This post is now DIAMONDS. Also, League of Legends.

It really takes a lot for a game company to impress me. As much as I will complain that Blizzard is the spawn of Satan for the steep pricing of their games, quality-wise they have really spoiled me. I have taken things like frequent patches and quick hotfixes for bugs for granted, and as I have ventured into other online based games by other developers I have realized just how well Blizz treats us, even if the price is a bit steep. Come on. It's only YOUR SOUL. But I'm sure if you bargain with them you can trade them your firstborn instead. I only had to give them a kidney and a "favor to be fulfilled at a later date".

All hail our favorite faceless, money grubbing, casual catering, heartless corporation: Blizzard!

"What's that up in the sky? A bird? A plane?"

"No. It's Tom Chilton cruising by in his private, platinum plated starship. I wonder if it's fueled by the tears of non-casual gamers..."

"Is he blaring Wu Tang Clan?"

"They ain't nothin' to fuck with."

But what I really want to talk about is a small, independent company called Riot Games. These guys haven't been around long, and they could probably fit their entire staff inside of Blizzard's welcome lobby, but these guys have really proven that you don't need an overflowing bank account to make a fantastic game. Currently, their only title is League of Legends- a free to play PvP(Player versus player) type game. But they are (overly?)active in their community, quick to address issues in game and out, crank out additional bi-weekly content updates along with a bit of well written lore-based fluff, as well as a funny video from time to time. What else could a guy ask for?

Did I mention that it is free? No, actually FREE. Not "free" like most other FTP online games that only allow you to play a boring, bare-bones version of their game until you purchase a premium membership. Or supply anyone who drops five dollars into a shady looking paypal account with THE ULTIMATE SWORD OF FUCKING DOOM AND DESPAIR that allows you to absolutely wreck any poor kid that couldn't get his grubby little fingers on Mom's credit card. 

I mean FREE as in you download the bloody game and never have to pay a cent.

Their only source of revenue come from the sale of "skins" for the different characters in game (Skins can be anything from recolors/palette swaps of the character model, to complete appearance overhauls and custom sound effects) . Skins have ZERO impact on the gameplay itself and provide no unfair advantage to people that have spent money on the game. They are just there to look neat and give you the warm fuzzy feeling that you supported a wonderful company. Or just because you wanted to see Evelynn in even LESS clothing, as if that were possible.

I encourage anyone who reads this to check the game out and give it a whirl. It's definitely not for some people, but if you want fun, fast paced, competitive gameplay and a community that's packed full of angsty, racial slur spurting fifteen year olds that just found out what the word cunt means, look no further than League of Legends.

I'd whine about how much I hate online game communities in general, but that's a rant for another day. Let's just say that they ever develop a device that allows me to administer digital bitch slaps to people that piss me off, I won't be leaving my computer for a while.

Song: Stupid MF - Mindless Self Indulgence (Caution, colorful language)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRgG_eA46dc&feature=related

Link to League of Legend's website. -> http://www.leagueoflegends.com/