Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine this summer in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, it was Marvel’s boss who was actually against it – and there are good reasons for that.
As one of the most iconic and beloved portrayors of superheroes in film history, Hugh Jackman has captured the hearts of many fans with his role as Wolverine. From his first appearance in X-Men in 2000 to his last adventure in Logan from 2017.
Now, after 8 years, he is returning to his legendary role as Wolverine, this time in the third installment of Deadpool, Deadpool & Wolverine. For Disney, Deadpool 3 is a special film, as it marks the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). R-rated means that people under 17 cannot see the film without adult supervision. In the USA, age restrictions are a bit different than here.
But while fans are excited about his return as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, not everyone was thrilled about the idea. The head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, was against it.
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Wolverine is back: Official Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine
Wolverine had a great ending with Logan
What did he have against it? The idea of seeing Jackman for another appearance as Wolverine in a Deadpool film met Feige’s skepticism. Although Deadpool & Wolverine would be the first film of the franchise to be part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Feige advised Jackman against returning.
Here’s what he said:
Let me give you some advice, Hugh. Don’t come back. You had the greatest ending with Logan that’s nothing we should undo.
He reminded Jackman that his farewell in Logan was a perfect closing note for the character, which should not be diluted by another return. After nearly 20 years and several films, Logan was an emotional ending for Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine that satisfied both the actors and the fans, making it one of the most beloved superhero movies of all time. On IMDb, Logan scores 8.1 stars from 832,204 ratings, which is quite good.
Jackman himself also had concerns and presumably thought a lot about a possible return. After a long drive to clear his mind, he ultimately decided to go for it. And I got out of the car, called Ryan, and said, ‘Ryan, if you want me, I’m in.
Because the possibility of creating a new version of Wolverine through the multiverse in the Marvel world made the return attractive. Now we can go back because it’s science. So, I don’t have to mess with the ‘Logan’ timeline, which was important to me. And I think probably to the fans too, he reveals to SiriusXM.
In an interview with Empire, Jackman emphasizes that Deadpool & Wolverine “will show different sides of Wolverine that we have never seen before in the movies.” It’s great for Deadpool to have someone who punches him in the face.
Utilizing the multiverse as a plot device allows the filmmakers to take a new approach to ensure that Jackman’s return does not tarnish the legacy of his character’s iconic farewell in Logan.
By emphasizing that this is not the same Logan, they give Jackman the opportunity to play his character in a fresh way.
You won’t have to wait long to see how it all plays out: Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 24.
In Baldur’s Gate 3 there are several scenes that are intended for adults only. The head of Larian Studios, Swen Vincke, reveals: even developers felt uncomfortable with it.
However, not everyone enjoys the scenes equally. The head of Larian Studios, Swen Vincke, reveals: Not all employees agreed with the high level of sexual content in the game – some even felt uncomfortable.
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Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 show intimate love scene with a bear and get banned instantly
We try to stay as true to life as possible
What does the head of Larian Studios say? Vincke states that some people in the studio felt uncomfortable. But they decided that the game is for adults and treated it accordingly like a TV series. He particularly refers to American Gods, a series that he believes handled adult themes and fantasy scenes well.
He says the following:
[…] We try to stay as true to life as possible. […] You can really do crazy things and still identify with it.
[The sex scenes] were always done tastefully. I mean, the famous bear scene – it was really a squirrel that didn’t look. The rest was filled in by your mind’s theater. You filled that in, not us!
Which bear scene is meant? A month before release, Larian Studios showed excerpts of a bear sex scene, for which the studio was even banned on TikTok. The companion Halsin is a druid and can transform into animals. So as a player, you have the choice to become intimate with him either as a human or in his bear form.
King Anduin in World of Warcraft also knows no break. In the new expansion “The War Within,” he once again faces a bizarre fate …
The next expansion of World of Warcraft, The War Within, is currently being tested in Alpha. Not all content is available yet, and Blizzard is gradually opening up the new areas. Along with this come significant revelations of the story. The finale of the newest area deals with the future of Anduin Wrynn …
Spoiler Alert: This article discusses the story of The War Within and the conclusion of the area Healfall. Anyone who does not want spoilers should not continue reading.
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
What has been discovered? In the Alpha of The War Within, the main story of the new area Healfall (“Hallowfall”) is already fully playable. As usual, cutscenes are not yet in the game, but there is a brief description of what will be seen in the sequence, so players can continue to follow the storyline.
It also concerns the fate of Anduin Wrynn, who seems to once again fall into captivity.
In Healfall, much of the story revolves around the fight against the Nerubians. They continuously attack on behalf of Xal’atath, trying to overpower the Arathi and other inhabitants.
The final questline leads to one last great battle, part of which takes place on an airship of the Arathi.
The description of the cutscene “Anduin is lost” is as follows:
Faerin, Alleria, and the hero climb the ladder to the ship, only to see that Anduin has been left behind.
Anduin sees the Nerubians preparing a ballista that would cause the ship to crash.
He finds his resolve and jumps into battle to stop them.
Faerin, Alleria, and the hero watch in horror as Anduin is surrounded by the Horde of Nerubians.
After that, there is no trace of Anduin. He was apparently captured and likely taken to Xal’atath.
Where is Anduin currently? The current whereabouts of Anduin are still unknown. Following the events of Shadowlands, he is on a journey of self-discovery and will likely only reappear with Patch 11.0, which is the pre-patch for The War Within. Because then the cinematic will play where Thrall encounters Anduin.
It’s a bit curious, as there are further parallels between Anduin and his father Varian. Varian also once boldly threw himself into an army of fiends, specifically during the opening scenario of the “Legion” expansion. This subsequently led to Varian’s death and directly resulted in Anduin having to ascend the throne.
That Anduin displays the same heroism in Healfall as his father could indicate a similar fate, but it may still be too early to say that for sure.
“After all, he’s already used to being captured and kidnapped by an evil purple woman with the body of a dead elf. If Xal’atath spends time with him, there’s at least a 5% chance she will reconsider her methods until the end of the expansion.”
That might be a little bit cynical, but also quite fitting. After all, Anduin was already kidnapped during Shadowlands and was at the mercy of Sylvanas. The visually and morally quite similar Xal’atath could almost be like an old acquaintance to him…
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The professor has been on board since the release of Pokémon GO in 2016. He always has something to tell. But that doesn’t seem to interest everyone.
Quiz question! What is the name of the man you can see up there in the title image?
The answer: The colleague is called Professor Willow and is for all Pokémon GO players what Professor Oak was in the red, blue, or yellow edition: A researcher dealing with the great mysteries of the Pokémon world.
Over the years, Willow has experienced a lot. He constantly discovers new Pokémon that he then lets you search for, or he tells you all sorts of things about the monsters, Team GO Rocket, or other things that you can find in the game during special research. You also send him the monsters you have sorted out from your collection.
