At the end of June, the disgraced influencer Anissa “Anni The Duck” Baddour surprised everyone with a last-minute stream on Twitch. It was received poorly and could now lead to further difficulties for her.
What is the current situation surrounding Anni The Duck? In early May, allegations were made against the Twitch streamer by her former best friend Mowky. More and more online personalities joined in. This developed into a huge scandal that cost Anni The Duck sponsors and ultimately led to the end of her career.
However, on the evening of June 28, 2024, the streamer unexpectedly returned to Twitch. In the stream, she denied allegations of mistreating her cats, spoke about death threats against her, and announced that she would be moving back to Germany.
Additionally, Anni The Duck reported that she was working on herself in therapy. The stream received mixed reviews: while the streamer’s community was happy and welcomed her with subs, users on social media viewed the comeback more critically.
After Mowky, the Twitch streamer Reved, who had been in a relationship with Anni The Duck, spoke up:
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Reved explains on Twitch how much she suffered in the relationship with Anni The Duck
Harsh judgment from Mowky: “Spoke crap for 2.5 hours”
What does Mowky have to say? The streamer is apparently really angry. She accuses her former friend of having “talked crap for 2.5 hours.” The problem is apparently not that Anni The Duck tried for a comeback.
Mowky compares her to the American streamer SSSniperwolf, who gets “canceled every two weeks” – comebacks are perfectly fine since somehow one has to earn money. The Twitch streamer explains that Anni The Duck could have just talked about football, as she did later in the stream.
However, Mowky is displeased that she denied and downplayed the allegations against her instead. In her eyes, this behavior nullifies Anni The Duck’s final statement. In that statement, the streamer had apologized for her actions and seemed to admit mistakes. “I slowly feel completely taken for a fool,” Mowky said.
You can still find the entire stream on the Twitch channel of Mowky. A compilation can be found in the video of opinion blogger AlphaKevin:
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These consequences Mowky draws: As the Twitch streamer explains, she wants to produce an elaborate video in which she apparently intends to provide evidence for alleged dishonesty from Anni The Duck. What she has said so far is supposedly just “the tip of the iceberg.”
Mowky emphasizes that it is not about revenge for her, but about justice: after all, an attempt was made to destroy her life. The Twitch streamer has not yet revealed what exactly in Anni The Duck’s stream was “bullshit.” However, she promises that after her video, it will be understandable why she is so angry.
A hunter in World of Warcraft defeats one of the toughest raid bosses from the current content. Many guilds and raid groups have long struggled with this.
The last raid of World of Warcraft Dragonflight was Amirdrassil, Hope of the Dream. The raid was considered one of the hardest ever in WoW by professional guilds as well as many less ambitious groups. This was mainly due to the last two bosses – Tindral Raschweise and Fyrakk.
Particularly Tindral was seen as an insurmountable wall for many raids, where there simply was no way to progress. It is all the more astonishing that a hunter has now soloed the boss.
The latest story video from WoW:
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WoW: Dark Heart – The Search for the Harbinger
What an achievement! Defeating Tindral Raschweise has not been easy for many raids – at all difficulty levels. The boss is considered mechanically quite challenging. There are numerous effects that must be avoided, as well as multiple DPS checks and fast reactions, where the entire group must act quickly, for example, to prevent the sprouting of burning seed pods.
An achievement that should seem nearly impossible for a single hero. Yet the hunter Durendil has succeeded. He has defeated Tindral Raschweise on normal difficulty all by himself (with the help of his animal companions).
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How did Durendil manage this? With a lot, a lot of time. Most of it went into planning. Because Tindral regularly deals an immense amount of damage that makes the correct use of defensive cooldowns necessary. Beast Mastery hunters have relatively low self-healing and also scale poorly with life steal, as most of the damage is dealt by their companions.
Durendil had to perfectly synchronize his cooldowns with the boss’s abilities to just barely survive the various mechanics.
Interestingly: Durendil is, as the video proves, a “clicker”. He selects abilities individually with the mouse rather than binding them to hotkeys. This is generally frowned upon in the MMO community, and often the first tip given to players who want to improve is: “Use hotkeys!” That Durendil has succeeded despite being a clicker may encourage some. Because this achievement is not something someone will replicate easily.
Records are currently falling in WoW anyway, especially due to WoW: Remix. Some people manage to complete dungeons in record time. A particularly impressive feat: Scholomance in under 12 seconds.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Thing from Another World is regarded as a great film classic in the realm of science fiction and horror. The film primarily revolves around deception and isolation. If the main character had been able to speak Norwegian, the movie would have been over much quicker.
Attention Spoiler: The following article discusses the twist of The Thing from Another World.
What is The Thing from Another World about?
A team of scientists is researching in Antarctica
An alien that has escaped from the ice threatens the scientists at the research station
The isolation and the alien’s ability to transform into living beings create the horror
John Carpenter directed the film, and it ranks among his best works alongside films like Halloween, Escape from New York, and Big Trouble in Little China. Especially in the areas of body horror and cosmic horror, The Thing from Another World is an important representative.
The main role in the film is played by Kurt Russell, who portrays the scientist MacReady. If MacReady had been able to understand Norwegian, The Thing from Another World would have been over in just a few minutes.
The Thing from Another World – Trailer for the Sci-Fi Classic by John Carpenter
The Dog is Not a Dog
Why Norwegian? At the beginning of the film, the group encounters two Norwegian pilots who have crashed, of whom only one has survived. Instead of seeking help for his injuries, the Norwegian pilot attempts to shoot a dog with his weapon.
He screams at the group in Norwegian while trying to kill the dog. However, the scientists do not understand and kill the Norwegian. This happens around 8:20 minutes into the film. After that, the great horror begins at the research station.
If the scientists had been proficient in Norwegian, they would have understood that the Norwegian was screaming: The thing is not a dog! It is a thing that imitates a dog! The words are also not translated for the audience, leaving them in the dark too.
The great horror in the film arises mainly from the aspect that the monster can truly be any living being or person, and that the characters are isolated in the cold at the research station. This creates a pervasive paranoia among the researchers.
The Pit is a new endgame activity in Diablo 4 that can be quite challenging. It’s not necessarily the bosses that stress some players the most, but apparently the spiders.
With Patch 1.4.2, affixes and the damage of the bosses were adjusted to match the difficulty level of the dungeon corresponding to the pit level. However, players are now complaining about completely different enemies on Reddit.
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Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
What enemies are the players complaining about?On Reddit, “Darth-Jaybles” asked the Diablo 4 community on July 1 if he was the only one who wanted to quit a pit run as soon as he sees spiders in the first room. He is not “arachnophobic or anything,” but the constant slowdowns and poison are just unpleasant.
