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Unknown Culprit tries to peel-off PS5 scratch code out of Doritos Bag

Just a few weeks ago, Doritos recently announced their newest special promotion in the Philippines with Sony's partnership. The promotion will allow Filipino gamers to bring home a brand-new PlayStation 5 (PS5) when they purchase a bag of Doritos.

A single bag of Doritos contains a scratchable coupon code that they could use to redeem it on Doritos' official website. When lucky, 10 winners will able to get PS5 units. And over 2000 winners will able to get random PlayStation games and other devices.

Amidst the PS5 stock shortage, an unknown culprit desperately ripped off the scratchable sticker on one of the Doritos bags displayed in a supermarket.

A picture uploaded by RK Bautista in the PlayStation Philippine Facebook group shows a rip-off sticker of a Doritos bag. The incident happened in SM City Bacoor, Cavite. "mga sir wag naman ganyan! hahahaha. kung nasa group man gumawa nito grabe ka" (Sir, don't be like that! Hahahaha. if you're in this group, you're too much), RK Bautista write in a post.

Members in the group also reacted, "Sana hindi masarap yung pagkain yung nag sira niyan pramis" (I hope he didn't enjoy the food and it taste bad), Precil Canoy write in the comment. "Dapat ung code nilagay sa loob" (The code should be placed inside the bag), Adrian Sy added.

In unexpected twist, the culprit didn't know, that even being able to get the winning code, an actual picture of Doritos bag and the coupon code is needed to claim the prize as part of the verification process. 

A large bag of Doritos is cost around 150 PHP in the Philippines; it includes one scratchable code that could contain a winning code of the following prizes:

  • 10 PlayStation 5 Console
  • 24 PlayStation 4 Console
  • 24 DualSense wireless controller
  • 1,960 PlayStation 5/4 games

The Doritos PlayStation 5 promotion will run from March 1 up to April 30, 2021.

Genshin Impact Paimon's Quiz Event on Facebook Messenger

Genshin Impact is giving away another free primogems to all players. This time, by participating into a quiz event on their official Facebook page. Players had to send them a message through Facebook messenger and navigate to the paimon quiz, when players answer the question correctly, they will get free 40 x Primogems.

Table of Content

  1. How to participate in Paimon's Quiz
  2. Answer to Quiz Question

However, the reward will not automatically appear to players in-game maibox, but will be sent on March 19, 2021. The event is a promotion for their upcoming rerun of Venti "Windborne Bard" banner and players will be expecting the quiz question is about this returning character.

How to participate in Paimon's Quiz

To participate in Genshin Impact Paimon's quiz, you need to go to their official Facebook page or through their messenger at http://m.me/Genshinimpact.

Paimon will be welcoming you on their messenger page. You need to click the Get Started button.

After that, it will asked you to select a language. Pick the language that you understand.

From here, there will be a selection of help page. You need to pick Paimon's Quiz.

After that, it will asked you a question. For English, the question is What is Venti's favorite food?

There will be 3 choices of answers, the correct answer is Apple.

You will then be asked to enter your in-game (9-digit) UID. You can find this number on the bottom right of the game (For example in the screenshot below, our UID is 80054970). You need to enter your own UID in the messenger chat to be eligible to get your reward.

The page will then prompt when you'll get the rewards in your in-game mail which is March 19.

Answer to Quiz Question

Here are all answers and question to every language in Paimon's quiz.

Language Question Answer
English What is Venti's favorite food? Apple
French Quelle est la nourriture préférée de Venti Pomme
Deutsch Welches von den folgenden Nahrungsmitteln isst Venti am liebsten? Apfel
Español ¿Cuál es la comida favorita de Venti? Manzana
Português Qual é a comida favorita do Venti？ Maçã
Pусский Какая у Венти любимая еда? Яблоки
한국어 벤티는 아래 음식 중 어떤 음식을 좋아할까? 사과
Tiếng Việt Venti thích món nào nhất dưới đây? Táo
Indonesia Apa makanan kesukaan Venti? Apple
ภาษาไทย อาหารที่ Venti ชื่นชอบที่สุดอะไร? Apple

Players can only participate on this quiz event until March 16, 2021. After that, the quiz will no longer appear on their Facebook messenger.

