Potentially bad news for Remedy Entertainment, as its long-awaited horror title Alan Wake, an Xbox 360 exclusive, apparently moved only about 88,000 units in its first week of release.
88K in Week Zero is not a disaster, especially if you consider Remedy’s track record – Max Payne was also very long in the oven, and only sold heavily after the almost universally-positive reviews inundated the marketplace. However, it’s not a good number, and it likely has caused some sleepless nights among employees of the Finnish developer.
While we’ll have to wait a month or so to see whether Alan Wake develops a long tail, as it might; the fact is the game has received some pretty darn positive press (see Kotaku’s review, and 1UP’s) and it’s possible that sales will grow over time. With a couple of other high-profile releases in the same time frame (SMB Galaxy 2, Red Dead Redemption, etc.), Alan Wake may simply not have the name recognition.
I myself was displeased with the DLC model the game’s been trumpeting, and many have been ticked by publisher Microsoft’s decision to make the game a 360 exclusive. But despite these issues I’ve been impressed by the reviews and I’d hate to see Remedy fail because of poor Alan Wake sales. They’ve already said that they pretty much bet the farm on this game – unsurprising, since it’s been in development for six years and Remedy hasn’t released a game since Max Payne 2 – so an 88,177 sales figure can’t make anyone very happy.
Of course, Alan Wake has changed a lot since its original design, which had been an open world psychological thriller with a nonlinear storyline and Twin Peaks-ian mystery solving. The game’s now strictly linear and episodic, to the point of episode recaps and new-episode DLC (which, for some reason, both Microsoft and Remedy have insisted will not actually extend the storyline). Horror games are a dime a dozen; the segment has grown so complex that only the really innovative ones are drawing any attention right now, and for better or for worse, most people who haven’t played Alan Wake are equating it mentally with Alone in the Dark: that 2009 remake of a remake that failed catastrophically, its clever ideas ruined by lazy implementation. Actual reviewers seem to think that Alan Wake is way better than that, but what the reviewers think is kind of irrelevant if no one buys the game.
I would like to buy Alan Wake, but I’m quite literally buried under a mountain of games to play right now. Alan will have to wait.
Email the author of this post at steerpike@tap-repeatedly.com.
Even though I see “ALAN WAKE!” every two seconds on every gaming site from here to the moon, no one seems to bother talking about any specifics about the game, but rather mostly about what it used to be. A lot of the hype reminds me of Firefly fans before the show was canceled. They were so busy telling me that it was a show by the guy who did Buffy and Angel (two shows I didn’t care for) that they never told me what the show was about.
People who were anticipating the game and knew about Remedy seemed to be interested, but unless you were willing to hunt for specifics, there hasn’t been a lot of concrete details. Most news articles have been talking about how it has been delayed and it’s a psychological horror game. That’s been a majority of the press coverage.
This game has been terribly marketed and the DLC idea is doomed for failure.
Could the game have a more boring character, or character name though? Although I too hve heard good things Steerpike, it just looks cookie-cutter to me. It seems to lack any originality and I think because of the characte, and the setting it’s hard to market to the masses.
I guess the character name means something, in a pun-kinda-way. Really obvious though, heh. Then again, overload of endings for both Lost and Ashes to Ashes makes meaningful-or-pun-names the norm! (Now wouldn’t an Life on Mars game be actually a really fun way of doing a plot with episodes?) I’ve no idea what the character is actually like though, having not played it.
Since it’s gone Xbox 360 exclusive colour me “can’t buy” I guess. I’d have thought the sales numbers on at the least PC, and even the PS3 would improve numbers somewhat too. MS must have made a great deal, especially to make it DLC based, something I don’t see as really a good thing in any real way. If they mean Episodic, come out and say it dammit – Telltale are up front and honest about this, as are others, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to not outright lie about something being sold. (On-disk DLC is getting that way too…looking at you EA and Mass Effect 2…). I also see no possible way DLC couldn’t be tied to a/the narrative in the game, just is impossible for a narrative-based game.
I’ll like a review if it comes up here before I even check it out in passing or not. I agree with Jason; all I’ve read is how it was, seemingly not what it is, so some perspective from the seasoned horror-etc-genre people here would be good. I do love Max Payne…I hope they don’t go under.
PS not related to above at all: It’s weird, I just realised this site doesn’t have a preview button for posts. Perhaps add one?
