: “Can retrieve team members”

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

Baldur’s Gate 3: 7 NPCs that would be a perfect choice for romances

Fabienne Kissel Fabienne Kissel Reading time 4 minutes

In Baldur’s Gate 3 there are already many romance options, but there are still many interesting NPCs with whom romance is not possible. We have listed 7 that we wish could be additional options for you. At the very bottom, you can vote for your favorites.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has captured the hearts of many players, and the romances have undoubtedly contributed to that. The game offers a variety of fascinating characters, many of whom we can also romance.

However, there are also some NPCs we secretly wish we could date, even though that is unfortunately not possible – but one can dream! We have listed 7 of them, based on our subjective opinion and their popularity with fans.

Spoiler: Here are spoilers about many different characters from Baldur’s Gate 3.

Start video
Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 show intimate love scene with a bear and get banned instantly

Dammon

BG3 Dammon

The tiefling blacksmith Dammon can bring a smile to almost anyone with his charming and helpful nature. We meet Dammon already in Act 1 in the Emerald Grove. He can appear in all three acts if you choose the good path and he survives until then. Dammon also plays an important role in the story of the tiefling companion Karlach.

His time as a blacksmith in the Hells has made him an outstanding craftsman. With his likable personality, he would certainly make a great partner.

Alfira

The purple-haired tiefling bard Alfira is one of the most lovable and popular NPCs in all of Baldur’s Gate 3, and she captivates almost everyone. She is one of the characters with whom you have some interactions if you play on the good side. She impresses with her warm-hearted personality and musical talent. Alfira even teaches you to play instruments if you help her with her song.

The idea of her writing songs about her relationship with someone is tempting. Perhaps one would even compose additional songs together with her? Although in reality, her heart belongs to Lakrissa and she ends up happily with her.

Lady Aylin and Isobel

BG3: Aylin and Isobel

Aylin is the daughter of the goddess Selûne and a central figure in Baldur’s Gate 3 who can be freed by players after a century of captivity. Isobel is her beloved, and the two are inseparable – a true dream couple. Probably no one would ever want to separate them, let alone be able to. Nevertheless, one might hope that they might leave room for a third person. A little dreaming is, after all, allowed.

Gortash

BG3 Gortash

Gortash could probably ensnare anyone with his charming and manipulative nature into a web of intrigues and power plays. A romantic dinner with him would likely end in a political conspiracy. Our sister site GamePro has reported that many fans wish to be intimate with Enver Gortash. He would certainly be an exciting romance option for a run as the Dark Desire.

One main reason why many find him so appealing is the voice actor Jason Isaacs. He is known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Rolan

Baldur's Gate 3 Rolan says no to Lorroakan

At first, Rolan wants to take his siblings away from the Emerald Grove to Baldur’s Gate, where he wants to become a magic apprentice. Despite his arrogant demeanor, his deep concern for his family later becomes apparent. If you delve into his story, a very different side of him comes to light that is truly likable.

In the end, he turns against his master and takes your side. In reality, he is a good soul, even if it doesn’t come across that way at first. No wonder some players on reddit wish to romance him.

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Orin

Orin Baldur's Gate 3

If you take the evil path, alongside Minthara, some might certainly envision a romance with Orin. Her entire character design is truly impressive: it successfully combines coolness and grotesqueness. You would likely have to resort to murder and bloodshed, which would be okay for some anyway.

Now it’s your turn: Who would you like to date?

Here’s how to participate: You can vote in the following survey. We have compiled 29 of the most popular NPCs from Baldur’s Gate 3 for you.

Since the selection is so large, you have a total of three votes. If your favorite NPC is not included, you can indicate that with the “Other” field. Let us know in the comments which NPC you missed in the survey.

Which characters have captivated you so much that you would love to romance them? We are curious to see which NPCs are your personal favorites. Did you already know? There are many hidden secrets in Baldur’s Gate 3. Do you already know these ten Easter eggs?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Screen Rant
  2. The Gamer
  3. Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki

Destiny 2: The best people have been working on new Destiny for years – project is canceled, they will be fired

Schuhmann Schuhmann Reading time 4 minutes

As announced by well-connected insiders, Bungie has fired the leadership duo responsible for the best moments in the original Destiny: Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy. The two had not worked on Destiny 2 in recent years, but on Destiny Payback, a spin-off to Destiny. However, the project has been canceled.

