The Drowning Machine

CONTENT WARNING: SELF-HARM, SUICIDE, REAL DEATH

The Drowning Machine is an upcoming Dream Horror game by Aidan Cushing. The game explores heavy themes, and was co-designed by Charlie Schulz, who became the subject of the game's narrative after his passing.

The first of several excerpts from the game, Movement VI: Eulogy was released on November 14th, 2020. The excerpt was created in 3 hours, and features one of two planned visual styles.

On March 18, 2021 it was announced that The Drowning Machine would be featured on the Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2021.

Story
On the way home from school, the player has a chance encounter with a distressed looking woman venturing into the woods near a reservoir by his house. On following her down a runoff canal, the player finds the woman standing atop a dam, with numerous signs warning of danger from a Drowning Machine . Upon calling out to the girl, she throws herself into the waters below, disappearing. Panicking, the player approaches the cliff, looking down into the water below only to see a horrific mass of gore and limbs reaching out to them and calling them to jump, and then faints.

The player is roused from this fainting spell in a different part of the woods to the sound of people calling their name. Upon finding these rescuers, the player is informed that they have been missing for two weeks. During the return trip and ensuing hospital stay, the player is able to enquire about The Drowning Machine, to which all parties give a very hesitant response, but just enough information to realize that jumping from this dam into the eldritch mass below has become an epidemic in the town, almost as if by some mass hysteria. They also learn that during their disappearance, their older brother snuck out to search for them and subsequently disappeared

Left with the sinking guilt that their brother may have entered The Drowning Machine, the player sneaks out at risk of life and limb to discover the truth.

Gameplay
Gameplay for The Drowning Machine is constructed largely according to the remnants of a since-lost Game Design Document created by Charlie Schulz. His vision was the original format for the game, exploring memories of trauma using poetry he had written. The game in its full form will be the remains of the original concept, wrapped within a story constructed from the experience of the tragic loss and grief thereafter.

Release Structure
The game is being released episodically, in a non-chronological order. Movements 6, 4, and 3 were featured on the Demo Disc, with Movement 1 being announced on March 29th, 2021. These movements are as follows:


 * Movement I: Reverie
 * Movement II: (Not yet announced, suspected to be named "Tether" or "Cadenza" based on hints within the demo)
 * Movement III: Freefall
 * Movement IV: Wanderlust
 * Movement V: (Not yet announced, suspected to be named "Nocturne")
 * Movement VI: Eulogy

With the release order denoted to be VI, IV, III, I, II, V in the game's demo, though this is not confirmed.