The survival horror genre is set to get a shot in the arm in 2008 with a number of high profile, not to mention highly anticipated entries all vying for the opportunity to keep us jumping at shadows and screaming like little girls. Or, for those gamers who are, in fact, little girls, just keep them screaming.
But as all of us know, build-up seldom equals pay-off, leaving us to look upon these titles with what could be described as a mixture of cautious excitement and malaise. However, rather than simply sit and wait to see what the games have in store for us, we decided to corner the teams working on this year's more notable survival horror titles, and pick their brains in true survival horror fashion -- with an ice pick.
But having left the ice pick at the office (my bad!), we opted to simply ask those working on these titles why we should keep their games on our collective radar. This week we'll be talking with people working on such games as Dead Space, Silent Hill: Homecoming and Project Origin, and kick things off today by asking Eden Games' producer Nour Polloni about her studio's re-imagining of survival horror architect Alone in the Dark, particularly, why should we care?
If you like cheese, then you're gonna love the new Alone in the Dark gameplay trailer after the break. Try to ignore the giant pop-up on how to turn off the car's headlights and just focus on the voice acting, which even Resident Evil fans might cringe at. Who knows, maybe the game is supposed to be filled with fromagey goodness?
With the first footage we've seen of the Wii's Alone in the Dark in action, the game's producer, Maxime Loppin, shows off the title to JeuxVideo. To be honest, we know next to nothing of what Monsieur Loppin is saying, but sometimes actions speak louder than words.
After the break we've embedded footage of Loppin playing the game (he starts around 1:57). A nice touch: by moving the Wiimote and nunchuk away from each other in a "coat opening motion" players can view Carnby's inventory, which he conveniently keeps inside his coat. And if anyone is feeling super ambitious and wants to translate, be our guest.
For pack rats who salivate for all things Carnby, Atari has released images to CVG of what collectors can expect to find inside the Alone in the Dark Limited Edition box. Currently only confirmed for release in Europe, the box will contain an Edward Carnby doll, official soundtrack CD, art book, making-of documentary and the game. There's currently no price attached and the limited edition is available only for Xbox 360, Wii and PC.
We'll take this as a sign that the oft-delayed game might actually (shockingly) release June 24. After all, how can there be a "making-of documentary" if the game isn't done, right? Whether the game actually sells as well as Infogrames is predicting ... we'll have to wait and see.
However, this recent trailer for the game is a one-way ride aboard the Crazy Train -- flaming elevator shafts, headcrab knock-offs, and a high-speed escape from an ominously crumbling New York City? Yes, please. You can check out a cornucopia of recently released videos (including a "piping" hot trailer we've thrown after the break) on the Alone in the Dark Gametrailers channel -- then spend the rest of the day hoping all subsequent media for the game becomes more and more intense, until previews of the game's climactic gunfight on the mouth of an active volcano against a cybernetically-enhanced Bea Arthur begin to surface.
Infogrames CEO, David Gardner, tells Reuters he believes Alone in the Dark will sell two to three million copies this fiscal year. That means that, between its June 24 release and next March, the title needs to perform better than a game like BioShock. Given the fact that the title is being released on Wii, PS2, Xbox 360 and PC (PS3 is "sometime in 2008"), it just may hit that projection when combining all the systems ... maybe.
Gardner's currently focused on getting Infogrames / Atari to stop hemorrhaging money, and has Directeur Général Délégué Phil Harrison and friends looking to "get a business plan together that gets [Atari] to a break-even level." Unsurprisingly, Gardner couldn't give specifics on when he expects that to happen.
We doubt one million people have even been exposed to Boll's unique brand of sensory torment -- but still, this remains your best chance to fulfill any vendettas you may hold against the pugnacious producer. With enough door-to-door campaigning and MySpace chain letters, this lofty goal may be attainable. If not, we can always hold out hope for the merciful release of bankruptcy.
Finally, the rumors that the latest chapter in the Alone in the Dark series would be completely devoid of all life have been squelched by a tech demo for the game, released today. Not only does the video show off the intriguing "Real World Rules" engine (not to be confused with the Real World/Road Rules engine), it gives a small (okay, minuscule) sampling of some of the enemies you'll be going toe to toe with as you wander through Central Park like an acid-addled tourist.
Alright, we're done making fun of this game. Between the gorgeous lighting, the innovative inventory management system, and the seemingly endless weapon creation capabilities the game will provide, we must say that our interest is piqued. Hopefully the next episode in the series of tech demos will shed light on further Macgyverisms.
Atari may have a new head honcho ready to turn the company's staggering misfortune around, but it ain't gonna happen overnight. Atari stated in its Q3 report that if it wasn't for the $3.7 million restructuring charge it would have posted a net income of $3.4 million this quarter. It's nice that the company "would have" made some income, but the simple fact is Atari has a net loss of $20 million for its first three quarters.
