The End is near...so grab your keyboard! Control your zombies in Aaarghmageddon

Chad Hunter



While many of us have prepared to fight the hordes of the undead, we now have the chance to see things from the other side. RampantFever’s RTS side scrolling web game Aaarghmageddon lets players play as Brainy, the zombie who can raise his fellow reanimates all in the name of devouring humans. The controls are simple using several keys to walk, move the camera and raise and command your corpse corps. Brainy will encounter obstacles to demolish and victims to attack. Each kill gives Brainy “meat” which allows him to raise more troops.

Aaarghmageddon is currently free to play. For more information, check out http://www.aaarghmageddon.com.

The Undead Bazaar 2011

Zombies & Toys' annual Undead Bazaar has officially begun!  In the weeks to come, we will be introducing you to artists whose source of inspiration happens to be our favorite topic.  Use this page to view updates and links to the artists, stores, contests and more that we will be bringing you!

Rocksterize - rockin' hand-crafted makeup and accessories

feature  ***  website

Agorables - unique arts, cards, and prints

feature  ***  website

Beat-Up Creations - unloved, thrown-out, and abonded creations

feature  ***  website

Zombie-A-Day for May 30th

Yes, today is the 31st and we will have David's final zombie for you this evening!  This is, of course, assuming I don't fall asleep like I did last night....

Strike it Rich and Dead? Z&T Interview - Zombie Tycoon

Chad Hunter



When we hear the word "tycoon" we tend to think of oil barons and corner offices. Now, imagine striking it rich...and dead. Z & T go together with Annie Begin, Communications Director for Frima Studio, the makers behind the game Zombie Tycoon.

Zombies & Toys (ZT:) Hi Annie and welcome. Can you give us a basic description of Zombie Tycoon?

Annie Begin (Begin:) While usually, players have to face and stop an undead menace, as human, Zombie Tycoon lets you maneuver your very own ravenous zombie horde through towns and buildings. This unique tale of intrigue and betrayal spans over 10 challenging levels, animated cut-scenes and in-game dialogues, and lots of humorous references. The combat system allows players to burn cities to the ground as they attack humans and the places they call home. As players alternate fast-paced action and strategic execution, they can choose from over 100 quirky items to arm their zombies and attempt to spread the undead across the globe!

(ZT): Sounds very interesting. What was the inspiration for Zombie Tycoon

(Begin:) The idea of the brand was originally hatched in 2007. The popularity of both Tycoon and Zombie genre games gave us the idea to merge them into one title. With some ideas to develop a mobile game, our team started sketching an impressive collection of 2D zombies. Like most of Frima’s games, we made the visual style of Zombie Tycoon strongly satirical and cartoony.

(ZT:) What is the future of Zombie Tycoon? Will there be multiple console releases, sequels, etc?

(Begin:) Our team is planning a sequel of Zombie Tycoon scheduled to launch in late 2012. We are also using the Zombie Tycoon artwork and style to develop an animated 3D series on TV that will hopefully be further in development soon.

(ZT:) Can you tell us details on Frima Studio?

(Begin): Frima Studio is among Canada’s top game developers. Since 2003, the studio has provided clients around the world its multiplatform expertise by producing games on the web (MMO, Facebook, Flash), smartphones (iOS, Android), handheld consoles and next-gen consoles. Frima’s focus to continuously be at the leading edge of technology has helped the studio build strong partnerships with major players like Adobe, and be one of the few companies eligible to participate in the pre-release program of Molehill, Adobe’s new 3D Flash technology. Thanks to its talented team of 265 artists and programmers, Frima has emerged as a leader in the gaming industry. This was made possible by the groundbreaking visuals and technological achievements showcased in every one of the 300+ games that Frima produced. Frima has earned the trust of an impressive list of clients, including Sony, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros., Build-A-Bear Workshop and Nickelodeon.

(ZT:) Thank you Annie and Frima Studio for your time. Everyone make sure to check out Zombie Tycoon, unearthing itself near you! Check out the trailer for Zombie Tycoon here!

Zombie-A-Day for May 29th

Yeah... so I'm about five minutes too late.  But if I didn't get a nap in, nothing would have been accomplished this evening!  Today's zombie is a vampire.  Zombie vampire?  Vampire zombie?  It's up to you to decide...

Zombie-A-Day for May 28th

I looks like today's zombie is the one and only Bianca Bombshell.  Check out her FaceBook page for some pics of this lovely pinup model as well as links of where she can be found.

