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Remedy discusses next Alan Wake DLC, 'The Writer'
Outside of the knowledge that a second episode of DLC for Alan Wake -- titled "The Writer" -- will be coming sometime this fall and that it will cost 560 MS Points ($7), little else is known about the developer's plans for the future of the series. Though head of franchise development Oskari Häkkinen didn't get too specific, he told Eurogamer that the second DLC may not necessarily be the last we see of Mr. Wake on Xbox Live Marketplace. "I can't confirm whether this is going to be the last one or not. There are some things in the pipeline that we're looking at, and we're balancing out how we will move on with this," Häkkinen said. In terms of "The Writer," though, Remedy ... writer Mikko Rautalahti added that gameplay will skew towards the type found in the first DLC ("The Signal"), while level design errs more on the side of fantasy than the first. "You will be seeing a lot more weird stuff. And we've learned quite a bit from making 'The Signal,' and we'll be applying that to 'The Writer' quite a bit," he said. Both Häkkinen and Rautalahti remained relatively tight-lipped on the subject of an Alan Wake sequel, with Häkkinen only allowing, "I don't see any reason why we wouldn't continue with Microsoft with a full-blown sequel for Alan Wake. We definitely want to do it. We have great ideas for it. I can see Mikko here twiddling his thumbs with his ideas for Alan Wake 2. There's certainly a want, and that want is I believe from both sides." He did, however, add, "Right now I can't confirm anything." Given our feelings on the game (and the first DLC), we've got all our fingers and toes crossed for more.
Buy Alan Wake for $30 and get back in our good graces
Listen, America. We know our relationship has been strained these past few weeks. It's just that ... well, you didn't buy Alan Wake very much, did you? If you want us to forgive you, you might want to spring for GoGamer's $30 sale on the literary thriller.
MS to email replacement codes for Alan Wake DLC redeemed too early [update: codes going out!]
So, you bought Alan Wake at launch, and proceeded to redeem the DLC token code immediately -- because, with no warning on the card, why wouldn't you? Now "The Signal" DLC is out, and you can't download your free copy, and life is terrible. Or is it? Remedy announced via Twitter that help is on the way for those of you stumbling through a living nightmare of inaccessible post-game content. "If you've redeemed your code prior to release Microsoft will be sending out new codes to you via your email on XBL," the developer said. We're checking with Microsoft to find out exactly when those emails will go out. In the meantime, catch a new trailer for the DLC after the break. Or don't, if you have yet to finish Alan Wake and fear spoilers. Update: The codes are starting to be emailed out. Make absolutely certain you have a working email address tied to your Xbox Live account, or it's back to "living nightmare" time.
Review: Alan Wake DLC 'The Signal'
Alan Wake's mysteries still linger, months after a pitch-perfect conclusion. Unlike most downloadable add-ons introduced after the fact, the first of two new episodes, "The Signal," comes after the fiction and wisely targets fans who wouldn't care much for standard DLC fare like "Additional killing grounds!" or "Deadlier explosive rounds!" If you just wanted to share a few more words with the imperiled author (and get 250 Gamerscore out of it), here's your chance. Well, provided you can find him. The man's having trouble finding himself in the town of Bright Falls, which grows even more unstable and incoherent with every step he takes. Once again it's unclear where the world ends and the writer begins, and the developers at Remedy don't waste time before they start shoving reality and fiction into the same space. Their tinkering leads to an amusing spin on the original game's cardboard cutout gag, and more interestingly creates a few challenging scenarios that differ from those in the main game. I think I would have remembered a demolition derby. %Gallery-98078%
Kmart discounts Alan Wake, Peace Walker and more
Though both parties haven't likely realized it yet, Kmart is currently embroiled in a full-on assault against your wallet. The store's offering a slew of discounts on games like Alan Wake, Peace Walker, Singularity and the Call of Duty: War Collection, as well as a few other miscellaneous SKUs.
Alan Wake original score available at retail, digitally on July 20
While you probably know about Alan Wake by now (we liked it a lot), and you probably know about the game's unconventional soundtrack, full of licensed tracks from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to David Bowie, you may be less familiar with the game's original score by Finnish composer Petri Alanko. In short, it's not what you'd expect from a "psychological action thriller." Instead, you'll find something far more "romantic," Alanko says; a wistful arrangement with piano and strings that's a little more light than dark. If you enjoyed Mr. Alanko's work and – especially if you didn't get the Collector's Edition whose soundtrack disc contained five tracks from the score – you'll be pleased to learn that Sumthing Else Music is releasing the full original score on July 20, featuring 18 tracks of orchestral music. You can pre-order the CD on Amazon now or, if you prefer the digital route, wait until the 20th and hit up Sumthing.com or iTunes.
