The Nightmare
Short 3D Horror Adventure Game
You lie in an asylum with no recollection of how you ended up here. But one thing you knew is to get out of here, it is not safe...
Project Details
Platform: PC, 3D
Team Size: Individual
Roles: Level Designer, Game Designer
Duration: 3 Months
Tools Used: Unity, 3DsMax, MuseScore, Waveform
Production Process
World Narrative
Location and Space
Visual & Sound
Atmosphere
Lighting
Guide & Navigation
Selecting the World
When deciding to create a horror genre game, its unique attraction is the location and the world the character will be in throughout the game. Understanding locations that benefit the atmosphere building can provide a great horror experience to players.
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Hence, at the start of this project, research is to be done on real-life locations or infrastructures both indoors and outdoors to identify and evaluate the best for this project.
Implementing a quick layout in Unity also helps me to view such locations in the game world.
Apart from location, the layout of the infrastructure is also important to take reference before constructing.
This would help prevent unusual corridors or pathways created that would not make sense when visualizing the layout spaces to an actual building.
Visual & Sound
After finalizing the location and world where the character and narration will take place, visuals and sound effects become the next important step to enhancing the horror and thrill atmosphere.
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The location picked is an indoor building of an asylum. Therefore, I would require to find assets that bring the theme of the building right, such as a morgue room, hospital beds, etc. The texture of these assets is also important to bring visualization of how long this building has been here.
Music Creation
I was able to learn and experience firsthand music creation through muse score and waveform, creating my first music for a horror game.
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With experience in the horror genre, sound design and creation are the most important aspect to deliver the right experience to players.
Lighting
Apart from the reliance on visuals and sound, lighting plays together in such horror genre games in terms of level navigation and design aspects.
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As most horror games take place in a dark location with minimal lighting, lights can become a catalyst to the surrounding atmosphere and provide a sense of guidance for the player.
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Below are some ways I have made using lighting as both a guide and enhancing the game's thrill.
My experience from The Nightmare
It is my first time creating a horror genre game as well as a piece of horror-themed music. The biggest challenge I have taken from this project is the visual approach and lighting. This is because, in horror games, both of these aspects are the most important towards bringing the right atmosphere and experience to players.
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With limitations to assets, I have to use whatever I can get to deliver a great experience as a horror game. However, this project brought me to learn why I love creating games and I enjoyed myself in this genre.