Journal Entry 5

Date: 19. 5 . 2025

Activity:

• Added music to build tension after initial jumpscare
• Adjusted navmesh of stalker. The bathroom is no longer a safe area. However, the sequence is still fairly simple and not that hard.
• Added music while stalker is 'stalking'
• Removed stalker when the door to the upper floor is lockpicked and next room is entered
• Changed some fuse positions from ground to somewhere at the player's level more or less
• Circuit box works now and opens bookcase
• Added secret room audio jumpscare
• Added build up music after secret room jumpscare
• Added action horror music after picking up gun which picks up directly from the build up music (or is a variation of it) adding a nice transition to action.
• Added a first aid kit near the gun
• Added a flash attachment for the gun
• Added a completely new sequence of escaping from the house. Involves killing multiple zombies in your way using the newfound gun instead of just the stalker which was pretty anticlimactic before.
• Added muted dialogue in various scenarios to describe story from the player's perspective
• Modified loading screen description to add more to the story
• Added a 'very' ambiguous  note in the secret room to leave the mystery of the house a little bit open-ended.
• Added objectives to the game to better direct players and be more welcoming
• Added a dynamic tutorial objective section for further aid
• Added environment FX like fog and falling leaves to make scene more ominous
• Added some foliage in front of the house and the grave area
• Ends the level when hitting the boundary at the front of the house after picking up the gun

Notes:

The game is complete and increased effort has been made to make it more user friendly and immersive by adding dialogue and objectives as asked in the feedback. Some story is also present but it is fairly ambiguous to leave an air of superstition. Some scenes are scarier now due to the music which can be very daunting at times. However, the final act music feels more of an action horror and can feel epic as you shoot down zombies. This was to alleviate some stress as I feel not many players are fans of the horror genre so might not be used to how scary I was making the game. Also makes it worth it and much more rewarding to make it to the secret rooms. Admittedly some zombies have wonky AI but that's the best I could do with the limited time and the scope of the project.

Invested hours: 

-  18 hours (two days of work)