Zhenghua Yang (Z) built his first computer at the age of six and programmed his first video game at the age of 10. A lifelong love of video games and a near-death experience, while Z was a young man, propelled him to found Serenity Forge during college, a Colorado-based video game developer, publisher, and retail distributor of artful games with meaning.

Z’s mission as a creator and publisher of games is centered on values-driven games in which a deeper message, meaning, or connection is at the core of the gameplay and narrative. Z’s own personal connection with games as he recovered in a hospital from a serious illness had a remarkable impact on his outlook on life (and on his recovery). The deep bond forged between Z and these games left such a stark imprint and realization that games truly have the capacity to help us through almost anything. He has spent his career since then making and publishing games in order to elevate what games can truly mean to a person.