The Office video game sounds easy: "That's what she said."

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 20th 2007 at 9:15AM }

MumboJumbo, maker of "premium casual games" will soon be adding Michael Scott and his underlings to their roster as they develop a video game based on the NBC hit comedy The Office. According to the story in Variety, the player will have to "handle jobs and pull pranks" at Dunder-Mifflin, featuring the cast as bobblehead dolls.

According to MumboJumbo VP Mike Suarez, "Because of its simplicity and low cost, "The Office" videogame won't be available for high-powered consoles like the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360." High-powered like the Wii, hee hee!

The game will be on the Nintendo DS, Sony's PSP, and downloadable on PCs via the net sometime this Fall.

Tags: Mumbo Jumbo, MumboJumbo, NBC, The Office

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

vidGuy @ Jun 20th 2007 9:24AM

Dramatically more powerful than last generation's console and the handhelds this game is going to be released on.

Anyway, I'm not sure I understand the inclusion of bobblehead dolls, but I might take a look just because the show's good. I've heard the original's better, though.

Phranctoast @ Jun 20th 2007 9:37AM

dwight has a bobblehead doll of himself.

Some things should not be made into videogames. This show is a great example.

geat show btw.

Phranctoast @ Jun 20th 2007 9:37AM

dwight has a bobblehead doll of himself.

Some things should not be made into videogames. This show is a great example.

geat show btw.

Jonathan Tran @ Jun 20th 2007 9:46AM

Great TV show, horrible idea for a game.

Unless they made some kid of spin off like "Dwight Schrute Detective Adventures" or something, it has no hope.

Dale @ Jun 20th 2007 9:56AM

Fantastic Four was a great idea for a video game, and they have screwed that up several times, but I am willing to give this the benefit of the doubt. If it's old school like School Daze or something.

John Doe @ Jun 20th 2007 9:56AM

at first i thought they were making an office space game. that would be great.

Level 1: Avoid lumbergh
Level 2: Steal stapler
Level 3: Escape burning building

Rob Accomando @ Jun 20th 2007 9:58AM

I'd rather have an "Office Space" game. You'd collect flair, beat the shit out of fax machines, file TPS reports and practice your "O" face.

Dan @ Jun 20th 2007 10:00AM

How many Schrute Bucks will this game cost? And how much is that in Stanley nickles?

1337dude @ Jun 20th 2007 10:01AM

I feel like my heart has been wrenched from my body and plunged into a bucket of boiling tears, while at the same time, I feel like my soul has been hit in the crotch..with a frozen sledgehammer!

I love how they dont want to put it on high power consoles, but then they go and develop it for PC, LAWL!!!!

jan_halmes @ Jun 20th 2007 10:01AM

Wii is finally getting props.

But just because a game is simple and cheaply made doesn't mean that it can't do well on Wii.

Cooking Mama, for instance.

MrPaulJames @ Jun 20th 2007 10:08AM

Fucking hell, based on the hit NBC series.. Which is based on the decent UK series. Really this game should be based on the British version, I've seen the American one, and every other person with a sense of sarcasm and decent humor will tell you how SHIT the US one is compared to the UK.

Bring out a proper game with Ricky Gervais playing the main role, as it's MEANT to seen!

Fucking robbing yanks. Grrrrr.

horngreen @ Jun 20th 2007 10:09AM

This is great! Can't wait for the Lavern and Shirley game and am hopeful for a Jonie Loves Chachie game.

Yaktastic @ Jun 20th 2007 10:11AM

If you are looking for a casual game that takes place in an office, (if you must have liscenced characters then that is your own preogative) then head to adult swim dot com and play "five minutes to kill (yourself)" it should statisfy all of your office life catharsis needs.

shamowfski @ Jun 20th 2007 10:13AM

MRPaulJames:

Then watch the british version and don't play the game, who cares? I would suggest avoiding NBC's IT Crowd ripoff when it comes out as well. Wouldn't want you flying off the handle and killing someone.

