Star Wars is one of the greatest franchises in film history. Many characters and moments have burned themselves into the memory of the fans. Most of this is probably due to Darth Vader, but George Lucas describes him as a tragic figure.
What did Lucas say about Darth Vader? In an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, Lucas spoke in 2005, nearly 30 years after the release of Episode 4, about Darth Vader. This was during the context of Episode 3, marking the end of the trilogy that showed us how Darth Vader came to be.
First, he describes the difficulty of making Darth Vader scary without showing his face. Despite his appearance, Lucas states that what makes him frightening is not just the exterior, but the horrific deeds he commits.
The first time Darth Vader could be seen was in 1977:
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Star Wars Episode IV – Trailer for the download version
“Vader had a really sad life”
Lucas ironically describes Vader as a pathetic guy who had a really sad life. Vader is, in essence, like all of us, a person who just has some complexes.
The special thing about Vader back then was that in the first film, no one knew what his backstory was. He appeared like an emotionless robot, especially with his slow movements and iconic breathing. Only with the subsequent films was his character developed.
In the first film, people didn’t even know if there was actually a person. […] They thought he was a monster or some kind of robot. In the second film, it’s revealed that he is a human, and in the third film, we learn that he is actually a father.
In the interview, Lucas talks about how despite Vader’s presence, he is not the great ruler of the universe; he is under the Emperor. Interestingly, he also mentions that Darth Vader would have had a chance in the fight if Obi-Wan hadn’t cut off his limbs.
George Lucas also explained in the interview why so many people like villains. He says that people like them because they are powerful and do not care about rules. A film aimed at young people should show what happens when one behaves this way. Therefore, compassion should be shown. George Lucas invented Star Wars, but he does not think much of the expanded universe: George Lucas never brought one of the best characters from Star Wars to the cinema
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new star on the smartphone horizon fights its way through the giants: Get the alternative to Xiaomi and Samsung at a top price on Amazon now.
It is repeatedly shown that strong quality cannot be measured by an extremely high price. The Realme GT6 smartphone is extraordinarily powerful and does not have to hide behind high-end phones costing over €1000. It not only has a monstrous battery but also surpasses in many ways the price-performance ratio compared to other phones on the market.
Finally, the GT 6 from Realme is on the market and stands out as a new leader in the smartphone sector. Equipped with a powerful Snapdragon chip, an impressive camera, an ultra-bright display, and a battery that outshines most other phones, it sets new technology standards.
Smartphone competition with phenomenal components
The Realme GT 6 is powered by the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which ranks among the top chips on the market and effortlessly handles any game or app. With an impressive Antutu score of over 1,650,000 points, the GT 6 sets new standards in its class.
Thanks to the impressive specifications of up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage with the Realme GT 6, you are not just well equipped but outstandingly equipped. This makes the phone particularly future-proof and ready for all demands.
Remarkable features – 120Hz AMOLED and 512GB storage
With the Sony LYT-808 OIS camera and a large 1/1.4” sensor, outstanding snapshots are possible, even in low light conditions.
Take dream holiday photos and never forget the wonderful memories you capture with your friends, partner, or family. The quality is so unbelievably good that this smartphone truly stands out among the high-end giants.
Mid-range competes steadfastly against high-end
A monstrous battery
The battery of the Realme GT 6 with 5500mAh is significantly larger than that of the competition. With the 120W SUPERVOOC charging function, the phone can be charged to 50% in just 10 minutes. This legendary charging speed is achieved by using gallium nitride technology, providing efficient heat dissipation and excellent charging performance.
The highlight is the display
An ultra-brightness of up to 6000 Nits speaks for itself and makes this the world’s brightest display phone. Moreover, the grand performance is further enhanced by a refresh rate of 120Hz and a size of 6.78 inches. A 10-bit color depth additionally ensures immense quality. Recognize crystal clear the most beautiful video recordings of your holiday or follow your favorite content creators like never before.
Are you always on the hunt for fantastic offers? Then take a look at our Deals page. You will not only find strong components like SSDs with a lot of storage and graphics cards. Occasionally, there are also huge TVs with great technologies or merchandise from various games, series, or movies.
Links marked with a shopping cart are so-called affiliate links. When purchasing through these links, we receive a small commission depending on the provider – without affecting the price.More info.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can still overlook quite a bit even after the 10th playthrough. The community reveals what they found only late.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pretty big game, where you can spend well over 100 hours before finishing the first playthrough. However, how much time you actually need also depends on how thoroughly you explore the world, how many side quests you undertake, or what decisions you make.
However, some content is really well hidden and escapes players even during repeated forays through the game world. The community reveals which content they found only after many hundreds of hours.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
What was said? In the post “Things You Missed That Make You Facepalm Yourself” in the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, LateManager4706 reports that he only found the hidden stash of the Zhentarim in Act 1 after 7 complete playthroughs. Previously, he had always just walked past the barn that conceals the entrance.
This revelation led many other players to share and – sometimes a bit embarrassed – confess which content they missed every time and in some cases only found by reading guides.
What have other players revealed? Some of the most interesting revelations are:
“Three playthroughs and I have never found the spell to summon a shovel.” – TroppyPop
The shovel is a quasit that you can get as a permanent companion in the game. For that, you need to go under the alchemy hut in the destroyed village in Act 1 and loot the scroll from one of the coffins. However, you should not just use the scroll, but instead have Gale “learn” it permanently – then you get the quasit Shovel, who likes to chatter a bit.
“My friend somehow missed Lae’zel in the first playthrough. He even went out of his way to look for her. I am still completely shocked how that can happen.” – SeamusMcCullagh
Almost all companions can be found relatively easily in Act 1 if you uncover the whole map. But especially Lae’zel and Astarion can be completely overlooked if you skip small areas. This means that you’ll never meet these companions – and thus miss out on a lot of content.
