Seattle Indies honors the memory of a beloved community member

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Steve Zapata.

Steve, or ZappForThat as he was known online, was an incredibly talented Technical Artist. His first major project was with a team called PolyKnight on an indie game called InnerSpace, an exploration flying game that they successfully Kickstarted. From there, he brought his skills to larger studios like Niantic and Riot Games. Despite working full-time, Steve never forgot his indie game dev roots, and cultivated positive, inclusive, and progressive cultures both at work and in indie game dev communities such as Seattle Indies and Society of Play.

Steve was known for his generosity and love of learning. Even though he had so many internal struggles over the past year, it never stopped him from continuing to share his knowledge and experiences freely, and always with the goal of helping fellow game devs in their individual paths. He was always willing to engage with others about their projects, and encouraged conversations about art and the artistic journey. Combined with his own exploration of technical art’s capabilities, Steve was a constant source of enthusiasm, support, and inspiration.

Above all else, Steve was just a really good dude. It never mattered if you were an old friend or someone entirely new to the community – he always made you feel welcome. Whether it was his laughter or his gentle encouragement to keep going if you were down, his warm presence always put the space he was in at ease, and his influence has had a lasting and positive impact on his communities.

There will be a tribute to Steve at the Seattle Indies Expo this Sunday (September 1st, 2024) in the form of a collaborative art installation. If you would like to honor his memory, we encourage you to stop by this weekend to participate.

For those who might like resources on mental health and wellness, here are some below:

– Grief Groups: https://www.evergreenhealth.com/health-services/grief-bereavement/
– Crisis Connections: https://www.crisisconnections.org/

– Therapists in Seattle: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/wa/seattle