Karoshi (game)
Encyclopedia
Karoshi is an independent video game
series designed by Jesse Venbrux, and developed in Game Maker
. Various iterations of the series have been released over time, with the first game (titled Karoshi) being released in March 2008 for Microsoft Windows
, and the latest (titled "Mr Karoshi") being released in February 2011. Players control a character called Karoshi, a balding, blocky Japanese salaryman
, as he attempts to commit suicide, in increasingly complicated levels that prevent just that. The gameplay is characterized by its dark humour, puzzles, and criticism of the corporate environment.
Karoshi has been since ported to Mac OS X
, Adobe Flash
, iOS
, Android, and PSP
, with the flash version being published by Armor Games
, the mobile version (Mr. Karoshi) being published by YoYo Games, and the Macintosh
versions being ported and published by Vetra Games.
The series has been acclaimed by critics. Anna Anthropy
has said that Karoshi is "one of the most intelligent games I have played in a long time". In 2008, it placed in 5th place in Wired
's top PC games of 2008, and EDGE Magazine
awarded it an "internet game of the month". TIGsource meanwhile noted it had "Some of the most LOL-worth and mind-bending puzzles I have ever seen". Reviewers generally praised the complexity of the puzzles and some of the game's humour, however some reviewers question the morality of the game's suicide-based gameplay.
. Players can control a balding salaryman by the name of Karoshi, who is "sick of it all", and wants to commit suicide. Players control Karoshi and solve puzzles in order to expose hazards that Karoshi can access, thus killing himself.
The core gameplay was introduced in the original Karoshi and has been expanded from there. In Karoshi, the player is tasked with jumping, pushing boxes, and activating switches. A notable feature is the gun, which ironically Karoshi can't point towards himself, so the player must use it to push boxes, bounce bullets, and solve more puzzles. Karoshi Factory adds the element of 'cooperating' between various Karoshi characters, with the ultimate aim of killing them all. Super Karoshi introduces the concept of "Super Karoshi", who is an invincible form of Karoshi that can remove obstacles, but that can only be vulnerable once exposed to Kryptonite
. Mr. Karoshi revolves around affecting Karoshi's humour, in order to solve more puzzles. The game often features hidden references to various corporate practices, and mentions workplace bullying, overtime, and other workplace occurrences. Additionally, in many puzzles of Mr. Karoshi, the player has to kill his wife or boss in order to influence his own humour and progress to the next level.
. It introduces many of the game's concepts, such as suicide, boxes, guns, and switches. It was not particularly well known outside of the Game Maker
community, and has been retroactively criticised by its somewhat crude graphics. It was ported in 2011 to the Macintosh and released on the Mac App Store
by Vetra Games.
as the development tool. It was developed while Venbrux worked at YoYo Games. Mr Karoshi was published by YoYo Games on iOS, Android, Symbian, and PSP. This game features various gameplay concepts from every single other Karoshi game, and also features a 'humour' meter that affects gameplay depending on Mr. Karoshi's humour. It features Openfeint support. It also features music by Jake Almond, and 'Karoshiware', a game mode where the player must kill himself in the span of 5 seconds, in parody of Warioware.
has said that Karoshi is "one of the most intelligent games I have played in a long time". In 2008, it placed in 5th place in Wired
's top PC games of 2008, and EDGE Magazine
awarded it an "internet game of the month". TIGsource meanwhile noted it had "Some of the most LOL-worth and mind-bending puzzles I have ever seen". Reviewers generally praised the complexity of the puzzles and some of the game's humour, however some reviewers question the morality of the game's suicide-based gameplay.
For Mr. Karoshi, reviewers praised the game's originality, while criticising the control scheme and the shortness of the game. Touch Arcade said "The ingenious level designs and dark humor of Karoshi is worth occasionally fighting the controls for.", while Pocket Gamer mentioned that "It’s a ruthlessly addictive added bonus to a game that, although brief, is stuffed with smart puzzles and blackly comic appeal. Long live Mr Karoshi.", and TouchGen mentioned "It’s the first truly original iOS game I’ve played in 2011, and is one that shouldn’t be missed!".