CONduit in Salt Lake City Utah

Todd Jepperson

CONduit, Utah's longest-running and largest general science fiction and fantasy convention, is celebrating its 21st anniversary! CONduit XXI: Caped CONduit will be held May 27-29, 2011 at the Radisson Downtown Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Come celebrate with us!

Yes, folks. We'll be representing all things undead and horror this weekend at the Radisson Downtown Hotel, located at 215 W. South Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. Come on down and show some support for the parent group that started all of this horror business. If you spot me (I'll be the tall dude with a shaved head and black shirt) come say Hi and get a handful of free Z&T goods. Looks like it'll be a good time. Check back next week for the full report, but until then, check out CONduit 21: the caped conduit by following this link.

More Dead Island Footage Released

David Brown

If you are like me, you love video games and zombies. You also have probably played games like Stubbs the Zombie, Dead Rising, or the Left 4 Dead series. In the recent months we have started to see the resurgence of hype over the game Dead Island. The trailer for it has been recut and even reversed to show the pure level of chaos that has erupted on a resort island following a zombie outbreak. The game is being billed for its improvised weaponry, great melee damage modeling, and a huge living world with many different factions of survivors to interact with.

Many were originally worried that this would just turn into a run and gun type game that Left 4 Dead had become. The good thing is that footage in the video shows that this is a melee weapon heavy game. The inclusion of a stamina system also prevents this from being a game where you can just hack and slash your way through. You must choose every shot and swipe carefully as your stamina will drain and you will tire, becoming defenseless to the zombie hoards. The number of zombies in this game is just staggering at times.

As of now this game looks to be a true survival horror zombie game the like of which hasn’t truly been seen in many years. Keep your sights posted here for more information as it becomes available on this great game that is set to be released later this year. With gameplay that is promising to be 25-30 hours in length, a number of different character classes to play, weapon crafting/customization and some great multiplayer play, this looks to be a good step for zombies in video games and a great leap for the horror genre in gaming. So without further ado, we give you the footage. Enjoy!

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Dead Island - To Kill Time Gameplay Walkthrough, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Zombie-A-Day for May 27th

David has pulled through this month and offers us his twenty-seventh zombie!  Remember to leave a comment here or on Facebook of what zombie you would like to see.  Time's almost up!

New Zombie Slayer on the Block

Zombies & Toys friends and fans... I would like to interrupt our normal living dead postings to make an announcement:

Two contributors of our staff, Andy and Sara Ross, have announced the arrival of their new daughter!  Maerin Lisette was born on 5/24 and will no doubt be trained in the fine art of zombie hunting.  So, please join me in congratulating the proud new parents.  We wish you the best and hope you can all be home together soon.

Zombie-A-Day for May 26th

Another personal favorite! 

Zombie-A-Day for May 25th

Zombie-A-Day for May 24th

David is back with our zombie for May 24th!  My personal favorite so far!

Zombie-A-Day for May 24th

Today's zombie is from Nickolas Berrett.  Thanks, Nickolas!

Zombie-A-Day for May 23rd

David is back for our 23rd zombie this month!  There's only a few days left to comment your suggestion.  Is it too early for Macho Man?

Secret Circle replaces Awakening

Todd Jepperson


It wasn’t long ago that we told you about the undeath on the horizon for the CW network. We promised to keep you posted, and here it comes . . .

(secret circle cast photo)

Apparently, the powers that be optioned the series ‘Secret Circle,’ which is based on books of the same name written by author L.J. Smith, instead of the teen Zombie drama ‘Awakening’. Not that we were all especially excited about the project, but it’s still a shame to see our favorite monsters passed up by a crew of hormones on broomsticks. That’s it. Project cancelled. We can all go home now and watch re-runs of The Walking Dead while we wait for other networks to catch the scent of fresh meat and give chase.

Zombie-A-Day for May 22nd

New Kid on the Block Shrunken Head Studios Will Scare Collectors to Pieces

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Brian Dooley of Shrunken Head Studios. I’m not surprised if you haven’t heard of SHS before, but after today, you will be hearing about them a lot. I have been interested in toys, comics, collectibles, and zombies long before the inception of Zombies & Toys. I can honestly say that I have never spoken to a person with more vision, determination, and enthusiasm about their art.

I am referring to Brian and his toy making. His background includes working at Sideshow Collectibles and Jim Hensen’s Creature Shop. And not just any old position at Sideshow, but one of the creators and sculptures of their “The Dead” series! With a love for horror films, old school horror comics, and toys, Brian created Shrunken Head Studios. Their first offering? A 1/6 scale accessory pack to make your 12” collectible figures shiver. Something tells me that we have a pretty good chance of seeing some equally impressive items from Shrunken Head in the future.