Why are the two so important? Designer Luke Smith was primarily responsible for the best moments in Destiny 1, and his producer Mark Noseworthy had been his work partner since 2015:

  • Smith managed to save the story of Destiny 1 to some extent, after the original author had left. Above all, he designed the great raid “The Vault of Glass” and contributed his experience as an avid WoW player.
  • Smith delivered his masterpiece in 2015 with the expansion “The Taken King” – this is generally seen as the best time in Destiny overall. He worked on the expansion while players were just getting into Vanilla Destiny 1.
  • In 2017, he had to step in again and save Destiny 2 after a 2nd reboot shortly before release was necessary. This time he did not succeed in the rescue. However, Smith was a key figure in the years that followed, until the reorientation of Destiny 2 in 2019 without Activision.
Start video
Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer

The A-Team disappeared since 2019, working on a new game in the Destiny universe

What have they been doing for the past years? As revealed by insider Jeff Grubb, the two have been working on Destiny: Payback for several years. It was supposed to be the next big thing in the Destiny universe, but not Destiny 3. Destiny 3 was never in development.

As insider Jason Schreier knows, Payback was a spin-off to Destiny, on which only “very light work” had been done so far.

Smith and Noseworthy have hardly been seen since mid-2019, and it’s suspected that they have been working on a new game since around that time – perhaps even since 2017. Parsons had once confirmed that Bungie has been working on new games since 2017.

d2-smith-noseworthy-
Designer Luke Smith and producer Mark Noseworthy have been a team since The Taken King.

No more room in the leadership team without their game

Why did they have to go? As Payback was canceled and the management was restructured, there was no more room for Smith and Noseworthy, it is said (via GameSpot).

Noseworthy and Smith were allegedly fired as part of the layoffs announced by Pete Parsons. They were apparently included when it came to the point that many in Bungie’s leadership had to leave.

When exactly Payback was canceled – whether only now with the official announcement or even “some time ago” is still unclear at this point.

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Destiny has been directionless without Smith for years

What makes it all so strange? Luke Smith was for years, from 2014 to 2019, “the face” of Destiny. In 2019, he, along with Noseworthy, announced a major departure into a time without Activision and painted a rosy future.

However, he did not actively participate in that future anymore, but disappeared.

What he did after the big show in 2019 remained largely in the dark. A “new leadership” was supposed to take over, but Joe Blackburn, who had been brought back from The Elder Scrolls Online for this, left the studio in 2024.

Since then, Destiny has appeared directionless.

One of the reasons for the decline of Destiny in the last 5 years

What lies behind this:  Bungie is pulling the best team they have from Destiny 2 to work on a new game. Just that is already a decision that can be sharply criticized.

But what comes of it?

  • After 5 years, they then fire the leadership duo because Destiny 2 has been performing poorly – without them.
  • And the work on the new project was also in vain.

In the 5 to 7 years that Smith and Noseworthy have been working on this ominous “Destiny Payback”, they could have led two expansions for Destiny 2, perhaps saving us from something like Lightfall and Shadowkeep, and Destiny 2 would now be in a better state.

Based on the information we currently have, it was in any case a fatal misjudgment of the situation that Destiny is so stable that Bungie can afford to pull the best people off and focus on new projects. Ultimately, Parsons himself admits this in his statement:

For over five years, our goal has been to develop games in three enduring global franchises. To achieve this goal, we have initiated several incubation projects, each staffed with senior developers from our existing teams. We ultimately realized that this model thinned our talent pool too much. It also forced us to scale our studio support structures to a larger level than we could realistically support, given our two main products in development – Destiny and Marathon.

The “senior developers from existing teams” were apparently Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy.

The “thinned-out talents” were apparently the Destiny 2 team without them.

