​Yes, that’s actually the name of the town where I spent my youngest years. It’s an old mining town founded before its name would raise any eyebrows. While I haven’t been there in years, I’ve come to realize just how much growing up there has meant to me.

Let me say it straight: Swastika Public School was an amazing place to learn and play. ​

I know that playground games are an essential part of childhood, and at this small northern school, I had some unique opportunities. And like most Canadian stories, it all started with Hockey. 

Why? Probably because Northern Ontario is cold. I mean really cold. It was -50 on some days, so moving was the only way to keep even close to warm, even with double socks, double-toque, long underwear AND snowpants, well, you get the picture. 

I’m still amazed to this day how well-equipped our school was. We had cutting-edge computers called the Unisys Icon, with all kinds of games. And a brand new playground with what felt like, at the time, such a perfect setup to imagine just about anything. Especially with such a well-connected structure, the way the elements worked together was either brilliant design, or an amazing fluke. 

If you have kids, you definitely know what I’m talking about – and especially for boys, bringing superheroes to life – i.e. pretending to be these fictional characters in all kinds of crossover battles (long before Hollywood figured out this would be fun), and of course, arguing over who was stronger. 

I was definitely outnumbered – but enjoyed it all the same. And years later, of course, I realize my friends were right. If you guys are reading this - I finally admit it!

​And I think this is really where my passion for games began. Telling friends about new characters we found in our favourite games, and the arguments that ensued, was the start of what made me care about all the little details that brought these worlds to life. 

So in a sense, it wasn’t just Shining Force, my favourite game of all time, that inspired me to create Stratos. It was all the imagining and arguing and running and jumping and horseplay in those worlds that made it matter so much. 

I grew up in a meteor crater full of dungeons and treasure. While there are no dragons there, the moose are every bit as fierce. Just try negotiating with one and you'll see what I mean.

Surprisingly, I hadn't really thought of Sudbury in these terms until recently, It was always just "home" to me, even after having moved away.  ​​

Magic: the Gathering and Heroes of Might and Magic III were the top games of choice among our friends on Friday nights. 

Both of us loved the sense of adventure and surprise in Heroes III, along with the finely-tuned balance that kept everything tight and fair. ​

And yet, no matter how creative we got within other games, it never really seemed to be quite enough as a full creative outlet. The dream of making our own tactical RPG stayed with us for as long as we can remember, but it was during our time in Sudbury that we followed through on the idea and first created, prototyped, and tested Stratos.

Thank you, Sudbury, for all you have given us. From our creative beginnings to having our game on the (reserve) shelf at Let's Scrabbalatte Board Game Cafe since the prototype days and more, we are proud to call Sudbury home. 

Interestingly enough, it now feels like our creative journey is really just beginning. Who's with us?