Liminal Trail is a psychological horror game that focuses on perception, memory, and uncertainty. I was inspired by analog horror and liminal spaces, which made me design the game to be focused on recognizing subtle changes rather than reacting to obvious horror elements as the player is challenged with determining if the environment around them is either normal or abnormal. This project marked a major shift in my creative journey as I worked primarily as the 3D artist and lead designer for the past games I worked on with others. I took this opportunity to push beyond my comfort zone and handle all aspects of game development ranging from level design to coding the game mechanics. In other words, I viewed this game as an opportunity to prove to myself that I could build a complete experience rather than just contributing to aspects of a game. Reflecting back on this project, I would say the most challenging aspect is learning the coding and gameplay design, specifically when it came to balancing atmospheric tension and interactivity requiring a different creative approach in terms of working with something interactive rather than something purely visual. Another aspect that was a learning experience was developing the randomized level system as it forced me to think about gameplay logic rather than just visuals. Overall, this project reinforced my passion for interactive storytelling. I wish for you to take the experience of playing Liminal Trail as more than just a horror game, but rather a pillar of growth of myself as a creator.
Bao Le is a 21-year-old Digital Media Arts student at San Jose State University. He was born in Bac Lieu, Vietnam, and raised in San Jose, California. Growing up in Silicon Valley, he developed a passion for technology early on. Now specializing in 3D environment art, he aims to contribute to game development or virtual production by creating immersive digital worlds.
