Zombies, Run! 5k Training update now available for Android

A quick note to let you guys know that we’ve now released an update for Zombies, Run! 5k Training on Android. This version fixes a few issues and UI problems that we’ve been receiving feedback about recently.

Here are the full patch notes:

All workouts are now available from the start.
Various problems that could cause the app to crash have been fixed.
In response to player feedback, we’ve increased the volume of workout instructions.
Synchronisation with ZombieLink is now automatic.
We fixed a bug that caused workouts to run significantly slower on some devices.
Improved workout timings and instructions.

There is also an update for Zombies, Run! 5k Training for iOS in the works which will have similar improvements. We’re hoping to have this available soon. We’ll have more information on that once it’s released.

Don’t forget to take part in our survey if you haven’t yet. Just follow this link and let us know what you think of Zombies, Run!

Tell us your Zombies, Run! Story!

We know that Zombies, Run! has an incredibly strong community and we’re looking to put together a Testimonials page on the official website to spread the word about how much you guys love the game. We’d love it if you could take a few minutes to fill in our short survey with as many details as you are willing to provide, as well as your thoughts on the game and the Zombies, Run! story.

We’ll be closing the survey on Tuesday June 11th, so you have until then to let us know your thoughts!

We also want to put together a compilation video, so we’re welcoming any and all fan video submissions, too. This could be in vlog form, in which you tell us your favourite things about Zombies, Run!, or maybe something more similar to the great fan videos (such as this one and this one) which are set in the Zombies, Run! universe. The brief is open! As long as it’s from a fan and involves Zombies, Run! in some way, we want to see it.

Please upload your videos to YouTube and tag them “myzombiesrunstory” and we’ll find it.

To be clear, we’re not looking for “reviews” of the game. Just tell us what you think, what you’ve enjoyed and any interesting Zombies, Run! experiences that you have.

This won’t just benefit Six to Start. For each video we receive which is more than a minute long, we will be donating $3 to charity, so you’ll be doing two nice things at once!

Everyone here at Six to Start loves hearing your feedback, so we’re very much looking forward to seeing what you guys have to say.

*Photo credit: Flickr user Goat Karma

Manual distance input for ZombieLink and updates to both apps

Since the launch of Zombies, Run! 2, we’ve been continuing to update the app on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as the online ZombieLink service.

This week, we’ve added a much requested feature to your ZombieLink account: you can now manually update your distance for any run log, and it’s particularly useful for all of our players who play on treadmills. It’s also a solution for players who experience issues with GPS tracking.

To manually enter your run distances, simply follow these steps:

If you are logged in and looking at their own profile page.
An edit button (replaces hidden cog) now appears on each month set
Click on the edit button to toggle editing mode
Edit runs as appropriate
Runs will save automatically once a field has been changed
A save spinner and finally a green tick will indicate when the run has finished saving
Upon save the calorie count will be recalculated using the weight of the user when they synced the run
Click “Finished Editing” button to return to normal view

Next up, we’ve released version 2.1.2 of Zombies, Run! for iPhone and iPod Touch. This update fixes a bunch of bugs, as well as adding a handy dialogue box when you complete a mission so that you know which buildings can be built and upgraded with your new supplies. We’ve also fixed an issue that prevented ZombieLink Codex entries from updating. Version 2.1.2 is available right now and we’re already working on the next update, which will include some pretty neat new features!

As for Android, our most recent 2.0.5 update for Android brought radio mode back! You’ll be prompted to download the Radio content on the news page, and this is necessary to start hearing both Season 1 and Season 2 Radio after completed missions. This update also rewards those of you who completed Season 1 missions with materials to spend on your base.

If you haven’t been keeping an eye on the in-game news feed, you may not have noticed that we’ve been releasing new episodes on a weekly basis. So far we’ve released twelve new missions since the game has launched. You can get access to all of these (plus the dozens we have left to go in Season 2) by grabbing the Season Pass in the store section of the Zombies, Run! app.

We’ll continue to update the apps and ZombieLink and, as soon as news on these updates and features is available, we’ll be sharing it with you here at the Zombies, Run! blog.

