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Survive the Nights News

Alpha Devblog #15 - 1.5 Preview

Hello all,

The team is hard at working on player found issues and developing the 1.5 patch. If you’d like to help find bugs and tweak 1.5 features, jump on our experimental branch and check out the 1.4.22 patch. That will eventually become the next stable update. Check our Changelog and feel free to join our Discord. Below we'll go over the progress we've made with fortifications and the horde system. We're very close to pushing an update to the experimental build. This update will likely be a release candidate for 1.5 and should feature everything 1.5 has to offer.

[h3]Horde and XP System[/h3]
We'll be introducing our horde system with 1.5 along side our initial XP system. You'll gain XP by killing zeds, looting, fortifying, harvesting etc. Most of all, you'll gain XP with increasing horde difficulty. The player will receive a notification of an approaching horde. It will provide the general direction of the horde. At this point, you'll have the option to fight or flee. You will not gain XP by fleeing and your horde difficulty will not increase.

1.5 will be the initial introduction to the systems. We'll tweak along with the community as we work on our next build. As of now, XP doesn't really have a meaning outside of the rather addictive nature of receiving it and gaining levels. We'll turn to community input to fill in those blanks. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them here, on Discord or in game with the F1 menu. We have concepted some basic systems, higher loot drops on increased horde difficulty levels, character buffs, etc. Below we'll go over a few of the mechanics and features behind the horde system.

Below was our concept for the spawn sphere and offset on our horde system. James has used gizmos to visualize different spawning scenarios and found a spawn radius of 65m offset from the player by 20 with a minimum spawning range to the player of 40m felt the most realistic and fun. This results in an offset circle with a 5m gap around the back of the player where zombies can spawn.


Original Concept


In game the results are directional with a few randoms to keep things challenging


[h3]In Game Notifications[/h3]
The player will receive in game notifications for both hordes approaching and XP/Level notifications. You'll have a limited time to flee before the horde arrives, you'll be notified when you're leaving the hordes reach. Players that choose to flee will not receive the larger XP boost from killing the horde.


Approaching Horde


Horde Arriving


XP and Ding

[h3]Free Placed Fortification Update[/h3]
We're putting the last touches on fortification mechanics and you'll see all the new barricades in 1.5. These can be crafted and placed anywhere in the world, creating walls around structures or maybe even towns. We'll need to find a nice balance and get some kind of degradation system in place or things could get messy fast. That being said, zombies now attack anything placed in their path and will make their way through barricades to eat your face.

Zombie Horde Taking out a Barricade

Thanks for the continued support and continued issue and suggestion reporting :). We'll have another Devblog out next week with more updates on 1.5 and a new experimental build so you can break all the new features.. Below are some helpful links to anyone new and interested in the game. If you'd like to follow a bit closer, please consider joining our Discord. We're here, we're listening, enjoy your weekend! :)

[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights
Forum: https://community.survivethenights.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive
Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Alpha Devblog #14 - 1.5 Update Preview

Hello all,

The team is hard at working on player found issues and developing the 1.5 patch. We'll most likely push another experimental build some time next week so get ready for more testing. If you’d like to help find bugs and tweak 1.5 features, jump on our experimental branch and check out the 1.4.22 patch that will eventually become the next stable update. Check out our changelog and feel free to join our discord. We will have another devblog out shortly showcasing some more 1.5 features :)

[h3]Free Placed Fortifications[/h3]
Along with hordes, free placed fortifications will really change the gameplay. Zombies actively hunting the player each night will create reason to fortify a structure and free placed fortifications will greatly increase your chances of surviving the horde. The mechanics behind them are rather challenging and interesting. Zombies have to be aware of placed fortifications, they have to attack fortifications, they have to avoid them when possible, receive damage from them and they have to stop attacking them when you're no longer behind them. The mechanics are coming along quite nicely with the visual aspects (something we'll showcase next week). You should be able to place them in the upcoming experimental patch, we'd like to get that to you early next week. Below is a video showcasing some of the AI logic, registering and attacking a placed fortification also being damage by the barricade. They also stop attacking and attack the player when he moves to the opposite side of the barricade. Below that you'll see a gif showcasing the logic rotating toward a fortification.

[h3]Video Showcasing AI Attacking Barricade and Player In Game[/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

AI Logic Mock-up

Rotation Logic Mock-up

[h3]New Life Splash, Hordes and Gameplay Changes[/h3]
With hordes, a basic XP and leveling system in the works we've introduced a new life Splash Screen (skippable and only for new players). This will give a bit of depth and explanation to what's going on. We'll expand on character backstory and lore in the future. This sets a basic tone for anyone just picking the project up. You'll know by reading it that days should be spent gathering supplies, building fortifications and setting traps. The night will bring the dead and you should be ready for them. Players will be notified of approaching hordes and you'll have the option to fight or flee. Fleeing might get you through another night but you'll miss out on the XP provided from killing zeds and completing hordes and increasing their horde difficulty.

New Life Splash

Thanks for the continued support and continued issue/suggestion reporting. We'll have another devblog out next week with more updates on 1.5 and hopefully a new experimental build. Below are some helpful links to anyone new and interested in the game. If you'd like to follow a bit closer, please consider joining our Discord. We're here, we're listening! Enjoy your weekend :)

[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights
Forum: https://community.survivethenights.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive
Website: https://www.survivethenights.net




Alpha Devblog #13 - Experimental Patch Notes - Alpha 1.4.22

Hello all,

The team is hard at working on player found issues and developing the 1.5 patch. We're releasing our first experimental build of 1.5 to our experimental branch on Steam. If you’d like to help find bugs and tweak 1.5 features, please jump on our experimental branch.

