Alan Wake | Hands-On Preview theLostGamer.com

The Lost Gamer writes "It was with great anticipation that I headed to London this week to be able to get some hands-on time with Remedy Entertainment's highly anticipated title Alan Wake, set to release on Xbox 360 in just a few months. Originally announced back at E3 in 2005 the game has been in development for six years now, yet sometimes such a lengthy wait is necessary – especially for something that is clearly set to be as fantastic as this."

[iPad]

Alan Wake- "the game has been in development for six years now"

No one talks.

GT5- 5 years of development.

People are complaining and having a b1tch fit!

WTF?!

[Syronicus]

It's because there are far more people waiting in anticipation of GT5 than Alan Wake. It's not a fanboy thing to say, it's the fact that GT is a billion dollar franchise and the fanbase is huge!

[SlipperyMooseCakes]

I think it's because Gran Turismo 5 has been delayed a handful of times. It has been said for awhile now that the game is done and they're just polishing it up. Alan Wake on the other hand, has been in development for a long time, but we never even got close to a release date until this year.

Both will be phenomenal games and I can't wait.

[rawd]

Easy. Because one will be a flop and the other is GT5

[cereal_killa]

SlipperyMooseCakes GT5 has only been giving a release date this year as well and has only been delayed in Japan only 1 time. No release date has EVER been giving for NA/EU.

[BeaArthur]

Syronicus...agree, GT5 is the biggest sim racing game out there (no offense to Forza, which is awesome). Also GT5 has had more talk revolving around release dates and has had more media coverage with videos and hands on previews, not to mention Prologue. It's a simple matter of GT5 being a familiar IP that has had a lot of media coverage and Alan Wake being an unknown IP that has been mostly kept under wraps until recently.

rawd...I'm sorry I think you may have forgotten that this section is for adult conversations, you may find what you are looking for over ---------------->

[StanLee]

Remedy is 40 people. Polyphony has a staff of almost 200.

[fox02]

What does that have to do with the article? What does GT5 have to do with this game? Now the article is going to turn into GT VS AW.
Geez you fanboys make me sick.

EDIT : Guys just report his derailed comment as "off-topic" and move on.

[Syronicus]

PD has about 110 employees.

http://www.polyphony.co.jp/...

Several had been developing GT for the PSP while others were in charge of putting GT5 Prologue together. The entire team was not specifically working on GT5. As for Remedy, they have 45 employees at the moment.

[socomnick]

Thats because we only got gameplay footage of Alan wake last year at e3 after having seen almost nothing from Alan wake.

Meanwhile gt5 has had 4 demos and 2 of them being paid demos.

People obviously feel ripped off.

[we won]

Look how this PS3 fanboy set the tone in this article.

1.9 hit the nail on the head.

[Syronicus]

I post facts with a link proving them from the actual business site of PD and the idiot fanboys on the Xbox side still find reason to hit the disagree button. Thanks once again for proving that the disagree button is nothing more than a sign of your stupidity.

[MetalGearRising]

Best Water Effects Ever.

Best Lighting in game Ever.

Best Graphics on any Console Ever.

No QTE's Ever a +.

G.O.T.Y 2010 Contender and reason why i say Contender is because of Halo Reach.

[UnwanteDreamz]

Most Delusional Fankid Ever ^^^^^^^

Alan is looking good.

BTW how many of your GOTY pics won last year? Is that all?

[BeaArthur]

The more I see the more I like. Starting to get excited for this one.

[ManiacMansion]

So true MGR.

I dont know how the story will be or the gameplay but in terms of graphics, Alan Wake will take the crown from Drake.

It has the best graphics so far. Looks like the 360 is the more powerful console.

[UnwanteDreamz]

Stop talking to yourself man it is embarrassing lol.

[Pennywise]

This guy is under the impression we think they are different people.

He is either paid by MS or has multiple personalities.

[The real killer]

Are you crazy?

