Totally Games has revealed that adding RPG elements and keeping things a little more logical for Alien Syndrome is proving to be a challenge. On a recent developer diary log from senior designer Jeff Kung, new details have been dropped as to what this new PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii title has in store.

Game historians will recall the original Alien Syndrome as an arcade-style run and gun classic by Sega. The resurrection of the franchise sees a change in genre as  a more action-RPG-oriented presentation is utilized. Emphasis on balance, realism, and quirkiness have taken the premium and it's looking good.

Starting with weapons, the devs made it a point that a balance must be struck between melee and ranged weapons to give everyone a playing field level enough to accommodate everyone's style of play.

While melee weapons require you to get close to enemies, they do offer a chaining effect that allows you to pull off devastating combos against foes. Ranged weapons such as fire trees cause immense damage from afar, but they do require lots of ammo which can be challenging to procure.

On the RPG side of things, the guys at Totally Games have realized that towns and stores can't be placed in space realistically, so they included a robot that tags alongside your character and recycles items you don't want to convert them into more useful commodities.

Lastly, about the Wii version, mini games in Alien Syndrome will have a profound effect on how you'll manage uber items. Great items will be dropped when you kill a boss. They'll have tremendous stats which can be harnessed if you can solve a maze puzzle with the Wiimote. If done correctly, the item will reflect its potential and reward you with gear that will help you own the enemies in the game.

That's it for now as far as new details on Alien Syndrome go. We'll give you a heads-up when new reports are forthcoming so keep it locked here.

Buy: [Alien Syndrome (Wii)]
Buy: [Alien Syndrome (PSP)]

  

It's always interesting to find out how remakes of classic games come about. Apparently, we're not the only ones who feel that way because that's precisely the topic of the second post in the Alien Syndrome development blog.

Totally Games approached SEGA suggesting a remake of Alien Syndrome for both the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo Wii, adding that they wanted to make a totally new game based on that franchise for the PSP and Wii. SEGA approved their request and as soon as the initial pre-production milestones were met they began development of the game.

The developers started out with a concept: big meaty levels where players could sink their teeth into the game and play for as long or as short as they wanted. They made it clear that they didn't want just another RPG game that was too heavy on action and not enough role playing. So here is the skinny on the development the company has done on both versions of the game and how it compares to their initial plan.

PSP Version:

The game was designed with every intention of making it a full scale action RPG. This pretty much means "hundreds of items, weapons, monsters, and tons of action." We have to say that it's looking good because they've created five different classes each with its own weapon advancement tree and specialty proficiencies to spec into. Of course they did mention that "it was a huge challenge to fit this big of a game into the PSP" but they're proud to announce that they have managed to do it without losing any of the scope of the original design.

Wii Version:

The developers focused on the design for the Wiimote/Nunchuck control system. With the added power that the console brings, they were able to "polish the game's infrastructure and core gameplay ideas as well as the math and itemization curves". Since most of the level development was handled in the PSP, they were able to concentrate on controls and multiplayer. It was also said that the game should provide about 30 to 40 hours of gameplay on just one difficulty level, which is pretty impressive in itself.

The developers seem really proud of their work as seen in the dev blog. If you want to read the full post, feel free to use our read link to do so. We have to see if their release lives up to the expectations of gamers when it comes out on July 24.

Ready for another dose of alien exterminating action? Well, we've got another batch of screenshots from Sega and Totally Games' upcoming video game for the PlayStation Portable and Wii, Alien Syndrome.

As Lieutenant Aileen Harding, players will have to stop the alien invasion that is threatening the universe. To battle the alien infestation effectively, there are five character classes to choose from: Demo Expert, Firebug, SEAL, Sharpshooter, and Tank. In the new Alien Syndrome screenshots, we see a couple of the classes, judging from the armor. One is a blue graying outfit that looks a bit alien looking, while the other looks like it provides lighter armor.

Check out the screenshots to see what we mean. Alien Syndrome is slated to blast into the shelves in a couple of days, on July 24 so you better mark your calendars.

  

Totally Games Senior Designer">Jeff Kung, the senior designer of Totally Games' remake of Alien Syndrome for the Wii and PSP, recently posted an article on the Developers Blog over at IGN regarding control scheme of the game.

While the original title was purely an action game, the developers wanted to make sure that they preserved that sense of combat with the Action RPG version of it, and much of that was translated in the control scheme of the game.

Kung declared that they came up with what they think is the most natural controller configuration for a third person action game, "three-fourths view action game hands-down. "

The senior designer proceeded to discuss the Wii control scheme where pointing the Wiimote on the screen dictates where your character faces while movement is handled through the joystick on the Nunchuck.

They also integrated it in the PSP version which Kung described as a "pick-up and play" type of game. He noted that it emphasizes action thus allowing players to start up the game and get "right into the fray". This wouldn't have been possible if not for the fact that they've "made the controls incredibly intuitive for the PSP."

There you have it from the senior designer of the game himself. And we have to add, Alien Syndrome indeed looks very promising. There were quite a few more details that were discussed in the post, so you might want to check it out though our Read link.

