Wednesday, July 27, 2011

weapons—will have distinctly different #deadisland


effects on dead flesh. Suicide zombies

likewise, the two main categories #deadisland


of melee weapons—sharp and blunt

Hands on with "Dead Island"

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/hands-dead-island

Well, I played it the other week at E3 and can tell you exactly what it is: A first-person action-RPG with a focus on melee combat and weapon crafting.Oh, and you can play it online with three buddies, with drop-in/drop-out co-op.

Deep Silver Presents "The Science of Zombies" at Comic Con 2011

http://games.ign.com/articles/118/1182002p1.html

LARKSPUR, Ca.- Hmmmm Brainnnnsss. Today Deep Silver announced it will host a panel at Comic Con 2011 that promises to blend the pop culture fascination with zombies with realities of medical science titled, "The Science of Zombies." The panel will take place in room 8 of the San Diego Convention Center on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. and will explore society's fascination with the Zombie genre as a whole, and demonstrate how creative talent are harnessing medical science to define and explore horror entertainment in more realistic (and therefore more frightening and engaging) ways.

Monday, July 25, 2011

on a zombie, of course, nothing does #deadisland


the job quicker than a swift decapitation

weapon-toting zombies, take off their #deadisland


wielding arm and if you've got the jump

E3 2011 Preview: Dead Island

http://www.atomicgamer.com/articles/1266/e3-2011-preview-dead-island

We've only seen a few glimpses of how the whole game is structured from beginning to end, but with word that you can use a vehicle to travel around, this sounds like it'll be more than just a cooperative game where you drop back to the lobby after finishing a "level". There's an ongoing adventure here between the game's four characters, each with their own specialties, talent trees, and personalities. I get the feeling that the success of Dead Island could rely a lot on how that all works when four random people get into a game together; does each player have their own persistent characters? Can there be two versions of Sam B in the same session together?Can you take weapons and levels from one multiplayer session into the next?

"Dead Island" Demo Leaves Stronger Zombie Cravings

http://www.bostonbastardbrigade.com/2011/07/dead-island-demo-leaves-stronger-zombie-cravings/

I was roughly 300 yards away from the first-aid site, so I couldn't even finish the mission. While five minutes doesn't sound like the most ideal amount of time to spend on a much-talked about title what I was able to get out of Dead Island was a good taste of its fast-paced gameplay and heart-stopping horror that will hopefully make this game stand out from all the others. The September release date is getting closer as we speak, so it will only be a matter of time before we see if Dead Island really can become king of the zombie gaming titles.

"Dead Island" Demo Leaves Stronger Zombie Cravings

http://www.bostonbastardbrigade.com/2011/07/dead-island-demo-leaves-stronger-zombie-cravings/

As the demo was only five minutes long my time with the game was very short. Judging by the A.I. I witnessed in this game I can honestly say that most of the tasks that will be given to you will be easier said than done. Dead Island aims to add a sort of realism unseen in the majority of zombie survival games, leaving players to think on their quickest instincts with only the tiniest moment to spare a thought process. While this will add a whole new level of challenging aspects to the genre I can already foresee some folks complaining about its difficulty level.

Friday, July 22, 2011

guns will be available, but ammunition #deadisland


you'll be smart to go for the legs with

a sticky bomb or to convert a standard #deadisland


machete into an electric mutation

"Dead Island" Demo Leaves Stronger Zombie Cravings

http://www.bostonbastardbrigade.com/2011/07/dead-island-demo-leaves-stronger-zombie-cravings/

Both Techland and Deep Silver did an amazing job with the realistic elements in nail'd, so it comes as no surprise that the graphics in Dead Island look nothing short of stellar. The gore factors of Dead Island come by the bucket loads, with each smack you lay down on the zombies leaving pools of blood on the ground and sometimes all over the screen. Props must also be given to the audio quality of the game, with each thwack and splatter fitting into the proper action happening on-screen.

MVG 2011 Selection: Dead Island preview – hands-on with the co-op mode that could be better than Left 4 Dead

http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/dead-island/preview/e3-mvg-2011-selection-dead-island-preview-hands-on-with-the-co-op-mode-that-could-be-better-than-left-4-dead/a-2011061392610496024/g-20070808134934738055

Another great aspect is deteriorating weapons. Not only do weapons become less effective over time, but we could actually see our tools of destruction falling apart before our eyes. One mace we used had bent and missing nails, prompting us to find a new one. Also, one strategy (usually inspired by desperation) is throwing melee weapons to either finish or slow down approaching zombies. Guns are few and far between; and when purchased, rather expensive.It's clear that Deep Silver wants to place gamers in a situation where high powered rifles and buckets of ammo aren't simply lying around, and on an island resort this definitely makes sense.

