What makes more views? Engaging, funny content, or the mangled corpse of your best friend dangling from the jaws of a starfish?
Landfall Games, the creator of hit games like “Stick Fight: The Game” and “Totally Accurate Battle Simulator”, aim to answer this age-old question.
On April 1, “Content Warning,” a video game parody on modern internet and horror content, was published. Available for $7.99 on Steam, it is recommended to be played in a team of four people.
The game play loop is fairly simple, as explained in-game. Launch to the “old world,” film a funky vlog, maybe fall victim to some man-eating sludge, and return. The cycle repeats, and as the player gains more and more viewers, the money starts to rake in.
I can’t really mention a moment where I was disappointed,” said junior Nick Ross. “It’s a fun, goofy game that brings you close to your friends in a positive way.”
Despite its fairly simple game play, “Content Warning” garnered massive popularity even within the first few days upon release. According to SteamDB, the parody peaked at 204,439 players the day after its release, on April 2, 2024.
But why? Being released at the same time as the peak of games like “Lethal Company” and “Helldivers” surely could have made it stand out.
Junior Seth Ardnt speculates that is the case. “It’s just like ‘Lethal Company’,” Ardnt said. “You go run around, a spooky thing will show up, and silliness ensues.”
There were a few reasons why people were originally attracted to the game, mainly through its ease of access and unique premise.
The reason why many people had played it was because, during a sale limited to its release date, “Content Warning” was free. Landfall Publishing said they did “this as a special treat to our community so that as many people as possible will have the chance to play the game.”
“I [got] the game during the first day, when it was free,” said Ross. “It looked fun, it was free, so I just figured ‘why not?’”
Another reason for the spike in popularity would be the game’s unique premise. Being reminiscent of games like “Lethal Company” and “Phasmophobia”, both widely successful horror games, the gap between its classic horror loop and humorous vlogging premise keeps players invested.
“If I didn’t feel connected, I wouldn’t keep coming back,” Arndt says. “A big part of the game is being to goof off with friends, and it’s really what’s keeping me invested.”
Of course, the biggest part of the game happens to be the multiplayer aspect. Being able to mess around and laugh with your friends is the best part. It’s what keeps bringing players back— to laugh, as in every direction your friends all meet their ends.
Hi, I'm Eddie Phelps. I'm a Junior at OHS, and it is my second year on staff for 42fifty. I'm involved with the bowling team, the German club, Science National Honors Society, and I enjoy playing video games.
Hello, I am Quinn Villanueva! This is my first year on 42Fifty! I am a junior at OHS, and am a proud member of the OH Bowling team. I'm also a gamer who enjoys a wide variety of video games. I'm excited to be here!
