Wii U, Microsoft Surface, and Unity 4 (now w/ Linux!)
by Sebastian Haley, Creative Director
First, an important announcement: Stephanie Carmichael has joined the Downward Viral team as community manager. I’ve worked with Stephanie at a few different sites throughout the past several years and I could not have chosen a more capable person to help us ensure we get to make Z. by reaching our funding goal.
It turns out managing a Kickstarter while also developing a game is a lot of work, so she’s going to help reach out to as many people as she can, while I’ll lurk here on the Kickstarter page and Z. Facebook so that I can always be available to speak directly with the backers. Many of you have already commented or messaged us about Z., and I try to reply to each and every one of those as they come in. :)
I was going to post a starter deck article, but I’d like to break up game design updates every once in a while with something fresh (or really boring, if you don't care about SDKs and the like). So, today was a pretty tech-heavy day. Unity announced Unity Engine 4, I went to a private demo of the upcoming Wii U, and Microsoft unveiled their new Surface tablet at their not-so-top secret event in Los Angeles.
The Wii U’s admittedly a slick piece of technology. I would almost use the word “surprisingly”. It will live and die on the third party support it gets, of course, but there’s a lot of promise from a technological standpoint, and the step up in visuals is a sizable improvement over the Wii. We’ll see how it fares against the next generation of Xbox and PlayStations, though.
ZombieU and Pikmin 3 are the definite launch highlights right now, at least for a non-casual gamer like myself. The Nintendo demo girl told me I was the only person she had seen who made it through the entire ZombieU demo without dying. I thought I was totally hot shit after that, and then I accidentally threw all my Pikmin into a lake. -_-
iOS and PC (Facebook and Steam, specifically) are the target platforms for Z., but I see lots of potential in the tablets of tomorrow, not only for our game, but in digitizing tabletop gaming in general. I was imagining all the different ways Z. or popular board and card games could be brought over and evolved, and it’s kind of exciting to think that’s where things are going, eventually. Unfortunately, there’s still the massive issue of requiring a publisher, console certification woes, and the big three’s opposition to free-to-play gaming experiences, so “eventually” is probably later rather than sooner. And like comics, digital will never replace the “real deal” completely, so people can pick and choose which they prefer.
When it comes to Surface, I was always a fan of the massive tabletop touchscreen (originally known as Microsoft Surface, now known as “PixelSense”). They first showed them off in May of 2007 and began shipping to consumers the next year, albeit for a hefty price tag. They had some on display in the Innoventions exhibit at Disneyland, and I would just sit there imagining playing an RTS or CCG with a giant flat touchscreen. It could be like the arcades where you put your player card in and it loads your personal profile with all of your Tekken customizations or mods in a tuner racing game. You could even have it where everyone sees something different in the same way you can with Sony’s “dual-view” monitors.
So to see it get shrunk down to typical tablet size... I was kind of disappointed. That’s not the product or experience I had been waiting for to finally go mainstream. I want something new. More specifically, something unique. Integrating SmartGlass into Surface tablets and Xboxes will be an interesting combination, but it doesn’t seem like the OG (big) Surface will be playing a major role in gaming anytime soon.
Last but not least, the excellent Unity Engine (which Z. will very likely utilize -- we’re currently prototyping in both Unity and Corona) announced their next big release. Unity 4 brings a number of major and minor advancements, but the most important is undoubtedly support for Linux. This means a Linux version of Z. (one of our stretch goals) is not such a stretch anymore. It will happen.
Okay, I’m off for now. Gotta secure a couple big guest card announcements for later this week. Stay tuned!
