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Sam Boucher

@monsieureureka.bsky.social

Designer/Artist at KO_OP (he/him) Young Suns, GNOG, Winding Worlds, Goodbye Volcano High

25 Posts592 Follower 324 Folgt

knock knock knock knock @nicknicknicknick.net · last mo.

it's been a rough couple of days, and weeks, and months. i wrote a bit about how it's felt to say au revoir, and possibly goodbye, to ko_op. nicknicknicknick.net/notes/2026/0... ❤️

KO_OP & me

For context.

nicknicknicknick.net

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · last mo.

An important update from KO_OP.

With great sadness and respect, over the next few months KO_OP will be saying goodbye to 13 members of our team. This decision was made to ensure the survival of the studio, and we deeply regret its necessity and the negative impact on our colleagues’ lives.

KO_OP has been making games for nearly a decade and a half, and our project funding has primarily come from publishers and platform partners. The games funding landscape has changed radically over the last few years, and unlike previous project cycles, this time we have been unable to secure funding for new projects while developing our current engagements.

As with all our company's operational decisions, this one was made democratically, and was motivated by the survival of the studio rather than maximizing profits. Our members are regularly updated on our cash flow situation, and were made aware of this upcoming shortfall well in advance. Membership then appointed a group to plan for this eventuality, and ratified their recommendations. Team leads and our elected executives will also be impacted by these reductions. We believe this level of transparency and accountability ought to be a minimum requirement for all organizations.

Young Suns will be reaching new platforms, with new content and features. We're all tremendously proud of it, and hope it will find its audience. Our bylaws ensure that any profits from Young Suns will still be shared with impacted team members. Our goal now is to develop new game concepts and prototypes while continuing to support Young Suns. In the event that we secure funding in the coming months, our intent is to rehire as many of our colleagues as possible.

In the coming days we will be sharing a list of impacted workers in the hopes of helping them find new work. We thank you for your support.

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · 2mo ago

We’re so excited to be part of this year’s Future Games Show! 🧑🏼‍🚀 🪐 Be sure to check out the showcase to catch all the great games you missed! 📽️ Future Games Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJj... 🎮 Play on XBOX: hi.youngsuns.com/XBOX ✨ Wishlist on Steam: hi.youngsuns.com/Steam

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · 2mo ago

Politics-free games don’t exist. We’ve always been open about where we stand, and Young Suns is no different. You can help a queer- and trans-run studio make this industry a better place for everyone by wishlisting Young Suns on Steam store.steampowered.com/app/4149610/...

Miracle @miraclebutt.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Been helping make the movement on Young Suns feel a bit more zippy and responsive and I'm really enjoying boosting around on planetoids at the moment.

Eka | Dosa Divas @ekanaut.bsky.social · 5mo ago

We made a pretty good coming of age story game but most players won’t even give it a chance because it’s got too much color. We’re not all that different in love, relationships, and generational issues. I promise you can relate to these characters. store.steampowered.com/app/1617220/...

Thirsty Suitors on Steam

Thirsty Suitors is a surreal story-driven game which throws turn-based RPG battles, skating and over-the-top cooking mechanics together in a spicy fusion! This isn't a dating sim - it's a breakup simu...

store.steampowered.com

castpixel ⚧️⚢@castpixel.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I'm looking for work. 21 years of experience. • any game art, isometric, top-down, side-scroll • stylized or realistic • characters, icons, key art, animation • Can build a style from zero or match yours • Big projects don't scare me • ex Minecraft DM here or email christina.neofotistou@gmail.com

Sam Boucher @monsieureureka.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I’m radically pro-transgender ✊🏻🏳️‍⚧️ the best humans I know. fuck all of this

🌒💀 evelynn 💀🌘@ladyartaud.bsky.social · 5mo ago

i have yet to see a single cis person say something about the fact that the government just designated trans people a terrorist group and threatened to kill all of us.

Sam Boucher @monsieureureka.bsky.social · 11mo ago

This is what I've been working on for a year + and I'm really really excited for the future of this game. So much is gonna happen in the next months/year!

Wholesome Games@wholesomegames.com · 11mo ago

We're happy to help announce YOUNG SUNS: a new narrative-rich co-op life sim set on Jupiter. Experience life in an optimistic future full of colorful characters. Play solo or with up to 3 friends. Visit planetoids, ruins, and stations. Craft and decorate. Help society heal.

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · 11mo ago

The people of Jupiter are newly free, and there's a lot of work to be done if we want to make a better world. Young Suns is available to play right now as a Game Preview title on Xbox Game Pass, and will be coming to more platforms in the future. Join the community at www.youngsuns.com!

Young Suns | Discover, Customize, Explore — Play Now

Young Suns is a 1-4 player narrative life sim set in space! Available now in Game Preview on Xbox Game Pass, featuring character customization, space exploration, and storytelling. Coming soon to othe...

youngsuns.com

Sam Boucher @monsieureureka.bsky.social · 11mo ago

new KO_OP game announcement in like 3min!!!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVEW...

