Dead Island Flexing Some Role-Playing Muscle?
Dead IslandWhen we did our preview for Techland's bloody and seemingly engaging zombie-slayin' Dead Island, we mentioned the possibility of RPG-like elements.
And we should be talking to the developer tomorrow to learn more about the game but in the meantime, more information has arisen. Apparently, this comes from Deep Silver Special Products Consultant Doug McLeod, who talked about the weapon crafting system.
Basically, we'll be able to upgrade weapons we like, which sort of implies inherent weapon levels, or augmentations that enhance the effectiveness of the weapon. There's talk of a deodorant bomb of some kind, too... Also, it seems the weapons are divided into classes, each of which will be designated by a color. Rare items will be in green, while blue and orange weapons are especially strong.
The bottom line is that the more you use a particular weapon, the better you can make it. I love the idea but then again, aren't a lot of action games doing something similar these days? The lines between RPGs and other genres have definitely become blurred.
P.S. If you play Deus Ex: Human Revolution enough, you start to use the word "augmentation" more often.
Related Game(s): Dead Island
Tags: dead island, techland, deep silver, dead island rpg
8/29/2011 11:54:58 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (46 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:55:29 PM
2 up, 0 down
Cole
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 12:35:52 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 12:38:19 PM
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The RPG just died a little more.
4 up, 9 down
Cole
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 12:53:23 PM
0 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:22:27 PM
...wait, is that a good thing? Dang it....
5 up, 0 down
Claire C
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:26:40 PM
7 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:44:15 PM
Survival horror and anything that's gore laden are among my least favorite kinds of game.
And Claire, no, it's not a good thing for RPG like elements to be added to other games, all that does is further dilute and weaken the RPG as a genre.
I'm so sick and tired of this creeping death for the RPG. Every time some action game of whatever other genre comes along and claims to use RPG like elements people say the same things. "Oh, well are you really saying it's a bad thing for RPG elements to be in other games?" Yes, I am. Look, the mroe this kind of thing happens the more likely gamers, especially new gamers, are to see these kinds of games as RPGs. If these are the new RPGs, they what of the classic, genre defining RPGs? If you put them side by side with these new action RPGs they are clearly not nearly the same genre, but so many people see these new games as RPGs. Heaven knows how they see old school RPGs, tell you what though, it's not flattering.
So, yeah, I'm grumpy, and not happy. This is simply yet another slash in the "Death by 1000 cuts" that the real RPG is enduring. I don't see why I have to be happy or like it, nor why I should do anything other than express my displeasure at it.
I don't like this kind of game, I don't like this kind of presentation, and I don't like that people call this crap an RPG.
5 up, 3 down
Underdog15
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:51:45 PM
5 up, 0 down
Claire C
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:52:17 PM
7 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:00:41 PM
9 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 6:47:47 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 9:23:58 PM
What I don't think an RPG is is an action game that co-opts parts of RPG game elements, like weapons that level up, and then call themselves RPGs. By that definition, Ratchet and Clank is an RPG. If you want to argue, every game with a character is an RPG since the player adopts the role of the character. But that broad definition is universally agreed to be a little broad.
So, if that doesn't make it clear enough, that's fine, I'll enjoy my Atelier Totori when it arrives, along with my White Knight Chronicles 2. Enjoy decapitating zombies.
Last edited by Highlander on 8/29/2011 9:24:18 PM
0 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 11:22:57 PM
Everyone seems to have their own definition of what makes an RPG, and they're all a little different. For instance, I believe that the console and PC RPG will never be a true RPG, as that title is best reserved for table-top gaming. (But games like Elder Scrolls and Baldur's Game come awfully close.) All video games must be scripted, and, in my opinion, that scripting eliminates the role-playing factor. But video games are fun regardless, so I don't really care too much about the distinction--I just like hearing how others define them, since the genre's been blending with all the others for a while now.
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 8:28:37 AM
3 up, 1 down
___________
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 10:08:18 AM
0 up, 3 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 10:37:15 AM
I'm annoyed that games such as this claim RPG status, I'm annoyed that the industry is willfully destroying a genre of game that I love. That is why I seem annoyed and combative. sorry, it's not personal, and I should not have made it seem so.
Mr Anonymous Cowherd, I've never called you a name including the name 'Nancy' in my life. You are the Anonymous Cowherd to me, and you always will be. There, I trust that makes you feel better.
Look folks, I'm not really all that sorry if you don't like my opinion. If your favorite genre of game was being diluted out of existence, how would you feel? How would you comment on it?
It's like that allegory about a frog in hot water. If you drop a frog into hot water and it jumps out immediately. But if you gently lower him into warm water and then heat the water, the frog never jumps out.
Gradually, the RPG has been redefined and marginalized. Some have been exclaiming about this for a long time. Personally I though the water was plenty hot enough to jump out about 4 years ago. Basically the RPG and it's fans are the frog. The water was deceptively warm 4 years or so ago, but now it's quite hot. But that frog has become used to the heat, and it's failing to jump clear of the danger.
Well, this frog jumped a long time ago, and this frog isn't remaining quiet about the demise of a gaming genre that shaped much of the industry we see today.
If you want another analogy, I refuse to fiddle while Rome burns.
