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<!---- Featured Article: October 2019 --->
'''<font color="Cyan">''The Maze''</font>''', more commonly known as the ''Scary Maze Game'', is a Flash game created in 2004. It was made by game developer [[Jeremy Winterrowd]].
{{#seo:
== '''Gameplay''' ==
|keywords=scary maze game, Winterrowd, Scary maze, The Maze, The Maze Game, Exorcist maze game, Maze Game, Scary Maze Game, Scary Maze HTML5, Maze Game screamer, Regan MacNeil, The Exorcist
{{Infobox|Box title = The Maze|Image file = The_Maze.jpg|Image size = 180x141|Row 1 title = |Row 1 info = |Row 2 title = |Row 2 info = |Row 3 title = |Row 3 info = |image = File:The_Maze.jpg|Row 4 title = |Row 4 info = |title = The Maze|imagecaption = The infamous third level of The Maze.|first = |second = |third = |maker = Jeremy Winterrowd|date = October 2004|type = Flash game|language = {{English}}|country = {{USA}}}}
}}
This Flash prank disguises itself as a simple maze game in which the player has to move their mouse cursor to progress through the maze. At the start screen, there is a note telling the player to beat all four levels to intrigue them further into the game. However, there are actually only three levels. 
{{Featured}}
{{Deleted}}
{{Infobox Game
|title = The Maze
|image = The Maze.jpg|
|imagecaption = The level before screamer.
|maker = [[Jeremy Winterrowd]]
|type = Flash game
|date = October 2004
|platform = [[Winterrowd.com]] (Bloggits)
|written in = Flash
}}
{{Quote|I made this game in October of '04 for Halloween and sent it to a few of my friends in an email. About 5 months later, someone had sent the same email back to my mother! It had turned into a viral email joke. I was very flattered and figured I should make a [[Winterrowd.com|website for all the stupid prank games I've made.]]|[[Jeremy Winterrowd]]<ref>Winterrowd responding to a question on Yahoo Answers http://web.archive.org/web/20191207130448/https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080810043147AA2Ssol</ref>}}
'''The Maze''', also known as the '''Scary Maze Game''', is an infamous internet Flash [[screamer]] created in October 2004 by game developer and programmer [[Jeremy Winterrowd]], originally posted to his personal website "[[Winterrowd.com]]".


The first two levels are easy to complete. But as the third level is reached, the walls begin to shrink and have sharp turns, making it difficult to avoid touching them. This usually makes the player concentrate on the screen. Then, near the very end of the maze, a picture of [[Regan MacNeil]] from the 1973's classic horror movie ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exorcist_(film) The Exorcist]'' appears along with two loud screams, scaring the user. 
This Flash prank disguises itself as a simple maze game in which the player has to utilize their mouse cursor to move a small dot through the maze. At the start screen, there is a note informing the player that the objective of the game is to pass through all four levels, and the player cannot touch the walls; however, there are only three levels in the game. The game also explains that it is best with the volume on, but there's no sound in any part of the game.


The game was uploaded in 2005 on Jeremy's website, [[Jeremy Winterrowd|Winterrowd.com]]. The original version of the game had some slight differences in color, where orange/yellow was used instead of turquoise. There was also an alternative version of the game used in ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Funniest_Home_Videos America's Funniest Home Videos],'' where the face that pops up is replaced with the one from [[What's Wrong?]]<ref>youtube.com/watch?v=ukXeMzQ6VJQ</ref>, due to copyright laws. It also includes with the same scream from [[What's Wrong?]]{{Cite}}
==Gameplay==
The first two levels are easy to complete. But as the third level is reached, the walls begin to shrink and have sharp turns, making it difficult to avoid touching them. This usually makes the player concentrate on the screen. Then, near the first curve to the left of the maze sharp part (The game also knows if the player is cheating; if they use right-click), a close-up image of [[Regan MacNeil]] (the possessed character portrayed by [[wikipedia:Linda Blair|Linda Blair]]) from the 1973 supernatural horror film ''[[wikipedia:The Exorcist|The Exorcist]]'' pops up along with a loud, distorted scream that plays twice, scaring the player.


