Just to give a different opinion. Perhaps these changes will be for the better...specially since many have already played the first, and this will give Dead Rising a different feel.
Basically, we are getting a very different game from the original, and everyone is complaining different is bad...well guess what perhaps different is actually good.
Look the Wii can't put as many Zombies on screen as possible, so how do make less Zombies more interesting? Make them smarter and faster...and we already know the Zombies will be faster in this games are people are reporting they can run and react, this is a good thing for the game to keep tension with less Zombies.
Higher focus on shooting, I don't see this anything but a positive. If you are going to be hunting Zombies you are going to want a firing weapon...but when you run out of bullets (and you will) Grab the nearest object around the mall to attack. We already know that Melee weapons are going to behave differently, like with the Bat able to do a home run swing. Perhaps the Melee weapons will all be tweaked to give that extra satisfaction when using.
Finally, the loss of the jump is perhaps for tighter controls and a bring the focus on the other elements.
I know everyone believes this game is going to turn into Resident Evil in a mall...but I still believe there will be enough to differentiate the 2 franchises and the overall feel of Dead Rising will still be within the game.