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krispykremyesterday at 7:55 PM9 repliesview on HN

Here is something I (Zach) wrote up a while ago in an attempt to explain it:

> Back in 2016, we sold Zachtronics to a company called Alliance, who we worked for as employees and made all the Zachtronics games from SHENZHEN I/O onward. In 2022 we stopped working for them and started a new studio called Coincidence, which we own and run as a sort of co-op that allows us to work on projects together, or not together, or anything in-between. (By "we" I mean the five of us who made all the Zachtronics games from SHENZHEN I/O onward; the team was much more dynamic before that, as described in the first few pages of ZACH-LIKE.)

> I still work for Alliance and maintain the Zachtronics games, but we don't own any of that IP, so anything new we make is going to be attached to the new studio and the new name.

(I did spend a year teaching computer science at a public high school, but that overlapped the last year of Zachtronics, rather than being between Zachtronics and Coincidence like it's often reported.)

At Coincidence, we have released two puzzle games so far, Kaizen: A Factory Story and U.V.S. Nirmana, and have more (four?) in the works. I'm hoping that I'll get to work on some less-obviously-in-the-genre games soon, but I haven't git initted anything yet so I guess it's too early to say.


Replies

j-pbyesterday at 8:48 PM

You don't know how much more vibrant the world is knowing that you still make games in it.

Thank you for all of those hours. (And making the tools that help me teach my apprentices.)

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apublicfrogyesterday at 9:00 PM

I just want to say thank you. I've bought most of your games and they scratch an itch for me that few things in life do. I really appreciate it!

computerlikeryesterday at 8:00 PM

Hi Zach, Fortune’s Foundation is my favorite game ever. Thank you!

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0cf8612b2e1eyesterday at 8:06 PM

Any chance of making it onto GOG? I prefer to pickup games from there whenever I can.

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mycocolayesterday at 8:56 PM

I adore your games. Would be curious to know your thoughts about using AI for game development. Personally I find it gross, but I am trying to be open to different views.

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donkey_brainstoday at 3:56 AM

Zach I love your games! Thank you! Keep em coming!

notvplezyesterday at 9:52 PM

As others already have I just wanted to thank you. Spacechem is not only what made me start playing games again but playing with computers altogether after a rough couple of years, and will forever be one of my favourite gaming experiences. So happy to hear you’re still making so -and-aptly-called Zachlikes!

KingMobtoday at 4:50 AM

Thanks for EXAPUNKS! I love it.

jtwalesonyesterday at 9:01 PM

Love your games Zach! Hope my kids will take to them at some point.