[A New Challenge] The story of a former SE who forgot how to code, and whose life was turned upside down by her daughter saying, "Make me a Roblox game."

"Mom, make me a game!" With those words from my daughter, my life started moving again.

For the first time in 10 years, I wrote code.

After leaving my engineering job to raise my child, I had been away from the world of "creators" for a while.
The one who gently pushed me back was my one and only, most important "client" in the world.

My daughter, who was obsessed with Roblox at the time, said that to me with sparkling eyes.

Those words reignited the curiosity that had been sleeping inside me.

Nice to meet you!
I am a creator active on the game platform Roblox, known as Kuronyanko.

Today, I would like to share how I, a former engineer who had left the field, ended up making games, winning awards in contests, and taking my first steps as a professional.

Please let me talk about the trajectory and the games that set my life in motion once again.

First of all, what is "Roblox"?

"I've been hearing about Roblox a lot lately, but what exactly is it?"
I'm sure many of you are thinking that.

Roblox is not just a game.
It is a massive online platform where users themselves create games and play millions of games made by others.

It is like "another universe (metaverse)"where people from all over the world can gather to play, learn, and chat.

The enthusiasm is tremendous, and according to recent data,the number of daily active users (DAU) exceeds 100 million worldwide, and its scale continues to grow every day.

Creators can use a free tool called "Roblox Studio" to turn their ideas into games and deliver them to the world.

I am one of the creators in this world, which holds such infinite possibilities.

The 5 games + 1 that set my life in motion again

1. The trigger that turned a hobby into a "job." "Customize Castle Tycoon"

One year after I started making games by trial and error.
Recklessly, I applied to contests, only to be rejected, rejected, and rejected again...

"Maybe I really don't have the talent to make games..."

When I was seriously about to give up, I received my first award at a game creation contest hosted by DEVLOX and the Open House Group.

Adding elements like the ability to freely change the appearance of a castle or RPG elements where you fight monsters to a tycoon game, which can easily become monotonous...
I was truly, truly happy that my "efforts to keep players from getting bored" were recognized.

And this award became the greatest turning point in my creator life.

This award opened the door to an unbelievable future.

▼ The award-winning article that started it all
https://note.com/devlox_community/n/nc6347f0823e8

2. A "job" after a long time. The memorable "Factory Cake Tycoon"

Triggered by the recent award, I received a job offer as a professional and once again as a working adult. That is this game.

The excitement I felt when I saw a factory line on a field trip as a child and thought, "This is fun!"
It is a game I am very attached to, packed with my personal desire to recreate that pure feeling in a game.

▼ The moment "liking" something became a "job"
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000015.000119336.html

3. A new landscape captured with friends: "FIND THE RAVER"

Feeling the freshness and stimulation of working as part of a team for the first time in a while, this is the work where I realized, "It's so reassuring not to be alone."

I participated in the development as a member of "GLITCH RAVE," led by creator MISOSHITA.
At a major contest called "EXPO MCA," we actually won the "EXPO Category Award"! I was in charge of script production (the part that creates the game's movements).

The amazing thing about this game is that it's not just about finding characters.
With the power of generative AI, you can freely talk to the characters.
It is truly a work that opened the door to a new game experience.

▼ Common sense about games might change a little

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000063.000119336.html

4. Collaboration with a world-renowned artist. "BABYMETAL MONSTERS," a major challenge

"No way, I'm making a BABYMETAL game!?"

A multiplayer horror game themed around the song "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" by the world-famous metal dance unit "BABYMETAL." Unbelievably, I was added to the team as a script producer for this project handled by "Metaverse Creators."

A future I couldn't have imagined when I quit being an engineer was unfolding before my eyes.

Of course, I couldn't betray the passionate feelings of the fans. Under that immense pressure, I poured all my passion into how we could express BABYMETAL's unique worldview in Roblox, together with everyone at Metaverse Creators.

To have my work intersect with world-class artists and such a wonderful team in this way—as a creator, there is no experience more honorable or stimulating than this.

▼ Feel the passion behind the scenes
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000019.000120256.html

5. [Latest Work] Games can serve society. 'Traffic Safety Quest'

Can we contribute more to society through games?
This latest work realizes the 'edutainment (learning while having fun)' that I have always wanted to challenge myself with.

A traffic rule learning game for elementary school students, co-developed by Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance and Mondrian. I was in charge of main script production and background modeling.
It was designed so that knowledge of traffic safety is naturally acquired while clearing quests in a virtual city.

If the children who play this game can spend their days safely...
As a mother and as a creator, there is nothing that makes me happier than that.

▼ Games become a power to protect the future
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000056.000119336.html

Extra Edition: The first game I ever published

This is the first game I created at my daughter's request. Although it hasn't won any awards, it is a game that holds a special place in my heart.

To continue delivering 'fun!' from here on out.

The gap caused by leaving my career once was by no means a small wall.
But the feeling of 'loving it' and my daughter's words of 'This is fun!' supported me time and time again.

Looking back like this, each and every game is packed with many challenges and irreplaceable memories.

With the feelings I had on the day I aspired to be a creator in my heart,
I will continue to pursue the infinite possibilities of Roblox, both as a member of various teams and as an individual creator.

If there is anyone who feels it might be 'too late' to start something, I want to tell you this:
That first step might just lead to a future you never imagined.

I will be posting behind-the-scenes development stories and the latest information on this Note and X (formerly Twitter), so please follow me and come take a peek at our challenges!

Thank you so much for reading until the end!

I also write articles like this. Check them out!!

Self-introduction

Summary of Roblox development articles

Summary of my Roblox creations

Generative AI is fun

Expo travelogue

Work worries and personal stories

Event participation report