high moon studios
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Prototype, Bourne Devs Given The Arse By Activision
1:40PM Luke Plunkett | In July, Activision said they’d be “realigning” staff at High Moon Studios (Darkwatch, Bourne) and Radical Entertainment (Prototype), following their merger with Vivendi. “Realigning” is such an empty word. What they really meant was they’d be swinging the axe, cutting around 160 employees from the two studios. Around 100 are to be let go from Radical, while it’s estimated around 50-60 are to be “realigned” right out of High Moon. While those are some big cuts, neither studio is to be closed, and work on Prototype and future Bourne games should continue. Radical layoffs at Radical Entertainment [Vancouver Sun] Report: High Moon Lays Off Staff, Post-Vivendi Merger [Gamasutra] [Pic] More »
Impressions: The Bourne Conspiracy
11:00AM Owen Good | Note: This is excerpted from a review I attempted to write, but pulled back as I didn’t complete the game. Some of you asked if I was willing to share my opinion of the game anyway. Last week, Brian reminded me of the strict conditions we have to do a full review, which are as much to protect the site’s credibility as the writer’s. But he also said that impressions are still fair game if the game hasn’t been completed. I haven’t, probably won’t and with that caveat, here are some thoughts on The Bourne Conspiracy. It is not a full review and it’s a month after the game’s release. Take it for what you will.
The Bourne Conspiracy Impressions
12:00AM Flynn De Marco | I’m sure by now most of you are familiar with the genius cell phone PR stunt that Sierra threw together for the upcoming Bourne Conspiracy game. While it was cool, the real question is, how was the game? I met with some of the developers from High Moon Studios to check out the game being played and get some explanation of was all about. The Bourne Conspiracy is somewhat an amalgamation of the three Bourne films although the books are used as reference pretty heavily. You’ll find no Matt Damon character models here! They really wanted to make this as entrenched in the Bourne lore as possible and as such there is very little gunplay involved. You must rely on your McGuyver like wits to help you make your way through the game, using the things you can find around you and your trusty fists to their greatest use. Remember that pen stabbing scene? More »Free Rides At The Bourne Conspiracy Train Depot
5:40AM Mark Wilson | While we’ve heard quite a bit about Sierra’s The Bourne Conspiracy, we haven’t gotten much of a taste of the straight gameplay. So here’s a big, ice cold scoop for your enjoyment. Hight Moon Studios obviously put a lot of time into capturing the quick cuts of the Bourne films. And while it looks like the effect will work, but we’d have to play it to find out. Otherwise, it’s actually reminding us quite a bit of Uncharted: Drakes Fortune. You know, on a subway and stuff. More »
Designing Filmic Games: Designing the Bourne Game
9:30AM Maggie Greene | Gamasutra has a great interview up with Paul O’Connor of High Moon Studios, talking about the challenges and pitfalls of designing games based on movie IPs (in this case, a game based on The Bourne Conspiracy; while not directly tied to any of the films, they are using parts of the films in their game). As he succinctly notes early in the interview, the terrible reputation of movies-turned-games is entirely deserved; while I’ve read a number of interviews tackling this question, this interview is in-depth and a meaty read in a way that most of the others aren’t. More »
Jason Bourne Beats People Up Good
5:20AM Mike Fahey | This trailer for Sierra’s Bourne Conspiracy video game, due out this Summer on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, is relatively ho-hum until about halfway through when they get to the hand-to-hand combat section. This pretty much mirrors my opinion of the Bourne movie trilogy. The close combat was a highlight of the films for me, so hearing that they’ve worked with the fight choreographer from the movies definitely raises my hopes for the game. Then I remember Jet Li: Rise To Honor and go back to being cautiously optimistic. More »Tonight, Bourne Game On G4
4:40AM Mark Wilson | I’ve never gotten into the Bourne movies (I know, I really should, and I will watch them one day), but to those who have, Sierra/High Moon Studios’ Bourne Conspiracy for 360 and PS3 will lift already lifted its skirt a little bit tonight last night on G4. X-Play aired never-before-seen in-game footage during an interview with lead game designer Rory McGuire for you to get all the Bourne fill that you can. UPDATE: Blasted RSS! This aired last night (in the US at least). Lead game designer Rory McGuire to demo never-before-seen level [gamesradar] More »
