On June 21, the new MMORPG Tarisland will launch. MeinMMO was able to play the game on the server in China and has brought you 5 tips and tricks to succeed in your start.
When the lights turn on in Tarisland worldwide on June 21, 2024, the game has already been out in China for a long time. We were able to get a first impression on the server there and have brought you 5 tips and tricks for your start.
Dungeons, Friend Tokens, and Daily Quests
In Tarisland, there are five different tasks to complete every day. For one of the tasks that occurs regularly, you must complete a dungeon, sometimes on the Elite difficulty, with friends or guild members.
If you can’t find anyone who is interested, there’s no need to be frustrated. It is enough to add the players you are in a dungeon with as friends during your run. As long as they accept before the instance is completed, you will complete the quest.
For successfully completing quests with friends, you will also earn Friend Tokens that you can exchange in the “Friendship Store” for various items, a mount, and silver.
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Tarisland shows ‘Rage of the Dragon’ in the new trailer
Don’t Lose Your Gold When Trading
Buying and selling items in the auction house is part of Tarisland, as in many other MMORPGs. However, one thing is not possible in Tarisland, and that is arbitrage. Arbitrage simply means you buy an item cheaply and sell it at a higher price. All purchased items in Tarisland are bound to you. This means you cannot directly trade them.
If you buy materials and craft something, the final product can be traded again. This way, you can also take advantage of low market prices.
Auction house in Tarisland.
Pay Attention to the Values You Need from the Start
Every beginning is hard, but to avoid being at the bottom of the DPS meter, you can choose the right items from the start.
To find out what values you need, simply open your character window and look at the values you need at the top right, under your current specialization.
So just choose the items that are higher up in the priority list. The values will later unlock levels for your passive abilities, so it is worth focusing on a particular value.
The values sorted from important to unimportant.
After the Story, There’s Exploration
While in other MMORPGs collecting and exploring usually play a subordinate role, this is not the case in Tarisland. Exploring the map and collecting items contributes to your reputation rank. This unlocks new items in the reputation store, which also includes items that affect your character.
Specifically, it mainly concerns the Inscribed Stone Energy. You collect this to spend on passive values and bonuses in a skill tree. The values in this tree contribute significantly to character development.
So if you ever feel bored, take the opportunity to increase your reputation by collecting and exploring the map.
In Tarisland, you are limited in farming and crafting. Every time you do something related to professions, you consume Elation. The Elation refills over time, but when it reaches the limit, excess Elation is lost.
Even if you usually skip professions in other games, you should spend your Elation from the start in Tarisland, even if it’s just to mine stones and sell them.
However, those who act wisely and take advantage of the market can earn a lot of gold with their Elation without spending a single cent. MeinMMO author Cedric did this while playing in China and even earned the monthly pass in just a few days: Tarisland is neither a WoW clone nor a mobile game, it is the next big MMORPG
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Friday, June 21, 2024, the first DLC for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, will be released. Many fans are eagerly awaiting the expansion, but can the new content meet the high expectations of the players? We summarize the reviews from the first testers so you know what to expect.
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Summary
Metacritic score of 93.67 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
Lower ratings than the main game, but currently the highest-rated game of 2024.
Positive points: scope, map, atmosphere, bosses, weapons, and spells.
Negative points: navigation, recycled enemies.
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s how the DLC ratings look
How does the expansion perform on Metacritic? The first reviews of Shadow of the Erdtree are extremely positive. Across all three platforms – PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X – the DLC has an average score of 93.67. (As of June 18, 2024, 6:35 PM).
PS5: 95 (48 ratings)
Xbox Series X: 94 (7 ratings)
PC: 92 (39 ratings)
With these scores, Shadow of the Erdtree does not quite reach the high Metacritic scores of Elden Ring’s main game, but it is still the highest-rated game of the year 2024 so far. The remaining four spots in the top five consist of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (92), Destiny 2: The Final Shape (92), Animal Well (91), and Balatro (90).
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Elden Ring shows the DLC ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ in the story trailer
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s how the testers rate it
How did various media outlets rate it? Our colleagues at GameStar and GamePro have tested Shadow of the Erdtree on various platforms.
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s what the reviews say
What is well-received? Perhaps the biggest argument for Shadow of the Erdtree is the scope of the DLC. The various reviews make it clear that the expansion can hold its own against full-fledged games. This is evident not only in the new story but also in the size of the map and the number of bosses.
These remain a challenge with interesting attack mechanics – especially the final boss. The presentation of the bosses is also successful and contributes to the generally cohesive atmosphere.
You will experience this atmosphere mainly while exploring the game world. If you enjoyed this in the main game, you should have fun in the expansion as well, based on the reviews.
However, enjoyment does not only come from well-staged bosses or an atmospheric game world. The new weapons and spells are also praised, as they meaningfully expand the gameplay and offer new opportunities.
What is not well-received? The biggest criticism is the navigation. If you tend to get lost quickly or have trouble finding certain paths, Shadow of the Erdtree might pose some problems for you.
This also applies to the difficulty of the bosses. Here it is clear: it does not get easier. If the main game was too difficult for you, you will not suddenly become a pro-gamer in the DLC. For some, the high difficulty is definitely a plus, but for some of you, it could also mean frustration.
Some testers noted somewhat frustratingly that some enemies were recycled. That means you may encounter opponents whose fighting styles you already know.
In the interview, Christian Linke, the showrunner of Arcane, talks about what we can expect from Season 2 of the series about League of Legends. Among other things, the dark tone of the series is addressed and why there were internal discussions about it.
Christian Linke has been working for Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends, since 2010. He has served as the Creative Director in various roles. For five years, he took on the role of composer for the MOBA and also led a team of composers.
MeinMMO: We have recently learned that Arcane will end with the second season, and a major shock went through the fan community. The biggest question for many is: Why is it ending with the second season?
Christian Linke: From the beginning, we had a specific story that we wanted to tell. This also includes a specific ending that has always existed.
We are also just people who don’t like it when series don’t know when to stop. We all know those series.
Another reason is that we now have over 160 different characters in our game, and we have only addressed 11 of them in Arcane with the story. We would love to tell more stories. From a creative standpoint, it was time for us to take the next step and tackle more characters.
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ARCANE: Trailer shows what Season 2 is about
We were surprised at how many fans there are of Silco
MeinMMO: I’m very pleased to hear that because I also find it terrible when series just don’t know when to stop. What I would still be interested in is. That the ending is already so far planned, I understand that. But have things changed internally after the broadcast that were planned differently?
Christian Linke: No, actually not. The scripts for the second season were mostly already finished before the first season aired. We simply had to do it that way because we had too little time for other things. Normally, with something like this, you also have the opportunity to respond to fan feedback. We were able to slightly improve the animation style or the music and learn from it. I am very proud of what we are doing with the music in the second season. It will be much bigger.
Otherwise, we are simply following the path we set out on from the beginning. There were some surprises. We were surprised that so many people are fans of Silco. Silco, who kills or has people killed in both parts of the city.
We just thought: Okay? We didn’t imagine that when we wrote it.
Who conducted the interview? Leya is the editor-in-chief of MeinMMO and has been obsessed with League of Legends during her studies. So much so that she once flooded her ex-boyfriend’s apartment. She has consumed Arcane accordingly and is quite excited about the series. For two years she has been trying to get the interview with Christian Linke and is happy that it has finally worked out.
MeinMMO: I can fully understand that. One must not underestimate how much people love a good villain. Why are characters like Handsome Jack from Borderlands or the Joker so popular? Villainous characters are often interesting, and I think Silco is written well. I also believe it has to do with the loving moments between him and Jinx.
Christian Linke: Our main characters are champions from the game and ultimately all are fighters who fight through the story with fists and weapons.
We thought it would be cool if one of our characters was not a fighter in the traditional sense at all. His weapon is his words. Silco is dangerous because he is extremely intelligent and perceptive. I think that also gave the series a good different nuance.
Silco is one of the most popular characters in Arcane
MeinMMO: Does it bother you a bit that you killed one of the most popular characters from the first season?
Christian Linke: Good question! From a creative standpoint, no.
After all, we told Silco’s story. Silco was special because at the beginning he had nothing to lose. Vander had a family and at some point decided that his family was more important than political ideals. Silco always saw that as a weakness. He told himself that it didn’t matter whether he or one of his people died as long as he achieved his goals. Until one day he realized that Jinx was important to him. She became a person he no longer wanted to sacrifice. Especially not when he eventually got the chance from Jayce and suddenly had something to lose.
