Sam Barlow, writer and lead designer of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and Aisle has announced that his first independent title, Her Story, launches today.
Her Story is Barlow’s first release after going independent in 2014. Playing like an interactive true crime documentary, the game lets you go hands-on with a police database full of live action video footage. It stars Viva Seifert, actress and one half of the band Joe Gideon and the Shark.
Her Story was passed through the Steam Greenlight process in only two weeks and has since received the backing of the prestigious Indie Fund. With its innovative use of video and a non-linear narrative, Her Story is one of 2015’s most original video games.
How does it work?
Her Story sits players in front of a mothballed desktop computer and logs them into a police database. They search through hundreds of video clips that cover seven interviews from 1994 in which a British woman is interviewed about her missing husband. Players explore the database by typing search terms then watch the clips where she speaks those words and piece together her story.
“I’m excited for players to finally get their hands on the game and lose themselves in the many layers of Her Story,” says Barlow, “This is a game that puts you in the mindset of a detective – players will experience the eureka moments, the frustrations and the curve balls of a cold case mystery firsthand.” It’s not solving the crime that matters most to Barlow however. “As they piece together this story I hope players will come to understand and empathize with the woman telling it. This is a video game where the most important skill is the ability to listen.”
The PC and Mac version of Her Story can be purchased:
- On Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/368370)
- Directly from the game’s website (www.herstorygame.com )
- From the Humble Store (https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/herstory_storefront )
The iPad and iPhone versions of Her Story are available to buy on the App Store (http://itunes.com/apps/sambarlow/herstory).
More Information
For more information about the game including its development blog, please visitwww.herstorygame.com .
