Happy Wheels

File:Happy Wheels gameplay.jpg

Happy Wheels{{'}} tagline is "Choose your inadequately prepared racer, and ignore severe consequences in your desperate search for victory!"{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/10/happy_wheels_bloody_severe_con.php | title = Happy Wheels: Bloody, 'Severe Consequences' | last = Caoili | first = Eric | date = October 25, 2010 | website = GameSetWatch | publisher = UBM TechWeb | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = October 29, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101029170611/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/10/happy_wheels_bloody_severe_con.php | url-status = live }} The actual mechanics of gameplay vary because of character choice and level design;{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/02/best-free-games?page=10 | title = Best Free Games - Page 10 of 17 | date = June 2, 2011 | last = Meunier | first = Nathan | website = IGN | publisher = IGN Entertainment | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = March 23, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130323012908/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/02/best-free-games?page=10 | url-status = live }} the game includes characters such as a dad and his son riding a bike, a businessman on a Segway, a homeless man in a rocket-powered wheelchair, and Santa Claus in a flying elf-pulled sleigh.{{cite news|last1=Thier|first1=Dave|title=Gruesome 'Happy Wheels' Shoots To The Top Of The App Store|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/08/28/gruesome-happy-wheels-shoots-to-the-top-of-the-app-store/#75f3152b23e4|access-date=6 August 2017|work=Forbes|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124154544/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/08/28/gruesome-happy-wheels-shoots-to-the-top-of-the-app-store/#75f3152b23e4|url-status=live}}

The goal of the game also differs depending on the level. In most levels, the goal is to reach a finish line or to collect tokens. Many levels feature alternate or nonexistent goals for the player.{{cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/severed-limbs-and-slam-dunked-toddlers-an-interview-with-the-creator-of-happy-wheels/ | title = Severed Limbs and Slam-Dunked Toddlers: An Interview With The Creator of "Happy Wheels" | last = Holmes | first = Kevin | date = October 28, 2010 | website = The Creators Project | publisher = Vice Media | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = July 27, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727175543/http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/severed-limbs-and-slam-dunked-toddlers-an-interview-with-the-creator-of-happy-wheels | url-status = live }}

Reviewers have noted Happy Wheels' graphic violence.{{cite web | url = http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/02/01/cheap-pc-gaming-three-more-cheap-distractions/ | title = Cheap PC Gaming: Three More Cheap Distractions | last = Chadwick | first = Gareth | date = February 1, 2012 | website = TheSixthAxis | publisher = Oscar Mike Media | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = February 3, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120203122255/http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/02/01/cheap-pc-gaming-three-more-cheap-distractions/ | url-status = live }} For instance, characters can be decapitated, shot, or crushed by various obstacles. Loss of limbs and profuse spurts of blood are also graphic elements.

Players also have the choice to upload replays of their level attempts, which can then be viewed by other players.

Happy Wheels features a level editor, which allows players to create custom levels of their own. It contains a plethora of tools and objects for level building. Users can upload their maps to a public server where they are accessible.

Indie game developer Jim Bonacci, the game's main programmer and artist, began work on the game in 2006.{{cite web | url = http://tjftoday.webs.com/apps/blog/show/13399601-interview-jim-bonacci | title = Interview: JIM BONACCI | author = 456jerkface | date = March 21, 2012 | website = TjfToday | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = June 22, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130622080337/http://tjftoday.webs.com/apps/blog/show/13399601-interview-jim-bonacci | url-status = live }} Bonacci has said that his inspiration for the game came from other ragdoll physics-based games in the browser games community, as his friend and former boss, Alec Cove, had made a Verlet physics engine for Adobe Flash. Per Bonacci, "I was messing around with it, and eventually created a guy in a wheelchair that would endlessly fall down a random hill. I thought it was funny and stupid, so I kept expanding on it. It was only meant to be a very small game, but eventually it became my main focus."

The hyper-violent nature of the game was a reaction to Bonacci's frustration with how the consequences of certain actions were not treated realistically in other game titles. Bonacci stated that "it always bothered me when... you'd fall off your vehicle and harmlessly bounce around. In other cases, you would have the same canned animation over and over. I'm not sure if it was a lack of detail or concern on the part of the developer, but the consequences of your in-game actions were often improperly illustrated. For me, half of the fun of playing a game that imitates life (sort of), is making mistakes and seeing the end result."

Bonacci also noted that, because gameplay would often involve the player dying repeatedly, he put a great deal of effort into making that part of the game enjoyable.

The full version of Happy Wheels is only available on Bonacci's original website, totaljerkface.com. Bonacci's other game, Divine Intervention is also available there.

Demo versions of Happy Wheels are licensed to other websites. These demo versions only include a limited number of featured maps and playable characters. There are approximately 10 million user-generated levels. The total count of level plays is over 13 billion.

