Neil
@thereilneil.bsky.social
Trying to be more active online.
Time to respond to these again after missing some over Christmas
Then and now, Rogue Trader and its not particularly close.
Honourable mentions for BG3, Chants of Sennaar and Jedi Survivor.
Then and now, Rogue Trader and its not particularly close.
Honourable mentions for BG3, Chants of Sennaar and Jedi Survivor.
Quote this with your favourite game from 2023 NOW, and what your favourite was THEN (if you had one)
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
January 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Time to respond to these again after missing some over Christmas
Then and now, Rogue Trader and its not particularly close.
Honourable mentions for BG3, Chants of Sennaar and Jedi Survivor.
Then and now, Rogue Trader and its not particularly close.
Honourable mentions for BG3, Chants of Sennaar and Jedi Survivor.
Reposted by Neil
Reposted by Neil
Breakdown shitfights and an interpro no-show — Ulstermen standing up — Mens' Sevens programme legacy — The outhalf rivalry we were promised — What to do with Tom Aherne — Leo stops filibustering
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Molecast #183 | The Molecast
The Molecast is not paywalled, but you can support its production by donating at our Ko-Fi page: https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Much to get through...
shows.acast.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Breakdown shitfights and an interpro no-show — Ulstermen standing up — Mens' Sevens programme legacy — The outhalf rivalry we were promised — What to do with Tom Aherne — Leo stops filibustering
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Reposted by Neil
Here's a couple
1. The Aristocracy were far more likely to die in WWI than the proles - indeed, for many countries (e.g. UK) it's probably their war with the most elite casualities.
2. The predecessor organisation to all forms of the modern IRA was founded in New York.
(cont)...
1. The Aristocracy were far more likely to die in WWI than the proles - indeed, for many countries (e.g. UK) it's probably their war with the most elite casualities.
2. The predecessor organisation to all forms of the modern IRA was founded in New York.
(cont)...
Here’s a fun top five: things that are consensus among historians but are essentially unknown by the public. Richard I, a bad king of England. Roman Empire, fell in 1453. Paul, more important than Jesus. Witch burning, a modern phenomenon not a medieval one. Britain last invaded in 1688. Yours?
As someone who wrote a dissertation on that damnable Frenchman; one can only hope.
January 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Here's a couple
1. The Aristocracy were far more likely to die in WWI than the proles - indeed, for many countries (e.g. UK) it's probably their war with the most elite casualities.
2. The predecessor organisation to all forms of the modern IRA was founded in New York.
(cont)...
1. The Aristocracy were far more likely to die in WWI than the proles - indeed, for many countries (e.g. UK) it's probably their war with the most elite casualities.
2. The predecessor organisation to all forms of the modern IRA was founded in New York.
(cont)...
I think its less we will be back to the Good Old Days(tm) next president, more a reflection that EU pols just don't have the power/inclination/unity to change the status quo.
It took 50+ years to get to the current situation, its going to take some time to get to another equilibrium.
It took 50+ years to get to the current situation, its going to take some time to get to another equilibrium.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 10:14 AM
I think its less we will be back to the Good Old Days(tm) next president, more a reflection that EU pols just don't have the power/inclination/unity to change the status quo.
It took 50+ years to get to the current situation, its going to take some time to get to another equilibrium.
It took 50+ years to get to the current situation, its going to take some time to get to another equilibrium.
Reposted by Neil
A message for you all to carry through the year
January 1, 2026 at 6:32 AM
A message for you all to carry through the year
Reposted by Neil
Got to be Dragon Age then and now.
Although I probably sunk the most hours into League, I didn't play it until a few years later.
Although I probably sunk the most hours into League, I didn't play it until a few years later.
Quote this with your favourite game NOW that was released in 2009, and what your favourite was THEN (if you had one)
Localisations/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend
Two-way ties count
If you need more of a refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend
Two-way ties count
If you need more of a refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 23, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Got to be Dragon Age then and now.
Although I probably sunk the most hours into League, I didn't play it until a few years later.
Although I probably sunk the most hours into League, I didn't play it until a few years later.
Then Skyrim, now DOW2:Retribution. Close one though.
Honourable mentions to LA Noire, Dead Space 2, Portal 2 and several others.
Interesting this time to see the amount of games that are 2, 3 or even more entries deep into the series. Also the amount of movie tie in games, not seen later years.
Honourable mentions to LA Noire, Dead Space 2, Portal 2 and several others.
Interesting this time to see the amount of games that are 2, 3 or even more entries deep into the series. Also the amount of movie tie in games, not seen later years.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2011, if you had one, and what you would say your favourite game of 2011 is now, if it differs
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Then Skyrim, now DOW2:Retribution. Close one though.
Honourable mentions to LA Noire, Dead Space 2, Portal 2 and several others.
Interesting this time to see the amount of games that are 2, 3 or even more entries deep into the series. Also the amount of movie tie in games, not seen later years.
Honourable mentions to LA Noire, Dead Space 2, Portal 2 and several others.
