Perception (video game)

Perception[lower-alpha 1] is a first-person survival horror adventure video game developed by The Deep End Games and published by Feardemic. It was released for Microsoft Windows on May 30, 2017, followed by the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions on June 6, and by the Nintendo Switch version on October 31. The story follows Cassie Thornton, a blind woman who perceives the world using echolocation. The player assumes the role of Cassie and must use her unique skill to explore a large mansion in Gloucester, Massachusetts and uncover its secrets.

Perception
Developer(s)The Deep End Games
Publisher(s)Feardemic
Director(s)Bill Gardner
Producer(s)Amanda Gardner
Writer(s)Amanda Gardner
Composer(s)Jim Bonney
EngineUnreal Engine 4[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Microsoft Windows
  • May 30, 2017
  • PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • June 6, 2017
  • Nintendo Switch
  • October 31, 2017
Genre(s)Survival horror, adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The development team behind Perception consists of several former Irrational Games employees that had worked on BioShock (2007) and BioShock Infinite (2013).

Gameplay
The ringing of a grandfather clock makes the environment visible due to Cassie's echolocation

Perception is a first-person survival horror adventure video game in which the player assumes the role of Cassie Thornton, a blind woman who navigates a mansion through means of echolocation. This skill allows sounds such as Cassie's footsteps, dripping water, or flowing wind allow the player to catch a glimpse of their surroundings. Through use of echolocation, the player must explore the environment to examine objects and unravel the game's story. The player also has a cane which they can tap to provide a complete view of any given room. If the player taps too much, the game's antagonist haunting the establishment, known as the Presence, may kill them.[2][3] The Presence cannot be killed directly, and has been compared to the enemies in other horror games such as Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010), Outlast (2013) and Alien: Isolation (2014).[4] Cassie also has a cell phone which the player can use to send pictures and text to an operator who can describe the content to them.[2][3]

Development

Perception was developed by The Deep End Games, a Boston-based development studio founded by Bill Gardner. Gardner had previously worked for Irrational Games where he had worked on BioShock and BioShock Infinite. The studio consists of several other former Irrational Games employees that had also worked on the BioShock series, and also Gardner's wife serves as writer and producer. Development had been under way on Perception for around six months and was being self-funded by Gardner before the team launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in May 2015 requesting $150,000 USD.[5] The campaign concluded successfully a month later with $168,041 raised towards the game's remaining development.[6]

Perception is set in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Gardner explained that he drew from New England's reputation for being a reoccurring setting in horror fiction, such as in Lovecraft stories. He also described the architecture of the estate in the game to resemble that of architecture in the region.[5]

Release

Perception was released for Microsoft Windows via Steam and GOG.com on May 30, 2017. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions followed on June 6, 2017. The game was published by Feardemic, an independent publisher in Kraków, Poland.[7]

On October 31, 2017, the Nintendo Switch version was released; on the same date, the game received a "Remaster Update" that added new difficulty modes and script changes.

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 56/100[8]
(PS4) 56/100[9]
(XONE) 61/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid3/10[11]
Game Informer8.25/10[12]
GameSpot5/10[13]
IGN4.8/10[2]
PC Gamer (US)50/100[14]
Polygon6.5/10[3]
VideoGamer.com6/10[15]

Perception received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8][9][10] The game was nominated for "Most Fulfilling Community-Funded Game" at the 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards.[16][17]

Notes
  1. The title is often shown along with Braille writing: ⠏⠑⠗⠉⠑⠏⠞⠊⠕⠝
gollark: It's not very powerful, admittedly.
gollark: If you make a good enough version I can run it on my personal server.
gollark: "Fun", yes.
gollark: And sometimes it's worse. I think they're both at least okay though.
gollark: I don't have them all though.

References
  1. Jeremy Peel (January 5, 2017). "Making it in Unreal: how blind horror game Perception nails the sight of sound". PCGamesN. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  2. Joe Skrebels (May 25, 2017). "Perception Review". IGN. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  3. Philip Kollar (May 25, 2017). "Perception review". Polygon. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  4. Richard Wordsworth (June 9, 2015). "Perception has a fresh take on haunted house horror". PC Gamer. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  5. Samit Sarkar (May 26, 2015). "Blind first-person adventure Perception coming from ex-Irrational team The Deep End". Polygon. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  6. The Deep End Games (May 26, 2015). "Perception". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  7. "'Perception' Out Now on Steam and GOG.com". Gamasutra. May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  8. "Perception for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  9. "Perception for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  10. "Perception for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  11. Jed Whitaker (May 25, 2017). "Review: Perception". Destructoid. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  12. Ellis Favis (May 25, 2017). "Perception: Losing Your Sight And Sanity". Game Informer. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  13. Miguel Concepcion (May 31, 2017). "Perception Review". GameSpot. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  14. Samuel Roberts (May 29, 2017). "Perception review". PC Gamer. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  15. Alice Bell (July 5, 2017). "Perception Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  16. Andrew McNeill (January 31, 2018). "Here Are Your 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". SXSW. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  17. IGN Studios (March 17, 2018). "2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Winners Revealed". IGN. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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