Prototype 2 Message Board

If you like your carnage big and your savings bigger, you'll have designs on the Prototype Pack on PC, now on sale at Amazon for no more than $9.99. The bundle contains both Prototype and Prototype 2, the latter released earlier this year. Frankly, ten bucks would be a surprisingly low price for the sequel on its own, let alone bundled with the first game.

Prototype hasn't been a popular series at retail, with lackluster sales contributing to "significant" layoffs at developer Radical Entertainment. While Richard felt Prototype 2 has far too much inanity in its plot, his review shows he still enjoyed its destructive qualities.

A tweet from downsized Prototype 2 developer Radical Entertainment's twitter account last week may have been interpreted a bit too optimistically.

"Just a quick note to our great fans and friends," the tweet on September 19 from the company's official account read. "The rumours of our closure have been greatly exaggerated - we're still here! More later..."

We reached out to Activision Blizzard, of which Radical is a subsidiary, to get a clearer picture of the studio's status. A representative informed us that nothing had changed since the statement in late June. The staff was reduced, but the studio wasn't closed.

Radical Entertainment remains open, supporting other existing Activision projects, but the studio has ceased "development of its own games going forward."

Prototype 2 is Now Available in North, Central and South America on Steam and will become available in other regions soon. Please check the game page for release times.

As the games all-new infected protagonist, players will experience Sgt James Heller cutting a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero. Equipped with unparalleled new shapeshifting powers,players will gradually build a vast genetic arsenal of deadly new biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal to kill…Alex…Mercer!

Prototype 2 will launch as scheduled on July 24 for PC, regardless of the "significant" layoffs and stagnation of Radical Entertainment as a studio. Radical Entertainment writes on its Facebook page:

"Hi everyone. Yes, there's some unfortunate news to share today. This morning Radical Entertainment went through a significant reduction in staff. We're very proud of what we achieved with the Prototype franchise, but unfortunately, the Blacklight virus didn't spread as far as it could. For PC gamers, rest assured that the PC version of Prototype 2 is still going to launch on July 24 as planned. And a special 'thanks' to the Prototype Army and all our extremely loyal and passionate fans for supporting Radical Entertainment. We couldn't have come this far without you."

Radical's parent company Activision said today's layoffs affect "approximately 89 employees or less than 1.5 percent" of its global workforce. Radical will not be developing any of its own games, and a few employees will continue working for Activision on other projects.

UPDATE: Here's Activision's statement on the matter:

Although we made a substantial investment in the Prototype IP, it did not find a broad commercial audience. Radical is a very talented team of developers, however, we have explored various options for the studio, including a potential sale of the business, and have made a difficult conclusion through the consultation process that the only remaining option is a significant reduction in staff. As such, some employees will remain working for Radical Entertainment supporting other existing Activision Publishing projects, but the studio will cease development of its own games going forward.

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Radical Entertainment appears to be no more.

A tweet from studio audio director Rob Bridgett made a brief but damning comment this afternoon.

“RIP Radical Entertainment 1991-2012,” said Bridgett.

This arrived amidst a series of rumors regarding the fate of the studio today.

The last game Radical worked on was the not-so-warmly received Prototype 2. Oddly enough, Radical Entertainment was mentioned in a press release just two days ago, having just implemented Hansoft’s production tools.

Activision has yet to comment on the news.

Prototype 2's "Excessive Force" DLC pack is now available on Xbox Live and should hit PSN after today's update. The pack features a new weapon, three new powers and three new player skins (including a zombified Alex Mercer). The Excessive Force pack will set you back five bucks.

The very recent Prototype 2 enjoys a deep discount on Amazon today, as the all-day component to the retailer's Gold Box offers. It's on sale for $29.99, and will be joined by a new, temporary deal every couple of hours.

