John Laster is known around Orlando’s tech and startup circles as a trusted attorney. Many have called on him when they need someone who understands IP, trademarks, corporate structure, and what it takes to grow. He’s also the lawyer who worked with us to obtain the trademark “Orlando Life” years ago. But on May 6th, Laster steps into a different spotlight as he launches Siegecaster, a video game he co-developed, on Steam.

The launch of Siegecaster represents years of crossover experience that Laster has had in advising gaming companies, representing influencers, and even being a Twitch streamer during the platform’s early days as Justin.tv. But Siegecaster is the first time Laster has taken everything he knows about the business of games and applied it to the creative side.

“I’ve been a streamer, I’ve been an attorney, and now I’m a game developer,” John says. “It’s really important for me to understand the worlds I’m giving advice on and this process has made me a better lawyer.”

Developed by Boss Corridor, the studio Laster co-founded with industry veteran Alexander Sliwinski, Siegecaster combines elements of real-time strategy, tower defense, and the emergent “survivors-like” genre. The game launches wave based battles from a chosen citadel, where players must actively aim and target enemies.

“For us we wanted to encourage active participation," John explains. “A lot of tower defense games are automated where you place the turrets and watch. But in Siegecaster, you’re making choices constantly, aiming, prioritizing targets, timing your shots. It’s an evolution of the genre.”

This intentional departure from genre norms gives the game a distinct feel, one that might challenge expectations but offer something deeper for the right player. “We know it won’t hit for everyone,” John admits. “But for people who want a more engaging, hands on strategy experience, it really delivers.”

Joining Laster and Sliwinski on the project was programmer and game designer Percy Legendre IV (PJ), Co-Founder of Half Human Games. Also key to the project was Paul Kilduff-Taylor, who provided critical design insight as well as the game’s sound and music. “Paul is a literal living legend in indie game development,” John says. “We couldn’t have done this without him.”

Completely self-funded, the team aimed to build something focused and sustainable. “Most people try and swing for the fences, we just want to get on base,” John says, referencing a metaphor he and Alexander used from the beginning. “That way, we can build, iterate, evolve.”

Boss Corridor takes its name from a familiar term in classic gaming (like Mega Man) where you reach the end of a level and enter the “boss corridor” where you battle the final boss. For John, it’s a fitting name. “The boss corridor was always the moment where the tension rose, and you knew something big was coming. That’s what we want this studio to be for us and eventually others.”

While Sliwinski is based in London, PJ is part of Central Florida’s gaming scene. John is passionate about growing that local ecosystem. “Orlando produces some of the best game design talent on the planet, but we’ve struggled to keep and support that talent locally. My hope is we can change that.”

Though the game launches exclusively on Steam for now, the team has aspirations for console if the community response supports it. “Steam is the easiest entry point,” John says. “But emotionally? I’d love to see it on Xbox. That platform means a lot to me.”

Circling back to what drives both his legal work and game development, Laster says he simply wants to help people build something meaningful. “Most of the law I practice is about helping people grow. I’ve never been excited about dismantling things. I want to help create, protect, and scale ideas that matter.”

For Laster, Siegecaster is more than a game. It’s a creative endeavor, a passion project, and a tool that sharpens his reputation as an attorney who understands the gaming world from the inside out.

Siegecaster launches on May 6th, 2025 at 11am on Steam. You can find it here