This change, realizing that and also learning about oneself happened in the end. That is Silco’s story.
If we had kept him in the story, the story for him would still have been over. Of course, we could have begun a new one for him. But that was the story we wanted for Silco, and that we found very beautiful. And that’s how it should remain.
Jinx has always asked herself whether she is a monster
MeinMMO: Family is always a big theme in Arcane. A strong motive is the sisterly relationship between Vi and Jinx. On the teaser posters, I noticed that we have a mirror here. In the poster for the first season, you can see Vi protectively placing her arm over Jinx. For the second season, you decided that Jinx is looking over Vi and embracing her. How should that be understood?
Christian Linke: On the first poster, the idea was that Vi was trying to protect her little sister from this very dangerous and ugly world. But Powder [before she got the name Jinx] did not turn away, but looked at everything and observed. She always had a fearful but also rebellious look. One always had the feeling that she had to look at it and form her own opinion.
In the second season, Jinx has grown into a very large person. She now also controls more of what happens in the story. I can’t really say more without revealing something you probably don’t want to hear. But internally, we always said that we want to turn everything upside down in the second season. Who the characters are and what they believe in.
In the first season, Jinx always asked herself whether she is a bad person. With the decision at the end of the first season, she more or less says that she is the monster. That is also always in the text of Sting’s song “I’m the Monster you created.” At the end of the first season, Jinx simply accepts that.
The second season then starts with this question and whether that remains the case, as the political ambitions of other characters will also lead to significant events.
MeinMMO: You just mentioned the music and how important it is for the story and the development of the characters. You said that you thought again about how you can get more out of the music for the second season. Can you explain a bit more how you use the music to underscore the story?
Christian Linke: Sure! From the very beginning, it was just interesting for us to have these mini-music videos in the episodes because our relationship with our animation studio Fortiche began many years ago with music videos. That’s why we always wanted to find a moment in each episode where the music takes center stage.
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League of Legends opens the 2024 season with an emotional trailer
The first season was quite difficult because we were also a new studio. We had never done anything like this before.
The second season has become musically much bigger. We could now dream bigger in the second season and have found many great artists to work with who also want to go further to extremes. We will have many different genres, even more than in the first season.
MeinMMO: It’s exciting that you set something completely new in motion with the first season and had to learn a lot in the process. What were the challenges for you in the second season?
Christian Linke: Many challenges in the second season really came from the story. The characters have simply changed a lot.
That was a huge challenge for our voices. We see many other colors of the characters and fundamental changes that are not always easy to capture. That was difficult. We had to push our speakers into different directions from how they voiced the characters in the first season.
Overall, it was simply difficult to visually capture the creative ideas of the story. That might not be a satisfying answer, but you will understand it when you see it.
MeinMMO: I noticed that the teaser that was recently released has a very dark atmosphere. I found the first season surprisingly dark. For example, you see the body of a child, there is the Yordle mother. Was it ever a topic for you that the tone is so adult and dark?
Christian Linke: From the very beginning, this was something where we received quite a bit of internal pushback. Our game has a specific rating that varies in some countries. There are countries where League of Legends is rated for ages 12 and up. And we were already told that we cannot mess with the rating. Otherwise, some people may not be able to play our game.
Paying attention to the rating and making the series we believed our fans wanted are two very different things. We wanted real drama in the series and stories that have consequences. Our characters should have to make difficult decisions.
It was never the plan for there to be murder and mayhem everywhere. But ultimately, stories without consequences are not real. We also went with our gut, and as hardcore League players, we told ourselves this is the series we want to watch.
Now we just have to make sure that we don’t mess with the ratings in Season 2.
All characters have dark moments
MeinMMO: Can we expect an even darker series with Season 2 if you are still concerned about the ratings?
Christian Linke: I would say the tone remains similar. Visually, we are exploring different directions even more. We are leaning a bit more into the abstract, the dark, but also the comical. One can say that characters that one has known positively only so far, like Caitlyn, are now discovering sides of themselves that explore other emotions. All our characters have dark moments.
Caitlyn will also discover a dark side in Season 2.
MeinMMO: Behind a creative work like Arcane, there is often a message or even several. Is there a message that you have placed special emphasis on in Season 2?
Christian Linke: There are probably many messages. But I always think it’s better when we ask questions. I find it very interesting how Jinx is perceived. What has always been central for us here is the question of whether one can ever forgive a monster. Especially when it is one’s own sister.
Especially as a German who has now lived in the USA for a while. It’s very easy to write someone off. When someone goes to prison, it is often said here that life is over. I hope that in Europe, people try to reintegrate these individuals into society. Politically, everything in the world is currently very explosive and dangerous.
We also have many sides in our story that do not get along. The ones that cannot communicate with each other. And then there are figures that sit somewhat in between. I believe the story is also a reflection of our lives, that of the people working on Arcane. Our various perspectives as a very international team are reflected in that.
MeinMMO: Finally, a personal question. Do you have a favorite character in Arcane and if so, who?
Christian Linke: In League of Legends, my favorite champ is Heimerdinger. There’s no better feeling than defeating someone with Heimerdinger.
Heimerdinger will also have some special moments in the second season. There’s only that because I’m the guy who always plays Heimerdinger, and my team always rolls their eyes. Heimer gets special treatment in Arcane.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the conversation Christian, hopefully again at the start of Season 2!
Criticism of the European League LEC in League of Legends is increasing. Fans are pointing out disadvantages and negative developments that could present issues similar to those faced by the notoriously poor US league LCS. Yet, it looked so promising in 2019.
Those were the golden times of the LEC: According to fans, there are 3 things that were true about the LEC 5 years ago but are now missing. In 2019, there were:
Big rivalries in the LEC, especially between the top teams Fnatic and G2, who were in a fierce battle for dominance. Fnatic had dominated the EU LCS in 2013 and 2014. But between 2015 and 2019, Fnatic became champions 4 times, and G2 won the championship 4 times – a real rivalry developed.
Then there were major stars that fans looked up to and had come to know and appreciate over the years, such as Perkz, Caps, and Rekkles. Popular casters in the English-speaking show like Caedrel and Quickshot also shaped E-Sports.
The LEC actually had international success, managing to keep up with teams from Asia: in 2019 G2, with Perkz and Caps teaming up, made it to the finals of the LoL Worlds, only to lose to super-carry Doinb and FunPlus Phoenix.
Seen as an example of the decline of LoL, the increasing commercialization:
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LoL: Whoever wants the new skin of Faker has to pay 450 €
The LEC has significantly declined since 2019
What is the problem? All these advantages are gone today:
G2 completely dominates the league. Since 2019, G2 has been crowned champions 10 times, giving away only 4 titles, and not to Fnatic, but to Rogue and MAD Lions. This started in 2019 when Perkz swallowed his ego, switched to the bot lane, and brought rival Caps (Fnatic) to G2, leaving him the mid lane.
Almost all of the big stars are gone, or they play a minor role like Perkz does now. Only Caps is still around. No real star has emerged since.
Internationally, the golden times of 2019 are long gone. Now, it is already a major success if G2 defeats a single team from Asia, but something like the finals seems unattainable, as the teams from Asia are too advanced.
Too many splits and commercialization, too few stars and successes
This continues to be criticized: In a thread on reddit, Riot is also accused of turning the commercialization knob too hard. The “Hall of Legends” and the excessively priced Faker skin are seen as pure profiteering.
Furthermore, the introduction of the third split has diminished the value of each split.
Another user adds that they have lost Bwipo, Rekkles, and Perkz – there is no connection to the new players. Additionally, G2’s dominance and the lack of a real rivalry are significant points.
A third user adds: If Caps or Jankos were to retire now, it would be hard to remain interested in the league at all.
Many base their criticism on the English casting of the games:
Many fans miss the caster Quickshot (36). He started his career as a caster at Riot on January 10, 2013, and ended his career at Rito on March 24, 2024.
Caedrel worked for Riot Games from January 2021 to September 2023 and is currently the dominant co-streamer for LoL.
Rekkles, the star of Fnatic, is now playing in the South Korean junior league.
