American McGee Removing Alice Film From OZombie Kickstarter

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

American McGee Removing Alice Film From OZombie Kickstarter

American McGee's twisted take on L. Frank Baum's Oz series needs a new name.

Two weeks into his latest crowd-funding venture [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125359-American-McGee-Takes-OZombie-to-Kickstarter], American McGee is making some major changes to OZombie, starting with the title. "OZombie is causing too much confusion," the founder of the Spicy Horse development studio said in today's Kickstarter update. A new name for the game will be decided "shortly," with backers invited to leave their suggestions. McGee is also scrapping plans for a $1,050,000 stretch goal that would allow the company to acquire the rights to make an Alice: Otherlands film based on McGee's Alice property, as well as any related rewards.

In a July 2 update [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/ozombie/posts/527967], McGee stated that he added Alice: Otherlands to the OZombie campaign to "increase awareness about OZombie and put us in a position to secure and develop the Alice property as animated shorts and eventually feature film(s)." Sadly, McGee can't simply make a new Alice game; while talks to acquire the rights to do so have been "productive," an agreement between Spicy Horse and EA hasn't been reached yet.

This doesn't necessarily mean the end of Alice: Otherlands; McGee stated that he will explore doing a separate Kickstarter or IndieGoGo campaign separately "if time allows." OZombie has currently received $134,227 of its $950,000 goal; there are 28 days left in the campaign.

Source: Polygon [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/ozombie/posts/532152]

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[SonOfVoorhees]

There is a movie called Osombie - it has a zombie osama bin laden. lol A title change for this game would be a good thing.

 

[RJ 17]

I would have loved to see a movie adaptation of his take on the Alice story. The 2nd game, in particular, I think would make a good movie.

As for changing the title, thank god. It's bad enough that the zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz, but did we REALLY need the title to be a facepalm inducing pun?

 

[kael013]

As for changing the title, thank god. It's bad enough that the zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz, but did we REALLY need the title to be a facepalm inducing pun?

Have you even checked out the Kickstarter? That "zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz" statement is a little twisted. Sure there are zombies, but it's not like L4D's or RE's zombies. Think Romero; the zombies are a easy visual stand-in for an abstract social idea - in this case a society based on mindless conformity.

Really guys, this is American McGee, he doesn't make games based on simple concepts (well, most of the time). Check out the Kickstarter before you judge.

 

[RJ 17]

As for changing the title, thank god. It's bad enough that the zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz, but did we REALLY need the title to be a facepalm inducing pun?

Have you even checked out the Kickstarter? That "zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz" statement is a little twisted. Sure there are zombies, but it's not like L4D's or RE's zombies. Think Romero; the zombies are a easy visual stand-in for an abstract social idea - in this case a society based on mindless conformity.

Really guys, this is American McGee, he doesn't make games based on simple concepts (well, most of the time). Check out the Kickstarter before you judge.

Social commentary or not...it's still a zombie apocalypse.

Has Oz been overrun by zombies as directed by The Scarecrow gone mad? Yes? Then it's a frickin' zombie apocalypse. You can say whatever you want about the massive hordes of zombies and the meaning behind them, but it's still a zombie apocalypse. Guess what all the "(fill in the blank) of the Dead" movies were? Zombie apocalypses. Yes, I fully get how Dawn of the Dead is saying that everyone is already a zombie, just wandering around the mall because it's what we do. No real thought or motive behind it, it's just instinctive. But in front of that subtextual message is the fact that the world has been overrun by zombies.

 

[Something Amyss]

Think Romero; the zombies are a easy visual stand-in for an abstract social idea - in this case a society based on mindless conformity.

And that became cliché in the 70's, too. Zombies as social commentary is so overdone that we often use it as a spoof or meta gag.

 

[Voulan]

Really guys, this is American McGee, he doesn't make games based on simple concepts (well, most of the time). Check out the Kickstarter before you judge.

Yeah, seriously. I was super impressed when I read about the themes he's looking to tackle in this game. It also makes me a little sad about how great Madness Returns could have been before they hacked it up during time constraints. The end product wasn't bad, but it wasn't as spectacular or complex as it could have been. It's plot was almost simple, and really obvious halfway through.

