The COVID-19 Pandemic gave rise to a lot of behaviors most of us never thought we'd consider particular enough to examine past a surface-level effort. In fact, I still remember seeing a cute video of two people falling in love from across-facing apartment complexes. The way one noticed the other during a time when everyone was stuck at home was through windows; glass portals that let us peer into spaces we lack access to. These clear surfaces are the method through which we can play as peeping toms in a unique game entered into the Game Maker's Toolkit (GMTK) Game Jam 2024.
I’m just a sucker for (consensual) love. Video by Jeremy Cohen via YouTube.
Peeping Frame is a stylized game set during the Pandemic era where you spy on a neighboring group of apartments for your friend, who's looking for three suspects. Armed with a telescopic lens, you zoom in and out of the various complexes to find them based on hints via your friend's text messages. Doing so isn't easy, however, as people open and close their windows from time to time, making you utilize your memory in addition to your deductive skills. As an entry into the GMTK Game Jam, it uses the theme of "Built to Scale" by letting us see details at different levels of fidelity.
One part of the game that stuck out to me right away was how its scenario questioned implicit expectations of privacy. Yes, you're spying on people outside of their homes from afar. But at some point in a compact space such as an urban residential area, someone's going to notice you in your apartment with the windows open. Not to mention, from the distance at which you're observing everyone, it's not like they're even aware that someone's watching them. But then again, the same implication applies to you, too.
Finding Peeping Frame was a delightful surprise for me. Many games struggle to define themselves but it's clear the author, Studio Ahn, knew what they wanted to convey and how to do so. The game's description, lists Alfred Hitchcock's film Rear Window and Pablo Amargo, an illustrator, as inspirations whose influences are prominent in the game. The gameplay's easy to get into and feels great. Zooming in and out plays a pleasant camera shutter sound effect, there is the constant drone of a busy city street roaring in the background, and the center of your screen has the cross mark of the lens you're using. Movement is fast but still slow enough to maintain enough control. It's a solid interactive experience across the board.
Notice how the camera angles are similar to the game’s. Video by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers via YouTube.
Also, if you're a fan of puzzle and/or hidden object games, then this one's for you. The main conceit of remembering the exact location of potential suspects is a fun problem when accounting for the fact that you won't always be able to see a suspect through their window. This same uncertainty is what makes zooming in and out such an exhilarating motion. Can you remember your suspect's exact location if they're not always there? Plus, can you confirm if their neighbors are the ones mentioned by your friend as well?
Let's be clear: This game is a short jam entry and it has its flaws. But man, for such a small piece it's a fantastic demo of what could be possible. A game where you spy on and track your neighbors in their homes from afar wasn't something I thought I needed, let alone would enjoy. Studio Ahn has changed my mind and I, for one, am glad to be wrong (for once). If they've changed your mind too then play Peeping Frame on itch.io!
Lunatic Studios
Justin's many things: Memer, designer, developer, game maker, Tarot reader, writer, and more. Now he's a keyboard monkey for Final Arc (don't tell them he said that). Website: heyjustinkim.com
