Game of the Year

Hello, my name is Eric Owen and this is the story of Brandon Wincott. As I entered the room of Brandon Wincott and looked around, I saw a simple interior: a closet, a bed, a table and some chairs. Mister Wincott asked me to interview him about what happened to him, something I was happy to ablate to.

Interviewer: Hello, mister Wincott. Why won't you introduce yourself...
Hello, My name is Brandon Wincott, former freelance gaming journalist. You might know me from articles I have written for gaming magazines like Playstation Magazine UK or gamesites like IGN. Or maybe you haven't. It doesn't matter. Nothing does anymore... (He looks depressed and sweeps with the back of his bony hands in his eyes. After this laden statement he remains silence for a few minutes. I gave him the time to recover and eventually he continues.) Not since that cursed game... But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Interviewer: Start with the beginning.
My story begins on August 29th 2014, the day I got my hands on the game. One of the perches of being a game journalist is that game developers send you review-versions of their upcoming titles, making you one of the first to play a game. It was no different when I received the review-version of Tainted Grounds in the mail. Even after doing this job for approximately four years I was still as happy as a child whenever I received a game. But this time I was mostly intrigued when I found the package in my mailbox. Most developers sent me a message ahead, asking if I'm interesting in reviewing their game. But this wasn't the case this time. In fact, I wasn't expecting a package at all. Not that I was complaining at the moment. No, I took the package to my desk and started to search for a cutter knife to open it. Throbbing with anticipation, I cut it open and a letter and the box of PC game were revealed. First the letter, I said to myself. I picked up the letter, tore it open and start reading (He showed me a copy of the letter, the original was confiscated,  before proceeding):

Dear Mister Wincott

We, at Bloodstone Games Studio, have read the many of your articles on gaming. Especially you reviews on games from the Survival Horror Genre have impressed us. That's why we would be honored if you would want to beta-test and review Bloodstone Games' newest survival horror game: Tainted Grounds. It is the first game of our studio have developed and we hope you will accept our offer and we wait in anticipation to read  your review.

Sincerely,

Bruce McGee,
Game Director of Tainted Grounds, Bloodstone Games Studio.

Interviewer: And how was your reaction?
The exclusive right to beta-test a new game? This was too good to be possible, I thought. But I had to say, I had never heard about Bloodstone Game Studio or about their game. Strange, you would expect they would make advertising about your first game. I looked at the game they sent me. A simple black cover with red letters: Tainted Grounds. It gave nothing away.
Interviewer: Didn't you find that unusual?
Most review-version had a simple cover. But it still didn't fit right. Was I really willing to trust guys I haven't ever heard off in my life? Was I willing to take the risk that this wasn't a mere joke or worse, an attempt to steal data from my computer. I wouldn't be the first to be fooled by cybercriminals. Big promises and when you acted upon them, they ruined your life. If I only ignored the disk and thanked for the offer. Instead I did a background check on both the studio and the game director, Bruce McGee. The thought process was the following, if they really existed, they would have a website. And if they really existed, the game would be safe.  After a quick Google search, my initial worries were laid to rest. The company had a site and promoted itself as an indie game company. But no information about Tainted Grounds. Only a small hint, they were currently developing a game, targeted to be launched at the end of October. The lack of any given title should have typed me off, but it is easy said in hindsight.

Interviewer: But at the moment you didn't expect anything extra-ordinary about the game?

No. I put the disk into my PC and after a short installation time, I was good to go. The game started with a monologue of the main character: 'My name is Doctor Hector Piper, paranormal investigator. (This is where he started describing the images of the game, The game showed an old picture of Hector Piper) A month ago arrived in the village of Creekford, England. (A map of Creekford appeared) My expertise was required in the Hornwood Mansion where the residents survived the attacks of the angry spirit. (Pictures of the mansion and its inside were shown...)  I have tried by best to help the family and release them from this spirit... (Piper sighed as the game showed the scenery of a séance). I have failed (Corpses of all four family members laid in a circle), even worse... (The gamed cut to an image of his face as he ended his monologue), I'm afraid I have released something it to this world... Something evil...

