Alpha Protocol - Obsidian's new RPG

Taak Farst · April 21, 2010

If you did a speed playthrough with no side quest then just maybe you could be able to finish ME in 12 hours or less.

Saying ME is 12 hours is like saying you can finish Oblivion in less than 8 hours. Yes, you most likely can finish the main quest, but the game is made up of not only the main quest, but the side quests too. If you want to only include the main quest in the length, then go play a shooter.

Wise words. right you are.

Jeff · April 22, 2010

Three "contacts" trailers have been released that focus on specific NPCs you'll run across in the game.

Sie and Grigori

Henry Leland

SpaceAlex · April 23, 2010

Not sure if this has been posted already, but AP team hosted an event back in February regarding choices in games. Video is now available online. They talk a lot about AP, so I believe this belongs here.

Clicky!

Miltiades · April 23, 2010

Not sure if this has been posted already, but AP team hosted an event back in February regarding choices in games. Video is now available online. They talk a lot about AP, so I believe this belongs here.

Clicky!

Oh, yes, that one. There's some funny sh*t in there (Avellone is awesome), and the devs are a bit drunk near the end. The whole "choice" drinking game distracted me a little too much, but there were some interesting design points made by the devs between the jokes.

jrrtoken · April 29, 2010

New preview, this time with bona fide new information. For example, Thorton's first mission "hub" is in Saudi Arabia, but after that, a non-linear approach is taken when Thorton is allowed to pursue leads from Saudi Arabia, leading him to Moscow, Taipei, or Rome, each city consisting of a "hub". There's also a rather spoiler-laden example near the third page, so feel free to skip it. I do assure you that it is worth it, however.

DarthParametric · May 7, 2010

Sega has announced the DRM for the PC version:

Alpha Protocol uses Uniloc: SoftAnchor. 
Uniloc: SoftAnchor requires an internet connection to activate, though you don't need to always be connected to play the game, and the web site offers a work-around if you don't have an internet connection on the PC you install it on.  
The PC version of Alpha Protocol uses an internet based licensing system, where, after installation, the user is required to enter a product registration code (license key) in order to begin playing the game.  
You do not have to have the disc in your drive to play the game.  
The game does not use SteamWorks, and the Steam version of the game will use Uniloc DRM.  
The game can be installed on up to 5 different computers at any one time using the license key the game comes with.  
There is a limit to the number of computers you can use Alpha Protocol on at any one time, but Sega says that the company is not restricting the number of computers you can install the game on over the life of the product.  
SEGA will provide a version of the game without DRM using a future patch that it expects to make available 18-24 months after the game's release.

More info available here.

Not as draconian as the stupid crap Ubisoft has come up with, but you'd think by now they'd have learned that all DRM does is screw over legit users. And another Steam game that doesn't just stick with Steam's inbuilt DRM - retarded. Ah well, at least they have a road map to patch it out, which is more than I can say for most publishers.

DarthParametric · May 14, 2010

Some new videos, although not with any particularly new content.

Factions trailer - http://www.gametrailers.com/video/factions-trailer-alpha-protocol/100189

Preview - http://www.gametrailers.com/video/preview-hd-alpha-protocol/100121

Looks like AP has the same nasty normal map pop-in on the 360 that Mass Effect 1 had. Strange that Epic didn't help them resolve that, as clearly it was sorted for ME2.

EDIT: New interview up at IGN - http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/108/1089606p1.html

jrrtoken · May 18, 2010

The first official review for Alpha Protocol, though it's in Spanish and the link to the review is, um, nonexistent. But...

* Graphics -> 80 - The exteriors are not so bad but the models and their animations are far from perfect.

* Sound -> 90 - Appropriate soundtrack.

* Diversity -> 89 - Even though it's the same game, there are many possibilities when it comes to customizing your character and deciding how to play.

* Duration -> 90 - The replayability factor is really high. You can play Alpha Protocol a lot of times without experiencing the same adventure.

* Overall -> 88 - A spy role playing game that succeeds in blending action with stealth and gives players a high degree of freedom in choosing how they want to proceed.

The Best parts of Alpha Protocol -> The freedom to choose how you want to acoplish your objectives and a great decision making system.

The Worst parts of Alpha Protocol -> Outdated graphics and basic AI.

Basically, I think that this will be the highest review for Alpha Protocol in the mainstream media, and I think that all of the reasons considered are fair enough, particularly the effect of the delay.

Qui-Gon Glenn · May 18, 2010

anyone watch the xplay thoughts on it...

the graphics are not terrible, and the concept - as most who have been following feel - is high.

I have finally seen it on pre-orders (yeah... I am late to that train, I know) which clued me in that this puppy was almost ready.

Just built a brand new rig - this will be the first game I play on it. Hope it plays nice with win7x64

Mav · May 19, 2010

this is like Burn Notice the game... amirite?

Sabretooth · May 22, 2010

Lookie lookie, new trailer.

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So that's where all the development time went.

"See the gun? That's who I am."

What does that even mean, you can't be a gun. :/

mimartin · May 22, 2010

"See the gun? That's who I am."
What does that even mean, you can't be a gun. :/

Careful there Sabre, you don't want people to think you are being critical of Obsidian’s writers. Personally I believe Obsidian hired the Governator’s speech writers to help with the dialogue.

Neat looking trailer, but that line was a little over the top.

DarthParametric · May 22, 2010

Well that was certainly an interesting trailer. I guess at least people will be talking about it.

"See the gun? That's who I am."

Ah, top shelf Avellone surely.