NPD on the Red Dead, Alan Wake, and Split/Second retail showdown
Take-Two Interactive CEO Ben Feder recently mentioned that Red Dead Redemption "sucked the oxygen out of the room" at retail upon its release -- wow, he wasn't kidding. Data provided to Joystiq by the NPD group shows that high-profile releases Alan Wake and Split/Second sold 145K and 86K units in the US during May, respectively. In comparison, Red Dead Redemption sold 1.51 million copies. All three games launched on the same day in the States. NPD analyst Anita Frazier explains, "What I found interesting about Red Dead is that it is the second game in the franchise. First game got middling review scores and sold good but not great -- 920K life-to-date. I applaud it when a publisher can take a franchise with solid results and improve on it significantly next time out the gate." Perhaps when (if?) Alan Wake and Split/Second receive sequels, they'll have better sales luck (and no oxygen-sucking beasts around).
Alan Wake DLC episodes priced at $7 each
Remedy's imperiled author sim, Alan Wake, will be extended in two downloadable episodes later this year, with the first set to launch on July 27th. Entitled "The Signal," the first add-on is available free to players who purchased the game new. We met up with Remedy's Head of Franchise Development, Oskari Hakkinen, and ascertained that the episode -- which should last around 90 minutes -- will cost 560 MS Points ($7) on the Xbox Live Marketplace to those who purchased the game sans shrinkwrap. The second downloadable episode, "The Writer," will also cost 560 MS points ($7). According to Hakkinen, the $10 price seen within Alan Wake's DLC menu was meant to be a placeholder.
Alan Wake wanders into 'WAR,' a Poets of the Fall music video
We speculated that the live-action Alan Wake teaser that surfaced last week was promoting a new commercial or web short. It turned out to be a slick music video for "WAR," a song by Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall -- and one of the licensed tracks to feature in Remedy's atmospheric action game. The video features Alan Wake as portrayed by actor Ilkka Villi, who's basically the Milli Vanilli companion to voice actor Matthew Porretta. Head past the break to see Wake freak out to musical accompaniment, ponder his mysterious manuscript pages ... and wonder why the world's worst cameraman is stalking him and his wife through a field. [Seen Above: The first image from the upcoming Alan Wake DLC, "The Signal."]
Alan Wake spotted in live-action teaser
Remedy has released a creepy, cryptic video for Alan Wake. So, it's a lot like every Alan Wake video, but it's especially like the Bright Falls prequel series in that it's composed of live-action footage. The only thing that looks unrealistic, really, is the imperiled author's jacket-hoodie combination. We're impressed by how well the video captures some of the Xbox 360 thriller's imagery -- such as the blinding flares and the mysterious manuscript pages -- and we suspect it's part of a live-action commercial (much like those made for Microsoft's Halo franchise) or another web short. We'll be sure to bring you more information next week.
Red Dead Redemption, Split/Second debut on UK charts
Rockstar's dusty western, Red Dead Redemption, has taken the top spot on the UK software sales charts -- Take-Two's first multiplatform title to do so since Bioshock 2, according to Chart-Track. it's also the first top multiplatform title for Rockstar since the debut of GTA IV way back in 2008. That's not to say there weren't other highlights in this week's dog and pony show. Coming in second was 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, while Ubisoft's Just Dance managed to move to the beat of third. Black Rock Studios' Split/Second also managed to make an appearance at the fifth spot, while European developer Remedy Entertainment's psychological thriller, Alan Wake, was pushed back into the shadows down to the eighth spot -- a major drop from its previous second place spot last week. Source - Red Dead Redemption takes top spot on GFK Chart-Track Source - GFK Chart-Track's top-selling titles for the week ending May 22
Second Alan Wake DLC episode 'The Writer' priced at $10
Stephen Totilo once wrote that game content can exist outside of a game disc, and there's more than a little fun to be had in expansions. They're antithetical to the limitations of physical distribution. In a news story, the reader keeps asking, "What will it cost?" but there can be no explanation ... even though there should be one. The unanswered mystery is what stays with us the longest and it's what we'll remember complaining about in the end. My name is Ludwig Kietzmann. I'm a blogger ... type thing. The second downloadable episode of Alan Wake will be called "The Writer." The description of the content, which recently popped up in the game's "Downloadable Content" menu, reveals that the tortured author will find himself in "strange circumstances" (surely he must be used to those by now) and must face "one increasingly nightmarish situation after another." According to the listing, the episode will cost 800 Microsoft Points ($10). The first episode, "The Signal," will cost the same when it launches on July 27th, though it's a free download for those who purchased a new copy of Remedy's thriller. You'll find an image and full description of the DLC after the break -- don't venture further if you're sensitive to spoilers.
Shine a light on Alan Wake for $49, get $10 bonus credit
Excerpt from Alan Wake's technological thriller, It Came from Amazon: I sat there staring at the screen, unable to believe my aching eyes. Had I had too much to drink, or was this real? The Amazon checkout cart read $49.99, and it was definitely Alan Wake sitting in the basket. That alone didn't really frighten me. What tipped me over the edge was the $10 bonus credit on a future video game purchase. The site had similar deals on other games. Super Street Fighter IV for $30, God of War 3 for $45, Splinter Cell Conviction ... again $45. All of these and more, like Super Mario Galaxy 2, with at least $10 bonus credit. Was that even possible? Or, had the Darkness managed to infiltrate my computer? Unsure of itself, my shaking index finger finally clicked true. The purchase was made -- with free Super Saver shipping -- and now all I could do was wait, wait and contemplate how to spend that $10 credit. Red Dead Redemption was supposed to be pretty good.
