Zombie Apocalypse Game

[mike-commander]

I'm working on an open world zombie apocalypse game called Undead using Dark Professional software. I need ideas regarding skills, mission ideas, dynamic encounters, etc..all contributions will receive credit and will be listed in the Credits.

 

But anyway, the game has skills which you can level up. Leveling up skills earns proficiency points which can be spent on perks. Some perks combine more than one skill.

 

The skills I have so far:

 

Medicine- self explanatory

Hunting- traps, bow efficiency, skinning, tracking

Cooking- self explanatory

Herblore- harvesting plants and such

Farming- self explanatory

Scavenging- looting items, breaking down items into components, etc

Stealth- self explanatory

Mechanics- crafting and inventing, repairing vehicles, etc

Parkour- agility and free running

Charisma- social skills

Athletics- sprinting, stamina regen, etc

 

I need ideas for skill trees and perks, I'm looking for maybe around 14-16 skills overall. Please make a contribution if possible! Thanks!

Edited March 20, 2013 by mike-commander

[Corndawg93]

Undead nightmare says Hi

[H. León]

Social skills. You may find people on the way.

[OysterBarron]

Stamina/fitness increased run ability and carrying weight. Is it multiplayer got any concept art videos?

[Stinky12]

How about a zombie game where the player is a zombie and they have to eat humans brains and gather more zombie pals to eat more brains and then take over the world.

[Vanzant]

Sounds a lot like Dead Island.

 

Will weapons degrade after so many uses?

[mike-commander]

Is it multiplayer got any concept art videos?

No official vids, although I want to release the first gameplay trailer sometime in May (the game is about 85% done).

 

No multiplayer.

[mike-commander]

Sounds a lot like Dead Island.

 

Will weapons degrade after so many uses?

Its a little like Dead Island, but not quite. The map is mostly urban and countryside (think Georgia or Tennessee), with a bigger emphasis on character development and a deep story with moral elements.

 

At one point the game did have weapon degradation, but I limited it to only melee weapons. They will degrade MUCH slower than Dead Island's system however. Guns can never degrade, but there is a 3% chance a gun can jam.

[mike-commander]

Social skills. You may find people on the way.

Wow, how did I forget this.

 

Nice addition. Thanks!

[Fireman]

Look at Project Zomboid, take their ideas = awesome game.

[Red XIII]

How about a strength skill tree, containing three different perks, first perk gives you enough strength to pick up certain objects, the second perk lets you pick up heavier objects and so on.

[mike-commander]

How about a strength skill tree, containing three different perks, first perk gives you enough strength to pick up certain objects, the second perk lets you pick up heavier objects and so on.

I actually have an idea like this implemented in the game, but its not a skill. Strength depends on your character's muscle mass, a slider in the character creation menu.

 

More mass means you can lift heavier objects, deal more damage with melee weapons, etc

Less mass obviously makes you much more agile

[Colonel_Buttfuck]

You know what I miss in zombie games? Barricades. Being able to find a safehouse and board it up and move furniture to block the doors/windows would make me a very, very happy man. If you by any chance choose to implement this element in your game, please, make sure the barricades are breakable to add that extra sense of panic as your ammo is running low and the zombies keep getting closer and closer. Never forget the horror elements. Too many zombie games today focus on mindless COD action. I don't want that sh*t. I want survival horror at it's best!

 

Oh, and if you want to credit me in any way, please, don't use Colonel Buttf*ck, just call me Dan. Dan The Man. That sounds more legit.

[mike-commander]

You know what I miss in zombie games? Barricades. Being able to find a safehouse and board it up and move furniture to block the doors/windows would make me a very, very happy man. If you by any chance choose to implement this element in your game, please, make sure the barricades are breakable to add that extra sense of panic as your ammo is running low and the zombies keep getting closer and closer. Never forget the horror elements. Too many zombie games today focus on mindless COD action. I don't want that sh*t. I want survival horror at it's best!

 

Oh, and if you want to credit me in any way, please, don't use Colonel Buttf*ck, just call me Dan. Dan The Man. That sounds more legit.

This is a great idea! I too agree that survival horror is important in these types of games. I'll see if I have enough time to add this feature. The closest thing I have is being able to board up windows.

