by Cara Ramer, Student Public Relations Writer
In an industry where indie developers spend years building a single game, a Cedarville University graduate and his team earned a major payoff. Their game, “The Violets of Amicus,” won Best in Show at the 2025 Cleveland Gaming Classic.
Dan Jewett Leads Award-Winning Indie Game Team
Dan Jewett, a 2011 graduate, was lead developer of the winning game through the six-member Creation Mode Studios team. The Cleveland Gaming Classic was held Sept. 19-21 at the I-X Center.
Presenting the free demo at the convention were Jewett and story writer Kennedy Jewett.
The game draws inspiration from the design of “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” and enemy mechanics of “Agar.io.” The game features a large, immersive world, challenging gameplay and a narrative centered on choices and consequences.
Best in Show Win: Years of Game Development Pay Off
When “The Violets of Amicus” won Best in Show, it was more than a reward for years of development; it was a fulfillment of a childhood dream.
“The first time I played a video game as a kid, I knew I wanted to make them, not just play them,” said Jewett. “I used to draw Mario levels on old, perforated computer paper and then ‘play’ through them with a pencil.”
Building an Indie Game: Programming Challenges, Limited Tools and Funding Constraints
Jewett’s journey into game development has not been without challenges. He navigated new programming languages, limited software tools and financial constraints while building the project. He said his computer science education at Cedarville sharpened both his technical discipline and creative thinking.
“I came into Cedarville thinking I knew it all when it came to programming — I was self-taught. I quickly learned I had a lot of bad habits that needed retraining,” said Jewett. “Understanding fundamentals made me a much better programmer, and taking creative courses like computer animation helped improve my game designs.”
The project grew from a nights-and-weekends idea into a larger production, with Jewett adding collaborators as development progressed.
“We started in 2018 and hired an artist to help in 2021 with a composer around the same time,” Jewett said, “and I've now started working on it mostly full time.”
“The Violets of Amicus” Demo: Four- to Six-Hour Gameplay Experience
Now, after years of development, “The Violets of Amicus” is gaining traction with players.
“’The Violets of Amicus’ stands out for its sense of scale and polish,” said Jewett. “Our demo alone is a four- to six-hour experience — longer than some full-length games. The people who played it at the Cleveland Gaming Classic could see the direction and vision for what this game could become.”
Play the Demo on Steam: Early Look at “The Violets of Amicus”
A playable demo of “The Violets of Amicus” is available on the gaming platform Steam, offering players an early look at the game’s expansive world.
For Jewett, the award was not an endpoint but a beginning. “The Violets of Amicus” team continues refining and promoting the game, working toward full funding and eventual release.
For a developer who once sketched imaginary game levels on computer paper, the future now includes a game recognized for its ambition and depth — and a growing audience eager to see what comes next.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
