Expert on MMORPG explains why he refused a lot of money from Blizzard, does not promote WoW

The streamer Josh Strife Hayes is considered an MMORPG expert on YouTube. In a stream, he explains that Blizzard offered him a lot of money to promote the new expansion for World of Warcraft, The War Within, and why he declined.

What was the deal about?

  • Josh Strife Hayes does not go into the exact circumstances of the deal, but it was apparently a lucrative advertising deal for the WoW expansion “The War Within”.
  • According to Hayes, the deal would have been advantageous for him, as there were “a lot of zeros on the contract,” and he would have also met some people:

“I would have met people, and I’m sure they would have offered a truckload of money. The number of zeros on the contract was pretty impressive. But I just said: I don’t think my audience wants that.”

Start video
WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion

YouTuber prioritizes his content over personal luxury

Why did he decline? The YouTuber explains that he simply doesn’t need a lot of money. If he had wanted, he could have bought himself a Lamborghini or decorated his bathroom with gold two or three years ago.

He is not interested in that: It is important to him that he creates timeless good content and stands for his principles. A deal that would require him to retract previously made statements does not suit him.

Strife Hayes says he has always positioned himself against what modern MMORPGs stand for, so he can’t make a deal with Blizzard now.

Does he reject sponsorships in general? No, he says he has done advertising for products he can stand behind in the past, such as for Guild Wars 2.

And currently, he has a deal with GOG, which provides him with CD keys, and he says that he has keys from them. He values such deals, completely without a contract, as “Gentlemen’s Agreements,” from which both sides benefit.

Even Josh Strife Hayes has his price, it’s just very high

Would he advertise for WoW? Yes, he would. At around 10 million USD, he would weaken, he says.

Because then it would be about money that not only secures his livelihood but that of his family for 4 to 5 generations. Although he does not plan to have children, it still matters.

With the money, he could also do something good:

Ultimately, it’s a question: Profit or integrity. For what sum would I sell my integrity?

Strife Hayes says he does not condemn anyone who takes money to pay their bills. But for him, it was never the goal to earn as much money as quickly as possible.

He comes from humble beginnings. His parents fought their way up from the working class to the middle class in the UK. They had a car and a little house with a mortgage. He is doing well. And at the moment, he is saying “No” to many things because he is focused on developing the best content.

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What bothers him about WoW? If you follow Josh Strife Hayes for a while, it’s probably the payment model. Here, Blizzard takes everything: full price for expansions, subscription model, and also a cash shop. Blizzard also charges for each service separately.

Hayes probably has difficulties standing behind such a monetized product with his face and name.

It could also be that as an MMORPG expert, he dislikes going into the mainstream and promoting the big players instead of an indie gem.

In September 2023, Blizzard received a rejection from Hayes when they wanted him to promote Hearthstone.

When asked how much advertising would cost him, Hayes replied Nothing. He would gladly promote Hearthstone for free. However, the condition would be that they create a good game.

Instead of giving him money to praise Hearthstone, they should invest the money into the game and improve it. An MMORPG that Hayes actually promoted is inspired by WoW: New MMORPG wants to bring back the golden age with WoW – It could actually become something

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

ARK: Survival Ascended officially brings one of the best mods into the game, had over 900,000 subscribers on Steam for its predecessor

ARK: Survival Evolved has been one of the most popular survival games on Steam for years and has received numerous mods from the community that greatly expand and enhance the gameplay. In October 2023, a revised version of the survival hit using Unreal Engine 5 was released, and some mods will also be published for the new game. Some mods will also be officially incorporated into the base game by Studio Wildcard, including one of the most popular dino mods.

Which mod is it about? Studio Wildcard has announced that some creatures from the “ARK Additions” mod will be officially added to the UE5 remake “ARK Survival Ascended”. The carnivorous dinosaur Ceratosaurus, which can run particularly fast, will be the first to be added. It is expected to be released in mid-May.

ARK Additions comes from Steam user “garuga123” and is regarded as one of the best and most popular mods for ARK: Survival Evolved. The mod has over 970,000 subscribers on Steam and boasts over 18,000 reviews with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

What does the subscriber count of a mod mean? The number of subscribers roughly indicates how many players have downloaded the mod, as you must first subscribe to a mod in the Steam Workshop to add it to your game before you can download it. You can read more about downloading mods from our colleagues at GameStar.

According to Studio Wildcard, the Ceratosaurus is just the beginning, and more creatures from “ARK Additions” are intended to be officially incorporated into the base game later. However, it is not yet known which creatures these will be and when exactly they will arrive.

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ARK: Survival Ascended is revealed for the first time in the trailer

ARK Additions enhances the game with a variety of new creatures

What does the mod include? ARK Additions is a mod that adds new creatures to the game. However, the mod really only includes creatures and no building systems or QoL improvements.

In ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK Addition consists of two separately downloadable mods: the “ARK Additions: Collection,” which represents a collection of various creatures, and “ARK Additions: Domination Rex,” which allows you to download only the so-called Domination Rex.

The Domination Rex is based on the fictional Indominus Rex, known from the movie “Jurassic World,” and represents a genetic mix of various creatures, including a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Velociraptor.

The ARK Additions: Collection includes creatures like Brachiosaurus, which is a herbivorous dino with a long neck. There is also a type of giant crocodile called Deinosuchus and another prehistoric turtle named Archelon.

Mods have been an important topic in the history of ARK. They have been improving and expanding the game for years. Particularly popular mods are repeatedly incorporated officially into the game, including maps from German modders.

In ARK: Survival Ascended, console players can finally use mods and customize their gaming experience as they wish. This was only possible on PC in the predecessor ARK: Survival Evolved.

MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller speculated months before the release of ARK: Survival Ascended that ARK: Survival Ascended could improve gameplay for PS5 players, as they can now use mods like ARK Additions: ARK: Survival Ascended will massively improve gameplay on PS5 because console players will finally get mods.

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

Absurd build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is probably the best tank in the game, it shouldn’t really work

You can play Baldur’s Gate 3 more or less however you want. Only some things just don’t work – like spellcasting barbarians. The rules prohibit it. Actually. Because a player has now created a really strong tank build with exactly this combination.

What kind of build is that?

Why is that supposed to not work? Barbarians have the ability to enter a rage as a special class action. Depending on the subclass, you then have special traits, take less damage or deal more damage.

