Overwatch co-creators Jeff Kaplan and former Blizzard engineer Tim Ford have launched a new independent studio called Kintsugiyama, where they’re developing The Legend of California, an open-world Western-style shooter inspired by Rust. During a 10-hour livestream showcase of their new project on March 21, things took an unexpectedly hilarious turn when one developer’s character froze in a T-pose, completely unable to move.
When Character Models Go Wrong
At the 3 hour and 57 minute mark, Jeff Kaplan suddenly exclaimed: “What is Blanchie doing?!” The character in question—Blanchie—is a design inspired by The Golden Girls, but something went catastrophically wrong. Instead of behaving normally, the character locked into a rigid T-pose and began convulsing wildly. The entire livestream team erupted in laughter, with even the veteran developer Kaplan unable to contain himself.
Tim Ford jumped in to defuse the moment, gesturing at the screen and quipping: “Look at that beautiful full moon glowing above Blanche’s frozen T-pose.” One developer promptly added fuel to the fire: “Sixteen bug-tracking entries incoming.” Kaplan shot back with a laugh, wondering aloud whether their Jira system or the server infrastructure would crash first. It’s become clear that indie development has its own unique charm.
Bugs Are a Feature, Not a Bug
Despite the various technical issues and glitches on display, the overall mood throughout the livestream remained genuinely upbeat. Jeff Kaplan and Tim Ford clearly relish the unpredictability of building The Legend of California—it’s a Wild West development cycle where anything can happen, and system failures are just part of the story. This kind of transparent, good-natured approach to game development is exactly what builds trust with the gaming community across Southeast Asia and beyond. Players appreciate seeing authentic development progress, bugs and all, rather than polished marketing hype. As the indie gaming scene continues to flourish in the region, charismatic developers who can laugh at themselves and share the real journey resonate far more powerfully than corporate PR.