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Metro 2033 movie hopes to see the light of day
Metro 2033, the post-apocalyptic shooter from 4A Games set in Russia, actually isn't an entirely new concept. The video game is based on a pretty popular book by author Dmitry Glukhovsky. MGM has optioned the rights to the book and is now looking to adapt it into a film.The Hollywood Reporter says MGM snagged the rights and will have rookie writer F. Scott Frazier create a script. Little is known right now outside of Frazier and some production talent's involvement, so creative liberties may be taken. We're crossing our fingers for one scene where the protagonist accidentally uses some scrounged perfect ammo in his gun then gets mad at himself when he realizes its market value.
Creep through Metro: Last Light's 13-minute gameplay demo
When we visited THQ's E3 2012 private meeting rooms, small-ish areas were cordoned off for intimate engagements with each of the publisher's games: Metro: Last Light, Company of Heroes 2, and Darksiders 2. Rather than seeing the games on the dance club-esque show floor, THQ employees slowly and calmly lead attendees through demos, which certainly helped me to get a better grasp on the finer nuances of each game.I mention this because the Last Light gameplay seen above is what THQ showed during E3, and it was super creepy. Do yourself a favor and snag some headphones, turn out the lights, and watch this alone.
Metro: Last Light is not a Wii U title for now, THQ confirms
Metro: Last Light is not in development for Wii U, THQ global brand manager Mark Madsen told Digital Spy.Last Light was included in a Nintendo promo reel for the Wii U at E3 last year, a move Madsen said wasn't premature. "No I don't think it was a bit too early [to show the game at E3]," he said. "As we got along in the development process, we just really wanted to focus on what we knew, focus on PS3, 360 and PC."Last Light may not hit Wii U, but if it does "it won't sim-ship with the other SKUs." At the moment THQ and developer 4A Games are unsure about "what we can do to maximise the code for the Wii U," Madsen said.
Metro: Last Light live-action trailer counts down to armageddon
In Metro 2033, we saw the effects of nuclear war 20 years out. In Metro: Last Light's latest trailer, we see that world ending, missiles and all. We'll thankfully have lots of time to prepare for the apocalypse given the game's recent delay into 2013.
Metro: Last Light delayed to first quarter of 2013
Your return to Russia's subway system has been postponed until Q1 2013 (THQ's fiscal Q4). THQ's third-quarter financial earnings report revealed the new launch window for Metro: Last Light, the follow-up to 4A Games' claustrophobic, survivalist shooter from 2010.You can read our impressions of the promising sequel right here, or catch up on some in-game footage.
Metro 2033: Last Light E3 demo continues with underground train caper
When last we left the protagonists of Metro 2033: Last Light, they were knee-deep in the crummiest attempt at stealth ever. In this, the third installment of the game's E3 demo, they've exchanged their feeble sneakiness for far more noticeable acrobatic feats. Also: There's a murder train.
Metro: Last Light E3 demo rallies back for part 2
In the second part of Metro: Last Light's E3 demo, players are treated to what we're sure is a rousing Russian speech. Well, we're sure it's Russian, at least. Some of the rousing appears to be external to the speech.