E3 2011 Preview: Dead Island

http://www.atomicgamer.com/articles/1266/e3-2011-preview-dead-island

Firearms are kicking around on the island, but you need to save them for tough situations, because ammo is very scarce. Even melee weapons break down eventually, and while the item decay isn't quite as bad as it was in Dead Rising and you can repair items at workbenches, having your machete break right when you're about to put the finishing touches on a dismemberment is something you have to prepare for in advance.What's helpful is that you can throw many of the weapons in your arsenal, and that's important when the exploding zombies start charging at you. There are components and schematics you can recover for building new weapons, so there's an extra RPG element on top of the leveling and talent systems, too.

Dead Island PC Preodering Now Available

http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/07/20/dead-island-pc-preodering-now-available/

Preordering Dead Island will give you the exclusive preorder weapon; the Ripper (a bat/buzzsaw), perfect for kicking zombie butt. You will also receive a copy of the first DLC pack, Bloodbath Arena, which a seperate game mode with four arenas where yu go up against waves of zombies and collect weapons, money and XP that you can carry back over to the regular game.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dead Island delivers dark, fun action in single- and multiplayer

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/06/dead-island-delivers-dark-fun-action-in-single--and-multiplayer.ars?comments=1#comments-bar

While the game veers towards the serious, it's an oddly fun battle for life and death.The game plays very differently when you add more players, but that's a good thing, and the ability to invite a friend into my game at any point is a major selling point. I keep thinking that I'm bored with co-op zombie games, but Dead Island has enough personality and variation on the idea to make me excited about playing more.

powerful weapons in MacGyver-like #deadisland


got some wires and a belt

killing utensils you'll be using to make #deadisland


combined with a standard knife to make

E3 MVG 2011 Selection: Dead Island preview – hands-on with the co-op mode that could be better than Left 4 Dead

http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/dead-island/preview/e3-mvg-2011-selection-dead-island-preview-hands-on-with-the-co-op-mode-that-could-be-better-than-left-4-dead/a-2011061392610496024/g-20070808134934738055

Although it's an island, the small city still has more traditional streets and alleys, giving the game a more familiar zombie game vibe. As we trekked toward the various objectives, we could realistically take any route we wanted to get there. The streets are filthy with sewers we could drop into and ladders we could climb; adding different strategies.

Dead Island delivers dark, fun action in single- and multiplayer

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/06/dead-island-delivers-dark-fun-action-in-single--and-multiplayer.ars?comments=1#comments-bar

This is what a game demo should be: we were all sitting in comfortable chairs, leaning back, and just talking about the game. There was no hard sell, we just all grabbed controllers and went to work. Zombies were slain, trash talk began, and I enjoyed the more frantic pace of the game. We discussed which weapons we were using and why, and we delighted when someone killed a zombie in a particularly bloody way.

Monday, July 18, 2011

spear guns, hatchets #deadisland


machetes comprise just a handful of the

frying pans, chairs, tables, #deadisland


fire extinguishers, microwaves, meat cleavers

Preorder Dead Island from Amazon to score a digital art book

http://www.relyonhorror.com/latest-news/preorder-dead-island-from-amazon-to-score-a-digital-art-book/

If you preorder the game from Amazon you'll be receiving a free digital art book that will feature "game art and concept art of everything from the characters, that fat tourist dude with the camera, zombie types, environment concepts" and much more, says a Deep Silver rep. You can check out two sample images from the art book below.

E3 MVG 2011 Selection: Dead Island preview – hands-on with the co-op mode that could be better than Left 4 Dead

http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/dead-island/preview/e3-mvg-2011-selection-dead-island-preview-hands-on-with-the-co-op-mode-that-could-be-better-than-left-4-dead/a-2011061392610496024/g-20070808134934738055

We started in a church that served as a safe zone/hub where we could upgrade and repair weapons, buy weapons, and receive missions.After stocking up on mostly melee weapons and being asked to place posters up in the infected zone, we were off.