However, the rage has another effect: You cannot cast spells anymore and lose any concentration on existing spells. Even the “Wild Magic” subclass only allows for a burst of magic but cannot cast spells while raging.

However, in a YouTube video (from minute 2:05), the YouTuber RageGamingVideos explains how exactly barbarians can be crossed with sorcerers and wizards, thus becoming an extremely strong tank. Something that sounds completely contradictory but works excellently.

If you want to try out the build without starting a new character, you can simply reskill with Lazarus’ help:

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Baldur’s Gate 3: Reset Character and Choose New Class

Barbarian-Sorcerer-Tank – How the build works

This is how you build the build: The build only works because you use spells that strengthen you – without requiring concentration. The combination of classes allows you to pump yourself up before a rage – or even before a fight – so that you can withstand any attack in battle.

First of all, you need to build your character correctly:

  • Build the character with a focus on strength and constitution.
  • Put 3 levels into Barbarian and choose the Wildheart subclass. Bearheart is ideal here for even more survivability.
  • At level 4, take Sorcerer as your second class. Sorcerers choose their subclass right at the beginning, so you can directly become a Dragonblood Sorcerer. Choose White Dragon as your bloodline. This gives you Armor of Agathys as a spell.
  • Increase Barbarian to level 5 and choose Guardian as a feat. Guardian is one of the best feats for tanks.
  • Then spend the last 6 levels in the Wizard class and specialize in Abjuration. This grants you a steadily increasing barrier that absorbs damage when casting spells.

The idea is that you build up your shield with spells and increase your armor class. Through “Guardian,” you make enemies attack you – which they otherwise wouldn’t do because they simply couldn’t hit you.

These are the spells you need: The most important spell is Armor of Agathys. It doesn’t require concentration, meaning: You can cast the spell and keep the bonuses even while raging. All other spells are up to personal preference.

Especially spells that strengthen you without requiring concentration or are useful in specific situations should be included – for example:

  • Counterspell
  • False Life
  • Find Familiar
  • Long Strider
  • Shield
  • Fog Cloud
  • Fire Shield

You can also pack other spells that use concentration. Your rage uses are highly limited, so you’ll probably have to fight some battles without rage. This is where your spells come in handy – if you still have spell slots available.

As an Abjuration Wizard, you gain the ability to reduce damage that other characters in the group would take as a reaction. So you not only reduce the damage to yourself but also protect allies who are further away. With this, you have the optimal tank, who also dishes out damage really well. And as a tip: You don’t actually need a healer in the group

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

That’s why Chewbacca often tilts his head to the side in the ‘Star Wars’ movies

You often see in the Star Wars films how Chewbacca tilts his head to the side. This habit of the character originates from the actor Peter Mayhew.

Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is the famous Wookiee who made his film debut in Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. As a loyal companion and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, he stands by Han Solo.

In five Star Wars films, the character was played by Peter Mayhew until he passed away from a heart attack in 2019. Subsequently, Joonas Suotamo took over the role of Chewbacca in the newer Star Wars productions.

However, a certain habit of the original actor has since become an integral part of the well-known film character Chewbacca.

Here you can see a trailer for Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope:

Start video
Star Wars Episode IV – Trailer for the download version

What particular trait are we talking about? When you watch the Star Wars films, you often see Chewbacca tilting his head to the side.

Often, this signals that the Wookiee understands what has been said, for example in communication with Han Solo.

This movement stemmed from Peter Mayhew having difficulties on set due to his height. The actor often had to tilt his head under obstacles like door frames to avoid bumping into them. The various sets commissioned by George Lucas were usually simply too low for tall individuals like him.

What was originally a movement that came from the actor’s working life was simply integrated into the character of his figure.

More about Star Wars can be found here with our colleagues at Moviepilot: Star Wars: Episode I initiated the biggest cinema revolution of the 21st century in just 60 seconds

Charlie Hunnam (Rebel Moon, Sons of Anarchy) almost snagged the role of Darth Vader. However, as he recounted in an interview, his nervousness ruined the opportunity and led to an awkward conversation. You can read more about that here at MeinMMO: Star Wars: Charlie Hunnam recounted how he almost became Anakin Skywalker – “It was a very awkward meeting”

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Source(s):
  1. collider.com

„I never feel alone“ – player tells how Destiny 2 always helps him when he feels down

The world of Destiny 2 is so vast that one can occasionally be alone. But just when a player is having a tough time, someone happens to come along and saves the day.

Who is it about? On Reddit, the Destiny 2 player Lumi_Quest shared his story. The player explained that he always logs in after a difficult day in Destiny 2. There, he always looks for the friendly Harpy on the moon Europa. However, it only spawns during a snowstorm in the Asterion Abyss and not guaranteed.

The Harpy makes cute noises and he simply likes them. But since it always takes a while to spot the Harpy, he often just sits around and looks at the landscape, which he finds beautiful and relaxing. However, this time, he would not be alone.

In this video, you can see the latest enemies from Destiny 2:

Start video
Destiny 2 shows the new enemies “the Grievous” in the video

A player saves the day for him

Who showed up? While Lumi_Quest was sitting there waiting for his Harpy, another player came by out of nowhere. At first, he was somewhat suspicious of what a lonely player was doing lying on the ground in the landscape. But after a brief glance, he sat down next to Lumi_Quest.

The two sat together for a short while before Lumi-Quest was kicked for inactivity. Neither of them spoke to each other, nor could the user send a friend request. When he logged back in, the other player was already gone. Nevertheless, this encounter saved his day:

On Reddit, he wrote: “I hope he knows that it meant something sweet to me, lol. The lone hunters still support each other!!” According to him, the Destiny 2 community can be so sweet that he doesn’t feel alone.

What does the community say about this? Other users on Reddit are touched by the hunter’s story. They also share their own beautiful experiences in the game.

godoflemmings shares his beautiful moment on Reddit: “I love moments like this. I leveled up my rank half an hour ago, and before I could move, three people ran up and started cheering.”

streetvoyager writes on Reddit: “I’ve never seen a community that is both so good and so bad at the same time. The highs are high, but damn, I’ve experienced some lows.”

BattedBook5 recounts from Destiny 1 on Reddit: “I feel like this happened much more often in D1. When I sat on the grass of the tower in Destiny 1, other guardians would come and sit with me after a few minutes.”