Indie game
Independent video game development is the process of creating video games without the financial support of a video game publisher. While large firms can create independent games, they are usually designed by an individual or a small team of as many as ten people, depending on the complexity of the...
series designed by Jesse Venbrux, and developed in Game Maker
Game Maker
GameMaker is a Windows and Mac IDE originally developed by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved...
. Various iterations of the series have been released over time, with the first game (titled Karoshi) being released in March 2008 for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, and the latest (titled "Mr Karoshi") being released in February 2011. Players control a character called Karoshi, a balding, blocky Japanese salaryman
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
, as he attempts to commit suicide, in increasingly complicated levels that prevent just that. The gameplay is characterized by its dark humour, puzzles, and criticism of the corporate environment.
Karoshi has been since ported to Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
, iOS
IOS
iOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...
, Android, and PSP
PSP
PSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
, with the flash version being published by Armor Games
Armor Games
Armor Games, formerly Games Of Gondor, is a website based in Irvine, California, that hosts free Flash-based browser games. Armor Games was founded by Daniel McNeely. Under its former name, it hosted The Lord of the Rings-themed content, such as the games "Hob the Hobbit", "Battle for Gondor", and...
, the mobile version (Mr. Karoshi) being published by YoYo Games, and the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
versions being ported and published by Vetra Games.
The series has been acclaimed by critics. Anna Anthropy
Anna Anthropy
Anna Anthropy is an American video game designer and critic. She has developed a number of freeware games including Mighty Jill Off, REDDER, and Lesbian Spider Queens of Mars, and is a co-founder and associate editor of The Gamer's Quarter...
has said that Karoshi is "one of the most intelligent games I have played in a long time". In 2008, it placed in 5th place in Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's top PC games of 2008, and EDGE Magazine
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
awarded it an "internet game of the month". TIGsource meanwhile noted it had "Some of the most LOL-worth and mind-bending puzzles I have ever seen". Reviewers generally praised the complexity of the puzzles and some of the game's humour, however some reviewers question the morality of the game's suicide-based gameplay.
Gameplay
Karoshi is a platform gamePlatform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
. Players can control a balding salaryman by the name of Karoshi, who is "sick of it all", and wants to commit suicide. Players control Karoshi and solve puzzles in order to expose hazards that Karoshi can access, thus killing himself.
The core gameplay was introduced in the original Karoshi and has been expanded from there. In Karoshi, the player is tasked with jumping, pushing boxes, and activating switches. A notable feature is the gun, which ironically Karoshi can't point towards himself, so the player must use it to push boxes, bounce bullets, and solve more puzzles. Karoshi Factory adds the element of 'cooperating' between various Karoshi characters, with the ultimate aim of killing them all. Super Karoshi introduces the concept of "Super Karoshi", who is an invincible form of Karoshi that can remove obstacles, but that can only be vulnerable once exposed to Kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
. Mr. Karoshi revolves around affecting Karoshi's humour, in order to solve more puzzles. The game often features hidden references to various corporate practices, and mentions workplace bullying, overtime, and other workplace occurrences. Additionally, in many puzzles of Mr. Karoshi, the player has to kill his wife or boss in order to influence his own humour and progress to the next level.
Characters
In certain Karoshi games, the player may switch between Karoshi, and various of his co-workers. For example, in Mr. Karoshi, the player can control Karoshi, 'The Boss' (who is depicted as the greedy, exploitative owner of 'YoYo Corp', who constantly makes fun of Mr. Karoshi), and Mrs. Karoshi (Mr. Karoshi's wife). In Karoshi Factory, the player can switch between Karoshi and various of his coworkers, and must ensure that all die in the end, in order to progress to the next level.Karoshi
The first game in the series, it was self-released by Jesse Venbrux in March 2008, and developed in Game MakerGame Maker
GameMaker is a Windows and Mac IDE originally developed by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved...
