Now that you’ve been warned, I can tell you that there is a story behind the making of the game. The game is the answer of an independent game maker to the ongoing debate that makes computer and video games responsible for mass murder and homicide and denies responsibility of parents, society and individual. I will let Derek Yu (the developer of “I’m OK”) explain it himself:
So like 6 months ago notorious anti-video-game lawyer Jack Thompson sent out a letter he titled “A Modest Video Game Proposal,” that outlines (in gory detail) a game in which you play a disgruntled father of a dead child who takes vengeance upon the creators of violent video games. Essentially, he challenged video game makers to make a game where you kill video game makers. He even put money “on the line,” saying that he would give $10,000 to charity if someone released the game in 2006.
So yeah, of course everyone saw the irony in a guy who is supposedly against violent video games creating the blueprint for a game where you urinate onto the severed brain stems of the victims. And of course he was put task repeatedly. People hacked together some different versions of the game and forced him to concede that he never intended to pay out the ten grand. Then the Penny Arcade guys handed him his ass publicly by actually giving $10,000 to charity in his name. Eventually I think he got disbarred and maybe his penis shriveled up and fell off. Who can keep track of the number of ways he’s embarrassed himself, really?
Can you imagine what his kids must face at school? They probably get wedgies that send them into other dimensions.
(deep breath)
So yeah, this is OUR version of Jack Thompson’s sick fantasy. It’s a bit of a late release, to be sure, but we had decided long ago that we really just wanted to make a fun game. In a way, it’s kind of an homage to the good-ol’-days of gaming.
Another thing that really makes I’m OK enjoyable for me is how it manages to stay interesting even after playing it multiple times. Many games feel repetitive after a while, but here, the experience still feels fresh because of the small details and different ways you can approach the gameplay. As you continue playing, you naturally start improving and understanding the mechanics better, which makes everything feel more rewarding. I also appreciate the balance the game maintains—it’s not too difficult, but it’s not too easy either. You can play it casually for a short break or spend longer sessions without getting bored. That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons why I keep coming back to I’m OK. Overall, it’s the kind of game that doesn’t just entertain you for a moment, but actually gives you a consistently enjoyable experience every time you play.
