Chapter 47: Heated Debates Among Players and the Industry
In the early morning of October 31st, Alex uploaded a pre-recorded video to his official Twitter account.
He also posted a message:
"Guess what game it is?" Although it was early, it's worth noting that at that hour, there were still quite a few night owls among the players who followed Alex's official account.
The message quickly caught the attention of some.
"What's going on? Look what I found! Alex has a new game?"
"I'm posting news first thing! What a weird time!"
"Oh my God, what kind of video is this! He posts it so late, I thought it was big news!"
"Wait! What the heck is this video? A horror game?"
"Good grief, this video is chilling!"
"So Alex is going to make a horror game for his next game?"
"To be honest, I'm not interested in horror games or anything like that. The key is the timing! Isn't it a weird time?"
"So the next game is going to be about DV?"
Many players were stunned.
After all, Alex's intentions were crystal clear. This unsettling video made it obvious that his next game was a horror game. But what sparked even more debate among players was the timing of the release.
The next day, Alex's official blog post caused numerous media outlets to share and report on it. After all, Alex still had some enthusiasm from winning first prize in the travel contest with To the Moon. Furthermore, November was just around the corner and there were no major releases to highlight.
Players commented on Alex's video, analyzing the theme of his new game. After all, even horror games have their own themes.
"There's a DV camera and it looks like an indoor office, so it seems like a modern setting."
"The DV camera is recording something, but the video is completely silent. Considering the chaos in the room, we can venture a guess: is it necessary to use a DV camera to see ghosts?"
"Walking through dark hallways and rooms with a DV camera in hand, a ghostly face appeared in the recording, and it dragged the person recording into a dark abyss!"
"What drama! There's nothing to see, how can we make such an analysis? Watching this in broad daylight gives me chills!" "You're too timid, is that all? I advise you to wear a diaper when you play or watch this."
"It's really horrible! I found it last night in the early morning. Nothing was revealed, but I ended up scared, thinking there was someone under my bed. I was completely stunned for half the night."
Online players were enthusiastic, but it was mostly speculation. After all, Alex's video was just an indication that his next project would be a horror game. But the exact genre remained a secret.
This sparked a heated debate not only among players, but also among industry designers and media outlets.
"Did you hear? Alex's new project is a horror game!"
"It's a bit unexpected. I didn't expect Alex to choose a horror game."
"But it's not that surprising. For small teams and indie game designers, horror games are a relatively easy entry point."
"Small team? Alex's team isn't small. Didn't you see Nebula Games' presentation? Alex's team isn't too small either."
"It's normal. After all, Undertale and To the Moon sold very well."
"But horror games are still relatively niche. Not to mention that in the West, even in other countries, there don't seem to be any outstanding horror games, right?"
"Yes, although it seems that virtual reality and horror games fit well, the market and cost are a big problem."
"I think Alex's horror game might be selling dog meat disguised as lamb."
"How do you say that?"
"Seeing To the Moon and Undertale, it's clear that Alex is a designer with a gift for storytelling. So, is it possible that this supposed horror game is more of a touching story with a horror veneer?"
"It doesn't seem impossible. After all, didn't Alex consider himself a love warrior?"
"It makes sense!"
Video game industry designers talked about Alex and the news of his new work. However, for the various video game media outlets looking for traffic, the situation became a bit chaotic.
"What is Alex's intention in posting a strange video late at night?"
"From touching to terrifying? Designer Alex switches to horror!"
"Giving up his experience to try a niche horror game: self-confidence or blind faith?"
Reports flooded various websites and forums. Some larger media outlets managed to maintain a neutral stance. But marketing accounts and smaller, second and third-tier gaming channels were everywhere, trying to manipulate the narrative. This was largely due to Alex's genre choice. After all, the industry hadn't produced a good horror game in years.
The horror game industry as a whole isn't exactly stagnant, but it certainly lacks much vitality. The few horror games that sell well are generally franchises, and their sales are constantly decreasing each year.
The genres of horror games are equally diverse. In the West, there are zombies and ghosts; in other countries, there are slashers and demons; realistic, surreal, you name it. However, none of them have become a true hit.
The main reason is that these horror games haven't left a single niche. They still rely on a strict formula of scares, shooting, and a story. It's not that this formula is bad, but it's simply difficult to make it compelling.
Of all the shooting and horror hybrids of the past, how many have managed to remain relevant? Only Resident Evil and Dead Space remain. Of these two IPs, only the former is still a top-tier franchise, while the latter languished until years later, when EA ran out of ideas for revival.
However, for Alex and the entire Nebula Games team, these online conversations haven't had much impact. Game development is clearly progressing. Although the game wasn't finished yet, it was still possible to experience some of the initial content.
After the experience, Lisa, Jane, and the rest of the team had only one thought: This game cannot be played at night! There was no other option; it was simply too scary. Although everyone had participated in the game's development and every detail had been developed with coordinated effort, that didn't mean they weren't scared!
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