American McGee's Modular Made-In-China Fairytale Heading To GameTap
Erstwhile bad-boy game designer American McGee slipped off to China last year and aside from some pro-Wii propaganda and some rumored work on a script for the long lost Oz film, seems to have been quietly working away with his new Shanghai-based studio, Spicy Horse. Well, there was Bad Day In LA, but who's counting?
Counting, to make an intolerable segue last a few words longer, is what you'll be doing if you play American McGee's Grimm, the rumored episodic set in a "dark fairytale universe," which was confirmed today by its publisher, GameTap.
When the 24-episode series launches in the spring of 2008, it will considerably strengthen GameTap's already considerable bid to be the lead digital publisher of episodic content. As GameTap looks to be grooming developers who embrace non-traditional game forms (just look at the episode-friendly Myst Online, resurrected from the gaming graveyard), that stewardship may well pay off.
Whether it pays off enough to bump GameTap from economy to business class may depend in no small part on American McGee... now that's a spicy horse!
GAMETAP ANNOUNCES NEW ORIGINAL TITLE “GRIMM”
American McGee Revisits Classic Tales in New Episodic Game
ATLANTA – May 29, 2007 – GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), announced today the latest addition to the GameTap Originals line-up, American McGee’s Grimm.The title cements GameTap’s leadership position as a digital publisher and pioneer in episodic games. The 24 episode series will debut in the spring of 2008.
“American McGee is one of the best known and most dynamic developers in the industry today and Grimm is the perfect fit with our GameTap Originals brand,” said Ricardo Sanchez, GameTap’s VP of content. “American is really exploring the potential of episodic game development. Adding this exciting new title to our list of already successful episodic game titles shows our commitment to this proven format.”
In keeping with American’s distinct development style on his smash hit game American McGee’s Alice, fans can expect the same twisted treatment of children’s classics, in addition to a fantastical art style, and groundbreaking gameplay elements. American McGee’s Grimm is a narrative-driven, action-adventure game which immerses the player in a world built around some of the best known tales from the Brothers Grimm, including Rapunzel, Rumplestiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White.
“My interpretation of these classic fables will provide gamers with an entertaining and interactive way of experiencing how the stories were originally meant to unfold,” said American McGee, creative director for Spicy Horse. “The ‘chapters’ inherently lend themselves to the new episodic model that GameTap has perfected.”
American McGee’s Grimm is a story-driven action-adventure game. The player interacts with a compelling collection of vividly drawn characters inhabiting a world built around twisted takes on the best-known tales in Western fiction. The game combines familiar exploration and questing conventions with a thematically inspired fighting mechanic based on the notion that “words are weapons”.
Players will experience the game in a sandbox world which contains missions assigned in episodic fashion. Game and narrative concepts equivalent to TV cliffhangers will be used to create game play and story interest to encourage players to keep up with new releases.
Coming Soon to GameTap
On May 31st, 2007, GameTap.com will offer more than 30 free games and hundreds of original videos from GameTap TV. In addition to the free, ad-supported version, “GameTap Gold” will continue to offer access to more than 850 games via a low monthly subscription fee. Visitors to GameTap.com will also have access to the new digital retail storefront, which will offer hundreds of the best new and catalogue PC games for purchase via download.
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 29 May 2007
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