AMATEURS AT MARKETING LINK

We’re not into easy games—so on November 26, 2025, we decided to test ourselves in a challenging—and sometimes brutal—game called “Amateurs.” We were inspired by stories from Roma Illyushko and a YouTube show “Lions on Motorcycles.”

The rules are simple: guess a number as close as possible to a hidden fact—whether it’s a year, measurement, or even a house number. The loser gets punished.

The Marketing Link team during the "Amateurs" game on November 26, 2025

What happened during the game

  • Anya crafted a paper crown—honestly, not the worst punishment—named 5 capitals under time pressure, spoke English, kept her pinky in her nose, and threatened everyone—basically hit the full bingo.
  • Roma Chaika spoke with an Indian accent and responded to every question with a 2-second delay.
  • Yulian started every sentence with “Your Eminence” and spoke with an accent.
  • Roma Illyushko constantly sneezed, applauded everyone, and gave compliments. In the end, he got a brutal punishment—drawing a black eye—and nailed it.
  • Vlad responded to everything with “This is gonna be cringe.”
  • Natasha sat with her legs up on the chair, trying to stay classy, and shared a secret that left us speechless.
  • Anya Ovchynnikova spoke like a pirate—and even swore a bit.
  • Yulia sang “Gold of the Carpathians.”
  • Vanya mimicked every player and sang his favorite song—yep, same one.
  • Mykola had to touch his nose with his tongue.
  • Myroslav had to “sacrifice a tooth”—well, just paint it black.
Marketing Link participants are completing tasks in the game "Amateurs"
Online meeting of the Marketing Link team as part of a quiz

Questions

All questions were interesting, but some were seriously confusing. For example: how many apps are on Mykola Lukashuk’s phone. Everyone guessed 30+, but it turned out to be 300+. Yeah—way harder than measuring the speed of light or distance to Madagascar.

A participant sings "Zoloto Karpat" during a game at the office

Winners

Three brave people won this brutal competition. The prize—three 2026 calendars. We didn’t even finish the game, so round two is coming in 2026.

  • Natasha
  • Anya Ponomaryova
  • Roma Chaika
Winners of the "Amateurs" game, who received 2026 calendars as prizes

Punishments that shocked us

We went all in and came up with 5 punishments each. Once we saw the full list — it got scary. Here are some highlights:

  1. Speak only words starting with “M”
  2. Show the weirdest item on your desk and explain it
  3. Speak with an accent
  4. Sit with your mouth open
  5. Dramatically confess love to an object
  6. Sit sideways like a mafia cartoon character
  7. Speak only English
  8. Sing your favorite song
  9. Start every sentence with a proverb
  10. Applaud after everyone speaks
  11. Name 5 capitals in 10 seconds
  12. Treat an object like a pet
  13. Do an improv commercial
  14. Interrupt everyone with “This is gonna be cringe”
  15. Do 30 burpees yelling “I love Marketing Link!”
  16. Sell curlers as an old pirate
  17. Wear fake mustaches
  18. Respond “Sounds like a plan!”
  19. Speak in rap
  20. Keep sneezing
  21. Wear clothespins in your hair
  22. Say a word backward
  23. Sit with your feet on the table
  24. Hold a pen under your nose like a mustache
  25. Eat a lemon slice without water
  26. Stand the whole round
  27. Recite a poem
  28. Wear a paper crown and demand “Your Highness”
  29. Respond with a delay
  30. Keep your pinky in your nose
  31. Tell a secret
  32. Start sentences with “I, [Name], Your Eminence…”
  33. Fight imaginary mosquitoes
  34. Threaten items like a bank manager
  35. Speak like a preacher
  36. Stare into the camera up close
  37. Use a sock puppet
  38. Sit with a fake blue tooth
  39. Sit upside down
  40. Dance for 30 seconds
  41. Use a new name
  42. Compliment everyone
  43. Do a SWOT analysis
  44. Show an item by letter
  45. Act like you accidentally appeared on camera
  46. Start with “That’s nothing yet”
  47. Talk into a slipper or sock
  48. Sing “Gold of the Carpathians”
  49. Mimic everyone
  50. Sit with a fake black eye

Want to learn more about our remote office life? Check out all articles under “Life & Work at Marketing Link.”

Team-Building Games Marketing Link
The Paper Crown as a Punishment in the Game "Amateurs" at Marketing Link
Prizes for winning