The Fourth Wall

[Rethala]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day. (edit: Eversion, found at http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=3302.0) I won't say anything more that might ruin what happens, except to say that during the course of this game it broke through the fourth wall, which actually rather scared me. Which got me thinking... there is a huge lack of truly scary games (or movies or TV shows) out there, at least that I've played. So now I wonder, if you were playing a horror game (or watching a horror movie or TV show, for that matter), what would be the scariest thing that could happen in the game? I don't mean the jump-out-and-scare-you sort of scare like Resident Evil or the like, I'm talking about the holy-crap-the-game-is-watching-me sort of scare like Eternal Darkness, where you actually start looking around the room to see if you're still safe. Any ideas? I'd like to know what the world (or at least the Escapist) thinks about this dilemma. What do you think?

edit: To be more clear, what I mean is, what experiences in a game would cause you to be genuinely scared, like the sort of terror that there's someone behind you. Think Eternal Darkness' insanity effects... bugs on the screen, footsteps and knocking that sound like they're coming from the house, things like that. I'm also trying to figure out anything new that would be like that or worse.

 

[PirateKing]

Ummm...
Not really scary, but kind of funny: Psycho Mantis from MGS. He reads your memory card and tells you what games you like to play. And demonstrates his telekinesis by making the controller vibrate.
"You like to play Zelda and Star Fox."

 

[SeaCalMaster]

Hm. Considering that I've never found any of the so-called "horror games" to be legitimately terrifying, my opinion probably isn't the best on this subject. However, it occurs to me that the best way to terrify someone is through sensory deprivation (e.g. rooms drenched in shadow), ambiguity (i.e. not knowing if there is someone in the room waiting to kill you), and unexpected, startling occurrences.

 

[Sewblon]

It could work very well but the kind of horror that you are talking about requires gradual buildup from atmosphere and pacing, not just 1 scary instant.

 

[Mstrswrd]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day. I won't say anything more that might ruin what happens, except to say that during the course of this game it broke through the fourth wall, which actually rather scared me. Which got me thinking... there is a huge lack of truly scary games (or movies or TV shows) out there, at least that I've played. So now I wonder, if you were playing a horror game (or watching a horror movie or TV show, for that matter), what would be the scariest thing that could happen in the game? I don't mean the jump-out-and-scare-you sort of scare like Resident Evil or the like, I'm talking about the holy-crap-the-game-is-watching-me sort of scare like Eternal Darkness, where you actually start looking around the room to see if you're still safe. Any ideas? I'd like to know what the world (or at least the Escapist) thinks about this dilemma. What do you think?

Are you talking of Eversion? That game is awesome.

As for truly scary things, I tend to shy away from horror, so can't help you.

 

[Rethala]

Are you talking of Eversion? That game is awesome.

As for truly scary things, I tend to shy away from horror, so can't help you.

Exactly! And I'm sorry that you don't do horror... personally I love them ^_^ They make me laugh!

 

[Fightgarr]

What about in Eternal Darkness when it "deletes your save game" or gives you a blue screen of death or pretends to mute your TV. Is that what you mean?
Or like when Psycho Mantis talks about your memory cards in MGS1?

If you're looking for an immersive and scary game? Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth. It fills my heart with terrified piss.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Er... the title of this thread sort of confused me, the entire point of a video game (usually) is to break the fourth wall. I say usually but I can't think of a single game that doesn't.

(Dons the Inigo voice) I do nah think it means what you think it means.

Breaking the forth wall is where characters on-screen directly address the audience, or reveal knowledge that they are part of a game/tv show/what have you.

Lots of games don't do this.

- J

 

[Flour]

Er... the title of this thread sort of confused me, the entire point of a video game (usually) is to break the fourth wall. I say usually but I can't think of a single game that doesn't.

However, a truely scary game? I think any game can be scary given the right environment. Turn off the lights, and play on a stormy night.

edit: Any horror game.

This [http://www.undefined.net/1/0/?strip=6] would be "breaking the fourth wall".

 

[tijuanatim]

There was a contest for one of the Saw movies on Youtube but for the life of me I cant find it again. Anyway it started out really creepy, he just addressed you as an individual as opposed to the populace. It creeped me out.

Anywho if a game could use a camera peripheral (SP?) to describe you in game that would mess with me a little.

 

[The_Deleted]

Fallout 3. The atmosphere eventually gets to you and plays tricks. Played in the dark on your own, the oppressive silence and trickle of enemies all wanting you blood gets...a bit much.

 

[coldfrog]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day.

Was it the one found here:
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=3420.0

The scariest thing I ever experienced in a game was in system shock 2. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that it was immediately after I entered a room. The thing that made it scary to me was the way I was drawn in so well to the setting and universe of the game that it frightened me at this point.

And that's probably been said before, but that's what is scary, atmosphere. Not people with big knives stabbing you.

 

[[Gavo]]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day.

Was it the one found here:
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=3420.0

The scariest thing I ever experienced in a game was in system shock 2. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that it was immediately after I entered a room. The thing that made it scary to me was the way I was drawn in so well to the setting and universe of the game that it frightened me at this point.

And that's probably been said before, but that's what is scary, atmosphere. Not people with big knives stabbing you.

Uuuuugh. That part was as scary as hell. I get the shivers from thinking it.

 

[Rethala]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day.

Was it the one found here:
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=3420.0

The scariest thing I ever experienced in a game was in system shock 2. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that it was immediately after I entered a room. The thing that made it scary to me was the way I was drawn in so well to the setting and universe of the game that it frightened me at this point.

