When the contest prize for the GWB Game Development contest finally arrived in the mail, it brought back a lot of memories and quite a few emotions bubbled to the surface entirely out of my control.
First, there was pride. Similar to the pride I would have felt growing up on the East Coast if I had ever bagged my first buck instead of being a mamby pamby boy who sat inside and bagged my first game ending with Zelda II instead. Yep, there was pride, and here I was sitting with my trophy and the game that shot it.
Then, I got a warm fuzzy feeling. I remembered all the good times I had joking around with the other contestants. I remembered the excitement I felt watching everyone's projects come together and I remembered all the great support every contestant was giving to each other. It made me feel warm and happy, luckily a photographer was walking by and happened to catch me during my warm and fuzzy moment.
Well, the hugs got a little out of control at that point. My love and desire for this awesome prize was growing. I share now, the only picture safe for work from those next moments.
When it was all over, I went spiraling into a deep depression. I suddenly remembered El Stevo and how that contest ended. Why El Stevo! Why!!! Where did it all of that anger and negativity come from!!! Why now! Why right then at the end of the contest!!! El Stevo!!!! The tears began to flow.
As I was crying my big sad geeky tears of pain at my hard work being trampled under the large uncaring feet of El Stevo, I suddenly remembered, wait, I'm holding an XBox 360. For some reason, the pain just wasn't as bad and I was actually able to laugh and enjoy life. Thank you XBox 360 for reminding me what was important. I have you.
So there you have it, that's my story. Thanks again to GWB for sending me on this amazing roller coaster ride and giving me such a good friend to go through life with.