 

Thanks for the contribution Dan!

[Colonel_Buttfuck]

You know what I miss in zombie games? Barricades. Being able to find a safehouse and board it up and move furniture to block the doors/windows would make me a very, very happy man. If you by any chance choose to implement this element in your game, please, make sure the barricades are breakable to add that extra sense of panic as your ammo is running low and the zombies keep getting closer and closer. Never forget the horror elements. Too many zombie games today focus on mindless COD action. I don't want that sh*t. I want survival horror at it's best!

 

Oh, and if you want to credit me in any way, please, don't use Colonel Buttf*ck, just call me Dan. Dan The Man. That sounds more legit.

 

 

Thanks for the contribution Dan!

Atta boy!

[Fireman]

The main feature of zombie games are the zombies, and so far no open world game made them work like zombies.

 

They need to grab at you, not just hit you with their fists when they get close (lol WarZ and DayZ). They'll grab you and try to bite you. What you need is some kind of button bash mechanic if you get grabben and agility increasing how easy it is to slip away when grabbed

[Tchuck]

Suggesting random skills without having a better idea of what your game is about is, in my opinion, pointless. Therefore I have a couple questions for you:

 

-Is it survival horror? Or action horror? Or just an RPG with some elements of horror? Or not horror at all?

-Will there be different kinds of zombies?

-Is the player on the journey alone, or will he have companions?

-Are you looking for sets of skills that give the player different ways to complete an objective?

-How linear is the story? Does it have the "traditional" black and white moral system, as in you can either be good or bad? Or does it go for more gray?

-What is the maximum level for the skills? How does the player gain experience on them? How long would it take to max a skill? How long is the game?

-What was the cause of the zombies? Are there any other survivors left?

-How big and open is this world? Will it feature vehicles?

-How rare are the guns and ammo?

-What is the optimal strategy for dealing with the zombies, fight or flight? Are they Romero Zombies or 28 Days Later Zombies?

 

As for what I would like to see in a Zombie game, think I Am Legend. Fight/resist for as long as you can, and the span of your lifetime/the amount of things you did during it will determine how much of a legend you are.

[mike-commander]

Suggesting random skills without having a better idea of what your game is about is, in my opinion, pointless. Therefore I have a couple questions for you:

 

-Is it survival horror? Or action horror? Or just an RPG with some elements of horror? Or not horror at all?

-Will there be different kinds of zombies?

-Is the player on the journey alone, or will he have companions?

-Are you looking for sets of skills that give the player different ways to complete an objective?

-How linear is the story? Does it have the "traditional" black and white moral system, as in you can either be good or bad? Or does it go for more gray?

-What is the maximum level for the skills? How does the player gain experience on them? How long would it take to max a skill? How long is the game?

-What was the cause of the zombies? Are there any other survivors left?

-How big and open is this world? Will it feature vehicles?

-How rare are the guns and ammo?

-What is the optimal strategy for dealing with the zombies, fight or flight? Are they Romero Zombies or 28 Days Later Zombies?

 

As for what I would like to see in a Zombie game, think I Am Legend. Fight/resist for as long as you can, and the span of your lifetime/the amount of things you did during it will determine how much of a legend you are.

My bad for not providing more concise information. I can answer your questions.

 

1) It is an open world, survival horror RPG. Lots of dark, gritty situations and terrifying encounters with a big emphasis on survival. At its core though, its a game that deals with human nature and how our spirit dies in a post apocalyptic world.

 

2) Yes, there are walkers (standard, slow zombies) and sprinters (fast zombies, think the Infected in Dead Island). Later on in the story you will be introduced to the Bloaters, the final zombie type and created as a result of a failed cure. I'd like to keep details on the Bloaters scarce.

 

3) Companions. There are 45 unique companions in the game, each with their own unique skill set and background. When you enlist a companion, he/she will stay at your base camp or current residence. You can explore the world alone, but you can also choose to have up to 3 companions with you.

 

4) Definitely, sure. For example if your character is good with parkour and agility he may find alternate routes to an objective.

