Undead Labs creating zombie MMO for consoles
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Poor zombies. By hungering for nothing so much as our brain matter, they've turned themselves into the most widely-slaughtered video game villains after Nazis and spiders. Now a start-up developer called Undead Labs is taking the zombie genre to the next logical step with a currently untitled zombie-based MMO made specifically for consoles.
In the announcement, company boss Jeff Strain said "Every time I see a good zombie movie with friends, we spend days debating our strategies for surviving the zombie apocalypse. The police station, or the supermarket? Garden rake, or staple gun? Bach, or the White Stripes? I'm a game developer, so I'd probably be useless for anything other than ghoul bait, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to build an MMOZ that lets us put those strategies to the test and find out for sure."
Strain, who helped found ArenaNet and was the executive producer for NCsoft's Guild Wars, certainly has the right pedigree for a project like this. But it's hard to say if this will be the ultimate zombie experience, or the title that finally (re)buries zombies for good. Here's hoping it's the former.
In the announcement, company boss Jeff Strain said "Every time I see a good zombie movie with friends, we spend days debating our strategies for surviving the zombie apocalypse. The police station, or the supermarket? Garden rake, or staple gun? Bach, or the White Stripes? I'm a game developer, so I'd probably be useless for anything other than ghoul bait, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to build an MMOZ that lets us put those strategies to the test and find out for sure."
Strain, who helped found ArenaNet and was the executive producer for NCsoft's Guild Wars, certainly has the right pedigree for a project like this. But it's hard to say if this will be the ultimate zombie experience, or the title that finally (re)buries zombies for good. Here's hoping it's the former.
Reader Comments (61)
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:53PM (Unverified) said
This one does.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/ps3grill_2006-11-21.jpg
Reply
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/ps3grill_2006-11-21.jpg
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 10:57PM (Unverified) said
You know that Age of Conan isn't coming.
You know that Champions online isn't coming.
You know that APB isn't coming.
You know that Dusk 514 isn't coming.
You know that LOTR:Online has been waiting to hit 360, but Microsoft has yet to allow it.
FFXI had a hard time going on 360.
Microsoft is trying to make it so Gold Live memberships don't have to pay for MMOs, while Silver will. MMO developers/publishers don't agree with this business model.
Reply
You know that Champions online isn't coming.
You know that APB isn't coming.
You know that Dusk 514 isn't coming.
You know that LOTR:Online has been waiting to hit 360, but Microsoft has yet to allow it.
FFXI had a hard time going on 360.
Microsoft is trying to make it so Gold Live memberships don't have to pay for MMOs, while Silver will. MMO developers/publishers don't agree with this business model.
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 2:26AM Hyperion45 said
He's the dude behind Arena Net and Guild Wars, so hopefully this game will be subscription-free as well.
Reply
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:39PM TheDarkWayne said
God, a persistent L4D world would be amazing. I call dibs on Bill!
Reply
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:39PM (Unverified) said
While I certainly like the idea of it, if it doesn't capture the correct atmosphere it'll be a total write-off.
If it plays and feels like any other MMO but reskinned for zombies, modern day I can see my excitement dissapearing very quickly.
Reply
If it plays and feels like any other MMO but reskinned for zombies, modern day I can see my excitement dissapearing very quickly.
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:42PM (Unverified) said
Also, consider me as one of the (few?) people who prefer to fight masses of slow lumbering zombies, as opposed to less but smarter and/or faster zombies.
Reply
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 9:39AM Octantis said
I completely agree with both posters. If the environment isn't right or beyond belief zombies appearing from a room you were in 30 seconds ago. It just won't fly. I personally am a fan of slow zombies and head shots. The speed of zombies isn't what is scary. The fear comes from never ending threat of the zombies trying to get to you.
Something like border lands would be kind of cool. You could start off all alone and as you level up you could find a pocket of humanity where you then transition to multiplayer mmo and fight for the common good.
Reply
Something like border lands would be kind of cool. You could start off all alone and as you level up you could find a pocket of humanity where you then transition to multiplayer mmo and fight for the common good.
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:43PM CheeziePotato said
The video game industry is becoming overpopulated by zombies.
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Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:46PM (Unverified) said
Not enough Zombie movies yet to be considered over populated?
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Posted: Nov 24th 2009 11:52AM AtomicPlayboy said
Indeed. Can we cool it on the zombie front for a little while?
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Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:47PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said
This would be pretty sweet. It reminds me of a urban dead video game. The ability to have a character each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Have a soldier who could use any weapon they find, a medic who can heal up people, a police officer who has a radio and pistol.
All working together to slaughter zombies
Reply
All working together to slaughter zombies
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:52PM (Unverified) said
Predicted classes:
Zombie
Human
Token Minority
Topless Popular Girl
Badass
Virgin Hero/Heroine
Simon Pegg
Reply
Zombie
Human
Token Minority
Topless Popular Girl
Badass
Virgin Hero/Heroine
Simon Pegg
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 1:20AM dystroglycan said
So by your class estimation it will be 500,000 Tallahassee's wielding sawed off shotguns, 500,000 Simon Pegg's wielding rugby bats, and 500,000 cheerleaders wielding chest-pillows v.s. endless amounts of both the slow and galloping undead... where do i sign?
Reply
Posted: Nov 24th 2009 11:23AM Alex R said
dystroglycan, Rugby BATS?
Cricket Bats, you mean.
When the zombies invade I'll se one of those big wooden spoons that they use in Ireland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling
Reply
Cricket Bats, you mean.
When the zombies invade I'll se one of those big wooden spoons that they use in Ireland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:52PM DonaldMick said
But are they *deleted in accordance with Godwin's Law* zombies?
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Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 8:08PM Special Agent Steve said
Better be good, coming from "Undead Labs".
Nah, who am I kidding. I
Reply
Nah, who am I kidding. I
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 10:02PM (Unverified) said
I.. what? "I rule", "I, Robot"? I need to know how this ends!
Reply
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 11:04PM Special Agent Steve said
*I'll like it no matter what.
HAPPY? HAPPY?? YOU MADE ME WASTE ELECTRICITY!!!!!
Reply
HAPPY? HAPPY?? YOU MADE ME WASTE ELECTRICITY!!!!!
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 8:37PM (Unverified) said
MMOZ?
That doesn't even make sense! You just made that up!
Reply
That doesn't even make sense! You just made that up!
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 8:51PM LuTon James said
Really think there are enough zombie games at the moment. There are heaps of fresh genres to explore for developers.
Reply
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 9:10PM (Unverified) said
First was the MMO, next, MMOZ.
After that will be MMO GT, then a shitty movie, and finally MMO Kai.
Reply
After that will be MMO GT, then a shitty movie, and finally MMO Kai.
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