User:The Fifth Horseman/Alien Assault

Alien Assault
Developer(s)Teardown
Director(s)Niklas Åstrand, Jörgen Nilsson
Programmer(s)Niklas Åstrand
Artist(s)Niklas Åstrand, Paul Wilson
Writer(s)Michał Gawlas, Jörgen Nilsson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • WW: February 19, 2008 (2008-02-19)
(as Space Hulk)
  • WW: September 30, 2009 (2009-09-30)(as Alien Assault)
Genre(s)Strategy

Alien Assault is a 2009 turn-based tactics video game by Teardown.

Originally released in 2008 as Space Hulk, the game was taken down due to licensing issues between the developers, Games Workshop LLC and THQ Inc. . The game's creators then attempted to acquire a license to use the Space Hulk name and associated trademarks but their attempts were rejected, prompting rebranding of the game as Alien Assault and replacing all connections to the Warhammer 40,000 IP with a generic science fiction setting.

Synopsis

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Development

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Space Hulk

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In 2008, a pair of hobbyists under the name Teardown have released a freeware PC game based on Space Hulk. [1][2] Despite a relative lack of publicity, Teardown's production has quickly generated interest in the online community, with the website receiving over 10 000 views in the first few days between going online and the game's actual release.

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Within a month the game was removed from the developers' site. They noted that the web download traffic was creating problems, and that Games Workshop were threatening legal action due to THQ's current ownership of the Warhammer 40,000 video game license. [3][4]

License Hoax

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On April 1st 2008, Teardown have announced they obtained THQ's permission to use the Warhammer 40,000 license. After being reported on by Rock, Paper, Shotgun, the news has been subsequently revealed as an April Fools prank [5]

Space Hulk 1.1

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Rebranding into Alien Assault

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According to the development team, their attempts to negotiate for the release of the game with THQ were refused, resulting in the game being rebranded under the name "Alien Assault".[6][7] [8]

Reception

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Sequel

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In January 2011 Teardown has announced the intent to produce a sequel, under the working name Alien Assault 2 - The Return. [9] The sequel's design documentation is developed publicly, with the community taking an active part in the process.

"New direction" hoax

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In April 2011, an announcement has been made that the sequel to Alien Assault would instead become a parody of Space Hulk and Warhammer 40,000 under the name Rubbermallet: Space Sulk. The announcement has been subsequently revealed as another April Fools hoax. [10]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ Gillen, Kieron. "Purge With Fire. In a Good Way.". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  2. ^ Plunkett, Luke (2008-03-04). "Space Hulk Gets a Touch-Up". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  3. ^ Fahey, Mike (2008-03-07). "Teardown's Space Hulk Torn Down". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  4. ^ Davey, Jamie; Åstrand, Niklas. "Space Hulk: Interview". Strategy Informer. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  5. ^ Rossignol, Jim. "THQ Give Teardown nod / EDIT: Space Hoax! Oh my aching sides.". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  6. ^ Åstrand, Niklas. "The end of TDSH V1.1". Teardown. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  7. ^ JR (December 2009), "It's 'NOT' Space Hulk: Space Hulk remake finally released under new name", PC Gamer, p. 15{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ Gillen, Kieron (2009-09-30). "Definitely Not Space Hulk: Alien Assault". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  9. ^ Åstrand, Niklas. "Welcome to the Alien Assault 2". Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  10. ^ "New name, new direction". Retrieved 2011-09-09.

Notes

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"Alien Assault".

"The official forum for TearDown's Alien Assault".