The latest instance of this was the trailer we got for Concord during the recent PlayStation State of Play.
So, how does a developer ensure that its game stands out from the lot?
Perhaps a distinct art style, a fresh gameplay mechanic, or even a rarely showcased setting.
“Everything is a little close together.
Everything’s very cute, warm and homely.”
When shown to a few Indians, they said the setting felt like a summer vacation.
That usually means you’re visiting your old home town that’s a bit slower than the big city.
Most depictions of India in video games have been mythological, with the occasional science fiction rendition.
As for Dotson himself, Shodhan explained that his dream was to be a Bollywood star.
If you know anything about India, you know that Bollywood stars compete with gods in terms of popularity.
However, due to his circumstances, he spends most of his time blending in.
“We were very sure that we didn’t want him to be heroic, Shodhan says.
But we wanted him to have the struggles that a lot of us have.
That’s Dotson’s essence.
He’s not good at being a detective.
His dream is to be a Bollywood star, but his dad was a great detective.
The best way to answer that question is with a few examples.
It’s not just the interactions that the devs ensured were engaging.
Occasionally, an NPC will drop some garbage as they walk past you.
“It comes from a lot of personal frustration, Shodhan explains.
I think we all feel it.
There’s a lot of trash over here and it really doesn’t need to be.
We want to send a message about it.
But, instead of being preachy about it, what if we made it a bit fun?
You may think that Detective Dotson has all the makings of a standout game.
Marketing a game like this is not as straightforward as you may think.
Before aiming for that, however, Detective Dotson needs to go through the trials and tribulations of development.
One of the most dreaded parts of this cycle is securing investment.
Based on conversations with other Indian developers, I’ve learnt that this step is often the hardest.
Thanks to years of mislabelling and lobbying, when investors think of gaming, they really mean gambling.
It’s not enough to have capital.”
But, what happens after that?
“I just want them to have a great time, Shodhan says.
That’s first and foremost for me.
Maybe they walk away with a few interesting facts about India that they might Google later.
That’s good enough for me.”
Horror is making a resurgence in every medium, and there are many reasons for that.
