I once emailed Gabe Newell—a man who I greatly admire because of his unprecedented work in the video game industry—when I was at an exciting point in my life. This exciting point eventually turned into a boorish nightmare that slowly ate away at my critical and creative thinking. It is amazing how much of an effect a gap of only a month can have on your life. In my email I wrote:
“Hi Gabe,
As I start a new adventure tomorrow, I just wanted to write and let
you know just how much an impact you, your company, and your products
have had in my recent life choices. I know you're very busy and you
probably get tons of emails so I'll be as brief as possible.
A few months ago I graduated with an Arts degree, having studied
English and Film for four years. It was a great experience, no doubt.
In the past four years, I met many of my closest friends, developed my
analytical and critical thinking, and evolved my creative skill set.
But when I finished school I still didn't know what I was going to do
with my life. That was my problem. I had absolutely no direction,
because I thought I had chosen the wrong degree for getting a hold of
a steady job. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long to find out what I
wanted to do.
Conveniently, during my last round of examinations, you guys released
Portal 2, which I consider to be the best game I have played in recent
memory. Not only did I enjoy it immensely, but Portal 2 has also set
me on the right path. It kinda made me think a bit, and in that
process I suddenly knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life:
make video games. I feel like I've always wanted to do that... it's
just that Portal 2, a game of such high esteem that's almost unheard
of, came at the right time, at the right place, and made me realize
what I needed to do.
Tomorrow I start my second degree at Dalhousie University, taking
Computer Science, and eventually taking the Game Design
specialization.
Anyways, you probably get letters like this all the time. I just
wanted to let you know.
Keep making the best, and keep raising the bar.
Sincerely,
Chase Veinotte”
As I start a new adventure tomorrow, I just wanted to write and let
you know just how much an impact you, your company, and your products
have had in my recent life choices. I know you're very busy and you
probably get tons of emails so I'll be as brief as possible.
A few months ago I graduated with an Arts degree, having studied
English and Film for four years. It was a great experience, no doubt.
In the past four years, I met many of my closest friends, developed my
analytical and critical thinking, and evolved my creative skill set.
But when I finished school I still didn't know what I was going to do
with my life. That was my problem. I had absolutely no direction,
because I thought I had chosen the wrong degree for getting a hold of
a steady job. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long to find out what I
wanted to do.
Conveniently, during my last round of examinations, you guys released
Portal 2, which I consider to be the best game I have played in recent
memory. Not only did I enjoy it immensely, but Portal 2 has also set
me on the right path. It kinda made me think a bit, and in that
process I suddenly knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life:
make video games. I feel like I've always wanted to do that... it's
just that Portal 2, a game of such high esteem that's almost unheard
of, came at the right time, at the right place, and made me realize
what I needed to do.
Tomorrow I start my second degree at Dalhousie University, taking
Computer Science, and eventually taking the Game Design
specialization.
Anyways, you probably get letters like this all the time. I just
wanted to let you know.
Keep making the best, and keep raising the bar.
Sincerely,
Chase Veinotte”
He never wrote back.
Not that it would’ve mattered. I have made my decision, and I’m sticking to it. Maybe thinking that I could make video games at this point was due to an overestimation of my ability to endure the boredom of a Computer Science degree, maybe it’s because I have a short attention span, I don’t know! Regardless, I think I’m finally comfortable knowing that all I want to do is write, and draw, and play video games for a living.
I mean, if a man like Jim Sterling or one of the many PR puppets at IGN can get paid to write about video games for a living, why can’t I? If hippies and social rejects can flood DeviantArt with abhorrently drawn fantasy characters closely resembling the inside of a landfill’s asshole and get praise for it, why can’t I? If people can make money just by posting some meaningless diatribe about their miserable lives on a website, why can’t I? “Why can’t I” seems to be a reoccurring question in my mind lately. Surely I have something more insightful and important to say? Surely I have enough knowledge and enthusiasm to write something coherent and interesting and informative and intelligent about the industries and hobbies I care deeply about.
Surely? Right?
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