Willow is, with few exceptions, the man who presents the quests to you in the game. And for each quest section, he actually always has something to say.
But: Many players don’t seem to be particularly interested in that.
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Pokémon GO: This is what the new season ‘World full of Wonders’ looks like in the trailer
“I actually don’t know his name” – Do you read what Willow tells?
A post in the reddit community about Pokémon GO garnered a lot of attention with over 2,700 upvotes and more than 140 comments. In it, a user tells that he never listens to what the professor has to say – and receives a lot of agreement.
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Numerous users describe that they largely skip the professor’s dialogues to quickly get to the new tasks. Some say they read it before, but now there are just too many researches. Other voices sound like this:
“I always wonder if anyone reads all this” (via reddit).
“I actually don’t know his name, damn” (via reddit).
At the same time, however, some players also come to the defense of the professor. They tell that they always read what Willow has to say. One user says, “For my part, I love his long dialogues” (via reddit).
Are you missing something? Basically, you don’t miss anything that would prevent you from playing the game. The gameplay in Pokémon GO works even without context or story. Ironically, Pokémon GO distributed some of its most interesting teasers even outside the game.
However, it is indeed the case that the professor has interesting things to tell about Pokémon in his long texts if you engage with it and have something for lore. You can learn a lot about the monsters you catch. Especially with special releases of monsters like Gierspenst, it was well done how the riddle about the new monster unfolded. Additionally, through Willow, you can sometimes discover small hints on future events or monsters.
How about you? Basically, it probably depends on your own interest in background information. You can search for and defeat 15 Rocket Grunts without knowing why. Or? We want to know: How do you see this topic? Do you read Willow’s texts, or do you just click through until the new tasks come? Tell us in the comments! And you can find the new events in May 2024 for Pokémon GO here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This linking, which is technically not feasible in many regions, was activated on May 3rd and led to the blocking of Helldivers 2 in over 100 countries (according to SteamDB). In Germany, the successful shooter is still available on Steam. In some countries, there is also a platform obligation. In Ukraine, players can create a PSN account but need a PS4 or PS5 for it.
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Helldivers 2 Announce Trailer PS5 PC
After PSN Requirement: Steam Stops Sale of Helldivers 2 in Many Countries
Why a PSN account? It was actually known from the very beginning that registration with PlayStation is required for Helldivers 2 – even for Steam players. This requirement was clearly communicated on the game’s Steam page on release day.
However, this option was suspended due to server issues at the game’s launch. Thus, players who purchased the game on Steam were able to play without a PSN account.
Sony emphasizes in the announcement on Steam that the linking of accounts is a crucial step to ensure the safety of the community. Through this linking, the company can effectively ban players who violate the rules. At the same time, the affected players are given the opportunity to appeal against this ban. This measure aims to help keep the gaming environment safe and prevent issues such as griefing and abuse.
Accusations of Changes to the PSN FAQ in the Room
Players have noticed that Sony made a slight change to the PSN FAQ. In the previous FAQ, Sony apparently stated that it was optional to register with PSN when playing on PC. However, the updated answer states that registration and linking with a PSN account may be required for some PlayStation games.
You can see the post here:
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CEO of Helldivers 2 Talks with Sony About Solutions
While the game is developed by Arrowhead Studios, Sony acts as the publisher and is therefore responsible for marketing. The community manager of Helldivers 2, Spitz, stated that the decision comes from Sony and that as developers they have little influence.
The CEO of the development studio, Johan Pilested, spoke out in a post on X. He writes that they are discussing solutions with PlayStation, especially for countries without PSN availability. He emphasizes that the voice of the community has been heard and he is doing everything he can to speak for them – however, he does not have the final say.
You can see the post here:
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Affected players can request a refund of the purchase price on Steam, even if they have already played the game for over two hours. Generally, Steam only offers refunds for players who have less than two hours of gameplay in a game. Even players with more than 100 hours of playtime have reportedly successfully received a refund according to XboxDynasty.
When do I have to link my account to be able to play? Starting May 6, new players of Helldivers 2 on Steam will be required to link their Steam account with a PSN account. Players who already own the game must register and link their accounts by May 30 and by June 4.
How Arrowhead and Sony will proceed now remains to be seen.
A new shooter on Steam attracts with an interesting concept, where enemies can destroy each other among other things. You’ll find out what it’s all about here.
Which game is it about? The Forever Winter is a new co-op shooter on Steam. There is no exact release date yet; you can only add the game to your wishlist for now.
The shooter especially lures with an interesting concept, placing you, as a player without a party, into a never-ending mech war. What is particularly interesting here is that in The Forever Winter, a PvEvE conflict takes place. In this, hostile factions will constantly fight each other – including giant robots.
Your goal in this conflict will be to scavenge and above all to survive. The trailer already shows you a bit of gameplay and in-game material. Since this is pre-alpha material, what is shown is still a bit rough and unfinished here and there. In the future, the gameplay could still change significantly:
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In The Forever Winter, you fight as a nonpartisan in a mech war
What is behind the concept? In The Forever Winter, the conflict due to the ongoing mech war is primarily in focus. As a player, you are on no side in this war but pursue your own goal of surviving during this time.
In a team of four people, you need to scavenge and expand your equipment and arsenal to survive. The team consists of four players, or you can go solo with three AI team members. And survival is actually the top priority here, because if your entire team dies, you lose everything you have collected so far and your equipment, and you have to start all over again.
You are therefore dependent on teamwork to survive as long as possible, especially among the much larger NPCs. “Enemies have their own objectives and agendas, operate in coordinated groups as part of a combat ecosystem, and initiate fights against you and other NPCs,” reads a press release about the trailer, as rockpapershotgun.com reports.
“Every faction will intelligently respond to your actions in various ways,” it continues. If the developers deliver on their promises, as a player, there is always the danger of being attacked yourself or getting caught in a battle between giant robots.
A concept that definitely sounds interesting and would fit well with the mech designs seen in the trailer. “So metal, I want to run against a rock wall,” describes a user his opinion about the concept and the trailer in his comment.
So far, 10 of the 11 pirates from the Worst Generation have made their grand appearance in One Piece. Only Urouge has been missing since his introduction on the Sabaody Archipelago. However, he could play an important role in the finale of One Piece.
If you were surprised by the last name, it is no wonder. Oda has introduced all characters from the list after the time skip, except for Urouge. Every other character has already encountered Luffy and either joined him or fought against him. The monk is currently on his own journey and has never met Luffy outside the Sabaody Archipelago.
Since every member of the Worst Generation has appeared in some form, Urouge will also get his grand moment. One Piece is currently heading towards the climax of the story, which is why the pirate will likely play an important role in the narrative.