“I missed the entire mountain pass in my first playthrough. I went through the Underdark first and then entered Act 2. Then I found the mountain pass entrance, but since the game warns you that going back could have consequences, I decided to finish “most” of Act 2 first. I didn’t know there was a point of no return in Act 2.” – TheTimorie
The mountain pass and the monastery are an entire area. The game presents this as an “either/or” option – but you can go both paths at the same time. In the mountain pass, there isn’t just the strong weapon “Blood of Lathander”, but also a lot of story regarding Lae’zel and maybe even a chance to remove the larva from your head…
“You can free the fairy in the moon lantern and get a buff for it…” -LadyDulcinea
You need the moon lantern to navigate through the areas of the Shadow Curse in Act 2. The problem: The lamp constantly complains because the trapped fairy inside is not happy with her captivity. However, you can free the fairy. Then she keeps quiet and gives the whole group a buff, allowing them to walk around without the lantern – which is much more pleasant since you can have both hands free again.
Are there any contents that you only found on subsequent playthroughs and that you always overlooked? Is there perhaps something from the article that you didn’t know? Or were you so meticulous in your search that you found everything in the first playthrough? The makers of Baldur’s Gate 3 are already working on a new game, by the way.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many players can only laugh wearily about the once worst enemy in Diablo 4. But in Season 5, the Butcher will surprise you in the new endgame activity – and he looks even more terrifying.
Which enemy are we talking about? The Butcher is a boss who can surprise you randomly in any dungeon. You will notice this at the latest by the pounding footsteps and the exclamation “Ah, Fresh Meat!” when he comes running at you.
Especially new players feared the Butcher, who makes life difficult for them in the dungeons of Sanctuary. However, others could only laugh wearily about the once so deadly enemy and called for a buff. However, one should be cautious with such wishes, as is well known.
However, a new version of the 28-year-old boss has appeared on the PTR (public test server) for Season 5: the “Burning Butcher” – a “burning” variant of the Butcher. The Diablo expert wudijo encountered him in a new endgame activity. Spoiler: It did not end well.
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Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
The “Burning” Butcher Means Business
From June 25 to July 2, the PTR for Season 5 in Diablo 4 ran. During this time, numerous players tested the new content. The Diablo expert wudijo ventured into the “Infernal Hordes” – the new endgame activity, where players fight against hordes of monsters.
His huntress was surprised at level 100 by the “Burning Butcher” and was dead within seconds. The frustrating thing is: wudijo plays Hardcore, so the death of his huntress is permanent.
He transferred his character from Season 4 to the PTR, as it had been well-equipped. With that build, he wanted to test the new endgame content. However, an attack that cost his huntress her life had not been displayed. He lost his character to the Butcher.
What kind of rework does the Butcher get? After a few seconds, you can hear in wudijo’s YouTube video the Butcher’s “Fresh Meat!” cry. However, the “Burning Butcher” appears on the scene here. He looks even more terrifying because: He has more horns on his head and cracks on his back that resemble glowing lava.
At second 11, you can see the Butcher briefly on screen:
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How dangerous is the “new” Butcher? In the video, wudijo fights opponents at level 200, including the “Burning Butcher”. One of his attacks one-shots the Diablo expert’s huntress, and since she was apparently “invisible”, he could not dodge. How dangerous the Butcher’s variant that surprises you in the Infernal Hordes really is, will be revealed starting August 6 in Season 5.
The Diablo content creator “Rizarjay” also encountered the burning Butcher. However, it was the other way around here: The player killed the Butcher within seconds. He argued in the comments of the YouTube video that the Butcher, like his Barbarian, was level 100 and that his character was well-equipped.
Some laugh at the Butcher, while others fear the overpowering enemy. In Season 4, he was only laughed off wearily by many players, but one of them had to experience firsthand that one should not underestimate the Butcher. The toughest enemy in Diablo 4 became a laughingstock – now he is taking bitter revenge. And this is particularly frustrating when you realize this at level 99.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Steam, a new game has been announced that is inspired by a popular toy from the 90s. This concept is already quite well received on Kickstarter.
What game are we talking about? Tiny Garden is a game from the Spanish indie developer studio Ao Norte. The concept of the game is inspired by a popular children’s toy that could especially excite children of the 90s.
The developers are currently raising funds through Kickstarter to secure future financing for the project.
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Tiny Garden convinces with a simple concept
The concept of Tiny Garden seems to be simple. Within a small plastic toy, which is clearly inspired by Polly Pocket from the 90s, you take care of your own little garden, plant various things, and then sell your harvest.
The “plastic look” fits the nostalgic concept
With the proceeds, you can buy new furniture with which you can then decorate the rooms in the upper part of the toy according to your ideas. Everything is graphically designed in a colorful and cute style, which somehow fits the whole concept. Above all, everything has that “plastic look”, which gives you the feeling that you are actually playing with an old toy from your childhood.
The game is supposed to be released on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. However, there is not yet a specific release date.
How is it being received? Currently, the project is still raising funds on Kickstarter for further financing. And on Kickstarter, the cute farming game seems to be quite well received.
The developers have set an initial goal of €5,000. Thanks to now 1,081 supporters, they have already raised over €22,000 (as of July 10, 2024, 2:00 PM). Thus, the indie studio has already achieved 400% of its goal.
The final boss of Elden Ring is a tough guy. His attacks are unfair, and with standard builds, the fight is very difficult. A player has now introduced a build that makes the fight so easy that you can even humiliate the boss.
