My life working in a shit second-hand game shop

[Glebe]

That's fantastic popcorn. You probably have a full book in this!

[bgmnts]

Yeah that was a nice slice of the grimness of 21st century retail with some endearing little moments. Two fat thumbs up from me.

[touchingcloth]

Hey, if it's any consolation I thought it was shit x

[Ferris]

Very nice read, thanks for sharing.

[Blue Jam]

That was a cracking read, thanks popcorn!

[The Culture Bunker]

Was a bit relieved after seeing the title and reading so far in (with the mention of yer man's struggles with mental health) that it didn't end as darkly as I thought it was going to.

The independent game shop really does seem a thing of the past now - there used to be a couple near me, in Chorlton and Stockport, but they went under a few years ago now.

[TheBrownBottle]

Cracking read.  Glad it didn't end in the way I feared - also, it seems to be a common story for small gaming retailers; truly independent video game stores are now a rare breed, unlike the late '80s to late '00s.

[basterfeldt]

God. Excellent read. I write, sat at the desk of the second hand book shop I work in, everything cutting a bit close to home.

It appears I'm late to the party but I'd love to know what cancelled game it was that the author wrote dialogue for.

[popcorn]

Thank you so much for all the kind words, it's horrible exposing a bit of yourself on the internet really (ho ho) but you've made it all feel worthwhile.

Popcorn doesnae half hide his light under a bushel with all them posts he puts up as part of his permanent residency on H S Art.

I don't know what you're talking about, my contributions to HS Art are my best work.

It appears I'm late to the party but I'd love to know what cancelled game it was that the author wrote dialogue for.

I actually have another story about my time working on that game. It's very long, like, 30,000 words or something. I think it's the best thing I've written, way better than the shop stories, but I can't share it because I would be sued into oblivion, plus it would fuck over a lot of people personally. And it's not just a case of changing names or anything like that, the nature of the story means I have to give certain details that would make it pretty easy to trace. Rock Paper Shotgun were interested in publishing bits of it but couldn't give me any legal help, so for the time being I'm sitting on it.

[JaDanketies]

Read and enjoyed! :)

[Ferris]

I don't know what you're talking about, my contributions to HS Art are my best work.

The sad thing is that this is probably true.

[dex]

Popcorn you certainly know how to reel people in with your writing. Kudos! Shame you can't publish more but fair enough if it'd get you into legal hot water maybe not.

[The Ombudsman]

I very much enjoyed reading this and your DMZ post. Looking forward to reading more.

[Hand Solo]

Goldfrappy days.

[MojoJojo]

I suggest we hold a kickstarter so popcorn can write a will to make sure his story is finally told after his death.

A stretch goal could be a hitman so we don't have to wait.

[AliasTheCat]

Really enjoyed that Popcorn, thanks for posting!

[Fr.Bigley]

Really bloody lovely this Popcorn mate. Bravo.

[Bobloblawslawbomb]

Enjoyable read that popcorn.

[pancreas]

Is this a CaB easter egg?

You didn't answer this.

Anyway, just to say I liked it. Also, I am not offended by your nudity or sexual potency one bit.

[popcorn]

Is this a CaB easter egg?

No it isn't, and I'm not sure what CaB thing it would be referencing if it were. It's just a true thing that happened. Sorry!

[Colin Sanction]

I've written a longish account of my teenage job in a shit second-hand game shop ten years ago.

Great author, quick delivery, highly recommended A++++++++++++++++++

[Captain Z]

That was mega, man.

[Dex Sawash]

Tags seem kinder than usual

[Hand Solo]

Can you use Ziffit to see how much that Mega Man game is these days?

47p?

[popcorn]

New story up about a stupid job interview I had in Tokyo: Hows and Whys

[monkfromhavana]

New story up about a stupid job interview I had in Tokyo: Hows and Whys

I liked it. I wonder what their game was? It sounds a little like they were trying to get someone to write something good that they could rip-off, but Yuoko already had a fixed idea of what she wanted.

[Pink Gregory]

But the little boy, his life was changed for ever.  Do you not see?

[DelurkedToHelp]

Although one of the tags on this thread has given me pause to share it, I have written a short followup to this story.

It's a bit depressing and for ages I wasn't sure if it was any good. But fuck it post.

I've just read this for the first time.

I hope Rob's well nearly 2 years on? Did he get the coding apprenticeship after all, is he still in construction or neither of the above?

[popcorn]

I've just read your October
I've just read this for the first time.

I hope Rob's well nearly 2 years on? Did he get the coding apprenticeship after all, is he still in construction or neither of the above?

He didn't land the apprenticeship but is going for another one now. He's still in construction and is now the size of a tank. He also does night shifts as a security guard at a museum, which he greatly enjoys. He says it's exactly like Resident Evil 2.

[Pink Gregory]

I've, no joke, just read through all of these for probably the third time since I joined CaB.  You really make it sing.