Famed game designer American McGee is encouraging fans of his Alice games to create their own version of what would have been the third game in the series: Alice Asylum. McGee addresses EA’s choice to forgo developing the third game in a recent video on YouTube. Unfortunately, McGee is only legally allowed to create Alice Asylum if EA gives him the green light, which, sadly, isn’t going to happen. The news comes as a blow to American McGee’s Alice fans, who have waited patiently for the final game in the trilogy.
American McGee’s Alice hit PC and Mac in 2000. The third-person adventure title continues the tale of Alice in Wonderland. After losing her family in a fire and spending 10 years in an asylum, Alice’s condition begins to improve. However, she’s then thrust back into Wonderland. However, between the Queen of Hearts’ tyrannical rule and Alice’s wavering sanity, Wonderland has become a twisted version of its former self. The game’s sequel, Alice: Madness Returns released on Xbox 360. PC and PlayStation 3 in 2011. However, there have been no new titles in the series in the last twelve years.
Out of options for creating Alice Asylum
McGee assures fans he has done all he could to try to get Alice Asylum into development stating, “I do think, though that there is a ray of hope for those of you out there that would like to see Alice’s story continued and that is that the design bible. The complete story, the artwork, all of the chapters, the weapons, the enemies, everything that you could need to develop the new game – it all exists inside of the design bible.
“The design bible, as produced, is the perfect thing to feed into an AI system to have it completely build the game that is outlined in that design bible,” McGee adds.
Not only is McGee not allowed to develop Alice Asylum, but he also claims he is not legally allowed to create a spiritual successor to the game. He also states that if fans fear the legal repercussions of creating the game via AI, they must also understand that he is legally bound not to make the game.
The design bible for Alice Asylum is available to download free online.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
