January MMOMG - The Elder Scrolls Online

MMOMG returns in January with The Elder Scrolls Online!

I normally only cover free-to-play MMOs, but I was graciously gifted the game by a viewer. They said I shouldn't feel obligated to play it right away, but I see no reason to delay it!

I must say that installing the game didn't go very smoothly. Steam's download information said it was 66.6 GB, but it requires another 87 GB (and more for patching) when it installs. This misinformation lead to me trying to install to a hard drive with insufficient room... which caused me to spend three days repairing my PC from disk errors and BSODs (Blue Screens of Death).

On the bright side, my PC is now cleaner than its ever been. I even got around to sorting out most of the junk on my secondary drive! While I'm trying to remain positive, I'm frankly not too happy being lied to about the install size. It literally trashed my computer for three days - NOT a good Christmas gift, Zenimax, Bethesda and Steam! 

Let this be a warning to anyone installing TESO - it's a lot larger than it says it is!

AdventureQuest 3D - Weeks 3 & 4: Epic of the Bush People - MMOMG

I know, you probably thought this video was never coming. 

My throat has been kind of messed up, so I kept putting it off in hopes that would change so I could record my voice. It turns out that between being sick and streaming 6 nights a week, this video wouldn't be getting done any time soon unless I tried something different. This is what I came up with, and I think it does the job while also showing off a fun time I had with my viewers.

Erayu - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A boy discovers an unusual video game and becomes enthralled with it, à la The NeverEnding Story.

Erayu is a point-and-click adventure about a boy named Josh who happens to find an obscure video game (also called Erayu) during holiday break. Taking it home, Josh becomes engrossed with the title, pausing just long enough to take care of daily tasks. You play as both Josh in the "real world" and the main character of the video game he found.

(The 1st) FINAL BOSS! - RNGBS

My very first dungeon run, and I make it to the final boss! Against Vustrasz, I'm going to need a miracle (or perhaps a Wish)!

Epic Battle Fantasy III - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Classic RPG battles with internet tropes and memes!

Epic Battle Fantasy III is a turn-based party RPG that gladly pokes fun at the genre as well as itself. You play as the trio of epic characters introduced in earlier titles - Lance, Matt and Natalie - as they set out to recover their power and items after an encounter with an ancient demon.

Dungeon Runs Are AMAZING!

A topdecked Wish turns the game on its ear!

In recent months, most of my posts about Hearthstone (that aren't game highlights, of course) have been complaints and criticisms. Today, I'm here to give credit where it's due. Dungeon Run - the new solo content introduced in Kobolds & Catacombs - is damn good!

Explobers - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Pixelated puzzle platforming - perfect placement and planning prescribed!

Explobers is a puzzle platformer that looks and feels like it was made for the NES. You play as a trio of characters (that look like distant cousins to Q*bert) with specific abilities that help you reach the exit platform of each stage.

December '17 "Mighty Minis" Patreon Reward!

'Tis the season! Patrons of $10 or more, affectionately known as the "Mighty Minis" tier, will receive a handmade R2-D2 holiday ornament!

With the holiday season in full swing and a new Star Wars film set to release, I thought we'd just go ahead and celebrate them together!

If you're interested in knowing more about patron rewards or goals, check out my Patreon page!

Donate Feature Added!

By request, I've added a way to make one-time donations, thanks to StreamLabs and PayPal. I also have a variety of new alerts for Twitch, YouTube and Mixer!

Streaming This Month: Fable Anniversary

Thanks to a very loyal viewer, I'll be streaming Fable Anniversary this month! This is one of those titles I somehow skipped, so it'll be interesting to stream a blind playthrough.

AdventureQuest 3D - Weeks 1-2: The Lunchbreak MMO - MMOMG

The classic AdventureQuest gets a 3D title!

I have to say that for a basic/casual MMORPG, I've been digging this one. It's perhaps the perfect game to introduce new players to the genre, or could be something fun to play while waiting for your main MMO to add new content!

Plants vs. Zombies GOTY - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Stop the undead with your gardening skills!

Plants vs. Zombies is a classic tower defense game created by PopCap in 2009. You must defend your home against a legion of undead, with only your gardening skills to save you!

Gotham City Impostors - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

It's war on the streets (and the docks and in the amusement park... okay, everywhere) between the Bats and Jokerz!

Gotham City Impostors is a multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) based loosely on the rivalry between Batman and the Joker. Instead of playing as super-powered heroes and villains though, you're more like the member of a wannabe super-gang. Armed with an assortment of wacky weapons and hastily-made costumes, you take to the streets in all-out war against the rival gang.

Surviving the YouTube ADPOCALYPSE!

In this video, I identify four key problems to the YouTube Adpocalypse and provide my plan going forward. While I'm sure some content creators won't agree with my decisions, I hope they can find some insight with this video and formulate their own strategy.

Who's The Mage NOW? Brawl & Arena Highlights - RNGBS

Didn't draft a mage in arena, but still want some of that sweet selection of high-roll spells? Not to worry! Oh, Cabalist's Tome, your card text might as well read, "Get ready for the highlight reel!"

Void Pyramid - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Explore and escape the prison pyramid floating in deep space!

Void Pyramid is a turn-based RPG that's heavily influenced by classics in the genre (both digital and physical), but cuts some complexity in favor of more recent quality-of-life features. You play as a prisoner of the void pyramid, located somewhere in deep space. Your task is to defeat the demon warden and of course escape.

Miniature Warfare! Tavern Brawl Highlights - RNGBS

The last few expansions added some great cards for this particular brawl (such as Bonemare and Sindragosa), but they're not necessarily the focus of my highlights. This time, the spotlight shines on our good old buddy, Faceless Manipulator!

November MMOMG - Change of Plans!

