Joystiq

Tigon's Ian Stevens: For Hollywood, 'making video games has been the same thing as making action figures'

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:15:00 EST

Running Tigon Studios is a bit of a strange job to have. Ian Stevens, the man in charge, is responsible for not just organizing development talent to make games like this year's Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, but also working with Hollywood. And, unsurprisingly, he says it's a bit of an uphill battle, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "It's really hard to take something that's native to a certain medium and just draw a line, which is what people are usually trying to do [with games based on movies.]"

He equates the attention Hollywood has been giving to game versions of its films with "action figures, pictures on cereal boxes, and [themed] pajamas," saying it's just part of the "licensing and merchandising" of a property, rather than creating something unique and well-crafted from the start. Furthermore, Stevens says that the development studios who are working with nothing (think Ben 10) and making something -- anything -- out of it, are the real talent in the industry. "If you gave that team in Newcastle [Midway Newcastle] - through all that they've struggled with, technology, corporate business, all these different things - the kind of opportunity that someone like Valve has," he says, leaving us to postulate on the ending there. We'll let you guys fill that in all by yourselves.

Tigon's Ian Stevens: For Hollywood, 'making video games has been the same thing as making action figures' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tigon's Ian Stevens sees an evolving relationship between gaming and Hollywood

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

No stranger to the Stiq, Tigon Studios head Ian Stevens has been talking Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena post-mortem recently. While speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, though, Stevens discussed the game industry and Hollywood becoming closer bedfellows, mostly due to -- wait for it -- money! Considering the $22 billion gaming made in the US in 2008, we're not exactly surprised when he says, "Hollywood and games, over the next decade, you'll see some really interesting things happen."

When asked whether he believes Hollywood's attitude towards gaming has changed over the past five years, he seems somewhat wishy-washy, saying, "It certainly has [but] people in Hollywood struggle to understand the creative decisions that we make." And that's likely how we end up with treasures like 2004's Van Helsing, which Stevens says took precedence over the first Chronicles of Riddick game, Escape From Butcher Bay. How the tables have turned, eh Ian?

Tigon's Ian Stevens sees an evolving relationship between gaming and Hollywood originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starbreeze: Indie studios 'always' more creative than corporate studios

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:00:00 EST

Speaking with Develop, Starbreeze Studios CEO Johan Kristiansson discussed his feelings about game development, specifically as it relates to independent studios. The subjects of the interview range from the decision to release Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena in April -- the game debuted at #2 in the UK but failed to make the top 10 in North America -- to the advantages of using established franchises versus creating new IP. Perhaps the most interesting part of the interview comes near the end, when Kristiansson discusses the differences between the independent and corporate development environments.

According to Kristiansson, corporate development environments can stifle creativity, as decisions are made more slowly. He stated that independent developers have "a stronger feeling of ownership-attachment to their properties," adding that indie studios can develop "a more tightly knit team" over time.

"An independent studio is always going to be more creative," said Kristiansson, noting that publishers should allow developers to maintain control over production. He concluded, "If indies are too close to their publishers, that can also damage the decision making process and the overall game quality."

Starbreeze: Indie studios 'always' more creative than corporate studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 May 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick: Dark Athena debuts at #2 in UK charts, only new game to make top 40

Majed Athab — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:29:00 EST

Who would have thought The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena would be so successful? In the UK, the Vin Diesel-starring, sci-fi adventure came into the charts at the number two spot, being the only debut entry for the week to make it into the top 40 (obliterating other debut titles like Rock Revolution and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2).

So, what was the only game keeping Vin Diesel from full-out domination? It's Wii Fit, which still reigns supreme in the Isles. Sorry Vinny, you can't dethrone Wii Fit -- not even with those weird glowing eyes of yours. But hey, fans still love you; they're keeping Wheelman afloat at #22.

Riddick: Dark Athena debuts at #2 in UK charts, only new game to make top 40 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq interview: Ian Stevens, Tigon Studios' head of game production

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:10:00 EST

Ian Stevens has a lot on his plate. Between launching two games this month in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and Wheelman and working on Vin Diesel's dream game (not to mention two games still in the concept stage named Melkor and Perrone), we think this gentleman could really use a vacation.

Busy as he is, he was nice enough to take time out of his schedule last week to speak with us about a few things. Number one on the agenda: What is it exactly that Tigon Studios does? If Starbreeze developed Riddick and Midway Newcastle developed Wheelman, where does Tigon fit into this mess? His answer just might shock you!

