So yet another year comes to its conclusion. And holy shit, 2007 turned out to be pretty damn epic when all was said and done. It was a pretty crazy year for most folks I personally know, though on my end, it was perhaps the most jam-packed, drama-filled, roller coaster, action-and-adventure laden 12 months on record, coming nose-to-nose, and even topping in certain regards, the insanity that was 2001 (highlights from that particular year, btw, includes my epically insane crazy-ex, getting fired from Ubi Soft, and of course, you know what).
As for the one that just ended, what exactly went down? Well, let?s see?
- I finally quit my desk job at SVA, and also got fired as teacher for the third or fourth time, I forget.
- Went back to being a full time game designer! Though, for all of two months (actually, less than that now that I think of it), till I was fired for maybe knowing too much.
- Had my best appearance yet at ICON, enough to warrant coverage by MTV. Though the tentacle rape panel was the worst ever.
- Went to Japan and the words mind-blowing doesn’t even come to close to describing the 12 days spent there. And that’s even if you don’t count the fact that I came close to losing my life twice at the hands of the Yakuza.
- That big game design book that I was supposed to write never happened. And I still feel fine.
- All my ?blogging? finally paid off, and now I?m making a living off it. Yeah, still can’t believe it either.
- Turned three decades old this year. I myself am having the hardest time believing that one.
- The longest, most successful relationship I ever had with a girl came to a rather unfortunate end.
- But someone whom I had my sights on practically years ago finally became my girlfriend, in a strange, yet quite pleasant “it all worked out in the end” roundabout way.
- And some alliances came to an end, while others became stronger, plus a few new ones were forged.
- I’d like to believe I once again earned my title of the Harvey Pekar of video game journalism for yet another year straight.
- UNLUCKY finally got some props, via an honorable mention in a notable and esteemed comic book anthology.
- Became involved with not just one, but two television projects.
- Finally hooked up my Wii, about a year after its launch and writing about it, which was how I got mine, as a thank you gift from Nintendo. Yes I know, late to the party indeed…
- Speaking of, also got a PSP. In fact, it was my only new gaming platform purchase of the year. All can point and laugh about that one as well.
- Left Brooklyn, in particular Park Slop/South Slope/Sunset Park/whatever the neighborhood I lived in is called, leaving that shit-hole house with the fat cats and scrawny rat-dog far, far behind, by getting new digs and making a glorious return to Manhattan.
- Cut myself yet another slice of the internet pie, in the form of the fort90forums.
- Saw a Korean tiger-guy eat a human penis found in the trash, in what was more or less, the movie of the year for me.
- It took a while, but I finally got DIRTNAP on a t-shirt.
- Two things I had long dreamt of, a live-action Transformers movie and a sequel to NiGHTS, finally materialized this year, and now I wish both had never been.
- Met the creators of the Venture Brothers. Really cool dudes.
- Also became acquainted with the self-appointed greatest gamer to walk this earth, Billy Mitchell, the guy who created the site that got me laid all throughout 2002 and 2003, aka MakeOutClub, and a dude that wrestles while dressing up as Sonic the Hedgehog.
- Became known as “that screaming guy who’s always at chiptunes shows” in two separate documentaries.
- A crackhead stole my suit.
- Discovered the work of Shintaro Kago.
- Got accosted by literally a room full of angry strippers.
- Also took a while, but I finally saw the E.T. porn that I have long been obsessed with.
- And speaking of porn, I not only have one person illustrating my crazy, sci-fi/clone/slime/sex fantasy, but two!
… There’s probably much more, but that’s all that comes to mind for the time being.
Now, it’s been suggested that I do a top ten list of the best video games I played this year, especially since top ten lists are always popular (see: ICON for proof). And truth be told, I’ve kinda been neglecting this site (though unintentionally) and have lost a bit of the momentum that I’ve build up over the year or so, though I would like to think I’ve simply carried it over to “new opportunities” and the such. But unfortunately, I really can’t do that; it’s been such a busy year that I simply haven’t had a chance to play all the major releases, nor play as many games as I normally would have in general. In fact, back to the site somewhat taking a back-seat as of late, if I had to name a new year’s resolution, it would be to renew my focus on this site; right off the back, I’m going to try and get back to doing more regular updates.
Though simply naming the #1 game is pretty simple and an absolute no-brainer (as well as a no-surprise if you’ve read any of the other “best of” lists out there): Super Mario Galaxy. It’s the best damn Mario game to come out in years, as well as one of the most finely crafted games period of the past few years (the last one that immediately comes to mind is Shadow of the Colossus). Biggest disappointment is also a no-brainer: NiGHTS for the Wii.
Biggest surprise would have to be Mazawa for the PS2, which I only recently discovered (and it came out in 2006, which tells you how out of the loop I really am, though at least in only came out in Japan), and the one game that I spent the most time with might just be Polarium Advance for the GBA.
The game that I have been dying to get my hands on and am at last able to say I finally played the damn thing is tie between Metal Wold Chaos (you know, that mech game for the Xbox where you’re the President of the United States) and Planet Harriers, which I had to go to Japan to experience).
And finally, the one game that I really, really wanted to play but was not able to was Everyday Shooter for the PC; don’t ask me how, but I managed to get my hands on the PC version, but was never able to get it up and running. Oh well. Time to finally get a PS3! Well, for 2008, who knows?
EDIT #1: Here’s a few other “best of”s, as posted earlier today on my LiveJournal.
EDIT #2: After talking with some people, which led to much reconsideration, perhaps I will have to change my stance on my choice of YouTube video of the year to MAHVEL BAYBEE!
