Alone in the Dark: Bomb already?

[maley]

http://kotaku.com/5018149/legal-mess...s#viewcomments

This week, the following events took place: 1. We got a bunch of tips telling us that the Xbox 360 version of Alone in the Dark had turned up on BitTorrent sites. 2. Scandinavian games site GameReactor were one of the first to review Alone in the Dark. They gave it 3/10. Ouch. However, they then promptly pulled the review, and accusations of shady dealings were levelled against the site by Atari, who said that press copies had only been sent out the day before (the review has since been reinstated, and the 3/10 stands). Odd, seeing as many other European publications also had reviews go live this week, but whatever. 3. German site 4Players reviews the game. Gives it 68%. Then is threatened with legal action by Atari because, yes, Atari had no idea how the site got a copy of the game.

4Players' EIC Jörg Luibl says that Atari's lawyers have accused them of "breaking the law and violating the rights of their client (Atari)", all because 4Players reviewed the game prior to its release, but without using a copy sent to them by Atari. 4Players maintain that, like many other games not sent to them by publishers, they secured a copy via a "trusted dealer". Which could well just be a firendly local GAME manager cracking open his shipment of the game before the street date, it could be point #1 (the leaked copies of the game), who knows.

It's interesting that Atari are so worried about publications securing their own copy of a game. Do they fear that, because these outlets may have received copies of the game "early" (ie from pirated copies), that they're somehow reviewing incomplete code, which could affect their opinion of the game? Maybe. Pessimists could, however, be forgiven for thinking it's a convenient excuse for Atari to attack negative reviews of the only game they're releasing in 2008 that has any chance of making them some money.

Commence shitstorm.

[gamerforlife]

like I said horror games are shit.

[GamerGuyX]

I'm really looking forward to this so we will have to see...

[Kabraxal]

With game reviews being horrible and often questionable recently, I am inclined to believe Atari on this.

It is too bad the review industry has basically spiraled into the toilet over the last three years, since at one time it was actually quite useful in decision making for buying a game.

Have the critics become too jaded towards games in general or are the bias' just becoming all the more prevalent (not just toward consoles but towards genres, characters, and even companies themselves)? Soon these critics will be as useless as movie critics and, hopefully, just as ignored if the trend continues.

[Arthur Hucksake]

I thought it looked pretty good for quite some time but do have a gut feeling it will suck balls galore.

[Sulaco]

This game needs more Tara Reid.

[Gbeav]

So the game is shit, no big deal.

[Jerri Blank]

I'm interested in this game and will probably decide for myself. Videos of the game don't indicated to me that it's a 60 dollar game. When I can find it for 20 I'll gladly pick it up. From the reviews I read, I gathered that it has some very fun elements that you'll want to love... it's just the basic mechanics are flawed. Sounds to me like it might be something like two worlds. A clunky game with some fun to be had.

[SoylentGreen]

I thought all 360 games were "awesome", with popups and whoosing sounds..

I wouldn't be suprised to see development studios dropping 360 due it it's insecure platform (combination of DVD and hackable console).

[BlkM383]

this may be just a rent.

[capnmonkey]

7/10 from eurogamer, thats only one point worse than MGS4.

[Stranger Danger]

It may be a crap game but I agree with Atari it seems way to shady to have copies before they were sent one.

[michealo]

7/10 from eurogamer, thats only one point worse than MGS4.

irony defined.

[gamerforlife]

7/10 from eurogamer, thats only one point worse than MGS4.

if every other major review says its crap eurogamer will loose all creditability

[Godstar]

I'll probably get this one as there aren't many horror titles out. I can't wait for Siren ep. #1!