Remedy "Betting the Farm" on Alan Wake

Alan Wake developer Remedy has revealed the success of the game is crucial to the survival of the company.

In an interview with IncGamers during a studio tour in Finland, Remedy's Matias Myllyrinne stressed just how important the upcoming psychological thriller is to the developer's future.

[thetamer]

Can you imagine if the creators of Alan Wake were to go under? That would be really bad, another great developer gone.

[Raf1k1]

360 owners had better buy this game I don't want Remedy going under.

MS is good with the marketing so it should do rather well but it's success isn't tied to marketing alone. Let's hope there's enough interest in the game for Remedy to make a nice profit out of it.

[Cold 2000]

Well why are they launching on the same day as Lost Planet 2 then ?

Pretty silly IMO. That's going to divide the 360 userbase.

I see both games selling just less than a million in one month. AW would have gained a couple of 100k sales more if it werent going up against LP2.

Capcom and MS have a good relationship, so why didnt they work it out together to space out both releases ?

Anyways, I'll be getting AW, though I must admit that LP2 demo really had me hyped for it.

[Raf1k1]

I didn't get into the LP2 demo myself but then again I just played a bit to see what it was like so I might give it a proper play through if I get the time.

[Darkeyes]

Hope people buy it, these guys have always made good games and I would have supported them if it were on the PC, but ah well, it's shaping up nicely

only reason why I dread is cause it gets released with a lot of big hitters like FF13,BFBC2,LP2..The last thing they want is a kid going to a shop and not buy it since he thinks it's to be played with a flashlight...

[krisq]

They are not sure if this is gonna work. Great...

[gaffyh]

@cold - I don't think that many people care about LP2, I mean it'll be good, and sell well, but I don't think it'll take sales away from Alan Wake. They are completely different types of games.

[Cold 2000]

I don't know, I'm not a shooter maniac but I felt like getting LP2 and from what I heard a lot of people enjoyed it too.

I hope you're right, I'd rather see AW at the top of the charts for the 360. LP2 is on the PS3 too so it can make it even without the 360.

[champ21]

would have bought it had they released the HD version (pc)... no 720p med res textures isnt good enough for me.

[Chubear]

Where was all this concern for Factor 5, a more critically acclaimed developer house rooted in gaming for longer than Remedy, 3years ago. No one cared if gaming sites totally trashed this great developer and made tonnes of people lose their jobs back then so why the sad faces now?

This is really a pathetic sympathy move "oh please don't rate our game lower than a 9 cause we need the business *sob sob sob*" pulease! cry me a river.

There are other very well known, high pedigree developer houses that have been unfairly run through the mud by NA reviewers when they were trying to present something new and interesting for the future of gaming experience and they was unjustly bashed. I really don't give a damn about Remedy representing yet another survival horror game that essentially does what so many other games have done from the beginning of time but because they implement light as gameplay it should be given a pass.

BS! You gimped your game and if it comes off as such when it's released then that's the way it should be rated but we all know that ain't happening. Alan Wake will be given 10s even though we are all aware they the game was heavily gimped from what it was initially supposed to be and it STILL took 5yrs to complete.

[Cold 2000]

"This is really a pathetic sympathy move "oh please don't rate our game lower than a 9 cause we need the business *sob sob sob*" pulease! cry me a river."

and

"BS! You gimped your game and if it comes off as such when it's released then that's the way it should be rated but we all know that ain't happening. Alan Wake will be given 10s even though we are all aware they the game was heavily gimped from what it was initially supposed to be and it STILL took 5yrs to complete."

(Sigh...) you guys just eat drink and sleep conspiracies...

[DatNJDom81]

After reading the article I really want to support these guys. It's only a 40 man team making wat seems to be a good game. Fukc it. I'm buying it. Might as well show the underdog some love too. New IPs are the way to continue moving foward.

[darkmurder]

Hopefully they do collapse then MS can buy them dirt cheap and they can reproduce awesome games for PC (and 360 i spose)!

[Christopher]

I highly doubt this won't do at least 2 million in its first two months. Microsoft will make sure of that.

@darkmurder: Sorry to say, but if MS buys them, the only chance you'll have of playing their games on the PC is if Microsoft decides to do a 6 month to one year after console release of the game. Microsoft makes more than double the money on each 360 game sold, therefore they're going to do all they can to make sure as many people as possible buy it for that before it ever hits the PC market. Same thing with Sony, who so far don't even recognize the PC market.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

This is a PC gamer's game. Their loss on not doubling their prospective sales.

