The Nick News

[p]Hey everyone![/p][p][/p][p]I'm Andy, the author of The Nick. From March 11 to March 29 we are celebrating the anniversary of the release of our debut video game: The Nick: Chapter 1. This is not just a demo, but a full segment of the game that we plan to keep developing. For our game studio it's another excuse for spotlights, dancing, and anything as long as it's not work! But seriously, the day the game was released became my second birthday (no exaggeration!!!) So I wanted to share some news about the game and what awaits us in the future.[/p][p][/p][h2]First of all... thank you[/h2][p]Honestly, as I’m writing this right now it’s hard for me to hold back my gratitude to everyone who helped us reach the point where we are today.[/p][p]To the developers: Chris for the atmospheric soundtrack and huge creative contribution, Nikolay for the balanced sound design, Sergiy for the experimental art style, Grady and Nikita — for the precise gameplay experience thanks to your code, and also special thanks to those who help translate, promote, and improve our game.[/p][p][/p][p]And of course... the players.[/p][p]This is our very first release, and I absolutely didn’t expect that we would get 1300+ players on Steam, a peak online of 112 people, 500 wishlists, and several very warm reviews. Guys, you can’t even imagine how приятно it was for me as an indie developer to read things like this:[/p][p][/p][p]"I like that this game isn't what it seems. At first, when you just enter and explore the locations, it might be scary, but after getting to know the characters and completing the first boss fight, you relax and realize that even if the atmosphere around you is oppressive..."[/p][p][/p][p]"You can't get bored with such a cocktail. Nice music, great sound effects."[/p][p][/p][p]"Literally soooo good I cannot express how much I enjoyed playing this, amazing soundtrack, story and very relatable in parts. Keep up the work devs..."[/p][p][/p][p]"All in all, I was quickly hooked and I’m eager to learn more about this story featuring our ghosts.[/p][p]Thanks for the demo."[/p][p][/p][p]...[/p][p][/p][p]Guys… you can’t even imagine what kind of feelings I have after several years of developing this chapter… Among players there is a terrible myth that developers don’t care about reviews and feedback (even indie ones!). What nonsense! Whenever we learn about mentions of us somewhere or new reviews, we discuss them in the team and… cry (usually from being touched)! This is a huge motivation for EVERY developer to keep moving forward. Truly.[/p][p]We didn’t make some mega hit (yet), but that doesn’t take away the joy of this anniversary. It was a huge journey, a first attempt, working with almost zero production experience — and it was worth it. I made this game during a very difficult period of my life. Hoping that it would help improve my state of mind. I just wanted to create something that would show what I feel, but outside of my own head. And even though in Chapter 1 most of the story branches (which I polished for years) are only just beginning and you can’t even imagine what awaits you next… you still managed to see the interconnectedness of the story during our playtests… It touched me so much I’m crying!!! Ъ_Ъ[/p][p][/p][p]That’s why for us and for me this is not a small thing at all. I’ve seen some fan arts for the game (although there were very few), and I’m so happy that this person is now working with us on RAIN HEART! So if someone liked the game so much that they decided to make fan art — please let us see it! Send it to Steam UGS. We will definitely look at everything and if we really like it we will publish it on our social media.[/p][p][/p][h2]Steam Sale[/h2][p]It’s also worth mentioning that from March 19 to March 29 on Steam THE NICK SOUNDTRACK will be sold with a discount! This is almost 1 hour of original compositions created by Chris and me. When we release the continuation of the game, we will update this product and you will receive new tracks at no additional cost.[/p][p]The Nick Soundtrack on Steam[/p][p][/p][h2]Follow us on TikTok[/h2][p]Please!!! Recently our team started running a profile there where we share behind-the-scenes content and other things related to our games and development. If you’re interested in that kind of content, find us under the nickname @flat.reality.[/p][p][/p][h2]Future announcements…[/h2][p]Future announcements are meant to be talked about later! Right now our team is focused on releasing our new game later this year, as well as looking for funding. So in the near future we will be sharing updates more often![/p][p]I’ll also whisper that in April we’re planning something very interesting. So be sure to stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for building a small but very warm community -Andy from Flat Reality[/p]

