Amnesia dev shares secrets of evolving the horror genre

[Blacksite]

Frictional Games proved it knows how to make a game that would scare the bejeezus out of Beelzebub himself with Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but there's always room for improvement. Frictional's Thomas Grip has compiled a list of 10 items that can "take horror games to the next level," and (surprisingly) it doesn't begin with "Everything opposite of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City." It does, however, touch on a few points that could have put the "horror" back into that particular survival-horror title.

Grip suggests "minimal combat," "long build-up" and "doubt" are essential to evolve the horror genre, and we've already seen these aspects work wonderfully in Amnesia. Another aspect Grip notes is "no enemies," which he clarifies as follows: "What I mean is that we need to stop thinking of any creatures that we put into the game as 'enemies.' The word enemy makes us think about war and physical conflict, which is really not the focus in a horror game."

Grip's list seems to focus on different approaches to immersion and connecting to players on an emotional, human level before ensuring they won't be able to sleep properly for a few weeks at least. All 10 points are described in full on Frictional's blog.

Perhaps we'll see a few of these fleshed out in Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, a sequel in development by thechineseroom and overseen by Frictional itself.

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Really looking forward to playing the sequel.

[itachi73378]

Really good points there. I should really get started on amnesia

[SchaffinOSX]

Nice find Blacksite. The horror genre has definitely evolved over time, and not in too many positive ways; the rise of shooters and action titles has, over time, taken the real unique aspects out of the genre, and it's great to see some developers trying to find new ways to return some of the fundamental aspects back to horror games.

I might have to look into this game and developer a little bit; haven't heard of either.

[Dave-The-Rave]

I think I'm gonna try to blag a little behind the scenes at thechineseroom from my lecturer..lol.

[vladTGS]

Couldn't finish Penumbra series(maybe I could finish Requiem, IDK), couldn't finish Amnesia.....I.....just.....can't, not even with the lights on ). Can't imagine how A machine for pigs is gonna be.

[BoyBettaKnow]

Couldn't finish Penumbra series(maybe I could finish Requiem, IDK), couldn't finish Amnesia.....I.....just.....can't, not even with the lights on ). Can't imagine how A machine for pigs is gonna be.

I see your 'Couldn't finish' and raise you a 'Wouldn't start'

Played the demo when I got my 7.1 headphones as I was told the sound is good in the game! The sound was indeed pretty good - it also scared me

Saw it cheap during a steam sale and bought it but never really started it! It just sits in my library... Just watching me. Mocking me.


BBK. Tapatalking.

[Blacksite]

I see your 'Couldn't finish' and raise you a 'Wouldn't start'

I see your 'wouldn't start' and raise you a 'put 14 hours into Amnesia'.

[BoyBettaKnow]

You're a better man than I