I doubt Robert Kirkman ever thought his writings would have the impact that they have, but nobody can argue the huge success surrounding The Walking Dead franchise. The massively popular TV series is watched by millions and the game from Telltale proved to be just as successful following its episodic release from April to November of last year.
Unlike the majority of games today Telltale didn’t attempt to push the very limits of graphic supporting technology and they didn’t implement any ground-breaking gameplay mechanics or features. Instead they used an ingredient that has been around far longer than the industry itself, the art of storytelling. Basing the game around the morality of the human species players are challenged with a variety of morally grey choices, providing multiple paths and experiences throughout the game.
Although The Walking Dead provided the perfect environment for Telltale Games’ storytelling approach, the potential for the ingredients they used is almost limitless. I read an article a couple of weeks ago that touched on the idea of Telltale Games creating the Dexter universe in a similar way to what they did with The Walking Dead.
If you’re not familiar with the Dexter series it focuses around a blood splatter expert with the Miami Metro Police Department that moonlights as a vigilante-like serial killer. If you thought the morality choices in The Walking Dead gave you a hard time, that same approach in Dexter could cause massive amounts of controversy. As judge, jury and executioner, what would your “code” be? What crimes would you consider punishable by death under wraps of cellophane?
Is there another controversial franchise that you feel would benefit from Telltale’s attention? Leave a comment below.