Fear Illuminates Your Path

The Scrapers look awesome!!

Sarah Heist

Love the art as always. My favorite part of your posts is the information and insight on how you live your life which is incredibly helpful in this current difficult chaotic time in mine. Thank you. Blessed be, blessed being.

Love all these creepy bug doll enemies, truly disturbing stuff. The surprise doll is also disturbing all on its own. The idea of that thing coming at you with its awkward walk is so unsettling. Alex's style somehow feels like stylistically it would fit in the old game world Nightmare Creatures.

After watching the new LIVEstream, welcome back btw, I've come to something that could actually make a 'scraper' more distinctive. The scrapers are quite amazing! It's interesting because when you say that they appear when Alice is vulnerable 2 things pop up in my mind. I think as you mentioned that they could appear in segments where Alice is defenceless , which could be executed in specific segments of the game, maybe story developing scripted segments, or another thing that I've been thinking after hearing 'vulnerable', that maybe the scraper could chase Alice when she is near to actual 'death', 'most vulnerable', but then again that sort of sounds like a second version of a a 'Shadow Alice'. Which on it's side made me think that since we understood from this video that we are 'chasing/following' 'Shadow Alice', while we chase/follow her, we are being followed by someone else, a' scraper(s)'. Coming to this conclusion, if thought of this concept in such a way, I can actually imagine having you battle a boss or mini-boss, having a scraper interfere in the battle. Perhaps a 'scraper', who follows you, and maybe also follows 'Shadow Alice', could be hostile towards everything else, including the enemies you clash with. It's rare to see in games non scripted, like non over the top creatures who have godlike powers, to clash with the environment you yourself struggle with. So perhaps if the role of the 'scraper' changes from just being an enemy you'll face in certain parts of the game into someone more important in the story development of the game could highlight some quite unique battles in the game! Which also just made me think that if you're being followed, perhaps you could set traps, or try to confuse the one being on the hunt for you, by making certain simple environmental and platforming, and maybe puzzle and character interaction/quest ( like the piglet quest at the beginning of Madness) changes, different ways of going through parts of the game, that would have a different outcome in other moments with the 'scraper' enemy. But again although it sounds new to have something executed in such a way, having such a great enemy scraping the ground in some asylum would make your bones chill, and I'd love to experience it!

Alex Crowley

Hi everyone! Just responding to a few comments and feedback on the Scraper baddie concept. In relation to it being related to Silent Hill or Edward Scissor Hands, the connection is unintentional, but it's great feedback to try and give the character it's own identity for the Alice Series. The concept of the scraper is a scary, lumbering, unassailable enemy that must be evaded, either by stealth, hiding from them or luring their attention away from you to get through the areas they populate. I see them in dark halls, and in the tripped out dark Asylum areas of the game. They definitely wouldn't be hanging out in a Vale of Tears / Wonderland style area. The idea behind this concept is to explore enemy styles that are more tailored to Alice's experiences in the Asylum and real-life, rather than those based in Wonderland. Having said that, there might be room to explore introducing a take that ties the character more into the Wonderland fantasy, or the child-like toy theme we're seeing in enemies. Maybe a wind-up crank in their back, (like a wind-up toy) which spins periodically, so these guys only move when they're "wound up" so to speak. Their stilted movement is key to the character, and I saw an excellent comment that the shape of the scraper resembles a chess piece. Which might be something I look into to refine for the next pass. Either way, always cool to see the feedback, will see how these guys take shape as we go :)

For the Alice image of her in the hospital, why is her head shaved? Are they preparing her for a procedure? The only one I can think of would be a lobotomy, that is a scary thought!

V--R

I love the concept of the Scraper but I think we might want to explore a different angle than scraping since it currently reminds me too much of a Silent Hill enemy type that is known for scraping walls. Maybe instead since this monster is based on a strait jacket maybe when encountered it cane try to capture up Alice.

I love this and that was pretty much me at that age. Also at that age, you become more self-conscious and worry about what your peers think of you. And Alice's only peers are the asylum staff and Wonderland. You get obsessed with trying to also disconnect from being perceived as a child and show the world you're not a kid anymore.

If I had a SUGGESTION for Omri, I would explore the theme of Alice feeling disconnected and dissociating from reality. One thing I've experienced with disassociation episodes is that it's like a "tunnel vision" per say, like figures around you are almost blurry or too bright to look at. Another aspect of PTSD that sometimes you can experience sensory overload and it is not fun. But also, another SUGGESTION in addition, asking "what is a 13 year old girl afraid of?", I think it's also important to explore "what is a traumatized 13 year old afraid of?". I know I keep bringing up personal experiences, but I liked what another said about strange men; that is one definite thing you become afraid of at that age as you grow. And possibly, in Alice's case, since she's been the asylum for so long, she could develop a fear of authoritative figures, in addition to the very tall, strange men. Maybe they would seem more monstrous, loud, and looming.

Well, to quote Alice (but heaven knows which author of Alice I'm quoting now, or whether I haven't just made it all up): 'I don't know who I am ... I never seem to stay the same from one moment to the next'.

Very interesting! I love the ideas, I love the scrapers, I can almost imagine a scene with them while reading how they would work out. I could also imagine the Asylum in The Angel of Darkness, that was infested by mutated creatures with strapped arms. It was creepy and I am intriqued to see how the scrapers are gonna be present. I also can't wait to hear more about the dolls origins and ideas in the livestream!

Jesus bloomin christ I'm not going to sleep tonight! Terrifying. The scraper is amazing, in an oh god I'm going to hide under the bed kind of way

Also I love the doll enemies. Bantis looks the best, especially with the girly features. I like the idea of only expanding it's neck when it notices Alice. The wounded twins look also good, I adore the sideview, but I think their details needs some more work or redesign. But the way it walks already looks amazing!

