Erkinwine

I cant think of anything worse to have in zombie apocalypse other than a child, especially a baby. Useless and extremely stressful in the best of times. A good chance they’d be the death of you in a zombie apocalypse. Trying to get a baby to stop crying or a toddler to stop having an epic meltdown while theres zombies around. As a father, its a hard no from me. 
 
However, I’m all about options. If someone wants that experience then why not? Just please, please, please do not force us to have to care for kids unless we choose to have kids. I quit Dead Rising 2 immediately upon realizing I had to care for a kid. Never turned it on again. 

I mean, Sims would be a lot more challenging if a horde of zombies would break into your house and eat your kids.

I created an account just to approve you all.
As soon as I had a base setup, I realized I really I needed something to keep me going. Something I would care for in this world. Something to keep surviving for.
A child would be great ! It can be a teenager if need be, as long as it's vulnerable enough.

Too easy to take advantage of IMO. You get the points permanently, but the difficulty of having the child is not permanent. They’re not our real children and for some players, it would be easy to be rid of the “challenge”. 
 
If not caring for the child or allowing something bad to happen to it would cause severe depression for a very long time, then maybe it could work. There would need to be a benefit to keeping the child alive and well other than the character creation points. 
 

it could be a negative trait that you start with a child and one that gives you more points is starting with an infant?

Ayrton,
 
You got the idea. With NPCs, there will be a community, so some aspects will be easier, allowing players to live longer. Other aspects more difficult. It will be necessary to keep the entire community fed, for example. But communities allow for specialization and thus more chances for longer survival. Even in communities, survivors will slowly be eliminated, forcing those who remain to take on greater roles. Having to take care of an infant or toddler would certainly add an aspect of difficulty to the game and, I think, a fun tag. Survivors may not live long enough to create their own offspring, but what if the player came across a young mother with a 4 or 5-year-old. They both need to be taken care of, because the mother cannot be expected to go out hunting for food and supplies on her own or with the child.

What Ever Happened to Marina Cook

I grew incredibly anxious awaiting the release of Build 41 – Anims. Every Thursday, I read the weekly Thursdoid, hoping that there would be some announcement of the pending release of the much-anticipated Build 41. And each week there was more news to make me even more eager, but no news of that release. Finally, I could take it no more. I turned on the IWBUMS, waited patiently while the game updated and finally, I was playing Build 41 – even if it wasn’t ready for release, yet, I could get the feel for what would, in essence, be a whole new game. I wanted to play Project Zomboid 2.0.


 
Since it would be my first playthrough in this build, I thought it might be fun to do an After Action Report (AAR) and perhaps keep a diary of how things went. That’s what What Ever Happened to Marina Cook is all about.


 
Game Notes

This play-through takes place in Muldraugh, Ky, using Survival mode with no Mods installed. Marina is an unemployed individual. She is Resilient and has Thick Skin. She is also Short Sighted and is a Slow Reader. Because I like to make it a little more difficult on a starting character – I have no reason why – Marina begins with no clothing; not even shoes.


 
Background

Marina is not from Muldraugh, she was visiting her friends, Bill and Ted, when the Knox Event occurred. Things happened so quickly, before she knew it, there was no chance for her to go home. But Bill was a firefighter and Ted a sheriff’s deputy, so she felt fairly safe with them.


 
About a week after the Knox Event, she was playing poker with Ted and Bill’s wife Laura. Bill was out trying to see what he could scavenge from the neighborhood that might make their lives a little simpler. When he came home, Bill didn’t look well. He said he had been scratched and was a bit anxious about a near-death experience, but that he would be okay after he got some rest. Laura gave him some beta blockers and something for the pain and stayed him a while as he finally fell asleep. She then returned to the poker game with Ted and Marina.


