Sitting down with Mike and Scott, man, you wouldn’t believe the ride these guys have been on. So, DEAD LETTER DEPT.? Yeah, it’s basically a typing horror game that’ll mess with your head. But we’re talking more than just the game. These dudes, Mike Monroe and Scott McKie, they’re in Japan right now. I mean, they’re from the Pacific Northwest, but who doesn’t love a good globetrotter story?
So, Belief Engine, their baby, has been around a bit, over 12 years. Mike’s like, “Yeah, we kicked it off and just thought, why not?” A full-time gig since 2020 (crazy times, right?). Moved from Colorado to Washington in ‘04, went to DigiPen—no idea what that is, but seems cool if you’re into games.
Scott? His path’s a twisty one. Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art, wants a Computer Science degree too. Eight years in school (like, wow). Ends up in Washington, sees the dollar signs for the degree, and thinks, maybe not. Real jobs cost money, dude’s broke. Classic.
They bonded over making video games, which took forever. Tons of tries before anything clicked. You know the drill. Oh, and are they inspired by any particular games? Scott says their tastes are both similar and totally not. Go figure.
DEAD LETTER DEPT., though. Philosophical grounding, anyone? It’s more about what “home” means. Fascinating to think about, especially when the world’s in chaos. Mike talks about anxiety and moving for a fresh start. We’ve all been there.
Scott reflects, too. That late-night college job, typing away. Haunted house vibes but not really. He enjoyed the solitude, mind wandering, thinking about projects. So, they wanted a game that induced that flow — the kind Tetris locks you into. No brain space for anything else.
First-person POV for the game? Easy ticket to immersion, says Mike. Less work, more focus. They skipped anything that’d break it. Tutorial pop-ups? Nah, Post-its on the screen did the job.
And Japan? Adventures galore. They’re hunting down these creepy tunnels around Tokyo and Kyoto. Can you imagine? Mike thinks it’s like a real-life Silent Hill situation. Creaky stairs, rusted walls. Oh, and Scott takes pics of houses, each with its own quirk. Your basic 30-same-houses-row doesn’t cut it in Japan.
They’re planning a cultural museum trip, hiking up mountains. Local taxis? That’s a whole other saga, but Scott’s up for the language challenge.
This was seriously a blast. These guys? They’ve got tales to tell and projects in the works. If DEAD LETTER DEPT. piques your interest, it’s on Steam. And that soundtrack? Keep an ear out for it. Cheers to Mike and Scott!
