ZPC
{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = ZPC cover.png
| image_size =
| developer = Zombie LLC
| publisher = GT Interactive
| designer = Aidan Hughes
| director =
| producer =
| artist = Aidan Hughes
| writer =
| composer = Roland Barker
Paul Barker{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+hits+holiday+season+with+more+than+30+new+PC,...-a018639097|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205233403/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+hits+holiday+season+with+more+than+30+new+PC%2c...-a018639097|title=GT Interactive hits holiday season with more than 30 new PC, PlayStation and Saturn games|website=Business Wire|archivedate=December 5, 2015|date=September 3, 1996|accessdate=August 11, 2021|via=The Free Dictionary}}
| series =
| platforms = Mac OS, Microsoft Windows
| released = December 14, 1996{{Cite web |date=1997-02-27 |title=Online Gaming Review |url=http://www.ogr.com/news/news1296.html |access-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970227065637/http://www.ogr.com/news/news1296.html |archive-date=1997-02-27 }}
| genre = First-person shooter
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|caption =
|alt =
}}ZPC (Zero Population Count) is a first-person shooter video game which uses the Marathon 2 engine. It was developed by Zombie LLC, published by GT Interactive and released on December 14, 1996. It was noted for its stylized look adapted from artwork by Aidan Hughes (also credited with the game's concept).
Gameplay
The story focuses on Arman, an exiled "Warrior Messiah" who has come of age and sets out to reclaim his throne.
Development
The game had a development budget of less than $1 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.zombie.com/studios/press/1997-2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001025002216/http://www.zombie.com/studios/press/1997-2.html|title=Zombie To Debut Two Hyper-Realistic Military Titles at E3|website=zombie.com|archivedate=October 25, 2000|date=April 14, 1997|accessdate=July 25, 2022}}
In other media
At some point prior to November 2003, Hughes announced plans to create or bring about a full-length ZPC film, but nothing came of this.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = MacUser
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010728230437/http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | url=http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | title=The Game Room | date=August 1997 | archivedate=July 28, 2001 | author=Loyola, Roman | work=MacUser | url-status=dead }}
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}} (MAC){{cite magazine |title=ZPC |magazine=Next Generation|issue=28|publisher=Imagine Media |date=April 1997|page=130}}
}}
Air Hendrix of GamePro found ZPC severely outdated, for both its 2D graphics and its gameplay, which he found made little advance beyond 1993's Doom. However, he remarked that the "stark, sombre visual style" and moody music would highly appeal to many, and that this would make the gameplay more enjoyable to those players.{{cite magazine|title=PC GamePro Review Win 95: ZPC: No Flesh Shall Be Spared|magazine=GamePro |issue=100|publisher=IDG |date=January 1997|page=65}} A Next Generation critic said much the same: "Gameplay sticks to the tried-and-true tactics of the legion of Doom clones ... While the level and puzzle design are entirely satisfying, ZPC would be just another pretender to the throne if it weren't for the tremendous atmosphere provided by artists Aiden Hughes and musicians Roland and Paul Barker". He elaborated that "Hughes's predominantly black and red palette and structuralist approach make ZPC one of the most unique-looking games around."
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References
External links
- [http://www.zombie.com Zombie Studios]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20030709223011/http://us.infogrames.com/games/zpc_pc/ Archive] of Infogrames's official website for the game (no longer online as of 2004)
- [http://traxus.bungie.org/index.php/ZPC ZPC] at Traxus Project, a Marathon wiki
- {{moby game|id=/zpc|name=ZPC}}
{{Zombie games}}
Category:First-person shooters
Category:Marathon engine games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Sprite-based first-person shooters
Category:Video games developed in the United States