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The Typing of the Dead: Overkill is a game developed originally by Blitz Game Studios and later by Modern Dream, and published by Sega for Steam in 2013. It is based on The Typing of the Dead spin-off series and The House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut, which is included in the release.

Blitz closed in September 2013, forcing its staff to continue development under a new entity, Modern Dream. The team crunched and faced poor working conditions, but with Sega's help were able to complete the game.

Gameplay[]

Like previous Typing titles, while the game plays similarly to the core game it was based on, players now type words shown on the screen to kill zombies and fend off attacks. The story and gameplay otherwise remains the same, although the phrases and challenges add a comical element to the game.

Downloadable Content[]

On November 25th, 2013, Sega made two announcements: a multiplayer mode with a co-op campaign and minigames would be available for free in a patch, and several word packs -- which replace the words in the game with new ones related to a specific theme -- would be released as paid DLC.[1]

All packs listed are paid DLC with the exception of the Sci Fi pack.

  • Shakespeare of the Dead - November 25, 2013
  • The Filth of the Dead - December 16, 2013
  • Love at First Bite - February 12, 2014
  • Silver Screen Lexicon - February 28, 2014
  • Dancing with the Dead - March 20, 2014
  • Sci Fi - July 9, 2014

Development[]

The game was conceived in June 2013 and given a four month deadline to complete. It was originally developed by Blitz Games Studios, whose staff included people who worked on The House of the Dead: Overkill's engine. However, the company closed in September of that year, nullifying their contract and reverting all rights to Sega.[2]

When reviewing the contract, Blitz's team realized that it theoretically allowed them to retain the unfinished assets and finish the game with a new license; consequently, they would likely be unemployed and without income. Project lead Ollie Clarke successfully negotiated with Sega to continue development under Modern Dream, an independent label he previously founded, thereby ensuring that the team was paid.[2]

With six weeks left to finish the game on their laptops, Clarke had the team move into his small apartment. Upon learning about these working conditions, Sega granted them temporary office space at their Leamington, England-based studio Hardlight, where the game was finished.[2]

Sega riskily released The Typing of the Dead: Overkill during Steam's Halloween sale without prior announcement or marketing. However, social media and message boards spread word about the game, and Sega later informed Modern Dream that it had performed "much better than expected".[2]

References[]

  1. Corriea, Alexa (November 25, 2013). Typing of the Dead Overkill gets multiplayer, Shakespeare DLC. Polygon. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. “New add-on content for Typing of the Dead: Overkill adds a cooperative multiplayer mode and a new word palette themed around the works of playwright William Shakespeare... [which will be] the first of what are "many planned" add-on packs for Typing of the Dead: Overkill. More will be made available in the coming months.”
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ligman, Kris (November 1st, 2013). "How Typing of the Dead: Overkill survived its studio's apocalypse". gamasutra.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.

External links[]

veThe House of the Dead games
Main series The House of the Dead (Remake)2 (Remake)III4 (Special)Scarlet Dawn
Spin-offs Zombie RevengeThe Typing of the Dead (2Overkill)The Pinball of the DeadEnglish of the DeadEX slot machineThe House of the Dead: Overkill (Extended Cut)Loving DeadsDarts of the DeadScarlet Dawn (Battle GenesisOn ReelsTHE ATTRACTION)Reels
Prototypes The House of the Dead (arcade prototypeSega Saturn prototype)2 (Original Sin prototype)Scarlet Dawn (prototypes)
Compilations 2 & 3 Return
Mobile games MobileNightmareZombie Da: Flick of the DeadOverkill: The Lost Reels
Non-HOD games Vampire NightSega Golden GunSonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Gameplay mechanics Bonus itemsBranching pathsCiviliansHealthWeak points
Developers SegaSega AM1NamcoForever EntertainmentMegaPixel StudioTA Publishing
Staff Takashi OdaRikiya Nakagawa
Other content Hiiro SumomoReferences in popular cultureUnused content
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