Back LAZR DOJO: A New Indie Game Studio Model

Back LAZR DOJO: A New Indie Game Studio Model
Where backers become producers. Vote on what gets made. Help shape the games you've always wanted to play. Fund the tools, mentors, and studio pipeline that turns ideas into playable builds — and finished releases.
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Community-Powered
🎮 LAZR DOJO: Help Build the Game You Always Wanted to Play!
A Community-Powered Indie Game Studio (powered by Scholarships that Staff the Studio along with veterans from your support!)
Most of us grew up loving games — and at some point thought:
"I wish I could make one like this… but I never had the tools, the time, or the access."
LAZR DOJO exists to change that — for you and for the next generation. We have the tools and code! We have the time! We built the access! We just need you and the students you will fund!
As a gamer you have to wonder why are they not making my favorite games? Well the simple answer is we need to hear from you directly in the industry. If you are truely wanting to make your game then join the adventure. Vote and build the future literally! You will be joined with over 500 students that would love to start working on this today!

As a game creator and educator, I've seen something painful up close: kids love this work(game design), they show up, they stay engaged, they dream about the future… but many can't afford access or understand the process the way it is currently taught.
So we built something different. Tested it in our very own school system for almost 4 years, during online only classes with great success! Forged with the great people at Fullsail university with further study. Then to top it all off we have the backing of retired AAA studio vets and indie developers to start molding over 150 prototypes in to the games of your dreams.
This Kickstarter isn't about "starting a school." We already exist. We're already running. This is about building a new kind of studio to make a change in the industry:
Backers help choose what gets made
By giving real feedback and helping to pass the love of games on to the new generation of creators.
Students become the development teams with mentorship from the pros
And they learn real development skills from a community that cares.
Mentors run the pipeline like studio leads
And use their access and experience to guide the teams to success. We don't just have encouraging words, we have over 150 templates to build off of (20 years' worth of work and prototypes across Unity and Unreal engines)
Backers become producers
with real influence and real deliverables they can play and own. Put that idea out there that only you could think of and get credit for it, while helping to shape it.
Donations all go to keep the lights on
and pay for any additional equipment, while also shaping a movement that could change the Game publishing landscape.
This is a community-powered indie game studio, designed to ship playable prototypes fast
— and grow the strongest into full releases that rival the pros with the help of some pros!
⚡ What You're Really Backing
When you back LAZR DOJO's new indie game studio model, you're funding a studio pipeline that produces real games:
A producer-led model
where backers vote on what gets built, then follow up with real feedback to our teams and students.
A development system that delivers playable builds early
because we are not starting from scratch. We have over 3500 different assets, tools, and 150 templates/prototypes to start from and refine with creativity and ingenuity that we teach in-house.
A pathway for games to advance into full production
We can ship to the consoles, Google Play, and VR arcades like Ctrl V internationally currently! Yes, we are willing to expand with your help.
A scholarship engine that staffs the studio
with hungry talent that hasn't become jaded yet by corporate layoffs. Studio leads who have a passion for gaming, teaching and are mostly retired due to their success. 
Kickstarting a indie game incubator
That you can believe in because you will be part of it. Think of it like a bootcamp on how to produce a game. How to think about game design, but you have a whole team to work with. Incredible huh?
And yes — your support helps students. But it's not a charity. We are ready to build the coolest versions of your visions.
You're funding games. The learning happens through real production, real skills, and your input. You will build more than just your game!
This is also our chance to prove that project-based outcomes are how CTE classes should be built, not certifications only. What does this mean? We teach people how to become a profitable indie studio. We teach people how to work as a team and build something bigger than yourself. We teach people how to dream and turn that dream into a reality that creates that dream job. This would create over 10 indie studios that could then position Winston-Salem as another tech hub for the Carolinas. This would also create and solidify the blueprint to do this in other areas, yes we are looking at other areas to expand to, so throw in a donation with your area attached.
🕹️ How It Works (Backer → Game → Release Path)
01
Backers Choose the Game Direction
Backers vote on:
Genre (RPG, horror, strategy, VR, action, narrative)
Propose (via Google Docs, so everything is tied back to a person to prove creator rights via 3rd party servers)
Within proposals:
Ideas - and feasibility (risk and scope), along with why it will be fun!
Mechanics - and feasibility (risk and scope within current platforms)
Themes - designing the core soul of your game's visuals and ideas art-wise
Art direction - the polish that is expected or what we should stay away from.
Teams are formed based on the projects that are voted on as strong concepts.
You're not guessing where your money goes — You're deciding what gets built. You are a real producer!
02
We Build Playable Prototypes First
Parallel Scrum session
While backers vote on game direction, staff will prepare students for production. Once the students finish the foundational learning paths, teams are created, and teams choose their prototypes.
