Video Games – Page 23 – Ms. Bella's World

3–5 minutes

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!

3–4 minutes

When I think about the game genres I love playing, the first that comes to mind is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG for short. There’s something captivating about stepping into a virtual world created by other people, exploring every inch of it, and meeting interesting characters along the way. It’s like living out a novel, and in some cases, that’s exactly what it is. A prime example of this is Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO).

However, there’s a question I sometimes hear, one that I’ve even asked fellow gamers in the past: “Why do you prefer to play these games alone? Are you antisocial? MMOs are designed for group play, after all.”

Maybe it will surprise you to know, but I agree. MMOs are designed around group play and teamwork. That’s why almost every one of them has some manner of dungeons for groups to challenge themselves against. Everything from skirmishes and instances in LOTRO to expeditions in New World requires multiple people. Yet, despite this, I often find myself adventuring solo. So, why is that?

Well, the most obvious reason is that I lack the time and, frankly, the energy to dedicate large chunks of it to one game. Once upon a time, I had both, but those days are long past. I’ve grown older and no longer have the desire to stay up until all hours, unlike even a decade ago. This focus on a single game also meant missing out on countless other gaming experiences. And yes, that game is LOTRO. Don’t get me wrong; I still love LOTRO and will continue to play it until the lights go out in Bree for the last time. But, there are so many other games and worlds crying out to be explored.

Having such limited time means that, even if I joined a kinship, guild, or company, my availability would be inconsistent at best. I can’t promise to show up more than I can, and most groups want someone who can show up consistently. I also admit I’m not the best player, and my gear is rarely top-tier, a big consideration for any group heavily into doing group content.

Being a solo player does have benefits, however. You’re not tied to anyone else’s schedule or quest log. If I want to spend my limited game time leisurely exploring an area, I can. Or if I want to go all-out and finish a slew of quests, I can do that too.

Despite that, I am a relatively social animal for an introvert. I enjoy talking to people, getting to know them, and doing quests with them when possible. I’ve had some memorable experiences in the instances of LOTRO in the past, and I highly recommend the ones in Angmar—they’re great fun!

Can playing solo get lonely? Admittedly, yes. But seeing other people running around the same world, whether they’re on the same quests as me or just passing through the area, gives a sense of community that solo RPGs can’t replicate. Sometimes just knowing there are others in the game by seeing chat can do that.

In recent years, I’ve noticed a trend with MMOs—efforts to make certain aspects less challenging and to accommodate a more solo-centric playstyle. I know that LOTRO certainly has. New World introduced alternate paths for advancing the main story that don’t involve group expeditions. Guild Wars 2 seems very solo-friendly, allowing players to join events without the need to form groups.

Let everyone know in the comments, what are your experiences with MMOs? Do you play with a group or prefer to play solo and why? And what are your favorite MMO games to play?

In all, while MMOs are fundamentally designed for group play, they can also offer an enjoyable experience for those who prefer to set out on their own. So, go forth, explore, and perhaps we might even cross paths out there.

Until next time, bye for now!