Karen by Blast Theory
By Blast Theory
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Description
Karen is a life coach and she’s happy to help you work through a few things in your life.
When you begin, she asks you some questions about your outlook on the world to get an understanding of you. In fact, her questions are drawn from psychological profiling questionnaires. She – and the software – are profiling you and she gives you advice based on your answers.
Karen mixes gaming with storytelling to give you a personalised experience. Play to the end and you can buy a report on your own data, showing how the science of profiling has been applied to you.
This groundbreaking app is a new work by Blast Theory, developed in partnership with National Theatre Wales. Co-commissioned by The Space and 539 Kickstarter backers Karen has been developed with support from the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham and in collaboration with Dr Kelly Page.
What's New in Version 1.7
Bugfixes and improvements for iOS 9
iPhone Screenshots
Customer Reviews
I'm torn...
This is a cool concept, kudos to Blast Theory for pulling something like this off, but for me it was a horrible experience playing the game - much as I wanted to like it. Played it just after it came out but had to stop without completing because it was having a negative impact on my mental health: in my post-nervous-breakdown recovery I actually wasn't in the right space to be drawn into an abusive relationship like this. And believe me, you do form a relationship with Karen. Of course I know Karen isn't a real life coach but due in part to the quality of her acting, playing this app was actually having a negative effect on my mental health. Being insulted within a question or two didn't help, and it did feel like the multiple-choice sections weren't evaluated very carefully so that you could actually make a choice that was in character, but I persisted much longer than was healthy for myself. Maybe later I'll be able to play all the way through and amend this review, but that isn't yet possible. This app needs trigger warnings.
Gaming experience: 2 stars
Concept and execution: 4 stars
Wow
Just wow, regardless of who you are this app certainly plays with your emotions, though sometimes quite uncomfortable. It's very hard at times to distinguish fact from fiction because of how it utilises our everyday technology. "I feel that I played a part in the end due to some decisions and I feel it is my fault it ended how it did". While it wouldn't be considered a life coaching app in traditional means, it is definitely an eye opener in how technology can intertwine with human emotions.
Build me up, Knock me down
Okay, so no mention of the £3.99 psych report at the end throughout any part of the game. I loved the app- it was interesting, intriguing and exciting. However if I had known about the payment at the end, I would have been more than willing to give it. It never even says the price until you get to the very last acceptance of payment.
Be aware of it- but a good app aside from it
- Free
- Category: Entertainment
- Updated: 10 November 2015
- Version: 1.7
- Size: 378 MB
- Language: English
- Developer: Blast Theory
- © 2014 Blast Theory
Compatibility: Requires iOS 7.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Top In-App Purchases
- Data Report£3.99