Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ Want to know how to make a video game? In this week's podcast, we speak to freelance concept artist, Nik Hagialas. When his main source of income dried up, he decided to put his time to good use and do something he'd always wanted to do - create his own video game. So, he started expanding on the coding skills he'd already learned in college and, working with a developer buddy, eventually came up with the concept of Mask of Semblance. In this interview, you'll hear how he taught himself to use the game development software, Unity, through watching YouTube tutorials. And, you'll discover that if you're prepared to work hard at something, there's no reason why you can't develop and release your own video game, too. Interview Chapters [00:00-02:57] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today's guest, Nikolas Hagialas. In this chapter, you'll hear about his creative career so far, and why he's decided that now is the time to release his new video game, Mask of Semblance. [04:30-05:52] Launching a Successful Video Game can be Really Tough. How has Nik Prepared for This? Lots of new video games are launched every year, but very few actually make it past the Kickstarter stage. What has Nik done to prepare himself for this, and why is he launching a video game at this stage of his creative career? [06:28-07:22] What's The Worst That Could Happen...And What Can You Do If It Does? When launching any new creative project, it's always a good idea to have a backup plan if things don't work out. So what can you do if your project isn't as successful as you'd hoped it would be? [07:30-13:36] What is Mask of Semblance About...and Where is Nik at with it? In this chapter, Nik explains the concept behind his video game, Mask of Semblance, and why he believes it offers something different to lots of other game titles out there. [15:34-17:36] How is Nik Getting Others Excited About His Video Game? Developing your video game is one thing, but how do you get potential investors and consumers excited about it? In this chapter, Nik talks about creating demos and showreels to help generate a buzz around a new video game. [18:04-20:25] How Did Nik get Started With Mask of Semblance? Many of us have great ideas about projects, but lots of them never really get off the ground. So how did Nik get started with Mask of Semblance? Did he start with a story or a character...and how did he then start building this into a fully-fledged video game? [21:28-27:52] Which Skills do you Need to Make a Video Game? Being good at art is one thing, but which other skills do you need to develop and launch a video game? In this chapter, you'll hear how Nik put his skills in other areas, such as math and languages, to good use when developing his project. And, you'll hear how he built upon the coding skills he learned at college to master the game development software, Unity. [28:13-31:18] What if Your Friends and Family Don't Understand Why You're Doing This? Friends and family don't always understand what it means to be an artist and spend countless hours developing a project. So how has Nik been able to put his dream project first without the usual distractions? [31:51-37:11] What Motivates Nik To Do This? Finding the inspiration and motivation necessary to complete a project can sometimes be tricky, so how has Nik stayed on track...and what has he found to be the most important factor in getting your ideas out there and reaching people? [38:13-39:24] Conclusion Where can you find out more about Mask of Semblance and Nik's other work? This concluding chapter will give you all the info you need.