Free to Play is a 2014 documentary about the International, an esports tournament with a $1M prize, the highest prize an esports competition had ever seen at the time. Players from around the world gathered in Cologne, Germany, to compete against one another in Defense of the Ancients (DotA), a multiplayer online battle area game. The film follows three key players, all competing on different teams, with one common goal: to prove that professional gaming is a career worth pursuing—and win a million dollars, of course.   One of the central figures is Benedict Lim, who plays under the name Hyhy. From Singapore, he plays on a Singapore national team called Scythe Gaming. While Hyhy is proud of his skill and passion for gaming, his family doesn’t see eye to eye with him, especially because of the negative effect gaming has had on Hyhy’s studies. To make matters worse, in order to compete at the International, he must skip his final exams, meaning he would have to repeat a semester of school. Hyhy feels that if he’s able to win the $1M prize, it will prove to his family that gaming is a worthy and lucrative profession. He also hopes that a win at this scale would bring him one step closer to winning back his ex-girlfriend, who he admits he is still in love with.   Another important player is Danil Ishutin, who goes by Dendi. Dendi competes on the Ukrainian national team Na’Vi, but he’s also fighting a personal battle. His father recently and unexpectedly passed away from cancer, and Dendi has been having trouble coping with the loss. He’s even stopped going fishing, which he and his father used to do together all the time. Instead, he throws himself into video games as a way of distracting himself from the grief.   Finally, Clinton Loomis, who goes by Fear, is from Medford, Oregon and is older than most competitors. Fear plays on a multi-national team called Online Kingdom. Because of the unusual hours that come with being on a team with players all over the world, Fear was forced to move out of his mother’s home. Tight on funds, Fear played his matches on an old, secondhand CRT monitor. He shares the same desire as Hyhy, to prove that professional gaming is a respectable career choice.   All three players lead their teams through The International, where teams from all over the world as well as family, friends, and fans gather to watch professional gamers compete for the $1M prize. The documentary is full of interviews from players themselves, their support systems, fans, announcers, and other figures in the esports world. These are spliced together along with immersive clips of live DotA 2 games, so even if you’re not familiar with the nuances of the game, you’re just as engrossed as the players.   Until the very end, it’s clear all three central teams have a real chance at taking home first place: will it be the underdogs, Online Kingdom, led by Fear and his motley crew of gamers, or will it be Scythe Gaming, led by Hyhy, who has the most at stake, or lastly, will it be Dendhi, who has the passion for the game but grief weighing down his heart. Through the qualifying rounds to the playoffs and into championship, Free to Play showcases the people at the heart of esports and their reason for pushing themselves to their limits to win it all.

Hey Howard, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us. For starters, what is it about the Toy and Game Industry that you love? I had the privilege of contributing to the toy industry during a pivotal time, creating products that connected with people across generations. What continues to inspire me is how toys and games bring joy while sparking a deep sense of nostalgia in adults.   In a world that often feels divided, being part of an industry that creates connection through play, storytelling, and shared experiences is both refreshing and deeply meaningful.   What is your claim to fame? My claim to fame is having played a role in conceptualizing numerous collectible toys that went on to become iconic. At the time, I didn’t fully realize the lasting impact—but many of those creations have since taken on a life of their own, becoming sought-after pieces with enduring value among collectors today.   Why and how did you get into the Toy and Game industry? I actually fell into the toy and game industry by chance. It started as a summer job right out of high school in 1989, just before I began college—back when the internet wasn’t even part of everyday life yet. What was meant to be temporary turned into an eight-year journey, as I continued working while attending school.   I came in during the first wave of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze, which made the experience even more exciting and formative. Along the way, I helped create many of the toys from that era, worked on other brands, and even did occasional cameo work for Playmates. Looking back, it’s incredible how something so unexpected became such a defining part of my path.   What are you working on now? Over the past few years, I took a leap of faith to finally bring to life an IP I had been imagining for over a decade—Ancientz. Building a new toy IP demands an incredible amount of time, resources, and resilience, but that’s exactly what makes it the greatest challenge of my life.   My mantra is simple: the process of building a dream is more meaningful than the dream itself.   If you look back at yourself 10 years ago is this where you thought you’d be?s Where did you think you’d be? What changed? What went right? If I look back at myself 10 years ago, this isn’t exactly where I thought I’d be. At the time, I was a serial entrepreneur running a digital marketing business, constantly experimenting—starting and failing at dozens of ventures, with a few small wins along the way.   Life took some unexpected turns. Going through a divorce and becoming a single dad, I never imagined I’d have the space or opportunity to pursue a dream I had been holding onto for so long. For years, I stayed stuck—not because I lacked passion, but because I wanted everything to be perfect before starting.   