A Tragic Accidental Still Life

Coming Soon

A screenshot of gameplay from the game's first act. There is gameplay in the middle, and a UI frame around the edges. In the gameplay portion is the main character from the title cover image in EMT uniform. They're standing in a kitchen outside of a hallway that leads to a living room. The colors are generally earthy. The kitchen seems neat and ordinary. In the UI frame, the top reads "Act I: The Suburbs — Random House". In the bottom of the UI frame, there are icons and stats: a health kit (at 0), a box with shine on it (at 0), skull (at 1), and three skulls, one of which is blacked out.

A screenshot of gameplay from the game's second act. In the gameplay portion is the main character from the title cover image in an orange prision outfit. They're standing in a prison cell that contains a bed, sink, and toilet. It's otherwise barren. Everything is teal-colored. In the UI frame, the top reads "Act II: Prison". In the bottom of the UI frame, there are icons and stats: a gavel (at 0), a box (at 0), a thought bubble (at 28), and three spoons, all of which are blacked out.

A screenshot of gameplay from the game's third act. In the gameplay portion is the main character from the title cover image in a plain green shirt and black pants. They're standing in a studio apartment that contains a bed, kitchen area, desk, tv, couch, and dresser. There's a map on the wall. There's a laptop on the desk. In the UI frame, the top reads "Act III: America — Kansas". In the bottom of the UI frame, there are icons and stats: a red push pin (at 1), a box with a red dot on it (at 0), a dollar sign (at 0), and a meter with a cop's face at one end and the main character at the other.

Rushing from home to home through the endless suburbs, an ambulance driver fails yet again to revive the latest victim of a drug epidemic. Made numb by repetitive tragedy, he seeks excitement the only way he knows how — by stealing from the victims he’s been called to help.

Equal parts mundane and surreal, A Tragic Accidental Still Life is a three-act arcade adventure that unravels into a vast narrative tapestry of daydreams, prison breaks, and far-flung night flights. Speed through the sprawl. Save your neighbors. Take their stuff — and follow a path of stolen mementos through prisons and reveries across America.

Awards

2023: Best Progress (“[A] work that advances the concept of the game”), IGDGF, Seoul, South Korea

2022: Honorable Mention, A MAZE, Berlin, Germany

Exhibitions

2023: IGDGF, Seoul, South Korea
2023: MAGFest, National Harbor, MD

2022: Busan Indie Connect, Busan, South Korea

2022: A MAZE, Berlin, Germany

2022: NYCxDESIGN, New York, NY

2022: MAGFest, National Harbor, MD

A screenshot of gameplay. There is no UI frame. The main character is outside, in a field of grass, encircled by blooming bushes and a tree with yellow leaves. There is a easel nearby, with a canvas, but no painting. There is a watercolor set on the ground with an arrow over it.

A screenshot of gameplay. There is no UI frame. The main character is standing on top of a giant backgammon board. All the pieces are neatly in place. There are dice in the corner of the board, with an arrow over them. The surrounding background is black.

A screenshot of gameplay. There is no UI frame. The main character is in a field of wheat. The ground is dry and brown. They are facing an NPC dressed in red and some gold with an arrow over them. The NPC is standing in front of a rusty old barn with a metal door. There is a padlock on the door.

An IRL photo of an desk-sized arcade cabinet displaying A Tragic Accidental Still Life running on it. The cabinet is has dark wood decals wrapping the entire thing, with white edge framing. The room is sunny. The cabinet is on a wooden writing desk. There's a glowing title backdrop on the top part of the cabinet, but it's blank. The cabinet has a white joystick and a white arcade button. In the middle of the two controls is a brown glass ashtray glued to the surface.

An IRL photo of two dim figures in front of the aforementioned arcade cabinet in a dark exhibtion hall. The title is now displaying in the before empty title display at the top of the cabinet. The game is running on the screen. The screen is showing a full moon as seen through a telescope lens on a starry night.