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GDC 2011: Jeff Strain lets us eat... err... pick his brains on Undead Labs' upcoming zombie MMO
The team at Undead Labs has big plans for the studio's first two projects currently under development: Class 3 and Class 4. So far, we know that Class 3 will be a non-MMO console zombie shoot-em-up game developed for Xbox Live, and Class 4 is intended to be the game that crosses into a massively online world. That's why we were glad to sit down with Jeff Strain, founder of Undead Labs, to hear more details on the studio's gory game goodness, which is surely lurking and primed to pounce on us and eat our brains -- or at least some of our gaming time. Are you hungry for all the meaty details of this ambitious console horror game? Join us behind the break for more!
Undead Labs reveals first release title, and it's not the zombie MMO [Updated]
Back in November 2009, ArenaNet co-founder Jeff Strain left the company to create a new development studio named Undead Labs. His plans included the development of a zombie-survival console MMO, an idea that has had fans of zombie apocalypse games excited ever since. In August 2010, Undead Labs graced the news once again when four more of ArenaNet's developers left to join the new studio and work on the upcoming zombie MMO. It wasn't long until we began to see the first details released of the impending zombie apocalypse, with a huge section in EGM Magazine. Most notable was the revelation that the game would be a console-only open-world sandbox. Undead Labs unveiled its first officially planned release title today, and fans of the upcoming zombie MMO won't be disappointed. While the company's first release won't be the zombie MMO we all want so badly, the studio plans to first release a smaller-scale online zombie survival game on XBox Live Arcade. This game, code-named "Class 3" for now, will showcase the gameplay, setting and technology that will be used to develop the as-yet untitled zombie MMO. The team at Undead Labs plans to then use the game as a kind of training ground to help develop better gameplay experiences for the MMO that will follow. Although that means we'll have to wait a while to get our hands on that zombie-survival sandbox world we've all been dreaming of, the result should be a game that appeals more to players. Jeff Strain, founder of Undead Labs, released the following statement: "Our mission is to create original online games that truly feel at home on the console platform, and Xbox 360 is a fantastic platform for online console gaming. We plan to create an ambitious open world XBLA game and use its gameplay, setting, and technology as the foundation for a full online world game." [Update: Jeff Strain's also released a tongue-in-cheek "Rude Q&A" on Undead Labs' blog. It discusses the team's plans and goals for the new game as well as aims to stave off any misconceptions about both upcoming titles.]
UnDead Online coming for your braaaaaaaains
When it comes to zombies and gun-toting fun with friends, most people would probably immediately think of Left 4 Dead or perhaps Red Dead Redemption's Undead Nightmare DLC. When it comes to MMOs, though, you've got limited choices for horror -- and many of them aren't even out yet! Today you have one more title to add to your listing of horror MMO games that are shambling toward you at some point in the future: UnDead Online. This brain-splattered game is being developed by indie studio JumpCore Productions. The studio was formed in 2007 by Cameron Petty, who was part of the founding team behind Cryptic Studios. According to JumpCore, UnDead Online will be an episodic MMOFPS hybrid that will have its first showing at the upcoming Games Developer Conference in March. A statement released by Petty explains further; "Each episode of the FPS game series will tell the story of a character that exemplifies one of the character classes in the MMO game. The player will experience that character's journey from his or her previous existence into the post-Apocalyptic world brought to life in the UnDead Online MMO, while exploring the unique game play aspects of that character's class along the way." Ultimately, we're glad to see another horror title planned for the MMO genre, and we will certainly be expectantly waiting to chew on the developers' brains about what we can look forward to in their game. In the meantime, the UnDead Online site and forums are awaiting the presence of any interested zombie hunters.
'Zombie satellite' springs back to life, actual zombies still zombies
In the George A. Romero classic, Night of the Living Dead, a radioactive satellite falls to earth and causes the dead to rise from their graves -- but what if the satellite itself had become a zombie? That's the slightly less frightening reality that has befallen Intelsat's Galaxy 15 communications satellite, which "went rogue" in April of 2010 and has been unresponsive ever since -- even though it has continued to transmit signals. Late last month, however, the satellite finally came back to life, and Intelsat was able to put it into safe mode to prevent it from interfering with other communications satellites. It's apparently even now trying to determine if the satellite could become fully functional again -- although, if you ask us, that just sounds like it's all part of the zombie satellite's plan...