 
They didn’t hear Bill get up. In fact, Ted was the first to see him and then just as he was taking a bite out of Laura’s neck. She let out a horrible scream of terror mixed with pain. He must have gotten the artery, because blood sprayed everywhere; it got all over Marina. Ted acted as quickly as he could, pushing Marina back, so that he was between her and Bill. He was obviously worried about Laura and his friend Bill, who was obviously now a zombie. He didn’t have his pistol or anything that could rightly be called a weapon, but he did his best to keep Bill at bay. He landed several good blows, which rocked the zombie, but it took them and kept coming back. Finally, it was able to grab Ted and pull him to the ground. Ted tried to push him off and get back to his feet, but it was clear he had lost the battle. Marina let out a shrill shriek and then fled out the rear exit of their safehouse. It wasn’t safe anymore.


 
That was the last thing she remembered. Whatever happened after that was a mystery to her. It must have been the shock.


 
July 9

Marina awoke in an unfamiliar home. She was on the floor in a bedroom under the window. Rising to her feet, she noticed that she was naked, except for her bra and panties. She must have shed her cloths because of Laura’s blood. She had to remind herself that such fits of hysterics would likely get her killed. She had to keep her cool. There was something uncomfortable in her left cup. Checking, she found it to be a keyring with a single key. She assumed that somehow, she had gotten a key to this house.


 
She found a few things in the house that she could use, a hiking bag, a pair of socks, a cleaver, some books and a bit of food, but the house has apparently already been picked over pretty good. When she was satisfied, she had all the good stuff from this little house, she went next door to a two-story house. There she found a club hammer and more books. She also found three trade magazines, which she took the time to read. One was The Hunter Magazine vol 3. She learned how to Make Trap Box and Make Cage Trap. Two skills that might come in handy later. The second was The Metalwork Magazine vol 3. From it, she learned to Make Metal Fences. She wasn’t sure when she could put that skill to use but was still happy to have learned it. The third magazine was Laines Auto Manual – Performance Models. This magazine taught her how to work on performance automobiles. After reading, she left the magazines behind as she had no further use for them.


 
To her surprise, she found a fully cooked, but cold porkchop on the stove. She took it and ate it later when she became hungry.


 
This house, too, was fairly picked over, but she found a bit more food and she found an alarm clock. Without a watch, it would have to do for telling time. She also found a couple pairs of pants, one of which she put on. She was starting to feel drafty. She did find a saw and some nails as well as a nice club hammer. These would certainly come in handy in her future.


 
Having collected everything she felt was of value in this house, she headed out to try her luck elsewhere. By now, it was 2:30 in the afternoon and was sure she should start looking for a safe place to make her home for the evening.


 
[She went outside and was walking across the street when the game froze up. I was expecting it to crash again, like it already had four times at this point. Instead, while I stared at the blurred out, frozen screen with the (Not Responding) notice at the top, I heard the distinct sound of zombies ripping at flesh. Sure enough, once the game finally finished crashing and I rebooted it, Marina was surrounded by zombies and was already nearly dead.]


 
That is how Marina Cook died. Sad, sad story.

What Ever Happened to Marina Cook

I grew incredibly anxious awaiting the release of Build 41 – Anims. Every Thursday, I read the weekly Thursdoid, hoping that there would be some announcement of the pending release of the much-anticipated Build 41. And each week there was more news to make me even more eager, but no news of that release. Finally, I could take it no more. I turned on the IWBUMS, waited patiently while the game updated and finally, I was playing Build 41 – even if it wasn’t ready for release, yet, I could get the feel for what would, in essence, be a whole new game. I wanted to play Project Zomboid 2.0.


 
Since it would be my first playthrough in this build, I thought it might be fun to do an After Action Report (AAR) and perhaps keep a diary of how things went. That’s what What Ever Happened to Marina Cook is all about.


 
Game Notes

This play-through takes place in Muldraugh, Ky, using Survival mode with no Mods installed. Marina is an unemployed individual. She is Resilient and has Thick Skin. She is also Short Sighted and is a Slow Reader. Because I like to make it a little more difficult on a starting character – I have no reason why – Marina begins with no clothing; not even shoes.


 
Background

Marina is not from Muldraugh, she was visiting her friends, Bill and Ted, when the Knox Event occurred. Things happened so quickly, before she knew it, there was no chance for her to go home. But Bill was a firefighter and Ted a sheriff’s deputy, so she felt fairly safe with them.