E-Sport is now shaped by Twitch streamers
What’s behind this: This could be dismissed as whining from people getting nostalgic and longing for a time that cannot be regained.
But it is something more profound: What we are witnessing is that E-Sport globally is shrinking, and companies like Riot Games are no longer investing as much money into their own shows with accompanying organization and storytelling, but instead, Twitch streamers are broadcasting the games as “co-casters,” leaving the staging of their league to them.
Here in Germany, rights were taken away from the long-time partner Summoner’s Inn and given to a single Twitch streamer. This is similar internationally.
The games and leagues are no longer predominantly organized by Riot, who would also take care of the presentation, but the most important channels in each country are well-known LoL casters, who moderate these games alone or in teams. 6 people are allowed to co-stream the LEC:
The LCS has 9 official co-streamers, mainly consisting of stars from the last generation such as Doublelift, Meteos, or Sneaky.
Those were the days: Super-carry Doinb (left) became world champion in 2019. Caps (right) defeated Faker in the semifinals.
This focus on co-casting rather than a grand show makes it harder for viewers to follow the “sport-entertainment” storylines similar to wrestling.
Additionally, it must be said harshly that the LEC has lost touch with China and South Korea. It is hard to cheer for G2 all year and then see that the team is 2 or 3 steps behind the stars from China.
With Skyrim and Fallout 4, Bethesda landed two major gaming hits in the 2010s. Todd Howard has now discussed in an interview that he is annoyed they did not support both games like service games on a permanent basis.
What kind of interview was that? The interview was conducted by YouTuber MrMattyPlays. He currently has over 320,000 subscribers on YouTube. You can also find him on Twitch, where he currently has 31,484 followers.
The interview with Todd Howard was published by MrMattyPlays on June 16, 2024, on his YouTube channel. In just over an hour, they discussed Fallout, Starfield, and Elder Scrolls 6 among other topics.
Fallout 76 is also a topic in the interview. New content for it has already been announced:
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The new trailer for Fallout 76: Skyline Valley teases exciting innovations for 2025
Starfield gets a 10-year plan – Because Skyrim didn’t have one
What exactly did Todd Howard say? In the conversation, Todd Howard explained that he regrets not having supported Skyrim and Fallout 4 more significantly over the long term. Both games still receive (smaller) bug fixes and have been expanded with several DLCs or add-ons. However, for Starfield, they already have a 10-year horizon.
The expectation that we will update [Elder Scrolls 6] over many years exists, says Howard, When we look at Skyrim, which we are still updating to a limited extent, and all the creations and mods, [then it is] still a very popular game.
Specifically, he mentions Fallout 4: [We treated] Fallout 4 the same way, but we wish we had supported [the games] longer.
The first game they explicitly wanted to support long-term was Fallout 76 – a live-service game. Todd Howard says about this:
With [Fallout] 76, we knew: “Hey, this is a game that we will support for as long as possible. With Starfield, we approach it with the same understanding. And when we tackle Elder Scrolls 6, we need to start thinking about a 10-year horizon now.
Todd Howard in interview with MrMattyPlays, June 16, 2024
Why would Bethesda have wanted to support Skyrim and Fallout 4 longer? Skyrim and Fallout 4 are two of the best-selling games worldwide: Fallout 4 currently has around 25 million copies sold, while Skyrim has an impressive over 60 million since launch.
Skyrim is also now (almost) 13 years old. With such high sales figures and still high player counts (about 18,700 players of the Special Edition on average monthly according to Steamcharts), one can assume that additional DLCs and add-ons would have also sold well.
Fallout 4 is similar. Here too, a longer provision for the player base would likely have paid off for both sides.
At the same time, it is also the case that there is regularly new content for both games – just not from Bethesda. Especially the modding community of Skyrim has released over 60,000 mods for the game over the years alone on Nexusmods. Fallout 4 can at least boast over 48,000 mods.
Players of World of Warcraft go through several phases, from joy to frustration. Which one are you currently in?
World of Warcraft has become more than just a game for many players. Over the course of 20 years, this MMORPG has become an integral part of life and many players are inseparable from the world of Azeroth. However, in more than a decade, each of us has probably had a time when WoW simply didn’t bring the usual fun – particularly the looming content drought in Shadowlands has driven some players to take a break.
But each of us knows them and has probably experienced them: the 10 phases in the life of a WoW player.
Note: The article originally dates back to 2020, we updated it to reflect The War Within in 2024.
You can view the trailer for the next WoW expansion here:
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
Phase 1: The Perfect World
“There’s so much to do and always something to experience. Time flies, and I can’t keep up with all the content!”
The happiest time for every WoW player. There are many different experiences to be had, and something new awaits at every corner of Azeroth. Whether it’s dungeons, PvP battles, pet battles, hunting achievements, or simply cozy campfire RP at the lake in Stormwind.
Everything can be exciting, as much is new and unknown. Newcomers experience this phase, as do veterans returning after a long time who have to find their way again.
Phase 2: The Specialization
“Finally raiding and tackling mythic dungeons. I want to improve and constantly set new records with the guild!”
Specialization in WoW – some become PvE friends, others prefer PvP.
Sooner or later, everyone specializes a bit in World of Warcraft. Some focus on PvP, others on PvE or small side activities. One enjoys collecting pets, while another loves increasing achievement points. Some even play the “auction house game” and collect as much gold as possible. Why? Because they can.
Other activities lose value, and those who could previously be excited about many things now focus all their attention on the one goal: the best equipment, the highest PvP rating, or the largest pet collection.
“Another belt in the loot box… can’t there be something in there that I still need?”
Not the desired loot again. Frustration sets in.
Slowly but surely, you become an expert in the area you chose. Improvements from dungeons and raids are now hard to come by. Most pets have been caught. In PvP, the peak of what is possible seems to have been reached. Although you could still improve a bit in all areas, it would take a lot of time and effort. Meanwhile, the content is starting to feel a bit stale – after all, you’ve been doing nothing else for months.
Frustration arises and the longing for something new. At the same time, you don’t want to give up what you’ve achieved. After all, you’ve invested so many hours into this task!
Phase 4: Sense of Duty
“Yeah, come on. Let’s quickly down the last boss so we can get it over with.”
Playing out of a sense of duty – after all, you’re a committed group.
Fun has been pushed to the background for a long time now. Nowadays, most activities are pursued out of a sense of duty or habit. After all, you don’t want to let the guild down, and what would they do without you? Besides, every Friday evening has been a group activity in WoW, and humans are creatures of habit.
Apart from these mandatory dates, you’re still online in World of Warcraft, but not doing anything really productive. You’re standing in Orgrimmar and Stormwind, waiting around, following the server troll’s discussions in the trade chat, and feeling a bit unsatisfied with everything – but not so unsatisfied that you would stop playing.
Phase 5: Maximum Irritation
“How does Blizzard always come up with such garbage ideas? It’s obvious that the developers don’t play their own game. Even I could do it better.”
Your teammates wonder what’s bothering you – the answer is simple: everything.
Not only are you clearly annoyed by the game, but your teammates are also starting to get irritated by you – even if you don’t realize it. The current game design is trash and “always the same.” The changes announced for the future are also garbage, and you can’t understand what kind of idiots must be working there.
Your bad mood also affects your teammates, whose enjoyment in group activities is slowly diminishing as a result. Little by little, everyone loses the fun, and ultimately, you end up canceling your subscription.
“Why are you still playing this game? Since the developers made [any change], everything has been crap! Back in the day, WoW was still challenging, today it’s just for casuals!”
Everything is terrible! Everything is crap!
Finally, you see clearly. You were addicted to World of Warcraft. You were foolish. You simply didn’t know what a really good game should look like and wasted your time on the biggest trash ever programmed.
Don’t all the other stupid sheep see that Blizzard just wants to take their money? Don’t they realize that new content is solely intended to keep the mindless player herd trapped in the spiral for as long as possible?
Obviously, they don’t, because they aren’t as enlightened as you. But you know how to fix that. On news sites, in the subreddit, and in the official forum, you repeatedly proclaim that you haven’t played WoW in a long time because everyone needs to know that. Maybe, you hope, all those players will wake up.
After all, you’ve just discovered [any game] and it is the gaming revelation of the century! If you just repeat it often and persistently enough, surely the WoW idiots will appreciate your game too.
