I'M YOUR HOST
Information for selected viewers only – please keep this page private and confidential.
You can download the latest demo here.
TRAILER (TEMP, PRIVATE,NO MUSIC)
I'M YOUR HOST
Your goal is simple: restore a series of podcast episodes.
The deeper you dig into interviews, field recordings and corrupted audio clips, the more questions arise:
• What happened to the podcast host?
• Who destroyed the episodes?
• And who is the mysterious voice acting as your guide? GAMEPLAY
I'M YOUR HOST takes place entirely inside a custom interface.
It's a deduction game. You must rely on context clues to progress. There are three types of puzzles to solve:
- Fill in the missing audio
- Restore the episodes
- Organise the files
1 FILL IN THE MISSING AUDIO
After listening to the audio clips, you notice some audio is corrupted. Enter the missing transcript to piece the story together.
2 RESTORE THE EPISODES
Order audio clips in the timeline to restore the podcast. There are six episodes in total.
3 ORGANISE THE FILES
Audio files contain fragments of metadata. Find out who was interviewed, their location and the date. This gives you context about how the podcast was produced.
Completing all six episodes unlocks a second, hidden game phase.
GAME DESIGN
I'M YOUR HOST introduces key mechanics to the deduction game genre.
A built-in scoring system offers feedback and creates a sense of stake. You can disable it in the settings, but it tracks every submission, challenging players to get the best score possible.
A familiar notification system keeps players engaged throughout the game. You are pinged as new audio files appear, the host contacts you, or a new feature becomes available.
Finally, a kinetic loop happens where solving one type of puzzle helps you complete another.
Story
Daniel Chiang, a recently laid-off software engineer, launches a podcast as a midlife-crisis project. While recording, he begins to hear voices that appear to originate inside his head.
His search for answers leads him on a month-long journey around the globe as he falls deeper into a rabbit hole of psychoacoustics, shady tech companies, and strangely vanishing persons.
Format
I'M YOUR HOST is told through audio fragments. The game drip-feeds players official podcast masters as well as audio outtakes that didn't make it into the final cut.
The story has the hallmarks of a paranoia/conspiracy thriller, with a pinch of true crime and paranormal thrown in. It is grounded in our world and explores themes of agency, modern alienation, and spirituality.
MARKETING
I'M YOUR HOST will be marketed with short, 1:1 video clips showcasing the live transcription feature of the game.
A bold art direction, enigmatic snippets of story and strong hook will pique players' curiosity.
RELEASE
I'M YOUR HOST is a short but dense narrative game (2-3 hours) and should be priced accordingly – under $10.
LOCALISATION
I'M YOUR HOST is written and recorded in English. Audio clips are always transcribed in the game, so a translation can be displayed.
Note that, while the puzzles work in every language, non-English speakers may find it more challenging to pick up on audio clues (voices, cadence, etc...).
ACCESSIBILITY
I'M YOUR HOST provides colour-coded visual feedback (green = correct, red = incorrect). We will let players select different palettes in the accessibility options.
PORTING
I'M YOUR HOST is developed in Unity for PC (Windows, Mac, Linux). It requires mouse and keyboard input.
There is no controller support, but it is perfectly suited for touchscreen devices.
WHY CALLIGRAM STUDIO
Calligram Studio is a multi-award winning team of three based between the UK and France. Our first game, the critically-acclaimed Phoenix Springs, earned us a reputation as creators of ambitious, artful storytelling.
I'M YOUR HOST follows in that tradition, albeit in a more approachable format.
Thank you for reading.