The fog and the night shows show it's limit your 360.
Graphics, where are the graphics? in night or the fog hold back the visual and graphics, sure Alan Wake will damn good game but don't compare with the Uncharted 2 or Killzone 2 because those games are not easy world and holding back the graphics and visual with fog and night gameplay.

[ManiacMansion]

clearly the best graphics available on consoles.

[Pennywise]

I bet Wii can pull that off too by having a 2" diameter of the screen not being pitch black.

[i3eyond the Circle]

There are day time scenes you know.....

Look at the Ferry when they are going to town.

Then I realize I'm talking to Pennywise.

[Ghostsmoker]

This one and Metro 2033 demonstrate what the Xbox 360 is still capable of. Awesome games and by far not only the graphics ... All in all AW feels like a blockbuster.

[MetalGearBear]

LOOOL

look example of FF13 on 360.
3 disc, weak quality, run on 576p.
CRY MOAR!!!

[eagle21]

Xbots have no more valid arguments against PS3. PS3 kicks 360 back to 2005. :)

[labwarrior]

Alan Wake has a whole world in there and a real game, not a step on the gas, go forward gameplay and complexity

To make something as simplistic as GT5 would take a year max

BTW Alan Wake has better visuals than anything on consoles and bigger world than anything as well, add both and you get what you expected from a super high end pc today, only on 360, it should take years to achieve that

[BubbleSystemSuck]

Better visuals than Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, GT5?
Bigger world than Oblivion or Morrowind? or San Andreas?

[NateDPG]

lol you must be hallucinating

[BubbleSystemSuck]

why all the disagree?

Im just sayin a Fact...

Ok. Alan Wake is the BEST LOOKING GAME EVER... and even arent a SandBox game, have the BIGGER world ever

[Karum]

The game definitely sounds interesting. Really glad I read this.

Looking forward to more info as the release date gets closer.

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

wasn't this also used for 'alone in the dark'? to keep the player up to speed on the events that has transpired. i know im not wrong, i platinumed that game.

[labwarrior]

And of course i will not even go to gameplay, U2 and K2 had no real gameplay other than run and gun 99% of the time

[damnightmare]

What's up with this thread, all these trolls in the Gamer Zone is pathetic.

How bout you talk about the game instead of trying to troll?

[GiantEnemyCrab]

It's bad enough that we get trolls that just wander into an article and act like dbags. Posts like yours literally invite them in.

This has nothing to do with UC2 or KZ2 and both of those games have earned their graphics crown. AW still has to earn it as far as I'm concerned. It looks great and it's a more open environment game, not open world as you state. You cannot go and climb the mountains in the background.

Looking forward to this game and yes I do think it could be another graphic beast on the 360 but let's temper the hype.

[Gimped Hardware]

I've been gaming since the Atari2600 and never has a year looked so good.

And it's all down to the 360!

Thankyou Microsoft - thankyou for giving me the very best AAA games unavailable on any other platform :D

[Gimped Hardware]

Alan Wake > Heavy Buttons
ME2 > God of Fail3
Halo:Reach > GrindTurdismo5
Crackdown2 > Agent
Metro 2033 > Flop Guardian

Is there any reason, apart from movies, to actually own a patchstation3 - short answer no.....long answer noooooooooo

[damnightmare]

I like those comparisons you made

TPS vs Adventure Game
TPS vs Action Hack n Slash
FPS vs Racing Game
TPS vs No footage Game
FPS vs Action Adventure

Oh wow, look at all those shooters you guys like to play. Fail harder next time please.

[eagle21]

AW = Alone In The Dark
ME2 = Boring and Unemotional
Halo Reach = Overhyped and will underdeliver!
Crackdown 2 = POS compared to the average at best first one.
Metrosexual 2033 = WTF are you smoking. :)

[yoghurt]

The problem is this. 360 owners have been waiting for this game for years, it's been hyped with the videos years ago, so they really want it to be amazing and the next big thing - but, truth is, yes it looks nice and i'm sure plays well, but in my opinion from what I have seen, it is nothing spectacular, the graphics fall short of many other games already released today and the gameplay as far as I can tell from the small amount shown doesn't do anything new

so i'm not saying it'll be a bad game, i'm sure it will be good - but not the crazy blockbuster 360 owners crave it to be

but they want it to be so badly that they'll argue until blue in the face that it's the best thing since sliced bread

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I think every game that is coming to a system everyone hopes is good and is a blockbuster. I don't get what point you are trying to make.

