I mean, I guess I can see why Microsoft would want to buy Discord. I would love to see that built in, an assumption, like they were trying to do with Mixer. I know there are ways you can fuck around and get there, but I mean way down in the metal. It kicks ass. You can run a convention on the Goddamn thing. I also think this can be done as part of a partnership and doesn't require Microsoft to own anymore companies. I think it's time to push away from the table. You know? They just bought a bunch. I feel like my fucking mom. Aren't you full?

I used to have TV service through my fiber provider, but maybe I was the only one, or it wasn't good business or something, so they decided to stop offering it. That didn't keep them from charging me for it, and when they took down my access to the Internet to remove it, access never came back despite their claims to contrary - I had to call them and enter a personal name and password I never created directly into the router to get back on. The line in panel two was a direct quote, and it was not a comfort. But once I was able to get them to remove the fee for the service I didn't have access to, they offered me gigabit speeds - ten times my original rate - for 25 dollars less than I was currently paying...? It was one of the most bewildering customer service experiences I've ever had. It still feels like my brain is spinning in my head.

The Child’s Play charity is holding its second annual Gamers Give Back day tomorrow in a concerted effort to get streamers to play games and raise money for Children’s Hospitals all over the world.

There is a scene in the Zach Snyder's Ultra Justice League: Unchained DX where everybody has to hide their macguffins, and it's kinda funny by itself but it also essentially charts out a three panel structure that is sorta hard to resist. I finished the movie last night - it took me a couple days to finish it - and it's better than the theatrical release by a lot. It isn't close. We've described this type of work alternately as "Sweet" or "Bad-Ass," and it absolutely is those things. It's somewhere between the mythic portrayals of Alex Ross and a disintegrating peechee worn thin by ballpoint skulls engraved into its surface. It's not for everyone, but we can't say it's for no one. It had its moment and now it's gone.

I found some old Gameboy Advance games while cleaning recently but could not find any of my old systems to play them on. I decided to check out eBay figuring I would pick up a used SP or something. I was surprised to see people selling customized GBA’s with updated screens, new shells and other goodies. I sprung for one of these bad boys and have been playing on it for the last couple weeks. 

Honestly, Magic: Legends looks kinda cool. Diablo is generally what gets namechecked in this context, but it's giving me more of a Path of Exile vibe. This is the kind of subtle distinction that marks me as a connoisseur.

It's been a while since we put out something pitchy; some of our most enduring stuff - like the Eyrewood, or Automata - was the result of this kind of exploration but we haven't had a lot of time to do that for a bit. I'm not even sure we had time to do it today! But we did take it.

I don't remember when the Snyder Cut comes out. It could even be out today. I know that I've seen at least two reviews that are actually reviews of the people the author thinks might like the Snyder Cut. Spoilers, obviously. Not for the movie, for those people. Turns out, they're bad! They used to be bad because the Snyder Cut was a Conspiracy Theory and now they're bad because Warner Brothers catered to them - an audience that made them billions. I hardly know what we're supposed to do with this information.

About a month ago, Ryan was telling me I had to Google NBA Top Shots. And I'm really glad he did, because now that NFT is all everybody's talking about it's nice to have some kind of idea about what that is. It's way older than I thought. And now I know what Gas Fees are! But what is all this, exactly? For a disruptive technology, it's very much of a piece with modern finance - it's an incredibly complex way to buy nothing.

I like Warhammer 40k way too much. It's been a problem for a long time. Warhammer Fantasy, I dunno. Underworlds is a good game and Warcry is… fine but I feel like I can barely fill a table with one kind of plastic. I sure as shit ain't filling two. Also, the filth and decrepitude of a collapsing empire and those who toil fruitlessly against the advance of Chaos is just more my thing anyway because I'm pretty sure that's how it actually is.

Just like it says at the top!  It's fun when we can branch out into the wilder side of the license.  This is what the set looks like - I love this backer.  

Thursday night is Race Night folks! The Penny Arcade iRacing league hits the track tonight and I’ll be opening up the Pit Crew on Twitch at 7:30PT. It’s hard to believe that it was one year ago this month that I first gave this sim racing this a try. Back then I could hardly get around the track in my “non-automatic” car. These days I race for the world’s premiere pretend motorsports company Gabir Motors. I also wear gloves when I pee and pretend my name is Mike Racecar, so it’s fair to say a lot has changed in one year.

Sometimes there would be change in the junk drawer at my house. This shrapnel, combined with redemption from bottles we found or "borrowed," kept me stacked with rattling boxes of Mr. Melon and Alexander The Grape. One thing we didn't have, and this is an interesting distinction, was direct access to the entirety of our parents' liquid assets if they accidentally left a sign-in somewhere.

Theoretically, because the different streaming platforms are really just… websites, switching between them should be trivial. Like, if there's a streamer you really like and they move it shouldn't matter that much. But it definitely matters, as those streamers and platforms who have tried to make plays were able to discern very quickly. Materially we are talking about a click, but in terms of consumer behavior? It's like trying to grab the moon from the surface of the Earth.

I guess I don't really care who they attach next to the D&D movie because Dungeons & Dragons doesn't exist.

This week the Penny Arcade League begins Season 5 of our racing journey together. We’re up over 250 people now with races all during the week and an active Discord. It’s a great group that I interact with at least once a week for our Thursday night race. I will also sometimes pop in for the practice races when I need them... I usually need them. I had a great time at the fun race during the "off season" last week and if you missed it I reccomend you check out the VOD.