Just in case people were wondering what Frictional Games has been up to with regards to their Penumbra: Overture suspense game for the PC, we bring up an update.

Penumbra's home site has just announced a game demo for the brave souls who care to try the game's creep-fest puzzles, and is available for download via a list of clients at the source link. But, before you head off to play, remember the game's system requirements:

• OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
• Processor: 1Ghz CPU
• Memory: 256MB RAM
• Disc Space: 300MB Free Hard-drive space
• Video Card: ATI Radeon 8500/NVIDIA GeForce 3 (GeForce4MX not supported)
  

Set in an abandoned complex in Greenland, Penumbra: Overture sets players behind the controls of Philip, a boy who has just lost his mother, and is now on the trail of his long lost father. Based on what we have seen in the past gameplay video, Penumbra is already shaping up to be quite the spine-tingling survival horror, albeit without the reassurance of firearms to keep players company. The game was last set for a March release, which is, quite literally, lurking just around the corner...

This one comes straight from the horse's mouth, the horse being Got Game Entertainment. After much confusion as to the exact release date of their horror-adventure game Penumbra: Overture, we finally have the real deal on it. Yes, it will be coming out on the first quarter of 2007, in March, to be exact.

According to the company's president, Howard Horowitz, what makes this game one of the most exciting and unique adventure games in the market is the innovative technology developed by Frictional Games. "For the players who want to just slightly open a door and peek inside a room, this technology allows that - and who knows what may be peeking back!"

Don't wet yourselves now, guys.

  

Horror-puzzle game, Penumbra: Overture really does its job well and amps up the "creepiness" factor. Don't believe us, well, check out this spideriffic gameplay vid:

Yeah, this is the next video in a series of "informational" videos about the game. This one in particular features the survival aspects of this puzzle game. Yeah, the wolf attacks looks a bit weird, but remember, this is only a preview after all, and not the final product, so let's reserve judgement until the game comes out.

What's amusing about this is that it's set in Greenland. For some ethereal reason, Greenland is the last place that you'd equate with "creepy." The game is set to hit retail come Q1 2007 (other sites say October 2007). We'll update you guys when more info on this horror game spawns from the dark abyss.

Penumbra: Overture, an innovative first person horror game set in Greenland, the main character searches for information regarding his late father. On the strength of its demo alone, it has been called as one of the scariest games ever. The game's tech demo was a smash hit chalking over a quarter of a million downloads worldwide.

In preparation for the upcoming release of Penumbra: Overture in Q1 2007, Frictional Games will release a series of informational videos about the game. In the first video of the series, Penumbra lead programmer  explains and demonstrates the physics interaction for the game. He shows such basic functions as pushing a box to more advanced systems where the mouse is used in controlling machines and devices in the game.

Up next in Frictional Game's info-video series are the enemies in Penumbra: Overture and tips on how to avoid, sneak, fight and make the best of the physics to lure and defend yourself against them.

Download: [Penumbra: Overture - Physics demo]

In my dreams... it calls me...that dark place...

Such are the words that tease gamers into knowing more about the mysterious game known as Penumbra: Overture. Developed by Frictional Games and Lexicon Entertainment, Penumbra is a first person horror adventure where your goal isn't to slay monsters but to stay away. It's also intended to be an episodic horror game, with the first episode set for release in early 2007.

As for the plot, not a lot of details have been given yet, but the basic premise is that you seek to uncover why your character is always drawn to this one particular place, beneath the ground and away from people. Before you can do that, however, there will be numerous puzzles to get past, creatures to evade or fight, and prayers to be had in this rather spooky game. If that sounds interesting to you, then we've got a teaser trailer and screenshots of the game for you to think about and ask questions.

And just so you know, penumbra means "almost a shadow" in Latin. Whether it refers to you, or what you will become if the monsters get you is up for debate, so you'll just have to wait and see.

Video and screenshots await after the jump.