ConflictNerd

It’s been a while since I sat down to think about how the channel’s doing, and I have to say that it’s a great feeling being able to look at something you’ve been doing for years and continue to be proud of it. Just over a week ago we hit ten thousand subscribers on the channel and that’s absolutely awesome. I’ve already discussed this milestone specifically in a video, but I just want to extend my thanks to every single person in this wonderful little community that we have.

Content Cycle

You may/may not have noticed that the regular output of content shifted to a new schedule (Prison Architect, Software Inc, Cities: Skylines, repeat...). This is something that I’ve been working towards for a while now, and that I’ve been planning on doing post-Mad Max. Thus far, it’s proving to be an easier schedule to manage and lets me get on with real-life commitments and responsibilities - which I have way too many of right now.

This content cycle also leaves room for a second video each day, if there is one, and it also leaves that second slot available for Halo 5 later this month. It’s currently too soon to tell if this format will work or not, but experimentation is always fun.

Analysing Analytics

I mentioned at the beginning that I’m very proud of how the channel’s doing right now, and that truly is a great feeling. Each month presents a better set of analytics than the last which is a sign that something’s being done right. It’s also a sign that the majority of you are still enjoying the content that’s being put out - even though Cities: Skylines and Software Inc. have been going out for a few months now. I won’t go in to details, but I’m seeing a lot of promising trends.

Finding Feedback

With all that said, I do want to open the doors wide to all of you. I never want there to be a point where people are happy with everything just because “it’s a new video.” If you’re not enjoying something, if your favourite series is running a bit stale, don’t ever feel like you can’t tell me. While YouTube comments might not be the best place, you can always email me ([email protected]), tweet me, or message me via my Facebook page. I’m always happen to listen to criticism (when it’s constructive) and act upon it if I can see ways to improve.

In Conclusion

Soon.

Before YTGaming launched, I was certain that it’d be a great platform for livestreaming and discovery - at least better for smaller broadcasters, such as myself. Turns out, I was somewhat correct.

Twitch is definitely a platform I want to use, especially since YTGaming isn’t anywhere near as open, and the streaming aspect still feels like an afterthought rather than a main feature. Where Twitch lets you customise your entire page to fit your needs, YTGaming has a lacking UI and has no customisation at all - at least none that won’t make your main YouTube Channel look awful. I love that I can use things like TwitchAlerts and have follows and donations shown on-screen while I stream - again, something that YTGaming cannot do.

So what’s my plan? Starting tomorrow (September 7th, 2015) I’ll be using Twitch and YTGaming for different things.

If I’m streaming something that is a current series on the channel (Software Inc., Star Wars, Mad Max) then it will be on YTGaming, as well as anything that has recently been, or will be, a ConflictNerd Plays. This way, it’s easy for followers of those series to find the stream. These will likely be available as VoDs a day after the broadcast.

There seems to be a lot of confusion around the schedules that I showed in the first episode of Inner Conflict - specifically regarding my inability to stick to that schedule. Now while I’m famously bad at sticking to my schedule fully, what you have to realise is that any plans I make, dates I say, or spreadsheets I have are there to aid me a million times more than they are there to aid you. I love sharing that information with all of you, but a lot of people haven’t grasped how they work.

First off, my schedule is always flexible. YouTube is not my job, and I have a lot of commitments to fulfil outside of making videos, and sometimes these will get in the way of content and result in things getting pushed back to a later date. I don’t like rescheduling content, I don’t like pushing things back, but there’s only so much time in my day and it all needs to be balanced appropriately from one day to the next. Some days content will take priority, some days other things take priority.

Secondly, and finally, I should never have shown off those schedules in the first place - and won’t be showing off any more of them. I didn’t explain how they work and I can’t explain how they work to each and every new person that may see them. Spreadsheets and behind the scenes information need to stay away from the public eye, and I’ll be keeping it that way going forward. I won’t be pulling the first episode of Inner Conflict down, and those images I showed do still apply, but don’t think they’re set in stone - anything can happen, and anything can change. Just know I’m doing all I can to stick to the schedules that I’ve set.

Thank You.

Let’s skip formality and get right to the point here - I’ve been awful at keeping plans and schedules for the last couple of months.

