I still remember the day I walked into Sandfall Interactive's studio, utterly clueless about controller buttons or health bars. Growing up in a strict Chinese household as the eldest child, video games were luxury items we couldn't afford. My childhood revolved around library books and imagination—tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons became my secret escape during college years. Yet here I was in 2023, hired as lead writer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 despite never having touched a console. The irony wasn't lost on me.

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At first, imposter syndrome haunted me. How could I craft a JRPG world without understanding gaming fundamentals? My salvation came from literature—Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series became my North Star. I approached Expedition 33's world-building like constructing an interactive novel. The game's central theme of cyclical doom actually mirrored my journey: each day felt like confronting a new boss battle armed only with words.

The breakthrough happened during late-night playtesting sessions. Watching colleagues navigate our creation sparked curiosity—what did pressing triggers feel like? One evening, I timidly asked to try God of War. That first chaotic battle with Kratos... I died in 17 seconds but felt electrified. Gaming wasn't about skill thresholds; it was about vulnerability and persistence. Suddenly, character motivations in our script gained new dimensions.

Fast forward to 2025: my living room has twin PlayStation setups where my husband and I game side-by-side. Who would've thought? That woman who once considered controllers alien artifacts now chases platinum trophies with religious fervor. My transformation timeline speaks volumes:

Year Milestone Gaming Achievement
2023 Joined Sandfall Never held a controller
2024 Clair Obscur launch Finished God of War
2025 Present day Platinum on Elden Ring, GoW Ragnarök

Becoming a trophy hunter reshaped how I view narrative design. Those grueling Elden Ring boss fights taught me about pacing rewards—a lesson directly applied to Expedition 33's critical path. Our game's acclaim still feels surreal, especially when fans discuss lore I penned while secretly googling "what is JRPG combat?".

Now I oscillate between two identities:

  • The bookish writer drawing from epic fantasy traditions

  • The adrenaline-chasing gamer analyzing Borderlands loot mechanics

This duality fuels my creativity in unexpected ways. Just yesterday, I caught myself designing a side quest around trophy-hunting mechanics! My journey proves gaming's magic lies in its accessibility—anyone can fall down this rabbit hole.

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FAQ

Q: How did you write for a game without gaming experience?

A: Honestly? By treating it like novel writing first. I focused on emotional truths rather than mechanics—what makes characters persevere? Only later did gameplay integration click.

Q: What shocked you most about gaming culture?

A: How failure is celebrated! In literature, you revise mistakes. In gaming, dying repeatedly teaches patterns. That iterative struggle is beautiful.

Q: Does your heritage influence Expedition 33?

A: Immensely. The cyclical doom premise reflects my upbringing's emphasis on legacy—what we inherit versus what we break.

Q: Hardest trophy to obtain?

A: Elden Ring's "Age of the Stars" ending. Took 73 attempts! But overcoming that taught me patience I now apply to writing.

Q: Advice for non-gamers entering gaming?

A: Start with story-driven games. Don't fear failure—embrace being gloriously terrible. Every expert was once a beginner staring confusedly at buttons.