Currently,{{when?|date=November 2023}} Jason Schymick helps Bonacci work on the game programming, although different people have contributed. "The others who helped are all amazing", says Bonacci.{{Failed verification|date=December 2017|reason=That quote is not in that link.}} Alec Cove joined Fancy Force in 2013 and handles all server-side architecture and development.{{cite web | url = http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=68 | title = NEW SITE, YAY | last = Bonacci | first = Jim | date = March 13, 2015 | website = Totaljerkface.com | publisher = Fancy Force | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = September 26, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150926085528/http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=68 | url-status = live }}

On September 30, 2014, Schymick announced that iOS and Android ports of the game have been in development.{{cite web | url = http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=73 | title = Happy Wheels iOS In Progress… | last = Schymick | first = Jason | date = September 30, 2014 | website = Totaljerkface.com | publisher = Fancy Force | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = October 20, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151020023039/http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=73 | url-status = live }} The iOS version was released as a free download through the App Store on August 20, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/067107/popular-flash-game-happy-wheels-makes-its-ios-debut/ |title=Popular flash game Happy Wheels makes its iOS debut |first=Christian |last=Valentin |date=August 20, 2015 |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231140909/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/067107/popular-flash-game-happy-wheels-makes-its-ios-debut/ |url-status=live }} For the Android version, Fancy Force began accepting beta test applications in October 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/081302/happy-wheels-developer-fancy-force-is-bringing-their-popular-game-to-android-and-you-can-sign-up-to-be-part-of-the-beta-now/ |title=Happy Wheels developer Fancy Force is bringing their popular game to Android and you can sign up to be part of the beta now |first=Stephen |last=Gregson-Wood |date=October 14, 2019 |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231140910/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/081302/happy-wheels-developer-fancy-force-is-bringing-their-popular-game-to-android-and-you-can-sign-up-to-be-part-of-the-beta-now/ |url-status=live }} Following a beta testing phase, the finished version was released on January 25, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/082020/happy-wheels-is-available-now-for-android-following-a-brief-stint-in-beta/ |title=Happy Wheels is available now for Android following a brief stint in beta last year |first=Stephen |last=Gregson-Wood |date=January 27, 2020 |website=Pocket Gamer |access-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127201921/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/082020/happy-wheels-is-available-now-for-android-following-a-brief-stint-in-beta/ |url-status=live }}

On January 9, 2020, Bonacci posted on his website that a JavaScript port by Goodboy Digital was in development and the game will continue to function after Adobe Flash ends at the end of 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=90|title=Happy Wheels is not dying|first=Jim|last=Bonacci|date=January 9, 2020|website=Totaljerkface.com|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026100855/http://totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=90|url-status=live}} Eleven months later, on December 28, 2020, the JavaScript port was released, continuing the existence of the game after the end of Flash.{{cite web|url=http://totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=91|title=Happy Wheels Javascript is UP|first=Jim|last=Bonacci|date=December 28, 2020|website=Totaljerkface.com|access-date=January 1, 2021|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101163613/http://www.totaljerkface.com/news_comments.tjf?nid=91|url-status=live}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = iOS: 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/happy-wheels/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Happy Wheels for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016023425/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/happy-wheels |url-status=live }}

| Gamezebo = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamezebo.com/2015/08/26/happy-wheels-review-bloody-fun-time/|title=Happy Wheels Review: A Bloody Fun Time|website=GameZebo|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=August 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828000812/https://www.gamezebo.com/2015/08/26/happy-wheels-review-bloody-fun-time/|url-status=live}}

}}

Happy Wheels has received generally positive reviews. It was recommended by GameSetWatch and considered one of the "Best Free Games" by IGN. Its level editor and amount of user-generated content have received praise from reviewers.{{cite web | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech-reviews/littlebigplanet-vita-dated-for-september/story-aGc3elIbMPIbCG6moiJgPJ.html | title = 'LittleBigPlanet' Vita dated for September | last = Alam | first = Shafiq | date = August 4, 2012 | website = Hindustan Times | publisher = HT Media | access-date = October 31, 2015 | archive-date = November 18, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151118144247/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech-reviews/littlebigplanet-vita-dated-for-september/story-aGc3elIbMPIbCG6moiJgPJ.html | url-status = live }} The over-the-top nature of the violence is a central theme of the game, and some reviewers have considered it humorous; one review stated that "It is so genuinely difficult to play Happy Wheels and not just laugh and laugh at the ridiculous ways in which your character can be torn into pieces."

In November 2016, a 9-episode animated web series based on Happy Wheels premiered on Go90. The series, produced by Machinima, Inc. and Bunim/Murray Productions digital division BMP Digital, is set in the title town, dubbed as "the most dangerous community on Earth" where "people are mangled everyday by traps, spikes, mines, cars, unsafe roads and hazards. But no one seems to notice. To reduce some of the carnage in town, five concerned citizens form a safety awareness committee but often fail with hilarious results."{{Cite web |date=2016-11-15 |title=Happy Wheels Web Series Launches on go90 Media Platform |url=https://collider.com/happy-wheels-series-trailer/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Collider |language=en}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|https://totaljerkface.com/happy_wheels.tjf}} {{plays audio}}

Category:2010 video games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Browser games

Category:Indie games

Category:IOS games

Category:Platformers

Category:Racing video games

Category:Side-scrolling video games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games with user-generated gameplay content