Their thought bubbles are a reverie of the job ads of 2005: “Nintendo expert needed: $50,000 salary + bonus” and “Can you save the princess? We need skilled men & women. $75,000 + retirement”.

The caption is “Hopeful Parents” - although, of course, this was a comedic understatement and “Deluded Parents” might have been more appropriate.

But after talking to former Tamworth kid Boon Cotter, suddenly that cartoon doesn’t seem quite so hilariously unrealistic.

Born in Moree and high-schooled in Tamworth, Boon is now a lighting artist for a video game developer.

If even that sounds a little mundane, it’s the California-based Naughty Dog, the company behind the Crash Bandicoot franchise.

Its latest release is Uncharted 4 for Playstation 4 - which was rated the best game of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic, and which sold 2.7 million copies in its first week out.

And Boon is part of a team of uniquely skilled people vested with the company’s trust to turn their passion for gaming into the next cutting-edge product.

“Our core hours are 10.30am to 6.30pm, so we get time to enjoy the California climate every day of the week. I live walking distance to the Santa Monica pier and the world-famous Venice Beaches,” Boon said.

“The studio employs a novel approach to production: most of the time, no one is assigning tasks.

“Everyone takes ownership and responsibility, and looks for opportunities to apply their unique skills in a way that improves our work and challenges industry expectations.

“It’s hard to say what a typical day looks like, because every day is different.

“Today I might be testing technology or working on new features; tomorrow I may be doing research - read: playing games – it’s a hard life!”

Boon said Naughty Dog was “truly a special company”.

“It’s just, ‘Do your thing. Whatever you want. Make it cool’,” he said.

“It’s by far the most unique and rewarding place I’ve ever worked.”

Boon said his role was similar to lighting a film.

He places lights in a scene, everything from the sun to a candle, to create mood, highlight important items or enemies, and allow the player to navigate the game’s environment.

He’s also responsible for colour grading, exposure, and special effects such as light blooming through windows or fog.

“Uncharted has long been my favourite video game series. I came here a fan and I’m still a fan. I get to come to work and take part in creating something that people love, and I can’t describe how that makes me feel - there’s no words.”

So how did this self-described small-town Aussie boy score such a coveted yet improbable gig?

Boon has a bachelor of communication design (with honours) from QUT in Brisbane, which focused on web design, art history and some animation.

He taught himself lighting, and his interest in photography helped there.

“These days, there are so many free resources online for learning these skills - I've written some myself - that the barrier to entry is less intimidating if you're committed and passionate.”

Boon was living in Brisbane, working for local game studio Krome, and one night decided to apply to his favourite developer, Naughty Dog.

“They do amazing work and have a well-earned reputation for being an incredible company,” he said.

“[I sent] off an email to Los Angeles thinking I didn’t have a chance, I was crazy.

“But next thing I know, I’m flying out for an interview … They hired me over margaritas and, before I could process what was happening, I was landing in LA with two suitcases, thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ It’s been a huge adventure, and I feel very blessed to be here.”

Boon said some highlights of his American life - coming up to two years now - were the “only in LA stuff”.

“I met Mira Sorvino at a coffee shop and now she follows me on Instagram,” he said.

“I also ran into Adam Baldwin at a bar. He bought me whiskey and we argued about video games - cool guy.

“But one of the biggest highlights of my life was seeing Diana Ross perform live at a private party at Leonardo DiCaprio’s house in Palm Springs. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. It’s all a bit surreal.”

Boon was born Daniel 38 years ago in Moree but immediately and permanently nicknamed Boon by his grandfather. His family moved to Tamworth when he started high school.

“I enrolled in Peel High, where I was lucky to have some amazingly supportive teachers who encouraged my ridiculous ambitions - wonderful human beings like Jan Chivas and Sue Marshall, among others.”

He was also “forever grateful” for the support of his mum and his husband, Heath.

“I can’t think of a non-cheesy way to say it, but seriously - don’t give up on your dreams. If I can do it, anyone can.”

Most of Boon’s family still lives in the city, as well as his childhood besties Erin Johnston and Rochelle Abra.

“Tamworth will always be home for me, and I can’t wait to get back to see everyone again,” he said.

But ‘home’ isn’t only where the heart is - it’s where the stomach is, too: “I miss Australian food. Seriously, if someone can fly me over a suitcase full of pies, I’ll name my firstborn after you.”