In this episode I’m speaking to Antek Krowicki, and Zach Howe - the co-founders of Nyx Studios. Nyx Studios is a multimedia entertainment company. They’re currently promoting their first tabletop game Havoc: Gen Zero (The Nyxlands of Havoc), which just wrapped up its successful Kickstarter campaign after raising 572% of its goal.

We talk about designing with storytelling at the core, building worlds inspired by literary sci-fi and strategy classics, and why community-driven creation is the future of indie games.

We also discuss Antek’s and Zack’s journey from writers to worldbuilders, and how a dream project launched in a Telegram group became a Kickstarter success and a growing game universe.

00:00 Building Bonds: The Power of Friendship in Gaming

06:17 The Genesis of Havoc: Founding a Game Company

09:12 From Writers to Game Designers: A Unique Journey

11:56 Inspiration Behind Havoc: Games and Literature

15:03 The Evolution of Havoc: Naming and Universe Building

17:50 The Future of Havoc: Expanding the Universe

20:50 What Makes a Game Successful? Insights from the Industry

23:17 The Art of Game Design: Iteration and Improvement

26:07 Creating a Rich Universe: The World of Havoc

29:01 Gameplay Mechanics: Understanding Havoc

31:53 Kickstarter Success: The Journey to Funding

38:41 Building a Thriving Community

40:17 The Evolution of Community Engagement

43:17 Insights on the Gaming Industry

49:57 Team Dynamics and Collaboration

51:59 Imagining a Future with Unlimited Resources

56:29 Balancing Work and Personal Life

01:02:17 Future Plans for Nyx Studios

01:06:20 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

https://enterhavoc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nyx-studios-games/about/