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Tigon's Ian Stevens: For Hollywood, 'making video games has been the same thing as making action figures'
Running Tigon Studios is a bit of a strange job to have. Ian Stevens, the man in charge, is responsible for not just organizing development talent to make games like this year's Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, but also working with Hollywood. And, unsurprisingly, he says it's a bit of an uphill battle, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "It's really hard to take something that's native to a certain medium and just draw a line, which is what people are usually trying to do [with games based on movies.]" He equates the attention Hollywood has been giving to game versions of its films with "action figures, pictures on cereal boxes, and [themed] pajamas," saying it's just part of the "licensing and merchandising" of a property, rather than creating something unique and well-crafted from the start. Furthermore, Stevens says that the development studios who are working with nothing (think Ben 10) and making something -- anything -- out of it, are the real talent in the industry. "If you gave that team in Newcastle [Midway Newcastle] - through all that they've struggled with, technology, corporate business, all these different things - the kind of opportunity that someone like Valve has," he says, leaving us to postulate on the ending there. We'll let you guys fill that in all by yourselves.
Tigon's Ian Stevens sees an evolving relationship between gaming and Hollywood
No stranger to the Stiq, Tigon Studios head Ian Stevens has been talking Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena post-mortem recently. While speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, though, Stevens discussed the game industry and Hollywood becoming closer bedfellows, mostly due to -- wait for it -- money! Considering the $22 billion gaming made in the US in 2008, we're not exactly surprised when he says, "Hollywood and games, over the next decade, you'll see some really interesting things happen."When asked whether he believes Hollywood's attitude towards gaming has changed over the past five years, he seems somewhat wishy-washy, saying, "It certainly has [but] people in Hollywood struggle to understand the creative decisions that we make." And that's likely how we end up with treasures like 2004's Van Helsing, which Stevens says took precedence over the first Chronicles of Riddick game, Escape From Butcher Bay. How the tables have turned, eh Ian?
Wheelman fuels up with premium DLC on 360 today, PS3 May 7
Midway's Ubisoft's middle-of-the-road Vin Diesel action vehicle, Wheelman, gets its first (only?) round of DLC on Xbox 360 today in the form of six new "Street Showdown" missions. Two "packs" are available: a 400 ($5) collection of five "premium" races and a free pack of ... one race. (Ah yes, the budget-friendly "1-pack.")We know you're excited, PS3 owners, but you'll have to wait until the regularly scheduled PlayStation Store update on Thursday, May 7 to pick up the DLC equivalent of a pine tree air freshener for $4.99. Which, as it so happens, is about the price of two gallons of gas in most states. Just sayin'.%Gallery-51619%
Joystiq interview: Ian Stevens, Tigon Studios' head of game production
Ian Stevens has a lot on his plate. Between launching two games this month in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and Wheelman and working on Vin Diesel's dream game (not to mention two games still in the concept stage named Melkor and Perrone), we think this gentleman could really use a vacation. Busy as he is, he was nice enough to take time out of his schedule last week to speak with us about a few things. Number one on the agenda: What is it exactly that Tigon Studios does? If Starbreeze developed Riddick and Midway Newcastle developed Wheelman, where does Tigon fit into this mess? His answer just might shock you! [Disclaimer: Ian Steven's answer will likely not actually shock you, but you may find it interesting. So there's that.]%Gallery-38368%
Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena trailers to tide you over
For some, the April 7 release of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena can't come soon enough. To help ease the pain of waiting, we present two new trailers from the game (viewable after the break). The first clip shows our anti-hero storming one of the ship's generators, while the second clip showcases the many enemies that try to get in Riddick's way. Oh, you silly NPCs ...If you want your experience to be extra authentic, shave your head, turn off the lights, and don some shades while watching. Around the office, we call that Vin-O-vision.Source - Generator room gameplaySource - Riddick's enemies vignette
Vin Diesel reveals his dream game, Barca BC
Like all red-blooded Americans, we love Vin Diesel games like Wheelman, which stars the big guy as a lead character who's half-car, half-man, but all hero. (We think that's what it's about, we haven't been following that closely.) We know that Vin wants bigger things though, and he's finally talking about them. Or, more specifically, it.The Dies (as he insists we call him) told Destructoid he has been working for three years on Barca BC, a "massively multiplayer online game where you create an avatar that lives in the reality of Hannibal Barca, the Punic Wars and life in 200 B.C." Yes, it sounds awesome (especially if all the avatars are Vin Diesel with different haircuts, clothing, genders, etc.) but Vin says it's still a few years out. Oh, the future, will you never get here?