The funny thing about livestreaming games is that you can't always guarantee things are going to work until you try. This month's MMOMG was supposed to be Warframe, but in the few nights I've streamed it, it's pretty obvious that it's not going to work out right now.

So, I'm calling an audible. This month, I'm going to play something guaranteed to work - AdventureQuest 3D. It's nothing like Warframe, but will very likely scratch that itch for oldschool MMOs I've had since Blizzard announced WoW Classic.

As for Warframe, it's been tabled for a later date. I'm upgrading my PC next month after I take advantage of those Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales coming in a few weeks.

November '17 "Mighty Minis" Patreon Reward!

This month's "Mighty Minis" Patreon reward is ready! In light of Blizzard's recent announcement of World of Warcraft Classic, I figured now is the perfect time to reward my patrons with this. Celebrate the homecoming of classic WoW with your very own hearthstone keychain!

Black Rose - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Investigate a funeral home where the dead don't stay dead!

Black Rose is a first person horror game developed in Unity. You play as a mortician investigating an old funeral home where all its workers have mysteriously died.

Halloween SCREAM STREAM & November MMOMG

 I've been streaming scary games all month, but I saved the best for last! Join me for OUTLAST tonight, starting at 9pm ET!

 As for next month, Warframe is November's MMOMG. It's quite different from the MMOs I've played before, but I'll give it a try.

GentleMoon & No Escape - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

I decided to give each game its own video instead of a "Double Feature". The second title and video can be found after the break!

GentleMoon

Escape the zombie apocalypse... by flying to the moon!

GentleMoon is a first person shooter made by the creator of the Timore horror series. As the lone survivor of the zombie apocalypse, you formulate a less-then-genius plan of escape... to the moon. To accomplish this task, you'll need a working rocket ship and some supplies. Scavenge the area and gun down any zombies that stand in your way!

So YOU'RE The Guy! Viewer Game Highlight - RNGBS

Something a bit different this week - a ridiculous game featuring one of my stream viewers!

Peria Chronicles Looks Ambitious!

This video (by Nocht) is definitely worth sharing for those interested in player-driven content in their MMOs. Peria Chronicles is still in its early stages, but what they've already got working is really impressive!

I don't quite understand the ability/skill system, but from the sound of it, you mix-and-match abilities based on the Kiranas (think Pokemon-like creatures) you obtain. I'm not much of a Pokemon fan, but to me it seems more like a thematic way to represent what is essentially a freeform skill-based character system (as opposed to class-based).

The world (or at least vast portions of it) seems equally malleable, with a system allowing players to create areas and structures. The tools appear to be fairly detailed, allowing you to even script events and actions - everything from custom traps to creating your own puzzles! It reminds me of what Landmark was attempting (though with even more ambition) before it was left for dead after the SOE buyout by Daybreak.

It'll be a while before there's an English version of the game (it's not even in Beta in its native Korean), but I'm intrigued by what we see here. This title is worth keeping an eye on to see how it develops.

Condemned: Criminal Origins Highlights - More Live Tonight!

Join me tonight around 9pm ET for more Condemned: Criminal Origins live!

Close Your Eyes - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Escape a bizarre game show where your life is on the line!

Close Your Eyes is a 2D horror game originally created during Ludum Dare 29. You're the unwilling participant of a hanging - televised in a game show format - as punishment for your crimes. The rope breaks and you beat a hasty retreat in an effort to escape.

Penumbra: Overture Stream Highlights & New Playlist!

Dogs, carpentry and explosives make up this selection of highlights from my recent stream. I've also created a new YouTube playlist for stream highlights of the games not already part of another series.

I Can't Escape - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Avoid traps, tricks and a lurking ghost to find your way to freedom!

I Can't Escape is a horror-themed maze game with procedural generation. As you can probably guess, your task is to escape the maze... which is much easier said than done.

SWTOR - Week 4: The Little Engine That Could? - MMOMG

I took a lot longer talking more in depth about the pros and cons on this one, but I think it was warranted for this title.

October 2017 "Mighty Minis" Patreon Reward!

This month's "Mighty Minis" Patreon reward is a Boo magnet! SO SPOOKY! Handmade from perler beads and backed with a strong magnetic sheet. Note: I cannot guarantee it won't move when you look away from it! :~P

SWTOR - Week 3: Romancing The Sith - MMOMG

This week I check out Strongholds, space missions, Galactic Starfighter and Darth Lachris' private quarters... if you catch my drift. ;~)

I really wanted to get this episode out earlier, but a cold delayed my ability to record the audio portion (which is the most important part). I still have one more episode to go, and will have it ready ASAP.

Sort the Court! - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Manage an entire kingdom using only three buttons!

At its heart, Sort the Court! is a resource management title. You play as a king, and your job is to grow the kingdom and join the Council of Crowns. Managing the kingdom is done by simply answering 'yes' or 'no' questions asked by the various NPCs that enter your castle and trying to keep up the kingdom's three assets - population, happiness and gold. It's not quite as easy as it sounds, however.

One Health Matters! - Arena Highlights - RNGBS

Sometimes just one damage makes all the difference!

Legionwood: Tale of the Two Swords - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Your quest for some apples turns into a tale of war, assassination and political intrigue!

Legionwood: Tale of the Two Swords is a turn-based RPG in the vein of the classic Final Fantasy games. You play as a brother and sister looking to pick up some apples at the market, which have all been sold due to the festival at the capital. Festivals are fun, so the two of you go check it out... and plunge headlong into an epic adventure!

SWTOR - Weeks 1-2: Do They Even Want Us To Play? - MMOMG

MMOMG is back and (based on the stream poll) I'm playing SWTOR this month... assuming I can actually play for a whole month. Login hassles and an avalanche of free-to-play restrictions just might end things prematurely.