Hands On With Deus Ex and Dead Island

http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2011/06/14/hands-on-with-deus-ex-and-dead-island/

Towards the end of the demo I walked across a bridge into a bar on the beach that was filled with zombies. Despite how much of a bad idea I suspected it would be to aggravate them–especially since my current objective didn't require me to explore the bar– I tossed a machete into the brains of one zombie and pissed off the entire crowd.As they started to flood the bridge and I realized how badly I screwed myself by provoking the mob, I managed to crack two undead skulls just as they lunged at me and was in the middle of throwing another machete when the screen froze and told me my time was up.

E3 2011: Deep Silver Swings For the Big Leagues with Dead Island

http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2011/06/11/e3-2011-deep-silver-swings-for-the-big-leagues-with-dead-island/

Now people are getting their hands on the game, I can tell you that the game is going to give Left 4 Dead a run for its money when it releases on September 6th.As I went into the booth for the hands-on demo, I saw multiple "Best of Show Nominee" ribbons adorning the behind-closed-door area for Deep Silver, and I can't say that I don't agree.

Dead Island delivers dark, fun action in single- and multiplayer

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/06/dead-island-delivers-dark-fun-action-in-single--and-multiplayer.ars?comments=1#comments-bar

Don't worry, once the zombie is dead you can pull out that ax and use it again. So that's nice. There are guns, but ammo is at a premium, so you'll want to use them sparingly while doing the majority of your attacks with knives and blunt objects. You'll also be able to upgrade your weapons at workbenches to create deadlier items.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Dead Island delivers dark, fun action in single- and multiplayer

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/06/dead-island-delivers-dark-fun-action-in-single--and-multiplayer.ars?comments=1#comments-bar

Two different ways to play

The game changes depending on how you'd like to play. When I was alone in the single player game I enjoyed the more deliberate pace, and I rejected the few missions available during the demo to simply explore the island and play with the many improvised weapons while killing every zombie I saw. There is a heavy emphasis on melee weapons in this game, which means that the zombies get very close to you, and that's a nerve-wracking experience.It takes practice before you can judge the reach of the many weapons, but soon enough you'll be chopping off heads and legs, or taking out the shambling horrors with thrown weapons.

Dead Island delivers dark, fun action in single- and multiplayer

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/06/dead-island-delivers-dark-fun-action-in-single--and-multiplayer.ars?comments=1#comments-bar

While the game is still struggling to come out from under the shadow of its first trailer, we need to look at what the game delivers, not what we had speculated based on that short film. The truth of Dead Island is that the game is fun, and it manages to juggle the horror of the situation with a light-hearted sense of play. It sounds weird, but it works.

Survival of the Dead also culminates #deadisland


on an island with zombies running rampant

you'll get an interesting matrix of selfish or selfless requests #deadisland


limited resources and the protagonists'

E3: Dead Island

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110904-E3-Dead-Island

Dead Island's zombie apocalypse provides an unlikely pairing of serene environments and brutal encounters with the undead.

E3 top pick: Dead Island

http://gamerlimit.com/2011/06/e3-top-pick-dead-island/ Brand manager Peter Brolly from Deep Silver pointed out that from the workbench, you can also upgrade your weapons based on the cash you pick up from felled zombies and goals achieved. Where before I had a pitiful blade, I all of a sudden have a military grade knife with a serrated edge. Not enough to feel invincible, just brave enough to finally head outside.

Monday, July 11, 2011

a crisis as severe as a zombie outbreak #deadisland


add people with their own, often-conflicting interests

gone bad, but also something you'd be trapped on #deadisland


expected the response we got, with it going viral

E3 top pick: Dead Island

http://gamerlimit.com/2011/06/e3-top-pick-dead-island/

Dead Island spills over into RPG some as in addition to quests, there is a surprising depth in weapon and character progression.Before heading out, we visit a workbench to repair the various weapons we had. Expect workbenches to be scattered throughout Banoi.

E3 2011: Impressions of Dead Island (Xbox 360)

http://diehardgamefan.com/2011/06/10/e3-2011-impressions-of-dead-island-xbox-360/

Going along the beach there were areas aside from the main path to explore. Zombies would drop loot in the form of cash and weapons, there were items also stored in coolers, handbags and so on. There are also appear to be some optional things, like saving people from zombies, that play out.I reached a part of the game where I also acquired duct tape and reached a work bench where I could repair, upgrade, or even craft new weapons.

