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Making My First Horror Game [Beginner]

BEGINNER - no knowledge of game development or coding but wanting to learn and make a basic horror level. · By JavaWockee

Your Thoughts please?

A topic by JavaWockee created Jul 27, 2017 Views: 534 Replies: 5
Viewing posts 1 to 4
Developer

Go easy Im an Absolute beginner with no Game development background nor coding.

Hooh boy. Okay, so as a game this is absolutely abysmal. However, for the first project you've ever created, this is actually okay, considering you've had absolutely no coding experience or training before.

The first thing I notice is the Field of View. It is extremely low, even making me a little uncomfortable, though I usually don't notice nor care what the FOV is at.

The next thing is collisions. I have colisions with only three things: the ground, the trees, and a rock. I move right through characters, walls, etc.

Next, the monsters are just standing there in a circle around the player. No context, no reaction, nothing.

Upon heading down the path to the right, an image, more specifically the thumbnail for the game, pops up. This is called a "screamer", and is a very cheap jumpscare. This kind of jumpscare should never be used in a horror game, never mind the fact this particular jumpscare had no context or reason for being there.

It is not only possible, but very easy to leave the map. I just walk up the hills and jump right off.

The sounds in the background have no reason for being there. Just adding in some screams, moans, beeping, and chain rattling, then putting it all on a loop is not scary nor creepy. There has to be a reason for the sound to be there. Sound may very well be the single most important aspect to a horror game, so it is doubly important to get it right.

The player walks extremely slow. No one walks that slow, unless taking a leisurely stroll. The sprinting speed is fine though.

The gravity is good. There is actual momentum, something most people don't get right on the first project.

The characters have animations, even if it is only a basic idle animation.

The sprinting is nice. It zooms out the FOV, giving an additional sense of realism and speed.


I have a few suggestions to improve your skills as a developer.

Make a few little projects just to get some practice coding. Practice makes perfect, and coding is no exception.

Try watching a few tutorials on programming with Unity or talking with some people who have used Unity.

Play or watch someone play horror games --preferably the "good" ones-- and take notes. See what the games do, what gets the best reaction from people, and what people react negatively to.

Developer

Thank you for your response , I know it sucks pretty bad and as I said I'm not even a game developer nor know how to make a game so I understand everything you are saying and I know a lot of it sucks but you have to cut me a little slack as I'm basically just throwing things into the game to show what iv learnt so far.

I have no idea how to make the NPCs react to me but that's what I'm hoping to learn to add to the level.

A lot of good points and I am very aware of them all but as I do have no experience what so ever and as a complete beginner I think what iv got so far isn't too bad right, consider that iv at least managed to create a very basic terrain (yes you can jump off it :/ haha) but I'm quite happy with what I can do at such an early stage.

I do really appreciate your time to check it out though.

I'm just hoping I can only improve and also learn how to make my own scripts.

thank you again :)

Hey! Don't listen to this 'professional reviewer' man. I was really scared by the jumpscare! I can't get enough of them in games, for real. I feel like most games rely too much on 'sound' or 'graphics". Sometimes surprise is your greatest asset. And jumpscares are the greatest surprise in horror.

Just my 3 cent. And I bet I've dev'd more games than THIS guy just sayin lol.

Love,

snuzi

I dun got spookd

Oh, hey! I just want to tell you that your game did a pretty good job for scaring the shit out of me with that woman's scream. Btw, you did a really great job a game with no absolute experience at all, and I have to say It's quite impressive. And as I, the noob of game development, want to contact with you for more information about building games in Unity, cause I'm using Unity, too and I have no clues about this engine. Please, kindly help me! :(