I’m sitting here in Cambridge waiting for my train to leave. It’s 11pm on Saturday night, and I’ve just worked a 12 hour day. And because you can only play so much bejewelled on your phone before you go insane, I’m wondering why I, and everyone else in the games industry do what we do.

It sounds cliche, but I guess it’s out of love. This is hard for me to get my head around right now considering I’ve spent the last few hours wishing death on whoever coded Final Cut Pro, but after you look past all the frustration and stress, love really does ring true.

I mean I get to do something I’m interested in, it’s creative, and if I do it right there’s potentially millions of people out there enjoying my work. And I know I’m not alone in saying that there’s nothing like telling someone at a party that you make video games for a living and then watching their eyes light up – and then inevitably ask if you ever played pac man.

I guess working long hours is the price I pay to be able to experience that. Right now I’d much prefer to be hanging out with Cal (and Gus & Shelle who are over here right now), but I can’t answer the question as to whether or not I’d work in a bank and be able to do that. I’m not sure I would. Similarly, Cal and I have talked about winning the lottery, and if we’d keep working or not. I probably would, but conversely Cal said that she’d quit without batting an eyelid.

So I guess I should wind up now, I’ve got a long train trip left, and a lot of bejewelled to be played. I want to stress that I’m not trying to gloat or anything, I’m just feeling a bit introspective. And if you think I am gloating or you are jealous (?) rest easy in the knowledge that you earn more than me.

‘Cause I really do get paid shit all.*

* Compared to people in other industries of similar qualifications.