We're looking for new writers to join us!

Moon of Madness is H.P. Lovecraft IN SPAAAACE

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 8/11/2017 9:26:00 AM
More On: Moon of Madness

Did you think you could escape the Old Ones by blasting off into space? Think again! Apparently Cthulu has a summer home at the base of Olympus Mons, because there's something screwy happening on Mars in the heavily Lovecraft-inspired Moons of Madness from Rock Pocket Games. This psychological horror title combines hard science based on NASA and Space X research...with the cosmic horror of psychotic blackouts and flashbacks. As astronaut Shane Newehart just tries to do his job on Mars, he'll come face to face with his own demons and something decidedly more alien and malevolent. Moons of Madness will arrive on PC, PS4 and Xbox One in 2018, and a playable demo will be available later this month at Gamescom.


By pressing the button below, you are certifying that you are 18 years old or older and you are of age to view the content.

Tønsberg, Norway, Thursday August 10, 2017- Critically acclaimed independent game developer Rock Pocket Games announced today that their new H.P. Lovecraft inspired Martian tale Moons of Madness will blast off to PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2018.  Moons of Madness is a first person, psychological horror game that explores the internal struggles of astronaut Shane Newehart and the supernatural events that occur on research station Trailblazer Alpha, the first scientific outpost on the planet Mars.
 
In Moons of Madness, Rock Pocket Games integrates the cosmicism style found in H.P. Lovecraft’s hallmark to the game’s narrative, environment and gameplay; the sense that ordinary life is a thin shell over a reality that is so alien and abstract in comparison that merely contemplating it would damage the sanity of the ordinary person.
 
To render this lyrical experience on screen, Moons of Madness rely on three main core mechanics:
  • Combining hard science, based on meticulous analysis of NASA and Space X research, with Lovecraftian horror.
  • An innovative feature called “Zone Outs” that simulates Lovecraftian madness. Players are exposed to hallucinations and visions they play through as part of the game. They have to understand what the visions are expressing as they foreshadow certain events mapping out the character’s history.
  • Exploring mental illness through various game modes without antagonizing the medical condition itself. 

"Moons of Madness is more than just a sci-fi psychological horror game, it's a project that the team has been brewing for a long time and aspires to redefine the genre by immersing the player into the character’s psychology and its mental illness,” said Ivan Moen, CEO, Rock Pocket Games. “As fans of H.P. Lovecraft, it was easy for us to anchor the game with solid references from his visceral story telling material. At the same time we have invested a lot of time and energy mastering Unreal Engine 4 to create a realistic Martian world, which is perfectly illustrated in the high production value and stunning visuals found in the launch trailer.”
 
The blood pumping reality wreck trailer which can be viewed here gives us a glimpse into Moons of Madness intricate conundrum where main character Shane Newehart lives on Mars an edgy life where the lines between reality and fiction can shatter and blur at any moment.
 
A playable version of Moons of Madness will be available to the Gamescom audience later on this month. It will be showcased as part of the Indie Arena Booth, Hall 10.1 A-020
 
About Rock Pocket Games
Rock Pocket Games is an independent game development studio, which started developing games in 2008 and is located in Tønsberg, Norway. The Rockpocketeers are a team of passionate, experienced games developers holding quality, communication, honesty and fun as their core values. Rock Pocket Games is gearing up to release their next project in 2018, Moons of Madness, a sci-fi psychological horror experience taking place on Mars, partly funded by the Norwegian government.