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Free-to-play Ascend: Hand of Kul out tomorrow on XBLA
Free-to-play action RPG Ascend: Hand of Kul will launch on XBLA tomorrow. Developed by Signal Studios, the game was originally known as Ascend: New Gods until being renamed in May. Ascend: Hand of Kul features both single player and asynchronous multiplayer modes, the latter allowing players to invade the worlds of other players. Among the other games being offered on Xbox Live this week is Alpha Protocol, which is now available via Games on Demand along with Viking: Battle for Asgard, Phantom Breaker Extra and Hot Wheels World's Best Driver.
Alpha Protocol is the new Deus Ex
This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity. Alpha Protocol is the new Deus Ex. This may seem like a strong statement, given the original Deus Ex's regard as an all-time great, but that wasn't always the case. Time has been very kind to it, and Alpha Protocol seems perfectly positioned to undergo a similar process. Both games' weaknesses are transparent, and both games' strengths point toward the future of video games. When Deus Ex was released a little over a decade ago, I remember reading a review in Computer Gaming World, which gave it 3.5 stars out of 5. CGW justified that score by pointing out glaring flaws with Deus Ex, primarily its ugly graphics and pathetic artificial intelligence. I remember that review specifically because, a month or two later, they printed a letter to the editor that said roughly "I was going to get angry because I obsessed about the game for two weeks, but as I started writing I realized your criticisms were entirely valid." This, to me, strikes at the very core of what makes a cult classic: a general, all-encompassing analysis may find obvious flaws that prevent full-throated praise, but for those who can forgive those flaws, the strengths aren't done better anywhere else.%Gallery-19776%
N900 takes a bite out of Ice Cream Sandwich, suffers Android brain freeze (video)
Espoo's freshly dug some graves for its operating systems past, but that doesn't mean the mobile underground's leaving its antiquated wares behind. A hacker going by the winsome moniker of Drunkdebugger has kept the NITDroid project chugging along on the N900 with a port of Android's latest 4.0 frosty delight. Fair warning -- this is an extremely early build and is even referenced as being "pre-pre-alpha," so don't expect the overhauled, pure Google experience to be running seamlessly. Still, it's a bright spot for Nokia fanboys and girls that simply refuse to make peace with the wireless days of old. Jump past the break to take a brief look at this buggy ROM force closing.
Obsidian Entertainment: Playing in other people's worlds
Obsidian Entertainment has no shortage of street cred -- its founders originally created Interplay's Black Isle Studios, and put together some of the most classic PC RPGs around, including the original Fallout, Planescape: Torment, and the Icewind Dale series. But since forming Obsidian in 2003 (and making Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, and most recently, Dungeon Siege 3), Feargus Urquhart and his crew have created another reputation: That of building sequels for properties created by other studios. "Correct," he tells Joystiq in a recent interview, as if fessing up to being called a "sequel house." If there's a connotation associated with that term, Urquhart doesn't really care. "What I grew up on was obviously roleplaying games that had the fifth and the sixth and the eight and the twelfth," he says. "So I think in general, RPGs have a lot of sequels, because you can keep on adding on to the world, you can keep on coming up with new stories. I think from that perspective, it's great to be able to make these, even if they're sequels, because you get to go play in someone else's world."
Today's Steam Holiday Sale discounts Mass Effects, Dead Rising 2 and more
It's another day and you know what that means: more ludicrous Steam deals. Today's highlights include 50% off both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, along with reduced prices on Blur, Alpha Protocol, Dead Rising 2 and many more. Hit the jump for the full list.
Civilization 5, Vanquish and more struck by Amazon Lightning sales today
We know we're entering that time of year where you're not technically supposed to buy games for yourself but, rather, for your fellow man. Still, the upcoming wave of Amazon Lightning Deals is making it hard for us to not treat ourselves to a few discounted gems. In fact, Amazon's made it all the more difficult by accidentally revealing the identities and prices of all the offers therein, those monsters: 8:15 AM PST: Write your own epic story each time you play -- Civilization 5 (PC) for $29.99 10:15 AM PST: Suit up in this sci-fi shooter -- Vanquish (X360 or PS3) for $44.99 10:15 AM PST: The premier device in handheld gaming -- Nintendo DSi XL (Midnight Blue) for $139 1:15 PM PST: Customize your spy in this RPG/Shooter -- Alpha Protocol (X360 or PS3) for $29.99 4:15 PM PST: Don't forget to put your hands up -- Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum (PC) for $14.99
GameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20
GameFly is currently running a decidedly insane sale on used copies of a handful of 2010 blockbusters until this Friday, September 17. If you've got $20 to spare, you can grab Darksiders, God of War 3, Alpha Protocol, Mass Effect 2 or Dante's Inferno -- all with free shipping to boot.
