Alpha Protocol
Platforms: PC, 360, PS3
Release Date(s):
[strike]February 2009
'Summer' 2009
October 2009
'Spring' 2010[/strike]
Australia: May 27, 2010
Europe: May 28, 2010
North America: June 1, 2010
Offical Website:
http://www.alphaprotocol.com/us/main.php
Dev blog:
http://blogs.ign.com/Alpha.Protocol/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Obsidian_Ent (Updates occasionally with news)
http://twitter.com/ChrisAvellone (Chris Avellone)
http://twitter.com/mikethorton (In character twitter, hasn't been updated in months, but worth reading anyway)
Also, a reminder for anyone getting this on PC stateside: You can get it for around $36 on D2D's British page, no hassle. I don't regret the cash thus far.
Also: console versions are $45 at Kmart this week (May 30 - June 5)
The PR:
Loyalty carries a price and no one knows this more than agent Michael Thorton. A talented young agent cast out by his government, Thorton is the only one with the information needed to stop an impending international catastrophe. To do so means he must cut himself off from the very people he is sworn to protect. As players determine how to accomplish different objectives, the decisions made and actions taken in each mission will ultimately transform the type of secret agent Michael Thorton will become. Every choice the player makes as Michael Thorton will carry consequences for his future and the fate of the world.
KEY FEATURES
• A morally-complex branching story - The world is not black and white and the story will change based upon how you act in it. By replaying the game with different choices, you will have a very different narrative.
• Dialogue Stance System – The revolutionary new dialog systems allows full control of Thorton’s reactions through emotive controls. However, characters will not always react the same way. He will have to choose carefully in each dialog.
• A Modern Day Role Playing Experience with Action Gameplay – The new RPG system gives players the ability to mold Thorton into the secret agent they want him to become with lethal close-combat techniques, marksmanship abilities, proficiency with spy gadgets, and much more.
• Living, realistic international world that responds to Thorton - Thorton will travel across the globe, encountering mysterious contacts and deadly enemies multiple times over the course of Alpha Protocol's plot. Depending on his previous interactions with a character or a location, the world's reactions to him will change, opening new possibilities and gameplay avenues.
That's great, but I'm used to my RPGs being fully voice acted, so don't throw words at me:
A fairly concise overview of what the game is via gamespot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyznNNNwHsoChoices?
Yes, would it really be an Obsidian game without Choices™? Obviously, like most wRPGs, most of your decisions will be made based on how you interact with the other characters. Thus, Obsidian has developed their
Dynamic Dialogue System ©, where you must decide how to approach other characters. Rather than having a list of differnt dialogue options the player must read to decide which to take, Obsidian has distilled it down to 3 dialogue 'stances'. The core motivation behind the DDS is Obsidian thinking "what would JB do?" JB being James Bond, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer, the 'holy trinity' of the 3 archetypal playstyles they wanted to emphasize: Suave, Professional, or Aggressive respectively.
And of course, the all important 4th archetype: [Headslam]
The key gameplay innovation is, unlike most RPGs, you actually have a time limit to make your choice, otherwise, it defaults to your previous dialogue stance. Each NPC reacts to different approaches, so you have to make sure you're responding appropriately to get what you want. You can collect
Dossiers on important NPCs to find out their motivations and how to best respond to them, just be aware that they're doing the same to you, and more than other games, Alpha protocol is all about
Reactivity
Is the name of the game. Every action you take has repercussions. More importantly, unlike some other sissy RPGs, there is no good or evil (or, if you're lucky
neutral) decisions, and even 'messing up' will give you some bonuses.
A flow chart for a
single scene:
Rarg! Enough talkie. Me want gameplay!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MOua3_-rY
Like practically every wRPG these days, Alpha Protocol is a FPS hybrid, which uses a point based system similar to Mass Efffect 1, where you allocate points into each category with milestones giving you new active skills interspersed with levels that just improve your existing capabilities. Along with the weapon skills (pistols, SMGs, Assault rifles, Shotguns, and Martial arts), you can also gain proficiency in Stealth, toughness, gadget use, and sabotage.
