Meet the Tricoman Team #2 - Marko Ristic (Narrative & Franchise Director)
From Dreams to Reality
"He’s living in his own world," was something I heard often, especially when I was younger. Ever since I can remember, I had a tendency to create stories in my head—imagining potential outcomes in real life or crafting tales with my own characters and even those of others. One of my favorite pastimes was daydreaming about alternate endings and new plots for existing stories. For instance, I would envision scenarios where Arthas didn’t turn evil in Reign of Chaos or imagine myself as a supreme mage in the Elder Scrolls universe, altering major events.
Growing up, I was always a bit of a dreamer. My childhood was filled with books, games, and endless daydreams that transported me to other worlds. This love for storytelling wasn't just another fun thing to do; it became a part of who I am. My family and friends often noticed my knack for creating elaborate stories, and while some may have thought I was just a kid with a wild imagination, I knew there was something more to it.
Intro to Storytelling
In high school, I created Nelethar, a world that has evolved multiple times over the years. It started as a novel, then became a visual novel, transitioned into an audiobook, and eventually morphed into a video game. Each iteration refined the story and deepened my connection to this world.
During high school and college, I had the privilege to experience a plethora of things—from parties to vacations, meeting new people, and getting introduced to the game development industry. As I grew, so did my world. Finally, in college, together with my two friends, we decided to create Tricoman, meaning three game junkies, and give a shot at creating our first RPG set in the world of Nelethar. However, we soon realized the magnitude of making an RPG. Even though we had assistance from multiple accelerators, it took us several years and the introduction of the newest member of Tricoman, Borislav, to give this project another chance. That’s where we are now, giving it another go at creating a first complete experience in the world of Nelethar through the game Godforged: Origins of Ozgalor.
What are you currently working on the game?
Right now, I'm deep into working on the lore—lots and lots of lore. Don’t get me wrong, I’m having a blast creating a franchise like this, but it’s definitely not something that can be done overnight. Developing various zones, their histories, heroes, villains, and everything else feels more like being a surgeon than a narrative director. Having to carefully assemble everything and ensure it all makes sense took a lot more than what I originally thought, but at the same time, I haven't had this much fun in a long while.
What is your earliest gaming memory?
Ah, my earliest gaming memory... I guess I would have to say it was the first time I played a console game, which was Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. It was my introduction to gaming, and together with my brother, we ended up spending days trying to beat the game in co-op. That experience hooked me immediately, especially since those games had a rather high difficulty with long distances between checkpoints, making us invest more time and effort to pass the levels.
Soon after, we switched to the PS1, playing various games from Crash Bandicoot 1, 2, and 3 to Digimon World 3. We were completely enthralled by the experiences those games offered. Although I started my gaming journey on consoles, it wasn't until I tried GTA Liberty City and Gothic 3 that I fell in love with RPG worlds. Those games made me realize the vast potential and immersive experiences that the world of gaming had to offer and made me fall in love with games even more.
What motivated you to pursue a career in game dev?
Stubbornness and love. I've always been passionate about video games and dreamed of creating one of my own. I knew making games was really hard, especially living in the Balkans where opportunities in the game industry are quite limited. Despite this, I held onto the dream of crafting my own story, particularly in an RPG. However, the more I tried, the more feedback I received telling me it was impossible to achieve that in Serbia. Many suggested I should stick to mobile games or writing books—anything that could earn me money instead of wasting time on what seemed impossible.
Just as my passion was starting to dim, I was fortunate enough to meet a mentor who rekindled my hope. Soon after, like a domino effect, I began meeting people from around the world who pushed me to greater heights. Eventually, I was offered what was previously my dream job at Blizzard Entertainment. However, at the same time, I also had the opportunity to make my dream a reality right here in Serbia by working on Godforged. So I chose Godforged and am still pursuing my passion, striving to make the impossible into a reality.
What are some highlights from your career?
While there are numerous moments in my career that I could highlight, none compare to the first time we tried to make an RPG. At that time, we were living at a friend's house, trying to create a game from a "garage" in a sense. Although this was basically the start of our journey in the game development industry, to me, it was one of the greatest moments. Just being there, sitting in one room with friends, trying to make our first game with close to no knowledge of actually making a complete game, was incredibly memorable and impactful. The camaraderie, the shared passion, and the sheer excitement of tackling such a daunting task together made it a truly special experience.
And a big thanks to you!
If you've reached this far, we would like to extend a thank you from everyone at Tricoman Studios! Consider joining our Discord and supporting us in our journey to be a part of our story!