Anyway, I'd rather they'd put that money from the film towards a better third Alice game.

 

[kael013]

Social commentary or not...it's still a zombie apocalypse.

Is this a bad thing? Some people like zombies, others don't. The main thing I was pointing out was that videogames have only used zombies as generic enemies, something to blast away with no ill feelings after. How many games can you think of that have used zombies as social commentary? I can't think of any, so OZombie is treading new ground.

[quote/]Has Oz been overrun by zombies as directed by The Scarecrow gone mad? Yes? Then it's a frickin' zombie apocalypse. You can say whatever you want about the massive hordes of zombies and the meaning behind them, but it's still a zombie apocalypse.[/quote]
That's only part of the game (though admittedly, the most visible part). How do the Milgram Experiments (which is being used as an influence on some of the design) relate to a typical zombie apocalypse? From a KS Update: "You'll find Munchkins engaged in ritual sacrifice of their friends and family members, Quadlings committing mass suicide, Winkies snitching on each other, Vegetable People on death marches and the inhabitants of China Country smashing their own homes - all because authority figures have convinced them these things must be done. More critically, you'll find yourself in positions of power over others with trusted authority figures asking you to do things you know are wrong. How will you respond?" None of those examples are zombies, yet they fit the [i/]narrative theme[/i]. That's the important part. [quote/]Guess what all the "(fill in the blank) of the Dead" movies were? Zombie apocalypses. Yes, I fully get how Dawn of the Dead is saying that everyone is already a zombie, just wandering around the mall because it's what we do. No real thought or motive behind it, it's just instinctive. But in front of that subtextual message is the fact that the world has been overrun by zombies.[/quote]
Um, I know that because I used Romero in my argument. Yes, those were zombie films, but they had a deeper meaning and that deeper meaning is what pulled people to them, not the animated corpses.

EDIT: I can see that we're just gonna have to disagree about this topic. That's cool and I understand that you're hung up on "it's a zombie apocalypse no matter how you present it". I've just been using you so others on this site can get both sides of the issue (sorry if you don't like that). (EDIT 2: I just refreshed the page and noticed you had responded with pretty much my edit (before I posted it). I understand that we'll have to agree to disagree and I don't want to continue the conversation further either.)

 

[RJ 17]

Snip.

My entire point has only been that "Zombie Apocalypse is Zombie Apocalypse", regardless of if there's a deeper meaning behind it or not.

Beyond that, I just really don't care enough about the subject to continue this conversation any further.

 

[Whytewulf]

Was it just me, or did this article confuse people besides me. So he has to change the name, but everything about the Movie Kickstarter is still a go, but he also removing a secondary portion for the Alice naming rights. I guess that all makes sense, but it was a bit incoherent. As far as ontopic, I would watch the movie. I enjoy his games. So I will support him as needed.

 

[punipunipyo]

I would have loved to see a movie adaptation of his take on the Alice story. The 2nd game, in particular, I think would make a good movie.

As for changing the title, thank god. It's bad enough that the zombie apocalypse has made it to Oz, but did we REALLY need the title to be a facepalm inducing pun?

No... First one, it makes more sense, the story is mere complete, AND it's actually DARKER, we could have the SET PIECE of the second game, and the twisted dream/reality mixing... but I'd go with Alice WITH OUT THE SISTER, and the queen is her self, makes more sense.... the second game's plot twist is soooooo lame, and last minute, the ending looks hashed...

 

[kael013]

So he never intended to make good on his movie promise to OZombie backers. Way to stay classy, McGee.

No, he meant to; the reason the Alice movie was adding to OZombie was to increase awareness for the game (it was also added as a stretch goal, above and beyond the already asked for $950K). However, it raised more questions from the backers as to the focus of the project - the most common complaints being confusing tiers and what the money split would be between the two goals. So [i/]at the requests of backers[/i] American is removing the Alice movie stretch goal and setting it up as it's own project.