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Before FNAF: The Strange Beauty of Scott Cawthon's Other Games

Solar Sands・43 minutes read

Scott Cawthon's diverse and extensive game development career showcases a range of unique projects, with notable works including "Five Nights at Freddy's" and various Christian-themed games. Despite facing criticism from prominent figures like Jim Sterling, Cawthon's success is attributed to his meticulous attention to detail, dedication, and adaptation to challenges, leading to breakthroughs in the indie game landscape.

Insights

  • Scott Cawthon has a diverse portfolio of over 70 games spanning two decades, with some games requiring extensive grinding and others continuing indefinitely, showcasing his versatility and dedication to game development.
  • The game "The Desolate Hope" is considered Scott Cawthon's best non-FNAF creation, featuring a coffee robot named Coffee on Lun Infinus, unique derelicts controlling simulations, engaging charge-based boss battles, and a bittersweet conclusion with the shutdown of the base, highlighting his ability to craft immersive and complex gaming experiences beyond the FNAF series.

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Recent questions

  • What is Scott Cawthon known for?

    Game development and Christian media creation.

  • What sponsored a meal subscription service?

    CookUnity.

  • What is the gameplay of "Bogart 2" like?

    Improved graphics with frustrating control scheme.

  • What is the premise of "A Christmas Journey"?

    Unique Christmas movie with a humorous twist.

  • What is the gameplay of "Sit N Survive"?

    Strategic item purchasing for survival.

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Summary

00:00

Scott Cawthon: Diverse Game Development Journey

  • Scott Cawthon's repertoire of non-Five Nights at Freddy’s media spans two decades, showcasing a wide range of works that are fascinating and unique to him.
  • Cawthon has created over 70 games, some of which were unplayable or required extensive grinding to complete, with some games continuing indefinitely.
  • The dates of Cawthon's games are based on internet archive webpages, old iTunes and Android app pages, and Amazon pages, with efforts made to ensure accuracy.
  • CookUnity, a meal subscription service, sponsored a video, offering a variety of meal options delivered fully cooked, with flexible subscription plans.
  • Scott Cawthon's first game, "Floppy Disk," involved a blue blob collecting red gems on a pirate ship, with his first known game being "Doofas" in 1994.
  • Cawthon attended the Art Institute of Houston in 1996, learning computer animation and using Clickteam Fusion to create games, a tool he has consistently used.
  • In 2002, Cawthon created "Shroomin" and a 3D art game creator called "RPG Max," both of which are currently lost media.
  • Several games from 2003, such as "Stellar Gun" and "Phantom Core," showcase Cawthon's early game development style and experimentation.
  • "Legacy of Flan" and its sequels, including an online multiplayer version, demonstrate Cawthon's progression in game development and design.
  • Cawthon's shift towards creating Christian media began in 2004 with "Noah's Ark," showcasing improvements in visual storytelling and environmental design.

14:25

"Game reviews and Christian films analyzed"

  • The final boss in a game is Grampa, who is willing to kill his grandchildren to protect the white whale.
  • Technical errors in the game include dialogue text and items being invisible unless the cursor is rapidly moved over them.
  • Flannville 2 has better graphics and gameplay than the first game, involving collecting Flan gems and playing mini-games.
  • Chup’s Quest, a Zelda clone, is disliked for its repetitive gameplay and lack of story.
  • Mini-Metroid transitions into a level based on Super Mario, while Metroid: Ripped Worlds features levels based on famous games.
  • The Pilgrim’s Progress is a Christian animated film based on a novel by John Bunyan, with Scott Cawthon heavily involved in voice acting.
  • Light From Above is a Christian game resembling a prototype for The Pilgrim’s Progress, while Bogart is a challenging 2D platformer.
  • Bogart 2 improves on graphics but retains similar gameplay mechanics, frustrating players with its control scheme.
  • The Misadventures of Sigfreid the Elf on Tuesday Night offers more freedom of movement and stacking power-ups in a 2D platformer.
  • A Christmas Journey is a unique Christmas movie with a humorous twist on the true meaning of Christmas, featuring a cynical grandpa and an angel guiding the characters.

27:58

"Scott Cawthon's The Desolate Hope Review"

  • RPG elements in a game are criticized for devolving into meaningless numbers despite an engaging narrative.
  • Desire expressed to play as Jesus in a game to achieve a powerful, divine mode and defeat enemies.
  • Slumberfish is a mobile puzzle game by Scott Cawthon resembling "Cut the Rope" with sea creatures.
  • Slumberfish Catching Z’s is a similar game to Slumberfish but involves collecting Zs with a diving suit guide.
  • The Desolate Hope is considered Scott's best non-FNAF game, involving a coffee robot named Coffee on Lun Infinus.
  • The game features five derelicts with unique designs and personalities, each controlling a simulation.
  • The game includes day and night cycles, with different activities available during each period.
  • The night cycles involve walking in a straight line to collect resources, with a space invader-like minigame occasionally appearing.
  • The charge-based boss battles in The Desolate Hope are highlighted as intense and engaging, requiring understanding and utilization of various elements.
  • The game's conclusion is described as bittersweet, with the breakdown of simulations and the eventual shutdown of the base.

42:09

Scott Cawthon's Game Design Success

  • Kitty in the Crowd is a "Where's Waldo?" style game featuring kittens hidden in one image, becoming repetitive after the initial discovery.
  • Sit N Survive is a game where players must strategically purchase items each night to survive in a hazardous campsite, balancing expenses with potential dangers like bugs, bears, acid rain, lightning, and zombies.
  • Scott Cawthon's game design skills are showcased in Sit N Survive, a mobile game that captivates players with its premise and execution, keeping them engaged and eager for more.
  • Jim Sterling, a prominent video game journalist and YouTuber, criticizes Scott Cawthon's games, leading to the removal of the Greenlight Steam page by Cawthon himself due to the criticism.
  • Scott Cawthon's prolific output rate is highlighted, with him consistently creating multiple games or films each year, showcasing recurring tropes and design elements in his works.
  • FNAF World is revealed to be a typical representation of Scott Cawthon's game design style, with many of his creations featuring minigames, loading time issues, and escalating difficulty in boss battles.
  • The success of Five Nights at Freddy's is attributed to Scott Cawthon's meticulous attention to detail, from the iconic animatronic designs to the immersive atmosphere created through sound design and visuals.
  • Scott Cawthon's journey to success is depicted as a result of his persistence and adaptation to challenges, with his early failures leading to the eventual breakthrough with Five Nights at Freddy's.
  • The impact of Five Nights at Freddy's on the indie game landscape is acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of dedication and passion in creating successful and innovative works in the gaming industry.
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