next »

[Alex Vostrov]

Hello TIGSource,

I'm about to complete the game that I've been working on for the last 10 months - Attack of the Paper Zombies !!!.  It's an RTS where your squad of five stalwart marines fights an alien zombie infestation of hundreds.

The game will be out for PC on Feb 16th and Mac on Feb 23rd.  You'll be able to get it for the princely sum of FREE!  Here's a screenshot for your viewing pleasure, to pass the time until the release:

The game is here!  Grab it at the link below.

I’ve patched the zombie game to version 1.1.  Here are the things that were changed:

• Added manual targeting; right-click a target to attack it and ignore everything else; this applies to marines, turrets and siege guns
• Added keyboard shortcuts for scrolling and zooming – WSAD, arrows, plus and minus
• Tooltips are moved if they’re outside of the screen
• Added graphic to the objectives foldout
• Limited scrolling to the map
• Tooltip and tutorial clarifications

[deathtotheweird]

oh wow, a zombie RTS? Looks fun, can't wait to play.

[Gazillion]

I really like what this looks like. Any more detail on how the game is played? I'm eager to hear more.

[Alex Vostrov]

I really like what this looks like. Any more detail on how the game is played? I'm eager to hear more.

The game emphasises wise resource management and containment of the zombie horde.  Unlike other RTS games, you can't just build up your army by pumping out units.  You are able to upgrade your marines with specialized weapons, but you only have five of them.  In addition you can guard certain parts of the map with automated defenses.  The trick is to plan your defense properly, so that you are able to fight back.

Of course, one thing that I haven't mentioned yet is that zombies mutate, forcing you to adapt your strategy.

[TheDustin]

I came for the zombies, and will patiently wait to see how these RTS ideas pan out. Looks pretty cool. 

[Alex Vostrov]

I came for the zombies, and will patiently wait to see how these RTS ideas pan out. Looks pretty cool.  

Clearly, my zombie-oriented marketing campaign is bearing fruit.  Next - Zombie Cola and zombie running shoes.

Game's going to be out around 9pm PST today.  Just have to dot a few i's first.

[Alex Vostrov]

Game's out.  Grab it and tell me what you think.

[shrimp]

Great fun!!! I had some issues with the interface, so I've PMed you some feedback, hope it's useful!

Mission 2 is tough

[deathtotheweird]

I like the game so far. Few pathfinding issues and I wish there was a way to scroll the camera with wasd..

Really fun so far, just got past level 2.

[AuthenticKaizen]

great game!
as soon as i have made a gameplay video it will be on pixelprospector  


moreover here are a few tips to increase usability:

• make the text that shows accomplishments (in the upper left) dont disappear automatically...but by clicking
• bring up a info field after completing a tutorial mission ( 1.go to menu 2.restart tutorial 3.next tutorial)
• the text that describes the buildings is sometimes not visible. heres a pic
• it would also be helpful if you could write in the info text that you have to click at a point on the screen where you would like to be teleported to. the first time i thought i had to built two in order to cross the border...

[AuthenticKaizen]

here we go 
@ PixelProspector

[Alex Vostrov]

here we go 
@ PixelProspector

Thanks AuthenticKaizen!  I was so tired yesterday that I didn't bother sending emails to indie blogs, just went to sleep after putting the game up.

I'm listening to people's UI suggestions.  I know I could have done a much better job, but I just ran out of fuel.  I'll see if I can throw some things in between now and the Mac release.

[jotapeh]

This used to be Swarm, did it not?

Looks like it's evolved a ton, but what happened to OS X support? le sigh

[Alex Vostrov]

This used to be Swarm, did it not?

Looks like it's evolved a ton, but what happened to OS X support? le sigh

It's not really related to Swarm, except conceptually and via the art style.  I didn't use any code from Swarm.  Look the bright side - the OS X version will be better than the PC one after I patch everything.

Oh, and I just released v1.1.

[deathtotheweird]

very welcome update! adding keys helped me navigate the map  much faster. Manual targeting also  

I really enjoy RTS games, there needs to be more in the indie scene.

[DWWilson]

Hi I liked this game, its like a less polished version of my game. Oh I said it, go look at it if you don't believe me

Anyway, the problems I found were:

- I could scroll endlessly upwards.
- The tutorials wouldn't let me finish them unless I did exactly as it asked. Like it says "buy a turret" if you buy anything else you have no points and no way of going forward. you just have to restart, but it shouldn't give me the option of getting stuck like that.
- I also had a problem with the building progress circle thing being too hard to read (the blue on blue)
-I also kind of felt that there was only one viable strategy to complete each level (although I only got to level 3) Like the choices in what to buy were more problems than choices if you know what I mean.

BTW, I was just kidding about it being a less polished version of mine, it's a cool game and most likely not full of shit coding like mine.

[Alex Vostrov]

Hi I liked this game, its like a less polished version of my game. Oh I said it, go look at it if you don't believe me

Anyway, the problems I found were:

- I could scroll endlessly upwards.
- The tutorials wouldn't let me finish them unless I did exactly as it asked. Like it says "buy a turret" if you buy anything else you have no points and no way of going forward. you just have to restart, but it shouldn't give me the option of getting stuck like that.
- I also had a problem with the building progress circle thing being too hard to read (the blue on blue)
-I also kind of felt that there was only one viable strategy to complete each level (although I only got to level 3) Like the choices in what to buy were more problems than choices if you know what I mean.

BTW, I was just kidding about it being a less polished version of mine, it's a cool game and most likely not full of shit coding like mine.

You should get the latest version - 1.1.  I've made the building circle have more contrast and prevented infinite scrolling.  As for the single strategy comment, try playing random map on advanced and tell me if you still feel that way.

As far as the tutorials go, I feel that I could have done a better job with them.  They're a bit too stiff.

[shrimp]

Where's the 1.1 download link? All the links seem to point to "http://www.indiebird.com/download.php?f=AotP_Zombies_1_0.zip"

[Alex Vostrov]

Where's the 1.1 download link? All the links seem to point to "http://www.indiebird.com/download.php?f=AotP_Zombies_1_0.zip"

All of the versions on the site are 1.1.  I just didn't anticipate that updating the game would break all outside links to it.  Because it was confusing, I just made a second copy and called it 1_1.

[shrimp]

Ah ok, will download and check it out. I still have to beat the last level