Three dads from Norway have made their childhood dream of making a video game come true.
The trio—Kim Skogvold, a kindergarten teacher, Håvar Ringheim, a purchasing manager and warehouse worker Kristian Wangen—have been friends since 2006.
Between them, they have six children, day jobs and lives spread across Oslo and Larvik. For years, gaming nights and movie marathons were their way of staying close. That eventually evolved into what they jokingly dubbed the “Night Shift”: logging on together after dishes were done and kids were asleep to teach themselves game development from scratch.
Kim told Newsweek that the turning point came three years ago during a New Year’s celebration spent together with their families.
“That’s when we decided to stop talking about it and actually do something,” he said. “The first two years went into trying to learn the coding language, the software and the business in general, while at the same time working our normal jobs and trying to be the best parents we could.”
Progress was slow and often invisible, but over time something changed. Systems started working and the game became playable from beginning to end. By the time Kristian—who also has a degree in 3D animation—formally joined the project in the summer of 2025, the question was no longer if they would finish, but when.
Parenthood shaped nearly every aspect of the process. Gone were marathon coding sessions fueled by caffeine and free weekends. Instead, the dads became “productivity ninjas,” carving out tight windows of focused work around bedtime routines.
“Creatively, this constraint shaped the game itself,” the dads explained. “We started appreciating ‘snackable’ gaming—something you can jump into, cause 30 minutes of absolute mayhem, and put down again. It’s a game designed for a parent’s limited schedule.”
That design philosophy is baked into C.A.R.S. (Creating A Ridiculous S***show), a physics-based sandbox game that officially launched on Steam on January 23.
The premise is deliberately cathartic: an old man snaps after a highway is built next to his quiet cabin, using improvised weapons and absurd physics to disrupt traffic and reclaim peace.
The dads described it as channeling “Grumpy Old Man” energy. “It’s a digital, harmless version of shaking your head at the absurdity of everyday life and letting it all out in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone,” they added.
Learning game development while juggling careers came with surprises. The depth of modern tools was both empowering and humbling, revealing just how much labor hides behind even the smallest details.
The hardest moments came during what they call “sickness marathons”—weeks of sleepless nights with sick kids, followed by full workdays and the daunting thought of opening the game engine at 9 p.m.
What kept them going was their friendship and a shared agreement to allow real life to take priority.
“Being best friends also means giving each other room for real life,” Kim explained. “If one of us needs a week off to do renovations on the house or focus on family, there’s no pressure. That mutual respect kept the project alive.”
The dads shared their story in a post on Reddit’s r/gaming channel, which has received over 2,500 upvotes and comments.
“We just wanted to show that even in the middle of the toddler-chaos (as seen in the photo), it’s possible to chase a hobby,” they wrote under the username u/Balbonator. “We’re tired, but incredibly proud.”
Early launch results have already surpassed their hopes. Within the first half hour, around 60 copies sold. Just weeks ago, Kim admitted he’d be happy if a single stranger bought the game.
“Seeing real, unknown players actually download it on day one already feels like a small victory,” they added.
Now, the dads are focused on listening to feedback and letting the project find its footing. More than anything, they hope their story resonates with other parents—or friends with long-shelved dreams.
“Unfinished dreams don’t disappear—they just wait until you’re ready to show up for them, even in small ways,” they said. “If three tired dads from Norway can get a game on Steam, your dream is definitely doable too.”