With the war starting to spill out of the set boundaries "Defending Ukraine is defending democracy," says NATO and while the little country is finding ways to continue with power shortages as winter approaches, Zelenskyy has had more visitors in the form of Sean Penn and David Letterman while his forces continue to push East, capturing Kherson - the only regional capital Russia captured after invading in February. Here's an animated map.
Meanwhile Russia, whose economy is now truly in recession and dubbed a terrorist state by NATO, is aptly proving redditor Rhinomeat correct in his statement that "You cannot use logic or reason to dislodge someone from a position that they used neither logic nor reason to maneuver themselves into."
They are blessing their guns and vehicles to slay the Ukranian devils and are relying on ally North Korea to provide winter uniforms. Their other ally, Iran, has supposedly suffered some military losses too however they are currently busy beating up women at home and finding workarounds to their own laws which state they can't execute virgins. Lastly India has opted to continue to buy Russian oil, which in itself is a show of support for the Russians, right beside China who are currently experiencing their own riots.
These are more to do with the continued COVID lock downs though, which include being locked in theme parks, taxis and burning buildings. Regardless, their future war preparations continue as they have begun cloning drones being used in Ukraine and Russia. Just another reason for their rival the USA to not support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons while strong arming others to say the same. Global Second Amendment anyone?
Most Viewed Posts:
Warframe: Baruuk and Octavia
1000 hours of Warframe
Thor: Love and Thunder and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
November 2022: NATO weighs in with words
Thursday, 29 September 2022
September 2022: COVIDED
Well, it finally happened: I got Covid for around a week this month. Itchy throat, headaches, lots of flem with sudden, violent coughing and blocked sinuses that made it hard to breathe. Not fun at all. Ultimately only ended up taking 2 days off though, being able to work from home the rest of the time.
Being sick doesn't stop the world from carrying on though: Queen Elizabeth II died, and Russia's conflict with Ukraine continues with Putin ordering a mobilization while also increasing the penalties for desertion or refusing to serve. In what looks like desperation, Russia is trying to "legally" annex the parts they currently control. This is most likely in response to Ukraine's counter offensive which is best viewed in this "200 days animated" tweet (its the big blue chunk towards the end of the animation).
Meanwhile China's scored a win with an agreement to buy Russian gas at a 50% discount. According to the Russians, the USA is to blame for the whole gas shortage in Europe. I wonder if they'll also get the blame for the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage leaks? Private talks between those two nations is currently focused on a different issue though: that of avoiding the use of nuclear weapons.
Most Viewed Posts:
Warframe: Xoris and the Steel Path
The Croods and A New Age
Warframe: Steel Path Conquered
Saturday, 30 April 2022
April 2022: Day 65 of the war
Or in Russian, it would be Day 65 of the special operation. There are now laws in which saying what the government doesn't want to hear or agree with a crime worth 15 years in prison. For similar reasons they've sent a wikipedia a hefty fine for spreading misinformation.
After losing a war ship, a few more tanks, being chased by drones, and being poisoned by locals, Russian forces were redeployed from attacking Kyiv to partake in a major offensive at Donbas to the East which includes the long besieged city of Mariupol. They have also started deploying dolphins, because that's apparently a thing that the USA does as well?
With the supposed default of the Ruble coming soon (speculated May 4th), Vladimir Putin has announced that the Russian lunar program will continue. Perhaps that's an additional reason why Russia is cutting the gas supply to both Poland and Bulgaria. To quote reddit: "Russia can't get enough fuel to drive a few hours to Kiev. Moon is a bit further".
Less people using Russian gas is exactly what the outnumbered Ukraine wants though, who are going hard on their propaganda with an excellent writing team - though sometimes a single picture can be pretty moving too. Support continues to flow for them from overseas, with Britain's Boris Johnson visiting Zelenskyy in Kyiv, USA's Joe Biden labeling Russia's action as genocide, France's Emmanuel Macron boosting weapons supplies for Ukraine after winning a second term of presidency over a pro-Russian opponent, hackers continuing to do their thing against Russia, and chef Jose Andres providing food to those he can reach.