Appropriately called “Bits & Pieces”, this first series includes a machete, medieval axe, woodsman axe, meat clever, severed head, and severed arm. These accessories have incredible detail with subtle color changes, rust spots, and even visible wood grain on the handles. The severed head has a gash across the forehead that will even accept the weapons’ blades! A series such as this will delight collectors of 12” figures and horror fans alike.

With the title “series 1” included in its name, you can infer that we will also see a series two. And, yes, this is the case. While we cannot disclose what series two will contain, we can verify that it’s coming. Also in the works for Shrunken Head Studios is environment sets. Again, specifics are not available at this time, but you can expect some soon. The possibilities are endless… think of any of the creepy environments some of your favorite horror movie scenes took place in and it’s fair game.

Bits & Pieces will be available sometime in July and this limited edition set can be pre-ordered to guarantee you receive yours. While we can only present you with images at this time, expect a hands-on review once these are available. Another thing you can expect is the opportunity to win your own set thanks to Brian! As-is the case with all of our contests, all you need to do is email your name and address to shrunkenhead@zombiesandtoys.com. In addition to the above info, we also want you to tell us what you would like to see in future Bits & Pieces accessory packs.  Contest concludes at the end of July.

Keep your eyes peeled right here for updates regarding our review and contest. As a toy collector and zombie fan, I can promise you that I will be watching this company and their offerings with great interest.  So you can count on being up-to-date.  You will also be able to catch some exclusive announcements from Shrunken Head Studios. There is plenty to look forward to and it’s only a matter of time before more great news unearths itself…

Zombie-A-Day for May 21

More Zombeiber!

Zombie-A-Day for May 20th

So, why are we posting yesterday's zombie today?  To make a long story short, old friends and pitcher upon pitcher of Dog Fish 90 Minute IPA.

Today's, well, yesterday's request is from Ryan Miller from Zombie Brain Food.

DEAD BEAT - book review

Bryan Scott


Set in the fictional English seaside town of Haven, Dead Beat is the debut novel of British author, Remy Porter. The hero of the novel is Police Constable Johnny Silverman, a character whom we learn is not without his flaws. The story opens with Johnny on patrol during a night shift that becomes ever more frantic and chaotic. To have to deal with one murder would be unusual, but multiple murders in such a short span of time is unheard of in this idyllic part of the country. It is not long before he realises that the recently dead are returning to life with just one over-riding goal – to consume the flesh of the living.

From there we enter familiar zombie territory with an ever dwindling group of folk trying to survive the apocalypse. Inevitably, there are differences of opinion as to the best way to go about this task. Local farmer, Jack Nation, clashes with Johnny the instant they meet and you just know he’s going to be trouble. Jack convinces almost all of the townsfolk that their best chance of survival is to stay at his farm.  However, in truth, they are swapping one form of hell for another. Johnny, along with a young female police constable and an aged, alcoholic prisoner, spend most of the novel holed up in the town’s police station.

The zombies are a constant threat throughout the novel. Each day, their numbers grow stronger. Johnny and Jack clash repeatedly as the bad blood between them festers out of control. The greatest threat in this novel is not the zombies but other humans, especially Jack and his two psychotic sons, who sink to unspeakable depths of depravity once they realise that law and order no longer exists.

This is an exciting, fast-paced novel. Johnny is a well-rounded character who struggles with his inner demons throughout the story. Jack Nation and his sons are the very personification of evil as they rule their land with a rod of iron. Writer, Iain McKinnon, provides a foreword that whets the appetite for the main course. Despite a few minor quibbles, like poor proofreading, this is a worthy debut novel. I can highly recommend it to all fans of zombie literature.

Zombie-A-Day for May 19th

Tonight, David gives us a Judge Zombie!

Luck is Where Preparation Meets Zombies

Todd Jepperson

You know you’re on to something when the Centers for Disease Control posts to their blog and Twitter that Zombie preparedness = total preparedness.

The sad reality is, their server wasn’t ready for the end of all time. Hours after it was posted, the traffic to the CDC blog brought the beast down. If you can get to the blog now, consider it a strong hint from somebody watching over you. For the rest of us, there’s Google. If it were possible to check out the post, you’d find these suggestions:

Assemble an emergency kit containing water (1 gallon per person per day), food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly), medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds), tools and supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.), sanitation and hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.), clothing and bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets), important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few), first aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)

Then:

1. Identify the types of emergencies that are possible in your area. Besides a zombie apocalypse, this may include floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes. If you are unsure contact your local Red Cross chapter for more information.

