PC My GF's First Impressions

[Lorca]

So last night, I got my gf to play 7 Days to Die. It wasn't a hard sell because she loves all the looting in State of Decay and she's a complete savage in Dying Light. Anyway, when I started playing I was coached a lot, but instead of doing that to her, I decided to just watch and observe her first impressions. Besides, she doesn't like being told what to do, and I know what's good for me.

UI

Her first observation was that the UI looks cheap 'like an indie game', and the characters all look diseased. Weird body shapes and thin hair. I told her you don't get to see them though because it is first person only.

Blocks

Anyway, we got her past that and into the tutorial. The first time she got stuck was the step where you have to upgrade a block. It doesn't say how you are supposed to do it. So she tried clicking and right clicking and she tried chopping at it with hatchet. Of course she had to put a new block down after that, and was nearing the end of her fuse, so I blurt out that it does have something to do with the hatchet. She then tried to right click with the hatchet, but she didn't have wood in her inventory. The game doesn't indicate that though. All she hears is a clang and figures that can't be right. So I suggested she look at the tips.

Tips

When I pointed out the tips, she asked why it was an 'edit' symbol instead of a 'question mark' for help. Now that she mentioned it, I think she has a point. Anyway, in the tips, there was surprisingly nothing about upgrading a block. She saw the bit about 'pressing the reload button' to access the shape menu, and thought that was it. So with the hatchet selected, she pressed 'r' on the block (guessing that was the reload button). Nothing happened, so she figured 'r' wasn't the right button. Then she went hunting through the keybindings and couldn't find anything about a reload button.

At this point, I could see a rage quit imminent, so I stepped in and told her that she had to right click with the hatchet, while she had wood in her inventory, and that reload was indeed 'r', but that she needed to have a block in her hot bar selected to access the menu.

Zombies appearing from nowhere

Her first night was spent digging for trader treasure. Before night fell, she killed all zombies nerby, but as night fell, 2 zombies appeared out of nowhere and killed her, which she thought was BS. It could have been that they just ran from further away and she didn't see. I can't confirm because I wasn't paying strict attention.

Zombies dying from arm wounds

By day two she was quite enjoying herself, but was dissapointed when she popped a zombies arm off with the spear and it died. She was expecting only headshots would kill. She enjoyed the limb coming off but wanted it to come at her with no arms. She was bitterly dissapointed

Max Stam and Max Health

I wasn't going to chance a rage quit, so I had to step in and explain it to her. To cut a long story short, she wanted to know "Which drug addict came up with this system?" lol

Hive mind zombies

Her first horde night, she experienced those infamous structural engineer zombies, all going for the same weak spot. She calls them 'hive mind zombies' and was thoroughly disgusted.

So hopefully that fresh experience can help you devs to make things more userfriendly for newbies that don't have anyone to help them. I'm hoping I can rope her in to play again today. Wish me luck.

 

[n2n1]

I hope your story will help the developers... now, they could use a little sanity, some of their decisions look like they were made under the influence of certain substances.

 

[Gothyc]

Haha, I remember back when I started it took me ages too to figure out how to upgrade a block. Definately needs some in-game explaining.

 

[asmosnuts]

All valid points, especially as we keep hearing the "new player experience" every time we question something.

Hopefully your girl will overcome the silliness of some parts and begin to enjoy the game, when she starts about numbers distract her with chocolate or something!

Oh and keep posting, even if its just to annoy the villagers "Pitch forks at the ready!" :smile-new:

 

[Guest]

btw who cares how the UI looks? it works doesnt it?

It works like an old Honda civic filled with manure works. It'll get you there but the experience is lackluster, to say the least. It's ugly, input lag is everywhere, simple stuff that should be drag and drop requires multiple button presses (modding a weapon, for example) and information often isn't presented in clear and unambiguous ways (and tucked inside flavor text too, ugh).

It's not the end of the world, but it's definitely not good.

 

[Ghostlight]

Zombies appearing from nowhereHer first night was spent digging for trader treasure. Before night fell, she killed all zombies nerby, but as night fell, 2 zombies appeared out of nowhere and killed her, which she thought was BS. It could have been that they just ran from further away and she didn't see. I can't confirm because I wasn't paying strict attention.

