Kickstarter

Creator Downward Viral 4 days ago

Hello WP. I'm going to repost my response about this from a different thread since I'm running on minimal brainpower at the moment. :)
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In the digital version of Z., you never obtain Location Decks or cards like Resources, nor do you need to. They are automatically generated and controlled by the game.

In the physical edition, you have to account for everything. The player has to know all of the rules and intricacies of the game mechanics, whereas the majority of them are completely hidden and automatic in the digital version.

You can, however, obtain new Location Cards by playing the digital version. So you can unlock Linda or Jeani (formerly Ayane and Kasumi) from the Academy and then customize your deck with them for all future games, if you'd like.

In short, the Location Decks are like the default maps included with a Call of Duty game. It's where the action takes place.

Creator Downward Viral 4 days ago

@Duane - Perhaps, and had I known the demand for the physical edition would have rivaled the digital version, maybe I would have baby-stepped it. But I'm still just as excited for the digital versions as ever. We set out to do something ambitious and unique, and that hasn't changed at all. It's just taking longer than originally planned.

Creator Downward Viral 5 days ago

@Jim - Definitely. Major update coming momentarily. I thought I could launch and tweak a few things before anyone noticed.... o.O

Creator Downward Viral on May 18

Hello Patrick. Since you're writing the same thing here and on the Facebook I'm going to repost my response:

The Year One Kickstarter is intended to make sure everyone who wants to play Z. gets to do so the way they want to. There were people who backed the digital version just for the physical decks, even when it was just two (instead of the nine decks I upgraded it to at great personal expense).

They shouldn't have had to pay $150 for all that extra stuff they didn't want, and so now anyone can trade it in for credit towards the second one, if they so choose. The stretch goals will add a lot of overall variety to both versions of the game, so again, it just enriches the Z. experience for everyone. But they're stretches, not the primary goal, so if we don't hit either, Z. continues on with the current Core Set content.

As for the digital version, my last comment noted that there is something to announce very soon, and it's going to be a really big deal. I'm pushing to get us there as soon as possible. I understand your frustration and appreciate just a week or two more of patience. It will be worth it.

Creator Downward Viral on May 18

@Patrick - With the physical edition Kickstarter about to launch I can see how it might feel that way, but every piece of content we show off or talk about is also something that's in the digital version. I'm actually chomping at the bit to make a major announcement about the digital version, just as soon as I'm able to. I'm really excited about it, and I think all the digital players will be too. Sooooonnnnnn.....

Creator Downward Viral on May 7

It'll be worth it! :)

Creator Downward Viral on May 4

Hello otg. It's nice to hear from you, and thanks for taking the time to comment.

1. That's correct, except for the Wiki access and Producer credit. Anyone $100 and over gets both of those no matter what!

2. If you don't take the credit then of course you'll still keep your rewards, but the retro carts in particular may take a very long time to arrive as I discuss in a recent update.

3. That's correct. Downward Viral will have to eat that cost unfortunately, but it's also not right to put it on the backers. That's just the cost of reward fulfillment, sometimes. My problem, not yours. :)

4. I definitely hear you on that, and I will make sure that it's something you'll be happy with.

Thanks again for checking in, I hope to hear from you more often here and in the Wiki! Cheers!

Creator Downward Viral on April 26

@Larkin: Of course. Z. is being constantly playtested and has been for the past couple months. I'm really happy with where the decks are now, so we just need to iron out some balancing issues and tweak some numerical values. :)

Creator Downward Viral on April 19

Hello Richard: All the details for the Year 1 campaign can be found in the recent update. As for a specific start date, it will be sometime in early May. We just have some assets and things to finalize before then, but we're all busting our asses to get there on time, as always. :)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/downwardviral/z-2/posts/458343

The final images for the Core Set will go to the manufacturer roughly one month after the Kickstarter ends, so everyone should have them in their hands by the end Summer. And any unlocked expansions should arrive before Christmas!

