Zeboyd Games

Epiphany In Spaaace! is an interactive fiction story released on October 20, 2009 on Xbox Live Indie Games. A sci-fi parody, it follows the travails of Philemon K. Bort (possible Captain of the U.S.S. Epiphany, one of the latest additions to the Universal Galactic Space Corps fleet).{{cite web | title=Epiphany in Spaaace! Review | url=http://www.gogaminggiant.com/2009/10/28/epiphany-spaaace-review/ | publisher=Go!GamingGiant | date=28 Oct 2009 | access-date=2011-01-13}}{{cite web | title=Full Game - Epiphany in Spaaace! | url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Epiphany-in-Spaaace/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025855033d | publisher=Xbox Live | date=20 Oct 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13 | archive-date=2012-06-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629013937/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Epiphany-in-Spaaace/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025855033d | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=Epiphany in Spaaace! | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/epiphany-in-spaaace/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 | publisher=Metacritic | date=20 Oct 2009 | access-date=2011-01-13}} Molly the Were-Zompire was released shortly afterwards on December 10, 2009.{{cite web | title=Full Game - Molly the Were-Zompire | url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Molly-the-Were-Zompire/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585503ab | publisher=Xbox Live | date=10 Dec 2009 | access-date=2011-01-13 | archive-date=2012-07-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710194242/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Molly-the-Were-Zompire/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585503ab | url-status=dead }} It follows the character Molly Desper, who is turned into a were-zombie-vampire.{{cite web | title=Review: Molly the Were-Zompire | url=http://www.indiegameblog.net/2010/01/11/review-molly-the-were-zompire/ | access-date=2011-01-13}} Both titles sold about 500-700 copies.{{cite web |date=Apr 2010 |title=RPGamer Feature - Breath of Death VII: The Beginning Interview |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/xbox2/bod7/bod7int.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006002723/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/xbox2/bod7/bod7int.html |archive-date=2012-10-06 |access-date=2011-01-13 |publisher=RPGamer}}

A remastered compilation pack of both games, under the modified title Molly the Werezompire, was released for Windows on December 29, 2023. Sam Wachter of RPGamer reviewed both games as "hilarious", saying that despite their short length, they were well worth the price.{{Cite web |last=Wachter |first=Sam |date=2024-03-08 |title=Adventure Corner ~ Molly the Werezompire & Epiphany in Spaaace! |url=https://rpgamer.com/2024/03/adventure-corner-molly-the-werezompire-epiphany-in-spaaace/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=RPGamer |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Breath of Death VII: The Beginning}}

Co-created with William Stiernberg, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning was released on April 22, 2010, on Xbox Live Indie Games.{{cite web | title=Full Game - Breath of Death VII | url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Breath-of-Death-VII/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585504bd | publisher=Xbox Live | date=22 Apr 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13}} A retro-style comedy RPG, Dem the Skeleton Knight, Sara the Ghost Historian, Lita the Vampire Techie, and Erik the Zombie Prince are customized via a branching ability tree.{{cite web | title=Breath of Death VII Released For XBLA:This retro parody RPG is dying for your support. | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2010/148.html | publisher=RPGFan.com | date=29 Apr 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13 | archive-date=2010-08-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817040037/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2010/148.html | url-status=dead }} Robert felt that most turn-based RPGs were too slow, so Breath of Death VII battles employ a combo system based on player character choices with non-player characters receiving a strength bonus based on how many turns the fight has gone, giving the battles a pseudo time limit.{{cite web | title=Interview: Zeboyd Games Creator Shares 3 Secrets of Good RPG Design | url=http://www.bitmob.com/articles/interview-with-creator-of-zeboyd-games-the-3-secret-ingredients-to-making-a-good-role-playing-game | publisher=bitmob.com | date=6 Jul 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13}} Additionally, the number of encounters in an area are limited.{{cite web | title=Hidden Xbox Games You Need To Know About | url=http://kotaku.com/5550463/xbox-games-you-need-to-know-about | publisher=Kotaku | date=31 May 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13}} With more than 40,000 sales, Breath of Death VII has a 2/3 conversion rate from the trial.

Despite its title, it is the only game of its "series", and the previous "six" do not exist. The title is simply a parody of serial RPGs whose sequels are often not in chronological order.

{{Main|Cthulhu Saves the World}}

Co-created with Bill Stiernberg, Cthulhu Saves the World was released on December 30, 2010 on Xbox Live.{{cite web | title=Full Game - Cthulhu Saves the World | url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Cthulhu-Saves-the-World/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550756?cid=search | publisher=Xbox Live | date=30 Dec 2010 | access-date=2011-01-13 | archive-date=2012-06-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144200/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Cthulhu-Saves-the-World/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550756?cid=search | url-status=dead }} Cthulhu, the squid-faced, winged god created by H. P. Lovecraft emerges from the sea after centuries of slumber only to find his dark powers immediately sealed away by a mysterious holy wizard. A narrator then informs the player that the only way to break the curse is to become a true hero. Quickly breaking the fourth wall, Cthulhu informs the narrator that he was eavesdropping and now knows how to break the curse.{{cite web | title=Xbox Live Indie Gems: Cthulhu Saves the World | url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/xbox-live-indie-gems-cthulhu-saves-the-world/ | publisher=Joystiq | date=6 Jan 2011 | access-date=2011-01-13}} Like Breath of Death VII, Cthulhu Saves the World has a branching level-up system and caps random encounters in an area (there is an option where the player can choose from the menu to have additional encounters).{{cite web | title=Cthulhu Saves the World Review | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-11-cthulhu-saves-the-world-review | publisher=Eurogamer | date=11 Jan 2011 | access-date=2011-01-13}} The "Hey There, Cthulhu" music video was produced by Nakatomi HMC{{cite web | title=Nakatomi HMC Videos | url=http://vimeo.com/nakatomihmc | access-date=2011-01-13}} using the parody song written and recorded by Eben Brooks.{{cite AV media | people=Eben Brooks | date=2008-06-02| title= Hey There Chthulhu [a Lovecraftian song] | type=Youtube video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut82TDjciSg|access-date=2024-08-09}} All in-game music was composed and recorded by Gordon McNeil.{{cite web | title=Indie Developer Pow-Wow - Cthulhu Saves the World Interview | url=http://www.rpgamer.com/features/2010/indiepowow/cthulhuint.html | publisher=rpgamer.com | access-date=2011-01-13 | archive-date=2012-10-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006002756/http://www.rpgamer.com/features/2010/indiepowow/cthulhuint.html | url-status=dead }}