Mighty Car Mods details the rigors of zombie-proofing your auto (video)
Sure, there are plenty of folks who will teach you how to mod your car for speed, power, or aesthetics -- but what about the things that really matter? A recent episode of Mighty Car Mods detailed the re-tooling of a 1987 Nissan Pathfinder into a vehicle suitable for survival in the event of a zombie apocalypse (although we think it would help in case of a robot apocalypse as well). What are you waiting for? An ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure, after all. Check it out the video -- and get prepared -- after the break.
Undead Labs talks about surviving the zombie social scene
James Phinney believes in the power of a persistent virtual world, and he's not shy in sharing his excitement when it comes to the landscape that Undead Labs is building for its new zombie-themed MMO: "We believe a persistent world should be living, dynamic, and evolving. We believe your decisions should affect the state of the world and the state of the world should matter to you. We believe you should get to be the hero; not because you were able grind your way to some artificial achievement that everyone else will eventually grind for too, but instead because you achieved something unique and heroic -- something that people actually care about because it has an impact on the world." In this post on Undead Labs' site, Phinney talks about how the company isn't trying to build a shell of an MMO around a mere action game, but is actually working hard to build a connected, persistent place where players have meaningful choices that could lead them to being heroes. His vision for this post-apocalyptic world is one that is "living, dynamic, and evolving" instead of remaining static. And while the MMO will contain zombies, Phinney stresses that the core is about survival, not just a headcount. He sketches out some of the choices that will need to be made, including finding power, scrounging for food and developing safe zones. You can read more about this vision over at Undead Labs.
One million Chinese cellphone users reportedly infected with zombie virus
Viruses have been making the rounds on cellphones for quite a while now, but it looks like China has now been hit by a particularly troublesome one. According to Shanghai Daily, a so-called zombie virus disguised as an anti-virus app has infected more than one million cellphone users in the country, and it's left users' phones vulnerable to the malicious hackers that created the virus. They've naturally taken advantage of that access to not only spread the virus further, but cash in by spamming the phones with money-making links and other general annoyances -- all of which has also added up to about $300,000 a day in added text message charges for the users affected. What's more, while authorities have apparently tracked down the company that created the anti-virus application, it apparently insists that it had nothing to do with the virus, and that it's actually a victim of it as well.
Undead Labs: Current MMOs are "barely even games"
Undead Labs has a new game designer, and he's come out swinging against the established MMO format. Richard Foge, who previously worked on God of War, SOCOM and Guild Wars, says he "loves the idea of MMOs" but isn't satisfied with the current market. In a recent manifesto on Undead Labs' site, Foge professes his love for console games and his puzzlement as to why MMOs haven't advanced as far: "MMOs get breaks because of their social nature, but if you really look at them closely they're barely even games. Mario 64 (nearly 15-years-old at this point) feels better than any MMO I've ever played. MMOs aren't even close to keeping up with cutting edge videogames from a gameplay or presentation perspective." The solution, he thinks, is to skew more toward console action titles. "What if we replaced all the math with action?" he muses. Undead Labs' first MMO, a zombie-themed romp through the post-apocalyptic world, is being made for consoles instead of PCs. The perfect platform for an action MMO, in his opinion, isn't the PC: "I believe that MMOs can and should compete with the best triple-A games. And I believe consoles are the perfect place for MMOs to make this stand."
The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs
We're only a few days away from Halloween, and already the Massively office staff is dressing up in anticipation. Shawn's post-apocalyptic gear is at odds with Rubi's tastefully modest Guild Wars Elementalist outfit. Greg's Squig is in the corner battling it out with Larry's Chewbacca. Bree is dudded up as a giant red corrective marker; Jef's free-to-play outfit requires microtransactions to view in full; and Kyrstalle is photographing it all with her Poloroid One-Shot camera. I think Eliot showed up in full plate armor and riding a mechanical bull, but that just may be his normal work attire. So as everyone else is goofing off in the spirit of the holidays, it remains to me, your lovable intern, to hack out a top 10 list in honor of All Hallow's Eve. It's the least I can do since they're paying me in candy. While every MMO incorporates horror at some point (even, yes, Hello Kitty Online's Cat-Tastrophie zone), and it's nearly impossible to escape a clutch of giant spiders in any game you visit, I've picked out 10 MMOs that best deliver a slice of October 31st. Some are old, some new, some canceled and some yet to come, but these are 10 of the spookiest MMOs in the world.