Even if Luke Smith is a red flag for many fans because he is associated with unpopular decisions like sunsetting and controversial statements, he was actually the jewel of Destiny and the developer team with his MMO expertise and clear statements, at least as it was communicated outwardly. One of his “worst moments” actually occurred during his best work: Destiny: Game Director defends price for expansion, makes everything even worse

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

Olympics: The internet loves an ultra-cool athlete who could also star in John Wick

Lydia Lydia Reading time 2 minutes

Currently, recordings of the South Korean Olympic athlete Kim Ye-ji are circulating on X, formerly Twitter. Users are thrilled by the stylish shooter, who could well have sprung from an action movie or video game.

Who is it about? Kim Ye-ji is a South Korean sports shooter currently participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. On July 28, she won a silver medal in the “Women’s 10m Air Pistol” category. She holds a world record at 25 m – and possibly also in terms of coolness.

Many users on social media are currently raving about the 31-year-old.

“Main Character Energy” has also been noted by Rebecca Ford, the head of Warframe:

Start video
From Intern to CEO of Warframe: “I said it might be a problem to be a woman”

Compared to this, John Wick looks lame

What’s behind the hype? Users of social networks are excited about the athlete’s posture, movements, and facial expressions. A video showing her at the ISSF World Cup 2024 has been viewed over 36 million times. You can watch it here:

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Under this and numerous other similar posts, users compare Kim Ye-ji to a main character in a film or video game.

  • “Why do I feel like I’ve seen an anime scene?” (via X)
  • “Her aura is DEADLY” (via X)
  • “The most ‘Main Character Energy’ I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” (via X)

Even Elon Musk is impressed: “She should be cast in an action movie. No acting needed!” (via X)

Some even joke that they wouldn’t mind being targeted by a shooter like her. Others see the athlete as a playable heroine in a shooter like Valorant (via X) or as the protagonist in the next Final Fantasy (via X).

Another viral post is already predicting that Kim Ye-ji will be contacted by the legendary Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima, who is known for making celebrities into video game characters.

https://twitter.com/airbagged/status/1818274138357948828

That the athlete is not only cool but also has a sensitive side is shown in recordings from the Olympics: Because there, she apparently carries a stuffed animal from her daughter with her while winning silver at the shooting range:

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For many new fans of Kim Ye-ji, these images are likely bittersweet, as the athlete has received several marriage proposals on X, formerly Twitter, in recent days. Others, however, find her even cooler: Attractive, cool, and a loving mother – that’s probably just the complete package.

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While the athletic world of athletes and the nerdy world of gaming and anime fans once seemed to be very far apart, these topics have become an integral part of pop culture, and there appear to be more and more touchpoints: A professional athlete loves GTA so much that he immortalized his favorite cheat

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Source(s):
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CEO of Helldivers 2 asks the community for ideas because players can’t get rid of their “digital gold”

Dariusz Müller Dariusz Müller Reading time 3 minutes

The CEO of Helldivers 2 says that players are sitting on mountains of digital gold and is asking the community for ideas on how to spend it.

The developers of Helldivers 2 continue to work on the popular co-op shooter. The largest update so far will be released in August. Until its release, players had enough time to amass mountains of “digital gold”. This is now a bit of a problem.

Shams Jorjani, who has been the CEO of the studio behind Helldivers 2 since May 2024, has therefore reached out to the community in a Reddit post and asked them for ideas:

Many of us (let’s be honest: you) have hit the limit and are sitting on mountains of digital gold and would like to use this gold patriotically to advance the war effort (i.e., more entertaining ways of progression). So I’m here to hear your best ideas.

Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead, via Reddit

While Jorjani also writes in the post that the studio has its own ideas, they would like to hear players’ ideas as well – although, according to him, there is no guarantee that any of these ideas will actually be implemented.

So much digital gold, but no way to spend it

What is the problem with digital gold? Unlike in games like World of Warcraft or The First Descendant, the “digital gold” in Helldivers 2 is not a collectible resource called “gold”. In Helldivers, there are samples of various rarity levels and medals that you receive for completing a general command. Additionally, there is the currency used to unlock new tactical equipment, which is always at its upper limit.

