Concept Development
For this first phase, I will be brainstorming and developing the concept for the game. I will want to understand the target audience for my project so that I am developing the right type of game to make them want to play it. I will also be researching competitor games of a similar genre, style, and gameplay but also considering other media types such as movies that I will be using as a reference during my project. I will also ensure that what I develop is towards the career path I am looking to do so further increases my skillset, and my strengths (but also challenges my weaknesses) but importantly makes sure I have the necessary materials and software to achieve it in the necessary timescale.
Project Development Timeline and Milestones
I created a simple timeline in Microsoft Excel for my project which has helped me manage my time better by being able to see the number of weeks remaining and the tasks that require completion. All the tasks are listed down the left side and weeks across the top. I have been completing this each week to stay on track. and will continue to do so until completed.
Mind Map & Brainstorming Ideas
Before I was able to come up with my FMP proposal and schedule I spent time thinking about different ideas.
To help me decide, I wrote down various ideas on paper and then made some mind maps in PowerPoint. The first mind map was fairly general, simply looking into what kind of levels I could develop and also how this fits into my strengths and weaknesses, along with the timescale for the project.
My first idea was a level that focused on trying to keep safe out in the neighbourhood. So you would choose to either be a pedestrian, cyclist or driver. Robots would be controlling all the other bikes, pedestrians and cars in the level. The aim of the game would be to stay alive as long as you can before someone kills you. There could be some puzzles to solve along the way with the main challenge of being able to get from one area of the neighbourhood to the other and stay alive. I was also thinking there could be some educational element to it about road safety.
My second Idea was more around my interest in the genre of Horror movies and creating some form of horror, haunted house-type level. I was thinking about modelling a huge horror house where the player would need to find their way out but as I've already made multiple houses in past projects I've decided not to do anymore as it would seem too repetitive.
My third idea was to develop a level around Parkour as I had enjoyed doing some game development around this in last years project. This time the game level would be based in real-time in a city and would be part of a police chase where you had a certain amount of time to the end of the level before you are caught. I wanted to make it really exciting and make the player feel excited but nervous about getting caught and make it as real as possible with good
My fourth idea was to make the level about a zombie apocalypse where although the world had not yet been taken over there were news that a distant city had some odd goings on and everyone was leaving due to some so-called zombies and the player (journalist) wanted to travel there to find out for himself and report on it. When he gets there it's worse than he thought and things don't go to plan. But can he find his way out?
Overall, after speaking through the ideas with a number of gamers in my class I decided to go with my fourth idea as I feel the story is really appealing and I want to make it as exciting as possible and fun to play.
Dead Island, Fortnite and the TV series The Walking Dead are really popular so to develop something blending the three together could be really appealing to players aged 12-17 and something a little different to whats available today.
I will further test out what my target audience like most about these types of games during my research to narrow down my proposal.
Mind Map 2 - "Rise of the Undead"
I am now focusing completely on what I need to do in order to make my zombie game exciting and fun to play for my target audience. I started to think about the main parts starting with the name which for the moment I have called "Rise of the Undead" and from here I created sections based on game type, gameplay, animation, assets, and sound.
I also started some initial research on some really popular games such as Dead Island, and also Fortnite, even though it is not a zombie game, but my thinking is to develop some kind of combination of the two as I like the art style of Fortnite and gameplay of Dead Island. I am also getting some inspiration around zombies in general from the TV series "The Walking Dead".
Mind Map 3 FInal - "Rise of the Undead"
In my final mind map, I have gone into even more detail about the game, right from what the game is about, the gameplay, right through to how the mechanics will work and the art style I want to develop. This has given me a great picture in my mind, however, this also may change as the project progresses but as it stands, this is the idea I'd like to achieve in the end.
Primary Research
Target Audience
Having established the type of game I want to develop from the Ideas and planning pre-work I reviewed the Gaming industry PEGI ratings to ensure I am understanding them for my target audience.
