It was 2020, during the covid related lockdown, he was playing Fortnite. Out of nowhere, the idea for a cool game came into his head. The idea was so interesting to him he wanted it to be made, but he didn’t want just anyone to make it.
“I just created it myself.”
Since the beginning of his freshman year, Junior Zurich Buchanan has developed and coded his very own video game, “Biohazard’s Law.” He has worked on the video game completely by himself.
Buchanan discovered his love for coding and video game development in 6th grade when he was sent to coding camp. It was at this time that he created his first video game.
“I saw myself creating [his first game] outside of school,” Buchanan said. “That’s when I started to realize that I loved it.”
For the last three years, Buchanan has worked on the development and coding of “Biohazard’s Law”. Usually when developing a game at the size of Buchanan’s game, it takes a large staff of ten plus members. Buchanan has done it all by himself.
“What people don’t realize is that you can’t click a button and it spits out an AAA video game,” Buchanan said. “There is only one me.”
Buchanan has had some assistance however coming from his mother. Although he is working with no other staff, the game is still incredibly expensive to make. Despite this, Zurich’s Mother Dr. Pamela Buchanan has made him work for all of the money that it will take to make the game, whether it’s working for his mother, or even presenting the game in front of investors.
“I want him to understand the value of a dollar,” Buchanan’s mother said.
The future plans for Zurich are to develop nine more apps and at some point his very own company, with the help of future investors.
“I support him in that,” Buchanan’s mother said. “We all have that inner entrepreneur, I think the greatest way to happiness in your profession and financial well being is to be an entrepreneur.”
Zurich has found motivation to work through making this game by himself by looking forward to the future and the entrepreneur that he could end up becoming.
“All in all, one of the most difficult things I have ever done is create a video game,” Buchanan said. “But getting to where I want to go in life is plenty of motivation to keep working and doing what I love.”
