Zombie studios, the developers of the free-to-play first person shooter Blacklight: Retribution, are preparing themselves for the upcoming release of the indie horror game Daylight. The developers of Daylight chose procedural generation as the base for their game. This developmental choice roused my curiosity, and I was able to gain some answers to this and other questions courtesy of Zombie Studios.
K.K.: Why procedural generation? Did you think the unpredictability would add to the horror atmosphere?
Zombie Studios: “We wanted a game that would truly be an experience, and working with Unreal Engine 4 gave us the opportunity to create something really unique with the procedural generation. As a player, never knowing what will happen gives you a really fun (and really creepy) game experience, and that is what we wanted. Procedural generation is what makes Daylight so different, because you are not able to map out the path in your head, as it won’t make sense the next time you play.
To be quite honest, I am rather excited about a situation in which the path ahead will appear unclear. We are living in an age where linear gameplay doesn’t quite hold the appeal that it did in the past. Moving from point A to point B is not quite as exciting as detouring through point V and backtracking through point P.
K.K.: I hear that you are targeting 1080p on Playstation 4. Is this true?
Zombie Studios: “It is our target, yes.”
It seems Daylight aims to take full advantage of the graphic prowess of the Playstation 4. In a game that plays on the dependence on light, there are some interesting things that Daylight should be able to accomplish in 1080p.
K.K.: I’ve gone over the given plot information concerning a woman in an abandoned hospital. Is there any other relevant information concerning the plot that you feel comfortable giving to gamers before the release?
Zombie Studios: “Creating a great game is also about creating a great story. Daylight is a psychological horror game and it really gets into your head and makes you feel what the main character is feeling throughout the experience. Something has happened here, and it’s your job to put the pieces of the story together as you go, so be prepared to get involved!”
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a good mystery. I’m going to have fun piecing this one together. Couple that with the psychological horror element, and the horror film fan in me is teeming with excitement!
K.K.: From what I’ve seen, there isn’t a large focus on combat. Was that intentional?
Zombie Studios: “Yes. In our opinion, you don’t necessarily need to include combat to make a scary game. So much of the reason behind “why” people get scared is all in their head, a noise they heard, or something they think they saw down the hall. There is a lot of amazing tension in Daylight, because you can never be too sure about what’s lurking around the corner.”
I certainly agree that one experiences more fear in a situation where control is fleeting. I would be more prone to quiver and shake without some sort of intimidating weaponry. There are plenty of games that didn’t focus heavily and combat, and yet still found a following. I don’t believe Daylight will be any different. This is going to be a very interesting gaming experience.
K.K.: Why the name Zombie Studios?
Zombie Studios: “Zombie is celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year, so back when the Studio started in 1994, video games obviously weren’t the behemoth’s they are today. The name is very tongue in cheek, referencing the old saying “video games will turn kids into Zombies”. Now with the launch of Daylight, we kind of hope that’ll be true.”
Happy 20th Anniversary to Zombie Studios! 20 years in this industry is definitely something to be proud of. And if Daylight is gearing up to be every bit as scary as Zombie Studios is touting it to be, I will be doing far too much moving and squealing to be considered a zombie. Best for me to play this one with the light on, I think.
I send a big thank you to Zombie Studios for answering all of my questions in a timely manner. I look forward to experiencing Daylight, and I wish you luck with the upcoming release! Keep a lookout here for more news concerning Zombie Studios’ Daylight.