Currently, it is Bonney, about whom we will learn more on Egghead Island:
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One Piece: New trailer shows first images from the Egghead Island arc
Urouge is currently in the sky
Who is Urouge? Urouge is also known as the “Mysterious Monk” and is a member of the Worst Generation, which also includes people like Luffy, Law, and Kid. He originates from Sky Island, along with the thunder god Enel, from the sky islands above the clouds. One well-known island is Skypiea.
Thanks to the fifth special volume of One Piece, we know that Urouge has eaten a Devil Fruit. However, not much is known about this Devil Fruit yet. We only know that Urouge can convert absorbed damage into strength. This turns him into a gigantic muscle bundle.
What has he done since the Sabaody Archipelago? Urouge has taken a similar route to Luffy and the others since the time skip, but he was a bit faster. During the time skip, he was already on Whole Cake Island and managed to defeat Charlotte Snack but had to surrender against Cracker.
When Luffy and his crew arrived in Dressrosa, Urouge was still recovering from that battle. He was at Ballon Terminal, a ruin in the sky islands. There, they saw Kaido attempting to throw himself off the sky island to die.
It was clear to the developers that the appearance of the android lady would be a crucial aspect of the game that invites players to linger. Because if you let your gaze wander a bit over Eve’s clothing and curves, you may suddenly experience an unexpected surprise.
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Stellar Blade, the action-adventure on the PS5 launches demo
What does Eve do when you stare at her? In Stellar Blade, you not only spend a lot of time with the combat system and hacking up nasty monsters but also plenty of time with the beautiful Eve. Thanks to her nearly 30 outfits, there’s always something pleasing to the eye, which already led to many controversies beforehand.
What has caught some off guard: Eve apparently knows exactly when you are staring at her.
If you don’t move Eve for a few seconds and instead let the camera circle around her, it doesn’t take long before Eve turns her head and stares directly into the camera. As if she knows exactly that you are “checking out” her body. Even if you only wanted to take a screenshot of the beautiful surroundings. Really.
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Is this something new? Something similar has also been seen in other games, such as Nier: Automata. This game also had quite beautiful main characters and allowed free camera movements. However, as soon as you tilted the camera to a suggestive angle, it only took a few seconds for the main character to turn around by themselves to cover their body and stare directly at the player.
Developers apparently know very well how their players tick.
What do you call this? When such things occur in games, it is referred to as “breaking the 4th wall”. This usually creates the illusion, not entirely seriously, that the characters in a story are aware that they are actually part of a game. They then engage with the player rather than the characters in the game world. Such things appeared in a very creepy form in Baldur’s Gate 3.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PlayStation has been the perfect console for role-playing games for generations. You can find out which games are particularly worth it according to Metacritic here.
What kind of list is this? In this list, you will find role-playing games that you can play on the PS5. Sometimes these are also PS4 versions that you can still play on the newer console.
We base the list on the Top 10 role-playing games according to Metacritic at this time. The games are listed in ascending order from rank 10 to rank 1, based on the Metascore for PlayStation 5. Some games may have different scores on other platforms. We have also included the user score for comparison.
For games with the same Metascore, we ranked the games with a higher user score higher on the list.
Dave The Diver
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Trailer: Steam Summer Hit 2023 – Dave the Diver
Metascore: 91, User-Score: 8.3, Release: 2024, Other Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
What kind of game is this? In this single-player adventure RPG, you take on the role of a diver, as the name suggests, who explores a mysterious yet sometimes very dangerous deep sea during the day. The deeper you go on your dive, the more dangerous the creatures you encounter become. You must confront these in battle. While some fish can be killed with a few knife stabs, some battles pose a real challenge.
Since Dave The Diver is a game with roguelike elements, your death means that you lose all collected loot. You can only choose one item to take back to the boat during your rescue.
In the evenings, you manage a sushi restaurant and have your catch prepared fresh there. The gameplay is interspersed with various mini-games both during the day and in the evening. For example, you must press various buttons to target fish with a harpoon, or master a mini-game to pour drinks at the bar.
Metascore: 91, User-Score: 8.6, Release: 2021, Other Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
What kind of game is this? Persona 5 Royale is the expanded version of the highly acclaimed and awarded role-playing game Persona 5. It essentially tells the same story but offers much more with new characters, dungeons, and story content than the original game released in 2016.
You play the role of a Japanese student who has to live in Tokyo for a year due to a court conviction. There, he discovers that as Joker, he can steal the manifested, bad desires of people. However, with this power, he is not long alone, and to help many people, the new group of friends goes on the hunt for human desires as phantom thieves.
In Persona 5, you can expect a mix of dungeons and turn-based battles, where you collect various “personas” that can support you with unique powers. Outside of the dungeons, you must manage your everyday life, go to school, earn money, and maintain your relationships. Each activity also brings advantages for the next battle.
Demon’s Souls
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Demon’s Souls Trailer
Metascore: 92, User-Score: 8.1, Release: 2020, Other Platforms: –
What kind of game is this? In 2020, the remake of a cult classic from 2010 was released. It not only offers the beginning of the popular Souls series but is also considered the origin of the Soulslike genre.
The remake was completely redeveloped with modern graphics, but delivers the same atmosphere, the challenging battles, and the mysterious lore as the original.
Once again, you must confront the challenge of freeing the dark world of Boletaria from a foggy darkness as a hero or heroine. For out of this fog, terrible creatures with a thirst for human souls emerge throughout the land. People who have been stripped of their souls only have the urge to attack remaining ones.
In Demon’s Souls, you can expect the classic Soulslike experience, with difficult battles that you may not master on the first try, but which feel all the more fulfilling when you succeed.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Launch Trailer
Metascore: 92, User-Score: 9.0, Release: 2024, Other Platforms: –
What kind of game is this? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second part of the Final Fantasy VII remake. The remake is intended to retell the story of the RPG classic in a total of three standalone games. And even though it is based on the story of the original, fans of the game should expect deviations here and there since it is a complete remake.
In the first part, the iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII escaped from the dystopian city of Midgar. In the second part, they are now searching for Sephiroth, a presumed dead swordsman from Cloud’s past, who is now seeking revenge.
Unlike the first part, here you do not fight your way through longer, almost linear levels, but move from one sprawling mini-open world to the next. But even here, you can expect beautiful cinematic scenes, fast-paced battles, and varied challenges.
Resident Evil 4
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Resident Evil 4 Trailer
Metascore: 93, User-Score: 8.1, Release: 2023, Other Platforms: PC, Xbox
What kind of game is this? With Resident Evil 4, another remake has made it onto this list. It brought the legendary survival horror of 2005 up to date graphically and technically, and delighted many fans of the genre and the game series.
In addition to updated graphics, the game offers improved controls and a redesigned story. The developers promise that these will surprise even fans of the original.