If you’re ever not feeling well, we might have just the right thing for you. On the occasion of Mental Health Day, we have put together a list of games for you: These games can help you when you’re not feeling well

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

A father wonders why his PC is so slow – The son opens the PC and says that with all the dirt you can grow vegetables

A user wonders why his PC is so slow. When his son opens the PC, he discovers that it is completely dirty.

In a computer, a lot of dirt can accumulate over months and years. A user recently posted several photos of his father’s device on reddit. The father seemed to wonder why his PC had become so slow over the years. It was not until his son came up with the idea to open the PC.

The father is a heavy chain smoker and you can see it on the computer

Where does all the dirt come from? His son explains that his father is a heavy chain smoker. And he probably blows all the smoke into the computer.

In a first step, the son removed all the dirt from the computer; he joked that his father “could grow vegetables with all the dirt from his fans.”

In a second step, he also replaced the installed HDD with an SSD. According to the son, this was also worthwhile. Generally, it is always worthwhile to revitalize a computer with an SSD.

By the way, you should not use your cigarette ash for your plants. This misunderstanding comes from the time when wood ash had versatile uses in the garden and household; this is explained by colleagues from Wunderhecke.de: Cigarette and wood ash contain very few nutrients usable by plants. Instead, the released heavy metals in high concentrations are rather harmful to your vegetables.

What kind of PC is it anyway? The father’s computer is an Acer Aspire Z3620. This is a so-called all-in-one desktop. Such devices look like monitors into which the computer has been integrated. These computers are often used in offices as inexpensive office machines. The hardware in this model is also somewhat older:

  • Pentium G620 with integrated graphics unit (Intel HD Graphics)
  • 3 GB RAM
  • 21.5 inch display or display unit
  • 500 GB HDD
  • integrated webcam and an internal DVD drive

Therefore, it is no longer exactly a high-end model that the user’s father is using.

Dirt can cause the PC to overheat and other problems

Why should you regularly clean your computer? Dirt and dust block the airways for air or your fans. This causes some components or parts to not dissipate heat properly and thus overheat.

The processor and graphics card then throttle the performance to cope with the heat or shut down in emergencies to protect components. Your PC will thereby become slower and slower.

Moreover, dirty fans are noticeably louder as they have to spin much faster to adequately cool components like the CPU or the graphics card.

A gamer also recently had to find out what happens when you don’t open your gaming PC for years. Even some players from the community were astonished by how much dirt can accumulate in such a PC: Gamer opens his gaming PC for the first time after 6 years and shows why you shouldn’t make the same mistake

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

Free shooter aims to be better than Call of Duty, does without SBMM: Coming in May for PC, PS5, XBOX

The new shooter XDefiant from Ubisoft has been eagerly awaited by fans for a long time. Now there is a release date and information about what to expect in the first year.

What kind of game is it? The shooter XDefiant is Ubisoft’s attack on Call of Duty. Similar to the genre’s model, it features fast matches, smaller maps, and fewer tactical elements than, for example, Counter-Strike 2.

The game does one thing consciously different, which is the omission of the “Skill-Based-Match-Making” system. Players who play XDefiant in the normal non-competitive mode will simply be matched against other players randomly.

This is something that fans of Call of Duty have been wishing for a long time:

  • Good players can experience rounds with many kills
  • while beginners will have a harder time due to the absence of SBMM

Here you can watch the trailer for XDefiant:

Start video
XDefiant Game Overview Deep Dive Trailer

How XDefiant plans to convince players

How do they plan to conquer Call of Duty? In order to compete with Call of Duty at all, XDefiant has a long and difficult development process behind it. The shooter from Ubisoft has been delayed multiple times and there have been numerous leaks reporting on difficulties in development.

In the last server test, XDefiant showed the current state and the state did not differ significantly from what had been seen before.

The developers now feel ready to release their game and have already planned a lot of content to keep players engaged.

What is planned for the launch? XDefiant will be released on May 21 for PC, PS5, and XBOX, and will be free for everyone. At launch, there will be 5 factions:

  • Cleaners from The Division
  • Libertad from Far Cry
  • Echelon from Splinter Cell
  • Phantoms from Ghost Recon
  • Deadsec from Watchdogs

The classes provide your character with unique gadgets and abilities that you can use in matches. They complement the typical weapons and grenades in the game. The Deadsec faction is not available at launch; it must be unlocked by you first.

Besides the classes, the shooter will offer 5 different modes, including 3 “Arena” modes focused on eliminating opponents and 2 “Progression” modes where you pursue a goal as a team, for example, you need to escort a vehicle to the target.

There will be different maps for the modes. There should be 10 maps for the “Arena” modes and 4 maps for the “Progression” modes.

A shooter without proper weapons is hardly imaginable, so XDefiant will launch with 24 different weapons and also offers 44 attachments for customization.

What is supposed to happen after the release? A vague roadmap has already been published for the time after the release. In the first year, XDefiant plans to release 4 seasons, each with 3 maps, 3 new weapons, a new faction, and a battle pass.

New content is also expected to include additional modes, ranked matches with SBMM, and private matches. There will also be a playlist in which only beginners below a certain level play together. I myself played XDefiant in the last server test and wrote my thoughts on it in the following article: XDefiant is supposed to be the big CoD killer, but the last test makes me doubt the shooter

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

One Piece: Fans travel over 600 km to celebrate Ruffy’s birthday – Will be massively disappointed

The anime of One Piece is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The franchise wanted to celebrate this anniversary with the fans and has invited them to several events in Europe. At the same time, Ruffy’s birthday was celebrated on the day of the event. In Germany, the event took place in Berlin. However, the feedback has been rather poor.

What was the event like? The birthday celebration took place on Ruffy’s birthday, May 5, 2024. In advance, the organizers from Toei Animation announced that the birthday party would be “epic”.

Huge balloons were supposed to be inflated all over Europe. In Germany, the balloon could be seen in Berlin. From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, an employee from Toei Animation was supposed to welcome the guests, and “exclusive surprises” were promised at the same time.

There were to be different surprises for each city:

  • In Milan, a pop-up store opened
  • In London, there was an “immersive video experience”
  • In Paris, fans could look forward to a “highly symbolic location”
  • In Berlin and Madrid, there were supposed to be “lots of goodies”

No wonder that fans from all over Germany made their way to celebrate Ruffy’s and One Piece’s birthday. However, the feedback on the event is rather negative.

