In July of 2022 a fantastic moment occurred, a flash of inspiration hit me like a bolt of
lightning and I had no idea the journey I was about to embark upon.
I sat on the idea for about a week, then when it didn’t fade from my mind I did what any sane person would do, I ordered everything I would need, map, stickers, markers, various generic game pawns and a label maker to get everything that was stuck in my head and on my word doc into the real world in a crude prototype of what would eventually become Cargo Kings.
Then I also did what any sane person possessed with a vision would do, I filed for a trademark for Cargo Kings.
Yes, it was the first thing I did to cement into reality what was at the current moment a doc on my computer and mad rantings.
I then immediately subjected my friends and family to play the game. The early version was clunky and bit cumbersome, but the core idea was there and it needed to be fleshed out. I soaked up feedback like a sponge, what worked, what didn’t, etc. I realized early on that if Cargo Kings was to become a real thing that I would need to have a thick skin and not just listen but apply suggestions and improvements to the game at speed. I checked my pride knowing that I have blind spots and I was too close to the project to see them. You know, the whole forest for the trees thing.
I was working fulltime throughout the whole process and there were many weeks that I put in 90-100 hours between employment and Cargo Kings. The balancing of projects, art with Charlie, 3D modeling, copy, getting the business side ready was at times joyous, maddening and tedious. I would frequently tell my wife that I felt like a street performer spinning plates, and more plates were constantly being added.
What kept pushing me well past the point when most would give up? I was possessed with a singularity of vision and determination of will that bordered on the extreme. I’ve experienced this before in previous businesses I have created as a photographer and working my way up the food chain in trucking from complete noob in my early forties to owning and running my own independent trucking company in less than seven years. But never to this extent.
What does this mean to you? I’ve spent thousands of hours not just on the physical
development but mentally pouring over every detail.
Why? Because excellence matters.
In closing, Armada Games has in various stages of development four other games two of
which are Cargo Kings standalone franchise additions. These are not expansions but
thematically similar separate games altogether. I’m not going to hit the details on the other titles I’m working on except that I believe they hold great potential and are a work in progress.
All the best and happy gaming!
C S @ Armada Games