Phase 7: Crystal Ball of Disappointment
“Oh lol, now they’re really ruining the character. If [former Blizzard employee] saw what they made of his character, he would turn in his grave.”
Blizzard is ruining it! You are sure of that.
Blizzard has announced a new expansion for World of Warcraft. Amazing that this garbage game, which probably no one plays anymore, is getting another addon.
Well, it’s probably going to be the same old crap as always. New dungeons, new continents. They can shove that old graphics and outdated combat system where the sun doesn’t shine.
Most importantly: What kind of stupid story is in that trailer? Why is [Character X] suddenly so different? Why has [Character Y] become so weak? Blizzard is once again ruining its own lore, but you have been used to that for a long time.
The developers even blatantly claim that this time they will implement feedback and want to improve some aspects of the game. Luckily, you’re already familiar with that blah blah. Ever since [Developer A] left, everything has gone downhill!
“You’ve always been a Blizzard fanboy. You would still defend WoW even if the developers wanted a euro for every login.”
Others are just having fun while you complain. How stupid are they all?!
One of your friends got into the beta and raves about how great the new areas are. But he is one of those incorrigible sheep who will hang onto WoW for their entire life and will never be able to let go. What a knob.
Sure, what he’s saying does sound kind of cool – but he’s probably seeing it through rose-colored glasses.
You continue to let your skepticism run free. You eagerly comment on announcements, developer interviews, or player speculations. After all, the others must stop having fun. Don’t they still see that the addon is going to be trash and WoW is being pushed even further in another direction?
Phase 9: The Sweet Temptation
“You still play WoW? Aren’t you getting too old for that? I’ve outgrown it. The graphics give me eye cancer.”
They just don’t want to listen…
The expansion has been released. All your friends are playing again, hanging out on Discord and experiencing their first adventures in the new world. You haven’t managed to convert them to [any game]. If you’re honest, you’re not really playing it anymore either, as there’s also a bit of air out of that.
Cunning as Blizzard is, they’ve given you a test access for 3 days so you can check out the new expansion.
Well, what could it hurt? At least you can see for yourself that World of Warcraft is practically dead and that this expansion is the final nail in the coffin that will surely bury the game for good.
Phase 10: The Cycle
“Damn.”
You couldn’t resist and renewed your WoW subscription. Return to Phase 1.
So, which phase are you currently in?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A Titan ring that supports you decoratively, to train and sleep more restfully. We present to you the Amazfit Helio Ring.
What can the Amazfit Helio Ring do? The smart ring, which will soon be available in sizes 10 and 12 (via Amazfit website), is designed to monitor your health and sleep. It will be priced around 300 euros. The surface is coated with a titanium alloy.
According to the manufacturer, the corresponding app, which communicates via Bluetooth, will be compatible with Android starting from version 7.0 and from version 14 for iOS. The ring is also waterproof up to 10 ATM.
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Starfield shows the Chronomark watch of the Constellation Edition
A package of sensors
Which sensors are installed? Devices for monitoring body temperature and heart rate are used; additionally, the ring detects movement for fitness tracking via a 3-axis accelerometer and a gyroscope. Furthermore, an EDA sensor is installed. This registers the change in the skin’s conductivity in response to emotional stress.
How does the ring aim to improve my sleep? The app compiles all data during the night, enabling monitoring of light, deep, and REM sleep phases as well as your breathing quality during sleep, according to the provider. After the analysis, the app suggests ways to enhance the quality of your sleep.
How long does the battery last? Amazfit states that the ring lasts about four days on average usage without recharging. For a complete recharge, the 20.5 mAh battery takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The process is done wirelessly.
I already have the Amazfit Balance watch, can they work together? According to the manufacturer, they can be used side by side without issues. The data is automatically combined in the app. However, the watch is not necessary for the ring to make sense. It works alone as well.
What about third-party providers? Synchronization with third-party apps like Google Fit, Apple Health, or komoot and others is also possible.
Much more than just a gadget for the finger are the quasi-magical suits worn by the desert dwellers of Dune, the Fremen. Almost no or even any excreted water is lost, securing survival in the deserts of Arrakis. In this article, we introduce you to some Youtubers who have improvised a functioning replica in just one day: The desert suits from Dune sound too good to work – fans built one and are surprised
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Jumanji is an iconic movie featuring Robin Williams. The titular board game makes life difficult for the protagonists, but in reality, the game is not that hard and could be completed in 5 minutes. One should have just read the rules.
What is Jumanji? This refers to the board game that appeared in the film with Robin Williams in 1995. The video game from Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level is irrelevant here. The children Judy and Peter move into the former home of the missing Alan. In this house, they find an old dice game. However, it is not just a simple game, but a curse that brings various obstacles from the game to life.
The difficulty of Jumanji is not playing the game, but surviving the animals and natural disasters that materialize during the game. As Randy Meeks from Sensacine points out, Jumanji can, however, be finished in a matter of minutes.
You can find the German trailer for the cult classic here:
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Jumanji – Trailer for the cult film with Robin Williams
Just try to roll as quickly as possible
In his article, Meeks notes that the protagonists of the film should have simply rolled as quickly as possible. Instead of running or looking at what the next obstacle in the real world causes, each player should have played as fast as they could.
One might argue that the dangers in the real world are deadly, but there are also rules that can be circumvented, as user kinyutaka points out on Reddit.
You must face the danger that the game board sends. […] These dangers focus on the person whose turn it is, but they can also affect the whole group.
This means that not everyone has to try to flee from the dangers or find out what dangers arise, but only the person who just rolled. At the same time, Meeks points out that it is not defined where one plays the game and only the person who is currently rolling needs to be present. If they had tactically split up, they could have rolled more efficiently.
However, it must also be emphasized that rolling quickly sounds easier than it actually is. The threats are dangerous for everyone, including the other players. As one can see with the hunter, the dangers do not disappear when new fields are rolled quickly. Moreover, they are children who are exposed to great dangers and not spectators with sober logic.
Furthering this thought experiment, one must also consider that the demonic game Jumanji cannot simply be outsmarted. As seen in the later films, it is difficult to destroy the game at all. A big internet star almost had a cameo in the sequel to Jumanji: Ninja planned an acting debut in a Hollywood film – scene was cut
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On June 18, 2024, Pax Dei entered Early Access phase. However, the early access did not go smoothly at all. Many buyers are struggling with technical issues. Additionally, some MMORPG fans are disappointed with the scope and direction of the game.
Those who have read the play report from MeinMMO from the last alpha test phase of Pax Dei know: The sandbox MMORPG from Mainframe Industries balances between several genres and has several issues that need to be addressed urgently. Those expecting a classic online role-playing game will be disappointed.
Exactly this is now reflected in the impressions of many buyers of the freshly launched Early Access version of Pax Dei. On Steam, the sandbox adventure currently has just over 500 reviews, of which only 41 percent are positive. At peak times, there were over 10,382 players online in Pax Dei via Steam (via steamdb.info).
The trailer for the launch of the Early Access version of Pax Dei:
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Pax Dei: Trailer for the Early Access launch shows beautiful medieval world
What does the community criticize in detail? In their reviews on Steam, as well as on other platforms like reddit, many players take the time to dissect Pax Dei thoroughly. Here is a selection of the major points of criticism:
Many Pax Dei adventurers complain about lags, bugs, poor server instability, and performance problems.
The limited scope of the Early Access version is criticized, as is the current state of elements like the user interface and systems like combat.
Pax Dei often feels like a typical survival game but does nothing better than its strong competitors.
Games like Enshrouded have the better, more refined building system.
Pax Dei wants to be a social MMO, but important features like trading and currency are not yet implemented, and even the chat leaves much to be desired.
Progression is very slow and grindy. It takes time to acquire important recipes, discover all essential resources, and equip your character well enough to take on bears and other foes. When playing solo, the grind factor noticeably increases.
Here and there, it is also criticized that there are no clear statements regarding the final payment model and the amount of the monthly subscription.
Many of the critics draw a comparable conclusion: In its current state, Pax Dei is not worth 40 to 100 euros. A “product refunded” label looms beneath various negative reviews.
The graphics of Pax Dei receive much praise, but the performance is difficult.
Where Shadows Fall, There is Also Light
Is there also praise from the community? In the positive reviews (after all, 41 percent of 500+), the solid foundation is often praised and the potential that the Early Access version of Pax Dei offers is highlighted.
