Dead Island sells 5 million
Publisher thinks innovation was the key for zombie game
Deep Silver's Dead Island has sold-through more than five million digital and physical units since its release in September 2011.
"This once again proves that venturing into new waters in terms of games publishing does matter for success and that even at the end of a console cycle new IPs can be created and nurtured into lasting franchises," said parent company Koch's Menno van der Bil.
Dead Island first made an impression with its dramatic trailer, that, while skipping any actual gameplay, won interest with the fate of a family on the doomed holiday resort.
The game, developed by Polish studio Techland, has not been without its controversies though. First the incorrect version of the game, one riddled with bugs, was uploaded to Steam by mistake. Soon after Steam users found a line of code referring to a "Feminist Whore" skill for one of the characters.
"The continued success of Dead Island has proven that we're on the right track with our overall IP strategy for Deep Silver" added Koch CEO Klemens Kundratitz.
"This once again proves that venturing into new waters in terms of games publishing does matter for success and that even at the end of a console cycle new IPs can be created and nurtured into lasting franchises."
After the many mixed reviews from people saying it was great and others that its was an unplayable mess I decided against buying it. A month or so ago I saw the GOTY edition for £10 on a well known retailers website. So I ordered 2 copies (one for my brother for Co-op) and If it was rubbish it wasn't a great loss.
I was shocked at actually how great the game was, the story...well i don't remember much of it and what I do remember wasn't that great, the visuals were on the whole nice (if showing the Xbox's graphical limits in parts) but it was the co-op that made it.
Running through a Zombie infested town with another, looking out for each other and occasionally ditching them when they were beyond help or using them as bait was fantastically good fun. On this basis alone my brother and I have preordered Rip tide and will be the doing the same thing all over again.
It's been a while since I've been able to play a co-op game for that long with out being bored and I can't wait for the next release!
Posted:3 months ago