An update on H1Z1’s vehicles

In H1Z1, weapons like an axe or handgun aren't your only means of survival against the onslaught of the zombie horde. Vehicles will also do the trick. In the most recent update, game designer/vehicle specialist Kris Roberts talked a bit about his role in making vehicles "as much fun to play as possible."

"The artists create the visual geometry, textures, particle effects, and animations that comprise what you see as vehicles.  The programmers build the systems that support the vehicle simulation, physics, and player interactions.  I get to tune the parameters for how it behaves for the player in game, including all the stuff for the motor, chassis, suspension, wheels, and tires, as well as the camera and, player controller input – all of which come together to establish how the vehicle behaves and “feels” to the player."

While much of the post is dedicated to explaining the process of adding a vehicle to the game, I'd much rather focus on the overall status of vehicles in H1Z1. For starters, SOE is currently adding a Pickup Truck. Beyond that, the most recent additions for vehicles in H1Z1 are support for repair, crafting, and car part requirements.

"A vehicle you find in the world may not have everything it needs to run," Roberts explained. "Producing fuel and finding parts like batteries and sparkplugs to get it going – or obtaining those items from rival survivors – can be a key part of the game."

"It’s been a blast so far getting the Off-Roader and Pickup Truck going in H1Z1, and I can’t wait until you guys get to take them for a spin in Early Access," he added. "There is still polish tuning to do on the vehicles we have now and we are working on new vehicle types like motorcycles and bicycles.  What we have now is already a lot of fun and nothing beats driving through a bunch of zombies!"

H1Z1 is currently still in development as SOE is working to bring it into a state that's acceptable for early access.