PEGI ratings are set out with clear communication so everyone can understand what each icon means.
There are two levels of information, the Age which goes from green to red to alert you without the need to pay too much attention to the writing. Then there are the content labels that warn you, for example, it may have swearing in or you may encounter some references to drugs.
I intend to develop my game in a similar manner to Fortnite which has frequent scenes of mild violence, and a PEGI 12 age rating and an E for Everyone.
It will be following a stylized environment which is very popular.
This type of game is suitable for anyone who enjoys zombie games. The game is super easy to understand and explain to people that have never seen it, even through a single picture.
Zombie games are also a good choice for Twitch streamers and YouTubers who want to provide engaging content for their viewers. The gameplay mechanics, co-op play, horror elements, and variety of zombie games can all contribute to an entertaining and engaging stream.
Now I understand my target audience for the type of game I am developing I can construct my User Survey with that in mind.
User Survey
To gain more insights into my target audience I carried out a user survey asking questions to make sure I'm developing a game that they enjoy. The main information I needed was about players' favourite games, game modes, why they liked them, and also if they felt anything is missing from the current zombie games available. The answers will help me narrow down the requirements for my game development. I will take this feedback into my level design and ensure I use this as a reference when I move into prototyping and further development of my game. I used SurveyMonkey to carry out the survey.
Summary of results
Target audience: 12-27 yr olds // Gamers // Male or Female // 4 gamers replied.
I listed out 5 zombie games that are very popular and fit in with what I'm looking to develop.
These were Dead Island Series, The Walking Dead, Dying Light Series, Back 4 Blood and Days Gone.
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4 out of 5 gamers each chose a different game. Back for blood was not chosen at all.
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Most preferred weapons were split 50/50 between firearms and melee weapons
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4 out of 5 gamers preferred playing single-player mode as opposed to co-op.
Comments were interesting and there was some good feedback to think about how I could include some of these aspects in my game development.
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"More creative weapons"
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"Zombies with unique abilities and weaknesses could make the game more interesting"
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"Adding more survival elements".
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"Look at adding a different type of combat mechanic such as a grappling hook, flamethrower or psychic powers!
It is clear from my user survey that there could be some different ways to make my game stand out. By adding a focus on unique abilities of the infected, or even some unique combat mechanics could create a more engaging and exciting game
Observational Study
I did an observational study of gamer in my target audience playing Dead Island 2 to get some understanding into their behaviours and preferences.
Behaviours:
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Explored new areas, enjoyed the freedom of the game
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Engaged in combat a lot
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Became frustrated when stuck and finding hard to progress
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Became fully immersed in the game
Emotions:
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Became excited at killing zombies, exploring but also some frustration during gameplay
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We're really engaged in the game world
Interactions with the game:
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Chose specific weapons or items to use, had favourites
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Managed resources effectively
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Made specific decisions that impacted the game's story or outcome
Secondary Research
Existing Video Games
I began by analyzing existing zombie video games to identify successful gameplay mechanics and visual styles that could be incorporated into the new game level.
Dead Island 2
Action role-playing game Dead Island 2 was created by Dambuster Studios and released by Deep Silver. It is the third main chapter in the Dead Island series and a follow-up to the video game Dead Island from 2011. A post-apocalyptic California serves as the setting for the game, as players must fend against legions of zombies to survive. While the combat differs from its predecessors in terms of mechanics, it retains many of its aspects, like the "rage" system and crafting systems. Due to its violent violence, blood and gore, strong language, and drug usage, Dead Island 2 is rated M for Mature and is meant for gamers aged 17 and up. Fans of the Dead Island series and people who enjoy adventure games are the game's intended market.
What I like about Dead Island 2 is it has a variety of zombie types to encounter. My game level could incorporate a similar idea with different zombies having unique abilities and weaknesses to keep the gameplay fresh and challenging.
Looting and upgrading weapons is also something that allows players can keep their favourite weapons and upgrade them. For my game, I could allow players to scavenge for weapons and upgrade them to increase their effectiveness against zombies.