[[File:Reaction.png|thumb|Justice playing The Maze.|221x221px]]
The game was uploaded to Jeremy's now-defunct personal website, Winterrowd.com in 2005. The original version of the game had some slight differences in colors, where orange/yellow with alternative text was used instead of cyan. There's an alternative version of the game that is used in the comedy television series ''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]'', where Regan at the end is replaced with the one from [[What's Wrong?]],<ref>youtu.be/kZKZa9bwhnA?t=30</ref> due to concerns regarding copyrighted content.


== '''Reactions''' ==
== Reactions ==
A lot of people have posted videos of other people reacting to the game. The first reaction video on YouTube was uploaded by user ''CantWeAllJusGetAlong'', on May 20th, 2006. In the video, a young kid, ''Justice'', is playing the maze. Then, he gets surprised by the [[screamer]]. Shocked, he starts screaming and repeatedly hitting the computer screen. He then runs to his stepdad, ''Chad'', and starts crying. As of October 2017, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh87njiWTmw the video] has over 27 million views.
{{Main|Reaction videos}}
[[File:Reaction.png|thumb|left|220x220px|Justice playing The Maze, one of the famous screamers.]]
Many people have posted videos of other people reacting to the game. The first [https://odysee.com/@screamreuploads:e/chad-pranks-his-stepson-justice:2 reaction video] on YouTube was uploaded by OUTLAW713, on February 21, 2006.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20070306004420/https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bvv7MBZk_f4</ref> In the [[reaction video]], a young kid, ''Justice'', is playing the maze. Then, he is surprised by the screamer. Shocked, he starts screaming and repeatedly hitting the computer screen. He then runs to his stepdad, Chad, and starts crying. The original video and channel were terminated or taken down sometime in 2009, however, some reuploads had over 27 million views.
The most viewed Maze Game video was uploaded by YouTube user nalts and has accumulated over 43 million views as of October 2017. However, the video was removed due to the channel's termination.


The most viewed Maze Game video was uploaded by [[YouTube]] user ''nalts'' and has accumulated over 43 million views as of October 2017. On March 27, YouTube's Ethan Channel released a video in which [[YouTube]] ethanb0206 tricked his friend into playing the maze game (shown below, right). On March 27, the video obtained more than 0 million visits and 0 comments.
===Level 4===
[[File:Level4.jpg|thumb|One of the supposed "Level 4"s.|right|200x200px]]
Even though only three levels exist in the game code, some videos circulated about a secret fourth level. On [[YouTube]], there are some fake videos of people supposedly successfully going through the 3rd level and finally entering the 4th level, instead of a screamer. The earliest "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXWsd5_qlpw tutorial]" on how to get to the 4th level was uploaded by the YouTube user SoccerMomDebbie on October 19, 2008.


=== '''Parodies''' ===
Other videos of the mysterious level continued to circulate. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NedCSuGt0eg This video], which has more than 1.25 million views as of 2019 showed the cursor make a shortcut (which in practice would have killed the player) in level 3 unlocks a trigger to level 4 (pictured); once finishing the level, the game goes back to the main screen; text asks the viewer; "care to try a little bit faster this time?".
''The Maze'' has been parodied on [http://www.winterrowd.com/snl-maze-skit/ Saturday Night Live]. There is also a game called [[Save Justin Bieber]], created by [[Jeremy Winterrowd]] himself, which replaces some parts of the game with a picture of Justin Bieber and the maze color is light purple instead of cyan blue.
[[File:Genius Maze simpsons.PNG|thumb|242x242px|Lisa playing Genius Maze.]]
In ''The Simpsons'' episode ''"[http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Flanders'_Ladder Flanders' Ladder]"'', the opening segment has Bart Simpson prank his sister Lisa by having her play a game called "''Genius Maze''", which is a direct spoof of The Maze, however in this spoof, the jumpscare happened very early on in the 2nd level, and has a popup of a zombie, instead of [[Regan]].<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Flanders-Ladder/dp/B074YXG6T2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545805709&sr=8-1&keywords=flander%27s+ladder</ref>


=== '''Trivia''' ===
Outside of YouTube, users on Answers.com also about how to access the level; in response, users either replied a fake way or told the asker that level 4 does not exist.<ref>https://www.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_get_to_level_4_in_the_scary_maze_game</ref>
* The first [[screamer]] image being often to use a picture of [[Regan MacNeil]] from the 1973's horror classic movie ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exorcist_(film) The Exorcist] ''where she got possessed by the demon [[Pazuzu|''Pazuzu'']]. it''<nowiki/>'s'' likely called infamously used'' ''as the [[screamer]] image.


