DreadOut

{{Infobox video game

| title = DreadOut

| image = Dreadout header.jpg

| developer = Digital Happiness

| publisher = Digital Happiness

| director = Vadi Vanadi

| producer = Rachmad Imron
Sukmadi Rafiuddin
Dai Daks

| designer = Rendy Basuki

| programmer =

| artist =

| writer =

| composer = Adhit Android
KOIL

| engine = Unity

| platforms = Windows, Linux, OS X{{cite web|url=http://www.SurvivalHorrorOnline.com/2013/05/29/interview-with-the-creators-of-dreadout/|title=Interview with the creators of DreadOut|publisher=SurvivalHorrorOnline.com|date=29 May 2013|access-date=3 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220917/http://survivalhorroronline.com/2013/05/29/interview-with-the-creators-of-dreadout/|archive-date=6 June 2014|url-status=live}}

| released = Windows
15 May 2014{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Alice |date=5 May 2014 |url=http://virtualcrunch.com/main/2014/05/05/horror-game-dreadout-gets-release-date/ |title=Horror Game Dreadout Gets Release Date |publisher=VirtualCrunch |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514125521/http://virtualcrunch.com/main/2014/05/05/horror-game-dreadout-gets-release-date/ |archive-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=live }}
Linux, OS X
20 August 2014{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/dreadoutgame/status/502465970892333057 |title=Indonesian voice, 32 bit, mac, linux, steam os now available |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Twitter |language=en}}

| genre = Survival horror

| modes = Single-player

| series =

}}

DreadOut is a survival horror video game from independent developer Digital Happiness for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and OS X. A port for PlayStation 4 was announced but never released.{{cite web |url=http://www.allthatsepic.com/epic-gaming/indie-horror-title-dreadout-breathes-life-into-the-genre/ |title=Indie Horror Title "DreadOut" Breathes Life Into the Genre |date=3 April 2013 |publisher=All That's Epic |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109030152/http://www.allthatsepic.com/epic-gaming/indie-horror-title-dreadout-breathes-life-into-the-genre/ |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=live }}http://thegamesdb.net/search/?string=dreadout&function=Search{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The story is about a group of high school students in Indonesia who come across an old abandoned town. There they are confronted with ghosts and paranormal activities, and one of the students, the protagonist Linda, begins to uncover the secrets of the town and its surrounding area. A sequel, titled DreadOut 2, released for Microsoft Windows in February 2020 and was subsequently ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in July 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-22 |title=DreadOut 2 coming to Xbox Series and Xbox One on July 15, PS5 and PS4 on July 20 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/06/dreadout-2-coming-to-xbox-series-and-xbox-one-on-july-15-ps5-and-ps4-on-july-20 |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} A Nintendo Switch port of the sequel was for a January 2024 release.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=DreadOut 2 coming to Switch on January 18, 2024 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/12/dreadout-2-coming-to-switch-on-january-18-2024 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}

Gameplay

DreadOut is a third-person horror game that uses mechanics similar to those found in the Fatal Frame series. The player uses modern gadgets, such as her smartphone and a digital camera, to interact with (or fend off) various kinds of Indonesian mythical ghosts and to help her solve various puzzles. When Linda dies in the game, she awakens in Limbo, depicted as darkness surrounded by candles with a bright light in the distance. By running towards the light, Linda will come back to life.{{cite web |url=http://archive.beefjack.com/index.html%3Fp=170381.html |title=Another take on horror:DreadOut |publisher=BeefJack |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825174716/http://archive.beefjack.com/index.html%3Fp=170381.html |archive-date=25 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} However, subsequent deaths will push the light further and further away from Linda, unless she manages to find three mystical items to keep the light closer to her.

The game features both third and first-person control schemes, with the player navigating environments with a standard over-the-shoulder perspective. If the player decides to use their digital camera to photograph something, they enter a first-person perspective to see through Linda's equipped camera. Any ghosts that are photographed or interacted with in any way will be recorded in a "Ghostpedia" in Linda's notebook. Linda can also find articles and journal entries that describe much of the game's backstory. A preview video showed a tablet version of the game, where the player controls Linda via the touch screen.{{cite web |url=https://lupoentertainment.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/dreadout-eye-on/ |title=Dreadout – Eye On |date=24 April 2013 |publisher=LupoEntertainment |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109025933/http://lupoentertainment.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/dreadout-eye-on/ |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=live }}

