About Lightmare
Lightmare Studios was established in 2007 to be both a game studio creating original strategy games using our own IP as well as a games academy, with masterclasses, courses and communities where we teach skills in game development, AI and socialisation, for those interested in technology.
We have gone on to become an award winning studio in both these sectors, alongside the broader disability sector as well.
Lightmare's "Principle Pillars" are the foundation of our empire and are both a beacon for our long term vision, and guide us in our everyday lives.
By Gamers For Gamers
At the heart of it, each of us are gamers, and consider ourselves hardcore of in at least one genre. We play our own games because we make the games we want to play and see great in the world. We follow our passion, the market and the money. In that order.
Integrity and Love
Our integrity is the glue that holds our company together and we hold it in the highest esteem. Love is threaded in the creation of our titles, how we treat each other and those we serve and sharing some more is the reason we stay passionate.
Breakthrough Creation
We take genres in groundbreaking leaps with our daring ideas. We stay true to the feel of others in the field, but craft games into a whole new class of their own.
Always Learning and Growing
We recognize what got us to here won't take us to the next level, and are never ending in improving ourselves and our processes. Each of us seeks to bring mastery to our areas of expertise and yearn to see those in our care grow with our support.
transform lives
We exist transform the lives of those living with a disability through social games and game development. Through embedding into our community, developing and embodying social skills whilst doing something they love, they feel the most joy, genuine connection and purpose they ever have, overcoming debilitating loneliness, boredom and shyness.
Perfection is a Process
What we mean is that Perfection is a process; never achieved, always aimed for. We nurture our titles and their content as the fans demand more. We get our products out to our key audience as stably and quickly as possible, and add features and polish as we grow our fanbase over the long term.
2030 Vision
Lightmare Studios' vision is to be among the best in the galaxy at creating games that synergize accessibility and depth. As an Aussie indie studio with a global playerbase, we take casual gamers and challenge them to become hardcore fans of games that intrigue them strategically, move them emotionally and are incredibly fun.
The Lightmare Studios Social Games Community connects veteran game developers, community managers, psychologists and support workers who are passionate about video games and its associated culture with enthusiastic gamers living with a disability.
By design, the initiative encourages communication, improves social skills, and promotes an inclusive culture by giving gamers living with a disability a safe and engaging space to be their best selves. Through carefully curated, industry-related activities, participants connect and cooperate with like-minded participants; playing and/or creating games together. It appeals to participants with a range of disabilities, with a particular positive impact on those with autism or on the spectrum.
Our Team
Name: Elphie Coyle
Alias: AgentCoyle
Role: Company Founder and Creative Lead
Background: With 17yrs+ of industry experience, 27yrs+ in IT businesses, Elphie has managed teams of 15+ developers and launched Lightmare titles in the Philippines, Russia & globally. He was a founding designer of the cult hit Infinity Wars and Lightmare is his career's greatest pride and joy.
Favourite 3 games: Infinity Wars Classic, Warhammer Total War series, Stellaris
Passion: Elphie's passion is co-creating new digital and physical realities into being, and is obsessed with games and gamifying life.
Name: Simon Banks
Alias: Banksie
Role: National Program Coordinator
Background: Bachelor of Creative Industries (Interdisciplinary) with majors in Education and Journalism. Front end representation of Games and Technology entities.
Favourite 3 Games: Dota 2, Company of Heroes, Starcraft 2
Passions: UFC, Gaming, all things WW2
Name: Timothy Durrant
Role: Operations Manager
Background: High Level Government and Corporate Management
Favorite 3 Games: Helldivers 2, Crash bandicoot & Dead by Daylight
Passion: I am passionate about games, always wanting to work in the industry in some manner, but never having the game dev skills to do so. Another passion of mine is tabletop wargaming, I would love to see more games that replicate the rules of tabletop war games in a digital animated representation
Name: Kat Chicoteau
Alias: Katchico
Role: Social Gaming Coordinator & Kids Social Gaming Coordinator
Background: Learning designer with a passion for gaming!
Favourite 3 games: Fallout 4, Rocket League, Everything
Passion: Passionate about discovering ways to leverage technology to enhance human interaction and learning!
Name: Dylan Imrei
Alias: ShadowIgnition
Role: Programmer
Background: Hobbyist Programmer & Artist, Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games
Favourite 3 games: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Dragon Quest IX and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Passion: I spend most of my free time either playing or working on games, whether it's programming or occasionally something more creative, I enjoy improving myself and putting my heart into what I do.
Name: Nathan Kelly
Alias: super cookie
Role: Programmer
Background: Hobbyist programmer, Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games
Favourite 3 games: Dark souls, Super Mario World, Factorio
Passion: To share the same joy that many other great game creators have passed to me throughout my life.
Name: Nathaniel Carroll
Alias: Nat
Role: Artist, Game Dev
Background: Character Animation at SAE Institute
Favorite 3 games: The Witcher III Wild Hunt, Ori and the will of the wisps, Kena Bridge of Spirits
Passion: I love creating all kinds of illustrations & Animations
Name: Nick Liu
Alias: Nick2046
Role: Artist
Background: Traditional Art,Digital Arts. Diploma in Digital and Interactive Games
Favorite 3 games: Red Alert, Clash Royale, Tetris
Passion: Share and enjoy the joy of bringing more artistic experiences to players in games.
Name: Samuel Fraser
Alias: samjfraser
Role: Social Gaming Coordinator & Arist
Background: Illustrator, NDIS Support Worker, Teaching Artist/Workshop facilitator and Event Creative production.
Favourite 3 games: Hades, Minecraft, Destiny
Passion: Creating safe inclusive spaces, Disability advocacy and expressing Art.