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Impressions: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
IO Interactive is ditching many of the audio-visual bells and whistles of the modern third-person action game for its upcoming Kane & Lynch sequel, with the hopes of ultimately creating a more realistic, gritty experience. So far, we'd say the developer is doing a pretty good job. Set in a Shanghai that's a far cry from the brightly colored one found in Army of Two: The 40th Day, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is presented "documentary style" -- it looks like the game is being recorded on a handheld camera as you play, with all of the shaking and imperfections you'd expect from such a production. It's as if the action has been taped and uploaded to YouTube -- there's even an animated "Buffering..." message in place of a stock loading screen. The video pixelates when you're hit and loses sync when the camera's rocked by explosions. Particularly heinous headshots and other brutal injuries generate a mosaic effect as the camera moves past them, adding to the documentary feel. Oh, and there's no soundtrack -- the only time you'll hear music is if you happen to pass a radio or catch a shopping center's muzak over the gunfire. We're sold on the presentation, but the gameplay ... well, read on after the break for my thoughts on an in-progress build. %Gallery-83456%
Here are the first Kane & Lynch 2 screens
Yesterday's debut trailer for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days may have been high on style, but it wasn't so big on substance. Thankfully, reader AlexLK12 was able to massage the game's official site and come up with four screenshots that are just a bit more informative. For instance, just look at the shot above. Why, already we know that the game has both Kane and Lynch in it. Also, there are guns. %Gallery-80516%
Kane & Lynch 2 debut trailer is totally 'raw' and 'brutal'
We really should keep a count of how many times "raw" and "brutal" show up in the Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days marketing materials. Anyway, above you'll find the debut trailer for IO Interactive's "raw and brutal crime shooter" – so says the email it came attached to – that shows Kane ... wait, Lynch longingly staring at a bottle of pills, while Lynch, er, Kane has apparently survived a big shootout and is coming to visit the other guy in Shanghai. Ah, yes. Kane and Lynch are the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for a new generation.
Rumor: Kane & Lynch 2 teaser has duo dodging dogs
MTV Germany has posted a video that could be construed as a viral teaser for Kane & Lynch 2. The clip is mock "surveillance video" of two naked men desperately barging into a Chinese restaurant. The streakers are apparently on the run -- there's some gun fire aimed in their direction -- until one (possibly Lynch by the looks of his hairstyle) trips and falls over a table, only to be attacked a few seconds later by a dog. The other gentleman, perhaps Kane, successfully beats the dog off of his partner with what appears to be a tray, and then the two presumably escape. Could this be be a viral ad for Kane and Lynch in "Dog Days?" Your call. [Via Kotaku]
Hitman 2 may recast lead, Kane and Lynch still coming
Though it was sniped by critics, Hitman was a smash at the box office, raking in $100 million in theaters plus another $80M on DVD. Emboldened, producer Adrian Askarieh has a full slate of Eidos films in the works, projects that he recently discussed with GameDaily. His main focus right now is a Just Cause film, which he's producing independently, so don't be surprised if it doesn't quite hit that same level of Hitman polish. Look for that to start shooting next year. Also next year, Kane and Lynch is finally set to start filming in March -- after plenty of false starts -- with Bruce Willis in the Kane role. Finally, there's the Hitman sequel, which Askarieh said may need a new lead, as star Timothy Olyphant is filming a new show for FX. Though Askarieh said he'd like to get Olyphant back, we can't imagine why when Richard Moll is right there.
Report: UK Advertising authority to warn publishers to tone down violent ads
Overwhelming violence has never really been a problem in UK games advertising -- in fact, less than 1 percent of video game ads were turned down by the regulatory Advertising Standards Agency in the past year (a Kane and Lynch ad and Condemned 2 ad were the only offenders). However, according to a report from MCV, the ASA will publish new guidelines for gaming advertisements in September which will suggest publishers consider the "wider context of the impact their ads have," rather than simply fulfill the ASA's base requirements.Basically, the ASA is suggesting that publishers think about whether their advertisements will "offend and cause distress" throughout their ad consumers. Though the ASA admits that violent game ads have yet to be a problem in the UK, it'll use the new guidelines to "qualify the existing guidance to help publishers avoid problems in the future." That statement just confirms our long-held suspicion that the ASA is full-to-brim with psychics.
Paws for concern, 'Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days' trademark discovered
Discovering a trademark for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has made us preemptively fire Ludwig Kietzmann, before his upcoming review of the game could be completed. In the future, Square Enix Europe will pull all advertising from our site due to these choice quotes: "This game will send you to the doghouse." "You will roll over when playing the game." "You'll beg for it to stop." "I played the game for a bit, but then I had to put it down." "Here's our score, K? 9/100." "Kane & Lynch is a bitch." We apologize to everyone, our readers and Square Enix Europe, for this review.[Thanks, Spencer!]
