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[LBP2] Ideas and Projects

A Cinematic Zombie Apocalypse Series

Archive: 314 posts

As soon as I found out about all the cool motion and voice capture features in LBP2, I have had one idea in my head that I have wanted to explore using these tools, a cinematic zombie apocalypse series. Note that this is going to be NOTHING like the 1000's of "zombie survival" levels you see on cool pages all the time. As a diehard zombie fan, I want to see a real good zombie story on LBP. Obviously we don't have the exact same cinematic effects that Hollywood does, but that's no reason it can't be just as exciting as a Hollywood picture, it just takes a good story, and good sackbot acting to go along with it. It would need to be a series, because I want a full story to go along with it, not just a mini-story. I also plan to give players the choice to level link to the next one, or to "stay and rest the night" and exit the level. I also want each chapter to have a slightly different gameplay experience. One level will be more about evasion, one will be about attacking, and there will be a few casual levels and cutscene levels thrown into the mix to add to the story.

I just wanted to know if anyone else out there has had their heart set on a good zombie series like I do. Let me know what you would like to see, or if you have any suggestions. I hope to start work on this in the next couple months, I'm still trying to get a good story laid out. A good series starts out with a good story, I want to make sure mine is strong.

2011-06-24 08:49:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Coincidentally, Ive recently made a zombie survival, but tried to stay away from the Run and Gun and focus on the survival.

This does sound like an interesting concept; Each level represents a day, where choices must be made. If done correctly, this could become a gem.

2011-06-24 10:53:00

Author:
Nurolight

Posts: 918

That's kind of what I had in mind, split up into chapters sort of. I was hoping to include a level that is in the past, a "memory" of when it all started, perhaps an earlier level told from a different point of view. I should probably sketch a storyboard or something before I get ahead of myself.

2011-06-24 11:01:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Yeah, this sounds fantastic. I have always hoped for a zombie film that has a point to it's existence, without being too cliche. Too many stereotypical zombie pictures made, so it becomes boring seeing exact replicas with different character names. I'm out of ideas, so all I can give you is this. Give the characters an objective unique to zombie films. That will make it innovative and original.

2011-06-24 16:56:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Actually, I love the zombie movie cliches, it's just that no zombie movie thus far has featured EVERY cliche that I want to see. Basically, this is what I'm making because I don't have the resources to make a feature length zombie movie of my own, so this is as close as I can get. There are certain themes I like in a lot of zombie flicks, but none of them have gotten just the right combination to truly satisfy my apocalyptic fantasy desires. I have a really good story planned. My story features a very small number of humans, most humans in the area, or who have passed through since the outbreak started have been killed by one of two of the main characters. I have always liked the idea of one person, or a small number of people taking over a safe area during an apocalypse. That's sort of what this story is about, holding off a city from both zombies and intruders. Ill give some more details about the story as it unfolds.

2011-06-27 08:29:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok. I thought of it being more like a zombie flick about trying to cure them. Basically I was thinking of the zombies was a state of mind, almost like a trance, but the person is aware, but the emotions are different. They don't care about anything, everything is boring, and they just listen to the other zombies. Yeah speaking of that, I thought of an innovative zombie system I'd like you to hear.

Classes

The zombies have different classes based on the stability of the mind after they enter "Zombie State". This includes:

Normal Zombie
Your regular, mind ripping zombies. The disgrace to the zombie kind. Easily found minions, and the entire area crawls with them. They listen to the higher classes.

Excel Zombie
A zombie with some skill. They can hold weapons made by the blacksmiths, and use them accordingly.

Evolved Zombie
They can create their own weapons, but are basic and similar to the Bronze Age people. (Zombie style)

Zombie Soldiers
These guys can pick up human weapons, and use them against you. They also flank, and can plot tactics, and good at survival.

Scientist Zombies
These zombies are genius, can create their own civilizations, and speak in human languages. They even have clever tricks up their sleeves.

Zombie Leaders
Good enough to be in Parliament. These guys are a mix of people on the sidelines, and war veterans that have had their time. As zombie slaves.

I hope you like my ideas, took a long time to make them. More soon.

2011-06-27 19:44:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

2011-06-28 00:02:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

That sounds like a great system for a zombie RPG type level. My story features classic Romero zombies, also like the zombies featured in the Walking Dead, and there is only one type, undead. I have never been fan of "curing" zombies, or knowing what caused it. I was never a fan of movies where the zombies get cured, or when they evolve into stronger or smarter beings over time. Zombies are the end-all apocalyptic element, everyone who dies becomes a zombie, whether they were bitten or not. Most ppl think you have to get bit to become a zombie, but if you look back to old Romero flicks, or the Walking Dead, you can see that all who die become zombies. I don't like smart and strong zombies either. They're dead, they're bones are brittle and their brains are half rotted, how could they be strong OR smart? The real danger to zombies is in their numbers, get surrounded by a hoard and you're done for. That's what my story is based off of, classic Romero folklore, none of this Resident Evil super strong and smart virus-created zombies.

Actually, your system reminds me of the different classes of Chimera in Resistance.

Interesting idea. So I guess this story could be influenced by Call of the Dead, on Black Ops. (Without the run and gun.)

Survival huh. Prepare to meet your next Romero. If you decide to start in a few months, then I can lend a hand, after I finish the other projects I signed up for. I also think that when you make the episodes, all the script writers should take turns in leading the script, so each episode has some fresh ideas. Also, when you start to create a storyline, it should be in secret, with a group or a wiki or something.

I've got about enough of a storyline for about 5 episodes. I think I could get into the cinematics role of things, once I get used to it. I'm getting LBP 2 in about a week or something, so I can get plenty of practice in.

2011-06-28 17:07:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Well, I'm actually anti Call of Duty (ruined the FPS genre IMO) so no, it won't be influences by that. Like I said, my BIGGEST inspirations for this are the George A. Romero "Dead" series and Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" check them out if you haver seen it. I'm only giving away the most basic of plot points, the kind of stuff you would put on the back of a DVD. I'm down to collaborate a bit on it, it will be a long time before it comes out though. Thanks for the interest.

2011-06-28 19:21:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I hate COD too, so your not alone. I just assumed you were one of those fanboys who doesn't know what a good FPS is. This is quite an amazing idea. I think the plotline can be simple, and the player can decide to make it as complex as possible. Maybe multiple storylines, that can occur. I was originally gonna make a level with that idea, but I might just lend it to you. Basically, depending on the player's decisions, depends on what happens in a game. Lets say there are survivors who need to be reached, but these other things can distract you. You let the things get in your way, and you could find the survivors died, and became a part of the walking dead. So the player needs to prioritise importance to gain survival. Is it in level/episodes? If it is, how long should each level/episode be?

2011-06-28 20:14:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

That's a great idea, giving the players more choices. I will have to take that to heart, I think we can make something pretty cool out of it. I'm goof to start work on a prologue, just something to build the rest of my world off of. The prologue is going to be pretty mild, showing a relatively normal town per-outbreak, or so it seems. Dang I REALL need to get my story down on paper.

And as far as FPS goes, I was a Goldeneye 007 fan, to me that was the golden age of shooters, it's been ruined by fast pace online play, there is no strategizing anymore it's run and gun and hope you don't get gunned.

2011-06-28 20:22:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

If You Need Any Help with the "Photoshop" Side Of things Or The Overall Design of Characters I Would Love To Design Your Zombies (I HATE THE BLACK OPS ONES THOUGH) So I Got the Feeling you Want "Ragged Clothes" , "Munched In Faces" and "grey Skin" type Of zombies (Like In Dawn Of the dead, Yes I love that too)

2011-06-28 20:43:00

Author:
butter-kicker

Posts: 1061

Yep, you got it right, thanks for the offers to help everyone, I plan to get started on this soon, I will keep updates posted.

2011-06-28 20:49:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

So many projects, so little time!

2011-06-29 12:22:00

Author:
Unknown User

Yeah. I think that new zombies should have ragged skin. Oh, do they get weapons. And please don't make a zombie that can take millions of bullets before they die......er again. I hate those super zombies. Remember they also evolve. There is a game you should look into called "Dead Island (http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&xhr=t&q=dead+island&cp=6&pf=p&sclient=psy&site=&source=hp&aq=0&aqi=&aql=&oq=dead+i&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=892ba85e0eab5cf1&biw=1280&bih=861&safe=active)". I think you might like it.

2011-06-29 18:51:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Sorry Roneranger, but no, they DON'T evolve, that's resident evil type zombies, and I don't consider virus zombies to be real zombies. A zombie is just a dead person whose brain stem is still active, nothing more. You need to check out the Walking Dead comic, they give a lot of info about zombie mythology. As I have stated before, these zombies are "Romero Zombies" which were also the same kind featured in the Walking Dead.

A zombie doesn't take a million hits to kill, it takes one good one to the brain stem. My levels aren't going to be so much about shooting zombies, that's cheap gameplay. The zombies are part of the story, you will kill a few, but I don't want the whole series just to be a paintinator series.

I HATE how Resident Evil has fast zombies, smart zombies, and evolving zombies, I'm not down for that style at all. And yes, the zombies CAN use weapons, but only to bludgeon you. If I handed a gun to most zombies, they would just try to beat me with it. If the zombie used guns when he was alive, he MAY know how to use a gun as a zombie. I cite 1985 Day of the Dead for that one by George A. Romero.

Remember, ROMERO ZOMBIES, none of this other Resident Evil stuff. They don't evolve, they barely use weapons, and ragged clothes isn't actually that important, their clothes didn't have to be ragged when they die. I don't like the LBP zombie costume, I think zombies need to look like what they are, dead people.

2011-06-29 20:18:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I hate those super zombies. Remember they also evolve.

.... UM...
If you hate 'super zombies'. why do you want these zombies to evolve? If the zombies evolve from Romero zombies, they become Super Zombies. We don't want super zombies. We don't fast zombies. We don't want smart zombies. We don't want zombies that eat BRAINS.
Have you read my boyfriends original posts about his zombie film? They are going to be ROMERO zombies. None of this new age zombie crap.

This is the kind of zombies we are going to use: http://zombie.wikia.com/wiki/Romero_zombies

These zombies will not evolve. They will not be fast. They will not be smart. They will not be infected with a virus. You will not have to get bit to become one. Anyone who dies becomes a zombie. These zombies will never be cured. It's a zombie apocalypse for a reason.. there is no coming back from that.

It's not going to be a zombie shooter level. It's about zombies, but it's going to be more of a regular level but zombie themed. Not "omgz zombiez r attackin LETZ SHOOOT!!!". Zombies are one hit kills. If you kill the brain, then you kill the ghoul.