Alan Wake DLC called 'The Signal,' coming July 27
Have you already managed to complete Alan Wake's narrative arc, and now you're jonesing for more episodic storytelling in the Bright Falls universe? First of all, unless you live in Europe, holy crap you're fast. The game's only been out in the U.S. for half a day! Second of all, you now can look forward to the release of the game's first DLC pack, titled "The Signal," which Microsoft recently announced will launch on July 27. If you bought a new copy of the game -- which, again, we're assuming you did, since it's been out for a few hours -- you've already got a coupon code that will let you grab the new content for free. Of course, we have no idea what that that content will actually entail. We're assuming that signals will be involved, and will somehow be directing our attention towards things that are scary.
Final Alan Wake trailer builds the drama
Remedy has released what's presumably the final Alan Wake trailer, entitled "Building the Drama." It's dramatic: knowing glances, dark proclamations, brooding environments, floating review scores -- all here. And if this final tease doesn't convince you, allow us to: The game is really good. Alan Wake will be available from North American retailers tomorrow, May 18.
FIFA World Cup leaves Alan in its wake on UK sales chart
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa fiercely protected its top spot on the UK all-formats weekly sales chart for the third week in a row. Alan Wake saw the light of retail with a second place premiere, and according to Chart-Track, totaled only 1,000 fewer units sold than FIFA. Lost Planet 2, which found itself in third, was 12,000 units behind Wake (an Xbox 360 exclusive), despite being on two platforms and going on sale several days earlier than the typical Friday release in the UK. Ubisoft's Wii-exclusive Just Dance tripped and stumbled to fourth place, its lowest position in seven weeks. Could this be the beginning of the end for the surefooted sales star? Unlikely -- unless every Wii owner in the region already has it (which isn't out of the realm of possibility at this point). Finally, EA's Skate 3 ollied into a fifth place debut. The complete UK top 10 can be found after the break. Source – FIFA Just Holds Off Alan Wake And Lost Planet 2 [GFK Chart-Track] Source – Latest UK Software Charts [GFK Chart-Track]
All six episodes of Bright Falls now available online
If you're hoping to get acquainted with the world of Alan Wake before the game's extremely imminent release, you may want to watch the six-part mini-series Bright Falls, all of which is now available on Machinima's YouTube channel. Regardless of whether or not you understand a lick of what transpires during the Twin Peaks-esque series, it's still a really well-made tie-in, and gives a great sense of the unsettling environments the titular Wake will be exploring. If you want more information about Bright Falls after viewing the series, we suggest checking out our interview with co-writer and director Phillip Van. Watch: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6
Alan Wake add-on sees the light in July
Alan Wake won't be exploring the darkest corners of your Xbox until next week but developer Remedy has already announced via Twitter the release date for the game's first DLC episode: July 27. ... Or is it July 28, as seen on promotional dashboard show Sent U A Message host Daniel Maher's Twitter account? We're just as confused as you presumably are and have reached out to all parties (including Microsoft) to help us cast some light on things. Inconsistent release dates aside, users will be able to access the DLC through the included token download card packed in with all new copies of the game. No word yet on how much the DLC will cost those of you who go the used games route. [Via XboxGaming]
Alan Wake reviews have Remedy 'pretty damn far from disappointed'
Though he insists that the Remedy team doesn't check the Alan Wake Metacritic score too frequently (sure guys), Mikko Rautalahti, a writer for the studio, said the team is "pretty damn far from disappointed" with the critical reception of the game, which will be released next Tuesday, May 18. Currently, the game has an average rating of 84, a score Rautalahti said Remedy would "have to be complete goddamn idiots to not be satisfied with." Here in the future, we've already fallen in love with Alan Wake, gotten bored of it and moved on to wondering what Remedy has planned for a follow-up; a question Rautalahti addressed in another forum post: "Well, it's certainly no secret that we'd love to make a second one if the first one does well. But since the game isn't even out yet, it's really up in the air." Wait ... up in the air? You heard it here first: Alan Wake 2: Wake's On a Plane. [Via The Mind Channel; Videogamer.com]
Remedy looking to improve facial animation for Alan Wake DLC
Zombies may have been the scariest things in (the truly excellent) Alan Wake. No, we're not talking about the shadow-infested Taken but rather the main characters themselves. While Remedy Entertainment's Markus Maki admits in a forum post that "it's a complex problem trying to dodge the Uncanny Valley," many of the characters in Alan Wake's cutscenes land squarely in the Valley, giving them that just-this-side-of-creepy zombie death mask that we all know and love. Now for the good news: Remedy "definitely learned a lot doing Alan Wake" and is "using some of the improvements in the DLC production already." And, in case you think it's as easy as checkin off the "make less zombie-like" box in GameDeveloper 7.0, Maki says, "It's not alone a matter of the method how or where the facial capture is done, it's about the run-time animation techniques available, skeleton setup and so on." Skeletons, too? We told you Alan Wake was creepy! [Via G4]