Livingstone: Kane & Lynch 2 aimed for Sept., more Hitman, Tomb Raider en route
In Mumbai for the Golden Cursor Animation Awards, recently appointed Eidos "life president" Ian Livingstone sat down with the folks at GamingIndians and spilled a full bag of beans. Unsurprisingly, he says the Square Enix acquisition was "a great deal in many ways" and that the various Eidos development studios would remain largely independent. "It's great news for the brand and for the people," he says. And also, apparently, great for sequels, as Livingstone confirms work on the next Hitman game, a sequel to Kane & Lynch currently targeted for a September release date and -- big shock! -- a re-imagining of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series. "The next Tomb Raider, I think, will surprise a lot of people and reinvigorate the franchise," Livingstone notes, stressing the relevance of game characters in mainstream media these days. Incidentally, he more than intimates that Eidos Montreal is working on Thief 4, though now we know that to be a fact -- the "worst kept secret in the industry," in fact.
85 million Final Fantasy games sold, global takeover imminent
Hot on the heels of yesterday's official acquisition of "the house that Lara built" (Eidos, folks), Square Enix has released a load of numbers on its biggest IPs -- including some that it just acquired yesterday. Unsurprisingly, the Final Fantasy series flies high above its brethren (in a fancy airship, of course) with over 85 million units moved over the series' lifetime. We imagine after the company releases its flurry of FFXIII titles, that number will jump considerably.Among other details in the release is Dragon Quest's lifetime sales, reaching nearly 50 million units, and the Tomb Raider series showing up with 30 million units sold in the past 13 years. Also of note is Kane & Lynch: Dead Men selling nearly two million shameful, shameful copies. Can we expect the layoffs to stop for now?[Via Edge]Source (warning: PDF)
Square Enix explains why it wants Eidos
Like a middle-aged woman who spends half of Feb. 15 explaining to her mother why a new toilet brush and a night of darts is as much a Valentine's Day as she can expect from Lyle, Square Enix has gone on the record with the precise reasons it has an interest in buying struggling publisher Eidos. In addition to the dev houses included in the deal, the company has its eye on Hitman, Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Kane & Lynch.Meanwhile, and surprising no one, 20-percent Eidos shareholder Warner Bros.* says it's putting its support behind the deal and honestly, it's kind of hard to blame it.*Did you know Time Warner is our parent company? Well, now you do.Source -- Warner backs Square Enix's bid for EidosSource -- Square Enix Cites "Major" Eidos Franchises
GameTap Thursday: Kane & Lynch, Grimm
GameTap adds a pair of dark tales this week for subscribers. American McGee's Grimm keeps "improving" childhood classics with the addition of The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs (remember, it's free to everyone for the first 24 hours). Also, the dynamic duo of Kane & Lynch get all violent up in the joint. Grimm: The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs (Windows) - Much like Harry Potter, it just keeps getting darker. Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Windows) - You think we're going to put some Gerstmann-gate crack in here, don't you? Well, we're not! We aren't going to mention it at all. Once again, there aren't any additions to GameTap's free games list this week. The full list of free-to-play titles can be found after the break.
Kane & Lynch devs talk pain of low scores
We fear the inevitable day when video games will be crafted by machines (besides the robot that adds $60 worth of "better" to Madden every 12 months, of course), but it will also have its share of upsides. For example, we'll no longer have to worry about hurting actual people's feelings when we say awful, curt, snide things about their labors of love.Kane & Lynch dev IO Interactive recently spoke to Games Radar about what getting negative reviews feels like, and you'll never guess the one that "really" hurt: "Then GameSpot reviewed the game. And they didn't like it one bit. I'm not quite sure why, but I remember that review hit the team like a hammer."A heap of heartache as a result of GameSpot's Kane & Lynch review? Wow, and we thought Eidos and Jeff Gerstmann would never find common ground!
Bruce Willis in talks to star in Kane and Lynch film adaptation
Bruce Willis is in talks to star in the upcoming Kane and Lynch film adaptation, reports Variety. Willis will play Adam "Kane" Marcus. That's one-half of the rumor from back in November 2007 that said Billy Bob Thornton was in talks for the role of Lynch. According to the Variety piece, the filmmakers are still looking for Lynch, with shooting to begin before the end of the year. The movie will be directed by Simon Crane, based on a script by Kyle Ward.
