INT GAMES STUDIO is a duo, with Qiuyan handling narrative design and puzzle mechanics, while Angela focuses on art direction and programming. Both bring extensive experience from commercial game companies, blending creativity and industry knowledge into their projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q1. Congratulations on your proud achievements in the NYX Game Awards! Can you share more about your game, your studio, or yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re a close-knit team of four co-founders, brought together by our shared love of games while studying at the<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qiuyan and Angela: Hello! Yes, we\u2019re truly honored to receive this award. We are INT GAMES STUDIO, currently a two-person team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qiuyan: I\u2019m primarily responsible for narrative design and puzzle mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Angela: I focus on art direction and some programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qiuyan and Angela: We both have experience working in commercial game companies and bring extensive industry knowledge to our studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n of Portsmouth\u2014though 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q2. What was the moment you realized you wanted to create games, and how has that passion evolved over time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve all been passionate about gaming since we were kids, but some of us had parents who were cautious about what we<\/p>\n\n\n\n After working in the commercial gaming industry for a while, we gradually realized that although games are a powerful medium, it was difficult to tell the stories we truly cared about within the constraints of a highly commercialized system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This sense of limitation prompted us to consider stepping outside the traditional model to explore a more meaningful and human-centered creative path. So we decided to leave our previous positions and start creating independent games together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, our passion evolved\u2014from an initial curiosity and love for game development to a clearer creative vision: using games to reflect on social issues and express our concerns for individual experiences and group dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n play. That experience stuck with us, and as we grew older, we realised we wanted to create games that our younger selves would have been allowed to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q3. Tell us about your studio-what’s the mission that drives your team’s creative process?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We founded INT GAMES STUDIO, an independent game studio dedicated to expressing humanistic care through the language of games. We believe games are not just tools for entertainment, but powerful narrative media with emotional and expressive potential. Our mission is to create interactive works that resonate with people and inspire reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our creative process is guided by lived experiences and close observation of real-world issues\u2014especially those often overlooked or normalized, such as workplace alienation, emotional detachment, and the erosion of personal value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through our games, we aim to explore these topics and invite players to think more deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q4. What’s the story or concept behind your award-winning game, and what inspired its creation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our current project, BUG, was born from these creative ideals. It was inspired by our own experiences working in big internet companies, as well as the news reports and social phenomena we observed. In such environments, we felt firsthand how individuals became alienated under high-pressure systems, gradually losing their sense of self in a culture of performance metrics and excessive overtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The word “BUG” symbolizes not only technical errors but also the unfixable cracks in human systems. In the game, players take on the role of an HR manager investigating the disappearance of a top employee. As the investigation deepens, an absurd and satirical reality begins to unfold. It reflects the psychological burnout and emotional toll suffered by workers in today\u2019s workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, we were deeply influenced by literature and film. Kafka\u2019s The Metamorphosis offered symbolic inspiration\u2014its depiction of a man turning into a bug and being rejected by his family and society echoes the way workers in real life can feel invisible or discarded. Films like American Psycho and Chaplin\u2019s Modern Times also shaped our tone and narrative style, using dark humor and absurdity to critique the struggles of individuals under capitalist systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through BUG, we want to give voice to those who are exhausted by these systems, and encourage players to reflect on conditions that may have become normalized in their own lives. This is our first game, and it marks the beginning of our journey toward creating more expressive and impactful works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q5. What do you think is the most innovative or unique feature of your game, and how does it enhance the player experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most innovative features of our game is the use of a simulated computer desktop as the core mechanic for both puzzle-solving and storytelling. Players interact with a virtual office environment\u2014searching through files, reading emails, and using keywords to uncover hidden truths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This design draws inspiration from games like Her Story and The Operator, but we\u2019ve added original mechanics tailored to our narrative and themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The entire game takes place within a realistic, tense office setting. Our goal is to create a highly immersive experience where players can genuinely feel the stress and alienation of modern work culture, deepening both emotional impact and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n