Wax Heads on Steam
David Hicks | Published on 7/27/2024
I would like to bring your attention to an interactive online experience being created by Patattie Games that you can try out for free on the Steam platform. If you are unfamiliar with Steam, well, maybe you shouldn’t be calling yourself a gamer. Briefly, Steam is a video game digital distribution service and storefront managed by Valve. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 to provide game updates automatically for Valve's games and expanded to distributing third-party titles in late 2005.
At this time, the Wax Heads game is only available in a demo version with no specified release date for the official version. The description of the experience bills it as, “A cosy-punk slice-of-life narrative sim about managing a struggling record store. Chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues – all to restore the groove!”
The Demo version does give you the opportunity to give feedback to the creators of the game and make suggestions for features you would like to see in future versions. I did not do that.
I would note that there is a YouTube video that spends much more time exploring the game than I did, and as it turns out I didn’t spend that much time on the YouTube video.
This seems like a game I might have enjoyed for a few minutes back in the early days of computers. Then again, maybe I am just old now, or maybe the game “Demo” version that I played with is a far cry from how engaging the finished product will be, and all of us vinyl record store lovers will find ourselves playing the game endlessly in the near future. I would like to hope so.
As always, YMMV
Wax Heads Demo download on Steam
Lengthy YouTube video review of the game
Link to a lengthier article/review of the game in The Guardian