Oldest games w/ zombies?

[pacmanhat]

I'm writing a research paper about zombies, and I'm looking for some info on the earliest instances of zombies in video gaming. Can anyone help me out?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

You need look no further than Exidy's "Death Race," 1976. Interesting thing is, they're stick figure zombies - not like you can really tell them from the non-undead - and they only became zombies in Exidy's own damage-control lip service after the game became the first video game to draw protests over violence. People seemed to be offended at the thought that there was a game where two players could drive their cars right over people and kill them (a grave marker would appear thereafter - really an odd thing to do if it's a zombie you just squished - think about it, they were already buried once, weren't they?)...so...whammo! They're zombies!

I don't know if that's really the kind of answer you're looking for, as there's really nothing that distinctly jumps out and grabs the player and says that there's something distinctly zombie-esque about the stick figures on the screen, but there ya go.

More on Death Race from KLOV: link here (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7541). KLOV seems to say the stick figures are 'gremlins,' which contradicts quite a bit of what I've read about this game from other sources. But they may prove me [un]dead wrong on another point - the cabinet artwork kinda has zombie written all over it, as opposed to what I said above about the zombie thing being public relations back-pedaling revisionism. So there you have it, this may well be your first genuine zombie game.

Hope this helps. And if not, I bet Sniderman can answer this question.

[Captain J]

not sure if they were really zombies or not, but there was an early resident evil type of game called sweet home for the famicom released in the late 80's. it was based on a horrow movie of the same name and contained monster/zombie like creatres in it. you can dowload the rom anywhere or you can by an english translated copy of it at www.gamereproductions.com . just a side note to that, the movie is unwatchable to anyone because it is owned by the yakuza in japan. however if anyone ever finds out a way to get a copy on any format, PM me and we can work out a deal!

[Pantechnicon]

I'm writing a research paper about zombies, and I'm looking for some info on the earliest instances of zombies in video gaming. Can anyone help me out?

You're writing a research paper wherein you get to discuss zombies and videogames O_O ?

(/looks at current class schedule) ...I appear to have signed up for the wrong kinds of courses this semester.

[pacmanhat]

I'm writing a research paper about zombies, and I'm looking for some info on the earliest instances of zombies in video gaming. Can anyone help me out?

You're writing a research paper wherein you get to discuss zombies and videogames O_O ?

(/looks at current class schedule) ...I appear to have signed up for the wrong kinds of courses this semester.

It's for an english class and the teacher doesn't appear to mind if I write about something silly (my last paper was about how much I hate Keanu Reeves). It seemed like the sort of thing I could write about at length without much difficulty, so I just went with it. :P

[Ed Oscuro]

Woohoo, I've got the flyer for Death Race. If only the game were fun, now...oh, and those horrid squeaks of terror the victims (or...zombies? Yeah, right, sure they are) put out galvanized the watchdogs into action for the first time - it's also the first game to have caused a public outcry.

It's based off the film Death Race 2000.

[Raccoon Lad]

The earliest I can think of is Ghost's 'N Goblins.

[Sothy]

I would have to assume Sniderman is the man to ask around here.

[Crush Crawfish]

Just for the hell of it, you should mention Zombie nation, the NES game about a giant disembodied Zombie samurai head that goes around saving cities by completely destroying them. Yes, I'm serious.

[Sniderman]

I would have to assume Sniderman is the man to ask around here.

You rang? :D

Let's see, I'm gonna go with a documented use of the word "zombie" in either the instructions or fliers as my basis. Now then, Death Race does indeed feature "gremlins," so that's right out. Sweet Home was released in 1989, so that's too recent. Steering away from any homebrewed computer programs for the early computers that had "zombies," the first use in a commercial game that I can find is....

"Entombed" for the Atari 2600 (1982).

From the manual itself:
You and your team of archeologists have fallen into the "catacombs of the zombies."

If anyone can find something before 1982, I'd like to hear about it.

[Damon Plus]

Wasn´t there a Dawn of the Dead game for the C64 or the Amiga?

[Sniderman]

Wasn´t there a Dawn of the Dead game for the C64 or the Amiga?There was an Evil Dead game for the C64, but it was a homemade jobber that made the rounds of the BBSes back in the day - not a commercial release. Not sure about a Dawn of the Dead game, but I doubt it.

If you want to talk non-commercial release, hell, I was writing zombie-themed games for my TRS-80 before 1982. But I'm fishing for a commerical release that uses "zombies" before 1982.

EDIT: Whatdya know. There was a "Zombi" game released for the C64!
http://www.c64unlimited.net/games/z/zombi/zombi.htm

http://62.168.142.47/~lemon/adverts/full/zombi_01.jpg
Released in 1986 though, so Entombed is still the frontrunner.

[IntvGene]

It doesn't beat out Entombed, but Dracula (1983) for the Intellivison allows you to create and control zombies.

[Mayhem]

There was an Evil Dead game for the C64, but it was a homemade jobber that made the rounds of the BBSes back in the day - not a commercial release.

Sorry to have to correct you here Tim... Evil Dead was indeed a commercial release ;)

http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/photos/photos38a.jpg

First ever release from Palace Software... who would later go on to release Cauldron 1 and 2, Barbarian, SEUCK and a whole host of other stuff... the pic in question from my site is actually signed by the programmer!

Earliest definite game I can think of that actually refers directly to enemies you face as "zombies" would be The Bard's Tale in 1985. I'm sure there are games earlier than that, but you knew they were zombies as the program would slowly scroll up... "You are confronted by 4 vicious zombies and 2 rabid dogs" etc LOL

[pacmanhat]

Thanks for the info, Sniderman. How popular would you say "Entombed" was? Was it as popular as, say...Zombies ate My Neighbors? Maybe even Resident Evil?

