AC:Hi everyone! I’m AC, a game planner at 7QUARK. I started my journey in the gaming industry in 2010 as a game tester and transitioned into game planning by the end of that year. Over the years, I've worked on Arcade, Web, and Mobile games. In 2018, I joined 7QUARK and have been passionately contributing to the team ever since.

7QUARK: 7QUARK is an indie game development team. Initially, our primary focus was on mobile games, but a few years ago, we decided to pivot towards PC and console platforms. This strategic shift led to the birth of our flagship project, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade.

Embarking on the development of an action game for the first time has been a unique and challenging experience, pushing our creative boundaries and technical skills to new heights.

AC: I felt uncertain about my future while between jobs and preparing for my civil service exams several years ago, until an opening for a game tester caught my eye while I was browsing job listings.

It was a racing game, a genre I absolutely love. It grabbed my attention and led me to apply for the interview. That decision became a turning point, marking the beginning of my journey in the gaming industry and my career as a game developer.

AC: I handle all aspects related to combat in the team, including level design, monitoring combat flow, designing enemy moves, and more. I believe there are three key qualities for being an outstanding game planner.

1. Broad knowledge: Game development touches on a wide range of fields, including programming, art design, sound design, and user experience. Having a basic understanding of these areas enhances your overall skills and makes teamwork smoother.

Plus, staying up-to-date with industry trends and constantly learning new things keeps you competitive.

2. Empathy for players: To create games that players enjoy and have fun with, you need to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. It's about not only seeing things from their perspective but also digging deep into their behaviors and minds through data analysis, player feedback, and community engagement. This helps us keep improving the game and meeting player expectations.

Effective team communication: Good communication is vital for ensuring smooth game development. The process requires close collaboration among a team of skilled professionals. It’s of great significance to have clear and effective communication within the team that ensures everyone understands the project's goals and progress.

This helps in identifying issues early, resolving conflicts, and strengthening team cohesion, leading to more efficient outcomes.

7QUARK: 7QUARK started in 2013 as a creative indie game team. Today, we have a team of over 20 members, each excelling in their specific field.

Our team members are both developers and passionate gamers. This deep passion for gaming influences both our work and personal lives, enabling us to view things from a player's perspective and create games that genuinely cater to player needs.

We have a harmonious workplace where everyone can openly discuss various topics and collaboratively find solutions. This inclusive work culture strengthens our team bonds, boosting creativity and efficiency.

At 7QUARK, everyone is dedicated to doing their best and supporting each other in facing challenges. This cooperative spirit gives us the strength to overcome many difficulties and stay focused on creating excellent games.

AC: I think a good game should offer a seamless playing experience. "Seamless" encompasses various aspects, including intuitive control, a reasonable difficulty curve, and diverse game mechanics. It also covers fluid graphics and well-applied sound effects.

The goal is to ensure players feel a sense of achievement and enjoyment, rather than frustration from difficult controls or poor design.

7QUARK: Our focus right now is on Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, a Japanese-style ARPG that incorporates roguelite. Players will be able to choose their favourite characters from the three main characters: Immortal Ninja, Oni Emissary, and Monstrous Samurai. You'll be able to experience three different storylines, weapon systems, and completely different new experiences respectively!

In addition, our team possesses the capability to develop a variety of game genres, and we look forward to showcasing these offerings in different styles in the future.

7QUARK: Coffee, snacks and endless discussions.

7QUARK: We are deeply honored that Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade has won the Best Independent Game award. This recognition serves as a powerful motivation for us to continue advancing in the gaming industry. Winning this award not only recognizes our game development skills but also highlights our creativity, significantly boosting the team's morale and confidence.

7QUARK: Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade marked our first venture into PC and home console gaming, as we traditionally focused on mobile games. Understandably, this led to some skepticism about whether we could excel in this new arena. We feel this award clearly demonstrates that we absolutely can!

7QUARK: There will always be challenges unique to each project during the development process. These typically include performance optimization, story structure, development schedule, making decisions based on player feedback, as well as financial and staffing issues that are particularly unavoidable for independent teams.

Despite these difficulties, we have continued to grow and improve. We believe that our ability to confront and solve these challenges head-on is what distinguishes our work and has led to us winning a Silver win under the Best Independent Game award.

7QUARK: My country's cultural environment has always been open to a variety of themes and is willing to embracing the diversity that each brings. The government provides a list of grants for independent game development, offering substantial financial support for small developers.

AC: Blockchain and NFT applications. Their integration into more playable games is an evolving trend, leading to more mature mechanisms. I am very excited about the potential this holds for the future of gaming!

AC: My 2 favorite things in the gaming industry would most definitely be its youthful working environment and the very fact that this is my dream job!

AC: Immersing yourself in various types of games can greatly inspire design ideas. Additionally, following game developers' communities and their videos can provide valuable insights into the production concepts of previous generations and the challenges they faced.

Moreover, the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) offers great source of practitioners sharing their experiences, which can enhance your acumen in game design and development skills.

AC: The integration of blockchain and NFTs within gaming is continually improving. It's likely that we'll observe an increasing number of similar mechanisms in future games. This trend won't be confined to multiplayer games; I also anticipate that single-player game content will also be incorporated in this manner. The lifecycle and scope of a product will extend beyond individual games, forming an ecosystem encompassing multiple games or series.

AC: I would definitely say our team leader, Sakura, is an inspiration! His extensive experience and expertise have greatly influenced me in game design. From Innovating game mechanics to enhancing player experience, he has provided invaluable advice and guidance. Moreover, he consistently listens to the team and makes informed decisions.

7QUARK: Stay happy, keep true-hearted, and progress towards your goal!

7QUARK: Thanks again to the NYX Game Awards for giving us the opportunity to introduce Yasha: Legends of the Demon to a global audience! Our team is united in the goal of sharing this exceptional game with the world and remains committed to this endeavour. Please support us and join our Steam wishlist!