An Interview with Zero Element Games

Jared: First off tell us a little about yourself/your team (You can introduce your team, as a whole here, as well)?

Joseph: My name is Joseph Duke. I am the lead and founder of Zero element games with my wife Kylie.

J: When and how did you get started in tabletop games? (You can have each of your team answer this separately if you wish)

JD: Like many in the hobby it started with the original Dungeons & Dragons red box I got one Christmas.  After that I was off and running and never looked back. I have played AD&D, CoC, Shadowrun, Vampire TM, Werewolf TA, Chill, Star Trek, Firefly, and several other ttrpg’s over the years. I am also a huge video game guy. I have been playing rpg’s since the Commodore 64. Darklands was my first real computer VG RPG. I still play it as well as the Might & Magic games every year. Board games and card games as well. 

J: What made you want to make content specifically for tabletop games?

JD:: I have been on the indie seen in various roles over the years. Both ttrpg games and video games. Worked for Vipersoft on the DDAY: Normandy mod for Q2 and that is what started me down that path.  I was also on the Hidden Panda team for Survivor Zero.  I had to leave due to scheduling conflicts. They didn’t finish the game. But if FADE is successful, finishing Survivor Zero is one of my goals.

J: Next tell us about the beginning of Zero Element Games?

JD: It started during the covid lockdowns. I actually retired from being a chef and my wife was like, just go for it. So I did.

J: Where did the name “Zero Element Games” come from?

JD : Oddly I was writing and listening to podcasts in the background. I think it was the Joe Rogan show where he had Bob Lazar on who said he worked on alien spaceships powered by a mysterious element called “Element 15”. The Name sort of came from that. Since I was starting out I thought it was a cool name to have as a fledgling indie development studio. Something powerful comes from nothing. Like a big bang lol.

J: Where did the Fade RPG come from?

JD: FADE came from several idea’s I had for various games that I compiled together. I did not have anything unique really binding it all together.  Then one day while writing it just hit me. The FADE, in FADE, is an in between place of nightmares between the known worlds. It ripped open and spilled all kinds of monsters and horror into the mortal realms. And even created a new continent called The Severed Vale. Home of the Fey Folk. And The Beast Lands. And the name of the game was born.

J: What do you see as the future of Fade and Zero Element Games? Goals?

JD: The goal is to create an amazing and enjoyable game that everyone loves to play. Yes I hope to have a very successful Kickstarter so I can do this for the rest of my life. The dream of all gamers right? And I hope to be successful enough that I can hire aspiring artists, writers, graphic artists, people in marketing, etc.. and give them a chance with a professional studio. I am a firm believer that the current community of devs is the future of the industry. And if we help and support each other. We can create a new and exciting golden age for ttrpgs, card games, board games, and even video games.

J: What do you have coming up in projects?

JD: Well right now we have FADE The Eternal Song tabletop role playing game. Several FADE supplements and two full season campaign settings. We have a card game in the works called REALMS: Treasure Masters. And are working on our own in house Comics. I am also a writer on the pulp sci-fi ttrpg Stella – X that is shaping up to be an amazing game! 

J: What can people expect coming into the website/social medias etc.?

JD: Well, we are constantly working (literally around the clock) on our social media pages, FADEs website, and are active on X. We hope everyone comes by to check out our game. And subscribe, join our public group, or follow us for future updates!

J: Anything else you would like to add?

JD: We would like to say thank you for talking to us and letting us share facts about the team, the company, and our projects! Ans we hope all our fellow developers nothing but success!