New Alan Wake details emerge into the cold, hard light of day

by Ben Gilbert { Mar 28th 2009 at 10:45PM }

We're not quite sure how, considering the media blackout approach that Alan Wake developer Remedy Entertainment has taken, but Norwegian gaming site Gamer.no sat down for dinner with head of franchise development for Remedy, Oskari Häkkinen, this past week. New details were (unsurprisingly) scant, though we were able to glean a handful of facts from the interview. For instance, the game has, "a lot less action than Max Payne," the studio's last franchise which recently had a current-gen update announced.

Aside from an emphasis on story, Mr. Häkkinen says that weather effects will play a role in gameplay, specifically noting (by way of a strange sounding Google translation from Norwegian), "Everything in the game can be influenced by the weather. If you are running the car, run conditions will be worse by heavy rain, than if the weather was good ... the weather is dynamic, since it will influence how you play the game."

Furthermore, Mr. Häkkinen tells Gamer.no that, "Lighting is very important in the game, and this is a unique item that really has not been used in the game before on the way we do it." The obvious comparison here would be to last year's conceptually strong Alone in the Dark -- here's hoping Remedy can deliver on the lighting concept where Alone in the Dark more or less failed.

So, we officially still know little-to-nothing! We'll keep an eye out for information at E3 2009 in June, but, ya know, we're not holding our breath or anything.

[Via IGN]

Gallery: Alan Wake

Tags: alan-wake, alone-in-the-dark, gamer.no, max-payne, oskari-hakkinen, remedy, remedy-entertainment

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

FNG @ Mar 28th 2009 10:49PM

prop this game next to duke nukem. will we ever see either?

CH3BURASHKA @ Mar 28th 2009 11:24PM

Come on, FNG. Less gloom and doom. Just cross your lil' fingers and pray to Jesus. I know I will be.

Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 29th 2009 10:43AM

We might see it this year, says the rumor mill.

FNG @ Mar 29th 2009 12:56PM

@ Vegnagun bwf

Who is this Jesus you speak of, and what is this "praying" thing? Does it involve giving money?

FNG @ Mar 29th 2009 12:57PM

oops! I meant @ CH3BURASHKA...

** runs to pray for safety**

mruler360 @ Mar 29th 2009 9:33PM

No joke. This game has been shown off since before the Xbox 360 came out. If it ever does see the light of day, it better be f-ing amazing.

Squid @ Mar 28th 2009 10:55PM

This game looked so revolutionary when it was first showed off; it's sad that it's already looking dated and they still don't seem anywhere close to releasing it.

doreo503 @ Mar 28th 2009 11:44PM

Ok I don't even have a 360 (I'm a ps3 owner) but I think this needs to be said. What is it with you kids today and your graphics? Everyone nowadays is like ugh this game doesn't look great or this game looks like crap...

Graphics aren't the most important thing in the world. It doesn't matter how many polygons a character has, it's all about the story and gameplay. It's like criticizing a book for having an ugly cover. Why should the cover matter when what we really are looking for in a book is a captivating story?

This is no way directed entirely to Squid, it's just an ongoing trend I'm starting to see. It's just disappointing that this generation of gaming is all about top of the line graphics over substance. I mean sure great looking games are a plus but there is more than that. The experience itself should evoke emotion, contain your interest, and have you walk away satisfied.

That is all children...

Vcize @ Mar 29th 2009 12:17AM

There are many pieces that make up a game. Story, characters, gameplay, and yes, graphics.

Saying that graphics don't matter is just as silly as saying they're all the matters.

And FWIW, there's not much meat here to this story other than the screenshots so it's natural that the issue of graphics would come up. Just because someone mentions the word "graphics" doesn't mean that's all they care about.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go chase some kids off my lawn.

Vcize @ Mar 29th 2009 12:22AM

And I'll also note that many of this generation's best selling games are middle of the pack in the graphics department. Halo 3, CoD4, GTA4, etc all don't have special graphics. Most other big games are built on something other than graphics too. Whether it be LBP, Braid, and Portal's tantalizing gameplay or Mass Effect and MGS4's engrossing stories, the examples are plentiful.

If all people cared about was graphics then every flight combat game would sell 10 million units.

What's really happening here is that nostalgia is screwing with people's view of the past and making you think that no one used to ever care about graphics before. It's the same now as it always was. It was just 32-bit vs. 16-bit rather than 720p vs. 480p.

The discussion of graphics has always been there and people that have been around for a long time just seem to fixate on anyone that mentions the word graphics nowadays and assume that's all people care about. They couldn't be further from the truth.

