Posted by Darkblade 25
- Feb 09, 2015, 04:57:37 PMThanks for that I am happy it went well 
Posted by Jman
- Feb 07, 2015, 12:56:34 AMPersonally, I thought Aliens:CM was a decent game. If the alien animations and ai from 2010's AVP were used, it certainly would have been better. But, as a virtual tour of the Aliens movie scenery, I thought it did well. Doesn't make much sense that the nuclear explosion didn't completely destroy Hadleys Hope, but maybe the blast wave radiated more up into the atmosphere instead of spreading out, thus preserving some of the colony. And, I think that the captive colonial marine should have been Apone or Hudson, that maybe wey-yu somehow found one of them still alive on LV-426 and took them prisoner.
Posted by The Cruentus
- Feb 05, 2015, 04:07:57 PMQuote from: HuDaFuK on Feb 05, 2015, 03:51:49 PM
Great interview. Their enthusiasm really jumps out at you, you can tell they loved working on the game.Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2015, 08:21:37 AMThe world building aspect was one of my favourite things about the game. I found it to be so completely immersive due to things like that. The care and attention put into all of the locations, into their purpose and their past really made it seem alive and lived in.
Same here. Sevastopol seriously reminded me of Rapture from the first Bioshock, in terms of how it felt like a real, lived-in environment.
Agreed, you look around and you can just see that this was a full, living community once, even it was about to go under. About hundred or more people lived on the station. I loved how they paid attention to detail, you just see funny decorations on desks just like in the first film.
I would liked to have seen the station before the events of Isolation. If you look at the floors, namely the smooth ones, they always have smudged shoe marks from where people have walked about, now that is good attention to detail.
Posted by HuDaFuK
- Feb 05, 2015, 03:51:49 PMGreat interview. Their enthusiasm really jumps out at you, you can tell they loved working on the game.
Same here. Sevastopol seriously reminded me of Rapture from the first Bioshock, in terms of how it felt like a real, lived-in environment.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2015, 08:21:37 AMThe world building aspect was one of my favourite things about the game. I found it to be so completely immersive due to things like that. The care and attention put into all of the locations, into their purpose and their past really made it seem alive and lived in.
Same here. Sevastopol seriously reminded me of Rapture from the first Bioshock, in terms of how it felt like a real, lived-in environment.
Posted by Vertigo
- Feb 05, 2015, 03:45:56 PMPC Zone was the best gaming magazine in the world, I miss it very much. Glad Will Porter's landed on his feet though.
The worldbuilding in Isolation really is extraordinary, they did a fantastic job, and it sounds like all the little info nuggets they tucked around the game evoked the exact response they intended. Great interview!
The worldbuilding in Isolation really is extraordinary, they did a fantastic job, and it sounds like all the little info nuggets they tucked around the game evoked the exact response they intended. Great interview!
Posted by Space Sweeper
- Feb 05, 2015, 01:57:56 PMI would just like to say, I was very vocally off-put by the idea of having Amanda be the protagonist of this game, what with having Hicks survive through an Looney Tunes-eske bout of deus-ex machina fanwank, I was fearing this would be the same thing... yet against those expectations, Amanda came out easily being one of, if not my favorite character in the Alien series, as I found the way she was written, as well as her performance by Andrea Deck, to be outstanding, and one of the most surprising elements I took away from the experience.
Posted by Corporal Hicks
- Feb 05, 2015, 08:11:24 AMQuote from: CelticPred97 on Feb 04, 2015, 09:12:34 PM
- Actually, a lot of fans liked it, as it happens. That did surprise me too, but it turns out, it just happens to be that the ones who disliked it, were very verbal about it.
Metacritic and our own reviews thread would disagree. Metacritic has the gamer votes as being lower than the media reviews so... I think there's very few people who enjoyed that game.
Quote- Yeah you'd think they would have been wouldn't you.
It was the case. No end of complaints about Amanda Ripley being included. Thankfully it all fit very well within the narrative and didn't feel forced at all.
