End Credits

Wednesday the entire staff of Next Island was let go. Although I knew we weren’t being called to this urgent company meeting so we could pet kittens and eat cupcakes, it is still terribly sad to leave a project I’ve been on for almost two years now, and leave so many narratives unfinished in the gameworld. I’ve been so involved in Next Island for so long, leaving so abruptly is almost like getting dumped.

I came in Thursday to finish a dialogue, originally for August, er, October, and now for personal satisfaction. It was originally constraining to write missions and lines for stationery NPCs, but it’s taught me how effective one line of dialogue can be.

Thursday night found me in the office, clearing out my desk around the time I’m usually calling Harold and telling him that perhaps he shouldn’t wait for me to have dinner. The night janitor came by and saw the state of my desk.

“Moving out?” he asked.

I nodded.

He asked if I got a new job, and I had to say no.

He asked if I got a promotion, and I had to say no.

He asked if I lost my job, and I had to say yes.

“But you? You are always working. You are always here at night,” he said, “How did you lose your job?”

That one line of dialogue can really be effective, I thought, and I picked up my box of island maps, Hello Kitty desk toys, Screamland copies, and XYZZY coffee mug, and walked to the elevator to go home.