The Longest Night - An entry for Darktober Jam 2018 [Juanjo-Python Blue]

As you all probably know I've decided to pause my Mytholojam project and participate in Darktober Jam, as I said I couldn't resist the tentation...

The goal of DarkTober is give creators an opportunity to challenge themselves to create a game that is somehow dark or centered around the idea of Halloween. Also there is a sub-theme: "Rituals", which makes it super attractive and exciting!

This time, Python Blue is going to help me with the music (thank you very much!), so the level of quality will be much higher!

Here I go!

Provisional title:
The Longest Night



Idea:
The father of the protagonist died on October 31 (Halloween) and a year later we must scatter his ashes on his favorite mountain at dawn (ritual), as he wrote in his will.

Taking advantage that the protagonist likes nature, he decides to camp the night before and spend a time isolated from civilization, without stress, without noise ... without phone, to relax and remember his childhood when he was camping in that same forest with his father.

But the night will not be quiet... there is a legend talking about a creature that lives in the forest and that devours the unwary hunters who dare to sleep in that place. Real or folklore?


Main Features (desirable):
- First person horror experience, short and simple.
- Detailed and realistic real-time 3D graphics.
- Terrifying atmosphere in the middle of a totally isolated forest.
- Is there really a creature in the forest? Its sounds will make us go crazy...
- Manage your resources well, they are not infinite (inventory system).
- Music that will immerse you in the story (thanks to Python Blue).
- Terrifying sound effects (using 3D sound technology).

As always this is the main concept, but this is a jam and the result might not be exactly like that.

As a novelty I want to emphasize that I will try to use 3D sound to increase the feeling of terror. This is something that I've always wanted to try and this is a good

As you know, for me the search for inspiration is very important, this time the inspiration comes from here:

- The Ritual (movie)
- Blair Witch Project (movie)
- Wendigo (legend)
- The Witch (movie)
- Hunt Showdown (video game) - For the atmosphere
- The Village (movie)

My main tools, as you all know, will be Unity, 3ds Max, Quixel Suite and Photoshop.

As a novelty I want to emphasize that I will try to use 3D sound to increase the feeling of terror. This is something that I've always wanted to try and this is a good opportunity to try it, I hope it goes well.

I will try to share the progress of the project here, so stay tuned!

You forgot Boodwood in your inspiration
(the dark forest on red sky is similar hehe)

It's great to cooperate again with Chris on the music! Your last cooperation was fantastic.

Good luck!

Hahaha, yes, Bloodwood is always in my mind... the first project of Luminy Studios (and the last for the moment...).

Thanks Simon for your comments!

Working in the cover for the entry (WIP)...



I love both of them!

I'm still working on it...

It also makes me think of Blair Witch somehow. I'm sure you love it haha

I prefer the first cover (on the left)

Hahaha, thanks Simon!

Best wishes Juanjo!. This is definitely something more in your genre than MytholoJam.

This is definitely right up your alley Juanjo! You got some really good inspiration there as well. I love all those films!

Thanks guys for your kind words, I will try to do my best

Working in the main menu, it's a WIP image, there are still things to add.



I want to create a short video to show you the menu in movement and of course with the amazing (creepy) music created by Python Blue... stay tuned!

Wow beautiful!
At first sight I thought it was a screenshot from The Last of Us!
The fire looks great, very realistic.

Thanks Simon, yeah, this is The Last of Us Part 3 (it's a secret but I'm going to work with Naughty Dog)... of course it's a joke

And as promised here is the video with the menu in movement and with the wonderful music created by Chris (Python Blue):



I'm using an asset from the Unity store to the main programming features (as you know my programming skills are null).

I still need to polish some things...

PS: This video is just for you, please don't share...

Wow!

It's a very pro and beautiful menu! Perfect!
Congrats to Python Blue too!

Very nice! Look out AAA, Juanjo is in town

Hahaha, thanks guys for your kind words.

I must to say that lately I'm learning a lot with the last two game jams and that added to your messages of support make me feel more motivated...

The menu image/animation is looking good! Very atmospheric...

Thanks David!

And final shot for the main menu, with fog effect and post-processing:



HD image:
https://www.luminystudios.com/public_imgs/darktober18/tln_main_menu.jpg

Indeed the fog is great

Thanks Simon!

Quick update:

I'm already working on the main and only level (the forest), I hope to have something playable this weekend...

Python Blue has finished the ambient music for this level, it's perfect for the scene... mysterious and disturbing.

I hope to show images soon.

End of the report.

Sounds like it's going well!

Perfect. Seems like you're going to have something before the end of the jam!

Thanks for your comments!

For now, the development is going well... but this can change at any time (fingers crossed).

New WIP image of the forest... still working on it.



The map of the level is finished, now I'm adding the different elements like trees, grass, rocks, mountains...

I'm not spending a lot of time with this project, so the quality will not be what I'd like... anyway I'm using the latest stable version of Unity (2018.2.11) to test the compatibility of some assets, so this project serves as a bank of tests.

It might not be what you'd like, it's still excellent! The shadows of the trees on the bridge is working great. Many things could be hidden in the darkness of your world...