Alright, imagine this. There’s this indie game team, right? Belief Engine. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s just Mike Monroe and Scott McKie doing their thing. They’ve been at it for over a decade. Apparently, they’re in Japan now, drinking in the culture like, no idea, like it’s matcha latte or something. (Side note: Matcha is not for everyone, trust me.)
So anyway, they make this game, DEAD LETTER DEPT. It’s like this suspenseful, creepy typing game. I know, typing? Spooky? Actually, yeah. Once they explain it, you get it. And let’s just say, they didn’t start with a polished plan. Mike, he’s all about indie games and made this life choice to just go for it in 2020. I guess it worked out? School took him from Colorado to Washington back in the day — DigiPen was the spot. That’s the real deal.
Scott? Art major turned tech guy. Did like, eight years in school? Wow. He’s like, “Art, meet science.” But then, boom, real life — money talks, right? Washington was where it all kicked off for them. It’s funny, they talk about schools and degrees, and I’m just here thinking about student debt… Anyway.
Here’s the part that got me: They didn’t have a clear path, just experiments and wild prototyping. Starting something new is always a ride, isn’t it? Speaking of rides, apparently DEAD LETTER DEPT. draws a lot from life experiences: Scott’s night-time college gig, a train, some sketchy warehouse. Real life is weirder than games sometimes. Ever notice how life is a constant flow state? Like, you do something so much, it becomes muscle memory. They wanted to mess with that in their game. Clever, right?
Mike was into sound, music — he’s that guy. Finds it fun and kind of zen. Fun fact: They talked about creepy tunnels in Japan (spooky vibes!), which apparently influence game aesthetics. Imagine recording weird noises in an underground tunnel. (No sarcasm, I actually dig this.)
Scott’s on another project, something about learning Japanese with monsters? Sounds like a fever dream, but hey, it’s his thing.
All in all, these two are like a whirlwind of ideas and experiments. Can’t help but wonder what’s next. They just keep tweaking projects, soundtracks, and maybe munching on wasabi peas? Who knows. If anyone gets to the heart of gaming quirks, it’s these guys.
Oh, and DEAD LETTER DEPT. — totally on Steam if you’re intrigued by haunted typing. The soundtrack’s coming too, possibly haunting your playlist soon. Keep an eye out if you’re into all things eerie and indie.
