Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Leave Luck to Heaven's 10th Anniversary



Ten years ago, I began Leave Luck to Heaven as a pet project: despite my wild ambitions in chasing my writing dreams, the relevant drive and passion stagnated outside of schoolwork, and the need for consistent self-improvement grew evident. My initial hesitance towards a blogging format soon ebbed -- as an awkward high school student averse to socialization, enunciating upon my undying passion for gaming proved itself a much-needed form of stress relief. The blog's compact visibility was just small enough for any passerby to peek in, but my laser-focused emphasis on lengthy analyses appealed more to my goal-setting than dreams of widespread grandeur. (Indeed, the only piece from those days drawing any notable attention was none other than my brother's raw eulogy -- a mecca for friends and family alike to pay their respects.)

Like most everything else I wrote in 2010, this debuting post -- a gross violation of my current writing standards in everything from inconsistent contractions to the rebellious 'tude nonsensically laced throughout (Am I aiming for a wannabe punk-rock motif, or heartfelt passion stemming from a genuine love for gaming?) -- evokes nothing but winces and cringe, yet I hardly begrudge myself for my stumbling beginnings; after all, I'm hardly the only artist with green beginnings, and I humbly admit they're useful gauging tools for my progress. Could I just sit here and pick apart numerous flaws and revisions within my GameCube anniversary editorial and EarthBound review? Yes, but such heartless commentary would be a disservice to the genuine heart poured within.

Nay, my one true regret lies within the blog's scattershot initiatives -- whereas my elaborative essays on Nintendo games naturally evolved from multi-faceted columns into singular essays, other features promised in that initial introduction either fizzled out over time or, worse, never came to fruition. My tardiness and lateness became crippling impediments on Leave Luck to Heaven's development: much as I endeavored in Kirby anniversaries and Biweekly Music Wednesdays, sloppy time management and my perfectionist approach to writing often stalled any potential for constant development. If there's any one reason Leave Luck to Heaven never took off in the public eye, it's assuredly this lack of commitment.

Were nothing gained from this venture, I'd endlessly elaborate on the many insecurities induced by these failures -- not the least in doubting in my writing abilities or questioning my capacity for critical thinking -- but that is not so. Oh, sure, I've had my daydreams over being a famous author, but never in all my wildest dreams did I imagine the dedication invested into this personal experiment would serve as a stepping stone into gaming journalism. I use that term with reserved trepidation -- in the end, I'm really just blogging about games to a wider audience (putting it this way: I'm not snooping around for the latest scoop ala Jason Schreier!) -- but in everything from debuting on the very website that introduced me to online gaming journalism (Nintendojo) to chronicling arcade classics and penning wildly successful guides, I remain ever fascinated in how I can endlessly flex my love for this lifelong passion. (And let's not forget my descent into manga reviews!)

Over the past half-decade, there's been a gradual focus in this pursuit, and with everything from my music column's retirement to an empty supply of game analyses, I'm left to ponder Leave Luck to Heaven's current purpose. For all my efforts, there remains no sufficient audience to continue any ambitious pursuits in a Nintendo review library -- fine for when I was starting anew, sure, but this has only proven cumbersome in my professional pursuits. (After all, why write about the latest games here when a media outlet already pays me to do just that?) In a way, I'm sad -- much as I adore Hey Poor Player, there's only one me, and I took pride in how this blog presented a unique, solitary voice  -- but the duties that site beckons are far more vital for my growth, and so I'll continue prioritizing my endeavors there.

This is by no means to announce Leave Luck to Heaven's demise -- if anything, I've come to recognize I need to revisit the fundamentals of writing, and I may very well return to this blog's more experimental days in the near future -- but in accordance with all the above, I'll soon be making preparations to repurpose this blog as an archive of my works. In the words of our dearly departed Satoru Iwata, please understand this was no easy choice to make.

To all those who've followed me on this journey, I'm truly grateful for your enduring patience and support. Please continue to observe how and where I'll grow from here on.

-Anthony

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Best 25 Nintendo Games of the Decade (Hey Poor Player)



This was a month ago, but as evidenced by the 13,000+ word count here, I worked my butt off on this one! I planned and prepped for this for years, and it's beyond cathartic to finally see it realized. Props to my co-worker Heather on the beautiful header.

Even so, much as I'm proud of my work here, I couldn't help but think, "I've hit a wall." We'll discuss in a celebratory post here tomorrow. (Guess what day it'll be?)