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Stressed out
extract from Alexis Nedd’s “Don’t hate the player”
16-year-old Emilia, the narrator of the story, has a passion for online gaming.
1
I’m just saying that the worst thing that ever happened to me was Guardians League Online changing
2
their gaming strategy to make the character I always played completely useless in competition. I played
3
as “Condor” for years – really, actual years. I should have expected something like this would happen.
4
The second anyone gets comfortable with the way damage, defense, and magic work in any online game,
5
the game designer creates a surprise release that, to be fair, usually makes the game more fun. It’s just this
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time the change is rocking the hell out of me.
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Before they introduced the changes in September, I was unstoppable. “Condor” was my main character,
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and I got so good at it that Byunki asked me to start practising with Team Fury, the group he’s created
9
and reorganised a dozen times before settling on a few strong gamers for online competition. The
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Byunki. Legend in the world of online games, captain, and, judging by the Team Fury videos on
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YouTube, one of the best playing teams in all of the gaming community. Team Fury are so good that
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I’ve got better just from playing alongside them for a few months. Now I have to learn how to get
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good on “Pharaoh”, a magic character whose skills and strategies are so much harder to learn than
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"Condor’s” ever were.
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I also had something of a discussion about school with my parents. They reminded me every day of
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the summer vacation that this year was “the big one” and “the one that counts”. I’d done the maths
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and balanced it all out perfectly: school, field hockey, keeping up appearances with Penny and the
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rest of my friends, sort of (maybe) starting to date, all while making sure nothing from the real, 3D
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part of my life ever touched the part where I spend every night playing a team-based, multiplayer
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online game with some people I’ve never met. Team Fury don’t know who I am in real life. And, if
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anyone who actually knows me found out about my gaming activities …
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It’s going to be okay. It has to be, so it’s going to be. I’m only nervous because it’s Monday. I was up
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too late doing practice matches with Fury. When I play too long I start seeing usernames whenever I
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close my eyes. I played so badly last night that Byunki sent me a message asking if I’d been practising
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with “Pharaoh”, which I absolutely have been but not as much as I had the weeks before. He could
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tell, and he told me to shape the hell up:
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“Yes, sir.” I did not say that to Byunki’s message. I am saying it now, out loud to myself while
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finishing my makeup in the mirror of dad’s car. I just need a few minutes to get my face and/or life
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together before I have to get through another day at school. Looking at my face in the mirror, I can
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see my makeup is doing God’s work on the dark circles under my eyes. Mom gave the makeup to
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me this morning. She didn’t have to tell me why. I looked tired and have been looking tired since I
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joined Fury.
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“Just a bit of makeup and make sure they don’t see the work,” she said twenty minutes ago or every
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day of my sixteen years on Earth. “They only get to see the results.”
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“Only the results,” I agree quietly as I stare at those results in the mirror.
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Hiding the struggle is what I do best. “Come on, Emilia,” I whisper to myself when I finally feel
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ready to face the day.
- Read the tasks carefully.
- Make sure to write about all the aspects presented in each task.
1.
Describe Emilia's gaming activities and the situation she finds herself in.
(8 Punkte)
2.
Analyse how Emilia tries to deal with her situation. In doing so, look at the way the story is told (narrative technique).
(12 Punkte)
3.
You have a choice here. Choose one of the following tasks.
a)
In the extract Emilia says about herself: “I’d done the maths and balanced it all out perfectly”.
Discuss if Emilia really has found the right balance. Include the following aspects:
Discuss if Emilia really has found the right balance. Include the following aspects:
- the importance of hobbies
- the importance of health and well-being
- the importance of school
(10 Punkte)
or
b)
When Emilia arrives at school that morning, her friend Penny confronts Emilia because she thinks that Emilia looks dead tired.
Write the continuation of the story.
Include the following aspects:
- Penny’s comments and questions
- Emilia’s thoughts and reactions
- Penny’s advice to Emilia You can start like this: As I am walking towards the school building, Penny suddenly appears right next to me.
She looks at me closely and …
(10 Punkte)
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Note:
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text.
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text.
1.
The extract Alexis Nedd’s "Stressed out from “Don’t hate the player” is about 16-year-old Emilia, an avid gamer who is facing a significant challenge in her gaming life.