KO_OP Game Reveal & Presentation

YouTube video by KO_OP

youtube.com

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · 11mo ago

Join us tomorrow at 12 PM EST for an exciting announcement of our upcoming game! youtu.be/rVEWbp1FiKg

KO_OP Game Reveal & Presentation

YouTube video by KO_OP

youtu.be

Ryan McDiarmid @ryanmcdiarmid.com · last yr.

In the interest of self-preservation I need to start reiterating: my current contract with KO_OP ends late Nov, and I'm looking for my next gig! I'm a game/narrative designer, writer, & generalist with lots of implementation experience in Unity, some in Unreal, knowledge of C#, Python, and more.

Saleem @seemo.bsky.social · last yr.

hey neat I'm doing a thing tomorrow!

Denman Rooke@denmanrooke.com · last yr.

Worker Cooperatives in Game Dev webinar this Wednesday!!! I'll be moderating a panel with our fantastic speakers from KO_OP, Baby Ghosts, Necrosoft Games, CoLab Collective, and Wild Blue Studios. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/co-create-...

Graphic promoting webinar with Saleem Dabbous from KO_OP

Saleem @seemo.bsky.social · last yr.

We're looking for a senior unity engineer with rendering experience! Democratic work place with lots of transparency 4 day work weeks 85k CAD salary (same as every single other person at the studio) Remote friendly but Canadian applicants are prioritized www.workwithindies.com/careers/ko-o...

KO_OP is hiring a Senior Rendering Programmer

We’re looking for a Senior Rendering Programmer to remotely join our team and take over core rendering responsibilities on one of our projects.

workwithindies.com

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · last yr.

We’re hiring—join us at our worker-run co-op!! ko-opmode.applytojobs.ca/programming/... Compensation includes $85,700 CAD a year, health benefits, flexible 4-day work week, and 25 paid vacation days + unlimited sick and personal days!

Text inside of a white rectangle that reads: KO_OP is hiring! Our studio mascot, Ini—a dark genderless humanoid with big white eyes—is in the bottom right corner with heart eyes and little hearts over their head. The background is yellow.

Text at the top reads: Senior Rendering Programmer. Text inside a white square reads:

Responsibilities
Overseeing the high-level rendering architecture of our projects

Overseeing other rendering programmers and technical artists

Collaborating closely with artists to iterate on and achieve their rendering ambitions and visual targets

Requirements

Experience shipping commercial games

Extensive experience with Unity rendering, including SRP and URP, with good knowledge of URP internals

High level of fluency in C# and HLSL
Shader and GPU pipeline optimization experience

Experience with GPU debuggers, such as RenderDoc and Pix

A proven track record of working closely with artists

Due to our small team and a significant number of our employees being international, we require potential applicants to be able to speak English

For tax reasons, we require candidates to be legally eligible to work in Canada

Applicants already located in Canada will be given priority

If you are currently outside of Canada but willing to relocate, we encourage you to submit your application for consideration should we be unable to fill this role locally

Preferred experience

Experience developing multiplayer games, especially in Unity and/or using Photon Fusion

Experience with Amplify Shader Editor, including template development

Developing on Xbox consoles

Compensation

$85,700 CAD/year + bonuses and democratic decision making

Fully remote work (Hybrid available in Montreal and Vancouver if desired)

Health benefits

4-day work-weeks with flexible hours

25 annual days paid vacation, unlimited sick and personal days

Text reads: Programmeur(se) Senior en Rendu.

Responsabilités

Superviser l’architecture de rendu de nos projets à haut niveau

Superviser les autres artistes techniques et programmeu·se·rs travaillant sur le rendu

Collaborer attentivement avec les artistes pour itérer sur leur travail et accomplir leurs ambitions en termes de rendu et objectifs visuels.

Expérience requise

Expérience sur des projets de jeux commerciaux, jusqu'à leur sortie.

Connaissance profonde du rendu dans Unity, SRP et particulièrement du fonctionnement interne de l’URP.

Haut niveau de connaissance et comfort en C# et HLSL.

Experience d’optimisation de Shaders et pipeline de GPU.

Expérience avec les débogueurs GPU tels que RenderDoc et Pix.

Un historique démonstrable de collaboration étroite avec des artistes.

Étant donné la taille de notre équipe et la proportion d'employé·es internationaux, nos potentiels candidat·e·s doivent être capables de parler anglais.

Pour des raisons de taxation, nos candidat·e·s doivent être éligible pour travailler légalement au Canada

Les candidat·e·s déjà situé·e·s au Canada seront considéré·e·s en priorité.

Si vous vivez hors du Canada mais êtes prêts à déménager au Canada, nous vous encourageons à soumettre votre candidature pour considération, dans le cas éventuel où nous ne sommes pas en mesure de remplir ce rôle localement.