However, one thing that is missing in Helldivers 2 is sufficient opportunities to spend the hard-earned digital “gold”. You can spend your medals in war bonds – the new war bond “Flame of Freedom” is also coming in August. You use your samples to upgrade your spaceship, which affects the use of your tactical equipment. Currently, there are no other progression systems.

If you fully upgrade your spaceship and have purchased all the contents of the war bonds, you can neither spend your samples nor your medals. And there is no other currency or resource that you can farm and use meaningfully. Then there is no visible way to progress.

Start video
Announcement for Helldivers 2: Escalation of Freedom shows extreme battles

Are there conditions for the ideas? “Send us fun ideas on how to use resources (existing or new) for long-term progression in a way that still aligns with the overall design of the game,” Jorjani writes on Reddit.

This means that new resources can indeed be invented for players to farm and use somehow in the game. Overall, the goal is to create a long-term functioning and fun progression system.

Jorjani himself jokingly suggests – more or less – to stretch Johan Pilestedt, the former CEO of Arrowhead, over a water tank, and when a certain target is reached, he will be thrown in. Alternatively, they could also do actions like donating to “Save the Children” again.

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Have players already suggested good ideas? Certainly. One user suggests that there could be a kind of donation account with a goal for all players. Each player could then contribute a certain amount of a resource, and if the goal is reached, for example, the defensive measures on a planet could be strengthened. On this planet, enemy attacks would then be weaker.

Another suggestion is to bring weapon or equipment modifications. Some players thought of purely cosmetic items, while others suggested attachments and upgrades for weapons or armor.

One player also suggested being able to convert the various resources. For example, if a player reaches the medal limit and has no way to spend them, he could convert his medals into samples and use them for ship upgrades.

If you haven’t unlocked everything in Helldivers 2 yet, you should use your collected medals to acquire new weapons in the war bonds. Which weapons are particularly worth it, you can see in our ranking: Helldivers 2: Tier List of the best weapons and grenades for every mission

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

For a gag in Malcolm in the Middle, the father almost risked his life

Niko Hernes Niko Hernes Reading time 2 minutes

Malcolm in the Middle seems, compared to other sitcoms, to be truly out of control, especially at the time. Incredible things happened that only just scratched the surface of reality. Hal was involved in most of them. However, for one gag, Bryan Cranston put himself in danger.

What is Malcolm in the Middle? From 2000 to 2006, Malcolm in the Middle told the story of Malcolm and his family. At first glance, it seems like a classic sitcom, but Malcolm in the Middle was distinctly cheekier and more anarchic.

This was not only due to the boys but also to the family’s father Hal, portrayed by Bryan Cranston. Regularly, Hal experienced the most curious stories of the entire series. However, for a gag, he went a bit too far and risked his health.

More series like Malcolm in the Middle can be found here: 5 series like A Very Brady Sequel

Start video
English trailer for Season 1 of Malcolm in the Middle

Dangerously Painted

Which episode is it about? In episode 14 of season 2, Hal is confronted with his miserable job. It goes so far that he has himself excused for allegedly being sick. In his free time, he finally wants to paint a picture he has had in his mind for years. To give the picture the final artistic touch, he completely envelops himself in paint.

However, that was not a good idea, as it can have serious consequences for one’s health, as he revealed during the Graham Norton Show during the release of the movie Argylle.

I was completely wrapped in blue paint. Completely, from head to toe. That’s how the Goldfinger woman died. It’s not safe because your body can no longer regulate heat as all your pores are covered.

At one point during the shoot, his body is said to have slowly shut down. He was then quickly packed up and taken to the shower.

By the way, the thing about the Goldfinger woman is just a myth, as Entertainment Weekly explains. Shirley Eaton, the actress of the said woman, is still alive.

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That was not the only thing Cranston had to endure. He recounts how the show’s writers tried to find something that Cranston would not do in Malcolm in the Middle. As an example, he mentions the moment when his entire body was covered in bees. This happened in season 1, episode 14.

