A MAZE. / Berlin 2026

Making personal games is hard. But it's also scary. What if people hate it? It of course means, they hate YOU. What if people love it? It means they have some sort of idea of what your art is about and can relate to it. But that doesn't mean they fully understand it as you intended.

How do I distance myself from my art if I've poured my heart and soul into it? How do I survive development if this is so important to me? How do I know it will ever be important to players? Is that even a good way to think of it?
A thoughtful analysis of making personal art, making commercial games, and my own journey of 7 years developing Blueberry, a game about intergenerational trauma.

Content warning
The presentation will contain mentions of trauma, family violence and suicide. It will also discuss other mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.