hi my name is Noel in a video game about zombies changed my life now I know that
zombies changed my life now I know that
zombies changed my life now I know that sounds a little bit crazy so let me back
sounds a little bit crazy so let me back
sounds a little bit crazy so let me back up give you a little bit of context and
up give you a little bit of context and
up give you a little bit of context and hopefully it’ll make just a little bit
hopefully it’ll make just a little bit
hopefully it’ll make just a little bit more sense so the first thing that you
more sense so the first thing that you
more sense so the first thing that you need to know about me is that I love
need to know about me is that I love
need to know about me is that I love stories they’re what I’m most passionate
stories they’re what I’m most passionate
stories they’re what I’m most passionate about they’re sort of the lens through
about they’re sort of the lens through
about they’re sort of the lens through which I view the world this all began
which I view the world this all began
which I view the world this all began with a love of classic literature in
with a love of classic literature in
with a love of classic literature in eighth grade and then evolved into a
eighth grade and then evolved into a
eighth grade and then evolved into a love of storytelling in all forms film
love of storytelling in all forms film
love of storytelling in all forms film television plays most recently tabletop
television plays most recently tabletop
television plays most recently tabletop role-playing games you get the idea and
role-playing games you get the idea and
role-playing games you get the idea and so the plan was to go to college and
so the plan was to go to college and
so the plan was to go to college and study English go to graduate school
study English go to graduate school
study English go to graduate school studying British literature writing a
studying British literature writing a
studying British literature writing a dissertation on Jane Austen and then
dissertation on Jane Austen and then
dissertation on Jane Austen and then getting a job as a writer and editor
getting a job as a writer and editor
getting a job as a writer and editor that part I wasn’t quite sure but I knew
that part I wasn’t quite sure but I knew
that part I wasn’t quite sure but I knew it had to do with stories and so as
it had to do with stories and so as
it had to do with stories and so as English majors – I came here to Furman
English majors – I came here to Furman
English majors – I came here to Furman and took an introduction to introduction
and took an introduction to introduction
and took an introduction to introduction to Shakespeare course here last spring
to Shakespeare course here last spring
to Shakespeare course here last spring and one of the plays that we were
and one of the plays that we were
and one of the plays that we were reading in that course was King Lear
reading in that course was King Lear
reading in that course was King Lear which is arguably one of Shakespeare’s
which is arguably one of Shakespeare’s
which is arguably one of Shakespeare’s greatest works now remember one day so
greatest works now remember one day so
greatest works now remember one day so specifically we were reading act 5 scene
specifically we were reading act 5 scene
specifically we were reading act 5 scene 3 which is the final scene of the play
3 which is the final scene of the play
3 which is the final scene of the play and for those of you who aren’t familiar
and for those of you who aren’t familiar
and for those of you who aren’t familiar in the scene the King’s favorite
in the scene the King’s favorite
in the scene the King’s favorite daughter Cordelia has died and holding
daughter Cordelia has died and holding
daughter Cordelia has died and holding her dead body in his arms he gives one
her dead body in his arms he gives one
her dead body in his arms he gives one of the most powerful and heartbreaking
of the most powerful and heartbreaking
of the most powerful and heartbreaking speeches in all of the literary canon
speeches in all of the literary canon
speeches in all of the literary canon and well I usually live for the kind of
and well I usually live for the kind of
and well I usually live for the kind of stimulating academic conversations that
stimulating academic conversations that
stimulating academic conversations that we have in these college-level English
we have in these college-level English
we have in these college-level English courses I found myself having trouble
courses I found myself having trouble
courses I found myself having trouble paying attention that day see my mind
paying attention that day see my mind
paying attention that day see my mind kept going back to a video game that I
kept going back to a video game that I
kept going back to a video game that I had played only a few weeks earlier The
had played only a few weeks earlier The
had played only a few weeks earlier The Last of Us released by naughty Dog
Last of Us released by naughty Dog
Last of Us released by naughty Dog Studios in 2013 and see this game kept
Studios in 2013 and see this game kept
Studios in 2013 and see this game kept coming up in my mind because in the
coming up in my mind because in the
coming up in my mind because in the opening scene that you’re playing as a
