Thought Pennies exists to bring the highest craft level RPGs to the world.
RPGs are a unique creature in the game development bestiary. Less about flashy tricks or raw dazzling show off graphics, RPGs are huge and intimidating because of their many interlocking parts, their layered systems and winding plots. To take one down requires dedication, perseverance, single-minded focus, and craft skills honed over decades.
At Thought Pennies we started with passionate veterans who have taken these beasts down before - Designers and Writers from some of the most storied RPGs in history. Then we paired those veterans with the most brilliant, RPG-obsessed, craft experts to be found. Together we’re here to create fan favorite stories, immersive gameplay, characters that feel like friends, and choices that are talked about breathlessly.
At Thought Pennies we talk about technology and pipelines as much as we do creative vision and storytelling prowess. We want to build the deepest, most interesting games with the smallest team possible. We’re uninterested in staggering under the weight of thousand-person dev teams with hundreds of people working as merely cogs. Or on the absence of human insight into a problem. With a focus on technology to solve known problems and leaning on pipelines to handle repetitive tasks in which they specialize, our name Thought Pennies came from a discussion where we asked:
“Can we work with the best developers and really take care of them well?”
Our answer: “Enthusiastically, unequivocally yes!”
Thought Pennies Entertainment is a Role-Playing Game studio creating games focused on emotional storytelling. We celebrate diverse experiences and backgrounds as well as a passionate, hands-on, technically savvy approach to game development. We are fully remote.
DANIEL ERICKSON CCO / Game Director
An American video game writer, director and designer. He is best known as the original lead writer and first lead designer for BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic and his time helping develop the original Dragon Age IP as both senior writer and managing editor for Dragon Age: Origins. He began his career as a games journalist before transitioning to game development by way of several arcade sports titles at Electronic Art, most notably the esteemed NBA Street Vol. 2.
TIM ERNST CEO / Executive Producer
A video game executive and producer. His game experience includes running studios ranging from 10 to 500 people and brought in over $1 billion USD in lifetime revenue, focusing on production, management, analytics and emerging technologies. His teams have developed games for licensed IP, such as Dungeons & Dragons™, Final Fantasy™ and Star Wars™, and groundbreaking original IP, such as Alpha Protocol, Game of War: Fire Age, Kingdoms of Camelot, and Realm of the Mad God.
ALEKSEY SPIVAK Studio Technical Director
Technical software engineering director with a drive for getting teams, individuals and managers to reach their full potential. Broad experience working in many aspects of video game engineering on AAA IPs such as DOOM, Call of Duty, Transformers, and Perfect Dark. Comfortable overseeing teams in high-demand environments and setting high bars for software quality and respectful conduct.
BRIAN KINDREGAN Narrative Director
Creative Director with over 30 years of experience in creative endeavors & leadership. Game development, narrative design, storytelling. Specialist in guiding AAA titles from concept to release, a proven track record in establishing cohesive game vision, leading diverse international teams, and developing immersive narratives that captivate audiences. Known for fostering a collaborative environment that values creative openness, passionate about building gameplay experiences that focus on community, exploration, and fairness. Skilled in many tools, procedural content generation, and high-fantasy/science fiction world-building, I bring both technical and creative expertise to every project I lead.
NORA SHRAMEK Art Director
Over 15 years of professional experience working in games (console, VR, mobile), Architectural Visualization, and Product Design. For several years now I have been working as a Lead or a Principle Technical Artist with focus on graphics, lighting, materials, and building related systems, tools, and pipelines in the AAA space and with Indie clients as a freelancer.
ELAINE VEGA Fractional Vice Presdident People Opertions
Elaine Vega has extensive work experience in various roles related to people operations and management operations. Prior to Thought Pennies, they held the position of Director of People Operations at LexFin and worked as a People Operations Consultant. Elaine served as a Director of Management Operations (People Operations) at Atrium. Prior to joining Atrium, Elaine worked as a Corporate Paralegal at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Elaine's career began in the retail industry, where they worked as an Executive Team Lead in Human Resources at Target.
