by Michael Zarick - More on: Twitter - LinkedIn - My Website
2023 was the longest short year in existence. I think that is how things go as you get older. Time compresses weirdly as your existence extends. I find that kind of nice.
I wanted to write this because the past year was especially notable for me. I feel like I developed more as a person this year than any previous year. Many of those revelations came from things I already knew, brought out by starting therapy in 2022, others were actions I took seeking to be better (which also includes therapy). I got engaged, played over 90 unique video games over the course of the year, and began working towards getting half decent at pottery. All of these are leading to who I think Michael Zarick should be; I suspect younger me would be proud, and future me will be satisfied.
Come with me on a short journey as I recount a bit about the year, what has happened, what has been learned, and what has been observed. Thanks so much for reading.
None of this was written with AI. Maybe when I upload my brain to the Metaverse.
Hey! I got engaged this year. That is the short and the long of it. I’ve been dating my (now) fiancée for almost six years. She asked me! That is amazing, and I hope something like that can become more normal. We made our rings together, and I think that’s more powerful than the average wedding band. It’s been an incredible journey, and every day that goes by, I appreciate her more. We’re locked in for the middle of the upcoming year, and it will be glorious. This is my longest commitment, the thing that drives me forward each day, and something I think everyone deserves. I don’t think I have a lot to say here, but I did want to put it out there that I am happy with the way things are going from a relationship perspective.
I love my fiancée. Looking forward to spending more time with her :)
I played what I have written down as 88 games. If you want to see that full list, click here. I wrote down that many, but I suspect there are between 5 and 7 others that escaped me.
Video games are my passion. The industry that surrounds it and the people that make the games are what inspire me every day. 2023 is a year that will stand out among the giants, with more Game of the Year contenders than any in recent memory. The experiences created, the mechanical depth pushed forward, and the fun factor pushed to 11. All of this was plagued by mass layoffs, corporate greed, bloated budgets, and penny-pinching that tarnishes the creatively driven folks who create such beautiful art. A great year for gamers turned out to be a travesty for game makers. I’m hoping things change soon here.
The below list of games are all games I have played and enjoyed this year. In general, I want to emphasize that the way they are ordered is not necessarily by what I would consider their quality. I do have a clear standout game this year, but beyond that one game, every one of these games is worth playing and talking about, and the people who made them are worth admiring. Thank you for taking the time to browse through my list if you take the time to do so 🙂
I want to give a special shoutout to some people in this space who go above and beyond for me. Firstly, John “Totalbiscuit” Bain, may he rest in peace, is the person who formed my convictions about the industry. He is sorely missed, and his legacy lives on with me and the many others he inspired. To me, his biggest replacement is the Youtuber “Skillup,” whom I discovered this year. A gaming journalist is unafraid to stand by his beliefs that this industry can be better. Sven from the Larian Studios Team and Mortdog from the Teamfight Tactics team of Riot Games also stand out to me as two of the definitive faces of the industry, at least for me. I greatly respect these people and look forward to what they bring to the table in the upcoming year.
Did you know when I started my current position at my job, I used my first paycheck to buy a banjo? No? Very few people would know that because another year has gone by where I have failed to try to improve. Instead, I spent my time doing pottery. I think that’s a worthy replacement.
Through pottery and ceramics, I have discovered a couple of things.