What this new survival genre really is

[jpdavis04]

I keep reading on these boards the speculations of what enemies we might encounter in this game. Some people want zombies, others want to be able to bash each other to death online with any weapon they can pick up. Based on the little information we've been offered, though, I'm not exactly sure we'll be facing any kind of enemy at all, at least not in the conventional survival-horror way.

I think the theme Ubisoft was going for with its trailer is not of survival of the human race against others, whatever the other might be, but of the survival of this one character against an overwhelming sense of devastation. It isn't "us" trying to survive, or "us against them"; it's been diluted down to the very core of survival, "me". The game is first person to immerse us in the story, just as the title indicates a sense of absolutely solitude: "I" am alive.

I think this explains why Adam can kill these three guys so callously in the trailer. Yes, in the classic survival-horror genre killing IS survival. But consider that a short six days ago Adam was a white-collar office worker. Is the nature of this disaster such that individual survival now trumps any kind of group survival effort? Could six days in a crumbling Chicago warp Adam so badly that he'd not only kill three people, but a coworker as well? (Maybe his boss...)

That seems a little odd, which leads to my speculations. First, I have to agree with other posters that what the three men wanted wasn't necessarily water, nor the pleasure of his company. I don't know what Adam's carrying in his messenger bag, but it has to be more than water. It also has to be more important than a bottle of water, at least to Adam. While water isn't necessarily a scarce resource, clean drinking water is pretty rare around a natural disaster. The three guys also need water, but seem to have forgone scavenging for some while they've been after Adam for the past six days.

Secondly, I think this apocalyptic event is global. While the player struggles to survive in Chicago, others struggle across the globe as well. This emphasizes the survival of the individual, because there won't be an "us" afterward. Adam's cell phone connection also abruptly ends before the earthquake strikes where he is, maybe because cell phone towers across the land are toppling. Alternatively, it might be because his sweetie is in one of those toppled buildings; I believe screeching steel girders might make that noise. Finally, Adam runs right by some cash fluttering in the wind. Cash would be pretty enticing if there was a normal world to return to once the survival part is over, but Adam doesn't give it a moment's notice.

I know the toppled building is very Cloverfield-esque, but part of what made Cloverfield so successful was how different it was from other natural disaster/monster movies. There were no shots of hectic government control rooms assessing the situation, making critical decisions. It was only a group of people like you or me trying to survive an event they can do absolutely nothing about. They're not militarily trained, have no survival skills whatsoever except the innate drive to survive, and for all of them it's futile. This is the theme I think of I Am Alive. But hey, what do I know?

[jpdavis04]

I keep reading on these boards the speculations of what enemies we might encounter in this game. Some people want zombies, others want to be able to bash each other to death online with any weapon they can pick up. Based on the little information we've been offered, though, I'm not exactly sure we'll be facing any kind of enemy at all, at least not in the conventional survival-horror way.

I think the theme Ubisoft was going for with its trailer is not of survival of the human race against others, whatever the other might be, but of the survival of this one character against an overwhelming sense of devastation. It isn't "us" trying to survive, or "us against them"; it's been diluted down to the very core of survival, "me". The game is first person to immerse us in the story, just as the title indicates a sense of absolutely solitude: "I" am alive.

I think this explains why Adam can kill these three guys so callously in the trailer. Yes, in the classic survival-horror genre killing IS survival. But consider that a short six days ago Adam was a white-collar office worker. Is the nature of this disaster such that individual survival now trumps any kind of group survival effort? Could six days in a crumbling Chicago warp Adam so badly that he'd not only kill three people, but a coworker as well? (Maybe his boss...)

That seems a little odd, which leads to my speculations. First, I have to agree with other posters that what the three men wanted wasn't necessarily water, nor the pleasure of his company. I don't know what Adam's carrying in his messenger bag, but it has to be more than water. It also has to be more important than a bottle of water, at least to Adam. While water isn't necessarily a scarce resource, clean drinking water is pretty rare around a natural disaster. The three guys also need water, but seem to have forgone scavenging for some while they've been after Adam for the past six days.

Secondly, I think this apocalyptic event is global. While the player struggles to survive in Chicago, others struggle across the globe as well. This emphasizes the survival of the individual, because there won't be an "us" afterward. Adam's cell phone connection also abruptly ends before the earthquake strikes where he is, maybe because cell phone towers across the land are toppling. Alternatively, it might be because his sweetie is in one of those toppled buildings; I believe screeching steel girders might make that noise. Finally, Adam runs right by some cash fluttering in the wind. Cash would be pretty enticing if there was a normal world to return to once the survival part is over, but Adam doesn't give it a moment's notice.