Fortnite - Zombie Maps
Since Call of Duty dropped its zombie mode, other FPS games have tried to push this concept forward. Unfortunately, there is no fixed mode for players to fight off zombies in Fortnite. However, thanks to the creative mode in Fortnite, many creators have decided to make their own Fortnite Zombie Maps.
There are many zombie maps in Fortnite, so it can be pretty tedious for someone to choose which one to play.
All zombie-themed maps in video games usually have only one goal; kill as many zombies as you can in a limited time. So Fortnite Zombie Maps follow a similar route.
What have I taken from these games that I may look to bring some elements in are:
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Use vibrant colours for the environment and characters, similar to the colour palette used in Fortnite.
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Add fun and playful elements to the level, such as humorous zombie designs or quirky environmental details.
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Use a variety of textures and patterns to add visual interest to the level, such as bold stripes or polka dots.
Dying Light Series
Dying Light and Dying Light 2 are open-world first-person survival horror games developed by Techland and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
The games are set in post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by flesh-hungry zombies. Players roam a city devastated by a mysterious epidemic, scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the infected population.
The sequel, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, was released in February 2022. Dying Light 2 takes place 22 years after the events of the first game with countless activities and features that enhance the gameplay experience. Here are some of the game mechanics that players have enjoyed:
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Better weather system
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More natural environments (like forests)
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More weapon variety
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Infected being more "dumb" + better physics and ragdolls, no invisible walls
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Howlers patrolling areas and roofs, removing the icon over their head, also volatile in chase level 1
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Redesigning UI, chase level, danger arrows on screen, immunity timer
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Better rain/storm with lightings
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Bigger weapon space size in the character's stash
What I like about this game is the parkour, alongside combat. The parkour system allows players to run, jump, climb, and just generally move around easily. Players can jump (and triple jump), slide, and crash onto just about anything throughout the entire city. This is another aspect I can consider for my own game.
TV Series
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series based on the original comic book series.
The series features a number of survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The plot of the series is set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies who are referred to as walkers and follows a group of survivors trying to survive and contending with hostile human survivors along the way. The walkers themselves are the cause of all the conflict in every season.
The show follows former police officer Rick Grimes who leads a group of survivors seeking a safe haven. As the world overrun by the walkers, they try to move from place to place in search of safety.
The series was in ts 11th season just recently and there are spin off series planned taking a few of the case off in other directions.
One idea I thought of when watching the walking dead was to develop a level that is set at the West Georgia Correctional Facility from Season 3 and Season 4. It features a new group who need to escape from the prison as a massive amounts of zombies infests the buildings.
Zombie Studies
Zombie Characteristics
According to popular culture and folklore, a zombie is typically either a reanimated corpse with a big appetite or a person who has been bitten by another zombie and contracted the "zombie virus."
Typically, zombies are depicted as powerful, robotic beings with rotting flesh. Their sole objective is to eat. Generally speaking, they don't interact (although some might grunt a bit).
What Caused Zombies?
The first civilization to be terrorised by a fear of the dead may have been the Ancient Greeks. Many ancient graves have been discovered by archaeologists that contained skeletons pinned down by rocks and other heavy objects, probably to stop the dead bodies from coming back to life.
Haiti has a long history of zombie folklore, possibly beginning in the 17th century when West African slaves were brought there.
Voodoo and zombies
Voodoo is a religion with roots in West Africa that is practised throughout Haiti and the Caribbean, Brazil, the American South, and other regions with an African heritage. It is also occasionally spelled vodou or vodun.
While many modern-day believers of the voodoo religion think zombies are myths, others think they're real people who have been revived by a voodoo practitioner called a bokor.
Bokors have a history of using multiple substances to make concoctions, such as "zombie powders," which contain the lethal neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which is found in pufferfish and some other marine species. These materials include herbs, shells, fish, animal parts, bones, and other objects.
