Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Videogames are a billion-dollar industry. USD138.4 Billion in 2021, to be exact.
When thinking about creating one, everyday Malaysians wouldn’t know how to even start! That’s why it’s very impressive to see Malaysian-born RoundTable Games Studio launching their first game: Dying Flame.
The team behind RoundTable Games Studio: Adam, Crystal, Edison, Justin, and Joel.
Dying Flame’s storyline centres around James, an addict, who is forced to deal with the consequence of his smoking addiction.
“The concept of the game is simple. You start with a lighter in the dark which is your only source of light. With darkness surrounding you, you can only catch glimpses of the monster. Your goal is to solve puzzles and save yourself from the monster,” Adam shared to In Real Life.
“As the player, your choices in the story dictate whether he succeeds or fails,” continued Adam.
Bleak? Yes. Fun? It’s very addictive.
Every time a player needs to save their progress, they’ll have to light up a cigarette
The rule of the game is that you have to light a cigarette and smoke it in order to save your game. So the more scared a player feels, the more they have a tendency to save.
“This mimics the fear, stress and agony of being addicted to nicotine,” Adam added.
“You feel the need to seek out more cigarettes, and to save whenever you get the chance,” he explained.
“And then, you will slowly understand what an obsession feels like. How it gnaws at the back of your mind, tempting you even though you know you’re headed for self-destruction if you cave.”
The inspiration for Dying Flame came from the team’s own personal experiences
“We drew on the personal experiences of the team. One of our team members was a child asthmatic who has lost family to cigarettes and smoking-related stroke and cancer.”
“Another one of us is an ex-smoker who is at war with nicotine. He experiences cravings on a daily basis, and turns into a monster sometimes because of that craving.”
I reached out to a smoker who tried playing the game and asked him what he thought about it.
Cory said: “Never seen smoking as a mechanic in a game before Dying Flame actually.”
Does it make him want to quit, or does it actually remind him that he ought to go out and buy a pack right now?
“Honestly, I would play the game regardless of whether I was trying to quit or not,” he said, smiling.
“That being said, I don’t think it would replace the key important ways to get someone off a nicotine addiction: Patches, cognitive behaviour therapy, and support.” He shared frankly.
“It’s just a game with a fun mechanic, after all. But ironically, the game itself is quite addictive!”
International streamers have even played Dying Flame
Image: Micho the Haram-Bae playing Dying Light.
A few streamers have picked up the game, like YouTube Gaming Content Creator “MAMJ Let’s Play” who playtested and also played the game, EagleGarrett, and TrishaHershberger on Twitch. There are even Malaysian streamers who have tried Dying Light: Chel.C, Celestia, Jojohime, Micho, YukiChristy, and Firbbb.
“Our game is on its way into other digital storefronts like Epic Games Store, GOG, and eventually into HumbleBundle.”
RoundTable Games Studio has high hopes for Dying Flame and as Malaysians, we should support them!
“We’re planning to stay small and lean. We’re moving slowly but surely in the direction of getting that Triple-A Franchise, and we will get there.”
“Of course ultimately, we’re happy sharing the experience with anyone who resonates with the horror genre and the message of Dying Flame.”
Malaysia has developed some great games over the past few years, like Simulacra by Kaigan Games, and Post Knight by Kurechi. It looks like Dying Flame will join their ranks as a small but underrated treasure.
What indie game developers need most is support from their fellow countrymen in order to keep doing what they’re doing. The more we support our talents, the more our country will be recognised on the world stage.
Support your local game developer by buying Dying Flame on Steam and leaving a review!
Dying Flame is now available on Steam for only RM23.50
For more stories like this, read: Want to Stop Smoking? Here Are 5 Ways Malaysians Kicked the Nicotine Habit and How Effective Is The 2019 Smoking Ban? Malaysian Smokers and Non-Smokers Weigh In.
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