How To Play

What Do I Need To Play?

You’ll need a desktop computer with an up-to-date browser, keyboard or Xbox controller for PC, and speakers for some old school chiptune sounds! Browsers handle and support things differently, so bugs and performance may vary unless you use the recommended system specs found below!

Recommended System Specs

For the best gameplay experience, you’ll want to use a Windows PC with 1GB+ of dedicated VRAM on a stock, up-to-date Chrome browser with no other tabs or applications open.

Game Controls

Controls for what does what is at the bottom of the title screen, and in the options menu. A keyboard or Xbox controller for PC is supported. If you use software to map keys to another controller, the outcome may vary.

Can You Save In The Game?

You can save at camp by the band, and your game file will be stored in your browser. If you run into any issues using this feature, keep the game running in a tab and just pick it up another time!

Is It Free To Play?

Yes! The game and its assets are copyrighted, but it is free to play so share it with your buddies and if you stream the game, please take donations for charity!

Why Is The Game Crashing Or Not Working Right?

1. The game, literally, is an advanced web site using the latest technologies to make it look and play like a 16-bit retro game. Think of what that entails: multiple sprites moving and interacting, responsive sound effects, enemy logic, dialogue and save systems, weather effects, etc. An unsupported browser/OS combination may not support (yet) everything required to run the game.

2. If you run into framerate issues or the game freezing, it may be due to memory issues. For example, trying it on a gaming PC with an nVidia graphics card should run it easily, but that old, dusty laptop with an Intel graphics card may not work so well!

3. The game was largely tested and coded for keyboard use. The Xbox controller for PC was more of an after thought that performed well enough to include in the game. While you can use software to map keys to whatever your heart desires, it may cause issues.

5 This is not a mobile game, so it won’t run properly on those devices.

6. If the game looks like it’s running but you can’t move Norman, your browser may not be in ‘focus’. The controls only work if it is. To resolve this, just use your mouse to click somewhere in the game window.

Why Is This A Browser Based Game?

There are advantages and disadvantages to making a browser game, but in this specific case the pros outweigh the cons. Here’s why.

1. This is a free game for a relatively small community, used as a vehicle to raise money for charitable causes. With that in mind, the investment in time and resources is going to be limited. Developing and testing a game for multiple platforms would’ve cost more on both.

2. Browsers can reach the most people with the least amount of effort. There’s nothing to download or install, which means there’s less that can go wrong. A simple link can be shared and people can start playing.

3. Updating the game or fixing a bug doesn’t require anyone to do anything like downloading a patch. The files can simply be overwritten, and it updates the game for everyone. Considering the game was to be streamed, being able to update things in real time is valuable.