Update: Well hot damn! Before the podcast even gets posted, you have some hints of things I will say, which I already said, in real life before you get said podcast to officially hear me say it! Basically, I wasn’t convinced labeling this game as an “FPS” should warrant such an automatic rolling of the eyes. Yes, it’s Activision, but if it’s just for the COD crowd, what would separate it from COD zombies? This seems like a redundant project if it doesn’t strive to be different.
Well here you go. In a similar vein as the recent “Day Z” mod for Arma II, Terminal Reality’s Walking Dead “FPS” will include guns, yes, but will demand a much more contextual and strategic, dare I say realistic, approach. An Activision game embodying realism!? What? Yeah, apparently the source material for this game draws more from the AMC TV Show than the original comics, in order to separate it from the stellar work being done over at Telltale. In addition to the unique story approach, zombies will become increasingly more aware of the player when they are standing still, as their smell will start to spread and attract the Walkers, as they’re known. Moreover, one must be patient and think before going in guns blazing to complete objectives, because doing so will trigger more waves of the zombie horde, and that’s just boneheaded and silly. Nothing will prevent you from attempting this, since it is labeled primarily as an FPS, but there will be options for smarter, more interesting, less bro-tastic methods. The icing on the cake is the fact that the developer is extremely excited, due to the members of the team being huge fans of the source material to begin with. Hopefully this will increase the odds of the game being more polished and enjoyable, and it could explain why Kinect Star Wars wasn’t…maybe they just aren’t Star Wars fans? *Shrugs*
I’m sorry, but if you give me Left 4 Dead mechanics in a single player game, with more tactical options to heighten the realism, variety, and sense of immersion, and tie it all in to a franchise I am very much invested in from a narrative and character perspective, I don’t care who publishes it. Just because you aren’t into COD or Guitar Hero doesn’t mean Activision doesn’t support other good games like it’s some proven impossibility. See: Blur, Singularity, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, DJ Hero, etc. This one, in theory, sounds like it could make the list.
Terminal Reality provides details on Walking Dead FPS [Joystiq]
Original Post:
Activision will be publishing a first person shooter version of the Walking Dead, another game that draws inspiration from the popular comic series/TV show on top of what Telltale is doing with their point-and-click adventure, episodic renditions. As amazing as Telltale’s take on the IP has been so far, this is intriguing due to how the game will revolve around the brothers (Daryl and Merle), characters added to the show that were never in the comics but have developed a fan following (Norman Reedus’ character in particular). Exploring the back story of these characters sounds like an interesting conceit for me, personally, and due to Daryl’s trademark Crossbow in the show, I see the label of “FPS” more of a way to draw in certain crowds and please investors who pretty much demand FPS games as a main selling point these days. It may very well be a rote pew pew affair, and Terminal Reality (the team behind Kinect Star Wars) is the developer, so…yeah. But, like I said, this is a really cool take on the fiction for those who enjoy the source material, and it *could* be cool. Well, it is, actually. What isn’t guaranteed is whether or not it will be “good.” Yeah, never a guarantee, I suppose. Check out the trailer, and be reminded of how the Walking Dead has the most goosebump inducing theme music ever while it sits in hiatus until October.
The game, in contrast, will come to Xbox 360, PS3, and PC in 2013. Please make it not made of poop!
