Nothing is certain in this world. Situations keep changing, and the decisions we make eventually change the course of many things - including us.
MockYard originally started as a mock-test platform for Civil Services Examination (CSE) aspirants. At that time, I was a candidate too. To be honest, MockYard was partly my backup plan in case I didn't succeed in the examination.
But lucky are those who get what they want.
I studied hard and immersed myself in the preparation. Unfortunately, I failed the examination, and with that, I slowly lost the motivation to continue in the same direction.
There was another problem too. Creating effective mock tests requires a strong understanding of the subjects themselves. Without continuing my own preparation, it became difficult to build something meaningful for others.
So, I abandoned the project and started looking for other possibilities.
Towards a Master's Abroad
After exploring and evaluating different options, I started considering a master's degree abroad. At the time, I was craving a change of environment as much as I was looking for a new direction in life.
I researched different countries, considering factors such as cost, requirements, and long-term possibilities. Eventually, Germany stood out as the most practical option. Its public universities were relatively affordable, and I believed I could manage the living expenses for two years.
I started preparing for the admission process, registered for the IELTS exam, worked on my documents, and learned everything I could about the process.
Naturally, MockYard changed with me.
I pivoted it into a platform that could help students apply to German universities for master's programmes. The idea was simple: earn a little side income while using what I was learning to help others.
I also created a free Telegram group where anyone could join and get help with the application process, especially students who wanted to prepare on their own instead of relying on consultants.
For a while, things seemed to be moving in the right direction.
A Series of Rejections
Then the rejections started.
Months had passed. Money had been spent on certifications, IELTS, documents, applications, and everything else required for the process.
I still remember receiving my first rejection letter.
Then came another.
And another.
Eventually, every university rejected my application.
What made it even harder was the irony of the situation.
Some of the people I had helped in that free Telegram group - people with whom I had shared the same process and resources - actually managed to secure admission.
They made it. I didn't. That hit hard.
I became depressed, started overthinking everything, and kept asking myself:
Why does this always happen to me?
That Unexpected Solo Trip
While preparing for the IELTS examination, I had to travel to Dehradun to take the test.
That trip unexpectedly became something much more important. It became my first solo trip.
What started as a simple journey for an examination introduced me to something I had never seriously considered before: travelling alone. After coming back, I found myself thinking differently about what I wanted from life.
You can read more about that journey here: How an IELTS Exam Led to My First Solo Trip.
Once again, MockYard changed direction. This time, I wanted to explore solo travel and build something around it. MockYard would become the place where I could build and experiment - a kind of digital basecamp.
That eventually led to another brand: Nostos & Nodes: A Digital Basecamp for Solo Travellers.
But life doesn't always work the way we want, does it?
There was one obvious problem. To build a business around solo travel, I needed to travel first. And travelling requires money. Money I didn't have.
So, once again, I found myself back at square one.
Then life happened again. Other circumstances forced me to put the project on hold. At that point, I decided to stop chasing ideas that depended on circumstances I couldn't currently control. Instead, I wanted to build around something I already knew.
Something I could start with the resources I had.
Finally, the Indie Game Studio
After considering the options left in front of me, I finally decided to pivot MockYard once again. This time, toward something much simpler.
Every man's favourite hobby: PLAYING GAMES.
Except this time, I don't want to just play them.
I want to build them.
I decided to focus on mobile games.
The reason is simple: given the resources and time available to me, mobile games are much more realistic to build and ship than a full-fledged PC or console game.
And that is where MockYard is today.
From a mock-test platform, to a master's-admission project, to a solo-travel idea - and now, an indie game studio. Maybe the journey was never supposed to be a straight line. Maybe MockYard was always going to change as I changed. And this is only the beginning.