Interviewer: That's one hell of an intro...
After the intro, the game menu popped up. Well, if it came to setting the mood, the guys of Bloodstone Games surely knew what they were doing I thought while taking a cigarette from the pack Marlboro on my desk. I lighted my cigarette and looked at the screen. The intro was stylish but especially the ending of it caught my eye. The facial expression, eye movement and his overall look were very realistic. This is the point in the story were one would expect it being described as hyper-realistic, but that would be redounded and a lie. (He smiles vaguely at me, as this was a good joke and answered his smile politely with smiling back. His smile quickly faded as he continues). The game was beautiful, these first images were to my delight indeed in-game but still clearly a game. It reminded me of God of War III, back in 2010.

Interviewer: I shall have to believe you on your word as I haven't played either game.
You haven't? That is a damn shame. Anyway, the game looked beautiful, very inviting. Eager I clicked New Game and selected the difficulty as the face of Hector Piper started at me from the screen. Based on the difficulty I selected the face aged. I remember wondering if it would play a significant role in game, if this aging was a game mechanic... I chose the normal difficulty and I was sucked into the eyeball of a 30 year old Piper. My character woke up in a room and was dazed. The game was first person, it only got better and better. The screen became blurry from time to time. As Piper walked through the room, I made him look around. He vomited as he saw the mutilated bodies of the family.

Interviewer: Although I'm sure the game is very interesting, would you mind to limit your descriptions of the in-game imagery. Or are they an important part of your story?
 (He looked at me with an expression like I just asked him to drink battery acid and he was silent once more but he nod)

Interviewer: Perfect, please continue.
These first images were the first real test of the game. Was the game as beautiful as it had appeared on first sight? I was happy when I noted that was indeed the case. Why didn't advertised this more. If this kept up, it would be one of the best games of 2014, I thought while inhaling the smoke of the cigarette. The bodies were very graphic, blood dripped from the body in a natural fashion, making me wondering which engine they had used to program this game. I believed it was the new Unreal Engine 4 or the Luminius of Square Enix. My character, Hector Piper, fled to the door under my command but was stopped by one of the corpses coming back to life. The bloody face of the father looked at me, telling me I had doomed the world. I heard sobbing as I saw Hector suddenly raise a gun and shoot the father figure through the head: 'I'm sorry, but there is no other way!'
In the corner of my screen, a text with instruction appeared. The magnum gun I used as Hector Piper, was described as The Divine Intervention, a weapon with blessed silver bullets. Six rounds at a time, limited...

Interviewer: Mister Wincott, what did I asked you do?
Please, call me Brandon. (He said in a whispering voice before continuing his story with his regular volume) I quit playing after three hours, after beating the first boss of the game, the possessed mansion itself! The game was fantastic and I almost regret that I had to stop. I saved the game and got dressed before my girl arrived. I would have dinner with her parents that night in some classy restaurant.

Interview: Tell me about this dinner. I believe it was important, right?
Indeed. That evening, the first signs that something was wrong with the game surfaced. I was only too stupid to realize it back then. I was out diner with my girlfriend and her parents when they asked about what I did. I told them I was a journalist. The father, with a great interest as he was a journalist himself, asked immediately my specialisation: War, Crime, Politics...
With a combination of pride and shame, I confessed that my profession was Game Journalist. I was expected that neither parent would take me serious, so to my surprise I was only half right. I was even more surprised that it was my future father-in-law was the one who stood up for me. Katy's mother, Erin was the sceptic one who said that Game Journalist wasn't a really job. But it was Gerald, Katy's father who corrected her: 'I wouldn't say so. Being an economic journalist I have seen how the market of gaming has grown. It has become a very important part of our society and a very dominant form of entertainment. I believe that in the future, the game industry will replace the movie industry.'
But it wasn't all praise as he gave me the advice to combine gaming with other forms of entertainment. The interrogation continued after the waiter brought our meals, with the question what I was reviewing at the moment. It was a question of Erin to compensate for her previous statement. I was thrilled by the question and started telling. But after a while, it felt to me like mere minutes, Katy interrupted me rudely. With clear annoyance she shut me up: 'Brandon, you have been talking about that game for half an hour, we get the idea. Can we please speak over something else!'
I don't know why but that comment infuriated me. It felt incredibly rude to me, her parents asks me a question, I answered it to the fullest and she blocked me off. For a moment I could hit her. But for the rest of the evening, I didn't said a word anymore. If she wasn't interesting in what I had to say, why should I even bother to listen to what she had to tell. Looking back at it, I had to realize that wasn't a normal reaction. I had to realize there was something wrong with me, with the game.

