The Funny Adventures of My Life: A Timeline by Александър Карайчев

Born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:46 UTC

One of the "larger" cities in Bulgaria, despite that it is relatively empty. Not a lot happened until the age of 7, just played outside a lot and enjoyed being a child. Who doesn't?

Interest in Games began

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:47 UTC

At around the age of 7, I saw my father play a game for the first time. We had an old Playstation 2 which was the first time I got in touch with videogames. He played Prince of Persia 2, a pretty horror game for someone so young. Yet I despite being scared I couldn't stop watching. It was the first game I ever saw and I remember it as vividly as back then. The initial flame that would lead me to CMGT had begun.

It's getting serious now

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:47 UTC

Around the age of 13 is where the flame had bursted into an outright forest fire. Games were my life, and I loved every second of it. My tastes gradually changed. Past the age of 15 I began hating mindless games that just provoked violence though. I wanted something special. I always seeked games that brought out something more than just satisfaction. I always wanted something different. And when I found it, I would sink hours upon hours into it.

What do I want to do?

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:48 UTC

When I reached grade 8 (roughly 15 years old) I began thinking about my future. Not to say I already started planning, but more like the general child mindset of what I want to do. "Do I want to become a doctor?", "What kind of professions are there?". My mind did not accept the possibility of game making because at the time I believed it was far too complicated to do. Yet something inside me knew that, just for the sake of it, I would love to at least try. I loved games. Would it hurt to make one?

Troubles of my decision

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:48 UTC

I will be honest, I decided to do game design on a whim. In fact that would underestimate how little I cared what I chose. I knew I had to choose, so instead of considering my choice I just decided to pick one and go for it. So Game Design it is. This turned into one of the most complicated tasks I ever accepted as it was quite a lot more complicated than just "Make a game". But I did stick with it!

The ultimate realisation

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:49 UTC

Getting rejected by Breda and getting accepted into Saxion made me realize what type of person I am. I want to be recognised. I want to make something different. I want to change the already established. And make games. Definitely want to make games.

Taking life in my own hands

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:49 UTC

Managing University work while surviving proved difficult. On top of that being far away from my girlfriend makes it troublesome for both of us to keep in touch. But I believe these are all issues people commonly go through, so I grit my teeth and I plan every week to be better than the last one, so that one day I live a stress-free life even with all things on my mind.

Now

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:49 UTC

Despite everything that has happened, both good and bad, I think with time it'll all work out. I'm very positive about my future and think if I keep doing what I do it'll all work out!

The Future

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:27:50 UTC

In the next 5 years, I would love to get a good internship that scores me a place in a Game Company. I don't care if it's an Indie (small) game studio or a big corporation as long as I do what I love and love what I do when I work there. For that to happen I will need a strong portfolio, so priority #1 would definitely be that.

Personality

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-06 09:44:06 UTC

Everchanging, very adaptive and calm. I usually consider other people "wild cards" but lately I'm slowly realizing I act as a "wild card" person for my randomness. Outgoing, assertive (sadly too much). Life quote would probably be "Double or Nothing".

My first job

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-10 15:02:47 UTC

My first job was quite simple, yet utterly difficult for someone with 0 experience. I was a storage house sorter in a big toy shop (At least double the size of Primark in Enschedes center). 12 hour shifts, not good pay...one could say it was a pretty "sh!t" first job for a lack of better terms. But what it gave me was one of the most valuable things that still hold true and that was etiquette. How you handle conversations with co-workers, customers (we often restocked the shop itself and would be asked for directions), working with advanced equipment, understanding how shops actually load stuff and their sorting algorithm for the shop itself. The last one blew me away as that is when I learned when you have multiple shops of the exact same type, they all mirror eachother as to where what is.

Hobbies

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-10 15:04:40 UTC

Drawing, making music (very recent woohoo), playing and analysing video games, listening to music and enjoying my time with friends. My hobbies change quite often so i've only put the most "stable" ones.

10 years from now

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-10 15:08:22 UTC

If everything were to magically lock into place from first try, in 10 years I would be living in a nice house barely outside the city of Enschede (or any modern western city) and would have a stable job that I am incredibly passionate towards. I would have my work and home separate but I would absolutely work more from home on the things I love. I see myself as a passionate and inspiring person in 10 years who has a lot of advice to give to people who are still lost about their future.

My first love

alexanderpublic2003 — 2024-03-10 15:10:41 UTC

Be it for worse, be it for better, love happens. Love happened to me as well and that has definitely changed my outlook on things. Having someone that wholeheartedly supports you is different than having a friend that does it. We support eachother in everything and are millions of times better than our past selves because of it. If we would have a moto I can definitely see it being "Relentless self-improvement"!