Actual Sunlight

[BrotherRool]

Has anyone heard of Actual Sunlight [http://www.actualsunlight.com/]? What do you think of it? It's a short (40mins) To The Moon esque visual novel type of game, that I thinks been around for a while. It's pretty much someone giving us a really personal look into their life where the only reason they haven't stepped up onto the ledge is because they feel like they owe other people too much.

It's not the happiest thing I've ever experienced.

But I'm still glad I experienced it all the same, because it feels like such a genuine thing, this isn't someone messing around creating pretty stories (or creating something dark and 'gritty' because it's cool) this is how they are and how they're sharing it with other people. It's hard, because it's hard that some people find themselves in these places in life, but that doesn't go away or change if we don't know it happens.

There's a really interesting (but also pretty depressing) interview [http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/7/10/4459018/patient-transcript-actual-sunlight] of the creator on Polygon right now which is how I found out about it

"I felt that a character like Evan Winter in our culture, his story would usually be that one day he decides to start jogging, and everything in his life would suddenly fall into place. I wanted to tell a story about depression and how your viewpoint narrows through that mental state. I wanted to tell a realistic story about someone like that."

He really means someone like himself. Actual Sunlight is fearlessly autobiographical. As O'Neill puts it, "It's not made up: It's me."

Weirdly the bit I found hardest was when

Spoiler

you had to destroy all your stuff. Because you were given control to do that and I really didn't want to do it, but the game wouldn't let you continue unless you did. That desire to not do it and the inability really made me feel a bit sick about the idea of it actually happening

It's not the most enjoyable thing, and it's pretty short and it's not going to carry you on the same journey as To The Moon, I could see it leaving some people dry, but I personally found it really moving.

 

[OneCatch]

I thought that this was going to be some kind of joke about how gamers sit in darkened rooms.
....
Anyhow, sorry - not heard of it so don't have a lot to add!
It does look well done though, I'll have a peruse later I think.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

I just completed it and it's very good. The scary bit is that I can see bits of myself in there. Though, fortunately, I don't think I'm quite as bad and (as the game itself even says) young enough to change my ways.

I'd definitely recommend this. It does get you thinking.

I might go jump on that exercise bike I've never actually used and finish that commissioned song I've been putting off for a week, now.