Really, you have almost as many options out of combat as you do in it:
(CG trailer, may not actually be representative of final game)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE0-unF_xBsCharacter Customization
You play as Mike Thorton, who has a fixed backstory (with 2 NG+ modes that effect how other charccters react to you: 'recruit' or 'veteran''). That means no poorly lit character creators to create mutant 'people' in, but it doesn't mean that there's no character customization:
You can go with the traditional Tux
To some more...esoteric...outfits:
Pre-order Bonuses For the console versions onlyGamestop has the 'Assault pack' with some in game weapons
Reserve Alpha Protocol and receive the GameStop Exclusive Assault Pack containing:
* The GameStop exclusive UC Regulator high damage shotgun and shotgun upgrade kit.
* The GameStop exclusive Rittergroupen Grizzly high accuracy rifle and rifle upgrade kit.
* 30 Rounds Phosphorous Ammo
* 100 Rounds Sub Sonic Rounds
* 20 Explosive Grenades
* 10 Epinephrine Spikes
In addition, you will gain exclusive access to two modified weapons that can be purchased later in-game to enhance play and give you the upper hand: the Hamilton Howitzer huge volley shotgun and the Samael Retribution rapid-fire rifle. Available for online and in-store customers while supplies last.
Alternatively, you can get the 'stealth pack' if you order from Best Buy:
STEALTH
Reserve Alpha Protocol and receive the exclusive “Stealth Pack” un-lockable weapons pack containing 2 exclusive specially modified weapons and extras:
* Hamilton Marksman (High Accuracy Pistol: 7 accuracy, 5's in other stats)
* Pistol Custom Upgrade Kit (+1's all over)
* Samael Typhoon (High Recoil Control SMG: 7 recoil control, 5's in other stats)
* SMG Custom Upgrade Kit (+1's all over)
Pack Extras
* 30 Tranquilizer Rounds
* 100 Hollow Point Rounds
* 20 Remote Mines
* 10 Radio Mimics
In addition, you will gain exclusive access to highly modified weaponry that can be purchased later in-game to enhance play and give you the upper hand:
* Rittergroupen Rapier (Permanently Silenced Pistol, silenced without need for silencer)
o Price: $450,000
* UC Purgatory (Giant Ammo Capacity SMGs , Ammunition 10)
o Price: $450,000
You can also get Space Seige if you pre-order it from most of the digital distribution sites, like
Steam,
D2D, or
gamersgate, but I'd really hesitate calling that a
bonusThe AchievementsPC stuff:
System requirements
Supported OS: Microsoft Windows XP® or Windows Vista®
Processor: 2.4+ GHZ Intel® or 2.0+ GHZ AMD™
Memory: 1 GB RAM (Windows XP®,) 2 GB RAM (Windows Vista®)
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce 6 series (6800GT or better,) ATI™ 1300XT series or greater (X1550, X1600 Pro and HD2400 are below minimum system requirements)
Hard Drive: At least 12 GB of free space
Sound Card: DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card and drivers
DirectX®: 9.0c
DRM:
http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2010/05/01/alpha-protocol-pc-drm-details
Sega has posted the specifics of their DRM scheme for the PC version. I've pointed out a highlights if you don't feel like reading the wall of text.
- Steam version does use this extra DRM
- Can be installed on 5 unique machines at a time
- Internet access is only needed for activation
- Automatic activation returned if uninstalled while connected to internet
- Manual deactivation service available if you do something like upgrade everything but your hard drive
- If you don't have internet access you can download a file from a computer that does have access and transfer it to the other machine
- Disc will not be needed to play
- Patch will be available within 18-24 months to remove activation limits
Dev Diaries
Previews and Interviews:
(BTW, these are mostly new ones I never got around to posting in the last thread, let me know which older ones are the best to put here)
http://www.talkxbox.com/news/5990/alpha-protocol-interview/http://www.nowgamer.com/features/616/interview-alpha-protocolhttp://www.sidequesting.com/2010/04/pax-impressions-alpha-protocol/http://www.gamingangels.com/2010/04/pax-east-preview-alpha-protocol/http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php/topic,1473.0.htmlhttp://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3179066Updates:6/1 Out now in the US5/27 Game out everywhere (but the US). Reviews are also trickling out, thus the title5/20 A couple more reviews out5/17 The first review is in from a Spanish Mag. 88/1005/11 About an hours worth of (poorly played) gameplay at 1up5/1 DRM confirmed to be Unilock, even on steam version. Online Activation required, 5 install limit4/16 But Thou Must watch the AP PAX East Panel
Also, Avellone:
Posts
We actually have a real OP now!
