as reported by Brian Tanner
Anticipation is already building for the release of the next installment of the successful Neighborhood game series. Response from previews at the 2013 SXSW Gaming Expo have been by and large favorable.
“This game definitely takes everything to the next level! You have GOT to play this game!” Tweeted gamer @zombiekllr14.
Neighborhood 3 builds on the success of other survival horror game series like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Left 4 Dead but takes it exponentially further. Utilizing satellite technology to map out player’s actual neighborhood surroundings, the game immerses the player in an interactive environment like never before.
“The first Neighborhood was just so-so but the graphics were above par and it had a decent storyline. The NPC (Artificial Intelligence) was a bit more advanced and the way the zombies reacted to your presence was downright creepy,” commented Ryan Albertson, author of the amateur gaming blog, Alpha Gamez. “Neighborhood 2: Acquisition of Evil was a big leap in the right direction to where we are now. But this…this is incredible. I’ve never seen such a fine line between gaming and reality. You can really lose yourself in this thing.”
Statements like that have already caught the attention of watchdog organizations. Bobby Wilcox, chairman of the Parents Gaming Authority, observes that this game takes fantasy to a dangerous level. “We’ve already seen what happens when kids get too far in. I don’t want to play the Warren Leblanc card, but, well, there it is…” He refers to the 2004 killing of a 14 year old teenager by then 17 year old Leblanc. Obsessed with playing the game Manhunt, Leblanc used a claw hammer for a weapon. “There are obvious similarities here with all the ordinary household items used as weapons. You have weed wackers, hedge clippers, golf clubs… all kinds of things at your disposal. Even claw hammers for crying out loud, which is kind of a slap in the face, really. Plus there are the incentives for escalating the brutality.”
The Neighborhood games are scripted by maverick writer Jennifer Haley with game design overseen by Jason Tipsword of Dreamwell Graphix. “Jennifer definitely has her finger on the pulse of what gamers want these days, and Jason’s direction promises to be some darn scary stuff. Having seen some of his other works, he really knows how to sell a good battle.” says SXSW attendee Ralph Overton. “I played N2 for 36 hours straight when it first came out and I would have played more but my PC overheated.”
Adding to the anticipation is the limited release of the game. N3 will only be available for four nights at a special preview, dropping at 7:30pm on April 5, and continuing April 6, 12, and 13. “We’re going to present this in just a small market for now, and gauge the response from that,” says Dreamwell President Meg Dobbs, who actually has an avatar in N3 modeled after her likeness. “We’re hoping that rolling the production out this way will help gain us some notoriety. Be sure to get your game voucher early by going to our website www.dreamwell.com and click the tickets page. Or you can call 319-423-9820 and leave us a message. We’d love to see everyone out there!”
Also unusual is the location of the game release, at the Unitarian Universalist Society on 10 S. Gilbert St.. Jokes Tipsword, “We thought that doing this in a church would give some sort of sanctuary from the witch hunters. But seriously, we thought this would be a way to further immerse gamers into the realistic environment. Each game has a UU map pack that players can utilize. Plus it’s right next to the police and fire stations, so that adds an extra element right there.” On the other hand, for those who want to combine gaming with exercise, they will have a wonderful time playing on equipment like the Trackman golf simulator.
Already priced to sell at lucky number $13 for regular editions, there is a special discount price of $10 for students and seniors.
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom is rated M for mature audiences due to language and violence.
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