Alpha Protocol Message Board older than one year ago

Click image to sneak a peak at the pre-order ticket

Snapped by a Joystiq reader at his local Best Buy, the above image confirms that those who pre-order Alpha Protocol at the big blue box store will gain an exclusive set of stealth-based weaponry. The aptly titled "Stealth Weapons Pack" includes a "Hamilton Marksman Pistol and Samael Typhoon SMG, each with custom upgrade kits and bonus ammo." This pre-order bonus is valid to anyone who pre-orders between April 25 and May 29.

And just in case you're worried that every story about Alpha Protocol you read on the internet has to be about a delay, rest assured: it's still on track for a June 1 release.

Is the personal computer your platform of choice when it comes to living out your spy game fantasies? Be forewarned: Sega recently informed Eurogamer that the PC version of its upcoming cloak-and-dagger RPG, Alpha Protocol, would use the Uniloc DRM system. Though not as troublesome as other digital rights management protocols, Uniloc did hinder some players' enjoyment of Football Manager 2009 due to a registration code printing error and a supposed DDoS attack on the authentication servers.

Sega promises that the Uniloc DRM solution will be "polite" and "unobtrusive," and will thwart would-be pirates "without compromising [your] experience." Unfortunately, we've begun to equate a companies' promises about the painlessness of their DRM technologies to proctologists' promises about the painlessness of their procedures. In fact, that might be the most literal analogy we've ever conjured.

Obsidian Entertainment is perhaps best known for being a foster home for franchises. After expanding the words and worlds of others with sequels to Knights of the Old Republic, NeverWinter Nights, and the forthcoming Fallout: New Vegas, Alpha Protocol grants the developer an opportunity to construct a role-playing game that need not abide by someone else's rules. Obsidian's strengths in storytelling and technology stand unsupported in the spotlight this time.

It sets the stage for an inescapable comparison between Alpha Protocol and Mass Effect -- provided it's Mass Effect one we're talking about. Like BioWare's first attempt at combining third-person, cover-based shooting with long-term character building and narrative choice, Alpha Protocol seems intent on telling a gripping story, even while the cardboard scenery falls down. The character models look dated, screen tearing is distracting and those extra months of post-delay polish don't shine through.

And just as with Mass Effect, the technological struggles of the engine might be relegated to the background and forgiven once your attention turns to Alpha Protocol's cast of duplicitous operatives. Yes, dry spy guy Michael Thorton doesn't make a good first impression -- more Luke Skywalker than Jack Bauer -- but he definitely makes one, as evidenced by two possible scenarios viewed side-by-side. In one, Thorton meets his Rome contact , Madison, for a sweet and earnest bedside discussion. In the other, at the same point within the game's timeline, her reception is icy and violent. What on earth could you have done in an alternate playthrough to lose that many points with her? You know, reputation points.

The team walks us through some of the gizmos found throughout the game that offer a wide array of solutions to any problem.

Alpha Protocol is showing off the "toys" in this latest trailer for the espionage RPG. Some of the footage features gadgets used to accomplish missions stealthily, but mostly it features guns and ammunition -- like phosphorus shells to set enemies aflame. Aside from the toys, the footage also gives us a better idea of what the gameplay looks like.

Alpha Protocol is currently expected June 1 in the US, while Australia and Europe receive the package drop a week earlier.

When Alpha Protocol is the only thing protecting you, make sure that all of your bases are covered.

Emerging from "deep cover" (a euphemism for plastic surgery in Eastern Europe), where it received "tweaks," Alpha Protocol is ready to shake its money maker and get everyone interested in it again with a new trailer and screenshots. Not only that, but the game's box art has also received a facelift, adding several more guns to what was only a two pistol cover before.

Alpha Protocol is set to prevent war in the States on June 1, with layovers in Australia and Europe on May 27 and 28, respectively.

Get ready for an RPG espionage shooter this summer.

Role-playing action title Alpha Protocol goes on sale for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 June 1, Sega announced this morning. Obsidian Entertainment's modern-day role-playing game has players...

Alpha Protocol is ready to spy hard on May 28 and June 1 in Europe and North America, respectively, according to IGN. Spies in the land down under will get their chance to play the game on May 27.

Obsidian's RPG has been plagued by delays, shifting its launch from fall, to spring, to summer. Hopefully, this time Sega can make the game's latest release date -- or at least let us know in a reasonable amount of time if it's delayed, again.

Update: Sega has confirmed the June 1 release date for North America. All three versions -- PS3, Xbox 360 and PC -- will release on that day.

Alpha Protocol is ready to spy hard on May 28 and June 1 in Europe and North America, respectively, according to IGN. Spies in the land down under will get their chance to play the game on May 27.

