4 computer games coming in June

[23skidoo]

Someone was asking about whether we'd ever see Doctor Who computer games, well here's your answer:

http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/doctor-who-adventure-games.html

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games will be launched in June. Apparently these are 4 adventures featuring Smith and Gillan doing the voices (they look great in the CG promotional images on that link) which have been produced by Moffat and his crew and, according to the initial announcement, they're being considered episodes 14-17 of the fifth season (though whether that means they fall into the actual continuity remains to be seen). One of the images includes a Cyberman...

The games are being written by Phil Ford, who co-wrote Waters of Mars with RTD, and also Dreamland and several Sarah Jane episodes, and by James Moran who co-wrote Children of Earth for Torchwood as well as Fires of Pompeii.

The games are being made available for both PC and Mac download. I have my fingers crossed there won't be some weird geolocking that restricts them to only UK users, though.

Alex

 

[wamdue]

interesting picture of a Cybusman.

 

[David cgc]

interesting picture of a Cybusman.

Or is it? The "C" logo on the chest has been replaced with a relief of a Cyberman's face.

 

[wamdue]

interesting picture of a Cybusman.

Or is it? The "C" logo on the chest has been replaced with a relief of a Cyberman's face.

but that is the only real difference between the one in the image, and a Cybusman.

A Cyberman would not have a body so similar to a Cybusman.

 

[David cgc]

Yes, because if there's one thing that never happens on television in general and Doctor Who in particular, it's the inappropriate reuse of props, sets, and costumes.

 

[The Sonic Mole]

Charles Cecil who did Broken Sword and Beneath A Steel Sky is involved which bodes well.

 

[wamdue]

Yes, because if there's one thing that never happens on television in general and Doctor Who in particular, it's the inappropriate reuse of props, sets, and costumes.

there is no question, you are correct that does happen, however the inappropriate reuse of props, should not be used to back of wild fan theories.

If the show was to use the Cybusman body for Cybermen, only making that above minor change, I think alot of people would say that it was cheap, & a bit silly, I would be one of them.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Charles Cecil who did Broken Sword and Beneath A Steel Sky is involved which bodes well.

Beneath a Steel Sky... haven't played that in years. It's the mutts nuts.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

A Cyberman would not have a body so similar to a Cybusman.

What do you mean? It's a picture of a Cyberman. What's a Cybusman?

 

[David cgc]

It's a nickname to differentiate the cybermen seen in the revival series which originated in the alternate universe from the cybermen seen in the original show.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

It's a nickname to differentiate the cybermen seen in the revival series which originated in the alternate universe from the cybermen seen in the original show.

Well, they're all called Cybermen, aren't they? Or is it an attempt at "if you really really believe it, evil things will disappear" voodoo magic?

 

[23skidoo]

It's a nickname to differentiate the cybermen seen in the revival series which originated in the alternate universe from the cybermen seen in the original show.

Well, they're all called Cybermen, aren't they? Or is it an attempt at "if you really really believe it, evil things will disappear" voodoo magic?

That's a bit unfair. The Cybermen created for the new series are new creations, reimagined and originating from an alternate universe. Calling them Cybusmen or Cybus Cybermen (which is the preferred term on the Doctor Who Wiki) is perfectly legitimate. In fact, I rather like Cybusmen and will start using it. It's not an attempt at anything other than differentiating between the class-series Cybermen (last seen in a head-only cameo in "Dalek") and the new version that have been featured in the series since 2006. As for what Moffat has planned for them, both in the series and in the games, we won't know yet until we actually see the stories.

Alex

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The games are being made available for both PC and Mac download. I have my fingers crossed there won't be some weird geolocking that restricts them to only UK users, though.

The downloads will surely be UK only but hopefully they will run OK if pulled from um, elsewhere.

BBC America has seemed to be really keeping up with its big brother as far as the trailers and stuff has been concerned so maybe they'll be able to provide these games to those in the US.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

It's not an attempt at anything other than differentiating between the class-series Cybermen (last seen in a head-only cameo in "Dalek") and the new version that have been featured in the series since 2006.

Alright, I'm cool with that. Cybusmen and Mondasmen it is then.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Cos rush-released tie-ins are always such fantastic games, eh?

I think I'll save my money for the Arkham Asylum sequel...

 

[23skidoo]

The downloads will surely be UK only but hopefully they will run OK if pulled from um, elsewhere.

Not necessarily. I've been surprised at what's been made available internationally from the site. Video tends to be a no-no, but I've been able to view other things on the site from Canada.

These games are high-enough profile that they'll probably be hosted by BBC America's website anyway.

Cos rush-released tie-ins are always such fantastic games, eh?

I think I'll save my money for the Arkham Asylum sequel...

Yeah, because every game should take years and years to make. Have fun playing Half-Life 2 Episode 3 yet? Or Duke Nukem Forever?

Rush-released games don't tend to be written and produced by the same people behind the TV series. They've likely been working on these since filming of the series began. If they can produce 13 high-quality episodes in 9 months, they can produce a set of half-decent video games. No one expects them to be huge games like Halo or Mass Effect. And you might have missed the reference to the games being free...

Develop Online has just posted a stack of screenshots from the first two games. Yeah, they really look like knock offs to me...

http://www.develop-online.net/features/844/In-Pictures-Doctor-Who-The-Adventure-Games

Alex

 

[Lonemagpie]

Been burned too many times. (and had actually been looking for an excuse to use this line about the already-announced DS/Wii game coming up, with some added "for kids, in a gaming medium I have no part of).

And being PC I won't be getting it anyhow, as I use laptops now and hate trying to play games with the touchpad. Now if there was a 360 version...

It'd be nice to be proved wrong, but...You know what I mean.

And I'm sure Duke Nukem 4Ever will be out by Xmas.

Just not sure which Xmas.

 

[The Badger]

I think I'll save my money for the Arkham Asylum sequel...

No need, according to the BBC's website they are free.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_100408_01/adventure_games

 

[Mr. Adventure]

And being PC I won't be getting it anyhow, as I use laptops now and hate trying to play games with the touchpad. Now if there was a 360 version...

No one will think less of you if you bought a mouse or gamepad.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I think I'll save my money for the Arkham Asylum sequel...

No need, according to the BBC's website they are free.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_100408_01/adventure_games

<Jayne Cobb>I'm in.</Jayne Cobb>