Pontiac G8 still in Wheelman despite brand's dire outlook
MTV Multiplayer has pointed out that, although GM's Pontiac line is slowly bleeding out as a casualty of the US economic downturn, Midway's Ubisoft's upcoming Vin Diesel vehicle, Wheelman, will still feature one of its rides: the Pontiac G8. Oh, and there's also a Saturn -- well, the Opel Astra -- in it, evidently. Saturn is no more. (Though last we checked the planet was still there.)At this point, you're probably asking yourself, "Where's the news?" Funny you should ask. It's doubtful that Wheelman will be the last game to feature a Pontiac. Heck, there are all shapes and sizes of racing sims coming out in the next few months, some or all of which will probably feature the GM-owned brand. And lest we forget Transformers: Rise of the Fallen: The Game. (Autobots only wear GM.) It would have been more newsworthy -- not to mention quite cruel -- if Ubisoft announced it was yanking both cars from the game and keeping whatever money Midway was paid to advertise include them.
Rumor: Ubisoft picks up Midway's 'Wheelman'
Employing a wheelman, especially one of Vin Diesel caliber, can get kinda pricey. Think about it: an ordinary personal driver is a luxury reserved for the Richies of the rich -- imagine what one who sees in pitch black, morphs into an iron giant, and walks around calling himself "Triple X" and still seems sorta cool would cost. Actually, never mind, you don't have to imagine it. According to a new rumor, only a profitable game publisher can afford that kind of wheelman -- indeed, The Wheelman. While both Ubisoft and Midway have declined to comment on a insider's report that The Wheelman has been acquired by Ubisoft from Midway (in the wake of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing), the possibility remains strong (see this GameFly listing). The report -- again, still a rumor at this time -- does not speculate on what, if any changes Ubisoft would make to the game, which is actually a "groundbreaking action-entertainment property"" with a feature film tie-in supposedly hitting theaters some time this year. It is expected, however, that Ubisoft would further delay The Wheelman's currently scheduled March 2009 release, in turn, potentially affecting the movie's production. Heck, Ubisoft could possibly cut ties with the Diesel altogether and to turn the game into an ordinary Driver.%Gallery-20884%Source - Rumor: Midway's Wheelman Is Now Ubisoft's Wheelman [Kotaku]Source - Ubisoft refuses to comment on Wheelman acquisition [GI.biz]
Video: Riddick - Assault on Dark Athena 'Desperation' trailer
We couldn't have been more excited when we heard that one of the most under appreciated original Xbox titles, The Chronicles of Riddick, was going to get a next-gen upgrade. When we heard the upgrade also included an entire new campaign plus new multiplayer modes, our heads nearly exploded. Above is the latest trailer, titled "Desperation," for The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, which showcases stealth action, both hand-to-hand and weapon combat, and more legendary Vin Diesel dialog.
Dark Athena is an 'episodic expansion'
Even with a new 10-hour campaign to its credit, we'd suggest portioning out your time with Starbreeze's shiny remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay when it arrives next spring. According to Eurogamer, Tigon Studios views the upcoming Assault on Dark Athena as an "episodic expansion" to the original Xbox classic, while an actual sequel is still "a couple of years out." The Diesel-fueled developer calls the theoretical sequel "ambitious," adding that its arrival is largely contingent on whether or not the fans like the upcoming title and "tell us [they] want more." In short, money talks if players want to continue to live vicariously through Vin Diesel's manly virtual physique. Then again, there's always The Wheelman ... maybe.
Chronicles of Riddick multiplayer includes 'Pitch Black' mode (no word on grues)
With new publisher in tow, and new 10-hour campaign out in the open, Starbreeze's more-make-than-remake Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is barreling towards that early 2009 release with a few more tricks up its sleeve ... well, Riddick rocks a tank-top, but you get the idea. CVG has details about the game's multiplayer modes – yup, they're adding in multiplayer, where the original 2004 release had none. Now, we're with you: not every FPS needs a multiplayer mode – more often than not, they seem like back-of-the-box bullet-point more than integral component – but let's give Dark Athena a chance, shall we?In addition to standard-issue 12-player deathmatch and CTF modes, Dark Athena boasts an interesting "Butcher Bay Riot" gametype featuring three teams of four players each, ranging from guards to mercenaries to prisoners, each trying to make their way to a "central power cell." More interesting than that: a "Pitch Black" gametype featuring a (get this!) pitch black arena full of grunts armed with little more than a flashlight and a gun, each looking for he-can-totally-see-in-the-dark Riddick. Kill Riddick and you're Riddick next round. Rinse, repeat. With 20 maps "planned" for the final product, it sounds like Dark Athena's multiplayer may be more than an afterthought – but we'll let you know as soon as we see it.%Gallery-38368%
Riddick comes out of hiding in new Dark Athena video
