Of course they knew that before release but neglected to mention it. Charming.

Webbins wrote:

No co-op coming.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-03-undead-labs-confirms-that-state-of-decay-wont-get-co-op

Super glad I didn't buy it now.

I'd rather do my ironing than play that rubbish.

I think I have zombie fatigue. Well, I'm sure of it. Hated the demo. Despised even.

This game totally doesn't need co-op.  The whole point is that fragile feeling of being the leader of a group of incompatible survivors.  You're like Rick from The Walking Dead; you might play another character for a while but that's just because you've sent them on a mission rather than going yourself.  

But you're definitely the group leader.  You're making all the awkward decisions, sending people on supply runs, choosing where to go, who to work with, who to offer access to your community to, who to take in, what to spend valuable resources on.  You choose whether to continue with an important mission, a supply run, find the last remaining items to complete a new facility, clear an infestation, or go help a stranded ally.  You choose whether an extra sleeping area is more important than a basic infirmary, or even a garden to stop you needing to go scavenging all the time.

The actual mechanics of doing the simple missions aren't shining by any stretch of the imagination.  The fun from the game comes from its seemingly limitless scope, the way it's always bombarding you with so much to do and so many choices to make.  While smashing zombies around, I'm not enjoying the actual combat, I'm thinking already what we're going to do next, with which character, and how to share the kit out.

All of that would be diluted if it was co-op, and the basic run around and smash zombies gameplay isn't good enough to stand up to it.  At a push, you could have co-op where someone joins your game but isn't allowed to maintain the base or anything, and they allocate themselves missions (with or without you joining) in the same way that characters in your group can decide to do missions on their own.

I've had just one situation so far that would work in co-op.  After surveying from atop a mast, I tried to snipe a screamer at an infestation; I attracted a horde and wound up stuck up the mast with about 20 zombies running around at the bottom.  Someone could have come to help me, but it's hardly the beginnings of a co-op masterpiece.

As a sort-of MMO it would work, with a world big enough for you to have your own enclave and work alongside other survivors, or as a mini-MMO with a dozen players in each area or something.  The current game world's too small for that I reckon though.

Seriously, give it a shot.  It gets exponentially better the more you play.

You start again from scratch when moving.
Also you get more 'cant complete x without hinges, planks etc...' Missions when building a plot or upgrading. 
The warehouse is good. It has 4 parking spaces (mine aren't working), allows 2 or 3 more outposts and about 5 building plots, I haven't really needed all of them so I would say save your resources and time and wait. 
The far top left of the map opens fairly easily a mission or two after that Talk to the Wilkinsons mission, so you could always move up there later. 
The southern town is good but it's a little low on ammo, well it was for me anyway, the top left town is a large calibre ammo haven.

Don't be shy with the outposts they give you the bonus and the can be torn down and rebuilt elsewhere, they also give your foraging chums (the 'A friend is in trouble' missions) a % boost on whether or not they will make it back on their own, so max them out and delete/make new ones at will.

Yeah, last night I had to hunt for topsoil for my garden and cotton swabs for my infirmary; it adds a nice spin to building stuff and some extra urgency to those supply runs.  Found myself wondering what bits to use to set up an outpost, what stuff I should package up and take home, and when to call for a buddy to come when there were hordes out there....

I'm definitely going to move to that warehouse.  Think I'll collect materials now I have our home mostly upgraded (kitchen, library, watchtower, infirmary, advanced workshop, beds, garden).  Its only problem is I have 9 people and 8 beds.

For repairing cars, am I right in thinking I need to park in the marked bays to get them repaired?  I have about 6 cars crammed outside our home right now.

Tonight I'm going to look at adjusting my outposts... still need one in one direction where we're undefended, and right now I have too many making food considering we have a garden.  Need to get my 5 (I think) down to medicine, materials, ammo etc.  Maybe just one of each type.  I think I'm going to keep an outpost up in the north though, just in case.

For anyone who's played through the story;

Sweet, I'll do that one later.

Aha little tip.
You know there are so many of those someone needs a talking too missions?
Well start one, go to the mission point and clear the zombies then don't take the guy home. Take him off with you to another mission. He stays with you until you take hime back to the base. same with some of the survivor in trouble missions. Voila backup.

I also have some perks, press down on the dpad and the call menu comes up, I did missions that allow me to call to the sheriff who will bring backup and I can even call in a artillery strike when needed. Costs influence but I have about 1300 at the moment.

How do you get those??  I guess you have to do the artillery spotting mission for the Army I think I ignored, and the civic duty one for the sheriff....?

I also got one where one of my group would snipe for me, I think he gave me ten shots and popped anything that got to close.

yeah the promise of coop coming in the future reeked a bit. anyone with half a brain should have seen it coming

I've now met the Army and have that perk!  I'm sure it'll come in useful.  Got into a couple of fairly grim fights, turns out I can't throw firebombs very straight.

Rejigged my outposts so I now have 3 providing materials, one food, one ammo, one fuel.  That seems to be a nice balance.  We have the greenhouse producing food now as well, and only need about 8 a day.  Materials were a shock though; 19 required a day!!

i forgot about perks etc. i had a swat team on call before i started again.

You're a fussy bunch!

You can't miss a co-op mode that was never there, and voice acting?  Come on, it's an excellent game; if you drive more than 1000 yards then you get hideous jerkiness, framerate issues and pop-in.  But you don't mind, because you've suspended disbelief, and you're already wondering what awaits you when you respond to that radio call, and what to do next about your dwindling medical supplies.