2011-06-29 23:42:00

Author:
Unknown User

YES!!! My girlfriend knows me so well. You guys have to understand that i'm a DIEHARD zombie fan, I am VERY SPECIFIC about my zombie mythology, citing a very few specific works, and I think zombies are real. I tend not to care for the other zombie types, like brain zombies, fast zombies, virus zombies (Resident Evil?) I love 28 Days Later, but if you pay attention, those are not technically zombies (they're still alive and breathing, and they CAN starve, Romero Zombies will never starve) so they don't bother me. Resident Evil games/movies are great apocalyptic stories, as well as games like Dead Nation, Dead Rising, etc, but I would NOT consider them good zombie stories. Anybody who is as big of a zombie nerd as I am will know exactly what I'm talking about.

And yes, this will NOT be a zombie shooter. There will be a few levels/parts that involve shooting zombies, but I don't want it to just be a series of paintinator levels. It's going to be more of a simple cinematic platform level ABOUT zombies. There will be lots of zombies in it, but most of them will act as hazards, like when you fall trying to jump across rooftops, you land in a pile of zombies and your sackboy dies.

Anyways, as far as collaboration on this project goes, I AM looking for someone to create some cool horror music, you will be credited of course. I also like bleak, apocalyptic music, like the tunes Atticus Ross made for the Book of Eli. The music in that movie was excellent.

2011-06-30 00:02:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Wow, talk about team gang up! Anyway, I thought you wanted a twist to it, because I always like original, and I thought that this was one of those new age ideas. Anyway, if your not interested in anything other than Romero zombie flicks, why did you say you hated Call of The Dead? That was literally made by George Romero.

If this is what you want, you don't really need to focus on character development, because they will all die anyway. And their is no possible way to win this level, and you haven't told anybody about the objective behind this film.

2011-06-30 09:13:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I think you have the wrong idea of what type of experience I'm going for here. I didn't necessarily say I hated Call of the Dead per se, I said I hated the fast, smart, and strong zombies. First of all, regardless of whether Romero made that particular game or not, I specifically said CLASSIC Romero, meaning the original "Dead" Trilogy, he changed up his own rules in later films. Zombies used to eat all meat in Night of the Living Dead, but by the time Survival of the Dead came out, they ONLY ate humans. And as for "character development," there is plenty of character development in zombie movies with bleak endings. Zombie movies are not about zombies, they are about people dealing with a zombie apocalypse. It's about the people, who tend to be the REAL monsters in these situations. There is no reason you can't learn about the character's past and how they got here. I mentioned I wanted to include at least one "flashback" type level, where you go into the past in the form of a story or something.You just try to live on to the next day, and that's exactly what my levels are about, just trying to make it to the next day. I never said the series would have a happy ending. Remember, I'm under the belief that zombies are the end-all apocalyptic end of the world, how could a zombie movie ever have a happy ending?

2011-06-30 09:46:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

originally posted by sp0ngyraver

I think you have the wrong idea of what type of experience I'm going for here. I didn't necessarily say I hated Call of the Dead per se, I said I hated the fast, smart, and strong zombies. First of all, regardless of whether Romero made that particular game or not, I specifically said CLASSIC Romero, meaning the original "Dead" Trilogy, he changed up his own rules in later films. Zombies used to eat all meat in Night of the Living Dead, but by the time Survival of the Dead came out, they ONLY ate humans. And as for "character development," there is plenty of character development in zombie movies with bleak endings. Zombie movies are not about zombies, they are about people dealing with a zombie apocalypse. It's about the people, who tend to be the REAL monsters in these situations. There is no reason you can't learn about the character's past and how they got here. I mentioned I wanted to include at least one "flashback" type level, where you go into the past in the form of a story or something.You just try to live on to the next day, and that's exactly what my levels are about, just trying to make it to the next day. I never said the series would have a happy ending. Remember, I'm under the belief that zombies are the end-all apocalyptic end of the world, how could a zombie movie ever have a happy ending?

Correcto-Mondo, Zombies Aren't Supposed To Undead Ninja's That Chase You Everywhere to go,
There Supposed to Be Half-wit Pieces of Flesh And Blood That Only Attack if they can see you And They Are Incredibly Slow And Are As Easy As Pie to Run Away from when theyre is one or two of them, But If There Is A Dozen Or So You Can't Survive, You Fight And DIE!!! You may be able to kill some but you Can't Kill every Zombie In the World , So It Is A End to thr Human Race.

2011-06-30 13:04:00

Author:
butter-kicker

Posts: 1061

Ok. So more Dead Nation & Dead Island, then Resident Evil or Call of the Dead. So you want to make something different to LittleBigPlanet only, not what people have ever seen. This was not was I was looking to work in. I was looking for originality, so therefore, I cannot assist you any longer in this production. I hope you do well with this level & I'll be sure to play it or be a beta tester or something. I'm not really a fan of the usual zombie movies, but I can let it slide with originality. I might just have to use my ideas I was gonna give to you in my own, original production in the near future.

2011-06-30 17:33:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

It original in that I'm using my own story. As far as gameplay goes, I have only seen a handful of true zombie levels, all the rest are zombie shooters, how is this un-original compared to all those?

2011-06-30 17:44:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

So you want to make something different to LittleBigPlanet only, not what people have ever seen.

Yeah, that was the point. New to LittleBigPlanet. Not original compared to the rest of the world.

2011-06-30 17:50:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Remember I said I wanted to make a zombie movie will all my favorite zombie cliches? It's definitely a zombie theme, but the story is 100% original, guaranteed there hasn't been a zombie story like mine made. Idk, I fail to see how this is unoriginal, I just wanted to make a cool story using Romero zombies, just because I want them to follow classic rules doesn't make it unoriginal. Maybe you will just have to wait and see when it's done. I was planning to make a short trailer, maybe after you see that you will understand my dream.

2011-06-30 17:55:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

...A zombie is just a dead person whose brain stem is still active, nothing more...

But if their brain stem is still active, that means they can think. Have you ever read Skulduggery Pleasant. That has zombies in it that were inspired by George Romero's old zombie flicks. (But the only difference is that some zombies can think like a human, but that is besides the point.) In order for this level your proposing, your gonna need something else to keep players interested. Now I have just mentioned this, I think I might assist you in the story. I'm new to this classic zombie thing, so for me to help you, you need to help me by filling in the gaps between the stuff I don't know. (Which isn't a lot.)

I can help you make some character(s) which people can interact and sympathise with, including an amazing blockbuster storyline. (With my countless ideas.) So when your ready to start just say so. By the way, I think you should make a list of all the people your gonna put into this production in the first post, so I can be clear on who I work with, and how far into the production we have gone.

2011-06-30 18:01:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

2011-06-30 18:03:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

But if their brain stem is still active, that means they can think.

the brain stem only controls VERY basic motor functions, which is why they just wander around, and eat out of the most basic primal Instinct. The too of the brain controls thoughts, emotions, feelings, and that part of the brain is inactive, so they are incapable of complex thought. The Walking Dead tv show had a great scene in which a scientist showed the electricity In a subjects brain as they were zombified.

I can help you make some character(s) which people can interact and sympathise with, including an amazing blockbuster storyline. (With my countless ideas.) So when your ready to start just say so. By the way, I think you should make a list of all the people your gonna put into this production in the first post, so I can be clear on who I work with, and how far into the production we have gone.

I do still need a few background characters too, but keep in mind that most of them will be dead by the end of the series, that's how it has to be.

2011-06-30 18:19:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

lol. Yeah, we can just leave two characters. A man and his girlfriend, and they end up in a space station or something.

2011-06-30 18:24:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

How long do you want this production to be by the way, and is it a game or a film?

2011-06-30 18:25:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I want it to be gameplay mixed in with cinematics, spanning over a few levels. I do want it to be kind of long, but not just stretched out, I want meaningful insight into the story and characters lives. I am ok with the humans escaping to space or an island for their own sake, but it is accepted that this is the end of humanity, and whoever survives is just living out the days until they die themselves. It has to be a bleak ending, either ending in total death, or an uncertain future. And in the story I have planned one of the protagonists(can be equally viewed as an antagonist) has lost his girlfriend and best friend to the apocalypse, after the three had been surviving together for some time. It is an integral part of his personality and why he is still living in a CITY by himself. (cities are the most dangerous, so he is basically crazy to still be living there)

2011-06-30 18:33:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Correcto-Mondo, Zombies Aren't Supposed To Undead Ninja's That Chase You Everywhere to go,
There Supposed to Be Half-wit Pieces of Flesh And Blood That Only Attack if they can see you And They Are Incredibly Slow And Are As Easy As Pie to Run Away from when theyre is one or two of them, But If There Is A Dozen Or So You Can't Survive, You Fight And DIE!!! You may be able to kill some but you Can't Kill every Zombie In the World , So It Is A End to thr Human Race.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Thats the way I am envisioning it myself, its the END!

2011-06-30 18:46:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

So this whole production is practically, what would you do if zombies caused an apocalypse. I was thinking you could have a few characters, and the player tries to keep them all alive. If one dies, the game continues.

2011-07-01 16:23:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I actually had an idea similar to that Roneranger,it's a level where you have to protect a follower. It could be done with more than one follower too!

2011-07-01 17:47:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I'm definitely 110% interested. Big fan of zombie movies but a little fed up of everyone doing it on lbp. Some good ones but most are rubbish! I'd like to see one worth while. Something a little serious with some humor thrown in. A grindhouse zombie theme would be awesome. Was recently watching planet terror lol. I havnt done any zombie themed lvls on lbp but this may just get me into it.

2011-07-02 02:17:00

Author:
wolfy_616

Posts: 202

I had a good idea. What if you could change your character via the directional pad. I could use that to change which character I controlled if you don't like the A.I. for that particular character. I was also thinking that your different choices could lead to different endings. Such as the human race ending, or the cities of the world being levelled in an attempt to saving humanity, or a city with towers that house snipers, so anything that moves outside, is instantly deemed dangerous and shot.

(There was a comic on Playstation Store that was like this, but I can't remember the name of it.

)

2011-07-02 16:11:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Thanks for the ideas everyone!

2011-07-02 20:09:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

See i like the idea of living in the city purely out of self inflicted angst. He has lost everything so why bother trying to survive, however as a side effect that makes him attempt harder, his lack of care for himself means he takes more risks, but also achieves more reward. Where before he would avoid entering a huge darkened building, he now storms in to find better food and shelter. His lack of personal regard is helping him as opposed to the natural feeling of fear of/fighting against death.

I think in order to instil the vision you have here, you need to hook the player with the characters as well as the storyline. Its ok to say "theres not going to be a happy ending" however, the player is only ever satisfied with a non-happy ending if it still has a meaning. You need to push so much emotion and caring into the player about the character involved that even if he is doomed to die a horrific death at the end, they feel something!.