Even today, Malcolm in the Middle is a fascinating series that completely turned the family sitcom genre upside down. The family in the series is as far from a perfect family as possible, yet familial themes and togetherness are well depicted. Behind the scenes, however, not everything was great for Frankie Muniz: Malcolm did not appear in 2 episodes because he walked off the set in protest

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Collider
  2. Entertainment Weekly
  3. The Graham Norton Show
  4. IMDb

Between the winners there were no 30 seconds – Teams in Final Fantasy XIV conquer the new hard content

Sophia Weiss Sophia Weiss Reading time 2 minutes

On July 30, 2024, Square Enix released the new hard endgame raid for Final Fantasy XIV. Within 24 hours, the top players cracked the World First. The difference between 1st and 2nd place was only 21 seconds.

What content is it about? The latest World First refers to the recently released raid series Arkadion – Heavyweight (epic). This is the latest hard content in Final Fantasy XIV. A complete clear is when all four fights contained in the raid are completed within a week.

The Arkadion is an 8-man raid. The easy version is usually released first, followed by the hard non-nerfed version one to two weeks later. Everything about unlocking and the prerequisites can be found in our endgame guide.

With the new epic raid, Final Fantasy XIV has fresh endgame group content. The only harder challenges are the so-called Ultimates. Accordingly, the community competes for the World First with each release, which this time was really very close.

Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural

Grind is worth it – Victory with just a few seconds to spare

Who achieved the World First? The development team at Square Enix has yet to confirm the World First clear, but the Twitch channel MogTalk has collected the times. According to them, the top three spots are as follows in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time):

  • 3rd place: Team Lucrezia (via X.com) on July 30, 2024, at 19:17
  • 2nd place: Team Serenity on July 30, 2024, at 18:59
  • 1st place: Team GRIND on July 30, 2024, at 18:59

According to the minute details, there is no difference between 1st and 2nd place – the victories were that close together. You can also watch the victory of GRIND on YouTube.

How were 1st and 2nd place determined? To accurately determine which of the two teams was really faster, the in-game time of the game world was considered. One in-game minute is about 3 seconds long.

In a Twitch stream, MogTalk announced that GRIND finished the raid series with an in-game time of 3:14. Serenity concluded their fight at 3:21. The 7 in-game minute time difference results in a time difference of about 21 seconds between the completions.

Team GRIND from Japan narrowly won just ahead of their North American rivals from Team Serenity.

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How does MogTalk get the information? MogTalk collects information internationally via a Google Docs. Anyone who wants to participate in the World First race can report their progress through it.

The clears don’t necessarily have to be streamed. However, MogTalk requires at least proof screenshots or videos with the fully displayed UI. This also allowed reading the in-game time necessary for the accurate identification of the winner.

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Specifically, MogTalk has been collecting clear information from raid groups for some time: one of the first was the Heavensward raid Alexander from patch 3.4.

This allows tracking part of the progress of current winners. For example, Team GRIND managed to place 3rd in the second to last hard raid Pandaemonium Anabaseios and snagged 5th place in the battle for the latest Ultimate.

In fact, the easy version of the new raid already excited players both in terms of content, design, and soundtrack. However, with the hard raid, there were a whole lot of buffs for many jobs: A new class in Final Fantasy 14 is so overpowered that developers now need to buff other jobs

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

WoW changes the pre-event, immediately meets all fan wishes

Cortyn Cortyn Reading time 2 minutes

Almost two days was the pre-event of World of Warcraft. Now Blizzard is making a lot of changes to ensure you finish quickly.

No matter how you turn it, the event “Radiant Echoes” was not well received by many players of World of Warcraft. The long wait times are frustrating, and some are overwhelmed by the amount of necessary resources, even if it’s not as much in reality as it seems. The frustration is simply huge.

But Blizzard is taking the feedback to heart – and is bringing massive improvements that accelerate everything. The changes are live from now on.

