[T2G Interview] Remedy’s Oskari Häkkinen on Alan Wake and more.

[*DannyP]

I recently sat down for a chat with Remedy Head of Franchise Development, Oskari Häkkinen. In an in-depth interview, Häkkinen discussed Alan Wake, Alan Wake for PC, and their brand new XBLA release Alan Wake’s American Nightmare. He also offered various insights into the industry that Train2Game students will no doubt find very interesting.

And yes answered some of the questions you got me to ask.

Read part one right here on The Train2Game Blog.

As usual, leave your comments here or on The Train2Game Blog!

[username]

Good interview, looking forward to the rest.

The theme of the game reminds me of Paul Auster novels, but with a greater scare factor. Seriously, I got the game when it came out around a week ago(?) on Steam and I'm only a couple of hours in. It absolutely terrifies me and I can't do more than 30 minutes at a time, if I am honest. The Paul Auster psychological/thriller narrative sets a nice tone to it and the environmental creepiness is a little unsettling, but it's the action sequences that make me do things in my pants that I'd rather do in the bathroom. I don't think I've ever felt like this from a book or a film - they've done an excellent job of showing just how suited the gaming medium/mechanic is to this sort of stuff. If I were a horror writer, I'd quit and start making games instead.

[*DannyP]

Good interview, looking forward to the rest.

The theme of the game reminds me of Paul Auster novels, but with a greater scare factor. Seriously, I got the game when it came out around a week ago(?) on Steam and I'm only a couple of hours in. It absolutely terrifies me and I can't do more than 30 minutes at a time, if I am honest. The Paul Auster psychological/thriller narrative sets a nice tone to it and the environmental creepiness is a little unsettling, but it's the action sequences that make me do things in my pants that I'd rather do in the bathroom. I don't think I've ever felt like this from a book or a film - they've done an excellent job of showing just how suited the gaming medium/mechanic is to this sort of stuff. If I were a horror writer, I'd quit and start making games instead.

Häkkinen did mention Auster as an influence during the interview.

[username]

Häkkinen did mention Auster as an influence during the interview.

Really?! First time I ever called anything correctly - ha!

He should approach Auster about doing a collaborative game - that... would... be... awesome.

[*DannyP]

Here's the second part of the interview, in which Häkkinen discusses digital distribution, life at Remedy and getting into the industry.

As usual, leave your comments and thoughts here.