There’s so much going on in Pokémon GO right now that the last Spotlight Hour almost went unnoticed. However, it should serve as a model for upcoming events, believes MeinMMO author Max Handwerk.
One thing is for sure: Pokémon GO looks different now, and this is generating a lot of discussions. However, what should not be overlooked is the last Spotlight Hour. It did quite a few things right in terms of gameplay – and should ideally serve as a model for future Spotlight Hours.
What kind of event was that? The Spotlight Hour brings a specific Pokémon in connection with a bonus every Tuesday for 60 minutes. The monster appears everywhere from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and the bonus applies during that same time.
This week, on April 23, 2024, the Pokémon in the spotlight was the ‘Unratütox’. This Pokémon is a bit controversial, as it is often ridiculed for its design. It is, quite literally, a living trash bag. And its evolution, Deponitox, is basically the same but larger.
Seen in that light, the Spotlight Hour was a literal hour full of garbage. But that didn’t matter, as it turned out.
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Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!
Why the Unratütox Hour in Pokémon GO was so strong
What made the hour good: So first of all, personally: I am quite a fan of Unratütox because it looks a bit silly but still cute. Regardless of that, the hour can be seen as a good model for future Spotlight Hours.
Unratütox and its evolution
Because let’s be honest: You usually don’t get too upset if you miss the Spotlight Hour. Often, the monsters are rather mediocre, and you tend to focus more on the bonuses. And this time, those bonuses elevated the hour to another level.
This came about through three components:
The actual bonus of the event was double catch XP. That’s always great when you want to level up.
And third: For some reason, the shiny rate for Unratütox seems to have been increased.
More Shinies for Unratütox: Normally, there is no increased shiny chance during the Spotlight Hour. However, this time it seems to have been the case. At least many trainers reported on social media that they found unusually many shiny specimens during the Spotlight Hour. One also appeared during my rounds; I believe it was my first spotlight shiny.
Trainers suspect the reason for this in the concurrently running environment week, where Unratütox was supposed to have an increased shiny rate from 2 km eggs – and actually only there. But it seems that this also spilled over into the Spotlight Hour.
Whether it was a faulty increase of the shiny rate or an intentional surprise remains to be seen. But: A slightly increased shiny chance might be just the bonus that the Spotlight Hour generally needs. We don’t need to move in community day sizes; we just need a slightly improved chance. It’s quite possible that this attracts more trainers on Tuesday evening than anything else.
At least the Unratütox Hour is receiving a lot of praise from trainers on social media – rightly so, in my view. What are your thoughts on the topic? Would you like an adjustment to future Spotlight Hours? Or do you think it works fine as it is? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Escape from Tarkov has drawn the fury of the community with a new edition. Now the developers have responded multiple times to the criticism – but it hasn’t changed anything.
What’s going on with Escape from Tarkov right now?
Escape from Tarkov (EFT) released a new edition, the Unheard Edition, on April 25, 2024. This edition costs 250 euros.
The new edition includes a new PvE co-op mode, which is meant to feature persistent progress and no wipes.
The new PvE mode was originally intended to be permanently available only through the new edition – this led to criticism from the players.
Players criticized: The price of the edition is too high and the PvE mode should be available for free to owners of the expensive “Edge of Darkness” edition. The edition was marketed with the promise of receiving all future DLCs.
A detailed summary of the drama and why the players of Escape from Tarkov were extremely angry at the developers Battlestate Games can be found here:
Here are the initial reactions from the developers: Battlestate Games (BSG) has responded multiple times to the topic and the criticism from players.
First, the lead community manager explained why the new mode is not a DLC and stated that it is a feature of the new edition (04/25/24).
Then BSG COO Nikita Buyanov announced that the studio wants to “honor” EOD owners and will therefore add various “new features” to the EOD version.
New features include, for example, increased base charisma, increased base PMC karma, and 6 months of access to offline PvE. (04/26/24)
“No one is forced to buy the new edition”
Interview with the studio head adds fuel to the fire: On April 26, an interview with Nikita Buyanov was leaked on Reddit, which was supposedly conducted on the same day. In the interview, Nikita also discusses the current situation. The lead community manager has since confirmed the authenticity of the leaked interview. (via Reddit).
In the interview, Nikita states that they made no mistakes regarding the new edition and the PvE mode and that no one is forced to buy the edition. Now it shows who really believes in the game. He also says that the studio has no financial problems and everything is going according to plan. He is currently as confident as never before.
Furthermore, Nikita was also confronted in the interview with the allegation that BSG had supposedly removed the statement that EOD owners would receive all future DLCs from the description of the EOD edition.
He responded: “We did not remove that.”
Many players criticize Nikita’s responses in the comments on Reddit and make it clear that the interview did not help improve the community’s mood. One user writes: “You have betrayed us. I will never open this crap [EFT] again. Hope GZW [Gray Zone Warfare] crushes Tarkov to bits.”
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Escape from Tarkov Gameplay – Battle for Concordia
Developers respond, change price and availability for EOD owners
This is the current state of the drama: On April 27, a Reddit post from Nikita followed, announcing several changes and explaining the studio’s decisions.
In the post, he explains among other things why the PvE mode is not a DLC according to Battlestate Games:
BSG only considers “extensive additions” as DLC. This includes content such as the “Scav Life DLC,” which is published after the official release of the game (EFT is still in beta).
Nikita also explained why not all EOD owners currently have access to the PvE mode. It is located on its own network infrastructure, and BSG simply does not have the resources needed for it right now.
Nikita also announced some changes affecting the EOD version:
BSG has decided to make the PvE mode available for free to all EOD owners once the game is fully released.
Additionally, the discount that EOD owners receive when purchasing the Unheard Edition has been increased by 50%. Players now only pay about 48 euros.
What does the community say about the changes and explanations? A user summarizes the mood of the community on Reddit succinctly and concisely, receiving over 1,800 upvotes: “Wrong, try again tomorrow.”
Many statements from the announcement are criticized by the players. Especially the assessment that a new mode, which expands the main game as additional downloadable content, is not considered an “extensive addition” and therefore not a DLC is sharply criticized.
Many players are still angry because EOD owners still have to pay for a mode they consider a DLC and believe they should receive for free. Promises regarding the full release of the shooter are also met with skepticism – after all, Tarkov has been in beta for years and there is no release date in sight.
The anime genre has many heroes who must face off against nasty villains. But who would emerge victorious if all anime protagonists were to meet?
In every anime, the characters fight in their own way. Some use special martial arts techniques, wield their weapon, or throw a few spells at their opponent. In the world of animes, there are many ways to stand up against the worst foes.
Unfortunately, crossovers between animes, where the protagonists of two series compete against each other, are rare. One such crossover is Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura, where two martial artists face off. It becomes even rarer when two characters with different powers meet.
So the question remains: Who would win such an ultimate battle? Is it perhaps One Punch Man, who defeats any opponent with a single blow? Or rather Son Goku, who possesses destructive powers on a planetary scale?
Dragon Ball: This is what the Z in the title stands for
Here’s how you can participate: You can make your choice in the following survey. Since there are countless animes, we have only selected a few examples from well-known animes. If you think of another fighter, you can share it with the last selection option and in the comments.