opening scene that you’re playing as a
opening scene that you’re playing as a man named Joel trying to get his
man named Joel trying to get his
man named Joel trying to get his daughter Sarah to safety in the midst of
daughter Sarah to safety in the midst of
daughter Sarah to safety in the midst of a zombie outbreak and amongst all the
a zombie outbreak and amongst all the
a zombie outbreak and amongst all the chaos she is shot and dies in his arms
chaos she is shot and dies in his arms
chaos she is shot and dies in his arms and in that moment I was in shock
and in that moment I was in shock
and in that moment I was in shock because these two scenes could not have
because these two scenes could not have
because these two scenes could not have been written
been written
been written in more different contexts with 400
in more different contexts with 400
in more different contexts with 400 years of time and technology between
years of time and technology between
years of time and technology between them and yet they were able to achieve
them and yet they were able to achieve
them and yet they were able to achieve an identical narrative and emotional
an identical narrative and emotional
an identical narrative and emotional moment right because in a video game
moment right because in a video game
moment right because in a video game where you’re spending a lot of time
where you’re spending a lot of time
where you’re spending a lot of time killing zombies that’s not what it’s
killing zombies that’s not what it’s
killing zombies that’s not what it’s about
about
about that’s the context the framework at the
that’s the context the framework at the
that’s the context the framework at the heart of this game it’s a beautiful
heart of this game it’s a beautiful
heart of this game it’s a beautiful father-daughter relationship that
father-daughter relationship that
father-daughter relationship that explores some incredibly complex moral
explores some incredibly complex moral
explores some incredibly complex moral themes because I’ve read a lot of books
themes because I’ve read a lot of books
themes because I’ve read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies and TV and
and seen a lot of movies and TV and
and seen a lot of movies and TV and plays but no story I have ever
plays but no story I have ever
plays but no story I have ever experienced has had such a strong
experienced has had such a strong
experienced has had such a strong emotional impact on me and I truly
emotional impact on me and I truly
emotional impact on me and I truly believe that it’s because it was told as
believe that it’s because it was told as
believe that it’s because it was told as a video game because that day I realized
a video game because that day I realized
a video game because that day I realized that games can be just as interesting
that games can be just as interesting
that games can be just as interesting and complex and tragic and heartbreaking
and complex and tragic and heartbreaking
and complex and tragic and heartbreaking and uplifting and beautiful as any other
and uplifting and beautiful as any other
and uplifting and beautiful as any other storytelling medium that day I realized
storytelling medium that day I realized
storytelling medium that day I realized that video games are the future of
that video games are the future of
that video games are the future of storytelling so what is it about games
storytelling so what is it about games
storytelling so what is it about games that makes them unique right well let’s
that makes them unique right well let’s
that makes them unique right well let’s look at the history of storytelling in
look at the history of storytelling in
look at the history of storytelling in general going back a few thousand years
general going back a few thousand years
general going back a few thousand years to oral storytelling where people would
to oral storytelling where people would
to oral storytelling where people would just sit around and talk to each other
just sit around and talk to each other
just sit around and talk to each other right and so while the mechanisms by
right and so while the mechanisms by
right and so while the mechanisms by which we receive these stories has
which we receive these stories has
which we receive these stories has changed significantly over the years
changed significantly over the years
changed significantly over the years going from page to stage to screen the
going from page to stage to screen the
going from page to stage to screen the way that we perceive and understand
way that we perceive and understand
way that we perceive and understand these stories has stayed mostly the same
these stories has stayed mostly the same
these stories has stayed mostly the same because with traditional storytelling
because with traditional storytelling
because with traditional storytelling media we are passive observers we are
media we are passive observers we are
media we are passive observers we are confined to the reception of information
confined to the reception of information
confined to the reception of information but not with games see with a video game
but not with games see with a video game
but not with games see with a video game we are in the epicenter of the action we
we are in the epicenter of the action we
