Alpha Protocol - Preview, Trailer @ GTTV [Archive]

Dhruin

March 14th, 2009, 17:32

Gametrailers TV has around seven minutes of footage and interviews on Alpha Protocol, including the first official gameplay trailer (http://www.gametrailers.com/gametrailerstv_player.php?ep=51&ch=1&sd=1). Feargus Urquhart and Chris Avellone provide the answers, along with the in-game footage.
Thanks to danutz_plusplus on our forums.
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=11588)

Prime Junta

March 14th, 2009, 17:32

That looked very promising. Drugs, guns, brown men with beards, an achievement for sexing all the ladies, what's not to like?

Seriously, it did look pretty promising. Interest level up a notch. Makes a change from dwarves and elves and wizards and blue-faced alien babes, at least.

JuliusMagnus

March 14th, 2009, 22:20

Now, where have I seen that lockpicking mini-game before?

swapoer

March 15th, 2009, 02:01

TES4.And i dont like the mini game.

titus

March 15th, 2009, 10:24

Went lockpiking in Kotor not like that? I can't pinpoint wich game it was, but I know I liked it.

It does all seems nice.
Can't wait to try it, and then play a sneaky stuff user, martial arts master with little or no guns (or just shotguns for the kick of it. :p)

Prime Junta

March 15th, 2009, 10:39

Nah, it looks a lot like Oblivion's lockpicking, which wasn't bad as minigames go except that it was so easy it made the actual lockpicking skill near irrelevant. (IMO Fallout 3's lockpicking minigame is much better, just like its hacking minigame; I can't think of a better one off-hand. Thief's wasn't half bad, but it wasn't as good IMO -- it got tedious fast.)

Melvil

March 15th, 2009, 15:25

Character skill screen looked like a cut/paste from Mass Effect, as did the dialogue tree you see very momentarily.

GothicGothicness

March 15th, 2009, 15:46

agreed, and also it is just action action action in every trailer. The action looks like standard action game stuffs. I found it amusing how they wrote ( you will need more than guns ) etc etc, but all the trailer shows is fighting fighting fighting, and a few seconds of conversation and lockpicking ( which BTW looks like oblivion lock picking game )

titus

March 15th, 2009, 16:07

you do see a bit of martial arts combat. That seems cool in combination with sneaking :)

DeepO

March 15th, 2009, 17:26

"We´re operating under Alpha Protocol." "Interesting."
WTH was that?! Did they use some voice simulator instead of real actors?

Judging by the dialogue implementation, skillset, minigames inclusion, etc., this seems to be extremely light on rpg features. And there´s not that much difference between the 3 B´s anyway.
I wonder how much creative control Avellone had, so far writing seems mediocre at best.
Also, the game really doesn´t ooze originality and seems like a rather generic shooter with the spy thingie being not much more than a gimmick.

Action itself seems rather nice though and, from what I´ve seen, level design too.

These previews might be misleading but so far, instead of making me excited about Alpha Protocol, they¨re just giving me the urge to replay Deus Ex.

Corwin

March 15th, 2009, 23:12

I think we have to remember which segment of the market these trailers are usually geared towards; ie the young twitchers who want to see all this action. I rarely view trailers since I've found most are quite misleading. I much prefer to play a demo.

Starwars

March 15th, 2009, 23:33

Huh, I find myself rather more intrigued by this than I thought I would. I'm definetely not a fan of action-RPGs in general, but this looks like... well, it actually looks like fun. So I'm pretty surprised by the bad reactions to it.
Obviously it still remains to be seen if they can pull the gameplay off. There have only been very few action-RPGs which I've considered to be strong throughout the game, without getting boring and repetetive. I'm still worried that AP will fall into that trap also, but from what we can see in the gameplay footage, I think it looks quite dynamic and fun.

I was sort of only looking forward to the game because I wanted to see what story they've cooked up and the setting. But after seeing this and the other preview I'm actually intrigued by the gameplay as well which I *really* didn't expect.

I think the bit about "You're operating under Alpha Protocol. Interesting" bit is mainly an unfortunate cut from the dialogue. It really feels like there should be a context around it that there probably will be in the game, but it's a bad choice for a "trailer punchline" so to speak. Voiceacting would probably be the least of my concerns since, if I remember correctly, it's being handled by the same studio who did it for Bloodlines and Mask of the Betrayer (think Annie Carlson stated this somewhere on a forum though I can't remember where.)

Quite pleasantly surprised here really.

nessosin

March 15th, 2009, 23:34

I believe it was clearly mentioned to whom is the game adressed.