 
About a week after the Knox Event, she was playing poker with Ted and Bill’s wife Laura. Bill was out trying to see what he could scavenge from the neighborhood that might make their lives a little simpler. When he came home, Bill didn’t look well. He said he had been scratched and was a bit anxious about a near-death experience, but that he would be okay after he got some rest. Laura gave him some beta blockers and something for the pain and stayed him a while as he finally fell asleep. She then returned to the poker game with Ted and Marina.


 
They didn’t hear Bill get up. In fact, Ted was the first to see him and then just as he was taking a bite out of Laura’s neck. She let out a horrible scream of terror mixed with pain. He must have gotten the artery, because blood sprayed everywhere; it got all over Marina. Ted acted as quickly as he could, pushing Marina back, so that he was between her and Bill. He was obviously worried about Laura and his friend Bill, who was obviously now a zombie. He didn’t have his pistol or anything that could rightly be called a weapon, but he did his best to keep Bill at bay. He landed several good blows, which rocked the zombie, but it took them and kept coming back. Finally, it was able to grab Ted and pull him to the ground. Ted tried to push him off and get back to his feet, but it was clear he had lost the battle. Marina let out a shrill shriek and then fled out the rear exit of their safehouse. It wasn’t safe anymore.


 
That was the last thing she remembered. Whatever happened after that was a mystery to her. It must have been the shock.


 
July 9

Marina awoke in an unfamiliar home. She was on the floor in a bedroom under the window. Rising to her feet, she noticed that she was naked, except for her bra and panties. She must have shed her cloths because of Laura’s blood. She had to remind herself that such fits of hysterics would likely get her killed. She had to keep her cool. There was something uncomfortable in her left cup. Checking, she found it to be a keyring with a single key. She assumed that somehow, she had gotten a key to this house.


 
She found a few things in the house that she could use, a hiking bag, a pair of socks, a cleaver, some books and a bit of food, but the house has apparently already been picked over pretty good. When she was satisfied, she had all the good stuff from this little house, she went next door to a two-story house. There she found a club hammer and more books. She also found three trade magazines, which she took the time to read. One was The Hunter Magazine vol 3. She learned how to Make Trap Box and Make Cage Trap. Two skills that might come in handy later. The second was The Metalwork Magazine vol 3. From it, she learned to Make Metal Fences. She wasn’t sure when she could put that skill to use but was still happy to have learned it. The third magazine was Laines Auto Manual – Performance Models. This magazine taught her how to work on performance automobiles. After reading, she left the magazines behind as she had no further use for them.


 
To her surprise, she found a fully cooked, but cold porkchop on the stove. She took it and ate it later when she became hungry.


 
This house, too, was fairly picked over, but she found a bit more food and she found an alarm clock. Without a watch, it would have to do for telling time. She also found a couple pairs of pants, one of which she put on. She was starting to feel drafty. She did find a saw and some nails as well as a nice club hammer. These would certainly come in handy in her future.


 
Having collected everything she felt was of value in this house, she headed out to try her luck elsewhere. By now, it was 2:30 in the afternoon and was sure she should start looking for a safe place to make her home for the evening.


 
[She went outside and was walking across the street when the game froze up. I was expecting it to crash again, like it already had four times at this point. Instead, while I stared at the blurred out, frozen screen with the (Not Responding) notice at the top, I heard the distinct sound of zombies ripping at flesh. Sure enough, once the game finally finished crashing and I rebooted it, Marina was surrounded by zombies and was already nearly dead.]


 
That is how Marina Cook died. Sad, sad story.

I just want to say that when I heard talk a year or so about an anims release, I was excited that we would get to see our characters wearing a backpack and maybe look a little more like we have them outfitted.
 
This is above and beyond what I was expecting and it still is growing. I'm hoping that you folks at TIS have an expected date for the release - even if you don't want to get our hopes up too much by saying it. I'm really looking forward to these additions.  Especially the animations of our characters doing the many tasks they have to do from day to day that currently just show them staring back at us.
 
Good luck with this build. I hope it goes to IWBUMS soon.

I just want to say that when I heard talk a year or so about an anims release, I was excited that we would get to see our characters wearing a backpack and maybe look a little more like we have them outfitted.
 