we are in the epicenter of the action we are making decisions on who this
are making decisions on who this
are making decisions on who this character is where they’re going what
character is where they’re going what
character is where they’re going what they’re saying how they’re interacting
they’re saying how they’re interacting
they’re saying how they’re interacting with the world around them and that is
with the world around them and that is
with the world around them and that is incredibly immersive think about it if
incredibly immersive think about it if
incredibly immersive think about it if you’ve ever played a game or know
you’ve ever played a game or know
you’ve ever played a game or know someone that has when your character
someone that has when your character
someone that has when your character dies you don’t say oh no my character
dies you don’t say oh no my character
dies you don’t say oh no my character died right you say I died why is that
died right you say I died why is that
died right you say I died why is that we’re so immersed in what’s going on
we’re so immersed in what’s going on
we’re so immersed in what’s going on that it can almost feel that way right
that it can almost feel that way right
that it can almost feel that way right one of my very favorite fictional
one of my very favorite fictional
one of my very favorite fictional characters from tequila Mockingbird
characters from tequila Mockingbird
characters from tequila Mockingbird Atticus Finch once said you never really
Atticus Finch once said you never really
Atticus Finch once said you never really understand a person until you consider
understand a person until you consider
understand a person until you consider things from his point
things from his point
things from his point you until you climb into his skin and
you until you climb into his skin and
you until you climb into his skin and walk around in it and I think that’s
walk around in it and I think that’s
walk around in it and I think that’s exactly what video games are designed to
exactly what video games are designed to
exactly what video games are designed to have us do right so to better understand
have us do right so to better understand
have us do right so to better understand how games can tell stories through game
how games can tell stories through game
how games can tell stories through game play let’s look at a graph of classic
play let’s look at a graph of classic
play let’s look at a graph of classic storytelling right so you’ll see this in
storytelling right so you’ll see this in
storytelling right so you’ll see this in any introductory English course so we
any introductory English course so we
any introductory English course so we have the introduction which was the
have the introduction which was the
have the introduction which was the exposition telling you what’s going on
exposition telling you what’s going on
exposition telling you what’s going on setting it up the inciting incident
setting it up the inciting incident
setting it up the inciting incident that’s gonna kick off all of the action
that’s gonna kick off all of the action
that’s gonna kick off all of the action the rising action where things are
the rising action where things are
the rising action where things are getting more intense the stakes are
getting more intense the stakes are
getting more intense the stakes are raising right and that all comes to a
raising right and that all comes to a
raising right and that all comes to a point at the climax so what we can
point at the climax so what we can
point at the climax so what we can actually do is look at how a lot of game
actually do is look at how a lot of game
actually do is look at how a lot of game levels are actually designed now you’ll
levels are actually designed now you’ll
levels are actually designed now you’ll notice that this graph is almost the
notice that this graph is almost the
notice that this graph is almost the exact same shape so what it is is we
exact same shape so what it is is we
exact same shape so what it is is we have the introduction where we’re
have the introduction where we’re
have the introduction where we’re introducing the world to the player
introducing the world to the player
introducing the world to the player getting them used to how to play it and
getting them used to how to play it and
getting them used to how to play it and what were what are called the game
what were what are called the game
what were what are called the game mechanics right then we have the
mechanics right then we have the
mechanics right then we have the inciting incident which would be the
inciting incident which would be the
inciting incident which would be the first puzzle the first enemy encounter
first puzzle the first enemy encounter
first puzzle the first enemy encounter that sort of thing then we have the
that sort of thing then we have the
that sort of thing then we have the rising difficulty so what we’re gonna do
rising difficulty so what we’re gonna do
rising difficulty so what we’re gonna do is start iterating on those game
is start iterating on those game
is start iterating on those game mechanics that we’ve introduced to the
mechanics that we’ve introduced to the
mechanics that we’ve introduced to the player challenging them in new ways and
player challenging them in new ways and