You mentioned she was digging for trader treasure....if she found the treasure then zombies do indeed spawn in from nowhere when you open the chest; it is how the mechanic for those types of quests works.

She then tried to right click with the hatchet, but she didn't have wood in her inventory. The game doesn't indicate that though. All she hears is a clang and figures that can't be right.

Actually it does. If you lack the material to upgrade, a small icon appears on the bottom right of the screen on each right-click. It's pretty small though and easy to miss I guess.

Zombies dying from arm woundsBy day two she was quite enjoying herself, but was dissapointed when she popped a zombies arm off with the spear and it died. She was expecting only headshots would kill. She enjoyed the limb coming off but wanted it to come at her with no arms. She was bitterly dissapointed

Was she on easy difficulty by any chance?

It is interesting she came from State of Decay....one of my favourite zombie apocalypse games. I feel State of Decay puts this game to shame in many ways. The far superior combat for one thing but also specifically the number of zombies. Zombies are absolutely everywhere in that game, making any travel on foot an extremely tense and dangerous experience as you often have to sneak round zombies and hide till they pass - especially the very dangerous types like Ferals (that make 7 Days to Die's Ferals look like a picnic).

SoD keep tensions high at all times, just through the sheer number of zombies (plus the awesome noise mechanic of course). I am extremely surprised your GF's first comment wasn't "Where are all the zombies?"

 

[n2n1]

....
btw who cares how the UI looks? it works doesnt it?

?

I envy you.

You clearly don't care what color your wallpaper is at home

Do you care what you play?

 

[Whorhay]

This is an Indie game.... While the menu certainly has it's foibles I found it to be far better than SoD2. The combat is also far and away better in 7dtd than in SoD2.

Using the hatchet to upgrade blocks is a bit counter intuitive I guess, but the UI does tell you why upgrading failed every time.

 

[Jeraal]

This is an Indie game.... While the menu certainly has it's foibles I found it to be far better than SoD2. The combat is also far and away better in 7dtd than in SoD2.
Using the hatchet to upgrade blocks is a bit counter intuitive I guess, but the UI does tell you why upgrading failed every time.

I want some of what you're drinking. :smile-new:

 

[Laz Man]

?I envy you.

You clearly don't care what color your wallpaper is at home

Do you care what you play?

Lol, dont know why I found this amusing....

- - - Updated - - -

I want some of what you're drinking. :smile-new:

I think both systems have their merits. Sod2 has cool power moves/take downs though...

 

[Ghostlight]

Sod2 has cool power moves/take downs though...

And footsweeps, and kerb stomps, dropkick take-downs, and various grapples, and holding enemies so your buddies can do combos. LOL no contest.

This game used to be better than SoD, but not now. Nowhere near. And I don't just mean the combat....the atmosphere, the tension, the lot. And SoD actually has zombies, a huge plus.

 

[Jeraal]

And footsweeps, and kerb stomps, dropkick take-downs, and various grapples, and holding enemies so your buddies can do combos. LOL no contest.
This game used to be better than SoD, but not now. Nowhere near. And I don't just mean the combat....the atmosphere, the tension, the lot. And SoD actually has zombies, a huge plus.

I swear, reading your posts lately is like you're reading my mind.

 

[Whorhay]

SoD2 combat tries to be a combination of an action RPG and a VS. Fighter, and winds up being utter crap. The targeting control is atrocious, combat is mostly button mashing with some special moves thrown in with a bounty of invulnerability frames. Last time I played SoD2 I think there were only 5 types of zombies, with one sub classification among them. Only one of those types of zombies was any kind of challenge and even then it was mostly because of its speed and the godawful controls. Zombies are far less of a threat in SoD2 than in 7dtd.

 

[ricp]

Come on OP, now post her comments of her first impressions when she met you.

 

[Ghostlight]

Zombies are far less of a threat in SoD2 than in 7dtd.

I never mentioned SoD2 did I? I play SoD Breakdown and I wonder if you have, and how many cities you have gotten through. I'll wager none if you think the combat is easy and the zombies no threat.

