GameInformer Unveils New Batman Title

[Evil Avatar]

GameInformer has posted the cover images (http://gameinformer.com/News/Story/200808/N08.0812.1226.23309.htm) from their new issue, giving a teaser of Eidos' new Unreal Engine 3 Batman title, Batman: Arkham Asylum (http://www.rocksteadyltd.com/).

Game Informer subscribers are in for a real treat this month. We’re proud to bring you the world-exclusive first look at Batman: Arkham Asylum from Rocksteady Studios and Eidos. This completely original title explores Gotham City’s darkest location, the infamous Arkham Asylum. But as a routine prison transfer goes wrong, the Joker sets his demented plan into action and Batman comes face to face with an army of his worst enemies. In a dark and gritty setting reminiscent of Bioshock (with a story co-written by Paul Dini), Arkham Asylum is setting the stage for a true-to-character Batman game.http://www.evilavatar.com/images/gi_cover_joker_small.jpg

[Inspector Fowler]

Please, God, hear my prayers....I know you've read my forum posts....listened to my conversations with friends....read the deepest desires of my heart when I was trying to sleep....

Let this not suck....

[sprankton]

Dini doing the writing? Killer.

[Inspector Fowler]

Dini doing the writing? Killer.

No kidding....I had just set down my brand new Detective Comics (written by Dini!) and turned to the computer, when EvAv showed this story.

But their counter thing is kind of odd. It can't be real time, because it's WAY too long for that. Oh well.

[Sandman]

I want this.....now. Also a change of pants.

[Eric_T_Cheng]

I'm watching the animated Batman series again. Man, what a great show.

By the way, WB is re-releasing the animated Batman series in a complete series boxset (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Batman-Animated-Series-Complete-Series-Announcement/10085)(Amazon.com has it listed for $75.99).

[Robber Baron]

Are you shitting me? Are you fucking shitting me!?!

[f1sh3r]

wow, i'm actually looking forward to getting an issue of game informer.

[Sandman]

When I see "The Top 25 Games of E3 Revealed" also in this issue the question pops in my mind :

Why wasn't this at E3? It has show stealer written all over it.

[Flatpicker]

I don't see Hamill as doing the Voice of the Joker in IMDB for this project.
Hope they bring him on.

[Darkbase]

Are you shitting me? Are you fucking shitting me!?!

ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodo hmygod

[Grifter]

I'm playing through Assassins Creed at the moment and as I'm leaping from roof top to top and taking out guys without a whisper I keep thinking to my self how fucking awesome it would be if the AC guys were to make a Batman game. There would obviously need to be a few tweaks to the play mechanics but damn would that be sweet.

[f1sh3r]

I'm playing through Assassins Creed at the moment and as I'm leaping from roof top to top and taking out guys without a whisper I keep thinking to my self how fucking awesome it would be if the AC guys were to make a Batman game. There would obviously need to be a few tweaks to the play mechanics but damn would that be sweet.

i LOVED assassin's creed. for some people the game dragged on, but i never got tired of jumping around like a spider monkey killing people and then dashing off into the crowd.

[ResistanceAddict]

I can't assume it by what I read here, but what Batman needs (I don't think one has been made yet, correct me if I'm wrong) is a good sandbox game. Imagine flying and swinging around a gothic Gotham City... it would ROCK! I hope this ends up being that, but as I said, it doesn't sound like it so far.

[Silverbaine]

talk about awesome! i'm psyched now.

Oh and also excited about the box set.

[inmostlight]

I can't assume it by what I read here, but what Batman needs (I don't think one has been made yet, correct me if I'm wrong) is a good sandbox game. Imagine flying and swinging around a gothic Gotham City... it would ROCK! I hope this ends up being that, but as I said, it doesn't sound like it so far.

Not only that, it would be the first sandbox game where the standard convention of marking your goal with a giant beam of light shining into the sky actually makes sense.

[Xerxes]

I'm playing through Assassins Creed at the moment and as I'm leaping from roof top to top and taking out guys without a whisper I keep thinking to my self how fucking awesome it would be if the AC guys were to make a Batman game. There would obviously need to be a few tweaks to the play mechanics but damn would that be sweet.

Sometimes I think Crackdown would fit for Batman. Change the powers, to tech and give him more than one melee kick. :cool:

[Lima Beans]

This sounds really cool!

[Grifter]

Sometimes I think Crackdown would fit for Batman. Change the powers, to tech and give him more than one melee kick. :cool:

Actually a mix of the two would probably be good but I like the heaviness of AC. I don't feel like Altair is some kind of super powered hero, just a well trained badass like Batman. Instead of strait climbing you would have a mix of motorized grappling hook and climbing as well as a glide ability. Add in a few more combat moves and more darkness based stealth abilities and you have yourself one kick ass Batman game.

