DarkRula Media

09/01/2026

Tracking playtime is something I enjoy doing. I don't place too much importance on it, but it is nice to see the trends that develop. The games I get invested in across a year. So for 2025, I went a bit deeper. Using Exophase and a spreadsheet to track by month. Now, I'm revealing highlights here.

One of the things I've always found interesting is tracking playtime. In 2025, I started doing so by month. Here, I talk in brief of the results.

03/01/2026

Well, it's time to start looking ahead at what the year can bring now it's 2026. So, here's two articles where I look at all the games, TV and films I'm waiting for across 2026.
TV & Film- https://home.darkrulamedia.uk/tv-film/the-tv-film-look-ahead-to-2026/
Gaming - https://home.darkrulamedia.uk/gaming/the-gaming-look-ahead-to-2026/

01/01/2026

While I don't normally post the monthly updates to socials, this one is a bit different. As this year is the start of a new era for DarkRula Media. As such, this monthly update goes through the changes seen as part of that, as seen with the new landing page.
https://home.darkrulamedia.uk/update-archive/january-26-monthly-update/

30/12/2025

The end of 2025 is here. So, I've got my usual looking back articles providing my highlights of the year across both Gaming and TV & Film. There's been some very great things from both this year.

TV & Film - https://home.darkrulamedia.uk/tv-film/the-tv-film-look-back-at-2025/
Gaming - https://home.darkrulamedia.uk/gaming/the-gaming-look-back-at-2025/

26/12/2025

The year is coming to a close, meaning one last look at the planning for some short stories. Those of this fourth quarter, which include two seasonal stories added to Shorts of the Rula, and the final story of The Alternate Extras of Halesowen.

The final three short stories of the year are now all published, so it's time to reveal some of the planning that went into them.

24/12/2025

And with one more day before Christmas, the last short story of the year is published. Elfish Photography, as part of Shorts of the Rula, is set on Christmas Eve at a kids Christmas Party. From the first person perspective of Tyler, see the events of that party.

Read Elfish Photography from the story Shorts of the Rula by DarkRula (Christopher Searle) with 1 reads. alternatehales...

22/12/2025

The reason for a short story a month this year came to a close as The Secondary Futures got published to The Alternate Extras of Halesowen. The third viewpoint of the start of the second year, Vector reflects on what his friends have been thinking about their futures.

Read The Secondary Futures from the story The Alternate Extras of Halesowen by DarkRula (Christopher Searle) with 5 rea...

20/12/2025

And so ends another fantastic . It's been a wild one, with some great stuff coming from both the Yogscast and various other fundraisers. This comes later than I would usually post for a reason, and that is being partnered with Trust in Rust. But now, the final total is confirmed.

It's been another fantastic and successful Jingle Jam, with this article providing a brief roundup of the event.

20/12/2025

With October being the month of Halloween, Shorts of the Rula was bound to be given another themed story. And so Let Sleeping Secrets Lie told a mystery of eternal daylight and people falling asleep from it. Told in first person, one discovers the reason, and pays for it.

Read Let Sleeping Secrets Lie from the story Shorts of the Rula by DarkRula (Christopher Searle) with 7 reads. storiesf...

18/12/2025

September saw another short published to The Alternate Extras of Halesowen to return things to the usual rotation after Racing Month. Weston Delights sees Daniel and Quinn enjoy a day out at the beach, where Max joins them for some fun of his own.

Read Weston Delights from the story The Alternate Extras of Halesowen by DarkRula (Christopher Searle) with 5 reads. co...

18/12/2025

Got a digital reader in the family? Want to get them a Christmas gift for their Kindle? Then, good news! For a week from 21/December, the Alternate Halesowen and Beyond series will be 99p! Check out the short stories of the media group, along with an adventure far from the UK this Christmas.

16/12/2025

August saw a return to The Alternate Extras of Halesowen with Party Revelations. From the point of view of Alicia, Elizabeth's birthday meal is returned to, reframing the reveals of that day with the analytical mind of Alicia.

Read Party Revelations from the story The Alternate Extras of Halesowen by DarkRula (Christopher Searle) with 8 reads...