I wanted to challenge myself a create a horror concept. As a big horror fan myself, I felt I was more than ready for this challenge.

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Now based on the title alone you're probably thinking "Hey, wait a second, doesn't that game already exist?". Well... yes... kinda. When I started this GDD I was unaware that that game existed. When I found out about it (admittedly still not knowing all that much about it) I drastically changed my idea. Unbeknownst to me, I changed my idea FROM a surgery simulation game into a mortuary simulation, thinking that the existing title was about conducting surgery. It wasn't until a few weeks later that I discovered the existing title was in fact not about performing surgery. Insert egg on face here. But enough about that, onto the actual idea.

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I took some inspiration from the spectacular 2002 title Eternal Darkness. I wanted to implement a similar sanity mechanic into this assignment, giving the player the impression that their actions (or lack there of) would affect not just the game, but the players existence. I put a big focus on medically accurate procedures being conducted, twisted with a skill check/mini game aspect to keep things suspenseful and tense for the player.

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When it comes to horror, medically accurate procedures and spooky environments go hand in hand, so setting the game within a mortuary was a no brainer. I tried to set a careful balance between the typical jump scare moments and the more tense suspenseful fear that would hopefully grow within the player the longer they play.

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You can download the full GDD below.

 

WARNING

As the procedures described are 'medically accurate', the GDD does contain images and references that some readers may find disturbing.