GDC 2010: Gameloft's 'Zombie Infection'
posted March 10th, 2010 8:45 PM EST by Eli Hodapp in Action, Adventure, Games, Shooter, Upcoming Games, iPhone games, iPod touch games
I've always been a huge fan of the Resident Evil series, and having likely spent weeks of combined playtime in my life playing and re-playing the games of the Resident Evil universe. It's more than a little weird to me that Gameloft has somehow managed to make a better Resident Evil game than even Capcom, the original creators of the series, has on the iPhone.
If Gameloft's highly "inspired" games make your eyes roll, you should turn back now because when I first saw Zombie Infection today there was little I could do to stop myself from groaning at the first level we were shown– A nearly identical African cityscape to the one found in Resident Evil 5, with an equally similar premise to the game complete with a second character you come across named Shawna who serves as your female sidekick.
Zombie Infection comes loaded with 10 levels, some lifted directly out of Resident Evil games, and others in locations that could either be described as "ridiculous", "awesome", or possibly even "ridiculously awesome". One such locale we were shown was a zoo, filled with zombie zoo animals. After just barely making it out alive after fighting a zombified lion, my play session was brought to an end by some gigantic crocodile that sprung up from the water.
Like other similar Gameloft games, controls work exactly how you would expect. A virtual joystick handles all your movement, while context sensitive buttons appear that do things like open doors, shoot, holster your gun, unleash melee attacks, etc. Speaking of melee attacks, there's also a number of "finisher" moves that you can pull on nearby zombies. For instance, if a zombie is knocked to the ground you can run over to them and a button will activate allowing you to stomp their head. Also, like Resident Evil games, you cannot move and shoot at the same time.
I wasn't able to get a solid answer on the graphics engine powering Zombie Infection, but the polygon count of the character models, scenery, and all the texturing was extremely detailed. On top of that, it was running at an excellent framerate, making the whole package that much more impressive.
Aside from the standard campaign mode, there's also going to be a survival mode Gameloft is calling "Arena Mode" where players fight off endless swarms of zombies. Other details are scarce at the moment, and much like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell we only had enough time with the game to blow through a few levels. Needless to say, I'll be giving Zombie Infection a thorough play through as soon as its released sometime later this month.
Zombie animals? Awesome! I hope there will be co-op.
-JAWS DROPS- Those are some incredible graphics! Good job Gameloft! I wonder if Gameloft has a monopoly on my wallet
I just realized that after a week they'll probably port it over to the Pre
Guess Gameloft didn't really care for the iPhone much
Wow surprisingly this looks really good, can't wait for it!!
looks like a must-get, even though I rolled my eyes the second I saw the screen shot on the front page. Wonder if the similarities are close enough that Capcom will have something to say about it?
I wonder if Capcom would have sold this for 9.99? They couldn't/wouldn't have made it in the first place unless they were willing to sell it at that price. Capcom has just jumped fairly seriously into the iPhone market too. Also, Gameloft has some sort of deal to distribute actual RE games on some level, although those rights only seem to include java/cell phone games. They must have stricken a deal with Capcom for those java rights. This whole deal seems strange, unless Capcom wasn't interested themselves and somehow approved this move by Gameloft. Otherwise, it would seem as if Gameloft has stabbed in the back one of their business partners.
is it me or did u just switch this post making it the newest which it isnt
If it wasn't for the zombie zoo animals, this would probably suck.
But now I can't wait to shoot some zombie crocodiles and stuff.
I want to die before Gameloft start making knock-offs of their own games.
I didn't play Fracture – a second rate game in its genre – and the same logic applies here but with the added comfort of knowing I'm 'missing out' on a virtual joystick.
Another Zombie shooter? *sigh*….
I guess i'm going to have to buy this one too. It looks great!
This looks un-real , seriously … cant wait
Well you should feel normal if you consider running around blasting zombie crocodiles heads off to be "un-real", lol
I normally just roll my eyes when people bitch and moan about N.O.V.A. being too similar to Halo and Gang$tar being a carbon copy of GTA, but THIS is downright shameless. I mean, the African scenario? The female sidekick? It's too blatant.
THAT SAID, I judge games according to the gameplay. So if this seems fun enough, I'm on board!
Game looks great. Yeah its another zombie game but it looks to be a good one, thats what counts.
It's kind of more than eye-rolling for me.. It actually makes me feel a bit sick! But then again, I can't help but want to indulge these guilty pleasures!
It's a bit like waching a robber ransack ur old friends house.. And then give u some of the SWAG!
I say if the real games aren't going to make the mobile versions or the companies aren't going to do it right, then more power to gameloft.. good job
That argument is totally invalid and could be used to justify any type of theft. IP is IP and Gameloft are very clearly stealing from Capcom here.
Except they aren't. Not technically anyway.
Going to get sued.
Anyway, is this the usual Gameloft bollock up with the controls? I.E. leaving Inverted Y out?
lol, that won't happen. Especially seeing as Gameloft and Capcom are now partners.
I hope Capcom sue these pirates into the stone age. Theft like this cheapens the iPhone, makes Apple look bad, and frankly makes the whole portable game industry look like a sham.
Ubi, who own Gameloft, need to stop these clowns before they soil their reputation any further.