In the comments, various users discuss the most annoying enemies in the Pit. “TheGantrithor” agrees with the post’s creator:
I feel the same way. But there are two types of spiders. The first type isn’t so bad because they throw a web that kind of spreads out. But the second type is a disaster. They throw TRIPLE webs like artillery with precision and in an arc that can hit you from across the room and even off-screen. […] Dodging is almost impossible.
And even WORSE is that every map that has spiders also has the corpse archers. It’s just a mess of getting sniped and consuming potions.
I immediately log out and reset when I see those spiders. Waste of time. It’s not a question of whether they will kill me, but when.
What enemies annoy other players? In the comments, some people agree with “Darth-Jaybles”. Others mention snakes, especially because of the poison – similar to the spiders. Despite maximum resistance, the damage can be significant and take away a lot of health. If attacks, such as nets that slow down or immobilize the character, are added, it can become dangerous. Snakes could also play a role in “Vessel of Hatred,” the first expansion for Diablo 4.
“bitemejackass” writes: “Seriously, these snakes are really annoying. I hate the poisonous ones, but the ones with lightning damage are even worse. I just walk away when I see lightning snakes. No one has time for this lightning snake nonsense.” And “bigmanorm” replies that he is convinced that resistance against lightning does not work.
For “Korghal,” there is nothing worse than a snake oracle with lightning damage: “You get distracted for a moment, and suddenly you’re dead because three beams turn you to ash.” And “bitemejackass” responds: “Ugh, yes, they are the worst. I see them and know that I’ll be dead in a second, no matter what I do.”
The Straw Hat Pirates have now appeared in a total of 15 movies. The latest parts of the One Piece movies have even made it into German cinemas. On IMDb, fans have been able to rate all the films. MeinMMO presents to you which films performed particularly well and which films are at the bottom of the ranking.
The One Piece movies have ventured various experiments over the years. Some had a unique art style, others are simple repetitions of certain arcs, and the newest one is even half a musical.
Some of the experiments were better received, while others were worse. MeinMMO reveals how the community rates the films on IMDb and who lands on the winner’s podium.
By the way: There is currently only one film that is offered for streaming:
One Piece Film: Red – Available for streaming on Netflix
For the other films, you currently have no choice but to get the DVDs or Blu-rays. If you are generally looking for good anime films, you must not miss these five blockbusters.
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Rank 15: One Piece – Chopper on the Island of Strange Animals
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When does the film take place? After the adventures on Drum Island
What is it about? The Straw Hat crew is sailing to Crown Island because there is said to be a huge treasure there. An accident occurs, causing Chopper to be thrown onto a mythical island. He finds himself among strange animals and a human boy who declare him the king of the island.
While Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Vivi search for their doctor, he treats the animals on the island. However, there are other individuals lurking on the island who are hunting for the animals’ horns.
What is special about it? The third film focuses heavily on Chopper. So if you are a big fan of the little reindeer, the film is a must-see for you – despite the mediocre rating.
Rank 14: One Piece – Karakuri Castle’s Metal Soldiers
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When does the film take place? Just before the Water 7 arc
What is it about? The Straw Hat crew is once again on the hunt for a large treasure. In an old shipwreck, they discover a treasure chest. Instead of a gold treasure, the pirate crew finds an old woman named Rouba in the box.
She asks the Straw Hat crew to take her back to her home island, Mecha Island. In return, she promises the crew a legendary treasure if they take her there. However, they encounter Ratchet, Rouba’s son, and his highly technological machines on the island.
What is special about it? On the island, there are more advanced machines than what we are used to from One Piece. Those who have a penchant for technology should find pleasure in this film.
Rank 13: One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase
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When does the film take place? Shortly after the adventures on Thriller Bark
What is it about? Monkey D. Luffy wakes up to find that his straw hat is missing. The entire crew sets out to search for the piece of clothing. During the search, Usopp and Chopper discover a pirate who is aboard the Thousand Sunny.
Luffy’s hat is currently with a bird. But before Luffy can get his beloved straw hat back, sea kings and the Marines block his path.
What is special about it? One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase is a short film that lasts only 30 minutes. It is the first 3D CGI film of the franchise. This unusual combination of animation style and length makes the film special.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The action RPG Last Epoch has had a tough time: Over 250,000 players have turned their backs on the game. But now the developers are announcing fresh content with a new update that brings one of the best features from Diablo 4.
What does the new update bring? Last Epoch will receive the new content update 1.1 Harbingers of Ruin on July 9, 2024. This follows the game’s own roadmap and brings a lot of fresh content.
Among other things, you can look forward to the following:
Harbingers
New boss enemies within the Monolith of Fate
Forgotten Knights Faction
The more Harbingers you defeat, the higher your reputation will be in this new faction
Pinnacle Boss: Aberroth
Once you have defeated all Harbingers, you will unlock this new boss
Evade – in English Dodge
a new movement maneuver
Harbinger’s Needle
A new item that gives you more Gaze of Orobyss when used
Especially the new maneuver Dodge is likely to please players. According to the developers’ blog post, it is one of the most requested skills and has long been an essential part of the big competitor Diablo 4.
Here is the trailer for the update:
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With patch 1.1, Last Epoch brings new bosses, factions, and more
Fallen Hard: Last Epoch has recently lost a massive number of players
What are the current player numbers? At launch in February 2024, Last Epoch started with over 258,000 players. In March, the numbers still held steady, before dropping to 28,000 in April.
Since then, the player numbers have steadily decreased. The current 24-hour peak stands at 4,030 concurrent players, according to SteamCharts:
Last Epoch Steam Charts 02.07.2024
Update 1.1 is the first patch since the release. Experience shows that player numbers usually increase significantly afterward. Recently, the survival game Palworld experienced this: With the release of the new update around Sakurajima, the numbers jumped from about 20,000 daily players to a new 24-hour peak of over 124,000 according to Steam Charts.
The developers of Last Epoch will also hope for many returning players.
What’s next for Last Epoch? The official roadmap of the game shows patches 1.1 to 1.4. With 1.2, Primal Hunt endgame content will go live, 1.3 will bring a Monolith of Fate expansion, and 1.4 will shine with a transmog system, new bosses, and new skill sigils.
Five months have now passed since the initial release and the first patch. If the developers maintain the update cycle, you can expect the next patches in December 2024, May 2025, and October 2025.
If you’re still unsure whether you should (or should try again) to play Last Epoch, we have some help for you: MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has compared the three major action RPGs Diablo 4, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch: Diablo 4, Path of Exile, Last Epoch – Which action RPG should I play?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new week begins in Destiny 2, which also means a new patch. Bungie is taking its servers down for update 8.0.0.6 to refresh its loot shooter a little bit. Here’s what you should know about the downtime.
Update, 7:12 PM: The patch notes for patch 8.0.0.6 have now been released, and the update is also here. You need to download 344.6 MB on the PS5. We’ve added the patch notes for you at the bottom of the post. After the download, you can log back in. Have a nice evening!