That's it guys! Happy grinding!

Smart offers non-expiring load through Magic Data Promo, 24GB for PHP 399

The first telco that offers non-expiring load in the Philippines was from the Globe's digital telco GOMO. Without a doubt, a lot of Filipinos loves this kind of offer because they can have more freedom on how they can use their data. Now, Smart on the other hand, also offer the same promo, a non-expiring load, through their newest promo "Magic Data" where you can purchase a 24GB of data for PHP 399.

The new Magic Data promo of Smart will allow their prepaid subscriber to have a non-expiring load on accessing websites. The following are the rates of the Magic Data:

  • Magic Data 99 – 2GB Magic Data (No Expiry) for all sites
  • Magic Data 199 – 6GB Magic Data (No Expiry) for all sites
  • Magic Data 399 – 24GB Magic Data (No Expiry) for all sites

You can avail this offer by downloading their GigaLife app from Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).

Even though Smart's non-expiring load is quite pricey than GOMO's 30GB for P299, the speed you'll get from Smart are more reliable than the latter, especially on other areas where Globe signal are weak.

Racing Master, a Real-time Racing Realism of NetEase Games and Codemasters

Brand new IP brings real-world vehicles and tracks to Beta testers from March 2021

Da Hua studios of global games developer and operator NetEase Games, in conjunction with Codemasters – the award-winning British video game developer and publisher specialising in high-quality racing games including DIRT, GRID, and the BAFTA award-winning official F1 series today announce a new, cross-platform authentic racing game, Racing Master, will be available on both iOS and Android during its beta test. Racing Master will follow on other formats, with a Beta available in the US and Canada from March.

Racing Master is a real-time simulation racing game. Developed using the Unreal 4 engine and Codemasters' proprietary EGO technology, players will experience intense, authentic racing with precision-engineered vehicles. Players have access to hundreds of hyper-realistic cars from brands including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Koenigsegg, and Aston Martin. Race against other players in cities around the world to become a racing champion. 

Pre-register on their official website: http://www.racingmaster.game/

Steeped in automotive culture, Racing Master allows players to race, tune and build their ultimate car collection. Customise vehicles with real-world parts from leading manufacturers and set the handling from casual to simulation for maximum control. With both tilt and touch options, Racing Master is the definitive racing experience, fully optimized across every platform.

A new trailer for all potential racers can be viewed here:

"I've always wanted to create a high-quality, realistic racing game." Bo Zhang, the Producer of Racing Master at NetEase Games, commented, "I am beyond grateful and truly honored to have this opportunity to fulfil my aspiration. With Racing Master, we set out to provide a platform for players to spark their passion for racing and experience the thrill of realistic driving!" Ming Huang, the Supervisor of the game, added, "Partnering with Codemasters gives us the confidence, we need to achieve our goals and create a mobile racing game that can stand out amongst the rest."

"As leaders in the racing category, we are excited to finally tell the world about Racing Master, the result of our strategic partnership with NetEase Games," said Clive Moody, SVP Product Development at Codemasters. "NetEase Games shares the same passion and vision that's needed to deliver a best-in-class racing experience. Taking the world's most aspirational supercars, Racing Master is rooted in automotive culture and provides authentic wheel-to-wheel action for the mobile platform."

Racing Master has been designed to be the perfect playground for all racing enthusiasts. The game boasts competitive real-time races against players from around the world, featuring real-world tracks across several race types in fully licensed cars. NetEase Games is delighted to invite racers to sign up for the game's Beta to help further the game's development and establish it as a leading mobile racing title. 

