The Walking Dead Game - FAQ and open discussion!

[Mike]

Here's a few of the most common questions we've seen from the community. We think of communication with our fans as an open discussion, so if you have any specific questions about the game, drop them into this thread and a member of the development team will try their best to answer as many as possible, whenever they're available. Please keep in mind that the team is super busy finishing the game right now, but they will definitely pop in as often as they can.


The Walking Dead FAQ:

Is this a game about Rick Grimes, the hero of the comic books and TV show?

No. Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead) and Telltale felt that it would be more interesting to tell a story of a new group of survivors.

When does this game take place in The Walking Dead timeline?

Our first episode takes place at the outset of the zombie apocalypse when Rick Grimes is still in a coma.

Is this game based on the comic books or the TV show?

We see the comic books as canon.

So who do I play as?

You play the game as Lee Everett, a man convicted of a crime, but who is offered a chance at redemption…albeit in a world overtaken by walkers. You’ll only ever play as Lee and will see the world from his point of view.

Will I see anything from the comic books or TV show in the game?

Yes. You will meet some characters and visit locations seen in the comic books. You’ll learn about characters and events that have an impact on events seen in the comics. For example, how did Hershel’s son Shawn end up in the barn? Find out in the game.

Does this game use Quick Time Events as the major game-play dynamic and does it prevent the player from taking direct control of the player-character like Telltale’s Jurassic Park: The Game?

No. The Walking Dead offers a completely different game-play experience to Jurassic Park. QTEs do not form a major part of game-play and you will have full control over your character as you move through the game’s environments.

Why is this game episodic? What does that mean?

Telltale has a strong history of releasing episodic games but more importantly, we wanted this game to offer an experience analogous to the comic books and TV show, which are also episodic in nature. We have plans for 5 episodes, releasing once per month.

How long is each episode?

Skilled players will get through an episode on about 2 hours. Having episodes of this length means that most people will be able to get through them and we want that to happen. The game is not designed to present super-hard barriers and will not force you to grind through it in any way. We want you to complete an episode so that you’ll experience the story and be ready for the next episode.

Where will I be able to buy the game?

The game series is digital, meaning that you won’t be able to buy it from a retail store. The game is coming to all major gaming platforms, so, as long as you have an internet connection, it’s almost certain that you’ll have access to the game.

When will I see more screens and more importantly, when will I see the game in action?

Stay tuned for regular releases of screenshots and artwork. Every time an episode of Playing Dead goes out, you’ll see more new stuff (including the first ever look at Game-play!). Sign up on the website to be the first to find out about new episodes of Playing Dead and to get inside information on the game.

When will episode one of the game be available?

We’re saying ‘Spring’, however, episode one is right around the corner. This thing is coming fast!

What kind of game is this?

It’s an Adventure Horror game. This game will offer a different experience compared to many other zombie-based games. You won’t be mowing down hordes of the undead as a super-powered killing machine with unlimited ammo; that would not be an accurate recreation of Robert Kirkman’s world. When you do tangle with the undead, it’s going to be harrowing. That walker could be someone you once knew…or were very close to. Also, gunfire (or loud noises in general) are not good in areas where walkers could be lurking.

Does this game feature multiplayer?

No. The Walking Dead is a single-player experience.

Why does the game look the way it does?

We were inspired by the work of Charlie Adlard, artist for the comic books.

Is there anything unique about this game versus other Telltale games?

Yes. For the first time, the decisions that the player makes will drive a “tailored” game-play experience. A decision that you make or something that you say will have repercussions not only in the episode that you’re playing, but also in future episodes of the game. Decisions will range from relatively innocuous (do I lie here and if so, how should I lie?) though to world-changing (I can only save one person here, who will it be?). Furthermore, you’ll come under pressure to make decisions quickly. You won’t be able to stand around deciding which option to choose during a conversation. The undead won’t stand by and politely let you figure out your next move.

Telltale’s previous games have featured puzzle elements. Is that something we’ll see in The Walking Dead?

You’ll be challenged with problems for sure, but not classic ‘Adventure Game’ puzzles. You’re a survivor in a zombie apocalypse… you can imagine the problems that you’ll have to deal with.

[Ribs]

When will you be ready to take my money?

[nomecopies]

Maybe is too soon to ask this but... will we get a collector's DVD if we buy it on TTG Store?


PD: And also when will you be ready to take my money?

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by Michael Parks

When will episode one of the game be available?

We’re saying ‘Spring’, however, episode one is right around the corner. This thing is coming fast!

Does that sentence seem odd to anyone else?

I'm guessing that means sometime in Spring it will start to fully roll out, but with Episode One "right around the corner" that there may be a gap of a couple of months between episode 1 & 2?

EDIT: Also - one Q&A says 5 episodes, and the other says 9 - which is it?

[big-augen]

Will there be gamepad support for Mac???

[Vainamoinen]

Finally, the really important questions are carefully being addressed...

I'm with most of the previous posters here:

- still no release schedule?
- will there be a collector's DVD with the regular release?

I'm really exited to hear that QTEs are right out less present and direct control is in. Good start, waiting eagerly to see the next revelations.

[Diduz]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

I'm really exited to hear that QTEs are right out

Actually, he wrote "QTEs do not form a major part of game-play".

[nomecopies]

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Also - one Q&A says 5 episodes, and the other says 9 - which is it?

The game will have 5 episodes and the videos of The Playing Dead will be 9 episodes.

