In a natural and easy-to-read manner, The unidentified creator behind the popular indie game, Balatro, dispatched a representative named “Jimbo” to collect the BAFTA prize in the category of Best Debut Game.
In February 2024, the game named Balatro hit the market and swiftly captured the leisure hours of countless gamers due to its compelling play mechanics that proved hard to resist.
In this roguelike poker experience, players receive unique jokers that alter the game dynamics, providing additional points multipliers and coins per dealt hand. Following every winning or losing round, you’ll encounter commentary from Jimbo, the witty joker mascot of Balatro.
Since the creator of LocalThunk remains unknown even though Balatro is quite popular, Jimbo has emerged as the public figure for the game across various social media platforms. Additionally, the DLC packs for the game, which include other characters and designs, are referred to as “Jimbo’s Friends.
Eight days into April, 2025, Balatro’s group facilitated Jimbo’s transition from virtual existence to reality, as he attended the BAFTA awards ceremony to claim his prize.
Real-life Jimbo was actor Ben Starr
At the award ceremony, Ben Starr, famed as the voice of Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI, made a striking entrance dressed as The Joker, sporting full facial makeup and a fitting hat to match.
After winning the award for Best Debut Game, Starr walked up to the stage to read a speech.
He remarked, “Doesn’t this seem peculiar?” he asked. “Indeed, it’s me – the quirky live-action character from the Balatro commercial, Jimbo. For those who don’t spend every waking moment online, this might be a bit puzzling. ‘Hang on, Ben didn’t create that game, so why is he here?’ I imagine you questioning, somewhat mockingly. Yes, there may be some validity to your point, but at the same time, it stings a little. So, even if my involvement with Balatro was limited to that trailer and a brief banana-sucking scene, allow me to pose a question: ”
He said, “This is strange, isn’t it?” He replied, “Yes, it’s me – the odd guy from the Balatro commercial. If you don’t spend much time online, this might be confusing. ‘But wait, Ben didn’t make that game, why is he here?’ I imagine you asking, sarcastically. Yes, there might be some truth to your question, but it also hurts my feelings a bit. Even though my role in Balatro was limited, let me ask you this:
What will art be in the year 2025 might simply be seen as a disguised tool for relentless financial gain by the affluent, with the aim of accumulating even greater wealth. It so happens that LocalThunk, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, has amassed substantial wealth. He now owns shoes crafted from gold, and he attributes his prosperity to you.
Hey there, I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit over Balatro’s recent wins, but let me suggest something – why not give some lesser-known indie games a spin? One game that’s worth your time is Billy Basso’s Animal Well. Give it a go!
Since the release of Balatro in 2024, LocalThunk has been quite active in the spotlight, often highlighting various independent games. Following his win for best indie game at The Game Awards, this developer graciously recognized several other titles with a personal “Golden Thunk” accolade on platform X.
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2025-04-10 00:18