A player of the MMORPG MapleStory faced a record: The Twitch streamer Niru was to become the first player in the world to reach level 300. An endeavor he must have invested over 10,000 hours into. But the player used the opportunity of his success for protest. In the hour of triumph, he gave the studio behind the MMORPG a piece of his mind.
That was the plan:
On April 25, players of the MMORPG “MapleStory” were to experience a peak.
The Twitch streamer Niru was to become the first player to reach level 300 in MapleStory. That requires a huge effort: Niru streamed 8,604 hours of MapleStory on Twitch in the last 365 days. On average, he had about 104 viewers.
The developer Nexon wanted to honor the player at the moment of his triumph, but he did not go along with that. In front of over 21,000 viewers, he gave the creators of the MMORPG a piece of his mind. Then he opted out of the all-important level-up, logged off, and preferred to play Zelda.
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MapleStory introduces Arteria, the Moving Fortress
MMORPG studio promotes Twitch streamer themselves
This is how MapleStory wanted to honor him: MapleStory promoted the Twitch streamer Niru on April 25 through the official Twitter account. He was the “World First Level 300”, and everyone should tune in (via twitter).
Player simply stops right before level 300 – criticizes MMORPG company
What went wrong? The streamer was indeed just a step away from level 300 after hours of grinding. However, Niru stopped playing MapleStory at exactly 99.993%. He had put almost 17 hours into the MMORPG again.
He criticized the MMORPG and the publisher Nexon in his Twitch stream to a peak of 21,458 viewers.
Then he logged off and played Zelda: Ocarina of Time the next day.
In MapleStory, there are 2 types of servers. “Heroic servers”, known as Reboot worlds, are friendly to Free2Play. The original “Interactive worlds” are more hostile to Free2Play players; they are “Pay2Win.”
Streamer rants about MapleStory and excessive Pay2Win
How did he criticize the publisher? The Twitch streamer states that he is likely the player who has invested the most time in MapleStory worldwide, so he knows what he is talking about.
Much in MapleStory just doesn’t make sense. He wanted to take the opportunity to explain this to the players so they might understand:
He criticized that playing as a Free2Play-player on the “Interactive Worlds” is not enjoyable – this urgently needs to change.
He pointed out that there are too many Pay2Win worlds, which thins out the player base.
He was annoyed about non-tradable upgrade items.
He complained that the economy of MapleStory depended on single events.
He criticized the cash shop of the MMORPG.
A snippet from his rant is embedded here:
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“I risked a lot with this, but I really want the game to change”
He says: The streamer apologizes for having to take this step, but he says: Had he just reached level 300, nothing would have changed. But continuing to play the game at the moment is just not worth it.
He knows that he sacrificed a lot by not reaching level 300. But he really wants MapleStory to change.
This is being discussed: A user on reddit aptly says: Niru indeed sacrificed a lot. He had the opportunity to level up to 300 and be the showcase streamer of MapleStory, with the full support of Nexon.
Now he will surely never be supported by Nexon again.
This is something every MMORPG player has dreamed of
What’s behind it: This is a dream come true for an MMORPG player: To reach the moment in an MMORPG where you feel special and even the publisher listens to you, and then use that moment to release all the pent-up frustration that every MMORPG player has.
This is a realized fantasy.
But the question arises whether that one moment was worth all the grinding time. Hopefully, MapleStory at least made him happy until that moment.
Update 1.5., 10:50 AM: Niru doesn’t seem to feel comfortable with the decision:
The new PS5 game Stellar Blade comes from South Korea. It was promised before the release that an uncensored version would be available worldwide. However, with the “Day One” patch 1.02, a costume was altered. There are discussions that Sony is behind it. Upset users are starting a petition to reverse the change.
This is the situation:
As NicheGamer reports, early testers of Stellar Blade played version 1.01. This was supposed to be the uncensored version of Stellar Blade.
However, on the release date of April 26, the developers Shift Up released patch 1.02, which reportedly included two changes that some consider a “stealth” censorship by Sony.
The South Korean developer has commented and said that the version in the “Day One” patch is what was intended from the beginning. But some users online do not believe this and are calling it censorship, demanding the changes be reversed.
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Stellar Blade, the action-adventure on the PS5 launches demo
Graffiti was “accidentally” racist
What did the patch officially change? The patch came on April 26 and introduced “New Game+”.
Additionally, a graffiti in Stellar Blade was altered: The graffiti displayed two words closely together: a “Hard” and next to it a “R-Shop”. That was unfortunate.
The term “Hard R” in the USA refers to the racist pronunciation of a derogatory term (the N-word), which is considered a slang term with a “soft A”, whereas with a “hard R”, it is viewed as a racist insult against Black people.
According to Sony, this offensive graphic was “not intended” and will be removed (via ign):
“The placement of two graphics next to each other in Stellar Blade resulted in an unintended offensive formulation. Shift Up did not intend to create offensive graphics and will replace the graffiti for the Day-1 patch.”
