1 Please provide us with a brief bio of yourself and your background.

I am a well-known Taiwanese light novel author, recipient of the 2013 Taiwan Kadokawa Light Novel Bronze Award and the 2020 Bahamut Annual Popularity Bronze Award for Domestic Animation. I have published around 30 works, possessing extensive creative experience and market-validated strength. Since 2020, I have been dedicated to game development, with my first game "Rail of Möbius" being a text adventure game that has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on STEAM.

2 What led you to become a Game Developer / Marketer?

As a novelist, I have published more than twenty commercial works. Despite my efforts, the barriers of language and geography remain significant challenges, preventing my stories from reaching a wider international audience. In response, I turned to the creative form of game development, resolved to move beyond the boundaries of novel writing into the realm of game design. This transition has opened a new chapter for my stories, allowing them to captivate a larger readership.

3 What is your role in the company, and what traits should a game developer / marketing professional possess to be successful in their role?

In my multi-faceted role as a producer, scriptwriter, and game balancing designer, communication is vital, alongside professional skills. I must translate my ideas into clear instructions and engage effectively with team members from diverse fields to ensure our project progresses in the right direction.

4 Tell us more about your studio / company.

We are PHOSEPO, an independent game development team from Taiwan.Released game projects: "Rail of Möbius", an adventure game with multiple endings. Currently dedicated to developing a new game titled "Project: AHNO's Ark." It is a unique Japanese-style tactical RPG game, and it is expected to be released on Steam in early 2024.

5 What is your own definition of a great game?

I believe an excellent game is one where players feel a sense of reward after playing: achieving satisfaction from investing time in character development, and gaining a sense of accomplishment from devising strategies to overcome difficult challenges. Even without astonishing graphics or technical prowess, as long as the game leaves players feeling that their time was well spent without regret, that constitutes an excellent game.

6 Describe the genres of the game(s) your studio / company specializes in, as well as its main characteristics.

The establishment of PHOSEPO, originated from a passion and aspiration for Taiwan's cultural and creative industries. We firmly believe in the power of words and creativity, and are dedicated to providing a free platform for Taiwanese professionals to flourish through diverse mediums such as novels, comics, and games.

7 Tell us more about your ideation process.

Traditional tactical RPGs are known for their strategic depth, requiring a considerable amount of time for each session. This characteristic can be both a strength and a limitation, as such games tend to appeal to a selective audience due to their slow-burn nature and high barrier to entry. Therefore, I wanted to create a tactical RPG that would suit modern players. This is how the prototype for our current project was born. By incorporating elements like siege, continuous combat, and roguelite features, a battle can now be completed in less than five minutes without losing strategic depth. We hope that through this design, even players who have never engaged with tactical RPGs can enjoy this experience.

8 Congratulations! As the winner of the NYX Game Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?

This award marks a significant recognition and milestone for our work, offering an affirmation that has drawn the attention of those previously unfamiliar with our games.

9 How has winning an international award help promote your company and game?

For independent teams with limited marketing resources, achieving recognition is crucial. It serves as a solid anchor for our self-promotion, and we are deeply grateful for the affirmation and support from the judges.

10 What are the challenges of developing / marketing your winning entry(ies)?

Localized marketing is incredibly challenging, and even high-quality games can go unnoticed in this era. Therefore, finding the right agency or marketing firm is key, though it often relies on luck and opportunity.

11 How has the country, you are based in, helped during your ideation process?

Taiwan hosts an annual grant competition for independent games, where professional judges select and support exceptional games. Fortunately, we won their approval and received initial funding.

12 What are the current trends in the game industry that you are most excited about?

Following the emergence of AI-generated art, the internet has seen a proliferation of high-quality AI images. However, due to copyright disputes, they have not been widely utilized in commercial games. But I'm looking forward to the maturation of AI art generation technologies. With such advancements, even independent teams could produce high-quality games with limited resources.

13 What are the top THREE (3) favorite things about the gaming industry?

"1. The ability to attract people of all ages and from all countries. 2. The opportunity to have one's creations seen by a wide audience. 3. If you make a good game, it has the potential to endure for a very long time."

14 What resources would you recommend to someone who is searching to improve their game designs and development ideas / skills?

ChatGPT

15 Where do you see the evolution of the gaming industry in the next 5-10 years?

I am convinced that the advent of AI will revolutionize the ecosystem, with more and more game development tasks being delegated to AI, meaning even low-budget teams can create impressive blockbuster games.

16 Who inspired you in your life, and why?

Having studied Go for many years, I managed to integrate the concept of "Capture" into the core design of the game after numerous whiteboard tests.

17 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

"The key to success has been finding a group of like-minded companions willing to strive together. The quote that encourages me is: ""Do not shy away from doing difficult things."""

18 Which THREE (3) Game Developers / Marketing Professionals would you nominate to participate in the NYX Game Awards?

Rayark Inc., SIGONO, Mizo Games

19 Do you have anything else, which we haven’t covered, that you would like to include in this interview?

Note: We adopt remote working and currently do not have a team photo. Instead, we use the representative image from our previous work, "Rail of Möbius," as a substitute.

WINNING ENTRY

2023
NYX Game Awards - Project: AHNO's Ark
silver
winner

Entrant Company

PHOSEPO INC.

Category

PC Game - Best Innovation