SteamWorld Dig - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Mine for ore and discover hidden powers as a steampunk robot!

SteamWorld Dig is a Metroidvania style game with a focus on mining. You play as a robot that has inherited his uncle's mine out in the desert. The local townsfolk are happy to see the mine re-opened and gladly assist you via purchasable upgrades. They also happen to know a thing or two about your uncle, particularly that he's hidden a lot of specialized tech down in his mine.

Mighty Minis Patreon Reward Sept 2017

Hey everyone! This month's "Mighty Minis" supporters on Patreon will receive an Overwatch logo keychain, handmade by yours truly!

Rafaam's Riches! - RNGBS

Poor Kel'Thuzad - the one time it looks like things are going his way, Rafaam goes full whale.

Submachine Universe - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

What happens when you blend artificial intelligence, alternate dimensions and ancient legends? Are you sure you're ready for the answer?

How To Defeat Frost Lich Jaina! - RNGBS

It's no secret that Frost Lich Jaina is an OP card in arena and appears frequently thanks to it qualifying as a "synergy pick" card for mages. Thankfully, you can deny Jaina free Water Elementals, but you have to make a few unusual plays to do so.

This video includes other highlights as well, with appearances by Mad Bomber, Shadowcaster and a very resilient Patient Assassin!

The Results Are In! SWTOR in September! - MMOMG

As per the poll results, Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) is September's MMOMG.

I'm not really sure what class I'll be playing. I always like to have the option to tank, but I've heard that storyline plays an important role in enjoying the game. From a story aspect, smugglers or bounty hunters sound interesting... so maybe bounty hunter since it has a tank option?

If you can't tell, I haven't played SWTOR before. I was one of those haters that loathed the demise of Star Wars Galaxies and nearly dry-heaved at the thought of "on rails" space combat. Some of the early cash shop/subscription complaints (such as the infamous helmet fiasco) was more than enough to keep me away from the game all this time.

But (to borrow an appropriate phrase), that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. One of the points of this series is to try a bit of everything, and I'm well over the end of SWG... so let's see what SWTOR has to offer.

Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Fight pirates, beat bosses and gain new abilities!

Khimera: Destroy All Monster Girls is a platformer in the vein of Shovel Knight and Megaman (though much easier). You play as a newly-created monster hastily finished to track down a band of pirates that raided your town. As you defeat bosses, your scientist "dad" uses their DNA to give you new abilities. The entire story is intentionally goofy and packed with hilarious moments.

Vote for September's MMOMG!

Hey everyone! I've decided to let all of you decide what September's game for MMOMG will be! Vote in the poll before it closes Friday night. I'll announce the winner at the end of "The Friday FREE GAME Feature!" stream.

Why Do Download Launchers Stall?

Here's something that thoroughly pisses me off, and with streaming MMOs every other month I encounter it all too often.

This is a screenshot of the En Masse launcher, which is in the process of downloading a game (though it might as well be nearly any game launcher). As you can see, the download has stalled. Clicking 'Pause' and then 'Resume' will in fact resume the download... for a short time. I know because I've had to do this over 50 times just to get to 22% and I will have to continue this until it's finished, for a total of several hundred clicks.

Literally Trolled! (+Billy Update) - Gothic Stream Highlights

Trolls, transformations, bloodflies, the barrier and Billy!

(Semi) Auto-Fill Rogue vs The Lich King! - RNGBS

In an effort to see all of The Lich King's class-specific openers (and stream funnies), I made an auto-fill rogue deck. It went much better than expected!

I ended up keeping about 1/3 of the autocomplete deck, adding in C'thun cards and some heals. The biggest addition was Kel'Thuzad and some tricky taunts, but the deck is far from perfect. Still, not bad for something that began as completely random!

Here's the decklist - make sure to read some of the comments, as there are some great ways to further improve the deck!

Wild Heart - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Turn-based tactical animals!

Wild Heart is a tactical RPG with a unique story. You play as a fox that gets caught in the middle of a war between two packs of wolves.

DRUNKEST DUNGEON - WazHack Stream Highlights

A random WazHack video appears! I fired the game up Friday night and loaded a save from a couple months ago I completely forgot about. It turned out to be a fairly impressive run so far... though I could really use a pickaxe or some blue portal stones.

We're All Jealous of Billy! Gothic Stream Highlight

Today we learned that all goblins are not created equal. Also, the swamp sharks are evolving!

Counter Agents - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Get sneaky in solo challenges or race your friends in local multiplayer mode!

Counter Agents is a puzzle game based on one of the first stealth titles, 005. Your mission is to sneak past the guards, nab the briefcase and get to the exit.

Swamp Shark IN YOUR FACE! Gothic Stream Highlight

The swamp sharks were extra hungry today and it seems I'm on the menu!

Secret World Legends - Weeks 3 & 4 - MMOMG

My apologies to anyone that's been waiting for this video. This got pushed back a little longer than I wanted, but it's here now.

GvG Paladin vs Lady Deathwhisper!

WELL MEKT! It turns out that going in blind allows for some surprising results! I fought Lady Deathwhisper with my old mech paladin deck that hasn't been updated since GvG!

GET SHIFTY! Tavern Brawl - RNGBS

From flappy bird to Team Noz, the meme cards are out in force this brawl!

Small World & Roguelight - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

It's time for another double feature! This week we have a couple of past game jam entries - Small World and Roguelight.

Streaming This Month - GOTHIC

This month, I'm streaming the classic open-world RPG Gothic! It's one of my favorite games, and I've been wanting to play this live for some time!

Batman - The Telltale Series: Ep 1 - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Fight, investigate and experience Gotham City as the Dark Knight!

