Alright, kids. It might be time to shell out the cash to pick up a Nintendo 3DS (in stores March 27, 2011). I’m a little late announcing this; but, that doesn’t make it any less interesting. Upon launch, we can expect twenty or so games, not the least of which will be brought to us by our friends at Capcom; creators of the Resident Evil game universe. For any of you who’ve stuck by the franchise through the fourth and fifth offerings, you have probably tried your hand at the Mercenaries mode. If not, prepare yourself to take on endless floods of corpses that get harder and harder as you go. The upside? Well, at least you have limited ammo and time. Wait? That’s the upside? Yeah. It’s like one of my college professors told me one time, “There are 2 truths in this life: your mother will always love you and you will die.” Welcome to Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D.
So, what’s the point? High score, baby. Once you get past the whole inevitably being the main course at Bob’s Zombie Buffet, you can start to really challenge yourself. The levels in the 3DS version will be a collection of all the greatest maps from R.E. four and five. Character selection looks like a choice of a few characters from previous titles, such as: Hunk, Jack Krauser, Clair and Chris Redfield. You’ll have two minutes to kick ass and take names while your score rises through the rankings toward the ultimate goal: High. Score. dom? There can be only one.
Check out the video below and for a more in depth look; make the leap over to techdigest.com. Good luck and remember: Headshots!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Chad Hunter
Do you think you have what it takes to survive the impending zombie apocalypse? Do you believe you know enough to survive another day? Well we're about to find out. Here, at Zombies & Toys, we're featuring the brain-craving, grave-digging book "Z-SAT: Zombie Survival Aptitude Test." Author Casey Bassett brings you the ultimate test to find out if you're going to join the survivors or fall beneath the mass of rotted flesh.
To celebrate the release of the Z-SAT, Z&T is kicking off with an interview with the author, a chance to see how your favorite undead experts here rank on the test and a contest with a chance to win your own copy of the Z-SAT. Check back this week for the beginning of the end as the dead rise to walk, eat and read the Z-SAT.
Sourpuss Clothing is back with a contest for the ladies this month! They are giving one lucky Zombies & Toys reader the chance to win a pair of zombie socks and two pairs of hair clips. Entering is easy, just email your name and address to sourpuss@zombiesandtoys.com. One winner will be selected at the end of the month.
What could be better or scarier than voodoo awakened zombies? I thought so. Maya Entertainment will terrify us with these ghouls on March 8th when The Zombie Farm is released on DVD. Directed by Ricardo Islas, the movie follows a young woman who seeks asylum from her domestically abusive husband by visiting with a local voodoo priestess. The woman is warned that her husband may change if given a special potion. The wife is relieved, but wakes up in bed next to a zombie. Her husband, now a zombie, becomes the leader of a zombie uprising. The Zombie Farm was filmed in both English and Spanish. It has a running time of 90 minutes and is not rated.
The undead have haunted us in Pennsylvanian farmhouses; Midwest cities under corporate control and with EA’s Dead Space, the shambling reanimated had found their way into space. Now, with the latest installment in the Dead Space universe, we found ourselves pitted against the resurrected clawing at airlocks and craving our flesh. With Visceral Games and EA’s newest survival horror entry available everywhere today, the question is posed: is Dead Space 2 (DS2) worth the wait or a greater loss than the crew of the Ishimura?
Set your worries for the growing hordes of Necromorphs coming for you. There is no need to ponder the wonder that is Dead Space 2. It is a worthy successor to the Dead Space universe. You will once again find yourself in the role of Isaac Clarke, engineer and unfortunate hero battling the insane, the corrupt, the zealot and the Necromorphs: a race of twisted and savage horrors born from hijacked human flesh and enigmatic alien influence. Dead Space 2 begins with Isaac defenseless and only able to run. Blood pressure will rise. Tensions will grow. DS2 starts off with a pounding pulse and never lets go.
The graphics of Dead Space 2 are beautiful. When you’re not running and gunning for your life, take the time to look around. The scenery of the Sprawl, the colony where the terror begins, is marvelous. While it may be hard to witness the work that goes into the threats attacking Clarke, the detail in the Necromorphs is masterful. Dead Space 2 has to be one of the most visually acclaimed games in a very young 2011.
