Aliens Colonial Marines Wii U: no one knows wtf is going on

[Deleted_171835]

Aliens: Colonial Marines recently came out on the PS3/360 and it's been met with critical...backlash. And most would argue for good reason.

Aliens: Chav's Revenge

Some might be wondering what happened to the Wii U version. After all, back at E3 Randy Pitchford has been praising it to hell and back touting better visuals and a so-called motion-sensor on the GamePad. Oddly enough, we've seen very little of the Wii U version. This is where the story gets weirder.


(1:07 for motion-tracker footage)

According to Jason Schreier of Kotaku, an anonymous tipster told him that the Wii U version of the game has been "postponed indefinitely". While there is no confirmation of this, it would certainly make sense considering the reception of the game on other platforms.

http://kotaku.com/5984068/how-aliens-colonial-marines-fell-apart?post=57369919

To get to the bottom of this, it's worth taking a look at who is developing Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U exactly. Gearbox wasn't actually developing the Wii U version but instead Demiurge Studios was.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/06/demiurge_studios_handling_aliens_colonial_marines_wii_u

And recently (Feb. 8), the official twitter for the studio claimed that the Wii U version is still in the works.

And now, there is a supposed anonymous dev is claiming that the Wii U version of the game is a completely different beast from the game that came out on the PS3/360 and is in fact a different game being developed from the ground up for the Wii U. Apparently the Wii U version is still coming out in a couple weeks and that the PC version will be supplied with a patch bringing it "up to date".

So far I think everyones in on this thing (fiasco) and not just by association but circumstance as well as a hell of alot of mis-communication.

From what I can gather this project has gone through that many restarts since it was announced its not funny - we all know this right?

However, what alot of people don't identify (again because of general concensus) is that the Wii U version (still very much on the way), done exclusively by Demiurge studio's, is the big version; the joint venture was banking on.

I know what you're thinkin right? "WTF!?, how stupid, no ones adopting the Wii U, what were they thinking?" and you'd be right if it wasn't for the fact that SEGA's industry analysis favoured the U version, in fact the entire joint venture did.
This is because that version ports to the new consoles by Sony & MS (in the future) and thus has the tightest longevity of the product. Instead of a few months in the dying period of current gen systems, they favour a product that will last (potentally) 2-3yrs and allow for sequals.

Moving on, alot if not all the pre-production of the title was handled by Demiurge studio's before they went onto work exclusively on the Wii U version from the ground up.

Post-production was then handed to Timegate studio's and Nerve software; whilst Gearbox software completed Borderlands 2. Once assets there were completed Gearbox software retook up post-production to release candidacy of the campaign (sp or story, if you like) finalising with Fox and SEGA over the final shape of the product; and Timegate studio's finalised thier assets for the multi-player/co-op campaign with Nerve software (if I'm not mistaken). Which I think is where everyones getting confused. Timegate studio's finished thier work a coupla months back if I'm not mistaken?

Now heres where I have a hunch something behind the scenes went ass-up. Purely speculation of course - and the media is in on it in this scenario (boy I just won alot of cred. there..).

Somewhere around the time Timegate studio's finished the PS3/360 version was canned. The last trailer released by Gearbox Software was the 'Kick-Ass Trailer' - this is actually Demiurge studio's Wii U trailer. I believe that was shortly before the big 2hr IGN reveal, shortly before launch - which again, was the PC version - and why I believe SEGA canned the PS3/360 versions at this time; and the media knew about it.

During this time SEGA must've had a change of heart, possibly due to Wii U adoption looking less progressive (which the joint venture was banking on); and asked Gearbox Software to resurrect those versions at the 11th hour.
Now I know people aren't ready to write off thier current consoles just yet, but from a buisiness perspective - not sinking money into the dying moments of the end of a system generation is a sane call.

So you might ask, "Why then was the PC version not en par with the IGN reveal either?" because its been dumbed down to maintain parity with the console releases. Its actually still quite alot better, the console releases were pretty ordinary.

In the next couple of weeks the Wii U version, the one with the greatest longevity, will be released; I suspect in all my speculation, you will see a magic patch that will bring the PC version up to date, if not surpassing the IGN reveal everyone was watching.

http://forums.timegate.com/showpost.php?p=285185&postcount=43

Right now, the Wii U version of the game is pure vapourware. We don't know when it's coming or even if it's coming out. The whole situation is one big mess for both Gearbox and Sega.

tl;dr: we don't know jackshit about the wii u version.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I think Sega is doing the Wii U a favor by canning the game.

Or if you're an optimist, they're realizing how bad they fucked the game and they're trying to fix it a la Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. Which still wasn't good but it wasn't Ninja Gaiden 3.

 

[Deleted_171835]

I think Sega is doing the Wii U a favor by canning the game.

As fake Reggie says,

 

[emigre]

People thought Aliens would actually good?

 

[Gahars]

I read somewhere that the Wii U's getting an enhanced version - instead of a disc, it just comes with a tear-stained apology and clips of the developers committing seppuku to the music of James Horner.