2. Pick a meeting place for your family to regroup in case zombies invade your home…or your town evacuates because of a hurricane. Pick one place right outside your home for sudden emergencies and one place outside of your neighborhood in case you are unable to return home right away.

3. Identify your emergency contacts. Make a list of local contacts like the police, fire department, and your local zombie response team. Also identify an out-of-state contact that you can call during an emergency to let the rest of your family know you are ok.

4. Plan your evacuation route. When zombies are hungry they won't stop until they get food (i.e., brains), which means you need to get out of town fast! Plan where you would go and multiple routes you would take ahead of time so that the flesh eaters don't have a chance! This is also helpful when natural disasters strike and you have to take shelter fast.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle . . . or something.

Plants vs Zombies Attacks Social Media Site

PopCap Games has announced that their hit, Plants vs Zombies, has been adapted for China's leading social networking site, Renren.  To translate for the majority of us Westerners, Renren is China's version of Facebook.  This will mark the first time a Western game developer has received an exclusive launch on Renren.

As-is typical of PopCap's style, the PvZ game will not be a direct port.  For those keeping track, each time the game is released on another platform, it offers features and gameplay elements that differ from the other versions.  This time, players can invite their friends to visit their own personal towns, custom-built to reflect the individual's style and strategy!  There will also be a 2-minute zombie attack called "Rampage Mode".  There will be a new Rampage challenge each week.

Personally, I'm not one for Facebook games.  Granted, I don't have the time.  But, a Plants vs Zombies game?  I am certain I would keep me glued to Facebook longer than I need to be.

Zombie-A-Day for May 18th

Today's zombie suggestion comes to us from Zombie Edward.  There is still time to make your voice heard.  Post a comment here or on our Facebook page and let David know what type of zombie you want to see!

David Naughton-Shires is an artist who works with everything from pen and ink to photo manipulation.  If you like the zombies you've seen, visit David's design company, The Image Designs.  David also runs a small press company, Knightwatch Press. 

Zombie-A-Day for May 17th

May the Fourth be with you!  ...oh, wait ...May the 17th be with you!

As the World Dies

Todd Jepperson

On July 5th of this year, TOR Books will be releasing The First Days; the first of three Zombie Epics by author Rhiannon Frater. This first release is to be followed on November 8th by Fighting to Survive, the second of the series. I know, new Zombie books are coming a dime a dozen; so, what makes these books special? Strap in and hang on, this is one heck of a ride.

Years ago, the author was a frustrated writer with a great idea. The problem was, she didn’t have any big-time support for that idea. Her ambition fizzled a bit, until a friend with some small sway in the market offered to help her publish her debut novel. She set about editing and re-writing when an image of a woman in a pink bathrobe standing on her porch staring down at tiny fingers clawing at her from under the front door popped into her head. She instantly knew that this woman’s name was Jenni, and she had completely different short story rush over her. She jumped online and posted it to a forum where it took on a life of its own.

Readers clamored for more and Rhiannon sat down to give them what they wanted. In her own words,

“It was like the scene from the Matrix when they jack in and get a massive download of information. Suddenly, the whole story was just there…just sitting in my mind…just waiting to be written.”

Over the next couple of years, she released the story in small bites and chunks to her ravenous, but small, fan base. With each tidbit released, the number of readers grew. By the time the story was finished, it had grown to over three-hundred thousand words and was an amazing success in its sphere. Her readers suggested that she publish the work, so they could get their hands on copies of their own.

The small press which had jumpstarted her back into writing had died before she finished, so she started to reach out to other publishers to get her books from the WWW into reality. Time after time she was met by rejection but, the fans kept demanding; so she (with the help of her husband) decided to bite down and publish the books on her own. The story ended up over sixteen hundred pages long, and was split into three tales: The First Days (2008), Fighting to Survive (2009), and Siege (August, 2009). The first two of which ended up winning the 2008 and 2009 Dead Letter Awards for Best Book (fiction) and the first was named one of the ten best Zombie novels of the Decade.

That seemed to jump-start the interest of those big-timers in New York. Offers from Permuted Press, TOR, and unnamed others were received, reviewed and decided. There was even a 2009 Television option signed, and these stories may or may not make it to a picture tube near you. See folks, big things can happen from small beginnings.

Congratulations to Ms. Frater on her success. You can pre-order The First Days on Amazon or Barnes and Noble and watch for more to come right here on zombies and toys.

Zombie-A-Day for May 16th

Now THIS is a version of the movie I'd like to see!

