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[Roto13]

Got one. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to giving it a try.

 

[01DragonFly]

Thanks for the code got #275

 

[Zip_it007]

Got 152, thanks heaps mate.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Alright, cleared the list of claimed games. 75 codes more to go.

 

[Sheik]

Nabbed Close Your Eyes #139. Thanks for doing this! Looking forward to playing the game and will spread the word.

 

[Hristi]

Thank you So much Dusk Golem.

 

[NorthernIX]

Watched the trailers for this and it definitely looks like something for me. Got #248. Thanks very much for the giveaway.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Watched the trailers for this and it definitely looks like something for me. Got #248. Thanks very much for the giveaway.

I'm actually surprised people like the trailers decently, since to be frank they were quickly put together, but like the game I tried to capture certain feels with it, but not show too much.

Think we're getting close to only 50 keys left.

 

[lazyguy]

#163 Here. I'm really interested in playing it but it's going to take a while before I get to it.
Thanks man.

 

[hohoXD123]

Thanks Dusk. A horror game made by someone with awesome taste in horror games should be good.

 

[Stronghammer22]

Took #189. Thanks a lot! It looks interesting.

 

[DocSeuss]

83. You da best, Dusk Golem.

 

[allograndma]

MB-CD73EBE6B7451E7B

 

[Dusk Golem]

MB-CD73EBE6B7451E7B

Put it into a PM message to Modbot (can find his profile in the top-line at the quote at the bottom), not as a response to this thread.

Thanks Dusk. A horror game made by someone with awesome taste in horror games should be good.

Despite being a quick project, I hope it lives up to those expectations.

83. You da best, Dusk Golem.

Yai~

 

[Dusk Golem]

Cleared-up the list again from codes that have been taken. There are exactly 50 codes left out of the 400, this is also where the codes being taken will slow-down quite a bit, but they're still available.

 

[Locust]

Got one for a friend that was interested, thanks again

 

[hypodrmage]

Got 361 - thanks!

 

[sixclaws]

Got code #251, thanks!

 

[Dimitri2401]

Thanks

 

[Jmanunknown]

Thanks Dusk Golem.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

A GAFGAME, eh? My interest has been peaked.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Alright, 32 codes left.

A GAFGAME, eh? My interest has been peaked.

A game by a GAF'er, indeed.

 

[ihateyourhat]

Thank you.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Cleared the list again, 26 codes left at the time of writing, which also happens to be my lucky number~

Thank you.

Of course.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Alright, minor clearing but cleared out the list again. Will probably bring back up one more time after this, and then the last few codes will sink down the GAF list. 24 more codes remain.

I also at some point may make the keys go live a bit earlier, but that's only if development goes as well as it's been going so far.

 

[Deleted member 57681]

Sorry for the late response, but I got #30. Thanks a lot! GAFgames are best games!

 

[Dusk Golem]

Sorry for the late response, but I got #30. Thanks a lot! GAFgames are best games!

No problems, hope the game is liked by people here who decide to play it.

20 codes left, then we're through. See if they get claimed soon.

 

[WX3]

I just put in for the first one on the list --------> Close Your Eyes #138 -- !! I cannot wait to give it a run. I passed this thread up but it kept bugging me so I have returned to claim a copy! I want to thank you for making this available and I wish you the best!

 

[Markoff_Chaney]

ModBot told me not to, but I still wanted to PM AND post in the thread to say Thank You.

This looks right up my Lynch loving alley.

Thank You!

 

[Darknight]

Thank you OP. Gonna give it a go. Took #89.

 

[Malleavel]

Snagged # 47

Thanks for Making GAF wonderful.

 

[Real4Life]

Took #214. Thanks a lot. Will definitely give it a go!

 

[Endesu]

Snagged #221. Thanks!

 

[Ran rp]

Grabbed #71. Thanks Dusk.

 

[stinkytick]

Modbot said to not thank in the thread but it looks like everyone is doing it anyway. Took the #200.

Thanks, I'll give it a try now that I am almost on my college summer vacation

 

[DDayton]

Ack... Looks like I arrived too late!

 

[Dusk Golem]

Just a small update, the game was delayed a bit due to life busyness of me and the person I was working with, but releasing on Monday, August 31st. The Goodie Bag DLC will release a bit later that week, probably on Friday. It may not be the best timing, MGSV for instance comes out the day after, but I assume this little freeware RPG Maker horror game isn't really up to compete with anything like that.

Even though this has been a smaller project, I look forward to the reception to the new version of the game, big or small.


*some semi-spoilers below*

Oh, the things I want to do to you, Little Marshmallow...
Would you moan?
Would you squeal?
Would you whimper?
I'd like it if you screamed.
I imagine you'd give the most wondrous scream.
Would you scream for me? Would you scream real good?
Simon is yours, and you are mine, Little Marshmallow.