B @ Mar 29th 2009 12:27AM

Graphics whores are the cancer of the industry. They've been around since the bit wars.

Doreo @ Mar 29th 2009 12:35AM

I don't know, my first system when I was a kid was a super nintendo. I never cared about the graphics it was more about playing the games themselves. The same could be said about my sega genesis, n64, and playstation 1. I believe when I bought a playstation 2 and starting reading gaming magazines, that was when I started to look at a games graphics. It wasn't even that important to me until I saw games like ico and god of war.

Then i remember when all the trailers for the games of the next generation came out, the point that was stressed were the graphics. Then I became a graphics whore, but I've been more impressed with what was accomplished by more artistic titles. For example I loved Pixel Junk eden for it's atmosphere, I loved Okami for it's art style, I loved Valkyria Chronicles for it's hand drawn art style, etc. I find myself more impressed by these games then the games like killzone 2 and gears of war. Don't get me wrong, I think killzone 2 looks amazing but I feel the industry as a whole needs to bring something else to the table. I mean this generation is all about the graphics! Companies stress that when marketing their games, and I feel that the industry needs than that if they want to thrive for many years to come. I mean how close to real life can you get before your like okay, what else do you got?

Squid @ Mar 29th 2009 2:47AM

I was never complaining about the graphics not being good enough, just using that as an example of how long the development process for the game has dragged on.

Nick8708 @ Mar 29th 2009 4:36AM

If a book can't be judged by its cover, why bother designing a cover?

In all seriousness, graphics are secondary to gameplay but can go a long ways towards enhancing the experience. The quickest, easiest way to make a good impression is to be visually appealing and that makes it easier to sell.

Alex @ Mar 29th 2009 5:37AM

I agree with doreo. Who cares about graphics as long as you can see what you are doing and you can still enjoy it? I still love to play Fahrenheit for the Xbox 1 and it's no less fun than it was when it came out.

I strongly recommend Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy to EVERYONE

Hyams @ Mar 29th 2009 9:13AM

When all we have is a video and screenshots to go on, how exactly are we meant to judge the gameplay of the game?

All we can judge is the graphics, and so we do.

Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 29th 2009 10:40AM

Anyone who says graphics aren't important in the least is simply wrong. Some games can be fine without any real work put into the graphics, but most games would benefit greatly from better graphics. It's a visual media, why wouldn't graphics be important? Good graphics can suck you into a game and bad graphics can have you let down thoroughly.

What's with this "if I can see what I'm doing and it's fun it doesn't matter" bullshit? You'd like it if all games went back to atari green and red block graphics as long as most were fun? Don't be stupid. That kind of ridiculous graphics-don't-matter opinion showed up after Nintendo didn't put a lot of horsepower in the Wii and tons of fanboys jumped up to decry graphics. Graphics are important, if you think otherwise you're wrong.

Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 29th 2009 10:42AM

@doreo503

Are you serious with your comparison to a book cover? Do you realize that video games are a visual media and books are comprised of words? You couldn't have missed the point at all. Sure the cover of a book isn't that important, but I'm not staring at it the entire time I read it.

Hyams @ Mar 29th 2009 1:01PM

I suppose a game's graphics (and visual presentation as a whole, really) would be better compared not to a book's cover, but to a book's writing style.

cranium @ Mar 29th 2009 11:42PM

Since you guys and/or gals seem most stimulated by the graphical presentation of this game I'd like to ask you what you think of the artistic presentation. If you watch the most recently released trailer you might notice that it's portrayed very much like a movie promo. It's impressive, to say the least. So I ask what is more important to you.. graphical or artistic value? Which game do you find to be more beautiful.. Crysis or Braid? Do you think it even matters?

Ian @ Mar 30th 2009 7:54AM

I actually saw a review on EBGames.com, I can't remember the game now, but it said, and I quote, "This game is boring because the graphics aren't good."

It was at that moment that I lost the remaining thread of respect I had for humanity.

Bryan @ Mar 28th 2009 10:55PM

Can't wait to see this game actually finished.

Markez @ Mar 29th 2009 1:46AM

I'm confident they'll finish it off, I'm moreso interested in seeing it be worth the wait at this point. It seems to have the kind of story that I'd really be into, and I'm loving the Twin Peaksy vibe it has going on.

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 28th 2009 10:58PM

EDIT: Trolling.

myabsolution @ Mar 28th 2009 11:08PM

And Im sure no one needs you to spew crap either.

