ironically working at Funomena was my highest salary ever
September 26, 2026 at 9:01 PM
ironically working at Funomena was my highest salary ever
also damn, both the previous american studio he worked with (funomena) AND the american publisher he had been working with (annapurna) fucking collapsing mid-dev, takahashi has had supremely bad luck in america
February 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
also damn, both the previous american studio he worked with (funomena) AND the american publisher he had been working with (annapurna) fucking collapsing mid-dev, takahashi has had supremely bad luck in america
A rare story that Fanbyte didn’t delete, but I think my story about Robin Hunicke and how the leadership at Funomena ran the studio into the ground is one of the best things I have ever written. www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
October 30, 2024 at 8:47 PM
A rare story that Fanbyte didn’t delete, but I think my story about Robin Hunicke and how the leadership at Funomena ran the studio into the ground is one of the best things I have ever written. www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
lmao Robin said something similar with Funomena - the People Make Games video came out about her and she was like "well the investors are pulling out bc of that video, so good job whoever talked to the press"
like nah dude i'm pretty sure we were having money trouble well before that lol
like nah dude i'm pretty sure we were having money trouble well before that lol
Looking at these court docs is something else. A year ago we all lost our jobs, & the reason given was “an employee talked to a journalist so we had to shut down the studio.” But now, in their own telling, it was actually bc one investor told another investor not to trust them, so the money dried up
the prytania media/crop circle/possibility space saga continues... annie and jeff strain have filed a lawsuit against netease for defamation and unfair trade practices. they allege netease spread rumors about financial fraud at prytania, which led to its demise:
www.polygon.com/gaming/53894...
www.polygon.com/gaming/53894...
March 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
lmao Robin said something similar with Funomena - the People Make Games video came out about her and she was like "well the investors are pulling out bc of that video, so good job whoever talked to the press"
like nah dude i'm pretty sure we were having money trouble well before that lol
like nah dude i'm pretty sure we were having money trouble well before that lol
no mention of the shit that occurred at Funomena, Mountains, Fullbright, not even a nod to usTwo and its (ugh) "fampany" bullshit, nothing to say about Jeff and Annie Delisi Strain and the weird "uwu" shit they pulled while closing Possibility Space and Crop Circle Games
December 22, 2024 at 7:44 PM
no mention of the shit that occurred at Funomena, Mountains, Fullbright, not even a nod to usTwo and its (ugh) "fampany" bullshit, nothing to say about Jeff and Annie Delisi Strain and the weird "uwu" shit they pulled while closing Possibility Space and Crop Circle Games
i remember having dinner with the team manager just a few weeks before she laid me off and talking about how Funomena did me dirty. she said something like “my only goal is not to be as bad as Robin”
good news fam - afaik Robin didn’t lay off any expectant parents so you’re not as bad, you’re worse
good news fam - afaik Robin didn’t lay off any expectant parents so you’re not as bad, you’re worse
December 14, 2024 at 2:19 PM
i remember having dinner with the team manager just a few weeks before she laid me off and talking about how Funomena did me dirty. she said something like “my only goal is not to be as bad as Robin”
good news fam - afaik Robin didn’t lay off any expectant parents so you’re not as bad, you’re worse
good news fam - afaik Robin didn’t lay off any expectant parents so you’re not as bad, you’re worse
100% sounds like something Robin might have said when we were doing Roblox garbage at Funomena
Take a drink everytime the CEO of a shady online company says "think about the people in the slums of Phillipines/Indonesia and how they can benefit from our exploitive platform"
oh my god he admit it
April 4, 2024 at 6:28 PM
100% sounds like something Robin might have said when we were doing Roblox garbage at Funomena
y’know i don’t care if Funomena closed 6 months into the project and another team finished it, i’m still going to say i’ve had a game i worked on featured in Times Square
June 30, 2024 at 3:10 PM
y’know i don’t care if Funomena closed 6 months into the project and another team finished it, i’m still going to say i’ve had a game i worked on featured in Times Square
btw shoutouts to Funomena for buying me a nice gaming laptop and saying they’d “drop by to pick it up” sometime after closing
i still got it next time you’re in iowa, Robin
i still got it next time you’re in iowa, Robin
June 15, 2024 at 6:01 PM
btw shoutouts to Funomena for buying me a nice gaming laptop and saying they’d “drop by to pick it up” sometime after closing
i still got it next time you’re in iowa, Robin
i still got it next time you’re in iowa, Robin
i was like “no thank you” and started applying for games jobs
i felt very lucky to end up at Funomena, before all The Unpleasantness was surfaced and i was laid off 6 months later when the company suddenly shuttered www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
i felt very lucky to end up at Funomena, before all The Unpleasantness was surfaced and i was laid off 6 months later when the company suddenly shuttered www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
The Hopeful Beginning and Abrupt Shuttering of Funomena
The indie game studio was positioned as a bright progressive light for developers everywhere, but now exists only as a name with former staff who feel betrayed.
