Retrospective: Alien Isolation

With the release of Resident Evil 3, I took some time to consider my experiences in horror gaming and contemplated knocking a post together about it. After some thought I decided that instead I would choose some standout people within the Virtual Photography community to share their favourite horror game instead. This is the first in a line of retrospectives from the VP community. Have a favourite classic, wish to share your memories? Contact me and I shall give you the platform to share your shots and tales here.

Today we have Rusty with his favourite horror game Alien Isolation. All of the atmospheric photographs throughout the article were taken by him, to see more of his work check out his Instagram page. 

I’m amazed it took until 2014 for us to get a survival horror game based on Ridley Scott’s classic 1979 sci-fi/horror film, Alien. After all, video games are the perfect medium for the genre, being more immersive than movies. Alien: Isolation not only manages to be a fantastic horror game, it also lovingly recreates, and adds too, the iconic retro-futuristic look of Alien.

The game takes place on Sevastopol Station, a world gone to hell due to the presence of something horrifying. We know that something is the Xenomorph and the game plays on this, expertly building suspense. When he finally shows up and begins hunting for you, the tension is immense. It remains that way for large sections of the game, although you do get moments of relative calm and safety that help avoid burnout.

None of this would work effectively if the A.I wasn’t up to scratch, as nothing kills tension like frustration. Luckily the Xeno comes across as intelligent, but beatable. If you’re careful, quiet and use your limited tools well, you can remain undetected and progress, in the knowledge that the alien won’t just pop-up out of thin air. The AI can be unpredictable too, which leads to some wonderful dynamic game play and unscripted jump scares.

I do have a couple of issues, the first being that no horror game has any business being this long. The section where you go for a space-walk certainly feels a lot like padding. Amanda Ripley is also a fairly bland protagonist, reacting to a series of increasingly horrifying events in a way that no rational person ever would.

It’s still a brilliantly tense horror experience, in a beautifully realised, lived in world, that’s dripping with atmosphere. I’d recommend it to any survival horror fan, but particularly those who love games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

You Are Not Alone

You Are Not Alone (YANA) is a new organisation that will be running a games themed event to support us all during COVID-19 and raise money for various charities. The company has been founded by Edge Esports co-founder Adam Whyte.

“People aren’t really talking enough about the mental impact that COVID-19 is going to have on our society,” Whyte told The Esports Observer. “We’re inherently social creatures. Taking away someone’s FIFA football and their NBA and their NCAA and Olympics and ComicCon makes it very difficult for us to find these social gatherings. You can’t congregate in the pubs. So I thought, why don’t we use gaming to bring people together?”

Their first fundraiser event will focus around livestreamed games and host competitions via live broadcast (Facebook Gaming and Twitch). Ubisoft, Barclays, Codemasters and Sports Interactive are supporting the event so far.

Just giving will be the method of donation and those that choose to donate will be able to select from a variety of charities. 

Already Barclays have confirmed they will be hosting a FIFA 20 tournament, while Ubisoft have announced events that revolve around a lot of their key franchises. 

The event will take place on the 2nd of May and they have said more details will be soon to follow.

It is nice to see these industry giants reaching out to entertain during a time of crisis. Hopefully more will follow suit and get involved. 

Rockstar Relief

Rockstar Announced that it is going to donate 5% of its in-game profits of GTA Online and Red Dead Online will be donated to the COVID-19 relief efforts. These funds will be used to support business that are struggling from the impact and also bolster local communities. 

Red Dead Online shot by me

GTA Online is still one of the most played games across all formats and boasts a huge player base, very much dedicated to keeping the game alive. While Red Dead Online hasn't reached anywhere near the same numbers, during lock down it is bound to see some more gunslingers arriving in the saloon. 

Gaming is Wonderful: Pikachu Saved my Life

The third Gaming is Wonderful post tells the story of how someone managed to use gaming to cope with the harsh turns life takes, isolation and self hate. Sometimes all someone needs is someone to talk, someone to listen. Think of those close to you, especially now most of us are in self isolation. Is there anyone you could be giving a phone call to? Your voice could benefit more than you know. Reach out, who knows what your simple conversation could do for someone.

Throughout this article the anonymous writer chose Stellaosityvp's work to be featured. I hope their words inspire you. Despite how dark life may seem, there is always light eventually at the end of the road. Stay safe x

Pokemon Yellow did indeed save my life. That’s a statement that I seldom think about but it’s true. At the time I was going through big life changes. I didn’t even really know what gaming was. Of course I knew what it was but I’d never done it. 

Control and Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

Through this time I was having severe identity issues. Having no family and no one to turn to I took to drink and temporary companionship as an escape. It was a brutal time. Time just wasn’t a thing anymore, the days blended together through insomnia and sleep. I’d get violent often with my roommate, as well as many others and eventually ended up in hospital having attacked someone and made an attempt on my life.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

It was at this time I was introduced to Pokémon. Under a form of house arrest I was trapped in my room for two weeks with little to do. My roommate gave me his (Nintendo) DS and Pokemon Yellow to play. I must have played that game at least 12 times from start to finish. People offered me more games, but I wasn’t interested. For me the chubby Pikachu was the only thing keeping me alive and sane.

