SITREP - Week 028

Kim (ZPSHicks)
Game Director

"We're cooking on a few secrets here at ZPS (all good :)), which means its really hard to be completely specific about what I've personally been working on the last couple of weeks. Besides completely "owning" (with the guys) at our Office Hotel Christmas party, I'm pretty excited about finally being at point where everything moving forward will truly be about Open Door Development.

We believe and we know (hope) that all you hard-headed Spearheads and Frontliners will continue believing with us as well and tons of other gamers in the coming months! :)".

Mikael (heks)
Lead Programmer

"I've been working on getting weapon firing up and running. On the surface it would seem like a trivial task but once you start scratching the surface it's actually a pretty big undertaking, and even more so for the asynchronous beast that is Deadlock!

This next sprint I'll be working on a damage system, death sequences, user interfaces, spawn logic, audio tech, network smoothing and server hosting amongst other things.

I'm heading back in - cheerio!".

Jesper Andersen (Scribblehead)
Concept Artist

"Sup everyone! Last official SITREP from my internship here at ZPS, I'll still be helping out the guys as much as possible but I'll be taking a step back to focus on university again (alas it has to be finished at some point) :).

This week has gone by scarily fast, in fact i can't even recall if whether its been constructive or destructive for me, as I've drifted between a few tasks, and none of them have progressed the way i wanted them to :(.

Fortunately I've stuck my head into 3d Coat now, and I'm helping the team freshen up the textures for the SMG for Deadlock, and perhaps tidying up the suit at a later date.

Also, it turns out my newest concept for DL was released from virtual captivity :D, so now I'll definitely have to rush out that video i made for it, hint hint….

It's been the best 6 weeks ZPS, we've laughed, but we've mainly cried….then laughed some more, and had some drunken foolhardy fun, gonna miss sitting in here - but i'll still be around.

Didn't want to end on a sob note, so next week I'll be back kicking some concept/texture ass i hope….or just kick ass i guess. ;)".

Anders (cptKickASS)
Lead Artist

"Entering "crunching" time. My main two task right now is Dynamic weather state system, and animation. It feels like the perfect balance between code and art. The weeks have gone by and I have been on top of all the small things that makes for a pretty picture. Red dot shader, fx controller scripts and animation.".

Jess (NecroSonic)
Level Designer

"So even though I am going on my honeymoon vacation Monday and will be gone for three weeks I could not wait to get started on my upcoming Deadlock map. It is still very early to tell exactly where it is going but based upon my discussions with Kim there is a nice plan laid out for a map that revolves around a small facility-like installment with two main buildings placed next to one another. Where Kim's Combat Range 1 map is mostly outdoor the aim with my map is to create a map that is a little less open and to put a bit more emphasis on the indoor action.

The first pass of one of the central buildings is nearly done and I like the general direction and layout so far. It is a warehouse type of building (one big room) with three stories of interconnected catwalks that allow players to sneak around between the crates on the catwalks to pray on the guys on the floor. I am also adding windows to the top of the building to create some nice sniper positions. Snipers will probably need a friend to have their back though because I am making sure to create a number of different ways to enter the building and surprise campers.

I am already looking forward to working more on this map when I come home for Christmas. Until then it is up to you guys must keep Kim in check.

See you in my sniper scope soon".

Nicolai (Reese)
CEO & Composer

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