Spotlight: Gusmanak Returns to ROBLOX With Apocalypse Rising

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Apocalypse Rising 17-year-old Gus Dubetz, or Gusmanak, started using ROBLOX in 2008, due primarily to a life-long fascination with physics. By 2010, Dubetz decided to take a short break to focus on clay and wood sculpting.

It wasn’t until two years later, shortly after the release of Day Z, a hugely popular add-on to ArmA 2, that Dubetz, with long-time friend and scripter Ethan Witt (aka ZolarKeth) asked, “what if we went back?”

That question lead to the birth of an idea—Dubetz and Witt didn’t just want to make another “generic shooter”, they wanted to make a full blown game—something with ambition, scope, replayability, and, most importantly, zombies. That idea became Apocalypse Rising.

“What makes our game unique is that it’s different every time you play it. There are different perks, people to play with, places to explore—half the game is randomized,” says Dubetz.

Dubetz was able to do this by organizing items into different types of “spawners”—general loot, general weapons, military general, military weapons, and medical were categories taken into consideration.

“Each spawner is a brick,” explains Dubetz. “With this system, it’s possible for one ‘loot brick’ to spawn nothing at all, or even two of the same item. General item spawners can spawn zero to four items,  whereas weapon spawners can spawn nothing, or a weapon with one to three magazines.”

Apocalypse Rising

One zombie? Not so bad. A group? That's when it gets a little freaky.

Outside of the random nature of the worlds, the gaming system itself is quite deep. You can choose from one of four classes, each accentuating one skill (i.e. the Ninja perk makes you quieter, the adrenaline perk refills your health, etc.), and find a myriad of weapons throughout the world, from pistols and pipes, to shotguns and rifles.

Much like Day Z, rationing supplies is a big part of staying alive. Bullets are scarce, so lining up headshots is extremely important, especially after surviving a few “days,” when zombies begin attacking more frequently and in larger groups. You also have the option of joining up with fellow players to face the undead as a team, but keep in mind, not all players will see you as an ally and may even kill you to take your items.

Headshots become important as the days go on.

ROBLOX Creative Director John Shedletsky got to spend some time playing Apocalypse Rising, and found the group aspect to be one of the most interesting parts of the game.

“You never know when one player will decide he is desperate enough for supplies and will try attacking and robbing you of all your loot,” says Shedletsky. “It creates a really interesting tension. I killed a man for a can of beans.”

To address this danger, Dubetz came up with the “Bandit System”, which essentially marks people with bandanas who have killed three or more survivors intentionally. There is an important distinction between bandits and those forced to kill in defense, so the basic rule is this: if you come under fire and kill your attacker, you won’t become a bandit.

Dubetz and Witt spent months planning, then finely crafting, every aspect of the game. The idea was simple: to recreate Day Z, their favorite PC game, in the world of ROBLOX.

Apocalypse Rising Pull Quote

“We were inspired most by the idea that we could take a really great game, and challenge ourselves to recreate it in ROBLOX,” recalls Dubetz. “This was something nobody had ever done before. This was our new challenge”.

Dubetz was concerned that the ROBLOX engine wouldn’t be able to handle a game of such scope, and figured that if the ROBLOX engine wouldn’t be able to handle his vision, then that vision wasn’t worth pursuing.

“The more things we added, the more lag we started to notice,” says Dubetz. “Over time, we just had to figure out our limits, and just how far we could go within the engine.”

Eventually, Dubetz and Witt settled on a look and aesthetic they were happy with, and it’s a good look indeed. What strikes you immediately upon starting up Apocalypse Rising is the eerie atmosphere. When day turns to night, an unsettling fog blankets the bleak environment, obscuring your vision. You’ll want to see as far ahead as you can, so playing in first-person mode is the way to go. The massive level makes you feel like one of the few remaining humans on earth, and finding scattered journals adds small, creepy bits to the story.

Less than 15 hours after releasing the title, Apocalypse Rising had hit the front page. At the time of this writing, Apocalypse Rising has been played 953,869 times.

“I think we have a very unique game,” says Dubetz. “More than anything, that’s what we were aiming for.”

337 thoughts on “Spotlight: Gusmanak Returns to ROBLOX With Apocalypse Rising”

  1. After playing this game, I tried to play DayZ but sadly Windows 7 doesn’t offer great gameplay chance… So I play Apocalypse Rising instead :)

  2. the game is kinda fun. I dont like it that this is the only game thats gotton on the blog evan though THE SCRIPTING IS AMAZEING. I dotn play it. im trying to get my gmae popular “Sword Fighting Arena V2.5″ I want that game to be popular most of my comemnts say stuff like” EPIC” and ” I will paly this all the time” but like noone plays it, i make my own retextures. CAN YOU PALY IT THAN TELL ME WHAT IT NEEDS???

    • 1st of all calm down man and 2nd of all your place needs a battle place with cannons and make it like a war and give some guns if you like y idea THEN DO IT PLEASE!!!