Metro: Last Light preview: Once more, with feeling
THQ's Huw Beynon (that's pronounced "Hugh" by the way) calls last year's Metro 2033 "a flawed masterpiece." The Ukranian-developed shooter somehow managed to over-deliver on some of the rarest components and fail on the most obvious one; a mountain of wonderful flourishes toppled by a clumsy and downright bad combat system. 4A Games nailed the bleak, post-apocalyptic tone, coupled it with survival horror-esque resource management (like the necessity to monitor your gas mask filters), and layered in home-brewed weapons like the pneumatic shotgun which you pressurize, air pump-style. What it failed to do in 2033 was to make the combat compelling ... at all. So when Beynon calls it a "flawed masterpiece" that's what he's talking about. To correct this in the sequel, dubbed Metro: Last Light, the team at 4A has "rebuilt all of the gameplay systems from the ground up" meaning "better stealth, better weapons and core combat." If you're worried that this change might upset the original game's unique tone, like I was, Beynon says that's not their intention. "We don't want to dumb this down, or westernize it," he said. "We're giving the studio complete creative freedom to tell the apocalypse their way." THQ and 4A are avoiding the desire to follow the usual sequel route and "dial it up to 11." Since novelist Dmitry Glukhovsky's original sequel to Metro 2033, titled cleverly enough Metro 2034, didn't follow the same story, the team at 4A opted to handle writing duties in-house. "It's an original story that leads on from the end of 2033," Beynon told us. "The author of the original book actually wrote a pseudo-followup called 2034 which is a very different style of book entirely. He kind of describes it as an art-house thriller where the first one was perfect material for a video game." So instead, we're back in the Moscow Metro as Artyom, the unassuming protagonist from the first game. %Gallery-124654%
THQ confirms 'Metro: Last Light' as Metro 2033 sequel
Speaking this evening during an investor conference call, THQ CEO Brian Farrell confirmed that "Metro: Last Light" will be the title of the sequel to last year's gritty FPS Metro 2033. Last month, domain registrations for "Metro2033LastLight.com," "MetroLastLight.com" and "LastLightGame.com" served as evidence of an upcoming game under some permutation of that title, but THQ had yet to offer anything official about that title -- and it wasn't clear whether that related to a sequel (which has previously been known as "Metro 2034") or some kind of spinoff. The important thing, of course, is that it hasn't been titled "Unreleased FPS Project." In fact, this game will be the focus of a "first-class marketing campaign," THQ core games CEO Danny Bilson told us earlier this year.
Steam weekend deal: Metro 2033 for $10
There's never been a better time to explore the dilapidated, mutant-infested subway tunnels of Russia's future, as Valve has knocked the price of Metro 2033 down to a measly $10 for the weekend. With savings like that, you could pick up an extra gas mask and some radiation meds.
THQ's Bilson: Metro 2033 'wasn't properly nurtured,' sequel to address issues
Last March, Metro 2033 snuck up on our reviewer radar and went on to earn respectable Metacritic scores of 77 on Xbox 360 and 81 on PC among critics at large. Though THQ CEO Brian Farrell characterized the title as "very profitable" for the publisher, it wasn't exactly burning up the sales charts. Speaking with the company's VP of Core Games, Danny Bilson, this week, we asked about Metro 2033 falling short of its potential. "I'll give you the straight answer: It wasn't properly supported in all areas," Bilson said frankly. "It was a cool deal," he explained of the publishing agreement with developer 4A Games, "where it was inexpensive and they were doing their stuff." "Did the game need polish in certain areas? Yes." he admitted. "So when I say it wasn't fully supported, it was product development and marketing that didn't support it the way it should've been." Bilson described Metro 2033 as "an orphan stepchild," saying that "a great marketer picked it up with four months to go and did what he could with four months to go, but it wasn't properly nurtured by marketing." The absence of polish, Bilson assured, won't be an issue for Metro 2034, the in-development sequel. "The new one doesn't have any of those issues," Bilson said. "I green-lit the sequel before [the first] one shipped, because I know what [4A Games is] capable of -- I knew how cool it was."
