Interview: George Vasilakos

Unknown Zombie: I'm George Vasilakos, head Zombie Lord over at Eden Studios -- Artist/Designer/Dad.

GG: How did you get into the Gaming Industry?

GV: I started a gaming store after I finished art school. When a few of my customers and friends formed a gaming company to make the Battlelords CCG, they needed a graphic designer and art director (and some money). So I jumped feet first into a small gaming company with big dreams called New Millennium Entertainment.

The company didn't do to well with Battlelords, but its second game Conspiracy X did nicely. When NME went under, I aquired the rights to Conspiracy X, found some investors, closed my store and started Eden Studios.

GG: I remember Battlelords...and speaking of gaming credits...

Give us your Gaming Industry credits--past and present!

GV: I co-authored D&D with Gary Gygax . . . before I came along it was called Dungeons and Gophers . . . I set the bonehead straight and the rest is history.

GG: Tell me you're kidding.

GV: Just kidding . . . aside from running Eden Studios, I've done all the graphic design and art direction on the Conspiracy X line, the layout and covers for the WitchCraft line, and some freelance art for Pinnacle's Hell On Earth RPG. I also designed the Abduction non-collectible card game.

GG: Are you the Pumpkin King?

GV: No. I'm a mild mannered game designer/artist.

GG: Right now everyone is slavering for the newest RPG coming soon from Eden Studios--ALL FLESH MUST BE EATEN. Sounds gross! Mind telling the uninformed about the concept behind this creepy game?

GV: Unlike most traditional RPGs out there, ALL FLESH MUST BE EATEN doesn't have one set campign setting or world background. You are presented with numerous "Deadworlds," each with a unigue setting and reason why the dead are walking about. This style of presentation allows gamers to play in any genre, background, theme or manner they wish. Play a serious survival game, a campy comedy horror game, a heavy supernatural game, a lighter, more "real" world game -- it's up to you.

To me, the core of this game is the idea of being trapped and having to deal with mindless smelly zombies and their insatiable hunger. It's a game about survival horror . . . did I mention I used to run a game store?

GG: How did the title come to exist?

GV: Well Christopher Shy, cover artist and co-concept creator of ALL FLESH MUST BE EATEN, gets the credit for the final title. I was dying when he suddenly spewed out the name. A game with a name like that is a guaranteed sell, I thought to myself.

GG: I...see.

Were there other titles in consideration? If so, name a few!

GV:

• ERNEST vs THE ZOMBIES
• EAT THIS FANBOY
• CORPSE: THE ROTTING
• ZOMBIE: THE SLAVERING
• SOCK MONKEYS MARCH ON BROADWAY

As you can see, they just didn't seem to have the same impact as ALL FLESH MUST BE EATEN.

GG: You got that right!

Favorite Zombie music?

GV: Brittany Spears. Nine Inch Nails comes a close second.

GG: Did you do all of the writing for All Flesh?

GV: Heck no. I came up with most of the concepts and found people who are good at writing to "flesh" it out. Richard Dakan gets first credit as he worked up my admittedly sketchy descriptions for the various "Deadworlds" and zombie creation. The game mechanics credits go to CJ Carella since we are using his Unisystem, the same rules used for WitchCraft and Armageddon. The flavor text and short stories get attributed to Albert Bruno III, a very talented horror writer and old buddy of mine. The book also has a nice Forward by Shane (Deadlands) Hensley about Zombies. Finally, there's Alex Jurkat, my partner in crime over here at Eden. As head editor at Eden, he cleans up everyones writing, fills in the gaps and transitions, and organizes it all into a polished product. That said, ALL FLESH MUST BE EATEN does contain my first attempt at writing. I wrote the introduction chapter.

GG: Favorite Zombie food?

GV: Brittany Spears. Mexican food . . . behold the power of cheese and the All Flesh Must Be Eaten Chocolate Bar. Yum.

