Zombies (video game)
Encyclopedia
Zombies is a video game adaptation of the popular tile-based board game
by Twilight Creations Inc, publisher of the original game. The game was initially to be developed by Big Rooster for PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade
and Windows
PCs through Steam, with possible versions for the Wii
and the Nintendo DS
. However, only Xbox Live Arcade
and Windows Phone 7
versions have been confirmed after development of the game was resumed by Babaroga
.
horde. Alternately, players can win the game by killing 25 zombies.
The Windows Phone 7
version of Zombies uses the touchscreen
of the device for all control input. For example, players tap a die
graphic to roll for character movement, zombie movement, and combat. Players can use touchscreen gestures
to zoom in and out of the board as well as scroll to view different areas of the board.
The initial Windows Phone 7
release of Zombies supports single player
as well as multi-player game play on one device. Human players can play against up to four CPU
or human opponents in a "pass and play" game. In this style of play, Player 1 takes their turn, then passes the device to Player 2, who takes their turn and passes to Player 3, etc. According to developer Babaroga
, on-line multiplayer for Zombies is in development for a future update to the game which may also include play "across multiple hardware setups."
Single-player game play in Zombies is a "Survival Mode" in which the player's "shotgun guy" is placed in a randomly generated town full of zombies. The player must move their "shotgun guy" to the helipad tile (as in a standard multi-player game) or kill all the zombies in the town in order to win the game.
In October of 2009, videogame news site Joystiq
reported that Twilight Creations was looking for another company to develop the game, but could not "disclose the status of [former developer] Big Rooster."
No further word on the game appeared until Microsoft
announced a list of Xbox Live-compatible titles for their Windows Phone 7 platform at Gamescom 2010. Developed by Babaroga
, the Windows Phone 7
version of Zombies was released on 12 January 2011. A version of the game for Xbox Live Arcade
has been confirmed and is in active development.
Zombies!!!
Zombies!!! is a tile-based strategy board game for two to six players. Zombies!!! won the 2001 Origins Award for Best Graphic Presentation of a Board Game, and Zombies!!! 3: Mall Walkers won 2003's Origins Award for Best Board Game Expansion....
by Twilight Creations Inc, publisher of the original game. The game was initially to be developed by Big Rooster for PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
PCs through Steam, with possible versions for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. However, only Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
versions have been confirmed after development of the game was resumed by Babaroga
Babaroga (game company)
babaroga is a Chicago, Illinois-based video game developer specializing in mobile games. They have created licensed games for publishers such as Electronic Arts, and Disney Interactive. They are also known to work with Jamdat, Gameloft, and Microsoft among others.Babaroga, LLC., provides...
.
Game Play
The game play of Zombies is closely modeled on the original board game. Players move their "shotgun guy" (player piece) around the board trying to reach the helipad tile to escape the ever-growing zombieZombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
horde. Alternately, players can win the game by killing 25 zombies.
The Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
version of Zombies uses the touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
of the device for all control input. For example, players tap a die
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
graphic to roll for character movement, zombie movement, and combat. Players can use touchscreen gestures
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
to zoom in and out of the board as well as scroll to view different areas of the board.
The initial Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
release of Zombies supports single player
Single player
A Single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. "Single-player game" usually implies a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" usually refers to a game mode for a single player, where...
as well as multi-player game play on one device. Human players can play against up to four CPU
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
or human opponents in a "pass and play" game. In this style of play, Player 1 takes their turn, then passes the device to Player 2, who takes their turn and passes to Player 3, etc. According to developer Babaroga
Babaroga (game company)
babaroga is a Chicago, Illinois-based video game developer specializing in mobile games. They have created licensed games for publishers such as Electronic Arts, and Disney Interactive. They are also known to work with Jamdat, Gameloft, and Microsoft among others.Babaroga, LLC., provides...
, on-line multiplayer for Zombies is in development for a future update to the game which may also include play "across multiple hardware setups."
Single-player game play in Zombies is a "Survival Mode" in which the player's "shotgun guy" is placed in a randomly generated town full of zombies. The player must move their "shotgun guy" to the helipad tile (as in a standard multi-player game) or kill all the zombies in the town in order to win the game.
Development
Development of Zombies by Big Rooster was originally announced in October 2008.In October of 2009, videogame news site Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
reported that Twilight Creations was looking for another company to develop the game, but could not "disclose the status of [former developer] Big Rooster."
No further word on the game appeared until Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
announced a list of Xbox Live-compatible titles for their Windows Phone 7 platform at Gamescom 2010. Developed by Babaroga
Babaroga (game company)
babaroga is a Chicago, Illinois-based video game developer specializing in mobile games. They have created licensed games for publishers such as Electronic Arts, and Disney Interactive. They are also known to work with Jamdat, Gameloft, and Microsoft among others.Babaroga, LLC., provides...
, the Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
version of Zombies was released on 12 January 2011. A version of the game for Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
has been confirmed and is in active development.