Playing “Among Us” Is An Attack On My Personality And I Approve
I suck at lying. Specifically, I am not well-versed in the art of deception. So…alright, I lack such a skill for one main reason; honesty is the best policy. Also, whenever I lie, I get caught in the lie almost immediately. Let me be clear, I have lied a couple times as a kid and have done some deceiving things as an adult. Don’t judge me! At least, I am honest.
I lied about breaking a glass table when I was 8 or 9, in which I told my mother, “I did not break the table…it kind of just broke.” She did not buy it. Also, I would consistently sneak a spoonful of ice-cream a couple of times a week when my mother went to sleep. I never confirmed or denied when my mother exclaimed, “Where is all the ice-cream going? I just bought it.” However, my blood tests revealed the truth, and my ice-cream shenanigans were over. I have messed up many times, but for the most part, I try to be upfront and honest without being cruel and/or unemphatic. However, being honest in a social deception game does not always help me.
Within these COVID-19 times, I have clocked in more game playing hours than ever before. Thus far, I am playing Overwatch (2016), Horizon Zero Dawn (2017), DOOM (2016), Gears of War 5 (2019), Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016), Grounded (Preview) (2020), Apex Legends (2019), Overcooked (2016) and a couple other titles. Most recently, Among Us (2018) developed by InnerSloth, has been added to my collection of games.
Among Us (2018) is an online party game that is about teamwork and deception. Available on Android, iOS, and Steam, you play as either a crewmate, ghost, or an impostor. As a crewmate, you walk around a location full of different tasks to complete in the various rooms. Completed tasks build up the completion bar, and when that bar is filled, the crewmates win. For example, as a crewmate, one of your tasks would be to go to the electrical room to connect severed wires. The impostor can sabotage, go through vents for faster traversal around the map, and most importantly, kill people. When someone discovers a body, players have the option to report the body. Once a body has been reported, a screen with, “Who is the Impostor?” appears with everyone’s names, and players engage in a discussion to figure out who the impostors are. Players can also press the emergency button at any time to start a meeting. Lastly, crewmates who are killed do not talk for the rest of the game and become ghosts. Ghosts can still complete tasks to win. Yes, even in death, you must work!
The author as a ghost next to a sorting challenge taken by author
I played for the first time somewhere early-September of 2020 with friends and had a blast. As a crewmate, I was completing tasks, trying to be close to others to have an alibi about my whereabouts. My goal as an impostor was to pretend to do tasks and slay others as swiftly and inconspicuously as possible.
The killing was easy, but defending was hard as f@#k!
This fact came full steam ahead when I played with a larger group of friends in late-September. I messed up several times. My movements were too erratic, and my friend, Eric, noticed. As he was working on a task, he was able to see at the corner of his screen, I was standing there waiting to strike. My chance never came. The other imposter killed someone, and the body was discovered. During the discussion, Eric explained how erratic my movements were and just standing in the same room as him. I made some stupid excuse which did not help my case at all. Anyone who has been around me long enough would know; I suck at lying. You can tell I’m lying when I do not explain my actions in-depth. I do not like being put on the spot or have my character called into question. So…I will bog down my accuser with as many words as possible. I treat accusations as if I am sitting at the witness stand, pleading my case of innocence. However, with my lame excuse and saying, slander, a couple times, Eric cracked the case. He Scooby-Doo’d my a$$. That’s right, Scooby-Doo’d! I felt like I was in an episode of Dora the Explorer, and she asked, “Do you know who the impostor is?” The arrow would float right on my character, holding a sign saying, “Imposter located here.” I was voted off the ship.
Damn.
I was foiled by my own personality.
Since then, I have watched YouTube videos of folks playing Among Us. This video of a prominent FGC (fighting game community) player, Justin Wong, is my favorite. Yelling, abject denial, shifting blame, and deep silence is all in the video. These tactics are easier said than done for me.
Maybe by playing more, I will get better at setting other players to take the fall for my misdeeds. Possibly, I should practice in my real life…yeah, no. Lastly, any of my friends who read this post will be more aware of my lack of deception and misdirection skills.
Or maybe…
I made up this entire post to gain sympathy, so anyone who reads this and plays against me will be utterly confused about if I am lying or telling the truth.
That’s for me to know and you to find out in the electrical room.
