Dead Nation Message Board older than one year ago

We're not reviewing the Super Stardust HD follow-up, yet, and here's why.

Dear PlayStation,

It has come to my attention that you intend to launch a new downloadable PlayStation 3 game, dubbed "Dead Nation," on Tuesday, November 30 in North America (and December 1 in Europe). Based on what I have read on various video game blogs and e-podiums, the Housemarque-developed game offers the opportunity to annihilate necrotic ne'er-do-wells in a collapsed and imbalanced society.

Since this video game has not yet launched, I'm sure there's time yet for you to examine my exciting proposal! Indeed, I hope to correct the imbalance within our own society caused by the cultural overexposure of the living dead, who are now present in television shows, novels, comic books, talk shows and a handful of video games. Isn't it about time you challenged gamers with a worthy foe, and one that doesn't simply covet brains for its nutritional benefits? I'm talking about The B.E.A.N. Replanting Initiative (T.B.R.I.).

Why pander to your players with pale, unintelligible humans -- with whom they are intimately familiar with! -- when you could send in the:

Bugs! Equipped with monstrous mandibles, thrilling thoraxes and loads of legs!
Extraterrestrials! They came to boil our oceans, disintegrate our cities and zap our way of life!
Aliens! I guess we covered this one!
Nazis! History's most hated villains and most reliable, no-strings-attached targets for unrepentant violence!

As you can see, the classic monsters have a lot of life left in them, which is more than you can say for zombies, because they aren't alive at all. With your cooperation, we can put them back in the spotlight. If you'd like, I'd be more than willing to consult on your enemy replacement initiative. Everyone at the B.E.A.N. Replantation group would be more than happy to introduce bugs into your game, or help German-ate your assets.

Kind regards,
Leonard K. Trubb
--
Outreach Manager
The B.E.A.N. Replanting Initiative (T.B.R.I.)

Info on upgrades, the outbreak and all those Left 4 Dead comparisons.

The most intense, chaotic gaming experience of 2010 is almost here! The developers at Housemarque, creators of PSN classic Super Stardust HD, are putting the finishing touches on their latest masterpiece: Dead Nation. Come November 30th in the U.S., it’ll be in your hands for $14.99 — and yes, it includes a Platinum Trophy!

November 30th isn’t far off, but stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog as we reveal even more information in the final days before Dead Nation’s PSN release. We’ll be giving you an up-close look at Dead Nation’s metagame that will pit country versus country in a global battle for high score dominance and the ultimate bragging rights. Also, keep your eyeballs peeled for an upcoming video that will show you how crazed Dead Nation’s gameplay gets when it reaches fever pitch – you’ll be surrounded by more onscreen zombies than you can count complete with per-pixel shadows and lighting, particle effects galore, and realistic ragdoll physics all happening at the same time. Once you’ve seen the worst scenarios Dead Nation has to throw at you, there’s no going back.

Dead Nation features online and offline two-player cooperative play, a lengthy campaign littered with hidden treasures, hugely upgradeable weapons and armor, and tremendous replay value thanks to a host of difficulty levels. The fifth and final difficulty level — “Undead” — will leave you breathless!

Look for Dead Nation on PSN this November 30th for $14.99. Thanks for your support, PS3 fans!

One of our favorite features of Dead Nation is easily the weapon upgrade system, which helps separate the game from the many zombie shooters on the market these days. See it in action in this latest trailer, which highlights the various ways players can steel themselves before the undead hordes.

Zombies, zombies everywhere. They’re coming from above you and below, they’re coming from all sides. So how are you supposed to fend off the increasing hordes as you progress through Dead Nation? Upgrades!

In Dead Nation’s action-packed levels, it’s crucial to collect as much cash as possible from the undead hordes and trunks of vehicles. Once you find a Weapon Shop, you’ll be able to cash in your loot and purchase more ammo and, most importantly, weapon upgrades. Increasing the power and firing rate for your default Rifle can be the difference between life and (un)death, especially since it’s your designated fallback weapon and the only gun with unlimited ammo. The SMG and Shotgun also benefit enormously from power and firing rate, helping you annihilate dozens of ghouls at a time. You can also upgrade ammo carrying capacity and clip size for most weapons, while power weapons such as the Blade Cannon feature special weapon-specific upgrades.

