#bethany hockenberry

[excusemeaminute]

Revenant Hill (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺)

The year is 1919. After the barn he was living in burns down, Twigs the cat takes up residence in a wet log near an abandoned graveyard. When the owl from the next hill over starts demanding rent, Twigs must find a way to make ends meet, and things just get more complicated from there.

[arcenergy]

do you believe in ghosts?

— well, let's see...i do believe a place can be haunted, if that's what you mean.

t.s. eliot, the waste land | kentucky route zero | unknown | mary oliver, we should be well prepared | bethany hockenberry & scott benson, night in the woods | disco elysium | inthefallofasparrow | kentucky route zero | brand new, jesus christ | los angeles review of books, a conversation between timothy morton and jeff vandermeer | thatsbelievable | margaret atwood | jeffrey mcdaniel, the archipelago of kisses | fatimah asghar, how’d your parents die again? | destiny 2, no rez for the weary | booniesbride, forecast accurate | radiohead, spectre | aeschylus, the oresteia | sue zhao | kentucky route zero

[zel-zo]

<At the end of everything, hold on to anything.>

Bethany Hockenberry, Night In The Woods // George Batchelor, Far From Noise // Daniel Kwan, Everything Everywhere All At Once, // Spencer Stuard, Kevin Riach, Oxenfree // Future Cat LLC, Team OneShot, Oneshot // 

- - -

I know I Usually just post art but, here are some media that have made me feel things over the years that all have some fairly similar themes.

[dreammeiser]

Is there any inspiration you got from other creators? Love your work BTW, it’s so beautiful to look at!💜

EEEE Thank you so much! Oh man, creators that had a big impact on me have been Ian Worthington (Big Top Burger), Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink (Welcome to Night Vale), Joel Guerra (ENA), Becky Sloan and Joe Pelling (Don't Hug Me I'm Scared), Jack Stauber (you probably know his song 'Buttercup' but he makes animations too!), Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry (Night in the Woods), and ConcernedApe (Stardew Valley).

I want to create things that make me feel the way their works do-- Everything I make is me trying to capture feelings I want to remember.

You should definitely look them up to get a good little sample of DAWM's vibes, or just to see what's been walking around in my mind library as I make this series. :o)

[thesmumbo]

Smumbo's top 10 games he happened to play in 2022

Not necessarily games that were released in 2022, just my favorites that I played for the first time last year.

10: Night in the Woods (2017)

by Alec Holowka, Scott Benson, and Bethany Hockenberry

Peak fall vibes game. Night in the Woods features a compelling mystery and some great spooky moments. The setting and characters really resonated with me, so I got a lot out of it.

9: The Pedestrian (2020)

by @skookumarts

Pleasant puzzle game inspired by the signage that surrounds us in our day-to-day lives. Some of the puzzles were quite difficult, and I kind of dislike the direction the game took in its last act, but it was still a very fun and unique experience.

8: South of South Mountain (2022)

by @colorbomb

Cute & hilarious visual novel with a fantastic art style. I could not stop laughing throughout the whole experience.

7: Portal Reloaded (2021)

by PORTANIS

From a pure gameplay standpoint, this was a very satisfying sequel to Portal 2, and it's possibly the closest we'll ever get to a Portal 3. Portal Reloaded introduces a third portal which allows you to travel to the same place at a different time, so certain things have been moved/removed. It gets really complicated, and I’m amazed this was able to be created as a free standalone mod for Portal 2.

6: Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery (2022)

by Grace Bruxner and Thomas Bowker

Approximately 3-4 hours of pure, unadulterated joy and whimsy. I can’t believe it took me this long to play Frog Detective, but I’m so glad I did. Everything about these games resonated with me strongly.

5: OneShot (2016)

by @girakacheezer, @nightmargin, and Eliza Vasquez

A transcendent experience. Explores the unique ways in which video games can tell stories, and the nature of free will. Features some interesting meta game mechanics which require you to interact with files outside of the game. The visuals and soundtrack are spot-on as well. Weird how there’s so many great RPG Maker games which work so well in spite of the engine.

4: Scorn (2022)

by Ebb Software

An incredible audiovisual experience. I liked the gameplay too, even though it seems like a lot of people were disappointed by it. I'm amazed that a game like this even exists. Absolutely oozing with atmosphere and symbolic meaning. The story spoke to me on an incredibly deep level despite lacking words, or even any semblance of humanity.

3: What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)

by Giant Sparrow

One of the greatest games ever made. All of the vignettes and set-pieces throughout the game are flawlessly paced, with a wide variety of gameplay and visual styles. Packed with detail, made with love, and so emotionally resonant. I loved this game.