I’d love to say that my lengthy run of illness has come to an end and that I’m feeling a whole lot better, but honestly I’m not. While my illnesses are subsiding and I physically feel healed, I still feel mentally exhausted which is draining all of my enthusiasm for everything. Creating videos should excite me, going outside into fresh air should feel good, having a good sleep (which is rare) should feel excellent - but none of that actually happens. Recently, when I feel a burst of energy, I put it in to either a livestream or an episode of KOTOR, which I’ve fallen in love with playing and recording.

So what’s the problem? Well I think the current issue still stems from my bout of illness. While I was ill, I could barely move without being in pain and that resulted in me spending a lot of my time in bed and not really doing anything. Being ill so long allowed that to become a routine, which I’m struggling to break. My body was completely broken down as it was hit with sickness after sickness, which is why it became so easy for me to continually get worse. On top of that, my body was working so hard to fight everything off that I had very little energy to do anything else. Now that I’m not ill, the energy I would have had seems to have completely gone, with no real sign of returning - and that’s kind of crappy.

I’ve already spoken to my therapist about this issue and the advice I’ve been given, and that I’ve been thinking myself, is that I need to go outside a little more, eat better food, and spend a few more hours a day away from my PC. I’ve actually been trying the “time away from my PC” thing these last couple of days and it’s pretty great. The real world has decent graphics, and easily hits 60FPS, though the community is kind of shitty.

In conclusion, and joking aside, it’s going to be a little while before I’m back to my regular old self. The energy you’ll see on a livestream or in a video for the next while is something that I’m learning to cherish as opposed to taking for granted. Sometimes that energy is spent on something completely different, out in the real world. I’m already doing what I need to do to build myself back up to where I was, and I’m determined to get there. I’m sure you’ve all been able to work out that I’m pretty stubborn and don’t really let myself rest and recover as much as I should - but I am trying.

The message here is, essentially, there are still going to be gaps between videos and series that I would rather weren’t there at all. I’m still working on fixing that.

I’m not one to get overly soppy when it comes to YouTube - I quite like my cynical/silly front to remain in place. That said, I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for the comments, tweets, and messages of support today regarding me being ill again. I hate that these last couple of months have seen a lapse in content several times due to my health, and I hate that I’m repeatedly announcing that there’s going to be time without any content on the channel.

With all that said and done however... you guys never cease to show love and support for what I do. Even if it’s a dumb filler video because it’s all I can do while I’m ill. The support and kind words today are somewhat overwhelming (in a good way), and I’m truly grateful.

Regarding my wrist, I’ve spoken to a doctor and he’s confident that it’s a small ganglion cyst that should be cleared up within a few days. My better half has also told me that a hot compress on it will help ease the pain a lot, and she’s been completely correct, so I’m going to be doing more of that to help ease my wrist over the next couple of days.

In regards to my work on content going forward, I’m going to be adding another Let’s Play to the channel on top of everything that’s currently going on. It’ll be a more ‘traditional’ series of a more ‘story oriented’ game (not sure which game yet) that will allow me to record it in bulk. This means that if there’s a time when I can’t record, this series can still be released and you can still get something while I recover. As I’m sure you know, this isn’t possible with Cities: Skylines and Software Inc. because I review comments between episodes. This new series won’t take away from either of those two, it’s being added to the regular content output.

The Sims 4: Get To Work - Part 16

Dylan Conflict & Rebecca Polk continue their lives together as they take a trip to the newly opened spa! Dylan has a mud bath, tries yoga, and gets a little steamy with Rebecca in the sauna... Oh my!

Bedroom/Studio Combo | The Sims 4 Room Build

Ever wanted to make YouTube videos from the comfort of your bedroom? Now you can! In The Sims 4!

ConflictNerd Plays... - Dead Realm

Creepy babies, wolf-men, and spooky ghosts make up Dead Realm, a multiplayer horror game that’s sure to scare the pants off of anyone - or maybe just me, because I’m a wimp.

Whatever the case, I decided to equip a facecam and jump in to the game and have some fun!

Cities: Skylines - Season 2: Part 22

Tony Piraino, International Superguy (GTAV Rockstar Editor)

Tony Piraino is back! Having been off doing ‘his thing’ for the last few weeks, Tony’s back and has news of his tank, and of his new career as a movie star!