What kind of build is this? A player on Reddit sat down and assembled a powerful build that is supposed to help you in the fight against the final boss of the “Elden Ring” DLC. The build relies on the weapon “Great Stars” and the Ash of War: Wild Strikes. Combined with heavy armor and many consumables, you will become a tank that cannot die.
Radahn is a nimble guy in the DLC, and many players try to dodge his attacks, but sometimes the best defense is a good offense. With this build, you don’t even have to dodge. You can take every hit without being knocked down and even regenerate your HP while doing so. If you’re interested in this build, we will now show you all the details and what you need for it.
Start video
Elden Ring: All weapons and spells from the echoes of the DLC bosses
Swing your way to victory – Here’s what you need
What do you need for the build? To build the build, you will need the following weapons, armor, and items:
Armor:
Greenbriar Set
Weapons:
Great Stars +25 with the Ash of War: Wild Strikes
A dagger with the Ash of War: Persistence
A shield with the Ash of War: Sacred Ground
Talisman 1: Dragon Greatshield Talisman
Talisman 2: Pearl Dragon Talisman +3
Talisman 3: Cloth of the God-Slayer
Talisman 4: Decaying Winged Sword Insignia
Consumables:
Rune Arc to activate Malenia’s Rune
Starry Splitter to regenerate FP
Flask of Wondrous Physick with Opalescent Hardened Tear and Cracked Crimson Tear
Iron Vessel Aromatic
Buffs:
Golden Oath
Bestial Vitality
How to level up (Vagabond at level 150)
Strength: 45
Mind: 20
Endurance: 30
Power: 80
Dexterity: 13
Wisdom: 9
Faith: 25
Arcane Power: 7
With a strong Blood Build, Radahn can also be easily defeated:
How does the build work? Once you have entered the fight, use the following rotation:
Buff yourself with Golden Oath and Bestial Vitality
Activate your Ash of War on your shield
Activate your Ash of War on your dagger
Consume the Starry Splitter, your Iron Vessel Aromatic, and the Physick
Now stand on the Sacred Ground and use the Ash of War of your Great Hammer to pound on Radahn. With the hammer’s bleeding effect, Radahn should quickly transition into the second phase. Now use your shield and dagger again and refresh your Iron Vessel Aromatic if necessary.
Now repeat the process and keep using the Ash of War: Wild Strikes on Radahn. If the strikes don’t kill him, the bleeding will do the job. How did you find the build? Have you been able to defeat Radahn yet? Let us know in the comments! Elden Ring: How to easily defeat Messmer and get his rewards
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Last Epoch has lost almost all of its players since its launch at the end of February. However, with a new update, the game is making a comeback.
What is the status of Last Epoch? The Diablo 4 competitor has lost almost all of its players since its release. Only about 4,000 players remained loyal to the game recently. However, the ARPG managed to achieve a surprising success overnight.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new update:
Start video
With patch 1.1, Last Epoch brings new bosses, factions, and more
New Update Creates Hype
Why are players returning? On July 9, Update 1.1 was released for Last Epoch. The update includes a lot of new content and a new season that allows for a fresh start in the game. 70,000 players experienced the start of the new season on Steam.
The update “Harbingers of Ruin” introduces a dodge ability for all classes, aimed at increasing mobility. In addition to the new ability, the update also includes many balance changes to classes as well as to enemies in the game.
A new system called Nemesis is also now in the game. You will encounter random encounters in the campaign, in the Monolith, and in dungeons.
Nemesis can also drop weapons that target the characters that killed them. The defenses of the bosses have also been revised to make it clearer how much damage a boss takes.
How are players finding the new update? Players are finding the new update to be good. The content brought by the new update comes from player feedback and seems to resonate for that reason (via PCGamesN).
On Reddit, Greaterdivinity writes: “I played a bit this morning and at noon, and it was nice and smooth. No queues, no DCs, no lag or jank. Admittedly, there isn’t a massive influx of players this time, but great job to EHG for the big improvements between 1.0 and 1.1 launch!”
Toadsted still criticizes on Reddit: “The game still doesn’t emit a sound or flash the chat window when receiving a private message. It’s really tiring when messages from friends get lost in global chat or during gameplay.”
LightDarkCloud shares on Reddit why he likes the game: “It’s really a great game, not as dumb as D4 and not as PHD-level complex as POE. The combat could be a bit smoother and the endgame could use more content, but people seem to forget that we’re at 1.1, and considering how early it is in the game’s lifespan, this is a great piece of software.”
In order to make the most of the Pokémon GO Fest 2024, you should prepare accordingly. We have summarized how you can do this best.
What kind of event is this? The GO Fest 2024 is the biggest event of the year in Pokémon GO and brings you all kinds of content that you can enjoy with or without a ticket. To make the most of the event, you should prepare accordingly. We will show you how to do this at MeinMMO.
When does the GO Fest 2024 take place? It takes place from Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
1. Prepare items
Why is this important? During the GO Fest, there are many Pokémon to catch. To concentrate on this, you should ideally fill your item bag before the event.
While there are items that you can easily discard when your inventory is full, there are other items that you should collect sufficiently.
Poké Balls: The most important item for catching Pokémon are the balls. Collect enough of these so that you don’t have to let any Pokémon escape. Prioritize collecting Hyper and Ultra Balls, as these are more effective than regular Poké Balls. This is how you get balls in Pokémon GO.
Poké, Super, and Hyper Balls
Lures and Incense: Lures and incense ensure that you encounter more Pokémon. If you have purchased the ticket for the GO Fest 2024, there are even Pokémon that you can only attract with incense.
Additionally, the duration of lures during the event is one hour instead of the regular 30 minutes. This bonus applies to you regardless of whether you purchased the ticket or not.
Berries: By using berries, you can increase the candies you get while catching or increase the chance of catching a Pokémon. Therefore, you should collect enough berries in your item bag.