Additionally, we have only listed the protagonist of each anime. If you think of another character from the anime who is much stronger, please let us know in the comments.
What do you think: In which scenarios could these characters most likely win? Do you have a completely different favorite when it comes to fighting power? Share your ideas with us in the comments!
Destiny 2 can be very tedious when it comes to leveling Guardians. Each one has to be leveled separately, and when you tackle that per season, it becomes exhausting. However, this should soon change with “The Final Shape.”
How do you level your classes in Destiny 2? Those starting out in Destiny 2 and wanting to level three different classes will notice how tedious the grind is. None of the classes share progress, so you have to complete each story mission and quest three times.
Additionally, the grind for power level is separate. You can ease the grind by transferring stronger weapons from your main class to the other classes, but there is no account level that all Guardians in your account share.
It’s good that “The Final Shape” is just around the corner, as the release of this DLC is also expected to reduce the grind. We’ll show you how.
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Destiny 2: The Final Shape – Gameplay trailer for the new talents
Quickly reach the maximum power level – What you need to know
This feature is supposed to make it possible to level your Guardians even faster. Every player must first farm items and gradually level up their power with each new and powerful item like on a ladder. In the future, you should theoretically only have to do this once, as the progress of the highest acquired item applies to every class.
So if you have obtained a Hunter cloak at 1960 power, but your Warlock hasn’t set foot in the new DLC yet, your Warlock gear will still drop at a light level of 1960.
The sources for obtaining top equipment are also supposed to be adjusted. Initially, only selected sweat-inducing activities like raids and dungeons were available for the hardcore Guardians among you. Players who only dipped their toes in as part-time Guardians rarely managed to reach the power cap of the respective season.
The new change aims to update all reward sources. You no longer have to run raids and dungeons, as you can get the best loot from Gambit, strikes, or even the Crucible. So anywhere strong weekly loot is given out.
How does power change in fireteams? Your power will also behave differently in fireteams. Initially, it was important that every Guardian has the necessary power to participate in certain activities. This was especially important in raids and dungeons.
With “The Final Shape,” this will be part of the past, as there will be a “model” in your fireteam. The one with the most power will automatically be declared the “model” and will boost all Guardians up to their level minus 5 points.
So, you no longer need to reach the necessary level for your raids and dungeons, but only need a friend who enthusiastically plays Destiny 2 and has the level.
Do you find the changes good, or do you feel Destiny 2 is becoming too beginner-friendly? Let us know in the comments!
Bill Gates appeared on a TV evening show in 1995 to promote a book. In this context, the tech visionary explained what the internet is and what opportunities it offers.
The internet as we know it today is indispensable. Without this technology, access to information would be severely limited.
Almost 29 years ago, the omnipresence of the internet today was unthinkable. The World Wide Web was not yet widespread, and very few people knew what it was all about. This was one reason for Bill Gates to explain what the internet is and what it can do during a TV appearance in 1995.
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That T-Mobile Home Internet Feeling – 2024 Big Game Day Commercial
Bill Gates explained the internet to us on TV in 1995
What a performance by Bill Gates! Almost 29 years ago, Bill Gates was a guest on the Late Show with US host David Letterman. He used the appearance to present his book “The Road Ahead,” in which Gates dealt with the then-emerging internet age.
The internet as we know it today was still in its infancy in the early 1990s. Accordingly, the World Wide Web (WWW) was little known to the public and until then was more of a niche product used by only a few people.
Since Letterman was, like many others, unaware regarding this topic, he asked the Microsoft founder in his show, “What is this internet thing – do you know anything about it?”.
Bill Gates called it “The Big New Thing” and then launched into his explanatory mission.
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Bill Gates’ 1995 appearance was captured on YouTube for eternity
What explanation did Gates provide in response? Bill Gates managed to answer the question in a simple and understandable way for as many viewers as possible, who only knew the internet as the “information highway.” In Germany, this new technology was referred to as the “data freeway.”
[The internet is] a place where people can publish information. They can have their own homepage. Corporate appearances and the latest news can also be found there. You can send emails to people.
Bill Gates in 1995 on the Late Show with David Letterman
This resulted in the first browser war in history. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and its strongest competitor, Netscape Navigator, fought for market leadership. By tying it to its own operating system, Microsoft was able to win this battle.
Microsoft maintained its market power in internet browsers for many years. Even the successor to Windows 95 was shipped with a version of Internet Explorer embedded in the operating system. While Microsoft’s browser was able to continue its victorious path unhindered, Windows 98 itself had to undergo a special testing process for USB devices: Microsoft had a vehicle with over 60 USB devices, torturing Windows 98 and its own developers.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Another Crab’s Treasure is a new soulslike on Steam and PS5. Despite the somewhat adverse conditions under which the game was developed, it had a strong debut this week.
What kind of game is this? Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike with everything that comes with it: overpowering enemies, crunchy boss fights, and a lot of dodging and parrying. In contrast to other representatives of the genre, it doesn’t come off as grim; instead, it takes place in a colorful underwater world.
Players take on the role of the small hermit crab Krill, whose shell is confiscated by a nasty loan shark. So, Krill sets out to find his shell and must face numerous opponents along the way. To be prepared for battle, Krill can slip into various shells that provide different armor values and special attacks.
Another Crab’s Treasure is from the studio Aggro Crab, which previously poked fun at the world of work, especially the startup culture, with their roguelite Going Under. It has been available on all major platforms since April 25, 2024.
You can read more about the game at our colleagues at GamePro.
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Another Crab’s Treasure – Trailer for the charming Soulslike
“Does anyone have an office that isn’t made of glass?”
What was up with the 3 break-ins? On X, formerly Twitter, Aggro Crab reported multiple times about break-ins at their studio in Seattle. All three break-ins occurred while working on Another Crab’s Treasure. However, the developers took the situation with humor – and a healthy dose of crab memes.
On January 25, 2024, shortly after break-in number 3, they jokingly asked if anyone might have an office left that wasn’t made of glass (via X).
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But Another Crab’s Treasure didn’t just have to deal with intruders but also faced strong competition: The release coincides with the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade and was only one day before Manor Lords, the most wanted game on Steam.
So, how is the crab soulslike faring?
“Chat, is this real?”
This is how the game is being received: Despite the adverse circumstances, Another Crab’s Treasure had a strong start. This is likely thanks to the creative short videos that the team used to promote it on TikTok. Clips where the creators gave insights into their game garnered tens of thousands of views.
A video where Krill takes down a boss with a single shot from a massive gun was even seen more than half a million times:
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It seems that the studio not only has a strong meme game but also makes pretty good games. At least that’s what the reviews shared on April 24 on the official X account suggest. “Chat, is this real?” comments Aggro Crab on the ratings.
On Metacritic, the PC version holds 79 out of 100 points, and the PS5 version holds 78. Among players, the quirky soulslike is even better received: On Steam, Another Crab’s Treasure has a 96% recommendation rate and is categorized as “Extremely Positive.”