 

[Dimitri LH]

Bah, was hoping this thread got bumped to see the game realsed early. D:

*goes back to waiting patiently*

 

[Dusk Golem]

Bah, was hoping this thread got bumped to see the game realsed early. D:

*goes back to waiting patiently*

Unfortunately, not yet, but it'll be here come the 31st (though I guess it'd be early morning the 1st of September for some).

 

[Dusk Golem]

Close Your Eyes

Whelp, did it. Close Your Eyes is now live. It was a shorter, slopier project, but I hope you guys enjoy. Be interesting to see how response goes to such a project, positive or negative. I am a critical person on it, but I know the previous version of the game was well-received, so who knows? The Goodie Bag DLC will be out in the next couple weeks.

 

[Dimitri LH]

Cant wait to start playing tonight!

 

[Dusk Golem]

OKAY, was an issue where people who didn't have a key couldn't get the game, but should be fixed now.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Close Your Eyes - Goodie Bag DLC now out.

Now to focus on my bigger-scale next project, but all who got keys it should be fully available now, the Goodie Bag is mainly a mini-game, 'Girl's Graveyard', which can be accessed from the main game, the soundtrack, and art collection. $1.99 (USD) with a 25% launch discount, last time it'll go on sale until I release my next game.

---

On the flipside, Close Your Eyes the base game has been doing fantastically. Has been activated on nearly 20,000 Steam accounts, with nearly 9,000 of those downloading the game. Reviews are Very Positive after 93 reviews (88% positive as time of writing), and the outside response has been good too. I am more than acutely aware of some of the game's flaws, but for a short project been doing much better than expected. And some valuable feedback for the future.

 

[Dimitri LH]

Congrats on the success of the game! My friends are really enjoying it.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Okay, my freebie game on Steam, Close Your Eyes, has been out for 5 months now! Released it on August 31st, so going to do one of the final analysis of how it's performed unless anything notable happens. This game was born as an experiment, so here's the numbers I have.


Close Your Eyes

-Downloads, Sales, & Player Numbers-
Max Concurrent Players: 92 (unsurprisingly on release date)

Simultaneous Players 5 Months Later: Even five months later, the game keeps a small, but solid number of people playing. Averages 2-13 people playing at any time, with an average of 3-8. Number usually rises on weekend. For being a sort of underlooked niche game, it's good, even if it is a freebie.

Total Owners: Around 75,000 people have added the game to their account.

Total Number of People Who've Downloaded it and launched it at least once: 38,942 at the time of writing, so about half, a little more than half, of people who added the game to their account have at least launched the game once.

DLC Sales: The game has a $1.99 piece of DLC containing the soundtrack, artwork collection, and a bonus 1-2 hour long campaign. The DLC has 6 reviews, all positive, but has sold 389 copies on Steam at the time of writing. It's been selling between 0-2 copies per day, with the average of about 5 copies per week. Total number of people who own the DLC is 962, as I did give keys out before launch and continue to do so. Not really profitable, but I didn't go into this game for profit.

-Reception, Reviews, & YouTubers-

Steam General Reception: The game as of the time of writing has received 334 Steam Reviews. 294 of these are positive, 40 of these are negative. It retains a 88% positive rating, or Very Positive reviews on Steam. Notably, the response has gotten more positive over time; there were about 20 troll reviews that came in the first couple weeks of the game being out (one worded reviews like, "No," reviews of people who played 0.1 hours, and the like), and since then there's about 30-40 positive reviews per every single negative review that has come.

Current Highest Rated Steam Reviews:

Closed my eyes for about an hour. Not sure when i'm suppose to open them.

But really, I'm not sure what to say about this game. It doesn't seem to have many jumpscares, and the ones in it might not even technically be jump scares. This game just seems to be really solid overall. It's hard to articulate into finer details but this game is scary, has great puzzles, and is definitely worth your time.

Review was a Thumbs Up
59 of 68 people (87%) found this review helpful; 44 people found this review funny

Dear [Insert horror game developer],

THIS is how I like my horror.

I received a good deal of flak for my (I admit) petty review of the Amnesia series of games, and while I understand that they were useless reviews, Close Your Eyes showed me exactly what I wanted to say about them but never knew I was looking for.