player challenging them in new ways and this all comes to a head at the boss
this all comes to a head at the boss
this all comes to a head at the boss fight which you can kind of think of as
fight which you can kind of think of as
fight which you can kind of think of as a final exam of a level or a game right
a final exam of a level or a game right
a final exam of a level or a game right so we’re gonna challenge you on
so we’re gonna challenge you on
so we’re gonna challenge you on everything you’ve learned throughout the
everything you’ve learned throughout the
everything you’ve learned throughout the course of this game and that ultimately
course of this game and that ultimately
course of this game and that ultimately is what’s so engaging about games for us
is what’s so engaging about games for us
is what’s so engaging about games for us because it’s sort of human nature that
because it’s sort of human nature that
because it’s sort of human nature that we like to be challenged and we like to
we like to be challenged and we like to
we like to be challenged and we like to overcome those challenges right we love
overcome those challenges right we love
overcome those challenges right we love that feeling of triumph and that’s what
that feeling of triumph and that’s what
that feeling of triumph and that’s what games give us so going back to how we
games give us so going back to how we
games give us so going back to how we can use stories this way some of the
can use stories this way some of the
can use stories this way some of the most emotionally impactful moments for
most emotionally impactful moments for
most emotionally impactful moments for me in the last of us or when the stakes
me in the last of us or when the stakes
me in the last of us or when the stakes were rising things were getting more
were rising things were getting more
were rising things were getting more intense right and at the same time in
intense right and at the same time in
intense right and at the same time in the gameplay they’re pulling resources
the gameplay they’re pulling resources
the gameplay they’re pulling resources away from me they’re making me feel
away from me they’re making me feel
away from me they’re making me feel uncomfortable and challenging me in a
uncomfortable and challenging me in a
uncomfortable and challenging me in a new way that I had an experience in the
new way that I had an experience in the
new way that I had an experience in the game before and what’s that what that is
game before and what’s that what that is
game before and what’s that what that is designed to do is to have us experience
designed to do is to have us experience
designed to do is to have us experience all of the most the emotions that these
all of the most the emotions that these
all of the most the emotions that these characters are feeling in the exact same
characters are feeling in the exact same
characters are feeling in the exact same way all of the anger the fear the
way all of the anger the fear the
way all of the anger the fear the frustration the panic I was feeling that
frustration the panic I was feeling that
frustration the panic I was feeling that too and when you hit those moments of
too and when you hit those moments of
too and when you hit those moments of tragedy and loss or joy and elation you
tragedy and loss or joy and elation you
tragedy and loss or joy and elation you feel that all the more because you
feel that all the more because you
feel that all the more because you aren’t just watching these characters
aren’t just watching these characters
aren’t just watching these characters you want
you want
you want cheering for them from the sidelines you
cheering for them from the sidelines you
cheering for them from the sidelines you are in the middle of it you were
are in the middle of it you were
are in the middle of it you were struggling and overcoming right
struggling and overcoming right
struggling and overcoming right alongside them and you feel like you
alongside them and you feel like you
alongside them and you feel like you earned that right so as much as I love
earned that right so as much as I love
earned that right so as much as I love to talk about the Last of Us and trust
to talk about the Last of Us and trust
to talk about the Last of Us and trust me I really really do it is by no means
me I really really do it is by no means
me I really really do it is by no means the only story in a video game
the only story in a video game
the only story in a video game that has been done really well all of
that has been done really well all of
that has been done really well all of the games on the screen and dozens more
the games on the screen and dozens more
the games on the screen and dozens more have iterated on stories through games
have iterated on stories through games
have iterated on stories through games in their own unique way I think that’s
in their own unique way I think that’s
in their own unique way I think that’s really beautiful a few of my personal
really beautiful a few of my personal
really beautiful a few of my personal favorites Bioshock which is actually a
favorites Bioshock which is actually a
favorites Bioshock which is actually a critique of Ayn Rand’s philosophical
critique of Ayn Rand’s philosophical
critique of Ayn Rand’s philosophical ideas of Objectivism told through a