The user Womp even compares the game to a popular classic (via Steam):
“This game is made for people who loved Star Wars Galaxies. Building is fun and not restrictive, the skills are tricky and rewarding, and it is slow. Players make cute outfits and dress up, and engage in role-playing. They build taverns, houses, and shops which they then operate. They commission other players, trade, and chat. It’s fun.”
Many players also express great enthusiasm about the stylish graphics of the game world, which uses Unreal Engine 5. Especially if you own a computer that runs Pax Dei smoothly at high settings, excitement spreads.
In Pax Dei, you can pursue a career as a blacksmith and provide other players with armors and weapons.
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate the feedback as well as the Early Access version of Pax Dei? Many of the criticisms show that some of the statements made prior to the EA launch by Mainframe Industries did not resonate with parts of the community.
The developers emphasized beforehand that buyers should expect a genuine Early Access phase, with many issues, missing features, and server wipes.
Moreover, they clarified a few days ago on the official website what Pax Dei is not: not a theme park MMO, not a medieval simulation, not a survival game, not a fast-paced game, not a game for single players (via Mainframe Industries).
Additionally, there were numerous play reports from the alpha test phase, thanks to which it was clear what kind of gaming experience Pax Dei currently offers. Various buyers of the founder’s packages seem to have started the Early Access phase quite uninformed, leading to a nasty surprise.
What can also be credited to the developers: On the official Discord channel, there were regular status updates well into the night (03:34 AM). Mainframe Industries was visibly eager to resolve the worst issues promptly. However, it will likely take some time before Pax Dei becomes a recommendable game.
In FC 24, new tasks have appeared for the EURO 2024. If you complete them, you will be rewarded with a decent amount of XP. However, some tasks are hidden behind a riddle. We have the solutions for you.
What are these secret tasks? The new secret tasks are part of the task block “EURO Highlights”. These are meant to remind you of historical moments, teams, or players in the history of the European Championship. You have until July 11 to complete the tasks.
EURO Highlights consists of 5 sub-tasks. Each of these tasks gives you 400 XP when completed. For finishing the entire block, you will receive another 400 XP as a bonus.
3 of the 5 tasks are puzzling and expect you to search for a solution. Here, you can see all the solutions at a glance.
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EA Sports FC 24: Update teaser for the UEFA Euro 2024
EURO Highlights: All solutions for the secret tasks
Below, we briefly summarize the riddles for you and then present the solution. You can complete the tasks in any mode of Ultimate Team.
Le Roi
Riddle: we are looking for the country of a player who scored 9 goals in 5 games in 1984
This is the solution for Le Roi: The Frenchman Michel Platini is the player we are looking for. So grab a player from France and score 9 goals with him in any mode.
Unique
Riddle: we are looking for the professional with the most goals and most games in European Championships
This is the solution for Unique: The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo is the player we are looking for. With one of his 6 versions in Ultimate Team, you need to score at least 2 goals in 5 separate matches. However, obtaining a Ronaldo card for less than 600,000 coins is currently very problematic because everyone needs CR7.
Trophy Cabinet
Riddle: we are looking for the two nations that have already been European champions 3 times
This is the solution for Trophy Cabinet: The countries meant are Germany and Spain. Create a team with at least 5 Spaniards and 5 Germans and win 4 matches with them.
The tasks can be very well combined. You can build a complete team of Germans and Spaniards to achieve full chemistry. Just add a Ronaldo card and a French player on the bench. Substitute them during the game to score goals with these players. Some have already made history, while others want to write a new success story. With our Make Your Mark Tracker, you can accompany the stars on their journey.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Parallel to the announcement of the release date of Throne and Liberty, an article appeared on the official website of Amazon Games, in which the publisher, as well as developer NCSoft, comment on the upcoming launch in the West.
In South Korea, Throne and Liberty was already released in 2023. However, the MMORPG fell short of NCSoft’s expectations there. Consequently, the leadership of the team changed. Ahn Jong-ok is reported to have stepped down from his position. Executive Director Moonyoung Kap is now setting the direction, and is openly considering a mobile port.
What influence does Amazon Games have on Throne and Liberty? Similar to Lost Ark, the studio behind New World is handling tasks such as localization, marketing, publishing, and management of the live service.
In an article on the official website of Amazon Games (via amazongames.com), Moonyoung Kap explains what fruits this collaboration has already borne:
Even though some international players are already enjoying the experience on Korean servers, we do not often have the opportunity to gather and evaluate comprehensive feedback. Thanks to the collaboration with Amazon Games, we received feedback from a broad audience of global users.
Amazon Games did not simply dismiss user needs as demands. They convinced our team through various reports and data of why certain changes were necessary and how many users would welcome them.
Moonyoung Kap, Camp Captain at NCSoft for Throne and Liberty
According to Daniel Lafuente, Globalization Design Manager at Amazon Games, the direction Throne and Liberty has taken over the past year has been significantly shaped by the hosting of public testing phases and the insights gained from them.
The adjustments arising from the insights aim to ensure that Throne and Liberty “hits the mark with a global audience” upon launch in September. How? By improving the core experience while preserving “what makes Throne and Liberty so great.”
The new trailer for Throne and Liberty introduces you to the world of Solisium:
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Throne and Liberty: New trailer reveals release date, introduces the fantasy world of Solisium
The Strengths of Throne and Liberty
What is to characterize the MMORPG? Throne and Liberty places a strong emphasis on content where large groups of players can cooperate or compete against each other, such as siege battles, guild wars, and world boss challenges.
“For many, Throne and Liberty offers a seamless gaming experience, even in environments where many players meet. This is one of the strengths of the game. A multiplayer online RPG is distinguished from a single-player adventure by the large number of players. That is why we are very proud of the technical skills of our development team.”
Daniel Lafuente emphasizes this strength of the MMORPG:
The game is based on a few really powerful technologies that make massive PvP battles and events, where thousands of players compete against each other, and the smooth experience we have all learned to love, possible.
I love the pursuit of greatness and spectacle, but what excites me the most is the focus on the community. Throne and Liberty has an exceptionally deep guild system that allows players to face challenges together with friends. It’s the perfect mix of modern features for cooperation on such a large scale.
Daniel Lafuente, Globalization Design Manager at Amazon Games
What advantages do guilds offer in T&L? Moonseop Lee also has an answer to this question: “In Throne and Liberty, many goals can be achieved through guilds, such as guild leaderboards, conquest battles, or castle sieges. Guilds are at the heart of strategic, competitive battles.
Guild members pursue common goals hand in hand and benefit from a guild reward system. This includes receiving raid items and rewards from events that are shared among members. However, the greatest incentive of a guild is the sense of belonging. You always have a companion at your side.”
Throne and Liberty focuses on content for large groups of players.
What are conquest battles? Conquest battles are large PvP events in which guilds compete against each other for two objective goals: blessing stones and discord stones. The guild that controls one of the two stones receives valuable bonuses and guild resources. Furthermore, the guild that possesses a discord stone is granted the exclusive opportunity to challenge a daily field boss.
What happens during castle sieges? In castle sieges, players compete against each other to capture a … you guessed it … castle. In these chaotic battles, sophisticated strategies are supposed to lead to victory.
The attackers must strategically divide their forces, effectively use unique elements like golems, and secure respawn points. Smaller guilds are also intended to participate and contribute, for example, by taking over looting sites to collect taxes.
Which animal form from Throne and Liberty should it be?
What else does Throne and Liberty offer? In the MMORPG, you can expect PvPvE dungeons, a classless character system that allows you to switch between two weapon types at any time, as well as a game world that is supposed to make exploration feel rewarding.
The latter is supposed to be supported both by the dynamic transformations into animal forms and by the way the game world reacts to weather phenomena. Torrential floods, for example, can inundate areas extensively.
What experience does Amazon Games have with MMORPGs? Amazon’s Games division has already shown that it can handle successful MMORPG launches with New World (internally developed) and Lost Ark (developed by Smilegate).
With 1,324,761 (Lost Ark, rank 4) and 913,027 (New World, rank 7) concurrent active players, it has managed to etch itself into the all-time top 10 on Steam (via steamcharts.com) not just once but twice. However, retaining a large number of players long-term has not yet succeeded. Both MMORPGs have suffered from various issues since their respective launches, which persist to this day.
