We introduced you to H1Z1 yesterday, the new game from Sony Online Entertainment that we assumed would be some sort of zombie title.
Well, it's now official, and it is a zombie title. It's also very similar to DayZ. But SOE President John Smedley promises this game will be even better, and will give you that Walking Dead simulator that you've been waiting for.
Via a post on Reddit -- which seems to be Smedley's preferred method to announce news, as the game's official site links to a H1Z1 subreddit -- Smedley offered a lengthy post on the game, titled "What is H1Z1?"
"It's a massively multiplayer game in which players fight for survival in a world where death is the only sure thing," Smedley stated in his opening paragraph. "The H1Z1 virus devastated mankind and left nothing but death and destruction in its wake and a world nearly empty of human life where the remnants of humanity are in a fight against extinction against those infected with the virus. It's been 15 years since H1Z1 was first encountered and what's left of the world before is overrun with the Infected. Humanity has been reduced to hiding in the shadows, searching desperately for food and water and anything that can help to survive even for another day.
"But the Infected aren't the only dangers in the world. Everyday life in the Apocalypse means dealing with all kinds of wild animals and the brutality of other survivors, as well as finding your next meal and a safe place to sleep. It also means scavenging or crafting anything that can help you live just one more day. In H1Z1 every minute of every day is borrowed time and fearing for your life... unless you are the Danger (talking to you Walter), but life can and will go on... even in circumstances as dire as this. Humanity has not given in to the Infected. There are still pockets of humanity and the fight goes on!"
So, much like I drew from his past tweets yesterday, you're not just dealing with zombies here. There's also wild animals, and you're going to need to also deal with anyone and everyone that comes your way.
"To use a simple reference I'm sure everyone interested in this game will get... we want our players to make Woodbury from The Walking Dead if they want to," Smedley continued in his post. "Or take over a prison. Or fix an old car so you and your friends (yeah we have multiplayer vehicles) can run zombies and players over mercilessly, and revel in the sheer delight of hearing a zombie scream as you light it on fire, or craft a gun to take down your friends and enemies alike.
"Our goal here is to provide emergent gameplay that will allow our players to make the world their own the way they want to. One of the best things about H1Z1 being an MMO is the fact that with a lot of people playing, we're able to see all different kinds of gameplay. If you prefer a quiet life as a farmer raising crops... we're going to make sure your zombie apocalypse fantasy is complete. If you're like me and you want nothing more than to kill everything that moves, by all means see how that goes. It's going to be a blast!"
So he directly shouts out a Walking Dead reference there, trying to call to the fans that just really want to forget about Survival Instinct. Like forever. Also, vehicles! They showed what appeared to be a Jeep Wrangler in the first gameplay. I don't know if it was officially licensed or not, but it was so obviously a Jeep Wrangler, so even if the cars aren't officially licensed in H1Z1 you'll be able to drive some of your favorites.
Also from the gameplay, this game will let you play first person or third person, a la Elder Scrolls. You can make fortresses for either yourself or you and other players. Things will be able to be lit on fire -- houses, trees, etc. (So that in true Walking Dead fashion you can recreate the moonshine den burning episode yourself!) Crafting is going to be nonsense apparently, as even to get a dead car going you'll need to craft it a new battery. Ammo will apparently be sparse, but you will be able to craft more ammo as well.
H1Z1 will be coming out on PC first and eventually PlayStation 4. Apparently this game will be playable within the next four weeks or so, and Smedley will be live-streaming some more gameplay next week. For now, check out the video below from Game Talk Live's reveal and let us know what you think.