Relics Developer Log - June, 2008

Exanimus Downtown Photo Reference

Hello Everyone.

I know everyone has been waiting for this log, so let's jump into it. I'm once again going to be talking briefly about what we are currently working on. We are currently working on what I like to call the first 24. This is basically your first introduction to the game story and the game systems. This to me one of the most important parts of the game that require a enormous amount of attention because if this experience basically sucks, your not going to bother with the rest of the game. So it’s very important for us to make sure this experience of the game is fun fun fun.

I’ll give everyone a peak inside with the intro that we are currently working one. Once you have finished your character creation, your experience will begin with the attempt to reach Shelter Island’s “Green Zone”. This is the downtown area that has been established as a Zombie Free Zone by surviving elements of the military. While en-route to your destination, things go very wrong and you find yourself stranded just outside the city limits alone and unarmed. You have to then find your way from the outer area’s of the abandoned city to the walls of the Green Zone. Only problem is, there are few hundred very hungry and ticked off zombies between you and safety. Take a wrong turn or make to much noise and you just become some zombies dinner.

Exanimus Downtown Photo Reference

Now we have been busy building, developing story elements, setting up surprise events, reworking, and reworking this intro experience. Buildings, city streets, street props, characters, zombies, and aging items to look the story have been taking tremendous amounts of time. Attached to the dev log are a few photos of some reference images that was taken to help us set the visual look of what the city environments look like. Now this is when I really started to feel like the architect from the Matrix movies. The first time the area was initially laid out, it was just too small and not really accomplishing the task that we wanted to. Visa vi, it sucked. The second attempt then made it too large and boring with just a player running and running. Concordantly, it really sucked. So, now we are on the third attempt and I think this story experience that we have laid out with the planned area is just perfect. It brings in the elements that I think that make a great horror movie experience.

In some areas you will find your self in the middle of an empty city street. You look down an alley you just checked a few seconds ago, but now you see a zombie staring you down as if you were a giant walking steak. If your eaten or not depends on what you do next. In another experience, you find yourself in the dark walking thru some tight tunnels trying to get to your destination with nothing more than a flashlight to help you find your way. How much noise you make is going to decide your fate here. We want to start building the mindset that a quick and smart mind will help you much better than guns and ammo. Now there are a ton other surprises in store for you, but like I said, this is one area of the game that just requires tons of attention as it sets the tone for everything you will experience.

I hope that this gives everyone a little more insight what we are working on creating for everyone. In the mean time, be sure to keep visiting the forums and participating with the rest of the community. We love reading your guys post and what you think. Keep on surviving until the next dev log.