Update #14: It's Almost Time
Hello everyone!
The days are getting longer, the air warmer, and -
Enough chitchat - When do I get my zombies!?!!
Barring any major disasters (e.g. asteroids, zombies, Apple, etc.) we are going to launch the iOS version before the end of this month. So, even if that means 29th February - and we hope it’s sooner - that’s just over two weeks.
Just imagine - two weeks until you too can be running for your life from zombies and saving humanity. It’s been a long journey, but we’re nearly there now!
A word of warning: when we launch, you may look at the price we’re selling the app for in the store and go: “WAITASECOND, I thought you promised me $20 of value for $10! This app isn’t retailing for anything like $20!” That’s true. But this initial app release is just the start of what we have in store for you.
You’re not just getting the initial Zombies, Run! for your pledge, you’re also getting all the paid add-ons we’re developing for Season 1. We already have three planned, including:
- Couch to 5k missions
- Interval training missions
- “The Lab”, a top secret set of new missions and gameplay
This means you may see the core Zombies, Run! game on sale on the App Store for a bit less than what you’ve paid - but the total cost of the game plus add-ons during Season 1 will remain above $20. We promise to look after you guys - you’ve let us make the game and kept the faith with us. If you’re really concerned just send us an email; we’re happy to talk to you.
In addition, as Kickstarter backers, you’re also getting something that’s totally exclusive - the ability to use your ZombieLink login to switch between our iOS and upcoming Android client for free. Other users will have to buy the app separately for each platform, but your pre-order means that if you have an iPhone now but later switch to the Android, you won’t need to pay again. Hells yeah.
Will it have X feature?
We’re really happy with the set of features we’ve managed to include in the launch version of Zombies, Run! but we also have a long list of things we’d like to add and improve in future versions. So, rest assured, we’re in this for the long haul. The game will just keep getting better and better as we add more polish and features - and of course, you’ll get this all for free.
We can give you no better proof that it'll be fun at launch than the fact that our beta testers (using a limited version of the game with just two missions) have said things like:
- Evaded all #zombies mobs :-) One of my best sprint ever; This app works!
- This game will make you sweat. Perfect junction between game design and run tracker.
- Just tried @zombiesrungame and for the first time in my life I feel truly alive.
How will I get the iOS app?
It’s super-simple. You’ll download “ZR Advance” from the App Store (it’s free), enter your ZombieLink email and password, and that’ll unlock all the content. Most of you aren’t on ZombieLink yet, but we’ll send out an invitation closer to the time so you can set (or reset) your password.
But don’t worry about this for the moment - we’ll send out another email with clear instructions when the app is ready.
What about Android users, eh? You hate us, right?
We are moving full steam ahead and are still on track for a Spring release, with a beta release in May or earlier. We’re an indie dev, so we only have two full time developers working on this project. Right now, one is working on iOS, and the other is on Android, so there’s no question of us neglecting Android users!
OK, now you can talk about other stuff...
Thanks! So, a quick round-up:
- We are into full swing in production of the T-shirts, and they should be going out later this month.
- We have also received all the posters, and they’ll be going out this month or next month (see below for a photo of both, modelled by Alex, our developer in the T-shirt, and Matt, our audio director with the poster)
- Our celebrity voice casting is still on hold, but will resume again when the game has launched (partly because that’ll make it more likely for them to return our calls!)
- We’re in the early stages of scripting the Couch to 5k and Interval Training add-ons.
- We’re going to be at SXSW, so if you’re around, drop us an email or a tweet @zombiesrungame - There May Be Swag!
We’re almost there! Stay safe and keep well,
Six to Start and Naomi Alderman
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on October 10, 2011.
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The dead can’t donate: Get your name in the SURVIVOR’S Register in the game’s credits! You’ll also receive our heartfelt thanks for not being a soulless corpse.
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Help rebuild civilization by becoming a RECRUIT and receiving the game before anyone else! It’s dangerous to go alone, so we’ll also provide some extra in-game protection and all the Season 1 content (worth $20+), plus a place on the Survivor’s Register.
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Prefer eating brains? Become a ZOMBIE in the game by calling up our hotline and giving us your best “help, my trachea is falling out of my rotten neck” impression. For science. Plus the game and your name in the credits!
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Promoted to LOOKOUT, eh? Show off your new status to the folks in the shattered remains of your local bar with a snazzy T-SHIRT or POSTER. That’ll let everyone know you’re into the beta test and on the Survivor’s Register as well, you badass.
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SCOUT: Looks like someone’s flagged you for the roll of honour. Your donation means we’ll NAME SOMETHING IN THE GAME after you, like a park or a street or a dead guy. It’s just like being president but without the sex scandals. You’re even important enough to get a T-Shirt AND a poster, plus the rest. We are not worthy.
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BACKSTAGE PASS: There's more going on than meets the eye here, so we're going to welcome you back to where the magic happens. Hang out with us in online chats, get your questions answered and give feedback. Plus, you'll be invited to a mission-brainstorming session - we guarantee to make at least one of the ideas from that session, and if it's your idea, your name will be in it as a character of your choice! You also get the RUNNERS' FIELD GUIDE and all the above.
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RANGER: OK. Now you’ve proved yourself worth some proper training, we just can’t afford to lose you. That means you get a copy of the RUNNERS’ FIELD GUIDE containing top-secret survival techniques we reserve for our elite runners. And all the above rewards.
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Be a RUNNER and save the world! Name and create your own in-game character with our writers, receive personalised dog tags, running swag, and all the awesome equipment listed above. It's like being 006 or 008! Without you, we’d all be eating stone soup before the end of the week.
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[EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT] Serious support receives serious rewards. All the supplies our intrepid Runners are out collecting - the food, the canned drinks, the medicine? We’ll work with you to NAME A BRAND or item in Zombies, Run!
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Serious support receives serious rewards. All the supplies our intrepid Runners are out collecting - the food, the canned drinks, the medicine? We’ll work with you to NAME A BRAND or item in Zombies, Run!
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
Organising a charity race? We’ll add zombies. Regular training group? Make them into zombies. How about a marathon-themed wedding? Time for zombies. We’ll create a CUSTOM MISSION that turns your run into a bespoke, action-packed, zombie-infested spectacular.
Project By
Six to Start and Naomi Alderman
Last Login 06/02/12
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Six to Start is a multiple award-winning company in London that makes storylike games and game-like stories. We’ve made worldwide treasure hunts involving hundreds of thousands of people for Muse and the BBC, we’ve created cutting edge web-native fiction that’s won Best of Show at SXSW and is exhibited at MOMA, and we do R&D for companies like Disney Imagineering and Microsoft.
Naomi Alderman is the lead writer for Zombies, Run! She was the lead writer on Perplex City, and has worked on other games with Six to Start, the BBC, and Wieden+Kennedy. Naomi's written a Doctor Who novel, Borrowed Time, and writes about games and technology for The Guardian and elsewhere. She's also written literary fiction novels and short stories that have have been published in 10 countries and recognised with awards in four of them (including the Orange Prize for New Writers).
Heh. So it's a bit early to talk about how we'll do Season 2 - obviously our plans will depend on exactly how successful the game is! But we do want to make S2 and maybe we won't need to Kickstarter it, or maybe we'll do it in a different way, we'll see.
Will the Couch-to-5k options be available at launch? If not, will there be some sort of option for those of us who are just starting to run? :\
We won't have the Couch to 5k at launch, but the game doesn't actually require you to run unless you want to - you can just walk or jog and it'll be fine.