Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ray's the Dead partially resurrects Stubbs the Zombie on Kickstarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/rays-the-dead-partially-resurrects-stubbs-the-zombie-on-kicksta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/rays-the-dead-partially-resurrects-stubbs-the-zombie-on-kicksta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/rays-the-dead-partially-resurrects-stubbs-the-zombie-on-kicksta/#comments

Ray's the Dead is more than an action zombie puzzler - it's a feat of electrical engineering. As a twice-removed successor to Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel without a Pulse, Ray's the Dead offers 1980s undead-centric gameplay inspired by Pikmin and, most adorably, a main character with a glowing lightbulb on top of his head. Yes, his name is Ray.

Ragtag Studio - composed of former Wideload, Disney and Ensemble Studios developers, including one who worked on Stubbs the Zombie - needs $75,000 from Kickstarter backers to add audio effects, music and quality writing to the game. They want to hire out these positions to Jake Kaufman (Double Dragon, Shovel Knight, DuckTales soundtracks), Ben Crossbones (Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Organ Trail sound design), Matt and Ed (Twisted Pixel writers) and a larger curated team.

Ragtag can finish the game without the Kickstarter funds, but that would result in a pared-down version of Ray's the Dead, Ragtag co-founder Chris Cobb tells Joystiq.

"With many Kickstarters, they promise additional features that can potentially lengthen the development cycle of the game," Cobb says. "With ours, we have specifically tailored the Kickstarter campaign to help us add features that do not affect the development cycle in a negative way, and in many ways will make it more likely that we can make our target release date. We planned out the scope of the game itself a while ago, and didn't feel it would be wise to add or remove gameplay features, levels, characters, etc., based on the failure or success of our campaign.

"We haven't had any funding, but we can continue working on the game for a good long while as we are all being supported by our wives right now. Without funding, anything we can do ourselves will be done, but things outside of our skill set will have to fall to the wayside. And none of us are musicians or writers."

Continue reading Ray's the Dead partially resurrects Stubbs the Zombie on Kickstarter

JoystiqRay's the Dead partially resurrects Stubbs the Zombie on Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kickstarterLinuxmacpcragtag-studiorays-the-deadstubbs-the-zombieTue, 07 May 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Stubbs the Zombie devs on quasi-spiritual successor, 'Ray's the Dead']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/stubbs-the-zombie-devs-on-quasi-spiritual-successor-rays-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/stubbs-the-zombie-devs-on-quasi-spiritual-successor-rays-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/stubbs-the-zombie-devs-on-quasi-spiritual-successor-rays-the/#comments Stubbs the Zombie devs on quasispiritual successor, 'Ray's the Dead'Matt Carter and Chris Cobb, two former Wideload employees, started Ragtag Studio to create a game that they can almost define as a "spiritual successor" to Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel without a Pulse, called Ray's the Dead.

Ray's the Dead is a PC game that might migrate to mobile eventually, where players control a group of 2D zombies in a 3D environment, with two storylines told through playable events rather than cutscenes, Cobb tells Polygon. Cobb can only almost call it a Stubbs the Zombie successor because he doesn't own the Stubbs license, and for an indie studio, navigating that grey legal area can be tricky.

Ray's the Dead will focus on controlling the zombie horde and using different undead abilities to solve puzzles. It draws from games other than Stubbs, with Pikmin as a notable shout-out, and the main character, Raymond, has a lightbulb on his head. We're not sure why that last detail is relevant, but it certainly is cute.

JoystiqStubbs the Zombie devs on quasi-spiritual successor, 'Ray's the Dead' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcragtag-studiorays-the-deadstubbs-the-zombiewideload-gamesWed, 05 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney hires Bungie co-founder Alex Seropian, acquires Wideload Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/disney-hires-bungie-co-founder-alex-seropian-acquires-wideload/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/disney-hires-bungie-co-founder-alex-seropian-acquires-wideload/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/disney-hires-bungie-co-founder-alex-seropian-acquires-wideload/#comments The story of Alex Seropian is a perfect reminder of why it's a good career move to help make one of the most popular game franchises in history. Because when you co-found Bungie, it's OK if you make Stubbs the Zombie followed by Hail to the Chimp -- you can still be hired to oversee creative development for Disney's video game development arm!

