Most of what we know about people at work is just a fraction of who they actually are. The rest shows up in the things they build, compete in, or keep coming back to without anyone asking them to.
As Cosmic Development marks 15 years, we are shining a light on the colleagues who shape our story. With 15 Exceptional Talents, we take a closer look at what our people choose to pursue on their own time, whether that is creating, competing, building, or pushing themselves in entirely different ways.
In this first edition, we meet three colleagues whose paths look very different but share the same underlying drive to create, improve, and push their limits.
Antonio Stevanovski: Esports Competitor and eFootball World Championship Representative
Confident, but always humble. Antonio is someone who stays grounded, knowing that everything can change and that what is given can also be taken away.
Outside of work, he is a competitive gamer representing Macedonia on the international eFootball stage, where the level is high and the competition relentless. As Macedonia’s national eFootball champion, he represented the country at the 2023 eFootball World Championship alongside competitors from over 100 nations. This year, the challenge continues with an even tougher path to qualification and some of the strongest teams in the world ahead. But for Antonio, the mindset stays the same: focused, consistent, and always moving forward.
He believes in lifting others as he grows, and that with the right mindset and effort, nothing is impossible.
“With God, all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
Representing Macedonia at the 2023 eFootball World Championship
Representing Macedonia at the 2023 eFootball World Championship was a big moment for me. Competing against over 100 countries showed me exactly how high the level is and how seriously esports and competitive gaming is treated globally.
I did not achieve major results that year, but I see that as part of the process. It was a lesson, a clear benchmark of where I was and what it takes to reach the top. Since then, my focus has been on growth. That experience pushed me to improve, and it is a foundation for stronger performances moving forward.
How Antonio Prepares for Major Competitive Gaming Tournaments
For me, preparation is about structure and intention. Every session has a purpose.
I focus on analyzing my gameplay, refining details, and building consistency. At a high level, small decisions make the difference, so I work on being sharp and composed under pressure. By the time I compete, I do not want to think about whether I am ready. I want to know I am.
The Mindset Behind Competing Against the World’s Best
At that level, mindset is everything. Confidence comes from preparation, and I rely on that.
I respect every opponent, but I never doubt my ability. When I step in, I trust my game and my decisions. In the end, it is simple: stay focused, stay consistent, and execute when it matters.
Nikola Nikolov: Indie Game Developer, Digital Artist, and Global Game Jam Veteran
Nikola has been fascinated by technology for as long as he can remember. Growing up in the arcade era of the early 90s, games were always part of his world, but so was art.
Over time, those two interests came together. Today, he approaches indie game development as a way to turn ideas into something interactive, something people can experience and not just see. His work sits somewhere between creativity and logic, combining technical thinking with a strong visual imagination, always exploring what is possible when the two meet.
You can explore his game, Rapture: The Beginning, on Steam and the Microsoft Store.
From Digital Art to Indie Game Development: What Drives Nikola
There is a lot of history behind this, but the short version: the biggest driving force is my passion for games, combined with my love for creating art in general. Growing up, I always wondered what it would be like to actually make a game instead of just playing one.
The challenge came naturally because I was already into 3D modeling, animation, painting, sculpting, and drawing. All I had to do was learn to beat the most challenging task, which was how to code, and it opened all the doors for me. So I used all those skills to build something meaningful.
It might sound crazy, but turning an idea into something tangible and putting it out there for the world to enjoy for free, for me there is nothing better than that.
Why Events Like Global Game Jam Are Worth It
Global Game Jam 2013 was a long time ago, and I still have fond memories of it. Events like that have a different kind of energy. You walk into a room full of strangers, discuss ideas, team up, and everyone is friendly and willing to help. You build something from scratch under pressure, usually without much sleep, and at the end everyone is supportive and appreciative of what everyone else managed to create in those three days.
I really recommend the experience to anyone interested in indie game development. Try to participate in at least one Global Game Jam event.
Building a More Ambitious Second Game: What Has Changed
The second game is more ambitious in every aspect, and the gameplay style is genuinely unique. With the experience I gained from the first game, I am working with much more complex code and a different overall structure.
The biggest change worth mentioning is that I am using a data-driven architecture for the player abilities. It fits how the game is being developed and opens up huge possibilities, such as eventually integrating a map editor so players can create their own scenarios and mini-games.
It is still too early to share specifics publicly, but another big shift is how I am approaching the community. This time, I want to share parts of the development process, funny bugs, screenshots, and videos, and I want to genuinely listen to feedback as I build.
Fidan Martinovski: YouTube Creator with 3.5 Million Subscribers
Most of Fidan’s time outside of work goes into building YouTube channels and figuring out what makes people stop scrolling. Over time, that turned into a process of testing, adapting, and refining ideas. He focuses on understanding what captures attention, what keeps people watching, and how small changes can make a real difference.
What started as something informal has gradually become a consistent, focused way of working, built on observation, repetition, and constant improvement. When he is not creating, he is gaming, which in a way keeps him close to the world that started it all.
How Fidan Started Creating YouTube Content and When It Got Serious
Honestly, at first it was just curiosity. I had been watching YouTube for years and thought, why not try this myself? There was no big plan behind it. I just wanted to see if I could make something people would actually watch.
Let’s be real for a second though. I definitely do it for the money too. But that only came later. For the first few years, there was no money at all, just a lot of experimenting and failing. I have been trying to make YouTube work for about 10 years. I tried different niches, styles, and strategies, and most did not work. But at some point things started clicking. I found a formula that worked, and that is when I realized this could actually be something serious. It definitely did not happen overnight.
The Creative Process Behind 3,000 YouTube Shorts
People usually see the final video, but the process is repetitive at this point. Most of my time actually goes into scrolling social media, Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, just browsing until I find a base idea or video that I think has potential. That is where everything starts.
After that, I come up with a simple script around it, something that makes the video more engaging or adds a twist. Then I do the voiceover, usually using AI tools to speed things up. The editing part is actually the quickest step for me now. Since I have made over 3,000 shorts over the years, what used to take hours now takes far less time. That said, it did not start like that. I have spent a huge number of hours editing to build that skill. Along the way I have also dealt with copyright strikes, demonetization issues, and all the frustrating stuff that comes with the platform, so it has not always been smooth.
What 10 Years on YouTube Taught Fidan About Growing a Channel and Getting More Subscribers
The biggest thing I have learned is that attention is everything. If you do not hook people in the first couple of seconds, the video is basically done. People scroll fast and their attention spans are short, so you have to give them a reason to stop. Another thing is consistency, and not just posting often, but improving every single time. My mindset now is simple: make the next video better than the last one.
What still surprises me is how unpredictable it can be. Sometimes a video I do not expect much from goes viral, and something I thought was great just flops. There is no perfect formula, even if it feels like there is sometimes.
At the end of the day, the biggest lesson is just not quitting. It took me years to figure things out, and most of that time nothing was working. But if you keep going, keep improving, and stay consistent, eventually something clicks.