What’s more, you can also upgrade deployable items. Grenades can have a greater blast radius, flares can burn longer to make for an even more useful diversion, and mines can be infused with multi-stage explosive charges to keep the pain coming. You can also increase your carrying capacity for these items – if you’re got the cash!

You’ll also come across armor pieces hidden throughout the environments of Dead Nation, so keep your eyes peeled for golden crates. Armor pieces can be mixed and matched, enabling you to customize your character’s attributes at Weapon Stores in between levels. Want to be a melee master? Select armor with a high Strength rating. Want to shrug off enemy zombie attacks? Max out your Endurance rating. Prefer to rely on evasive maneuvers? Choose armor with high Agility. You can mix and match to specialize in one attribute or become a Jack of all trades, so the choice is yours!

This week on the PlayStation Store, we released the City of the Dead theme for free. Hope you all enjoyed it! Keep your eyes on the Store next week as the Dead Man’s Hand dynamic theme is coming out on Nov. 2nd for North America. You can pick it up for $2.99 but we’re giving it away for FREE for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Enjoy!

After spending countless hours playing the excellent Super Stardust HD, I was totally excited for developer Housemarque's next PSN title -- until I learned what it was. Dead Nation looked and sounded utterly generic. "Ugh -- yet another top-down zombie blasting game?" I lamented. With Burn Zombie Burn and Zombie Apocalypse already available on PSN, and countless other zombie-themed games and add-ons flooding the market, I begrudgingly dismissed Housemarque's new effort.

Having played the first third of the game in two-player co-op, however, I can admit to being wrong.

It’s been a big month for Dead Nation! We’ve confirmed that online co-op play will be included from day one and also shown off three special zombies – the Mouth, Jumper, and Bombie — in our new “Know Your Enemies” video and there’s still more to come in October.

But one thing we haven’t yet discussed is audio. With Dead Nation, it’s vital that we create a skin-crawling atmosphere; more importantly, the music needs to adapt to the intensity of the on-screen carnage. I thought it would be fun to address some common questions related to Dead Nation’s audio design, everything from the zombie groans to dynamic music to soundtrack inspirations. I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to listen to the sample track below.

How did you start working with Housemarque?

The first game that I worked on with Housemarque was Super Stardust HD, the original soundtrack and sound design. I was in-house audio director in Frozenbyte Inc. back then and working outsourced. SSHD was a awesome project for me since I’ve grown up with retro arcade games and I got my chance to finally make style of my own.

What was your reaction when Housemarque originally came to you with the Dead Nation concept?

I’m a huge fan of apocalyptic and zombie movies and games, and when I first time heard about making a “really nasty R-rated zombie shooter” I was thrilled! Harri (the creative director) explained me of all the cool things you could do to the zombies and how gory everything would be. If you’re gonna do a great zombie game or a movie, it’s gotta be R-rated! The top-down perspective allows an interesting angle for the game audio design, too. You perceive the big picture of the soundscape much more broadly than in FPS games.

Has the music changed a lot since you took a first pass on it?

My first tracks for the game were a bit too slow and we ended up setting the tempo up to 162bpm for the highest intensity levels. The soundtrack is a mash-up of different genres like industrial, orchestral and ambient. We wanted it to sound dark, gritty, and dynamic so we ended up having six different intensity levels for every dynamic music group. It works really great — the music adapts seamlessly to the in-game events.

How difficult did you find putting together a concept soundtrack for Dead Nation?

It was not an easy task! There was not much reference for the Dead Nation soundtrack, I had to invent almost everything from scratch. The closest resemblance was found in the Dawn of the Dead remake OST, but I still had no reference for the highest intensity levels. The in-game music is almost sound design in some parts, since it doesn’t have much in the way of melody and it relies heavily on dark tones and gritty sounds. Overall, I achieved the feeling that we were after, it does sound unique and it fits in the game atmosphere perfectly.

