Apologies if this has already been posted; hopefully it was just a bad day at the office.

 

http://play.tm/preview/26363/alpha-protocol/

Too much baseless nitpicking in this preview.

 

Alpha Protocol is what it is - by now you should get an idea what you can expect. Like it and buy it, or don't.

I think that one was already posted, can't remember where though... probably in the topic about IGN's preview?

For what it's worth, here are two other previews that were written by people who saw the game at the same time and in the same session as the Play magazine author:

 

http://www.gameon.co.uk./game/preview/xbox...om-2009-preview

 

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2009/08/...-2009-day-two/2

 

"This is, by far, the game that we most want from GamesCom 2009 so far. It simply looks fantastic and, if Sega and Obsidian manage to pull it off, this could be a decent spiritual successor to Deus Ex"

 

So...yeah.

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2009/08/...-2009-day-two/2

 

"This is, by far, the game that we most want from GamesCom 2009 so far. It simply looks fantastic and, if Sega and Obsidian manage to pull it off, this could be a decent spiritual successor to Deus Ex"

 

So...yeah.

 

There we go! A PC-centric site preview.

 

Thank you Mr. Rorie.

It just clicked in my head how similar AP is to Deus Ex. Weird how I didnt notice that before

The play.com preview seemed mostly concerned with visuals. While I expect great things out of Obsidian, I do not realistically expect their games to look like Uncharted.

Sounds like this guy was trying make mountains out of mole hills to me. I have seen enough of the game customization-wise, gameplay-wise, dialog-wise and story-wise to know that I am going to dig the hell out of the game, regardless of nit picky reviews. I love my fantasy and sci fi rpgs, but the genre needs something fresh, to put it mildly. AP is looking like it will fill that void for me. I just hope that October holds for the release.

This paired with the IGN preview... not looking too good right now.

Thread disappoints. I was hoping this would be a preview by popular jazz magazine DownBeat.

Thread disappoints. I was hoping this would be a preview by popular jazz magazine DownBeat.

 

That was my first thought too . . .

Sheeesh. A 'reviewer' which can't be bothered to actually play the game(I would assume)...how can you take it seriously?

 

Not ONCE in that review does he spell Mikes name right. 'Thornton' everywhere. Seven separate counts. And not Thorton once.

O noes, game journalists not actually up to journalism standards.

 

Stop the internets!

Edited September 1, 200916 yr by Purkake

With a story rivalling the best spy-thriller novels and an immersive, ultra-realistic espionage world, Alpha Protocol will redefine the RPG genre for the next-gen gamer.

 

I think they're sugarcoating a bit.

It's like Yin and Yang, they balance out in the end. Or maybe not.

It's like Yin and Yang, they balance out in the end. Or maybe not.

 

On one hand, as a consumer, I'm fond of hearing counter points to commodities I praise. It helps me keep a balanced perspective (depending on the complaints).

 

On the other hand, speaking as one who wants Alpha Protocol to succeed despite any inherent limitations of the design, I worry what negative press will do to this title's reception given Sega's meager advertising campaign and stiff competition.

 

Oh well..

Edited September 2, 200916 yr by Anarchosyn

It has been shown time and time again that reviews have very little, if any effect on sales, at least for console titles.

Because the console gaming peasants can't read.

Edited September 2, 200916 yr by RPGmasterBoo

Most people buy the best marketed games and games that their friends play.

Most people buy the best marketed games and games that their friends play.

So, what you're saying is that we... *gasp* need to make friends?!

It couldn't hurt.

It has been shown time and time again that reviews have very little, if any effect on sales, at least for console titles.

 

Has it really? At best I think you can say their hasn't been a correlation between positive reviews and a game's success. However, even this is questionable since there may have been other factors at work here. One could easily claim there was evidence of negative reviews impacting the success of a title, but - again - other factors could easily mess up your data.

 

I certainly wouldn't want to take on that study..

 

Anyhow, my point is you can't really say that definitely.

 

*eDit: Oh, and the influence of a media source is a function of its size and readership (perhaps even the educational levels of its readership, but we can ignore that one for now). IGN panning AP would certainly effect sales more than Game's Radar or The RPG Codex.

 

*eDit #2: Ok, upon a five second reflection I'm of the opinion mediated opinions certainly have an effect. The only question is how large this effect is, not whether it is present at all.

Edited September 3, 200916 yr by Anarchosyn

Here are some links on the subject.

Edited September 3, 200916 yr by Purkake

Another preview by MSXbox-World about Alpha Protocol, based on the version of the Gamescom.

 

Can't wait for more info from PAX, if I remember well, there would be a playable version, right?

Yup. PAX's a playable version for the public. But you have to play the Sega's Amazing Race to get it I heard.