Here’s what you need to know today: Bungie is once again taking its servers down for standard maintenance. This time, the Iron Banner is set to start again and draw its players into PvP. However, before you can wave the banner, a downtime must first be endured. You can find out how long this will last and what changes are occurring here.
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Destiny 2 shows the launch trailer for The Final Shape
Maintenance on 07/02 – All times for server downtime
These times are important today: Bungie informs its players via x.com (formerly Twitter) about the exact downtime. It is planned that the servers will be unreachable today for 3 hours and 15 minutes.
This is the schedule for maintenance:
At 3:00 PM, background maintenance starts on all platforms.
At around 3:45 PM, the servers go offline. Players will be automatically kicked from the game.
At 7:00 PM, the shooter should be back online, and you can log back in.
The maintenance will continue in the background until 9:00 PM.
Things to consider during downtimes: As long as the background maintenance is ongoing, there may be connection issues in the game. Additionally, there can occasionally be queues during login because Bungie only gradually releases access to the servers to avoid problems caused by too much server load. Therefore, it may take longer for you to get back into the game.
What changes with the new update in Episode: Echos
The following problems are known: There are also many issues in The Final Shape that players are complaining about. Bungie is aware of some of them, but it is not known which ones will be fixed (via bungie.net). However, the following bugs could be addressed:
PC players who have 3D audio enabled cannot hear any sound
The pop-up “Leaving for The Final Shape” has the wrong key art
When prism hunters activate their new ultimate while swinging, they fall
The hunter aspect that increases your Blade Barrage ultimate does not work
The description of the Arc Staff ultimate of the hunter does not mention a blinding effect after a three-combo or slam attack
What’s in the patch notes? A complete overview of all fixed issues and improvements will only be available later today or this afternoon, after the update has gone live.
We will update our article and provide you with the link to the patch notes. Because it’s possible that the patch notes will change or be corrected by Bungie afterwards.
That’s all the information about today’s update for now. If there are any unforeseen changes, we will, of course, keep you updated. So feel free to check back. Until then, we recommend this article about Destiny 2 on MeinMMO: Bungie promises: Destiny 2 will continue with 9 content drops per year
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The movie Titanic is now 27 years old and continues to generate good money for its cast and crew even today. A child actor revealed how much money he still earns for just one single line.
Which actor is it about? The actor who has now talked about his earnings from Titanic is Reece Thompson. The actor, born in 1988 in Vancouver, was 9 years old in the 1997 released film.
Thompson speaks in exactly one scene: While the ship is already sinking, he asks his mother, What are we doing, Mom? She then explains to him that the first-class passengers are boarding the lifeboats and they want to be ready when it’s time for them from the third class.
Unfortunately, the little family does not survive the disaster.
The movie is now over 27 years old. This trailer was released for the 25th anniversary:
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English trailer for the 25th anniversary of Titanic
How much did the film bring him? During production, no one suspected what a blockbuster the film would become. According to Statista.com, the earnings are now over 2.2 million US dollars. For Reece Thompson, that meant a hefty salary at the time:
In addition to his pay for his hours on set, he received an additional 30,000 dollars because the film grossed so much at the box office. Over the following years, he continued to receive checks in the four-digit range repeatedly.
By now, the checks have dropped to the hundred-dollar range. He says about it: It’s strange, because I don’t think about it anymore. I don’t wonder: ‘Oh, when will I get the next Titanic check?’ Rather, it’s more like: ‘Oh, cool, another 100 dollars.’
Specifically, he now receives between 100 and 250 dollars a year.
How is the film still generating money? Movies generate income through their release from various sources. This often starts with the cinema release, followed by the release on VHS, DVD, and later Blu-ray. Sometimes there are also theatrical re-releases.
Depending on the contractual situation, individuals involved in the film receive a bonus based on a share of the earnings. As a film like Titanic ends up generating revenue over the years through various formats and eventually streaming, this continually creates earnings that are eligible for bonuses.
This way, even actors in supporting roles like Thompson still receive small amounts for their performances in the film years later.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Tarisland, a new in-game event has started with the Food Festival. MeinMMO tells you how to cook, share dishes, and find the Gourmet Chests.
Update: We updated this guide on July 2 at 5:00 PM.
The first in-game event, the Food Festival, has started in Tarisland. Until July 3, 2024, you can try your hand at cooking and earn exclusive rewards. The Food Festival is the first seasonal event in Tarisland. MeinMMO summarizes all the important details about the world event.
How does the Food Festival work? You can access the “Food Festival” tab through the event icon (the cornucopia). A glance is enough to see that the different activities of the event will unlock gradually.
Through the event, you will gain access to new buff food recipes that will provide you with more health, attack power, or other value increases. Additionally, there are rainbow candies that you can exchange for rewards at the food vendor, as well as a carrot pendant.
[toc]
The cinematic trailer for the launch of Tarisland:
Start video
Tarisland: Trailer for the global launch shows cinematic class action
Task 1: Cook Dishes
In every town, food trucks have appeared where you can cook special dishes. Travel to the central square of Silver City and then head up the northern stairs to complete the first task at the food truck located there: Cook a dish.
However, you first need to find the appropriate ingredients, and you can buy barbecue sauce from nearby Manny Dodo for a few silver coins, Manny Max at the Ancash tribe provides the soup pot, and you can get rosemary from Manny Biggs in the Misty Forest.
You will find out what you need exactly from the cookbook on the event page or if you select “Cook Delicacies” at the food truck.
You can find nuts and honey near Tara’s farm.
Hover over an ingredient, and you will find out where to get the item. Click on Source to teleport yourself near the farming area. You can find nuts and honey near Tara’s farm on the outskirts of Silver City. For eagle meat, you need to defeat Parker enemies on the small island east of Quellkamm City (also on the outskirts).
With the ingredients, head back to the food truck. Select “Cook Delicacies,” start the cooking process via “Cook,” and click the mouse to maintain the temperature at the desired level. In between, you’ll also have to pass a small reaction test. If you succeed, this task will be completed.
Task 2: Share Dishes
In the next step, you should share a festival meal with a special person. Go to Maeve Iron Elbow, who is standing to the left of the food truck. She will tell you which dish to bring her. Once you’ve done that, a timer will start. Two new interface displays will open simultaneously.
While cooking, you must successfully complete a small mini-game.
One of the displays tells you which player character to bring the food to, and you can whisper to that character directly in the chat through the element. The other display gives you access to a skill that you need to use near the character to share the food.
Since the character could be anywhere in the vicinity, it’s a good idea to send them a friendly whisper and invite them to a group after a short chat. This way you should find each other quickly. If the timer runs out before you complete the task, you can start another attempt with Maeve.
Task 3: Collect a Gourmet Chest
Participate in an elite dungeon or the “Arcane Realms” content to be rewarded with a Gourmet Chest. Once you’ve collected it, you can claim the next 20 rainbow candies on the event page.
The Food Festival unlocks gradually.
