2016 Recap. · 10:50pm Dec 16th, 2016
So, as we draw to the inevitable end of 2016, we have a lot to look back on. There were many ups and downs for me in particular, but I think that most of all, this was a rather... interesting year for me.
Feel free to see it all below, but just be warned that it is VERY LONG.
First off, I didn't really start out this year great. I received my first temp ban on this site. While it wasn't anything major, it did strike me in the heart. Everyone was worried about me for what I did back then, and I have repented for my actions over the last eleven months. Ever since, I've gone back to being a good, rule abiding FIMFiction writer who loves his passion. Thank you all who reached out for me when I was feeling down, and I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.
Virtual reality was a pretty big thing this year in 2016. People were just on the up and up for the concept of being taken away to other worlds simply by slapping some weird helmet on their heads. One of the biggest things for this was Galactica; a brand new roller coaster at Alton Towers which simulated a virtual world as you rode, so that it looked like you were flying through space instead of riding a simple coaster.
The other big thing that came out was the Playstation VR, but I'll get to that pretty soon. There's still plenty more stuff to cover.
At the end of March, I got my first ever story published on Equestria Daily. Good Sport, which featured Rainbow Dash and Indigo Zap from Friendship Games, went through quite a lot before it was slammed onto the feed. I met authors, paid good money, and managed to get it featured in the end. And ever since, I made Dresses and Daisies and The Truth Hurts, and I'll be planning to finish the series off sometime next year if I get the chance.
Come April, BUCK came round. The annual UK MLP Convention filled with joy, merriment, british MLP cosplayers, and many more. Such a good time it was. Many bronies and pegasisters alike, all adept in music, artwork, games, and more came down to EventCity by the Trafford Centre to send BUCK off one last time. The guy behind it stepped down at the end, and I don't see BUCK returning in the future unless a miracle happens. But still, it was a great send off to a great convention, and for everyone who went to it this year, I'm so sorry that I didn't get to meet you if I didn't. And for the ones that I did see, it's nice to see you again!
As well as that, we were treated to Season Six of Friendship is Magic. And... *Exhales* I'mma be honest and say that this season wasn't really as good as I was expecting.
Yes, it did have some clever new characters and story arcs, but half of the time, I feel like they were just gambling with new ideas in the hopes that it would keep the show interesting. You have some clever ideas like Times They Are a Changeling and Buckball Season, but then you get the most horrific disasters that ever plagued the FIM universe such as Cart Before the Ponies and 28 Scathing Reviews, Terrible Defender Bronies, Horrible Zombie Ponies, and Destroyed Cookie Boxes Later. In short, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to, but I am hoping that Season Seven will change all of that.
Another big thing that happened to me this year was rather heart-wrenching. I left Walnuts School and moved on to Milton Keynes College. I've been to Walnuts for the past fourteen years, and to finally move on from that and take up a place as college boy is a rather big leap. Now, I have to stop acting like a kid and focus on getting a job. It's time to grow up, grow a pair, and find a placement.
But this did mean that I had to say goodbye to all of my friends. Ben, Callum, Harry, Jacob, all of us walked out of Walnuts for the final time that day, and since then, we've never come back. I'll never forget them...
BREXIT.
The one word that single-handedly destroyed the United Kingdom. I really, really, REALLY hated the outcome of Brexit, even more so than the 2016 American Election. I didn't want the UK to leave the European Union. Trade prices have to be re-negotiated, prices went up, they butchered the Toblerone, the dollar-to-pound rate is now horribly low, and I feel like in the coming years, the UK's going to have a massive recession because of it. Need I say more?
And now, we come to July. This was a fun month for me this year. I had my birthday, I turned 19 this year, and, more importantly, I went to one of my favourite places in the world; JAPAN!
Japan is so wonderful. The people there are so friendly, it's all a wonder of modern-day technology and time-honoured relics from the past. I've seen a lot of japanese stuff and heard lots of tales about Yo-kai and shoguns and ancient lands and monsters, and I was hooked for the longest time. So when I finally go to go, I was over the moon. In fact, this was probably an accurate representation of my reaction:
And boy was it the best thing ever. I got to go to Tokyo Disney—which you've just got to try if you're over there for everything in both Disneyland and Disneysea—, went to Joypolis in Odaiba, had a lovely tour that branched both Tokyo and Kyoto and did so much stuff on, went to Universal Studios Osaka, and many more on my travels to the Land of the Rising Sun.