  • Authentic racing experience – From the sensation of braking to even the angle your car's body tilts when cornering, Racing Master provides an unprecedented virtual driving experience with the most realistic physics engine ever!
  • High-quality art performance – UE4's revolutionary graphical quality brings every detail of your cars to life. Players can admire the beauty of your cars from different perspectives, interact with every part which are true to their real-life counterparts and are restored on a 1:1 scale.
  • Multiple real-world tracks and hyper cars – Players can own over hundreds of real-world hyper cars which authorized by more than 30+ top vehicle brands: Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, etc. Race on multiple authorized real-world tracks: Sliver stone, San-Francisco, Yas Dusk, etc.
  • Real-time racing with live players – Drift, Accelerate, Overtake! Players can race with other 7 live players and earn your place on the leaderboards! Dominate every track and become a legend in the world of Racing Master.
  • Freely customize your car with rich component parts – Players can customize the look and component parts of the car as they wish freely to get a unique car of their own. Use your creativity to paint your car, customize the engine, tyre, chassis and more to make your car better suited to your driving style!

More information about Racing Master can be found on the game's official website and social media channels: YouTube, Facebook and Discord

How to use "Ready" Power Ability in Valheim

When you or other players in Valheim defeated the boss in the game, players can obtain a trophy that can be hook on the Sacrificial stone which will unlock new abilities for players. If it's your first to unlock this power like me, it is quite confusing on which keyboard keys to press to activate it. And there is only a "Ready" label underneath the boss like icon (The Elder, Eikthyr, Bonemass, Moder and Yagluth).

How to use Power Ability

To use the Ready power ability in Valheim, you need to press F on your keyboard.

List of All Power Abilities in Valheim

The following are the power abilities that you can obtain in Valheim. In the game its called Forsaken power.

Boss Power Ability
Eikthyr Running and jumping stamina drain reduced by 60%
The Elder Chop trees became faster
Bonemass Increased physical resistance
Moder Always tailwind when sailing
Yagluth Increase elemental resistance to Frost, Fire and Poison

That's it! Hope this short guide will help you activate the power ability of your Valheim character.

Silkroad Online SEA Server, Grand Launch Today

Silkroad Online, the mobile version of the classic MMORPG, its grand launch is on 11th March, 4pm. You can download the game right now. Also there are many events with generous rewards on their FB page; the links are at the end of the article.

Silkroad Online is based on a recreation of the Silk Road and the environment throughout the seventh century. The fantasy game's atmosphere is made up of the history, traditions, and myths of the various regions. The settlements you see in the game are the product of a massive amount of paperwork and historical research in order to construct a setting that is as similar to the 7th century as possible. The names of places and other names around the world are derived as directly as possible from historical names. Once you log into the game, you'll see places like Jangan, the Donwhang Stone Cave entrances, and Constantinople, all of which were real sites. The resemblance in the presence and the virtual and the historical is enough to make the player feel like he has really gone back into history.

Many of Silkroad Online's graphics are essentially designed to replicate the reality of the period to provide a historical feeling. But the monsters on the ground and the missions of the NPCs are based on the history and myth of that area and tailored to fit the game, Silkroad Online. So, in addition to the 7th century and reality-based perspective, there are mythological creatures for the players to chase, as well as a variety of quests from the tales to complete; all of this inherently combines history and mythology in the combination that Silkroad Online is.

Since the Merchant, Ranger, and Hunter are all designed to complement or oppose each other, a player can kill or be killed when engaged in a job task. The Merchant seeks to benefit by shipping unique cargo from one location to another, the Ranger seeks to profit through exploiting merchants by theft, and the Hunter is hired by the Merchant to protect him from Rangers. This type of formalized confrontational relationship fosters the development of appropriate, relevant PVP relationships.

Download Link:

Attack on Titan fan-made game gets First-person mode

Developed by an indie developer named Swammy, a new fan-made game based on the Attack on Titan will allow players to experience the anime series in first-person mode. Players will be playing as a member of the scout regiment where they will be facing the Titans invading the Shiganshina District. Upcoming update will also allow the player to face the final boss, as of now this is on development.

Since the game is fan-made, it is FREE to download and you can grab the game at their official game distribution site GameJolt at https://gamejolt.com/games/AOTSwammy/586500

The game was originally developed as a fun side project of the lone developer, Swammy, to just explore the physics system of a certain game engine, then applied to his final project named Aftershock where it has a grapple system needed to complete the project. The developer was also a big fan of Shingeki No Kyogin where he downloaded the art assets from Guedin's project to make his own version. Unexpectedly, players around the globe notice the game and exploded in different social media channels. As of writing, the game page official views count now reaches 95,000.

