Alpha Protocol now down for summer?

By Oli Welsh Published 8 February, 2010

Slight slip from spring suggested.

MTV Multiplayer (via Joystiq) reports that Obsidian's espionage RPG Alpha Protocol is now down for a "summer 2010" release.

The last we heard from publisher SEGA was that Alpha Protocol had been delayed from Ocotober last year to spring 2010. SEGA has yet to independently confirm the delay, which would see the game released in the July to September period rather than April to June.

Meanwhile, assistant SEGA producer Matthew Hickman told MTV Multiplayer that the original reasons for the delay were general polish, graphical and feature improvements, and positioning in the release schedule.

"We had a few reasons for doing it," he said. "One: We wanted to position it better, give it a lot of time. The main reason: We really wanted to polish the game up, make it everything Obsidian planned it to be, and give the consumer a very polished game.

"We added a couple of other things. Tweaks in lighting here and there, added the inventory comparison screen so you can compare what you're buying to what you have equipped."

For more on the game check out the Alpha Protocol 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 (16) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • HermitArcader #1 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • LHH #2 2 years ago

    Damn, am really looking forward to this. Although the continued delays hopefully means the game is well realised and polished by release day comes around.

  • RobotRocker #3 2 years ago

    That or they are really, really committed to releasing an actual finished game.

  • Hantheman #4 2 years ago

    I hope Obsidian pull this off. But they are just a poor quality Bioware/Bethesda aren't they?

  • mkreku #5 2 years ago

    Sounds like they're spending the delay wisely. All RPG:s should have an equipment comparison feature!

  • Masaroth #6 2 years ago

    Glad to see obsidian be allowed to take there time with this. Rather than forced by publishers to release it early. Looking at you KOTOR2.

  • Evolution #7 2 years ago

    @Masaroth

    Hear hear.

    Plus there is far too much out in this period for me to play anyway.

  • Lee_Morris #8 2 years ago

    I think this game will do better in the summer and away from Mass Effect 2.

    I'm not too sure if Bethesda Softworks will be too happy, although I don't believe there is a hope in hell of New Vagas making it out this year.

  • dirk_aircool #9 2 years ago

    If it was due last October the planned release date of September onward is hardly a small slippage, it could be a year. it should be so shinny that you'll need a welding mask just to look at the box.
    Edited by 1 at 08/02/10 @ 11:08

  • Murton #10 2 years ago

    Hantheman: I wouldn't say that they're "poor quality" Bioware, just a less experienced Bioware, a sugar free version maybe and I certainly don't want to see a "poor quality Bethesda" after the buggy/broken mess that was Failout 3.

    This year looks like it's going to be the year of the delayed release as Vertical Stand pointed out. But these guys have explained their reasoning for the delay properly and I'm still looking forward to this game despite delay, in fact I'm looking forward to it a little more now that I know it's getting a little extra polish and an item comparison features, something which too many RPGs games seem to be missing these days.

  • Hantheman #11 2 years ago

    Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed NWN2, but comapre it to NWN1 and it's a startling drop in quality. I suppose they are a lot less exprienced, but they did come from Bioware, so you'd of thought such a drop wouldn't be so obvious.

  • cobaltfram #12 2 years ago

    I do worry for Obsidian though, because delays mean more development money, and this game is a new IP that hasn't had a storm of publicity surrounding it. It will hopefully sell, but I really can't see it selling through the roof like a "successful" new IP release (Bioshock comes to mind). I hope it does well, but I worry that SEGA will be displeased with a game that doesn't light the year on fire, which, considering its competition, Alpha Protocol probably won't.

  • Tin-cz #13 2 years ago

    People are you nuts ???
    They are not less experienced

    "they did come from Bioware" WHAT ?
    (They cooperated few times yes)

    Most of them come from Black isle
    Fallout1 and 2
    Planescape: Torment
    Icewind Dale

  • Rodriguez #14 2 years ago

    Yikes, I've just realised I'd pre-ordered this from an Argos 20% off sale last year!! Had totally forgotten about it! Hopefully it'll be a nice surprise when it pops through the letter box when it gets released, because a spy-rpg sounded like a unique concept. It's nice to see Obsidian given the time to put some polish on it too, KOTOR 2 was forced out much too quickly by LucasArts, and Obsidian unfairly took the blame.

  • the_mtfr #15 2 years ago

    Alpha Protocol is my highlight of the year. Whatever year it may come out in. Initially it was 2009 since I have it pre-ordered. Good thing I'm a patient man :)

  • djed #16 2 years ago

    It still tickles my fancy.