I Am Alive
| I Am Alive | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Darkworks (2008–2010) Ubisoft Shanghai (2010–2011) |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Engine | LEAD (Splinter Cell engine used in Splinter Cell: Conviction)[1] |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 (XBLA), PlayStation 3 (PSN) |
| Release date(s) | Xbox Live Arcade
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| Genre(s) | Survival |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | Download |
I Am Alive is an upcoming action video game developed by Ubisoft Shanghai and published by Ubisoft. It will be released on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.[5] The developers released the official release date via Facebook as March 7, 2012.[6]
The game takes place in the fictional American city of Haventon, one year after the Event, a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped out most of the human civilization and left the world in ruins and barely inhabitable, with the ground now covered by a toxic cloud of dust and ash. I Am Alive focuses on facing the permanent insecurity of a now decaying and hazardous world, and humanity's darkest inclinations.
Originally under development by Darkworks from 2008 until 2010, Ubisoft Shanghai has since worked on the title.
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[edit] Plot
One year after the Event, a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped most of the human civilization, a man struggles for survival in a desolated city as he tries to reunite with his long lost wife and daughter.
[edit] Gameplay
The player controls the main character in a third person perspective during navigation, the camera switches to first-person when aiming and shooting.
During encounters with other survivors, the player can use various tactics to stay alive, including using bluff and intimidation e.g. pointing an empty gun at hostile non-playable characters, playing it low profile to surprise enemies with a machete quick kill, or performing stealth kills with a bow.
The game has an emphasis on climbing and exploration. The player will scale wrecked buildings and navigate hazardous areas. Every effort has a cost and, when engaging in physically demanding activities, such as climbing, sprinting or jumping, it is critical to manage the main character's stamina for him to survive. By managing stamina skillfully players are rewarded by accessing hidden paths, resources and other survivors.
Survival gameplay also involves collecting hidden resources and supplies scattered throughout the city: water, food, gas, medicine, cigarettes, tools, climbing gear, weapons, and ammo. Anything that the player can salvage from the destroyed city can be used to keep the main characters strong and healthy, or prove helpful in his quest by allowing him to rescue victims.
Because of the emphasis on extreme survival, gameplay is tough and unforgiving at times. However, retries can be collected throughout the game by helping or rescuing victims, with optional side quests to complete.
[edit] Development
The game was first rumored to be in development in July 2008, when it was told that Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond was working on a new game, which was announced at E3 2008, along with a trailer. It was later revealed that Raymond was not working on the game.[7] Development of the game experienced various delays. The original developers, Darkworks, announced that it would not be working on it any longer due to a "mutual decision" and that the studio had other obligations, and that the game would instead be finished at Ubisoft Shanghai's studio.[8] On August 2009, various screenshots of an old build of the game were leaked onto the Internet.[9] An announcement from Ubisoft initially indicated a release window of between Q2 April 2010- Q2 March 2011. These dates have since passed with no new information released on the status of the game until June 2011 when a notification was published at the Australian classification website which indicated a possible release in the late summer of 2011.[10]
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said at the start of 2010 that the studio was "totally re-engineering the product."[11] Elias Toufexis is reported to have a major role in the game. In August 2011, an unreleased gameplay trailer was leaked online.[12] In May 2011, Ubisoft recently cancelled a number of games, but it was revealed that I Am Alive and another Ubisoft title Beyond Good & Evil 2 were not among them, with Ubisoft simply stating that the cancelled games were unannounced games.[13] On September 29, 2011, a new announcement trailer was released for the game with a release date of "this winter" at the end.[14] On January 23, 2012, the developers announced on Facebook that the game would be available on March 7, 2012.[15]
[edit] References
- ^ Chris Remo (15 January 2010). "Guillemot: I Am Alive Rebooted, Delayed". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26843/Guillemot_I_Am_Alive_Rebooted_Delayed.php. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ "I Am Alive". ESRB. http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=31623. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ "Classification Database – I Am Alive (MA 15+)". Australian Classification Board. 2011-06-28. http://www.classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/5b6ebdff7f5b9a24ca2575ca00062226/778c78e6778fc08cca2578bd005db1bf?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "I Am Alive". Pan European Game Information. http://www.pegi.info/en/index/global_id/505/?searchString=I+am+Alive. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
- ^ "I Am Alive will be a PSN and Xbox Live Game". IGN. IGN Entertainment. September 29, 2011. http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1197282p1.html. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ "I Am Alive Facebook Developer Page". 2012-01-23. http://www.facebook.com/iamalivegame.
- ^ Nelson, Randy (2009-01-06). "I Am Alive: I am first-person, I am not a Jade Raymond game". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/i-am-alive-i-am-first-person-i-am-not-a-jade-rayond-game/. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ Magrino, Tom (2009-03-06). "I Am Alive moves to Ubi Shanghai". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6205717.html. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ Nelson, Randy (2009-09-03). "Rumor: I Am Alive, but I may not look like these screens anymore". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/rumor-i-am-alive-but-i-may-not-still-look-like-these-screens/. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ "Classification database: I AM ALIVE, Computer Games (Multi Platform)". 2011-06-29. http://www.classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/5b6ebdff7f5b9a24ca2575ca00062226/778c78e6778fc08cca2578bd005db1bf?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- ^ Rose, Mike (2011-02-01). "Report: I Am Alive To Be Released As A Digital Download in 2011". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32767/Report_I_Am_Alive_To_Be_Released_As_A_Digital_Download_in_2011.php. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
- ^ I am Alive - Unreleased Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer[dead link]
- ^ Watts, Steve (2011-05-12). "Ubisoft posts $74M net losses, cancels games". Shacknews. http://www.shacknews.com/article/68433/ubisoft-posts-74-million-net. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- ^ "I Am Alive Announcement Trailer". Machinima.com. 2011-09-29. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ8nG13frTs.
- ^ "I Am Alive Facebook Developer Page". 2012-01-23. http://www.facebook.com/iamalivegame.
