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Merchants of Brooklyn Released, Re-Released on Steam

Apparently someone pushed the wrong version of the game up to Steam yesterday, but that doesn't mean the newly fixed version is totally smooth.

By Jeff Gerstmann  |  March 18, 2009

Punching dudes with your metal fist will make them explode into a bloody mess.
Punching dudes with your metal fist will make them explode into a bloody mess.
Though we rarely get to hear about it, it seems like this happens a couple times a year with downloadable games. Somehow, some way, an older, non-final version of a game gets pushed out for sale by mistake. That's what Paleo Entertainment is saying happened with its new first-person shooter, Merchants of Brooklyn. Apparently people who purchased the game on Steam immediately upon its release yesterday received an Alpha version of the game that was way messed up.

Whoops.

According to the developer's official forums, a new version has since been pushed. I redownloaded the game from Steam in hopes of getting a smoother version of the game than the one I tried last night, but it seems the same to me. So I guess this version, with its flickery menus, placeholder-like voicework, and spartan HUD is the right one? Yeah, it's still kind of messed up.

It's too bad that this is the first impression that most are having with the game, because this CryEngine 2-powered shooter has a great, comic-book-like look to it that fits with its retrofuturistic flying-cars-and-Tommy-guns motif really well.

We'll have to wait and see if further improvements are made.

(originally spotted on Shacknews)
Filed under: Drug Wars
23 Comments
deathfuryon March 18, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.
I'll have to see the reviews, but this looks interesting.
Homeson March 18, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.
I hope there is a demo released...
TimeWaffleon March 18, 2009 at 2:57 p.m.
that sucks for them
JoelTGMon March 18, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
I like the comic book art style.
KnifeySpoonyon March 18, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
I'd like a demo as well.
Jayzillaon March 18, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.
this is just like the garbage going on with EA's first day patch of Godfather 2. Why do we keep getting the shaft when it comes to a product being released well before it is finished. I ain't buying crap like this anymore.
iAmJohnon March 18, 2009 at 3:34 p.m.
"this is just like the garbage going on with EA's first day patch of Godfather 2. Why do we keep getting the shaft when it comes to a product being released well before it is finished. I ain't buying crap like this anymore."

It has nothing to do with the game being unfinished.  Steam just put up an unfinished version of the game instead of the finished game.
Kohe321on March 18, 2009 at 3:51 p.m.
Demo please
TheIneffableBobon March 18, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
This looks like a pretty unique game, but it looks like it could have used an extra month or two for polishing.
Wellschaon March 18, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
"It has nothing to do with the game being unfinished.  Steam just put up an unfinished version of the game instead of the finished game"

Then how did Steam get the "unfinished" version?

Its just a spin IMO.
kuddleson March 18, 2009 at 6:56 p.m.
Jeff, just close and restart Steam, don't re-download.  That's what I did and all my issues went away.
Coltonio7on March 18, 2009 at 6:58 p.m.
I was curious about this game, looks alright =/
sneakysnake128on March 18, 2009 at 9:03 p.m.
I see users aren't the only ones being ass fucked by Steam.
Jeff staff on March 18, 2009 at 9:16 p.m.
kuddles said:
"Jeff, just close and restart Steam, don't re-download.  That's what I did and all my issues went away."

Yep, tried that first since that's what they suggested. But it didn't update or do anything differently.
Lunarbunnyon March 18, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.
The developer has said they will be releasing regular patches. Beyond that is merely speculation, even by me.
Renegadeon March 18, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.
Hey Jeff, did you try just deleting the game completely and then re-downloading it? I know that may be slightly inconvenient (depending on the speed of your internet/bandwidth restrictions) but it's a potential solution.

Something else to try, before completely deleting and redownloading, is to verify the integrity of the games cache. This can be done by right clicking on the game in your 'My games' list, clicking 'Settings', and then going to 'Local Files'. You should find the Verify integrity of game cache option there.
soul101on March 18, 2009 at 11:37 p.m.
This shit is sooooo jacked.  There are missing frames, missing textures, I'm falling through floors, etc.  This HAS to still be the Alpha build, or else STEAM should start cracking down on the kind of crap they sell.
lamegame621on March 19, 2009 at 1:19 a.m.
Weird. I've never heard of this game.
TwoOneFiveon March 19, 2009 at 1:24 a.m.
. and i thought the socom confrontation launch was pretty bad...
jahosakion March 19, 2009 at 5:25 a.m.
Birds

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US Release Date: March 17, 2009

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