This is above and beyond what I was expecting and it still is growing. I'm hoping that you folks at TIS have an expected date for the release - even if you don't want to get our hopes up too much by saying it. I'm really looking forward to these additions.  Especially the animations of our characters doing the many tasks they have to do from day to day that currently just show them staring back at us.
 
Good luck with this build. I hope it goes to IWBUMS soon.

I just want to say that when I heard talk a year or so about an anims release, I was excited that we would get to see our characters wearing a backpack and maybe look a little more like we have them outfitted.
 
This is above and beyond what I was expecting and it still is growing. I'm hoping that you folks at TIS have an expected date for the release - even if you don't want to get our hopes up too much by saying it. I'm really looking forward to these additions.  Especially the animations of our characters doing the many tasks they have to do from day to day that currently just show them staring back at us.
 
Good luck with this build. I hope it goes to IWBUMS soon.

Ok, I know, I know, I know. The TIS Devs have already made it clear that there are going to be no child zombies in Project Zomboid. And the case is closed. If that's the way it is - that's the way it will be, but I must at least post my suggestion.
 
When NPCs are finally released (whenever that may be) it will be entirely unrealistic to assume that survivors are not going to attempt to save the species by creating a next generation. If the issue for no children is because the Devs don't want to deal with their deaths, that is one thing against which I have no counter argument. However, if, as I have read, there is a lack of desire to have zombie children, the answer is easy:
 
The disease that causes zombification only affects those who have already been through puberty. While this might suggest thirteen or fourteen year-old zombies (technically children), they will appear no different than other young adults of 18 or 19, once their bodies have cooled and the signs of a gruesome death are showing.
 
There, I'm sure it will be shot down, but I've made my argument and my conscious is clear once more.

OMG that makes me so happy  I love it when you can do that in games, it adds so much to the immersion (for me anyway..) 

you can, 'its just not in yet'tm

Looks awesome!
It would be nice if you could sit down and do stuff like reading or eating that way. Or at least just sit down (even if you're not tired) and chill by the fireplace or something at the end of a long day  

I have 2 children (3yrs and 3mos). Having my 2 children with me in a zombie apocalypse would be just about the worst thing ever! At their age they are almost totally useless and will likely just get themselves and myself into trouble.
 
With that being said; it would certainly add a new dynamic and challenge to the game.
 
The Last of Us pulled off having to protect a child during an apocalyptic scenario.

Good idea but I can only start to imagine what kind of unacceptable trolling this kind of feature would bring to the game... Also, the time scope of one life in PZ is probably too short to really contemplate the next generation, after a 2 minutes research, I could not find a player surviving for more than a few months or a year. Apparently, you more or less "beat the game" after a few months, which seems fair. Maybe it will change in the final game though.
 
I think it's a great idea because of the emotional value it would bring to the game, having to take care of a vulnerable AI (a bit like in ICO) would make surviving more relevant and varied. Especially is the AI is limited in some ways compared to the player, for instance you would have to carry a kid over a fence, or through a window, the kid would get tired faster when walking, you could carry him but you'd get tired faster. The kid could get sick, get scared or go crazy more easily, maybe he could be careless too and leave a window open, a door unlocked or start a fire!
 
At this point it's more a "Home Alone" simulation than anything, but you get the idea.

I would like to see scenes where one zombie is surrounded by other dead(really dead) zeds.
The idea being he knew he was doomed, presumably bitten or just lost hope, and went to take as many as he could with him and now you at least have to kill a zed to get the guns/ammo/supplies.

also adding onto the hanging idea, could some of them be hanging zeds of people who tried to hang themselves post infection?
harmless(unless the rope breaks) but amusing to see

Me, too. I like the NPCs in Dead State, but would prefer if they were a little more open-ended. Too many times you only get two choices and either means a character will die. I'd prefer more intelligent NPCs. I think that's what the devs are trying to give us and why they have been so difficult.