Robert @ Jun 20th 2007 10:15AM

I actually have one of those bobbleheads on my desk.

Dwight is God.

vauxhall @ Jun 20th 2007 10:22AM

It makes me want to cry that anyone could consider the US version (which is ok) anywhere near better than the genius UK version.

The UK version of the IT crowd is fucking awful though, why are they making a remake?

MrPaulJames @ Jun 20th 2007 10:23AM

Just pisses me off when, as usual, Americans talk like they fucking well invented it. Really it's just something they robbed, ruined and called their own.

Disappointing America.. Disappointing

Andrew @ Jun 20th 2007 10:28AM

You are deducted 50 Shrewt-bucks for this idea.

baby sea tuna @ Jun 20th 2007 10:29AM

What, no Wii version? I thought that was the official next-gen minigame dumping ground...

Chris @ Jun 20th 2007 10:47AM

I saw the first season of the UK version, and I pretty much hated it. Which is weird, because I loved the first season of the US version, and they're the exact same thing, pretty much.

Maybe Steve Carell is better? Or maybe Raine Wilson is a million times better than the guy who plays the Dwight character in the UK version. Or maybe it's not a competition and certain people like certain types of humor, and don't like others?

Personally, I stopped watching the UK version because every single joke was over the top sexual humor. That giant inflatable dildo was the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Witty? Hardly. Maybe I would have found it funny in the 5th grade...

PS An Office game will suck. They might as well just turn it into a free flash game and put it on the NBC website. ;-)

vauxhall @ Jun 20th 2007 11:00AM

Hey Chris, your entire post shows that you don't qute get subtlety. Not just your spelling humour without a u.

That overt sexual humour you're referring to was, in every instance I can think of, taking the piss out of something very different.

Johnny Bloom @ Jun 20th 2007 11:06AM

To the dirty Brit known as MrPaulJames:
You have insulted the honor of every American, so I challenge you to a duel at sunrise. One bullet at twenty paces. May God rest your soul.

Signed,
The Most Honourable Commodore Johnathan S. Bloom, herein known as Johnny Bloom.

Martez @ Jun 20th 2007 11:08AM

I love how people say the US "stole" The Office like we're some sort of sneaky bastards. Gervais wrote about 50 of the episodes himself.

While the first season of the US version was boring (basically just a rewrite of the UK episodes), the show has really grown into its own and is very different from the UK version. I like that, and I think both are excellent. I definitely got more attached to the UK characters, though. The US version is more straight-up comedy.

vauxhall @ Jun 20th 2007 11:17AM

I love how people say the US "stole" The Office like we're some sort of sneaky bastards. Gervais wrote about 50 of the episodes himself.

Are there 50 episodes of the US and Uk versions combined? Even if there is, I would give you about ten episodes. Not including the first season of the US version being almost identical to the UK version, so you could add another six there if you weren't already.

Chris @ Jun 20th 2007 11:18AM

vauxhall

I have no clue what you just said. "taking the piss out of something very different"??? Did you just make a pee joke? ;-)

No, seriously though, honestly your post kind of proved my point. While I like some british humoUr, (I loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) I don't find of it funny. I don't want to have to look past a giant dildo to find something "witty". Don't get me wrong, I love witty humor, but if I'm understanding what you're saying, all the jokes I found to be amazingly immature and unintelligent were over the top so they could hide something more subtle. Honestly I think that's stupid. I like subtlety, but when the price is stuff that I was honestly just weirded out by... It's just not my humor. And like I said, it's not a competition. I'm glad you understand the jokes I didn't :-)

polly @ Jun 20th 2007 11:23AM

Fellas. Both the UK and US versions of the The Office are great.

But I think we can all agree that the video game is going to SUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKK.

Dale @ Jun 20th 2007 11:32AM

I'm British, and as a comedy programme, I prefer the US version. As a sometimes funny but mostly semi-realistic, cringe-inducing take on office life, I prefer the UK version.

Martez @ Jun 20th 2007 11:34AM

There's over 50 episodes of the US version alone, most of which give Gervais as a writing credit (though the six episodes in the first season are naturally, a given).

