That Dragon, Cancer dev delivers heartfelt acceptance speech at The Game Awards

[Jtbrig7390]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...eptance-speech

That Dragon, Cancer developer Ryan Green delivered an astounding acceptance speech upon winning tonight's The Game Award for the category Games for Impact.

That Dragon, Cancer tells the autobiographical story of the Greens raising a young child stricken with cancer. Ryan, his family, and colleagues sought to tell the story of the ill Joel during the early signs of his illness, but the youthful Green tragically passed away at five.

Green's tearful monologue began by thanking his family, coworkers, and the industry at large for making this possible. He then acknowledged that games seldom portray our less glamourous aspects, and that he was overcome with gratitude that so many were willing to accept him and his family during their grieving process.

We've included a transcription of Ryan Green's complete speech below:

"That Dragon, Cancer exists because my wife, Amy, my children: Caleb, Isaac, Elijah, and Zoe. My business partner Josh. Our team: John, Brock, Ryan, Mike, and Chris. Our friends who are at Ouya: Kelly, Julie, Bob and Jared. Our over 3000 Kickstarter backers. Indie Fund and this entire industry [that] believed this should exist.

"Often in video games we get to choose how we're seen. Our avatars, and our tweets, and the work that we do are all meant to portray the story that that we want to tell the world about why our lives matter. But sometimes a story is written onto us, or it's told because of us, or in spite of us, and it reveals our weaknesses, our failures, our hopes, and our fears.

"You let us tell the story of my son Joel. And in the end, it was not the story that we wanted to tell. But you chose to love us through our grief, by being willing to stop, and to listen, and to not turn away. To let my son Joel's life change you because you chose to see him, and to experience how we loved him."

"And I have hope that when we are all willing to see each other, not for just who we want to be, but who we are, and who we're meant to be - this act of love, and this act of grace, can change the world."

"Thank You."

I felt this needed its own thread, Just reading his speech gave me the feels again. Personally I don't think I could play though the game, after learning about the content of it. Not that its bad but I personally think I would cry from moment one to the end.

Part of me does want to check it out and I even decided if it ever hit PS+ no matter what I would play it.

The man's words ring true and I hope some people take them to heart.

Much respect for this guy and is family, sad to see that they went though this and sad that so many others do as well.

[Powerogue]

I suppose it's good to hear that they're still, well, sane. They really laid it all out for everyone in that game. All that desperate searching for a lifesaver amidst an ocean of depression. Watching their slow descent into madness in game form was unnerving to say the least.

But the stages of grief, thankfully, have an ending. Acceptance. Which it sounds like they've managed to break through to thanks to this overwhelming support. I'm happy for them.

[JamesGoblin]

I remember watching a (p?)review of this maybe half a year ago, it looked interesting, spooky and quite exotic compared to anything I saw before. Certainly one of things on my to-play list.

And of course, I'm glad they made it!