Daylight: Procedurally Generated Psychological Horror on PS4

[Shin-Ra]

+ Posted by Collin Moore // Communications Manager, Zombie Studios

E3 is upon us, and Zombie Studios is ready to scare the PlayStation community when Daylight comes to PlayStation 4 early 2014.

Daylight for PS4 - YouTube

A couple months ago, we flew out to PAX East with a pre-alpha build of our latest game Daylight. When you show your game off for the first time, you really aren’t sure what people will think! The entire weekend we would watch curious gamers walk up to Daylight. After a brief tutorial we’d just sit back and watch – anxiously waiting to see what would happen. Over and over we saw people jump, scream, yell, and one person even ripped off their headphones, took a couple steps back, and looked right at us as if they saw a ghost. Right then and there we knew we had something special. Now we are excited to share that with our fans on PS4!

For those that might not have heard of Daylight, it’s a procedurally generated psychological horror game. This means each time you start the game, the entire world will be different; from the layout of the level, the location of items you find, and, most importantly, the encounters you stumble into. You will never have the exact same experience twice. As fans of the horror genre know, once you see a scare you never get that same feeling again. That is what we set out to solve with Daylight: give fans a way to be scared each and every time they play it.

For those fans who enjoy all the technical things, you will be happy to hear that Daylight has been built using Unreal Engine 4. We have been working with Epic and Unreal Engine for years, and when we got our hands on Unreal Engine 4, we started prototyping out some ideas, which quickly evolved into what is now Daylight. Being a small studio, Unreal Engine 4 has allowed us to make a game with next generation gameplay and graphics, taking advantage of all the power of PS4.

Bringing Daylight to the PS4 was something we always had in mind, and after PAX East, the attention Daylight received from fans, press, and even publishers greatly exceeded our expectations! It seemed we had touched a nerve. We started talking with Atlus and we are now happy to announce that they will be publishing Daylight and will help us bring it to the PS4 globally in early 2014.

So check out our E3 trailer and screenshots above, and be sure to go to our website, follow us on Twitter @PlayDaylight, and Facebook for all the latest news.

[sukraj]

Looks interesting i hope they give us guns.

[Lovemy3D]

Oh, wow! I barely know what this is and I'm really excited about it. I can tell it's something I'm probably going to love. Wish they would have shown a little more in the trailer. I didn't even know what they are talking about doing was even possible. With the new experience each and every time. Really? That would be so addicting. I'm going to test that lol. Every time huh?

[Mr.Twinks]

Looks promising and scary!

I really like games like this.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

Looks promising and scary!

I really like games like this.

I think the best part of hopefully the game is that it's a psychologically based horror. Where less encounters that are brutal but unexpected make you more scared and the fact that every time you play it's random is a really, really smart concept.

I think that's what true horror really is, not knowing what's coming and the constant feeling of helplessness even with an absence of direct thread. Mind over matter is best in horror

[Lovemy3D]

It would be even scarier if it's in 3D.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Lovemy3D

It would be even scarier if it's in 3D.

lol. Don't worry, I think 3D should make a bigger part of games on PS4 since it should be easier to include it this time without a big power hit.

[Lovemy3D]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

lol. Don't worry, I think 3D should make a bigger part of games on PS4 since it should be easier to include it this time without a big power hit.

I hope you're right.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by sukraj

Looks interesting i hope they give us guns.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Hell NO!

I am sick of horror games that arm you to the teeth!! What I am hoping for next generation is that companies put the SURVIVAL back into survival horror games! Games where you have to use your wits to survive. Games where you have to use what's in your environment and no I'm not talking about a random highlighted bazooka that I can pick up and blow the enemy to kingdom come!

[Shin-Ra]

The press release describes the game a lot clearer than that PS Blog post.

Escape the Shadows in Daylight - Next-Gen Horror Game from Zombie Studios and ATLUS

Daylight Releases Worldwide in Q1 2014 as a Downloadable Title for PC and PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System

SEATTLE and IRVINE Calif. - June 7, 2013 - Next-gen will be a scary place thanks to Daylight, a psychological thriller built on Unreal Engine 4. Developed by Zombie Studios and published worldwide by ATLUS, Daylight will release in early 2014 simultaneously for the PC and as a console exclusive for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Only the bravest souls will find all the messages and clues scattered through Daylight's labyrinthine twists of derelict hospital corridors and other creepy environments, where procedurally generated levels ensure no two playthroughs will be the same. More details on the downloadable title Daylight are available on the game's official website at http://www.playDaylight.com.

Daylight is told in the first-person perspective and begins with players regaining consciousness in an abandoned hospital with only a cell phone to use as a source of light. The ominous atmosphere, powered by Unreal Engine 4 gives players the immediate feeling that they need to escape. But since each level is procedurally generated, no clues, haunted corridors, life-saving flares or lurking specter will ever be in the same place twice. Daylight was written by industry veteran Jessica Chobot, who also provides the quavering, terrified voice of the protagonist.

"Since showing off a pre-alpha build of Daylight at PAX East the attention on the project has grown tremendously! With the gained attention, we were approached with the opportunity to partner with ATLUS to help release Daylight worldwide on Steam and exclusively to the PlayStation 4 system," said Jared Gerritzen, studio director, Zombie Studios. "ATLUS has a long history of great games and is an accomplished publisher with worldwide reach. Working with them will allow us to reach a global audience, so we'll be able to scare even more people."

