Why I Built an Indie Game Studio at 13, And What It Taught Me About Community

When I first got into developing indie games, I was in the 8th grade with only self-taught online knowledge, some HTML5, and basic Python I had picked up the year before. I just started researching and learning. The biggest lesson I took from those early days is that even if you don't initially have the skills to do something, the only thing actually stopping you is yourself. You just have to get out there and get it done.

Over the past five years, I've accomplished things I never thought I’d be able to do, but it taught me how easy it is to get in your own head. Often, we become our own worst enemies when we let self-doubt take control.

During a recent 30-hour lifeguard certification course, I felt major imposter syndrome. I was surrounded by 20 to 24-year-olds, and despite spending five years in the Avila Beach Junior Lifeguard (ABJG) program building the skills to be an ocean lifeguard and serving as an aide, I found myself paralyzed by the "what-ifs." But I leaned on my training, outperformed the group, and passed the test. The foundation matters.

That experience heavily reinforced the mindset I’ve lived by since my first year in junior guard bootcamp: the Three D’s—Discipline, Dedication, and Decorum. These are the same traits left behind by legends like Ben Carlson, the Newport Beach ocean lifeguard who lost his life in the line of duty. When 15-foot swells hit, Ben didn't hesitate. He knew the risk, but he went anyway to save a life, cementing the legacy: "Ben did go." Whether you're facing an intimidating certification course, a high-stakes rescue, or the daily challenges of building a business, you can't wait for fear to subside. You have to take action.

I have spent years building work ethic and connections through community leadership. Logging over 315 hours of community service in a single year and mentoring youth showed me how genuinely engaging with kids can brighten their lives. Stepping up as a student leader and working hand-in-hand with other mentors gave me a deep appreciation for physical community ties.

Building Paemonteon Games Studios™ has been about translating those physical community ties into digital ones. The journey of building this studio has been a massive rollercoaster. Being recognized as a Top 4 "Entrepreneur of Impact" was incredible, but seeing our first 15,000 users hit the site back in 2024 was what truly sparked my drive. We were building games that people were actually tuning into and a community that loved them.

That same dedication drives how we build our games today:

• Inkan Fighting: Our flagship strategy/fighting browser game featuring structured PvP, PvC, and PvB session lifecycles.

• Treasure Defender: Built entirely alongside player feedback from early alpha builds.

• And many more...

  
  

Building a studio, surf rescue training, or learning to code in middle school all require the same thing: trusting your preparation and living with purpose. Don't let what scares you prevent you from doing what’s right, and don't let a lack of experience stop you from building something great.

If you want to see what that dedication looks like in practice, grab a snack and head over to paemonteonstudios.com to play our games or grab some official studio gear. You never know what you're capable of until you dive in.