"Thorton is an agent who every 15-year old could be after 10-years of difficult training" or something like that. After watching the trailers my interest in the game vanished.

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 01:32

It's amazing to me how many people here are prematurely bashing this game.

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 02:05

And whats there exactly to be happy with?

Graphics are too plastic for my taste( UT3 engine), lip-sync needs much more work(ok, thats a minor flaw, cause they'll surely fix it before the launch), voice actors from what I've heard were ranging from passable to horrible, script wasnt exactly Avellone level - "We´re operating under Alpha Protocol." "Interesting.". Come on, something like that could have come from Bethesda, not from makers of KOTOR2, NWN2 and MotB.
I may not be the targeted audience and its fine with me, but I still have right to say what I dont like about AP, dont I?

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 02:38

What is there not to be happy with? Seriously, when you're talking about a game that you haven't even played yet, and have nothing more than a few minutes of video footage to go by, it's funny to see people getting so pissy about it.

I wasn't talking to you specifically, but since you felt the need to get offended....

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 02:56

I believe Ive explained you what I dont like, as of now, about the game. I dont state it will be a poor game, because it may as well be a spiritual successor Deus Ex. But clearly from what Avellone and Urqhard said and from things Ive seen I have no reason to be overly positive or optimistic.

Dhruin

March 16th, 2009, 04:13

It was always an action/RPG/shooter, right? Why would anyone be surprised that they highlight action in the trailer? It's fine if shooter hybrids aren't your thing but I can't see where it doesn't deliver as promised - so far.

DeepO

March 16th, 2009, 05:14

It's amazing to me how many people here are prematurely bashing this game.

Haha, what´s so strange about it?

I don´t think anyone here is jumping to definitive conclusions about game´s quality on the basis of these previews.
Trailers and interviews are there to give an impression of the game and this comment section is here for people to post what that impression was, no?

Someone´s intrigued, someone´s not, that´s only natural.

Otherwise, why having a comment section for these things at all?
To discuss interviewer´s haircut?

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 05:19

Otherwise, why having a comment section for these things at all?
To discuss interviewer´s haircut?

Did you see the video? I think it's obvious that his haircut is going to be terrible! ;)

Prime Junta

March 16th, 2009, 07:27

Maylander

March 16th, 2009, 11:01

I have to agree with PJ and JDR on this one - there's no need to jump to conclusions before seeing more of the game. I very much doubt seeing a 10 second clip of PS:T would blow me away (especially of the combat!), but it was written by the same guy that is behind Alpha Protocol, so I really think we should give him the benefit of the doubt. He's earned it.

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 17:16

Actually, DeepO, it does look to me like certain people on this thread are making quite far-reaching conclusions about the game based on the trailer. I find it particularly amusing that you can damn the dialog and voice-acting based on a six-word (!) clip.

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ear."
"To be or not to be."
"Royale with cheese."
"I am your father!"
"Who's on first?"

Meh. Right?

I believe you were refering to me with "far-reaching conclusions". Indeed they are far-reaching but I believe that Obsidian was counting on a response to trailer so amongst all those happy-gamers like you, there is me. Not so much happy. As Corwin pointed out that the trailer may have been targeted for totally different audience than me. Thats fine with me, but if so then Obsidian and you guys shouldnt be suprised when I say I dont like what Ive seen.

Possibly it also means that my gaming days are coming to an end, because for 3 years the only game that made me go "woohooo!" was The Witcher and probably it was rather because I am a very big fan of Sapkowski's books than the game itself. So maybe I am too much of a malcontent.

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 18:25

So maybe I am too much of a malcontent.

No, but you do seem to have the annoying habit of thinking that people are refering specifically to you when they're not. Take a look around, and you'll see that there are others with similar views.

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 18:58

No, but you do seem to have the annoying habit of thinking that people are refering specifically to you when they're not. Take a look around, and you'll see that there are others with similar views.

I disagree. First of all I wasnt "offended" by your post, I just asked what is there to be promising about the game for people who are interested in RPGs. Though when I read my "I have a right to disagree" it did sound somewhat on the offended side. But I believe PJ really did reply to my concerns about voiceacting and writing(provided only I and DeepO complained about it). And had he been reffering only to DeepO would he write "people"?

But shouldnt we be rather flinging arguments from both perspectives rather than psychoanalising me? :)

DeepO

March 16th, 2009, 19:00

I find it particularly amusing that you can damn the dialog and voice-acting based on a six-word (!) clip.

