Dear Issilith!
Time has come we present to you a new member of our team, Mislav Zlatar, who was the first-ever programmer to join the Phageborn team.
A very important member of the server crew, he initially started with setting up the foundations for backend (server) and client development. The position itself is responsible for the unfoldment of the entire game logic and in-game rules which in turn are mirrored by the client, that as a result renders the game simulation on screen.
For example, a client sends to the server a playCard request to be introduced.
Mislav, and the other colleagues in charge of the server, pull through the backend process simulation, process effects, ambushes, etc, and then send a series of messages to the client which makes the animation as it is, that follows the given guidelines. They are also responsible for databases, which hold player information (account level, card ownership, player experience) and integration with the GameSparks and AWS services.
His previous work experience was with cloud technologies in the business-oriented sector, with a lot of graphs, numbers and statistics. Although boring he says, he was doing programming, developing virtual servers, opening mail addresses, etc. for various companies. They would make a deal with a client, but it would not be the client who would use the service/product that was developed and/or programmed by him (Mislav), meaning that the final customer in that case does not have a lot, if any, influence. In Phageborn programming, things are more interesting. Your service/product is user-oriented and you actually depend on their feedback and the influence that they have.
Overall, game-development is much more dynamic and therefore satisfying because it comes to him as a challenge.
And Mislav does love a challenge, saying that by working in Phageborn he is growing professionally and sharpening his craft and skills as a programmer.

When he joined the team he actually did not know how to ''make'' a card game, so he had to take on an attitude of a student to study this particular genre from scratch. It was a completely new world for him.
It is different now with all of the established processes and technologies, but before he did not know what technology to use, what programming language would be the best for a trading card game, etc.
Since 2010, in his free time, he is playing with and developing games from his home, and simultaneously learning about programming, and gaining experience in that area.
Naturally, as a kid he considered himself a gamer, and dreamed of one day developing one. So Phageborn comes as a fulfillment of that childhood dream.
Out of the sheer passion and as a hobby he created a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) with airplanes, as well as an arcade with a squirrel, thus exploring programming and game development on his own. So it is possible to have fun and make a living out of it! He says it does take time though.
One of the priorities in his free time is spending time in nature. Whether it is just taking a walk, bicycling alone or with friends, he strives to seize every possibility to retreat to the woods. Spending quality time with friends, not just sitting on a couch and watching movies, but rather discussing, playing board games, or participating in a shared sports activity, is his idea of a well-invested socializing.
He considers himself a workaholic, saying that it brings him joy to fully dedicate and immerse himself into some project and then after a few days see the fruition of it. His days of playing different kinds of shooters like Doom and Duke Nuk, platformers Super Mario or TCG, are somehow behind him. Now he is all grown up, working on some serious stuff regarding smart home system technologies. One of his dreams is to build various smart home products like window and door alarms, smart teapot (because he is in love with tea!) or smart pet feeder... very noble. :)
So this was a little insight into Mislav's life!
Stay tuned for more stories about our developers.
You are welcome to chat with them on our
Discord, we will gladly answer all of your questions!