[p]Hello, everyone![/p][p][/p][p]I'm Andy, the studio head and game director of The Nick. Today, I'm in a great mood and have some wonderful news:[/p][p]The Nick Original Soundtrack is out now on Steam an all digital platforms![/p][p]27 tracks, nearly an hour of music — a world of echoes, childhood fragments, and fragile emotions.[/p][p]You can check it right here:[/p][p][/p][p]The Nick Soundtrack on Steam[/p][p][/p][p]Or simply type “The Nick Chapter 1” into your favorite streaming service's search bar, and you'll find it.[/p][p][/p][p]So we sat down with Christophe Péreuil, the Paris-based composer behind the game's haunting soundscape, to talk about process, feeling, and friendship.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Cozy kitchen with Chris[/h2][h3][/h3][p]Andy: Hey Chris! Let’s start from the top — for those who might not know you yet, who are you and what’s your role in The Nick?[/p][p][/p][p]Chris: My name is Chris, I live in Paris and I'm the composer of the soundtrack of The Nick![/p][p][/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]Andy: Still love how casually you say that — like it’s no big deal!!!🤭 Okay, so… music seems to run in your veins. How did it all begin for you?[/p][p][/p][p]Chris: My father being a musician, music has always had a great place in my life. I started doing music more seriously in my twenties where I’ve been playing double bass and guitar with jazz bands.[/p][p]More recently; I wanted to take my practice to the next level and went to Falmouth University to do an MA on Music Production.[/p][h3][/h3][p]Andy: Right, that makes sense — you can really hear that jazz sensitivity in your phrasing. So, how did you end up crossing paths with our team?[/p][p][/p][p]Chris: Right after my MA, I started to look for composer positions. Being a huge fan of videogames, I searched for positions in the videogame industry. This is how I found Flat Reality.[/p][p]I have been immediately amazed by the concept of The Nick. I remember falling instantly in love with the story, the graphics and the whole atmosphere. At that time, the game was at its very early stages, it wasn’t even playable! You, Andy, the game director, I spoke for hours about the game, the emotions we want to convey, musical references and life in general.[/p][p]Following these conversations, I sat in front of my piano and just improvised based on everything we said. Remember, the game wasn’t playable! So I focused on emotions more than images or gameplay. There were these recurring themes about fragility of childhood and traumas. I expanded on these ideas, recorded bits of music, sent that to Andy and it was an instant match![/p][p][/p][p]Andy: Yeah, I still remember that first piano demo — it felt like you somehow heard the game before it existed. Maybe, someday we will publish all of our piano versions. At least, I hope! For people who haven’t listened yet, how would you describe the world you created through sound?[/p][p][/p][p]Chris: This soundtrack is a big baby of 27 tracks and 58 minutes of music.[/p][p]It is composed of very different tracks, going from nostalgic 80s music to hard rock or classical music. You will find some weird ambiences to accompany you in this journey in this scary manor but also very emotional pieces that emphasize this deep story.[/p][h3][/h3][p]Andy: A “big baby” indeed — we carried it together for years!😭😭 Tell me more about your creative process. How did the music come to life?[/p][p]Chris: The usual process is that Andy comes to me and say “hey, I need a new piece of music!”. We then chat about how it should sound, the different emotions conveyed, the action in the game, etc. It is a very organic process, we don’t have any schedule with a list of tracks and deadlines. We have a three years long conversation made of friendship, piano pieces, arguments, in-game screenshots, and discussions about all and nothing! I like how this collaboration with Andy has always seemed something very natural.[/p][p]I then sit in front of my piano to search for ideas. I am not a brilliant piano player but it is my main instrument for inspiration. I love that everything is happening in the real world with the piano, there’s no computer, screens, or softwares, just you and a huge piece of wood and metal. I just let the ideas and emotions flow until I find something interesting. I record bits of piano, send that to Andy and we agree together on a general direction for the track.[/p][p]After that, I use Ableton to create a full track that sounds good to us and will accompany the player through their journey in The Nick![/p][h3][/h3][p]Andy: Yeah, it actually was "organic" — nothing forced, no deadlines, just emotion guiding the way. What kind of instruments shaped that sound world?[/p][p]Chris: With this retro aesthetic, I had to use vintage synths! I am lucky enough to own a bunch of them that you will find all along this soundtrack. The Roland Juno-60 is my favourite. It is perfect to create very atmospheric sounds but also nostalgic melodies, just like in For All That Lives.[/p][p]I also used a Minimoog, an old and crazy 80s synth, the Polivoks, a Yamaha DX-7 or a Therevox. This one is a replica of one of the very first synthesizers, the Ondes Martenot. You play notes with a ribbon rather than keys, thus allowing you to create very expressive music, just like in Allant’s Lament.[/p][p]Apart from synthesizers, you will also find guitars, ukulele, piano or weird voices in this soundtrack![/p][h3][/h3][p]Andy: You forgot to mention the haunted noises — the ghosts living inside your studio. Which track feels most special to you personally?[/p][p][/p][p]Chris:That is a very difficult question. I would say that the track that can be considered like the "heart" of Chapter 1 is The Nick, obviously. This theme is the first I created for this game. It expresses for me nostalgia of childhood and grief. We like it so much with Andy that we reused it several times in this soundtrack.[/p][p]As for my personal favourite, I would say this bizarre track that Bar is. Everything you hear in this track is only sounds coming from my piano. The idea was to create an ambience for a haunted piano. So you can hear everything that has been captured while I was recording this track : cracks from my chair or the piano, me breathing loudly or swearing because I’m struggling recording this track, weird noises from my room, etc. I love working with microsounds and I did here a complete track full of them![/p][h3][/h3][p]Andy: That track still gives me emotions — it’s like you turned imperfection into intimacy. Thank you so much for your work, wasting your time on this convo and our friendship![/p][p][/p][p]Whoah, I am very glad that Chris took the time to share so much! Just a reminder: The Nick Original Soundtrack is available now on all streaming platforms and on Steam. Step inside Chris’s world — where every note carries a memory, and every silence hums with something left unsaid.[/p][p][/p][p]Actually, I completely forgot to mention that I also participated in the creation process. Several tracks were written by me while designing scenes in the engine. Most of these tracks were finalized by Chris. They are mostly quite personal compositions (which you may find more of in Allant's diary). This is my first full-length music release, and I am very proud to continue working side by side with such a talented composer!💜[/p][p][/p][p]And our team went to celebrate this holiday on Discord.[/p][p][/p][p]See you soon!🫂[/p][p][/p]