  3. i dont really like this game i hate why you can die easily and there are too many zombies at kin and i dislike how to guns are very rare

  5. I find it funny how ROBLOX staff always interview people when they create a unique game that ROBLOX staff could never even manage. Goes to show that the players are better than the staff.

    • You’ll find that that was the purpose of Roblox from the beginning. To inspire young creators to create free games online, the creators of Roblox never intended to be better than anyone else, and are most likely worse then quite a few of their players.

    • Not neccesarily, the ROBLOX staff created ROBLOX, and the only reason that game was possible was because of what ROBLOX provides.

  6. My worst idea, Gsve away my MK 46, along with 1,200 bullets(12 Mags) My military pack, 2 cooked meat, and 3 drinks. To my friend.

  7. you should add a herobrine zombie and make him the most powerful of the bunch

  8. No offense, but personally I prefer Survival: Apocalypse, for a ZDay-Ish game. There’s a variety of maps, less idiots running around, the ability to actually build, and crafting.

    Whatever suits you guys tastes.

    • S:A is a great game, but the item spawning isn’t randomized (of course, I haven’t played it in some time) with causes it to repetitive, where as in Apocalypse Rising, there’s a bit of a ‘luck’ value (depending on how the random seed ends up working out), and adds a bit of a, ‘is it worth risking my life to going to this zombie-infested city/military installation for a weapon that MIGHT be there?’ Overall, they’re both great games, but I believe they’re a separate genre due to this.

    • He was a test subject for an experiment. it went terribly wrong and. Well, Just see for yourself.

    • One of the best games ever on ROBLOX. I couldn’t stop playing it for a while and then I realized that I had been playing it for around 2 hours. I just keep playing though.

  11. Love the game though i think you should make it more realistic by adding so you can find military weapons in the normal citys but only spawn by a rare chance because it shows kinda like you find a military man away from base dead youd usally find him having a AR or SMG but just an idea though

  12. This game will probly be the most amazing scripted and well built games on roblox for a long long time a tip for this game if your chat voice chat with a person that you know they are your enemie

  14. i havent played this game yet but i

    will when im done commenting.. from the comments that i saw it sounds addicting and fun so thats why im goonna play it. when i first saw it i didnt think it was that good so naturally i ignored the game but since sooo many people like the game im gonna try it too!!! ill post what i think of the game when im done with the game so bye for now

  15. this is the best game i have ever played but i think that you should be able to choose 2 abuiltys and the map should be a little smaller

  18. Someone please send a msg to Gaara13337pwnz to check his skype.
    ty.
    i’m IP banned for a week

  19. i was getting bored of roblox not much orginaltity 1 of my friends zeroblaze21 sent me a party on roblox so i deiced since i like all the games he shows me i diecided iv never heard of a game like this so i tried it and became addicted to it the only time i leave the game is if im close to dying or die

    • agree super game it’s cool like in real life but one problem when you drink your hunger doesn’t go up cause in real life when you drink you don’t wanna eat like your not hungry anyore right

  22. Howcome they only got publicity?
    ROBLOX should also publicize many other users too.

  23. Usually I hate these type of games, but Gusmanak has created a WHOLE new game. The bandit system is a great part of the game, I love it!

    In a nutshell, this is a great game. Never before have I played a game that you can play over and over again, this could be the greatest game I have ever played.

    • i dont know too much about this game, and i have wondered, what is the bandit system?

  26. Problem is the guest cant hear you so they just attack you if they ever make a base with supplies

    • Well, if you have a base with supplies, you probably have enough gear to just shoot the guests.

      • but what if the geusts have a better gun hten you will you kill him huh huh i’ll be waiting for your anwer >:I

  27. I never played Apocalypse Rising, and can’t just of my slow internet <;(

  29. Man,i’ve made a colony/joined and we ever meet at Kin hospital,we make a base up there,gather all the supplies and drop ‘em up there is anyone wants or needs them,i spend hours playing this,but i don’t like much when i have to leave,but,everyday i can i play this game!

  30. Revenge should be allowed as a “defense” thing. There was this guys who shot at me while I was looking at my map. He stole my items. So as I respawned I realized he shouldn’t be too far away and I chased after him and killed him. It said that I killed him intentionally and I did but I wanted my AK-47 back. So there should really be a revenge button where you can kill the person who killed you without becoming a bandit.

  31. Hello Roblox and Apocolypse Rising users ive tried soo hard from 2007 to now to make a game so great people visit everyday such as Apocolypse Rising time after time after time i tried to make a game like you. So i would either like help from either Roblox(the user name) Or the creator of Apocolypse Rising. TY and camden66 out!

  33. And another game goes in ROBLOX history, one surely worth honoring. And surely Telamon backstabs people.

  35. I believe that all your time and effort has been Payed off with the great reviews and visits. Congratulations.-sk8rboy55-

  37. And guess what,It was A NBC creating such cool game.
    Grats for the game Gusmanak.

  38. I know people love this game. But I really can’t find the point in the whole shooting each other thing. It should just be called “Zombies and Jerks”. I per-fared “Survival of the Living 2″.