We Want You (To Join Our Team)!

Six to Start is growing! We’re looking for an Android Developer, a Javascript Developer, an Artist, and a Production Assistant to join our team to make Zombies, Run! even better, and to help develop brand new games that will be just as innovative, fun, and good for people as Zombies, Run!

We’re also experimenting with new game concepts that use smartphones, tablets, and other wearable devices and computers in novel ways, and we’d like more people to be part of that.

We get emails every day from people whose lives we’ve improved with our games – people who’ve lost weight, become healthier, and gained confidence. There’s nothing like knowing that your work is valued by hundreds of thousands and is doing good in the world.

Note: Most of the positions require that you’re based in or near London, but some (like the artist) are not.

ANDROID DEVELOPER (London)

The simultaneous release of Zombies, Run! 2 on Android and iOS shows that we take the Android platform extremely seriously, and we’re incredibly excited about taking advantage of the latest Android services and tech in ZR and in our new game. If that sounds like a fun challenge, then Six to Start is for you.

The Highlights

We require 1+ year experience of professional Android development.
We need you to show us something you have coded. It doesn’t need to be a game, it doesn’t need to have graphics, it doesn’t even have to have zombies, it just needs to be interesting.
You’re able to work from our office in Gospel Oak, London (nearest tubes: Kentish Town/Tufnell Park)
Salary is competitive, and dependent on experience.

See full details on the job posting, including how to apply

Some of our intrepid developers!

JAVASCRIPT DEVELOPER (London)

We want an enthusiastic and agile Javascript developer who can help us develop games for the web, and compelling online experiences for our mobile games. And we want someone who can help us think up and create entirely new game concepts, branching out on to exciting new platforms and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the web on mobile devices.

The Highlights

1+ years experience of professional Javascript development, and/or an excellent portfolio of your own work.
A working knowledge of server-side development (in any language).
Experience with and a strong interest in mobile web development.
You’re able to work from our office in Gospel Oak (nearest tubes: Kentish Town/Tufnell Park)
Salary is competitive, and dependent on experience.

See full details on the job posting, including how to apply

It’s a small farm, but it’s a start!

ARTIST (Remote or London)

Our new game will be much more visual than Zombies, Run! (which itself is more visual than the Season 1), so we’re looking to expand our team. Specifically, we want someone who can create illustrated-yet-realistic landscapes in 2D, along with the types of isometric 2D buildings we have in the Zombies, Run! Season 2 base.

The Highlights

This can either be a remote contract position, or a part-time on-site position (with the potential to turn into a full-time job).

We require familiarity with how art is processed during game development (e.g. working to code specs, making sure assets fit in, how they need to look on different devices, etc.)
You can mimic the painting style we currently use in Zombies, Run!
You have deep experience in Photoshop.
Salary is competitive, and dependent on experience.

See full details on the job posting, including how to apply

Margaret Atwood visiting is pretty rare, but our soundbooth is still pretty magical

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (London)

We’re currently looking for a part or full-time Production Assistant who can assist in the production and maintenance of our games (including Zombies, Run! and new games). This is a job with real potential for advancement within the company and the industry, providing that you’re smart and can work hard.

The Highlights

You’ll be providing general assistance to the production team, including copywriting, editing game data, organising recording sessions, and auditioning new actors.
You’ll also be assisting with online customer support.
You’re highly computer literate and experience with Microsoft Office and Google Docs.
You have very good written and spoken English skills.
Salary is competitive, and dependent on experience.

See full details on the job posting, including how to apply.

Collecting materials in Zombies, Run!

Following extensive feedback from our players, today we’ve made a change to the way you collect materials when you play Zombies, Run! – you can now earn one material for each Season One mission that you complete.

When you upgrade, we’ll automatically add on materials for every Season One mission that you’ve already completed.

You need two things to develop your base in Zombies, Run! 2 – “supplies” (which we show with a satchel icon) and “materials” (which we show with a spanner icon).

