Creator of Sphera
The moment my destiny revealed itself to me was in 2009 when I read my first book, Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe. So obsessed I became with the unbounded genre of Fiction that I consumed 35 books that year. My grades in school sky-rocketed and my confidence grew as I acquired the tools to verbalise my thoughts. I knew, then, that the only path forward for me was to become an Author.
Yet I did not study literature in university, but Economics. In the wake of all my talented friends who studied lauded fields like Law, Mathematics and Science, I, too, wanted to become a man of stature. I denied my calling.
It took me the struggles of a decade to find my way back and now, having acquired new skills and perspectives, I revisit my passion as a game designer. It is my hope that through the game I created, SPHERA, I can finally realise my original purpose.
One of the big hurdles I ran into was with the artwork of my cards. I was not good at art, and I did not know anyone who could help me and so I abandoned SPHERA for two years. One day I discovered an AI program, Midjourney, that creates images from words. I knew that I was good with words, so I spent a lot of time typing to the AI. After thousands of prompts and many months spending hours every day working with the software, my game finally had a face that I felt confident showing the world. But not everyone was happy that I was using AI in my game. The AI revolution, just like with any significant technological breakthroughs, is disrupting the market and taking away jobs from people in many industries. Why would I need to work with an artist or bother with writing a story when AI can do it all for me? When we realize that the best things in life come from community, from real human connection, then we also learn that there are some things that AI, and technology in general cannot do. If we want to cultivate a healthy and vibrant community and bask in the best of what life has to offer then we must contribute to the success of everyone around us. I used AI because I did not have the money or skills to draw but now that the ball is rolling I have the joy and proviledge of working with real, talented artists. It is just more fun this way. Technology can be great: your phones, consoles, your computers, TVs and tablets are awesome, but the people who are there hanging out with you are even more awesome. AI is a tool to assist us in getting started along our journeys, but remember: the best and most fulfilling creations emerge when creative minds come together.
With all the new things I added there were an equal number of problems to solve. This card is too strong, let me tone it down a little. Oh no! Now this other card is too weak. Wait... suddenly we're all losing health too fast and the game is ending too quickly! Argh, it feels like I am getting nowhere. Creativity is filled with challenges which can be hard to deal with, but if we interpret these struggles as an opportunity to grow instead of a reason to give up, that is when the magic happens. An important part of bringing out the magic of our inventions is listening to the feedback of those we play our game with or show our product to. It hurts to hear that the thing we spent so much time and passion on building is not fun for some people to play. If we tame our emotions, open our ears and listen to what people have to say then we can build something much greater than we could ever do alone. That is the only reason SPHERA has grown to this point.
Begin with what is familiar to you. Before you start making a game, you must play games. Lots of games. Hide and Seek, Stalk the Lantern, 30 Seconds, Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Mine Craft, Mario Kart, Uno. Since I did not have the skills to develop a computer game with code, I settled on a format I was familiar with: a deck of cards. Every card became a character, each suite became a faction, and they were all fighting with each other. The 2 was the Traitor and he would harm you if you were caught with him. The 7 was the Shaman and he would help you in your time of need. The 8 was a trickster and she would force you to match her number. As I worked on the game, I realised that there was a story I wanted to capture. How do make people feel that they are a part of my story through the way the game plays? Even though the game I had was fun to play, it did not immerse players in my world. I thought long and hard about the rules and rebuilt the game from scratch, with the story at its centre. That was when the game changed from having 54 cards to having 128. This came with a lot of complications.
Oftentimes people talk about creativity as a mysterious force that you are either born with or not. Creativity is, in fact, something that everyone has within them and that can be cultivated through practice. The more interested you are in the world, the more it will reward you with new and exciting possibilities. Pay attention to the things around you and especially what makes you smile. Accumulate skills, find a common thread that all the things you love share and let it lead you to unexplored horizons: this is how a jack of all trades can become a master of one. I became creative when I started reading books and I knew that one day I wanted to become a writer of stories. What are the thoughts that keep you up at night? What places do you visit when you daydream?
Thavma Mega is a Greek phrase meaning 'great wonder/marvel'. It describes a sense of awe and astonishment before the overwhelming scale and beauty of life. This is an uplifting and impassioned speech that dares the listener to reach within the recesses of their minds and attend to their truest calling. In it I discuss how reading transformed my life, how I allowed myself to get steered away from my calling to be an Author of fiction by society and self-imposed limitations. I delve into how I was able to return to my passion in unorthodox fashion with the new skills I acquired along the way as well as the inspirations that equipped me to give form to my dreams. It takes a lot to bring your dream to life but if you listen closely and pay attention to yourself then opportunities will present themselves like unlocked doors. The fulfilment that you assimilate from life depends entirely on your attitude. Much has been done to arrive at this peculiar position I find myself in, yet my journey has only just begun. I will be bringing attention to both Rowan and Dirk, my artists who have given their precious time and effort in support of this dream. WELKINSTONE will be hosting a raffle with an original set of one-off SPHERA concept artwork as the prize.
