WhatsApp is going to start showing photos, GIFS, and videos in notifications
You’ll soon start noticing a rather large change when you receive WhatsApp notifications. They are going to start including the multimedia content your contacts sent, including photos and videos. They should start to look something like this:
WhatsApp will start showing message multimedia in the notifications
This news comes from the guys over WABetaInfo, who are constantly monitoring additions to the advanced beta version of WhatsApp. The new notification feature has been found in WhatsApp version 12.18.80 of WhatsApp for iPhone. There is still no official word from WhatsApp about this new feature.
If you don’t want huge multimedia-filled WhatsApp notifications, you’ll have the ability to disable this new feature. If you like the sound of WhatsApp’s updated notifications, however, you’ll also be able to download the multimedia directly from the notification.
As mentioned earlier, we still don’t know when or if WhatsApp will roll this new feature out to everybody. The beta version of the app runs like a test for the developers so that they can receive feedback on new features from the testing community. If you’re interested in testing advanced beta versions of your favorite apps, check out our handy guide to becoming a beta tester below.
If you’re someone who plays games for the story, you’ve no doubt heard of Telltale Games. Telltale puts the story front and center and gives the player the power to shape that story in any way they see fit. Usually taking place over a season of multiple episodes, players are given the power to make significant choices that can affect how the rest of the game plays out. Each game becomes uniquely your own depending on how you play. Though the choices you make in their games can be difficult, deciding which games to play doesn’t have to be. Here’s a list of their five best titles.
5. Minecraft: Story Mode
Ever found yourself wishing that Minecraft had a little bit more to offer? If so, Minecraft: Story Mode is the game for you. You take on the role of Jesse, a newbie Minecraft player. Jesse and a group of friends take on an epic quest to find a group of five adventurers who, once upon a time, saved the world. Their journey takes them to the far corners of the Minecraft world, from a mysterious mansion to floating sky cities to the Nether and more. Celebrity guest appearances, including a few by certain well-known Minecraft YouTubers, make this game into every Minecraft player’s dream.
Come on, admit it: every “Game of Thrones” fan has wondered at some point or another whether they could survive the cutthroat world of Westeros. Telltale’s Game of Thrones lets you put yourself to the test. Whether it be fighting your way through legions of House Bolton bannermen or navigating the political intrigue of King’s Landing, this game makes players feel like they’re part of the show. Players take control of the Forresters, bannermen to House Stark who are caught up in the political treachery of Westeros and must fight to survive. Though these characters don’t appear in the show, fans need not worry. Plenty of other favorites, such as the Mother of Dragons herself, make appearances as well.
Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games SeriesDOWNLOAD NOW
3. Batman
“I’m Batman.” These are two words that everybody’s wanted to utter at some point in their lives. Telltale’s Batman lets every armchair caped crusader live out their superhero fantasy. All the familiar Batman characters are back, but with unique interpretations that make this title stand out. Will you play Batman as a benevolent hero, or will you indulge his more ruthless streak? Also of note is the Crowd Play feature introduced in this game. This allows an audience to vote on the choices made in the game using their phone or computer, so grab some friends and get playing. The end result can lead to some interesting scenarios, both onscreen and off!
Telltale’s The Walking Dead is one of their most acclaimed titles, and for good reason. The story and characters in this entry are particularly strong. Players control Lee Everett, an ex-college professor and escaped convict, in the opening days of the zombie apocalypse. He soon finds himself having to care for Clementine, a young girl with a story of her own. The grim decisions that the TV series is known for return in this game full-force, except this time, you’re the one calling the shots. How far will you go to survive and protect the ones you care for?
Tales from the Borderlands could easily be called Borderlands 3, and is a must-play for any fans of the series. Tales from the Borderlands takes place soon after the events of Borderlands 2. Players take control of Rhys, an ambitious employee of the Hyperion Corporation, and Fiona, a ragtag con artist from Pandora. The two soon find their paths intertwining in ways that they never expected as they pursue another one of the infamous Vaults and try to find the true purpose of the Atlas Corporation’s mysterious Gortys Project. The series brings back the humorous, sarcastic writing that Borderlands is known for while also bringing in some unexpectedly poignant, emotional moments and decisions that linger long after the game is finished. Beloved characters from the main series also return, including a fan-favorite handsome antagonist in a particularly show-stealing performance.