  

The people at Sega have a big third and fourth quarter ahead of them this year. With the release dates of 7 titles all falling within weeks of each other, they've got a lot of eager fans to please.

At least 3 PSP titles are set for release in the month of September. Alien Syndrome and Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars have been slated for September 7, while Sega Rally has its debut on the September 28.

November 30 is the day being eyed for the release of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games on the DS, as well as the DS/PSP tie-in game for the movie based on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials novel series: The Golden Compass.

In terms of unknown release dates, we have two. Sonic Rivals 2 for the PSP is expected to hit sometime in autumn, while Sonic Rush Adventure for the DS is due sometime in September.

Sega has a daunting task to accomplish later this year. We certainly hope they pull it off. In the meantime, we'll keep you posted as the story unfolds.

 

The last time we heard about Sega's Alien Syndrome (for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable) we got a sneak peek at the baddies we'll be pitted against in the game. Now, though, it's a completely different ballgame as the alien-blasting title makes its presence felt on the interwebs with its official website.

Chock-full of info and art that has a very strong comicbook theme to it, the website's as informative as it is easy on the eyes. A brief montage of gameplay plays at the first page you come upon, complete with audio and speech from the main character. Browsing through the different sections of the actual site is a breeze, done by simply selecting the different sections and waiting for them to basically roll themselves into place. It's to note that each section has its own animation that tells a bit about Aileen Harding and her struggle to to survive.

Very impressive website, that's for sure. In any case, check back here for any and all updates regarding Alien Syndrome - and in the meantime, why not check out the actual thing? You can do so by clicking on the read link we've supplied below. Enjoy!

Buy: [Alien Syndrome (Wii)]
Buy: [Alien Syndrome (PSP)]

Can't wait to kick some alien behinds? We just got more info on the upcoming video game for the PlayStation Portable and Wii, Alien Syndrome. Today, we'll tackle a very important subject: Alien Bad Guys 101. We'll be following one of Sun Tzu's ("Art of War") famous quotes: know thy enemy.

First up are the infected humans. Think infected Terrans from StarCraft. They're mindless drones, though don't underestimate their zombie factor. Next up are the Lumber Giants. They're big, bad, ugly, and very dangerous. The Giants are the tanks of Alien Syndrome, so you should be well aware of the run and gun tactics you'll take. Players will need to take out the flamethrower (and other flame-based weapons) and explosives to take care of them alien infected humans and lumber giants with relative ease.

As the name suggests, the Mutt Bombers are two legged kamikazes that will go boom once they get too close. They're fast and powerful so you'll need to watch it and bring them down before it starts ticking. Phase Rippers, on the other hand, are a bit tricky. They're long range units who have an annoying habit of teleporting when you hit them. Lastly, we've got the Vivisector. What's special about this green alien scum? Aside from the long arms that end in sharp claws, Vivisectors will try and feign death. You'll know it's really dead once it blows up into smithereens.

Anyway, check out the alien art and the video. We're sure the lesson will come in handy once Totally Games and Sega's Alien Syndrome hits the shelves. In the meantime, enjoy!

Check them out in action on the video after the jump!

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And the developer chronicles saga for video game title Alien Syndrome continues.

As you all now by now, video gaming site GameSpot conducted a video interview with Sega and developer Totally Games, and has been uploading the clips in various installments. In this particular interview, we hear lead artist Mike Cicchi talk about the game's creative process.

Alien Syndrome for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable is set around 100 years after the events in the original franchise transpired. In this game, we see heroine Aileen Harding slugging it out with at least 20 different baddies who are out to conquer Earth.

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Buy: [Alien Syndrome (Wii)]

Those who are old enough to remember the coin-op Alien Syndrome original will certainly share this developer's thoughts on remaking the classic video game. Albert Mack, Totally Games' technical and design lead shares some insight on how the remake came about and the storyline.

In this dev diary, Mack discusses how Sega approached them with a list and they (Totally Games people) jumped on the chance to do a makeover on Alien Syndrome. He mentioned the storyline, which centers on the adventures of Aileen Harding investigating and eventually going against the Alien Syndrome. It's set 100 years after the original and the human race is again in jeopardy from the alien menace.

We'll let you watch the video and see just how far the video game has gone from then arcade to the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable. Enjoy!

Buy: [Alien Syndrome (PSP)]
Buy: [Alien Syndrome (Wii)]

What we have below is another developer chronicle video for upcoming Wii and PSP title Alien Syndrome. In this clip, Sega's Technical and Design Lead Albert Mack talks about the game's multiplayer aspect as well as the various features of its environments for both platforms.

Alien Syndrome is a re-start of the franchise which first appeared back in 1987. The good ol' tandem of Ricky and Mary are no more and players should now be accustomed to new heroine Aileen Harding. In terms of gameplay, the title will have 15 different levels as well as five bosses and 15 other sub-bosses.

It was recently reported that the Wii version of Alien Syndrome will be delayed in Europe.