Senior Producer
Pronouns: He/Him
DnD Class: Either Paladin or Arcane Trickster. Depends on my mood.
Empire or Rebellion: Well, I don’t like fascism so…
Turtle: Donatello. Always.
Favorite Color: Purple
When did you first get started in games and how?
Growing up in Singapore as a little kid, I first started playing games when my parents got me a handheld LCD game. After that, I played mostly whatever PC games my dad had on the family computer, like Battle Chess or Falcon AT. In 1989, I got an NES for Christmas, and that totally cemented my love of video games.
How did you first get started in the game industry?
I was living in Osaka, Japan, teaching English at a cram school, and I met a group of likeminded people through a video game forum. They were all in college at the time, but after they graduated, they started working in video game localization, and they asked me if I’d be interested in working on English localization, since I had a degree in English, and interest in writing.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Outside of my work at Akupara, I work on personal creative projects. When I do, I draw inspiration from all over the place. Whether it’s movies, games, music, comics or a real life experience, I get inspired from all kinds of things.
What is your favorite video game or series?
The series I’ve had the most enduring love for is Final Fantasy. I played Final Fantasy 1 on NES when I was a little kid, and I fell in love with it immediately. Since then, I’ve kept up with the series, and have tried to play every iteration along the way.
What is your favorite tabletop game?
Aside from D&D, my favorite tabletop game is easily Arkham Horror. I used to play it with a group of tabletop fanatics that had all the expansions, and the setup time would take forever, but it was so much fun. I’d love an online PC version of Arkham Horror to play with my friends today.
If Akupara could partner with any person, who would you want to work with?
I’ve had the chance to work with a lot of incredible creators over the years, and the one person that’s still on my bucket list is Yasumi Matsuno, the director of Tactics Ogre, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy XII.
What is your proudest accomplishment with Akupara?
In my short time at Akupara, I’ve been really proud of the day-to-day work I do with the developers.
One piece of advice you could give someone who wants to get into the gaming industry.
If you want to be a developer, the best advice I can give is to just start making games. Start with an easy-to-learn program like RPG Maker and make something. Participate in game jams with a group of friends and make something small. The more you make, the more you’ll learn, and the more experienced you’ll become.
Any fun facts about yourself?
My first name is a palindrome!
What was your favorite subject in school?
English. I love writing, and I used to love creating writing assignments when I was in school.
Controller or Keyboard?
Both! It actually depends on the game.
Console vs PC?
Both! I love having a powerful PC, but as a fan of Japanese games, I’ve spent a lot of time on console over the years.
What activities do you enjoy doing?
Outside of gaming? I love writing. I love reading comics. I love spending time with my friends. I really enjoy cooking, and I’m trying my best to break out of my comfort zone and cook more daring, and difficult dishes. My mother taught me to cook, and I feel really comfortable in the kitchen.
If you would like you connect with Nayan or any other members of Akupara then join our Discord!