Xbox 360 Alone in the Dark worth patching with the PS3 enhancements?

Alone in the Dark (2008) is a revamped and re-imaged version of the cult classic franchise that was released on the Xbox 360 this past June. The game received mixed reviews, with scores as low as 3.5 from IGN and 6.5 from Gamespot. Eden Games is currently working on releasing a heavily modified version of the game onto the PS3 with the goal of addressing many of the complaints from the Xbox 360 version.

The main complaints from the Xbox 360 version of Alone in the Dark (AITD) were due to the outlandish control scheme, convoluted inventory system and problematic vehicle controls. Eden Games indicated that the development teams have listened to the feedback of the review sites and from the consumers on the message boards as well.

AITD seems to have great potential, with excellent graphics and an intriguing storyline. However,  the over-ambitious control scheme is ultimately what hampered the success of the game. The folks over at MTV had an opportunity to check out the PS3 version of AITD over at the San Francisco Hotel yesterday and had a chat with one of the game designers, Emile Morel.

Morel made some very interesting comments when asked if the Xbox 360 version of AITD would receive a patch including all of the PS3 version’s enhancements. Morel said a patch is not guaranteed for the Xbox 360 version and is something they will evaluate depending on how well the PS3 version does.

He said:

“We can’t promise it because it is still early, … We are finishing this [PS3] version first. I guess it also depends on the success of this version. If people review it again and said it’s not worth it…” [laughs]

In other words, if the critics still chastise the PS3 version of AITD then there would be no need for an Xbox 360 patch. Morel also added that if a patch were to be created it would only entail the bare minimum necessities due to Microsoft’s file size limit.

One of the additions that the Xbox 360 version would definitely miss out on is a new subway area; this is mainly due to the file size constraint.  AITD for the Xbox 360 is currently tracking at an estimated 70,000 copies sold in the US, which is pitiful considering the cost of development for this game.

In the video game industry, second wind is something of a rarity and after a game flops in sales during launch, another opportunity may not arise for a successful re-launch.  The PS3 version of AITD may do well depending on the enhancements made to the game, but Xbox 360 gamers have moved on and will not be coming back to this title even with a patch.

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