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What unofficial change are fans upset about? It concerns the tightly cut outfit “Holiday Rabbit”: In the new version, Eve is wearing an additional clothing piece in the chest area, which covers her décolletage more.
Critics consider this to be “stealth censorship.”
On the left is version 1.01, on the right is version 1.02. Image source: Levelup.com
Supposedly, the gore effects in the game have also been reduced. Blood no longer spreads all over Eve’s body, but is significantly reduced, a user criticizes on Twitter.
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What do the developers say? Game Director Hyung-Tae Kim has addressed the accusation of censorship. He states that the current version of the outfit is what was planned from the beginning. They do not wish to revert to the other version.
However, they see and understand the anger, and are thus conducting an internal discussion regarding the process (via levelup):
“Understandably, we are also aware of this issue. However, the final costume we wanted to show you is indeed the costume in version 1.0.0.2. I want to clarify that this is our final product. However, I know that this answer is not enough to convince our users. There is an internal discussion about it, so I think we will soon have the opportunity to address this issue,” said the developer.
What’s the reaction? Mark Kern, a former Blizzard developer who later failed as the head of the MMO “Firefall” and has been developing a new MMO for years, has once again taken the lead in a protest. He is active on Twitter and often voices criticism of gaming studios. Eight years ago, he advocated for a “WoW Classic” – in recent years he has criticized, for example, the main menu of Starfield (via gamestar).
He has launched a petition “Free Stellar Blade,” in which he demands: “We, the players, want the content back” that Sony showed in the original version of the trailer. The censorship must be reversed.
The petition on change.org has now garnered over 31,000 signatures.
Small change – big uproar
What’s behind this: It seems unlikely that Sony would make such a precise alteration to just this one outfit among all the things in Stellar Blade and take so much criticism for it. After all, the “Skin-Suit” is still in the game.
If it had been extensive changes, one could understand the criticism better.
This is ultimately the same debate that has already taken place regarding Stellar Blade. The South Korean Stellar Blade is an ideal vehicle for voicing criticism against Western developers and their supposed exaggerated political correctness:
A new series was released on Netflix this month that deals with a true story, impressing and shocking not only “regular” viewers but also the successful author Stephen King.
Which series is this about? Baby Reindeer premiered on April 11, 2024, on Netflix and has now reached the top of the streaming service’s currently most popular series. The British series is based on a play by Richard Gadd and his true story.
The plot follows comedian Donny Dunn (played by Richard Gadd) and his strange relationship with his stalker. This relationship ultimately leads to a confrontation with a repressed trauma.
To finance his life, the comedian works part-time in a pub, where he serves a woman named Martha (played by Jessica Gunning) one day. He offers her a tea on the house since she has no money with her. Subsequently, the woman develops an unhealthy attachment to him, comes to the pub daily, terrorizes him with countless emails, and stalks him wherever he goes.
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Reindeer baby tells the true story of a comedian and his stalker
How does Stephen King react? In a post on X.com, the successful author of several horror novels writes “BABY REINDEER: Holy Shit”, making it clear in just a few words that Baby Reindeer impresses him.
Whether his reaction is merely a compliment because he thinks the series is very well made or if the story behind it shocked him is something only King knows. Because we don’t get more words from him.
Considering that Baby Reindeer is based on a true story and deals with a rather sensitive topic, it could very well be a bit of both.
How do other users react to King’s words? “That’s the only appropriate reaction to this series. It’s so much, so real, so uncomfortable, just such depth,” comments a user under Stephen King’s post. “I can agree with that. I’m on episode 5 and I can’t stop thinking about this story! ‘Holy Shit’ is the appropriate reaction,” another user concurs.
While many agree with the author, there are also a few fans who are concerned about his reaction. “Stop being afraid. It’s scary when you are afraid,” writes one user. To which another replies: “If Stephen King is scared, we should run.”
Considering that Stephen King himself wrote a story with his novel “Misery” that impressively deals with the topic of stalking, his reaction is all the more interesting.
In Fallout 4, the “Next Gen” update is turning out to be a significant problem. Anyone wanting to get rid of the massive patch on Steam is facing quite a hassle. The platform GOG offers an easy solution, but who already has the game there?
This is the situation:
Fallout 4 is currently as popular on Steam as it hasn’t been since December 2015, thanks to the new Amazon series about Fallout. Player numbers have increased by 242%, peaking at 167,388 players.
However, the new 14.4 gigabyte update from April 25 has primarily caused issues: Saves no longer loaded, free mods stopped working. Moreover, Fallout 4 didn’t really look any better, leading to a host of problems.
Many want to get rid of the update now, but it’s not easy to do so on Steam.