EDIT: Those are probably a stretch, but you probably know what I mean.

[Queen Of The Felines]

Did Ghost Manor or Frankenstein's Monster for the 2600 have zombies?

Kristine

[Sniderman]

Sorry to have to correct you here Tim... Evil Dead was indeed a commercial release Cool! I honestly looked online before posting, but didn't find any record of a commercial release. However, I know the game existed, simply because I had (an apparently illegal) copy. Thanks for the assist, Mayhem!


Thanks for the info, Sniderman. How popular would you say "Entombed" was? Was it as popular as, say...Zombies ate My Neighbors? Maybe even Resident Evil?

EDIT: Those are probably a stretch, but you probably know what I mean. Indeed a stretch. Entombed was never a big seller. Hell, except for myself, I don't know anyone who actually bought the game new from stores - or who had even heard of it until they began Atari collecting many years later. The game was obviously overshadowed by other Atari 2600 games like Space Invaders, Pacman and the like. But I still think it's a damn fine/clever maze-chase game. Check out Atari Age for the entry on the game. There may be more info over yonder.

And, QoF? According to the manuals posted at AA, neither Ghost Manor or Frank's Monster have any mention of zombies within.

[oesiii]

Good Zombies game on the Atari 8bit:

http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?MENU=8&VERSION_ID=5939

With an excellent sequel back when EA was cool:

http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?MENU=8&VERSION_ID=4312

Sure the sequel, Realm of Impossibilty came out on the C64 too but I who wants to mention that ;)

http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2104

[pacmanhat]

Okay, another question...

Was Zombies Ate My Neighbors the first 'hit' game about zombies? Or am I forgetting something older?

[Yago]

Zombie Apocalypse for the Amiga came out in 1992, don't know if that is early enough for you. It was a game like Operation Wolf or sort where you just shoot the crap out of zombies. Here is a link.

http://www.back2roots.org/Games/Files/Zombie%20Apocalypse%2C1/

[Yago]

I remember the original Bard's Tale RPG had zombies in it as one of the enemies. But I don't think that is what you are looking for.

[Garry Silljo]

Um? .... Monster Party?

[Crush Crawfish]

Um? .... Monster Party?

well, it IS the 1st game to have zombies in it that you kill by watching them dance, if that accounts for anything. God, I love that game. :D

[tssk]

I remember a lot of early basic computer games and one that comes to mind was one called zombie. It was set in a 'graveyard' and the zombies would approach you with each keypress. You could drop crosses to impede their progress however eventually you'd be hemmed in. There was also a version called Daleks however since the game in question used symbols and letters for graphics it could have been anything.

There was a fancy commercial version published by Electronic Arts called Realm of Impossibility. It had sort of 3D graphics and two players could play at once.

It was released in 1984 but a bit of googling showed evidence of earlier works.

Here http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n9/productreviews.html


A few years ago, a guy named Mike Edwards started to write a football game. Somewhere along the line, the defensive team turned into zombies, spiders and snakes. The playfield twisted and mutated, and the whole thing became a nightmare. Mike called the game "Zombies" and a small software company named BRAM, Inc. put it on the market.
The original Zombies had seven dungeons and a total of 74 rooms, with some of the most stylish graphics seen on the Atari. Along came Electronic Arts, the software marketing marvels. They liked Zombies a lot. So, they went to tiny BRAM, Inc. and Realm of Impossibility was born.
Realm of Impossibility is Zombies, but changes have been made. Some good. Some bad. The best part of Zombies had always been the incredible dungeon called "The Realm of Impossibility", which was fashioned after the intricate optical illusions of illustrator M.C Escher. Electronic Arts sent Mike Edwards back to his computer to design more of these goodies. The result is six new dungeons and 55 additional rooms for a grand total of 129 rooms filled with snakes, spiders and zombies-plus some unusual beasties called "orbs", which bear a striking resemblance to Oreo cookies.
Some things haven't changed. You're still a tiny, frantic creature, jerking and waving in animated panic. The game has what is referred to as a "two player cooperative mode" This means that two of you can explore these mazes, but you must cooperate and help each other because both of you must leave each room together. If your partner dies, you can resurrect him.
In the old game, you searched each dungeon for one of the seven stolen crowns. In Realm of Impossibility, some of the rooms are locked and can't be entered until you find the keys hidden in the other rooms. This adds somewhat to the texture of the game play. There are also four levels of difficulty which I found to be a vast improvement over the original, which was so hard that I yanked the disk out of the drive and gave up in frustration.
Unlike most computer games, you have no weapons here. You can't kill anyone. Instead, you drop little crosses behind you which temporarily block the pursuers. You also collect spells which, when cast, confuse or freeze all opponents for a brief period. The method of casting a spell, however, is ridiculously awkward. First, you've got to stop moving the joystick. When you've got every Monster in the world racing after you, the last thing you want to do is stop. Fortunately, you can simply hit the space bar to cast a spell.
After a while it all becomes the same. It's still too frantic and speedy and little strategy or skill is required. The rooms are marvelous and inventive but they're really nothing more than decorative pathways filled with the same tiny relentless creatures.


Sandy White also released a game called Zombie Zombie on the Spectrum in the UK back in 1984.

'84 was a popular year for zombies.

[Damon Plus]

I know how reliable Gamefaqs is, but I read about the Dawn of the Dead game there... Strangely, it´s called zombi like in Europe.