  39. This game is amazing and very well scripted, built, and the relality of it is rediculously real. Good job

  40. i really like that game,but i really hate and angry,some one kill me for all my stuff and my military Pack >:O

  42. Really good game, you can tell you put alot work into it.Good job although you shoulddo more updates.

  43. I thought this game was going to be like Zombie Mansion..Just another shooter/survival game. I came here and was like, “Eh, pretty good.” Then the zombies came and I was like “Oyus. OYUS BRUH!”
    Good job Gusmanak.

  45. err i dont think the game is really that epic its a good game but i like first person game where both hand are holding the gun you know?

  49. omg i didnt think i would like it that much but now im like sooo addicted! i love your game your like a total gameing ginues!!!!

  50. This game is awesome. It’s one of the best zombie survival games I’ve ever played on ROBLOX. At that, it’s an original, and it’s actually a GOOD game, unlike most games on the front page that are just copied or copied ideas. I was getting bored of ROBLOX games. They were all the same; obbies, find the whatevers, tycoon games, and it was really boring. Then I found this game. This is my most favorite game on ROBLOX, I love it. I hope to see more games from Gusmanak. He is obviously a great creator.

  52. I think this is the best game on roblox,better than all those fake decaled games on front pages,best games ever:This,catalog heaven,:DDD!!!!

  53. Shedletsky now mugs people?!
    EPIC!
    “It creates a really interesting tension. I killed a man for a can of beans.”

  55. Roblox should make a place teaching beginners the lua code. Its a language and if roblox could help teach the younger players it would indeed give them the ability to make a place like this!

    • Yeah thanks! I’m not younger or a beginner. But i totally SUCK in scripting. You’re one of those higher-ups that look down on peeps like me that should probably know scripting in LUA but I’m just dumb. IDK. I hope I see you around!

    • Agreed. I’ve been playing for 4 years and i stll dont know ANYTHING about scripting.

  56. OMG when i first saw apocalypse rising i thought it was just one of those games that is lucky and then after a while im like ok it must be a great game and then i see this and im like OMG ITS ONE OF THOSE EPIC GAMES THAT I ALMOST NEVER SEE!!! it is really so epic!

    • Well the game at first i thought OMG THIS IS SO LAME WHY DID HE MAKE THIS GAME! then i played even more and thought OMG WHY DOSE EVERYONE KEEP KILLING ME! then finaly i surrendered to the game as new updates came andd donated 5000Robux to the createor

  58. last commet to long keep it going* The more stuff a town/city gots of course there will be more zombies to kill with gaining stuff. Also it depend witch place u go to for stuff like if u go miatary better gunz. A city will get better supllies. It is a weel thoguht out game.

  59. The reason he have good guns is to make them rare. If evreyone found then then evryone will kill each other. If you are nnot my freind i have a 75% chance of killing you. The bases are also good you can build a base and stay safe. The hospital idea is great. Bllod packs will help alot. The reason he made packs is so you can have more space to put stuff. If you could get alot it will be boreing. It is also good about map gps and compass if you have those your all set to travel. If you have none then the fog will help alot.

    • Yes, quite. I remember making a base with my two friends, who i only just met on the game. I was listening to the chat and met one of two people communicating and us two met up with his friend. I had all the Compass, map items, but it’s fun if one person has a compass and one has a map. I do love this game and hope it gets many, many more reviews from people.

  60. Dont stop updating the game please! Apocalypse Rising is one of my favorite games on Roblox!! I want to see more cool stuff! plAZ!!!!

    • The Vehicle idea is neat, but if the creator does decide to add them, they should be made to be hard to find, so we won’t have everyone driving a vehicle, and missing out on the zombie action.

      • Or make it like the actual DayZ where you have to find a ton of resources to repair a broken car.

  62. I think it’s the best game on roblox i play it all the time. Me and a friend were playing and we went to kin and had set up a base in kin he was the leader since he recruited me and i was co- leader so we made a base in kin at the hospital we made barricades and we even made sky bridges that went building to building and not long after that we had the whole server there and we fought shared supplies and right before i had to leave the game a hoard of zombies were coming down the street there were at least 20-25 and we all opened fir we had tec-9′s ak’s makorovs m1911′s m4′s all of them the point is great game man good job! :D

  63. I play this game on ROBLOX at LEAST once a day.I also play Dayz.

  64. The game is well scripted but it needs vechles and transportation badly! but the GUI’s are one of he best ones iv seen in my roblox life id say this game is the best zombie survival game game in roblox but really i do hate the bandits but it is part of the game so thats why i am a lone wolf no wonder everyone there calls me wolfy. >_>

  66. I was building a base out of wood with someone in kin but then someone came along and said they wouldn’t kill us, but then while we had our backs turned he murdered us D:

  69. This is a great game, but most of the people are meet are bandits. They took my Mk 48 and Tec-9 man! My favorite guns man!