Path of Exile: War for the Atlas – An Entirely New Game

The War for the Atlas has arrived in Path of Exile! The seventh expansion in this award-winning ARPG comes in hard after five full years of success by the “ethical” free-to-play game. War for the Atlas introduces many new changes including the conflict between two Lovecraftian entities, the Shaper and the Elder, new gems, the Abyss League, and much, much more.

Continuing off from the Fall of Oriath, the Shaper, who has given players endless headaches, is now challenged by a new entity. The Elder,  supposedly more powerful, encroaches upon the Shaper’s territory with reckless abandon. The Abyss League, the newest league added to PoE, will showcase the Elder’s intruding influence in Wraeclast via fissures on the ground that spawn multiple creatures of the deep. Players can then challenge those creatures. Finishing off all the creatures by following the very end of these fissures will yield many rewards suitable to your character’s level. One can think of this as akin to the rifts in RIFT or FATEs in FFXIV, albeit in an infinitely respawning private-instanced map. This gives players another layer of depth in their game as they traverse through PoE’s original chapters, keeping it fresh for veterans and exciting for newcomers.

Ten new gems have also been included in the game, and these add more skills to the game. The biggest draw of these new gems is the new necromancy-type skills that players can gain. From the simple skill, raise the undead, to quickly teleporting to corpses and making them explode, you will certainly feel the true necromancy theme. Although only ten gems have been added, there are plenty of combinations to choose from to give your newly acquired skills different effects that will surely shape the flow of combat.

An expansion is not complete in Path of Exile without new places to explore, and War for the Atlas provides thirty-two brand new maps with increased challenges, new bosses, and a plethora of new end-game PoE items! Elder and Shaper items are those that you especially want here in War for the Atlas as they provide plenty of meta-changing abilities and attributes to keep that competitive leaderboard cutthroat.

There are also the new-fangled Elder Guardians that serve as bosses in pre-existing maps. They consume what the boss would be on a map, and get stronger in accordance with the consumed boss. They will then serve as the new gatekeeper of the map before you can actually finish. They offer so many more challenges than the bosses players have already come to know and memorize.

All in all, War for the Atlas adds scads of new content for existing players to try their hand at on the leaderboards. Newcomers can frolic in the new features too as they rush to join the ranks of the vets. If you have been having doubts about trying out Path of Exile, now is the best time to give Wraeclast a shot. Available for both PC and Xbox One, the flexibility and strength of this title is readily apparent as it stands the test of time. Head into this Dark Souls-inspired thematic game and experience, arguably, the best isometric ARPG out right now.

Path of Exile: Incursion – A Time Travel Temple Excursion

It hasn’t been so long since The War for the Atlas was released, and now we’re already looking at a new expansion for Path of Exile, Incursion. Much like previous expansions, Wraeclast is once again going to get bigger, will have new mechanics that players will have to figure out to stay on top of their game, and expanded lore that will help us further understand the Vaal.

Short and Sweet Time

Half expansion and half challenger league, Path of Exile: Incursion gives players a peek of the past. Literally, in a sense that players who are up to the task will randomly find portals that would take them to temporal incursions (thus the name of the expansion) set when the Temple of Atzoatl, a massive Vaal temple and the new location – and therefore the centerpiece – of the expansion.

And once again, literally, in a sense that players only have a short window (pun intended) of time in the locations in question. Ten seconds, to be exact. But don’t panic, because you can make your stay last longer by killing the Vaal in these time-space anomalies. The more kills you make, the longer you’ll remain in the room. And don’t worry about missing the loot because you’re too busy killing, as you’ll be given an opportunity to grab the PoE Currency once the clock has hit zero.

Past Affects Future

There are over 11 of these temporal incursions, and it’s essential that you enter all of them, as doing so will enable Alva Valai to pinpoint the Temple of Atzoatl’s location in the present time. And with the new expansion being all about time travel, your actions in the “past” determines not only the temple rooms’ aesthetics and function, but also the level of difficulty of its monsters, the type of monsters you’re going deal with, and the reward they’re going to yield.