Friday, July 8, 2011

http://www.ztgd.com/news/9458/dead-island-gets-a-special-pre-order-edition/ Dead Island, the upcoming gruesome zombie action game with RPG elements by renowned developer Techland, combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customization of a vast array of weapons. All of these gameplay features are presented in a dark story inspired by classic zombie movies with a gritty and engrossing campaign that can be played with up to four players in co-op mode

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/05/dead-island-square-enix/ Dead Island, to be released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year, garnered a great deal of hype this February when Deep Silver first released the game's poignant trailer to widespread attention and praise. Though the game seems to be an interesting open world zombie killer, it appears to carry none of the gravitas of its trailer, based on an Ars Technica preview.

E3 2011: Impressions of Dead Island (Xbox 360)

http://diehardgamefan.com/2011/06/10/e3-2011-impressions-of-dead-island-xbox-360/

Yep, skill trees. One is for the Rage mode, something I didn't get a chance to use in the demo, but most of the skill tree seemed to allow longer use or additional bonuses for using Rage mode. There was a Combat skill tree where you could unlock the ability to do additional damage (initially with knives but depending on what you choose later, it looks like you can build towards specific weapons), Finally, there was a Survival skill tree which dealt with how much health packs worked and how much damage you could take.

survivors need rescue #deadisland

survivors need rescue #deadisland
The Butcher attacks you with the exposed bones of his own arms

Some are good with handguns #deadisland

Some are good with handguns #deadisland
some are good with knives

Depending on which character you play #deadisland

Depending on which character you play #deadisland
you'll use the guns you find

the focus is always on melee combat #deadisland

the focus is always on melee combat #deadisland
there's very little ammunition available

Until very recently much of the island was wild and primitive #deadisland

Until very recently much of the island was wild and primitive #deadisland
many places deep in the interior still have never been seen by western eyes

you'll get an interesting matrix of selfish or selfless requests #deadisland

you'll get an interesting matrix of selfish or selfless requests #deadisland
limited resources and the protagonists'

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

dodging one of their furious charges #deadisland


something special, like a paradise

Ram zombies are hulking beasts that #deadisland


must be attacked from behind ideally after

Dead Island Hands-On Impressions

http://www.vgrevolution.com/2011/06/dead-island-hands-on-impressions/

Gamers will take control of four characters, each of which has his or her own unique traits and abilities. Some will be fast and agile while others will be big and powerful. Choose wisely because you will want to stay with the character throughout your adventure as the more you play the more XP and abilities for that character you unlock.Dead Island has major roots in the RPG realm but the action and gameplay is that of a first person action title. As you play, you earn XP and will gather weapons, parts, and money.

Hands-On Impressions of Dead Island 4 Player Co-Op

http://nerdreactor.com/2011/06/20/hands-on-impressions-of-dead-island-4-player-co-op/

Obviously, teamwork is a must.Break away from the group and you will find yourself in a world of trouble, because there are zombies literally EVERYWHERE. From your average walker zombie to your 28 Days Later runner, there is no shortage of enemies to fear in Dead Island. At one point, from a dark seedy alley, a figure came running towards me. Not even thinking twice, I threw everything in my inventory at the oncoming attacker. It wasn't until I examined the dead body, that I realized it was a human. As if the zombies weren't enough to worry about.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

E3 top pick: Dead Island

http://gamerlimit.com/2011/06/e3-top-pick-dead-island/

At E3, Gamer Limit spent some quality time with the title, along with representatives from Techland and Deep Silver.After about 40 minutes poring over the nooks and crannies of the fictional island of Banoi, I must say that no other game captures the elements of survival and fear quite like Dead Island. It's enough to make this my E3 top pick.

E3 top pick: Dead Island

http://gamerlimit.com/2011/06/e3-top-pick-dead-island/

With any proper zombie story, it's all about the survivors. That's where we start — in a church among the few who were lucky enough to escape the outbreak. No sanctuary here, however. The place is ruined with debris scattered about, windows boarded up. It doesn't feel like a safe haven at all, as stress lines every face and weighs in every voice.We meet Howard.

DEAD ISLAND Box Art Shows a Zombie Infested Paradise

http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2011/05/31/dead-island-box-art-shows-a-zombie-infested-paradise This is Dead Island... a paradise to die for.

Yep, There's A Special Edition of Dead Island

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/videogames/1606/ The special edition brings with it unique cover art and an exclusive blueprint for a weapon called the Ripper - a baseball bat with a buzz saw attached to it. Head past the break for more details on the special edition and the Bloodbath Arena DLC.