Task 4: Find a Gourmet Chest
The God of Cooking has placed Gourmet Chests in certain areas around the city’s outskirts. Find one and retrieve its contents. There are a total of twelve chests, four in each explorable region. What the event page doesn’t tell you: You need the corresponding dish in pure quality in your inventory to be able to open the respective Gourmet Chest.
The easiest way is to get the chest at the Ancash tribe. Teleport to the village center and then head northwest up the road towards the chief’s house. To the left behind the house is a watchtower with the chest on it. You should be able to reach it with a magical staircase or a daring jump with your mount. But make sure to pack Sour Wild Wolf Soup (pure) beforehand!
The red circle shows you the location of perhaps the easiest-to-find Gourmet Chest.
Task 5: Join the Gourmet Party
The Gourmet Party is a mini-game in Tarisland where you take on the role of a small creature and must eat lots of cake. The more cake you eat, the heavier you become. Once you have eaten some cake, you can get weighed. Depending on your weight, you will receive rainbow candies as rewards.
Be cautious of other players, as heavier beings can eat you, making them even larger. So watch out for who is following you and get weighed in time, or you might lose all of your weight.
The event is only active at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. There can often be issues with the game time, so it’s also possible that the event starts at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Gourmet Chest, where the Gourmet Party starts.
Task 6: Defend the Gourmet Feast
The Gourmet Feast has also started now. As long as the event is still running, thieves will come every day at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM that need to be stopped. It can also happen that the event starts at 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM, even if the display in the game shows otherwise.
What can you get for rainbow candies?
From Manny Max at the Ancash tribe, you can get:
Superior Soup Stew for 1x Rainbow Candy
Title Soup Master for 20x Rainbow Candies
At Manny Dodo in Silver City, you can purchase the following items:
Best Barbecue Sauce for 1x Rainbow Candy
Food Container of the Divine Chef for 10x Rainbow Candies
That sounds cool, what do I need to know about Tarisland? Tarisland is a theme park MMORPG that focuses heavily on dungeons and raids and has been released with a free-to-play model for PC as well as mobile. There is no console version or controller support.
Al Pacino is a legendary actor who has appeared in many films that are considered classics and masterpieces. However, he has also appeared in many bad films. In an interview, he explained the reason.
Who is Al Pacino? Al Pacino is a legendary performer, known primarily for gangster and mafia films. Some of his greatest films include cult classics like Scarface, Heat, or the entire Godfather series. In 2019, he collaborated again with Martin Scorsese and starred in the mafia film The Irishman. Most recently, he could be seen in A Killer’s Memory and House of Gucci. He almost appeared in Die Hard.
Al Pacino has been nominated for an Oscar 9 times and won one for his role in Scent of a Woman. However, alongside all his good films, he also acted in some really bad productions. In a 2019 interview, he revealed the reason for that.
One of his most legendary films is The Godfather:
Start video
The Godfather – Trailer (German)
Has become my challenge
What does Al Pacino say about his bad films? In a 2019 interview with GQ, he spoke alongside Robert De Niro about their careers. When the question arises as to why the two often say Yes to roles that they could also say No to, Pacino speaks of a bad habit.
I think I’m starting to become a little perverse. I’m starting to make movies that aren’t really good, and I try to make them better. And that has become my challenge.
He doesn’t approach films thinking that they won’t be good. He describes it as an impulse that makes him want to do everything to make the film better. Money is also a factor, but the challenge drives him.
What does De Niro say on the subject? De Niro has a similar approach. Sometimes it’s mainly about money, but one tells oneself that there will be things that will be good. He also describes that one doesn’t always have the luxury of working with people like Francis Ford Coppola.
Among the worst films by Al Pacino are notorious movies like Jack and Jill. For the film with Adam Sandler, he even received a Golden Raspberry. That’s basically the anti-Oscar, which “awards” films and actors for incredibly poor performance. Tom Hanks is also one of the most famous actors of all time and he has also spoken about one of his worst films: “Everyone was miscast, especially me”: Tom Hanks talks about one of his worst films
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In The First Descendant, there are currently issues with the premium currency Caliber and the Twitch drops. Now the developers are addressing the problems and potential solutions.
What is the problem? Currently, when players purchase the real-money currency Caliber, they see the charge on their account but do not receive the premium currency in-game. This issue has been confirmed by the official X.com account of The First Descendant.
In an update on X.com, the developers have now returned with news on the situation.
Here you can watch the trailer for The First Descendant:
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Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
Caliber currency not received – What’s next
What can you do if the currency doesn’t arrive? While the issues with the real-money currency Caliber have been known since noon, the development team has commented on the problems. The developers wrote that players should regularly check if their delivery has arrived.
You can check this by going to the inventory (I), pressing shop, and then clicking on inbox at the bottom. Your order should be there.
Currently, there are delays of about two hours for the order, the developers state on their website. This could mean that your purchased Caliber will only arrive in your inbox after about two hours. Currently, there is no solution to get your Caliber faster.
The developers are already working on speeding up the system so that you can receive your items more quickly.
What do you need the currency for? The Caliber currency is needed to buy various items from the shop. With it, you can unlock skins as well as additional descendants. The prices for the currency range from €4.99 for the smallest package to €99.99 for the largest package.
Is there compensation? The development team has already stated that they will provide players with compensation. They also apologized for the inconveniences on the day of release.
Are there any other problems? Yes, the Twitch drops are also affected by the delivery backlog. These seem to be taking unusually long to arrive in players’ inventories as well. It should also take about two hours for the items to be there.
If you are currently experiencing issues with The First Descendant, you are not alone. Complaints are piling up on X.com under posts from users who have not received their Caliber currency. Some users also seem to still be missing items from the beta. You can find all information about the launch of the shooter here: Today The First Descendant launches – Everything about the new loot shooter in 2 minutes
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the expansion Vessel of Hatred, Diablo 4 receives its first new class, the Spiritborn. Starting next week, the first players from outside will be allowed to try it out, promising livestreams.
What’s coming for Diablo 4?
Currently, Season 5 of Diablo 4 is running on the PTR. The new season starts on August 6 and will be the last season before the expansion.
Vessel of Hatred will be released on October 8 – Season 5 will therefore be somewhat shorter or will run until the release. You can find all information about Vessel of Hatred here.
The expansion brings more story, a new area and especially a new class, the Spiritborn. More information about this will be available soon.
This shows Blizzard: Several prominent influencers and Diablo experts are currently tweeting on X that they will get a first look at the Spiritborn on July 12. They are being invited directly to Blizzard’s home, in LA, as stated in the tweets.
Among the experts are Rob, Moxsy, and Darth Microtransaction. MacroBioBoi and wudijo have even announced that they will be showing both the expansion and the new class in the first gameplay live stream on Thursday, July 18.
