As we continued to talk, going through the motions of getting to know each other, I realized that we already did know each other, as well as any two people could. Weβd known each other for years, in the most intimate way possible. Weβd connected on a purely mental level. I understood her, trusted her, and loved her as a dear friend. None of that had changed, or could be changed by anything as inconsequential as her gender, or skin color, or sexual orientation.
It's weird that, in a way, by writing about video games, I get to develop them, too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing about video games allows the author to explore and influence the creative process behind their development.
Ernest Cline's quote highlights the unique relationship between writing and game development, suggesting that the act of writing about video games can be an enriching experience that informs and shapes the creation of those games. This interplay between narrative and design reflects the deeper connection between storytelling and interactive experiences, emphasizing how creators can engage in both roles through their creativity and insights.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity in technology, I used this quote to illustrate the interconnectedness of storytelling and game development.
More from Ernest Cline
All quotes βWhen you're hanging out with your friends, you reference books and movies, and you don't always know if your friends know what you're referencing. But you throw it out there, and if it connects, it makes people laugh.
I notice when I'm at a party where I don't know anybody - even if I have nothing in common with somebody - we can still talk because we were raised by the same TV and cartoons and movies.
I felt like a kid standing in the world's greatest video arcade without any quarters, unable to do anything but walk around and watch the other kids play.
In a book, you can describe a scene and have any song you want playing on the radio and have any painting you want hanging on the wall. That was really freeing to me when I was writing 'Ready Player One.' I could throw in everything that I love.
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To most people who look at a mobile, it's no more than a series of flat objects that move. To a few, though, it may be poetry.
I don't think it's about playing and singing, to be honest. That seems like old news, you know? I wasn't thinking about that. I just think that's in my body now. Dancers don't think about their legs moving one way and their arms moving another. Over time, you incorporate that into your instrument.