Independent Media: OFF (Game)

OFF is a free indie (read: independent) Roleplaying Game that was created by Mortis Ghost and the 'Unproductive Fun Time' team using RPGmaker 2003. The short pixelated game was created in 2008 and was originally procuded in French, Ghost's native tongue, and then soon released in English thanks to an independent fan team by the name of Reconstructed Dragon.  Mortis Ghost was in behind the production, scenario and graphics of the game, often known to be the creator of the world in OFF.  Alias Conrad Coldwood aided Ghost in the production but mainly focused on the creation of the soundtrack.   Ghost is from Belgium and he finished completing OFF in 2007.  He's known as a gentleman, going into the effort of communicating with his fans and answering questions.

OFF is a game that's available for free to all ages.  The English patch is downloadable and easy to install.  This is independent media at it's finest.  The animation, the game play, the art, the music and story and characters were all created by the work of a handful of people without any support from any major cooperation.  In fact, they created this piece with their own hands and a program that was considered out of date.  This game falls under the category of an 'indie' game, in which it's usually for free or produced by only a small group of people.  Another strike in the media scale is that the game is non-profit, as it is free in a few languages (French, English, Spanish with German on the way).  It was freely distritbuted via the internet and hit a sudden boom in the mid 2013, due to the link for download being spread around by social networking sites by fans, websites such as Tumblr or Reddit.

The audience for OFF is a difficult topic to discuss.  The game play is rather simple and easy to pick up after a few attempts.  The handling of the features is relatively easy as well, lulling players into an almost nostalgic feeling of original bit games from the past.  The harsh complexity of the plot is what really determines who really enjoy the game.  OFF is known for its offsetting colors and its intrinsic dialogue.  It's hard to follow at times and the ending leaves you gasping for air.  The twists are wicked and the characterization is so subtly beautiful and morbid and grotesque.  It's sort of a postmodern feeling, a surreal world in which the player controls a character who is aware he's being controlled as well as those around you.  Characters even go so far as to address the player, rather than 'The Batter' of whom you are playing.  It's more a mature audience who enjoys the simple game play and the twisted feeling in their gut that their nothing against higher entities.  It's for an audience who's interested in the surreal, mainly.  Thus, a mature audience is the way to go.

In OFF, the player takes control of an unknown character known as 'The Batter'.  He addresses the player that his ultimate mission is to "purify" the world.  You travel along with this character as he goes through many strange and unnatural locations to achieve his goal.  The characters in OFF are often ambiguous and enigmatic.  They are aware of the player controlling 'The Batter' even going so far as to address you directly.  The game has two dramatic endings that would leave any human being in tears over what it means to be corrupt and what it means to live.

Ghost wrote OFF purely for pleasure, the story of man who wanted to purify the world, to turn the world OFF and his struggles.  Ghost claimed he wanted a story that the player could witness and aid but only stare in awe as it burned up in flames.  The Batter's goals grow skewed and Ghost wanted to show that even the best intentions can turn monstrous at times.

This indie game is considered groundbreaking, rising from nothing and growing in fierce popularity.  Everything from the game to the language patches to the soundtrack are entirely free.  That's why OFF is considered as an Independent Media source, produced by a handful of people for the people.  There was no marketing, (other than fanart of the disturbing yet quality characters), no company aid.  They were not backed by supporters and not sponsored.  This game matters in the sense that introduced beautiful storytelling in a media that's been considered long since dead, bit gaming.  It's brought upon a wave of new gamers as well as brought upon the inspiration of many upcoming future works. This is independent media in action, rising to the occasion to give the audience a diamond within the rust of indie gaming without getting marketing backers.

Not only that, but you should play OFF for yourself and marvel at it.

Links:

Download the English Game: http://www.sendspace.com/file/mkn1hv
Download the Soundtrack: http://www.rpg-maker.fr/index.php?page=ost&id=18