Born: 1973 (Albany, New York)
Biography:
Robin Hunicke is an American video game designer and producer who has made significant contributions to the gaming industry. She was born on March 15, 1973, in Albany, New York. Hunicke holds a B.A. degree from the University of Chicago and is currently finishing her PhD in Artificial Intelligence with a focus on Games and Game Design from Northwestern University.
Hunicke started her career at Electronic Arts (EA), where she worked on several games, showcasing her talent and creativity. She served as Lead Designer for MySims, a popular game on the Nintendo Wii. She was also a producer for the critically acclaimed games Boom Blox and its sequel, Boom Blox: Bash Party. Hunicke’s contributions to these games helped solidify her reputation as a skilled game designer and producer.
In a significant career move, Hunicke joined thatgamecompany, an independent game studio known for its innovative and artistic games. While at thatgamecompany, Hunicke took on the role of producer and made a significant impact on the studio’s third project, Journey. Journey is an online cooperative game for the PlayStation 3 that received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. Hunicke’s contribution to the game played a crucial role in its development and success.
After the completion of Journey, Hunicke joined Tiny Speck, where she continued to leave her mark on the industry. She worked on the development of the social MMORPG Glitch, collaborating with renowned game designer Keita Takahashi, the creator of Katamari Damacy and a personal friend. Their partnership aimed to create unique and engrossing gaming experiences for players worldwide.
In 2012, Hunicke co-founded Funomena, a game development studio driven by the idea of creating games that resonate with players on a deeply emotional level. Funomena’s first project was to create a game that incorporated data from a pedometer, offering players a fun and engaging experience. Hunicke’s contribution to the studio has been significant, serving as an executive producer for two of their highly praised games: Wattam, directed by Keita Takahashi, and Luna, a tactile puzzle game set in a vibrant and sculptural story-book world.
Hunicke is widely recognized in the game industry for her support of indie games, her experimentation in game design, and her research in dynamic difficulty adjustment. Additionally, she has been a vocal advocate for advancing women’s representation and participation in the gaming industry. Hunicke’s dedication to empowering women in gaming has made her an influential figure in women’s history and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring female game developers.