[Hümmelgümpf der Bruzzelzwerg]

First five screenshots were released:
http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Screens/ScreenShots.htm?CS_pid={A7109B2B-E362-4B10-B75B-A9C3E0A5626C}

In case you haven't seen these, here are the preview scans:
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I must admit that I like the concept of a Bloodlines-style spy thriller action/RPG quite a lot.

[Vince]

Leads to the same thing though.

[Davos]

For some reason I've got a terrible feeling this game will suck. The whole spy-theme is bound to be riddled with clichés, especially the save the world stuff which has already been done to death and some more with High Fantasy and Space Opera RPGs. The fact that Urquhart mentions Mass Effect, Fallout 3 and Oblivion as "the change in the industry" worries me intensely. Sure there's a change- change for the worst.  Also its odd that they keep mentioning "it got guns but hey it's an RPG, really!!"That makes me suspicious, since thats the same kind of PR crap Bethesda pulled with Oblivion. Call me cynical but meh just seems to be PR-Speak to me.

 I don't like having a set character, that kind of annoys me, but since PS:T had one then I'm prepared to give that particular point a miss. They also mention that the skill system is like FO, but I don't see that kind of system working in a TPS, player skill driven, combat system. Mass Effect's skills didn't work too badly since you gained special perks as you went up the system but still...

On another note, That Dialogue example looks corny,  like something Bioware would write and -like Vince pointed out- has the same result for both sides of the conversation. If that's what it's like throughout the whole game then yuck. The "tonnes of romances" idea that they have doesn't enthral me either. I know romances and Bond Girls are the whole part of the spy setting but stuff like that could really water down the seriousness of the plot.

Still, I'll reserve judgement, Chris Avellone seems to have the right idea about dialogue not being good or evil but morally relativist. And after all, it can't be worse then Oblivion, right?

[Starwars]

I don't really know what to make of this yet. I also feel rather pessimistic when I hear Feargus say that stuff, and I don't really like the approach to the dialogue system nor do I think I will appreciate the combat system much.

But on the other hand, I have faith in Avellone (and Mitsoda I suppose, though I've only really seen his work on Vampire) and that they'll deliver an interesting story. It's also good that they do stress choices in that article, though of course that's something a lot of devs do.
While the whole spythriller thing is indeed clichéd, I'm still quite interested in how it will play out in a game such as this.
I'm also glad to see a class-less system being used.

A big worry after reading that piece of dialogue is whether they'll get the snappy "spy dialogue" right. I like Avellones writing (and again, Mitsodas from Vampire) a lot, but it's obviously very different to write something like this than to write something like PS:T. I don't like that particular dialogue in the screenshot. If the voiceactors are really good it might work though, I suppose the game will have a rather cinematic feel to it like Mass Effect.

I have faith Obsidian will provide something interesting with this game, but I doubt it will be anything I rate all that high. The first vibes I get is a more interesting Mass Effect (since I feel Obsidians games so far have been much more interesting than the Bioware games), which could be good. But depending on the gameplay and writing it might be bad as well.

[CandyStick]

I am hoping this will end up being something of a Deus Ex clone. A stat driven fps, with a decent story, and multiple ways to solve the level objectives. That would be good enough for me, Deus Ex is one of my favorites, and we are way over do for a game like it.

[Priapist]

Jury's out on this one. I think I'll give it the usual wide berth I give to Junior Bioware games unless someone convinces me otherwise post-release. MOTB has made it onto my list, but the whole "requires a copy of NWN2 to play" bit makes it a difficult proposition.

[caster]

Sounds like another Bioware clone.

Obsidian disapointed me with simplistic KoToR 1&2, NWN2 was the same, now they are cloning Masseffect in a super cliche setting and their next project is suposed to be Alien RPG which is also a very big cliche.

Im going back to work on my... ahem...cough... Mimir`s Mars game.

[Hümmelgümpf der Bruzzelzwerg]

Obsidian disapointed me with simplistic KoToR 1&2, NWN2 was the same

1. The original KotOR is BioWare's baby.
2. The second one wasn't simplistic. It was unfinished and rushed.
3. MotB was goddamn awesome.

I really have high expectations for this one. Obsidian finally have got an opportunity to work outside an established setting and have a talented team working on the game. It certainly isn't going to be an old-school hardcore RPG, but neither was Bloodlines.