I know the toppled building is very Cloverfield-esque, but part of what made Cloverfield so successful was how different it was from other natural disaster/monster movies. There were no shots of hectic government control rooms assessing the situation, making critical decisions. It was only a group of people like you or me trying to survive an event they can do absolutely nothing about. They're not militarily trained, have no survival skills whatsoever except the innate drive to survive, and for all of them it's futile. This is the theme I think of I Am Alive. But hey, what do I know?

[Johnny86inch]

Yea your right jp. I think the way that darkworks is heading is for a more realistic survival game. There are no enemies, well least not the ones that come from another planet, or from the core of the earth, or even the undead. The game is most likely going to be strict survival, and if someone does have something (like water when everything around you is dust)... I would go after that mother ****er too! But the thing I noticed in the trailer, was that when Adam threw the water bottle to the floor, it looked and even sounded like there was nothing in the bottle. Didn't look like there was any water swishing inside, and it landed with a hollow thud.

Oh well, but in any rate the game is really interesting, a survival game that could happen in the real world.

p.s. I think that bald guy was his boss or something, heh, I would kill that guy too, Adam didn't look to happy when he saw him.

[WargamerScott]

I suspect this is the first of many survival games. If the movie version of "The Road" is as big a hit as the pulitizer prize winning novel, I suspect "survival horror" games are going to be a trend. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif That's fine with me as I think this potential sub-genre has a lot of promise for original gameplay.

Fallout 3 and Left 4 Dead are similar games. And while I enjoy both greatly, I do wish for a "survival" game that is less sci-fi and more down to earth actual survival. I am Alive seems to be more along those lines...but it's way too early to tell as all we have is a teaser.

I am curious how they are going to make a 9-day single player game worth while. I mean, Fallout 3 gives to a huge, open-ended setting with hours and hours of gameplay (not including the forthcoming expansions). L4D has short scenarios, but the multiplayer component keeps you coming back for more. How will I am Alive keep gamers coming back with only 9 days of gameplay?

[Johnny86inch]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WargamerScott:How will I am Alive keep gamers coming back with only 9 days of gameplay? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Easily dude, either they do what Dead Rising did, give you a watch to keep track of time during the day to get missions done. Or, each level of the game will be like one day, or half a day, or one game day could be like 2-3 hrs of actual gameplay. It's not that hard to do, they just have to be creative about it. Cuz, when i played Dead Rising, after "2 days" in the mall, I was sick of the game cuz there was nothing to do but kill zombies. L4D is different though cuz they kept it interesting and fun w/ the "AI Director" who by the way always wants to F*** you over on expert lol.

ne way... it can be done, just hope that the game stays... "Alive"

p.s. mad cheesy...I know

[mrawesome555]

I don't get this. People keep saying, "It's only 9 days of gameplay" Does this mean that you literally only have 9 days to complete this game?

[lostassassin123]

No. The game has it's own day-o-metric system.

It's up to the devs how to do it, but in the end, only nine days will pass in the game.
Any GTA game is a good example.

P.S. The official Ubi description says the game is set in 7 days.
Whom do I trust?

[WargamerScott]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Johnny86inch:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WargamerScott:How will I am Alive keep gamers coming back with only 9 days of gameplay? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Easily dude, either they do what Dead Rising did, give you a watch to keep track of time during the day to get missions done. Or, each level of the game will be like one day, or half a day, or one game day could be like 2-3 hrs of actual gameplay. It's not that hard to do, they just have to be creative about it. Cuz, when i played Dead Rising, after "2 days" in the mall, I was sick of the game cuz there was nothing to do but kill zombies. L4D is different though cuz they kept it interesting and fun w/ the "AI Director" who by the way always wants to F*** you over on expert lol.

ne way... it can be done, just hope that the game stays... "Alive"

p.s. mad cheesy...I know </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good points. But what I am trying to get at is that no matter how they actually "time" nine days, the game has a definite end to it. That makes me curious because nowadays, gamer's want lots of "replayability". Just look at Fallout 3: even though that game has hours and hours of gameplay, it was still knocked for a "short" 20 hour main quest.

Personally, I rather have a game that doesn't require a lifetime of play in order to see everything there is to see (I am already resigned to never fully exploring FO3 http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif). Nine days sounds good. However, I do want replayability in some fashion. L4D accomplished this with the AI director that makes every game different. I hope IaA has something similar to give a gamer a reason to try it all over again.

[Johnny86inch]

Well then, one way would be to have it where everything that you do in the game, would play a role to what ending you get. Other than that, there hasnt been a good replaying game in awhile 'cept for free roamers or Live games. Its hard making a single player game worth replaying these days

[Jord2332]

yeah i agree, they should have lots of decisions you have to make during the game which determines the man you become at the end.

e.g you come across a broken building and a man lays stuck under some concrete but he hasn't seen you yet. When you get close something pops up on the screen saying help man? or move on?

