#practitionerblog

[practice2-creativeprojectdev]

Blog 39:Practitioner Blog 5: Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment, 2023)

Alan Wake 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment in 2023, shows the pinnacle of environmental, atmospheric storytelling. Contrary to other horror games based on monsters or violence, Alan Wake 2 instils terror through the environment design itself. Dynamic weather, real-time light change, and surreal manipulations of recognisable environments (such as distorted forests or changing city streets) instil a sense of tension that develops organically. The mastery of psychological horror through environment, independent of intense scripted sequences, has left its mark on how I am designing The Autopsy Academy. I intend to mimic its approach of using dynamic fog, colour grading, and minor ambient details to modify player perception incrementally over time. Alan Wake 2 also emphasises the necessity of emotional architecture, not designing spaces to be realistic, but how spaces make players feel as they move through them

[practice2-creativeprojectdev]

Blog 30: Dead Space Remake (Motive Studio / EA, 2023)

The 2023 Dead Space Remake by Motive Studio revitalised the iconic horror atmosphere of the original game by utilising modern lighting and material systems. One of the remake’s biggest successes is its reactive lighting; dynamic shadows stretch and shift as players move through claustrophobic corridors, amplifying fear without relying solely on scripted events. Environmental storytelling is also refined: blood trails, damaged walls, emergency lights, and scattered remnants of the ship's inhabitants paint a grim story without a word of dialogue. For The Autopsy Academy, I have closely studied Dead Space’s use of subtle guidance—how light sources naturally lead players to points of interest without breaking immersion. Additionally, Dead Space's balance between cold industrial architecture and organic decay influences my design choices, particularly in the use of metallic surfaces and corroded textures combined with ambient fog to create a lived-in, abandoned feel.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisnMktsoUA

[practice2-creativeprojectdev]

Blog 17:The Callisto Protocol (Striking Distance Studios, 2022)

The Callisto Protocol, released in 2022 by Striking Distance Studios, redefined cinematic horror in games through its focus on environmental storytelling and lighting design. Every detail within the industrial sci-fi setting—rusted metal, broken pipes, blood-stained walls—reinforces a sense of vulnerability and danger. Its claustrophobic corridors trap the player both physically and emotionally, while dynamic lighting, including flickering overhead lights and creeping fog, compounds the atmosphere. I am especially drawn to how the Callisto Protocol layers different environmental effects to create depth and realism: subtle sounds, volumetric lighting, and scattered debris guide the player's movement without explicit directions. This has inspired me to rethink the environment layout for The Autopsy Academy, ensuring that props and lighting not only decorate the scene but actively shape the player's navigation and emotional journey. The Callisto Protocol demonstrates that horror can be amplified through the intelligent use of visual and auditory environmental storytelling, which I aim to integrate heavily into my project. Reference: https://callisto.sds.com/en-us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afrg915C-x8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQn4uIo_fB0

[practice2-creativeprojectdev]

Blog 16: Scorn (Ebb Software, 2022)

Scorn, developed by Ebb Software and released in 2022, is a masterclass in environmental horror design. The game presents a grotesque, organic world heavily inspired by H.R. Giger's biomechanical aesthetic. Its environments feel simultaneously decayed and alive, creating an unsettling atmosphere without traditional storytelling methods. One of the most striking elements is how the lighting, fog effects, and organic textures seamlessly blend together to create a continuous sense of unease. The environmental design moves beyond mere aesthetics; it becomes an active part of the storytelling experience. The game's use of ambient lighting and organic, grotesque shapes influences how players emotionally respond to the space. This idea has deeply influenced my approach to The Autopsy Academy, particularly in how I plan to create transitional areas between large abandoned rooms and claustrophobic corridors. By studying Scorn, I have learned that emotional narrative can be embedded directly into the physicality of the environment, using architecture, colour, and texture to elicit discomfort and curiosity simultaneously. This understanding has led me to rethink how I construct visual flow and spatial tension in my own environmental art.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lBuHIlglY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorn_(video_game)