Project Zomboid - An Impression

Ever since I picked up a PC (and some time) about two years ago, I have almost become used to the graphics post-HL2. Yes, I love how Left 4 Dead and the like look superb. Sometimes I still load Oblivion simply to walk the grounds. However, there is something in the old-school isometric graphics of a game like Project Zomboid that appeals.



PZ, for those who have not yet heard, is Sims with Zombies. The focus is on maintaining the moods, whims and sanity of your characters as much as the food in their bellies. At least, that is the idea. It is being developed by, as far as I can gather, 4 folk who live in an apartment in Cleveland (and whose address is actually available when you purchase the game!)

Furthermore, the game itself is in a pre-Alpha stage; that is, people are purchasing a game that, like Minecraft, is being developed on the speculative funds of other people. Doing so is a risk. And yet it does foster a community of gamers (and developers) that is riding on the back of the recent success of The Walking Dead series (that is superior to the comics, I have found.)

Any literature works in provoking an emotional response as well as an intellectual one. Isometric graphics and sandbox games appeal to both of these. The demo itself didn't really have much in the way of interaction (the wife of the main character simply doesn't speak or eat or drink or even die after two days of the tutorial.) Therefore, it remains to be seen how the

There has been some pretty fruity PR from the developers. However, they aren't marketers, but rather game-makers. Having posted a promised update in days, they have seemed to have come unstuck in relying upon third-party developers. While, for me, this is simply par for the course, it is apparent (from their PR) that they have received some rather aggressive comments (which, again, is par for the course from the anonymity of the internet.)

What makes this stand out for me, though, is how they have responded.

A few posts make it clear that they are hurt by such comments (to put it likely). While such comments are indeed hurtful at best, and damaging at worst, they are to be expected when you have 'the internet' convening on a forum board. Moreover, when those people are paying (albeit the small sum of £5) for a product, the marketing should be considered. That is, having any kind of update is better than nothing.

Despite the apparent angst of the developers, the comments seem, to me, to be entirely positive and supporters of the developers. It is true, though, that there are other ways to handle the dark forces of anger and ridicule - my job requires me to deal with those human inclinations a regular basis.

So what does all this mean? That the journey to make this game is something that I think is part of the pioneering digital art that is gaming, and that it is something that even four folk with no apparent prior experience in marketing a game as widely as PZ will be can give it a go with what seems to be no little success.

If the game delivers even a fraction of the NPC interaction promised, it'll be worthwhile gaming experience. I doubt the multiplayer would work, as PC multiplayer seems broken on almost every indie game I've ever played (and that's on those that have a far heftier budget.)