Introduction
- used to play a character named "Condor" in the online game Guardians League Online for several years
- the game's developers recently changed their gaming strategy, making her beloved character useless in competition
- practiced with Team Fury, a Team set up for online competitions
- she continuously improved her game by solely playing along side with them
- Emilia has yet to adapt to her new character "Pharaoh"
- spends her nights playing the multi-player online game
Main Body
Emilia's Gaming activities
Emilia's Gaming activities
- outside of her gaming life, Emilia struggles with the expectations placed on her by her parents regarding school
- balanced her academic responsibilities, participation in field hockey, maintaining her social life with friends, and potentially starting to date
- all of this is done while keeping her gaming activities a secret from her real-life friends, dreading for anyone to actually discover her gaming activities
- Byunki, from Team Fury, puts pressure on her to leave the team if she underperforms
- despite all struggles she remains optimistic and pushes herself to move one
Her Situation
2.
Emilia employs several strategies to cope with her challenging situation, and these strategies are reflected in the narrative techniques used in the story.
Introductionary sentence
- Emilia's primary strategy is to keep her gaming life a secret from her real-life, including her parents, school friends, and potential dates
- she understands the potential stigma attached to her gaming activities and is afraid of how people in her 3D life might perceive her if they found out
- the narrative technique of first-person narration allows readers to delve into Emilia's thoughts and fears, giving insight into her internal struggles with maintaining this secret e.g. "... who actually knows me found out about my gaming activities …" (l. 20/21)
Main Body
Separating gaming and "real" world
Separating gaming and "real" world
- Emilia maintains a positive and determined attitude in the face of adversity
- she reassures herself that everything will be okay, even though she acknowledges the challenges she's facing e.g. "It’s going to be okay. It has to be, so it’s going to be." (l. 21)
- this internal monologue, conveyed through Emilia's thoughts and self-talk, helps readers understand her resilience and determination
Optimism and Self-Motivation
- the story is narrated from Emilia's first-person perspective
- this choice of narrative technique allows readers to intimately connect with her thoughts, emotions, and experiences
- it provides insight into her inner turmoil and the emotional toll of her situation e.g. "Hiding the struggle is what I do best." (l. 36)
First-person narration
- the makeup to hide her tiredness and dark circles serves as a symbol of Emilia's struggle to balance her real life and gaming life
- the symbol is repeated throughout the story and underscores her commitment to keeping her secret e.g. "...bit of makeup and make sure they don’t see the work,” ... day of my sixteen years on Earth." (l. 33/34)
Symbolism
- in summary, the narrative technique used in the story effectively conveys Emilia's internal and external struggles as she navigates her dual life as a gamer and student with various responsibilities
- allows readers to empathize with her, understand her coping mechanisms, and appreciate her development as a character
- the first-person perspective and use of dialogue allow for a deep connection to Emilia's journey and make it relatable to the audience
Conclusion
3.1
Emilia's statement that she has "done the maths and balanced it all out perfectly" suggests that she believes she has found the right balance in her life. However, taking a closer look of the narrative and her situation, it becomes clear that this balance may not be as perfect as she believes, especially when considering the importance of hobbies, health and well-being, and school.
Introduction
- Emilia's passion for online gaming is a significant part of her life, and it's important to have hobbies that one is passionate about
- hobbies provides relaxation, enjoyment, and a sense of fulfillment
- Emilia's dedication to gaming can be seen as a positive aspect of her life
- staying up late for practice, and potentially neglecting other aspects of her life could suggest an imbalance
- she might be prioritizing her hobby at the expense of other crucial areas‚‘
Main Body
Importance of hobbies
Importance of hobbies
- Emilia's late-night gaming sessions are taking a toll on her physical health and well-being e.g. dark circles under her eyes and needing makeup to hide (l. 29/30)
- her gaming habits are affecting her sleep patterns and overall health
- while it's common for gamers to spend long hours playing, it's crucial to strike a balance to ensure proper rest and self-care
Importance of Health and Well-being
- Emilia's parents highlight the importance of her school performance, referring to the current year as "the big one" and "the one that counts." (l. 16)
- despite her belief that she has balanced her academic responsibilities, her late-night gaming sessions could affect her concentration and performance in school
- this may indicate an imbalance between her gaming commitments and her academic responsibilities
Importance of school
- In summary, while Emilia may believe that she has found the right balance in her life, the narrative suggests otherwise.