2: Bloodborne (2015)

by From Software

For years, I would try to play Bloodborne whenever I had access to a PlayStation 4, but I wasn’t able to do a full playthrough until 2022. It lived up to the hype. This is my favorite From Software game, and it’s already one of my favorite games of all time. I really hope this gets a remaster/PC port some day. It’s a masterpiece.

1: SIGNALIS (2022)

by @rose-engine

One of the greatest horror games I’ve ever played. Amazing visuals and atmosphere, fascinating world and lore, and a captivating, mind-blowing cosmic horror sci-fi story. I especially loved the evocative UI designs throughout. Highly recommended if you like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dead Space, PS1 style games in general, or if you have even a passing interest in survival horror. This is my #1 game of 2022.

[dammitjean]

The first game from the worker owned co-op Glory Society, featuring Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry (“Night in the Woods”), just dropped its first trailer and it looks GORGEOUS

[hyuccubus]

Happy STS! Today, I'm pulling away from characters (finally 🤭) and asking about influences. Who are your literary influences? Can you see specific influences coming through in some of your specific works?

I'm fashionably late, as usual 🥲

Some influences are the word style of Neil Gaiman and Stephen King, the warm, kind characters of Nancy Farmer, the words unsaid by Joyce Carol Oates, the humor of Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), and furthermore, just about everything to do with Joe R. Lansdale's style. His story "Fish Night", inspired me to try writing again after having given it up more than a decade ago. I'm also inspired by writers for story heavy indie games, especially Bethany Hockenberry, who worked on Night in the Woods, and Toby Fox's work on Undertale and Deltarune Thanks for the ask!

[mlp410nightcore]

Hi Everyone!! Here is another next gen for my Blossom Love AU. Lucas's parents are Gregg and Angus. Lucas is very chilled and doesn't let too many stressful things bother him. He's also very skilled at playing guitar and loves helping others. Lucas has played several gigs in his hometown and has earned quite a lot of money from his talent, which he ends up donating over half of his earnings to charity anyway. Lucas is also quite skilled at resolving conflicts and can help others reach common ground during their heated arguments. Credit goes to Selenaede for the base I used and to Alec Holowka, Scott Benson, Bethany Hockenberry, Infinite Fall, Secret Lab and Finji for creating Night In The Woods as well as the characters, Gregg and Angus as well. I only take credit for my next gens, art, ships, stories and the Blossom Love AU. I hope you guys like him!!!

[chumbie]

scott benson and bethany hockenberry (night in the woods devs) are married? 😭

[jcmarchi]

Night In The Woods Follow-Up Revenant Hill Canceled Due To Developer Illness

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/night-in-the-woods-follow-up-revenant-hill-canceled-due-to-developer-illness/

Night In The Woods Follow-Up Revenant Hill Canceled Due To Developer Illness

Revenant Hill, the next game by the makers of Night in the Woods, has been canceled. The reason is that the game’s narrative designer and writer Scott Benson is battling a severe illness that has forced him to step away from the project.

Benson reveals on his personal X account that he’s been battling severe heart failure over the past 12 months, which has greatly limited his ability to work. You can read his post below. 

So. Over the past 12 months or so I got very sick and it didn’t go away. Eventually I was diagnosed with severe heart failure, most likely from a virus. It will continue to greatly limit me for the foreseeable future and as such I’ve had to stop working in the manner I once did.

— Down Here For Your Soul (@bombsfall) November 7, 2023

The Glory Society posted a statement on Twitter (which is now the sole image on the studio’s website) explaining that Benson’s absence requires the team to not only end the development of Revenant Hill but for the studio to suspend operations. The indie studio was founded by Benson and his wife Bethany Hockenberry, who has also stepped away to support him. The statement explains that with such a small team of employees, losing two key staff members was too much of a blow for work to continue as planned. The Glory Society’s statement reads in part, 

Making anything complex poses challenges along the way. Games take a while to make and usually require a good team working together. We’ve been lucky to have one such good team. Unfortunately, recent serious health issues have necessitated two key members stepping away from the project indefinitely. We are a small team and we each wear multiple hats. This is a loss of several hard to replace hats in an environment where all hats are needed. Given the realities of schedules, budgets, and the fraught task of reworking the whole project within those parameters, the team has amicably decided to suspend operations. For all intents and purposes, this is the end of the development of Revenant Hill.