GG: How did you come up with this crazy game, anyway?

GV: That's a funny story actually . . . see I was on a "date" with a transexual Vietnamese escort when I happened to spot Tom Hanks across the alley from me. I said to my companion, "Hey that's Tom Hanks!" Thing is he/she didn't understand a word of English and when he/she tried to speak with her mouth full, it sounded like "Zombie games are the next big thing." Who was I to argue!

But seriously . . . I think AFMBE been something every gamer has wanted. I know I've wanted a game like this since the first time I saw DAWN OF THE DEAD. Once Resident Evil came out and brought those damn zombies back into the light, it was only a matter of time before we saw a paper and pencil roleplaying game based on zombie survival horror. I remember sitting in front of my TV playing Resident Evil 2 coming up with initial designs for the game. Someone had to do it and take the blame. So blame me.

GG: What is the best zombie movie you've ever seen?

GV: Titanic.

GG: Oooooooookay.

Worst zombie movie you've ever seen?

GV: The Brittany Spears Story.

GG: ...

In your opinion, what makes zombies so scary?

GV: They look human but they're not . . .
They cannot be reasoned with . . .
They have no jobs, no desires, no hopes . . .
They smell bad . . .
They are ruled by their undying hunger for more . . . more . . . more.

(Did I mention I used to run a game store that sold collectible card games?)

GG: Yes, you did.

The dead have risen from their graves! It's time for CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH!

Waiting at the 3rd tombstone is John Kovalic, creator of DORK TOWER. His opponent is none other than JOLLY BLACKBURN, creator of KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE. Both are famous for making people drop dead with laughter, but the one who loses tonight will be fresh meat for the undead! Who wins, and how do they achieve victory? (NOTE: Be as creative and funny as possible. You want to add some cameos, go right ahead!)

GV: Well, first John "draws" a large black marker, and pens a Muskrat Pokemon called Dorkachew. Then, Jolly dives behind a conveniently placed dinner table and whips out a John Wick Gaming Voard. "No fair!" cries John. Suddenly a battle beyond description ensues between the John Wick Voard and the Dorkachew.

Awed by the spectacle, no one hears the shambling of a hoarde of zombies as they enter the arena. Flesh is ripped from the bone as John and Jolly try to escape. Stabbing at the undead with art tools, but to no avail, they cannot stop them. It gets ugly really quick and no one is laughing.

When the dust settles and the blood dries, the only thing left "alive" are the zombies.

GG: Shameless plug time! You can find your very own Gaming Voard at http://voard.tripod.com/Voard.htm

What kind of supplements can we expect for All Flesh Must Be Eaten?

GV: Pending any Y2K complications here at Eden, we hope to release Enter the Zombie shortly after the mainbook's release. This book strives to open whole new vistas for your zombies-gaming enjoyment. It includes everything necessary to bring together the thrills of Hong Kong action films and good old fashioned flesh-eating excitement. This book will have detailed rules on how to play martial arts zombies. It also introduces four new campaign settings inspired by John Woo movies, Big Trouble in Little China and Mortal Kombat. It should be a nice little book.

We are also working on Zombie Master Screen with a 48-page insert that will come with new archtypes, equipment and an intro adventure. Finally, we have a a pulp setting campaign sourcebook for AFMBE, currently entitled Pulp Zombie. This book will introduce various magics and settings set in the 30s and 40s.

GG: Any last words before we send you back to your grave?

GV: Yes, I keep seeing posts and groanings that the gaming industry's salad days are behind us. That paper and pencil and dice are going to be replaced by the modem, the internet and the graphics card.

I don't believe that. I believe that the gaming industry is headed for a shining new Renaissance, and new age of creative freedom.

And I believe that the gaming Voard (http://voard.tripod.com/Voard.htm) will be the bridge that brings us to this new Golden Age.

Remember . . . all flesh must be eaten.

GG: ...sometimes I wonder where I dig up these interviewees...