big-rooster posts

Last October we reported that a downloadable PC-console game adaptation of the cult hit board game Zombies!!! was in the works. At the time the board game's creator Twilight Creations had announced that the development team was to be Madison, Wis. based Big Rooster. Now Big Download has learned that Twilight Creations is looking for a new developer for the game.

In response to an email asking for an update on the adaptation Twilight Creations' Kerry Breitenstein told us, "We are looking for another company to do the game now. I cannot disclose the status of Big Rooster. But I'm confident we can find someone to produce the game as the interest in it is huge." In fact it appears likely that Big Rooster may have shut down entirely. Emails to the company have not been returned and a phone number listed as being Big Rooster's has been disconnected.

As if yesterday's reveal of a Nazi zombie co-op mode in Call of Duty: World at War wasn't enough, there's word of yet another zombie game that's on its way to the PC and other platforms. Twilight Creations, the board game maker, announced on their web site that their cult hit product Zombies!!! (and yes, those three exclamation points are included) will be adapted into a PC game.

The board game itself is tile based and features players trying to escape from a massive zombie horde. The PC game adaptation, which will be distributed via Valve's Steam system, will be handled by Big Rooster and will be released in 2009. There's no word yet on the actual gameplay of the PC version. (By the way, did you know today is World Zombie Day?)

[Via Joystiq]

Capcom has been concentrating a lot on their downloadable game titles. Their release of Bionic Commando Rearmed was a big hit and later this week the plan is to release the turn based strategy game Age of Booty. However it looks like a planned downloadable games has been shelved. That was Talisman, an adaptation of the Games Workshop fantasy board game that was first announced over a year ago for the PC and other platforms.

However, in a response to a fan's question about the status of the game on Capcom's message boards two months ago, company exec Christian Svensson stated, "After a misfire at the start, the details of which I won't get into, we evaluated several options for moving the project to new developers, but the costs of moving forward outweighted the potential revenue. I realize this will be disappointing for the fans of the game." Big Rooster was first named as the developer of the game. Their official web site now makes no mention of Talisman.

Last month, the state of Georgia announced new tax breaks for game developers who created their titles in the state. Now Wisconsin has joined Georgia in offering the game industry more incentives in making titles in their territory. According to a press release from Film Wisconsin, a new law has been passed that gives qualifying game developers a 25 percent tax break on their work

As the press release points out, Wisconsin is already home to Raven Software, one of Activision's busiest and most acclaimed in-house developers (Heretic, Hexen, Soldier of Fortune I and II, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Quake IV and many others). Other developers include Human Head Studios and Big Rooster, both of which were formed by former Raven Software team members.