I love Omri's image! The perspective and the colors are fantastic. Maybe make Alice less happy?

Hannah Young

SUGGESTION: For the Bantis enemy, what if it just walks around and doesn’t attack until it notices you and kind of looks around as if it’s searching for you? (It could say things like “mama” only in a slightly distorted voice the way a doll would if its batteries were dying) While it’s in this stage its neck looks like a normal length doll neck and once it sees you its neck rises all the way up and it lets out some hellish scream as it starts charging towards you, using its mantis arms to come at you faster. QUESTION: Not really Alice related so feel free to skip this if you want but how was your Holiday?

Hannah Young

So many beautifully creepy enemies <3 I'm in love!!!

Relevant how?

The Gramma's Teeth is the exact sort of monster a child's mind would make up. I absolutely love that one. Also Omri's Alice in the Asylum gives off a lovely claustrophobic feeling, with all the strangers surrounding her. Perhaps the cat at the bottom should have the markings of the Cheshire Cat, just to give the image a touch of Wonderland.

Davinellulinvega

I really love Omri's updated version of Alice in the asylum. It is simply a thing of beauty. In my opinion it manages to represent or bring out her helplessness and imprisonment. She is stuck in this bed unable to move while everyone around is managing her life and (supposedly) telling her what to do and think. She's become just another patient, another number in the asylum. As for the rest of the post i think this philosophy of getting stronger by piecing together the remains of your broken soul fits perfectly with the theme and story so far.

Anna Lepper

QUESTION for Alex: Was the Scraper enemy inspired a little bit by Edward Scissorhands? I'm loving all the art that was posted for the enemies so far. I think the concept of "what would a 13 y.o. be afraid of?" is a good question to consider.

I love all of the above. The scrapers in particular seem very cool; I like the fact that they're an enemy which reflects the asylum a little more closely. The idea with starting with a list of what little girls would be frightened of is an excellent idea and I feel anything to do with an asylum, even if this is something the 'average' girl of that age would experience, would definitely make that list and would be a good idea to include. At first glance, I had thought this was supposed to be a twisted/asylum version of a chess piece going with the Through the Looking Glass Alice theme.

Firstly: "Instead of asking "why" a thing happened... look at the shattered bits and pieces which remain and accept them for what's left to work with." Thank you for saying this <3 I wasted so much time being stuck on that why, instead of rebuilding what was left of me. The new enemies from Joey are really good. I'm especially loving Grammas' Teeth! Alex' monster concept looks pretty cool and I like the ideas, though I sort of feel like it looks a bit more.. Generic horror that could be in any game, rather than the specific style where when you see something, you instantly know that it's from our world of Alice. I like the concept though, with the scraping blades making noises on the ground and Alice being scared and trying to run and hide from this monstrosity. Loving Omris' image! SUGGESTION: I think more can be done to accentuate Alice in this image and increase the sense of falling down into the image, when you look at it, by making the whites on the clothes of the people around her darker and perhaps a wee bit blurry. Your eyes will always seek out that which is clear, and by blurring the edges, makes the focus go straight to Alice.

I received my coin last week! It's awesome! The art is as usual amazing, can't wait to see the dollsects in the game, although I'll probably have a tough time with the mantis one 😖 those are creepy!!

Make Nine Inch Nails great again

To me, the philosophy of what-doesn't-kill-you-makes-you-stronger sounds like an excuse for traitors expressed by their victims. At some point, those jars were broken on purpose to make them beautiful/give them value: right after Banksy destroyed his $1.2million work, I heard its value tripled! Rather believe you were never functional so they can't claim they broke you.

Beautiful. I have got my chaos coin here in New Zealand and it is looking so so good! Very good work.

Jay Olsen

I'm loving the creativity behind these doll designs. Much more variety and visceral creepiness than the Ruin in Madness Returns. I hope we keep the body horror themes going. Maybe throw in a little trypophobia aesthetics like enemies with meaty bodies riddled with holes one can see bugs crawling in and out of. SUGGESTION: I saw the question "What is a 13-year-old girl afraid of?" in that first image and the first thing that came to me was: Strange men. This is both true, especially for young, pretty women in the Victorian era, and conveniently fits the plot of this series. It'd be cool if there was an Alien Isolation-like section of the game in which Alice has been stripped of her weapons and strength and must navigate a procedurally-generated labyrinthine landscape that looks like the dark, rainy streets of London. Hard-to-spot shadows of men appear and disappear in random places and times that Alice has to keep an eye out for. There would be multiple ways through the maze-like map, but the player would get blocked off by these shadows and eventually blocked in, if they took too long to get through a section. It'd be extra creepy if they moved between alleys and windows when they player wasn't looking, always getting closer.

I love the scrapers very silent hill esq I love Omris Alice and these new baby doll enemy's are awesome

The Alice in the asylum art is AMAZING! Scrapers are definitely an ace idea, too. Super creepy!

I like the dolls, very creepy. The art by Omri and Alex is perfect as usual.

Chance Houston

Suggestion: please correct me if I'm wrong, but a reoccurring theme in these games is finishing what you started correct? So maybe with the insect like dolls once you completely break them down, you have to kill the bug. Like stripping away a bad memories surrounding armor and squashing it. And if you dont remember to kill the bug part they'll join other parts you missed to make a tough enemy, or maybe a scout to tell shadow Alice about you making that fight harder. So a depending on how many of the bug pieces you miss the final fight becomes exponentially harder.