Resident Evil 4 takes place six years after the events of Resident Evil 2. Leon Kennedy, a survivor of Raccoon City, is sent to a remote village somewhere in Europe. There, he is supposed to investigate the disappearance of the US President’s daughter. However, he will uncover something that is different from everything he has faced before.
Hades
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Hades – Xbox & PlayStation Trailer
Metascore: 93, User-Score: 8.7, Release: 2018, Other Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
What kind of game is this? The action RPG Hades is a rogue-like dungeon crawler and is essentially a mix of the award-winning games Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. However, Hades itself was able to celebrate great success after its release and was very popular among players.
Hades offers you fast-paced action, a dense atmosphere, and a gripping story in which the characters take center stage.
You play as the prince of the underworld and use your powers and mythical weapons from Olympus to free yourself from the clutches of the god of death. The gifts of the gods of Olympus grant you unforeseen abilities. Thus, the game offers you numerous options to shape your character according to your preferences.
Metascore: 94, User-Score: 8.1, Release: 2022, Other Platforms: –
What kind of game is this? God of War: Ragnarök is the continuation of the critically acclaimed God of War from 2018. This part was also praised by many and entertained, among other things, the awards for “best performance” at the Game of the Year Awards in 2022.
While the forces of Asgard prepare for a prophesied battle for the end of the world, you accompany Kratos and Atreus on their journey through each of the nine worlds to find answers there. Along the way, you explore graphically stunning and mythical landscapes. On your journey, you will face terrifying enemies such as Nordic gods and monsters.
The threat of Ragnarök, and thus the end of the world, is getting closer and soon the two travelers must decide between their own safety and the safety of the whole world.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition
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The Witcher 3 – PS4 Trailer
Metascore: 94, User-Score: 8.8, Release: 2019, Other Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
What kind of game is this? The Witcher 3 is the third part of a popular role-playing series based on a series of books of the same name.
Players again take on the role of the witch Geralt of Rivia. He is tasked with finding the child of an ancient prophecy. According to an ancient elven legend, this child is supposed to be the key to saving the world.
While The Witcher 3 does not offer a “real” open world, there are plenty of expansive regions that can be freely explored and offer plenty of variety. Your journey leads you through trading cities, mountain passes, or to a pirate island. In battle, you will have to confront exotic monsters or supernatural predators, among others.
The dynamic weather system, as well as a day-and-night cycle in The Witcher 3, is also interesting. These affect the behavior of the NPCs, making the world of The Witcher 3 feel very real overall. Within the story, various moral decisions influence much of the further course.
Elden Ring
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Elden Ring shows first trailer for the new DLC ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’
Metascore: 96, User-Score: 8.0, Release: 2022, Other Platforms: PC, Xbox
What kind of game is this? With Elden Ring, FromSoftware tried its hand at an open world for the first time, and judging by the reviews, it was quite successful.
On your way through the Lands Between, you must fight against strange creatures, such as giant lobsters and dragons, and against tough bosses. Typical for games from FromSoftware, Elden Ring is, of course, also quite challenging. However, you do get some options which may make the game a little easier for you.
You can face the tough fights in coop mode together with other players. But even in solo mode, you are not completely alone. You can call forth helpful summons to your side that will assist you in battle.
This year, an expansion for Elden Ring titled Shadow of the Erdtree is set to be released, which many fans are eagerly awaiting.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
Metascore: 96, User-Score: 8.9, Release: 2023, Other Platforms: PC
What kind of game is this? That Baldur’s Gate 3 made it onto this list is probably no surprise to anyone. Also, the fact that it ranks first is hardly surprising, considering that the role-playing game has won all sorts of Game of The Year awards.
It is the third part of a legendary role-playing series and takes place about 100 years after the events of its predecessor. The world is being attacked by the Illithids, which you must defeat in turn-based battles in this part. This is all heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons.
Baldur’s Gate 3 captivates players primarily with a very well-thought-out world, detailed stories, and countless possibilities to play through the game. Thus, Baldur’s Gate 3 is actually the perfect role-playing game, as you can experience the story just the way your decisions and actions influence it. Even during character creation, the game offers enough possibilities to embark on your journey with a character that perfectly suits you.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan has made a name for himself with his role as Negan in The Walking Dead. But 20 years ago, he nearly gave up his acting career – because of a role in Star Trek.
The actor, who many today know as the charismatic villain Negan from The Walking Dead, went through a tough phase in his career before his breakthrough. He nearly quit acting because of a guest role in the cult series Star Trek: Enterprise.
What role was it? In the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise, Morgan appeared as the Xindi-Reptilian Damron and villain of Episode 11 “Carpenter Street”. Damron is a scientist responsible for the construction and development of the Xindi bioweapon. They want to use this weapon to exterminate humanity in the 22nd century.
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Trailer for Season 1 of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
I went home crying
What was bad about the role for him? The role of Damron initially seemed straightforward, but then Morgan was faced with challenges: extensive makeup and prosthetics that were required for his portrayal.
He described the torture he felt he was subjected to:
I had to pay my bills. I knew I was going to play a guy who says something. Then I got a call that I should go for a prosthetic fitting. I remember them smearing goo on my face and straws sticking out of my nose. I couldn’t have lunch. I had claustrophobia. I went home crying. That was the job where I wanted to give up acting.
What happened next? Fortunately, Jeffrey Dean Morgan decided not to give up despite that experience. Just two years later, he secured the popular role of John Winchester in Supernatural. This role paved the way for further successes, including the role of Denny Duquette in Grey’s Anatomy. Today, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known mainly for his role as Negan in The Walking Dead.
For Jeffrey Dean Morgan, appearing in Star Trek: Enterprise proved to be a challenging experience that almost led him to end his acting career. But he didn’t give up and found his way to becoming one of the most well-known and beloved actors in the television universe.
Soon, you can see the actor in the fourth season of The Boys, which is set to premiere on June 13, 2024.
On July 2, 2024, the new expansion Dawntrail for Final Fantasy XIV will be released. To help you get started on the continent Tural, we’ll reveal what you should accomplish in Eorzea before the release and how to best prepare yourself.
The summer in Eorzea will be hot! The new expansion Dawntrail for Final Fantasy XIV takes you to the exotic continent Tural from July 2, 2024, where various fresh challenges and features await. Here are the most important innovations:
Continuation of the main scenario
New dungeons, raids, trials, and dream trials
New jobs: Viper and Pictomancer
New limited job: Beastmaster
Increase of the maximum level from 90 to 100
Cosmo exploration as relaxing content
Comprehensive graphics update
New content for Gold Saucer, Hildibrand, field exploration, unstable vaults, content helpers, and PvP
Female Hrothgar as playable race
To fully focus on the innovations of Dawntrail from the release date, you should make certain preparations in the next two months. You can find out what the checklist from MeinMMO looks like below.