As in Season One, you collect supplies randomly as you run. The more you run, the more supplies you collect – it’s that simple.

Materials, however, are only awarded when you complete missions, and if you play the mission a second time, the reward will be smaller. We want your base to steadily grow as Season 2 progresses, so this is our mechanism for preventing players from playing the first Season 2 mission a bajillion times and building an impenetrable uber-base before they’ve even reached the mid-season (when things may get more challenging for the citizens of Abel Township…)

However, many of our new players got in touch with us to tell us that this system seemed unfair – they had 23 Season One missions to catch up on, and with no new materials, couldn’t develop their base. We agree that this sucks for new players, so we’ve made it possible to get materials for completing Season One missions too.

As of iOS 2.1.1 and Android 2.0.5, both released today, the material rewards are as follows:

First time you complete a Season Two mission: 3 MATERIALS
Second time: 2 MATERIALS
Third time: 1 MATERIAL
Thereafter: No more materials! Play more missions!

First time you complete a Season One mission: 1 MATERIAL
Thereafter: No more materials! Play more missions!

Already played a bunch of Season One missions?

No problem, we’ve got your back. When you upgrade to Android 2.0.5 or iOS 2.1.1, we’ll give you a bonus material for every Season One mission you’ve already completed – just check into the base builder and get building.

We hope this improves your Zombies, Run! experience. Thanks for playing with us!

What’s next for Zombies, Run! 2?

Since the launch of Zombies, Run! 2, we at Six to Start have continued to work hard on the game. We’re producing bug fixes, feature updates and more for not only the iOS and Android versions of the game, but ZombieLink too.

To start off, we’ve released ZombieLink Mission pages today. This is a huge update to ZombieLink, which allows you to track which missions you’ve completed and view detailed information for each one. On each mission page you’ll not only see your related run logs and a description of each individual story clip, but you’ll be able to listen back to them, too. And by default, we’re hiding spoilers so you won’t see details from missions you haven’t played.

We’re really pleased to deliver such a regularly requested feature. Be aware, though – you can only hear clips from missions you’ve previously completed.

Visit the Missions pages (you need to be logged in)

We’ve also released an update for the Android version of Zombies, Run! 2 today. This includes a bunch of bug fixes, as well as the highly anticipated re-introduction of Radio Mode. So if you’ve already rushed through all the story missions and sidequests which have been released so far, you can jump straight to Radio Mode on your next run. Next on the list are Race Missions, which we’ll be adding to the Android version of the game as soon as we can.

We’re not going to run out of new stuff to add to either the iOS or Android versions of Zombies, Run! 2 anytime soon. As well as bug fixes and tweaks, we’ve got plans to improve the base builder even further, plus some other secret stuff which we can’t discuss quite yet. We’ll also be adding supply missions and the codex back to the game, so look out for all that in the coming months!

The first Zombies, Run! 2 mission pack is out now!

We can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since Zombies, Run! 2 was launched – which means it’s time to release the first Season 2 mission pack. Two new story missions are now available along with a new sidequest!

We’re not going to spoil the story missions, but we thought you’d be excited to know that this new sidequest features legendary Canadian author Margaret Atwood. Yes, it’s really her!

Not only did she come to the Six to Start offices to record her part in the mission, but she also co-wrote it with our lead writer, Naomi Alderman. Look! Here’s a photo of Margaret Atwood with Naomi and our director, Matt Wieteska, in our recording sound booth:

In order to get hold of these new missions, you’ll need to grab a Season Pass. Only want the Margaret Atwood side mission? Grab the Sidequest Pass. Want all three? You’ll need to purchase the Season Pass Plus. These will let you download some or all of the new missions released every Wednesday.

Speaking of which, we’re finalising our release schedule and wanted to let you know that there will be a 4-6 week mid-season break after the release of Story Mission 20, around the end of June. This is due to the way we have written and recorded the missions. We know we’re asking a lot of you by releasing three new missions a week (that’s a lot of running!), so this should also give people a chance to catch up.

Note: If you can’t see the new missions, you may need to force-close and re-open the app, or restart your device.