We are a proudly South African game development company and like all indie developers around the globe, we live and breathe games every second of every day. It is not hard to explain to other indie developers (game designers, programmers, artists etc.) the passion, obsession and madness that comes with the lifestyle.
For most developers it is more than just a career or a hobby, it is a calling. It’s the legendary sword in the stone, the golden ring in a hobbit’s palm or that “just one more quest before bedtime”.
It is that thing you just have to do, that you were meant to do and you would face any hardship to be able to do. It’s family disappointment, people telling you to get a real job, working nights, holidays and weekends, sacrificing your health and bootstrapping (basically sacrificing any financial resources you have). All of this, in the hopes of making something extraordinary.
Sadly, in an already saturated and competitive market it is difficult to make a footprint in the industry and for South Africans it is almost impossible. In a country that has 55 million people, less than 300 people are locally employed in the game development industry. That shocking statistic is bolstered by lack of infrastructure, educational programmes, government support and funding and the sad fact that game development is not seen or supported as a career option or a means of livelihood.
But like every indie developer on this planet, we all have our journeys, our sacrifices and our stories. Hardships aside, there is nothing as magical as seeing people being brought together to make a game! From talented creatives, supportive friends, to parents who don’t have a clue what their seeing, but still think it’s swell. The sense of community you get from a committed group of people creating something special, is truly a thing of beauty and as the saying goes, a labour of love. And what makes all this even more worth it, is when the loveable geeks and gamers, we do all of this for, enjoy what we’ve made! Man, that feeling is like downing a raid boss that took weeks to defeat!
As Design Imps, this is our story and we are proud of it! We are a talented group of dreamers and we make the PC games we want to play. We want to immerse ourselves in alternate realities, not to escape, but to enjoy the gift of dreaming. We are finding our way in an uncertain future, but we couldn’t have done it without other indie developers who have paved the way before us. Hopefully, one day we can pay it forward and do the same for our country and game development industry.
Design Imps is currently working on an exciting mini-game called Fhtagn! – Tales of the Creeping Madness. Fhtagn! is a text based adventure game, where choices matter! It features couch co-op and just a hint of betrayal. Play as one of four cultists intent on releasing the Ancient One. Decide how you will be preparing for the ritual, by visiting various locations in an unsuspecting town and navigating iconic Lovecraftian events. Battle investigators, gangs, corrupt cops and horrors from the Depths, to bring about the end of the world!
It gives us great pleasure to introduce the Design Imps creative team whose blood, sweat and tears lovingly go into every detail of our game development projects.
Janke van Jaarsveld
Founder | Director | Game designer
From a young age, Janke made paper games with his friends, sharing fantastical worlds and astounding adventures. From there his obsession with the art of game design grew exponentially and led to his journey as the creative mastermind, writer and driving force behind Design Imps.
Jeremy de Reuck
Game developer | Programmer
Jeremy is so passionate about game development and programming that we are absolutely convinced his heart beats in code. When Jeremy isn’t building and fixing the complicated world of The Creeping Madness and Fhtagn!, he extends his expertise to the game design aspects of the project.
Nadia de Reuck
Concept Artist | Game Artist
With a stroke and a flick of her Wacom pen, Nadia brings concepts to life and dreams up wondrous worlds and creatures. Her pen is an instrument of the Ancient One, ready to invade our reality.
Colleen van Wyk
Concept Artist | Game Artist
Colleen has been tasked with interpreting the dark rituals and summoning eldritch horrors and dire bunnies. It is both a blessing and a curse to be the creative wielder of unspeakable things.
Ilana van Jaarsveld
Community Management | Creative Specialist | Writer
What cult can aim to take over the world, without a messenger from the Ancient Ones? Ilana ensures that all the Ancient Ones (gamers) are enlightened about the progress of their despicable plans (game development).
Ferri Erasmus
Publishing and Creative Specialist at Motief
Since working on this project, Ferri has become an expert in hiding tentacles in artwork, quoting Lovecraft by heart and fending of dark whispers at night.