Whether it be fast-paced fights or nail-biting decisions, Telltale Games offer something for everyone to enjoy. Check out the games on this list and start making the story your own.
Halo Infinite received a trailer at E3 2018, which sparked much excitement in the Xbox gaming community:
This came along with a blog post on the Halo Waypoint site, which details the thoughts and feelings about the new game from the viewpoint of 343 Industries. So far, many exciting plans seem to be in the works: the vaunted Slipspace Engine being one of the main attractions.
But will Halo: Infinite bring back the community?
It’s no secret that after Bungie left Halo and 343 Industries began on game 4, many fans started to leave. At first, this trend could’ve been mainly attributed to a change of office; when the game’s developer changes, someone’s gonna leave. However, as time went on and Halo 5 came out, it’s become clear that something else is lacking.
First, we’ll analyze what might be wrong, and then move on to whether or not Infinite will solve the problem.
Ironically, humanity’s distaste for change never changes. In a well-established series like Halo, there was no way the change wouldn’t throw off a good number of people. To be fair to those who left, Halo couldn’t possibly remain the same, and there was certainly a marked difference with the new administration.
The Story
It started with Halo 4, which followed the Master Chief after he and Cortana were lost in space. Right of the bat, Cortana wakes the Chief after a run-in with scanner over the planet Requiem, leading eventually to battle against a surviving Forerunner warrior called the Didact (the Ur-Didact, that is, but that’s another issue altogether).
While this may sound exciting, notice that the story avoids Halo’s familiar storyline. While a lost, radical branch of the Covenant were featured along with the UNSC Infinity, humanity’s battle against the Great Journey and the Flood are in the past, while rising Forerunner threats take precedence. Since the story of Halo 1-3 created much of the draw for original fans, this alteration often didn’t live up to nostalgia.
Also, Cortana “died.” Sorta.
Then came Halo 5. 343 Industries attempted to bring back some of the old Halo. Most importantly they reintroduced our boi, the Arbiter, in the midst of a battle against surviving Covenant rebels on Sanghelios.
[Very Late Spoilers Ahead] However, 343 also made a few controversial changes. Master Chief isn’t the sole focus in 5, after the addition of team Osiris, lead by Captain Locke.
Finally – and this is the biggie – the story revolves around Chief trying to find Cortana, which leads to the realization that she has essentially become an Artificial Intelligence warlord and plans to subjugate the universe… for its own good, of course.
Needless to say, a lot of fans disliked seeing Cortana’s story continue in this fashion. The best theory currently goes something like: in Halo 5, we’re just seeing a fragment of her personality that was torn off by rampancy and then given power by the Domain, a Forerunner artifact.
Only time will tell if this reaches a satisfying conclusion.
The Game Mechanics
Halo 5 plays much quicker than others in the series, with the addition of boost, unlimited sprint, and quicker shield depletion. Although the new pace may be more fast, fun, and furious, some have noted that Halo’s multiplayer strays dangerously close to becoming a Call of Duty.
Also, Halo 5 completely dropped Halo’s tradition of split screen for a boost to “graphic quality.” 343 already apologized for the decision and plans to bring it back for Infinite. Which brings us to:
Why Fans Will Probably Come Back
First, as we’ve mentioned, many gamers will likely return for the reintroduction of split-screen multiplayer. If you’re like us, many great memories were built off of playing Halo with friends, back when you didn’t need multiple Xboxes. Despite being such a simple change, we believe this decision will speak volumes to the Halo community.
