How long will it take for there to be a decent zombie survival game on par with Dead Frontier?

[Korusho]

I just want estimates on how long it will take for someone to actually develop and release a decent zombie survival rpg that isn't shallow, is more MMO than just ! Quests, and actually has a decent sand boxed area to explore. Maybe I am asking too much.. or perhaps too vague. Is a zombie game where you endlessly explore, looking for food, weapons, ammo, random stuff in a huge world with a small group of other people with zombies all around wanting to eat your flesh and can swarm you easily too much to ask for?


I know, that was a very jumbled paragraph, and I will try to smooth it out. Basically, I want Dead Frontier in first person, with clan systems and more player building (and more weaponry, tbh their selection is lacking compared to games on par with them).

 

[dickywebster]

Would i be vaguely right in thinking your looking for something like for example fallout 3, but with zombie hordes running around?

 

[Episode42]

That's pretty much what i was hoping Dead Island was going to be. Building barricades around buildings and trying to survive long enough for help to arrive (assuming it does), Where food, sleep and sanity play more of a role than just 'Energy bars give you health'.
Also, a bit more of an open ended world. While i have nothing against quests, being constantly ordered around by complaining morons in swimming trunks gets really old really fast.
Something a bit more realistic i guess. Although i presume that would be mind bogglingly difficult to construct.

Would i be vaguely right in thinking your looking for something like for example fallout 3, but with zombie hordes running around?

Pretty much this.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

I just want estimates on how long it will take for someone to actually develop and release a decent zombie survival rpg that isn't shallow, is more MMO than just ! Quests, and actually has a decent sand boxed area to explore. Maybe I am asking too much.. or perhaps too vague. Is a zombie game where you endlessly explore, looking for food, weapons, ammo, random stuff in a huge world with a small group of other people with zombies all around wanting to eat your flesh and can swarm you easily too much to ask for?


I know, that was a very jumbled paragraph, and I will try to smooth it out. Basically, I want Dead Frontier in first person, with clan systems and more player building (and more weaponry, tbh their selection is lacking compared to games on par with them).

So you want Dead Rising? The whole game is basically just surviving till help arrives, searching for stuff, and bashing zombies in turn. There is a storyline and such, but you have no reason to follow it if you don't want to. The world isn't really HUGE, but there is a lot to see in both games.

 

[fozzy360]

I just want estimates on how long it will take for someone to actually develop and release a decent zombie survival rpg that isn't shallow, is more MMO than just ! Quests, and actually has a decent sand boxed area to explore. Maybe I am asking too much.. or perhaps too vague. Is a zombie game where you endlessly explore, looking for food, weapons, ammo, random stuff in a huge world with a small group of other people with zombies all around wanting to eat your flesh and can swarm you easily too much to ask for?


I know, that was a very jumbled paragraph, and I will try to smooth it out. Basically, I want Dead Frontier in first person, with clan systems and more player building (and more weaponry, tbh their selection is lacking compared to games on par with them).

So you want Dead Rising? The whole game is basically just surviving till help arrives, searching for stuff, and bashing zombies in turn. There is a storyline and such, but you have no reason to follow it if you don't want to. The world isn't really HUGE, but there is a lot to see in both games.

No, not really Dead Rising. I think what he means is something more akin to Fallout combined with the best elements of Dead Island and Dead Frontier. A persistent experience that allows the players to actually survive by building barricades or shelters, constructing and learning how to use new weapons, and finding survivors (both NPC and playable) that you can join up with.

By the way, I thought I read a story where an up and coming indie developer was working on this very idea. Supposedly, they were going to make a single-player version of it first, then move on to a co-op/online version if the first one is successful enough.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

I just want estimates on how long it will take for someone to actually develop and release a decent zombie survival rpg that isn't shallow, is more MMO than just ! Quests, and actually has a decent sand boxed area to explore. Maybe I am asking too much.. or perhaps too vague. Is a zombie game where you endlessly explore, looking for food, weapons, ammo, random stuff in a huge world with a small group of other people with zombies all around wanting to eat your flesh and can swarm you easily too much to ask for?


I know, that was a very jumbled paragraph, and I will try to smooth it out. Basically, I want Dead Frontier in first person, with clan systems and more player building (and more weaponry, tbh their selection is lacking compared to games on par with them).

So you want Dead Rising? The whole game is basically just surviving till help arrives, searching for stuff, and bashing zombies in turn. There is a storyline and such, but you have no reason to follow it if you don't want to. The world isn't really HUGE, but there is a lot to see in both games.