Currently, that deal is the Wii's Cyberbike, which is, yes, an exercise bike that hooks up to the Wii. Thrifty Nerd's Googling of the clues for future sales suggest we'll see discounts on Final Fantasy XIII-2, WoW: Cataclysm, the Disgaea 4 Premium Edition, and even the SoulCalibur V Arcade Fightstick.

Prototype 2 for a mere $29.99 is the Deal of the Day at Amazon.com, the anchor for a series of time-sensitive Lightning Deals that includes games, hardware, and game-flavored accessories. Sit and stare all day. [Amazon.com] More »

Causing mass destruction is easily the best part of Prototype 2, and a new batch of DLC should help you do that with a little more panache. The "Colossal Mayhem" pack adds a number of new goodies, including a "Thermobaric Boom-Stick" weapon and a number of new powers and skins for Heller, the game's protagonist. The pack is available now for $5 on PSN and Xbox Live.

The next round of DLC, available May 29, has already been announced as well. The "Excessive Force" pack will include a "Viral Infector" grenade launcher and yet more powers and skins. It will also sell for $5.

In other Prototype 2 news, a companion app has been released for Android and iOS. The app allows users to keep track of achievements and in-game collectible thanks to some handy maps that have all collectibles marked. The app itself is free, though it only includes one map, the Yellow Zone. The remaining two maps can be purchased for $2.

I'll go ahead and call this the second-best representation I've seen of an obliterated New York City this week. At least, so far...

#prototype Is there anything worse than killing a child? It's one of the most reprehensible things a person can do. Not just in real life: Along with Golden Retrievericide, child-murder is one of the most double-secret-ultrabad things you can do in a movie, book or video game. More »

#prototype Prototype's continuity is set in New York. Well, it's set in "New York Zero," which is what the city has become after an apocalyptic biological disaster. Still, it's New York, home of some of the most famous athletic venues in the world. More »

Thelemite isn’t exactly subtle about its influences. “Melex Archer is a boring programmer who out of boredom signs up to Free Medical Experimentation at FreeMedExperiments.eu and thus, becomes a mutant ninja,” reads its description. “This game was inspired by AAA title Prototype. It involves fighting off hordes off mutants, military, tearing down buildings, and fighting off giant bosses.” And sure enough, while playing, I karate-screamed through the air and mercilessly punted each and every one of those things. I was also able to scamper up buildings like a teenage mutant ninja squirrel and build up a special attack by sort of, you know, slaughtering innocents. So basically, it’s Prototype, but in 2D and with a goofy, occasionally laugh-out-loud-worthy “story.” The controls can be kind of wonky, but it’s big, dumb fun hit with a shrink ray. So go, play, and mash X until all the bad things go away. Thanks, Hookshot.

You guys been down to R&D recently? They got a new version of Goo Hands that'll tear super-soldiers in half!

#fineart Because Prototype 2 is out this week, artists involved in the game are now able to share their work. One of those is Venezuelan César Rizo, who did a lot of environment pieces for the game. More »

For the sake of fun, we're willing to put up with a lot a ham-fisted plots, characters, settings and whatever else isn't directly related to gameplay. I'm not exactly sure how much I'm willing to put up with, but it's a line that Prototype 2 crossed very quickly.

Like its predecessor, Prototype 2 features some of the best free-form locomotion of this generation. Combat is easy control and allows for a variety of tactical options, so long as you're willing to stick it out long enough to earn them. If only the rest of the experience weren't wrapped up in a mucusy, repugnant membrane of inane plot, forgettable characters and terrible dialogue, Prototype 2 would be much, much better off.

There comes a point while playing Prototype 2 when you realize the marketing campaign was a lie. The Homecoming trailer weaves this heart wrenching story of a soldier who told his family to trust the government and how it cost them their lives. With that pain, Sgt. James Heller becomes a relatable c...

In addition to continuing every Prototype 2 trailer's time-honored tradition of being super, super gross, this latest look at Radical Entertainment's greasy, tendril-based action game demonstrates the "Pack Leader" ability, which allows the player to summon and control meat gorillas.

