Straughn 10th grader Gordie Cartwright was overjoyed when he learned that Alabama Make-A-Wish foundation is making his dream of having his video game developed into a reality.

Bud and Marilyn Sliger, of Alabama’s Make-A-Wish, presented Cartwright with the news that his wish would be coming true during Straughn’s Meet the Tigers event Thursday night, and that his game would be developed by Obsidian Entertainment in Los Angeles. The Sligers said that Alabama Make-A-Wish granted seven wishes last year, and are in the process of granting six so far this year. As part of his wish, he will travel to LA to meet with the development company.

In Oct., of 2014, Cartwright was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which is a form of cancer that starts inside the bone marrow and causes uncontrolled growth of immature cells that make a certain type of white blood cells called myeloid cells.

“It’s amazing,” He said upon hearing the news. “I really don’t know how else to describe it. I can’t put it into words how excited I am.”

It’s been a dream of Cartwright’s to go into animation and coding for a long time.

“I’ve always wanted to do it, but never knew how to get into it,” Cartwright said. “When I go out there, I’m going to ask them how I should get into it, and what colleges would be the best for me to go to.”

Cartwright and his friends Matthew Guillott and Taylor Smith have been working on the game for about four or five months, and will finally get to see their game become a reality.

Cartwright said his game is called “Tower of Conquest: For Glory” and that it’s an action role-playing game (RPG) based in medieval times.

“There is a tower erected of pure evil in a world of good,” Cartwright said of the game. “The goal of the game is to level up your character until you are strong enough to face the final boss and defeat the tower.”

Cartwright said that the final boss is unseen until the end of the game, and how the player chooses the story shapes who the boss is at the end.

Cartwright’s love for video games came at an early age.

“I got a Gameboy when I was a kid,” Cartwright said. “I grew up in the carnival, so there where a lot of times when that was all I had to do was play my Gameboy, and that’s when I got into gaming.”

Along with a passion for video games, Cartwright is also a member of the Sound of Gold marching band.

“When we are in the stands I will be playing the baritone,” Cartwright said. “But since marching is painful I will be playing the mallets on the field. Mr. Parker told me he really wanted me to stay in band, and this what we decided I should do.”

Cartwright is the son of Christy and Rick Cartwright.