About Us

Hello Everyone! 

Stephen and Eric are the co-creators of Pirate Royale. We are college buddies who love games, stories, and having fun with family and friends. Eventually, we decided to jump into a project together! 

StepheN Barany 

Game Designer & Artist Extraordinaire 

Stephen has a strong background in art, design, engineering and everything in between (like philosophy and theology).  After a stint at the University of Illinois (UIUC) in mechanical engineering, he went to graduate from the University of Notre Dame in Industrial Design and Philosophy. He just completed his Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from Washington University in St. Louis.  He is now an adjunct art faculty at the College of Holy Cross in South Bend, IN. 

Eric Verdeyen

Game Designer & Other Things 

Eric graduated from the University of Illinois  (UIUC) studying Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. After several years in business and marketing, he decided to switch things up and go into healthcare. After a one-year pre-medicine program at the University of Virginia, he landed in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. He's currently finishing up his studies to provide smiles literally (beautiful, healthy teeth!) and figuratively (Pirate Royale)!