Stranglehold biggest this Xmas

By Games Industry.biz Published 3 August, 2007

Midway justifies money spent.

Midway's European MD Martin Spiess has told GamesIndustry.biz the publisher is investing USD 30 million in upcoming action game Stranglehold.

Spiess claims the new IP could be the most expensive next-generation game in development, but is confident that come the September release the massive investment will pay off, with retail and consumers already very positive about the title.

"[Stranglehold cost] around USD 30 million, so it's possibly the most expensive next-generation game in development to date," said Spiess, in an interview to be published next week.

"The early indications from retail and the consumers are there, so it is going to pay off."

"In order to recoup development money you obviously have to sell a lot of units, but what we're seeing to date is that we will sell those units. Stranglehold will be the top selling title this Christmas," claimed Spiess.

The title has been developed in collaboration with Hollywood director John Woo and action icon Chow Yun-Fat. Pitched as a sequel to the 1992 movie Hard Boiled, the limited edition PlayStation 3 version of the game will include the original film on the Blu-ray disc.

And Spiess is confident that Stranglehold will offer a new experience for next-gen machines, rather than the equivalent of a PC game tweaked for the home console market.

"From a playability standpoint and a technology standpoint, we're delivering something which has not been done before - true next-gen for the first time, rather than just having some PC game ported onto next-gen with higher resolution graphics," he said.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • bengray66 #1 5 years ago

    Can't Woo-ait!

  • Wash #2 5 years ago

    Hmm... i beg to differ.

  • Zomoniac #3 5 years ago

    I bet Midway were running around naked covered in champagne after hearing the Rockstar announcement.

  • Xerx3s #4 5 years ago

    Mildly interested in the game (mostly because I like some of johnwoo's work) but they should fuck off with that 'most expensive game EVA!' pr crap.

    Mainly because it is obviously complete bull.

  • SomaticSense #5 5 years ago

    "From a playability standpoint and a technology standpoint, we're delivering something which has not been done before - true next-gen for the first time, rather than just having some PC game ported onto next-gen with higher resolution graphics,"

    Hmm, never heard of Max Payne then eh? Gimme a fucking break.

    A lesson in how to piss off the rest of gaming industry by speaking complete and utter toss in just about every word spoken, and by showing Sony levels of arrogance.
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/07 @ 09:58

  • menage #6 5 years ago

    The game looks fun though. Not sure if it's "here's my money" fun.

    Demo!

  • Chaote-Imagicka #7 5 years ago

    "the limited edition PlayStation 3 version of the game will include the original film on the Blu-ray disc."

    Isn't that a US only thing though? And even then it's definitely less than a million copies that will have the film on them.

  • Dr.Mott #8 5 years ago

    Bollocks. The top selling game this Christmas will be either: The new Need For Speed, or the new FIFA. Guaranteed.

  • spliffhead #9 5 years ago

    Is the Blue-Ray movie/game combo confirmed for the UK release as the US one is region locked (bastards)?

  • Eighthours #10 5 years ago

    This looked amazing last year, but the extreme delay has really hurt it from a technical point of view. Still, could be fun.. not sure where the "most expensive EVAR!" thing factors into the game from what I've seen so far, though!

  • Fernando #11 5 years ago

    I bet Midway were running around naked covered in champagne after hearing the Rockstar announcement.


    lol, so true

    great timing though

  • afghan_jones #12 5 years ago

    hope its good. sure it will be a whole lotta fun. but yeah, top seller overall will be something cack like the PS2 version of FIFA

  • Uncle_Fishboy #13 5 years ago

    Saw a video of this game recently. I thought it looked rather cack. I'm not interested in this pap. Go away.

  • SBfistfun #14 5 years ago

    I love the smell of bullshit in the morning

    /chews cigar

  • Monkey_Puncher #15 5 years ago

    Does look excellent but true next gen for the first time? So Gears of War was just a figment of my imagination was it....

    Oh and it won't be the top seller, that'll most likely go to The Simpsons game or Fifa or something.
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/07 @ 10:24

  • DB2k #16 5 years ago

    this game looks ace

    How much did Shenmu cost to make? that was a lot wasn't it?

    And given the costs of this are probably mostly going in Woo's Fat's pockets its a bit different.

  • spongebob #17 5 years ago

    Bring on the X360 demo!

  • Zomoniac #18 5 years ago

    Shenmue cost $70 million. Worth every penny. If I was the big Bill G I would personally fund 3's development. However, it does piss on Midway's claims somewhat, when a 7-year old 1.5-gen ago title cost more than double their AMAZINGLY MASSIVE budget.

