Beta Testing/Early Beta/Characters & Cosmetics

"The past is forever buried in the yellow sand."This article details something that has been **cut from the game**, with no official plans for it to be released. As a consequence, information and material may be partially incomplete and currently under research.
Warning! This page contains content that may be triggering.Content warning(s) for this page: **graphic violence & gore**; **noose imagery**. If you are sensitive to these topic(s), please take caution while reading.

This page includes the **Character Selection and Cosmetics in Early Beta**, archiving both playable factions and limited list of available cosmetics. Several Hunters and Survivors were conceptualized and tested during this period, but few would see thorough implementation. While Lucky Guy, Mercenary and Hell Ember would be kept into Late Beta, most other characters would be cut from the game.

## Survivors

Early testing was characterized by the existence of several concepts and drafts for Survivors. Lucky Guy and Graveyard Girl were prominently featured in official material from this period, both in game and artworks. Stranger 1 and Mercenary would also make appearances in official media and be shown as playable, while Stranger B was in an advanced development state and likely was at least partially implemented. Many other Survivors were present in the files of Beta builds of the game, but the states of their implementation is unknown. Others yet would appear in concept art from the period, with some who would later be introduced during Late Beta, such as Forward, Gardener, Magician and Explorer.

The Survivors' designs originally resembled cartoonishly proportioned humans, with "human-like" eyes, hair and features, and appeared as such both in game and in official artworks. It seems however that the introduction of "doll-like" appearances was already considered during this period, as a button-eyed Lucky Guy and Graveyard Girl are both featured in material dating to Early Beta. Files of Beta versions of the game contain models of human-looking and doll-looking versions of several characters.

Their in-game interactions also matched the more brutal and violent direction of the game. When chased, Survivors' hearts would glow bright red and resemble a real organ, and if hit by the Hunter, they'd emit pained screams and blood would be spattered. If incapacitated, they'd leave bloody puddles on the ground and would drag themselves on their arms when moving.

*Note: this list includes characters present during Early Beta based on limited information gathered from found footage and game files, and as such, may be inaccurate and/or incomplete.*

### Gallery

* In Game
* Renders
* Official Art

Stranger 1, Lucky Guy and Graveyard Girl, all sporting human-like eyes in an official trailer. Notice how a second Lucky Guy, sitting at the end of the table, uses button eyes insteadGraveyard Girl in game, opening a gate in Arms Factory. The top corner icon reads "墓地女郎", which is where her name comes fromLucky Guy in Arms Factory, using his black-haired designScreenshot from the game's trailer. Lucky Guy drags himself on the ground, a blood pool forming under himA graphic depicting an early Arms Factory with Mercenary. Notice the human-like eyes.

Graveyard Girl, updated to have a doll-like appearance. Render by: @oletusprojectStranger B, with a doll-like appearance. Render by: @oletusprojectA scrapped survivor with earmuffs. Curiously, she is present in a concept artwork for Darkwoods, a map released several years after the character. Render by: @oletusprojectA scrapped survivor with a med-kit. Notice her button eyes. Render by: @oletusprojectA render of Lucky Guy's former appearance. Notice the human-like eyes, blood stained clothes and black hairA render of Mercenary's former appearance. Notice the human-like eyes and different clothes surface, lacking seams and stuffing

Official artwork of the matching room table. Forward and Graveyard Girl can be seen at the table.The mysterious spiritual body Lucky Guy in the hall. Concept Art by NekooxiGraveyard Girl's concept art featuring a human-like design and her alternate clothes. Concept Art by NekooxiStranger 1's concept art featuring a human-like design. Concept Art by NekooxiStranger B's concept art featuring a human-like design. Concept Art by NekooxiMercenary's concept art featuring a human-like design. Concept Art by Nekooxi
## Hunters

Much like Survivors, several Hunters were in a testing phase during Early Beta. Hell Ember was featured prominently in promotional material and concept art from this period, serving as a representation of the faction, although he would go through several changes before entering Late Beta. It's likely that Smiley Face was also in an advanced development stage during this period. Many other Hunters were present in the files of Beta builds of the game in varying states of implementation, most notably Hell's Hunter, Moon Face and Mr. Puppet, who would be scrapped and turned into costumes for Leo during the second Beta test.

The available Hunters' designs matched a modern setting, often taking inspiration from pop culture elements. They were characterized by macabre and violent design elements, including gory details and brutal weaponry to carry out their hunting duty. The icons used for the Hunter's attack were different from the current ones used, matching the weapons' appearance during testing. Many Hunter designs would be drafted and included in conceptual and promotional pieces of art, some later being adapted into costumes, such as Head Chef and Silence.