Software Inc. - Season 2: Part 5

Nerdrosoft Studios continues to grow as a company as they gear up to release another video game, and start looking towards the future and the creation of their first Operating System!

TerraTech - Part 2

TerraTech continues as we venture out in search of materials, and friendship! As rough as things get, the ConflictMobile and Buddy never fail to push through, together!

Finally, to wrap up this recap, here’s the thumbnail of a video that’s coming soon!

Software Inc. - Season 2: Part 3

As Nerdrosoft Studios continues to rake in money, it’s about time to expand the company - and what better way than by moving the Marketing Team, building two new development rooms, and hiring a bunch of people to do some work for other companies?!

Software Inc. - Season 2: Part 4

The company bank balance is still growing, and quickly too! That means it’s time to bring on a team of Specialists! What are they going to do? Well it’s simple... They’re going to be educated to be masters of everything, then they’ll make us all of the money!

Cities: Skylines - Season 2: Part 21

Software Inc. - Season 2: Part 2

You’ve all been asking for daily Software Inc. for ages, so here it is! At least... for this week anyway...

In this episode we see Nerdrosoft Studios finally pull in the big bucks as Nerdrosoft Security Essentials sells like crazy!

Cities: Skylines - Season 2: Part 20

Software Inc. - Season 2: Part 1

We’re starting all over again in Software Inc. with our new company, Nerdrosoft Studios! We’ve also upped the difficulty, and we’ll be taking a much more calculated approach to all business decisions! Will our company sink? Will it swim? You’ll just have to keep watching to find out!

TerraTech - Part 1

ConflictNerd Plays... - Darkest Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon - A game of adventure, discovery, question, and death. Lots, and lots of death. One of the more interesting ConflictNerd Plays that I’ve done in a while, at least in my opinion, and certainly a game I’ll be playing a lot more of - though either in my free time, or on stream. In this particular video we see our heroes, ConflictNerd, Flabaliki, TheGeeNee, Zeuz, Mathin, and Chris Hemsworth, tackle the many beasties that oppose them! There’s also some phat loot to be found!

FRICKLE FRACKLE | The Sims 4: Get To Work [#15]

Due to an issue with payment, and an issue with my health, I’m not going to be able to make it to London tomorrow. While I don’t want to talk about money, I will talk a little about the health issue...

Today has been hell, honestly. With the issue if finalising this trip, and then having the whole thing fall apart before my eyes, and then desperately trying to figure out a last-minute means to make it work, I’ve been incredibly, incredibly stressed. Having been unable to fix the trip, I’m also pretty down, and feeling a bit miserable. In the midst of all the stress, I forgot to take my medication this morning, as well as my daily sets of pain-killers, and I’m feeling like hell now.

Essentially, today has been a series of awful, unfortunate events that have me feeling really shitty. I know I didn’t say too much about the trip, publicly, but I was really looking forward to meeting James, GeeNee, Zuez, and everyone else who’s headed to Hyde Park tomorrow. As well as all that, it was a chance for me to meet Finbar (Mathin), someone I’ve known for years and collaborated with on numerous things.

I suppose this is just something that wasn’t to be, in my case. That doesn’t stop me feeling like crap, however. You’ll hopefully understand if I seem quiet, or moody on social media for the next few days.

VLOG: 7000 Subscribers, Health Update, Future Content

Even though I said I wouldn’t be doing any videos or events to mark subscriber milestones until we hit 10,000 Subscribers, I decided to put together a Vlog to say thanks - as well as update everyone on my health, and the content that’ll be coming to the channel over the next few weeks!

PROJECT MANAGEMENT | Software Inc. [#13]

Episode #13 of Software Inc. brings with it our first jump into automated Project Management, although that’s possibly overlooked by the enormous space that we create for the original OS Team!

ConflictNerd Plays... - Terraria

ConflictNerd Plays... - TerraTech

Our first video of the day was a leap into TerraTech - a game all about creating vehicles to gather items, craft, and battle enemies!

Things start off slowly, but proceed to get a little nuts as time goes by, as more items become available, and as more enemies are added to the mix!

AMEND THE CONSTITUTION | Tropico 5 [#15]