Expérience appréciée

Expérience avec le développement de jeux multijoueurs, particulièrement dans Unity et/ou avec Photon Fusion.

Expérience avec Amplify Shader Editor, y compris le développement de “templates” (modèles)

Développement sur consoles Xbox.

Compensation

$85,700 $CAD annuels + bonus et prise de décision democratique

Travail entièrement à distance (Configuration hybride disponible à Montréal et Vancouver si désirée)
Bénéfices d’assurance maladie

Semaine de travail de 4 jours, avec heures flexibles

25 jours par an de vacances payées, congés maladie et journées personnelles illimitées

Scare-ed Skullnick @jaredskolnick.bsky.social · last yr.

It’s bleak out there, but it’s heartening to know millions of people from all walks of life took the time to ruin one specific persons birthday, America’s hater spirit remains strong

GP @mousefountain.bsky.social · last yr.

little fella

viewport screenshot of a little lowpoly character in Blender.

GP @mousefountain.bsky.social · last yr.

Trying to figure out an approach to texturing. Getting there, maybe?

Nicholas O / Essay Games @essaygames.bsky.social · last yr.

I think Big Walk was the only game from this past weekend of showcases that I was REALLY excited about: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n7e... I hope I have enough friends to try this out.

Big Walk - Official Gameplay Trailer | Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition

YouTube video by GameTrailers

youtube.com

GP @mousefountain.bsky.social · last yr.

Come and see them,

Outlined 2D character art with a row of characters standing in a row, most of them some kind of anthropomorphic creature, and dressed in street clothes.

🎃🧛🏾Vita Ahhhh-yala👻🙀@definitelyvita.bsky.social · 2y ago

Please, if you love anything about this life, stop using ChatGPT and other GenAI. Just stop. Don't use it to dunk on it, don't use it for a laugh, just stop and let that shit wither.

GP @mousefountain.bsky.social · 2y ago

new type of rat (?) I'm working on

Tired-looking creature with a long neck, orange tights, pointed shoes, a fool's cowl, etc.

Sam Boucher @monsieureureka.bsky.social · 2y ago

oh. my. god. it’s alive

Andy Baio@andy.baio.net · 2y ago

Annapurna is publishing FARAWAY next year?! Steph Thirion announced it in March 2010, it earned IGF nominations in 2011 and 2012, then quietly disappeared for years with no updates. Originally a mobile game, it looks to be PC-only now. youtu.be/5LxbmaXQa-E

Saleem @seemo.bsky.social · 2y ago

Please help my friend Yasmein provide some warmth for her family. They need your help, even a few dollars can go a long way 🙏🏼

Post nicht verfügbar.

Sam Boucher @monsieureureka.bsky.social · 2y ago

Get some art from me or other really good KO_OP artists! Free palestine.

KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam!@ko-op.com · 2y ago

Help us fundraise for victims of Israel’s attacks on Palestine and Lebanon 🇵🇸🇱🇧 Donate $20(USD) or more to the GFM highlighted on our page, choose from a roster of current and former KO_OP artists, and receive a small piece of artwork! ❤️ For more info: bit.ly/3Zrw04X

Illustration in shades of red, green, white, and black, of a person wearing a keffiyeh with their hands outstretched as a dove holding a key flies above them. Text reads: KO_OP Art Fundraiser for Palestine and Lebanon.

Emma Bell @emmabellish.bsky.social · 2y ago

Help us fundraise for victims of Israel’s attacks on Palestine and Lebanon. Donate $20(USD) or more to the GFM highlighted on our page, choose from a roster of current and former @koopmode.bsky.social artists, and receive a small piece of artwork! ❤️ For more info: bit.ly/3Zrw04X

White, green, and red graphic illustration on a black background of a woman wearing a kuffiyeh and releasing a white bird that is holding a key in its claws. The text in the top right corner reads “KO_OP Art Fundraiser for Palestine & Lebanon”

Black background, title text at the top reads: KO_OP Art Fundraiser for Palestine & Lebanon with the follow up text: Please join us in fundraising for victims of Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. Give $20 or more to the GoFundMe linked in our fundraising page, choose and available artist from our roster, and they will send you a small piece of artwork! As always, KO_OP is in solidarity with Palestine and their rights for liberation, sovereignty, and land. The West has long been complicit in the destabilization and genocide of Palestine and its people, and we refuse to remain silent about that complicity. Free Palestine!

Rasheed Abueideh - Now crowdfunding Dreams on a Pillow 🍉@rasheedabueideh.bsky.social · 2y ago

After years away from game dev, I couldn’t stay silent about my people’s dehumanization. I made Dreams on a Pillow 🍉a game inspired by a famous Palestinian folktale about the 1948 Nakba. I’m crowdfunding it now—please back & share! 🔗 launchgood.com/1948

Dreams on a Pillow - a videogame experience about the 1948 Nakba, based on a true story | LaunchGood

A pseudo-3D stealth adventure game about a land full of people being made into a people without land

launchgood.com