Braaaaainssss: First details about Undead Labs' zombie MMO revealed
There's something about zombies and video games that bind geeks together in harmony, which is why we've been anxious to see what Jeff Strain's Undead Labs has in store for our favorite end-of-the-world scenario. Well drop your linen and start your grinnin', because Game By Night reports that EGM's latest physical issue (241.0) is chock-full of zombie goodness on the project. The unnamed MMO is going to be console-only and will take place in today's world following a zombie apocalypse. Strain promises that the world will be dynamic and malleable -- think "sandbox" -- as players will build up defenses to protect settlements, lay down traps for the zombie horde and eventually take the fight to the undead. There may also be gardening (yup, you read that right). A more dynamic world isn't the only cue from modern MMO development that Undead Labs is taking -- the game will skew more toward quick action-based fights than traditional MMO combat: "Banish the memories you have of the PC MMO paradigm for combat, and start thinking AAA console action game... weapons (like the M14 assault rifle or long-bladed machete) need to feel snap-fast and satisfying, to pierce bones and dismember limbs just so." While the title is still in very early stages, EGM says that the team is looking to allow a more free-form character development, with players taking on specialty roles instead of being forced into rigid class constructs. You can read the full analysis over at Game By Night.
TUAW's Daily App: Aftermath
I'll be honest -- I heard that Aftermath was a zombie game and almost gave up on it. I wouldn't be offended if you did the same, since lots of developers (especially iPhone developers) are depending a little too much on zombies for their gameplay. Yes, it's fun to fight the walking undead, but they're used over and over again because a) they're easy to program, and b) they let you make a "shooting humans" game without getting involved in the whole morality thing. But Aftermath is still worth a look. While a lot of zombie games on the store go abstract or silly, this one sticks pretty close to realistic, and it has some serious quality and interesting gameplay behind it. You're fighting zombies and moving through levels, but instead of aiming and shooting a gun, you're actually aiming a flashlight, and your gun automatically fires for you. The projected light makes the whole affair very atmospheric; the game's just dark enough that it actually feels a little spooky trying to navigate the shuffling brain-eaters to your next objective. Particularly if you're a fan of Left 4 Dead or that ilk, Aftermath is probably worth a look -- it's US$1.99 on the App Store right now. And please, developers, unless they're as inventive and well-done as this one, let's keep the zombie games to a minimum. Maybe we could fight werewolves instead? Or angry robots?
Prius gets optional underhood, zombie-deterring noisemaker, sounds appropriately futuristic (video)
Electric vehicles and hybrids are here to save the environment (or at least kill your fuel bill), but if you listen to some people they're also here to mow down our pedestrians thanks to their ninja-like ways. Nissan's Leaf has already gone the way of sci-fi by offering a Blade Runner-inspired exterior soundtrack to make sidewalk replicants take notice, and now the Prius is joining in on the fun with its own under-hood speaker system. Curiously, this one will be optional, Toyota apparently expecting that purchasers are so philanthropically minded that they'll pay an extra 12,600 yen (about $150) to protect poor pedestrians. You can see how it's supposed to work in the image above, in which a Prius is shown emitting sound waves to deter a toupee-wearing zombie. But, if you'd rather watch a flashy presentation and hear it for yourself, check out the thrilling video after the break. It'll make you wish your auto sounded like a hovercar.
Fat Princess in-game tips teasing Zombie DLC
Titan Studios didn't wait too long after the launch of its multiplayer PSN title, Fat Princess, before it started teasing new archetypes which would appear in the game's first major DLC release. Now that said content has finally launched, it seems Atomic Operations is wasting no time in teasing the next expansion for the game: One which might just involve waves of shambling undead. The game's catalog of in-game tips recently had a message added which reads, "I think Zombies are coming soon, run!" Helpful advice, indeed. A few fans also noticed that the debut trailer for the recently launched Fat Roles DLC features pumpkins in lieu of cakes in a few clips. We could be in for a whole slew of Halloween-flavored Fat Princess classes -- either that, or the titular overweight monarch is switching over to a more vegan-friendly diet.
Zombies enter the Risk: Factions fray
Well, naturally. This is how we assumed the make-up of the five different armies featured in Risk: Factions would evolve: first, there are humans, and then there were cats, who were bested by robots, and now somehow there are zombies. You wouldn't think them to be brilliant global strategists, but judging by their introduction cinematic which we've posted above, we think they won't have any problem holding their own. Until, of course, they start infecting the robot faction. The resulting zombie-robots (or, if you will, "zobots") could pretty much run the board in less than three rounds.
