Playing With the Dead:Transmedia Narratives and the Walking Dead Games

Abstract

This chapter discusses the theory and practice of transmedia narratives within the storyworld createdby Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard’s comics series The Walking Dead. It examineskey aspects from the comics series and AMC’s adaptive television franchise to consider how both havebeen utilized and adapted for games. Particular focus will be paid to Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead,Gamagio’s The Walking Dead Assault and Terminal Reality’s The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Thechapter explains the core concepts of transmedia narratives as they relate to The Walking Dead, placesthe games in the context of both the comics and television franchise, examines the significance of commercialand grassroot extensions and considers the role gaming and interactive narratives have withinrich storyworlds. In examining The Walking Dead as a transmedia property, the authors demonstratehow vast narratives are adopted, modified and transformed in contemporary popular culture