Dead Space 2’s sounds match its sights. When the plasma cutter fires or the Puker launches a storm of acidic vomit at Clarke, it sounds like it. Every shock of laser or splat of blood and intestine is resounding and clear. The only issue with the sounds in Dead Space 2 is a subjective one. Isaac, who was previously silent in the first game, now speaks. While there is nothing wrong with the voice acting, there was something unique and personifying to the silent protagonist. Beyond that gripe, hearing DS2 is almost as good as seeing it.
The plot is driven by the action and vice versa. You are notified through the game by various personnel of the Sprawl. Fans of the series will be familiar with the theme of Unitology, the mysterious Necromorphs and the ominous Marker. While it is still at times unclear why all Hell breaks loose, it is enough to know and hear the directions and objectives for Clarke. A very nice touch is that the game literally starts right at the end of the downloadable Dead Space: Ignition.
Dead Space 2 controls like a charm. It is well-oiled and moves smoothly and the challenge is never about how to move or guide your character. The single player mission is worth playing repeatedly and the multiplayer does offer unique perspectives. Players can either be human’s moving about various maps or Necromorphs themselves, out to thwart their human counterparts.
Zombie factor?
Dead Space 2 is a great game but how high is its zombie factor? High. Dead Space 2’s application of corpses being brought back for alien purposes in mass hordes gives players the feel of fear. You are put in situations where running is the only sane choice and you can’t. The appeal of the zombie is its mindless, unending pursuit of horrific goals and the nightmare that it was once like us. The necrotic walking abattoirs remind us of just that: we are all potential monsters. Several times in the game, other characters come apart as they realize the nightmare of killing those that were once family and friends. These monsters do not rise from cemeteries or morgues but they crawl from space suits and ships, nonetheless terrifying.
In the end, Dead Space 2 is a gratifying run and a necessary addition to any gaming library. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are beautiful and the PS3 Limited Edition offers a download of Dead Space: Extraction for the PS3 Move. The game is fun, frightening and does everything it is supposed to do. Dive into the universe of the Marker, hold on to your sanity and remember that aiming for the head is pointless; dismember, hope and pray.
Are you in need of a quick time waster? If you have five or ten minutes that you would like to kill, then head on over toHarry Games. The game here is called Zombie Bites and it follows a basic premise. You are a lone zombie and it is up to you to get your fill of brains. The controls are simple: You move with the arrow keys, you jump with either the up arrow or the x button and you feed with the space button or c button. The aim of the game is to feed and survive while growing your zombie army. It is a fun little game as you are constantly battling a depleting full meter. You feed and that is it; Pure, simple fun. What are you waiting for?
For laughs, check out this little video created for us by Immersion; a little project designed to take gaming just one step out of digital into the real world. In this episode, we learn whether it’s safer to go with a pistol or shotgun when dispatching hordes of undead and how important it is to become familiar with a weapon before you need to use it.
A lot of college campuses have heard of the game Humans vs. Zombies. This game divides students into two obvious groups. The first group is armed with nerf guns and balled-up socks as weapons. Playing as humans, they must take down the other half of the students, the zombies. Since its conception in 2005 by students at Goucher College, Humans vs. Zombies has been a game only taken up at public colleges.
Well, last week from January 11th to January 16th, Dartmouth became the first of the Ivy League school to advertise, at least at a level visible to the public, this game on their campus. The game is being moderated by six students who see Humans vs. Zombies as a “low-key and light-hearted alternative to the predominantly Greek social scene on campus.” According to the full article located at The Dartmouth, there were over 170 students signed up to play. Moderators believe that the inevitable visibility of the game will increase student interest and set up even bigger competitions in future terms.
This is definitely another way to make campus a better place, so the question has to be said, which college will be the next in the Ivy League to play? Are you at a college that allows you to play Humans vs. Zombies? I would like to know your opinions on this as it is a fun game. Are there any games that your college plays that are similar to this? We want to know your comments below.
We’re back with part two of our Walking Dead updates. Since the last post, we got the huge news from Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston over on insidepulse.com that WD season 2 may be coming to us as early as July, not October as originally announced.
“It was a decision from AMC that they wanted to position us in July… They want to attract as many eyeballs as possible, away from the heavy competition of the September, November [or] January start. I believe they’re going to put Walking Dead in July as well.”
Happy birthday to me! The hardest part of waiting is, well… the waiting. Let’s cross our fingers.