ideas of Objectivism told through a
ideas of Objectivism told through a first-person shooter
first-person shooter
first-person shooter we have 1979 revolution which is an
we have 1979 revolution which is an
we have 1979 revolution which is an autobiographical story of an Iranian
autobiographical story of an Iranian
autobiographical story of an Iranian journalist and his experiences during
journalist and his experiences during
journalist and his experiences during the Iranian civil war we have that
the Iranian civil war we have that
the Iranian civil war we have that dragon cancer one of my very favorites a
dragon cancer one of my very favorites a
dragon cancer one of my very favorites a story of a family and their two-year-old
story of a family and their two-year-old
story of a family and their two-year-old son who’s diagnosed with a brain tumor
son who’s diagnosed with a brain tumor
son who’s diagnosed with a brain tumor and his fight with a dragon called
and his fight with a dragon called
and his fight with a dragon called cancer him video games can handle these
cancer him video games can handle these
cancer him video games can handle these incredibly complex and mature themes
incredibly complex and mature themes
incredibly complex and mature themes right but that is not necessarily an
right but that is not necessarily an
right but that is not necessarily an industry standard 25 year industry
industry standard 25 year industry
industry standard 25 year industry veteran Evan Skolnick wrote a book
veteran Evan Skolnick wrote a book
veteran Evan Skolnick wrote a book called videogame storytelling in which
called videogame storytelling in which
called videogame storytelling in which he compared most video game narratives
he compared most video game narratives
he compared most video game narratives to have about the same quality as a
to have about the same quality as a
to have about the same quality as a direct to disc movie a direct to disc
direct to disc movie a direct to disc
direct to disc movie a direct to disc movie we can do so much better than that
movie we can do so much better than that
movie we can do so much better than that I think games have so much potential to
I think games have so much potential to
I think games have so much potential to be incredibly powerful that’s going
be incredibly powerful that’s going
be incredibly powerful that’s going widely untapped now before I move
widely untapped now before I move
widely untapped now before I move forward too much it is really important
forward too much it is really important
forward too much it is really important to note that when I talk about games as
to note that when I talk about games as
to note that when I talk about games as a storytelling medium that’s just a
a storytelling medium that’s just a
a storytelling medium that’s just a niche of this medium so what most games
niche of this medium so what most games
niche of this medium so what most games are still doing is focusing on creating
are still doing is focusing on creating
are still doing is focusing on creating an engaging gameplay experience for the
an engaging gameplay experience for the
an engaging gameplay experience for the player and that’s perfectly reasonable
player and that’s perfectly reasonable
player and that’s perfectly reasonable that’s what’s unique about this medium
that’s what’s unique about this medium
that’s what’s unique about this medium is the gameplay the interactivity and I
is the gameplay the interactivity and I
is the gameplay the interactivity and I think what’s so beautiful about this
think what’s so beautiful about this
think what’s so beautiful about this medium is that the types of experience
medium is that the types of experience
medium is that the types of experience that the developers can present to a
that the developers can present to a
that the developers can present to a player is infinite it can be just about
player is infinite it can be just about
player is infinite it can be just about gameplay just about story and everything
gameplay just about story and everything
gameplay just about story and everything in between and I don’t think that’s to
in between and I don’t think that’s to
in between and I don’t think that’s to be discounted and the games that are
be discounted and the games that are
be discounted and the games that are focused on telling stories they still
focused on telling stories they still
focused on telling stories they still have a little bit to go and I think
have a little bit to go and I think
have a little bit to go and I think that’s because story is not given a huge
that’s because story is not given a huge
that’s because story is not given a huge priority in too
priority in too
priority in too so is really important to know going
so is really important to know going
so is really important to know going into this that games take a lot of time
into this that games take a lot of time
into this that games take a lot of time and money and effort and manpower to
and money and effort and manpower to
and money and effort and manpower to make so what they’re gonna start doing
make so what they’re gonna start doing
make so what they’re gonna start doing is they’re gonna start building the
is they’re gonna start building the
is they’re gonna start building the environments the game levels and making