Sega sales up in fiscal Q1, despite Alpha Protocol's disappointing performance
Sega parent, Sega Sammy Holdings, has reported net sales of ¥91.3 billion ($1.05 billion) for its fiscal first quarter, which ended June 30. The outcome compares favorably to the ¥60.5 billion ($700 million) recorded by the company during the same period last year -- and it's mostly due to pachinko sales. Still, Sega's consumer products division -- the part that makes home video games -- also enjoyed increased sales, bringing in ¥20.9 billion ($241.8 million), minus ¥636 million ($7.36 million) in operating losses. Despite the generally upward trend, Sega reported slow sales of its major Q1 titles, Iron Man 2 and Alpha Protocol, due to "adverse market conditions." Iron Man 2 sold 1.12 million units across multiple platforms, while Alpha Protocol only sneaked into about 700,000 homes.
Alpha Protocol sequel denied, low sales to blame
Sega West president Mike Hayes has stated that the espionage RPG, Alpha Protocol, won't be receiving a sequel. In an interview with CVG, the executive plainly expressed, "Let's speak very commercially; the game hasn't sold what we've expected, therefore we won't be doing a sequel." He continued that the game didn't have enough to get into that "upper echelon" of RPGs, because the amount "you need to invest to get there is so large because RPGs are naturally big projects." The Obsidian-developed game suffered numerous delays, alleged tweaks and eventually launched this year to middling reviews (across the industry). It seems Alpha Protocol will have a future akin to that other oft-overlooked espionage classic: Leonard Part 6.
Metareview: Alpha Protocol
While we may have found Alpha Protocol to be a "technical nightmare," it doesn't mean we should all just close the book on it. No, other outlets surely have opinions on Obsidian Entertainment's "Espionage RPG" and we'd be remiss if we didn't bring them into the discussion. Let's get to it! CVG (8.4/10): "Alpha Protocol's a technical turkey but it's also a gripping, innovative and deserving of both success and a sequel. It might look like a dog, but dig deep and you're in for an undercover treat - it's a stonking feeling when a game we were expecting to stink turns out to be a revelation. If you've any interest in RPGs that also deliver explosive action, don't let this double agent slip through the net." Eurogamer (7/10): "Like Worcester Sauce, Alpha Protocol's separate ingredients might be slightly unappetising, but they come together in a quietly effective manner. Unlike Worcester Sauce, it will certainly frustrate you more than it should, and in between the deathlike character models and bizarre misapplications of things like depth of field effects, it will struggle to convince you the team had enough time to finish it up." Videogamer (6/10): "Despite its myriad of shortcomings there's a moderate amount of fun to be had with Alpha Protocol. It's a game that's more enjoyable than it probably should be, a game that's better than the sum of its parts. There's a lot of potential hiding under the flawed shell, and although Obsidian has failed to coax it out this time around, I hope somebody does the concept justice in the future." Destructoid (2/10): "Alpha Protocol, to its slim credit, has its basis in noble and ambitious ideas, and those ideas are even well executed on the whole. However, while the ambitious stuff hits the mark, the bog standard gameplay has suffered beyond measure. You can build the most magnificent castle in the world, but if the foundations are made out of wet feces, everything's going to crumble and fall apart before your very eyes. Alpha Protocol is a castle that's collapsed in crap. Proof that even the most accomplished of visions are worthless if the fundamentals aren't in place." %Gallery-19776%
Review: Alpha Protocol
I have something of a reputation on staff for being the guy who takes in strays, the one who falls for the games that, while they may have a lot going for them, are in some way flawed. It's a fair representation and, considering it allows me to enjoy games that others may instantly write off, it's not something I'm necessarily ashamed of. Now, thanks to Alpha Protocol, I've learned that I have my limits. %Gallery-19776%
Joyswag: Alpha Protocol-themed 8GB iPod Touches [update]
Update: We've closed the comments and will pick three lucky winners shortly. Keep an eye on your inboxes! We've got three 8 gigglebyte iPod Touches with fancy Alpha Protocol branding etched on 'em -- and hey, we'd love to give them to three of you. For your chance to win, just come up with at least one idea for how a spy could use an iPod (other than leave it laying around to distract foolish lackeys, of course). You have eight chances to enter -- once per day -- as this giveaway will be active for a full week. Don't worry -- it won't self-destruct at that time ... So, what could a spy do with an iPod Touch? You tell us! To enter: Leave a comment telling us something a spy might do with an iPod Touch. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day. This entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Wednesday, June 2. At that time, we will randomly select three winners to each receive one 8GB iPod Touch with limited edition Alpha Protocol branding (ARV $199.99). For a list of complete rules, click here. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
For every Alpha Protocol video, there's a Joystiq post
Being a spy means being versatile. Sometimes you have to scrap the plan and just wing it. Believe us, we know all about that. This latest Alpha Protocol trailer embodies the importance of impromptu solutions to unexpected problems. It shows us that for every ambush, there's an escape; for every system, there's an override; and for every chicken nugget, there's an appropriate dipping sauce. Okay, we contributed that last nugget of wisdom, but that doesn't make it any less sage! Alpha Protocol launches on June 1 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Alpha Protocol's Michael Thorton goes globetrotting in latest trailer
When he's not busy being formally introduced or eloquently headslamming foes, Alpha Protocol's Michael Thorton is hopping on planes, trains, and automobiles around the globe. In the game's latest trailer (found after the break), Thorton travels to exotic locales the world over ... and kills people! He's a lot like that James Bond fella, but without the namby pamby English accent getting in the way (we kid, Brits!). AP is due to hit retailers in under two weeks -- just enough time for Thorton to tour the globe three or four more times. We'll be watching our backs just in case he stops by.