#prototype There is no gameplay in this Prototype 2 trailer, which went out late Friday. But there is some rather badass live action, explaining the backstory of protagonist James Heller. He is burning alive with the Blacklight virus—and his desire for revenge upon Alex Mercer. More »

If I’m reading Prototype 2 correctly, it’s actually an extremely subtle environmental message. I mean, just look at the evidence: main character James Heller goes out of his way time and time again to slice, dice, and skewer vehicles of all shapes and sizes. No car is safe from his bladed assault, and when helicopters try to lend their wheeled pollution-spewing compatriots a helping spritz of machine gun fire, Heller makes sky sushi out of them as well. He also sort of, you know, carves up a few people, but I’m sure it was a simple mistake. From the right angle, people do bear a striking resemblance to helicopters. Honestly, it can be kind of awkward. “Hey, Boeing AH-64 Apache,” people will call out to me on the street. “Oh, wait, I thought you were someone else. Never mind.” Now watch a very angry man slice a… wait, is that me?! No, no, just a helicopter. Phew. It’s after the break.

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The above commercial for Prototype 2 features a live-action free-fall from the top of a skyscraper, heartstring tugs, infected citizens and two dudes with mutated, menacing arm gadgets. The coolest part? Johnny Cash covering Trent Reznor's "Hurt."

Now then. I’m not going to get into the hyperbole of this Prototype 2 trailer, titled the “Top 11 Reasons You Need PROTOTYPE 2″. Frankly if you do need, actually need, something as grim as Prototype 2 in your life then I have concerns about your well-being. There are piles of inventive, awful deaths in this catalogue of cruelty, but it’s nothing anyone could need. I can’t even begin to describe what happens at number 10. But for all the smeary, gloopy, wobbly innards flying past the camera, my favourite is number 6: he gently places a soldier down on the edge of the building and the slight momentum causes him to stumble off the edge. I like my evil with a smidge of elegant cruelty.

Dare you click to see the horrors inflicted on the citizens of New York?(more…)

Not since 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand has it been so dangerous to be a helicopter pilot.

#prototype If you were a video game reporter in New York, you'd know who the Hip Hop Gamer is. He's the guy who walks around with a WWE Championship belt—except, he makes his interviewees wear the belt while he's talking to them. (Hey, I've done it! I've just declined his offers to rap with him!) More »

#prototype You know what sold me on the original Prototype? Protagonist Alex Mercer leaping onto a helicopter and punching his way inside. I'm sure Prototype 2's James Heller is a compelling new hero, but what about the whirlybirds? Ah yes, here they are. More »

Prototype 2 wants to devour your pre-order cash, offering two new incentives through Amazon and Best Buy. Amazon pre-orders get a code to download the first issue of the Prototype 2 comic from Dark Horse, titled The Anchor. Early Best Buyers will receive an exclusive steelbook case in addition to the previously announced Hardened Steel Vehicle Armor upgrade.

All pre-orders will get access to the RADNET edition of Prototype 2, which includes 55 free items delivered during the seven weeks after launch, April 24 for Xbox 360 and PS3 and July 24 for PC. RADNET offers bonus mutations, Alex Mercer playable skin, in-game events, challenges, avatar items, themes and behind-the-scenes content, all of which Activision warns it is liable to change or discontinue at any time. Check out the asterisk warnings and more info in the press release below.

In just a few months, Prototype 2 will be upon us and we'll all be running through New York City tearing bad guys apart with arm blades and disgusting tendril moves. When that happens, you're not going to have time to sit down and ponder how the cast of this title let their world get into this sicke...

Here's a secret about your beloved Joystiq: we're easily frightened. This Prototype 2 trailer is super scary to our meek, ever-fearful eyes. At least the screens past the break aren't so b -- OH GOD WHAT IS THAT?!