7 Days to Die [Official Site, Steam, Humble Store] is the Kickstarted zombie survival game from The Fun Pimps, colourful history between me and them aside, the game has come a long way. This major update has done a lot for it.
For Linux gamers, this brand new update will fix some graphical issues that has plagued the game on Linux for some time now. We can also now disable EAC (EasyAntiCheat).
I was one of the original Kickstarter backers for the game, and I've repeatedly tried to get over my own annoyance at the developers for their previous attitudes towards me and the rather long delay the Linux version had. I think I have finally done this, I checked the game out today and I finally feel like I might be able to actually play it.
The tutorial the game has now certainly helped me get into it, as the game does have a bit of a learning curve to it.
I'm still not sure if I will end up liking the game, but at least now it's properly playable on Linux once again. Hopefully they won't break it again any time soon. I lasted about 10 minutes before getting eaten, so I guess I have some learning to do here.
New stuff:
- New Distant Terrain feature renders terrain over 1 kilometer away.
- Almost 2 square kilometers of new explorable space has been unlocked
- New highly embellished height map with huge mountains in every biome
- New giant desert canyon
- Over 23 new locations have been added to Game most in both Navezgane and Random Gen
- NPC traders
- Vending machines
- Improved farming and new crops
- Zombies loot has been massively improved
- New Zombie behaviours
- New languages: Spanish, French and German
- Lots more
See the full release notes here.
As far as Early Access games go, they have impressed me a little bit with just how much content they have been able to put in, especially in this massive update.
It's still not the best looking game, a fair amount of it is quite ugly, so I hope they do a graphics pass on the texturing in an update soon. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
Tl;dr: Great Early Access game constantly getting better.
I've been playing 7d2d since alpha 8 or so, and man-oh-man do I like the way the game is shaping up. The arcane crafting system of yore has been greatly streamlined, removing the clever-but-grind-y tedium of hit-hit-hit-collect-collect-collect.
And I adore the new skill system! It's novel and sensible. Experience is not easily won and rewards activity in a way that encourages thinking about my character as a character and not merely a proxy for my in-game self.
My only gripe about 7d2d has been the peculiar fragility of materials traditionally considered extremelydurable. Stone, reinforced concrete, and even wood have long been used to build our castles, bunkers, and forts because it takes substantially more than the impact of human flesh and bone (let alone rotten flesh and bone) to damage them. I'm not keening for "Realism," as little about the game is realistic, nor should it be. But this materials issue breaks the internal logic of the game-world's physics. It seems paradoxical that rotten flesh and bone can be at once durable enough to demolish a stone wall and fragile enough to be instantly pierced by an arrow tip of the same material. But I expect this quibble too will be addressed and adjusted in time.
I've been playing 7d2d since alpha 8 or so, and man-oh-man do I like the way the game is shaping up. The arcane crafting system of yore has been greatly streamlined, removing the clever-but-grind-y tedium of hit-hit-hit-collect-collect-collect.
And I adore the new skill system! It's novel and sensible. Experience is not easily won and rewards activity in a way that encourages thinking about my character as a character and not merely a proxy for my in-game self.
My only gripe about 7d2d has been the peculiar fragility of materials traditionally considered extremelydurable. Stone, reinforced concrete, and even wood have long been used to build our castles, bunkers, and forts because it takes substantially more than the impact of human flesh and bone (let alone rotten flesh and bone) to damage them. I'm not keening for "Realism," as little about the game is realistic, nor should it be. But this materials issue breaks the internal logic of the game-world's physics. It seems paradoxical that rotten flesh and bone can be at once durable enough to demolish a stone wall and fragile enough to be instantly pierced by an arrow tip of the same material. But I expect this quibble too will be addressed and adjusted in time.
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PlutonMaster Oct 9, 2016
I think I have found performance fix for this game and I can play this game with "high"-preset.
1. Start new game(Single Player Game)
2. When you are in game, press ESC
3. Go to Options -> Video
4. Press "Apply" once.
5. Go back to game.
6. Now exit game to the main menu
7. Start game what you made.
8. Now try to set "Gamma" a little bit lower, hit apply.
9. Put "Gamma" in default set as it was before lowering it.
This A15 is AMAZING. Now there is no more disturbing light problems.
1. Start new game(Single Player Game)
2. When you are in game, press ESC
3. Go to Options -> Video
4. Press "Apply" once.
5. Go back to game.
6. Now exit game to the main menu
7. Start game what you made.
8. Now try to set "Gamma" a little bit lower, hit apply.
9. Put "Gamma" in default set as it was before lowering it.
This A15 is AMAZING. Now there is no more disturbing light problems.
