Team17 reveals Alien Breed structure

By Ellie Gibson Published 29 October, 2009

Each episode to last five to eight hours.

Team17's John Dennis has revealed what we can expect from the new Alien Breed game for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Speaking at the Eurogamer Expo in Leeds yesterday, Dennis confirmed that Alien Breed Evolution will be released in the form of three episodes. "In each episode there's a prologue level, then there are five single-player levels and they're really large... Much larger than they should have been," he said.

"There are also two set pieces in each episode. For example there's one where the ship goes through an asteroid field, there's debris coming up through the floor and the air's running out... There are also two boss battles in each episode, then on top of that there are three multiplayer levels."

According to Dennis, each episode will take "five to eight hours" to complete. You'll be able to try out each one by downloading the prologue for free. There's no word yet on when the first episode will be released or how much it will cost. You can check out all the gubbins we've got on it via the gamepage, though.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • Hunam #1 2 years ago

    I think I'll just get one of them tbh.

  • spadge #2 2 years ago

    Certainly won't be 1600pts per episode, but we can't confirm what it will be yet.

    And it's not "the same thing 3 times over".

  • Drpwnage #3 2 years ago

    Rather looking forward to revisiting Alien Breed after 16 years absence!

  • KujiGhost #4 2 years ago

    Sold either way!

  • mkreku #5 2 years ago

    Ellie's articles has taught me more English than nine years worth of school has ever managed. "gubbins".

    /takes notes

  • Redeye #6 2 years ago

    Same as that, Drpwnage.

    Hope everything's progressing well, spadge - the anticipation levels are reaching dribbling point. :)

  • spadge #7 2 years ago

    The reception for the game in Leeds was terrific. So we're very happy.

  • menage #8 2 years ago

    Damn, seems like this is taking forever:p

    I could use something like this right now.

  • spadge #9 2 years ago

    Things just tend to sit in the XBLA cert loop for a while, unfortunately, just how it is. We're pleased to say that it's almost out of there now. We have no fixed release date as yet until it comes out and we discuss with the people at Microsoft.

  • Muzakjunkie #10 2 years ago

    Very much looking forward to this. I await with eager anticipation.

  • bodypopper #11 2 years ago

    So are we talling about a top down Left 4 Dead-style multiplayer game where no two games are the same?
    I do hope so.

  • vegard #12 2 years ago

    excited to re-live childhood memories! of alien breed of course...

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #13 2 years ago

    The game really did look fantastic, and played fantastic too - even my mate from work, who's not, ahem, as much of a gamer as I, was really impressed. He said it was the third best thing in the show, after nVidia's 3D glasses and the nVidia PR girl showing off the 3D glasses ;-)

    As far as pricing goes, I'd imagine 1200 points an episode, which, given the quality of the graphics and the size of the game, seems OK. I've already told the missus she'll need to get me some more MS points for Xmas, what with this and the Perfect Dark remake.

    Also like to say John's talk was really good, very informative. And it was great to chat to John and Martyn afterwards too.

  • wizlon #14 2 years ago

    Cheers Spadge. I'm really looking forward to these, so much so I'm going to blindly purchase all three regardless of the media coverage. And if I do that then maybe Superfrog and ATR will reappear!

  • SlackMaster #15 2 years ago

    I've really been looking forward to this, especially considering the shit they've been releasing on XBLA recently.

    Did they mention if there would be co-op on the campaign mode over live?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #16 2 years ago

    @ SlackMaster

    The co-op will be local and over Live, they said.

    They also said there'll be three co-op only levels in each episode. My inner 10-year-old Amiga owner squealed with delight the whole way through.

  • Sniper_007 #17 2 years ago

    We played this at Eurogamer on Tuesday and was very impressed!!! My mate was the guy who's first question was "how many achievements will it have - the bloody achievement whore"!!

    It definitely had the right balance of retro and modern, and the dual stick controls were very smooth... even if our co-operation skills were somewhat lacking!!

    Hopefully if this is successful the next game for a re-make will be Project-X (can't believe I forgot to ask if this was a possibility!!!)

  • Muzakjunkie #18 2 years ago

    @ Wizlon - Good shout on Superfrog!

  • CrispyLog #19 2 years ago

    Will the first episode be released this side of christmas though? I can't help but think that with the next six months full of great full price games it might be best released in the summer. That's when most arcade games seem to do the best.

  • sneetch #20 2 years ago

    Sounds good to me. Since HL2 I've liked the idea of episodes of games. Hopefully, unlike HL2, they won't be 8 bazillion years apart. ;)

  • muscleblade #21 2 years ago

    5-8 hours per episode sounds like a lot for a game like this. This is a kind of game thats best played in shorter bursts. I like the episode structure though.

  • beastmaster #22 2 years ago

    Went to the presentation at Leeds expo. Had a go on the game. I am one very happy bunny. Didn't ask about when you're bringing Project X, but I was tempted.

    I do have a question for Spadge. Are all 3 episodes complete already? I've got nothing against the staggered release . It's kind of a stealth 'are you working on anything else?' question ;-)

    Edit: Not Project X

    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 12:13

  • superted1974 #23 2 years ago

    @ Spadge

    Is PS3 version being held back while MS sort ther certification?