It's also funny that Germany's Green party is saying the German government isn't being aggressive enough arming Ukraine. Again quoted from reddit: "Green party: Fuck it you know what would reduce emissions? BURNING MOSCOW *heavy metal riff*"
While I've been impressed at the use of drones in the theater of war, China is using them a different way - using mounted speakers to instruct the people locked down in Shanghai due to COVID to comply with the restrictions and "control the soul's desire for freedom". Sounds like another step towards a dark cyberpunk future! Actually, how is Hong Kong doing? Oh. Not great.
Most Viewed Posts:
Legends of Andor 2 - Legend 8 - The Storm Begins
In Sound Mind
Cris Tales
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
Steam Discovery Queue - Crusade of the Free VII
Continuing freebies from last time... the one in bold is the best of this set.
Alpaca Stacka: A short and light exploration children's game where you must find and return five chicks to mother hen. Cute but made my PC crash when trying to exit.
Cloud Climber: A very short first person story with super minor puzzles. Pretty cool and worth a look for the short play time.
Covid Chaos: Silly top down shooter where you must destroy all the randomly floating covids before they bump all the wandering humans. Hitting a big covid makes three little covids which are faster burst out. Bleh.
Lab Rags: First person platform puzzler where you are a disposable crash test dummy trying to get through a death maze. Emphasis on disposable as you need to die a lot to advance - usually you need your previous corpses to either walk on, throw at buttons or block gunfire etc. Bleh.
A Long Time: Award winning first person platformer featuring clocks, elongating platforms and an intentional irritating hall of mirrors effect. Bleh.
Octarina: A cute 3D adventure where you play a pink octopus trying to escape a sushi factory. Controls and camera are shit though, and often you can get stuck in geometry.
Perfect Vermin: Very strange and short first person game where you must hunt mimics in an office building using a sledgehammer under a time limit. I liked it, but there's a big WTF factor going on.
Triple Builder: Not the usual city builder. Instead this is a match three in a nine by nine grid where you are trying to put buildings of the same levels together. Do so to get points and to clear them out, though the last one you place will remain and gain one level. Interesting mind exercise.
Worn Thin: Stupid falling game where you are a pill falling down an esophagus? Lol.
Zombie Gunship Survival: In this zombie apocalypse fuel and ammo are so abundant, you spend all the action segments flying around in a gunship to cover allied forces looting and blowing up buildings? Game play gets old really quick.
Wednesday, 29 September 2021
September 2021 Review: Death Count
Now Month 3 of Lockdown 2, this one just flew by for me. Busy with work and dealing with the death of my grandmother who now joins her husband. It's also highlighted how weak I've grown though, as I really struggled and needed help lifting my corner of her coffin.
For those wondering: no this was not a Covid related death, but the tally of "people we knew who died due to Covid" is now at five, three of whom passed this month, one being my brother in law. Of the five this includes one who simply had the misfortune of their ambulance not being able to find a hospital with a free bed in time and one who probably had a fatal reaction to their second vaccine dose. I'm currently only on my first one of that, with the second shot coming next month.
All this has made me break my usual rule of not buying games for myself, which you can be sure I'll be posting about in the future. For now stay safe and take care, don't let that reaper get you.
Most Viewed Posts in the last 30 days:
State of Decay 2: Team Humanity
August 2021 Review: Lockdown 2 Month 2
GTFO: R5A2 - Recollect (Overload)
Wednesday, 30 June 2021
June 2021 Review: Lockdown #2
Just a short one today: Thanks to a resurgence of COVID-19, a new lockdown has been imposed where I live. This probably means I'm going to eat too much again! Anyway, my adventures in Black Desert Online continue (and happen to be the most viewed post last month) while my Friday night co-op has completed Remnants: From the Ashes. We were/are trying to get into Ghost Recon Wildlands next, which is a fun game - except it simply refuses to work 50% of the time. As that's time better spent gaming, we're currently branching out to see what games don't have this connectivity issue.
Other than that, our guild hall in Neverwinter Online is now level 18! Way to go guildies and allies. Due to my Black Desert-ing I'm definitely low on the contribution board for that achievement.
Most Viewed Posts in the last 30 days
Adventures in Black Desert Online
Castlevania (TV Series)
BDO: Sword on a Stick
Thursday, 3 December 2020
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
The music isn't a contest.
Lars (Will Ferell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) are determined to enter and win Eurovision for Iceland which is made near impossible due to Lars' self-sabotaging nature. As the actual contest was cancelled this year due to COVID, this movie is a decent replacement with some decent songs performed throughout.