You here me UBI!?! You guys need to make this happen.

[Dark Prince]

I am pumped for this....can't wait to get the issue.

I hope we get some kind of teaser or something video soon...

[Your Good Twin]

*sigh*

Hope it's good, but I'm still waiting on the Spider-man style of free-roaming Gotham with the ability to call shit in like in Crackdown (Batmobile, Batwing, etc.) Give me Assassin's Creed level of parkour climbing and bounding with some Spider-man swinging. Tell me TELL ME that shit wouldn't be awesome.

[Wolvie]

Unreal engine and Bioshock both got mentioned here, and now I can't get a the idea of this game being a FPS out of my head.

[ResistanceAddict]

Not only that, it would be the first sandbox game where the standard convention of marking your goal with a giant beam of light shining into the sky actually makes sense.

LOL yeah, that's true. The bat-signal everytime you need to do a mission would be pretty cool.

[MaiXu]

Dini? As in, Batman: The Animated Series Dini? Well, shit. This could be awesome.

[Ultima Thulian]

Yea, I ain't holding my breath. There's yet to be a Batman game worth a damn.

I want this to be awesome, I really do. But I can't help but be skeptical.

[Eric_T_Cheng]

I hope they'll use the voices of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.

[Katslover]

So has anyone played this company's other game? Urban Chaos: Riot Response? I remember when it came out, and it got decent reviews (around 7s), but I've never tried it myself. They've deleted everything off of their website now, but you can view cached versions of pages on google searches. It seems they shipped out Urban Chaos, and then they started working on an unnamed 360 and PS3 game in October of 2006. Think it could have been Batman, or just some title that never came to light?

[pomeroy]

By the way, WB is re-releasing the animated Batman series in a complete series boxset (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Batman-Animated-Series-Complete-Series-Announcement/10085)(Amazon.com has it listed for $75.99).

That box set is sex.

[MungMung]

What the hell is that countdown? I hope it's not for the release of the game because at the rate it's going it will be 21 and a half years.

I guess that will give them the time to actually make a good batman game.

[lost]

I'm on a total Batman kick right now, reading all the comics, re-watching the animated series.

As such, I join my comrades here when I beg for this not to suck. Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!

[f1sh3r]

I'm on a total Batman kick right now, reading all the comics, re-watching the animated series.

As such, I join my comrades here when I beg for this not to suck. Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F4cllXM8L._SS500_.jpg

[lost]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F4cllXM8L._SS500_.jpg

You can get a set with Killing Joke Batman and Joker figures with the book for £30 over here. I'm considering it.

[f1sh3r]

You can get a set with Killing Joke Batman and Joker figures with the book for £30 over here. I'm considering it.

oh nice. this was out of print for awhile, people wanted an arm and leg for it, but it's back again (i assume with the 20th anniversary edition). the original copy i had was beat and battered, i'm glad i can finally replace it.

[Katslover]

I actually got Killing Joke in the mail earlier today and read it a little bit ago. It was very good, but the backup story was extremely odd.

[Purple Santa]

Stuff like this make me happy I actually subscribe to GI. I'm excited with everyone here...but i'm still holding my breath. Eidos is publishing...I know their track record. What has the developer done? The concept sounds great...but all we really got was "gritty" setting like Bioshock. I know, we are all hoping and putting out our wish lists...i'm hoping my copy comes in the mail and it gives us some detail of the game...

[Katslover]

Stuff like this make me happy I actually subscribe to GI. I'm excited with everyone here...but i'm still holding my breath. Eidos is publishing...I know their track record. What has the developer done? The concept sounds great...but all we really got was "gritty" setting like Bioshock. I know, we are all hoping and putting out our wish lists...i'm hoping my copy comes in the mail and it gives us some detail of the game...

So has anyone played this company's other game? Urban Chaos: Riot Response? I remember when it came out, and it got decent reviews (around 7s), but I've never tried it myself. They've deleted everything off of their website now, but you can view cached versions of pages on google searches. It seems they shipped out Urban Chaos, and then they started working on an unnamed 360 and PS3 game in October of 2006. Think it could have been Batman, or just some title that never came to light?

So, yea. They've made one decent game and nothing else, apparently. I'm optimistic, though, because I need this 8-(.

[Inspector Fowler]

oh nice. this was out of print for awhile, people wanted an arm and leg for it, but it's back again (i assume with the 20th anniversary edition). the original copy i had was beat and battered, i'm glad i can finally replace it.

Not only that, but the new version of The Killing Joke is re-colored. If you read the intro, the artist was never happy with the way it had been colored. Given the modern tools for that, he jumped at the chance to re-color it the way he'd envisioned it.