THQ asks for 'patience' as it tries to solve Metro 2033 DLC Achievement issue
When THQ's Metro 2033 was patched to support the "Ranger Pack" DLC something went wrong with the game's Achievements. The problem was first acknowledged on August 3 and noted as potentially an issue on Microsoft's end as of August 5. A couple weeks back the publisher told Joystiq it was still "investigating." THQ has sent us over an updated statement on the issue: "We understand some people are still experiencing issues with achievements unlocking in the Metro 2033 Ranger Pack DLC. We are currently working with Microsoft to ascertain whether this is due to a code related issue with the DLC itself, or an error in the Marketplace process whereby the DLC was added to Xbox LIVE Marketplace before the new achievement data was added - this exact issue has happened to other games in the past, but we need to be sure that this is what's happening here. We realize this is frustrating for those of you who have been waiting to enjoy the Ranger Pack DLC, and we ask for your patience as we try to pinpoint the exact issue and solution." In the meantime, it's probably best not to download the expansion pack until the problem is resolved. It appears the normal game still works fine. We'll be sure to update once a fix for the problem goes live. Now, remind us, what's the point of Microsoft certification again? %Gallery-77153%
Metro 2033 update preventing Achievements, THQ 'investigating'
THQ's sleeper subway hit, Metro 2033, was patched recently in support of the "Ranger Pack" DLC, but it appears the update clashed with how the game tracks Achievements. Conflicted reports suggest the patch prevents all Achievements in the game, or simply the ones from the Ranger Pack -- either way, it's still a problem in need of a correction. According to the official Metro 2033 Twitter account, the publisher has been aware of the problem since August 3, most recently acknowledging the situation on August 5 as something on Microsoft's end. In a statement to Joystiq, a THQ representative said, "We are aware of some users experiencing issues with achievements for Metro 2033's Ranger Pack DLC. We are currently investigating this issue with Microsoft and expect to have a resolution shortly." The representative added that the company should have something more concrete to share in "the coming days." %Gallery-77153% [Thanks, Wayne]
Metro 2033 'Ranger Pack' DLC coming to Steam and XBLM next week
THQ and 4A Games have announced Metro 2033's minimalistic DLC, the "Ranger Pack," will launch on Xbox Live Marketplace and Steam next Tuesday, August 3. The update will allow players to traverse the game in Ranger Mode, which "dramatically" reduces the amount of ammo you'll stumble upon but increases the damage dealt by players and enemies alike. It also adds a "Ranger Hardcore" mode, which does the same thing, but completely does away with the player's HUD, meaning you'll be able to see all those things that are killing you with unparalleled clarity. The pack, which also adds new weapons and Achievements to the game, will arrive as a free update for Steam users -- though Xbox 360 players will have to purchase it from the Marketplace for 240 Microsoft Points ($3).
Metro 2034 revealed by THQ's Bilson
4A Games' Metro 2033 came out under the radar, but quickly became a sleeper hit with Joystiq staff, what with its heavy atmosphere and mature, bleak tone. So, as you could imagine, the announcement of a sequel in development makes our hearts glow as if they were just hand-cranked by a post-apocalyptic Russian. In discussing the topic of 3D gaming with CVG, THQ's Danny Bilson said, "We're going to be doing a 3D version of that on Metro 2034 - the sequel. And there will be some engineering costs there, but that's in our lowest cost centre in the world." Okay, so maybe we could do with a little more fanfare accompanying our game announcements, but there you have it.
Metro 2033 'Ranger Pack' DLC coming to XBLM and Steam soon
If you've scoured every corner and looted every corpse littering Metro 2033's post-apocalyptic train terrain, you've already demonstrated a remarkable will to survive. Developer 4A Games has chosen to expand on that lonely experience with the game's upcoming DLC, the "Ranger Pack." As 4A previously stated, there won't be any added narrative nor awkwardly tacked-on multiplayer. Instead, you'll gain access to "Ranger Mode," a game modifier that reduces ammo "dramatically" while increasing damage of all attacks, including yours and those of your enemies. In addition, "Ranger Hardcore" will remove the already-sparse HUD entirely, and completing it will likely unlock some of the new Achievements (for a total of 250 Gamerscore). That's a fairly minimal addition -- a subtraction even -- for DLC, but you'll also have to weigh the benefits of the new Heavy Automatic Shotgun, which is being introduced alongside the Volt Drive, "Miller's signature gun." (Not even pens survived the nukes?) 4A and THQ aren't ready to sign off on a release date yet, but it's due on Steam and Xbox Live Marketplace "in the very near future." Pricing is currently the more delicate issue, even if the "Ranger Pack" is clearly aimed at the game's biggest proponents. And it's especially delicate if you're in the crowd that's really into multicolored kung-fu teenagers with attitude.
