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Remedy has provided staff of their official forum with cryptic extracts from Alan Wake, renewing hopes for a 2009 release, as well as showing off the intriguing style direction in the upcoming psychological action thriller.

The first extract appeared just a few days ago...

The amount of pages keeps growing each night. There are also new edits on the old pages. They keep getting more aggressive. The story is rewriting itself. The protagonist is now my namesake, and his wife is called Alice. The most worrying aspect: the genre seems to be shifting. It's turning into a horror story. I can no longer be certain whether the hero can succeed or even survive. Apart for jumbled fragments of bad dreams and an oppressive feeling, I can remember nothing of the process when I wake up. But this morning, a breakthrough! When I came to my senses, I could smell her perfume on my shirt. I am close. I know it. I must push on.

- Alan Wake

Shortly afterwards two more extracts were posted, and so started the debate as to what Remedy might be trying to convey, be it story line or other:

Rusty's screams were still ringing in my ears. The tree stump the grove got its name from looked like a severed leg of a monsterous bird. I prayed that the gun would make a difference. Every time I moved the flashlight, I was afraid of the horrors it might reveal. Suddenly a ragged arrow gloved in the light. I followed it.

- Alan Wake

I became increasingly afraid to go to sleep.
I was convinced that I would wake up changed, darkness having seeped in through the cracks in the floor, crawled up to my bed, and made its way inside, through a nostril or an ear.
I barricaded the door of the cabin. I kept the lights on at all times. I taped a note on the door (I had forgotten so many things already): 'Don't go out.'

- Alan Wake

Some speculated the notes were a cryptic story of Remedy's development progress, however, Remedy's Markus Maki later commented that the extracts were in fact meant as a thankyou to those helping on the forum, as well as providing a glimpse into the styling and story line in Alan Wake:

The intent wasn't to tease the general public (I think we could do that much more effectively if we wanted to), but to send something cool and exclusive to the moderators as a small thanks for their efforts here on the forums. If seeing those texts here delighted anyone, I'm happy, and while not perhaps revelatory they did give some additional pointers on the styling we're going for.

Besides, aren't mysteries and conspiracy theories fun? The game is a Psychological Action Thriller after all ...

Can't fault with that, but what the latest flurry of activity and discussions has led to is a renewed hope for a 2009 release. Unfortunately that's all there is until Remedy can officially release new information and importantly gameplay footage. Until then, try your hand at understanding the man that is Alan Wake.