The Origin Story of Darkclaws Games
Darkclaws Games began in a cramped computer lab at Santa Ana College in 2007, during the final stretch of a semester that already felt like a boss fight. Our instructor had assigned us a simple task: “Create your online portfolio.”
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I tossed out a name “The Dark Claws” just something cool to slap on a website. But the more I worked, the more I realized the name needed to reflect what I loved most: video games. So I sharpened it, refined it, and it evolved into Darkclaws Games.
That same semester, life hit maximum difficulty. I landed an internship at Rockstar San Diego, working on Midnight Club: Los Angeles. It was a dream opportunity and but it came with a price. I was juggling full‑time work at Rockstar, full‑time school, and full‑time exhaustion. Homework at 2 AM. Studio deadlines at 9 AM. Repeat.
It was one of the toughest years of my life. But it was also the year I learned the most.
Somehow and honestly, I still don’t know how and I made it through. I carried every lesson from those long nights and chaotic days into the present. And now, with modern tools, faster software, and technology that feels like superpowers, I can build my indie games, my comic book worlds, and my creative projects faster than ever.
Today, as the founder of Darkclaws Games, I look at how far the indie community has come and how much we’ve grown, shared, and learned together, and I feel nothing but honor.
This journey shaped me.
This community inspires me.
And the future?
I’m already building it.
More updates soon. The claws are still sharp.
Thank you,
Michael Tran
michael@darkclawsgames.com
Darkclaws Games 