Videogame mashup of gamebook, comic, RPG and zombies, come together to create a new experience.
For mobile and desktop platforms.
Read More
230
backers
€7,151
pledged of €15,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Replay with sound
Videogame mashup of gamebook, comic, RPG and zombies, come together to create a new experience. For mobile and desktop platforms.
About this project
PROYECTO EN ESPAÑOL E INGLÉS
Lee la campaña en español aquí
NEW REWARDS - GO AND CHECK THEM OUT! Be our hero or heroine. And Pet Zombie. You could even make a combo!
Z Files: Infection is a videogame visually inspired in Mike Mignola's work and taking elements from interactive fiction, gamebooks, RPG, with dices and turn-based combat. It challenge players to survive in an a ruthless apocalyptic world filled with great horrors where bleakness and black comedy coexist.
When the project came to us, we had the idea of making a digital gamebook version that would go far beyond the traditional gamebook. This is why with the invaluable help of our artistic director Francis Porcel we have decided to create a video game that explores a unique style that is not commonly seen in digital gamebooks: the interactive comic.
The game will follow the latest trends in Interactive Fiction, developed by some of the most influential studios and games in this kind of media, like 80 Days, Sorcery! (Inkle Studios), Fallen London and Sunless Sea (Failbetter Games).
With Z Files we have focused on short texts with choices that will make the reading of the game much more dynamic, be it on a small or a large screen. It will also focus on interactivity, so that the destiny of our adventure is built step by step, action by action. The player is always free to choose which path the hero should take.
The project also strives to create a fusion of video game, text and comic never seen yet, and we want the illustrations to be a vital part of the experience, instead of being mere details. The visual style is inspired by Hellboy, by Mike Mignola.
- Fast-paced gamebook set in the zombie apocalypse.
- Horror.
- Comedy.
- Multiplatform.
- An interactive comic with art inspired by Mike Mignola's work.
- Role-playing elements: dice rolls, inventory.
- Turn based combat.
How do gamebooks normally start? You are the hero, right? You are 18 and in your last year of high school. Life is good while living with your parents and your 16-year old brother Luis, who is currently at the shopping mall with his friends. What worries could a young guy have at the start of the new millennium? Finishing your studies, hooking up with the girl you like, playing Half-Life until dawn while listening to Heavy Metal and then watching The Night of the Living Dead on TV. Things couldn’t be better. What could go wrong?
Z Files: Infection will be released on iPad, iPhone, Android phones and tablets, and desktop computers (Win, Mac and Linux). It will be sold digitally and we will prioritize Steam and Humble Store as computer platforms. The game will be sold DRM-Free on those platforms that allow it. It will be available in English and Spanish.
Z Files: Infection is an interactive fiction work based on the gamebook of the same name directed by Fernando Lafuente and Jacobo Feijóo, and written with Raelana Dsagan and Pedro Escudero. After the success of The Sinister Fairground, both started a new series, a trilogy, this time searching for help along the way.
The first volume, Infection, has already had its third edition printed in one year and the second new volume, Revelation, is available in bookstores.
The gamebook tells the story of the zombie apocalypse, with horror and comedy themes and advanced gameplay rules.
Interactive Fiction allows the player to have a say in the decisions of the game through what we call agency. Agency means that the player will be able to make a significant effect in the plot and world of our game. The player should feel that their decisions matter, and should have the necessary freedom to choose their path to reach the end of their story.
All games have interactive experiences, but in this regard, Interactive Fiction is king, as it has been evolving as a narrative media since its origins. This evolution has been made possible by the importance given to the text as the key element, which allows for faster development cycles. It was at the end of the 20th century when Interactive Fiction reached its maturity stage/when Interactive Fiction flourished.
Luckily, it has not stopped there. With the convergence of gamebooks, hypertext and apps, Interactive Fiction has just blossomed again as a strong genre. Our team includes people with decades of experience with this fiction genre/in this area, and we are sure that the Z Files will bring a new revolution in terms of structure, interactivity and artistic transmedia.
Help us go in that direction.
Greyman Studios is specialized in animation, special effects and apps for transmedia. Composed of professionals in this field and many others, including film, TV advertisements and video games, they have worked in many projects, such as the animation films El lince perdido and Justin and the knights of valour. They also worked in the animated short, The Lady and the Reaper, which was nominated to the Oscars. They have designed characters for many different companies, including nationally important companies such as Puleva, worked in previewing work for Anima Studios in Mexico and have designed digital art for dance shows by the Compañía Víctor Ullate (El Amor Brujo). Their current focus includes state of the art technology projects and VR, and documentaries such as Garbanzos con azúcar, in collaboration with Francis Porcel.