How about we just wait until the game releases and let it do it's thing before we assume all the poor 360 fans won't get the blockbuster they so sorely want it to be!

Remedy make good games, the 360 can use a psychological thriller and MS are behind the game. I think it has a great chance at success.

[Gimped Hardware]

"but they want it to be so badly that they'll argue until blue in the face that it's the best thing since sliced bread "

No, you misunderstand - the best thing since sliced bread will be Halo:Reach, Alan Wake will be an AAA exclusive that will go down in history as a top notch title - nothing more and nothing less :D

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

to own a 360?

[blasian]

since winters almost over im gonna switch the xbox from being a heater into a paper weight

[BX81]

@Doc what's up wit the d-bag in ur avatar pic?

[jjesso1993]

labwarrior are you joking? alan wake somthing you expect from high end pc ? alan wake does not even look better uncharted 2 yes its going to be good game but think you need take your head out of microsoft ass. from high end pc i expect 2560*1600 running 60fps 8xaa is alan wake going to do any of these things ? the answer is no go at the gameplay vid and comapare it uc2 or even crysis if you are going to say its on par with a high end if do that you will see really bad screen tearing the only thing good is the lighting and the ground any other textures look terible compared uc2 god war 3 the demo i played from last year i might add. so remember look screens below and remember REMOVE THE FANBOY GLASSES

uncharted 2
http://selectstartgames.fil...

alan wake

http://api.ning.com/files/m...

[Xi]

did I win something?

[ps3hasonlyflopgames]

poor ps3 fans jealous in alan wake.. :(

[eagle21]

PS3 fans play games that actually WIN GOTY, not just pretend to be and FAIL EVERY YEAR!!! :)

[ps3hasonlyflopgames]

you played the game for say this?

[labwarrior]

From physics, to lighting, to scale and detail to ... well ... everything, Alan Wake is a 10x more next gen looking title than Uncharted 2

BTW comparing one good looking U2 bullshot to the worst possible Alan Wake real in game pic won't help you in the slightest little bit

How about that, plus real physics, dynamic volumetric lighitng and HUGE spaces ?

http://xbox360media.ign.com...

What now ?

And here is a REAL pic of Uncharted 2 (in game, not bullshot)

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3...

U2 looks terrible comparing

[jjesso1993]

what you posted is more more bullshot any person that played uc2 can say that it does not look like any of the ign screens here quick vid http://www.youtube.com/watc... see the diffrents looks alot better than the screen and uncharted 2 dx7 game lol what the hell you smoking? well its your choice you sit there lieing to your self or enjoy gaming i dont care what console i play a games as long as enjoy them you just stick to one console but i dont see why cant enjoy some of the best things this gen uncharted 1 and 2 have the best graphics on console and amazing story and amazing gamplay soon to be toped by god of war 3.

[fooltheman]

Sorry,
But anyone who think alan wake looks better than Uncharted on basis of what has been seen, is plain stupid...
On this material we only want to see what we want to see...
There is not an objective position here...

There is only one thing, Uncharted 2 stays king until proven.

[Shaman]

I dont want to get into biased fanboy blabing about Uc2 vs Alan Wake,but hey if anyone cares to listen to my UNBIASED opinion,please read,its more of technical.

Now between Alan Wake and UC2 there is alot of similarities,of course they both look absolutely stunning but which one looks technically better?Lets break it down.

