Alright, so picture this: I’m sitting there chatting with these two guys from Belief Engine, a name that’s… well, kind of strange. Mike Monroe and Scott McKie are these geniuses behind the game DEAD LETTER DEPT. They’re into horror typing games, which sounds as wild as it is. They’re perched in the Pacific Northwest but are doing a stint in Japan. Why Japan? Who knows—maybe the sushi, maybe the inspiration.
So, TVGB gets down to business with a question. Twelve years, huh? Belief Engine’s been around that long. Mike’s like, “Yup, twelve years,” and dives into this tale about moving from Colorado to Washington for college. Like a pilgrimage—to the land of rain and tech, I guess.
Scott? He’s got his own story. Kinda artsy—Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art. Then there’s this pivot to Computer Science. He moved to Washington too. And then… boom, reality check. No money, no job, and a boatload of dreams.
Both of them eventually tried making games together, like throwing spaghetti at a wall to see what sticks. I think they got there, somehow.
So, I ask if a particular game lit the creative fire for them. Scott’s like, “Belief Engine? More like our own experimental playground.” DEAD LETTER DEPT. is essentially Mike’s baby, though Scott tags in with his mad creative energy sometimes.
Mike’s diving into philosophy a bit, talking about moving, finding home—all deep stuff. Apparently, the game’s about getting lost mail to where it’s supposed to be and the whole emotional baggage of relocating. Kinda personal. He talks about leaving his conservative military town—needed diversity, a mental shake-up.
Then, Scott’s late-night job—kinda eerie—plays into the game. He’d train it out to a warehouse and punch in addresses while the sun rose. Real-life stuff that seeps into the core of DEAD LETTER DEPT.
Mike’s got this obsession with flow states (think Tetris when you’re zoned out). He’s trying to replicate that in a horror game. Scott chimes in with, “In the zone,” which actually makes sense. They’re like this dynamic, creative duo feeding off each other’s quirks and crazy ideas.
MM later confesses about mysterious code acting up—it’s almost like the game’s haunted. But hey, those accidents spice things up. A little eerie, a lot fascinating. First-person view was kind of a must—it throws you right into the creepy vibes, slashing that extra layer of player detachment.
Then there’s talk of Japan—their side quest. What’s up in Japan? Creepy tunnels, of course. Mike’s on this mission to explore Tokyo and Kyoto’s underbelly. Creepy tunnel here, cracked floor there, with some surreal vibes thrown in for good measure. Scott’s snapping pics of unique houses—kindling inspiration for future projects.
As they wrap up, we hear about their next steps. Mike’s got soundtracks in the works, while Scott’s deep into a Japanese learning game. They’re brimming with ideas, brewing creativity. And hey, if you want more, keep an eye out for DEAD LETTER DEPT. on Steam. The soundtrack’s something to wait for too.
And with that, they’re off—venturing into the unknown, collecting stories, ready for what’s next.