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The final trailer of Dawntrail prepares you for the new expansion of Final Fantasy XIV:
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Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail – The Final Trailer
Master the main scenario of Endwalker
Final Fantasy XIV guides you through its main scenario from the beginnings of A Realm Reborn through all expansions to the events of Dawntrail. Unlike in, for example, The Elder Scrolls Online, you cannot just create a fresh character, complete the tutorial, and jump straight into the latest adventure.
To be able to travel to Tural and tackle the content there, you need a level 90 hero who has completed the scenario of the current expansion Endwalker. While you can skip parts of the main scenario with the paid adventure stories (via official website), you will miss out on many playable contents.
Play through the main scenario of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker with a job before Dawntrail arrives.
Therefore, use the time until the launch of Dawntrail to level up your character and complete the main scenario. If you have already done that, you can optionally level a job to 90 for each of the five class roles (Tank, Healer, Melee DPS, Ranged DPS, and Mage) to gain access to all new role quests with Dawntrail.
Complete the quest series of the War Triad
At the Final Fantasy Fanfest in London, a reporter from PCGamesN asked last year which optional quest chain one should definitely play before Dawntrail releases. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida’s answer:
In Heavensward, there is the quest series of the War Triad, which is closely tied to the thirteenth reflection, and you can dive a little deeper into the story and gain more insight into the characters’ relationships. If you have the time, I definitely recommend playing it.
You start the quest series at Torsefers, which you can find at the work site in Ishgard, at the coordinates X: 11.7 / Y: 11.6. More details can be found in this article: Unlocking the optional trials in Heavensward.
Equip your hero
To optimally prepare for a new adventure, it is important to gear up as best as possible. For example, earn the current Allagan stones of comedy, which you can exchange with Cihanti in Radz-at-Han (X: 10.8 / Y: 10.4) for level 650 gear.
Participate in random content, visit current dungeons, or join the so-called Hunt trains (a large group of players that specifically hunts A-rank creatures in the open world) to earn the stones easily.
Even high-level heroes can benefit from visiting old alliance raids via the content search.
These items can then be upgraded to item level 660 by obtaining the items Divine Song Fabric (armor upgrade) and Divine Song Polish (accessory upgrade) from merchant Nesvaaz (Radz-at-Han, at X: 10.5 / Y: 10.1).
He wants a coin of Aglaia, Thaleia, and Euphrosyne for the items, which you can earn from the alliance raids of Endwalker. Alternatively, Wilmetta (Radz-at-Han, at X: 10.5 / Y: 7.4) also offers the two upgrade items for 3,000 and 2,000 Kupo trophies, respectively.
Prepare for the new jobs
If you want to start as a Viper or Pictomancer in Dawntrail, you need at least one other job that has reached level 80. To be optimally equipped after the career change, earn the Allagan stones of poetry now.
These can be exchanged for gear that your hero can wear at level 80. For that, visit Aymark in Eulmore at coordinates X: 10.2 / Y: 11.8. Additionally, you can also farm gear for level 90 for the new jobs already now, see tip number 3.
The Pictomancer is one of two new jobs you will be able to try out with Dawntrail.
By the way, Vipers wear the same clothes as Ninjas, while Pictomancers use mage armor. It’s best to level to 90 through random content, regular dungeon visits, and the FATEs and tasks of the Beast tribes from Endwalker.
Lastly, you can already accept up to 30 side quests, complete goals, and hold the actually finished quests in your quest log. Once you’ve learned your new job, you’ll quickly gain a whole batch of experience.
During the leveling phase of Final Fantasy XIV, there are various content tied to a specific character level. To avoid running into a wall during the experience point hunt of Dawntrail as rarely as possible, boost yourself around the clock with the experience bonus of three percent you receive from consuming any food.
So drop everything, run to the market, and buy the cheapest buff food that is currently offered in large quantities. The stats you gain from the treat are secondary. The main thing is more experience points!
On the next page, we continue with our recommendations six to ten.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After a long dispute with the community, Total War: Warhammer 3 is doing really well on Steam again. Now an update with new content has arrived. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has played the latest DLC and is absolutely in love.
I must confess: Yes, I play Empire. For a long time, I resisted it, thinking all the other factions were better – even Bretonnia. But since April 30, I have succumbed to the Sigmar fanatics.
The 3 new lords, available separately as DLC or as a package, all have approval ratings between 88 and 92%. That’s a lot for paid content in Total War.
I bought and tried all the DLCs right at release. But even if I had stuck with the free update, I would have had my fun. Developer Creative Assembly really delivered here.
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Total War: Warhammer 3 – The trailer for the new DLC Thrones of Decay
Free Update & new Paid Content – Everything fits
Thrones of Decay was released in two parts on April 30: once in the form of the 3 DLCs, once as a free update 5.0. The free update is already substantial:
Balance adjustments for almost all factions
Reworks of various systems, such as the Grolle for the Dwarves
a free new lord for Nurgle
I usually don’t play Dwarves, but with the new book, there’s the opportunity to recruit other legendary lords in the campaign through confederation. This gives the whole game a completely new dynamic.
Nevertheless, the DLCs are the main attraction for me, especially Elspeth von Draken. The new Empire commander combines magic with artillery and builds accordingly on strong spells and gunpowder. She is absolutely insane:
She can teleport across the Empire through the Gardens of Morr and really hit opponents hard. Through the Gardens, she can even recruit units.
Elspeth rides a Crimson Dragon, which can wipe out entire units with the press of a button.
The commander herself casts death magic, one of the best types of spells for killing enemy heroes and leaders.
Her faction, Whisenland & Nuln, has access to special amethyst units – these are magic-enhanced gunpowder units like Iron Men and rocket platforms. Gunpowder units have been a strength of the Empire even before.
All units that work with gunpowder receive an additional boost from the artillery school. Essentially an additional research tree just for Elspeth.
But the best part is the new unit: land ships. And yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds. A battleship to which a few wheels have simply been attached, armed with heavy artillery, thick armor, and spears, just plowing through the battlefield. Quite literally.
Normally, I play the megalomaniacal Chaos Dwarves, but just for these land ships, I have now devoted myself to the Empire. I haven’t had this much fun in live battles in ages.
Here you can see the gameplay showcase for Elspeth:
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The trailer for the new empire commander Elspeth von Draken in Total War: Warhammer 3
Manor Lords will stay on the sidelines for now – Until it’s finished
Just to make it clear: I don’t want to bash Manor Lords here. The game is fantastic, and rightly so, colleague Maurice Weber finds it to be THE building game of the future. What’s in it is just not enough for me for long-term motivation.
