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OUR MISSION

Creating player-focused games

Harmonic Shard Interactive balances nostalgia and innovation for a largely untapped audience. Our media expands upon beloved retro designs and genres lost by the "Games as a Service" model many Publishers push in the modern era. We believe the core of gaming should be fun and player-focused above all else with our goal to make games for players rather than the bottom line. We are dedicated to producing games that give players an entertaining experience without the intentionally broken gameplay and pay-to-enjoy structures often found in modern gaming.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 2021

Harmonic Shard Interactive is the love child of Troy Hetzler who has been designing games since 2006. He became disillusioned by many of his favorite franchises being cannibalized by large publishers as the sentiment among players grows restless. With many games being churned out half-finished and filled with predatory marketing schemes both labeled as a "Games as a Service" model, Troy became dedicated to making his own studio that creates the games he wants to play and felt the gaming community deserves.

OUR VISION

Bringing Passion Back to Gaming

Harmonic Shard Interactive aims to lead the charge in gaming innovation that does not sacrifice quality to get there. We aim to make games both fun to make and fun to play without waiting months for patches or costing you extra to access key features. We want players to catch the same feelings we had growing up playing games and even rekindle that love for gaming some have lost due to the current climate.

Meet the Team

We are a small but dedicated team that works with a group of contractors and freelancers.

Team Experience

​Projects 2005-2021

(YoYo Games, GML, etc)

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  • Independent Games: 

  • Guardian: The Elements - Puzzle (2005)

  • Conquest: Colosseum - Arcade (2005-2006)

  • Shards I: Origins - Dungeon Crawler (2006-2007)

  • The Gallery - Platformer (2007)

  • Tactics Battlefront - Action Schmup (2007)

  • The Forsaken Keep - Action Adventure (2007-2008)

  • Crossroads I & II - Puzzle (2008)

  • Shards II: First Chapter - Dungeon Crawler (2008-2009)

  • In the Frontier - Action Schmup (2009, 2017)

  • Cache of Dreams - RPG Adventure (2010, TBD)

  • Firewall: Demo v1.0 - Arcade Adventure (2012)

  • Tanks: Assembly Required - Action Puzzle (2013)

  • Solar Systems - Arcade Schmup (2013-2014)

  • ​Firewall: Alpha v3.1 - Arcade Adventure (2016-2017)

  • Shards II: Second Chapter - Dungeon Crawler (2016, 2019)

  • Shards II: Fragment of Ruin - Dungeon Crawler (2022-2023)

  • Firewall: Closed Beta v4.1.2 - Arcade Action (2022-2024) 

  • Shadows of F3RM1: Demo - Arcade Schmup (2023-2024)

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  • Collaborative Projects: 

  • Legendary Dash (2007) - Game Design, Sprite Artist

  • Pokemon: Urban Project (2007-2008) - Soundtrack

  • Arctic Strike Back (2008) - Game Design Lead, QA

  • Pokemon World 2 (2009) - Game Design Lead, QA

  • Shadow of the Wastes (2009-2011) - Soundtrack 

  • Solar Systems (2013-2014) - Soundtrack, Sprite Artist​

Skills

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Advanced: JIRA, GameMaker, UserVoice, Trello,  TradingView, Zendesk, Digital Art (iPad, Cintiq)Proficient: PowerDirector, InkScape, Finale, Anvil Studios, Audacity, OBS, Word Suite, Pinnacle

​Achievements & Affiliated Work

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List Incomplete

​​

  • YoYo Games Independent Publisher (2007-2014) 

  • Guardians of Atlas - Closed Tester, Backer (2013) 

  • Age of Empires II: The Forgotten (2013)

  • YouTube & Twitch Partner (2013-2022) 

  • ResonanceBot Dynamic Game AI (2013-2021)

  • Age of Empires II: The African Kingdoms (2015) 

  • Feudal Wars: Kickstarter Full Demo (2016) 

  • Prismata - Closed Tester, Backer (2015-2018)

  • Age of Empires II: Rise of the Rajas (2017) 

  • Hero.tv Social Platform Integration (2017-2018)

  • SOS: The Ultimate Escape (2017-2018) 

  • Age of Empires I: Definitive Edition (2018) 

  • Age of Empires II: "DLC4" (2018) 

  • Pokemon: Community Administrator (2018-2024)

  • Age of Empires II: Lords of the West (2019) 

  • Freelance Digital Artist (2020-Present) 

  • Eclipse DeFi (2021) 

  • Age of Empires IV - Consultant (2021) "Pre-Prod, Alpha, Beta" 

    • Public Credits vary due to NDA, Publisher Contracts, Closed Testing, and Multiple Studios. Redacted details are only for Business Inquiry.

  • PVSRA Ethereum, Pay it Forward, LearnTradeWin (2021-Present) 

  • Harmonic Shard Interactive (2021-Present) 

Contact Us

Managing Director - Troy Hetzler

Creative Lead, Art Director, Game Design: 

Troy Hetzler (@Resonance22 / @Resonance22Art) 

Staff & Affiliates: 

Nathan K., Sophie E., Thaddeus K., Mike D. (TechHysteria),

Cuewotted, Rob T., Kyle G., Martin, and more

Special Thanks & Testers: 

Jimmy M., , Shift, Mylan, Linnzia,

Ryan, Vega, Rob, Yaura, and Friends

  • Firewall [Title TBD] - Arcade Action (TBD)

  • Lux: Shadows of F3RM1 - Arcade Schmup (2025+)

  • Shards II: Fragment of Ruin - Dungeon Crawler (TBD)

Game Studio Projects

Contact Us for Careers & Inquiries

Interested in partnering with Harmonic Shard Interactive?

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Thank you for your support. We'd love to hear from you!

Feel free to contact us for work and partnerships by filling out the form or email us directly: business@harmonicshard.com

Game Studio & Creative Media

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US FOR FUTURE WORK AND PARTNERSHIPS

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