There is currently a considerable discourse about practical visual effects (VFX) in movies, where effects are achieved through physical means rather than entirely computer-generated. A prominent recent example is Oppenheimer (2023). Believe it or not, but games also choose whether to involve actual physical IRL effects, not all has to be digital. For Still Wakes the Deep, we desired to experiment in this area.
Our collaboration with video artist Sam Spreckley led to the use of real celluloid film, sometimes burnt, for effects frequently encountered in the game. We believe these real analogue effects enhance the game's authentic feel and deepen the player's immersion.
The game's Associate Art Director Laura Dodds: “I was exploring distorted film stock, bubbling imagery and memories when I stumbled across Sam’s beautiful work. His work really resonated with me, because the whole story is about Caz trying to get home to his wife and two daughters. We have various flashbacks and sensory moments in the game where we want to get a sense of Caz’s internal life and emotions. I think Sam’s exploration of Synesthesia is really interesting too, because the horror doesn’t understand what humans are, what memories are, what senses or emotions are. It isn’t evil, it’s just come into contact with the rig and the crew and is trying to understand it.”
Sam is a very talented visual artist (do be sure to check out Sam's extraordinary work here), it was great to collaborate with a creative mind on bringing more tangible practical effects into the videogames sphere.
We also sourced many of the pictures belonging to the crew that you see in the game by asking our studio's team members to share their old family pictures. Here is just a tiny selection of the wonderful submissions, some of which you will most probably recognise:
(Certainly, we'll share all of them in our forthcoming real tangible Development Book)
In the comments, tell us of more games or studios that utilise analogue effects. Of course we’re thinking of the incredible Amanita Design who drive the medium forward on this front. 🎨
There are certainly more, let us know your favourites!