The tetrodotoxin combination may result in zombie-like symptoms like difficulty walking, mental confusion, and respiratory issues when used carefully at sub-lethal doses.
Pop Culture's Use of Zombies
According to Linda Troost's book The Undead Eighteenth Century, zombies first appeared in literature in 1697 and were referred to as spirits or ghosts rather than cannibalistic fiends.
With the 1932 release of White Zombie, they entered the cinematic world around the same time as their fellow monsters Frankenstein and Dracula. But it wasn't until 1968, with the release of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, that zombies developed their own cult following.
Are Zombies in the Bible?
The modern-day, carnivorous zombie isn’t in the Bible. But there are many references to bodies being reanimated or resurrected which may have inspired zombie myths throughout history.
Our Fascination with Zombies
Why does the modern world have such a love affair with zombies? History may be to blame, according to Stanford literary scholar Angela Becerra Vidergar.
Vidergar tells Stanford News she believes mankind’s perception of violence took a drastic turn after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. She feels such large-scale disasters cause people to fictionalize their deaths on a mass scale and focus on the survival of the fittest, a common theme among zombie narratives.
By conducting research in these areas, I have gained a better understanding of what it takes to create a successful zombie survival game. This knowledge can help me make the right choices about the design, and development of the game.
Gameplay Mechanics
In this 3D zombie game, the player step into the role of a journalist determined to deliver the most dangerous media story in world history. Set in a post-apocalyptic city overrun by undead zombies, the player must navigate through the treacherous streets, surviving by eliminating zombies along the way. As the player ventures deeper into the city, their objective is to uncover the key to the safe zone and report on the state of this isolated urban nightmare.
The game mechanics will include combat and exploration. The player will have access to various weapons such as guns, and melee weapons. The player will also have to manage their resources (such as health, ammunition, and food) and be able to craft to build new weapons and tools using resources found in the environment, however, both of these are subject to how much time I have and also learning how to do it so may not be included in this game and be for further development.
The graphic animation will be stylised similarly to Fortnite zombie custom games.
Technical Research
3D Modelling
To create my models, I will use Autodesk Maya, which will include all aspects of texturing and UV mapping. So far, I am able to do this and do not anticipate any problems, but I will use YouTube for additional research in any areas where I require additional guidance. I'll import my models into Unreal Engine 5.
Level Design
The level design will be an open-world environment with various buildings, streets, and alleys for the player to explore. The city will be designed to look like a post-apocalyptic wasteland with destroyed buildings, abandoned cars, and debris scattered throughout the environment.
I have also found that other than Unreal Engine there are other software options to choose from for game creation, for example, Unity which is a cross-platform game engine, supporting 3D, 2D, Augmented, and Virtual Reality based products. Its also used in other professions such as Film, Architecture and Engineering. I watched an interesting introduction video on the Unity website as shown below, and as I only know how to use UE4 today, I may see if I can download and learn how to use Unity also to broaden my skills.
Audio
These are the sounds I intend to use for my game. I want to keep the audio manageable and games of this type I have seen during my research are similar.
Main Menu
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Main menu background music
In Game
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Music throughout game
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Zombie grunting, growling
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Slashing sounds
Research Sources
https://www.history.com [Online]. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-zombies [Accessed 4 April 2023]
https://en.wikipedia.org [Online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Island_2 [Accessed 4 April 2023]
https://www.pushsquare.com [Online.] Available at: https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/03/feature_what _25_years_of_resident_evil_means_to_game_developers [Acccessed 4 April 2023]
https://en.wikipedia.org [Online.] Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_Light [Accessed 5 April 2023]
https://www.askaboutgames.com [Online.] Available at https://www.askaboutgames.com/pegi-age-ratings#:~:text=Essentially%2C%20the%20PEGI%20rating%20on,deemed%20suitable%20for%20adults%20only. [Accessed 5 April 2023]
https://www.youtube.com [Online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R91KtPOS_SY [Accessed 8 April 2034]