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Xbox Live discounts Child of Light, Thief this week
Microsoft's Deals with Gold discounts Thief by 40 percent ($35.99) on Xbox One this week. Additionally, both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members can enjoy discounts on Assassin's Creed 4 add-ons on both Xbox One and Xbox 360, getting the game's season pass, Blackbeard's Wrath, Guild of Rogues, Freedom Cry and Illustrious Pirates DLC for 30 percent off each. As for the Xbox 360-specific deals, Gold subscribers can pick up Child of Light at 33 percent off this week ($10.04) as well as Flashback and Cloudberry Kingdom for 67 percent off ($3.29 each). Four games are slashed by 75 percent this week: I Am Alive, From Dust and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger are $3.74 each while Freefall Racers is $2.49. Lastly, both Gold and Silver subscribers can pick up Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 at 67 percent off ($19.79) as well as its World Challenge DLC at half-off ($2.49). All deals are good through next Monday, July 7. [Image: Square Enix]
Xbox Live weekly deals include Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4
This week's deals on Xbox Live include one game on Xbox One and eight on Xbox 360 for Gold subscribers. The lone discounted game on the Xbox Games Store through March 10 is Call of Duty: Ghosts, as the standard version is 33 percent off ($39.99/£36.79/46.99 euros) and the Hardened Edition is 10 percent off ($89.99/£80.99/107.99 euros). Call of Duty: Ghosts is also 33 percent off ($40.19/£33.49/46.89 euros) for Xbox 360 owners this week, and is joined by Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on the Games on Demand channel, one-third its usual price as well ($40.19/£36.84/46.89 euros). Three more games are 75 percent off on Xbox 360: I Am Alive ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros), Scott Pilgrim vs The World ($2.49/£1.68/2.37 euros) and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros). Two more are 67 percent off this week, Galaga Legions DX and Bang Bang Racing ($3.29/£2.22/3.13 euros each). Lastly, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is half-off ($7.49/£4.99/7.19 euros) on XBLA. [Image: Activision]
I Am Alive available for PCs tomorrow
In more shenanigans around quiet releases, Ubisoft today stealthily brought forward the PC release of I Am Alive by one week, meaning it should be out tomorrow. Ubisoft originally scheduled the urban disaster game for a September 13 release, but quietly altered Steam and Ubishop pages to say otherwise. We've reached out to Ubisoft for comment on the changed release date.What seems like more bungling around release dates is, in many ways, a fitting end to I Am Alive's tumultuous development. It was originally designed as a full retail release, but after months of silence it eventually became an Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network download. Nonetheless, the game successfully clambers onto various PC portals tomorrow for $14.99.
I Am Alive takes downloadable survival horror to PC in September
I Am Alive is coming to PC on September 13, Ubisoft announced today. I Am Alive launched for XBLA and PSN in March, to a fair few middling reviews. The PC version, apparently, will include enhanced resolutions and graphics, and two new games modes: Easy mode and Replay mode, both of which do exactly what their names suggest.The above trailer teases the PC version of I Am Alive, showing off the lonely landscapes and survival horror through an updated terror filter. The game will hit Steam, Ubishop and other digital retailers.
Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world
'Silver Lining' is an ongoing column from freelancer Taylor Cocke, dedicated to examining the hidden potential in recently released, critically panned games. Even in the mediocre, we can find a silver lining. As I began my time with Ubisoft's downloadable title I Am Alive, the most striking aspect of the game's art style was the high-contrast, almost black and white way it depicted the destroyed city it takes place in. The world feels dead, as it should. The lack of color depicts a space devoid of life, dotted by humanity huddled around the bright oranges and yellows of occasional makeshift fires. At least initially, there's a sharp, distinct difference between the world and those who struggle to live within it. Very quickly, though, it becomes apparent that the distinction exists purely between the protagonist Adam and, well, everything else.I Am Alive's greatest failures don't lay in its shoddy controls or dated visuals. For me, it was never able to establish a feeling of desperately fighting for survival. At least, not in the same way the non-playable characters are very clearly struggling. Very early, Adam runs into a man sitting next to a fire, who immediately draws his weapon and demands Adam back away. Right away, I Am Alive establishes that its world is one that you shouldn't trust anyone if you value your safety.Soon after that, Adam comes across a mother and son, the latter of which has been harmed by roving bandits and needs help to survive. Unable to move, they need Adam's help to survive. You can give them a medkit, perhaps forsaking your own safety later on, or simply move on. Again, this pair does its best to show that this world is a frightening, dangerous one.%Gallery-145458%
I Am Alive tops April 2012 PSN downloads; Escape Plan still atop PS Vita list
The full PlayStation downloads list for April – as opposed to the sneak peek we got thanks to Pulse earlier this month, where the list is not segregated by platform – has been released and Ubisoft's I Am Alive was indeed the top download. On the PS3 and PSN list, thatgamecompany's Journey followed Ubisoft's long-awaited title. Reverge Labs' debut Skullgirls managed to snag the third spot.On the PS Vita side, Escape Plan continued to dominate – no surprise since there's not much else for the PS Vita right now, though that changes today. Modern Warfare 3's Content Collection #1 drop on PSN also did well, topping out the PS3 add-on category. Finally, Final Fantasy VII was the top PSOne Classic, but then again you already knew that because it's always Final Fantasy VII.
