Starting HatBear Games: A Journey into Game Development

In January 2023, I finally decided to turn my years of game ideas into reality. That’s when HatBear Games was born—a game company built on curiosity, weirdness, and memorable experiences.

Why HatBear?

The name “HatBear Games” came to me while thinking about a stuffed bear wearing a hat. Something about that image stuck: quirky, slightly odd, and unforgettable. It perfectly aligns with the kind of games I want to create—games that evoke curiosity and leave a lasting impression.

The Vision for Our Games

At HatBear Games, we aren’t tied to a specific genre or style. Our philosophy is simple: take something classic and add a twist. We focus on crafting unique mechanics and rich narratives, making every game a journey worth remembering.

Our first game is a love letter to PlayStation-era survival horror games, featuring branching narratives and replay ability. It’s heavily stylized and draws on the keywords that guide us: curiosity, weirdness, and memorable.

The Challenges and Growth

Starting a game company has been a learning experience, to say the least. The biggest challenge? Knowing my own limitations. Participating in game jams gave me a chance to reflect on how to work collaboratively and recognize when to call on others.

These jams were a crash course in game development. My first attempts were rough—bugs everywhere and mechanics that didn’t quite click—but they taught me so much about the process. Now, I have a clear roadmap and a team of talented creatives to bring our vision to life.

The Most Exciting Part

What’s most exciting is watching everything come together. For our first game, we’ve assembled a team of writers, environmental artists, character artists, and concept artists. Every day, we create a more cohesive world filled with rich stories and artistic styles. It’s incredible to see how much we’ve grown already.

Funding the Dream

Right now, we’re funding the project out of pocket. Our goal is to create a working demo of the game’s first “episode.” This demo will not only help us gather feedback but also serve as a steppingstone toward securing funding from publishers.

Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

If you’re dreaming of starting your own game company but don’t know where to begin, start small. Join game jams. Don’t be afraid to fail. My early projects were riddled with bugs and incomplete mechanics, but those experiences taught me the ins and outs of game development.

What’s Next for HatBear Games?

We’re laser-focused on finishing a demo that showcases the first chapter of our game. This will give players a taste of what we’re creating and set us up to take the next big step: finding a publisher to help us bring the full game to life.

Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for joining us on this exciting journey!