[Raw Is Jericho1]

u could play as a few diff people in this game instead of just one ?

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by Diduz

Actually, he wrote "QTEs do not form a major part of game-play".

Better now?

[Raw Is Jericho1]

oh yea one more will we get to pick up any weapon or are we given one on each episode and is there a Cross bow in this game ? lol

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by nomecopies

The game will have 5 episodes and the videos of The Playing Dead will be 9 episodes.

Gotcha - misread that part in the other topic.

[Gibbeynator]

I didn't have a problem with the QTEs in Jurassic Park (My main problem was the fact I could clear out a single episode in about an hour when most TTG games are 2 hours in length), but it's nice to hear they're being scaled back.

[MarkDarin]

Originally Posted by Raw Is Jericho1

oh yea one more will we get to pick up any weapon or are we given one on each episode and is there a Cross bow in this game ? lol

Just for the record, this is NOT a weapons based game.

[Sixteen60]

Originally Posted by MarkDarin

Just for the record, this is NOT a weapons based game.

Right. Like Sean V said in Playing Dead, this game is not about the fantasy of the apocalypse; it's about the reality. So, weapons and ammo are limited commodities and as we all know, firing loud weapons tends to attract attention you don't want - it's a last resort.

This game is not trying to be like most other zombie games (first or third person shooters); it's trying to recreate Kirkman's world and if you're familiar with the comic books, you know that it's nothing like fantasy apocalypse games. That kind of game can be great, but they offer a very different experience to The Walking Dead.

[RAnthonyMahan]

From what little Telltale's revealed about the gameplay (reveal more, by the way!), it sounds like a survival horror game. You know, like the old Resident Evil and Silent Hill games, where it's all about tension and survival (and puzzle-solving!) with minimal combat. Would I be correct in assuming this? Would you say this game's closer gameplay-wise to Resident Evil 1-3 than, say, Sam and Max?

While I am upset about Telltale seemingly straying further away from conventional adventure games, survival horror is a genre that's arguably hit even harder times lately than point-and-click adventures. It'd be interesting if they made a comeback.

[Nintendo Boy1]

So how are QTEs used in this game since it sounds like your saying their in the game. Are they like the QTEs in JP, or a diferent form, if they're even there in a matter of speaking?

[Gman5852]

Originally Posted by Raw Is Jericho1

u could play as a few diff people in this game instead of just one ?

Originally Posted by Raw Is Jericho1

oh yea one more will we get to pick up any weapon or are we given one on each episode and is there a Cross bow in this game ? lol

Wow 2 questions that the answers are obvious on if you payed attention.

1. Its a story game and YOU are the leader, it would be pointless to be the other guys.

2. It isn't a shooting game, its a story game based off the walking game which is more about the story.

My question to you. Are you a troll or did you just not research the game and stupidly think that due to the name, its a shooter?

[Molokov]

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Does that sentence seem odd to anyone else?

Sorry, when I hear Spring, I think September/October/November... so I guess it's actually going to be ready well before that! Stupid hemispheres.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by RAnthonyMahan

From what little Telltale's revealed about the gameplay (reveal more, by the way!), it sounds like a survival horror game. You know, like the old Resident Evil and Silent Hill games, where it's all about tension and survival (and puzzle-solving!) with minimal combat. Would I be correct in assuming this? Would you say this game's closer gameplay-wise to Resident Evil 1-3 than, say, Sam and Max?

It's a lot closer to an adventure than that. It's tonally very very different than something like Sam & Max, but the game is very much about exploring the spaces you're in, talking to the people around you, and figuring out what to do, like you do in a classic Telltale game. Big differences: Sometimes there are also zombies around, ruining everything, and you have to kill them or otherwise deal with their existence, and the tone of the game is a lot more about drama, and tension -- the situations in which you're talking to people, exploring places, and fituring out what to do trend towards the tense, scary, and bleak more than the wacky.

I wish I had the final line count for the first Walking Dead episode, but (weirdly much like Poker Night) I think we're well above average lines of dialog for a Telltale game, not because the runtime is longer (Walking Dead episodes are intended to be played in just a sitting or two, like our other games or like a TV episode), but because your opportunity to explore the dialog and situations have more paths and detail than the average Telltale title.

Originally Posted by Nintendo Boy1

So how are QTEs used in this game since it sounds like your saying their in the game. Are they like the QTEs in JP, or a diferent form, if they're even there in a matter of speaking?

Across the game we want you to feel a direct connection to Lee and his actions, and we don't think QTEs are the way to do that. In the exploratory and dialog parts of the game, we want you to feel like there's a lot to do, and like you can contribute to the conversations in a more finely grained and frequent way than you might normally in a Telltale game, and we want that feeling of fine grained interaction and tight feedback to carry over into the moments where action matters, too. Walking Dead is not an action game, but when action happens, we want it to feel very connected to you, and very kinetic. When Lee does stab or axe or kick a zombie, or do any real fine-tuned action you wouldn't normally do in a video game (but is common place to a more intimite, character-focused story) we want action, every hit, every touch, to directly correlate to a button you press, and not be abstracted a step away like it can feel when you're experiencing it through a QTE. Also, like some other zombie games, if you get into a situation where you're struggling with a zombie, you may be tapping a button or shaking a stick to break yourself free. So, that's probably what that means.



Whoa epic long over-explaining going on there, sorry.