What can you say about the sound design?

Well, first of all, I have to mention that Dead Nation has a huge amount of sounds. It features over 8000 unique sound files and craploads of near-authentic zombie vocals. The aim of the sound design was to make Dead Nation feel as gory and gritty as it plays — players will have to endure (or enjoy) quite twisted sounds! This is my most ambitious and biggest audio design work so far, I’m hoping players to have just the right feeling while playing.

What is your favorite part of Dead Nation?

I really like the feeling of nailing down the zombies. It just has this realness to it, feels like the zombies are really getting hurt in every way possible! I like the overall atmosphere too, I’m already hooked to the game!

The Major League Gaming Pro Circuit Event is coming to Washington D.C. this weekend and PlayStation is bringing more than 20 stations of killer PS3 apps! Stop by the PlayStation Booth at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center to play Killzone 3, Dead Nation’s co-op mode, and ModNation Racers. While you’re there, watch or compete against the best Tekken 6 fighters in the world or spend some time blasting Helghast with Killzone 3 — it’s playable in stereoscopic 3D.

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745

The PlayStation booth will be open for business during the following hours:

Friday: 1:30pm – 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Admission is FREE for spectators (i.e. if you’re not competing in the pro circuit), so bring your friends, your mom, your dad, and anyone else interested in experiencing cutting-edge PS3 games. Below is just a taste of this weekend’s activities going on inside the PlayStation booth:

Killzone 3

• Online Multiplayer: Be one of the first people in North America to play in the Killzone 3 Beta
• Single Player Campaign: Offered in both stereoscopic 3D and standard 2D flavors
• Fabulous prizes: Our PAX Twitter contest was such a hit that we’re doing it again! Provide your feedback on the Killzone 3 beta at MLG via Twitter for a chance to win access into the Killzone 3 Multiplayer Beta for your very own PS3. At the MLG event, keep your eyes open for collectible art cards (shown above!) we’re giving out at the booth which will share specific instructions on how to enter the Killzone 3 Multiplayer Beta giveaway via Twitter. Full rules and details below.

Dead Nation

For the first time, get your hands-on Dead Nation’s online co-op mode, complete with those new special zombies you’ve been hearing so much about. In an added bonus, you’ll be able to play Dead Nation with Housemarque developer tlo-Mek (who currently holds the high score on SSHD). Better limber up those thumbs before rigor mortis sets in!

ModNation Racers

Compete head-to-head throughout the weekend to prove who really is the fastest racer in the ModNation!

Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER THE PROMOTION OR CLAIM PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited.

1. ELIGIBILITY. The Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes (the “Promotion”) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry and are attending the Major League Gaming Event (“MLG”) located at Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745 and have visited the Killzone 3 booth; played the Killzone 3 video game and received a card with entry instructions. Employees and their immediate family members of Sponsor and their parent and affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies and any and all other companies associated with this Promotion (“Promotion Entities”) and the employees, agents, officers, directors, and their immediate families (parent, siblings, children and spouse) and persons residing in the same household (whether related or not) of such employees are not eligible to enter or win. Void in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Military installations in foreign countries, anywhere outside of the U.S and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

2. SPONSOR. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404 (the “Sponsor”).

3. TIMING. The Promotion begins on October 15, 2010 at 10:00a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) and ends on October 20, 2010 at 10:00p.m. EST (the “Promotion Period).

4. TO ENTER. Anytime during the Promotion Period Entrant may enter as many times as they like but may only win once. To enter Entrant should (1)have played the Killzone 3 game and received a card with entry instructions; (2) sign into their Twitter account (“Account”) or, if Entrant is not already a member become a member of Twitter.com and sign into their Account. Please note that Entrants must agree to comply with the Twitter Terms of Service in order to create a Twitter account visit http://twitter.com/tos. (3) tweet a message that contains feedback to the Killzone 3 game Entrant has just played as a targeted reply to @PlayStation using Twitter’s “@Reply” function along with exactly the following unique term (“Term”) in their tweet message “#Killzone3MLG” (collectively, “Entry”).

