Diablo 4 has received some changes with Season 4, the biggest being to the loot system. Blizzard is making it easier and more comfortable for players in every aspect. However, one of these comfort changes could quickly cost you your Uber Uniques if you click carelessly.
Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
What happens when I press the button? You will actually break down all items in your inventory – including legendaries, uniques, and Uber Uniques. The only exception is favorites.
You would have had to manually shred all legendaries with the old system. However, since Season 4, it is actually useful to destroy Uber Uniques, because you can craft new Uber Uniques yourself.
Now, one click on ‘Salvage All’ is enough to throw your entire inventory into the furnace and get the materials back. Experts complain that uniques are useless since Season 4, but a mistake can still be frustrating.
If you really want to salvage your entire inventory with the press of a button, you should definitely keep a few things in mind beforehand:
Check which items represent an upgrade to your equipped items.
Mark equipment you want to keep as favorites. This can be done on PC using the spacebar, on Xbox with the X button, and on PlayStation with square. Caution: You are also marking items as junk!
It’s best to store equipment you want to look at later directly in your stash.
You should especially be careful if you have just unequipped equipment you are currently wearing for any reason. The game shows no mercy in this case and irretrievably shreds everything.
Even the streamer and expert Raxxanterax was surprised during his stream that the function really destroys all items – even his Uber Uniques, as he realized. In general, however, the new system improves many aspects. You can find tips on crafting here: Hardening and Completion – How to turn your items into God Rolls
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Editor-in-Chief Leya visited the 11 Bit Studios and played Frostpunk 2, the sequel to their successful strategy game. Everything is on fire within no time, but she still had fun.
I knew from the start that Frostpunk 2 and I would not get along well. How could we? The first part of the series is considered a difficult strategy game and I have nothing to do with this genre.
But now I am here at the developer studio 11 Bit and get to try the story mode of Frostpunk 2. “Why am I even putting myself through this?” crosses my mind. The answer is simple: Frostpunk 2 is a very special strategy-building game.
The scenario is literally cool. In the first part, you have to survive the longest winter in history and secure humanity’s survival. It is about much more than just expanding the city or optimally managing resources. As is typical for the studio, morally difficult decisions must be made.
Frostpunk 2 takes place 30 years after the events of the first part.
The apocalyptic winter is now permanent, civilization is almost completely destroyed, and with you as ruler, a new society is forming. Different factions are emerging, which you must somehow satisfy – and they often think what you are doing is pretty stupid. Naturally, these factions have conflicts with each other. Some are traditionalists, others are progressive; there are religious and atheists, idealists and materialists. The big question in Frostpunk 2 is: where do we want to go as a society after the apocalypse?
This entire moral aspect and setting appeal to me greatly. It’s all too exciting! So I grit my teeth and let’s go.
Not tolerated after 20 minutes, banished after 35 minutes
I reach the test PC assigned to me, start the game, and immediately feel helpless and overwhelmed. Just to be safe, I set the difficulty to “easy” right away.
I am to build a new society in the middle of the ice desert
My first round goes as catastrophically as it can. I get the task of getting a stove burning so that my people do not freeze in the cold. I am to ensure shelter and food. Sounds doable and simple.
While I am still trying to orient myself and click through the menus, my little civilization is already starting to scream: We are hungry and it is freezing cold!
I first have to break up all the ice to even build something. Well, what do I mean by I? My people are doing all that while I watch them toil. They don’t seem to be in particularly good spirits, but I can’t blame them.
As I will find out later, I choose the most foolish routes to get to my resources. Everything is going way too slowly. My people are starving, they are freezing, and I lack the funds to build. One by one, they become ill and start dying off.
Start video
Frostpunk 2 creates goosebumps with new trailer
I barely play for 20 minutes before the message comes that my people can no longer tolerate me as their ruler. I don’t understand it. So far, only about 3/4 of the population has died.
I see the population count continuing to plummet. I must do something. Time for radical measures! There is the option to have people work double shifts. Then the food will arrive faster.
Bad idea, now they are really mad. They also get sick faster, and I just have more dead.
After 35 minutes, almost nobody is left, and everyone has finally had enough of me. They send me into exile. I can’t even get past the tutorial.
Game Over.
This is the Frostpunk experience: Tips from the Lead Developer
About this time, I am led to my interview appointment with head developer Jakub Stokalski. Damn, I haven’t thought of any great questions about the gameplay yet. In my mind, I still see my city going up in flames.
I decide to tell Jakub outright how I completely failed in his game. This at least elicits a genuine laugh from him. Encouragingly, the developer tells me that this is the completely normal Frostpunk experience and that I haven’t done anything wrong.
Frostpunk 2 is designed to build a lot of pressure so that tough decisions have great significance.
Now I feel a bit better and ask Jakub directly for tips for an absolute strategy novice like me.
Play the game at your own pace.
Don’t hesitate to play at the difficulty level that suits you best. This is not well developed in this build yet, and we are still working on it. The game should not mentally punish you for playing at your difficulty level. Easy doesn’t mean you’re bad.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Frostpunk 2 is quite complex and challenging. Consider every mistake as a learning experience. Games are just like life itself.
Use the pause.
Pause the game and think about what you want to do next. We support active pauses in Frostpunk 2. Get an overview and think about what could go wrong. I even believe that playing slowly is the best way to play Frostpunk 2. Don’t rush; quick play is for very experienced players. When I play Frostpunk 2 at the office and rush, I usually end up losing.
Lead Developer Jakub Stokalski gives beginner tips for Frostpunk 2
After the interview, I have time to delve further into Frostpunk 2 and play.
Especially the tip to use the active pause more consciously has helped me a lot as the game progressed. I quickly notice a learning curve and succeed in the tutorial on my second attempt.
At the end of the tutorial, you immediately get insight into what it means to make tough decisions in Frostpunk 2. Here comes the moral component into play.
Before going into the real game, the stockpile becomes a topic. I can decide to kill some seals for food. They are the last of their kind. Just as my oldest residents are willing to simply go into the woods to die and thus provide more resources for the young.
But I can also refuse both and start with scarce supplies.
Since I want to respect the wishes of the old, I send them into the forest to die and begin with more supplies by reducing my civilization. Beautiful new world.
Making everyone happy is the most challenging way to play Frostpunk 2
As our conversation progresses, Jakub admits to me that he is not really the best player either and often fails at his own game. He says they even have a laugh about it in the office.
When I ask him what his weakness is, he gives me an unexpected and quite exciting answer: he plays too nice.
My weakness is that I want to please everyone. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, and I apparently fail to do so.
Making everyone happy is the hardest part of Frostpunk 2. It is not impossible. That is one of our design philosophies. We do not try to glorify “bad” decisions so that you cannot make “good” decisions. We design it so that you can play well without having to do bad things. But for that, you really have to be good at the game.
