“Whatever You Understood Happened” Is What Happened In Scorn

Scorn is a complex abstract game. Even after seeing credits, players are left in an uncomfortable but memorable state of mind that defies clear explanation. We spoke via email with Ljubomir Perklar from Ebb Software to get more information about the strange experience. Unsurprisingly, much is meant to be left to the players’ imagination, but Peklar did offer some details, like how it managed to create something so abstract, some of the incidental imagery that occurred, and the best movie from the Aliens franchise.

Game InformerScorn: How did it happen?

Peklar – Whatever you understand happened.

Did the end of the game always match the plan?

Although all parts went through many iterations, we think we kept true to the original concept.

Let me correct you if I’m wrong. I think that it is possible that you don’t want to provide additional information on Scorn or let the players create their ideas. Do you agree with that assumption? Please enter your email addressDo you have an idea for the story that drives this game? Is there a story that drives the game?

While there may be one specific story, that doesn’t mean some parts can not be understood differently. It is not our belief that it should be demystified. People should be able to see it for themselves and make their own decisions.

Scorn was an experience that I had personally. It was something that made me feel uncomfortable and was often gross. But I found myself engrossed in the story and eager to find out what happened next. Do you think this is the way players will play Scorn?

Exactly. You feel awkward while you play the game, but want to continue learning and playing more. This is what we believe to be the case.

At nearly all points of the game the protagonist is penalized, and especially at the end. Did the game’s goal be to provide no relief? Did the goal ever offer any hope for the player?

Of course, it is part of the game’s storytelling.

“I Have No Mouth” (1995).

I was reminded of the image of the giant creature at the end of the game, which you have to violently enter, by the I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream adaptation. That story is inspiring, wouldn’t you agree?

It is not an accident that the two visual similarities occur.

Scorn’s world is so strange and abstract. Is it possible to describe a situation or the way you wish a particular section to play to an artist/designer during development?

We had a lot of issues with this in the early stages of Scorn’s production, it was very challenging for people to understand something so out of the mainstream. We have been able to bring our teams together to understand the basic ideas, and they are much more easily translated into the game.

Scorn’s animated animation is amazing. Did that represent an early development point? You wanted to make sure that the animation was particularly good.

Because there’s no dialogue, every visual, sound, animation, and animation must convey the story.

Accept the negative feedback of other players? The game seems not to have appealed to everybody.

We knew it was going to be divisive when we began this project. It is a product that people either love or hate. There’s no middle ground. While we understand that some people are not happy with the game, it isn’t intended to be enjoyed by everyone.

Are there any interesting player theories? Is there any that you believe to be correct?

Some of these theories were completely outlandish and led us to think of things that we had never considered. On the other side, there’s no right answer and some players may be closer to what we originally thought.

How do you feel about comparisons between Silent Hill and Myst?

While we are very fond of both of these franchises, we don’t believe Scorn can be directly compared to any of them. These games share some of the same ideas.

Combat can sometimes be very difficult. It can be argued that it is sometimes too hard. This was intentional.

Although some may have gotten the impression that Scorn is a gunman, it was not intended to be. You should think twice before engaging in any engagement due to the limited ammo available and the nature of your enemies.

My playthrough was incomplete. I did not use one of the weapon’s abilities and won the game. What kind of player would you have expected to play that level?

This was always a possibility, and we wanted our players to feel rewarded for their explorations of the world.

Which legacy do you want to leave Scorn behind?

Although it is hard to speak about legacy, we believe that we set out to make the industry better and we are now able to do so.

Are you sure you’ll continue working within such a horrible palette for future projects? You might be more open to exploring something positive for your next projects.

We are currently gathering feedback from the public on the game. It will be a while before we can decide on the next project and get started on it. At the moment, we don’t limit ourselves to any one genre or theme.

Your history with H.R. Giger?

We are huge admirers of his ideas and work, but there’s no history.

Which Alien movie are you most fond of?

Only one Alien film is good. It is the original.