According to American McGee, the creator of the video game series “Alice,” Electronic Arts (EA) has declined to greenlight the next installment in the series, “Alice: Asylum.” McGee announced the news in a post on his personal blog, stating that EA had decided not to fund the development of the game. This news has disappointed fans of the “Alice” series, who have been eagerly awaiting a new installment for years.
The “Alice” series follows the adventures of Alice Liddell, a young girl who has fallen into a fantastical world filled with strange creatures and bizarre landscapes. The series has gained a cult following over the years, with fans praising the dark and twisted take on the classic “Alice in Wonderland” story.
The first game in the series, “American McGee’s Alice,” was released in 2000 and was followed by a sequel, “Alice: Madness Returns,” in 2011. Since then, fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of “Alice: Asylum,” which was intended to be a prequel to the original game.
In his blog post, McGee expressed his disappointment with EA’s decision not to greenlight the game, stating that the company had cited “market conditions and commercial feasibility” as the reasons for the decision. McGee also criticized the gaming industry for prioritizing “franchise, formula, and cross-platform monetization” over creativity and innovation.
Fans of the “Alice” series have taken to social media to express their disappointment with EA’s decision, with many calling for the company to reconsider. Some fans have even started a petition to urge EA to fund the development of the game.
The news of EA’s decision has also sparked a broader discussion about the state of the gaming industry and the challenges faced by independent developers. Many independent developers struggle to secure funding for their projects, and the industry is increasingly dominated by large companies that prioritize profit over creativity.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement among gamers to support independent developers and promote more creative and innovative games. Platforms like Kickstarter and Patreon have made it easier for independent developers to fund their projects, and there has been a surge in popularity of indie games like “Undertale” and “Stardew Valley.”
Despite the challenges faced by independent developers, many gamers believe that the industry would benefit from more creativity and innovation. The success of games like “Minecraft” and “Fortnite” has demonstrated that there is a market for games that prioritize creativity and player engagement over flashy graphics and complex gameplay mechanics.
In the case of “Alice: Asylum,” it remains to be seen whether EA will reconsider its decision and fund the development of the game. McGee has stated that he will continue to pursue the project, either through independent funding or by partnering with a different publisher.
Alice series devotees have been anxiously awaiting information on “Alice: Asylum,” the probable third book. Regrettably, Electronic Arts has decided not to support or license the idea, putting an end to the development of the series, according to American Mcgee. A committed group of designers, writers, modelers, and producers spent several years creating a 414-page Design Bible that outlines the full idea for the third installment of Alice’s video game adventures.
Following the completion of the Design Bible, American McGee began discussions with EA and presented the Design Bible along with a Production Plan produced in conjunction with Virtuos Games. Yet after several weeks of consideration, EA decided against supporting the project, citing internal research of the idea’s intellectual property, market environment, and production proposal. EA also said that they are not prepared to sell or license the Alice Property at this time.
Based on an internal study of the IP, market conditions, and specifics of the manufacturing proposal, they have eventually chosen to pass on the project with regard to finance. When asked about licensing, they said that “Alice” is a significant component of EA’s total game portfolio and that they aren’t now prepared to sell or license it.
We’ve tried everything to have a new “Alice” game produced at this point. There is no other option to move the project ahead in light of those EA responses. As a result, we shall suspend our pre-production efforts and this Patreon page. The information will still be available, but we won’t offer any more ways to support “Alice: Asylum” initiatives through this (or any other) site.
The Patreon page and associated pre-production operations have been put on hold as a result of EA’s response, which has eliminated all possibilities for making a new Alice game. Moreover, American McGee declared that the present state of game creation has left him with no new ideas, motivation, or enthusiasm for developing new game concepts. He made no mention of wanting to be part in any Alice-related developments in the future.
Third-person action-adventure game American McGee’s Alice was the original title, and it was released in 2000 for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. The game, which was based on Lewis Carroll’s works, portrayed a dark, violent Wonderland and was centered on Alice, who fled to Wonderland after her family was tragically killed. The follow-up, Alice: Madness Returns, was published in 2011 and chronicles Alice’s quest to overcome trauma and learn the truth about her history.
EA will ultimately decide what happens to the Alice IP. As of right now, “Alice: Asylum,” the third game in the series, is no longer a possibility.
Regardless of the outcome, the news of EA’s decision has once again highlighted the challenges faced by independent developers and the need for greater support for creativity and innovation in the gaming industry. Fans of the “Alice” series will no doubt continue to push for the development of “Alice: Asylum,” and it remains to be seen whether their efforts will be successful.
