Alan Wake Now Microsoft Exclusive


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http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Cooperati...y/1135224852775

Cooperation with Microsoft gives lift to game developer Remedy

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Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system is aiding the Finnish game developer Remedy Entertainment, of Max Payne fame, in obtaining further publicity and lift.

Microsoft has taken the game house based in Espoo under its special protection. The world's largest software firm will produce the Remedy Entertainment's next game, a psychological action thriller called Alan Wake.

This is the first time Microsoft will publish a Finnish computer game. And that is not all: out of the dozens of games on offer, Microsoft has placed a special spotlight on Alan Wake.

Alan Wake, a game still very much under development, is one of the few games the software giant will use when demonstrating the gaming abilities of its latest operating system, Windows Vista. Even based on the introductory material, the quality of the game has caused admiration.

Lead game designer Petri J?rvilehto of Remedy does not want to speculate when the game might be on the market. "In the computer games business, it often happens that a too optimistic launch date is advertised, and it then has to be postponed."

Remedy has just over 30 employees.

"We are a very small team to work on something of this scale", business director Matias Myllyrinne comments. Games of Alan Wake's calibre are often produced by a core team with in excess of a hundred staffers.

Remedy manages because it outsources some of the production, while keeping its core team tight. Making it to the Microsoft team translates to significantly increased resources.

"Microsoft has huge machinery for games production. If a team of 80 voice actors are needed from the States, they can provide it. Their test laboratory is also fantastic", J?rvilehto enthuses.

These days, the production of computer games has similarities to film making. Also in Alan Wake all the characters have been modelled after actors, who - in some cases - will also lend their voices to the characters.

All the actors are American, apart from the title character himself, who has been modelled after the Finnish actor Ilkka Villi.

Remedy and Microsoft have refrained from revealing how much money will be used in developing the game. According to J?rvilehto, the production of a game of this scale typically costs in excess of EUR ten million, with marketing costs in the same region.

The Microsoft connection will also set limits to the Remedy games. Alan Wake will require either the Windows Vista operating system or Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console as its platform. The game will not be translated for other consoles.

Myllyrinne does not see this as a hindrance. The fact that the game does not have to be translated to all different platforms will simplify and speed up its production.

Remedy's previous hit games Max Payne 1 and Max Payne 2 have sold over seven million copies worldwide. Among gaming enthusiasts, the launch of Alan Wake is most eagerly awaited.

Nevertheless, despite the possible success, Remedy will not be significantly increasing the size of the company, J?rvilehto vows.

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I'm still waiting for Max Payne 3, I have the first 2 for my PC and I liked them alot, mostly for the noir story telling etc.

Allan Wake should be DX10 only from the looks of it, I also remember that it's one of the first true multicore supporting games, they had a demo of it a few months back running on a quad core intel cpu and using all 4 cores etc. So this fits into the 360 multicore arc well, plus good for anyone with a dual or quad core cpu PC out there.

It kinda sucks that games/apps more or less force you to upgrade your hardware, specially on the PC side of things, but, it helps push the hardware ahead, which then also pushes the software ahead. It's good for everyone in the end, even if your pocket takes a hit from trying to keep up with the newest and greatest hardware.

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Wasn't it always Microsoft (Windows/360) exclusive anyway?

Yep, this is old news. :rofl:

Allan Wake should be DX10 only from the looks of it, I also remember that it's one of the first true multicore supporting games, they had a demo of it a few months back running on a quad core intel cpu and using all 4 cores etc. So this fits into the 360 multicore arc well, plus good for anyone with a dual or quad core cpu PC out there.

PC-version is both DX9 and DX10, 360 is DX9-hybrid only and thus will not look as good as on the PC.

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pretty sure it was meant to come out on the PS3 aswell, i guess this is just another slap in sonys face.

Yeah, I remember seeing it on a couple of sites listed as a PS3/360/PC game...1UP for example...

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pretty sure it was meant to come out on the PS3 aswell, i guess this is just another slap in sonys face.

Yeah, but that was like....years ago :s

Not years, but you get the point - long time ago!

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This is one game I've been interested in for a long time! I haven't seen any gameplay videos though, I don't really even know how the gameplay will be lol

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Absolutely LOVED Max Payne. The original was the game that got me into gaming on a PC seriously, meaning more than just the occasional game of Marathon or Doom (I actually first games on my Mac). Before that, I was mainly a console guy. Max Payne absolutely has a fond place in my heart because it got me hooked on PC Gaming, nevermind the fact I absolutely loved the story, visuals, and gameplay itself.

Needless to say I am really looking forward to this game, just sad it got pushed back to 2008.

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