There are also some nice comedic parts but if you don't like Will Ferrell, you might have a problem with this. In the same vein, if you haven't watched any real Eurovision you might not get some of the gags or the cameos. As a Eurovision fan I quite enjoyed it though, and give this film three jaja ding dongs out of five. Would I watch it again? Yes! In fact I already have! :)
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Masterchef Australia Season 12
Back to win.
I've been a big fan of Masterchef Australia for a long time now, as its usually nice, wholesome and uplifting emotionally despite being a competition.
The end of Season 11 also saw the departure of the beloved judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris leaving some pretty big shoes to fill for the new comers - previous guest-chef Jock Zonfrillo, articulate foodie Melissa Leong, and season 4 winner Andy Allen who went on to become a One Hat chef (only two more to catch up to Jock)!
It's quite interesting too how they manage to continue through COVID which necessitates the removal of public outdoor and service challenges; rules that are retained for the 3rd Junior season of the show (which coincidentally had the epic idea of having a live orchestra play music during the final cook). I'll be continuing to watch if Season 13 rolls around. :)
Saturday, 17 October 2020
Delores: A Thimbleweed Park Mini-Adventure
A Covid Freebie.
This point and click adventure sees the player in control of the titular Delores, who is trying her hand out at photo journalism for a small town paper. With pretty intuitive controls, there's not much of a learning curve in this purely find the spot game. Though in this case, "the spot" you need a picture of might need some puzzle solving to find.
Your tasks are given in batches of five, at which point you pretty much have to quit the game. Don't worry, that's actually the very odd save mechanism and some things actually progress. An entertaining enough little exercise which is freely available on both Steam and Epic I think, perfect if you happen to be really bored and in the mood for something different. I give it 2 cameras out of 5.
Insight: Remember where things are to help your future assignments.
Wednesday, 30 September 2020
September 2020 Review: Shh... Sleepers!
Wow, another month down and I've only had one, maybe two days where I slept in. No matter, the gaming continues! Especially in GTFO. We've been stuck on R3B1 for awhile now, but I'm sure we'll crack it soon. That's going to be a hard game to push out of co-op session night so I'm "shelving" the other games I intend to co-op for the time being in the list below.
I've also progressed with world building for my web comic story which is miraculous. What I haven't been doing is music practice, exercise and pulling weeds from the garden. Those things really get aggressive in warm weather. How do people find time to do all this stuff? Oh. They probably don't waste time in games. :P
To finish off, here's a down to Earth world leader visiting a very humble dude, and some guys getting interrupted by a little friend while trying to get some work done.
End 2020 with less weight (0 kg from last month, running total: +4 kg)
Make 1 web comic page (more world building done)
Make a board game (dropping for now)
BACKLOG
Just Cause 4 [free from Epic Games]Zombie Army Trilogy [gift] (shelving for co-op)Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop [free from Steam] (shelving for co-op)Dishonored 2 [gift] (done)Resident Evil 2 [gift] (done)
Metro Exodus [gift]Killing Floor 2 [free from Epic] (shelving for co-op)Remnant: From the Ashes [free from Epic Games] (shelving for co-op)
Troy: A Total War Saga [free from Epic Games]
Hitman [free from Epic Games]Shadowrun Collection [free from Epic Games] (done)
+Where water tastes like wine [free from Epic Games]
+Railway Empire [free from Epic Games]
+Football Manager 2020 [free from Epic Games]
+Watch Dogs 2 [free from Epic Games]
+Stick it to the Man! [free from Epic Games]
+Rollercoaster Tycoon: 3 [free from Epic Games]
Board games:
+Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
BLOG STATS
One Year Ago
My Creative Writing Experiment was still going and Neverwinter Online went to space. Kind of.
Five Years Ago
I was dabbling in A Tale in the Desert when Neverwinter Online released Strongholds.
Most Viewed Posts last Month
The Magicians (TV)
London Dread
How to Survive: Base Expansion
Top Search Term last Month
best face shields
Well, that's covid for ya. :P
Monday, 28 September 2020
World War Z (Game)
No one gets to be Brad Pitt.
A strange virus has quickly spread around the world causing the infected to become feral, hungry monsters with a penchant for building human/zombie triangles in large scales. You get to play as one of four survivors who must find a way past the horde and the occasional special type of zombie with special abilities. If one of those pin you down, only a team mate can save you. If this is starting to sound familiar, then you are right on the money. It is indeed similar to Left 4 Dead, but with better graphics and more zombies.