Mister Bogus (Mr. ESC) @ Mar 28th 2009 11:17PM

Boo-urns.

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 28th 2009 11:22PM

EDIT: Trolling. QUIT IT!

Doreo @ Mar 28th 2009 11:48PM

I think as gamers we all linger to play something! Isn't that why were avid gamers? Hell isn't that why we all visit joystiq, because we linger to play something?

Honestly I have a ps3 and I'm quite bored at the moment, I have all the essential games but I want something new! For example I want infamous, therefore I am lingering to play something.

So don't try to speak for all ps3 users, because not all of us are dicks.

Mister Bogus (Mr. ESC) @ Mar 28th 2009 11:49PM

“Oh i forgot all the 360 fanboys who desperately linger for something to play”

That reads like” Oh you downvote me up for my absurd comment so you must be fanboy ,all of you must be! so I’m gonna BAAAWWWW!!,Baawww!1 until someone votes me up for mere pity”.

Wrong I have a Ps3 and you are a disgrace to us, your fellow comrades don’t like you and I exile you from the PS community with the “HOLLIER-THAN-THOU” Powar invested on me by Myself.

From now on you will walk on this article with a mark of um… half heart, yeah what you think about that? Huh huh

fred @ Mar 29th 2009 12:14AM

"360 fanboys who desperately linger for something to play"

wat

Mister Bogus (Mr. ESC) @ Mar 29th 2009 1:08AM

How the hell did you edit?

He is a witch! Burn the witch!

EDIT: I can do it because I'm moderatin' posts, sucka. I try not to use it for responses like these though. :D

CantFlame (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 29th 2009 1:14AM

I apologize for my trolling, hadn't done it in a while and I was tempted

Mister Bogus (Mr. ESC) @ Mar 29th 2009 9:55PM

I dont' habbeb it you used black magic! Burn the witch!

(Only Mods get to Edit? That’s lame cake right there. Also Joystiq have mods?! WTFBBQSAUCE? That’s a new one).

Swampfox @ Mar 28th 2009 11:02PM

Wow... There are some that said this day would never come, what are they so say now?

The Dark Wayne @ Mar 28th 2009 11:04PM

they would probably say that it still isn't out yet

F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Mar 29th 2009 12:12AM

Damn! Where is that quote from?

Swampfox @ Mar 29th 2009 12:17AM

It was a halo reference :) just felt fitting seeing as how talk has been said that the game was canceled and no more info would surface.

F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Mar 29th 2009 12:37AM

Shit know I remember! Truth said it! Thx for the help; that was driving me crazy.

Popfrogs @ Mar 29th 2009 3:29PM

"what are they so say now?"

For a second I thought this was a Metal Gear NES reference.

Mister Bogus (Mr. ESC) @ Mar 28th 2009 11:17PM

It looked impresive back when it was announced and it reminds me of Alone in the Dark which I persoanlly enjoyed so yeah I dig it.

Markez @ Mar 29th 2009 1:35AM

Plus they're bringing in good acting talent, so it looks promising. 2nd picture looks like they've got Uncle Jessie in the game now. Hopefully they'll be able to rope in Danny Tanner.

KeenCommander @ Mar 28th 2009 11:19PM

This game still exists?

F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Mar 29th 2009 12:12AM

Damn this looks good.

HighFiveJesus @ Mar 29th 2009 1:28AM

i remember hearing how it was being run on quad core systems and i was all OOOH but now, its like not a big deal. still hope it turns out to be great.

Einhanderkiller @ Mar 29th 2009 3:31AM

It's still sort of a big deal since a lot games still aren't multi-core optimized.

Twisted Name @ Mar 29th 2009 5:21AM

ooooh weather conditions and lighting. how exciting! next itl be how much fiber is in your diet and how many brush strokes it takes to clean your teeth. for all i know this game could be something epic. but at the moment, it sounds a little dull.
and yeah graphis dont matter, i mean i still have a ps1 hooked up for the odd blast of a final fantasy game. but, good graphics on a game can sometimes save it from a bad story or something.

speaking of ps1 games, i want a 360 version of rollcage. i used to love that game. even an arcade version would do.

merry thanks giving to all

MAFKKA @ Mar 29th 2009 5:34AM

Like i said before, it was announced in 2005. At that point people got excited, but the constant lack of information has made people bored. That "must have" feeling has somewhat gone away. Sure people will still buy it when it comes, but the excitement isnt that strong any more. And it makes the game look "meh" these days.