During the course of development, it was decided that certain areas of the campaign should be tested ahead of time. The idea that making survival maps, using many of the ideas we intend to employ in the campaign, sounded like a fun challenge. First up: The bridge.

For the campaign, a fictional modern-style drawbridge will be used. For our survival campaign, we decided to keep it a little simpler. After doing some research on Google, it was decided to make a full-scale replica of the Cold Springs Bridge just north of Santa Barbara, California. It was chosen because of its relative simplicity: Flat, narrow, simple side-railing. Its dark name offers a sense of foreboding. In addition, the bridge carries with it a terrifying history; it is Santa Barbara County’s top suicide location.

There are a number of elements being tested on this map such as an imported skybox from Half-Life 2: Episode One, customized environment sounds, physics props (cars for the tanks to throw), and a long — but narrow — playing space that offers dangers from various infected who may push or pull you to your death over 400 feet below. Infected themselves are set to spawn underneath the bridge, out of view of the player, and then crawl their way over the sides. Other infected will spawn further down the bridge, in the thick fog obscuring your view.

The story is a simple one. The Survivors, having escaped the horrors of Pennsylvania, have managed to make it to the west coast with the help of a man driving an old bus and are en route for a military evacuation zone near Los Angeles. They come to a road block and proceed to crash after the bus veers to avoid an infected, the driver of the bus killed instantly. The rest of the caravan manages to create a blockage at the far end of the bridge. The Survivors’ only choice is to radio that they’ve had an accident, load up, and attempt to cross the bridge on foot.

Cars sit abandoned, some still draining what little of their battery is left. Crows fly overhead looking for anything to eat. Suddenly the horde descend upon them from all sides, climbing from cars or over the guardrail. The Survivors make it to the other end of the bridge only to discover their path is hopelessly blocked. Here the Survivors make their last stand, unable to escape their fate.

In most survival-mode maps, the goal is simple: Survive as long as possible. Because of the linear setting of the bridge, we wanted to offer players a “reward” for making it to the far end. There, waiting like silent sentries, will be two miniguns. An ammo stash and a few pipe-bombs and molotovs will offer support.

There is still plenty of work to be done, but we’re hoping to release this survival map within the next couple of weeks. We’re happy with the environment settings, though many things still need to be added to bring that extra touch of detail to the world. The navmesh also needs special attention to make sure that the underside of the bridge works as intended.

With all said-and-done, we’re hoping to offer players a unique survival map experience that will leave them breathless and whispering “that was epic.”