Kimberly Kubus
Kimberly Kubus (1986–2014), real name Kim Okkerstrøm, was a prolific Norwegian indie game developer, musician, and filmmaker known for creating over 200 experimental and surreal games between 2001 and 2013. Operating under multiple pseudonyms including Kimberly Kubus, Sparlatacus, and PG Games, he became an early outsider artist figure in video game development, creating avant-garde titles that deliberately challenged conventional game design. His most recognized work is the "Johnny" series, consisting of 36 games featuring the protagonist Johnny with his characteristically long nose navigating hostile, surreal worlds. Known for intentionally imperfect yet artistically significant creations, Kubus used video games as a medium to explore his mental health experiences, treating them as art rather than commercial products. Much of his work is now considered lost media, with only a handful of his games preserved through the Internet Archive. Kimberly Kubus died in December 2014, and the cause of death was suicide. He struggled with mental health issues, and his death was confirmed by friends and collaborators later that month. This tragic aspect adds a somber context to his artistic legacy.
Kimberly Kubus at a Glance
Kimberly Kubus was a Norwegian developer who operated from 2003 to 2009 under the name Kim Okkerstrøm. He created 11 games listed on PlayPile, handling both publishing and development duties for every single title. All of these releases were made exclusively for Microsoft Windows on PC. His catalog spans the entire 2000s decade with no titles appearing in other time periods within this dataset. The platformer genre dominates his work with six entries, followed by four fighting games and two simulator titles. The most prominent series in his library is the Death Fighter line, which includes Death Fighter 4 released in December 2009, Death Fighter 3: Mort Battel from December 2008, and Death Fighter 2: Necro Fighter from December 2006. Other notable releases include Drink Tea or Die!!! from late 2006 and Johnny 6 from December 2005. The data shows a steady output of games throughout the latter half of the 2000s, with releases appearing almost annually during this active period. This publisher operated with a very small footprint compared to major industry players. His work is characterized by surreal and experimental design choices that often challenge standard gaming conventions. The Johnny series, which features a character with a long nose navigating strange worlds, appears frequently in his broader body of work outside the specific 11 titles tracked here. Despite the unconventional nature of his projects, the available data does not provide aggregate user ratings to determine if players generally praised or criticized these titles. External sources describe his creations as intentionally imperfect art pieces rather than commercial products meant for mass appeal. Kubus struggled with mental health issues throughout his life and passed away in December 2014. His death followed a suicide, adding a tragic context to his career. Many of his games from the early 2000s are now considered lost media, with only a few titles preserved on platforms like the Internet Archive. The 11 games found on PlayPile represent a small fraction of his total output, which included over 200 experimental projects created between 2001 and 2013 under various pseudonyms including Sparlatacus and PG Games. His work remains significant to those interested in outsider art within the video game medium.
