Atari was pretty close to scrapping the Alone in the Dark game when it was in the beginning stages of development. We all know the game is done now (albeit still vague on the PS3 version's release), so that didn't happen. But why was it almost canned? Atari dismissed the original concepts as pitched by the game's director, David Nadal, calling them "too ambitious". You can hear more from Nadal regarding the game and how much he loves the series over at CVG, but we just want to know when we can get in on the action. The PS3 version is set for a Fall release while the 360 gets it this Friday.
You'd certainly be forgiven for believing that the release of the PS3 version of Alone in the Dark was looking a little unstable. There's been no real word on it for a while, despite the 360, Wii, PS2 and PC versions hitting store shelves next month. Thankfully, Eden Games have gone on record to say that a PS3 version is "not that far off." Claiming that they are having some frame rate issues, the game is still being fixed and tweaked in order to make it ready for public consumption.
The game will definitely be coming out this year, according to Eden Games' Nour Polloni. It's good to know Alone in the Dark hasn't been cancelled on the PS3 as many had feared. Being the cynics that we are, however, we can't help but think this is another one of those strategic delays, considering that the game was due out a week after arguably the biggest PS3 release this year: Metal Gear Solid 4. Just a thought.
There was more gaming to be had over at last weekend's New York Comic Con and PS3 Fanboy got to play the upcoming Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. We unfortunately did not get the chance to play the PlayStation 3 version, but did give the Xbox 360 one a go. Obviously, we won't talk about console specific details such as visuals, control interface, etc. We will, however, be talking about the highlighted features found in both versions.
On the demo we played, we got a taste of two different battles from the beginning of the DBZ story. Once in the fray, we noticed right away that fights were fast-paced and intense. The ki meter, which controls the use of ki attacks and special abilities, fills up automatically. This allows more powerful moves to be used quicker and more frequently, also giving the gameplay more variety when developing your own unique fighting style.
If you were miffed by the formerly vague "sometime in 2008" release schedule for Alone in the Dark, then take comfort in the new "Autumn 2008" forecast. Brilliant. A whole season has finally been pinned down for the PS3 version. While the game has endured delays in the past, it looks like all other versions of the game (excluding the PS3) will be released on June 24.
On the bright side of things, there is an incentive for PS3 gamers looking to get lonely in the dark several months behind their console cousins. The PS3 version won't be a simple cut-n-paste port, but will be a specially adapted game with the possibility of episodic content. Worth it? That remains to be seen. Let's stay positive and hope so.
Not much happens in this Alone in the Dark trailer other than a flame-filled chase in Central Park, although it is neat to finally see some true, moving in-game footage. Of course, most of it involves what appears to be Bugs Bunny on fire, burrowing towards our hero in the middle of the park, but hey. We won't be picky. We'll keep waiting for a firm release date, since this looks like it'll be really, really fun.
Yes sir, it sure is. Our scouters are reading power levels well above 9,000 and growing. The more we see of this game, the more we want it. Luckily for us, this English trailer might be a good indicator that a western release for Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit may be coming sooner than we think. If you're a big fan of DBZ, you'll want to check out this trailer -- watch it to the very end to see what Vegeta thinks of the game. Still no sign of permanent destructible environments though, but hey, you can't win them all.
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is actually shaping up to be a decent looking title. In fact, it's looking rather hot. Fire hot. It's definitely the best looking DBZ game thus far. The HD cel-shading looks fantastic. Burst Limit also probably has the closest resemblance to the actual anime than any other DBZ game. The blur effect and energy particle details are nice touches as well, and are especially befitting for the hyper-fast, energy-blast-filled world of DBZ. Check out all the rest of the screens in the gallery below.
So we've got this new Alone in the Dark trailer for you to check out. It seems they went to the store and found the most epic chorus available to assist in the creepiness of the game's atmosphere. While we're upset the title has been delayed so very often and will undoubtedly arrive to the PS3 dead last, we still think it looks pretty cool. So long as you don't skip through the game instead of playing it.
Posted Mar 5th 2008 11:30PM by Majed Athab Filed under: News
So a few days ago you read about Phil Harrison's big decision about going to Infogrames. Today,you get to listen to Phil speak about that very decision in this video. It appears that the freshly appointed Directeur Général Délégué is getting comfortable at his new post as he introduces Eden Studios' Alone in the Dark. While we don't get to see much about the game, Phil seems excited about pushing it forward. Anyway, we really should stop our babbling and just let the man himself give you the low down.
Well, well, well, the rumors turned out to be true. The former president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, is now president of French company Infogrames. Harrison will be working alongside newly appointed CEO David Gardner and will be overseeing the studios and content development for the group -- including the Infogrames-owned Atari.
As this comes as quite a surprise to many, Phil backs his decision by stating, "This is the perfect time to join Infogrames and help shape the future of Atari." Can the old Sony heavyweight do it? Can he help restore the sinking ship that is Atari? We always want to see success, so we're hoping for the best. Score one for France.
According to sources at GI.biz, the former head of Sony Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, will leave the company at the end of the week to join Atari. A puzzling acquisition, if true. Atari hasn't been known for its success in the industry, and many see it as a sinking ship. Of course, the same could've been said about the PlayStation brand just a year ago. Since then, under Harrison's leadership, the company has seen a dramatic turnaround in sales and image.
Perhaps Harrison can work his magic on Atari as well? Stay tuned for the latest developments.
Posted Feb 21st 2008 8:00PM by Nick Doerr Filed under: News
If you've been keeping up with Alone in the Dark news, this might not be anything particularly important to you. But for those who just want to know a little bit more, you may get a laugh out of this one. Apparently, if you get stuck over the course of the game, a DVD-like menu will allow you to actually skip that section of the game and move on. Yes, you can just skip through the game if you'd like.
Call us crazy, but we've always derived a sense of joy from getting through a game. Figuring out a puzzle, conquering a particularly tricky boss, or just making it to the next cut-scene have always been motives for our continued love of gaming. Letting players skip through a game is fairly useless -- it defeats the idea of releasing a "game". Unless Alone in the Dark is nigh-impossible, we think this is a pretty strange idea.
There are those who love Dragonball Z games and those who despise them. It's generally the same group of people who enjoy or don't enjoy the anime. When you watch this video, though, you might get the feeling there's a pretty cool fighting game beneath the surface -- they've been steadily improving in quality over the years. Goku faces off against Krillin in this gameplay footage and for those who follow the show, the outcome of the battle should be obvious. We'll keep tabs on this game until it hits shelves later this year.
Even though Atari's latest stint into the survival-horror genre has been postponed until May, we're still anticipating a whole new way to experience fear in Alone in the Dark. Split into episodes to keep you on the edge of your seat, expect some major sit-down sessions with the game. From what we can tell in the new trailer, we'll probably need to play through this game as quickly as possible to get answers to our questions. We do like the inventory system and the gameplay is definitely looking sharper than the old-fashioned "tank" controls we saw in early Resident Evil games.
While the Wii version of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is officially the first Dragon Ball game to feature online play, let's not kid ourselves. The Wii isn't exactly known as a major hub for online gaming. However, it appears that developer Namco Bandai is fixing that despicable oversight when Atari recently announced that the next game in the franchise – Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit will ship later this year with a full online mode on the PS3.
Atari didn't say too much beyond that, but it promised "radical 3D graphic effects," which we've witnessed, and we have to agree. This looks closer to playing the actual cartoon than we've ever seen before, and we can't wait to see more.
