Joystiq

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs delayed once more to Q2 2013

Mike Schramm — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:15:00 EST

An official blog post from Frictional Games now says that the publisher's Amnesia: The Dark Descent followup, subtitled A Machine for Pigs, is due out not in "early 2013," as last stated, but in "Q2 2013," which means in April of this year or later. That's another slight delay for the title, which was originally scheduled for release back at Halloween last year.

What's the holdup? Frictional says that A Machine for Pigs was originally planned as "a short, experimental game set in the universe of Amnesia," but as developers thechineseroom filled out the project, it became apparent that the "short experiment" was becoming "a fully fledged Amnesia game." So Frictional has made the decision to do it up right, which means another few months of waiting for fans. Frictional also says pricing and availability information is coming soon, so we'll keep an eye out for that.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs delayed once more to Q2 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam Summer Sale, Day 8: Alan Wake, Witcher 2, Fallout: New Vegas

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST

Valve's onslaught on your wallet continues with yet another day in the Steam Summer Sale. Today's deals include horrifically slashed prices on Amnesia: The Dark Descent and the Alan Wake franchise. RPGs have taken a critical price hit as well, including the Witcher franchise, Fallout: New Vegas and Krater.

Still not satisfied? Dip into even more savings on Plants vs. Zombies, Sniper Elite V2, Gratuitous Tank Battles or yet another Indie Bundle.

Update: If you're looking for Sniper Elite V2, Amazon actually has a better deal and is currently offering a PC download for $15.

Steam Summer Sale, Day 8: Alan Wake, Witcher 2, Fallout: New Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs aims to frighten you, even if you know what to expect

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST

Amnesia proved, among other things, that atmosphere is one of the most important aspects in a horror title, trumping jumpy music, grotesque character designs and top-of-the-line graphics -- but now imagine Amnesia's panicked, clammy tone coming from a game as dark and beautiful as Dear Esther. Pure terror.

This is what Amnesia developer Frictional Games has charged Dear Esther's thechineseroom with accomplishing in Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

"The thing is, if we don't frighten people as much as the original, then we've failed," Dan Pinchbeck of thechineseroom told Gamasutra. "But now we have to frighten people that know what to expect. The big design challenge is: How do we protect the things that make Amnesia great, and how do we evolve everything else to make a really fresh experience?"

Pinchbeck wants players to be reminded of the original Amnesia with each shiver of fear, but to be so enthralled by the new, horrific world that it will feel as if "something has burrowed into your head and is just scratching its nails at you. But you're so hooked. Inside, you're peeling away like bodies from a pile and you just can't stop yourself," Pinchbeck said.

Now that sounds like fun.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs aims to frighten you, even if you know what to expect originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Building A Machine for Pigs and expanding the universe of Amnesia

Xav de Matos — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:15:00 EST

It takes place sixty years after Amnesia: The Dark Descent at the turn of the twentieth century, yet the next game to carry the franchise's moniker will feel like familiar territory in one major respect: it is built to scare you senseless.

It's six-o-clock in the morning. My tea jolts me awake. The street outside is silent. It's serene and peaceful all around me, until I call Frictional Games designer Thomas Grip. His voice booms in my headset; he's obviously excited. This is the first time his team can talk about his upcoming project. This is how I was introduced to Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

Continue reading Building A Machine for Pigs and expanding the universe of Amnesia

Building A Machine for Pigs and expanding the universe of Amnesia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is the next title from Frictional Games and Dear Esther dev

Xav de Matos — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EST

The power of two crowned indie developer darlings have joined together to form one team, set to bring the Amnesia franchise into a new era.

Speaking exclusively with Joystiq, Frictional Games and Dear Esther's thechineseroom have revealed their latest project, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

Developed by thechineseroom and produced by Frictional Games, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is planned for a debut on PC later this year. No firm date has been set, but internally the two studios hope to launch before Halloween. A recent alternate reality game has been teasing the the next Amnesia's reveal, sending fans into a frenzy.

"It's not a direct sequel, in terms of it doesn't follow on from the story of Amnesia. It doesn't involve the same characters," Dear Esther writer Dan Pinchbeck told me. Instead, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs will be set in the same "alternate history and set in the same universe." In short, the game will look to scare your pants off.

Set in 1899, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs follows the "wealthy industrialist" Oswald Mandus, who has returned home from "a disastrous expedition to Mexico, which has ended in tragedy." Struck by a destructive fever, Mandus is haunted by dreams of a dark machine until he mysteriously regains consciousness. Months have passed, unbeknownst to the industry tycoon, and as he emerges from his slumber the roaring engine of a mysterious machine sputters to life.

