Indie studio Autoscopia Interactive have announced that ‘As Long As You’re Here’, a narrative game where you see life through the eyes of a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, releases on Steam on October 28th.
In ‘As Long As You’re Here’, past and present bleed together as Annie’s health declines, and memories of the past begin to resurface. Annie and her family cope with reversed caretaking roles when she moves from her long-time home. As she unpacks her life, memories of her deceased brother and homes from her past bleed into the present.
Players share in Annie’s doubt, social isolation, and vulnerability through a mature first-person experience that centers an often neglected perspective. The game is a subtle reflection on what life with dementia might look like, as well as a story about regret, being in transit, and the complex relationships between siblings.
After losing her grandmother to Alzheimer’s Disease, creator Marlène Delrive began working on the project as a way of processing the grief and trying to understand her grandmother’s perspective in her final years. Initially an 8-week student project, the prototype garnered over 13.5k downloads on itch.io, 7+ million views on YouTube, and a nomination for Best Student Game at the 2020 Independent Games Festival.
Features
- Short & Subtle: A short and subtle experience designed to be enjoyed in one sitting.
- Personal: Inspired by real stories and includes real-life photos of the developers’ own family members, some of whom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
- Story Rich: Explore Annie’s life through dialogue, mementos, and letters from the past. Meet family members and unpack the tensions and dynamics between them.
- Subversive Vignettes: The player’s own memory comes into play. As the world around Annie shifts and changes, players share in her failing faculties.
- Immersive Audio & Original Music
As Long As You’re Here releases on Steam on October 28th.