TheSonOfJazzy: “A phenomenal twist on the soulslike genre. You almost forget that it’s a souls game until a crab decides to insta-kill you and you lose 26k microplastics and hate the universe. It’s wonderful.”
+Coconut~Chan+: “[…] This is my first soulslike and I love it so much. […]”
Sheldowski: “The game is surprisingly good!! At first, I thought it would be some kind of funny, short souls game with crabs, but in the end, it gives us not only a very interesting and funny story, but also the philosophy, the critique, the soundtrack, and the visuals are cool! […]”
Is there anything to complain about? Yes, there is. In the negative reviews, it has been pointed out that some people feel the game still seems unfinished and janky. Players can quickly get stuck somewhere, and the boss animations don’t always show their upcoming attacks.
However, even critics seem to generally agree that Another Crab’s Treasure has significant potential.
On X, the team celebrated the positive reviews and the successful launch. However, players should not be overlooked: bug fixes are already in the works, as the studio promises in a brief update on Steam.
Will you give this unusual soulslike a chance? Have you perhaps already tried it? Feel free to let us know in a comment.
Do you love cute aesthetics with crunchy fights? Then the new co-op game from the creators of Don’t Starve might be for you. Rotwood has been in early access since April 24, 2024. We already played the roguelite for you back in February:
2024 is a great year for everyone who loves hack ‘n’ slays. With Diablo 4, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch, you currently have a brilliant selection, but each of these games is different and good in its own way. MeinMMO explains which is the right action RPG for you.
Diablo is still regarded as the gold standard for hack ‘n’ slays. Anyone interested in the genre cannot overlook the series. Since 2023, Diablo 4 is the latest installment, played by millions of players since then.
So, there are currently three major titles for anyone wanting to get started in the genre or just check it out. MeinMMO presents Diablo 4, Path of Exile, and Last Epoch, giving you tips on when which game is worth it for you.
Diablo is the game when it comes to an easy entry into the genre. No action RPG is easier to understand and plays more straightforwardly. If you don’t want to read into many mechanics and just want to play, Diablo 4 is exactly your game.
Since its release, Diablo 4 has especially gained popularity with one player group: middle-aged or older men with jobs, families, and little time, the “Gamer Dads.” However, since its release in the Game Pass, Diablo 4 is also attracting new players, some of whom have never played Diablo before:
Biggest drawback: Diablo 4 ends relatively quickly. After a few dozen hours, you won’t have much to do besides the grind for new gear unless you want to play through all classes.
This is what makes Diablo special:
The best entry into the genre, very easy to learn
Visually impressive, the most beautiful graphics of all current ARPGs
Enormously large community with many helpful players – but also many who just complain
Cinematics are among the best in gaming ever, Blizzard’s trademark
Available not only on PC (Steam and Battle.net) but also on PS5 and Xbox
Is it worth starting Diablo 4 now? Generally yes, at least to get to know the game. However, Season 4 starts on May 14th. If you want to play the season, you need to start a new character. Until then, you can use the time optimally for preparation.
The newest challenger in the genre is Last Epoch. Similar to Diablo 4, the entry here is quite easy, but the game quickly becomes more complex. Last Epoch is aimed much more at players whose dedicated hobby is gaming.
Casuals will still find joy here. Because in Last Epoch, you can’t go wrong much. If you just play and do what feels right, you usually get through the campaign and can also grind a bit in the endgame.
The complexity comes later in the game. Here you can then discover the enormous variety of builds, engage with the guilds for better items, and perfect your character.
If you want to do more in a hack ‘n’ slay than just slay enemies, Last Epoch is the right choice. You have a refined trading system and especially crafting that goes incredibly deep. Some veterans of the genre say: Last Epoch’s crafting system is the best ever.
This is what makes Last Epoch special:
Large class selection from 5 basic and 15 advanced classes
Enormous build diversity, as pretty much everything can work in some way
Perhaps the best crafting system in the entire genre
Significantly more mechanics than Diablo 4, without being overly overwhelming
Clear campaign that introduces you to the game in 10-20 hours
Is it worth starting Last Epoch now? Definitely. The game has just fully launched after several years in Early Access in 2024, and you will get plenty of help from other players if you need something. The developers are working diligently on polishing it and already have ideas for upcoming content.
Here you can see the trailer for Last Epoch:
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Last Epoch: The ARPG Showcases Classes, Battles, and Challenges in the Launch Trailer
Path of Exile – The Master’s Study of ARPGs
If gaming is your only hobby and you really want to invest a lot of time, you should check out Path of Exile. The game is known for its absurdly large talent tree and so many mechanics that no one can use them properly without external tools.
Anyone who enjoys working with Excel sheets and wants to dive deep into the subject (that is, all those who like to play EVE Online) should choose Path of Exile as their hack ‘n’ slay. The community is enormously active and engaged.
Compared to Path of Exile, both Diablo 4 and Last Epoch are pure “casual games.” Path of Exile is absolutely aimed at core gamers and does not hide that. If you want to achieve something here, you have to be committed.
However, this does not mean that you cannot have fun just by playing. The bosses emphasize: Whoever just plays without caring about being the best can still progress far without the variety of mechanics. Nonetheless, the entry barrier is high due to the sheer amount of mechanics, skills, and talents.
This is what makes Path of Exile special:
Skills as socket stones, instead of being inherently tied to classes
A “League” system instead of seasons, where new mechanics are added each time
Enough content to keep you occupied not just for hundreds, but for thousands of hours
Good selection of endgame content
Strong community support: Experts and players have a guide ready for almost everything (which you usually need)
However, it might be worth checking out the game. Path of Exile is free, and you can get a feel for whether it’s worth it. Then you can start with experience in the beta of Path of Exile 2 by the end of 2024, the upcoming sequel.
Currently, the Necropolis league is running in Path of Exile:
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Path of Exile: The teaser for the Necropolis expansion
Bonus: No Rest for the Wicked
If none of these games appeal to you or you want to wait for new content, there is a new genre representative on Steam: No Rest for the Wicked. However, it has a particular twist.
Instead of just bashing monster hordes like usual, No Rest for the Wicked relies heavily on tough boss fights like in Dark Souls or Elden Ring. That’s why it’s often referred to as the “Dark Souls Diablo”. Here’s the trailer:
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No Rest For The Wicked startet endlich auf Steam
No Rest for the Wicked is a purely single-player title, unlike the hack ‘n’ slays listed here. It is therefore aimed more at role-playing game fans who enjoyed soulborne games, and less at pure ARPG players – although even they can still have fun here.
Currently, according to voices from the community and experts, the campaign is especially worthwhile in No Rest for the Wicked. The endgame is said to not offer much more. Here’s the GameStar test:
At the moment, you can only play No Rest for the Wicked alone. A 4-player co-op is expected to be released with the first update, but there’s no release date yet.
In general, 2024 is a good year if you are fans of action RPGs or want to start. New and good titles are coming out constantly, some even smaller indie projects that are still worth it. Additionally, major names in the genre are gearing up for major updates. It hasn’t looked this good in 20 years: 2024 is the best year if you love games like Diablo
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A player of Helldivers 2 has noticed unusual behavior in the robots and now believes that the Over-Earth has deceived you.