But enough about the never-ending joke of Atari's financials, Eurogamer dug up some game information. Ignoring the scheduling mess which is Alone in the Dark, there are currently plans for another Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion, something called Airborne Rangers, and numerous other titles -- although we're sure everyone is super excited for My Horse & Me 2. Atari says it will be announcing more titles in the coming weeks "one by one." Atari's fiscal year ends in March, so expect the devastating financial results a few months later.
Read: Atari posts Q3 loss following restructuring charges Read: Atari financials leak 2008/2009 line up
So, what's changed in the nearly two years since we first saw a trailer for Atari's oft-delayed update of Alone in the Dark? Well, in some ways, not much. Just like when IGN previewed the game last summer, it still looks more like a tech demo, showing off some of the fancier gameplay elements (what can't you light on fire?) than an action game due to be released in about three months. Where's the nasty monsters ... and can we light them on fire? You won't find the answer in the latest trailer, found after the break.
Will wonders never cease? In one week, Alone in the Darkwent from being released in March to being released in September to "not delayed until September, but we're not saying when it's actually coming out." Now, according to CVG, the survival horror title will drop on the Xbox 360, Wii, PC and PS2 in May of 2008. As you may have noticed, the PS3 is absent from that list, and with good reason: That version is now due "sometime in 2008." That's especially interesting to those who have been following the AITD release drama, as Atari previously said that the PS3 version would arrive day-and-date with its brethren on other consoles.
We have to admit that we're still looking forward to getting our hands on the game, if only to see if all the delays were time well spent. If we could be so bold though, could we suggest that the game ship with a special bonus copy of Chinese Democracy?
Eurogamer says they've been informed by Atari that a reported delay of Alone in the Dark until September is simply a rumor, but the company wouldn't take the next step and say the game will release as expected in March. Yeah, that's just a bit awkward.
If you're having déjà vu about Alone in the Dark delay issues, it's probably because Atari went through this recently with an AitD delay rumor on the PS3. If there's any questions about AitD coming out in March, it's worth noting that IGN wasn't given hands-on time when it did a preview on the game last August. It's only a matter of time before we use "delayed" and Alone in the Dark in the same post again.
A look back at our coverage of Alone In The Dark reveals that most of the coverage on the game hasn't been focused on its intriguing episodic nature or any of its other features. The bulk of the posts are news of delays, both big and small pushing the game through the years like the world's slowest time machine. But today, friends, today ... we have another one of those posts. Games For Windows magazine reports in their latest issue that the game has been delayed from March to September of 2008.
We know that Atari has appeared to lean on AitD's promise a couple of times to try to make its future seem rosier. But, if we were at the helm, we would take the game deep underground until it was actually, really, seriously, no kidding going to come out. The last thing anybody wants is for Edward Carnby to get Nukemed.
In another CES 2008 announcement, Microsoft has highlighted nine new additions to its Games for Windows endeavor, promising to "continue the momentum for Windows-based gaming in 2008" and "revive" the PC gaming space. The titles due to be dressed in Microsoft's colors include:
Alone in the Dark (Atari)
Bionic Commando (Capcom)
Conflict: Denied Ops (Eidos Interactive)
Empire: Total War (SEGA)
LEGO Indiana Jones (LucasArts)
Microsoft Train Simulator 2 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Sins of a Solar Empire (Stardock)
Space Siege (SEGA)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (Eidos Interactive)
The list not only cements the "Underworld" subtitle to Eidos' next Tomb Raider, but provides reassurance as to the longevity of Microsoft's initiative. Games for Windows is sure to be around for quite some time if Alone in the Dark manages to arrive under its banner. Microsoft's polite press release is also keen to remind us that other expected 2008 titles -- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Borderlands, The Club, Fallout 3 and Frontlines: Fuel of War -- will stand beneath the flapping emblem.
What with its lingering financial worries and loss of licenses, Atari is a lot like a three-legged dog seen limping pitifully to the side of the road. We want to help, we do, but we've already got a perfectly good dog at home with all four legs intact. With so much hardship, it's evident that much of Atari's livelihood seems pinned on the success of the upcoming franchise reboot of Alone in the Dark, so it's unsurprising that the company has opted to release the survival horror title for the Wii (shown) and PlayStation 2 in addition to the previously announced versions in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
The long-delayed game, which marks the fifth title in the Alone in the Dark franchise, was first announced in 2005, and features a script penned by Sleepers author Lorenzo Carcaterra. Interestingly, however, while the earlier announced versions of the game are being developed by Test Drive Unlimited devs Eden, the Wii and PS2 duties have been handed off to French developer Hydravision, which has some survival horror chops themselves having developed the Obscure series of games. It's still anyone's guess when Alone in the Dark in any form will make it to retail, though considering that there hasn't been a decent title in the series since Edward Carnby's 1992 debut, we think we can wait.
