Key Points
- Abubakar Salim, known for House of the Dragon, releases his second game, Dead Take.
- The game is a psychological horror set in a Hollywood director’s mansion.
- Gameplay centers on escape‑room puzzles and investigative video editing.
- Full‑motion video features real actors Ben Starr and Neil Newbon.
- Themes include industry corruption, exploitation, and AI misuse.
- Salim uses the game to voice concerns about AI‑generated actor likenesses.
- Dead Take blends narrative storytelling with interactive puzzle mechanics.
- The project serves as a critique of Hollywood’s darker practices.
Background
Abubakar Salim, an actor recognized for his performances on television series such as House of the Dragon and Raised By Wolves, has been dividing his creative efforts between on‑screen work and video‑game development. After debuting with Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Salim returned with a new project that reflects his frustration with the entertainment industry.
Game Overview
Dead Take is a horror‑themed, psychological‑thriller video game that places players inside a sprawling Hollywood mansion owned by a prominent director. The story follows a struggling actor who, after his friend disappears, breaks into the director’s home to uncover clues. The gameplay relies on escape‑room style puzzles, requiring players to explore bedrooms, closets, and a pool house while piecing together evidence hidden throughout the estate.
Production Elements
The game distinguishes itself by employing full‑motion video rather than traditional animation. Real‑life footage features actors Ben Starr and Neil Newbon in the lead roles, providing a more authentic visual experience. Players interact with a virtual computer bay to edit and splice video clips, creating new narrative pathways and deepening the investigative aspect of the game.
Themes and Technology
Dead Take tackles several contentious topics within Hollywood, including corruption, abuse of power, and the rapid adoption of generative AI technologies. Salim has voiced concerns about AI‑generated content that could manipulate an actor’s image without consent, citing recent incidents where prominent performers have been misrepresented through AI‑produced videos. The game mirrors these worries by integrating AI‑related narrative elements, suggesting that while AI may streamline certain tasks, it also poses ethical and artistic threats.
Industry Commentary
Through its storyline and design, Dead Take serves as a critique of the entertainment industry’s darker practices. The game’s setting—a director’s mansion filled with personal secrets—symbolizes the hidden abuses that have surfaced in recent years. By allowing players to uncover evidence such as emails, notes, and video recordings, the experience encourages a deeper examination of how power dynamics and technological advances intersect within Hollywood.
Creative Intent
Salim describes the development process as a form of exorcism, channeling the unsettling stories he has heard about industry misconduct into an interactive medium. He aims to highlight the toxicity that can permeate large creative enterprises while also showcasing the potential of video games as a platform for social commentary.
Source: wired.com