What does the player claim? The Reddit user warmarky123 has announced on the social network that they can no longer fight against the robots and has made accusations against Over-Earth.
warmarky123 writes: “Automatons have feelings, Over-Earth has lied to us, they do not want this war, they were forced into mining and fighting.”
To give more weight to his statements, the player shared a video that he recorded during a battle against the robots that is supposed to show that the automatons, those opponents of peace and democracy, actually feel emotions.
Instead of compassion for robots, there is a war bond from the Over-Earth called Democratic Detonation. Here you can see the trailer:
Video raises the question: Do robots have feelings?
What can be seen in the video? The nearly one-minute clip shows the player fighting a group of commanders. These are quite agile robots equipped with blades and handguns.
While warmarky123 teaches one of these commanders filled with lead democracy, a second commander turns around and runs toward his robot colleague who is under fire.
The Reddit user apparently wants to express with the video that the robot in the video had compassion and fear for the second robot and wanted to help or even protect him.
The video posted on Reddit by warmarky123 can be found here:
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How does the community react? The players of Helldivers 2 respond to the already not particularly serious Reddit post with the typical humor of the community.
Many players hint with memes that they will report him to the authorities of Over-Earth and that he is now under the watch of the “Ministry of Truth”.
There are also various references to novels, films, and series in the comments:
“Look at the flowers”, – The Walking Dead, Carol to Lizzy
“Tell me about the rabbits”, – Of Mice and Men
“Finally, you understand. They are out there. You cannot negotiate with them, and you cannot reason with them. They feel neither pity nor remorse nor fear… And they will stop at nothing, while you are not dead.” – Terminator
All over the world, Pokémon GO can connect trainers. This has now happened in a very special environment – at the most remote place on Earth.
Around the globe, there are fans and trainers of Pokémon GO and the other branches of the series. Even the coldest continent in the world, Antarctica, is no exception.
On independent.co.uk, there is a lovely story about how two trainers, Raimon and Pete, can now play Pokémon GO at the most remote place in the world with the help of one trainer’s girlfriend, Reddit, and Niantic.
And it was only through this that they discovered they both share this hobby.
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Pokémon GO: It’s time to #RediscoverGO!
Pokémon GO at the most remote place in the world
After Raimon started working at Davis Station, the southernmost Australian research station in Antarctica, his girlfriend had a request for him. She wanted to receive gifts in Pokémon GO from him in order to get the postcards.
This prompted the trainer, who has been a fan of the game since its release in 2016, to start playing Pokémon GO again. The problem: There were no PokéStops at his station. So he had no way to send gifts with the corresponding postcards.
Then Raimon’s girlfriend asked on Reddit if Niantic could possibly open a PokéStop at the station. And Niantic granted the request. Inquiries on Reddit regarding the help from trainers in Antarctica surprisingly happen more often than one might think.
Getting a PokéStop, finding game partners
After the PokéStop was opened, Raimon was finally able to start sending gifts with the postcards to his girlfriend and catching Pokémon himself. Alongside a PokéStop in front of one of the buildings, a second PokéStop was also opened inside the residential building.
As he began to catch Pokémon and send postcards, he made an interesting and beautiful discovery: He is not the only one. Pete, one of his 27 colleagues at the station, is also an enthusiastic Pokémon fan and trainer in Pokémon GO.
Since these two trainers, who are separated by more than 30 years of life, discovered this common passion, they now indulge in this hobby together – at the most remote place in the world.
What about you? Have you already made wonderful acquaintances and friends through Pokémon GO? Feel free to share your most beautiful stories with us in the comments.
If you are currently looking for an alternative to Escape from Tarkov with PvE and co-op, maybe “Incursion Red River” on Steam is interesting for you.
What is Tarkov-PvE all about?
Escape from Tarkov (EFT) released a new PvE co-op mode on April 25, 2024, which is supposed to offer persistent progress and no wipes.
The catch: The mode is currently only permanently available through a new edition that costs €250.
Even the owners of the expensive EOD edition still have to pay about €100 to be able to play the mode permanently – otherwise, they can only play Tarkov-PvE for six months.
Many players of Escape from Tarkov are extremely angry because the mode is far too expensive and not included in the EOD edition, and the new edition also has pay-to-win contents. There has been a lot of criticism from the community towards EFT developers Battlestate Games.
German EFT-like with Co-op and PvE – on Steam
What kind of game is this? Incursion Red River is a tactical extraction shooter developed by the German studio Games of Tomorrow GmbH and released in Early Access on Steam on April 10, 2024. Previously, the game was running under the working title “Project Quarantine” and invited to a demo in February 2024.
The gameplay of Incursion Red River is reminiscent of Escape from Tarkov and other extraction shooters, but offers only PvE. However, you can co-operate with up to three friends in battle. If you want to play PvP, you won’t find any alternative to EFT here.
Nevertheless, you can expect the typical gameplay loop of an extraction shooter: You take missions in your hideout, grab weapons and gear, and start a raid. Then, you try to complete these missions on a large, open map, collect new and possibly better loot, and successfully extract at the end of the raid.
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Incursion: Red River gives an initial impression of the gameplay in the trailer for the Steam Next Fest
Additionally, Incursion Red River aims for as realistic gameplay as possible. There is no minimap, colorful hit markers, or the ability to heal yourself to 100% with a syringe or bandage after being wounded.
The gunplay also attempts to give you a realistic feel for the different weapons and corresponding recoil. These weapons can also be customized and personalized with various attachments as usual.
Of course, the loot and equipment management of a proper EFT-like should not be missing. You need to tidy up both the storage in your hideout and your backpack and ensure that you don’t run out of space.
The storage (Stash) of Incursion Red River
Vietnam instead of Eastern Europe
What setting does the shooter take place in? Incursion Red River does not take place in a fictional Russian city, but leads you to a fictional version of present-day Vietnam.
A civil war between gangs, militias, and private armies is raging in the Southeast Asian state, and everyone is trying to gain their own advantage from the chaotic situation. This is also reflected on the map. The map takes you to a tropical area, with green forests and hot temperatures.
Since Incursion Red River takes place neither in a futuristic future nor far in the past, there are modern rifles, attachments, and corresponding equipment.
Moreover, the country is marked by the ongoing civil war and the associated destruction and neglect.
A screenshot of Incursion Red River showing a map and a weapon model.A screenshot showing a destroyed military base in Incursion Red RiverA screenshot of Incursion Red River in a hangar
The roadmap promises: Weapons, a new map, and more
What can we expect from the game in the future? Currently, Incursion Red River is still in Early Access, meaning that the shooter will be supplied with new content in the future. On Steam, the developers have already shared a roadmap and showed what is to come in 2024.
a completely new map
7 new weapons are planned
more types of missions that you can complete – bosses & defense
An expansion for the health system – various status effects and new animations for the use of medical items
various behavioral patterns for the AI
extreme weather
a revision of the loot
animations for interactions – opening doors and looting
How is Incursion Red River rated? Incursion Red River has about 2,300 reviews on Steam with a little under 77% positive ratings. The general idea of many player reviews is: The game has potential but still has a lot of work ahead.
bungie20 via Steam: “What was promised has been delivered. No more, no less. Definitely worth the recommendation for the money! In 13.5 hours I had no crashes in-game, everything worked as it should. What more do you want, except for content that is still being delivered?”
