Hello Doompreneurs,
It’s awesome to have you all here!
We’re having a blast building Zombuds, and we can’t wait to see you play it. But first things first. We’ve been getting a lot of questions, so we put together this FAQ.
Still got questions? Drop them below!
About Zombuds
What is Zombuds?
Zombuds is an open-world co-op simulation where you create the black market empire of your dreams during the zombie apocalypse. Loot, manufacture, and distribute anything people crave, then expand and automate your operation using humans and zombies alike to become the largest drug lord the world has ever seen.
Why did you decide to combine the drug empire and the zombie apocalypse themes?
After our last game Vampire Hunters, we were on the lookout for opportunities to create another crazy, absurd game that felt unique and lighthearted. We always appreciated zombie movies that moved away from the horror aspect and created more of a comedy fantasy in the apocalypse, so we knew this atmosphere was ripe for a game of ours. With the success of simulation games, particularly with the drug empire fantasy, we immediately thought about connecting the two and delivering something never seen before. The more we prototyped the drug tycoon mechanics in the zombie apocalypse, the more fun and crazier it got.
Is Zombuds a Schedule I clone?
Certainly not! We definitely draw inspiration from the "create your drug empire" concept, but we are bringing a lot of new ideas to it. The whole zombie apocalypse setting allows us to add things like looting, worldwide distribution, absurd end-of-the-world substances and automation with brainwashed zombies, to name a few. You can also expect brand new mechanics related to distributing your products, finding the products you need in the open world and more! So while Schedule I and Breaking Bad are strong references, once you add the undead to the mix and throw it all upside down, anything can (and will!) happen.
How does the automation with zombies work?
We'll talk more about this mechanic later, but the main idea behind it is that zombies are not just a threat, but also an opportunity! If the goal is to become an international tycoon during the apocalypse, you will certainly have to grow your operation a lot! You'll start on your own, looting and crafting everything by yourself, and then expand production by first capturing, then brain-feeding, then using not-too-delicate substances on your undead buddies so they can perform specific tasks in your logistical setup. Different substances yield different undead workers, and of course the type of zombie you capture also matters! You will also be able to hire survivors to help looting and fighting through hoards of (evil!) zombies but having a private zombie-workforce to expand your empire is what this is all about!
How will the multiplayer work? Can I play solo?
You can play online with up to three other players in co-op to build your empire together. You can also play solo and have a lot of fun with it!
What is the camera perspective in Zombuds?
The default camera perspective is first-person, but you can certainly play it in third-person as well!
Development
Who is making Zombuds? How many devs are working on the game?
Zombuds is being developed by Gamecraft Studios. Currently, only the Zaidan brothers, Daniel and Tiago are working on it. We are from Brazil and have been making games since 2013. We have released other games like Vampire Hunters, BIT.TRIP RERUNNER, Eliosi's Hunt, and more!
Why did you choose the low-poly art style?
Zombuds is a very gameplay/programming-heavy game, with a lot of mechanics: open world, automation, sandbox, and co-op. Since the game is being developed by a two-man team, this art style is a great way for us to focus on what really matters for this game: gameplay. Besides that, we think this art style really matches the overall vibe of the game.
What engine does Zombuds use?
We're creating our own custom engine for Zombuds using the new programming language Jai.
Wait... Why did you create your own engine for this?
First of all, it's a co-op open-world game, and we want it to run really well on all sorts of PCs. Besides that, the Jai programming language is being created specifically for game development and gives us a lot of power and shortcuts. Finally, our goal is to keep expanding and making ever-more-complex open-world sims, so having an in-house engine specifically for that makes sense to us.
Release
Is there going to be a demo? When?
Yes! You'll hear about the demo release in a few months, and even before that we'll run a playtest here on Steam. So be sure to stay tuned for the announcements.
When will the game be released?
We don't have an official date yet, but you can expect news about the release date after the demo is out.
Where can I follow the development and get updates for Zombuds?
You can follow us here on Steam, or on our Discord channel.
Thanks for reading, Doompreneurs.
We’re just getting started here, and there’s a lot more coming. Your feedback means a lot to us, so keep it coming. We’re building this together.
Cheers,
Dan and Tiago