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The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon diagnosed on Kickstarter

If you've been thinking recently that we need more psychological thrillers that not only entertain but also "raise awareness of mental health and the long term effects of heavy drug use on the human brain", then you shouldn't be surprised at the announcement of The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon, currently raising funds through Kickstarter.

The game casts players in the role of a "very damaged" man named Shawn Waters. Five years earlier, Shawn was babysitting his niece Hannah when she mysteriously disappeared, along with four other local children. Blamed by his family and suspected by police, the fallout of this traumatic event drove Shawn to heavy drug abuse. Now two months sober and trying to get his life back in order, Shawn is called back to the village to find out what's become of his brother, who had doggedly continued to pursue the mystery of Hannah's disappearance but has now gone missing himself.

As you guide Shawn through the fictional but realistic 3D village in middle England, you must "wade through the endless questions surrounding the disappearance of the missing children." In doing so, you will soon come to discover that "the secrets in this village are far darker than you had originally thought." Unfortunately for Shawn, his investigation threatens his fragile mental state, as he too blames himself and it's "the manifestation of his guilt and self-loathing that will slowly start to encroach on his reality. It's up to you to find out what really happened and uncover the village's dark secrets before you completely lose your mind."

 


Although there will be situational puzzles to solve along the way, the bulk of the gameplay will be based around talking to the local citizens in this "tightly knit community". There's an evidence wall at Shawn's sister's house that will gradually fill up as you uncover new clues, but you will have to draw the correct inferences yourself in order to solve the mystery. Accusing the wrong person won't end the game, but it will have consequences as you continue to press towards the correct solution.

Aptly named indie developer Bearded Pixel has been busy working full time on the game for the last six months, but in order to complete it, the team is seeking £25,000 by April 3rd through Kickstarter. A limited-time £8 early bird pledge is all that's required to secure a digital copy of the game for Windows, Mac, or Linux as early as December 2015.

To learn more about The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon, visit the Kickstarter page for complete details, and stay tuned for a playable demo still to come before the crowdfunding campaign is over.

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