Ep.91 – Who’s Afraid of the Dark: Taking Survival Horror into 3D with Alone in the Dark

In 1992, Alone in the Dark crept onto PCs and laid the foundation for survival horror. We revisit how Frederick Raynal, inspired by porting Alpha Waves and his love of Poe and Lovecraft, created 3D tools that evolved into a haunted house mystery. The episode highlights Infogrames’ odd history, the “matches in the dark” pitch that sparked the idea, and how fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backdrops, and polygonal characters created tension inside Derceto Manor. Our conversation digs into critic reviews that praised its sound design and eerie mood, along with user reviews that debated its clunky controls and scary (or not-so-scary) atmosphere. We also cover sequels, spinoffs, and the infamous Uwe Boll films. Join us as we unlock doors, solve puzzles, and face the darkness on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.