SURVIVE

Game Design Process
"SurviVE" is an atmospheric horror game set on a mysterious island. Players are stranded after a storm and must explore the environment to uncover the fate of their missing friends. The game design emphasizes survival mechanics, exploration, and environmental storytelling. Core gameplay revolves around managing resources like food and flashlight batteries while navigating the eerie island, creating a balance between tension and player agency.

Narrative Design
The narrative unfolds through environmental clues and player exploration. As players search for their friends, they encounter abandoned structures, scattered items, and ominous signs of danger. The lack of direct exposition heightens the mystery, encouraging players to piece together the story through observation and interaction with the world.

Programming
The game’s codebase, hosted on GitHub, features custom systems for resource management, player movement, and interaction mechanics. A hunger system requires players to collect food from crates to survive, while a flashlight mechanic uses battery pickups to maintain visibility in dark areas. These systems were implemented using Unreal Engine blueprints and C++ scripting for seamless integration into gameplay.

Level and World Design
The island is designed with a focus on atmospheric immersion. Dense forests, abandoned campsites, and weathered structures create a haunting environment that guides players through key areas while maintaining an open-world feel. Careful placement of resources like food crates and batteries ensures both challenge and progression. The level design leverages verticality and natural barriers to encourage exploration without overwhelming players.

Shaders & Aesthetics
Custom shaders were used to enhance the game's visual atmosphere, including dynamic lighting effects for the flashlight and fog systems to obscure distant views. These elements contribute to the sense of isolation and unease central to the horror experience. Textures for terrain, foliage, and props were created using tools like Quixel Megascans to maintain visual consistency.

Gameplay & Interactions
Survival mechanics are at the core of "SurviVE." Players must manage hunger by finding food crates scattered across the island while also collecting batteries to keep their flashlight operational. Exploration is driven by intuitive interaction prompts that allow players to investigate objects and uncover clues about their surroundings. These mechanics create a constant tension between resource management and advancing through the game.