The comparison with Lost Ark arises not only because Amazon Games acts as a publisher for another Asian developer here. The payment model will also be comparable in T&L (Free2Play with in-game shop).
Thus, Amazon Games’s goal for T&L must be to create a foundation for the launch in September that avoids the issues of Lost Ark (bots, grind/random factor in endgame, overwhelm) and builds an active community in the long term. More information about the new MMORPG: Amazon Games is bringing Throne and Liberty in September – trailer, date, and open beta
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Gronkh shares his personal sports tip with his community on Twitch to stay motivated.
What sports trick does Gronkh share? In one of his recent streams, Gronkh talks about how he stays active. When asked where he keeps all his sports equipment, he answers that he has everything set up in the living room. The reason for this is that he can watch Animes while exercising.
„Stop giving me money against my will“ – This is how confused Gronkh was by his first donation on Twitch
“I need some motivation”
Why does Gronkh do this? Gronkh explains in his stream on Twitch that he needs it to have motivation to exercise. He compares it to people who always need music to work out; he needs the Animes for exercising. With this perspective, he seems to find a lot of resonance in his community.
When asked how his partner feels about him filling the living room with fitness equipment, he starts laughing: Yes, yes, she always hates me when I do that, but not in a bad way, of course.
Reactions from the community: Although the tip may not seem new to many in the community, some agree that it also helps them motivate themselves for sports. Some users write under the clip on TikTok:
Nerozar writes: Same here. Either I’m watching something or gaming on the console.
Mr.&Mrs. LvL Up comment: Please, what could be better than having a pedal trainer in the living room and gaming at the same time? It’s a total game-changer.
mrsbrown_eye notes: First a round of Sailormoon on the treadmill.
Elden Ring will receive its long-awaited DLC in just a few days. While most fans are still eagerly waiting for the release, I was already given the chance to enter the Shadow Lands and suffer. The content and bosses were impressive, but what drove me to the edge of madness was the map.
With my 10 years of Souls experience in various FromSoftware games, I was thrilled when the editorial team gave me the opportunity to play the DLC before anyone else. I downloaded the update, picked my best build, and immediately threw myself into the Shadow Lands. I thought, “If the DLC is as big as Limgrave, I’ll be through in less than 12 hours” – ha, was I naive.
Alongside the most intense bosses I have ever fought, it was primarily the map that kept me occupied the longest. Everyone wants an overview of the individual areas, but in order to achieve that in the DLC, you will either get lost for hours or resign in despair.
Who is writing here? 10 years in the fascinating universes of Hidetaka Miyazaki and still, MeinMMO author Christos Tsogos can’t get enough of the relentless worlds of Souls games. From Demon Souls to Elden Ring, he has completed it all and platinumed each game. With much experience in bosses and a good sense of navigation, Christos maneuvered through the Souls content like it was nothing, yet the DLC even slowed down our expert and showed him that experience alone is not enough.
In the DLC, everything is winding, including the map
In Elden Ring, there is the majestic Erd Tree – straightforward and pure like the Golden Order. In the Shadow Lands, the Scad Tree – winding and decayed. If you want to explain how complicated the map of the DLC is, just look at the gloomy tree from a distance. Trailers and images from FromSoftware already showed the black Scad Tree on the horizon of the Shadow Lands.
Two trees tightly intertwined – the Scad Tree
I knew the expansion would be complex, but I didn’t expect such complexity. Before I wanted to search the entire map for secrets, I wanted to unlock the map. As usual, fragments must be collected for this, and there are only 5 in total, instead of the 19 examples that could be found in the Interlands.
When you unlock the first part of the map, you would think that the areas of the Shadow Lands are simple, vertical, and easily accessible, but I spent 3 days wandering around the world trying to figure out how to uncover them. It drove me so crazy that I had to take several breaks to avoid completely losing my mind.
Even though the map demoralized me, I have to say that the team behind the DLC did a fantastic job. The expansion gives you the feeling that you don’t belong here. You are supposed to feel lost and disoriented, and that is exactly what the map’s design creates. Although I have now unlocked the entire map, I still get lost and forget paths that I had already discovered.
In addition to the complex map design, there is also praise for the scope of the DLC. Hidetaka Miyazaki promised a lot regarding the content, and I must say, FromSoftware has outdone themselves. I couldn’t collect all items like weapons or armor, but according to Fextralife (source: youtube.com), there are the following contents:
8 new weapon types
95 new weapons
10 new shields
39 new talismans
14 new spells
28 new summons
20 new spirit ashes
25 new war ashes
30 new armor sets
I was already overwhelmed by the amount of upcoming content only to find out that I had only collected half of it. Many users are excited about the information regarding the content density and express their excitement on Reddit:
“Basically, we have a game within the game. The Elden Ring will definitely not be the same after Friday” – Lightjumper0103
“The excitement/magic is back after a few years, the seconds are being counted down” – Dubbs09
“Their servers will finally melt down” – Serious_Ad_1037
“30 new armor sets! More to collect. MORE TO COLLECT.” – astraldreamer1
“I just collected at least one weapon, one talisman or one piece of armor this week. I can’t wait to collect so much more” – ItsRainingTrees
The DLC will not stay behind closed doors for long. It is set to launch in Germany at midnight on June 21. Players will then be able to venture into the Interlands, defeat Messmer, and uncover the secrets of Miquella and Queen Marika. I, for one, was shocked by the ending, and I believe you will be as well. We’ll see each other in the Shadow Lands, Stained.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In World of Warcraft: The War Within, your character cannot complete all quests. Because some tasks are not suitable for you.
With The War Within, there is the usual truckload of new quests for World of Warcraft. Every area is full of them, thus advancing the story. However, with the new expansion, there are some missions that are not intended for all types of heroes. Only those who play with evil forces can see them.
The latest trailer for WoW: The War Within:
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WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within
What kind of quests are these? In The War Within, there are some quests that can only be accepted and completed by certain classes or races. For example, on the island of Thorn, only Demon Hunters or Warlocks can accept a mission to catch a demon. However, there is also a quest in Healing Fall that many will never see.
Who is the quest for? The quest “Prove One’s Mettle” is available from Derill Fayn in Healing Fall, after you have completed a few other tasks for him. It is only accessible to the following characters:
Void Elves (Race)
Forsaken / Undead (Race)
Demon Hunter (Class)
Death Knight (Class)
Warlock (Class)
Shadow Priest (Specialization)
Members of these groups will hear derogatory comments from Derill in advance, such as: “Once a creature of the shadows, always a creature of the shadows.”
Derill wants extra proof that he can trust you – he lets you fight against shadows. (Image source: wowhead)
WoW players must prove they fight on the side of light
What happens in the quest? The quest is basically an extra mission to prove to an NPC that you are really fighting on the side of light and not for the darkness. The Arathi Derill Fayn wants you to kill a “manifestation of darkness,” which is essentially the essence of shadows. He doesn’t really believe that you will help, as he thinks you serve the shadows and will abandon him.
So, he is quite surprised when you stand by him and help to vanquish the shadows. Afterwards, he is a bit friendlier towards you and seems to respect that even heroes with shadow or void magic can contribute.
Why is Blizzard doing this? In the past, Blizzard has often included small details that can only be used or seen by certain races or classes. For instance, priests in “Battle for Azeroth” had different interactions with Xal’atath, as they already knew the shadowy lady from Legion. Elsewhere, red dragons react very sensitively to death knights, as they destroyed many dragon eggs in the past.
It is clear that Blizzard wants to show with such mini-quests or additional dialogues that you are not just the interchangeable, nameless hero of Azeroth, but that your own character is recognized in some ways. It makes a difference whether you are a human paladin or a Ren’dorei warlock.
At the same time, Blizzard also ensures with such quests that everyone can somewhat identify within the game world. Especially in Healing Fall, the story revolves strongly around the Holy Light and its powers – which could make a warlock, void elf, or demon hunter feel out of place.
Valorant has been playable in beta on Xbox Series and PS5 since June 14, 2024. The first shooter fans are already diligently testing the console version of the tactical shooter and sharing their impressions on social media. A particularly large discussion was sparked by Riot’s handling of cheaters on PS5 and Xbox Series X, as players of another tactical shooter are envious of the strict measures.
