Hold on, stop the presses. What exactly is going on here?
UPDATE: Press release from Eidos Interactive and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.
Remember how Gary Oldman let it slip that there was a video game based on The Dark Knight in the works, and that it was supposed to debut alongside the film’s dvd release? According to Slashgamer.com and Game Informer (check ’em out for some awesome magazine covers), that’s not exactly true.
Instead, we’ll be getting something that hey, sounds like a pretty damn good trade off. It’s called Batman: Arkham Asylum, and its story is co-written by …
Paul Dini! SCORE!
So here’s the plot: Something goes wrong during a routine transfer at Arkham Asylum, and the Joker and his goons take over the facility, leaving Batman to get in there and straighten things out. Sounds extremely reminiscent of Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum, doesn’t it?
The game will have a “dark and gritty” feel much like Bioshock and is being developed by Rocksteady Studios (Urban Chaos) and Eidos.
Wait a second. Wasn’t the game Gary Oldman mentioned being developed by Pandemic (owned by Electronic Arts)?
1up.com said just yesterday that the Pandemic video game is supposed to feature an open-ended Gotham City, which Batman can explore using his grappling hook or driving the Batmobile. Awesome! Although it’s based on The Dark Knight, the game’s story takes place after the events of TDK. EA has been keeping the game mostly under wraps because evidently it stills needs major work.
It’s weird, I keep seeing articles on the other Batman game (in addition to LEGO Batman, which comes out soon), but none of them tackle both of these reports: about Pandemic as well as Rocksteady Studios/Eidos. More info as it comes!
Discuss: So what do you guys think? LEGO Batman is sure to be popular (and it’s going to be available on pretty much every system on the market), and I think Arkham Asylum sounds great—as does the Pandemic game. Apparently the Batman Begins movie adaptation video game didn’t sell over that well (although I thought it was fun), but remember that BB didn’t have nearly the hype TDK did.
UPDATE: Here’s the official press release [via CVG]:
Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Comics announce Batman: Arkham Asylum a dark, action packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC for Windows in 2009.
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics’ detective to life with stunning graphics.
“In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. “Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks.”
“Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham’s worst villains with Batman’s physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Eidos on expanding DC Comics’ world-renowned character Batman in the game space with a noticeably different feature set in an incredibly dark interactive environment.”
Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will co-publish Batman: Arkham Asylum in North America, Eidos Interactive will publish the game in all other territories.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
If the game is well done, it will be a MASSIVE seller. If it’s meh, it’ll sell like every other mediocre game ever released. Still, it COULD be good. Mind you this plot doesn’t sound much different than Batman Rise of Sin Tzu which was OK but could definetely have been much more fun.
If TDK comes out, and this comes out, there may actually be a couple half decent new entries in the videogame franchise for Batman, which would be nice. Stilll I wonder how much they can put into the gameplay/storyline to actually make them more than a straight cashout and actually produce a WORTHY game of Batman. Lego Batman looks promising too, but there’s always concern when it comes to movie franchise games.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I hope it delivers, too. I just added in a press release: It sounds really unique and cool.
Well, it’s Paul Dini on the story (co-written, but still). That man rocks! The story he’s doing on Detective right now is absolutely amazing (”Heart of Hush”)—and remember Batman: The Animated Series? Ohh, man. (Just a small percent of the stuff he’s worked on.) I have no doubt that the story will be worthy of the title of Batman.
I think Lego Batman will be really enjoyable, I’m so excited!
I have the Indiana Jones one and that’s fun (despite its glitches, LOL).
August 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Saw the movie today (premiere day here in Spain) and I’m so excited I’m certainly hungry for everything Batman-related (well, remove the 60’s series from that list; that’s not actually Batman XD)
August 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Ohh! Wasn’t it awesome, man?
You could check out some awesome Batman stories? ;D LOL! Was that too much?
Hahaha, yeah, totally. I think pretty much the only reason some people like the ’60s stuff is because they have nostalgic memories of it from their childhood. I grew up in the ’90s (lol), so I don’t. And really … it does suck—horribly. Lmao. Watch the Batman movie from the ’60s and any movie after that will look good. Haha!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:17 am
omg omg omg.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Hehe…Like our covers? When I got them I thought of you Wita!
August 14th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Totally awesome whatistechnoagain
Can’t wait for the third episode (which I’m sure will be done :))
Oh and thanks for pointing those eight stories. Seems my RSS reader skipped that entry for some reason (not the first time it did), which is kinda unforgettable. Must put my hands on those stories ASAP
August 14th, 2008 at 8:53 am
NightElfHunter: I feel your excitement, ahh! ;D
Virtualgirl: YES! They totally rule. When I saw them I was like, “Game Informer? Wait! Meag writes for Game Informer!”
Btw, is that issue out already or when does it come out? I might look for it and pick it up. I’ve never read an issue, actually, by GI, so w00t!
Kencho: I can’t, either. Go Nolan! That man’s got us on the edge of our seats.
No problem-o!
And all those stories are great, trust me!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hey now, 60s Batman is it’s own thing! Its not like the comics or TAS but I still think it’s got its place
Some of the 60s performances are classic in all honesty. Yea it’s got its cheese factor but sometimes that’s a good thing!
August 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Haha, it was just too cheesy for me, and I’m all for cheesy: it can be fun when intended to be, and obviously they weren’t taking themselves too seriously then. But I prefer my Batman dark … and tall, and handsome. x) Lame joke, I know. Bah.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:26 am
The issue should be hitting stands any day now WITA. Also, you guys should all read it because Becky is in a photo in GI Spy!!
August 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Ahh yay!
I’m going out today, I’ll look to see if it’s in stores yet.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I saw that VG!! You and Becky look waaaayy hot!
I was like…Hey! I know those girls!
August 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I looked today but didn’t see it, poo!
Maybe they’ll have it at the grocery store … LOL! 