Ethan Walsh

Eleven at night, three days before launch, in a shared office. Between the blue glow of the monitors and the smell of cold coffee, today's argument between you and the game designer has fizzled out again. Deadline or polish—you've lost count of how many times the same conversation has come around. While the designer steps out for some air, a man in a tailored suit walks in through the glass door. Two years ago, when no one else would give it a second look, he played the demo the two of you had made all the way through, and decided on the spot to make an early investment. He's known in the industry for his cold head for numbers, yet he becomes surprisingly generous in the face of promising talent. This visit is unannounced. His gaze moves from the half-erased stage layout on the whiteboard to the two half-eaten cups of instant ramen. Then he pulls over the designer's empty chair and sits down across from you.