I like the idea of what your trying to achieve and id probably offer some help however i feel that for this project to work you need to go solo, as its your personal depiction of what happens in a zombie apocalypse that will make this story work. Just bear in mind all the background psychology that would aid to the story.

Just some ideas i had while reading this thread:

- Flashback explains how his girlfriend dies, how it effects him, shows his decline from despair as it turns into apathy with the world and himself. He no longer cares, explain why he doesnt.

- Each level being a day is a good idea, try to sum up the consequence of the actions during the level at the end. Im not saying add a diverse multi-tree story system, just a few cruicial choices that have impact, again this will make the player care more about the lead role.

- Have a few followers/people he meets, also trying to carve out an existance amongst the zombies, i dont know your timeline but im guessing this zombie apocalypse isn't sudden and its been going a while. Its fair to say by that point people will have stopped being shocked, it will have become somewhat a way of life, people will have learnt to co-exist somewhat around the zombies, Show this with other characters, dont have them all acting as though the lead is a "shock" at seeing him, alot of them wont want to have anything to do with him purely as it will upset the norm they have created for themselves.

(EDIT: as a side note, dont forget how people would react to other people who could potentially harm them and therefore turn them. People would be scared of others for the risk they represent)

If youve seen zombieland, while not a classic, the idea that people have become atuned to living in a world alongside the zombies interests me greatly, There is simply not enough films that go down the route of "what if zombie apocalypse couldnt be cured, what would the survivors do?"... see humans would naturally clump together, they would form hidden communities in an attempt to survive better. Small villages/towns would emerge, hidden away from zombies...at least untill they were found. People in countrysides, remote locations wouldn't be effected the same way those in cities would. China for example would teem within months, africa...could take years to get all the isolated tribes.

Consider the reaction and result of the apocolypse and not just the eventual outcome. Zombie apocolypse while deadly, would not be quick. It is possibly the slowest way a world could end.

2011-07-04 18:20:00

Author:
Unknown User

That's a pretty good summary Tsori! I have actually found a way to make SOMEONE still shocked by it all, but you're right most ppl are either dead or have been surviving about a year or so, depending on how long I make the timeline. Thanks for the suggestions.

2011-07-04 22:11:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-07-05 21:17:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

There is DEFINITELY a purpose, every character is fighting for their own agend, some are fighting just to fight, because bashing a skull helps fill a void in their heart. One character is Fighting to save his friends who are hiding out with no food.

But I'm gonna have to agree with Tsori on the zombies running thing, they have brittle bones because they are dead, zombies legs and arms are snapping off all the time.

2011-07-05 21:33:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Wow, a long post with some amazing info there Tsori. However, I do disagree with the fact that you don't need a team, and maybe some tree storyline could be a option (depends on what sp0ngyraver wants). Yes, this could be an insight of what could happen, and the world doesn't have end. (The worst that could happen is that humanity ends). The only other thing possible could be an uncertain future, but as long as it has meaning.

Anyway, I just wanted to share some ideas and make some comments of what has been said.

- Zombies should not be slow. If what you said about the brain stem is what you wanted the zombies to be based on is true, then the zombies should be able to at least run. So for example, if they don't think walking will allow them to "achieve their goal" then they can run towards it. Please don't take this the wrong way and make some Left 4 Dead zombie that sprints at 100 mph.

- The main character should have a clear goal to begin with, until they meet someone else in the city. This allows the story to take a different turn, so the experience can become unexpected, without creating something way too dramatic.

- I really like the idea of the zombies struggling to find smaller communities, that brings some realism, so the player can connect sufficiently to the story. I also think that strongholds with some form of zombie defence should be introduced as the story gradually progresses.

- Make the story have a purpose. Having no purpose in a level really annoys people who play them, and can be viewed as a waste of time. This can also ruin the project, because the effort was wasted on a terrible product. Please take this advice as constructive criticism, and not an insult, but a warning.

On the subject of zombies and running, or even the mentality of zombies, the generic concept is that they inhabit base instincts. Base instincts of a lower state than those of semi-intelligent animals. So that basically draws down to three things:

The need to survive
The need to feed
The need to reproduce.

Now strip out the third need, as they are less than basic animals, which means no urge to breed.
The need to survive is irrelevant when you are essentially at the top of the food chain (which is what zombies are in a ecological view, they have no inherited enemies and hence have no reason to fear anything. Even though fear is technically a concept they cannot perceive)

So that leaves them with the need to feed, why? Well.. why not. That is a sole purpose of a zombie, feed, do they need it? No.. they dont.. but that again is irrelevant, they lack the concept of understanding their own actions so therefore all they ever know is the need to feed, they do it because its all they know.

What im getting at is while zombies wont instinctively run, they don't see prey and think "oh.. i shall run and catch this", that doesnt mean they cant run, the capability is there physically, just not the connection that running = food. So ideally zombies would not run, but they may at times exhibit behaviour similar to running. They cant learn from each other either, so where zombies see one running, they wont copy it.

And as has been said, those zombies with rotted muscles in the legs wont physically be able too. But again that comes down to exactly which part of the zombie lead to demise, and how fresh they are ;]

I do agree the story needs a purpose however, im a firm believer that a story needs to capture at all stages, the ending is not worth the effort if the effort itself has no reason. This sort of cinematic/interactive game style tends to only succeed where not only is the player playing for the end, but they are playing for each second of entertainment. There needs to be rewards spaced throughout the story, They need to feel that the past 20 mins they spent watching/playing has rewarded them with some more of the story, perhaps some side stories, characters evolve as they progress , be it in the game or in the mind of the player.

The end is only ever as good as the journey.

2011-07-05 23:44:00

Author:
Unknown User

Roneranger, how many times does sp0ngyraver (or I) need to reinforce that these zombies WILL NOT BE FAST. how can something with a decaying body be fast? Can you please stop suggesting that?

2011-07-06 02:07:00

Author:
Unknown User

Interesting. Youve caught my attention. I like how your going with the plain old walking dead.
A few concepts here ive contemplated for you:
If my assumptions are correct, your aiming for a more cinematic expeirience. Why not make the core gameplay similar to "Heavy Rain"?
(Completely cinematic, all actions done through button/sixaxis controls)
Or, you could make it an open world, top down exploration level. The only weapons would be the ones you can salvage. (A damaged car door, broken bottle, etc.) or have nothing at all!
Its deffineatly going to be an interesting level! Keep going with it! Im looking forward to it!

2011-07-06 03:29:00

Author:
grayspence

Posts: 1990

How's progress?

Also, this going to be top-down or side-view? The discussion is very interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it.

2011-07-06 03:41:00

Author:
SSTAGG1

Posts: 1136

I have actually started working on this today. I am starting with a standard side-view type intro level, as a prologue to the story, but I can say that at least one level of the series will be a top-down free roam style level, possibly the 1st or 2nd level that comes after the prologue. I'm trying to get the hang of the 3d tools to make really detailed environments. More details will be posted as progress continues.

2011-07-06 04:47:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-07-06 20:07:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Airborne pathogen? That'd work. Just say the survivors have some mutation which makes them immune.

2011-07-06 20:34:00

Author:
SSTAGG1

Posts: 1136

Just because zombies have an urge to feed does not mean they NEED to feed. These are two different things. The idea of zombie-state is that all higher brain functions are no longer existent , there is no reason or explanation its all down to impulse. They need to feed because that is all they know, its debatable if the feeding benefits them in any way yet they do it because at the base of the human psyche is that food = existence.

I believe he has disclaimed the use of viruises as an explanation, i have always considered the idea of zombies less as "dead" more " changed". As they are not the definition of dead since they still exist in a concious form, its just a rapidly devolved state. So for example, diseases such as rabies, typhoid, polio could all give symptoms (obviously not rotting flesh...but the deminished mental state).. however zombies do not need to be explained particually thats part of the mystery with them.

2011-07-06 20:50:00

Author:
Unknown User

Zombies do not get any nutrients from the food they eat. In Day of the Dead a scientist removed a zombies stomach and it still tried to feed. They don't absorb any nutrients, they just try to eat out of instinct.

2011-07-06 20:55:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok, but the zombies can die, and they need to feed, which means they can starve? Also do you have an explanation for people dying and turning into zombies? Because when I saw that mentioned, I couldn't come up for a reasonable excuse.

There IS no reason, or better yet, the humans never KNOW the reason. it's just phenomena, once again I must site bot Romero and Kirkman(the Walking Dead) for this one. One of the best parts about the walking dead comic (and Robert Kirkman himself came out and mentioned this) is that he never once mentions what caused it, how it started, or even what has really happened. The main character is just thrust into zombie world and has to deal with it. The reason I don't think a cause of the apocalypse should ever be mentioned.... Because frankly it's irrelevant, it has already taken over the world, and even IF we knew what caused it, it doesn't matter, it's already too late to save humanity. I prefer anonymity when it comes to the outbreak. I HATE how Resident Evil uses a virus, the only acceptable "virus" movies to me are the Crazies, 28 Days/Weeks Later, and I Am Legend( which is TECHNICALLY about vampires, not zombies).

2011-07-06 21:16:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-07-06 21:30:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Yes production has started, I have started work on the prologue, which will consist of an introduction of our main hero. The level contains a per-outbreak gated community from where our adventure will start. All I have so far is a 3d street and one 3d house, but it's coming along nicely.

2011-07-06 22:31:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Well, some people would like to know the cause, it can be added to a meaning off how they can solve their problem. So actually the cause is relevant. Has production started yet, because most posts have been about zombie ethics rather than the actual production.

There is no need for an explanation because there is no coming back. It's a zombie apocalypse, the end of the world as you know it.

Tsori, thank you so much for your input, I am happy to see someone on this thread that cares about zombies in the way that we do.

2011-07-06 23:19:00

Author:
Unknown User

I have gotten quite a bit more done on the intro. I have built four more 3D houses, bringing the current total to 5. I have also built fences in between the houses, added some walkways from the doors to the sidewalk, and added a few bushes in front of the fences. It doesn't sound like much, but these 3D objects take a bit longer to create and place. The neighborhood is coming along nicely though, the 3D background helps set the scene very well. I hope to continue using it in the rest of the levels to create the city landscape I am going after.

I know not everyone is a fan of 3D layers, but I always have been. I have always wanted to make a 3D level with a DETAILED background (not just a floor stretched 100 layers front and back). So far, it is proving to be a very nice addition. I would not be able to capture the environment I have in my head without the use of the 3D tools, none of the in game backgrounds really work for me. Maybe the Metropolis theme will work nicely in later levels, but for now I'm going all custom.