There was a bit more of voice-acting to be heard throughout this and the other recent preview and I disliked most of it, the six-word bit was just the most disastrous example.
Bits of script present were bland and cliché. As you pointed out, might be because lack of context but I sorta expected to see a good punchline or two even in these previews, being it an espionage game and all.

I´m interested in this game for the sole reason Obsidian and Avellone are on it, but reading some more recent interviews gave me rather mixed feelings and these previews haven´t stirred them positively either, that´s all.

No definitive conclusions yet.
"Naturally." :)

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 19:27

But shouldnt we be rather flinging arguments from both perspectives rather than psychoanalising me? :)

That's just it though, nobody is really focusing on you at all....

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 19:32

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 20:39

No, not at all...

Congratulations, if it was your goal to garner attention in the first place, as it appears, then you have succeeded. :thumbsup:

And whats there exactly to be happy with?
I may not be the targeted audience and its fine with me, but I still have right to say what I dont like about AP, dont I?

I believe you were refering to me with "far-reaching conclusions".

But shouldnt we be rather flinging arguments from both perspectives rather than psychoanalising me? :)

And had he been reffering only to DeepO would he write "people"?

Um....no. He wrote "people" because he wasn't trying to single out an individual. It's really not that hard to comprehend. ;)

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 22:02

I just wonder whats the difference if he had or had not in mind my comments.

Its obvious that his stance is completly different than mine if AP is concerned. So Ive tried to argue with him...but then out of a sudden I am an attention wh.e . And rather than disscusing trailers I end up with an argument with you wether or not I need attention from you guys...Really, as of now it seems to me that derailing threads has become an art in itself around here. And people complain about RPGCodex.

Actually, DeepO, it does look to me like certain people on this thread are making quite far-reaching conclusions about the game based on the trailer. I find it particularly amusing that you can damn the dialog and voice-acting based on a six-word (!) clip.

Um....no. He wrote "people" because he wasn't trying to single out an individual. It's really not that hard to comprehend.

Yessss...Now when I carefully read into those lines I start to see that it was soo foolish of me to think he could have reffered to me. He clearly couldnt have had me and my comment on his mind. No, no chance at all.

To be honest I tire of this absurdal disscussion with you. Why dont you just reply, if you want to, to my gripes with AP rather than continue to try to make me believe I need attention from you.

So as for me its EOT, unless you want to finally start sensible disscussion about AP.

JDR13

March 16th, 2009, 23:04

I give up.

You've uncovered the conspiracy against you! :roll:

Zygo

March 16th, 2009, 23:35

"Thorton is an agent who every 15-year old could be after 10-years of difficult training" or something like that.
That's a paraphrasis from Snow Crash, a book which came out in 1992 when today's 15 year olds were all of -2 years old. The (original) quote was about how everyone up to a certain age believes they could become the most badass mofo in the known universe (ie Mr Thorton) if they just had the motivation and put their mind to it. It really isn't evidence that it's being aimed at 15 year olds, quite the opposite since I doubt most 15 year olds would have heard of Snow Crash, let alone read it.

nessosin

March 16th, 2009, 23:54

Interesting. If so then I must congratulate Obsidian devs on well played marketing. On one hand younger gamers will see it as a promise that the game will allow them to feel like Jason Bourne, or any other stereotypical hero from action movies. And on the other hand more mature gamers, who dont seek in AP just another hack&slash if I may say so, shouldnt take it as it means anything in particular: "cause Avellone just paraphrased well known and respected writer".

Prime Junta

March 17th, 2009, 06:34

Uh, a bit LTTP, but... yeah, nessosin, I was thinking of your and DeepO's posts when writing mine. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or anything. I just thought you guys were drawing a quite a lot of conclusions from very little data. Especially as there were one or two fairly clever lines of dialog in the small amount of published material. Like the "You mean, like NOW?" reply to the minder's dead-serious schooling about what to do if you're imprisoned and drugged.

nessosin

March 18th, 2009, 12:47

JDR13

March 18th, 2009, 19:41

Nah....just a little overly sensitive. ;)

nessosin

March 18th, 2009, 21:03

Trying my best:cool:

rune_74

March 18th, 2009, 21:51

Wow. It's funny I think some are only happy with indie products and give them a free pass on alot of things that comercial games get blasted for. (not saying that indie games are bad by any means, most of you know I support indie companies.)

I think it is interesting when one of the first complaints is about graphics(not singling anyone out) when at one time the line was that rpg gamers did not care about graphics but gameplay...