I've told this story a lot, but for posterity and sudden unfortunate relevance

Years ago, I used to be a delivery driver for a major contracted food delivery company. I was so successful, in fact, that I was specifically contacted and brought on for their pilot catering program.

Instead of going through the usual app, they actually had a direct dispatch app that I contacted my dispatcher one-on-one with. He'd give me updates on orders, I'd communicate directly back, etc. We built a rapport.

Eventually, he caught on that I was a huge nerd, so he ended up skewing my orders a bit... nerdier, to say the least. At one point, he hooked me up with a delivery to Rooster Teeth's studio, which was amazing lmao

Anyway, he had a tendency to send me to game studios once he sussed me out. One time I delivered to Panic Button lol

But the one that always stuck out to me was the time I delivered to Arkane Austin.

Now, I'll be honest and completely own this now, but, I was a fake Arkane fan. I had only played a bit of dishonored. However, I knew they were a big deal, and I wasn't gonna pass up the opportunity to be a nice delivery guy.

Since then I've pulled my shit together and played several of their games (Prey is a goddamn masterpiece), but at the time I basically knew "These were the dishonored guys" lol

So, when I brought the food to the desk, the secretary had me bring the food back.

The food I had ended up being brought to a breakout room in the studio where a few developers were discussing something over a table at a white board. I have no idea what, maybe some level design or something, I couldn't interpret the board and REALLY wasnt trying to dig for info

Anyway, after dropping off the food, as I was leaving, I dropped a quick "Hey by the way, thank you for making Dishonored." Fake fan I know I'm sorry

The audible "awwww" of thankfulness through the room was. Something else. And I remember thinking to myself:

"Jesus christ, this must be one of the most fucking thankless jobs imaginable."

Anyway. Long story short, I made some developer's days that day I think. I've entered the industry since then, and now I understand what it's like to be on the other side, and.... Well, among other things, I don't regret being a fake fan and gassing them up.