2011-07-07 10:22:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-07-07 19:56:00

Author:
Unknown User

Ive always wanted to utilise some of the 3D ideas, its just finding the time xD.. i get so involved with the detail of my objects that actually bringing in the gameplay takes months. I get annoyed if a candle is in the wrong place, or something doesn't look like its attached to a wall.. floating objects are the bane of my existance.

I'm getting a lot better at using the tools. I like pookachoo's tops the best due to ease of layer selection. I'll post a pic later, but I basically have a small tract neighborhood going on. The physics of 3G can be frustrating. My object explodes if even 1 piece isn't glued down

2011-07-07 20:14:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Yeah. I think Mm should start focusing on making some 3D levels, and helping creators make them with DLC. It could be another way forward for LittleBigPlanet.

2011-07-09 15:32:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Yeah. I think Mm should start focusing on making some 3D levels, and helping creators make them with DLC. It could be another way forward for LittleBigPlanet.

I think we could do well with some OFFICIAL 3D tools, the ones we have now get the job done, but switching layers can be a pain. Imagine if we just just pick who here layers we want at will, without having to pull out a tool and press circle to get them.

2011-07-09 22:13:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Also, here is a pic of the gated community I have been working on. It's still in the early stages. Note that the black x's on the grass do NOT show up in play mode, idk why that's there.

http://i1.lbp.me/img/ft/ad11817aadf8a07539fe3d38b12cb7e1de1a835e.jpg

2011-07-09 22:17:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

...Note that the black x's on the grass do NOT show up in play mode, idk why that's there./IMG]

loool, that is pretty stupid.

2011-07-11 18:48:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

loool, that is pretty stupid.

It's a glitch that so far has only shown up in 3D grass in create mode, idk why. They have disappeared as of lately, and they never showed up in play mode. I have finally finished the level structure, it is short but VERY detailed, a short road used up 85% of thermo, but I got rid of a few extra materials and cut it down to 75%. then I added sackbots with costumes which used up half of the last 25%, leaving the rest to be dedicated to logic. It's coming along very nicely if I must say.

2011-07-11 19:39:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

as soon as i saw this i wanted to help but if your not look for help its fine... i just have nothing to do lately and i really need some big project to get my brain engaged. i am also a big zombie fan and i could see the kind of thing u meant from ur first post. its brilliant and i really want in. dont be afraid to let me down tho.

2011-07-11 20:37:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Cool. I think Mm should make a option for 3D games. This might include them increasing the thermo. That will be a big help!

2011-07-11 20:38:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

i just thought of like a plants vs zombies style game where u guard your house from zombies using houshold objects like, a hoover or somthing. i might make it and if i do sp0ngeyraver and roneranger are both welcome to help out if u want. u no a sort of survive day, then a break then survive night ( which is usually harder ) but instead of it being funny and iconic it could be seriously scary. i have been experimenting with lighting lately and its been going goood. so if u want in just tell me. oh and i would still love to help you, whether its the smallest thing, i just want to help. i like helping

2011-07-11 20:49:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Awesome man! I'm still in need of help for a few specific things, mainly music. If you can make a bad *** suspenseful horror style track I'd be all over that.

2011-07-11 21:04:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Cool. That is a brilliant idea. Maybe you could incorporate that into a level for the Zombie Apocalypse Series.

2011-07-11 21:13:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Im not making any changes to my story format, so there is no room to work anything else in. I don't see how plants bs zombies would fit into my story. It's a great idea for a level all on it's own, but you won't see anything like that in my levels.

2011-07-11 23:59:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

NOT MORE ZOMBIES!
http://mypsn.eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/edobandido.png (http://eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/edobandido/)

2011-07-12 03:07:00

Author:
lbp2goty

Posts: 104

NOT MORE ZOMBIES!
http://mypsn.eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/edobandido.png (http://eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/edobandido/)

I'm going to assume that you didn't read my entire post before you wrote this, because that is just ignorant. The whole point of this level is to be something MORE than the crap that is flooding the cool pages. This is NOT "just another zombie level" it's much much more than that. For example, you will NOT see the LBP zombie costume ONCE in this series, all of my zombies are going to look like dead humans, the zombie costume we get is more of a MONSTER not a PERSON.

It's not like I'm going to stop my project because of one uninformed user. Please read the whole thread and you will see that I too am clearly against all the zombie spam, this is meant to be much greater than all that.

2011-07-12 03:17:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

You tell him Sponge!

2011-07-12 20:43:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

yeah! u get him good! lol, i will try to make some music.. but dont bet on it. like i said i am pretty good with lighting so if u need help with that just ask.

2011-07-13 09:31:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I hope you guys are as pleased with this intro section as I am ;D

2011-07-13 09:54:00

Author:
Unknown User

yeah! u get him good! lol, i will try to make some music.. but dont bet on it. like i said i am pretty good with lighting so if u need help with that just ask.

I actually MIGHT need some lighting help in the next stage. The default lighting from the gardens background actually works perfectly with my neighborhood setting, but the next level is going to be all dark and scary, so I could use some help setting up that atmosphere, as well as some lights around the town.

2011-07-13 11:09:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

ahh my fav! scary lighting is my all time fav! i can help as sure as pigs make great hamburgers. ( that means i would love to help like THISMUCH |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| thats lots XD )

2011-07-13 12:03:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

You still needing music?

2011-07-13 15:28:00

Author:
Unknown User

Ok. The atmosphere needs to suit to the mood you want to give. Make sure you keep us posted on any changes.

2011-07-13 18:41:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

You still needing music?

Yes, I am still needing some cool ambient tunes, something to go with all the scary lighting. The kind of tone I'm after is one that you would find in movies like The Crazies, the Book of Eli, etc. If you have seen either of those 2 movies you will kinda see what effect I'm going after. I think bleak is the word, bleak and unknown, yeah, it sounds scary already!

2011-07-13 20:04:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I've seen some of The Book of Eli, but that isn't a zombie film, but it's an apocalypse film.

2011-07-14 18:49:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I've seen some of The Book of Eli, but that isn't a zombie film, but it's an apocalypse film.

The Book of Eli is my favorite movie. Its like a new version of Mad Max, or a movie version of Fallout. It's not a zombie film, but the music Atticus Ross made for that movie was amazing, and would easily fit the bleak theme of the series.

In case anyone is wondering about the progress, I have finished making the intro scene of the intro level. It involves a lot of sackbot and voice acting, as well as camera work. This is the first experience I have had with making movies with dynamic cameras, but it is coming along nicely. I have a 2-3 minute cutscene, then the rest of the level is going to be a walk through the neighborhood, with a bit more voice and sackbot acting, and maybe a small amount of camera work just to zoom in on the speaker. I've learned how to use multiple AIs on a sackbot sorted by a selector, with tags on the sequencer to activate the different AIs, reverting back to idle in between. It makes for a nice dynamic cutscene, and allows me to make the bot act in short bursts, when they are speaking. This helps because I do not have to make one long animation and make sure it cues up with the magic mouths too. This scene involves quite a few sequencers, but it's well worth it to know how to use then properly. I couldn't make this cutscene this way using any other tool.

2011-07-14 18:58:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

HowZ about A Video Of the Intro...Come ON Im Itching All Over to Play this *Itches self*

2011-07-14 19:17:00

Author:
butter-kicker

Posts: 1061

I think you should spend the intro time squeezing in a tutorial on how to play the game. That would be a good place to start a level, and instead of introducing melee and shooter gameplay then, you can get the player to solve a few problems within the neighbourhood. One quick question, is the neighbourhood already experiencing the apocalypse, or has it not started yet?

2011-07-14 19:18:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Well te tutorials will have to come on a per-level basis, bcuz no two levels are going to be the exact same in terms of gameplay. The second level is going to be a top-down exploration, while the third will probably be more of a platform shooter. And no, the town is not experiencing the apocalypse at the time you are playing it, it is just a mild-mannered neighborhood, but I can't say much more on that subject, you will just have to see the rest.

I was going to wait to release this level until the 2nd level was complete, to link the 2 together. But I'll tell you what, when the intro level is finished, I will publish a locked version, and I will send the key to anyone here who wants to see it. It may take a couple more days to finish, but the work is coming along very nicely.

2011-07-14 19:39:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I'll be interested. I want to see some progress.

2011-07-14 19:59:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

havnt seen u yet D: hope i will soon 4 briefing ...... lol

2011-07-15 23:20:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

HowZ about A Video Of the Intro...Come ON Im Itching All Over to Play this *Itches self*

I don't know how to record a video for youtube. Sorry

If you know how please tell me, I've always been curious.

2011-07-16 02:50:00

Author:
Unknown User

havnt seen u yet D: hope i will soon 4 briefing ...... lol

I'm still working on the intro, I have one sackbot that is the most logic-intensive piece I have created yet. I'm also working on a huge thermo issue.

2011-07-16 07:40:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

i hate thermo troubles. i always get them coz i am too detailed so my most detailed bulidings/creations are not public. shame

anyway i cant wait to catch u online. pm me before you go online next time so i can try to meet u.

2011-07-16 14:52:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I see no more pictures!

2011-07-16 16:01:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I did some experiments, and apparently it has nothing to do with my detail, it's all being caused by my logic intensive sackbots. I have a lot if work to fix it

2011-07-16 20:38:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I fixed the thermo problems very nicely, and so far you can't even notice the difference. It's a good thing I designed my sackbot actors so well, it's very easy to destroy and emit them back at will, and still have them be fully functional.

I have the whole intro sequence, acting, and camera work done. I have been finished with the scenery for a while now, all that is left is some background music for the end of the level, when the tone of the level goes from cheerful to bleak, it just won't work without good background music. I have been working on a tune using a high-pitched droning sound using the saw wave, it sounds alright for the purpose im using it for.

2011-07-17 07:49:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

hold on so whats the music effect your trying to achieve? i might be able to help.

2011-07-17 09:43:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

hold on so whats the music effect your trying to achieve? i might be able to help.

he is looking for something bleak and dark. he said this is an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYo1tSM2qh0

2011-07-17 09:47:00

Author:
Unknown User

cool thanks

2011-07-17 10:05:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

cool thanks

you're welcome. he was busy working on the level so i replied for him

2011-07-17 10:47:00

Author:
Unknown User

I have posted a locked copy of the intro. It's sort of a beta, it still needs a bit of fine tuning until it's ready for public. When the next level is finished, I will be deleting this copy and posting a new one with a level link and a new name. Send me a msg if you would like to see it. I can give you a key. Feel free to share the key with anyone you like, if anyone finds any bugs in it please let me know. As far as I knew I had worked them all out, but you never know.

2011-07-17 12:32:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Will do sp0ngyraver.

2011-07-17 14:56:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

thanks 4 key! only afew things that could be improved but no bugs so far, i will replay it later.