Sure, building villages is cool, and the battles are entertaining. But after about 10-20 hours, I’ve seen everything. The content is extremely limited, no building can be upgraded beyond tier 3, and the tech trees aren’t even halfway finished.
Manor Lords will be great when it’s fully complete. The building game is no competition to Total War, says the head himself. Nevertheless, both games appeal to a very similar target audience. Like me, for example. And I’ll stick with Total War until Manor Lords has more content.
Total War is doing really well again after a nasty dispute
Personally, I didn’t find the DLC for Warhammer back then to be that bad, but I was apparently quite alone in that opinion. Now, with Thrones of Decay, the developers have certainly done everything right. Even MeinMMO author Schuhmann wants to take another look at Total War: Warhammer 3:
And now… I never thought I would say this, but… excuse me, I must go unite the Empire and lead it to power.
That Total War: Warhammer 3 engages me like this is actually strange. The series has never interested me, but Warhammer is my absolute favorite universe. All that’s left is to finally announce what has long been overdue: In a perfect world, the biggest MMORPG today would be World of Warhammer (and yes, I know I had a beard back then – Thanks!)
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After the relatively successful launch of Manor Lords on Steam, the next medieval strategy game from the publisher is already on the starting line. However, the release has now been postponed to cater to the many players, according to their own statements.
What game is this about? Norland is a medieval strategy game published by Hooded Horse and developed by Long Jaunt. It was originally slated to launch on May 16, 2024, on Steam.
The game is inspired by RimWorld, Crusader Kings, and Caesar, but differentiates itself with its medieval setting.
You build your medieval kingdom from scratch while other kingdoms are, of course, doing the same. In Norland, it’s all about shaking hands with other rulers or stabbing them in the back, in true strategic fashion. The game revolves significantly around the needs and emotions of both your residents and the ruling family.
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Norland could build on the success of Manor Lords
Why has the release been postponed? In an official statement, the developer announced that the release has been pushed to July 18, 2024. “We have done what we could, but the game needs more testing and debugging; it is not performing as it should,” the justification states.
To deliver a well-functioning game and add some more features, the developer wants to take a few more weeks, but feels optimistic about the new release date.
The publisher Hooded Horse also commented on the postponement and the high number of players wanting Norland. They stated that the game is on 500,000 wish lists. On Steam DB, the strategy game currently ranks 37th among the most wished-for games on Steam, just behind Deltarune and ahead of Kingmakers.
With the postponement and the extra work on the game, they are trying to meet the high numbers. “The reason is simply the same as for the postponement of Manor Lords,” explains Hooded Horse CEO in an interview with PC Gamer. It is merely additional polishing of the game.
Of course, it could very well be that merely the “well-being” of the many players and the final improvement of the game are behind the new release date, as indicated by the official side. Perhaps the publisher wants some time alone for its current medieval strategy game and gives Norland a more separate start to avoid competing for the same audience.
If both games are equally successful, they can definitely benefit more from it. Whether this thought is behind it remains pure speculation.
What else should improve? In its statement, the developer also discusses plans that will be implemented before the release in July. Among other things, trade on the world map is to be improved and a provincial ecology will be added that forces players to deal with soil erosion, limited resources, and market saturation beyond their borders.
Market speculation, improved character reactions, and patrols are to be added. Also, features to improve the quality of life in Norland will be reworked. Among other things, aging, prophecies, and disasters will be added to the game.
A translation from English into several languages, including German, is also to be carried out.
The community manager recommends continuing with the negative reviews – as there are advantages to it. He also responds a bit snippily to people who threaten to leave but then still comment.
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Helldivers 2 shows its latest Warbond ‘Polar Patriots’ in the icy trailer
What is the problem with Helldivers 2? Helldivers 2 announced a few days ago that it will soon require the use of a PlayStation Network account – even if you are playing the game only on Steam.
This has caused many players to feel betrayed or even fear that they may not be able to play Helldivers 2 at all.
Why do you need a PSN account? In fact, the announcement that you have to register for PlayStation even if you are only playing Helldivers 2 on Steam was not that new. This was transparently explained on the game’s Steam page right on release day.
However, due to server problems at launch, this option was suspended, so all Steam players could start without a PSN account.
However, those players now feel betrayed.
What does the community manager say? The community manager “Spitz” is anything but satisfied with the current situation at Helldivers. In the game’s Discord, there is a lot of discussion about the announcements, and Spitz is actively participating.
Spitz repeatedly explains that the decision ultimately comes from Sony, and as developers, they have very little influence over it. All this negative feedback does hurt, but it is “good” because they can use it to approach Sony and bring it into the discussion.
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At the same time, Spitz also shows that the name is programmatic, and sometimes you can also write sharp comments. A player wrote:
“This will kill Helldivers 2 on Steam. Step back or lose your player base.”
However, this was apparently not the first interaction with Spitz on this topic, as a response came:
“I thought you wanted your money back and then disappear.”
Spitz has also been a bit rude in tone and explained:
This is not the first or fourteenth mainstream game that requires you to create an account with a third party, which only takes a few minutes. But if it’s a dealbreaker for you to lose 120 seconds of your day to enter an email address and a password and then forget it anyway, then change your Steam rating and make your dissatisfaction known on a platform where it is relevant.
However, Spitz later regretted this statement. They were not aware beforehand that in many countries it is not possible or very difficult to create a PSN account:
I very much regret implying that it is that easy for everyone to just sign up and then not worry about it anymore. It is absolutely not our intention to force people to break Sony’s terms of use or not play the game at all when they live in an excluded region. There must be a better solution.
The entire discussion is also closely monitored by many streamers, such as Asmongold. He takes the position of the buyers and cannot understand the actions of Sony and the developers of Helldivers 2.
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Asmongold says: “If it only takes 120 seconds and only requires an email, why do you expect me to have that to play the game? Just let me play the game normally. You can’t point to the triviality of this action when you are the reason I have to perform this trivial action.”
What is the problem with the PSN account? While some generally oppose having another account with another service, there are also much more serious reasons. For instance, it is not possible to create a PSN account in all countries of the world. Sony supports the creation of a PSN account only in 69 countries – in many others, it is simply not an option. The CEO of Helldivers 2 has also already commented on this.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz shares insights about his freelance work. At times, he wrote quirky and risqué quest texts for browser games to pay his bills.
When I decided in 2009 to try my luck as an editor for PC and video games, there was no safe haven of permanent employment awaiting my career ship. Instead, after my first paddling attempts during my internship, I sailed out into the rough sea of freelancing.
I was lucky, in multiple ways. As a reliable author willing to invest countless hours in preview articles, reviews, guides, and special issues for online role-playing games, it was not a problem to find clients and assignments.
