News
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Microtransaction Features Enrages Fans
In Dragon’s Dogma 2 fans have to pay for fast travel.
Capcom’s fantasy role-playing game Dragon’s Dogma 2 has launched at last to critical acclaim, but some players have reacted much harsher.
At the center of these complaints is a suite of 21 downloadable items Capcom released without warning alongside Dragon’s Dogma 2 across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Most of them are single-use in-game items enabling features like new fast-travel locations, the ability to change characters’ appearance, and combat revives.
Fans feel betrayed by Dragon’s Dogma 2
On Steam, where Dragon’s Dogma 2 was a much-hyped and wishlist title, user reviews sit at “Mostly Negative” at the time of writing.
Alongside the microtransactions, critical players cite the game’s poor performance on PC and the developer’s use of the unpopular anti-cheat and anti-piracy software Denuvo.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 used microtransactions despite being $100. (Credit: Instagram)
Capcom is often criticized for tagging many microtransactions onto largely single-player games, like the Resident Evil 4 remake or Monster Hunter Rise.
If Dragon’s Dogma 2 is drawing more criticism than usual, it could be because of the way the items on sale interact with the game’s intentionally challenging and restrictive design.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a single-player game, so players can easily ignore these microtransactions if they don’t like them. However, the problem is how these transactions fit with the game’s unique design.
The game uses the scarcity of these items to make the experience more challenging and immersive. If the items are sold, it may go against this design by suggesting that scarcity was just a sales tactic all along.
Regardless of the reasoning behind them, Dragon’s Dogma 2’s microtransactions are unlikely to tarnish its reputation for good; it’s an engrossing game that seems likely to captivate even more players than its cultish predecessor. But they’re another sign of the increasing pressure on AAA game development — and that’s probably here to stay.
Reception of Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has emerged from the shadows, and the critical reception has been mostly favorable despite some mixed reactions from the masses. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this action RPG sequel has stirred curiosity among fans.
According to IGN’s Take, Dragon’s Dogma 2 feels more like a redo than a direct sequel. It builds upon the original game’s strengths without fully addressing its weaknesses.
Much like Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2, which was essentially a remake of his cult-classic horror-comedy, this sequel doesn’t stray too far from the blueprint that made it a beloved action RPG over the past decade.
The game’s action design is excellent, and the world, while not clearly defined, is both strong and attractive. However, it also has some of the same problems as the original version, with systems that seem precariously put together, like a well-pruned Jenga tower.
The vast dark fantasy world is dense with secrets and unbeaten paths. Many of these remain hidden unless you actively seek them out. Traveling through forests and crags is perilous, especially at night when the dangers escalate.
In summary, Dragon’s Dogma 2 celebrates patience and commitment, offering thrilling combat highs and near-constant “eureka!” moments. According to Outer Haven’s Perspective, Despite some technical hiccups, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a masterwork comeback for the popular action RPG series from Capcom.
The return to this dark fantasy world brings both danger and intrigue. While occasional performance issues exist, fans of the series will find much to love in this sequel.
Fans Perspective of Dragon’s Dogma 2
As per Kevin Purdy’s perspective, Dragon’s Dogma 2 (DD2) reminds him of playing another huge, dumb, enjoyable game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Not the first time you play through it, though.
He is talking about the second or third run-through (or that 100-plus-hour save in which you refuse to finish the game), and your admiration of this huge, rich world gives way to utter ridiculousness.
You one-shot dragons with your broken stealth-archer build, you put buckets on the heads of NPCs to rob them, and you marvel at how the most effective fast travel is horse tilting. You lunge into possibilities, choose chaos, and appreciate all the ways you can do so.
He promised that the game would be talked about for a long time. It didn’t deviate significantly from the first Dragon’s Dogma, and it felt like a unique game with memorable moments: epic battles, funny encounters with goblins, and charming NPC companions. He also said that a new story was created every few minutes.
News
Danielle Maltby’s New Tattoo Reflects Breakup, Life Changes, and More
“And then she started surviving. And then she found herself.”
Danielle Maltby is getting candid about her new tattoo and its meaning!
The Bachelor in Paradise alum recently got a new tattoo, which reads, “And then she…” in cursive on the outside of her wrist. When her eagle-eyed fans noticed her new ink, they began asking questions about it and wondered about the meaning behind her latest tattoo.
As many had guessed, her new tattoo also reflects her recent breakup with her now-former boyfriend, Michael Allio. Maltby and Allio began dating during Bachelor in Paradise season 8, and their relationship continued until Allio announced their breakup in September 2023.
