On Monday, June 11, 2018, NOTHINGMAG.TV was invited to “Sleep Tight IRL,” an event where invites got the opportunity to experience the new video game, Sleep Tight… in real life. The location of the activation was at the E3 Coliseum in Downtown Los Angeles. Sleep Tight, created by We Are Fuzzy, just released on July 26, 2018 for Nintendo Switch and Steam. The game is described by We Are Fuzzy we as a “unique twin-shooter, base-builder hybrid wrapped in blankets of nostalgia!”
Up until arriving at the E3 Coliseum, I only knew minor details about the event at the time. Here’s how my experience went down…
After signing in, I was guided to a computer where one of the reps gave me a demo on how to play the video game. The concept of the game was simple. You start by picking a character with different outfit options to choose from. You then find yourself in a bedroom in the daytime. You pick your weapons and you build a pillow fort. When the game begins, it becomes night time and the object of the game is to kill the monsters. Round one was a piece of cake, but they must have gone too easy on me because I did not strategize for Round 2. I instantly lost. The game was fun and I could easily see myself playing it for hours if I was 10 years old again. (Let’s be honest, as an adult too.)
After the demo, I was guided to a clothing rack of different outfits. I decided to choose a “fun” outfit and went with the cowboy. The rep then gave me a large Nerf Gun type-gun and showed me how to shoot and reload. After a few rounds of target practice, he said I was ready and led me to a tall wall that was a large sliding door. Once it opened, on the other side of it was the game IRL.
At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, thinking it was a VR version of the game against other players. “Where is everyone else? Am I the only one playing?” is what I was thinking at that moment. The large door opens and I’m led into a small room with a bright camera light and a man with a mic who was asking me lots of questions. I couldn’t think clearly because there was too much anticipation to figure out what the hell was happening. I was led into the next room where it was dark and foggy. The room was set up exactly how it looked in the video game. “AH, I GET IT NOW!” A narrator’s voice on the speakers starts to countdown. Watch below to see my experience.
Video and commentary provided by We Are Fuzzy. (Note: I probably should have read the fine print with the paperwork I signed, but I had no idea it was live streaming with commentary. I get a kick out of how you can see my name change Andreas to Anrea. ?)
The We Are Fuzzy team did an amazing job with the set of Sleep Tight IRL. The experience was exciting, unexpected and very well thought out. Not only did I feel like I was put right in the game, being able to have fun as an adult from shooting monsters in my room was like an old fantasy brought to life. Thank you We Are Fuzzy for the invitation. I had so much fun and I can’t wait to see more.
Go to sleeptightgame.com to learn more.