[embedded content]

Benson is known as one of the writers and artist/animator of 2017’s critically acclaimed Night in the Woods, which he made alongside co-writer Hockenberry and late designer Alec Holowka. Following the game’s success, he and Hockenberry formed The Glory Society in 2019 alongside musician/artist Wren Farren. Revenant Hill, the studio’s first project, was revealed in May during a PlayStation Showcase. Set in 1919, it starred a cat named Twigs who, after its barn home burns down, is forced to take residence in a log near a graveyard. Unfortunately, an owl begins demanding that Twigs pay rent and the game focuses on the cat performing odd jobs to make ends meet. You can read a section of the game’s PlayStation Blog synopsis below. 

Grow crops to sell at the secret market or use for your own purposes. Put down roots. Run through the fields and the trees. Watch the seasons pass. Make friends who become neighbors who become family. Also make enemies. That’s unavoidable sometimes. Figure out what the ghosts want. Host increasingly ambitious parties for witches and demons and other things that don’t have proper names. Get tangled up in a world in the midst of violent change. Build a community by accident. Square dance with a possum. Eat mice.

Revenant Hill was slated for PlayStation consoles and PC and had no release window. While it’s unfortuatnte that Twigs’ adventure may never see the light of day, Benson’s health is infinitely more important and we at Game Informer wish him a speedy road to recovery. 

[endearmint-moved]

i had to do a lot more digging than i expected to find out what game this was. IF members bethany hockenberry and scott benson founded a coop called the glory society that is currently developing a game called 'revenant hill'

Have you seen the new game the creators of night in the woods are making?

i saw some pics it looks neat! kind of sad to see the loss of the animal guys though the art style does look nice as always.

[sparklestudios]

✨Market Analysis 1✨

Night In The Woods

– adventure game 

– focus on exploration / story

– interaction with lots of different characters

– lots of side-quests

– different choices for story / dialogue

– producer: Infinite Fall (Alec Holowka, Scott Benson, Bethany Hockenberry)

– themes: mental health, depression, problem-solving, the stagnancy of middle and lower classes

Story

– main character: college dropout Mae Borowski

– Mae returns home to old hometown Possom Springs, wants to go back to former life, meets up with old friends, but: things changed, friends changed, strange things happen, dark secret of town has to be uncovered

– through game story becomes more complex, learn reasons behind dropout of Mae, get to know unique, interesting characters, different emotional tones

– different choices lead to different outcome

– theme of mental health: challenges and importance of it, lets player reflect on it, too

– challenges in-game: stress, crime, drinking, verbal conflicts, financial problems, problems in relationships, the consequences of risk-taking, etc.

World-Building

– lush, vibrant world, characters are anthropomorphic animals, e.g. cats, foxes, crocodiles, bears

– Possom Springs: „town lost in time“, former mining town, small, economically-stagnating, people are scarce, lots of closed shops, set in autumn, nostalgic, kind of lonely

– art style: 2d, flat, simple shapes, lots of warm colours / autumn

Gameplay

– key actions: explore, converse, see, touch

– can run and jump, interact with characters: narrative-focused

– decisions lead to different ending: can focus on specific characters, see their specific storyline

Figures / Price

– release date: 21. Feb. 2017

– price: 19,99€  (on Steam)

– $6.9m. gross revenue, 466.000 units sold

– Metacritic: PC: 88/100, PS4: 87/100, XONE: 75/100, NS: 85/100

Conclusion: Pro /  Contra

+ authentic, interesting characters, real-life problems, story before gameplay, reflection for player

– for some players story can be too long, slow progress, lots of text to read

[thebaroness-art]

Inktober2021 || Day 13: Roof

When I thought I wanted to draw a cat on a roof for today, I almost forgot there are two pretty famous cats in the world of indie videogames I could bring! So here they are, Mae Borowski and the Roof Cat of Possum Springs! 

I shall play Night in the Woods again soon~

Find me on other pages: Linktree click!

[probably-a-va]

Day 50:

August 19th, 2021

An excerpt from “Night in the Woods” written by Bethany Hockenberry and Scott Benson

[evilelitest2]

Heads up, Bethany Hockenberry also privatized her Twitter account as well, possibly do to harassment from Gamergators.

Remember when people were like “OMG Zoe Quinn is ruining NIght in the Woods” and now it is Gamergate driving them away

FUnny thing is, I got Night in the Woods as an anniversary present, I and I still haven’t started, feels kinda topical now.  

[tiny-design]

The dream sequences in Night in the Woods are often simple collection puzzles, requiring the player to perform a specific action across the area a certain number of times in order to cause an ethereal effect on the world at large. These sequences are where the vast majority of platforming challenges occur, with the rest of the game often not requiring it beyond some simple traversal, and thus allowing these sections to feel more directly important by including those challenges. 

Special thanks to @raytyger​ for the request!