Telltale Games' The Walking Dead Video Game!

Ohmigawd, Ohmigawd, Ohmigawd! I’ll try to breath, but, it’s finally happening. No, not the apocalypse. The Walking Dead video game. They said it would but after waiting so long (at least it felt like so long) I thought, maybe it was just an idea that wouldn’t really come to full fruition.

Then, one day, I saw the AMC choose your own adventure motion comic game thing, Dead Reckoning, and thought that was the game. I mean, it was awesome but not what I expected from Telltale Games. They make games not promotional content. (By the way, check out the AMC promotional games for The Walking Dead, they’re generally awesome.)

Finally, today, I got the press release  along with the video for the “Choice Matters” trailer:

Tellale explains the details in today’s press release:

Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman, the Eisner Award-winning creator and writer of The Walking Dead for Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics, announced today that the first episode of the game series based on the critically acclaimed comic book series, The Walking Dead, is now available for download.  Players can purchase the PC and Mac versions from the Telltale Games Online Store, as well as Steam and other digital distribution services.  The first episode is also available for download now on PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and will be available Friday, April 27th on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Every system (except the Zelda/Mario/Exercise console)!

The game won’t be featuring the same cast of characters from the shows and comics that we’ll be missing. Instead we’ll be playing a role in a pseudo-prequel (at the onset of the apocalypse while rick is still in a coma) set off to the side of the main story but in the same universe.

The Walking Dead: Episode One – A New Day is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.  Lee Everett [1. Sadly, the racist comments are already coming in and the game isn’t even out yet. Yes, Lee is a black man and the protagonist. Play or don’t but no one is going to change any game because someone on the internet doesn’t like black people. So, STFU and go sit in that corner being sad and lonely hoping the past might come back one day.], a man convicted of a crime of passion, has been given the chance for redemption in a world devastated by the undead.  Players will experience life changing events, meet new characters and familiar ones from the original comic, and also visit locations that foreshadow the story of Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes.  The Walking Dead offers a tailored game experience – player actions, choices and decisions affect how the story plays out across the entire series.

One thing I’m not totally geeked about is the episodic pricing system. It’s great to not have to throw down $60 USD all in one go but if you love it or even just like it and feel attached to the story, you end paying what ends up being an equivalent price or more (I say this because this season is 5 episodes, but there will likely be more seasons; thus, more money).

In the same press release, Telltale outlines the structure of their episodic gaming situation:

Episode One – A New Day is the first of five monthly episodes of The Walking Dead games series and will be available for 400 Microsoft®Points on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360® on April 27th; it is available now for $4.99 per episode on PlayStation®Network, and is available as the first part of a five episode season pass for $24.99 on PC and Mac from the Telltale Online Store and other digital outlets.

The Walking Dead: Episode One – A New Day is rated ‘M’ (Mature) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language by the ESRB.

I’m going to take one for the team and play the shit out of it so I can tell you all about it ASAP.

Screenshots from the Xbox game:

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