Introduction:
Sometimes, a dream takes decades to turn into reality. For me, the journey to creating my own multiplayer online game started over 20 years ago, fueled by a deep love for gaming and an unshakable curiosity about how games work. Today, as I approach 40, I am finally taking the first steps toward sharing that dream with the world. This blog post is a reflection on the experiences, challenges, and lessons that have prepared me to embark on this adventure.
The Early Years: A Gamer’s Awakening
My earliest memories of gaming are tied to titles like Commander Keen, Tetris on MS-DOS, and the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES. These weren’t just games to me—they were windows into worlds where anything was possible. By the time I discovered Diablo and its online multiplayer, my fascination with the mechanics of gaming had taken root. The thrill of navigating a world filled with hackers and town killers taught me early lessons about client/server authority and the importance of understanding systems to defend against exploitation.
These formative experiences sparked a curiosity that I carried into my teenage years, where I immersed myself in one of the first MMORPGs to hit the market in the late ’90s. It was here that I discovered the power of community-driven storytelling and role-playing, a passion that continues to drive my vision for the game I am building today.
The Private Server Era and Early Tech Adventures
In my late teens, I stumbled into hosting a private MMO server—a challenge that pushed me to learn about server management, community moderation, and the responsibilities that come with running a shared digital space. Over a year, I doubled the server’s registered accounts and active user base, but I eventually stepped away, recognizing the legal and technical limitations of the endeavor. It was a bittersweet experience, but it laid the foundation for understanding how to manage and grow an online gaming community.
Around the same time, I had one of my first real-world encounters with hacking. A grey-hat hacker exploited a vulnerability in my server’s web panel—not to harm, but to highlight the security flaw and offer a patch. This interaction cemented my interest in cybersecurity and ethical hacking, skills I would later cultivate to protect the systems I am building today.
Blizzard and Beyond: Building Professional Foundations
My passion for gaming and community management eventually landed me a job as a Game Master at Blizzard during the early days of World of Warcraft. While my time there was brief, it was transformative. I pioneered solutions to improve customer support efficiency, including leveraging macros and setting up an internal IRC-based communication system that dramatically streamlined team operations. These innovations taught me the value of adaptability and problem-solving—skills that are critical in indie game development.
After Blizzard, I navigated a challenging period in my career, taking on roles that ranged from internet café manager to junior IT administrator. Each job, no matter how unrelated to gaming it seemed, added a new layer to my skill set. I gained hands-on experience with hardware, learned the intricacies of system administration, and honed my ability to connect and support people through technology.
From Cybersecurity to Solo Development
In the last decade, my career has centered on IT consulting, working with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to support businesses across various industries. Alongside this, I developed my expertise in ethical hacking and Linux administration, driven by the belief that I needed to understand how to build and defend the infrastructure for my future game.
These experiences have uniquely positioned me to wear multiple hats: developer, administrator, community manager, and more. As a solo developer, I understand the importance of leveraging existing frameworks and assets while injecting my own vision and creativity. Standing on the shoulders of giants, I’m ready to build something that blends nostalgia with innovation.
Closing Thoughts:
This journey hasn’t been a straight path. It’s been a winding road of self-discovery, skill-building, and perseverance. From those early days of Commander Keen to hosting private servers, to consulting with C-level executives, every step has brought me closer to realizing my dream.
I’m excited to finally share that dream with you. In my next post, I’ll delve into the vision behind the game I’m building and how I hope it will resonate with players like you. For now, thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey—and I hope you’ll stick around as I take the next steps in this incredible adventure.
Cheers,
corruptbyte