Lonely Hero Games, a new board game development company founded by two Beckley natives, has launched its first game, "Bank Heist" on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

Jared Kaplan and Christopher Kincaid grew up in Beckley, where Kaplan still resides, while Kincaid moved to Morgantown.

Kaplan says the pair believe that creating and launching their company from the Mountain State proves that West Virginia can be a cradle for creative businesses that mold a more positive environment for our residents.

“It’s my belief that board games bring people together. When you’re at the game table, all the noise and negativity from the world falls away and you can simply enjoy the company of your friends, family, and new faces,” Kaplan said.

“By sharing a fun, competitive experience with someone, you learn about what you have in common rather than what makes you different. We aim to make games that people of all walks of life can enjoy together.”

The Bank Heist game is a social deduction game with an explosive-action phase, he said.

Kaplan and Kincaid say they placed the game on the Kickstarter platform to raise the necessary funds to begin production.

The company is seeking $18,000 in funding by July 6, 2019. The funding will cover the cost of manufacturing and shipping the initial run of games as well as marketing expenses.

To help support their efforts, find them at Kickstarter at Bankheist.