Hey everyone, welcome to another edition of Homeroom Announcements, my Friday podcast type video where I give thoughts and updates about the Skooled Zone channel.

So I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And if you're celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend instead, then Happy Thanksgiving is still timely. I know Thanksgiving is mainly a North American holiday. But nevertheless, the sentiment of taking a breather from the hustle and bustle of life to give thanks for things that we often take for granted is pretty much a global idea.

I have many things to give thanks for in life. But what I'm going to talk about for the next couple minutes is something that, hopefully, is not a controversial one. So I took the last couple days off from the channel to spend time with family and friends for Thanksgiving. It was nice as always. But I have to be completely honest and admit that I couldn't wait to get back to playing some of the amazing video games that have come out in the last few months.

Although I run a gaming channel on YouTube, I wouldn't consider myself a video game addict. I enjoy many other activities in life and have a social life outside of gaming. But the draw back to the console controller was rather noticeable this year and it got me thinking on the drive home. I don't remember a time in the past when so many awesome games were floating around all at the same time. We are truly in a blue moon cycle of the video game era. Dare I even say a Renaissance, although that might be slightly hyperbolic. But not terribly far off.

Sure there have been plenty of awesome games that have come out sporadically and usually spread out throughout the years. But if you're a gamer, think back to the last time so many amazing games all came out at once (or you know withing a span of a month or two). It really is like a video game tempest right now. I talked a little bit about this a couple Homeroom Announcements back in my Midterm Cram Session video. But that was more in the context of overload panic. Ya know?

I didn't really take the time to say, “Wow. Thanks game developers. You really came through this year. Hats off to ya.” So I'd like to kind of do that now. And here's the part that I hope isn't too controversial. You thought the controversial part was going be, you know, why aren't you thanking your family, or your place of worship, or the soldiers who are keeping you safe, or the farmers who bring you food, or the teachers, or the firefighters... Look I am thankful for all those things too. Trust me. But if you want to know a very unappreciated lot. It's the game developers. Of course, I'm mainly talking to the gamer crowd here. But for us gamers, we give the game developers a lot of flak when they screw up one of our beloved franchises. But do we ever take the time to thank them when they get it right?

Believe when I say this guys. I'm not trying to kiss the ass of any game companies by way of this video. I spend hard earned money on video games and the developers damn well better deliver. Hell, I've spent over $250 on video games in the last month alone just to be able to feature some of these great titles for you guys lately on my channel. That's not counting the new console that I bought the month before. So I'm walking the walk.

Look, it's easy to criticize game companies on performance, sometimes on the most minor of elements. I have my moments too. For example, it irks me every time I see a black loading screen on Fallout 4. Seems like it would have been such an easy thing to add some promo art overlaid with some tips or lore about the game. Big oversight in my opinion. Am I going to let that stop me from loving the game. Hells no.

And that's my point. They did such a good job with everything else. And that goes for Ubisoft with Assassin's Creed Syndicate. Treyarch and Activision with Call of Duty Black Ops 3. I got the chance to sample some Rise of the Tomb Raider over a friends house. So want to play that when I'm done with my current three. Then there's Star Wars Battlefront, and even more awesomeness coming out in December that I'm so not going to be able to keep up with it's not even worth mentioning. It's a virtual cornucopia of gaming awesomeness. It's just that I can't remember the last time I was absolutely satisfied with all the games I purchased in such a chunk like this.

So I'm just going to take a moment and say thanks game developers. For the first time in a long time, I see the hard work put in, the push to listen to fans, the reasonable balance between cost and product, and the genuine effort to make gamers happy. If you stay on this track, there will be a revitalization of a previously lagging industry. Gamers will back for second helpings and still leave room for dessert. And both sides of the table will push back their chairs, loosen their belts and feel full and satisfied.

Achievement unlocked!

And that's about all I wanted to say. A gamer gives thanks.

And on that note, have a good weekend and I'll see you guys next week with another awesome trivia walkthrough.

LPK

Love, Peace, Knowledge.