While 2010 is in full swing, I am still held back. I came to this conclusion while looking at my gaming shelf. Straight up, I am an impulsive buyer of games. Aimless games just sit there on my shelf with no purpose, but for the fact I thought I would like (or wanted) to play them at the time. In the end, this has done nothing but cost me tons of moolah.

While looking at each title I purchased last year, I tried to remember the mental state I was in and how I tried to justify each purchase. A game that jumped out at me was Halo ODST. Now, sure it’s a Halo game, so it must to have been good, right? I was wrong. I clearly fell victim to the hype (as usual) and bought the game. Have I touched it since? Absolutely not! Another title I bought this year, mostly out of sheer boredom, was Street Fighter 4. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great fighting game. However, did it justify $60? Not really. Which leads me to my next conclusion: value.

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As 2009 comes to a close, a rather quick close I must say. The term “Game of the Year” gets thrown around more than a baby that just shat its diaper in a room full of people wearing white gloves. With so many titles cross-platform and few exclusives, it’s become difficult to say there is a game of the year! In retrospect to simply award a “game of year” to a console version of a cross-platformed title, would be a disservice to that console experience. So after much deliberation with me myself and I, I am going to breakdown my “Game of the Year” by console and one title that is cross platformed.

Wii – Muramasa: The Demon Blade – Move over Mario Brothers your formula has been done time and time again. Muramasa is the step in the right direction for exclusive third party titles from the makers of Odin Sphere. I love a good platforming game, but a platforming title with RPG elements inspired by mythological Japan is a winner in my book. Aside from the quirky control scheme, this title is a fluid living painting waiting to be uncanvassed. You will venture through various landscapes and architectures to unveil two distinct storylines. Did I mention the plethora of blades you will come across? You owe it to yourself to play this game.

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This past summer has honestly been one I will never forget, but also one that I really do not want to remember. My father, Elmer Daniel Moody, passed away on June 1st. This past year he had been battling a rare cancer of the small intestines which spread to his liver, and while doctors had stated that we would not have to worry for a “little” while, his heart gave way. He died of a heart attack at 67.

Since his passing, much self reflection has led me to conclude that my father made the greatest impact on my life thus far. His honorable disposition in life is one I have seen in few. I know this may sound cliché, but I truly witnessed his full impact on others at the funeral. He affected so many lives. I was in awe. It wasn’t the fact he did great things, but his life was a testament that he did little things with a great amount of love and every action and word he spoke came from the heart.

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I must say I cannot wait until summer! Gaming has been an afterthought to all the work I have been doing. My job and school have absorbed most of my time. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I mean I have to excel at something. However, my hands miss the comfort of that 360 controller. Ah, ok, back to reality.

I do have some exciting news. First, for all you nay sayers of the Obama Stimulus Package, here is a little something to think about. The money provided is actually opening up new jobs. Huh, what a concept?! Because of the stimulus package, our school district is not going to cut as many jobs as originally conceived, while at the same time it will open jobs for federally funded programs. So where does this apply to me you may ask? Well, next year I am going to be a fully-fledged special education teacher! I will run my own classroom. I really cannot wait to take on such an honorable position. I love and care for these children and to be in such an influential role is remarkable. Another great example is a person I am currently working with. She was offered a job to work in the school district as a direct result of the funds.

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