Kinda Funny Gamescast: "You NEED To Play This New Horror Game" – Detailed Summary
Release Date: August 7, 2025
In the August 7, 2025 episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, hosts Blessing Adeoye Jr. and Abu Saleem engage in an in-depth discussion about the recently released horror game "Dead Take". The episode delves into various aspects of the game, including its development, unique mechanics, storytelling, and reception within the gaming community. Here's a comprehensive summary of the conversation.
1. Introduction and Guest Background
Blessing Adeoye Jr. welcomes Abu Saleem, founder and CEO of Surgent Studios, highlighting his multifaceted career as an actor and game developer. Abu shares his experiences balancing his role in "House of the Dragon" with the simultaneous release of "Dead Take," emphasizing the hectic yet rewarding nature of releasing a game while engaged in other projects.
Notable Quote:
Blessing Adeoye Jr. [00:07]: "Joining me is Abu Saleem aka the founder and CEO of Surgent Studios."
2. Overview of "Dead Take"
Blessing introduces "Dead Take" as a standout horror game of the year, praised for its immersive experience and compelling narrative. She recounts their personal experience playing the game, noting how both she and co-host Barrett spent an entire afternoon engrossed in its storyline.
Notable Quote:
Blessing Adeoye Jr. [03:05]: "I think Dead Take is one of the best horror games of the year. It took us about four hours to get through."
3. Game Description and Storytelling
Abu Saleem describes "Dead Take" as a "Hollywood horror game" that combines Full Motion Video (FMV) sequences with interactive gameplay. Players navigate through a mansion, uncovering tapes of auditions, interviews, and confessions that reveal a deeper narrative about Hollywood corruption. The game's protagonist, Chase Lowry, portrayed by Neil Newman, searches for his friend Vinnie Monroe, played by Ben Starr.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [05:29]: "Dead Take is a Hollywood horror game, a reverse escape room where you play as Chase Lowry, searching for Vinnie Monroe."
4. Development Process
Abu details the rapid development timeline of "Dead Take," contrasting it with their previous title, "Tales of Kinsera Zao," which took over three years to develop. The idea for "Dead Take" emerged spontaneously at the Game Awards during a conversation with Bucky from Pocket Pair, leading to a seven-month development cycle. This swift turnaround was driven by a clear and passionate vision, enabling the team to pivot from their initial projects and explore new creative directions.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [06:52]: "The idea came about at the Game Awards, and we just riffed. We knew exactly what story we wanted to tell."
5. Unique Game Mechanics: The Splice System
One of the standout features of "Dead Take" is its splice system, which allows players to manipulate FMV clips found on USB drives within the game. These clips are then spliced together using AI to create new narrative contexts.
Blessing explains how this mechanic serves as both a gameplay element and a thematic commentary on the industry's reliance on AI, questioning the loss of narrative nuance when human context is removed.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [14:39]: "It was a commentary on how the industry is turning towards AI to deliver content, stripping away the nuance of context."
6. Collaboration with Renowned Actors
The game features performances by notable actors such as Ben Starr, Neil Newman, Laura Bailey, Alana Pierce, Sam Lake, and Matt Mercer. Abu emphasizes that the collaboration was seamless due to pre-existing relationships and the actors' professional prowess.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [12:44]: "Working with these guys was just working with friends. They knew what they were doing, allowing for minimal direction and maximum performance freedom."
7. Reception and Critical Acclaim
"Dead Take" has garnered positive reviews from prominent publications. Inverse lauded it as the most unconventional horror game of the year, Vice praised its narrative depth despite some critiques of its puzzle elements, and Gamespot commended its storytelling and FMV performances.
Notable Quotes:
Blessing Adeoye Jr. [10:21]: "Inverse called it the most unconventional horror game of the year. Vice highlighted the strong narrative, and Gamespot loved the performances."
8. Player Engagement and Narrative Theories
The hosts discuss how "Dead Take" encourages players to form their own interpretations and theories about the story. Various fan theories speculate on the fates of characters and the overarching narrative, demonstrating the game's ability to engage and intrigue its audience.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [19:16]: "Players are coming up with brilliant theories, like whether both Chase and Vinnie are dead or if Duke is Chase, which shows how engaging the storytelling is."
9. Inspirations Behind "Dead Take"
Abu cites inspirations ranging from the film "Black Swan" to video games like "Resident Evil" and "P.T." These influences shaped the game's dark tone, psychological horror elements, and intricate storytelling mechanics.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [24:37]: "Black Swan was a huge inspiration, focusing on the lengths someone will go to achieve greatness, which aligns with our game's themes."
10. Future Plans and Studio Vision
Looking ahead, Abu expresses interest in developing RPGs, particularly blending action elements with traditional RPG mechanics set in Afro-Gothic and horror-themed worlds. He emphasizes a sustainable and creative approach to game development, inspired by industry innovators like Zaliver Nelson.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [32:19]: "I really want to do RPGs, blending action with dice-rolling mechanics set in Afro-Gothic horror myths."
11. Balancing Multiple Roles and Studio Growth
Balancing his roles as an actor and a game developer, Abu attributes his success to having a supportive team and family. The rapid development of "Dead Take" has reinforced the studio's confidence in their ability to produce high-quality games efficiently.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [36:21]: "I've got just good people around me. My team and family understand that I need to create and build."
12. Legacy and Impact in the Gaming Industry
When asked about his legacy, Abu focuses on the joy of creating games and inspiring others to pursue game development. He aspires to push creative boundaries, drawing parallels to legendary figures like Hideo Kojima.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [41:20]: "I want to inspire others who love games to create, showing that it's possible to make meaningful experiences."
13. Final Thoughts and Call to Action
In conclusion, Abu passionately endorses "Dead Take" for its exceptional performances, engaging storytelling, and innovative mechanics. Both he and Blessing encourage listeners to experience the game firsthand.
Notable Quote:
Abu Saleem [43:05]: "If you want to see Ben and Neil at their raw selves and explore the seedy underbelly of Hollywood, this is the game to play."
Conclusion
The episode offers a thorough exploration of "Dead Take," highlighting its creative development, narrative depth, and impactful reception. Abu Saleem's insights provide listeners with a deeper appreciation of the game's unique approach to storytelling and gameplay, positioning "Dead Take" as a must-play title in the horror genre.
For those interested in experiencing a horror game that seamlessly blends FMV storytelling with interactive puzzles, "Dead Take" by Surgent Studios comes highly recommended.