It's been played a combined 6.5 million times across Spotify and YouTube. It's a defining video game opening sequence highlighting the possibilities of VR. And it nearly didn't happen!
The opening sequence of I Expect You To Die is a fan favorite, and its captivating origin story makes it even more remarkable. Join us on this retrospective as we delve into the origins of the intro, inspirations, and some of our favorite moments of this iconic opening.
How the I Expect You To Die Intro Came to Be
The journey began in November 2015 at Schell Games when a game developer for I Expect You To Die started working on what was initially a side project. Originally, the team hadn’t planned for a credit sequence, but as the developer shared their vision, the team recognized its potential. By early 2016, they committed six weeks to bring this idea to fruition.
The title sequence began as a short snippet for the beginning of the game and was even moved to an end credits sequence for a short time, but ultimately the final sequence was so engaging it was moved right back to the first thing players see in the franchise.
The production team was lean, with the leading developer and a colleague crafting most of the assets, bolstered by a concept artist and the audio team. Regular iterations and brainstorming sessions with leadership kept the project on track, transforming it into an opening sequence that significantly elevated the game's popularity.
Challenges & Getting Creative
As video game fans are well aware, constraints on a medium also help push the developers on them to reach new heights. The I Expect You To Die intro was extremely innovative in a time when VR games weren't utilized big intro sequences, so these Schell Games developers were treading new ground with every step. And the stripped down visuals and color palette, while certainly an homage to Casino Royale, came down to technological considerations as much as aesthetic choices (more in this great interview)
The design process also presented unique challenges specific to VR, mainly whether to focus visuals straight ahead or create a fully immersive 360° experience. The team opted for a balanced approach, incorporating engaging elements in both directions. They also grappled with the idea of interactivity, carefully coordinating the visual flow with the timing of the music.
The Song
Regardless of how great the visuals are, what really sets apart the spy genre opening is the song. The final version evolved through a perfect synthesis of Schell Games creativity, starting with a developer hastily improving lyrics into his phone late at night. Another Schell Games staff member took that idea and added new lyrics while audio designer Bonnie Bogovich (who ended up being the lead singer) hashed out the melody.
A few late night recording sessions later and the final song began to take shape. The Schell Games team tried the initial demo out at GDC, where the audience loved it so much they decided to make it into a full fledged song. Mixed right here in Pittsburgh at Red Caiman studio, sessions musicians, new vocals with Bogovich and background singers combined to produce the song you love today.
Be Sure to Check Out
This intro set the tone for jaw-dropping opening sequences in the series, with The Spy and the Liar by Puddles Pity Party and Cog in the Machine by Haley Reinhart both upping the ante.
Music is an integral part to the I Expect You To Die series and everything we make here at Schell Games. Be sure to check out the music for Until You Fall, lo-fi beats for Among Us VR and Silent Slayer: Vault of the Vampire, and belt your best version with the karaoke version of the I Expect You To Die intro below.
Top Secret
As a reward for scrolling this far, here's some secret intel for you, Agents. On Mission 5: First Class of the original game, a secret audio tape can be found if you send something to the Polish-speaking passenger on the train with you. Well, we found the original recording of that song and music video which can be found here in its entirety: