Alien Breed PC/PS3 sort of dated

By Oli Welsh Published 9 December, 2009

Following 360 version over 6 months.

Team17 has revealed that its download remake, Alien Breed Evolution, will be released on PC in the first quarter of 2010, and on PS3 in the second quarter.

The word came from the studio's Mark Baldwin in an interview with GamerZines.

Alien Breed Evolution will, however, appear on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, 16th December. Baldwin explained that the initial exclusivity to Xbox 360 was down to Team17's good relationship with Microsoft.

"To be honest, because of the success we had on the 360 with Worms, it made perfect sense to approach Microsoft with Alien Breed first. We were considering the episodic approach and wanted to talk to people who had experienced it, and Microsoft were really good. We had some great discussions and things just moved on from there," he said.

Alien Breed Evolution, a remake of the Amiga's classic co-op shooter, will be released as a trilogy. Hands-on impressions and more at the gamepage.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wizlon #1 2 years ago

    These sort of exclusivity deals just seem pointless to me, surely it's just alienating half of your audience? I was going to be getting it on 360 anyway so it doesn't really bother me anyway.

  • hiddenranbir #2 2 years ago

    I want it noooww!

  • penhalion #3 2 years ago

    "released as a trilogy"

    Er what? So I'm going to be buying essentially the same game three times.

    *scratches it off list*

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    Oh well, at least I won't need to wait as long as the poor PS3 guys.

  • Optimaximal #5 2 years ago

    FAO: Team17 - Microsoft also make the Windows platform.

    I take it they only have a 'good relationship' with the entertainment division (you know, the ones that sent them a pot of money for the exclusive).

  • MasterNameless #6 2 years ago

    I was under the impression that, as Team 17 aren't a paticularly huge dev, and they have to pick one of the three platforms to release the game on first anyway, as they don't have the time or money to do all three platforms at once. Their 'good relationship' with Microsoft doesn't necessarily mean any more than that. Ane they not bound to release on the platform they'd get the biggest return on first?

    On no, silly me. It's bound to be some sort of conspiracy. :/
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 14:20

  • Murton #7 2 years ago

    Well that sucks, was really looking forward to getting my hands on this but that wait has put me off a little. Does it really take 6 months to do a port of a short arcade title? As this is an episodic release doesn't that mean 360 users will be on episode 2 or even 3 before the PS3 guys actually get to play it at all?

    It would seem that Team 17 quite aren't as independent and fan driven as they claim to be. Hopefully the PC and PS3 guys will get either a discount or additional content to make the wait worth it, otherwise I fear the game may not achieve the success that Team 17 is looking for, and deservedly so.
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 10:54

  • miiiguel #8 2 years ago

    I don't see any problem if MS gave Team17 some cash, money well spent. Have a drink on me with the money Mr. Team 17, enjoy!
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 10:54

  • wizlon #9 2 years ago

    The thing is that they are using the Unreal 3 engine so porting between systems shouldn't be too insane, other developers manage it with minimum fuss. Oh well, no matter. As long as it's good then I don't really care which system it comes out on first last or whatever.

  • Xerx3s #10 2 years ago

    Why is it that whenever people develop on a platform first, everybody automatically assumes that a big money hat has been thrown around.
    One of the first things you do when you pen down the design documents is think long and hard about what platforms you are going to use and how you are going to use them. It is very well possible that T17 learned from previous experiences that XBLa was the most profitable and easiest to develop for. It would only be logical then to develop everything around that and when some human resources are no longer needed for that process to switch them to porting the assets to other platforms.
    There are loads of other things that could have enforced the choice as well. QA i.e. MS's QA is pretty good and global. If you get it through that then it is only a small step extra to get it through PC QA as well.

    Do you people really think that if MS threw down a money hat, they wouldn't be promoting the shit out of it like they did with shadowcomplex? You know, instead of being completely silent on it as they are now?

  • stampax #11 2 years ago

    Really dont believe this is an exclusivity deal. Cant belive its that big a game that MS would pay them. Maybe they are just, you know, telling the truth.
    I do really want this on the ps3, but if i have to wait a few months it isnt the end of the world.

  • Murton #12 2 years ago

    Xerxes: MS QA is actually quite bad, and it's not "global" either, it's American and is just applied to the rest of the world. As long as compliance issues EFIGS and LIVE features are supported correctly they're really not bothered. And PC has no QA cert process, even if you go down the GFW route the only checks MS bother with are links to the LIVE system and the gamerscore system, so don't pin this one on QA limitations.

    At the moment the only explanations are: paid exclusivity (as suggested by the term "working relationship";) or that the work on the PS3 version simply hasn't been started yet. One of the key advantages of the Unreal 3 engine is how well ports between platforms, if this project was truly cross-platform from the outset then any delay would come from the game not passing Sony certification and that would result in a delay of a month at the very most, not six.

  • figgis #13 2 years ago

    Fucking developers, trying to make money....

    They should release it for nothing.

  • mkreku #14 2 years ago

    I don't understand why they can't release it on the PC at the same time though?

  • moggsy #15 2 years ago

    and because of piracy being rife on the PC too...

  • miiiguel #16 2 years ago

    MS at most can sabotage *Windows* as a gaming platform, "PC" is a open platform no one is forced to use Windows. As a gaming platform.
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 11:51

  • kipper #17 2 years ago

    It's been 15 years or so of waiting, since I last played Alien Breed. Come on, everyone please stop moaning about a few months delay for PC/PS3.

  • kipper #18 2 years ago

    "That's because MS is actively sabotaging the PC as a gaming platform."

    Oh come on, please tell me you're not being serious with that remark.

  • bad09 #19 2 years ago

    "That's because MS is actively sabotaging the PC as a gaming platform. "

    Eh? They saved it for me...

  • MasterNameless #20 2 years ago

    Gamers love to moan though, and generally be miserable. Oh yeah, and everything's a conspiracy that involves someone being paid off by a major corporation at every turn. Don't you know.

  • drumbaby #21 2 years ago

    Seeing as I don't have an Xbox 360 and I don't game on my PC, the choice is very simple: I'm getting the PS3 version.

  • menage #22 2 years ago

    Well, at least there's pixeljunk tomorrow:)

  • septimus #23 2 years ago

    Ricockulous.

    /don't want the 360 version, PS3 friends list more active. :(
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 12:53

  • Dizzy #24 2 years ago

    >"That's because MS is actively sabotaging the PC as a gaming platform."

    >Oh come on, please tell me you're not being serious with that remark.

    Don't worry... it is all part of the emo whiner culture.

    Some kids think it is cool.

    We never hire them though... but I am sure they can keep busy moaning on the Internet.
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 14:17

  • MasterNameless #25 2 years ago

    "Quite a few are very naive here.", he says, whilst adjusting his tinfoil hat.

  • MasterNameless #26 2 years ago

    We aren't naive, we're actually a race of lizards, slowly bringing the human race round to the acceptance of major corporations through the evil methods of common sense and logic. We'll then use them as the tools for our first stage of attack. World domination will be ours!

    There are so many knee-jerk reactions here, anyone would think it's a line dancing site, not a gaming one. -.-

    Edit: Less boring? :D
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/09 @ 14:30

  • Xerx3s #27 2 years ago

    Murton: Thank you for picking out what you want and completely ignoring the rest of my comment.

  • ziggy_played_guitar #28 2 years ago

    Join us whis Saturday in Copenhagen! We're bringing the city down! Seatle allover again. Go anarchist, or esle! Stop the evil corporations!

    20char we're counting on you! Words only take you that far.

    <a href="http://www.cli mate-justice-action.org/
    ">http://www.cli mate-justice-action.org/
    </a>

    Copenhagen is going down! Direct action against them evil corps!
    Edited by 3 at 09/12/09 @ 17:47

  • the_mtfr #29 2 years ago

    I'm so glad for a Windows release. Guess there's no point in asking for a Linux one too? Although we do have both Shadowgrounds now on Linux... would be nice for competition.

  • makeamazing #30 2 years ago

    I think if you look at the wording, it doesnt actually mention exclusivity, just that they have a good relationship with MS... I suspect its just the PS3 version is delayed due to programming or something. I just dont see MS wanting exclusivity on this type of game... but ive been wrong before :D

  • Bonders99 #31 2 years ago

    @makeamazing
    "I think if you look at the wording, it doesnt actually mention exclusivity, just that they have a good relationship with MS... I suspect its just the PS3 version is delayed due to programming or something. I just dont see MS wanting exclusivity on this type of game... but ive been wrong before :D"

    I think you are wrong again :-)

    This is part of the press release

    "Initially exclusive to Xbox 360, the trilogy will also be available for PC and PlayStation3 in 2010."