And that's probably been said before, but that's what is scary, atmosphere. Not people with big knives stabbing you.

Sorry, I should have said what game I was talking about, I meant Eversion... right competition, wrong game ^_^; I actually didn't get that game to work on my crappy computer... without giving anything away, Eversion got to be because it starts out cute, but the atmosphere started building up to terror, and with my lights out and no other sounds, a particular thing that happened in level 6 completely shattered the fourth wall for me and actually made me look around the room and wonder if something was driving me mad. So yeah, atmosphere seems to be the biggest scare-factor. I'm wanting to design a game, see, but I want it to be completely scary and draw in the player to the point that they think they're losing their minds... so I suppose Lovecraftian would be the best setting. ^_^

 

[coldfrog]

I encountered a cute-appearing SMB-like platformer, based off of an idea in the Commonplace Book by Lovecraft t'other day.

Was it the one found here:
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=3420.0

The scariest thing I ever experienced in a game was in system shock 2. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that it was immediately after I entered a room. The thing that made it scary to me was the way I was drawn in so well to the setting and universe of the game that it frightened me at this point.

And that's probably been said before, but that's what is scary, atmosphere. Not people with big knives stabbing you.

Sorry, I should have said what game I was talking about, I meant Eversion... right competition, wrong game ^_^; I actually didn't get that game to work on my crappy computer... without giving anything away, Eversion got to be because it starts out cute, but the atmosphere started building up to terror, and with my lights out and no other sounds, a particular thing that happened in level 6 completely shattered the fourth wall for me and actually made me look around the room and wonder if something was driving me mad. So yeah, atmosphere seems to be the biggest scare-factor. I'm wanting to design a game, see, but I want it to be completely scary and draw in the player to the point that they think they're losing their minds... so I suppose Lovecraftian would be the best setting. ^_^

Oooh, I meant to play that one, but the site I get those games from fills up so fast that I forgot about it after a few days. I'll check it out later methinks.

 

[Rethala]

There was a contest for one of the Saw movies on Youtube but for the life of me I cant find it again. Anyway it started out really creepy, he just addressed you as an individual as opposed to the populace. It creeped me out.

Anywho if a game could use a camera peripheral (SP?) to describe you in game that would mess with me a little.

Ooooooh, that'd be a good idea... set it up somehow so that the player thinks that they're using the camera for cam chat or something...

 

[mark_n_b]

Er... the title of this thread sort of confused me, the entire point of a video game (usually) is to break the fourth wall. I say usually but I can't think of a single game that doesn't.

I'm not sure you understand what the fourth wall is. I cannot think of many games that do break the fourth wall, they do exist but no titles come ti mind immediately.

Breaking the fourth wall in the case of television or theater is acknowledging the cameraman or the audience, effectively communicating you are a player on a stage playing a role. Some theatrical productions "break the fourth wall" in theory by taking the action of stage or by playing the part of an actor speaking to an audience and using the theater's audience in that capacity. But that isn't really breaking the fourth wall, in that case the audience functions more as a prop and the admission that the audience exists is not an actual admission that the actor is playing a part.

The reason I use that example is because that is where your confusion over the fourth wall is coming into play. While the game acknowledges and communicates to the player (why you think most games break the fourth wall), it is not communicating that this is a video game and the player is distinct from the game-world in any way in doing that (which is why the fourth wall remains intact)

My first Bachelorate degree was in Drama so you can take this one to the bank, congratulations on learning something new today.

as for the OP... yeah, confusing thread title.

 

[Cheesus333]

Whoah. I downloaded Eversion a couple of days ago, but never played it. I played it just now and got to level 4, with the

Spoiler

Giant red hands coming out of the water.

That game is flipping messed up.

 

[Rethala]

Er... the title of this thread sort of confused me, the entire point of a video game (usually) is to break the fourth wall. I say usually but I can't think of a single game that doesn't.

I'm not sure you understand what the fourth wall is. I cannot think of many games that do break the fourth wall, they do exist but no titles come ti mind immediately.

Breaking the fourth wall in the case of television or theater is acknowledging the cameraman or the audience, effectively communicating you are a player on a stage playing a role. Some theatrical productions "break the fourth wall" in theory by taking the action of stage or by playing the part of an actor speaking to an audience and using the theater's audience in that capacity. But that isn't really breaking the fourth wall, in that case the audience functions more as a prop and the admission that the audience exists is not an actual admission that the actor is playing a part.

The reason I use that example is because that is where your confusion over the fourth wall is coming into play. While the game acknowledges and communicates to the player (why you think most games break the fourth wall), it is not communicating that this is a video game and the player is distinct from the game-world in any way in doing that (which is why the fourth wall remains intact)

My first Bachelorate degree was in Drama so you can take this one to the bank, congratulations on learning something new today.

as for the OP... yeah, confusing thread title.

The game I'm thinking of primarially that breaks the fourth wall is Eternal Darkness and its insanity effects, because they make you forget that it's only a game, or alternatively think that something is messing with you outside of the game. And do you think I should change the title? I didn't know I could do that...

 

[oAmadeuso]

The game that broke the 4th wall for me was "Project Zero"
I was playing late at night and drunk. About 30 mins in one of the ghosts went for me and just at the last moment all the power went off in my flat. Spent a good 5 mins trying to get my head together after that. Not touched it since... cant play it now, gives me the fear.