In initial images, the Spiritborn resemble a type of animal warrior in a Mesoamerican style with jaguar tattoos and a spear. They draw upon the power of spirits and will presumably be able to use both physical and magical attacks in some form.
Players currently suspect a mix between Druid (Diablo 4), Monk (Diablo 3), and Amazon (Diablo 2) in the Spiritborn. They hope for possible shapeshifts or even pet builds.
The MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar offers an axe for the 63rd birthday of Richard Garriott, who is known as Lord British from Ultima. But anyone wanting to have it must splurge on an $80 package. This has given rise to mockery and ridicule.
Who is Lord British?
Lord British is the character and alias of game developer Richard Garriott. He was one of the most important game developers in the world during the 80s and 90s: He is known for the role-playing series “Ultima (1981-1999).”
Garriott was so popular in his time that he wrote himself as the all-powerful figure “Lord British” into the Ultra games, one of the most influential and significant series in video game history.
In 1997, Ultima Online was released, alongside Everquest, certainly the game that established the term MMORPG.
In 2009, the Kickstarter MMORPG “Shroud of the Avatar” was meant to be the spiritual successor to Ultima – but the project is now considered a colossal failure. Garriott’s company sold the MMORPG to the lead developer in 2019.
Start video
Shroud of the Avatar – Trailer
Those who want the axe must pay dearly
This is the axe now: For Richard Garriott’s 63rd birthday, there is a birthday axe in “Shroud of the Avatar.” Those who buy a package for $100, which currently only costs $80, will receive this axe.
This is how it is being discussed: “Shroud of the Avatar” has been bitterly discussed on international gaming sites for many years: The MMORPG promised people, who invested in the game and bought properties, wealth, fame, and a great gaming experience.
At the latest since Garriott stepped down 5 years ago, all these dreams have disappeared.
Meanwhile, the game faces open hostility, as Garriott has gone from an icon of the gaming industry to someone who is accused of self-interest and personal enrichment. Many feel disappointed and betrayed by the former hero.
In the comments of massivelyop, it says sarcastically:
The most important anime of 2024 at a glance. MeinMMO shows you what great anime will be released this year.
In recent years, anime fans have received a lot of top-notch series and 2024 already seems to be a real highlight. To help you keep track of what is still coming this year, we have created a list of the most important and significant anime releases.
The list is sorted by different quarters – since new series generally start at the beginning of a quarter and run for 3 or 6 months; in rare cases, even longer.
Additionally, note that this list will be regularly updated, as not all anime releases for the year are known yet. So it’s worth checking back often to discover what exciting anime series are available this year.
Update: The list is current as of 02.07.2024, now includes the anime from the summer season.
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Anime in the Winter Season 2024 (January ’24 – March ’24)
Delicious in Dungeon
Stream available on: Netflix What’s it about? After a severe setback in the fight against a dragon due to not having eaten enough, the hero group decides to change something. From now on, they will always fight with full bellies and thus break the taboo of processing the dungeon monsters into delicious food…
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? In a world full of magicians, Mash Burnedead is an outsider – he cannot use magic. Instead, he swears by his muscle power and makes “magic” happen. In the second season, he and his friends must prove how well they stick together – because at the magic academy, he has inadvertently made many enemies.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? Humans and androids live in peaceful coexistence, but that is threatened. The android girl Rouge is sent to Mars with her partner Naomi to prevent a conspiracy and to murder 9 artificially created beings standing in the way of the government.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? Ten years ago, a gate opened, connecting the real world with a realm full of monsters. Some people with special abilities set out to hunt these beasts as hunters – among them is Sung Jin-Woo, who is considered the worst hunter ever. But he has no choice if he wants to secure medical care for his mother…
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? The ongoing first season tells how the once kidnapped Maomao is now navigating the Emperor’s palace. As the personal maid of the supposed eunuch Jinshi, she primarily assists in solving crimes and mysterious incidents, which can almost always be explained with a bit of medical knowledge.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? The unlikely pair of Guidea, the wild girl with long fangs, and Ashaf, the man with a coffin on his back, set out to eliminate witches around the world and free the inhabitants from curses – but many now see the witches as their saviors and fail to recognize the situation they are in.
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Anime in the Spring Season 2024 (April ’24 – June ’24)
Black Butler: Public School Arc
Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? The latest season of the fantasy mystery series brings the young Ciel Phantomhive to a school where strange incidents are frequent. With him is the demonic Sebastian Michaelis, who assists him in the investigation – while waiting to finally claim Ciel’s soul for himself.
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Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? After Tanjiro managed to protect the swordsmith’s village and simultaneously observe a transformation in his sister Nezuko, the next adventure awaits. However, the demons are taking more notice of Tanjiro and his sister – and chaos of devastating attacks is unleashed around him once again.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? Gigantic beasts known as “Kaijuu” regularly attack Japan and are destroyed by defense corps. After that, the cleaners come to dispose of the remains. Kafka Hibino has always wanted to help in the defense but is currently sinking into a mediocre life. However, this changes when he is infected by a Kaijuu with a virus…
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Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! Season 3
Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? When Kazuma died, he was allowed to take one thing with him to his reincarnation in a fantasy world – and he chose the goddess he encountered. Meanwhile, his group consists of incompetent yet lovable characters who experience all kinds of nonsense and are bursting with incompetence. As usual, the story may have little coherent plot, but will still entertain with each episode and thoroughly parody the isekai genre.
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Mushoko Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 – Part 2
Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? The second part of the second season. Rudeus is still grappling with his own issues while the time after his reincarnation in the fantasy world continues to advance. Although his powers are growing, it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep the people who mean something to him together.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? The harvest goddess Holo has helped a village achieve prosperity and good harvests for many years. But as the town thrived and spread, the memory of Holo faded more and more. The merchant Lawrence now meets this dormant goddess, who willingly accompanies him. The story revolves not only around fantasy but often also focuses on economic themes.
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Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? The city and thus the realm of the slime Rimuru continues to grow – but this brings new conflicts. Not everyone is pleased with the idea of a monster kingdom gaining more power. And so once again, conflicts arise in which Rimuru and his allies must prove their place in the world through politics and direct confrontation.
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Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? In the 21st century, magic is no longer a figment of the imagination but a reality that can be performed through technology. The two siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki are rated very differently. However, although Tatsuya is ridiculed by everyone, there is clearly much more to him than first meets the eye – especially when it comes to his sister, he knows no bounds.
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Anime in the Summer Season 2024 (July ’24 – September ’24)
Atri: My Dear Moments
Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? The sea level has risen, flooding almost the entire world. After Natsuki lost his mother and a leg in an accident, he just wants to live in peace and seclusion. But in his mother’s lab, he finds Atri – a robot girl who wants to fulfill her last mission. Atri decides to help him – and the two learn more about each other.
