It’s been rather quiet here at Board Game Immersion, but I have plenty of excuses as to why. But first, a bit of an introduction to The State of the Immersion. This State of the Immersion is to recap all that’s happened in the past year (2021) and to highlight specific things that are in the pipe for the next year (2022).
Personal Life Got in the Way
Which brings us to…excuses! I’ll be honest, 2021 was a crazy and wild year. In January of 2021 I embarked on a master’s program to become an English teacher, certified to teach grades 8-12. As of early December of this same year, I have officially finished all my required coursework. That’s a two-year program in one year! As you can see, I have been quite busy on non-board game related subjects. As my classes were coming to a close, I was desperately looking for a teaching position, as I was eligible to teach via alternative licensure. I had some interviews just before school started up in August, and I even had a job offer, but it was an hour and a half away, so I reluctantly turned it down. I continued searching, but as school kicked off, the job openings were scarce, if any showed up at all. Fast forward to just before Thanksgiving when I saw an opening pop up for a middle school in my county. I applied, got an interview, and was hired! I stared teaching 8th-grade English after Thanksgiving break. So, not only was I finishing up my graduate program, but I was frantically jumping in to teach a bunch of young teenagers! It was a blessing for sure, and I’ve loved it. I won’t say I’ve loved every minute of it (because there’s a reason the former teacher up and quit), but overall it’s been most excellent.
The Fruits of My Labors
So that’s one excuse as to why I haven’t been as visible online as I would have liked to have been. That said, I have published 13 reviews (including Kickstarter previews), plus a few articles and two giveaways (one hosted here on the website and another via Instagram). Despite my hectic year (not to mention two family reunions, hosting extended family for Thanksgiving, and more craziness), I’m pretty happy with what I was able to publish. The Board Game Immersion Instagram account surpassed 500 followers as well, which is a wonderful milestone!
As far as extracurricular activities go, I was privileged to once again be a judge for the Board Game Workshop 2021 Design Contest. I saw some wonderful games in the making and look forward to seeing them progress! I was also fortunate to work on a number of rule books throughout the year. Unfortunately, I had to turn down a few simply because I didn’t have the time, but I’m hoping this new year allows me to work on more, because I love that side of the board game industry! I am an English teacher, after all, and there’s something to be said about helping to make a rule book into a work of art.
The Future is Bright
Looking ahead, I have already written two reviews, and as of this writing I have done photo shoots for three reviews. I will be posting reviews of Moonflight and SSO (both from Man o’ Kent Games) soon, followed by reviews of Tapestry: Arts and Architecture Expansion (Stonemaier Games), Rolling Realms (Stonemaier Games), and Panorama (Sparkworks). I also plan on hosting a few more giveaways throughout the year. At least two, but hopefully more will present themselves.
I recognize the small nature of Board Game Immersion, so I am beyond grateful to all of the wonderful publishers who have sent me games to review, take pictures of, and write stories inspired by their worlds. It is truly a blessing to be part of the media side of the board game industry.
Gone, but Not Forgotten
This is, perhaps, the saddest section of the State of the Immersion, and is where I admit to not keeping up with campaign promises (or offhanded mentions I had no right uttering in the first place). I know I had mentioned previously how I would love to start a podcast; however, I do not see that becoming a reality in 2022, as I am still in the throes of being a n00b teacher and getting all of that figured out. It’s still on my radar, but it is further out than I was hoping it would be at this point of Board Game Immersion’s lifespan.
I’ve also been meaning to write more short stories—longer than the ones I write for my reviews—but again, time hasn’t been my ally this year. I do hope to fit in these stories that are swimming around in my head, but again, it all depends on how this year goes. Maybe in the summer once school is out…
Where to Find Me
I’m all over the place (literally and figuratively), so if you want to connect, there are a few ways to go about that. First, fill out the contact form found on this website. That goes straight to my email, which I check frequently. Alternatively, shoot me a DM on Instagram, as I get notifications whenever I’m mentioned or receive a message. Tag me in posts you want me to see, drop a “Hello!” in my messages, and otherwise don’t be shy! I’m happy to answer questions, engage in casual banter, or debate the deeper meanings of theme and narrative in your favorite games.
Thanks for All the Fish
At the end of it all, I am truly grateful to everyone who has ever visited Board Game Immersion’s website, Instagram page, and other social media accounts. Thank you for your support, kind words of encouragement and advice, and for simply giving a heart of thumb’s up to a picture or other piece of content I’ve published. I do this for the love of the hobby and to give back in whatever small way I can. Despite that, this wouldn’t be possible without you, fair reader, so thank you for joining me on this wild ride that is Board Game Immersion. This concludes this year’s State of the Immersion.
See you in 2022!
