Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Thomas Howalt, business development director at IO Interactive, has spoken openly about the company’s Kane & Lynch video game which found itself at the centre of a massive scandal.
“We had some really harsh reviews and there was all this noise about this thing with GameSpot and it sort of went over my head whatever people were fighting about. The web has its own voice and it can be very loud,” said Howalt.
Despite a largely negative reaction to the game, Howalt says “it sold well, we broke even and it’s still selling”.
Howalt also denied that the success of the game was damaged because of the controversy that surrounded it.
“You know, what I see today is a lot of people picking it up, playing the free levels we put out. We get a lot of people playing online. You can argue are the graphics good enough, is it up there with the best? But it only takes two weeks and you’re no longer the best looking game out,” said Howalt. “In the end it’s about sales and we have games like Freedom Fighters which is still selling.”
With a movie based on the game said to be in the pipeline, with Bruce Willis lined-up to star, the future looks bright for Kane & Lynch.
Back in 2007 before the release of Kane & Lynch, then SCi CEO Jane Cavanagh told MCV: “We’ve already got Kane & Lynch 2 in production, which just goes to show the belief we have in it as a long-term franchise.” However, Cavanagh has since resigned and we’ve heard nothing more on a sequel.
