We speak to Miroslav Mićević, Director of Operations at Ebb Software, to learn more about what to expect when we take our first steps contempt.
Starting today, Game Pass members can enter the surreal and nightmarish world of on Xbox Series X|S and Windows contempt. From its unnerving surroundings, mysterious world and terrifying creations, contempt was one of our most anticipated games and one of the most mysterious: how does it play? Is it a Sagittarius? Do I need a security blanket?
Before we dive into his fascinating world – and to answer some of our most burning questions – we had a chance to speak with Miroslav Mićević, Director of Operations at Ebb Software, to learn more about what to expect when we first Let’s set foot in the game, some of the inspirations behind its incredible art design and what it was like creating a soundtrack for something so…slimy.
Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us to talk about your recently released game. contempt. To start, can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the creation of the game world?
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss contempt with you. contempt is inspired by art, philosophy, literature and films. We could say that it has roots in existentialist philosophy, artworks by HR Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, films by Cronenberg, Lynch and the like. All of these could be considered influential in the creative process contempt‘s Game Director Lyubomir Peklar.
contempt has been described as an “atmospheric first-person horror adventure”. Would you say that this goes in the same direction as others in this genre? Dear Esther and Went home? Were these games or other inspirations behind the development of contempt?
Perhaps a better description would be “surreal nightmare adventure”. It’s difficult to find direct references among video games, but it’s like being in a gallery looking at a dark surrealist painting. Now imagine jumping straight into this painting and turning it into a living environment. That’s basically what contempt is.
HR Giger (“Alien”)’s artwork was clearly inspired by the look of the game – and it looks incredible from what we’ve seen. Have you collaborated with other artists related to his art form to bring the world of? contempt to live? What was the biggest challenge in translating this art form into the environment design?
Many Thanks. The biggest challenge was creating each item in the game as each of them is uniquely handcrafted. Most of the time you don’t use this method when creating video games. but contempt, as you said, is a kind of replication of the art form. The entire sculpting team was engaged in the precise reconstruction of a truly horrific nightmare. Not a pleasant task.
What’s the trick to emphasizing key points of interest to the player when working with such muted colors?
Lighting. Sound. Music. Players should open their senses and the game will mesmerize them and take them to where they need to be. The lighting team did a really great job of enhancing the experience and providing some guidance to poor souls stuck in the world of Scorn.
Besides HR Giger’s influence, are there other masters of body horror that the team draws inspiration from? Are there any fears from the development team that brought you to life? contempt?
Mostly it’s a fear of being human. Let’s say Cronenberg’s The Fly, Lynch’s Eraserhead or even Kafka’s Metamorphosis.
Besides the incredibly impressive graphics, can you say something about the audio design of the game? What was it like creating sound for something so…slimy? What objects did you use as a reference point?
Our sound designers are a crazy bunch. The team has done many epic recording sessions destroying all sorts of things. Vegetables, wood, bark, cardboard, chairs, pipes, meat, stones. You name it, they probably erased it and recorded it.
In this context, can you talk to us about the choice of music for the game? What went into the decision-making process to find a soundtrack that fits the mood of this world.
We were very lucky because Lustmord, a brilliant composer of dark ambient music, found out about the game and reached out to us. He knew contempt was the perfect fit for his creation. And it just happened. Aethek, another great composer, also had similar feelings. contempt attracts people to you, you cannot resist the inner urge.
What excites you most about releasing your game on day one with Game Pass?
That fact itself is amazing! This is how many Game Pass players on Xbox Series X|S and Windows have the opportunity to play the game on day one. We couldn’t have imagined a better start. The whole team is looking forward to it.
Thank you again Miroslav for taking the time to talk to us about this fantastic game. contempt is available now for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, Xbox Game Pass, and PC Game Pass.
contempt
Kepler Interactive
$39.99
PC game pass
Xbox Game Pass
Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of strange shapes and sinister tapestries. It’s designed around the idea of ”being thrown into the world”. Isolated and lost in this dreamlike world, you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear way. The unsettling setting is a character itself. Each location contains its own theme (story), puzzles, and characters essential in creating a cohesive world. During the game you will unlock new areas, acquire various skills, weapons and various items, trying to understand the sights presented to you. GAMEPLAY FEATURES Connected “animated” world Scorn is set in an open world with various interconnected regions. Each region is a maze-like structure with different rooms and paths to explore. All of the storytelling takes place in-game, with no cutscenes to distract you from the grisly reality of the living, breathing world you find yourself in. But keep your eyes peeled – the game shows you no sympathy if you miss something important in your troubled journeys. Full Body Awareness Players will experience greater immersion when they are aware of the character’s body and movement. Interaction with the world is realistic – objects are picked up with your hands (instead of just hovering in the air), machines and instruments are operated by grabbing the controls, etc. Inventory and ammo management Your equipment is defined and limited. This plays a huge role in keeping the player in an even greater state of awareness throughout the game. Players must think about when to fight and when to take cover, and how their actions affect the world around them. Different playstyles are required to advance.
