Definition of a Ghuest

by sand-gardeners

co-authored: @sam-machell, @zephyrraine

Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.78

Fun★★★★★★★★★★2.98

Innovation★★★★★★★★★★3.69

Theme★★★★★★★★★★4.00

Audio★★★★★★★★★★3.67

Humor★★★★★★★★★★2.64

Mood★★★★★★★★★★4.50

Our submission for the jam is Definition of a Ghuest!

It’s a game about a film about an art piece about a hotel. Here’s the in-fiction summary:

We interpreted the theme as a transfer of one medium into another… i.e. an installation piece remade as a documentary, or a film being viewed within a video game. What is gained and what is lost when two incompatible mediums collide?

The 3D models are almost entirely pre-made assets from the Unity store as we wanted the spaces to feel used and second hand and like they’ve been assembled from old objects.

And finally, not to seem too defensive or anything, this game is another step in our continued exploration of player agency. We’re not interested in creating stories that revolve around the player’s actions, and like to confront players with situations that are out of their control. For both political and artistic reasons… (But yeah lol that’s probably enough from us… We hope you enjoy it!)

Genres: interactive fiction

Comments24

Desdemone24 Apr 2018, 10:51

I won't lie, I've been hyping myself (can one say that in English ?!) since the day you said you were in. And I'm not disappointed. You managed to convey a very peculiar feeling I can't quite grasp, both eerie and familiar, that I really enjoy. That's what I liked about your last submission too, the way you manage to underline merging feelings that one can easily relate to. The idea of the collision between multiple medias is an interesting way to subvert the theme in my opinion. Congratulations for your amazing work :) !

fashionbatman24 Apr 2018, 19:06

Wow, that was unsettling, funny and a really interesting take on the theme. A really unique entry. Great job!

Plastacier24 Apr 2018, 21:26

Hey ! Great job guys, as usual 👍

I really enjoyed this experience of double dialogue. The ambiance is in da place.
I don't want to spoil, but I "restarted" the game many times to understand.
Don't stop to making games 😉

Gaming Night25 Apr 2018, 13:55

Really nice game dude, nice interpretation of the theme ;)

Kevar25 Apr 2018, 19:09

Hey, quite a Twin Peaks mood here, good job and nice twist on the theme (even if I don't think a medium is a genre, but I'm nitpicking here :p).

Togis26 Apr 2018, 02:35

I played this game on stream last night, here is the VOD:

Thanks for making this game!

Issac27 Apr 2018, 01:01

Best interpretation of the theme I've seen yet. Eerie and thoughtful.

Talonos27 Apr 2018, 02:40

Hey glad I was able to play this for you live on stream! I like the custom shader with the outline :)

zotapianola27 Apr 2018, 17:11

WOW. What a claustrophobic experience. I loved this game as an artistic proposal. The whole experience was super weird and uncomfortable. Although I don't like feeling like that at all, like trying to run away from something, rarely a game confronts you with yourself like this, like how it feels to read a book, to be in your thoughts, to participate in the plot and to feel immersed and compromised. Congratulations. This is one of the Ludum Dare experiences I'll treasure forever and I'd love to see more from this studio.
Also, you made an excellent use of the theme.

Sam Machell27 Apr 2018, 18:11

@zotapianola wow thank you so much! never felt so emotional reading feedback, it really means a lot. please feel free to check out our other games on our itch page! everything we make has the same kind of atmosphere and ideas, and we're working on a bigger project in the future that you may also be interested in. but seriously thank you!

Rebecca Kremer27 Apr 2018, 19:14

Extremely well done and very thoughtful use of theme. This sort of experience really resonates with me and you guys handled it perfectly. The way the windows and mirrors were done was so unnerving and you really managed to make me homesick, sitting right here in my apartment.
Also now i"m craving pizza.

Raphiell28 Apr 2018, 02:09

Very interesting. One game feature I would suggest is having your actions affect the room. Just small things like turning on the light, or adding a cup with your toothbrush in it to the room.

I enjoyed it, well done!

David Wallett28 Apr 2018, 13:47

It felt like a text adventure where I could explore the scene. This, with the audio, created an eerie atmosphere. Especially when the lights went out.

Great job

Hanra28 Apr 2018, 14:06

This is a really really interesting gaming experience. Thank you for making this

FreypodGames28 Apr 2018, 14:41

I'm to the part where you get sucked into the movie, (The wireframe thing) is there an ending? Or does it just loop??

randomhuman28 Apr 2018, 14:43

In terms of game genres I guess you've combined a visual novel with a walking simulator, or perhaps TWO visual novels with a walking simulator, as well as situating one of narratives as a movie within the game, so that is really quite interesting. My main criticism would be that the text moves a bit slowly for me, but perhaps that contributes to the sense of ennui and impotent frustration that the gameplay evokes. It might actually be nice if the choices in the "movie" controlled the camera and took you where they described. As it was, I just walked around the room a bit and then stopped and just did the text stuff. Overall a really successful experimental mood piece. Good work!

silkworm_sweatshop28 Apr 2018, 14:46

Interesting take on the theme! Not sure if how much more there is to it or if you ever find out more about the footprint (I doubt it). As someone suggested, I think adding small changes to the room depending on your choices (like a chocolate bar on the pillow) would make it more interesting. Right now there is not really a point in continuing to look around the room after the first pass. Definitely a unique entry and I like the dialogue!

Von Vista28 Apr 2018, 14:46

The best game I have played in terms of mood so far, great job on the setting, music, and the graphics as well, although I am not a fan of visual novels and text-adventures, I still find this interesting and worth-while.
A very good job guys!

tigerj28 Apr 2018, 15:58

Feedback in the stream here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/255427387?t=01h00m31s
Really unique entry I enjoyed it!

Archimagus29 Apr 2018, 02:30

This game looks great, and the mood is really good. I wouldn't exactly call it fun, but I don't know that is what you are going fore here. Compelling yes, but I can't really say fun.

benbusby29 Apr 2018, 22:51

I really like this interpretation of the theme, that's really creative. I definitely felt uneasy playing it, which is what I like in most of the games I play. The wireframe part of the game was really creepy. Well done to all involved!

Rodrigo Denúbila1 May 2018, 22:37

Really great take on the theme! The dialogs are very interesting and you guys did a really good job in the mood. Graphics are really good too and the game seems polished. Fantastic entry!

Please, take some time to play my game too: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/confessional

Jupiter_Hadley5 May 2018, 12:00

Really interesting game, as always! I included it in my Ludum Dare 41 compilation video series, if you’d like to take a look. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=157gFcDgY28

cristiano.m.garcia7 May 2018, 01:19

Good job! Cool game!

I left my rating of your game, if you can leave your feedback in our game, Witch's Escape.

I hope you continue with the project.

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/witchs-escape