Videogamer.com is reporting that Gearbox's upcoming shooter, Aliens: Colonial Marines, will be launching in the in the first quarter of 2009. This news coming after word of layoffs at Gearbox and the news that the Colonial Marines title may be butchered into a multiplayer only title.
Quote:
Gearbox Software's hotly anticipated shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines will be out for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in the first quarter of 2009, SEGA has confirmed.
The news puts paid to concerns over the development of the game following perceived lower than expected sales of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway.
Although SEGA was unable to clarify exactly what months Q1 2009 include when contacted by VideoGamer.com, it is expected to run from April to the end of June, the first three months of the Japanese company's financial year.
Is Aliens: Colonial Marines title being rushed to market by a beleaguered developer?
What a bunch of morons. This could be such an amazing co-op experience if done right. It has the story, the setting and tons of fans. Aliens was one of my favorite movies and I shit my pants reading what they planned to do with the game last year. Fuck em.
It's like reading the developers of the last Golden Axe game saying no one wants co-op, they'll add it in the next game if the first one sells. Everyone laughed and forgot about the game instantly. Just admit you FAIL and couldn't make the feature go out in time due to budgets, at least you'd get some respect.
Hell, all they would have had to do is an updated, co-op version of Alien Trilogy and I would of been happy. Sell the license off if you can't do it right. Hopefully this is just bad information.
Is there some kind of mad scientist economics going on here? Your last title sold poorly, so you'll rush your next title thereby squandering its potential to the point that no one will care to buy it, and expect the numbers to even out?
Maybe the guys in suits look at Left 4 Dead and its threadbare content and expect they can get away with the same scheme. It's not going to work. A game based on one of the most beloved sci-fi action movies of all time deserves more than anything to not be rushed. The palette of locations, characters, moods, and plotlines in the Alien movies is a goldmine of as much single player and co-op content as any clueless developer could ask for. Additionally, the combat dynamic demonstrated in Aliens is plump and juicy full of gameplay opportunities. Squandering these opportunities by rushing the title will make you less money. Letting them finish it when it's done will make you more money. It's not that hard to understand...
"Butchered into a Multiplayer only" title isn't what scares me as much as the fact that it will probably just be butchered across the board. This is really disappointing news, and very unfortunate that because one game, HH was under-baked, they are going to do the same to another game.
Also, as much as I would love more L4D-like games, as you say MacDuff, this is not the IP to do it with. The "baddies" are really only of one kind (though the Alien was crossed with a dog in A3). Not enough.
If this game goes multi-player only, then they have just lost a customer. That really pisses me off, thinking of how good this could have been... I don't know who the motherfucker is this time though, Gearbox or Sega?
Is there some kind of mad scientist economics going on here? Your last title sold poorly, so you'll rush your next title thereby squandering its potential to the point that no one will care to buy it, and expect the numbers to even out?
The decision my be poor but the economics are sound. The last game sold poorly which means you don't have the money to spend on future projects. You can't just say "oh it will sell better if we spend more time" and then just pull the money out of thin air to do it. A lot of studios are getting hit with the economic hardships right now and I think this is a case of you get what they can give you or nothing at all and possibly shut down.
Other studios picking it up could be a possibility but right now companies are trying to cut costs not add more in licensing fees. I think this is just another product of our tough economic times.
If they try to emulate Left 4 Dead... jesus no.
I trust Valve to make a great game with less content, they playtest the shit out of everything that sees the light of day. Other companies are going to miss the point of a fun product and turn it into "How little can we put in the box for $60?"
I love Aliens... I hope they don't mess this up. If they do I will be sorely disappointed.
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I was just hoping they would see the Jaguar version of Aliens vs Predator and port it.
"Is there some kind of mad scientist economics going on here? Your last title sold poorly, so you'll rush your next title thereby squandering its potential to the point that no one will care to buy it, and expect the numbers to even out?"
Not so much mad scientist as closer to a person who works paycheck to paycheck. They can't hold of their debitors for too long so they have to get something out. It's not wise, but a lot of Dev houses have very little capital saved up.
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Theyve already lost. They proved they dont give a shit about customers..only their pocketbooks. This will be the aliens version of GTAIV for pc. Skewered and burned beyond recognition.
Not so much mad scientist as closer to a person who works paycheck to paycheck. They can't hold of their debitors for too long so they have to get something out. It's not wise, but a lot of Dev houses have very little capital saved up.
Yup, sounds about right.
Hopefully they can pull something out of this. I like some of their past projects.
__________________
"It was the first time I was ever in love and I learned alot. Before that I never even thought about killing myself." - Stephen Wright
Biggest Ranger Fan on EA!!!!!!!!
Lets go Rangers!!!!
1. Income supression from lack of sales on other game in library.
2. Singleplayer is EXPENSIVE to develop. Like 4-5x as much per level compared with MP with bots.
3. You can get hammered in reviews for SP quality even if you do an ok job - net drops your metascore. See Resistance 2.
4. L4D comes out and sells like gangbusters.
I like how people keep telling others to quit whining when features get dropped from games. I think it's an honest gripe to be disappointed when you hear that a developer has dropped a feature you had been looking forward to. Why shouldn't you feel that way?
EX - Burnout loses crash mode. Alot of people were pissed about that one. The dev made the decision to do so. Why can't I gripe about it? I want to play crash mode, all of the others had it. It is a valid complaint.
The thing people need to keep in mind is that these developers are not magical entities that wave a magic wand around in the air and make a game pop out of thin air. Alot of hard work goes into developing these games, and many times if a game falls short it was either bad decision making, lack of time or lack of money that was the culprit. If Aliens falters, I think we can technically blame all 3 here, with the money issue in the lead.
If you want to complain about a missing or dropped feature - let it fly!
__________________
"It was the first time I was ever in love and I learned alot. Before that I never even thought about killing myself." - Stephen Wright
Biggest Ranger Fan on EA!!!!!!!!
Lets go Rangers!!!!