1 up, 1 down
Claire C
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:19:40 PM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:01:21 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/29/2011 2:01:33 PM
2 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:24:14 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Claire C
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:27:45 PM
5 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 6:48:48 PM
5 up, 0 down
MadKatBebop
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 6:52:22 PM
2 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 11:25:26 PM
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 1:31:34 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Ultimadream
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:03:42 PM
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1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:09:57 PM
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From what I've read though I'm very interested in these RPG and survival elements. Zombie games tend to be so shallow that there is no other draw. Dead Rising 2 was one of the worst games I've played this gen. So ya know I've been trying to knock it into people's brains (brrraaaaaains!) that this is not an FPS or any other shallow zombie outing but could instead be a kind of virtual early Romero film where you use what's at hand, drive what you can find, and survive in any way you choose.
I couldn't get a review copy and I'll be kinda busy so I'm counting on your review Ben!
1 up, 0 down
main_event05
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:10:51 PM
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1 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:33:29 PM
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0 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 2:44:41 PM
2 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 4:24:43 PM
1. Can you upgrade certain items that you find? Sure, why not. How about you find a shovel, and sharpen the handle side of it to make a spike on one end. You've just upgraded your weapon. But to call that RPG like? Naw.
2. Do I want a game where I find a hammer, and it is called "Weak Feable Hammer" (supposedly that is a real item that will be in the game), and then be able to upgrade that weak hammer to something strong? What? It is the same hammer, how does it get strong?
I didn't know what kind of weapons would be in the game, so I googled it. Seems there are weapons that start with the word "weak" which to me means you will be able to upgrade their effectiveness. There is a "Weak Tiring Big Baseball Bat" in the game. So I would assume since we are told there are RPG elements that you can upgrade it to a not so weak bat? Well how about instead you go into a shed and find an aluminum bat, and can ditch the heavy wood bat instead. See, find a new weapon, and have to choose which is better...heavy slow wood bat that could break, or quick metal bat.
Course I am only speculating by what I have read. We shall see what the final product is, but it just sounds strange to me.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 8/29/2011 4:29:17 PM
1 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 5:41:59 PM
0 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 6:23:22 PM
In GOW, you can upgrade the weapons as well. Same blades, but you get new moves, and can land more damage as you upgrade them, but that is ok, because that is the type of game it is. It has an element of magic and obvious fantasy about it.
With Dead Island, I just don't think that it fits in the terms that I have my mind set on how it would be. But perhaps my mind is not visualizing it properly. With the type of weapons that will be at your disposal on the island, there are very minor tweaks to them that could be done to make them stronger, so I don't think that could be the RPG element they are talking about. It would seem the RPG element they mean, is that you can upgrade a knife to do more damage. It is the same knife mind you, but you just upgraded it, so now the zombie takes 25% more damage with the same knife. If that is where they are going with this, well, it wouldn't have been my suggestion if I was in the meeting room with them.
How about no upgrades. You find a knife, use it. Then roam around, stumble into the kitchen, and wow, look there...a BUTCHER knife. Swap it out. Now you go out to the maintenance shed, and how bout that...a MACHETTE. Swap it out.
I like that line of thinking, but I don't like upgrading the same machette to deal out 10% more damage. That just doesn't make sense to me for this game. Deux Ex, FF games, GOW yes... A game like Dead Island with randomly found generic objects to be used for your survival? ...no.
Perhaps I have it all wrong though, but without specifics, we are left to speculate, and that is all I am doing.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 8/29/2011 6:29:19 PM
2 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 5:40:22 PM
axe + axe + wooden stick + duct tape = long-handled double-axe
p.s. I agree this doesn't make the game an RPG.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/30/2011 5:41:53 PM
0 up, 0 down
MRSUCCESS
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 3:21:19 PM
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Robochic
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 3:59:16 PM
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1 up, 0 down
The Doom
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 4:20:20 PM
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Last edited by The Doom on 8/29/2011 4:20:41 PM
1 up, 0 down
Danny007
Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 4:37:51 PM
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1 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 3:37:47 AM
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PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
been so long since we had a good zombie game!
and this being mostly meele instead of shooter.
really interested to see what the deformation tech is like, i remember seeing a tech demo of it years ago and it was really cool!
such detail seeing each layer of skin and muscle as you hacked your way into the zombies.
little worried though because 1 there has not been much hype for the game.
2 previews were not exactly spewing confidence. 3 less then a week till release and we still have 0 reviews for it! 4 the developers.
there not exactly known for making AAA games. hell there best game would probably be COJ bound in blood.
and that was not exactly a GOTY contender!
0 up, 0 down
berserk
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 11:30:05 AM
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So after a certain time you know the reach of the weapon , the weight of the weapon and thus get better with it .All this make it so you can do more damage with a certain weapon .
Basically , the more you use a weapon or practice with it , the deadlier it become .That s one of the reason why a 10% increase for example make perfect sense to me .
Last edited by berserk on 8/30/2011 11:30:29 AM
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bigwho62
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 @ 1:14:52 AM
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bloody_rootz
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 @ 3:01:23 AM
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MRSUCCESS
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Monday, August 29, 2011 @ 12:30:02 PM