I try to achieve that, and since I am not such a good player, I make it hard for myself.
Lead Developer Jakub Stokalski on the hardest way in Frostpunk 2
And it is true. Morally questionable behavior can bring benefits. Double shifts and sending the old to die in the woods have already been mentioned.
Then there are the different factions in the game, each with different ideas about the future of the new society. Jakub explains to me that the team researched the entire history of humanity for this – at least as far as it was possible in the four years of development time.
Different factions are formed, each with their own values
The community system is meant to represent different ideas found in the history of humanity. This is all simplified to work in the game.
The deepest level of Frostpunk 2 makes the game special
This very moral dilemma eventually put me into a flow state. I have never experienced that with a building game before. Normally, I always forget in between what I actually want to do, and chaos ensues.
However, since the factions reach out from time to time and story events take place on the map, I am curious and want to see where my civilization develops. This really makes Frostpunk 2 something special and also motivates me as a strategy novice.
At the end of our conversation, Jakub confirms this.
The truth is: Any kind of ideology in the history of humanity, if you take it too seriously and start to see ideals instead of people, always led to a tragedy. And that is the deep level of Frostpunk 2.
We hope this is the part you start to see as you play the game. There is never a good reason to place ideals above people.
Lead Developer Jakub Stokalski on the core of Frostpunk 2
When the test session is over, I am surprised at how much fun I had with Frostpunk 2. I did not expect that. I think it really has to do with the deeper level of the strategy-building game that sets it apart from other genre representatives.
If you are in a similar situation as I am and the game still appeals to you, it might be worth giving it a try and just trying it out. I can also advise you to seek help if you get stuck.
If I must criticize something, it is the lack of clarity of the mechanics at the beginning of the game. There are menus where everything is explained, but it is already difficult to find your way around. Especially when playing in easy mode, a few more explanations in the tutorial would be desirable.
From time to time, I had to get help from the 11 Bit team when I didn’t understand something, and that helped me progress step by step. Without this help, I would not have made it further.
From my perspective, it is worth sticking with it for a special gaming experience.
In Pokémon GO, trainers are currently supposed to catch Kapuno to solve a challenge, but this is causing many players headaches. We at MeinMMO explain what it’s about and give you tips on how to find the monster.
What challenge is it about? The Ultra Dimension event is currently taking place in Pokémon GO, which is active until May 28, 2024, at 8:00 PM local time. During this, you can not only secure the new Ultra Beasts Agoyon, Muramura, and Kopplosio, but you also need to complete three collector challenges.
These mostly revolve around Pokémon that spawn in the wild during the event. You need to catch Kapuno, Kindwurm, and Shardrago, as you have to capture three raid bosses as well. But this is currently causing significant problems for some trainers. We have summarized what problems the trainers are facing and what you can do about it below.
Start video
Pokémon World Championship 2024: Trailer for the Event in Hawaii
That’s why trainers are currently in despair over Kapuno
Why is Kapuno causing frustration? Kapuno is a Dark and Dragon-type Pokémon from the 5th generation of games. During the current Ultra Dimension event, it should be available in level-1 raids. Therefore, it is one of the monsters that you can easily defeat alone in raids.
Nevertheless, this Pokémon is presenting quite a challenge to some trainers, as the corresponding raids simply cannot be found in the game. The Reddit user therealSteckel publicly vents his frustration and writes in his post the following:
Kapuno raids are a myth …
… invented by Niantic. I have checked the local raids every 30 minutes for the last 3.5 days and have not seen a single Kapuno. I am convinced they are either fictional or region-locked. And yes, I have gone to populated areas to search for them. No chance. […] Does anyone even get them or am I just this unlucky?
How are other trainers reacting? In his post, therealSteckel speaks for many players, as they have also been desperately searching for the Pokémon for days and simply cannot find it.
However, there are also trainers who are experiencing the exact opposite. They can barely get away from Kapuno but cannot find the other monsters in raids. In the comments on Reddit, you can read the following:
ImACoach51971: That’s true!!! We haven’t seen ANY (and we’ve traveled and played through 4 states in the last week)!
sdrawkcabsitho: I just checked Poke Genie. There are 1,700 people in line waiting for raid invitations.
mshan1991: For me, it was the exact opposite. All I could find were Kapuno raids, I couldn’t find any Kindwurm raids. This morning, I was lucky with one that appeared at the arena before work.
Wait_Another_One: For me, it’s Shardrago. I have never seen one and have not seen it in any of the raids since the challenges began.
Why is this a problem? The collector challenges in Pokémon GO are time-limited. Therefore, trainers only have until the end of the current event to catch the monsters. If they do not succeed, the rewards and the medal for completing this collector challenge will be lost.
This is particularly frustrating because many players have already battled the other sought-after monsters in raids to collect them and invested raid passes or even valuable remote raid passes for that. Unlike other research tasks, there is no reward for the individual quests, but only a total reward when everything is solved.
How can you still find the missing monsters?
Pokémon in the wild: Those who, like therealSteckel, simply have no luck with suitable raids can also secure Kapuno in the wild. While it does not appear particularly frequently there compared to the current event Pokémon, there is a chance, as Reddit user Pubkit confirms. But you will still need a considerable amount of luck.
So it’s best to use your daily adventure incense, as it attracts rarer monsters as well. The same goes for your missing encounters with Kindwurm. This monster can also be occasionally found in the wild.
Field research: Unfortunately, Kapuno cannot be found in the current field and special research. If you want to secure it through research, you can only find it in older tasks with a bit of luck. This is different with Kindwurm.
This Pokémon is currently hidden in two field researches according to the overview from LeekDuck. However, you should note that when catching dragon-type Pokémon, you might also encounter Dratini or Milza instead. Keep an eye out for the following tasks at PokéStops to find Kindwurm:
Land 2 excellent throws
Catch a Pokémon of the Dragon type
Rocket Grunt: Kindwurm is also currently part of the dragon team from one of the Rocket grunts. It can therefore be captured after defeating it in battle. However, we cannot confirm with certainty whether it counts towards the challenge in its shadow form.
Remote Raids: Additionally, you can also be invited to remote raids by other trainers, allowing you to secure Kapuno, Kindwurm, or Shardrago this way. If you cannot mobilize your trainer friends to invite you or if they cannot find suitable raids either, you can alternatively use special apps.
For this, you can connect with other trainers for raids via the Niantic app Campfire or use platforms like Poke Genie.