I wanted to love the amnesia series so much; I think a lot of horror games have some beautiful narratives hidden inside them, but they are all unplayable. You can call me a chicken or whatever you like, but jump scares are NOT fun. They are NOT horror. All they are is an involuntary reflex forced upon us by extreme stimuli. True horror makes you uncomfortable, afraid, uneasy and anxious. Sure you may jump sometimes but it’s because you did it to yourself. The game didn’t flash a light in your eyes and accompany it with a blood curdling snarl, no, the atmosphere puts you into a very unsafe place mentally and you begin to see and anticipate things on your own. This is what Close Your Eyes nails; I want so much more of this on the market that I don’t even know how to express myself. From the very beginning I was uneasy, the world was dark and simplistic, my mind filled in details that may or may not have even been there. The sound design and voice acting was chilling and spot on, causing countless chills and rushing adrenaline. Everything done in this game felt deliberate and calculated, not once did the developer cash in and sacrifice atmosphere and narrative for a PewDieBait jump scare. Nor did it need to. Much like the outstanding Point and Click game “The Cat Lady”, Close Your Eyes masterfully brings you into a very dark place and lets your mind take care of the rest - cruelly prodding it along with snippets of story and hints of progression.

Close Your Eyes is one of the best horror experiences I’ve had in recent memory. And as if I can’t praise it enough, it’s FREE. There is no reason (outside of mature content concerns) that anyone should pass up on a chance to experience this game. Bravo, Developers, bravo.

Review was a Thumbs Up
39 of 39 people (100%) found this review helpful; 1 person found this review funny

>be me
>11am
>be very ♥♥♥♥ing bored of all the f2p games there are
>search time
>"horror"
>see little indie 8bit
>thatsmyfetish.avi
>download
>♥♥♥♥ yeah it takes like 12 minutes
>start game
>gotta make it fullscreen
>gettin hella into the story so far and puzzles
>got stuck in some ♥♥♥♥ing room with doorways thing i gotta search through looking for keys to the other locked doors
>after like 3 hours i finally get through what i think is all the doorways
>coming down from the bathroom up a pathway through circle door
>♥♥♥♥ing glitchy white wolverine ghost monster chases me
>somehow in different room
>hide in corner
>wolverine ♥♥♥♥ing sonics over to me
>jimmies status: MAXIMUM RUSTLE
>death screen with me hung in the background
>mfw i forgot to save the entire time


12/10 would get ♥♥♥♥♥ by wolvering ghost monster again

Review was a Thumbs Up
83 of 116 people (72%) found this review helpful; 113 people found this review funny

as i watch the video that advertises this game with volume off i thought it was some cute comedy escape game about the grim reaper , this in my opinion is scarier than amnesia

Review was a Thumbs Up
30 of 34 people (88%) found this review helpful; 16 people found this review funny

This game is very creative and takes the old 8-bit gaming style to a whole new level of fun and anxiousness. This horror isn't recommended to the "I want jump scared" type, This is more for a psyhcological horror type of people but even you are into jump scares more than psyhcological stuff I recommend to give it a try and you will be surprised. Remember " Life is all about Perseption"

Review was a Thumbs Up
23 of 24 people (96%) found this review helpful; 2 people found this review funny

Most Recent Steam Reviews (English):

More games like this <3 Good story, amazing atmosphere and it's freeee.

i love this game, i am happy there is no jump scares and it involves more thinking then i origionally thought. i definitley think it should be played, experienced and lived for.

I somehow got the ending which involved aliens and flying in a UFO. What the &#9829;&#9829;&#9829;&#9829;.

SO GOOD BUT IS IT A &#9829;&#9829;&#9829;&#9829;ING MARSHMALLOW OR WHAT??? IT HAS TO BE A MOTHER &#9829;&#9829;&#9829;&#9829;ING MARSHMALLOW OK IT LOOKS LIKE ONE AND HIS &#9829;&#9829;&#9829;&#9829;ING NAME IS MARSHMALLOW, SO IS HE ONE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

creepy, multiple finals, music , schizophrenia, every thing i love in a game

Kept expecting a jump scare but the actual game play, music and turn of events really had me scared more then I expected with out the jump scare. My eyes were closed out of fear at some parts. Haha. Not what one would expect with the 8-bit style graphics but when mixed in with everything else the game offered, it added to the charm of playing. Little tip: keep ears open

You play as a little red-eyed marshmallow dude that adorably boops along while trying to escape (?) an increasingly unnerving Limbo. Unnerving it is. It's probably not the scariest game I've seen but it certainly does its job at making me feel tense yet curious as to how the story will unfold. And it's free!

This game's getting so deep under your skin... At the moments, you want to close your eyes, but... You CAN'T!

A story rich 2D horror game indeed. Dwell into the reality and mind of our character's past and present. This horror - genre game is quite heart-pounding indeed. The developers have great sense of imagination and creativity of what horror game looks like. It would be marvelous indeed if the developers establish more solid artwork and time in creating this game. No frequent jumpscares and that is a good thing (players tend to get adaptive if too much jumpscares), good voice acting, marvelous soundtrack, great dialogue plotting, challenging puzzles, dynamic story, and most and importantly, it has a great sense of aesthetics in this game because horror game usually tries to frighthen us players into thinking "something bad is going to happen", and this game really uses elements of horror game quite marvelously from its pitch black surroundings and environment. The developers really quite uses great technique in creating this game, from its research as well. Manipulating people's subconcious mind, and futhermore psychological behaviour as well.

