Vivid Horizon Games

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2024-10-18 - Lighting Mechanics and Flashlight Functionality

This stage of development saw a strong emphasis on lighting mechanics and environmental interactions. In "Legend of Krigz," the game’s atmosphere heavily depends on lighting cues. I worked on creating a realistic day/night cycle where the game world changes dramatically at night. To heighten the tension and challenge, I implemented a mechanic where the environmental lighting shuts down when the power is off. This introduces an added layer of difficulty, forcing players to rely on their flashlights to navigate the darkness.

The flashlight serves as a double-edged sword, providing crucial visibility but also potentially giving away the player’s position to Krigz. I designed the flashlight to have limited battery life, requiring players to carefully balance their exploration and their need to remain hidden. This subtle but impactful feature ties directly into the game’s core themes of survival and resource management.