Dear Esther is part of a research project, creating experimental game mods, based at the University of Portsmouth, UK. The aim was to use Source to create something radically different from normal: an interactive story that dispensed with traditional gameplay and focused instead on an open-ended, semi-random narrative.

More information about the mod and its aims, and the overall project can be found on the website. Also look out for two more mods coming soon: Conscientious Objector (Doom 3) and Antlion Soccer (Half Life 2 Deathmatch)

Thanks for looking - any feedback would be fantastic.

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5 comments by chineseroom on Aug 6th, 2008 digg this super bookmark


We're currently working on a new version of Dear Esther, responding to many of the comments made here (thanks to everyone for those). Key areas to change are:

1. Getting rid of those invisible walls
2. Making the pathways more obvious in the first two levels
3. Dealing with some texturing and displacement issues
4. Adding a few more cues in harder to reach places (you explored more than we thought you would)
5. Deadling with the double-cues on the west side
6. Extending the caves.

All the video footage of errors has been brilliant, thanks for all that.

Secondly, a few people have mailed through their interpretations of the story, which has been really interesting and brilliant to get. I'd love to get more of these, see how people have nailed it all together. It would really help us with the research ideas that sat behind the project. PM me your version of the plot - it'd be very appreciated (and I will eventually release my version). We may well use your contributions in a research paper, but I'll contact you directly for a permission in that case. Any questions, drop me a line.

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Dear Esther - Soundtrack

Dear Esther - Soundtrack

Jul 11, 2008 Music 6 comments

Jessica Curry's soundtrack for Dear Esther: 8 tracks as MPEG4s.

Dear Esther script

Dear Esther script

Jun 30, 2008 Guides 10 comments

This pdf contains the script for the interactive story Dear Esther, as requested...

Dear Esther.zip

Dear Esther.zip

Jun 27, 2008 Full Version 10 comments

Zip file for the Dear Esther mod. Unpack it into your source mods folder, restart Steam and it will show in the games list.

Comments  (0 - 10 of 165)
CdeathJD
CdeathJD 10hours 32mins ago says: Online

Please Please make the walking speed faster. It's painfully slow. I'm really interested in this, yet am irritated to even play it as i feel like its all happening in slow motion!

+1 vote     reply to comment
CdeathJD
CdeathJD 10hours 12mins ago replied: Online

Never mind, bunnyhopping seems to work :p
Why is it only 2 levels long though? for the zip size its a bit of space wastage isn't it? :s

+1 vote     reply to comment
mapperking
mapperking Dec 2 2008, 9:34pm says:

i would say that this is the best mod i have ever played. all the talking and the signs all over. it was great! i have never played something like this b4. Keep making mods!!!! n_n

+1 vote     reply to comment
sk8ordie97
sk8ordie97 Nov 17 2008, 11:44pm says:

im stuck i cant get across the rocks

+1 vote     reply to comment
chineseroom
chineseroom Nov 20 2008, 12:46pm replied:

where abouts exactly are you?

+1 vote     reply to comment
NightRaider
NightRaider Nov 17 2008, 9:36pm says:

I could not believe how beautiful this mod was. The ambiance and narration were excellent, and I had chills running down my spine constantly. I salute you and hope this sort of inventive approach is taken on by more modders, and perhaps even retail developers. And of course, I hope the Chinese room continues with such amazing skill and dedication.

+1 vote     reply to comment
lawlhat
lawlhat Nov 12 2008, 9:50pm says:

Needless to say I needed to change my pants after playing this. Even still I didn't explore everything.

+1 vote     reply to comment
Rigelblast
Rigelblast Nov 11 2008, 1:07pm says:

That is an incredible mod. The storyline is good and strongly involved in the game and the developers have succeeded in creating a creepy atmosphere and adding many horror elements to the game. Dear Esther is also a very original mod: it's different from the mainstream shoot-'em-ups and first-person shooters and the story is very interactive. Maybe the game could have had subtitles as I didn't get all the details in the story. Otherwise, I think this mod is excellent.

+1 vote     reply to comment
Eridani
Eridani Nov 10 2008, 11:52pm says:

This is a great work of literature and art, great voice acting, and is incredibly atmospheric. A tad short, but I think it suits it, and I hope you guys (or girls) make more mods like this. Thanks for making something different!

+1 vote     reply to comment
:Blackwolf
:Blackwolf Nov 8 2008, 6:16pm says:

This modification is incredible. It is a totally new experience.

The voice takes you to another world. The soundtrack really is stunning.

The whole modification seems to be professional. It feels professional.
I think for the first we all can ignore the marginal bugs.

Stylistic. Impressive. Affecting.

+1 vote     reply to comment
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Platform
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Developed By
chineseroom
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Official Page
Thechineseroom.co.uk
Release Date
Released Jun 19, 2008
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First Person Shooter
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