Without further ado, this game reserve a 7.5/10 review.

Pros :
+Solid story background and mysteries
+Great sense of aesthethics
+Challenging puzzles
+Good soundtrack
+Immersive branching story

Cons :
-Poor environment artwork
-Lack of UI
-Few help option

I would like to thank AesthethicGamer for creating this game as well, in the near future I will write a review as well in my own blog about this game. Thanks once again in creating a wonderful horror 2D game.

Countries Best and Worst Received In: Most positive reviews came out of the United States, Russia, and Germany. The most negative reviews came from Japan, Brazil, and Mexico. Of notice, most foreign reviews would mention that requiring to know English was a must for the game to get by some of the puzzles.

Best and Worst Received Elements of the Game: The best received elements of the game was its audio (with particular praise going to the voice acting of the game and some of the music), the story (some were confused, but most enjoyed it and complimented it), and the creepiness & being unnerving while mostly lacking jump scares. Worst received elements were this one section about collecting keys (a fair complaint, most certainly), the first train puzzle (many get a bit stumped here), and some parts being dragged out.

Outside Reception to the Game: The game did not get any attention from any big publications, but did gain the attention of several smaller sites.

Nerds Raging is a small game site that writes reviews for games. Every Friday they do a review of a freeware game, and gave Close Your Eyes 4.5/5 stars. More-so, they released a list of top 5 freeware games of 2015, and named Close Your Eyes as their #2 best freeware game of 2015, citing;

If “Blank Dream” is a dream, “Close Your Eyes” is a surrealist nightmare. A twisted trip into the mind of a tormented and uncertain killer, lost in a hell that may or may not be of their own making. “Close Your Eyes” was also made using the RPGmaker engine, but with original cut scene artwork, voice acting, and music. There are countless secrets to be discovered, infinite theories on the meaning of the plot and the nature of the main characters. I really don’t want to say any more. It’s impossible to describe in any effective way; it has to be experienced for itself.

IndieGames.com did a positive opinion piece of the game, saying they didn't expect much because of the visuals but the game surprised them:

Close Your Eyes has some sharp voice and audio design to build on its simple visuals, knowing when to quietly mutter and when to scream something almost incomprehensible. It's creepy to be sent to a hellish underworld for a murder you did commit, but it's what you hear down there that makes this journey almost too much to bear. The screams in one chapter are haunting, and I can't even think of them without getting the chills. Looking at screenshots for Close Your Eyes had me thinking it would be silly and ineffective, but through perfect use of unnerving sound and some twisted, surprising visuals, it easily left me frightened, unsure whether I should be playing it at night.

Spanish Blog Update or Die gave an opinion piece on the game, and were positive on it;

Unsurprisingly the gaming market has a number of initiatives aimed horror games / horror. Each semester passes, platform independent, we see new things coming up with this theme. But indie games has surprised quite this harvest. CLOSE YOUR EYES is another good example that comes to justify this fact.

More than startle, the game bother at all times. Simple graphics and minimalist design are quite oppressive and constant low lighting create a very oppressive atmosphere in the game interface. There are grotesque elements that permeate the scene and help make the atmosphere of the indie. The sound of the game is also quite bizarre, contributing to the immersion in the oddities of the universe proposed on the screen.

Maxgamesalot, a blog where a guy named Max reviews games he plays, received the game less favorably, saying CYE is a good example of how it might not be a good the game's market is open to everyone right now, but says there are things to like about it;

As a product to be ranked alongside many other games in this genre, it just doesn't hold up. As a little freebie made by amateur's who are using this game as a stepping stone to greater things, it's perfectly fine. There's a whole suspiciously brown coloured swamp of awful indie horror games, and so I applaud Close Your Eyes for at least attempting to be different from all this.

YouTubers: The game has had at least 400 different YouTube channels start let's plays on the game. About 250 of those have received at least one ending in the game. 150 or so got more than two endings. About 46 of them got all endings. The most watched LPs of the game are the following:

-TheRPGMinx playing the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1HPiIHtkjo
-ManlyBadassHero playing an older version of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACSYAIKaM9A
-Nicht Corrupted (German) playing the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EgJHFki2tY


---


-Overall-

Game was received much better than anticipated. It was played a bit more than I expected as well, though didn't get any huge media attention and is still a more niche thing. Have received some very kind words and messages on the game, via emails, on social feeds, on other freeware sites the game is available on. I have two other freebie experiment games coming to Steam soon, so see how those fair in comparison to CYE.