Playing Dread

After a way-too-long hiatus, Playing Dread is back, and we're looking at a big one for our tenth episode. Just in time (and by that, I mean 3-months after the fact) for DooM: The Dark Ages, we look at the original, 1992 release of DooM. We discuss its history, its place as a horror-action game, and Lamont's aversion to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. There's something for everyone, really!

We also talk so much about Wolfenstein 3D, this may as well be considered our episode of Wolfenstein.

Super Mario Bros. 3 PC Demo (Ideas from the Deep):

https://archive.org/details/vimeo-148909578

Stop Skeletons from Fighting & DooM Ports:

https://youtu.be/9lERDl_czTM?si=hrOY0qMIJlX6SMrc

Masters of DooM on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Doom-Created-Transformed-Culture/dp/0812972155

DooM Guy on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Doom-Guy-Life-First-Person/dp/141975811X

Action Button Reviews DooM (Tim Rogers):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38zduHkwGcc

John Romero is So Sorry About Trying to Make You His Bitch (Briash Ashcraft for Kotaku):

https://kotaku.com/john-romero-is-so-sorry-about-trying-to-make-you-his-bi-5541406

John Romero's About to Hope You're Doing Well (Matthew Kumar):

https://bsky.app/profile/mathewkumar.com/post/3ljbm2mngxc2d

Doom: A Classic Game Post-Mortem (John Romero for GDC):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnkCujnYNSo

The Romero/Petersen Feud on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Civvie11/comments/1j0lo80/the_sandyromero_hatemance_continues/

Lamont and Adrian head into uncharted territory; the United Kingdom! But also indie games, new games... so many firsts! Hollowbody is a PS2 throwback with its own identity and actually made by a solo developer. But how does it hold up in the estimations of our hosts?

Notes & Sources

Hollowbody - Launch Trailer

https://youtu.be/tFAld1NiYkY?si=iobpmuhAT_bQZ_Rp

Hollowbody - Devlog

https://youtu.be/OGgEWCu2ijU?si=2HXRqb4j9nLFFyIx

Indies in Depth - Interview w/ Nathan Hamley

https://youtu.be/YKfVUhGJ-FU?si=I2itxB8FLiUa7otZ

For our first (and only?) holiday episode, we look at Squaresoft's foray into the horror genre, Parasite Eve! Lamont and Adrian talk about having a nice time at the opera, untangle the connection between the game and its original source material, struggle to comprehend the junk science nessecary to understanding the game's plot and do a deep dive into the evolution (heh) of Square's approach to battle systems. Is there a direct line between Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? Does posing the question itself automatically answer the question? You tell me! Notes and References: Parasite Eve (Novel) https://a.co/d/20GK6ba Parasite Eve (Film) https://archive.org/details/ParasiteEve

We forgot to mention directily in the podcast, but big shout out to I Finished a Video Game for their exhaustive (as much is available on the internet anyway) research: https://youtu.be/feCqT1S5pxI?si=J-dkAwJyPc4vzRfp The shot of the sewers we kept mentioning: And, of course... Ghostbusters 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.36a9f72d-a523-0e10-9741-fe2e7a3a121c?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb

We've delayed the inevitable long enough! Lamont and Adrian shine their pocket flashlights onto the foggy streets of the original Silent Hill (and no other Silent Hill game)! From point lights to Stephen King, from defending tank controls to arguing the semantics of survival horror to horror adventure, will the unspeakable horrors kill them first, or the scariest thing of all: the Silent Hill fanbase? All this and more in the latest Playing Dread!

