John "Retr0lag" Bautista
@jrbrpg.bsky.social
John “Retr0lag” Bautista — Gaming Journalist (WIP) 🎮 | Reviews, stories & first looks | Creator of The GameLag Journal | RetroPlaysGames on YouTube
😳😳😳now im glad I didnt buy a ticket.
December 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
😳😳😳now im glad I didnt buy a ticket.
I can't wait for this to come out. Hopefully, it was good.
December 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I can't wait for this to come out. Hopefully, it was good.
Wow. This really gets me interested in it. I haven't ever dove into a proper play through of any Metroid game. What kind of gamer am I, lol? Great review.
December 2, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Wow. This really gets me interested in it. I haven't ever dove into a proper play through of any Metroid game. What kind of gamer am I, lol? Great review.
This is an awesome showcase that I am glad to have found. I look forward to the next one.
December 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This is an awesome showcase that I am glad to have found. I look forward to the next one.
It really does suck but hopefully those dreamers in school or developing or writing about games are still pushing forward.
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
It really does suck but hopefully those dreamers in school or developing or writing about games are still pushing forward.
I have found more books I want here on Bsky than I think anywhere else. TY for your post.
December 1, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I have found more books I want here on Bsky than I think anywhere else. TY for your post.
No better time than the present to get clean I suppose.
December 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
No better time than the present to get clean I suppose.
I notice that I will consider a game "slow starting" or "not engaging enough" when I try to play it when I am tired. When I am full of energy I realize there are aspects I really enjoy that I glazed over the first time. This was the case with Hi-Fi Rush. Amazing game.
December 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I notice that I will consider a game "slow starting" or "not engaging enough" when I try to play it when I am tired. When I am full of energy I realize there are aspects I really enjoy that I glazed over the first time. This was the case with Hi-Fi Rush. Amazing game.
I was watching this during my work schedule and still need to finish but so far I am loving the first entry.
December 1, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I was watching this during my work schedule and still need to finish but so far I am loving the first entry.
That art work looks amazing.
December 1, 2025 at 12:22 PM
That art work looks amazing.
1️⃣2️⃣
If you’re working toward a creative or gaming career too…
What’s your turning point?
What pushed you to take the next step?
Drop it below. 👇
Let’s build a community around the journey.
If you’re working toward a creative or gaming career too…
What’s your turning point?
What pushed you to take the next step?
Drop it below. 👇
Let’s build a community around the journey.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
1️⃣2️⃣
If you’re working toward a creative or gaming career too…
What’s your turning point?
What pushed you to take the next step?
Drop it below. 👇
Let’s build a community around the journey.
If you’re working toward a creative or gaming career too…
What’s your turning point?
What pushed you to take the next step?
Drop it below. 👇
Let’s build a community around the journey.
1️⃣1️⃣
It became clear:
This isn’t just a degree.
It’s the start of a new chapter after years of feeling stuck in the old one.
My Life’s Task?
To tell my story — through gaming, through journalism, through creation.
It became clear:
This isn’t just a degree.
It’s the start of a new chapter after years of feeling stuck in the old one.
My Life’s Task?
To tell my story — through gaming, through journalism, through creation.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
1️⃣1️⃣
It became clear:
This isn’t just a degree.
It’s the start of a new chapter after years of feeling stuck in the old one.
My Life’s Task?
To tell my story — through gaming, through journalism, through creation.
It became clear:
This isn’t just a degree.
It’s the start of a new chapter after years of feeling stuck in the old one.
My Life’s Task?
To tell my story — through gaming, through journalism, through creation.
🔟
My real turning point wasn’t enrolling in grad school.
It was sitting in a jail housing unit at 2 AM, inmate yelling in the background, asking myself:
“What do I want my Master’s to be in?”
And then:
“What happens in 12 months?”
My real turning point wasn’t enrolling in grad school.
It was sitting in a jail housing unit at 2 AM, inmate yelling in the background, asking myself:
“What do I want my Master’s to be in?”
And then:
“What happens in 12 months?”
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
🔟
My real turning point wasn’t enrolling in grad school.
It was sitting in a jail housing unit at 2 AM, inmate yelling in the background, asking myself:
“What do I want my Master’s to be in?”
And then:
“What happens in 12 months?”
My real turning point wasn’t enrolling in grad school.
It was sitting in a jail housing unit at 2 AM, inmate yelling in the background, asking myself:
“What do I want my Master’s to be in?”
And then:
“What happens in 12 months?”
9️⃣
Robert Greene said:
“Rebel against the forces that push you away from your true path.”
And honestly?
I’ve been pushed off my path so many times—money, comfort, fear, life.
But every time…I return to gaming, creating, and communicating.
Robert Greene said:
“Rebel against the forces that push you away from your true path.”
And honestly?
I’ve been pushed off my path so many times—money, comfort, fear, life.
But every time…I return to gaming, creating, and communicating.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
9️⃣
Robert Greene said:
“Rebel against the forces that push you away from your true path.”
And honestly?
I’ve been pushed off my path so many times—money, comfort, fear, life.
But every time…I return to gaming, creating, and communicating.
Robert Greene said:
“Rebel against the forces that push you away from your true path.”
And honestly?
I’ve been pushed off my path so many times—money, comfort, fear, life.
But every time…I return to gaming, creating, and communicating.
8️⃣
But to stand out, you need a niche.
For me?
Indie games.
And even more specific:
Metroidvanias.
A space with passion, history, and endless room to tell stories.
That’s the niche I plan to own.
But to stand out, you need a niche.