Interviewer: What do you mean by that? What does the game have to this? The game in particular?
(He looked at me but refused to answer the question. So I continued my interview, hoping I would get an answer later on in the interview.)

Interviewer: When did you speak with Katy again?
A week had passed before I spoke Katy again. Not that I was interested in whatever she had to say, I couldn't be bothered. Somehow it felt like a waste of time to me. Time I could spent better. I didn't understand the sentiment of these thoughts but neither did I care. I just knew I didn't feel like talking. But I also knew that it would be very rude to just ignore her. So I allowed her to come in. To my annoyance the conversation was little more than small talk. But she tried to pleasant company and tried to get me in the mood. Although her intentions were crystal clear, I was complete inert. Even when she stripped for me, showing herself in all her naked glory. Out of respect for her and for what she ever have meant to me, I will not go in too much detail. But my body remained unresponsive. I was never a sexual predator but nudity normally awoke some erotic tension... But now, it only irritated me. Realizing that her attempts would be to no avail, I asked her, I hope friendly, to get dressed and leave.

Interviewer: Were you worried about your lack of response?
After she left, heartbroken by my rejection, I could think about only one thing. But I didn't wondered why I couldn't get an erection when looking at such a beautiful body. No I wondered if I should eat something before gaming. (He said it very casual, with a tone I can only describe as hopeless joy). I decide that food could wait and that I temper my hunger with a cigarette. As I sat down and started Tainted Grounds, I opened the pack of cigarettes, next to my keyboard.

Interviewer: You don't have to go in such detail about...
He raised his hand in a motion, like asking me to not interrupt his story, I shut up and let him continue) I opened the pack and took the last cigarette from the pack. As the game loaded, I threw away the pack and the cash register receipt beneath it. I never bothered to ask myself the question how a chain smoker like myself was able to get through a week with one pack of cigarettes. (He explained to me the ill-fated idea of Katy that he would stop smoking, once he started realizing how much money it costed.)  I inhaled the smoke and started to play.

Interviewer: When did you start realizing something was wrong with the game?
As the game story progressed, my life and health deteriorated. Every waking hour, I started to play the game. Somehow I had the feeling that I had to do this. Even if this meant I had to make sacrifices, like Katy. She called daily but I couldn't bring myself to answer any of them. To the point she dumped me. Most men would be devastated by the fact that their girl dumped them but for me, it felt like a relief, she felt like a distraction, something to hold me of the true path. I had a mission, I had to complete it. Only once I thought about quit gaming. It was after I got in an argument with my mother. (After Katy dumped him, he returned to the ancestral home.), after I refused to come down and eat with her. It was a few day after my relation with Katy had ended and like any good mother, she was worried about me, about the change in personality. She blamed it on heartbreak, and I was happy, she interpreted it that way but for some reason her concerns had a different impact on me. It was like awakening from a trance and seeing the world again. In this moment of clarity I swore to stop gaming for a while. Everyone could be ill from time to time. I had time to finish my review, even if I stopped a few days. No problem. But it was hard to control my urges and for some reason. I felt guilty for forsaken my duty.

Interviewer: What do you by that? Forsaken what duty?
My duty towards the citizens of Creekford...

Interviewer: What did you say?
(He ignores the question and continue like I didn't ask a question)
 Later that night I googled the Bloodstone Games once more and quickly found their website. Nothing had changed, everything was as it was when I first checked. What was I expecting? Some bloody message, some dark tale that I would die in seven days. (He laughed a humourless and painful laugh, which abruptly stops. I had to say, it felt very unsettling) Maybe I saw ghosts and had to put my mind on something else. I should feel much better after an hour of relaxing gaming...