How far are you with the collector challenge? Have you already secured all the monsters? Or are you still eagerly waiting for raids? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO and discuss it with other trainers. Here we show you how to do remote raids using Poke Genie.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Star Citizen , players buy virtual spaceships even before the release. On May 23, CIG introduced a particularly stylish ship: the “Ironclad Assault.” The ship seems to fulfill the imagination of many players so much that so many jumped at the chance and got it as an affordable upgrade that the developers raised the price during the sale without informing the players.
How is it with Star Citizen?
Star Citizen has raised an enormous amount of money through crowdfunding, and the game is currently approaching $700 million.
Most of the money comes from the sale of virtual ships. Even though the MMO is still a long way from release, some players are stocking up on ships that are sometimes absurdly expensive. The largest package costs 53,121 euros and 60 cents.
Proponents of the system say: It’s not that critical for the game, as large ships require large crews. The people who buy ships are collectors – and one should not view all this too critically.
Start video
Inside Star Citizen: Ironclad is Rad
New ship fulfills many players’ “I am independent” fantasy
This is the new ship: On May 23, CIG presented the new ship “Ironclad Assault” (via youtube). The ship is operated with 6 people, and CIG emphasizes that it is “self-sufficient” and can provide for itself:
The ship can transport heavy vehicles and infantry
But also has firepower through turrets
It also offers a garage on board that can create new components for vehicles
How was the ship received? In the video introducing the ship, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. Apparently, the Ironclad seems to fulfill the imagination of many players in how they want to play Star Citizen:
One pilot says: It’s the “perfect sandbox ship” and aligns exactly with his idea of how he could play Star Citizen. He could host gladiator fights from the ship.
Another says: “Damn, what a wonderful ship. I have always wanted a flying chunk.”
Players do not buy the ship but upgrade their old one for $5
Here are the aftermaths: Three days after the video, on May 26, a user noticed on reddit that CIG increased the price for the “Iron Clad” by $10. The price increase takes effect when one wants to upgrade from another ship, like the M2 Hercules, to the new ship.
There is a discussion about whether the price increase was a reaction from Star Citizen or whether the originally stated price was a mistake. It is criticized that such a “silent price increase” is in any case the wrong behavior from Star Citizen. The developers should have owned up to the mistake and continued to offer the old, cheaper price.
In the discussion, it turns out that many players apparently took the opportunity to upgrade from the “M2 Hercules” to the new, more attractive ship for only $5 more.
It is therefore suspected that many players did not buy the ship at full price but instead obtained a very affordable upgrade to enhance their existing investment in the game.
Because the M2 Hercules seems to fulfill a very similar power fantasy but not as well as the new, slightly more expensive ship.
“The marketing team is surely not satisfied with that,” believes one player.
Numerous players state that they immediately jumped at the new ship and secured the new version for only $5.
In the discussion, some are happy that they managed to grab the ship at the old price just in time. Others defend CIG and dismiss the whole discussion as irrelevant. The price increase is not even 2%; it’s peanuts. But one user says it is madness to discuss a ship for $500 in a game. For him, it is insane. The comment goes almost unnoticed, with only one upvote. New package in Star Citizen costs 53,121 euros and 60 cents – More than a gross annual salary in Germany
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player is considering buying a gaming PC with RTX 4060. However, he thinks that his wife won't allow it. But there are also other good reasons,such as family and buying a house, which also need to be considered at the moment.
What kind of PC is it about? On reddit, the user explains that the wholesale chain Costco currently has a gaming PC on sale that he would like to buy:
Processor: Intel i5-13400F
Graphics card: Nvidia RTX 4060, 8 GB
RAM: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
Accessories: Keyboard and mouse
The whole hardware costs around 700 euros, and that is an excellent deal. Some calculate that you would normally have to pay double for the hardware. That's why many are surprised that he is even listening to his wife regarding such a great offer.
Family buys house and expects child, so a gaming PC is not a priority
That's why he asks his wife: Some players in the thread accuse him of simply not having enough self-confidence to stand up to his wife. Many have the cliché in mind that women don't appreciate their partners’ gaming hobbies.
However, the player explains himself that it has nothing to do with that, but that there are very valid reasons why they decided not to buy the computer. And also that he discusses the purchase of a gaming PC with his wife has reasons. He explains in several responses:
He and his wife share all household expenses, so large investments are always discussed together, and he wants to be transparent with such expenses.
They are currently buying a new house and expecting a second child, so the purchase of a new PC currently has the lowest priority.
Additionally, his old gaming PC still works perfectly, and he doesn't necessarily need a new one right now. It would have looked different if his computer had broken down; then he would have also bought the PC.
The reactions are negative: It is somewhat shocking how many negative comments the user receives. Many tell him that he should rather "upgrade" his wife. One of the few positive comments states that it is good that he listens to his wife's advice (via reddit):
Anyway, that's a damn good deal for a prebuilt and would be a serious upgrade over your current PC, which you already know.
But it's good that you listen to your partner's advice, especially when it comes to money. I do the same with mine.
The Titans possess one of the most powerful builds currently found in the PvE meta of Destiny 2. Bungie knows this and in order not to make this class too powerful in ‘The Final Shape’, the famous ‘Nerf Hammer’ will be applied.
This build creates a green, pulsating aura around your Titan when he defeats an enemy with his melee attack, finisher or sword. The pulses that come from the War Banner heal all players and the user in the area of effect and increase melee and sword damage.
If you or your teammates nearby defeat more enemies, the tempo of the pulses increases, and thus also the healing. The banner lasts for 30 seconds and can be activated again after the duration has expired.
While many see the Titan as a support, with the right equipment, the class could even defeat many tough bosses as a solo player within the 30-second time window. Bungie saw this and had to put an end to the Titan’s exploits.
Start video
Destiny 2: The Final Shape – Gameplay trailer for the new talents
Swinging Tanks become Falling Boxes
What will change? Bungie has also looked at the Titans and their War Banner in their blog post (via bungie.net) regarding subclasses. The combination of grappling paired with a ‘double-punch’ shotgun and the exotics ‘Synthoceps’ or ‘Wormgod’s Touch’ was simply too powerful.
With the right rotation, bosses in the heavy Raid mode ‘Pantheon’ were melted. Bungie could not assess how powerful this aspect would become at the release, but after thorough investigation, Bungie now has the nerfs ready. Here’s what you should know:
War Banner
The maximum timer has been reduced from 30 seconds to 24 seconds.
The damage bonus from melee attacks, glaives, and supers now decreases with ‘Synthoceps’ as follows:
The melee bonuses have been reduced from 1.4x to 1.15x.
The glaive melee bonuses have been reduced from 1.25x to 1.125x.
The super bonuses have been reduced from 1.4x to 1.2x.
Melee and glaive melee damage bonuses now also decrease with ‘Wormgod’s Touch’.
The melee bonuses have been reduced from 1.4x to 1.1x based on the number of stacks.