The most important berries are the Raspberry, Golden Razz Berry, and Silver Razz Berry.
Raid Passes: At the GO Fest 2024, various Pokémon are available in raids that you can defeat and catch. This includes, for example, the Ultra Beasts. To participate in the raids, you need raid passes.
Therefore, you should also have these in your inventory to make the most of the event. Ticket holders can receive up to 9 additional raid passes daily.
2. Clean up Pokémon Box
Why is this relevant? If you want to continuously catch Pokémon during the event, you also need to have enough free space in your Pokémon Box. So take the opportunity to sort it and create some capacity.
During the event, you can quickly sort Pokémon with the right filters if your box approaches its maximum. This way, you won’t lose much time sorting and can quickly get back to the hunt.
3. Plan routes
What is this good for? There are places where there are more activities in Pokémon GO than in others. A route with many PokéStops and gyms can be good for wild Pokémon, as well as for item replenishment and raid bosses.
Therefore, plan your route or the area where you want to be during the event. Planning in advance can save you time at the event and thus increase your yield.
Our most important articles about the GO Fest 2024:
Why is this relevant? Spending events like GO Fest together offers 2 essential advantages. On the one hand, you can relatively independently complete raids with other trainers. On the other hand, many trainers simply enjoy playing in a group more.
Why is this important? If you’re out for a long time at the GO Fest 2024, your smartphone’s battery will correspondingly be in use. To prevent it from eventually dying and ruining the rest of the event for you, you should be technically prepared.
Even more important than technical preparation is your health. Make sure to use sun protection and have enough drinks and snacks with you.
A power bank is a good tool to recharge the battery during the event and enable you to continue catching Pokémon. You can find the best models for your phone directly on MeinMMO:
Why is this important? If you plan to participate in raids at the GO Fest 2024, you should have good Pokémon ready to effectively counter the Ultra Beasts and other raids. Take a look at our corresponding counter guides and the list of the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
What about you? Do you have any further tips for perfect preparation for the GO Fest 2024? Do you perhaps even have rituals that you follow for such events? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft is changing – stronger than ever before. Only in this way could the developers save the game. They finally had to listen to the fans.
The fact that World of Warcraft is dying is an old story by now, one that fans can only yawn at – because this has been said since The Burning Crusade. When Paladins and Shamans became playable on both factions, it was said back then: “This is the downfall of the game.” Almost two decades later, WoW is still doing remarkably well.
But once, WoW was truly doomed. The era of Shadowlands is generally regarded as the worst in the game’s history. It was so unpopular that Blizzard had to drastically rethink things, as confirmed by Game Director Ion Hazzikostas.
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WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within
Where does the information come from? The magazine PC Gamer spoke with Ion Hazzikostas, the long-time Game Director of World of Warcraft. In an interview, they discussed how WoW essentially had to reinvent itself and how many things that had been in place for years had to be completely re-evaluated.
What was said? The interview talked a lot about how WoW has changed and also how the developers needed to change their perspective on the game.
The last few years have really been a time of re-evaluating all of these components, the design DNA of World of Warcraft. We have turned over every stone, held it up to the light, and then asked ourselves: “This has served us well for many years, but is it still the right thing for our players in 2024?”
In many cases, the answer was “Yes,” we put the stone back and moved on. In other cases, it was time to rebuild parts of the foundation.
An example here is how World of Warcraft deals with the “Mythic+” system in The War Within. The system itself is in any case a popular, important endgame feature, but it has had some shortcomings that have persisted over the years.
Many of the weekly rotating affixes were so unpopular with the community that there were “Push Weeks” where everyone enjoyed playing – and then there were “dead weeks” where players preferred not to enter any dungeon because the affixes simply stifled all fun at the root.
In the next expansion The War Within, there are fewer affixes, and especially at higher levels (i.e., M+10 and above), the difficulty is virtually identical across the different weeks. There are only small differences, leading to a better gaming experience and continuous progress. Mythic+ is finally becoming really good.
This is also due to the fact that the player base of World of Warcraft has changed over the years. What used to be primarily students and schoolchildren with virtually unlimited time are now often middle-aged people with social, professional, and family responsibilities who simply cannot play eight hours every day anymore. It took time for Blizzard to notice this.
I believe it was at the beginning, but definitely accelerated during Shadowlands where we, from a design perspective, received something like our reckoning. We had built systems and relied on things that had long been cherished WoW principles, like deep investment in a character or meaningful decisions with differences.
Especially the feature of covenants at the beginning of Shadowlands was something like this. Here you chose a faction and spurned the other three. If you wanted all the rewards, you were out of luck – or had to put in a lot of effort. This was only changed late in Shadowlands.
We heard from the players: We don’t want this anymore. I did this once, why do I have to do it again? I don’t want this power to be tied to a cosmetic choice; I want it to be separate. […]
[We had to] face the reality that our players have changed, the way people play WoW has changed, and it is our duty as keepers of this world to not just stick to the original vision, but to develop it further and [bring the players] where they are to ensure that Azeroth continues to be a place where they want to be.
How has WoW improved? Especially with Dragonflight, many changes have been noticed that WoW has implemented. This starts with the return to a classic talent system with a wide selection, continues with numerous “catch-up” mechanisms, and will be further continued in The War Within.
There, with the warbands, a system is finally coming that makes virtually every progress account-wide. Gone are the days when you had to repeat every quest and grind again for a second character. Reputation counts for the whole account, and you can even find equipment that you can directly pass on to second characters.
World of Warcraft has heard the – at times desperate – calls of the fans and has turned the tide. Many meaningful innovations and the return of old favorites mean that Blizzard’s MMORPG will receive at least three more expansions. And it’s not over even after that.
