First round of playtests is coming to an end, but...
Hello Survivors!
The first round of playtests has started and we're super excited to read your feedback. Our team reads all surveys and carefully go through every note. It helps us tremendously. Thank you!
However, many of our participants didn't fill out their surveys yet. Therefore, to give you a bit more time, we decided to postpone the deadline for submitting surveys till September 19th. Check your e-mails for reminders and Steam keys to not miss your chance!
Will I get anything in return?
The best, most-informative feedback will be rewarded with a permanent Steam key to the game! 🏆
No, I'm not encouraging you to voluntarily switch to a diet of human brains, definitely not! But I do want to honor you, Survival Machine’s community, in a special way, and that's where our idea of turning you into zombies comes in.
How would it work? We are looking for 40 female names and 40 male names, and we're counting on your help. Whether you want your own name to appear in Survival Machine or you simply have a cool idea for an undead name—we're considering all propositions as long as they’re not offensive and can be written in the Latin alphabet.
We’re counting on your creativity, so we're looking forward to some truly unique suggestions! We’re also pressed for time. As you know, we’re gathering participants for the closed alpha, and we would love for the names you come up with to be included in the game during the tests!
We are getting close to the finish line! The closed alpha tests of our game are about to begin! We need you!
We are approaching another crucial stage in the development of our game - the alpha tests! We would like to warmly invite you to participate and share your feedback with us! This is another very important step on our way to the release, and your presence and involvement will greatly help us create a game you would love to play!
You can always find us and ask about the game on our Discord!!
see you there! Berdol
It's all about Points of Interests!
Greetings Machine Crew!
We've had a little break in our Devlogs; there's just too much going on, and we can't always keep up with everything. My bad, sorry! But! Smaller, weekly updates are still being posted on our Discord - which we warmly invite you to join. But enough excuses - let's get on with the next Devlog. This time, I'd like you to learn more about our Points of Interest (referred to as PoI in the text).
What are our PoIs? They are some of the most interesting spots on our map, places that anyone serious about survival simply must visit. It could be an old abandoned farm or a cemetery. Without PoIs, you won't progress further. Without PoIs, you won't obtain new upgrades for the machine; without exploring PoIs, you won't find the most valuable loot. And finally, without PoIs, you won't advance to the next biomes, and surely you want to reach the last bastion of humanity, right?
Especially since exploring PoIs is just plain fun. We've prepared several types of PoIs for you, each offering something different and requiring you to demonstrate knowledge of various mechanics we've designed for you. We're trying to create our world in a way that keeps things exciting, so even completing the game once won't mean you know everything about our map.
How to find PoI’s?
If you read the previous Devlog, you know that our PoIs change their locations. Of course, you won't find PoIs walking around the map and changing their spots (that would be a bit strange, wouldn't it?). However, our world changes with each of your visits, and even if you saw metal or stone deposits in a certain area before, it doesn't mean they'll be there next time.
The same goes for PoIs; with each visit, you'll encounter different challenges in the same place. This way, we want to encourage you to explore the world and increase replayability, while also presenting you with new challenges.
I will repeat this endlessly - explore our world, visit the PoIs, and search them thoroughly. Although the zombie apocalypse has almost completely wiped out human civilization, you can still find things in its ruins that will greatly aid you in your adventure. People fleeing in panic left behind plenty of loot and interesting recipes, and it would be a shame not to make use of them.
Especially since our Machine is equipped with sonar! I've described its functionality in previous blogs, but as a quick reminder: the sonar allows you to find loot and resources on the map.
It will also highlight the most important points on the map, including our PoIs, in which you should be interested in. That's where the most interesting and valuable loot will be waiting for you.
Thanks to the sonar, your team will easily find the places where the necessary resources are hidden, and a flare shot in the right direction will guide you and your companions straight to the spot. Use it extensively, but remember: the sonar only works when the Machine is operational!
Types of PoI
I mentioned earlier in the post that we are preparing several types of PoIs for you. In one, you'll be able to demonstrate your combat skills; in another, you'll exercise your grey matter by solving puzzles, and in yet another, platform challenges will test your reflexes.
a) Arenas
Here's where you can showcase your combat skills, and it's worth it because the reward will be significant! Once a lively, colorful festival, this place is now teeming with zombies eagerly awaiting their next meal - after all, humans are their favorite delicacy! Getting to the reward chest amidst these ravenous flesh-eaters won't be easy... Grab your weapon, dust off your shield, and prepare for battle!
b) Platformers
Do you enjoy reaching where no survivor has gone before? Or perhaps you believe you're the best jumper, the fastest runner in the entire team? You can put that to the test by challenging your skills at one of our platform-based PoIs. If you prove skilled enough, a reward awaits you at the end of the road.
c) Puzzles
A challenge for the brainiacs in your team! Anyone can swing a sword or wield a pickaxe, but solving these puzzles will require someone with a sharp mind.
Variants of PoIs
We have designed several types of Points of Interest to keep the exploration engaging and varied. Here are some of the main variants you will encounter:
a) Farm
Depending on the variant, the player will need to demonstrate quick reflexes in platforming tasks, as well as cleverness in solving puzzles. In one variant of the Farm, the player will have to figure out a route to the reward and then prepare that route by moving... but you’ll discover that on your own. In another variant, to get the reward, the player will have to fill a tank with water. How? You'll find out everything in Survival Machine!
b) Oilrig
An old oil rig where workers once extracted oil from the depths of the Earth. When the apocalypse hit, unfinished maintenance work had to be abandoned, and the miners left all their valuable equipment behind in panic.
Look around carefully and find a way to the abandoned loot, but be cautious! This structure doesn't seem very stable! To reach the top, the player will need to show both cleverness and quick reflexes, as the path to the reward is not obvious and will require some thought and the use of unconventional solutions in certain stages.
c) Hunting Spot
Originally prepared for hunting wildlife, these locations are now abandoned and repurposed to protect the property of former camp residents. Look around carefully; in this location, a keen eye could be worth its weight in gold!
Wrap up!
Yes, we're all about action and your engagement. We emphasise teamwork but also friendly competition. In Survival Machine, you and your crew can collaborate to solve challenges together, but if you need an extra challenge, there's nothing stopping you from seeing who's the most agile and who can reach the reward hidden at the very top first. It's your choice, but survival is key 🙂
Thanks for your attention, as always, we're eager to hear your feedback, whether here on Steam or on our Discord! See you next time for the next Devlog!
