The Belief Engine: Featuring Mike Monroe & Scott McKie

Sure, here’s a rewrite of the article in a more human, stream-of-consciousness style:

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So I got this chance to chat with Mike and Scott from Belief Engine. You know, the folks behind DEAD LETTER DEPT., which is supposedly this spooky typing game. They’re kind of bouncing between the Pacific Northwest and Japan right now. Why Japan? Maybe sushi and video game vibes? No idea, but it stuck with me.

Anyway, TVGB jumps in and asks about how Belief Engine started. They’ve been at it for like 12 years. Mike’s like, “Yeah, we took the plunge back in 2020,” leaving some trade school behind in Washington after living in Colorado. Mind you, Scott took this epic journey from Massachusetts to Washington too, all for degrees and dreams that were maybe too pricey. Sound familiar?

They had all these prototypes over the years, like throwing spaghetti at a wall (my words, not theirs) until one stuck. Their game inspirations? Wildly diverse. They’re in sync yet not, making me think of two different flavors that shouldn’t mix but do.

Then, there’s DEAD LETTER DEPT. It’s rooted in this weird job Scott had during college—a data entry gig that screamed creepy warehouse vibes. Even if inside was more “meh” than menacing, leaving at dawn had its own horror movie feel. The kind where you think, “life’s weird,” while sipping coffee on the train.

Fast forward to Mike sharpening the edge on this idea—creepy flow states influenced by things like Tetris. You know, where your brain is on autopilot but a ghost in the machine might shake things up. They tossed in haunted code for flavor. I mean, what’s scarier than not knowing what the heck your game is doing, right? Accidental terror, I guess.

Oh, and that POV—first-person, naturally. Immersion over designing a character? Yep, that checks out when crunched for time. Range of ideas and systems are Scott’s jam—complicated, unruly, yet fascinating. Sort of like a Jenga tower of ideas. Wonky but intriguing.

Their soundtrack’s a thing too, though it’s fashionably late. At least it’s on their to-do-before-Steam-sale list. Side note: Tokyo and Kyoto tunnels got them chasing ghosts of Silent Hill and absorbing Japan’s distinct architecture. No cookie-cutter homes, just inspiration lurking everywhere. Too cool.

And, ah, those mountain adventures. This whole finding-cars-to-explore thing makes me anxious and thrilled. I mean, can they not get lost? In Japan, no less? Gotta respect the effort and maybe laugh at the boldness.

These guys have guts, dabbling in unknowns, making quirky games, and tackling language barriers head-on. Makes you wonder what’s next. Game’s on Steam if you’re curious. Keep ears peeled for that soundtrack too.

Phew, that was a lot. Now go play some creepy indie horror. Or don’t. Up to you.

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