Also, if you’ve seen the new trailer, you may have noticed that 343’s Slipspace engine really does look fantastic. Specifically, the blog post discusses the plans to use the engine’s powerful abilities to bring a modern edge to some of the most popular Halo graphics from across all eras. Take, for example, the crisp yet classic armor for Master Chief:
Last but not least, Halo: Infinite promises to engage with the new storyline in ways we haven’t seen before. Fans will remember the original Halo 5 trailers, which seemed to feature a battle between Blue team and team Osiris:
Since this never really occurred in Halo 5, we assume there was some turmoil on the back end of story development. In contrast, 343 seems far more put together on Infinite at this point. If they hold together through testing and release, its likely fans will begin to accept Halo’s new direction.
(Speculation Corner: Infinite may take place on the Halo ring once inhabited by The Primordial. This might spell a re-emergence of the Flood… but who knows?)
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, any number of factors can drive a game community away: story, gameplay, mechanics, developer, the economy, etc. However, it seems like 343 Industries truly took community feedback to heart and plans on tightening down their plot, answering gamer’s prayers for improvements, and preparing to welcome a new generation of Halo fans. In fact, the relative failure of Halo 5 – still a fun to play despite apparent issues – may have weakened nostalgic expectations, leaving Infinite less restricted as it creates the bright future of Halo.
In Battle for Azeroth, a world constantly at threat — whether from the undead, dragons, demons and olds gods — sees old wounds reopened in the form of heated, open war between the game’s two main factions. Whether you’re a new or returning player, here are the most important things you need to know to prepare yourself for the largest, most devastating conflict the two sides have ever waged.
Horde or Alliance
As the scope of war increases, so also do your in-faction choices. Key to getting started in BfA will be choosing your side (or which to play first). A big fan of Legion’s Nightborne? Well, join up with the Horde. Jealous of the Horde’s more lithe, pointy-eared elves? The Alliance gets their own version. Itching to play a Dark Iron Dwarf ever since the game was first released in 2004? Blizzard is giving you the fan-favorite option.
Sorry guys, these are still off the table.
Keep in mind, access to the new options isn’t a given; there are steps to unlock these ‘allied’ races which require some grinding through existing content.
Mount up…
Steps are also involved to gain access to class-specific mounts. Returning players may already see characters riding around on some fancy steeds. Whether you’re just getting reacquainted with WoW or still rolling through the current content, don’t get left in the dust of your fellow rogue or hunter.
And gear up!
As happens with every World of Warcraft expansion, the damage, stats and other benefits of new items (and more common) items will soon begin to overtake those of your most beloved epic and legendary pieces. Still, players who strive for those top-tier pieces will have an easier time in the first few levels of new content. Log in, grab your guild and create or join a Looking for Raid group that will get you that last ring, trinket, or chest piece that has been lagging several item levels behind the rest of your equipment.
With regards to Looking for Raid, those that love transmogrifying their gear will also want to make sure they complete these special LFR-only sets. Once Battle for Azeroth hits, Legion raids will no longer be available in LFR (and neither will the gear).
An interesting feature introduced in the current expansion, Legion, artifact weapons are also one of the first things to go in the new expansion. For players who skipped the current expansion, this is no worry. For paladins who enjoyed wielding the legendary Ashbringer, shamans who finally got to swing Doomhammer, and all those who enjoyed the special new weapons for their favorite specialization, it’s time to sacrifice your faithful friend in order to heal the wounds caused by the Sword of Sargeras.
Speaking of specializations…
WoW’s developers have spoken of a desire to return classes to the more unique feel they experienced in earlier versions of the game. Indeed, many classes are seeing big changes. Whatever you enjoy playing, it’s worth reviewing all the coming changes (some of which already arrived in patch 8.0) to determine whether you want to keep playing your druid or finally try your hand at the dark arts of the warlock.
Be warned: numbers are in flux
With a game as long-running as WoW, giving players new challenges means giving them tougher monsters, and giving players a growing sense of power to fight those monsters means giving them new and more powerful weapons. While this makes perfect sense, it can result in stat numbers growing to the point where they become a burden to track rather than a source of joy. The only solution? The developers squish those numbers. This time, it hasn’t gone so well. Players reading this article should be warned that though Blizzard is taking steps to fix the unintended consequences of stat shifting and scaling, you might still find an unbeatable murloc or two.