[p]Hey everyone! 🎃[/p][p]As the spookiest month of pride is in full swing, we’ve got some news for you![/p][hr][/hr][h2]Patch 1.1 Notes[/h2][h3]Halloween Event[/h3][p]The world of The Nick has grown a little stranger for a while.
Some locations are now decorated with pumpkins and cobwebs, and one painting seems to have... changed.
Rumor has it someone really is watching from the booth this time. This small Halloween update slightly shifts the atmosphere if you decide to return.
The event will run from October 15 to November 10, after which the seasonal content will be tucked behind the bar curtain—until it’s needed again.[/p][p]And yes, don’t panic if someone decides to remind you they’re still around.
You’ve been warned.[/p][p]Happy Halloween. 🕯️[/p][hr][/hr][h3]Bug Fixes[/h3][p]Many players encountered an issue where Nick could walk through certain doors before actually obtaining the key — like a concierge with a full set of master keys.
We’ve fixed that, along with dozens of other bugs.
If you run into new ones, please don’t hesitate to report them through the Steam bug tracker.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]The Nick joins Steam Next Fest![/h2][p]This is The Nick’s debut in Steam festivals, so please give us a warm welcome and dive into Chapter 1 to experience true meta-horror atmosphere!
Share your thoughts after playing, report any bugs, and don’t miss the developer stream — we’ll be commenting live (with spoilers 👀).[/p][p]After the festival, our team will keep the celebration going and return... very soon. 👁️[/p]