What do you think of the new fan-made Attack on Titan game? Let us know in the comment section.

How to Fill up YouTube US taxes if you are outside of the US and from the Philippines

YouTube announces today through email that they are starting to deduct U.S. taxes on all content creators outside of the United States (U.S.) for all income generated in the United States of America (USA). Content creators are also asked to fill-up the form before May 31, 2021, or else YouTube will deduct up to 24% in all earnings, not just in the U.S. but worldwide.

Table of Contents

  1. Tax Treaty (US and Philippines)
  2. How to fill up Adsense tax info
    1. Type information
    2. Tax identity
    3. Address
    4. Tax Treaty
    5. Document Preview
    6. Certification
    7. Activity and Services performed in US
  3. Tax info Calculation

The content of the email states the following:

We're reaching out because Google will be required to deduct U.S. taxes from payments to creators outside of the U.S. later this year (as early as June 2021). Over the next few weeks, we'll be asking you to submit your tax info in AdSense to determine the correct amount of taxes to deduct, if any apply. If your tax info isn't provided by May 31, 2021, Google may be required to deduct up to 24% of your total earnings worldwide.

The changes affect all content creators who have viewers from the United States in which their earnings from this country will be reduced by up to 30% depending on the countries' tax treaty. In the Philippines, you can reduce the tax from 0% up to 15%.

Tax Treaty (US and Philippines)

There are some misinformation circulating on YouTube from other content creators that we don't have tax treaty with the US, but we have since 1976 – such treaty will prevent "double taxation", the best example is from the case of Manny Pacquiao in 2003.

If you are a content creators in the Philippines, you can avail of the tax treaty discount by having a BIR (TIN ID) and filling up the W-8ben form. If you're already paying taxes in the Philippines, this is very helpful to avoid double taxation. Take note that when you avail tax treaty, you are encourage to report your earning to the BIR.

For those who does not have TIN yet and wish not to avail the reduced tax using Tax treaty. You can do so, but it will automatically set the taxes to 30% for all earning generated in the United States. This is very bad if most of your viewers are from US. You can get your TIN by signing up on the BIR website or from the nearest BIR branch in your area.

Using the tax treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines, the taxes will be reduced to 0% for Adsense. Other services like Google Play Apps and Movies are down to 15%.

You can check the Tax treaty between US and Philippines here. The mentioned Article on the tax treaty that is applicable for YouTube channels and ads are in Article 8 which is the Business Profits.

"Business profits of a resident of one of the Contracting States shall be taxable only in that State unless the resident has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State. If the resident has a permanent establishment in that other Contracting State, tax may be imposed by that other Contracting State on the business profits of the resident but only on so much of them as are attributable to the permanent establishment."

"Where a resident of one of the Contracting States has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to the permanent establishment the business profits which would reasonably be expected to have been derived by it if it were an independent entity engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the resident of which it is a permanent establishment."

While for other services like Movies, rent TVs and apps are in Article 13 which is the Royalties.

How to fill up Adsense Tax info

To provide your tax information, you need to go to Payments > Settings > Manage tax info. From here, click the Add Tax Info (A window will pop-up, and you need to sign-in to your Google account again).

Type Information

The first question will be What type of account are you using. If you are a content creator without a business name, you may use Individual (This is ideal for personal YouTube channels like vlogs, etc.). But if you already have a business registered in the country, you can use a Non-individual / entity.

Next is, you will be asked if you are a citizen or a United States resident. Since this guide is for Filipino content creators, pick No.

You will then be asked to fill up the W-8 tax form. For an individual, you need to pick W-8Ben, and for business, you need to pick W-8ECI.

Tax Identity

Here, fill it up with your name (FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME). For business, you need to fill up the DBA. Then you have to select the country of citizenship, which in our case, its the Philippines.

To avail of the tax treaty discount, you need to fill up the Foreign TIN, which is your 9-digit BIR TIN. If you don't have TIN and don't want to avail the tax treaty, you can leave this blank.

