Dead Rising prologue breaks records

By Robert Purchese Published 9 September, 2010

Fastest selling XBLA game ever.

Capcom has let it be known that Dead Rising: Case Zero has broken all Xbox Live Arcade records for week-one sales.

We told you yesterday that the Xbox 360-exclusive prologue to Dead Rising 2 had been bought and downloaded over 300,000 times.

Case Zero was released on 3rd September for 400 Microsoft Points. Read our review, if you like.

Dead Rising 2 will be released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 24th September.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • darkmorgado #1 1 year ago

    And well-deserved, IMHO. I spent more time playing it than most other retail releases this year.

    On another note, why did you pull the Fallout video? Broke an imbargo or something?

  • ZizouFC #2 1 year ago

    Imagine how many more times it would of been downloaded if it wasn't region blocked!

  • Frenzie #3 1 year ago

    Its a hands-on, not a review?

  • menage #4 1 year ago

    Draught + anticipation+ right price = sales

    I loved it. Best DLC next to Deathspank and Limbo (and maybe Shadow Broker but I haven't reached that bit yet)
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/10 @ 17:16

  • W1dget #5 1 year ago

    I expect being in the lower 400 MSP band helped increased sales

  • ParanoidZombie #6 1 year ago

    If there was some sort of "smartest marketing move of the year" award, I would give it to Capcom. Fantastic way to generate interest for DR2 in a busy time of the year, and Case 0's perfect pricing probably means a healthy profit, too.

  • richarddavies #7 1 year ago

    Well deserved. Didn't want to brag but I actually made this game myself with solely with an old atari 2600, a fork and a clump of Jeremy beadles beard hair.

  • darkmorgado #8 1 year ago

    @Menage

    Draught = a breeze coming through an open door
    Draft = An in-progress version of a document.
    Drought = The situation caused by idiot developers all chasing the christmas shopping and managing to ignore that lots of people actually play games all year round.

  • menage #9 1 year ago

    @darkmorgado

    Thanks. I'm Dutch so forgive me please (also for being Dutch:p). I still need to add you btw.

    I agree though. I've been sitting on my money refusing to buy Mafia 2 or shit like that (not saying anything about the quality, but these open world crime games I don't need anymore) cause I know I need the money for all the great things coming.
    Edited by 2 at 09/09/10 @ 17:29

  • Physically_Insane #10 1 year ago

    Yay! \o/

    Good job Capcom. Hopefully this will encourage MS to price their content more fairly.

  • Entity #11 1 year ago

    *cough* 31st August *cough hack*

    On-Topic: I'm pleased that this kind of game has got this response. Just hope game companies understand why this was a success and not to now ply us with shit.

  • GamesConnoisseur #12 1 year ago

    Hot sales = 400 msp

    You Publishers take note please

  • Gartt #13 1 year ago

    I hope this sends a message with regards to pricing.

  • brseg #14 1 year ago

    How many people have 'had their fill' with Case Zero, and will perhaps skip the full game? The publishers won't be celebrating so much if that happens.

  • menage #15 1 year ago

    That's what I was thinking at one point. But seeing as they're smart enough to release it before most of the big ones hit it could turn out allright.

    I'm buying. I want to have more toys to fool around with and the setting is a lot better. The other games I want are being released half of october and I waited since RDR to buy a new fullpriced game.
    Edited by 3 at 09/09/10 @ 17:42

  • Bumbuliuz #16 1 year ago

    This makes me even sadder that I cant buy it because i'm not in an Official Xbox Live country :(

  • rogueJT #17 1 year ago

    Just got 200/200. Only the second game I've "completed" - the other being Dash of Destruction lol.

  • Wheatley #18 1 year ago

    @richarddavies

    Yes, it's a shame that Jeremy Beadle had to die in order for this game to be made. But who could've known he was susceptible to sudden beard loss?

  • viper_h #19 1 year ago

    From the playthrough I've seen this game looks like total shit, but I'm tempted to buy it anyway to see what all the fuss is abaat

  • richarddavies #20 1 year ago

    @Wheatley

    Yeah he went down fighting though Jeremy i'll give him that. He's got a good kick on him, Little handed sod.

  • Vyggo #21 1 year ago

    More 400msp xbla games please! It's impulse buy territory.

  • Paperghost #22 1 year ago

    definitely buying the second one.

    interesting how many people its caused to rush out and purchase the first game again, myself included.