One Piece is now approaching the final stretch:

Start video
One Piece – The 26th Opening for the Egghead Island Arc has been released

Fans pilgrimage to Ruffy’s birthday and are “really disappointed”

What did fans think of the event? On the official page, it is shown that there was a different Ruffy balloon in each city. While in France the Gear-5 Ruffy was visible, in Germany, for example, the pose for Gear-2 could be seen. It has already been an inspiration for many athletes. There was also a gigantic straw hat to see.

But aside from that, fans were rather disappointed – at least in Germany. Under a TikTok video, comments are gathering that the event was “really pathetic.” There was only the balloon, some music, and a few cosplays to marvel at.

In the video from mangakochbuch, you can see some excerpts from the event:

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The “many goodies” that were promised in advance were a bag of gummy bears and postcards. A fan on TikTok, who was there for a whole two hours, supposedly didn’t even see these postcards.

Especially extreme: A fan traveled from Bonn and took on the more than 600 km journey. Other fans also traveled up to 500 km to spend four hours in front of the balloon.

Accordingly, the judgment from fans in the comments on TikTok is harsh:

  • Kenneth D. Ink: “I thought you could buy stuff there.”
  • Xshiavu: “Biggest letdown, it was totally boring.”
  • Tenreki: “I drove 2 hours specifically. It was announced as having many surprises and a bunch of merch and then just this old postcard. I feel really cheated.”

In general, many users are using the word “disappointing.” Among French fans, the judgment is similar. In a reddit post, a user complains that he had to wait 45 minutes for a photo. The event in London was also supposed to be “underwhelming,” as there was only a stone wall with Ruffy’s Gear-4 fist.

Did you participate in the event yourself? Let us know in the comments how you perceived the event. Alternatively, you can tell us if you would like to have been at such an event.

The mangaka of One Piece has similarly bizarre ideas: The mangaka of One Piece wanted to name 2 babies after a ship

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

Twitch: 92-Year-Old Plays as Your Substitute Grandmother, Reads Fairy Tales and Tells Stories

The 92-year-old Twitch streamer Marmeladenoma has built a large following on Twitch and YouTube through her weekly fairy tale readings and her charming presence.

Who is the streamer? This is the streamer Marmeladenoma. The 92-year-old was introduced to the world of Twitch by her grandson Jannik and seems to be something like a substitute grandmother for many viewers since then.

Once a week, specifically every Saturday, she streams on her Twitch channel and reads fairy tales for her viewers.

Start video
Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?

Over 200,000 Subscribers on YouTube

Marmeladenoma’s Success: The streamer is successful on each of her platforms: on Twitch she has about 88,000 followers and an average viewer count of 312 viewers (via Sullygnome).

On her YouTube channel, she even has over 200,000 subscribers. Although she does not upload new videos weekly, her videos usually achieve views between 10,000 and 90,000.

The main component of her streams is primarily reading fairy tales, which she has been doing for over 7 years.

Community Reactions: No matter which video of Marmeladenoma you watch, you only see positive feedback about the 92-year-old.

Under her latest video on YouTube regarding the Stream Awards 2023, she receives many kind words from her community. The reason for this is mainly that she received the award for Best Outfit of the Evening that night.

Some users write:

  • FavolesLegacy writes: Everybody’s grandma, she is the best! And grandson Jannik, a legend!
  • StreamTrickz notes: That’s how I want to be when I grow older, just like that. This woman is still so full of life, many my age could learn a thing or two from her.
  • proseidon774 comments: I tear up watching this video. Having so much joy and happiness at such an old age is simply a gift. Thank you for letting me see this.

At the Stream Awards, she was allowed to give a short speech along with her award, which gave everyone goosebumps. You can read about the content of her speech here:

The 92-year-old Twitch streamer Marmeladenoma gives a goosebump moment at an award ceremony

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

The MMORPG The Quinfall presents its versatile world in the video – showcases Viking villages and desert camps

The MMORPG The Quinfall aims to provide insight into its current development status with a new video. This time, the focus is on the cities and villages.

What is the status? After the indie MMORPG The Quinfall had raised concerns for many players, it has been trying to prove with various videos for some time that these worries are unfounded. Essentially, the concern was that the MMORPG could become the next The Day Before. After all, it promised a lot, almost too good to be true.

A new video now showcases some of the different cities and villages in the game:

Start video
The Quinfall presents cities and villages in the video

What videos are already available? This video about the cities and villages is not the first video the developers of The Quinfall have uploaded on YouTube.

What does the world of The Quinfall look like? Now you can take a look at the first cities and villages in The Quinfall. In the video, you won’t just be taken through lifeless areas. NPCs and animals are everywhere.

Since it is known from previous videos that the map of the MMORPG will be very large, it is hardly surprising that the different areas in the game are also extremely diverse.

In short scenes, the developers race through the individual cities and villages. Here, it must be noted that the character actually runs through them and the various cuts change very quickly.

So, it’s not exactly a relaxed “sightseeing tour.” If you want to take a closer look at an area with all its details, you probably have to pause the video at the right moment.

However, what can be seen looks pretty good at first glance. The versatility is really interesting. For example, large, snow-covered fortresses or small towns and villages made of half-timbered houses are shown.

In addition to these Western, medieval-inspired areas, Viking villages with typical wooden huts or desert camps full of tents are also showcased. You can also see desert cities or port areas here. Some of these were already known from previous videos.

Above all, there is a sense that the developers have drawn inspiration from the real styles of various cultures and buildings.

The cities and villages also differ in their geographical features. Some extend over a hilly landscape full of winding paths, while others stretch over flat areas with quite linear and angular paths and shapes.

While The Quinfall still has to really start, another MMORPG is closing down. But some see this as their opportunity: MMORPG ArcheAge is closing: 2 private servers see their chance to do it better

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

Pokémon GO: Catch every Menki you see urgently now

In Pokémon GO, you currently have the chance to get a top Pokémon and a lot of candies – thanks to two events.

What is currently happening in Pokémon GO? There are currently two events running simultaneously in the game: “Rediscover Kanto” and “Rival Week.”

With this combination, you have a great chance to secure one of the best Pokémon for the battle league.

  • Thanks to the Kanto event, you can often encounter Menki right now. It is a fighting Pokémon from the first generation that has received a strong evolution in Epitaff.
  • And the Rival Week is currently giving you double catch candies.
  • But: Both events will end this week.
Start video
Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!

Epitaff in Pokémon GO is really strong – Get it now

Why should I catch Menki now? Crucial is the evolution to Epitaff. This Pokémon is one of the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO’s Super League and thus a real monster if you want to defeat other trainers. It is currently ranked 2nd on the PvPoke rankings.