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Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? Eiji is not particularly popular but would like to be. Luckily, his classmate Rin wants to help him. She continually takes on various anime archetypes and acts out every anime girl cliché – from cute sisters to tsundere, yandere, and pretty much any other harem protagonist. Even if it’s all just a game, true feelings lie beneath… but will they come across?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC93s7nl89c
Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season
Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? Araragi Koyomi is a high school student who has already had considerable contact with strange beings – vampires and demonic entities that inhabit people. He is repeatedly confronted with new forms of possession that he must solve. The dialogues are often profound, and the themes are highly emotional despite the unrealistic setting.
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Stream available on: No stream, only purchase (e.g., Akiba Pass TV) What’s it about? As the son of the murdered superstar Ai Hoshino, Aqua continues to try to find his mother’s murderer to exact cruel revenge. In parallel, he helps his sister Ruby fulfill her own dream to launch as an idol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7kUv4mejm0
Suicide Squad Isekai
Stream available on: Aniverse (Amazon Prime Video channel) What’s it about? In the crime-ridden city of Gotham, the Suicide Squad is once again summoned. A portal to a foreign world has opened – and the world is waiting to be conquered. Harley Quinn and her companions set out to conquer this strange world, this “isekai world” filled with swords and magic.
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Suicide Squad Isekai – Announcement Trailer for the new DC anime
Tower of God Season 2
Stream available on: Crunchyroll What’s it about? In search of his beloved Rachel, Bam continues to climb the tower, at the top of which awaits the fulfillment of his wish. But as he slowly ascends the floors, the number of participants and survivors is steadily decreasing – and the loyalties of his friends are being called into question.
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Anime in the Fall Season 2024 (October ’24 – December ’24)
Dragon Ball Daima
Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? For the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball, there is a new season with a brand-new story. Son Goku and the gang are once again reverted to their childhood forms and must undertake several new adventures – which is sure to offer fans a nostalgic journey back in time.
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Apart from the highlights mentioned above, there are also a few series that do not have a specific release date yet but are expected to be released in 2024.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict
Stream available on:Still unknown. What’s it about? The third part of the remake of Bleach brings the battle between Shinigami and Quincy into a decisive phase. Ichigo must use his newly learned skills to save the realm of the Shinigami and the lives of his friends.
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With that, we have covered the biggest anime of 2024, although the list is sure to expand throughout the year as new highlights are announced or revealed during a season.
Do you think another anime should be included in this list? Let us know in the comments, and we might add it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On this Tuesday, July 2, 2024, a brand new loot shooter called The First Descendant launched on Steam and consoles. At launch, you can snag some cool cosmetics through Twitch Drops.
What rewards are available? The First Descendant offers five different drops rewards that you can earn over time on Twitch:
With the chest trophy “Delicious Pizza,” you can pin a slice of pizza to your chest.
15,000 gold and 1,500 Kuiper shards to help you upgrade your weapons and descendant modules.
With the emoji “Sigh,” you can express your feelings.
The “Twitch Colors” 2-piece paint set will make your character glow in purple and yellow.
A beautiful back can be pleasing – especially with the back trophy “X-Ray.”
Here’s an overview of all Twitch Drops for The First Descendant:
You can currently claim these rewards on Twitch.
Apart from the in-game currency, the rewards are purely cosmetic and do not seem to give you any real advantage in the game. To receive the drops, you need to watch one or more streamers of your choice playing on Twitch.
Below we tell you what you need to keep in mind to secure your Twitch Drops.
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Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
How to get the Twitch Drops for The First Descendant
What do I need to do? First, you need a Twitch account or you must log in to your existing account. You need to link your Twitch account to your game account to receive the rewards in-game.
To link your accounts, you can visit the website of Nexon.
You can also link the accounts if you have already spent the necessary time in a stream. Just follow the instructions on Twitch.
Once your accounts are linked, you can choose a streamer who is streaming The First Descendant and has drops activated. Here you can find current streams of The First Descendant on Twitch. Keep an eye out for streams that have “Drops” in the title or use a tag like “DropsActivated” or “DropsEnabled”.
Once you have found a stream you like, you need to watch long enough to receive the reward of your choice:
Chest trophy “Delicious Pizza”: 15 minutes
15,000 gold and 1,500 Kuiper shards: 30 minutes
Emoji “Sigh”: 60 minutes
2-piece paint set “Twitch Colors”: 90 minutes
Back trophy “X-Ray”: 120 minutes
You can usually also keep the streams running in the background on your phone or PC; however, the time should still be measured. Once you have watched long enough, you can claim your reward in your Twitch Drops inventory. Click “Claim Now” for that.
After that, you should find your Twitch Drops in your village mailbox in The First Descendant.
Note: Currently, there seem to be delays in receiving the Twitch Drops. On the official X account, it states that they are already working on speeding up the delivery of the rewards and will keep fans updated.
Charlie Sheen was the figurehead of Two and a Half Men. When he was fired, many fans were not pleased, especially after Ashton Kutcher became the replacement. Actually, another actor was even planned, but he declined despite a good offer.
After Sheen, Ashton Kutcher took over the lead role. In the show, he played the tech millionaire Walden Schmidt. However, another actor had been approached previously, who declined despite a large salary of over 650,000 dollars per episode.
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Two and a Half Men – Trailer for Season 11 with Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher
Hugh Grant was also considered
Who was originally supposed to replace Sheen? After Sheen was fired, the producers were looking for a new actor to take on the lead role. Hugh Grant was also considered, as he explained on The Howard Stern Show.
In the interview, the actor explains that the big problem was that they did not provide him with a script. There was also no concept for a new character yet. The producers told Grant to just trust them, but that felt too risky for him.
Hugh Grant became especially well-known through romantic comedies, where he could impress with his charm. Notable films include Notting Hill or Bridget Jones. However, he is now also trying out quirkier roles, such as in The Gentlemen or Wonka.
The fee would have been worth it for Grant. As Screen Rant reports, Ashton Kutcher earned 700,000 US dollars per episode, which is about 652,000 €. Charlie Sheen even received 1.8 million US dollars in his last season, which is almost 1.7 million €. Both Kutcher and Sheen were among the highest-paid actors during their time on the show.
What does Grant say about Kutcher? Grant is also asked by Howard Stern if he watched the show out of curiosity. He says that while the show was still very good, Kutcher’s character was different from the one that was sold to him.
If you look at how well the seasons have been rated on IMDb, you can see a downward trend after Charlie Sheen’s departure. The first 8 seasons always had an average rating of about 8 out of 10. From season 9 with Ashton Kutcher, the show declined, with the last season even reaching a rating of 4.23 out of 10. For those who want more comedy series, they should check out this list: 5 series like Married with Children
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new loot shooter from Nexon, The First Descendant, launched today, July 2nd, on Steam. The free-to-play game has 197,000 concurrent players, but the reviews are only mixed. There has been criticism of the cash shop, which apparently isn’t working as intended.