I Am Alive tops April PSN downloads, just one Vita game charts
Ubisoft's post-apocalypse third-person-survivor I Am Alive apparently struck a chord with PlayStation 3 owners last month, topping the PlayStation Network's download charts for April 2012, even edging out March's big PSN release, Journey.The Walking Dead's game adaptation from Telltale managed more than a shambling start as well, taking up two spots on the top 10 with the season pass and first episode in third and fifth place, respectively. Just one Vita title landed on the list, Escape Plan, in the number 10 spot. All of this information – and more! – can be found in the latest PlayStation "Pulse" video, which we've dropped just below the break.
PSN Tuesday: Wheels of Destruction, I Am Alive, Canabalt
Sony's Spring Fever promotion brings Wheels of Destruction and discounts on various Mortal Kombat DLC, neither of which sound very "spring"-like to us. Outside of the promotion (but vaguely more appropriate giving its life-affirming title) is I Am Alive, out today on PS3.In Minis news (yes, really) Canabalt is now available, though it doesn't show up on the Vita's PlayStation Store. Hopefully it can be transferred from PS3, because we would very much like to run and jump forever on the Vita's lovely screen.
I Am Alive on PSN April 3 in US, April 4 in Europe
Make a note on your post-apocalyptic calendar: I Am Alive is coming to PSN in America on April 3, and to Europe on April 4. The price is $14.99. [Update: Ubisoft PR goofed and gave us the wrong date initially. We've updated our post with the correct information.]I Am Alive focuses on a man searching for his family, following an unspecified disaster. We reviewed I Am Alive earlier this month, so check it out if you'd like to learn more about this traumatic journey.
I Am Alive review: Do not resuscitate
Somewhere along the way, development of I Am Alive took a sharp turn. It shifted from a full retail release to a condensed downloadable title. Development was ripped out of the hands of one (now defunct) developer and given to another. The character and his backstory were changed. Even the setting was altered. It almost seemed that, like I Am Alive's protagonist, Ubisoft was attempting to pull itself out of a terrible disaster. Core ideas that exist in I Am Alive show an exceptional amount of promise, but the title shows its hand far too quickly, running out of captivating tricks within the first few hours.%Gallery-145458%
I Am Alive receives free iOS companion app
Ubisoft has released a free I Am Alive companion app for iOS devices ahead of the game's impending XBLA release. The app features area maps, hints from the developers regarding points of interest, an achievement checklist and a compendium of in-game resources and their effects. It also contains concept art, developer diaries and the game's soundtrack, six tracks of which are exclusive to the app.The companion program even has a photo mode, which lets you take pictures of your friends eating and then make it look like they're eating in a dystopian ruin. Cell phones probably don't work in I Am Alive's post-apocalyptic future, but they do work in our pre-apocalyptic present, so why not take advantage of that while you can? If anything, you'll be able to impress all of your trendy hipster friends with a photo manipulation app they've never heard of.
I Am Alive dev diary discovered in the rubble
This developer diary for I Am Alive covers the dusty vision for the game and conveys its interesting combat system. It also delves into the exploration, stamina and inventory mechanics. I Am Alive will attempt to survive in the digital distribution space on March 7.
I Am Alive screens and trailer fight for survival
Now that you've seen how deadly you can be with a bow and arrow in Ubisoft's post-apocalyptic survival game, I Am Alive, we're convinced the final boss is Ted Nugent.
