A New Year breeds changes and among some of them are quite personal. I’m both pleased and reluctant to announce my own temporary leave of absence this post-holiday season in light of my latest new side-quest in life: moving to a brand new home.
By the time you read this I’ll be well underway hitching up the caravan of material goods and traversing the highway to a new apartment complex hopefully full of the wonder and new memories that one can hope out of a new place. It also happens to be the so aptly named abode of Avalon (apartments) so I can expect it to be the stuff of Arthurian legend, right? I can say that there are more than a few immediate benefits from it: my family gets a lot lower rent, we’ll all save money, it’s closer to school, and I’ll actually be getting a bigger bedroom myself. Moving in December is probably the least attractive of the year, but without schoolwork pressing upon me and enough hot tea to keep me warm, we’ll all probably push through.
There are only a few more days left in this old year of ours and thanks to extenuating circumstances, there are even fewer before my sabbatical of sorts from the community and especially blogging. I’ll most likely be able to return to the former far faster than the latter come early January, the time I estimate the flood of boxes to ease up and the WiFi back online. Until then I can only leave you with this complimentary parting note and I hope to see you off with at least something to make this blog more than just a see-you-later.
It’s been well over a year, roughly a year and a half, since I began to blog on GI’s site and maybe sooner since I began to blog more seriously for more than just to pass the time. I’ve always endeavored to improve myself as a writer and as a gamer since then and I can’t thank you all enough for the comments and support in spite of everything the site’s recently been going through. While I apologize for the self-indulgent mentality of the following, I thought it a therapeutic way to end the year by including just a few of my favorite and most viewed blogs of the year. I owe a debt to you, the readers, and thanks for the memories you’ve helped me make.
"How To Succeed in Love in Video-Games"
I thought it only appropriate to love and live video-games literally for just a day and I fulfilled that twisted wish this last Valentine's Day. Bizarre, helpful, something else entirely, I'm not sure why I stayed up at midnight to write this before the calendar announced its most romantic day of the year and I may never be. I consider it the only love guru advice I'll ever be capable of writing again.
"What Metal Gear Solid Character Are You?" Quiz
I know, no quiz can ever include enough game series characters and Grey Fox is someone I could never fit in. Nevertheless, it's my biggest tribute to my avatar image's heritage and perhaps the only MGS blog I thought creative enough to begin my quiz series. For any MGS fan out there, you won't win anything except the hopeful laugh I intended.
Perhaps the most self-indulgent blog you'll ever see on here, I do admit there's not much to read compared to see here. I enjoyed Seattle's annual Comic Con quite immensely as my first ever convention and if nothing else, I at least got a pic with someone very special to this sci-fi fan's heart.
"The Long Goodbye to Lucas Arts"
'Twas a sad yet all the while inevitable headline for the trouble studio, but 'twas equally important to a section of my childhood memories. A blog eulogy from the heart was the only thing I could or would ever write and I suppose that's all a fan can do.
"The Year So Far Composed in Poetry"
News headlines can be a pretty boring thing, wouldn't you agree? A poetry recital by my older sister and a bizarre train of mind that day gave birth to what you can read above covering this spring's earlier game things of note.
"No Taxation Without Video-Game Representation!"
I can only admit there was no rhyme or reason to this blog, yes siree. Just know that it was tax day and I was bored.
"Tomb of the Unknown Game: The Top 10 Cancelled Games of this Generation"
Quite a few great games released this generation, but what about those that were lost to us? I give a nod to some of the late, great games that never were.
"Do Games Need a Woman's Touch?"
The petition you see linked to this blog may not be open any longer, but whatever the case, I remember this as one of my all defining blogs of my first 31/31 on GIO this summer. Few were covered anything as controversial as this and future ones probably never will. You can find more of my "Inquisitive Blogger" series on my profile page where they are linked.
"How Do Ya Lik Your Artstyle?"
It may sound like a simple question, but trust me, this ain't your ordinary blog. Trust me, read on. . .
I can't really take credit for this blog myself, as I still congratulate my fellow 31/31 bloggers for their tremendous work earlier this summer compiling this utterly awesome Smash Bros. fantasy tournament. I loved what it created, and maybe I'll think about starting up again with more members someday. Then again, maybe Super Smash Bros.'s Wii U game will finally be out by then and I'll be fighting most of you in-game. We can only hope.
"My Pitches for EA's Future Star Wars Games"
I couldn't in good faith blog on this site without paying tribute to my inner Star Wars fan. Agree or disagree with my picks?
"Top Ten Government Shutdowns in Video-games"
That ugly government shutdown wasn't a pretty sight for many of our hard-working government workers. I tried my best to lighten the mood with just a peek at some of our worst virtual governments in our favorite games.
"The 31/31 Blogger Hall of Fame"
I suppose this isn't anything more than a testament to my fellow bloggers' endeavors, but it's well worth the read to marvel at how many other great writers fill this site's community content. It's a different look at how the blogging section of GI used to rock and roll, and its current struggles make me hope for breathing in new life again.
"The Year So Far Written as a Novelization"
A few more of this year's earlier summer headlines in novel form. Can you spot all the references?
It was quite a long time ago that I unwrapped my brand new Wii. I pay tribute to some of my favorites for the system way back when.
Yes, it might not have been too long ago that I wrote this commemorative blog for my 100th blog special, but I suppose it's the only blog I could've left to finish this favorites list. I suppose it embodied everything that I've felt as a gamer since I began to play at all, and I can remember writing it with the most passion I've had since I began blogging. A huge thank you to those who read.
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I know, I've taken up too much space already reminiscing. It's off to moving to a new place then and the new adventures that life can bring. Glad to have blogged with you all for so long, though it feels like such a short while. I wish the best for the members who have already departed us and I admire those of you that've stayed. You've made this site the reason I began to write and where I write now. We live in a new gaming generation now. Let's make 2014 the next level for us. See you then.
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For some of my other writings, check out N00b Magazine.com. Thank you. :)