- dannyodwyer
- Rank: Death=Adder
- Member since: Aug 25, 2005
- Last online: 06/06/13 3:57 pm PT
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12May 13
Right now I'm sitting in a rented apartment in San Francisco. It's sunny outside, there's baseball on the TV and I'm on a laptop trying my best to sum up what fu7ked up set of events landed me here. I'm also reminding myself of how bad I am at creative writing.
I arrived in San Francisco yesterday where I'm staying for about a month to work alongside the US video team in the run-up to E3. Back in 2005 when I used to stay up until midnight to watch On The Spot, I dreamed of another life where I could work in the GameSpot HQ, and be as good at talking about games as the people inside that 640 x 480 frame. I'm not sure if ever really thought it was a possibility. In fact, I'm sure it was just a pipe dream.
Would you employ this man?
I'm sitting here, thinking about the past five years of work to get here, and the only emotion I have to describe this situation is bafflement. I am fu7king baffled that I am sitting here.
I'm baffled that that super-green, idiot kid managed to get this done. I'm baffled that all those people took a risk with me and gave me opportunities. I'm baffled that my fiancé moved to the UK with me so I could try get a job in the industry, and then allowed me to live in a different country for another two years once I did. I'm baffled that anybody watches my videos at all. That my Irish accent carries, that my opinion of games matters, that my jokes are funny. I'm baffled that my professional heroes, the men and women who inspired me to try this line of work, actually know who the hell I am. And that some of them even like me?!
But the most baffling part is that I'm not even the least bit anxious about tomorrow. I've been waiting years to work with the people inside that building, and sitting here with the baseball on, and the sun outside - it's like some strange version of Christmas Eve. Where on Christmas Day you work like a horse to collaborate with talented people and create amazing videos about video games. I cannot wait.
Before posting this, I just spent a few minutes reading my old blogs and I spotted something. Tomorrow, the first day I walk into that office, is 3 hours shy of being exactly 7 years from my first blog post on GameSpot.
Baffling.
54 comments
Talent x Hard Work = Dreams Come True
Well done dude. Me and all your family & friends are extremely proud of all your achievements.
Your big bro.
1 Like Danny, you've done a truly amazing job in coming this far and in all that you've done to get here. I'm still trying to catch up to all your online works. Heck, I barely found out about you not 3 months ago via my first Escape From Mount Stupid episode, but something about your insight and behavior stood out to me. You're what I like to refer to as a true gamer. Someone who grew up with a simplesystem, for you an Amiga. For me it was a commodore 64. You evolved with the games as the industry found it's way. To me at least, a true gamer is not just a recreational player of games, it's part of who we are and how we define ourselves. Not to say we are hooked or that our lives revolve around games more then any other aspect of our lives. But that it helps to define us, to express ourselves, and allow us to experience concepts, ideas, and opinions we might otherwise never be exposed to. It has the ability to broaden us as human beings and connect us to others. Your work on depression and gamers was a fantastic piece. It further solidified my belief that true gamers use games as tools for recovery and growth. Being a true gamer, you seem to portray the humor and mindedness that we have. For lack of a better way of putting it, you embody and give voice to our niche. You understand the depth video games can have and sometimes use. And honestly, you are quite hilarious. It's surprisingly entertaining to watch you game, and it has exposed me to many games I might have otherwise missed. In short, thank you for being the interactive representative for those of us similar to yourself. Undoubtedly your future will be a stellar success.
Congrats Danny! You do a lot of great work here, and you were awesome on the Giant Bomb BioForge video yesterday. You should drop by the Giant Bomb side of the building some more while you're in the US, you seem to get along well with those guys.
Danny, you are a young man who's skill and talent is really dumbfounding. Your work, especially escape and secret code, have done something very much needed in the area of games coverage.
I admire your distinct and forward thinking work and know that of all of us yahoo's attempting to get into writing and commentating about games and the games industry you are someone who definitely had the talent and vision to be here all along. You just cant see that sort of thing in yourself.
Maybe some of the rest of us will eventually catch up to you and even work with or alongside you in the future. Hopefully. but whatever happens, stay the honest, smart and good dude that you already are.
*tips hat*
Danny you've achieved what a lot of us back in 2005, myself included, dreamed of. To actually achieve your dreams is something to be incredibly proud of. Naturally, I'm very jealous. :P But you didn't get where you are without pure hard work, and that's what paid off.
Thanks for all the kind words everybody, it's outrageously humbling. First couple of days in the US have been awesome. Being part of the E3 preparation is very exciting. I think this years stage show is going to be really special.