Batman - The Telltale Series is an adventure game set in Gotham City. Harvey Dent is running for mayor, and as Bruce Wayne, you're trying to help him get elected. To ensure his success, Harvey's been keeping less-than-reputable company, including Catwoman and mob boss Falcone. An anonymous tip to the media brings the Wayne family's reputation under fire, so Bruce dons the batsuit and goes looking for answers.

The Elements Will Destroy You! 12-0 SHAMAN - RNGBS

I think the most surprising thing about this run was the variety of classes I saw higher up at zero losses, such as druid and hunter. Also, Emerald Hive Queen turned out to be a strong 1-drop in a spell/weapon-heavy deck!

Get 12% off my entire Etsy shop using coupon code FROSTY120ARENA (orders of $20+)!

Duster - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Explore, fight and survive in a pixelated wild west!

Duster is a survival exploration game currently in pre-alpha. It features retro 8-bit graphics and procedural generation. Set in the 1800s old west, you happen upon news of a mine full of riches and attempt to locate it.

Literally Constructed! Arena Highlights - RNGBS

I don't understand how people get so lucky in arena to draft decks that are constructed quality. I'll have a followup video soon of a particularly fortunate shaman arena I had immediately after these runs.

Secret World Legends - Week 2 - MMOMG

I'm pretty impressed with all the detail added to London. I'm hoping they give New York a little more love when they add the Manhattan raid. I'm very much looking forward to seeing as much of SWL as I can this month!

Realm of the Mad God - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Shoot, strafe and loot in this bullet hell MMO!

Realm of the Mad God is a co-op bullet hell shooter MMO hybrid. You play as one of a number of classes with the goal of leveling up, obtaining better gear and of course defeating Oryx and his minions.

Jotun: Valhalla Edition FREE on Steam & GOG!

Jotun: Valhalla Edition is an action exploration game set in Norse mythology. Unleash the elemental Norse giants to prove yourself worthy of Valhalla! You can get the game FREE for a limited time on both Steam and GOG!

Secret World Legends - Week 1 - MMOMG

I'm having a fairly enjoyable time in SWL. I like the combat system and in-depth story. Investigation missions can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but they're a nice addition to the game.

Net Neutrality Explained and Why it Matters

Video by TotalBiscuit explaining why the "Restoring Internet Freedom Act" does the exact opposite.

Save Net Neutrality!

Defend the net from paid prioritization, throttling and outright blocking of the services you use every day. It only takes a minute to send your comments to the FCC - do it now!

Everyone, Get Ready To Fling! Tavern Brawl Highlights - RNGBS

I have to admit, this week's Tavern Brawl is pretty fun. On the surface it feels fairly one-dimensional, but I'm still seeing people come up with clever uses for cards. This week's Brawl even has its own meta - with Grim Patron being so popular, some players are running Mind Control Tech.

New Stream Schedule, MMOMG July

It's been a while since my last stream or video, and I just want to let everyone know that I'll be returning soon - by no later than July!

When I start streaming again (which is very soon), the start times across the board will be later. All scheduled streams will start at 9-10pm ET and run about as long as usual (when possible).

Now is also a good time to announce that MMOMG for July will be Secret World Legends. I've never played The Secret World, so I'll be going in with a fairly unbiased opinion... though I won't be able to really compare the new version of the game to the old one.

The Blue Flamingo - The Wheelhaus

We're kicking things off with a shoot-em-up called The Blue Flamingo. Will it be any good?

Heroes To Avoid! - Tavern Brawl Highlights - RNGBS

It might be more accurate to call this a "lowlights reel" instead. For those of us that are never lucky, here's the classes to avoid playing as this week in Tavern Brawl.

PAYDAY 2 is FREE on Steam (Limited Time)!

Hurry on over to the Steam Store page for PAYDAY 2 and grab a permanent copy for free! It's first come, first serve so get it before it's gone!

The Secret of Tremendous Corporation - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

The Secret of Tremendous Corporation is an amusing point-and-click adventure with hand-drawn art. It's your first day as an intern at the company, and things take a strange turn as all the programmers and testers get kidnapped. You get wrapped up in an unusual tale of lies, spies, rebels and the Secret of the gaming industry!

Savage Counters - Arena & Brawl Highlights - RNGBS

Some well-timed counters turn the game on its head!

Outland FREE On Steam

The fast-paced, dynamic platformer Outland is available free for a limited time on Steam. Just head over to the Steam store page and claim a copy - it's yours to keep!

ASTA Online - Week 4 - MMOMG

My month in ASTA is over, and my curiosity from last October is well beyond sated. I'm looking forward to this month's departure from MMOs. I'm sure it'll come with its own set of challenges, but at least there's a lot of variety.

MMOMG June - Nope, Wheelhaus!

I'm doing something different this month. Instead of playing an MMO for most of June, I'll be playing games from my Steam library at random. I have several reasons for doing this, but first let me assure everyone that MMOMG will be back in July!

Dawn - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A relaxing and casual platforming journey through nature.

Dawn is a platforming title created by a group of students at SMU Guildhall with the goal of getting Greenlit on Steam (which it was). While it's a complete game in the academic sense, several aspects leave it feeling a bit more like a highly-polished project.

Tonight - Multicasting!

In addition to Twitch, I'll be streaming to YouTube, SmashCast (formerly Hitbox), and Mixer (formerly Beam.pro). You can find me by looking for Shenanigans1930! I also have a slick chat UI that combines all four channels into one! Hope to see you soon!

ASTA Online - Week 3 - MMOMG

The Fame vs. Level gain mismatch is fairly annoying. A few guild members have essentially parked their characters at or near level 39 and are exclusively farming fame. This changes your play sessions considerably, as you're often just logging in to do events (which are scattered throughout the day).

