Pyongyang Racer
| Pyongyang Racer | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Nosotek |
| Publisher(s) | Koryo Tours |
| Platform(s) | Adobe Flash |
| Release date(s) | c. December 18, 2012 |
| Genre(s) | Racing, simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Pyongyang Racer is a 2012 racing video game created by Kim Chaek University of Technology students and Nosotek and published by Koryo Tours, a travel company specializing in arranging visits to North Korea.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Pyongyang Racer focuses largely on driving a North Korean car Hwiparam II [1] through the streets of Pyongyang.[2] Specifically, certain rules and regulations must be followed, such as the need to continually hit barrels of gasoline to maintain a depleting fuel meter. In addition, certain obstacles and objects must be avoided, or will result in points deducted.
Development and release
Pyongyang Racer was developed in 2012 by a few Kim Chaek University of Technology students working with Nosotek,[3] a North Korean venture capital company focusing on information technology. Nosotek was commissioned to create the game by Koryo Tours, a British-owned travel company specializing in arranging visits to North Korea,[4] to promote tourism of the country to Western audiences.[5][6]
The game's graphics are not contemporary of its timeframe; one reviewer equated them to the Sega Saturn's[7] and another to the 32-bit era in general. This quirk was not unintentional; Koryo stated that Pyongyang Racer was "not intended to be a high-end technological wonder hit game of the 21st century"[5] but rather a retro arcade-style game.[7] Unlike in most racing games, Nosotek and Koryo did not include AI or a multiplayer mode of any kind.[5]
The game was released before, but in late December 2012,[7] it was released for Internet browsers.[4]
Critical reception
Pyongyang Racer was panned by the video game press and other sources. Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku said that while it exceeded his expectations of a game produced by the country, it was "also not very good."[4] Fruzsina Eördögh of Slate stated that it "hasn’t made me want to visit North Korea any time soon."[6] Chris Welch of The Verge could not think of anything more positive to say about the game than that it was the first known one developed in North Korea.[5]
Impact and merchandising
The game gained popularity on the Internet, as people who did not want to visit North Korea got to learn about the layout of Pyongyang. Sympathizers of former leader Kim Jong-il and North Korea in general took to the game as well. Its popularity was enough to take its site down for some users temporarily.[6]
Koryo Games has manufactured T-shirts based on the game and sells them on its official website.[3]
References
- ↑ http://pyeonghwamotors.com
- ↑ http://pyongyangracer.co/index.html
- 1 2 "ABOUT KORYO TOURS PYONGYANG RACER". Koryo Tours. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Ashcraft, Brian (December 20, 2012). "This Game Was Developed in North Korea. Play It Right Now.". Kotaku. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Welch, Chris (December 20, 2012). "Play this: 'Pyongyang Racer' is the first game developed in North Korea for Western audiences". The Verge. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Eördögh, Fruzsina (December 20, 2012). "Drive Deserted Streets in North Korea's Super-Depressing New Video Game". Slate. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- 1 2 3 O'Carroll, Chad (December 20, 2012). "North Korea’s "Pyongyang Racer" Video Game Is Unleashed". NK News. Retrieved February 3, 2014.