Free Kane and Lynch Dope Bag now on the XBLM
It's another friendly Xbox Live Marketplace reminder alert. The Kane and Lynch: Dead Men The Dope Bag downloadable content is now available for download off the XBLM for the gotta have it price of free, free, free! This 442MB download will add four new scenarios to the game's Fragile Alliance including Clean Cut, Hookers' Trail, Flying High and Hasta la Vista. You should also be prompted to download a bug / feature fixing title update and be treated to some new Kane and Lynch achievements as well. Now get back to playing Kane and Lynch, if not at least to give the new DLC a little test run. It is free you know.
Kane and Lynch DLC brings title update and more
This Thursday, April 17th Kane and Lynch: Dead Men will receive new (and totally free) "The Dope Bag" downloadable content and with it will come other goodies.In an interview with Kane and Lynch game director Kim Krogh, IGN learned that come Thursday the new set of DLC will be available alongside two other additions. One addition being a set of new achievements that was spotted a few weeks back that'll add an additional 250 Gamerscore. The other goodie we'll see on Thursday is a general title update that's aimed at fixing a few bugs and annoyances found in Fragile Alliance including friendly-fire between re-spawned characters. So, in recap: Free Kane and Lynch "The Dope Bag" DLC which adds new multiplayer maps, new achievements and a title update too. End recap.
Former Hitman, Kane and Lynch creators launch Reto-Moto
The founders of Hitman and Kane and Lynch developer IO Interactive have left to form Reto-Moto, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based studio "committed to redefining the online multi-player space." While the team isn't talking about its initial project, a press release announcing the company notes that Reto-Moto is in "active dialogue with strategic industry partners."In a rather incestuous twist, it turns out that Reto-Moto was actually established in 1997, and was the former parent of IO Interactive before it was handed off to Eidos in 2004 as part of a £20 million acquisition. It looks like Thomas Wolfe was wrong; you can go home again.
Kane & Lynch ads banned in UK
After receiving a whopping 26 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK has banned a "graphic" and "shocking" poster (seen above) for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The Guardian reports the ASA ordered Eidos not to print or broadcast any ads created for the game again as they were deemed inappropriate for an "untargeted medium."The print ad appeared in two Future Publishing magazines, while a TV ad portrayed scenes of graphic violence. The poster also included an overlay of this brilliant insight from OXM: "Grittier and nastier in tone than anything you've seen before, the violence here is visceral, brutal and very, very real." This was seen by the ASA as possibly "condoning and glorifying real violence." Sadly, none of the controversy Kane & Lynch seems to shake up makes the mediocre game any better, but it sure does help sell copies.
Kane and Lynch to get free DLC April 17
With all the hubbub surrounding its Gamespot review and subsequent aftermath, there were plenty of areas in which Kane and Lynch didn't get enough credit. There were great characters and performances and style to spare, not to mention an innovative multiplayer mode that pitted cops against robbers and (in time) robbers against robbers and (if you were playing with dumb people) cops against cops. Now, fans of that mode are getting a little love with four downloadable maps for "Fragile Alliance."The maps, collectively titled "The Dope Bag" will be arriving on Xbox Live and PSN on April 17 and, what's more, they'll be totally free. Here's to you, "Fragile Alliance," in hopes that you'll finally get that moment in the sun you've dreamed of.
Kane & Lynch gets free DLC for Store relaunch
If for some reason you're still playing Kane & Lynch, Eidos has a nice surprise for you: four new downloadable maps for the game's Fragile Alliance multiplayer mode will be released on April 17th, the day the new PLAYSTATION Store relaunches. Entitled "The Dope Bag," this DLC will feature four maps, each featuring its own "unique scenario." At the very least, the price is nice. Unlike Stranglehold's multiplayer additions, this will cost a pretty sum of $0 (0 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360). With the release of the similarly priced "Still Alive" Rock Band add-on, April 17th is going to be a great day.[Thanks, Godfree!]
Kane & Lynch DLC coming, and for free to boot
According to Godfree over at gamertagradio, tomorrow Eidos will reveal their downloadable content for the controversial Kane and Lynch: Dead Men. Godfree's early info says that the DLC will take the form of four multiplayer maps for the Fragile Alliance gameplay mode. Not only that, but the maps are supposedly free, and are said to go live on April the 17th. The maps will not be separate and will be packaged together in a single piece of downloadable content apparently called, ahem, The Dope Bag, with each map within containing its own specific scenario.While free DLC is always a good thing, we just can't seem to get excited about this one. How about you readers? Are you Kane & Lynch owners out there ready to give this a try?[Thanks Godfree!]
