City of the Dead Gains Horror-Icon News

Hip Games has today confirmed that horror icon, Tom Savini, will feature within the forthcoming collaboration with George A. Romero, City of the Dead.

Besides his noted makeup skills, Savini began a close relationship with the â??zombie kingâ? in the 1978 cult-classic Dawn of the Dead and returns for Romeroâ??s long-awaited return to the horror genre â??Land of the Deadâ? â?“ keeping the horror theme as Sex Machine in â??From Dusk Till Dawnâ? along the way.

Savini plays the pivotal role of William â??Redâ? McLean within the game, a hardened ex-law enforcer who knows how to survive, whose exact role has yet to be disclosed although becomes playable later in the game.

â??We are incredibly pleased that Mr. Savini has agreed to lend his talent to our upcoming release, â??City of the Deadâ??,â? said Arindra Singh, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hip Interactive Corp. â??His legendary make-up artistry and theatrical roles have securely embedded him in the Romero Universe. We are honored to have him on board!â?

â??I feel like an assassin. I load up my car with my essentials and go off to strange places and kill people, and thingsâ?¦in movies,â? said Tom Savini from his Pittsburgh home. â??It makes sense for me now to do it in a new strange place....a video game. My first video game and a whole new arena to fulfill my reputation, my legend, as the king of splatter in the bloodiest gore fest in gamingâ?¦ â??City of the Dead.â??â?

City of the Dead sounds as though it begins where Dawn of the Dead left off, as four desperate survivors escape a ravaged, zombie infested city by helicopter. Having made it to the remote island of Isla Mortal, only to find their only means of transport destroyed during a freak accident. Presumably tying in with events from Day of the Dead, the island is home to a top-secret military installation, overrun by the living dead!

Armed with an array of traditional and futuristic weapons, players must battle against the living dead across a series of abandoned locales. Splitscreen Co-Op, Party and 4P Online modes are promised, which could lift the game above the dilemma of a crowded action genre. The promise of multiplayer modes pitting gamers as â??humansâ? and â??zombiesâ? should hopefully also set this out from the crowd.

City of the Dead will be shown behind closed doors at E3â??05; weâ??ll have more information soonâ?¦