Founder of the Game Studio, Max Zhang 张熠帆

"I spent six years as an international student in the US, followed by five years working as an academic coach with international students at a small liberal arts college. I’ve seen too many students arrive with the desire to connect and build relationships with domestic students but often struggle due to a lack of confidence, cultural understanding, and communication skills. They wanted to integrate, but without the right tools, they often remained within their own cultural circles.

This challenge isn’t unique to international students. In today's world, communication across different cultures and viewpoints has become increasingly difficult, leading to misunderstandings, isolation, and division. Effective communication is more critical than ever, yet it remains one of the hardest skills to practice and master.

That’s when I realized the potential of combining simulation games with AI’s language capabilities. In a simulation game, you can mimic real-world actions, but when you add AI, you can simulate entire cultural experiences. Many people today use AI to learn new languages, but by incorporating simulation game mechanics, CampusTalk elevates this to communication skills training through cultural immersion.

Our vision is to provide people with a new way of learning about different cultures—one that goes beyond reading a book or watching a TV series. We offer a first-hand immersion experience that’s accessible and non-intimidating. CampusTalk is just the beginning—a first step towards a more connected and understanding world, where everyone can practice and prepare for a real-life adventure into the cultures they wish to explore."