Alpha Protocol Message Board

Time and again they've told me, "Dude, you should play Alpha Protocol!" And time and again, I've ignored them. Until now. For some reason, this past weekend I decided to really play the game. There's a bit of a lull going on right now, with The Last of Us out of the way and, aside from the odd Nintendo release, the decks clear until bigger games start dropping in August. I also remembered reading some cool stuff about the game in Jason's profile of Obsidian, the development studio that made the game. Seems like a good time to give Alpha Protocol a chance. And so, I started playing it. I customized my dude, giving him "The Castro" beard that I'd heard so much about, ("The Castro Situation"™ Idle Thumbs), and got playing. I remembered that I'd actually started this game once before, though I'd never made it past the first Saudi Arabia mission. What a depressing, boxed-in mess of corridors and brown on brown on brown! This game doesn't put its best foot forward, does it? But I soldiered on, figuring out how to sneak around the daft artificial intelligence. And after a couple hours, I started having a considerable amount of fun. Side observation: When reviewing The Last of Us, Tom Bissell remarked about guards who trained at "the Stare-at-a-Wall Guard Training Academy." Those guys have got nothing on the guards in Alpha Protocol. This dude never moved: I mean, think about it: He's a guard. And he's going to stare into the corner of the room, without moving? Okay! I was happy to see that completely by coincidence, two game critics whose work I enjoy, Brad Galloway and Sparky Clarkson, happen to be writing a letter series looking back at the game. They're both replaying the game, and have posted the first letters today. They'll have more as they go. I'm still early enough that I don't have a ton of opinions, but at the time being, this seems like the kind of game that I wish so much would be the game it could've been (with proper budget and development time) that I'm willing to forgive a lot of crustiness. I mean… if this game starred Cate Archer and played like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, I'd probably die. I'll likely have more to say about the game as I play more, but for now, I turn it over to you: Anyone out there a fan of Alpha Protocol? Have you played it lately? What do you think of this game, and what have I got in store for me?

Well, it’s official: Chris Avellone has joined the Torment: Tides of Numenera team. Kickstarter’s overwhelming monetary might has pushed another old band back together again, and now this one’s ready to give belabored brain birth to another tale for the ages. And dimensions. And whatever other creative gravy giblets they can fit into their twisted turducken of a setting. But Torment’s hardly the only thing on Avellone’s increasingly busy mind, as he’s also got both Project Eternity and Wasteland 2 to worry about. Oh, and let’s not forget that exceedingly tantalizing Star Wars pitch Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart was so thrilled to discuss. It’s tough, then, to imagine that Avellone has even a spare second these days, but he somehow managed to shove aside a few for a chat, so we used it as wisely as humanly possible. To discuss kindly stick figure knights and giggle at bad naming jokes, of course. Also, all of the above, Avellone’s role on Torment, and what an Alpha Protocol sequel would look like in a post-Walking-Dead world. 

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This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity. Alpha Protocol is the new Deus Ex. This may seem like a strong statement, given the original Deus Ex's regard as an all-time great, but that wasn't always the case. Time has been very kind to it, and Alpha Protocol seems perfectly positioned to undergo a similar process. Both games' weaknesses are transparent, and both games' strengths point toward the future of video games.

When Deus Ex was released a little over a decade ago, I remember reading a review in Computer Gaming World, which gave it 3.5 stars out of 5. CGW justified that score by pointing out glaring flaws with Deus Ex, primarily its ugly graphics and pathetic artificial intelligence. I remember that review specifically because, a month or two later, they printed a letter to the editor that said roughly "I was going to get angry because I obsessed about the game for two weeks, but as I started writing I realized your criticisms were entirely valid." This, to me, strikes at the very core of what makes a cult classic: a general, all-encompassing analysis may find obvious flaws that prevent full-throated praise, but for those who can forgive those flaws, the strengths aren't done better anywhere else.

