Dead Before Dawn is Back news

The DBD team has spent countless hours working on the campaign, but this time at their own pace. By doing this, they were able to focus on what the campaign needed and to fix what was still not working.

It has taken us this long to complete the campaign partly because of the amount of work that needed to be done. We had numerous crashes and DBD wouldn't work in VPK format etc. We have successfully overcome these obstacles and the campaign works in VPK format and we haven't had it crash on us, unless we're actually trying to make it crash.

A few weeks ago, we sent out a link to all the people who has ever donated to L4DMods. This link allowed them to download the RC for Dead Before Dawn. They had their hands dirty with the campaign and so far we have not received any serious issues with the campaign. Other errors we missed have already been fixed and everyday we have a new version with previous errors fixed. Although, there is always more work to be done when working on a campaign, what remains will be dealt with over the coming months. We can however assure you, that the future updates are only for minor things that are lower on our list or priorities. The campaign works in every aspect of the word.

In a few days, when we also open up our brand-spanking new downloads section, you will find Dead Before Dawn up for download. We are in the final stages of completing our downloads section and it should be up in a few days. Worst case scenario, last day of September if something goes wrong. To see a complete changelog since the previous release, scroll down.

September 19th 2010- RELEASE CANDIDATE

Layout:
• Added tv set in map 5 that randomly playes last 3 news items of the zombie apocalypse
• Added elevator event to the finale map to prevent players from camping the elevator shaft during the finale
• Blocked more spots so survivors can't get past the "infected domain" in the finale event.
• Removed banner that blocked ladder access for SI bots and players above the map 5 ground level truck right of the costello's store
  

  Audio:

• Added custom finale music and an escape audio action sequence
  

  Versus:

• Fixed inaccessible SI vent in map 1
• Tweaked vs settings related to the chance of tank and witch spawns troughout the campaign
  

  September 4th 2010

  General Changes:

• Removed map 5 (undead center) due to length issues with the campaign
• Replaced former map 5 with new parking finale map and changed map 4 / map 5 safehouse appearence accordingly
  

  Weapons and items:

• Maps 1, 2, 3 and 5 have received improved logic (random) weapons spawn system
• Maps 1, 2, 3 and 5 have received enhanced random items system
  

  Cosmetics and Layout:

• Added stratigic fire barrels that burn the "intro zombies" as they attempt to reach the survivors in the "safe zone" up the city hall stairs
• Changed mood and lighting of map 1
• Maps received a huge amount of fixes for reported visual glitches, texture malfunction and brush cosmetics
• Map 4 received a new mood : night time
• Map 4 received a new section to avoid backtracking from the west side (small double door) lock crecendo event
• Map 4 received a little overhaul of the north gate milionth customer fail reset procedure. Players won't be forced
  to view the counter anymore. This streamlines the event and also solves some camera problems with dead players.
• Map 5 received a fix for an exploit that could allow the survivors to jump over the intended finale borders to the "infected area" of the finale
  

  Audio:

• Maps 4 and 5 receives new CJ voices for events (like the finale) that have been added in this build)
  

  Versus:

• Several optimizations and new ladders troughout the campaign have been added for SI convenience
• Medkits in end of level safehouses are now consistently being removed in versus
• In versus, the "milionth customer gate" event in map 4 will not teleport survivors but punish them with extra
  SI when they fail it. (when they let the counter pass 1.000.000 "customers")

  August 2nd 2010 1.15

  Packaging and VPK:

• Removed dated source engine models preventing us from creating a vpk (due to a crash related to these models)
• Campaign size reduced around 700 Mb
• Removed unused mission audio files and music
  

  General:

• Weapon spawn placement updated trough-out all maps
• Random items placement tweaked trough-out all maps
• Proper implementation of Rescue closets on all maps (Coop only)
• Proper optimization of crescendo areas (nav optimization)
  

  Audio:

• Corrected miss-pronouncing in the map 3 mall entrance area
• Boosted volume of all audio that was too quite trough-out the campaign
• Removed some of the music cues and updated several location music arrangements
• Now using the correct boomer vomit custom music wave file
• The intro music is called using the correct mission start music convention
• Starting in the safe-house now correctly plays "safe-house music" (due to nav optimization)
• We drastically cut verbose CJ information to facilitate the removal of many story locks.
• Custom sound-scape in the mall (maps 5 and 6) Story locks:
• Removed story locks in Anna's house and allowed all relevant doors to be breakable by zombies as well as active for survivors
• Drastically reduced the second mall entry story locks so players can proceed to the warehouse while CJ is talking
• Removed lock on roof access door in map 3
• Made it clear by instruction messages and light guides where players have to go trough-out the maps
• We allow players to throw the (map 4 safehouse) toilet trough the window while CJ is talking
• In general, doors that were locked while CJ was talking, now open up when players approach. We solve the problem of overlapping CJ voices by delaying subsequent dialog lines, should players arrive at key locations
  early
• Reduced cj lines in length and cut the voice story to it's essentials. (removed verbose info). This is a part of our effort to reduce the "story locks"
  

  Event Optimizations:

• Created clear instructor messages to indicate custom events. and "things you shouldn't shoot in DBD"
• Subliminal icons may appear to illustrate other kinds of danger trough-out the campaign
• Made map 1 explosions and destructions purely cosmetic. (no penalty for players)
• Smoothed and optimized the helicopter event in map 2
• Optimized the barricade event at the end of map 2 (no SI spawning behind the barricades)
• Split the west "hold button to close door" event in map 4 in 2 parts. Progress of the event is now visible in the environment by the movement of the doors and subsequent shutter gates
• Removed the "search Paulie's key-card" event for the sake of a better flow experience in map 4
• Optimized the north entrance (1 mil customer counter) event the same way as the west door by visually indicating movement of closing doors and shutter gates.
• Optimized "failure to hold back zombies" event by tele-porting survivors to a fake safe-house and give them another chance (only in coop)
• Removed random server activation puzzle in the staff offices of map 5 and created regular l4d flow inside this area
• Added a mandatory map 5 crescendo event
• Removed food court area and optimized map flow to be more "left 4dead"
• Because the Food Court is gone, the "get 6pack of beer" mission no longer exists
  

  VS Optimizations:

• Created lots of new vertical and horizontal space in maps 2 and 3 in order for proper hunter movement
• Created lots of extra catwalks, infected ladders and behind the scenes (breakable) infrastructure for infected to spawn
• Maps 4 and 5 now have walkable vents for the infected so they can distribute themselves more quickly to set up attack positions
• Players who reach the end of the warehouse via the wooden catwalk can open the door at the bottom to relief the smoker threats for team mates
  

  October 31th 2009:

• Initial beta release 0.9