Tag: Narrative games

  • Sally Beaumont, voice actor in Old Skies and The Séance of Blake Manor, extols the virtues of narrative singleplayer games ‘You can have lots of them in your PC toolbelt’

    Image credit: Future

    Welcome to the world of Sally Beaumont, a voice actor who found her true calling not just in the studio, but in the immersive landscapes of PC gaming. Her journey into digital adventure is a story that perfectly illustrates how narrative worlds can redefine a career and offer profound lessons about freedom and perspective.

    Beaumont’s earliest foray into PC gaming involved classics like Leisure Suit Larry, an experience she recalls with a touch of wistful memory. But it was a different title that truly made an impact: The Curse of Monkey Island. This game, she notes, was the catalyst that helped her realize the exciting potential of voice acting, proving that being a voice artist was a real and rewarding job.

    From there, Beaumont dove deep into the world of narrative adventure games, often exploring complex themes through gameplay. Her career as a voice actor blossomed as she began lending her voice to critically acclaimed titles such as Heaven’s Vault, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, and Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader. Her talent earned her recognition, including selection for the BAFTA Breakthrough program.

    Today, she continues to explore new frontiers, diving into projects like El Paso, Elsewhere 2. When it comes to her current digital escapades, Beaumont is engrossed in The Séance of Blake Manor, a game that prompts deep reflection on the nature of reality and presence.

    Beaumont has a fascinating take on game mechanics. While she loves clicking through every dialogue option and exploring the world, she notes that time-based mechanics can sometimes restrict freedom. She found this tension particularly engaging while playing The Séance of Blake Manor, appreciating how the atmosphere created by a gloomy setting enhances the experience.

    For her retrospective gaming history, she points to titles like Day of the Tentacle as among the oldest games installed on her PC. She reflects that single-player adventure games offer a wonderful sense of containment—like going back home—allowing players to focus on character and setting rather than constant open-world discovery.

    Another gem in her collection is Nelly Cootalot, which she calls a brilliant homage full of warmth and wit. She appreciates how games can blend clever references with genuine emotional appeal, noting that sometimes they manage to be both snarky and sensible simultaneously.

    When considering the sheer amount of time spent gaming, Beaumont points to Old Skies as one of her longest engagements, demonstrating a deep commitment to immersive narratives over simple playtime statistics.

    Beyond games, Beaumont’s workspace reflects her approach to life: absolute chaos on the desktop—a testament to a “brutal deleter” who occasionally leaves behind gaps filled with the memory of what was there. This digital clutter mirrors her real-life perspective: she doesn’t seek constant order, but rather embraces the space left open by deletion.

    Finally, in the realm of non-gaming software, Beaumont relies on GoldWave for her audio needs. She praises its simplicity and effectiveness, especially its ability to handle the tricky details of voice acting—like eliminating pops and clicks—making it her essential emotional support tool in a world full of digital noise.

  • Deltarune Chapter 5 launches to nearly 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, Chapter 6 is coming in 2027

    The digital world of indie games just got a serious shake-up thanks to the arrival of Deltarune Chapter 5. Hitting Steam like a runaway rocket yesterday, the game’s concurrent player count skyrocketed to nearly 300,000, more than doubling its previous peak and firmly placing it among the platform’s top 10 best-selling titles.

    Despite some quirky release history and an evolving structure, the community’s enthusiasm for this adventure remains incredibly high. It shows that the patience of players has paid off, celebrating a story that continues to captivate its audience.

    For those following the development, the good news is that the journey isn’t over. Creator Toby Fox has confirmed that more chapters are planned and will be released for free over time, keeping the creative momentum flowing. While the team is aiming for a full release in 2027, they plan to periodically share updates on the development progress.

    The path to this moment was anything but straight. Deltarune has had an odd and shifting structure over the years, reflecting the unique nature of its creation. The initial chapters were released for free—Chapter 1 in 2018 and Chapter 2 in 2021—building a foundation that fostered deep community engagement.

    When development began, plans shifted. Creator Toby Fox had initially indicated that subsequent chapters would be paid content. However, things changed when Chapters 3 and 4 finally went live, marking what many considered the game’s official release. This move ensured that players who purchased these chapters gained access to any future chapters for free, streamlining the path for continued exploration.

    This evolution has positioned Deltarune as a compelling example of how long-form narrative games can build an incredibly dedicated following through iterative content delivery. It’s a testament to the fact that waiting for quality content often results in a massive payoff.

    The excitement doesn’t stop there. Work on the next installment is already well underway, with chatter suggesting that development efforts are so successful that some staff members may even begin working on Chapter 7 before the end of the year. This promise of ongoing narrative keeps the world of Deltarune wide open for exploration.

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