No, not really Dead Rising. I think what he means is something more akin to Fallout combined with the best elements of Dead Island and Dead Frontier. A persistent experience that allows the players to actually survive by building barricades or shelters, constructing and learning how to use new weapons, and finding survivors (both NPC and playable) that you can join up with.

By the way, I thought I read a story where an up and coming indie developer was working on this very idea. Supposedly, they were going to make a single-player version of it first, then move on to a co-op/online version if the first one is successful enough.

But Dead Rising has everything you mentioned except for building barricades and shelters, which honestly seems pointless to me. Why would you want to play a game where the ultimate endgame is to sit in one place doing nothing? I much prefer the idea of being forced into conflict with the zombies. Left 4 Dead definitely got that much right.

 

[fozzy360]

Found the story:

http://www.destructoid.com/open-world-zombie-survival-game-coming-to-xbla-193192.phtml

But Dead Rising has everything you mentioned except for building barricades and shelters, which honestly seems pointless to me. Why would you want to play a game where the ultimate endgame is to sit in one place doing nothing? I much prefer the idea of being forced into conflict with the zombies. Left 4 Dead definitely got that much right.

But for me, Dead Rising is only a part of what could be. The idea of surviving in a world like the zombie apocalypse with friends or whoever is online seems attractive to me, and it is something that I'd like to play and see.

 

[AJvsRonin]

I had an idea about a game like this. A map on the scale of fall out 3, and with what I call "Natural RPG" techniques. The RPG levelling system takes place by itself. Each level is gained through usage of a specific item. Your ability to reload and aim with a rifle slowly increases the more you use it. You meet survivors and can invite them to come stay and help protect your fortress. During the day you prepare for that nights attack. Strategic decisions come into play as well. Do you put everyone on watch that night? but without sleep they become useless the next day for infiltrating supermarkets etc for supplies.

Also certian people can give you the ability to do certian things. That paramedic you met can teach you how to field dress a wound, that doctor can show you what drugs to take and how to diagnose different infections.

Some characaters usefulness might only show up through certian dialouge. That seemingly useless guy is actually a construction worker, give him a hammer and some nails and he can make a pretty good fortress gate. So you're looking at time management as well.

Do you take that nurse with you on the mission? She can help if someone is injured but she cant defend herself. But the survivors with you level up as well, by getting her out in the action she'll improve and could eventually lead raids herself etc etc.

The potential for BioWare style background conversations between different characters would be there as well and learning how to spot and deal with people mentally breaking down on a mission would be there too. Twitcy shooter fans would be happy cus they can run and gun and be the hero themselves and RPG fans can spend hours mulling over the perfect team to put together.

Random events could change things up too. Out on your way to a raid when you see a chopper go down in the most infested part of town, do you go to investigate but risk your team? If you get there in time you could get a couple of soldiers for your team and some story progession about what's happening elsewhere. Then the potential for quests cus they were on their way to rescue survivors out at a fuel yard.

All the while the zombie attacks are getting worse and worse unless you find a way to stop them (story missions?) or escape the city, perhaps lead your entire team on one long journey taking days where you set up camp at different places and meet more survivors.

Need to have some sort of restriction on save files to prevent people just reloading when somebody dies.

What do you guys think?

 

[Episode42]

*Snip*

What do you guys think?

This, this is the game i want.

 

[Korusho]

Class 3 has the description of what I am looking for. Why a Z-game of that nature hasn't been developed yet is beyond me, it has such potential to develop a loyal fan base.

 

[ViralBiae]

I think project Zomboid fits in pretty well with the description. Your city has been quarantined due to an outbreak and your wife has a broken leg, so you have to procure everything needed to look after her and make sure she doesn't die while also keeping yourself alive and armed for combat when you go out for supply runs and your house barricaded so zombies don't know you're inside. You also have to fight burglars that try and loot your home, but beating them can yeild good new weapons.

Oh, and survival is completely impossible.

Seriously, you cannot get out of this game alive. It's less about surviving and more about how long you can survive and how many you can take with you when you inevitably go down. Zombies never stop spawning, a scratch dooms you to turning into one of them (although it can be delayed with meds, it's incurable) and if they see you, they will follow you and NEVER STOP. They can hear you moving around inside your house and will break down the doors to get at you, they can attract more zombies to your location until a lone following zombie becomes a shambling horde that knows exactly where you are. You are going to die, and there is nothing you can do about it except take as many of the bastards with you as possible.

Sound good?