Looks like Obsidian headbrain Chris Avellone’s earlier talk about getting ‘Kickstarter fever’ based upon Double Fine’s happy day (they’ve now passed $1.3 million in funding by the way – which, as Tim Schafer notes, is more than the budget for Day of the Tentacle and almost that of Full Throttle) wasn’t idle chatter. Obsidian have just posted a forum thread asking for community suggestions as to what they should make, were they to start a Kickstarter-funded game. Obviously this is purely theoretical right now and there are absolutely zero guarantees, but as they’re clearly feeling out the ground here, you should go and make sure that the ground they feel is green, pleasant and potentially profitable. And, ideally, old-school RPG-shaped.(more…)

Sega West president Mike Hayes has stated that the espionage RPG, Alpha Protocol, won't be receiving a sequel. In an interview with CVG, the executive plainly expressed, "Let's speak very commercially; the game hasn't sold what we've expected, therefore we won't be doing a sequel." He continued that the game didn't have enough to get into that "upper echelon" of RPGs, because the amount "you need to invest to get there is so large because RPGs are naturally big projects."

The Obsidian-developed game suffered numerous delays, alleged tweaks and eventually launched this year to middling reviews (across the industry). It seems Alpha Protocol will have a future akin to that other oft-overlooked espionage classic: Leonard Part 6.

Obsidian-developed RPG will not be making a return.

#sega Fans hoping to experience the further adventures of Agent Michael Thornton will be sorely disappointed, as Sega West president Mike Hayes reveals that a sub-70 Metacritic average and slow sales rule out the chance for an Alpha Protocol sequel. More »

#clips Don't feel like playing through Sega's new espionage role-playing game, Alpha Protocol, to get to The Good Stuff? You might be better off that way, getting your Alpha Protocol satisfaction by enjoying its naughtier bits through YouTube. More »

Save the world and wear sweet shades.

Obsidian's spy RPG finally sneaks out, but is it ready for action?

#review Sega and developer Obsidian Entertainment conspire to bring you Alpha Protocol, the espionage role-playing game. Is it Mass Effect meets modern-day spy thriller? More »

While we may have found Alpha Protocol to be a "technical nightmare," it doesn't mean we should all just close the book on it. No, other outlets surely have opinions on Obsidian Entertainment's "Espionage RPG" and we'd be remiss if we didn't bring them into the discussion. Let's get to it!

• CVG (8.4/10): "Alpha Protocol's a technical turkey but it's also a gripping, innovative and deserving of both success and a sequel. It might look like a dog, but dig deep and you're in for an undercover treat - it's a stonking feeling when a game we were expecting to stink turns out to be a revelation. If you've any interest in RPGs that also deliver explosive action, don't let this double agent slip through the net."
• Eurogamer (7/10): "Like Worcester Sauce, Alpha Protocol's separate ingredients might be slightly unappetising, but they come together in a quietly effective manner. Unlike Worcester Sauce, it will certainly frustrate you more than it should, and in between the deathlike character models and bizarre misapplications of things like depth of field effects, it will struggle to convince you the team had enough time to finish it up."
• Videogamer (6/10): "Despite its myriad of shortcomings there's a moderate amount of fun to be had with Alpha Protocol. It's a game that's more enjoyable than it probably should be, a game that's better than the sum of its parts. There's a lot of potential hiding under the flawed shell, and although Obsidian has failed to coax it out this time around, I hope somebody does the concept justice in the future."
• Destructoid (2/10): "Alpha Protocol, to its slim credit, has its basis in noble and ambitious ideas, and those ideas are even well executed on the whole. However, while the ambitious stuff hits the mark, the bog standard gameplay has suffered beyond measure. You can build the most magnificent castle in the world, but if the foundations are made out of wet feces, everything's going to crumble and fall apart before your very eyes. Alpha Protocol is a castle that's collapsed in crap. Proof that even the most accomplished of visions are worthless if the fundamentals aren't in place."