www.fanbyte.com
November 4, 2024 at 8:46 PM
i was like “no thank you” and started applying for games jobs
i felt very lucky to end up at Funomena, before all The Unpleasantness was surfaced and i was laid off 6 months later when the company suddenly shuttered www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
i felt very lucky to end up at Funomena, before all The Unpleasantness was surfaced and i was laid off 6 months later when the company suddenly shuttered www.fanbyte.com/legacy/the-h...
All Systems Brough - VESPER.5 (+ assorted jam projects)
We're joined by @iznaut.com and @sxezskoz.bsky.social to discuss the 6th game(s) in our yearlong coverage of @smestorp.bsky.social's wide-ranging oeuvre:
secretlives.games/all-systems-...
We're joined by @iznaut.com and @sxezskoz.bsky.social to discuss the 6th game(s) in our yearlong coverage of @smestorp.bsky.social's wide-ranging oeuvre:
secretlives.games/all-systems-...
The Secret Lives of Games: All Systems Brough - VESPER.5
We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin, A Good Videogame) and Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games) to discuss VESPER.5; a durational, tile-based exploration game. It’s the sixth installment in our ...
secretlives.games
June 2, 2026 at 12:02 PM
All Systems Brough - VESPER.5 (+ assorted jam projects)
We're joined by @iznaut.com and @sxezskoz.bsky.social to discuss the 6th game(s) in our yearlong coverage of @smestorp.bsky.social's wide-ranging oeuvre:
secretlives.games/all-systems-...
We're joined by @iznaut.com and @sxezskoz.bsky.social to discuss the 6th game(s) in our yearlong coverage of @smestorp.bsky.social's wide-ranging oeuvre:
secretlives.games/all-systems-...
having worked at Funomena and several other places i can tell you firsthand that every one is just varying levels of bad
some of them had very good ppl in charge with the best intentions! but even those ppl make mistakes that can impact you just as negatively as the ppl who did it intentionally
some of them had very good ppl in charge with the best intentions! but even those ppl make mistakes that can impact you just as negatively as the ppl who did it intentionally
after news came out about bad working conditions at multiple high profile indie game companies, the conclusion many reached was: "oh, those were the bad people. i'll just avoid the bad people."
sorry to say, but the cycle will continue regardless of who is in charge without better labor protections
sorry to say, but the cycle will continue regardless of who is in charge without better labor protections
November 12, 2024 at 2:22 PM
having worked at Funomena and several other places i can tell you firsthand that every one is just varying levels of bad
some of them had very good ppl in charge with the best intentions! but even those ppl make mistakes that can impact you just as negatively as the ppl who did it intentionally
some of them had very good ppl in charge with the best intentions! but even those ppl make mistakes that can impact you just as negatively as the ppl who did it intentionally
oh god it’s getting real now #NoQuarter24 www.nyu.edu/about/news-p...
November 9, 2024 at 1:01 AM
oh god it’s getting real now #NoQuarter24 www.nyu.edu/about/news-p...
Eggplant Presents: A Year of UFO 50 - Camouflage
We're joined by @adamatomic.bsky.social and @iznaut.com to discuss game #16: Camouflage.
"Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and fulfill your destiny."
eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
We're joined by @adamatomic.bsky.social and @iznaut.com to discuss game #16: Camouflage.
"Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and fulfill your destiny."
eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games: EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Camouflage
We're joined by Adam Saltsman (Finji) and Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin) to discuss Camouflage, the 16th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and...
eggplant.show
January 15, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Eggplant Presents: A Year of UFO 50 - Camouflage
We're joined by @adamatomic.bsky.social and @iznaut.com to discuss game #16: Camouflage.
"Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and fulfill your destiny."
eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
We're joined by @adamatomic.bsky.social and @iznaut.com to discuss game #16: Camouflage.
"Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and fulfill your destiny."
eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
anyway, getting laid off from Funomena ended up being great for my career since it was a fairly well known and (then) well respected studio. ppl wanted to swoop us up and i knew that.
so then @dan.nogoblin.social slid into my DMs and i found my next home!
so then @dan.nogoblin.social slid into my DMs and i found my next home!
November 4, 2024 at 8:55 PM
anyway, getting laid off from Funomena ended up being great for my career since it was a fairly well known and (then) well respected studio. ppl wanted to swoop us up and i knew that.
so then @dan.nogoblin.social slid into my DMs and i found my next home!
so then @dan.nogoblin.social slid into my DMs and i found my next home!
(i know more about Roblox than anyone over 30 should bc it was what i was forced to work on in the 6 months i spent at Funomena before they shut down lol)
May 1, 2024 at 6:44 PM
(i know more about Roblox than anyone over 30 should bc it was what i was forced to work on in the 6 months i spent at Funomena before they shut down lol)
Oh gods. Funomena fell THAT hard? Yikes.
Like I knew about the rest but, still. Wow. They were seriously considering Roblox.
Like I knew about the rest but, still. Wow. They were seriously considering Roblox.
May 1, 2024 at 7:27 PM
Oh gods. Funomena fell THAT hard? Yikes.
Like I knew about the rest but, still. Wow. They were seriously considering Roblox.
Like I knew about the rest but, still. Wow. They were seriously considering Roblox.
brand new episode of @eggplantshow.bsky.social's yearlong UFO50 deep-dive! this one's about CAMOUFLAGE, a good game about a color-changing prey lizard for whom you are empowered to make some questionable parental decisions. feat. @adamatomic.bsky.social / @iznaut.com !! eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games: EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Camouflage
We're joined by Adam Saltsman (Finji) and Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin) to discuss Camouflage, the 16th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Blend in with your surroundings to evade predators and...
eggplant.show
January 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM
brand new episode of @eggplantshow.bsky.social's yearlong UFO50 deep-dive! this one's about CAMOUFLAGE, a good game about a color-changing prey lizard for whom you are empowered to make some questionable parental decisions. feat. @adamatomic.bsky.social / @iznaut.com !! eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
a few weeks before Funomena closed there was an internal demo of a game that they worked on before my time - it had been pretty much done for years and not released bc Reasons
it was so cool and inspiring that i literally started crying during the call. incredible work by incredible ppl. gone.
it was so cool and inspiring that i literally started crying during the call. incredible work by incredible ppl. gone.
give your employees the rights to the game they were making. give your employees the rights to the game they were making. give your employees the rights to the game they were making.
'Distributed' studio Possibility Space abruptly shut down by Prytania Media
April 12, 2024 at 5:44 PM
a few weeks before Funomena closed there was an internal demo of a game that they worked on before my time - it had been pretty much done for years and not released bc Reasons
it was so cool and inspiring that i literally started crying during the call. incredible work by incredible ppl. gone.
it was so cool and inspiring that i literally started crying during the call. incredible work by incredible ppl. gone.