Each chosen project enters a Prototype Sprint — a focused production cycle where teams deliver playable builds quickly.
functional code created and proposed
Placeholder art created
Concept art themes formed with various media.
First play test and feedback from the backers start.
This is what makes the model work: Backers see progress in real builds, not promises. The builds are how students develop their skills and expertise to shine in this industry. Mentors get to pour their creativity and know-how into getting the job done!
03
The Best Prototypes Advance
Then we all vote- Backers can even come to the studio to try these games.
The strongest projects (based on fun + feasibility + community feedback) move forward into production candidates.
04
Backers Play First + Get Rewarded
Backers receive:
Early playable builds -with optimizations
Dev updates + behind-the-scenes access
Final releases will be scheduled for completion by the team and backers
If your chosen project doesn't reach full release, you will receive Backer Bucks to claim another finished game.
Your support always results in something playable.
🎓 Why Scholarships Matter 
Here's the truth: Some of the most creative students never get a chance because:
They can't afford the tools
They can't afford the programs
They're told to "wait" or "pick something safer." Spoiler: it never appears
Some are literally told they aren't smart enough.
LAZR DOJO flips that model.
That last bullet point is a big one. Many people are told they are not smart enough. Heck, many of us and our backers might believe the same thing based on what the school system has told us. "Only smart kids take this class." "Only a genius could do that." Ring a bell? Or the biggest issue is that an F means you failed, and guess what, there is no time to do better. A good studio learns from its problems and builds early. We present the issues to our students early as though they are pros. They get to see whether shortcuts work and why doing it the right way works better or requires less work.
Instead of:
"Donate so students can learn."
We say:
"Fund the studio — and students earn their way into real production. I used to be a K12 teacher, and believe me, I know how to get students to the finish line. You have to remove the excuses and entitlement."
Scholarships aren't charity here. They're how we staff the studio with talent we help mold together. If there is something that is stagnating the process, it is removed or redirected, and the development of talent is what ships great games. The scholarships are not permanent; students have to renew them through hard work and progress. Equity is not about giving away money; it is about putting it in the hands of people who value themselves and their hard work. 
We will be trying to find the most creative, hardworking students who want to change their future at these great places below that already house and serve hundreds of thousands of students:
Sayso
Crosby Scholars
WS/FCS Foundation
Arts Council WS/FC
The Enterprise Center
United Way
WS/FCS schools with over 70 schools!
🥋 Why a Dojo Model Works
A dojo isn't about lectures. It's about:
Dreams and ideas

Practice
Discipline
Feedback
Mastery
Progress with tangibles
At LAZR DOJO:
Students earn progress by making real things.
Backers see proof through assets, builds, demos, and releases, not just certifications.
Creativity is structured — teams are guided, not chaotic.
That's why parents trust it. That's why backers can believe in it.
🎩 How is this possible?
🏯 Here is a little about us. LAZRdojo is an incubator system for all. Led by a team Vets!
Leadership
🎓 Why LAZR DOJO Is Positioned to Succeed
Created by Larry Stowe
LAZR DOJO is not a concept experiment. It is led by someone who has already combined education, technology, and production successfully—often in challenging environments. 
🎮 Game Development & Industry Credentials
Nintendo Indie Developer
Experience working within professional console development pipelines
Deep understanding of shipping constraints, quality standards, and production realities
Unity & Unreal Engine Practitioner
Long-term hands-on experience with industry-standard engines
Able to translate complex tools into student-accessible workflows
Digital Artist & Game Designer
Cross-disciplinary background spanning art, systems design, UX, and storytelling
Ideal leadership profile for an indie studio model, not siloed instruction
Why this matters: Students aren't learning theory from someone outside the industry—they're learning from someone who has built and shipped.
🧠 Instructional Design & Education Leadership
Former Title I School Educator
Successfully taught and ran programs in underserved school environments
Proven ability to engage students who struggle in traditional classrooms
Instructional Designer
Experience designing learning systems that prioritize:
mastery
iteration
proof through deliverables (not tests)
COVID-Era Teaching Experience
Demonstrated adaptability under extreme constraints
Designed resilient, tech-enabled learning models during disruption
Why this matters: LAZR DOJO's studio model works because it is pedagogically sound, not just exciting.
🏫 Proven Track Record With Students
—
Over 3 years experience of instructional design on the college level!

over 3 years of k12 experience and 100+
students already hosted and taught at LAZRdojo
Programs show:
✓ strong attendance
✓ high engagement
✓ sustained interest
Clear evidence that students:
stay longer( over and hour)
collaborate better
take ownership of projects
🥋 Philosophy That Parents & Schools Trust
Larry's approach blends:
Dojo-style structure
(discipline, progression, respect)
Studio-style production
(teams, deadlines, accountability)
Student agency
(choice, ownership, creativity)
This combination:
builds confidence without ego
replaces grades with proof
creates emotionally safe, structured environments
Failure only happens if they give up!