Next, the little spoiler that we dropped last time about Michonne was suggested at by Kirkman in an interview over at mtv.com:
"Frank has already hinted at the fact that we'll be seeing Michonne as early as Season 2;" however, he also broke some bad news, “The Governor is probably a little ways off from Season 2 — maybe Season 3 or beyond."
Although we most likely won’t be seeing Woodbury in the 12 episode line-up, we can still look forward to things like the farm, the prison (which is where I thought they were going with the CDC thing), Thomas, and the HERD! There are still plenty of monsters lurking in the series to keep us busy until the Governor shows up.
This may wrap up the news we have for now; but, make sure you keep checking back. We’ll keep you updated as we hear anything new. Hope to see you in July!
Are you a fan of the Fox TV show Glee? Are you a fan of the Michael Jackson music video Thriller? If you answered yes to either of these questions then Fox has a great treat for you. Following the Super Bowl you can tune in to Fox to watch a special Super Bowl Sunday episode of Glee. The cast of Glee will be performing Jackson’s hit on a giant football field dressed in full makeup and clothing to pay homage to the original video.
The episode will revolve around a local football championship game, during which the Thriller mash-up will be performed during the half-time show. Of further note about the episode is that it is reported to be the most expensive post-Super Bowl episode in television history. The show reveled that there are over 500 extras involved, as well as the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. Also in the episode will be songs by The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Antebellum, and Katy Perry. If you are looking for a good fix of zombies and glee then tune into fox on Sunday February 6, after the Super Bowl.
Anybody who has watched the great Shaun of the Dead will recognize Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Pegg and Frost were the minds behind and stars of the spectacular British zombie comedy. They are looking to do the same thing with aliens this time in their spoof, Paul: Adopt an Alien. Set to hit theaters around March 18, Paul does not look as gory as Shaun of the Dead but does look like it will make you laugh. Also gained for production is Seth Rogan.
I am excited and honored to announce that fellow zombie site, iZombie, has awarded Zombies & Toys the Zombie Rabbit award!
To be recognized by fellow bloggers and fans of zombies is an honor. Thank you to iZombie and for everyone who takes the time read and support Zombies & Toys!
The dust has settled a bit since the finale, and we’ve had some time to reflect. The emails have rolled in slowly and a few of you even commented on the previous post. Although the general impressions I’m getting are excitement, satisfaction, and optimism, there have been quite a few general issues with the television production of the show. The biggest concern seems to be the detours that the crew is taking along the comic book path. There are concerns that Shane is still alive, and that whole CDC thing might over expose the zombie element of the story.
First, I’ll restate the whole television numbers thing. This was the most watched cable show of 2010. There was a little south of 10 million viewers per episode. Then, we have a makeup team that has stepped up and created the most visually impressive legion of undead we’ve ever seen. Also, AMC pulls no punches when it comes to the limits allowed on TV. They pushed the envelope, in one way or another, with every single episode.
The problem seems to be that this show has taken well beaten path of Hollywood production and went straight away off course. Most people that responded felt a little ripped off by the unexpected turns. They want their story the way it was originally written. The feeling was summed up pretty well by Little George over at October Toys,
“ If you wanted to just make up a zombie tale, why bother calling it the Walking Dead? Just make a new zombie show. We would all still watch it. Leave the Walking Dead for someone else to make who wants to tell that story the way it should be told.”
Amen, brother.
That being said, I gave up on Hollywood reproductions of things like this a long time ago. There have been times when the big screen didn’t completely abuse the story line (The Lord of the Rings) and then there have been the ones where I was in the theater at the end of a movie with my face buried in my palm; shaking my head (Eragon, Beowulf). I decided, like I said, these two things are oil and water. So, I’m not really bothered by the differences. I take each episode in stride and look at it like it was the only Walking Dead I’ve ever had. It makes it a lot easier to enjoy that way, and I really don’t wanna burn the little free time I have feeling waylaid by the things I decide to fill it with.
So, Carl didn’t end up giving Shane a new hole to breathe from. There are a couple of extra rednecks holding down the fort. There’s a scientific push to explain and cure the world of the undead. If these are the biggest changes they’re gonna make, bring it on.
