We Are OFK
| We Are OFK | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Team OFK |
| Publisher(s) | Team OFK |
| Director(s) | Teddy Dief |
| Producer(s) | Mikayla Foote |
| Programmer(s) | Jarryd Huntley |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Writer(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | omniboi |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | August 18 — September 8, 2022 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
We Are OFK is an episodic adventure game developed by Team OFK and directed by Teddy Dief. Its five episodes released between August and September 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It serves as the fictional biography of the developers' virtual band, OFK.
Gameplay
[edit]The player chooses dialogue choices for one of the four characters by selecting thoughts or by texting on a phone. The five music videos contain interactive elements, including collecting or interacting with objects.
Plot
[edit]The band OFK consists of keyboard player and manager Itsumi Saito, singer Luca Le Fae, visual artist Carter Flores and producer Jey Zhang.[1] It is set in Los Angeles.
Development and release
[edit]Funding was provided by Kowloon Nights.[1] The game and virtual band were announced with a concert video at The Game Awards 2020 for release in spring 2021.[2] It was delayed to 2022 and the episodes were released in weekly intervals, except for one and two releasing simultaneously.[3]
| Episodes | Release date |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 - hooks and 2 loops | August 18 |
| Episode 3 - smash | August 25 |
| Episode 4 - splits | September 1 |
| Episode 5 - mix | September 8 |
Reception
[edit]The Guardian said the stakes may seem small, but in the end it's hard not to be invested in the origin story.[4] Rock Paper Shotgun stated the lack of closure can be frustrating, but may be the entire point of the game, similar to life.[5] Inverse magazine criticized that focusing on the band diminishes the personal stories, but it still succeeds in portraying the struggle of corporate and artistic identities.[6] GameSpot said the storyline may feel too "on rails", but praised the characters' journey as expressed in the music videos.[7]
The game was nominated at the Independent Games Festival Awards 2023 for Excellence in Audio. It won a 2023 Peabody Award.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wen, Alan (25 October 2022). "Team OFK's double act as a game developer and virtual band". GamesIndustry.biz.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (10 December 2020). "We Are OFK is a new interactive series about a virtual pop group". The Verge.
- ^ Holt, Kris (August 18, 2022). "Interactive musical series 'We are OFK' hits PlayStation, Switch and PC on August 18th". Engadget.
- ^ Wen, Alan (20 September 2022). "A video-game music biopic: We are OFK follows a virtual band trying to make it in LA". The Guardian.
- ^ Hetfeld, Malindy (17 August 2022). "We Are OFK review: an emotional music biopic that's a bit too Silicon Valley". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
- ^ Rowe, Willa (17 August 2022). "'We Are OFK' review: This musical adventure doesn't quite find its rhythm". Inverse.
- ^ Ramée, Jordan (August 17, 2022). "We Are OFK Review - Acoustic Resonance". GameSpot.
- ^ "84th Annual Peabody Award Winners Announced," from PeabodyAwards.com, 5/9/2024