I have something of a reputation on staff for being the guy who takes in strays, the one who falls for the games that, while they may have a lot going for them, are in some way flawed. It's a fair representation and, considering it allows me to enjoy games that others may instantly write off, it's not something I'm necessarily ashamed of.

Now, thanks to Alpha Protocol, I've learned that I have my limits.

We've got three 8 gigglebyte iPod Touches with fancy Alpha Protocol branding etched on 'em -- and hey, we'd love to give them to three of you. For your chance to win, just come up with at least one idea for how a spy could use an iPod (other than leave it laying around to distract foolish lackeys, of course).

You have eight chances to enter -- once per day -- as this giveaway will be active for a full week. Don't worry -- it won't self-destruct at that time ... So, what could a spy do with an iPod Touch? You tell us! To enter:

• Leave a comment telling us something a spy might do with an iPod Touch.
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day.
• This entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Wednesday, June 2.
• At that time, we will randomly select three winners to each receive one 8GB iPod Touch with limited edition Alpha Protocol branding (ARV $199.99).
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition.

For more info on our policy, click here.

Being a spy means being versatile. Sometimes you have to scrap the plan and just wing it. Believe us, we know all about that.

This latest Alpha Protocol trailer embodies the importance of impromptu solutions to unexpected problems. It shows us that for every ambush, there's an escape; for every system, there's an override; and for every chicken nugget, there's an appropriate dipping sauce. Okay, we contributed that last nugget of wisdom, but that doesn't make it any less sage!

Alpha Protocol launches on June 1 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

#alphaprotocol Alpha Protocol is a spy game that SEGA is publishing. Know what I spy? More »

When he's not busy being formally introduced or eloquently headslamming foes, Alpha Protocol's Michael Thorton is hopping on planes, trains, and automobiles around the globe. In the game's latest trailer (found after the break), Thorton travels to exotic locales the world over ... and kills people! He's a lot like that James Bond fella, but without the namby pamby English accent getting in the way (we kid, Brits!). AP is due to hit retailers in under two weeks -- just enough time for Thorton to tour the globe three or four more times. We'll be watching our backs just in case he stops by.

Not only is Sega's Alpha Protocol going to be "the espionage RPG" (according to the box), but it's also the case study in mixed messages from the creators to the game press and public. IGN recently asked Obsidian associate producer Matt Hickman if he could clarify the key moments that held up the development process, noting that there had been "a lot of different, sometimes conflicting reports." Hickman responded, "The decision to move the game out from October [2009] was merely for repositioning and constituted a business decision only."

Strange -- considering that in February Hickman told MTV Multiplayer that there were "a few reasons" for the delay, including giving the game more polish, with "tweaks" to the lighting and inventory, and a general objective in "just bringing the whole quality level up."

Perhaps Obsidian and Sega have taken the "espionage game" a bit to literally (dare we discover this to be a viral marketing campaign that went way over our heads). As if being interrogated, the creators have erratically covered up the game's development tracks with changing stories. Last October, Alpha Protocol's expected release date was flat-out ignored by Sega, until the publisher came out of hiding a week later to confirm that the delay was "official." The reasons for the delay have been many -- and now just one: a business decision. We'll find out if the "repositioning" was the right business decision for Sega when Alpha Protocol breaks its cover on June 1.

The hugely ambitious spy RPG is just around the corner. We quiz Obsidian on what gamers can expect.

#clips There's so many different battling factions in Sega's Alpha Protocol you'd need a score card to keep up, or perhaps an explanatory trailer. More »

#alphaprotocol Nobody like DRM, AKA Digital Rights Management. Game companies, however, seem to think they need it. Japan-based game company SEGA has come up with its own in-house DRM solution and has explained what exactly it is. More »

Isn't he the guy who wrote Jurassic Park? No wait, that's Michael Crichton. Our bad.

