Welcome to our second Member Highlight! Today, we’re spotlighting one of the engineers who make the game run. Get ready to meet Nico, one of our programmers, Tolkien lover and strategy game enthusiast!
Q: What’s your background, and how did you find your way into making games?
A: I came into gaming a little later than most. It wasn’t until I was around 10 or 11 years old when I got my first console and PC. From that moment on, I was hooked on strategy games. The very first game I played, which still holds a special place in my heart, was Rome: Total War. I loved everything about it – and yes, back then, I genuinely thought the graphics were almost realistic and couldn’t possibly get better. Then came Medieval II, which left me equally captivated. As I delved deeper into the world of strategy games, I discovered the Paradox titles, and my absolute favorite game is Europa Universalis IV.
Interestingly, I’ve always been designing games, though I didn’t realize it at the time. Growing up, my brothers, friends, and I often invented games, especially outside sports games. It was a way of bringing fun and creativity into our play, but I never really thought about pursuing game development as a career.
Initially, I started studying physics at university. However, after a few semesters, I discovered that it was possible to study game development. That realization changed everything for me. I made the leap and switched my focus to game developement, and it was hands-down the best decision I’ve ever made.
Now, I’m here making games, and I love every aspect of it.
Q: What do you like outside of games??
A: Outside of gaming, I have a few things that I’m really passionate about. One of my biggest loves is the Lord of the Rings universe. I’ve always been drawn to Tolkien’s world – whether it’s diving into the books or watching the films, I just can’t get enough of it.
I’m also really into sports, especially ball games like football, american football, and basketball. Whether playing or watching, I really like these sports.
And when it comes to downtime, one of my favourite things to do is play pen-and-paper games with my friends. It’s my way to relax.
Q: What games do you enjoy the most?
A: When it comes to the games I like the most, my taste is diverse, but I prefer strategy games. As I mentioned earlier, Rome: Total War and Medieval II: Total War are among my favorites.
I also enjoy the Anno series, Kerbal Space Program, Crusader Kings II and III, Victoria 3, and Europa Universalis IV, which is my all-time favorite game.
Beyond strategy games, I like city-building games like Cities: Skylines, older Madden titles like Madden 07 or 10, the Mount and Blade series, Life is Strange and Heroes of Might and Magic III. While I play a variety of games, strategy games remain my primary interest, with Europa Universalis IV being the one I always come back to.
Q: What’s your favorite aspect of your work?
A: My favorite aspect of my work is the collaboration it requires. I enjoy working together with different departments and seeing the progress of the game come together step by step. It’s exciting to witness how each team’s efforts contribute to the bigger picture.
I also love tackling new challenges when programming. Every mechanic needs to be implemented cleanly, and while it can be frustrating at times to ensure everything is as polished as possible, the uniqueness of each development process makes it incredibly rewarding.
Q: What’s the most challenging or most exciting task you’ve tackled so far?
A: The most exciting and challenging things I’ve done so far have been building editors in Unity and working on enemy AI. Both have their own unique challenges. Building editors is helpful because it’s about creating tools that make the development process smoother but it is also challenging. On the other hand, designing enemy AI is a completely different challenge – it is about making enemies behave intelligently, react to player actions and create a dynamic experience. Both tasks push me to think creatively and technically, and I’m really looking forward to tackling more complex versions of these in the future.
Q: What’s been your favorite moment so far?
A: My favorite moment so far has been the decision to start an indie studio. I absolutely love our office, and it’s been incredibly exciting to build this venture from the ground up. I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for us as a team and our community. Every aspect of the work we’re doing on this project has been amazing – even writing this Q&A.
Q: How are you working with everyone on the team?
A: I’m working closely with everyone on the team, and each collaboration brings its own unique dynamic to the project.
With Basti, our game designer, I’m deeply involved in realizing exciting mechanics. I love discussing key aspects of the game with him and figuring out how to bring those ideas to life. Sometimes I have to rein him in when ideas might seem impossible to tackle – but, in true team spirit, we often end up pushing boundaries to make them happen anyway.
Then there’s David, my programming partner in crime. We work extremely closely, and he’s always there when I need help, and vice versa. There’s not a day that goes by without us discussing the codebase, new architecture plans, or deciphering something we wrote three months ago that now feels like ancient hieroglyphs.
Lastly, I collaborate with Jan, our talented artist, especially on character animations and cutscenes. His work never fails to impress me, so I’m always very careful when integrating his assets into the project. The level of detail and creativity he brings to the table is incredible, and it’s a privilege to work with his designs.
Final Thoughts
Nico stands out with his irrational love for crunch phases, strategic long-term thinking, and exceptional ability to integrate game design into mechanics. His contributions are invaluable to our team, and we’re excited to share the incredible work he and the team have been creating.
Stay tuned for more updates and team highlights – and maybe a sneak peek at the game’s level design challenges. 😉
Ask Me Anything
Want to know more about Nico’s journey, his passion for strategy games, or just want to discuss sports topics? Now’s your chance!
Nico is hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on our official Discord server right now.
Bring your questions about game programming, his hopeless attempt to understand eu4 in its entirety, or even his favourite American football player – Nico is ready to chat with you! We can’t wait to see you!!
