The basic idea of the Zombie Panic is to create solid game play that is based on a classic zombie outbreak scenario. The living dead are coming for the last remaining humans, and these survivors must fight them off and live through the day.

The game works like this:

Everyone joins a server, in the beginning you can either choose to join the human team or you can volunteer to be the first zombie. If no one volunteers the game will pick one human randomly and the game begins. The starter zombie's goal is to, of course kill the humans while the human goal is to stay alive as long as possible, complete objectives, or even wipe out all the zombies. The catch is that when a human is slayed he will simply join the ranks of the undead, now ready to finish off his old living teammates. The humans can't tell by the player list who’s alive and who’s not, eventually there will only be one survivor still standing if all goes wrong, facing all the zombies which use to be allies, with his back to a wall. The zombies only have a certain number of reinforcements (lives), when a zombie is killed they lose 1 life from the counter. However, when a human is killed they gain 1 life. If the zombies only have 1 respawn left the humans can win the round by killing off the remaining undead left on the map.

Human abilities and advantages:

  • Speed - A zombie can only run at about 80% of the top speed of a human player. Though, the more weaponry and ammo a human picks up, the more it will slow him down, making him an easy target for the undead. If carrying nothing a human can easily outrun a zombie. Watch out so you don't get cornered...
  • Weapons - The humans will have a wide selection of different weapons to use for defending themselves, like firearms, explosives and melee weapons. It is essential for humans to locate weapons and ammo around the map in order to survive, since you only spawn with a random melee weapon and handgun scavenging is a must. Remember that your inventory is limited and hogging weapons will slow you down, so sharing with your teammates is a must which also promotes teamwork.
  • Numbers - At the beginning of the round, there is only one zombie and everyone else is a Survivor. This means that they can easily watch each others backs and provide cover fire. However, once their ammo starts to run dry and they begin to squabble amongst themselves for the few precious clips of ammo available...
  • Communication - Instead of typing messages to each other (occupying busy hands), which can be really dangerous when the zombies are lurking in the shadows, the humans will have the ability to communicate by voice commands. There will be a menu with several commands that can help the humans to organize a defense, trade ammunition and request help.

Zombie abilities and advantages:

  • Regeneration – Zombies will over time regenerate hit points making it more difficult for survivors to make dead the undead.
  • Carrier - The first Zombie of the round will differ a lot from the other undead, he will look different, sound different and have abilities that the average zombie can only dream of. He is the Carrier!
  • Persistence - Zombies may seem to die often, but they won't give up. They just keep re-spawning over and over until your pistol runs out of bullets, your back is to the wall, and there is no escape.
  • Numbers - Later on in the game, as the undead ranks swell with the freshly dead, the last few humans will find their superior weaponry small compensation for the hordes of zombies that close in.
  • Zombie Vision - With the zombies not being able to use a flashlight, we have given them the ability to use Zombie Vision. Z-vision works in a way that it brightens up any possible light source in a room to make it more viewable. More importantly, humans that keep active will slowly begin to glow red making it easier for a zombie to track their prey. To prevent games of hide and seek a survivor over a period of time of sitting still will also start to glow red by fear of the unknown.

We want the mod to feel creepy and give you a sense of desperation, and yet not take itself so seriously that you can't laugh at the way you got slayed. Overall fun and playability is the priority, where is realism and horror while important are just a bonus when possible. We want a mod that you can easily play with any number of people, even with small numbers or uneven numbers. Plus, there's a certain sense of satisfaction in tearing apart those heartless survivors who failed to protect you while you were alive, limb from limb.

Image RSS Feed Latest Screens
Zombie Bling Zombie Bling Zombie Bling
Blog RSS Feed Report abuse Latest News: ZPS Level Design Competition

10 comments by Tatsur0 on May 13th, 2008 digg this super bookmark


If you are a skilled level designer, know a skilled level designer, or just like to show off how fast you can learn something like level design, perk up your ears.


We have successfully migrated to the 2007 SDK (Orange Box), and would like to see a surge of new map content that utilizes the upgraded lighting effects. Therefore, the Zombie Panic Development Team would like to announce that we are officially hosting a level design competition!

Prizes include:

  • 1st place - $300 US cash, choice of one Noesis Interactive product, choice of either Assassin's Creed™: Director's Cut Edition or Frontlines™: Fuel of War™ via Steam, release of their entry with the next released version of Zombie Panic: Source, and a chance to join the Zombie Panic Development team!
  • 2nd place - $150 US cash, choice of one Noesis Interactive product, release of their entry with the next released version of Zombie Panic: Source, and a chance to join the Zombie Panic Development team!
  • 3rd place - $50 US cash, choice of one Noesis Interactive product, release of their entry with the next released version of Zombie Panic: Source, and a chance to join the Zombie Panic Development team!

Before entering, please read the rules. Or feel free to visit the new special forum created for this to see what the competition has in store. Contest begins NOW and ends July 15th, 2008. Start your engines! What are you waiting on? There is money to be had!

