Suddenly I was a Shark!: My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch

Suddenly I was a Shark!: My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch was released in 2017 amid a gaming public that had largely already dismissed the game’s genre. A walking simulator game exchanges the traditional ‘shoot, jump, run’ mechanics of most popular video games for a passive ‘walk, investigate a thing, walk some more’ set of mechanics. With no points, no combat, no puzzles, and no goal other than narrative progression, What Remains of Edith Finch ’s success came as a surprise to most. But for those few who appreciated the power of a combat-less, story-driven video game, What Remains of Edith Finch would become a beacon for an emerging trend of games that aim to change the gamer themself. Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live alumnus and host of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon , says of the game, “it’s one of my favorite things... it's gonna change your life." In Suddenly I was a Shark!: My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch , author, and lifelong video game enthusiast, Caleb J. Ross explores the life-changing impact of this unassuming video game about a young woman’s attempt to understand a curse that has killed every member of her family. By mixing developer interviews, personal stories, and examinations of the game’s many literary inspirations, Caleb delivers a powerful story of personal change via one of the most important walking simulator video games ever made. "I've spoken to countless people about this game, its heart, and its legacy, but no one as thoughtful and invested as Caleb. This book is a love letter. An essay. A manual. At times clinical and technical, and others witty and full of emotion. But throughout it all, we are led by his passion, and what a beautiful journey it is! Caleb's love for gaming and storytelling is palpable. He brings his own history to that of the Finches, intertwining them. I'm so touched that Edith Finch has inspired stories and art like this. Thank you, Caleb.." -- Valerie Rose Lohman, What Remains of Edith Finch (voice of Edith Finch)