One of the scariest games in recent memory came in the form of Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Dark Descent. And while there’s a sequel underway — titled Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs — the indie developer’s not the one making it.
Instead, Frictional has handed the reins to the next Amnesia period piece scarefest to TheChineseRoom, makers of interactive story piece Dear Esther. An interview at Gamasutra quotes TheChineseRoom’s Dan Pinchbeck on the challenging of following up such a success:
“The thing is, if we don’t frighten people as much as the original, then we’ve failed. But now we have to frighten people that know what to expect,” Pinchbeck said. “The big design challenge is: How do we protect the things that make Amnesia great, and how do we evolve everything else to make a really fresh experience?”
The concept art for A Machine for Pigs looks beautiful so far and the lush design’s part of a particular tension that will be key to the in-development game’s experience:
“With this new game, we want to create a world that is so rich and dramatic and beautiful that the player is constantly torn between wanting to go around the corner to see what’s there and not wanting to go around the corner because they’re frightened of what’s there,” said Pinchbeck.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about The Chinese Room handling the next Amnesia will be just how different it will be Dear Esther, which was criticised for nor feeling enough like a game. Look for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs to make you pee your pants this fall.
Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs: A collaboration of indie horror [Gamasutra]
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