On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Maltby took to her Instagram handle to share a few pictures flaunting her new tattoo. Through the caption, she decided to answer the fan’s query regarding the meaning behind her tattoo.
She wrote, “I’ve had a few DM’s and messages about my new tattoo, so here we go. Break ups, big moves, life changes, death, new jobs, new beginnings are just these massive plot twists in our lives.”
“Looking back on all these things that have challenged my story and character arc (go with the analogy here), I just kept leaning into ‘and then what?’ And then what did I do?” Maltby added. She then revealed what she did over the course of the past few months.
She continued in the caption, “And then she… broke. And then she felt everything all at once. And then she found sparks of joy. And then she washed her hair. And then she smiled. And then she made someone else smile. And then she hurt again.”
“And then she thanked god she wasn’t with him. And then she got a new job. And then she moved. And then she started surviving. And then she started thriving. And then she went on vacation alone. And then she found herself.”
“And then she fell in love with everything and herself. And then she shown brighter, and brighter, and brighter. And then she… ??? There’s always an “and then…” to our stories. They’re constantly being written,” Maltby added.
Danielle Maltby flaunting her new tattoo (Photo: Instagram)
She concluded her caption by thanking her tattoo artist, Lexi Kip, for inking her. Meanwhile, netizens went to the post’s comment section and expressed how “beautiful and powerful” Maltby’s new tattoo is. Some also praised her for her bravery through the tough times.
One fan wrote, “Oh this is beautiful and so powerful. It’s truly an honor to watch your journey! I may have started following you from your season on The Bachelor, but I stay because your light radiates so authentically, and I am drawn to it. Praying and rooting for you!”
“Love this. And then she lived her best life! Tattoos are my healing and storytelling too, you’ve shown bravery and grace and that should always be celebrated!” another Instagram user commented.
As for Maltby’s other tattoos, she once revealed to ABC that she had a few of them. She mentioned that she had a tattoo on her ribs, which she was getting removed, and one on her lower back, which was almost removed.
Additionally, she stated that she had one tattoo on her left ring finger that spells “strength.” Furthermore, in her tweet of February 2, 2019, she revealed that she has a Deathly Hallows tattoo, referring to the three Deathly Hallows from the Harry Potter film series.
News
Caity Lotz Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby with Husband Kyle Schmid
Congrats to the married couple!
Congratulations are in order for Caity Lotz and her husband, Kyle Schmid, as they are expecting their first baby together.
Rumors of Lotz’s pregnancy were first initiated after her Instagram post on April 11, 2024. She posted a few pictures of herself with her friend, in which she was donning a red bikini at a beach and seemingly hiding her baby bump.
The pregnancy rumors were eventually met with a positive response. On Saturday, April 20, Lotz and Schmid took to their respective Instagram handles to reveal that they were pregnant with their first child. The married couple had shared four identical pictures.
In one picture, Schmid can be seen holding his wife’s growing baby bump as she sits on his lap. In another, the married duo is holding each other’s stomachs. Similarly, they posted a sonogram photo as the fourth picture of their respective Instagram posts.
Lotz captioned her pregnancy announcement, writing, “Gaining weight for the role of a lifetime.” On the other hand, Schmid wrote a bit lengthy caption, starting with, “Never would have thought the woman of my dreams could have become anymore beautiful.”
“Your glow, your shine, you’re going to be the best mom in the world. I can’t wait to be a proud poppa. What a whirlwind of a year!” he concluded his heartfelt caption along with four hashtags: “mommabear,” “poppabear,” “bigpoppa,” and “highfive.”
Following their pregnancy announcement, Lotz’s Arrowverse co-stars – including Candice Patton, Katherine McNamara, Javicia Leslie, Danielle Panabaker, and more – along with many fans filled the comment section with congratulatory messages.
For instance, actress Olivia Swann wrote, “AHHHHHHH congratulations Caity!! Sending huge love to you and Kyle, incredible news,” with actress Jes Macallan commenting, “So beautiful! Can’t wait to love on this baby. Can our littles go to summer camp together when they get older?!”
A couple of days later, on Wednesday, April 24, Lotz took to her Instagram handle to share another picture of herself flaunting her ever-growing baby bump. Along with the photo, she wrote, “Now that I’m (hopefully) past all the nausea and extreme fatigue, I’m loving being pregnant!”