Seropian's company, Wideload Games, which is also being acquired by Disney, had used an interesting model where game programming was contracted out after his team had designed the title. We'll be interested to see if the business plan re-emerges in some way at the House of Mickey.

JoystiqDisney hires Bungie co-founder Alex Seropian, acquires Wideload Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-seropianbungiedisneydisney-interactivehail-to-the-chimphalostubbs-the-zombiewideload-gamesTue, 08 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stubbs and Gauntlet now on Xbox Originals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/stubbs-and-gauntlet-now-on-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/stubbs-and-gauntlet-now-on-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/stubbs-and-gauntlet-now-on-xbox-originals/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's time for some new Xbox Originals, kids! This time we get Stubbs the Zombie and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows. Stubbs was created by Wideload, the studio behind the upcoming Hail to the Chimp. Those who fancy playing the role of a zombie (as opposed to ruthlessly slaughtering them) should definitely take note. Seven Sorrows successfully managed to fall off the radar, probably thanks to the fact that it launched in December of 2005. You may recall a certain console that launched a month prior. While it may have been overlooked, Seven Sorrows is unique in the Gauntlet series as it was originally developed by industry vet John Romero (best known for the awesome Doom series or the awful Daikatana, depending on your point of view). He left the project (and Midway) just months prior to completion.

Of the two 1200 MS Point ($15) titles, Stubbs seems to be the better value, as Amazon has the retail version's used price pegged at around $25, whereas Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows hovers right around the $17 dollar mark with shipping.

Continue reading Stubbs and Gauntlet now on Xbox Originals

JoystiqStubbs and Gauntlet now on Xbox Originals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 May 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gauntletgauntlet-seven-sorrowsstubbsstubbs-the-zombiexblmxbox-originalsMon, 19 May 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Stubbs the Zombie and Gauntlet coming soon to Xbox Originals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-the-zombie-and-gauntlet-coming-soon-to-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-the-zombie-and-gauntlet-coming-soon-to-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-the-zombie-and-gauntlet-coming-soon-to-xbox-originals/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Microsoft's Xbox Originals collection on Xbox Live continues to slowly grow, with two new titles to add to the list next week: Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse, and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows.

Stubbs the Zombie is an under-appreciated 2005 release from Wideload Games, featuring a satirical film-noir approach to the zombie genre. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is, well, another Gauntlet game, this time handled by veteran Doom designer John Romero. Reviews for Gauntlet were, at best, a mixed bag, so Stubbs looks to be the cream of the crop in this Originals installment. Both titles are due for release Monday, May 19 for 1200 MSP each.

JoystiqStubbs the Zombie and Gauntlet coming soon to Xbox Originals originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gauntletgauntlet-seven-sorrowsstubbs-the-zombiestubbsthezombieXboxXbox-360xbox-originalsWed, 14 May 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Stubbs and Gauntlet to become Xbox Originals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-and-gauntlet-to-become-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-and-gauntlet-to-become-xbox-originals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/stubbs-and-gauntlet-to-become-xbox-originals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Microsoft just announced that both Wideload Games' Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse and Midway's Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows are headed to the XBLM as Xbox Originals next Monday, May 19th. Yuppers ...

As always, each title will cost 1200 Microsoft points, have no achievements and play exactly as it did on the original Xbox plus any quirks that are introduced thanks to the 360's emulation. But we're going to be optimistic this time and be excited about these new Xbox Originals, because we've been told that we've been too negative in the past when talking about these oh so grand downloads. So, as we smile from ear to ear, enjoy next Monday's entertaining, convenient and affordable Stubbs and Gauntlet Xbox Originals downloads that are sure to put a smile on any fanboys' face. Insert awkwardly large fake smile here.

JoystiqStubbs and Gauntlet to become Xbox Originals originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gauntletgauntlet-seven-sorrowsstubbs-the-zombiexblmxbox-originalsWed, 14 May 2008 14:30:00 EST