Speaking with Capcom's Ben Judd and GRIN's Ulf Andersson today at TGS, we learned that Bionic Commando - which is playable on the showroom floor - won't be out in 2008. Instead, it's been delayed to early 2009. Or, as they put it, "very eeeeaaaarrrlllyyy 2009". That's the console versions, too; the PC version might be out at the same time, it might not, Andersson saying that version's date is "up to marketing".

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Of all the features in Bionic Commando: Rearmed, other than its fundamental game play, nothing bridges 1988 to 2008 like the game's soundtrack. Its driving, blood-pumping, head-nodding rhythm is instantly recognisable as the music from the NES classic of 20 years ago, and it has won praise from many who have reviewed the game. Simon Viklund, of Stockholm-based developer Grin, did more than personally oversee the soundtrack as the game's creative director. He composed it himself.

It's an unusual combination to find in the development of a game. Both skill sets would be served by Viklund's own personal attachment to Bionic Commando, a love shared by others on the Grin/Capcom team behind the game. Conversations with Ben Judd -- Capcom's producer for both BCR and next year's 3D version of Bionic Commando -- and others close to the project revealed an attention to detail that bordered on obsession.

"At the time I think we just loved what we were doing," Judd said. "We were all fans of Bionic Commando. Some of us have incredibly fond memories when we played it as kids. We didn't want to be lazy. We didn't want to be cheap. We wanted to give this title our best."

Last week, Viklund and I had an in-depth discussion of the music. The talk was less about the mechanics of assembling it -- he's a classically trained musician and adept at several instruments, I'm not -- but more the inspiration and memories behind it. The soundtrack is available for download both at iTunes and sumthingdigital.com (where listeners can also buy the original 8-bit soundtrack, and compare the two). More than just great music, it's the guts of a legitimate remake, of something that honours a classic more than imitates it. And a look inside the minds of those who knew they were toying with nostalgia -- including their own -- for a beloved title, and felt a strong commitment to doing this the right way.

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Did you see the movie Wanted or read Mark Millar's comic series and think to yourself, "This would make a nifty video game?" Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment apparently did, and they've tapped Bionic Commando developer GRIN to get the job done. The game picks up where the movie left off, continuing the adventures of sad-sack turned master assassin Wesley Gibson. Expect plenty of curved bullets, slow-motion "assassin's time" events, and an advanced cover system to help deal with the fact the guns don't shoot straight anymore. Here's the first set of screens for the game, available later this year for "consoles and personal computer". Hey, I have one of those!

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"Wow I suck", I thought to myself as I sweated through a demo of GRIN and Capcom's upcoming sequel to the beloved Bionic Commando. The nice gentleman from GRIN guiding me through the level was being extremely patient with me, but I sensed he was a bit frustrated as his simple instructions - run, jump, press A to shoot out your arm and then release when the blue hourglass shape appears on the HUD to signify the optimal angle - were consistently met by me falling into a pit, or off the side of a bridge, or any number of places that you could fall.

"The controls are skill-based", he explained with a smile, taking the controller and easily navigating the part I was having issues with. He made it look so simple, but then I suppose he's logged a few more hours on the game. He tells me that once you master the controls you'll be able to do amazing things. Unfortunately fifteen minutes isn't long enough.

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Swedish developer GRIN, working on Capcom's new Bionic Commando title as well as the PSN/XBLA update of the original one, were entertainingly forthcoming during an industry conference in the Netherlands where they talked about the tough path for an independent developer.

Managing director Bo had some blunt language for the harsh reality of game development as a business, something the audience may occasionally lose track of when levying certain accusations at development studios:

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Capcom's big-budget revitalisation of its Bionic Commando intellectual property has the potential be outshone by its classic remake, Bionic Commando Rearmed, as far as hardcore fans are concerned, but the new-gen update, the one starring Nathan Spencer, shouldn't be overlooked. Both are graphically gorgeous in their own ways, with Rearmed presenting a tight, clean and colourful 2.5D re-skin, with the all-new Bionic Commando appearing to be an impressive visual achievement, stuffed with attention to detail and smart level design.

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Good news! XBLA and PSN title Bionic Commando Rearmed seems like it's getting one step closer to digital shipping. On developer GRIN's official site, the game's Creative Director Simon Viklund blogs:

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Western games are really starting to come into their own. No wonder some think that Japan's place in the gaming sun has set. Japan-based-Capcom producer Ben Judd disagrees! While his Bionic Commando title is being developed by a buncha Swedes, he hasn't given up on The Land of the Rising Sun. According to Judd:

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You know GRIN? Swedish developers. Did the PC versions of GRAW, and are now busy working on Bionic Commando for Capcom. They're also busy opening a new studio in Gothenburg, Sweden, filled with new staff. None of whom are working on Bionic Commando. In fact, nobody knows what they're working on. We do have a clue, though, and it's a doozy:

The new studio is working on a very, very big Hollywood sci-fi brand. It's a real triple-A thing.

Bionic Commando Dev All GRINs [Next-Gen]