Now, I never owned the original - I read it at a friend's house a couple times. By the time I wanted it, eBay was trying to rape people for a copy. So I don't know how different it is, but the way they talk about it in the intro and the afterwards, it's a significant change.

I'd highly recommend the purchase. But don't get the one with the figure - it's a paperback. Pick up the hardcover if your local comic book shop has it.

[Purple Santa]

So, yea. They've made one decent game and nothing else, apparently. I'm optimistic, though, because I need this 8-(.

Apparantly my skepticism is warranted...I wondered what else they did...now I really do need to read the current GI cause i'm really curious how they are going to make this game.

[Katslover]

Not only that, but the new version of The Killing Joke is re-colored. If you read the intro, the artist was never happy with the way it had been colored. Given the modern tools for that, he jumped at the chance to re-color it the way he'd envisioned it.

Now, I never owned the original - I read it at a friend's house a couple times. By the time I wanted it, eBay was trying to rape people for a copy. So I don't know how different it is, but the way they talk about it in the intro and the afterwards, it's a significant change.

I'd highly recommend the purchase. But don't get the one with the figure - it's a paperback. Pick up the hardcover if your local comic book shop has it.

I suggest grabbing the hardcover from Amazon. That's where I got mine, and I believe it was right around 10 dollars. That was a steal, IMO.

[Spigot]

All I can say is...

Please don't suck...

Please don't suck...

Please don't suck...

[Earth Djinn]

This has the potential to be fucking amazing.

God damn I pray it turns out. I fucking love Arkham and hope they do it justice.

[Elrik Murder]

By the way, WB is re-releasing the animated Batman series in a complete series boxset (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Batman-Animated-Series-Complete-Series-Announcement/10085)(Amazon.com has it listed for $75.99).

Thank you sir! I will own this. Glad I resisted buying each box set when TDK hit theaters. If only it included all episodes of Batman Beyond as well. :D I loved that show!

You can get a set with Killing Joke Batman and Joker figures with the book for £30 over here. I'm considering it.

You got a link? I wouldn't mind checking that out.

[spdiscus]

I'm excited. I have no interest in sandbox / emergent gameplay / open world stuff, but a linear, tight Arkham arc would be fantastic.
Just keep Killer Croc caged and out-of-story.

[MosBen]

Yeah, I like the comparison to Bioshock. I've never thought of Arkham being that big, but I suppose it can be for the purposes of the game. Working your way through various areas overrun by insane criminals sounds ok to me. But as has been said, I've yet to play a good Batman game, so fingers are crossed but hopes are not up.

And that box set looks tight. I can't believe they got away with making a children's show as awesome as that show was.

[Ultima Thulian]

I bought the hardcover anniversary edition of Killing Joke a few days ago. It is incredibly well written and awesome. If anyone here wondered where Nolan got inspiration for Ledger's Joker, it was in that book.

[MosBen]

Actually, I think the Joker in The Killing Joke is way more whimsical than Ledger's joker.

[pomeroy]

Actually, I think the Joker in The Killing Joke is way more whimsical than Ledger's joker.

Oh god...not this again.

[Ultima Thulian]

It's inspiration Mosben...not a copy. :p

And what pomeroy said. :D

[ResistanceAddict]

I'm excited. I have no interest in sandbox / emergent gameplay / open world stuff, but a linear, tight Arkham arc would be fantastic.
Just keep Killer Croc caged and out-of-story.

Open world has so many fun possibilites and whatnot, linear games are just tired and repetitive and once done there's really no reason to go back and play them.

To each his own, I guess.

[Ultima Thulian]

Umm...wasn't Resistance a rather linear first-person shooter? :p

I think both have strengths and weaknesses. Either one can prove masterful if done correctly.

[ResistanceAddict]

Umm...wasn't Resistance a rather linear first-person shooter? :p

I think both have strengths and weaknesses. Either one can prove masterful if done correctly.

Well, obviously I wasn't referring to FPS games, LOL. Besides, I play them mostly online. Single player campaigns for the most part (with a few exceptions such as COD4 and Bioshock) bore me to tears.

[ResistanceAddict]

Umm...wasn't Resistance a rather linear first-person shooter? :p

I think both have strengths and weaknesses. Either one can prove masterful if done correctly.

Well, obviously I wasn't referring to FPS games, LOL. Besides, I play them mostly online. Single player campaigns for the most part (with a few exceptions such as COD4 and Bioshock) bore me to tears.

[spdiscus]

Open world has so many fun possibilites and whatnot, linear games are just tired and repetitive and once done there's really no reason to go back and play them.

To each his own, I guess.
A bad game is a bad game (tired, repetitive) regardless of the style or level of openness.
Books are as linear as can be, and I'm sure I'm no the only one on this thread who's read The Killing Joke more than once. I understand your interest in something different, but I don't think your argument makes any sense.