The trailer for the upcoming "Dexter" Facebook game "Slice of Life" was released last week at Comic-Con. The game will not be available to play until this September, but fans are already salivating over claims of "real-time stealth gameplay," and challenges where you will have to attempt to blend in with "normal" people. But with so much of the average Facebook gamer's time being taken up by games like "Farmville" and "Mafia Wars," is there room for a "Dexter" game to become a success? More importantly, will fans of "Dexter" be satisfied with the gameplay and story of "Slice of Life"?
The "Dexter" franchise has had two previous forays into gaming. In 2009, a "Dexter" game became available for iPhone users via the App Store, and was later released for the iPad and PC. This game was very well received, having scored an 8/10 from game reviewer IGN. Last year, prior to the Season 5 premiere, an "alternate reality game" (ARG) was launched at Comic-Con and available to play in five U.S. cities. While the 2010 "Infinity Killer" game had some Facebook and Twitter interactivity, much of the gameplay took place on game-specific websites.
"Slice of Life" was created by the game developers Ecko Code, founded by noted fashion designer Mark Ecko. "This is a living, breathing narrative-based consumer product, no different than the show," he told Mashable. "[Fans] want it and expect it to be as good as the show," he said. The Mashable interview went on to explain that the "Dexter" game was created as a direct response to the Zynga stable of Facebook games such as "Farmville," stating "Ecko calls it 'Cas-Core gaming'...a blend of casual (because it's on Facebook) and hardcore games (because all the game assets are built in a 3D massively multiplayer online client)."
Ecko is right about one thing: Fans of the show will have high expectations for the game. It is unlikely to include graphic violence or blood (though fans will no doubt be upset if they can't see the signature cheek cuts to draw blood for the microscope slides), and that lack of gore may make the game too tame for hardcore gamers and "Dexter" fans alike.
One thing the "Dexter" Facebook game will have going for it is a direct link to the TV show, with game updates set to occur every Monday after new episodes air the preceding Sunday night. If the gameplay enriches the viewing experience, then this new Facebook game should be a home run.
Will you be playing the "Dexter" Facebook game this fall? Do you think it will live up to the hype? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own articles.