Astor · May 27, 2010

It's here! (for me, at least )

Installing now (It's 2 DVDs on the PC), and i'll post some screens/impressions later. Here's a pic of the launcher (Don't really like it, if i'm honest) -

mimartin · May 27, 2010

It's here! (for me, at least )

This is total BS. I demand Obsidian recall Alpha Protocol and release it in the U.S. first. It is our birthright to get video games first.

Show spoiler

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SRS Hope you all have a blast playing it while I set on my hands until June 1st.

Sabretooth · May 27, 2010

Really Astor, where's your sense of modesty?

It will still take me about a week to obtain it. Do not spoil anything. >_>

Would you be interested in compressing the installed game files and uploading them to... never mind.

Mav · May 28, 2010

It will still take me about a week to obtain it. Do not spoil anything. >_>

Moar like it will take people about a week to rip and crack it for you

Jeff · May 28, 2010

It's here! (for me, at least )

Installing now (It's 2 DVDs on the PC), and i'll post some screens/impressions later. Here's a pic of the launcher (Don't really like it, if i'm honest) -

So glad they didn't use this POS for the box art, the new one looks so much better.

Comparison:

Not that I am getting a boxed version, already preloading it on Steam, but I can't stand bad box art. I like the new one a lot though.

Astor · May 28, 2010

I've only played past the training missions and up to the first Safehouse so far. In all, I think it's been mostly positive, although I was a little confused in some places (some of the minigames can be very tricky to begin with).

I had to turn off the motion blur that occurs when you move the camera around - I found it to be a little overdone and distracting. That annoyance aside, I don't think the graphics are too bad (not that they were ever that important, anyway).

Show spoiler

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I don't really know what to make of the story so far - it seemed a little confused at the beginning, although that might be my fault, as I reading the manual when it started.

Sabretooth · May 28, 2010

Moar like it will take people about a week to rip and crack it for you

I accept nothing but top quality, sir.

jrrtoken · May 28, 2010

AP seems to be attracting a bizarre, intercontinental, love-hate reviewer relationship. Many websites have given it accolades of flawed perfection, others have named it an abomination. What's interesting about the acute polarization is the fact that most favorable and unfavorable reviews seem to draw from European and American perspectives, respectively. Some criticisms seems to be well-founded, particularly technical goofs (Most minor, some major), while others seem to borderline incessant nitpicking. (Skill-governed accuracy? WAAAA!)

urluckyday · May 29, 2010

Sega has announced the DRM for the PC version:

Alpha Protocol uses Uniloc: SoftAnchor. 

Uniloc: SoftAnchor requires an internet connection to activate, though you don't need to always be connected to play the game, and the web site offers a work-around if you don't have an internet connection on the PC you install it on.  

The PC version of Alpha Protocol uses an internet based licensing system, where, after installation, the user is required to enter a product registration code (license key) in order to begin playing the game.  

You do not have to have the disc in your drive to play the game.  

The game does not use SteamWorks, and the Steam version of the game will use Uniloc DRM.  

The game can be installed on up to 5 different computers at any one time using the license key the game comes with.  

There is a limit to the number of computers you can use Alpha Protocol on at any one time, but Sega says that the company is not restricting the number of computers you can install the game on over the life of the product.  

SEGA will provide a version of the game without DRM using a future patch that it expects to make available 18-24 months after the game's release.

More info available here.

Not as draconian as the stupid crap Ubisoft has come up with, but you'd think by now they'd have learned that all DRM does is screw over legit users. And another Steam game that doesn't just stick with Steam's inbuilt DRM - retarded. Ah well, at least they have a road map to patch it out, which is more than I can say for most publishers.

I know it's a rare case...but saying you need to have internet to activate and then requiring the internet for a workaround is ridiculous. What if you only have 1 computer and you don't have access to the internet? I mean, I'm sure it's only a problem faced by like 1 person...but still.

swphreak · May 29, 2010

The video reviews I've watched made me want to try Alpha Protocol less.

JediAthos · May 30, 2010

Game Informer slams the game and Obsidian pretty hard in their review

http://gameinformer.com/games/alpha_protocol/b/ps3/archive/2010/05/28/a-spy-tale-where-everything-is-less-than-it-seems.aspx

After reading GI's take I'm not sure I'm going to run out and buy on release day as I was planning. I typically find Game Informer not far off on their reviews, but that doesn't mean that I won't play the game at all. I dunno.

jrrtoken · May 30, 2010

After reading GI's take I'm not sure I'm going to run out and buy on release day as I was planning. I typically find Game Informer not far off on their reviews, but that doesn't mean that I won't play the game at all. I dunno.

I would've found it more substantial if they wrote a verbose review rather than six paragraphs worth of vague criticisms, mingled with nitpicks. Honestly, most of the negative reviews seem to point at the smallest trivialities, particularly if they're found in almost any game.

For example, the targeting reticule is skill-based; the inside of the circle depicts the accuracy window of every bullet's possible target. When you invest more skill points, the diameter shrinks, thusly, you become more accurate with [insert gun here]. This feature has been present in Deus Ex, VtM:B, and even in Mass Effect, to an extent. Yet, in the GameTrailers review, it's criticized for being too "inaccurate". Other reviews seem to echo this, as well as the lack of an on-screen minimap, as if we're blinded sheep without one.

"(Alpha Protocol) falls into the classic shooter-RPG trap where in a perfectly-lined headshot can 'miss', because the imaginary dice say so."

Might I also add that the positive reviews seem to outnumber the negatives for now, and the European press seems to praise it highly, particularly among the suave and sophisticate Spaniards.