0 Likes
Although this is quite an old article, adding some of my recent experiences (April/May 2017) with 7 Days To Die. I'm playing Alpha 15.2 version.
I have been quite blown-away by the game. In about 3 weeks, I have been excessively playing it (totalling 100+ hours). It is a shame that development has been plodding along fairly slowly for the past 3 years, and it is still considered as Early Access, but despite that the game plays with practically zero crashes (for me).
Quite impressed that the couple of times the game did crash, going back into it took me to the same point in my travels.
So, you might ask, WHY do I think so highly of it?
It is currently a bit of an unpolished diamond. Yes, there are graphical glitches and various minor things could be improved to make it into a more professional product. BUT, its core game play is very good indeed. The game is incredibly immersive and you really feel like you're in this post-apocalyptic setting, doing what you need to do to survive.
You feel like you have lots of choice and freedom to decide how you're going to take things forward.
I started the game not really understanding the controls, not knowing how to begin crafting. I haven't played Rust, Minecraft or similar game. I suppose Dying Light is the closest game I've played to this - But Dying Light doesn't have the base building or resource mining, and there is a lot less strategy, resource, and time management aspects to Dying Light. (However, Dying Light does excel on the other content - fighting mechanics, parkour, 3d graphic models, quests)
You start off with a pretty weak character, and when zombies come shambling over your best bet is to run off. The zombies are the classic shamblers during daytime. So when you're aware of their presence it is easy enough to keep out of their range. But if you aren't watching around yourself, listening for noises, you could miss one and be attacked from behind or even surrounded by a bunch of them. This ties in very well with the scavenging and resource gathering. While you're concentrating on digging for clay (which you need for bricks), and failing to keep an eye around you, then the zombies sneak up and strike (and bam - you're dead). It is one of those immersive aspects of the game.
Similar to the Dying Light game, your character gains ability in particular skills by using those skills. So, running around a lot improves your athletic ability and your stamina and you are able to run around for longer without getting tired. Digging for resources improves your skill in that area, which in turn allows you to mine for resources faster. Your character levels up every so often, and you have a load of possible skills to improve with level-up points. e.g. Improve your archery, your scavenging, your treasure finding ability, your pistol shooting, your crafting speed, your bartering with NPCs. It's a nice progression, and it means that your character gets customised to your play style. Let's say you want to create a cowboy character, then you can aim to develop skills in those directions - i.e. Gun smithing, and pistol and magnum (6-shooter) shooting.
The base building side really comes into play in the evenings in the game world. During evening, the zombies turn from shambling hulks to rather-more-agile awkward runners. They are also a bit better at sensing / smelling you in the evening, which makes it a very deadly time to be out in the woods on your own. So, you aim to build a base during daytime, and hide away in it during the night. While in the base, sorting through your inventory (e.g. putting all your food into this box), crafting items (e.g. making arrows), eating your meagre provisions, planning how you're going to spend the next day (e.g. looking at the map, deciding which way you're going to explore). Also you could be on the battlements of your base, sniping the zombies. All this activity does keep the game very engaging and interesting. Also, the fact that the zombies will sniff you out, and attack the base and break through walls - makes it a very tense and captivating experience.
My very first base was built on the top of a small hill, so I could survey the land around me. It had a locked door in and out, a ladder on the inside leading to the roof. And I could walk around on the roof, with my bow and arrows, out of reach of zombies and somewhere to escape (jump off and keep running!) if they broke the door down. Well, I found out a number of things. The base wasn't up to spec. They broke in. They could climb the ladder and get to the roof. They don't tire, so while you and they run at approx the same speed (at night), they can keep on going where your stamina runs out and you slow down to a crawl.
And that's where the beauty of "7 Days To Die" lies. Once you've been beat, you haven't built a great base, you need to plan how you're going to build a better one. Where are you going to put it. How you're going to fortify it. And doing all this while thinking about all the resources you need to collect, e.g. wood for building, food for nutrition, clean water for safe drinking.
Very immersive. You really feel like you're in the zombie-ridden world, trying to survive, thinking what you're going to do to avoid being killed. Freedom of choice to do things the way you see fit. A big realistic environment - Plains, snow-covered mountains, forests, towns, farms, hot deserts, rivers, lakes. The environment - e.g. Wetness, Cold, Heat - All affect you, so you need to counter those conditions.
Even though it is Early Access, I'm really enjoying it as it is running now. I'm actually surprised at how great this game is. Really addicted by it. Want to play more and more of it.
BUT, one little thing I've noticed now that I've put quite a bit into the game. It gets harder and harder over time, and I'm starting to get frustrated that the threat is too great for me to cope with any more. There are some ways to cheat the game, but I'm not keen to resort to such things. Also, the game is modification rich and there are lots of config settings, so I could probably turn down the threat a bit if I wanted.
