Just announced Undead Labs is partnering with Microsoft Game Studios to bring the first ever MMO Zombie game to the console with MGS publishing the title.
The first title will be an Xbox Live Arcade game to basically set the foundation of the game and its world and continue to work on bringing the full fledge zombie apocalypse to your Xbox.
“Our mission is to create original online games that truly feel at home on the console platform, and Xbox 360 is a fantastic platform for online console gaming. We plan to create an ambitious open world XBLA game and use its gameplay, setting, and technology as the foundation for a full online world game.”
The game will have players rebuilding civilization in a third-person action game packed with sweet guns, fast cars, hand-to-hand combat, and copious amounts of zombie gore. Players choose where to make their stand, designing and fortifying their settlements, performing daring raids for valuable stores of food and ammunition, and rescuing other playable survivors. The open world develops in real-time, shaped by player actions, with content determined by their choices and the ever-increasing zombie threat.
In my eyes this means that Microsoft is still hesitant if an MMO will work on the Xbox 360. Undead Labs project is eye opening enough to task a risk but I believe the ultimate goal is to make this arcade game well, so it sells and has the fans moaning and groaning for more (zombie humor get it?)
They also let loose a bit of information about what this means for the game:
1. Undead Labs is still independent and has full creative control
2. No game for PS3 fans which is obvious. (but they don’t hate you)
3. They chose Microsoft because other publishers wanted what they describe as “World of Warcraft Clones”
4. No game for PC gamers because they are taking on a new front rather than squeezing in a new game in a community that is full of MMO’s.
5. The arcade game code named “Class3″ will be 1-2 players through Xbox Live.
6. “Class4″ is the code name for the full console game that will release after and host thousands of players.
7. The arcade game will work sort of as a beta test that will test “how fun” the game is so they can tweak and adjust it for maximum fun.
8. No release date for the arcade game.
9. No price determined for the arcade game. I believe it will be 800 to 1200 microsoft points. Seeing as it is a third person shooter I can almost guarantee that it will be 1200.
10. There is no decision on if it will be free-to-play or have a monthly fee and will have to be discussed with Microsoft. If I can throw my two cents in though I have to suggest that a monthly fee is the last possible choice:
Not because it is a terrible idea but rather it turns people away immediately who are considering the game and on a console where people will cry that they already pay for a gold membership it won’t turn out too well. I do suggest that Microsoft take a good hard look at this game and see if it will truly be a game that will revolutionize console gaming and decide if they are willing to pick up the tab. With Microsoft points available everywhere microtransactions (that don’t affect gameplay) could be a nice touch. I know I have spare points every now and then from purchases and if I can buy something cool for 80 points or something why not? A few years back EA said that they made a good deal of money off microtransactions in games like The Godfather where you could purchase better weapons. Now I don’t agree with what they sold, but obviously there is money in microtransactions and the Xbox 360 is a perfect place to test the waters for an MMO.
I remember playing the Phantasy Star Universe preview event with friends and we enjoyed it greatly but no one was willing to spend extra 10-15 dollars to play it when we could play plenty without spending the cash.
Then again thats all my opinion which doesn’t mean much.