*Note: this list includes characters present during Early Beta based on limited information gathered from found footage and game files, and as such, may be inaccurate and/or incomplete.*

 Hell Ember | Playable
* His attached name in the game files was "Ethan Baker." Occasionally referred to as "The Butcher" in promotional material.
* Prominently shown wielding a chainsaw as his weapon, but also shown using the bone sickle, a knife and a makeshift axe.
* Originally used a different set of abilities.
* Used different animations for his attack recovery, identical to Smiley Face's during Late Beta, and idling.
* Leftover files from both fourth test and post-release clients have sounds specifically made for this iteration of Hell Ember noted with "saw" on its soundfiles.
* Heavily featured in gameplay showcases, as well as the game's trailer.
* Heavily featured in concept artworks dating to the early testing period.
 Smiley Face | Likely playable
* Initially used his clawed glove as his weapon. Official website introduction states he carried a laughing gas he could use against his prey.
 Hell's Hunter | Possibly unused
* Has a Bloody Clothes model in Beta versions' game files. Unused in Late Beta.
* Featured in concept artworks dating to the early testing period.
 Mr. Puppet | Possibly unused
* Separate icons and post-match artworks intended for use as a standalone character. Turned into a costume during Late Beta.
 Moon Face | Possibly unused
* Separate icons and post-match artworks intended for use as a standalone character. Turned into a costume during Late Beta.
 Ascetic Monk

### Gallery

* In Game
* Weapons
* Official Art

Screenshot from the game's trailer. Hell Ember brandishing a chainsawScreenshot from the game's trailer. Hell Ember approaches the shackScreenshot from the game's trailer. Hell Ember stands next to an Exit Gate.Hell Ember's attack recovery

Hell Ember's chainsaw, originally wielded by him during early beta and later used by Joker up until the fifth beta test. Render by: potasyumsiyenurThe associated UI graphics for the chainsaw. it was also later given to Smiley Face in Late Beta.

Concept art for the hunter's chainsaw. The notes mention how the model's chain was originally supposed to animateAnother concept art featuring the chainsaw and Hell EmberGraveyard Girl and an early hunter, shown brandishing a chainsaw. The hunter's design resembles Hell EmberConcept artwork of the matching room. Hell's Hunter lurks from behind the curtains, watching the seated Survivors, among them Graveyard Girl and ForwardOfficial concept art for Arms Factory. A Hunter resembling Head Chef watches from the factory's balconyOfficial artwork depicting the basement. A single contraption with four Execution Racks can be seen, instead of four separate ones
## Appearance Decoration

Character customizations were mostly absent during the early beta period, but material is present suggesting that cosmetics were being considered and partially implemented into early tests, however their characteristics and availability details are currently unknown. Bloody Clothes were designed but their original appearance and functionality was different from the modern Worn Clothes. There is also evidence that a system for the implementation of separate customizations for specific body parts for the available characters was being considered, but ultimately scrapped. Costumes wouldn't be officially introduced in public beta tests until The Seven Days That Disappeared second test.

### Bloody Clothes

Worn Clothes seem to have been first conceived during Early Beta, as several designs for blood stained, damaged versions of characters were included on their concept artworks from the time. Several models of these designs can also be found in the files of beta versions of the game, including some that would remain unreleased once Bloody Clothes were finally introduced during Late Beta, such as for Lucky Guy, Mr. Puppet and Moon Face, as well as designs for characters that were cut such as Stranger B, Stranger 1 and Graveyard Girl.

These designs seem to have been tied to a Bloody Clothes Level System, which unlocked increasingly worn versions of the character's appearance, however further details on their obtainment method and implementation are unavailable.

#### Gallery

* Survivors
* Hunters

Bloody Clothes model of Stranger 1, found in the game filesBloody Clothes model of an unused survivor with a hoodie. Render by: @oletusprojectBloody Clothes model of an unused survivor with earmuffs. Render by: @oletusproject

Bloody Clothes model of Moon Face, found in the game filesBloody Clothes model of Mr. Puppet, found in the game files
### Apparel Selection

Early versions of the player's Diary interface contain a dedicated section for equipped Apparel, displaying the item and its durability. It's unclear if these items were meant to be purely cosmetic changer or offered gameplay benefits. The full list of available Apparel and their implementation status are unknown, however a limited number of pieces appear on official screenshots of the Diary interface.

The list of known cosmetics featured on official material from the time is as follows:

*Note: this list includes items present during Early Beta based on limited information gathered from found footage and game files, and as such, may be inaccurate and/or incomplete.*

 Old Trenchcoat
 Nurse Uniform
 Gray Shirt

#### Gallery

Layout of the Diary in a development screenshot. Notice the Detective's unchanged appearance despite the equipped Nurse OutfitLayout of the Diary at some point during Early Beta from a development screenshot. Notice the cosmetic's icon using Seer's robesLayout of the Diary as seen at the end of the Pre-Registration Minigame, during the early stages of Late Beta
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 https://bbs.nga.cn/read.php?tid=22381471&rand=678 Archived comments by Nekooxi on the artworks
2. ↑ https://kknews.cc/zh-sg/game/66laajm.html
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.zcool.com.cn/work/ZMjc2OTgzNDQ=.html UI elements and Concept Artworks
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 https://nekooxi.lofter.com/ All related material was erased from the profile
5. ↑ https://ngabbs.com/read.php?tid=22381471&rand=459
6. ↑ https://m.68design.net/work/690164
7. ↑ https://www.zcool.com.cn/work/ZMjkwMDU1MDQ=.html Arms Factory Early Beta Concept Artworks
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/112252729 Article on the development of UI for the game, which includes early designs for the Diary