Full-time jobs by day, game development by night: How two Vietnamese built their App Store game

Note: This feature was first published on 15 August 2024.

In the heart of Vietnam, two game developers have transformed their passion for gaming into a vibrant, pixelated journey that was inspired by that country’s history and culture. Daniel Phuc Pham Duy, a self-taught game developer, and Hiep Tran Tuan, a freelance designer, are the minds behind the endless runner game DreamChaser. The game is available on the App Store and currently has a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Their story is one of perseverance, creativity, and a shared dream that began during the global pandemic.

Hiep recalls the inspiration he drew from the immersive world of a mobile game he played with friends, a world he felt was so engaging that he wondered what it might look like set against the backdrop of Vietnam. This idea, combined with his love for art, led him to start sketching, bringing to life the vibrant scenes that would eventually form the foundation of DreamChaser.

For Daniel, his journey into game development started differently but with equal fervor. A lifelong gamer, he stumbled upon game development videos while studying Computer Science at a local university. The idea of creating his own game was too compelling to ignore, and with the knowledge he already had in coding, he decided to give it a shot. This decision marked the beginning of DreamChaser and his YouTube channel, Dan or Daniel, where he shares his journey from his days as a novice to published game developer.

However, Daniel's path wasn't without challenges – challengers that many young Southeast Asian developers are familiar with. Coming from a traditional Asian family, convincing his parents to support his decision to leave university midway to pursue game development full-time was no easy feat. "The hardest part for me was convincing my parents to trust my decision," he says. After persistent discussions and presenting a well thought out plan, his parents eventually gave their blessing. This support was crucial as Daniel devoted himself entirely to mastering game development, landing his first full-time job as a game developer four months after leaving university.

The collaboration between Daniel and Hiep, which led to DreamChaser, was a fortuitous one. Initially connecting through a Vietnamese game development group on Facebook, Hiep was drawn to his future partner's engaging YouTube tutorials. Although their first attempt at collaboration didn’t quite pan out, the two reconnected after Hiep's previous partnership fell through. Together, they found that their goals aligned perfectly, with Hiep bringing his rich understanding of Vietnamese culture to the table.

DreamChaser, which incorporates cultural elements, was a labor of love for both developers. Hiep spent time sketching ideas on his iPad, often inspired during moments of exercise or relaxation. These sketches evolved into the game's vibrant pixel-art backdrops, which are heavily inspired by Vietnam's last dynasty – the Nguyen dynasty. Landmarks like the old capitol’s Hue Imperial Citadel and the Thay Pagoda’s water pavilion were brought to life in the game.

Balancing the demands of full-time jobs with the intense work required to develop DreamChaser was exhausting for both developers. Daniel often worked until the early hours of the morning, driven by a sense of responsibility to his team. "There is always a voice in my head saying, ‘Hey, they did their part flawlessly; it’s your turn to do it,’" he explains, highlighting the importance of teamwork and mutual motivation.

When DreamChaser was finally launched, Daniel and Hiep received an unexpected flood of feedback, particularly in the form of bug reports. While initially overwhelming, both share that this response was also encouraging, as it showed the game’s growing popularity. The team systematically addressed the feedback, making improvements that enhanced the overall player experience along the way.

Looking to the future, both developers are not content to rest on their laurels. They recognize that DreamChaser still has room for improvement, particularly in its narrative and gameplay complexity. The duo is focused on making the game more compelling, with plans to roll out new mini-games and strengthening the story. They have even expanded their team, adding two new members to help bring new ideas to life.

Their ultimate goal is to set up their own indie game studio and create games that their friends would play. Being part of the App Store’s “Here’s to the Dreamers” campaign is a big milestone for them, and Daniel and Hiep hope their story can inspire other Vietnamese developers to pursue game development and share their stories with the world. And as both look to the future, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of their journey.

About Apple’s Here’s to the Dreamers

For the second year, Here’s to the Dreamers returns to honour exceptional Southeast Asia talents who dare to leave a mark on the world with their unique visions. Across App Store, Apple Music and Apple TV app, Apple will showcase creatives, developers and artists who have challenged norms with relentless passion, creativity, and determination, sharing these stories of success to inspire everyone to start realising their own dreams.

You can read more about these talents here.

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