The latest articles on Forem by Jaxson Jones (@lizzx9). https://forem.com/lizzx9 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3691904%2F591261a9-3c6f-4e6f-aaab-81949a728262.jpg https://forem.com/lizzx9 en Jaxson Jones Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:28:30 +0000 https://forem.com/lizzx9/-the-house-watches-you-houses-hidden-spirits-teaser-4ff9 https://forem.com/lizzx9/-the-house-watches-you-houses-hidden-spirits-teaser-4ff9 <p>Have you ever felt like <strong>your own house is alive</strong>?<br><br> In <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em>, even when everything looks normal, the house is <strong>paying attention</strong>. </p> <ul> <li>Lights flicker when you’re not looking </li> <li>Hallways stretch or shrink just slightly </li> <li>Doors and objects move… but only when you’re not watching </li> <li>Sanity changes what you notice — calm? subtle changes. Low? The house whispers its secrets </li> </ul> <p>Every shadow, every creak… is part of the house.<br><br> Are you brave enough to explore?</p> <p>💡 Stay tuned… some secrets are waiting for those who dare to sleep.</p> Jaxson Jones Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:23:25 +0000 https://forem.com/lizzx9/-secrets-in-the-house-houses-hidden-spirits-13ai https://forem.com/lizzx9/-secrets-in-the-house-houses-hidden-spirits-13ai <p>The house isn’t just a place… it’s alive.<br><br> In <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em>, some rooms <strong>look normal</strong> but hide <strong>secrets</strong> that only reveal themselves under the right circumstances.</p> <ul> <li>Hidden items and clues <strong>change depending on your sanity</strong> </li> <li>Small events trigger <strong>only if you sleep or explore slowly</strong> </li> <li>Diary entries <strong>can disappear or rewrite themselves</strong> </li> <li>Hallways and doors subtly <strong>move or shift</strong> when you aren’t looking </li> </ul> <p>Sometimes the house is watching…<br><br> Are you watching back? </p> <p>Stay tuned — the house has more surprises waiting for those brave enough to explore.</p> Jaxson Jones Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:17:00 +0000 https://forem.com/lizzx9/-behind-the-doors-of-houses-hidden-spirits-the-sanity-mechanic-3m2c https://forem.com/lizzx9/-behind-the-doors-of-houses-hidden-spirits-the-sanity-mechanic-3m2c <p>Have you ever wondered what it would feel like if <strong>your own house didn’t feel safe anymore</strong>?<br><br> That’s exactly what I’m building in my game, <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em> — a <strong>psychological horror game for kids</strong>, where the creepiness comes from <strong>what you think you see</strong>.</p> <h2> 🛏️ Sleeping is Safe… Sometimes </h2> <p>In the game:</p> <ul> <li>Sleeping <strong>restores your sanity</strong> </li> <li>Sanity slowly drops when you: <ul> <li>Stand in dark corners</li> <li>Stare too long at rooms</li> <li>Read the mysterious diary entries</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Low sanity causes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Hallways stretching or shifting slightly </li> <li>Doors opening or closing by themselves </li> <li>Subtle whispers and quiet sounds </li> </ul> <p>Even when nothing is moving, something feels… wrong. </p> <h2> 👁️ The Main Spirit </h2> <ul> <li>Appears <strong>only at the edge of your vision</strong> </li> <li>Has <strong>no eyes</strong>, just a <strong>wide, forced grin</strong> </li> <li>Never attacks, never chases </li> <li>Just watches </li> </ul> <p>Sometimes you think it’s there… sometimes you think you’re imagining it. That’s the point. </p> <h2> 📖 The Diary </h2> <ul> <li>Early entries seem normal </li> <li>Later entries <strong>change or disappear</strong> </li> <li>It talks directly to the player, questioning what’s real </li> </ul> <p>The diary is both your guide and your tormentor. </p> <h2> 🎮 Why It’s Different </h2> <p><em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em> is:</p> <ul> <li>Kid-friendly </li> <li>Creepy without gore </li> <li>Psychological — fear comes from <strong>suspense and uncertainty</strong> </li> </ul> <p>The house is alive, but it’s not trying to hurt you… only to be noticed. </p> <p>💡 Stay tuned for the next post — I’ll reveal a <strong>hidden event</strong> that happens when your sanity is very low.</p> devjournal gamedev showdev Jaxson Jones Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:48:57 +0000 https://forem.com/lizzx9/houses-hidden-spirits-the-roadmap-to-terror-4ep1 https://forem.com/lizzx9/houses-hidden-spirits-the-roadmap-to-terror-4ep1 <p>🕯️ __ Ever wondered how to build a psychological horror game that <strong>haunts players without a single jump scare</strong>?<br><br> Here’s the full roadmap for my game, <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em>, leading to its official completion on <strong>December 16, 2029, 1:46 PM</strong>. </p> <h2> 2026 – Laying the Foundation 🛠️ </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Lock in the core mechanics: <strong>sanity system, bed sleep, hallucinations</strong> </li> <li>Prototype the <strong>main spirit</strong> with a forced grin and no eyes </li> <li>Test the basic rooms and flickering lights for maximum creepiness </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Build a <strong>1-2 room playable demo</strong> </li> <li>Observe early player reactions </li> <li>Research <strong>multi-device scaling</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> 2027 – Expansion &amp; Multi-Device 🌐 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Expand the house: more rooms, more secrets </li> <li>Implement subtle hallucinations and environmental creep </li> <li>Optimize the game for <strong>PC, Mac, and mobile devices</strong> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Add <strong>WebGL / HTML5 support</strong> for browsers </li> <li>Begin console prep: Switch, Steam Deck, PlayStation, Xbox </li> <li>Test device scaling — making sure the <strong>horror stays intact everywhere</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> 