Urban Dead -- a massively-multiplayer zombie apocalypse game

August 1, 2005 9:15 AM

Urban Dead is a browser-based, grid-mapped multi-player game where you play the survivor or victim of a zombie outbreak in a quarantined city centre. Tired of playing a pseudo-hero in a fantasy Kingdom of Loathing? Play a scientist, soldier, or ordinary civilian in a modern city, and try to avoid being infected. Or skip the "avoid" phase, and just play a zombie.
posted by CrunchyFrog (33 comments total)

I've tried punching a zombie... well, too many times, and I've missed every time. I'm a cop.
posted by Necker at 9:26 AM on August 1, 2005

K... outta action points.
posted by Necker at 9:31 AM on August 1, 2005

Been playing for three weeks. Surviving fairly well and close to grabbing that Zombie Head Hunter skill. Probably another four days or so.

Spend AP well, keep moving, and remember, the game is in-development as we play.
posted by linux at 9:32 AM on August 1, 2005

This is so very, very enjoyable.

Although I really suck as a zombie.
posted by cmonkey at 9:34 AM on August 1, 2005

Am enjoying this, so far, despite not really having seen any action. Are all zombies player characters?
posted by TonyRobots at 9:36 AM on August 1, 2005

Dammit, running out of action points is just cruel.
posted by cmonkey at 9:37 AM on August 1, 2005

Strategy tip -- you earn experience points by doing damage. So to get extra experience quicker, buy the skills that give you a bonus to hit. My character who started with a weapon skill is going up a lot faster than my other character who started with "Free Running."
posted by CrunchyFrog at 9:37 AM on August 1, 2005

The best way to level up is actually to use up your AP searching inside a hospital for medkits and healing people next to zombies. You earn 5 XP 100% guaranteed per heal, versus a starting character who has a 25% to hit with a pistol that'll run out of ammo (requiring you to search for more).

If you really want to earn XP through attacks, start out as a fireman, you get a 25% with an axe, no ammo required.

But really, running around as a good samaritan with medkits is the fastest way to level up.
posted by linux at 9:40 AM on August 1, 2005

And yes, all zombies are PCs, there are no NPCs in this game.
posted by linux at 9:41 AM on August 1, 2005

Much goodness. Thanks for the link.
posted by voltairemodern at 9:47 AM on August 1, 2005

Monkeys have been plotting for ages - come join us if you like, we have a barricaded HQ and vague plans to either storm the fort or go on a tagging spree.

Personally my main character is terribly stagnant, but my zombie rules. I think the best starting point right now is being able to use the DNA extractors; they're easy to find and you gain lots of XP. I started as a military medic - v. bad move.
posted by livii at 9:53 AM on August 1, 2005

I was just making a few moves and noticed the server was slow, so while I was waiting I went to MeFi and found the explanation.

Anyway, I'm not sure it's actually a very good game, but it is damn addictive.
posted by fvw at 9:53 AM on August 1, 2005

Emptying a gun at a zombie and doing basically nothing was extremely dissatisfying. I want to kill at least one zombie on my first turn, damnit!
posted by fleacircus at 10:06 AM on August 1, 2005

I hear ya. I was able to gain one experience point for reading a book. Oddly enough, I read it once and "learned nothing"... read it again for shits n' giggles and actually learned; I learned.
posted by Necker at 10:13 AM on August 1, 2005

[this is good!]
posted by Quartermass at 10:22 AM on August 1, 2005

More action points, please.
posted by Jon-o at 10:25 AM on August 1, 2005

Boy am I glad I did my morning run before Metafilter. The server is fried!

And Jon-o, more AP is never going to happen. The design of the game is intentionally slow-paced. Taking out a zombie or a survivor in one run requires keeping the character inactive for at least 24 hours. If you want to do that, hole up somewhere you hope is safe, then come out swinging. Even then, a Level 1 character won't be able to take anyone out.
posted by linux at 10:41 AM on August 1, 2005

I have no idea where to get ammo.
posted by jmccorm at 10:52 AM on August 1, 2005

Oooh, this is fun stuff! Reminds me of ye olde BBS games.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:06 AM on August 1, 2005

You can find ammo in police stations, and in pubs. Keep searching, because items never run out in a building.
posted by Doug at 11:14 AM on August 1, 2005

Graaaahg!
posted by meh at 11:21 AM on August 1, 2005

"You search and find nothing." Story of my life.
posted by leapfrog at 11:30 AM on August 1, 2005

Can your character be attacked and injured, or even killed, while you're away? Should you always save your last two action points to go to and enter a building? Or is it safe to burn all your action points in a fight, and then leave your character standing there until tomorrow?
posted by nlindstrom at 12:09 PM on August 1, 2005

Yep, your character can be chomped at any time. You should always try to get inside, and hopefully make sure the building's doors are closed (1AP) and any dead bodies inside are dragged out in case the player logs back on and reanimates (it took me 1AP to do this once, I've heard it can take more though).
posted by livii at 12:52 PM on August 1, 2005

Urban Dead Yahoo! newsgroup
Urban Dead In-Character newsgroup
Urban Dead Zombies In-Character newsgroup
Urban Dead Necrotech newsgroup - code, bugs, mechanics

Almost all your questions are answered in Urban Dead and Necrotech. The in-character ones are interesting, for those who like to REALLY roleplay.
posted by linux at 12:59 PM on August 1, 2005

As much as I appreciate new players and new zombies to "kill", and more opportunities to level up at the expense of newbies, thanks for fucking up the game I was just beginning to enjoy by Metafiltering it.

:>
posted by kalessin at 1:16 PM on August 1, 2005

P.S. Get ammo at places were you might expect to find a lot of guns. Get first aid kits at places you might expect to find medicine. (in both cases, you'll have a lot more success searching after you've entered the building in question than if you stand around outside it searching. Searching multiple times is a very good idea.)

I was searching a random building once and got a GPS unit. You can also find stuff that doesn't use ammo, and if you get enough experience points, buy skills. They are generally helpful.
posted by kalessin at 1:19 PM on August 1, 2005

Umbert the Undead, here I come!
posted by kaseijin at 1:48 PM on August 1, 2005

I am so in love with this game right now. Although Kingdom of Loathing will still be my #1 love. I'm having way too much fun trying to stay on the leaderboards.
posted by shawnj at 5:01 PM on August 1, 2005

Unfortunately, I gave up on this after I was zombified and lost the few goodies I had managed to find (a crowbar and a cell phone, I recall). If you run across me still lurching about, my name there was Kabong.

I'm still plugging away (under the more recognizable name yhbc) at this site's predecessor and inspiration, Vampires! The Dark Alleyway, which is a very superficially similar game (same 100 x 100 grid, same slow pace), except there you're a vampire preying on humans (and each other) and trying to find/buy stuff.

The Vampires! site also points out quite clearly that it would be wrong for me to mention my own entryway to the game, because even though I would be credited 10 pints of blood for everyone that clicks that link (and subsequently signs up to play), putting it on a public forum like this is considered link-whoring, so I won't.
posted by yhbc at 6:00 PM on August 1, 2005

Reminds me of Monarchy Online. I hate games that tell me how much I can play.
posted by Eideteker at 10:16 PM on August 1, 2005

Can you tell if someone needs healing?

Cool game by the way. Thanks for posting.
posted by ODiV at 9:12 PM on August 2, 2005

Can you tell if someone needs healing?

Yes, if you have the Diagnosis skill.
posted by Zetetics at 9:24 AM on August 3, 2005