This disease reads a lot like covid...
There is an element of grinding added though as players gain XP and gold to level up their chosen class and weaponry. It's quite fun, especially played co-op, but it does suffer from a lack of maps. It is up to the players to make things more difficult during the match setup to keep things entertaining. Definitely one I can recommend but don't expect it to have a long shelf life. I give it 3 bulls out of 5.
Insight: Just because you upgrade weapons in higher tiers doesn't mean you start with them! With that in mind, you should probably focus on your starting weapons first.
Saturday, 29 August 2020
How to Survive 2: Monster Fauna
Now armed with machetes and bows, Kovac sends us to gather other nearby survivors - Raymond at a farm and a pair of trappers from the swamp. While variants of faster zombies and fatter explosive zombies are now showing up, it's obvious in the zombie food chain that the wild life zombie varieties sit at the top.
Zombie dogs and jackals are quick. Zombie seagulls barf acid. Zombie crocs can ambush from the swamp water (uh, guess that could be a regular croc too). There's even a zombie deer that seems to enjoy hunting DL outside camp at night... and hunting a flock of zombie turkeys was a lot scarier that I could have imagined.
Fortunately the camp is also expanding, with walls now protecting the kitchen, the weapons armory, the foundry and the armor and accessories craft shop. We can even create makeshift firearms now but have yet to find the molds required to make bullets.
Insight: Pitchforks are heavy but make great throwing weapons. When thrown they out damage everything you can create, at least in the early game.
---
Blaugust Bonus: "What are you looking forward to the most over the course of the next year?" -UltrViolet
Hopefully a covid vaccine.
Thursday, 30 July 2020
July 2020 Review: The Music "War"
It's now gotten to the stage where they've made rap-style "diss" tracks against each other and involves instrument hostages? Lol! I'm quite enjoying this rivalry and I thought some of you might too, if you haven't yet been exposed to any of it. It's InTeReStInG! :)
I guess I'll make this a fully music related post and include the more cooperative videos of Gary Barlow. One with JC Chasez with "Back For Good", and this one with Delta Goodrem with "You've got a friend". Excellent stuff if you just want to listen to good music.
Anyway, not much to report for myself other than I'm being surprisingly busy at work which is somewhat unexpected.
End 2020 with less weight (-2 kg from last month, running total: +5 kg)
Make 1 web comic page (nope)
Make a board game (nope)
BACKLOG
Just Cause 4 [free from Epic Games]
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms [free on Steam]
Zombie Army Trilogy [gift]
GTFO [gift]
Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop [free from Steam]
Dishonored 2 [gift]
Resident Evil 2 [gift]
Metro Exodus [gift]
Metal Gear Survive [gift]
+Killing Floor 2 [free from Epic]
+NWO: Avernus [0/2]
+Warhammer 40k: Rites of War [free from GOG]
-
+Tacoma [free from Epic]
Board games:
Zombicide: Black Plague (10/11)
Mice and Mystics: Heart of Glorm (5/6)
-
BLOG STATS
One Year Ago
I was playing through Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Neverwinter Online's Undermountain.
Five Years Ago
I'm pretty sure this is when I stopped playing Mabinogi, probably helped along since we were playing through Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2 coop while Batman: Arkham Origins took up my solo game time.
Most Viewed Posts last Month
Fallout Shelter: The Raiders
Inner Space
Farming Simulator 19 (lol what?)
Top Search Terms last Month
multiplayer 7 days to die
multiplayer battletech solaris l
multiplayer orchestra
Guess some people are definitely getting lonely out there with the multiplayer searching? Haha. While I've not played 7 days to die, I did have a play through of BattleTech tucked away somewhere.
Thursday, 30 April 2020
April 2020 Review: Self Isolation
Lastly, thanks to Blapril I've added a whole bunch of new blog links on the side there. Please have a look when you have the time! I'll be trimming them down as usual starting next week.
On to the task list...