For the PlayStation 4 system, Daylight will take full advantage of the upcoming console's features, including:

Using every ounce of processing power: Daylight uses Unreal Engine 4 to create an atmospheric setting with some of the most immersive graphics to date.
Share gameplay online: Scare friends with the system's new "share" feature to stream gameplay to friends.
Capturing the moment: Daylight uses the PS4 system's integrated PlayStation Eye camera to take pictures of the exact moment that a scare happens. Keep the pictures of the reactions as a novelty or bravely share them with friends on social networks.
RealD 3D Support: Daylight uses the latest 3D technology from RealD to expand its haunting atmosphere into the third dimension.

Daylight will release in Q1 of 2014 for a global audience on both PC and as a console exclusive for the upcoming PlayStation 4 system. Price is still to be determined, and the game is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit the Daylight website.

[snakemaster7]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

The press release describes the game a lot clearer than that PS Blog post.

Wow! Talk about some awesome features that will be utilized on the PS4, I can't wait

[Lovemy3D]

Wow, it will be in 3D! Now I'm really excited. 2013 is going to be a long year, lol.

So, if you play it in the dark though, will the camera still be able to get a good shot of you during those scare moments?

[Lovemy3D]

Hmm, now I'm a little skeptical. It's a game that takes just a few hours to complete. Even though you can play it differently over and over again. And it will have a price tag of under $20. That probably means $19.99. Maybe the low cost is because maybe it's only a downloadable game? I don't know how that works since I've never done that. But the short run time, and low cost, makes the game sound like it might be a bit generic. I hope it's still good though. I'm going to give it a try regardless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=emgVN1aJjbI

My excitement about this game is deflated even more after finding this rather unimpressive looking game play footage. But who knows, maybe the final product will look much better, and be creepier, with spooky audio to go with it. But I don't see anything in this that warrants how scary they are claiming the game is. But again, for less than $20 it can't hurt to try it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjdxPB5UAaw

[detective392]

Gotta say I like it taking a picture of your reaction. Pretty cool idea.

[NARMAK]

$19.99 for a game like this lasting for a few hours on the single player AND obviously having tremendous replay value thanks to the procedural nature of the way levels are generated is quite good.

We have fighting games that aren't exactly deep and don't provide as much satisfaction imo priced twice as high.

[Lovemy3D]

Originally Posted by detective392

Gotta say I like it taking a picture of your reaction. Pretty cool idea.

I like that too. But it's not that cool if it takes snap shots of me with a blank expression staring at the TV because I'm not scared enough to have an interesting expression over it. lol.

Originally Posted by NARMAK

$19.99 for a game like this lasting for a few hours on the single player AND obviously having tremendous replay value thanks to the procedural nature of the way levels are generated is quite good.

This is true if the game turns out to be a lot of fun. But the replay value of the changing maze, items, and spook spots or whatever is kind of meaningless if you don't have that much fun playing it to begin with. I could get bored walking around a bunch of dark empty corridors and rooms. but I do hope it turns out to be really fun.

We have fighting games that aren't exactly deep and don't provide as much satisfaction imo priced twice as high.

I've had a lot of satisfying fun with fighting games. Especially when hanging out battling with friends that are also skilled in the game. But I know they are not for everyone.

[StereoMike]

Daylight explores an abandoned hospital and its spooky roots

Atlus, publisher on Daylight, has shared some story details about the upcoming exploration-based horror game. The game is set in 1983 on Mid Island and stars Sarah Gwynn, who one day wakes up in a derelict hospital to find herself all alone. The hospital, which has seen better days, was once going to be fitted as a high-end hospice care unit for the wealthy, but the company financing the renovation suddenly backed out at the last minute and left the hospital to rot.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Lovemy3D

It would be even scarier if it's in 3D.

Originally Posted by NARMAK

lol. Don't worry, I think 3D should make a bigger part of games on PS4 since it should be easier to include it this time without a big power hit.

Originally Posted by Lovemy3D

Wow, it will be in 3D! Now I'm really excited. 2013 is going to be a long year, lol.

So, if you play it in the dark though, will the camera still be able to get a good shot of you during those scare moments?

I can understand why they're starting off with a smaller game downloadable, but it keeps me on the fence since I mostly prefer physical blu rays vs digital only games most times.

Even so, the 3D is a nice added extra if it's strong 3D adjustable, but also the new level generator can add a lot to the replay value.

Likely this won't be on blu ray disc. Graphics look great.

[Lovemy3D]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

I can understand why they're starting off with a smaller game downloadable, but it keeps me on the fence since I mostly prefer physical blu rays vs digital only games most times.

Even so, the 3D is a nice added extra if it's strong 3D adjustable, but also the new level generator can add a lot to the replay value.

Likely this won't be on blu ray disc. Graphics look great.

I know what you mean. I wish it was on disc too. But at least it's going to be cheap, and in 3D. I have my doubts that it's as scary as is being suggested. But it should be fun.

[Codey47]

I'm not really feeling this title. I personally find Outlast a game I'm more interested in.