Since you get double candies thanks to Rival Week, each Menki gives you 6 candies from the start. If you use a Sananabeere, you even get 12 candies. That’s a lot of candies you can use to level up your Pokémon.

Since Menki is appearing so often right now, you can try to get a specimen with ideal PvP values – that is, low attack, but more defense and HP.

Why you don’t want a four-star Pokémon in PvP, but one with weaker attack points, you can find out here.

Then you can perform the evolution to Epitaff. However, keep in mind that you must defeat 30 ghost or psychic Pokémon while the Rasaff you want to evolve is your buddy.

More information about the Epitaff evolution can be found in the link box; we also have the best attacks for Epitaff for you:

What you need to consider: In the Super League, all Pokémon must have less than 1,500 CP. So be careful not to level up your Menki or Rasaff too much before the evolution because there is also a CP jump when evolving to Epitaff, which could potentially exceed the limit.

Also, keep in mind not to level your Epitaff above 1,500 CP, but only to a value below that, which is as close as possible to it.

In summary: Go out, search for Menki, throw Sananabeeren, and try to get one with ideal PvP values. Evolve it to Epitaff and then bring it to a strong level for the Super League. And if you need tips on how to get better in the battle league, check it out here.

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

Clash of Clans Heroes Equipment – Levels, Costs and What You Need to Know

The hero equipment in Clash of Clans can be upgraded to different levels. We explain how this works, what equipment is available, and how much it costs.

What is hero equipment? Hero equipment is a feature in Clash of Clans that allows you to customize your heroes individually. Through equipment, heroes gain abilities that can be both active and passive in nature.

Each of the four available heroes has its own hero equipment. There are both common hero equipment and epic equipment.

How many hero equipment can a hero wear? Each hero can wear two hero equipment at the same time.

[toc]

Start video
Barbarians in Football Fever – Striker collaborates with Clash of Clans

List of all hero equipment

Below you will find a list of all hero equipment currently available in Clash of Clans.

NameHeroRarityUnlock
Barbarian dollBarbarian KingCommonAvailable by default
Rage bottleBarbarian KingCommonAvailable by default
Earthquake bootsBarbarian KingCommonBlacksmith Level 1
Vampire mustacheBarbarian KingCommonBlacksmith Level 3
Giant gloveBarbarian KingEpicPrevious event,
or for 1,500 jewels at the trader (not always available)
Archer dollArcher QueenCommonAvailable by default
Invisibility bottleArcher QueenCommonAvailable by default
Giant arrowArcher QueenCommonBlacksmith Level 2
Healer dollArcher QueenCommonBlacksmith Level 5
Frost arrowArcher QueenEpicPrevious event,
or for 1,500 jewels at the trader (not always available)
Everlasting tomeGrand WardenCommonAvailable by default
Book of improvementGrand WardenCommonBlacksmith Level 6
Life stoneGrand WardenCommonAvailable by default
Rage jewelGrand WardenCommonBlacksmith Level 4
FireballGrand WardenEpicPrevious event
Royal jewelRoyal GladiatorCommonAvailable by default
Targeting shieldRoyal GladiatorCommonAvailable by default
Hog Rider dollRoyal GladiatorCommonBlacksmith Level 7
Speed bottleRoyal GladiatorCommonBlacksmith Level 8

Difference between common and epic hero equipment

How do I get common hero equipment? You can obtain common hero equipment in the blacksmith. This is a building that you can build starting from Town Hall level 8. Here, you can upgrade the hero equipment and adjust the abilities of the heroes accordingly.

The higher the level of your blacksmith, the more hero equipment you unlock.

How do I get epic hero equipment? To obtain epic hero equipment, you must wait for special events in Clash of Clans. After the events have passed, you can also find epic hero equipment with some luck in the trader’s weekly offers.

Maximum level of hero equipment

What is the maximum level for hero equipment? Common hero equipment can be upgraded to a maximum of level 18. Epic hero equipment can even be upgraded to level 27.

How can I increase the level of hero equipment? To upgrade your hero equipment, your blacksmith must be leveled up accordingly. Additionally, you will need resources in the form of ores.

There are three different ores required for upgrading hero equipment:

  • Shiny ore: for common and epic equipment
  • Glimmer ore: for common and epic equipment
  • Star ore: for certain levels of epic equipment

There are four potential sources for obtaining ores. These are the Home Village Star bonus, Clan Wars, the trader, and the shop.

Costs of hero equipment

Costs for common hero equipment

In the following table, you will find the upgrade costs if you want to increase the level of your common hero equipment. Additionally, you will see what level your blacksmith requires to carry out the upgrade.

If a hero equipment is only available starting from a higher level of the blacksmith, that is also the required level to level up the equipment. This applies until the entry in the table is higher than the required blacksmith level to unlock the equipment.

LevelShiny oreGlimmer oreBlacksmith Level
1//////
212001
3240201
440001
560001
68401001
71,12001
81,44001
91,8002001
101,90003
112,00003
122,1004003
132,20005
142,30005
152,4006005
162,50007
172,60007
182,7006007

Costs for epic hero equipment

In this table, you will find the required items and the level of the blacksmith you need to level up your epic hero equipment.

LevelShiny oreGlimmer oreStar oreBlacksmith Level
1//////1
2120001
32402001
4400001
5600001
684010001
71,120001
81,440001
91,800200101
101,900001
112,000001
122,100400201
132,200003
142,300003
152,400600303
162,500005
172,600005
182,700600505
192,800007
202,900007
213,0006001007
223,100008
233,200008
243,3006001208
253,400009
263,500009
273,6006001509

By using hero equipment in Clash of Clans, you gain more options for customizing your heroes and can deploy them differently. A well-chosen tactic with the right hero equipment can make the difference between victory or defeat.

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

The community of Helldivers 2 wins! Sony reverses after review bombing of PSN mandate

The development studio behind Helldivers 2 announced a few days ago that a PSN account will be required in the future to play the popular online hit. This requirement was also to be implemented for players experiencing the game exclusively on Steam. After a massive backlash, the community has now achieved a victory.

Why does the community of Helldivers 2 get to celebrate a victory? The responsible parties at Arrowhead and PlayStation announced today, May 6, 2024, that due to massive player feedback, there will not be a requirement for a PlayStation Network account.