Nexon is a South Korean MMORPG giant: Their MMORPG “Dungeon Fighter” is nominally the largest PC MMORPG in the world. Their games are largely unknown to us, only MapleStory is somewhat familiar. Their free-to-play MMORPGs are traditionally seen as pay-to-win – there was even a major scandal with MapleStory, because players were lied to for over 10 years.
The launch of The First Descendant was this morning at 9 AM on Steam. It is free to play.
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Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
This was the rush: Currently, the number of players on Steam is steadily increasing. The record was 197,400 players – but the player count could still rise further.
Negative reviews are increasingly coming from Asia
This is what the reviews on Steam say: Currently, The First Descendant has only 46% positive reviews on Steam, which is considered “mixed.” This is a weak rating.
However, most negative reviews are coming from Asia:
In Chinese, there are only “26% positive reviews”
Korea, with “34% positive reviews”, views the game significantly more critically than the West
In German and English, 58% of all reviews are positive – while not great, it is still significantly better.
Cash shop and problems within it are lowering the reviews
A positive review in German after 3.5 hours praises the game’s graphics and well-thought-out characters. However, the positive review also notes that players can spend money to progress faster in the game.
This seems to be the main point of criticism for many negative reviews: A too lavish cash shop where you can buy anything your heart desires is being criticized. Exactly what one would expect from “Nexon,” as one reviewer remarks sarcastically.
Several negative reviews occurred due to the launch date on Steam, June 30th. While the timing was marked as the start, and the game did go online, it was only a preload. For that, The First Descendant received some negative reviews on Steam.
Players buy items, but do not receive them
This is the outrage currently: Ironically, it seems to be causing negative reviews on Steam that players buy currency, “Caliber,” for the battle pass but do not receive this currency.
Six trailers show you the various characters you can play in the loot shooter. Their combat style and individual abilities are presented.
What playable characters will there be? The first trailer focuses on the tough fighter Gley.
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Gley nutzt ihre eigene Schwäche, um stärker zu werden
Gley seems to spare no expense in battle. She sacrifices her own HP to switch to what is known as Frenzied Mode, in which she is practically unstoppable. She drains energy from her opponents to restore her own HP. In combat, she keeps her enemies at bay with firearms.
Another trailer introduces Viessa, who fights her opponents with icy attacks.
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Viessa kämpft mit Eis
Viessa uses ice to freeze her opponents and slow them down for a certain period. She employs various attacks and abilities for this purpose. She can target the ice at individual enemies or unleash a large blizzard that explodes after a certain time, hitting many enemies at once.
The character Lepic brings plenty of action to the battlefield with his mechanical arm.
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Lepic uses his mechanical arm for combat
In battle, Lepic demonstrates how effective grenades can be against his enemies. Among other things, he can throw grenades that attract several enemies in the vicinity before they explode. Lepic creates further area damage with his ability “Overkill,” where he generates a kind of energy field that deals continuous damage.
Another trailer introduces Enzo, who proves himself not only to be a great fighter but also a team supporter.
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Enzo proves himself as a perfect support
Enzo uses his drones to inflict damage on enemies on the battlefield. This way, he can hold his own in combat at range. However, Enzo is also interesting as a support for the team. He can call supplies to the battlefield with his drones, providing extra ammunition, for example.
In another trailer, the healer Yujin is introduced as a good support for your team.
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Yujin ensures the healing of the team
Yujin uses his skills and equipment to support his teammates. Among other things, he can throw serum bottles that refill the HP of the other players while also damaging enemies. He ensures that teammates receive healing, even if he is not present, with drones that follow other players, or he creates entire “healing zones” on the ground.
Finally, Esiemo is introduced, who attacks with explosive strikes.
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Esiemo nutzt mächtige Bomben im Kampf
On the battlefield, Esiemo installs bombs that explode shortly after being placed, dealing massive damage. He can also place multiple bombs and mines and ignite them simultaneously with his ability to inflict damage on multiple enemies at once.
With these characters, you can tackle the story mode as well as the strategic boss fights in the 4-player coop mode of the shooter. The First Descendant also has a lot to offer visually. You can find more really beautiful games here: 5 games that surprise with impressive graphics.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The latest expansion of Final Fantasy XIV has finally been officially released. After four days in Early Access, MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß can say: Dawntrail is a great RPG, but there’s no trace of the MMO in MMORPG.
Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail started in Early Access on June 28, 2024, and officially released on July 2. I took the Friday off for the launch and have since invested 25 to 30 hours into the new add-on. Currently, I have about half of all the content behind me and am facing the Level 95 dungeon.
This isn’t my first foray into the MMORPG: My subscription has been practically uninterrupted since 2016, and I’ve played all new content at release except for patches 6.3 to 6.55. Except for hardcore raids.
Accordingly, I have about eight years of experience in Final Fantasy XIV and a total of four out of five expansion launches under my belt going into Dawntrail.
Are there spoilers in this article? I am myself a strong advocate of the unofficial anti-spoiler policy in the English-speaking community (no spoilers for 4 weeks after release), but I won’t be able to avoid it completely. However, I will refrain from specific story details.
The new expansion – This is Dawntrail in a Nutshell
What is Dawntrail like? Dawntrail is vacation, summer, and sunshine. Dawntrail is colorful.
But Dawntrail is also another expansion following the now-familiar Final Fantasy XIV formula. So, first things first:
Yes, the story starts slowly, and at times it is really tedious
The first two areas are again hidden behind two different quest lines
The dungeons are faced with 4 players and each has 3 boss encounters
Every few levels there is a dungeon
There are two boss encounters during the leveling process
We must unlock flying with mounts in the new areas with wind aether sources
This is how Dawntrail compares to previous FF14 expansions: If there was something in earlier expansions that you didn’t like, you won’t like it in Dawntrail either. Although FFXIV mastermind Naoki Yoshida stated that the new expansion is supposed to become more MMO after focusing on single player – there is still no trace of that in the leveling process.
But I must also say that Dawntrail leaves me with a well-rounded and polished impression overall. The team has learned from the last expansions and does what it does really well: telling a beautiful story that is spectacular, almost cinematic. Just with a focus on single player, not group content.
A new story approach: Mentor instead of Main Character
What is Dawntrail about? You still play the Warrior of Light and are a world-renowned adventurer. However, you take a step back to assist the new protagonist as a mentor:
Your protege is Wuk Lamat, a female Hrothgar and the adopted daughter of the current ruler of Tuliyollal. The ruler wants to gradually hand over power to a successor.
It is precisely here that the candidate needs your help. She is one of four candidates for the throne and must now pass seven trials and find a legendary golden city.
The story trailer gives you a good first impression of what to expect:
Start video
Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
You are not the center of the expansion
This is your role: Surprisingly, Square Enix has written the mentor role really well. The constellation in the game reminds – at least until halfway – of Stormblood:
You are not at the center, but you are a supporter of a good cause. Instead of freeing Ala Mhigo together with Lyse, you help Wuk Lamat to outshine her competitors – some of whom have warlike ambitions.