Jonathan Tran @ Jun 20th 2007 11:45AM

This is dumb.

USA invented the Office, in fact we invented the idea of office buildings, as well as things like Reeboks, a Navy, and the locomotive.

Everything the world enjoys come from the USA, such as Pokemon, pancakes, and Seinfeld.

Jshock @ Jun 20th 2007 12:04PM

Yes, the British one is better, but Ricky himself says he was inspired by (or "copied", in his words) American projects like This is Spinal Tap and The Larry Sanders Show (and Extras is frickin' exactly like Curb, you've got to admit that). Anyway, there's good and bad stuff on both sides of the pond, so slag off, mate! (Is that right? I may need to work on my UK slang...)

The Office game should be a FPS where you play as Dwight, escorting Michael through Scranton with a potato gun that shoots spuds at 88 pounds per square inch, as well as third-grade karate moves mapped to the right analog. When you collect three Dundees, Michael morphs into 'Prison Mike' and goes agro, doing triple damage for a limited time.

Hooters restaurants are health re-charge points and Chili's restaurants are save points. Bosses are Roy (Warehouse level), Jan (Corporate level), The CFO (New York level), and finally, the showdown in Slough with David Brent (three-stage boss battle: dance contest, trivia contest, Sebring race).

RPG-style advancement wherein new third-grade karate moves are learned at each Dojo on the map. XBOX Live Achievements awarded for Fastest Completion, Fewest Potatos used, and Bushiest Beaver.

Chris @ Jun 20th 2007 12:04PM

AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!

Wal-mart! The Gap! Baseball! The NFL! Rock and Roll! The Internet! Slavery! Starbucks! Disneyworld! Porno! Valium! Reeboks! Fake Tits! Sushi! Taco Bell! The Rodeo! Bed Bath and Beyond! Liberty! White Slips! The Alamo! Bandaids! Las Vegas! Christmas! Immigrants! Books!

Rob Accomando @ Jun 20th 2007 12:21PM

I'd buy an "Extras" game. Is he having a laugh? IS HE HAVING A LAUGH?

FidoDido1980 @ Jun 20th 2007 12:28PM

"Personally, I stopped watching the UK version because every single joke was over the top sexual humor. That giant inflatable dildo was the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Witty? Hardly. Maybe I would have found it funny in the 5th grade..."

The point of that particular gag wasn't innuendo, or mere toilet humour. It was to highlight the conceited, oblivious nature of Brent and Gareth. Taken as innunendo, then yes, it was unfunny - as the reaction of the watching Tim, Dawn and Lee testifed. The point of it was: most people find Brent momentously unfunny, a viewpoint he fails to recognise. His lack of awareness over this is precisely what's funny about it.

Anyway, not having a go or anything. I adore the British version, find the US version OK, yet full accept humo(u)r is a subjective beast.

Oh, and this game will suck.

A person @ Jun 20th 2007 2:02PM

I like both the UK and the US version. I don't think the US version stole from the UK (except maybe the pilot), I think the US version was a REMAKE of the UK version. To say they stole from them is like saying the Lord of the Rings movies stole from the books.

The game will be terrible, though. No denying that.

marzz @ Jun 20th 2007 5:47PM

You know, making cheap cracks about the system's capabilities, which obviously show bias isn't the way "professional" journalism is done.

Think of it this way, if Anderson Cooper got on TV and started talking about wars in the muslim countries, and then said "Muslims... Teehee!" It'd be unprofessional and might even cost him his job.

Mr. Kelly, grow up.

joethered @ Jun 20th 2007 6:43PM

I have an idea! Why don't they make a video game based on the News. The News has been popular for ages. I think it's high time some one capitalized on that.

...

That was suppose to be sarcastic, but now that I think about it, a game based on the news might not be so bad. You could go around looking for stories and blow things out of proportion. And interrupt people's TV shows with car chases.... ok, I'm not ever sure if I'm be sarcastic or not anymore.