For example, there’s an architect in the past that grows poisonous plants. Killing him means you’ll no longer have to deal with anything that is related to lethal flora, making your run much easier. On the other hand, if you choose to spare his life, or even make him more powerful by killing his rival architects, then you’ll have to deal with a humongous noxious plant. Now, why would you want to deal with that?

Because if your build relies on poison, then you’ll want to slay this difficult boss, as it will yield a one-of-a-kind item that will be vital to you.

Aside from the looks and kind of enemies you’ll have to slay, what you do in the temporal inclusions will create doorways and passages. Make the right ones, and you’ll have the chance to enter the boss’s room.

A Shift in Skills

Last but not least, skills are going to have a revamp, especially Vaal Skills, the active skill that was corrupted by Vaal Orbs and have altered effects for better or worse. The latter, despite many of them being unique and useful, have been largely ignored because they need to be charged first before they can be used. To make them more palatable to the players, Grinding Gear Games has decided to lessen the needed charges to use the skill. Also, when Vaal skill gems don’t have enough charges, players will be able to use the non-Vaal version of the skill it provides.

As for non-Vaal skills, Incinerate, Rain of Arrows, Infernal Blow, Cold Snap, Charged Dash, Double Strike, Lacerate, Ground Slam, and Power Siphon will be reworked. And finally, there will be five new trap skills and six new Vaal skills. Talk about a wider skill library.

With Incursion, Path of Exile’s future is going to be a blast from and because of the past. So, don’t leave Wraeclast now, and come back if you already have, because this time you’re going to have a good time.   

Some Reasons Why Fortnite Trumped PUBG on Twitch

When Fortnite released its Battle Royale mode, everybody thought it was going to compete with PUBG. It has not done much to PUBG's player base yet, so they have been coexisting for some time. However, now, Fortnite has beaten PUBG as a more streamed and played game on Twitch.

How did this happen?

Fatigue

PUBG is exciting yes, but it starts out really slow. There are mostly the same actions throughout rounds. You jump out of the plane, gather supplies and equipment, hide and look for other players, race to the safe zone, and repeat. Sure, there is some variety in the two maps that are available to play in, but you can easily end up getting tired of those them after multiple encounters.

Meanwhile, Fortnite may only have one map, but it is smaller and more compact. You are more likely to encounter players throughout the game as well. There is also the ability of knowing the location of chests beforehand. They are great for setting up ambushes, which adds another layer of strategy to the game. Overall, Fortnite is just a little better at delivering the action more often, which gives it an advantage over PUBG.

Cheaters

With PUBG's servers open to Chinese players, the incidence of cheating increased dramatically. It also has led to the steady decline of PUBG's player base, and now that decline has given way to Fortnite's popularity. Granted, the players who are moving to the latter have helped boost its popularity.

Quicker Rounds, and More Action

Fortnite is much better at being streamed than PUBG. The smaller map gives a higher player encounter rate, and the added feature of building forts while playing is just amazing. In addition to that, there are things other than building forts you that you cannot do in PUBG that you can in Fortnite. For example, riding a rocket or using an impact grenade is one aspect of the game. These kinds of features give a really different and more enjoyable experience to the game.

What Does This Mean for PUBG?

Until PUBG solves the rampant cheating that has been increasing within the game, players will be reluctant to return to it. Even if there are updates (the new PUBG skins look great) and additional features, the experience of playing the game is has been ruined by the cheating players. They cannot even begin to lure new players in, because who would want to pay to play an unfair game?

New World of Warcraft Mounts in the Battle for Azeroth Expansion

Set after the fall of the Burning Legion introduced in the previous expansion, the adventurers are called to save the world (again) and determine which faction will lead the devastated world into the future in The Battle for Azeroth. The fate of Azeroth is in your hands, adventurer. Will you lead it to ruin or prosperity?

As the release of the newest expansion of World of Warcraft draws closer, more and more information is being revealed. From the new Warfronts mode to new mounts previously unannounced, there's something new to learn about the expansion.

Other articles may have covered mounts released earlier, such as the bee mount or the brutosaur, but another mount has been introduced that sparked many players' interest. It's the Forsaken Felbat mount, otherwise known as the Undercity Plaguebat.

