Dead Season News

Hello Survivors,

It’s time to gather your resources and grab all the weapons you can find. The outbreak has begun, and you’re one of the lucky survivors that made it this far.

[h3]Dead Season is out now![/h3]

Watch our brand new release trailer right here:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
I’m beyond excited that you finally get to experience something that I’ve been working on for such a long time! Dead Season is a labour of love and I can’t wait for you to finally experience the story of Holly, Matt, Paige, and Trevor from start to finish. I’m looking forward to seeing & hearing about your survival stories – from tricky puzzles, to gnarly kills.

[h4]Make sure to leave a review![/h4]

If you picked up Dead Season, please consider leaving a Steam review! Not only is it a great way for me to receive instant feedback – it’s also the easiest way to help small developers get their games in front of as many eyes as possible.

Good luck out there. You might need it.

Pavel

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666550/Dead_Season/

Hey Survivors,

Less than a week until Dead Season is finally unleashed on the world, and I figured this might be the perfect time to answer some Frequently Asked Questions!

[h3]About the game:[/h3]

What makes Dead Season, Dead Season?

The goal in Dead Season is to complete story-driven objectives that push you to escape dangerous situations using whatever weapons you can scavenge. As you progress, you’ll level up, unlock new abilities, and gain the skills needed to survive in increasingly unforgiving environments.

How long is the game?

First and foremost, you’re encouraged to do multiple playthroughs in order to play every level Dead Season has to offer. Additionally, game length will, of course, depend on the speed and difficulty you play at. My estimation would be between 6 and 12 hours of gameplay. If you play as a completionist on hard mode it could take you around 20 hours.

Controller & Steam Deck support?
After tinkering with the controls it works (I suggest using the trackpads!). Aside from that it runs out of the box. Currently there is no controller support, but I plan to do that after release.

Is there a campaign/story mode?

Absolutely! Dead Season is a single-player game that’ll have you embark on a journey through 16 missions as you tackle new and unique challenges along the way. Immerse yourself in the narrative through captivating motion comics that propel the story forward.

Are there multiple difficulty settings?

Yes, there are: Easy, Normal, and Hard.

Easy: Enemy threat reduced and 5 saves per mission*.
Normal: Moderate enemy threat and 3 saves per mission.
Hard: Increased enemy threats and only 1 save per mission.

*'Save per mission' creates a save state from which you can continue if you die.

Are there different characters and classes?

There are 4 characters: Holly, Matt, Paige and Travis. For each there are a variety of perks to choose from including unique ones.



Do permadeath & narrative consequences exist?

It’s vital to finish each level with the 4 protagonists alive. Though I understand that this may feel unfair at times – especially when you were so close to finishing the level – this is purposely done to fit the narrative and create a unique challenge. This also makes it differ from a lot of other games in the genre where you can rush missions with a single character.

Can you recruit and/or upgrade units?

While you can’t recruit new units, upgrading your characters is a key element of Dead Season. Using the aforementioned talent trees, you can determine the playstyle and purpose of each character. You can respec once per game using the ‘Phoenix’ skill, so if you want this, it will be a tactical decision by you!

Multiple endings?

While there is only one ending, there are multiple crossroads at which you unlock certain levels, encouraging you to replay the game to get the full experience.

Is there a randomised element to enemy placement or encounters?

In Dead Season every run feels different. Each search can lead to a different item, and every encounter is affected by your strategy. Enemy movement is based on what you do. This means no two encounters are the same, enemy location keeps changing, the percentage hit chance and jamming of the gun will force you to adapt, and every play-through feels fresh.

[h3]Release details:[/h3]

When will it be released?

The game is releasing on 8th of October 2024! So: this Tuesday if you’re reading before Tuesday.

What is the price?

The game is retailing at 19.99 USD / 19.75 GBP / 19.50 EUR. With 10-20 hours of gameplay, I hope players will find it offers good value for the experience.

What platforms is the game releasing on?

The game is releasing on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store!

[h3]Conclusion:[/h3]
Before I wrap up and head towards launch, I want to say: Thank you! All of you. Your incredible support and feedback during everything leading up to the Dead Season launch mean the world to me. Your enthusiasm and input helped shape the game into an even better experience. I’m thrilled to see how you’ll tackle the challenges and I look forward to hearing more about your strategies and survival stories. Keep the feedback coming, and thank you for being a part of the Dead Season community!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666550/Dead_Season/

Hello Survivors!

After months of long and arduous work, Dead Season is finally ready to release next week! As we make our way to launch, I am happy to announce our participation in Steam’s Turn-Based RPG Fest 2024!

During the entire festival, you will have the opportunity for some final survival training, because we’re bringing back Dead Season’s Next Fest demo!