The melee bonuses from glaives have been reduced from 1.4x to 1.05x based on the number of stacks.
Grappling has now also taken a hit and can no longer be abused for DPS:
Grapple wires:
The duration is no longer fully refreshed when used.
The duration now increases by a maximum of 5 seconds per grapple and reduces to a maximum of 1 second after the same grapple wire has been used five times in a row.
Is the build now bad? We cannot say that yet. The numbers that Bungie cites show that especially the strategy with the pump shotgun and Titan arm exotics have lost significant strength. The fact that the grapple points also have a guaranteed decay, no matter how often you use them, limits your tactics in DPS.
Unfortunately, we currently do not have concrete numbers on how severe the nerf will be in combat, but we can at least reassure you that the support aspect of the banner has not been completely ruined. You can still provide strong healing in the team with your green pulses; it will just now be shortened by 6 seconds.
What do you think about the nerf of the banner in combination with the exotics? Do you think it was absolutely necessary or did the build make you enjoy the game? Bungie is taking some content away from Lightfall again. What those are, you can find out here: Destiny 2: All content that will disappear with the release of ‘The Final Shape’
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In FC 24 there is now the eighth edition of the Prime Gaming Pack. In collaboration with EA, Amazon provides Prime members with free rewards. This time, you can look forward to a strong Icon and additional content.
What is the Prime Gaming Pack? Since FIFA 21, EA has been releasing a pack every month in cooperation with Amazon containing a few extra rewards. Amazon Prime subscribers can request these rewards for free.
In FC 24, the collaboration has been maintained, allowing members to enjoy the now eighth pack. It is now available to you.
EA Sports FC 24: Update teaser for the UEFA Euro 2024
Prime Gaming Pack 8 guarantees a Golazo Icon on loan
What rewards can you expect? The contents of the pack include a strong loan card, a player pick, some random Gold players, and additional consumables like contracts or Chemistry Styles every month.
First, you need a Prime account with Amazon to utilize the benefits of Prime Gaming. If you already own such an account, proceed to step 2.
Open your browser and go to the EA FC area of Prime Gaming. You can find the corresponding link here (via Prime Gaming).
Look for the Prime Gaming Pack 6 and click on it.
If prompted, link your Prime account with your EA account.
Now press the “Get in-game content” button.
Now switch to the game, the web app, or the companion app. You should receive a notification that the Prime Gaming Pack has been successfully redeemed. You can find it in the shop under “My Packs”.
In rare cases, there may also be delays of up to one hour before the pack appears in the game.
The next Prime Gaming drop is likely to appear after the current pack expires, that is, after June 17, 2024. We will keep you updated. In the Champions League final, it will be decided who receives the final upgrade for the dynamic Road-to-the-Final cards (RTTF). You can see all other progress and upgrades here: RTTF Tracker – All players and upgrades at a glance
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Meanwhile, the anime Sailor Moon is now 32 years old. Many series of this age can only be watched through the nostalgia lens. However, Sailor Moon is still a worthwhile anime today. MeinMMO gives you 5 reasons why this is the case.
Sailor Moon received a reboot with Sailor Moon Crystal for its 20th anniversary. The anime has a more modern look, is more closely aligned with the manga, and has no filler episodes.
For that, the last two arcs of the original anime were released only as two-part films. Therefore, it may be worth giving the original a chance even today. The following points reveal what makes the original anime still worth watching.
Understandable Character Development
Not only have we gotten older, but the characters from Sailor Moon have developed over time as well. The protagonist Bunny Tsukino is initially awkward and full of self-doubt. She cries often and is reluctant to take responsibility. But over time, she becomes a self-confident and courageous leader.
Rei, on the other hand, is the exact opposite: she is a tough person who first needs to learn to act as a team player. Amy is a shy person who prefers to hide behind her books. However, she also evolves and overcomes her shyness. This helps viewers even today to reflect on their own behavior and better understand their own growth.
You can watch the reboot of Sailor Moon in the following trailer:
Start video
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: Official Trailer for the Movie
Nostalgia Kick and Inspiration for Designers
The anime takes place in the 90s and is especially a journey back in time for older audiences. The outfits, animation style, and music transport us directly to the era of the 1990s.
Unlike other animes, the Sailor warriors change their outfits more often in everyday life. The outfits could also serve as significant inspiration for younger audiences for their own clothing style. After all, many dresses have been an inspiration for renowned designers, as a post on Reddit proves:
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The outfits are so popular, that even the MMORPG World of Warcraft has drawn inspiration from them. From the sailor uniforms to everyday clothing, the Sailor warriors reflect the trends of the 90s. They are easy to imitate, which is why the Sailor warriors are a popular choice for cosplay. Additionally, the hand-drawn graphic style of the anime gives it a retro charm that is still enjoyable to watch today.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO there are some curious PokéStops that you can find. A trainer has now discovered a particularly creepy PokéStop.
What is a PokéStop? PokéStops are places of interest in Pokémon GO that you can visit and spin. When you spin a PokéStop, you can receive various elemental items as well as postcards that you can send to your friends.
New PokéStops can be applied for by you and unlocked after a review. If you follow certain tips for applying for PokéStops, it can increase the chance of an unlock.
A trainer on Reddit reports about a PokéStop he recently discovered. But this PokéStop can make your blood freeze in your veins.
Start video
Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!
Don’t spin it!
What kind of PokéStop is that? The PokéStop that the trainer reports about is located in a house in the state of Connecticut, USA. This is not just any house, but the house which also serves as a museum and houses the doll of Annabelle.
The doll is said to have been possessed by a demon in the past. A wider audience should know the doll from the Conjuring films, in which it plays a significant role.
And it is from this doll that a PokéStop has now been created.
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What does the community say about it? Under the post, there are several comments. While some advise against getting close to the doll and the PokéStop, there are mainly calls for a postcard from the PokéStop.
I need that postcard, writes one commentator on Reddit
There have been creepy local rumors about this museum. People were injured after spending too much time looking at the doll and so on. I would never go there, warns another commentator on Reddit
Everything is fine until Banette shows up, writes another commentator on Reddit
I’ll trade a Disneyland card for one of those, offers another commentator on Reddit
In response to the requests for postcards, the creator of the post has commented. He writes on Reddit:I will do my best to get the postcards and send out friendship requests as soon as I have them.
If you are also interested in such a postcard, you can try your luck and also contact the creator of the post.
What do you think about this PokéStop? Would you visit it if you were nearby? Or would you rather keep a safe distance? Feel free to tell us your opinion in the comments. Don’t miss the current Ultradimensions-Wonder event in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Here you will find all locations of the Pecok Flower in Wuthering Waves, including a map to help you farm them. We will also provide information on what you need the Pecok Flower for.
