How to Survive: Third Person Standalone FAQ

[EkoSoftware]

Hello survivors!

We have been listening to your questions and concerns about our new How To Survive: Third Person Standalone game and have some answers for you here in our FAQ. We hope this FAQ answers your questions and we look to continue to give you the best game possible.


Why Third Person? How did you come up with the HTS Third Person Standalone idea?

During the development of HTS top view, some team members, during their spare time, made a camera test to see the graphics of HTS with a third person camera just because they enjoyed a more immersive point of view. It was completely unplayable, with many bugs (impossible to aim, with many objects or NPCs appearing or disappearing in the camera, slow, etc) but it was possible to move the character with a third person camera. At that time it was just a fun experiment.

After the release of HTS Storm Warning Edition, someone did activate this camera again and an improvised and informal meeting started, we remembered some comments from the community and we decided to show it to 505 games (they had never seen it before). We reworked it for a couple of days and, late in 2014, we organized a meeting at 505. We decided together to develop this version.


How did you change the graphics?

HTS top view uses single direction camera displaying the action from a far distance.
We had to add all items and objects that were hidden or invisible, as well as separation elements to clearly show the frontier between playfield and inaccessible zones.
All textures and geometry was reviewed to be displayed from a closer point of view.
Vegetation that was created to be seen from a fixed pov was reworked and parts, hidden with the previous camera, had to be added.
Playable characters have now up to 4 times more polygons and new texture sets.
All shooting and moving animations have been changed; also some animations were added or reworked.
Collision modelisation is now much more accurate and has up to 5 times more polygons; you are now aiming in 3D and want to be able to shoot between two planks of wood!
....
This isn't an exhaustive list but gives you a good idea of the changes.


How did you change the code?

We decided to keep Windows XP and DX9 compatibility in order to not exclude any previous owners of HTS.
We wrote TPS controls for mouse/keyboard and for paddles.
We had to change the aiming and animation system.
Aiming is now in 3D and the gauge style headshot gameplay has been replaced (now you need to target the head to do a headshot).
We needed to change the damage localization system (it was a single cylinder on HTS, now all zombie’s limbs are handled).
We wrote a new visibility system to define what should be displayed or processed and we developed a new enemy spawning strategy.
Sounds are now managed in 3D.
We had to develop a cascade shadowmap system to replace the standard shadow map (not acceptable for FPS or TPS camera).
We wrote a DX9 version of Jimenez MLAA, to reduce the aliasing and we developed a dedicated depth of field effect in order to provide feedback on weapon ranges.
We added slow motion when player is aiming in order to keep aiming bonuses provided by weapons or buffs.
Many small things have been fixed/reworked or added to work properly with the POV change (strings to bows/crossbows, boomerangs, UI, etc).


How long did it take to develop this version?

Approximately 6 months for a full team composed of programmers, 2D and 3D artists, animators, level designers and QA.
The game is, now, fully playable and we are doing the final modifications, final fixes and improvements.
A full external QA team is currently testing the game in order to get the game fully ready for the 2nd of July.


Why is HTS Third Person a standalone game and not a DLC of HTS Top View?

There are many reasons, one of them is that the game code would have been difficult to maintain. We made a lot of changes and would have probably broken the original game many times and, most likely, need twice the development time. That would have accounted for a lot more of QA to get both versions stable and coexisting in the same game.

Another important one is that we would like to reach new players that would never had played HTS because of the top view camera. We have read some comments of people saying "Oh HTS is a top view, I don't like top view, I'm only playing FPS or TPS game, so not for me!".

On the economic side (yes we know, we should not speak about money not hurt anyone’s feelings so we’ll keep it light) and based on our experience, affordable or reduced price DLCs rarely pay off their own development and publishing costs but it’s a good way to keep implementing new content in the game and keeping the game alive. Eventually, they can be bundled on Special Editions with the game and the free updates (as we have done), to keep growing the game without compromising its financial viability. I guess the DLC mode would not have allowed this version development

So we agreed with 505 games to offer the third person version at a price of a DLC for owners of the original HTS and, at the same time, offering a preorder discount to people who have never played HTS before. Not forcing them to buy the original game.
So it’s up to you, if you already had HtS you can get it for just a few bucks, if you are new to the community you’ll have to pay a little more…


How different is HtS TPS from the original game?

Top view games and Third Person games provide very different experiences.
With a top view, you have a better vision of the action, it's more tactical and it offers a unique multiplayer experience as you can see your teammates and your character.
With a closer point of view and the new 3D aiming system, it's more immersive, personal, action-based, intense and challenging, you will need to be prepared to die, die and die!


