A RUSH of blood to the head – my first day ON the job

Hello you! I’m Aaron, the new Social Media Manager for ONRUSH. I will be updating you all in every conceivable way about ONRUSH. On forums, blogs, social media, I’ll even come to your front door every morning to update you on what’s going on, as long as tea is provided.

My pre-Codies life is deeply rooted in the motorsport industry. For several years I was a Journalist at Autosport before joining Williams Martini Racing as a Press Officer. I’ve been to all four corners of the world holding dictaphones, shepherding drivers and scribbling stories, and now I’m where I’ve wanted to be since I first picked up a copy of Colin McRae Rally – at Codemasters.

Needless to say I LOVE racing games. Colin McRae Rally, as I just mentioned, is my first and most passionate love affair. But I’ve also put weeks, if not months, of my time into the F1 series. Right now, however, I’m busy losing myself in Arcadia Bay (Life is Strange) and losing my cap in New Donk City (Super Mario Odyssey).

So, as you probably guessed from the title, I’m not just here to talk about myself. I’m here to give you a little bit of insight into one of the craziest days of my life – the day we announced ONRUSH.

A first day at a new job is normally all about finding out where the toilets are, filling out a never ending stack of HR forms and making tea for your boss – because kissing ass is an under-appreciated attribute!

However, Monday (October 30th) was a little bit different. Why? Because we only went and announced ONRUSH at a little thing called Paris Games Week! Not only that, we were the very thick, very colourful and very loud, meat in a Call of Duty/Battlefront sandwich!

On my way to the Runcorn office I was unsure what to expect in terms of the build up to the big reveal. Past experiences with the likes of car launches and driver announcements have been fraught with nervous tension, but Monday was different. The office was a sea of calm. A studio of serenity. A palace of peace.

I was expecting to see papers flying, laptops on fire and people throwing each other through tables, but no. Everyone casually went about their business seemingly unaware of the magnitude of what was about to happen.

I, however, was very aware of the situation. On the outside I did my best to mimic the laid back atmosphere in the room. After all, these guys have been there, done that, got the t-shirt (they really do). But me, I’m a noob, and internally I was screaming. I was a tumble dryer loaded with nerves and excitement.

Tens of millions of people were about to cast their judgement on something everyone here has been working so hard on. Journalists and fans around the world will analyse every miniscule detail of the trailer, whether they liked it or loathed it we would soon find out.

Our slot in the showcase was very cloak and dagger. We had a rough of idea of what time we might feature, but genuinely, we only found out where we were placed at the same time as you guys did.

With every passing trailer and every minute ticking by on the clock my foot began to tap more, my hands began to shake more vigorously and the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up just a little bit higher.

What if something has gone wrong with the trailer and we’ve been cut? Are they going to show it? WHERE’S THE TRAILER!? And then, there it was, literally bursting on to the screen in front of a packed audience in Paris and a streaming audience of more than 15 million.

A subtle ‘woo’, which Ric Flair would have been extremely disappointed with, erupted in the office. In my head, though I was running around waving my shirt above my head with an ONRUSH tattoo blazoned across my chest. Needless to say I was pumped.

I just couldn’t believe what I was watching. Video games are an emotional art form. They invoke feelings of wonder, passion and ecstasy. Even as a fan from the outside looking in I would get goosebumps watching games be revealed for the first time. But being in the office on the day ONRUSH was announced gave me chills.

There I was, on my first day, witnessing a new era of all out adrenaline-fuelled arcade racing be born, and I was a part of it. It was truly overwhelming.

After the trailer made its debut I read through all of your amazing comments and feedback, and even though I haven’t really done anything yet, it made me so incredibly proud on behalf of all the guys here who put their heart and soul into every aspect of what they do.

That night when I finally got into bed I was exhausted. I was mentally and physically drained. Nothing could have prepared me for the humongous shot of adrenaline my first day provided me with.

Simply put, I wasn’t ready for the RUSH. Are you?

• Share

Tweet