3 O'clock Horror
Multi-platform survival horror experience featuring dynamic enemy AI and branching narratives.
Role
Project Lead / Lead Developer
Year
2021
Category
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
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.
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.
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.