Workers Leave Skullgirls Developer Over Studio Head’s Behavior

.Workers Leave Skullgirls Developer Over Studio Head’s Behavior

Back in June, two people came forward to share their experiences with Mike “Mike Z” Zaimont, longtime fighting game player and lead developer behind indie darling Skullgirls, saying that he made inappropriate sexual comments to them on multiple occasions. Lab Zero Games, the studio behind Skullgirls, has yet to address the allegations, prompting employees to take matters into their own hands.

“After weeks of trying to make things work out with Mike Z, I have decided to quit my job at Lab Zero Games,” art producer Brian “EU03” Jun wrote on Twitter yesterday afternoon. “I was shocked to read others’ company chat records of Mike Z putting others in extremely uncomfortable situations as well as exerting his position of power to demean and control employees. This was a clear pattern of systemic abuse and lack of empathy while himself refusing to accept feedback and not showing a willingness to change.”

The statement continues with an account of how Lab Zero Games’ dynamics played out behind the scenes after recent allegations against Zaimont. According to Jun, the board of Lab Zero partnered with the rest of the employees in asking Zaimont to step away from his position as sole owner of the studio. Zaimont entered negotiations with the company, but after having his “unrealistically high and potentially illegal” demands rejected, disbanded the board and assumed complete control of Lab Zero.

“While Mike Z thinks he may be acting what is best for the company, he is clearly in direct opposition to the health of the employees,” Jun continued. “He clearly no longer wishes to negotiate with any sensibility. To do what is best for my friends and colleagues, I’m removing myself from Lab Zero Games.”

Necrosoft Games director Brandon Sheffield, who wrote on Lab Zero Games’ most recent release Indivisible, came forward shortly after Jun to share his own experiences working with Zaimont, which paints the developer as a wildly difficult boss. Zaimont, Sheffield explained, was someone “you had to tiptoe around” due to his poor attitude. Features were “held hostage” depending on whether or not Zaimont felt like working on them