If you chose to help him you sacrifice some of your precious water and distracts you from other tasks e.g finding alice. Although if you help him he could be of use to you in the future (helping you on quests or helping to find water) and it would also increase the size of your rescue camp.

What do you think?

[Jord2332]

This type of gameplay will also give you a reason to re play the game and help the man this time( along with lots of other decisions)

Another one could be when you are being chased by an aggressor who wants some water you can choose whether to get him off you back and give him some water or fight him(or set a trap) but risk injury.

the possibilities are endless....

[GREENCRDS4EVRY1]

I cant wait to hear more about this game, maybe he has a map of the city in his bag? Escape route? I will definitely buy it, looks pretty cool.

[JamieWilmot]

Escape route? To what? I doubt if there was a huge earthquake, he'd somehow come across a map that shows how to get out of the wrecked city, lol.

[Spartan0613]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jord2332:
yeah i agree, they should have lots of decisions you have to make during the game which determines the man you become at the end.

e.g you come across a broken building and a man lays stuck under some concrete but he hasn't seen you yet. When you get close something pops up on the screen saying help man? or move on?

If you chose to help him you sacrifice some of your precious water and distracts you from other tasks e.g finding alice. Although if you help him he could be of use to you in the future (helping you on quests or helping to find water) and it would also increase the size of your rescue camp.

What do you think? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Lol, I highly daught that something will
"pop-up". Its a free roam 1st person game, not a click and watch game.....(well i hope its free roam but u know what i mean)anyway i think that would be to much like sims if something pops up like that...

[Madurjafro369]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Spartan0613:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jord2332:
yeah i agree, they should have lots of decisions you have to make during the game which determines the man you become at the end.

e.g you come across a broken building and a man lays stuck under some concrete but he hasn't seen you yet. When you get close something pops up on the screen saying help man? or move on?

If you chose to help him you sacrifice some of your precious water and distracts you from other tasks e.g finding alice. Although if you help him he could be of use to you in the future (helping you on quests or helping to find water) and it would also increase the size of your rescue camp.

What do you think? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Lol, I highly daught that something will
"pop-up". Its a free roam 1st person game, not a click and watch game.....(well i hope its free roam but u know what i mean)anyway i think that would be to much like sims if something pops up like that... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

ok then how about an button sign comes up or something. like hold 'A'/'X' (360/PS3) to help the man or you could just run past him while he is cursing you for not helping him.

also i think this 'new survival genre' is really just a fat disaster and your placed as some who can't do anything about it but has to survive through it anyway.
Also you sohuld be able to take other survivers out with you to help with difficult task eg. the man stuck under a slab of concrete, so its probably to heavy for you but with another surviver its possible to lift the slab and get the guy out.

Damn not played a 'horror survival' for quite some time now

[jungleshot]

ubisoft is finally doing it creating REALISTIC games if you would want to survive you survive like your ancestors like an animal you depress your feelings and survive glad that theres someone making REAL horror games than those zombie-alien things this is a game that reaches deep into you its phychological war its choices you leave your humanity and survive or you live like a human and die and everyone would be eager to kill if its to survive

[tuggernuts6435]

I am glad to see that Ubisoft realizes the problem with story these days. Most games are just shooters that have nothing but "alien invasions" or, a "war with Russia and China." I'm sick of all that.
I'm really glad to see games like Heavy Rain and Alan Wake and Grand Theft Auto IV succeed because they tell stories of emotion, violence, and horror and morality. I am Alive seems to want to do this.
The survival horror genre has been looked at the wrong way for a while now. Left 4 Dead was fun and probably one of the best multiplayer experiences I ever had, but forgot the story and characters. I'm not even going to talk about Deadrising here. And Fallout 3 was okay but too unrealistic (that's okay though because it's a really fun game.)
I am Alive I think will set a new bar for survival horror genre.

[jakeyfriend99]

About the online thing, I think it would be a good idea to be bashing each others brains out. I have a PS3 and I'm not sure if the story is different or not for the PS3. I am pretty sure about the cover boxwork. It looks a little like the middle of the first trailer. I know that there is not much survival games out there but the very few that are there. My favorite one so far is Disaster Report. That game seemed pretty cool. Anyway, back to this topic. Ubisoft said there is a little bit of horror in the series. I'm guessing an apocalypse can't be that scary since it ALREADY HAPPENED!!!! But, lostassassin123 has some new and improved info on the game. Its a post by him. Its pretty informative since the game is coming out next year in the spring. Also, if people that are reading this comment that watched E3 for all the days, you will see Darkworks made a second trailer. If you want to check that new trailer out, go on www.gamepreivews.com, (http://www.gamepreivews.com,) for more info. Okay, thank you for making this forum. Bye for now.



Sincerely,



Jacob Frotten