If I wanted to login and play for a just few minutes at precisely every few hours, I'd play Farmville. If this title was also available as a mobile game, perhaps I'd at least understand the reasoning behind this a little... but it's not.

Of course, you can ignore Fame entirely and just rush to level cap. In the interest of seeing more content and possibly the consequences of my actions, I'm going to do just that this last week. Let's be honest, the majority of MMO players assume that rushing to level cap is the goal anyway. At least I might be able to see what kind of mess you really end up in here by doing so.

Dead In Bermuda - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A challenging game with a colorful cast and an equally diverse blend of genres.

Dead in Bermuda is what happens when you mix Darkest Dungeon, the Dead of Winter boardgame and the Lost television series all together. A plane crashes on a mysterious island and eight survivors must now find a way out of this mess.

Rafaam Renounced! Tavern Brawl - RNGBS

Rafaam is so much better than Kel'Thuzad this brawl I decided to play with a handicap! Bonus points - I also kept the original Coin the entire game!

ASTA Online - Week 2 - MMOMG

It seems like the problems are starting to pile up for ASTA's relaunch, and I'm uncertain if issues will be addressed in a safe and timely manner. Also, I'm not looking forward to halting my leveling just to play catch up with fame next week. I'm at least glad I learned about the fame thing before getting to 40.

Fairy Song - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Explore a strange world and discover your purpose in this open-world adventure.

Cavalcade of Brawls! - RNGBS

What happens when previous Tavern Brawls square off against each other? Time to find out!

ASTA Online - Week 1 - MMOMG

My impressions of this title after the first week are only so-so, but I'm remaining positive. It's certainly not the most innovative MMO out there, but it does have a couple of different progression systems (which I'll be going over in the weeks to come).

I Hate To Say This, But...

I TOLD YOU SO.

I feel it's only appropriate to add, "Fix your game, Blizzard!"

StarCraft + Brood War - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

You want a piece of me, boy?

In honor of the new remastered edition, Blizzard has made the original StarCraft and its Brood War expansion available free!

I really don't think there's anything I can say that hasn't already been said about this title. Considering the game is nearly 20 years old and people still enjoy it, I'd say that speaks for itself.

I suppose I can add that the game also received a patch for the first time in about 8 years, mostly to add functionality and support for current systems, which is pretty nice. Anyway, enjoy!

Elementally Challenged! Arena + Rant - RNGBS

This is the most triggering, soul-crushing game of Hearthstone I've ever played. It happened last week in arena, and the full VOD is available in my Twitch highlights.

It turns out that my predictions were true. I was an early naysayer to the "Standard" version of arena, citing that synergy would be too good. Due to arena not having deck restrictions, it would be entirely possible (and now more probable) to draft a deck that was actually better than constructed. Arena has never had deck restrictions, and in the past I've been opposed to even the thought of it. Now, I'm not so sure. Whether it's deck restrictions, more cards on the ban list, reverting to "Wild" arena, or something else entirely, I'm not sure - but something needs to change.

The highlighted game is of course only one of many arena matches I've played since the Un'Goro release. While it's a fairly extreme case of synergy, it's not uncommon to have ridiculous plays. For example, earlier that night an opposing paladin had turn 5 Stand Against Darkness into turn 6 hero power plus Lightfused Stegadon, getting +3 Attack on the adapt. That's +18 damage (15 of which can attack immediately) and a 3/4 beast for 4 mana (6 with the additional hero power). Note that the +3 Attack buff is permanent, making it literally better than Bloodlust here. Keep in mind I'm still talking about arena, where you're largely at the mercy of the draft to determine your success.

The Standard form of Hearthstone arena now is essentially "One-Sided Fist Fights: The Card Game". GG, Blizz.

Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A classic top-down shooter gets a huge community upgrade!

Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop is an update/upgrade of the classic top-down shooter Alien Swarm. This community-made version comes with a lot of new features (such as 8-player co-op mode) as well as easy mod installation via Steam Workshop.

Reading through the highlighted features, I discovered that the AI of bot teammates has been improved. That's great to hear, but I'd highly recommend playing co-op as much as possible. The bot AI is still very lacking, as they fail to recognize eggs at all and regularly get stuck around corners and doorways. I even had one bot deliberately go out of its way to punch an explosive barrel for no apparent reason.

Bot AI aside, the rest of the game is pretty good. It's actually refreshing to see an older game get what is almost a modern remake and still be absolutely free. Of course, it's also rare to see a project developed by the fan community with official permission to do so. It seems like a win-win for the original developer, as they can pass the work off to the community and look like good guys for doing so.

Anyway, Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop is well worth a look if you're trying to find a fun and free co-op title, especially if you enjoyed the original.

Garrosh, The Friendly Warrior! Tavern Brawl - RNGBS

It seems that the super random Yogg-Saron Tryouts brawl is a great place to make new friends! Check out Garrosh's tips for earning the admiration and respect of others!

HearthArena, We Need To Talk

I've suspected that HearthArena's not been entirely on top of the meta for a while, but seriously, what in the blue hell!? There's no deck I can fathom that would want Bittertide Hydra over Cabalist's Tome.

Just between you and me, HearthArena, I know what this is about. You miss Fel Reaver, I get that. He was a good guy and a lot of people didn't understand him, but you did. Sure, Bittertide Hydra reminds you of him, but they're not the same. I gotta be honest with you, though; Hydra's not the guy you think he is, or even the guy you want him to be. The thing is, Fel Reaver's moved on... and so should you.

WildStar - Week 4 - MMOMG

My final week in WildStar, with pros, cons and my overall impression.

May MMOMG - ASTA

For MMOMG in May, I'm going from a game people mistakenly think is dead (WildStar) to a title that really died and has returned! ASTA Online has resurfaced on Steam, so I'm playing it for May. I'd like to note that my curiosity in ASTA - along with its quick demise in October last year - played a part in encouraging me to start up the MMOMG series in the first place. At least I get to give the title a real look.

