[dropcap size=big]K[/dropcap]ickstarter is like a magnet for horror games, it seems there’s a new one popping up every day.  Given the constant flow of options, it takes quite a bit for new horror projects to stand out from the pack.  That’s something that Dark Deception has done; just ask Markiplier and PewDiePie, both of whom have favorably covered the game in the past.  To learn more about the disturbing nightmare that is Dark Deception I sent some questions off to man in charge, Vince Livings, for some additional details.

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Cliqist : Tell us a little about yourself?

Vince Livings : My name is Vince Livings and I’m CEO of Glowstick Games. I’m also the art guy and handle all of the doodling. I’ve been in the game industry for a number of years and have spent time working with companies such as EA, Zynga, Microsoft, Riot Games, etc.

Cliqist : Tell us a little about Glowstick game Studio, what’s the story behind that name?

Vince Livings : Glowstick Games is a name that Mark wanted to use for a game studio for a long time. I had no objections and it happened to be available, so we went with it. Plus, if we succeed, it will make for some fun convention parties later :).

Cliqist : Can you explain Dark Deception for those unfamiliar with the game?

Vince Livings : The easiest way to sum it up is VR first person horror Pac-Man. A truly immersive horror experience with an excellent story!

Cliqist : Welcome back to crowdfunding!  How has Dark Deception progressed since your last campaign?

Vince Livings : Dark Deception has progressed a lot since then. The gameplay and visuals have received a complete overhaul. The game now looks a lot better and offers procedural levels. There are a number of new mechanics as well.

Cliqist : The previous Dark Deception project had a funding goal of $50000 while the current one is asking for $15000, what are reasons behind this change?

Vince Livings : We were able to raise some funding through alternate means since then, but not enough to cover the entire development cost of the game. Fans have requested some very worthwhile features (like multiplayer and new game+) that we don’t have the money for, but would love to include.

 

Cliqist : What inspired Glowstick to make Dark Deception?

Vince Livings : Originally, we intended to make Dark Deception a mobile horror game. It was a more realistic approach for a 2 man team. We wanted to improve on classic gameplay mechanics from older games and it didn’t take long for Pac-Man to enter the discussion. However, after using the Oculus Rift for the first time, we decided that we needed to up our game (a lot) and support VR. Thus, the current version of Dark Deception was born.

 

Cliqist : What kind of game mechanics will be used in Dark Deception?

Vince Livings : Dark Deception is a maze runner that features combat, rpg elements, traps, story-driven gameplay, and procedural levels.

 

Cliqist : What kind of difficulty level can gamers expect in Dark Deception, would there be settings for both casual and hardcore gamers?

Vince Livings : We are still working on this. In the current build, our difficulty level is adjustable, but not in the traditional sense. We allow players to adjust the fog in each level. With the fog maxed out, you can see about 4 feet in front of you and have far less time to react. It makes the game even more frightening. It also makes the game insanely difficult for those that like a challenge. We are planning to have traditional difficulty settings as well.

 

Cliqist : What kind of game-engine will you be using for Dark Deception?

Vince Livings : We are building Dark Deception in Unity.

 

Cliqist : What kind of game length has Glowstick planned for Dark Deception?

Vince Livings : Dark Deception’s length is comparable to most other horror games, 10-20 hrs. The levels are procedural, so you can play them as many times as you want to unlock bonus material. If our KS succeeds, there will also be a New Game+ mode that will offer new levels.

Cliqist : Why should people back Dark Deception Kickstarter?

Vince Livings : The market is saturated with slow-paced Slender Man style horror games that just throw players in the dark with a flashlight. Dark Deception is fast paced and intense. The game is scary, but not so scary that people are too afraid to play it. The game is focused more on being fun. It offers a very different horror experience and we are optimistic that is something that gamers of all ages want and will support. We also wanted Dark Deception to be super immersive for players, so we built it from the ground up to work really well with VR devices. Hopefully, what we have shown so far will convince backers of our commitment to delivering a high quality horror experience.

Cliqist : Can you close us out with a Dark Deception related haiku?

Vince Livings : I’m not exactly a haiku master, but here  goes…

In dark mazes

monsters attack in rage

collect the shards or die

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Thanks to Vince for taking the time to answer my questions!  If you’d like to learn more about Dark Deception be sure to check out its Kickstarter campaign before it ends on January 31st.