It's certainly not easy to make a game based off a hit television series; one has to only look back at properties like Buffy, The X-Files, and The Sopranos to find examples of fantastic shows that transitioned into video games via bland and uninspired adaptations. And the less said about the Home Improvement SNES game featuring dinosaurs, the better. Observing this sad trend makes it all the more surprising that Telltale was able to create a fantastic opening to their downloadable series based on The Walking Dead. Sadly the success that they had with the AMC hit caused an old wound to open in the form of us thinking about the potential behind 2008's Lost: Via Domus, and how it failed in every aspect that The Walking Dead succeeds.

Ubisoft Montreal released their adaptation of the ambitious ABC series at the very end of Lost's third season. As the season finale dramatically widened the scope of the series, Lost: Via Domus attempted to retread over the first 60 episodes by placing fans in the shoes of a brand new character. What followed was a bland, uninspired trod through the jungle without any focus whatsoever. Characters from the show would randomly pop-up for the sole purpose of having fans recognize them, and strange gameplay mechanics were shoehorned for no apparent reason. In short, the game was a bit of a mess. So why is it that Telltale was able to succeed with The Walking Dead where Ubisoft failed with Lost?

Understanding the Source Material

It's certainly not easy to make a game based off a hit television series; one has to only look back at properties like Buffy, The X-Files, and The Sopranos to find examples of fantastic shows that transitioned into video games via bland and uninspired adaptations. And the less said about the Home Improvement SNES game featuring dinosaurs, the better. Observing this sad trend makes it all the more surprising that Telltale was able to create a fantastic opening to their downloadable series based on The Walking Dead. Sadly the success that they had with the AMC hit caused an old wound to open in the form of us thinking about the potential behind 2008's Lost: Via Domus, and how it failed in every aspect that The Walking Dead succeeds.

Ubisoft Montreal released their adaptation of the ambitious ABC series at the very end of Lost's third season. As the season finale dramatically widened the scope of the series, Lost: Via Domus attempted to retread over the first 60 episodes by placing fans in the shoes of a brand new character. What followed was a bland, uninspired trod through the jungle without any focus whatsoever. Characters from the show would randomly pop-up for the sole purpose of having fans recognize them, and strange gameplay mechanics were shoehorned for no apparent reason. In short, the game was a bit of a mess. So why is it that Telltale was able to succeed with The Walking Dead where Ubisoft failed with Lost?

Understanding the Source Material

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 2 headlines today's EU PlayStation Store update. Sega's latest Sonic adventure costs 1UP's latest news feed - the #1 source for gaming news.

There are few better feelings than being genuinely surprised by something that you had no idea even existed. Such was the case a few hours ago when I stumbled upon the teaser trailer for Dreadline, an upcoming PC game from Eerie Canal Entertainment. Turns out this is the freshman title by Eerie Canal, a new team comprised of veterans from Irrational Games and Harmonix who worked on titles like BioShock and Rock Band. One could assume that Dreadline would include Objectivism via plastic instruments, but then one would be terribly wrong.

The game places you in the role of a team of creatures who evidently time travel just prior to infamous historical disasters and completely decimate the victims moments before their impending doom. This motley crew consists of an ornery mummy, some sort of feral cat-girl, an ominous cube that looks like it was pulled straight from a Phantasam reboot, and a homicidal child in a ghost costume.

There are few better feelings than being genuinely surprised by something that you had no idea even existed. Such was the case a few hours ago when I stumbled upon the teaser trailer for Dreadline, an upcoming PC game from Eerie Canal Entertainment. Turns out this is the freshman title by Eerie Canal, a new team comprised of veterans from Irrational Games and Harmonix who worked on titles like BioShock and Rock Band. One could assume that Dreadline would include Objectivism via plastic instruments, but then one would be terribly wrong.

The game places you in the role of a team of creatures who evidently time travel just prior to infamous historical disasters and completely decimate the victims moments before their impending doom. This motley crew consists of an ornery mummy, some sort of feral cat-girl, an ominous cube that looks like it was pulled straight from a Phantasam reboot, and a homicidal child in a ghost costume.

There are few better feelings than being genuinely surprised by something that you had no idea even existed. Such was the case a few hours ago when I stumbled upon the teaser trailer for Dreadline, an upcoming PC game from Eerie Canal Entertainment. Turns out this is the freshman title by Eerie Canal, a new team comprised of veterans from Irrational Games and Harmonix who worked on titles like BioShock and Rock Band. One could assume that Dreadline would include Objectivism via plastic instruments, but then one would be terribly wrong.

The game places you in the role of a team of creatures who evidently time travel just prior to infamous historical disasters and completely decimate the victims moments before their impending doom. This motley crew consists of an ornery mummy, some sort of feral cat-girl, an ominous cube that looks like it was pulled straight from a Phantasam reboot, and a homicidal child in a ghost costume.

Downloadable content has been one of the most popular trends this generation. Last year Activision tried to find out if a market exists for a subscription service for a non-MMO with Call of Duty Elite. As the latest numbers peg Elite subscriptions -- which cost $50 a year, or were free with Modern Warfare 3's Hardened Edition -- at 2 million, an audience does apparently exist that is willing to fork over money for more than just a la carte DLC. Electronic Arts is now rumored to be preparing a premium service for the Battlefield series which is said to be launching in only a few weeks' time.

Battlefieldo reported on Friday a "very reliable source" had shared with it a timeline for the forthcoming updates Battlefield 3 is receiving. In addition to a mention of a fifth expansion pack (beyond the already released Back to Karkand and the previously announced Close Quarters, Armored Kill, and End Game) is a strategy guide being released in June and, more notably, something called Battlefield Premium.

Downloadable content has been one of the most popular trends this generation. Last year Activision tried to find out if a market exists for a subscription service for a non-MMO with Call of Duty Elite. As the latest numbers peg Elite subscriptions -- which cost $50 a year, or were free with Modern Warfare 3's Hardened Edition -- at 2 million, an audience does apparently exist that is willing to fork over money for more than just a la carte DLC. Electronic Arts is now rumored to be preparing a premium service for the Battlefield series which is said to be launching in only a few weeks' time.

Battlefieldo reported on Friday a "very reliable source" had shared with it a timeline for the forthcoming updates Battlefield 3 is receiving. In addition to a mention of a fifth expansion pack (beyond the already released Back to Karkand and the previously announced Close Quarters, Armored Kill, and End Game) is a strategy guide being released in June and, more notably, something called Battlefield Premium.