Cross via Steam: “The game is in ALPHA. This is REAL Early Access. […] It’s a gamble. For your $15 you do not get an endlessly repeatable experience, but only a single level and a handful of weapons that you can modify, along with the classic Tetris-like inventory system.”
Mardy_Jim via Steam: “The game has a lot of potential and is excellent in many ways – the price, the way the game looks, the selection of weapons, attachments, and equipment […], but there are some issues that REALLY need to be fixed.”
Overall, every potential buyer should be aware: Incursion Red River is still in an early development state. There is only one map, a limited selection of weapons, and one shouldn’t be surprised by a bug or two. In the end, it is up to you to decide whether it is worth nearly €16 or if you would rather buy the €250 edition of EFT.
Eintracht Spandau, the LoL team of Twitch streamer HandOfBlood, is currently on a “fever dream of a run”. Olaf Scholz has been personally invited to the final.
What kind of invitation is that? On April 26, 2024, HandOfBlood reached out to Olaf Scholz personally on X, formerly Twitter, warmly inviting the Chancellor to come to Spandau and join him for the broadcast of the EMEA Masters final, which his LoL team has qualified for.
The Twitch streamer explains that it’s kind of like the Champions League and points out that French President Emmanuel Macron cheered for “his” team in 2022.
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Although it’s not entirely clear how serious the Twitch streamer is about the offer – if any content creator could be expected to sit down with Olaf Scholz in a stream and discuss League of Legends together, it would surely be HandOfBlood.
After all, he has already hosted the mayor of Spandau in his stream – a leap to the Chancellor is almost just a small step. Unfortunately, there has been no response, let alone an official acceptance, at this moment.
In the comments, fans are actively discussing which politicians would be alternative guests.
Start video
Everything you need to know about the LoL team Eintracht Spandau – in 4 minutes
Eintracht Spandau soon European champions?
What is the special occasion? On Sunday, April 28, 2024, Eintracht Spandau will compete in the final of the EMEA Masters. This is the championship for the region of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This is a big deal, because despite their popularity on social media, the LoL team of HandOfBlood hasn’t done much yet.
The season so far has been quite rocky for the Spandau team. In the German Prime League, they only finished 5th, barely qualifying for the playoffs. But then Eintracht took one victory after another and finally brought the championship title to Spandau.
The Twitch streamer NoWay also had a team in the race with NNO. He describes Eintracht Spandau’s run as an “absolute fever dream”.
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In the group stage of the EMEA Masters, things went great as well: With 5 wins and 1 loss, Eintracht Spandau became the group winner. In the final, the Spandau team must face the Turkish team Beşiktaş Esports. It starts at 5:00 PM – with or without Olaf Scholz.
For the grand final, HandOfBlood will likely have the opportunity to slip back into his signature role: President Knabe. The rowdy egomaniac is a fan favorite and helps give Eintracht Spandau the feeling of a football club that they have strived for from the beginning. Learn at MeinMMO what makes the “President” so good.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
When Black Desert was released in March 2016 in the West, the MMORPG shone with its heavy combat system and stunning graphics. However, more than eight years have passed since then. How does Black Desert perform in 2024? Is it worth starting or returning?
What do I need to know about Black Desert? BDO (short for Black Desert Online) is an MMORPG from the South Korean developer Pearl Abyss, which was released on March 3, 2016 in Europe for PC. On May 24, 2017, it was launched on Steam. Furthermore, there is now a mobile version of the online role-playing game.
At first glance, Black Desert seems like a typical theme park MMORPG with its numerous quests, but it actually has more sandbox roots, focusing on grinding, crafting, housing, animal husbandry, trade, and guild wars.
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO and has played almost every major online role-playing game of the past two decades. He had the opportunity to extensively test Black Desert at launch eight years ago. The brutal combat system was fun, the world looked great, and the complex game systems were fascinating.
However, as the level increased, the grind felt tougher. Additionally, the random factor in upgrading equipment, breeding horses and pets, and creating alchemy stones was frustrating. And then there was the cheeky pearl shop, the typical gender lock for Asian MMORPGs, and the unfinished interface.
Despite these initial problems, Black Desert continues to attract our MMORPG enthusiasts to its servers to see what has changed. He will tell you how Black Desert performs in 2024.
[toc]
The experience for newcomers in 2024
Black Desert may be several years old, but the MMORPG provides you with one of the most powerful character builders of all (online) role-playing games at the start of your adventure. You can recreate yourself or a celebrity, or create a fictional alter ego with just a few clicks or a lot of love.
Not only are the numerous customization options overwhelming, but also the 27 classes you can currently choose from. In addition to typical careers like warrior, archer, or ranger, you also find quirky playstyles like the corsair, who can transform into a mermaid and summon whales.
You will unfortunately have to deal with the fact that specializations are tied to specific races and genders. Some classes at least represent the female or male counterpart of another. For example, you can create a wizard or a witch.
Those who enjoy crafting and gathering professions in MMORPGs will have fun in Black Desert.
Which starting zone will it be?
Once you have created your character, you will face the next dilemma: Which starting zone will it be? There are three options. “Land of Morning Light” and “Mountain of Eternal Winter” are aimed at veterans, while the “Primitive Stone Chamber” provides the best start.
Create your character on a seasonal server for newcomers to gain particularly fast progress and additional rewards through a season pass. By following these pillars of the main questline, you should be able to reach a level between 50 and 60 relatively quickly.
From level 56, a major milestone awaits you: the questlines for awakening and rebirth, which will give your class a further development. After completing these tasks, you should reach around level 60 and thus reach the endgame.
Free Tier-9 mount at the start
For some time now, Black Desert has been providing old and new players with a fabulous Tier-9 mount that allows you to travel through the world particularly quickly and comes with special advantages. The Pegasus can fly, for example. You will find the mount in your gift tab under rewards after your first log in.
Additionally, there is now a fast travel system that instantly takes you from the fountain of one city to the fountain of another city in the game world – and with your currently active mount. Traveling in Black Desert has never been so comfortable and time-saving.
Black Desert has been moving and thrilling players for many years – this trailer proves it:
Start video
Black Desert Online looks back on many beautiful memories with its players
That’s why it’s worth playing Black Desert
But why should you give Black Desert a chance? Here are some reasons:
Black Desert has one of the best combat systems in the MMORPG genre. The attacks look great, feel wonderfully heavy, and can be chained into powerful combos. Each class plays differently. If you want to live out your own power fantasy, you will have long-lasting fun with BDO. At the same time, the design of various classes is so complex that skilled players can clearly stand out from less experienced heroes.
If you enjoy crafting and gathering professions in online role-playing games, you will also have fun in Black Desert. You can engage in all activities with one character, and there are several; such as cooking, sailing, hunting, or taming and breeding horses. Additionally, you can really dive into these professions and, for example, extensively upgrade your small starting ship to later hunt sea monsters.