Am I still the main character? Yes and no. Every person is the main character of their own story, so your Warrior of Light remains your personal focus. For Tuliyollal and the future of the country, however, it is more important that Wuk Lamat passes the trials and personally matures with each trial.
After 90 levels in which you were at the center of the story, this is unusual at first.
More beautiful and colorful – Square Enix flexes its graphics and tech muscles
How does the graphic update affect? Final Fantasy XIV does not look like Horizon Forbidden West. Naoki Yoshida warned against expecting that. But with the update to 7.0, the MMORPG received a fresh coat of paint.
Especially in old areas from A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, the difference is noticeable. The younger the area, the less obvious the changes are.
Dawntrail itself boasts a riot of colors. At times it even feels as if the team decided to show how good the game can look with the new areas.
Here are some impressions. Click the images to enlarge them.
One of the ARR regions.Especially the older areas have benefited.The new player hub is rich in color.One of the two first new areas in Dawntrail.New area number 2.I won’t reveal where you find this forest, for spoiler reasons.
The cutscenes are of higher quality with Dawntrail
Are there noticeable technical improvements in the expansion? Final Fantasy XIV tells its story largely through cutscenes. What starts comparatively statically in A Realm Reborn has improved with each new expansion.
Now in Dawntrail, the productions take a significant leap forward:
The camera movements are noticeably more dynamic and varied
The own character reacts much more often and is more in focus (despite the mentor role)
The hand animations are now partially visible and really well animated – in previous expansions, Square Enix always shied away from this
Action scenes are underscored with new, stylish effects
I am personally a big fan of the feature to hide other players when I am standing or interacting with a quest NPC.
Because during the releases of Shadowbringer and Endwalker, I barely saw any quest NPCs: The large groups of players around them at launch made it impossible if you didn’t hide other players.
Now I am noticing: The NPCs even move when you talk to them.
All in all: Dawntrail is a beautiful single player, whose story does not stress me (yet). A welcome change after the universe-threatening challenges of Shadowbringer and Endwalker.
However, this makes me wary: The development team actually wanted to bring more MMO content. However, Dawntrail does not feel like that.
Because the two new classes are damage dealers, group play suffers
So far, I have not played any of the dungeons or the one trial that I unlocked with other players. My main is Dragoon, so an attacker. Because the two new classes are also attackers and everyone wants to level these now, the role queue times for combat content are exceptionally long. You often wait 60 minutes for a dungeon invite.
I would like to use the time differently if I already know it will take a while. For example, taking a break: Walking the dog, going shopping, or enjoying the 32 degrees with bright sunshine on the balcony. But after 30 minutes of inactivity, the game logs you out. Then you only have other in-game content left – but these must not interfere with the queue.
Even if I replace other players for a dungeon, it doesn’t mean I will get in faster: Because there are too few tanks and healers due to the two new damage dealers, the wait time will only shorten if you fill these classes.
My focus in testing was to see as much of the expansion as possible. So I ultimately jumped in everywhere I could with the NPCs. With them, I can immediately access the content – without the annoying wait times.
Yes, I see other players. But I have only interacted with them for small challenges in the overworld so far. There is no reason for me to form groups with others. The game makes it too easy for me to get everything done alone, and too tedious to wait for real players.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Here are the 2 new jobs in Dawntrail – Pictomancer and Viper in under 2 minutes
Level phase is solo-heavy – MMORPG contents are expected to be added later
Final Fantasy XIV is currently supposed to cater to two different types of players: MMORPG fans and story enthusiasts. I suspect that the mandatory main story is designed to be as easy and without waiting times as possible for everyone.
So both groups can get their money’s worth: The story player can role-play undisturbed, while the MMO player is not hindered by long waiting times from reaching the endgame.
Real MMORPG content will likely come in the course of patches. The new Bozja or the next 8-man raids, for example. Until then, however, we are all currently alone in the crowd.
Bozja (Shadowbringers) and Eureka (Stormblood) are instanced content for up to 70 players per instance. Players can either hit the ground running with existing groups or form groups there. For the patches of Dawntrail over the next years, such content for level 100 is promised. Here, there will also be the challenging 48-man dungeons.
I personally love good stories in games. But I miss having to interact with my fellow players. Currently, it is very easy to play completely alone. That may be good for some, but those who start with Final Fantasy XIV in Dawntrail looking for an MMORPG will search in vain for it at least until the Level 95 dungeon.
And I can’t even talk to my friends about it because I don’t know who has unlocked what. I am the last person who wants to accidentally spoil the story for others.
Regularly I log in, we do our dailies, and then go to the endgame – whether it’s raids, trials, or treasure maps. But right now, everyone is busy with the leveling process. And that is unfortunately very lonely in Dawntrail.
Whether the content mix in Dawntrail is good or bad, you have to decide for yourself in the end. Personally, I would prefer it if my fellow players were more than the zone-populating NPCs that I will probably never cross paths with again.
The launch of the expansion went relatively smoothly compared to previous expansions. Perhaps due to the really very good weather, I only had a queue of more than 1,500 people in front of me for the initial login at the Early Access start.
The EM fever has completely gripped Kevin “Papaplatte” Teller. On Twitch, the streamer reports that he watches every game – and hardly recognizes himself in the process.
Since when has Papaplatte been infected with football fever? Recently, Papaplatte reported on Twitch about his newly discovered passion for football. Up until that point, he had apparently followed not just every single game of the ongoing EM but had really cheered along as well. This seems to have unexpected effects on the Twitch streamer.
Papaplatte’s streaming colleague IShowSpeed even traveled to Germany specifically for the EM.
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IShowSpeed gets the receipt for barking at a 6-year-old boy
The “totally cool” EM elicits dad jokes from the streamer
What are the effects? As Papaplatte reports, during the games he has become a “real football dad”: From his living room sofa, the Twitch streamer is said to have commented on the games with classic phrases (“Ah, nice!”). Especially during the Germany games, he was really “pumped”.
When the 1-1 equalizer was scored against Switzerland, he even yelled loudly, although he was watching the game alone at home with his girlfriend. The streamer hardly recognized himself as he sat there with his potato-leek soup, celebrating: “[I] thought: Dude, who am I?”
You can watch the corresponding stream excerpt here:
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The Twitch streamer also tries to explain why this EM has such a strong effect on Papaplatte: Although he himself doesn’t quite know what it is, the EM is “totally cool” and the German team is “really awesome”. The fact that the championship is taking place in their own country apparently adds to the hype.
So is Papaplatte now a real football fan? Well, when it comes to football knowledge, the Twitch streamer seems to still be a bit lacking. For example, during a football player guessing game, he confidently confused Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack. See for yourself:
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Fortunately, Papaplatte has the perfect excuse ready to explain the slip-up: He was high and the video was AI-generated (via X). That certainly explains a lot.
