14 DAY TRIAL // The new Walking Dead: Survival Instinct video game from developer Terminal Reality and publisher Activision might be a shooter, but the two companies are working hard to make sure that the experience stays as close as possible to the source material.
However, when the game was first announced, the reaction was mostly negative, especially given the success of The Walking Dead episodic adventure from Telltale Games.
Glenn Gamble, the principal effects art and system designer working on the game, tells VG247 that, “I can understand how that happened. You have Activision who is well known for Call of Duty, and then you hear, ‘Oh my god a first-person Walking Dead game’.”
The team was unwilling to offer details when the official announcement was made, but since then, it has explained that the game is designed to reflect the unique atmosphere of The Walking Dead.
Gamers will have to deal with problems like limited ammo for weapons and the noise that attracts the zombie horde.
They will also have to make tough choices about the other survivors they save or they abandon, with consequences that will affect the way the game progresses.
Gamble adds, “We really do want to challenge the traditional undead game. If you notice a lot of undead games throw a lot of zombies at you – or if they call them ‘Infected’ or whatever else. That’s their game type, that is the game they’ve crafted.”
The developer also believes that the first-person mode allows players to experience the game universe from a better vantage point.
The tension is also higher than in a third-person title and gives the Virtual Reality team more chances to introduce horror elements and shocks.
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct will be launched on the PS3, the Xbox 360, the PC and the Nintendo Wii U on March 19 in the United States and three days later in Europe.