Boxblue Studios: Story-First Adventures

It all started during the mid-seventies like a lot of things did in those days. I seem to remember that there was a lot of rain... and short public service films on the TV were like little horror movies; I've never owned a kite for fear of exploding.

I grew up in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, which during that period was a good place for the music scene and had a nice arty vibe. It was before shell suits and Lynx Africa.

My introduction to video games was through my older brother, Dean, who received an Atari one Christmas, and we proceeded to marvel at the twisty knob controllers and out-of-this-world graphics in games like Space Invaders, Pong and Frogger. This was in the old days when there was one TV in the house, and we'd have to wait for a window of opportunity to commandeer it (usually after Grandstand) and get a blissful couple of hours staring at our 8-bit Gods.

I was always interested in art and always had some talent for it. I followed art as my preferred option throughout school and even on to college in the early nineties. Then some life happened, and the world of faceless, thankless work consumed my mortal form. Art became a hobby with the occasional commission here and there.

As gaming evolved, I realised that I was drawn less to the flashy action games and more to the wit and smart stories of Adventure Games. I was lucky enough to (co)own an Atari ST and Amiga in the late 80's and early nineties and found myself captivated by games like Future Wars, The Secret of Monkey Island and the utterly game-changing brilliance of Beneath a Steel Sky.

Thanks to my mother's influence, I've also always been a fan of the Detective genre in books, films and later-day games. Not as good as guessing 'whodunnit' like mom was, but then she was always, secretly, the smartest person in any room.

Anyway, fast forward to not so long ago.

My bestest buddy Ryan and I decided that what the world really needed was a new game studio run by a computer programming graduate and a self-taught artist/animator. We talked about it off and on for some years, until eventually, we did something about it. And hey-ho, Boxblue Studios was born.

The big idea? Well, to bring the sum of our collective ideas, sarcasm and general disdain for the 9-5 to the genres of point & click and detective games while having fun and drinking all the rum.

And this is what happened next.

My journey in game development kickstarted with a strong commitment to learning and diving into the field of computer science. I earned a degree in computer science, specializing in game development. This educational background laid the groundwork for my future profession, providing me with the skills and insights needed to create games.

I’m blessed with a wonderful family, including my wife, the love of my life, and our incredible daughter, both of whom I would do anything for. My drive to provide the best for my loved ones has pushed me to work even harder. Motivated by the desire to give my family everything they deserve, I chose to follow my passion for game development and storytelling by establishing Boxblue Studios.

During this period, I partnered with my oldest and closest friend, Lee Ciasullo. Our collaboration has become the foundation of Boxblue Studios. Together, we are on a mission to create engaging and enjoyable games, aiming to bring joy and excitement to players around the globe, starting with our debut project, "The Adventures of R Sole."

Greetings, everyone! I appreciate you taking the time to delve into Boxblue Studios and discover more about our background.

I'm Ryan, a passionate game developer from Tipton, UK (and I apologize for that in advance). My enthusiasm for gaming ignited when I was just 4 or 5 years old, thanks to the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive I was lucky enough to possess. As a true '90s kid, I grew up alongside Super Mario and Sonic, which instilled in me a lasting affection for the gaming universe.

However, it wasn't until later that my passion for storytelling truly blossomed. I owe a significant debt to my late uncle, Michael Dodd, who exposed me to legendary games like "Resident Evil," "Metal Gear Solid," "Final Fantasy 7," and "Silent Hill" (let's conveniently ignore the age ratings for the moment, shall we?).

I clearly remember being picked up from school, going to my cousin's home for dinner, and getting lost in the newest PlayStation games. Yet, just when I was about to jump further into the world of "Final Fantasy 7” and destroy the second reactor, it was time to head home.

You can imagine the happiness I felt when I finally got my own PlayStation and realized how much I had missed beyond the 7th Heaven...

Those games and their narratives were absolutely breathtaking. Even today, I revisit them for their nostalgia and to relive the enchantment of those unforgettable moments, all while enjoying contemporary gaming.