$35k Development Director, Trendy Entertainment
$46k Software Engineer, Shadow Health
$120k Software Engineer, Zynga
$130k Software Engineer, PlayStudios
-$183k, Technical Lead, Design, Art, Production, MidBoss (worth it)
$105k, Gameplay Engineer, Funomena
$Oh gosh, DRE @ Meta, third party content
$46k Software Engineer, Shadow Health
$120k Software Engineer, Zynga
$130k Software Engineer, PlayStudios
-$183k, Technical Lead, Design, Art, Production, MidBoss (worth it)
$105k, Gameplay Engineer, Funomena
$Oh gosh, DRE @ Meta, third party content
November 5, 2023 at 7:50 PM
$35k Development Director, Trendy Entertainment
$46k Software Engineer, Shadow Health
$120k Software Engineer, Zynga
$130k Software Engineer, PlayStudios
-$183k, Technical Lead, Design, Art, Production, MidBoss (worth it)
$105k, Gameplay Engineer, Funomena
$Oh gosh, DRE @ Meta, third party content
$46k Software Engineer, Shadow Health
$120k Software Engineer, Zynga
$130k Software Engineer, PlayStudios
-$183k, Technical Lead, Design, Art, Production, MidBoss (worth it)
$105k, Gameplay Engineer, Funomena
$Oh gosh, DRE @ Meta, third party content
a couple nights ago i had the historic chance to stay up until 330a berlin time to join the @eggplantshow.bsky.social OVERBOLD episode with @iznaut.com and @johnaxon.bsky.social, and: given it’s literally a game about pushing things too far, i had no choice but to do it eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games: EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Overbold
We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin) and John Axon (Capy Games) to discuss Overbold, the 34th game in the UFO 50 collection. “In the notorious Red Arena, the more risk you take, the more...
eggplant.show
May 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
a couple nights ago i had the historic chance to stay up until 330a berlin time to join the @eggplantshow.bsky.social OVERBOLD episode with @iznaut.com and @johnaxon.bsky.social, and: given it’s literally a game about pushing things too far, i had no choice but to do it eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of...
reminder that you don’t owe your bosses anything, especially after they stop paying you
probably the worst part in the fallout of Funomena was the subset of ppl that still felt loyal to Robin bc she “took a chance” on them as students
i’m sorry, talented or not you were just cheap labor to her
probably the worst part in the fallout of Funomena was the subset of ppl that still felt loyal to Robin bc she “took a chance” on them as students
i’m sorry, talented or not you were just cheap labor to her
April 5, 2024 at 4:20 AM
reminder that you don’t owe your bosses anything, especially after they stop paying you
probably the worst part in the fallout of Funomena was the subset of ppl that still felt loyal to Robin bc she “took a chance” on them as students
i’m sorry, talented or not you were just cheap labor to her
probably the worst part in the fallout of Funomena was the subset of ppl that still felt loyal to Robin bc she “took a chance” on them as students
i’m sorry, talented or not you were just cheap labor to her
Hey there! Ted DiNola, games person, currently at Meta helping folks make their Quest games more better with deep dive technical and design feedback
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, doing my own stuff
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, doing my own stuff
July 1, 2023 at 10:18 PM
Hey there! Ted DiNola, games person, currently at Meta helping folks make their Quest games more better with deep dive technical and design feedback
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, doing my own stuff
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, doing my own stuff
Another #GameDev thread! Hi I'm Ted, currently at Meta giving folks keep dive technical and design feedback on their Quest games.
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, Trendy Ent, other stuff
More about me at esdin.net!
Good to see so many familiar faces popping up!
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, Trendy Ent, other stuff
More about me at esdin.net!
Good to see so many familiar faces popping up!
July 2, 2023 at 2:20 PM
Another #GameDev thread! Hi I'm Ted, currently at Meta giving folks keep dive technical and design feedback on their Quest games.
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, Trendy Ent, other stuff
More about me at esdin.net!
Good to see so many familiar faces popping up!
Prev. Funomena, MidBoss, Zynga, Trendy Ent, other stuff
More about me at esdin.net!
Good to see so many familiar faces popping up!
PMG did a whole thing about this wrt Funomena and an abusive director who used toxic positivity as a way to out group and defend against valid criticism
Toxic positivity can ruin an entire game studio! If you can’t be heard when you say ‘this is not getting better’ or ‘this is bad in this specific way and no one is assisting in solving the problem’ and are told you aren’t being ‘positive enough’ your leadership don’t care to release your game ever 🚩
June 19, 2024 at 8:24 PM
PMG did a whole thing about this wrt Funomena and an abusive director who used toxic positivity as a way to out group and defend against valid criticism