I mentioned this in my review, but wanted to see what you all thought.  At the current time, the Amazon.com description of Alan Wake reads the following:
 
 Explore an Entire Town
The town of Bright Falls is 100 square kilometers, and players will be able to roam through this incredibly detailed area any way they like, roaming the town or wandering out to the lakes, forest, satellite towns, and more. The game gives the player goals, but how he chooses to go about completing them is up to him. Clues are scattered throughout the town, and solving mysteries will require players to pay close attention to the little details.
 
This just is NOT true at all, as Alan Wake is completely linear. At one time, Remedy did indeed say it was going to be an open world title, but their game changed multiple times over the long dev cycle. Does it bother you that they are promoting it that way? Did you think it was an open world game before reviews started hitting?

That's how advertising is...  
 
On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it. 

I indeed thought it would be an open world game. Kind of a bummer that its linear. But from reviews (or just giantbombs) the linear aspect isn't that much of a downer. Still looks like a great game.

It's misinformation after all so it will definitely have to get edited as soon as possible. Most people who would get Alan Wake know enough about it to notice how very wrong that description is, but there'll still be some that'll go in gravely disappointed because of it

I'm sick and tired of people complaining about linearity. First FFXIII, now this. It's getting ridiculous actually. Not every game should be an open world game. They probably made this decision to make it a greater experience as a story.

" That's how advertising is...   On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it.  "

" I'm sick and tired of people ranting about linearity. First FFXIII, now this. It's getting ridiculous actually. Not every game should be an open world game. They probably made this decision to make it a greater experience as a story. "

" @xyzygy said:

" I'm sick and tired of people ranting about linearity. First FFXIII, now this. It's getting ridiculous actually. Not every game should be an open world game. They probably made this decision to make it a greater experience as a story. "

Who was ranting about the linear nature of the game? I was talking about the description and what is being sold to consumers. "

" @modeps said:

" @xyzygy said:

" I'm sick and tired of people ranting about linearity. First FFXIII, now this. It's getting ridiculous actually. Not every game should be an open world game. They probably made this decision to make it a greater experience as a story. "

Who was ranting about the linear nature of the game? I was talking about the description and what is being sold to consumers. "

Sorry, ranting was the wrong word. And it's not directed at you, but at those who would be disappointed because of it. "

" @Jeust said:

" That's how advertising is...   On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it.  "

Advertising means telling lies? Additionally, I was sent an early copy for review, so I'm sorry if it bothers you. I write for 
another website and wanted to share my thoughts here. "

" @Jeust said:

" That's how advertising is...   On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it.  "

Advertising means telling lies? Additionally, I was sent an early copy for review, so I'm sorry if it bothers you. I write for another website and wanted to share my thoughts here. "

" You don't need to be so stingy.   Advertising isn't always correct, and sometimes means lying. It's nothing new. If you're really worried, there are consumer services that deal with such cases. About the reviews, i think it's a pity that when users waiting till launch day will probably reconsider uploading their own enthusiastic reviews as the there will be plenty already. Good for making a more clearer decision, but it sucks to any unprivileged user who would like to share theirs. But that's globalization, isn't it? "

Considering how bad a lot of open world games are, this kind of narrative seems like a breath of fresh air. There is a big difference between the FFXIII kind of stripped down linearity and Alan Wake's seemingly more story driven set up.

" @modeps:   It isn't acceptable, but as you noticed you can do something about it.    Hum hum it is probably one of the best titles for the xbox 360 this year and in its lifetime, so it's understandable Microsoft's confidence in it. For now it won't eschew, but with a dozen of reviews in, it will start looking like a waste of time to do another one.  "

" @Jeust said:

" @modeps:   It isn't acceptable, but as you noticed you can do something about it.    Hum hum it is probably one of the best titles for the xbox 360 this year and in its lifetime, so it's understandable Microsoft's confidence in it. For now it won't eschew, but with a dozen of reviews in, it will start looking like a waste of time to do another one.  "

I disagree. I enjoyed it, but it's certainly not the best 360 title this year or in it's lifetime. Mass Effect 2 is still a better game. "

I still have Deadly Premonition as my game of the year, I loved that game since it came out. RDR and Alan Wake have a strong chance of cracking the top four though.

" I still have Deadly Premonition as my game of the year, I loved that game since it came out. RDR and Alan Wake have a strong chance of cracking the top four though. "

If someone's buying the game based on the Amazon description, they deserve it.  All of the reviews say it's linear in one way or another.

" @Kouerson said:

" I still have Deadly Premonition as my game of the year, I loved that game since it came out. RDR and Alan Wake have a strong chance of cracking the top four though. "

I haven't looked at any of the endurance run videos, but is that a joke, or serious? It seems to have one seriously weird following. "

While it isn't open-world, it is extremely detailed and very well designed (unlike so many other "linear" games of late). Alan Wake is such a rich experience that, if you own a 360 (or even plan to in the near future), you really shouldn't skip out on it. It's a thriller novel as a video game with some very unique storytelling that's simply a breath of fresh air after the repetitive tripe we get put through these days. There's a wealth of environments and scenarios throughout the game, which more than makes up for the fact it is more or less a straight arrow.
 
What impressed me most about the game outside of the atmosphere and storytelling was the fluidity of the controls. I don't think I've played a game this generation that really felt as smooth and flawless as does Alan Wake. Instead of going with the scattershot approach to their battle system, Remedy has made a game that is superbly focused on its two core mechanics (light, then shoot). Those work so well in conjunction with one another that I can't wait to see what they have in store with the DLC.

" That's how advertising is...   On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it.  "

" @Jeust said:

" That's how advertising is...   On another note it is bothersome that the game hasn't launched and there are already four user reviews of it.  "

Sometimes yes, but in this instance it's amazon being fucktards again, they havn't changed that description since 2007 i'm guessing.  Originally the gameplay was very very open world, you could literally explore the whole town whenever, go wherever, and the day/night cycles governed the progression of events. I don't know why they changed it to being linear, there are any number of reasons why companies do that, it's happened to a lot of ambitious games like Alan Wake.  As for the user reviews, it leaked onto the internet a week or so ago thanks to either some asshole tester or some less-than-honest marketing employee or games journalist. So they've probably been playing pirated versions. :( That or some places broke street date, or they are testers and tested the game (in which case they are guilty of breaking NDA and would be fired :P) but yeah, mostly likely pirated. "