Obsidian's RPG has been plagued by delays, shifting its launch from fall, to spring, to summer. Hopefully, this time Sega can make the game's latest release date -- or at least let us know in a reasonable amount time if it's delayed, again.

Alpha Protocol is ready to spy hard on May 28 and June 1 in Europe and North America, respectively, according to IGN. Spies in the land down under will get their chance to play the game on May 27.

Obsidian's RPG has been plagued by delays, shifting its launch from fall, to spring, to summer. Hopefully, this time Sega can make the game's latest release date -- or at least let us know in a reasonable amount time if it's delayed, again.

And we've got the official release date.

There are conflicts, and then there are wars.

It would have been nice to hear more of an explanation way back in October when Sega's Alpha Protocol was "officially delayed" to the amorphous "Spring 2010," but, unfortunately, that didn't happen. Speaking with MTV Multiplayer this week, though, assistant producer at Sega Matthew Hickman explicitly detailed the reasons for the delay, saying, "We really wanted to polish the game up, make it everything Obsidian planned it to be, and give the consumer a very polished game."

He added that there's been some "tweaks in lighting here and there," and the inventory screen has been revamped a bit, but in general the team has been focused on "bringing the whole quality level up." The post's author also notes that the game is set for a "Summer 2010" release window now, and we've reached out to him (and Sega) for clarification.

Obsidian explains how the Moscow stage shown at E3 came to be.

Despite seeing some semi-official evidence of an Alpha Protocol delay from Sega's website, and some circumstantial evidence in the fact that it didn't make its original release date, nothing official has been said from anyone at Sega or Obsidian regarding the too-sneaky-for-its-own-good game. Until today!Obsidian's Feargus Urquhart has come forward to speak on the delay. "We're very happy that Sega has made the decision to hold back the shipment of the game in order to give it the best chance at becoming the publishing success that we at Obsidian and our partners at Sega are striving for," Urquhart told CVG. Sega Europe managing director Alan Pritchard, the first person at Sega to officially acknowledge the Alpha Protocol release date change, added, "By pushing Alpha Protocol to Spring 2010, we can ensure that the game will be released in the best commercial release window possible and will also receive the focus this true AAA title deserves."While we question Spring 2010's status as "the best commercial release window possible" (given the preponderance of publishers of other games that decided the exact same thing), we're relieved that we can finally stop haranguing that Gamestop salesperson about our pre-ordered Alpha Protocol that still hasn't arrived.

Publisher finally recognizes the game is not coming this year.

While Sega of America's public relations team still hasn't said word one regarding an increasingly inevitable delay, Sega of America's website has finally declared that Alpha Protocol will not begin its mission until 2010. The site displays the Xbox 360 and PC version launches for May 6, 2010, while the PS3 versions has been left at "Spring 2010." This is a not-so-slight change from what the publisher's website showed this morning, when the release information stated the espionage RPG was "out now" -- a strange pronouncement to frustrated consumers on developer Obsidian's forums and retailers we'd spoken to. Sega's update now fits with what several retailers have suggested about a 2010 release, including GameStop, Walmart, Amazon and GameFly.

With Sega still refusing to respond to inquiries about Alpha Protocol's release date, it seems retailers are doing the talking for 'em: GameFly has changed its release date of "the espionage RPG" from October 27th to TBD. The video game rental site has a long-standing history to "simply post information as it is supplied to [GameFly] by the publishers." Further requests for clarification from Sega continue to be met by the Sega Wall of Silence[TM]. We have been told by the company's development director that we should expect "an update shortly via PR." And for the record, the official release date for Alpha Protocol is still next Tuesday. Sega?

It appears Sega's Alpha Protocol is going to suffer a delay, the precise length of which is the topic in question. The last official word we heard from the publisher was Alpha Protocol was to be released October 6 (that's next week!), a release date that has seemed unlikely for quite some time as numerous retailers have long since shifted that date to late October. The latest release date change causing questions is that mega-retailer GameStop has shifted its expected launch date for the title to 6/1/2010, with Amazon Canada also showing a 2010 release (Amazon US has not made any change). Developer Obsidian Entertainment is forwarding all requests for comment to Sega which, in traditional Sega fashion, means all requests for comment have been met with the Sega Wall of Silence[TM]. We'll update as soon as somebody decides to say something. Remember, the company line from Sega is that Alpha Protocol is supposed to hit store shelves next week.

Associate Producer Andy Alamano sums up the story and gameplay at GamesCom 2009.

Continuation of developer walkthrough, focusing on weapons and character customization, as well as general gameplay functions.

Take on the role of Mike Thornton, an undercover agent who has been cut off.