Starbreeze wasn't cooling its heels while it waited for word on a new publisher for The Chronicle of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, as evidenced by this first video of the game in all its current, two-games-in-one glory. We've seen it in action and can attest to the fact that, yes, it actually looks like this on 360 and PS3 (though it will also be hitting PC).The video features a couple of elements that we were especially impressed by. The first is a visual nuance, but one that speaks to the effort being put into the polishing of the final game. In the segment where Riddick hangs from a pipe and moves along it, hand over hand, there wasn't one iota of clipping – no "hand through wrist" glitching, nada. The look of the game is extremely solid. The new gameplay mechanics are impressive as well. The half-man, half-weapon characters in this trailer are "drones" – cyborgs created by the Dark Athena crew from the hapless passengers of ships they've raided. Riddick can kill these enemies and use them as human shields, while using the gun grafted to their arm to shoot. As you'd expect from a real body, it's difficult to push it forward, but dragging it's a snap (which factors into overall strategy). It's also possible to control these guys from a remote terminal, hence the red-hued POV you catch at one point during the footage. Download in HD (79MB)
Riddick: Dark Athena coming early '09, features new 10-hour campaign
click to enlarge It's no secret that Atari rescued Starbreeze Studios' hi-def remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay after Activision-Blizzard kicked it to the curb. What you don't know – and we didn't know until we recently saw it in action – is that those added "Dark Athena" levels are quite substantial. They've been expended into an entirely new, 10-plus-hour campaign, complete with new game mechanics, full-game production values ... the works.Starbreeze told us that, despite the game being absent from anyone's radar for quite some time, it never let up on development. In fact, the acquisition of the game by Atari has afforded the team upwards of nine additional months of development time, hence the (essentally) second full game and what the team was visibly ecstatic about: more time to polish every last detail.The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Escape from Butcher's Bay is still there, looks amazing, and will incorporate new gameplay and tech developed for Dark Athena) is set for release in spring of 2009. Check back tomorrow for our full impressions of the new campaign.%Gallery-38368%
Chronicles of Riddick picked up by Atari, now has brand new campaign
Atari today announced that it will publish The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena from Tigon Studios and The Darkness developer Starbreeze Studios. The title was previously announced as a graphically enhanced remake of the original Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay that would also feature a new chapter and multiplayer support. According to the press release, not only will the game include the remake of the original campaign, but the new chapter has now been expanded to include "a brand new full-length campaign" as well as the previously announced online multiplayer support. We're just going to guess that might be why the game missed its original winter 2007 release date.The newly revamped Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is expected to release in spring 2009. Check out a hi-res version of the first screenshot by clicking the image above.
GC 2008: New trailer, screens for The Wheelman (not The Assassin!)
That's right! As Vin Diesel so eloquently points out, he's a wheelman, not an assassin. Of course, this dramatic scene takes place just after he's mowed down countless bad guys and destroyed half the city in a dramatic and collision-filled car chase. It's all a bit frantic, frankly, but at least we have The Wheelman's lead mission designer, Mark Thompson, to guide us through the broken glass and mangled metal. Don't forget to check out fresh screenshots in the gallery below!%Gallery-30183%
Vin Diesel is looking for a job in new The Wheelman trailer
With a shaved head, chiseled jaw and a the voice of a chain smoker, Vin Diesel is tailor made for the central role of Milo Buick in The Wheelman, as well as the film's video game nod from both Midway and Diesel-powered developer Tigon Studios. The game – which looks to headline Midway's new Hollywood-or-bust focus for 2008 – has now been revealed in trailer-form and – whether it's the ridiculous jumps, over-the-top explosions, or just Diesel's gravelly narration – you can consider our interest piqued. As 'The Pacifier' puts it, he's "looking for a job," something he should land when The Wheelman ships for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this fall.%Gallery-20884%
Confirmed: Riddick remake is really real
Uncovered last week, the remake of Chronicles of Riddick for new-gen consoles has been confirmed for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. As previously revealed, the game will be titled Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. The game will receive a graphical face-lift and will feature a new single-player episode that takes place after the eponymous escape from Butcher Bay. Not only that, but the game will also feature online multiplayer. We must note, as does Joystiq, that the developer's commentary mode that was hinted at last week is not mentioned in the Sierra press release. Here's hoping it makes it into the final game.Assault on Dark Athena is expected to arrive by the end of the year.[Via Joystiq]
Riddick remake confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360
It seems like only last week that we were given the first details on a Chronicles of Riddick remake, and now we have official confirmation from Sierra that the "reinvention," now subtitled Assault on Dark Athena, will be released later this year for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.Besides the mandatory visual enhancement, the game will also feature a new chapter (entitled Dark Athena, natch) and online multiplayer. Not mentioned in Sierra's press release is the previously-discussed developer's commentary mode. The original Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay for Xbox One and PC stands as one of the few games that not only puts a film license to good use, but actually might surpass the movie in terms of critical reception.[Thanks, sheppy]
