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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12 comments by chineseroom on Nov 20th, 2009 digg this super bookmark


The Second Death of Caspar Helendale by Jessica Curry and Dan Pinchbeck has been selected by The Royal Opera House and will be performed live at the Linbury Studio Theatre as part of the Firsts 09 season, "showcasing some of the most talented and genre-defying artists in the UK today."

The performances will be taking place simultaneously at the ROH and in Second Life on
27th and 28th November at 9.15pm GMT / 1.15pm PST
The Second Life avatar Caspar Helendale invites you to attend his death; a funeral service held simultaneously in the real and virtual worlds. He has been exploring mortality since he was first created, and in his last twenty minutes of existence he will share his thoughts with collected mourners. He will be accompanied by his widow-to-be, Trixiebelle Landar, whose requiem will be performed live and streamed back into the virtual world over the course of the service. Via live onstage musicians and a giant projection screen, the theatre audience will join Second Life residents to reflect and mourn, as the real and virtual worlds collide at the point where Caspar's light is forever extinguished.

If you cannot attend in first life then we would be delighted if you and your avatar would join us in Second Life for the duration of the performance. Teleport to http://slurl.com/secondlife/2ND%20LIVE/180/223/23 , on the night, or to book a place, please email, or IM either Dan (dan.pinchbeck@port.ac.uk) or Jessica (jessica@jessicacurry.co.uk) beforehand.

If you want to attend the event in London, tickets are only £5 and are available from the Royal Opera House - Roh.org.uk

And to the Gods I tell you this: we shall outlast you all...

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Dear Esther v1.1 (fixed)

Dear Esther v1.1 (fixed)

Jan 22, 2009 Full Version 38 comments

Updated Dear Esther with fixed link to level 4. This fully replaces v1.0, please delete that and unzip this into your SourceMods folder

Dear Esther - Soundtrack

Dear Esther - Soundtrack

Jul 11, 2008 Music 18 comments

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

Dear Esther script

Dear Esther script

Jun 30, 2008 Guides 14 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 12 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  (20 - 30 of 455)
kfhammond
kfhammond Nov 11 2009, 3:34am says:

I played the game today, and I was deeply drawn in by the story and concept, but I was dissapointed with the typical HL2 world looks. I just saw the more recent update... OH MY GOD IT LOOKS GORGEOUS.

+1 vote     reply to comment
Zickleinmorder
Zickleinmorder Nov 4 2009, 12:07am says:

This is an absolutely brilliant piece of work. Atmospheric, and the narration and music beautiful. Honestly I don't think this "game" could be any better.

+1 vote     reply to comment
PieceOfThePuzzle
PieceOfThePuzzle Nov 1 2009, 4:44pm says:

Fantastic voice acting and music. But where is the gameplay? I found myself bunny-hopping along a more or less fixed path through a non-interactive map.

-3 votes     reply to comment
manzermias
manzermias Oct 25 2009, 4:39pm buried:

(buried)

I demand a reasonable explanation of the storyline.

I've came up with countless theories, but I'd want something to confirm them.

In my opinion, if you plan on releasing -art games- as such, one author should at least have the decency to spare us the countless sleepless nights analysing and coming up with the conclusions!

-6 votes     reply to comment
chineseroom
chineseroom Oct 29 2009, 8:07am replied:

Ah, but there is no definitive explanation, that's kind of the point. There are a couple of 'most likely' readings as far as I'm concerned, but I think any explanation is OK...

+5 votes     reply to comment
Repzik
Repzik Oct 29 2009, 8:31pm replied:

What I love about Dear Esther is that the story is whatever you make it. You interpret what is going on, who is who, etc. I love exploring the narrator's mind, listening to his words and turning them over and over, trying to discover the meaning.

This is why I gave Dear Esther a 10 before I even realized the map was being remade. The voice acting and writing alone is just THAT good. Which I believe Dan did both of them... so good job!

+4 votes     reply to comment
chineseroom
chineseroom Nov 3 2009, 7:27am replied:

I wrote it, but credit to the voice acting belongs to Nigel Carrington, you plays the prison governor on the ferry in The Dark Knight, trivia fans...

+2 votes     reply to comment
FootBallHead
FootBallHead Oct 31 2009, 9:11am replied:

I tried to explain this mod to my brother... with little success. I wanted to tell him about the story line without my own interpretations added in so that he would play, but it was so hard! I think I eventually gave up.

Everything is so beautifully crafted. That the music, graphics and gameplay, and storyline just tie it all together to make one hell of a mod. I enjoy listening to the soundtrack and have been trying to play them on the piano by ear.

By the way, congratulations on making on the Halloween Extravaganza list!

+1 vote     reply to comment
1PlayerD
1PlayerD Oct 20 2009, 4:26pm says:

This is a masterpeice

+2 votes     reply to comment
ben_andrews
ben_andrews Oct 17 2009, 4:27am says:

Hey guys, check out the latest issue of Wired UK magazine for an article on Dan, Rob and Dear Esther plus a little bit of my DE artwork. Its on page 57

Enjoy!

www.ben-andrews.deviantart.com/

+1 vote     reply to comment
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