My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Rami Ismail, gamemaker (Nuclear Throne, Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers, Australia Did It).
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Oct 28, 2025 Rami Ismail, co-founder of Vlambeer and prominent advocate for indie games, shares insights from his career and experiences. He candidly discusses the emotional complexity of sudden success with Ridiculous Fishing and how his family's support shaped his journey. Rami reflects on identity through the lens of gaming, choosing favorites like StarCraft for its creative possibilities and Yakuza 0 for its cultural authenticity. He also dives into his role as a global ambassador for developers and the impact of games like Flight Simulator on real life.
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Winning Felt Like A Lottery Win
- Rami recounts winning big with Ridiculous Fishing and feeling like he 'bought the lottery ticket and won'.
- He describes guilt and the sense of being oddly lucky despite working hard.
Family Responses To Sudden Success
- Rami tells how his mother asked only for an iPad after his success and his father asked for a plane ticket to Egypt.
- His dad didn't fully grasp game work but valued that it 'mattered to people.'
Games As Modifiable Self-Expression
- StarCraft taught Rami how games can be platforms for self-expression via modifiable systems.
- Map editors and constrained toolsets revealed creative possibilities and design truths to him.