(I’ve forgotten if BB code works in WordPress comments tbh and can’t be bothered to change it all now!). I can say “Filosofo Comments Preview” works well. I’ve not commented for ages since I’ve had little to say, but yeah, this would mean I can check my formatting 
Oh, well, seems BBcode won’t work (forgot that) sorry for those seeing [i] a lot
in a rush here before I go somewhere!
Nothing some HTMLing can’t fix. < em > is the tag you seek. I’ll look into this preview plugin.
@Lewis: the name is a play on A.Wake, i.e. “Awake,” plus “a wake,” i.e., a viewing for a dead person prior to funeral. Apparently protag Alan is having difficulty discerning dreams and fantasy from reality, and is unsure whether his experiences are a dream.
@Jason: there’s not been much about what the game is because it’s changed so many times that no one can keep track. Now, among reviewers, the general consensus is that it’s a linear survival horror game that is really genuinely scary, and that innovates in its use of light as a mechanism of defense. Personally I preferred the open world psycho-thriller angle better, but hey, that’s me.
Leigh Alexander has a very interesting take here.
As a member of the apparent minority who has actually played the game, perhaps I can add something of value to the discussion.
I like it. I like it a LOT. This is coming from a die-hard PC-gaming-only guy who finally broke down and bought a 360 two years ago in order to play “The Game To End All Games — That Didn’t”, GTA4, and has subsequently only turned on the 360 to play Forza 3 and Braid.
Sure, I was interested in Alan Wake 5/6 years ago when it was made public. Honestly, though, I don’t even remember what it was “supposed” to be, and I think I probably just stopped paying attention, as its imminent release surprised me a few weeks ago. Knowing little about it, aside from it getting some great reviews, I decided to pick it up.
Having not played any other survival/horror games, this is all new to me. I suppose in its barest form, Alan Wake could be described as: watch cutscene, navigate through fairly linear level, kill Taken, watch cutscene, read journal entries, kill some more Taken, repeat. Put that way, it’s not terribly exciting or innovative.
But I think Remedy has done an outstanding job telling an intriguing story here. No, it’s not perfect … but it IS creepy, atmospheric, gorgeous (the lighting and fog effects are the best I’ve seen outside of Metro 2033), intense, stylish, and just FUN. In my view, it really does manage to capture some of the feel of the Max Payne games (there are even fairly humorous references to that series). I spent about five hours on Saturday night playing through the first two episodes, and I can’t wait to get back to it. That’s the kind of gaming experience that has become far too rare for me lately.
It won’t be for everybody, and will seem wholly unoriginal to those who have played every Silent Hill-esque game out there. And no, I don’t like the idea of episodic DLC either. But for a gamer like me, who never play games like this, Alan Wake is a pleasant surprise, and has got me fiending for more.
Thanks for the input, GregP. You’ve piqued my interest with what you said. I’m not a big player of horror games on account of being a monumental coward, but I love Max Payne (and Remedy) so much that I’m kind of looking for an excuse to pick this up. I appreciate your sharing!
Yes…allow me to steeple my hands as your game fails to sell…you must make it available on PS3 so fill your purse….yes….yessssss.
Or not.
We’ll never see it on PS3, but there’s a good chance that a PC version is forthcoming. The game was just too expensive, and it’s simply too easy to port 360 to Windows, for them not to do it.
Has any game available across platforms sold better on the PS3 than the 360?
Final Fantasy XIII, I’m sure. But no others leap immediately to mind. I suspect there are a few. In the case of Alan Wake it’s a matter of having more potential platforms rather than limiting themselves to one. It will never come to PS3, but a Windows version is realistic.
Red Dead Redemption on 360 is outselling the PS3 version significantly. I think 75% of it’s sales went on the 360.
As for Alan Wakes name, pun or not, it’s still shit! I really hate cheese factor stuff like that…
Everyone is probably right on a PC version coming out later – but I still detest the promise of completing the game by DLC – and I’m not into horror as such but Remedy is a great developer. Maybe wait for a GOTY edition to actually buy a complete version.
Maybe I have missed something but, is it really true that can’t complete the game without buying DLC? The retail box version of the game includes 6 ‘episodes’ along with a code for the first of the two DLC packs that have been mentioned, and which is already available. I don’t recall specifically reading anywhere that the 6-episode version of the game will not have a real ending.
Of course it’s only natural for Remedy to leave the story open for sequels, but are you guys saying that you simply cannot reach any kind of ‘conclusion’ to the story without purchasing DLC episodes?
Just found a quote from http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2010/05/13/alan-wake-dlc-dated-and-detailed/:
‘[Remedy’s Oskari] Hakkinen confirmed that the first instalment of Alan Wake will offer up a satisfying ending: “Season one – just to be clear – is a full package and you’ll unravel the mystery and reach all your goals.”’
