Stage 1 - Part 5 - "First week in games"

So I am one week in. Officially, it is a week and a day but I am not one to pick apart the salt from the sand.


It is difficult for me not to gush, nor to spew vomitous verses of how much I love what I do and how so exhaustingly happy I am to be here. So I won't... anymore... for a second.


The first week of being within a company that commits itself to making games has met and in some cases exceeded my expectations for what it is like to be part of such a team.


Now I understand that my readers are split into two factions of gamers and non gamers. So allow me split this blog appropriately.


GAMERS:

Many a bromance has been formed with games...

To say that I get to have a peep and particular games within their development phases, and watch as updates are fed around the office filling everyone in on the progress made makes me giddy like a school girl with a new pink backpack.


Also looking around the tables, and seeing how some of the employees almost move in, and make a second home for themselves, you can pretty much paint pictures of them before you have met them. Models of comic book characters and films scatter the plane of view, while the rest is basically mugs for coffee or the odd gadget that I wanted to touch, but was completely forbidden from doing so...


Now as it is a games company, I can only imagine that it would not be complete without a room for games. Which it has. With enough to keep you busy on your lunch break at the very least. In fact just today, I shared 25 minutes of Little Big Planet 2 with some new work colleagues and it was pretty much sold to me.


If of course playing games are not within your vibe at the time, then you have one of the other great past times for gamers. A conversation about games. Which as we all know can literally carry on into the hours of netherworlds and beyond. This has happened on some occassion but it has only been shortened by time constraints.


Basically, if you studied anything to do with computer games at Uni. Imagine it was your job... only better... and then some.


NON GAMERS:

Generic cyclists won as Non Gamer rep

In order for us to meet in the middle here, as I do not know who I am without computer games, imagine that job you not only think you'd be good at, but think you would change the industry in. Now imagine you get a sick day in your first week, and you literally could not leave the house? How you feel?


Yes I have actually had a sick day where I WANTED to be at work. It's cringing I know, but true. Although I have already gone on about the games side of things, there are many more perks that have lured me into wanting to selotape myself to my chair in the office.


My first day I was nervous as all hell, but I had made a promise that I would run 3.5 miles to and from home to get fit and healthy again. Upon arriving, sweaty and smelly on my first day, I actually got notable kudos! Now to some of you this is nothing, as you might ride your bike, or walk, or indeed run to work, but for me this felt good! The guy was genuinely impressed, and it wasn't like he was unfamiliar with running himself. I mentioned I was sick in my first week, and I was very worried that I might get pigeon-holed into one of those guys who is stupid enough to get drunk on a work night... on their first week... during training. So when the running had been put to my credit and worked in my favour, I realised then and there that I was no longer working with amateurs. Managers who had been managers for too long, or not long enough, but people.


Which fluidly brings me to my last point, which is not so much a reason why I love it, but a confirmation of what I had always thought about the industry professionals. Before I go on, I remember saying that whenever I had told someone I wanted to work in computer games, they were a little shocked that I would want to work in such an "anti-social environment where all we do is sit in our booths and look at screens". Well, this is only half true, everyone works hard, or at least puts that image across which is good enough!! Everyone I have met so far has been as sociable and 'real' as any other person I have met. They are geeks don't get me wrong. We all are. But that is what brings us together so harmoniously!


I had never thought that industry professionals were a bunch of hermit-esque trolls whose only hope in life is to get a sweet slice of sexual activity before they hit 40. But I had worrying doubts.

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Lalala... don't want to know... LALALA

So all in all my first week has indeed confirmed and surprised me. I would love to talk more about what I do, but you and I both know I can't do that. I know it would be grossly naive of me to genuinely think that my time here will be roses and unicorns forever. All I know is that whatever troubles or office politics there are, I don't want to here about them yet. It'll just ruin it for me!

I will, however, say this. I do love what I do and I hope to continue to love it for the next several years, because I am going to be here for quite some time! That is of course if they let me. Nothing a little hand-job doesn't sort out though... don't judge me.

NEXT WEEK: "My second week in games... no just kidding"

If you have anything you wish to share with me or indeed the readers, feel free to comment or e-mail me at twentyfiveand0@hotmail.co.uk - Don't forget to check out the What Have I Been Playing pages found on the right! OR Check out my channel at www.youtube.com/ike1luv