The current sole developer of the addictive simulation shooter Fortune’s Run suddenly announced that the project would be suspended because the team would go to jail. Team Fortune’s lead programmer, Dizzie, was sentenced to three years in prison for a “brutal crime” after about five years of legal proceedings. The other developer, Arachne, recently left the gaming industry after recovering from a botched surgery last year. According to Dizzie, her departure has nothing to do with the previously mentioned brutal crime that occurred before their relationship.
The news comes in the form of a developer post on Steam that accompanies what may turn out to be the case Fortune’s Run last update. “It’s a long story, but before I became a game developer, I lived a completely different life and it wasn’t very good,” writes Dizzie. “My case is about 5 years senior and I have been going through the legal process the entire time I have been working on it.
“I was finally found guilty and sentenced, and I’m leaving next month. It’s a pity, but these are the consequences of my actions. I was a very aggressive person and I hurt many people in my life. Unfortunately, this sentence won’t aid you at all, but I think we all know that. The post did not specify the violent crime, other than to say it was not sexual in nature.
As for Arachne’s departure, Dzzie adds that “my case goes back to before I met the other developer” and “she is not affiliated with her in any way.” For context, Dizzie she blogged about Arachne’s hospitalization last July. “If you want to accuse me of something, accuse me of stressing her out with my legal problems and crazy work schedule,” adds today’s Steam post.
Arachne was responsible for quality control on Fortune Run and “a few segments of the level”. After surgery, Dizzie worked on her solo game, trying to complete as much as possible before her prison term began (it’s unclear exactly when her sentence was handed down). “It was very difficult to do it myself, but I managed, with basically no sleep, to complete all the work in time to publish it before I was sent away,” the post adds.
Fortune’s Run’s current sales are powerful enough that Dizzy should be able to afford rent when he gets out of prison, and there is a “chance” that he will be able to resume work on Fortune’s Run. “There really isn’t much content left to work with. In my free time I create episodes and prototypes of missing levels,” the post continues. “I’m very passionate about this stuff and I will never stop making games. I want to finish this game, but I don’t know what will happen.”
