The Year Was 2020

As we start to creep into the final weeks of the decade, there’s a lot of conversation about looking back on the previous ten years and making comparisons of then and now. I, for one, spend far too much time looking behind me and not enough time looking forward at what’s to come in front of me. A very nostalgic person by nature, I often think that I sometimes may miss opportunities and moments that are happening, or could potentially be happening, right in front of me because I devote a lot of time and mental capacity thinking about times of yore. I wouldn’t quite call it “Uncle Rico Syndrome”, but I can admit I spend a lot of time thinking back on things that I used to do, and not enough time enjoying things that have the potential to make me happy today. So, while that’s difficult to do from a creative standpoint, given the nature and age of my content for the most part, I think there’s still a way to celebrate the past while giving way to the future. With this in mind, a couple of goals and thoughts as we prepare to celebrate the holiday season and venture into a new decade of relevance. Creative Content Lately, I’ve been giving myself grief for not creating more content. But when I look at it, I’m not sure why. While it’s not an overloading amount, I’ve actually created more pieces of content this year than any other, since I’ve embarked on the gaming scene. I’ve uploaded seven videos to my YouTube channel, produced six podcasts, and dabbled with a couple of blogs and even made initial headway into the world of streaming. While I’d always like to produce more and do more, I’m going to call this a success. That equates to more than one piece a month, which makes me happy. I’d love to release a video and a podcast each month, and while I won’t quite commit to it, I think it’s possible. Video Games I’ve referenced it many times before how in 2014, I refrained from buying NHL 15 (because it was trash) and how much time it freed up for me to try my hand at other games. Well, the past two months, I’ve delayed purchasing NHL 20 and it’s led to me enjoying more games that otherwise would get pushed aside for me to play some hockey. Right before Black Friday, I snagged NHL 20 on sale, and it’s taken over again. I really need to create a limit for myself, because I have so many other games I’d like to play and time is limited. The funny thing is that even with an 8 week break from hockey gaming, I didn’t dive *too* deep into anything else, but still found time for other things. Even more interesting is that the amount of games I’ll finish this year is less than last year. I think that’s more due to me creating more comment and that time devoted to that effort over actual games. Speaking of games… NGNY You’ve heard this many times before, but the initiative behind ‘No Game New Year’ is an interesting one, and something I’ve been able to hold myself to a couple of times. (save for hockey/wrestling releases late in the year) I’m not going to sit here and say I won’t dabble in new games in 2020, but I’m really going to try and keep that money in my pocket, rather than make more gaming purchases. If you’re reading this, you likely have many video games and probably far more than you’d like to count that you’ve purchased and never played before. And like many people try (and fail) to say, my goal for next year is to try and dive into a backlog of video games that I’ve wanted to play for a long time, but keep getting pushed aside for other, newer purchases. The idea is less about attacking a backlog of games, and more about trying to experience older games for the first time. I say it quite often, but there’s so many games that I’ve missed over the years that I’d like to enjoy for the first time, and I want to make 2020 the year that I finally accomplish this. Will I avoid all new games? Probably not. But I’d like to catch up on some of what I’ve missed over the years. Which leads me into… Return of the Temple?

Those of you who have followed me from the beginning are familiar with a former brand that I used when I first made my trip into online gaming socials. I dubbed myself the “Temple of Retro” and my sole purpose was to explore retro games and everything that went with it. It was a lot of fun and it certainly connected me with so many amazing people that branched and extended out directly and indirectly to everyone I interact with online today. But with the desire to seek out and experience those ‘oldies’ also has me thinking about reaching back to getting in touch with what Temple of Retro was all about. Enjoying games of yesteryear. While that whole idea then was about diving back into nostaglia first and foremost, that’s not why I would be reconnecting with it for, this time around. As mentioned, it would be a nod to the past while experiencing titles for the first time. I don’t think I’d go through a total rebrand again (ugh) I do think it would be fun to bring the name back for some projects. K.I.S.S. Lastly, I just want to simplify things. A good friend of mine, Eric M Hunter, and I converse all the time about our creatives and keeping each other accountable. While everything needs to be self-motivating, he’s the one I reach out to when it comes to creatives. We’re both in similar positions in life...raising children, trying to scratch that creative itch, but also thinking beyond our means at times. I’ve talked to Eric many times about creative ideas, and bigger picture stuff, but all the while it comes down to one thing: procrastination. Not so much when it comes to *actually* creating content. More along the lines of taking one idea and see it to completion. Or even, one project at a time. And, more importantly than anything else, just DOING it. He's helped me to see that. Many times, in fact. If nothing else, I’d like to keep things simpler for 2020. I want to continue with my ‘History of WWE Video Games’ series on YouTube, but I also have plans for other videos and projects. In order to do that, I need to accomplish two things. One, I physically need to get off my ass and do it. And two, I need to simplify everything. I look at my own YT videos as evidence of this. Outside of a couple, there’s no consistency. There’s differences and changes to each video. I’m always trying new things and looking for different ‘looks’. I just need to find one and go with it. If it’s a different project, fine. But I need to find a formula for one and stick with it. Make no mistake, I don’t want these videos to be cookie cutter, but I want them to have a ‘Wally’ feel when you watch it. I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I want to maintain that moving forward. This series, this feel...that series, that feel, etc. Consistent. I know thinking out loud is starting to make this more confusing, which is precisely why I should stop. Keep it simple, stupid. Blessed All of this rambling aside, I’m quite happy with everything in my life right now. My family is great...my career is going as well as I could ask for right now...and I’ve made some really great friends over the past couple of years. While I do need to get my ass a little more social on the home front, I think that I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, in the grand scheme of things. To my good ‘gaming’ pals, thanks for being great people. I hate singling people out because I feel like I could make a list a thousand people long and still miss out on trying to thank someone. You know who you are. We chat on the daily and make each other life and enjoy great conversation. It’s all I could ask for. So, thank you. I look forward to a bigger and better journey in 2020. And I’m hopeful you'll join alongside, once again. Cheers.