Michael Thorton is protagonist super spy in Alpha Protocol, Obsidian's upcoming Espionage RPG[TM]. As you can see in the trailer above, he's a dude who likes to knee chumps in the face ... and run through laser-heavy hallways in slow motion, apparently.

We get it, broseph: you're a spy. You drink martinis, drive expensive automobiles and get all the exotic babes. That's all well and good, but we have one problem with the above highlight reel, Mr. Thorton: Don't ever go around blowing up helicopters. That job is best left in more capable hands.

Isn't he the guy who wrote Jurassic Park? No wait, that's Michael Crichton. Our bad.

Michael Thornton is protagonist super spy in Alpha Protocol, Obsidian's upcoming Espionage RPG[TM]. As you can see in the trailer above, he's a dude who likes to knee chumps in the face ... and run through laser-heavy hallways in slow motion, apparently.

We get it, broseph: you're a spy. You drink martinis, drive expensive automobiles and get all the exotic babes. That's all well and good, but we have one problem with the above highlight reel, Mr. Thornton: Don't ever go around blowing up helicopters. That job is best left in more capable hands.

Isn't he the guy who wrote Jurassic Park? No wait, that's Michael Crichton. Our bad.

Michael Thornton is protagonist super spy in Alpha Protocol, Obsidian's upcoming Espionage RPG[TM]. As you can see in the above trailer, he's a dude who likes to knee chumps in the face ... and run through laser-heavy hallways in slow motion, apparently. Whatever floats his boat!

We get it, broseph: you're a spy. You drink martinis, drive expensive automobiles and get all the exotic babes. That's all well and good, but we have one problem with the above highlight reel, Mr. Thornton: Don't ever go around blowing up helicopters. That job is best left in more capable hands.

The spy shooter draws near.

An administrator on the Sega forums has detailed what purchasers of Alpha Protocol on PC can expect from the Uniloc DRM system. With some publishers employing excessive DRM, it's good for PC players to know what they are getting into.

Sega details that initial activation of the game will require an internet connection, but after that they should be good to go. Five activations are allowed per license key, with users having the option to deactivate a computer's license if they wish. Most importantly, the DRM will allegedly be removed through a patch 18-24 months after release.

PC owners who submit to the DRM can pick up a copy June 1. In tragic irony, those who refuse to submit to any DRM will likely be able to download the game around the same time -- or earlier -- from their favorite torrent site. But don't do that.

[Via Big Download]

Looks like those leaflets at Best Buy we posted a few weeks back were no baloney. Sega and Best Buy wired a press release confirming the Stealth Weapons Pack for Alpha Protocol, which includes "the Hamilton Marksman High-Accuracy Pistol, the Samael Typhoon High Recoil Control SMG and a bonus arsenal of ammo and mines." Huh, since when did the purveyors of home appliances start manufacturing weaponry?

The extra spy gear is only available through in-store Best Buy pre-orders, so you'll have to put on your best camo and infiltrate your local store if you want 'em.

Special weapons for the retail chain.

The latest trailer for Obsidian's "Espionage RPG," Alpha Protocol, exposes one of the most useful tools a spy has at his disposal: His ability to converse. The video above explains the delicate balance you must maintain while questioning a source. And by "delicate balance," we mean, "be nice to him until he lets his guard down, then repeatedly strike him about the head with a half-full bottle of Ketel One." Hey, this "spy" stuff is easier than we thought!

Fine, there's a little bit more to it than that. Check out the video above to see how your words are just as effective as your bullets, except in instances where you need to shoot someone.

Comrades: though we can hardly believe it after so many delays, all signs still indicate Alpha Protocol is on track for a June 1 release -- so let us celebrate with some trailers featuring former communists. One focuses on a hormonal East German mercenary named Sie, while the other spotlights an old Russian information broker, who likely remembers a time when information sold him.

The German is above, the Russian is after the break and a martini is stirred, not shaken.