{"id":37497,"date":"2025-04-16T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T09:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muse.international\/?p=37497"},"modified":"2025-04-17T03:42:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T03:42:35","slug":"strummer-games-founder-paul-korman-on-crafting-the-phantom-fellows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/strummer-games-founder-paul-korman-on-crafting-the-phantom-fellows\/","title":{"rendered":"Strummer Games Founder Paul Korman on Crafting The Phantom Fellows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paul Korman, solo developer of Strummer Games, has a background in music and creative mischief before making The Phantom Fellows. His love for Sierra and LucasArts adventure games, sparked in childhood, is now shared with his son, Strummer, who inspired the name of his publishing company. Since 2018, Paul has co-hosted the Classic Gamers Guild Podcast, diving into adventure games every other week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q1. What led you to become a Game Developer \/ Marketer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a solo dev and a solo dad, and I love being both. Before making The Phantom Fellows, my background was in music and amateur tomfoolery. Growing up, I played Sierra and LucasArts adventure games with my dad, and I\u2019ve kept that tradition alive with my own son, Strummer\u2014whom my publishing company is named after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We love getting cozy with a blanket, some snacks (so many snacks), and diving into old-school adventure games together. Since 2018, I\u2019ve also been co-hosting the Classic Gamers Guild Podcast, where we discuss all things adventure games every other week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. Tell us more about your studio\/company?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I started development four years ago, my son was about five, and I felt this urge to create something that could be a legacy for him. I wanted him to grow up seeing his dad doing something he loved\u2014aiming high and working hard to make it happen\u2014while showing him how his own creativity can bring stories, games, music, and art to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I taught myself coding and pixel art, bringing along my experience in music and writing, plus my arguably unhealthy obsession with adventure games. Together, it was enough to make this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3.<\/strong> What is your own definition of a great game?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


As a solo developer, I\u2019m the writer, programmer, artist, and musician! There are two traits I\u2019d recommend to any aspiring solo dev\u2014if you have these, you\u2019re up for the challenge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, if you\u2019re the kind of person who needs to create, who feels like you\u2019re withering on the vine when you\u2019re not making something, solo development will keep you entirely fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, if you\u2019re someone who can\u2019t sleep until you\u2019ve finished the task you started, that drive will be the key to getting a project over the line, because no one else is there to push you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. Tell us more about your ideation process?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My studio is a very cool roll-top desk. I\u2019ve customized a room in my house with a view of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration and a motivational shrine to adventure games and the loves of my life across the walls and on the desk itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glowing clouds, ivy, and lights hang from the ceiling and down the walls; a Space Quest poster, Indiana Jones comics, guitars, books, and plenty of chunky 1980s-1990s PC Big Boxes filled with adventure game floppy disks. Inside the desk, there are pins, vintage hint books, a collage of photo booth strips of my son and me, a Dial-a-Pirate wheel from Monkey Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time I approach my workspace, I feel a surge of excitement and purpose. Glancing at the Sierra and LucasArts memorabilia, I feel like I have a chance to stand on the shoulders of giants and do them justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Phantom Fellows<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Explore the journey of Bryan Engram<\/a>, the Silver Winner of the 2024 NYX Game Awards<\/em>. Bryan Engram, Founder\/CEO and Chief Creative at Brazen Animation, launched the studio in 2014. After eight years at Reel FX, where he rose to Director of Studio Animation and helped grow the company from 15 to 500 employees, he decided to chart his own path. He now leads Brazen with a focus on vision and direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paul Korman, solo developer of Strummer Games, has a background in music and creative mischief before making The Phantom Fellows. 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