4J Studios secured as title sponsor of first Scottish Games Week

Step into the murky world of online sex work with Dead Man’s Phone: Unmasked, a new interactive crime series available exclusively on mobile through the brand-new storytelling platform Scriptic.

Created by interactive entertainment studio Electric Noir Studios, Dead Man’s Phone: Unmasked puts you in the shoes of a homicide detective charged with cracking the case of a body found on Hampstead Heath.

Clumps of bright red hair and an iconic golden mask suggest that the victim is famous AllMyFans influencer, Gemma Dream. After using the victim’s phone to solve the mystery of what happened to Gemma, including hunting through the victim’s social media, interviewing an old ex-boyfriend, and arresting sinister subscribers, you are no closer to solving the case.

Your story evolves as you utilise in-game tools, including a news app reporting each arrest you make, maps to track the live location of suspects, a social media app for launching viral campaigns, and video conferencing to conduct remote police interviews. Solve the crime your way with multiple-choice responses to suit your investigation style and remain in control of how the narrative unfolds.

Writer Martha Reed crafted the gripping narrative for Electric Noir Studios to raise awareness of the challenges faced by online sex workers in their daily lives, abuse that they face online, the stigma that they face from society, and the serious threats to their personal safety, including doxing and harassment. The story challenges the culture of victim-blaming by portraying women and sex workers as relatable, fallible, ordinary people, highlighting the right for women to live in safety regardless of their jobs or sexual preferences.

The Dead Man’s Phone series spotlights important social issues typically not highlighted through the medium of video games.

Martha Reed, who wrote the story of Dead Man’s Phone: Unmasked, said: “This season of Dead Man’s Phone seeks to provide a voice for marginalised women. Too often, the dangers that women face are swept under the rug and ignored. This game spotlights a vital issue and the mobile gaming medium allows us to reach as wide an audience as possible. 

“Being involved in the game has been an amazing experience and a challenge having come from a theatre background, but we’ve all helped create an authentic and human story with a really valuable message at its heart. I am beyond proud of the work we’ve done here and thrilled that we have helped put a voice to some of the most vulnerable members of society.”

Former British homicide detective Sim Cryer worked as a consultant to make the experience as authentic as possible, alongside lending his acting talents to the final experience as a chief inspector to help you navigate the mystery.

Influencer and glamour model Victoria Barrett also consulted on the real world of OnlyFans, with Haruka Kuroda brought in as intimacy coordinator to advocate and liaise between the cast and the production team to ensure that consent, boundaries, and expectations were set and maintained throughout filming.

Nihal Tharoor, Founder & CEO of ElectricNoir, said: “After the success of the first season we wanted to make something that was true to our ethos of telling compelling stories while making sure that our voice is used for a social good. The mobile game platform has allowed us to reach a huge audience and really puts the player in the shoes of the detective. We want to use our platform to amplify marginalised voices.”

Following on from the success of the first season of Dead Man’s Phone: Redman, Electric Noir Studios is continuing its expansion with the goal of creating even more interactive stories, across multiple genres, on the Scriptic platform. After a BAFTA nomination in 2020, Electric Noir Studios has launched a second season of the critically acclaimed game with more on the horizon; each with a poignant story to tell.

The studio is also announcing that both seasons of Dead Man’s Phone will become available on Netflix later this year, under the Scriptic platform name.

Netflix announced their move into gaming last year, now offering a curated selection of high-quality mobile games on the Netflix app, with unlimited access for Netflix subscribers without ads or in-app purchases. Through Scriptic, Dead Man’s Phone: Redman and Unmasked will join this exclusive selection of titles and deliver immersive, interactive dramas to Netflix audiences worldwide.

The first episode of Dead Man’s Phone: Unmasked is available to play on the Scriptic app from today, on iOS and Android:

• Apple App Store
• Google Play Store

Find out more about Electric Noir Studios and the Scriptic app here:

• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

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