Alpha Protocol delay back to a 'business decision only'
Not only is Sega's Alpha Protocol going to be "the espionage RPG" (according to the box), but it's also the case study in mixed messages from the creators to the game press and public. IGN recently asked Obsidian associate producer Matt Hickman if he could clarify the key moments that held up the development process, noting that there had been "a lot of different, sometimes conflicting reports." Hickman responded, "The decision to move the game out from October [2009] was merely for repositioning and constituted a business decision only." Strange -- considering that in February Hickman told MTV Multiplayer that there were "a few reasons" for the delay, including giving the game more polish, with "tweaks" to the lighting and inventory, and a general objective in "just bringing the whole quality level up." Perhaps Obsidian and Sega have taken the "espionage game" a bit too literally (dare we discover this to be a viral marketing campaign that went way over our heads). As if being interrogated, the creators have erratically covered up the game's development tracks with changing stories. Last October, Alpha Protocol's expected release date was flat-out ignored by Sega, until the publisher came out of hiding a week later to confirm that the delay was "official." The reasons for the delay have been many -- and now just one: a business decision. We'll find out if the "repositioning" was the right business decision for Sega when Alpha Protocol breaks its cover on June 1.
Alpha Protocol trailer demonstrates Michael Thorton's sweet karate skills
When we last saw Alpha Protocol, protagonist Michael Thorton was being formally introduced. Now, just two days later, he's pulverizing and/or murdering everything in his sight. The latest trailer, as you might have guessed, features Thorton in a variety of combat scenarios, showing off some Splinter Cell: Conviction-esque pistol takedowns and American Ninja-esque karate moves. Immediately after watching the clip, we felt inclined to alert Mr. Thorton to one very important protip when engaging in hand-to-hand combat: leaping through the air at someone only to introduce your knee to their face is not the most effective way to start a fight. Just a thought! At very least, you kids shouldn't try pulling that off at home. Maybe in Alpha Protocol when it releases on June 1, but not physically in your home.
Alpha Protocol trailer asks, 'Who is Michael Thorton?'
Isn't he the guy who wrote Jurassic Park? No wait, that's Michael Crichton. Our bad. Michael Thorton is protagonist super spy in Alpha Protocol, Obsidian's upcoming Espionage RPG™. As you can see in the trailer above, he's a dude who likes to knee chumps in the face ... and run through laser-heavy hallways in slow motion, apparently. We get it, broseph: you're a spy. You drink martinis, drive expensive automobiles and get all the exotic babes. That's all well and good, but we have one problem with the above highlight reel, Mr. Thorton: Don't ever go around blowing up helicopters. That job is best left in more capable hands.
PC Alpha Protocol's Uniloc DRM explained
An administrator on the Sega forums has detailed what purchasers of Alpha Protocol on PC can expect from the Uniloc DRM system. With some publishers employing excessive DRM, it's good for PC players to know what they are getting into. Sega details that initial activation of the game will require an internet connection, but after that they should be good to go. Five activations are allowed per license key, with users having the option to deactivate a computer's license if they wish. Most importantly, the DRM will allegedly be removed through a patch 18-24 months after release. PC owners who submit to the DRM can pick up a copy June 1. In tragic irony, those who refuse to submit to any DRM will likely be able to download the game around the same time -- or earlier -- from their favorite torrent site. But don't do that. [Via Big Download]
Best Buy confirms Alpha Protocol 'Stealth Weapons Pack' pre-order bonus
Sega and Best Buy wired a press release confirming the Stealth Weapons Pack for Alpha Protocol, which includes "the Hamilton Marksman High-Accuracy Pistol, the Samael Typhoon High Recoil Control SMG and a bonus arsenal of ammo and mines." Huh, since when did the purveyors of home appliances start manufacturing weaponry? The extra spy gear is only available through in-store Best Buy pre-orders, so you'll have to put on your best camo and infiltrate your local store if you want 'em.
Alpha Protocol's protagonist can be a real jerk sometimes
The latest trailer for Obsidian's "Espionage RPG," Alpha Protocol, exposes one of the most useful tools a spy has at his disposal: His ability to converse. The video above explains the delicate balance you must maintain while questioning a source. And by "delicate balance," we mean, "be nice to him until he lets his guard down, then repeatedly strike him about the head with a half-full bottle of Ketel One." Hey, this "spy" stuff is easier than we thought! Fine, there's a little bit more to it than that. Check out the video above to see how your words are just as effective as your bullets, except in instances where you need to shoot someone.