In the end, I didn’t get one response that I could file in the “this is crap” folder. The Zombie Nation has spoken. The Walking Dead Season One was well worth our time. The fact the season ended in the RV heading down the road toward who knows what left us looking forward to Season Two. Thanks for your emails and comments. We’ll see you in October
Kids, say hello to ZOMBIE MUGO. It’s the newest addition to the Z&T toy store family. What is it? Well, no need to get your knickers in a twist, I’m getting to that…
“MUGO are a shy race of creatures. They are highly individualized – sometimes timid and resourceful, sometimes mischievous, but always on the cutting edge. Mugo are born with a natural gift for music, art and culture. They store knowledge. They inspire. You may not know it, but Mugo have been here all along, living in the background of your pictures, riding the wavelengths of your favorite songs. Until recently they felt too awkward to allow themselves to be seen, but they have grown more comfortable with themselves, and so they are coming out of the shadows and into your heart.”
Mugo’s also an MP3 player/USB storage device. With 2GB memory for all of your important documents, music and videos; Mugo has the memory. Leave the remembering to them. They’re compatible with MAC OS X, Windows 98, VISTA and XP; so, no geek will be left wanting. Also featured are limited edition designs from international and local artists, rechargeable battery for up to 8 hours of continuous action, plug and play capability, direct USB connection (no cables needed), and no run-on Mugo sentence would be complete if I didn’t mention portability; take ‘em anywhere you want. For convenience, they’re about the size of your thumb.
So, how much will it cost? MUGO has an MSRP of $59.99 around the WWW; or… OR, you can buy the Zombie model from your friends at Z&T for $49.99 (while supplies last). That’s right, you help us help them and let us help you! That’s how we do things around here.
A little more from the press release:
“The Discover Series is a community based forum. Submitted by new artists and fans of Mugo, the Mugo community chooses which design piece is produced. The highest rated and appreciated design is emailed to info@mugoplayer.com or commented on Facebook.
Encouraging more creative talent to be discovered, Mugo Discover series is the first community series from Feed the Beast, LLC”
Check them out at their website, mugoplayer.com for all your creative and artsy type neediness. Log in and register to keep up to date with their shiniest creations and discoveries. They’ll even track the latest art trends, find local art shows, and tell you what your favorite artist is up to. Tell them Z&T sent you! (I don’t know why… that’s just something you’re supposed to say when you refer friends to other friends, right?)
Remember that first summer job? The one that was the greatest job on earth until you showed up and actually had to work? Benny Imura does. In the town of Mountainside, where Benny is growing up, when you turn 15 you get a job; or you try to get by on half of what you need to survive. The community is trying to rebuild after the Zombie Apocalypse, and every able-bodied member of society must contribute.
Benny and his buddy, Chong do what I would’ve done at 15 if I had to find a job; they open the newspaper and cut out want ads. They order them from highest “cool factor” to lowest, and get to work. Along the way, they try their hands at just about everything you can imagine; locksmith, fence tester, fence technician, carpet coat salesman, pit thrower, crank generator repair… the list goes on. In Mountainside, there are a lot of jobs which need doing, and a lot of them could get you killed or infected; so it takes time to find the right one
Benny’s stepbrother Tom is the envy of Mountainside. He’s a bounty hunter. Neighbors pay him to risk his life out in the vast spaces of what used to be the United States to “quiet” their loved ones. Benny doesn’t understand what the big deal is about Tom. He thinks Tom’s a coward. His earliest memory in life is of Tom running away while his parents are chewed on like peppered jerky in the house he used to live in, before everything went to hell. Of course, he wasn’t quite two years old then; but still he remembers. To him, the real heroes are guys like Charlie Matthias and the Motor City hammer. Those dudes are rough and ready with stories to tell about their adventures outside the fences. They’re all about dirt, scars and money. They’re the cool ones; not Tom. When he’s all out of options; though, it’s take over the family business, or starve. He begrudgingly resigns himself do whatever Tom does out in the great Rot and Ruin; he’ll smash a zombie and take home some cash.
Once there, Benny gets a taste of what the world is really like. He finds that there are people who would rather live with the undead than the living; because they feel safer that way. He finds out about a special little piece of hell called Gameland where horrible people take kidnapped children from the scattered remnants of society and make them fight to the death against zombies for fun. He learns about the savage “Lost Girl” who’s lived outside civilization her whole life, and he learns who Tom really is; and why he is the town hero.
Benny Imura is a believable kid who I found myself growing attached to. He just can’t bring himself to admit that since his friend Phoenix, (“Nix”) has grown up a little; He’s really started to like her. He tells himself dating her would be like dating Chong just to keep a cool head. He wants only to collect zombie cards, and daydream with his buddies, Chong and Morgie, about adventuring together outside the city gates. When Nix gets into trouble; however, all of that goes out the window. Benny and Tom set out to fight monsters, real monsters, and do a lot of that coming of age stuff along the way. It’s not about the end of our world, it’s about the beginning of theirs.