Address

In the Address form, you have to fill in your permanent residence address. Basically address shown on your I.D.s, electric billing, etc. If your address is the same as the mailing address, check the checkbox in the middle.

Tax Treaty

To claim a reduced rate for Philippine and U.S. tax treaty, you need to pick Yes here. Then check the "Resident of country claiming treaty with the U.S." then select the Philippines as a country. If you wish not to avail the Tax treaty, just select No.

There will be special rates and conditions populated once you have selected Yes. You have to pick the Article paragraph and the withholding rate you want to apply to your account. The following are the explanations:

  • Service (Adsense) – This checkbox is for YouTube ads and other ad services of Adsense. The maximum reduced rate you can get here if you're in the Philippines is up to 0%.
  • Motion Picture and T.V. (YouTube, Google Play) – This is for YouTube movies and Google App. The maximum reduced rate you can get in the Philippines is up to 15%.
  • Other copyright (YouTube, Google Play) – This is for other YouTube content and Google App as well, the maximum reduced rate is up to 15%.

Document Preview

It is important that you need to download the documents' preview for your references and make sure to review the document before proceeding on the next page. This is in PDF format for Form W-8Ben: (Motion picture and T.V., Other copyright, services, and default).

Once you have reviewed all of the documents, you can proceed to the next section.

Certification

In this part, you need to sign the form by filling up with your full name, which includes your middle name (e.g. FIRST_NAME MIDDLE_NAME LAST_NAME). (If you have an legal attorney, guardian, etc. You can use their name as the beneficial owner). Then select preferences of your signature.

Activities and Services performed in US and Affidavit

Then lastly, since we are in the Philippines and we have no actual establishment in the U.S., You can pick No.

For the Status change affidavit, since this is your first time filling up the form, you need to pick "I am providing tax info for a new or existing payments profile that hasn't received payments".

In case you need to change something in your tax info and already receive a payment, you need to pick the other one "I am providing tax info for an existing payment profile that has previously received payments".

Submit the form and you'll be receiving the final tax calculation for your account.

Tax info calculation

When you go to Payments > Settings Manage Tax info. You will see here how much withholding rate you need to pay for U.S. income.

The following are the rates you will get once you have fill-up the form with Tax Treaty.

  • Adsense Services: 0%
  • Motion Picture and T.V.: 15%
  • Other Copyright: 15%

The following are the rates you will get once you have fill-up the form without Tax Treaty.

  • Adsense Services: 30%
  • Motion Picture and T.V.: 30%
  • Other Copyright: 30%

That's it guys! I hope this guide helps you fill-up the new tax changes on YouTube. Continue creating more content Filipino peeps! You may also watch the brief information about Tax changes in YouTube.

8 Reasons Why Online Gaming Is Good for You

There's no doubt that gaming is an addictive hobby. Too much of it can be bad for you. However, while there are negatives, there are a lot of positives that should also be taken into consideration. Some studies have shown that it can help reduce stress and anxiety, all while helping grow a variety of different skills. 

Want to learn more? Below, we are going to discuss eight reasons why online gaming is good for you. Let's get started!

Social Benefits

Obviously, one of the main benefits of online gaming is the social aspects. You get the chance to play with existing friends and make new ones while you're at it. In fact, you can connect with individuals from all over the world and work together to complete a variety of different missions. Check out these ten multiplayer games to get started! The best part is, you can play them all on your mobile device.

Entertainment

Gaming is fun, so one of the best reasons to do it is if you're looking for entertainment. Instead of sitting down and watching a television show, you get the chance to react, respond and discover exciting worlds. From simple puzzle games and simulations to open-world adventures full of unique characters. There really is something for everyone.

Multi-Tasking

If you find that you struggle with multi-tasking, then picking up a game controller or sitting down at your computer desk might actually be beneficial for you. Certain games will encourage you to complete multiple tasks at once, and you'll need to focus on different areas of the screen (your health bar and stamina, etc.). You'll become more observant, have a quicker reaction time and learn how to handle stressful situations. All skills that are useful in the real world.

