This year’s been quite a lot, and to be frank, I don’t really know how to go about writing this post. Though I do have a few things I’d like to talk about and properly discuss. So what I plan to do here is go fully unfiltered.

This year marks a massive step in the right direction for me when it comes to my projects and game development. I consider HOMESICKNESS a success, and it truly exceeded my expectations.

I’ve never been one to hold my own work in very high regard. I try to stay humble in both my mindset and the way I talk about the projects I create. But knowing the game has been able to affect people’s lives, and inspire many of my friends, is genuinely a beautiful thing, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I continue to receive kind and thoughtful messages from people talking about how the game has changed them, and I truly mean it when I say it means the world to me. It has completely changed how I approach my art and how much value I see in it.

It feels gratifying to know that all the effort I poured into this year was truly worth it in the end. I was able to put out the game I genuinely wanted to make, and it lived up to most of its potential.

It’s by no means a perfect game. I’ve taken many valuable lessons from its development, but I just want to thank everyone who helped along the way. My friends, and everyone who purchased the game. I want you to know it genuinely means the world to me.

And last but not least, my partner, samster, who handled the entirety of the voice work.

She is the heart of HOMESICKNESS, and she genuinely means the world to me. The most talented girl I know, and a true highlight of my life. I’m so glad people have been praising her performance, because she deserves every bit of it and so much more than I can put into words here.

She is genuinely a deeply talented soul, and someone I am eternally grateful for, regardless of the hardships that can come my way, I share something with her that is deeper than most things I've felt in my life. And I couldn't be more grateful for her efforts, and her sole existence.

This was a major highlight, especially in contrast to many things that didn’t go as expected for me this year. Still, all things considered, I was able to find joy in the good I do have. My friends, my partner, and the goals I was able to meet with time.

I’m still a long way from being where I’d like to be mentally, but I feel more hopeful about finding peace in what’s to come next year. I can’t talk about all of that here, as I’m trying to keep this post relatively short.

As I said before, I don’t really know the best way to write any of this. I just wanted to talk briefly, and thank the people who helped this year. The people who gave my game a chance, and the overwhelming support I’ve received.

I don’t hold myself in very high regard most of the time. I like to stay humble about my efforts and what I give to the people in my life. So knowing that people resonate with my work truly means a lot.

More hardships will come, and good and bad will happen. But I plan to strike a balance, and form more principles I can follow in the future. And better myself in any way I can. So much has gone right this year, and so much has gone wrong.

But ultimately, I just want to bring love and peace to the people around me, and push on with my projects, and try and do the right thing. I think that's what it is all about in the end.

To finish off, I want to thank everyone who made my year better. The people I’ve talked to over time, and those who helped make it even a little brighter. I also want to thank those I appreciate for all the words, the feedback, and the immense help they’ve given me.

samster , @jayfolder , @ishimata , @kiroloser , @deepraved , celesware, @purixi , @BubyGamer11 , @GhostGamesX , @BonBonGamer143 , @lewismatson , @Stormonyx , @maximillionanim , @Fredinator , @IrishOfNugget , JuanReviews, @LemonCookie , @thatguyzan , @Aurdey , @ChronicAlcoholic , @jennybastard , @verba-dev , Alex, @coobler , @LJ_GJ , @Vonii , @Mahmoujh , @WeedChipz , @-TightSocks- , @thatdoggocalledray @OstawoltGames and @radsla

Excuse the likely wonky writing of this post. I didn’t really know exactly how to go about writing it, and I wanted to condense everything into a readable, short-to-medium length format.

Here’s to a better next year, filled with hope and renewal. ROCK ON MY FELLERS!