HORROR.exe — a Russian-language media outlet focusing on horror films and horror games. Its core premise is to view horror not merely as entertainment, but as a system of tropes and techniques designed to evoke fear in the viewer. HORROR.exe helps users discover new films and games, understand the psychological mechanisms behind their impact on the audience or player, and curate what genuinely interests them. The media’s primary goal is to popularize the horror genre and assist the audience in finding and selecting compelling films and games.

Video Game Data Sources:Steam (provides information on game titles, developers, release dates, genres, descriptions, and visual assets). itch.io (used for finding independent and experimental projects that rarely receive mainstream coverage.) An additional source is IGDB—a database containing information on games, platforms, developers, and releases. These sources allow us to compile a catalog of horror games and track the emergence of new projects. Automated data collection is performed only through accessible and authorized means of information acquisition.

Data Sources on Cinema and Internet Culture:TMDB (The Movie Database) is used to gather information on films. This database contains titles, release dates, genres, crew information, and posters. Official studio websites and YouTube (for new releases, trailers, and independent projects) will also be utilized.For materials concerning internet horror and emerging genre trends, we use original creator publications, open archives, and specialized communities.The works themselves constitute a separate category of sources. Editors watch films and play games, documenting their own observations to prepare analytical articles.

Machine Processing involves gathering, sorting, and preliminary preparation of information.The automated service collects data on films and games from available sources, then structures this information uniformly: title, work type, genre, release date, creator or studio, description, images, and a link to the original page. In the next stage, the system checks the entries for duplication, identifies materials related to horror, and generates item profiles. Based on the compiled data, the AI can prepare drafts for short announcements, descriptions, and thematic collections. All such materials are then passed to an editor for review.

Human Curation is responsible for topic selection, information verification, and creating original content.

For analytical articles, the author independently researches the film or game, identifies compelling artistic solutions, and explains how they function. For interviews, the editor contacts the creators, prepares questions, and processes the received responses. Artists and designers prepare the visual layout for publications and develop interactive mini-games. Before publication, the editor checks the text, images, sources, and links. The final decision regarding the material’s placement is made by a human.

Data Collection GuidelinesThe automated service collects information about horror games and films from official databases, developer websites, and approved APIs. For each work, the name, author, genre, release date, description, source link, and update date are recorded. Example: automatic addition of a game to the catalog. The service retrieves information about the game Mouthwashing from Steam and creates a record.The information must be current, verifiable, and relevant to the media theme. Duplicate entries are excluded, and data from unofficial sources requires additional verification.The service cannot autonomously fill in missing data through assumption.

Editorial GuidelineHORROR.exe adheres to principles of veracity, independent evaluation, and respect for the creators of the works. Automated services may assist in drafting, but they must not generate fictional facts, quotes, interviews, or present generated assessments as the editors' personal experience. Tone of the publications: calm, informative, with elements of conversational journalism. Priority is given to specific examples and clear explanations. Clickbait, excessive emotionality, and artificial fear-mongering are not used. Analytical articles, interviews, and reviews are published only after editorial review.

Content and SMM GuidelinesMain content is published on HORROR.exe. Telegram is used to promote materials, share short recommendations, announcements, and engage with the audience. Example: A Telegram announcement for an article on The Backrooms.An automated service adapts approved publications for Telegram: it shortens the text, highlights the main idea, prepares a title, and adds a link to the full version.Announcements must use clear phrasing and provide specific reasons for reading the material. Spoiler tags are strictly forbidden without warning, misleading headlines, or an overly promotional tone.To maintain the media’s recognizable branding, consistent principles for design, categorization, and visual presentation must be followed.

Analytics GuidelinesAutomated analytics are used to assess audience interest in various content formats and the effectiveness of content distribution.For the website, we track material views, traffic sources, engagement, link clicks, and the rate of returning visitors. For Telegram, we track publication reach, reactions, shares, and website traffic.The service generates regular reports, compares the results of different sections, and identifies the most engaging materials.Based on this data, the editorial team adjusts the thematic plan, publication frequency, and promotion strategies. Content decisions are not made automatically solely based on view metrics.