environments the game levels and making
environments the game levels and making it work
it work
it work technically first right because that’s
technically first right because that’s
technically first right because that’s what takes a really long time then
what takes a really long time then
what takes a really long time then partway through they’re gonna hand that
partway through they’re gonna hand that
partway through they’re gonna hand that off to writers and say okay make a story
off to writers and say okay make a story
off to writers and say okay make a story now well we can get good stories that
now well we can get good stories that
now well we can get good stories that way but great ones I don’t know that
way but great ones I don’t know that
way but great ones I don’t know that would be like going to film a movie and
would be like going to film a movie and
would be like going to film a movie and you have all your filming locations and
you have all your filming locations and
you have all your filming locations and your sets picked out and then you give
your sets picked out and then you give
your sets picked out and then you give it to a screenwriter and say okay make a
it to a screenwriter and say okay make a
it to a screenwriter and say okay make a story it doesn’t really work that way
story it doesn’t really work that way
story it doesn’t really work that way and that’s why I think the Last of Us
and that’s why I think the Last of Us
and that’s why I think the Last of Us has been so successful in what they’ve
has been so successful in what they’ve
has been so successful in what they’ve aimed to do because the creators of this
aimed to do because the creators of this
aimed to do because the creators of this game have been so outright in the fact
game have been so outright in the fact
game have been so outright in the fact that every single decision that they
that every single decision that they
that every single decision that they make and development is about the story
make and development is about the story
make and development is about the story creative director and writer Neil
creative director and writer Neil
creative director and writer Neil druckmann said in an interview they had
druckmann said in an interview they had
druckmann said in an interview they had all kinds of ideas for enemy types and
all kinds of ideas for enemy types and
all kinds of ideas for enemy types and crazy power-ups things that would have
crazy power-ups things that would have
crazy power-ups things that would have made the game more quote/unquote fun
made the game more quote/unquote fun
made the game more quote/unquote fun right but they ended up scrapping all of
right but they ended up scrapping all of
right but they ended up scrapping all of that because it would have compromised
that because it would have compromised
that because it would have compromised the integrity of the story that they
the integrity of the story that they
the integrity of the story that they were trying to tell this design
were trying to tell this design
were trying to tell this design philosophy is so rare in the industry
philosophy is so rare in the industry
philosophy is so rare in the industry but I think it’s a really important one
but I think it’s a really important one
but I think it’s a really important one now it would be kind of unfair for me to
now it would be kind of unfair for me to
now it would be kind of unfair for me to stand up here and say okay everyone just
stand up here and say okay everyone just
stand up here and say okay everyone just make all your games about story all the
make all your games about story all the
make all your games about story all the time as much as I want to say that
time as much as I want to say that
time as much as I want to say that because there are so many people that
because there are so many people that
because there are so many people that are involved in the development process
are involved in the development process
are involved in the development process right and they all want their say and it
right and they all want their say and it
right and they all want their say and it takes all those people to make a great
takes all those people to make a great
takes all those people to make a great game but what I do want to stand up here
game but what I do want to stand up here
game but what I do want to stand up here and do start a conversation and say we
and do start a conversation and say we
and do start a conversation and say we have so much power here to evoke empathy
have so much power here to evoke empathy
have so much power here to evoke empathy and people in new ways to show them
and people in new ways to show them
and people in new ways to show them worldviews that they never could have
worldviews that they never could have
worldviews that they never could have considered otherwise right so let’s
considered otherwise right so let’s
considered otherwise right so let’s start thinking about taking small steps
start thinking about taking small steps
start thinking about taking small steps because it’s not gonna be an overnight
because it’s not gonna be an overnight
because it’s not gonna be an overnight thing but how can we infuse story into
thing but how can we infuse story into
thing but how can we infuse story into every pixel that is on that screen right
