By Dave Begley

June 19, 2018 - Kentucky Native, Lacey Lansaw and seven others at Eastern Kentucky University are developing a video game focusing on coal mining in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. 

Originally, Lansaw says the concept of the game, Mine 18, was more fantasy and horror, but with only three months to develop the game, Lansaw says the group simplified their concept focusing more on the history and culture of mining in Appalachia. 

Lansaw said she hopes players learn about the culture of Appalachia and coal mining as they make their way through the true stories share about miners and their communities throughout the game. 

Recently, Lansaw and her team attended a video game expo in Los Angeles where they were able to show off their game to a variety of players and even some industry titans. 

Mine 18 is expected to take another year to year and a half to finish, but Lansaw said she is thrilled for the future. 

Lansaw has a Masters in Anthropology from Eastern Kentucky University. The Mine 18 game will be developed under Round Table Studio, which Lansaw says she is creating with another developer. Round Table Studio will be based in Richmond, Kentucky.