💼 Entrepreneurial & Operational Experience
Founder & Operator of LAZR Studios / LAZR DOJO
Experience:
launching programs
managing equipment
coordinating partnerships
balancing creative goals with real budgets
Able to speak both:
education
business / production
🌍 Community & Equity Commitment
Focus on:
underserved students
exceptional students lacking access
keeping creative talent in North Carolina
Clear understanding of:
Title I realities
school waitlists (e.g., Atkins)
gaps between interest and opportunity
🧠 Bottom Line 
Larry Stowe brings a rare combination of industry credibility, classroom experience, and production leadership. He has been through the fire and has the grit and passion to know even if this doesn't get funded, I'm still doing it! LOL, you just won't be able to guide it! Where is the fun in that?
He has taught in Title I schools, built real games as a Nintendo indie developer, and designed learning systems that replace grades with proof. LAZR DOJO succeeds because it is led by someone who understands students, tools, and production equally—and has already demonstrated that this model works.
A little more about me-
Larry's story if you just need to know more!
I've been creating games since 7th grade on paper; many were not published due to no access to the very things I am offering right now in this studio. I had to take the long road to get here, but I think that was by design by the all-mighty. That journey has fueled me with the passion and know-how to get this Kickstarter done and create LAZR dojo. What has that journey looked like so far? Yep, picture me as the 6'7" high flying BCHS phenom heading to UNCG. I understand what opportunity and hard work can do as a division 1 athlete on scholarship, and why we should all invest in the arts after tearing my ACL. I was able to pivot and build my skills up, create multiple companies, and reframe what a guy from the country, or the hood of Gashouse, could become. I believe we can change how people see the Carolinas and leave our mark. I've been a K-12 teacher at a truly under-served school where only four students even wanted to take art, to exploding it to the point 60 kids were logging online during COVID shut-downs to take part in my class sessions, along with filling up the art program with over 40 kids per level. I didn't just teach art. I thought them how to use critical thinking and their life experience to shape their art, their future. Where was I taught this? Somewhere between working for limerick studios and beside the guy that created https://nathanielhowe.com/ we learned and create to coolest art. Then came the recession so I created a trucking company that trained truck drivers for over 10 years while continuing to make motion graphics and creat games. Then I went on to create custom apps for the DOD and the NCAA, while becoming an Indie Nintendo developer. Then everything came together. I like many of you, need a place for my art to call home and people I could work with to create that future. I have been meeting and collecting people for this very purpose for over 30 years. I think it is now our time to pour into the future creators our wealth of knowledge and success.

Now is the time to create the future! Whew that is a lot to take in right? Well it is just not me. I brought friends.
Our Team
🎓 LAZR DOJO — Mentor & Advisory Board
Purpose:
To provide professional guidance, creative perspective, and industry reality checks that strengthen student outcomes and reduce risk.
Core Roles
Founding Mentors
Set standards and culture
Creative Advisors
Guide narrative, tone, and audience awareness
Studio Advisors
Reinforce production and release realities
Community Partners
Connect students to the broader creative ecosystem
Highlighted Advisor
Pete Hines
Former SVP & Head of Publishing, Bethesda Softworks
Roles:
Founding Mentor
Creative Advisor
Studio Advisor
Community Partner
Focus Areas:
Production readiness vs. "finished"
Long-term creative responsibility
Audience trust and sustainability
Professional communication and critique
LAZR DOJO's advisory board ensures students are learning how the industry actually works — not just how tools function.
