Has your recent playthrough of the Batman: Arkham Asylum demo left you wondering exactly how the sausage got made? Lucky you -- Warner Bros. and Rocksteady recently released a behind-the-scenes look at the stealth-action superhero sim, which keen-eyed readers have probably already noticed is posted above.
The game's creators do a great job of explaining what makes the game so successful -- elements such as the intensive mocap work done to bring the animations to life, story contributions from DC's Paul Dini, and of course, Rocksteady's own "English sensibilities." We're pretty fond of our American sensibilities thankyouverymuch -- but if that's the secret ingredient that makes Arkham Asylum so rad, we guess we can't complain.
Batman: Arkham Asylum dev diary has English sensibilities
by Griffin McElroy 
on Aug 9th 2009 2:30PM
75
Reader Comments (75)
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:33PM MystileArmor said
One of the few demo's this year that made me play it over and over and over and over again.
This one and Red Faction were the only demo's I've played more then a couple of times.
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This one and Red Faction were the only demo's I've played more then a couple of times.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:40PM ArchiGamer said
See, with Batman's demo, now I can't wait patiently anymore.
Release already!
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Release already!
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:58PM Typicalgamer said
i've played dissidia's demo a LOT. I've beat the demo with every character on hard, while my psp had a broken analog stick that kept making the character move forward. now that's hardcore.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:05PM MystileArmor said
@ Spyder Taco
The Christian Bale rant applied to Terminator... I don't see what that has to do with this game really.
That's like saying "If this game has Michael Keaton doing his Mr. Rogers circus performance in the credits, it's GOTY".
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The Christian Bale rant applied to Terminator... I don't see what that has to do with this game really.
That's like saying "If this game has Michael Keaton doing his Mr. Rogers circus performance in the credits, it's GOTY".
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:23PM TheDarkWayne said
that wasn't sarcasm noob. That was just stupidity.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:45PM MystileArmor said
It's worth a good laugh if you can find it on youtube or something.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:40PM (Unverified) said
Ok, im English, but I have no idea what they mean when they talk about English Sensibilities, lol. I didn't play the demo ad go "wow its like being in London!"
But Nah, this game seems alright actually, im pleasantly surprised.
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But Nah, this game seems alright actually, im pleasantly surprised.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:55PM Ranko said
I think they might be referring to classical buildings. Gothic cathedrals and such. The gargoyles, the greenhouse etc. are very European. I wouldn't just peg it as "English Sensibilities" seeing that Gothic art began in France.
Not sure if that made any sense...
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Not sure if that made any sense...
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 8:50PM (Unverified) said
"It's a very English company, so there's a very English sensibility to the design."
*cuts to the Aussie Lead Character Artist and French Art Director*
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*cuts to the Aussie Lead Character Artist and French Art Director*
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 10:48PM (Unverified) said
What, you didn't unlock the tea time with crumpets bonus round? That was the _shit_.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:14PM copa said
I agree, I haven't been this pleased with a demo since BioShock.
The Unreal Engine is perfect for this game. Realistic enough to be immersive, but cartoony enough to capture the comic book sensibilities.
They seem to have nailed the right balance between action and stealth. You have to sneak for tactical advantage, but when it's time to brawl with an unarmed group you still feel like a total badass.
Batman's physical animations, the use of his cape, the voice acting work together very well. I feel like I am Batman. Looks like it will indeed be the best superhero game ever made.
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The Unreal Engine is perfect for this game. Realistic enough to be immersive, but cartoony enough to capture the comic book sensibilities.
They seem to have nailed the right balance between action and stealth. You have to sneak for tactical advantage, but when it's time to brawl with an unarmed group you still feel like a total badass.
Batman's physical animations, the use of his cape, the voice acting work together very well. I feel like I am Batman. Looks like it will indeed be the best superhero game ever made.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 6:44PM WiredKnight said
None of that explains the "cartoony" look of the engine itself (which is largely up to developers and artists, not the engine itself), or why copa seems to think this game looks "cartoony."
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:47PM CaramelZappa said
I'm in the same boat. I didn't realize before that they're using mostly the same voices from the animated series. In my book Mark Hamill is the best joker.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:49PM (Unverified) said
In my experience, British cinema has always been much more natural and realistic in portrayal of dark, gritty films. So I'm presuming that's what they're talking about here.
I guess it's just a trait that we come with, the ability to make everything much more miserable than it should be, maybe it's the weather.
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I guess it's just a trait that we come with, the ability to make everything much more miserable than it should be, maybe it's the weather.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:50PM (Unverified) said
1:36
Apparently that's a blurred out PS3 Slim. All speculation, but you have to wonder why they would blur something else...