The Undercity Plaguebat

The mount looks like a gargoyle with huge bat ears (that look like horns when viewed straight on from the front), as well as bat wings. It has four limbs tipped with wicked claws. Its shoulders and arms are covered with spiky armor sleeves with a glowing skull decorating the shoulder. The saddle is a chair braced on the bat's back, with candles glowing softly behind it.

While it sounds (and looks) very cool, not much else is known about it, such as whether players may be able to obtain and use them. Also, if they are able, how? Is it a quest reward, or sold only in the online store? Is it a re-skin of an NPC's mount? All these questions can only be answered either in future updates, or when the expansion pack is released in August.

More Interesting Updates

Data miners have found other possible World of Warcraft mounts to be made available in the expansion. There's the Hivemind Multi-seat mount for example. Its unique skill is to allow multiple players to link up, making its movement speed faster and faster the more players join. The mount's model seems to look like a large jellyfish-like blob, so how it will look when players ride it is quite hard to imagine.

Another interesting mount is the gryphon. There are three versions of them, namely, the Reins of the Proodmoore Sea Scout, the Reins of the Stormsong Coastwatcher, and the Reins of the Dusky Waycrest Gryphon. The only difference between them is their colors, and which faction to join and raise your standing in. To get the first, you must have an ‘Exalted' standing in the Proudmoore Admiralty faction, and the second and third are the same, but with the Storm's Wake and Order of Embers factions respectively.

In a more adorable train of thought, data miners have also found some spells related to the Vulpera. They are a fox-like race that lives on Zandalar, and a spell can be used to summon a Vulpera pup (in four different colors). How and why they are important is still unknown, but everybody can agree that they are adorable.

More information is sure to come in the weeks leading up to the release. While waiting, be sure to continue enjoying World of Warcraft!

How to Download PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds on iPhone, iPad, and Android

1.     Go to the app catalog (iTunes App Store or Google Play Store)

2.     Search PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds Mobile

3.     Select and download version published by Tencent Games

4.     Enjoy PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds on mobile!

The problem comes for those who are not in the United States or Canada. Of course, there is a way around this.

Option One: Change Your Apple/Google Account Location

For Apple users, the process is quite lengthy. You must create a new account in iCloud and use an email address that you have access to. Then, go to the App Store once the account is created and, when prompted to complete your Apple ID, choose 'United States' as your location. Skip the section of adding a payment method and input an address. Go back to the App Store and search for PUBG Mobile by Tencent Games. Finally, download and enjoy! Be sure to backup your data before logging out.

For Android users, it is very simple to create a profile and change locations in Google Payments Center. You'll need an address as well, which is pretty simple to get. Once the address is verified, you can download the app from the Play Store.

Option Two: Alternative Methods

Particularly for Android users, they have the option to download the .apk or .obb game files and manually install them, by bypassing going to the Play Store. Of course, this carries a risk of opening your device to potentially harmful files, but it is up to you to take this route or not.

There is also a chance that your friend could have the files needed or an app-sharing app on their device. It is way easier than creating a new account.

Option Three: Wait

If the options above are not to your liking, all you can do is wait for the app to release within your region. You will miss out on events and any PUBG items they might give out, but it may be worth the wait. Whatever method you decide to use to download and play PUBG Mobile, we hope you enjoy it!

The Dreaded PUBG Circle of Death

Mention the words “circle” and “death” in the same breath and you’re sure to conjure up images of the infamous Xbox fiasco from over a decade ago. Nowadays, there is another circle that’s making waves in the gaming world. Though not as widespread as Xbox’s Red Ring of Death, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’own version of the Circle of Death is as well-known as it is detested.

However, as loathed as it is by some, it is a component that’s intricately woven into PUBG’s gameplay and core identity. You simply have to live with it and, if possible, use it to as leverage if you want to get the most of the PUBG experience. Here’s a look at all the things you need to know about the notorious Blue Circle otherwise known as the PUBG Playzone.