Start video
WoW: Pre-Patch 11.0 – Trailer for the new pre-event of The War Within

What was the problem with the event? Blizzard set up the event to take place over 10 minutes, followed by a waiting time of almost 80 minutes. Those who are not there right on time miss the event and can only grind mobs afterwards.

At the same time, everyone is a bit angry who only has little time during the day, like one or two hours in the evening. If you’re unlucky, you can at most participate in the event once during that time and then you’re out of luck.

What is Blizzard improving? The changes are massive and extensive. All adjustments are:

  • The event now changes hourly (instead of every 90 minutes).
  • While the event is active for an hour, it repeats infinitely. The objectives appear repeatedly until the hour is up and the next event begins.
  • Minor objectives now give more currency (200 instead of 100) and the boss drops a hefty 1,400 (instead of 500).
  • The quests are now daily and grant 3,000 currency (instead of 1,500), but they count for the entire account.
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The 16 MMORPGs with the most players according to official numbers from the developers
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What does that mean? In plain language, this means that you can now farm the rewards at an extremely fast pace – basically without pause. If you want, you can just continuously complete events, getting showered with gear and memory fragments.

So take 2-3 hours next weekend and farm the events during that time. You should be able to unlock all rewards quite easily. If you want, you can also wonderfully level twinks at the event – because with the permanent mini-tasks, you’ll get nearly unlimited experience points.

What do you think of these changes? Good and meaningful innovations for the event? Or do you think Blizzard has given in too much and that the content will be boring after a day, making the wait until the release of The War Within too long?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. us.forums.blizzard.com/en/

“I loved them from the first second” – Players in The First Descendant are thrilled that their favorite weapon is finally strong

David U. David U. Reading time 2 minutes

The First Descendant makes a weapon stronger with the latest update, making it finally usable – which pleases some players.

Which weapon is it? The ultimate weapon “Greg’s Reversed Fate.” This is a tactical rifle that has been in the game since release. The special property of the rifle allows bombs to fall on hit enemies at a certain rate.

With hotfix 1.0.5, “Greg’s Reversed Fate” now received a buff, significantly strengthening the weapon. Before the patch, the rifle was considered too weak to compete with the other ultimate weapons.

Feel free to check out the new hero Luna in a short trailer.

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

Why is the weapon stronger now? The bombardment effect of “Greg’s Reversed Fate” is now triggered by enemies without (full) shields since the update. This significantly increases the perk’s activation rate compared to before the update, even though the trigger rate was reduced from 40% to 20%.

Additionally, a new option was introduced that allows semi-automatic weapons to be fired automatically. If you enable the option in the settings, you can simply hold down the fire button to shoot automatically with semi-automatic weapons as well.

You can find the option to change the firing mode here:
Menu -> Settings -> Gameplay -> Change Firing Mode -> On

The combination of automatic shooting and the fact that the rifle’s ability is now triggered by shield-less enemies allows you to deal enormous damage with the weapon, providing an effective means against mobs.

Fans are excited about the weapon update

What do the players say about the weapon boost? Players are happy that the weapon is now enjoyable to play and finally feels like an ultimate weapon:

  • “Once upon a time there was a great game [named] Outriders, which had mods with such abilities and they were so OP. If this weapon can keep up, it will be a mob-killing beast.” (via reddit)
  • “I’m so relieved, I have loved this weapon from the first moment I picked it up. But the fire rate was always too slow […]. This update was a big win for Greg’s Reversed Fate” (via reddit)
  • “The weapon is now a real exotic and I have to use it.” (via reddit)
    [Note from the editor: Ultimate weapons are called exotics in Destiny]
  • “Greg’s Reverse Fate is melting now” (via reddit)

Of course, there are also some players who are not yet convinced of the new damage output of the rifle. However, since the ultimate perk is now activated significantly more often, there is at least hope that the weapon could now be useful in some builds.

Patch notes 1.0.5 also brought many other adjustments. To be perfectly prepared for action, the update brings you a new heroine, an ultimate weapon, and tons of adjustments: The First Descendant: Patch Notes 1.0.5 – Update brings new class, Ultimate-Valby, and buffs

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