Hey, I'm Andy Scarlet! I'm the head of Flat Reality and the author of The Nick.

Every year at Flat Reality, we publish a lot of content in honor of Pride Month in Flat Reality Blog. For us, it's a great opportunity to remind people once again, but with greater visibility, what we do and what we want to convey. My name is Andy, and I'm the head of our game studio. I want to share something even more personal and candid with you, as I have done in my game stories, but now in text format.

I want this Pride Month to be not only an incredibly exciting celebration, but also a reminder of why it exists and “what we are proud of.”
Я хочу, щоб цей місяць гордості був не лише неймовірно захопливим святковим заходом, а й приводом нагадати, чому він існує і "чим ми пишаємося".

[h2]How we do it at The Nick: Chapter 1[/h2]

I myself come from a part of the world where the word “love” is often whispered. Where being yourself is a risk. Where teenagers fall in love while hiding, often even from themselves. Where history is always under a gray sky — whether it's full-scale war, conservatism, or banal silence in response to a cry.


I didn't create The Nick as a game. I created it as a cry, a confession. As an act of desperate desire to be understood. For me, it's not just a story with a queer character. It's about how horror can seem like the only language when there are no words to express pain. Despite the fact that this is an indie project, I wanted to reflect a lot of the real world in it.


The story as a whole turned out to be a mirror of me and my vision of the world. A huge abandoned mansion where normal life seems to have lost all meaning. There are no rules. There is no safety. There is no future. Only ghosts and the dead. But among all this — one (?) living soul. And it is she who brings to life everything that long seemed dead. It was important for me to show that even in a world where it seems that there is no place for us — we are here. We were here. We remain here. Queer people are not a metaphor or an “agenda.” We are part of this world. Even the darkest one. And sometimes we are its last spark of humanity.


In The Nick, there are characters who don't just “represent.” They survive. They live. They love, they fear, they make mistakes. And in their mistakes — there is me. In their fears — there is mine. And in their love — mine. Am I saying that they are all good? No. Everyone has their own opinion about the actions of each character. But they are honest and sincere with you as players, and they are alive. They were literally created from the reality in which we find ourselves.


I don't want to talk about which of them are queer and how, because it's not a checkbox on a DEI chart. It's not an “agenda.” It's the truth. It lives in the details and dialogues. In the silence. In the fact that we wrote some scenes with trembling fingers. Because the truth is always fragile. But if you protect it, it becomes light.


I want the industry to hear these stories too. Not stories of brave heroes, but stories of survival. We are not an American studio with hundreds of people and bold marketing decisions. We are from Eastern Europe. From grayness, pain, tension, from “don't stick your neck out.” But in all this, we found a voice. And in that voice are queer people. Not because it's “necessary.” But because otherwise it would be a lie.


In The Nick, the presence of LGBTQIA+ is an integral part of the story and gameplay. And without it, the game simply could not exist.


[h2]Announcement: RAIN HEART in development[/h2]

Along with actively working on the sequel to The Nick, our studio has been working on a new pixel art RPG game for a long time.

I have hardly spoken about this project publicly. Perhaps because RAIN HEART is a game that contains too much of the real me. And when I realized that, it scared me. But now, during Pride Month, I want to talk about it for the first time.


