Some amazing locations which look like they've influenced the locations and setting choices of many video games in recent years.... The resemblance to games such as Call of duty 4, STALKER, Fallout 3, Resident Evil and many others is quite uncanny... And there's plenty of potential for use in future games !!

10. Bodie State park, California, Unites States

Bodie is a ghost town which is now a National Historic Landmark. It began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859. Now theres no gold and no people. Could make a great location for a game, especially with the ominous weather in the first photo..

9. Craco, Italy

Abandoned due to constant earthquakes... (could create some interesting possibilities in a game, both over and under ground !)

8. Balestrino, Italy

Like Craco, abandoned due to earthquakes (great for a survival horror game !)

7. Varosha, Cyprus

Varosha is an area in the city of Famagusta. Prior to the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus in 1974, it was the modern tourist area of the city of Famagusta. Now its a ghost town... (Could make some sort of pirate coastal stronghold !)

6. Agdam,Azerbaijan

Agdam was fully destroyed in 1993 in the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Before the war the city population was about 30000 residents. Not a place to be wandering around on your own, late at night... Game potential ahoy!!

5. Kolmanskuppe, Namibia

Kolmannskuppe is a ghost town in southern Namibia. Was originally a mining town famed for its diamonds but was abandoned and now, due to the extreme geological conditions of the nearby desert, finds itself knee deep in sand. A sort of Hills Have Eyes type location..!

4. Centralia, United States

Centralia is a ghost town in Pennsylvania, United States. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005 and none in 2008, as a result of a mine fire burning beneath the borough since 1962. Lots of possibilities as a setting in game - you're part of the team sent to extinguish the fire in the mines beneath but whilst there discover the town still harbours a terrifiying secret... and its not as deserted as it seemed!!! :shock:

3. Kadykchan, Russia

Kadykchan is a ghost town that was built during the World War II for the workers of the coal mines and their families. In 1996, 6 men died as a result of explosion in a coal mine and the mines were closed. 12000 inhabitants were evacuated to other places leaving the town empty and silent... looks perfect for a survival psychological horror type game !!

2. Pripyat, Ukraine

Pripyat is an abandoned city in the zone of alienation in northern Ukraine. The city was founded in 1970 to house the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers, and was abandoned in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster. Its population had been around 50,000 prior to the accident. The city of was evacuated in two days. Features in pc game STALKER and may well have influenced one of the iconic locations in COD 4!

1. Gunkanjima, Japan

Former mining town off the coast of japan, now known as ghost island. Looks like its been lifted straight out of Washington DC in Fallout 3! Perfect video game setting!!