Undead Labs

I’ve been super busy building our zompocalyptic playground — towns, forests, and farms; rivers, mountains, and valleys; main streets, back alleys, highways, train tracks, and side roads. Places to climb, places to hide, places to fortify and make a stand. There’s no limit to how much attention and polish there is to add, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So when Emily came by and asked me to think about writing my intro, I wasn’t sure if I’d have the time to tackle it. Instead, I’d like to share some excerpts from my childhood journals with you.

Read on and you’ll see exactly why I love what I do…

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May 4, 1979

Today I know what I want to be when I grow up! With a box of crayons and some paper, my passion for drawing is ignited. In mere minutes I effortlessly scribble out a doodle that blows Nana’s mind. She exclaims that it is “absolutely the cutest one-eared bunny she’s ever seen”. It is proudly displayed on her very exclusive refrigerator gallery, right next to another prized masterpiece: her exquisite clipping of the Cathy cartoon that remarks on the social conundrums and personal conflict of chocolate addiction and dieting. You know the one.

Also to be noted: Nana is a seasoned haggler and has more cookies than she lets on. Request three next time and settle at two.

January 18, 1982

Today was my sixth birthday. I took the five dollar bill that Nana nestled in my card and cashed it in for quarters at the corner market. They installed a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet, and my battle against an unwavering, barrel-hurling pixel monkey and a human rival I only know as “A S S”  has begun. A S S maintains a commanding hold of the top five high scores, but I know that with persistence (and enough access to supplementary laundry quarters) I shall reign supreme. The shop keeper maintains a great level of support and encouragement for my inevitable victory.

The digital monkey is proving to be a cunning adversary — in the small number of times that I successfully ascend his forbidding tower in an attempt to rescue the maiden, she is abruptly snatched away and placed atop yet another precarious perch next to a seemingly endless supply of barrels. You damn dirty ape; she will be freed!

I need more quarters, and if I have to raid my sister’s piggy bank to achieve victory, I shall. Conquest without sacrifice is hollow.

Billy Jorgensen snapped my rainbow suspenders again today. Being inferior in stature I attempted to wound him emotionally by comparing his repulsive excuse for a face to a festering pile of baboon feces, but in my rage “doodie head” was all I could muster.

October 12, 1985

I have encountered (and now adore) the zombie genre! The adults have rented a video cassette tape, “Night of the Comet”. As an avid star gazer I insist on watching this film, but the oppressors once again enforce their barbaric curfew. My cunning triumphs as I sneak out of my holding cell and down to the television room where I stealthily part the door from the jamb. The narrow view is less than optimal, but sufficient to see the screen.

The film is ridiculous but intriguing. It opens my mind to the idea of a life of ultimate freedom — liberation from bedtimes, chores, and vegetables. A world filled with never-ending arcade visits and infinite pizza nights. I find myself playing through different scenarios in my head…the opportunities and the struggles. Also, seeing a zombie’s head get opened with a monkey wrench speaks to something twisted deep inside of me.

I fear the dog may have eaten Starscream’s left fist today. I cannot locate it anywhere. Tomorrow I shall retrace my steps.

July 13, 1987

I had a grand adventure today! First, I rode my bicycle down to the lake and did some sketches of the rock formations near the beach. When I was done, I ventured the long way back, making a stop at the marsh for some aquatic exploration. I was surprised to see that most of the tadpoles have their legs now. Continuing on my journey, I took the shortcut through the golf course to see what action the ball fields had to offer. Not much. Just a few of the older boys playing catch.

Finally making it to the library, I locked up my bicycle and took a stroll along the train tracks to the tunnel. I dared myself to go further in to the darkness until I lost my nerve. For my troubles, I came away with three more railroad spikes for the collection.

After my harrowing ordeal, I procured some sweets from the corner market to get the quick boost of energy I’d need for the trek to the arcade across town. Upon arrival, I realized that I had spent the last of my money on the Jolly Rancher power I had consumed to get there. Fortunately, throwing rocks at a bottle in the alley proved to be just as engaging.

There was still some time left before dark, so I rode out to the middle school I will begin attending in the fall. I discovered that the closed gate securing the inner yard after hours made a most excellent climbing surface, and I quickly found a way to the school’s roof. It was there that I found a place of unexpected tranquility and enough rubber balls to choke a Brontosaurus.

I had just begun to admire the setting sun when I was shaken from my private rooftop world by the shouting of a neighboring resident. I swiftly retreated down to my bike and bolted towards home, taking a few precautionary evasions to foil the pursuers I knew were there but could not see.

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Fast forward to years later —  I’ve been making games for over thirteen years now, from animating characters for 2D kids adventure games and 3D backgrounds on Backyard Sports, to helping build the amazing world for Guild Wars. I even had the chance to make a dam good word game along the way.

I’ve learned a lot over the years, but really I’m an only slightly matured version of the kid in the journals up above. You can probably imagine how thrilled I was to find a kick ass team who wants my help to build an open, engaging, and zombie-filled real-world environment. A world that people can run around in and explore like I used to, except instead of checking out tadpoles and venturing into dark train tunnels, they’re playing out their own survival scenarios. How awesome is that?

What could I say to a job that would let me utilize my skills and experience to make the exact video game that I’ve wanted to play every since I could hold a joystick?

Hell yes!

James

[If you just can't get enough James and would like to know more about him, be sure to check out Jeff's introduction.]