Typing of the Dead

by Sega

Product Features

• Requires Dreamcast Keyboard

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000056Q1E
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: January 23, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,809 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Note to customers: Game requires the separately sold Sega keyboard.

Typing of the Dead blends horror with a typing tutorial for an original gaming experience. There are several game modes to help you become a terrific typist. Drill mode focuses on different skills, such as typing speed, accuracy, reflex, and special keystrokes. In the boss mode, your battle against each boss emphasizes a different skill, from quick reading and answering to story reading and typing. Two-player modes include cooperative and competitive.

Product Description

Description:
Please note: Game requires the separately sold Sega keyboard.

Typing of the Dead blends horror with a typing tutorial for an original gaming experience. There are several game modes to help you become a terrific typist. Drill mode focuses on different skills, such as typing speed, accuracy, reflex, and special keystrokes. In the boss mode, your battle against each boss emphasizes a different skill, from quick reading and answering to story reading and typing. Two-player modes include cooperative and competitive.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm A Lousy Shot But I Can Type 108 Words a Minute!, March 3, 2001

By 

Matsugawa J. Andrews (New Wismexouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Typing of the Dead (Video Game)

I have House of the Dead 2 regular version and even without the lightgun, just using the controller, I still can't shoot to save my life. So, when I heard about Typing of the Dead, I thought my prayers had been answered. Your parents always say "use your words!" so now I can actually apply that to something! Although the game does not exactly give you your WPM rate per se, it does give you something that is a tad more helpful. It shows your strengths and weaknesses! Perhaps your accuracy on the left-hand keys is bad, perhaps punctuation isn't your strong suit, or (if you're like me) you just can't hit those stupid number keys, the tutorial will cater to your every need and help you to become a more proficient typist! That was something I thought the Mavis Beacon series was lacking. Well, not exactly lacking, it had a similar system, but it was not as accurate or helpful in remedying problem areas as TOTD. I mean, let's face it, of all the skills necessary and important to have in this day and age, the ability to type well on a standard QWERTY keyboard is easily the most useful! Thanks, Sega! and thank you, SmileBit!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TYPE OR DIE!!!! BWUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAH, June 5, 2001

By 

Minh Nguyen "masashikun" (Bilthoven, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Typing of the Dead (Video Game)

Remember the House of the Dead 2? It was an arcade game also released on the Sega Dreamcast, where you get your lightgun and shoot a horde of zombies.

Well, this game is that exact same game, but with one big difference: You type the zombies to death! Yes, the learning-to-touch-type games are back and it came back in the most hilarious incarnation ever. With it's "Type or Die!!" tagline, words appear along with your enemies. Your typing gets rated and helps you pass the levels.

Afer a while it gets crazy and the words selected are very weird indeed. Some are just like thoughts: "I hope she likes me", "I want my promotion" etc etc. Some of the end-level bosses give you difficult tasks as well. You have a three headed dragon that let's you type in answers to their trivia questions. As another headless lad is chasing you down corridors with a bloody chainsaw, you have to type jokes and manuals: "This game is not appropiate for children who are below 17 years of age, because..."

There's even a funny tutorial which teaches you how to touch type. It's presented quite well, but it doesn't always work very effectively. You have to practice a lot to learn from this. You have plenty of modes to play with - which are all basically the same though.

The graphics and sounds (including the terrible voice acting) are exactly the same as the original game. You can even hook up a second keyboard and have a go at it with your mate.

I'd recommend the PC version though, which is the version I'm reviewing. It's much better to do this while sitting on a desk with your keyboard. Excellent game!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mavis Beacon was never this much fun!, February 17, 2001

By 

RandyAU93 (Lithia Springs, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Typing of the Dead (Video Game)

When I first heard about this off-the-wall remake of Sega's arcade smash hit "The House of the Dead 2," I said to myself, 'They've got to be kidding.' Now, after having played the game, I say to myself, 'Why didn't they bring this out sooner?'

Graphically, the game is identical to its gun-based predecessor ... this means it's almost impossible to tell the arcade version and home version apart. The characters have been upgraded to reflect their new "weaponry" (snicker, snicker); Dreamcast backpacks and strap-on keyboards. Some of the evil undead now carry mallets and other unusual objects along with their standard knives. Fans of HOTD2 will find themselves laughing uncontrollably at how tongue-in-cheek this variant is.

The gameplay is very straightforward. Type or die ... zombies, monsters or other minions appear with a word or phrase in front of them. Type in the phrase as quickly and accurately as possible in order to eliminate the creature. Sometimes you only have to enter one or two letters ... sometimes sentences with punctuation. The words used can be totally random in nature, or can follow a theme. Power-ups appear and disappear quickly, and range from the essential (life-ups) to the helpful (dictionaries, which lock in a theme for a series of words) to the silly (one powerup transforms your player into a zombie, complete with keyboard).

If you can scare up a second keyboard, don't pass up a chance at two-player mode. The gameplay remains the same, with both players having a chance to complete the typing phrase to defeat the monster. Under the target word/phrase are two more copies of it, one for each player. Whoever types in the phrase first gets credit for it. This may indeed be the first truly competitive typing game, so on that alone the game receives bonus points.

Target selection is still a key component here. Just like before, you need to eliminate monsters before they can harm innocent citizens. Some of these rescues required superhuman reflexes with a light gun ... just imagine what you'll need with only a keyboard. (It can be done, though.)

As I already touch-type, I view "Typing of the Dead" as more of an unusual diversion than a typing coach. It does feature instruction in how to touch-type, and can definitely help brush up on your skills (some of the teaching modes tell you which keys you miss most frequently). Unfortunately, as the game carries a Mature rating, it may not be an appropriate choice for parents who are looking for an entertaining way to teach their kids typing.

Overall, "Typing of the Dead" is one of the most unique videogame experiences I've had. The price is more than reasonable, the game itself is incredibly addictive, and keyboarding skills are something everyone can use.