Hit the auction house
With every new expansion, some crafting materials become rarer and most expensive while others become cheaper. Check your bank to see what your stash is worth. To ease things, use an online price-checker tool like AHPrices.com to see how you can make a pretty penny before prices change rapidly with the new content.
Keep to your career goals
Make sure you have quick access to the newest recipes for your given profession by maxing out each one you can. While all professions are likely to see some interesting and powerful new craftables, one long-standing secondary skill is going away entirely; First Aid, a staple of the game since its launch, will now be retired in Battle for Azeroth, and advancements will be considered legacy achievements. If you fancy yourself a completionist, get on and make some bandages!
With the arrival of the 8.0 pre-patch last week, you may have already missed out on some time-sensitive questing and grinding Blizzard put into place. The coveted Violet Spellwing from Heroic Argus is still available, and for those players who still don’t have it, Softonic recommends getting on board a run with Perky Pugs or a similar community group dedicated to getting players this fantastic Legion-era rare.
On a final note… water mounts
Word is that with a WoW expansion focused more on island-based locations and the high seas, water mounts will be more useful than ever. If you’ve got nothing else in particular to be focusing on, it’s time to make friends with a sea turtle.
WhatsApp will offer a $50,000 prize to those who effectively answer this question: “What would you do to end fake news?”
Facebook has created the WhatsApp Research Awards (WhatsApp Research Awards for Social Science and Misinformation) with the aim to end hoaxes and lies spread virtually on this popular app.
Want to make $50,000? Anybody can enter the competition (whether you have programming knowledge or not), but you have to propose a research project that tries to block fake news, while ensuring the correct use of technology. This last requirement implies subtopics such as the handling of information, the way to process sensitive content and how to timely detect inappropriate behavior.
“We welcome proposals from any social science or related discipline that foster insights into the impact of technology on contemporary society in this problem space. The WhatsApp Research Awards will provide funding for independent research proposals that are designed to be shared with WhatsApp, Facebook, and wider scholarly and policy communities,” explains Facebook.
Besides this prize, Facebook will prepare two workshops related to fake news. In the first, chosen projects will be presented, while the second will deal with the practical application of these ideas.
A mother takes a video of her son riding his bike around a mansion. When she goes home and checks the video, she finds an eerie figure watching her son from one of the windows of the mansion. By zooming in, it looks like the ghost of a woman dressed in the Victorian era.
No, this isn’t the plot of a movie about curses and ghosts, but rather what happened to Louise Lenton when she went to visit Oldway Mansion (Paignton, England), with her husband and 5-year-old son.
Here’s the ghostly encounter on camera:
Oldway Mansion was built in the late 19th century by Isaac Singer, the founder of the famous Singer sewing machine company. He died shortly before the construction was completed. His third son, Paris Eugene Singer, renovated the house to resemble the Palace of Versailles and the Place de la Concorde.
Access to the mansion has been restricted to the public for years, but its beautiful gardens keep attracting tourists.
Due to its current state at the time of recording, there were only security guards inside Oldway Mansion. So we can throw out the idea of a woman making a joke or an actress performing a period piece.
Louise Lenton sent a copy of the video to the local authorities to investigate what happened. After all, we’re talking about a physical or ghostly intrusion into a private building.
Do you believe it’s a ghost? Or just a strange optical illusion? Or, despite what we’ve mentioned, do you think it’s somebody making a joke? Let us know below!
The 2017 release of EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 was met with infamously mixed responses. The main outcry was centered on the loot crate debacle and pay-to-win progression, but there was more to it than just that. Hopeful fans are still looking wistfully back at Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005), a game released years ago by the now-defunct Pandemic. Starry-eyed and wishful, it’s easy to wonder what might have been had they kept some of the key features that made that title so successful.
But exactly what were these features?
Despite the many adjustments, tweaks, and updates that EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 has undergone over the past six months, there are a good many design choices that set the game on a very different trajectory from the start. While there are numerous small elements, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the five biggest selling points from Battlefront 2005, elements that we never got to experience in EA’s.
