PC Developer Discussions: Alpha 17

[faatal]

Awesome! I see why your name is faatal, because you're kiilling it! Nice job.

Thx.

 

[Tin]

A lot of the "A17 stuff" will get used on bandits/NPC.Like being able to adjust the firing accuracy of an entity when it picks up a generic gun.

This plus work on sounds and animations to make things more flexible and accurate while allowing for variety in NPC skills and such.

This is all good stuff but going BANDITS NAO would be putting the cart before the horse.

In general that works for wheelbarrows so I guess it's not totally unreasonable? But that's not what I meant.

pft Carts are overrated.. Rickshaw for the win! xD

Good stuff! keep it coming!!

 

[Wulf]

With the main menu redesign and some tweaking of the game options(SP/MP), can i assume Dead is dead mode (or some version of permadeath) is coming for A17?

 

[Maharin]

With the main menu redesign and some tweaking of the game options(SP/MP), can i assume Dead is dead mode (or some version of permadeath) is coming for A17?

That would be nice. Doing it manually works but is cumbersome.

 

[DeadMole]

His actual words were "nearly beta but not actually beta" and "it's getting very close". He then followed that up with the fact they're changing nearly everything and there is "so much more to come" (right at the end). So it's not like they're going to go directly to beta without some additional alpha testing and features. It may not be a make you laugh joke but it is certain to me that he didn't say that expecting people to interpret it literally. There may not be an A19 but there will be an A18 based on everything I've heard and seen.

Point is: it's almost beta and that's not a joke. I mean, jokes are supposed to be funny eh? And that really ain't. "Some additional alpha testing and features" you say? Looks to me like the game still needs a ton of testing, and is missing a lot of features.

From the original kickstarter they have always maintained that some features would come after gold release. The exact features saved until after release will be shuffled from what was mentioned in the kickstarter but there is no need for a couple more alphas. They could very easily go to Beta after alpha 17 and polish everything up to release standards and then add any missing features as DLCs afterward. They plan to continue fully supporting this game at least 2 years after release.

"Some features" you say. The main quest/storyline is nowhere near implemented in the game yet. Or is that going to be a DLC? In fact, the game still looks early in developement and nowhere near beta phase.

 

[Maharin]

Point is: it's almost beta and that's not a joke. I mean, jokes are supposed to be funny eh? And that really ain't. "Some additional alpha testing and features" you say? Looks to me like the game still needs a ton of testing, and is missing a lot of features.

"Some features" you say. The main quest/storyline is nowhere near implemented in the game yet. Or is that going to be a DLC? In fact, the game still looks early in developement and nowhere near beta phase.

Maybe you haven't been paying close attention to how they've done things in the past? A17 introduces a whole mess of changes to the underlying structure of the game. These changes will allow them to add bandits, have a MUCH improved questing system, allow for a major overhaul of zombie and other NPC AI systems, among other things. Sure, not everything will make it into A17 but the foundation will be laid and they can begin ramping up development of everything sitting on that foundation.

I think your pessimism is unfounded.

 

[ParaSyt]

A lot of the "A17 stuff" will get used on bandits/NPC.Like being able to adjust the firing accuracy of an entity when it picks up a generic gun.

This plus work on sounds and animations to make things more flexible and accurate while allowing for variety in NPC skills and such.

This is all good stuff but going BANDITS NAO would be putting the cart before the horse.

In general that works for wheelbarrows so I guess it's not totally unreasonable? But that's not what I meant.

You should just point people towards a mod that has bandits so they can understand how bad it is without all the work that you guys are doing on them. I wondered the same thing then when I played in a modded game that had the bandits and it became a paranoid 7 Minutes to Die. That bandit super aim will take you out quick. Then when the bandits or NPCs are shooting at zombies they look drunk. I'm okay with you showing or talking about the bandits and NPCs when the AI, buffs, and animation are sorted out.

 

[Roland]

Point is: it's almost beta and that's not a joke. I mean, jokes are supposed to be funny eh? And that really ain't. "Some additional alpha testing and features" you say? Looks to me like the game still needs a ton of testing, and is missing a lot of features.

It is almost beta in the grand scheme of things. Alpha 17 is definitely near the end of the alpha phase. No joke. Most features listed in the kickstarter goals are in the game and the ones that are not could be added after final release. Are all of those features at a finished state? No. That is exactly what beta phase is for.

"Some features" you say.

Yes I did. You even quoted me. Make a list of features promised in the kickstarter that are not going to be in the game by time Alpha 17 comes out and I will tell you that it definitely represents "some".

The main quest/storyline is nowhere near implemented in the game yet. Or is that going to be a DLC? In fact, the game still looks early in developement and nowhere near beta phase.

What's wrong with implementing the story/ quest post launch? This game has always been more of a sandbox game where you make your own stories. A main story line could easily be implemented later.

 

[DeadMole]

Maybe you haven't been paying close attention to how they've done things in the past? A17 introduces a whole mess of changes to the underlying structure of the game. These changes will allow them to add bandits, have a MUCH improved questing system, allow for a major overhaul of zombie and other NPC AI systems, among other things. Sure, not everything will make it into A17 but the foundation will be laid and they can begin ramping up development of everything sitting on that foundation.
I think your pessimism is unfounded.

That would explain why there hasn't been many major changes since a few alphas now if all the basics are set. If they do add all of those major features from that point on, then that might take it much closer to beta indeed.

