Looking Ahead – A Channel Update

As we enter Q4 2023, I’ve spent time reflecting on Ms. Bella Games, paying special attention to both successes and areas where I believe I can make improvements.

As a result, I’ll be making changes, which you’ll notice in the coming weeks as some series end and I make scheduling adjustments. I’ll also be posting polls to gather your input on –

• Ideal video release times
• Preferred days for long-running series like LOTRO
• Grouping similar game on the same day, such as LOTRO and Guild Wars 2
• Reworking long playlists, especially for Let’s Play and LOTRO
• Continuing Broken Ranks and finding a guild or the game’s equivalent
• Potential livestream schedules, based on my availability

Confirmed 2024 series include:

• LOTRO – This is my all-time favorite game and so the series goes on. After all, Medrielle is finally leaving Mirkwood and we’re not even halfway done in Middle Earth! With the introduction of the Mariner, I have new goals – learning the class and challenging myself with the landscape difficulty on Marcellene. Perhaps I’ll even join a kinship!
• Valheim – This game, a birthday present from Gus, has easily taken #1 for survival games and #2 as my all-time favorite. I’m excited to continue Arlena’s adventures and I look forward to upcoming updates (even as they break mods!).
• Grim Dawn – I know it’s a newcomer, however I’m having more fun with it than I had with Diablo IV. I look forward to challenging myself with different character builds and exploring the world.
• Guild Wars 2 – I continue to enjoy this game. Whether Medrielle and May will remain the main characters or not is unknown. I love my Sylvari ranger and my Charr elementalist is fun. However, I really want to make an Asura and try either the engineer or mesmer professions. Regardless, it’s clear that Guild Wars 2 is in for the long haul.

Games uncertain for 2024:

• Broken Ranks – Don’t get me wrong, I really love the game and the challenge it presents. Learning a class and trying to level solo appeal to me. But I’m hitting the same wall each time, around the same level range. The game is simply not meant to be played solo. However, I’m not sure how well populated the server is and whether or not there are any groups in the timeframe I play and, more importantly, whether they’d be interested in having me join.
• I Am Future – This one is due to end soon. I’m close to finishing most of what I can for now so 2 – 3 more episodes tops. After that it will be semi-retired, returning when new content releases. For an EA game, though, it’s been rather fun.
• Smalland – This one will not be ending soon, as I’m certain I have 2 or 3 bosses to go. We’ll see what’s added with the next 2 big updates, before and with the full release of the game, and go from there. If dedicated servers are added, I could see playing co-op in the future.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – I love the game, despite knowing very little about Forgotten Realms or 5e rules. However, I’m debating whether this game is better suited for livestreams.

The Let’s Play Series will continue with a couple of upcoming games being potentially included. The biggest would be the Return to Moria game. I’d love to play a 4th age dwarf trying to reclaim and rebuild Khazad Dum! Currently, it’s only available on Epic so I’ll wait to see if it shows up on Steam eventually.

Also, while month-long showcases were enjoyable, some games deserved extended play. I’m considering a 2-month or quarterly rotation per game. If so, we could see a game or two from 2023 return in 2024. Outer Worlds could be one such game. No Man’s Sky is a contender. And I’m debating Oblivion. I know, you thought I’d say Skyrim right? But I really want to continue Oblivion’s story. However, do I continue in 2024 or wait until the Skyblivion mod is finally released? I’m leaning towards the latter.

Finally, expect pop-up series, either due to receiving game keys or when a game doesn’t fit a series but is fun. Bullethell games fall into that category and you’ve probably already noticed games like Holocure and Brotato pop up. The game Drift will pop up more as the developer has recently added new content. And Subnautica will become a pop-up series as I return to the ocean and find things worth sharing.

So, in all, these are some of my thoughts for the channel going into 2024. Comments or suggestions? Let everyone know below.

Until next time, bye for now!