Man u stupid ……
That's gonna be my next zombie game. After resident evil (that I never finished)
And 'u' evidently didn't bother to learn how to spell.
Down with Gameloft!
Nogomoco and Gameleft. Great products they mass-fabricate. If you are not picky.
HOLY F!!! Amazing RE clone shit the graphics are incredible! Omg whens the gears of war game for?!??
Wow, how many redesigns can they pull out of one engine/mechanics.
Somehow dead and without ANY soul and always impressive in the exact same way.
I love how gameloft can get away ripping of RE like this hahaha
If i was Capcom I'd sue. This is by far the worst copying I've ever seen Gameloft or anyone for that matter do. A shameless company. I will never give them a cent of my money even if the game looks good.
BTW, this will be way better than uni-stick Degeneration!
always hated the resident evil thing, most definitely passing. just saying.
Gameloft is the chinese company of phone games. No originality just steal concept from other games, hire Indian or Chinese hard worker and make a clone! What a performance.
Damn! Gameloft just dishin out remakes like no tomorrow! I'd complain, but until the real thing shows up, I'm all for it!
There's already been TWO Resident Evil games for the iPhone. Christ.
Eh…the whole uni-stick control kind of ruined those games for me. I guarantee this will play much smoother.
Also we have seen a zombie zoo before in Resident Evil: Outbreak file #2 so that's nothing new either…
My blood is starting to curl every time Gameloft announces a new game.
First they ripped HALO with N.O.V.A.
And Modern Warfare with Modern Combat.
And Soul Blade (Calibur) with Blades of Fury.
And God of War with Hero of Sparta.
And Band of Brothers with Brothers in Arms.
I won't get into how Splinter Cell always resembled Metal Gear Solid (since they have the excuse of being a "Tom Clancy license" here), but Zombie Infection? REALLY?
Let's play a little game of SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.
Zombie Infection, an original game by Gameloft.
Screenshot:
http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Zombie_Infection_Screen_Shot_1.png
Resident Evil 5, an obscure game by Capcom.
Screenshot: http://selectstartgames.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/resident-evil-5-20080602092947361.jpg
Seriously, Gameloft, have SOME human decency. And self respect. Do you think your developers actually ENJOY copying others?
In an age where fraudsters like Tim Langdell are encouraged/allowed by Apple to get GENUINELY original games like Mobigame's EDGE removed from the App Store, the fact that Gameloft can mass-plagiarize big franchises is a disgrace.
You're wrong. Global Conflict is a ripoff of World at War. And it's amazing. Mulitplayer is so good
And they are great games so until the originals show up on the iPhone and are better than nobody cares and we'll keep enjoying them
yo stupid kid if u know anything gameloft has a license with ubisoft to make the brothers in arms titles..so stfu
now NOVA…look u will never except halo in iphone so gameloft used the idea and made it as their own otherwise u would never get a halo clone so good as this…
but zombie infection changes it…theres already resident evil apps in app store and them makin an exact clone is cheap
All aboard the Ripoff Express!
Gameloft: please grow a sense of shame about blatantly stealing other people's ideas. Even a 12 year old plagiarizing a book report from the Internet knows you should at least change a few sentences before handing it in.
Gameloft really puts the "Express" in the "Rip Off Express". Look how many high quality games they keep putting out! Amazing! Unoriginal! Plagiaristic! Exciting!
How would these games look if they designed them specifically for the 3GS and OpenGL 2.0 and left out support for older iPhones. I kind of feel like the vastly superior graphics chip in my phone is completely wasted.
Go Gameloft. Go
We love u Gameloft. Bring some more.
What is with you? I assume you are a Gameloft stooge, as THE ENTIRE INTERNET thinks this is an utterly shameless ripp off.
The problem is, you're the only one that gives a sh-t. The rest of us are having fun playing these shameless ripoffs rather than waiting years for the actual IPs to be ported over.
It's called common sense, sorry you never got a slice.
There are TWO Resident Evil games on the app store, or were you asleep when they came out?
I assume you take the same attitude towards downloading movies too? Film X isn't on blu-ray yet, so I'll just download a cam copy.
Theft is theft. Simple as.
Creative theft, especially when coming from a company with so much money and financial backing, is just pathetic.
will be instant buy for me .. I'm confident Gameloft will nails this one as what they did with most of their games ..
the original RE iphone wasn't that great .. I have both of them, and it just a waste of money .. never had the enthusiasm to play the game few minutes ..
to hell with the so call criticism against IP theft .. in my opinion two things move civilization .. a generation of new ideas .. and improvise existing ideas .. gameloft basically improvise an existing ideas .. it's not theft .. ideas is not like thing that you can steal, so the metaphore of someone stealing and improve the car that he steal doesn't really make any sense to me ..
Stop Whining guys.
Let Capcom sue gameloft if it is really "stealing from them".Did Gameloft really steal? if yes why capcom did not do anything about? if no? that's why its happening right now. They can counter like that "I remember Mumbojumbo's game was removed in itunes by popcap due to a stealing idea issue" and majority of those people want it back because it was better.
This kind of issue is way too old. People are whining, it is better to play them rather than whining
Pigs vs wolves /// Plant vs zombies = LoL
can someone help me please i am in chapter 6 docks 11 and it is where the forklift is and i keep dieing what do i do plz
it looks great game oyunlar mario oyunları
strateji oyunları
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