My Media Scrapbook: 2020

On 12/05/2020 at 09:22 PM by KnightDriver

There's not much I can put in my scrapbook for this year. Most TV came out on services you had to get a subscription for; I didn't go to any theaters because of the pandemic; I got more obsessed with old music than new, and read a lot of stuff but didn't find any favorites. All I got is a lot of gaming and a sole favorite. Maybe in the future, I'll add stuff to this.

TV: I've been watching some Blood of Zeus, an animated Greek myth story, with my friend because he knows one of the voice actors. I like it fine, but it wouldn't be a favorite for this scrapbook anytime.

Film: I'm still holding out hope for Wonder Woman 1984 or even Monster Hunter to make this list, but I'm not sure if any theaters will be open at all this year.

Game: Journey to the Savage Planet

I discovered this game listening to Major Nelson rave about it on his podcast. It has all the elements I love best in games: humor, exploration, science-like collecting and analysis, shooting (both guns and photography), and sci-fi gadgets. You are on a mission to explore a new planet for possible colonization. You categorize everything you find and perform some experiments. You also have to explore everywhere and determine the mystery of a possible alien culture still alive on the planet. I got really far in the game but didn't finish it. The game can get pretty complex farther along and maybe I just got overwhelmed by it. Or I got distracted by Doom Eternal. I forget, but I need to go back and finish it. I actually bought a physical copy for my home library even though I've been playing it on Game Pass. Fantastic game. Hits all my fun spots.

Music: I looked up a bunch of stuff that came out this year, but discovered nothing truly special. I'm sure I missed something, but I've been rather obsessed with a certain era in music instead. This is the classic prog-rock era, roughly 1969-1974. It was a time when rock started embracing jazz and classical influences instead of just the blues. Beyond prog, though, I like an awful lot of what came out in those years, even if I wasn't actually aware of it at the time. I was too young. This was my 80s teenage year's interest and it really hasn't left me.

Book: I'm mostly reading the latest Halo book, Shadows of Reach, and a graphic novel called Stringbags about a team of WWI biplane pilots in WWII. I'm enjoying both, but neither has become something I'd make a favorite. Probably I'll discover something years from now and add it here.

What did you experience this year?

Matt Snee Staff Writer

12/06/2020 at 12:39 AM

That Savage Planet game sounds pretty amazing, actually.

KnightDriver

12/08/2020 at 10:59 PM

It's really fun and it was only $20 for the physical copy.

Super Step Contributing Writer

12/06/2020 at 01:27 AM

I dig Blood of Zeus so far, but it's pretty early on. My TV this year was Tiger King and The Boys, basically. lol Oh, and Schitt's Creek. I'm sure there are others, but those pop in my head.

I watched The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind with family over Thanksgiving and found it interesting and emotionally gripping.

Journey to the Savage Planet sounds right up my alley.

I take it your music 2020 section means you're not a big WAP fan? lol I can ... literally not think of any other song to come out this year and that is ... oof. I mean, I'll listen to it but that's not great. NPR does have a list of best music from this year though and it turned out to be much more interesting than I thought.

I need to finish The Long Halloween and a couple of my Vonnegut books, but I'm also excited to read A Proimised Land. I put a bar over that last one cause I don't want to start any arguments, but I think that's going to be an interesting memoir.

Here's to 2021 and beyond.

12/08/2020 at 11:04 PM

That NPR list sounds interesting. I haven't followed music news for a while now otherwise, I might have discovered something new.

Cary Woodham

12/06/2020 at 08:16 AM

Pardon my language, but 2020 has been such a shitty year. I played a lot of the new Animal Crossing game on Switch. I've been mooching streaming services off my brother Jeff so I've watched a lot of the Baby Yoda show on Disney+ and the Animaniacs reboot on Hulu.

12/08/2020 at 11:05 PM

I have my one subscription to Xbox Game Pass and that's it. I can't really afford more than that right now. Plus, nothing has really jumped out at me lately.

Machocruz

12/07/2020 at 08:13 PM

I honestly can't remember the media I engaged this year. Nothing much that is current.

Tenet was the only 2020 movie I saw.

I played some older games, which I posted about.

All the music is definitely older, I don't keep up on that stuff.

Watched Primal, which I think started this year, and Better Call Saul which I believe had a season this year.

I NEVER read anything that is younger than 5 years old, I just don't keep track of the market like that.

12/08/2020 at 11:10 PM

I watched the trailer to Primal being a Tartakovsky fan, but I haven't watched the full episodes yet. Funny thing about Tarkovsky, I was watching Hotel Transylvania the other day because I've always liked it and suddenly noticed who directed it, Tartakovsky. Of course he did. I said to myself.

SanAndreas

12/07/2020 at 11:40 PM

This year I've watched Ratched and Peaky Blinders, and High Score. Also got a new season of F is for Family.

Gaming, been doing Animal Crossing, Xenoblade Chronicles Remastered, Pokemon Sword, and Trails of Cold Steel.

12/08/2020 at 11:11 PM

Oh yeah, High Score. I forgot about that one. It should've been my choice for fav tv of the year.

PixlBit