Because they're the closest thing to killing a human being for sport without getting a backlash. I mean who's going to protest against a zombie massecre or genocide?
I know I may be a bit late to the topic, but there's so many because I really can't think of any enemy that's more fun to kill than a horde of zombies. They fall apart with ease and can make for some nice, violent gameplay. And they can attack en masse and still not overwhelm you, which I can't say the same about human opponents. The only time I get sick of zombies is when they're the cartoony zombies, but with a few exceptions like Zombieville USA. But if you can make a nice zombie killing game, like COD:Zombies, the upcoming N.Y.Zombies, iZombieland, or Gameloft's upcoming Zombie Infection, then go for it.
Those games as you say are in the minority and I also think that it is the devs who are being lazy and as unoriginal as can be.
Why are there so many zombie games? Because they sell to the iDevice market. I'm guessing most of the sales for these games are little kiddies filling up all the pages on their iPod Touches with crappy zombie games.
Because the only way the 'General' crowd can cut up/explode/mangle/decapitate/disembowel/kill human-looking characters without causing an uproar is to call it a zombie.
Or, we could just say it's the same reason there are so many doodle games. Most likely, those are partly because doodle graphics are easier, but also, the theme sells.
Exactly. People have an interest in blowing zombies away. Its one of the closest "to reality" themes you can have while still being ridiculous. Compared to say, aliens which can just be corny. I would say if anything, there are tons more doodle games being spammed then zombie games... but they ultimately have the same issue. People think if they make any old sucky game and give it doodly graphics it will suddenly become cool or cute or "authentic." Same thing with zombies unfortunately. Devs think they can take a crappy, rehashed concept, give it crappy gameplay, and slap zombies in there and suddenly it will be cool and fun. This doesnt make zombie games bad. I for one do not all of the sudden hate a good zombie games because the app store is littered with crap. It just means hopefully I can still find the good ones.
It's one of those popular genres that only exist on the iPhone. Zombies, Doodle, i[GenericObject], Pocket, etc.
Zombies have a universal appeal. Most people repress their violent feelings because they have morals. However, in the event of a zombie attack, almost everyone would love to kick some zombie-ass. Being as there haven't been too many zombie apocalypses lately, video games will have to do.
Because that is the new "In" game category on the iPhone, but I do not know why. Poor kids, probably have nightmares at night from all these zombie games. Lol
really depends on the zombie game. The only zombie games that made me scared (iPod Games) were Resident Evil Degen. and 4. Two thinks that make zombie games less scary: -If you're playing in a team (see CoD: NZW) -not so real looking graphics things that make them scary: -dark creepy graphics (RE D/4) -sounds can change the way you feel, too!
was thinking this maself earlier. getting extremely bored of zombie themed games. innovation is not necessarily lost on the appstore, but those devs who stick to overused generic themes and ideas wont be seeing another coin from my pocket. same goes now for doodle games, old hat and most of them are worth slightly less than their 99c price tag.
In honor of this thread, we made another zombie game, called "More Zombies?!" It comes out tomorrow in the US for only $.99
