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Dark Matter pulled from GOG as developer retools ending
Trouble continues to mount for InterWave Studios' side-scrolling survival horror PC game Dark Matter, which has now been pulled from multiple online storefronts following player allegations that the game was released as an incomplete product. Dark Matter players were greeted with an abrupt ending after reaching a specific point during gameplay, offering no resolution to its storyline or any buildup to a conclusion. The game was removed from Steam following a barrage of consumer complaints, and Good Old Games issued refunds to affected players. Good Old Games has since removed Dark Matter from its database entirely, at publisher Iceberg Interactive's request. "We were actually contacted by the publisher about this: They asked us to take it down while the developer renovated the ending," GOG's Head of PR and Marketing Department Trevor Longino told Joystiq. "We had already decided that offering our users their money back if they bought the game before we updated the description to reflect the game more accurately was enough for the moment -- although we were still investigating the matter and seeing if further steps were necessary -- but were happy enough to agree to the publisher's request when they asked us." Dark Matter failed to meet its Kickstarter goal earlier this year, leading developer InterWave Studios to repackage the game as an episodic series. The finished product was not advertised as the first episode of a series, however, spurring complaints over its sudden ending.
Report: New devs at work on Dark Matter following mass dismissal
Though a new ending for the controversial Dark Matter is supposedly in the works, a Gamasutra report claims that the game's development staff has already been laid off. As reported yesterday, players were incensed by the cliffhanger ending seen in Dark Matter. Instead of a satisfactory conclusion, the game simply offers players an abrupt "To be continued ..." despite a notable lack of current plans for a sequel. Complaints about the ending poured in so rapidly that both Steam and Good Old Games opted to give customers refunds for the game. In a message posted to the Dark Matter community on Steam, CEO of publisher Iceberg Interactive Erik Schreuder blames the problematic ending on the failure of the Dark Matter Kickstarter effort. This is crucial, as Gamasutra claims that the fundraiser's collapse not only crippled the game, but also led to the dismissal of the majority of Interwave Studios' staff (including almost all of the developers who worked on Dark Matter). Gamasutra's report claims that a new developer has been handed the task of building a better ending for Dark Matter, but that this unnamed studio includes none of the original development staff. It's currently unknown when (or if) this hypothetically improved finale will appear.
Dark Matter temporarily removed from Steam, GOG offering refunds
Dark Matter is not available on Steam for the apparent time being, following complaints over the game's incomplete story and lack of labeling as an episodic adventure. The game was removed this morning, with a notice going up on its Steam page saying "Currently there is a known issue at the end of the game. The developer is aware of the issue and they are working on a patch as a solution." Meanwhile, GOG.com is offering refunds to those who bought the game before its description was updated on the site. Now GOG's listing indicates Dark Matter is the "first half" of a story, an update that "adequately reflects the game" according to the retailer. Dark clouds circled around Dark Matter over the weekend, when players vented their anger over its "to be continued" ending, accusing developer InterWave Studios of seemingly releasing an unfinished product. Erik Schreuder, CEO of publisher Iceberg Interactive, responded by clarifying that the 2.5D horror platformer is the first episode of a larger overall saga, one that was originally planned as standalone game. InterWave Studios brought Dark Matter as that standalone game to Kickstarter earlier this year, with plans to sell it for $30. The game wasn't funded, and a few months later Iceberg Interactive released the now controversial first episode, also called Dark Matter, for $15. Schreuder said Dark Matter is "exactly as described on Steam," but the store page makes no mention of the game being episodic. Schreuder was forced to concede the ending "may cause confusion and is not satisfactory," and noted a "more conclusive and satisfying ending" is in the works - as perhaps indicated by the new notice on Steam. At the time of writing, the game remains on sale at GOG.com
Dark Matter publisher: Game is meant to be 'episodic series'
Dark Matter recently found itself in a dark space of criticism after a player posted on the game's Steam discussion page about its "To be continued" ending. After a developer from InterWave responded and said the "full story is indeed not complete," they clarified that it is a "complete game in itself." Erik Schreuder, CEO of Dark Matter publisher Iceberg Interactive, has posted a follow up on the game's Steam discussion forum to address accusations that the game is unfinished. The message describes an initial Kickstarter pitch for a game with "significantly more levels" that would have been sold for $30. This plan was discarded once the Kickstarter campaign obtained less than a fifth of its £50,000 fundraising goal. "The idea was then formed to make Dark Matter an episodic series, with episodes selling at a budget price of $14.99," Schreuder said. "The first installment is what has launched recently on Steam and is simply called Dark Matter." Schreuder wrote that the game is "exactly as described on Steam (including that it contains 14 levels)" and explained that the version of Dark Matter players are experiencing is "not the $30 full-priced game, but the episodic budget version." The game's Steam page, as of writing, makes no note of the game being episodic in nature. Schreuder conceded that Dark Matter's current conclusion "may cause confusion and is not satisfactory" and stated that they are working on a "more conclusive and satisfying ending."
rComplex makes a mad dash to iOS devices in February
rComplex is a running-man's game. Not The Running Man's game, but a game for a man who runs, much like a thinking-man's game but less of a hypocrisy. See, it stars the silhouette of a man in a trench coat running from the darkness, a mass of creeping tentacles out for blood, and it's coming to your iPhone.Originally released for PC in 2009, indie classic rComplex is coming to iOS devices at the end of February using Unity 3D, with a launch on Android, Mac and PC (again) to follow. Until then, enjoy a free download of the rComplex theme song right here.%Gallery-145633%