Before I tell you what made me like this book, I have to come clean. This is the eighth piece I’ve read by Maberry. If I had a favorite author, it would be this dude. It’s gonna get all fan-girl gushy, and you’re gonna have to read his work on your own to find out if I’m right. That being said, I don’t get paid to make it sound good. It just is.
My favorite thing about his writing is the way Maberry makes you feel what it’s like to get into a struggle for your life. He has black belts and years of martial arts training he can’t help but to put on paper. I’ll try to stop oozing after this; but, Jonathan Maberry’s fight scenes are the best I’ve ever read. You won’t find any flying, sparkling, pretty boys in a dance battle here. There are no fireballs, no smoke and mirrors, and no fluff. You have monsters being shredded, and people being shot, stabbed and sliced into a bloody mess. Main characters can take a hit just like anybody else. If they get cut, they bleed. If they bleed too much, they die.
Another thing that I love is how it feels like Jonathan Maberry is really in the business of telling stories. He doesn’t fill pages and pages with wordy explanations or descriptions of simple things. A blue sky is a blue sky. We’ve all seen it, and we don’t have to be told exactly what each cloud looks like. His stories are direct, fast paced, and plot driven. There is a setting, conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution; and he gets it done in less than 500 pages.
As A zombie nut, I loved the new insight he’s given me on my favorite monster. The reason he can write so clearly is this guy knows what he’s talking about. He’s done his homework and studied this stuff more than I care to imagine. You can tell from his writing that he has considered every possible angle he could come from, and chosen the best one. I like my zombies single-minded. I don’t like zombies that talk, think, or create. Zombies are a base instinct driven natural disaster with no mind for self-preservation or purpose. Maberry’s zombies are exactly what I want to see. They’re a plague. They don’t act; they react. They are the ultimate freakin’ horror machine.
That brings me to my disclaimers: Although this is a YA novel, I happen to know from the author, that this wasn’t written specifically to target the genre. The original story was written in a darker short form and called Family Business. That being said, this book has realistic violence and gore. It also has a little bit of language laced in here and there, and there is the occasional suggestive theme. I’d say this is probably a mid-teen level book. I plan to read it to my son way before then, but I’ll have to do some on the fly editing when I do.
So, who wants a free book? Just as you’ve come to expect, entering the contest is easy. Send an email, with your name and address, to rot@zombiesandtoys.com. We’re gonna leave this contest open through the end of next month. If your number comes up, we’ll let you know via email and glittery contest update here on Z&T.
If you’ve read this far, and can spare three more minutes, check out the Simon & Schuster promo featuring the author himself below, enjoy!
I am excited to announce that beginning Feb 2nd, Zombies & Toys will be featuring zombie fiction by Chad Hunter. We will post a new segment of Chad's saga every week. Join me in welcoming Chad to the ZT team and read on to learn about Chad.
From the first time he dove behind his mother’s Zenith television, Hunter has had a love affair with monsters. Zombies first reached out and terrified him with the video of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. After that flesh-rotted introduction, the undead began their torrential invasion of Hunter’s life with Romero’s own classic original, the putrid TarMan from Return of the Living Dead, Resident Evil, Castlevania and so on and so on. The Lazarus Effect series is Hunter’s entry into the world of the resurrected.
Hunter is a freelance writer, video game journalist and novelist. He is also highly excited (even reanimated!) by joining the folks at Zombies and Toys. His other horror works include The Portray Protocols and Coffin. When not writing, Hunter is a blessed man, lucky husband and proud papa living in the Midwest.
PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual video games, announced today the North American release of Plants vs Zombies for the Nintendo DS. The game will feature all of the engaging gameplay that was in the PC edition including Adventure, Survival and Puzzle modes. There is also the addition of multiplayer action and four all-new, exclusive mini-games as well as 14 achievements.
The game is available today for the low price of $19.95. If you are looking for a DSiWare version of the game, you can look forward to that in the coming weeks. The DSiWare version will contain Adventure mode, the mini-games from the DS adaptation and an exclusive mini-game known as Zombie Trap. For more information on the all new mini games and achievements, please keep reading.