  • Wheatley #23 1 year ago

    @richarddavies

    Aww, what a character he was. I heard that after the cremation you put his ashes in a Sega Mega Drive. It's what he would have wanted.

  • effinjamie #24 1 year ago

    Is it just me that sees this as nothing more than a glorified demo they've made you pay for?

  • dfua #25 1 year ago

    "Is it just me that sees this as nothing more than a glorified demo they've made you pay for?"

    If you class this as a demo what is your definition for a full game? Do you see every game as just a demo for the sequel?

  • rogueJT #26 1 year ago

    Eurogamer you screwed up the link.

    The "review" is actually a preview for the full game.

  • menage #27 1 year ago

    I'd rather pay 400 for a glorified demo (with the added bonus that there's shit in there which isn't in then damn game) of this quality then 1200 for a lot of "full" games out there. This lasted me 3 evenings.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/10 @ 19:17

  • KilgoreTroutXL #28 1 year ago

    I can't remember an XBLA game that was so worth my $5.

    It's partly because it's fun, and partly because of my love of the level grind. Whoever got the idea of letting your XP in case zero translate to the main game is kind of a genius. I've played through the thing five times already.

  • metallicorphan #29 1 year ago

    @effinjamie
    if anything,you could call it pre DLC,but with its own 200/200 achievements(and still cheaper than most DLC)...i wouldn't call it a glorified demo though when i have put about 10 hrs altogether into it getting everything

  • Phantom_Dynamite #30 1 year ago

    I loved this easily put 4-5 hours into and at 400msp you cant complain. Chuck takes his booze the same as me a few bottles and your throwing your guts up at the feet of the undead hord, another normal night down town then.

  • dfunked #31 1 year ago

    @ ZizouFC - The region lock is really pissing me off, my XBL account is Irish and I currently live in the UK, so no downloady for me... Stupid to say the least!

  • spekkeh #32 1 year ago

    Well to be honest this isn't really your typical XBLA game, so not sure if this is a relevant statistic. But good for them. I really welcome this actually... I'm not sure if I'd like the premise of killing zombies for a full priced game, yet I am interested in trying it. Likewise, there are many games I'm quite interested in, but don't reckon I have the time to finish, so won't purchase those either.

    So I hope there's going te more of this in the future: release one full 20-hour game, and one shortened 5-hour version of the same game, for a lower price. That would be great for gamers short on time like me, and possibly a good business strategy.

  • spekkeh #33 1 year ago

    Chuck takes his booze the same as me a few bottles and your throwing your guts up at the feet of the undead hord, another normal night down town then.

    Sweet, I think I saw you on Booze Britain.

    No wait, that was the zombies.

  • darkmorgado #34 1 year ago

    Well to be honest this isn't really your typical XBLA game

    Erm, because it offers an experience and content not available in any other game, that you can only obtain on XBLA, has 200G, and leaderboard support?

    Oh I get it, it must be because it's actually so much cheaper than most XBLA releases, priced at an impulse buy point.

  • Vyggo #35 1 year ago

    I think he means that this is actually a slice of a big budget game, released on xbla. Which makes it easier for them to have higher production values and deeper gameplay.

  • Lord_Gremlin #36 1 year ago

    I'm still wondering why haven't they released it on PC and PS3.

  • SniperZoz #37 1 year ago

    To all you guys wishing to get this but are not in a supported region ... Google "xbox live ivacy" ... you will need to create a paid account... but it not that expensive and comes in handy from time to time.

  • darkmorgado #38 1 year ago

    I'm still wondering why haven't they released it on PC and PS3.

    IIRC they said it was as a thank you to all the XBox owners who bought the first game, allowing it to be continued as a franchise.

  • darkmorgado #39 1 year ago

    I think he means that this is actually a slice of a big budget game

    Well I would debate that. A slice of the game would suggest it's a demo, but none of the content in C0 appears in DR2.

  • Vyggo #40 1 year ago

    Sure, but all the gameplay elements are lifted from the full game.

  • andywilkie35 #41 1 year ago

    It's sold well because it's fookin good, has excellent replay value and costs fuck all

  • darkmorgado #42 1 year ago

    all the gameplay elements are lifted from the full game.

    You can say the same thing about most sequels. COD comes to mind.

  • Collymilad #43 1 year ago

    Got this today and it's great.

    Only thing I don't like are how half the time it does some canned animation when you hit zombies with some weapons, tends to break that crown destroying flow that I loved in the first game. Or am I doing something wrong with the controls?

