We thought it would be fun to introduce ourselves. Here’s who’s behind StariumXCV.

Aric

About You

What do you do for StariumXCV?

I lead the development of the game, do a lot of development on all parts of the project, and also manage all the infrastructure that builds and runs the game. Oh, and I write blog posts sometimes (when I remember).

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I’ve grown up in Michigan my whole life. I’ve been out of the country for short periods, but I’ve always lived in Michigan.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an engineer. I thought (and still think) robots were cool.

What’s a hobby or interest most people would be surprised to know you have?

Mixology. I don’t really drink much, so I find it fun to make the few drinks I do have something special.

Your Life

Are you a morning lark or a night owl?

I’m a recovering night owl. I have to wake up early now, but I’m not very good at it yet.

What’s something you want to learn but haven’t yet?

Most things, lol. I’m a pretty curious person. The thing hanging over my head most immediately though is probably embedded programming. I have an Arduino starter kit on my shelf just waiting for me to dig into it.

Your Interests

What are you currently reading, watching, or playing?

I am reading:

  • Fight Club
  • Understanding Gush
  • Category Theory for Programmers

And a couple other books that I’ve sort of abandoned but tell myself I’ll get back to someday. My reading list is really long, so they’ll probably have bookmarks in them forever.

Just for Fun

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Big-Kat.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?

Downtown Chicago. It’s such an awesome city, and there’s always plenty to do.

Video Games

What’s the first game you ever played?

It’s either Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, or some Bob the Builder game. We had a PS1 when I was a kid, and those were my favorites. We didn’t have a memory card, so I played the first few levels of Spyro and Crash over and over. I didn’t know those games had an end for a long time.

What’s a game you think is underrated and deserves more attention?

Nethack. It’s an oldie but a goodie. The original controls are pretty wack-o, but there are ways to play it now that are more approachable.

What’s a game you’ve replayed more times than you can count?

Counter-Strike matches?

Sci-Fi & Tech

What’s your favorite sci-fi universe and why?

Transformers. Big robot go brrrr. I absolutely love the old show and the movie from the 80s. It’s one of my favorites.

What was the first piece of tech that genuinely blew your mind?

Do the Megazords in Power Rangers count?

What’s a piece of software or tool you couldn’t live without?

Neovim. I don’t know how I lived before I learned vim.

Daniel

About You

What do you do for StariumXCV?

Front end development / UI/UX.

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

PNW native. Grew up about 30 miles south of Seattle in a place called Federal Way. Moved up to the city as soon as I was able. Now as I get older I’m slowly moving back out of the city and currently reside in a suburb just north of Seattle.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a young child I always wanted to be a teacher. Then as my love for video games grew, I wanted to be a game developer (hey, would ya look at that!).

What’s a hobby or interest most people would be surprised to know you have?

Gardening. I love to put in a pair of headphones, sit out in the sun, and there’s an endless supply of tasks that all feel productive. Also aquariums, but mostly for the plants and scape design! The fish are just a bonus. I am currently without aquarium, but do plan to get back into it.

Your Life

Are you a morning lark or a night owl?

I am a night owl for sure. I can be dead tired all day long but as soon as 9pm rolls around I’m ready to get things done. In the absence of any obligations I become fully nocturnal.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

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What’s something you want to learn but haven’t yet?

3D modeling and animation. I’d love to make abstract / animated music videos.

Your Interests

What are you currently reading, watching, or playing?

Currently playing the new round of extraction shooters on PC, both Arc Raiders and Marathon, as well as Pragmata. On Steam Deck I’m at the final battle on Suikoden 1 Remaster and excited to start Suikoden II.

What’s a niche interest or fandom you’ll gladly go on too long about?

Breakcore. I think because of ADHD I have a tendency to like and listen to a song just for one small specific part, like a riff or drum break, and breakcore is just a series of complex and interesting drum breaks. The genre grew out of Jungle and early Drum n Bass. Alec Empire (also lead of the band Atari Teenage Riot) is credited as being one of the pioneers of the Breakcore genre with his album “The Destroyer” in 1996. From the 2000s the genre has split into many sub-genres, from many with heavy metal influences, to others that are more melodic and ambient. The most well known artist is likely Aphex Twin, with other notable artists including: Ruby My Dear (my personal favorite), Venetian Snares, Igorrr, Squarepusher… oh I’m doing the thing.

Just for Fun

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Gyros.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?

Literally any isolated mountain cabin on a river (water wheel would be a rad bonus), with good internet connection.

Video Games

What’s the first game you ever played?

Super Mario Bros on the NES, but the game that really got me hooked on gaming was Diablo II: LoD. I used to wake up early before school to get a couple Mephisto runs in. Anything that gets me to wake up earlier than necessary must have been good.

What’s a game you think is underrated and deserves more attention?

Braid.

What’s a game you’ve replayed more times than you can count?

My Steam profile says Destiny 2, but my heart says Counter-Strike. Playtime for CS on Steam does not include the likely thousands of hours I had in CS before Steam existed.

Sci-Fi & Tech

What was the first piece of tech that genuinely blew your mind?

The internet. On a blazing fast 14.4kbps modem.

What’s a piece of software or tool you couldn’t live without?

Hyprland. I tried a few tiling window managers before but Hyprland is what got me to really stick with and prefer Linux. Also a split mech keyboard.

Rachel

About You

What do you do for StariumXCV?

Back-end developer, loremaster, social media manager, marketer. We wear a lot of hats around here!

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, and now live in the Seattle area. Turns out I have a type: nice-but-gritty vibes and waterfronts with amazing sunsets. Muskegon just has better beaches. Don’t @ me, Seattle.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An Olympic figure skater. Spoiler: I never made it to the Olympics. Bigger spoiler: I never really learned to ice skate either.

What’s a hobby or interest most people would be surprised to know you have?

I’m obsessed with learning about the origin of things! Language, beliefs, civilizations, consciousness, etc.

Your Life

Are you a morning lark or a night owl?

Naturally a night owl. Forcibly, a morning lark.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

An afternoon out with my partner: coffee, international food, an escape room, a birdwatching walk, a bookstore or thrift store. Then the rest of the weekend is low-key: some gardening, games, and as much laying around as possible.

What’s something you want to learn but haven’t yet?

In 2013 I bought a machine and all the supplies, fully convinced I was about to become a person who sews. It’s still in the box. (ADHD, if you were wondering.) I am really going to learn this year though!

Your Interests

What are you currently reading, watching, or playing?

Reading - everything Brandon Sanderson has ever written. Playing - Mass Effect 2.

What’s a rabbit hole you’ve fallen down online that you have zero regrets about?

My rabbit holes are always the same: where did this thing come from, and what does it mean that it exists at all. The latest is the philosophy of mathematics.

Just for Fun

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Mashed potatoes and gravy. Or ramen. I’m a simple woman.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Hike to Mount Everest Base Camp. I just need to find the 16 days to do it and a sherpa willing to carry my emotional baggage.

Video Games

What’s the first game you ever played?

Fable 2. And I was 25!

What’s a game you’ve replayed more times than you can count?

Skyrim. My hour count is criminal. Now ask me how many playthroughs I’ve actually finished!

Sci-Fi & Tech

What was the first piece of tech that genuinely blew your mind?

Smart home technology, before it was called that. I remember hearing as a kid that Bill Gates had devices in his home that could turn on the lights and adjust the temperature when he walked in the room. That blew my mind, it was like science fiction. Now I have those things. The future is now!