Four All-New and Exclusive Mini-Games
Air Raid: As a pilot flying repeater, players have to dodge, weave and shoot their way to victory in this side-scrolling shooter-style mini-game
Home Run Derby: In a wacky marriage of zombies and baseball, players hit home runs to score sun. But they’ll have to watch out for the oncoming, sporty hordes of some all-new zombies.
Heat Wave: It’s a real scorcher! Players have only a few plants and they tire out quickly. Swap them around with the stylus and cheer them up with the microphone!
BOMB All Together: Players will blast zombies into the hereafter, but they’ll have to use their plants wisely; there’s a limited supply.
14 New Achievements
Resolute Homeowner – Complete Adventure Mode
Attention Deficit – Earn a trophy in each mini-game
Think Hard – Earn a trophy in each puzzle mode
Tough Beans – Earn a trophy in each survival mode
Shopping Spree – Spend $25000 in Crazy Dave’s store
Book Learner – Fill out the Almanac
Greenhouser – Raise 10 plants to full growth in the Zen Garden
Cerebral Canopy – Grow the tree of wisdom to 100 ft.
Demolitioneer – Blow up 10 zombies at once with a single cherry bomb
Photosensitive – Beat a night level without picking up any sun
Don’t Drink the Water – Beat a pool level without using any aquatic plants
Nebulaphile – Beat an extremely foggy level without disturbing any fog
Unsiege Mentality – Complete a roof level without using any catapult plants
Street Team – Play Download-Play at least once
If you haven’t gotten the chance to play this game yet then this is another reason to go out and get it. The addictive nature and short game sessions really add up to create a fun game. You will not feel sorry if you go out and pick up this game ASAP.
If you have a few minutes and a hankering to kill time, than look no further than The Saddest Little Zombie. It is a game where you must spot the differences between two pictures. In addition to being a fun game, you really need to follow the link where you can get the free Saddest Zombie EBook. The book is a nice, 61 page illustrated e-book. If you have a minute, give this game and the book by Douglass Clegg a look as it makes for a fun diversion.
Thanks to our friends over at trektoday.com, it has been revealed that a new comic series called Infestation is set to release at the end of this month. The series will show zombies invading the universes of Ghostbusters, GI Joe, Star Trek, and Transformers. The first issue, written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with art by David Messina, will debut January 26th. From there the series will continue in bi-weekly minis for each different franchise running through February and March, after which Infestation #2 will bring everything to a close in April. If you would like to see some of the preview pages you may do so by clicking here.
This is part one of a two-part post about what’s coming up for the AMC series The Walking Dead. It’s coming to you in two parts; because, my lunch break is only 30 minutes long and anything that takes less than a half hour to come out with usually gets flushed. Anyway, what I’m gonna do first is give you an update about the Walking Dead DVD/Blu-ray release details (which I first brought you here).
It’s looking like March 8th, 2011 is gonna be the day. The price tag for Blu-ray will be $49.99, and DVD comes in at ten bucks less. Pre-ordering should be available from most retailers around the second week in February. My suggestion; however, is to jump on over to Amazon.com
and pre-order it today for $25 which is two bucks less than it was last time.
Next, I want to answer a question that I got after posting the good news of the quick release:
“If they're rushing to get the DVD out though, does that mean that its going to suffer when it comes to DVD extras? This series could have an amazing set of extras from what I've seen of clips hear and there, and it would be such a shame if the bugger it up in the rush to get the DVD out.”
With the release, we can expect a full set of special features, including the “Making of ‘The Walking Dead’”, “Inside ‘The Walking Dead’” episode 1-6, a sneek peek with Robert Kirkman, Behind-The-Scenes Zombie make-up tips, a convention panel with producers, and “The Walking Dead” trailer. It should also be loaded with bonus footage about Zombie school, bicycle girl, an on the set feature with Robert Kirkman & also Andrew Lincoln (Rick), a Steven Yeun (Glen) feature, a tour of Dale’s RV, and a partridge in a pear tree.
It looks like they’ve realized that it’s hard to justify $50 for 6 episodes; so, they’re loading the case with goodies for us to ease the sting. Keep an eye out for the next part of this post when I’ll give you an update about what we can expect from season 2. Let’s just say, somebody might show up with a sword… Okay, it’s Michonne! Wait… spoiler?
Horror Realm, which is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s premier horror convention, will be adding a special one-day show on March 5.
