StoneMoose Interactive

Mika Ahlsten — Game Programmer at FakeFish Games (Barotrauma) & Indie Developer

Forget the word failure. Succeed or learn.

The road so far

Learning is fun but time consuming

I've been playing games since I was 8 — at 50, that hasn't changed. In 2019 I decided to stop just playing them and start making them: I quit my job in January 2020, completed a 6-month game & web development course, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in Information and Communications Technology, Game and Interactive Technologies at Turku University of Applied Sciences, graduating with my thesis in April 2025. Since December 2025 I've been working as a Junior Game Programmer at FakeFish Games — the studio behind Barotrauma.

Currently

Experience

Junior Game Programmer — FakeFish Games

December 2025 – Present · Turku, Finland
Current role Barotrauma Some details under NDA

I work as a paid Junior Game Programmer at FakeFish Games, the studio behind Barotrauma, a commercially published multiplayer submarine survival game. My work is split across two tracks:

Projects

StoneMoose Games has made some prototypes and is always looking for the next thing worth the effort. Here are some of them — not every small unfinished project, just the most finished ones. (From newest to oldest)

Puzzle Interaction Prototype

Puzzle Interaction Prototype

2025Unreal EngineJob Application

A prototype built while applying for a job, showcasing different interactive puzzle elements and mechanics built in Unreal Engine.

Watch on YouTube →
Time Loop System Tutorial

Time Loop System Tutorial

2025Unreal EngineTutorial

A tutorial video walking through how to build a time loop system inside Unreal Engine.

Watch on YouTube →
Cosmic Capers

Cosmic Capers

On HoldTeam Lead & OwnerTeam of 3Bit1 Entry

A game I started with my team in February 2024. An Among Us / Spy vs. Spy mash-up, "Cosmic Capers" combines strategy, comedy, and adventure, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers alike. We entered it into the Bit1 game competition. Currently on hold while I focus on my role at FakeFish Games. I'm team lead and company owner here, working with a team of three (myself included).

Watch on YouTube → Bit1 Competition →
VR / Motion Capture project

VR / Motion Capture Project

OngoingVR

A VR app for a dance collective called Perypezye Urbane. I collected motion capture from a 20-minute dance and recreated the choreography in VR. Presented at Tanzmezze 2024 in Düsseldorf.

Perypezye Urbane →
Thesis project

Thesis Project

2025UnityNode.js

The aim of my thesis project was to send avatar movement data to a server, pick it up in another piece of software, and measure how much data could be sent before the movement started to behave undesirably. Built using two instances of Unity and a Node.js server, with support for real movement-tracking devices (like a Rokoko suit or ZED cameras) streaming to another app in real time.

Read the thesis →
C64 Remake

C64 Remake (Unreal Engine)

Unreal Engine

Done as part of an Unreal Developer course. Link to the development video log below.

Watch on YouTube →
Ruisrock 2023 project

Ruisrock 2023 Project

Project ManagerUnityArduino

Where I was project manager and a secondary coder, culminating in a fantastic festival weekend at Ruisrock 2023. In "Pose Fusion," visitors tested their knowledge in a quiz where the correct answer was chosen using quick movements and funny full-body poses. In "Mocktail Master," visitors tried their skills as a drink mixer, receiving both the recipe and direct feedback from the game's own bartender for the mocktail they prepared. Built with Unity, Python, an Arduino board, and a ZED2i camera.

Gameplay video →
Bathtub Game

Bathtub Game

Project ManagerUnityVR

A VR game built in Unity for an AR/XR course at TUAS. I was project manager and a secondary coder.

View on GitHub →
IF Gamification project

IF Gamification Project

Project ManagerUnity

The aim was to create a prototype learning app for customer service employees, a joint project with Turku University of Applied Sciences and If Insurance. I was the project manager.

View on GitHub →
Rhythm Game

Rhythm Game (Mobile)

MobileNDA

I was coder and main designer on a rhythm game for mobile for 6 months. Due to a heavy NDA, I can't disclose much about this project at the moment.

John McCracken

John McCracken

Prototype

Somewhere in the Old West, a group of bank robbers have been living the life. But like most outlaws, they get caught by the sheriff and his men. After a fast trial, they're now waiting to be hanged in the local prison. John McCracken is the man they make contact with — a specialist who frees criminals from prisons, and knows every trick in the book.

Play on itch.io →
The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game

SoloC#

Based on the maths section of the British TV show "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown." Built on a coding workshop course as a solo effort, with no game engine — just C#.

View on GitHub →
D.E.E.P.

D.E.E.P.

Project ManagerTeam

Deep Emergency Extraction Protocol. I was part of a team here, working as project manager and a coder. Link below for the project development log (sorry, Finnish only).

Watch on YouTube →
Unnamed VR project

Unnamed VR Project

OculusVR

Prototyped a VR app for Oculus — a VR learning environment for students.

Watch showreel →
Manny the Miner

Manny the Miner

First Project

The first project that can officially be called a game — it has a start, a middle, and an end. Created on a course covering the development essentials, starting from a GDD and continuing from there.

View on GitHub →

Tools & Tech

Engines, languages, and tools I build with.

Languages

C# Python JavaScript HTML CSS XML

Engines & Frameworks

Unity Unreal Engine MonoGame Node.js

AI-Assisted Dev

Claude Code GitHub Copilot

Tools & Workflow

Visual Studio Git Jira Miro
MA

Mika Ahlsten

Game Programmer & Indie Developer

Forget the word failure. Either succeed or learn.

GitHub

"It has a lot of potential"

Browntul
Moderator, my first Game Jam 2021

"Wow, this is looking seriously awesome!!"

J
Fellow participant, my first Game Jam 2021

"Students don't usually get this far within the time frame of this course"

Lecturer, TUAS — on The Numbers Game

Get in touch

Currently building games at FakeFish Games, but always happy to talk shop

I'm mainly a coder with a growing focus on gameplay programming and rapid prototyping. Outside of my role at FakeFish, I'm open to collaborations, freelance work, and conversations about software development, UX/UI, or game design — reach out anytime.

GitHub
location

Turku, Finland