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Mysterious Prototype clock counts down
By pointing your clicker here and visiting the official Prototype website, you'll find yourself staring at an age gate. But that isn't the big news. After you successfully sidestep the age gating mechanism, you'll find the real news; a countdown clock. That's right, there's a Prototype countdown clock ticking-tocking its way along and counting down to a mysterious event that's a little over two weeks away.Wait ... two weeks is about the time CES 2009 kicks off. Second thought, the countdown probably has something to do with all those leaked CES assets. Mystery (not officially) solved.[Via IGN]
Leaky Prototype website bestows new video, screens
Ah leaks, what would the interwebs be without them? It seems Activision's Prototype website was having some issues earlier today. Apparently, upon passing the site's age gate, users were greeted with several new videos and screenshots that Activision was assembling for a presentation at CES 2009. Quick thinkers that they are, the fine folks at Joystiq grabbed them all and saved them (for posterity). Prototype, lest you have forgotten, is something like Crackdown, only with an incredibly super-powered protagonist with crazy mutant powers. You know, like knife arms and the ability to absorb people into his being. Check out some new screens below and four more videos after the break. Do it quickly, because Activision is bound to notice something's up eventually. Gallery: Protoype: 12/09/08
Activision's Prototype site breaks, spills some assets on web
Prototype, better known as Crackdown + The Matrix + Superman seems to have a busted website that confronts you with an age gate, and then gives up all of its secrets like the wimpy kid during recess. It appears that these are images and videos they are assembling for a presentation at CES in January, but Happy Holidaze! You get it a few weeks early.Check out the new images from the game in the gallery below, and there are four new videos waiting for you after the break. Just hurry and do it now before someone comes to their senses and flips the switch. Either this is a brilliant marketing ploy, or someone's asleep at the keyboard.%Gallery-38971%[Thanks Johnny Nobody]
Further details on Radical and High Moon 'realignment' post-Activision Blizzard
Further details on the fate of two of Sierra's four internal studios: Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios. While new parent-company Activision Blizzard pledged to "realign staffing" at Radical and High Moon, it's been unclear what form this realignment would take.Leah Rubin, Radical's vice-president of human resources, told Canada.com, "Activision Blizzard is committed to making the best games possible and has elected at this time to reduce the number of titles that Radical is developing from four games to two. Therefore, we will be proportionately reducing the size of our studio." The status at High Moon is less official, with "multiple independent" sources confirming to Gamasutra that "a notable portion – as many as 60 – but not a majority of the developer's more than 150 staff" has been laid off.So, the sorta good news: Radical and High Moon will stay inside the Blizzavision family, as will Radical's two games remaining in active development and whatever High Moon has in production. By our best guesses, Radical's two games are Prototype and Crash: Mind over Mutant though we're not certain about the other two, now canceled, titles in development: One was rumored to be a multiplayer installment in the Jason Bourne franchise titled Treadstone and the other a sequel to the developer's 2006 Scarface title (the license recently reverted back to Universal). As for High Moon, with the loss of the Bourne license, it's possible that whatever title it's currently developing will be the fifth, unannounced title retained by Activision Blizzard. Source – Radical layoffs at Radical EntertainmentSource – High Moon Lays Off Staff, Post-Vivendi Merger
Universal gets back Scarface 2 rights without a fight
The world is yours once more, Universal. Well, at least the world of Scarface as it pertains video games. Variety reports that the rights to a sequel based on the famous film franchise reverted back to their original holder after the recent mass dumping of properties by Activision Blizzard. Vivendi and Radical Entertainment produced the original Scarface: The World is Yours, sales of which the Variety piece places at a hefty 2.5 million worldwide. The story also mentions that a sequel to the game was at one time in development, although its current status remains a mystery. It's possible, as Variety speculates, that Universal itself could resurrect the title internally now that it is actively developing its own titles, such as the forthcoming video game treatment of the Angelina Jolie action vehicle, Wanted. Perhaps our dream mob-sim-meets-Halo-clone, Scarface: The Universe is Yours, just might happen after all.
E308: Crash Bandicoot crashes the party
We're not sure if this Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant trailer embodies the spirit of the Crash we used to know and love, but we'll probably be giving this platformer some looks anyway. What we've heard so far sounds good, and as Wii owners, we like being catered to. Do you still have room in your heart to give Crash another chance? Or is this series long dead and buried in your mind? Gallery: Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant
Mind over Mutant has Wii focus
Reading favorable impressions from the Joystiq crew about Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant helped put the game onto our selective radars. Watching this video, which features the game's senior producer Kristen Forbes, then got us even more intrigued. Forbes points out a lot of issues that bug Wii gamers to no end -- the lack of commitment to the Wii's graphical capabilities, for one, and unnecessary waggle, for another. If the next Crash iteration can really fix these problems, though, we'll definitely be looking forward to the game's release this fall.
Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant trailer
If there is one thing that this announcement trailer for Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant serves to highlight, it's that there just aren't that many platformers on the Xbox 360. Scratch that, there aren't that many good platformers on the Xbox 360. We're not saying that this new Crash will be good, mind you -- Crash of the Titans didn't exactly set the world on fire -- but we welcome platformers when we can get 'em. Mind Over Mutant looks to introduce new abilities, new creatures to ride, and ... um ... other things we're sure.
Prototype still in skunkworks, delayed until 2009
Sierra and Radical confirmed today that Prototype will continue development until 2009. IGN noticed the game had been given a new date on GameStop.com and followed up with the company for a confirmation. The game was originally expected for late this year, but given our hands-on experience with the title, the delay may be for the best.Considering Prototype is a sandbox game set in Liberty City New York, it's probably best to get as much breathing room between it and the hyper-praised GTA IV. A Sierra spokeperson says the company simply needs more time to "deliver the game the team initially set out to create." Hopefully, Sierra's new overlords at Activision will be understanding of the team's desire.%Gallery-5779%
Prototype delayed until 2009
It's too bad that the developers didn't mention this during Sierra's gamers day, but it seems now that the previously confirmed for Fall 08 title, Prototype, will now be getting released at some unknown date in 2009. According to the Sierra PR representative who spoke with Gamespot, the team simply needs more time to deliver the game that was originally promised. That's right folks, no delay just for co-op (at least as far as we know now). While it's always good if developers take more time to get their games absolutely perfect, only time will tell whether this will end up being a good move. Hey, if Army of Two had released in Fall 07 it would've been murdered, instead it was released in spring and saw fair sales.
Joystiq checks out Crash Bandicoot
There may be a ridiculous amount of Crash Bandicoot games, but since we enjoyed the last one, we're wearily keeping our eyes on Mind Over Mutant. Announced last weekend at the Sierra Spring Event as having an October 2008 release, our Joystiq overlords got their grubby little hands on the Wii version of the game and offered up some promising impressions.Like Crash of the Titans, Mind Over Mutant offers drop-in co-op play. According to Joystiq, the humor famous to the series remains in tact, and with 8,500 different lines programmed for the characters to say, they hardly (if ever) repeat themselves when shouting random bits of dialogue. While Joystiq acknowledges that this game is targeted toward the younger crowd with its sillyness and bright graphics, it seems like a game that any lover of the platforming genre could enjoy. Gallery: Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant dd
Video: Punching through bodies in Prototype
Even though Radical Entertainment left us with a sour taste in our mouth after cutting our multiplayer hopes from Prototype, we're still optimistic that their team will bring us a memorable (albeit a lonely) gaming experience. Especially after watching the latest gruesomely decapitating Prototype trailer. Embedded above you'll be able to experience faces being punched in, bodies being ripped apart and blood spurting from innocent civilians. It's moments like the ones featured in this trailer that give us optimism and a twisted fascination with Prototype. Enjoy the gore.
X3F Impressions: Prototype
Despite being overshadowed by the presence of the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, Crackdown and it's online co-operative were critically and commercially well received. When the news came that there was no sequel in the works and that the devs were at work on a wholly different project, many lamented the lack of the open-world co-op genre on the 360. Thankfully Prototype looks to, at the very least, satisfy the open-world aspect of the genre when it releases this fall. While we had reported that the game's co-op had been scrapped, we heard at the Sierra event that the devs are looking at bringing it back, but it's not something they'll miss ship date for. Whether it has co-op or not, Prototype is definitely the spiritual successor to Crackdown. Unlike Crackdown however, we were immediately struck by the movement of the character, which was highly acrobatic and felt surprisingly natural (as natural as someone running up building faces can be). And the super-powered nature of the character means that the exploration and movement aspect of the game is much more important and complex than the simple "jump good" of Crackdown. Your character, young hotshot scientist Alex Mercer, has a wide variety of powers at his disposal, usually revolving around shapeshifting and absorption. If you've ever seen the comic character Carnage, you'll have an idea of Alex's powers in-use.%Gallery-16382%
Joystiq impressions: Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant (Wii)
Crash Bandicoot returns for another platforming adventure in October, 2008. The boisterous character again has the power to ride defeated enemies, using their special abilities. For example, before crossing a lake, he might force a frost-breathing creature to freeze it solid. Other times, he might roll on top of a spherical enemy over ramps, like a Sonic or Billy Hatcher.But unlike the previous Crash, players can carry along a favorite enemy at all times. This way, gamers can defeat an immediate puzzle, but still retain the abilities of another, go-to creature.I recently tried Radical's Wii version of the in-development title. The team is building for the Wii first, and essentially scaling the graphics up for the 360 and down for the PS2. This approach gives the Wii title a finished sheen that beats most others Wii games. (Multi-platform games often scale PS2 graphics up to the Wii, but don't truly utilize the hardware.) Crash seemed fun; its bright graphics and light tone should attract its kid-targeted audience.%Gallery-21645%
Prototype website launches with DNA surprises
Sierra just sent word that they've launched the official Prototype website and hidden among all the flashy flash are new screenshots, videos and prequel bits for you to enjoy. But if you're interested in seeing the exclusive media, you'll have to work for it, because it's locked within the DNA. The DNA menu is a puzzle of sorts where you have to correctly switch DNA pairs to discover special media. For some, it may end up being a little too much work to handle, but for others, any new Prototype media or information is worth the effort. Heck, you may even discover that the game's multiplayer and co-op has been re-integrated. Don't hold your breath though.