I suppose it’s a matter of perspective and personal view. While I hope the game ends satisfactorily, I also work in the industry and I know what terms like “episodic DLC” really mean.
They mean “the game wasn’t done and we were forced to ship.”
Still, though, I’m rooting for this one. I love Remedy and hope Alan Wake is great. I just… have reservations.
Andrew, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a PC version. I was looking forward to that for years until it was cancelled maybe a month and a half before release.
If it was still planned I think a “delay” announcement would have been more appropriate.
I’m now not fussed on the game anyway; damn you Remedy; stupid in game advertising…
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/5/26/
No, it’s not a Skittles Game, but the linked to Stephen Johnson basically got it right – it’s downright terrible, out of place and just plain stupid. No sale from me. Gah!
Hey, they might have made a ton of money off advertising deals! Who cares how much they sell eh?
Oh, also; I don’t care if Remedy fought to not put advertising in. The fact is they let it in, and to me they’re no better then Microsoft or the advertisers themselves.
What a shame.
I understand your anger, Andrew, but the publisher/studio relationship is such that developers don’t really have a choice when a publisher makes a decision. You can fight it, but if the foot comes down, you bend. It’s just the way of the industry. So don’t be TOO hard on Remedy!
Gameplay update: I finished Episode 4 last night. The story has got me thoroughly sucked into this game, which is good because by this point, the combat really has gotten quite repetitive. The devs have found ways to occasionally make it unique, but in the end it’s just the same gameplay mechanic over and over and over.
That being said, I cannot wait to continue with the final two episodes, and at this point, I could see myself paying for further DLC episodes.
Regarding the product placement, yeah it’s lame, but frankly I find you’re often just too far zoomed out to even notice the product labels…which makes me wonder why they even bother putting them in there.
I am sure a small comment in a small blog won’t damage them! I think I’m being pretty un-hard compared to Penny Arcade.
In any case, at some point their management (does it matter who?) had to sign a deal to add adverts into the game. It’s a crap relationship for sure and if it goes this badly it’s not really a relationship, possibly more a forced marriage, heh.
Greg; I am sure the reason for putting advertising in the game was to make lots of advertising money from advertisers who know no better and are evil fiends who (along with the publishers who want the money) infect products with unnecessary and utterly out of place advertising which damages peoples enjoyment of entertainment, but that’s just a guess.
It doesn’t have to make any sense does it? 
Final update: finished Alan Wake on Friday night. Overall, I absolutely loved this game. I actually want to go back and watch all the cutscenes again — you can do that after completing it — and read all the manuscript pages I’d picked up again, in order to make sure I understood everything that there was to understand.
The game is graphically beautiful, tells a great story, and is just a helluva lotta fun to play.
The only downside, besides occasional corny dialogue, is the repetitiveness of the combat. It really is just pretty much the same simple mechanic over and over and over and over.
Still — incredible game; I’m glad I picked it up.
I finished the core game in a weekend.
Meh. Meh. and Double Meh.
Great story and atmosphere. Boring and repetitive game play. Puzzle solving amounts to walking up to something and the game telling you which button to press. Whenever you have to find some keys, they’re conveniently marked on your HUD which pretty much takes all the challenge out of it.
The linearity of the game, including conversations that trigger area changes without even asking you if you’re done exploring (which I find severely annoying), pretty much proves Roger Ebert right. You have absolutely no control over the flow of the story. There is no investigation. The daytime sequences last about 5 minutes and then the night time run-and-chase-and-shoot sequences are the bulk of the game.
I loved how they were bragging about characters in this game when you barely get to talk to anyone.
The only thing you get to do is shine your flashlight at the creepy “taken” and shoot them with your gun. So your decisions are pretty much which weapons to use.
The only pros I have are that the story is compelling and some of the boss battles where fairly intense. It was kinda fun, but nothing innovative. Adventure Gamers will be severely disappointed.
Overall they took 5 years to come up with a game that has less interaction than any of the Resident Evil games. In fact, it plays much like the old Clock Tower games…and even then Clock Tower had more character interaction before you got to the hide-from-the-serial-killer sequences.
I’d give this a 6 out of 10.
They really should not have cancelled the PC version of the game. Perhaps delay it a few months to give the Xbox360 top dog status for those who want to play the game right away. PC (even as a digital download) would certainly have boosted the revenue I think. I would have purchased it on PC but don’t own xbox360.