== '''Gallery''' ==
The fake level 4 was confirmed to have been made in Adobe Photoshop and played using the Microsoft Paint eraser.


<gallery captiontextcolor="#ffffff" bordercolor="#E87057" bordersize="small" captionsize="large" captionalign="center" widths="200" position="center" spacing="small">
=== Parodies ===
The Maze Menu.png|<font color="white">The main menu.
''The Maze'' has been parodied on ''[[wikipedia:Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Live]]'' skit "I Didn't Ask For This".<ref>youtube.com/watch?v=4CD0ZbvIyQE</ref> There is also a game called [[Save Justin Bieber]], created by Jeremy Winterrowd himself, which replaces some parts of the game with a picture of Justin Bieber instead of Regan, and the maze color is light purple instead of cyan.
The Maze Level 1.png|<font color="white">The first level.
 
The Maze Level 2.png|<font color="white">The second level.
In ''[[wikipedia:The Simpsons|The Simpsons]]'' episode "''[[wikipedia:Flanders' Ladder|Flanders' Ladder]]''" ([[wikipedia:The Simpsons (season 29)|Season 29]]) the opening segment has Bart Simpson prank his sister Lisa by having her play a game called "''Genius Maze''", which is a direct spoof of The Maze, however, in this spoof, the jumpscare happened very early on in the 2nd level and has a popup of a zombie, instead of Regan.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=502ZX1fAKzk</ref>''<nowiki/>''
The Maze.jpg|<font color="white">The third level.
 
The Maze AFV.png|<font color="white">Alternate version used in ''America's Funniest Home Videos''.
== Gallery ==
The Maze Yellow Version.PNG|<font color="white">Unofficial Yellow version.
<gallery mode="packed" widths="300">
The Maze Orange Version.PNG|<font color="white">Orange version with alternative text.
The Maze Level 1.png|The first level.
The Maze Level 2.png|The second level.
The Maze.jpg|The third/final level.
</gallery>
</gallery>


=== '''Showcase Video''' ===
===Showcase Video===
[[File:The Maze Showcase.ogv|none|thumb|275x275px|Censored screamer]]
[[File:CENSORED  The Maze-1080p.mp4|400px]]


== '''References''' ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />
== '''Links''' ==
 
==Trivia==
*This page was made {{SITENAME}}'s first featured article in October 2019.
*The scream used in the game is sourced from ''Shareware Breakthrough Soundworks,'' a sound effects CD released in December 1993 by BeachWare. On the disk, the file containing the scream is SHRIEK.WAV.
 
== Links ==
<u>NOTE</u>: The following games contain [[screamers]]!
<u>NOTE</u>: The following games contain [[screamers]]!
* '''winterrowd.com/maze'''
*'''Original version''': <s>winterrowd.com/maze</s>
* '''winterrowd.com/maze/scary-maze-game.swf'''
*'''Unofficial HTML5 port''': playscarymazegame.net/play-scary-maze-game
* '''web.archive.org/web/20051223121743/winterrowd.com/maze1.swf''' • Orange version.
*'''Alternate HTML5 port''': scary-maze.com/html5
* '''fugly.com/flash/709/Scary_Maze_Game.html''' '''• '''Yellow version.
**web.archive.org/web/20100820075301/www.winterrowd.com/maze/scary-maze-game.swf
* '''winterrowd.com/savebieber/''' • Justin Bieber version.
*'''Orange version''': web.archive.org/web/20051223121743/winterrowd.com/maze1.swf
* '''fugly.com/flash/1013/7_Level_Scary_Maze_Game.html''' • Unofficial Portuguese Version.
*'''[[Save Justin Bieber]] version''': <s>winterrowd.com/savebieber/</s>
* '''winterrowd.com/afvmaze''' • ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' version.
**web.archive.org/web/20191030110327/www.winterrowd.com/savebieber/save-justin-bieber.swf
* '''winterrowd.com/afvmaze/the-maze-afv.swf'''
*'''''America's Funniest Home Videos'' version''': <s>winterrowd.com/afvmaze</s>
* '''playscarymazegame.net/play-scary-maze-game/''' • Unofficial HTML5 version.
**web.archive.org/web/20190923130311/www.winterrowd.com/afvmaze/the-maze-afv.swf
* '''deviantart.com/doodie119/art/The-Maze-710178696''' • DeviantArt version
*web.archive.org/web/20151208171129/akk.li/swf/maze.swf
* '''scary-maze.com''' • Mirror Link
*dagobah.net/flash/game2.swf
=== '''Showcase video''' ===
*'''Scream sound used:''' cd.textfiles.com/sbsw/SCARY/SHRIEK.WAV
* '''youtube.com/watch?v=0WjDrQ0IhBw'''
=== Console ports ===
=== '''Picture''' ===
*'''PlayStation Portable port''': archive.org/details/the-maze-psp.-7z
<u>NOTE</u>: The following picture can be scary for younger audiences!
*'''Nintendo Switch port''': github.com/simontime/MazeNX
* '''qph2.c7.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-b0892df2fa1ef406402033cf0c0fd63c.webp'''
*'''Game Boy port''': game-buoy-games.itch.io/scarymazegame
<!-- Languages -->
=== Showcase video ===
[[es:El_Laberinto]]
*youtube.com/watch?v=0WjDrQ0IhBw
[[fr:La_souricière La souricière]]
 