And speaking of japanese things, this year, I was into a lot of animes. New series that I'd never even browsed before, and time-honoured and adored animes that the whole world has fallen in love with. Here are just a few animes that I started watching in the past year:
*Psycho-Pass
*Hunter X Hunter
*Attack on Titan
*Sword Art Online
*Seven Deadly Sins (Netflix Only Anime)
*YO-KAI WATCH! (This was a massive anime for me this year)
All of these new animes I watched in awe, suspense, out of curiosity, or just out of sheer boredom alone. And boy, was I satisfied with each of these. Even though I haven't finished some of them, I am constantly watching them again and again these days.
Come the month of September, things started to get a little bit hectic for me. I started out in college on a course for Independent Living and Employability Skills. It didn't really work out well, and through some miracle, they managed to change my course, as I was perfectly experienced and seemed like I had already passed my course already.
As for the more fun stuff, I went to EGX this year, and got to have a hands-on experience with some great new game titles. Things like Yooka Laylee, Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2, South Park The Fractured Butthole, Sonic Mania, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter, and many more were played at that convention and I loved each and every one of them.
Another big thing that happened this month was Legend of Everfree, and if you haven't seen my review on the movie, then I found it average. It wasn't anything big, but I feel that in comparison to Rainbow Rocks and Friendship Games especially, Legend of Everfree falls short of those two movies and places itself just above the first movie in terms of quality.
And now, we come to October. This was a far better month for me. Not only did we have Halloween-themed stuff going on around that time, but I was also able to attend UK Ponycon in the Royal Armoury Hall in Leeds. There, I was able to meet some great people, play some great games, go through the most hellish quiz I think I've ever seen with G1 and G3 questions interlaced as well, and have a great time overall.
November. Yet again, another interesting month for many people. First of all, I'm just going to address the elephant in the room and say that DONALD TRUMP WON THE MOTHERF**KING ELECTION! AMERICA IS GOING TO BE RUINED BY THAT POMPOUS HOST OF THE APPRENTICE USA!
Ahem. Moving on, I also went to BronyScot this year, where there were lots of good times to be had by all, with vendors, games, a call from M.A. Larson, and more, it was quite an event for all who went up to the vale of Glasgow. There, to name some few great moments, I had a go on the Playstation VR, had a crazy Mario Party 5 game with three other people for a Waluigi Amiibo (F**king Yoshi with his birthday cake happening space on Sweet Dream won the game.), and met face-to-face with famous members of the community like EileMonty and Mad Munchkin. So, I guess you could say that I'll definitely be going back this year.
And so as we come down to December, where Christmas is coming, we really do have to look back on everything. Bid one last farewell to the craziness of this year as we push on to 2017, where things like the MLP Movie, and other such amazing things will be waiting for us. And for a more detailed breakdown of the games, movies, and other such stuff that I did, be sure to read. But for now, peace out, you guys! Here's to 2017!
NEW GAMES THIS YEAR:
Yo-kai Watch 1 and 2
Call of Duty Infinite Shitshow and Modern Warfare Ruined (Because both of those games have been ruined recently)
Ratchet and Clank PS4
Overwatch (So many f**king tryhards ruined the game for me)
Super Mario Maker (Yes, I myself made some demon courses of my own in this game...)
Pokemon Go
Super Mario Run
Destiny: Rise of Iron (It was all good fun except for Aksis in Wrath of the Machine. He was basically Golgoroth 2.0 in a nutshell.)
Peggle 2
Transformers: Devastation (Short but sweet Platinum Games-style Transformers. Twenty trillion times better than Michael Gay's works)
Tom Clancy's The Division (Don't know why I stopped playing this to be honest...)
NEW MOVIES SEEN THIS YEAR:
Independence Day Resurgence (Hey, at least it's better than the new Ghostbusters film, right?)
Legend of Everfree
Kubo and the Two Strings (So beautiful. You need to see this masterfully made film.)
Zootropolis
Kung Fu Panda 3
Eddie the Eagle
Yo-kai Watch Movie (A.K.A. Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls in movie format. With similar dialogue, characters, and story as the games.)
Moana (THE BEST DISNEY FILM EVER MADE. NO-ONE WILL EVER ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT THIS.)
Arthur Christmas (Yes, I'm late. Shut up.)
And that's all. Have a great rest of 2016, and I'll be seeing you all soon in the new year.
From an American to a Brit, just ride Brexit out, you'll get through this. It's not as bad as you think it is. With how the EU has been handling affairs, I'd say leaving will teach Brussels a thing or two.
4342589 I added Zootropolis, as well as Eddie the Eagle and Kung Fu Panda 3.