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IO splitting focus, tackling new IP after Hitman: Absolution
IO Interactive, the studio that's steered the Hitman franchise since the beginning, will take one hand off the wheel and gulp a new IP Slurpee after Hitman: Absolution ships. Speaking to Gamasutra, studio honcho Niels Jorgensen says that the IO team will split focus, collaborating on a new Hitman with the Square Enix studio in Montreal while working on a new IP. Jorgensen has very little to share about the new IP, but does say that it'll be somewhat in line with IO's DNA of dark humor and antiheroes. Hopefully, IO can find a happy medium between the stylish seriousness of Hitman and the sub-par vulgarity of Kane and Lynch. Three of IO's employees will move from Copenhagen to Montreal to direct the team and assist in communications between the two studios, developing a game that's "faithful to the Hitman experience."
Hitman: Absolution goes on a tour of the Chicago Public Library, shoots it up
In Hitman: Absolution, while Agent 47 is getting his Dewey Decimal on, a fleet of cops charge into Chicago's main library to take him out. But 47 isn't having it, as you might imagine. Find out how he gives the pigs the slip in this thorough gameplay walkthrough.
Hitman: Absolution has hardcore mode for masochists
Well, okay, you don't technically need to be a masochist, but a hardcore mode in Hitman Absolution, included specifically for veterans of the series, just may be a real blood-boiler. Producer Hakan Abrak told Eurogamer that the difficulty setting rewards methodical stealth play with Achievements and/or Trophies. "We will get into more details at a later point, but obviously it's linked to the playing style," he said. "It's more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement." It might also give you an ulcer, depending on how many times you're forced to restart each mission. Abrak also hopes to silence critics who say Absolution ditches its stealth roots for the more action-packed gameplay we saw in the gameplay demo -- don't expect that, Abrak says. "Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin -- you know, I'm the ultimate stealth assassin -- that playing style, those achievements, are very much in the game." For more info on Hitman Absolution, be sure to check out our preview from back in June.
Hitman: Absolution preview: Stealth kills
The very first screen in the hands-off demo of Hitman: Absolution we saw at a pre-E3 event last month tells the story of what the fifth interation in this stealth assassin series is trying to be. The logo of the game appears over an extremely detailed window pane, with rain beating down on it from outside, and a blurry view of the Chicago skyline at night in the background. The image could easily just be mistaken for a menu screen -- in high definition view, it looks just plain gorgeous, like a live action piece of art. But as soon as the player presses start, you discover that it's actually an in-game shot. A body flies through the window, shattering the glass, and the camera pans down to reveal Agent 47, inside what appears to be a library of some kind, hiding in the dark from Chicago police. %Gallery-125693%
Hitman: Absolution screens sneak out of Russia
We've spotted Agent 47, and he's over at the Eidos forums, officially outed in Hitman: Absolution by one Eidos moderator known as "Acid Burn," a la Hackers. There are only two shots, unfortunately, but we've dropped them into a gallery below for your perusal.
Hitman: Absolution using 'Avatar' mo-cap tech, hollywood actors
Hollywood Reporter has managed to sneak in a few questions to IO Interactive game director Tore Blystad about the forthcoming Hitman: Absolution, and got an earful back about the development process. "We've designed a more stylized, more serious, and darker game this time around in both the story line and the visuals," Blystad told HR. Blystad also revealed that his studio employed Giant Studios for the game's motion capture -- the same studio that James Cameron used for Avatar -- and that Keith Carradine (Cowboys & Aliens) and Marsha Thomason (White Collar) will be voicing two main roles. Carradine is Agent 47's antagonist this time around, while Thomason will act as 47's handler. Blystad's betting that the theatrical approach his studio is taking to voice acting and motion capture will dovetail nicely into the next Hitman film. "The hope is that the movie will be going in a similar direction, and then when they both come out they will speak the same language," he said. In Absolution, Agent 47 finds himself on the run from police while simultaneously hunting "his most dangerous contract to date." As promised, more details will be revealed next month at E3.
