The world of technology and gaming often delivers moments of delightful unpredictability, and the recent BAFTA Gaming Awards were a prime example. As Digital Tech Explorer closely follows the pulse of innovation, one particular highlight captured the quirky spirit of the indie game scene.
Among the celebrations for 2024’s standout titles, the coveted best debut award went to the acclaimed roguelike Balatro. This recognition adds to Balatro’s growing list of accolades, including its distinction as PCG’s 2024 Game of the Year. With Balatro’s creator, the enigmatic LocalThunk, choosing to remain anonymous, the award was uniquely accepted by actor Ben Starr. Starr took to the stage in character as Jimbo, the game’s iconic greasepainted joker, setting the scene for an unforgettable acceptance.
Jimbo’s Unconventional BAFTA Acceptance Speech
In full character, Jimbo delivered a remarkable acceptance speech to the games industry audience. He opened by addressing the unique circumstances: “This is weird. Yes, it’s me. That weird live-action Jimbo from the Balatro commercial. For those of you who aren’t chronically online this might be a rather confusing and, at first glance, suspiciously arousing moment. But don’t worry, it’s perfectly natural: Don’t fight the feeling, jokers have full sex now.”
While the audience responded with laughter mixed with some uncertainty, Jimbo pressed on, tackling his own presence on stage: “But wait! ‘Ben didn’t make that game, Why is he up here?’ I hear you say like a loser. And yeah you may have a point, but also screw you a little bit, that hurts my feelings. And so what if my only contribution to Balatro was that trailer and a bit of sucking on a banana for a few seconds?”
Pivoting to a commentary on art and commerce, Jimbo asked, “But I ask you this: isn’t selling stuff nice? What is art in 2025 but a thinly veiled vessel of ruthless commercial self-interest through which rich people try to make even more money?” This observation resonated well with the industry audience.
Jimbo continued, humorously touching upon LocalThunk‘s newfound success: “And I can say, having met him personally, LocalThunk is really rich now. He has shoes made of gold and he thanks you for making him that way. He says here at the bottom he wishes he could thank more people but, if he’s being honest, it was just him who made it. Everyone else is a freeloader. Especially you Playstack.”
Concluding his address, Jimbo offered a call to action for supporting fellow creators: “Oh, and play more independent games like Animal Well. They are the lifeblood of this industry. And they deserve your respect. Thank you very much.”
Jimbo‘s performance was undoubtedly a highlight of the evening, with Starr even ensuring to pronounce Balatro correctly, as per the creator’s preference. This act of character performance echoes LocalThunk‘s own distinctive approach; the developer has previously used Balatro‘s nominations and wins as platforms to champion other indie games. While LocalThunk enjoys the significant success of Balatro, he has also reportedly reached a state of ‘poker zen‘ with his creation, remarking, “All this time playing has killed any negative emotions I had toward it.” This unconventional acceptance not only celebrated Balatro’s triumph but also spotlighted the unique personalities and supportive spirit within the indie game development community—a corner of the tech world Digital Tech Explorer is always keen to explore.