🎮 GAME DEV & INTERACTIVE MEDIA (LOCAL / REGIONAL)
Red Storm Entertainment
Ubisoft subsidiary (Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon)
Why they fit:
Proven AAA studio in NC
Strong culture of mentorship & pipelines
How they help:
Guest talks
Portfolio reviews
"What studios actually look for" sessions
Epic Games
Unreal Engine HQ
Why they fit:
Unreal education ecosystem
Strong support for community learning initiatives
How they help:
Unreal Authorized Instructor tie-ins
Learning grants / visibility
Remote guest speakers
Virtual Heroes
Serious games, simulation, training
Why they fit:
Education + production crossover
How they help:
Curriculum realism
Serious games perspective
Insomniac Games
AAA studio (Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank)
Why they fit:
NC presence
Strong art & tech pipelines
How they help:
Art critique sessions
Career path talks
🎨 VISUAL ART, DESIGN & DIGITAL MEDIA (TRIAD)
Sawtooth School for Visual Art
Strong local art education presence
Why they fit:
Bridge between traditional and digital art
How they help:
Guest instructors
Cross-promotion
Hybrid workshops
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Film, animation, design, music
Why they fit:
High-level creatives
Students eager to mentor / collaborate
How they help:
Graduate student mentors
Film + virtual production collaboration
Wake Forest University
Computer science, entrepreneurship, arts
Why they fit:
Research + innovation mindset
How they help:
Capstone partnerships
Guest lectures
Studio critiques
🧠 INDIE CREATORS & ENTREPRENEURS (GOOD CULTURE FIT)
The Enterprise Center
Innovation + entrepreneurship hub
Why they fit:
Indie studio mindset
How they help:
Business mentoring
Creator economy guidance
Flywheel Coworking
Startup + creative coworking
Why they fit:
Designers, devs, founders in one space
How they help:
Volunteer mentors
Office-hour critiques
🎥 XR, VR, FILM & PRODUCTION (IMPORTANT FOR LAZR DOJO)
Ctrl V VR Arcade
Your embedded advantage
Why it fits:
Real hardware
Real audience
How they help:
Playtesting
UX feedback
VR experience design
NC Virtual Production Initiative
Growing virtual production ecosystem
Why they fit:
Film + game crossover
How they help:
Mocap & VP workflows
Guest demos
University Partners
🎓 Expanded University Partners (Triad Powerhouse Additions)
These departments align perfectly with LAZR DOJO's new indie studio model, scholarships for underserved and exceptional students, and real-world production pipelines.
🎨 ART & CREATIVE PIPELINES
UNC Greensboro Department of Art
Strengths:
Studio art, digital media, animation, design
Why this is a great fit:
Strong concept art, visual storytelling, and design foundations
Students already trained in critique, iteration, and portfolio development
How they can help LAZR DOJO:
Guest critiques for student games & VR art
Concept art, UI, and world-building mentorship
Exhibition-style showcases (games as art)
Scholarship alignment:
Art students who need production context, not more theory
Winston-Salem State University Department of Art
Strengths:
Fine art, digital art, creative expression
Why this is a strong fit:
HBCU perspective adds cultural depth and representation
Students benefit from exposure to industry-grade digital tools
How they can help LAZR DOJO:
Mentorship in visual identity, environment art, character design
Cultural storytelling and aesthetics
Scholarship alignment:
Creative students with strong vision but limited access to technology
💻 COMPUTER SCIENCE & GAME SYSTEMS
North Carolina A&T State University Department of Computer Science
Strengths:
Software engineering, systems, AI, data
Why this is a perfect fit:
One of the strongest engineering pipelines in the state
Students ready for game systems, networking, AI, and tools
How they can help LAZR DOJO:
Gameplay systems mentoring
AI behavior & simulation logic
Networking & multiplayer foundations
Scholarship alignment:
High-performing technical students who benefit from creative application
Winston-Salem State University Department of Computer Science
Strengths:
Programming, software development, applied computing
Why this fits well:
Close geographic proximity
Students eager for real production experience
How they can help LAZR DOJO:
Gameplay programming support
Tool development
Debugging & optimization mentorship
Scholarship alignment:
Students ready to move from assignments → shipped work
🎮 ESPORTS, EVENTS & BUSINESS OF GAMES
Winston-Salem State University Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Studies
(Sport Management Program)
Strengths:
Sport management, events, leadership, operations
Why this is a sleeper hit for LAZR DOJO:
Esports = sport operations + media + branding
Games need tournaments, showcases, leagues, and events
How they can help LAZR DOJO:
Esports tournament planning
Game showcase production
Sponsorship, marketing, and fan engagement
Scholarship alignment:
Students interested in gaming careers beyond coding
🧠 WHY THIS COMBINATION IS POWERFUL
Together, these partners create a full-stack creative pipeline:
This makes LAZR DOJO:
Cross-disciplinary
Equitable
Career-aligned
Fundable
⚔️ Stretch Goals = More Power for Your Game
A full list of things you can get on top of your game being made!
Coming soon…
Every $10,000 beyond our stretch goal unlocks:
1
1 new Threadripper Studio Workstation (shared studio power)
That means:
Bigger worlds
Better AI
Faster builds
More ambitious releases
The more the dojo powers up, the closer your dream game gets to reality.
🧠 The Bottom Line
You're not backing a school. You're not funding a charity. You're backing a change in gaming:
A community-powered indie game studio
A producer model where backers shape what gets built
A system that produces playable prototypes early
A chance to help build the game you always wanted
while opening doors for students who deserve the same chance
Like a politician should have said a long time ago
"let's make games fun again!"
If you've ever wanted to say:
"I helped make this game happen."
We all know how power gaming can be as a culture, let's use that super power for the greater good now!
This is your moment.
⚔️ Join LAZR DOJO
Grab your badge. Cast your vote. Help shape a game — and build a future for all.
LAZR DOJO: where backers become producers, and players become creators.
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