Check out our Changelog and feel free to join our Discord. We will have another devblog out shortly showcasing some 1.5 features. Please do your best to check against the list of changes and report bugs and issues in game using the F1 menu. You can also make suggestions in game using the same menu and change 'bug report' to 'suggestion'.

How to get into experimental branch:
  • Open Steam and go to your games library.
  • Right click on STN and select "Properties"
  • Navigate to the "Betas" tab and select "experimental" in the drop down menu.
  • Close the properties window.


[h3]Experimental Build[/h3]
Not everything is testable yet. Below is the current changelog and what can be currently tested in today's release. The biggest change here is the engine update from Unity 2017 to Unity 2019. As you can imagine, an engine update requires a good deal of work and it also requires a good deal of testing. Please report any issue found in game. Thanks for the help!

[h3]Experimental Patch Notes - Alpha 1.4.22 (v1.5 Preview) [/h3]

Quality of Life (QoL)
  • Replaced searching area functionality with the ability to hold F to keep the inspect menu visible.


Engine Update
  • Game project migrated to Unity 2019


SFX
  • Loud speaker at police station now correctly stops playing after electrics are turned on.


Animation Improvements
  • Arg15 fire animation improvements.
  • Rauser fire animation improvements.


VFX
  • Buggy explosion effect is now correct.
  • Rag dolls now receive correct force from melee and guns.


Animations
  • R-6804 fire animation improved.
  • Pump action fire animation improved.
  • Double Barrel fire animations improved.
  • FRKS fire animation improved.
  • Clinchester fire animation improved.
  • Bateman revolver fire animation improved.
  • Lola hand gun fire animation improved.


Thanks for the continued support and continued issue and suggestion reporting :). Below are some helpful links to anyone new and interested in the game. If you'd like to follow a bit closer, please consider joining our Discord. We're here, we're listening!

[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord Forum Twitter Facebook YouTube Website

Survive the Nights 20% Off Sale - Weeklong Deal

Survive the Nights is now 20% off for the entire week! The sale ends on Monday, August 3rd. If you have any questions before purchasing, please join our discord and speak with the developers or other players within our friendly community.

You can also see what we're working on for the next update here.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/541300/Survive_the_Nights/

[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights
Forum: https://community.survivethenights.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive
Website: https://www.survivethenights.net
Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Alpha Devblog #12 - 1.5 Update Preview

Hello all,

The team is hard at working on player found issues and developing the 1.5 patch. Below we'll be going over some of what you can expect to see in the 1.5 build. If you'd like to track the patch progress and follow more closely with development, check our changelog and feel free to join our Discord. We hope to have a 1.5 experimental build out within two weeks and we'll keep you updated on that in the next devblog.

[h3]Free Placed Fortifications[/h3]
Something players have requested and a feature of our original concept is free placed fortifications. With the 1.5 update and introduction of our horde mechanic, we'll be expanding fortifications. We'll be introducing this mechanic alongside hordes for 1.5. Players will be able to craft and place barriers around the world. Ideally you'll be able to create an entire wall of defense around your structure. We've begun work on these mechanics. Zombies will become aware of placed objects in the world and begin attacking them. Once the object blocking the AI path is removed they will continue their hunt for their original target. Below is a gif of zombies attacking a placed fortification. This is a work in progress and you'll see that progress as we work through 1.5. You'll notice it's just our original concept barricade and there are no visual effects for destruction etc.

Zombies Attacking Fortifications

[h3]Unity 2019 Update[/h3]
We're in the process of updating from Unity 2017 to Unity 2019. Unity 2019 will allow us to stay current and keep up to date with engine tech and improvements. It will allow us to improve stability with a new backend lobby system. The update will also allow us to prepare and move forward with our planned design pass, improving environmental design along with updated structures and visual effects. This update has come at a price, as they all have in the past. We started survive the nights with Unity3d 3.x we've worked through and updated the project through 3 more engine updates Unity 4,5 and 2017. With every update comes issues and we've come to expect these. Our 2019 update has set us back slightly but we should come out of it with the ability to improve and move forward more efficiently and productively than before. We've thoroughly enjoyed the engine and the community behind it and we would suggest anyone looking to get started with development to check Unity out.

[h3]New Animations[/h3]
You'll likely be seeing far more zombies in the coming updates. We've improved and will continue to improve zombie characters and animations. In the 1.5 builds you'll see the start to some zombie animation tweaks. Creepier leg dragging and more fluid movement helps to add to the horde vibe. We've also spent some and started tweaking weapon animations.

Zombie Walk


Zombie Walk 2


Zombie Leg Drag

[h3]Weapon Fire Animation Tweaks[/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h3]Horde UI Concept and Preview[/h3]
Horde mode will feature quite a few new mechanics. One of which will be a UI to keep track of a few things including how many 'horde nights' you've survived, how many zombies you've killed, when the horde starts and stops along with the direction the horde is approaching from. These features and this UI is all in its infancy. We'll have far more information in future devblogs along with experimental patches so you can start testing these new features.

Horde UI

[h3]Server Prices and Server Files[/h3]
Within the next few days, Clinton over at Allgamer will be introducing a 15 slot $15 server rental. We've spent some time optimizing and this is now possible. We're working towards releasing a neatly packed server backend so you can host from home for free. This should happen in the next few months as we work through the coming builds.



Thanks for the continued support and continued issue and suggestion reporting :). Below are some helpful links to anyone new and interested in the game. If you'd like to follow a bit closer, please consider joining our Discord. We're here, we're listening!

[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights
Forum: https://community.survivethenights.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive
Website: https://www.survivethenights.net