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there are no sources to confirm the game released on october 31st, and the page has a separate source for a december 14 release.
 
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{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{refimprove}}
{{Short description|1996 video game}}
⚫
'''''ZPC''''' (''Zero Population Count'') is a [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]] which uses the ''[[Marathon 2]]'' engine. It was developed by [[Zombie Studios|Zombie LLC]], published by [[GT Interactive Software]] and released on October 31, [[1996 in video gaming|1996]]. It was noted for its stylized look adapted from artwork by [[Aidan Hughes]] (also credited with the game's concept).
{{Infobox video game
| image = ZPC cover.png
| image_size =
| developer = [[Zombie LLC]]
| publisher = [[GT Interactive]]
| designer = [[Aidan Hughes]]
| director =
| producer =
| artist = Aidan Hughes
| writer =
| composer = Roland Barker<br>[[Paul Barker]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+hits+holiday+season+with+more+than+30+new+PC,...-a018639097|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205233403/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+hits+holiday+season+with+more+than+30+new+PC%2c...-a018639097|title=GT Interactive hits holiday season with more than 30 new PC, PlayStation and Saturn games|website=[[Business Wire]]|archivedate=December 5, 2015|date=September 3, 1996|accessdate=August 11, 2021|via=[[The Free Dictionary]]}}</ref>
| series =
| platforms = [[Mac OS]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
| released = December 14, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-02-27 |title=Online Gaming Review |url=http://www.ogr.com/news/news1296.html |access-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970227065637/http://www.ogr.com/news/news1296.html |archive-date=1997-02-27 }}</ref>
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
|caption =
|alt =
⚫
}}'''''ZPC''''' (''Zero Population Count'') is a [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]] which uses the ''[[Marathon 2]]'' engine.<ref name=NGen28/> It was developed by [[Zombie LLC]], published by [[GT Interactive]] and released on December 14, [[1996 in video gaming|1996]]. It was noted for its stylized look adapted from artwork by [[Aidan Hughes]] (also credited with the game's concept).


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
The story focuses on Arman, an exiled "Warrior Messiah" who has come of age and sets out to reclaim his throne.
The story focuses on Arman, an exiled "Warrior Messiah" who has come of age and sets out to reclaim his throne.


==Legacy==
==Development==
The game had a development budget of less than $1 million.<ref name="release">{{cite web|url=http://www.zombie.com/studios/press/1997-2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001025002216/http://www.zombie.com/studios/press/1997-2.html|title=Zombie To Debut Two Hyper-Realistic Military Titles at E3|website=zombie.com|archivedate=October 25, 2000|date=April 14, 1997|accessdate=July 25, 2022}}</ref>
⚫
At some point prior to November 2003, Hughes announced plans to create or bring about a full-length ''ZPC'' film. However, nothing is known to have come of this.

==In other media==
⚫
At some point prior to November 2003, Hughes announced plans to create or bring about a full-length ''ZPC'' film, but nothing came of this.


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = ''[[MacUser]]''
| rev1 = ''[[MacUser]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=macuser>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010728230437/http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | url=http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | title=The Game Room | date=August 1997 | archivedate=July 28, 2001 | author=Loyola, Roman | work=[[MacUser]] | deadurl=yes }}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=macuser>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010728230437/http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | url=http://www.macuser.com:80/mu_0897/maxuser/game_room.html | title=The Game Room | date=August 1997 | archivedate=July 28, 2001 | author=Loyola, Roman | work=[[MacUser]] | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}} (MAC)<ref name=NGen28>{{cite magazine |title=ZPC |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=28|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=April 1997|page=130}}</ref>
}}
}}
Air Hendrix of ''[[GamePro]]'' found ''ZPC'' severely outdated, for both its 2D graphics and its gameplay, which he found made little advance beyond 1993's ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]''. However, he remarked that the "stark, sombre visual style" and moody music would highly appeal to many, and that this would make the gameplay more enjoyable to those players.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=PC GamePro Review Win 95: ZPC: No Flesh Shall Be Spared|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=100|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=January 1997|page=65}}</ref> A ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' critic said much the same: "Gameplay sticks to the tried-and-true tactics of the legion of ''Doom'' clones ... While the level and puzzle design are entirely satisfying, ''ZPC'' would be just another pretender to the throne if it weren't for the tremendous atmosphere provided by artists Aiden Hughes and musicians Roland and Paul Barker". He elaborated that "Hughes's predominantly black and red palette and structuralist approach make ''ZPC'' one of the most unique-looking games around."<ref name=NGen28/>


{{-}}
{{-}}
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[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:GT Interactive games]]
[[Category:Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Marathon engine games]]
[[Category:GT Interactive Software games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Sprite-based first-person shooters]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games with 2.5D graphics]]
{{fps-videogame-stub}}
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Zombie Studios games]]

Latest revision as of 13:41, 25 November 2024

ZPC
Developer(s)Zombie LLC
Publisher(s)GT Interactive
Designer(s)Aidan Hughes
Artist(s)Aidan Hughes
Composer(s)Roland Barker
Paul Barker[2]
Platform(s)Mac OS, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseDecember 14, 1996[1]
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

ZPC (Zero Population Count) is a first-person shooter video game which uses the Marathon 2 engine.[3] It was developed by Zombie LLC, published by GT Interactive and released on December 14, 1996. It was noted for its stylized look adapted from artwork by Aidan Hughes (also credited with the game's concept).

Gameplay

[edit]

The story focuses on Arman, an exiled "Warrior Messiah" who has come of age and sets out to reclaim his throne.

Development

[edit]

The game had a development budget of less than $1 million.[4]

In other media

[edit]

At some point prior to November 2003, Hughes announced plans to create or bring about a full-length ZPC film, but nothing came of this.

Reception

[edit]

Air Hendrix of GamePro found ZPC severely outdated, for both its 2D graphics and its gameplay, which he found made little advance beyond 1993's Doom. However, he remarked that the "stark, sombre visual style" and moody music would highly appeal to many, and that this would make the gameplay more enjoyable to those players.[6] A Next Generation critic said much the same: "Gameplay sticks to the tried-and-true tactics of the legion of Doom clones ... While the level and puzzle design are entirely satisfying, ZPC would be just another pretender to the throne if it weren't for the tremendous atmosphere provided by artists Aiden Hughes and musicians Roland and Paul Barker". He elaborated that "Hughes's predominantly black and red palette and structuralist approach make ZPC one of the most unique-looking games around."[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Online Gaming Review". 1997-02-27. Archived from the original on 1997-02-27. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  2. ^ "GT Interactive hits holiday season with more than 30 new PC, PlayStation and Saturn games". Business Wire. September 3, 1996. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2021 – via The Free Dictionary.
  3. ^ a b c "ZPC". Next Generation. No. 28. Imagine Media. April 1997. p. 130.
  4. ^ "Zombie To Debut Two Hyper-Realistic Military Titles at E3". zombie.com. April 14, 1997. Archived from the original on October 25, 2000. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Loyola, Roman (August 1997). "The Game Room". MacUser. Archived from the original on July 28, 2001.
  6. ^ "PC GamePro Review Win 95: ZPC: No Flesh Shall Be Spared". GamePro. No. 100. IDG. January 1997. p. 65.
[edit]
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