Beyond whodunits

Fan friendships

Both Wang Wanyuan and Zhang have noted an increase in their participation in scripted murder games this year compared to the previous one. "Last year, I delved into scripted murder for the first time in April, playing about a dozen times in total," Wang said. "But this year, it's about once a week, and I usually play with the same group of people."

Wang highlighted that her connections with fellow scripted murder enthusiasts aren't confined to the game setting. "We also share meals, attend movies, and occasionally enjoy a drink or two," she said. "While our conversations primarily revolve around scripted murder, we also exchange aspects of our personal lives."

Zhang also observed a change in his social network. "Every time I added a new player on my WeChat, I discovered that we have several mutual friends. It feels like I've entered the inner circle of enthusiasts."

However, Wang Zheng and Peng have observed a different trend. "After the COVID-19 pandemic, many of my friends have redirected their interests away from scripted murder games toward other hobbies such as traveling, attending concerts, and participating in outdoor sports," Wang Zheng noted.

They both pointed out that the increase in average gaming time plays a significant role in this transition.

According to Wang, the gaming duration has expanded from four to five hours to six to eight hours over the past few years.

"Previously, many players I knew would engage in scripted murder games on weekday nights. However, now most prefer daytime slots and are even hesitant about weekend nighttime sessions."

Peng, providing insights from both the DM and the store's perspective, explained that scripted murder games can be categorized into three distribution types: general, limited, and exclusive. "General" refers to any scripted murder game available for purchase and is the most affordable option. "Limited" indicates that only three to five stores in a city can acquire it as a publisher's selection. However, in cities like Beijing, where the number of stores is saturated, this figure has risen to the 20s in many cases. The same trend is observed with "exclusive" games.

"'Limited' used to serve as a benchmark for quality, reflecting the DM's skill level and the challenge posed. For many players today, however, it only means prolonged game time and higher prices," Peng said. "In comparison, 'general' games like Love Actually have sparked popularity and praise this year."

Peng also noted the difficulties in crafting and structuring scripted murders, identifying a bottleneck in content creation and a shortened publishing cycle. While occasionally encountering ingeniously designed scripts, the overall content quality often falls short, requiring extensive adjustments by both stores and DMs before presentation. "To enhance the gaming experience, I've been focusing on sensory elements like lighting, scent, and music," he said.

Expressing a longing for a more sustainable content production cycle, Peng emphasized the need for patience in script development.

"Inspiration cannot be summoned at will. It requires time and refinement to craft a good script. To foster a more balanced industry, I hope that authors and publishers can approach each script with the patience and sincerity it deserves."