[[id:The_Maze]]
== Languages ==
[[pt-br:Labirinto_do_Terror]]
This article is available in different languages.
*'''French Version''': [[The Maze/La souricière|La souricière]]
*'''Spanish Version''': [[The Maze/Spanish]]
{{Template:Winterrowd}}
{{Comments}}
[[Category:Flash]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Winterrowd]]
[[Category:Winterrowd]]
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[[Category:Regan MacNeil]]
[[Category:Regan MacNeil]]
[[Category:Maze Games]]
[[Category:Maze Games]]
[[Category:Flash]]
[[Category:Screamers featured on America's Funniest Home Videos]]
[[Category:Screamer]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:What's Wrong face]]

Revision as of 18:22, 13 September 2024

This page is about a screamer or shock site, whose original copy has been deleted.
This screamer's original copy is deleted, but the article links to an archive on the Wayback Machine or another saved copy.

“ I made this game in October of '04 for Halloween and sent it to a few of my friends in an email. About 5 months later, someone had sent the same email back to my mother! It had turned into a viral email joke. I was very flattered and figured I should make a website for all the stupid prank games I've made. ”
Jeremy Winterrowd[1]

The Maze, also known as the Scary Maze Game, is an infamous internet Flash screamer created in October 2004 by game developer and programmer Jeremy Winterrowd, originally posted to his personal website "Winterrowd.com".

This Flash prank disguises itself as a simple maze game in which the player has to utilize their mouse cursor to move a small dot through the maze. At the start screen, there is a note informing the player that the objective of the game is to pass through all four levels, and the player cannot touch the walls; however, there are only three levels in the game. The game also explains that it is best with the volume on, but there's no sound in any part of the game.

Gameplay

The first two levels are easy to complete. But as the third level is reached, the walls begin to shrink and have sharp turns, making it difficult to avoid touching them. This usually makes the player concentrate on the screen. Then, near the first curve to the left of the maze sharp part (The game also knows if the player is cheating; if they use right-click), a close-up image of Regan MacNeil (the possessed character portrayed by Linda Blair) from the 1973 supernatural horror film The Exorcist pops up along with a loud, distorted scream that plays twice, scaring the player.

The game was uploaded to Jeremy's now-defunct personal website, Winterrowd.com in 2005. The original version of the game had some slight differences in colors, where orange/yellow with alternative text was used instead of cyan. There's an alternative version of the game that is used in the comedy television series America's Funniest Home Videos, where Regan at the end is replaced with the one from What's Wrong?,[2] due to concerns regarding copyrighted content.

Reactions

Main Article: Reaction videos
Justice playing The Maze, one of the famous screamers.