Posted by Space Sweeper
- Feb 05, 2015, 12:14:31 AMThat's very profound, Golic. Thank you.
Posted by Doggo33
- Feb 04, 2015, 09:12:34 PM"After the release of Aliens: Colonial Marines in 2013, the fans of the franchise were distraught. It was a complete bitter disappointment in nearly every single facet."
- Actually, a lot of fans liked it, as it happens. That did surprise me too, but it turns out, it just happens to be that the ones who disliked it, were very verbal about it.
I also liked it. Sure it wasn't what we were expecting, but I didn't think it was that bad. It was quite good actually. Not amazing. But pretty good.
I was sensible enough to not pre-order it, as I remained a bit sceptical, and I had no interest in paying £65 for the Collector's edition (and I don't see a point in paying £40, just to get it in the first month-ish of release, anyway. I can wait. I ended up getting it that Christmas for about £25. From all of the negativitiy I had low expectations. But it turns out it was pretty decent.
So all of that ^ contributed to why I don't hate it.
The worst thing about the game I think (that I can remember) is the lip-synching in all but the first cutscene (despite the great graphics). It was good to see that that, as well as the poor quality textures in some places, was fixed up well in the dlc, 'Stasis Interrupted' - a pretty good dlc by the way, as well. Good length, and a decent story.
"Then news of Alien: Isolation trickled down. Early on, weary of the disappointment of Colonial Marines, fans were skeptical of some of the early revealed aspects of the game."
- Yeah you'd think they would have been wouldn't you. But certainly from what I saw that wasn't the case. I read comments on various sites, and to some of the many saying how really good it looks/will be, I reminded how much of a disappointment 'Aliens: Colonial Marines' was, yet most insisted that this was different. Which, obviously it was, but that's not the point here.
"When we started we knew we wanted some android antagonists in the game, but that they would be very different to the advanced Weyland-Yutani androids from the films. I thought if they were going to be simpler versions then maybe Seegson would try and turn a negative into a positive and sell them on the idea that they were more 'honest' androids – they weren't pretending they were humans and shouldn't be treated as such. Of course, this also ties into the class theme from the films and so it seemed natural to call them 'Working Joes'."
- The androids were really good. Debatably scarier than the Alien.
In terms of my opinion on 'Alien: Isolation' in general:
I thought it was a good game. I would say really good, but, I do think it went on a bit too long. Not that long games are bad, but I felt, from Mission 14, The Descent, it started to drag on. And it kind of felt like, okay, when is this going to end, by about Mission 16 (Transmission).
My other negative points are all story related ***Spoilers***:
Firstly, and mainly, too many aliens. They couldn't resist just leaving it at 1. When you get rid of the first, I thought, that one's either going to come back somehow, or there will be another 1. But no. THey just had to put loads of them in.
Secondly, the game is destructive of all films after 'Alien'. Guns can't kill aliens now apparantely. Flamethrowers scare them, which is fine, although I'm not exactly sure why, since it can survive extreme heat ('Alien 3'. Even without 'Alien 3', it's not like the flame actually catches on the aliens in the game, no matter how close you are, and no matter how much fire's being used). But shotguns, pistols and bolt guns have no effect.
Thirdly, no alien queen. This is a debatable point. The makers said in an interview that with the hive, they didn't want to include an alien queen because players would expect a boss fight, but they knew that not including it would cause players to take issue with it (as I am doing now). But, they decided it would be better to not show it. The fact that a creator of 'Alien: Isolation' has said this has made me feel a bit better about it.
Fourthly, the facehuggers - They spray acid when shot, which only hurts you at really close range. I'm not sure why they couldn't have made the acid they leave behind painful to step on. They managed it in 'Aliens vs Predator (2010), and had it as a special ability of some aliens in 'Aliens: Colonial Marines' (2012) (I just realised we've had an Alien/Predator game every 2 years since 2010. Hopefully there will be something [non-destructive to the franchise] in 2016). Also, it's a bit undermining, when it's supposed to be like the other games, that the acid on the floor, from the facehuggers just disappears after about 15 seconds (not sure exactly).