Zeboyd Games began a Kickstarter fundraiser towards development of an enhanced version of the game for PC and Xbox 360 platforms; it was more than successfully funded on February 16, 2011, garnering over twice the fundraiser's goal. The new version was officially announced on March 14, 2011, retitling the game as "Cthulhu Saves the World: Super Hyper Enhanced Championship Edition Alpha Diamond DX Plus Alpha FES HD - Premium Enhanced Game of the Year Collector's Edition (without Avatars!)". The PC version was released on July 13, 2011 together with Breath of Death VII on Valve's Steam service. The Steam version was a financial success, making more revenue in its first week of release than in a year and a half on the Xbox 360.{{cite web | title=Zeboyd PC Sales Leave XBLIG In The Dust | website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun | url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/07/20/zeboyd-pc-sales-leave-xblig-in-the-dust/ | date=20 July 2011 | access-date=2012-02-20| last1=Walker | first1=John }} By November 21, 2011, the "Zeboyd Games Combo Pack" (Cthulhu Saves the World & Breath of Death VII) had sold over 100,000 copies on Steam in less than four months after release.{{cite web | title=Cthulhu Saves the World bundle sells over 100,000 copies on Steam in less than 4 months | url=http://zeboyd.com/2011/11/21/cthulhu-saves-the-world-bundle-sells-over-100000-copies-on-steam-in-less-than-4-months/ | date= 21 November 2011 | access-date=2011-11-21}}

{{Main|Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 and 4}}

Zeboyd Games developed Episode 3 of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness,Rossignol, Jim. [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/08/31/zeboyd-are-on-the-rain-slick-precipice/ Zeboyd Are On the Rain-Slick Precipice] rockpapershotgun.com. Retrieved 2012-03-04 which was released on June 25, 2012. Robert Boyd and Bill Stiernberg, along with Jerry Holkins and Jeff Kalles, hosted a panel at PAX East in Boston on April 6, 2012.[http://east.paxsite.com/schedule.php PAX East Schedule] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208013417/http://east.paxsite.com/schedule.php |date=2012-02-08 }}. Penny Arcade Expo. Retrieved 2012-03-04 Zeboyd Games also developed Episode 4, which was released on June 7, 2013.

{{main|Cosmic Star Heroine}}

Cosmic Star Heroine is a science fiction RPG that was released in April 2017 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. A PS Vita and Nintendo Switch version followed in 2018. It received positive reviews.[https://www.metacritic.com/game/cosmic-star-heroine/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 "Cosmic Star Heroine for PS4 Reviews"] Metacritic, Retrieved 2 August 2017[https://www.metacritic.com/game/cosmic-star-heroine/critic-reviews/?platform=pc "Cosmic Star Heroine for PC Reviews"] Metacritic, Retrieved 2 August 2017

Zeboyd officially announced Cthulhu Saves Christmas, a prequel to Cthulhu Saves the World, on their personal website on July 29, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://zeboyd.com/2019/07/29/cthulhu-saves-christmas/|title=Cthulhu Saves Christmas – Zeboyd Games|date=5 September 2019 }} It was subsequently released on PC on December 23, 2019. In the side-scrolling JRPG, Cthulhu teams up with Santa Claus’s granddaughter to stop Jack Frost before Christmas is cancelled forever. Along the way he fights Krampus, Mari Lwyd, and other “Christmas League of Evil villains” in turn-based combat. He also builds “R'lyehtionship” levels with his friends.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/comedy-jrpg-cthulhu-saves-christmas-is-out-now/ |title=Comedy JRPG Cthulhu Saves Christmas is out now |last=Bolding |first=Jonathan |date=2019-12-25 |website=pcgamer.com |publisher=PC Gamer |access-date=2019-12-28}}

{{Main|This Way Madness Lies}}

This Way Madness Lies is a Shakespeare-themed magical girl role-playing game. It was released on November 10, 2022 for Microsoft Windows.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/games/this-way-madness-lies|title=This Way Madness Lies|work=Gematsu|date=13 October 2022 |accessdate=2024-02-12}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://zeboyd.com/ Official Zeboyd Games website]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxScTbIUvoA Hey There Cthulhu: The Photomontage Video]

{{Zeboyd Games}}

Category:American companies established in 2009

Category:Video game companies established in 2009

Category:Companies based in Lake Arrowhead, California

Category:Video game companies of the United States

Category:Video game development companies

Category:2009 establishments in California

Category:Privately held companies based in California