The world of Black Desert consists of nodes such as villages, cities, or other interesting places. These are closely linked with the crafting and housing system because you can invest your earned contribution points in these nodes to place workers or buy buildings. For example, if you enjoy cooking but do not want to farm the resources, you can hire workers to do that job for you.
Let’s continue on the next page with the biggest weaknesses of Black Desert, the pay-to-win question, and my conclusion.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, a group of friends lost their run in Honour mode because they wanted to relax at the camp and annoyed everyone present.
What is an Honour Run anyway?
The Honour Mode is the highest difficulty level of Baldur’s Gate 3
In Honour Mode, it’s a kind of hardcore mode: there is only one save file and if the group dies, the run is over. You have to start the game from the beginning then.
The battles are tougher than on other difficulty levels
Additionally, there are restrictions: reloading and rerolling is not possible, for example
Annoyed the wrong NPC
How did they lose their Honour Run? On Reddit, user “ThalesCM” reports that he and his two friends lost an Honour Run in Act 1 because they were goofing off in the camp and annoyed the wrong NPC.
Thales recounts: “We decided to take a long rest, and while we were there, we started goofing around in the camp, hitting each other and laughing. One of my friends decided to throw a SILENCE bubble on the beds – he had done that in the run before.”
“Silence” is a spell in Baldur’s Gate 3 that creates a sphere that does not let any sound through. The spell can be used, for example, to silence an alarm or to take out sleeping enemies without waking others.
Shortly thereafter, a fight broke out against all companions and characters in the camp. Although Thales and his friends were almost level 4 and all the companions were only level 1, one of the friends played an Oathbreaker Paladin and thus the “Oathbreaker Knight” was also present in the camp at that time. According to Thales, this knight was level 12 and had 250 HP. The players had no chance.
In his post on Reddit, Thales ultimately concluded: “A contender for ‘the worst way to fail an Honour Run.'”
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3: Reset Character and Choose New Class
Warning, Spoilers: If you haven’t played an Oathbreaker Paladin yet, you might not want to read further. We will now explain who the Oathbreaker Knight is.
What is the Oathbreaker Knight about? The Oathbreaker Knight is an undead character that appears in your camp when you play as a Paladin and break your oath – that is, attack or kill an innocent NPC.
If you have broken your oath, he is the one who gives you a lecture and brands you. Afterwards, you are no longer a Paladin and become an Oathbreaker Paladin.
Manor Lords was recently the most wished-for game on Steam. Since yesterday it is in Early Access and has immediately become a bestseller. Does it live up to the hype?
What kind of game is it? Manor Lords is a medieval city-building game that solo developer Slavic Magic has been working on for 6 years. It promises detail-oriented city construction and large-scale battles in impressive graphics. This has made Manor Lords the hype game for strategy fans and made it the most wished-for game on Steam.
Since April 26, 2024, Manor Lords has officially been in Early Access, and players can finally see for themselves. On Steam, the medieval sim is currently available at an introductory price of €29.99. From May 10 onwards, it will cost €39.99. However, it can also be played on Game Pass at no additional cost.
Start video
Manor Lord Release Date Trailer
More than 150,000 simultaneous players and 90 % positive
How has Manor Lords been performing so far? Just 10 minutes after the start of Early Access, Manor Lords was already the number 1 bestseller on Steam. Thousands of players dove straight into the medieval simulation: within just one hour, it surpassed the mark of 100,000 concurrent players.
Currently, Manor Lords is in 6th place among the most played games on Steam, making it the leading paid title – the top 5 consists of free-to-play games. The current peak stands at 159,000 concurrent players (via SteamDB). So things are looking really good for Manor Lords at first glance – but what are the first players saying?
What the ratings say on Steam: On Steam, Manor Lords enjoys a “very good” rating with 90 % recommendations based on over 7,400 reviews. The reviews are full of praise for the developer: This is exactly how it’s supposed to be done.
While players acknowledge the incomplete state of the game and certain bugs, they mostly seem to agree that this is expected in Early Access. Even in the negative reviews, users assure that Manor Lords has potential – it’s just not recommendable in its current state.
We’ve gathered some of the reviews marked as “helpful” here for you:
Ion (recommended): “[…] In settlement building and operation, I always have the feeling that thought has been put into it. It starts with simple things like sensible colors when building and ends with fair conditions for the game mechanics.[…]”
Delevend_ (recommended): “My village really burned down!!! The worst part? It looked SO COOL xD After the first hours I can only say that the purchase was totally worth it! Everything done right and with a lot of love! Atmosphere, detail, sound just great!”
Abruek (not recommended): “I’ve been following the game for a while, since the demo was released. It has certainly made a lot of progress since then and I believe the game will someday be the king of its genre, but it’s not there yet. […]”
So it seems that Manor Lords is living up to the hype so far. However, one should keep in mind that these are still quite early reviews, and most users have spent only a few hours in the game. So it remains to be seen how the reviews will develop in the long run.
Our colleagues from GameStar agreed in their review: Manor Lords impresses even in its unfinished state.
Manor Lords is also popular on Twitch, attracting thousands of viewers. Streamers have been able to play since April 12 and have certainly contributed to the hype. Potential players were able to gauge whether it could be something for them. Particularly among the German audience, the medieval simulation was well received: Two German streamers dominated the new city-building hit on Twitch
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Twitch streamer Veni is known not only for his streams but also for his dedication to charitable causes. He has now created his own event to draw attention to a very special action. In an interview with MeinMMO, he reveals more about the backgrounds.
The Twitch streamer Rafael “Veni” Eisler is primarily known for his Minecraft streams. In addition to Minecraft, he regularly participates in charitable events and wants to raise awareness for the “Wings for Life World Run”.
For this, he plans to recreate it in Minecraft on April 28th from 1 PM, exactly one week before the run, and complete it together with several streamers on Twitch. Among them are also well-known Minecraft streamers like BastiGHG and Let’s Hugo. You can follow the entire event on Veni’s Twitch channel.
How does the event work? In a specially programmed Minecraft world, all participants will start their run simultaneously and flee from a moving game boundary. The goal is to cover the greatest distance, just like in the real run. The game boundary continuously accelerates until the winner is determined.
In an interview with MeinMMO, the streamer reveals more about the backgrounds of the event.
What is the “Wings for Life World Run”? The run takes place in several cities worldwide, called flagship runs. However, you can also participate from anywhere in the world.
During the Wings for Life World Run, a mobile finish line – the catcher car – chases you. If you get overtaken, your race is over! The registration fee for the run goes towards spinal cord research aimed at making spinal cord injuries curable.
MeinMMO: Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Rafael Eisler, also known as “Veni” on the internet. I have been involved in social media with a focus on gaming for over 13 years. I would say my main platforms are Twitch and YouTube, and I have been a Red Bull Player and Make A Wish Ambassador since 2023, now also active for the Wings for Life World Run in Minecraft.
Start video
Twitch streamer wants to change the perception of gaming as Miss Germany: “One should not demonize it, but also not glorify it”
Running for those who cannot
You are very active in the charity sector and have your own organization, Charity Royale – what makes the Wings for Life World Run so special for you?