At exactly that time, the newly founded WoW magazine MMOPRO was also taking off. For reference, we are talking about a time of declining circulation and discontinued magazines. For a freelance newcomer to break into an established magazine editorial team and regularly write more than just a few pages was almost impossible.
MMORPGs like WoW have accompanied MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz for two decades.
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WoW: Dark Heart – The Search for the Harbinger
Thanks to a personal recommendation, I was allowed to write my first review pages for the second issue of MMOPRO. A few months later, I already contributed more than 20 pages per issue. That was an astonishingly stable foundation for a light sailor like me, who was still among the newcomers in the industry.
And since several well-known MMORPGs were released in 2010 and beyond – such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, or Final Fantasy XIV – the vast sea of freelancing did not feel as rough as I had feared. In the initial months, there was more work than I could handle. What a fortunate luxury.
The Tides Turn
However, it was not all sunshine and wind in my sails. After the first years of freelancing, my career ship was heading towards a storm front. MMOPRO could not get off the ground and had to be discontinued. Furthermore, fewer and fewer online role-playing games were released that could unleash a hype justifying special issues and large guide segments.
Although I was lucky again and got a position at the direct competition, PC Games MMORE, after the magazine was discontinued, there was already an established hierarchy of permanent employees who divided the majority of the pages among themselves. So, I had to look for alternative assignments to compensate for the loss of print pages.
Infidelity in a Different Way
In fact, I was able to significantly expand my range of services in the following years. I increasingly wrote about games of other genres, helped publishers translate English sister magazines, and occasionally took on PR tasks, such as writing so-called advertorials (advertisements in editorial form).
However, I found the collaboration with Playata the most exciting. The two founders, Mathias Fabian and Marcel Anacker, had developed the community tool Blasc and the WoW database for buffed at that time – thus making the first contact.
Initially, I was allowed to write quest texts for some levels of Hero Zero. This is a humorous browser game where you rise from a couch potato to a superhero-hunting hero.
The cheeky graphic style of Big Bang Empire may remind you of the classic Leisure Suit Larry.
The second game from the team is similarly colorful and funny, but is called Big Bang Empire and turns you into an aspiring erotic star. Designing risqué texts, conventions, and stages for this was a great fun. Here’s an example of the briefing for a time-based quest:
“EvilDick Productions has also set up camp in Beverly Humps. Infiltrate the studio of Trent’s biggest competitor and find out what pornos are currently being shot there.”
And the text after successfully completing the task: “Disguised as an extra, you enter the noble studio. Apparently, the competition relies on high-tech devices such as self-cleaning vagina replicas and guided vibrators. Trent must find out about this!”
It was a valuable experience to also be involved in the production of game content and not just critique games from a safe distance. However, I must also admit that this type of creative work was considerably more challenging for me than writing guides and reviews.
Therefore, I was very glad when I could exchange freelancing for a permanent position as an editor and a predictable monthly salary in 2015. Finally, a safe harbor for my career ship, which ultimately led me to MeinMMO and thus to you.
Over 10 years ago, the first part of the space strategy game Sins of a Solar Empire was released. This year, the sequel is set to be playable on Steam. A trailer shows what it looks like with new graphics.
When is the Steam release? There is no exact date for the release on Steam yet. The platform itself has announced the third quarter of 2024 as the release period. A trailer recently revealed that Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is expected to appear on Steam this summer. So, combined, you might be able to expect the game by late summer.
The trailer gives you a taste of the new graphics and gameplay of the sequel:
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Sins of a Solar Empire 2 releases on Steam after over 10 years
The game has actually been in Early Access on the Epic Store since the end of 2022. On Steam, it is only now being released in full.
What is Sins of a Solar Empire 2? Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is the sequel to a popular space strategy game. The original first part was already released in 2008. The game was released in three versions: Standard, Trinity, and Rebellion. The last version, Rebellion, was released in 2012.
On Steam itself, the game is described as a real-time 4X strategy game. While tactical massive battles with hundreds of spaceships remain the focus, diplomacy and empire management are said to have become more detailed and complex in the second part.
Sins of a Solar Empire 2 stands out from its predecessor not only graphically. Especially in terms of realism, the developers want to take things to the next level. A believable galaxy is to be simulated. Suns and moons will orbit their planets. The distances created by these rotations are said to actually have an impact on gameplay.
Your ships will continue to move on a 2D plane, rather than being able to move freely in three-dimensional space.
There is reportedly no single-player campaign. Instead, the game is expected to offer only sandbox gameplay in skirmish and multiplayer modes. However, the background story is based on the predecessor, and players will once again take control of the three factions: TEC, Advent, and Vasari.
A 66-year-old musician from Brazil has dedicated himself to the MOBA League of Legends and has since become a local celebrity. Under the name “VoCorvo,” he is active on Twitch. He instills fear and dread, not in his opponents in LoL, but in his fellow players.
This is the story of the man:
When he was 64, the man could no longer work as a guitar teacher and musician. The Corona pandemic made this impossible for him in 2021 (via maisesports).
To support his family and because he has always loved games, he turned to the world of gaming and became a streamer on the streaming service Twitch. He had already opened his channel there in 2018.
As of 2021, VoCorvo became a full-time streamer on Twitch, exclusively showcasing League of Legends. By now, he has an average of 160 viewers when he streams LoL.
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LoL The Curse of the Sad Mummy
Strong players on fake accounts took the fun out of LoL for the old man
This is what happened to the man in LoL: When you start playing LoL in your mid-60s, you will have a hard time. LoL requires skill with mouse and keyboard, along with concentration, knowledge, and overview; most importantly, however, is mental flexibility: One must always be ready to question their own game to improve.
That’s already hard enough.
But today it’s even harder to be successful in LoL than in the past. Because there are “smurfs”; this term is used when a skilled player, who has already achieved a high rank, intentionally plays with a low-ranked account to face easier opponents. Some players also smurf to play with their friends who have a lower rank or have just started with LoL.
The matchmaking in LoL is supposed to ensure that you only play with and against players of similar strength, so that you win about 50% of the time and lose 50% of the time:
Those who smurf and cheat will only face weak opponents, feel powerful, and achieve high win rates.
For the opponents of smurfs, this means the exact opposite: They face overwhelming opponents, feel bad, and lose constantly.
VoCorvo frequently discovered his limits against much stronger players, which was enough for him, and he sought revenge.
The 66-year-old states about himself that he knows he is not a good player and is essentially an “Iron player,” but he found ways to get back at them.
Trundle.
You reap what you sow
This is how he became a legend: The older gentleman was gifted a master account on which he played with his favorite champion, Trundle. However, VoCorvo was far too bad to hold his own at that level.
So he lost every match he participated in, again and again.
He quickly realized that this was a way to get back at the strong players who humiliated weak players like him: He became a “Reverse Smurf,” ruining the games of high-ranking players.