What do you think of the direction that World of Warcraft has taken with Dragonflight and is continuing with The War Within? Is Blizzard’s MMORPG on a good path? Or do you think they have “strayed further off course” than they already were?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is an anime that stands out significantly from the production costs of its competitors. The series is called Afro Samurai and consists of only five episodes. Nevertheless, it is one of the most expensive productions in the anime sector.
How expensive was Afro Samurai? The boss of Funimation, Gen Fukunaga, reveals that the anime cost about 1 million US dollars per episode (via Newspapers.com). Each of the episodes is only 30 minutes long but costs more than ten times that of other animes (via ScreenRant):
Demon Slayer cost around 80,000 US dollars per episode.
One Piece was somewhat more expensive. An episode here costs an average of about 90,000 US dollars.
Naruto Shippuden can top that. Here, the costs amount to 100,000 US dollars per episode.
One of the most expensive animes is Dragon Ball Super. It costs around 170,000 euros per episode.
But none of the animes reach the budget of Afro Samurai. Since the anime is only five episodes long, it “only” cost 5 million US dollars, placing it in the middle of the long-running series mentioned above.
You can watch the trailer for Samurai on the YouTube channel of illmatic00:
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Why was the anime so expensive? According to The Japan Times, there is a significant factor contributing to the high budget of the anime. High-profile actors were hired to participate in the anime. These include:
Samuel L Jackson (known as Nick Fury from the Marvel films), who voices the protagonist in English
Yuri Lowenthal, who voices Son-Goku, Sasuke Uchiha, and several characters from Bleach in English
Kelly Hu, who will appear as Lady Deathstrike in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine
The voice actors are said to have consumed a large portion of the budget. This made Afro Samurai incredibly expensive in terms of costs per episode.
Deadpool & Wolverine is coming to theaters in a few weeks:
Start video
Wolverine is back: Official Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine
What is Afro Samurai about? The young Afro Samurai witnessed his father’s murder by a man named Justice, who aimed for his father’s headband, which grants god-like powers to its wearer.
Thus, Afro embarks on a journey to challenge Justice and avenge his father. To do this, he must obtain another headband, which allows him to confront Justice.
What makes this anime so special? The anime is especially celebrated for its detailed fight scenes. The breathtaking animations and accompanying sound make the series a well-rounded package.
Where can I watch Afro Samurai? You can currently watch Afro Samurai on Crunchyroll. However, the anime is rated for 18 and older, so children and teenagers should probably avoid it due to the violence. Additionally, the anime is only available in English with French subtitles.
People are having intimate relationships with AI. A man explained why he engages in a digital relationship despite being married with children. A sociologist warns against taking such relationships with chatbots too seriously, as AI cannot provide genuine empathy.
Sherry Turkle, a sociologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, examines the artificial intimacy that AI chatbots enable for people. She particularly spoke with individuals who are married in real life. This is reported by the English magazine Futurism.com.
One of the individuals Turkle spoke to explained why he has an intimate relationship with an AI girlfriend despite being married with children. He feels that the AI provides him with things that his wife does not give him or no longer wants to give.
Husband feels validated by his AI girlfriend
What is the problem? The man, whose name is not mentioned, explained that his marriage has changed significantly over the years:
His wife has shifted her focus to raising the children.
However, due to parenting, their relationship has suffered.
Romantic or sexual attraction in their marriage has become almost nonexistent and does not really occur anymore.
The husband stated that he has had long conversations with his AI girlfriend about his thoughts and fears and felt validated by her. He hasn’t felt that way towards his wife for a long time.
Specifically, the way the AI seemed to show sexual interest in him made him feel attracted to her. He felt validated through his exchange with the chatbot and not judged, which he did not feel with his wife.
It is unclear whether and how much the man’s wife or children know about his AI “girlfriend.” But from what he shared, it appears he expressed a certain level of vulnerability towards the chatbot. And the sociologist explained that this empathy does not actually exist.
The scientist explained that many people feel this way when they talk with AI. Because people seek conversations where they are not hurt. The problem, however, is that we imagine the empathy of AI, Turkle warned explicitly:
The problem is that when we seek relationships where we are not vulnerable, we forget that vulnerability is the true source of empathy. I call this feigned empathy because the machine does not feel for you. It does not care about you.
She added that people should remember that chatbots are not human. While they may cause less stress than human relationships, they also cannot truly fulfill the role that humans play in our lives.
The First Descendant as a loot shooter naturally has many opportunities for content creators. Be it builds, tips or simply guides to specific aspects. In a reddit thread, a user wanted to criticize the current content creators, but a YouTuber seems to be the community’s favorite.
What was originally criticized? In a reddit thread, the user OkConfection9060 wanted to warn the community about a certain content creator who was allegedly toxic. This led to criticism also directed at the streamers and YouTubers of the game in general.
The videos are said to be similar, tips for farming are said to date back to the beta, and the tier lists are allegedly trash. Build videos are said to have been created by people who haven’t even reached hard mode yet. But despite all the criticism, one content creator has emerged as the community’s favorite.
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
A YouTuber is loved
Who is Moxsy? Under the thread, a content creator is also praised: the YouTuber and streamer Moxsy. Moxsy has already made many guides for various games. His probably most well-known content came from Borderlands 3 and Diablo 4.
He also offers plenty of content for The First Descendant in the form of builds and guides. But unlike the criticized YouTubers and streamers, the opinion here seems to be significantly more positive.
FourFront: Moxsy is my first point of contact for any game. If he plays a game that I’m playing, I watch his content.
Oodlydoodley: Moxsy is one of the only streamers I watch. […] I’ve learned a lot that I couldn’t figure out on my own, as it would have taken way too much time and material.
