A group of Games Design graduates from Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) have launched their own game after securing industry funding.

Aaron Haffenden, George Lyst, Joe Ruck and Liam Shelley officially launched their studio production company, Tombstone Studios in July. Their journey, which began as part of their university studies, has seen them develop their own game, and showcase their work at major events such as EGX in London and Insomnia’s games festival in Birmingham.

Joe Ruck, the group's producer, worked as a labourer before pursuing a degree in Games Design. ‘I was often in jobs that weren’t fulfilling and to study Games Design at Canterbury Christ Church University has been a transformative experience,’ he said. ‘It’s a rare opportunity to learn more and use the skills gained during our course to develop in a professional capacity.'

The team’s journey began in their second year when they specialized in different areas such as 2D and 3D design and programming. As they entered their third year, their combined efforts resulted in a tight-knit team, working together effectively.

George Lyst explained how he found a new interest and skills during his time at the University. “My favourite part of the course was 2D art, this is where I decided what I wanted to pursue in my career,” he said. “The lecturers really helped me to improve and to pursue my newfound interest. The life drawing classes held were invaluable for me, to have catered help for developing my skills in art.”

The team entered the Tranzfuser competition, a UK Government-funded initiative that provides student teams the opportunity to develop a game prototype over the summer. Out of 60 applicants, only 19 teams were selected, and Tombstone Studios was among them. The competition granted them £7,500, which they used to hire contractors for areas outside their core expertise. This experience was key in their professional and personal growth, teaching them about workload management, teamwork, and developing their skills in a real-world setting.

“It was an amazing opportunity working with Tranzfuser as it gave us real-world opportunities that were instrumental in developing each of us,” Joe said. “We had to manage our own workload, work as a team, and learn how to develop as individuals and employees.”

Liam Shelley explained how the course helped him prepare for the competition. “The course offering a multitude of differing modules allowed me to diversify my skill sets to help fill gaps our team could come across. We also had the opportunity to work within teams during practical tasks which better prepared me for dealing with teamwork and workflows.” 

Our recent Games Design graduates
Our recent Games Design graduates

Robes & Wrinkles is a first-person power-fantasy dungeon game where players control a geriatric sorcerer seeking revenge. Initially conceived as a monster escape game, the concept evolved to reflect the team's shared humor and artistic influences, notably Monty Python and Mike Mignola's Hellboy comics. The team wanted to create a game that appealed to their target demographic, and they were pleased with its final direction.

Tombstone Studios showcased their game at events like Insomnia, which attracts over 30,000 visitors, and received valuable feedback from both industry professionals and the public. They also pitched their game at EGX in London and the Tranzfuser event in Dundee, expanding their network and learning from industry veterans.

The support of their lecturers, including Will Henniker and Professor Alan Meades, was essential to their success.

“The guidance from our lecturers brought out the professionals in us,” Joe explained. “We learned things that we couldn’t have learned elsewhere, and that has made us more capable and competent in our work.”

They also received help from the University’s Careers Hub, which provided initial funding and industry connections that enabled them to showcase their game at major events.

“Without the funding from the Careers Hub, we wouldn’t have been able to showcase at major events,” Joe said. “It was a turning point for us, and it gave us the confidence to keep pushing forward.”

Tombstone Studios is currently participating in Dundev, a month-long business and game development residency in Scotland, where they will continue developing their skills with industry mentors.

For students aspiring to follow in their footsteps, Aaron encouraged students to find their passion as he did on the Games Design course.

“The first thing I would say is to not be afraid of what you think you are capable of,” he said. “I know when I started, I had no prior experience at all, and just looking at the names of the modules put me in doubt about what I’d realistically be able to do. I went from dreading the technical side of game design, like programming or using game engines, to now doing just that for my specialism in games development. I would urge all students to give it a try—you’ll find exactly what you’re capable of and the passion for it.”

Find Tombstone Studios on socials.

To play Robes & Wrinkles, visit their Steam landing page.