Hey, Good Game From Angry Birds to Escape Rooms: The Game Design Journey of Johannes Ahvenniemi
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Feb 11, 2025 Johannes Ahvenniemi, a veteran in the mobile gaming sector known for his work on Angry Birds and Best Fiends, shares his gaming journey from childhood passion to professional success. He emphasizes the challenges of designing ad-free games and discusses innovative projects like escape puzzle magazines. Johannes reflects on his experiences at Rovio and Seriously Digital, while also highlighting the vibrant game industry in Finland. He reveals his motivation to create inclusive games through his venture, Papukaija, targeting underserved audiences.
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Early Coding Journey
- Johannes' brother sparked his coding interest at age five, inspiring him to learn on an Amstrad.
- Despite initial challenges, his brother's guidance in QBasic enabled him to create animations and interactions, fueling his passion.
First Coding Earnings
- Johannes earned his first income through Flash games, despite initially viewing Flash as less sophisticated than other programming languages.
- This experience led to his professional game development career at Rovio, the creators of Angry Birds.
Rovio's Growth
- Rovio's rapid growth from 10 to 800 employees created a unique team dynamic amidst hierarchical structures.
- This fostered strong bonds within smaller teams.