Video game publisher Atari announced today that it has struck a deal with best-selling novelist and screenwriter Lorenzo Carcaterra to write the script for the company’s forthcoming apolocyptic game title Alone in the Dark.
Alone in the Dark is a long-standing, zombie-filled, occult-themed title inspired by the work of horror master H.P Lovecraft; the original Alone in the Dark video game was developed by Infogrames in 1992 and spawned several sequels. In the new version, players will take on the role of private detective Edward Carnby as he tries to unravel a world-changing secret behind New York’s Central Park—and survive the story’s single horrifying night. The title has bee percolating for a while under the tentative names Alone in the Dark 5 and Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation, and was originally announced at the Tokyo Game show in 2005. The new edition of the game is being developed by Eden Games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows platforms.
“Carcaterra delivers riveting stories filled with graphic narrative that have earned him international acclaim,” said David Nadal, Studio Head, Eden Games. “Gripping, compelling storylines are the basis of what differentiates a good game from a blockbuster. With Alone in the Dark, Carcaterra has crafted a meticulously engaging storyline that will grab the player from the start and send them on a journey through Central Park they will never forget.”
The new version of the game will offer a “complete season format of episodes” with action and cliffhangers, and draw inspiration from popular television series like Fox’s 24. Eden is also promising high levels of real-world interaction, game physics, and in-game AI, along with striking visuals and an immersive interface.
Carcaterra is the author of best-selling novels Apaches,Gangster, and Sleeper, the latter of which was converted into a film starring Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt, and is known for his gritty, New York-based stories. He served as a producer for one season of NBC’s Law & Order television series, and cut his teeth as a reporter for the New York Daily News back in 1976.
“Alone in the Dark was a challenge which allowed me to bring a realistic feel to an apocalyptic situation facing New York City and really dig into the Central Park conspiracy idea,” said Lorenzo Carcaterra in a statement. “It also allowed me to write for hard-edged characters, some good, some bad, all forced to confront a force whose power they could never imagine. [..] The end result is, I hope, a roller-coaster of a thrill ride that should be tons of fun to play.”
