The developers for 7 Days to Die continue to make progress in developing the game. For those who are unaware of the game, 7 Days to Die is an early access game produced the small gaming company The Fun Pimps. It is a sandbox survival game, set in a post-apocalyptic zombie world, in which players scavenge, collect resources, farm, craft, build bases, and fight off against zombies, in single player or multiplayer environments. Currently the developers are working on the Alpha 16 update, as well as working on producing the remaining key features they plan to add for the finished game. In anticipation for the coming update, I figured I would discuss some of the information available on what’s coming.
If you would like to check out the direct sources for the information, you can look the video’s on game developer Joel Huenink’s blog.
Building
They are working on making updates to aspects of the building system. Part of this includes the development of a new system for block operations. This new system streamlines the block shapes and standardizes the rotations and placement of blocks. This should make it easier to construct buildings. They are also developing new block shapes to allow for the construction of more angled buildings, aches, circular towers, and turrets. While they have made significant progress in this, it is uncertain whether they will have this new block system ready to place in alpha 16 or whether it will be put in the next alpha update.
They also have plans for creating a building prefab system. When completed, this system would allow people to create buildings off of designs. Players would be able to create prefab designs, upload them onto steam, and allow other players to download and utilize these prefabs. These plans are also intended to help allow survivor AI’s to work in the process of constructing a building. This feature is in the planning stages and it is uncertain when it will be added.
Though this is one of the planned features that I am most hopeful for. As a person who is really in to the building aspect of the game, it would be cool if I could save the designs of the buildings I create and use those designs to help make the building process quicker for me in the future. It would help make it easier for me to build my own post-apocalyptic settlement.
They are also planning to add a paint system to the game. Under the current system, the blocks you make have a standard color scheme on all sides. This new paint system would allow you to paint the colors for the individual sides of a block. Player would use a new paintbrush tool to do the painting, and would be able to gain access to various texture options by finding paint related schematics. The painting feature should make its way into the alpha 16 update. Then players can have all sort of fun making their base look the way they want it.
Electricity
Alpha 15 saw the beginning introduction of player made electrical lights. For the coming Alpha 16 update, they are expanding on the electrical items. This will include: generators, to produce power, an electrical tool to connect wires to transport electricity, reassure plate switches for traps and special effects, sirens, and an automatic defense turret, which hoots things that come in its line of fire. These features will offer a variety of possibilities for players.
New Zombie Types
If the regular zombies, radio-active acid spitting zombie cops, super zombies, and zombie bears weren’t enough of a threat for you, the new zombie types might give you some challenge. These new types are the feral zombie system and the radioactive zombies. The feral zombies have glowing yellow eyes, have twice the health and strength of their regular versions, and can run during the day. If a regular zombie eats living meat (whether from killing a player, eating an animal, or eating an animal carcass) it will turn into a feral version of itself. The radioactive zombie has the power to regenerate health. So if it isn’t killed, it can start regenerating itself. These zombies are expected to make it into Alpha 16.
They also plan on adding sleeper zombies. These zombies would be set up to spawn inside buildings in a nonmoving state, and when you get near them, they can awake. Instead of just clearing out the streets and looting the houses, you will now have to worry about sleeper zombies hiding in them.
Continuation
I will continue to describe to describe upcoming features in the second part of the article.
