It’s been a rough year Gamer Santa.

I only owe it to you to be honest Gamer Santa. Like my already released documentary Pixels and Polygons, I’ve been cosidered to be a bit of a pity partier. Some things are only really known by the people who were there.

I’d say with the many thank you comments I get each day for the tutorials I provide on my YouTube channel, that I’ve been pretty nice this year. I’ve given something that I consider to be priceless to many aspiring developers out there for free, that being knowledge. I’ve literally in these comments been told that I’m a god amongst men, and that I’ve set people up for life with what I’ve taught – but I remain humble and very flattered. I really just believe in being good to people and hoping for the same in return.

I’ll be honest, I put out my first film for free while charging $5 for additional content to counter my financial woes. I made all of $50 from this, certainly not enough to pay even a single bill I have in full. I’ve had the graciousness of my family to help me through rough times, but even they have fallen on hard ones themselves. I’ve taken shots at many opportunities and lost them, been promised industry jobs and other things… but I keep going in the hopes that I can succeed someday, and sustain myself.

So what would I do with $1000? Well, I’d like to play a few games I’ve neglected to take a break for and play, sure. Everyone tells me to take a break, but all I see is my work moving forward. I can’t feel comfortable taking a break when I have not yet succeeded. So with that money, I will put it toward 2 things. One of those is giving something, even a little thing back to my mom. She’s helped me and believed in what I am doing for the longest time without asking any questions. She more than deserves it. Secondly, I would use it to progress my work forward, namely my next film. I would love to have the funds to travel to Los Angeles and interview the likes of Kellee Santiago and Chris Kohler for my film(they’ve even already confirmed! I just need to get to them!).

My main goal in life has always been to inspire those around me. Most people who aspire to be something greater will usually only listen to someone who has succeeded as a proof of what can become of them. I will make it. I will succeed. And hopefully with $1000 in my currently empty pockets, I can be that much closer. I’ll leave out some Oreos and milk for you since I can’t bake. Take it easy big red.

-Richard