Where can you find the Pecok Flower? The place where you will find most Pecok Flowers is the Taoyuan commune. You can farm a total of 19 Pecok Flowers here. Additionally, you will find a few specimens southeast of the small settlement.
This way, you can teleport to the resonance beacon below and collect two more flowers. Head to the Tiderise Cliffs and glide eastward: on a cliff, you will find three more Pecok Flowers.
Finally, go to the resonance beacon below and collect a total of five Pecok Flowers found around the fast travel point.
Map with the locations of Pecok Flowers
We have included a map here where we marked the nearest resonance beacons and the locations of the Pecok Flower with the planting symbol.
At the marked locations, you can find one or more closely grouped flowers:
Are there other ways to obtain the Pecok Flower? You can also conveniently buy Pecok Flowers.
To do this, go to the Shifang pharmacy in Jinzhou (you can recognize it by the medicine symbol). Here you can buy 15 Pecok Flowers for 3000 Shell Credits each. After a certain time, the stock will be replenished and you can acquire more specimens.
What do you need the Pecok Flower for? You need the Pecok Flower for the ascension of certain resonators.
Currently, there are three characters in the game for which you need these flowers: Jiyan, Rover, and Encore. To fully ascend one of the characters, you need a total of 60 Pecok Flowers.
If you are wondering how to get free characters in Wuthering Waves, check out our list. Here you will find guides on how to obtain all the characters. The game even gives you a free 5-star character: Wuthering Waves: How to get free characters
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Pokémon GO, the new season begins in a few days, and a short clip now shows the first contents. We have summarized for you here on MeinMMO which monsters are to be seen and what surprises the next season has in store for you.
Which season is it about? In Pokémon GO, the current season World of Wonders ends on June 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM local time, and a new one begins. What exactly awaits you has not yet been officially announced; only the period and name of the next season Shared Skies has Niantic revealed.
On May 27, 2024, the developers shared a 15-second clip on their X account, which is meant to give you a first small insight. There are also first monsters visible that will play a role in Pokémon GO in the coming weeks. We have summarized for you below which ones they are, what special features exist, and how trainers are reacting to it.
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What monsters will there be? The season Shared Skies, or in English shared sky, starts on June 1, 2024. This is immediately evident at the beginning of the developers’ short clip, as Ultra Wormholes appear across the pink sky.
It is not surprising that throughout the video, a whole series of them can be seen, such as Masskito, Schabelle, Katagami, Anego, Voltilant, Schlingking, or Venicro with its evolution Agoyon. But that’s not all. Particularly striking is a green strip that appears in the sky towards the end and finally shows Mega-Rayquaza.
The monster is one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO, which is why many trainers have been hoping for the return of the legendary Dragon and Flying Pokémon for several days now. But the appearance of Lunala is likely to delight many trainers as well, as it could indicate a return of Cosmog.
New season brings you a surprise
What surprise is there? Trainers who have watched the clip closely will have noticed an important feature. The developers show the name of the new season with its corresponding time period at the very end of the short clip. Usually, a season lasts exactly 3 months, which means it should end on September 1.
However, as can be seen in the lettering, this time it is obviously different, as the season lasts 2 days longer. Thus, the season Shared Skies will be active from June 1 to September 3. The reason for this change in the end date is not yet known.
Why could the end date have changed? The new duration of the upcoming season raises many questions for many trainers. Therefore, it is speculated in Reddit comments that this could be related to Labor Day, which is celebrated in the USA on the first Monday in September.
This day is thus a holiday there and falls on September 2, 2024. For this reason, it would be conceivable for trainers that Niantic postponed the date for personnel reasons. But special events the weekend before, such as the regional championships for the next Pokémon World Championship, could also be considered a reason by some.
First insights into the Pokémon World Championship 2024 can be seen in the following video:
Start video
Pokémon World Championship 2024: Trailer for the Event in Hawaii
Trainers are excited about the first insights into the new season
In the Reddit community, the short clip about the new season is largely causing excitement among trainers. Just last week, there were speculations about the return of Mega-Rayquaza due to an image. The video has now confirmed this, which brings a lot of joy.
But further well-known faces and new monsters are also suspected due to the events in the sky, which the season is supposed to thematize. The Ultra Beasts are causing mixed reactions. While some hope for strong attackers and possible shinies, others are just happy when the Ultra Beasts finally disappear again. In the comments on Reddit, you can read the following:
eddiebronze: A whole season concentrated on events in the sky makes me hope for the return of Crypto-Arktos on weekends for 3 whole months…
ArcticVulpix: Hopefully the new season will bring us the Ultra Beasts Null type and Amigento aka Ultra Beast Killer, so we can leave the Ultra Beasts behind and turn to something new.
stormfortess_: I haven’t finished any Mega-Rayquaza raids yet. That will be great. But I can’t say I’m excited about the Ultra Beasts unless all of them are shiny.
DonaldMick: Hopefully, this season will also see Non-Crypto-Lugia and MegaAerodactyl sharing the skies. Maybe also a Bacon-Bird [Shiny-Yveltal].
Which monsters will actually be part of the new season remains to be seen. As soon as there are new information, you will find out about it with us on MeinMMO.
What do you think of the first images of the new season? Which of the monsters are you particularly looking forward to? And which Pokémon do you wish to see in the coming weeks? Feel free to let us know in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers. Trainers complain about ugly monsters in Pokémon GO, but it serves a purpose
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Square Enix is frequently criticized for setting unrealistic expectations for its products. Now a former manager of the publisher has spoken out about the criticism and explained the real reasons why games like Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth fall short of expectations.
Who spoke out? Jacob Navok is currently the CEO of Genvid Technologies. Previously, he was the Director of Business Development at Square Enix. In several posts on X, the manager addressed the often-expressed criticism (for example, on Resetera) regarding the allegedly unfair expectations of Square Enix.
The criticism that Square Enix set arbitrary high sales expectations for its games has existed, according to Navok, for about a decade and a half.
From his own experience, the manager knows that these sales expectations are not defined arbitrarily. Rather, they arise from the necessity to cover development and marketing costs as well as return on investment.
Navok’s example: If a game costs 100 million US dollars and is in development for five years, one must account for what the company could have earned if it had invested 100 million US dollars in the stock market over those five years.
In the five years leading up to February 2024, one could have achieved a return of about 201 million US dollars from 100 million US dollars, according to the industry insider.
Additionally, it must be considered that games sold for 70 US dollars only bring in 49 US dollars after platform fees are deducted. Early discounts and other deals (like exclusivity) would worsen the equation, Navok added.
So, if Final Fantasy XVI sells three million units at launch, that looks good at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, only about 120 million US dollars actually reach Square Enix. However, they would need more than 254 million US dollars for the publisher to make a profit.