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The official trailer for the Fallout series on Amazon in German
Rolling back the new patch for Fallout 4 is stressful on Steam
How can one get rid of the update on Steam? On Steam, it requires quite a bit of effort to get rid of patch 1.10-980 that was released on April 25 and angered modders.
This involves using the Steam console, deleting various files, downloading 22 gigabytes, and then only using Steam in offline mode. Anyone wanting to play the earlier, working version of Fallout 4 must continually postpone the forced update.
For many, this is not a good option that Steam is offering.
A detailed guide on how to get rid of the new patch for Fallout 4 on Steam can be found here at Nexusmods.
GOG offers an easy solution – the game costs 10 € there
How can it be done better? On GOG, the service from Witcher developer CD Projekt Red, one simply needs to open the menu, go to “Installation – Configure – Installation” and uncheck “Automatically update to the latest version” and then roll back the patch to the previous version, as PC Gamer describes.
Furthermore, Fallout 4 is currently offered on GOG for 10 €.
But it is certainly a bitter pill to swallow: Acquiring Fallout 4 on a platform other than Steam and thereby indirectly rewarding Bethesda, despite how dreadful the current patch is, is not a very appealing option either. A more pleasant topic in Fallout: Fallout has a “Vault 69” and it’s just as bad as you think.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Steam, there are all sorts of great games and action-packed software, but some items in the store cost a lot of money. MeinMMO shows you the 5 most expensive things on Steam that are worth it to some extent.
How is this list compiled? Steam now has many bundles and DLC collections that come with horrific prices. We focused this list on products from the Steam store that are expensive, have always been, and are usable individually. We also did not consider software offered on Steam.
VR Safety Courses by GVR Training Computer Software
What is that? The company GVR Training Computer Software offers certified VR training courses on Steam that are designed to train employees for hazardous workplaces. As in a normal VR video game, users follow the instructions in the course and complete tasks in a VR world.
There are very different courses from the company that can be tested for free on Steam before you have to pay 189.99 € per course.
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Safety training using VR? Underground roof fall hazard assessment VR training is possible
The company promises users to teach skills according to international safety standards and prepare them for their tasks. Users are expected to be prepared for their work routine with the course. Courses for work in tunnels, in a chemical factory, and safe handling of electricity, as well as a few more, are available.
Whether the courses will find real application in Germany is questionable, but they could at least somewhat prepare them for everyday work.
RealFlight Evolution
What is RealFlight Evolution? The cheapest product on our list is called RealFlight Evolution and is, as the name suggests, a realistic flight simulator. The game can only be played with a controller, preferably directly with an RC controller. The simulator enjoys over 80% positive ratings with over 300 votes on Steam and costs €111.
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RealFlight Evolution RC Flight Simulator prepares hobby pilots for their own aircraft
At that proud price, you can also buy DLCs worth more than €290 to unlock new aircraft. The game is actually only half a game and is aimed more at flight simulator fans who might even want to practice before buying their own aircraft.
In the reviews on Steam, there are some that purchased the game for this purpose, which is why the proud price can probably be somewhat justified.
Steam Deck
What is the Steam Deck? The Steam Deck OLED is the new version of the popular Steam deck, which allows you to play your Steam games on the go. On MeinMMO, we have tested many games on the Steam deck and you can find a list of the 12 games you must try here.
Here you can watch the official trailer for the Steam deck OLED:
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Check out the official trailer for the Steam Deck OLED
The Steam deck OLED in the 1 TB variant costs €679 in the Steam Store and is certainly an investment that is worthwhile for gamers who are often on the go and like to have their Steam games with them. However, for those who only want to play from home, the device may not be the right choice. It probably cannot replace a PC.
Virtual Orator
What is Virtual Orator? The VR game or rather the VR simulator is supposed to help people overcome their fear of speaking in front of others. In different scenarios, such as in front of a classroom or in a meeting, players are to hold a presentation. The game gives the option to choose the setting, the number of listeners, and to hold their own, real presentations.
Here you can watch a video about it:
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The game costs €169.99 on Steam and could really help people who have this problem. However, the promised AI feedback is rather meager; it mostly tracks where you look during the presentation. Nevertheless, the game could help people, which is why it is somewhat worth the money.
Valve Index VR Kit
What is the Valve Index VR Kit? The Valve Index VR Kit is the most expensive product on our list on Steam and is the VR system from Valve. The VR headset, like the Steam deck, is sold through the Steam store and includes the headset as well as all accessory parts of the VR system. As a thank you for purchasing the VR headset, all players also receive the game Halflife: Alyx for free.
The Valve Index VR Kit costs €1,079 and is certainly among the more expensive VR kits on the market, but you get a lot of accessories with the headset and can also play a variety of games. Whether cheaper alternatives could also work is up for debate.
In 2018 and 2019, the online shooter Fortnite drove the gaming world crazy: With always new ideas and spectacular live events, it dominated discussions in gaming for over two years. Then something changed. The then-head of Fortnite, Donald Mustard, explains that Epic sacrificed the “magic of Fortnite.”