It has a Purpose

As much as you might detest it, the Blue Circle does indeed serve a purpose in the game. Fighting in an expansive area for an inordinate amount of time can get stale. Chances are, people will just crawl into their own hiding spaces and wait for the less patient players to come out into the open. This makes for easy pickings, after all. That’s exactly what the Blue Circle is for! It forces the action to take place rather than just waiting for player-to-player engagement. That’s also what makes the game so much more exciting. It’s the long buildup—knowing you’ll inevitably have to face all other surviving players to be the last man standing—that makes you edgy and sweaty with anticipation.

You Can Use the Circle to Your Advantage

Much like the way you use PUBG items to win, you can use the Blue Circle to your advantage. It’s all about time-awareness and positioning. You can’t just shoot your way out of every encounter if you wish to be the last man standing. Sure, it’s a fun way to play, but it doesn’t assure success—in fact, it even lessens your chances to bring home the much-coveted chicken dinner. Play smart by being aware of when the circle will close in and you can have an ally on your side instead of an ominous deterrent. As much as possible, position yourself in the middle early on and try to move toward the edges later.

How and when you make your move is essential. Engage your opponent too early and you risk giving your position away. This will leave you in quite a predicament should you be cornered in a tight spot once the blue circle starts to shrink. To avoid this rather difficult situation, you need to develop a keen sense of awareness in order to use the circle to your advantage.

There are certain things that conjure up a strong sense of urgency. PUBG’s Circle of Death is certainly one of them. Few things force players to snap back into focus and bring their A-game the way the dreaded Blue Circle of death can. Love it or hate it, the Blue Circle is here to stay. It’s up to you to adjust your strategy around it so you can get the ever-elusive chicken dinner.

Fast WayTo Make Money in World of Warcraft: Legion

Being rich or at least, financially stable in an MMORPG is always a must. Having less to no gold in a character is paralyzing because there are a lot of expenses in MMOs. Repair bills come in big numbers if you are raiding a lot. Crafting materials that you might need are most of the time expensive because usually, we don’t have time to farm for those. Yeah, having gold is a priority. Being rich in-game also doesn’t hurt.

In Search of Guides

World of Warcraft is no exception to making sure you have enough gold for basic necessities in-game. Actually, it is more needed and most beneficial if you have lots of gold in WoWsince you can pay your subscription with WoW Token which can be bought by, yes, gold.

As I scoured the internet for guides inefficient moneymaking in World of Warcraft, I came to a realization that farming for raw materials is still the king. It has been the most lucrative way to earn gold quickly in the game. Again, nobody has time for farming those nodes. By the time you mustered all the patience to gather crafting materials and decide to go farm, you will find out that there are numerous players already picking them. Nodes aren’t shared. Once a player harvests a node, you have to go find another. Or maybe just wait for the respawn of the same node but that won’t make the endeavour efficient anymore. That is why it is really a deterring way to earn gold but still, it is the best way so you and I have no choice.

The Farming Guide

There are tons and tons of guides in making gold in World of Warcraft out there. Some of which are exploits and we don’t want those. Let us go with the legit way of farming without the risk of getting banned. Farming gold with an exploit in an account that will get banned eventually is pointless after all.

Even the legit farming guides, they are countless. No worries, here is one of the most in-depth farming video guide for the latest expansion, Legion. The video tackles on the things that you need and how to go about the crafting materials farming:

If you did not view the six-minute video, you would be needing Forgotten Techniques of the Broken Isles of Herbalism and Mining, depending on which mats and nodes you will be farming. The video guide suggested that for Herbalism, you would need at least Rank 3 Herbalism so that you can farm for Starlight Rose. They sell very well in the Auction House as they are very needed in crafting. For Mining, on the other hand, you will be concentrating more on those Leystones. Rank 3 Leystone Mining is needed to assure drops and how many of those appear on every node. Remember, we are not wasting any time and we are trying to be very efficient. I suggest you scroll up and watch the video if you haven’t.

Don’t forget those useful addons in World of Warcraft for Gathering. Gathermate 2 is a very nice addon to have when gathering on a large scale.

Perfect this farming routine and you will be rich in no time!