According to Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Foamstars, and Final Fantasy XVI fell short of expectations.
Start video
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Trailer
The video game industry is cannibalizing itself
What is the real problem according to Navok? The manager explains that budgets for AAA productions like Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were approved at a time when the industry was in a rapid growth phase.
This growth received an additional boost from the pandemic but stagnated post-pandemic. At the same time, the costs for game development continue to rise, and there are increasingly more service games that compete directly with AAA productions for the limited gaming time of the targeted audiences.
According to Navok, there are really only three options to respond to this situation: raise game prices further, significantly cut development budgets, or expand the target audience. Alternatively, it would be helpful if platform operators like Sony, Nintendo, Valve, and others would charge lower fees, but that seems unrealistic in the foreseeable future.
Is Navok right? It is known that game development is becoming increasingly complicated and expensive. At the same time, we have seen for years that publishers and developers are desperately searching for ways to earn more money from their releases.
Everyone wants GTA 6. However, the former head of Blizzard hopes that Red Dead Redemption 3 will come soon. But how likely is that?
For many years, gamers have been waiting for GTA 6. Although a release window is now known, and it is supposed to finally happen in the fall of 2025 – some are waiting for a completely different title, such as Mike Ybarra, the former head of Blizzard. He is actually longing for a third installment of Red Dead Redemption.
You can see the trailer for GTA VI here:
Start video
Rockstar Games shows GTA 6 for the first time in the trailer
What was said? On Twitter/X, Mike Ybarra commented on the upcoming Rockstar games. Although the tweet primarily discusses GTA 6, he ends his post with “I am hopeful that we will one day get an announcement for RDR3” and adds a smiley.
Aside from that, Mike Ybarra believes that the release of GTA 6 will be a significant “moment for the [gaming] industry” because Rockstar has proven in the past that they can produce hit after hit – and the latest GTA installment will likely be no exception.
Why is Red Dead Redemption so popular? Although GTA and Red Dead Redemption are from the same developer, the games differ not only in their setting. The RDR series is generally considered a bit more serious – but aside from that, there are many parallels. A large open world with plenty of hidden details and almost hundreds of hours of gameplay that one can spend in it.
If you are into a cohesive Western setting, you can hardly avoid Red Dead Redemption 2 – it is not surprising that a third part is also eagerly awaited.
Through the manga and anime of One Piece, we already knew what was behind two of the three ancient weapons. In the new manga chapter 1115, we finally learn what the last remaining ancient weapon is and who possesses it.
Warning, Spoiler! In this article, we summarize the events from manga chapter 1115. If you haven’t read the chapter yet, you can come back at a later time.
What is the last ancient weapon? The last ancient weapon, whose existence we knew nothing about, is Uranus. Dr. Vegapunk is currently still in his speech, where he shares his knowledge about the secrets of the World Government with the public. In it, he now also reveals what is behind Uranus.
He reveals that the ancient weapon has caused the sea level to rise by 200 meters during the Lost Century. It is therefore responsible for the world of One Piece sinking into the sea.
He further explains that it played an important role in the war between Joy Boy, the first pirate, and the World Government. X-User Greiish shows the excerpt where Dr. Vegapunk reveals that the actual continent of One Piece slumbers on the ocean floor:
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Does that sound familiar to you? Then you are on the right track: Imu, whose identity has still not been revealed, attacked the island of Lulusia with a beam from the sky in chapter 1086. The consequence of the attack was that the sea level increased by one meter.
This is indeed the ancient weapon Uranus. To confirm, Dr. Vegapunk added that the ancient weapon still exists. A picture of Mary Geoise and Imu is shown during this. This implies that the weapon that destroyed Lulusia and the ancient weapon Uranus are the same weapon. The “Mother Flame,” created by Dr. Vegapunk, only serves as fuel for Uranus.
The events on Egghead Island are escalating:
Start video
One Piece: New trailer shows first images from the Egghead Island arc
The 3 ancient weapons are supposed to end the age of pirates
What are the other two ancient weapons? Besides Uranus, there are two other ancient weapons, whose forms we already knew:
Pluton is the most powerful warship of all time. Franky possessed the blueprints for this ship, but he burned them in front of CP9. This ancient weapon is said to be located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Wano Kuni, so underwater.
Poseidon is in the possession of Shirahoshi, the mermaid princess. She has the power to control the Sea Kings in the sea. These are gigantic monsters that wreak havoc in the water.
Thus, the remaining two ancient weapons are located beneath the sea. If a war between the World Government and Joy Boy were to occur again, they would play a significant role.
Why are they so important? The World Government is trying to acquire all three ancient weapons. Its goal is to end the age of pirates. With the help of Uranus, the World Government could already ensure that all life disappears from the surface.
With Poseidon and Pluton, the pirates still roaming the oceans could be fought at sea. Therefore, it is extremely important for the Straw Hat crew and all other pirate crews that the World Government does not get hold of the other two ancient weapons.
In Helldivers 2, players fight against bugs and bots, but another enemy lurks in the shadows, waiting to steal your nerves. They are neither cyborgs nor the Illuminati, they are the trolls. What these individuals do to you and what the developers might do about it will be revealed to you.
They try to gain the leader status in a lobby. Once they have gathered a full squad, all players fly to the next mission and complete it until they are about to be evacuated.
When it comes to “Let’s go to the Pelican,” all players are kicked – this way, only the troll receives the rewards and progress, while the kicked players lose up to 40 minutes of their lives and end up with nothing. Fans have had enough and are finally demanding the developers to intervene against the problem.
Start video
Helldivers 2 shows its latest Warbond ‘Polar Patriots’ in the icy trailer
Players have had enough and want a solution
What do the developers say about it? On Discord, the user eero asked the community manager “Twinbeard” if one could keep 50% of their collected samples if kicked by a troll after the Pelican had already been called.
Twinbeard had already responded to this: “We are actually working on a solution to mitigate the problems associated with ‘being kicked by an asshole lobby leader,’ as someone once eloquently put it. No estimated arrival time, but it’s coming.”
And although the community manager cannot go into detail, some fans already know how a solution could look, and it comes directly from Deep Rock Galactic.
What solutions are there? On Reddit, a user (via reddit.com) offered a solution inspired by Deep Rock Galactic. When a player gets kicked in a round there, the kicked players receive 25% of the materials and XP collected during the round.
Additionally, a reputation system is proposed, in which players are matched with others based on their cooperativeness. This means that team players and social Helldivers will be grouped with other team players in a player search. Trolls and griefers, on the other hand, can play together and annoy each other.
Windows 95 was supposed to become the best gaming platform of its time. For this, Bill Gates had a team led by Gabe Newell develop a customized version of Doom for his operating system and even appeared in a commercial.