If you’re interested in seeing for yourself and trying Battlefront 2005 firsthand, you can grab it here:
Our first gripe is a small one, but one that we feel nonetheless deserves attention. The main game mode in the 2005 Battlefront was Conquest; a variant that focused on capture-and-hold tactics where the posts controlled allowed for unit spawn. There were two ways to win: Eliminating all the enemy reinforcements, or capturing all the command posts so that they couldn’t spawn any more units in to contest you.
These command posts served a second purpose, however: Players could use them to switch their selected class on the fly, alternating as needed between the engineer, sniper, infantry, or heavy trooper classes. This feature was not present in the very first Star Wars Battlefront (released in 2004), and its inclusion was such a radical improvement that they zeroed in on it multiple times throughout the tutorial mission – a level where the objectives could only be completed by switching classes. Pandemic really wanted to instill that mechanic in its players right off the bat.
We were surprised this feature was never implemented in EA’s Battlefront 2 since it so proudly highlighted the introduction of four playable classes available to the player. After the initial decision on a class the player is stuck with it until their death. Only then can they quickly decide whether they want to try a different approach. The reason for this choice is probably to allow players to more often choose whether they want to spend battle points on power-up classes or vehicles like the jet trooper or an AT-ST, but having to die just to get that choice? It seems counter-intuitive.
It’s especially frustrating when the game encourages you to stay alive to “earn 2x battle points.” Die and you have to start from scratch. We acknowledge that this isn’t a “design flaw” per se, but the choice is odd. We can’t help but feel its inclusion would have been a nice improvement.
4. Players can ride vehicles together
This isn’t the last time we’ll be bringing up EA’s Battlefront 2’s lack of co-op features. This point is more an example of where its missed. The 2005 Battlefront featured and implemented vehicles very differently than EA chose to. In the original, players could see a vehicle on the map, run to it, and ride it. It made sense, it was fun, it was an option for every player. Even the worst players in the match could beeline towards the nearest AT-AT walker or AAT for a chance to even the playing field. But that’s not even the biggest reason this design choice was so cool.
While vehicles in EA Battlefront 2 were power-ups unlocked by spending battle points, they were much more useful in Pandemic’s Battlefront 2.
The main difference? They could hold multiple players.
That AAT you saw on the streets of Theed? In Battlefront 2 2005 that could house both a driver and another player to operate the cannon up top. The clone AT-TE could have three players at once. The clone gunship? Four.
There was something special and exciting about you and three friends piling into a clone gunship during a space battle and manning the different positions. Your pilot navigated through enemy fire on the way to the opposing flagship, gingerly landing in their docking bay. The enemy AI pour out into the hangar area as the ship goes on full alert. The gunship you landed is getting shot by rockets, so you and your buddies are forced to pile out, dodging lasers and diving for cover while returning fire.
It grew to white-knuckle insanity trying to escape the flaming ruins of the flagship you and your friends sabotaged together. Then to be greeted by a victory screen as you boost away from enemy fighters?
Glorious.
Playing with your friends was such an integral element of the 2005 Battlefront, and the lack of it in EA Battlefront 2 brings us to our next big point:
3. Playing with friends was accessible and encouraged, local or online
Playing local splitscreen was a huge part the FPS genre in its early days. Series like Unreal Tournament, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty, Halo, and James Bond all found massive success from it, and splitscreen gaming evolved into a huge part of the FPS culture. Pandemic’s Battlefront 2 was a cornerstone of this evolution, and it took the formula to the next level with its class-based roleplaying, multi-person vehicles, and its (albeit limited) mechanics for commanding the game’s AI infantry.