In the announcement on X, it states: “Helldivers fans – we have heard your feedback regarding the account linking update for Helldivers 2. The update from May 6, which would have made linking Steam and PlayStation Network accounts necessary for new players and for current players starting from May 30, will not be carried out.

We are still figuring out what is best for PC players, and your feedback has been invaluable. Thank you once again for your continued support of Helldivers 2, and we will keep you updated on future plans.”

You can confidently dive back into the fight for democracy and enjoy the trailers for Helldivers 2 – for example, this one:

Start video
Helldivers 2 shows its latest Warbond ‘Polar Patriots’ in the icy trailer

The trust is gone for now

How is the community reacting to this announcement? Many fans of Helldivers 2 are now of course happy that they were able to eliminate this unwanted PSN requirement through their feedback. WaR Jay writes on X: “This is an absolutely insane victory.”

What stands out in many comments: A significant portion of the players is defending the developers at Arrowhead and holding the Sony decision-makers responsible. Ethan Price writes on X: “Fans and devs have won … maybe they will listen to the devs next time … obviously Arrowhead is in tune with gamers …”

Pirate Software explains, looking at the publisher (via X): “While this is a victory for the players, you [Note from the editor: Sony] have left a lasting stain on your brand as a publisher. Many people have little reason to trust Sony in the future. It is never the right decision to shift the business before understanding the player base.”

What is behind the emotional reaction of the players? Helldivers 2 came out almost out of nowhere and, despite initial server problems, has become one of the first highlights of the gaming year 2024 since its release on February 8, 2024.

The fast-paced third-person shooter action is fun, and the omnipresent propaganda satire in the style of Starship Troopers fits like a glove. Furthermore, the developers have so far managed brilliantly to link the service model entertainingly with the story and upcoming events through social media.

The recent announcement about the upcoming PSN requirement did not fit at all with the previous feel-good and success story of Helldivers 2. A so-called review bombing was the result: Helldivers 2 receives thousands of negative reviews on Steam: Today only 10% are positive

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

Destiny 2: Guide to Luna’s Howl – God Roll for PvE and PvP

In Destiny 2, a legendary hand cannon has made its way back into the game. A sleek design and powerful perks make “Luna’s Howl” one of the best firearms in the loot shooter, but what are the God Rolls for PvE and PvP? We will show you.

What makes Luna’s Howl special? The hand cannon “Luna’s Howl” was regarded as one of the best hand cannons in PvP when Forsaken was still the new DLC. The reasons were the stats and the perk “Magnificent Howl.”

When Magnificent Howl was active, hand cannons turned into deadly lasers that could obliterate everything with just 2 to 3 shots. Unfortunately, they fell victim to sunsetting and were not used by the community until now.

With the free event “Into the Light”, players can grab a fresh version of Luna’s Howl again, which can even drop with various perks. We will show you in our brief overview which perks form a God Roll for PvP and PvE.

Did you miss the latest gameplay trailer for “The Final Shape”? Then we have the right video for you:

Start video
Destiny 2: The Final Shape – Gameplay trailer for the new talents

Luna’s Howl – God Roll for PvP

God Roll for PvP – These are the perks you need: In PvP, speed, stability, range, and damage are crucial. For this reason, we have chosen the following perks:

  • Corkscrew Rifling
  • Ricochet Rounds
  • Slideways
  • Magnificent Howl
    • Masterwork: Range
Destiny-2-Lunas-Geheul-PvP-God-Roll
God Roll for PvP (via d2arsenal.com)

With our perk combination, you create a real monster in the Crucible out of Luna. You benefit from high range and stability. Additionally, “Slideways” helps you reload and grants you temporarily increased stability and range. Lastly, “Magnificent Howl” provides the necessary damage buff to take down your enemies with just a few shots.

Luna’s Howl – God Roll for PvE

God Roll for PvE – These are the perks you need: In PvE, you need a supportive weapon that can deal with multiple enemies. Thanks to its variety of perks, Luna’s Howl can also be used as a perfect support weapon. Here’s how your roll should look:

  • Smallbore
  • Extended Mag
  • Healing Rounds
  • Deep Sight
    • Masterwork: Range
Destiny-2-Lunas-Geheul-PvE-God-Roll
God Roll for PvE (via d2arsenal.com)

With our recommendation, you can spread “Ignite” in a solar build and heal yourself and your teammates. Defeat smaller enemies and then reload. Luna’s Howl has always had its strengths in PvP, but with the right perk choice, you can also shape a solid weapon for PvE since “Into the Light”.

Where can I find the new Luna’s Howl? To obtain Luna’s Howl, you first need to progress far enough in the Hall of Champions to collect the quest “Howling at the Moon” from Arcite.

You now have the choice to either defeat enemies with hand cannons through precision damage in the “Surge” mode or to eliminate 50 enemies in PvP with hand cannons.

Depending on what you choose, you will unlock the option to farm Luna’s Howl focused in “Surge” mode after completing the quest.

These were our recommendations for the best God Rolls of “Luna’s Howl”. Have you already been able to farm your favorite or are you still actively working on it? Let us know in the comments!

Destiny 2: “The Final Shape” DLC – Everything about release, new abilities, weapons, enemies, and editions

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

LoL: US team makes big claims before MSI, gets knocked out by underdogs, is the laughing stock

In League of Legends, the international tournament MSI 2024 is currently taking place in China. The US team FlyQuest, filled with European veterans, had big plans and wanted to prove that they are better than the poor reputation of the LCS. However, the awakening was all the harsher: They were eliminated 0-2 against a team from a small LoL league in the qualifiers. Mockery and derision are raining down on them.

This is what FlyQuest said before the tournament:

  • The top laner of FlyQuest, the Belgian, Bwipo (25), emphasized in an interview with Dexerto that they and Team Liquid have made great efforts to exceed the standards set for North America. The region is generally considered tactically inferior and struggles with decisions on when to attack and defend in a LoL game.
  • He says, everyone on the team played exceptionally strong: Mid laner Jensen is playing better than ever before. And jungler Inspired is an exceptional player. It seemed as if the Europeans wanted to break the US curse.
  • International tournaments like MSI are what motivate him. Participating there is a great privilege, according to Bwipo.

Against Faker, Bwipo took a 0-2 loss:

Start video
The Life of Faker – Why He is a Living Legend

Team beats underdogs first, loses rematch clearly

This was the situation: The MSI is structured such that in a preliminary round, the four strongest representatives from the small regions in LoL and the four weakest representatives from the major regions compete to determine which four teams progress to the main event.