Do Eko read the forums?

Oh YES!!! We read them all the time. We just try to not interfere in your discussions. This time, it's a little bit different, people were making questions and assumptions and we felt we needed to give you more information so you have enough data to make up your mind. We'll continue to monitor and update this FAQ if necessary.



Thank you for reading,
Take care and watch your back!

[Phil Arrow]

you missed one, where is the op-op?

[Piso_mojado]

I agree Phil Arrow... which is why I started the co-op petition.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/360150/discussions/0/615086038676512983/

[Ryumal]

will you guys be fixing the gamebreaking bug of when you killed too many zombies their constant loot would make it so you can't collect arrows and ammo because there is too many items on the ground? that was the main thing that made me stop playing the first one. i wandered around too much and i was unable to pick up arrows or even collect ammo from zomies because they didn't have them as a loot option. or you can implement a destroy inventory loot feature to prevent this.

[Sharp Income]

Thank you for posting this! It's disheartening to see the public react negatively just because they don't understand the work involved to get from top down to third person (I develop games, too, so I already understood/knew what would have to change and the work involved). I can understand how people can think this is overpriced when they look at this as just a camera mod and don't know the work involved.

I totally agree with how you marketed it as a stand-alone to expand your audience (and it just makes more sense, as you said, as there's no interference with the original top down game). And it's definitely reasonably priced. If you wanted a cash grab you would've made a GOTY edition (all DLC) + third person game and only sell it bundled for $25. (Then even if you're giving a loyalty discount, those customers will still have to pay near the full $10 price of the stand-alone you're offering to customers who don't own everything else that would've been in the bundle) Don't get any ideas. I HATE when devs do that

And I want to say thank you for the loyalty discount! When I first saw this game listed on the front page of the store, I was excited for a third person view and I said to myself "70% off?! Now that's a loyalty discount!" and got my pre-order that day. In fact, this is the first and only game I've ever pre-ordered! So don't let me down!

Originally posted by EkoSoftware:

Take care and watch your back!

This has a whole new meaning now... ;)

[bobeagle77]

Thank you guys for explaining what work went behind making this game into a 3rd person shooter. I can't wait to play this game from a different view. Keep up the great work Devs.

[oldo7]

thanks for this post

[LordOfDarkFlame]

sure, okay, i'll bite and buy this in faith that they will continue to develop & add to it over time. Im in love with the survival fantasy genre.

[3kL1pse]

Will al my DLC from HTS come along to Third person.

[Kossuth]

I bought the H2S mainly for it's multiplayer aspect (Co-op). Please don't skip that feature. I don't wanna refund the game, but if will, if you skip the feature. =(

Anyway: Thanks for the post. :)

[DEATHREAT]

Are the graphics going to be third person game quality? It said reworked and polygons on characters, but what about the textures? Obviously this is a big deal or this will look like a PS1 game with newer 3D polygonal characters. I already bought the game and loved the first game and never finished it, it was just missing something, I definitely plan on exploring in 3D. This game is going to be way more exciting, I just hope it doesnt look like garbage, this is PC afterall.

[7 4 17 0 17 _twelvetwenty-one]

I'm certain this is a stupid question, but am going to ask it because I haven't seen mention of it yet (probably because others know it's a stupid question too):


How To Survive: Third Person Standalone

Single-player
Steam Achievements
Full controller support
Steam Trading Cards
Steam Cloud
Steam Leaderboards


Are those Steam Achievements and Steam Trading Cards and Steam Leaderboards different/seperate from the original game's?
I mean, TPS is the same game, but it's being sold as another game - not to enflame the issues people have with that, I'm satisfied that the amount of work put into the (")conversion(") coupled with the modest asking price necessitates it being called a "Standalone (sans "expansion" I guess)" - but if it IS the same game, with (as of yet) no new content when compared with the original...

Are those Steam Achievements and Steam Trading Cards and Steam Leaderboards different/seperate from the original game's?

[Do You Know Tyler Durdan?]

You should have the "slow-motion" aiming on a toggle in the settings for those of us who would rather aim in real time... please and thankyou

[[CiruiS]]

This game NEED Co-op !

[dirtywhirlwind]

Originally posted by Tynon_1221:

Are those Steam Achievements and Steam Trading Cards and Steam Leaderboards different/seperate from the original game's?

They're separate.

[Rumpellieschen]

WTF.....the same game as the original only 3. person???? And where are the multiplayer and co-op?!?! I want to play with a friend the new version ( i have the 1. part and asked him to buy the 2. together) and now we spended the money for nothing! Thx for that! -.-