Plot

Linda Meilinda, her senior high school friends Ira Irawati, Doni Maulana, Shelly Angelia, Yayan and their teacher Ms. Siska go astray during a vacation trip in Indonesia. They discover an abandoned town, entering an old school. Linda and the class are trapped inside with ghosts. They kill Doni and possess Ira, Shelly commits suicide, Yayan disappears and Siska is missing. Linda is relentlessly being pursued by the ghosts, including a woman dressed in red. The player can choose whether to defeat the woman or leave the school. If the player defeats her, the woman reveals to Linda that she is the guardian of the spirit realm, giving Linda her newfound power and title as the keeper of darkness. Linda sees Siska leaving the school with a baby serpent in her arms. If the player leaves the school, Linda is rescued by the police and escorted to their car, until the woman appears, causing them to crash.{{cite web |url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3226906/indie-horror-spotlight-dreadout-has-a-very-persistent-mosquito/ |title=[Indie Horror Spotlight] 'DreadOut' Has A Very Persistent Mosquito |date=5 April 2013 |publisher=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109021704/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3226906/indie-horror-spotlight-dreadout-has-a-very-persistent-mosquito/ |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadout.com/?age-verified=11ee069987#section=story |title=Experience The Indonesian Horror |work=DreadOut |access-date=27 December 2013 |quote=When a group of high school students stray from their vacation trip, they discover an old deserted town. They begin to realize that something sinister is happening as soon as they enter the town. Linda, as the main protagonist, feels the stirrings of a strange and mystical power within herself. This spiritual power just might be the only way to save herself and her friends from an unknown evil.
Linda has lots of modern gadgets at her disposal[,] including smartphones, digital cameras, and digital video cameras. With these instruments[,] she can interact with and capture the various kinds of unique South[e]ast Asian [g]hosts and also solve the many varied puzzles of the deserted town[.] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129093151/http://dreadout.com/?age-verified=11ee069987#section=story |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadout.com/portfolio/linda/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118020311/http://dreadout.com/portfolio/linda/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 November 2013 |title=Linda Meilinda |work=DreadOut |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=27 December 2013 }}

Development

Indonesian developer Digital Happiness worked on the game using a team of around 20 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/indonesia-may-be-developing-the-next-great-horror-game/1100-4906/|title=Indonesia May Be Developing the Next Great Horror Game|date=May 2014 |publisher=|access-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051351/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/indonesia-may-be-developing-the-next-great-horror-game/1100-4906/|archive-date=1 December 2018|url-status=live}} After releasing a demo, they sought a crowd sourcing campaign via Indiegogo.{{Cite web|url=http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/highly-anticipated-indonesian-horror-game-210016945.html|title=Highly Anticipated Indonesian Horror Game DreadOut Seeks Help on Indiegogo and Steam|website=sg.finance.yahoo.com|date=6 May 2013 |language=en-SG|access-date=5 January 2019}} The campaign asked for US$25,000 and ended with US$29,067. They needed crowd sourcing since the game industry in Indonesia is small and focuses mostly on social or mobile games and were unable to find funding. Digital Happiness founder Rachmad Imron stated: "We have a lot of good human resources but most of them went abroad because there's no game industry in Indonesia, but we hope this will change soon."

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 55/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dreadout/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=DreadOut for PC Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518230901/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dreadout |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live }}

| HCG = 2/5{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/05/23/review-dreadout-act-1/85755/|title=Review: DreadOut – Act 1 ‹ Hardcore Gamer|date=28 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528025415/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/05/23/review-dreadout-act-1/85755/|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=28 May 2014}}

| Poly = 5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/21/5739854/dreadout-review|title=DreadOut review: old ghosts|publisher=Vox Media|work=Polygon|date=21 May 2014|access-date=26 October 2014|last=Kollar|first=Philip|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026171938/http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/21/5739854/dreadout-review|archive-date=26 October 2014|url-status=live}}

}}

DreadOut received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Film adaptation

In 2018, Indonesian production company GoodHouse announced a film adaption of Dreadout. The film was released in Indonesia on 3 January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/12/05/coming-soon-in-january-dreadout-longs-for-global-fame.html|title=Coming soon in January, 'DreadOut' longs for global fame|website=The Jakarta Post|date=16 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=5 January 2019}} The film is directed by Kimo Stamboel. The film cast included Caitlin Halderman, Jefri Nichol, Marsha Aruan, Ciccio Manassero, Susan Sameh, and Irsyadillah.