How is cheating done on consoles? The biggest cheating problem in shooters on consoles is the use of mouse and keyboard (often referred to as “MnK”) in games that do not support mouse and keyboard play. This applies, for example, to the console version of Valorant, but also to Ubisoft’s tactical shooter Rainbow Six: Siege.
In both games, mouse and keyboard control is not natively supported. Players who still want to play with mouse and keyboard resort to so-called spoofers. These are devices that trick the console into thinking a controller is being used when it is not.
In both Rainbow Six: Siege and Valorant, the use of mouse and keyboard on consoles is considered cheating. Ubisoft and Riot take a clear stance on this and impose penalties when players still use mouse and keyboard on consoles. However, the penalties imposed by Riot Games in Valorant are received much better by players than those from Ubisoft.
Start video
Riot Games shows the console version of Valorant
How does Valorant deal with MnK players? If a player is caught using a mouse and keyboard in Valorant, they are banned and the match is immediately ended – no one loses MMR (points in ranked) or has to waste their time in games against cheaters.
Riot Games states very clearly:
Mouse and keyboard are not supported, and attempts to use them on consoles (e.g., spoofing) will lead to a ban. Valorant for consoles is intended to be played with a controller.
Developers of Valorant on the use of mouse and keyboard on console via riotgames.com
If “MouseTrap” detects that a player on console is using a mouse and keyboard, that player receives what is known as input lag. Input lag manifests itself, for example, through delayed movements – the player might move their mouse, but the corresponding action in the game only occurs with a noticeable delay.
With Year 9 Season 4, players who have been detected using a spoofer three times to play with mouse and keyboard on console will also be added to the PC matchmaking player pool for 90 days.
Why are players now envious of Valorant? A Reddit user shared a video in the Rainbow Six: Siege subreddit showing a player banned in Valorant on console for using a spoofer.
The user writes: “Valorant has just been released on consoles and they have already started banning Xim cheaters. What has Ubisoft actually been doing for years?” The user criticizes Ubisoft’s approach with their post and sounds envious of Valorant’s system.
Here you can see the user’s video on Reddit:
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Other Reddit users also criticize the MouseTrap system in the comments and praise Valorant for issuing bans. Many players wish Ubisoft would also ban players instead of just giving them input lag.
Rainbow Six: Siege has had a problem with “mouse and keyboard” players on consoles for years. They have a significant advantage in Ubisoft’s shooter because there is no aim assist like in Call of Duty or Apex Legends to help controller players aim.
The ASUS ROG Ally X is the successor to the ROG Ally and one of the most exciting competitors to the Steam Deck. MeinMMO has gathered all the important information for you and explains what you should pay attention to before making a purchase.
The manufacturer ASUS showcased the ROG Ally X at Computex 2024. The device was introduced as a successor to the popular ROG Ally. But is an upgrade or a new purchase really worth it?
MeinMMO presents you with all the important information regarding the ROG Ally X.
[toc]
ROG Ally X: Price and Pre-order
How much will the ROG Ally X cost? The ROG Ally X will cost 899 euros at release, making it significantly more expensive than its predecessor. For comparison:
The ROG Ally launched at a suggested retail price of 799 euros.
The Steam Deck OLED costs 679.00 euros with 1 TB of storage.
The Lenovo Legion Go cost 699 euros at release.
Can the ROG Ally X be pre-ordered? Yes, you can currently pre-order the handheld directly from Asus.
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
ROG Ally X Release
When will the ROG Ally X be released? The ROG Ally X will be released on July 22, 2024. You can already pre-order the handheld.
ROG Ally X Specs
What are the specs of the ROG Ally X? ASUS has made some adjustments and specifications with the ROG Ally X. While the processor remains the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, other things have changed more significantly. You can find all the details in the following table:
ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally:
ASUS ROG Ally X
ASUS ROG Ally
Processor
Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Graphics Card
AMD Radeon: 12CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops
AMD Radeon: 12CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops
RAM
24GB LPDDRX5
16GB LPDDR5
Storage
1TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD
500 GB PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD
Battery and Power Supply
80 WHrs with 65 watt power supply
40 WHrs with 65 watt power supply
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Windows 11 Home
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, Triple band 2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, Triple band 2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2
ROG Ally X: Differences from ROG Ally
What differences are there? The ROG Ally differs significantly from its predecessor, the ROG Ally. We summarize all the similarities and differences for you.
Design and Ergonomics:
The ROG Ally X is black and no longer white.
The grips are rounder and the trigger buttons are wider.
The ROG Ally X weighs slightly more than its predecessor (70 grams).
ASUS uses Hall effect joysticks in the Ally X, which are said to be better against stick drift.
RAM, Storage, and Connections:
The battery is twice as large (40 WHrs vs 80 WHrs).
The RAM is larger (16 vs 24 GB) and faster (6,400 MT/s vs 7,500 MT/s).
The storage is larger, and ASUS has opted for an M.2 2280 SSD, which is significantly more common than the M2 2242 SSD found in the ROG Ally.
Thunderbolt 4 instead of XG-Mobile interface: The proprietary connector for ROG XG Mobile eGPUs has been removed, and instead, a USB-C connector with Thunderbolt 4 has been used.
What remains the same?
The display remains an IPS display with 120 Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio, and Full HD resolution.
The Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor remains identical.
The ROG Ally continues to use Windows 11.
ROG Ally X vs. Steam Deck OLED
The quick facts in comparison:
Price: The Steam Deck is slightly cheaper compared to the ROG Ally: The ROG Ally X starts at a suggested retail price of 799 euros, while the Steam Deck OLED costs “only” 679 euros.
Hardware: The ROG Ally X offers better hardware, a better display, and overall more performance.
Battery Life: The Steam Deck offers slightly better battery life.
More about Gaming Handhelds: Gaming handhelds are on the rise, and since the Steam Deck, numerous new devices have been released. MeinMMO introduces you to the most well-known and important gaming handhelds that you should know: The 8 best gaming handhelds of 2024 that you should know
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The leaks for the upcoming manga chapter 1118 of One Piece are out and already reveal what will happen next. The spoilers reveal what Luffy wants to encourage another character to do.
Warning, spoilers: The article contains spoilers for the upcoming manga chapter 1118 of One Piece. The chapter will be released on June 23, 2024.
Which character will become like Luffy? Straw Hat pirate Luffy transforms into his Gear-5 form again in chapter 1118. He unleashes the true potential of his Devil Fruit and becomes the Sun God Nika, defying the laws of physics. During his transformation, he encourages Jewelry Bonney to do the same (via reddit).
As the leaks reveal, Bonney then fully transforms into her Nika form. This gives her the same powers that Luffy has already gained by unlocking his Gear-5 form:
Nika can transform the environment into rubber, allowing her to grab lightning or bounce on the ground as if it were a trampoline.
The Sun God can enlarge his body parts independently.
With this comic-like form, Luffy can create objects out of nothing, such as a baseball bat, helmet, and paint.
Since Bonney can also transform into Nika, she will have the same powers as the Sun God. It was already foreshadowed in previous chapters that only her imagination prevents her from becoming like Nika.
The whole spectacle is still taking place on Egghead Island. You can find the matching trailer for the arc here:
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One Piece: New trailer shows first images from the Egghead Island arc
Additionally, she can use a special technique that pumps her arm up. This allows her to deliver harder blows, which she used in the fight against Saturn, an immortal being. You can see the technique in the tweet from X-user CJDLuffy:
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Bonney can only use this technique because her faith in the Sun God Nika is so unshakable. Once doubts arise, she loses her powers. Now that Luffy has transformed into the Sun God Nika, she seems to have unlocked her full potential and can fully switch to the Nika form as well.
Tarisland will be released on June 21, 2024, and is attracting the attention of many players. Especially veterans from World of Warcraft are interested in the new MMORPG. We will tell you which class is the best fit for WoW players.
What kind of class is it? In Tarisland, there are a total of nine different classes, each with different abilities, orientations, and especially resource systems. One class is not only the most iconic of the game but is also perfect if you want to start with Tarisland as a WoW player.
We are talking about the Barbarian Fighter, who, like a tiger on two legs, wreaks havoc in the world of Tarisland with his two war axes.
You can watch the trailer for Tarisland here:
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Tarisland shows ‘Rage of the Dragon’ in the new trailer
Like the Warrior from World of Warcraft
Why is this class the right one for WoW players? The Barbarian Fighter is a melee class with two war axes and can be played both as a damage dealer and as a tank. In Tarisland, switching between the two roles is possible at the push of a button.
