Why my life is filled with more change than yours

Quick things first: The humvee pack is finally being sold. Only it's not being sold as the humvee pack, its being sold as the recon vehicle pack. This is because "humvee" as it turns out, is registered. Holy crap. Tim "Nasty" Aste caught that one. Props to him. After a few quick changes to the product page/etc, this is what we looked like:



Except in our case, the bullets are a legal metaphor instead of projectiles shot by a computer sentry out to destroy us. You know, just to explain the joke.

Last bit of "recon vehicle" info: many, MANY thanks to all who helped me get this out. I sincerely appreciate it. :)

So with the pack out of the way, there is a bit of rather huge news to announce. Im no longer an employee of GarageGames. I got fired for stealing from the server room and also for throwing paperclips at Matt Fairfax during company meetings.

Just joking about getting fired, but I really am no longer working at GG.

The reasons for this revolve around what I left when I came out to work. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a very close, supportive family in New Hampshire (north eastern america). My girlfriend of many, many years is in Maine (next state over). The people that make up the GG team are some of the most awesome people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing and working with, and there are a few that genuinely changed my life. At the end of the day, though, I was going home and I wasn't happy. I wasn't unhappy, but I wasn't happy. I fast realized that in order for me to be happy, I needed to be able to go home to the people I loved. When all is said and done, I can forgive myself for missing out on the professional opportunities GarageGames is offering, but I can't forgive myself for missing out on the people that matter most to me.

Its really interesting to me. When I was finishing up college, the only thing on my mind was getting a kick ass job and making kick ass stuff. I wanted to be the best (and Id often get frustrated with myself when I failed to reach the olympian goals id set for myself). After my experiences of the last 10 months, I know I won't ever be the best. But I also feel that what I have in my life and what I feel Im being called to do is more important than that.

That calling is teaching. Some of you in the community may be familiar with my website, Games Extract. Its a site with a bunch of free art assets and art tutorials. Ive said it in this space before: When someone learns about something they're interested in, they feel empowered, and Im all about that. I may never be able to make artwork that stops people in their tracks and melts their eyes, but I know I can teach. And whats more, Im passionate about it. The thought that I could be instrumental in helping someone achieve their goals is tremendously exciting to me, and it represents a direction I have to start walking in.

I don't know how long it will take for me to actually become a teacher. In a do-it-yourself way, I suppose I already am. Id like to eventually teach at a college level, but to get to that point is quite a few steps. To support myself in the mean time (and who knows, maybe during and after), Im doing something I can't wait to talk all about.... but that will be for a plan in the next few weeks.

So that's that. Thanks for reading. Keep your eyes peeled for the next big announcement. :)