b>John "JCal" Callaham of HomeLAN Fed has done an interview with Wideload Games founder Alexander "The Man" Seropian about Stubbs the Zombie in "Rebel Without a Pulse". Someone finally asked one of the minds behind Bungie one of the age-old burning questions: Why zombies?
[image:8460 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]Matt Soell of Wideload Games took the time to add a few comments to the release of information last week about Wideload's first game, Stubbs the Zombie in 'Rebel Without a Pulse'. The first addition is that the game is planned for the Xbox, Macs and PCs. Wideload is doing the Xbox version internally, and is working with Aspyr's development teams for the Mac and PC versions.
To keep up with the information coming out about Wideload's just-announced title, Stubbs the Zombie in 'Rebel without a Pulse', we've created a few easy links.
In the GameSpot interview with Alexander "The Man" Seropian, some of the background for the plot of Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel without a Pulse is revealed.
Edward Stubblefield is a Depression-era traveling salesman who was murdered. Decades later, sometime in the 1950s, an ambitious industrialist builds a model "city of the future" on Edward's grave, which causes him to rise as an undead Zombie on the city's opening day to try and turn the city's inhabitants into zombies.
ASPYR MEDIA AND WIDELOAD GAMES ANNOUNCE STUBBS THE ZOMBIE in 'REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE' FOR THE XBOX, PC AND MAC
AUSTIN, TX (October 28, 2004) - Aspyr Media, Inc., an entertainment publisher delivering fun in the form of games, music and DVDs, and game developer Wideload Games, Inc. today unearthed their upcoming game, Stubbs the Zombie in "Rebel without a Pulse". Guaranteed to turn some heads, this third-person action game is an original IP by Bungie Studio veterans that uses an updated Haloo engine to deliver a stirring tale of one man's hunger for love, justice...and brains. The game will be a cross-platform release, including Xbox, PC and Mac, and will be published worldwide in summer, 2005.
In this game, players take on the role of the rebel himself n Stubbs, a wisecracking Zombie who takes on an ultra-modern city of the future using nothing but his own carcass and the weapons of his possessed enemies. The gameis tongue-in-cheek humor, innovative combat and strong storyline keep Stubbs the Zombieis gameplay as bizarre and unpredictable as its namesake.
To us nothing has the sweet smell of success like rotting Zombie flesh,i said Alexander Seropian, President of Wideload Games. iWe fell in love with the Stubbs game concept because of the unique player experience and the potential of the main character. We are really enjoying bringing this concept to lifeOe or un-death, as the case may be.i
"Wideload Games is delivering an experience unlike any other. Who else could create a game featuring an undead hero who eats brains, tosses his own innards like cherry bombs, and still makes time for the ladies? Those guys are absolutely nuts and we couldn't be more pleased," said Michael Rogers, president of Aspyr. "Stubbs the Zombie will give gamers a new appreciation for the walking dead."
On his quest, Stubbs lurches his way through numerous large and visually captivating indoor/outdoor environments in and around the gleaming city of Punchbowl, PA, a city built during the Eisenhower administration to show off the ultra-futuristic technology of the 21st century. Stubbsi brain-eating adventure brings him through bustling shopping districts and verdant farmlands to battle mad scientists, rural militiamen and the world's deadliest barbershop quartet. His enemies have shotguns, tanks, and all manner of futuristic weaponry. All Stubbs has is his own rotting corpse, a distinct lack of pain or conscience, and the ability to turn foes into zombie allies.
What begins as one zombieis search for revenge quickly escalates into an all-out war between the living and the dead - but this time it's the zombie fighting for truth, justice and the redemption of true love. Yes, it's a love story too.
As Stubbs, you can: * Play as a Zombie and give thoseunpleasant, violent humans a piece of your mind...by eating theirs * Destroy an entire city built with BungieisHalo Engine * Use Zombie Strength to smash down doors andmaul a wide variety of citizens and armed defenders * Spread Zombie Love by eating the brainsof your enemies and adding them to your own personal zombie horde * Possess unsuspecting humans and use their weaponsagainst their friends * Use Your Body as a Weapon in thedeadliest offense ever: explosive gut grenades, zombie sputum, asevered hand that can crawl through tight spaces and possess the living, ahead that doubles as an unholy bowling ball, and flatulence beyond the kenof mortal men.
Technical features include an enhanced version of Halo's graphic engine with all new pixel shaders, new screen effects for an appropriately cinematic look and feel, and a new AI system for the most keenly intelligent mindless zombies in the history of video games.
Computer and video game fans can check out http://drinkyourfillofthefuture.com/Pressrelease.aspx for Stubbs the Zombie updates and sign up to get more information as it becomes available.
About Aspyr
Aspyr Media, Inc. is a leading entertainment publisher that delivers fun in the form of games, music and DVDs. Founded in 1996, Austin-based Aspyr specializes in delivering to consumers the diverse media content they seek. The company identifies quality entertainment opportunities and leverages them across multiple platforms by tailoring its services to suit the product and consumers interests. Visit Aspyr Media on the web at www.aspyr.com.
About Wideload
Wideload Games was founded in 2003 to make unusual games for unusual people. From their lab in Chicago, the industry veterans on Wideload's creative team strip-mine their own twisted psyches, forging the raw material into games nobody else has made or played before. The studio is focused on developing original games with a small, efficient design team and a roster of independent talent. For more information about Wideload, visit www.wideload.com, or email info@wideload.com.
Wideload and Aspyr today revealed their upcoming Mac, PC and Xbox title, due for release in the summer of 2005. It's a third-person action game titled Stubbs The Zombie in "Rebel Without A Pulse". The full press release is on Aspyr's site and will soon be archived here. As yet there is no additional material on the Wideload site.
So far, it seems as if the game will feature:
Just for completeness-- there's no new "news" here, but the Wideload website has a newspost from the end of August, that points out a link to the press release announcing Aspyr as their publisher. It looks like the release itself was produced by Digital Avenues.
1Up has a story that brings together a "panel of Xperts" as they put it to talk about what Microsoft needs to do in order to make the sequel to the Xbox a success. One of the Xperts is none other than Alexander "The Man" Seropian, cofounder of Bungie and founder of Wideload Games, scheduled to release a Halo engine game next year.
There's mention of the Wideload - Aspyr deal today at Evil Avatar (story, press release) and at SPOnG.
Wideload Games has signed its first publishing deal with Apsyr Media, according to IGN. Aspyr Media is an outfit that publishes Mac games as well as some music CDs and movies on DVD. The article goes on to further narrow the unofficial launch of Wideload's first game to Fall of 2005.
The article quotes Seropian as being persuaded by Aspyr's promise of focusing on his new company.
After a long hiatus, there's another interview with Wideload Games Pressident Alex Seropian. To be honest, there's almost nothing in here that wasn't covered in earlier interviews, except perhaps Alex's canyon bomber game on the Commodore PET.
Thanks Louis Wu at HBO.