[caster]

Since KotoR is Star Wars setting i can really hold thier simplictiy against them very much. (they went over the movies in that sense)
I was mostly disapointed with NWN2 in terms of story, characters and dialogue and choice &consequence.
Didnt play motb yet, i keep hearing its really good.

but this sounds like they are jumping on that mainstream action train too much.
well see, i guess.

[Starwars]

New preview: http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/alpha-protocol/preview/alpha-protocol-first-look/a-20080422121024489075/g-20080313162151178085

Not that much new stuff, but eh.

[caster]

Skipped the first part of the article...

Its funny how they always, always bring up cornerstones, touchstones, legendary, best games in the genre of RPGs Fallout and Planescape but they are all so eager to make next gen RPGs with a lot of action and bloom and crap.

Well atleast this is good:

However, one of the main contributors in look and tone was Syriana. If James Bond is where the action comes from, Syriana has a big influence on the theme.

I mean the Syriana part. James Bond part is crap. Action! pheh!

[Davos]

I already mentioned this earlier in this thread but I really don't like the look of this game. It sounds way too much like ME and I wasn't that impressed by it.

Yet what Obsidian want to stress more than anything is that Alpha Protocol is a role-playing game

Don't like the sound of that. Like I said earlier, it looks like they are compensating for something with that statement *cough* Oblivion PR*cough*.

Realism is important to Alpha Protocol.

...will gradually move further and further into comic-book heroism...

Wut? Isn't that a bit contradictory? Btw, what is it with this focus on "teh uberness" in RPGs? Why can't they just play within the limits of a real human spy? Damn I hate all this uber\epic shit, it really pisses me off.

This game doesn't sound very RPG like from that article. I'd imagine the combat will be player skill based which is a big no no. The conversations look good in that you might piss off an NPC if you talk to him/her incorrectly. However, the whole James Bond spy cliché idea means the dialogue will likely be Bioware-level in it's awfulness. Seriously though, Obsidian need to get better PR because these previews aren't really psyching me at all.

Skipped the first part of the article...

Its funny how they always, always bring up cornerstones, touchstones, legendary, best games in the genre of RPGs Fallout and Planescape but they are all so eager to make next gen RPGs with a lot of action and bloom and crap.

Well atleast this is good:
I mean the Syriana part. James Bond part is crap. Action! pheh!

I agree, they talk about how great Fallout and PS:T were and yet they make Mass Effect clones. Always amazes me as well that they rarely mention other RPG classics like Wizardry 8, Darklands, the Dark Sun games and even Arcanum. It seems like they say it because those two games are a buzzword for "look guyz, we make good arr-pee-gee's like Fallout lolz." I love Fallout 1 (my second favourite cRPG after Arcanum *flame shield on*) but this game doesn't look anything like it. So stop bringing it's name up in vain you assholes . We got enough of that from Bethesda's rape fest.

Also, Syriana was a pretty good movie but I'm sceptical as to whether this game will do that theme totally. I'd imagine it will be James Bond mixed with Jason Bourne and a sprinkling of Jack Bauer on top. In layman's terms a shit sandwich of clichéd crap.

[caster]

Besides, all those movies rely most of all on charisma of the main actor. And Adam Sandler look-a-like doesn't cut that cheese rather well.

[Wrath of Dagon]

Leads to the same thing though.

Well, so what? You don't know that while you're playing.

[Davos]

It absolutely matters. Choices and consequences are vital to a cRPGs credibility and its replayability . Choices without consequences are meaningless and pointless. ME proved this point brilliantly. It often gave the illusion of choice but it ultimately led to the same thing. Obsidian once again look like they are going down the Bioware clone route rather than being bloody original with anything. I almost hate Obsidian because all they do is Bioware Clones and they lack game designing creativity. If it wasn't for the sublime MoTB, I would have written Obsidian off a long time ago. I loathed NWN 2 with a passion and KoTOR was one of the buggiest and unfinished games I've ever played (and they say Troika's games were buggy hah!) If Obsidian are going to win my interest in this game, they need to show me that this is more than a spy Mass Effect clone complete with terrible dialogue and meaningless choices, because atm I ain't seeing it.