It will be a story. The story of a boy named Alex, who grew up in a small, cramped, isolated town. Where houses are peeling away from time. Where the air is constantly heavy and anxious. Where even the light seems foreign. It will be his journey — from birth to adulthood. A journey through fear, silence, shame, and loneliness. Through attempts to be heard. Through walls that others build around you. And those that you begin to build yourself.


RAIN HEART is a horror story, yes. But it's not about monsters. It's about people. About the shadows left by the words of others. About pain that is not visible from the outside. About how easy it is to get bogged down in silence. About how difficult it is to constantly stand up for the right not to hide your body.


For some of you, it will be just a game. But for me, it's an attempt to relive my life. This time — honestly, after some time, when I have gathered strength and can look at everything again.


I won't explain what it's about. But maybe you'll feel it for yourselves. Especially if you were once afraid to be yourselves. If you once hid behind other people's masks for fear of being left alone and defenseless. If you once believed that even in the coldest heart there can still be room for warmth.


My team and I will tell you more about the project later. Right now, I just wanted to share this raw emotion. Alex is one of my favorite lyrical heroes in all my stories, including games. I watched his journey with awe while creating this story, and I can truly take inspiration from him. You'll see for yourselves very soon.





I am grateful for this opportunity to announce a new game from Flat Reality and, just as importantly, to talk a little about personal matters.


Continue to be proud of who you are.


We are proud of you.


Happy Pride Month!🏳️‍🌈

Today, we have released our debut game - The Nick! Wow, we are so excited! We can’t wait to hear what you think. So go ahead and play if you haven’t already!

This is just the beginning of an incredible adventure with deep storytelling and innovative gameplay mechanics. But you can experience it right now for free—available on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3026070/The_Nick_Chapter_1_DEMO/

[h2]Development Plans for Chapter 1[/h2]

We are a fully independent and relatively small team. During the development of Chapter 1, we had no funding or external support, so we truly gave it our all. And we made it! But we already have a lot of improvements in mind to enhance the overall experience from Chapter 1 onward.

Every week, we will release patch notes with fixes based on your feedback. After that, we’ll launch a final, technically and aesthetically polished version of the chapter, adding more effects, dialogues, and immersive elements! This will be our primary focus for the first month after release.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]Future Chapters & Chapter 2[/h2]

We are actively working on The Nick! Here’s the list of all chapters that will be available in the full version:

• The Nick: Chapter 1 - Forest Mansion - AVAILABLE NOW;
  
• The Nick: Chapter 2 - Filthy Leaks - Coming soon, before the rest;
  
• The Nick: Chapter 3 - Depths of Mind;
  
• The Nick: Chapter 4 - The Last Nightmare (to be released alongside Depths of the Mind).
  

We will release Chapter 2 before the full version as a paid expansion. However, if you purchase the full game, you won’t need to pay again for the later chapters—they will be included as they launch. More details are available in The Nick support center.

[h2]What to Expect in the Next Chapter[/h2]

We assure you — this adventure is only getting crazier! Chapter 2 will be significantly more intense than Chapter 1, with a stronger focus on the main story, character development, and new plot twists. It is planned to be three times longer in gameplay than the previous chapter.

• New Location: You will gain access to the second floor of the mansion... What secrets lie within?
  
• Deeper Storyline: Nick will dig deeper into the past events of the mansion while continuing to search for an escape. You will uncover much more about the core narrative—there’s a lot to discover!
  
• New and Familiar Characters: Many new faces await! You will meet both major and minor residents of the mansion. Expect more quests, more side stories, and more drama. Plus, you’ll learn even more about the characters you already met in Chapter 1—more details, more intrigue, and unexpected twists!
  
• Unique Mechanics: An expanded combat system with new abilities, and we promise... a TRUE META-HORROR EXPERIENCE.
  
• Void: No data available.

Thank you for your interest in our story. We are doing everything we can to deliver a truly unique experience and tell this dark and sorrowful tale of The Nick.

We can’t wait to hear your feedback! 💜


Flat Reality Team