How did Fortnite dominate the gaming world back then?
Fortnite: Battle Royale started at the end of 2017 and reached its peak in 2018. The game concept of Battle Royale, which was perfect for live streaming, was surely decisive.
However, Fortnite had long-term success thanks to the “live events”: A story was told each season, and the world constantly changed. The game remained fresh.
The climax of these live events was the end of Season 10 in October 2019, when the world of Fortnite ended with a big bang. 6 million people stared at a black hole at that time.
Start video
Fortnite: The One Time a Black Hole Swallowed You All
Epic sacrificed live events for the metaverse: “Devastating”
Why did they move away from it? The long-time lead creator of Fortnite, Donald Mustard, now talks in an interview with Gamefile about why they moved away from these live events. Apparently against the will of Donald Mustard, who left Epic Games about a year later:
“In mid-2022, Epic wanted to turn Lego Fortnite and Fortnite Racing, the new expansion of Fortnite, into a proper multi-game metaverse that was supposed to go online in December 2023. To develop all of these things, you need so many people and so much time. Basically, the event team was needed for other things. And that was devastating for me because I thought: ‘That is actually the magic.’ And not everyone at Epic agrees with that.'”
Players see different visions of Fortnite – The wrong one won
How is this being discussed? On reddit, people are discussing exactly the magic of these live events. Even today, players remember Chapter 1 when the island continuously changed in nuances, thus telling a story through environmental changes.
On reddit, one user believes that while everyone at Epic wanted the metaverse, they had different visions:
The head of Epic, Tim Sweeney, wanted Fortnite as a platform for games like Roblox – with completely different games, different modes.
Mustard wanted a single evolving world with large unique events.
Ultimately, Sweeney prevailed. Donald Mustard left Epic Games in September 2023 (via twitter).
Fortnite was also developed under a lot of pressure
What’s behind that: The timeline doesn’t quite match. Fortnite had already lost a significant amount of its hype well before 2022, as it clearly began to deflate after the Fortnite World Cup ended in the summer of 2019.
Mustard is surely right that the “magic” of Fortnite significantly decreased with the decline of live events, and the game no longer creates these highlights as frequently as before.
However, part of the truth is also that Epic Games worked on Fortnite at a crazy pace from 2017 to 2019 to keep bringing new content and items into the game. According to insider reports, this led to developers dropping out and suffering from burnout.
It is said that employees worked 70 hours a week back then, some even over 100. “Voluntary overtime” was expected.
According to anonymous employee statements, the bosses wanted to keep the hype of Fortnite alive for as long as possible and always bring a new patch.
After 2019, the development pace of Fortnite slowed down significantly.
Even though it is clear that Mustard is not a big fan of “Lego Fortnite”, the mode has nevertheless led to a resurgence:
The MMORPG ArcheAge will close in June 2024. But it has already failed years ago. And that could give us a new MMORPG that wants to be like ArcheAge, but without the mistakes: Ashes of Creation.
This is the situation:
The South Korean MMORPG ArcheAge launched in September 2014 in the West and was a dream come true for many MMORPG players.
The new MMORPG was very different from WoW and focused on sandbox elements: Players could trade, fight, become pirates and lords, and express themselves freely.
One of ArcheAge’s biggest fans was entrepreneur Steven Sharif.
Start video
Ashes of Creation Alpha Two Freehold Update
MMORPG fan becomes millionaire and is disappointed with ArcheAge
Who is Steven Sharif? Steven Sharif is a wealthy man. At 18, he came into money after joining a “multilevel marketing” company and selling nutritional products and fruit juices. Today he understands that such companies are viewed critically because they operate on a pyramid scheme (via massivelyop).
At 24, Sharif started to invest and made his fortune in real estate.
Sharif is also a huge MMORPG fan. He found his new passion in ArcheAge in 2014. He was active in ArcheAge with a large guild, but was also considered a “whale” who invested a lot of money into the game.
However, after a few months in the West, ArcheAge significantly shifted towards a “Pay2Win” model, which drove many players away from the game, including the disappointed Steven Sharif.
An ArcheAge without greed would be a dream for many MMORPG fans
This was his reaction: Disappointed with ArcheAge, Steven Sharif decided to announce his own MMORPG, Ashes of Creation, in December 2016.
Here he wants to incorporate many ideas from ArcheAge and calls ArcheAge a great inspiration for Ashes of Creation, but there is one thing he wants to do differently: he is determined to avoid Pay2Win.
Because he sees that as the major mistake that brought ArcheAge down.
Over the past 8 years, Sharif has repeatedly criticized the monetization of ArcheAge. In fact, his disappointment with ArcheAge and the general development of the MMORPG genre seems to be a major driving force for him.
