Dear Esther releases

[PeeKnuckle]

http://store.steampowered.com/app/203810/

Dear Esther is a ghost story, told using first-person gaming technologies. Rather than traditional game-play the focus here is on exploration, uncovering the mystery of the island, of who you are and why you are here. Fragments of story are randomly uncovered when exploring the various locations of the island, making every each journey a unique experience. Dear Esther features a stunning, specially commissioned soundtrack from Jessica Curry.

Forget the normal rules of play; if nothing seems real here, it’s because it may just be all a delusion. What is the significance of the aerial – What happened on the motorway – is the island real or imagined – who is Esther and why has she chosen to summon you here? The answers are out there, on the lost beach and the tunnels under the island. Or then again, they may just not be, after all…

Built in the Source engine and originally released in 2008 as a mod for Half Life 2, Dear Esther quickly established itself as an award-winning, critically acclaimed experimental first-person game. It abandons all traditional game play, leaving only a rich world soaked in atmosphere, and an abstract, poetic story to explore.

[PaNfOoT]

I actually just played the original mod yesterday, and I really liked it, but at 10 bucks its kind of a hard sell.

[Dateranoth]

Purchased and one to give away. Will stream it tonight.

[PeeKnuckle]

Awesome!

[Dateranoth]

I know this type of game isn't for everyone, but it's worth the ten bucks they are asking.

It's maybe an hour and a half if you stretch it out, but I played it 4 times last night. Took something different from it each time. Such captivating music and visuals. Not to mention the story.

If you aren't willing to drop ten bucks then look for the older free mod and give it a play. Then keep an eye on steam and grab this when it goes on sale.

There has been argument after argument about games as a form of art, but I challenge anyone to play this and tell me it isn't.

[PeeKnuckle]

Funny you mention the videogames/art debate. I watched a couple of video game developers on Twitter today, bitching about how Dear Esther is NOT a game. They argued that the whole 'game' could have been done in a book, movie or any other media.

These were the same types of people who were upset when Roger Ebert made that comment on how games could never be art. This game is without a doubt, art, and these chuckleheads are going to argue the point now. It's comical and sad.

[Dateranoth]

I don't think it's worth making a comment on, but I will anyway.

They are just the asses of the world who want people to look at them.

Main Entry: video game

Function: noun

Date: 1973

: an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action

Main Entry: game

Pronunciation: \ˈgām\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gamen; akin to Old High German gaman amusement

Date: before 12th century

1 a (1) : activity engaged in for diversion or amusement

Main Entry: art

Pronunciation: \ˈärt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin art-, ars — more at arm

Date: 13th century

4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : fine arts (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art

Unless we are to start ignoring the dictionary I believe that covers it pretty well.

[PeeKnuckle]

Perfection.