VoCorvo says:
After I was massacred by talented players and smurfs in the lower ranks, I thought of a saying from my time: You reap what you sow. My primary account is ranked Iron, but my secondary account is ranked Master.
This was the impact: VoCorvo became so well-known on the Brazilian server that players began to flee from games when they saw a Trundle on their team, which was the man’s favorite character.
As millenium reports, many Brazilian streamers are not even angry with him but can understand that he is doing to the higher-ranked players only what was done to him: He is ruining their games.
Originally, The Sims was not intended as a life simulation; instead, the characters were supposed to play a minor role in the game.
What was The Sims supposed to be? The development of The Sims began as early as 1993, seven years before the game’s release. After the success of SimCity, the creator of both games, Will Wright, originally wanted to create a completely different game. After showing the world how to build cities, the focus was to shift toward houses and their furnishings.
As an architecture simulation, Wright wanted players to initially build beautiful houses. After that, players were also supposed to furnish the houses.
The Sims themselves were originally intended to come after the houses were completed, view the house, and finally leave a rating based on how good or pretty the house was.
The Sims series faces competition from Korea; here you can see the trailer for InZOI:
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Gameplay trailer of ‘InZOI’ shows realistic graphics of the Sims competitor
How The Sims Came to Be Today
How did the shift away from architecture simulation happen? The inspiration for The Sims was reportedly a 1,171-page book on the theories of architecture. As dry as the book was, so too was the initial idea of the Sims predecessor. However, after investing years of development work into the project, they did not want to simply give up.
The developers noticed that the Sims themselves were actually not so uninteresting. The idea was changed: players would first build and furnish the house, and then invite the Sims to live instead of to rate.
The developers created a simulated system around the Sims that has remained at its core to this day. The need bars that each Sim has are still present. The construction of houses and furnishing of homes and apartments have also persisted to this day.
How was The Sims received back then? The developers were actually facing a big problem. The computer game market was dominated by over 90% men, much more than it is today. As soon as the game was associated with a “virtual dollhouse,” the men did not want to play it anymore.
To promote the game, the developers at Maxis refrained from using the term. Wright himself stopped using the word “until it had sold about a million copies – at that point, I felt somewhat comfortable talking about dollhouses in public.”
In 2000, The Sims then became the best-selling game of all time, with over 6 million copies of the main game sold and just as many expansions sold.
Nexon is reportedly not working on a new MMORPG for Game of Thrones after all. Apparently, the insider source was mistaken and mistakenly turned the already known project from Netmarble into a new online role-playing game by Nexon.
Update from May 4, 2024: Redanian Intelligence had an update in the meantime. Apparently, the source was wrong and mistakenly turned the already known MMORPG for Game of Thrones from Netmarble into a new project by Nexon.
What is known about the new MMORPG for Game of Thrones? According to a report by Redanian Intelligence, Nexon’s new online role-playing game takes place in the North of Westeros, where Winterfell and the Wall are located.
The story is said to take place between the events of the fourth and fifth seasons of the HBO series of the same name by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Roose Bolton is currently the Warden of the North, while Jon Snow and Sam Tarly guard the Wall as members of the Night’s Watch.
Apparently, the MMORPG will offer a story campaign where you must choose between a male and female main character – the rejected character will still be involved in the story.
Lastly, it seems clear that during the campaign, players will encounter familiar characters from Game of Thrones, but these will not be voiced by the original actors from the series.
Game of Thrones generated an incredible hype for years – here is the trailer for the first season:
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Trailer for the first season of the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’
What do I need to know about Nexon? The South Korean publisher released one of the first MMORPGs ever with Nexus: Kingdom of the Winds in 1996. Nexon is also considered a pioneer in the Free2Play sector, as all games from the company founded in 1994 are based on this payment model.
Some of Nexon’s greatest successes include (figures from the financial report for Q2 2022):
Dungeon & Fighter (more than 850 million registered players and over 20 billion US dollars in revenue since 2005)
Maple Story (more than 180 million registered players and over 3 billion US dollars in revenue since 2003)
KartRider (more than 380 million players on PC and over 1 billion US dollars in revenue since 2004)
Nexon also acted as a publisher for various MMORPGs (especially in the Korean region), such as Vindictus, ArcheAge, Final Fantasy XIV, Atlantica Online, or Riders of Icarus. Last year, they also made a statement with the online shooter The Finals.
Can a MMORPG for Game of Thrones from Nexon actually work? Due to the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin, as well as the aforementioned HBO series, Game of Thrones certainly belongs to the most exciting universes for which an online role-playing game could be developed.
Nexon has the expertise, experience, and budget to implement such an MMORPG project, but we are skeptical whether we can actually receive the best possible GoT experience with the Free2Play model and the typical characteristics of Asian developers.
Furthermore, it remains to be seen whether the project will cross the finish line or how many years the development will ultimately take.
For example, Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms by Bigpoint was discontinued after many years of development. There is also a big question mark behind Project T from Netmarble, which is also supposed to be based on the HBO series, as it has shown no sign of life apart from a job posting for years.
Drinking potions – that’s so last decade. Real pros in World of Warcraft will soon throw their potions at allies – at least healers will likely do that.
Potions are quite a classic thing in MMORPGs. You use them when your health or mana points are running low or when you need a little boost to get through a particularly tough phase of a fight. This has always been the case in World of Warcraft.
However, with the new expansion “The War Within”, there is a new type of potion that employs a different concept: You throw them at your comrades.
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
Where does the idea come from? Even though the system has been around in a few other RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 truly popularized it. Especially at higher difficulty levels, it is common not to just drink healing potions, but instead to place them on the ground and smash them or simply throw them at allies, so that more characters can benefit from the effect at the same time.
What types of potions are these? In The War Within, engineers can craft these special potions. These “potion bombs” are placed like other AoE effects and then hurled at the target area. Enemies in the target area take some damage, but the real benefit comes from the buffs. Up to 5 allies receive – depending on the potion bomb – a buff:
Additional primary stats (Intelligence, Strength, Agility) for 30 seconds.
Increased healing received for 12 seconds.
Increased movement speed for 20 seconds.
Even though engineers create these potions, they can be used by everyone else.
Who are the potions intended for? Since the potions affect a total of 5 allies, their effect is only 1/5 as strong as a personal potion. DPS characters will likely continue to reach for their personal potion to give themselves a boost exactly when they need it.
However, the potion is a real alternative for healers and other support characters (like enhancement shamans). If they don’t need a mana potion during combat, they can instead use their potion cooldown to help damage dealers a bit more and enhance their performance.
The potions will therefore primarily be used by supporters who want to do something good for their teammates. What do you think of this type of “potions”? A cool innovation in The War Within? Or is it niche or cumbersome?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