That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore

Todd Jepperson

A week or so ago, I got a book. I didn’t get the book for myself, though. I finally found a book about the Undead that I could read to my kids! Matt Mogk (you may have heard of him) is the founder of Zombie Research Society, and he is the author of That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore: A Zombie Tale. With his heroic sidekick, and illustrator, Aja Wells, Mogk has finally brought something to the table we can all enjoy.

In 2007, The Zombie Research Society dedicated the month of May as Zombie Awareness month. This year, they decided to pick a specific theme and geared the festivities toward helping the younger generation prepare for the “coming Zombie plague” and Mommy was born.

Sometimes, it’s my pleasure to have short conversations with the creators of the works we feature here on Z&T, and Mr. Mogk was happy to join in on the tradition. For me, it’s cool to know some of the stories behind the things we actually see show up on the shelves. Also, as a writer and artist, it sometimes feels that your favorite things about your work get completely missed when someone else tells their friends. So, I asked him, what was your favorite part about writing this book?

“I wrote the manuscript about a year ago, and the illustrator and I started mocking up the pages roughly last August. The final manuscript and images were submitted to the publisher at the beginning of this year. I'm a huge zombie geek, so my favorite spread in the book is probably a lineup of some of the most famous zombie from film history. There are also hidden nods to zombie movies throughout the book that most people won't notice. I like those a lot.”

This put me on a kind of Where’s Waldo hunt for every pop culture poke I could find in the book. Well, Matt, I noticed. I noticed a guy who looks like George Romero in the supermarket. I saw Bubs and teddy bear girl. I even think I saw a few throwbacks to Left4Dead. It’s one of those things where each time you flip through, you spot another.

So, yeah. That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore is 17 pages of sing-song verse about how our youngsters should react when the old folks just don’t stay dead anymore. It’s everything kids’ book should be and also a pretty funny read for us old fogies. However, it’s still a book about Zombies cannibalizing people. There’s a little bit of blood and people missing some of the parts they were built with. Probably not for preschool aged munchkins.

You can pick up your own copy of this book on Amazon, but Matt has been kind enough to donate a few signed copies for you, our readers. To enter, it’s the same ol’ song and dance: send an email with your name and address to mommy@zombiesandtoys.com and we’ll draw as many winners as we have books sometime in early June. If that’s not enough for you, Matt’s also hosting a giveaway of his own over on the Zombie Research Society every day during the month of May. Like I said, there are entirely too few of these types of things on the market today, so get onboard and land yourself a copy. It’s worth a few minutes of your time.

Zombie-A-Day for May 14th

I posted yesterday's zombie with today's date.  So, here's today's zombie with yesterday's date! 

Zombie-A-Day for May 15th

This is a sketch of a scene from a book called FLU by Wayne Simmons.

Zombie-A-Day for May 13th

Today's zombie was requested by Monique-Cherie Snyman from Pretoria, South Africa.  Check out her horror writing blog.

Zombie-A-Day for May 12th

Blogger was unavailable for updates last night so I couldn't get this one to you in time.  But, hey, now you have two today!

Shirt Sale Today Only at Bigtime Teez

Just a heads-up that friends of ZT, Bigtime Teez, are having a Friday the 13th sale.  There are over 100 shirts to choose from and they are all marked down by 50% or more!  Join their mailing list in order to get the scoop on all of their deals.

Spooky Empire's May-Hem

Gnat

If you live in or around Orlando, FL and are looking for something super awesome to do on May 27-29, then you definitely need to come out to Spooky Empire’s May-Hem at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. This event is going to be amazing and full of everything horror-related. Special guests are aplenty featuring the cast of The Walking Dead, Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Burn Notice), Anthony Michael Hall (Weird Science, Edward Scissorhands), and more. Of course, you will also find vendors selling all kinds of wonderful and creepy goods. There will even be tattoos brought to you in the Screaming Ink Tattoo Room.

Zombies & Toys will be there covering the event and giving out some swag. So if you see us, come up and say “Hey”. You could walk away with some awesome ZT stuff! To find us, just look for someone wearing the familiar looking, one-eyed zombie.

Tickets and info are available online at spookyempire.com or you can buy them at the door. For those who do not live in the Orlando area but would still love to come to this event, the Wyndham is offering a deal for convention attendees. If you mention “spooky empire” or “mayhem” upon reserving a room, they will give it to you for only $59 a night! If you absolutely can’t make it and really want to know what all went down, then stay tuned for updates right here on Zombies & Toys. We will be providing full coverage of the event and even have an exclusive interview with one of The Walking Dead’s most infamous zombies, Addy Miller! So come out and join us at May-Hem. After all, it’s what all the cool kids are doing!