User:.huepow/Simulacra

Simulacra (stylized in all caps; SIMULACRA) is a psychological horror simulation game developed and published by Kaigan Games on October 26, 2017 for Android and iOS. Later, the game was released for Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It is the first game in the Simulacra series.

Simulacra, optimised to be played on a phone, mixes found footage with puzzle game mechanics. The game follows the story of a woman gone missing under strange circumstances, as the player is tasked to figure out the mystery. Simulacra is considered to be the sequel to Kaigan Games' first horror game, Sara Is Missing.

Development
Jeremy Ooi, a game designer for Kaigan Games, was inspired to create Simulacra from his own obsession with mobile devices. He explained "being a tech geek, I have to help my friends fix some stuff on their phones from time to time; and when I catch a glimpse of their messages or photos, I immediately apologise to them." However, Ooi revealed "I've always toyed with the idea of replicating that experience, minus the guilt."

Kaigan Games began development on Simulacra following the wide-scale attention their first interactive horror game, Sara Is Missing, received after being published. A key

Ooi explained "We had plenty of ideas, most of them you see now in Simulacra which we intentionally held back. To create those mechanics on our first and unproven game is very risky

By the team, Simulacra was referred to as "the 'definitive' version of Sara Is Missing."

individual background "Lee Ying; 'Video games is one of the best ways to tell a story narratively. For a movie, people watch it for 2 hours but they experience it from a different perspective. For me, making art for video games is like making an entirely new world that people can explore and step into.'"

Etymology
The word simulacra, the plural of simulacrum, is defined as a copy or representation of a person, place or thing. Naming the game "simulacra" intended to explore the differences between people's digital and real identity. Jeremy Ooi explained "It [Simulacra] is a reflection, exaggerated danger of social media and dating apps that we want to highlight."

Reception
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Simulacra received generally positive to mixed reviews. Mobile versions held a higher rating than their console and PC counterparts.

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Simulacra 3
SIMULACRA was followed by two other iterations, Simulacra 2 and 3.

[https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/03/22/simulacra-3-reveal-trailer/#:~:text=SIMULACRA%203%20has%20been%20revealed,though%20it%20is%20expected%20soon. https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/03/22/simulacra-3-reveal-trailer/]