First I Am Alive Details Come Alive

The first substantial information about Ubisoft's enigmatic survival game has arrived, revealing an interesting take on the first-person genre and dispelling rumors of Jade Raymond's involvement.

Back when I Am Alive debuted at last year's E3, we didn't know much about it than that it was some sort of disaster-survival game where water bottles were really important and Jade Raymond was probably making it. Now, thanks to an issue of GamesTM (transcribed by 1UP), we have some real information on the game, and it does sound pretty interesting, even though we now know Jade Raymond actually has nothing to do with it.

In I Am Alive, you play as Adam Collins, a survivor of a massive earthquake that has wrecked Chicago. Adam has to find his girlfriend, save her and rally a group of survivors to alert and get help from the government. True to its title, I Am Alive seems very much to be about being (and staying) alive in the wake of something that has literally rocked the foundations of life as we know it. "In I Am Alive, we're not only turning your everyday life upside down; we're also changing the very social values and rules that both everyday life and videogames rely on," Alexis Goddard, senior producer, said. As such, items are realistically scarce - even moreso than they'd be in a survival horror game - and they have to be used creatively, like the water bottle in the trailer, which Adam used to lure a group of attackers into a trap.

Guns are present in I Am Alive, but in a Mirror's Edge kind of way, don't exactly mean you can just barrel through a room unloading rounds. "We encourage the player to use tactics, diversion, and distraction," Goddard said. "You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

And like Mirror's Edge, all this anti-shoot-em-up action takes place from that most trigger-happy of gameplay perspectives: first-person. "We wanted the player to really feel the power of Mother Nature, to feel the danger coming from the collapsing towers and devastating rifts, feel the chaos happening all around him," Goddard explained. "There's nothing like a first-person view to create that kind of emotion."

Similarities to PS2 earthquake-survival game Disaster Report aside (water's pretty central in that as well), I Am Alive seems like a very high-concept take on some established videogame genres. Hopefully we'll hear more about it as the year progresses.

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Finally, I been wondering about this one.

I thought I'd be playing no first-person games next year. It does sound a hell of a lot like survivors, which is awesome.

The thing is though, this is set after an earthquake right? Well...why are all these people still in the city?

SomeBritishDude:
Finally, I been wondering about this one.

I thought I'd be playing no first-person games next year. It does sound a hell of a lot like survivors, which is awesome.

The thing is though, this is set after an earthquake right? Well...why are all these people still in the city?

It's set during the Bush Presidency *RIMSHOT*

Awesome, I was curious about this game. Good to know more about it.

Very interesting a survival game not littered with zombies. I might be able to stomach it :P

That sounds pretty cool. I cant wait for more info :)

"You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

Finally! Always wanted something like this present in a game.

Seems to me like another case of Ubi promising more than they can deliver. (hope I'm wrong)

The potential is there...

But then again, it almost always is.

I look at it this way, they had experience with Mirror's Edge in the first-person category and I think they succeeded in that. Ubisoft saw that and can take it and work with Mirror's Edge and improve upon it. So to say the least, I'm really excited to see how this one rolls out. I'm always a huge supporter of Ubisoft's games simply because they're usually trying to do different things with their games.

Yet more proof that people are wrong when they say nothing new and creative is ever made anymore.

The game seems like a great idea, but I'm thrilled about the locale. As a Chicago native, I'll enjoy seeing some familiar landmarks...that is...if they actually put real structures and stuff in, as opposed to, "Oh look. That's the Sears Tower. I guess this isn't New York."

Well, it's definitely got potential, but then a lot of game concepts do. Still, won't hurt to give it a try. It looks worthy of a rental at least.

Oh, it sounds like such a good idea for a game, but I can't help but feel something will be messed up.

Guns are present in I Am Alive, but in a Mirror's Edge kind of way, don't exactly mean you can just barrel through a room unloading rounds. "We encourage the player to use tactics, diversion, and distraction," Goddard said. "You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

Like this. Cool idea, but if it works every time, no exceptions, then it'll become a little bland.

Nice setting though. Fingers crossed that it turns out well.

Novajam:
Oh, it sounds like such a good idea for a game, but I can't help but feel something will be messed up.

Guns are present in I Am Alive, but in a Mirror's Edge kind of way, don't exactly mean you can just barrel through a room unloading rounds. "We encourage the player to use tactics, diversion, and distraction," Goddard said. "You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

Like this. Cool idea, but if it works every time, no exceptions, then it'll become a little bland.

Not to mention that they've now completely ruined the enjoyment of discovering this mechanic on your own. So now that everyone knows about this they'll immediately try it and say "Yep, it works." No surprise, no reward.

I hate when developers reveal details about their games this way. LET US PLAY THEM AND FIGURE IT OUT OURSELVES FFS.

this is good, whilst i do not have a problem with first person games, shooters are a bit of a grind, now days due to saturation. everyone points to mirrors edge being this radical new perspective, but condemned 2 did this 1st and to some degree, better, if this is a survival game from this perspective i'm interested, ....if this is a shooter with few guns, i'll take a look, if this is a shooter in a new wrapper i may rent.

Finally! "You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

Finally! Always wanted something like this present in a game.

you can now already, metal gear has had this since the 1st one

Keane Ng:
like the water bottle in the trailer, which Adam used to lure a group of attackers into a trap.

Could someone provide me with a link, please? To the trailer I mean.

Hooray for some originality!

I'm sorry, but all I can think about is, "Kashwak No Fo."

Dealin Burgers:
"You've found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets...How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they'll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective."

Finally! Always wanted something like this present in a game.

me too, if they can get that system to work it'd be brillaint.

this game sound quite good so far, I wonder what will change or get aded in the mean time....

Specter_:

Keane Ng:
like the water bottle in the trailer, which Adam used to lure a group of attackers into a trap.

Could someone provide me with a link, please? To the trailer I mean.

The link is in the news article, in the words "I am alive".

So it's an FPS? balls, I was hoping for more along the lines of assassins creed.

aussiesniper:

Specter_:

Keane Ng:
like the water bottle in the trailer, which Adam used to lure a group of attackers into a trap.

Could someone provide me with a link, please? To the trailer I mean.

The link is in the news article, in the words "I am alive".

Couldn't find the trailer there, that's why I asked

€dit:
nevermind, there it is

Every next-gen survivor game must feature someone with a red tie.

It just looks like Mirrors Edge: Good Concept+Flashy trailers and then screwed up gameplay essentially

I might be wrong but it doesnt look like a gem yet

I'm actually pretty intrigued by this game.

Hopefully it's shot at being unique won't interfere with gameplay.

I've been reading the new gameinformer, and this game really caught my eye. I really hope this game will be good.

If it was only an Earthquake why don't they head to Lake Michigan?
Seriously?

Also I just realized that if a massive Earthquake hit Chicago I'd die in an instant.