The given title for the show is “Spring Break Massacre,” which will feature many of the same elements from other Horror Realm conventions – including celebrity appearances and a film festival. Also expect a wide array of dealers, as well as some special events that include trivia contests, a horror haiku poetry slam, a special game for horror-loving couples, and even a zombie survival course! There will also be a panel whose subject is the work of George A. Romero, and the religious social commentary within his many works.
On the guest front, Tiffany Shepis has thus far been confirmed, with others on the horizon.
To top the event off, there will be a “Zombie Gras” party for those aged 18 and over. This event will feature a charity raffle, dancing, giveaways and more. The theme will be New Orleans and the history of voodoo engrained in the bayou city’s culture.
We will have in-depth coverage of this event, so stay tuned to catch all of the gritty details right here. Of course, you should check out the convention yourself, if means allow you to do so. It should be a great time, so do your best to make an appearance!
How many of you have played Dead Space? If you haven’t, first, I would like to say go out and play this game! Especially if you consider yourself a fan of survival horror. That being said, next month will mark the release of Dead Space 2. With excitement, I logged on to my XBOX 360 last week and found the demo for Dead Space 2. I must say, if this demo is anywhere near the levels that the finished product will be then consider me sold already. There are many marked improvements that can already be seen from the first game. Namely, weapon management seems to have been tightened so it is now easier than ever to change your weapons and sever limbs from the infected.
If you not familiar with Dead Space, I can tell you that you are fighting the infected crew of a spaceship who have turned into monsters. These monsters can only be killed by extreme dismemberment (think 2 or more limbs, and head shots don’t put them down for good). Also, from what I could see, the environment has been expanded to a whole space station and not a mere spaceship. The world is bigger but the hallways and corridors that you traverse still evoke a sense of fear that many other games can not. There were multiple times during the demo when I admittedly jumped, which is something that a lot of other games have not made me do. The other big change from this game to the last is that we finally hear our protagonist and see his face for the first time, and the voice acting here is top notch.
I wish there was more that I could say about this game, but the demo we are given is unfortunately very short and leaves you on a cliffhanger. If you want to experience the joys of the demo, you may do so now by going to the xbox live marketplace or the playstation store and downloading it for yourself. Look back near the end of next month for a full review of the game when it is released.
Photography is a constantly evolving artistic form, with many variants and styles being perpetuated today. This style of art is sometimes overlooked, but is one of the most intriguing and vivid forms of personal expression.
The genre of horror – and zombie lore in our case – is a picture-perfect setting for some extreme and uniquely creative work. One of the best examples this writer has seen is the work of April A. Taylor, a photographer from Detroit, Michigan. The owner of this site and myself came upon her work at the recent Steel City Con, a toy and memorabilia convention in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, this past December.
As you can see by looking at her work (www.aprilataylor.com), Ms. Taylor has both a keen eye for fashioning a haunting setting, as well as the ability to create fine pieces of art from these scenes. Her style is one upon itself, to which has resulted in a large collection of stunning work.
This is somebody who takes her work very seriously, as evidenced by the professional grade prints of her work in which she sells. Many artist prints are made on low-quality paper with little lasting quality – not so here. Her prints come on archival-quality paper, ink and matting, which means that they’ll last longer than our lifespan. This being the case, these prints cost more than some, but the price difference more than makes up for it in quality. Being witness to these pieces in-person, the quality difference is blatantly obvious, and it would be nice to see more pieces presented with such care and excellence. These are keepers that are guaranteed to last, folks.
To coincide with the contest we’re running this month, we also got the opportunity to interview Ms. Taylor. Her many inspirations, artistic process, as well as present and future projects are discussed in what is an in-depth portrait of a highly talented artist. Enjoy, and be sure to check out her many works.
Zombies & Toys: First off, how did you get started into creating art?
April A. Taylor:I have spent almost my entire life writing and taking photographs and have always felt a strong urge to create. About a year and a half ago, I started combining novel/short story ideas with the photography, thereby utilizing Illustrative Photography to tell a story without the usage of words.
ZT: What drew you towards the horror genre, both as an artist and a fan?
AAT:Horror was my first love. As a small child, I had posters of Freddy Krueger on my walls and I was reading Clive Barker by the age of nine. Michael Jackson’s Thriller video was also quite pivotal; I saw it at the age of six and instantly fell in love with zombies. As an artist, I strive to make social commentary through my pieces and horror is a natural fit for this. It also gives me an outlet for my blood soaked imagination.