That changed when I met my wife, Gloria. She helped me realize that perfection isn’t the goal—progress is. You don’t need to have everything figured out; you just need to begin. That shift in mindset is what finally moved me forward. What went right wasn’t timing or luck—it was learning that every dream needs a starting point, and the courage to take that first step.   What was your favorite project to date? My favorite project today is definitely my new IP, Ancientz (obviously!)—it represents everything I’ve been building toward. But looking back, I have incredible memories designing toys during the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles era.   Some personal favorites include Dunkin’ Don (#23 basketball Donatello), Navy Seal Michelangelo, and Rappin’ Mike. What I loved most was the creative freedom—being able to obsess over the small details that made each figure unique. No two limbs were ever the same, and that level of individuality is what made those toys feel special.   What and/or who inspires you? I'm inspired by the pursuit of a dream and the journey it takes to bring it to life. The process of turning an idea into reality is what drives me most. Whether the outcome is a success or a lesson learned, there's something deeply rewarding about chasing a vision and seeing where it leads.   How do you define creativity? To me, creativity is the ability to transform a vision from your imagination into something tangible. It's about bringing an idea to life in a way that expresses who you are. If that creation resonates with others—sparking inspiration, joy, or a new perspective—that's the greatest reward.   Where were you born? I was born in South Korea but immigrated to the US at age 6 so most of my memory is from Southern California.   What was your life like growing up? Growing up in the late 1970s and 1980s as the only Asian family in our community wasn't always easy. I experienced my share of racial prejudice and challenges, but looking back, those experiences helped shape my resilience and made me stronger.   One of my greatest inspirations was watching my parents work tirelessly to provide for our family. Their perseverance and sacrifices gave me a deep appreciation for hard work and perspective. Whenever I face obstacles today, I remind myself that they overcame far greater hardships to create opportunities for our family.   As a kid, I was always drawing, creating, and letting my imagination run wild. That passion eventually led to my first job after high school as a toy concept artist—a career that turned my childhood love of art into a profession.   Where did you grow up and how did that influence who you are today? I grew up in San Pedro, California, at the southern tip of Los Angeles County, just steps from the ocean. My parents still live in the same house, only half a block from the cliffs at Point Fermin, so it's a place that has remained a constant throughout my life.   Growing up surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic cliffside landscape had a profound influence on who I am. It gave me a sense of peace, encouraged me to spend time thinking and imagining, and nurtured my creativity from an early age. Even today, being near the ocean reminds me to slow down, reflect, and find inspiration in the world around me.   Who are the role models for the work you do? My work doesn't fit the traditional image of what most people think of as an artist's work. If I had to describe it, I'd call it pop art—blending nostalgia, pop culture, and imagination into something unexpected.   One of my earliest influences was Andy Warhol. He challenged conventional ideas of art and inspired me to think beyond the obvious. I also grew up admiring the storytelling and dynamic artistry of Frank Frazetta and Jim Lee, whose work fueled my passion for illustration and character design.   And, of course, I have to mention Michelangelo. His creativity, technical mastery, and timeless work continue to inspire me as an artist.   How do you jumpstart your creativity when you find yourself stalled? When I find myself creatively stalled, the best thing I can do is step away from the project for a while. Giving myself space allows me to return with fresh eyes and a new perspective. I also find a lot of inspiration through prayer, quiet reflection, and moments of stillness. That's often when the best ideas come to me.   Do you have a nickname? Yes—"Quiggly" has been my nickname ever since I was a teenager working at Varner Studios. It was coined by my boss at the time, Eddie Mosqueda, who was Vice President of the studio at the time. When I told him I was leaving to start college, he joked that he needed a better name to fire me, and "Quiggly" stuck. As I remember it, he said the name came from a character in an episode of The Jetsons.   Do you have any kiddos? Yes! I have three children from my previous marriage—Lauren, Braeden, and Lindsey—and two stepchildren from my wife Gloria's previous marriage. Together, we're just one kid shy of The Brady Bunch!   What do you play with your kids? My kids are all in college now, so we don't get as much time to play together as we used to. But when they were younger, I loved being involved in whatever they were passionate about. We spent countless hours playing sports, diving into video games like Minecraft and Titanfall, and gathering around the table for board games and card games. Looking back, it's those shared moments and memories that I cherish the most.   What is the first thing you usually notice about people? The first thing I usually notice is how people communicate. Do they genuinely listen and ask thoughtful questions, or do they spend most of the conversation talking about themselves? I try not to be too judgmental because I know I have my own communication quirks. But I've found that a person's self-awareness—how they connect with and engage others—often leaves the strongest first impression.   What do you hope your legacy will be? I hope to be remembered as someone who created things that brought joy, inspiration, and a sense of wonder to others. Through my work with Ancientz, I hope to spark curiosity and imagination in everyone who owns one of the figurines. More than just creating collectibles, I want my work to leave people with a feeling of excitement, connection, and possibility.