So for those who haven't gotten around to it yet, or for the ones that want some more training, this is your final shot before we launch!



The End is Here…

Experience a new world in Dead Season. As the remnants of civilization fight and struggle, band together with other survivors, scavenge and loot as a team making their way through the apocalypse in search for answers and those they left behind. Learn about their past, the decisions that got them here, and how their past selves can help you now!

…And so, It Begins.

Battle your way through hordes of the undead with strategic moves in order to complete objectives and survive as long as you can! Find items and force your way to freedom through 16 different stages with increasing difficulty and complexity! No stage is like the other, and no decision comes without a price!


Get ready to roll the dice! Will your attacks land? Will your plan work? Or will the odds favor the undead opposition set before you? Shoot, loot, flee, or position — every move counts when the stakes are high, and only the most cunning decisions will tip the scales in your favor.

[h3]Try out Dead Season’s limited-time Demo starting today, September 30th at 10:00 AM (PDT) to October 7th at 10:00 AM (PDT)![/h3]

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm,

Pavel

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666550/Dead_Season/

[h3]Hello survivors![/h3]
[h5]I’ve got exciting news… [/h5]

…but first and foremost I want to take this time to thank you for joining me on the Dead Season journey so far.

Developing a game takes a lot of time, effort and energy. Your involvement and enthusiasm has been incredibly helpful! Whether you just played the demo and wishlisted the game, went out of your way to write down feedback, or joined the Closed Beta test back in July, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[h5]Now for the actual news, the fruits of our labour are about to pay off: [/h5]

[h3]Dead Season, the intense turn-based tactics game set in a grim post-apocalyptic undead world, will officially launch on Steam on October 8th! [/h3]

Prepare for unforgiving combat, where survival hinges on your ability to scavenge for resources, level up, and outmaneuver enemies.

Check out the date announcement trailer below:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
As a little pre-launch check-in, we’ll be releasing an FAQ blog. If you have any burning questions before launch, make sure to ask them in the comments.

Additionally, the best way to support a small indie developer like me is to leave a review on release day. So please share your honest thoughts after the game launches!

I’m beyond excited! October 8th can’t come quick enough.

Best,
Pavel

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666550/Dead_Season/

Hello survivors!

It’s been a while since we’ve taken a look into the development of Dead Season. Today, we'll explore some of the key concepts behind the game, look into the inspirations that have influenced its development, and highlight some aspects that set the game apart from other zombie experiences.

[h2]Embracing Humanity in Chaos[/h2]
In Dead Season, survival hinges on the actions of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Unlike many contemporary games where you play as soldiers or highly trained fighters, Dead Season focuses on a regular group of individuals that are constantly put into life-threatening situations. These characters are not battle-hardened or prepared for the chaos—they are scared and unprepared, trying to survive in a world gone mad.



So within Dead Season, I wanted to replicate the idea of fear and vulnerability of facing the infected, making it clear that these creatures are dangerous and terrifying, and not easy to overcome. As you traverse the world with these individuals, you must navigate through each mission with caution, resourcefulness, and strategic planning to stay alive. The experience is about feeling the intensity of being hunted and learning to adapt in order to survive.

[h2]Escape By All Means[/h2]
At the heart of Dead Season lies the strategic challenge of completing objectives and escaping danger. Across all 16 levels in the campaign, rather than focusing on killing everything within the level, your mission is to complete objectives and do what you need to do to get out as quickly as possible. This ranges from either boarding up doors and windows, finding gas for your getaway car, or simply getting to the exit before it is too late.



[h2]Inspirations Behind the Game[/h2]
As a huge fan of the zombie genre, I drew inspiration from a lot of different media, including games, comics, and movies. These influences, like from Left 4 Dead, Resident Evil, and Dawn of the Dead (2004), have shaped Dead Season’s design, art, and atmosphere. Out of all, one of the biggest inspirations comes from my love for zombie board games. Those board games combine strategic gameplay with a focus on completing objectives as quickly as possible while surviving against hordes of zombies.

Some of the inspirations came from my favorite zombie board games.

So, when it came to finding a video game that combined turn-based tactics with the feel of those zombie board games, I couldn’t find any! And so this heavily inspired the design philosophy behind Dead Season. I wanted to create a unique experience that captures the essence of zombie board games in a turn-based tactics video game format, offering players the same strategic depth and challenges that I love in board games.

And that’s all for today’s dev blog! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my deep dive into the inspirations and key themes in the game! I’m still combing through the feedback I received so far from the demo and playtest – thank you so much to all who tried out and have given me feedback – and making progress on the game.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm,
Pavel

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666550/Dead_Season/