It is special because it is a charity activation in which people can all participate. It is not a classic charity run, but a call to action. The Wings for Life World Run is about running for those who cannot. I have been involved in the Wings for Life World Run every year since 2014.
It creates a unique atmosphere to run together with people, seeing wheelchair users overtake you or being pushed, and people taking turns and giving it their all when the car comes behind them. It is simply a very special event!
How did you come up with the idea of transferring the event into gaming and what challenges did you face?
The idea has been around for a long time. I think for 5 years. But there was always the point that we have to meet certain requirements if we want to officially do something with the Wings for Life World Run. For example, if we say this event should also raise funds, we have to think about how that works and how we implement it.
If we want to do something completely separate, we still have to show a certain similarity. Finding that fine line so that it becomes a cool event for both the participants and the streamers involved, exciting, and at the same time demonstrates the characteristic of the Wings for Life World Run is the challenge.
But we have done quite well with the format we have now.
I decided that I wanted to do something for the event. This year, I am also working with Lucas (DerBanko on Twitch), who primarily programs for many other streamers in Minecraft, and with him, I had the idea to implement this run.
Additionally, Maxi (Dweags on X), with whom I already collaborate on other events – the idea was born, and as a trio, we implemented it. However, this is not an official Minecraft, Microsoft, or Wings for Life World Run event. This is from us!
You say that with your project you want to generate attention for the run and ensure registrations. Do you have a special message you want to send to the community?
My main call would be to participate. It doesn’t matter whether at a flagship run in a big city – if you can still get a spot, most are sold out – or in a small community at an app run event (via Wings for Life World Run), because there you can also find groups and people running together in a running group.
You don’t have to complete the full 5 kilometers. It’s about participating and making a statement that you run for those who cannot. That’s what we want to convey to people.
We have registered a gaming team (via Wings for Life World Run) for the German-speaking gaming community at the Wings for Life World Run. We are excited about every member that signs up so we can simply show what a large community gaming is at the actual Wings for Life World Run!
Thank you for answering the questions!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
You have probably noticed a green (Android) or orange (iOS) dot in the upper right corner of your smartphone screen. But what does it mean?
What is this dot? The dot is a signal indicating that an app is accessing features of your smartphone, such as the camera or microphone. It also indicates the retrieval of location data through GPS. This is meant to protect against spyware and prevent an app from recording you without your knowledge.
On Android devices, the dot is green and was introduced in 2022 with the release of Android 12
On iOS devices, the dot is orange and has been integrated into the system since 2022
If you click on the dot, you can find out which app is currently accessing a feature of your smartphone and you can then review the permissions of that app and potentially deny it access to the camera again.
Smartphones not only warn you about spyware but also have an accident detection feature:
Start video
How crash detection works on iPhone and Apple Watch
The green dot also warns about mobile games like Pokémon GO
Since the green or orange dot indicates the retrieval of location data, players of mobile games may become aware of how much data games like Pokémon GO or Monster Hunter Now collect about them.
Fitness apps from smartwatches or fitness trackers occasionally access your smartphone’s location data when the watches/trackers themselves do not have GPS. These apps use the location data from your smartphone to determine the exact route you took during your workout.
If you want to change an app’s permissions, you can either do it directly by clicking on the green or orange dot and then manage the app’s permissions, or you can set the corresponding options in the settings.
Select individual apps or click “Show all apps” and then select
Permissions
Click on a permission to change it and select Allow or Deny
Alternatively, you can also find the settings using the search function
Change setting on iOS:
Settings
Privacy & Security
Then select a data category (e.g., “Calendar”, “Reminders”, or “Motion & Fitness”)
Then click on the respective app
In general, it’s advisable to keep track of the app permissions on your smartphone. You don’t want to suddenly find out that a free QR code scanning app has been accessing your microphone for 4 months.
We are looking for freelance support who can assist us from home.
With MeinMMO, we reach several million people every month who share our passion for gaming. Here you will find articles and videos with stories, guides, opinions, recommendations, or interviews.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for freelance authors who can support us in reporting on Twitch and YouTube. You should enjoy sharing your knowledge in the area of gaming culture. Here’s what you should bring:
a knack for exciting stories
not only a passion for games but also the stories of the people who work with them
a willingness to dive deep into topics and conduct research
you use social platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok
you enjoy writing
a willingness to work on weekends is a plus
This is a plus, but not a must: You already have experience in the media field. This includes: your own blog, work for another website, your own channel on Twitch, TikTok, or YouTube.
What is it about?
You know the biggest stars on German Twitch and are aware of what emerging talents to keep an eye on? You eagerly await uploads from your favorite gaming YouTubers? If a topic trends on Twitch, you are the first to know and get all the details? You speak “Papaplatte” fluently?
Then working at MeinMMO is just right for you!
In the field of gaming culture, we report on everything that concerns gamers outside of their favorite games. This also includes content creators on YouTube and Twitch.
As a Twitch author, you will report on current topics in the streaming scene. You should particularly focus on the German-speaking Twitch and YouTube, but also keep an eye on the international scene.
Content can include entertaining anecdotes from streams, but also viral trends, elaborate events, or topics that are being discussed in the community.
How do we work?
The workflow: You independently research exciting stories in the Twitch and YouTube community and on the official channels of the content creators. Together with the editorial team, you plan the topics you will report on. You work with analytical tools like Google Trends to find the most urgent topics for our readers. You write articles that fit MeinMMO and our community.
The hours: You can work for MeinMMO for a few hours at least three days a week. Up to 20 hours per week are possible.
The pay: The remuneration is calculated on an hourly basis in the news-room, not per article or according to character count.
What do we offer?
Access to a successful gaming editorial team
Practical experience and further training in game journalism
Access to editorial tools comfortably from home
An environment that is passionate about gaming
Variety, as each topic brings something new
Regular coaching in data analysis and storytelling
Affiliation with the Webedia network, which includes GameStar, GamePro, MeinMMO, Moviepilot, and Filmstarts.
Does all this sound exciting to you?If we have piqued your interest and you want to write for MeinMMO, please send us your application with the following contents:
Who you are: A short cover letter with your resume
When you are available: How often and how regularly you could write for us
Optional: Writing samples
Where should I send my application? Please send your application to:
Caesar Crown is one of the leading experts in the field of weapons of mass destruction. After his experiments on Punk Hazard, he was captured by the Straw Hats. The last time we saw him in One Piece was on Whole Cake Island. He was blackmailed by the Straw Hat Pirates using his own heart and therefore helped them in Dressrosa, Zou, and Whole Cake Island. After that, he was never seen again.
What happened to him afterwards? After the catastrophic wedding party on Whole Cake Island, Caesar Crown fled alongside Capone Bege. The mafia boss returned the scientist his heart and set off on his own journey. However, Caesar stayed a while longer on Whole Cake Island.
After a few weeks, Caesar Crown helps Germa 66 to rescue their siblings from the clutches of Big Mom’s children. He begs the Vinsmokes in tears to take him with them in their escape. Together, they manage to escape Whole Cake Island.