A reaction video from Asmongold on the end of ArcheAge reached nearly 290 views on YouTube:
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This is now the discussion: With the closure of the western servers of ArcheAge on June 27, 2024, which has now been announced, many express their regret that ArcheAge could not follow up on the successful launch of 2014. Many see the great potential in the game, which has not been utilized due to “greed”.
Can Sharif fulfill his dream? That still seems completely uncertain at the moment. For many, Ashes of Creation is a significant hope for a new good MMORPG in the West. However, even after 8 years of development, the game is still a long way from release, and beta tests are repeatedly subject to a non-disclosure agreement:
With Rebel Moon 2: The Scargiver, Netflix has now released the sequel to the sci-fi epic. This one also had to face harsh criticism. Director Zack Snyder promises once again that the Director’s Cut will change and redeem everything.
What criticism has there been?
Rebel Moon is essentially a recycled version of “The Seven Samurai” or “The Magnificent Seven,” which is not inherently wrong or criticized.
Criticism includes the claim that this story is stretched over four hours without being particularly entertaining.
The second part was supposed to feature a long-announced battle, but the first hour of the movie consists more or less only of “boring” stagnation.
Viewers say: Unique twists and original ideas are missing.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second film received only 52% positive reviews, and on Meta Critic, it ranks far down in the red zone.
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Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scar Maker | Official Trailer
What does Snyder have to say now? After the second part has performed even worse in some respects than its predecessor, the question arises as to how the sci-fi films should proceed.
However, director Zack Snyder doesn’t seem to have given up on them yet and remains, as after the first flop, optimistic. More precisely, he continues to maintain his claim: The Director’s Cut will change much and be much better than the original films.
In an interview with journalist Josh Horowitz, he claims that the two films are not the “definitive version” of his work on Rebel Moon. Instead, one must wait for his Director’s Cut to understand the true story he wants to tell with the films. He announced this after the first part and promised back then that this version would change everything.
The Director’s Cut is supposed to redeem everything for viewers
“Once you see the Director’s Cut, you’ll experience a true catharsis,” Snyder promised in his interview when the journalist spoke about the failure of the two films. He states that the Director’s Cut will, in a sense, redeem the experience viewers had with the two films.
When will the Director’s Cut be released? Zack Snyder’s version is set to be released in summer 2024 and will have a runtime of about six hours. This version is expected to include more violence and sex and, according to Snyder, be completely different from Rebel Moon 1 and 2.
How much he can deliver on what he promises, and whether a Director’s Cut can really save this story, will only be revealed in the summer.
In Germany, you can get snacks, drinks, and toys from vending machines. In other countries, they have CPUs instead.
What’s the deal with the processors? In Japan, there are numerous vending machines from which you can get various items. In Germany, there are similar machines usually filled with snacks, drinks, or toys, but in Japan, the so-called Gachapons include merchandise from well-known franchises like Pokémon or Dragon Ball.
The special thing: There are also vending machines in Japan that include various CPUs. A Japanese YouTuber mentioned in a video from December 2022 that she got an Intel Core i7-8700 from 2017 from such a Gachapon for 500 yen. That’s approximately 3 euros.
As the YouTuber explains, she was limited to a single attempt when using the machine. Each person is only allowed to try their luck once (via YouTube).
Start video
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”
The chance for a bargain
Is it worth it? It depends on how lucky you are. This vending machine probably does not contain any high-quality processors. Nevertheless, like the Japanese YouTuber, you might snag a bargain with a bit of luck.
The Intel Core i7-8700 is from 2017, has 6 cores/12 threads, and a clock speed of 3.2 to 4.6 GHz.
On Ebay, the i7-8700 is currently traded for around 65 to 135 euros. Of course, the i7-8700 cannot compete with modern CPUs, but for the price of 3 euros, it is still a decent deal.
For the operator of such a CPU vending machine, this is probably a good way to get rid of outdated or no longer needed processors. Of course, it doesn’t make sense for you to fly to Japan just to pull a CPU from the machine.
However, if you are on vacation or a business trip in Japan and happen to come across such a Gachapon, you can try your luck for about 3 euros.
The building game “Manor Lords” is currently a huge hit on Steam. However, the developer has now seen something in a press release that horrifies him: Someone is cheating in his game and openly displaying it. According to the developer, this could ruin the entire gaming experience.
This is the situation:
Manor Lords has long been considered a hidden gem in city building among strategy experts, which many have been looking forward to, partly because of its historical accuracy.
Actually, historical city building is a niche genre, but Manor Lords has been a major success on Steam at release and peaked at 161,478 players. Probably also because Cities: Skylines II was such a terrible disappointment.
It is currently the bestseller and a much larger success than one could have expected. It has sold over a million units, making it more successful than Civilization 6 or Cities: Skylines.