 

5) Due to limitations of the software, the game is fairly linear, but the ending depends on one of three choices. There is also a big choice midway through the game.There is indeed a morality system (it's actually the most fine tuned system I have in the game so far). It goes beyond the standard good and bad, and there's actually no visual representation of your morality. It is a spiritual aspect which is meant to arouse feeling and emotion in the player when he makes a choice. I don't wanna spill too many deets but NPCs will definitely react to your moral standing in realistic ways.

 

6) Right now the skill level cap is at 100. The player gains experience for them by doing activities related to the skill. For example, repairing a vehicle or fixing a generator for an NPC would boost your Mechanics skill. I couldn't say how long it would take to max a skill. After about level 80 skills get significantly longer to level. As for the game's length, I completed the main story in just over 20 hours, but that's because I know the game. For a new player I would give a rough estimate of around 28-30 hours. Yes, the story is very long. Besides the main story there are dynamic events, side missions, and companion missions.

 

7) Government accident. That's all I'm comfortable with saying. Yes, there are survivors. Besides the 45 companions, there are well over 100 NPCs.

 

8) Basically its one big city and the countryside. Think Tennessee or Georgia landscapes. Its slightly larger than GTA San Andreas (the country and city outskirts make up more than half the map). Vehicles include trucks, cars, motorcycles, and military vehicles.

 

9) Guns are scarce, ammo is dangerously scarce. Unless you successfully break into a police station or military complex (assuming it hasn't already been looted by dynamic bandits), don't expect to find many guns. When I was playing off-mission it took me a few hours just to find a .38 revolver and it only had four rounds.

 

10) Romero Zombies. These aren't zombies with super speed or immense strength. Only 10% or so of all zombies in the game are Sprinters, the rest are slow. The optimal strategy depends on your build and equipment. Usually, its to flee and avoid them unless you have a reliable weapon or at least one companion.

[Tchuck]

Awesome, thanks for the answers. Sounds like you got your stuff together.

 

For some suggestions:

 

-I'd separate "naturalist" into different skills:

*Cooking: Make food

*Herblore: Identify plants, make potions

*Farming: Maybe, as an extra source of food

 

-I'd change First Aid into Medicine, to allow the player to become better at taking care of himself (start with simple bandages, make better bandages, get the ability to mend broken limbs etc), even possibly synthesizing a cure, if that's where your story can go.

 

-I'd add a Fishing skill, if you have enough bodies of water.

 

-Maybe a Scavenging skill, to allow the player to extract components out of broken objects etc.

 

-An interesting idea if you choose to explore, instead of making certain actions require a certain skill level, make them open to any level to be executed, but diminish their chances of success. For instance: Say you are trying to mend a broken leg, but your skill level is low. Due to that, your chance of success will be 0.5%. If you do succeed, you gain a load of boosted experience, since you just performed a hard task with a low level of skill. If you fail, depending on your skill level, you can end up even more hurt, with a botched mend that will affect your char permanently, or simply nothing happens because you had a decent skill level to mitigate failures. This will make the act of gaining the skill points less "grindy", and more interesting. That way if you're really stranded with a broken leg, you still have a chance to fix it, otherwise you'd have your gameplay limited because you didn't choose to "grind" more medicine levels before going to x location.

 

Or if you're feeling particularly daring, make interesting minigames out of some of the skill actions you can perform. For instance: Say you want to fix the circuit on a computer so you can access its data. A minigame opens with a circuit board, and you have to guide the "soldering iron" through the correct path without deviating too much and taking too much time, or you risk burning the board. The more skilled you are, the less your hand will shake etc.

[H. León]

Gameplay aside, what kind of soundtrack are you going to add?

Here's an advice, brutal metal riffs for action scenes and zombie fighting with gritty RDR style music for quiet thriller moments.

[mike-commander]

Awesome, thanks for the answers. Sounds like you got your stuff together.

 

For some suggestions:

 

-I'd separate "naturalist" into different skills:

*Cooking: Make food

*Herblore: Identify plants, make potions

*Farming: Maybe, as an extra source of food

 

-I'd change First Aid into Medicine, to allow the player to become better at taking care of himself (start with simple bandages, make better bandages, get the ability to mend broken limbs etc), even possibly synthesizing a cure, if that's where your story can go.

