Infogrames: Offline Single-Player Games Not Viable
by Aaron Linde May 27, 2008 2:26pm CST tags: Atari, Infogrames
Adding to comments made late last week, Infogrames president and former Sony executive Phil Harrison suggested that linear single-player gaming experiences may be on the way out in favor of online-enabled, downloadable content-fueled titles.
"I think the single-player, disconnected console game is probably in its dotage," Harrison told Videogaming247. "Now, that doesn't mean that those games aren't relevant going forwards, but they will be enhanced by community features being embedded in them, or downloadable content becoming an inherent part of the experience, or some kind of user-generated content will be part of the experience."
"All of the things we see in other games, the things that we can point to in compelling games," he added. "A relatively linear single-player game without online connectivity is going to be a challenge to green-light going forward."
Harrison said last week that Atari, which is wholly owned by Infogrames, would likely be turning away from high-budget single-player titles in the future. It was recently revealed that the Atari-published horror reboot Alone in the Dark will feature an unconventional DVD-style chapter menu, allowing players to rewind or fast-forward through the game at will.
A company that struggles to stay solvent is now the guru of future game trends?Next they'll start advertising on gravestones or some wacky shit like Acclaim did.
Recently they were spouting off about forced hardware encryption in future PC games. I wonder how many other ways to piss off their user base they can survive.
A company that struggles to stay solvent is now the guru of future game trends?
Recently they were spouting off about forced hardware encryption in future PC games. I wonder how many other ways to piss off their user base they can survive.
But lets not kid ourselves here, profitability must be a pretty big issue if so many developers are resorting to shitty shitty desperation moves. The reasons don't really matter, but if someone doesn't come up with a viable solution, consoles are going to continue to over shadow the PC until all we have left are FPS games and the occasional RTS.....wait, shit.Oh, and the MMO.
I think this all once again leads back to piracy. Well, that and opening up long-term revenue streams.
I predict complete failure. Nobody gives a shit about the franchise, so even if the game was awesome, who's going to be there to care?
probably would be when the sales of the game have died down
No problem then. It should already have happened before it was even released.
I think most of those scores (the higher ones) were revised after Atari went review-hunting. Apparently they were pretty miffed about the low scores and sent out notices to remove the "bad" reviews.Oh, that's crap.
I think they're actually in a legal battle with German mag claiming they reviewed the game based on a leaked/pirated copy.No game should be reviewed if it's in Beta or a leaked/pirated copy.
I've heard all sorts of things about the game but two things seem to be consistent among the reviewers:
1) The controls, specifically combat & driving, are shite!
2) The graphics are pretty good.
Supposedly the game actually had a few brilliant moments, they were just completely outweighed by the bad parts. Though some seem to hate it a good deal less than others. I think it would have at least been a passable game if it'd spent a little more time in the cooker.
Eden 'can't promise' PS3 Alone in the Dark fixes for 360
30 Comments by Randy Nelson Sep 12th 2008 9:00PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure
Remember all those new features Eden is working into the PS3 release of Alone in the Dark? Oh, or how, upon announcing them, the developer also said they'd be arriving as a patch for the Xbox 360 version? (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/eden-bringing-alone-in-the-dark-ps3-fixes-to-360-with-patch/) Now the tune has hit a sour note, according to MTV Multiplayer.
Game designer Emile Morel says that Eden is, "Trying to do a patch," but that "it's technically complicated," saying that, if anything, the control and camera fixes will be implemented; don't expect the new subway chase sequence in the PS3 release to show up.
There's evidently also an issue with the actual estimated size of the patch not sitting too well with Microsoft.
So now it's not only a case of if the patch will happen but when. Morel says that the decision to patch or not to patch might actually depend on the success of the PS3 version, and that the team probably won't get around to working on it until the release for Sony's machine goes gold.
If there's an option to make a patch that fixes the game on the 360 Microsoft should allow it. If it's particularly huge (like a total overhaul) then they should implement it in a new package and provide it free for anyone who owns the game; just like The Witcher: Enhanced.Amen to that.
Alone in the Dark PS3 Getting New Title To Match Improvements
Atari promises to address gamers' complaints for "Inferno."
By Jonathan Fincher, 10/10/2008
When Alone in the Dark was released a few months back, it fell pretty well short of our expectations. While the fire dynamics and elaborate set pieces set the game apart from other survival horror titles, they were hampered by nagging design flaws and control issues -- check out 1UP's review of the 360 version for full details on that. Luckily though, Atari has not turned a blind eye to these issues when it comes to the upcoming PS3 port of the game. The company has announced that the next version of the game is addressing so many of the original release's known problems that it warrants a new title: Alone in the Dark: Inferno.
Inferno's many fixes include free camera movement, an improved inventory system that actually pauses the game when you check it, and even a new sequence in the game that debuts a brand new enemy. Other options and levels will be tweaked, including the infamously frustrating 59th Street car racing sequence.
Of course, a lot of these have been mentioned before -- in 1UP's own preview for instance -- but it's nice to hear that they really seem to have a feel for what's wrong and how to correct it. Fortunately, Atari has also confirmed that these fixes -- though probably not the extra action sequence -- will be available in a patch for the 360 version. I doubt that would encourage many people to give the game a second go, but at least they're taking steps to fix some glaring problems.
Huh... that's actually kind of cool. I heard enough about the game that it seemed worth seeing, and now I just might make that leap.I'm watching some vids, where Eden Games shows off some of the new changes to the camera, inventory system, and controls (namely to the PS3 version).
Drastic improvements but as you said that's how it should have been to begin with. I really hope they make patches for the PC and X360 versions.The concern was the X360 wasn't going to get the Inferno patch b/c Microsoft was complaining about the patch size over XB Live -- b/c it was going to include the fixes also the new extra content (which Eden is not revealing much about yet). So, it looks like at least the X360 version just get the fixes/improvements -- and not the brand new extra content.
I have a PS3 so I'm not too worried about a patch but I really symapthize with anyone who bought the game in its previous state.I bought it cheap for the PC, so... :P