The Grinding Gear Podcast

#419 - Into the Nexus: “Patch Feelings”

We’ve got a patch! Garrett and Kyle break-down the tools and toys you’ll be enjoying or lamenting this weekend. Download bug has been fixed, the version mismatch has been fixed. We may also have a new mystery balance designer who is showcasing their new project style!

#418 - Into the Nexus: “Maw or Naw?”

Into the Nexus is back! The people’s show. The show for the people by the people. Garrett and Kyle take a look at Blizzard’s upcoming releases and talk about the health of video game production. NGS continues and Kyle has a few new strats to share with you including a fancy new reason to pick Zagara (last pick that is). Emails and more, oh yea!

#417 - Into the Nexus: “Whitemane Steam Train”

Live esports is back! HeroesHearth announces its round of 4 for CCL will be held in their new studio in August. Three Heroes of the Storm lan events in 2022? What is this? 2018?! Garrett and Kyle take a look at the evolving meta, your emails and more!

#416 - Into the Nexus: “Roster Woes”

Into the Nexus, the Blizzard episode. Heroes of the Storm is of course the focus, we talk the 30k Roster shake-up that might impact the entire league. However, Blizzard is making big moves across its flagship games, a full Road Map for World of Warcraft properties was announced. StarCraft is getting a balance patch designed by the community, and Overwatch plans to release it’s second installment with the PvE cut out to start. If Blizzard is healthy, Heroes is healthy: Let's check in.

#415 - Into the Nexus: “Is Mal’Ganis Good?”

Garrett and Kyle are cursed! Solo games are great, but their duos suffer. After a brief recovery, CCL announcements abound! Season 4 is on the way along with some changes to the player draft and format. And why aren't players taking camps?! Stay tuned.

#414 - Into the Nexus: “Give Arthas Defile!”

Video game riches have descended upon us. A wealth of games are releasing and Heroes of the Storm is still one of your favorite dishes. Garrett and Kyle take a look at the recent balance patch to see where things have shaken up. The mailbag is still bursting. The hosts make headway. Keep em coming to itncast@gmail!

#413 - Into the Nexus: “Building a Better Team”

This week Garrett and Kyle dive into the finer details of honing your team drafts, using Baby on Board’s recent Nexus Gaming Series victory. We also reveal the secrets of Malthael in an impromptu bruise special. Otherwise, It’s mailbag time and we got a packed one. Enjoy!

#412 - Into the Nexus: “We Have Totems at Home”

A beefy episode for a beefy patch. This is the coverage of the first balance patch of 2022. Garrett has a new toy in Malthael. Kyle is healer main for his NGS team and it’s big on Malfurion. The balance, the breakdown. It’s all here. We also squeeze in an email. Enjoy!

#411 - Into the Nexus: “Defrost Miami w/ Chillrogg”

Heroes Esports continues thanks to awesome folks like today’s guest Chillrogg of Chillymountain. This weekend is the upcoming Defrost Lan tournament taking place live at NLG Miami, and we’ve got all the details for you here. Garrett and Kyle touch on the balance patch, but we will go deep on that next week. For now, enjoy this inside scoop on esports organization and team management.

#410 - Into the Nexus: “Heroes of the Game Pass”

Garrett and Kyle break down the Microsoft Activision buyout with a Heroes of the Storm mindset. Phil Spencer and the Microsoft Game Pass have built up a lot of goodwill over the last several years, is it enough to save Blizzard/Activision. What will happen to our humble game of Heroes? Will we end up on the game pass? Will Masterchief be playable? The hosts also discuss the announced unnamed survival game. Brief CCL chat at the end. Enjoy!

#409 - Into the Nexus: “Hanging with Justing”

CCL Analyst and former HGC pro-player piTkid aka Justing joins the show this week to get you ready for the upcoming Season 3 grand finals. We take a trip down memory lane. Tower Ammo to playing on stage. We also touch on the Microsoft acquisition, but we will cover that in-depth next week.

#408 - Into the Nexus: “Frostmourne Should Always Hunger”

Into the Nexus, Garrett and Kyle. In this existential episode of your favorite Heroes of the Storm podcast, we discuss the inner workings of Blizzard and the game industry as a whole. How much transparency should the players get as we move into the future. We also prepare ourselves for the CCL round of 4 and the Grand Finals which will follow. Emails and more to follow.

#407 - Into the Nexus: “Love the Way You Rehgar”

Welcome to 2022! Into the Nexus returns with Garrett and Kyle investigating the outsourcing market at Blizzard. The guys also discuss the big Rehgar counter you’re missing and what heroes they will be maining in 2022. Your emails, Jurassic Park and more!