[Disclaimer: Ian Steven's answer will likely not actually shock you, but you may find it interesting. So there's that.]

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Continue reading Joystiq interview: Ian Stevens, Tigon Studios' head of game production

Joystiq interview: Ian Stevens, Tigon Studios' head of game production originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview - Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Xav de Matos — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:45:00 EST

It's a strange concept, but Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena might be 2009's answer (in value) to The Orange Box. Riddick's return essentially includes three games for the price of one, with Butcher Bay, Assault on Dark Athena and new multiplayer features rounding out the retail package. Sure, the quality bar may not be as high as Valve's five-game release, but value is important. Here's the word around the industry campfire about Riddick's HD outing (a second opinion since you've already read our review, right?):

GamePro (90/100): "But when you step back and consider the entire package, you start to appreciate Dark Athena for what it truly is. Instead, look at Dark Athena as a flawed yet enjoyable way to extend the thrill ride that is Escape from Butcher Bay."
GameTrailers (84/100): "The Escape may handily trump the Assault, but neophyte Riddicks have a unique experience to work through. Though vets who return may begrudge Athena, it's doubtful they won't finish. It's an abridged effort, and more of a dreaded point-five than a true sequel, but with both missions it still reigns as the best first-person, melee, stealth, parkour game featuring Vin Diesel."
1UP (B-): "As a product, this package is recommendable to anyone who hasn't experienced the first game, or wishes to add it back to their current library. It also includes a surprisingly fun multiplayer suite, with the Riddick vs. Everyone Else mode "Pitch Black" as the main attraction. But as single-player games, the unsatisfying Dark Athena should be played as a curiosity and then put back where it belongs: in Butcher Bay's shadow."
Worthplaying (75/100): "Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is half excellent game, half mediocre game. Unfortunately, the excellent half is the same game that was released years ago, just with a small new segment taken from the PC port."

Source - Metacritic: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (X360)
Source - Metacritic: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PS3)

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Metareview - Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq Review: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Justin McElroy — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:45:00 EST

This is an exceedingly weird release. On the same disc, you've got an older, graphically-juiced version of the classic Escape from Butcher Bay paired with Assault on Dark Athena, a modern take on the same game, but one that never feels like anything more than an expansion.

So, as the game's targeting a lot of different audiences, I thought I'd write short, separate reviews for each of these groups. I know, it's totally Web 3.0.

If you played and liked Butcher Bay: You're going to want this. You can't play your old version on your 360, and besides, the new version looks great. The one thing you may have forgotten from BB that hasn't aged so well? Load times. Seriously, when you're going from one area to another in the prison, it's brutal. We're talking 13 to 15 seconds every couple of minutes in some sections. The good stuff's still there, though. Melee combat is satisfyingly brutal, voice acting's great, and the stealth is really intuitive and well-handled.

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Continue reading Joystiq Review: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Joystiq Review: Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena trailers to tide you over

David Hinkle — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:45:00 EST

For some, the April 7 release of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena can't come soon enough. To help ease the pain of waiting, we present two new trailers from the game (viewable after the break). The first clip shows our anti-hero storming one of the ship's generators, while the second clip showcases the many enemies that try to get in Riddick's way. Oh, you silly NPCs ...

If you want your experience to be extra authentic, shave your head, turn off the lights, and don some shades while watching. Around the office, we call that Vin-O-vision.

Source - Generator room gameplay
Source - Riddick's enemies vignette

Continue reading Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena trailers to tide you over

Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena trailers to tide you over originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena getting DLC map pack

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Fans of the surprisingly well-crafted Escape from Butcher Bay have likely been salivating over the brutal possibilities offered by the multiplayer mode featured in its successor, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. With six different gameplay modes and 15 levels to choose from, the "shiv-happy" among you will probably have enough to keep yourselves busy for quite some time -- just in case, developer Starbreeze Studios will reportedly be dropping a five-map DLC pack some time after the game's release.

Little is known about the pricing, release schedule or arrangement of these extra maps, but given the gaming community's lack of enthusiasm for DLC that's announced for yet-to-be-released games, we suggest the additional levels have some extremely catchy titles. We suggest Shanktown, Knifewound Central, Laceration Station, or Stabbythroat Junction.

Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena getting DLC map pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick dev diary drones on about drones

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:10:00 EST

Atari has released a new developer diary video for Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. The video centers around the game's story, which the developers at Starbreeze consider the next chapter in the Chronicles of Riddick saga. The video also spends a great deal of time talking about the drone enemy. The drone is essentially a cyborg with rudimentary AI that can also be controlled remotely. Kind of a crappy life, really.

Finally, the video highlights the different ways the game can be played. According to the developers, it's possible to play the game guns blazing or in a stealthier manner. Us, we'll probably opt for the method with the heaviest use of Riddick's razor-sharp "ulak" blades.

Check out some new screens in the gallery below.

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (3/20/09)

Riddick dev diary drones on about drones originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thanks to Vin Diesel, Dark Athena has multiplayer

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:15:00 EST

At least that's what Mr. Diesel, owner of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena co-developer Tigon Studios, told G4TV's X-Play this week. When asked if his studio's upcoming remake of 2004's Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay will feature online multiplayer, he had this to say: "Big props to the whole team working on this because we were well into production in the game and I begged for some multiplayer component on this and everyone rose to the occasion and created something really compelling."

And we must say, between the recently released Riddick demo on Xbox Live and Diesel's starring role in Wheelman, the actor turned development studio owner has been making quite a name for himself in the video game industry. Now all we need is a Vin Diesel/50 Cent mashup full of ulaks and exploding ramps. We can dream, can't we?

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Thanks to Vin Diesel, Dark Athena has multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick's Assault on Dark Athena demo up on XBLM, full of 'ulaks'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST

Gravelly-voiced space crook news now, with a demo version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena arriving on the Xbox Live Marketplace. In addition to piloting Vin Diesel through the presumably dark corridors of the titular Athena, you'll be able to pilot a "drone" through one of the demo's segments. We're not really sure how different those two really are, but the latter makes for an interesting bullet point in the press release.

Those uninterested in bullets can also take a stab at wielding Riddick's "razor-sharp ulaks," though we'll remind you that bringing an ulak to a disintegrator fight is always a bad idea. Look for the demo on PSN later this March, and the full game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 7th (April 24th if you live in Europe).

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (3/4/09)

Riddick's Assault on Dark Athena demo up on XBLM, full of 'ulaks' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick assaults Dark Athena April 7 in North America, Europe April 24

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST

Riddick better get all those dark, monotone soliloquies out of his system before assaulting the Dark Athena crew on April 7 in North America, and April 24 in Europe. Atari sends word that The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena will be available for PC, PS3 and X360, with demos releasing in March for the console versions.

Don't forget that Dark Athena also comes with an enhanced Escape from Butcher's Bay, so there'll be plenty of Riddick packed onto the disc come April.

Update: Big Download has word that a PC demo is in the works. No word of when it'll release, though.

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Riddick assaults Dark Athena April 7 in North America, Europe April 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Riddick: Dark Athena trailer previews plot

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Action

Vin Diesel vehicles don't really need much of a plot to be brilliant or successful (see: xXx) -- regardless of this fact, it seems the upcoming follow-up to one of the most surprisingly well put together licensed games ever, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, has a story we're itching to dive into. A recent trailer teases some of the plot points we'll be uncovering when the game drops April 7.

Here's what we picked up during our first pass through the trailer (embedded after the jump) -- throughout Dark Athena, Mr. Diesel will be "hunting" some "zombies" on a derelict space station, facing off against a feisty villainess, and stabbing anything that hoves into his field of vision. Yep, that sounds about right.

See: Chronicles of Riddick: AoDA HD Trailer Download

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena

Continue reading New Riddick: Dark Athena trailer previews plot

New Riddick: Dark Athena trailer previews plot originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena gets new trailer

Justin McElroy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

We hope we're not alone in this, but we sure miss Vin Diesel when we don't get to see him for a while. The reasons should be more than evident in this new trailer for Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, which we've just lifted from our friends at Xbox 360 Fanboy.

Vin Diesel is a video game character. He's bald, he's buff, he speaks only in low growls and he loves to kill people. All he's missing is a bitchin' rock guitar soundtrack to follow him around everywhere, and we think you'll agree that the above trailer fills that need effortlessly.

Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena gets new trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Athena is an 'episodic expansion'

Jason Dobson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Even with a new 10-hour campaign to its credit, we'd suggest portioning out your time with Starbreeze's shiny remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay when it arrives next spring. According to Eurogamer, Tigon Studios views the upcoming Assault on Dark Athena as an "episodic expansion" to the original Xbox classic, while an actual sequel is still "a couple of years out."

The Diesel-fueled developer calls the theoretical sequel "ambitious," adding that its arrival is largely contingent on whether or not the fans like the upcoming title and "tell us [they] want more." In short, money talks if players want to continue to live vicariously through Vin Diesel's manly virtual physique. Then again, there's always The Wheelman ... maybe.

Dark Athena is an 'episodic expansion' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chronicles of Riddick multiplayer includes 'Pitch Black' mode (no word on grues)

Christopher Grant — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

With new publisher in tow, and new 10-hour campaign out in the open, Starbreeze's more-make-than-remake Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is barreling towards that early 2009 release with a few more tricks up its sleeve ... well, Riddick rocks a tank-top, but you get the idea. CVG has details about the game's multiplayer modes - yup, they're adding in multiplayer, where the original 2004 release had none. Now, we're with you: not every FPS needs a multiplayer mode - more often than not, they seem like back-of-the-box bullet-point more than integral component - but let's give Dark Athena a chance, shall we?

In addition to standard-issue 12-player deathmatch and CTF modes, Dark Athena boasts an interesting "Butcher Bay Riot" gametype featuring three teams of four players each, ranging from guards to mercenaries to prisoners, each trying to make their way to a "central power cell." More interesting than that: a "Pitch Black" gametype featuring a (get this!) pitch black arena full of grunts armed with little more than a flashlight and a gun, each looking for he-can-totally-see-in-the-dark Riddick. Kill Riddick and you're Riddick next round. Rinse, repeat. With 20 maps "planned" for the final product, it sounds like Dark Athena's multiplayer may be more than an afterthought - but we'll let you know as soon as we see it.

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Chronicles of Riddick multiplayer includes 'Pitch Black' mode (no word on grues) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick comes out of hiding in new Dark Athena video

Randy Nelson — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Video

Starbreeze wasn't cooling its heels while it waited for word on a new publisher for The Chronicle of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, as evidenced by this first video of the game in all its current, two-games-in-one glory. We've seen it in action and can attest to the fact that, yes, it actually looks like this on 360 and PS3 (though it will also be hitting PC).

The video features a couple of elements that we were especially impressed by. The first is a visual nuance, but one that speaks to the effort being put into the polishing of the final game. In the segment where Riddick hangs from a pipe and moves along it, hand over hand, there wasn't one iota of clipping - no "hand through wrist" glitching, nada. The look of the game is extremely solid.

The new gameplay mechanics are impressive as well. The half-man, half-weapon characters in this trailer are "drones" - cyborgs created by the Dark Athena crew from the hapless passengers of ships they've raided. Riddick can kill these enemies and use them as human shields, while using the gun grafted to their arm to shoot. As you'd expect from a real body, it's difficult to push it forward, but dragging it's a snap (which factors into overall strategy). It's also possible to control these guys from a remote terminal, hence the red-hued POV you catch at one point during the footage.

Download in HD (79MB)

Riddick comes out of hiding in new Dark Athena video originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick debut trailer is dark, gravelly

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

"The darkness, for me, is where I shine," says Vin Diesel as Riddick, his greatest character (apart from the Iron Giant, of course). While it's clear that his daily breakfast of Gravel-Os probably ruined his chances at a singing career, it's also obvious that Riddick has a bright future in killing people with knives. Put bluntly (sharply?), The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena looks great, as is made plainly clear by the debut trailer above. Given that the game is being made by the same team that made the original (which fared very well), we're hopeful that it plays just as good as it looks. We'll find out when the game ships early next year.

Riddick debut trailer is dark, gravelly originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New impressions of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Our PC loving brethren over at Big Download recently got a chance to sit down for a hands-off session of The Chronicles: Assault on Dark Athena. Dark Athena is essentially two games in one, as it is both a remake of the first Riddick title, Escape from Butcher Bay, and it also includes a brand new campaign entitled (you guessed it) Assault on Dark Athena. Fans of the original will be happy to hear that the new campaign can be started from the outset, so it won't be necessary to play the enhanced original unless you want to.