every pixel that is on that screen right
every pixel that is on that screen right and games are still so new as a medium
and games are still so new as a medium
and games are still so new as a medium film has been around for over a hundred
film has been around for over a hundred
film has been around for over a hundred years whereas games have only been
years whereas games have only been
years whereas games have only been around for about 30 as we know them
around for about 30 as we know them
around for about 30 as we know them right and we need to start taking steps
right and we need to start taking steps
right and we need to start taking steps to catching up
to catching up
to catching up artistically because technologically
artistically because technologically
artistically because technologically we’re kind of far behind but what’s so
we’re kind of far behind but what’s so
we’re kind of far behind but what’s so exciting about this for people like me
exciting about this for people like me
exciting about this for people like me who want to be writers is this is the
who want to be writers is this is the
who want to be writers is this is the Wild West and we get to be the pioneers
Wild West and we get to be the pioneers
Wild West and we get to be the pioneers right we get to find new ways to think
right we get to find new ways to think
right we get to find new ways to think about games that we never could have
about games that we never could have
about games that we never could have considered before so as you can imagine
considered before so as you can imagine
considered before so as you can imagine my plans have changed quite a bit I’ve
my plans have changed quite a bit I’ve
my plans have changed quite a bit I’ve added a computer science major along
added a computer science major along
added a computer science major along with the English I’m now doing
with the English I’m now doing
with the English I’m now doing everything I can to hopefully be able to
everything I can to hopefully be able to
everything I can to hopefully be able to attend graduate school for game design
attend graduate school for game design
attend graduate school for game design and be a part of making these stories
and be a part of making these stories
and be a part of making these stories come to life in a new way because
come to life in a new way because
come to life in a new way because something like the last of us it means
something like the last of us it means
something like the last of us it means everything to me it’s helped me discover
everything to me it’s helped me discover
everything to me it’s helped me discover who I am not only as an artist but as a
who I am not only as an artist but as a
who I am not only as an artist but as a person it’s helped me find a new drive
person it’s helped me find a new drive
person it’s helped me find a new drive and a passion and a purpose I never knew
and a passion and a purpose I never knew
and a passion and a purpose I never knew I had and if I can create something that
I had and if I can create something that
I had and if I can create something that means to someone else just a fraction
means to someone else just a fraction
means to someone else just a fraction just a fraction of what this game means
just a fraction of what this game means
just a fraction of what this game means to me then I’ll have achieved everything
to me then I’ll have achieved everything
to me then I’ll have achieved everything I could ever want and after all of that
I could ever want and after all of that
I could ever want and after all of that is said and done I would love to be able
is said and done I would love to be able
is said and done I would love to be able to come back to a school like this and
to come back to a school like this and
to come back to a school like this and teach a course that is identical to that
teach a course that is identical to that
teach a course that is identical to that of a film or a literature course but
of a film or a literature course but
of a film or a literature course but instead of teaching books or movies or
instead of teaching books or movies or
instead of teaching books or movies or studying games because I strongly
studying games because I strongly
studying games because I strongly believe that within my lifetime video
believe that within my lifetime video
believe that within my lifetime video games will have the same cultural and
games will have the same cultural and
games will have the same cultural and artistic relevance as a Shakespeare play
artistic relevance as a Shakespeare play
artistic relevance as a Shakespeare play so if this is something that sounds
so if this is something that sounds
so if this is something that sounds interesting to you I would encourage you
interesting to you I would encourage you
interesting to you I would encourage you to do some research because this topic
to do some research because this topic
to do some research because this topic doesn’t even scratch the surface and
doesn’t even scratch the surface and
doesn’t even scratch the surface and check back and maybe 20-30 years and
check back and maybe 20-30 years and
check back and maybe 20-30 years and maybe you could take that course thank
maybe you could take that course thank
maybe you could take that course thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment