Interviews meet improv comedy
My Role
Original / final game design concept
Kickstarter campaign deliverables / organization
Convention organization / presence
Negotiations with publishers / manufacturers
Project summary
Acquired by 3 different publishers, currently Mattel
Raised $60,000+ through Kickstarter
Published and distributed worldwide
Used the game to propose to my wife
What is Funemployed?
Funemployed is a party game for all ages that transforms the traditional interview process into a satirical, ridiculously fun board game. Using qualifications that range from Mildly Assertive to Sexual T-Rex, players use their improvisational skills to weave a set of unrelated characteristics into a cohesive narrative explaining why they’d be good for a job.
Intended to be completely unrealistic, Funemployed encourages people to act out and create ludicrous stories in an attempt to be the best job applicant. Funemployed also provides its players with tangible life skills just by playing the game, teaching its players how to communicate with others, construct an argument, and think on their feet, all while having fun.
The result? Funemployed is currently published worldwide by Mattel and has been enjoyed by millions. Funemployed is also popular in the streaming community, having been played on livestreams and at conventions by top internet personalities like Markiplier, JackSepticEye, The Yogscast, Smosh Games, PointlessBlog, NorthernLion, and more.
How was it created?
With a TON of help from friends, family members, and people I met along the way.
Funemployed started as an idea after playing another title in development in the "improvisation party game space." After that playtest, I brainstormed with close friends a concept that revolved around real jobs and real qualifications for those jobs that you would mix and match while playing the game. With their help, I developed a game system that had infinite combinations and unlimited opportunities for players to express themselves.
Original concept list for several cards in the game.
From there, I playtested the game with hundreds of friends, family members and strangers at private playtests and public conventions, asking for their feedback about rules, mechanics, and content. Running user surveys, for example, allowed me to hone in on the best words to include in the game.
After identifying the right blend of humor, realism, and content, I worked with printers and publishers to determine how to fund and manufacture the game, determining all logistics with printing and fulfillment.
And then we made it!
Funemployed was the first game released by the company I founded, Urban Island Games, LLC. In 2013, I ran a Kickstarter campaign and found a publisher that helped get the game to market.
In 2014, I secured a new publisher and ran a second Kickstarter campaign, raising more than seven times the initial amount of money needed for the first print run.
In 2016, we signed an exclusive contract with Mattel to print Funemployed worldwide. Now, Funemployed is shared by streamers, YouTube celebrities, career centers, educators, and content creators around the world.