2011-07-18 09:14:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I actually made a few changes since then. I am currently looking for voice actors for narration, possibly in later levels as well, I can only change my voice so many times in one level before they all sound exactly the same, they're already pretty close as it is. Let me know if anyone is interested.

2011-07-18 09:39:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

who is it who usually does narration on levels?... i cant remember.......

2011-07-18 10:46:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Stephen Fry does the narration in LBP, he does a lot of voice acting and narration in other stuff too. I don't think I can get a Stephen Fry, but I would love a British accent for the narration, that or a very deep voice, like that homeless newscaster dude you see in YouTube.

2011-07-18 12:56:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I don't know anyone that can help you. I am English, but I can't get the intricate voice Stephen Fry has...

Actually you may be able to get him to do it. He did it for some guy on YouTube called Charlieissocoollike (yeah he's English. I think he lives in America though. XD)

2011-07-18 18:20:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I'm actually accepting help on rly small top-down buildings right now. If anyone is interested, just join me in my moon and I will give you a road intersection to work with. I'm making a scaled-down city with realistic buildings, just very small. I will be working in it tonight, hope to see some of you around!

2011-07-19 19:43:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I could try my english accent. (which according to my friends happens to be the best out of the like 15 I do.)

2011-07-19 19:56:00

Author:
Captain_Dinosaur

Posts: 214

I could try my english accent. (which according to my friends happens to be the best out of the like 15 I do.)

I'd like to give it a try. How old are you? I only ask sobi can get an idea of how much we will need to use the voice changer, I'm looking for a somewhat deep voice and the voice changer can usually achieve that pretty well.

2011-07-19 20:14:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I'm 15, so you shouldn't have to use it too much. Maybe about -1 should do it.

2011-07-19 20:27:00

Author:
Captain_Dinosaur

Posts: 214

I'm 15, so you shouldn't have to use it too much. Maybe about -1 should do it.

I use -1 for a few of the characters and they're voices sound alright, it should work. If you can just give me a short test recording on a magic mouth and send it to me so I can see how it sounds.

2011-07-19 20:59:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

wow! i loved the movies and i would love to help! if you need a voice for a kid i can help, i can do a kid voice. you wont need to adjust the voice because i am.. actually 11... lol

2011-07-20 04:05:00

Author:
deschuttes2

Posts: 157

Thank you for your support. As I mentioned above, I am seeking assistance in making hundreds of really tiny buildings for my top down city, all of which will need doors and windows at the least, some with more detail like balconies and logos, etc. I will upload more pics of what I'm going after, but here's one so you kinda get the idea

http://ia.lbp.me/img/ft/bfa59b101dc2d28f39bd9865bcf3b1a516fc7dea.jpg

Notice how the "front" of the building is actually the ground I an standing on, built in top down

2011-07-20 05:22:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I'll send you the recording right now. I was a bit backed up with work.

2011-07-20 19:46:00

Author:
Captain_Dinosaur

Posts: 214

Thanks, I will check it out when I get home myself.

2011-07-20 21:20:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

i can do that i have a top down level and that would be great! make shure to look at my tech show too! ( im not useing this thread to promote mine noob like but we are having some troble getting people to join)

2011-07-21 03:30:00

Author:
deschuttes2

Posts: 157

I am just about finished with the perimeter of the city. I am going to put skyscrapers in the downtown area using 3d layers. I like the way it looks so far.

2011-07-21 07:11:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Do you have a percentage metre or something so we know how far you are in the completion of the series?

2011-07-21 19:13:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Do you have a percentage metre or something so we know how far you are in the completion of the series?

Well I'm finished creating the map for level 2, and I plan to have anywhere from 6-8 levels total, depending on how much story is completed in each level, I may end up splitting a couple levels to make it more. It's still very early on in the story, there is a main character I'm not even bringing in until level 3 or 4.

2011-07-21 19:18:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok cool, sounds like a lot of progress to me.

2011-07-21 20:35:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Ok cool, sounds like a lot of progress to me.

It is quite a lot of progress, but if this were a feature length movie, we would still be in the first 20 minutes or so, so still pretty early in the big picture. A lot more stuff has to happen before the story ends.

2011-07-21 21:39:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

wow, u hav done alot, remember to send me keys so i can test for u.

2011-07-22 09:34:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Do you have a name for this production so far, or do you need assistance in that area?

2011-07-22 14:40:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I have not thought of a name yet. That will surely come before levels 1 and 2 are released.

2011-07-22 19:17:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I got A Serious Name For It, How About - INHUMAN

Or Souless Terror

Or For Comedy Live And Let Die

2011-07-22 19:51:00

Author:
butter-kicker

Posts: 1061

Those are clever. I'm battling with the choice of whether to include the word zombie in the title/description, it could have both good and bad effects. I'm going for a name without it if I can.

2011-07-22 20:05:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

i agree. having zombie in the title could discourage some

2011-07-22 20:18:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I'd like to play on the word "Dead" somehow, like Dead Planet or something like that. I want to include the word Dead as a nod to the many works of zombie art it was inspired by. I hadn't given then name much thought yet, I'm still working on the gameplay and stuff first.

2011-07-22 21:30:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Dead Planet/Dead World are two that sound good. I can only come up with Dead Blood. (This insinuates that you have dead relatives. I don't know if you agree with this but it sounds pretty good.)

2011-07-23 13:38:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

dead soul, as good as dead, from the dead, within the dead, The Dead, dead, dead life, dead incoming, dead awakening, dead day, D day, dead hope, dead salvation, dead army, dead swarm, dead country, life from dead, dead end.......

2011-07-23 13:50:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Awakening Of the Dead which I "Kinda" Stole From Nerdzadestroyer Sounds Super Good

2011-07-23 16:35:00

Author:
butter-kicker

Posts: 1061

heart of the apocolypse?

2011-07-24 02:52:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

sorry, finished reading, didnt see the death thing, what about dead apocolypse,
btw, id LOVE to help, i dont have a mic, but i could design sackbots, do some creating, music sequencing, just sugguest it.

2011-07-24 03:02:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

Where are you sp0ngyraver?

2011-07-25 12:01:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Been doing loads of work on the zombie-deployment system. My old delivery system killed my thermo so I had to redesign it. It's back on track now though, just needs a bit of tuning to look nice.

2011-07-25 19:28:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Cool but I'll like to see some pictures if you have any. Any progress so far? (In percentage of course! :hero

2011-07-26 13:10:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I'll take a few pics during my test runs today, it's a top-down motorcycle ride through a zombie infested city, with the goal being to navigate the blocked off roads to get the the city maintenance department? It's coming along nicely, but far from done. Once I get this gameplay aspect completed, I will need to make a few cinematic cutscenes to tell the story. I'm also trying to figure out how I can make the players take turns, player 1 goes first, then when they die it's player 2's turn, and so on. Any suggestion? They CAN be remote controlled I have no problem with that.

2011-07-26 19:44:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Cool! I'll be looking forward to it.

2011-07-27 16:38:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

me too, keep up the good work! and if you want any custom signs.stickers just ask.

2011-07-28 13:54:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

could i possibly help with anything?

2011-07-29 01:41:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

I have recently played a cool zombie level, sadly I cannot remember what it was called but it did have a lot of camera effects and really awesome game play. I think that zombies where good because of all the different sound effects that they made instead of just one.. Also the level was good because of the variety of zombies there where in the game.

http://mypsn.eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/stroud458.png (http://eu.playstation.com/psn/profile/stroud458/)

2011-07-29 08:40:00

Author:
Unknown User

For zombies I am just using human costumes and decorating them, I think the zombie costume is awful. I an using cinematic effects, and I am recording my own voices for the zombies, I hate the sole zombie noise the game has too. Another important thing is the story, I am using an all original story, and I'm not making it a stupid Nazi Zombie story. I actually saw a profile asking for new ideas for their "next" Nazi zombie level, what kind of ideas do you need for that it takes no thought?!

2011-07-29 09:31:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

XD

Hey don't forget to release a move edition when the DLC Pack comes out!

2011-07-29 12:14:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Has there been any word on when that's to be released. I was very excited for the music sequencer tools they mentioned, I figured they coul be used to make some good music. I nay just have to change it once it's released. It's looking like this level will be ready for release soon, probably within the next week.

2011-07-29 17:51:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I think it hasn't been released yet, check the LittleBigPlanet site for the news. I'll tell you if I see anything.

2011-07-30 07:54:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I know it hasn't been released yet, obviously. I check for it all the time, but it seems like MM hasn't given us any news about it in a while. They also haven't fixed the scoreboards, and there haven't been any new MMPicks in weeks. I guess they really did step away from LBP.

2011-07-30 08:25:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

... by stepping away of lbp they mean make other games instead of just lbp. they will still do updates and dlc.

2011-07-30 15:32:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

2011-07-30 22:27:00

Author:
koltonaugust

Posts: 1382

Throwing a few more names around, I'm stuck between Code Z and Apocalypse Z, I have a few more like Beyond the Grave and Brain Dead, but I like those Z titles a lot too. Any votes?

2011-07-31 06:22:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Zombies....again?..*caugh*.

2011-07-31 07:03:00

Author:
Sport_dude

Posts: 622

I'm going to pretend like you didn't just insult my creativity and assume you just saw the title and posted without even reading any of what I have posted in the thread. Don't be ignorant, I'm not a n00b.

2011-07-31 11:19:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-07-31 15:43:00

Author:
SPARTANDUDE924

Posts: 285

Zombies....again?..*caugh*.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/original/000/154/912/berneydidnotread.gif?1311814950

2011-07-31 16:49:00

Author:
Nurolight

Posts: 918

i really like code z

2011-07-31 22:35:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

Code Z sounds good, but is it related to the story? Doesn't have to be, but is it?

2011-08-01 22:25:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Well it's related because the Z stands for Zombie, kind of like World War Z by Max Brooks, other than that there is no actual special code or anything like that. I like the name Apocalypse Z but everyone here seems to like Code Z better, the only problem I have with it is that I found out somebody is using that name for an upcoming movie or tv series, I don't want ppl to think this is a game version of that.

2011-08-01 23:12:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

apocalypZ ? sounds good, and its a combo of apocalypse and Z for zombie

2011-08-01 23:20:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Yeah ApocalypZ is brilliant! Can't go wrong

2011-08-01 23:31:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I would like to mention that I am in great need of music still, I'm looking for a fast-paced action theme for gameplay in level 2. I am also Always looking for slow tempo suspenseful music too, any contributions will be greatly appreciated, and will get credit in the level description (I'm saving most of the credits for the end like in a movie, but because the music is much more prominent in each level, I think the song title and artist should be given in the individual level it's used in). I am also seeking narration, in short segments, if anyone with a nice voice is interested (my voice works well for the characters, since it's a pretty gritty story, but I'm looking for more of a clean and clear voice with a nice tone for the narration). Narration will also be given credit in the level title, it would be great if I could find one person who would narrate every level, that would be a nice touch having the same voice in the beginning of each level, but I know I probably won't be THAT lucky.

