[Preview] Dead Wool - Minecraft Zombie Apocalypse

Published 12/11/2012

Welcome to Dead Wool!

Set in a city ravaged by a zombie outbreak, the player must survive as they trek though the infested streets and reach the only escape - a helicopter at the top of a skyscraper across the city!

Many hours were put into building the city from the ground up and even wiring triggers for in-game-events over the course of 4-5 weeks. Players are given the option of exploring the city or fast tracking it through to the escape route. Players decide at their own pace when they want to complete the level. Exploring the city yields interesting side-quests that supplement the main story and many item-drops will give the player an advantage against the undead citizens.

This project was completed by four of us for a night class in game design. It was completed by myself (Michael A. Hawker), Melissa Henry, Howard Smith, and he who shall remain nameless...

Hit the jump for more project details and a breakdown of responsibilities of each team member. As well as additional photos.

Major elements in the Game

• FPS scale city built brick by brick in Minecraft
• Realistic environment set in the "zombie apocalypse"
• Streets, buildings, and storefronts portray effects of a society overrun by the undead
• RPG elements
• Story, combat, exploration, dialog, boost items, enemy encounters, skill puzzles
• Entire city has been wired to interact with players' choices and actions
• Quest system built into the city; players are given narrative as they progress thru the city's many streets and structures
• Puzzles and side-quests integrated into the level give the player more exploration and game play variation

Team Members

Melissa Henry

• Concept Map
• Park
• Hospital
• Factories
• Apartment complex
• Library
• Starbucks
• Restaurant
• 2nd Floor office maze (Skyscraper)

Howard Smith

• Construction Site
• Sky-bridge
• Foreman's Office
• Blockades
• City Hall
• Small Shops
• "Home Depot"
• Executive Floor Office Maze (Skyscraper)

Michael A. Hawker

• Wiring/Code for:

• Game Start/end

• Quest messages and progression

• Event/action Triggers

• Switches, buttons, door panels, and teleporting

• Enemy encounters/spawning

• Elevators

• Lighting

• Puzzles

• Item Drops

• Environment (time of day)

• Underground Parking Garage

• Road system

• Skyscraper

• 1st Floor (Skyscraper)

• Rubble

Nameless

• Story and Questing:

• Main Story progression/script

• Side quest progression/script

• NPC interaction

• Quest trigger messages

• Item usage/drops

• End game conditions (alternate ending messages)

• Fire Department

• Mall

• Police Department

• Gas Station

• Sky Scraper Sides

Team Effort

• Building
• Testing
• Balancing
• Design
• Brain storming
• Support
• Helicopter ;)