End 2020 with less weight (+2 kg from last month, running total: +6 kg)
Make 1 web comic page (stiiill nope)
try make a boardgame (idea written out, needs testing)
BACKLOG
How to Survive 2 [gift]
World War Z [free from Epic Games]
+
+
+Close to the Sun [free from Epic Games]
+
+Just Cause 4 [free from Epic Games]
+
+Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms [free on Steam]
+For the King [free from Epic Games]
Board games:
Zombicide: Black Plague (10/11)
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (6/13)
Mice and Mystics: Heart of Glorm (0/11)
BLOG STATS
One Year Ago
There was a fire at Notre Dame and Brexit was still perkalating away. Also finished up my Dying Light diary and started the tale of the Black Pits.
Five Years Ago
I was posting the Ambitious Dynasty story and was getting heavily into Payday 2. I also made one of my most popular posts so far: the Neverwinter Online Vigilance Quest Guide.
Most Viewed Posts last Month
Enderal: The Petrified
Enderal: Ark Siege
Enderal: Pulling Our Strings
Top Search Terms last Month
osrs infernal cape service price
osrs uim infernal cape
osrs infernal cape scythe
Seems like a lot of interest in my Enderal play through last month, though I'm very curious now as to what this "infernal cape" is. :P
Tuesday, 31 March 2020
March 2020 Review: Lockdown the World
As for the bloggers among you Blaugust has come early in the form of Blapril! Go check it out as it might be something that interests you! :)
On to the task list...
End 2020 with less weight (+4 kg from last month, running total: +2 kg)
Make 1 web comic page (you'd think I have the time now but nope)
+try make a boardgame now that you "have time"? :P
BACKLOG
How to Survive 2 [gift]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Tomb Raider (2013) [free from Steam]
+The Lords of Midnight [free from GOG]
+
+Flight of the Amazon Queen [free from GOG]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves [free from GOG]
+Doomdark's Revenge [free from GOG]
+
+
+Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius [free from GOG]
+
+World War Z [free from Epic Games]
+Figment [free from Epic Games]
+Tormentor x Punisher [free from Epic Games]
+
Board games:
Zombicide: Black Plague Campaign (10/11)
London Dread Campaign (1/4)
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (6/13)
Mice and Mystics: Heart of Glorm (0/11)
BLOG STATS
One Year Ago
I began the Dying Light Diary and also said goodbye to the Foundry of Neverwinter Online. Ironic given that five years ago...
Five Years Ago
I was happy one of my Foundry quests got second place! It didn't stop me from hating Neverwinter Online's black ice design though, which has since rightfully been removed. I also made a Photo Story folder which is now defunct thanks to Photobucket, and watched a number of movies - the highlight of which is The Interview.
Most Viewed Posts last Month
LISA: That's RANDO
Enderal: Dead Weight
LISA: What Luck!
Top Search Terms last Month
fish glue ffxiv
runescape enhanced fire cape
darklands tarnhelm e hanover
Sounds like people are looking for stuff in games, which is to be expected with more people working from home. Unfortunately I think this blog only has hints to the Tarnhelm in Darklands...
Friday, 28 February 2020
February 2020 Review
Also, just for journal sakes - last month the WHO said "Don't worry about that Coronavirus in China, it's not as bad as the common flu." Yesterday they were more along the lines of "If people don't act now, everyone will be infected!". Sounds like they are incompetent morons.
End 2020 with less weight (-1 kg from last month, running total: 0 kg)
Make 1 web comic page (nope)
hire landscapers for back yard (nope)
+repair roof leaks
BACKLOG
How to Survive 2 (gift)
Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain (now at 68%) [gift]
NWO: Infernal Descent (0/2) [free to play]
+Faeria [free from Epic Games]
+Horace [free from Epic Games] (second chance)
+Observer [free from Epic Games] (second chance)
+Farming Simulator 19 [free from Epic Games] (second chance)
+Inner Space [free from Epic Games]
Board games:
Zombicide: Black Plague Campaign (10/11)
London Dread Campaign (1/4)
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (3/13)
Mice and Mystics: Heart of Glorm (0/11)
BLOG STATS
One Year Ago
I started playing Fallout Tactics.
Five Years Ago
I was playing Project Zomboid.
Most Viewed Posts last Month
The Cursed: Big Bluff
The Cursed: Almost the Last Lieutenant
The Cursed: Goddess of Snakes
Wow, nice to have my story posts top the views for a change!
Top Search Terms last Month
more and better prime day coupos online
online movie streaming triple threat
video games 3 year old
Not sure what people are looking for with that set, though hmm - Triple Threat sounds like a movie I would enjoy. I should go watch that.