Let me know if any of you are interested, just add me on PSN: JimboMorris

2011-08-02 02:36:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

For a thread with a lot of posts and views, you'd think that people would be flooding in their answers with tons of helpers. Hmn...

2011-08-02 19:20:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Well plenty have offered to help, but not many have wanted to do those specific things. You know, I've got my logic down, I've got the scenery and characters down, all the acting down, and those are the things ppl want to do the most. I don't think there are many music creators on LBP, but there should be.

2011-08-02 19:53:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Yeah, there is a whole thread about music production (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=58666-The-LittleBig-Music-Making-Project!) requests!

2011-08-02 20:09:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

oookkkkkkk i will practice for a week or so on the music sequencer and try and become a composer.... for the sake of the project *sigh* but srsly i will, fingers crossed i get good

2011-08-03 22:45:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Hehe, thanks Nerz, I've been trying to get better at it myself, the problem is the music sequencer is just too simple, I have friends who could make a song in 4 seconds using Frootyloops, but you can't make many cool sounds in LBP.

2011-08-04 01:26:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

So it looks like levels 1 and 2 are just about ready for release, I just need to throw in some music and edit the descriptions a bit and it should be ready. Looks like I'm just going to throw in some MM music, I don't think I will be getting better at music sequencing anytime soon. I can't think of much more that needs to be added at this point, I will have to wait and see what ppl have to say after they play it. I'm going to publish the levels together with level links between them, although I'm not sure if I should keep level 1 and 2 seperate, or combine them as sublevels and have buttons to skip the videos.

As far as the future goes, get used to the map featured in level 2, because I will be going back to it and referencing it a lot throughout the series. All the levels will take place somewhere on that map, in or around the buildings used. I'm even thinking of making a free roam sublevel to get around town with, with level links to the correct level. It's just an idea, but I'm starting to like it, I will try to do more with it.

2011-08-04 19:52:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok but maybe you should get a composer for the music. Try the link to the thread I gave you. In fact, I even responded on it requesting people to help you.

2011-08-04 22:11:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I did request there actually, they said it wouldn't take long but still no response. If it was that easy for me to find a music composer then I would have one by now, so this is basically the last straw, either I release it with MM music or I Release it with no music. The best I can hope is that a music composer plays it and decides it is worthy of a new song, but until then, I've got NOTHING! so I'm making the executive decision to release it with different music until I find something better, because I KNOW I won't be able to make it any time soon, and it's hard to ask someone to make music for a cinematic level, the music I have in there now is kind of lame, the MM music is a lot better

2011-08-04 22:33:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok as long as it is what you want. Have you tried asking around different sites? Maybe YouTube can help. (Not making any promises.)

2011-08-04 22:39:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I have looked all over, it's hard to get ppl to do stuff for you, and I can't blame them, I can't really pay anyone anything for it, and that's probably the only way I will be able to get someone to go out of their way to make it for me. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, and in this case I can't, so I'm stuck with what I have.

I can ask around the Internet all I want. Some ppl will even say yes, but they will never deliver.

2011-08-05 00:03:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Some of these that Nerz made are nice, I may end up using some. Thanks bro!

2011-08-05 04:07:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Cool as long as the music is original. I'll be sure to check it out once I get the time.

2011-08-05 19:33:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I will probably still use MM music too, I have good slow songs here, but I can't even begin to think of the chase music, I'll probably need MM music for that one, I have been trying so hard to get slow music I completely ignored the fast stuff. It will still be a few more days until release, I did work yesterday on the bike physics, as well as some thermo smashing. The map alone takes up about 75% of thermo now, yesterday it was 85% or so so that's a pretty good change, it could mean the difference in fatal errors when playing multiplayer.

Unfortunately, the only way for me to have top-down zombies was to stick them all on a DCS, so you will have to use your imagination for that part. Sorry, not much else I could do, as far as I know everyone else with a top-down level has the same problem.

2011-08-05 20:08:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok do you have any more pictures.

2011-08-05 21:31:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Some of these that Nerz made are nice, I may end up using some. Thanks bro!

ohh man i dont remember making them, im scared.. oh was it on the day when i wa really depressed

2011-08-06 00:11:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Nerz don't be silly, of course you remember! I liked Them, I might use you to make some tracks later on as well if you would like to help.

I have decided my series needs a flash-forward type intro scene, placed before the first level. It's a short scene featuring one of the main characters later on. This is also where I will put my title screen.

2011-08-06 19:52:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

D: im freaking out! ( do i have schizophrenia? ) lol, found them in my popit and well yh. i would be happy to help ( or my other would be happy to help ) if you need me.

2011-08-07 10:21:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

i havent been very talkative here, but i have been following it. could i have a key, im dying to play this. thx.

2011-08-07 16:46:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

If you add me on PSN I can give you the key to the first chapter, I haven't posted the second chapter or the new cutscene intro I'm making now. And as far as music goes, I completely forgot about musical sound fx, some of them sound creepy.

2011-08-07 21:52:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

ill add you after big brother (show on cbs). so in about 1 hr 50 min.

2011-08-08 00:42:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

would you like me to attempt some more musics?

2011-08-08 19:53:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Yes please! I have added another scene, so now I am looking for background music that can be uses there, I'm also still looking for chase music if you think you can manage that. Thanks a lot!

2011-08-08 20:19:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

a good song to have would be meet the reapers from the infamous soundtrack. in my opinion, at least

2011-08-08 21:33:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

It's a good song, but I'm trying not to infringe any copyrights, so I only want original songs made just for this series. It can be a song BASED on that song, however, I just do not want an exact copy. I'm also trying to make good droning high-pitched noises, much like the one in the preview for the new Walking Dead season. This sound works perfect for the empty and alone scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ0mu8Ey6A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

2011-08-09 04:16:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Cutscenes are almost complete, after that I will just be doing some fine tuning. I'm hoping to release by the end of this weekend. I'm having problems with level links working for multiple players so if anyone has any suggestions about that please let me know, it tends to kick players 2-4 after going through a link.

Also check out that trailer I posted above if you haven't already, Walking Dead season 2 starts in October!!!

2011-08-10 20:11:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

level links seem to work better if you let players enter them manually

2011-08-10 21:40:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

That is true, but the problem is they are level links leading from cutscene levels, so that won't be possible. Your sackboy doesn't spawn in a cutscene level. Whenever the level starts via level link all online players get kicked. If I start the level directly it works fine. Seems like a glitch to me, maybe I will get lucky and MM will fix it in a patch soon. I can't part with my level links in this case, also, I want the level links to activate when you hit the scoreboard.

Also, did you check out that awesome trailer? If u haven't, u better!

2011-08-11 00:49:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

trailer? .

can i hav a key for ur chapter 2? i would love to test it.

2011-08-11 09:59:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

The YouTube link I posted above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZ0mu8Ey6A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Much of the zombie science, story, even some locations and characters (Wiltshire Estates!) are originally based on this show. It's one of the best zombie works I have seen to date, way better than any of the zombie movies or video games that are out. If you see this show you will understand why my story is so awesome.

EDIT: Nerz, see how well you can recreate the music in the first 3:00 of that trailer, I'm going to give it a try myself. That style of music is EXACTLY what I'm looking for, it's perfect!

2011-08-11 17:30:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

If that was what your basing your level on, then I can't wait to play it.

2011-08-12 15:37:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Loosely based on I would say, I use a lot of story elements from it, but it's not an exact copy. That is my biggest source of inspiration though.

2011-08-12 17:11:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Yeah I know what you mean by source of information.

2011-08-12 19:42:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I have been going through all the levels I have now and adding sound fx to various spots, it really makes a big difference in quality. I also realized I need good build-up music too, for about 10 seconds at a time. Other than that it's coming along great, I'm fine tuning everything so it looks as good as I can make it.

2011-08-12 21:14:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

hows the music i sent you? did you receive the new ones?

2011-08-12 22:00:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I'm currently using one of them. Not much has come along for music, you're the only one who has sent me any tracks to date.

2011-08-13 00:02:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

my internets been bad lately, ill add you when i can.

2011-08-13 05:56:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

i love zombies, but horror movies and series scare the fudge outta me. But no book has ever scared me, and when i was 4 the music on halo (second lv.) freaked me out for some reason.
back on topic, ill dabble with the muic seqencer, but no promises

2011-08-13 06:09:00

Author:
benia123

Posts: 82

Another friend sent me a good track today too, I'm pretty happy with this one too. I should be able to fill unthreatening space of the first 2 levels. I may be able to make my own ambience.

And yes, I'm hoping this series will be scary to some, although I never saw zombie movies as "scary" they are more like action movies to me, Im a huge fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, as well as dystopian and cyberpunk fiction. I'm a fan of almost everything of this genre across the board, as long as it's done well.

2011-08-13 07:54:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

im a fan of fiction altogether! apart from tho ones that go like this: Mary just woke up to find her dog has gone missing! help mary find her lost dog, while making some new friends along the way.

on topic il try tht music.

2011-08-13 11:11:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

I'm not a fan if ALL fiction, that means I would like every movie and book ever made! I have very specific interests in the types I mentioned, and not much else.

2011-08-14 07:14:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

wrote a review on chapter 2. dodnt find any bugs at all apart from the stickering dissapearing but u cant do much about that. i didnt fit that in the review.

2011-08-14 11:08:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Is Chapter 2 released yet?

2011-08-14 15:57:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

It's close, but I'm taking a break from creating for the weekend, I was starting to get burn out from creating and it was having a detrimental effect on my work. I would just stare at my screen wondering what to do next. After this weekend I should be refreshed and able to continue fine tuning until it's ready.

2011-08-15 00:04:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

2011-08-15 00:06:00

Author:
SSTAGG1

Posts: 1136

I'll be working again soon enough. The thing is, I don't want to release it just to release it, I actually want it to be READY, you know? I don't want to leave out any small details, or leave any bugs that I know about. This has to be as good as I can possibly make it, so if taking more time means better quality, then so be it.

I could just publish it now, it IS fully functional, and lasts about 15-20 minutes with what I have now. But there are many small details that I'm just not happy with, so I'm taking the time to work them out. Also, I haven't recorded my narration, it's going to be the first voice I record WITHOUT the voice changer, so I've been nervous about it.

2011-08-15 01:53:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Also, I haven't recorded my narration, it's going to be the first voice I record WITHOUT the voice changer, so I've been nervous about it.
Ah, yeah, I hate recording myself. I dislike the voice changer more though so I just tried multiple times, using different voices for each attempt. I compared them after and picked the best ones.