5. ENTRY CONDITIONS AND RELEASE. Sponsor, at its sole discretion, may accept a mis-typed Term or Entry. If Entrant’s Twitter account is set to “protected mode”, their updates/responses will not be visible in Sponsor’s @Reply inbox; and, therefore, will not be received by Sponsor, resulting in Entrant’s failure to enter the Promotion. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by Entrant’s online service will apply. If Entrant opts to receive Sponsor’s tweets via their wireless mobile device (which may only be available via participating wireless carriers), standard text messaging rates, airtime and carrier charges will apply for each text message sent or received from their handset according to the terms and conditions of Entrant’s service agreement with their wireless carrier. Entrant understands that by participation in this Sweepstakes via mobile phone or text message, if they are a potential winner, the Sponsor may contact Entrant via mobile phone or text message, which will be subject to the charges pursuant to their carrier’s rate plan. Entrant must have a mobile phone with text messaging capabilities to enter using Twitter. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures, malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions or unforeseen schedule changes that may limit an Entrant’s ability to participate in the Promotion, even if caused by Sponsor’s negligence. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to Entrant’s contact information. Entries not satisfying these Official Rules are automatically disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion to modify, cancel or suspend this Promotion should virus, bugs unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Promotion or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Promotion as planned. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Promotion or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Promotion or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Promotion. All entries become the sole property of Sponsor and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Any individual who attempts or otherwise encourages, directly or indirectly, the entry of multiple or false contact information under multiple identities or uses any device or artifice to enter or encourage, directly or indirectly, multiple or false entries, as determined by the Sponsor, will be disqualified. In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the Twitter account used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the person who is assigned to a Twitter account by www.twitter.com.

6. RANDOM DRAWING. One (1) First Prize Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Twenty (20) Second Place Winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Prize drawings will be conducted by Sponsor whose decisions shall be final and binding. Winners shall be notified via Twitter using the Direct Message function.

7. PRIZES. First Prize Winner will receive a black Killzone 3 t-shirt and an invitation to participate in the Killzone 3 Beta (“Beta”) with an approximate retail value (“ARV”) of $10.00. Second Place Winners will receive an invitation to participate in the Beta, ARV $0.00.

8. WINNERS: Potential winners will be notified on Twitter by Direct Message to the potential winner’s account which shall be revealed at a later time due to the time-sensitive nature of the information. Potential winners will receive a voucher code which will be redeemed via the PlayStation 3 XMB in order to download the Beta. No prize substitution or cash equivalent permitted. Each prize is non-transferable. Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may substitute a prize (or prize component) of equal or greater value due to unavailability of prize (or prize component) for any reason. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to the Twitter Direct Message function that may interfere with winner notification. At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate winner may result from any of the following: (1) Failure of notification due to deactivation of the potential winner’s account prior to receipt of notification; or (2) a potential winner’s failure to become a follower of @PlayStation, resulting in the potential winner’s failure to receive a Direct Message from Sponsor; or (3) a potential winner’s account “protected mode” is set so that the potential winner’s updates/responses may not be visible in Sponsor’s @Reply inbox; or (4) a potential winner’s failure to include “#Killzone3MLG” and feedback regarding the Killzone 3 game or (5) any other non-compliance with the Official Rules.

9. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES. By entering, all entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which shall be final and binding. By accepting prize, each winner grants to Sponsor the right to use his/her name, likeness, image, voice, hometown, and biographical information in advertising, trade and promotion, including on the Internet or via wireless application protocol, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. All prize claims are subject to verification by Sponsor. Participants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotional agencies, wholesalers and retailers, and each of the foregoing entities’ employees, officers, directors, shareholders and agents (collectively the “Released Parties”), from and against any and all claims, actions and/or liability for any injuries or death, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in the Promotion or acceptance or use of any prize. The Released Parties are not responsible or liable for any incorrect or inaccurate information, and assume no responsibility for (i) any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in operation. By participating, entrants agree to comply with these rules. Any participant who attempts to tamper with this Promotion in any way shall be disqualified. Additional restrictions may apply.