I have been quite blown-away by the game. In about 3 weeks, I have been excessively playing it (totalling 100+ hours). It is a shame that development has been plodding along fairly slowly for the past 3 years, and it is still considered as Early Access, but despite that the game plays with practically zero crashes (for me).
Quite impressed that the couple of times the game did crash, going back into it took me to the same point in my travels.
So, you might ask, WHY do I think so highly of it?
It is currently a bit of an unpolished diamond. Yes, there are graphical glitches and various minor things could be improved to make it into a more professional product. BUT, its core game play is very good indeed. The game is incredibly immersive and you really feel like you're in this post-apocalyptic setting, doing what you need to do to survive.
You feel like you have lots of choice and freedom to decide how you're going to take things forward.
I started the game not really understanding the controls, not knowing how to begin crafting. I haven't played Rust, Minecraft or similar game. I suppose Dying Light is the closest game I've played to this - But Dying Light doesn't have the base building or resource mining, and there is a lot less strategy, resource, and time management aspects to Dying Light. (However, Dying Light does excel on the other content - fighting mechanics, parkour, 3d graphic models, quests)
You start off with a pretty weak character, and when zombies come shambling over your best bet is to run off. The zombies are the classic shamblers during daytime. So when you're aware of their presence it is easy enough to keep out of their range. But if you aren't watching around yourself, listening for noises, you could miss one and be attacked from behind or even surrounded by a bunch of them. This ties in very well with the scavenging and resource gathering. While you're concentrating on digging for clay (which you need for bricks), and failing to keep an eye around you, then the zombies sneak up and strike (and bam - you're dead). It is one of those immersive aspects of the game.
Similar to the Dying Light game, your character gains ability in particular skills by using those skills. So, running around a lot improves your athletic ability and your stamina and you are able to run around for longer without getting tired. Digging for resources improves your skill in that area, which in turn allows you to mine for resources faster. Your character levels up every so often, and you have a load of possible skills to improve with level-up points. e.g. Improve your archery, your scavenging, your treasure finding ability, your pistol shooting, your crafting speed, your bartering with NPCs. It's a nice progression, and it means that your character gets customised to your play style. Let's say you want to create a cowboy character, then you can aim to develop skills in those directions - i.e. Gun smithing, and pistol and magnum (6-shooter) shooting.
The base building side really comes into play in the evenings in the game world. During evening, the zombies turn from shambling hulks to rather-more-agile awkward runners. They are also a bit better at sensing / smelling you in the evening, which makes it a very deadly time to be out in the woods on your own. So, you aim to build a base during daytime, and hide away in it during the night. While in the base, sorting through your inventory (e.g. putting all your food into this box), crafting items (e.g. making arrows), eating your meagre provisions, planning how you're going to spend the next day (e.g. looking at the map, deciding which way you're going to explore). Also you could be on the battlements of your base, sniping the zombies. All this activity does keep the game very engaging and interesting. Also, the fact that the zombies will sniff you out, and attack the base and break through walls - makes it a very tense and captivating experience.
My very first base was built on the top of a small hill, so I could survey the land around me. It had a locked door in and out, a ladder on the inside leading to the roof. And I could walk around on the roof, with my bow and arrows, out of reach of zombies and somewhere to escape (jump off and keep running!) if they broke the door down. Well, I found out a number of things. The base wasn't up to spec. They broke in. They could climb the ladder and get to the roof. They don't tire, so while you and they run at approx the same speed (at night), they can keep on going where your stamina runs out and you slow down to a crawl.
And that's where the beauty of "7 Days To Die" lies. Once you've been beat, you haven't built a great base, you need to plan how you're going to build a better one. Where are you going to put it. How you're going to fortify it. And doing all this while thinking about all the resources you need to collect, e.g. wood for building, food for nutrition, clean water for safe drinking.
Very immersive. You really feel like you're in the zombie-ridden world, trying to survive, thinking what you're going to do to avoid being killed. Freedom of choice to do things the way you see fit. A big realistic environment - Plains, snow-covered mountains, forests, towns, farms, hot deserts, rivers, lakes. The environment - e.g. Wetness, Cold, Heat - All affect you, so you need to counter those conditions.
Even though it is Early Access, I'm really enjoying it as it is running now. I'm actually surprised at how great this game is. Really addicted by it. Want to play more and more of it.
BUT, one little thing I've noticed now that I've put quite a bit into the game. It gets harder and harder over time, and I'm starting to get frustrated that the threat is too great for me to cope with any more. There are some ways to cheat the game, but I'm not keen to resort to such things. Also, the game is modification rich and there are lots of config settings, so I could probably turn down the threat a bit if I wanted.
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