Hitman: Absolution revealed in teaser trailer, next stop: E3
It wasn't much of a puzzle but we think we've finally got it all put together. Remember that Hitman ARG that culminated in the above screen? It's a grab from the game's teaser trailer, which developer IO Interactive just shared with the universe. And the game's official title? Yup, it's Hitman: Absolution, just like that trademark application hinted it would be. Lastly, if you're wondering when you're going to learn more about Agent 47's latest, we're going to guess that the highlighted "110706" in the bar code at the end of the teaser strongly suggests a June 7 reveal at this year's E3. Watch out! Update: Square Enix just shared the press release, which has a couple more details. Hitman: Absolution is being built "from the ground up" on IO's new (and proprietary!) "Glacier 2" tech. That tech is going to power "much-loved classic gameplay with completely new features never seen before in the Hitman franchise." To learn exactly what those new features will be, you'll have to wait until E3 where Square Enix says Absolution will be showcased "by invitation only." How exclusive!
Hitman ARG concludes with new Hitman image
When IO Interactive kicked off an ARG earlier this month for its Hitman series, all signs pointed to an E3 reveal of the long-rumored Hitman 5. Now that the gumshoe AR game has concluded, it seems downright obvious that said game will make its debut at this year's big LA gaming convention. The image you see above was unearthed by a group of mystery hitmen -- which is to say, "folks who secretly assassinate mysteries" -- and was confirmed by IO Interactive to be the final clue of the ARG. Outside of a few cursory words on the image, the IO Interactive rep didn't reveal much else, though he did say "an even more awesome follow-up" is being planned now that HitmanForum.com members have uncovered everything this ARG has to offer. As previously indicated, the ARG points to an E3 reveal of the next Hitman game.
Potential Hitman ARG suggests new announcement is coming in time for E3
Some subtle marketing suggests we'll be hearing about a new Hitman game soon. Well, okay, we have been hearing about it -- Hitman 5 isn't exactly a secret at this point, having been mentioned on IO Interactive resumes and namedropped by a voice actor. But things are heating up yet again, indicating a full-on reveal isn't far off. Some potential subtle marketing is the source of this latest uptick in attention, starting with an ad from Faircount Media Group in a catalog at the Sundance Film Festival depicting a box of Hitman Series brand doughnuts with a bardcode ending in "47." When a Hitman Forum user tracked down the agency responsible for the ad and emailed them, he received a response from an account saying "you are on the right track," along with a new image showing a pair of black gloves, what appears to be a game script, and another barcode ending in "47." Forum users claim some of the random numbers, when deciphered, point to E3. Add in the vague responses from an actual IO Interactive employee on the Hitman Forum boards (Nick@IO is his user name) and it would appear we've got the makings of an ARG -- that is, unless it's all just one big, very mean conspiracy.
Hitman 5 mentioned on a few IO Interactive resumes
If you were unsatisfied by voice actor David Bateson's kind-of-but-not-really confirmation that a new installment of the Hitman franchise was in the works, perhaps you'll be won over by some additional, recently uncovered evidence. IO Interactive's Rasmus Hoejengaard, Damien Simper and Theo Engell-Nielsen all listed Hitman 5 on their LinkedIn resumes, the latter of which includes a 2011 launch window for the unannounced title. We're not sure what stronger evidence we could find for the project's existence, aside from, like, time traveling into the future and bringing back a finished copy of the game. Can anyone get on that?
Report: IO Interactive drops 30 staff in wake of canned Microsoft project
According to Danish site Computerworld, IO Interactive has laid off approximately 30 employees, though the developer wouldn't detail specific numbers. "Because we are a part of a listed company (as a company under the Square Enix Group, ed.), I can not enter the number or reasons about layoffs," IO Interactive general manager Niels Jørgensen said, confirming the lowered headcount. Though Jørgensen couldn't be specific, it is believed that the layoffs are a result of a canceled project with Microsoft. "This is a natural part of any studio's existence when you ramp-up and ramp-down on projects to ensure you have the right level of resources and expertise within the studio. We genuinely wish those who have been affected by this the best of luck for the future," Jørgensen further explained. According to reports, IO now comprises roughly 160 employees, down for the second time this year after layoffs hit back in March.
Agent 47 voice actor pleads the 5th on Hitman 5
In an interview with The Liberty Gaming.com, David Bateson, the ice cold voice of Agent 47 in the Hitman games, was reluctant to say much about the mysterious next sequel in the series. "As recently as this year, I even had someone call me up from IO Interactive to ask me to remove the fact that I was set to record the next installment in the franchise," Bateson told the site, "which I had written up as upcoming news on my website. I respect that of course, a comment like that can create all sorts of headaches to people with development deadlines to meet." "I have to plead the 5th Amendment on this one," Bateson said, before admitting that the new project has undergone "delays" -- despite the process being "a well oiled machine on recording day." That's not to say he just waltzed into the gig. "It seems that with company buy outs and global power shifts in the world of computer gaming and the Hitman franchise, there is now an LA-based caster on board, who is responsible for voice casting, and I had to audition along with the rest of the planet for the right to play Agent 47," Bateson recounted. "However, I have been informed by IO Interactive that I still have the part. I won't even bother to describe how gutted I would have been if they went for a sound-a-like."