Interesting this time to see the amount of games that are 2, 3 or even more entries deep into the series. Also the amount of movie tie in games, not seen later years.
Xcom then, FTL now.
Honourable mentions to Dishonoured, Mass Effect 3 and Far Cry 3.
Again interesting how a gap of only a couple of years can make it seem like a completely different era, this really feels like the end of that gen.
Honourable mentions to Dishonoured, Mass Effect 3 and Far Cry 3.
Again interesting how a gap of only a couple of years can make it seem like a completely different era, this really feels like the end of that gen.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2012, if you had one, and what you would say your favourite game of 2012 is now, if it differs
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Xcom then, FTL now.
Honourable mentions to Dishonoured, Mass Effect 3 and Far Cry 3.
Again interesting how a gap of only a couple of years can make it seem like a completely different era, this really feels like the end of that gen.
Honourable mentions to Dishonoured, Mass Effect 3 and Far Cry 3.
Again interesting how a gap of only a couple of years can make it seem like a completely different era, this really feels like the end of that gen.
TW:W3 then and now, but feels like those games along with Civilisation are more ongoing with DLC than single releases.
Honourable mentions to Darktide, Cult of the Lamb and Vampire Survivors, the latter two I played for the first time this year.
Honourable mentions to Darktide, Cult of the Lamb and Vampire Survivors, the latter two I played for the first time this year.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2022, if you had one, and what you would say your favourite game of 2022 is now, if it differs
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Full refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Full refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 18, 2025 at 9:52 AM
TW:W3 then and now, but feels like those games along with Civilisation are more ongoing with DLC than single releases.
Honourable mentions to Darktide, Cult of the Lamb and Vampire Survivors, the latter two I played for the first time this year.
Honourable mentions to Darktide, Cult of the Lamb and Vampire Survivors, the latter two I played for the first time this year.
A weaker year for games I played than most.
Inscryption then and now.
Only other games I could remember playing from that year are Necromunda: Hired Gun and Pathfinder WotR.
Inscryption then and now.
Only other games I could remember playing from that year are Necromunda: Hired Gun and Pathfinder WotR.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2021, if you had one, and what you would say your favourite game of 2021 is now, if it differs
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Full refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Full refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
A weaker year for games I played than most.
Inscryption then and now.
Only other games I could remember playing from that year are Necromunda: Hired Gun and Pathfinder WotR.
Inscryption then and now.
Only other games I could remember playing from that year are Necromunda: Hired Gun and Pathfinder WotR.
Hades , then and now. Close to perfect in everything it did.
Honourable mentions to DRG,Iratus and Griftlands. The latter being one of the most intriguing fictional worlds I've ever encountered.
Dishonourable mention to Warcraft 3 Reforged, the worst remake ever made.
Honourable mentions to DRG,Iratus and Griftlands. The latter being one of the most intriguing fictional worlds I've ever encountered.
Dishonourable mention to Warcraft 3 Reforged, the worst remake ever made.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2020, and what you would say your favourite game of 2020 is now, if it differs
(I will count two-way ties for either answer)
For a more comprehensive refresher than this grid: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
(I will count two-way ties for either answer)
For a more comprehensive refresher than this grid: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 16, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Hades , then and now. Close to perfect in everything it did.
Honourable mentions to DRG,Iratus and Griftlands. The latter being one of the most intriguing fictional worlds I've ever encountered.
Dishonourable mention to Warcraft 3 Reforged, the worst remake ever made.
Honourable mentions to DRG,Iratus and Griftlands. The latter being one of the most intriguing fictional worlds I've ever encountered.
Dishonourable mention to Warcraft 3 Reforged, the worst remake ever made.
@starshine.bsky.social Interesting coda to the 40k TW talk, it seems it was the top steam followed game revealed at the Games Awards. More follows than the next 4 combined.
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/the-game-a...
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/the-game-a...
The Game Awards reveals that blew up on Steam
Plus, Expedition 33 sold another 200K copies since its big Game Awards sweep, boosting its daily copies sold by 6x, mostly via Steam and PS5.
alineaanalytics.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
@starshine.bsky.social Interesting coda to the 40k TW talk, it seems it was the top steam followed game revealed at the Games Awards. More follows than the next 4 combined.
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/the-game-a...
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/the-game-a...
Out of that pic, it would have to be Into the Breach now and then.
Digging into the year it would be Mechanicus, perhaps the greatest soundtrack of any game.
Interesting how that list seems modern and recent, while the one for 2016 seems much older.
Honourable mentions to Gwent, Artifact(rip), POE2
Digging into the year it would be Mechanicus, perhaps the greatest soundtrack of any game.
Interesting how that list seems modern and recent, while the one for 2016 seems much older.
Honourable mentions to Gwent, Artifact(rip), POE2
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2018, and what you would say your favourite game of 2018 is now, if it differs
(Grid is just a refresher, not my top 25. For a more comprehensive refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...)
(Grid is just a refresher, not my top 25. For a more comprehensive refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...)
December 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Out of that pic, it would have to be Into the Breach now and then.