#406 - Into the Nexus: “Heroes Sandwich”

The final episode of 2021, this is Into the Nexus, your Heroes of the Storm podcast. Garrett and Kyle emerge from their Holiday hibernation, enjoy the results. Johanna has the lane clear back, so where did the big rework take her? Does Malfurion need a rework? Nova? Thrall and Alexstraza? How about some off-topic questions.

#405 - Into the Nexus: “Wiggle in Unique Ways” w/ Kiyeberries

Kiyeberries returns to talk all things healers with Kyle and Garrett. Rehgar’s reign continues, Butcher has nipples, and why you should just turn off chat on this episode of Into the Nexus!

#404 - Into the Nexus: “The Probe Meta?”

The meta is changing. The CCL has upped the pace of the game. Johanna is now a high damage off-lane. Probius is a zoning double soaking spell caster. Rehgar is just plain running amok. Garrett and Kyle give you the scoop, as well the business of battle-pass and your emails.

#403 - Into the Nexus: “Tone Down Totems”

Rehgar reigns supreme! The totems are upon us! Rework is out and it’s ushering in a dive meta. The CCL will tell this weekend. Garrett and Kyle give you the scoop on the hearty tomatic titanic. The six month season roll is also on the table, along with your emails and more!

#402 - Into the Nexus: “Rehgar Salad Bar”

It’s patch time! Rehgar rework, Probius update, and a horde of other adjustments. Garrett and Kyle walk you through all the upcoming changes to get you ready for December 6th. What themes will develop? What can we expect from the future and is this balance for our home games, or CCL focused?

#401 - Into the Nexus: “Holiday Secret”

Into the Nexus is back, with a SECRET episode. Recorded offline in time for the Holidays, Garrett and Kyle cover all the ongoing action over the HeroesHearth CCL tournament. The battle rages on as 8 teams vie for placing through group phase heading towards those post new year playoffs. Several lessons for our home games have Kyle curious, including Mephisto, Lunara and that old-reliable Johanna. The host also play a little AMA with reddit to make this a complete Heroes meal.

#400 - Into the Nexus: “11 Years of Garrett & Kyle”

The Into the Nexus 400th EPISODE! Prepare for celebration and story time with Garrett and Kyle. For 7 years Into the Nexus has brought you non-stop Heroes of the Storm news and comment; but Garrett and Kyle go back 11 years to their first project StarCast. Join us for a journey through not only Heroes past, but a quest of content creation.

#399 - Into the Nexus: “High Hopes” w/ Not_Paradox

Not_Paradox rejoins the show! Since his last appearance, the Heroes content creator coach has been keeping busy with guides, balance reviews and gaming psychology videos on his YouTube. Kyle and Paradox discuss the current meta surrounding the ongoing HeroesHearth CCL tournament as well as it’s effect on our home game.

#398 - Into the Nexus: “Turn It Off & On Again”

We’ve been had! Heroes of the Storm awaits its season role and next big patch. We know reworks and balance await us, but we don’t know when. Blizzard/Activision made headlines again this week and it left the whole “park” of Heroes of the Storm feeling off. Garrett and Kyle discuss the future but also the present. CCL is going strong into its first week of competition and there is quite a bit to glean from it.

#397 - Into the Nexus: “CCL Eve” w/ Bahamut

CCL returns to Twitch and Bahamut returns to share the hype on Into the Nexus!

#396 - Into the Nexus: “You Do Have Heroes in Your Heroes Game?”

The community is on the prowl. Two weeks left in the Storm League season means content could be right around the corner. Yet no word has been heard from the developers. Are they busy creating the next hero or has something happened to our beloved team. The elephant in the room is exposed. Fans are nervous. Garret and Kyle take a look at the other MOBA markets and see what they’ve been up to during a tough year of development. After quelling, or perhaps stoking, concerns. The dudes take ...

#395 - Into the Nexus: “esports Goes to the Mall”

Heroes Esports is making moves. The HeroesHearth CCL Season 3 is on the horizon and their parent company Wisdom gaming has created a brick-and-mortar studio at the Mall of America. While it won't be ready in time for Season 3, CCL will have a presence at the new studio. Garrett and Kyle take a trip down the memory lane of Esports as we look forward to some live Heroes action, possibly in 2022. League of Legends also stole our best feature!

#394 - Into the Nexus: “Illidan is Good?”

Into the Nexus, post-patch fallout! Things are moving and shaking. Garrett and Kyle bring you the details. Does Braxis need a music update? Does Morales need MULE? Should Nazeebo get Vile Infection via quest? Crack on the mailbag, it’s a full Heroestastic show!

#393 - Into the Nexus: “Don’t Mana Tap That”

Patch time is here! While the main movers and shakers may be missing, there are some new toys for some of your old favorites. Gazlowe, the harbinger of the lower leagues is getting a base kit nerf, Maiev gets a fancy 20 unlock and Stukov Balisto power has been lowered. Garrett wants Zagara back, Kyle wants more from Thrall. We’ve got all the details and plenty of opinions. Enjoy!