  • Inquisitor #19 5 years ago

    Somatic sense, you do know the team making this made max payne don't you?

  • vane101 #20 5 years ago

    They're using the same line as 20th Century Fox did with Titanic. The costs overran wildly but instead of sulking about it, Fox boasted that they had made the most expensive film of all time.

    So Midway's costs have not overran, it's just that they've made the most expensive latest gen game yet - and that's a good thing...errr...yeah! :)

  • bushwod #21 5 years ago

    "Stranglehold will be the top selling title this Christmas"

    What?

    Have they not heard of Halo 3.

    Or for that matter Brain Training which will probably outsell it 3 to one.
    These guys are living bubble.

  • easy_lee #22 5 years ago

    Inquisitor, I thought this was developed by the team who made Psi-Ops, and that Alan Wake is being developed by the Max Payne guys ?
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/07 @ 10:54

  • Zomoniac #23 5 years ago

    @BNinjaC

    Stick at it. The first disc is dull, but once you meet Ren everything changes. The third disc (if you're playing the DC version) is just hours of one jaw-dropping set-piece after another.

  • Zomoniac #24 5 years ago

    easy_lee is right, Remedy are doing Alan Wake.

  • Zane #25 5 years ago

    I played the Blacksite demo. If they're going to back up their words. Strangelhold had better be a good deal better than that.

  • Gurgeh #26 5 years ago

    "Is the Blue-Ray movie/game combo confirmed for the UK release as the US one is region locked (bastards)? "

    Midway has got themselves into a right mess over region locking.

    As things stand it seems:
    - *all* PS3 versions of Stranglehold will be region locked, not just the movie/game combo
    - there will be also an XBox 360 version released with a DVD movie, and not region locked
    - Midway's left hand doesn't know what it's right hand is doing...

    "I don't know about Sony's promise, but all PS3 versions of Stranglrhold will not be region free. Sorry guys. "
    - moderator, Midway forum boards

    "It's getting very confusing even with our response from Miday customer support. We are trying to get o hold of a higher up in the midway company to find out exactly what the situation is regarding the PS3 versions, if they are both region free and if the movie will be if it's included on disc. Also we are hearing the 360 collecter version may now include the movie on a seprate DVD. Right now we have to go by what the rep at Midway told us we are just trying to get a 100% confirmation. I will email you back when we hera and post blog about it.

    Thanks,

    Sidney
    Customer Service Representative
    VIDEOGAMESPLUS.CA "

    "I haven't heard back from them yet... But I know that a discussion about the region coding is happening. I know that's no consolation, but please be patient. Thanks, guys. "
    - moderator, Midway forum boards





    Edited by 1 at 03/08/07 @ 11:08

  • afghan_jones #27 5 years ago

    is the demo out next week?

  • Freek #28 5 years ago

    Diden't somebody tell him Halo 3 is out by that time aswell?

  • Les #29 5 years ago

    "What?

    Have they not heard of Halo 3."

    With it being released in September, I'd be amazed if it still tops the charts come December. It's the game xbox fans have been waiting for for four years.

    But I'd be even more amazed if this game sold more than Halo 3 in December.

  • alpha-0ne #30 5 years ago

    It will be lucky to sell a million with all the games out this fall

  • afghan_jones #31 5 years ago

    To be fair, it is among the biggest titles coming out for 360 and PS3 so it will probably do ok overall.

  • Fairlane #32 5 years ago

    Denny Crane !!!!

  • Machetazo #33 5 years ago

    Nice one, Midway, for doing the right thing and clearing up all the confusion by making the PS3 version of Stranglehold region-free. :) Even if the Collector's edition is a US exclusive.

    Source: same as before - Midway forums moderator.

  • MuppetThumper #34 5 years ago

    what a crock of shit. I hope they fall flat on their arses big time. $30million... if its true, it could spell the end of Midway.

    john Woo has been a twat ever since the steaming pile that was MI:2 was released.

    Bye bye Midway, enjoy your last Xmas in the business.

  • SomaticSense #35 5 years ago

    "Somatic sense, you do know the team making this made max payne don't you? "

    No it's not, and I'm not sure what led you to think it was.

    Besides, the point would be moot anyway, as they claim it's something new. It still wouldn't be even if it was the same guys.

  • MyPointIs #36 5 years ago

    Yes, it all reminds me of Titanic.

    The boat, not the movie.

  • HighDef #37 5 years ago

    Wash:

    Who cares if you beg to differ? This shit if gonna move units and if you doubt it just wait and see. It's gonna be huge inthe USA, Europe & Asia.

  • zoidberg #38 5 years ago

    Really? I'm not that interested in it.