    Many happy hours playing this on Amiga and defo will be buying at least one installment on PS3 when available.

  • Phattso #24 2 years ago

    I'm happy to be convinced otherwise, but three episodes (let's presume 800pts a pop) is probably going to work out quite pricey vs. a retail release. But there is absolutely no doubt that at least the first episode will be mine, sight unseen. And if it comes this side of Christmas it'll wrap up an excellent year as far as I'm concerned. :)

  • chiz #25 2 years ago

    Why do people have to have 40+ hours of gameplay? I could complete Sonic in a few hours, yet it didn't stop me going back for more.

  • hiddenranbir #26 2 years ago

    Can't wait for this to hit STEAM.
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 13:36

  • Incarta #27 2 years ago

    Not another worms ga-Wait, WHAT!?!

    Good on ya Team17!

  • Roamer #28 2 years ago

    Can't remember... did this have RPG elements? and split-screen co-op? If so, I'm buying :) In fact, any game that checks those two boxes is almost guaranteed a purchase from me.

  • Retroid #29 2 years ago

    400 points each would be instabuy, 800 points each ... hmm.

    But if it was 800 for the first and then 400 each for the next two, I reckon that'd do well.

  • TruWari3r #30 2 years ago

    sold!!

    still spadge, any idea on the pricing?

  • spadge #31 2 years ago

    Beastmaster, first episode was content complete mid summer and has been in the certification loop a while now. Episode 2 is nearly at it's beta stage (internal) and episode 3 a little behind that. It's been staggered purposefully but it's not a case of make episode 1, see how it does, we're committed to all 3. We are working on other stuff too. And yes, that includes Worms and new IP.

    The game (single player) can be played in 5-6hrs, has save points and is multilevel, meaning you can play a little or enjoy the whole lot in a lengthy sitting. Single player is slower, creepier and narrative driven, multiplayer is co-op arcade frenzy :)

    It really has been great to read of players reactions and was nice to get direct feedback from players at the event, its been a while since we've been able to interact with players so closely.
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 14:19

  • spadge #32 2 years ago

    Forgot to say that it's a shame we didn't get it down to London, we just used the opportunity of it being local to demo it at Leeds, which was it's first public airing.

  • NGCes26294BIV #33 2 years ago

    5 - 8 hours according to dev = 3 - 4 hours in real-time :-)

    Seriously though - looking forward to this - if the price is right.

  • Phattso #34 2 years ago

    It's not at the London Expo? Oh. Pish. Still, one less game to check out on Saturday = more drinking time.

  • Ace_McCloud #35 2 years ago

    Great to see a developer coming out to answer questions. Generally imagine that your comments go unheard in these threads.

    Game looks great. At the right price will be buying. Anything over 1000 and probably won't.

  • lavalant #36 2 years ago

    "Single player is slower, creepier and narrative driven"

    Definitely what I'm looking forward to the most, I was worried it would turn out to be another Acadey twin stick shooter.

  • spadge #37 2 years ago

    Each edition ships with a 'prologue' level that isn't part of the main game (we haven't just used 10mins or the first section of the story) so you can certainly try before you leap to the purchase. That goes for co-op levels too. When you have the full game, the shorter prologue level is still playable in open play as it has a score leaderboard attached.

  • wizlon #38 2 years ago

    Stop it Spadge, you're making me want this more and more... and it hasn't got a release date yet either!

  • Shinetop #39 2 years ago

    Is this from the company that made Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust? *ducks*

  • spadge #40 2 years ago

    It is. It makes a hell of a difference when you are wholly responsible for all content, the vision and the delivery of all aspects of the production, without unnecessary intervention.

    It's also from the same developer that has made a fair amount of good titles, one or two cult classics and a fair few chart-toppers - we've admitted that Larry wasn't amongst our best and there were reasons for that. /takes it on the chin.

  • TheBlackBandit #41 2 years ago

    Highly respectable answer, there, Spadge. Can you comment on a release date? I can't seem to find one.

  • Shinetop #42 2 years ago

    Fair enough, spadge. It's just that the two are irrevokably linked in my mind, since you mentioned Alien Breed pretty much every time somebody spoke ill of Box Office Bust.

    Still, AB deserves to be judged on its own merit.

  • kosigan #43 2 years ago

    Loved Alien Breed on the Amiga, so this a definite-buy when it comes out - Episode 1, anyway; whether or not I get the subsequent episodes will depend on how much I like the first, of course. Oh, and put me down as a +1 for the Project-X remake. I still have that and Alien Breed: Tower Assault on floppy disk that I play using DosBox on my PC!

  • spadge #44 2 years ago

    Yes it does, it's an entirely different title, developed in a completely different environment i.e. breed is a self-published, self-funded, self-developed game - larry was a licensed, publisher content & design led, that went through 3 different publishers before it was released and a very long a protracted publisher aquisition process (Vivendi-Activision) where publisher input on the title totally stalled and we were surprised it ever was finished given many titles were ceased by Activision/Vivendi in that period.