  • Nithron #44 1 year ago

    @Collymilad: You're holding down X a little bit too long and doing a "strong attack" instead of the standard one.

  • Grayvern #45 1 year ago

    Shock as game with perceived value for money sells well.

    But does this really surprise anyone Gabe Newell, Valve, and the steam team have known this for years now.

    Not that this affects me, Im of the world war Z/ Feed school of zombie fiction. Therefore dead rising for me is half right it needs to open world and pressurised, but not Japan rarefied.

    I'm still waiting for classic slow zombie inspired open world first person game that is a survival simulator where you can set up a stronghold anywhere and that stronghold can be overrun or attacked by a sohphisticated ai director. All wrapped up in an interpersonal tale of survival in the face of the apocalypse. Basically what would happen if you got chris avellone, bioware, valve, and bethesda to make an open world zombie game, together.
    Edited by 2 at 10/09/10 @ 05:10

  • des #46 1 year ago

    "But does this really surprise anyone Gabe Newell, Valve, and the steam team have known this for years now."

    Yeah,but it won't bring them any money(according to Capcom),this is more like a payed advert and this time it really worked.

  • PlugMonkey #47 1 year ago

    @Vyggo

    I think you make a good point. You would struggle to build the tech to build this game as a stand alone and sell it at this price point. They can only do it because they are making a AAA retail title that uses the same tech, and it doesn't matter so much if this turns out to be a loss leader.

    Still, they did it and I like it and I hope other devs do more of it. When it comes to DLC for story based games, I'm finding a prologue much more compelling than some additional content tacked on to the end at a later date.

    @ Grayvern

    I don't know about an FPS, but can I interest you in a classic slow zombie inspired open world RPG that is a survival simulator where you set up a stronghold and that stronghold can be overrun or attacked by a sophisticated ai director? All wrapped up in an interpersonal tale of survival in the face of the apocalypse? Made by a bunch of people formerly from Obsidian and Troika?

    http://ww w.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/...

  • linksdad #48 1 year ago

    This will herald a new generation of pre release DLC. Most DLC sells a few units to those that had already bought the original title. Why limit your audience to a sub section of your existing audience, when you can target the whole of xbox live?

  • viper_h #49 1 year ago

    Bought it, enjoyed it, will play again. Got to level 5 in my first play through, but couldn't save all the survivors. Also the ending glitched out on me and I got silent or no cutscenes, followed by being able to drive my bike through the credits... I guess I'll have to play that again.

  • rogueJT #50 1 year ago

    yeah this is sensibly priced.

    Why is Plants versus Zombies 1200 points when it costs $2.99 for iphone and ipad?

  • rogueJT #51 1 year ago

    "Also the ending glitched out on me and I got silent or no cutscenes, followed by being able to drive my bike through the credits... I guess I'll have to play that again. "

    Yeah there are some glitches. In one playthrough the dudes behind the department store never spawned and I couldn't get the bike part.

    Also I was running down the alley behind the cinema, next thing it suddenly went to "loading" and I was transported back to the title screen minus all my unsaved progress.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/10 @ 10:50

  • A-Trak #52 1 year ago

    "Also the ending glitched out on me and I got silent or no cutscenes, followed by being able to drive my bike through the credits...

    That sounds like the best glitch ever! One they should actually keep in the full release.

    Also, most value I've ever eeked out of 400msp bar Geomotry Wars when I it was on sale.
    Case Zero was a third of the price of braid and at least 3 times as fun/gametime for me.

  • Kafeen #53 1 year ago

    I was surprised by the price, I was expecting it to be at least 800 / 1200 points. I was glad to see them go cheaper and it looks like its paid off.

    I just finished my first play through last night but I might have another go to save a few more people.

  • Osmond #54 1 year ago

    Cant understand the big fuss about DR1 or the sequel, the only thing thats impressed me is the amount of on screen zombies . apart from this, the gameplay isnt miles away from a dynasty warriors title.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #55 1 year ago

    That's cool news. I hope the head chaps at Capcom consider doing this kind of thing for more of their games.

    DR2 wasn't so high on my get list, but after playing through Case Zero, I'm now in a rush to get my 360's dvd drive replaced (open tray error) and buy a copy. If only I could find somewhere to do that dvd drive for a reasonable price. Any leads, people?

  • Nephirion #56 1 year ago

    Cheap game sells loads, would you adam and eve it?

  • charlesmoore #57 1 year ago

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