Syndrome

Syndrome is a first-person horror game developed as part of my Master’s program in Computer Science (Game Development) at USC. I worked on a small team of three and served as the sole programmer, handling all core gameplay systems and technical implementation. The project was heavily inspired by P.T. and aimed to create a tense, immersive walking-simulator style experience.

My Role: Sole Programmer and Designer

• Programmed all gameplay systems in Unity using C#, including first-person controls, flashlight mechanics, and trigger-based events.

• Co-designed narrative flow and tense gameplay scenarios, scripting scares, pacing environmental events, and placing music cues.

• Coordinated with a sound team from Berklee College of Music, integrating sound effects and music into Unity to elevate the atmosphere.

• Conducted playtests to evaluate whether the game achieved the intended level of fear, iterating based on player reactions.

• Wore multiple hats including gameplay programmer, designer, narrative contributor, and playtest coordinator.

Challenges and Takeaways

• Created horror without the aid of monsters or advanced visual effects by relying on sound, music, and lighting as the primary tools for fear.

• Learned how difficult it is to measure “scariness,” since designers cannot evaluate it themselves and must rely on player testing and observation.

• Gained experience shipping a playable prototype that resonated strongly with players, who often found it scarier than expected.

• Reflected on coding practices and identified areas where I could have built smarter, cleaner systems, which fueled my growth as a developer.

Personal Note
This project holds a special place for me. I have always loved horror games and films, and Syndrome was my first real opportunity to create one. After stepping away from software engineering for a time, this project reminded me why I pursued game development in the first place and helped revitalize my dream of working in the industry.