    I'm not sure how the titles are linked. They're about as linked as Worms 2 Armageddon is to Larry, as Worms PSN is or Worms iPhone, i.e. not very. I defended criticism of the studio at that point because the studio was building some very good things (Alien Breed, the Worms titles I mentioned - which all went to no.1, btw) and it's very easy to have a pop when you just don't know the facts behind why things sometimes don't work out.

    It's nice now to be working in an environment where we are ultimately responsible. If there are issues, then it's us that are responsible. It's impossible to make a game that everyone will like/play/enjoy so we don't try and do that, we try and make a title that has a very broad appeal and with Breed we've taken a few steps backwards in order to go forward, in terms of a much more casual, looser game experience given there's a ton of very deep games out there. The game is immediately enjoyable and audio-visually stimulating, will be at a fair price and you can play before you buy - hopefully it'll appeal to those players we think it will, since we've gone out on a bit of a limb production-wise. However, it was important to remind people we were capable of something like this after a long series of (very successful) Worms titles. There's more to come, different stuff, too.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #45 2 years ago

    I'd love to see some brand new IP from Team 17, but part of me craves new versions of Superfrog (XBLA needs a decent platformer), Assassin (still my second-favourite T17 Amiga title just behind Alien Breed), and Body Blows (only beat-em-up I've EVER completed).

    Why don't more developers respond to EG comments?! It's great!

  • spadge #46 2 years ago

    Cheers for that, we may bring some of the older stuff back at some point, but actually new IP is in the works right now :)

  • mcwildcard #47 2 years ago

    Are you looking at a simultaneous release on the PSN?

  • spadge #48 2 years ago

    No, Alien Breed leads on the 360, there's a few reasons for that - and none of them sinister, I might add.

    We have good working relationships with both camps (Microsoft & Sony) but Alien Breed will appear on 360 first. Apologies in advance to PS3/PSN people.

  • sneetch #49 2 years ago

    Thanks spadge, it's good to hear these things from the horse's mouth. :)

  • Pablo2k5 #50 2 years ago

    This looks/sounds good but... where's fuckin PC version???

  • markopoloman #51 2 years ago

    Indeed! Where is the PC version? No chance we will see it on Steam? Or maybe a direct download from your own site - cutting out the middle man??

    Oh, and SUPERFROG needs a remake ;)

  • spadge #52 2 years ago

    PC will come on Steam later. (It's fully playable)
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/09 @ 19:30

  • hiddenranbir #53 2 years ago

    It will come on Steam. That is why I said I can't wait for it to come on Steam.

    Check the Team17 forums they say the version is full steam ahead!

  • Shinetop #54 2 years ago

    I'm not sure how the titles are linked. They're about as linked as Worms 2 Armageddon is to Larry, as Worms PSN is or Worms iPhone, i.e. not very.

    They're linked because you linked them. Whenever somebody on here talked about how awful Larry was, you said "Wait for Alien Breed" in defense. I don't see what links them either, but that didn't stop you from linking them.

    I mean seriously, if your response to criticism of your crappy game is deflecting attention to your upcoming awesome game, don't get all whiny when people do the reverse.

  • Shinetop #55 2 years ago

    And honestly, if I had said "Isn't this by the company that made Worms and Superfrog?", would you have been all "Nothing links those games and Alien Breed and it's unfair to compair them to Alien Breed", or harped on about how the production circumstances were different?

    But hey, I guess it's only okay if people point out the good stuff you've done, huh?

  • spadge #56 2 years ago

    Pointless direction you're going in, enough.

  • septimus #57 2 years ago

    Nice.... but I still just want a conversion of the original :(

    Maybe a twin stick control version for the iPhone spadge? Please? :)

  • bad09 #58 2 years ago

    oooh it's coming to Steam as well? Don't make us wait for PC Spadge!

  • coomber #59 2 years ago

    I definitely would have got this on my PS3...had Sony not screwed over my HD with f***ing Home. F***ing Sony twats!

  • Shinetop #60 2 years ago

    It's the direction you took when you constantly deflected attention from Larry by pointing to Alien Breed, spadge.

    But hey, classic Team 17 response. So is there an AMIGAPOWER cheat code this time?
    Edited by 1 at 30/10/09 @ 08:37

  • GamesConnoisseur #61 2 years ago

    Amiga was my favourite home computer and loved Team 17 games, I bought almost all the products and still have Alien Breeds at home! Looking very much forward to the game coming out on XBL.

    Good work lads and all the best for the sales and further games and fingers crossed that we ll see some more familar titles.

  • septimus #62 2 years ago

    I still have them on my CD32, but it's a pain in the ass to setup on a 1080P HDTV and not have it look hideous.

  • clockworkzombie #63 2 years ago

    Maybe I am being a little harsh but I have had enough of Team17, lets remake worms for the next 10 years. I will not buy another version. I have 3 versions at home and I think that is enough.

    Here we go again. Episodic Alien Breed. There is the next 10 years of games sorted. Let us spend the rest of our lives raping the back catalogue as we cannot seem to come up with anything new.