The House of the Dead (series)

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The House of the Dead (abbreviated as HOTD) is a video game franchise, produced by Sega.

As of 2005, there are four House of the Dead games originating in video arcade format available. Gameplay elements range from branching paths to unlockable bonuses, and a storyline revealed through numerous cut scenes and "chapters".

Several spin-offs to the mainstream storyline have also been produced, as well as two films. In addition, select enemy characters appearing in the first two games were adapted into fully-articulated action figures by Palisade Toys, which cancelled the second toy line before street release due to limited returns from the first series.

Contents 1 Main series 1.1 The House of the Dead (1996) 1.2 The House of the Dead 2 (1998) 1.3 The House of the Dead III (2002) 1.4 The House of the Dead 4 (2005) 2 Spin-off titles 3 Film adaptions 4 Key terms 5 Trivia 6 External links

[edit] Main series

[edit] The House of the Dead (1996)

Main article: The House of the Dead (arcade game)

On December 18, 1998, the insane and disillusioned Dr. Curien plans to mobilize his armies of undead unto the unsuspecting populace. AMS agents Thomas Rogan and "G" are dispatched to his mansion to put a stop to the madman and rescue Sophie Richards, Rogan's fiance.

[edit] The House of the Dead 2 (1998)

Main article: The House of the Dead 2

On February 26, 2000, Goldman, the man behind the Curien Mansion case, claims responsibilty. Fueled by his detest of humankind's complete lack of responsibility toward its assigned task, Goldman initiates an attack on Venice while his Emperor project develops. Two new agents named James and Gary tackle on this case.

[edit] The House of the Dead III (2002)

Main article: The House of the Dead III

In the post-apocalyptic world of 2019, Thomas Rogan and his team of commandos infiltrate the EFI Research Facility in hopes of finding the source of the planet's collapse. Losing contact with him, daughter Lisa Rogan and former partner "G" set out on a search and recover mission, unaware that what awaits them has ties to the distant past and the very genesis of the undead horde.

[edit] The House of the Dead 4 (2005)

Main article: The House of the Dead 4

This game is set in the year 2003 and fills the gap between the second and third games. It features veteran AMS agent James Taylor (who was one of the protagonists in The House of the Dead 2) and newcomer Kate Green, who are investigating the Goldman Incident of 2000. Following a sudden earthquake, they are shocked to discover that the undead from three years prior have returned. Intent on preventing a nuclear disaster, they must once again cross paths with the seemingly deceased Goldman.

[edit] Spin-off titles

• The Typing of the Dead
• The Typing of the Dead: Zombie Panic
• The Pinball of the Dead
• Zombie Revenge

[edit] Film adaptions

Main articles: House of the Dead (film) and House of the Dead 2 (film)

In 2003, the first film, directed by Uwe Boll and produced by Brightlight Pictures, was released. Given limited theatrical release with the intent of becoming a cult film, it served as a loose prequel to the game, but received poor reviews and little box office return.

In 2004, a sequel to the first film was greenlit. The previous director was unable to direct the sequel due to commitments to his other films, and Michael Hurst was chosen to take his place.

As of 2006, another sequel was announced. Mindfire Entertainment co-founder Mark Altman has stated in discussions that "It's a completely different approach to the material than the first two films and I doubt it will even be called House of the Dead 3." [1]

[edit] Key terms

• AMS - A government organization dealing with paranormal activities. Their ranks form the protagonists of the series, but by 2019, the program has been disbanded.

• DBR Corporation - A business conglomerate headed by Goldman, which funds Dr. Curien's inhumane experiments.

• Pandora's Box - Taking its name from the relic of Greek mythology, this pyramidal structure in the Goldman Building courtyard is seen in the second installment, and is a major plot device in the fourth. It is the source of the undead and chaos in the latter, and houses Goldman's last evil, charged with testing humankind.

[edit] Trivia

• The bosses of the series are named after cards in the Major Arcana of tarot. As of The House of the Dead 4, only three cards remain unused: The High Priestess, The Devil, and The Moon.

[edit] External links

• Sega's official Japanese The House of the Dead III page
• Sega's official Japanese The House of the Dead 4 page

v • d • e The House of the Dead video games

House of the Dead • 2 • III • 4 The Typing of the Dead • The Typing of the Dead: Zombie Panic • The Pinball of the Dead • Zombie Revenge House of the Dead (film) • House of the Dead 2 (film)