Creator Downward Viral on April 16

Hello CyberRaptor. That official announcement should be coming this week, just waiting on the box art to go along with it. :)

Creator Downward Viral on April 2

@Salvatore - You know, I've been thinking about that a lot. Z. is a VERY dark game, both visually and tonally. I mean, one of our cards is a cute girl getting eviscerated, so there's no shying away from the horrible nature of a zombie apocalypse here. That said, especially during the Kickstarter, a lot of the cards shown off were guest cards, homage cards (garden gnome, etc.), and stuff like that, and those are really just a tiny percentage of the actual Z. content.
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So sometimes I hope that making jokes on the Facebook and sharing goofy behind-the-scenes images doesn't betray the nature of the game we're making, but at the same time, I know all the images we're working on now and how the game plays and it's definitely dark. In fact, I want it to be even darker so we're going to do one more photoshoot focusing on dead bodies and that sort of thing.

Creator Downward Viral on March 21

Tons of weapon card designs have been posted to the Facebook. All backers are invited to give feedback on which one(s) you'd like to see in the game!

https://www.facebook.com/DownwardViral

Creator Downward Viral on March 18

Wow, you actually watched the whole video? I'm impressed. I hope my noob editing skills didn't melt your brain. The next video will be way better, promise! :)
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As for a second Kickstarter, it would only be for a limited duration and small goal, to allow the many people who missed the original to get a copy of Z., which will NOT be sold in stores. All it means for original backers is possibly a few free bonuses. Reward fulfillment and production schedule will not be impacted either. More details coming soon, once the Wiki is up.

Creator Downward Viral on March 1

@Shawn - I don't think anyone qualifies as a hater just yet. :) Z. has actually had one of the most patient, understanding, and genuine communities that I've ever been blessed to be a part of, and I'm very thankful for that.
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What you say is true though, we're doing the physical edition on the way to the digital for a number of reasons. A big part of that is actually so that we can get something in people's hands to play with and give feedback on while the digital version is being developed. On our budget, we can't move as quickly as most developers, so it'll just be good to have a form of Z. out there in the wild ASAP. :)

Creator Downward Viral on February 27

Hello Cerity. The current decks are kind of like a physical beta. They're near finished, but may still require balancing or other adjustments. They're also printed in black and white with no images to keep costs down, since we will likely have to print several revisions before the final thing.

Creator Downward Viral on February 5

Hello everyone! Please follow Downward Viral on Facebook for more frequent Z. updates! I don't want to spam Kickstarter with every small bit of news or info. :)

https://www.facebook.com/DownwardViral

You can also find us here:

https://www.twitter.com/DownwardViral
https://www.instagram.com/DownwardViral
https://www.youtube.com/DownwardViral

Creator Downward Viral on January 27

Hello Shane. I haven't forgotten! I'm still very excited about the digital version. :) I've been transparent that the physical edition would be delivered along the way to completing the digital versions (since the physical content is all required for the digital game anyway). We're nearing that milestone soon, and as I said in recent updates, after the physical edition is delivered there will be meaningful updates regarding the progress of the digital version.
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I sincerely appreciate everyone's patience and support as ultimately we're working the most efficiently to satisfy everyone. Please remember that we're a *very* small team doing the best we can to make the game as good as possible, regardless of platform.

Creator Downward Viral on January 9

*AREA

Creator Downward Viral on January 9

Hello Luke: We've been doing casting calls through various outlets, but if you're interested then we'd love to have you. You can contact me about it at sebastian.haley@downwardviral.com. Please include your availability over the next few weekends and a picture of yourself.
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THAT ALSO GOES FOR ANY OTHER BAY ARE OR PENINSULA BACKERS! :)
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As for fundraising, I'm always ready to help support a cause, so I'm sure there will be more fundraising opportunities like we did with Hacker Dojo. There's just not anything specific on the horizon at the moment.

Creator Downward Viral on January 8

@Larkin - I'm sorry to hear that. Being "cheated" implies that there's some sort of nefarious reasoning for the delayed delivery, and I assure you I'm working as fast as humanly possible while still keeping the high standard of quality I set for Z. Please hold your judgement about the physical set until you've had a chance to learn the specifics behind it -- I never said anything about selling it outside of Kickstarter. :)

Creator Downward Viral on December 1

Hello Ng. Nothing official yet, but a "Brief Respite" or something along those lines sounds pretty good. --Sebastian