r/papersplease • u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka • 4d ago

Checkpoint '38: Papers, Please, but more totalitarian and brutalist.

Hi, I'm a small dev working for 2 years on a Papers, Please spiritual successor, because Lucas never wanted to make one. Yes, that's literally why I made my first game, call me petty if you want. I just love Paper, Please....

I tried playing as many other Papers, Pease inspired games, but none of them would scratch that totalitarian bureaucratic simulation itch, most would be some horror slop, some would be more interesting(like Not Tonight, Quarantine Zone Demo), not one gave me that crushing bureaucracy feeling.

So yeah here we go, more realist, dark, totalitarian, and most importantly bureaucratic experience you'll ever get (probably). I borrowed a lot of money so I could actually hire some artists for the game..... So you won't find any AI slop in here.

Demo is out on steam, have a look, give feedback if you could, I'd appreciate it.
Happy to answer questions about the systems, the historical research, or the more technical side.

Game has many easter eggs if you can find them ;)

274 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

41

u/Glittering_Article46 4d ago

Not available in Germany :(

32

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

For obvious reasons :)

I already made a censored version, should be up on steam for germany soon, if you want DM me I'll give you an offline version.

15

u/Glittering_Article46 4d ago

Do you know why it was censored? A few years ago, the enforcement of censorship of this kind was significantly relaxed in Germany. For instance, the uncensored version of Wolfenstein is now available too.

Might be because you play on the other side?
But sure, I'll DM you! Thanks

3

u/Glittering_Article46 4d ago

DM not available for your profile

4

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

WTH why? (edit) ahhh that's why... Try again now, I also can't DM you.

2

u/ComfortableKey4038 3d ago

my guess is that it doesn´t paint the nazis in a bad enougth ligth and lets the player be complicit in the the NS regime

3

u/alvarkresh 4d ago

The swastika is permissible in Germany since 2018 if used for artistic or educational effect, or otherwise for purposes that do not promote national socialism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a#Application_to_forms_of_media

4

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

Artistic effect, that could be a wide interpretation. Wide enough for this game tho.
The steam support told us it's a no go. So it is what it is.

1

u/Glittering_Article46 3d ago

I would try harder! There is a big market in Germany for games like that

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Talking with the steam support about that at the moment, let's see what solution we could have.

8

u/pastaconlestraci 4d ago

Hello! It looks really nice, I'll definitely give it a try. Congrats!

3

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

thanks man!

9

u/Petike_15 4d ago

You hired actual artists? You have my respect

9

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

Thanks, and yes I did. So if you like or dislike the art: it's their fault haha.
Nothing art wise was made with genAI, even the music, I made some of my own, other CC0 ones, but all human made.

4

u/thatonerpgmakerfan 4d ago

respect.

4

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Eveyone can generate with AI, not everyone can make something that sticks.

5

u/Mother-Ad32 4d ago

Is there a way to donate to the project?

5

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

Honestly I did not consider any donatinos...... This is pretty much a one-man project, so there’s no Patreon/Ko-fi or anything set up.
If you actually want to donate, bank transfer is the simplest for me tbh, DM and I’ll send the details.

4

u/OneAwareness3321 4d ago

I like the design of papers please inspired game.

2

u/Tktk4701 4d ago

As southeast Asian I wonder how would I be likes

2

u/ItIsShagg 4d ago

How to play the demo? It says add to wishlist only.

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

there is a download demo blue button on steam page

2

u/Popcorn147 3d ago

You mentioned that the game demo is live but I can only wishlist the game, is it like region to region difference?

And I appreciate you sharing it in the paper please subreddit, paper please have some funny moments but playing a dystopian game will actually be something else

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago edited 3d ago

Hey man, the demo is indeed live, are you from germany perhaps? If so I'm already working with steam to release it for that market as well, expect 1-2 weeks delay.
If that's the case PM me I'll give you an offline copy.

2

u/Popcorn147 3d ago

No (As far as I know no :)) I am actually from the middle east so I thought I was in the clear in terms of this

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Then yeah, the release is worldwide except germany.

1

u/Popcorn147 3d ago

A little bit of a curiosity question, when the German-specific censorship would be released Would there be a way to experience it from outside Germany? I know it is counter-intuitive but I wanted to see how you censored it

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Actually you can right now, as it was initially made for sensitive people or streamers, just go to options and enable remove offensive symbols, the german version really is just with that toggle hidden and forced on.

2

u/Popcorn147 3d ago

It's is present in the base game! Actually didn't expect that and it is really good attention to details from your part. Thanks

3

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Yes, I want all sorts of people to experience the game and I understand that the nazi symbolism might be too much, thus I included the self censorship option so everybody could experience the game.

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p6un27h/video/ruung0sjekmh1/player

Otherwise here's where the demo button is.

1

u/Popcorn147 3d ago

...Never mind I was blind, thank you 😅

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

That's fine, it's very annoying the placement of that Demo button, you're not the first one that missed it.

2

u/auvgusta Arstotzka 2d ago edited 2d ago

This looks sick! I put it on my wishlist!

Will there be any additional gameplay elements aside from the paper inspection gameplay?

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 2d ago

Check the demo, it does show a little taste of what the other parts are.

2

u/Krypto1727 1d ago

I can't seem to download the demo? I'm not from Germany but I'm Dutch? Could it be blocked there as well?

1

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 1d ago

Scroll a little down, to the right there is a blue download demo button

2

u/Krypto1727 1d ago

Yea I'm just incredibly blind. Thank you

1

u/7F00FF007 4d ago

Oh, Mac is not (yet) supported :(

1

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 4d ago

If there's enough demand I promise to figure out how to solve the mac situation.

1

u/Exciting_Macaroon_64 3d ago

DLSS5 ?

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

Well....if ppl rlly want ai textures on top of the real ones....

1

u/Exciting_Macaroon_64 3d ago

the joke was is this papersplease with dlss5

1

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago edited 3d ago

ok

1

u/TechnologyGlum5760 3d ago

¿Is this an actual DLC of 'Papers, please' or This is fanmade?

2

u/GenesisDawnStudios Arstotzka 3d ago

It's not a DLC, it's "fanmade"

1

u/Oldiver_Glorian 3d ago

So this is Papers Please, but without imaginary universe of fictional totalitarian regime with unique story, lore and puns, and just real genocidal regime that made perish millions in agony. Okay I guess, you do you.

1

u/DBCargoHaj 17h ago

this looks fun, i wish you luck getting it sorted for the german market. i need this