Big Download notes that the entire team that created Escape from Butcher Bay has returned to work on Dark Athena, ensuring that the game is more than just a simple remake. Dark Athena takes place directly after the first game, with Riddick tasked with escaping the Dark Athena, a ship replete with shadows and enemies that need killing. Among the new enemies are Drones, remote controlled androids that Riddick can incapacitate and use as shields. Riddick can also ustilise an incapacitated Drone's gun and, with the help of a control station, can even control Drones directly. This comes in handy should you find heavy opposition or otherwise impassable obstacles. Overall, it sounds like the game is shaping up well for its 2009 release.

Head over to Big Download for full impressions.

New impressions of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick: Dark Athena coming early '09, features new 10-hour campaign

Randy Nelson — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

click to enlarge

It's no secret that Atari rescued Starbreeze Studios' hi-def remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay after Activision-Blizzard kicked it to the curb. What you don't know - and we didn't know until we recently saw it in action - is that those added "Dark Athena" levels are quite substantial. They've been expended into an entirely new, 10-plus-hour campaign, complete with new game mechanics, full-game production values ... the works.

Starbreeze told us that, despite the game being absent from anyone's radar for quite some time, it never let up on development. In fact, the acquisition of the game by Atari has afforded the team upwards of nine additional months of development time, hence the (essentally) second full game and what the team was visibly ecstatic about: more time to polish every last detail.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Escape from Butcher's Bay is still there, looks amazing, and will incorporate new gameplay and tech developed for Dark Athena) is set for release in spring of 2009. Check back tomorrow for our full impressions of the new campaign.

Gallery: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Riddick: Dark Athena coming early '09, features new 10-hour campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atari unleashes Tekken 6 and Riddick screens

Dustin Burg — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

As part of today's press conference, Atari unloaded a bunch of fresh screenshots for next year's upcoming Tekken 6 and Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. You can view the Tekken and Riddick screens below, but be warned about those Riddick screens. If you thought Gears of War was lacking color, then keep clear of Riddick's drab and dull "color" palette. Actually, it isn't so much a color palette as it is a black to white gradient.

Atari unleashes Tekken 6 and Riddick screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chronicles of Riddick picked up by Atari, now has brand new campaign

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

Atari today announced that it will publish The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena from Tigon Studios and The Darkness developer Starbreeze Studios. The title was previously announced as a graphically enhanced remake of the original Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay that would also feature a new chapter and multiplayer support. According to the press release, not only will the game include the remake of the original campaign, but the new chapter has now been expanded to include "a brand new full-length campaign" as well as the previously announced online multiplayer support. We're just going to guess that might be why the game missed its original winter 2007 release date.

The newly revamped Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is expected to release in spring 2009. Check out a hi-res version of the first screenshot by clicking the image above.

Chronicles of Riddick picked up by Atari, now has brand new campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riddick remake and (maybe) Ghostbusters go to Atari

Justin McElroy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Continuing its long climb back to Phil Harrison-lead relevance, Atari has picked up an Acti/Blizzard merger cast off and might have made a home for another, according to Variety. The company will publish Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, adding not only multiplayer but a new campaign to the original Xbox release. "Originally it was just a remake, but we started thinking more and felt that wasn't super compelling," said Bill Kispert, head of interactive for Universal. Yeah, Bill. No kidding.

Variety also reports that Atari has picked up long-term licensing rights to Riddick to allow the possibility of more sequels. The trade pub says it understands that a similar deal could be in place for Ghostbusters, as was previously hinted by Dan Akroyd, though that hasn't been confirmed yet.

Well, finally, it seems all the Acti/Blizzard orphans have found good homes. ... Wait a minute, who's that sad, long-haired boy in the corner?

Riddick remake and (maybe) Ghostbusters go to Atari originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask X3F: Riddick-ulous edition

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

With so many editions of Ask X3F come and gone, one would think that we would have answered them all by now. But no, man is a curious creature, a creature whose thirst for knowledge will not be slaked. Also, it turns out, people just love asking questions about unreleased games. The most recent game-du-semaine is none other than The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Announced just over a year ago, it missed its projected 2007 release and sank into obscurity. What happened to it? Find our best theory (and feel free to submit your own) after the break Oh, and we answer other questions too.

Got a question for Ask X3F? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [at] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.

Continue reading Ask X3F: Riddick-ulous edition

Ask X3F: Riddick-ulous edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 May 2008 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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