References and Notes:

TheGamingMuse videos on Silent Hill 1:

https://youtu.be/uDYPLdu2FQk?si=mIS7hKY4dgVdcMz9

https://youtu.be/T48rTsUlYzk?si=PvjzsT4r_gQe8OmZ

TheGamingMuse book 'Fear for the Flesh: The Story and Symbolism of Silent Hill' on itch.io:

https://thegamingmuse.itch.io/fear-for-the-flesh-the-symbolism-of-silent-hill-1999

TheGamingMuse Book 'History of Silent Hill Part 1' on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/thegamingmuse/shop/history-of-silent-hill-part-one-kcet-sh1-71996?source=storefront

Sphere Hunter Suzy, 'Silent Hill'

https://youtu.be/UgXMlO2yXg0?si=-MpPe7DvK-UpjPd-

Fighting for Modern Japan: The University Protests of 1968-1969, Kahan, Kim

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/japan-university-protests-1968/

Japanese Religions and the Global Occult: An Introduction, Gaitanidis, Ioannia, Stein, Justin

https://eanase.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_01-Gaitanidis-Stein_Introduction.pdf

Silent Hill Plot Guide, President Evil/Birlew, Dan

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/198641-silent-hill/faqs/4180

Ben Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, yo. Or so I've been told. I actually haven't watched it.

Guest host Steve Tramer joins Lamont and Adrian to cover wars and smoosh pies in zombie faces! Capcom's Dead Rising boasted freedom and more zombies held on screen than any other game, but our panel discusses all of the other things that made it special in 2006; from game engines to Breath of Fire, from escort missions to the politics surrounding obesity and American interventionalism, we dug deep into the heart of Williamette Shopping Mall and got to try on some pretty slick looking outfits along the way.

Sources and relevant links:

I'm Mixed on the Dead Rising Remaster - Suzy the Sphere Hunter https://youtu.be/CAw99FnDEGI?si=5nOZSbi_fSPBZvBO

Dead Rising review (2006) - IGN https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/07/dead-rising-review-2

Dead Rising review (2006) - EuroGamer https://www.eurogamer.net/fi2-deadrising-x360

Dead Rising Xbox 360 Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVSykNCzZz0

List of MT Framework Games - Giant Bomb https://www.giantbomb.com/mt-framework/3015-2059/games/

Open Conference on the RE Engine (2023) - Capcom https://www.capcom-games.com/coc/2023/en/

On beef eating as a trending topic in 2006 - NPR https://www.npr.org/2024/09/14/nx-s1-5003066/beef-climate-change-american-men-masculinity

Robin, A Bobbin - Mama Lisa's World of Children and International Culture https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1630

This podcast was not recorded, approved or licensed by the owners or creators of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Deadᵗᵐ.

On this episode: Lamont and Adrian discuss violent video games, generational warfare, political propaganda and hegemonic attitudes of gender/sexuality/race as depicted in mainstream media, the nature of art itself, and more. Oh, and Harvester. We also talk about Harvester.

Hosted by Adrian Sandoval & Lamont Williams

Playing Dread is a Q27 Media Production, and a member of the New Jersey Horror Collective. New episodes every second wednesday of the month.

Find our socials: www.playingdread.com

All music in this episode used under a creative commons license.

Sources, references and more:

Save Your Game Ep. 18: Duck Detective and Harvester w/ PushingUpRoses and Matt Aukamp:

https://zencastr.com/z/jHA2YyD8

Game Grumps Harvester playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp1pHyP9h4&list=PLRQGRBgN_Enpcr5DxbIhwHt3A5_Nlg9SH

Harvester Dev interview/Dread XP:

https://www.dreadxp.com/interview/youre-still-a-kidder-steve-michael-napadano-looks-back-on-harvester-at-26/

Harvester dev interview/Austin Gilbert:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/715113205773615/

The full 1993 video game violence hearing/CSpan:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?52848-1/video-game-violence

The Digital Antiquarian Analysis of the Senate Hearings:

https://www.filfre.net/2021/04/the-ratings-game-part-1-a-likely-and-an-unlikely-suspect/

That Mortal Kombat Ad:

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/1d88omy/so_real_it_hurts_mortal_kombat_arcade_print_ad/

Wikipedia page for Ken Park (Sorry for what you're about to read - Adrian):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Park

Sega Genesis 'Bully' Ad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vjv5LKrOq8&pp=ygUVc2VnYSBidWxseSBjb21tZXJjaWFs

Actual bullying PSA for comparison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_j5TZZnxJE

Troma Entertainment/Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troma_Entertainment

Dartmouth Libraries - Exploitation Films explainer:

https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/filmgenres/exploitationfilms

I realized I had the opportunity to coin the phrase 'pretensploitation' in this episode when discussing Ken Park and Harvester and missed my window. Dang it.