Normally, the 4 representatives from the small regions get eliminated here.

Teams from major regions that are eliminated embarrass themselves and face the scorn of fans.

This is how it turned out: FlyQuest played in Group A of the Play-Ins and managed to secure a 2-1 victory against PSG Talon, a team from Hong Kong, in Match 1.

However, against T1, the reigning world champions with Faker, they suffered an expected 0-2 loss.

In the final of the round, they were eliminated 0-2 without a chance against PSG Talon. In the 2nd match, Bwipo played Renekton 0-7-3, and Jensen lost in the middle 0-3-1. Only Inspired managed to secure 5 kills for his team.

Thus, FlyQuest is the only team from the 4 major regions that has already failed in the preliminary round of MSI. The European counterpart to FlyQuest, Fnatic, advanced relatively easily.

Mockery and derision for FlyQuest

This is what they are saying now: The guys from FlyQuest showed themselves very frustrated after the match. Mockery and derision are raining down on reddit:

  • One writes: “After the match, FlyQuest visited a home for orphans in Chengdu: ‘It is heartbreaking to see their little sad faces with no hope,’ said 6-year-old Li.”
  • “Losing to a team from a small region is bad enough. But the other team was simply classes better in the games.”
  • “How can the duds be the second-best team in North America?”
  • “Inspired and Bwipo should better keep their mouths shut forever if they play like this internationally.”

Bwipo asked for “space to recover” and criticized his own performance in the match.

The phenomenon of US teams failing at major international events and being extensively flamed by fans is well-known in LoL: US team eliminated from Worlds – Streamer calls them “mama’s boys,” criticizes their attitude

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

A merchant will become much more important in Diablo 4 Season 4 – you should hoard his currency while leveling up

Many people are looking for a vendor in Diablo 4 mainly because they have simply accumulated too much of its currency. That might change soon, as you can acquire some of the best items in the game from him starting Season 4.

Which vendor are we talking about? We are talking about the Curiosities Vendor in Diablo 4. His currency is the “Whispering Obols,” which drop from various activities. With them, you can gamble for random loot by categories.

Many of you will know this situation: You complete a few activities in Sanctuary, collect the drops, and notice that the small purple “coins” are left on the ground. The cap of 1,000 has been reached. So off to the Curiosities Vendor to make room.

In the YouTube livestream from May 2nd, Lead Live Game Designer Colin Finer explains that the team is increasing the cap for Obols to 2,500 with Season 4. They will also drop now in the “Pit” – a new endgame activity. But the vendor will also receive a better offer, making a visit to him really worthwhile.

Season 4 starts on May 14th and brings numerous changes to Diablo 4:

Start video
Diablo 4: Trailer shows the changes for Season 4 ‘Loot Reborn’

“Larger affixes” are also possible

Why will the vendor be more important? In Season 4, the developers are raising the cap for Obols and adjusting the drops accordingly. In the livestream, Colin Finer notes that one might now ask: “But aren’t Obols bad?” You only exchange them because you have too many.

However, starting from Season 4, you will receive Legendaries with an item power of 925 when you yourself reach level 100 while gambling.

Additionally, these Legendaries can contain affixes in the larger version. The larger affixes are 1.5 times stronger than their normal version and you can recognize them by a star in your inventory. Items that drop on the ground are also marked with a star.

According to Colin Finer, the adjustment is “actually a tremendous efficiency boost to get the items you are looking for.” And Lead Class Designer Adam Z. Jackson adds: “To be clear, you can [starting Season 4] get some of the best items in the game from the Obol vendor.”

Why should I hoard Obols? In summary, it is worthwhile to collect Obols even during leveling, especially if you are maximizing the cap of 2,500. With that, you can then gamble for really strong loot because:

  • at level 100 you will receive “legacy” items, including Legendaries
  • with an item power of 925
  • and a chance for affixes in a “larger” version, which is 1.5 times stronger.

The increase of Obols was not a topic on the PTR (Public Test Realm). However, the PTR was an excellent opportunity to gather feedback for Season 4. The developers emphasized in the livestream on May 2nd how important it was for the changes: Diablo 4 has learned a lot from the PTR – developers explain what will change until Season 4

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

The Lord of the Rings: Because he didn’t know the text, Gandalf improvised one of the most famous quotes ever

One of the most famous quotes from the “Lord of the Rings” films wasn’t actually in the script, but came from Gandalf actor Ian McKellen.

Which quote is it? In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf faces the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

While he sends the rest of the Fellowship ahead, he fearlessly stands in the way of the fire demon and shouts at it, “You shall not pass.” (in German: Du kannst nicht vorbei).

This line is now one of the most iconic from the “Lord of the Rings” franchise. However, it wasn’t originally in the script in that form; it was changed accidentally by Ian McKellen.

Here you can see a trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

A Small Deviation from the Book

What was actually in the script? The sentence that was actually in the film’s script was: You cannot pass”.

However, since Sir Ian McKellen couldn’t remember the exact wording during the shoot, he improvised on the spot and slightly changed the line to: You shall not pass”.

You can see in this YouTube video how the actor talked about his improvisation. Jump to 32:00:

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Although director Peter Jackson generally stayed very close to the books to adapt the films faithfully to J. R. R. Tolkien’s original work, he liked this version so much that he included it in the film.

In the German version, you don’t notice the change. Only if you’ve read the English books and then watch the original version of the film will you notice the slight difference.

You can read more about Lord of the Rings here with our colleagues from Filmstarts: This much too unknown fantasy film with Sean Connery served as a template for Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings”

Sir Ian McKellen spoke on The Graham Norton Show in 2019 about his mistake during the shooting of Lord of the Rings. However, he took his blunder lightly and humorously noted: “I’m pretty stuck with it [with the new quote] now.”

Besides Elijah Wood, Jake Gyllenhaal (Road House, Brokeback Mountain) also auditioned for the role of Hobbit Frodo. However, it went very poorly, and Peter Jackson called him the worst actor he had ever seen. You can find more about this here at MeinMMO: Peter Jackson saw Jake Gyllenhaal auditioning for Lord of the Rings and then advised him to change his agency

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Filmstarts
  2. cbr.com

Mortal Kombat 1 now brings Homelander into the game – fans are convinced that he fits perfectly in it

Mortal Kombat 1 introduces a new character to the game, and fans are already convinced in a nearly 40-second trailer that he fits perfectly.

