They say you can’t pick your family. They’re wrong. Let’s elaborate with a short story. The other day I went up to Guildford for my preview of Top Gun at doublesix. You probably aren’t aware of this, but the train from Hastings to Guildford can involve taking a few odd dog legs. On the way back the PR guy who’d been at the preview ended up getting the same train as me, and we had a bit of a chat about the industry in general as well as how awesome TheSixthAxis is. We somehow got onto why I like writing for TSA, rather than seeking somewhere where I can earn cold hard cash. Now I do like cash, I can buy important things like food with it. However after thinking a moment I simply said that “TSA feels like family.”
That’s basically what it boils down to for me here. Whilst, obviously, I love each and every one of our lovely readers, to me the staff feels like an extension of my family. You’ve got Alex as the dad, bossing us all about. Of course this makes Michael the mum of our little family, a position he fills pretty nicely. Peter is more like the lovable uncle who sneakily gives you some sweets when your parents aren’t looking, and most of the rest of us are a bunch of mischievous kids; hoping that the grown-ups don’t notice we’ve broken a few of the mugs and built a fort out of the sofa cushions. We’ve even got that cousin who went off somewhere to try and make it on his own in the form of djhsecondnature, the owner and editor of MediaKick, former TSAer, as well as my flatmate and very good friend. Hell I even got birthday presents from some of the family.
The simple fact of the matter is I don’t know if I could ever completely leave TSA, in the same way I’m not sure I could ever cut my parents or younger brother out of my life. Sure sometimes I bicker with other staffers, but I bicker with my actual family as well. At least no-one at TSA is trying to convince me to buy a house.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t like to make some money for writing, I enjoy writing and maybe one day someone will be crazy enough to even offer me cash for what I do. The real issue is I don’t know how I’d respond if Eurogamer – picked as they’re Brighton based – were to see my writing and try to take me from TSA. I love writing for TSA, it absorbs my time and was a contributing factor to me leaving my last full time job. The ideal solution would be that TSA somehow rakes in enough cash to pay some of the staff. Hopefully if all of you guys and gals click on adverts and spread the good word of our community we will one day.
I don’t know what’s brought on this out-pouring of love for my adopted family, perhaps it’s the growth of Alex’s actual family. Perhaps it’s because I’m once again considering how to make some money and where my life should go from here. Should I try and grow my writing to the point where I make money? Should I write about non-gaming things as well? Perhaps I should take up a small business opportunity that’s recently come my way.
Honestly I don’t know, but I don’t see myself leaving the TSA family any time soon. I’m happy here and for some reason I’ve never quite figured out they keep pushing me further and further up the editorial ladder. Either I’m a competent, talented writer who shows a flare for creating original content and guiding other writers forward, or no-one else is dumb enough to actually take the jobs that come with things like responsibility and stress. I think the odds are about 60/40 at the moment.
So there you have it, TSA is a family. There’s probably even a few family feuds boiling under the surface that I don’t know about. I suspect that someone stole Alex’s toys at some point, which would probably explain the grumpyness.
No, they say you can’t choose your family. They have no idea just how wrong they are.
rht992
very well put. couldn’t be more right
DeathByNumbers
Thanks dad…lol
Charmed_Fanatic
He is your dad … but he is my dad!
:O
Doddsy
Who’s your daddy?
CaptainMurdo
I entirely agree. The staff behind this site are amazing to work with and I would also find it very hard to leave.
Deathbrin
Awww.
colossalblue
Yeah, now buy a house ;)
DeathByNumbers
Scratch that idea. How about we pool our collective wealth and buy a mansion somewhere for us all to live in. Think about it, TSA meets would simply involve going down to the gamesroom. Think of the collective power we would be able to give to folding@home with a few hundred ps3’s in the same room. We could have a bit of land for the huskies (I have 2). And we could try and get sponsorship from a big company (necessary to pay the electricity bill I reckon). You wouldn’t have to write for TSA as you could all simply have daily chats and we could invite games developers to our pad for beta testing etc. Shall I get a brochure?
Tuffcub
I’m only here for the Garabaldi.
Daywalker
I imagine you as the crazy uncle that they only invite to Christmas parties as you’re a bad influence on the young’uns.
Tuffcub
Im normally in a nightclub by 2pm Christmas afternoon :)
theshockwave
I’m welling up. We love you TSA.
Dan Lee
As a newbie to the TSA team I agree – within hours of me starting I was sung a song by Michael, and arse slapped by Katy. Twas a good day :op
Pemberton_
One love TSA.
DRCD1
Awwwww we love you too