January Corollary 2025
Writing
Indiegames
Signs of the Sojourner has been put off for so long that I’ll go ahead and just share my brief thoughts casually here instead! I found the game’s mechanic of gamifying conversations fascinating and while it isn’t the first game to do this that I’ve played (here’s looking at you, Rainbow Billy) they included real discussion terms like accommodation, finding an accord, and clarifying. The chill soundtrack makes the difficult landscape more welcoming, and the blow of its overarching message slightly softer. This game teaches us that there’s always something to learn in an interaction with someone even if it doesn’t flow as planned. Overall if you’re looking for your next game to finish in a single day, pick this one!
I also finally published my Spoiler Free Soft Thoughts on In Stars and Time over on ko-fi. After a much-needed winter break away from doing any sort of work it was nice to get back to some writing again and finally finishing these games.
Video
Streaming
Last month we got a taste of the Balatro collaboration in Dave the Diver, which I was super happy to share on stream. This in addition to what seems like more main storyline progress helps ease me back into the hunger to play in the new year. Once we finish the game, I’ll be starting Persona 5 Royal as my first introduction to the franchise!
Later this month we’ll also be fulfilling some fundraising incentives like the Lego stream and Board Game stream, so be on the lookout on my Twitch Schedule for those. I also plan to make a return to Final Fantasy VIII on weekend surprise streams.
Long Form
Finally a Youtube video, and it only took a game that I have been waiting for years to release: NAIAD. I play through the first hour of the game here, if you’re interested in sharing the zen feelings asynchronously.
Personal
Currently Playing
The winter break put me into full gamer mode! I ended up playing Potion Craft due to the new content updates, Good Pizza Great Pizza from tablet gaming nostalgia, Terra Nil with successful controlled burns, finishing Dredge, finishing Planet of Lana off stream, checking out some of Wytchwood and finishing another run of Disco Elysium with a different build than when we played it on stream years ago. The new Pristine Cut content enticed me to play through another run of Slay the Princess, which emotionally wrecked me yet again (in a good way).
The only difficult gaming experience I’ve had was trying to make progress in Mass Effect 2. Some realizations of what the world is like and what my place is after the first game has hit me pretty hard. I’m hoping that I can reconcile my feelings quickly so I can keep playing but it’s pushing just enough of my emotional baggage buttons to deter me.
IRL
My sourdough starter successfully became a first loaf! It wasn’t quite picture worthy so there isn’t much to share other than I did in fact make bread :) I took a few notes on what I need to improve for the next loaf, and hopefully with the changes I make I can share a photo of something I’m proud of.
The downsizing of family holiday gifts this year went well, I think. However it felt like the vibe was off as some family members could not make it to our gathering and the usual routine for the holiday was broken as a result of their absence. My TikTok algorithm has been showing me families that seemed to also have a less-than-cheery holiday too, so maybe something is just in the air this year. Let’s hope for that to shake off in 2025.
I do not like staying in a negative vibe for very long so I have committed to a formal gratitude journal using The Five Minute Journal. I’m hoping that it will shift my perspective in 2025 and provide a good place to ground myself no matter what happens in the world. There will certainly be more challenges ahead and I need to be ready to fight. The only way to do this is to ensure that my mind and every fiber of my being is in alignment with my values.
Picture of the Month
While I’m not a morning person I have always appreciated a good sunrise if I do happen to be awake early enough. This one did not disappoint — just don’t ask how cold it was outside!
Feel free to reply directly to this email to let me know your thoughts, or perhaps any content that you'd like to see or questions you might have. Otherwise, sending you all my positive thoughts for the month and the new year — and I look forward to writing to you in February!