Lighting:AW and UC2 have one of the most amazing lightning on consoles(numero uno of course KZ2) but i would say that even though UC2 has beautiful lightning i think no one is going to bash me for picking AW,simply put amazing,i mean after all lightning is one of the main aspects in AWs graphics.

Textures:Even though both game have great textures(incredible for consoles)ND seems to make it better.Why?Well first reason is UC2 has less scope to texture,so it has bigger texture budget(in this case both consoles should be pretty much neck in neck because of same amount of ram)and AW has more "area" to texture,but both have great textures.Thing is non has super high res textures,even though UC2 look "3d ish" its actually flat texture with great use of bump mapping and colors to fake you that it has much more polys and higher textures while it hasnt.That is really not a bad thing because consoles simply dont have enough ram for Crysis-like textures but amazing use of bump mapping and color variety gives edge to UC2.

Animation:AW had some stiff animation back in the day but they surely brought it to great level,its very convincing and nice,but UC2s simply put are one of the best,if not the best on consoles so i give this also to UC2.

Art direction:This is one thing that separates IYO and technicals.Simply put they both have great and very pleasing to eye art and alot of people like that cartoonish and colorful look of UC2 when speaking of graphics,this is real advantage of UC2 against almost any other game,but AW has some pretty neat art to,i mean it feels like you are there in Washington state,its amazing,those forests peaceful town,everything is made great.This one is tie for me,both are pretty much great.

Atmosphere/effects:In the end come the effects,i simply like AWs great atmospheric fog and trees waving in the wind.On another I adore UC2s vistas,but still would put AW in front because that is its trade mark.

Last but not unimportant is Anti-aliasing,both game are jaggie free but UC2 uses 2xAA while AW uses 4xAA,AW edges it.

In the end as overall winner i pick UC2,mainly because of its beautiful use of colors and art,great textures(bump mapped) and art style.AW technically is JUST AS GOOD,nothin really sets them much apart but linearity in UC2 helps to edge it a bit,sure you count in animation and UC2 is still the finest looking game on consoles,but AW is techincally just as good,would probably be even closer if it wasnt for larger scope.

[jjesso1993]

Shaman completley agree with you i really think alan wake going to be sussesfull game but for some to say it has the best graphics on console is to far looks really good best grahics xbox 360 no qustions. the god war demo i played last year looks ten times better than it. I pre ordered my copy on the fact that i think gameplay is going to be amazing nothing to do with graphics.

[Shaman]

Actually what im trying to say is that game surely proves 360 has it,because technically game is on par with UC2,sure uc2 has bit better textures but that is because of scale AW has more things to texture,and animations,well that is not really about power its more because of devs.Now i said that because of beautiful artstyle and colors people tend to say UC2 is far superior but in reality they are quite equal in terms of technical achievements its just that UC2 is more pleasing to eye.Remedy still has 3 months till release,knowing them they will surely polish it and ship one of the finest looking games on consoles.

As for gow III,its debatable.I still think that both UC2 and KZ2 look better.GOW III has more in scale so its ground textures are bit meh,but its hidden by fast and camera fixed gameplay.It looks more epic then both of those games put together but technically its not really what people makes it to be.But surely top contender for graphics king crown :)

[Ronster316]

Sony are like a boxer on the ropes about to be knocked out right now in 2010.

You punched yourselves out in 2009.

Your exhausted, a spent force, and Microsoft are gonna deliever the knockout blows in 2010.

MAG
WKC
3D DOT
Heavy Movie

All FLOPS.

Arcade game of the year already confirmed on 360 (Perfect Dark)

And any of these 3 games to win GOTY 2010 (Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Halo: Reach)

[xxxxx01]

Yeah alan wake at 720p 4xaa is looking good.

[Gamer7l]

Wow...blatantly LYING just to get hits much? This obscure blogsite CERTAINLY hasn't had early "hands-on" with Alan Wake, when not even IGN, Gamespot, GTTV or G4TV have. He did NOTHING but summarize what we already knew about the game, and then described parts of the various gameplay vids that have been released.

BOGUS!