Comic author, illustrator and animator. Francis' professional experience has taken him to be part of the influential french publishing house, Dargaud. He has also worked in films such as Kandor Graphics' El lince perdido and Justin and the knights of valour. Some of his works are La ciudad de los muertos, Les Folies Bergere, Reality Show, Bouffon or the Spanish Civil War documentary Garbanzos con azúcar. He is an internationally recognized professional.
The design and transformation from gamebook to video game is being done by Ruber Eaglenest, Interactive Fiction author and Interactive Storytelling specialist, and editor for the independent video game magazine Indie-o-rama.
Mario Gutiérrez is a guitar teacher, composer and member of Azrael, a metal band from Granada. Mafia (2000) and Dimensión IV (2002) with Locomotive Music became popular both in and out of Spain,. The most recent albums are Libre (Azrael Records, 2007) and their last and most renowned work, Metal Arena (2011). Mario is both a/the producer and composer in these albums, where we can already perceive the unique vision of rock and metal of this great guitar player. His first solo album, Climbo (2006), was released to excellent reviews in the specialized media and the public. You can see his excellent guitar playing skills on his YouTube Channel:
To create Z Files we need funding and Kickstarter is the perfect platform to give us these resources and fan support. With your support we can fund the cost of the illustrations, the English translation and a larger soundtrack. We will also be able to ensure the best quality for our project, so that it keeps up with the great ideas of its design.
Choose your reward and support us..
LAST REWARDS! HIGHER TIERS AND PET ZOMBIE
For just 300€ PET ZOMBIE, less than the amount of the reward YOU ARE THE ZOMBIE, we will change one zombie dog guarding the shopping mall by your loving pet and companion, No matter what kind of pet you have: a cat, a dog, a kangaroo, a dove, or a snail. It is a unique reward. We'll adapt the enemy and the scene to fit your best friend ever.
You could even make a combo! If you pledge 400 + 300 € and select the reward YOU ARE THE ZOMBIE or PET ZOMBIE, send a message to us indicating that you are interesting in make a combo, and we will include both of you as an enemy couple. Together, you and your best animal friend, forever, beyond death!
And now two unique and higher tiers, destined to change the fate of the project forever.
Be our hero or heroine
In exchange for 5.000€ we will change our heroe for you:
I AM THE HERO – MALE MAIN CHARACTER
You are the REAL hero of the game. We are not talking about a personalized copy of the game. Because your contribution is so decisive to the success of this campaign, we will change completely the hero and the story to fit you in. That is, you will be immortalized as the hero of this game. Every copy of the game will have you as the male protagonist.
And the same for a woman:
I AM THE HEROINE – FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER
You are the REAL heroine of the game. We are not talking about a personalized copy of the game. Because your contribution is so decisive to the success of this campaign, we will add a completely new feminine avatar character that is you, and we will change the story to fit you in. That is, you will be immortalized as the heroine of this game. Every copy of the game will have you as the female protagonist.
This last one is really important to us, because it solves two problems, the financial one, covering the expenses of design and giving us a proper female main character so players can select it at the beginning of the game. The original gamebook has a male hero in it, with manly jokes and hero points awarded by heroic acts.
Just from the beginning we were eager to do a female version, but simply could not afford it to include in the budget. This game asks for a lot of resources while creating the main character, a process that is really expensive. To have a female avatar that can be chosen by the player means that we do not only change the appearance of the character, but also really bend the story to give a proper feminine vision of the world. That means that we have to duplicate the resources needed for the main character. Again, this reward solves this issue that was on the back of our minds since we started the project.
RISE YOUR PLEDGE!
Rock and Heavy is not dead. Check our new rewards with digital copy of the soundtrack, by Heavy Metal master Mario Gutiérrez, and physical copy delivered worldwide.
We have new rewards. Master Classes through Skype. The same awesome topics but of 500 € each.
Or if you want to come to visit Granada, why don't gift you a private concert with our musician, Mario Gutiérrez?
Coming soon...
Risks and challenges
Greyman Studios is a recently created company, but the staff is composed of professionals with many years of experience in their field. We are very experienced and we have gathered the best team for the job to ensure that Z Files: Infection becomes the best experience we can offer!
We have all the tools and skills to carry out this project, but as you may already know, giving an estimate release date is quite difficult in video game development. We hope to be able to release by the given date, but the game may be delayed if we find any unexpected walls of zombies/problems.
Your support to fund this project is vital. Thank you!
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
-
The game will be released for English and Spanish. At least in the beginning...
Rewards
Funding period
- (31 days)