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On April 17, Eidos will release a set of four Kane and Lynch multiplayer maps to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network at the friendly price of absolutely free. To learn a bit more about what we can expect out of the download, IGN went to Kim Krogh, game director for the fragile alliance multiplayer mode.
IGN: Kane & Lynch received a decent critical response from press outlets. What kind of feedback have you gotten from consumers since release?
Kim Krogh: The consumer feedback has been overwhelming for both Kane & Lynch and Fragile Alliance. Players who bought and played the game seem to love it. We got a lot of positive feedback from people who really love the style, atmosphere and game play. Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is not your typical shooter and consumers seem to really like this for the special kind of cinematic crime shooter it is.
IGN: How well have these two grisly main characters resonated with fans? Do people connect with them at all or are they seen more as over-the-top, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando style characters?
Krogh: Players seem to love the fact that this is not the typical over-the-top commando hero and seem to have less trouble actually connecting with that. From the feedback we have got they seem to have adopted and understood Kane and Lynch as anti heroes that you are not supposed to love. Generally, heroes are created or exist for a bigger cause, like to save the world. Whereas Kane and Lynch are fighting their inner demons, trying to get redemption from their past. Kane & Lynch have more edge and depth than the normal game hero which creates more depth to the story. They try to do the right thing, but what can you do when "bad" is in your blood? Kane and Lynch just happen to live in a "real" and not so pleasant world.
IGN: Does this map pack come with a software update to fix some of the issues found in the original game?
Krogh: Yes, and we separated the title update and the DLC, so that everybody gets the title update when they play Fragile Alliance. In the title update we have fixed the connectivity problems, and bugs like being sent back to the start menu when a game session ended or a problem occurred.
We also removed friendly fire between re-spawned players. Too often we experienced that two players teamed up and when one of them died he started killing the other re-spawned player police. That's within the concept. But then mercs and re-spawned police started sharing the money which kind of spoiled it for the many people who just wanted to have some fun.
IGN: Why restrict these new maps to the Fragile Alliance multiplayer mode?
Krogh: Kane & Lynch is important to IO Interactive, and the story is more important than the extent to which an extra mini mission would add to the franchise. It would simply not fit the Kane and Lynch characters to add a few extra maps with some out-of-context rescue mission.
Fragile Alliance was really good fun to make, and we have had overwhelming feedback on the game with tons of requests for new maps. It seemed natural to make extra scenarios for download.
IGN: Why make this content free and not charge like almost every other developer?
Krogh: We wanted to support fans of Kane & Lynch by giving them the extra bang for their buck. As a developer I'm pleased with the decision. People have already paid for the disc, and have been asking for extra maps for a very long time. I find providing the DLC for free, a super cool way to keep the characters and the game alive.
IGN: Are there any new achievements packaged in with the new levels?
Krogh: Yes. The Dope Bag will have additional Achievement points. We wanted to give as much as possible to fans in this DLC pack, and a big part of it is rewarding them with Achievements. Also I think Achievement points have become almost a natural thing by now, and it would have felt unnatural not to have them.
IGN: Are there any plans to expand other multiplayer modes with new content later down the line?
Krogh: Both Kane & Lynch and Fragile Alliance have proved to have huge potential. So it's definitely an option together with all the other possible future projects. I can't really reveal anything right now, but I'm sure the press will be informed in time.
IGN: Kane & Lynch received a decent critical response from press outlets. What kind of feedback have you gotten from consumers since release?
Kim Krogh: The consumer feedback has been overwhelming for both Kane & Lynch and Fragile Alliance. Players who bought and played the game seem to love it. We got a lot of positive feedback from people who really love the style, atmosphere and game play. Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is not your typical shooter and consumers seem to really like this for the special kind of cinematic crime shooter it is.
IGN: How well have these two grisly main characters resonated with fans? Do people connect with them at all or are they seen more as over-the-top, Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando style characters?
Krogh: Players seem to love the fact that this is not the typical over-the-top commando hero and seem to have less trouble actually connecting with that. From the feedback we have got they seem to have adopted and understood Kane and Lynch as anti heroes that you are not supposed to love. Generally, heroes are created or exist for a bigger cause, like to save the world. Whereas Kane and Lynch are fighting their inner demons, trying to get redemption from their past. Kane & Lynch have more edge and depth than the normal game hero which creates more depth to the story. They try to do the right thing, but what can you do when "bad" is in your blood? Kane and Lynch just happen to live in a "real" and not so pleasant world.
IGN: Does this map pack come with a software update to fix some of the issues found in the original game?
Krogh: Yes, and we separated the title update and the DLC, so that everybody gets the title update when they play Fragile Alliance. In the title update we have fixed the connectivity problems, and bugs like being sent back to the start menu when a game session ended or a problem occurred.
We also removed friendly fire between re-spawned players. Too often we experienced that two players teamed up and when one of them died he started killing the other re-spawned player police. That's within the concept. But then mercs and re-spawned police started sharing the money which kind of spoiled it for the many people who just wanted to have some fun.
IGN: Why restrict these new maps to the Fragile Alliance multiplayer mode?
Krogh: Kane & Lynch is important to IO Interactive, and the story is more important than the extent to which an extra mini mission would add to the franchise. It would simply not fit the Kane and Lynch characters to add a few extra maps with some out-of-context rescue mission.
Fragile Alliance was really good fun to make, and we have had overwhelming feedback on the game with tons of requests for new maps. It seemed natural to make extra scenarios for download.
IGN: Why make this content free and not charge like almost every other developer?
Krogh: We wanted to support fans of Kane & Lynch by giving them the extra bang for their buck. As a developer I'm pleased with the decision. People have already paid for the disc, and have been asking for extra maps for a very long time. I find providing the DLC for free, a super cool way to keep the characters and the game alive.
IGN: Are there any new achievements packaged in with the new levels?
Krogh: Yes. The Dope Bag will have additional Achievement points. We wanted to give as much as possible to fans in this DLC pack, and a big part of it is rewarding them with Achievements. Also I think Achievement points have become almost a natural thing by now, and it would have felt unnatural not to have them.
IGN: Are there any plans to expand other multiplayer modes with new content later down the line?
Krogh: Both Kane & Lynch and Fragile Alliance have proved to have huge potential. So it's definitely an option together with all the other possible future projects. I can't really reveal anything right now, but I'm sure the press will be informed in time.