Caesar Crown is taken to the Germa Kingdom. There, he meets Jajji Vinsmoke, an old colleague. The two clash due to their past and go for each other’s throats.
During the argument, they realize that their former boss Dr. Vegapunk is responsible for their feud. The two make up and found the organization NEO MADS, which is based on their old company MADS. What exactly the organization aims to achieve is unclear.
You can see the founding of their organization here:
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What connects Sanji’s father and Caesar Crown? The two worked together in the organization MADS under Dr. Vegapunk. It was supposed to be a lab for peace research. But Caesar Crown and Jajji Vinsmoke had no interest in peace solutions and instead focused on research into deadly weapons.
The members of MADS were:
Dr. Vegapunk
Jajji Vinsmoke
Queen
Caesar Crown
Buckingham Stussy
The science team managed to create a clone of Buckingham Stussy. The World Government became aware of the research results on the stem genes, claimed them for themselves, and dissolved the lab.
Jajji Vinsmoke uses the results himself to create his clone army. Queen became a member of Kaido’s pirate crew and focused on research into deadly viruses. Caesar Crown, on the other hand, dedicated himself to the research of weapons of mass destruction.
Dr. Vegapunk is part of the current Egghead arc:
Start video
One Piece – The 26th Opening for the Egghead Island Arc has been released
Where can you see his story? The story was told on the cover images of chapters 1035 to 1078. It does not appear in the actual manga and can therefore only be followed by attentive readers who also look at the covers.
LetsHugo became known with Minecraft, but now mainly showcases Just Chatting on Twitch. Now he realizes that gaming pays off on YouTube.
Which streamer is it about? LetsHugo is a German-speaking streamer from Luxembourg who experienced rapid growth between 2022 and 2023. In a recent stream, he showed how much he earns with his gaming channel on YouTube.
The streamer explains that he has been relatively inactive with gaming content on his channel. In hindsight, he can’t understand this because it’s “free money.” Videos with over 170,000 views earned him between 600 to 700 euros. A video with 47,000 views, in which LetsHugo is insulted by Trymacs, still brought in 183 euros.
Why is this particularly interesting for him? The videos are not specially produced for YouTube but are excerpts from his streams. They are compiled by an editor and subsequently published on YouTube – so, relatively low effort can be used to repurpose the same content and cash in twice.
Whats particularly interesting for LetsHugo is that gaming videos seem to be almost more lucrative than the videos on his main channel, even though he puts much more effort into those. The streamer says he feels “duped.” He wasn’t even aware of how easy it is to earn money this way.
He always thought he needed to create the “best video in the world.” How worthwhile gaming videos are, he knows through his Twitch colleague Papaplatte: Together they organized a “XXL Olympics.” Papaplatte turned it into a 2 1/2 hour video, which received 1.6 million views and earned him over 21,000 euros.
While the Luxembourger is still a long way from such numbers, he seems determined to get a piece of the gaming pie.
Start video
He dropped out of school because streaming was more important to him – The success of LetsHugo
Just Chatting Reigns on Twitch
Why is this interesting? Many streamers on Twitch are currently having the opposite experience: gaming is hardly paying off for many. Just Chatting is by far the most watched category in recent years (via SullyGnome). Streamers use it to show reactions, interact with their fans, or for formats such as unboxing gifts from viewers.
Papaplatte, one of the most successful streamers on German Twitch, even reported that many of his colleagues are actually afraid of showing gaming. As soon as they switch from Just Chatting to a game, they would lose viewers, according to Papaplatte.
Many content creators have firmly integrated “Just Chatting” into their streams and chat with the viewers for a while before transitioning to a game. The proportion that Just Chatting makes up seems to be steadily increasing over the years:
In 2019, the first full year the category existed, Asmongold showed 0.6% Just Chatting and 91.9% World of Warcraft. Five years later, he streams on his second account, and Just Chatting makes up almost 60% of his content (via TwitchTracker).
For Gronkh, Just Chatting made up a little over 25% of his streaming time in 2019; by 2023, it was over 45%. In the current year, he seems to be having a lot of fun gaming again with strong survival titles like Palworld and Enshrouded. The proportion of Just Chatting stands at 36% for 2024 so far (via TwitchTracker).
Jynxzi is currently the absolute standout on Twitch, even though his content is completely contrary to the mainstream: He shows almost exclusively the shooter Rainbow Six Siege. In 2019, he was not involved in Just Chatting at all; in the current year, the category has made up 11% of his streams (via TwitchTracker).
Even though the examples mentioned are just snapshots, a trend towards more Just Chatting is evident. LetsHugo himself showed almost only Minecraft in 2019. The block game made up 91% of his streaming time. However, in 2024 he spent 47% of his time on Just Chatting, followed by over 16% IRL (via TwitchTracker). Now he is achieving success with gaming – but on a completely different platform.
The concept of uploading stream excerpts on YouTube and profiting from it twice has established itself in recent years. YouTube is generally considered the more lucrative platform. However, videos produced with great effort are not necessarily rewarded by the algorithm. That’s why many big YouTubers are currently going to Twitch.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Son-Goku encounters Dr. Gero during Dragon Ball Z. The scientist not only turned himself into a cyborg but also created many other robotic beings. Two of the cyborgs were given the appearance of his wife and son. In a drawing by Toyotaro, the artist behind Dragon Ball Super, we see the son for the first time from head to toe.
Who is the son? The son of Dr. Gero and his wife Vomi is named Gevo. He was an elite soldier of the Red Ribbon Army during his lifetime. After his death, he served as a template for the cyborg C16, so their appearance is nearly identical.
In the anime itself, Gevo had only appeared in a photo that showed him up to the chest. Thanks to a drawing by Toyotaro, we now know what the rest of the soldier looked like:
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The drawing shows Gevo holding a rifle. He looks emaciated and battered. The contours of his face are more pronounced than C16, and tendons are visible on his hands. The image illustrates how hard life must have been as a soldier.
The picture may depict him shortly before his death. He leans on the weapon as if he is gradually losing strength. His gaze also does not promise anything good.
Where can the image be seen? The drawing was published as part of a special series that will be featured in Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine. This is the same magazine where the Dragon Ball Super manga is published.
MeinMMO explains where the “Z” in Dragon Ball Z comes from:
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Dragon Ball: This is what the Z in the title stands for
Dr. Gero was the creator of the cyborgs
Who was Dr. Gero? The scientist Dr. Gero was also part of the Red Ribbon Army and created over ten cyborgs during his career. Among them are C17 and C18, who were once humans. For this reason, C18 can still have children.
He ordered C19, another one of his creations, to perform an operation to turn Dr. Gero into a cyborg as well. He kept only his brain as the human component, and the rest became C20. This made him immortal.
What’s next for the Dragon Ball Super manga? The image and the upcoming specials are intended to bridge the waiting time until the Dragon Ball Super manga is released. When exactly the next chapter will appear is still unclear.
Recently, the Super-Hero-Arc was concluded. In a final scene, Son-Goku, Son-Gohan, and Piccolo were seen picking up little Pan from kindergarten. It is up to Toyotaro how the story continues.