 

-I'd add a Fishing skill, if you have enough bodies of water.

 

-Maybe a Scavenging skill, to allow the player to extract components out of broken objects etc.

 

-An interesting idea if you choose to explore, instead of making certain actions require a certain skill level, make them open to any level to be executed, but diminish their chances of success. For instance: Say you are trying to mend a broken leg, but your skill level is low. Due to that, your chance of success will be 0.5%. If you do succeed, you gain a load of boosted experience, since you just performed a hard task with a low level of skill. If you fail, depending on your skill level, you can end up even more hurt, with a botched mend that will affect your char permanently, or simply nothing happens because you had a decent skill level to mitigate failures. This will make the act of gaining the skill points less "grindy", and more interesting. That way if you're really stranded with a broken leg, you still have a chance to fix it, otherwise you'd have your gameplay limited because you didn't choose to "grind" more medicine levels before going to x location.

 

Or if you're feeling particularly daring, make interesting minigames out of some of the skill actions you can perform. For instance: Say you want to fix the circuit on a computer so you can access its data. A minigame opens with a circuit board, and you have to guide the "soldering iron" through the correct path without deviating too much and taking too much time, or you risk burning the board. The more skilled you are, the less your hand will shake etc.

Thanks for the contributions! I'm not feeling mini games though. However I do think breaking down Naturalist and adding Scavenging are great ideas. There's not quite enough water to add a Fishing skill though. I also liked your ideas about the First Aid or Medicine skill. I will take all of these into serious consideration. Thanks again!

[Colonel_Buttfuck]

Will this game be freeware? If not, what will be the initial cost?

[universetwisters]

Hey dude, I sent you a PM about how we could possibly work together on this

[Doublepulse]

I will say I love Tchucks suggestions, and so far everything seems like my playstyle. I have played a good amount of Zombie games to know which ones failed my expectations and which ones really are great. This is looking more on the great side.

 

Put the skills you would see in an Elder Scrolls game or a skill based MMO into a Zombie Apocalypse, and that is looking pretty good. And I am talking real skills, not some abilities or attributes, but skills that really improve. I was a little displeased with War Z and Day Z for some reason, I don't know why. I think they did not have what I am looking for.

 

 

Good luck with it!

[mike-commander]

Will this game be freeware? If not, what will be the initial cost?

Considering I've put over a year and a half into this game and how much content is in it, I would say a price is justified. I'm thinking a $20 release.

[mike-commander]

Gameplay aside, what kind of soundtrack are you going to add?

Here's an advice, brutal metal riffs for action scenes and zombie fighting with gritty RDR style music for quiet thriller moments.

The soundtrack is very minimal. There will be no guitar riffs because I feel metal does not suit the true genre of survival horror. There will be some gritty RDR style music, yes, but a lot of is just natural ambiance.

[mike-commander]

By the way, if anybody here has kids, don't be playing this game with them around. It's very dark and deals with some very mature situations. There's tons of gore and language, as well as some sex and nudity. It tries to show the player how dark and evil people can be in the event of an apocalypse.

[H. León]

Gameplay aside, what kind of soundtrack are you going to add?

Here's an advice, brutal metal riffs for action scenes and zombie fighting with gritty RDR style music for quiet thriller moments.

The soundtrack is very minimal. There will be no guitar riffs because I feel metal does not suit the true genre of survival horror. There will be some gritty RDR style music, yes, but a lot of is just natural ambiance.

So... Actions scenes have dramatic orchestra music or something like that?

[mike-commander]

Gameplay aside, what kind of soundtrack are you going to add?

Here's an advice, brutal metal riffs for action scenes and zombie fighting with gritty RDR style music for quiet thriller moments.

The soundtrack is very minimal. There will be no guitar riffs because I feel metal does not suit the true genre of survival horror. There will be some gritty RDR style music, yes, but a lot of is just natural ambiance.

So... Actions scenes have dramatic orchestra music or something like that?

No, its mainly in cut scenes and in some end game missions.

[Freakorama]

This gonna be one of those crappy 2D top down jobs, innit?