I Write Games Not Tragedies
‘I Write Games Not Tragedies’ is a narrative-driven rhythm game that pays homage to British emo and goth subcultures. In the game’s narrative levels, the player experiences the story of Ash, from “baby bat” in the 2000s to “elder emo” in the 2020s via a period of addiction in the 2010s, with awkwardness, humour and romance along the way. ‘I Write Games Not Tragedies’ features rhythm levels with three original songs composed by the developers and their friends. These rhythm levels give the player the opportunity to exorcise their own angst, teenage or otherwise. In the verses, there is a distinctive rhythm game mechanic where players hit musically considered beats within the lyrics. In the choruses, players are invited to sing or scream into the microphone, and the louder they vocalise, the higher their score. The game was born out of the “emo cardio” theatre production ‘PROBLEM Spelled In Capital Cases,’ exhibited at Camden People’s Theatre in spring 2023, which was directed by developer Vicky Wong and featured developer Julia Mascetti as a performer. True to its roots, the game is highly theatrical and is best enjoyed in an exhibition setting where players can feel free to sing and scream together. At its core, ‘I Write Games Not Tragedies’ gives the player a space to explore the question of whether it’s possible to exorcise our demons, or whether we can learn to live with them. Featuring themes of addiction, alienation, and queer romance that will be relatable to many, ‘I Write Games Not Tragedies’ is a raucous love letter to subculture with themes that go beyond the “alternative” to the universally “human.”
