[GDC 2024]Respect for kitchen helpers and customers as seen in the new Playdate Exclusive “Mars after Midnight” by Lucas Pope, a genius who lives in Japan

A game artist living in Japan, known for his unique styles such as “Papers, Please” and “Return of the Obra Dinn”.Mr. Lucas PopeExclusive Playdate simulator, the latest work“Mars after midnight”I tested this at the “Day of the Devs 2024: San Francisco Edition” game event held in conjunction with GDC 2024.

Playdate is a small gaming console that fits in the palm of your hand and is equipped with a 6cm x 4cm monochrome display with 1-bit graphics. In addition to the A/B button and D-pad on the front of the main unit, the main feature of this machine is that it has a crank on the side. Since its release in April 2022, more than 20 games have been released so far, and around 70,000 hardware units have been sold.

“Mars after Midnight,” which was just released on March 13, revolves around running a late-night diner at an “off-colony community support center” on Mars.“Work simulation”He is. It's very similar to Return of the Obra Dinn in terms of 1-bit graphics, but has a simpler look to fit the smaller screen size.

The first thing the player does is use a crank to open the peephole connected to the door that was knocked on and see what type of customer has arrived. At this time, please note that there is a note taped to the door with three face tags with different numbers of eyes, and you can only invite guests with matching numbers of eyes and facial expressions (emotions). Uninvited guests must pass.
The feeling of the viewing window opening according to the speed of turning the crank is very nice, but it is as easy as a puzzle. Perhaps for this reason, there seems to be an emphasis on enjoying the experience of seeing whatever kind of alien might catch a glimpse of him, as if playing a game of hide and seek.

In the cafeteria, snacks such as “desert insect pie” are served, and at this time the player, the main character, also realizes that he is an alien with octopus legs, three eyes, and a bird-like beak. . Gameplay is played from a first-person perspective, as you use wavy tentacles to clean dishes that have been eaten, but there is no sense of irony in the process. I simply respond to all clients in order to complete my counter duties.
By simulating such work, the players themselves feel a kind of respect and sympathy for the kitchen helpers who work silently… No, I wonder if the player can read the author's feelings.
In fact, at the end of the game, which takes less than an hour to complete, there are some little touches that leave you feeling warm, and the game seems to have been put together nicely in one piece.

If you don't have a Playdate, you won't be able to play Mars after midnight, but since it's a game that allows you to fully enjoy the world of Lucas Pope, I'm sure there are many people who would love to play it if they have the chance. It's currently on sale for $6 on the official Playdate website.