- her passion to gaming is admirable, but it appears to come at the cost of her health, well-being, and potentially her academic performance.
- to achieve true balance, she must manage her passion for gaming in a way that allows her to succeed in both her hobby and other important aspects of her life, such as school and self-care
- Emilia's situation serves as a reminder that finding the right balance can be challenging, and it's essential to make adjustments once in a while to ensure a well-rounded and fulfilling life
Conclusion
3.2
As I am walking towards the school building, Penny suddenly appears right next to me. She looks at me closely, her brow furrowing as she takes in my tired expression. It doesn't take long for her to notice that something is off.
Penny asks me, her voice laced with concern, "Emilia, you look dead tired. What's going on? Did you stay up all night studying or something?"
I look at Penny, feeling a mix of surprise and anxiety. I'm not used to anyone questioning my appearance or prying into my personal life, especially when it comes to my gaming activities.
Emilia responds, "Uh, yeah, something like that. You know how important this year is for school and all."
Penny seems skeptical, and her concern deepens as she continues to look at me. "Emilia, I've known you for a long time, and this doesn't look like your usual 'studying too hard' tired. Something's not right. Are you sure everything's okay?"
I hesitate for a moment, torn between telling Penny the truth and continuing to hide my gaming life. But her genuine concern and our long-standing friendship make me decide to open up, at least a little. "Well, Penny, there's something I haven't been completely honest about. You see, I've been spending a lot of time playing an online game with a team. It's been taking up more of my nights than I'd like to admit." Penny's eyes widen in surprise, "Really? You're into online gaming? Why didn't you tell me before? And how come it's making you look like you've been through a war zone?"
I sigh with relief that I've finally shared my secret with Penny. It's a weight off my shoulders, but I'm still anxious about how she'll react. Penny gives me a reassuring smile, showing understanding and empathy.
"Emilia, it's okay that you didn't tell me sooner. We all have our passions and hobbies. Just remember that it's essential to balance everything in your life. You can't let it affect your health and school. Maybe you should talk to your parents about it." I nod, appreciating Penny's understanding and advice. Her support makes me feel less alone in this situation.
Emilia: (grateful) "Thanks, Penny. I think you're right. I should find a way to balance things better and maybe even talk to my parents about it. I don't want it to affect my school or my health."
As we walk towards our first class together, I feel a sense of relief that I've confided in Penny and that she's offered her support. It's a step towards finding a healthier balance in my life, something I now realize is essential.
Penny asks me, her voice laced with concern, "Emilia, you look dead tired. What's going on? Did you stay up all night studying or something?"
I look at Penny, feeling a mix of surprise and anxiety. I'm not used to anyone questioning my appearance or prying into my personal life, especially when it comes to my gaming activities.
Emilia responds, "Uh, yeah, something like that. You know how important this year is for school and all."
Penny seems skeptical, and her concern deepens as she continues to look at me. "Emilia, I've known you for a long time, and this doesn't look like your usual 'studying too hard' tired. Something's not right. Are you sure everything's okay?"
I hesitate for a moment, torn between telling Penny the truth and continuing to hide my gaming life. But her genuine concern and our long-standing friendship make me decide to open up, at least a little. "Well, Penny, there's something I haven't been completely honest about. You see, I've been spending a lot of time playing an online game with a team. It's been taking up more of my nights than I'd like to admit." Penny's eyes widen in surprise, "Really? You're into online gaming? Why didn't you tell me before? And how come it's making you look like you've been through a war zone?"
I sigh with relief that I've finally shared my secret with Penny. It's a weight off my shoulders, but I'm still anxious about how she'll react. Penny gives me a reassuring smile, showing understanding and empathy.
"Emilia, it's okay that you didn't tell me sooner. We all have our passions and hobbies. Just remember that it's essential to balance everything in your life. You can't let it affect your health and school. Maybe you should talk to your parents about it." I nod, appreciating Penny's understanding and advice. Her support makes me feel less alone in this situation.
Emilia: (grateful) "Thanks, Penny. I think you're right. I should find a way to balance things better and maybe even talk to my parents about it. I don't want it to affect my school or my health."
As we walk towards our first class together, I feel a sense of relief that I've confided in Penny and that she's offered her support. It's a step towards finding a healthier balance in my life, something I now realize is essential.