Digging into the year it would be Mechanicus, perhaps the greatest soundtrack of any game.
Interesting how that list seems modern and recent, while the one for 2016 seems much older.
Honourable mentions to Gwent, Artifact(rip), POE2
Digging into the year it would be Mechanicus, perhaps the greatest soundtrack of any game.
Interesting how that list seems modern and recent, while the one for 2016 seems much older.
Honourable mentions to Gwent, Artifact(rip), POE2
Leinster up for this one at least, Lowe most of all.
December 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Leinster up for this one at least, Lowe most of all.
Reposted by Neil
Ireland's Top Province: the one at the top of the country — The Way of Richie — Cohesion paying off — Leinster's Disparate Aims — One-man rucks and going open off 10 — Hard Times in Bath Town — AOB: Connacht, Ross Byrne, Goals from the Mark
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Molecast #181 | The Molecast
shows.acast.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Ireland's Top Province: the one at the top of the country — The Way of Richie — Cohesion paying off — Leinster's Disparate Aims — One-man rucks and going open off 10 — Hard Times in Bath Town — AOB: Connacht, Ross Byrne, Goals from the Mark
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Reposted by Neil
Reposted by Neil
There’ll be no World Cup then, I’ll tell the children — In Search of a Scrum Philosophy — The Bajada — Props and Game-Time — Backs Rugby vs Forwards Rugby — Boks Tactical Discipline — Emotional Ireland — Bundee's Rugby Mortgage — Lessons from Dev — Going forward
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Molecast #179 | The Molecast
In Search of a Scrum Philosophy
shows.acast.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
There’ll be no World Cup then, I’ll tell the children — In Search of a Scrum Philosophy — The Bajada — Props and Game-Time — Backs Rugby vs Forwards Rugby — Boks Tactical Discipline — Emotional Ireland — Bundee's Rugby Mortgage — Lessons from Dev — Going forward
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Reposted by Neil
Genuinely mental story. The obvious intersection of trans panic and deranged sports parents: adults gleefully bullying the shit out of a kid
Looking for answers to ‘case closed’ following troubling events at a girls’ football match in Cavan
On a Friday in August, a WhatsApp message describing troubling events at a girls’ football match began to spread in Cavan GAA circles. It read:
m.independent.ie
November 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Genuinely mental story. The obvious intersection of trans panic and deranged sports parents: adults gleefully bullying the shit out of a kid
Reposted by Neil
Apologies for the poor sound quality on one of the microphones! — Ireland romp against Oz — Paddy Mac arrives fully formed — Sam's highs and lows — Baird's hard yards — Aussie woe — Northampton influence — Delectable Pumas — SA conspiracy
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Molecast #178 | The Molecast
Apologies for the poor sound quality on one of the microphones! — Ireland romp against Oz — Paddy Mac arrives fully formed — Sam's highs and lows — Baird's hard yards — Aussie woe — Northampton influ...
shows.acast.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Apologies for the poor sound quality on one of the microphones! — Ireland romp against Oz — Paddy Mac arrives fully formed — Sam's highs and lows — Baird's hard yards — Aussie woe — Northampton influence — Delectable Pumas — SA conspiracy
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Ireland playing the basics of wet weather rugby much better than Australia.
November 15, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Ireland playing the basics of wet weather rugby much better than Australia.
Reposted by Neil
Skills and confidence ebbing — Lineouts, Attack, Defence, Kicking — Charismatic Strongmen all the way down — Possibles flow while Probables stutter — MacKenzie's Murrayfield Moments — Rassie and Siya's Mentality Monsters strike AGAIN
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Molecast #177 | The Molecast
Support the Molecast by donating at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole — Charismatic Strongmen all the way down — Possibles flow while Probables stutter — MacKenzie's Murrayfield Moments — Rassie and Siya...
shows.acast.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Skills and confidence ebbing — Lineouts, Attack, Defence, Kicking — Charismatic Strongmen all the way down — Possibles flow while Probables stutter — MacKenzie's Murrayfield Moments — Rassie and Siya's Mentality Monsters strike AGAIN
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
shows.acast.com/the-molecast...
Reposted by Neil
The equivalent of what the Americans are going through right now would be me being handed the actual voice recording of DGSE operatives explaining the exact tramadol dose they subreptitiously gave Ronaldo on the evening of 11 July 1998
The only conspiracy theory I've ever believed in trending towards being true is making me feel like I'm going crazy
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The equivalent of what the Americans are going through right now would be me being handed the actual voice recording of DGSE operatives explaining the exact tramadol dose they subreptitiously gave Ronaldo on the evening of 11 July 1998
Reposted by Neil
Wait do I have it correct that Joyce Carol Oates said Musk was a shell of a man with no joy in his life and he totally saw it and said "No I'm not" and now he's searching the titles of different movies he likes and replying "great movie"
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Wait do I have it correct that Joyce Carol Oates said Musk was a shell of a man with no joy in his life and he totally saw it and said "No I'm not" and now he's searching the titles of different movies he likes and replying "great movie"