As usual, I'll be playing Sundays - Wednesdays starting 8pm ET on Twitch. Today will be an exception though, I'll be streaming much earlier today. Be sure to follow me on Twitter or Twitch to be notified when it begins!

Not All Randoms Are Created Equal

I really need to be more vocal about my complaints and compliments when it comes to games. The above Kripparrian video demonstrates the inability to play around an opposing mage when half their hand is composed of randomly-generated cards. (Like a number of my more recent Hearthstone-related posts) I agree with Kripp, but I'd like to address an underlying issue that makes the problem even worse.

Iron Snout | You Have 10 Seconds 2 - The Friday FREE GAME Feature! #100

So here it is, the big 100th episode! This time, I chose games playable using mainly the arrow keys!

WildStar - Week 3 - MMOMG

Instead of a recap this week, I felt it was worth addressing WildStar's reputation and the unreasonable amount of hate and negativity surrounding it. I'm sure this video isn't going to sit well with some people, but so be it.

Friday FREE GAME Feature #100 Tonight! Be There!

Tune in to my Twitch channel tonight (starts 6:45pm ET) for the 100th broadcast of The Friday FREE GAME Feature! During the stream I'll have a special announcement as well as games, goodies and more! I hope to see you there!

Mind-Blowing Massive Build On An Anarchy Server!

Not sure how I missed this, but holy crap! These amazing buildings were supposedly constructed by hand in survival on what I've heard is the oldest anarchy server (2b2t.org). You can imagine nothing lasts long on those, but the city's location remained secret for some time. There was a well-known item dupe trick being used to gather the materials, but all the blocks were placed legitimately. That alone is a massive undertaking on any server, let alone one where it could all be gone in moments.

Eschalon: Book I - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Eschalon: Book I is an open-world, turn-based isometric RPG released in 2007. If it looks older, that's because it was purposely crafted in the classic style of the games it pays homage to. So, how does it stack up against these memorable titles?

Saints Row 2 FREE on Steam & GOG, Hurry!

 Saints Row 2 is free for a limited time on both Steam and GOG. Act fast, the offer ends soon!

Valeera's Got a Brand New Bag! Tavern Brawl - RNGBS

This brawl was so RNG-oriented I decided to skip arena this week. Free From Amber returns for more crazy results!

WildStar - Week 2 - MMOMG

Two weeks in, and I can't wait to play again (tonight)! My first venture into the Ruins of Kel Voreth was amazing and left a great impression! Looking online at what creative players have done with their plots is also very inspiring!

Fallout Shelter - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Fallout Shelter is a building and management simulator in the popular Fallout universe. It's a mobile game that's been ported to PC and recently made it to Steam. If you're like me, you probably just clicked away right now and I honestly don't blame you. Everything I really needed to say about this game is in the video anyway.

The Salt Mines of Un'Goro - Arena - RNGBS

Arena on day one of Journey to Un'Goro was... interesting. We learned a few things - Free From Amber is often amazing and Bittertide Hydra is essentially the opposite.

WildStar - Week 1 - MMOMG

Of the titles I've played for this series so far, I believe WildStar has given me my best first week since Project Gorgon. Progression feels well-paced and the world is still fresh and interesting for me. Here's to hoping it can maintain most of that for the rest of the month - I'm looking forward to playing this week!

The Problems With Quests

I'm happy to see Kripp speaking out on behalf of the free (and low investment) players lamenting the importance placed on legendary and epic cards with the release of Journey To Un'Goro. I agree that even the Hall of Fame bonus dust is unlikely to be enough for the majority of players, and perhaps doling out a random quest to everyone that logged in might've helped alleviate the problem somewhat.

However, I feel there's another issue concerning quest cards that's not getting nearly enough attention due to the above complaints, and it's perhaps part of that problem as well as an overall design issue. 

Syberia II - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Join a genius inventor and his automaton engineer on a journey to a legendary island!

Syberia II is a point-and-click puzzle adventure game originally released in 2004. It's currently available free on Origin, likely to help promote the long-awaited sequel (Syberia III) that's set to release this month.

Let's Try This Again! Wildstar in April - MMOMG

Just a reminder - MMOMG returns in April with Wildstar! Be sure to tune in live, Sundays - Wednesdays at 8pm ET on Twitch, or catch weekly recaps on YouTube!

I also have a great game lined up tonight for The Friday FREE GAME Feature! Tune in to Twitch tonight at 6:45pm ET!

Overlord FREE Steam Keys!

Want to be the bad guy for once? Pick up a Steam key for Overlord FREE, directly from Codemasters! As I write this, the site is experiencing issues due to traffic, so keep trying or check back to get your key.

Syberia - OSCAR IS ATTACKED! More TONIGHT on Twitch!

Can we escape the lair of a madman? Tune in TONIGHT at 8pm ET at http://twitch.tv/shenanigans1930 to find out!

Syberia Stream Highlights, Continues Tonight on Twitch!

In case you missed last night's stream, let me catch you up to speed with this highlight video. The adventure continues tonight at 8pm at my Twitch channel!

Mysterious Island - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A hybrid of RPG and survival with impressive AI and charming characters!

Mysterious Island is an adventure RPG available free for a very limited time over at itch.io. You play as a band of colorful characters stranded on an island after their ship crashed. Exploring the island, you discover a mix of inhabitants - from friendly talking totems and helpful natives to dangerous animals and monsters led by an evil witch. Your goal is to build a raft so you can sail home, which means facing the island's dangers that stand in your way.

