The Indonesian indie developer Mohammad Fahmi has died at the age of 32. Fahmi’s sister made the news of his death public on today March 28th via a tweet on Fahmi’s Twitter account. According to IGN, the news was corroborated between IGN Japan and Toge Productions. The cause of death has yet to be declared.
Starting his work in the video game world back in 2011, Fahmi has documented his life and career through his website. Contributing to more than 15 different game titles, Fahmi has done work in programming, game design, marketing, PR, and narrative design. He also wore the hat of game journalist in writing for different outlets such as Tech in Asia, Medium, and Gamasutra (currently known as Game Developer).
Perhaps Fahmi’s greatest mark in games is his game Coffee Talk which he developed and published as a part of Toge Productions. The Indonesian company commented on Fahmi’s death in a two part tweet saying, “Today we’ve received the most devastating of news. Our beloved Fahmi, the writer of Coffee Talk and a beloved friend of Toge Productions has passed away. We are absolutely devastated by his early departure…Thank you for everything you had done for Toge Production, for the indie game industry, for your friends and family…We will never forget you and you will always be in our hearts.”
IGN Southeast Asia contacted several developers who know Fahmi and there was nothing but heavy hearts and fond memories as they collectively remembered him. Toge Productions’ PR and Comms representative Johana Tanoto said that, “having Fahmi be part of our team was true honour and blessing.” Brigitta Rena, of Mojiken Studio and creator of When the Past Was Around, said that, “Fahmi was the first person who approached me for a game dev interview when we just started Mojiken,” and, “he believed in my art more than I believed in myself.”
Not only did Fahmi believe in others, but he believed in himself and his games. Many of Fahmi’s peers did so also. Daniel Robson, IGN Japan Chief Editor, believes so much in his friend that he says, “His untimely passing deprives us all of the unique and special games he would have undoubtedly gone on to create.” However, we were able to get something special in Coffee Talk. In a developer’s log Fahmi says that the idea started from making, “a cup of something warm to drink to calm my senses and relax my body,” and wishing that, “there were a game that simulated this feeling.” So, Fahmi took it upon himself to turn his experience into reality, virtually. After pitching the game at Toge Productions’ annual game jam in 2017 the story, art style, and sound design began to brew.
The game, “about listening to people’s problems and helping them by serving a warm drink out of the ingredients you have,” did in fact have some doubt sprinkled in early on. Fahmi and the team were uncertain about how to develop their game with ‘enough’ gameplay mechanics to be considered a ‘game’, but to not overcompensate and, “reduce the quality of the experience.” After a chance encounter with Sukeban Games devs at indie development festival, BitSummit, and a recollection of Mark Brown’s Ico, and Design by Subtraction YouTube video, Fahmi was encouraged to make his game. Successfully finishing and releasing Coffee Talk led the young creator to open his own studio Pikselnesia and release another game called What Comes After.
What unfortunately was not finished and released was Fahmi’s Aftelove EP. The “slice-of-life adventure about love, loss and music,” was the latest title Fahmi was working on before his death. As of now, there is no word on the future of the game. Nonetheless, the trailer and previous work of Mohammad Fahmi is enough to carry us in the future as we mourn a, “beautiful man with a beautiful soul.”