Dead Rising 4 to Have a Deeper Story, with a Focus on Consumerism

It's been lately revealed that Dead Rising 4 is coming along quite well. This includes the theme of the title, which has been revealed by Capcom Vancouver head Joe Nickolls.

The studio has, by the by, hired a specialist video game narrative writer, one who is a proper video game designer and writer, not a Capcom employee who has dabbled in some creative writing. Furthermore, it has recruited three writers, which is three times as many hired for previous installments.

According to Nickolls:

"I don't want to speak ill of anyone, but the writer we've had in the past was someone who had done some creative writer, was working at Capcom and wrote us a story. This time we got a proper video game designer/writer. Anyone, theoretically, can write a story, but writing a story that makes sense and that you can play, that's a real skill. Right down to getting behind why these characters are doing this, why would that guy snap and wear that stupid costume? Those are the sorts of questions we're asking. 90 percent of the consumers who play this game, they don't think as much as we do about these things, but for the 10 percent that do want that depth, we've got it."

What about that depth? Well, there's a theme surrounding the story this time around:

"The message behind the game is around consumerism and Black Friday, and we're asking: who is the monster? The zombies running around or is it what caused everyone to fight each other and demand these products and services? I often say this is not the thinking man's game, but there are some messages in there that might make you think a little bit more than usual."

And noooooow I am interested.

Besides the writing that has changed for Dead Rising 4, do expect some new zombies, a lesser emphasis of a time limit, new customization options, and a shifted control scheme. But don't worry, killing zombies will continue to be the essence, complete with a Christmas theme.

To read more on the development of Dead Rising 4, please head on over to GamesIndustry.biz.