Thanks,
ZP Development Team

Media RSS Feed Latest Video / Audio

You need to have Flash and Javascript running in your browser to see this player.

Downloads RSS Feed Latest Downloads
ZPS Windows Full Build v1.25b

ZPS Windows Full Build v1.25b

Apr 15, 2008 Full Version 6 comments

Zombie Panic: Source version 1.25b includes stability fixes, a new weapon highlight system, and a few map and model fixes. This file is a full build for...

ZPS Linux Dedicated Server Full Build v1.25b

ZPS Linux Dedicated Server Full Build v1.25b

Apr 15, 2008 Server 0 comments

Zombie Panic: Source version 1.25b includes stability fixes, a new weapon highlight system, and a few map and model fixes. This file is a full build for...

ZPS Linux Dedicated Server Patch v1.25b

ZPS Linux Dedicated Server Patch v1.25b

Apr 15, 2008 Patch 0 comments

Zombie Panic: Source version 1.25b includes stability fixes, a new weapon highlight system, and a few map and model fixes. This file is a patch for Linux...

ZPS Windows Patch v1.25b

ZPS Windows Patch v1.25b

Apr 15, 2008 Patch 5 comments

Zombie Panic: Source version 1.25b includes stability fixes, a new weapon highlight system, and a few map and model fixes. This file is a patch for Windows...

ZPS Patch v1.21b

ZPS Patch v1.21b

Feb 18, 2008 Patch 4 comments

Patch including all content from ZPS 1.2 and the recent hotfix.

ZPS v1.2b Server Hotfix

ZPS v1.2b Server Hotfix

Feb 17, 2008 Server 2 comments

This hotfix is for server owners and replaces a bad server.dll resolving lag issues on v1.2b servers.

Comments  (0 - 10 of 1,989)
inutiasha
inutiasha May 11 2008, 1:46pm says:

the thing that sucks for me is that my flash light doesent work can any one help me on what to do to get it to work????????

+2 votes     reply to comment
ZaneLear
ZaneLear May 6 2008, 2:09pm says:

Just wondering, would I need hl2dm to make maps for this mod?

+2 votes     reply to comment
Tatsur0
Tatsur0 May 7 2008, 11:06pm replied: Online

To run ZPS you need Source SDK Base if you have that then you should have Source SDK Base - Orange Box which means you can create maps for OB SDK as well. So pretty much any paid for Source game will give you full access tot he tools and required files to run/map for ZPS.

Tats...

+3 votes     reply to comment
noztrix
noztrix May 6 2008, 9:42am says:

Do I need hl2dm for multiplayer mods?

+2 votes     reply to comment
OkeiDo
OkeiDo May 6 2008, 11:47am replied:

You need to purchase a game that includes the Source SDK base. HL2DM does that, purchase it then go to Tools in your steam menu. Install the Source SDK base and you will be able to play most of the HL2 mods available to the public.

+1 vote     reply to comment
noztrix
noztrix May 6 2008, 2:18pm replied:

I do have hl2 dm but Im wonderig becuase my friend dont have it but he have hl2 so can he still play multiplayer mods?

+2 votes     reply to comment
OkeiDo
OkeiDo May 7 2008, 12:19am replied:

Like I said, go to tools and see if you can download Source SDK base, if he has HL2 on his steam account then there should be no problems.

+1 vote     reply to comment
FriedchikenCamo
FriedchikenCamo May 6 2008, 4:11pm replied:

ZPS for the Orange Box engine isn't out yet, but I heard that any Source game gives you access to the Orange Box SDK Base for playing mods of the same engine (even if you just have HL2DM, I think). The details are fuzzy to me, but if ZPS is ported right, maybe you can play it with just the OB SDK Base.

(I can't test this myself since I own all the HL2-related games)

+2 votes     reply to comment
Christian++
Christian++ May 6 2008, 2:50pm replied:

I doubt it.
=(

+2 votes     reply to comment
Tatsur0
Tatsur0 May 6 2008, 11:13pm replied: Online

So long as you're able to install Source SDK Base and Source SDK Base - Orange Box you can play ZPS. Like we said we've successfully made the transition and currently have had no issues. You do not need to own the Orange Box to play ZPS (OB) however the current public release of ZPS is still using Ep1 SDK and the OB version won't be out until we release the large content patch.

Cheers,
Tats...

+4 votes     reply to comment
Post a Comment

Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the Mod DB community today (totally free) and do things you never thought possible.

Icon
Half-Life 2 Icon
Platform
PC
Contact
Send Message
Official Page
Zombiepanic.org
Release Date
Released Dec 28, 2007
Mod Watch
Track this mod
Bookmark
Digg Super bookmark
Community Rating

Average

7.5

229 votes submitted.

You Say

-

Ratings closed.

Style
Genre
First Person Shooter
Theme
Horror
Players
Multiplayer
Statistics
Rank
1 of 7,429
Visits
191,694 (1,419 today)
Last Update
1 day ago
Watchers
795 members
Files
12
News
21
Features
2