Down the Rabbithole - Hayven Games (WoW Exploration)

Videos exploring the hidden or hard-to-reach places in WoW are what really got me interested in the game many years ago. While watching some random videos today, I stumbled upon Hayven Games, a channel devoted to finding the really hidden stuff. Take the above video for example - a look at an alpha version of Ironforge with two tiers, an entirely different Great Forge area and tram lines running to both Stormwind and Gnomeregan.

My interest in WoW dropped right around the time Hayven's channel began, so it's no wonder I haven't noticed this awesome channel until now. I'll certainly be sinking a few hours of free time into these videos, taking in sights of things that never saw the light of day. There's just something about seeing these alternate/hidden versions of the game I find intriguing, even though I have no interest in the title itself anymore. Nostalgia obviously plays a part of it, but I think it's more about imagining what could've been.

The Ultimate Test... of RNG! Arena - RNGBS

Grimestreet Informant (and to a lesser extent, Grimestreet Protector) doing work in arena again. This deck had a 63.8 tier score (according to Hearth Arena), the lowest I've had since before Christmas. It fared much better than I could've hoped and I feel the cards mentioned above are what carried it so far.

YouTube Channel Update

I wanted to make sure my YouTube subscribers knew what happened these last few weeks. To stay updated, it's best to follow me on Twitter now.

Also, I'm getting close to 100 episodes of "The Friday FREE GAME Feature!" and would appreciate your input! Leave a comment here, on the video or on Twitter!

Avengers-Themed Keychains & Magnets

Avengers, Assemble! Let your favorite superhero protect your keys or important notes as either a keychain or magnet, now available in my Etsy shop!

Mega Man 2.5D - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

"Highlights" might be a bit of a misnomer - perhaps a fail compilation is more appropriate!

Mega Man 2.5D is a fan-made game lovingly crafted by a small team led by Peter Sjöstrand. I'm pressed for time, so I'll cut to the chase. This game does a wonderful job at recreating the classic series you remember from the NES. It's compatible with Xbox controllers, allows for co-op play and even has save features! Be sure to give this one a try!

Echo of Soul - Week 4 - MMOMG (w/bonus Youtube gripe)

It's finally here! Apologies for the delay, but I didn't really have access or means to finish the episode until now. I intend to make a small channel update video soon to explain the delay in content and what's coming next, as I feel my Youtube-only viewers probably have no idea what's going on.

Speaking of which, I'd really like if Youtube had other ways to communicate to subscribers other than uploading videos. There used to exist a "Feed" section that you could post messages, but it either doesn't exist or is so buried that it doesn't matter anymore. I've heard that they're trying out a similar feature for the large channels, hopefully we'll see it roll out to everyone else soon.

PC Status & New Etsy Stuff!

A friend let me borrow a power supply, and thankfully I've learned that the rest of my system is unharmed. After I figure out what I'm using permanently, I'll sort out the Youtube and Twitch stuff. My guess is that MMOMG - Wildstar will be pushed back to April, but we'll see.

In the meantime, I have new stuff on Etsy with more coming soon!

For the sports fans, a selection of coasters with fully customized colors!

Comic book fans might appreciate this snazzy Superman beadsprite, complete with stand!

PC Died Mid-Stream, Temporary Focus Shift

Last week while livestreaming, my PC's power supply went belly-up. I've been having minor issues with it off and on (no pun intended) the last 6-8 months, so I'm not too surprised that it finally died. Other priorities got in the way of me replacing it sooner, and now I really have no choice but to get a new one.

I still haven't gotten to see if the rest of the system is OK - nothing looks damaged, but that doesn't mean much of course. If only the power supply needs replaced, I should be up and running again soon-ish (say within a month). If something more serious was affected (let's hope not), the delay will be quite a lot longer.

In the meantime, I'll be focusing a little more on my Etsy shop with some new designs! I'll post new items when they become available, so stay tuned!

Echo of Soul - Get Into Infinite Dungeons! The Dogma Set Quest Guide

Got something a bit different for you today. JohnKYBlue shows us how to get the Dogma gear set, which allows you to entry into Infinite Dungeons in Echo of Soul! I edited out the cutscenes to avoid story spoilers as much as possible, enjoy!

MMOMG March: Wildstar

March's MMOMG is Wildstar! I've been looking forward to trying this one out - there's supposed to be a lot of content, especially instances. It kicks off tonight at 8pm ET on my Twitch channel, so come join in the fun!

I'll be working on the final episode for Echo of Soul soon, but I might have an additional EoS-related video out in the next day or so.

Eschalon: Book I is FREE on GOG!

Eschalon: Book I is an open-world, turn-based, isometric RPG from 2006 built in the style of classics such as Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate and Fallout. The game focuses on character customization with lots of skills available (including a cartography skill that affects your game's auto-map). In addition to HP, you also have to manage hunger and thirst, and overall this title does little hand-holding.

Considering it's currently free over at GOG.com, you might as well pick it up and give it a try! Oh, it's probably worth noting that it's available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Echo of Soul - Week 3 - MMOMG

I really enjoyed this week of play, primarily because battlefields here are pretty fun. The guild I joined has been begging me to stay another month, which is a nice departure from the aloof/uncaring attitude of most game communities.

While I have another title lined up, I just might consider hanging around Echo of Soul another month. It depends on how much endgame content is available, and I'll be getting firsthand experience of that tonight.

Abobo's Big Adventure - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

A nostalgia-filled adventure featuring the real star of Double Dragon!

Abobo's Big Adventure blends a number of classic NES games with some '80s references (and a generous helping of crude humor) to provide a hilarious trip down memory lane.

