I don't see how a cover system would be a possible deficiency unless it was a required mechanic (ala Gears of War) or it was tacked on in lieu of merely having an extra feature.

In this case, the cover system has replaced the ability to jump and lean whenever and wherever you want.

It would be cool if the developer's moved away from the whole "weapon mod X" idea and let the player find stuff for themselves. You break into a sporting-goods shop and find some gun solvent, apply it to your firearm. Stuff that's not so obvious.

I don't think ghetto modifications would really fit the theme of Alpha Protocol. You're a super agent, after all. As long as the upgrade system is flexible, I'm happy. DX had a great system where generic mods (range, clip size, accuracy, etc) could be applied to almost any weapon. You could use all your upgrades on one weapon and make it super awesome. I'm not sure if AP lets you do that but it at least appears to have a wide range of upgrades.

This comment was edited on Jul 3, 2009, 21:09.

this reminds me of Terry Pratchett writing about how people on holiday always end up with some cheesy espionage novel to read named something like

Ah, the "airport novel", and Robert Ludlum (if he were still alive) would be the visiting professor lecturing on that subject. If you can't finish a Ludlum book on a trans-Atlantic/Pacific or cross-continental flight, you can't read.

I'm hoping the game-play footage was from one of the consoles since I was planning on buying PC.

Can't see what the difference would be, a bad-looking graphics engine is a bad looking one regardless the platform. Higher resolution textures can only take way so much of the familiar muck.

3) Cover system.
4) You can't jump.

I don't see how a cover system would be a possible deficiency unless it was a required mechanic (ala Gears of War) or it was tacked on in lieu of merely having an extra feature.

Now if you can't jump it would make the whole point moot...but then again, the Hitman games got along pretty good without it. So...I suppose I'm of the same opinion as you - it's either going to work well or not.

5) Extensive weapon modification system.

It would be cool if the developer's moved away from the whole "weapon mod X" idea and let the player find stuff for themselves. You break into a sporting-goods shop and find some gun solvent, apply it to your firearm. Stuff that's not so obvious. It seems to me the basis for the idea is there - you could make weapons in Fallout 3 and had alchemy in Oblivion.

Blue, you forgot the games subtitle - 'The Espionage RPG'...

Heh, this reminds me of Terry Pratchett writing about how people on holiday always end up with some cheesy espionage novel to read named something like, 'The Alpha Protocol' or 'The Omega Gambit' or the like.

I'm still waiting to visit the droid planet....

I want this game to be good. I want it to be a spiritual successor to DX. But based on what I've seen thus far, I have my doubts.

1) Time limits during conversations.
2) Abbreviated/paraphrased dialogue choices.
3) Cover system.
4) You can't jump.
5) AI is utterly retarded.
6) Mandatory minigames for hacking, lockpicking, etc.
7) Regenerating armor.
8) Story and characters don't seem particularly compelling.

There are some good things though.

1) Your weapon skill affects accuracy, not damage.
2) You can be stealthy (though to what extent is unknown).
3) Your choices actually matter and have long-term consequences (hopefully).
4) Expansive skill tree.
5) Extensive weapon modification system.
6) Non-regenerating health.
7) You can get through the game without killing anyone (supposedly).

I really hope the game surprises me and ends up being great.

After seeing the E3 video this year I am far less excited than before. I'm hoping the game-play footage was from one of the consoles since I was planning on buying PC. I know it's premature to judge a game on just a few minutes of actual game-play but that is exactly why they created demos. Anyway I hope I am wrong because I really want this game to be good... better than good, great.

hmm looks better than i thought, except the gfx - which are shitty but who cares

Looking forward to it. Hopefully I won't be broke by the time it's released!