The Serious Business SAS4 Update Edition
The SAS: Zombie Assault 4 update, the one previously referred to as a pie, has just been served. The meat of the update is the new Event system. A timed game mode where players compete to earn a place on the leader board for sweet prizes. The better prizes are at the top of the board so make sure to stop by SAS4 and check them out!
Of course, this isn't the whole meal...
Alpha Virus
The current Event is Alpha Virus. In Alpha Virus you must hold onto the deadly virus for as long as possible. While holding the virus you move slower and your HP is whittled down. On top of that, all the zombies will want a piece of you. Run and shoot and dodge to stay away form their tearing hands and earn points. First player to get to 800 points wins.
Other Changes
Also in this update are a number of balance changes, mostly around reducing movement speed and increasing defense for your characters. Speed based builds have long been superior to defense focused builds and this brings them in line with each other, letting players choose to be more "tanky" without having an obvious disadvantage or allowing a mixture of speed/defense to work just as well. As with previous changes, this won't necessarily be the last big balance tweak. Remember to leave feedback and heartily discuss thing on the forums.
On top of those there are a bunch of bug fixes, UI tweaks and additions (cryo grenades now stop zombies regenerating health while frozen). A more complete list can be found in-game so check that out before picking up the Alpha Virus.
Questions from the Comments:
When are you going to release the June and July DC Vaults?
Very likely in the next BTD5 update, though when that will be is not something I can reveal.
When do you plan on changing tower balance in other BTD games (besides BMC)?
We are thinking about possible changes to a few towers in BTD Battles (Ice Tower being too good and some nice buffs for Glue, Sniper and Apprentice for example) but specific changes (if there will be any) and a release date aren't known yet. We're not looking at any BTD5 tower changes at the moment.
Do you have plans for an update for BTD5 Deluxe
Things are happening, so yes? There isn't much I can say just yet because things aren't finalised, but we haven't forgotten about Deluxe.
When is the next BMC update coming out?
The next proper BMC update is quite a while away. A few weeks at least, best case scenario. I say "proper" because there have been a couple tiny updates this week to sort some bugs and give us more tracking/logging tools to find some issues that have been around too long.
Thoughts on a Sandbox mode for SAS4 (test guns, spawn zombies etc.)?
It does sounds fun. The next 6 months+ of SAS4 updates are already planned though, so don't keep any eye out.
Any chance of getting something like the SuperRewards offer wall back?
We rarely say "no chance" but it's pretty unlikely. We've seen good results with in-game rewards (watching videos for Bloonstones, SAS cash etc.) but I don't see NK coins being available any time soon.
Are there any plans to add an option to disable pro Special Agents in BTD5?
Unfortunately not. Getting a balance between spending time on something vs. how cool/good/useful that thing will be has essentially pushed this out of the way.
Free skill reset for SAS4?
It's being discussed (and I'm hoping we'll put them in similar to Battle Panic) but nothing to confirm yet.
Thank you for reading.
I have been Aaron.
Good night.
I'm really enjoying the alpha virus mode :) but the spawn cap is really annoying since speedy players can just run whole game with a trail of zombies following behind them without any worry. Any plans for apocalypse mode also like in SAS 3?
YES, 3 free skill-reset for sas4 (like in BP). I would like that very much.