A pregnant Caity Lotz flaunting her baby bump at Yosemite National Park (Photo: Instagram)
As mentioned earlier, this is Lotz and Schmid’s first baby. The now-married couple first met each other through a mutual friend. Their first date was a “quick coffee double date,” which they had with their mutual friend and her husband on February 21, 2021.
Lotz and Schmid eventually began dating, and their bond grew stronger as time passed. A little over a year after they started dating, Schmid decided to take his relationship with his then-girlfriend to the next level and proposed to her in May 2022.
On May 7, 2022, Schmid shared some moments from their engagement via Instagram, expressing his love for his then-fiancee. “The sun rises and sets with you. The moon and the stars have never shone so brightly. You are the love of my life,” he captioned.
Likewise, days before the then-engaged duo celebrated their second dating anniversary, they walked down the aisle and shared their wedding vows. Lotz and Schmid married in an intimate ceremony on February 11, 2023.
Speaking a little about their wedding, it was a destination wedding in Cartagena, Colombia, where only close friends and family members were in attendance. The Flash alum later informed her fans about their marriage on Valentine’s Day of 2023.
News
Lauren Luyendyk Wants 1 More Baby with Arie Luyendyk, Told Husband to Reverse Vasectomy
“Just wait a little.”
Lauren Burnham Luyendyk, also known as Lauren Luyendyk, has spoken her mind on whether she wants to have more children with her husband, Arie Luyendyk Jr., aka Arie Luyendyk.
The answer is that she wants to have one more baby with her partner. Besides, she even told her husband to get her vasectomy reversed. These revelations came during Lauren’s recent Q&A session, which she held over her Instagram handle.
On Monday, April 22, 2024, Lauren hosted an Instagram Q&A session where one of her followers asked her if she felt her family was complete. The Bachelor alum and her husband are currently the proud and blessed parents of three children.
In reply to the fan’s question, Lauren stressed that the question was a hard one as she recently even told her husband to reverse his vasectomy. However, the parents of three sometimes have a hard time with their kids.
She wrote, “This is such a hard question for me… I told Arie to get a vasectomy reversal the other day, but then we have super hard days sometimes with the kids, and then I sort of question it. I don’t know. I think I might want one more, but just wait a little.”
Lauren’s answer left many of her followers to believe that the reality TV star and her longtime husband might welcome one more baby in the near future. However, it is currently unknown when the married couple will welcome the new addition to their family.
Moreover, Lauren’s husband, Arie, also has to reverse his vasectomy before they plan on having more kids. In this regard, Arie had a few things to say during his recent Q&A session on Instagram in late March 2024.
Firstly, when one Instagram user asked The Bachelor alum if his life at the moment was how he envisioned his future when he started his journey as the Bachelor, Arie replied that he never thought he would be this lucky.
Lauren Luyendyk with her husband, Arie Luyendyk, and their three children (Photo: Instagram)
His reply read, “I never thought in a million years I would be this lucky. Honestly, this is better than the future I had carved out in my mind. Lauren is everything and has also given me so much more to love with our three kids. I am forever grateful.”
Right after answering that fan question, he answered another fan question regarding his vasectomy and if he would ever consider reversing the procedure. He tagged his wife’s Instagram handle and wrote, “Whatcha think Lauren?!”
Coming over to Lauren and Arie’s relationship, she has been married to her husband since January 12, 2019. They met on The Bachelor season 22 and engaged on the show itself. Shortly after their wedding, on May 29, 2019, they welcomed their first child, daughter Alessi.
In 2020, Lauren suffered a miscarriage; however, later, in December 2020, the married duo announced they were expecting their second child. Later, it was revealed that they were expecting twins. On June 12, 2021, they welcomed daughter Senna and son Lux.
Some months after the arrival of their twin children, Luyendyk and his wife jointly decided that Luyendyk would have a vasectomy. On February 1, 2022, the reality TV star uploaded a YouTube video revealing he got a vasectomy.
-
News5 days agoTara Yummy Apology Resurfaces amid Old Tweet Condoning Sexual Assault
-
News5 days agoLauren Luyendyk Wants 1 More Baby with Arie Luyendyk, Told Husband to Reverse Vasectomy
-
Fashion5 days agoWondering About Diamond Color? Why Not Turn to Rare Carat’s Experts?
-
Fashion5 days agoHave You Explored the Spectrum of Color Diamonds?
-
News4 days agoCaity Lotz Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby with Husband Kyle Schmid
-
Fashion4 days agoWhy Diamond Jewelry Makes the Perfect Gift
-
News2 days agoDanielle Maltby’s New Tattoo Reflects Breakup, Life Changes, and More