Start video
Manor Lord Release Date Trailer
Developer sees press using a glitch and showcasing it to everyone
This is now the discussion: The developer behind the game has now reached out to fans on Twitter in a call for support. He has seen in a press test how journalists have cheated in his game.
They built city walls in Manor Lords with the Castle Planner tool. This is not actually intended.
The developer urges players to stop this. He will include a proper tool in an update. The “Castle Planner” is only meant for castles. He should have disabled this option.
What is the problem? The ability to build these city walls with the Castle tool destroys the game. Because it causes the AI to get confused and stop functioning.
The developer says it is not difficult to break the rules of Manor Lords and cheat, as Manor Lords is still not finished. But he did not expect the press to promote this as well.
Who are the culprits? The developer refers to the site “IGN” with his criticism.
On YouTube, “One Proud Bavarian” has also spread this glitch. The video: “How to build city walls without ruining the save game” currently has over 163,000 views.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you have plenty of classes, subclasses, and specializations at your disposal to customize your character according to your ideas. However, some of the most powerful subclasses from D&D are missing. And that, despite the fact that they actually made it into the game.
Which class are we talking about? In a post on Reddit, the user Megazupa originally posted a meme about an encounter with a Githyanki NPC at the end of Act 2 in Baldur’s Gate 3. He depicts this character as significantly more powerful than a player party at level 12.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
Githyanki with unique subclass in BG3
Why he portrays this NPC as so powerful becomes clear from his description. The Githyanki has a subclass that you as a player cannot choose at all. And this, despite the fact that it is very powerful in Dungeons and Dragons.
This is a subclass for warlocks, in which they make a pact with an undead being to be able to channel spells. In D&D, players can, for example, make a pact with a powerful vampire or undead pharaoh. However, in Baldur’s Gate 3, this option is not available. Or at least not as a player.
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How does the community react? Some players seem to have not even noticed this detail. One user directly asks where one would encounter this NPC. Megazupa replies that you face the warlock during the Githyanki ambush at the end of Act 2. Presumably, the Githyanki has made a pact with the patron Vlakith.
Above all, most players agree about the missing – or almost missing – subclass. “It annoys me that they have subclasses in the game that we cannot play for no apparent reason,” complains NoLongerAddicted in a comment under the post.
Are there more subclasses missing? In fact, there are more subclasses from Dungeons and Dragons missing for players in Baldur’s Gate 3. Players have also noticed several NPCs that have a subclass that they as players cannot choose.
Among other things, players encounter a paladin with the “Oath of Conquest” in Act 3. This also seems to be a subclass that many players would have wished for their paladin. “We need an evil-aligned paladin,” writes a user. From the players’ reactions, it is clear that many would like to take an evil path with their paladin without breaking their oath.
The new enemy in World of Warcraft is very cunning. We will tell you who Xal’atath really is and what makes her so dangerous.
World of Warcraft is soon launching its 10th expansion. With “The War Within,” we will delve deep into the planet, where we will work with Earthen and stand against the Nerubians.
But the cause of all the chaos that is slowly but surely being unleashed is a strange elf named Xal’atath, who is also prominently featured in the first trailer for the expansion. But who is she really? Is she a completely new enemy? Is she someone you need to know?
We will tell you the whole story of Xal’atath so that you are perfectly prepared for The War Within.
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WoW: The War Within – All the major features of the new expansion
What does Xal’atath want?
Xal’atath has many names. Some call her “The Black Blade” or the “Blade of the Black Empire,” for others she is the “Herald of the Void” or the “Herald of Dimensius.”
Xal’atath is fundamentally a creature of the Void and thus belongs to the cosmic force of the Void. The Void aims to eventually swallow everything. However, the most powerful creatures of the Void, the so-called “Void Lords,” cannot manifest in reality. This is only possible if they succeed in corrupting the world soul of a planet, for example with the help of the Old Gods.
The official artwork for Xal’atath’s design in “The War Within.”
Thus, Xal’atath’s mission is to ensure that the world soul of Azeroth is filled with the Void in order to ultimately enable the summoning of one or more Void Lords.
Everything she does ultimately serves the goal of corrupting Azeroth – provided that new motivations do not manifest in The War Within.
Xal’atath in WoW: Legion
The first real mention of Xal’atath came in the expansion “World of Warcraft: Legion.” Here, priests who specialize in shadow acquire this weapon. Xal’atath is a dagger that whispers to the player character repeatedly, sharing little details about the past.
Even back then, it was clear: Xal’atath is powerful and very dangerous. Her whispers have driven many people to madness before. In addition, the blade has the reputation of vanishing exactly when its wielder needs it most.
The Blade of the Black Empire – Xal’atath.
In Legion, this does not happen. Xal’atath is merely used, like all other artifact weapons, to free the sword of Sargeras from its corrupting influence and essentially extract the “poison” from Azeroth. Used up and seemingly completely stripped of her powers, the blade thereafter disappears from the shadow priest’s possession.
