Frances Addison

Out of all modern entertainment media, video games have perhaps the shortest lifespan. While many early films have been lost, it’s still possible to view footage stretching all the way back to the medium’s creation in the late 1800s. Likewise, although much literature and music has been lost through the centuries, modern archeological efforts have given us the opportunity and listen to creations from millennia ago.

With the recent release of the PlayStation VR2, conversation has once again turned to the topic of immersive gaming. In particular, how close we are coming to that lofty goal. It’s understandable. Many people use video games as a form of escapism. What could be more suitable than an experience that makes you feel like you are literally somewhere else? The desire to sink into a world that is not quite our own is hardly a new one. Nor is the idea that technology might help us accomplish that goal.

Due to release this week, Beacon Pines is a mystery game with an unusual past. Created by Hiding Spot Games, the title was initially pitched as a ‘cute and creepy adventure’ on crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. The project ran from February to March last year and raised nearly $85,000 against its goal of $30,000. This meant that not only was the project fully funded, it also managed to meet all of its stretch goals, promising extra content over what the developers had originally promised.