Zombies are currently a popular flavour in video games, with the last 12 months seeing strong performances from several undead shooters, including Resident Evil 5, House Of The Dead: Overkill and Left 4 Dead.
Now fledgling Netherlands-based publisher Iceberg Interactive is looking to enter this genre with its new title Killing Floor. A zombie-riddled FPS with an emphasis on co-operative play, the game pits trigger-happy players against waves of the undead and other hideous abominations.
“Killing Floor is pitched directly at the Left 4 Dead market and stacks up very well,” says Iceberg’s sales director Howard Newmark. “It’s also considerably cheaper than Left 4 Dead and has a six-player co-op against Left 4 Dead’s four-player mode. There are also more weapons. We believe it will do incredibly well at retail.”
FLOOR SHOW
The game should resonate particularly well with online FPS fans as it is based on a concept developed by gamers themselves. Killing Floor originated as a mod for Unreal Tournament 2004 and has been expanded over the years until the creators presented it to Tripwire.
As a result, Iceberg’s title will have an extremely strong presence at retail, with consumers certain to flock to a game developed by people who understand what they’re looking for in a new shooter. Killing Floor’s feature list reads like a checklist of ‘must-haves’, with gameplay mechanics that hardcore gamers are guaranteed to go nuts for.
“It’s hard to pinpoint one particular feature that we’re most proud of – probably the automatic ZED time slow motion feature that works even in six-player co-op mode,” says Newmark.
Article continues belowAdvertisement
“But it could be the fabulous range of weapons, gross range of zombies or clever use of the giant environments.”
The game’s developers have also created a strong narrative that makes the action far more engaging. Players are pitted against the specimens from a secret government programme to breed super soldiers. When these experiments escape, it’s up to teams of gamers to clear up the areas they have infested – in a nice change of pace for the US-dominated genre, environments are all based on the UK’s most iconic towns.
Basic monsters will simply try to claw players’ faces off, while the more advanced zombies are equipped with everything from chainsaws to chainguns and rocket launchers.
To fight back, gamers have access to a variety of weapons, ranging from knives and fire-axes to shotguns, rifles and flamethrowers. There are even tools to help them survive longer, such as body armour, medical kits and a welder.
Additionally, players can use the experience they earn by achieving certain feats, such as killing a set number of enemies with a specified weapon, to buy persistent perks, which permanently improve their character’s skills and abilities.
Taking all this into account, Iceberg has a strong release on its hands as it enters the UK market. The publisher is in no doubt that heritage of Killing Floor, the game’s hardcore appeal and the various marketing initiatives that have been set up will spell success at retail.
“Hardcore online gamers will be asking retailers for Killing Floor – it’s reputation precedes it and it has great review scores,” says Snippe. “Browsers will be engaged by the strong packaging and gross screenshots.
“We are marketing Killing Floor via printed ads, online banners, retail trade marketing, direct mail, merchandising, and the social media landscape such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace,” explains senior development manager Raymond Snippe.
“We are also creating extra visibility at international LAN parties by setting up Killing Floor tournaments, sweepstakes and contests.”
Add a new comment
You need to be logged in to post comments. If you do not have an account then please register.
Comments
0 comments
There are no comments yet, be the first to add one!