Benjamin Rivers, creator of 2D indie horror game Home , has revealed his wish to make a dating game that psychologically influences the player to form an emotional attachment. Speaking to Joystiq at GDC, Rivers said, "I made a joke on Twitter like a month ago, where I was like 'Hey guys, if I did a horror game with a dating-sim element, would people play it?' and people were like 'Yeah!'" Because it's just not love unless you're having the pants scared off you.
"Playing things like Mass Effect while finishing this game, playing Persona, that element of a really relationship-based game where you chase stuff like that," Rivers continued, "that's kind of my new jam."
"I want to basically take a game that makes you feel as cool as you do in Persona, as far as relationships, [being] as connected, but see if I can do it without making it so video game-y, but still make it where people maybe even have a more powerful reaction because they buy in."
Whether or not he does end up going in that direction, it sounds like he's looking forward to the challenge of making something new. "It's been three years that I've been living with this thing," Rivers said in reference to Home. "Desperately I am plotting my new thing, my next thing and so yes, I am looking forward to putting this to bed – part of me is. Part of me is going to miss it when it goes away."
Home is available through Rivers' site , or on Steam where it's currently £0.67 for the next 24 hours.
