TVGB managed to grab a chat with the brains behind DEAD LETTER DEPT., this indie horror game where typing becomes an existential crisis. Yeah, you read that right. Mike Monroe and Scott McKie, the duo known as Belief Engine, are currently soaking up some inspiration in Japan, though they’re usually lurking somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
So, Belief Engine, huh? Been around for, what, 12 years now?
_“Yup, 12 long years. We just kind of winged it at the start. Since 2020, it’s become our all-day, every-day gig. Job offer came, and I thought, ‘Heck, why not?’”_ says Mike. He made a leap from Colorado to Washington back in ’04, chasing the video game dream at a place called DigiPen.
As for Scott, he’s got this Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art. Figured adding Computer Science would be cool, but then life nudged back saying, “Yeah, that’s pricey. Got bills to pay!” So, he also ended up in Washington, juggling dreams and reality.
Both Mike and Scott were all about making games, though it took ages to figure out what worked. Tons of trial and error before things clicked.
What game flicked the switch for them?
Scott says they’ve got overlapping interests but also veer off in different directions. Belief Engine’s like their playground for personal projects. DEAD LETTER DEPT. is Mike’s baby, but Scott’s fingerprints are all over it, too.
Mike kinda digs this setup. He likes weird games, Scott likes weird games—perfect mix. They don’t always play the same games, but watching each other tackle different genres was intriguing. It’s like eavesdropping on someone else’s thought process over their shoulder.
The spooky concept of DEAD LETTER DEPT. pulled from all kinds of life experiences. Mike didn’t really use James Alcock’s brain-is-a-belief-engine thing here. Instead, the real meat was exploring the fear and anxiety of moving, seeking that place where you belong, kinda like misdirected mail searching for home.
And Scott’s college job? He worked late nights with just his thoughts for company, entering addresses in an isolated warehouse—very horror game vibes. Here’s the twist: the game lets your mind roam as you type, much like Scott did back in the day.
How does that come alive in a game? Well, Mike explains this thrill called “flow state”—that zen moment doing repetitive tasks, like the silent rhythm of washing dishes. He wanted to toy with that feeling, pull you into a game and shake it up a bit.
The craziest part of making the game? Mike stumbled on a bunch of unexplained, bizarre bugs that turned out to work perfectly in this creepy horror game setting. It was like the code was haunted, throwing surprises and adding unintentional layers he could never have planned for.
First-person view was all about immersion—thank P.T. for inspiration there. Anything to keep you glued and immersed in this eerie world was embraced.
Japan’s Charlotte Brontë-esque vibe also threads through their new projects. They’ve got plans for games that marry language learning and RPGs, poking through Japanese aesthetics from yesteryears.
All these tangents aside, making games is about the music and sounds for Mike, while Scott gets his kicks crafting intricate systems—though he admits it’s easy to get lost in the weeds.
Their upcoming plans? They’re on soundtracks, focusing on cultural influences in Japan, and hunting for creepy tunnels like they’re on a ghost tour.
Fans can find DEAD LETTER DEPT. on Steam, and keep an ear out for a killer soundtrack. Mike and Scott’s creative ride is not just unique but raw and real. Epic adventures await these dudes in Japan—hopefully with a non-gory detour or two.
Keep an eye out for new projects and the mysteries they unearth in the process. Their journey is nothing if not chaotically exciting.