The Barbarian Fighter is one of the strongest classes in the game from the very beginning. He can take some hits as a melee fighter and deal good damage.
Another reason for the recommendation is the resource system, which is the core of every class. For the Barbarian Fighter, it works quite simply, as he has two energies that can be filled up:
The first resource is bestiality, which fills up through the ability “Wild Strike”.
The second resource is reason, which is gained through the ability “Axe Thunder”.
The ability “Wrath of Thunder” consumes 60 units of each energy type and deals damage to the target.
This is what the Barbarian Fighter looks like.
What does the class remind you of? The class is reminiscent of the Warrior from World of Warcraft with his rage system. The mirror class in Tarisland might initially seem a bit simpler, but over time, the rotation and resource acquisition change through the distribution of talent points in the talent tree.
Thus, even the damage-dealing path can be played in two different variants, giving you even more freedom.
Is there anything to consider with this class? The Barbarian Fighter plays quite intuitively, making him suitable for beginners. If you play him as a damage dealer, you should pay attention to the stats of your equipment.
For your equipment, you should focus on the “Combo” stat, and depending on your talent tree, use “Omni” or “Cooldown” as your second stat.
Pokémon GO is celebrating its 8th birthday in a few days with an anniversary event. In addition to numerous spawns and bonuses, it will finally bring back a popular shiny into the game. We will show you which one it is and what other content you can look forward to here on MeinMMO.
What event is it? Pokémon GO is turning eight years old in July and is celebrating this milestone with its traditional anniversary event. There will be many spawns and strong bonuses that should not be missed. You should also not miss a rare shiny on the event days: Shiny Meltan. We have summarized the highlights waiting for you below.
When does the anniversary event take place? The birthday celebration for the 8th anniversary of Pokémon GO starts on June 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM local time and runs until July 3, 2024, at 8:00 PM local time.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
Get Shiny Meltan for the Anniversary Event 2024
What kind of Pokémon is that? Meltan is a mysterious steel Pokémon from the seventh generation of games. It can evolve into Melmetal with the help of 400 candies, which is a solid attacker in the Master League.
Why is Meltan worthwhile? Meltan can spawn from the so-called Mystery Box throughout the year, but it is usually not catchable in its shiny form there. Since its shiny release, the developers have kept the shiny monster particularly rare and only allow it to spawn on special occasions.
Meltan normal (left) and as shiny (right)
It was last available in March 2023 as part of the Let’s GO-event. Now, after more than a year, it will finally return for a short time on the occasion of the anniversary event. Additionally, the Mystery Box can be activated more frequently during the event, increasing your shiny chances for Meltan. So, it’s worth opening the Mystery Box during this time.
How to connect with Pokémon Home to secure the Mystery Box will be shown in the following post:
In addition to Shiny Meltan, which you can catch with some luck from the Mystery Box during the anniversary event, there will be several other monsters celebrating the 8th birthday of Pokémon GO with you. In particular, you can look forward to some costumed Pokémon again. One of them is the poison Pokémon Sleima, which will appear for the first time with a party hat.
In this costumed form, you can even evolve it into Sleimok. What other monsters are lurking in the wild and in raids, as well as what special features the event offers, we have summarized for you below.
Sleima with a party hat (right) and its evolution Sleimok (image from pokemongolive.com)
All Wild Spawns and Raid Bosses
Wild Spawns: In the wild, you can look forward to plenty of event spawns during the event, such as Pikachu with a party hat. However, there is a special feature here: in addition to the Pokémon that you can catch while wild throughout the entire birthday event, there will be additional event spawns on selected days that will be found more frequently.
Time Period
Wild Spawns
whole event
Bulbasaur with party hat* Charmander with party hat* Squirtle with party hat* Pikachu with cake hat* Sleima with party hat* Eevee with party hat* Fennex Krookodile Kwaks Alolan Sleima* (rare)
June 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM until June 29, 2024, at 11:59 PM
Chikorita* Totodile* Treecko* Harry* Fletchling* Water Gun*
June 30, 2024, at 00:00 AM until July 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM
Pokémon with a (*) can also be found as shiny with some luck
Pokémon in Raids: And also in the Level 1 Raids, you can find different raid bosses on the occasion of the 8th birthday. According to Pokémon GO, you can even benefit from a higher shiny chance (*) here than in the wild. The following are waiting for you:
For the 8th birthday of Pokémon GO, strong bonuses should not be missed. Many of these focus on interactions with your friends. However, as with the wild spawns, there will also be day-dependent bonuses that you should not miss.
General Bonuses: You can benefit from these bonuses throughout the entire event:
chance of getting 8, 88 or more Gierspenst coins when you spin PokéStops with a gold lure module
Mystery Box can be opened more frequently
Event Field Research
Rewards: Mega Energy for Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, as well as encounters with Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, and Mudkip
Timed Research
Rewards: XP, Stardust, encounters with Raticate with party hat, Nidorino with party hat, Woingenau with party hat, and Meltan
Timed Research for 2 US dollars for spinning PokéStops and evolving Pokémon
Rewards: Egg incubator, super incubator, premium battle pass, lucky egg, rocket radar, star piece, incense, Knursp, 88,888 XP, as well as an encounter with Meltan
Masterwork Research Forest Whisper for 5 US dollars
Encounter with Shiny Celebi
additional bonuses: double durability of incense, adventure incense, and lucky eggs
Event stickers from PokéStops, gifts, and in the in-game shop
New avatar items
Showcases with event Pokémon at PokéStops
Anniversary box in the Pokémon GO webshop for 5 US dollars
In the following periods, you can benefit from additional bonuses:
Time Period
Bonus
June 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM until June 29, 2024, at 11:59 PM
Half hatch distance for eggs
June 30, 2024, at 00:00 AM until July 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM
2x XP when catching
July 2, 2024, at 00:00 AM until July 3, 2024, at 8:00 PM
2x Stardust when catching
How do you like the contents of the anniversary event? Will you try to secure a shiny Meltan? Or do you have your sights set on another monster? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers. What else is coming in Pokémon GO until then, you can see in our event overview for June.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has landed some big hits during his career, which have been especially financially lucrative. However, his most lucrative film was neither Terminator nor True Lies; it was an unassuming comedy that one wouldn’t think of in this context.
Which film is it?Twins is a comedy from 1989 by Ivan Reitman starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. In the film, both are twins who were separated at birth. Schwarzenegger plays a perfect, innocent man who wants to find his brother, but he is quite different from what one would expect.
With a budget of 15 million dollars, the film grossed over 216 million dollars worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). That alone signifies a huge success, especially for 1989. What is special about this film is that Schwarzenegger, DeVito, and Reitman did not receive a salary, but it was likely still the most lucrative film of their careers.
Even with True Lies, Schwarzenegger didn’t earn that much:
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Englischer Trailer zu „True Lies – Wahre Lügen“ aus dem Jahr 1994
No salary, but a significantly better deal
In an interview with Graham Bensinger, the actor spoke about the film Twins and why he didn’t take a salary for the film. At that time, Schwarzenegger was mainly known for his action films that made incredible amounts of money. However, he also wanted to make a comedy, as he was convinced he could do it well.
To convince the studio of Twins, Schwarzenegger offered to take no salary for the film. The studio would just have to cover the production costs. According to Schwarzenegger, Reitman and DeVito also decided not to take a salary.
The three had a so-called back-end deal. This means they shared in the film’s profits, including box office and TV revenues. Regarding this topic, he stated according to adorocinema.com::
I believe that we all made more money with this film than with any other film we ever made, even though I received 30 million dollars for some films. […] This was the biggest because we had a share in everything: the TV rights, the cable TV rights, the merchandising. […] The money was ours and we made a fortune.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on the profit share from Twins (Source: adorocinema.com)
With a film that grossed over 216 million dollars just at the box office, that must have been an incredible amount of money.
In the interview with Bensinger, he also talks about a studio boss who came to them and simply said: Do you know what you have done to me? […] You have robbed me. According to Schwarzenegger, the deal the three made was so historic that the studio never wanted to do anything like that again. At the Oscars, DeVito and Schwarzenegger met again and threatened a common enemy: At the 2024 Oscars, Schwarzenegger and DeVito meet their arch-enemy
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
