Terror on the Lake

Executive Summary

Abstract of Game Story  The story begins at a summer camp on the lake. Your name is Zack and you are a camp counselor. You and your girlfriend Sara, also a counselor, have come out to camp early this summer to help out. It’s only the two of you and the head counselor, and you’re heading over to her cabin as night sets in.

Abstract of Game Story  You take a walk through the woods, a shortcut to the other side of camp. Hearing a noise, your turn just in time to see a masked man with two large knives lunge from behind a tree. Diving to the ground, you dodge his initial attack and scramble to your feet running.

Abstract of Game Story  Almost too panicked to think, and running as quickly as humanly possible, your first instinct is to flee the camp. Then you realize your girlfriend is still in her cabin, completely helpless and unaware. You must save her from this killer on the loose!

Game Play Look and Feel

Appearance  The game is viewed from an third person perspective, overhead and angled.  It will be nighttime at the lake, and there are two small cabins, for the guys and girls. There is also a larger where meals are served, entertainment events are held, and the head counselor resides.

Appearance  There will be a gate at one end of the camp, and docks with a boat on the lake itself, both providing possible exit routes.

Player Roles and Actions Player Roles and Actions  To finish the game, you must recruit your girlfriend and escape from the camp.  You’d initially like to warn the counselor, but you’ll eventually find that it’s a little too late for him.

Player Roles and Actions Player Roles and Actions  Finding items along the way will help you to defend yourself or to reach other areas. –Ranged objects  Pistol –Misc.  Key to Equipment Cage  Key to Boat –Melee objects  Shovel  Baseball bat

The Enemy  The killer will be lurking around every corner, surprising the player. Possibilities for this type of encounter include: - surprise appearance when the player opens a closet door - emerging from beneath a bed after a player has spent a certain amount of time in one room - emerging from behind a shower curtain - at the docks by the boat - around certain corners.

The Enemy  The killer chases relentlessly and attacks whenever in range, lunging at the player with both knives. There is a short recovery time after each miss.  If you gain enough distance between yourself and the killer, he will no longer continue to chase you, but instead wait to appear at the next surprise location.

Strategies and Motivations Strategies and Motivations  Searching every area will help you find all that the game has to offer.  Finding a melee object can help you by stunning the killer and giving you time to run. The pistol will allow you to kill the maniac.  The keys to the boat will help you escape on the boat.

Strategies and Motivations Strategies and Motivations  The keys to the equipment cage will help you find the bat.  The pistol can be found in the head counselor’s living area.  The shovel can be located outside one of the buildings.  Locating something to protect your self quickly is the key to survival.

Strategies and Motivations Strategies and Motivations  Once you locate your girlfriend, she will tag along beside you. Now you have another duty – DON’T LET HER GET KILLED! All she’ll do is follow you, or run for her life from the killer is she spots him.

Level Summary/Story Progression  You begin on the run. From here on out, the story in non-linear, depending on where you go first.  The mess hall has a one large room, and a few small accessible rooms that are living areas. The equipment cage is in the large room, holding the bat. The pistol is in the head counselor’s living area. The killer is sure to make an appearance here.

Level Summary/Story Progression  The girl’s cabin is where you can recruit your girlfriend. She has the mess hall key in there  You can’t find much of interest at your cabin.  The shortcut is through the woods nearby, but you might not want to risk crossing through.

Level Summary/Story Progression  The docks are a place to escape, but you need to find the key to the boat in the living areas first.  The gate is an open area to escape.

Development Specification

Hardware / Software  The hardware you will need is that required to run the Unreal engine smoothly.  For software, we will be using the Unreal 2004 engine.

Algorithm Style  The killer’s AI will be relatively simple, with each of his appearances requiring certain circumstances and his attacking routine being pretty basic.  The girlfriend’s AI will be broken down into two modes, following you and trying to run from the killer.

Algorithm Style  The programming style and flow will be similar to that used in the Unreal examples, as it will utilize the same engine.