10. ODDS OF WINNING. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

11. PROMOTION RESULTS. You may request the names of winners by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope by October 31, 2009 to Killzone 3 “Twitter Feedback Part 2” Sweepstakes Winner’s List, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, California 94404.

12. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION. The information necessary to operate the Promotion was collected by Sponsor at the time of entry, and without limiting Sponsor’s rights under its privacy policies with regards to its use of the information, will be used to contact you specifically for operation of the Promotion. Information collected in connection with the Promotion will otherwise be collected in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/PrivacyPolicy. By agreeing to these Official Rules, you are also agreeing to the terms of Sponsor’s privacy policy.

13. RESTRICTIONS. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Tackling an inexhaustible undead force all by yourself just isn't a wise endeavor. Super Stardust developer Housemarque has announced that its PSN top-down scourge shooter, Dead Nation, will let two players meet in the place where barely human husks lunge violently at any signs of intelligence -- you may know it as the internet.

"Originally, online co-op wasn't going to be included as a launch feature, as the schedule and resources didn't allow it," Housemarque CEO Ilari Kuittinen wrote on the PlayStation Blog. "However, after many late night play-testing sessions and long talks with Sony Computer Entertainment, we decided that this was a must-have feature and it would be unfair to you if we launched without it!" You see, Ms. Croft? It's not that hard.

"At this point, our coders went from working 12-hour days to working 16-hour days, as well as weekends!" Oh ... well, uh ... this is awkward. Housemarque has yet to announce Dead Nation's launch date, though we know that it will cost $14.99.

Ladies and gentlemen! Today I would like to confirm that Dead Nation does indeed feature online co-op play! You will be able to team up with your friends either sharing the same couch or via the PlayStation Network against the undead invasion and start blasting thousands of zombies into pieces and piling up the bodies. All of this and much more is included in Dead Nation, check out the Know Your Enemy trailer.

Originally, online co-op wasn’t going to be included as a launch feature, as the schedule and resources didn’t allow it. However, after many late night play testing sessions and long talks with Sony Computer Entertainment, we decided that this was a must-have feature and it would be unfair to you if we launched without it! At this point, our coders went from working 12 hour days to working 16 hour days as well as weekends! Fortunately I think what we came up works really well. Check out these new co-op screenshots and see for yourself!

The online co-op fully matches the offline experience. Enjoy the full co-op experience with hundreds of on-screen zombies, huge explosions, blowing up zombies into a plethora of pieces and bloody entrails scattered around.

In addition to the coders working non-stop, the designers and artists felt it was only fair to throw themselves into the mix and created big gameplay levels with tons of replay value, adding weapon upgrade system and cool weapons to bring a new tactical dimension to the gameplay.

Dead Nation will be released exclusively on PSN. Watch this space for further info!

And just like that, SCEA has begun sending out invites for a Dead Nation beta. We're not entirely sure what online functionality the beta is testing, especially considering the rather lax requirements for the program -- "All you need to do is make sure you are signed in to the PSN while trying to kill as many dirt-ridden flesh sacks as possible!"

The beta is currently ongoing, and will end on September 3, giving invitees over a week of playtime. The invites appear to have been sent randomly, so check your e-mail (and your spam filters) to see if Sony has invited you into this unexpected preview event.

[Thanks, Cristian R.!]

Sure, Dead Nation looks like a fun game, but we're not sure of its value as a zombocalypse survival tutor. Look at all the explosives they use in the trailer below! Don't they know that's a sure-fire way to get zombie gore in your eyes, leading to instant infection? That's bush league, guys.