2011-08-15 02:18:00

Author:
SSTAGG1

Posts: 1136

Okay but I think that it is good to fine tune your work, instead of just releasing it. The only exception for this is if I have a deadline, like entering the LBPC's (LBPC Crown Contest) or CC's (Contraption Challenge) in LittleBigPlanet. And good for you Stagg. You accepted my idea by working on a campaign. Definitely gonna beta test whenever I get the chance. (Highly unlikely.)

2011-08-15 13:02:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I know, I said I COULD release it if I wanted to, but im not.

2011-08-15 13:17:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Have you got any percentage on how far you've got with Chapter 2? Or are you still taking that break.

(Don't want you to turn insane, or WORSE. A Zombie!)

Above is the Ghost Defence Line (GDL). The form a barrier over pointless sections of a post. Please use them whenever you find it necessary.

2011-08-15 13:35:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I'd say right now everything is stuck right at the top, I'm making very small changes at this point.

2011-08-15 22:38:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Okey dokey!

2011-08-19 14:23:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I've been doing a little bit of work offline, give me a couple more weeks and it should be released.

2011-08-21 23:38:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Ok then it's Chapter 3 ahoy! Or should it be Chapt- AGH! A ZOMBIE IS BITING MY NECK!

2011-08-22 10:14:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

After playing Fallout: New Vegas for a few weeks, I realized my levels all looked way too clean, I had to throw in the Dirt Smear sticker a few hundred times to give it that dirty look. Basically, everything needs to look crappier than it does now, that's a majority of what I'm doing before I release it. I need to throw in some short music tones for scary effect, and some narrations. I can't think of anything else now. The look of the scenery is a big deal though, there's no way the city would be that clean after everyone has been dead for over a year. It's not Book of Eli dirty or anything like that, but it would still be very dusty.

2011-08-27 01:34:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

True with no one cleaning anything up. I recommend some trash about should help. Also The Walking Dead has a game coming out, so you may want to check out some concept art for ideas. (When they put some up.) They have a wallpaper I think, and it has been announced that they are sticking to the comics, and some of the show.

http://www.telltalegames.com/walkingdead

2011-08-27 11:05:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

cool! have you updated with dirty-ness yet? coz i will check it out if you have.

2011-08-27 11:21:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Intro, levels 1 and 2 are out now! Please start with this one, it's the intro.

Apocalypse Z - Prologue (http://lbp.me/v/5t00-f)

2011-08-29 07:00:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

i would if my ps3 didnt get YLoD

2011-08-29 09:12:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

That quickly, huh? Too bad you can't ship it to me in the US, I could probably fix it for cheaper than Sony will, if it's out of warranty.

Some of the levels have gotten 80 plays already, I'm pretty happy with that but I could use more! Most ppl are skipping the prologue though, it only had about 20 plays. I like that Prologue a lot, too.

2011-08-29 11:17:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

yea i love the prologue, its real nice. ive found a local guy who fixes ps3's. he fixes YLoD for 60 quid, and then 20 quid extra to modifie the fan so it doesnt happen again. i hope its worth the money o_O then i can finally play yr lvls...

2011-08-29 12:16:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Maybe you should only allow people to play the levels by locking it, and you only get to access the next Chapter by key or level link. Whatever works best.

2011-08-29 17:58:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I toyed around with that idea, but I just don't like the idea of the levels being locked, I fear most players will simply pass over the series rather than seek out the opening level.

And I actually fixed my own fan too, that problem shouldn't be happening to me anytime soon.

2011-08-29 18:52:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

these levels blew up over night! over 800 plays on one!

2011-08-29 19:38:00

Author:
Unknown User

Chapter 1 reached the 1000 mark a little while ago!

2011-08-29 20:50:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Chapter 1 reached the 1000 mark a little while ago!

not to mention you've gained about 40 player hearts since then too!! great job babeeeee

2011-08-29 20:52:00

Author:
Unknown User

Got TWO levels on Cool Pages!!!

EDIT: now ALL FOUR levels are on Cool Pages!!!!

Ppl rly seem to hate the 4th level though, they say it's too hard. I thought it was pretty straightforward but I guess not.

Chapter 1 has reached 3,000 plays! The prologue still hasn't hit 1,000 yet! I rly like that Prologue, plus it has the series Title screen in it!

Nerz, I'm not sure u saw the actual Prologue, I never uploaded it, I think ur thinking of chapter 1, which is the most popular at this point. The Prologue features an unnamed character who thrives in the Zombie Apocalypse. It's a short prelude with a title screen. The character will be a big part of the series later on.

2011-08-29 23:49:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I will be playing all 4 chapters tonight

2011-08-30 04:53:00

Author:
Clayton

Posts: 181

oh well i lieked the first one i tested whatever tht was lol

i feel like im missing out. has anyone recorded this? you should ask someone to do it.

2011-08-30 09:36:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

A lot of other ppl liked that one too. I have been trying to find someone or some way to make game videos before this for years anyway, and if I couldn't facilitate it then I don't see how it can be any easier now, the Internet has NOT been of much help, it took me forever just to find out what piece of equipment I'm supposed to use! I won't be purchasing any of that anytime soon. Sorry man.

If someone else is willing to make a video on their own system and upload it that would be great!

2011-08-30 09:57:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

You can ask Chimpanzee. And I have a friend who is one of Sackinima's likes, but I think he's currently on holiday, because I asked him to make a video of one of wolfy_616's levels, so yeah.

EDIT: Ok I asked Chimpanzee and LBP2Channel. They might not do it, so don't be surprised.

2011-08-30 12:58:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

I won't be, like I said, I've been trying for years now and gotten nothing. It's cool though.

Chapter 1 is almost at 1000 hearts!

EDIT: Chapter 1 has reached the 1,000 heart mark. I'm pretty pleased with my creation.

2011-08-30 19:19:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

It's about time to start building chapter 3. It will probably take about a month or so. This level is going to have more traditional LBP platform gameplay. I was inspired by Comphermc's The Heist, that level was an excellent traditional platformer but the amount of detail put into the background and scenery was amazing, and he made excellent use of the 3d layer tools. It's proven to me that I can make the amount of detail that I want and still have basic LBP gameplay. So expect to see a traditional platform level with the same amount of detail as the last couple levels.

2011-09-01 20:13:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

cant wait ^_^

2011-09-01 20:19:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

Having read Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide and now in the middle of reading World War Z by the same author (both are required reading for anyone interested in the zombie apocalypse concept, btw), I am going through my yearly zombie craze and so I took interest in this project. Didn't know you already had 2 levels+ intro cinematics. They're jolly good, man! Keep up the awesome work

Only a tiny thing that confused me at the start was that I thought that:
The little Wiltshire town knew about the zombie plague and was actually some kind of self-sufficient bastion people built to protect themselves when a plague broke out years ago, instead of being some kind of Amish self-isolated community without information about what's happening in the outside world.

That doesn't matter though, a minute or so into the first chapter it became clear what the actual situation was

2011-09-02 14:09:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I won't be, like I said, I've been trying for years now and gotten nothing. It's cool though...

Good thing you didn't expect it because they managed to disappoint. Nevermind someone may find it randomly and make a video y'know.

2011-09-02 17:10:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

yes, someone may find it worthy to film themselves, that would be neat!

And yes, I'm interested in both those books too, I watched an interview with Max Brooks talking about them. There will be a lot more story and character development in chapter 3. Yeah Wiltshire wasn't created because of the Apocalypse, the Apocalypse happened around them without their knowledge. Just so you haveba good idea of the timeline, the zombie outbreak started about 1 year before this story takes place, that's why the city workers came LAST year but not THIS year.

2011-09-02 19:41:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I saw some reviews about ApocalypZ and people were very happy about the fact that the story had meaning unlike all the other run 'n' gun zombie levels. Hats off to you sp0ngy. Some very nice work.

2011-09-02 21:37:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

yea, you were very clear you didnt want a brainless zombie shooter and you were praised for this. very well done ^_^

2011-09-02 22:33:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

It's for the same reason The Walking Dead was so successful. What people seek in the zombie genre isn't to see zombies smashed to bits, although that is part of the fun. The mindless gore got old quick. What people are interested in is to watch how the characters react in this kind of extreme, hopeless situation. And of course to see how it affected the civilized world.

By the way I can't stress out enough how useful the Zombie Survival Guide is for considering the Zombie Apocalypse from a survivalist's viewpoint. And how wrong some clich?s are in the genre. For example the idea of using miniguns and chainsaws against Zombies. The minigun isn't precise so it won't deliver any headshots, pumping the zombies full of lead, maybe slowing them down but not really stopping them. The chainsaw is too heavy for the swiftness required of a melee weapon, dependent on fuel, and the noise would attract every zombie nearby. Stuff like that. It covers everything from escape and defense plans, weapons, gear, clothing, vehicles, offensive tactics, places where one should or should not seek refuge, rebuilding civilization in a post-apocalyptic world, etc. The World War Z is also useful if you want to understand the ways a pandemic could spread and the viewpoints of people from various jobs and places in the world.
Interesting reading material

2011-09-02 23:14:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Thank you all for the nice comments!

Personally, I think the best zombie weapon is something like a tire iron or a lead pipe, nice and heavy blunt object that you can use forever. Guns are alright, most rifles, pistols, and shotguns get the job done, but create sound as mentioned, which was a big deal in the Walking Dead. In the next chapter of the series, I will feature a character who likes to get a little eye-contact when killing zombies, bashing their frontal lobe with a quick punch and a nice pair of brass knuckles, and manages to drop a few with a sword by cutting the back of the neck, severing the spinal cord. It may not be the SAFEST way to kill them, but when you're living in a Post-Apocalyptic World, sometimes you need a little fun!

I plan on coming up with some other cool ways that would make me, I mean, "my characters" look badass killing zombies. I'm open to any suggestions. As long as it is plausible I'm willing to give it a try. Of course the whole series isn't zombie bashing, but when it's there it's gotta be good!

Thanks again everyone for the level love, construction on chapter 3 begins this weekend.

2011-09-03 05:34:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

i was thinking... a funny cut-scene when your characters all push a massive heavy object off a roof onto zombies to clear the door for there escape ^_^
lol, i just saw it as a tense scene as zombies try to get in, slowly doing so, the characters have to think quick, so they push some thing big off the roof onto them and it crushes them. so they then run out and away. for any reason they might need to do that... lol. just an idea.

2011-09-03 09:32:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

That would make a good trap too, gather a bunch of zombies in one spot and drop a storage container on them. Zombie pancakes anyone?

2011-09-03 11:48:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

Are you planning on giving the main character more protective clothing? After watching the badass on the prologue, one would feel almost naked fighting zombies in a shirt.