#392 - Into the Nexus: “The Worst 10s and 20s in HotS”

All is quiet in the Nexus, but not on Into the Nexus! Garrett and Kyle bring you all the latest Heroes talk, including a surprising discovery of tips and tricks, a critical look at some lack-luster 10s and 20s and of course your emails. In a role reversal, Kyle is the salt to Garretts pepper, but it takes both to make a well seasoned show.

#391 - Into the Nexus: “Crispy Tea”

Into the Nexus brings you all the Heroes news each and every week. In this episode, Garrett and Kyle check in with the balance and see where our meta has settled during this most recent initiation of patches. Storm League is underway, and we get a peak at what we can expect from the high end tournament players. We also got a little hint at an upcoming Li Li update. Your emails and more, make this the Heroes place to be. Enjoy!

#390 - Into the Nexus: “Hammer of the Storm”

MochrieTV is here and we are diving past the tip of the Iceberg. Tips and tricks, bugs and features. Mochrie is here to reveal the inner workings of Heroes of the Storm for your benefit. Kyle and Garrett have questions, Mochrie has answers. Naturally Nazeebo still reigns supreme, but have you heard of Hammer of the Storm?

#389 - Into the Nexus: “Killed Queen”

The Queen is dead, all hail King Nazeebo! Garrett is in dire straits. His main is nerfed. Kyle has the solution though, a wacky match special Nazeebo build to share. The community also has ideas about how to help out the Broodmother. They also celebrated CCL Season 3 ending up on the launcher. Finally, the dudes take a look at the Mood Meter. Emails and more! Special thanks to all the patrons over at Patreon.com/itn who make this show possible!

#4 - Nexus Gaming News: WTF is Going on with Halo Infinite?

With a fresh trailer at gamescom 2021 Halo Infinite seems to be holding any new looks at its campaign close to Master Chief’s broad metallic chest. Garrett and Kyle take a look at Infinite’s seeming desire to hide its campaign from a fanbase that has been critical of previous campaign previews as well as the recent announcements of major features that will be absent at the game’s launch.

#388 - Into the Nexus: “Slamage”

Spiders, Skeletons and Banelings! Oh my! Patch time is here and changes are being felt. Garrett and Kyle cover the strange disappearance of Zagara as she was disabled by Blizzard. She's back, but a little less potent than previous, with a promise to keep the updates coming. Nazeebo seems the big winner with Leoric getting some real nice bake-ins as well. Deckard Cain likely going to be bringing some pain coming up, and a bizarre buff to Hanzo?! All this and more from your favorite Heroe...

#3 - Nexus Gaming News: Activision Blizzard Allegedly Interfered with the Ongoing Lawsuit

An expansion to the existing anti-discrimination lawsuit has added temporary workers of whom California is suing on behalf. And California’s Department of Fair Employment & Housing alleges that Activision Blizzard has interfered with the state’s investigation stating that "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel".

#2 - Nexus Gaming News: Why players are leaving WoW for FFXIV

Final Fantasy 14 keeps staying in the news as the new king of the MMOs as World of Warcraft enthusiasm wanes. But what is it about FFXIV that is so attractive to MMO players? Garrett and Kyle dive into this from the perspective of a recently and not-so-recently retired WoW players.

#387 - Into the Nexus: “Sleeper Heroes”

Into the Nexus brings you the Heroes of the Storm tidings every week, and it’s no different today! Garrett and Kyle are sad to report that the patch has been delayed, but devs seemed to have a fiery surprise awaiting us. The dudes always wish to share with you the good word about Regen Globes. They also want to point out to you a few specialized Heroes that you might be overlooking. Dust off those oddies, and enjoy this Heroes of the Storm helping.

#1 - Nexus Gaming News: Does Diablo II Resurrected Succeed Where Reforged Failed?

Diablo II: Resurrected has completed its first beta weekend and players have finally gotten a good look at what the remastered game has to offer. Back during their live coverage of BlizzcOnline 2021 Garrett and Kyle both placed heavy importance on Resurrected delivering on its promise of fully remade cinematics. The podcasting duo review the cinematics that have been revealed as a result of the beta and compare them to the originals.

#386 - Into the Nexus: “Dragon Something”

It’s Into the Nexus! Garrett and Kyle have been duoing, stories to tell. Garrett wants to play nothing but Zagara, Kyle is on a Mephisto kick. Hanzo rears his handsome head. We have a cryptic Blue Post but otherwise it's on to our project: 2 Outa 2. That’s right, the Kofalt Test is back. “Does it Sound Exciting, Is It Fun”. Follow that by our new segment Eye on Blizzard.

