14 DAY TRIAL // Activision is saying that it plans to release Prototype, the open world action title that has a shape shifter as the protagonist, in June. The exact date is subject to chance depending on when the title goes gold and how much time is needed to multiply the game disk for the release.
It seems that the date was mentioned on the invitations Activision sent out to the press of its New York Comic Con event, at which players will have a chance to get some play time with Prototype. The game is being developed for the Xbox 360 from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 from Sony and the PC. It was originally unveiled by the currently defunct Sierra in 2007 and was supposed to be launched in summer 2008. After the merger between Activision and Blizzard, there were rumors that the title would be dropped but Activision retained it and even gave the developer, Radical Entertainment, extra time in order to make sure that the game lives up to its promise.
What is that promise? Prototype will tell the story of a guy named Alex Mercer, who has the ability to shape shift into anyone he meets while taking over the personality and the memories of all those he turns into. Conveniently, he is also amnesiac and has no recollection of how he became a mutant, which means that he needs to piece it all back together by scouring New York in search of clues and important individuals that can offer answers.
Take into account that, at the same time, parts of the city are closed by the military and that you have the perfect premise for a powerful action title, which can present very interesting gameplay challenges. Still, shape shifting is likely to be an enormous technical challenge and Radical Entertainment will be hard pressed to deliver a title that offers the player the freedom to move around and turn into anyone they meet.