Finally, the ending - It was silly. They ended it so that they could easily make a sequel, as I'm sure they will, although I'm not sure what else you can do with that now. I'd think a sequel would be rather samey - unless they radically change the setting (as in, not just LV426 - a different planet in other words. Anyway, I think the ending would have been really good, if they'd simply gone with the 'Alien' ending (roughly), as in, ending with her going to hypersleep. That would have been fine, or rather, very good. Yes, it leaves it open for a sequel, but it's not a direct "right you're getting a sequel".
Other than that, it was a good game.
Oh and another thing - aliens can now definitely survive in space. It was suggested that they could at least briefly survive, in 'Alien'. But now it's as if they are fully functional to just live in space. I just thought the space bit, with the aliens about to attack Amanda Ripley, was a bit too much; overpowered, they are now somewhat.
- Actually, a lot of fans liked it, as it happens. That did surprise me too, but it turns out, it just happens to be that the ones who disliked it, were very verbal about it.
I also liked it. Sure it wasn't what we were expecting, but I didn't think it was that bad. It was quite good actually. Not amazing. But pretty good.
I was sensible enough to not pre-order it, as I remained a bit sceptical, and I had no interest in paying £65 for the Collector's edition (and I don't see a point in paying £40, just to get it in the first month-ish of release, anyway. I can wait. I ended up getting it that Christmas for about £25. From all of the negativitiy I had low expectations. But it turns out it was pretty decent.
So all of that ^ contributed to why I don't hate it.
The worst thing about the game I think (that I can remember) is the lip-synching in all but the first cutscene (despite the great graphics). It was good to see that that, as well as the poor quality textures in some places, was fixed up well in the dlc, 'Stasis Interrupted' - a pretty good dlc by the way, as well. Good length, and a decent story.
"Then news of Alien: Isolation trickled down. Early on, weary of the disappointment of Colonial Marines, fans were skeptical of some of the early revealed aspects of the game."
- Yeah you'd think they would have been wouldn't you. But certainly from what I saw that wasn't the case. I read comments on various sites, and to some of the many saying how really good it looks/will be, I reminded how much of a disappointment 'Aliens: Colonial Marines' was, yet most insisted that this was different. Which, obviously it was, but that's not the point here.
"When we started we knew we wanted some android antagonists in the game, but that they would be very different to the advanced Weyland-Yutani androids from the films. I thought if they were going to be simpler versions then maybe Seegson would try and turn a negative into a positive and sell them on the idea that they were more 'honest' androids – they weren't pretending they were humans and shouldn't be treated as such. Of course, this also ties into the class theme from the films and so it seemed natural to call them 'Working Joes'."
- The androids were really good. Debatably scarier than the Alien.
In terms of my opinion on 'Alien: Isolation' in general:
I thought it was a good game. I would say really good, but, I do think it went on a bit too long. Not that long games are bad, but I felt, from Mission 14, The Descent, it started to drag on. And it kind of felt like, okay, when is this going to end, by about Mission 16 (Transmission).
My other negative points are all story related ***Spoilers***:
Firstly, and mainly, too many aliens. They couldn't resist just leaving it at 1. When you get rid of the first, I thought, that one's either going to come back somehow, or there will be another 1. But no. THey just had to put loads of them in.
Secondly, the game is destructive of all films after 'Alien'. Guns can't kill aliens now apparantely. Flamethrowers scare them, which is fine, although I'm not exactly sure why, since it can survive extreme heat ('Alien 3'. Even without 'Alien 3', it's not like the flame actually catches on the aliens in the game, no matter how close you are, and no matter how much fire's being used). But shotguns, pistols and bolt guns have no effect.
