True_Avery Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We got to sit in on a showing of Alpha Protocol, and this is what we saw: It started off with the main character starting off in a house/condo or sorts, which also had hidden spy gear and such all over. Basically a type of missions select, shop screen. We ran around, changed our look a little in the bathroom, then set out to do great justice. The devs started off by explaining the many different types of guns and pirks yo can use in and out of battle. They went onto explain that there are basially two ways to play this game: Guns blazing, or stealth. They chose to play a mix. From afar, you've got your guns and gadgets. In stealth, you can use things to stun, confuse, distract, etc your enemies as you move about. As action, you can just shoot them. Pretty basic cover system for shooting. You can also use martial arts (which cn be upgraded) and take on enemies hand to hand, which is very satisfying to watch. You can also go into a slow down mode where you move faster and do more damage to your helpless foes. The models, maps, and particularly the weapons are very well done. The models and textures are superb, even though the animations can be a little buggy in the alpha we watched. The main attraction to this game is the dialogue system. While talking with someone, a bar will appear and a Mass Effect style conversation circle will appear with things like "aggressive, blunt, honest, sly" and other responses. Depending on what mood you choose, the conversation will go different ways. Each reply gives you roughly 5-10 seconds to respond so it wont be too much of a quick-time-event rush but it does add to the suspense. The version we watched was the alpha, so it had some bugs but it definitely looked like it was shaping up to be a fun action/stealth game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Very cool. I like the idea that you can accomplish things without the standard 'mow them down every encounter' mentality. I'm not sure about the timed response thing--I know I can read quickly, but not everyone can. Still, it sounds like they have some good dialog ideas going and different avenues to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Very cool. I like the idea that you can accomplish things without the standard 'mow them down every encounter' mentality. I'm not sure about the timed response thing--I know I can read quickly, but not everyone can. Still, it sounds like they have some good dialog ideas going and different avenues to explore. The timer is long enough to read the "Aggressive, honest", etc options it gives you. Those are -literally- the options given. No full dialogue. No hint at what you'll say. Just what mood you'll say it in, which can be anywhere from brutal to sexy. We were shown an option in which we could either be hostile to this woman or not, and we chose to flirt at first then be hostile. The dialogue played out as it would, but the options were simple enough to understand and read that the timer did little more than add suspense to the conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I asked them about whether you would lose potential experience for sneaking past enemies rather than killing them all, and they said you'll get experience for stealth as well as killing, and would probably even get more experience for stealth than you would for killing. Then at the end, they showed how the experience for that level was divided among how it was received, with combat experience, stealth, and something else that I can't recall. Also, this was funny: Matthew Rorie from Obsidian was the one kind of leading the demo as somebody else played, and at one point you see a file with someone's password, and the password is something like "m1lfl0v3r", and his comment was "humor from the mind of Chris Avellone" or something like that. XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltiades Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Also, this was funny: Matthew Rorie from Obsidian was the one kind of leading the demo as somebody else played, and at one point you see a file with someone's password, and the password is something like "m1lfl0v3r", and his comment was "humor from the mind of Chris Avellone" or something like that. XD Haha, Chris. Cool. Looking forward to this game. Am still a bit wary about the timer, but I think it's going to turn out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctrl Alt Del Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 The models, maps, and particularly the weapons are very well done. The models and textures are superb, even though the animations can be a little buggy in the alpha we watched. Yeah, the FLASH hand-combat made animations were bugging me on all the trailers. I sure hope they fix it. I asked them about whether you would lose potential experience for sneaking past enemies rather than killing them all, and they said you'll get experience for stealth as well as killing, and would probably even get more experience for stealth than you would for killing. Then at the end, they showed how the experience for that level was divided among how it was received, with combat experience, stealth, and something else that I can't recall.Finally! Really, now investing on stealth skills is gonna worth something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrrtoken Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 The game is really starting to shape up into a substantial product. The only thing with combat that has really irked me was the poor aiming, but that was because all of the demos are probably on a 360, so the aiming universally sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Decisions. Decisions. Right now it looks like Alpha Protocol is going to come out around the same time as Mass Effect 2. That is too bad. I'm pretty sure I'll go with ME2 first and then pick up Alpha Protocol later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrrtoken Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Decisions. Decisions. Right now it looks like Alpha Protocol is going to come out around the same time as Mass Effect 2. That is too bad. I'm pretty sure I'll go with ME2 first and then pick up Alpha Protocol later.Actually, AP is supposed to be out on October 9, while ME2 is supposed to be out in January of next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 My mistake then. I actually misread Obsidian's website that currently states Alpha Protocol is coming out in early 2009. Still, now it's a choice between Alpha Protocol and Dragon Age: Origins. I'll probably go with AP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Is that even a choice? @ Avery & Jeff: thanks for all of the inside info. You guys are doing a great job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Dragon Age is supposed to come out in October, so if AP gets pushed back again, it'll be DA for me. I'm still working on my first run through of ME, so I'll probably hold off on ME2 til I finish ME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltiades Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I'll pick AP over DA any day. I might pick up DA some time after AP, if it's any good. ME2's also on my list, luckily that's a bit farther away on the calendar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderWiggin Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I'll get it. Sounds to be a good game, from what Avery & Jeff have explained. _EW_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 It's also higher on my list than Dragon Age, but that game looked very impressive too. I think I will just get both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I think I will just get both. I think that is a most excellent idea and I will do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 LOL. I didn't say I would not get Dragon Age. I just won't get it until after I'm done playing Alpha Protocol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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