Today, the software developers turned indie game creators at Unhinged Studios dare to ask the question: what’s the true cost of a paycheck in the tech industry? Their answer: dev_hell, a first-person narrative deckbuilding roguelike where players experience the journey into the corporate void. Launching on Windows PC via Steam in 2024, players will attempt to meet unrealistic expectations, complete code for ill-defined features, and navigate working for a company that pushes the good-natured and not at all malicious idea that it’s “reshaping the future.”

Check out the announcement trailer for dev_hell here:
YouTube | Download

dev_hell puts players in the shoes of a recently hired software developer who has landed a job at a tech startup that’s looking to change the world. The question is: is the change for the better? Unsurprisingly, the Silicon Valley fairytale company seems like it might be hiding something sinister beneath the veneer of motivational posters and free coffee mugs. Who is this mysterious client, and why do some of the commissioned applications seem so…insidious? Actually, never mind — as software devs in the fast-paced world of tech, the job is to code, not ask questions. Everything’s fine. Probably.

Job Description

CodeNOW is currently hiring a software developer ready to change the world! This is an exclusive opportunity meant only for big thinkers who truly want to make a positive impact and are ready to hit the ground running. The ideal candidate for this position must be motivated, exude positivity, and exhibit attention to detail while maintaining discretion.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a growing deck of cards to complete features before the end of each sprint
• Battle your way through feature development, debugging, and code reviews to meet expectations
• Install card mods to make your deck of coding solutions more powerful
• Grow and maintain your influence by building positive relationships with your coworkers
  • (Recruiter’s note: no influence = no job)  

What We Offer:

• Opportunities to improve your skills and take your career to the next level
• “Kudos” loyalty rewards to spend at the company store
• Freedom to follow your own path
  • (Recruiter’s note: Freedom may is subject to company review)
• Competitive pay Unlimited coffee

dev_hell launches in 2024 on Windows PC via Steam. Wishlist the game to stay up to date..

About Unhinged Studios

Unhinged Studios formed in the midst of 2020 when two art-school-dropout-turned-software-developers met and discovered they shared the same life dream of creating immersive video games. In the years since, Don Westendorp and Del Sharratt have assembled a team of like-minded devs interested in helping bring that vision to life. 

With their collective decades of software experience, they’ve decided for their first title to write about what they know: the asinine yet dominating culture of the tech industry and how one survives it. In dev_hell, players step into the shoes of a newly hired developer who must meet business expectations or face the consequences.