Bill Gates is best known for his unremarkable speeches about Microsoft products and the obsessive tendency to control his employees. However, with a commercial for Windows 95, the former Microsoft CEO created a completely different image.
With a shotgun in hand, Bill Gates stood in the setting of the first-person shooter Doom, talking about the new operating system as the perfect gaming platform. The technical implementation of the game on Windows 95 was then supervised by the later Valve boss Gabe Newell.
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What kind of commercial was that? In a 3-minute commercial from 1995, Bill Gates talked about the advantages of his new operating system. He marketed Microsoft Windows 95 as the best gaming platform. By the way, in the same year he also told us what the internet is.
To particularly appeal to gamers in the presentation, Gates had himself inserted into the shooter Doom while armed with a shotgun. When he is interrupted by an enemy, he uses his weapon to dispose of the nuisance and says, “Don’t interrupt me!”
Why this effort? By the end of 1995, the sales figures of Windows 95 lagged behind expectations despite extensive marketing efforts. At that time, the operating system, whose graphical origins lay in a ‘betrayal’, was installed on fewer PCs than the popular shooter Doom.
Gates wanted to leverage the title’s popularity to make his new operating system appealing to gamers. It was decided to develop a modified version of Doom for Windows 95, since the shooter had until then only run on DOS systems and was not compatible with the new operating system.
What did Gabe Newell have to do with it? For the technical implementation of Doom, Microsoft created its own internal team. The founder of this team for the porting was none other than Gabe Newell, who has always been convinced of his products and their security.
In an interview with CVG Staff, Newell said the following about it:
I was the producer of the first three versions of Windows.
After the transition to Windows 95, it was suspected that it was not a good gaming platform.
Around the time the shareware for Doom was released, I installed it on a laptop, dragged all my coworkers into the office, and said, “Look what PC games can do! This is much better than your NES or Sega system.” And I decided to commission some developers to port Doom to Windows.
Shortly thereafter, he left Microsoft after 13 long years to found his own gaming company, Valve. With the development of Half-Life and the later release of Steam as a gaming platform, this was not a bad decision.
Allegedly, FIFA 25 is set to release in autumn 2024 – but it won’t be from EA. After the gaming company granted the naming rights, a rumor suggests that 2K will take over. However, it won’t be easy for the experts in the sports gaming sector.
The new competitor, 2K, already has a strong position in sports games and is known for the NBA series and WWE wrestling – although not always well received.
When is the release? According to a statement from MohPlay Inc, FIFA 25 is set to release in 2024, likely under the name FIFA 2K25 as is typical for 2K. A specific release date and confirmation are still pending.
EA has released its FIFA or Sports FC games in autumn. Accordingly, autumn 2024 would be roughly the timeframe in which a FIFA 2K25 could be expected.
After EA made FIFA 23 the last official FIFA game, FIFA 2K25 would finally bring the next installment within reach. However, there are a few hurdles for the new developer.
The trailer for the National Women’s Soccer League from FIFA 23 – After this, the series from EA came to an end:
Start video
FIFA 23 | National Women’s Soccer League Trailer
FIFA 2K25 as competition for EA FC – With hurdles
Although EA no longer holds the naming rights to FIFA and thus cannot call the game that anymore, the company still holds a plethora of naming rights, including those to:
over 19,000 players
over 700 teams
over 100 stadiums
and 30 leagues
Among these are some exclusive partnerships, such as with the Bundesliga or the popular La Liga. Although EA Sports FC is no longer called FIFA, it can at least continue to use all the official names. How it will work with 2K is still uncertain.
I can assure you that the only authentic, real game that bears the name FIFA will be the best available for gamers and football fans. The name FIFA is the only global, original title.
With FIFA 2K25, 2K would become the new major competitor for FIFA in the market of football games for PC, PS5, and Xbox. The previously largest contender in the genre, Pro Evolution Soccer, completely revamped its games just before the end of EA’s FIFA era – with mediocre success: eFootball 2022 has thoroughly botched its Steam launch – Now shows contrition at the comeback
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Star Trek Online shows us the future: Starting May 28, there will be a new cash shop item called “Captain Alteration Token,” allowing players to change their characters. They can even customize the species.
This is the new feature:
The new token costs 750 Zen. If you buy 3, you pay 1,500 Zen. The smallest Zen package costs €9.99 and grants 1,265 Zen.
With the token, you can transform your Captain into the species and gender of your choice. Progress remains unchanged.
This will also allow the possibility to play races that didn’t even exist when the character was created. However, there are limits; not every species is possible for every faction: A Vulcan working for the Dominion, for example, is excluded. The bridge officers cannot be transformed, only the Captain.
The MMORPG Star Trek Online was released in February 2010. The game is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One:
Start video
Star Trek Online: Ascension Launch Trailer
Regarding the traffic light: In Germany, the law on “self-determination regarding gender registration” passed the Bundestag only controversially on April 12, with 372 in favor and 251 against.
The law had significant societal implications. Politician Sahra Wagenknecht called it “absurd.” It is driven by “ideologically motivated politics for which one is celebrated in certain sects.” (via tagesspiegel)
This is how it is discussed in the MMORPG: At Star Trek Online, things are considerably less controversial:
User duncanidaho11, apparently a fan of Dune, says: The price is just right. Not too expensive, but not so cheap that one can constantly change species. He plans to change his character from a human to an alien. That fits better with his Captain now. And he can make good use of the extra slot for a trait.
Inferiority also praises the price: Some tokens in Star Trek Online are outrageously expensive, but this one is just right. Neither ridiculously expensive nor much too cheap.
A third user criticizes the limitations as too lenient: In the era of Kirk, hardly any Klingon or liberated Borg could have been part of the Federation.
No one speaks about the possibility of changing gender at will.
In recent days, World of Warcraft has been quite lively. A brand new game mode is exciting many – yet there is a loud minority.
With WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria, many players of World of Warcraft are currently enjoying an alternative game mode. However, if you look into the forums or social media, predominantly negative posts stand out. Major concerns have been the “Frog Farmers” and various exploit methods that Blizzard is gradually fixing – and then it’s said “Fun detected” and the fixing of exploits is not correct either.
A player is fed up with the community’s behavior and is expressing his frustration.
Start video
WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria – All Features at a Glance
What was said? In the post “The Blizzard President is right” in the WoW subreddit, Adventurous_Radio_90 refers to an old statement by Mike Ybarra, that players can never get enough. He applies this quote to WoW Remix and the comments in recent days:
All people do is complain. Nothing is ever good enough.
A new game mode is released where you no longer have to farm all those cool transmogs and mounts? With less annoying reputation grind, no complicated gathering system for professions, and just one currency instead of 10 currencies.