I like to say that I'm not pessimistic, but realistic since I certainly think my concerns are founded. Many other early access games are dragging on since forever and doesn't seem anywhere near finished either.

What's wrong with implementing the story/ quest post launch? This game has always been more of a sandbox game where you make your own stories. A main story line could easily be implemented later.

In other words: the main quest is not a main feature of the game. It's as if Fallout came out without the quests already in the game. I mean, come on now.

 

[SnowDog1942]

In other words: the main quest is not a main feature of the game. It's as if Fallout came out without the quests already in the game. I mean, come on now.

Exactly. I couldnt care at all about the story in this game.

 

[Roland]

Exactly. I couldnt care at all about the story in this game.

Not exactly. The story IS a main feature of the game that may or may not be released before or after release. There is nothing in the definition of "main feature" that requires it to be put into the game before it is released. Just because someone wants a main feature to be put in before other main features doesn't reduce its main featureness if it comes later in the order.

 

[Gnomaana]

That would explain why there hasn't been many major changes since a few alphas now if all the basics are set. If they do add all of those major features from that point on, then that might take it much closer to beta indeed.
I like to say that I'm not pessimistic, but realistic since I certainly think my concerns are founded. Many other early access games are dragging on since forever and doesn't seem anywhere near finished either.

In other words: the main quest is not a main feature of the game. It's as if Fallout came out without the quests already in the game. I mean, come on now.

I'll probably look at the story for about 10 minutes one time and then launch a Random map and play. If they never put a single story element in, I wouldn't be bothered in the least. The problem with story lines in games is that they end. Then what? This is the best sandbox game I've played.

 

[Guppycur]

In all seriousness, it almost does sound like it at this point. Sounds like it's been in early access for so long, they are just trying to wrap things up as soon as they can now.


How can it be a beta when there's still so many important features missing?

And the new AI, Behemoth, quests, storyline and a plethora of other features that were mentioned and are still missing.

Eh, no. It wasn't a joke. MM said A17 is nearly beta at the end of this video.

There's really not a whole lot of other features that are slated to come in; the train is definitely getting closer to beta-town. Bandits, tameable animals, and that's pretty much it.

 

[Bubo]

Hey guys, I just notice this old post from MadMole. So better AI for zombies is coming in A17, right?Why is it not listed in the first post Roland?

Yeah but some people like broken outdated concepts because of nostalgia or something. F.E., Sharp sticks, broken menus. I imagine some will even complain when they see the new pathing algorithm. OMG these zombies aren't getting stuck on stuff, fix it!!! We like the ones that spin circles and can't reach the player 90% of the time.

 

[Roland]

Smooth random terrain was originally listed as a feature to come after release. By Deadmole's logic that would mean that the entire random gen world that the majority of the fans play in is not considered a main feature because it was planned at the beginning to be implemented after the game was released. But they decided to change things and move the the smooth random terrain up in priority (glad they did). If they now decide to put the main story into the priority slot that random gen used to occupy that doesn't change its importance.

 

[Guppycur]

Point is: it's almost beta and that's not a joke. I mean, jokes are supposed to be funny eh? And that really ain't. "Some additional alpha testing and features" you say? Looks to me like the game still needs a ton of testing, and is missing a lot of features.

I laughed.

"Some features" you say. The main quest/storyline is nowhere near implemented in the game yet. Or is that going to be a DLC? In fact, the game still looks early in developement and nowhere near beta phase.

Yeh, they've said numerous times quests/dialogs/buffs were getting the much needed love in a17.

- - - Updated - - -

\Many other early access games are dragging on since forever and doesn't seem anywhere near finished either.

That may be, but it has zero to do with 7daystodie.

- - - Updated - - -

I'll probably look at the story for about 10 minutes one time and then launch a Random map and play. If they never put a single story element in, I wouldn't be bothered in the least. The problem with story lines in games is that they end. Then what? This is the best sandbox game I've played.

And this, too. I'm not a single player type of person so I don't care why I woke up naked with a backpack full of oddities. Also, you can /clearly/ see the development of the storyline if you read the newspaper articles, look at the paintings, read the flag names, etc.

The world went to sh*t, and there are 4 factions. The duke and his gang of evil doers, White Settlement and their gang of neutral traders, the zombies, and you. There's your story.

 

[DeadMole]

Exactly. I couldnt care at all about the story in this game.

In all honesty, I rarely ever finish the main quest in those games either, but it HAS to be in the final game for those who want to do it. I mean, it's called the main quest for a reason.

The story IS a main feature of the game that may or may not be released before or after release.

Sure, because releasing the game without the most important feature in it does make sense.

 

[Survager]

My subscribers asks:

- Will the character be able to repel zombies with his hands or kick the zombies with his feet?

- Will the image of the hands change depending on what is worn on the character?

- Will there be any changes in the customization of the character's appearance in 17 Alpha?

Thanks.

 

[Survager]

There is also a question about changing weapons when modifying.

For example, I have a hunting rifle or AK47. When I take aim, I mean the usual sight.

If I install an optical sight on this gun (AK47), can I see the optical sight when I aim?

 

[Gnomaana]

In all honesty, I rarely ever finish the main quest in those games either, but it HAS to be in the final game for those who want to do it. I mean, it's called the main quest for a reason.


Sure, because releasing the game without the most important feature in it does make sense.

Who says the story is the most important feature? The sandbox and moddable nature of this game is what is going to keep it going for years. The story will be old hat 2 weeks after release.