Clickolding: The Bizarre Tale of a Game Born from a Late-Night Clicker Craze

What started as a casual clicker game session among a group of game developers at the 2024 Game Developers Conference quickly spiraled into the creation of the highly unusual and unsettling game, Clickolding. This is the story of how a simple joke turned into a reality, as told by the developers who were there.

Uncovering the Twisted Origins of a Peculiar Gaming Phenomenon

The Clicker Craze that Sparked a Bizarre Idea

During the final night of the 2024 Game Developers Conference, a group of developers from companies like Strange Scaffold, Innersloth, and Aggro Crab gathered in a hotel lobby to unwind after a long week. There, they became enthralled with an ordinary tally counter that the Aggro Crab team had picked up a few days prior. The developers, many of whom were self-proclaimed neurodivergent, became captivated by the simple pleasure of clicking the device. They engaged in friendly competitions to see who could click the fastest, passing the clicker around and exploring new ways to interact with it. As the night wore on, the conversation took an unexpected turn, with the developers joking about the "intimate" experience of clicking the clicker together.

From Casual Joke to Outlandish Game Concept

It was at this point that Strange Scaffold's studio head, Xalavier Nelson Jr., saw an opportunity to turn the casual joke into something more. He began recording the group's ideas, determined to transform the clicker craze into a fully-fledged game. The developers, including Innersloth's Forrest Willard and Victoria Tran, were initially skeptical, but Nelson's unwavering commitment and creative vision soon won them over. The group began brainstorming the game's concept, with ideas like the typography-based logo and the protagonist's distinctive outfit (inspired by Innersloth's Dan Tan) emerging from the late-night discussions.

Bringing the Bizarre to Life: The Making of Clickolding

Despite the initial hesitation, the developers ultimately decided to collaborate on the project, with Outersloth, Innersloth's publishing wing, agreeing to fund the game. Nelson worked quickly to assemble a team and bring the concept to life, determined to create something that would both intrigue and unsettle players.The final version of Clickolding, which has been described as "disturbed" and "one of the most unusual" games critics have played, is a testament to the developers' commitment to their late-night creation. The game's unsettling atmosphere, with the masked protagonist's unsettling commentary and the player's role in the "clickolding" experience, reflects the twisted origins of the project.

Reactions and Reflections: The Developers Weigh In

As the game's promotional material began to circulate, the developers involved in its conception had a range of reactions. Some, like Innersloth's Victoria Tran, were initially "horrified" by the final product, while others, like Aggro Crab's Nick Kaman, were impressed by the team's commitment to the bizarre concept.Despite the mixed reactions, the developers who were there that night in the hotel lobby expressed a sense of pride and excitement in seeing their late-night joke become a reality. They marveled at the way the game's various elements, from the logo to the protagonist's outfit, had been incorporated into the final product, and they celebrated the creative spirit that had brought Clickolding to life.As Clickolding continues to captivate and unsettle players, the developers who were there that fateful night in San Francisco can take solace in the knowledge that their casual clicker craze has given birth to a truly unique and unforgettable gaming experience.