Alan.... WAKE!

Our July episode looks at Remedy's first foray into horror (kinda), Alan Wake! We dive into Remedy's fascination with live-action sequences, it's change from an open world adventure game into a prestige TV-structured linear shooter, it's release against Red Dead Redemption and more!

Sources & References:

Alan Wake Originally an Open World Game:

https://screenrant.com/alan-wake-open-world-concept/

ProZD skit - cutscenes that keep the stupid clothes you put on your character:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxPK9utUq5o

IGN Review - Max Payne GBA:

https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/18/max-payne

How to Find Hideo Kojima in Control:

https://www.pcgamesn.com/control/hideo-kojima

Alan Wake: American Nightmare Mr. Scratch playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SxJaxpW3Hs&list=PLcnL-G24_MP0XMBJy-HBkClK2ZJOINop1

Sam Lake's Announcement to Fans (Alan Wake 2 cancellation announcement)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms7sAv_DnMc&t=112s&pp=ygUUU2FtIExha2UgQWxhbiBXYWtlIDI%3D

13 Minutes of Alan Wake 2 prototype Gameplay (Polygon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQRUx-w6t4s&pp=ygUVQWxhbiBXYWtlIDIgcHJvdG90eXBl

With a remastered edition for PC and the PlayStation 5 recently announced and a live-action film on the way, we dive into Supermassive Games' first (but certainly not last) foray into the horror genre, Until Dawn! Along the way we quickly run down the history of the adventure game genre, pit teen slashers against creature features, struggle to pronounce Hayden Pantiere's last name, and discuss the merits of truly 'infinite' branching stories. Oh and we talk about the game some too. Which character did both Lamont and Adrian try to kill in their playthrough? Find out in this month's Playing Dread!

SOURCES

Until Dead Bonus Content documentary material

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOTffpL7TD8&list=PLg5k9t7fx-vX3xyXp-xR2dkMpnTKabSGa

How Until Dawn Changed from a Playstation Move Title into a Horror Classic

https://www.thegamer.com/until-dawn-playstation-move-ps4/

Choose your own Adventure Books

https://www.cyoa.com/

The Rise and Fall of Telltale Games

https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2019/04/09/the-rise-and-fall-of-telltale-games

Until Dawn Remastered State of Play Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ownf9ZasITA&pp=ygUdVW50aWwgRGF3biBSZW1hc3RlcmVkIHRyYWlsZXI%3D

Watch Larry Fesenden's 'Wendigo' on Tubi:

https://tubitv.com/movies/501158/wendigo

Our second episode is a mega-sized look at Clock Tower, Clock Tower 2 and Clock Tower: Ghosthead, AKA Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within! Adrian gushes endlessly about the first game, Lamont flexes his manga knowledge, and both of us struggle over the confusing naming conventions between the Japanese releases and the American ones. Also; more talk on Giallo horror, the influence of western mysticism in Japanese media and much more!

Sources and References

Polygon article "What is Giallo, Really?" (Noel Murray)

https://www.polygon.com/22732575/giallo-movies-explained

GamesRader+ Interview with Hifumi Kono (Sara Elam)

https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-clock-tower-1995-snes/

The Untold History of Japanese Video Game Developers Vol. 2. (John Szczepaniak)

https://www.amazon.com/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers/dp/1518655319