2028 – Polish &amp; Hallucination Depth 🎨 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Finalize <strong>main spirit behavior</strong>: watching mechanics and rare sleep-frame events </li> <li>Improve lighting and ambient sound on all devices </li> <li>Ensure hallucinations remain <strong>kid-friendly but unsettling</strong> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Add optional secrets, diary entries, and a <strong>false “safe ending”</strong> </li> <li>Test the <strong>first sleep scene</strong> and hidden consequences </li> <li>Gather feedback from friends or small testers </li> </ul> <h2> 2029 – Finalization &amp; Release Prep 🚪 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Implement final <strong>UI touches</strong>: sanity bar, health system, bed interface </li> <li>Make sure <strong>cross-device controls</strong> work perfectly </li> <li>Bug fixing and performance optimization </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec 15:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Final playtests </li> <li>Polish audio, lighting, and visual consistency </li> <li>Marketing prep: teaser images, Dev.to updates, social posts </li> </ul> <p><strong>Dec 16, 2029, 1:46 PM:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>🎉 <strong>Official game completion</strong> </li> <li>The world finally meets <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em> </li> </ul> <h3> Tips to Stay on Track 🧩 </h3> <ol> <li>Break the roadmap into <strong>half-year milestones</strong> </li> <li>Keep <strong>small playable demos</strong> to see your scares in action </li> <li>Document everything for <strong>future updates or sequels</strong> </li> </ol> <p>💡 This roadmap is more than just a schedule — it’s a blueprint for <strong>building fear, suspense, and unforgettable horror experiences</strong> across devices.# 🏚️ Houses: Hidden Spirits – The Roadmap to Terror (Dec 16, 2029) 🕯️</p> <p>Ever wondered how to build a psychological horror game that <strong>haunts players without a single jump scare</strong>?<br><br> Here’s the full roadmap for my game, <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em>, leading to its official completion on <strong>December 16, 2029, 1:46 PM</strong>. </p> <h2> 2026 – Laying the Foundation 🛠️ </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Lock in the core mechanics: <strong>sanity system, bed sleep, hallucinations</strong> </li> <li>Prototype the <strong>main spirit</strong> with a forced grin and no eyes </li> <li>Test the basic rooms and flickering lights for maximum creepiness </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Build a <strong>1-2 room playable demo</strong> </li> <li>Observe early player reactions </li> <li>Research <strong>multi-device scaling</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> 2027 – Expansion &amp; Multi-Device 🌐 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Expand the house: more rooms, more secrets </li> <li>Implement subtle hallucinations and environmental creep </li> <li>Optimize the game for <strong>PC, Mac, and mobile devices</strong> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Add <strong>WebGL / HTML5 support</strong> for browsers </li> <li>Begin console prep: Switch, Steam Deck, PlayStation, Xbox </li> <li>Test device scaling — making sure the <strong>horror stays intact everywhere</strong> </li> </ul> <h2> 2028 – Polish &amp; Hallucination Depth 🎨 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Finalize <strong>main spirit behavior</strong>: watching mechanics and rare sleep-frame events </li> <li>Improve lighting and ambient sound on all devices </li> <li>Ensure hallucinations remain <strong>kid-friendly but unsettling</strong> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Add optional secrets, diary entries, and a <strong>false “safe ending”</strong> </li> <li>Test the <strong>first sleep scene</strong> and hidden consequences </li> <li>Gather feedback from friends or small testers </li> </ul> <h2> 2029 – Finalization &amp; Release Prep 🚪 </h2> <p><strong>Jan – Jun:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Implement final <strong>UI touches</strong>: sanity bar, health system, bed interface </li> <li>Make sure <strong>cross-device controls</strong> work perfectly </li> <li>Bug fixing and performance optimization </li> </ul> <p><strong>Jul – Dec 15:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Final playtests </li> <li>Polish audio, lighting, and visual consistency </li> <li>Marketing prep: teaser images, Dev.to updates, social posts </li> </ul> <p><strong>Dec 16, 2029, 1:46 PM:</strong> </p> <ul> <li>🎉 <strong>Official game completion</strong> </li> <li>The world finally meets <em>Houses: Hidden Spirits</em> </li> </ul> <h3> Tips to Stay on Track 🧩 </h3> <ol> <li>Break the roadmap into <strong>half-year milestones</strong> </li> <li>Keep <strong>small playable demos</strong> to see your scares in action </li> <li>Document everything for <strong>future updates or sequels</strong> </li> </ol> <p>💡 This roadmap is more than just a schedule — it’s a blueprint for <strong>building fear, suspense, and unforgettable horror experiences</strong> across devices.</p> youngdeveloper horror inspires Jaxson Jones Sat, 03 Jan 2026 22:33:18 +0000 https://forem.com/lizzx9/meet-jaxson-t-jones-the-worlds-youngest-horror-game-developer-2cak https://forem.com/lizzx9/meet-jaxson-t-jones-the-worlds-youngest-horror-game-developer-2cak <p>Hi everyone! My name is Jaxson T. Jones, and I’m 9 years old. I create horror games, including my latest project called Houses: Hidden Spirits — a psychological horror game where players explore an eerie old house, encounter mysterious spirits, and face sanity-shaking surprises.</p> <p>Even at 9, I love designing game worlds, creating scary but kid-friendly experiences, and sharing my stories with players everywhere. I hope to inspire other young game developers to start making their own games too! (But don’t steal my record!) 😈🐕‍🦺</p> <p>Credits: Special thanks to Figma AI and ChatGPT for helping with design ideas and text!</p>