War of the Worlds game to star Patrick Stewart
We heard earlier that Other Ocean is making a side-scrolling adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, The War of the Worlds. What we didn't know is that it will be narrated by none other than Sir Patrick Stewart. The game takes place in the same storyline as the iconic 1953 film, but follows events that happened in England instead of America. It's great that Other Ocean isn't following the lead of Spielberg's banal 2005 adaptation, and it's a stroke of sheer genius to cast Stewart at The Journalist.
Considering the amount of praise heaped on Bioshock for its retro, art-deco aesthetic I'm amazed it's taken this long for a proper War of the Worlds game to get green-lit. I'd still like to see a first or third-person adventure done with the property, maybe using the Jeff Wayne rock opera and 1890's England setting with a desolate, Half Life 2 vibe, but for now I'm very excited for Other Ocean's 2D platformer.
Sir Patrick Stewart Lending his Voice to Upcoming The War of the Worlds Video Game
Beloved star of the stage and screen will narrate unforgettable side-scrolling experience, coming to Xbox LIVE® and PlayStation®Network
Emeryville, CA – June 13, 2011 – Other Ocean Interactive is proud to reveal that Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed TV and film star, will be lending his voice talents to The War of the Worlds, its upcoming cinematic side-scrolling platformer, coming to Xbox LIVE®Arcade and PlayStation®Network. Based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds showcases Stewart’s distinct voice as the narration for the game, which follows one man’s experience in 1950s London during a decimating alien invasion.
Known to millions for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the popular TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as his performance as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise, Stewart has enjoyed tremendous success over his decades-long film career including several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. However, providing narration for The War of the Worlds is an experience that hearkens back to Stewart’s childhood.
“As a young boy, I remember watching the The War of the Worlds so many times I was quoting the lines,” said Stewart. “The alien invasion both terrified and fascinated me and the movie has stuck with me since then. Now, being part of this project will provide a new way for gamers around the world to experience a fresh new take on a classic.”
The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a single player, 2D action-adventure. The gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots. With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback and Out of This World, players follow the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.
The War of the Worlds will release for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network later in 2011. For more information, please visit Other Ocean’s website at www.otherocean.com.
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About Other Ocean Interactive
Founded in 2006, Other Ocean specializes in developing original and licensed IP for all platforms. It has development studios in Prince Edward Island, Canada; Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and Emeryville, California. For more information, please visit: www.otherocean.com
About Paramount Digital Entertainment
Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, and emerging technologies.
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Worldwide Television Distribution.