 Horizon Zero Dawn and Assassin's Creed Odyssey by Stellaosityvp

As the weeks bled into months I eventually was social again. I quit the excessive drinking, stopped being so self destructive and managed to get a job. During this development I inherited more consoles and got into gaming more and more, to the point where I had a whole host of games and something of every genre.

Horizon Zero Dawn by Stellaosityvp

It kept me out of trouble and distracted me from many harsh realities until I was ready to deal with them. Now being a part of the virtual photography community fills me with an even greater joy. I feel I am no longer an island on my own, but a thriving individual that has a lot in common with others. It’s inspiring to be around so many like minded people and I hope that such inspiration never stops coming. So a big thank you to all of you out there!

Throughout the article I requested to have Stellaosityvp's work, as it always fills me with joy.

SINoALICE Coming to iOS and Android

SINoALICE is a role-playing game for iOS and Android which showcases darker versions of much loved fairytale characters such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. To fans this is not new news, as the game has been available in Japan since 2017! 

The rpg was created by the dream team of director Yoko Taro and the composer Keiichi Okabe, who had the sames roles on Nier. The game already has quite a following and if you are keen to get on board straight away, there is a pre-regestration link here, allowing you to get on board. The more people that sign up, the more rewards will be unlocked! 

SINoALICE players will be delighted to hear that the game will feature characters and nods to the Nier series of games, with a Nier: Replicant tie-in planned shortly after the global launch on the 1st of July 2020.

While there will not be any virtual photography here, the artwork is divine and most of all it looks like it could be a lot of light fun.

The Revolutionary Portrayal of Mental Health in Video Games: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Shot by Skydragengames

It isn't often a game gets under my skin, or a game relates to my situation in life. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice does both of these things.
Released in 2017, the game tells the tale of a Pict warrior on a journey, but also acts as a totally new and ground braking portrayal of mental illness. In Hellblade we take the role of Senua who embarks on a journey set in the 8th century. Vikings have ransacked her village and left little but ashen remains. She has lost everything and hopes to redeem the soul of her beloved Dillon by journeying to the Norse hell (Hellheim), to confront Hela. Throughout this journey we hear and see manifestations of Senua's self doubt, inner darkness and have to physically battle with her these inner demons.

For some this article may be old news, as the game has been out for a fair while. But for those of you that have yet to play the game, or never looked into the story of the games development, then perhaps I may enlighten and inspire you.

Shot by Rubi_wan

Here in the UK mental health and mental well being are all the rage currently. Workplaces are being forced to put in supportive measures to help their employees and promote better working environments. For most this is sadly nothing more than buzz words. Sadly for many companies a shift in hours and more of a work life balance is not feasible. With the economy being hit by Brexit and now Corona scares, there is certainly no time to implement anything.  But regardless of excuses, it really is time to bring mental health issues into the foreground, not only in all areas of the media but life in general. 

I myself am mentally disabled, I am bi-polar, have anxiety, paranoia and PTSD issues that developed from trauma. This is not being divulged in a plea for attention or kind comments, I am just stating the truth. In life I do not let these things define me. The NHS states that 1 in 4 of us have mental health issues at any one time. An issue that is severe and needs care to be dealt with. However if we look into mild mental health issues, I truly believe everyone is unwell to a degree. (This is a blog about virtual photography not a medical information guide but if you need help or advice then see the links beneath the article)

Shot by Skydragengames

Due to this I feel it is important that we see more real world portrayals of what people go through in life on a daily basis. We often see representations of physical disabilities in TV, film and gaming but seldom do we see a mentally unwell person that isn't a psychopath or a gibbering wreck. 

In making Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Ninja Theroy had a completely different protagonist in mind. As the game was being developed they not only had Paul Fletcher, a professor of health neuroscience from Cambridge University as a consultant, they also interviewed psychosis patients, on their experiences with audial and visual hallucinations. 

Shot by me

“So many people sent messages to the Ninja Theory team and to me commenting how they now had a physical, tangible slice of altered reality that they could share with people that they were desperate to communicate with." said Fletcher in a conversation with TIGS organiser Mark Chandler.

The company also received a grant from Welcome Trust, a healthcare company here in the United Kingdom. They were interested in depicting psychosis so that gamers could experience what it is like to live with such a condition (I would like to point out not all conditions where people suffer with hallucinations are a result of psychosis or of a psychotic disorder though). 

Shot by Rubi_wan

The journey that takes place is a wonderful experience. Being mentally ill myself I was concerned about playing the game. I tend to avoid films and games that feature negative portrayals of mental illness. On playing it I was relieved as it really is an accurate portrayal of some of what I have experienced in life. You are never sure if what our protagonist faces is real or just in her head and she shows a strength and perseverance despite her challenges, which I could relate to.
As a whole, the game is unique and delivers a tale that is a must play experience for any gamer. I hope more companies follow suit and try to put more love and care into their depictions of mental illness.

As always thank you to the virtual photographers who supplied the images to the article: Skydragengames and Rubi_wan 


If you are unwell Don't suffer in silence 
Below are some UK helplines but the advice is good for all.

NHS Mental Health Tips guide

Getting Help