Software:Corpse Killer

From HandWiki
Corpse Killer
Developer(s)Digital Pictures
Publisher(s)
Director(s)John Lafia
Producer(s)Charles Ogden
Gene Marum
Designer(s)Ken Soohoo
Kenneth Melville
Programmer(s)Tyler Hogle
Writer(s)Kenneth Melville
Composer(s)Bradley Smith
Platform(s)Sega CD, Sega CD 32X, 3DO, Saturn, Windows, Macintosh, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
ReleaseSega CD
32X
  • NA: 1994
  • EU: July 1995
3DO
  • NA: 1994
  • JP: August 25, 1995
Saturn
  • NA: November 10, 1995
PlayStation 4, Windows (Steam)
  • WW: July 30, 2019
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: October 30, 2020
Genre(s)Rail shooter, interactive movie
Mode(s)Single-player

Corpse Killer is a horror-themed rail shooter developed and published by Digital Pictures for the Sega CD, Sega CD 32X, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Windows 95 and Macintosh computers. An interactive variation on the zombie film genre, it utilizes live-action full motion video in a format similar to other games developed by Digital Pictures. Reviews for the game were mixed, generally criticizing the repetitive gameplay and low video quality, though many reviewers enjoyed the campy nature of the cutscenes. Corpse Killer was the first CD game released for the Sega 32X.[3][4] It was later remastered for Steam, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

Footage from the game was recycled for the 2003 film Game Over.

Story

An unnamed United States Marine is airdropped onto a tropical island on a top secret mission to stop the evil Dr. Hellman, who plans to release his army of zombies on the world. He is bitten by a zombie and also meets an attractive female reporter and a Rastafarian male driver. Four of the marine lieutenant's comrades are captured by Hellman and turned into zombies. To rescue them, the lieutenant infiltrates Hellman's compound and shoots each of them with bullets coated with extract from Datura plants, which can turn freshly-created zombies back into humans.

Cast

  • Vincent Schiavelli as Hellman
  • Jeremiah Birkett as Winston
  • Bridget Butler as Julie
  • John Cassini as Magliano
  • Gary Anthony Sturgis as Fleming
  • Erin Bobo as Duffy
  • Bill Moseley as Captain
  • Charles Kahlenberg as General

Gameplay

Most of the gameplay is similar to other light gun video games such as Lethal Enforcers. The player moves through the jungle shooting various zombies, collecting better ammunition (to prepare for a raid on Hellman's compound) and medicine to recover health.

Development

John Lafia directed the live-action footage,[citation needed] which was filmed on location in the Caribbean,[5] with most scenes being shot in Puerto Rico.[6] The actors portraying the zombies wore latex masks.[6]

Sega Saturn features

The Sega Saturn version of the title was released with the subtitle of "Graveyard Edition". This version features a few exclusives such as full-screen video (other versions have the FMV boxed in), improved video quality, a difficulty select (ranging from normal to bloodthirsty to cannibal), items and power-ups that drop down from the top of the screen and can be shot and collected, and "in your face" zombie attacks. These attacks involve a zombie that pops up immediately in front of the "camera" and attacks the player. They can only be killed with armor-piercing rounds or Datura rounds. The Saturn version is also the only version of the game to lack light gun support (though there is no mention of light guns in the manual or packaging for the 3DO version, it does in fact include light gun support).

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM5.25/10 (32X)[3]
4.375/10 (SAT)[7]
Next GenerationStar (32X, SAT)[4][8]

Reviewing the Sega CD version, GamePro remarked that "This frisky first-person blast-a-thon looks and feels like a bad live-action movie. But your taste for 'bad' just might bring this Corpse to life." They particularly praised the B-movie production values, "typically grainy but stylish" FMV graphics, and the effective controls even when using a standard gamepad instead of a light gun.[9]

In their review of the 32X version, the four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly said that the "campy, bad b-movie" cutscenes are entertaining but the gameplay is dull, and that the graphics are only slightly improved from the Sega CD version.[3] Next Generation commented that the game itself is "decent", but that the improvement in graphics over the Sega CD version "is so small that only an expert could notice."[4] GamePro reviewed that the 32X version retains the elements that made the Sega CD version fun and has far better graphics.[10]

Electronic Gaming Monthly reversed their position on the game's cutscenes when reviewing the Saturn version, with all save Andrew Baran now saying that the scenes are dull and repetitive. They also criticized the substandard video quality of the FMV and the "laughable" gameplay.[7] GamePro's brief review, while acknowledging the FMV is grainy, noted it was at least superior to any previous version of the game. The reviewer praised the cursor movement's easy control and concluded, "This'll do for zombified Saturn gamers."[11] A brief review from Next Generation published over a year after the game's release criticized the "Cheesy graphics and extremely repetitious gameplay".[8] In 1995, MegaZone included Corpse Killer in their Top 50 Games In History writing: "Great full-motion video and a silly-but-fun plot."[12]

Re-release

William Mesa, Flash Film Works and Screaming Villains remastered the game from the original source material in 2019 and re-released it as a "25th Anniversary Edition" for Steam, and PlayStation 4. It was also released in physical PS4 media by Limited Run Games.[13] The new version contained several hours' worth of behind-the-scenes video from the original production as well as hundreds of still images, the original production script and other assorted documents.

References

  1. ↑ "Mega-CD Preview: Corpse Killer". Mean Machines Sega (EMAP) (28): 34–35. February 1995. 
  2. ↑ "Fact File: Corpse Killer". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (65): 328–329. December 1994. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Review Crew: Corpse Killer". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (68): 36. March 1995. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Shoot It!". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (4): 90. April 1995. 
  5. ↑ "Corpse Killer". GamePro (IDG) (75): 268. December 1994. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Day of the Zombies". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (63): 126–127. October 1994. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Review Crew: Corpse Killer". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (77): 44. December 1995. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Every Sega Saturn Game Played, Reviewed, and Rated". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (25): 63. January 1997. 
  9. ↑ Game Over Man (January 1995). "ProReview: Corpse Killer". GamePro (IDG) (76): 56. 
  10. ↑ Toxic Tommy (March 1995). "ProReview: Corpse Killer". GamePro (IDG) (78): 60. 
  11. ↑ "Quick Hits: Corpse Killers: The Graveyard Edition [sic]". GamePro (IDG) (90): 73. March 1996. 
  12. ↑ "Top 50 Games In History". MegaZone (50): 4. April 1995. https://archive.org/details/sup50top50games/page/n3/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ Romano, Sal (June 10, 2019). "Corpse Killer: 25th Anniversary Edition announced for PS4, PC". gematsu.com. https://gematsu.com/2019/06/corpse-killer-25th-anniversary-edition-announced-for-ps4-pc. Retrieved June 10, 2019. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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