Also, Avellone.
All right, people. It is not a gerbil. It is not a hamster. It is not a guinea pig. It is a death rabbit. Death. Rabbit. Say it with me, now.
Also, one of the mods on the Obsidian forums actually knows what the heck unilock is:
EDIT:And apparently Football Manager 2010 also had the option of installing in Steam (from the disc), which used Steam's built in DRM.
EDIT2: Actually it seams like there were different versions of DRM for FM2010. The steam version just used steam, while other digital distro sites used the online Unilock activation mentioned above. Retail discs had the option of using steam or using DVD verification, which didn't require connecting online at all
EDIT 3: So all these edits are actually talking about what they did for FM 2010, which are likely because of the problems they had with FM 2009. They actually removed Unilock from all versions except non-steam DD, which means that likely it'll also only be on non-steam DD versions of AP too
http://www.gamereactor.se/nyheter/21900/GRTV%3A+Vi+snackar+Alpha+Protocol/?sid=20fe907425aafc48cfd78b2355a94b67
Apparently you "might not want to trust" the agency you start with and you can actually try to lie about what you did in the flashback/forward debriefings
http://www.jeuxactu.com/article-44229-alpha-protocol-l-agent-marcuss-117-a-prague.html
Skip to about 6:30 in it to get to the actual interview, which I swore I've actually already seen, but there are snippets of new gameplay footage mixed in.
I can see them having that sorted out this time though. Everything looks very smooth and clean and polished so far, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Hopefully it won't be anywhere near as bad as KoToR II, which would have been awesome if they'd actually finished them damn thing.
Unlike KOTOR2. And we know how that turned out.
This sounds a bit too much like "read boring log entries for best results".
Then don't do it. If it doesn't fit your playstyle, then skip over that function.
aviators
Dat Ass
The Jack Bauer secret is that all the dossiers include the footnote "Does not enjoy being shot in thigh."
You should be able to judge most characters by their personality. The spunky russian chick for instance likes aggresive men, thats not exactly a shock. I imagine few like being punched in the face.
And again, pissing them off will get you comparable results to making them like you. That's what has me excited, the fact that there's no one choice that gets you all the cool shit; you get cool shit for pretty much EVERYTHING you do. Smooth talk a guy? Get a perk. Punch that guy? Get different perk.
Right, it's not "read boring log for best results," it's "read boring log if you want to know what you're getting into instead of just playing it by ear."
You don't realize how much I wanted for all those codex entries in Dragon Age to have an impact on the game, like saying to someone that we already knew about what he was talking about, or saying to Genetivi that we were big fans of his works!
It might be a little bit harder for the punk teen Sis though. What with her being mute and all.
makes sense to me they would get it first.... they live in the future don't they.
Steam
XBOX
I'm getting excited now, just a month to go and I'm not sure whether to engage media blackout mode.
I have higher hopes for AP because Lucas and Co forced KOTOR2 out before it was ready, if I remember correctly. Obsidian wanted more time and were told no.
However, they were told yes this time so it's already pre-ordered here.
Margaret Thatcher
Anyone planning on going James Bond and hittin' everything that moves? :P
Margaret Thatcher
Ah. My mistake.
Margaret Thatcher
Which, ironically enough, is exactly the opposite of what happened to KotOR 2.
All right, people. It is not a gerbil. It is not a hamster. It is not a guinea pig. It is a death rabbit. Death. Rabbit. Say it with me, now.
You have to be wary of that, though, because if a developer has a game pushed back, saying "it was for marketing reasons" sounds a lot better than "it wasn't good enough to release".
I'm not saying anyone is or isn't lying or spinning, just that this stuff should be taken with a grain of salt, because there's obvious incentives for a company or a few people to not be totally truthful in a situation like this.
Pretty much everything I've heard from everywhere else is that they didn't want to get overshadowed during the holidays, and the release got delayed. I don't actually think there's much of anyone even working on it anymore. Most everyone at Obsidian seems to have moved on to New Vegas.
edit: Honestly, I'd be thrilled if Sega decided to fund some more time in the cooker to make it the best game it can be. Unfortunately, that is not the impression I've gotten.
All right, people. It is not a gerbil. It is not a hamster. It is not a guinea pig. It is a death rabbit. Death. Rabbit. Say it with me, now.