[JTX]

Considering the small team and the fact that they built the Alan Wake engine from scratch 5 years sounds about right.

[evrfighter]

one of the reasons I went quad core was because I was looking forward to Allan Wake. Not gonna subject myself to playing it on my 360. Won't Happen

Won't be buying.

[FamilyGuy]

*Looks around for Captain Obvious*

Uh... no sh1t? The game has been in some form of development for 7 years now and on the 360 for 4-5. Thinking that this game is make-or-break for the developer is not a difficult thought to come up with without this article or the devs themselves telling us.

[k-Lan]

Chubear has gotta be the biggest cry baby of all time, along with Greywulf & Saaking. Like wtf is wrong with you people? Is your life really that bad? It's so sad i'm shaking my head in front of my computer at work. I feel bad for you bud. Go say something positive, if possible, in the PS3 section. Terrible!

Alan Wake will sell good enough. Remedy has nothing to worry about IMO.

@ FamilyGuy

Does the same apply to Heavy Rain's dev's? No? I'll be waiting for an explaination. (actually i won't because i'll be at a bar in 15. lol)

[Red Panda]

Red Panda loves max payne

[FamilyGuy]

k-Lan

I have no idea how long Heavy rain has been in development but from recent news posted on this very site it would seem that they could survive it since they basically said if the title does well Sony might publish their next game. Implying that there WILL be a next game and that the success of this one makes the difference in what system/systems the next game ends up on. (who publishes it)

[Leord]

Psychological thrillers can be amazing on video games, as they are interactive. they can also be crap :P

[gillri]

I think this will sell at least 2 million, I think remedy are safe

well at least they are getting £40 form me!

[Leord]

Yeah, no piracy!

[Hands Up For Games]

Well, im going for the Limited Edition, so there getting £49.99 from me ;)

[Fyzzu]

Well, I'm buying it, and I reckon a fair few people will just to see how it's turned out.

[RealityCheck]

Everything I have seen so far seems well made, the concept\story is intriguing and the gameplay looks refreshingly different (light fighting mechanic). There is also already a large following for the game. So it should do well review and sale wise.

It seems however that if it was such an important game financially, that they would have kept the PC release to tap into two markets and increase sales. (if they were afraid of pirates, they could have at least offered it on Steam)

[AndyA]

Yup, were they really afraid of losing money on the PC version? As you said, a Steam Release would have been one way to avoid piracy.

[Hellsvacancy]

They shouldnt of opted out of the PC version (IF it was THERE choice)

[Cold 2000]

If MS are the one who decided to scrap the PC version that means they must have financially compensated it somehow. So I dont think Remedy are losing out on potential PC sales.

MS are obviously offering financial guarantees to Remedy, otherwise they simply would not have canceled the PC version.

[k-Lan]

Quick question. Why isn't Heavy Rain or any PS3 exclusives on the PC?

[Corrwin]

What else would they have to bet on it but their livelihoods?

Good luck to them, I hope it does well because I'm still waiting on Max Payne 3 ;)

[DelbertGrady]

Max Payne 3 is being handled by Rockstar.

[Corrwin]

Oh... then screw Remedy.

I hope AW is great, but I now have no incentive to support them!

[DelbertGrady]

I think it's gonna flop so hard. No one will buy it. I mean it's basically Luigis Mansion mixed with Alone in the Dark. Why on earth would I want to...

http://www.gameblog.fr/news...

... o_O

[Corrwin]

But that sounds awesome :|

I think it looks more like Alone in the Dark, and I don't think that's a bad thing - I quite liked that game.

[DelbertGrady]

Irony doesn't work around here :)

[HowarthsNJ]

"Contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality"

Ouch :-)

[Wii360BeatsPS3]

Heavy Rain on the other hand is going to flop really really hard and die a slow horrible death.

[Corrwin]

Oh you poor delusional soul.

What does it matter that either sell well? I'd rather one awesome game than a series of iteratively worse sequels.

[ceedubya9]

I think Heavy Rain will do just fine.

[The real killer]

So, basically Remdey have trust in Microsoft MONEY than it's company?
This is so bad, for godsake Remedey you betting the wrong side.