Metro 2033 DLC 'almost done,' reveal coming this week
Metro 2033 developer 4A Games is set to unveil plans for the future -- as in next week, not post apocalypse. The game's official Twitter account stated yesterday: "Like a fine single malt, the DLC is almost done ... we hope to be able to take the wraps off it this week." We don't know what items will be added to the atmospheric foreign-person shooter, only what won't be included: nothing multiplayer ("not possible") and "it won't be new SP [single-player] narrative content, 'missing levels' or anything like that." In fact, the DLC only began production back in March. We'll be sure to let you know more as soon as we hear it, seemingly later this week. [Via IncGamers]
Metro 2033 has been 'very profitable' for THQ, CEO says
Metro 2033 was released at the tail end of publisher THQ's last fiscal year, which ended March 31. With only two weeks of sales before the close of the fiscal fourth quarter, the 4A Games-developed title was not a huge factor in THQ's trumpeted turnaround. Still, THQ CEO Brain Farrell took a few moments during the company's earnings call today to highlight the game's sales to date, which contributed to fourth quarter sales growth for the publisher and could be a standout figure in its first quarter of the new fiscal year. "It's a very profitable title for us," Farrell said, without disclosing a number. Farrell did reveal that Europe has accounted for roughly two-thirds of Metro 2033 sales, as forecast by the publisher, with North America buying up the remaining units sold. "A lot of the sales were done on PC," he added, "and a lot of the sales were also done through digital mechanisms that don't get captured by any service." The CEO attributed profits to the game's low-cost development model, "so when we get to even pretty modest levels of sales, we're still making good money." (First-time, Eastern European studios make cheap games, apparently.) "And we like that model going forward," Farrell noted, when it produces a high-quality game. After all, first-time, Eastern European studios can make good, cheap games, too. (Apparently.)
Metareview: Metro 2033
You already know all about our love affair with Metro 2033, don't you? It's true, we're smitten with the admittedly less-than-perfect, but atmospheric, FPS. And the game's publisher (THQ) is probably living it up right now, several games deep into what could be called a roll at this point. What did other outlets have to say about it? Well, they tend to agree with us ... mostly! Game Informer (9.0): "Metro 2033 is an impressively polished and extremely linear experience that makes for an excellent debut ... From the second you start the campaign, you follow a straight line to the finale with only a handful of opportunities to explore alternate paths or side missions. What a glorious straight line it is." Official Xbox Magazine UK (8.0): "Metro 2033 excels at setting a scene and creating a tense atmosphere, and presents a very different post-apocalyptic world from Fallout 3: there's no black comedy, just unrelentingly bleak realism." GamePro (3.5/5 Stars): "The post-apocalyptic scenario has been done to death but Metro 2033's particular version still manages to stand out thanks to a fascinating backstory ... I just wish Metro 2033 had done a better job of explaining and exploring these themes, especially because the distinctly Russian perspective is so different from the 'Western' viewpoint that I'm intimately familiar with. But instead of taking the time to properly introduce you to the world and acclimate you to all the ins-and-outs, the developers throw you into the deep-end without anything resembling a life-preserver." %Gallery-77153%
Metro 2033 patched for DLC support
We know you probably flew into a rage when a recent Title Update denied you a few precious seconds of Metro 2033 play time, but we've been assured by developer 4A Games that it's all for a good cause: To prepare for upcoming DLC. On the game's official Facebook page, a spokesperson confirmed that additional content was in the works, but didn't provide much detail, saying only that multiplayer would be impossible and that "it won't be new SP narrative content, 'missing levels' or anything like that - it's something we're only just starting production on." Wait, it won't be new single-player story bits or multiplayer, so what does that leave? While novel, we're not sure "Flashlight Hand-Cranking Time Attack" would be a huge step forward. [Via Inc Gamers]