To be honest, I don't really get all the hype about NPCs. I mean, I don't really need unresponsive / barely interactive drones randomly traversing my garden and whom I have to protect from certain death. I have yet to see a sandbox game that made NPCs interesting. At the end of the day, I'd rather have a real story mode with NPCs and meaningful dialogues and such. Something like a mix of Dead State in my Zomboid. Now that'd be something worth looking forward to, imo.

Yeah thats why I only play PC games, I can understand the subscription model if it's reasonably priced and their goal isn't the money.  Not saying PC doesn't have any subscription model games, because it does, but most games are just one time buy and I can do whatever I want.

Motor bikes, cycles and anything where the player is prone to falling off opens up a whole can of worms with regards physics, anims etc. I think the plan for now is to get cars working and stable and then look at how feasible bikes etc are with the vehicle system and the new anim system once that's finalised.
 
So whilst I'm not saying "never", its not likely to be in the initial vehicle release.

I gotta say I am super pumped to reintroduce some people to this game after anims/cars/blood accumulation/server cleaning drop in. This will address everything my buddies wanted in this game a year ago. They've since dropped out but I can genuinely sustain my hype for years... Thanks for stickin it out Devs!

Evenin’ all…
 
VEHICLES
Work on the internal test branch for cars continues, alongside Build 37 and its general bug purge, while Martin continues to pump out vehicle models and their destroyed counterparts.
 
Community feedback on the initial cars vid was extremely positive, but some people felt they ‘popped out’ from the environment a little – it’s something we’re aware of and as such he’s also experimenting with a texture to make general cars look a little more weathered, as well as muting the general colours we use a little so they fit more snugly into the PZ map tiles. The reds, greens and blues we initially used were very pure. So, behold: cars that will (hopefully) fit in with the PZ world a little better once they’re up and running in the test build.
 

 
Something else that’s a part of our vehicles build, meanwhile, is some work EasyPickins put in on zombie pathfinding that we haven’t mentioned so far. Clearly, having a bunch of movable objects on the game map adds complications (and exploits) when we have a bunch of zombies traipsing after you and providing a mounting threat.
 
As such in the vehicles branch we currently have some new pathfinding work that you can see in an early test screen while we still had the blue trucks with the wonky wheel.
Right now the path-finding seems okay, but the actual following needs some polish (there’s a few zeds getting stuck on things) but it’s a fantastic system to take into the internal testing stage of affairs. Our thanks to Tim for all the work he put into it.
 
BUILD 37 WORK
We just released Version 37.5 into the IWBUMS public beta, which follows on from last Wednesday’s Version 37.4. The latter included an update to the foraging system that means you can look for a specific sort of item (berries, plants, materials etc) that will also have the secondary benefit of unwanted items not clogging up servers – likewise the new server option that’ll allow items to set a particular number of hours before the game hoovers up unwanted items that have been left on the ground.
We reckon there’ll be one more, maybe two, fix-focused public beta releases before a full 37 launch – specifically aimed at clearing the board in terms of the bugs (many quick and easy-remedy, others not) that’ve been building up over the past few builds. Then 37’s maps, annotated maps, loot stashes and many/varied other stuff will be set loose on the world/Steam.
 
Meanwhile, as discussed last week, in other branches work on in-game devices, map expansion, optimization and making sure advances made in vehicles/anims all play nicely together all continues to bubble beneath the surface.
 
COMMUNITY STUFF
A quick nod to some of the cool stuff we’ve been seeing popping up on the forums recently. First off, IndigoRebel’s buildings look fab – an amazing eye for detail in the stores and apartment buildings. We also love the absolutely crazy Post Apocalyptic Sprites that MarcOwaR has created – although we are a little worried about his state of mind when designing a couple of them…
 
This week’s Spiffo-loving lady from Komokon over on Steam. The Centralized Block of Italicised Text would like to direct your attention to the PZ Wiki should you feel like editing or amending something, and the PZ Mailing List that can send blogs like this and patch notes direct to your mailbox. We also live on Twitter right here! Our Discord is now open for chat and hijinks too. A general overview of the content of PZ builds past, in testing and upcoming can be found here.

The toned down cars look much better.  We won't truly be able to tell until they're seen alongside the in game graphics.
 
In other news, I'm pumped about cars.  Awesome work team!