[hoops]

Let me guess Real Killer? If this game were exclusive to the PS3 and Sony did the same thing, would you be saying all this? LOL
We know the answer.
Funny how you guys cry like babies that the Xbox360 has NO REAL EXCLUSIVES and when it gets one you cry harder.
LOL

[Overmars]

I was gonna support them, until they dropped the PC version. Oh well, good luck to them, the game looks good either way.

[t850]

WTB pc version. 60fps+ is needed, dont think the xbox will be pulling that.

[Antan]

I don`t think they need worry, not with MS marketing behind it, and if the game is as good as it looks then, once again....absolutely nothing to worry about.

[ps3ftwin]

PC + PS3 make the best combo. Not investing in another system for this game. They should have gone multiplatform, my preference would be PC.

[The Simple Truth]

Games like Alan Wake don't sell. Certainly not in enough numbers to make back the investment.

Make it a FPS, then it'll sell on the chav box.
Should have been made for the PS3 like Heavy Rain.

[Trebius]

Alan Wake will definitely be a gem everyone will pass on.

[Udidntlistenpunk]

I pity the bots that are stuck with a Luigi's mansion wanna be.

What do you do when a toaster is flying your direction?

A) you think about your life. It was a short ride but sweet ride and you close your eyes for the horror to come.

B) you turn around and run with your tail between your legs while crying for your momma.

C) you shine your handy flashlight on the toaster to purge the darkness and watch as the toaster enters slow motion mode convienantly giving you enough time to shoot the toaster down with your gun.

Pathetic.

[jjesso1993]

well the gamplay better be as good as graphics its hard year for gamers especially when you own all consoles plus a pc. to many games to buy so iam downloading this and if the gamplays up to scratch i will buy it.

[Wii360BeatsPS3]

Heavy Rain is for emo gayboys who want to watch games. Alan Wake is for gamers.

[ps3ftwin]

you havent even played alan wake yet.. what makes you think it will be so great?

Brainwashed by microsofts adds much?

[talltony]

No, heavy rain and Alan wake is for gamers. Just one and not the other is for people missing out like yourself.

[Lucreto]

I hope it is successful. I was going to get it but they canned the PC version.

[kingme71]

When I think of this game I keep coming back to Dead Space as the closest compare. Dead Space was a quality horror title, made by a quality studio that had some good backing and marketing by EA. It got great reviews by fans and critics. However, EA wasn't thrilled with the sales numbers. What does Alan Wake bring to that table that would generate more sales then Dead Space? Even if Alan Wake is a great game with great reviews, it has 1/2 as many potential customers as Dead Space. Dead Space has sold around 2 million to date split evenly between 360 and PS3 (PS3 is slightly higher). Those numbers seem pretty good to me, wonder what EA had predicted in their sales models. Alan Wake "should" expect about 1 million in sales if it follows the Dead Space pattern.

Maybe the fact it is a console exclusive will draw out more 360 owners.

[Akagi]

If they do go under, it's because of the 360 fanboys setting their expectations too high.

[sashimi]

its too late, its already the being super hyped by M$ to its fanbase.

[DigitalAnalog]

Flopz (360 standard).

-End statement

[dirthurts]

They better poney up a pc version.

[foxxy]

Should have made this game for the ps3 too to get more sales

[condorstrike]

hopefully it's not a scheme to drive sales with the undecided, and pirates, but it would suck if it was true, same thing happened to lots of 3rd party Wii developers that made good titles and dind't sale.

but i'm sure this game will sell, and probably sell better than Heavy rain.

[foxxy]

But if you make it for two consles you sell more DURRRRRRRRRR

ASc2 Resident evil5 call of duty ill stop

[jalen247]

Well, I wish them luck.

If the game turns out well, I will do my part to support their hard work.

[Karum]

I need to look into the game more, when is it actually out?

If I like the look of the game enough I'll have no problem picking it up.

[ReBurn]

Every studio pretty much bets the farm on their latest game, because it could be their last. You're only as good as your last project, because that's the one that gets you funded for your next project.

[stuntman_mike]

if remedy go under it will be their own fault for taking so long, but then again this game is looking very good.

[Bluemaster77]

I so hope this game does well , I'll support them 150% im def picking up a copy day one hell i'd even buy a couple of my friends one so they can play to