For me?
Indie games.
And even more specific:
Metroidvanias.
A space with passion, history, and endless room to tell stories.
That’s the niche I plan to own.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
8️⃣
But to stand out, you need a niche.
For me?
Indie games.
And even more specific:
Metroidvanias.
A space with passion, history, and endless room to tell stories.
That’s the niche I plan to own.
But to stand out, you need a niche.
For me?
Indie games.
And even more specific:
Metroidvanias.
A space with passion, history, and endless room to tell stories.
That’s the niche I plan to own.
7️⃣
Here’s the truth I learned about myself:
I LOVE TO CREATE.
Music.
Graphics.
Videos.
Writing.
Games.
It started with hip hop.
It grew with gaming.
Creation has been the only constant since childhood.
Here’s the truth I learned about myself:
I LOVE TO CREATE.
Music.
Graphics.
Videos.
Writing.
Games.
It started with hip hop.
It grew with gaming.
Creation has been the only constant since childhood.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
7️⃣
Here’s the truth I learned about myself:
I LOVE TO CREATE.
Music.
Graphics.
Videos.
Writing.
Games.
It started with hip hop.
It grew with gaming.
Creation has been the only constant since childhood.
Here’s the truth I learned about myself:
I LOVE TO CREATE.
Music.
Graphics.
Videos.
Writing.
Games.
It started with hip hop.
It grew with gaming.
Creation has been the only constant since childhood.
6️⃣
Networking is the next pillar:
Professors, alumni, classmates, industry pros, and creators.
Online + events.
The goal is simple:
Put a face to the name…
and open the doors I used to think were locked.
Networking is the next pillar:
Professors, alumni, classmates, industry pros, and creators.
Online + events.
The goal is simple:
Put a face to the name…
and open the doors I used to think were locked.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
6️⃣
Networking is the next pillar:
Professors, alumni, classmates, industry pros, and creators.
Online + events.
The goal is simple:
Put a face to the name…
and open the doors I used to think were locked.
Networking is the next pillar:
Professors, alumni, classmates, industry pros, and creators.
Online + events.
The goal is simple:
Put a face to the name…
and open the doors I used to think were locked.
5️⃣
That’s why I’m earning my Master’s in New Media Journalism.
At the same time, I’m publishing articles on:
🎮 Indie games
🎮 Industry insights
🎮 Metroidvanias
🎮 Interviews + reviews
🎮 Event coverage
Substack. Medium. My own website. All being built right now.
That’s why I’m earning my Master’s in New Media Journalism.
At the same time, I’m publishing articles on:
🎮 Indie games
🎮 Industry insights
🎮 Metroidvanias
🎮 Interviews + reviews
🎮 Event coverage
Substack. Medium. My own website. All being built right now.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
5️⃣
That’s why I’m earning my Master’s in New Media Journalism.
At the same time, I’m publishing articles on:
🎮 Indie games
🎮 Industry insights
🎮 Metroidvanias
🎮 Interviews + reviews
🎮 Event coverage
Substack. Medium. My own website. All being built right now.
That’s why I’m earning my Master’s in New Media Journalism.
At the same time, I’m publishing articles on:
🎮 Indie games
🎮 Industry insights
🎮 Metroidvanias
🎮 Interviews + reviews
🎮 Event coverage
Substack. Medium. My own website. All being built right now.
4️⃣
My dream is to grow from a hobbyist creator → into an independent media company.
Articles.
Videos.
Podcasts.
Interviews.
Reviews.
A full ecosystem built around gaming stories.
My dream is to grow from a hobbyist creator → into an independent media company.
Articles.
Videos.
Podcasts.
Interviews.
Reviews.
A full ecosystem built around gaming stories.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
4️⃣
My dream is to grow from a hobbyist creator → into an independent media company.
Articles.
Videos.
Podcasts.
Interviews.
Reviews.
A full ecosystem built around gaming stories.
My dream is to grow from a hobbyist creator → into an independent media company.
Articles.
Videos.
Podcasts.
Interviews.
Reviews.
A full ecosystem built around gaming stories.
3️⃣
So I asked myself the real question:
What do I actually want to accomplish?
The answer hit me harder than expected:
I want to enter the gaming industry—not just as a fan, but eventually as a subject matter expert.
So I asked myself the real question:
What do I actually want to accomplish?
The answer hit me harder than expected:
I want to enter the gaming industry—not just as a fan, but eventually as a subject matter expert.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
3️⃣
So I asked myself the real question:
What do I actually want to accomplish?
The answer hit me harder than expected:
I want to enter the gaming industry—not just as a fan, but eventually as a subject matter expert.
So I asked myself the real question:
What do I actually want to accomplish?
The answer hit me harder than expected:
I want to enter the gaming industry—not just as a fan, but eventually as a subject matter expert.
2️⃣
Those questions crushed my confidence.
Two years unemployed → then a job as a corrections officer.
Respectable? Yes.
What I want to do with my life? Not even close.
I knew something was missing.
Those questions crushed my confidence.
Two years unemployed → then a job as a corrections officer.
Respectable? Yes.
What I want to do with my life? Not even close.
I knew something was missing.
December 1, 2025 at 7:49 AM
2️⃣
Those questions crushed my confidence.
Two years unemployed → then a job as a corrections officer.
Respectable? Yes.
What I want to do with my life? Not even close.
I knew something was missing.
Those questions crushed my confidence.
Two years unemployed → then a job as a corrections officer.
Respectable? Yes.
What I want to do with my life? Not even close.
I knew something was missing.