Alpha Build Release Date?! || Expectations (Patreon)

Hey everyone!

This update will be split into two main topics: the planned release date of the Alpha build for ZR2 and a reminder of what to expect within that update!

== RELEASE DATE ==

The specific release date is not yet 100% certain and will still need a little more time to figure out.

My current plan is to release the Alpha build out to $5+ ZR Patrons on/around December 28th.  

The public release will likely be a little later than usual, closer to January 1st/2nd.

The reason for the longer gap between releases is because there will likely be so much to spot check in this build.  The potential for glitches & bugs is larger than in most usual updates so I want to allow more time.  Also, with the holidays, I imagine I will not be able to actively work on the update as much as usual.  These dates are still being figured out so I will try to have more exact dates as soon as next week.

== EXPECTATIONS ==

One thing I want to HEAVILY stress is making sure that you keep your expectations realistic.  This Alpha update is NOT going to be a wide, expansive, plentiful update that you may have come to expect from Zombie's Retreat 1 especially if you were introduced to the game later on.

If any of you were around during the ZR1 Alpha, it was a very short build with very little to do.  It takes a lot of time to get to where ZR1 was when it was finalized.  

ZR2's Alpha update is focusing on two major aspects:

1- Porting over MOST of the core features from ZR1.

This includes basic things like the day/night cycle.  A functioning weapon system.  Functional maps/collision.  Many of these things will probably go unnoticed by most.  Which is good.  That means the game will hopefully feel natural and smooth. 

In addition, I want to tweak some old mechanics too.  Some things I'm looking at are possibly experimenting with Zombie HP values and weapon damage.  Nothing is confirmed but this is the prime time to look into these things. 

This is where the bulk of my time is spent.

2- Creating a very basic gameplay flow.

Shoot zombies, loot material, craft resources.  Getting the basic flow of the gameplay down within this update is my goal so that players can at least get some valuable playtime in.  There won't be much to explore/scavenge but as usual, new areas get added over time!

I'm also thinking the big tutorial/story cutscenes won't really start until Beta 0.1.  I'm finding that is eating up a lot of valuable time where I should be focusing on the true roots of the game first.  So the beginning of the game will likely get flashier over time too.

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There is in fact NSFW content in the works, some of which is already finished.  Unlike the ZR1 Alpha, I don't think I'm going to share certain NSFW scenes before they are meant to be discovered.  I want to make sure there is at least something to enjoy in this Alpha build though as I know the NSFW content is what folks want to see ;P

Once the ground work is laid out (which the Alpha serves to accomplish), things will return to the way that ZR1 functioned where each update focuses on a character/story and adds more NSFW content with each build.  So just bear with me as I begin putting the game together from scratch!

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That's everything for this update!  Stay tuned for maybe another teaser and/or character reveal and then I imagine the update should be coming soon after!

Thank you all so much for your support!  Happy holidays and I will see you soon!