Many people have posted videos of other people reacting to the game. The first reaction video on YouTube was uploaded by OUTLAW713, on February 21, 2006.[3] In the reaction video, a young kid, Justice, is playing the maze. Then, he is surprised by the screamer. Shocked, he starts screaming and repeatedly hitting the computer screen. He then runs to his stepdad, Chad, and starts crying. The original video and channel were terminated or taken down sometime in 2009, however, some reuploads had over 27 million views. The most viewed Maze Game video was uploaded by YouTube user nalts and has accumulated over 43 million views as of October 2017. However, the video was removed due to the channel's termination.

Level 4

One of the supposed "Level 4"s.

Even though only three levels exist in the game code, some videos circulated about a secret fourth level. On YouTube, there are some fake videos of people supposedly successfully going through the 3rd level and finally entering the 4th level, instead of a screamer. The earliest "tutorial" on how to get to the 4th level was uploaded by the YouTube user SoccerMomDebbie on October 19, 2008.

Other videos of the mysterious level continued to circulate. This video, which has more than 1.25 million views as of 2019 showed the cursor make a shortcut (which in practice would have killed the player) in level 3 unlocks a trigger to level 4 (pictured); once finishing the level, the game goes back to the main screen; text asks the viewer; "care to try a little bit faster this time?".

Outside of YouTube, users on Answers.com also about how to access the level; in response, users either replied a fake way or told the asker that level 4 does not exist.[4]

The fake level 4 was confirmed to have been made in Adobe Photoshop and played using the Microsoft Paint eraser.

Parodies

The Maze has been parodied on Saturday Night Live skit "I Didn't Ask For This".[5] There is also a game called Save Justin Bieber, created by Jeremy Winterrowd himself, which replaces some parts of the game with a picture of Justin Bieber instead of Regan, and the maze color is light purple instead of cyan.

In The Simpsons episode "Flanders' Ladder" (Season 29) the opening segment has Bart Simpson prank his sister Lisa by having her play a game called "Genius Maze", which is a direct spoof of The Maze, however, in this spoof, the jumpscare happened very early on in the 2nd level and has a popup of a zombie, instead of Regan.[6]

Gallery

  • The first level.

    The first level.

  • The second level.

    The second level.

  • The third/final level.

    The third/final level.

Showcase Video

References

  1. ↑ Winterrowd responding to a question on Yahoo Answers http://web.archive.org/web/20191207130448/https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080810043147AA2Ssol
  2. ↑ youtu.be/kZKZa9bwhnA?t=30
  3. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20070306004420/https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bvv7MBZk_f4
  4. ↑ https://www.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_get_to_level_4_in_the_scary_maze_game
  5. ↑ youtube.com/watch?v=4CD0ZbvIyQE
  6. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=502ZX1fAKzk

Trivia

  • This page was made Screamer Wiki's first featured article in October 2019.
  • The scream used in the game is sourced from Shareware Breakthrough Soundworks, a sound effects CD released in December 1993 by BeachWare. On the disk, the file containing the scream is SHRIEK.WAV.

Links

NOTE: The following games contain screamers!

  • Original version: winterrowd.com/maze
  • Unofficial HTML5 port: playscarymazegame.net/play-scary-maze-game
  • Alternate HTML5 port: scary-maze.com/html5
    • web.archive.org/web/20100820075301/www.winterrowd.com/maze/scary-maze-game.swf
  • Orange version: web.archive.org/web/20051223121743/winterrowd.com/maze1.swf
  • Save Justin Bieber version: winterrowd.com/savebieber/
    • web.archive.org/web/20191030110327/www.winterrowd.com/savebieber/save-justin-bieber.swf
  • America's Funniest Home Videos version: winterrowd.com/afvmaze
    • web.archive.org/web/20190923130311/www.winterrowd.com/afvmaze/the-maze-afv.swf
  • web.archive.org/web/20151208171129/akk.li/swf/maze.swf
  • dagobah.net/flash/game2.swf
  • Scream sound used: cd.textfiles.com/sbsw/SCARY/SHRIEK.WAV

Console ports

  • PlayStation Portable port: archive.org/details/the-maze-psp.-7z
  • Nintendo Switch port: github.com/simontime/MazeNX
  • Game Boy port: game-buoy-games.itch.io/scarymazegame

Showcase video

  • youtube.com/watch?v=0WjDrQ0IhBw

Languages

This article is available in different languages.

Comments

Comments

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