 

[Boidster]

Great, constructive post. Ignore the "git gud" replies.

Tips

When I pointed out the tips, she asked why it was an 'edit' symbol instead of a 'question mark' for help. Now that she mentioned it, I think she has a point.

It is the "Journal" of the survivor, hence the pencil. It fills in as you discover new things so though it is also a help system, the game treats it as a journal book you're filling in yourself. A "?" may indeed be better, but anyhow that is the reason for the "edit" icon. Many games use this "journal" idea, tho I think a book symbol might be more common than just a pencil.

Possibly part of the introduction to this game for a n00b should be, "This game is trying to simulate, to a certain extent, the experience of an amnesiac/unknowing survivor. It will not hold your hand about very much at all - trial and error is in some ways a feature, not a bug. If you prefer a more gentle experience, have a browser opened to the Wiki or the forums."

Also, a "blocks and upgrades" category in the Journal would be excellent.

 

[Damocles]

Zombies appearing from nowhere

Her first night was spent digging for trader treasure. Before night fell, she killed all zombies nerby, but as night fell, 2 zombies appeared out of nowhere and killed her, which she thought was BS. It could have been that they just ran from further away and she didn't see. I can't confirm because I wasn't paying strict attention.

Thats also a gripe I have with the game. It feels just gamy in that regard.

I dont like things spawning in just for gameplay purposes. As this also means you can never gain control over it.

For the horde night spawning is understandable.

But for other times, I would rather have wandering hordes, that exists even when out of sight, and zombies that only spawn in once at a location. (maybe resetting after two weeks, but not so quickly) Killing them really kills them. Walking away lets them still be there. (resetting to be a sleeper or so)

New wandering hordes could spawn (virtually) from some far away location. But not in the immediate area, just to start some action.

 

[Laz Man]

And footsweeps, and kerb stomps, dropkick take-downs, and various grapples, and holding enemies so your buddies can do combos. LOL no contest.
This game used to be better than SoD, but not now. Nowhere near. And I don't just mean the combat....the atmosphere, the tension, the lot. And SoD actually has zombies, a huge plus.

Sounds like sod2 just needs voxels...

 

[Lorca]

Haha, I remember back when I started it took me ages too to figure out how to upgrade a block. Definately needs some in-game explaining.

Once you know, it is so easy. I never had to think about it before because I started with veteran friends, and had also watched streamers. It's only when you see a total newbie struggle when you realise how badly something is explained.

All valid points, especially as we keep hearing the "new player experience" every time we question something.Hopefully your girl will overcome the silliness of some parts and begin to enjoy the game, when she starts about numbers distract her with chocolate or something!

Oh and keep posting, even if its just to annoy the villagers "Pitch forks at the ready!"

I think I have her hooked - Yesterday, she stayed up way past her usual bed time playing.

You mentioned she was digging for trader treasure....if she found the treasure then zombies do indeed spawn in from nowhere when you open the chest; it is how the mechanic for those types of quests works.

Yeah, she was. Good to know thanks. If we can anticipate it, then it's not so bad I guess.

Actually it does. If you lack the material to upgrade, a small icon appears on the bottom right of the screen on each right-click. It's pretty small though and easy to miss I guess.

Dang never even noticed that myself.

Was she on easy difficulty by any chance?

We didn't select a difficulty level, so I guess whatever is set to default.

It is interesting she came from State of Decay....one of my favourite zombie apocalypse games.

Yeah great game. I played a bit if the second one last week because I got a month free of Xbox game pass and i must say i was disappointed. So many assets reused, I don't know how the justify the price.

?I envy you.

You clearly don't care what color your wallpaper is at home

Do you care what you play?

Thanks for the chuckle

Come on OP, now post her comments of her first impressions when she met you.

I'm scared to ask her, but hey I must have done something right.

Great, constructive post. Ignore the "git gud" replies.<snip>

For sure, it's a game not a job. Also thanks for the explanation on the journal icon - I'll tell her

 

[Ghostlight]

I swear, reading your posts lately is like you're reading my mind.

Great minds think alike, they say...