Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Flop "Predictable," Producer Says

[Karloff]

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Flop "Predictable," Producer Says

Executive producer Julian Beak has a lot to say about his time at Visceral Montreal.

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10275-Army-of-Two-The-Devils-Cartel-Review] executive producer Julian Beak has poured scorn on Visceral Games Montreal's work culture, and says that the "underwhelming production" was predictable. In a LinkedIn CV update, Beak says he was brought in as a morale troubleshooter, "recruited late in development to nurture the team." While Beak claims success, he admits it came too late to salvage the project.

So how did Beak not-quite-save the title? Hard work and "the frequent celebration of success" says he, which should give you an idea of what life might have been like at Visceral Montreal in the pre-Beak era. He also says he "modeled and coached honesty, tenacity and commitment at all levels." But in any event, the team wasn't going to be around much longer.

Visceral Montreal shut in February 2013, in a move parent company lukewarm reviews [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122300-Rumor-Electronic-Arts-Closes-Visceral-Montreal].

Source: Videogamer [http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/army_of_two_the_devils_cartel/news/army_of_two_devils_cartel_team_struggled_with_a_negative_trajectory_of_morale_2.html]


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[Arppis]

I enjoyed it. It was a fun co-op game to play. And making those masks was cool. I think what it really needed was "horde" mode of sorts.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

I like the Army of Two games, but the 3rd did seem more standard shooter than an AO2 game. I think they just need more work on the concept instead of releasing a sub standard product. Didnt help that you wasnt playing as the guys from the previous games, though giving the story that made sense.

But regardless of all the issues with the game, i had a lot of fun playing it with my brothers split screen. SOmething i wish more games would do.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

It says more that the team needed a morale officer at all than what that officer could possibly say. I'd love to hear the actual reason he was hired to start with.

 

[Something Amyss]

I like the Army of Two games, but the 3rd did seem more standard shooter than an AO2 game. I think they just need more work on the concept instead of releasing a sub standard product. Didnt help that you wasnt playing as the guys from the previous games, though giving the story that made sense.

Unfortunately, the story still kind of sucked, and was still driven by the main characters from the last game, so it making sense doesn't help much.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Devil's Cartel was definitely the black sheep of the franchise. I loved playing the first two with my brother, and as far as I know, it was one of the few franchises to still have split-screen co-op as a major feature, even in this day and age. I think one of the main problems with it was just how much you didn't care about Alpha and Bravo.

Sure, that was their attempt at "putting you behind the mask," but after two games, you really get attached to Salem and Rios, at least my brother and I did. This change of course, makes sense once you play through the story, but it was just so jarring and felt like a major slap in the face to what has been established for so long. Also, Devil's Cartel makes only one of the endings in The 40th Day to be canon (remember, there were three).

It just tried to changed everything about the series when it really wasn't necessary. That being said, making your own mask was really cool.

Never before had my brother and I had a slap-happy adventure of two buff guys sporting Luigi and Catbug masks.

...and in the end, isn't that all that really matters?

 

[Elijin]

I remember this being a fun couch co-op game that I rented for the weekend for like $8. My brother and I did not feel my $8 was wasted. But I might have been singing a different tune had I paid full price to own it.

 

[Alpha Maeko]

The first game was ingeniously fun coop.

The second game tried too hard to be deep and dark, failing to be as interesting and losing replayability. (do not get me started on the sex-with-a-panda thing)

Devil's Cartel had a story so annoyingly bad that it makes me cringe.

Here's how I imagine the story-board ideas session went:

"Hey, guys, the boss says we need to have at least three plot twists in this game. Okay, quick ideas, go!"

"Er... okay, so Salem and Rios are starting to like each other allot-"

"No, next?"

"I am your father."

"Nope."

"Everyone in this story gets held at gun point and then subsequently shot for no reason?"

"PERFECT!"

 

[Grabehn]

The moment that I saw this game's trailer and read the main guys were called "Alpha" and something else, I lost all interest. I played the second one with my GF and loved it, cuz surprisingly enough the shooting mechanics are good. In fact I still play it from time to time. But this one? no appeal whatsoever. Oh right... Bravo's the second guy. A & B, the most creative names for your main characters.

Guess I'll wait till kingdom come for that Mask creator thing to get fixed...

 

[SecondPrize]

That they felt the need to hire a morale troubleshooter speaks to what's wrong in video game developement. Tell us again how it's our fault your profits are low because we buy used games but not yours for how you build them, please.

 

[barrett107]

I liked the first two games quite a lot. The Devil's Cartel seemed to be a departure from them despite what the company wished us to believe. That said one item truly irks me. Why is Rios' "Vaya con Dios" right arm tattoo now a "Semper Fi" tattoo? He was an Army Ranger. I understand Marines can be Rangers but can't wear the Ranger Tab. In the novels he does wear the Tab. They didn't need a morale man they seem to have needed an editor or someone to monitor continuity glitches.