40 years on, and what do I have to show for myself? Not a lot, I’m afraid.
My break from this blog — easily the longest I’ve ever taken in nearly 16 years of running it — has given me plenty of time to reflect on it all. Which is not to say I came up with any answers. But I certainly have done plenty of reflecting.
For what it’s worth, I used you as a source in highschool and college while discussing video games as postmodern literature. Your genuine love for games is infectious, your analysis is eye opening, and your journalism is the best in the biz.
All I can say is that I’ve enjoyed your work for almost 8 years now, and it has been some of the most consistent and enjoyable writing about video games I have found on the internet in the 20 years that I’ve been online. That Etrian Odyssey short story is the only fan fiction I have ever read and enjoyed in my life.
I know you tend not to, but I like all the stuff you’ve been doing since I first found your site in 2004.
You write insightful articles, you produce content that I like, first and foremost Retronauts…
Not everyone has to find a cure to cancer, you know.
As for “What have I done to have a lasting appeal for many years to come and won’t vanish into the ether some time in the future?”, there’s always world domination by populating it with your offspring. ;-)
I think you’re too self-critical. I guess it comes with the territory when you reach 40 in the video game industry/press, but still. Some introspection is fine, but don’t let it paralyze you.
What, exactly, do most people have to show for themselves? What do you really wish you accomplished? Pumping out children isn’t an accomplishment (although raising them well might be). Making good money is nice, but doesn’t do much for others. Producing something great is indeed an accomplishment…and you’ve produced lots of excellent stuff.
I think you have some major areas to expand/improve on (you should really be doing more video content like the Metroidvania stuff and try to become bigger on Youtube; you should expand your gaming tastes a little rather than staying in your comfortable, stubborn groove; and you have at least one or two amazing video game coffee-table books in you), but honestly, you have plenty to show for yourself, and I expect you’ll continue to.
Anyways, I’m sure you don’t need encouragement or ego boosts from some random dude on the Internet, but there it is.
Ah, so that must be the 40’s crisis I dread in the not-so-long-anymore run, when you realize all your great dreams where not meant for this life.
Honestly, if you have nothing to show for it, then I might as well give up. TBH, only now at 32 do I believe that I might actually do something worthwhile, so it’s certainly a different perspective.
Anyway, you should probably keep doing what you’re doing and stop questioning yourself too much. Only your friends and loved ones really matter, eveyone else is secondary.
I’m pretty sure that this is the opposite of encouragement, but you had enough self-respect this time around to call it “reflection” instead of “navel gazing”. I think the slope of your skills generally outstrips the slope of your public self-esteem besides. So… cheer up guy!
Also, don’t pay attention to Nightwish. Your creepy, obsessive fans also matter.
You’ve written for ROM pirates, ‘ave ye now?
Retronauts might not have had listeners in the millions but it has, along with HG101.net, helped build a consensus among people of your ilk (naval gazers).
Reading about the timelessness of products that use dated technology – issuing it instead of uncharted waters – was rather insightful.
Your follow up to the Ultimate Ghost and Goblins debacle helped me shed some of my territorial/base instincts and better myself as a some who enthusiastically follows video game culture.
I laugh at myself because I picked up my sense of self awareness from the undercurrents in your blog posts.
Thank you.
My last comment was written on the basis of “what you did for me as it pertains to your contributions to the medium at large”.
You’ll have to forgive my arrogance, Jeremy.
I’m a 22 year old who still lives with his parents. I can’t possibly speak to your condition.
Does your mortality just keep hitting you and is this recent or have you always been flirting with moroseness?
Were there any other classes that you should have attended past the introductory phase in college? Some with more lucrative employment options?
I know you’re not fishing for compliments, Jeremy, but I’ve been enjoying your work since, uh… well into the previous century at any rate, and still do, so there’s that for whatever it’s worth. I like to think it’s something.