Monetary Maskings

Obey your parents and keep up appearances. It's unprofessional...distasteful even to let them slip.

Monetary Maskings is a text based game I've been developing on and off over the course of a year. It's a game best experienced at least twice.  Twine will automatically save your current spot unless you open the game from a new tab.

Semi-Spoiler Territory ahead in the artist statement

This game details a hyperbolized account of my experience with both anxiety, depression and being labeled a "Gifted and Talented" child. The main character's situation of being a very wealthy individual, heir to a massive fortune and company isn't relatable to most people sure. That wasn't my intention, rather she is a stand in for anyone who's been labeled a gifted or special talent young. Those of us who've been marked to do great things and as such have much of our childhoods fundamentally reshaped around this label of "Gifted and Talented". 

Often times this label forces many children to meet ever increasing expectations of excellence that at some point will become unobtainable. The saying often goes that the gifted and talented children either grow up to be doctors/lawyers or burnt out and washed up shadows of their former selves. 

Not everyone will agree with this sentiment.  Those that do, you're not alone. You're more than the label and it's okay to be imperfect. It's what makes us human. It's okay to want to follow your passions, goof off and enjoy yourselves. Especially while you're young. 

A healthy work-life-balance becomes harder and harder to achieve as the years go on. So, live while you can when you're young. Stay in school, get good grades. But don't let it consume every aspect of your life.