Dead Head Fred, the critically acclaimed videogame created specifically for the PSP (PlayStation®Portable) by publisher D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA), and developer Vicious Cycle Software, Inc., has received a nomination for the Writers Guild of America's inaugural Videogame Writing Award. In Dead Head Fred, writers and nominees Dave Ellis and Adam Cogan draw players into an original 1940's-inspired alternative universe where players take on the role of Fred Neuman, a private detective savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment without his memory or his head. Players embark on a quest for vengeance as they solve their own murder by using the severed heads of enemies as replacements for the one missing on the game's cranium-impaired hero.
"D3PA congratulates Dave, Adam and the team at Vicious Cycle who brought Dead Head Fred to life, to use an ironic turn of phrase," said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3PA. "It was the game's unique story and resulting gameplay mechanic, distinctive characters and twisted and sarcastic humor that first convinced us that we wanted to bring this title to gamers, and we appreciate the WGA for recognizing it with a nomination for their very first Videogame Writing Awards."
Developed by the WGA and spearheaded by the Guild's New Media Caucus to encourage storytelling excellence in videogames, improve the status of writers, and foster uniform standards within the gaming industry, the WGA's inaugural Videogame Writing Award spotlights quality work by videogame writers, raising their profiles, and validating their contributions to this rapidly maturing medium. The WGA Videogame Writing Award honors the best qualifying script from a videogame published in the previous year. 2008 Writers Guild Awards winners in all categories will be announced on Saturday, February 9.
"Dead Head Fred was a lot of fun for the entire team to work on, and much of that was because of Dave's and Adam's creative script," said Eric Peterson, president and chief executive officer, Vicious Cycle Software. “We want to thank the WGA for the nomination-we're very proud of it. The entire team is dedicated to continue the tradition of developing games that combine great gameplay with storytelling and humor that is on par with the best television and movies out there.”
Dead Head Fred is rated "M" (Mature - Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor and Strong Language) by the ESRB.