Gameplay and Story: An Ode To The American Junior High School Dance

The music is loud,The gymnasium dim.The streamers gently swaying,On the basketball rim.

Half-court is empty,The room is divided.A stark contrast of fiestaAnd fear has presided.

Two groups on each side,Are backed up to the wall.Minimum interactionsMake up this Junior High ball.

The same thoughts for everyone,Not allowing them to groove,Is, "Should I…" or, "Will he?"…Make the first move.

Quietly standing adjacent,And postured to look polite,Are End User and Publisher,The chaperones tonight.

These two don’t haveMuch in common, it’s true.But together,There’s so much they’ve gone through.

Publisher is hereTo make sure things get done,While End User only hopesEveryone will have fun.

Each chaperone is awareThe beginning is dreadfully slow,But after a few risks are taken,Things will eventually flow.

So each one is thinking,“How will it go this night?Who will get things rollingAnd overcome their fright?"

Just then, a brave soulStarts toward the other side.It’s Gameplay who has chosenTo break the divide.

This isn’t a surpriseSince Gameplay is the cool kid,Always looked up to,On the development grid.

Who will he ask first? Strategy? Scoring?Or those twins, Risk & Reward?But instead, it seems GameplayIs approaching someone often ignored.

The usual partners will not be picked.Not Quests or that slut, Graphics.Not Co-op or Difficulty. Not evenThe hotties, Level Design or Mechanics.

Tonight, a rare choice will be made,In this building of auditory.Tonight, Gameplay’s first dancing partnerWill be Story.

A hush falls as Gameplay arrives,Settles into a confident stance,Hand reaches out, Story looks upAs Gameplay asks, “May I have this dance?”

Publisher has a suspicious lookAnd fidgets with concern,End User’s spirits are up,“It’s about time Story gets a turn.”

Gameplay and Story take center courtAs the music begins,The rest stay where they are, puzzled,As well as the twins.

But things do not goAs smoothly as expected,The pair doesn’t appearTo be conceptually connected.

Gameplay would leadAnd guide Story around,But Story would moveAs if to a different sound.

“Not to worry.” Gameplay thinks,Adjusting the configuration.“Our chemistry will improveAfter some routine iteration.”

But to no avail, Gameplay and StoryStruggle to get it right.Gameplay would lead but,Instead of dancing, it’s more like a fight.

Gameplay stops and says “You know,If you want to the two of us to succeed,Take note! Please remember,You are to follow my lead!”

“How can I?” Story replies.“You act like you know what you’re doing.But your youth shows, I can tell,Just by the way you are moving.”

“You step this way,that way, then switch.You jostle me aroundAs if I’m your…slave"

“Let’s get one thing straightBefore you spin me any more.I’m more mature than youAnd capable of knocking you to the floor.”

“So, you might want to rethinkYour confidence and swaggerBecause if you don’t get it rightYou’ll make us both stagger.”

After much deliberationAnd deep mental thought,Gameplay looks up as ifFinally finding that which he sought.

“I’m supposed to lead,This everyone knows.And I realize now, it’s my jobNot to step on your toes.”

Story smiles and is gladFor this revelation.This will go by a bit smoother nowAfter a bit more iteration.

Humbled, the cool kidTakes a different approachThe two move and glide much better,After Story’s constructive reproach.

The song ends and they stopEach looking in the other’s eyesTheir lips move closer,Much to Publisher’s surprise.

Publisher moves in swiftlyBut uncertain as he walks,“Er…excuse me, I think you should focusOn the back of the box.”

Gameplay and StoryGiggle and stare.Silly grown-ups. It takes themMore time to be aware.

The two return to their friendsTo report and exaggerate a little.As Publisher now stands,Sheepishly in the middle.

The party continuesMore couples take the floorAnd soon enough, the gym’s volumeReaches a quiet roar.

Publisher returnsTo the neutral sidelineEnd User looks suspiciousAt Publisher’s odd guideline.

These two don’t haveMuch in common, it’s true.But together,There’s so much they’ve gone through.

And each one is now thinking,“Tonight’s first dance was well done.And the more the two grow together,The more it will be fun.”

By Matt Allmer http://renderedvision.com