Interviewer: So you become a game addict? Isn't the risk of the job?
(The question was phrased ruder then I planned it to be but he didn't seem to mind.)
This wasn't a simple game addiction, sir. This was something far more sinister. I was obsessed by the game. And with everyday passing, my obsession got worse and worse. In the week after Katy dumped me, I quit smoking. The desire for nicotine wasn't gone but I couldn't simply bring myself to get new cigarettes. 'Cause that would mean, leaving the game behind. Little later, personal hygiene followed, after that sleep and after that food...  It all felt obsolete. (I looked at his skeletal appearance before asking my next question. His body was ravaged)

Interviewer: But this couldn't last.
Of course not.  I was destroying myself and I was the only one who didn't see it. But my mother couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't let that happen. It was on Saturday, September 27th that she finally acted. She was no longer able to watch and do nothing. I have tried to complete the game for a month by now and I have to say it is harder than I expected. The game was not only massive, it was very challenging. But I could turn my back on them once more I had to defeat the monster I unleashed as Hector Piper. As it was my fault that the villagers of Creekford suffered. (Again, he referred to Creekford like was a real place and he really needed to help people.)
How much I hate myself for what happened that day. (He moves his hand and started scratching his arm. He appeared to be very distressed and suddenly he turns to me. His eyes are bloodshot, like those of an alcoholic. He points with his skinny arm at me, started to whispering things and looking around. Scared)

Interviewer: Would bother to tell about that day, mister Wincott
Please, call me Hector... They needed me! They needed me! I had sacrificed all that I had, lost my girlfriend, my health ... It was all my fault. All my fault. (He becomes incoherent and starts to twitch...)

Interviewer: Tell me about what happened with your mother?
(He's silent for ten minutes but without any warning, he jumps at me. He is surprisingly fast, especially in his condition. Before I knew it, he lay on me, with a fanatic smile. 'You could bring me the game! Bring it back to me! They need me! They need me!' He had turned completely and I knew I couldn't do anything for him now. I yelled for the guards to grab him and they forced him off me. He was later given an tranquilizer as I left.)

Interviewer Note: This was my interview with Brandon Wincott. On September 27th, he killed his mother in cold-blood. According to the section report, he stabbed her sixty three times with a kitchen knife. The police found her after the neighbours reported a terrible stench coming from the house. The neighbours were worried as they didn't see her for 5 days. The cops arrested Brandon Wincott in his room, still gaming. According to the police report, he didn't go to the toilet in the days after his mother's death. The smell of faeces was almost unbearable. They didn't had to look hard for a killer as Wincott didn't even bother to wash his hands after killing her. His fingers and the keys of his keyboard were covered in her dried blood. The same report tells that he had to be subdued by three men on his arrest as he was very violent when they tried to arrest him. His defence when asked why he killed her was the following: 'I was so close of completing the game and she tried to stop me. The same for these idiots (he was referring to the cops who tried to arrest him) And for what? For the death of mother, didn't they understand that I was trying to save an entire village. Didn't they realize that hundred lives were more important than one.

His unusual obsession with the game have baffled the doctors as according to his medical report, he depraved himself from food and water for so long, he suffers from severe malnutrition and dehydration. To the point of his kidneys are failing. Three days after my visit, Brandon refused to continue eating and keep removing his stomach pump, to the point they were forced to tie him to the bed. But to no avail, as shortly afterwards he slipped into a coma. His last conscious words were: 'I have failed Creekford, now I have to suffer!'
The game disk with Tainted Blood is confiscated by the police. I have contact Bloodstone Games after my interview. According to them, they never send Wincott, a review or a beta version of their newest game. Neither did they hear about the title of the game, the game they are developing is named The Dominion of Death. When asked about a game director named Bruce McGee, they reported that mister McGee, died 2 years ago of pancreas cancer but that he wished to make the greatest game ever, the game of the year...