Game Making: Start By Healing the Player

Chapter 57

On the popular streaming site SharkTV, there were initially only a few streamers trying their hand at ‘Outlast’. These were people who were familiar with Chen Xu and his previous works.

However, the staff at SharkTV began noticing something strange. The game’s popularity was growing at an incredible rate. Viewer engagement metrics for channels featuring the game soared to record highs, and chat boxes were experiencing lag due to overload.

By all metrics, the game was a hit with audiences.

Perhaps noticing the amount of engagement happening with other streamers, many more were prompted to join in the frenzy. For them, streaming was a full time job, and ‘Outlast’ was an incredible piece of content. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

For a time, whenever you looked into the ‘Outlast’ section and randomly entered channels, you’d hear the wails of the damned.

“I’m done! I’m out! Fuck this game, man! Whoever recommended this game, ban him!!”

“The closet just moved!! Why did it move?!”

“No! Please! Lemme go!”

“How is this fat guy running so fast?! How do I get out of here?!”

“Chat! Help! I’m out of batteries, just tell me the way, chat!”

“I need a gun! Just give me a gun! Chat, where’s the gun?”

“I swear if this asshole in the wheelchair jumps at me I swear to god, chat…”

The channels became a cacophony of horror, wonderfully showcasing the thrill and dread of ‘Outlast’. Every clip was worthy of a highlight reel, the captured moments feeling as if they were straight out of the best horror movie no one had ever seen.

This growing craze naturally piqued the interest of viewers who had previously never heard of the game. Like the snowball effect in the forums before, they were driven by the same curiosity: Is this game really that scary?

Those poor souls quickly succumbed to the truth—this game was likely the most terrifying piece of media they had ever come across so far.

If a classic jumpscare could be described as shocking by bearable after repetition, ‘Outlast’ went far and above what was necessary to strike fear in the hearts of those that played it.

The game combined visuals, atmosphere, and psychological pressure into a seamless nightmare.

The jumpscares were universal horror elements, but used in just the right amount to keep the player from being desensitized.

The visuals, reminiscent of western media, showcased grotesque and disturbing imagery, such as the enemy design or the notorious finger removal moment.

The psychological elements preyed on the fear of the unknown, creating lingering self-doubt and unease. For example, the basement segment, the women’s ward, and the sewer segment were all highly stressful due to the near complete darkness and unseen enemies.

These were just some examples of the techniques used in ‘Outlast’ to amplify the terror of its premise. The player, being a journalist, could only run and hide, unable to fight back against his horrific foes.

The sense of helplessness hits its peak whenever players find themselves hunted by monsters in the darkness, out of batteries and scrambling to survive. The resulting despair and desperation was truly indescribable for a lot of people.

The shadow of Mt. Massive Asylum would loom large over countless players for some time.

——————-

‘Outlast’ gained significant traction as more streamers and players tried the game out, spreading quickly out of the niche horror forums to major gaming communities and boards.

Player discussion filled the sites:

[ I am cutting ties with my friend. He told me it was just a little bit spooky. ]

[ Ashamed to admit, but I quit the game the moment I saw the entrance. ]

[ Same bro, I walked around the gate, peeked inside and saw the bodies, then quit. I went to watch other people play it instead XD. ]

[ Hmph! Cowards, I’ve already beaten the game. ]

[ Yea, what’s so scary about it? The game is simple. ]

[ I just checked both your profiles. 7 minutes and 5 minutes of play time. Shut the fuck up lmao. ]

[ Well… I bought the game, didn’t refund it, and watched a ton of videos and streams, so now I know the full story and saw the ending. Isn’t that basically beating the game? ]

[ Can’t argue with that logic. ]

While refunds were common, ‘Outlast’ continued to surge in popularity and sales, experiencing a breakout period and gaining many new players and watchers.

A sizable player base were unwilling to part with their purchase despite not playing the game, indirectly supporting the developers.

As the numbers grew, the commercial success of ‘Outlast’ was soon guaranteed.

————————————–

During this period, a new meme was born when someone posted a prior interview featuring Chen Xu. It was captured during the time he won the Sci-Fi adventure award.

“After all, I consider myself a warrior of love.”

The statement went viral among ‘Outlast’ fans.

[ How the hell did he say that with a straight face? ]

[ Genuinely can’t believe this is the same guy who made ‘To the Moon’ ]

[ This guy really went out of his way to tug at our heartstrings, then turn around and maul us with a monster. ]

[ Where’s the love? I might have felt it if I wasn’t stuck in the dark all the time! ]

[ Do you think he dares to play this game himself? ]

[ Fat Bastard: Aw yea you gon’ feel that love tonight, video boi ]

Players flooded Chen Xu’s social media accounts, posting memes and joking around.

The stark contrast between his “warrior of love” statement and the pants shitting horror of ‘Outlast’ was palpable.

While everyone was having fun, nobody expected Chen Xu to actually respond.

But, he did…

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