The Rise and Fall of the Clock Tower Series (tangomushi)

https://youtu.be/8TS-tlkKmI4?si=ExnusMAmUZH5X1Pc

Clock Tower: Official Reveal Trailer (Limited Run Games)

https://youtu.be/3gfUIOkvZYs?si=MQmkTGzPR5gYMez8

Clock Tower: Ghosthead VS The Struggle Within (WaddleBih)

https://youtu.be/SrFWrF4-XXA?si=WHIafkOlGr-u4yie

Clock Tower 2: Is It Really THAT Bad? (Stop Skeletons from Fighting)

https://youtu.be/gsC1Khb-ro4?si=vrt63ajchI8rPWBf

TheGamingMuse's video on the influence of Western Occult & mysticism seems to not be up any more but he still has an amazing YouTube channel you should check out, so here's his video on Clock Tower 3:

https://youtu.be/t1MiWyLCHDU?si=wik5qIdZVAiwHtNy

Clock Tower: The First Fear Death Scenes (Liam Moore)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iY_5IuItE8&pp=ygUXQ2xvY2sgVG93ZXIgRGVhdGhzY2VuZXM%3D

Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within Character Bios

https://disquietedpalefish.tumblr.com/post/184214029480/clock-tower-ii-the-struggle-within-bios-28

Clock Tower 2: Ghosthead Fan Translation

https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7591/

"The Burning" 1984 Movie Wikipedia Entry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burning_(1981_film)

"Phenomena" 1985 Movie Wikipedia Entry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomena_(film)

"Left Hand of God-Right Hand of Devil" Manga on GoodReads

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25395241

Bloomberg (paywall) "X-Files Supernatural Hold on Japan" (Edith Hill Updike)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1995-11-26/x-files-supernatural-hold-on-japan?embedded-checkout=true

Helen Maxwell & Gillian Anderson

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M9U7SZXho9bZQZ0ACEc6bToW94kw9zUj/view?usp=sharing

Optional drinking game: take a drink every time one of us says the word 'vibes'.*

*Not recommended for obvious legal reasons. Please drink responsibly.

The inaugural episode of Playing Dread covers 1992's Alone in the Dark and its immediate sequels! One of the most influential video games of all time, we dive deep into its history, its influence, and so much more. But how does the game hold up today? Does it still resonate in 2024? Does it even matter if it does? Listen on and find out!

Hosted by Adrian Sandoval and Lamont Williams.

Playing Dread is a Q27 Media production and a member of the New Jersey Horror Collective. New episodes every second Wednesday of the month.

Consider becoming a member of our Patreon and get exclusive content including bonus podcasts, Discord community access and more, starting at just $1 a month!

Find our socials at: www.playingdread.com

All music in this episode used under a creative commons attribution license.

Intro music 'The Curse of the Dolls' by Geoff Harvey.

Other music by Alex Grohl, Dmitry Taras, Grand Project and Pump up the Mind.

Sources, references and more:

Alone in the Dark trilogy + 2008 available on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/135448/

Alone in the Dark (2024) Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU-lxtuKULo

Alpha Waves PC Port

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9qAtVwSIV8

Psycho - Arbogast Meets Mother

https://youtu.be/5bieIiX5KLQ?si=fB33F7c_IQhHMkSf

Resident Evil Pre-rendered Backgrounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEFUtNGdkbA

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft

https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cdw.aspx

They Create Worlds - Alone in the Dark

http://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/alone-in-the-dark/

GDC Classic Game Post-Mortem: Alone in the Dark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2lgEyNaop4

Alone in the Dark complete playthrough by CommanderGrog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsGaVrMr9N8&pp=ygUYYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMSAxOTky

Alone in the Dark Books and Text with In-Game Narration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHLe46eKoGg&pp=ygUYYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMSAxOTky

Alone in the Dark 2 Full Game No Commentary by Kari-Pekka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPggTnw2z5U&pp=ygUYYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMSAxOTky

Alone in the Dark 2: Great Sequel or Missed Chance? By The Dadliest Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPEX5qMOylg&t=1100s&pp=ygUYYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMSAxOTky

Alone in the Dark 3: The Ending of an Era by The Dadliest Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFFFrGHMcJw&pp=ygUTYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMw%3D%3D

Origins of Survival Horror: Alone in the Dark by RagnarRox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3KBObD_LF8&t=761s&pp=ygUYYWxvbmUgaW4gdGhlIGRhcmsgMSAxOTky

The Lovecraftian Elder God referred to in the episode was Shub-Niggurath. Yeah, we weren't gonna vocalizing that.