There’s a computer game called The Graveyard that’s available for a low price over at Steam. I’ve seen it once or twice when looking over the list of games available through that service, looking for possible bargains, but had never taken the time to read through the game’s description until recently. It reads:
The Graveyard is a very short computer game. You play an old lady who visits a graveyard. You walk around, sit on a bench and listen to a song. It’s more like an explorable painting than an actual game. An experiment with poetry and storytelling but without words.
Buying the full version of The Graveyard adds only one feature, the possibility of death. The full version of the game is exactly the same as the trial, except, every time you play she may die.
I’ve never quite seen a game description like this before, at least not one which I’m guessing was written by the developer or the publisher, through a service that’s supposed to promote and sell games. They might consider taking some sort of marketing class as they put their own game in a fairly unflattering light, probably not inspiring too many to shell out cash for the full version, even if it’s currently only 4 EUR.
But apparently it’s more than just a waste of time according to this review, at least for those who’re open for a different gaming experience than your your typical fare, for those who aren’t averse to some experimentation with the medium. Though from the sound of it, something like 2 EUR might be a more reasonable price to pay for this, maybe even only 1 EUR, due to the short length (about ten minutes, according to the review) and limited replayability.
Here’s my own shot at writing a slightly more flattering description of the game, without really having played it myself. It’s nothing great, perhaps a bit too pretentious and far reaching, but I think it puts their own game in a better light.
In The Graveyard you take on the role of an elderly woman, reminiscing about life and death as she rests on a bench, surveying the landscape. An experimentation with poetry and non-verbal storytelling, this short games serves as a stark reminder of our own morality. An experience unlike any other.
Hope they make enough money for a possible sequel though – this game is practically begging for a multiplayer mode! Who can make it to the bench first?
