Amnesia developer reveals Soma, hints at science horror project
Frictional Games, known for the Amnesia and Penumbra series, has revealed the first glimpse of its next project. The teaser site discovered last week now points to somasystems.org, which currently hosts a "case file," with the indication that more are on the way. The case file in question tells the story of a strange machine that was uncovered during a "salvage mission." The machine is described as "a heavily modified monitor fixed to a massive nest of cables and controls." You don't have to imagine it though, as the machine is featured in the live-action video above. Give it a watch, and be sure to wait for it.
The case file is called "Vivarium," which is essentially an artificial habitat. Given the reference to a salvage mission, it's possible that Soma (if indeed that is the game's name) could take place in space, or possibly a ravaged Earth. Meanwhile, the word "soma" apparently refers to a ritualistic drink often associated with immortality. Finally, there appears to be a Philip K. Dick quote scrambled in an image on the Soma website: "It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane." The quote is taken from one of Dick's novels, VALIS, which deals with the nature of reality, consciousness and divinity.
Whatever Soma is, it appears that the project is leaning toward science-related horror, and we're just fine with that.