A detailed interview with Frictional Games designer Thomas Grip and thechineseroom's Dan Pinchbeck is coming later today, delving deeper into the darkness with Amnesia's next chapter. And yes, the two discuss what A Machine for Pigs means.

Gallery: Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is the next title from Frictional Games and Dear Esther dev originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amnesia follow-up teased with ARG, more clues

Mike Schramm — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:01:00 EST

Fans have been working around the clock since a new teaser site appeared for Frictional Games' suspected follow-up to the acclaimed indie horror title, Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Not only has the blurred image been revealed as a freaky tunnel entrance, with what looks like a limbless corpse (ew), but fans have tracked down the latest hint, which leads to a tower in Seattle called Smith Tower. Inside that you'll find The Chinese Room, named after the furniture it houses, donated from the Empress of China herself. Speculation suggest the new game may have some connection to China and its history.

Fans have also uncovered an interactive feature on the site, which has since revealed the picture above (called "fragment_ebola.jpg"), and a coded series of letters: "P F C I N C M I O I S G G."

Some guess it to mean "GIF PICS COMING," which would suggest more clues are on the way. Research is being headed up on this forum thread, so have at it. Our contribution? The letters above can also be rearranged into "SICCING OF GIMP." You should probably download everyone's favorite image editor posthaste!

Amnesia follow-up teased with ARG, more clues originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frictional teases a new Amnesia project, possibly set in China

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:00 EST

Frictional Games, known for the Penumbra series and 2010's fantastically creepy Amnesia: The Dark Descent, is teasing something new. A new website, NextFrictionalGame.com, hosts a blurry image above emblazoned with the Amnesia logo and the cryptic words "Something is emerging." The image also contains a link pointing to a Google map of China. An Amnesia title with a Chinese backdrop? Could be.

The site is indeed registered for Frictional, and the domain information also points to TheDarkSwarm.com -- a possible hint at the new game's title -- which leads to an unplayable browser game and a timer that continuously ticks upward every second. The source code on both sites mention first-person perspective, horror, action adventure and other qualities we've come to associate with Frictional. The Dark Swarm site was registered way back in 2007, and was updated in September of 2011, so it might be unconnected.

Frictional's Thomas Grip told us last year that the studio was working on "an Amnesia-related project." At the time, he said that the project wouldn't focus solely on creating fear, but will hopefully "evoke other, less primitive, emotions as well." If that means it will feature even a few moments without teeth-clenching, panic-stricken fear, we're all for it.

Frictional teases a new Amnesia project, possibly set in China originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amnesia dev discusses success; next project won't lose the 'scary atmosphere'

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Thomas Grip, project manager at Amnesia: The Dark Descent developer Frictional Games, spoke on "Evoking Emotions" earlier this week at GDC Europe, and explained the intricacies of the game that absolutely terrified those who played it. We wanted to discuss his emotions on the success of the game, which has sold over 400,000 copies --- an impressive feat for an indie dev.

"While we were quite confident that we had a game that was better than any of our previous, we had never expected the response we got," Grip told us when we asked if he was surprised by the success. "The press response was very nice -- both in terms of coverage and grading -- but even more fun and surprising was the player response that continues almost a year after. The amount of videos, images, etc. that players have created in response to the game is just amazing, and several orders of magnitude larger than anything we have had. Sales-wise it's, of course, also overwhelming, and I think especially how good it is still selling even a year after."

Continue reading Amnesia dev discusses success; next project won't lose the 'scary atmosphere'

Amnesia dev discusses success; next project won't lose the 'scary atmosphere' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Last King of Africa moves from Paradise

Phil Larsen — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens

We're all going on a holiday to Syberia in the near future, and it looks to be a rollicking good time. If that wasn't enough, creative prodigy Benoit Sokal is back to offer DS owners an even greater holiday destination -- Paradise. Well, it used to be Paradise, but the original PC adventure title is being ported to the DS as Last King of Africa. Hang on, a port? Of an adventure game? That sure shows these guys a thing or two.

You'll be taking up the point-and-click reigns of Ann Smith, daughter of King Rodon. Unsurprisingly, she is struck down with amnesia on her way to visit her pop, and must journey within fictional African country Maurania to unravel her own mystery.

The first screens are in, and apparently the game has been seriously reworked for the DS -- even the story and dialogue itself has been streamlined. This is pretty good news, considering the original wasn't particularly well-received compared to Sokal's other work.

Last King of Africa is vaguely scheduled for a release at this end of this year. It's another addition to the growing adventure library on the DS, which is nothing but pointy, clicky awesome.

[Via press release]

The Last King of Africa moves from Paradise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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