Prototype's multiplayer gets cut and we bleed
Chatting with Radical Entertainment's Executive Producer Tim Bennison, Team Xbox learned some semi-depressing news about a once promised feature that was supposed to be included in Prototype, but has since been cut from the game. That feature being any and all multiplayer component. Talking about Prototype's multiplayer, Bennison told Team Xbox that "while it's a great concept and gameplay bonus, our conclusion is that we won't be able to pull it off with the same level of quality and polish that we're aiming for with the original single player story. " Simply put, they didn't want to tack on multiplayer knowing that it would end up feeling gimped. And really, we can't hate them for that. Just give us a solid single player game, impress us and we'll call it even. There's always a sequel. [Via Evil Avatar]
Sierra and Radical Entertainment remove multiplayer from Prototype
Those who harbored desires to go on Crackdown-esque romps through New York City with a genetically mutated pal will undoubtedly be crushed to learn that developer Radical Entertainment and publisher Sierra have decided to scrap Prototype's multiplayer mode in order to encourage players to truly delve into the single-player storyline, and, more truthfully, so they could meet their original Fall 2008 launch window.Radical's Tim Bennison defended the decision in an interview with TeamXbox, hinting at a possibility of co-op functionality in post-release DLC, and confirming that "multiplayer will definitely be on the table from the start" when, should the game be well-received, it comes time for a sequel -- which we can only guess will be titled Reference Design, followed by the critically acclaimed Initial Model, and then the action-packed conclusion, Finished Product.
Prototype screens showcase awesome brutality
The X3F Army has spoken and they've come to the conclusion that they don't know what to think about Prototype. On one hand the game is a perfect blend of realistic brutality coupled with Crackdown style gameplay (Or, Hulk: Ultimate Destruction which was made by the same team). On the other hand Prototype updates have been so mysterious and spread so thinly the game continuously falls off and on our radar. Sierra sent 8 new screenshots of the Radical Entertainment title that, much like previous shots, showcase the brutality and options gamers will have in combat. Looking more polished, and less grainy than previous screens, the game at least perks us up when we catch a new glimpse of it. With a solid team and (mostly) stellar back catalog behind the dev team, Prototype could be a sleeper hit when it releases later this year.%Gallery-16382%
Rumor: GameStop dates Prototype, Splinter Cell V, Sonic Unleashed, Rogue Warrior and more
One of our loyal X3F Army tipsters has outed himself as an employee of GameStop, but to make up for it he sent us a camera phone image of a few release dates. While you should take these dates with a grain of salt some of them are accurate, specifically Ninja Gaiden 2, Soul Calibur IV and Civilization Revolution.Fueling the fire of the Sega's Sonic Unleashed leak is a release date of November 4 for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PS2. EA's NFL Head Coach 09 is slated for a September 3 release and based on the release of the original in relation to Madden, the time frame seems accurate. A few titles we haven't heard much from are Bethesda Softworks' Rogue Warrior (November 10) and Edios Interactive's Shellshock 2: Blood Trails (September 1), which is being developed by the team at Rebellion.Other dates include Sierra's Prototype from Radical and the Xbox 360 exclusive Splinter Cell: Conviction from Ubisoft which are dated for October 21 and October 2 respectfully.Remember, pre-order focused retailers tend to guess-timate releases on a regular basis to structure their sales goals for the final two quarters of the year. However, some of the names on this list make us really glad we have a rumor category.[Thanks, Travisto]
GDC08: Prototype is all 'more' more
Today's session was sponsored by the letters O-W-G. Radical took to the podium this afternoon to school us on open world game development, a chance to show us just how much "more" the team who brought us The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction has packed into Prototype. The equation looked simple enough: more + better = new. That equation is supposedly the key to creating a "next-gen open world." So does it?Careful to remind us that this was a pre-alpha build, Radical ditched the PowerPoint slides and fired up the prototype Prototype. Ten minutes later, it was clear that the team had nailed the 'more' -- but the 'better' is not visible in the concoction until after pre-alpha, apparently. We watched as shape-shifting amnesiac Alex Mercer punched through chests and lopped off torsos, stealing his victims' appearances (and memories -- we're told). He jacked a tank and a couple of military choppers, fought some Gozer minions, and made Altair's nimble limbering look like amateur hour. (Dude just runs up building walls, all like, "Look, no hands!") %Gallery-16647%
