A Prison Planet and AI's run Amok
Learn more about the development of an intergalactic blood sport. And the best part is that you can play for free.Tell us about your team.
The team is primarily Anosina, our lead artist and project manager, Derek Hyde, our webmaster and myself, Ian, as writer and game designer. We've had too many people pitch in ideas, art and code to list them all here, but we've included an exhaustive list on our site.
As for a broader, existentialist "who are we really?": Really. Big. Nerds.
What is Ziggeraut Prime?
Storywise it's the classic tale of prison planet nestled in the heart of the Milky Way where the galaxy now sends all of its criminals. The wardens of the planet (six deranged A.I.s) also serve as game-show hosts for Ziggeraut Prime-Time, the future's most popular telestream. Players play a gang of these inmates trying to kill each other to earn the audience's favor, and in turn much needed food and supplies.
If that wasn't enough, all of the blood-sport and mayhem attracts unspeakable alien nightmares from the voids between stars to feast on the misery. It's fun for the whole family.
How did it come about?It started out when a Savage Worlds campaign I was playing with some friends ended. We couldn't all get on the same schedule between family, work and school. I decided I'd find something that had strong RPG elements that had persistent play and I couldn't really find anything that resonated with me.
While I was researching I found John Senner's minimalist miniatures game Brigandine. He challenged someone create a Sci-Fi version. That somehow became ZP, though the time from then until now as been a blurry haze.
What makes Ziggeraut Prime unique?
We have a webcomic that's updated every weekday, so there's that.
Also all actions in the game resolve with only a single roll of a d6. Its not groundbreaking stuff, but when coupled with a brutally simple resolution system (we call it Magic 7), it makes teaching the game fast and playing the game even faster.
Other features include RPG elements where you develop your gang over time, gain influence and infamy, etc. The game can be played with any other games 28mm miniatures.In terms of narrative, the story borrows from some obvious places for fans of schlocky 80's action and horror films, though I consider this a plus.
What stage of development are you at now?
We just finished a round of open beta about a week ago and are tightening in some of the game's mechanics. There are several systems in the game that all function separately (gaining ratings, attracting the horrors, how the A.I. affect matches) that we're rolling into one, hopefully more elegant mechanic that will involve less tracking on the part of the players. We should be opening beta games back up sometime in the middle of next month!
How can people play?Anyone interested on getting their hands on our last beta test can go here: http://www.
We're about a week away from releasing the next version, Craven Ostrich. It has a totally revamped Campaign system, tweaked Ranged combat and a more streamlined system for making units. We'll be putting everything online for free, as always.
What does the future hold?
MONEY. Kidding. But seriously.
No, the rules for ZP will always be free and open. After beta we might do a kickstarter for fancier prints, and we'll host a site where active members of the community will be able to help us revise the rules and organize tournaments. As long as people are enjoying ZP, we will keep supporting it.