TOAlthough it can be frustrating to be told that “patience is a virtue” while you wait for something insignificant, boring as hell, sometimes there is pleasure and peace to be found in the daily grind. This is something that California Studio Optilusion While Waiting, its patience simulator, tries to capture that. “Often when we’re waiting, whether it’s for a bus, in traffic, or in a queue, we look for ways to entertain ourselves,” says producer Dong Zhou. “People play with their phones because there’s nothing to do, but is that true? I think everyone hates waiting, but that’s just because they’re not playful enough. We want to create a game out of every mundane moment to help players find their own ways to kill time.”
In While Waiting, players follow the life of Adam, an ordinary man who must deal with a series of tedious tasks: waiting for a bus, waiting in line to enter a fairground ride, or staring out the window until the rain stops. “Waiting is not a purely negative experience, but a part of life,” says Zhou. “Each situation comes with its own anticipation and anxiety.” The game is a personal journey of growth, with Adam’s goals moving from simple pleasures to complex aspirations. “Depending on the different waiting scenarios, he may end up happy, relieved, or sad. But all he knows is that the only solution is to wait,” says Zhou.
This feast of patience-testing situations is presented through cartoonish depictions of elevator lobbies, medical receptions, and airport baggage claim, evoking our most familiar frustrations. While inevitably fatalistic to a degree, While Waiting combines its thoughtful reflections on life with bouts of irreverent, lively humor. “We hope that players will not only laugh, but also ponder the game’s deeper meanings,” says Zhou.
To soothe your inner fidget, While Waiting features a series of time-wasting mini-games, such as stacking suitcases or filling out forms. “They can be classic arcade games, puzzle games, or even action games,” says Zhou. “Each level will give you a very different experience.” You won’t earn any rewards from tackling these side tasks, though, as their only benefit is to help you kill time. “No matter what you do, you can always achieve your goal: waiting for something to happen,” says Zhou. “Sometimes if you try to do something, you might screw it up and wait longer. That’s the thesis: If you don’t do anything, you can just speed through a game.”
Inspired by animated comedy classics like Tom and Jerry, While Waiting features orchestral instrumentation that accentuates the lighthearted and reflective aspects of this stoic journey. Jolts of wind and string instruments offer an auditory balm for the everyday discomfort of doing nothing.
But despite its curious and absurd nature, While Waiting doesn’t shy away from the profound. As players near the end of the game, they’ll revisit previous scenes and reflect on the cyclical nature of life with new perspectives and emotions. “Life is full of joy and sadness,” says Zhou. “I hope players will look back on the various moments of waiting and realize how precious each of them truly is.”
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