Echo of Soul - Week 2 - MMOMG

I have mixed feelings on Echo of Soul so far. From a gameplay perspective, I haven't seen anything new of note yet. The game isn't terrible, it's just kind of basic. In terms of visuals, it's great - there's a lot of cool little features everywhere and I think Rimen looks neat! The community seems kind of sparse, but I've yet to meet a rude person (quality v. quantity I guess). The story has kind of trailed off a bit, as I'm chasing down shards I already rescued earlier but were stolen. The quests themselves are still fairly dull with lots of pop culture references - hopefully things pick up this week.

Pirates - A Hearthstone Documentary

Simply amazing, just watch!

Hearthstone - Questions v. Answers

I found a great video by AsmodeusClips that thoughtfully presents some of Hearthstone's fundamental problems and provides a couple of suggestions toward fixing them. The type of game he claims Hearthstone could be (with actual play/counterplay) shows up sometimes in Tavern Brawls, and they end up being generally well-received. 

I for one would love seeing "answer" cards with more utility/options. I've never been a fan of 0-mana ramp, as it causes problems similar to those of Dark Ritual and Moxen in MtG. The big mechanic stuff (like Blood of the Ancient One) I don't mind so much, maybe because they're simply impossible to pull off (thus rarely if ever seen), since Hearthstone's meta has almost always favored aggro decks.

Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Defend your homestead against the forces of darkness!

Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves is a tower defense style game with action RPG elements. Set in rural Canada 1858, you play as one of two brothers trying to protect your siblings and home from numerous wolf attacks. Armed with a logging axe and rifle, you soon discover the wolves are the least of your worries!

Deathlord, Such a Troll! Arena - RNGBS

Deathlord may be the focus of this video, but I gotta hand it to the Grimy Goons. It's astonishing how often their largest buffs land on things that either can't be targeted or have a relevant battlecry (like Dispatch Kodo).

Echo of Soul - Week 1 - MMOMG

After a week of playing, I've come to appreciate Echo of Soul's art style despite the constricted world design. I suppose if you're working with a smaller canvas, you can focus more on the details, which seems to be the case here. While I don't really talk about community until the final episode (as first impressions aren't always accurate), the other players have been helpful and friendly so far.

Negative Subscribers on Youtube Glitch!

So, you've probably heard people complaining that YouTube's subscriber counts have seemed a bit dodgy lately. The folks over at BlackScreenTV have discovered why!

There's a glitch, and it's super easy to replicate. Whenever someone unsubscribes from a channel, it's being counted twice. If people repeatedly subscribe and unsubscribe, the overall total just keeps dropping. Using that knowledge, BlackScreenTV is currently livestreaming on YouTube with running totals of several popular channels, watching them drop. They are currently at -1,554 subscribers (yes, negative subscribers)!

I think I speak for the entire community when I say, "Fix your site, Blizzard!" :~P

Seriously though, this explains why people have been reporting strange fluctuations in their subscriber count. They aren't crazy, despite YouTube's replies that everything is working as intended.

Eternal Senia - The Friday FREE GAME Feature!

Brave dangers and face fears to save your sister from a mysterious power!

Eternal Senia is an action adventure title with a large RPG influence and one heck of a story. You play as Senia, a girl that's ventured to the mysterious Tower of Eternity in hopes of tracking down your sister - a priest that went on a secretive mission and has been missing for the last three days.

Hearthstone Expansion Leaked: Lost Secrets of Un'Goro

Disguised Toast is at it again, reporting on what is likely the theme of the next Hearthstone expansion. It seems entirely feasible, considering past early information from previous releases. Un'Goro Crater is a very memorable zone in WoW, so I'm pleased to see it as an upcoming Hearthstone theme.

Kripp's Hearthstone Ranked Play Rant

Since this is a Kripp video, chances are you've already seen or read about it, but I'm reposting it for sake of completeness.

I think Kripp hits multiple nails on the head here, as he mentions problems that affect more than just Standard Hearthstone play. The new player experience right now is possibly the worst ever, even with Standard's smaller card pool.

Most of my gaming friends have been playing Hearthstone for a while now, and like myself, have built up a fair collection of cards, gold and dust over time. When new expansions come out, most of us don't have a lot of work to do to stay current.

A few months ago, a couple of holdouts finally decided to give the game a try. I gave them as much help as I possibly could and welcomed them to join my circle of Hearthstone friends. Long story short, they gave up about two weeks ago. 

Despite all the tips and additional friends to learn from and play against, it wasn't enough. They felt the game was too reliant on having "the right cards" to actually succeed, and obtaining said cards was too slow of a process (short of paying cash up front).

If the meta was more diverse (and a bit slower), players wouldn't feel pressured into having all the cards necessary to play the winning decks. There would be a little more room for experimentation, and they might even be able to do alright with a few suboptimal cards. This pretty much was how things worked a couple years ago - it wasn't perfect then either, but you at least had the opportunity to experiment.

Path of Exile - Week 3 - MMOMG

This is the final MMOMG episode for Path of Exile. I really wish I hadn't played this game through Steam, as connectivity seems to be such an issue for it. I lost a lot of time I had set aside to stream it, simply due to being repeatedly disconnected.

As usual, I thought of a few more points I wanted to make after I had the entire video nearly done. I was able to add it to the episode via text, but it's not quite how I would like it. Gonna chalk my errors up to having a cold all week - yeah, that's the ticket! For those of you who read these posts, I'd like to stress two positive features of the game I didn't verbally include in the video.

The community overall is pretty helpful and friendly even to new players. I saw a lot of newbie questions repeated in chat throughout the month, and never did I notice a rude reply - often, it was followed by a straightforward answer, which is refreshing compared to most games' online communities.

Also, the cash shop has no "pay to win" features. It's mostly cosmetics that frankly look quite nice (that stormcaller stuff had me drooling a bit). You can also get more stash tabs, which is convenient if you're going to play a lot of alts or contributing to a guild, but not really necessary.