Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
Posted on: Mar. 02 2011,14:19
This trailer for Dead Island has caused something of a buzz over the last few weeks.
Controversy too. Not only because of the small child, but because of the whole family unit.
As a father of young girls, I disagree with the controversy. Yeah, it might be hard to watch for some, but doesn't Hollywood, novel writers, the MSM, etc. do the same thing? Use horrific acts to get an emotional reaction? Hell, you'd be hard pressed to argue that the MSM doesn't use actual horrific acts, not fantasy one, for profit...
TPRJones I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
Posted on: Mar. 02 2011,14:50
Yeah, the controversy is crap. It's a good emotional trailer, you're supposed to feel sad for the kid. It's not like it's a trailer where you are supposed to gleefully enjoy watching a little girl suffer. But when some people think "game" all they can think of is toys and fun stuff, they don't get that games can be much deeper than that.
Censorship is alive and well, even in video games here in the U.S.
Yeah, I get why they felt some might be offended, but if we have to censor every conceivable image that might offend everyone then we have to censor ALL IMAGES. Instead of them making a judgment call, they should let the market decide. Not selling units is an easy way for a company to learn a lesson...except whomever funds Uwe Boll...
We never censor or dictate in any way what type of content can be included within a game. However, a game's marketing materials are seen by an audience that is much broader than that which actually purchases the game itself, so we enforce industry-adopted guidelines as to what is suitable for inclusion in these materials.
Just in case you ever need a reminder of the definition of "batshit insane."
-------------- Diogenes of Sinope:
"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."
TPRJones I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
Posted on: Mar. 23 2011,16:09
It's interesting how much of a difference that little change makes to the cover. The original with the hanging man paints a very bleak picture. No one hangs a zombie - especially not the zombie himself - so clearly that is not a zombie. The zombie invasion of Dead Island is horrific, so much so that survivors are hanging themselves rather than try to fight. There's an indication here that this game is meant to be something really grim, and promises to have deep well-written characters that you will come to love ... and mourn.
The second one it's just some zombie. Just another zombie game. Ho hum.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
Posted on: Mar. 27 2012,12:19
I've been playing this lately, and it's fantastic.
They took a lot of parts from other games, and made a great zombie game.
From Dead Rising they stole the missions, customizable weapons, and thankfully left that stupid clock behind.
From L4D they brought 1-4 players, the FPS perspective, and special zombies.
From GTA, they brought a large open world.
I'm probably 2/3 of the way through it, and it's been a lot of fun. I bought it during the Steam X-Mas sale for $10 or so, and I'd highly recommend it at that price.
The game will start you off in co-op mode, but I've found it to be more fun solo, although it does make the cutscenes weird...
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
Posted on: Sep. 30 2012,11:41
Just finished the Dead Island DLC "Ryder White".
The story here is solid, and gives a lot of background to a mysterious figure in the main game.
There's probably 4-6 hours of game play, but it's pretty linear.
The waves of zombies in this DLC get a bit ridiculous, and for the first time ever, I used the "ult" (z button) a few times. I wouldn't have, but they literally throw too may zombies at you from every direction, or just right on top of you. I never ran out of stamina this much in the main game.
One thing that irritated me was the ending. It was the ending that should have been at the end of the main game.
If you haven't played Dead Island and you enjoy horror FPS games like F.E.A.R., you need to give it a spin. This might be the best zombie game in existence. The DLC isn't as awesome, but it is harder, has a good story, and has what I think should be the official ending until Riptide comes out...