Thirdly, no alien queen. This is a debatable point. The makers said in an interview that with the hive, they didn't want to include an alien queen because players would expect a boss fight, but they knew that not including it would cause players to take issue with it (as I am doing now). But, they decided it would be better to not show it. The fact that a creator of 'Alien: Isolation' has said this has made me feel a bit better about it.
Fourthly, the facehuggers - They spray acid when shot, which only hurts you at really close range. I'm not sure why they couldn't have made the acid they leave behind painful to step on. They managed it in 'Aliens vs Predator (2010), and had it as a special ability of some aliens in 'Aliens: Colonial Marines' (2012) (I just realised we've had an Alien/Predator game every 2 years since 2010. Hopefully there will be something [non-destructive to the franchise] in 2016). Also, it's a bit undermining, when it's supposed to be like the other games, that the acid on the floor, from the facehuggers just disappears after about 15 seconds (not sure exactly).
Finally, the ending - It was silly. They ended it so that they could easily make a sequel, as I'm sure they will, although I'm not sure what else you can do with that now. I'd think a sequel would be rather samey - unless they radically change the setting (as in, not just LV426 - a different planet in other words. Anyway, I think the ending would have been really good, if they'd simply gone with the 'Alien' ending (roughly), as in, ending with her going to hypersleep. That would have been fine, or rather, very good. Yes, it leaves it open for a sequel, but it's not a direct "right you're getting a sequel".
Other than that, it was a good game.
Oh and another thing - aliens can now definitely survive in space. It was suggested that they could at least briefly survive, in 'Alien'. But now it's as if they are fully functional to just live in space. I just thought the space bit, with the aliens about to attack Amanda Ripley, was a bit too much; overpowered, they are now somewhat.
Posted by Corporal Hicks
- Feb 04, 2015, 02:58:51 PMQuote from: The Eighth Passenger on Feb 04, 2015, 02:21:02 PM
The former editor of PC Zone, Will Porter?
The very one.
Quote from: Darkness on Feb 04, 2015, 01:28:43 PM
Good interview. Very well detailed and they seemed very passionate about the project. What other stuff have these guys worked on?
Thanks.
Will is working on his own project at the minute. Dion is a Creative Assembly fella so I assume whatever they're working on. I had been speaking to Will for a while and he seems like such a cracking chap. Very interested, very enthusiastic. Posted by vikingr
- Feb 04, 2015, 02:55:14 PMThank you for this interview. Enjoyed it!
Posted by Space Sweeper
- Feb 04, 2015, 02:36:56 PM
Posted by 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯
- Feb 04, 2015, 02:21:02 PMQuote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 03, 2015, 06:47:07 PM
Will Porter
The former editor of PC Zone, Will Porter?
Posted by Darkness
- Feb 04, 2015, 01:28:43 PMGood interview. Very well detailed and they seemed very passionate about the project. What other stuff have these guys worked on?
Posted by Corporal Hicks
- Feb 04, 2015, 08:21:37 AMThe world building aspect was one of my favourite things about the game. I found it to be so completely immersive due to things like that. The care and attention put into all of the locations, into their purpose and their past really made it seem alive and lived in.
The way the game explored that kind of aspect of colonization and expansion was fantastic. Really added to the believability of the story and the location in the same way that the mundane/working man aspect of Alien worked for so many.
I like that too. It's very pleasant to see that kind of consideration put into it (looking at you, Anderson!).
Thanks for the kind words all. I really enjoyed this interview. It's definitely one of my favourites.
The way the game explored that kind of aspect of colonization and expansion was fantastic. Really added to the believability of the story and the location in the same way that the mundane/working man aspect of Alien worked for so many.
Quote from: The Cruentus on Feb 03, 2015, 08:21:51 PM
I am glad they didn't go through with the Ricardo thing, continuity is very important, its good to see some folks keeping to it for a change.
I like that too. It's very pleasant to see that kind of consideration put into it (looking at you, Anderson!).
Thanks for the kind words all.
I really enjoyed this interview. It's definitely one of my favourites. 