2 Like @dannyodwyer Danny, you give me hope for the future. I would also love to be doing what you do and I'm basically trying to go about it the same way you did. In fact, I just got my first "follower" on GameSpot tonight! Crazy... maybe they'll actually read my blog or something. If it doesn't work out I am also going back to school for computer science so I can always make games for a living instead, right? Anyway, thanks for being a true inspiration man! Looking forward to all of your future projects!
3 Like @diskotheque @dannyodwyer I'm now tracking you, like the e-stalker that I am. I'd say focus hard on the computer science and then use that as a foundation for anything you decide to do. A solid education will give you much more flexible job opportunities.
Danny, you are by far my favorite host at Gamespot. I make it a point to watch every single random encounter and efms; every video you do is brilliant. I look forward to continue to watch all of your work. From a fellow video games enthusiast to another.
You are the best and have introduced me to the history of video games that I did not know before as well as games. I hope you stay at GameSpot for a long time and look forward each new episode of your shows.
it's a nice building, isn't it? take a pic between the FO dude and lara! enjoy your time there, you already fit in so no wonder you're not anxious!
Nothing baffling about it. You do good work and you're a stand up lad. We, the community, are happy to have you.
Congratulations, man. I hope to see you interviewing the develepers at E3 like you did last year. It would also be cool if you were on the Gameplay podcas. To be honest I just like to see the different teams together.
I think we're all a bit baffled too, Danny. :P Seriously though, congrats man! You deserve it.
You're dreams are coming true. High five! Now don't go ruining it by having unprotected sex. I've seen that ruin too many lives
i find it baffling your so open to puting this out on the net. and i thank you for that, you inspire me and probably many others. You deserve it m8, you are really good at what you do.
Congratulations dude. People like you mate, and you're good at what you do. Don't be baffled. Also, if you see Kevin V, can you give him a bear hug from me?
Congratulations Danny. You deserve it, so don't be baffled. Hard work pays off. Enjoy x
Its cool dude. I won't be in the office until friday so you'll have plenty of time to shine.
I'm just bullshirting you - you've totally earned it - and you've done it i the ways so many of the rest of us have, by building the content you believe in, putting together the shows that you would want to watch, and listening to your audience, righting the ship when necessary.
Glad to see the city turned out a nice weekend for your arrival. Enjoy the shorts weather - it could well be freezing cold by the time we're loading up the truck for E3.
You totally deserve it! From the first time I saw you during that 24 hour live stream I could tell you were in the right profession! Wish I could come hangout with the Gamespot team, maybe someday!
It looks like Gamespot ate your reply to my comment, but I still got an email about it. Weird.
I'd love a Gamespot blogger party! We long time users need to stick together. We could call it Escape From Mount Stupider.
"I'm baffled that my fiancé moved to the UK with me..."
Hmmm - might want to reconsider your spelling there, Danny...
although I guess you are in San Francisco.
:P
I should be envious of how things are going for you, but I'm always far too busy being excited for you. I really can't believe you're not nervous about tomorrow. Heh, maybe they're nervous about meeting the great O'Dwyer who put together such awesome videos.
Speaking about awesome videos, you've got to make an appearance on the Wednesday Giantbomb X GameSpot video while your there! Make magic happen!
Hope you enjoy your time there and I look forward to any videos or articles you are a part of.
Really nice to ready this danny, i would like to read your reviews, Hotline Miami was the best, do more of this...
1 Like I've been a fan since the launch of Escape From Mount Stupid. The fact that people outside of Gamespot don't know about you baffles ME.
2 Like I really enjoy your work Danny. I'm baffled that you don't get more time here in the US. I'd love to see you do some reviews too. I enjoy the UK staff. You guys are hilarious. Keep up the good work. :)
1 Like @WCAR18 I think we have more time to work on videos in the UK because most of us don't write reviews or previews. I've done two, and they took me aaages! I can't wait to work alongside the US guys and see what happens when our styles are blended. I bet it's delicious.
That's so cool dude, congrats. I used to do the same, stay up way too late to watch On The Spot. Haven't been so lucky as you though. Whatever happens mate, us Brits will always be here to laugh at you... your jokes, I mean, laugh at your jokes.
@gavdude When I think about, weren't like 80% of us in the OTS channel from the UK and Ireland? Most of chat-room zero anyway!
1 Like Awesome. Congrats. Hard work and perseverance pays off. Hope it's everything you wanted and the collaboration is both fun and educational.
@endorbr Me too, it would be a real downer if everything I worked on this month sucked! :P
I enjoyed reading your blog back when you were just a regular guy like the rest of us. ;) It's great that you've managed to land your dream job. Can't wait to see what you've got in store for us at E3!
@johnsteed7 Cheers mate, yea the chat in the blogs was what kept me coming back every day. Dude your account is coming up on a 10 year anniversary! We need to create some sort of blog party. Or a union! :D
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