With a crossover, Mortal Kombat 1 aims to celebrate the premiere of the fourth season of “The Boys” on June 13, 2024. And fans are already convinced after just a few seconds of the matching trailer that this crossover works fantastically.

Start video
Mortal Kombat 1 introduces Homelander in the trailer

What is known? There is currently no more information about the crossover than what the trailer ultimately offers. However, it is clear that the character Homelander from the series will appear in Mortal Kombat 1.

The trailer shows you in the first few seconds the rather strange nature of Homelander, raising hopes that the game will capture the character quite well. In a few scenes, you will also get to know the brutal abilities of the character.

For example, he gruesomely burns the heads of his enemies with the lasers from his eyes. Or he expertly throws them in front of the next passing airplane.

You also get a first impression of the voice actor behind the new character. In Mortal Kombat 1, Anthony Starr, who played him in the series, will not lend his voice to Homelander.

It is not known when the character will be added to the game. Perhaps only with the start of the new season of The Boys.

How are fans reacting? From the reactions in the comments (via YouTube), it becomes quite clear that fans are convinced that Homelander will fit perfectly into Mortal Kombat 1. They especially express their excitement about how well the short trailer has already captured the character.

“Not this milk!”

Especially the first seconds where Homelander drinks baby milk seem to have convinced most of them immediately. “In that moment, I knew they got it right,” writes one user about the scene. “It’s really amazing how disgusted you can be by something as simple as watching someone drink milk,” is the opinion of another user regarding this.

Many comments can be found about this scene. However, many also simply write that Homelander fits perfectly into the game or note that the voice actor is doing a good job, although probably no one can portray the character like Anthony Starr.

While you wait for the new season of The Boys: Those waiting for the 4th season of The Boys should check out this anime on Netflix

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

A cat is accidentally shipped in an Amazon box – Appears 6 days later at the other end of the country

A cat travels in an Amazon box across the USA. Thanks to a microchip, she is found and can be properly identified.

Returns at Amazon are not unusual. What is unusual is that a cat is accidentally shipped in a box to Amazon.

This is reported by our colleagues from CNN. CNN spoke with the owner and also with the employee of Amazon who discovered the cat in the box.

Thanks to the microchip, the cat returned to its owner

Why did the cat go missing? The owner’s husband wanted to pack work shoes for shipping. The man packed the shoes, kept one pair, and put the other five back in the box.

But when the husband went to get scissors and tape, the cat likely slipped into the box. And thus began a long journey of 630 kilometers across half the state for the animal.

The cat was quite lucky: The husband had not sealed the box tightly, so the animal inside the box did not suffocate. Furthermore, the weather was mild enough that the cat neither froze nor overheated.

Additionally, the woman who eventually found her in the warehouse recognized that this was just an accident and that no one had maliciously tried to dispose of their pet.

How was the cat found again? The owner had implanted a microchip in her pet at that time. This is a tiny chip that is implanted in pets, allowing them to be located or identified.

In Germany, it is similar to TASSO, which considers itself the largest free pet registry in Europe. Here, too, pets are registered so they can find their way back to their owners.

Thanks to the chip, the owner was able to determine that her cat had ended up in Los Angeles. Additionally, the cat had been found by an Amazon employee. The employee took the cat to the vet, where the microchip with the owner’s data was also found. Thus, the journey ended well for both the cat and the owner after six days.

However, there are also specialists who shamelessly abuse Amazon’s return system for their own purposes. Three Spanish teenagers exploited Amazon’s return policy to enrich themselves by nearly 350,000 euros. Now the three individuals have been convicted and must pay a fine: Three teenagers deceived Amazon for years with a trick – earned nearly 350,000 euros and then got caught

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

Yu-Gi-Oh! is actually much more brutal than you saw it in the German TV version

RTLZWEI had the broadcasting rights to Yu-Gi-Oh! several years ago. Those who regularly watched the anime may still remember the Shadow Realm. It played an important role in the duels. However, this place did not exist in the original.

What is the Shadow Realm? The Shadow Realm was a place where a duelist’s soul was banished if they lost a duel. It only appeared in the German TV version; in the English version, it was the “Shadow Realm”. While the “World of Darkness” existed in the original, it had a different purpose than the Shadow Realm in the German anime.

The World of Darkness was created by a card from Maximillion Pegasus. With it, the souls of the victims were absorbed and trapped there.

In contrast, the Shadow Realm was utilized whenever a duelist would have died or been severely injured in the Japanese version. Instead of the original punishment, the losers were banished to the Shadow Realm. This way, they mostly avoided a painful death.

There is now a film about Yu-Gi-Oh!. You can watch the corresponding trailer here:

Start video
Yu-Gi-Oh! – Official trailer for The Dark Side of Dimensions (2017)

The Shadow Realm was supposed to conceal the deaths of characters

What would have happened instead? In the Japanese version, the original, there were much harsher punishments instead of the Shadow Realm. In the Shadow Realm, the losers would still suffer for eternity, but the actual punishments appear to be more drastic:

  • In a duel between Yugi Muto and Arkana, there was a disk of dark energy that would have immediately banished the loser to the Shadow Realm upon touch. In the original, it was a rotating circular saw that would have cut off the loser’s legs.
  • Yugi and Seto Kaiba had to duel against Lumis and Umbra on top of a skyscraper. The duelists stood on glass that would shatter upon a defeat. This way, the losers would fall. In the German TV version, there was a portal beneath each piece of glass leading to the Shadow Realm.
  • Yami Bakura sent Bonz, Sid, and Zygor to the Shadow Realm after a duel. In the original, they went to hell.
  • Yami Marik banished Yami Bakura and Bakura Ryou to the Shadow Realm, although in the original they dissolved into smoke.

There were only a few cases where the Shadow Realm was not used. This was primarily the case when only threats were made. Duelists could also burn or drown after a defeat.

Unlike Naruto, which received some absurd changes on RTLZWEI, many fans in the reddit forum think the idea of the Shadow Realm is great. It is said to be a good method to conceal the deaths of characters and make the series accessible to a younger audience.

However, there is also the consideration that the Shadow Realm is much worse than death. After all, the souls would have to endure for eternity in the Shadow Realm, whereas a fall from a great height would lead to a quick death.

Do you think Yugi would have a chance to be the strongest anime hero of all? Which anime character is the strongest of all?

This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Source(s):
  1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Wiki