“Well, yes, but that’s pointless if you can do all that with frog farming.”
Then they take away frog farming: “Hey, not fair! I couldn’t farm frogs, so other people are now better than me because they could.”
Then you revert the values of those who farmed frogs and give the others 40k bronze: “Well, yes, but the frog farmers also made a lot of bronze and upgraded their items with it.”
I know the game isn’t perfect, but there is clearly an effort on the developers’ side. Honestly, if you’re not having fun in the game, then don’t drag the entire community down who is having fun and instead find another game. There are literally thousands to choose from.
This is how the community reacts: The whole post received a lot of support. More than 4,000 upvotes speak volumes – although only 73% of the ratings are upvotes. So, about a quarter of the comments don’t like it. But those are probably exactly the people who should feel addressed.
In this context, kwaziiman writes that he has noticed such voices already at the previous event:
I noticed this when people complained about Plunderstorm. You could not have created a game mode that is even more optional. It literally did not affect you in any way if you didn’t want to play it. Unless you desperately wanted a parrot mount, whose model wasn’t even unique, and a pirate armor, apart from that there were no major rewards. If you like it: Great, if you hate it: Also great.
A bit more accurately, Oni_K summarizes the whole situation of the last weeks:
“I recently resubscribed and the one thing I forgot about the game was how much the players themselves hate it.”
At least there are also positive comments that clearly highlight how well Remix is received by some. Almost 3,000 upvotes were received by the comment from tigerofsanpedro:
Maybe my expectations were low. I level a new class very quickly. I can experience an expansion again that I missed and enjoy that very much. I get mounts and transmogs almost for free and I don’t even have to farm old instances or raids alone. Everything I do feels rewarding. And yes, there are problems, but they will probably work on it and make it better later. I am satisfied with everything.
This is the current state: Normally, there is quite a long content drought between the end of an expansion and the start of the next in World of Warcraft. With Dragonflight, the developers have tried new things here. There is a new PvE season and even a new patch with the first quest line for The War Within. At the same time, the developers are testing several completely new game modes like “Plunderstorm” or “WoW Remix”.
Nevertheless, a part of the community seems not to be satisfied with that either, so that some speculate: “At most a whole expansion between two expansions would satisfy them. And probably even then they would still have something to complain about.”
What is your impression of WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria – assuming you play it at all?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the best case, MMORPGs can provide a gaming experience that is unmatched in any other genre. At the same time, it is extremely difficult for developers to fully exploit the unique potential of online RPGs. In this MeinMMO column, MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz sheds light on this dilemma.
When looking at modern MMORPGs, they often provide online adventures that can be experienced perfectly alone. Fighting with other players or against them? Optional! Social interaction? Sure, but not a must.
Due to the extremely long development phases and high costs, it is essential for an MMORPG provider to address as wide an audience as possible. They cannot afford to exclude anyone who does not have the time or desire to commit to a community or to wait an eternity for the group to fill up for the next dungeon.
The target audience can also be best expanded when there are constant successes during the adventure and convenience in all areas. Furthermore, many players want to express themselves individually with cosmetic items for their characters. Developers appreciate this as it allows them to justify their in-game shop.
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO. He has been dealing almost daily with the best genre in the world for 15 years. He made private contact in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated several years of gameplay in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant genre representative of the past nearly two decades for at least a while.
[toc]
My heart bleeds
More comfort, more options, as little frustration as possible. Sounds great, right? For many players, it is. And I am also glad at many moments not to be stuck in raid instances four evenings a week or to plan several hours for an instance run, without completely forgoing the genre.
At the same time, my heart bleeds because modern MMORPGs only offer a watered-down version of the special gaming experience they are actually capable of providing and with which they can distinguish themselves from all other genres.
Elder Scrolls Online can be played perfectly as a solo RPG with an optional co-op mode.
Start video
The Elder Scrolls Online – Endless Archive Presentation
The essence of MMORPGs
Or when was the last time you played an online role-playing game where you were part of a closed server community, where after a while you knew the most important guilds and players, and where over time you made a name for yourself?
When was the last time you added new people to your friends list almost daily because you kept running into them while leveling or looking for a group? When was the last time you were part of a large community of dozens of like-minded individuals who worked together towards common goals for months and years, creating friendships, relationships, and families?
For me, that was the case at the launch of World of Warcraft Classic. So in the relaunch of an MMORPG that was first released in 2004 or 2005, and despite all the weaknesses of the vanilla version, it provides a solid foundation for exactly this special gaming experience.
With WotLK, the dungeon finder was introduced into World of Warcraft. The beginning of the end?
Start video
WoW Classic: Der Trailer zu Wrath of the Lich King
The fear of ghost servers
The major challenge for any MMORPG developer begins with the choice of server structure. Nowadays, many online titles rely on flexible or interconnected realms where all players from Europe or North America come together.
By dividing the game world into various instances, phases, channels, or layers, overpopulation is avoided. At the same time, the number of game world copies can easily be reduced as soon as fewer players are online. The big advantage: Ghost servers and frustrating server mergers are not an issue.
Initially, Blizzard also wanted to provide general EU servers for WoW Classic to be as flexible as possible. However, the announcement was followed by a shitstorm in several countries, showing that potential language barriers can be a hindrance for many people in MMORPGs.
The worst of both worlds: There are no official language servers for New World, yet each realm can only have a maximum of 2,500 characters online at the same time.
Start video
New World: Rise of the Angry Earth – Trailer for the Expansion
Language barrier is a problem
In addition, many people simply do not want to be forced to communicate in a game in a foreign language – even if they can speak English perfectly well. It’s just more exhausting and nuances are lost. The latter is especially important for role-players who want to give their character a personality through language.
Well-defined language servers, as eventually ended up being the case for WoW Classic, offer a solution for this. In such a closed world, a large community made up of many small communities can form beautifully. With rivalries and collaborations between guilds. With player-planned, server-wide events. With lively discussions in the server’s forum or Discord channel.
But of course also with players who end up on blacklists because they did not behave. And with protagonists who earn a positive reputation by helping others or working for a great gaming experience for the entire server community.
In the content search of Final Fantasy XIV, you can choose the language of your fellow players.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV – in 2 minutes
No solution is perfect
WoW Classic also demonstrated the problems of this inflexible server structure impressively. On some realms, there were frustrating queues for a long time. Other worlds that were added later quickly mutated into potential ghost servers. And then there were servers with a strongly lopsided faction balance, which was especially not fun for the underrepresented faction.
In short: For the best possible MMO experience, closed language servers are actually the best choice. However, due to the high risk of overcrowded or empty servers, MMORPG developers prefer to use flexible alternatives, which noticeably diminish social interaction.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
