31st October 2017 A Calm Alan Wake Guide to Halloween 2017 [with American Nightmare Giveaway]

In previous years, we've done special articles for Halloween. Back in 2013, we picked the top five scariest moments in Remedy's games, and last year we tried our hand at pumpkin carving. The day provides the perfect excuse to do something a little different. The Halloween atmosphere might not be everyone's cup of tea though, some people just want to have a quiet night in with their passive aggressive cat... although they wouldn't say no to multipacks of discounted chocolate. Admittedly, I'm one of the latter people, I'm boring like that, but I'm boring with a huge amount of chocolate.

But... well, it is Halloween and the noisy party down the street guilts you into partial celebration... 

While Remedy doesn't describe Alan Wake as a typical horror game, there are certainly horror elements making it the perfect game to theme your Halloween around. Here's a guide to a low key Alan Wake themed Halloween.

It's going to be relaxing!

Well... it's going to be something at least!



Calming Bob Ross Videos

There's possibly nothing more relaxing that watching a Bob Ross video, fortunately for us there are plenty of episodes of his show legally uploaded on his official channel. Ross was an American painter whose love and talent for landscapes and contagious calm made him an international success. Spanning from 1983 to 1994, he guided viewers with advice on creating new locations ranging from the desolate to the idyllic.

Every now and then there's a video with an Alan Wake vibe, making for a perfect and relaxing Halloween evening:

- Blue Ridge Falls - Deep Forest Falls - Evening at the Falls - Falls in the Glen - Country Creek - Hidden Delight	- Misty Forest Oval  - Secluded Bridge - The Old Mill - Rustic Barn - Black Waterfall - Ebony Sunset

...You drift off to sleep.



Halloween Hot Chocolate Recipe 

Your neighbour's doorbell rings loudly stirring you from your sleep. You check that your blackout blinds are down and the house looks deserted. You wait with baited breath at the sound of footsteps, your ear to the front door. You stare cautiously at the mound of discounted chocolate on your table. Is it too late to grab the chocolate and run? The child's footsteps get louder. They're on your doorstep. You hear the rustling of the costume as they reach for the doorbell. "Disney, it's bedtime now!" There's a tiny sigh. The footsteps run away. You might want to start breathing again sometime soon.  You decide that it is celebrationery hot chocolate time.

Custom Glass.
     Latte Glass
     Glass Writing Pen

Hot Chocolate Recipe.
     White Chocolate (42gms)
     Milk (235ml / 1 cup)
     Vanilla (1/4 teaspoon)
     Food Colouring (Blue or Orange)
 Makes One Serving

Extras.
     Whipped Cream
     Marshmallows
     Sprinkles

Random fact: growing up I absolutely loved a cooking book called "101 Fun Foods to Make". I don't think I ever made any of the recipes but the drawn instructions, complete with those pale watercolours, captured my imagination. I don't know if making an ice cream house out of an entire litre tub of ice cream and coated with sprinkles and chocolate sticks is really a good idea for a blistering hot Summer day but the idea of making something as beautiful the drawings implied was oddly relaxing to me. There was also another recipe called (I believe?) "Upside Down Face Burger" which required you to make a burger as the first step and then went into detail about how you should turn it upside down and use gherkins and dates to make a face on the base. Growing up was weird.

For your Halloween, I have a hot chocolate recipe for you, complete in the style that defined a part of my childhood.

You look at the recipe and groan, "what I have to use a cooker?" Yes. Yes you do.

First up is the custom glass, this stage is of course optional but there's only so many ways that hot chocolate, which is pretty much the Hufflepuff of the hot drinks, can be considered creepy. Plus I've always loved latte glasses, my mind was blown as a kid having a hot drink in a glass. This is an excuse for me to get a latte glass.

The design I went with was of Diver's Isle and Cauldron Lake. The isle and the cabin sits on the top of the glass, where naturally the top of the liquid would be, giving the impression of an island. The generator shed and carved tree stump also included. Most of the decoration is on the top but I wanted to include a little Alan and Alice in the water. I didn't go into detail, they look like humanoid shapes but I wanted to have some consistency in object size.

As for the recipe, it's a pretty simple one and one that is brought up a lot online at Halloween. In addition to the ingredients, you will also need a cooker, a pot and a wooden spoon.

1. Chop the white chocolate into smaller pieces
2. Pour the milk in the pot and raise the temperature
3. When the milk starts to bubble, add the chocolate
4. Stir until all the chocolate has melted
5. Add the vanilla essence
6. Add your desired food colouring
7. When you feel it's ready and smooth transfer to the latte glass
8. Decorate!

American Nightmare Giveaway

If you're looking for something a little spookier, we're also giving away a copy of Alan Wake's American Nightmare (RRP: €9.99) on Steam.

Official Synopsis: 

In this brand new standalone experience, Alan Wake fights the herald of darkness, the evil Mr. Scratch! A thrilling new storyline, hordes of creepy enemies, serious firepower and beautiful Arizona locations, combined with a fun and challenging new game mode make this a must for Alan Wake veterans, and the perfect jumping on point for new players!

For this competition there will be one (1) winner. (Don't worry we'll be offering more prizes in future competitions and giveaways. So if you don't win in this competition, there will be more chances!) The winning entry will be chosen at random by Random.org. The winner will be contacted within one week of the competition finishing.

The competition will end Friday 3rd November 2017 at 23:00 GMT!

How to Enter:

For this giveaway there is a maximum of three entry per person, one on each method:

1. FACEBOOK
   Write your entry in the comments section of THIS post or as a Private Message.
2. TWITTER
   Send us your entry as a reply to THIS post or as a Direct Message.
3. EMAIL
   Send us an email at alanwake.thesuddenstop(at)gmail.com with the headline "HALLOWEEN 2017" 

Boring (but important!) Fine Print:

1. This competition is not sponsored. The prize was purchased months ago.
2. Maximum of three entries per person. One for each method.
3. This is open worldwide, but restrictions may apply on countries with limits on internet competitions.
4. Entry is free. 
5. No cash prize alternative will be available.
6. You must have a Steam account to enter so that the prize can be sent to you. (Setting up an account is free, and you don't need to have one at the time of entry, but you will need it to play the game.)
7. A new winner may be picked if the first does not respond to the email after two weeks. Although this is only a last resort after three weeks with reminders and alternative methods of communication e.g. through social media posts.
8. Competition begins on 31st October 2017 at 15:00 GMT and will end on 3rd November 2017 at 23:00 GMT.
9. Please note that this is an unofficial competition and is not connected to Remedy, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Steam 
10. There will be 1 (one) winner who will receive a copy of  Alan Wake's American Nightmare on Steam. The game is rated at +18, and to legally enter, you must be able to play the title.
11. Entries collected through Facebook follow the rules stated on 23rd August 2013, HERE.
12. Entries collected through Twitter follow the rules stated in their Guidelines, HERE. 

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