XBLA House Party kicks off on Feb. 15 with Warp
We knew that Warp, Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Nexuiz, and I Am Alive would be participating in Microsoft's 2012 Xbox Live Arcade House Party promo, and we knew that the party would start on February 15, but we didn't have a clue as to how the specifics of the boogeying would progress. Today, Microsoft revealed that Warp will be the party's first attendee, arriving on February 15 for the nice price of 800 MS Points ($10), followed up in the proceeding three weeks by Alan Wake's American sojourn, the almost-but-not-quite-Quake multiplayer shooter Nexuiz, and one man's journey through the depths of human survival in I Am Alive.Like Warp, Nexuiz will only cost 800 MS Points ($10), while the other two titles will run 1200 MS Points a pop ($15). As always with these XBLA promos, Microsoft is offering an extra 800 free MS Points to anyone who grabs all four games within a defined time period (between Feb. 15 and Mar. 13 in this case). As for what to do with those extra points ... well, might we suggest hanging onto it for the upcoming launch of Fez? 'Cause that's totally what we're doing.
I Am Alive trailer brings a gun to a machete fight
The latest trailer from Ubisoft's upcoming survival title, I Am Alive, focuses on the interesting combat system. With the game's emphasis on realism, fights are often tense and brutal, with the threat of a gun often the only thing between a peaceful situation and a gruesome machete attack. As you can see, I Am Alive's fights are more often about using your sparse resources wisely under pressure than simply lining up the right shot, or having a bigger weapon than your opponents. We think it's a good hook, and you'll be able to play it for yourself when the game comes out during Microsoft's XBLA House Party, starting February 15.
Xbox Live Arcade 'House Party 2012' begins Feb. 15
Microsoft plans to kick off the Xbox Live Arcade House Party for 2012 on February 15, releasing the four previously revealed titles back-to-back. At this time, Microsoft isn't revealing pricing nor the order in which it plans to release the titles. Yeah, our definition of "House Party Details" varies greatly.A company rep confirmed that the order listed on Xbox guru Major Nelson's site is simply alphabetized. So, beginning February 15, for some price and in some order, folks will be able to pick up Alan Wake's American Nightmare, the long-awaited I Am Alive, Nexuiz and EA's Warp.%Gallery-141956%
Alan Wake's American Nightmare, I Am Alive part of XBLA's 'House Party 2012' [update: Now with trailer!]
Microsoft is set to throw another House Party in 2012. In attendance will be Alan Wake's American Nightmare, EA's Warp, Nexuiz and the long-awaited I Am Alive. The trailer for the XBLA House Party promotion, which was apparently posted by accident, does not reveal any release dates. Out best guesstimate, if history serves, would be late February like last time. We've contacted Microsoft for launch details. Update: We snagged the trailer and have embedded it above! [Thanks, Joey]
A fresh batch of XBLA titles rated around the world
You go to a fortune teller and ask what will happen in 2012, expecting her to repeat rejected phrases from the Panda Express fortune-cookie line in a wistful, croaking manner. Instead, she busts out this ratings list for coming XBLA titles and you tip her 200 percent, leaving with your mind blown and open to a whole new world of mental planes and spiritual awareness. Little did you know: that fortune teller was Jordan Mallory in a dress. Try excising that image with incense. A batch of freshly rated XBLA games from around the world include titles we knew about, such as I Am Alive (MA 15+ for Australia) and Spelunky (PEGI 7 for UK), and also some unknown games, including Wreckateer, a submission from Microsoft rated for Korea. The list is provided by XBLA Fans, and can be found right here.
I Am Alive trailer is worried about your survival
Much like the stalwart scientist behind the informative BlendTec "Will it Blend" video series, the I am Alive trailer above has a number of helpful, healthful tips for you to follow if you want to survive in a ruined city. The truly vital one? "This is ruined city dust. Don't breathe this!"
I Am Alive creative director amends comments on PC release, piracy
I Am Alive creative director Stanislas Mettra is citing the English language as the reason for his controversial comments about PC gaming and piracy. Mettra, who is not a native-English speaker, previously said that making I Am Alive for PC wouldn't be worth it because it would largely be pirated, even though Ubisoft had "heard loud and clear that PC gamers are bitching about there being no version for them." We don't know how "bitching" translates between languages, but Mettra has amended his statements in an email to IncGamers, saying he would "love" to see a PC version and Ubisoft is "working to see the feasibility of it, which is not necessarily simple." Mettra continued, "I gave some examples to illustrate the problematic [sic], but obviously it is not in my hands and not my part to talk about this. "Honestly, which game maker would not love his game to be playable on as many platforms and by as many people as possible?" This retraction may have held more weight if it weren't so easy for us to imagine large men in tailored Ubisoft suits standing behind Mettra as he wrote the email. For now it appears I Am Alive is still up for a PC release, but given Ubisoft's tense relationship with potential pirates, we're not holding our breath.
