httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akgcch6735Q

The Walking Dead franchise has seemingly reached the pinnacle of success. Its live-action TV series on AMC is wildly popular as fans eagerly await its third season and the 100th issue of the comic book that started it all is the best selling indie comic book of the century. Thanks to TellTale Games, it’s also a popular episodic video game series whose creators want to see expand into future seasons.

For anyone not familiar with the comics, TV show and game, The Walking Dead has always been about people and about survival. The zombies are not the focus; they just provide the backdrop to test the willpower and determination of regular everyday people when put in the most extreme situations, often with a no-win scenario. As we’ve learned thanks to TellTale’s games, people are inherently good in that the majority of the time, they’ll tend to do the “right” thing, even though it’s just a video game.

Take a look at the video up top to see some of the interesting statistics TellTale pulled from The Walking Dead - Episode 2. They highlight key decision points throughout the game where it’s up the player to make a tough decision, some easier than others, some that may not truly have a good solution. Most of the time, even if it’s not necessarily the most logical decision to make in terms of sheer survival needs, players will make the good/light side/paragon choice.

Telltale’s marketing director Richard Iggo speaks to the apparent good nature of players:

Games with player choice are opening up a new facet of game design. It was one of the core building blocks of the Mass Effect series and was appropriately praised in Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain. To put the onus on players in how to overcome tough situations, then to make them face the consequences of their actions brings an entirely new and untapped type of experience that we want to see more of.

As for what’s next? Iggo has some big words for The Walking Dead - Episode 3.

As for the franchise that keeps on giving (and growing), there’s a new Walking Dead first-person shooter in the works over at Activision. Rumor has it a feature film could be in development as well.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: VentureBeat