We’re a close-knit team of four co-founders, brought together by our shared love of games while studying at the University of Portsmouth—though two of us already had a head start as brothers. Our different skills in game design, programming, and art naturally clicked, and in 2019 we founded Waving Bear Studio.

We’ve all been passionate about gaming since we were kids, but some of us had parents who were cautious about what we could play. That experience stuck with us, and as we grew older, we realized we wanted to create games that our younger selves would have been allowed to enjoy.

As indie developers, we each take on multiple roles—from programming, 3D art, and animation to managing the day-to-day operations of the business. To succeed as a game developer, we believe creativity, adaptability, and a passion for problem-solving are essential.

Waving Bear Studio was founded in 2019 with the goal of diversifying family-friendly gaming. Our mission is to create games that appeal to younger players and their families by taking popular genres, like shooting and horror, and making them accessible to all ages.

As a small team, we’re hands-on with every aspect of development, which allows us to craft unique experiences like STUFFED. We’re passionate about delivering games that are fun, creative, and inclusive, giving families more choices in the gaming space.

In our opinion, a great game is one that delivers a fun and engaging experience through enjoyable gameplay. It should be easy to learn but challenging to master.

At Waving Bear Studio, we specialise in family-friendly games that draw inspiration from various genres often seen as less accessible for younger players, such as shooting and horror. Our games are designed to maintain the core gameplay mechanics that make these genres popular while ensuring they are age-appropriate and inclusive.

We focus on creating engaging experiences with bright, appealing visuals, fun gameplay, and a sense of adventure.

Our ideation process is highly collaborative and draws on the diverse strengths of our team.

Winning a Gold is a tremendous honor for our team. It validates our mission and showcases the hard work and passion we’ve poured into STUFFED.

Winning an international award like the NYX Game Awards has the potential to boost our visibility as a studio. It has validated the quality and appeal of STUFFED, and we believe it can also open doors for future opportunities as a studio.

One hurdle we faced was ensuring that we struck the right balance between engaging gameplay and age-appropriate content, which can be difficult in genres like shooting.

Being based in the UK has greatly benefited our ideation process through the vibrant and supportive indie game community here. We’ve had access to valuable resources, networking opportunities, and events that allow us to connect with fellow developers.

We’re particularly excited about the rise of indie games in the industry. It’s inspiring to see smaller studios gaining recognition and achieving success, proving that unique and creative experiences can resonate with players just as much as larger titles.

One of our favorite things about the gaming industry is its creativity and innovation, where developers continuously push the boundaries of what games can be.

Secondly, we love the sense of community; gamers and developers alike come together to share their passion, support one another, and celebrate diverse gaming experiences.

Finally, we appreciate the impact that games have, whether it’s providing joy and entertainment or fostering connections among players and families. It’s rewarding to know that games can make a positive difference in people’s lives.

For anyone looking to improve their development skills, we recommend exploring the free resources available online. YouTube offers countless tutorials on programming, art, and engines like Unity and Unreal.

Additionally, joining online communities such as Reddit or Discord, dedicated to game development, can be a great way to connect with others and share feedback.

We anticipate a rise in VR games as headsets become more affordable.

Aside from family and friends, one of our biggest inspirations has been the documentary Indie Game: The Movie. Watching the journeys of developers who faced numerous challenges while pursuing their passion for game development resonated deeply with us

Our key to success has been resilience and a willingness to learn from every challenge. Success in the gaming industry isn’t easy; it requires dedication, hard work, and the ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned.

We encourage aspiring developers to keep pushing forward, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay true to their creative vision.

We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us on our journey. None of this would have been possible without you. Your encouragement and feedback have been invaluable in helping us bring STUFFED to life, and we’re excited to continue creating games.