Xal’atath in ancient times
During Legion, the followers of the priest class hall try to learn more about the individual artifact weapons and reveal many details about Xal’atath as well. She has been operating in the shadows for several millennia and has repeatedly emerged to manipulate various incidents in the world.
She corrupted the mind of the jungle troll Zan’do and made him awaken a C’Thraxxi general from his slumber. This general brought the armies of the Aqir with him and waged war against the trolls. Although the Aqir ultimately lost, the surviving troops split up. One part of this group developed into the Nerubians over many centuries.
The daughter of the wizard-king Thaurissan used the blade to curse the dwarven fortress Grim Batol, which would later be haunted by the Shadowhammer clan and other evils and is still considered cursed today.
Xal’atath could be a claw from the Old God Y’shaarj.
The human woman Nataline Seline wanted to destroy the blade, but Xal’atath manipulated her as well. Nataline created a cult to uncover the secrets of the blade. Xal’atath had Seline killed by her own followers. This cult later became the basis for the “Cult of the Forgotten Shadows.”
Xal’atath and the Shadowhammer Cult
The Shadowhammer cult is a fairly large organization on Azeroth, which actually originates from Draenor. The ogre mage Cho’gall was plagued by a vision in which the entire cosmos is destroyed. To prevent this vision, there is only one solution: The Void must prevail. Cho’gall gathered his pale orcs and founded the Shadowhammer.
When the orcs invaded Azeroth, they heard the voices of the Void louder than ever before – proof that they were on the right path and had found their destiny.
Cho’gall then began to write the “Wisdoms of the Void” into the skin of his pale orcs, then peeled the skin from their bodies to create a book. This book, the “Twilight Canticle,” would serve as meaning and motivation for the Shadowhammer cult for many years.
Cho’gall, the ogre, before he was corrupted by the Void.
The existence of this book is the very reason why Nataline Seline sets out to find the “strange blade” that was supposedly used by the pale orcs in rituals on Azeroth – Xal’atath.
Cho’gall and his orcs temporarily occupied the Northrend Valley along with the abbey. It is suspected that they also left the “Twilight Canticle” in the abbey. The book later found its way into the library of Stormwind and caused many priests to slowly drift away from the light faith and join the cult.
Thus, Bishop Farthing is said to have been corrupted – this is the bishop from whom shadow priests later wrest Xal’atath in the artifact quest line. Again in a moment when Xal’atath refuses to help her wielder.
Xal’atath in WoW: Season of Discoveries
Notably, Xal’atath also made her presence felt in the Classic version of WoW – namely in the Season of Discoveries. These quests and content are new, yet they belong to the official canon. They are thus part of the lore.
In the Blackfathom Deeps, a significant part of the Shadowhammer cult lives and worships a “child of the Old Gods” – the strange creature Aku’mai. Xal’atath whispered to this part of the cult and revealed how to enrich equipment with the Void to enchant it and make it more powerful.
The heroes of Azeroth first encounter the “Shadowy Apparition” here – clearly Xal’atath, even if the game never confirms it 100%.
Xal’atath cooperates with the heroes of Azeroth and exchanges parts of her knowledge for magical relics or tasks that the hero must complete. While players receive great loot for this, Xal’atath increases her power in the background and simultaneously builds a familiar relationship with the heroes.
Even Sylvanas held the blade for a time.
Why did Xal’atath help the priest?
Some may wonder why Xal’atath helped the shadow priest in Legion at all. After all, the player character is fundamentally “good” and tries to save Azeroth.
However, this is quite easy to explain. Xal’atath cannot allow the Burning Legion to take over Azeroth. Because then Azeroth would ultimately be destroyed by Sargeras, along with the slumbering world soul.
However, the Void needs this world soul to corrupt it and thus give the Void Lords access to reality.
Xal’atath helps in the fight against the Legion so that the world soul is not destroyed by Sargeras and can later be corrupted by her. And we will likely see these beginnings in “The War Within.”
The Black Blade in Battle for Azeroth
In Battle for Azeroth, Xal’atath reappeared once more. Players take up the blade and once again hear the whispers from within, prompting them to aid the blade. They consume enemies to return Xal’atath’s power and then help her with “a few problems.”
The solution to these problems leads to the essence of Xal’atath being freed from the blade, and she claims the body of a high elf for herself. Thus, Xal’atath acquired the body she has in The War Within.
Subsequently, we return with the liberated Xal’atath and the blade to a ritual site. Here, Xal’atath speaks directly with the Old God N’Zoth and brazenly exposes the heroes. N’Zoth then grants players a buff, the “Gift of N’Zoth,” allowing the Old God to see everything the players do. Meanwhile, Xal’atath opens a Void portal in elven form and disappears through it.
However, the empty blade remains at the ritual site … at least until N’Zoth openly challenges the heroes of Azeroth to face his challenge and defeat some Void creatures.
