Friday The 13th: The Game started out when independent developers – IllFonic and publisher – Gun Media began making a parody survival horror game called Slasher Vol. 1: Summer Camp. Originally, the game was intended to be a send-up of horror games using classic 70s and 80s slasher films as its basis as this reveal trailer shows.

The game is going to be a a semi-open world, third-person survival horror game set in and around the the universe created with the Friday the 13th movie franchise. Gameplay wise, it will be a multiplayer experience where up to eight people can play online with one person controlling the iconic Jason Voorhees while the remaining seven players will control one of several camp counsellors over varying game-maps. The goal is simple enough. Play as Jason and you have to kill the counsellors – play as the counsellors and you have to try to survive Jason’s bloody rampage… and bloody it is too.

On board with the game are some of Friday The 13th’s most famous and respected alumni. Make-up genius Tom Savini is on board to work as designer for the many, many, many various Jason kills and the game is set in the 80s with a classic ’80s rock’ soundtrack to give it that very special Friday The 13th flavour.

Original Friday The 13th writer and director – Sean S. Cunningham also returning to the franchise that made him (in)famous as the game’s producer.

Developer, IllFonic have promised a morgue full of nods and references from the moives in the game. With many (if not all) of Jason’s looks over the years being represented in the game from his first ‘real’ burlap sack look from Friday The 13th Part II to his more zombie-like appearance from Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Whether his latter Jason X and Freddy Vs Jason looks will also make it into the game is yet unknown. But I’m sure the game will offer plenty of various Jason skins to use. Even Tom Savini has designed his own exclusive Jason skin for the game.

Yes, the movie references will be coming thick and fast. Even Jason’s arch nemesis – Tommy Jarvis is returning and is being portrayed by Thom Mathews from Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Tommy Jarvis is to Jason what Nancy Thompson is to Freddy Krueger, Laurie Strode to Michael Myers or Andy Barclay to Chucky. In short, they have a history.

I’m sure the game will feature plenty of extra DLC utilising more assets from the movie franchise, who wouldn’t want to play as everyone’s favourite lovable asshole – Shelly from Friday the 13th Part III? There is so much they can do with this game taking characters and locales from the movies. Maybe even crossovers and get Freddy in there too? A horror fan can dream can’t he?

Its as if all the Friday The 13th moons have aligned as the original creators of the movie franchise team up with a game development crew that actually care about doing the name justice and giving us gamers a good Friday The 13th game experience after all these years.

The game looks and sounds great, intense, atmospheric and scary as this IGN Jason gameplay footage shows.

Besides, its got to end up better than this…

Are you looking forward to Friday The 13th: The Game as much as I am? Let me know what you think in the comments below.