LD56 will be my 17th Ludum Dare in a row. That's not a particularly important anniversary, but hell, it's just been a long time.

I'm a Sophomore in college now, and I participated in my first LD when I was in the 7th grade. At the time, I felt like I was sneaking into a competition with the "big kids." But despite my lack of experience, I was accepted. People played my game. People helped me, gave me advice, gave me criticism. I had the pleasure of seeing what other people could do with the time we were allotted.

My list of entries now is a source of immense pride for me. Over the years, you can see my skills evolve; you can see my sensibilities change; you can see my improvements and missteps and mistakes.

I've tried other jams since. They've never felt the same. They've never given me LD's sense of community, of kinship, of collaboration.

When friends ask me, "what's the prize?" I tell them what Ludum Dare taught me. "It's the game you made."

All that is to say, thank you Mike. LD matters. LD is a massive part of my life - it brings me joy when I need it, it brings me focus when I lack it, and it brings me a community that returns a few times a year, every year, like clockwork. I know that my fellow participants feel the same.

You have made an impact on so many people, Mike. You've done something amazing. You've made something beautiful.

If ever LD ends, you should know that you have won something incredible- all of the games, the joy, and the community that you have facilitated. I hope against hope, of course, that it never does end.

All that is to say, as I will always say--

I'm in.