But the true purpose of this “trial” was not to fight against the creatures, but to have the blade found by a champion of the Horde.
The Horde player then hands the blade to Sylvanas. Sylvanas, in turn, passes the blade on to her general Nathanos Blightcaller. He then sails out to sea with his ship, being pursued by the Alliance.
But this was also planned by Xal’atath, as Queen Azshara intervenes. She tears the ocean apart, causing the ships along with the blade to plunge into the Naga kingdom of Naz’jatar, ultimately coming into possession of the blade.
Azshara possessed the dagger Xal’atath – if only for a short time.
Azshara’s plan was to use the blade to kill the Old God N’Zoth to free herself from his influence. After all, the blade can host powerful beings and deal great damage to Void creatures.
What Azshara apparently did not know: All of this was meticulously planned by N’Zoth, and it was only because of his efforts that she even came into possession of the dagger.
Azshara is stopped by the heroes, but N’Zoth is freed. He abducts the unconscious Azshara – along with the dagger – and begins to unleash the nightmare of Ny’alothe upon the world.
In the next raid, we encounter Azshara again. She is tortured by a servant of the Void. When we rescue her, she relinquishes the blade and hands it over to Furorion. He later uses it to injure the shell of N’Zoth. It is not entirely clear what happens at this moment, but it seems that the blade is “sucking something out of the shell” – perhaps the essence of the Old God.
What happens to the blade afterwards is unknown. It has vanished once again.
Dragonflight and Xal’atath’s return
Xal’atath’s last appearance was in the (still) current expansion Dragonflight. She apparently works with Iridikron, although this was revealed only very late.
The silhouette in the background shows an elf. It can only be a certain one.
When Iridikron travels to the past (“Twilight of the Eternal”), he retrieves the essence of Galakrond. This is an ancient proto-dragon that has apparently been corrupted by the Void and has only one single goal: to devour everything. The heroes must decide whether to stop Iridikron or save the Bronze Aspect Nozdormu.
The choice ultimately falls on Nozdormu, so Iridikron claims the essence of Galakrond for himself and then opens a Void portal. In this portal, one can see the silhouette of an elf – Xal’atath.
The final question remains unanswered. From the previous story, it is not entirely clear what kind of creature the original Xal’atath was before she became a dagger and subsequently the body of an elf.
Currently, there are two theories, both of which have different indications as their basis:
Xal’atath was an Old God, similar to C’thun or Yogg-Saron. However, she was devoured early on by the other Old Gods.
Xal’atath is a piece of the old god Y’Shaarj – a claw from him that was ultimately transformed into a dagger.
The Void wants to completely swallow Azeroth. With many tentacles.
Ultimately, this fundamental question is not that important. It is clear that Xal’atath is in league with the Void and intends to do something terrible to the world of Azeroth that must be prevented at all costs.
Moreover, Xal’atath was at some point appointed by Dimensius, one of the legendary Void Lords, as his herald when she received the weapon “Voidsong.” Her task has therefore long been to pave the way for the Void Lords.
Gaming influencers are saving taxes by relocating their residence abroad: German-speaking Twitch streamers have been moving to Madeira for years. For Spanish-speaking streamers, their Madeira is the state of “Andorra,” but they will soon require a language test.
This is the situation:
Large Spanish-speaking streamers have been emigrating to Andorra for years, apparently for tax reasons
Some of the most famous streamers include Rubius (the xQc of Spain) and TheGrefg, who rose to fame through Fortnite
From 2026, however, Andorra will require a language test
He is one of the well-known German emigrants: LetsHugo
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He dropped out of school because streaming was more important to him – The success of LetsHugo
Andorra will soon subject residents to a “language test”
What do the streamers have to demonstrate? As 3D Juegos reports, starting in 2026, Andorra will require an A1 test in the language “Catalan,” the official language of Andorra, from all residents. By 2029, residents must pass an A2 test.
The language level “A1” corresponds to that of a beginner. It requires understanding and using everyday expressions and simple sentences. One must be able to answer questions like “Where do you live?”.
A2 then requires describing one’s origin with at least simple words.
The A1 test is expected to last about 80 minutes, while the A2 test will take nearly two hours. According to 3D Juegos, the tests are roughly at the level one would expect from 11-year-olds.
Streamer complains: If he had known this, he would never have moved there
How do streamers react? Rubius has spoken positively about this change: He sees it as a challenge, as otherwise he would never have learned Catalan.
Another streamer, Augstin51, is outraged about it. He says he moved to Andorra five years ago and was never forced to do anything. He can be “happy and free” here. Now the government comes along out of the blue and meddles with him. If they had told him five years ago that he had to learn Catalan, he would never have gone.
From a German perspective, one inevitably wonders in this discussion how German streamers in Madeira are actually doing with their Portuguese language skills.
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.
Start video
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.
