Nevermind started as a 2012 MFA thesis project at USC's Interactive Media Program, led by industry veteran Erin Reynolds-who returned to academia to pursue new ways to create "positive" games for traditional gaming audiences. After an academic year, Erin and the Nevermind student development team were able to create one fully-functional level-a proof of concept that demonstrated Nevermind's unique vision and the feasibility of the core technology.