About Our Team
The creative minds behind Chicken Road mobile game
Our Story
How It All Started
PixelPlayhouse Studios was founded in 2019 by a group of four passionate game developers who met while working at larger gaming companies. United by a shared vision to create games that are both accessible and deeply engaging, our founders Emily Chen, Marcus Thompson, Zoe Williams, and Daniel Park left their comfortable corporate jobs to pursue their dream.
The concept for Chicken Road emerged during a game jam weekend in early 2020. What started as a humorous take on the classic "why did the chicken cross the road?" joke quickly evolved into something much more sophisticated – a puzzle game that balanced intuitive gameplay with challenging mechanics.
The Development Journey
Despite launching during the challenging times of the global pandemic, our small team worked remotely to refine the concept. The first prototype was built in just six weeks, but it took another nine months of extensive testing and iteration to perfect the core gameplay mechanics.
After securing seed funding in late 2020, we expanded our team to include artists, sound designers, and additional programmers. The beta version of Chicken Road was released to a select group of testers in March 2021, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback that encouraged us to push forward with the final development phase.
Chicken Road officially launched in November 2021 and quickly gained popularity, surpassing our download projections within the first month. Since then, we've continued to grow our team, now comprising 18 talented individuals across development, design, marketing, and player support, all dedicated to creating the best possible experience for our players.
Today, PixelPlayhouse Studios has evolved into a vibrant community of creators, with Chicken Road as our flagship title. We've established a development philosophy that prioritizes player feedback, creative innovation, and sustainable growth – values that continue to guide every decision we make.
Our Mission & Values
Mission Statement
To create thoughtfully designed mobile games that bring joy, challenge players' minds, and build lasting communities around shared gaming experiences.
Innovation
We constantly explore new gameplay mechanics and technologies to create unique gaming experiences that stand out in a crowded market.
Player-First
We prioritize player experience above all else, making design decisions based on user feedback and behavioral data rather than short-term profit.
Accessibility
We believe games should be enjoyable for everyone, driving us to create experiences that are intuitive to learn but offer depth for dedicated players.
Transparency
We maintain open communication with our player community, sharing our development process and being honest about our successes and challenges.
Meet Our Team
The talented individuals behind Chicken Road's success
Emily Chen
Creative Director & Co-Founder
With over 12 years of experience in game design, Emily oversees the creative vision for Chicken Road. Her background in behavioral psychology gives her unique insights into creating engaging player experiences.
Marcus Thompson
Lead Developer & Co-Founder
Marcus specializes in mobile optimization and gameplay mechanics. Prior to founding PixelPlayhouse, he developed award-winning mobile titles at Supercell and King, bringing valuable technical expertise to our team.
Zoe Williams
Art Director & Co-Founder
Zoe brings Chicken Road's distinctive visual style to life with her background in animation and visual storytelling. Her previous work includes creating art assets for major franchises at Ubisoft and Electronic Arts.
Daniel Park
Technical Director & Co-Founder
Daniel handles the technical architecture behind Chicken Road, ensuring smooth performance across all devices. His expertise in server infrastructure and performance optimization has been crucial to the game's success.
Our Achievements
Milestones that mark our journey in mobile game development
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Best Mobile Puzzle Game 2022
Chicken Road was recognized at the Mobile Gaming Awards as the Best Puzzle Game of 2022, praised for its innovative mechanics and accessibility.
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5 Million Downloads Milestone
Within 18 months of launch, Chicken Road surpassed 5 million downloads across iOS and Android platforms, with particularly strong performance in Asian markets.
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App Store Game of the Day
Chicken Road has been featured as "Game of the Day" on the Apple App Store in 28 countries, significantly boosting our visibility and bringing in new players.
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Series A Funding Secured
In 2022, we secured $4.5 million in Series A funding to expand our team and develop new features for Chicken Road, as well as begin work on our second title.
What Partners Say
Feedback from industry professionals and partners
"Working with the PixelPlayhouse team on integrating our analytics platform into Chicken Road was a seamless experience. Their technical expertise and attention to detail made them one of our best implementation partners. The data-driven approach they take to game development is evident in how they've refined the player experience."
"As an investor in mobile gaming startups, I've seen countless pitches and products. What stood out about PixelPlayhouse was not just their innovative game design, but their clear understanding of user acquisition and retention metrics. They've leveraged our marketing platform exceptionally well, consistently achieving above-industry conversion rates."
"Our collaboration with PixelPlayhouse on the in-game music and sound effects for Chicken Road pushed creative boundaries. Their team had a clear vision but remained open to experimentation, resulting in an audio landscape that perfectly complements the gameplay. They understand that sound is not just an afterthought but a crucial component of the player experience."
Want to Join Our Journey?
We're always looking for passionate individuals to join our team or partner with us on exciting new projects.