3 O'clock Horror
Multi-platform survival horror experience featuring dynamic enemy AI and branching narratives.
At a glance
- person team led
- 8
- month production cycle
- 9
- platforms shipped: Steam and Android
- 2
- Role
- Project Lead / Lead Developer
- Year
- 2021
- Team
- Team of 8
- Duration
- 9 months, plus a 3-month Android port
- Category
- Games Game Dev
About This Project
Led the development of a Lovecraftian escape-the-room horror title inspired by classic survival horror mechanics. Directed a team of eight through a full production cycle, from initial concept to multi-platform release on PC and Android. Engineered core systems including an inventory manager, state-driven puzzle logic, and a time-based enemy activation system.
Project Gallery
Technologies Used
Engineering Challenges
01
Cross-Functional Leadership
Directed a team of 8 developers, artists, and sound designers. Managed the creative vision while maintaining strict scope control to ensure a polished release within a nine-month development window.
02
Systematic Pacing & Level Design
Engineered an enemy activation system that triggers based on player progression and time elapsed. Balanced map layout to reward speed-running while preventing exploit-based advantages, maintaining atmospheric tension regardless of player skill level.
03
Interactive Narrative Systems
Developed an extensible 'Narrative Typewriter' system that handled real-time story updates, environmental messaging, and persistent tracking of player status and puzzle state transitions.
Technical Highlights
Mobile Porting & Optimization: Managed a secondary three-month development phase focused on Android optimization. This included a total overhaul of the UI/UX for touchscreens and refactoring the inventory system to reduce draw calls and memory overhead on mobile hardware.
AI State Machine: Implemented a robust state-machine-driven AI for three unique enemy types, ensuring behavior patterns remained distinct and unpredictable across the game’s three possible endings.
Atmospheric Technical Art: Leveraged Unity’s rendering pipeline to create a high-fidelity 'creepy' atmosphere while maintaining consistent frame rates across low-to-mid-range Android devices.