Kane and Lynch film needs a new director
Following the inexplicable trend of movies based on video games getting totally derailed before they even start filming, it seems the once-certain production of Kane and Lynch has become ... decidedly less so. LA Times reports that planned director Patrick Alessandrin (District 13: Ultimatum) is no longer behind the reins of the movie. As a result, the movie's shooting schedule, planned to start next month, has been delayed. A representative from Millennium Films confirmed that "the director has not been chosen" and that the film's "start date is TBD." If you're part of the ever-burgeoning community of high-profile film directors who read this site (what up, Spiels?), consider this your invitation to step in and save the day. That is, if you think you can handle the raw thespianic force of a Willis/Foxx collaboration.
Kane and Lynch 2 apparently nailed belly chic
In my otherwise totally accurate and insightful review of Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, I mocked the couture of the game's villains. I might have even said they dressed like my dad, which is wholly unfair to a man at least 50 percent to thank for giving me the precious gift of life.
Kane and Lynch 2 shoots up UK sales charts
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has stormed the UK sales charts in its premiere week to hold the top spot -- for ransom, no doubt. According to Chart-Track, the dubious duo's first outing only reached the number 14 spot in its second week of release back in 2007. It would seem the two have gained a significant following in the meantime. The rest of the chart involves the usual suspects, with Toy Story 3, Red Dead Redemption and Lego Harry Potter holding the next three spots in the queue following Kane & Lynch, respectively. Ubisoft's Dance titles keep on movin' and shakin', as Just Dance moves up the chart to the fifth spot and Dance on Broadway gets knocked down by the understudy to ninth. Whatever else goes on in the charts, those Dance games refuse to leave the top ten. Also, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed Brain Age (known there as Dr Kawashima) to become "the biggest selling UK title ever" after 41 weeks. Out of those weeks, it was absent for only three. Check out this week's top selling titles after the break.
Review: Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
Out of Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts," one of my favorites goes something like this: "If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting." It's a quote that was oddly present in my mind during my time with Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. If you end up with this game in your disc drive, you'd better be ready to hide behind cover and shoot your way from one end of the game to the other over and over again, because that's what you're going to get. If that doesn't sound so bad, I should warn you that this isn't necessarily a great enchilada. ... Err, cover-based shooter. Sorry. %Gallery-96734%
Kane & Lynch fire off a few thousand rounds in new Dog Days trailer
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is sure to have an actual plot, though you're not going to see any of it in this trailer. However, if you want to see two men shooting everything, and everyone, they encounter -- and you're likely to, if you're a Kane & Lynch fan -- then we invite you to check out the video after the break.
Get to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videos
They say opposites attract, which would explain the effectiveness of the titular duo in IO Interactive's upcoming sequel, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Lynch is a psychopath, a well of unchecked aggression who hardly has the foresight to see the repercussions of his actions -- a dog without a leash, if you will. His partner, Kane, on the other hand is a bit more calculating. An ex-mercenary whose interests lie in financial gain, Kane is the type of guy who doesn't fly off the handle and, for the most part, keeps it cool -- a feat considering his partner. Also beyond the break, you'll find the latest behind-the-scenes video produced for the game. This one features Kim Krogh, director of Kane & Lynch 2's multiplayer component. (Spoiler: He really likes it.)
IO Interactive's second look behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Ready for more ultra-violence? IO Interactive is here to supply it, with a second behind-the-scenes, extra gruesome look at upcoming murder-'em-up Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Jump past the break to check it out.
IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Wondering what's changed from the first Kane & Lynch title to the second? The folks at IO Interactive are here to tell you, with a peek behind the scenes of the upcoming sequel. Aside from adding online co-op to the game's main campaign, a mess of other mechanics have been tweaked in the game, apparently to quell issues fans had with the first. Unfortunately, the issues named are things like "cover system," "aiming and shooting," and "AI," which kind of ... worries us. That said, art director Rasmus Poulsen promises the game is going to be "so visceral, so intense, so in your face, that you're gonna be left without any skin left." So, you know, there's that. Join us behind the scenes just after the break, won't you?
