AZ's Thoughts and Ramblings

 This was an assignment I wrote for a class last semester. It covers a topic that was very interesting to me so I figured I might as well post it here. The idea was to write a short piece that would be fitting for a public-facing publication. I basically talk about the hidden narrative choices of Mario's First level. It's been revised like once so if it's not really well written then it's whatever.           When you are asked to imagine a story or narrative, the most immediate thing that comes to your mind is often a book, TV show, or movie. Throughout human history, we have spent countless lifetimes trying to figure out the art of storytelling and narrative. The concept of grabbing your audience members, taking them into your world, and having them find the same wonder you find in your own work is certainly nothing new. The forms in which we achieve that feeling have undergone a significant change. As computers started to become more and more mainstr...

  Well, considering everything that's happening in CSGO right this moment I think it's very likely today is the last day for the game. I don’t really wanna make this some long sappy post about the really nice memories I’ve had with this game so I’ll just keep it short and simple. Without CSGO, my life would never have gone this way. After spending many years failing at sports I was beginning to accept that I would never genuinely be good at anything competitive. CSGO helped me find something I could enjoy in that way. The game’s emphasis on skill and constant dedication enabled me to really feel like my time investment was going to something I was actually improving at. It’s so weird to think that for a little under half my lifetime I have been putting in hours practicing spray patterns, learning new smoke lineups, and making new friends in this game. I’m glad that the game gets to go out on its own terms, very few games of this type ever get to do so. They wither away and die ...

  As the dropship flew back to base, there were no words spoken. Given the situation, Karl couldn’t blame anyone. Death was something that very few of them had ever had to deal with. “If you don’t mind me asking sir,” Artyom asked from across the cabin, “who is DeWitt?” Karl took a deep breath, there was also that matter. It was easy to forget that no one in the squad had ever met DeWitt. That’s just what happens with people so new to the war, “My old CO…” Karl answered bluntly. “Your old CO?” Artyom looked puzzled, “I thought you said he died at the beginning of the war?” “Clearly not.” Beth said from deeper in the cabin, “in fact, it seems that he’s doing pretty well for himself.” “What makes you say that?” Artyom grumbled. “Didn’t you see their gear? They made what we had look like scraps!” “I guess you have a point there.” There was a long stretch of silence. The mood for talking had very quickly left the dropship. It was Artyom who finally decided to break ...

         “Synthesis complete.” An artificial voice, slightly distorted and almost sounding quite satisfied with itself, rang throughout a mostly empty room. In the center was a large cylindrical chamber. While the walls were glass, it was impossible to see inside due to large plumes of smoke flowing around, following an indistinguishable current. Slowly but surely, the smoke started to settle as whatever process had been going on finished. On one end of the room there was a row of empty desks, some of them had leftover pieces of stationary almost as if the lab had been cleared out in a hurry. On the farthest end of the row there was still a fully equipped desk. The room’s only occupant, asleep at said desk, began to stir upon hearing the voice. “Attempt number 597 is ready for evaluation, please retrieve it.” A hint of urgency came through, almost sounding impatient. “What…” The scientist groggily sat up in his chair, wiping away the sleep from his ey...