#385 - Into the Nexus: “Zagarmageddon”

Into the Nexus is back with all the Heroes of the Storm happenings and our new segment, Eye on Blizzard. Garrett is back, enjoying Zagara, and has some thoughts to share on the recent patch. Kyle shares stories of his time in CCS. We’ve also got a Blue Post hinting at two upcoming reworks! But the show doesn't end there, we want to keep you informed on the ongoing situation at Blizzard. Stay tuned after the Heroes news for that coverage.

#384 - Into the Nexus: “#ActiBlizzWalkout”

Today’s episode is our support of the Blizzard Walkout. We will be covering the lawsuit and accounts of harassment against Blizzard the same as we would any other news regarding Blizzard and Heroes of the Storm. We are not ending Into the Nexus and plan to be back next week with Heroes news, but this week is our support of the Blizzard Walkout. After the news we will be having a fun chat as always… but about non-Blizzard games. Think of it as a Weeksauce revival.

#384 - Into the Nexus: “Oh the Banelings” w/ Bahamut

Patch Cadence! Seems we have a new schedule for Heroes of the Storm balance, once a month. Perfection. Kyle is joined by Bahamut, caster for the CCL tournament, to talk about their approaching Grand Finals and the impact the balance patch might have on the weekend's play. The duo also go in depth on the various changes including a Morales Rework and a dangerously devilish update to Zagara. Artani also rejoice! This and more, enjoy!

#383 - Into the Nexus: “Oh the Banelings” w/ Bahamut

Patch Cadence! Seems we have a new schedule for Heroes of the Storm balance, once a month. Perfection. Kyle is joined by Bahamut, caster for the CCL tournament, to talk about their approaching Grand Finals and the impact the balance patch might have on the weekend's play. The duo also go in depth on the various changes including a Morales Rework and a dangerously devilish update to Zagara. Artani also rejoice! This and more, enjoy!

#382 - Into the Nexus: “The Cavalier Coach” w/ CavalierGuest

CavalierGuest, OXG Esports and community coach, returns to the show! In his last appearance, Hogger was fresh in the Nexus and we sped ahead talking strategy for the recently released Hero. In this episode, Kyle goes a little deeper about what it means to be a top coach for Heroes of the Storm through Cav’s own experience with gaming: World of Warcraft raiding, HGC history, roster building, people management and high level play. CCL is on everyone's mind as the tournament heads towards the r...

#381 - Into the Nexus: “Is it exciting? Is it broken?”

The Council of Garrett and Kyle, with the powers gifted to us by Kofalt, are here to decide the fate of your balance inquiries. The quote "trying to make things that sound really exciting on paper, but aren't as broken as you think they are" guides our way as we review Reddit’s recent spree of talent suggestions to the balance designer. It doesn’t have to end here though. Share your balance and talent ideas with the show at [email protected].

#380 - Into the Nexus: “with HOTS-Dev Kofalt”

Associate Game Designer for Heroes of the Storm Josh “RawrJar” Kofalt joins the show! Garrett and Kyle get to sit down with the man behind the balance curtain and ask your questions! Kofalt has a rich history with the game, joining in the technical alpha, Cloud9, coaching and eventually making his way on to the Q&A team. Now part of the developers, Kofalt has taken up the mantle on Reddit for balance updates and inquiries. This episode is a catalogue of design philosophies, strategies a...

#379 - Into the Nexus: “Kiyeberries Returns”

Into the Nexus, The Heroes of the Storm Podcast, is joined by Kiyeberries: CCL Live Coordinator, Healer Streamer Extraordinar and fellow NGS Teammate! Our guest brings stories from the Gold Leagues and the Twitch sphere, fresh to your ears.

#378 - Into the Nexus: “Building a Better Blaze”

Balance time! Delivered fresh from the devs. Garrett and Kyle walk you through all the changes which are already live inside your game! Blaze, Garrosh, Muradin, Stitches, Imperius, Anduin, Raynor, Valla, Johanna and Orphea. But wait, where is Stukov? Well the infested man is out for the weekend due to bugs. Stay tuned and find out more.

#377 - Into the Nexus: “Garrett Really Hates Subdue”

Kofalt is on the case! Blue posts, it’s what’s for dinner on Into the Nexus. The new, and we assume, Lead Balance Designer has taken to Reddit to show us the future. Updates incoming soon for Raynor, Malfurion and Johanna. Garrett and Kyle have opinions on Subdue and go through your emails.

#376 - Into the Nexus: “UnQuest”

#375 - Into the Nexus: “Azmodunking with Jhow”

Jhow, streamer, educational YouTube and former HGC caster rejoins the show to bring the good word of Valla… or Azmodan! Yes the self proclaimed valla one trick has a secret weapon up his sleeve.