EA Battlefront 2 does have local play, but it’s pretty restricting. By “restricting,” we mean that there’s no online co-op to speak of. There is splitscreen in arcade mode, but the game’s arcade mode really feels like an introduction to new players more than an actual real fleshed-out gametype. Even then, that local play is only available on console. PC players don’t get any co-op at all (and yet the game is still priced the same for both). Comparing this to Pandemic’s Battlefront 2, the lack of local play goes beyond co-op.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxYOgWmTS8w
Splitscreen in Battlefront 2 2005 could also get competitive. At the start of the match, players can pick which faction they wanted to play as … and it didn’t have to be the same as the other players. Walking through the bot-congested halls of Polis Massa only to suddenly come across another player was a tense moment, and the firefights between the two of you would often decide the fate of the match.
Working together or fighting each other, local play created an extremely engaging atmosphere in Battlefront 2 2005 and it added a whole other dimension of strategy and excitement to the game. EA missed the mark here.
2. Galactic Conquest
Next up we had to mention EA’s exclusion of one of the original Battlefront’s defining game modes: Galactic Conquest. A Risk-style strategy mode that starts the player off owning only one planet on a simulated galaxy map. The way to win here was to conquer all the galaxy, which is at the beginning owned by the enemy faction. Each planet conquered earned you galactic credits to build, buff, and expand your army. It was a strategic chain of singular missions with a broad tug-of-war in the background. The enemy side always starts with the advantage, but over the course of the game, it shifts to your favor.
Galactic Conquest had been a core game mode in both Pandemic’s Battlefront games, and was a key component to its replayability and longevity. It added depth to every match and challenged players to think on a more tactical level before jumping into a firefight. It’s an angle that’s lacking in EA’s Battlefront 2, and we really miss it.
1. AI bots
Of all the differences we’re covering here, we think this one’s the biggest. Battlefront 2 2005 had AI bots on every match and it completely changed the way the game felt. The huge waves of enemies, the constantly respawning units on both sides, the Jedi cutting through swathes of infantry to get to the next command post – it all felt like we were dropped into a pivotal moment in the titular “war.” Here’s a video of the rare EA Battlefront 2 player who hadn’t first played Battlefront 2005, and his thoughts on what AI add to the mix:
The only game modes that feature AI in EA’s Battlefront 2 are the campaign, arcade mode, and Starfighter Assault. The latter of which was one of our favorites largely due to its inclusion of bots. We’re not alone in thinking this either. Disclaimer: Angry Joe is angry. May contain NSFW language.
Putting “battlefront” in the title of your game implies just that – a peek at the surrounding war zone through the eyes of an infantry soldier, scout, or pilot. Compare, for instance, Kashyyyk from Pandemic’s battlefront 2 to EA’s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnJfL6DYSQ
Pandemic’s map is less vibrant, far smaller, equally linear, and largely open. EA’s is massive, colorful, breathing, and lush. But play it and you’ll see where the problem lies – the amount of time you spend in an actual firefight in EA’s Battlefront is absolutely dwarfed by the amount of time walking from fight to fight.
STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II_20180224131957
Larger maps aren’t always a great thing, especially when the only enemies to fight are the enemy players. Sure they’re way tougher than the laughably incompetent AI from Battlefront 2 2005, and sure it’s more rewarding when you gun down enemy players rather than nameless bots, but a healthy mix is what made EA’s Starfighter Assault so enjoyable. If they could incorporate ground AI into the online game modes, it would make a dramatic difference, and one that we think is for the better.
If EA makes a Battlefront 3, we hope to see some of these aspects included in its design. Would that be enough to renew fans’ dreams of one day having a game to match the awesome fun of the original Battlefront 2?
YouTube is testing a new Explore tab to help you find more videos you’ll enjoy
YouTube loves it when you watch videos. Without video creators, however, there wouldn’t be any videos for you to watch. This means that YouTube loves its video creators and wants to help them succeed. A recent blog post from YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki laid down this pledge recently, and the video sharing platform has started to put those words into action. YouTube is currently testing an Explore tab on iOS to help put video creators in touch with new users.
The new Explore tab will include new videos and channels based on previously watched videos. YouTube felt that the new tab was needed as the current recommended videos were coming up short and creators weren’t happy. Fresh content from new creators wouldn’t make it onto user’s recommended videos, meaning it was always the more established creators who were having their content promoted. If you watched a video, you’d often just be recommended other videos from the same creator.