With zombies coming at you from every angle in Dead Nation, you’ll need to know the basics of surviving the zombie apocalypse! Watch the Zombie Survival Guide below:

Dead Nation offers up a variety of weapons to tackle the different zombie types that are after your brains. The combination of the Rifle’s power and accuracy is effective for taking out the big zombies coming at you from a distance. Use your Shotgun when entering tight alleyways and crossing bridges to ensure you stop anything coming at you. Surrounded by a horde of zombies? Whip out that SMG and spray those bullets all directions. And of course there’s my personal favorite: light ‘em up with the flamethrower and watch as a single burning zombie turns into a walking forest fire!

Now don’t forget to use the environment and your secondary weapons as distractions. You can fire at vending machines and watch the zombies run towards the spitting cans dispensing from the machine making themselves easy targets for you and your SMG. Now imagine laying a mine down in front of that machine before setting it off: Zombies will rush right up to it and then BOOM!

There will be droves of zombies coming after you in Dead Nation. Use the strategies mentioned above in your arsenal but remember: How you take out the zombie apocalypse in your quest for the cure is up to you. Stay alive and happy hunting!

I’m a pathological fan of zombie movies. Night of the Living Dead. Return of the Living Dead. 28 Days Later, [REC], Dawn of the Dead — I count these films among my all-time favorites.

So I was obviously itching to get my mitts on Dead Nation, the upcoming PSN shooter from the creators of Super Stardust HD. Luckily, I got some extensive play time from last week’s NYC PlayStation media day. Here’s what I learned.

You can upgrade your guns…a lot. Dead Nation’s environments are dotted with fenced-in “safe zones” that give you a chance to catch your breath and buy supplies from a nearby gun shop. In addition to buying health and ammo, you can purchase mods that will enhance your various weapons in different ways, depending on the gun. The mods upgrade stats such as damage, ammo capacity, firing rate, reload time, and range. While the most potent weapon upgrades are expensive, you can pop open car trunks and chests found through the environments in order to collect cash and other useful items.

The Shotgun is devastating. The Dead Nation build I played featured three weapons — the Shotgun, SMG, and Rifle — with more to come in the final version. Early on, I decided to pour my money into repeatedly upgrading the Shotgun’s damage and spread capability. The results were impressive: My buckshot blasts became massive cones of death, ripping through the ghoul hordes like a wet sneeze through a store-brand tissue. Sometimes I swapped to the SMG for its rapid firing rate, or the Rifle for its long-range capabilities. But come Dead Nation’s release date later this fall, I know what my go-to gun will be.

There are many zombie types. After you shake off the initial shock of battling dozens and dozens of zombies, you’ll quickly learn that not every zombie is created equal. You’ll see fast, gangly zombies that rush up close but fall quickly to melee attacks. You’ll see big, tough zombies that take a licking but move more slowly. I even spotted a few zombie cops that wildly fired their service revolvers while they lunged at me.

Mobility = life. Housemarque’s previous game, twinstick PSN shooter Super Stardust HD, is clearly an influence on Dead Nation’s fast-paced gameplay. For example, rapid kills fill up your combo meter, which in turn sends your score into the stratosphere. As in Super Stardust HD, you’ll also realize the importance of staying mobile to avoid incoming enemies — to get cornered is to die. Luckily, you can throw mines and grenades to clear some temporary space, or use the “rush” move to push your way through a line of hungry flesh eaters.

Dead Nation will be released on PSN later this fall. Have any questions about its core gameplay, or zombies in general? Ask away in the comments!

The undead in Dead Nation weren’t always the dirty, shambling corpses they are now. They came from all walks of life and, even after their transformation, retain a piece of who they once were. Watch the trailer below to see what happens when the zombie plague reaches a baseball stadium.

Dead Nation features a large variety of zombie types that reflect the locales and show the transformation of ordinary people into merciless undead killers. Check out the new screens, and stay tuned to the PlayStation.Blog as we reveal more Dead Nation details in the coming months.

Oh, and if you’re in town, check out Dead Nation at Comic-Con this week!

