I was thinking about my dad today, and the old game I shipped before it was done, Trespasser. Please ignore if this is too weird or irritating. 
I had been a part of, and designed and produced, some really successful games, and combined with the popularity of JP, the hype around Trespasser was huge. So, when DW put the gun to my head and forced a premature release, it was devastating.
I had made all the mistakes that young, arrogant idiots make, and had ended up pushing to ship a game that we all knew wasn’t done. I feared that I had damaged whole future genres with my stupidity and by folding to the pressure to ship. All the reviews were like this:
Personally, this was completely devastating. I had let everyone down and probably ended my career. I hid out for days and basically just cried.
A couple things saved me. One of them I found the other day, slipped into my all time favorite physics book. It was a simple note from my dad, still in it’s envelope. It said that he believed in me, and that things would work out.
My dad died last month. He was a man of few words, but that 1998 note meant more to me than I could ever adequately express to him. It helped me get onto stage with this guy, and this console, and I’m so happy my dad saw that. Thanks dad. I miss you.
Anyway, sorry for this overshare. I felt inspired to brag on my dad a little.
Also, I should say, it’s his birthday today. So, Happy Birthday dad.
Here’s to you Old Man.