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Apparently that's a blurred out PS3 Slim. All speculation, but you have to wonder why they would blur something else...
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:01PM (Unverified) said
I noticed that, too, but they also blurred out something near the bottom left at 1:33 that looks pretty small.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:02PM Mr Khan said
Equally curious, but it didn't look slim to me.
Probably just a legal thing, NDAs regarding the dev-kits or whatnot that may not allow them to show them, since both the 360s and PS3s (or what i can presume to be such) were blurred. I remember a picture of a Mistwalker employee that had a Wii dev kit in the background that was later photoshopped out.
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Probably just a legal thing, NDAs regarding the dev-kits or whatnot that may not allow them to show them, since both the 360s and PS3s (or what i can presume to be such) were blurred. I remember a picture of a Mistwalker employee that had a Wii dev kit in the background that was later photoshopped out.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:33PM WiredKnight said
@Luke
I think the small thing is just a mousepad, probably has some company logo or something else they decided they didn't want people to see.
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I think the small thing is just a mousepad, probably has some company logo or something else they decided they didn't want people to see.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:51PM (Unverified) said
I'm just curious as to the devices they are blurring out on their desks at 1:33-1:40 in the video. hmmmm :P
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:31PM WiredKnight said
Could be a black and white PS3.
Doesn't necessarily have to be dev kit consoles, they might just be for personal use.
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Doesn't necessarily have to be dev kit consoles, they might just be for personal use.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 2:53PM MystileArmor said
When I saw that little cutscene with Harley and she goes "Don't I look hot?"...
I thought to myself "Why is the Joker busy doing all this shit to trick Batman when he could be hitting that every 5 minutes"
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I thought to myself "Why is the Joker busy doing all this shit to trick Batman when he could be hitting that every 5 minutes"
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:26PM TheDarkWayne said
I guess the english sensibilities explains why Harley looks more like a 19th century prostitute than a nurse or a Harlequinn. Still upset about her costume, having a character named Harlequinn dress up as a nurse is like if Batman fought crime dressed as an accountant
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:36PM (Unverified) said
That last bit, about Batman dressed as an accountant – I'd buy that game.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:43PM MystileArmor said
Yeah but she's wearing a nurse's outfit... I mean... *drools*
Maybe there is something involved in the story that makes her act like a nurse or something. Either way it's hot as all hell.
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Maybe there is something involved in the story that makes her act like a nurse or something. Either way it's hot as all hell.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 3:54PM Deadpool said
Don't be upset Batsie, just be glad she's in the game. Besides, it's not like you haven't had your questionable costume choices.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/sdZero/batman-nipples.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/sdZero/batman_Gardening.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/sdZero/batman-nipples.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/sdZero/batman_Gardening.jpg
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:24PM (Unverified) said
Well she is in an asylum. It's not like they have a costume section in the gift shop. Nurses abound so why wouldn't she dress like one?
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:35PM TheDarkWayne said
well juda they apparently let Bane, The Riddler and scarecrow keep their costumes so why not harley?
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Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:36PM WiredKnight said
I agree, they totally overdid her outfit.
In their defense however, Harley was a _doctor_ so a "nurse" uniform isn't so far off the mark.
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In their defense however, Harley was a _doctor_ so a "nurse" uniform isn't so far off the mark.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 4:57PM Snowblind said
I'm not a huge Batman fan, so I won't pretend to really understand the character, but isn't she supposed to be a little nuts? I thought her dressing up as a nurse kind of fit. I also thought the whole leather/corset thing she was wearing underneath works better in a more realistic setting than the whole jester costume she usually wears.
Though it's worth pointing out that if you look through the character bio's, she wears her original costume in all of the concept art.
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Though it's worth pointing out that if you look through the character bio's, she wears her original costume in all of the concept art.
Posted: Aug 9th 2009 5:04PM TheDarkWayne said
she is absolutely crazy, which is why it doesnt make sense for her to go with the more fitting and realistic option over her harlequinn dress
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Posted: Aug 10th 2009 12:18AM OnToGloryReturns said
The Joker doesn't always wear the same outfit, does he? As for the other villians - they're already there and (as far as I can tell) not part of the plan. Looks like Harley was getting into the spirit of running the asylum, hence the (very provacative and well done) outfit.
Talk about nitpicking, jeez
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Talk about nitpicking, jeez
Posted: Aug 10th 2009 8:11AM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said
I'm pretty sure they're going to say that she was wearing that outfit in order to pass her off as someone working on the inside...and *then* she dons the prostitute get-up.
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