GameZombie

GameZombie
URL http://www.gamezombie.tv/
Type of site Game Media Studio
Created by Spencer Striker
Launched 2007
Current status Active

GameZombie TV is a web site that produces original video game shows. GameZombie was the recipient of a Webby Honoree Award for Online Video in 2008 [1] and 2009,[2] as well as a Davey Award, a Webby Award, and a People's Voice Webby Award in 2010.[3][4][5] The largely student-run game media studio, based out of the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and Indiana University at Bloomington, has amassed one of the most complete video game developer interview series on the web.[6][7] GameZombie has created upwards of 350 videos for online distribution.[8] GameZombie's videos have amassed over 7,000,000 unique, aggregate views since the company's first video went online in March 2007.[9][10]

Contents

History

GameZombie was started by Spencer Striker in March 2007 while he was a graduate student in Indiana University’s Masters in Immersive Mediated Environments program.[11][12] When based in Bloomington, Indiana, GameZombie became the city's largest employer of student interns.[13][14] Around 50 to 60 students between the two universities take GameZombie for academic credit each semester in order to gain experience in a multimedia studio.[15][16]

Original Video Series

Developer Interview Series

GameZombie’s video game developer interview series includes over 130 video interviews with notable game developers,[17] video game personalities,[18] and makers of gaming peripherals.[19]

GameZombie's annual gaming conference coverage includes the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Game Developers Conference, the Penny Arcade Expo, Gen Con, and the World Series of Video Games.[20][21] Series interviews include: Peter Molyneux of 'Fable 2,' Ed Boon of 'MK vs DC,' Todd Howard of 'Fallout 3,' Ben Mattes of 'Prince of Persia,' Cliff Bleszinski of 'Gears of War 2,' Eric Holmes of 'Prototype,' Clint Hocking of 'Far Cry 2,' Evan Wells of 'Uncharted 2,' Neill Glancy of 'Stranglehold,' Chuck Beaver of 'Dead Space,' Fatal1ty (pro gamer), The Angry Video Game Nerd (gaming critic), Geoff Keighley (gaming host), Al Alcorn (co-creator of Pong), Ralph Baer ('inventor' of video games), Tommy Tallarico of 'Video Games Live,' and Jane McGonigal of 'I Love Bees.'

ButtonMashers

ButtonMashers, a live studio production, was shot in a $2.5 million HDTV studio at Indiana University. [22] The 14 episodes produced over two seasons featured the collaboration of hundreds of students and accumulated millions of views around the web.[23]

Ultimate Challenge

GameZombie's 'Ultimate Challenge' is a motion graphics based original web series where three college aged gamers get trapped inside a fictional NES game. Over the course of six episodes the main characters encounter slime monsters, princesses, and boss battles.

References

  1. ^ Webby Honorees, 2008
  2. ^ Webby Honorees, 2009
  3. ^ Davey Silver Winners, 2010
  4. ^ Webby Winners, 2010
  5. ^ UW-Whitewater students head to New York to accept Webby Awards, Wisconsin State Journal, Patricia Simms, June 11, 2010
  6. ^ Student-produced GameZombie.tv Web site named a Webby Honoree, IU News Room, April 23, 2008
  7. ^ Student-produced GameZombie.tv is a Webby Honoree for second straight year, IU News Room, May 14, 2009
  8. ^ WTIU Weekly Special (5/1/08)
  9. ^ ButtonMashers Season 1 -Episode 2 (4.2 million displays on Bebo)
  10. ^ Tubemogul Stats (over 2 million views)
  11. ^ Video gaming Web site offers education, jobs, Indiana Daily Student, October 20, 2008
  12. ^ GameZombie.tv site to earn Webby Award, Indiana Daily Student, June 7, 2009
  13. ^ ‘Zombie’ gamers among the caps and gowns, Herald Times, May 3, 2008
  14. ^ GameZombie.tv crew named Webby honoree a 2nd time, Herald Times, June 11, 2009
  15. ^ GameZombie reviews come with tech lesson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Stanley A. Miller II, April 24, 2010
  16. ^ Web site a hit with gamers, real-life education for students, Walworth County Today, Lisa M. Schmelz, January 26, 2010
  17. ^ Game Developers - Playlist
  18. ^ Gaming Personalities - Playlist
  19. ^ Gaming Peripherals - Playlist
  20. ^ GameZombie.tv: Rolling with the last guys on the planet, Destructoid, August 8, 2008
  21. ^ Zombies + Game News = 1.5M Views, NewTeeVee, August 31, 2008
  22. ^ GameZombie’s 'ButtonMashers’ Gets Gamers All Riled Up, Tubefilter, February 11, 2009
  23. ^ ‘ButtonMashers’ Resets With Season 2, Lands Gaming Sponsor, Tubefilter, July 27, 2009

External links