Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because Scriptic, those masterminds behind the “BAFTA-nominated” (we’ll get to that later) Scriptic: Crime Stories, are back with another groundbreaking…thing. This time, it involves Ralph Ineson, who, let’s be honest, is probably wondering what he signed up for. Prepare for a “thriller” set in a “near-future Britain” where AI is probably judging your every move. Sounds like fun, right? 🙄
From the depths of their creative abyss, Scriptic, the studio that brought you such titles as Dead Man’s Phone (because nothing says “thrilling” like staring at a screen that isn’t yours📱) and Dispatcher (we’re not even going to pretend we know what that is), is unleashing a new interactive experience upon us. This time, it features the gravelly voice of Ralph Ineson as DCI Saunders. Yes, that’s right, the guy who played Dagmer Cleftjaw in *Game of Thrones* is slumming it in a mobile game. As DCI Saunders, he’ll be your “partner,” guiding you through a world where AI is both your best friend and worst nightmare. Or, you know, just another excuse to drain your phone battery.🔋
Founded in the bygone era of 2017 by the dynamic duo of Nihal Tharoor and Benedict Tatham, Scriptic, once known as Electic Noir Studios (thank goodness they changed that!), is apparently on a mission to “craft true crime games for mobile, consoles, Steam, and the clouds.” The clouds?☁️ Are we playing games in the sky now? Anyway, with over 7 million downloads of their BAFTA 2020-nominated Scriptic: Crime Stories (yes, they keep mentioning the BAFTA nomination), they’ve clearly cornered the market on something. What that is, we’re still trying to figure out.🤔
But wait, there’s more! Scriptic’s latest masterpiece is based on the “real-world rise of AI and predictive surveillance.” Because nothing is more entertaining than simulating the very thing that’s slowly eroding our privacy. You and DCI Saunders (aka Ralph Ineson’s digitally rendered avatar) will be investigating potential suspects flagged by the algorithm for future criminal activity. It’s like *Minority Report*, but on your phone!📱 And with Ralph Ineson as your guide, you’ll be forced to confront your own morality. Or, you know, just tap the screen to make the story move forward.
Nihal Tharoor, the CEO and Co-Founder of Scriptic, had this to say about the upcoming game: “When we founded Scriptic, our vision was to create truly immersive storytelling experiences – ones where the player is at the center of deeply moving, lifelike narratives.” Deeply moving? Lifelike? We’re pretty sure our last mobile game experience involved matching candy.🍬 But hey, maybe this time will be different! He continues, “As our studio has grown, we’ve endeavored to push the boundaries of narrative games, crafting stories that play upon players’ consciences, and collaborating with world-class talent, like the incredible Ralph Ineson.” World-class talent indeed! Though we suspect Mr. Ineson’s agent might be getting a stern talking-to.🗣️
Ralph Ineson himself chimed in with his thoughts on the project: “It has been an incredible experience working with Scriptic to bring this multifaceted story to life.” Multifaceted? Like a Rubik’s Cube made of existential dread? He continues, “This story digs into the increasingly blurred lines between safety and ever-present surveillance in today’s world.” In other words, it’s going to make you paranoid.🙃
“In playing the protagonist’s partner, I saw an opportunity as an actor to evoke an internal conversation within players that makes them ponder their own intrinsic beliefs, prompting them to determine the fate of the accused, with my character as their sounding board, which was a very powerful experience.” So, basically, you’re going to be having an internal monologue with a digital Ralph Ineson. Sounds like a party!🥳 He concludes, “Over the years, I’ve been drawn to roles in video games because it challenges me to explore a character through a number of different lenses, and I think players will find that this story has many unexpected layers to it.” Unexpected layers, huh? Like the layer where you realize you’ve wasted three hours of your life tapping on a screen? 🤡
To learn more about Scriptic and its upcoming projects, including the highly anticipated Dead Man Phone: Inmate (still on that phone obsession, huh?) and Broken Cover (sounds like our last relationship), you can visit their website, X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook pages. Just be prepared to be bombarded with marketing jargon and promises of “immersive storytelling experiences.” We’re not saying it’s going to be bad, but we’re also not saying it’s going to be good. We’re just saying…manage your expectations. And maybe keep a charger handy. You know, just in case. 📱⚡️
