DreadOut
Developer(s)Digital Happiness
Publisher(s)Digital Happiness
Director(s)Vadi Vanadi
Producer(s)Rachmad Imron
Sukmadi Rafiuddin
Dai Daks
Designer(s)Rendy Basuki
Composer(s)Adhit Android
KOIL
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X[1]
ReleaseWindows
15 May 2014[2]
Linux, OS X
20 August 2014[3]
Genre(s)Survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player

DreadOut is a survival horror video game from independent developer Digital Happiness for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and OS X. A port for PlayStation 4 was announced but never released.[4][5] The story is about a group of high school students in Indonesia who come across an old abandoned town. There they are confronted with ghosts and paranormal activities, and one of the students, the protagonist Linda, begins to uncover the secrets of the town and its surrounding area. A sequel, titled DreadOut 2, released for Microsoft Windows in February 2020 and was subsequently ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in July 2022.[6] A Nintendo Switch port of the sequel is set for a January 2024 release.[7]

Gameplay

DreadOut is a third-person horror game that uses mechanics similar to those found in the Fatal Frame series. The player uses modern gadgets, such as her smartphone and a digital camera, to interact with (or fend off) various kinds of Indonesian mythical ghosts and to help her solve various puzzles. When Linda dies in the game, she awakens in Limbo, depicted as darkness surrounded by candles with a bright light in the distance. By running towards the light, Linda will come back to life.[8] However, subsequent deaths will push the light further and further away from Linda, unless she manages to find three mystical items to keep the light closer to her.

The game features both third and first-person control schemes, with the player navigating environments with a standard over-the-shoulder perspective. If the player decides to use their digital camera to photograph something, they enter a first-person perspective to see through Linda's equipped camera. Any ghosts that are photographed or interacted with in any way will be recorded in a "Ghostpedia" in Linda's notebook. Linda can also find articles and journal entries that describe much of the game's backstory. A preview video showed a tablet version of the game, where the player controls Linda via the touch screen.[9]

Plot

When a group of senior high school students go astray from their vacation trip in Indonesia, they discover an old deserted town. They soon realize that something sinister is about to happen. Linda Meilinda realises something mystical is happening to her. She gains a spiritual power that could save her and her friends from the unknown.[10][11][12]

Development

Indonesian developer Digital Happiness worked on the game using a team of around 20 people.[13] After releasing a demo, they sought a crowd sourcing campaign via Indiegogo.[14] The campaign asked for US$25,000 and ended with US$29,067. They needed crowd sourcing since the game industry in Indonesia is small and focuses mostly on social or mobile games and were unable to find funding. Digital Happiness founder Rachmad Imron stated: "We have a lot of good human resources but most of them went abroad because there's no game industry in Indonesia, but we hope this will change soon."[13]

Reception

DreadOut received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[15]

Film adaptation

In 2018, Indonesian production company GoodHouse announced a film adaption of Dreadout. The film was released in Indonesia on 3 January 2019.[18] The film is directed by Kimo Stamboel. The film cast included Caitlin Halderman, Jefri Nichol, Marsha Aruan, Ciccio Manassero, Susan Sameh, and Irsyadillah.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview with the creators of DreadOut". SurvivalHorrorOnline.com. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Lee, Alice (5 May 2014). "Horror Game Dreadout Gets Release Date". VirtualCrunch. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Indonesian voice, 32 bit, mac, linux, steam os now available". Twitter. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Indie Horror Title "DreadOut" Breathes Life Into the Genre". All That's Epic. 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  5. ↑ http://thegamesdb.net/search/?string=dreadout&function=Search%5B%5D
  6. ↑ "DreadOut 2 coming to Xbox Series and Xbox One on July 15, PS5 and PS4 on July 20". Gematsu. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "DreadOut 2 coming to Switch on January 18, 2024". Gematsu. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Another take on horror:DreadOut". BeefJack. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dreadout – Eye On". LupoEntertainment. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "[Indie Horror Spotlight] 'DreadOut' Has A Very Persistent Mosquito". Bloody Disgusting. 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Experience The Indonesian Horror". DreadOut. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2013. When a group of high school students stray from their vacation trip, they discover an old deserted town. They begin to realize that something sinister is happening as soon as they enter the town. Linda, as the main protagonist, feels the stirrings of a strange and mystical power within herself. This spiritual power just might be the only way to save herself and her friends from an unknown evil.
    Linda has lots of modern gadgets at her disposal[,] including smartphones, digital cameras, and digital video cameras. With these instruments[,] she can interact with and capture the various kinds of unique South[e]ast Asian [g]hosts and also solve the many varied puzzles of the deserted town[.]
  12. ↑ "Linda Meilinda". DreadOut. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Indonesia May Be Developing the Next Great Horror Game". May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "Highly Anticipated Indonesian Horror Game DreadOut Seeks Help on Indiegogo and Steam". sg.finance.yahoo.com. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  15. 1 2 "DreadOut for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Review: DreadOut – Act 1 ‹ Hardcore Gamer". 28 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  17. ↑ Kollar, Philip (21 May 2014). "DreadOut review: old ghosts". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Coming soon in January, 'DreadOut' longs for global fame". The Jakarta Post. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
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