ZT: What/whom has been your largest inspiration?
AAT:The horror genre in general has been a large inspiration (particularly the work of Clive Barker), but also the city of Detroit and its rampant decay has inspired much of my work, as has the creative collaboration that I share with my models (especially Shannon Waite, who, for example, wrote the poem that She’s Dead was based off of).
ZT: Your photography is very sensory – especially in your use of color. What drew you towards this style?
AAT:The majority of horror/Dark Art uses more muted tones in order to convey a feeling of darkness and dread. I chose to go the opposite route for the majority of my pieces, for I feel that infusing my work with bright, vivid colors makes it harder for the viewer to look away and also harder for the viewer to think of it as just being a photograph. I intend for the pieces to feel real, as if you’re witnessing the events taking place right in front of you.
ZT: How many pieces have you done thus far?
AAT:Countless pieces… there are nine Dark Art sets to date, with multiple pieces in each, and I also have a wide collection of Fine Art and model pieces.
ZT: What is your creative process for your shots?
AAT:Generally speaking, it starts with one of two things. Either I – or a model – will throw a bunch of ideas out and see which one sticks or, if that’s not working, I literally just close my eyes. I have an imagination that borders on ridiculousness; I can close my eyes and instantly see vivid images and entire storylines. Once the basic concept is locked in, location, costuming, props and makeup comes next. Then when we’re on set, the Dark Art pieces are treated just like a horror movie in that the actions you see captured in the photos are really happening (with the exception of people being actually killed, of course) instead of just being posed.
ZT: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
AAT: I’m self-taught.
ZT: What was your primary inspiration for the "Forest of the Undead" series of photographs? The depiction of the zombie in particular was spectacular.
AAT:Zombies are one of my favorite things, but before “Forest of the Undead,” I’d only captured them via things such as zombie walks. I wanted to put my own spin on it, while still paying homage to the classics. The decision to have only one zombie and one victim (who was someone that had been important to him in his pre-zombie life) was based on the idea of watching the zombie grow, so to speak.
ZT: Do you have any plans and/or desire to create another zombie-themed series?
AAT:Absolutely! In fact, there will eventually be a sequel to “Forest of the Undead” that depicts what happens after the zombie gets a chance to feed on several victims, thereby giving the name of the series more meaning.
ZT: The "Post Apocalyptic Princess" series was one of my favorites. Where did the idea for this stem from? The usage of the gas mask was particularly poignant.
AAT:The basic concept, and the first time the phrase “Post-Apocalyptic Princess” was said, came up during a dinner at Coney Island with the model (Raechael Hardin). I wanted to use a gas mask for visual interest and to also represent what it might look like if a nuclear war were to occur, leaving just one person left on earth. Her experiences/adventures in that set are meant to capture the wide range of emotions that one would feel in such a situation, because as much as there would be loneliness and despair, there would also be moments of playfulness and joy. In many ways it’s a testament to the human spirit while also cautioning against a possible future.
ZT: Your photos of Michigan Central Station were fantastic, especially for somebody like myself who enjoys architectural shots like these. Do you have any other ideas for similar projects?
AAT:Yes, both locally and abroad. Abandoned buildings are endlessly fascinating to me, both for their beauty and what they say about us as a society.
ZT: If you could shoot any spot in the world, what would it be?
AAT:Pripyat, Ukraine, which is the town that was closest to Chernobyl. It is visually stunning in its decay, and it also stands as a very strong reminder of how quickly things around us can change.
ZT: Are there any specific horror themes that you haven't touched on that you have a big desire to in the near future?
AAT: There are countless themes that I want to touch on – insane asylums, revenge, something with a bit of an early Saw type of feel, etc. I’m also interested in trying to find a way to use classic characters, such as vampires and werewolves, and make them scary again.
ZT: What is your favorite horror film?
AAT: It’s a difficult question because I love so many different horror sub-genres, but if I have to pick just one it’s probably the original “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
ZT: Do you have any new and exciting projects on the horizon that you'd like to share?
AAT:There are lots of new projects on the horizon! Without giving too much away, there are two planned sequels and also a shoot that will allow me to utilize all of the snow that falls in MI, amongst many other ideas.
ZT: Anything that you would like to add?
AAT:Fans can keep up on the latest about my work by visiting my website at www.aprilataylor.com and by “liking” the Facebook. Thank you, Zombies & Toys!