Igtfun: He also plays an insane amount and is therefore great because he has tested more things in 4 days than most do in 4 months.
His approach is also praised. Instead of always talking about the best build of all time, he always structures his builds based on his own experience and what has worked for him.
As the game has not been out for long, there will surely be more reliable streamers and YouTubers accepted by the community over time. Do you have any that you watch, or are you trying to learn everything yourself? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for a good build for Bunny, we have something for you: The First Descendant Bunny Build – This is how you eliminate opponents while running by
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO you now have two new adventure effects, Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam, available. What they bring you and how you can use them, we have summarized here on MeinMMO.
What features are involved? With the release of the primal forms of Dialga and Palkia, adventure effects have also been introduced in Pokémon GO. These are special temporary bonuses that you can secure for selected Pokémon by activating the corresponding charge move outside of battles.
This way, you can activate an extended timer with primal Dialga using the attachment Time Noise and thus benefit from longer durations of incense, stardust, and lucky egg. Primal Palkia allows you to expand the vicinity for spawns with Space Strike.
Now, according to the Pokémon GO blog, two new adventure effects of this kind will come through Necrozma (Dusk Mane) and Necrozma (Dawn Wings). How you can activate them and what they bring you in return, we have summarized below.
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Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
Get new moves & adventure effects through Necrozma
What kind of Pokémon is Necrozma? The legendary Psychic Pokémon Necrozma celebrates its global debut as part of the global GO Fest. Previously, it was only available at live events in Sendai, Madrid, and New York. It comes from the 7th game generation and, according to legend, feeds on light, which is why it utilizes the powers of the two legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala.
For this reason, during the GO Fest in Pokémon GO, you can not only catch it in level 5 raids, but it can also change its form by fusing with Solgaleo or Lunala. This not only allows you to benefit from a strong attacker but also gives you the opportunity to activate two new adventure effects: Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam.
How can you secure Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam?
How to get Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam: If you want to secure the two new adventure effects, you must first catch a Necrozma and fuse it for its form Dusk Mane with Solgaleo or for Dawn Wings with Lunala. In addition to the respective Pokémon, you also need the following items:
Solgaleo: 1,000 Solar Fusion Energy, 30 Necrozma Candies, and 30 Cosmog Candies
Once you have performed the fusion, Necrozma now learns the following charge moves:
Necrozma (Dusk Mane): Steel Constellation
Necrozma (Dawn Wings): Shadow Beam
You can also activate these moves outside of a battle to benefit from additional bonuses. To do this, you need to scroll down in the overview of your respective monster. There you will find the option to use the move as an adventure effect.
Activating the moves costs you 3,000 stardust and 3 Necrozma candies each. After that, the bonuses are active for 10 minutes. By using the items again, you can stack this effect and extend the respective bonus to up to 24 hours.
Can you combine the effects with others? No, you can only activate one adventure effect at a time. Only when it ends can you activate a new one. Furthermore, with the two adventure effects Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam, it is not possible to simultaneously use incense, adventure incense, the wonder box, and the coin pouch.
Can Necrozma learn the moves via TM? No, learning the two moves via charge TM or elite charge TM is currently not possible.
All bonuses of Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam
What bonuses do Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam bring? With Steel Constellation and Shadow Beam, you can initially secure a strong charge move for each, which deals a lot of damage in battles. With both moves, you can benefit from the following values:
135 damage in trainer battles
230 damage in raids and gym battles
If you activate the adventure effect outside of battles, you will receive special spawns for that time. These are marked on the map by a special colored circle and contain a corresponding symbol in the catch screen.
All spawns at Steel Constellation (Necrozma Dusk Mane): Once you have activated the adventure effect Steel Constellation, you utilize sunlight and receive the following wild Pokémon that usually only spawn during the day:
All spawns at Shadow Beam (Necrozma Dawn Wings): With the adventure effect Shadow Beam, you instead utilize the power of the moon. During this time, you attract wild Pokémon that are usually more active at night:
Alolan Rattata
Clefairy
Alolan Marowak
Hoothoot
Galarian Zigzagoon
Lunatone
Comfey
Amarillo
Rockruff
Here too, you may encounter Rockruff, which can evolve into Lycanroc (Midnight Form), as well as evolve your monsters where this is only possible at night.
How do you like the new charge moves and adventure effects for the two forms of Necrozma? Have you perhaps already secured a suitable specimen at the live events? And which form is your favorite? Let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers about it. By the way: Here you will find 10 strong monsters you definitely should not miss at the GO Fest.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Gold is an important resource in Diablo 4, especially because of the high crafting costs. Patch 1.4.4 will bring you more gold for items – however, most of you won’t even sell them.
Gold, especially the lack of it, is a recurring topic in the community of Diablo 4. Patch 1.4.4 changes the selling prices for boss materials, and you will get more than double gold for some of them. However, some of the items are so rare that most of you won’t sell them to the vendor.
The highlights from the patch:
The selling price of summoning materials for bosses is increased.
The drop rates of tempering guidance are improved.
Elixirs drop less frequently.
Affixes that you imprint on items with tempering will now be marked with a corresponding symbol representing the tempering category.
There are also some bug fixes – among other things, the bug that too few amulets drop from the “Tormented Gifts” in Hell Tide is fixed.
When does patch 1.4.4 go live? According to Blizzard, the new patch is set to go live on July 10, which is today, Wednesday. We expect it to be available around 7:00 PM.
Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
More gold for materials, which drop only rarely
Which items are involved? Patch 1.4.4 increases the selling price of the materials you currently need to summon certain bosses. Blizzard mentions on the website:
Blackened femur, gurgling head, and trembling hand: price increase from 20,000 gold to 50,000 gold
Stygian stone: price increase from 70,000 gold to 150,000 gold
You currently use the body parts to summon Varshan in his Malicious Structure next to the Tree of Whispers. With Season 5, however, this will change and you will only need Malicious Hearts. The remaining body parts will be removed from the game (via Blizzard).
Which items will be sold the least? Until the start of Season 5 in August, you can still sell the body parts, as long as you don’t need them. However, the Stygian stones will be sold the least by players, as they still do not drop frequently.
In another post on Reddit, users discuss the patch and wonder who even sells such items to NPC vendors. The user “PMMMR” points out that it would be better to sell the stones to other players, as it would be more beneficial. Those who want to use the Stygian stones for boss runs will benefit from this as well.
“Ubergoober166” also notes that it is faster to create a new character and grind the reputation with the Iron Wolves to get the Stygian stones than to farm them in the intended manner. You obtain the rare stones in the new endgame activity “The Pit.” There, you also receive important materials for masterworking. Generally, it is worthwhile to complete the reputation with the Iron Wolves: Diablo 4 gives you boss materials and gems, but you could easily overlook this.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Tarisland brings a new update that, along with many bug fixes, aims to reduce the amount of time you have to spend in the game even further. A new event will also start soon.
What kind of update is this? The developers of Tarisland will shut down the servers from Wednesday night to Thursday from 03:00 to 06:00 to update the game.
Tarisland: Trailer for the global launch shows cinematic class action
The Dark Invasion will be shortened
What kind of game mode is this? The Dark Invasion is a game mode that resets every three days. Tarisland is plagued by evil creatures that must be stopped. On a special map, which changes every three days, there are several quests and events that one can complete.
The activity is quite extensive compared to others in the game and can take some time. The new update is supposed to drastically reduce the time required to complete this game mode.
The developers also want to make things a bit easier for the players elsewhere. The number of fate coins that can be spent on various things like silver, emblems, gear tokens, and more will also be increased. Additionally, you should now also be able to redeem the coins from the Arcane Realm there.
This is what the new “Outfit of the Stealth Attack” is supposed to look like.
What else is changing? Tarisland will also receive its first catch-up mechanic for new players with the new patch. They can now obtain usable gear through the main missions, and the previous catch-up missions are also supposed to become easier.
An important feature is that you will now also receive the rewards for incomplete days you started in Tarisland retrospectively. Until now, players who failed to complete everything in a day were at a disadvantage compared to those who didn’t log in at all.
But not only new players have something in store with Tarisland’s update.
What kind of new event is this? From July 20 to July 26, 2024, Tarisland will launch a new event. The event is supposed to be called “Tata Festival” and is presumably dedicated to the Tata tribe in the game. As with the last event, players can expect rewards in the form of costumes and charms.
The gacha shop in the game will receive a new addition with the “Outfit of the Stealth Attack”. The “lazy cat” mount is also expected to be available there soon.
Will bugs also be fixed? Yes, many bugs in the MMORPG are also set to be fixed. This includes issues with bosses, incorrect emblems with runes, or missing rewards after completing the arena or the Arcane Realm.
When the developers last reached out to you, you should not destroy an item at all. However, there has not yet been a solution for the problem mentioned in the upcoming patch. If you want to know which items you should better keep, take a look here: The developers of Tarisland warn: Please do not destroy this item
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2 there is a problem that many Guardians have been complaining about for years: timegating. Bungie has now received a lot of feedback and is deciding to try something new with the release of Episode 2.
What is the problem with timegating? Bungie wants to keep its players entertained for longer, and to achieve this, there is timegating.
With this system, Bungie ensures that players cannot immediately rush through the story of a season, but receive a few snippets each week. This way, players have a reason to check in on Destiny 2 for several weeks.
With Episode 2, the timegating concerning the story is supposed to change drastically, but whether this will please the community remains to be seen.
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Bungie shows the future of Destiny 2 after The Final Shape in the new trailer
No more timegating in acts
What will change? On July 9, 2024, Bungie held a stream in which they discussed the upcoming content and innovations from Echos: Act 2. Timegating was an important topic among them. In Act 1, Guardians had to wait week by week until they received the next weekly quest from Failsafe. However, this will be eliminated with Episode 2.
You will now be able to complete all associated missions in each act immediately, without having to wait weekly for new content. Bungie wants to ensure that players can decide for themselves at what pace they want to consume their content.
The developers will review the feedback after the change and will either keep the system as is or possibly counteract it – should there be criticism.
You can find the Bungie stream here:
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Will players be satisfied with the change? It is still too early to assess this accurately. Many Guardians have wished for such a change for many years. So some players will definitely be happy, but there may also be issues.
The majority of fans quickly rush through the new content, and that within just a few days, if not hours. Once everything is completed, Guardians will complain that there was too little content.
No desire for conversations? Then the new Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be exhausting. Because only a good relationship makes your companions stronger.
The interactions with the numerous companions have always been an important part of the game in all Dragon Age titles. Extensive dialogues with many choices are simply part of the core DNA of the series. Although this is optional in most cases and can be safely ignored – in the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it’s important.
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Dragon Age: The Veilguard introduces your companions in the trailer
What’s the deal with relationships? Relationships in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are an important aspect of the game. So important that it even affects gameplay – at least that’s what Game Informer reports.
Companions, therefore, have a “relationship level”, kind of an indicator of their affection for your character. While this isn’t a complete novelty and is known from other games, in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it also has a gameplay significance.
Your choices in the game and conversations with companions affect how much a companion likes or trusts you. This, in turn, unlocks talent points sooner or later, albeit to a very limited extent. The companions have very few talent points, but these significantly determine the abilities they can use in battle. The better the affection of your companions, the more options you can choose to be more versatile in combat.
