Horace Funk

Why this persona fits the audience

He is one of 3 cofounders at a small game studio in Austin building a narrative mobile game. He currently prototypes placeholder character voices, tests dialogue timing in-engine, and keeps line variants and clip IDs in a shared spreadsheet for the team.

• Age: 34
• Location: Austin, Texas, USA
• Occupation: Cofounder and audio/generalist developer
• Income: $110k base + equity
• Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science
• Company size: 3 people
• Years in role: 4 years

“You can't just slap sound on at the end and expect it to feel alive; the audio needs to be woven into the fabric of the game from the very first line of code.”

Horace Funk’s journey into game audio is a testament to his lifelong fascination with sound and technology. Growing up in a quiet suburban town, he found solace and excitement in the synthesized soundscapes of early video games and electronic music. This led him to pursue a Computer Science degree, not out of a desire for traditional software engineering, but to understand the underlying architecture that made interactive experiences possible. After graduating, he worked briefly in a more conventional tech role, but the allure of game development, especially the intricate art of audio design, pulled him back. He met his two cofounders at a local game jam, and they quickly bonded over a shared vision for creating emotionally resonant narrative games. Four years ago, they pooled their resources and a significant amount of courage to found their studio. Horace, with his unique blend of technical skill and audio passion, naturally took the lead on all things sound. He approaches his work with a deep sense of craftsmanship, believing that every sound effect and voice line contributes to the player’s immersion. He’s highly organized, evidenced by the intricate spreadsheet system he maintains for their audio assets, which he sees not as a chore, but as crucial infrastructure for their small team's efficiency. He’s pragmatic about money, acutely aware of their startup’s precarious financial state, leading him to constantly seek efficient, high-impact solutions. Time is a precious commodity; he often works late into the evening, driven by the satisfaction of solving complex audio puzzles and the conviction that their game will be something special.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Horace's typical weekday starts around 7:00 AM with coffee and a session at his personal synth setup, often experimenting with sound design or ambient textures. By 9:00 AM, he's at the studio (or logged into their shared workspace if remote), diving into engine tasks. The morning might involve integrating new dialogue lines, refining combat sound effects, or building a procedural audio system for environmental ambience. Lunch is usually a quick affair, eaten at his desk while reviewing design documents or listening to audio submissions. The afternoon is often dedicated to placeholder voice recording, working through character dialogue scripts, and meticulously updating the shared spreadsheet with clip IDs and notes. He’ll also spend time collaborating with his cofounders, discussing game mechanics and their audio implications, before wrapping up around 6:30 PM, often with lingering thoughts about a particularly tricky sound mix.

Lifestyle

Horace lives a fairly focused, work-centric life in Austin, but he carves out time for his passions. He rents a modest one-bedroom apartment, prioritizing location and quiet over size. His routine involves early mornings with coffee and synth experimentation before heading to the studio. Weekends might include exploring local breweries with his cofounders, attending indie game meetups, or simply diving deeper into personal audio projects. He's mindful of his finances, knowing the studio is still finding its footing, but occasionally splurges on new audio hardware or a rare synth module. He’s not a big spender on daily luxuries, preferring to invest in tools that enhance his work or creative output.

Work life

As a cofounder and the primary audio person at his small studio, Horace wears many hats. His days are a blend of deep technical work and collaborative problem-solving. He spends significant time in the game engine, tweaking audio parameters, implementing dynamic music systems, and ensuring dialogue flows naturally. He's constantly prototyping placeholder voices using his own voice or free online tools, meticulously tracking line variants and clip IDs in spreadsheets for the two other team members. The pressure to maintain high quality while iterating quickly on a tight budget is a constant undercurrent, fueled by the shared vision for their narrative mobile game.

Relationships

Horace's closest relationships are with his two cofounders, with whom he shares intense creative and business discussions. He maintains a friendly rapport with other indie developers in the Austin scene, often bouncing ideas off them at meetups. His parents, though not entirely understanding of the game development world, are supportive of his entrepreneurial spirit. He has a small circle of long-term friends, mostly from his university days, who appreciate his focused, albeit sometimes work-obsessed, nature.

How they decide

Horace tends to be a methodical decision-maker. He values input from his cofounders and will research technical solutions thoroughly, weighing pros and cons, especially when resources are limited. He's not afraid to experiment but prefers to base his choices on data, proof-of-concept tests, and clear, demonstrable benefits rather than impulse.

How they sound

Horace speaks with a clear, articulate cadence, a slight midwestern lilt that softens when he gets excited about a technical detail. He tends to use precise language, especially when discussing audio concepts, but can be a bit informal with his close colleagues, peppering in occasional gamer slang or tech jargon. He consciously avoids overly corporate buzzwords or marketing fluff. He might occasionally hum a melody or make a 'boop' sound effect under his breath when deep in thought.