STUDIO
Output Games
Output Games
ROLE
Creative Director
Creative Director
PROJECT OVERVIEW
ECHOPLEX is a first-person puzzle game for PC and Mac, released on the Steam platform in 2018. ECHOPLEX was awarded Most Innovative Game and Best Art Direction at Lisboa Games Week Indiedome 2017.
"Slick as hell"
GAMESPOT
"Intriguing... Minimalist aesthetic and tricky spacial puzzles."
INDIEGAMES.COM
"A slick, stylish and rather scary puzzle adventure."
ALPHA BETA GAMER
CONCEPT
Trapped in a mysterious looping simulation, you are followed by an “Echo” of yourself — a duplicate who repeats everything you do.
Each level contains a memory fragment that reveals more of the story — but to reach it, you must outsmart your Echoes in ever more challenging ways.
• Unusual spatial puzzles anchored by an innovative Echo gameplay mechanic.
• Rich storyline through puzzle-solving and live-action video clips shot by director Tyron Janse van Vuuren.
• Intriguing, minimalist environments.
• Abstract soundscape augmented by a “cyber-horror” score produced by Revin Goff.
ECHOPLEX plays with time. The Echoes repeat the player's exact movements, and must be used to solve puzzles.
GAME DEVELOPMENT
ECHOPLEX started life as a side-project of creative director Tyron Janse van Vuuren and developer Henk Scheepers.
The browser-based ECHOPLEX prototype (2015) saw positive audience response online. The demo of the game received millions of views on Youtube when French YouTuber Squeezie played the game.
In 2017, Executive Producer Shayne Mann came on board, and the team developed a full version of the game for the Steam platform, released 15 March 2018.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
ECHOPLEX features a live action video narrative that integrates with the gameplay.
The player collects memory "fragments" in each level. When they complete the level, the fragments assemble into a short video that forms part of a larger story.
The video elements were directed by Tyron Janse van Vuuren, and use a combination of live actors, 3D graphics and stock footage to create a near future world with scale and depth.
ECHOPLEX cut scenes use visual effects to combine live actors, 3D graphics and stock footage.
The ECHOPLEX narrative was recreated in Mandarin for the Chinese language version
MERCHANDISING
To promote the launch of the game, branded clothing was designed using the game's graphical assets.
The merchandise was used for giveaways, and was sold at physical expos.
AWARDS
In 2017, ECHOPLEX was awarded MOST INNOVATIVE GAME and BEST ART DIRECTION at Lisboa Games Week Indiedome in Lisbon.