Adding zombies to your game is like putting a lowercase "i" in front of your product name. Marketing types think people just go for the one called "the iBlanket" or the racing game with zombies. While that might have been true a short time ago, I've become desensitized to these overused hooks -- there's also got to be a catch to wrestle away my dollars. That's what makes Sony's Dead Nation somewhat unappealing. Developer Housemarque (of Super Stardust HD fame) has no problem shoving hordes of undead freaks into this PSN game and giving me weapons to kill them with, but that's already been done to death. Come on, guys. Throw in some really cute demon kittens or something.

This longing came up as I demoed this well designed but ultimately vanilla twin stick shooter at Sony's E3 booth. As one of the world's remaining survivors during the zombie apocalypse, I made my way through a devastated city, pointing boom sticks towards throngs of monsters and ripping them to pieces. The list of weapons included the usual suspects: submachine gun, assault rifle, shotgun, grenades; and I snagged health packs by breaking boxes and vending machines.

#clips Dead Nation producer Damion Pinnock has thrown down the gauntlet. More »

You first heard the title last year. You got a sneak peek when the live action promo was released last month. But what kind of game is Dead Nation, exactly? US Producer Damion Pinnock tells us about Housemarque’s zombie-filled follow up to PSN smash hit Super Stardust HD.

The live-action trailer for Dead Nation for which Sony put out a casting call last month has finally surfaced, showing off some of the real-life human drama associated with a fictional Zombocalypse. Watch as the trailer explores the deep, interpersonal relationships between the game's cast of multifaceted, intriguing characters, such as "Trucker Guy" and "Cheerleader" and "Mustachioed Police Officer." Then watch as they all get eaten. What a twist!

It's also got a few gameplay clips, which do a good job of displaying the Smash TV-esque carnage you'll be able to reap. Sadly, we still haven't seen the title-appropriate level where you're tasked with mowing down wave after wave of Grateful Dead fans, but we've still got time for a few more trailers before Dead Nation drops later this year.

#ps3 Super Stardust HD developers Housemarque know twin-stick shooters. And there isn't a target more ideal than walking rotting flesh. Hence, Dead Nation, a PlayStation 3 exclusive that had better be at E3 2010. More »

The dead will rise.

Hey all! Firstly, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that contributed to our recent zombie video game trailer in San Francisco this past month.

Many of you guessed it, but here’s the official word: the upcoming PSN exclusive in production is DEAD NATION!

Your help was monumental in putting together our trailer. Below is an introduction from the SCEE and Housemarque teams giving you a little bit of information for our upcoming zombie game. Look out for future updates from myself and the team, as we get closer to the game’s launch later this year.

From Robert Karp, SCEE Producer:

Following the original announcement of Dead Nation at Gamescom in Cologne last year we’ve kept purposefully quiet about what we’ve got in store for you, but at this year’s E3 we’ll be bringing you right up to speed with the game and what you can expect from Housemarque and Sony Computer Entertainment’s PSN-exclusive zombie game. We’ve been pulling out all the stops over the past year to make this game a nerve shredding, atmospheric and action packed experience, and to whet your appetite for what we’ve got coming up at E3, try this on for size…

We’ve got a lot more to show off over the coming weeks and months so keep your eyes peeled, stock up on water and canned goods because you never know when you might need to secure your position and fight off the Dead Nation.

Flickr: im.mick Here's yet another way of making your way into PlayStation history. Sony has a casting call out for an upcoming zombie game - most likely Dead Nation, from the makers of Super Stardust HD - and it's looking for twenty gamers to star as a zombie in an upcoming trailer shoot, to be filmed in San Francisco.

Interested applicants must send their personal info, including a face pic, to zombies@playstation.sony.com. If selected, participants will be expected to work on set 10 hours per day on both May 15th and 16th wearing zombie make-up and costumes provided by SCEA. Unfortunately, you will "not be compensated" and "not all participants selected will be used." It sounds like a lot of work to us, but for some, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be immortalized in a PlayStation commercial.

For more info, check out the PlayStation.Blog.