It's a massive improvement.

Seriously, this game is so shit, the subtitle Colonial Latrines would be more fitting.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

You know... I have a bit of hope for the WiiU version, but after finding out that Gearbox isn't even developing that.. I'm kind of glad. It could also mean they know they fucked up and are gonna fix it.

My biggest gripe is the fucking bait and switch they did with this game. What work has Gearbox actually done on the game???

 

[emigre]

You know... I have a bit of hope for the WiiU version, but after finding out that Gearbox isn't even developing that.. I'm kind of glad. It could also mean they know they fucked up and are gonna fix it.

My biggest gripe is the fucking bait and switch they did with this game. What work has Gearbox actually done on the game???

Hope can kill a man.

 

[Gahars]

Hadley's Hope can kill a man.

I couldn't resist.

 

[Zombie_X]

I'd probably laugh if the Wii U version gets released and get 7-8 rated scores. Stupid Gear-Box. I've wasted $100 on your product!

 

[Foxi4]

Apparently there's a tsunami of patches coming up soon... possibly 8GB's altogether... almost a whole new game...

 

[Hadrian]

The more I saw of this game over time the less I wanted to play. I wanted to play it because Gearbox have had a good track record with FPS games that they developed themselves such as Borderlands/2, Half-Life: Opposing Force/Blue Shift and of course their best series, Brothers in Arms. Sure Duke Nukem Forever was so damn awful but that was a turd before they either polished it or got another team to finish it off (the DLC created afterwards for it was pretty decent). It looks like that this is in the DNF boat, Sega just got them to put their name onto it to hype it up a bit. I really can't see how they would make a game this bad, must be someone else right?

I can't see how this game can be any better, if they fixed the issues it would just be a boring lacklustre shooter with the Aliens name tagged on. If the Wii U was a better version...then why not shift that version to the other platforms? When they were touting the Wii U version, the other versions didn't even have a release date so I doubt it would be because it would have added yet another delay. A better game would mean better sales right? I can't see how it would be better with the Wii U controller other than to get rid of the usual fath that you get with maps, items etc.

There's probably been too much spent on this version for it to be canned so maybe Sega are hoping the name will sell it (which it's pretty much doing already it seems going by sales charts) but no doubt that there will be as many copies out there.

 

[Bladexdsl]

good this game is fucking terrible, shitty story, mindless AI the wiiu is better off without it.

I want my 6.15 GB back!

 

[XDel]

Hope it still comes out, I was holding out to play it on the WiiU.

 

[retKHAAAN]

I'm curious how many people here have actually played the game on PC, Xbox 360, or PS3...

 

[Attila13]

I'm curious how many people here have actually played the game on PC, Xbox 360, or PS3...

I did, on the PC...and it was fucking horrible...at least I didn't like it at all....

 

[Tuddles]

be more fun watching your $60 go up in smoke than playing this turd lol

 

[T3GZdev]

I think Sega is doing the Wii U a favor by canning the game.

Or if you're an optimist, they're realizing how bad they fucked the game and they're trying to fix it a la Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. Which still wasn't good but it wasn't Ninja Gaiden 3.

I wouldn't say that just yet; the wii u version is being made by a different company meaning all of those things could be fixed in that version, and could have even more improvements. Maybe the version we saw at that e3 was the wii u version and the 360 & ps3 versions were what was released.

 

[Deleted_171835]

So an Aliens: Colonial Marines tester did an AMA on Reddit. He was verified to be legit by the mods but deleted all his posts soon afterwards. Here's what he revealed.

-Gearbox didn't care but did most of the game themselves
-Sega has received the game for the first time in the middle of 2012
-Gearbox used Sega's money to fund Borderlands
-WiiU version is even worse, mostly developed by Demiurge. It has atrocious minigames like marking aliens on the scanner to deal more damage and managing heat when you open the doors. Sega thinks about cancelling it but for now development goes on.
-The game had much more sequences and cutscenes which were dropped later. You could actually explore Sulaco in the opening section.
-the game had squad management. One of the squads would turn on you later in the game
-Sega believed that they were getting Borderlands in Alien universe. There is a potential of the lawsuit.
-the original plot still sucked but was much better
-the new Alien game from Creative Assemble looks very good, slow-paced and have awesome graphics.

http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/18ndgq/i_was_a_tester_on_aliens_colonial_marines_ama/

 

[narutofan777]

who cares about this game. it's pure trash.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

So an Aliens: Colonial Marines tester did an AMA on Reddit. He was verified to be legit by the mods but deleted all his posts soon afterwards. Here's what he revealed.


http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/18ndgq/i_was_a_tester_on_aliens_colonial_marines_ama/

Feels pretty slimy on Gearbox's part.

For Sega I think the best thing to do is rework the Wii U version and release it as some sort of "Ultimate Edition". I mean while it is quite a clusterfuck it does give them an opportunity to deliver the game everyone wanted. Not many companies get that chance. And considering the game is selling pretty well, getting some good PR on a "true" Aliens: CM game could really push some more units and help the Wii U a bit too.