Blizzard's zombie survival guide
digg_url = 'http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/blizz-zombie-survival-guide/'; If you are the leader of a guild that has a large number of people who have account security issues, you regularly get emails from Blizzard that say the following: Recently one of the members of your guild was the victim of an account compromise, and during the course of our investigation it was discovered that items were removed from the guild bank while the account was out of the control of your guild member. The items have been returned to you as attachments to an in-game mail. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. The email lists what items were restored and that they are attached to an in-game email sent to your account. (You then probably insist the hacked guildie get an authenticator.) Recently, The Spousal Unit received a bit more from the GM helping him with a security incident: a zombie survival guide. The full text of the guide is after the break.
Adorable, nightmarish Left 4 Dead Boomer plush toy on sale
If you're attempting to ween your teenage offspring off their collection of stuffed animals, we suggest investing in a line of plushies which are capable of scaring them out of their adorable addiction. Valve is releasing a set of five Left 4 Dead plush toys which should suit your needs quite well, the first of which -- based on the digestivally challenged "Boomer" special infected -- is currently available on Valve's online store for $49.99. That price is a tad steep, though each toy comes with a sound chip that can emit ten of the Boomer's in-game grunts and belches. Just think of it like a premium you're paying to really place your child's psyche deep within the nightmare zone. [Via Big Download]
DDO releases zombified Update 4 patch notes
My Uncle Ben once told me that with great power comes great responsibility. He also was fond of saying that with Update 4 comes great zombie pirates, but we always just assumed he was a bit senile when he'd go on about that. Apparently not, as Turbine just released the DDO patch notes for the imminent Update 4, and players of all levels look to be in for a treat. "Adventure steals in from the sea!" they promise, citing a new adventure pack entitled "Sentinels." This pack includes a series of zombie pirate adventures for players levels 6-8, as well as an epic difficulty version for level 20 powerhouses. At PAX East we got to experience this adventure up close and personal, and walked away impressed with the epic feel of the module.
Call of Duty: Zombies gets downloadable Verruckt map
Now, this is just adorable. The pint-sized, touch-screened adaptation of Call of Duty: World at War's Zombie Mode is getting a pint-sized, touch-screened adaptation of the console game's first piece of DLC: The undead-infested asylum known as Verrückt. The map is available to purchase through the game's main menu for $4.99. Much like the console version of the DLC, Verrückt comes with a mess of new guns, electro-shock defenses and Perks-a-Cola machines. Because, hey, staving off floods of Nazombies sure works up a powerful thirst.
Pro Zombie Soccer fights for humanity's survival
Super Hyper Dimensional Mega Games has a good idea about how to market an iPhone game: put a bunch of stuff people like in it. Its upcoming title, Pro Zombie Soccer, combines all of the drama of one of the world's top sports with the undead, gnawing fury of your favorite zombie film. It's kinda like the guy who accidentally discovered peanut butter and chocolate go great together. Man, we love that guy. Head past the break for a trailer from the upcoming game, which goes out of its way to also include heavenly satellite death lazers. Now how's that for effective marketing? %Gallery-81379%
Metareview: Rogue Warrior (PS3, Xbox 360)
Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko's first appearance in a game as Bethesda's Rogue Warrior doesn't seem to have left a fantastic taste in the mouths of many critics. Aside from the overabundance of profanity, complaints range from "generic" to "last-gen." It probably doesn't help that the game's being released during an ... ahem ... less than favorable part of the year. We wish you the best, Demo Dick! We hardly knew ye! MSXbox-World (4/10): "The reality is that there's little challenge as most of the stealth elements are as scripted as they come ... There's an almost last-gen feel to the game, with one embassy snow level being reminiscent of a level in Hitman." Gamervision (3.5/10): "There are only a few locations in the story, and they all look and play essentially the same. In fact, it feels as though they could have been presented in any order without losing much storytelling ... The only thing that is even remotely memorably is the voice of the protagonist, Mickey Rourke. He's constantly throwing out quips and one-liners in his grizzly, gritty voice, but even this seems forced." HellBored (2.1/10): "There is absolutely nothing about Rogue Warrior that deserves any attention ... Combine paltry numbers of enemies, small levels, and an absurdly easy approach and you can run through the entire thing in ... four hours." GamePro (1.5/5 Stars): "It's at best a generic FPS, and at worst a nigh-unplayable mess ... The game's dark, murky textures and limited visibility make aiming a chore, and prominent clipping, slowdown and texture popping only serve to further hinder the adrenaline-fueled covert-ops experience Rogue Warrior tries so hard to recreate" %Gallery-51192%