A nice idea would be making him escape that building he's gotten into by the rooftops, to the top of other building and so on. Because you know, dirt bike's sound attracting zombies to the place, street getting to crowded with them to make a run for it, etc.

2011-09-03 14:50:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

You should make them run out of supplies, and seek for other survivors to help them out. Personally if I was in the situation, I would head in one direction to try and get to the coast. Can a Zombie even swim?

2011-09-03 19:04:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Woah there! You guys are all on the right track, basically yes to all questions, but in due time. I have plans to address all those issues in coming chapters.

And no zombies can't "swim" but they also don't need to breathe oxygen. They could walk underwater if they needed to, they could cross a lake or a river, but it's not plausible that they could traverse deep ocean trenches. But, I already have it written that one character will never leave the city, no matter what happens, and I will explain why as well.

You guys all have the right idea though. I'm glad you can at least understand what I'm after here

2011-09-03 22:57:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

And no zombies can't "swim" but they also don't need to breathe oxygen. They could walk underwater if they needed to, they could cross a lake or a river, but it's not plausible that they could traverse deep ocean trenches.

The Zombie Guide says about the same. In water, you or your boat are safe as long as you swim through places deep enough they can't reach out from the bottom. They may remain in the bottom of the ocean, lake or river until they decompose enough or creep out of the water. About deep ocean I think they could sink there but never come back up or even move due to the gigantic pressure

Hey Jimbo, to what extend is the plague transmittable in your series? Just biting, or also scratches and contact with infected blood? Or is that still a spoiler?

2011-09-04 00:29:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

For this I am citing the Walking Dead comic, which is VERY specific.

Rule 1: ANYONE who dies becomes a zombie, as long as the brain was boy damaged during death. Whether they are stabbed in the heart, bled out to death, die of disease, etc, they ALL come back anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours later.

Rule 2: Bites do not cause people to become zombified, they only KILL the victim of infection (necrosis) and they later turn as a result of death.

Rule 3: Bites and ONLY bites from a zombie will infect a person to the point of death. While it may not make sense to some, the Walking Dead comic featured a villain called The Governor, who knocked all the teeth out of his zombie daughter so she couldn't bite him. He would kiss her right on the lips (yeah, he's a creep I know) and would not get an infection. Any other transmission of bodily matter does not seem to cause infection the way an actual bite wound does.

I hope that makes a bit more sense, these rules will come into play later as some ppl are killed.

2011-09-04 04:48:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I didn't read The Walking Dead comic, but I assume it's some kind of airborne or easily transmitted virus that gets into people when they are still alive, but only gets active and reanimates them once they're dead, that's it? By watching the TV series I though that in the franchise the bites killed and infected them causing the reanimation shortly afterwards but now I think of it... I think I saw no people dying of causes unrelated to zombies, so it wasn't really clear.

I'm just assuming it is a virus that has to get into a character's system somehow, not the George Romero-style, campy old school premise of the cursed aztec artifact that when uncovered revives ALL the dead, even those buried for ages in cemeteries.

2011-09-04 05:34:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I'm kind of mad at the writers I'd the Walking Dead TV show, they skewed the story WAY too much, the comic book had a very well written story. As far as the cause of the phenomena, the writer of the comic left it ambiguous, and for a good reason, and it is for the same reason that you won't be finding a cause to the phenomena in my series either. I believe he spoke about it in an interview, basically, he didn't want every focusing on the cause of the zombies, and thus, just worrying about how to cure it. He wanted the story to be about how people handled themselves and what they did to survive, not just trying to find who or what caused it, and how to reverse it. Genius if you ask me.

I've gotten into heated debates with my friend who has ONLY seen the tv show, he swears that it's caused by a virus and that one of the characters is a carrier. I keep trying to tell him there is no virus, everyone who dies becomes a zombie. But like you said, they haven't shown any other type of death yet, so I haven't been able to prove it yet! You should check out the comic, the writer included a lot of information about the scenario, as well as the science behind the zombies, without having to tell what caused them in the first place. You can probably find a PDF of the mega version, which contains the while 1400+ page series in one book. I actually read the entire thing on my iPhone.

2011-09-04 07:27:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

THATS IT!! theres nothing better in a zombie series than someone dieing ironically from trying to escape the zombies, like a trap they set, and they get killed by the trap. makes you laugh even tho it isnt really that funny. also i had a thought about a scene, going through vents and having zombies follow you. dunno but it looked good in my head. say they are blocked in a room, and so they have to get out other than the door. great, no windows. vents!. perfect idea really, i can see them standing on a photocopier lol XD.
i also can see kids throwing water balloons at zombies from a roof top

and someone getting out a car and using the door to knock a zombie in the brain.... ahh sweet sweet survival...

2011-09-04 11:03:00

Author:
nerzdadestroyer

Posts: 1527

2 points to make based on your last post Jimbo/Sp0ngy.

...he didn't want every focusing on the cause of the zombies, and thus, just worrying about how to cure it. He wanted the story to be about how people handled themselves and what they did to survive, not just trying to find who or what caused it, and how to reverse it...

Against

I don't understand the point of survival then. You might as well die if they can't be bothered to find a cure or rebuild a civilization. Obviously you have the people planning on becoming Adam and Eve and rebuild humanity, but you should have some people at least commit suicide especially when their loved ones become zombies

For

...I've gotten into heated debates with my friend who has ONLY seen the tv show, he swears that it's caused by a virus and that one of the characters is a carrier. I keep trying to tell him there is no virus, everyone who dies becomes a zombie. But like you said, they haven't shown any other type of death yet, so I haven't been able to prove it yet!...

Well I wouldn't match your story to the Walking Dead, and I think you should make it original, because if in the future for any reason, you want to make a film based on your level you'll have to think copyright wise, and Mm can be sued for the levels the community make, then publish on YouTube. (Actually this paragraph might not affect you, because no one has been able to put your level on YouTube in the first place.) Since I haven't played your level yet, I can't actually make this statement as advice, so this whole paragraph only applies if it matches something done in your level.

I like your story survival, unfortunately due to stupid consumers, if you made a run and gun level you would get more plays. Like COD compared to Battlefield. Battlefield is generally better but because they are stupid consumers they play COD more like stupid fools.
http://i22.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/dd/05/b469_1_sbl.JPG

2011-09-04 18:51:00

Author:
Roneranger

Posts: 415

Until now his story is nothin like The Walking Dead, and I assume it'll go on that way. TWD only came up as topic because Jimbo is basing the zombie and plague archetype on what is seen in TWD.

And MM won't ever get sued for levels inspired in other franchises. It's user-generated content, they aren't responsible for what the users make. They only have to moderate content inappropriate for minors as they want to keep the rating +7 (E for Everyone). Imagine how many franchises in gaming, TV and cinema (even novels) have explicit homages in LBP. Many of them are even MM picked like Zelda or Plants vs Zombots and go on Youtube. If MM wasn't sued until now, is because there is no legal reason for that.

2011-09-04 20:34:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

While it is inspired by the walking dead, the story is definitely not the same. I named my main character and neighborhood after content from the comic but that's the only similarity. And before you decide that there is no point to the story, you have to understand that MOST zombie movies have a bleak ending, look it up on Wikipedia, a true zombie apocalypse story really CAN'T have a happy ending, it just doesn't work. It's an APOCALYPSE, that means the end of all human life.

Everyone in my story has their own personal reason for staying alive. Some are trying to help their friends and family, while others are trying to keep their friends alive in their own memory. Plus think about it, would you really kill yourself just because everyone is dead? Doesn't that sound kind of stupid? Sounds like a wimpy cop-out to me. If I were in that situation, I would have the nicest apartment in town, with the nicest amenities and things I couldn't afford in the world before, and I would loot and stash enough food to last for years. Not everyone struggles to survive during an apocalypse, some thrive, and that's what this story is going to feature, a character who thrives in this state. Why would a character like that just kill themselves? This is a person who is ok with everyone else being dead, until we learn more.

Basically, don't think that just because I won't be saving humanity that the story has no point. That's actually a very ignorant thing to say, and it sounds like you are trying to write the entire zombie genre for everyone else, in fact, the jury is against you on this one. Name one true zombie movie (NOT like Shaun of the Dead) that actually ends with the restoration of humanity. Romero's never done it, I'll tell you that much. He came close once, but nope, everyone's still a zombie!

And another way to prove my point, look at the Resident Evil series, EVERY movie in that series is about stopping Umbrella Corp, ad because they show how they are made, they keep having to make the zombies stronger an stronger. That's all it's about! Terrible series if you ask me.

2011-09-04 21:09:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

I don't think the Zombocalypse stories that have a happy "everyone is returning to normal" are cool. A miracle cure is a Deus Ex Machina, a poor storytelling device. One of the interesting things about the genre is the hopelessness and madness of living in a world overrun by these monsters. It's the end of civilization as we know it, humans fall from the faster-growing species in the Earth to an endangered species, hunted down like animals by those that where their brethren not long ago. If it all gets a flowers and rainbows ending then it feels pointless.

Finding other survivors, holing up somewhere to keep mankind alive and repopulating the planet and preserving the knowledge of the world pre-apocalypse and wait for the Zombies to slowly die out seem like good goals someone in a Z. apocalypse would pursue. After all, who wouldn't like humanity to prevail, learning from past mistakes?

2011-09-04 21:34:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

What if I just make a random character wake up at the end and say "woah that was a crazy dream!" and after that everything is fine. That's pretty happy, right?

My story is about the good of the few, not the good of the many. As far as I can see, the world will never be the same as it was before, no matter how hard they try. Over 95% of the general population is dead, there's no way things could ever be back to normal. Remember, EVERYONE who dies becomes a zombie, so even if you die of old age you can still come back and kill your friends and family. I DON'T believe in a zombie "cure", I never have and never will. Therefore, no matter what, our numbers will drop as theirs constantly grow, the balance of power always being on their side. I have read about zombies bring described as the only "truly" apocalyptic event, due to the fact that it is death taking over life. Imagine trying to fight everyone's ghost, it's a similar concept (ghosts are the exact opposite of zombies if you think about it, the body dies, leaving the mind. In a zombie the mind dies leaving the body). As long as there is life, there will always be death.

What I can say is that it IS possible to live out your entire life pretty comfortably in this situation, don't think everything has to be THAT bad just because things aren't "back to normal." I hope this makes things easier to understand. Try to focus on the characters themselves, and not how they relate to the rest of humanity. They are all fighting for their own reasons. Remember that not everyone cares about the good of humanity, either. Most people in this situation would just worry about their close friends and family. Some will even ONLY care about themselves. I never said all of my characters were the hero type, what good is any story without a good antagonist?

2011-09-05 04:10:00

Author:
sp0ngyraver

Posts: 407

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