| The Walking Dead | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:The_Walking_Dead,_Season_One_cover.jpeg) Cover art featuring Lee Everett and Clementine | |
| Developer(s) | Telltale Games |
| Publisher(s) | Telltale Games |
| Director(s) | Sean Vanaman Jake Rodkin Dennis Lenart Eric Parsons Nick Herman Sean Ainsworth |
| Designer(s) | Sean Vanaman Jake Rodkin Mark Darin Harrison G. Pink Andrew Langley Sean Ainsworth |
| Programmer(s) | Carl Muckenhoupt Randy Tudor Keenan Patterson |
| Artist(s) | Derek Sakai |
| Writer(s) | Sean Vanaman[2] Mark Darin[3] Gary Whitta[4] |
| Composer(s) | Jared Emerson-Johnson |
| Series | The Walking Dead |
| Engine | Telltale Tool |
| Platform(s) | Android iOS Kindle Fire HDX OS X Windows Nintendo Switch Ouya PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Xbox 360 Xbox One |
| Release | Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
|
| Genre(s) | |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Walking Dead[a] is a 2012 episodic graphic adventure video game developed and published by Telltale Games. Set in the same universe as the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, it is the first installment in Telltale's The Walking Dead video game series. The game follows Lee Everett, a convicted criminal who becomes the guardian of a young girl named Clementine amidst the onset of a zombie apocalypse in Georgia. Player decisions, such as dialogue choices and actions, influence the story’s direction, with the consequences of these choices carrying over across the game’s episodes.
Telltale Games acquired rights to develop The Walking Dead in 2011 after success with other licensed titles. They worked closely with Robert Kirkman, focusing on making a narrative where players made morally challenging decisions that influenced the storyline while avoiding conventional game-over scenarios. While players' choices impact relationships and the immediate story, they do not significantly alter the overarching plot, creating a balance between player agency and a cohesive narrative.
Released in five episodes between April and November 2012 on various platforms, The Walking Dead received widespread praise for its emotional depth, the dynamic between Lee and Clementine, and its impact on the adventure game genre. It won year-end accolades, including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications, and has been regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made. By the end of 2012, it had sold over 8.5 million episodes, with total sales reaching 28 million copies by July 2014, making it the best-selling adventure game of all time.
In 2013, Telltale expanded the game into a franchise by releasing an additional downloadable episode, 400 Days, to extend the first season and bridge the gap towards Season 2, which was released in 2013 and 2014. Season 3 and the final season were released in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019, respectively, along with a spin-off game based on the character Michonne.
- ^ Norris, Erick. "The Walking Dead: Episode 2 Available Today". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ Hamilton, Kirk (August 31, 2012). "Everything Breaks Bad In The Darkest, Strongest Episode Of The Walking Dead Yet". Kotaku. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ Hamilton, Kirk (June 9, 2012). "Why The Walking Dead Game Is in Black and White". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ Conditt, Jessica. "The Walking Dead Episode 4: Around Every Corner sneaks over in October". Joystiq. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ Miller, Greg (November 19, 2012). "The Walking Dead: The Game – Episode 5: No Time Left Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
PocketGamertipswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Holzworth, Chris (August 27, 2013). "Telltale Games Bringing The Walking Dead Season One, 400 Days to Ouya". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
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