Teamwork

Above, we talked about the social benefits of online gaming but working together also has another significant advantage: Teamwork. You'll be sharing multiple goals, allocating resources, and delegating tasks amongst yourselves so that you can work together to complete the game. This collaboration is crucial for our wellbeing and will also help you with other life responsibilities. 

Creativity 

Playing games can also be a great way to improve and facilitate your creativity. Take something like Minecraft, for example. You can build almost anything that you desire, from small houses to full-sized theme parks! And being able to play online means you can invent alongside your friends. You really do get the chance to let your imagination run wild, and you never know, you may be inspired to create something in real-life!

Problem-solving

In order to advance to the next level, many video games have hidden problems and riddles that you'll need to solve. From split-second decisions to more completed tasks that require trial and error, you can significantly improve your problem-solving skills. Alongside this, you'll be able to retain more information, enhancing your memory and improving your overall thinking ability. There are many studies that back it all up!

Self-regulation

This may sound strange at first, but believe it or not, gaming can help individuals regulate their own emotions. When tasks become difficult and challenging, you'll learn to overcome your anger and frustration so that you can complete the level and move forward. The joy and happiness that come from these achievements are what keep pushing you to try again.

Relaxation

Finally, one of the last reasons why gaming is good for you is that it can actually be relaxing. While this does depend on the type of game you play, sitting down after a long day and completing an activity you love can help you unwind, de-stress and relax. Things like Bejewelled, Flow, Little Wheel, and Home Sheep Home are just a few recommended online games that are perfect if you want to chill out. 

Final Thoughts

When putting into consideration all of the above, its easy to see why gaming can be so enjoyable and is loved by many. However, while these benefits certainly are great, it's still essential to game responsibly. Set yourself boundaries, make sure you spend time with your family and friends in real life and know when it's time to turn off. By following the rules, you can reap the advantages that this excellent activity has to offer.

What do you think? Do you have any great online games that you would like to recommend? 

Silkroad Online confirmed the launch date of its Southeast Asian servers, including the Philippines

Silkroad Online confirmed the launch date of its Southeast Asian servers, including the Philippines

Silkroad Online is definitely one of the names associated with many gamers' childhood, especially to the Generation X and Millennials.

Good news! Silkroad Online Mobile will launch in Southeast Asia (including the Philippines) on 11th March (TBD). And it's available for both Android and iOS devices. Players who have previously participated in FB events or made reservations (still available) will be rewarded when they enter the game.

Silkroad Online is a mobile MMORPG that immerses players in ancient Chinese, Islamic, and European civilizations. In a nutshell, the Silk Road was a significant cultural and commercial crossroads. Roads that once bound ancient Asia and Europe have vanished into the annals of glory and adventure.

The origin of Silkroad Online is the reproduction during the 7th century of the Silk Road and the globe. The fantasy game's atmosphere is made up of the history, tradition, and myths of the different regions. The cities you see in the game are the product of a great deal of documentation and consultation on historical studies so as to create a setting that is as similar as possible to the 7th century. The signs and other names of places around the world are derived as much and as similarly as possible from the names used in literature. When you join the game, you can see places like Jangan, Donwhang Stone Cave, and Constantinople as real places. The resemblance between the simulated and historical presence is adequate to make the players believe like they have truly retreated to history.

The combat is really short and flashy and is focused on character building skills. It was a sight to watch the World Championship players go with their fingers in continuous motion, as they selected various ways of attack on monsters and other players. They have had a long time to develop tournament characters before the match and most people said it wasn't enough, and this reflects the system's difficulty.

U1 Game, the publisher, is also dedicated to make regular free game patches, reminiscent of conventional expansion packs. This include new land, levels and abilities for players to discover and learn. On top of that, there are daily minor changes and bug fixes.

Many well-known YouTubers have experienced Silkroad Online

Unlike other MMORPGs with pre-determined materials, Silkroad Online is a living world. Merchants take risks for fun on the large paths, while Rangers plan to rob their merchandise. Despite the high danger of commerce, Hunters would be present to defend Merchants and bring an end to Rangers' mischief. The first idea a player would have is of a vast universe that is only waiting to be discovered and shook up; a never-ending adventure.

Download Link