P.S. If anyone owns Arma 2 (the game used to fake actual war footage in a documentary), you might want to check out the DayZ mod:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/354163/features/day-z-one-of-the-best-zombie-games-ever-made-and-its-a-mod/
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Jun 14, 2012 -
Jul 14, 2012
- 2 created · 101 backed
- Sebastian Haley 158 friends
- Website: downwardviral.com
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Shipping is FREE to all U.S. backers! Please add $15 for all international shipping. There are no shipping costs for all-digital bundles. Limited Rewards are NOT included in other reward tiers, so get them while they last!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $15 or more
242 backers
STARTER BUNDLE - A code for a DRM-free SPECIAL EDITION of the game with rare Kickstarter-exclusive cards. ONE profile is all you need to play across EVERY platform (PC, iOS, Facebook, etc.). +++ An all-access pass to the behind-the-scenes blog, videos, and galleries so you can see how the game is made!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $25 or more
331 backers
UPGRADE BUNDLE - Upgrade to an Elite Survivor Starter Deck and Elite Zombie Starter Deck containing RARE hero and weapon cards +++ Free MP3 download for the official game soundtrack. +++ Special thanks in the credits and on the website. +++ Two Kickstarter-exclusive in-game cards (one zombie, one survivor). +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $50 or more
29 backers
RETRO COLLECTOR - Choose a Collector’s Edition Retro Z. cart (survivor or zombie). +++ The Art From the End of the World concept art book (PDF). +++ Two more Kickstarter-exclusive in-game cards (a total of 4). +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $75 or more
13 backers
VIP BUNDLE - FIVE EXTRA ELITE COPIES of the game to share with friends and family. +++ Tokens to download FIVE ELITE BOOSTER PACKS guaranteed to have AT LEAST TWO RARE CARDS EACH. Each token can be gifted individually. +++ Two more Kickstarter-exclusive in-game cards (a total of 6). +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $100 or more
293 backers Limited (707 of 1000 left)
ULTIMATE ALL-DIGITAL BUNDLE - HELP US REACH OUR GOAL WITH THIS LIMITED EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! +++ Start the game with all six Elite Edition Starter Packs for survivors and zombies (over 350 cards!) +++ Lifetime VIP pass - one Enhanced Booster Pack every week! +++ Five extra Elite Editions of the game to gift to anyone you want. +++ Tokens to download five Elite Booster Packs with at least two rares in each pack. +++ All 10 Kickstarter-exclusive rare cards. +++ The Golden Rocket Launcher and Golden Minigun weapons. +++ Permanently unlock any Filter type to use on all your cards. +++ PDF of the Art From the End of the World concept art book. +++ MP3 download of the official Z. soundtrack. +++ Exclusive access to closed beta for Z. and future Downward Viral games. +++ VIP access to the development forums and wiki. +++ A personal phone call from the dev team thanking you for your support!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $110 or more
7 backers
PRODUCER - VIP access to the development forums and wiki where you can discuss and vote on game features, card types, and directly help us CREATE THE GAME THAT YOU WANT TO PLAY +++ A PERSONAL PHONE CALL from the dev team thanking you for your support. +++ Exclusive access to CLOSED BETAS for Z. and future Downward Viral games. +++ PRODUCER CREDIT in the game and on the website. +++ Two more Kickstarter-exclusive in-game cards (a total of 8). +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS excluding the All-Digital Bundle (which is not included in any other rewards since it is limited).
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $150 or more
175 backers
RARE COLLECTOR - A Kickstarter-exclusive BOXED EDITION of Z., NUMBERED and SIGNED by the dev team. This rare collector’s edition will never be made again! Choose which Starter Decks you want included in your boxed set. +++ BOTH Survivor and Zombie retro carts. +++ Two more Kickstarter-exclusive in-game cards (INCLUDES ALL 10). +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $250 or more
20 backers Limited (80 of 100 left)
LIFETIME VIP - A lifetime VIP pass! You will get an ENHANCED BOOSTER PACK EVERY WEEK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! +++ New cards will be released at least once every month. Can be gifted. +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $500 or more
4 backers
CREATOR - This is where things really start to get interesting! A weapon, item, location, or character will be named after you (you choose the card type and name you want). +++ A numbered and signed PHYSICAL copy of Art From the End of the World that will also include the item you created! +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $600 or more
9 backers
GOLDEN COLLECTOR - A HAND-DRAWN IMAGE OF YOU as a survivor or zombie by one of our lead concept artists. +++ Choose an extremely limited Collector’s Edition Retro GOLDEN Z. cart (survivor or zombie). +++ Two Exclusive Weapon Cards: Golden Rocket Launcher and Golden Minigun. +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers
SURVIVOR - You or a friend/loved one will get to be a survivor in the game! Send in a photo of yourself and we’ll use it to create an awesome new survivor card through digital trickery! We will work with you beforehand to come up with a cool character concept. Can be gifted. +++ An OVERSIZED CARD OF YOURSELF, frameable! +++ Both golden retro Z. carts +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers
THE Z. SPECIAL - You will get to be BOTH A SURVIVOR AND A ZOMBIE. Our makeup/film team will TRAVEL TO YOU at a time/place of your choosing to TRANSFORM YOU and take your photos. We will work with you beforehand to come up with a cool character. Can be gifted. +++ A FRAMEABLE OVERSIZED CARD OF EACH OF YOUR CHARACTERS! +++ EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT in the game and on the website. +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
1 backer
VIDEO STAR - THE ULTIMATE Z. PACKAGE: YOU’LL BE CAST AS A RECURRING CHARACTER IN THE LIVE-ACTION SEQUENCES. You will have DIALOGUE and appear as a survivor in AT LEAST SIX EPISODES, plus have survivor and zombie cards made of you. +++ CREDIT as a cast member and EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS (note that this reward is NOT included in the Hometown Apocalypse tier).
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
HOMETOWN APOCALYPSE - YOUR TOWN OR CITY WILL BE FEATURED AS AN IN-GAME LOCATION. Wage war in your own backyard! +++ At least 20 unique cards will be created to capture and represent local landmarks, willing participants, and more! +++ An UNCUT SHEET of your exclusive hometown cards, FRAMEABLE! +++ When the dev team visits to take pictures for cards and film your neighborhood, we’ll take you out to lunch/dinner and play a few games of Z. (or Halo, Dominion, minigolf, or whatever you want!). +++ EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT in the game and on the website. +++ ALL PREVIOUS REWARDS.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
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