. It introduces many of the game's concepts, such as suicide, boxes, guns, and switches. It was not particularly well known outside of the Game Maker
Game Maker
GameMaker is a Windows and Mac IDE originally developed by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved...
community, and has been retroactively criticised by its somewhat crude graphics. It was ported in 2011 to the Macintosh and released on the Mac App Store
Mac App Store
The Mac App Store is a digital distribution platform for Mac OS X applications developed by Apple Inc.. The platform was announced on October 20, 2010 at Apple's "Back to the Mac" event. Apple began accepting app submissions from registered developers on November 3, 2010 in preparation for its launch...
by Vetra Games.
Karoshi 2
Karoshi 2 is the second game in the series, and is accepted to be the one that thrust Karoshi to worldwide acclaim. Karoshi 2 did not introduce new concepts from the original (some concepts were even removed, such as the gun), however, it relies on concepts that try to make the player break his own widely accepted gaming conventions, such as restarting a level to progress through the puzzle, inserting audio CD's to blast Karoshi through sheer sonic force, and simply forcing the player to explore a level outside of the game's view area. It is also known for featuring various references to Internet humour. It ported to the Macintosh, and released on the Mac App Store by Vetra Games.Karoshi Factory
Karoshi Factory is the third game in the series, and returns to the original game's puzzle feeling, this time with the added challenge of having to switch between characters. Every single character must end up dead at the end, as well. It was ported to the Macintosh, and released on the Mac App Store, by Vetra Games. It features music by Jake Almond.Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman
Suicide Salaryman was the first Karoshi game developed in Adobe Flash, as well as the fourth game in the series. The gameplay does not differ much from previous versions of Karoshi, however, it is the most popular game (along with Super Karoshi) as it was published as a web game on Armor Games.Super Karoshi
Super Karoshi was the fifth game in the series. It features a 'super karoshi' mode, as well as teleporters. It was published on Armor Games, and features music by Jake Almond.Mr. Karoshi
Mr. Karoshi is the sixth game in the series, and it is also a return of Game MakerGame Maker
GameMaker is a Windows and Mac IDE originally developed by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved...
as the development tool. It was developed while Venbrux worked at YoYo Games. Mr Karoshi was published by YoYo Games on iOS, Android, Symbian, and PSP. This game features various gameplay concepts from every single other Karoshi game, and also features a 'humour' meter that affects gameplay depending on Mr. Karoshi's humour. It features Openfeint support. It also features music by Jake Almond, and 'Karoshiware', a game mode where the player must kill himself in the span of 5 seconds, in parody of Warioware.
Reception
The series has been acclaimed by critics. Anna AnthropyAnna Anthropy
Anna Anthropy is an American video game designer and critic. She has developed a number of freeware games including Mighty Jill Off, REDDER, and Lesbian Spider Queens of Mars, and is a co-founder and associate editor of The Gamer's Quarter...
has said that Karoshi is "one of the most intelligent games I have played in a long time". In 2008, it placed in 5th place in Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's top PC games of 2008, and EDGE Magazine
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
awarded it an "internet game of the month". TIGsource meanwhile noted it had "Some of the most LOL-worth and mind-bending puzzles I have ever seen". Reviewers generally praised the complexity of the puzzles and some of the game's humour, however some reviewers question the morality of the game's suicide-based gameplay.
For Mr. Karoshi, reviewers praised the game's originality, while criticising the control scheme and the shortness of the game. Touch Arcade said "The ingenious level designs and dark humor of Karoshi is worth occasionally fighting the controls for.", while Pocket Gamer mentioned that "It’s a ruthlessly addictive added bonus to a game that, although brief, is stuffed with smart puzzles and blackly comic appeal. Long live Mr Karoshi.", and TouchGen mentioned "It’s the first truly original iOS game I’ve played in 2011, and is one that shouldn’t be missed!".