I'm sure the sentiment won't be shared, but I really didn't find anything about this too terribly creepy or scary. I made sure to watch all three of the videos in the article. It kind of made me think of a bad acid trip, or salvia trip. The environment changing, the sound effects (which after a while become repetitive and almost comical), and the general feel of the game. There was nothing truly treacherous about it. If you really watch the videos again. It's just you walking down some hallways with some creepy kids joining the party, but really doing nothing. They just stand there and block your way.
I may be desensitized to a lot of horror stuff though. I can totally see how this would freak some people out. I just like my scary games to be scary through other means. The "helpless and wandering around looking for a way out" seems a bit overdone nowadays.
After watching one of the videos of the guy playing the game, I think what's creepy about the it is what you as the user anticipate. Combined with some of the atmospheric effects and the weird sounds, I think user/player expectation fills in the blanks of the game, making this creepier and invoking a sense of dread. Sometimes there's nothing worse than the unknown, and nothing is more unknown than a dark hallway with, like you said, no way out. There's no aim here, no directions, no end in sight. The light flickers and the rest of the senses are muted or dulled, so the player can't rely on those to figure out what's happening. What's in the dark? More nothing? Satan? Ghosts? Someone waiting to stab you? Unicorns? Gore? Who knows.
Maybe this is creepier to those of us who have overactive imaginations. Personally, I am easily surprised when games or movies use the jump-scare tactics, but I also find those more along the lines of 'cheap thrills.'
Just out of curiosity, what in a game makes it a good horror game, or truly frightening?
I agree. The videos reminded me of something you'd find off Newgrounds or something in the early 2000's.
I'd like to know more about this created notepad file, but the fact that there wasn't more information beyond it simply existing makes it feel kind of hoax-y.
I have seen the notepad file in a few other horror games ( Imscared is a good example). It's a neat idea, in theory. Typically with most games the text file updates every time the game is played and "crashes" or you exit the game. It adds a realistic feel to the game and can make it feel more immersive. Like "Oh the game is haunted and it's making it's own files on my hard drive!" But sort of overdone in this instance.
I'm sure the sentiment won't be shared, but I really didn't find anything about this too terribly creepy or scary. I made sure to watch all three of the videos in the article. It kind of made me think of a bad acid trip, or salvia trip. The environment changing, the sound effects (which after a while become repetitive and almost comical), and the general feel of the game. There was nothing truly treacherous about it. If you really watch the videos again. It's just you walking down some hallways with some creepy kids joining the party, but really doing nothing. They just stand there and block your way.
I may be desensitized to a lot of horror stuff though. I can totally see how this would freak some people out. I just like my scary games to be scary through other means. The "helpless and wandering around looking for a way out" seems a bit overdone nowadays.
I hope that doesn't sound too cynical of me.
After watching one of the videos of the guy playing the game, I think what's creepy about the it is what you as the user anticipate. Combined with some of the atmospheric effects and the weird sounds, I think user/player expectation fills in the blanks of the game, making this creepier and invoking a sense of dread. Sometimes there's nothing worse than the unknown, and nothing is more unknown than a dark hallway with, like you said, no way out. There's no aim here, no directions, no end in sight. The light flickers and the rest of the senses are muted or dulled, so the player can't rely on those to figure out what's happening. What's in the dark? More nothing? Satan? Ghosts? Someone waiting to stab you? Unicorns? Gore? Who knows.
Maybe this is creepier to those of us who have overactive imaginations. Personally, I am easily surprised when games or movies use the jump-scare tactics, but I also find those more along the lines of 'cheap thrills.'
Just out of curiosity, what in a game makes it a good horror game, or truly frightening?
I agree. The videos reminded me of something you'd find off Newgrounds or something in the early 2000's. I'd like to know more about this created notepad file, but the fact that there wasn't more information beyond it simply existing makes it feel kind of hoax-y.
I have seen the notepad file in a few other horror games ( Imscared is a good example). It's a neat idea, in theory. Typically with most games the text file updates every time the game is played and "crashes" or you exit the game. It adds a realistic feel to the game and can make it feel more immersive. Like "Oh the game is haunted and it's making it's own files on my hard drive!" But sort of overdone in this instance.