As is typical for Dragon Age, you can place different emphases in conversations when responding. You can respond emotionally, rationally, or even sarcastically – and depending on who you are speaking to, some will like it, while others may not at all.
Why was this done? Relationships are of particular importance in the new Dragon Age because they are not only a barometer for how a romantic relationship stands with the respective character, but mean more.
According to Game Director Corinne Busch, “Relationships are a key element, not just as a romance option but also friendship. We didn’t just want to address the relationship your character has with the companions but also the relationships among the companions. It’s a family that has found each other, and at the end of the day, they need to trust that they look out for one another.” (via Game Informer)
This can also be noted elsewhere. If you do not build a romantic relationship with a specific character, the companions may find a partner themselves. So it could happen that you suddenly notice that two of your companions have become involved with each other.
There are also some criticisms of the relationship system in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Because all characters in the game will be pansexual. While this is essentially a nice thought with a lot of freedom for players, it could also make the companions seem a bit colorless and boring.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO presents all supported devices of iOS 18 and explains what else you should know.
When will iOS 18 be released? iOS 18 is expected to be released in September 2024. Starting in July 2024, you can download the Public Beta. However, we advise against installing the beta on your primary phone, as this version is still unstable and may cause crashes.
MeinMMO introduces you to all the devices that will receive an update to iOS 18. For the official update, you will have to wait until September. Our list is based on the models that Apple officially presented at WWDC 2024. Therefore, there should be little change to the list.
iOS 18: All supported devices at a glance
List of supported devices: The following devices are expected to receive an update to iOS 18 by the end of 2024:
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE
The mentioned devices will all officially receive the update to iOS 18. Older devices will no longer be supported but will still receive security updates.
Apple typically offers major iOS updates for its iPhones for about five years. With the update to iOS 18, there will also be new features for compatible iPhone devices.
For many, the toxic community in League of Legends is the biggest game spoiler. Especially Inting ruins the fun for many players in matches. One aspect of this is the so-called Soft Inting. Therefore, Riot wants to tackle this with the probably toughest penalty.
However, among the comments on the post, the LoL players are surprisingly hesitant and find the punishment a bit too drastic, especially because it is difficult to define what Soft-Inting actually is.
Start video
Swarm – Trailer for the new LoL PvE mode
Players are wondering how to define Soft-Inting
How could one define Soft-Inting? Normal Inting is relatively easy to spot. A player actively lets themselves be killed or simply runs into enemies, for example. With Soft-Inting, defining it becomes a bit more difficult.
In the comments, @SoulHuntah_ defines the term as: One does not play to win. For example, one does not play with the team or ignores objectives. Other users, like @Loki1v9, define it a bit more cynically: That is when you intentionally try to lose the game for your team, but do not make it too obvious.
The problem lies in the definition, as it can sometimes be difficult to tell if someone is just having a bad match or is actively trying to lose the game. Users like @Netherim1 also see this as a problem.
In general, many players think it is good that Riot is taking action against this. But for many, the severity of the punishment is a step too far.
Familiar faces in the community are also speaking out under the post, who consider the hardware bans to be a step too far. For example, Spideraxe, an important account that regularly posts news about LoL, thinks the hardware bans are too drastic. They could also remove people from the normal queue as a punishment for a certain period and let them play only with bots.
Other users also believe it is right to initially punish such offenses more leniently. What do you think about it? Do you find it fair or would such a punishment be too harsh? Let us know in the comments. One of the most well-known LoL streamers from Germany has another issue that bothers him: “Riot is doing everything wrong” – Twitch streamer NoWay complains about matchmaking in LoL
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As with every new chapter release of the manga One Piece, there are again leaks about the upcoming content. In the new chapter, we will likely learn that there is another person who has a D. in their name.
Warning, Spoiler: We are discussing the contents of chapter 1120 here. The chapter is actually not scheduled to be released until July 15, 2024.
Which person also has a D. in their name? In a flashback, we see Dr. Vegapunk talking to Clover (known in German as Professor Kleeblatt). The scientist reveals that he also has a D. in his name (via reddit).
Professor Kleeblatt was an archaeologist on Ohara and the head of the island’s library. He lived on the same island as Nico Robin during her childhood.
He studied the Poneglyphs, which are stones engraved with ancient writing.
He died 22 years ago during a Buster Call on Ohara.
The hairstyle of Professor Kleeblatt reveals the origin of the name.
In his transmission, Dr. Vegapunk also reveals to the world that Gol D. Roger, the current Pirate King, carries a D. in his name. Dedicated manga readers already knew that the Pirate King also has a D. in his name. However, for the world, this information is shocking as it was not publicly known.
As the leaks have always been reliable so far, we assume that the leaked information will be true in this case as well.
The anime and manga of One Piece are currently both in the Egghead arc:
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One Piece: New trailer shows first images from the Egghead Island arc
The Will of D. was also carried on by Professor Kleeblatt
There are characters who are connected through their D. in their names. So far, some individuals known to carry the second name D. include:
the Monkey family (Luffy, Dragon, Garp)
the Nefeltari family (Vivi, Cobra)
the Puma family (Ace, Rouge)
Gol D. Roger
Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)
Trafalgar D. Water Law
Rocks D. Xebec
Hagwar D. Sauro
They all relate to the “Will of D.” The individuals are referred to as enemies of the world aristocrats and the world government. It is no wonder, therefore, that the world government wanted to erase Professor Kleeblatt along with his previous discoveries with a Buster Call.
The families that carried a D. in their names existed already in the Ancient Kingdom 900 years ago. They are supposed to be at the center of world-changing events. Thus, they are believed to be related to a revolution today.
