Zombie Game - Jacoooooooob

Righto guys it's time to get this blog a-rollin. That's right, I just said 'a-rollin'. Deal with it.

We have about 4 months to get our game concept/s all designed and purdy, so time to get started on the awesome idea making! I think it'd be good if any of you get bored that instead of running off to look at Youtube videos or porn (lookin at you Logan) that you'd come here and lay down a hard dose of creativity. The more ideas the better, so write em down even if they seem stupid : P

So anyway, I've talked to quite a few of you about my zombie shooter idea, but I thought it'd be good to get it all dished out on the blog.

The initial concept is pretty simple: a co-op, mulitplayer zombie shooter; entirely first-person. Thanks to Left4Dead we know how exploding an infinite supply of disgusting monsters with your friends can be awesome fun. Of course, this game would need to stand out from Left4Dead and other similar games.

The main way this game differs is that it's not about surviving a zombie apocalypse, it's about killing as many undead creatures as you can and wiping an area clean. Of course, surviving long enough to take them all out is the challenge. Zombies could easily overpower and nom on a single player with a single gun and dull tactics, so working together and using each other's skills is important.

The first feature of the game would be an open world; in my head I see a sort of decrepit city with crumbling skyscrapers and trashed shopping malls overgrown with plants. It wouldn't be too difficult to create a single, enormous level and I think we could make it really fun to explore. Player's could climb up tall buildings and look down from roofs, enter subway systems and sewers, we could possible even have some nice movement mechanics going on to making getting around more fun e.g. long jumps, wall jumps etc.

The second feature was the character selection. My proposition was for the game to include class selection mechanics. You start the game, choose a class (or two classes, if possible) and enter the game with your friends. Classes would include more typical options such as Sniper, Medic and
Soldier as well as more unique options such as Samurai, Trapmaster and Pilot. Each class would have unique abilities, weapon proficiencies and stats - such as speed, health, defense, stealth etc.

After working through this concept with Andey, we decided a better idea would be to have a set number of characters to choose from that came with default stats and the classes would act more like perks in a Fallout game. Basically, you have a set number of the classes you can choose from (most likely two) and each class gives your character several abilities as well as improvements to their stats and weapon handling abilities. For example: you choose the character John Asskick who is a basic soldier character with rounded stats. You then choose the Heavy class, which improves the characters stats and gives them better accuracy and more damage with heavy weapons. The second class is a Brute class which gives John a bunch more health and defense, improves his hand-to-hand combat, and lets him charge through hordes of zombies with a special move. This makes for a pretty decent tank character, absorbing damage and hitting hard. But the choice doesn't have to be so obvious, John could've taken the Samurai class as his first class, giving him great agility and furthering improving his hand-to-hand skills (you'd also get a kickass samurai sword, naturally). It all depends on the person playing. I think this kind of mechanic would make the game insanely fun in multiplayer games.

This kind of mechanic would also work well in development cos we'd only need a couple of player character models that wouldn't change depending on the class. We'd also be able to set player variables, such as speed, that would be universal over all the characters. The variables could easily be tweaked by the classes e.g. speed + 10.
They'd all basically be the same character just with different numbers in their variables.

We also thought a day/night cycle could be interesting, where after a set amount time the zombie's A.I. changes. For example, during the day the zombie's are pretty much dormant, hiding out in buildings and undercover areas. This allows player's to move around easily but makes it more difficult for them to find the zombies. This also sets the scene for more close-quarters battles in buildings where the zombies are hiding. As soon as night hits the gameplay changes completely with the zombies actively hunting down the players, moving out in the open and highly aware of their surroundings. This makes the zombies easier to find but leaves the player's constantly on guard, often needing to hide themselves.

In the end, the players would move around the world however they want; jumping from rooftops and smashing through windows. They'd be able to communicate through an open chat window and develop tactics. They'd each use their own unique skills to get through certain situations. One player can set a large explosive trap in the street while another player keeps watch over him with a sniper rifle from a nearby rooftop. When the trap is set another player uses their quick movement to lead the zombies into the trap without taking damage themselves.

The main appeal about the game, I think, is that it sets the stage for the players to make so much fun for themselves, much like games such as Team Fortress. Of course, this kind of game would take a lot of time to do well or to even get working at all. If we did decide on this idea we'd probably have to do the single game over the year, rather than the two games.

Anyway, throw feedback at me and start posting your own ideas, as many as you can! GO GO GO!

Love always,
Jacob xoxoxoxoxoxo