The new Explore tab wants to go further. According to YouTube product manager Tom Leung in a recent YouTube video:
“Explore is designed to help you be exposed to different kinds of topics, videos or channels that you might not otherwise encounter, but they’re still personalized.”
So if you watch a video about an action camera, you might then be recommended videos about snowboarding, scuba diving, or drones. There’ll also be a Trending section so that users discover which videos are trending across YouTube at any given moment.
For now, the explore tab is only a test that will go out to 1% of YouTube users on iOS. It represents a step in the direction for the video hosting platform, which has seen a lot of problems over the last year regarding inappropriate videos being recommended to kids. If YouTube can crack this and put users in touch with better content, it could be well on the way to keeping creators happy while also regaining trust with its user base. Only time will tell.
While the MOBA genre has some pretty diverse games in it, none is more prevalent than the traditional Dota-based ones. Dota was a defining game for the genre, and many have tried to recreate its style with their own unique flair. While some have failed at this, a few have succeeded above and beyond the original Dota’s glory. Below is a list of some of the best traditional MOBAs still active today.
5. Vainglory Despite being a mobile game, Vainglory is a very well developed MOBA with a very active player-base. If you want to play a mobile MOBA, then Vainglory is by far the best one out there. The role system is great, and the games are fast-paced but still just as fun as PC MOBAs.
Even though Smite follows the traditional format of MOBAs (5v5 with three lanes and a jungle), it’s probably the most unique of them. The big difference between Smite and other MOBAs is that Smite’s point of view is third-person, and all basic attacks are skillshots instead of automatic. Also, Smite characters are all based on gods and goddesses instead of unique characters, which is a nice touch.
The successor to the game that defined the MOBA genre. While not as popular as it was a few years ago, Dota 2 still has a strong following. In fact, Dota 2 recently received a big client update, so now is the perfect time to get back into the game if you’re an old fan.
If you’ve ever played a Blizzard game, then you probably know what Heroes of the Storm is. Like Smite, HotS’ characters are not original to its game. But instead of gods and goddesses, HotS features Blizzard characters from their other popular games like World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Blizzard often has giveaways and does events for all of its games, so if you play any of their other games, then you may get some benefits from playing HotS.
With over 100 characters to choose from, and a massive fanbase, League of Legends is still the largest MOBA around. While League itself was inspired by Dota, most new MOBAs are inspired by League of Legends instead. The game is constantly seeing updates, and the developers are very interactive with their audience. Definitely worth trying out if you haven’t.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a genuinely free-to-play experience, but has still made a lot of cash for Epic Games. This is how…
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a free game is a game that anybody can play. Even if you don’t have a single cent to spend on it, you can still get the complete experience that the game is offering. A pay-to-win game, on the other hand, requires money to get the optimal experience the game provides. You might be able to play the game from start to finish or compete with other players online, but spending money will make the whole experience much more accessible.
You can’t pay for an advantage when you’re playing Fortnite; it is 100% fair. Practice hard enough, and you’ll be able to take on the best players. Nobody can pay for an overpowered weapon that can take out the players who have been working hard to get better over time. If people can’t pay for an unfair advantage, how does Epic games make so much money from Fortnite? Well, thanks to the guys at fnbr.co we can see exactly what people are spending their money on in Fortnite: Battle Royale.
Above, we have a visual list of every single item available in the Fortnite store as of June 3, 2018. There are so many items we had to split the original image because it was just too damn big. According to the official Fortnite subreddit, it would cost $2,935 to buy every item in the Fortnite store!
The amazing thing about every item shown above is that they’re all cosmetic. The items don’t make you better at the game; they help you develop and show off an in-game identity to whoever you’re playing with. It is the fairness that comes with the free-to-play format and the ability to create your own identity that has allowed Fortnite to spread far and wide.
There is even an argument to say that these items give you a disadvantage. If you’re rocking all sorts cool skins then people might target you more, as they could think you’ve got the skills to go with them.
Have you ever bought anything from the Fortnite store?
